Chapter Text
From the way people had described it Chloe had always assumed hitting rock bottom would hurt in a way you've never experienced before, so the fact that all she felt currently was all too familiar winding tension understandably worried her.
Let's back up a bit, it all started with her parents' anniversary party but due to a sudden argument, the two had gotten akumatized, deciding to make herself useful Chloe went to her balcony in case Ladybug needed her help only for Hawkmoth to show up and corner the girl. He offered to release her parents in exchange for becoming an Akuma herself, with no way to call for help or defend herself she accepted at least hopeful that if she was willing she would remain in control but it didn't work as soon as the butterfly touched her weapon she blacked out like she did before.
When she woke up she didn't know what she did as an Akuma only that whatever it was had been especially bad, only later did she learn that she had apparently revealed the identity of every hero except the original duo. The worst part? Since no one knew what led to her getting akumatized, everyone quickly theorized that she was the mastermind of the event and since everyone had already made up their mind nobody cared to ask her side of the story.
It's been two days since the "Miracle Queen incident" as the internet had called it and she had already become a pariah and had gotten messages from just about everyone she knew letting her know just how badly she had screwed up. Her mom had already left for New York to avoid dealing with the tabloids and her father made it clear he blamed her for the incident not caring that she only did it to save the two of them. So here she is alone in her room doing her best not to think about what people online were saying about her.
'Am I really that awful?' She couldn't help but think. Before she could think about that any further she was interrupted by her phone ringing she hesitated to answer but relaxed once she saw it was Sabrina.
"Hello?" "Chloe! Oh, thank God, are you ok?!" "Yeah I'm fine but I'd be better if you weren't yelling." The redhead took a few seconds to compose herself before answering again. "Right, sorry I just wanted to call you all weekend but my dad saw the news and didn't want us talking, I'm not even supposed to be talking to you now but he's working late and I needed to know you were ok."
Chloe couldn't say she was surprised. Roger had never been fond of her assuming like many people that her and Sabrina's friendship was completely one-sided and toxic she suspected that the only reason he'd let the two hang out was because it gave him a direct connection to the mayor. "Don't worry about it, I know how stubborn he can be, how have you been?" "Worried mostly, the way everyone has been talking about you I thought someone might have done something to you." "Don't worry I haven't been outside my room all weekend and I've been trying not to look at my phone." "That's probably for the best, what happened anyway, I know you were akumatized but no one knows what caused it, even the ladyblog hasn't posted anything about it." "...I don't wanna talk about it, hey do you think you could come over for a little bit, I haven't been able to sleep much lately and I think I'd feel better if you were here."
"Chloe I would love to really but I don't know what time Dad will be home and I don't wanna be out when he gets back." "I understand, can we during break tomorrow?" "Of course I'll see you then, love you." "Love you too."
' Nothing to do now but wait.' She thought.
Rattle Rattle Rattle
"Perfect, on top of everything else daddy still hasn't gotten someone to fix my window."
Rattle Rattle Rattle Rattle
'It's fine, it does that every time it's Wendy, nothing to worry about.'
Rattle Rattle Rattle
'It's fine, It's fine, It's fine, It's fine'
Rattle Rattle Rattle Rattle Rattle
' He's not here, he's not here, he's not here, he's not here!"
RattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattle
"Staying locked up all day isn't doing any good, I need some fresh air!" She decided and quickly put together an inconspicuous outfit
A few minutes later Chloe had successfully snuck out using the hotel's side entrance in a dark hoodie and sweatpants, a far cry from her usual attire but despite times and all that. She didn't really have a destination in mind other than 'away' so she decided just to walk through the cool night air until she was tired and until whoever whatever was causing that rattling was gone.
' Maybe I should get something to calm my nerves.' There wasn't a lot open at this hour but after a quick search, she was able to find one place" Mariannes Tearoom" that sounded perfect.
-0-
According to the map Chloe had pulled up the walk from the hotel to the Tearoom was already a long one and taking a route that made sure as few people saw her as possible only added to that time, so she couldn't really say she was surprised to find the shop closed by the time she got there.
"Perfect, just perfect." That doesn't mean she wasn't annoyed "Of course it would be closed, why wouldn't it be It's my own fault for thinking I could be happy for one second during this God forsaken week!".
With a frustrated sigh, Chloe turned around ready to head back to the hotel. "Excuse me, young lady." She was stopped by an old man in a red Hawaiian shirt coming out of the shop. "I heard yelling, did you need help?"
"No, no I'm sorry I'm just frustrated that's all, it's been a long... year I guess and I was hoping to get some tea but I'll come back tomorrow."
"I see, why don't you come inside my girlfriend runs this place and she always sets a few cups worth at the end of the day."
"Are you sure, I don't wanna impose."
"I insist you'd be doing me a favor actually, it's a long walk home and I always end up staying too long."
"Well if you're sure..." The inside of the shop was in Chloe's opinion quite humble, a freshly cleaned counter, a small sitting area, and the lingering smell of baked goods. It had the nostalgic atmosphere that local places the corporate places always failed to replicate.
The only person in the shop was a small old woman wearing a yellow sweater and a tan trench coat "Oh Fu you're right on time could you help- Oh! Who's this?"
"Marianne this is..." "Chloe" "She was hoping to get a cup of tea before we closed if it's not too much trouble?"
"Of course not, why don't you get us all a cup and some pastries while I set a table?"
With a nod, the old man (Fu apparently) headed to the door behind the counter while Marianne went to pull the chairs down from a nearby table and Chloe just stood by awkwardly.
"Sorry about this by the way, I know how annoying it is when someone comes by last minute."
"It's ready no trouble really, and besides it's good to meet new people at my age."
Once the chairs were set the two sat for a few moments before Marianne broke the silence. "So what brings you here, it's not often my shop gets new customers especially ones your age."
"I haven't been sleeping well lately, I thought I might be able to get something to help from here." The old woman nodded understandingly at that. "Do you want to talk about it, It always helps me when I can't sleep to talk about whatever is keeping me up." Chloe's first impulse was to turn the offer down but when she stopped to consider it talking to someone who didn't hate her sounded really good right now.
"...I was akumatized the other day, I ended up revealing the identities of the temporary heroes and now everyone thinks I'm working with Hawkmoth." As soon as she finished talking Chloe wished she had never started, she tried to brace herself for whatever the old woman might say or do.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that." Only to be caught off guard "I know how it feels to be labeled a monster because of something outside of your control, I won't lie to you it's going to be awful for a while but I managed to get through it with help from people who truly understood me, do you have anyone like that?"
'Do I?' She thought, She knew Sabrina would always be there for her if she could but with her dad in the mood he's she really couldn't. Adrien wasn't really an option either, with how much he was distancing himself from her lately she wasn't really sure if they were even friends anymore. Her parents were... no. "No I don't think I do."
"I'm sorry to hear that, no one your age should have to go through that." The two returned to an awkward silence for a moment before Marianne gained a decisive look. "You know what, I think you should have this." She said pulling out a ring box. "I wasn't much older than you when I found the jewelry box this ring came from, it helped me get through some of the worst times of my life and maybe it can help you do the same."
Chloe was honestly stunned, the idea of someone giving her something so important to them without any prompting left her speechless.
"I appreciate it but I don't have an outfit that goes with this so I really can't-"
"It's no trouble, you'd be doing me a favor actually I've been meaning to find someone to take care of it for a while now actually." Marianne's smile turned sad. "I'm old, my best years are behind me and I hate the idea of everything I have just being thrown into some box somewhere and forgotten so it would mean a lot to me if you kept this."
"I will, I promise I'll keep this safe." She said resolutely
"That's all I ask, if you're ever stuck between a rock and a hard place just put that ring on and it will help you find another option."
-0-
The tea room turned out to be exactly what Chloe needed, it was pretty late by the time she left so she was able to take a way back to the hotel that wasn't as long, and sneaking in wasn't too hard there was a close call with her dad but he was too distracted with another guest to notice her. By the time she got to her bed, she felt like she had stayed up for a week straight.
RattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattleRattle
But for some reason, she still couldn't fall asleep so she decided to look over her new ring. It was a nice ring even if it wasn't really to her taste, It was pure black except for a red paw print design on top. Honestly, the more she looked at it the more it reminded her of Chat Noir's ring and that's when the thought struck her
'No, no way, not possible.' she decided because there was absolutely no why it was what she thought it was, just a totally normal non magical ring. 'I'll prove it right now.' She thought but as soon as she put it on she was blinded by a sudden flash of light when her eyes adjusted she was met with the sight of a small brown almost black bear floating right in front of her.
"Hello miss Bourgeois, I am Sunny Kwami of fire it's a pleasure too meet you." Chloe did what she believed anyone else would do in her situation
"Nope" *thud*