There is something lizard-like in Chloe Bourgeois' eyes as she squints at Marinette across the table. She has selected one of the most lavish, exclusive restaurants in the kingdom for a simple lunch meeting, perhaps to prove something. She has been nothing but sweet as sugar to Adrien, but every address to Marinette seems like her tongue has been dipped in sour vinegar. Marinette can feel it. Adrien can see it. No one is blind to the tension that hovers in the air, and Marinette endures it only as a favour to Adrien. Upon learning her impression of him as a cheating playboy, Adrien had been quick and desperate to organize this luncheon.
"So," Marinette begins slowly in a meagre attempt to dispel the tension in the air. "How did you and Adrien meet?"
"When we were children." Chloe responds with distaste heavy in her tone. "As you may have heard, I'm the prime minister's daughter, and that gives you certain connections growing up."
She shoots Adrien a look that Marinette is not certain how to interpret because her face seems to be eternally frozen in a sour expression, but it looks like she's glaring at him. It certainly makes Adrien more fidgety.
"So you grew up together then?" She inquires, trying to ignore it. She is not sure what Adrien wants her to take away from this- she had only agreed because he had been so distressed about the nature of her misunderstanding. Adrien nods.
"We did- we're like brother and sister!" He says, with a forced, uncomfortable laugh. "We even fought like siblings- she'd pull my hair when I broke her dolls."
"Enough about us though," Chloe says dismissively, leaning forward to eye Marinette like a piece of prey she has just cornered. "Tell me more about you, Marinette."
There is something derisive and threatening in Chloe's tone, and from the way she watches Marinette, something clicks into place- she's sizing her up. This almost feels like a job interview, and Chloe is testing her. Squaring her shoulders in response to the realisation, she begins to stare Chloe down as well.
"What would you like to know?" She answers evenly. Chloe tilts her head, squinting slightly.
"Why did you marry Adrien?" She asks. She stares at Marinette easily. "If I were in your position, I wouldn't have."
Marinette feels Adrien tense beside her, and he cuts in before she can respond.
"Chloe," He says, surprisingly firmly considering he had been so meek and flustered prior to this point. "That's enough. Don't make her uncomfortable."
Marinette is surprised. She is not grateful- Chloe is well within her rights to ask such a question, but she is relieved and the feeling spreads through her warmly.
Things had changed between her and Adrien after their fight. Upon learning about Marinette's personal struggles, Adrien had been attentive and kind- almost too kind. But it isn't just their behaviour that has changed- there is a certain air of familiarity and warmth that wasn't there before. She feels like she gets Adrien, now that all the layers of misconception have been stripped back. Before, he was a confusing mess of contradictions and she couldn't figure out what was authentic and what wasn't. Now she knows though.
"It's ok Adrien." Marinette reassures him with a tentative smile. The tension droops from his shoulders, but he still eyes her with concern. She turns her gaze to Chloe, aware that he continues to watch her with barely concealed unease. "I assure you, Chloe, that were you in my position, you most certainly would have."
Interest sparks in Chloe's eyes, and she rests her chin in the palm of her hand.
"Oh?" Chloe responds. "Is that so? And what is this position you speak of?"
Marinette grits her teeth.
"I needed the money." She admits, slightly ashamed now that she hears it aloud. It sounds like such a dirty motive.
To her surprise, rather than look disgusted or irritated, Chloe grins wide, her eyes sharp and almost impressed.
"Hm, for a second I thought you would try and feed me some rubbish about his looks or his personality," Chloe responds. "I like that you're honest."
Marinette blinks a few times in surprise before smiling hesitantly at Chloe. At this, the grin drops from her face, and she looks disgusted with herself, rolling her eyes.
"Ugh, fine." She exclaims suddenly. "Fine, you were right Adrien, she's not terrible. I'll cancel my plans to ruin her life."
Adrien begins to protest at the same time that Marinette sputters in indignance.
"Ruin my life-"
"I said she was great, not 'not terrible'-"
They both pause at their outbursts and meet each other's eyes in confusion. To Marinette's great surprise, Adrien begins to laugh earnestly. It is nothing like the forced, uncomfortable laugh earlier- it is warm and full and Marinette is abruptly reminded of why she agreed to come to this lunch.
She had been wrong. Completely and entirely wrong about Adrien and had let all her fears and insecurities and frustrations build up and she had taken it out on him. It isn't fair to him, and, perhaps for the first time, she genuinely wants to see him as more than a necessary evil in the path to saving her father. The commitment she has made is a life long one, and for the first time since she signed her life away, she is starting to think that maybe it wasn't the biggest mistake of her life. If Adrien's good features could shine through enough to have her confused even while thinking he was a lying, two-faced cheater, then she wants to know who Adrien is with the veil of her misconceptions lifted. She wants to know who her husband is, and that thought has her laughing along with him, even if she is not sure why they are laughing.
Chloe looks vaguely nauseated at the site and begins to pick idly at her perfectly manicured nails. In that moment, Adrien's phone begins to ring, and he pauses his mirth to smile apologetically and step away to answer the call.
Chloe looks like she has been waiting the whole luncheon for this opportunity because she leans eagerly forward as soon as Adrien is out of earshot.
"I heard I wasn't the only one you thought Adrien had a thing with." She exclaims and Marinette is taken aback. She can't quite read the expression on Chloe's face, but it is close to anger and disgust. "I can handle you misunderstanding our relationship, because, well, we are super close and it would be super cute if we were to date cause of the whole childhood friends thing and the fact that we are both super hot, but not her. You're not allowed to think there's something there after what she did to him. I can't forgive that, or allow it to continue, so I'll do you one favour and then I'll never be nice to you again for the rest of my life."
Marinette pauses in confusion.
"You mean Lila?" She asks, trying to puzzle through what it is Chloe is trying to say. Chloe's lip curls in distaste.
"Please, don't say her name in front of me." Chloe snaps. Marinette pauses, leaning away from Chloe.
"What did she do to him?" Marinette inquires, and Chloe leans forward conspiratorially, glancing to where Adrien's back is still turned, out of earshot.
"He'll kill me if I tell you, but whatever. She deserves to get the news of how awful she is spread around. I hate her." Chloe says. "I'll even ignore my instinctive dislike of you if it means you'll hate her too. In fact, if you promise to hate her I'll actually consider you a friend."
