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Marinette would be the first to admit she and Chloe have a little history between the two of them, none of it really all that great.
It’s obvious what the blonde’s problem with her is. She, perhaps rightfully so, sees her as a threat and the heiress knew that the moment Marinette got her confidence well her reign might be at an end.
So the moment Marinette actually does do just that, the half-Chinese girl sees an opportunity to finally curb the blonde’s ego a little. She, with some hesitance due to her previous history takes the class president role.
She knows Chloe will see it as a threat to her power the moment she’s even on the ballot but maybe something inside Marinette’s finally snapped. She’s Ladybug, she fights villains, so she shouldn’t let the brat rule the classroom like she has for years any longer. Chloe Bourgeois, after dealing with Hawk Moth’s attacks, isn’t quite as scary anymore.
Socqueline isn’t here anymore. She can’t be around to stand up to Chloe and Marinette, well, honestly she wants to make her friend proud of her. She even puts her hair into pigtails, like her old friend, hoping maybe she can channel a bit of the older girl’s spirit.
Chloe’s still a pain, of course and even with Marinette standing up to her more often it isn’t like the blonde lets anyone have it any easier. No, the heiress keeps making her position clear, saying: ‘this is my classroom and you should consider yourself lucky I’m even letting you in here’ and frankly Marinette’s had about enough of it.
She knew that if she didn’t stand up to Chloe this year, she never would. So here she is, the newly sworn-in class president and maybe just maybe she thinks she’s doing something right. Socqueline, she hopes, is proud of her and Marinette reminds herself to text the girl later.
“Anyone seen Chloe today?” Sabrina asked, in concern and Marinette honestly feels sorry for the girl because she could have real friends if Chloe let her. “...this isn’t like her, she’s never late.”
“She probably got distracted by someone who bumped into her and she’s probably just screaming her lungs off at them,” Alya said, only half caring. “Still, I suppose we should expect an akuma attack later, though if it’s Chloe herself or her victim… That remains to be seen.”
“I’ll go fetch her,” Marinette said, sucking in a breath and deciding to be the bigger girl here. “Maybe I’ll be able to avert someone getting akumatized.”
“She can’t be hard to find,” Alya deadpanned. “Just listen for her screaming her head off at some poor student. Maybe one day she’ll scream so loudly she’ll lose her voice and maybe then we’ll all have some peace and quiet.”
Marinette, well a little part of her she quickly suppresses, actually likes the idea. The thing is, she can’t actually find Chloe until she hears a little sob coming from a nearby bathroom.
Against her better judgment, Marinette wanders in and hears another little sob coming from a stall that hasn’t even been locked. Inside that stall, Chloe, her makeup ruined and actually looking rather pitiful. Or pathetic, a voice in her mind says that Marinette tries to ignore.
“Hey,” Marinette said, pulling Chloe up. “You’re going to be late for class.”
“I don’t need you to lecture me, Dupain-Cheng. Just… Please, just give me a moment, okay? And don’t you dare breathe a word of this to the rest of the class.”
Chloe never says ‘please’.
“...Hey,” Marinette said, sitting down on the floor next to her, and keeping an eye out for butterflies. “I swear, I’m not going to say a word. I’m not…”
She quickly bites back the ‘not like you’ rising up in her throat.
“...going to do that, I don’t want to humiliate you.”
“Of course not, you’re way to nice for that Dupain-Cheng,” Chloe said. “No surprises you’re voted Class President. You’ve got everyone wrapped around your little finger. Meanwhile, me… well, I can’t even get a day with my mom.”
Marinette realized Chloe didn’t mean to say that last part, and indeed the blonde looks embarrassed.
“I suppose you think I’m pretty pathetic, crying over how I can’t spend time with my mom. You don’t see Adrikins making a big deal out over not being able to spend time with Uncle Gabe,” Chloe sighs and laughed bitterly.
Actually, Marinette has seen Adrien angst over this though he pretends to not let it bother him too much.
“She canceled a trip to Paris, even though she said she was looking forwards to…” Chloe sniffles and Marinette’s only half aware she’s hugging the other teenager by this point. “I suppose that’s why I haven’t been akumatized over this by now. I’m used to being disappointed, to being a…”
Chloe sighed again and Marinette sucks in a breath even as the shock washes over her realizing just exactly what the blonde had stopped herself from saying. She supposed she shouldn’t be surprised, even Chloe had things she probably angsts about but it’s still a bit of a surprise to see her acting so human.
“...sorry,” Marinette said, pulling away from the hug. “I didn’t mean to… Yeah, sorry, I know you like your personal space.”
“No, don’t pull away,” Chloe said, much to Marinette’s bug-eyed shock. “This doesn’t leave this room, once we’re done here we’re back to our usual relationship. Just… I liked that, I haven’t been-”
“Hugged very often?”
“Not by people who aren’t ‘Brina or Daddy…” Chloe admits and Marinette squeezed her feeling Chloe start to sob into her shoulder. The other girl rubbed calming circles on her back, wordlessly saying ‘I’m here, it’s okay girl, just let it out’ in a way she remembers Socqueline doing for her.
“...You’re not a disappointment, Chloe,” Marinette says gently. “You shouldn’t have to ask your mom to spend time with you. It’s not your fault and-”
Suddenly she has a sneaking suspicion as to why Chloe acts out, acts like she does even if the blonde will probably never admit to it.
“-well you’ve seen how Adrien is with his father. I get the feeling your mom’s the same way, far too wrapped up in her own world to see what she has.”
“Adrikins is like a puppy, barking for attention,” Chloe said with a wet snort, sniffling again. “I… Well I really hate self-reflection and I really hate even saying you’re right so… Well, don’t expect me to do it again. But… thanks, Dupain-Cheng…”
Chloe pulls away from the hug, though looking at her not with her usual grimace of disgust like she’s something nasty on her shoe. Instead, she actually gives what’s an attempt at a smile which for Chloe is a bit of a valiant effort honestly and Marinette commends her for at least trying.
“...listen…” Marinette starts. “Any time you need… Just, I know we’re not friends, but anytime you need someone to talk to…”
“I have ‘Brina for that.”
“Any time you need someone and she isn’t available,” Marinette said. “Just… We don’t have to pretend to like each other, but I’m class president. I’m supposed to listen to your needs.”
“...yeah, I suppose you are…”
And little by little, the relationship between them does soften and Chloe’s just a little less horrible from that day forwards. Eventually, she thaws completely and actually somehow Marinette realizes she’s earned the blonde’s affections.
She doesn’t know how and what’s worse she actually doesn’t mind that. Against all reason, she thinks she might return them and wonders just when this has all happened when Chloe’s fingers lace with her own.
Marinette, for her part, doesn’t let go.