Chapter Text
~Marinette~
Date: 7-26-****
Location: Gotham City, Fashion District-Apartment 1379
She was correct. Five minutes later Chloe was at her door, knocking a familiar pattern that had become a constant in her life the past four years. Marinette rolled off her couch to go open her door for her best friend. With a thump she was up and opening the door, and Chloe greeted her by pushing past her, shoes quickly abandoned on the floor and gaze set on the kitchen.
“Well hello to you too, Chloe.” Marinette said sarcastically, her eyes rolling as she moved to follow.
With a laugh the blonde set down the bags she was carrying and turned to her friend. “Ah yes, I’m sooo sorry for my impoliteness, how dare I forget a hello—wait,” Chloe stopped talking to take a quick sniff of the air, and then turned to look at the countertops behind her, “You made cookies.”
The raven-haired girl grinned as Chloe grabbed one from the tray and proclaimed her now undying love for Marinette, she continued on, “In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” The blonde had begun to quote Pride and Prejudice, one of their shared favorite pieces of literature, and that’s how Marinette knew she was truly loved by her best friend.
They laughed together, for the first time in the past few weeks they both felt truly at home. They were all each other had, the only ones who knew both sides of their messy lives. It was nice having her there, Marinette thought. It was always nice. Because she knew that with Chloe around, she would never ever feel alone. And Marinette knew that her best friend felt the same.
Their laughter died down, and a more serious atmosphere replaced the lighthearted one that was present just a few moments prior. Chloe knew what was coming she knew that Marinette had needed to discuss something serious with her, that's why she showed up in the first place.
“We both know that Plagg’s been in his coma for the past year now, and I’ve told you why I moved to Gotham in the first place. But now—now Tikki is falling into her hibernation faster than before and I can’t pick up a clear trace of chaos energy because this whole city is covered in it. I go out every night hoping to find some trace, I’ve cleaned up crime around this district and doused it in creation magic hoping that it might attract Plagg’s true holder. But I’ve got nothing.” She paused, “I’ve got absolutely nothing, I’ve been leaving runes everywhere, and yes—I know it’s only been three weeks since I got to Gotham, but I have been searching for over a year, and this damned city is all I have to show for it! Chloe, I’ve lost Plagg, I’m losing Tikki, it’s only a matter of time before I lose the other Kwamis…” There was a crack in Marinette’s voice as she said the last part, she was going to lose them all if she didn’t find Plagg’s holder soon.
Chloe grabbed Marinette’s hand and pulled her in for a long deep hug. She felt tears begin to leak onto her yellow cardigan, and the blonde didn’t care how much mascara was going to stain her sweater, all she needed was for Marinette to be okay. She pulled her friend in tighter. She didn’t say anything, not at first, knowing that Marinette needed this. Chloe knew that her best friend was the strongest girl in the world, but she was carrying so much weight alone. She had been for the past five years.
They stayed like that for a long time, standing in the middle of the small studio apartment kitchen, holding each other tightly. Soon they both sunk to the floor, the old cold tile meeting their skin. Marinette shook, she wasn’t sure if it was from her coffee concoction or from all the stress finally piling up and toppling over in a wave of tears. She didn’t know what to do, everything was falling apart faster and faster every day and she was nowhere near finding her true cat. She knew the city they were in, but Gotham was large and quite literally cursed with pure chaos and destruction.
“Okay, Marinette I need you to take a breath, in and out, okay?” Chloe spoke softly as she moved the raven-haired girl so she could look at her face.
Marinette listened, in and out, she listened. She followed Chloe’s breathing, an act they had done a million times in the past.
“Now listen to me, you’re not going to lose any of the Kwamis, any of them, we’re going to find your true cat together. And I know it feels practically impossible right now, like the world is going to cave in on you if you don’t find them now. But it’s okay, it’s going to be okay… I promise Marinette.” Her hands were placed firmly on her friends' shoulders, Chloe made sure that she was there, that her presence was felt. “We can do this.”
Marinette’s lip quivered, another set of tears threatening to spill. She wasn’t alone, finally, she wasn’t alone. “Yeah… We can do it.” Marinette smiled, it was small and sad, but it was real.
“Okay now it’s time to binge eat cookies and watch crappy romcoms.” Chloe got up and offered her hand to Marinette.
“Chloe, I don’t own a TV.” She replied as she accepted Chloe’s help getting up.
“Oh.”
Marinette nodded, “yup.”
“Well, that’s no good. Is there a Best Buy or something here?” Chloe asked.
“Nope.” Marinette said.
“Damn.”
They stood there. Rain pounding on the windows and thunder cracking in the distance. Marinette and Chloe stared at each other, Chloe snorted. That’s all it took before Marinette was a mess of laughter, leaning on her kitchen counter to keep herself upright. Chloe wasn’t faring much better. She was trying to stay standing but she ended up crumpling to the floor, her body racked with giggles. They weren’t sure why they were laughing. But they were laughing together.