Something Old, Something New, of Moments Borrowed, and the Feelings for You
So, this was inspired by the additional angst/post-akuma idea you added to my second Chloe Couffaine AU idea dump about Chlobrinix. I decided to turn it into a full scene with a bit of a happier ending (sorry couldn’t resist). Hope you enjoy 😊.
“So…” Chloe’s voice hung like whisper in the cold air of the abandoned roof of the museum. The night sky was all but a blanket of clouds as the world seemed content to drown itself in silence. The only warmth lay in a few cups of warm Dupain-Cheng brewed Coffee and two bodies just barely clinging to consciousness. “Time travel huh?”
Alix let out an ugly snort as she couldn’t hold in the sheer absurdity of the statement. Taking in a deep chug of coffee she leaned back and let her eyes wander to her companion.
“I guess I’m still dealing with seeing myself.” Chloe continued. She took a slow measured sip of her own coffee. “The quantum mechanics… I can deal with those surprisingly enough. Perks of secretly being a nerd. The other me though…”
“She wasn’t all bad you know.” Alix spoke.
“Never said she was. I’m not exactly clean either. That hate, that anger, its familiar. Without an outlet it makes sense that I could wind up like that. At least she had you.”
At that Alix finally broke down and the tears flowed. Chloe latched on to her and the two held each other, pulling so that the weight of the world couldn’t drag them any further. No fear of flapping wings or the vulnerable cores of their souls.
“Can… Can you tell me about her?” Chloe whispered, gently rubbing the back of Alix’s palm.
“You saw what the akuma showed.”
“I want to hear your words. I want you to tell the story of your Chloe. She was a part of your world and she was a part of you.” Gently Chloe reached for the chain hidden just beneath Alix’s collar, a stunning gold that lead to simple heart shaped locket. “From the start you’ve been my closest friend, and what hurts most isn’t that you had a whole other life I didn’t know about, it’s that I can see the pain in your eyes and I can’t do anything about it.” She flicked open the locket and revealed the photo of the other Chloe and Alix together, with Chloe placing an over dramatic kiss on Alix’s cheek, and Alix with the brightest of smiles.
Alix couldn’t shake the sad smile that erupted from the small reminder of the captured moment, and so she began her tale. She spoke of the girl all alone in her golden tower, her heart just as locked away as she was. She spoke of the stollen moments in dinner parties, of moments with discarded masks and basking in the simple joys. She spoke of dark influences and hitting rock bottom before reaching even a shred of light. And She spoke of the long road and walking side by side as they made their way towards better tomorrows.
“You two really loved each other huh?” Chloe asked.
Alix could only nod at that, still too raw from telling the story.
“Did… did you ever think of changing things back? Getting her back…”
“At first…” Alix spoke, her voice still a bit raspy. “But I learned a long time ago that leads to worse problems.”
“Your Mom?” Chloe asked, a bit hesitant to open another wound.
Alix winced a bit, but nodded nonetheless.
“What else changed your mind?” Chloe asked, partly to move past the painful topic and partly out of her own curiosity.
Alix laughed at that, an honest laugh. She looked at Chloe like the answer was obvious, like it was written in the universal language of the universe itself.
“You did” Alix replied, enjoying the subtle shock in her companion’s face. “All I ever wanted was for you to be happy, and for all the pain you’ve lived through, I have never seen a Chloe as happy and confident in themselves than you. My Chloe suffered behind a mask. She fought her way to redemption with everything she had but she could never completely move past the scars. She was never FULLY free.” She grabbed Chloe’s hand and squeezed it tight “How could I ever say I loved her if I let her go back to that. How can I say I love you, without admiring all the ways you’ve learned to shine on your own?”
“Alix… I… I can’t just say it back…”
“I know” Alix said as she wiped away a few more tears. “One of the things that made me fall for the new you was your honesty. You don’t say anything you don’t-
“I wasn’t finished yet.” Chloe interrupted. “I can’t say those words… not yet at least.”
“I-I’m sorry but did you just? I think I’ve had too much caffeine.” Alix scrambled to get up but was stopped when Chloe caught her and held her in place. Placing her palms on Alix’s cheeks she gently forced the shorter girl’s eyes to meet her own. “Chloe please… I can’t have hope. I’m not strong enough to have it taken away twice.”
“Alix this isn’t a trick, and I swear to you I’m not trying to just make you feel better. I can’t tell you I love you until the day I know for sure. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything there. You’re my best friend for a reason and I can’t imagine a world without you in it.
“What about Sabrina? I’ve seen the way you look at her. The flirting you throw at her. As much as I want you, I’m not some home wrecker. You two deserve to be happy.”
“I really do like Sabrina, that hasn’t changed. If I’m being completely honest, she’s a lot closer to those words, even if only because I’ve actually had the time to process my feelings for her. But who said that the story has to end with someone being unhappy? Who says you have to lose everything because some fuck up in the time stream said so? You told me the thing you admired most about your Chloe was that she once she truly set her mind to something she didn’t stop. Well I’m fucking Chloe ‘Ryka’ Couffaine and not even the god damned universe is going to tell me that I can’t choose how MY story goes. I… I… RRRRAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!”
Alix could only stare in shock at the honest to god roar that Chloe unleashed. A swarm of pigeons fleeing at the disruption. It took Chloe a few moments to calm down as steam practically radiated off of her form.
“Fuck. Those side effects get annoying sometimes.” Seeing the still gaping face Alix was making Chloe couldn’t resist the smirk “Right, I’m guessing your Chloe wasn’t the Dragon Holder. I’d have you meet Loong but he’s chilling with the other Kwamis tonight. Today took a lot out of more than just us.”
“Fuck! Of course you’re the dam dragon! Who else could pull off the shit you do while suited up? You have any other bombshells you want to drop on me tonight?”
“Just this. You, me, and Sabrina… the three us are a team in just about every sense of the word. We always have each other’s backs, and I like to think we all help each other be better people. Hell, we’re so used to each other I don’t think anyone else would have taken that reveal as well. The kind of trust we have in each other is why I quite frankly don’t give a fuck that you know I’m one of the ‘heroes.’ I can’t speak for Sabrina, but I have pretty good hunch she feels the same way. Plus, you can’t deny you think she’s cute as hell too.” Alix could only blush at that. “We’ve done everything else together so… who is to say we can’t take that step together too.”
“You really mean that? You want all three of us to just what? All date each other?”
“Fuck it. Why not. Not like we don’t already get some odd looks when we’re all together.”
“Shit… well… I’m willing to try if you are.”
Chloe’s smile shined bright and for a moment she could have sworn she was looking at the old chloe, an echo just out of reach offering one last moment, before snapping back to reality as she was embraced. She couldn’t help but think the hug felt even warmer than before, like some forgotten puzzle piece finally slid into place.
“Come on” Chloe said. “Let’s crash for the night. I think we have a long talk with a certain red-head planned for tomorrow.”
The stars had begun to break through of the cloudy night sky, but as far as both girls were concerned, there was something far brighter on the horizon.
That was fucking amazing;; shit;
