#Marchlothaniel

[skylarstark4826]

I really loved making this beautiful publication of Miraculous Ladybug of Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but above all because I love the idea that if we had seen Chloe redeem herself and she would have become a better girl and person and then we would have seen her recover her Miraculous when Marinette being Ladybug had discovered a way to replicate the Miraculous and then Chloe would not only have recovered her Miraculous but she would also have discovered how to have a new superhero costume different from the one she had before being Queen Bee but she would also have changed her superhero name to Honey Bee but at the same time also because I also love to imagine the idea that we would have seen Chloe falling in love with Nathaniel and Marc but being aware that the 2 were already a couple she did not want to meddle in their relationship and then it would have happened that Nathaniel and Marc became Caprikid and Rooster Bold would have started flirting with her wanting to win her heart because both had also begun to fall in love with Chloe when they saw that she had really changed and then one day finally Marc would not have taken it anymore and would have revealed his secret identity to Nathaniel and Chloe about that he was Rooster Bold and then Nathaniel would have done the same and he would also have revealed to the 2 that he was Caprikid and then it would have happened that Chloe had been shocked to see that her 2 Miraculous teammates were also the 2 boys she had fallen in love with and then after a few minutes in shock she would have had courage and would have revealed to them that she was Honey Bee but at the same time also because I really can't wait so that we can see Marc, Nathaniel and Chloe again together again during season 6 of the Miraculous Ladybug series in every possible way

I also did it for: @moonlightchild77 and @true-justice And especially because my best friend @moonlightchild77 also likes Marc, Nathaniel and Chloe's boat together, since she also likes the ship of them 2 together from Miraculous Ladybug

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug from Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but also because I really love absolutely completely the outfit that Chloe wears in this fanart of them 3 together but at the same time also because I really love absolutely completely how in it we see how Nathaniel is completely blushing by the fact that his girlfriend Chloe and his boyfriend Marc are kissing his cheeks at the same time but also because I really absolutely love the idea that Nathaniel was too shy to let everyone discover his relationship with Marc and Chloe at the same time and then one day both Chloe and Marc had decided that they didn't want to continue hiding their relationship with Nathaniel and then one day at school the 2 would have kissed Nathaniel at the same time on his cheeks leaving him completely blushing like an adorable tomato but at the same time also because I really can't wait to be able to see them again during season 6 of the series but also because I really want to see Chloe redeem herself and see her again share scenes with Marc and Nathaniel together... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I loved this beautiful publication Edit of Miraculous Ladybug of Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but above all because I really love how in this beautiful Edit we see Nathaniel with Chloe and Marc but at the same time also because I love the idea that we would have seen Chloe become a better person and a better girl but at the same time also because I also like to imagine that Nathaniel and Marc would have fallen in love with her when they saw that Chloe had really changed but also because I imagine Marc and Nathaniel trying to conquer Chloe to what then she would also have fallen in love with them 2 together but also because I imagine Marc and Nathaniel revealing their secret Caprikid superhero identities of and Rooster Bold to Chloe because neither of the 2 wanted to hide their secret identities from her but also because I like to imagine that seeing Chloe's change then it would have happened that Marinette being Ladybug had discovered the way to replicate the Miraculous and then she would have given her a new Miraculous of The Bee and then she would also have revealed to Marc and Nathaniel her secret about her secret identity of Honey Bee but above all because I really love the Edit that my best friend @moonlightchild77 made of them 3 together but also because I love the name of the ship that she also gave to Marc, Nathaniel and Chloe who is Marchlothaniel but above all because I really can't wait so that we can see Chloe, Nathaniel and Marc together again during season 6 of the Miraculous Ladybug series in every possible way

By the way, these beautiful fanart of them are not mine and the credits are not for me, but I will let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the real creator on Tumblr.

[skylarstark4826]

“I’m only doing this because Nathaniel asked me to play nice and it’s his birthday,” Chloe huffed, shoving a jacket at Marc. “Put this on.”

He eyed the black leather apprehensively. “Oh, uh, I don’t know if I can pull this off.”

“Normally you couldn’t but that’s why I’m here,” she sighed. “Take off your pants.”

“What?! No!”

“Believe me when I say I genuinely don’t care what’s in your tighty whities but you need to put these on.” She turned away to grab a pair of red skinny jeans and held them back without looking at him. “Get to it; I don’t have all day.”

He tentatively took the pants and kept a wary eye on her back as he dressed. “Thank you for doing this,” he said quietly as he buttoned the pants. “I know you don’t like me very much.”

She turned around to face him and crossed her arms. “Whoever said I don’t like you?”

He blinked up in surprise, hands still on the button fly. “You have, multiple times.”

Chloe frowned. “Yeah, well, I say that to a lot of people. Don’t take it personally.” She sighed and let her head fall back with a groan. “Fine, maybe I didn’t like you but you don’t bother me now so there.”

“What changed?”

She rolled her eyes and looked away. “I did, I guess. Look, don’t make a thing of it. We’re in love with the same dumbass guy and I guess I just got tired of being mad all the time. It’s not worth it.”

“Sorry,” Marc winced. Their relationship was rocky at best, this being the most time they’d ever spent together without him wanting to run away in tears. It’d been hard to be with Nathaniel who was also with Chloe but after trying to deny his feelings for so long, it felt better to love and be loved, no matter how odd the relationship felt.

She moved closer to him and began to mess with his hair, carefully not meeting his eyes as she did. “You don’t have anything to apologize for. You’re as hopeless as I am.”

“He’s pretty great.”

“He’s all right,” she argued but shot him a quick wink before returning her attention to his hair. “So are you married to this weird clump that sticks up in the back or what?”

“Not really.” He felt his cheeks warm. “My hair is actually kinda curly and I straighten in but that part does what it wants so I just leaned into it.”

“Wait, you have naturally curly hair and you’ve been straightening it into this anime atrocity all this time?”

“Yeah.”

She stepped back and threw her hands up. “Get undressed. You’re getting in the shower and washing your hair and we’re starting completely over.”

“But--”

“Did I stutter, Anciel? Now!”

___________________________

“This is a nice surprise.” Nathaniel looked between his equally primped partners and his mouth spread into a wide smile. “I wasn’t expecting to get both of you for my birthday dinner.”

Chloe and Marc exchanged a look. “Well, we actually had a nice time today so I decide to tag along.” She narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. “And get that smug grin off your face. I know that was your plan this whole time. I’m not stupid.”

Marc blinked but kept his mouth shut. He caught Nathaniel’s mischievous look and realized he’d fallen for it hook, line, and sinker. 

“Don’t worry; you were the bait,” Nathaniel whispered as he hugged him. He kissed his cheek and pulled back. “And look at this hair.” He carefully tugged on one of the curls and Chloe reached out to smack his hand away. 

“Don’t mess with my masterpiece. Marc likes it like this, don’t you?”

“It was a lot easier,” Marc admitted. “It might take a while to get used to though.”

“You look more handsome than you ever have so I don’t want to hear it.” Chloe easily slid her arm through his and offered her other to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows and she stuck out her tongue.

“Your time of always getting to be in the middle is over, Red. Welcome to the new regime.”

Nathaniel glanced at Marc who smiled despite his deep blush. He linked their arms and the trio set off. “Long live the queen,” he quipped.

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug of the polyamorous ship of Marclonath of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but at the same time also because I really love absolutely completely how in the Chloe has 3 red threads that are linked with Nathaniel and Marc together but it also gives me tenderness as in the we see Chloe is feeling complex because she had realized the fact that she had fallen in love with Marc and Nathaniel but at the same time also because I really absolutely love the idea that Chloe would have redeemed herself and changed but in addition to that she would also have fallen in love with them 2 at the same time but then it would have happened that when Chloe when she saw how they 2 they were already boyfriends I didn't know what to do because she really loved them at the same time but despite her feelings for them she didn't want to ruin their relationship because of her feelings for both of them and she would have decided to get away from both so that they would be happy together but also because she didn't want to interfere with their relationship at all and she didn't want to ruin anything with them because she wouldn't want them to reject her because of how she had been with them in the past even though she had already changed and now it was different but then one day Chloe would have been surprised when in that Nathaniel and Marc would have begun to get closer to her and despite all Chloe's attempts to avoid them both then it would have happened that when Chloe was about to leave in that she would have been surprised when Marc and Nathaniel had not let her go but both would have prevented her so that they could finally talk to her and then they would have revealed to Chloe that the 2 had fallen in love with her and that they both wanted to be her boyfriends at the same time also because I love to think about the idea that we would have seen Chloe redeem herself and change during season 6 of the series of Miraculous Ladybug... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug of the polyamorous ship of Marclonath of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but at the same time also because I really love absolutely completely the outfit that Chloe wears on it at the same time that I also absolutely completely love Marc's outfit also wears on it but at the same time also because I really love absolutely completely the fact that we see how Nathaniel is completely blushed but he is also confused by his feelings for Marc and Nathaniel but at the same time also because it gives me tenderness the idea that Nathaniel felt complex and confused because even if he loved his boyfriend Marc he would also have fallen in love with Chloe and especially seeing that the way she had really changed and seeing that she was no longer the same as before and she was no longer an evil one and Nathaniel would have felt complex because he did not want to give up his feelings for Chloe but he also did not want to hurt his boyfriend before Nathaniel had been surprised when Marc had revealed to Nathaniel that he had also fallen in love with Chloe and then knowing the 2 would have made their own plan to be able to conquer Chloe but then it would have happened that when both were about to start with their plan then it would have been when Chloe would have surprised the 2 when she had revealed to them that she was in love with them and she did not want to be just her friend but that she wanted to be more than a friend for the 2 of them but at the same time also because I really want to see them together again during season 6 the Miraculous Ladybug series... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug of Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but above all because it really gives me tenderness as Chloe happily observes her boyfriends and observes how Marc lovingly kisses her beloved Nathaniel but at the same time I absolutely love it completely how Nathaniel is completely blushed by his boyfriend's kiss but at the same time it also gives me tenderness the outfit that Marc is wearing just as I also love the outfit that Chloe is also wearing just as I also love the outfit that Nathaniel is also wearing but above all because I really absolutely love the beautiful and incredible idea that if Chloe had changed then she would have had a party for her birthday and then she would have invited her schoolmates including her boyfriends so that the 3 could spend the night together but also because I really imagine them doing this same during season 6 of the Miraculous Ladybug series in every possible way... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug of the polyamorous ship of Marclonath of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but above all because at the same time I also absolutely love it completely how Marc watches his girlfriend Chloe happy and in love while she is sitting together with her boyfriend Nathaniel while she observes how Nathaniel lovingly kisses her forehead and puts a hand on Chloe's shoulder but at the same time because I imagine that Chloe would have redeemed herself and tried to show the others that she had already changed and when the others don't believe her about that and make her cry because of that then while she is alone and suffering without Chloe knowing an Akuma goes to her direction but in that Chloe is surprised when her boyfriends Nathaniel and Marc go to look for her to comfort her and then Chloe's emotions of pain, sadness, loneliness and suffering were destroyed and she felt better so that without the 3 knew the Akuma would have moved away when he no longer felt anything in Chloe... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug from Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but above all because I really love the outfit that Chloe wears and especially because I love how it refers to Marc except because she seems to be wearing a gray sweater instead of a red sweatshirt but also because I love how Chloe's fingerless gloves look just like the choker that she also has but also because I love to imagine that Chloe has combined the outfits of her boyfriends for her and so the 3 go in matching dresses also to school and also because I imagine them during the month of LGBT pride and I love to imagine that Chloe helped Marc and Nathaniel put on makeup as well as herself so that the 3 of them go together... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I loved this beautiful publication Edit of Miraculous Ladybug of Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but at the same time also and above all because I really love how in this image we have a scene of Chloe, Nathaniel and Marc together but also because I really would have loved that if we had seen Chloe become a better person and girl and she would also have become a better person but at the same time also because I like to imagine that Nathaniel and Marc falling in love with her when they saw that she had really become a better person but also because I like to imagine that the 3 of them would have been in a beautiful romantic couple and above all because I like to imagine that Chloe had recovered her Miraculous then Nathaniel and Marc wanting to be her boyfriends and not wanting to hide their secrets that they were Bold Rooster and Caprikid and then she herself would have revealed to them that she was a superhero Honey Bee but at the same time also because I really can't wait so that we can see them together again during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug in every possible way

By the way, this beautiful Fanarts of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but unfortunately I can't leave you the link of the true creator of this beautiful masterpiece because apparently he deleted it and if you ask me, I don't understand why I would do something like that, but fortunately I managed to rescue the fanart in time

I also did it for: @moonlightchild77 and @true-justice And especially because my best friend @moonlightchild77 also likes Marc, Nathaniel and Chloe's boat together, since she also likes the ship of them 2 together from Miraculous Ladybug

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely completely loved this beautiful fanart of Miraculous Ladybug of Marclonath's polyamorous ship of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but at the same time also because I really find it an absolute tenderness Marc's outfit that makes him look No Binary but it also gives me tenderness how Marc is lovingly lifting Chloe while she puts her hands lovingly on her Marc's shoulders while they are completely blushing but they are also completely in love with each other at the same time that I really love absolutely completely how Nathaniel bleeds from his nose simply by seeing how beautiful his beautiful girlfriend and handsome boyfriend look together in that way while it seems that he is drawing them in his sketchbook... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

I absolutely loved these beautiful fanarts of Miraculous Ladybug of the polyamorous ship of Marclonath of the characters Marc Anciel, Chloe Bourgeois and Nathaniel Kurtzberg together but at the same time also because I really love how in the first we see 4 polyamorous couples but above all because the one I loved the most is Marc's polyamorous couple with Nathaniel and Chloe but also because they really look beautiful in it but at the same time I also absolutely love it completely as in the second fanart we see how Chloe is standing to her boyfriends Marc and Nathaniel while I also love how Marc is sorry and shy in addition to the fact that he is also completely blushing while Nathaniel has a hand on his shoulder while he also looks at him completely blushing but also because I love the beautiful couple that the 3 make and above all because although I am a fan of Marc's ship with Rose but I am also a fan of Marc's LGBT ship with Nathaniel and also because at the same time I am also a big fan of Nathaniel's ship with Chloe despite that I can't the fact that I am also a big fan of Chloe's polyamorous ship, Nathaniel and Marc together but also because I really want to see Chloe change and be different and see her become a better person and get to see her again a miraculous during season 6 of the series... but also and above all because although it may sound ridiculous I really want to see Chloe redeem herself during season 6 of Miraculous Ladybug and see her fall in love with them 2 but also because as Nathaniel's character is bisexual (since he was first in love with Marinette and then with Marc) I like to imagine the idea that he would also fallen in love with Chloe but I also like to imagine that Marc would also have fallen in love with her but also because I really want to see Chloe become Marc and Nathaniel's girlfriend in every possible way... the truth

By the way, this beautiful fanart of them is not mine and the credits are not for me, but I let you know that right here I am going to leave you the link of the true creator on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ArlenCristinaCastilloSánchez (@kimocherry)

[skylarstark4826]

“You sure about this?”

“Yeah.  She’s… well, a lot of things.  If it were anything less than Lila I wouldn’t even bother.  Don’t let me chicken out okay?”

Marc chucked his friend on the shoulder, then after a moment of hesitation leaned in and stole a quick kiss from his cheek.  “That’s my job.  You’re the one who’s supposed to be horny.”

Nathaniel turned as red as his hair, averting his eyes from Marc’s grin.  He raised them to his target, a boisterous blond disaster sitting by herself.  He took a bolstering breath.  “Hang back unless I flounder, I don’t want to spook her.”

“You, spook her?”

Nathaniel snorted and poked Marc’s side, ”Wish me luck.”

“I sincerely hope you come back with all your limbs attached.”

Nathaniel cast one last ‘Gee thanks’ look backwards and crossed the school yard.  Chloé was alone, as was normal these days.  Even Sabrina had taken to spending more time with Zoe after the arena incident.  Someone who wasn’t paying attention wouldn’t have picked up that it did anything to the impervious socialite, but Nate had spotted Lila whispering in her ear more than once, and being Lila’s seatmate had made him privy to other things…

“Chloé, hey.  Skipping the cafeteria for lunch again?”

Up her eyes snapped from her phone.  Quick calculations in those sapphires.  For the briefest instant of open surprise she was beautiful, then suspicion swept in and walls slammed it all away.  “What’s it to you?  The food there is atrocious.  One bite and I might break out for weeks!”

Nate stuffed his hands halfway into his pockets and affected a shrug, already this was draining.  Draining but worthwhile, he reminded himself.  There had been a time when…  “Call it the worst opening line in a conversation ever?”  He tried a smile but that only painted more suspicion onto her face.  How had it gotten this bad?  “I kinda wanted to talk to you about Lila.”

Those sapphires nearly vanished behind narrowed lids.  “What about Lila?  Have you come to warn me to stay away, tell me that she’s a little liar, or something like that?”

“I um-”  Nate was wrongfooted.  “Yes?” he finished lamely, being pulled several steps ahead in the conversation.

Chloé smirked, “She told me someone would try and say that.  You’re just one of Marinette’s little friends.  You want to cut me off and push me out of school so you can rule the roost!”

Nate swallowed.  Why had he thought this was a good idea?  He wanted to look back to Marc for reassurance, but that would only put her more on edge.  Instead he conjured up an image in his mind, several images.  Moments he’d seen, unguarded seconds among years.  The Venus itself had been hidden in stone once.

"That's not all I am.  I'm Lila's bench mate too, and if she knew my memory was almost photographic she probably wouldn't write in her journal at school.  I mean how much do you really know her?" Nate freed one of his hands gesturing vaguely in his helplessness.  "You know, if you wanted someone to hang out with-" Have dinner with, watch a movie with, dare to let your guard down with, get lost in a moment with. His thoughts went to places abandoned almost a year ago.

She was watching him.  Nate realized he'd been staring.  He snapped his mouth shut and finished with a sheepish smile.  There it was. A flash in the eyes, that brief second of sincerity before it was swallowed up.  Chloé flicked her nails at him and sneered.  "Me, hang out with you?  You and your little friend just make that ridiculous ladybug comic all day, don't you?"

A pressure settled on Nate's shoulder.  Marc's voice was a soothing balm.  "That would be the one.  You have a better idea?" 

A vibrant predatory grin, "Of course I do!  Dozens! I could give you better heroes by the handful.  Almost anyone is better than that spotted pest."

Nate felt Marc's hand tense and reached up to pat it.  "Okay then, show us.  When and where?"

Ha. He'd done it, caught her out and she was tumbling.  The longing in those eyes, if he had a pencil he would have captured it for the ages.  As it was, it would join the other precious seconds in his memory.  Chloé shrank back on the bench.  She picked up her phone, poked at it briefly and when she spoke her confidence had turned into a timid negligence.  "I don't know.  I'm very busy, you see.  I'll have to have Sabr-"   Chloé cut off and dropped further into a proper sulk.

"Your hotel?  Sixish?"

Like a drowning woman finding a lifeline, Chloé surfaced.  She straightened and her voice regained its strength. "Six? Yes I recall I am free tonight at that time.  You are so very lucky and blessed.  The two of you both?"

"We come as a pair." Nate confirmed.

Marc snickered.

Nate elbowed him.

Chloé's eyes had followed the byplay.  She suddenly became very interested in her phone again, tapping away.  "I'll pencil you in.  Come around to the back please." She looked up and added. "Appearances you know."

Nate was probably the only person who could tell it was her attempt at a joke.  "Six it is."

"I want to be fed." Marc chimed in.  Nate rolled his eyes but Chloé waved her hand dismissively.

"Yes yes, room service for days.  Now I need to get back to my lunch."

Nate let her complete lack of food slide.  He could tell by the twitch of her fingertips and slight tremor of her jaw that the bout of sincerity had cost her, and she didn't have a Marc to help her though.  "See you then."

—---------

"Are you really doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"You're primping."

Nate glanced from the storefront to Marc and back to his reflection again. "Well, it's the front door this time isn't it?"

"Oh sure that's why."

"What?"

"Should I be jealous?"

Nate shot Marc another look and countered, "should I?"

Watching Marc's eyes go wide would never get old.  Puppies wished they looked half that cute.  "I has no idea what you're talking about.  This whole thing was your idea."

Nate pulled the sketchbook out from under his arm.  "Oh?"

Marc eyed it suspiciously. "What's 'oh'?"

"Visual writing prompt, go!" Nate filled open the book to a particular sketch.

Marc blinked.  "How did you-"

"Prompt!" Nate demanded.  It was a quick sketch of Chloé from an earlier visit.  He'd remembered the moment, catching Marc staring, and had done it from memory.

Marc huffed but this was a sacred exercise between them so he took a breath. 

'The golden light filtered through the windows, wan from the sun and reflected twice fold in her hair.  Beside her a half-eaten plate of filet mignon that had warranted a full fifteen minute rant was cooling off at ten dollars a minute towards worthlessness.  Her eyes were hidden, locked on the paper before her.  A childish scrawl of sketches and corrections looked back up at the world defiantly.   Why was I here?  Nights and weekends burned in a confusing stew of frustration and intrigue.  I flipped my pencil in thought, fully expecting a rebuke but none was forthcoming.  I watched as hands that could dial disaster for any poor soul on a whim hesitantly selecting one pen among a discarded forest.  Pen hovered over paper.  I counted my breaths.  One.  Two.  Three.  The pen touched down to add the briefest of lines to a figure's costume then paused.   Her other hand came up in a way no conscious thought could control.  The very tip of a nail was clenched between teeth in concentration and in that manicure's sacrifice I had my answer.'

Marc's eyes had gone unfocused as he spoke, it was normal and adorable.   Nate grinned as he noted. "I didn't draw her biting her thumb."

"She did though." Marc spoke then shook himself, coming out of the moment.  He blinked again and shook his head.  "You tricked me!"

Nate closed his sketchbook and tapped Marc in the chest with it.  “Yes, just like you ‘tricked’ me into finding your eyes irresistible.”

Marc folded his arms, ”You have a thing for eyes.”

“Entirely beside the point.” Nate engaged the lovely orbs in question.  “She’s more than she shows, and you know it too.”

Marc sulked, turning to continue towards the hotel.  “I don’t even like girls.”

Nate quick stepped to get in front of Marc and walked backwards, clutching his sketchbook and quirking a brow at his poofy haired partner.

Marc endured the stare only briefly, looking away.  Nate kept watching, a slowly growing smile as Marc grew more and more uncomfortable.  Finally Marc lunged for the sketchbook, "okay okay, shut up!” he groused.

Nate laughed, keeping hold of his book to keep Marc close, ”Well, you are a bit of a departure from Marinette wouldn’t you say?”

Marc cleared his throat and jumped topics.  “You know I’m missing the premiere leagues for this.”

“You can watch it on your phone can’t you?”

“Four inches is in no way satisfying.” Marc fussed, waving the offending device.  “You can barely see the ball.”

“Consider it a heroic sacrifice.”

“I’ll get even.”

Waking in the front door was a refreshing change, though still true to form Nate felt himself getting nervous.  The ride up the elevator had him fidgeting with the spiral on his sketchpad. At least Marc is learning to like her.  One hurdle down.  Now just… everything.

Chloé opened the door to her room at their knock and Nate froze.

Chloé froze in response.

Marc helped out by giving Nate a little shove in the back.

The movement sparked Nate’s brain into motion.  She was waiting.  Don’t screw this up.  “Hey Chloé, I like what you’ve done with your hair.”

She unfroze as well, the asking panic in her eyes melting over into classic confidence.  She turned, walking into her suite and flicking her ponytail.  ”Well, that just shows you’ve got good taste.  It’s just a little something I cooked up to get the creativity flowing.”  A black ribbon was woven into her ponytail, spiraled around, and her usual scrunchie had been replaced with a black one sporting two little antennae.

Another light jolt in the back got Nate moving again.  He cast a look at Marc who gave him a positively evil grin.  He didn’t have time to contemplate what it was before Chloé came sweeping back in from the sitting room with something held behind her.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.” she said, her eyes slipping from Nate to Marc.

“Does it involve you climbing on the table and couch again while you explain your idea to us?” Marc prompted.

“No!” Chloé shot back.  “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little dramatic enactment.”  Those sapphires slipped back to Nate for reassurance.  He offered it with a smile.  Two years ago? When had he dreamt of her looking at him like that?  Nothing was how young-Nate had imagined but it was exciting in a very different way.

She pulled her hands out from behind her back and presented Marc with a stack of papers, ”Here you go!  I told you I could make better heroes by the handful.  There’s everything you could ever want.  You can thank me later.”  Her voice was pitched with pure confidence and condescension.  Nate knew to watch the eyes though.  Did Marc?  C’mon, see it, see it.

He needn’t have worried.  Marc took the stack with care.  “I’ll check it out.  You two are on storyboarding tonight anyway.”  It was an absolute nightmare of cross outs, margin notes, hasty sketches, doodles, and a few cookie crumbs fell out from between the pages during the exchange.

The effect was instant.  Quickly as the walls had slammed down only a couple weeks ago, they melted away now with acceptance.  Chloé couldn’t hide the naked relief.  Her shoulders sagged with it.  Nate was halfway into reaching for her when she turned abruptly.  “One more thing!”  she descended into the sitting area and this time they followed.

Chloé picked up a remote and turned on the TV dominating one wall.  Chelsea vs Manchester United popped up on screen and Marc actually let out a small yelp of delight.  Chloé spun.  “I had them pick up every pay per view, all the sports channels, and a bunch of extras I was assured were ‘essential to the true fan.’”

Marc zombied his way towards the TV.  “I thought you hated football Chloé.”

That haughty drawl slipped back in.  “I do.  Chase a ball around a field getting all sweaty for nothing?  It’s ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”  She waved with the remote as she spoke, and seemed to almost come out of a routine.  Her voice fell out of the classic into something more neutral.  “But you like it, so I thought I would let you have it.”  Then the old Chloé resurfaced with, “Just not too loud, it’ll bore me to death.” but the smug grin that accompanied it held more play than bite.

Nate stepped into the silence Marc left by falling directly into TVland.  “Well, he’s useless for the next ninety or so.  Shall we get to work?”

Chloé pushed the remote into Marc’s hand, which woke him up enough to be mobile again.  She plopped down on one couch and Nate sat beside her, opening up his sketchbook.  To Nate’s surprise Marc joined them with a ‘budge over.” pushing him closer to Chloé.

He dove into his drawings with Chloé, the storyboards for their first issue.  It was a Queen Bee comic, surprising no one, but Nate had come to enjoy it actually.  It was insane, completely insane.  Chloé’s list of all the things Queen Bee could do had been extensive and overwhelming at first, but he’d leaned into it.  Drawing from the likes of Squirrel Girl he embraced the insanity and gave everything a comedic bent.  This wasn’t about wondering if the hero would win, it was about trying to guess the outlandish way she would win.  It was letting the reader pit their imagination against the author’s while enjoying the ride.

Nate and Chloé worked their way through panels and ideas.  Normally it boiled down to ‘more!’ from Chloé and Nate sketching in markers for upping the ante on everything from a flying car that needed six engines in place of two, to a giant robot that was also a dinosaur and a plane.  Then in the middle of it all, a completely unexpected event.

Chloé reached for his sketchbook.  “Oh, I like this one.  You’ve made me- made her look so heroic.”  She held it up.  “How did you decide on that pose?”

Remembering your battles.   “It um- just came to me.”  Nate reached for his sketchbook.

Chloé held it up slightly out of reach, still admiring the sketch.  “I love it.”

“It’s just- a sketch.” Say something better.   He wanted to see what Marc was doing, he needed that boost again, but looking away would be too obvious.

Chloé looked from the sketch back to Nate.  “Can I frame it?”  The smile was genuine, and it stayed.  No need to memorize, no need to grasp at a fleeting impression.  He’d made the girl who for so long knew only sneers smile with one of his sketches.

“I-” His mouth was suddenly dry.  “I can draw a new you- I mean a better you- I mean one, better one.  I can draw the Queen Bee character better.  I’ll use colors, and make it bigger.”  his ramble ran down into embarrassment and ended in a soft.  “If you want.”

Her sapphires were sparkling.  Chloé returned the sketchbook and for the first time as well broke the plane and touched his arm.  “Thank you.”  The words sounded alien from her, and precious at the same time.  Even Chloé seemed aware of it.  She pulled her hand back quickly and hopped to her feet.  “I know just where I want to put it!  I’ll measure the space right now!”

She bolted and Nate was left with utter confusion in her wake.  A chuckle beside him snapped him out of it.  Marc’s sly smile said everything.  Nate gave him a nudge.  “You’re no help.”

Marc smiled beatifically.  “I told you I’d get even.”

“Just for that I might ask her out!”

“Oh, please.  I’d love to see that.”  Marc was invincible.

Nate threw up his hands in exasperation then smirked back.  “Watch me.”  The reality of it clicked in the back of his mind though.  This whole thing was something that he had been moving through.  Chloé was a fever dream for a younger Nate.  One who had just begun noticing girls.  She was definitely a girl to be noticed.  Then the last couple years had stormed in and shattered teenage delusions.  He wouldn’t be here but for trying to help, but now he was here.  He was here and she was being… nice?  Maybe nice was too strong of a word, genuine.  Young-Nate’s dreams were resurfacing with embarrassingly vivid details.  But, he was with Marc now.  But Marc seemed to like her.  Did she like Marc?  Did she even like Nate?  If she did, he did, they did, then what?

Nate was saved from his doom spiral by Marc commenting.  “You know, this is actually good.”  He was flipping through the stack of papers Chloé had given him.  “I mean, it’s also a disaster, but it’s thick.”  He held up a page full of corrections.  “She’s got dates, places, lore.  This is worldbuilding on a level we haven’t even attempted.  These aren’t just analogs either.  I can’t pin most of them on existing heroes easily.”  Marc flipped through a few more.  “There’s material here to seed us for years if we wanted to.”

Nate couldn’t help tease.  “You really want to be around Chloé for years now?”

Marc was too ready, “That’s up to you isn’t it?”

Nate was saved from his ignoble defeat by Chloé’s return.  She stepped in and plopped herself back down.  “Meter square?” she offered.

Nate fought a blush and lost.  Too many thoughts were stuffed in his head right now.  “I can do that.”

“It will be exceptional.”  She broke the plane again, a light touch on his forearm.

Nate directed all his focus back to the sketchbook to save himself, but factors were rising against him.  With the seal off Chloé was leaning, touching, brushing, and moving against him with a casual ease.  On his other side Marc was spreading out in a way he never did, slowly taking up room and pushing Nate just a bit closer, a bit closer.

Her hair was soft against his cheek.  Not soft in a spickly way like Marcs, sleek and silky.  She smelled of a dozen different scents and products that all combined to scream the word ‘Female’ directly into Nate’s hindbrain.  Just say something.  Ask if she’d like to go to a movie.  Make it a group thing.   No pressure, no worries.  Do NOT stand up too quickly.  Think about football or something.  Would she laugh?

In the end Nate proved more chicken than goat, and never once veered away from ‘business.’  It wasn’t until late in the evening when they were saying goodbyes that he dared reach up and give the antennae in her hair a little wiggle.  What did he see in that expression when she closed the door?  What did he hope it was?

—------

Chloé sat rigidly at her seat.  Eyes forward, only looking down to check her phone.  She could hear the murmurs.  She was used to murmurs.  She used to relish them.  At least they meant people were focused on her, even if it was in rage.  Now, she knew it was for another reason.  No one had laughed yet.  Not that they mattered; useless all of them.  One did matter though now.  Well, two?  Only one in class though.

Sabrina was giving her the side-eye.  Chloé was not ready to deal with that particular knot yet.  She had the distinct impression letting the two cherries into her life was doing things to her, but she had no handle on all of what they meant yet.

Another whisper, another glance down at her phone.  The door opened and he stepped in, the Red Cherry.  He stopped mid-step when he saw her.  So, it was the moment.  How would he react here?  Chloé turned her eyes to him wordlessly and waited, waited to be judged.  Being judged was familiar territory, but something felt different this time.  There was more at stake.

Nate finished his stride and stopped at her desk.  Chloé turned, crossing one leg over the other, folding her arms, and trying to put on a challenging glare.  The challenge was out of her though, this was very nearly too much.  If not for Ivan’s arrival entirely blocking the door she may have run.  Nate smiled his timid little smile and reached up to wiggle the Antennae she’d worn to school for the first time.  “I like what you’ve done with your hair.” he repeated in ape of the first time she’d worn them to one of their meetups.  It was easier to do things as Queen Bee than Chloé Bourgeois.

His words washed all of the nerves out of her.  She could kiss him for them.  Kiss him?  The idea was not entirely new, but it had previously been confined to dreams of recent nights.  Kiss them both.  One Red cherry, one Black.   Those thoughts came from other dreams, if she let herself follow that path she’d end up squirming in her seat.  She focused on the one before her.  He was the one who spoke to her.  He was the one who looked at her with those watchful eyes.

Chloé bobbled her head in response to his words, setting her antennae wiggling again.  “You know me, if it’s not extra it’s not worth my time.”  She reached down into a bag on the floor and pulled out the other special things to mark the day.  “I wanted to celebrate.  The first run was delivered today.”

Chloé handed them up and Nate’s eyes went wide.  “Already?”  He flipped through the first issue of ‘The Adventures of Queen Bee.’  It was in full color, on thick glossy paper.  It even had that new comic smell.  Nate was beaming even before he got through it and to the book under it.  That one brought him up short.  “Chloé, what is-?”

“It’s an apology?”  What it was was his other comic, the Ladybug one.  Printed again with all the professionalism excessive amounts of money could buy, and at a scale it could buy too.  Nate flipped through the comic as Chloé waited in agony.

“An apology?” he repeated in confusion.

“For the first sketches… you know.”  This was harder than she had thought it would be.  The words were easy enough.  For him, she meant them.  It was going back to the memory, being that way again, having been that way with him.  Chloé realized she was picking at her nails and gripped her hands together in her lap.

He didn’t try to deny it.  He didn’t make a scene or a fuss.  He didn’t do a hundred other cliché things.  He just smiled that timid little smile again and said.  “Thank you.” with all the warmth she’d been drinking in during their meetings.

The pain of relief might nearly kill her.  She forgot herself and her location long enough to smile in pure gratitude for a moment.  “When’s our next meet up?”  Why was her voice so soft?

Nate tucked the comics behind himself.  “I uh- had been wanting to talk to you about that.”

Chloé’s heart sank through the floor.  No… it couldn’t be?  All for the comic?  Was that it?  No, he wouldn’t.  He couldn’t.

Whatever look had made it onto her face must have been terrible.  Nate flailed, nearly dropping the comics in a panic and took a knee, catching one of her now trembling hands.  “No wait, I screwed that up. No, not like that.”  He thumped the comics off his head in self-punishment.  “I’m no good at this.  I just wanted to ask if maybe you’d like to do something else next time?  Saturday there’s a music festival.  Kitty section will be playing, lots of other bands too.”  He added on the heels of the question.  “Marinette won’t be there this time.” in a whisper.

Chloé hated that he added that.  She hated that he was right to add that. She still hated parts of herself.   She still hated a lot of things about the world too.  This lovely boy however was not one of them.  She realized he was still holding her hand.  It was the first time he’d initiated contact.  She gave his fingers a little thumb rub and felt a giddy tingling in the bottom of her feet from the act.  “I’d go with you.” she answered.

He grinned, a little conspiratus grin.  He understood the distinction.  He understood quite a bit about her.  How she had no idea, but it helped so much, with everything.

Chloé gave his hand a squeeze.  “Will Marc be there?” she asked.  It seemed likely, and she didn��t mind in the least.  Twice the opportunity for attention.

“Not this time, but likely in the future.  Are you alright with that?”  He didn’t know?  Maybe he didn’t know everything about her then.  The thought was warming, still a few secrets.

“Well, maybe if he holds my purse.” she teased.

Nate gave her hand a squeeze in return and stood again.  “Careful, he might try to keep it.”

At his motion the world blossomed out again, the rest of the class existed once more, and scads of eyes were glued to the impossible scene.  They both snatched their hands back and Nate ducked his head, turning to hurry up to his seat while Chloé swiveled back to face front.  “Shut up, all of you.  You’re ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.”

Comic Book Nerds

[skylarstark4826]

“You sure about this?”

“Yes.”

“You sure you’re sure?  Because you’re looking more nervous than I have ever seen you, which is extremely endearing by the way.”

“I’m sure! I mean… It feels silly.  It can’t be that big of a deal right?”

“You’re making it a big deal.”

“I want to do it right.”

“Hey if I can manage it without a complaint, you’ll do fine.  We both know you’re the better kisser.”

“Well yeah but-”

“-you could have argued a little-”

“-but I’ve had a bit more practice with boys than you.” Marc finished and nudged Nathaniel.

“Is it really that different?”  Nate nudged back, then reached down to lace his fingers with Marc and give a reassuring squeeze.

“My dumb brain seems to think so.  It’s not for you?”

“It’s…”  Nate tilted his head back as they walked.  “I mean, it’s different people so it’s different but I’m not sure the plumbing really comes into it.  Not into that at least.”

Marc ran a hand through his hair and sighed for the hundredth time on their walk in.  “I wish my head worked like yours.”

“Really?” Nate quirked a brow at his boyfriend.

“On this at least.” Marc shot back, earning a grin.

“You find her attractive right?”

Marc gestured helplessly, ”Yes… right up until I remember she’s a girl.”

“How do you forget something like that?  She’s not exactly subtle.”

Marc was fighting with his words, a not unfamiliar thing for a writer, but it was so much more frustrating in this case.  “I just do.”  He knocked on the side of his head.  “My mind will be full of everything that’s happened since your hare brained idea and it’s an absolute thrill then some little gremlin in the back of my skull whispers ‘yeah, but she’s a girl’ and boosh, cold water.”

Nate gave him a concerned look, which only made Marc feel more sheepish.  “Has she been pressuring you for it?”

“No.” Marc admitted.

“Then why is it a big deal?”

“Because I should, we should, we have to balance it out.  I feel like I’m something she tolerates because I’m your boyfriend.”

That earned him another raised eyebrow.  “Is that how you see her?  Something you tolerate because she’s my girlfriend?”

“No!  I like her.  Ask me two months ago and I’d call you crazy but I do.”

“Good, because if you had just been humoring me I’d have punched you in the arm for letting it go on this long.”

“Oh like that would hurt.” Marc sniped lightly, trying to deflect from his own nerves.

Nate laughed.  “Well, I don’t think she sees you that way either.  She asks about you and actually listens to the answer.”

That was high praise, listening wasn’t one of her strong suits.  Marc gestured again, trying to approach it from another angle.  “I still feel like we’re not keeping up the end of the triangle?”

“I’m not sure that’s how it has to work.”

“I’m not sure how any of this is supposed to work.  It was your idea.”

“ This wasn’t any part of my idea.  I’m winging it.”

It was Marc’s turn to give his boyfriend an incredulous look.  “Are you going to try and tell me you weren’t plotting this from the start?”

“Fantasies do not count.” Nate huffed indignantly.

Marc snickered.

Nate let Marc’s hand go as they neared the school.  He shifted his books to both arms.  “So what’s the plan?”

That was the rub wasn’t it?  What was his plan.  Marc was at a loss.  Find some way to not think about her as a girl, as if that made any sense.  He wasn’t sure what else to do though.  He had a steadily growing and extremely well hidden folder on his computer as a testament to his efforts to get ‘into’ girls.  So far it was a wasted effort.

“How hard is she gonna laugh if I end up chickening out once I start?”

“Two months ago?  She’d laugh before you got close.  A month ago?  She’s laugh pro forma to keep up appearances.  Now?  She’d probably be wondering what she did wrong.”

Marc sighed.  They were at the steps.  “Maybe I can just get her to kiss me.”

“Does that count?” Nate asked curiously.

Marc scuffed his foot.  “Probably not.  Just.  Apologize for me in advance when you see her in class?”

Nate grinned.  “Chloé I’m sorry, but Marc’s likely to try and ravish you today.  Please stay near seating so you can swoon without hurting yourself.”

Marc’s eyes shot up but the grin on Nate’s face was just too open and amused to be angry at.  Instead Marc settled for stealing a kiss and whispering.  “For practice.” before turning to trot up the steps.

—-------

“There you are.”  She had Marc’s arm before the words had even finished registering.  Elbow hooked in elbow and he had to pick up his pace to match hers.

“Chloé, where are we going?”  It wasn’t the first time he’d asked that question, the odds of an answer were slightly over fifty percent.  Normally Nathaniel was here with him though.

She didn’t look at him as they walked, she was in full ‘go’ mode.  The antennae on her scrunchie were bobbing with every stride.  “Nathaniel said you were stressed out about something.  I thought a little retail therapy might be in order.  Lunch is atrocious today as usual.  I can have Jean pick us up something while we shop.”  A quick glance, a sideways shift of her sapphire eyes and a fey smile.

That’s all it took.  That energy, just the subtle cue that meant she was checking with him even if it wasn’t outwardly stated.  He could pull away but he didn’t want to.  He wanted to know what she had planned, he wanted to be a part of it.  He wanted to-

Marc stopped her just as they got down the steps.  He slid his arm out of hers but hooked his fingers in the crook of her arm, turning her.  Those blue eyes went wide at being checked but lips parted without the habitual rebuke.  Instead a question unspoken hung between them.  Caught out, unsure, perhaps a little nervous.  This is how he-

Marc swallowed.  Those were words he never expected to apply to the girl before him.  “Chloé, it’s not um- that kind of stress.  We might have the solution right- um- here.”  He leaned in just a touch.  Hesitation clawed at him.  Was Nate right, or would she reject him?

She.

The word clicked over and hung.  It stuck and splashed water on everything that had been building.

Marc drew back and only then realized she had been lifting herself up on her toes.  Confusion blossomed on her face and she settled back.  Another emotion grew there, one he hated to see.  Sadness?

Chloé shifted, crossing her arms and closing up. “Well, um, whatever kind of stress it is, just tell me I’m sure we’ll think of something.”  Her eyes slid off him, finding the school’s facade immensely interesting.

Marc winced, driving her back into that body language was not what he’d wanted at all.  “Look, I um.”  he rubbed the back of his head.  What did he owe her?  An honest effort.  “I’ve been thinking about kissing you Chloé.”

A further retreat.  She glanced at him only to roll her eyes and flick her nails.  “Oh yes, what a terrible idea that must be for you.”  She turned further away, back to him now.  “Nathaniel was going to be in the art room during lunch.  He’s working on some big project but I’m sure he’ll have time for you.”

No.  No, he wouldn’t leave it at this.  She’d come to him a beacon and he’d turned her into ashes.  Marc hooked her arm again and turned her back to him.  A fierce defiant gaze that did little to cover the wound behind it met his.  “Listen, Chloé.  I-”  He was near shouting himself.  Panic had him.  Marc forced himself to let it go.  He knew her well enough by now to know she’d only feed off it in her own negative feedback loop.  He lowered his voice but kept the emphasis in it.  “I want to kiss you.”

A spark, a glimmer behind those eyes.  She didn’t pull away.  The challenge melted into a defensive wall.  “But-.” she prompted.

Marc gave her an embarrassed smile.  “You’ll laugh at me.”

The wall lowered just a small bit.  She shifted her weight onto one foot, cocking her hip and putting on one of those classic smirks.  “That’s nothing new, so we might as well make it interesting.”

An insult without teeth.  Following Chloé’s mood was like following the thread of a story.  If you caught it, you could ride the flow.  “You’re a girl.”

She waggled a finger at him.  “Noticed that, did you?”  At least she didn’t laugh.

Marc did though.  The smirk had turned into a smile.  An insult had become a tease.  He laughed in relief.  “I’m trying to forget it.”

“Oh that will never happen.”  The walls fell in those eyes and Marc swore he could see the colors deepening in them.  She flicked his hoodie’s zipper with the tip of her nail, then dragged it down the zipper’s teeth slowly.  Tk tk tk tk tk.

That did… things.  Marc swallowed.  “It gets me all muddled up.  I want to kiss you.  I’ve never once wanted to kiss a girl.”  He wasn’t explaining himself well.  He felt like a child.  Could he retreat without causing more pain?

Her reply was a slow blink that left her eyes half lidded.  “Tell me what makes you want to kiss me.” she purred.

Moments blossomed into Marc’s mind.  He let them spill from his lips as penance for his confusion.  “The way you bite your thumb when you’re deep in thought.  The way you work around Nate’s shyness, so careful to avoid spooking him.  The way your hair catches the sun at sunset.  The fact that you’ve let me explain the rules to soccer to you five times even though they don’t stick.  That one time you remembered enough to yell ‘Manchester sucks!’ at the screen when I was switching between games.  That pile of papers I’m still going through for the comic multiverse you concocted.  That time you fell asleep across both of our laps during a brainstorming session.  The way you can drag us around Paris for a whole day of shopping and somehow make it fun.  The fact that I was so totally wrong about what was inside of you.”

There was more, but they were too close for words.  Marc didn’t know how they had closed the gap, but he felt her nails pricking through his sweatshirt against his chest.  Her perfume was overwhelming but in that it was also so quintessentially her.  The blue of her eyes was alight with a risked vulnerability.

Kissing a girl was something Marc still couldn’t wrap his head around, but kissing Chloé?  Suddenly that was easy.

It was gentle and lingering.  Her waist felt small in his hands.  When had he taken hold of her?  The prick of her nails eased as she leaned her slight weight into him more.  The kiss parted as she let herself rock slowly down off her toes.  She caught his bottom lip with her teeth in a parting show of bravado as she settled back.  Then she waited, watching him.  One hand curled against his sweatshirt, fingers clenching in an unspoken insecurity.

Marc was silent.  His writer’s mind was trying to put words, a narrative, descriptions to the moment and coming up short.  His fingers flexed at her waist.  She was so small.

“That bad?” she quipped, her own nerves finally cracking under the silence.

Marc had the perfect reply for that.  “Terrible, utterly terrible.” The emotion he put into those words earned him another gentle slow blink of affection.

A further moment of mutual relief and then they parted, the world sweeping back in.  Chloé affected a lilt and lifted her chin.  “Stress all taken care of?” she asked in the most disinterested of tones.

Marc laughed.  “Yeah but if you still want to do some retail therapy I’ll hold your bags like a good boy.”

She tilted her head in consideration then suggested, “we could pester Nathaniel into distraction instead.”

Marc grinned at the thought.  “Woman after my own heart.”  She hooked his arm again and back up the stairs they went.  Marc added, “thanks for being patient.”

“Only been waiting a month.” The light sarcasm was welcome, but the words absolutely baffled him.

“Really?”

“What?  You’re cute.  It makes everything easier too.  You’ve no idea of the pains I had to go through in all this too.”

He borrowed one of Nate’s arched brow looks at that.  “What?  Are you going to try to tell me you don’t like guys?”

She patted his arm.  “Learning to share.”

Operation: Kiss