#and how he hates chloe like she's the woest that ever happened

[theballadofmars]

I discovered what happened at the end of Miraculous Ladybug with Chloé so I wrote a little thing that could be considered alternative universe / ending for her that doesn't imply a fifteen year old living with her abusive mom.

If you're interested the text is under the cut!!

Chloé brushed her fingers over the table of the room. It was covered with a thin layer of dust, so different from the immaculate and shiny furniture she was used to.

This room was as big as her old dresser, and it only had the desk, a little closet and a bed in the corner. The window barely let the light come from the outside, and the blinds were grey and bland, tasteless, ridiculous. It was obvious that this was nothing more that a guest room, the place where people storage the old books that would never read, gym machines that they would never use or projects that they would never finish. It was the kind of room where people put the useless things, the objects that bring bad memories, the ridiculous ideas that you want to forget about.

It was perfect for her, because Chloé was definitely the most ridiculous, useless and hopeless person in all Paris.

"I did what I could, giving the short notice," Armand said. The former butler was carrying one of the multiple bags she had bring with her. He left the bag over the bed and smiled at her. He was trying so hard to smile since Chloé had appeared. Weird. He was the last person in Paris who didn't hate her. "I know it doesn't have the charm as your old room, but we can buy some cute cushions, new blinds, we can even paint it. What do you think?"

It would be lovely. It wasn't enough.

Armand was already doing so much for her... Armand should be doing more.

She wanted to thank him, she wanted to say that she was sorry, that he shouldn't be doing all this, but she was so relieved to know that there was someone that still cared about her.

She didn't say a thing.

"Oh, I also brought you something" Armand continued. He didn't look mad as his lack of words. With a joy that Chloé didn't understand, he took something from inside the bag. Her teddy bear.

Chloé blinked, not sure how to react. Was she happy? Was she sad? That bear was one of her most important posesions, but why would she need it now? Why would she deserve it now?

"I know times are difficult, Miss Bourgeois," he said, placing the plushie in her hands. She was shaking. "But thinks will get better. I promise. Now, why don't you rest while I make dinner? Today was a long day."

Thank you, Chloé wanted to said. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for taking care of me since I was a kif. Thank you for letting me stay here, instead of with my mom. I'm sorry that you had to resign your work at the hotel. I'm sorry that I'm being a problem to you. I'm sorry...I'm sorry...

But the words were stuck in the tip of her tongue. This was ridiculous. They were just words!!! She had said thank you and sorry before, so why was now so difficult!?

"Armand..." she started go say.

It was easy. It was easy. Everyone can do it. Everyone except her, apparently. Say it. Say it!!

"I...I..."

Armand is letting you stay in his house, he had always been there for you, he's helping you even when your own father said you were irredeemable!!! SO AT LEAST SAY IT!! SAY IT!!

Her intern monologue was interrupted by Armand's hand on her shoulder, the same way he did when she was little.

"Don't worry, Miss Bourgeois. I understand" he comforted her, and this was the last string.

Chloé started to cry, and she hugged the formal waiter like her life was on line. She was still processing everything that happened, she didn't know what to do, but Armand hugged her back like a father trying to protect his daughter from the rest of the world.

"I'm sorry" she finally said, in a voice so low that only Armand could hear it. Chloé wiped out her tears, and then repeated, this time louder: "I'm sorry! I know I messed everything, but...but...I can fix it!"

"You're not responsible of fixing your parents, Chloé," Armand said, and she couldn't stop the tears from running again. "You're only responsible from your own actions, but not theirs. You're not irredeemable. You're fifteen."

...................

That's it. Instead of staying with her mom, Armand adopts Chloé and tries to be a good parental figure, Chloé works on herself and goes to therapy.

Because if you're going to redeem Gabriel then I can write a better future for the fifteen year old with trauma.