He walked home, clutching his art materials close to his chest. He ignored the icy wind stinging his cheeks, instead focusing on the footpath underneath him.

Tinkling laughter jolts him from his thoughts. He would know that laugh anywhere.

Looking up, he turns around, smile forming in his lips-

Until he noticed her, throwing snowballs at Chat Noir and laughing.

He was laughing with her, and it was painfully obvious. The way he looked at her was something Nathaneal knew well, having housed that expression on his face ever since he saw Marinette.

She had a smile on her lips too, and whatever was going on between them, it wasn't one-sided.

He turned his head away, the scene so perfect, yet so heartbreaking.

And he returned his attention once more to the footpath, and ignoring the cold tears trickling down his cheeks, he continued home, squeezing his art materials, giving him the only comfort they could.

Lila pressed her cheek against the glass, the cold seeping into her bones, freezing her heart. Her eyelids fluttered closed.

"Why can't you look after her! Since I'm the one who has to provide for everyone here!"

"You? I'm the one who goes to work every freaking day!"

The tell-tale slam of the car door was all she needed to snap her eyes open, knowing both her parents were in the house, no doubt arguing even more.

Tears prickled her eyes. She held them back. She couldn't afford to be weak.

Then she noticed them out of the corner of her eye.

Ladybug, placing a blanket around the shivering shoulders of a young child, probably akumatised. Behind her, Chat Noir looked on with a soft smile, with an expression that could only be described as completely besotted.

The envy, the monster, was there, bubbling in her stomach, crawling up her throat. How come Ladybug, the superheroine, the embodiment of good luck, had everything, while she had nothing? What made Ladybug more deserving than her? What made Ladybug more likable than her? Why was Ladybug more everything than her?

She opened the car door, completely ignorant of the tears, falling down her cheeks in waterfalls.

She slammed the door of the hotel open, ignoring the guard who winced in pain, rubbing his nose.

Chloe walked, making sure to sway her lips just right, making sure her bag was placed at just the right angle. She took out her phone, checking again, just making sure, that everything was perfect.

Everything had to be perfect.

She made her way along the Pont Des Arts bridge, making a point of staring at her phone, letting everyone know they were beneath her notice.

Until, in her phone's reflection, she saw him. Or more accurately, them.

He sat on the park bench, wolfing down the croissants in a way Chloe had never seen him eat before. She laughed, and he smiled at her wolfishly, croissant shreds still stuck between his teeth. Marinette only laughed harder, and he laughed with her.

Chloe hadn't seen Adrien so happy since...since his mother disappeared.

Part of her wondered what the heck Mari-trash was doing with her Adri-kins.

The other part, the better part, the hidden part, the vulnerable part, wondered if she'd ever be that happy. If she'd ever find someone who made her laugh that way.

She could feel the burning, just behind her eyes, waiting for the command.

Shaking her head angrily, she forced them back.

But not before a few splashed against the shiny surface of her phone.

She didn't wipe them away.

He observed his son's interactions with the superhero. Pink cheeks, shining eyes, beating heart.

He recognized the signs. How could he not? He remembered another place, another time, where he too had stared at a superheroine, decked in different colours, with blushing cheeks and shining eyes.

Before everything crashed and burned.

The cold part of him, the one that was born when she disappeared, wondered whether he should forbid his son from ever seeing her again. Barge into his room and command him.

He knew he would listen. Adrien always did.

But the part of him that she had created when she was here...wondered whether he should leave them be.

He wished everything could go back to the way it was before. Just him, her and Adrien. But that dream had long since turned to ashes.

He once again looked at his son. He hadn't seen him this happy, this alive, since she left.

He knew he hadn't been the best father all these years.

He had waited far too long. His son was moving on.

And, before he knew it, one lone tear slipped through his eyelashes and trickled down his cheek.

Now I feel sad. Thanks a lot, gods of inspiration! You just had to give me a depressing idea, didn't you? You even gave me a depressing title! *scowls at sky*

This was actually really fun to write, if kinda saddening. I never imagined feeling sorry for Chloe, but I think I've made myself pity her. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???

I even made Gabriel depressed! Gabriel!

You know what really bugs (PUN) me? There's the webisodes, right? There's one for M's thoughts on A (and a tiny bit of CN) and A's thoughts on LB, but...

THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS WHAT ADRIEN THINKS OF MARINETTE. NOTHING.

NOW HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF HE HAS A SMALL CRUSH ON HER OR NOT? HUH? HUH?

QOTD: Name a character flaw that Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir has...Puns and flirts don't count.