[Narrator's POV]

"Teach me!" Chloe demanded.

"Chloe, kindness is not something that is taught. It should be instinctive." Nathaniel replied.

Chloe immediately shoved a handful of money in Nathaniel's face. "I'll pay you!"

"I-I don't want your money." Nathaniel said, flailing his hands to ward off Chloe.

"Please Nathaniel!" Chloe begged. "You're all about favours and junk, so help me please!"

That's how the conversation went down. Nathaniel is still extremely confused as to what exactly Chloe wants from him but she kept persisting so of course he had to agree to help her.

Nathaniel huffs. He is now waiting outside the girls bathroom while Chloe cleans up her post-crying makeup.

"So you want to prove to Alya that you've changed?"

"Yes!" Chloe's voice answers through the door.

"You shouldn't have to prove yourself Chloe," Nathaniel says. "You should just tell her how you feel. Tell her that what she said really hurt your feelings—"

"What so she can laugh in my face?" Chloe retorts.

"You're secretly very insecure aren't you?" Nathaniel responds.

"I feel no such thing!" Chloe insists. "Don't even say that word to my face!"

"I'm talking to you through a door." Nathaniel retaliates.

The bathroom door swings open and Chloe emerges looking stunning as ever.

"I'm not having some sappy heart-to-heart with Alya." Chloe says, crossing her arms. "Can't I just, like, buy her something?"

"You want to buy her something? You can't buy people's affection Chloe, that's not real friendship." Nathaniel replies.

"Money is the only thing I know!" Chloe cries, clinging onto Nathaniel's jacket.

"Okay, okay!" Nathaniel says. "Look. You need to do something genuinely nice. The bell has just rung for class, why don't you offer to help carry her books?"

"But they look so heavy!" Chloe whines. "What am I, her slave?"

Nathaniel crosses his arms.

"Fine!" Chloe groans dramatically before stomping off towards Alya.

Alya had been walking with Nino when Chloe approached them. She rolls her eyes and turns to face Chloe.

"Those books look heavy." Chloe says, sticking out her hand.

Alya raises an eyebrow.

"I want to carry them!" Chloe snaps.

"The last time you were in possession of one of my text books was when you tried flushing it down the toilet." Alya says.

"Schoolwork is shit anyway!" Chloe replies.

"Easy for you to say, moneybags. Some of us actually want to go to college." Alya says.

"So you want to go to college? I could totally buy that for you." Chloe tries.

"I'll earn my own scholarship, thanks." Alya says before walking away.

Nino looks at Chloe uneasily before jogging to catch up with Alya.

"Hey, do you think you're being a little harsh?" He says gently. "Sure, she may be Queen Bitch but I think she's trying to be better."

"You know how firm I am in my opinions. I'm not easily won over." Alya replies.

Nino sighs, thinking of Carapace.

"I told you Alya wouldn't be impressed by bribery." Nathaniel says as he steps up to Chloe.

"It was my last resort; she totally rejected my genuine kindness!" Chloe replies.

Nathaniel hesitates before patting Chloe on the shoulder awkwardly. "Er, don't worry. We'll try again."

"Thanks Nathaniel," Chloe sighs. "Would you...like me to help carry your books to class?"

Nathaniel smiles and hands Chloe a textbook. Her eyes light up as she takes it in her hands. At least someone appreciates her.

.

Time skip to after school

.

Alya stares at her computer screen as millions of comments fly through her blog page.

"The internet is going crazy over the new heroes after Ladybug posted that video." Alya says. "Everyone is demanding new footage, photos, even interviews. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to interview myself, I'm definitely not in the mood to interview Carapace, but I bet Queen Bee would love the attention."

Alya's fox kwami, Trixx, is lounging on her bed eating berries. "You sound troubled." She responds lazily. "Shouldn't you be happy that your blog is a success?"

Alya sighs. "It's just that...everyone wants me to unmask the heroes. All of the heroes. Finding out Ladybug and Cat Noir's identity has been my life up until now. But now I have a new life, a life as a superhero, and I realise all of the threat and responsibility that comes with having a secret identity."

Trixx opens her mouth wide and flicks a blueberry in.

"My two greatest passions seem to be clashing. I don't know how I'm going to pull this off." Alya says. "On top of that, Nino has been acting weird lately. We used to talk to each other about everything but I haven't had the time recently. I should be paying him more attention, something is clearly bothering him and he can't even talk to me about it. Balancing these two lives sure is hard...Speaking of which, I have a patrol to get to. Trixx, tail out!"

Trixx yawns before flying into Alya's necklace. Her body glistens with orange light as she transforms into Rena Rouge.

Cat Noir had promised Carapace that he would ask Ladybug to speak to Rena Rouge so for tonight's patrol Ladybug is going with Rena, Carapace with Queen Bee and Cat Noir on his own.

"Rena," Ladybug says as they hop from building to building. "I know you're a sceptical person but we're a team bonded by blind trust. Why won't you let Carapace in?"

"I don't know, I'm stubborn I guess..." Rena Rouge answers. "At first I was just feeling protective. You and Cat Noir are my idols but I don't know anything about this guy.

"I didn't know anything about Cat Noir when I first met him either but look at us now...unstoppable." Ladybug says.

Rena Rouge smiles. "You chose me, didn't you?...Can I ask why?"

"That's easy! You're really brave and courageous and head-strong—totally undaunted!" Ladybug says passionately.

"But that also makes me impulsive and sometimes...mean." Rena Rouge replies.

"You're not mean. Nobody's perfect, Alya, but that doesn't make you a bad person." Ladybug says softly.

Rena Rouge perks up at the mention of her real name. It feels strange hearing it while she is in costume.

"I...I've been thinking about giving up my LadyBlog." Rena confesses.

"What? You can't, you love that blog!" Ladybug protests. "No. I won't let you do it."

"But isn't it a threat to all of us?" Rena Rouge says. "I can't keep up both lives."

"I think it's a brilliant strategy. You can throw people off the trail and it's also like hiding in plain sight." Ladybug replies. "Of course this is your decision, but it's sad you know? Back when I first started out, I really doubted my abilities but you, my first ever fan, you always believed in me. The LadyBlog inspires me, it always has."

Rena Rouge smiles. "Who would've thought my biggest idol was my biggest fan."

Meanwhile...

"Carapace, do you know anything about impressing people?" Queen Bee asks glumly. Carapace opens his mouth to answer but Queen Bee dismisses him with a wave. "Eugh what am I saying? It's you."

Carapace frowns. "You know you might win people over by being a little nicer."

"That seems to be what everyone's telling me—but I'm trying! I'm trying as hard as I can, Carapace, and it's not working." Queen Bee slumps down and crosses her arms. "People just don't want to accept me."

Carapace sighs and steps up to the edge of the building where he sits down next to Queen Bee. "I know how you feel...I'm trying as hard as I can and yet Rena Rouge won't change her opinion of me."

Queen Bee looks at Carapace sympathetically. "I think she just didn't realise that her teasing hurt your feelings. I used to do and say nasty things that I thought were fun without even realising...The truth is, Carapace, I didn't used to be the best person. Well, no, that's wrong. Of course I'm the best person, I'm glorious!" Queen Bee stops herself. "But, but I did bad things for the sake of glory. I wasn't the best version of myself..." She curls her knees into her chest and lowers her eyes. "I'm trying to recorrect myself. I'm trying to change...but there's one particular girl that's just not having it. She treats me like I'm horrible, but I don't want to be horrible anymore. People can change...yeah?"

"Of course," Carapace says.

"Then...Then you and Rena can change too." Queen Bee replies. "I like being a hero with you guys. I get a fresh start with no judgement. Even though I wear a mask, I feel as though this is who I really am. A-And I'm not used to having a lot of friends, or a big family...but, but this can be like that, right? I-I can make my own family—here! So please, don't give up on her."

Carapace smiles and pats Queen Bee on the head. "I won't, as long as you don't give up on your civilian friends."

Queen Bee smiles brightly. Finally, she can see a future for herself. One that she can be proud of. Not that she would let anyone know that they've actually influenced her happiness in any way.

Queen Bee clears her throat and pushes Carapace's hand off her head. "Okay, but don't get ahead of yourself." She says coolly. "This hair is worth more than your miraculous."