I listened to Rena Rouge talk about how everyone was definitely my friend and not just taking her advantage of me in perfect silence. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't believe it. They would actually call themselves my friend? Genuinely, not just to get stuff out of me?

"You want proof?" Rena Rouge offers. "How would you be able to prove that?" I ask, confused. "Your gliders," she replies, gesturing to the feathers on my costume. "Give it a try, I've got an idea." "Okay..." I agree uncertainly. I can use these things to actually fly? How would I even start?

I jump up and try spreading my arms. Much to my surprise, it works perfectly. It's really that easy?! I expected it to be much more difficult. It's kinda like with Ladybug's yo-yo, I guess; the magic of it just kinda knows what she wants it to do and reacts accordingly. She once admitted to me that her aim is actually terrible, but her yo-yo somehow manages to course-correct itself every time, even if she's not specifically aiming for something.

And right now, my gliders just... know.

"Whoo! You're a natural, girl!" Rena Rouge grins. "Now hide under the balcony, okay?" I nod and swoop under the balcony. It still amazes me that it's this easy. The gliders are spreading out on their own, now, anticipating what I want them to do. It's as easy as moving your arm or your leg. The gliders have become a whole other part of me.

Once I'm out of sight, I listen closely to make sure Rena Rogue doesn't just conjure up an illusion. I don't hear any flute, just her calling everyone outside. Once everyone's joined her, she puts her plan in action.

"Do you guys hear that?"

"Hear what?" King Monkey asks in audible confusion. "Finally - silence!" Rena Rouge laughs. "Esme went off to mess around now that she thinks she's a superhero. Giving her a Miraculous was the best idea you ever had, Ladybug! It gets her out of here!"

There are a few gasps. "How could you say that about Esme?" Ladybug asks, shocked. "I thought you guys got on really well!"

"Well you've seen how she is with Chloé; we wouldn't get free stuff if we didn't act nice to her."

"Have you been akumatised or something? It's not like you to say that," I hear Carapace say. "Only because Esme's always here and never stops working her mouth," Rena Rogue huffs in an irritable manner. "And have you noticed how clingy she is? I mean, come on! It's so sad how she thinks we're actually her friends."

The heroes all exploded into an uproar.

"Of course we're her friends!" "How could you say something like that?!" "This is how you repay her after everything she's done for you?!" "What's the matter with you?!" "You're so ungrateful!" "You don't deserve her friendship, anyway!"

"So you all genuinely think you're friends with that girl?!" Rena Rogue scoffs. "Yes!" Everyone else shouts in unison.

"... Esme, that good enough for you?"

I fly back up and land behind them all. "Yeah..." I can't believe they all agreed so readily that I'm genuinely their friend, especially since they were going up against Rena Rouge. Aside from Ladybug and Chat Noir, she has one of the most powerful Miraculous. She literally has the power of illusion at her disposal. She could mess them up badly. Plus she was going through a hard time with Carapace literally five minutes ago, so I would've thought the others would be much more likely to at most waver on the fence or something.

Everyone turns to me. "Wait, what? What was that all about?" Chat Noir asks. "This idiot thought we're not friends with her, so I proved her wrong," Rena Rouge smiled. Everyone looks at me oddly. Like that's bad. Shoot, time to make this seem more elaborate than that was... uh... oh! Rena Rouge is smiling!

"And I got you to cheer up," I smirk, causing her to look surprised. "What?" "You were just smiling, Rena Rouge. That's not something people do when they're sad, is it?"

Then again, we've got a whole generation of people expected to do that, so...

Rena Rouge smiles again and heads over, hugging me. "Thanks, Esme. I know that wasn't really your plan, but thank you." "You don't know a thing," I tease, hugging her back. She chuckles at this. "Mm. Let's agree to disagree on that one."

I chuckle, then bite my lip when she hugs me a little tighter. I realise how close she is to me. Her hands are low around my waist, joined at the small of my back. Her chin is resting on my shoulder, our cheeks touching.

I notice Carapace watching us intently and slowly pull away, frowning slightly as I start to see some patterns from earlier. Just before he and Rena Rouge went on break, to be more precise. "Esme? Is everything okay?" Ladybug asks me, seeming to realise I'm distracted. "Yeah, I'm fine," I nod. And I meant it. I was just a little confused and admittedly unsure about how I felt.

"Are you sure?" Viperion asks, frowning. "You look... troubled." "Yeah, I'm fine, promise," I nod. "Just... thought of something. Nothing bad."

Everyone lets it go after a bit of hesitation. Well, except Rena Rouge. She keeps giving me those concerned eyes she uses when the others seem upset or are injured. She doesn't even realise.

"Hey, Carapace? Do you mind if I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"

"Uh, sure," Carapace agreed. Everyone headed back inside to give us some privacy. I feel kinda bad since Rena Rouge and I only just called everyone out because of me. Man, I'm the worst.

Once we're alone, I turn to face Carapace. He seems confused. "What's up, Esme?" "I was just..." I try to work out how to word this. If I get this wrong, it's gonna be super awkward. "... sorry if it's too personal, you absolutely don't have to answer, but... why did you and Rena Rouge go on break? Specifically, I mean?"

Carapace seems surprised, like he wasn't expecting this question. He bites his lip before answering. "Well... I cant really say much, but... promise not to tell the others?"

"Of course," I agree instantly. "You can trust me with anything." "I know," he smiles slightly, though it doesn't last long.

"... Rena Rouge and I... there's been... changes... it wouldn't work out between us anymore, if..."

"If...?" I prompt gently. "I can't tell you," he shakes his head. "She's still trying to work it out... it's not something I can say, that's for her to tell you if or when she's ready. And that's only if there is something that'll... er... complicate things..."

"Oh. Oh... is she...?"

"She... doesn't know yet. But I've seen her. I could be wrong, but I think she is. Or at least something like that... you're cool with that kinda thing, right?"

"Considering I'm 'something like that', yeah."

"Oh. Good. That's cool. That's cool."