#morfossi

They're careful to maintain their distance; even in her mindspace, Chloé Bourgeois—Queen Bee—would never allow the comfort Chrysalis would offer their usual targets.

❝ It's painful that they still don't fully trust you, even after all this time. ❞ Rather than a question, they state it as fact; there is no need to wonder when they feel it, too. ❝ You try and try to prove yourself to them that you're different now, but you're still the last one they call, still the one being given lesser tasks. ❞

❝ I can give you the power to make them acknowledge you. Only if you say yes, of course. The choice is yours. ❞ They take a step forward now, cautiously placing a hand on the heroine's arm. Though their head tilts a little, their masked face remains ever passive. ❝ I only want to help. ❞

            𝐂𝐇𝐋𝐎𝐄  𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘  𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐒;  because  she  has  been  down  this  road  before  (  again  and  again  and  again  )  and  she  knows  how  it  will  end.  She  doesn't  want  to  be  the  bad  guy  anymore,  alone  with  no  friends  or  support  system.  Chloé  had  been  trying,  she  had  been  making  an  effort.  Her  friends  (  could  she  even  call  them  that?  )  just  needed  more  time,  didn't  they?

            She  hates  that  she  doubts.  Hates  even  more  that,  in  some  small  way,  Chrysalis  isn't  wrong.  But  Chloé  is  so  scared  of  failing  again,  of  letting  everyone  down  —  how  could  she  possibly  trust  the  holder  of  the  Butterfly  Miraculous?

            ❝  Ugh,  you  don't  want  to  help  me,  ❞  Chloé  snips,  rearing  her  head  to  glare  at  the  emotionless  mask.  ❝  You  want  me  to  fail.  You  want  me  to  let  my  friends  down  and  prove  them  right  that  I  haven't  changed!  You  ——  ❞  You  want  me  to  be  alone.

            Her  temper  rises,  not  just  because  of  what  Chrysalis  says,  but  because  even  the  enemy  thinks  she  can't  change.  That  she'll  fall  right  back  into  her  old  ways.  Ridiculous!

            Well,  maybe  they  don't  really  know  Chloé  Bourgeois  at  all.