Nathanael Kurtzburg - Tumblr Posts

Where is the Fanart?!!

It’s halloween. .. time for some ghoulish Miraculous action! Draw the Squad: Halloween Edition Can’t draw? Edit instead! #MiraculousHalloween This should be a thing... Draw Mari, Adrien, Alya, Sabrina, Nino, Kim, Alix, Chloé.. all of them..

Me, after reading MASTERPIECE.

Ok, I just read this fic and it I absolutely beautiful! Yuou should definitely check it out, especially if you’re into nathchlo! Or I you’re a Chloe fan! :)

So I had this idea...

It’s probably been out there already but.. Anyways genderbend Nathanael and Chloe.....

Nathanaelle and Charlie?

Nathanaelle

Shy artist girl

Red hair makes a statement

Low-key sassy af-

Is a softie

“I bet she secretly loves me, she just doesn’t know it yet.” - Charlie Bourgeois

Can’t stand Charlie

Art is life

Aesthetic is life, life is aesthetic

Band life brings forth life.

Charlie

Is rich af

I give Paris a reason to live

Adrienne loves me, she knows this.

But that Artist girt-

“You’re just an ass and you sadly don’t know it.” -Nathanelle Kurtzburg

Low-key softie

Is sassy af

Will say the first thing that comes to mind.

Hey look, an Idea...

These are rare and here we go..

So I was just listening to songs on YouTube a few days ago and I stumbled upon this Sabrina Carpenter song on accident but ended up having it on repeat On Purpose ;) (Get it? No? Okay...)  

So anyway, I just kept on listening to this entire song and had this idea just came into my for Chloe/ Nathanael, Mari/ Adrien, Alya/ Nino etc... To be at some sort of Masquerade Ball type and this song plays and everyone gets random partners and then they end up falling for each other. Anyways, so our three girls are besties and go out for coffee or something the next day and they’re all talking about the dreamy guys they met the night before of course Al, Mari and Chlo were prepared to hear stories of Alya and Mari thinking they fell in love, but no one, and I mean no one was prepared to find that Chloe “Never had a crush” Bourgeois to tell them that she fell in love. The trio is shocked and Aly decides that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and declares they must find Chloe’s “Lover and pinch him to make sure he’s real and then pinch Chloe and make sure she’s real.”

Our three guys are friends also and are completely shocked when they find that their quite artist of a friend somehow managed to actually talk to a girl, gotten her to dance and miraculously fell in love during the process as well.

Anyways that’s what was in my head.

@powerdragonmoon, @edendaphne sorry to keep you waiting <3 but here it is :3 now its 7 am and I need sleep,  also  BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY AMAZING FRIENDS WHO HELPED ME ON THE JOURNEY @minis-art @billystime and @faoghart you are the best TvT <3 

@krzed @vanilla107

CHLONATH WEEK!

June 11–17, 2017

Those of you who know me, know that I’ve been wallowing in the beauty of Chlonath for a good long while! And so in order to encourage more content for this pairing, staring June 11th we have some excellent prompts to last until June 17th!! Please join us in whatever capacity so show our favourite tomato and self-titled princess of Paris some much needed appreciation!

The Prompts!

Day 1: Bickering/Flirting Day 2: Honey/Tomato Day 3: Art Day 4: Rescue/Transformation Day 5: First Kiss/Holding Hands Day 6: I Hate That I Love You/I Love That I Hate You Day 7: AU

Please tag your work #chlonathweek2k17 and I’ll be sure to reblog all the content I can!! 

In the meantime, please feel free take a look at my chlonath tag to see all the amazing art that this fandom has blessed us with! And please we reblog this post to let others know!! As June gets closer and closer, I’ll be sure to reblog as much chlonath content as I can in preparation for the amazingess that will ensue! ^^

But children please take a moment to consider...

... are you the captain of the ship, or is the ship the captain of you?

Me Last Month: I’m going to write and finish my ChloNath Week fic a month early because I’ll be in tech.

Me the Day before ChloNath Week with one and a half chapters written:

Chloé: I give paris a reason to live.

Nathanaël: Really? So how come I die a little everyday?

Chloé: ...

Chloé: I have nothing to say to you Mr. Kurtzburg.

Nathanaël: Ditto, babe.

Chlonath Week 2017 Day 1: Bickering/Flirting  “Just Maybe”

Look who's late to the party... :’)

This wasn't going to be uploaded until my last exam ended, but I found some time and uploaded it today. Hope you'll like it!

She's a horrible human being, and as far as he was concerned, they shared nothing but bad memories together. Nothing good ever came from her presence, so why did this happen? How did it happen?

What could've possibly caused this? They barely spent anytime together, and any time spent together was mostly spent fighting.

***

"You're in my way. Move, Red."

"Chloé, the hall is huge. You can walk on the other side."

"You're still in my way, Red."

"Stop calling me that."

***

He ended up moving after a second. There was no reason to waste time having pointless fights with Chloé.

Maybe all the time spent with her wasn't that bad.They had their moments.

***

It had been a long weekend and Nathanaël was thankful to be bad at school. Not that he enjoyed it, but it was better to be at school than at home with a fever. Hell, what's the point of being away from school if he still couldn't draw? He'd rather argue with Chloé.

He thought too soon. She started walking towards him with a determined look on her face.

"Hey Red, it's not like I care or anything, cause I don't, but you weren't here yesterday or on Friday. So I had Sabrina copy these notes for you. But like I said, it's not like I even care or something, I really don't."

Nathanaël couldn't help but smile a bit at how flustered the blonde had looked while she handed him the notes. This was a new look for Chloé and he was enjoying it, perhaps a little too much. "Thank you, Chloé."

"Don't expect this to happen often. I only did this cause you're cute- I meant because you don't have an acute understanding of what we did in class since you weren't here and all. That's why I brought the notes for you, so you can have an acute understanding of what we did in class."

He thanked his lucky stars he was still slightly flushed from being sick all weekend. Well, maybe he was still sick. He wasn't really feeling that well this morning. He couldn't have heard that right, could he?

"Anyways, I have to go somewhere, but don't make me- I meant... Whatever, just be here. It's no fun to argue with Maricrap anymore."

***

She could be kind of sweet, in her own way, when she wasn't being shallow and insensitive. She was actually kind of nice, kind of. She's not really as bad as she makes herself look.

***

"Look Chloé, I already told you; the hallway is wide enough for hundreds of people. It's empty now, there's definitely space enough for the both of us."

"What's the problem? Maybe I just like your space, Red."

Nathanaël thanked his hair that day. It was his shield so Chloé couldn't see exactly what his face was, red. "Stop calling me that."

***

She was a little-or a lot sassy. She says the first thing that comes to mind. She has zero filter and zero chill. She had more pride than a peacock and an ego twice the size of the sun. And she may not act like it, but maybe she had a heart of gold.

***

"Nathanaël? Nathanaël! Are you okay? What happened?" Concern laced her voice as she ran towards him.

"It's nothing Chloé, I'm fine."

"Fine? Are you kidding me? Then why are you holding your hand like that? Let me see that?" He held out his hand for her to see. Chloé Bourgeois was not one to take 'no' in any fashion or form for an answer. "Right, you're fine. Fine my ass! That's a lot of blood for someone who's "fine." What happened?" She used her hand kerchief to temporarily bandage the wound.

"It's nothing Ladybug can't fix, really. The akuma had my sketchbook. I had some important sketches in there. I had to try to get it back..."

"Ugh! Stupid Red! I told you not to do that again, didn't I?"

"You never told me anything Chlo."

"Yes I did! I told you not make me worry."

***

Maybe she wouldn't have been his first choice, and maybe a little hard around the edges. Maybe they were complete opposites, maybe they were always at it with each other and maybe he thought she was kind of cute. But maybe he had a thing for her.

Just maybe, Nathanaël Kurtzburg had a crush on Chloé Bourgeois.

Chlonath week is amazing so far! Let's not forget the fic that brought me here... #Masterpiece

Me, after reading MASTERPIECE.

Chloé: I drew a portrait of you. 0:)

Nathanaël: I love it, but that looks like a mutant cabbage.

Chloé: That's not we rehearsed. :/

Nathan: I meant: It looks amazing honey. 0:)

Because I'm running extremely late on my contributions for Chlonath week... here's a sneak peek of my entry for Day 2

(I'm on mobile so sorry for any typos) School was long and usually felt like torture, but today somehow felt a lot worse. Chloé couldn't figure out what was wrong until she found herself looking behind her ever so often, or looking at the doors to see if he would show up. She just about lost all hope unil she heard someone rushing to get to class. She was hoping that maybe it would be him, but alas, it was the wrong artist that came in. Marinette, late as per usual.

Chlonath Week Day 2: Honey/ Tomato- "Little Stars”

It's late but it's here! I hope you enjoy it!

Ao3

Chloé was bored. She was always bored these days. Ever since she got her miraculous, she had been trying to change (for the better, of course.) But old habits die hard and she found that at times things would just... slip.

Nathanaël had been a victim to one of these unintentional assaults on one fateful day. He was just collecting his to go home for the day. He hadn't noticed Chloé staring at him whilst in deep thought.

'His hair is so red. Who even keeps their hair that red? Is it natural? It like a giant freaking tomato...'

"Wow, thanks for the compliment, Chloé. And yes, my hair is naturally this red."

'Did I just say that out loud? I can't believe I just said that out loud!'

"Year, I can't believe it either."

'I really need to stop doing that!"

"Yeah, you should."

"Don't tell me what to do. You have no right speaking to the Mayor's daughter that way."

She couldn't believe she just pulled the 'daddy' card again. She was starting to see why it used to annoy everyone else. Hell, even she felt annoyed with it. It was silent for a bit. She did not like that. It just started, but she was enjoying the little banter between herself and the artist and she wasn't ready for it to end quite yet. She was about to try and apologize but Nathanaël started speaking first.

"What does this have to do with rights? I was just agreeing with what you were saying. Moreover Chloé, I know you're the Mayor's daughter, everyone knows it. But you need to remember that in the end you're just the Mayor's daughter, you're not the Mayor."

He was so close. How did that happen? And how did she miss that he was taller than her now? And his eyes, she knew he had gorgeous eyes, but seeing them up close? Damn they were amazing. Was he having an effect on her? Yes. Should she let him know? Never. She needed to leave before he got the idea though.

"Point taken. But I have someplace to be and I don't want to be late. We'll continue this tomorrow, Red."

With that, Chloé strutted out of the classroom and made her way into the vehicle waiting outside for her. On her way out, she couldn't help but wonder who he was and what had he done to Nathanaël. He was still Nathanaël, she could see that. But he was no longer the same Nathanaël she could boss around anymore, she liked that.

She spent the next few months taking any chance she got to talk to Nathanaël, although they were usually arguing, not that she minded. It's just for fun. It was just for the pure enjoyment she got from their arguments. That was what she kept telling herself ever. Until one day it dawned on her that maybe that wasn't all it was.

Chloé was collecting her things to go home for the day. She was looking for one of her textbooks but couldn't seem to find it anywhere. She was so busy looking for the book that she hadn't noticed Nathanaël had entered the classroom.

"Hey Chlo, looking for something?"

"Not now Nathan... I can't find my textbook!"

"You mean this textbook?"

"Honestly, I have no time right now. If it has my name on it, then it's my book. Give it to me and move on. If it doesn't have my name on it th n throw it in the trash." She turned around, folding her arms. "It's pretty simple logic, shouldn't be hard, even for you, Red."

"First of all, stop calling me that, second of all, since you feel the need to make smartass comments, I'll just have to keep this chemistry textbook."

He was having way too much fun with this, much to Chloé's dismay. "Give my book, I swear-"

"You have to use your magic words, Chloé."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh trust me, Red, you really don't want to hear my magic words."

He pretended to think about it for a moment before saying 'Touché' as he handed over her book.

it was quiet as Chloé finished putting away the last of her things. It was quiet until Nathanaël broke the silence.

"Sabrina didn't copy those notes for me, did She?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That time I was sick. You gave me notes tha Sabrina copied, except she didn't and it was you, wasn't it?"

He couldn't have figured it out, could he? So she could just play dumb and maybe he would drop it, right?

"I know that you wrote the notes, Chloé."

So much for her plan. She turned to face him as she placed her bag on her shoulder. "How did you know it was me?"

"It was your book. It had 'Property of Chloé Bourgeois' written on it, and all the "I's" were dotted with little stars. The writing matched the one used for the notes, and all the "I's" were dotted with little stars."

'Damn those little stars!' "Okay, fine. You caught me, but you can't tell anyone, or I'll end you!"

He smiled. "Chloé, you and I both know you don't scare me anymore."

She raised a brow at him. "Really?"

"Really, and in fact, I think it's pretty sweet. You have your moments when you're kinda mean, but you can be really sweet, like honey."

Suddenly, she felt the need quickly leave the classroom. She chose the wrong day to go easy on the makeup. He couldn't see what was happening could he? She started walking towards the door, but stopped when she had her hand on the handle. "You're welcome by the way, for the notes. The day I gave them to you, you said thank you, and I never said it, so, you're welcome. Bye Red!"

She left the classroom so quickly that the words didn't really get a good chance to leave her mouth.

"You can be pretty sweet, like honey."

If it was possible, she started blushing even more.

It was in that moment Chloé had finally realized exactly why she kept on arguing with Nathanaël, why she enjoyed talking with him at all.

"Oh Chloé! Why did you have to go fall for the giant freaking tomato?"

Clonath Scene

Suave Nath: *Being Suave*

Chloé: ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME?!? : )

Me: Babee why are you doing the most just to ask Nath if he's okay... It's not like you like him, or do you? 😌😏

What She Wants

Ok so I've owed @krzed some chlonath for the longest time but I have been so busy and I've had the worst case of writer’s block. But here it is! I’m still not 100% proud of it but it is honestly better than what I have been trying to write these past few months.

Why?

The question had been at the forefront of Chloé’s mind for the last few months and she couldn’t think of any possible answers.  Why couldn’t she focus on anything for more than 10 seconds? Why couldn’t she stop thinking about her mother? And why would her thoughts keep shifting to Adrien and his stupid annoying little artist friend with his obnoxious red hair and kind turquoise eyes and his thin lips…

It was frustrating. She was frustrated. She couldn’t take this. These memories… The last time she had thought about her mother was ages ago when she was  briefly reminded about her walking out on herself and her father all those years ago. She hadn’t thought about Madame Bourgeois in over 10 years, and yet in the past few months she had found herself being taken back to a time when Mme. Bourgeois would brush her hair when she had been a little mean, and tell her that she shouldn’t let her actions define her. She was brought back to a time where Mme. Bourgeois would reassure her that she was loved even though most of her classmates couldn’t stand the very ground she walked on. She was brought back to a time when someone actually saw light I the darkness, when someone actually believed in her.

The memories were warm, but she couldn’t help but feel upset. How dare she be reminded of her mother? How dare she be reminded by her mother by him of all persons? Chloé found the situation utterly ridiculous. Of course she had called the one person she could trust with her mommy issues- Adrien. She wouldn’t even lie and said that he had helped her even the tiniest bit. “This is serious Adrikins. I keep thinking about him, which reminds me of her who reminds me of him… again!”

“Isn’t it obvious Chlo,” he laughed through the phone, “You like him. Just tell him already.”

“What the fuck Adrien? I’m trying to be serious here!” She couldn’t believe him, he was being absurd. “I’m just saying. But it’s pretty obvious. And don’t pretend to be so repulsed about the idea of liking Nathanaël.”

She had slammed the phone down on the table before remembering that it wasn’t a landline. Poor screen was cracked beyond repair. It wouldn’t even respond at all. Could anything else go wrong today? A rapid knock on the door followed by “May I come in?” She couldn’t say no. She was in his work space after all. He was being nice to ask. Of course he had to be nice. Of course he had to make her think twice before telling him to fuck off until she was ready to move. Of course every time it slipped and she said or did something he had to brush it off like she didn’t just offend him. Of course she had to feel guilty and of course he had to be a smooth shit about it, reassuring her, telling her “It’s not your fault Chloé, you were probably having a bad day.” 

What she hated was when he gently reprimanded her for her wrong actions. Who did he think he was? She was sick of it. She was sick of him. Who did he think he was? Calling her out for her bullshit but still not letting her feel like shit when he was done. Who did he think he was making her want things? She hates him.

“Come inside.”

She hates Adrien too. How dare he suggest that she liked Nathan? Absurd!

“Hey Chloé, I finally found the subjects for the final piece for the hotel lobby. It took while but I-“ He finally looked up from his phone and found that his temporary boss was staring daggers not so subtly at him. “Hey are you alright? I can leave right now if you want me to.”

“Shut up okay? What do you know about what I want?” 

Nath was a little more than shocked, and a little shocked. “Are you okay Chloé? Do you want me to get Sabrina or Adrien or-“

“Shut up, okay? I’m sick of you and your being kind and considering and understanding, alright? I’m sick of you caring and asking about my well being. I’m sick of you reminding me of the best few years of my life over and over again. I’m sick of it.” He had no idea where this outburst was coming from, and gosh, he wished knew that at least, since he had no idea where it was going. “Chlo-“

“I’m not done, shut up! And while we’re still on topic, what makes you think you know what I want? You want to know what I really want? I want to apologize for bullying you basically your entire life, okay?  I wanna like hold your stupid fucking hand and kiss your stupid fucking lips okay? I wanna lean against your stupid fucking shoulder and cuddle UP WITH YOU UNDER THE STUPID FUCKING BLANKETS AND HAVE STUPID FUCKING LATE NIGHT CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT EVERYTHING GOD IM SO MAD YOU’RE SO FUCKIN CUTE! That’s what I want okay?” Neither said a word. Chloé, because she was waiting for Nathan to say something, and Nath, he was just trying to process the new information. She was getting sick of the silence though, she only just poured her heart out to the man. “Say something, please.”

He smiled. “How about we start with dinner, Chloé?”

….

“So... how’d it go?”

“He fucking smiled then asked me out Adrien.”

Do you mind doing a Chlonath fic from a prompt I once read? "She's fine, by the way" "Yeah, I have no doubt. She's always been able to take care of herself. Even if she wasn't so sure of it"

I have lost track of how many years it's been since I got this request, but I really really liked it and I was finally able to use it!

This piece is canon-compliant only through season 2. So like, Chloe is known to be Queen Bee, but continues to be granted the miraculous every now and then.

cw: Depictions of anxiety and blood

--

“You should be nice to me. I’m a superhero, you know.”

“You’re half a superhero at best, Chloé.”

“That’s still a whole half more than you, Red. Or should I say ‘Super Nathan’?”

The air is salient with the scent of stale tile and antiseptic wipes, but a breeze from an open window carries the essence of fresh flowers from someone’s room. Somewhere down the hall, a monitor beeps a steady rhythm, almost soothing in the relative quiet. The idle chatter of nurses is ever present but ill defined, coming with the occasional laugh of coworkers at ease. Carts wheel by to deliver supplies, food, equipment, and they are not rushed, not hurrying to where their assistance is urgently required. No, everything is slow. Easy.

Is it the calm after the storm, or just the eye?

Nathaniel sits with his head in his hands, wishing he could be calmed by the atmosphere around him, but he still hasn’t willed himself out of this chair and through the door to his left. A whole 48 hours has gone by since he’d first brought her in here–since he’d found himself holding her pale form in his arms, breathing but practically lifeless, begging her to wake up while he waited for someone to come that would actually be able to help. He must have heard a million times that head wounds bleed a lot, but he really hadn’t anticipated–

A breath in. A breath out. Nathaniel forces himself to stop that line of thinking before it tumbles out of control again. He reminds himself that he doesn’t need to focus on that anymore. It’s over. She’s safe. They said she was stable and awake and ready for visitors–she’s fine.

How did he end up here? How did Nathaniel of all people wind up sitting outside Chloé Bourgeois’s hospital room, distraught over her well being?

“Is there any particular reason you choose to torment me so much?”

“You just make it so rewarding.”

By all accounts–including his own–he shouldn’t be here. For 12 years he’s been in the same class as her, and after all that time never has he learned not to let her get under his skin. She’s too good at it. Chloé is a master at the art of picking him apart, finding just the right spots where she knows she can do the most damage with the least amount of effort.

That hasn’t changed. Even with a timeshare miraculous, she still chooses to torture him–maybe even more so than before.

“What the hell are you doing on my roof!?”

“I should be asking you that! I’m the one with wings! If I’m not here, who’s going to catch you when your clumsy ass inevitably falls!?”

And yet, here he is–48 hours after taking her to the hospital, 47 hours after his first conversation with her father was the delivery of bad news, 46 hours after being told he should go home, 40 hours after reliving the trauma on the local news broadcast, 10 hours after giving up on sleep for the second night in a row, 2 hours after receiving word that she was okay, 1 hour after rushing through his shower so he could finally come see her, and 20 minutes after arriving and sitting down in this very chair–still unable to make himself walk through that door.

“It feels like I see you almost every day now, even outside of school.”

“You’re welcome.”

48 hours since the nurses had convinced him to let go of her so they could wheel her off to CT. The last time he saw her.

Nathaniel hardly remembers that first hour, but he also remembers it all too well. The memories are a jumbled mess of bright red blood and flashing blue lights, the screaming of sirens and the shouting of orders, bumps in the road and bustling of staff. All a blur, a mixed up collage in his mind, but every individual piece clear as day. The image of her hurt–already pale yet still bleeding, and only barely responsive–encoded in his mind’s eye in high definition, every little detail recorded down to the specks of dirt on her cheek. The exact series of questions asked of him in that specific gentle tone that made him fear more than anything else had yet because why would they speak so gently unless something was terribly wrong? The soft hand placed on his shoulder that did nothing to reassure him while he watched them rush around her unmoving form, dictating words that he didn’t understand, reciting numbers that could be good or bad–

A breath in. A breath out.

“Seriously, why are you always at my window?”

“Because you always open it.”

He knows the reason he’s here. It’s the same reason he continues to open his window for her, the same reason he looks forward to hearing that tap on the glass. He knows the reason he rushed to get back to her side at the first possible moment—and that’s the problem.

She’s so much more than just his tormentor–not just to him, but in general. She’s a person, with likes and dislikes, dreams and insecurities, and the problem is that he knows that now. Whether he wanted to or not, she made sure he knew.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because I want you to know.”

The problem–the real problem–isn’t what he’s going to find behind that door. He knows she’s okay. He knows she’s going to be the same old Chloé and she’ll greet him in a manner that’s either insulting or entitled or both, and she’ll demand his attention as if she isn’t already the sole reason he’s there, and he’ll let her, because–

“I don’t know how to do any of this. From the start I’ve just been fucking it up. It’s like you said; I’m half a hero at best–,”

“I shouldn’t have said that. And you shouldn’t have listened.”

“You’re just saying that because a girl is crying in front of you.”

“No, I’m saying it because a superhero isn’t giving herself the credit she deserves.”

…Because the problem isn’t what he’ll find behind that door; it’s what he’ll feel.

He startles as the door opens beside him, sitting upright and watching as Adrien walks out and immediately stops in his tracks. “Oh hey, I didn’t realize you were here.” He starts to reach for the doorknob again. “Did you want to–?”

“No!” Nathaniel snatches his wrist before he reaches the handle. The only thing he can think of that could possibly be worse than going in there right now would be Chloé finding out he’d waited so long.

Concern and confusion stare back at him in the form of green eyes. “Then why are you here?”

“I-I’ll go in eventually.” He releases the hand and sits back, hoping his outward appearance doesn’t betray the heart attack that he’s having. “I just…need a minute.”

The air between them settles, and Nathaniel knows that the moment would feel awkward if that was ever possible in Adrien’s presence. “Thank you,” he eventually says. Nathaniel looks up in silent question. “For bringing her in. I…” Never has he seen a look of such guilt and torment. “I should have been there, but…”

Shaking his head, he tries to reassure, “You can’t blame yourself for not getting caught up in an akuma attack,” but the look Adrien gives him says he has his own reasons for hating himself.

“...Right. Anyway, I’m just…glad you were there.”

Watching her take what looked like a fatal blow, getting knocked down from the battle and not getting back up, rushing to go after her while Ladybug and Chat Noir were tied up with the akuma.

“...Chloé?”

Finding her.

He swallows down a thick lump in his throat. A breath in. A breath out. “Yeah,” he finally says. “Me too.”

Adrien’s eyes sweep over him in quick assessment. “She’s fine, by the way.”

“Yeah, I heard the scans were all negative.”

“No, I mean… She’s fine. Not just physically. Y’know,” a gentle smile and a shrug, “she’s Chloé.”

“I don’t understand why you still open your window, after everything I’ve done. If you had any sense, you’d kick me out like everyone else does…”

“It’s true; no one gets under my skin or drives me absolutely insane like you do.”

“...So why do you let me?”

“You just…make it so rewarding.”

“Yeah, I have no doubt,” he says, voice soft. “She’s always been able to take care of herself. Even if she wasn’t so sure of it.”

Adrien voices a quiet but surprised, “Oh,” and Nathaniel looks up again to see green eyes blinking at him, taking in the details of his face.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just…” he trails off, still looking at him as if slowly coming to a revelation. “I didn’t realize.”

Nathaniel doesn’t need to ask what he didn’t realize. He looks away, feeling his cheeks heat up as he’s sure he just gave away the exact thing that he isn’t even ready to admit to himself.

“I’m gonna head home now,” Adrien eventually says, prodding with a gentle tone. “You should go talk to her.”

He nods and waits until the footsteps fade away before finally standing up. Anxiety wells up again as he faces the door. He knows as soon as he opens it, as soon as he walks in there, everything is going to change. Because he knows that after everything that happened–seeing her so near death, holding her in his arms, her blood soaking his shirt–

“Nath…Run.”

“No.”

…He knows that he can’t let that be the last time he holds her.

A breath in. A breath out.

Her head is wrapped in bandages, but her color is back and those blue eyes are as demanding as ever as her gaze falls on him. Chloé drops her phone and overdramatically raises her arms up in the air–clearly outraged that he kept her waiting, even if she doesn’t know the half of it–and just as he expected, the feelings slam into him before she even speaks.

“Finally some good fucking food!”

Fuck.

He’s in love with her.