Masterpiece Part 8

Masterpiece Part 8

Okay, a HUGE thank you to everyone who has been so freaking patient with this fanfiction. I know it has been months and school has killed me in more ways than one. I only have a week left of holidays so I’ll try to update again soon but no promises! To my usual NathChlo army, you guys know who you are and make writing this fanfiction ten times more enjoyable to write.

I know I missed out on NathChlo week last month because of exams and I was so upset that I didn’t get to take part in it, but seeing the comments from people saying that this was recommended for them to read during that week made my day!

Loads of love and hugs vanilla107 xoxo

Masterlist for Masterpiece: https://vanilla107.tumblr.com/post/162975990025/masterpiece-masterlist

***************************************************************************************************** Chloe swallowed nervously as she covered her eyes with her hands. “Nath…I don’t think this is a good idea.” He chuckled and gently nudged her on her back, signaling her to walk forward. “Just trust me. I’m not leading you to your death, I promise.” “That’s what every murder says to the victim before they kill them,” mumbled Chloe.

They were only a few blocks away from the ‘surprise’ Nathanaël had planned for her and quite frankly, Chloe was a little nervous. She liked being able to leave work early. She liked that she could (sort of) cook and she liked spending time with Nathanaël.

Maybe too much, a nagging voice whispered in her mind.Chloe clenched her jaw and Nathanaël looked at her, concerned.

“Chloe, I’m right behind you. I promise you won’t get hurt,” he said soothingly.

She shook her head and took a breath. “I’m alright ,today was just a hectic day. Y’know, grumpy customers,” she lied as she took her first steps forward down the street with Nathanaël leading her to the surprise.

Nathanaël was right about it being cold and Chloe was grateful that her turtleneck managed to keep some of the cold at bay. She huddled closer to the lilac knitting and walked a few more steps until she felt Nathanaël’s hand gently put pressure on her shoulder, signaling her to stop walking.

Chloe heard Nathanaël exchange a few words with someone and soon she sensed that they must’ve walked through a door because the temperature rose to a comfortable warmth. After a few more steps she felt her foot hit a step.

There was a tense silence before Chloe, in a low threatening voice, said,“No.” “Yes.” “You CAN’T expect me to walk up a staircase blind, Nathanaël!” “It’s only one staircase, it’s not that steep and besides, I’m right behind you aren’t I?” Chloe sighed and took a shaky breath as she slowly started to walk up the stairs. She could feel Nathanaël’s hand lightly on her shoulder as she walked. Chloe let out a sigh of relief when she got to the top. “We’re almost there, Chloe. Just a few more steps.” Nathanaël’s breath tickled her ear and she felt weird tingly sensations up her spine. She wasn’t used to him being so close to him. After taking a few turns, Nathanaël put a hand on her shoulder and she stopped. “You can open your eyes now.” “This better of been worth it, Nathanaël Kurtzenburg because that staircase- Woah…” Chloe’s mouth shut and her eyes widened. Staring at her was a gallery of Nathanaël’s artwork, all lined up in a row, colour bursting from the canvases. Chloe took a step forward and her eyes getting lost in each painting, taking her time to admire each one. The biggest painting was in the middle and Chloe swallowed uneasily when she saw it. ‘Rage’ was the reason Nathanaël became so famous and that same painting was staring back at her. Chloe could see the anger and frustration in the sharp strokes of black, burgundy and red. The colours merged in the middle to form a black silhouette of a boy with a single white tear running down his face and his mouth opening to scream. Chloe had only ever seen 'Rage’ in newspapers or on tv but seeing it up close was a whole new experience. She walked towards it and tried to keep her voice from trembling. “It’s amazing.” Nathanaël heard the tremble in her voice and took a step towards her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t want to make you sad. I want you to see what I’ve done. 'Rage’ got me started and look at that one-” Nathanaël pointed to a smaller canvas which had curly  soft lines in charcoal that got thicker and thicker. “-recognize it?” Chloe took a step towards the canvas and Nathanaël’s hand left her shoulder. Chloe cocked her head to the side and her eyes widened in surprise. “Is that…my bracelet that my dad gave me in high school?” Nathanaël nodded,“Yes.” “But that was years ago! Why would you draw it?” Chloe asked incredulously as she turned to face him. Nathanaël smiled and she felt her stomach do a little flip. “I still liked the design so I decided to draw it.” Chloe let her eyes wander to each art work. On her right was a painting of a girl with pink hair roller blading down a street lined with orange autumn leaves. Next to that painting, the smallest canvas, done in pastel, a small blonde and a tall raven-haired girl sitting at a cafe. “Hey, That’s Alix, right? And Rose and Juleka!” Nathanaël nodded ,a smile on his face. “That’s them, alright.”

Chloe inspected every single artwork with critique and nodded thoughtfully as she recognized them mediums he used.

“I like that you don’t stick with just one medium,” she commented and the red-head artist was shocked for a few moments.

“What? You didn’t expect me to know art lingo, did you?” Chloe teased and she smiled when she saw the slight redness on the tips of his ears.

“N-No! It’s just that I didn’t….Okay, fine! I didn’t expect you to know,” Nathanaël admitted bashfully.

“Daddy always had these artists come over and paint a new portrait of him every year. I got interested in the process and one of the artists taught me a thing or two regarding mediums, canvases, types of pencils and techniques on shading. I never got the hang of drawing or painting but I love seeing the process and results. Like here you-”

Nathanaël was speechless.

Here, he’d thought that Chloe had been an absolute talentless hag who didn’t know how to appreciate art in high school but…she actually understood some forms of art?

“Nathanaël? Earth to Nathanaël!”He snapped out of his daydream and focused on the blonde that was looking mildly annoyed.

“W-what? I’m sorry I zoned out for a second.”

“I was explaining how I liked how you used the natural light to get the shading-” “-I can’t believe you knew all this in high school and you still criticized me about my art! Why?” Nathanaël blurted out.

Chloe rolled her eyes as if it was obvious and gave him a look as if to say, ‘seriously?’

“Well, how else was I supposed to talk to you? I guess I was too…I don’t know, jealous of your work? I only thought about myself, Nathanaël. I thought I could paint but that turned out to be a failure. And even though your art was magnificent, I could never say it! I had already bullied you to a point where even if I did say that your art was amazing, you probably would’ve disregarded my comment anyway.”

Nathanaël thought for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, you have a point,” he chuckled before looking at his watch and looked surprised.

“Oh, it’s quite late…since my work is here I asked the manager if they would allow someone in after hours. There’s a little cafe’ downstairs. You want something to eat?”

Chloe grinned and nodded. The two walked down the stairs in comfortable silence.

“So, this is my one month anniversary surprise? Damn, you are one cheap ‘boyfriend’,” Chloe snorted as they walked to the cafe’ and Nathanaël smirked.

“What makes you think the surprise is over, love? And I must say that the blush in your cheeks compliments the lilac of your turtleneck,” he teased.

Chloe felt her stomach squeeze and she knew her cheeks must’ve gone an even brighter shade of red.

“You’re such a little shit, Nathanaël Kurtzenburg! And stop calling me ‘love’!” she groaned and Nathanaël laughed.

“I thought you liked being complimented, you have been complimented your whole life, right?”

That was true.

Being the mayor's’ daughter meant that people had sucked-up to her and always said the most sickeningly sweet words and she was used to that. But Nathanaël complimenting her was something else.

He meant those words and she knew it.

It felt genuine.

“Yeah…I have…but it’s different being complimented by someone I hurt,” she lied smoothly and thankfully, Nathanaël didn’t seem to notice as they stopped at the tiny but cosy cafe’.

The cafe’ had shades of dark brown and tan furniture. The scent of coffee and chai sent Chloe’s senses into heaven and she sighed.

They took a seat and ordered their food. There was no one else in the cafe except them and the waitress.

“So why did Gabriella ask about me this morning?” Nathanaël asked as he sipped his matcha green tea.

Chloe shrugged her shoulders as she stirred her vanilla latte.

“I think she must’ve seen you as you left and asked Mr. Shelley. She feels entitled to know everything and that’s why she was such a pest. I suppose you saying that you’re my boyfriend also peaked her interest. She probably didn’t think I was even capable of getting one,” Chloe grumbled.

“Well, you seemed to put her in her place this afternoon,” Nathanaël wiggled his eyebrows.

“What were those words again? ‘Nathanaël Kurtzenburg is the sweetest, kindest and most hottest guy I know. He is extremely talented and he is so attractive I might die! Did I mention that he would make an amazing stripper?’” Nathanaël said in a high-pitched voice. 

Chloe choked on her latte and Nathanaël burst out laughing.

“I do NOT sound like that Kurtzenburg! And those are NOT the words I said!” she growled which only made him laugh even harder.

The waitress arrived with their food and Chloe forgot about Nathanaël’s teasing for the moment.

“Hmmm,” she mumbled as she ate her panini.

“Y’know, you work at a restaurant, Chloe. Don’t you like the food there?”

“Filter coffee and greasy eggs got nothing on a vanilla latte and a grilled turkey and pesto panini,” Chloe stated as she finished her panini before spotting a flyer on one of the notice boards.

She walked closer to get a better look and smiled. “Oh, I didn’t realize that you were having your own gallery showing in a few weeks,” Chloe said as she looked at the flyer advertising his work.

Nathanaël ran a hand through his hair nervously. “I didn’t want many people to know. None of the newspapers know. Only me and the gallery and now you. One of the staff here must’ve put up that flyer today. Obviously, I’ll be inviting other people but I don’t want to be hounded by the paparazzi again.”

Chloe picked up a trace of bitterness in Nathanaël’s tone and walked back to the table.

“Well, it’s going to be great. I know it. You probably have started paintings for this show right?”

Nathanaël nodded as he finished the last of his panini and paid for the food.

“C’mon then. Let’s go home and you can finish them. I have work tomorrow so I got to go sleep…ugh…stupid Gabriella and Mr Shelley,” she muttered and Nathanaël laughed.

They exited the warm cafe’ and Chloe didn’t realize how much the temperature had dropped. As they walked home, the cold was biting at her into her bones and she was a shivering mess.

“Here,” Nathanaël murmured as he took off his jacket and laid it on her shoulders. She felt warm instantly and sighed as the cold melted away.

“Thank you,” she replied softly as they continued to walk.

They spoke about art and Nathanaël was impressed with how much she actually knew. Chloe, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the impact she had on Nathanaël’s artwork.

Sure, ‘Rage’ was a scream of how her torment made him feel and the other one was just a materialistic object…which did make her feel like crap but she was happy that Nathanaël found a release for his anger. They finally made it back to the apartment and Nathanaël walked Chloe to her door.

“Thank you for showing me your work, Nathanaël. And I’ll never repeat this again…and if I hear it from someone else…you are dead….but your art is fantastic. Some of the best detail I’ve ever seen.” Chloe grinned.

The redhead chuckled and smiled. “I’m happy I got to show you. Goodnight Chloe.”

“Goodnight.” Chloe unlocked her apartment door and gasped.

“Chloe? Is everything okay?” Nathanaël asked.

“Yeah, everything is okay…it’s just freaking cold…my window doesn’t close properly so it’s basically a freezer in here,” Chloe shivered as she walked over to her window and tried to close it.

Nathanaël followed her into her apartment and tried to help her close her window.

“Chloe, it’s no use. Your window won’t close and if we try any harder, it will break,” Nathanaël said as he looked at the wood indentations on his hands.

“Whatever. I’ve suffered through worse and it’s just a little wind…I’ll be fine-!”

At that moment, the sky crackled and it started to rain. Chloe looked out of her window in disbelief.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she swore as droplets started to wet her windowsill and floor.

“That’s it. I’m so done. I get that karma is a bitch but seriously?” Chloe paced up and down her apartment. “Why. Why can’t I have one night of peace?”Chloe tried closing her window again but failed and continued to vent.“Today was going so well! And then this-,” she points to the window, “-has to happen!”

Nathanaël looked at the furious blonde and chuckled.

“Why are you laughing! Do you like seeing me hate the world?” Chloe glared.

Nathanaël grinned and brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Well, I was going to offer if you wanted to sleepover at my place tonight but…I do enjoy watching you hate the world.”

Chloe froze and stared at him, not really knowing how to respond. Nathanaël smiled before turning around and walking to her door. He stopped and turned his head so that he could see her.

“You’ll freeze to death…or get hypothermia…or become a literal ice queen…but get your pajamas and your toiletries. I’ll get someone to fix your window later this week.”

Without another word, he walked out of her apartment.

Chloe stared at the empty doorway, dumbstruck. Had Nathanaël just offered to let her stay at his place again? She didn’t ponder on the thought when she felt the icy cold rain hit her back and she quickly gathered her toiletries and changed into her pajamas.

She brushed her teeth and pulled out her blonde ponytail so that it fell into golden waves around her shoulders. Chloe locked her apartment door and ran across to Nathanaël’s apartment and knocked.

“-Damn Chloe, I didn’t know you were capable of changing so fast-” Nathanaël said as he opened the door but was immediately shoved aside.

He looked at the blonde in shock as she ran to his bedroom and jumped under the covers. Chloe waited for her body heat to warm up the duvet and heard a laugh.

“Wow, Chloe. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you ran that fast.”

“Shut up,” she murmured and she heard another laugh.

There was silence before she heard him mutter, “Dammit.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked from under the covers.

“I forgot to pick up my extra blankets from the dry cleaners today so I don’t have a blanket to sleep on the couch-”

“Sleep here, then.”

Chloe had no idea where the courage say that came from. She had just asked Nathanaël to sleep in the same bed as her.

“You sure? I don’t want-”

“Nathanaël, this is your bed. I don’t mind…as long as you’re not a cuddler,” she warned as she peeked her head up from under the covers to look at him with a warning look but cocked her head to the side.

“Nathanaël? Hello?” she asked and snapped the artist out of his daydream.

“I’ve never seen your hair down before…it just took my by surprise.” he said carefully as he took in her long golden locks cascading down her face.

Chloe shrugged her shoulders. “Working at a restaurant and long hair do not mix at all, so I opt for a ponytail and during high school, I was the only one who wore a ponytail so I kept that style.”

Nathanaël nodded, still transfixed on how her hair flowed from her head to her shoulders. He quickly grabbed his pajamas and went to the bathroom, changed and brushed his teeth, to avoid staring at her for too long.

She looks beautiful, he thought as he yawned and finished brushing his teeth. Nathanaël walked back to the bedroom before stopping and chuckling. Chloe was already asleep, her breathing soft and her halo of hair framing her face.

Nathanaël never thought he’d compare Chloe Bourgeois to an angel but she looked…angelic.

He switched off the light and carefully maneuvered himself so that he didn’t touch her while sliding into his side of the bed. Once under the covers he could just make out Chloe’s figure in the dark.

“Goodnight Chloe. Sweet dreams,” he whispered before relaxing and slowly drifting off to sleep.

Chloe was still awake as he fell asleep and she quietly lifted herself up and looked at Nathanaël. He was facing her and his eyes were closed.

“Goodnight Nathanaël. Thank you for everything. Sweet dreams,” she whispered before planting a kiss on his forehead.

With her heart racing, Chloe fell asleep and dreamed of panini’s, paintings and the red-head boy ,who she was slowly starting to develop feelings for. 

me at every party all the time

Upon meeting the Agreste Twins for the first time, Chloé quickly developed a crush on Félix. Her affections were soon directed towards the other Agreste, Adrien. Upon meeting Chloé Bourgeois for the first time, Félix imediately disliked the girl. Adrien however found her quite amusing and the two were soon best friends.

Ok, I know that it’s  a diff language and all, but why does Chloe look like she’s saying something along the lines of “It’s all my fault”..

What if the real Hawkmoth is the friends we made along the way?

Oh my! *cue the happy tears* Jojo, you're too kind! :P

But for the name thing: Kasia ;D

Kasia…hm…I wonder where I’ve heard THAT name before? ;)

Okay, so I know this Kasia girl who lives in a totally different country from me but she’s the freaking bomb. She is a wonderful peach who always makes me happy with her encouraging comments on my fanfiction.

She is a beautiful human being and is a outstanding NathChlo shipper.