Chapter Text
“Hey there, Sunshine” Alya greeted Adrien as she approached him after school.
”Oh, hey Alya. I really wish you’d stop calling me that.” Adrien said, sitting on the front steps of the school to wait for his ride. Alya joined him on the steps and put on a fake smile as Lila walked up to them. Adrien didn’t even make an attempt to smile, but made no rude faces.
“Hi guys. I’m just waiting for Jagged to pick me up in a limo he bought just for me.” Suddenly, her phone dinged with a text. “Oh, he’s picking me up behind the school. He didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention to the limo. Well, I’ll see you guys later!” She waves them goodbye as her figure disappeared behind the school.
As soon as Lila was out of earshot, Alya growled “I can’t stand her..”
Adrien’s face was overcome by a look of confusion, puzzled by the sudden change in demeanor toward Lila. “You’re always gushing about her and her amazing stories. What changed?” He asked, hoping that Marinette’s “best friend” wasn’t truly a lot cause.
“Nothing changed” she responded. Immediately noticing Adrien’s sadness, she continued, “I haven’t liked Lila from the start. Any sensible reporter could see through her lies easily.
“Then why are you so rude to Mari? You’ve really hurt her y’know..”
”I promise it’s not my intention,” Alya stated, well aware of the toll Lila’s lies had taken on her friend. “I’m just doing this to get dirt on Lila. You know what they say: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
”But you’re not keeping Marinette close at all. In fact, you’ve been pushing her away.” Adrien said coldly, angry at Alya for what she’s done. He had gone out as Chat Noir one night on patrol, and heard Marinette crying on her balcony. Since then, he’s visited her frequently offering comfort.
Alya, oblivious to Adrien’s part in Mari’s life, just silently hung her head in shame. She then realized that she had been pushing Marinette away, and probably losing her trust as well. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that I was having this much of an affect on her. But” she said, perking up in preparation to tell Adrien her plan, “I’m trying to fix it. I’ve been keeping Lila close and keeping track of her stories to find some plot holes. Like when she said she had tinnitus, the ear that was infected switched. It’s the same with her sprained wrist, as well as she caught the ball Mari threw at her.” Alya rambled on about her observations as she laid her notes out on the stairs.
She stopped and looked up at Adrien, trying to gauge his reaction. Once he got over the initial shock due to Alya’s..um..extensive research, he looked up at her. “So you’re planning to bust Lila and save Mari’s reputation?” At Alya’s nod he began to scratch the back of his neck. “Well..I was going to take the idle approach-y’know-let Lila’s lies come back and bite her in the butt..”
At this, Alya rolled her eyes and got to her feet. Remembering what she told Mari at the beginning of the school year she said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.’ Adrien, I get it. You don’t wanna stoop to Lila’s level. But if we just wait for her lies to backfire, it might take a long time for justice to be served. And I think we both know that Mari needs our help now.” She finished with a gentle, understanding smile, hoping that Adrien would get it.
Before Adrien could respond, though, his ride arrived in front of the school. “I don’t know, Alya. I’ll text you later.” He said hopping into his car.
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Adrien: Hey Alya. Tell me what I can do to help you take down Lila
Alya: (•̀ᴗ•́)و
After chuckling at her own emoticon, Alya sent another message to another person.
Alya: Hey Mari. I’m sorry I’ve been kinda distant lately..friends?
Marinette: kinda??? And yea I think I can manage that
Alya: ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Marinette: ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ What is with you and emoticons???