Chapter Text
Chloé was not going to analyze that Akuma. Okay, yes she was.
Fucking furry turns you into a fursona and how the FUCK did she get a raccoon? She has a Bear Miraculous! Chat had gotten turned into a cat! Though given this morning’s revelations, that was his fursona long before becoming Chat Noir.
Shaking her head, she walked to lunch, since morning classes were over. She found the crowd around Lila. Not just their classmates, but other students as well. Marinette and Adrien were hanging back, as usual. Though she was surprised to see Alya also hanging back, somewhat conflicted.
“So,” Chloé said, sliding up to Adrien. “Jagged lose another cat on a runway?”
“They’re asking about the Rogue Hero,” Adrien answered.
“Why do they think Lila knows about that?” she wondered.
“Because Lila is ‘Ladybug’s best friend’,” he said.
The subtle sarcasm did not go over her head. Though Chloé had forgotten that particular lie. Mostly because she had decided to just ignore the girl and her drama, really.
However, looking at the way the other students in, even former Heroes, still hung on Lila’s every word…. Alya hesitating, looking at her phone with guilt….
Had Alya posted that? She wouldn’t be entirely surprised, given the entire Lady Wifi incident. But the past few months, Alya had stopped looking for Ladybug’s identity. Something she now realized was around when Alya had become Rena Rouge. A new understanding of identities and why they exist, though never truly sinking in until the last few days.
But if Alya posted that, shouldn’t Ladybug know? Ladybug did obviously check the blog, given that she chose Alya as a Hero. Shouldn’t Ladybug have told her, and her Teammates, the truth?
Who was she kidding. Ladybug didn’t even tell her Teammates the danger they were in. Why would she bother with this?
“Why would who bother with what?” Adrien asked.
“I need to work on not talking out loud,” Chloé sighed. “I was just thinking about why Ladybug never said anything to Alya about Lila’s lies. Probably couldn’t be bothered.”
“I… huh,” he said, a thoughtful frown. “I’m not sure why she never said anything to them. I mean, she was kinda mean the first time so maybe she thought it took care of itself?”
“The first time?” she asked.
Adrien flinched. That kind of ‘I said too much’ flinch. Instead of immediately pressing further, Chloé stayed quiet and stared. Wondering. Waiting.
“Ladybug kinda showed up on Lila’s first day,” Adrien admitted. “She yelled at Lila for lying about her. That’s why Volpina happened. I didn’t think much about it since I figured Ladybug would clear it up with Alya. And since Lila was Akumatized over it, Hawkmoth knows it’s a lie. Can’t do much about it anyway.”
“I mean you could,” Chloé said. “Word from a Hero means something even if it’s not ‘the invincible Ladybug’.”
“I- uh, this was before the whole Snake thing,” he said quickly. “Just me and Lila in the park. It was before any extra Heroes really so I don’t know why-”
He stopped and cringed. And expression of ‘just fucking end me’ on his face. Something Chloé usually saw from him around Valentine’s day.
“What?” Chloé asked.
“Just realized why that day bothered me,” Adrien said. “Kinda reminded me of those fangirls who crashed a photoshoot to yell at my co-models. I mean, yeah, someone needed to tell Lila not to do that but it was… a bit vindictive.”
“Ladybug is a fangirl?” she raised an eyebrow. “And decided that keeping you to herself is a better thing to do than, oh, I don’t know. Telling the Ladyblogger to take down an interview so Lila won’t be targeted by Hawkmoth?”
“I….”he tried to say. “Maybe? She probably has other things on the mind and okay maybe didn’t act the most rationally in that. I do think someone needs to do something, especially after…”
His gaze wandered over toward Marinette. And it was then that Chloé recalled the day the girl was nearly expelled. That was Lila, wasn’t it?
Hm. And wasn't that also the day Hawkmoth had tried for a second Scarlet Moth? Interesting. The thing that was more interesting was that when Lila got up to head to the bathroom, it was not Marinette who followed her. It was Alya.
Curious, Chloé followed as well. Unfortunately, both girls entered the bathroom. Damn. Not much way to eavesdrop there.
Or at least, 'Chloé' couldn't eavesdrop.
Slipping into a nearby empty classroom, Chloé called on her transformation.
"Inferno."
Ursa wasn't sure she'd get used to her body dissolving into flame. It was easy for her to slip into the vents. Her flames spread out, mapping the nearby area until she found the vent she wanted. Slipping back through and condensing back to herself inside one of the stalls.
Luckily, both girls were too caught up in their conversation to notice. Still, she kept her feet up on the toilet to make sure they didn't notice her there.
"I'm just saying," Alya began. "Isn't it dangerous to talk about how much you know? And being Ladybug's best friend…"
"It's fine," Lila said. "Ladybug wouldn't let anything happen to me! She's a Hero, after all!"
Ursa could hear Alya pause. Wondering how much to get into. Still believing the lies, and not wanting to shatter Lila's view of her "friend".
"Still," Alya insisted. "It might be safer for you not to go around talking about all that to anyone and everyone."
"I should've known this would happen," Lila sighed. "I know Marinette is sweet but the way she accuses me of lying-"
"Marinette has nothing to do with this?" She said, confusion clear but quickly shaking it off. "Lila, you're my friend. I care about you, and I don't want you to get hurt. Ladybug is- she's great. But she makes mistakes, and she can't be there all the time. I don't want you to get hurt."
Now it was Lila's turn to pause. It was a little too long a pause. And Ursa risked leaning forward to peek through the crack in the stall door.
Lila's face didn't seem enraged. Or scheming. She seemed… Surprised. Caught off guard entirely.
But soon that fake smile reappeared.
"All right," Lila grinned. "Maybe you have a point. But if you want to ask me about things Ladybug said, feel free to ask, okay?"
"Yeah," Alya nodded, sighing in relief. "I should let you go. Er, literally!"
She chuckled before walking out of the bathroom.
As soon as the door closed, Lila's expression fell. She looked… Sad. A more genuine sad than the crocodile tears she used to gain sympathy.
"Yeah, Ladybug's so great, isn't she?" Lila laughed. "If she was, you wouldn't give a fuck about me."
Ursa stayed quiet. Waiting until Lila left the room as well. Only then did she drop down from her hiding spot.
"Extinguish".
"Interesting use of my powers," Miizar mused.
"Better than string," Chloé replied. "And useful for finding interesting information."
"You want to help them all," they said. "Are you still going to take up Luka's offer for an ally?"
"If I could without endangering him, then yes" she said.
"Good," they said. "Because lucky for you, I know exactly how to do that."