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Lila grumbles as she presses her back to the wall. It was supposed to be an easy job, but security is way tighter than the briefing implied. Not that the system is high tech, but there are more private guards. Of course, a party just has to coincide with the mark’s stay at a hotel. Luckily with the help of TR-1x earlier, she found another entrance that was less heavily guarded. Unfortunately, her usual tools weren't enough to open it herself, so she was waiting for the astromech to do it instead.
“C’mon, Trixx,” she mutters, glancing around the corner nervously. No one has walked by yet, but that can change at any second. A small beep, and the door back down the hall slides open. “Thank the stars , ugh.” She jogs back down and slips through the maintenance entrance and dips back into the nearest shadows before scanning the room. As always, vents will be how she discreetly traverses through the building, and it being the maintenance area, well, there’s plenty of vents to go around. “Which one, Trixx?” She asks as the orange-accented mech strides in, the door sliding shut behind the two of them.
“Hey, who are you?” A voice calls out, “You shouldn’t be here.” Crap. There’s a teal rodian stepping out from behind a shelf in a work suit and Trixx quickly slides behind a crate. Lila assumes a friendly demeanor and approaches in an inquisitive fashion.
“Oh, hey! So sorry, I left a bag here from the earlier shift,” she says, “I spent all day fixing the power up so the hotel could actually do their fancy lightshow later tonight. You know how they only pay for the cheap crap.”
“Oh, yea,” the rodian answers, nodding as her posture relaxes, “These wires are awful . It’s a wonder they haven’t replaced the whole damn system.”
“It’s frankly an embarrassment,” Lila continues, shaking her head, “You’d think a hotel as nice as this would actually have good equipment, but as always the ones in charge like to cut every corner. Gotta squeeze every credit they can out of this establishment. But, hey, you didn’t hear it from me.” The rodian laughs.
“Of course not,” she says with a smirk, “Hey, what’s your name? We should try to get a shift together sometime. I’m Tandra.”
“Cute name,” Lila says with a wink, “I’m Revon. I’m usually here in the mornings. Hey, if it works out, maybe we can even get a drink after this whole party.”
“Consider me interested,” Tandra says, “Guess I’ll see you later.” Lila offers a wave before heading towards what she assumes is a locker room for the workers. Thankfully Tandra doesn’t seem suspicious and simply heads down another hallway, leaving the coast clear to TR-1x to glide over to Lila and beep annoyingly.
“Yea, yea, I took care of it. Now c’mon, which vent connects to the room?”
//
“No freaking way,” Marinette says, “I’m exhausted . I’m at the hotel to sleep, not to party.” She kicks her shoes off and collapses on the bed, sighing tiredly.
“Are you sure?” Adrien asks, “You’ve never been to Coruscant before, and we’re only here for one night. It’s only luck that there’s a party happening at the same night we’re here; it’s your one chance to have a fun time on the capital.”
“Yea, my one chance before getting stuck with you forever,” she grumbles into a pillow, but thankfully it’s unintelligible to her betrothed. “Yes, I’m sure,” she says louder, “Traveling was a lot. But you can go if you want.” Her fiance frowns, green eyes casting down as he listens to her response, but it melts away in a placating expression.
“Alright,” he says, “My father says it’s a good opportunity to network, so I’ll head down for a bit. But I’ll come back soon, okay?”
“Okay,” she says, rolling her eyes into the bed. Of course Adrien blindly follows the will of his father as per usual, even marrying Marinette when neither of them love each other. The business opportunity to be a part of the Agreste family was just too good to pass up, and marrying for love just was never really an option for those in the higher class. The Dupain-Chengs needed a business partner quite badly after their last one went down in flames, so here she is. And it sucks .
Marinette used to have a crush on Adrien when they were younger and barely knew each other. He had a gentle and handsome face coupled with a kind personality. But with more time spent together plus the practically forced-marriage, she’s grown tired of him. The boy is too naive and oblivious as well as complicit in the usual atrocities of a corporation. At first it was fun to get to know someone else, but with the whole betrothal forming out of necessity to help her family, well, she can’t help but resent him as well as the situation.
“Have a good time. I’ll be here,” Marinette calls as Adrien departs.
Finally . Sweet solitude. Marinette rolls over and sighs. This sucks so bad, but she tries to look on the bright side. Marrying into the Agreste family also means she might be able to get some sway in the Agreste business. It’ll be easier to apprentice under Gabriel and she definitely won’t have to worry about money, not to mention she’ll have easier access to resources to pursue her own passions.
But stars, she doesn’t want to marry Adrien or be given her dream. She wants to start her own line and do it through hard work, and maybe find someone who wants to share that dream too. She doesn’t want to join the Agrestes, not like this.
//
Like a blessing from the Force itself, the mark’s companion leaves the room as Lila clambers down the vent as quietly as possible. This one opens to the exterior, but it’s right by the hotel room balcony. She slides out and climbs over the banister before pressing herself against the wall again, waiting to see if the woman inside does anything else. A few minutes, and the woman draws herself off the bed and heads towards the bathroom. Yes!
She flicks out her tools and unlocks the balcony door (mechanical lock, thank the stars) with ease before slipping inside. Easy, peasy. Even a hotel as fancy as this doesn’t have that much of a security system.
“Fox-2, are you in position?” She whispers into her comms. There’s a brief crackle.
“Aye, aye, Fox-1. Right in the alley beneath you. Trixx just made it back,” a voice returns, and Lila smirks. Perfect, perfect! Once she and her partner finish this job, they’ll be able to take it easy for a while.
“Awesome. See you soon.” Lila crosses the room quietly and takes up position by the bathroom door, waiting for the lady to exit. She’ll knock her out, Fox-2 will bring the car around, and then they’ll be off . Who knew a job from Hawkmoth would turn out so easy?
There’s another few minutes as she masks her breathing, listening to the sound of a flush and then some running water. C’mon, c’mon .
Finally, the door opens, and Lila moves, cocking the blaster.
“Having a nice evening, madame?” She asks as the woman freezes. “Now, I’m a gentlewoman, so I’d like to give you the option to come quietly rather than by force-”
Lila doesn’t expect her to react so quickly . She looks like your usual noble in fine clothes, not like someone who knows how to fight. The woman— Marinette —dodges and her arm comes up, knocking Lila’s blaster from her grasp before placing herself a safer several steps away from Lila.
“How chivalrous,” the woman returns, holding her ground in a defensive stance, “Though I’m not sure you’d be capable of such a thing.” Lila blinks in surprise.
“Color me surprised,” she answers, “But also, frankly offended.” She whips forward with a jab and a kick that Marinette doesn’t expect though she barely dodges and answers with a few punches of her own. Lila ducks, their forearms clashing as they fight. The noble is much more a skilled fighter than she expected, with a lot more strength in her frame than is visible.
“Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” Marinette says as they both pause to breathe, “Why don’t you go ahead and tell me who sent you?”
“I’d rather not,” Lila returns, “Are you sure you’d rather not just come along?”
“Hold on,” the noble says, as if realizing something, “You aren’t here to kill me, are you?”
“Me? Kill something as pretty as you?” Lila says in mock shock, “Didn’t you hear me say ‘come quietly?’ You’re no use to me dead.”
“Actually,” Marinette says, “Maybe I will. At least, long enough to get off this planet.” Lila scoffs in disbelief.
“Yea? You think you have any say in what happens?” She cocks her head with a smirk, and Marinette draws a hidden blaster from her layered skirts.
“As a matter of fact,” she says, “I do .”
“Well,” Lila says with an exhale, “That’s something.”
“Hear me out, mercenary.” Marinette bends down to pick up Lila’s blaster while keeping aim with her own. “You help me get out of here, and I don’t get you arrested for attempted kidnapping. I’ll even pay you if you want.”
“That doesn’t sound like I have much choice,” Lila says with a raised brow, her hands held up, “but I suppose I know when there’s a better option. What are you running from?”
“Ugh, stars,” Marinette sighs, “I’m getting married to some boring boy for reasons, and I’d rather not do that.”
“Huh.” Lila looks Marinette up and down, reading the woman’s body language. Other than slightly labored breathing from their brief scuffle, she seems to be telling the truth. Marinette bites her lip for a second, and then flips Lila’s blaster around and holds it with the handle facing Lila.
“You seem like a smart woman,” Marinette says, “Work with me, and I’ll help you. I can probably pay you way more than whoever’s bankrolling this kidnapping.”
“Doubtful,” Lila says as she takes the blaster, “But the compliment is appreciated. That being said, I can’t say no to such a pretty face.” Marinette rolls her eyes. “I sympathize with your situation; after all, I’d rather not see your beauty get wasted on a man who doesn’t deserve it. Well, follow me.”
Of course, Lila isn’t stupid enough to take her eyes off Marinette, but it’s actually only a few minutes as Marinette grabs her things. If this is how she’ll get the noble into the car, then, well, she’ll do it. With her partner, it’ll be a two-on-one and they can deliver her to Hawkmoth anyway. The two step out onto the balcony.
“Fox-2, ready for pickup,” she says, and there’s a slight vrrr as a vehicle rises up to meet them. Fox-2 offers a thumbs up, but for a moment she does a double take before tearing off her goggles.
“Stars, what!” she exclaims, “Marinette, is that you?”
“What.” Lila looks between her partner and her captive.
“Alya?” Marinette says in surprise, “I haven’t seen you in forever!” Alya . That means Marinette isn’t making it up. She actually knows her partner-in-crime and fellow bounty hunter. In a move Lila doesn’t expect, Alya briefly climbs out to give Marinette a hug . Oh, stars, what is even happening?
“Oh, this is so awesome!” Alya says gleefully.
“Yea? You’re my kidnapper’s driver, it seems,” Marinette says as she pulls back from the hug.
“I had no idea it was you!” Alya says, “No way am I taking you in.” Lila sends her partner a vaguely betrayed look as Marinette steps toward the vehicle, though Alya doesn’t notice. Guess her plan to deceive Marinette might not work out.
“Well, you should at least take me out ,” Marinette says, “I am stuck in a gross marriage and I’d rather get out of here. Get me off Coruscant and we can catch up all we want.” Alya looks to Lila with a questioning look.
“You two know each other, huh?” Lila says, shoving her free hand in her pocket.
“It’s a long story,” Marinette answers before turning to Alya, “But your... partner agreed to get me out of here. Whoever she is.”
“Oh, definitely,” Alya says with a vigorous nod, “We should hurry up and get out before anyone notices we’re here.”
There’s an affirmative beep as TR-1x agrees with Alya’s words, and the three women pile back into the car. TR-1x and Alya together steer the car away from the hotel in a quick and easy getaway.
Marinette and Alya chat amiably in the front seats as Lila shakes her head from the backseat. What kind of coincidence is this? Hawkmoth is not going to be happy, but she supposes she’s good at disappearing when she needs to. It wouldn’t be the first crime lord she’s angered, anyway.