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Destruction was not a concept most people truly understood. Most people thought it was just physically breaking something. Most people thought one could just fix what was broken, what was ‘destroyed’. Adrien Agreste was not most people. As Chat Noir, as wielder of the Miraculous of Destruction, he understood it on the most intimate level. To truly Destroy was to rend into nothing, to impart your will onto existence itself by removing that which no longer belonged. Adrien could do just that. At times he lay awake at night, talking to Plagg about what he could do. He learned that if he so wished, he could erase buildings, annihilate people, end the world itself with just the flick of his finger and the tiniest thought. If he really tried, poured his entire being into it, he could tear the very fabric of reality apart, reduce all of creation to nothing, and leave a void behind.
He learned that Plagg had done that to what came before this universe and how Tikki, Plagg’s other half, brought this universe into Creation. He understood that Destruction was a great and terrible power and, as any good comic lover, he understood the great and terrible responsibility that wielding it required. So, he chose to hold it back. He tempered Destruction with patience, with kindness, with love. He resolved to always be absolutely resolute in his decisions to Destroy. Which is why when he heard Lila say she personally knew the star of the film ‘To Mourn’, he asked her to repeat her claim.
“I said I know Emile personally. She regularly calls me and asks my opinion of projects she’s considering.” Lila said to the amazement of their classmates. He always thought that she was a talented liar, but he thought she at least knew how to cover up her lies. He would be begrudgingly impressed with how she managed to lie without even meaning to, if he wasn’t so overcome by rage. How dare she use his mother in one of her lies. He could feel the twitch of Destruction at his hand and decided, for once, he would let it spring forth. Lila no longer belonged.
“That’s amazing, Lila. Do you think you could call her?” Adrien requested.
“I don’t know, she’s very busy. Maybe I could try for something next week?” She offered.
“Oh, that’s a shame. I was really looking forward to talking to my mom.” Adrien said.
The class fell silent. Lila could feel the stares on her, her façade starting to crumble.
“That’s not very funny Adrien. I was making a sincere offer.” Lila said, trying to save face and shift blame. She didn’t want to hurt Adrien, but she needed to put herself first.
“Then you’re a miracle worker since my mother, Emilie Agreste, nee Graham de Vanily, has been missing and presumed dead for a few years now.” Adrien stated, an edge to his voice no one knew was possible for the boy.
“I- I didn’t-” Lila stammered.
“Didn’t think you’d get caught?!” Adrien said, slamming is hands on the table as he stood. If someone were to pay close attention, they’d notice wisps of smoke coming from where his ring hit the table. Lila tripped over her feet trying to back away from the one person she never thought she’d have to fear as he approached her. But she did fear him. The moment she saw his eyes, the absolute fury in them, she realized too late that she couldn’t just push him around like she wanted. Adrien was a predator, and now that she'd enraged him, she found his claws at her throat.
“No- I-” Lila tried to lie her way out, but no words came.
“Enough. I’m done with this, I’m done with you.” Adrien spat, walking out of the room. The class was still in shock. Despite it not being directed at them, they could feel Adrien’s fury and were wholly unprepared for just how suffocating it was. They’d never seen him angry before. They didn't even think it was possible for him to get angry. As their breath returned, Nino was the first to find his voice.
“How could you do that? Lie about his mom?!” he accused.
“If you can lie about that, what else have you lied to us about?!” Alya was next, reeling from the revelation she placed her trust in the wrong person.
“Going over previous data I’ve overlooked, almost everything she’s said has been a lie.” Max added.
“What’s wrong with you!?” another voice rang out.
“You’re the worst!” another spoke.
“Don’t ever speak to us again!”
“Don’t ever show your face around us again!”
More and more students accused her, each new voice like another blow to her. She knew there was no coming back from this, how could she? She lied about the kindest boy in schools’ dead mother. There was no coming back from this, she’d have to transfer to a new school and hope that news of this wouldn’t travel there. She was done.
Only one student wasn’t verbally berating the defeated girl. The same one who could potentially fix it. For the briefest of moments, Marinette thought about saving Lila. She didn’t know why, but she knew that whatever Adrien had done, she could undo. Perhaps it was just her nature as Ladybug, wanting to Create. She could rebuild her from the ground up, Create a whole new Lila Rossi. One that didn’t lie, that sought only to make amends for her actions. She could feel the twitch of Creation at her hand and decided, for once, she would hold it back. She would let Adrien’s wrath run its course and allow Destruction its due.
As the class tore Lila open, Marinette snuck out, casting one last look of pity on the girl before she left. She needed to find Adrien, wanted to make sure he was alright. She didn’t have to look long as she found him sitting on an open windowsill. She slowed her approach and noticed that there were no hinges where the window was supposed to be, just a blackened outline. Adrien’s voice took her out of her musings.
“Marinette? What are you doing here?” he asked. She steeled herself and took a deep breath. She would. Not. Stutter!
“I wanted to see if you were ok. Are you?” She inwardly cheered as she got the sentence out coherently.
“That’s very kind of you, thanks.” Adrien smiled and patted the spot next to him. Marinette carefully sat on the windowsill, waving her legs in the open air.
“How’s the class?” Adrien asked.
“They’ve all pretty much turned-on Lila. She was still on the ground when I left to find you.”
“Really? I half expected for them to be consoling her.” Adrien said bitterly, surprising her.
“I don’t think that’s possible. They were all pretty angry, though not as angry as you.”
“I wasn’t angry. I was livid.” Adrien explained. Marinette shivered. The way he said that made it clear Adrien could have done much worse if he wanted. Adrien joined Marinette in swinging their feet, occasionally bumping them together.
“So, I noticed you didn’t answer the question.” Marinette broke the silence.
“Which was?”
“Are you ok?” Marinette repeated. Adrien sighed.
“No, not really.”
“Not even after your take down of Lila?”
“That’s kind of the worst part. I'm glad I did that. It felt good to take her down but… I don’t want it to. I don’t like having to do things like that.”
“You make it sound like you could do that whenever you want.” Marinette said. Adrien gave her a sad smile.
“I’m… I'm a lot better at taking things apart than people think, Marinette. And I kind of hate that I don’t hate that.” Adrien explained. Marinette looked at Adrien as he gazed over Paris. He was still the kindest boy she’s met, but know she knows more as to why. He’s kind, not just for kindness’ sake, but also because he knows what the alternative is. He’d rather make friends and get along with people than fight them, even though he knows he’ll win. Just another reason why she loves him. Surprising them both, Marinette took his hand in hers. He looked at their hands in confusion before turning to face her and was met with a warm, familiar smile.
“It’s ok if you can take things apart. I’m pretty good at putting things back together.”