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It was supposed to make her feel better, turn all of her fears away. She failed. And now the only person she had ever cared about was paying the price. Marinette had told her everything, how the people in her life seemed to only care when they needed something, and Lila had hoped that her plan would make it all better, prove to her that she was loved by everyone. That they saw her like Lila did.
She was wrong.
And now Lila was here to pick up all the broken pieces of her love.
They had met when they were children, and it hadn't exactly been love at first sight, but it felt like they were drawn to each other, different parts of the same soul. She had wanted to calm all of Marinette's fears and she had failed.
Lila knew it was a risk, but she had trusted the friends Marinette always gushed about in her stories. They seemed kind and just and not the type of people who would believe a stranger with no evidence for the fame. And that was all her lies, things that she thought they wouldn't believe because one google search would disprove it. Honestly, saving Jagged Stone's cat? That wasn't even thought out, she said it spur of the moment, just to prove to Marinette that her friends wouldn't betray her.
But they had believed her, and forgot about the girl who was with them since they were kids, who always did things for them. But Lila hadn't given up, and that was the thing she regretted the most, because maybe, if she stopped, everything wouldn't have happened. Marinette wouldn't be sitting on her balcony, head buried in her knees.
"Hey... I'm sorry, for everything. I really thought that they would be better."
Marinette looked up, eyes puffy and red, "It's not your fault, I really thought that they would be better... I guess I don't know why I'm so sad. At least I won't waste any more time with them."
Lila sat down next to her, snaking an arm around the other girl's waist, pulling her closer. "Love... I shouldn't have let it get that far, I shouldn't have even suggested doing it, but... My mother is able to get a new job, in New York, she's been putting it off for a while because she knew I didn't want to leave you, but now... Would you go with me? I could get you a place there if you like?"
Marinette smiled, but it was faint and strained. "I'd love that, but would you be okay with leaving?"
Lila nodded, leaning onto the girl, letting her head fall onto to her shoulder. "I'd go anywhere if I could stay with you."
The other girl laughed, it was watery and chocked, but it still managed to make Lila's cheeks heat up, "You're a sap. I love you."
"Love you too."
***
Marinette had thought that the hardest part of her life would be dealing with her double lives, trying to hide her secret identity, and getting Chat Noir to stop loving her without revealing that she had already found the love of her life. Now, she thinks that those are nothing, because at the time she still had her friends, who trusted and believed her, at least she thought they did.
Now, the only person she had was Lila, who was amazing and loving, and the best girlfriend she could have ever asked for, but she had her own things, and then Marinette was left alone. Even patrolling had become a challenge.
So, when Lila had first offered to take Marinette with her to New York, she took it, she had nothing left in Paris, and Ladybug was a title, it could be passed down, to someone else. Maybe Kagami, she looked similar enough to her, and she had been trained in fencing. She'd make a good fit.
But leaving everything she had ever known behind was difficult, even if the normality of her life had shifted through the years.
It had hurt, when her friends abandoned her, it had been Alya first and all Lila did was say that she would get the other an internship at the biggest news station in Paris. That's all. Then the person she thought was her best friend had hung on to every lie Lila told as if it were told by a God. Then a conveniently placed comment on how arrogant Marinette was being and Alya was sprouting things that Lila hadn't even said. And then everyone was gone, because there was no way their resident reporter was wrong, because she always fact checked everything.
But Lila had made her feel better, she had even stayed the night and helped her pack in the morning because her mother was nothing if not efficient. They were leaving the next day, their flight had been booked (Marinette had looked at the tickets and they were sitting in first class, which was not the first time she wondered exactly how much money her girlfriend had) and everything was ready to go.
Her parents hadn't wanted her to leave, but understood why she had to. There were more opportunities in New York, and no one would miss the horse miraculous, they wouldn't even notice it was gone. So, she could be back in no time at all.
She had completed a final sweep of her room and was off to the store to buy some last-minute things when her phone buzzed.
Lila: Hey Love!!!!! :)
Me: Why does that smile seem threatening?
Lila: Come on! Don't you trust me?
Me: Of course I do, but not for this.
Lila: :(
Lila: Okay, so I might have done something...
Me: Sweetheart, Darling, Love of my life, tell me now or I swear-
Lila: Fine, fine, so. I had a little idea, called 'revealing I was lying so everyone would feel guilty'
Lila: In hindsight, I should have asked if you were inside...
Lila: Sorry :(
Me: Lila...
Lila: Honestly, I thought it would help, if you want, I could go to you?
Me: I'm outside the shop near mine, how long would you take?
Lila: Be there in five :)
Me: See you soon, love :)
She put her phone down, sighing. Regretfully, she knew her previous friends, and knew what they were truly like, with Lila's help at least. And she had done a lot of things for them, mostly for free. Dresses, hats, sunglasses, even decorations, they had asked and not taken no for an answer. They had asked and asked until she said yes. Marinette had never had the nerve to tell them to pay her, because they were friends and they always said that friends did things for free, it didn't matter how expensive.
It had been a contrast to Lila, who always paid her even if she said she didn't have to. The only one she didn't was the Valentine's Day gift. But, when everyone had found out that she was planning on being a fashion designer, they said they were paying her in experience, whenever she asked - which was only twice, once when Chloe had first asked her for something and said that it wasn't good enough quality to be payed, and the other when everyone had told her to stop paying because they were giving her enough already.
She didn't want to say that they were gold diggers, just that they probably didn't know the value of money. Sure, some of them had jobs, but those were things they liked doing, like Kitty Section. And Marinette liked making clothes, but it was hard to make something for everyone a week in advance, even if it was just hats.
It was very likely that they would try finding her, if only to hope that everything would get back to normal and they'd get free clothes and food.
So, it wasn't surprising when Alya rushed up to her, hugging her even though she was reeking of discomfort and tensed when she heard her. "Hey girl, I'm so sorry! Lila manipulated us; you can't blame us for that!"
Nino nodded behind her, a sheepish look on his face, slight grin making it's home there. "Yeah, we didn't mean to leave you alone, Lila's just really good at lying."
Marinette almost snorted then, because Lila had not put any energy in her lies, honestly, put less and less just to see how much the class would warp their reality to fit whatever she said. Actually, making up the most ridiculous lies was one of the funniest things she had done with Lila.
Adrien was there too, it was weird, seeing him. He had steered pretty clear of her when he realised that Lila was lying, maybe because of guilt, probably out of cowardice. He didn't want to be responsible if the truth ever came out.
Marinette didn't know if she was petty enough to ruin his life completely, but she did know that maybe she could do it a little. He was rich, he could buy the school, no one would say anything bad about him if they thought he would give them things.
"Hi, sorry, I have some things to do." She smiled, starting to walk away. She'd give them once chance to leave, because it was the polite thing to do and her parents didn't raise a jerk. Sure, it was mostly for show, but still, they couldn't say she was in the wrong if they didn't leave her alone.
"Are you sure Mari? We could help you if you like." The nickname made her fist clench because Adrien had no right to call her that after he left her alone for months.
She dropped her smile, "Look, I need to get some things done, I'm going on a little trip tomorrow and I have to finish packing."
Alya perked up, "Really, where are you going?"
"New York, it has some fabrics that I really need there." That wasn't really a lie, and it felt kind of hypocritical to find lies bad considering what her girlfriend had done, but that started off as a half-formulated plan when they were somewhat sleep deprived, and then it was sad, and then it was sort of fun, in a way. Mostly because she was sure that her friends were pulling prank, it wasn't funny when she realised, they weren't.
Alya smiled, but it seemed more surface level than anything. "If you want, we could go with you? I'm sure you'd like some friends there."
"Sorry, I don't think there's enough time to buy a ticket, and even if there was, it cost a bit, are you sure you have enough money for that saved up already?"
There was a glint in Alya's eye that she didn't like. "Could you pay for us? We'll pay you back!"
Marinette smiled, finding some form of joy in everyone's expression brightening. "No. I'm already bringing someone; it'd be rude to invite more people."
Nino's face tightened, but he never did know when to give up, "I'm sure they wouldn't mind, who is it?"
Marinette smiled to answer, but someone beat her to it. She wouldn't say that Lila had waited just around the corner to reveal herself at the right moment but she also wouldn't put it past her. "Me! Hello Marinette."
"Get away from her Lila!" Alya sneered, as if she hadn't been gushing about her just half an hour ago.
"Hi Lila, do you have everything ready for tomorrow?" She asked. She wondered whether she should have called her a nick name, simply for the confusion it would cause.
Nino furrowed his brows, looking between the two girls with a dawning understanding. "Wait, you guys know each other?"
Lila laughed, "Know each other? Nino, we've been friends since we were children. A little bit more if recent events are to be considered."
Adrien looked at her, confusion clouding his features. "You guys are best friends?"
She snickered, "Just a little bit more."
"You guys are together! But - but what about Adrien? And all this?" Alya shrieked.
People started looking their way but the glare Lila sent them was more than enough to make them look away.
She smiled in what she hoped was a placating way, but probably looked more like a sneer. "You're the one who said I liked Adrien, not me. And 'all this', you mean leaving me all alone because of flimsy lies and fame? Well, it was quite fun."
Alya and Nino looked like gaping fish, Adrien stood there with his cheeks red, "You like me?"
Lila rolled her eyes, "That's what you choose to focus on? And no, we've been dating for almost two years now, long before Marinette met you."
Nino stared at her in horror. "You..." He turned to Lila, something akin to hope, but more like desperation etched onto his face. "But what about everything you said?"
Lila smirked, "I just wanted to have some fun, is that so bad?"
"But you lied to us!" Alya spluttered.
"No, no. Don't blame us, you're the one who didn't trust your friend." Lila said, turning her back to everyone, linking her hand through Marinette's.
"That's not fair, I knew and you didn't tell me it was all one conspiracy plan?"
She glanced at Adrien, pity clear on her face, "Conspiracy? Look, Adrien, you knew, and did nothing, even when it meant I'd get hurt."
Something a little like reined in rage appeared on his face, but it was masked by hurt almost directly after. "You did nothing for me, you let me be tortured over abandoning my friend. You were never going to get hurt, and you just left me like that!"
Marinette sighed, trying her best to seem as sincere as possible, "Adrien, it did hurt that everyone believed a liar - no offence Love - against someone they've known for years. It hurt a lot, but I don't mind too much anymore. I'm leaving, all of this, all of you, I'm going. It hurt me a lot, and you don't care. You can hate me if you like but I just want to move on."
She shot them all one last look, maybe a plea to leave her alone, maybe a hope for an apology, or an excuse, but then she turned and disappeared.
She was going to New York and maybe, one day, she'd come back to Paris and see her old friends. Or maybe she'd leave them alone forever, maybe this was the final goodbye to the city she grew up in, her childhood. But she had the love of her life, and her parents, and her future.
And, well, considering the declining popularity of the Lady Blog...
It didn't matter, she wasn't bitter.
(Well, maybe just a bit.)