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When Adrien entered the classroom the first thing he noticed were the scowls. All of his classmates had equal scowls on their faces, like they were all upset about something but he had no idea what it was. Although with Lila being at the middle of it all with her crocodile tears, he could only guess it was nothing good. And definitely nothing real.
Lila’s lies have been going on for far too long, he had to admit. Marinette and he were both sick of it already and Marinette convinced him they had to do something to make their classmates see the truth and realize who Lila truly was. But it was easier said than done. This manipulator was too good for them. Maybe Adrien could cover for his absences as Chat Noir without messing up too badly but trying to catch Lila’s lies… it was tough. Every time Marinette showed the class any kind of proof, Lila managed to sidestep it and somehow blame Marinette for hurting her feelings in some way or another. And the class bought the act without second guessing their decisions even once.
To be honest, the whole was beginning to look a little ridiculous and irritating. Not only because Lila targeted Marinette, but because she also claimed such atrocious things their classmates could easily discover were false that it was absolutely laughable. At some point Adrien actually turned to face Max, expecting the guy to approach the obvious lies. But instead of using his brain like he usually did, Max followed Lila blindly, ignoring Marinette’s protests and Adrien’s silent displeasure.
While the duo didn’t have a plan on how to bring Lila’s lies into the light, Adrien did spend his time defending Marinette from both Lila and their classmates who grew more and more irritated with her thanks to Lila’s stories. Seriously, how could they not see how wrong it all was? Since when was Marinette capable of bullying anyone? Of course she had her faults, but she was still the kindest person Adrien’s ever met. He wanted to laugh in their faces. Or cry from frustration.
And now they all looked pissed and he had no idea why. Looking around he realized Marinette was still not around, which wasn’t really surprising seeing as she was usually late to class, but for some reason Adrien had the feeling this time she really needed to show up on time to hear what was going on and be ready. Because whenever Lila looked like THAT, she had a plan against Marinette. And by the looks of it, the class was entirely wrapped around her finger, ready to obey her every demand.
“I just c-can’t believe she w-would do s-s-such a thing.” Lila wailed. She covered her eyes with both hands. While the rest of the class saw this as a way of covering her tears from them, Adrien knew it was to hide the lack of salt water leaking from her eyes. He stepped closer to hear the conversation better and received a grieving glance from Nino. “I-I mean… I k-know s-she doesn’t like m-me, but I n-never thought she’d a-actually a-a-attack me!”
Siding beside Nino, Adrien gave him an unimpressed look. “What happened?”
Shaking his head solemnly, Nino looked down. “Dude, Marinette ambushed Lila and assaulted her. Like, beat her up.” He sounded almost like he himself was hurt by the words coming out of his mouth. Adrien could only glare at his forehead, rage filling his mind. “I never expected Marinette would do anything like this.”
Rolling his eyes, Adrien scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m sure she didn’t.” He said. Lila immediately turned to face him, her face screwed in a way that looked like she was suffering but there was a glint in her eyes. Something dark and merciless. Something he didn’t like at all.
Lip trembling to really sell the show, Lila gaped at him, seemingly speechless. “A-Adrien, are you c-calling me a l-liar too now?” She got up with a fake wince as if stepping on her leg hurt her. But she braved through it (as if) to walk up to Adrien, her hands immediately latching onto him. “D-did she g-get to y-you too? D-did s-she threaten you??”
There was a loud gasp from the people around them and Adrien had to suppress a groan. He shoved Lila away from him and didn’t care when she stumbled a bit, trying to regain her posture. The class all glared at him or gasped in shock at his lack of carefulness, but he just ignored them in favor of staring at the liar herself.
“Lila, I don’t know how long it would take for them to realize that, but until that happens, remember that I know the truth and I know you’re lying. I don’t trust anything that comes out of your mouth.” He looked around, trying to get through his friends’ thick minds. “Marinette hasn’t even arrived yet! Look around, she isn’t here.” He watched as they just shook their heads at him, clearly worried more than upset now.
Alya approached him carefully, like he was a scared kitten, ready to pounce. “Adrien, you can tell us if Marinette talked you into defending her. It’s okay. We know she’s changed and that she attacked Lila. There’s no need in hiding the truth anymore.” She almost sounded heartbroken. “Lila told us about how she sexually assaulted you the other day. It’s okay, we’ll talk to Ms. Bustier and she will never bother you ever again.”
His jaw dropped to the floor and he could only stare at Alya. Alya, Marinette’s best friend. Or the person who used to hold this position. How could the girl who was closest to Marinette be so blind? How could she believe such horrible things about her friend? After everything they’ve been through, he could only gape at her in disbelief, his heart aching for Marinette.
A squeak from behind him broke the spell, though. He turned sharply around and noticed Marinette’s wide, terrified eyes filled with tears a moment before she turned around and stormed out of the classroom, her steps echoing down the hall. Alya’s scowl deepened and she turned back to Adrien, a soft, reassuring smile on her face.
“Don’t worry. She won’t get to you again. We’ll talk to Ms. Bustier and she’ll handle everything from there. No one is going to get hurt anymore after that, I – “
“Shut up.” Adrien stepped away from her and glared at all the classmates he once considered friends. He just couldn’t believe his ‘friends’ would side with Lila instead of the person who grew up with them. The kind girl who’s always been there for them. Everyday Ladybug, was she? “All of you need to open your eyes and get a grip of yourself. How can you think so little of Marinette? Just because someone comes to you with stories about awful things that happened, you just drop years of friendship to side with a pathological liar? Marinette never hurt me and I bet she never hurt Lila either. It’s all just an act, a lie. She uses all of you and Marinette is the one suffering from this sick, twisted game. So get a grip and look for proof instead of just believing everything some stranger tells you, would you.” And he turned towards the door.
He didn’t even reach the handle before it slammed in his face. When he tried to open it he realized it was locked. The class were all stunned into silence. But it wasn’t because of the sound of the door shutting. It was because of the figure that entered the room through one of the windows. Adrien’s head told him it was an Akuma. His heart screamed Marinette’s name.
She had tears painted on her face delicately, the color sparkling. Instead of her usual clothes, she wore a dress that reached her knees. It was red with black spots and with the red ribbons in her pigtails and spotted boots, she almost resembled Ladybug in a weird, disturbing way that made Adrien gulp loudly. A look at her waist revealed a yoyo, one that matched Ladybug’s. Seriously, Adrien wanted to cry.
The Akuma stepped forward, eyeing the class as they all cowered away from her. Lila hid behind Alya and Rose, clearly trying to stay out of sight. The Akuma’s watery, icy gaze lingered on Rose and Alya as if knowing who was behind them before she turned to look directly at Adrien, her eyes softening a bit. “I’m sorry.”
Blinking at her, he could almost feel her pain flowing towards him. But instead of beginning to cry in agony, he pressed his lips together and walked towards her. She looked at him in a way that couldn’t possibly mean she was going to hurt him. She apologized, surely she wouldn’t do anything to him… right?
“Marinette, I know you’re hurt. Believe me, I know. But please don’t listen to Hawkmoth. He’s using you, he doesn’t really care about how you feel. He doesn’t want to help you.” He reached out his hand and smiled a little when she grabbed it lightly, her lean fingers holding into him like she was afraid he was nothing but an illusion. “You don’t need his help to get through this.” Once he was close enough to her and out of earshot from the others, he swallowed and looked into her eyes. “I don’t want to fight you, princess.”
For a moment her eyes widened in shock but then she smiled sadly at him and shook her head. “Silly kitty…” She murmured softly and then let go of his hand. With a jolt he realized she grabbed his ring. The silver jewel changed its color back to black, revealing the true form of the Miraculous. Marinette stared at it for a moment and then stepped away from Adrien. “My name is Agonette. And I can’t let Chat Noir get in the middle of this.”
There were whispered murmurs behind Adrien’s back that quieted down the moment Marinette – no. Agonette – stepped closer to the group of teenagers. Some of them stared at Adrien like it was the first time they’ve seen him. Some shook with fear in their places under Agonette’s intense gaze. The one to step forward, though, was Alya.
“Ladybug would still come and stop you.” She declared. “She would never let an Akuma roam free, especially if the Akuma was after her best friend.” She gestured towards Lila who shakily nodded, clearly trying to stay in character while also feeling trapped.
To everyone’s surprise, Agonette chuckled at Alya’s exclaim, her icy eyes twinkling with both anger and mirth. “Check your sources again, Alya. Lila and Ladybug are NOT friends. They’re more like enemies. With and without the mask, they would never get along. Because I would never befriend a liar, especially one who enjoys seeing others suffer.” She smiled innocently and flicked her ear gently, showing off a dark pair of earrings that Adrien’s seen hundreds of times before. They didn’t look like Ladybug’s without the red and black pattern but if his ring could change its appearance…
The class seemed to realize who Agonette was as well because they all turned considerably pale. Instead of enjoying their moment of realization, though, Agonette turned to Lila who was now visible seeing as Alya and Rose moved out of the way as if they’ve been burnt. The girl shifted uncomfortably in her place, watching as Agonette stepped closer to her, her eyes sharp and demanding.
“Tell the truth, Lila Rossi. This is your last chance to do it without force.”
Adrien watched as Lila pursed her lips, eyeing Agonette with narrowed, calculating eyes. “Huh, as if you’d ever hurt a fly. Do you even have powers? I bet Hawkmoth didn’t change anything except for your appearance. Why would he ever waste his Akumas on someone like you?” She looked around at their classmates and pulled her face back to the pitiful one that got everyone convinced she was telling the truth for so long. “Guys, you know I’m telling the truth. I would never lie to my friends.”
In an instant the room dissolved around them all, leaving them in a familiar looking bathroom. True, Adrien’s never been inside the room, but it was obviously the girl’s bathroom in the school. He noticed the rest of the class standing there, looking both shocked and disoriented. And then the door opened and Marinette walked in. It wasn’t Agonette, no. Agonette was right beside Lila, her hands holding the liar in place.
Frowning and scowling at the mirror, Marinette leaned against the sink, her knuckles white. A few moments later Lila entered the room. It was clearly not the one struggling in Agonette’s hold, but still Lila. Past Lila, Adrien assumed. Because what could this be but a memory of Marinette?
Hands holding one another, Lila entered the room with a concerned expression on her face directed towards Marinette. It was so strange, seeing worry directed towards Marinette from Lila that Adrien had to blink a couple of times to make sure this was actually happening.
“Marinette?” Lila’s face fell as she got closer to the bluebell-eyed girl. “Oh, are you crying?”
“No!” Marinette objected immediately, leaving the mirror in favor of glaring at Lila. “I’m not.”
The hand Lila lifted to touch Marinette retracted and the girl looked away. “I can see that you don’t like me but I don’t understand why. We barely know each other…” Marinette was quite for a moment as if remembering something or trying to think of things that made her actions look sensible. Then her hands clenched. “Don’t tell me it’s because of this new sitting arrangement in class.” Lila cried out as if it was a terrible thought. When Marinette turned sideways, Lila’s eyes widened. “It is! You were jealous because I’m sitting next to Adrien.” That made the teen look at Agonette who didn’t seem to care about this reveal at all. She just tightened her grip around Lila who still tried to fight her way out of this. “Because you would have given anything to sit there yourself.” She put on a smile. “You know what, it’s really not worth fighting over a boy. You and I can be friends. And who knows? I might even be able to help you with Adrien!”
Marinette gasped, as if the mere suggestion offended her and looked at Lila like she was the worst thing that’s ever happened to her. “You and I will only be friends the day you stop lying, Lila.” Sticking to her act, Lila looked at Marinette with an offended gasp. “I can’t prove it but I know for a fact that you don’t have tinnitus,” Marinette started walking forwards and Lila backed away. “That your wrist is just fine, that you don’t know Prince Ali because you’ve never even set foot in Achu, and despite what you got Alya to write on her Ladyblog, Ladybug has NEVER saved your life.”
A moment of silence passed between the girls before Lila’s expression changed. She no longer looked hurt or fearful. She smiled mischievously, looking like she was more than just okay with her lies, she was happy and content with the idea of people trusting her for no reason.
“I only tell people what they WANT to hear.”
With an eyeroll, Marinette replied. “It’s called LYING!”
With more confidence than the class has ever seen, Lila began to advance, backing Marinette against a wall. “There’s nothing you can do about it, anyway. People can’t resist when they hear what they like to hear. If you don’t want to be my friend, fine! But soon you won’t have any friends left at all. And trust me, I’ll make sure you never get close to Adrien in class or anywhere.” Her hand flew up and she slammed it over Marinette’s shoulder against the wall, trapping Marinette there. “You seem a little less dumb than the others, so I’ll give you one last chance. You are either with me or against me. You don’t have to answer right away. I’ll give you ‘till the end of the class today.” And with a swift turn, Lila left.
Growling, Marinette entered the bathroom stall, a pink and black Kwami flying out of her purse. Tikki, Ladybug’s Kwami, Adrien thought.
Her entire body shaking with rage, Marinette sat down. “I thought Chloe was evil but Lila really takes the whole cake! She’s like a supervillain who doesn’t need a costume!”
And with those words, the room dissolved again, returning the class back to the classroom. They all looked shocked and eyed each other before turning to glare at Lila who squirmed in Agonette’s hold, her expression furious. When Adrien’s eyes fell on Agonette he found the girl shaking with rage yet again, her eyes filled with tears. Real ones and not just the ones painted on her skin.
“You ruined my life, Lila. You turned everyone against me and proved my friends can just forget years of friendship with a couple of calculated words without batting an eye.” Her hands closed even tighter around the liar’s arm. Lila cried out in pain. “I should take my revenge. I should throw you out a window or burn you alive. Make you wish there was someone out there who really cared about you. Make you drown in your own lies until you can no longer breathe. That’s what Hawkmoth offered me.” Her eyes snapped up and locked with Adrien’s. “I’m not this kind of person, though. I would never stoop to that level.”
Reaching into her yoyo, Adrien watched as she pulled a familiar looking charm. He didn’t need more than a second to realize it was the one he gave her for her birthday to match the one she gave him months ago. She looked at it and then held it out for Adrien along with his ring. Without a word, he grabbed the two items. After putting on the ring, he tore the string of the charm releasing the Akuma.
For a moment Agonette looked at her classmates with hurt and pain and the next a purple cloud surrounded her, leaving behind a tired looking Marinette. The girl was shaking with sobs that ripped through her chest and broke Adrien’s heart. He quickly stepped closer to steady her, ignoring Lila who seized the opportunity to get away from Marinette. He was more than glad to see Kim and Alix stop the girl before she managed to leave the classroom.
Hugging Marinette, Adrien let her lean her head on his shoulder for a second before pulling a little away. “Hey, I know it hurts but…” And he didn’t need to finish the sentence. Marinette just nodded and stepped away, calling for her transformation. Bright, pink light engulfed her before Ladybug stood before them, her yoyo flying up to capture and purify the Akuma. The moment the butterfly was free the girl stumbled forward back into Adrien’s arms. He didn’t even hesitate before pulling her as close as possible. She wasn’t only his classmate, she was his partner and best friend. And he had no idea how hurt she’s been all this time…
Marinette’s hand gripping the front of his jacket made him look at her with wide, questioning eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have let this happen.” She shook her head harshly, not looking at him. “I really messed up this time, didn’t I?”
“Of course not, My Lady.” He replied immediately, ignoring the voices of their classmates murmuring behind him. Lila was somewhere to his right, trying to fight her way out of the room to no avail. There was no way anyone would let her get away with all of this, after all. “Everyone’s allowed to feel bad every once in a while, even you. You didn’t hurt anyone, either. You just showed up, showed us…” He gulped. “That… and then you didn’t even try to get the Miraculouses to Hawkmoth. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.” When she gave him a disbelieving look he smiled. “Have I ever lied to you, Bugaboo?”
A groan escaped her lips before she completely pulled away from him, her tears no longer streaming down her face. She was still shaking a bit, though. “I can’t believe you’re actually a dork.” She teased but there was a grateful smile on her lips directed towards him, silently thanking him for… he couldn’t even tell what. Everything, her eyes seemed to say. Adrien didn’t really do much, though. “Why did you tell me who you were?”
He frowned a little and looked over her shoulder, his thoughts racing. “I’m not sure,” He admitted. “Maybe because you were dressed like Ladybug? Or because you’re Marinette? I’m really not sure, My Lady. And just so you know – I’m not sorry about it either, even if you are adamant about keeping everything a secret. We’re a team and we can rely each other. If we can’t trust one another, how can we ever hope to work together seamlessly?”
“This has nothing to do with trust and you know it.” She lifted her hand and flicked her fingers in a way that would have normally ringed his bell. Since he wasn’t in costume, though, the gesture was lost on most of the people watching. “I do trust you, though. More than anyone else.”
Beaming at her, Adrien helped her to her feet. “Likewise.” He took a chance and grabbed her hand. For a moment he feared she’d squirm out of his hold like Ladybug always did. But she didn’t. She called off her transformation and squeezed his hand a little tighter. “Shall we call Ms. Bustier before anyone rips Lila apart?” He stage whispered.
Marinette chuckled at that. “Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner the better.” She inhaled with a smile on her face. “I’m already feeling a lot better, don’t you?”
He didn’t even bother answering, instead beginning to lead her towards the door. Kim and Alix moved out of their way while keeping Lila in check and, luckily, the door opened this time around. Adrien was just about to walk out into the hall when Alya’s voice reached his ears, and by the look on Marinette’s face, she could hear her too.
“I’m sorry.” The reporter said, voice quiet and fragile. “I… I messed up really bad and I jumped to conclusions. You were right about everything and I was too wrapped up in this lie to listen to you.” The girl sounded like she was on the verge of sobbing herself. “Could you ever forgive me, Marinette?”
For a moment Marinette was quiet and just stood there, near the door and with her back to Alya. But then she turned towards her best friend and smiled a little. “Yes.” Her eyes locked with Alya’s and her smile brightened. “It might take a while, but I know I will. You’re my best friend, Alya, and you’ve been a victim of this thing just like everyone else in this class.” She looked at the girl for one more moment before turning to Adrien and offering him a warmer smile. “Shall we?”
He smiled right back. “We shall.”