Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She had snapped at him again.

The fight with Chat had been inevitable, hadn’t it? She had been so irritable—so completely drained—after hours of fighting, strategising, and trying to keep herself together. It wasn’t just the battle against the villain; it was the overwhelming pressure that had been building up for days, the constant juggling of her life as Ladybug and as Marinette.

And then Chat, always so bright and eager to lighten the mood, had tried to crack one of his usual jokes.

He wasn’t wrong, it was funny, she thought bitterly. But she hadn’t laughed. She hadn’t even smiled.

Instead, she had snapped at him.

———

Earlier

The night was cold, the air sharp as Ladybug and Chat Noir stood facing each other on a rooftop. The aftermath of yet another villain defeated, but not without its toll. The city was quiet, but the silence between them was deafening.

Ladybug’s shoulders were tense, her eyes flickering toward Chat but quickly averting them, as though she couldn’t bear to face him. She could feel him there—his presence always so strong, but tonight, it only made her feel smaller, more insignificant.

"Ladybug, you okay?" His voice, usually teasing and playful, was quiet, careful. Too careful.

She didn’t look at him. "I’m fine."

It was a lie. She knew it, and so did he. The cracks in her voice were like warning bells, but Chat didn’t press her—he never did. But tonight, the weight of their silence felt unbearable.

"You sure about that?" Chat pressed, taking a step toward her, his eyes searching hers. "You’ve been... different lately. You’re shutting me out."

His words stung more than she expected. She hated how true they were, but she couldn’t admit it. Not now, not when everything was falling apart around her. Her head was spinning from the exhaustion, and there was a tightness in her chest that felt like it might crack her open.

"I said I’m fine, Chat," she snapped, her patience fraying. "Just drop it."

Chat’s eyes widened, and he flinched, as though her words had physically struck him. His usual grin faded, replaced by an expression of hurt and confusion. She saw it in the way his shoulders slumped and how his posture grew more rigid, more defensive. But she couldn’t look at him—if she did, she might crumble.

"What happened to us, Ladybug?" His voice was soft, barely a whisper in the wind. "We were a team. You used to talk to me, used to laugh at my jokes, even when we were covered in muck after a fight. But now... now, I’m just some... duty to you. I can feel it."

Her heart clenched painfully at his words. He was right. He had been there for her through everything, always by her side, never asking for anything in return. But she had pushed him away. She was pushing him away now.

"I’m just tired, okay?" She could feel the weight of every word, the heaviness of it all pressing down on her. "I can’t keep pretending that everything is fine. I can’t keep pretending that I’m... okay."

Chat’s gaze softened for a brief moment, but then it turned to something unreadable—hurt, maybe anger, maybe something deeper that he couldn’t quite put into words. "Pretending? So that’s what this is to you? You’ve been pretending?"

Ladybug’s breath hitched. She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What could she say? How could she explain that she was dying under the pressure of being Ladybug, that she was suffocating from the weight of responsibility, of secrets? That she was terrified of losing herself?

"You think I don’t see it?" Chat’s voice cracked, a hint of frustration creeping in. "You’ve been pushing me away for weeks, and now you’re telling me it’s just about being ‘tired’? You think I’m that dumb? You think I don’t feel you pulling away from me?"

The words hit her like a slap to the face, and she staggered back, trying to shield herself from the overwhelming guilt that surged within her. His words were cutting through her defences, and she hated how much they hurt.

"I—I didn’t mean to—" She choked on her words, the guilt rising so quickly, she couldn’t keep up with it. "I didn’t want to hurt you. I just… I don’t know how to—"

"You don’t know how to what, Ladybug?" Chat interrupted, his voice rising with frustration. "How to let me in? How to trust me? We’ve been partners, we’ve fought together, bled together, survived together. But you’ve been shutting me out for weeks now, and I don’t know why. What did I do to deserve that?"

"I—" Ladybug took a step back, her chest tight with emotion. The words were there, just on the edge of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. The truth felt too raw, too painful. The reason she had been pulling away, the fear of losing him, of letting him see how fragile she really was, was too much.

But Chat didn’t wait for her to answer. Instead, he stepped forward, his usual playful demeanour gone, replaced by an edge of something deeper—hurt, frustration, and something that felt like betrayal.

"You know, sometimes I wonder if it would be easier if I just didn’t care," he said quietly, his voice cutting through her like a blade. "Maybe it would hurt less if I didn’t care about you, if I didn’t trust you, if I didn’t…"

His voice trailed off, and Ladybug’s heart lurched. She had never seen him this vulnerable, this raw. The words hung between them, heavy with meaning.

If I didn’t love you…

"I do care about you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "More than you know. But I’m so... tired, Chat. And I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to fix me."

The silence between them stretched out, thick and suffocating. Ladybug’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Chat’s shoulders slump, his eyes averted, not daring to look at her. She could feel the distance growing between them, like an invisible wall that was being built with every word they said, every hurt they caused.

"I just wanted you to see me," Chat said finally, his voice small, distant. "But maybe you don’t need me anymore. Maybe I’m not enough."

The words struck her harder than anything else. He wasn’t angry anymore, wasn’t fighting her—he was broken. And she had done that.

"I... I never meant for you to feel like that," Ladybug said, her voice trembling. "I didn’t want to push you away, I just... I’m sorry, Chat. I’m so sorry."

But the damage was done. Chat didn’t look at her. His face was turned toward the city, his shoulders hunched in defeat.

"I don’t know how to fix this, Ladybug," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I don’t know if I can anymore."

———

It was another night of patrolling, the city lights stretching out before him like an endless sea of stars. Paris was beautiful from above, but for Chat Noir, tonight it felt more like a cage. The rooftops were familiar, comforting even, but nothing felt right.

He ran his gloved fingers through his hair, eyes scanning the horizon as he bounded across buildings, each leap heavier than the last. The weight of the night had nothing to do with his physical exhaustion—it was the emptiness that was gnawing at him, an ache in his chest he couldn’t explain.

Ladybug was different.

The first few days, he’d chalked it up to the pressure of being a hero. After all, it wasn’t easy saving Paris and dealing with the weight of the world on her shoulders. But as time passed, her detachment only grew. During battles, she was focused, serious, but almost cold. She barely returned his jokes, and her smile—something he had once treasured—was now a fleeting shadow that disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Tonight had been no different. The fight had been long and tiring, and after the villain had been defeated, she had barely acknowledged him. She was already gone, off to her next responsibility, leaving Chat Noir to stand there alone, staring after her retreating figure.

"Is it me?" he muttered to himself, kicking off from a rooftop edge and soaring into the night sky. "Have I done something wrong?"

He wasn’t expecting an answer, of course, but the question stuck with him.

He loved her. That much was undeniable. The connection they had shared, the easy camaraderie during missions, the unspoken bond—it had been everything to him. But now? It felt like she was slipping away, and no matter how many times he tried to reach her, she always pulled back.

He landed softly on the rooftop of a building near the outskirts of her neighbourhood, barely thinking before his eyes caught sight of a familiar balcony.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng’s.

He stopped, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. She was sitting on the balcony railing, her body slumped as if the weight of the world was too much for her. Her chin rested in her hand, and her eyes—those familiar, brilliant blue eyes—were unfocused, staring out into the distance.

He didn’t know why, but the sight of her like that, so vulnerable and tired, made his chest tighten. The exhaustion was clear in her posture, the way her shoulders sagged, and it was a look he’d never seen on her before.

All he could do was watch from the rooftops, standing in the quiet night as the city below him hummed with life, unaware of the two souls standing so close, yet so far apart.

———

Marinette didn’t even realise she was being watched. Her mind was too far away, lost in the overwhelming weight of her responsibilities. She had been Ladybug for so long, and yet, the more she did, the less she felt like herself. Every day was another battle, another sacrifice.

She had no one to talk to about it—no one who could understand. Not even Chat Noir, her closest ally, could truly see what she was going through.

She had always been so careful, so determined to keep the balance between Marinette and Ladybug. But lately, that balance was slipping through her fingers. It felt like she was losing herself, and the more she withdrew, the more she hurt the people around her. Chat Noir, especially. He’d been there, always at her side, making jokes, offering support—but she couldn’t let him in. She couldn’t let anyone see how badly she was breaking.

Her heart ached at the thought of him. He deserved better than this. He deserved someone who could be there for him fully, without the distance and secrecy that Ladybug had forced into their relationship.

A sigh escaped her lips as she let her head fall back against the cool stone of the balcony. She closed her eyes, trying to fight the tears that threatened to spill.

I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep pretending everything’s fine.

She was so tired.

The tears she had been holding back for days finally began to fall, tracing down her cheeks like silent rivers of regret. She wiped them away angrily, but the weight of her mistakes wouldn’t lift. She had pushed Chat Noir away when he had only ever tried to help her. He had seen her for who she truly was—flawed, tired, vulnerable—and still, he had stayed. And she had hurt him. She had allowed her exhaustion, her fear, and her pride to cloud her judgment.

She had never wanted to push him to the point of leaving, but the thought crept into her mind: What if I already have? What if he’s finally had enough of this... of me?

Her breath hitched as the thought gnawed at her. She couldn’t lose him. Not Chat. Not the one person who understood what it was like to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.

A sudden movement caught her eye.

She looked up, and her breath hitched in her throat.

There, perched on a nearby rooftop, was Chat Noir—his eyes fixed on her, his posture relaxed but intent. He was watching her, studying her from a distance, just like he always did. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his gaze that unsettled her.

She froze.

What is he doing?

Her chest tightened, the sudden awareness of his gaze making everything feel even heavier. He was just standing there, staring at her like he knew something was wrong. But he didn’t know. He couldn’t know.

She quickly averted her gaze, but it was too late. She could feel him watching her still, like he was waiting for something, waiting for her to acknowledge him, to let him in. And she hated that she couldn’t. She hated that she couldn’t just be normal around him.

Why does he have to keep doing this?

Her frustration built, a knot tightening in her stomach. She had spent so many nights running away from her own feelings, hiding behind the mask of Ladybug, and now here he was—silent, patient, persistent. Watching her, waiting for her to break the silence.

I’m not going to break.

She pushed herself off the balcony railing and walked to the edge of the roof, not caring if he could see her more clearly now. She folded her arms across her chest, not willing to show any weakness. She wasn’t going to let him see that she was falling apart.

But his eyes never wavered. He was still staring at her, so quietly, so intently. She couldn’t take it anymore.

"What are you looking at?" Her voice was sharp, harsher than she meant it to be, but the frustration bubbled up like a tidal wave.

Chat didn’t flinch. His expression softened, though there was a slight flicker of confusion in his eyes. "I was just making sure you’re okay," he said, his tone calm, but there was a note of concern in it that only made Marinette more irritated.

She swallowed hard, his words sinking into her like sharp pins. He doesn’t deserve this—he didn’t deserve to be ignored, didn’t deserve to be treated like he was invisible, like she didn’t need him.

But it was easier to push him away, to keep him at arm’s length. If he didn’t get too close, if he didn’t know the truth—the real truth—then maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t leave her when he found out how broken she really was.

"I’m just… tired," she said, her voice quieter now, though the frustration hadn’t dissipated. "I don’t have the energy to deal with anything right now. Not with you, not with anyone."

Chat didn’t speak. He just watched her, his expression softening into something more vulnerable.

Her chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to break down in front of him, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t let him see her like this.

"I don’t need anyone," she whispered, turning away. "I just need to be alone right now."

For a long moment, Chat didn’t respond. He simply stood there, watching her with that same quiet intensity. She didn’t turn around, didn’t look at him, but she could feel the weight of his stare burning into her back.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

"Okay," he said softly, his voice filled with more acceptance than she expected. "But I’ll be here when you’re ready. Whenever you’re ready to talk."

Marinette didn’t answer. She simply stood there, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as Chat Noir disappeared into the night, his presence lingering in the air long after he was gone.

———

The bell rang, signalling the end of class, and Adrien quickly gathered his things, feeling the familiar weight of his responsibilities settling back in. At school, he’d noticed the change in her even before their rooftop confrontation. Marinette had always been a little clumsy, a little shy, but lately, she seemed different. More distant. More withdrawn. Like she was carrying something heavy, something she didn’t want anyone to see.

But today, he could tell something was wrong. She wasn’t her usual bubbly self. Her eyes were dull, her shoulders hunched, and there was a faint pallor to her skin. Adrien couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this than just fatigue or stress from school.

He watched her from across the classroom as she scribbled aimlessly in her notebook, her face pale and strained. She wasn’t focused on the lesson. She wasn’t even trying to pretend. It made his chest tighten.

"Marinette," he called gently as he approached her desk, trying not to startle her. "Are you feeling okay? You look a little... off today."

Marinette’s head snapped up, her eyes wide for a brief moment before she quickly masked her expression with a forced smile. "I’m fine, really! Just a little tired. Nothing to worry about."

But Adrien wasn’t convinced. He’d seen that smile too many times to know when it was fake. And he could tell that something was eating at her.

"You’re sure?" he pressed, his voice soft but filled with concern. "You don’t seem like yourself. Is there anything I can do?"

For a moment, Marinette hesitated. Her gaze flickered to the window, like she was searching for something out there. Then she sighed, a heavy sound that made his heart ache.

"I just need some rest," she muttered, her voice lacking its usual cheer. "I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me."

But he was worried. Adrien had never seen her like this before. She was always the one who took on so much, always ready to lend a hand, always ready to smile even when things weren’t going well. But now, it was like she was just... fading.

He watched her for a moment longer, wishing he could do more for her, but before he could say anything else, the bell rang again, signalling that the students were free to go home for the day.

Adrien watched as she quickly packed up her things, avoiding his gaze, and walked out of the classroom. He knew he couldn’t just let this go. There was something going on, something deeper, and he wasn’t going to sit back and watch her suffer in silence.

He wouldn’t lose her, one of his closest friends, like he was losing his lady.

Adrien decided that tonight, Chat Noir would be paying a visit to Marinette.

Chapter Text

Marinette walked out of the school gates, her steps slow and heavy. She tried to muster the usual pep in her step, but it wasn’t there. Her mind buzzed, too many thoughts spinning in a whirlwind of exhaustion and frustration. She wanted to be anywhere but here, anywhere but inside her own head.

She glanced around, but the bustling crowd of students rushing home only seemed to highlight her isolation. No one was looking at her—not really. They were too busy with their own lives, their own worlds. It felt like she was fading into the background, a silent observer to the vibrant lives everyone else seemed to be living.

She recalled earlier that day, a conversation she had overheard that had shaken her to her core—one that had left her questioning everything she thought she knew about her best friend.

Alya was standing by the lockers, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Lila was standing next to her, speaking in a low, careful voice that Marinette could barely hear.

"You know, Alya," Lila said, her tone oozing with fake sympathy, "it’s really hard to ignore what people are saying."

Alya raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? What’s going on?"

Lila sighed dramatically, casting a quick glance around before leaning in a little closer. "I don’t want to be the one to tell you this, but it seems like someone’s been spreading rumours about you." She paused for a moment, letting the words hang in the air, and then added, "I heard it from a few people, and you know, I hate to say this... but they’re saying that you’ve been using Nino. Like, you don’t really care about him the way he thinks you do."

Alya’s eyes widened, and she looked taken aback. "What? No way. Who would say something like that?"

Lila shook her head, a mixture of frustration and fake concern on her face. "I don’t want to name names, but… it’s someone who’s very close to you, someone you trust." She lowered her voice even more, casting a glance around as if making sure no one else was listening. "It’s Marinette. She’s been telling people that you’re just using Nino because he’s so kind and gullible. She’s the one spreading the lies that you don’t really like him, that you’re just taking advantage of his love for you."

Alya’s jaw dropped, and her hands tightened into fists at her sides. "Marinette? She’d never…"

Lila shrugged, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. "I didn’t want to believe it either, but it’s been going around. I heard it from three different people today, and all of them said it came from Marinette. They were talking about how you’ve been using Nino, how he does all these things for you and how you’re not really that into him. People are starting to feel bad for him, Alya. They’re saying it’s unfair to him. You should put a stop to this. You don’t want the whole school to turn on you, do you? How would that make the integrity of the Ladyblog seem? Seeing as you’re supposedly not so honest in real life.”

Alya looked like she’d been punched in the gut. Her face was pale, her brows furrowed in confusion and hurt. "No. No, that’s not true. I love Nino. He’s my boyfriend. I love him more than anything!"

Lila nodded sympathetically, her voice low and reassuring. "I know you care about him, Alya. But what do you do when someone you trust starts spreading lies like that? What if Nino finds out? I don’t want you to lose him because of what’s being said."

Alya turned away slightly, her voice shaking. "I… I don’t know. I can’t believe she’d say something like that about me."

Lila gave a sad, knowing smile. "I just want you to be careful. I don’t know what her problem is with you, but this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her act like this. Maybe you should talk to her. Maybe she’s just jealous of your relationship with Nino, but I don’t think it’s right that she’s spreading this kind of rumour about you, and possibly jeopardising the future of your career by doing so.”

Alya stood there, frozen for a moment, before looking down at the floor. She couldn’t understand why Marinette would say such a thing. She had always trusted her, always defended her. But this… this felt like a betrayal.

And that betrayal hurt more than anything. Alya didn’t know what to believe anymore, but the seeds of doubt had been planted—and they were growing fast.

Marinette had spent the entire day avoiding Alya, knowing deep down that she would believe Lila over her, as she always had, and she simply didn’t have the energy to fight for her best friend’s trust when it seemed like it was always so easily given to someone else.

But it seemed that Alya didn’t want to wait another second, as she marched up to Marinette, her face a mixture of hurt and frustration, leaving Marinette no choice but to face the confrontation she’d been dreading all day.

Alya’s voice cracked through the tension in the air, sharp and accusing. “I can’t believe you’d say something like that, Marinette! You’re supposed to be my friend, and now you’re spreading rumours about me?” Her eyes were wide with disbelief, and the hurt was clear in her tone.

“Alya, please,” Marinette said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t— I would never say something like that about you. You’ve got to believe me.” Her throat tightened, words getting stuck as she tried to explain. “It’s Lila. She’s the one who’s been spreading lies—twisting everything. She wants to turn everyone against me. She’s been manipulating you, too. Can’t you see it?”

Alya scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Lila? You’re saying Lila is the one behind this? She’s always so kind, so sweet. She’s never done anything like that, Marinette. Why would she even want to do that? You’re crazy!”

The frustration bubbled up inside Marinette, threatening to spill over. “Because she’s been isolating me, Alya! She’s been doing it little by little, and now it’s gotten so far that you don’t even trust me anymore. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She wants to get rid of me, and she’s using you to do it.”

Marinette’s voice shook as she stepped forward, desperate for Alya to understand. “You don’t see it, but I do. I’ve seen her in action. And now—now she’s making you think I’m the one who’s trying to hurt you, when it’s been her all along. It’s always been her.”

Alya took a step back, her arms folding tightly across her chest, her face hardening. “No, Marinette. You’re wrong. Lila wouldn’t do something like that. You don’t know her like I do.” She shook her head, and there was a cold edge in her voice now. “I can’t believe you’d accuse her like this. I thought we were friends. But now, I don’t know what to believe.”

Marinette rolled her eyes, her frustration growing. “Well, you’ve obviously chosen—“

“No, Marinette.” Alya cut her off, her voice rising, a raw edge of pain cutting through her words. “This isn’t how you treat friends. I don’t want to hear any more. Lila’s been nothing but kind to me. And if you’re going to keep going on about her like this, then maybe we’re not as close as I thought.”

Alya turned away, walking briskly down the hallway, her footsteps echoing loudly in the silence that followed. Marinette stood there, staring after her, her stomach twisting in knots. Her best friend—her only real friend—had just walked away. And she couldn’t even find the strength to stop her.

A lump formed in Marinette’s throat as the full weight of the situation crushed down on her. Lila had won. Again.

And she was, once again, alone.

———

Marinette sat hunched over her desk, the dim light of her lamp casting shadows over the pile of homework in front of her. She couldn’t concentrate. The words on the pages blurred together, the equations twisting in ways that made her head spin. With each attempt to focus, her mind wandered, always drifting back to the whirlwind of things she couldn’t control.

Her stomach growled loudly, but she ignored it. She hadn’t even realised it was dinner time until now. The silence in her room felt suffocating, the only sound being the scratching of her pen against paper, yet it felt like she was accomplishing nothing at all.

Her eyes kept drifting to her phone, hoping for a message, maybe from Alya—just a small sign that things weren’t so bad. But there was nothing.

The past few weeks had been a blur of akuma attacks, each more frequent than the last. They seemed to appear every day now, sometimes even twice. There were times when she barely managed to get through the day without falling asleep at her desk or in class. And when she wasn’t running off to save Paris, she was trying—failing, really—to make up for lost time with schoolwork. But nothing was working. Her grades were slipping. Teachers were starting to look at her with concern, but she just kept pushing it aside.

Her friends? She barely saw them anymore. With the constant drama at school, the distance between her and Alya was only growing wider, and with Lila’s toxic influence sinking deeper into the group, it felt like every time she tried to reach out, she was just pushed further away. And she didn’t even have time for them anyway, not with the akumas to fight and the homework that seemed to multiply overnight.

There were no moments left for her anymore. No time to work on her designs. No time to sit down with a cup of tea and play video games like she used to. Even when she wanted to unwind, her mind was consumed with thoughts of how she was letting everything slip away. But that’s not saying she regretted becoming Ladybug. She loved being Ladybug! Sometimes it was her only source of escape.

But everything was becoming too much. She had no one to talk to about it. She couldn’t talk to Alya anymore—not with the way things were between them. Not with the way Lila had painted her as the villain in her own life. She had no one who truly understood.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she pushed her homework aside, too tired to focus any longer. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for just a moment.

But there was no time to rest. There never was. The night was young, and she knew, deep down, that she would be out there again before morning came, fighting battles she couldn’t prevent from occurring. And when she came back? The same empty room, the same homework she couldn’t finish, and the same feeling of loneliness waiting for her.

Tikki’s voice broke through the quiet room. "Marinette…" she said softly, flying up to hover in front of her. "I know it's hard. I can feel how heavy everything is on you right now. But you’re not alone. You’ve been carrying so much, and I admire you for it. You’re doing your best, even if it doesn’t always feel like enough. It is enough."

Marinette blinked, her eyes brimming with tears she hadn’t even realised were threatening to fall.

"You don’t have to be perfect, Marinette," Tikki continued, her voice a constant reminder of the love and care she had for her. "You can’t do everything alone. I’m here, always, and so are all of the people who love you—even if they don’t see it yet."

Marinette let out a shaky breath, the weight of the world still pressing down on her, but Tikki’s words offered a small sliver of comfort in the darkness.

"You’re not just Ladybug, Marinette. You’re you. And that’s more than enough. You’ve got so much strength inside you—don’t forget that. I’m here. And we’ll get through this, together."

Before Marinette had a chance to respond, Tikki sped away into a desk drawer, leaving the room quiet once more, leaving Marinette to scrunch her face up in confusion. Just as she tried to return to her thoughts, a faint tapping sound broke through the silence—soft, rhythmic, almost like a quiet knock.

She froze, her head tilting to listen more closely. The sound was coming from the skylight door which lead to her balcony.

Hesitant, she walked toward the door, her steps slow and cautious. The tapping continued, slightly more urgent now. As she reached the door, she slowly pushed it up, and the cool night air rushed in. She stepped out onto the balcony, her gaze scanning the empty night sky.

At first, there was nothing. Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw it. A small figure, perched lightly on the railing of the balcony, barely visible in the dim light. It was a bird—its wings spread wide in the gentle breeze, its eyes gleaming faintly in the darkness.

The tapping had stopped.

Marinette’s breath caught in her throat. The bird seemed to be staring directly at her, as if waiting for her to acknowledge it. She took a careful step closer, and just as quickly as it had arrived, the bird fluttered its wings and took off, disappearing into the night.

Sighing, Marinette turned around to head back inside, but instead found herself screaming in surprise, stumbling back as a shadow landed gracefully in front of her. Standing there, looking as confident as ever, was none other than Chat Noir.

"Hello, purrincess," he said, flashing her a grin that was both mischievous and playful.

Her heart jumped in her chest, and before she could stop herself, her hand shot out, slapping him across the face. The sound of the slap echoed in the quiet of the night, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze between them.

Chat Noir staggered slightly, his hand instinctively touching the spot where she'd slapped him. His green eyes widened in genuine surprise, but there was no anger, just a flicker of confusion.

"Ow… okay, not exactly the warm welcome I was expecting," he said, his voice laced with humor, though there was a clear undercurrent of concern.

“I—Chat Noir! I’m so sorry! You scared me!” she gasped, her hand still held out, almost as if she were preparing to slap him again. She quickly pulled it back, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. "What are you doing here?"

He tilted his head, a teasing smile tugging at his lips as he took a small step closer. "I wanted to check on you, purrincess. You seemed... a little down lately. Thought I’d drop by, see if you needed a distraction." His eyes softened, the teasing in them replaced by something gentler. "You haven’t seemed like yourself."

“And how would you know? You barely know me.” Marinette's words were sharp, almost defensive, and her heart was racing in a way she couldn't explain. The mask of strength she usually wore cracked a little more, and she was afraid he'd see all the raw vulnerability behind it.

With a sudden, dramatic bow, Chat Noir straightened and grinned widely, striking a ridiculous pose. “I might not know you that well, but I must admit, I am a master at cheering people up. Behold, the greatest cat in Paris, at your service!"

Marinette blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "You? A master? You’re ridiculous.” She raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to form.

Chat leaned in closer, his voice dropping into a dramatic whisper. “I am not ridiculous, princess. I am... sophisticated, charming, and, quite frankly, irreplaceable.”

Marinette couldn’t help but laugh at the over-the-top dramatic flair he put into the word “irreplaceable.” It was so cheesy it almost worked.

“Oh, really?” she quipped. “And what exactly makes you irreplaceable, oh sophisticated one?”

Chat paused for a moment, his hands on his hips as he tried to think of a response, then snapped his fingers as if he’d just had an epiphany. “Simple. I can make puns and solve crimes at the same time. Tell me, who else in Paris can pull that off?”

Marinette rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only one.”

He grinned, his tail swishing behind him. “Exactly. That’s my charm. But I digress—today’s mission isn’t about me. It’s about you.”

Marinette raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What do you mean?”

Chat sat down on the edge of the balcony, crossing his arms with a mock-serious expression. “I noticed that you’ve been wearing a frown lately. And it doesn’t suit you.”

She tilted her head, the smile tugging at her lips despite herself. “And what, you’re here to fix my frown?”

“Of course!” he said, dramatically,“with my special patented ‘Chat Noir smile’ formula!” He grinned wider, making his eyes twinkle in that way that only he could pull off.

Marinette couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped her lips. “Whatever your formula is, it needs work.”

Chat put a hand to his chest, pretending to be offended. “Excuse me, princess. But I’ll have you know, my charm is internationally recognised. I’ve made thousands of smiles across Paris. Thousands!”

“That’s not international.”

Chat ignored her, leaning in and lowering his voice like he was about to share a great secret. “You’re a special case. You’re not just anyone. You’re... one of the coolest people I know.”

Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. Chat was full of jokes and playful banter, but sometimes, he’d say things that were so genuine, they caught her off guard. She looked away quickly, feeling her cheeks heat up. “Stop it. You’re not making sense.”

“Oh, I’m making perfect sense,” Chat said, his voice light again. “I’m just saying... you’re amazing. You’re strong, smart, talented. How could anyone not admire that?”

Marinette shook her head, trying to hide the grin spreading across her face. “You’re just trying to make me blush, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” he said with a mischievous grin. “But it’s the truth. I mean, come on, you designed that amazing dress for the Agreste fashion show recently, didn’t you?”

She looked at him, her smile finally breaking through. “You know about that? Well, thank you, Chat. You seem to be one of the only people who still believes in me.”

Chat’s grin softened, and he reached over, giving her a gentle tap on the shoulder. “It’s easy to believe in someone as incredible as you. I’m just... lucky I get to see it up close.”

Marinette’s heart skipped again, but this time, she didn’t look away. She just sat next to him, feeling for the first time in days, like maybe things weren’t so impossible after all.

“Alright, alright,” she said, her tone playful again. “I’ll admit it. You’ve made me smile. I’m impressed.”

“Mission accomplished!” Chat said with a mock salute.

Chat Noir couldn't help but notice how different Marinette was when she was with him as Chat compared to Adrien. Gone was the stammering, awkward girl he knew from school. Instead, she was confident, quick-witted, and effortlessly charming in her own quiet way. It was as though this version of Marinette was more herself. He liked it—he liked her. He realised that he wanted to see this side of her more. That maybe he should visit her more often as Chat, to see the side of her he’d grown fond of. It was the Marinette he wished he could know better, the one that didn’t hide behind a mask of nerves.

Marinette rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t fight the smile that crept up again. “You’re really something, you know that?”

Chat Noir shrugged with a playful grin. “That’s what they tell me. But hey, anything to make you smile.”

And for that moment, as the world outside her window felt a little quieter, Marinette let herself enjoy the rarity of this. Just for a little while.

After a moment, Chat looked at Marinette with a soft smile, his usual playful demeanour slipping into something more genuine as he leaned casually against the railing.

"So tell me, what's been going on with you? I'm a great listener," he teased, his eyes softening as he noticed the tiredness lingering behind her smile.

Marinette hesitated for a moment, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. The weight of the world had been pressing on her for days, but despite the lingering ache in her chest, she couldn't bring herself to burden Chat with everything. Still, the kind offer in his eyes made her want to confide, just a little.

"I don't know where to start," she muttered, trying to find the right words. "There's this... girl at school. Lila. And she's been... causing a lot of trouble for me." She paused, her gaze flickering away to avoid looking at Chat directly, as if she could hide the truth in the space between them. "She’s been lying, twisting things... making everyone think things about me that aren’t true."

Chat tilted his head, his ears twitching slightly in concern. "What kind of lies?" he asked gently, sensing there was more she wasn’t saying.

Marinette felt a pang in her heart as she swallowed hard. “Ones where I’ve been spreading rumours about my best friend abusing her boyfriend’s kindness. To start, anyway. It’s like Lila’s made it her mission to tear me down, piece by piece. And no matter what I say, no one seems to believe me anymore. I keep trying to tell myself it’s just a misunderstanding, that everything will be okay, but it’s like every time I try to defend myself, it just makes things worse. And with Alya..." Her voice faltered, the tears welling up behind her eyes. "How can someone who’s been my best friend for so long, someone who’s always had my back, just... believe something like that? Without even asking me about it first? How can I keep pretending everything’s fine when it feels like everyone’s turning their backs on me? When all I’ve ever wanted was to be there for my friends, to help them... I feel so alone.”

Chat Noir’s expression softened, and he stepped closer to her, his usual playful demeanour gone. "Marinette," he said quietly, his voice filled with concern. "You're not alone. I may not know exactly what you're going through, but I do know loneliness. Lila’s lies can’t define you. They don’t change who you are, or the amazing person you’ve always been. And no matter what, I’m here. For you."

Chat placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze. "You have me, Marinette. And you don’t have to do this alone."

For a brief moment, Marinette allowed herself to believe him, allowing the faintest sense of relief to wash over her. But as the moment passed, she knew the battle wasn’t over. Not yet.

Chat Noir stood there for a moment, watching Marinette closely. Her eyes were tired, but there was a light in them now, something that hadn't been there when he first arrived. His heart warmed at the sight, knowing that just being there for her, even in this small way, seemed to have helped. He cleared his throat and asked, his voice a little hesitant but earnest, "Hey, Marinette... would it be okay if I, you know, visited you more often? I know things have been rough for you lately, and if there's anything I can do to help... even just, uh, being here... I want to do that."

Marinette blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. "I... I'd like that," she said softly. "Tonight's actually been... better than I expected. It's... nice to not feel so lonely for once.”

Her stomach gave a loud grumble, causing her to wince in embarrassment. Chat’s eyes twinkled as he grinned at the sound. "Looks like someone’s hungry."

Marinette’s cheeks flushed a deep red, and she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "I, uh... skipped dinner. Too much homework. I thought I could get it done in time, but... yeah, guess I didn’t plan that out well."

Chat chuckled softly, his playful side returning. "Skipping meals for homework? That's a dangerous game, Marinette. How are you supposed to focus when your stomach’s giving you a concert?"

She laughed weakly, but there was a trace of real amusement in her eyes. "I guess I’ve just been so overwhelmed lately. I didn’t even realise how hungry I was."

Before Chat Noir could respond, a loud boom suddenly echoed through the air, followed by a wave of frantic screams.

Chat Noir was already on his feet, his playful demeanour shifting to one of seriousness. "Sounds like an akuma," he said, his voice steady but with a trace of urgency. "Stay here, Marinette. I’ll handle it."

"Wait, Chat!" she called out, but before she could finish, he was already on the roof of the next building.

"I’ll be fine," he called over his shoulder. "Stay safe, okay?”

With a deep breath, she ran toward the balcony door to her bedroom, knowing what she had to do. Ladybug couldn’t afford to wait. “Here we go again, Tikki. Spots on!”

Ladybug sprinted toward the chaos, the sounds of screams and destruction growing louder with each step. She spotted her partner in the distance, effortlessly dodging debris and leaping across rooftops. "Hey, Chaton!" she called out, her voice carrying through the night air. "Busy night?"

Before he could respond, a low, almost melodic voice echoed through the night, carrying an eerie resonance. “You might call me Echo,” she said, stepping forward with grace, though every step seemed to distort the world around her. “The world has always been too noisy, don’t you think? Everyone screaming for attention, for validation, drowning out what really matters. But now... now I get to be the one who’s heard.”

“Let’s do this.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, Marinette stood at the entrance of the school, her hand hovering over the door handle. She could hear the faint murmur of voices drifting from the hallway, but none of them sounded warm. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment she entered, the whispers increased.

She tried to ignore them, focusing on the floor in front of her, but the sting of every passing comment hit her like a slap.

There she is, the liar.

I can't believe we ever trusted her.

She walked down the hallway, her gaze trained on the ground, her shoulders hunched as though trying to make herself invisible. But it was no use. Everywhere she looked, students turned their heads away, giving her cold, judgmental stares. Some even scoffed as she passed, as if her mere presence disgusted them.

It wasn't just the whispers that hurt. It was the silence. The absence of friendly faces. No one said a word to her. Her friends, the ones she had always trusted, were now just strangers.

Except for one.

At the far end of the hallway, she spotted Adrien. His golden hair shone brightly under the fluorescent lights, and his piercing green eyes locked with hers for a moment. Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. He didn't look at her with anger or disdain. In fact, there was concern in his eyes, though it was tempered with an awkwardness she had never seen in him before.

She gave him a small, forced smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Adrien hesitated, looking like he wanted to approach, but the distance between them felt like an ocean. Slowly, he turned away, his gaze drifting to the other students, who were still casting harsh glances in her direction.

It hurt more than she wanted to admit. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but the tears threatened to come anyway.

"Hey, Marinette," came a voice behind her, one she had hoped never to hear again.

Marinette froze, her stomach sinking.

Lila.

Lila’s voice was sweet, too sweet, as she leaned against the locker, a triumphant smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "It must be tough, huh? Everyone believing all those lies about you. But don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll all forget about it soon… if you don’t make a scene, of course."

Marinette’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. She could feel her anger rising, but she held it back. It wouldn’t do any good. It never did. Not when Lila had already won.

"Leave me alone, Lila," Marinette said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of her heartbreak evident in every syllable.

But Lila just chuckled, stepping closer, as if savouring every moment of Marinette’s misery. "Oh, don’t be like that. It’s really not my fault that everyone saw you for who you really are."

With that, Lila turned and walked away, her laugh echoing down the hallway like a cruel taunt.

She reached the door to the classroom and hesitated for a moment before entering. As she stepped inside, the buzz of conversation slowed to a quiet murmur. Her gaze darted to the usual seats, but today, nothing felt normal. Alya and Nino were already sitting together, their heads bent low in conversation. Alya’s eyes, however, flicked up immediately, locking onto Marinette’s with a stare that sent a chill through her. It was hard to ignore the hurt and betrayal in those eyes.

Marinette took a deep breath and headed for an empty desk in the back of the room, trying to keep her head down. She could already feel the tension in the air, the weight of the gossip that followed her every step.

Just as she reached her seat, a voice she hadn’t expected to hear called out to her.

"Marinette."

She froze. It was Adrien. He was standing by the desk, his gaze soft and concerned.

"Hey," Marinette said quietly, trying to mask the lump forming in her throat.

"Hey," Adrien said, offering a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke again. "I was wondering… if you wanted to sit with me today? I mean, if you’re okay with it."

Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. Despite everything that had happened, despite Lila’s lies and the way everyone had turned against her, Adrien still wanted to sit with her. She gave him a grateful but bittersweet smile. "I’d like that."

Adrien moved to pull out the chair next to his, but then his expression shifted slightly. "Just so you know, Nino’s sitting with Alya today."

The mention of Alya made the pit in Marinette’s stomach grow deeper. She tried not to look at her best friend, but the tension in the room made it impossible to ignore. Alya’s eyes were fixed on her, cold and accusatory, like she was a stranger now. The betrayal was there in every glance, in every slight turn of her head. It hurt more than Marinette could ever have imagined.

"Thanks," Marinette whispered, feeling her heart ache as she carefully lowered herself into the chair beside Adrien. She could feel Alya’s glare burning into her back as she sat down, the weight of it suffocating.

Adrien noticed the shift in Marinette’s mood, the way her shoulders slumped as the room seemed to close in around her. He gave her a small, reassuring look. "I know things are weird right now, but you’re not alone. You’ve got me, okay? I know you didn’t say any of the things Lila said you did.”

Marinette nodded, though it didn’t quite feel like enough. She offered Adrien a small, shaky smile and whispered, "Thank you." For a moment, she let herself get lost in his eyes, the warmth in them offering a brief, fleeting sense of comfort. She lingered there, trying to hold onto the small spark of hope he gave her.

The bell rang, signalling the start of class. It wasn’t long before the silence was broken by Lila’s voice, sweet and deceptively innocent.

“Ms. Mendeleiev," she said, raising her hand in a dramatic fashion, “I think I saw something that I should report.”

Marinette’s heart sank. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she knew where this was going.

The teacher paused, looking toward Lila with a raised eyebrow. "What is it, Lila?"

Lila’s eyes flicked toward Marinette before she spoke, her voice dripping with false concern. "Well, I saw Marinette just now—" She paused for effect. "She was tampering with the grade book. I’m not sure what she was doing, but it didn’t look right."

The room went quiet, all eyes immediately turning to Marinette. She stared at Lila, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her mind raced, but no words came out.

"What?!" Marinette blurted out, standing up from her desk, her voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "I wasn’t— I didn’t do anything!"

Lila smiled, a cruel twist to her lips. "Oh, I’m sure you didn’t, Marinette. But I saw it with my own eyes." Her tone was sweet, but the accusation hung in the air like a thick fog.

Before Marinette could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"That’s not true."

Adrien stood up, his green eyes narrowed with determination as he looked directly at Lila. "Marinette wouldn’t do something like that. She wouldn’t even know where the grade book is."

Lila's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Oh, really, Adrien?" she said, her voice still sugary sweet but with an edge now. "You’re defending her again? After everything that’s been going on, you still think she’s innocent?"

Adrien didn’t back down. "Yes, because I know Marinette. And she’s not the person you’re trying to make her out to be."

Marinette’s chest tightened as she looked at Adrien, a mixture of gratitude and frustration swirling within her. Why couldn’t everyone just see the truth?

Across the room, Alya stood up abruptly, her face flushed with anger. "Adrien, what are you doing?" she snapped, her voice rising. "Why are you defending her? Don’t you see? She’s been causing all of this trouble, and you’re still backing her up? Lila wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

Alya’s words stung, cutting deeper than Marinette could have expected.

"She’s not causing trouble, Alya!" Adrien shot back, his voice firm. "Lila is the one lying, and you’re letting her manipulate you."

Alya took a step toward Adrien, her eyes blazing. "You don’t get it, Adrien!" she yelled. "She’s been lying to all of us—to me—and now you’re just going to ignore everything she’s done? What’s wrong with you?” She turned to Marinette, “You’ve been hiding your true self from all of us, pretending like everything’s fine, but it’s all been a lie. And now you’re getting Adrien to defend you? It’s pathetic, Marinette.”

Marinette felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of the argument pressing down on her chest. Her two best friends—one defending her, the other angry at her—were clashing, and she didn’t know how to fix it.

“Class, settle down. Miss Césaire—“

Before Ms. Mendeleiev could finish, Nino stood up from his desk, his tone calm but unwavering. "Alya, take it easy. You’re putting all this pressure on Marinette, and it’s not fair,” he said, stepping between her and Adrien. "This isn’t helping anyone." His gaze shifted to Alya, and there was an almost pleading quality in his eyes. "You know Adrien’s just trying to help. We all know that things are weird right now, but yelling at each other isn’t going to fix anything."

Alya’s anger didn’t subside, but Nino’s words seemed to defuse the situation, at least for the moment. She crossed her arms, taking a deep breath, her eyes still simmering with frustration.

"Fine," she muttered, though her tone was still sharp. "But I don’t get it, Nino. I don’t get why you’re all letting her get away with everything."

Nino sighed, his eyes softening as he turned toward Marinette. "Alya," he said gently, "we don’t know everything. But maybe we should stop assuming things about people and start listening."

The classroom was quiet again, but the tension still lingered. Marinette felt like she was caught in the middle of something she didn’t know how to fix. Adrien had her back, but Alya’s coldness was a heavy weight on her shoulders. She didn’t know how to mend the growing distance between her and her best friend, and it hurt more than she could put into words.

Alya finally turned her gaze away from Adrien, her arms still crossed but her expression softer now. "I’ll... think about it," she muttered, though it was clear that her trust had been shaken.

Marinette glanced at Adrien, her heart swelling with a mixture of relief and guilt. He gave her a small, reassuring smile, but she could see the concern in his eyes.

"Thanks, Adrien," she whispered quietly, her voice barely audible.

He gave a nod, his gaze never leaving her. "Anytime, Marinette. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Everyone’s phones suddenly buzzed in their pockets as a city-wide akuma alert was dispatched.

Without thinking, Marinette dashed out of the classroom and into the nearest bathroom, transforming into Ladybug with a burst of light and energy. Her yo-yo appeared in her hand, the familiar weight grounding her as she swung it around her finger with practiced ease.

Meanwhile, Chat Noir was already in motion. His sharp ears caught the distant sounds of chaos—yelling, panicked voices. An akuma. Of course.

The two of them raced toward the school, where a dark, swirling energy surrounded the courtyard. Students were frozen in place, their faces twisted with anxiety, clutching their heads as if they couldn’t bear the weight of their thoughts.

After exchanging blows with the akuma for a while, Chat Noir grinned and called out, “Ladybug, you’re going to love this,” he grinned, tapping the ground with his staff before launching into a flip through the air. Landing next to Ladybug on a rooftop, he raised an eyebrow. “You know what they say about fear…”

Ladybug gave him a wry smile. “Don’t tell me it’s your fear of feathers again.”

“It’s not a fear, it’s an allergy,” he quipped, “but this one is a bit more serious. Fear of failure. I’ve got my money on ‘guilt-trip central’.”

At the center of all the chaos stood ‘Échec’—a student who had been burdened with the crushing weight of never being good enough. His fear of failure had slowly built into an obsession, and now, he was an akuma, giving life to everyone’s worst anxieties.

Échec’s eyes glinted with desperation. "You don’t understand, Ladybug! You can’t escape failure! You’ll never succeed, no matter how hard you try. Everyone will fail, and they’ll never be good enough! Why bother trying when everything ends in failure?"

His voice echoed through the courtyard, turning the air heavy with doubt. Ladybug winced, feeling the weight of his words. Échec’s power fed off the fear of failure, and the tension in the air made her chest tighten. She could feel it—it was suffocating.

Chat Noir, ever the optimist, immediately jumped in front of Ladybug, twirling his staff in his hand. "Hey! We’ve been through this, buddy! You don’t have to let fear control you!"

But Échec only smirked, his hands glowing with dark energy. "You’re all the same. Full of hope, pretending that things will get better. But I know the truth. I’ve felt it. Failure is all we are."

With a flick of his wrist, Échec unleashed a pulse of energy that rippled through the air. It slammed into Chat Noir, knocking him off balance. The impact made him stumble back, and suddenly, he looked… unsure. His eyes shifted, focusing on the ground as if lost in thought.

Ladybug’s eyes widened in alarm. “Chat?!”

Chat Noir gripped his staff tightly, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His face twisted in uncertainty. "I… I missed that jump yesterday," he muttered, almost to himself. "I always miss. I can’t protect anyone. Why do I even try? Maybe Échec’s right… Maybe I’m just not enough."

"No!" Ladybug snapped, shaking her head and rushing toward him. She grabbed his shoulders, her voice urgent. "Don’t listen to him. You are enough, Chat! We all have doubts, we all fail sometimes. But that doesn’t mean we give up. It means we learn, we grow, and we keep fighting. You’re one of the best heroes I know, don’t forget that!"

For a moment, Chat Noir’s green eyes met hers, and something inside him seemed to click. But the air around them shimmered again, and Échec sent out another pulse of energy, amplifying their insecurities. Ladybug felt it too—a creeping dread that whispered she’d never be able to fix everything, that she’d let her friends down, that her designs weren’t good enough.

It was getting harder to breathe.

"Ladybug…" Chat whispered, shaking his head as if he couldn’t clear the thoughts swirling in his mind. "What if… what if I fail you?"

Ladybug’s heart clenched, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn’t afford to give in. Not now.

"Chat, I need you to listen to me," she said softly, her voice steady and sure. "We’ve both failed before. I’ve made mistakes, and so have you. But we don’t stop. We never stop. That’s what makes us stronger. You don’t need to be perfect, you just need to keep trying."

The pressure in the air began to shift, and Ladybug stood tall, feeling the weight of her own insecurities still hanging over her. But she pushed it all aside. She couldn’t let fear control her. Not this time.

Échec laughed bitterly, his energy pulsating wildly around him. "You really think you can stop me? You think you’re immune to failure? Look at you both—how long can you keep pretending everything will be okay?”

Ladybug turned toward him, lifting her yo-yo. "I’m not pretending, Échec. We all fear failure. But we choose how we face it. You don’t have to let it destroy you.”

“Lucky Charm!” she cried, her voice firm.

In an instant, a small pencil appeared in the air in front of her. Ladybug blinked in confusion.

A pencil? What’s a pencil supposed to do against an akuma?

But then, she remembered. A pencil was an instrument of creation. It was used to sketch, to draw, to design.

Chat Noir glanced at the pencil, clearly baffled. “Uh, m’lady… What’s that supposed to do?”

“Creation is stronger than fear,” Ladybug declared, the pencil glowing brightly in her hands.

With a swift motion, she threw the pencil toward Échec, the magical object soaring through the air like a comet. As it struck Échec’s eye, it exploded in a burst of bright light, causing the fear-mongering aura around him to shatter. The force of the blow sent Échec sprawling to the ground, releasing a burst of dark smoke.

With a snap of her wrist, Ladybug sent her yo-yo flying, wrapping it around Échec’s limbs. The energy crackled, and for a moment, the villain wavered, caught between the darkness and the truth that Ladybug had spoken.

"Chat," Ladybug called, her voice firm, “now! The paper!”

Chat Noir grinned, shaking off his self-doubt. "Cataclysm!"

With renewed determination, he leaped forward and grasped at an essay strapped to Échec’s side, freeing the captured akuma.

The young man collapsed to the ground, his fearful expression replaced with one of confusion and regret. The once terrifying storm of fear around them dissipated, leaving only silence.

With a flash of light, Ladybug summoned her power. "Miraculous Ladybug!" she cried, sending a wave of purification through the air.

The students around them began to stir, slowly coming out of their fear-induced stupor. Chat Noir stood next to Ladybug, his usual playful grin returning to his face.

"You know, m’lady," he said, nudging her with his elbow. "I may have doubted myself for a second there, but with you by my side? I can handle anything."

Ladybug smiled back, her heart lighter. "Same here, Chat."

“Pound it!”

“Well, now that the school day is over,” Chat Noir grinned at her mischievously as students were being dismissed early, “I’ve got a friend to visit. See you later, Ladybug!”

Ladybug blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “What—? You’re leaving already?”

Chat gave her a wink and a quick salute. “Yep! Big plans with a certain special someone,” he teased, his eyes twinkling. “Don’t worry, m’lady, I’ll catch you later. This fight… just reminded me of someone.”

Before Ladybug could ask any more questions, he was already bounding off, disappearing into the distance.

Ladybug stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. “Did he just… say he was visiting a friend?!” Her voice caught in her throat, her eyes wide with sudden realisation.

Could he be coming to see her?

Ladybug snapped out of her thoughts and checked the time. She needed to transform back into Marinette before he arrived. The nearby alleyway was the perfect place to do it.

“Marinette, you’ve got this. Just… stay calm,” she muttered to herself as she made her way toward the bakery. She quickly entered the building, calling out, “Hello, Maman! Hello, Papa!” before rushing upstairs to her room.

Ignoring her parents’ confusion at her frantic antics, she slammed the door shut behind her, taking a few seconds to breathe and re-focus.

Just as she urged Tikki to keep herself hidden, there was a soft knock coming from the roof.

“Marinette? Are you in there?”

Chapter Text

Chat Noir flashed her a wide grin through the skylight, a bag of takeout in his hand.

“Hey, princess,” he greeted with a wink, once she joined him on the balcony. “Thought I’d pay you a visit. Since the rest of the school day got cancelled from the akuma attack, I figured you could use a little pick-me-up.”

“What did you do kitty?” Marinette asked with a soft smile, nodding towards the bag in his hands.

He gave her a cheeky smile, “no big deal. I also brought some food. I remembered you didn’t eat anything yesterday.”

Her heart melted at his thoughtfulness. Chat was always so considerate, but there was something about the way he remembered such small details that made her feel warm inside.

“You didn’t have to do this,” Marinette said softly, though her voice quivered a little. She crossed the room and took the bag from him, her fingers brushing his hand. “But thank you. I—I really appreciate it.”

Chat tilted his head, his expression softening. “You didn’t eat yesterday, and I figured you’d need a little something to get you through today. Plus, I know how hard it can be when the day doesn’t go as planned.”

Marinette's eyes watered as she looked down at the food. Something so small, was enough to make such a difference in her life.

Chat’s kindness—his willingness to think of her when she was so lost in her own world, was overwhelming. It felt like a weight was being lifted from her shoulders just by having him there. She wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hide the tears.

“Chat…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re too kind. I… I don’t even know what to say.”

Chat’s expression softened even more as he took a step toward her. “Hey, it’s no problem. You don’t have to thank me. I just want you to know you’re not alone in all this.”

She sniffled, giving him a small smile as she took a deep breath. “It’s just… all the stuff with Lila, and the akuma today… everything feels like it’s falling apart, you know?”

Chat's smile faded slightly. He placed the bag on the table and pulled up a chair, sitting across from her. “I know. Adrien told me about it earlier when I had to move him away from akuma attack. But don’t worry,” he said, his voice serious, “We’ll figure out how to handle it.”

Marinette nodded, trying to keep her composure. "She’s been lying about me for so long. I don’t even know how to fight back without making things worse."

Chat’s eyes glinted with determination. “We don’t need to fight back. We just need to expose her lies.” He leaned forward slightly, his usual playful tone replaced with something more focused. “We’ll gather the truth, one piece at a time. People can’t keep believing her if they know what’s really going on.”

Marinette’s heart swelled at his words. "How do we even start?"

“We start with the truth,” Chat said confidently. “Maybe we can get some of her lies on tape, or catch her in the act. Alya might not believe you now, but if we have proof, it’ll be harder for her to defend Lila."

A sense of relief washed over Marinette. With Chat by her side, things didn’t feel quite so impossible. “You’re right. Thank you, Chat. I feel so much better with you here.”

Chat smiled and picked up his takeout container, holding it out to her. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this operation started.”

Marinette laughed softly, feeling lighter than she had in days. "Operation Expose Lila, huh? I like the sound of that."

Marinette and Chat Noir sat at her desk, the bag of takeout they had shared between them now empty as they began to form their strategy.

But before they could begin strategising, Chat’s eyes flicked to the desk beside him. There, on top of the scattered papers, was a small stack of photographs. Marinette had been meaning to organise them, but her busy schedule had caused her to leave them out on the desk. And of course, with Chat Noir's keen eyes, he spotted them instantly.

"Wait a minute..." he said, narrowing his eyes with a mischievous smirk. He walked over to the desk and snatched up one of the photos. "Adrien?" he teased, holding it up in front of her. "What’s this, princess? A little crush?"

Marinette froze, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "I-I—no! It’s not like that!" she stammered, rushing over to grab the photo from his hands. "They're just pictures for school projects! I—uh—was working on a design for art class, and I needed some reference material.”

Chat Noir burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the teasing more than he probably should. "Uh-huh, sure, princess. But tell me, if you’re just designing, why do you have such a... personal collection of photos of your 'reference model'?"

Marinette could feel her face burning even hotter now, her thoughts scattering. She tried to grab the photos from him again, but he danced just out of reach, holding them high above his head.

"Chat!" Marinette exclaimed, flustered, her arms crossed in front of her like a shield. "You’re being ridiculous!"

Chat Noir finally relented, lowering the photos with a playful grin. "Alright, princess. I’ll leave you to your designs," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "But I’m not letting you off the hook next time."

Marinette gave him a small, exasperated smile. “Great. Now, if you don’t mind, we have some real work to do."

The atmosphere between them shifted—more serious, more determined.

Chat Noir leaned forward in his seat, his eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and resolve. “Okay, so we know Lila’s got a talent for making things up. First thing we need to do is gather evidence. If we don’t have proof, no one will believe us.”

Marinette nodded, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Right, but how do we even begin to catch her in the act?"

Chat Noir grinned. “Leave that to me. I can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I'll listen in on her conversations, follow her when I need to, and find out where she’s slipping up. She won't know I’m there, but I’ll be watching.”

Marinette bit her lip, thinking it over. “I can keep an eye on her too. I know how she likes to exaggerate her stories. Sooner or later, she’ll trip herself up.” Her expression turned serious. “I’ll listen for any contradictions or inconsistencies. I think that's our best bet.”

Chat leaned back in the chair, tapping his fingers thoughtfully. “A plan’s only good if we have someone who’ll back us up when we finally present the evidence. We need to convince Alya that Lila’s been lying.”

Marinette’s heart sank a little. She had never wanted to go behind her best friend’s back, but it was becoming clear that Alya had become too close to Lila to see the truth.

“I don’t know if I can convince Alya,” Marinette said, her voice soft. “She’s so caught up in Lila’s stories. Every time I try to tell her the truth, she thinks I’m jealous or trying to sabotage Lila.”

Chat Noir smiled sympathetically. “I get it. But if we show her proof—real, undeniable proof—there’s no way she can deny it. If we show Alya the truth, she’ll have no choice but to see the real Lila.”

Marinette felt a flicker of hope at the idea. “Okay, but how do we get that proof?”

Chat's grin widened as he rubbed his hands together. “We’ll set a trap. We know Lila can’t resist the urge to brag about herself, right? So, we give her a little bait.” He tapped his finger against his temple, his eyes glinting with excitement. “We mention something—a school project, maybe—something she can’t help but claim credit for. We let her go on and on about how she single-handedly made it happen, and then… we catch her.”

Marinette's eyes widened. "So, you think if we set her up to brag, we can catch her in a lie?"

"Exactly." Chat Noir’s eyes sparkled. “And when she does, we’ll have it on tape. I’ll use my phone or maybe we can hide a camera nearby. Even Adrien said he’d be willing to help! I’ll tell him about the plan so he’s aware. Once we have that evidence, we show it to Alya. She won’t be able to deny it when we have solid proof."

Marinette felt a sense of clarity wash over her. It felt like a risky plan, but it was their best shot. She looked at Chat, her gaze grateful but still filled with uncertainty. “What if we can’t catch her, though? She’s always so careful about how she lies.”

“Then we keep trying,” Chat said with his usual mischievous grin. “We don’t give up. We stay patient, and we watch her every move. Sooner or later, she’ll slip.”

Marinette smiled weakly. She had been feeling overwhelmed by everything, but with Chat’s support, she felt like they could take this on together. “Okay. I’m in. Let’s expose Lila once and for all.”

Chat stood up, a determined glint in his eyes. “That’s the spirit! We’ll start tomorrow. I’ll get Adrien to keep an eye on her during school, and you’ll do your part too. We’ll catch her in the act, I promise.”

“I never knew you were so close with Adrien… But thanks, Chat. You’ve really got my back in all of this,” Marinette said quietly, feeling a wave of gratitude for him.

Chat smiled softly, though there was something tender in his gaze that made Marinette’s heart flutter. “I’m always here for you, Marinette. We’ll get through this together.”

———

The next morning, Marinette arrived at school feeling a mix of nerves and determination. The thought of putting their plan into action was both thrilling and terrifying, but she knew it was the only way to end Lila’s reign of lies.

As she walked through the school gates, her eyes scanned the courtyard. She spotted Adrien by the fountain talking to Nino. He was laughing, looking just as cheerful as ever, but his eyes met hers as she approached, and there was an unspoken understanding between them.

Marinette smiled faintly, walking over to him, trying to stay calm. “Ready?” she asked in a quiet voice, her heart racing.

Adrien gave her a subtle nod. “You bet. I’ve got my ears open, and I’m ready to listen for any slip-ups.” He glanced over at a nearby group of students. Among them was Lila, who was already talking animatedly to a couple of her classmates.

Marinette’s stomach twisted. Lila was already in the thick of things, no doubt spinning her web of lies, but today, they were ready for her.

Adrien followed her gaze, his expression turning serious. “Let’s stick to the plan. We’ll wait for the right moment, then we’ll move in.”

The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Marinette followed Adrien into the classroom, where they took their seats, this time at opposite ends of the room. She glanced over at Lila, who was sitting with Alix and Alya, her usual smug expression in place.

Lila was telling a particularly ridiculous tale about how she had “personally helped design the new Eiffel Tower exhibit” at a local museum. She was going into excessive detail, naming dates, designers, and “secret meetings” she’d had with the museum director. Alya, who had been hanging on every word, was nodding eagerly, her eyes wide in admiration.

Marinette exchanged a quick glance with Adrien, her heart pounding. This was it.

Standing up casually, Marinette made her way to the table, stopping just behind Lila as she continued her story. She was ready to set the trap.

“Wow, Lila, that’s incredible!” Marinette said brightly, forcing a smile. “I didn’t know you were so close to the museum’s director! You must have had some really interesting meetings.”

Lila's eyes gleamed, clearly enjoying the attention. “Oh, yes,” she said, waving her hand dismissively as if it were no big deal. “They actually invited me to their private gala next month. I’ll be the guest of honour, of course.”

Marinette tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Oh, the gala! That sounds amazing. But wait, didn’t the gala already happen last month? I thought they had already done the ribbon cutting?” she asked, voice light, but with a slight edge.

For a moment, Lila froze, her face betraying her. Her eyes darted around the table, and her lips twisted in uncertainty.

“I—uh… I mean, the gala is… happening next month,” Lila stammered, but her words were strained, clearly not as convincing as before.

Marinette’s heart raced, but she held her ground, her eyes meeting Adrien's for a split second. He was watching her, ready to back her up if it came to it.

“Are you sure?” Marinette pressed, her voice light but persistent. “Because I swear I saw an article about it last month. Maybe you’re thinking of a different event?”

Lila’s face turned red with embarrassment, but she quickly regained her composure, forcing a confident laugh. “Oh, of course! Silly me. I just— I get mixed up with all the events I attend. So many, you know?”

At that moment, Alya—who had been watching with confusion, raised an eyebrow.

Lila's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "It’s just… so many people have been asking about it, I guess I got confused with the dates."

Marinette could see the cracks forming. Alya was already suspicious, and the other students were beginning to murmur among themselves. She knew she had to keep pressing.

As the tension in the room grew, Chloe, who had been sitting a few seats away, suddenly stood up, her voice cutting through the silence.

"Hold on a second," Chloe interjected, her tone more casual than usual, but with an unmistakable sharpness. She sauntered over to the group, making sure to position herself just slightly behind Marinette, as though she were siding with her, but in a way that wasn't immediately obvious.

"Look," Chloe said, crossing her arms, "I don't know what’s going on here, but it sounds like someone’s got a really bad memory, and we all know how that can make you look pretty ridiculous. Right, Lila?" Her words were pointed, though she tried to keep them from sounding too overt.

Lila blinked, clearly caught off guard by Chloe’s sudden intervention, her composure faltering for a moment. "Chloe, I—"

"Hey," Chloe continued, her gaze cool, "I’m just saying, it’s not a good look when you start forgetting things like galas and events, especially when people are depending on you." She gave a small, almost innocent shrug. "Not that I’d know what it’s like to forget something that important, but… some people just can't seem to get their facts straight."

Alya, still watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Chloe’s unexpected defence of Marinette. “Chloe, you’re… not really picking sides here, are you?”

Chloe smirked, her usual smugness returning. "I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt for people to be a little more careful with their stories. Especially when it’s in front of everyone." She made sure her eyes lingered on Lila just a moment longer, the unspoken message clear: Watch out, your web of lies is starting to unravel.

Lila’s face was a deep shade of red now, and even her usual sharp tongue seemed to have deserted her.

With that, Chloe returned to her seat, casting a quick glance at Marinette, who nodded at her in silent gratitude.

“You know, Lila,” Adrien began, “you really should keep track of those dates better. Especially when people, like the museum, are counting on you to get the facts straight.”

Lila’s smile flickered again, and the room went silent. Alya looked between Lila and Marinette, her brow furrowed.

“Wait a second,” Alya said slowly, her voice filled with suspicion. “Lila… Is everything okay? You don’t usually mix up details like that.”

Lila's eyes darted around, but her confident mask was slipping further. “I—uh—well, you know, things get hectic,” she stammered, her voice no longer as smooth as it had been before.

Marinette exchanged a glance with Adrien. They had done it. Lila had finally tripped up, and the seeds of doubt were planted.

Adrien leaned in slightly, his voice quiet but firm. “You’ve got to be more careful, Lila. You wouldn’t want people to start questioning your stories.”

The words hung in the air, and Lila’s face turned pale. Alya’s eyes were narrowed now, the confusion turning into doubt.

———

The following day at school, Marinette was already bracing herself for another round of Lila’s fabricated tales. As soon as the bell rang, signalling the start of the first class, she made her way to her seat. She glanced at Adrien, who gave her a subtle nod, confirming that their plan was still in motion.

Lila had already begun spinning her latest lie—this time claiming that she had been personally invited to an exclusive event in New York, where she had supposedly met a famous Hollywood actor. Marinette could tell by the sparkle in Lila’s eyes that she was in full embellishment mode. The lie had all the hallmarks of a Lila classic: far-fetched, too good to be true, and completely unverified.

Marinette turned to Adrien, lowering her voice so only he could hear. “We need to find a way to push her further, but without her realising she’s being cornered.”

Adrien’s eyes sparkled with mischievous intent. “Leave it to me. I’ve got a little something in mind.”

The next few minutes passed with Lila holding court, recounting her supposed Hollywood adventure in excruciating detail. Marinette watched, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, but she knew they needed this moment to expose Lila further. The more extravagant her stories became, the better.

As Lila went on, Adrien leaned back in his chair and, almost casually, and cleared his throat rather loudly. The class fell silent, and even Lila paused mid-sentence, turning her head toward him, eyebrows raised.

“Yes, Adrien?” Lila pressed.

Adrien gave a friendly smile. “Just wanted to clarify something, Lila. I’m curious. You mentioned meeting James Tatum, right? The actor from The Sky's the Limit? I thought I read that he was shooting a movie in Canada at the time you said you met him.”

A few students looked up, intrigued. Lila blinked, caught off guard by the sudden attention.

“Canada?” she stammered, clearly trying to think quickly. “Oh! Right! He was there for a brief time, but he flew to New York afterward, just for me. It was a private screening.” She threw in a dramatic, almost-too-perfect pause. “You know, because I’ve always been his biggest fan.”

Marinette could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, but she held her composure, watching Lila’s story become more tangled with each word. Adrien was holding his ground, his face a perfect mask of curiosity, but his eyes were sharp.

“Really?” Adrien raised an eyebrow, leaning forward just a little, playing his part effortlessly. “Because I remember reading an interview where James Tatum specifically said he had to stay in Canada until late December for reshoots. His agent was really strict about scheduling. I thought he didn’t even leave until after the holiday season.”

The class buzzed with whispers. Several students exchanged curious looks, and Alya, sitting near the back, turned to Lila with a questioning expression. For once, her usual confidence seemed to falter.

Lila froze, her usual smooth demeanor slipping for just a moment. “Oh, well, you know, maybe it was a different movie,” she said, trying to laugh it off. “I’ve met a lot of actors. So many famous people, I get them mixed up sometimes.”

But the damage was done. Adrien’s casual probing had planted doubt in the minds of the students who were listening. Even Alya seemed uncertain, and Lila noticed the shift.

Marinette’s heart pounded in her chest. This was their chance. She jumped in, her voice sweet but firm. “You know, Lila, I’ve heard that James Tatum is super private about his personal life, so I’m sure meeting him would be something to really brag about. It’s just funny… because the event you described sounds almost exactly like the one from a few years ago, and I swear I read about it in an article. It was such a big deal, and I know there were reporters everywhere.”

Lila’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but her story was unraveling fast. She could feel the pressure mounting as more eyes turned to her. Even Alya was watching with uncertainty, her brows furrowed in confusion.

“Actually,” Marinette continued, tilting her head, “I think it was one of those things you had to be invited to, but I heard it was only for a very small group of influencers… not just anyone could go. It’s strange how you could have just ‘met’ him there, don’t you think?”

Lila’s mask cracked fully, her forced smile giving way to something more desperate. “Oh, well, I—uh—maybe it wasn’t exactly how I said. I’m just remembering it differently now…” She began to fumble with her hair, trying to regain some control of the conversation.

The class was silent now, with students exchanging looks. Even Alya was quiet for once, clearly torn between her loyalty to Lila and the growing doubts she had about the story.

Adrien stood, his tone casual, yet his words cutting through the tension. “I guess we all get our stories mixed up sometimes,” he said lightly, giving Lila a pointed look. “But it’s a little strange when someone’s stories don’t quite add up, isn’t it?”

The tension in the room was palpable. Lila opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, clearly realising the net was closing in around her. Alya, her face filled with a mix of doubt and confusion, turned to Lila, waiting for an explanation that didn’t come.

Marinette glanced at Adrien, a small smile of triumph tugging at her lips. They had done it. Another thread in Lila’s web of lies was starting to unravel, and this time, they had done it together.

But it still wasn’t enough.

———

The day after, it was another quiet morning at school. The sun was shining through the windows of the classroom, and the students were settling into their seats. Marinette felt a mixture of nervousness and determination. After the past few days, she was no longer going to let Lila get away with her lies. But today, they had a new plan.

Lila had been making up stories about Marinette for days, saying things like Marinette was always unkind to her or that she was jealous of her achievements. To everyone but Alya, these stories seemed out of place, and it was only a matter of time before Adrien and Marinette could expose them.

As class started, Marinette sat quietly, doing her best to ignore Lila’s gloating. But of course, Lila couldn’t resist making a scene. She was already speaking loudly, her voice carrying across the room, trying to make sure everyone was listening.

“Ugh, I just can’t stand how Marinette always acts so nice in front of people, but then behind their backs, she’s a total bully. Honestly, I don’t know how she even gets away with it. And then she tries to pretend she’s so innocent, like no one can see through her little act!” Lila said loudly, flashing a fake, dramatic pout toward Marinette as if she were the victim.

Marinette froze, her stomach dropping. The entire class was looking at her, but of course, Adrien wasn’t fooled. He had already been aware of Lila's attempts to slander Marinette, and this time, he wasn’t going to let her get away with it.

Adrien, sitting at his desk across the room, turned his head slowly toward Lila, his eyes narrowing. “Wait, what? I don’t think that’s how I saw things at all. In fact, it seems like you’re always the one trying to cause trouble, Lila.”

Lila’s eyes widened, her charming smile faltering slightly. “Excuse me? What are you talking about, Adrien?”

Adrien stood up, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve seen how you act around Marinette. You’ve been telling everyone that she’s been bullying you, but the truth is, the only person I’ve ever seen causing trouble is you, Lila.”

A few students in the class started to murmur, their curiosity piqued. Marinette felt her pulse quicken, but she stayed silent for now. This was Adrien’s moment.

“I remember that one time you tried to take credit for the art project Marinette worked so hard on. You were the one trying to ruin her reputation, not the other way around,” Adrien continued, now addressing the entire class. “You can’t keep making these accusations when we all know the truth.”

Lila looked taken aback. Her lips parted as if she wanted to protest, but Adrien was relentless. He’d been waiting for this moment, and he wasn’t about to back down now.

“And let's not forget the time you lied about being friends with some famous designer,” Adrien added, voice cutting through the air. “You know, the one Marinette saw you make up on the spot when you were asked about it?”

The room was silent now. Even Alya’s face was hard to read, her expression wavering as she tried to make sense of everything. Lila clearly realised the walls were closing in on her.

Lila stammered, trying to regain her composure. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about! You’re just—just—jealous, Adrien! You think Marinette is so perfect, and you’re just trying to make me look bad!”

But Adrien wasn’t finished. He looked at Marinette, giving her a small, reassuring smile before continuing.

“Marinette doesn’t need to pretend to be perfect, Lila. She’s just… real. And that’s something you’ve never been.” Adrien turned back to the class. “So if you want to talk about bullying, let’s talk about how you’ve been treating Marinette for weeks now, making up lies about her, spreading rumours, and trying to turn everyone against her.”

But before Adrien could continue his attack, Miss Bustier entered the classroom, urging them to all quiet down and pay attention to the lesson she was about to begin.

It wasn’t over yet.

Chapter Text

Alya had stayed behind after class, working on an assignment she had procrastinated on. As she scribbled down her notes, she couldn't help but notice how quiet the hallway seemed. The bustle of students had faded, and she was alone in the classroom, save for the distant sound of chatter outside.

Lila had been acting suspiciously quiet throughout the day. She was usually surrounded by a crowd, spinning stories and manipulating everyone around her, but today she seemed to be lurking in the corners of the classroom, watching everyone like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Alya wasn’t sure why, but her instincts were on high alert. She felt the need to check in on Marinette, especially after everything that had happened with Lila earlier in the week.

As the bell rang, signalling the end of class, Alya packed her things and started walking out the classroom door. But then, she heard a voice that made her pause—a voice she hadn’t expected to hear in such a context.

Lila’s voice was low, and though Alya couldn’t see her at first, she could hear the venom in her words. “You think you can get away with pretending to be the sweet and innocent girl, don’t you, Marinette? You’re pathetic.”

Alya’s heart stopped in her chest. Trying to be discreet, she crept toward the hallway that led to the back stairwell.

Marinette’s voice trembled as she responded, barely above a whisper. “I… I haven’t done anything to you, Lila. I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

Lila scoffed, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, please, don’t act like you don’t know. You’re nothing but a pathetic bakery girl who thinks she’s special. You’re just in the way of what I want. But if you keep pushing me, I’ll make sure everyone knows what a fraud you really are, mores than they already do.”

Alya’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. The maliciousness in Lila’s voice, the way she was deliberately tormenting Marinette, sent a chill down her spine.

There was a brief silence before Marinette spoke again, her voice quivering. “I won’t let you do this to me anymore, Lila.”

Lila’s laugh echoed in the hallway, harsh and mocking. “You can’t stop me, Marinette. You’re nothing. You’re so desperate to be accepted, to be seen as something more than what you are. But I’ll make sure everyone knows the truth.”

Alya felt her stomach churn with anger. Marinette had been fighting this battle alone, with no one there to help her, and Lila had been pulling the strings behind the scenes. This wasn’t just gossip. It wasn’t just petty school drama. Lila was actively trying to destroy Marinette’s reputation and confidence.

Marinette tried to keep her voice steady as she turned to face Lila, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean, Lila. I’m just trying to get home.”

Lila stepped closer, her eyes narrowing in a predatory gaze. “You’ve always been in the way.” She leaned in, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “No one will ever believe you. No one will care.”

"I’ve kept quiet for so long because I didn’t want to make a scene, but you don’t get to treat people like this anymore." Marinette’s voice trembled with barely contained rage, her fists clenched at her sides. "We’re all sick of it, and I’m sick of it. This ends now. You know, Lila, I always wondered how you managed to lie so effortlessly. But now I get it—you have to lie because it’s the only way you can hide how empty you really are."

"What did you say?" Lila hissed, her voice sharp and dangerous.

Marinette took a deep breath, her voice rising with a quiet confidence. “I said, you're so terrified of being ordinary, of being nothing, that you make up these crazy stories to fill the void. But you can’t fool everyone forever, Lila.”

Lila’s hands trembled at her sides, her smile twisting into something twisted and bitter. "You think you know everything, don't you, Marinette?" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you're so perfect, so much better than me—"

“I’m not perfect,” Marinette interrupted, her voice sharp with the weight of her words. “But at least I’m real. At least I don’t need to make up some fairytale to feel like I matter.”

“You think I’m just some liar, right?” Lila sneered. “You think I just woke up one day and decided to make up stories for no reason?” She let out a sharp laugh, one that sounded more bitter than amused. "No, Marinette, you don’t get it."

Marinette stood her ground, her jaw tightening. Lila’s gaze never wavered, her eyes cold with a mixture of resentment and something more personal.

“It’s because of you, Marinette,” Lila continued, her voice steady now, as though the words were rehearsed and practiced. “It’s because everyone loves you. They all want to be around you. They all think you’re perfect.” She spat the last word as if it were poison.

Marinette’s breath caught in her throat, but Lila wasn’t finished.

“You have everything, Marinette," she said, her voice taking on a twisted edge of envy. "Friends who adore you, a life everyone envies, and you get all the attention, the praise, the admiration. And I? I get nothing. No matter how many times I try to be what everyone wants, it’s never enough.” Lila’s eyes flickered with the flash of vulnerability, quickly masked by anger. “So I decided, if I can’t be you, then I’ll make sure you don’t get to keep everything you have. If I can’t be the centre of attention, no one will be."

Marinette felt a cold chill sweep over her at Lila’s words, but she didn’t back down. She had expected Lila to say something like this, but hearing it out loud made it all too real.

"You’ve spent all this time trying to make me feel small," Marinette said, her voice steady despite the rush of emotion, "trying to tear me down because you’re insecure. But I’m not your enemy, Lila. I don’t want what you have. You don’t need to destroy me to feel important.”

Lila’s face twisted with fury. "You don't get it, do you? It's because of you that I have to do this. Everyone loves you, and I'm just in your shadow. So, I’ll make your life hell until everyone finally sees my truth about who you really are."

Marinette’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know the truth, Lila,” she said quietly, “but I’m about to show everyone the real you.”

Lila's lips curled into a smile, but it was no longer the confident, manipulative grin she usually wore. This one was twisted with desperation and something far more dangerous. "You think you can stop me?" she sneered, "Good luck with that. You’ll never take me down, Marinette."

Before Marinette could respond, Lila gripped her arm, fingers digging into the soft skin. The pressure was too much, and Marinette yelped, trying to pull away, but Lila held her tight.

“Stop it, Lila!” Marinette gasped, her eyes wide with pain.

Alya, who had remained quietly watching from the sidelines, felt her stomach drop when she saw Lila’s hand tightly gripping Marinette’s arm, enough to bruise. She stood frozen for a moment, unsure of how to react, before she finally snapped out of it and made her way towards them.

“Let go of her, Lila!” Alya shouted, her voice trembling with fury as she rushed to Marinette’s side.

Lila’s eyes widened dramatically as she suddenly let go of Marinette’s arm, stepping back with an exaggerated gasp. She clutched her cheek, her face contorting in feigned shock.

“Did... did you just slap me, Marinette?” she gasped, her voice rising with fake hurt. “How dare you! I was just trying to defend myself!”

She turned towards Alya, her voice trembling with false indignation. “She grabbed my arm first! I was just protecting myself from her aggression!” Lila’s eyes locked onto Alya, who stood frozen, shock washing over her face. “You saw it, didn’t you? She attacked me!”

Marinette’s eyes widened in disbelief. She hadn’t touched Lila, let alone slapped her. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Lila quickly interrupted.

“She’s been tormenting me for so long!” Lila continued, her voice shaking now, her act in full swing. “I’ve tried to ignore it, but she just snapped today! I don’t know what else to do!”

Alya stared at Lila, a cold sense of realisation creeping in. The guilt she’d felt earlier melted away as the truth hit her—Lila wasn’t just lying, she was manipulating the situation again, trying to twist the narrative and make herself look like the victim.

Marinette took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief, but Lila’s act was already taking hold of the room. The doubt in the air was palpable, but Alya wasn’t fooled. Not anymore.

"I saw the whole thing, Lila. You didn’t get slapped, and you didn’t have your arm grabbed in self-defence. You gripped Marinette’s arm first!"

Lila’s eyes widened, but she quickly recovered, turning on Alya with a false, pleading expression. “Alya, please,” she said, her voice high and desperate, “I’m just trying to protect myself from her. I can’t believe you’re taking her side—”

“No,” Alya interrupted, stepping forward, her tone unwavering. "You’re not fooling anyone anymore, Lila. You’re the one who started this, and I’m not going to let you lie your way out of it again."

Alya's gaze flicked over to Marinette, whose face was pale with shock. She took a deep breath, steeling herself before pulling out her phone. “I recorded the whole exchange. Every word, every moment. I have proof, Lila.”

Lila’s eyes shot to Alya’s phone, a flash of panic crossing her face. “You… You recorded it?” she stammered, her voice cracking. She quickly reached out toward Alya, trying to grab the phone from her hand. “Give that to me! You can’t show anyone that—"

Before Lila could reach her, Alya stepped back, holding her phone out of Lila’s reach. “Oh, no. You’ve lied to everyone long enough, and now it’s time for the truth to come out.”

Lila’s eyes were wild with fury. She lunged again, her hands aiming for the phone, but this time, Marinette was quicker. She stepped in between them, pushing Lila back with a firm hand. "Enough, Lila!" Marinette snapped, her voice steady with newfound confidence. "You’re not going to manipulate us anymore."

The girls stood their ground, pushing Lila away when she tried to make another grab for the phone. The room was dead silent as everyone watched the showdown unfold, with Lila’s frantic attempts to seize the evidence growing more desperate. But Alya wasn’t backing down, and neither was Marinette.

“This is your last chance to stay on the winning side, Alya. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Lila growled.

“You can’t control the narrative anymore, Lila,” Alya said, her voice cool and unwavering. “The truth is out, and you’re not getting away with it this time. I see you for who you really are and soon everybody else in the school will. I’m not going to let you hurt Marinette anymore.”

Lila’s face turned a deep shade of red, her hands still reaching, but the realisation was sinking in—she had finally been caught.

Lila’s eyes flashed with fury as she sneered at Alya. “You’re just like the rest of the losers in that class,” she spat. “Blind and stupid. But don’t worry, I’ll get my revenge. Just wait.”

With one last glare, she stormed out, leaving a tense silence behind her.

Looking over at Marinette, who was now rubbing her arm where Lila had gripped her so tightly, Alya's heart broke. Marinette’s eyes were wide with shock, her usual brightness replaced with a dull, tired pain.

“Marinette…” Alya whispered, her voice shaky. She gently cupped Marinette’s face, trying to hide the guilt and regret that was starting to swell within her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should’ve believed you. I should’ve seen it.”

Marinette slowly looked up at Alya, her voice barely a whisper. “I… I didn’t want you to see me as weak. I didn’t want to drag you into this. But Lila—she was the one who was making everyone think I’m responsible for all this trouble.”

Alya shook her head, eyes brimming with tears as the truth hit her like a ton of bricks. “I can’t believe I let her manipulate me. I should’ve seen through her lies. I should’ve been there for you.”

Alya turned back to Marinette, her face full of regret. “I am so sorry, Marinette. I don’t know how I ever let her get to me like that.”

Marinette gave her a small, tired smile. “It’s okay, Alya. You didn’t know. We’ve got to get to class.”

Marinette walked away leaving Alya alone.

———

Alya stood tall, her phone held high as the class gathered around her. She hit play, and the video of Lila threatening Marinette played for everyone to see—Lila's harsh words and manipulative behaviour were undeniable. As the video ended, the room fell silent, shock and disbelief written on everyone's faces.

One by one, the students began to turn toward Marinette, their expressions filled with regret. Apologies poured in from all sides, with classmates sheepishly admitting how they'd been fooled by Lila’s lies. Some even expressed their surprise at how brave Marinette had been throughout it all.

And Lila was nowhere to be found. She had disappeared, likely avoiding the fallout of her own schemes. Marinette stood in the centre, overwhelmed by the sudden shift in the room but relieved to finally have the truth out in the open. The support of her classmates, though unexpected, was a comfort, and for the first time in a long while, she felt seen and heard.

Soon after, the soft hum of the classroom was the only sound in the air as Alya sat at her desk, her hands trembling as she stared down at her notebook, but she wasn’t looking at it. Her mind was reeling, torn between guilt and regret. Her eyes were glassy, the weight of what she had done pressing heavily on her chest.

She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it—Marinette. The hurt she must’ve felt when Alya had chosen to believe Lila's lies. Lila had spun her web so effortlessly, and Alya had fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. Now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d betrayed her best friend.

"Alya?" Nino's voice broke through her thoughts, soft and concerned. She hadn’t realised he had come up to her until he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You’ve been quiet. What’s going on?"

Her voice caught in her throat. She bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check, but the tears welled up, stinging the corner of her eyes. She shook her head, unable to find the right words at first. Finally, she whispered, "I... I can't believe I did that."

Nino frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Did what? What are you talking about? Wasn’t exposing Lila a good thing?”

Alya sniffled, wiping a tear away quickly. "I believed Lila. I believed her over Marinette. I—I should’ve known better." She blinked, her voice quivering as she spoke. "I should’ve seen the truth, but instead I sided with her. I let her turn me against my best friend."

The weight of the words fell on her like a ton of bricks, and she felt her breath hitch in her throat. The realisation of how easily she’d been manipulated, how quickly she’d doubted Marinette, was overwhelming. The guilt felt suffocating.

"I hurt her, Nino," she continued, her voice barely a whisper now. "I let Lila destroy her, and I... I never even realised it. She’s been there for me through everything. She never deserved any of this. And I... I believed the person who was lying about her." Her voice broke, and tears started to spill down her cheeks.

Nino’s expression softened as he watched her, his heart aching for his girlfriend. He sat down beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders in a comforting gesture.

“Alya,” he said gently, his voice filled with warmth and understanding. “You’re not the only one who was deceived. Lila is manipulative. She’s good at what she does. But you can’t blame yourself for not seeing it at first.”

Alya shook her head, still not looking at him. “But it’s not just that, Nino. I’m supposed to be her best friend. I’m supposed to trust her. And I didn’t. I turned my back on her when she needed me the most. What kind of best friend does that?”

She wiped her eyes again, her chest tightening with the weight of her words. "How am I ever going to make this right? I don’t even know if Marinette will forgive me. I hurt her so much…"

Nino looked at her with compassion, squeezing her shoulder. “The best way you can make it right is by showing her that you understand, that you’re sorry. She’ll know you didn’t mean to hurt her. You can’t change the past, but you can make the future different.”

Alya nodded slowly, her gaze still distant, but the words settled into her heart. "You’re right," she whispered. "I just... I have to do better. I can’t undo what I did, but I can try to make it up to her. I’m going to support her no matter what."

Nino smiled, the kind of smile that always made Alya feel like things would be okay again. "Exactly. And I’ll help you. We’ll fix this together."

Alya took a deep breath, nodding once more, though her heart still ached. But the thought of making things right, of being a better friend to Marinette, gave her hope. She wiped away the last of her tears and stood up, her resolve strengthening.

“I’m going to talk to her," Alya said firmly, though she knew it wouldn’t be easy. "I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to her that I’m not the person she thought I was.”

Slowly, she made her way over to Marinette’s seat—the one Adrien had taken to sitting next to at most days. He had gone to the bathroom, leaving the space empty, and Alya seized the chance.

With hesitant steps, she approached Marinette, who was focused on her notebook, but there was a tension in the air between them that hadn’t been there before. Alya felt the weight of her previous mistakes pressing down on her, but she knew this was the right time to make things right.

“Marinette?” Alya's voice came through, hesitant, soft. “Can we talk?”

Marinette nodded and gestured for her longest friend to take a seat next to her.

“Marinette,” Alya began, her voice shaky. “What you said before… you’re wrong. It’s not okay. I’m really sorry. I… I should’ve never doubted you. I should’ve known better, and I regret not trusting you when you needed me the most.” She swallowed, trying to steady herself. “I just—I’ve been thinking about everything, and I don’t know how I could’ve let Lila manipulate me like that.”

Marinette’s heart ached seeing her friend so vulnerable, but she remained silent for a long moment, searching for the right words. She could see the sincerity in Alya's eyes, and yet, she still couldn’t shake the doubt.

“You’re right. It’s not okay. I know you’re sorry, Alya,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s... it’s not that simple for me. Trusting people—it’s going to be hard for me.”

Alya flinched at her words, the weight of the truth sinking in. Marinette had always been so strong, so confident, that it was hard for Alya to imagine her struggling with something as fundamental as trust.

“I’ve been hurt,” Marinette continued, her eyes lowering to her bruised wrist, twisting the fabric of her sleeve in an attempt to keep steady. “I’ve had people say one thing and do another, and it’s… it’s hard to let go of that. It’s hard to not question everything when people you care about let you down.”

Her words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Alya sat there, her heart breaking for her friend, understanding now just how much pain Marinette had been hiding all along.

“I don’t want to be closed off forever,” Marinette added, her voice soft but firm. “And I don’t want to push you away. But it’s going to take time, Alya. I can’t just forget how it felt to be betrayed. It’s going to take time for me to learn to trust you again, and for me to trust anyone again… maybe except Adrien.”

“I understand. I’m sorry it’s so hard for you. But I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I’m sorry, that I’ll never hurt you again. I know it won’t be easy, but I’ll work for it every day if I have to,” Alya admitted.

Marinette’s heart ached at the sincerity in Alya's words, but she didn’t rush to forgive her. She wasn’t ready for that. But maybe, just maybe, there was room for them to heal.

“I want to believe you,” Marinette whispered, looking up at Alya with teary eyes. “I really do. But it’s going to take some time. Can we… can we start over? And take it slow?”

Alya nodded quickly, her eyes bright with both hope and relief. “Of course. Whatever you need, Marinette. We’ll take it at your pace. I’m just happy you’re giving me the chance.”

For the first time in a long while, Marinette smiled—a small, cautious smile, but it was real. Maybe things wouldn’t go back to the way they were right away, but the seeds of healing were there.

“I’ll try,” she said, her voice steady now. “But we’ll need to be honest with each other. No more secrets, okay?”

“Absolutely,” Alya agreed, her voice full of determination. “We’re in this together. No more lies, just the truth.”

Alya pulled her into a warm, tight embrace. For a moment, they sat there, the world outside forgotten, as the bond of their friendship wrapped around them like a safety net. Marinette closed her eyes, letting the comfort of Alya’s presence wash over her. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

As Alya gave her a small smile, Marinette felt a small weight lift from her shoulders. Trust would take time. But this was the first step, and that was all that mattered.

Chapter Text

The warm glow of the afternoon sun streamed through Marinette’s bedroom window, casting golden rays that danced across her desk. She sat there, propped up in her chair, finishing up a few bits of homework, her mind still buzzing from the events of the day. The exposure of Lila’s lies had been the talk of the school, and while Marinette was relieved to see the truth come out, a small part of her still felt exhausted from the confrontation.

The knock from her balcony interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in," Marinette called.

The door swung open, and not to her surprise, Chat Noir strolled into the room with his usual carefree swagger, a grin spread across his face.

“Chat,” Marinette exclaimed, “I was actually expecting you.”

He turned to her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I thought I'd drop by and congratulate you in person. Besides, I figured you could use some company after all the excitement."

She slowly smiled, a sense of warmth filling her chest at the sight of him.

"What, no cat-like acrobatics today?" she teased, leaning against her desk with her arms crossed.

He chuckled, pushing himself off the doorframe and stepping into the room. "I figured I’d try something different. Plus, I wanted to see if you'd save me one of those delicious croissants."

Marinette couldn’t help but laugh. She had, in fact, saved one for him. The chocolate croissant, still warm from the bakery, sat on a plate on her desk, practically calling his name. She gestured to it, an amused smile dancing on her lips.

"Well, since you’ve come all this way…" She smiled and offered the croissant with a mock grand gesture. "A chocolate croissant, just for you."

Chat Noir's eyes lit up, and he practically pounced on the croissant, taking a generous bite. He leaned back slightly, his face glowing with contentment as he chewed.

"This is perfect," he said, taking another bite. "I don’t know how you do it, Marinette, but every time I have one of these, it’s like a little slice of heaven."

She felt her cheeks flush a little at the compliment, unsure how to respond. Instead, she simply shrugged, though the smile on her face was hard to hide. "It’s just a croissant... but I’m glad you like it."

After finishing the last bite, Chat Noir sighed in satisfaction. He glanced out at the Paris skyline from the balcony, where the city stretched out beneath them, the Eiffel Tower rising in the distance.

"So," he said, turning back to face her, "I heard the news. Lila got exposed, huh? You really did it this time."

Marinette took a deep breath, feeling a little tension leave her shoulders at his words. "Yeah. It wasn’t easy, but I wanted to thank you. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do it without you.”

Chat grinned, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "You handled it so well. I know it couldn’t have been easy, but you got through it. I’m really proud of you, Marinette."

Her heart skipped a beat at his sincerity. The weight of the day had lifted a little more with his words. "Thanks, Chat. That means a lot."

For a moment, the two of them simply stood there, the soft Parisian breeze ruffling their hair from the open skylight, as the sky turned from gold to shades of purple and pink.

"I was thinking," Marinette said, breaking the comfortable silence, "since you’ve saved me from Lila’s lies not once, but twice, maybe I should repay you. What do you say? Rematch on Ultimate Mecha Strike III?”

“Sure thing! Prepare to be destroyed.”

Marinette laughed, her eyes lighting up at the thought. "You really want to play me again after I beat you last time?"

Chat flashed her a grin, his usual cocky demeanour returning. "I’m pretty sure I’m one move away from winning, but I’ll let you have a second chance.”

She rolled her eyes but felt a warm sense of comfort settle over her. It was moments like this that made everything seem normal again—simple, happy, and full of laughter. After everything with Lila, she needed this.

Needed him.

"Alright, alright," she said, waving her hands in mock defeat. "You get your rematch. But I’m winning for sure."

"Challenge accepted," Chat replied, his grin widening. He moved towards one of her beanbags, his tail swishing behind him with excitement as she took a seat on the beanbag next to him. "Prepare yourself, Marinette."

As the two of them settled into a not so friendly game of Ultimate Mecha Strike III, the rest of the world seemed to fade away. The tension of the day, the stress of school and the lies, all melted into the background. Here, with Chat Noir, there was only the game and the easy banter that had always made their time together so special.

They laughed and teased each other, the room filled with the soft sound of their voices. Marinette felt completely at ease. In this quiet moment, surrounded by the soft glow of the setting sun and the warmth of Chat’s presence, she knew everything was going to be alright.

———

A shadowy figure lingered in his lair, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Hawkmoth, the villain who had cast his sinister influence over the city, paced back and forth in his dimly lit basement. The time had come for him to target someone who could help him achieve his ultimate goal—the acquisition of Ladybug and Chat Noir’s Miraculous.

His fingers brushed over the edge of his mask as he thought of the perfect candidate. A person with enough bitterness and jealousy to fuel his dark magic. Someone with a deep desire for power and a thirst for revenge. Someone with a history of lies and manipulation.

Lila Rossi.

Hawkmoth’s lips curled into a sinister smile as he activated his butterfly-shaped Miraculous, sending out a dark, swirling energy across the city. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the girl who had been stirring trouble among her classmates. Lila, the one who had waged her own campaign of deceit. She was the perfect candidate for him—full of rage and envy, ripe for the akuma’s corruption.

It wasn’t long before a flicker of darkness appeared before his target’s eyes.

"I can see your anger, Lila. I see your pain. You deserve to have it all—power, respect, and the attention that you’ve always craved. Come to me, and I will give you everything you desire."

The air grew thick with tension, and he could feel Lila being drawn to him. Desperation clawed at her chest. This was exactly what she needed. Power. Revenge. Everything she had been denied.

She didn’t hesitate.

Without a second thought, Lila let herself be consumed by the shadows. The darkness encased her body, filling her with overwhelming energy. Her eyes glowed with a fiery intensity as she let out a quiet gasp. Her rage had found a new home, and it was only a matter of time before she unleashed it.

With a fierce, bitter smile, she stood tall. "I’ll show them all," she muttered to herself. "They’ll regret ever crossing me."

Hawkmoth’s voice came again, dark and pleased. "I knew you would see things my way, Lila. Go, my new akuma. Seek out your targets. Show them what happens when you mess with the wrong person. In return, I expect you to bring me the Miraculous of Ladybug and Chat Noir.”

Lila gave a sinister smile and locked her eyes toward the horizon. “You know you don’t have to ask me twice, Mr Agreste.”

———

“Marinette,” Chat said quietly, his tone suddenly more serious as his eyes locked onto a faint bruise on her wrist. His gloved finger hovered near it, but he didn’t touch it just yet, as if uncertain. “What’s this?”

Marinette's stomach dropped as she instinctively pulled her wrist back, the bruise a reminder of the confrontation with Lila earlier that day. She hadn’t expected him to notice it, let alone bring it up. He obviously didn’t see the video of Lila grabbing her wrist. How could he have.

The bruise, still fresh and purple, was a reminder of the anger Lila had let loose in her desperation to make Marinette feel small. She hadn’t had the heart to tell anyone about the physical ramifications of the confrontation.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Marinette said quickly, forcing a casual smile. “Just a little hit. I—uh, I slipped while running earlier. You know how clumsy I can be.”

Chat Noir narrowed his eyes, clearly not convinced by her explanation. He leaned closer, his expression softening with concern. “Marinette,” he said gently, his voice a little lower now, “this doesn’t look like a slip. Are you sure it’s nothing?”

Marinette felt a flush creeping up her cheeks. There was something about the way Chat Noir was looking at her—something that made her heart race and her breath catch in her throat. The warmth of his concern wrapped around her like a soft blanket, and she found it hard to breathe, as if the room had suddenly gotten warmer.

She took a deep breath and looked up at him, swallowing her fear. "It was Lila," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "She... she got mad. She just… grabbed my wrist a bit too hard."

Chat’s expression darkened at the mention of Lila’s name. The playful banter that had been there earlier was gone, replaced by a deep, protective anger. "Lila?!" he repeated, incredulous. "She physically hurt you?"

For a long moment, Chat Noir stood there, his fists clenched at his sides. He was quiet, his jaw set, but his eyes were filled with a deep, protective sadness. He looked like he was processing everything she'd just said. Then, before she could say anything else, he stepped forward—his movements slow, deliberate—and without warning, he pulled her into his arms.

The hug was warm, enveloping her completely. For a second, Marinette froze, stunned by the sudden closeness. His arms wrapped around her with a comforting intensity, and for the first time, she didn’t feel the usual rush of nerves she sometimes felt when he was near. This was different. There was no teasing, no playful flirtation. It was pure, unfiltered care.

Her heart skipped a beat as she stood there, trapped in the embrace, unable to find the words to speak. She felt small in his arms, but not in the way she did when she felt powerless. In his arms, she felt... safe.

Chat’s voice broke through the silence, low and steady. “You don’t ever deserve to be treated like that. Not by anyone, especially not someone like Lila." He pulled back just slightly to look at her, his hands still resting on her shoulders, as if making sure she was really okay. “No one has the right to hurt you, Marinette. Not ever.”

Marinette blinked, her heart racing, still overwhelmed by the sudden closeness. The scent of him—the fresh, outdoor air, and a hint of the city’s night breeze wrapped around her as she tried to collect her thoughts.

“I…” She swallowed, the butterflies in her stomach suddenly louder than ever. Her pulse quickened, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink. "I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Chat Noir murmured, his voice gentle as he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Just know that I’m here for you, always. And if she ever hurts you again… I’ll make sure she knows exactly who she's messing with."

His words made something in her chest tighten—an ache, but not the kind that was painful. It was a feeling that was unfamiliar when she was around Chat Noir. Marinette leaned into his chest for a moment, her arms instinctively wrapping around him, too. His warmth was overwhelming, and for a brief second, the world around them felt like it didn’t exist at all.

Marinette broke the hug, but before she could say anything, the atmosphere in her room changed. A cold, dark energy filled the air, almost like a storm cloud rolling in. The overhead lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room.

Chat Noir paused, sensing the shift in the air. “Uh, did you feel that?” he asked, looking around.

Marinette stiffened, her hand clutching her bruised wrist tightly. “Yeah, I did. That doesn’t feel right…”

Before they could react, a figure fell through the skylight in her room with a force that sent a jolt through them. The sound of the wind howling outside seemed to follow, but there was no storm—just the sudden, sharp pressure of something unnatural.

And then, stood a figure, bathed in shadows, her eyes glowing with an eerie, green light. The woman—no, the creature—before them was unmistakable. Her hair was darkened, almost black, and her sharp, jagged outfit was adorned with purple accents. The dark wings sprouting from her back pulsed with an energy that made the air hum with menace.

Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. She knew that figure all too well.

“Lila?” Marinette whispered, her voice barely audible.

The girl before them grinned, her eyes flashing with contempt. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again, Marinette. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.” Her voice was sharp, tinged with a bitter edge that made the hairs on the back of Marinette’s neck stand up.

“Lila, what are you—?” Marinette began, but the words died in her throat as a cold, mocking laugh echoed from the other side of the room.

“I’m not Lila anymore, sweet Marinette,” the akuma-tainted figure sneered. “I’m Envy. And you’re going to regret everything you’ve done to me.”

Chat Noir straightened his posture, a frown pulling at his face. “Hey, don’t even think about it! We won’t let you hurt Marinette or anyone else!”

Envy’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “What are you doing in here kitty-cat? A secret rendezvous?Given up on Ladybug already? Hawkmoth would love to know about this,” she cackled. “I’m not here for just anyone. You’re about to see what happens when someone finally gets the recognition they deserve. When all the power they’ve been denied finally falls into their hands.”

“Stand back, Marinette.” Chat Noir pushed his way to stand in front of her.

“Protecting your girlfriend, I see. Do you know what it’s like to feel so overlooked?” Envy spat, her voice trembling with rage. “To see others get everything you’ve worked so hard for, while you’re just ignored? That’s what I’ve felt all my life. But no longer. Now—now, I’ll make sure everyone sees me for who I really am.”

Chat Noir moved into a defensive stance, his eyes narrowing with determination. “You’re not going to get away with this, Lila—or Envy, or whatever you are now! We’ll stop you!”

Envy’s smile widened, her eyes flickering with dark amusement. “You think you can stop me?” she asked, her voice laced with venom. “I have power now. Power you could never dream of.”

She flicked her wrist, and a surge of dark energy erupted from her hands, slamming into the walls of Marinette’s room with a resounding crash. The windows rattled, and the counter trembled as if the whole building was going to collapse.

“Marinette, are you okay up there?” There was a shout from downstairs, who Chat realised must’ve been Marinette’s father.

With a burst of energy, he launched himself forward, his agility taking him directly toward Envy. She hadn’t even seen him move. In a flash, he tackled her hard, throwing her up, out of Marinette’s room and off the balcony before anything else could be said.

"Not so fast!" Chat Noir shouted as he struggled to keep Envy pinned to the ground. She squirmed beneath him, her wings flapping angrily as she tried to wriggle free.

“You think you can stop me?” Envy snarled. Her dark wings lashed out, catching Chat Noir off guard and sending him tumbling to the side. He barely managed to roll to his feet before she was on him again, sending blasts of dark energy in his direction.

The street around them lit up with the streaks of black energy as Chat Noir leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding another explosion of force.

Meanwhile, inside her room, Marinette could hear the crash and the sound of the fight raging outside.

She didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, Marinette and Tikki looked teach other, nodding once.

“Tikki, spots on!”

The transformation was swift and seamless. In an instant, the red and black suit enveloped her, her signature spots gleaming against the fabric.

Outside, the battle raged on. Chat Noir was managing to hold his own, but Envy was stronger than he had expected. With every blast, every furious strike of her wings, she pushed him back. He couldn’t land a solid hit on her, and his cataclysm was proven ineffective against her swift movements.

Ladybug, now fully transformed, rushed outside from the bakery’s back door. The wind whipped at her face as she scanned the scene. Chat Noir was still grappling with Envy, his claws out and ready, but it was clear he was beginning to tire. She could see the cracks forming in the fight.

Without wasting a second, Ladybug leapt into action, her yo-yo snapping to her hand with a quick flick of her wrist. She launched herself into the air, swinging from the nearby buildings to gain momentum.

“Chat, I’ve got your back!” she called as she soared down toward the fight, her eyes sharp and focused.

Chat Noir’s head snapped toward her, a look of relief flashing in his eyes. “Ladybug! About time!”

Ladybug flipped gracefully in mid-air, landing between him and Envy with a confident stance. “Step back, Chaton. I’ve got this,” she said, her voice calm and steady despite the chaos surrounding them.

Envy, still seething with rage, narrowed her glowing eyes at Ladybug. “You think you can stop me? I’ve been waiting for this for so long. Finally, I get to make Marinette pay for everything she’s taken from me.”

Ladybug squared her shoulders. “This isn’t you, Lila. You’re not a villain. Don’t let the akuma control you. Fight it.”

Envy let out a mocking laugh. “Oh, I’ve embraced it. I don’t need to fight it. You’ll see, Ladybug. I’m going to get everything I’ve ever wanted. All I need is for you to give me your Miraculous!”

She unleashed another barrage of dark energy, but Ladybug was prepared. With a swift motion, she spun her yo-yo and deflected the blasts, the silver string slicing through the air like a blade.

Envy hissed in frustration, her wings flapping with increasing fury. The shadows around her thickened, and the ground beneath them seemed to tremble with the intensity of her rage.

Ladybug’s eyes hardened with determination. She couldn’t let this go on any longer. “Chat, we need to take her down together. I need you to trust me on this.”

Chat Noir nodded without hesitation. “You’ve got it, my lady.”

Ladybug’s mind raced, trying to come up with a strategy. Envy was dangerous, but she wasn’t invincible. She needed to outsmart her.

Her eyes flickered to the nearby building, and then back to Envy. If I can get her close enough...

With a sudden burst of speed, Ladybug leapt forward, her yo-yo at the ready. Envy, caught off guard, tried to react too late. The dark energy swirling around her crackled and collided with Ladybug’s yo-yo as she swung it around, creating a forceful, almost magnetic pull. Envy faltered, her wings shaking as she struggled against the force.

In the moment of hesitation, Ladybug saw her opening. “Now, Chat!”

Chat Noir didn’t waste a second. With his usual agility, he rushed forward, his claws out and ready. He dove into the chaos, landing a quick, powerful swipe across Envy’s side. Envy howled in pain, her wings flapping furiously as she tried to push them both back.

But Ladybug was quicker. With a determined flick of her wrist, she sent the yo-yo in a spiral, wrapping it around Envy’s dark form. The bright red light of her power encased Envy in a glowing cocoon, holding her fast against the brick wall.

“Time to de-evilise!” Ladybug shouted, snapping the infected hair pin. She yanked the yo-yo tight, and a blinding light erupted from it, flooding the alleyway.

Envy let out a final scream of frustration as the darkness within her began to dissipate. The shadows that had consumed her vanished, leaving her trembling on the ground, the akuma no longer controlling her. Lila Rossi, broken and exhausted, collapsed onto her knees.

“Good work, my lady!” Chat praised.

“You didn’t do too bad yourself, kitty.” Ladybug purred, and then turned around to face the akumatised victim.

She knelt beside the girl. “Lila… it’s over. You’re free.”

Chat Noir walked up behind Ladybug, offering her a supportive smile. He looked at Lila, who was now blinking in anger, her eyes clearing from the haze of the akuma's influence.

Lila’s voice was soft, barely a whisper. “I’m back to normal?”

Ladybug forced a small, strained smile. “You don’t have to worry about being akumatised anymore, Lila. You’re going to be okay. We’ll help you get through this.”

“How dare you?!” Lila screeched, her voice laced with venom. Her chest heaved with every labored breath, fury radiating from her as she glared at Ladybug and Chat Noir, both of whom were frozen in shock at the sudden mood change. “You took it from me. You took away everything I was going to be. All of that power, everything I ever wanted, and you—you—destroyed it!”

“Lila, it wasn’t you. The akuma twisted everything inside you, made you believe you needed power to be recognised, to be validated. But that’s not what truly matters.”

Lila’s laugh was harsh, bitter. It wasn’t the laugh of a girl who had once been friendly or playful—it was the laugh of someone whose world had crumbled and who had become consumed by the wreckage.

“You think I just needed validation? You think I wanted power just to be noticed?” Lila's voice dripped with disdain as she took a step closer to Ladybug, her eyes burning with fury. “I don’t care about being noticed, Ladybug. I want control. I want that power to make people see me for who I truly am, not some invisible girl who gets walked all over. But you ruined that. You didn’t just stop me—you destroyed everything I was trying to build!”

Chat Noir stepped forward, his usual teasing smile nowhere in sight, replaced by a deep concern for the girl he once knew. “How can you say that? This is Hawkmoth’s power you’re talking about. Lila, we didn’t want to destroy you. We wanted to stop the akuma from taking over you. You don’t need power like that, not at the expense of others. The darkness only makes you miserable.”

But Lila’s rage only deepened, her eyes flashing with hatred as she squared her shoulders. She stepped forward, getting right in Chat Noir’s face, her voice low and dangerous. “You don’t get it, do you? I want to be better. I want to rise above all the lies and the pity people had for me. I’m sick of being nothing. Sick of being ignored and overlooked while everyone else got everything they wanted. I want power. If that’s Hawkmoth’s power, then so be it. And you took it from me.”

Ladybug took a cautious step closer, her voice firm. “Lila, you can’t build a life on that kind of anger. Power, control—those things don’t bring happiness. All they do is tear you apart. Look at what it did to you. Look at what it almost made you do.”

Lila’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her hands trembling as she spoke. “I wanted to do that! I regret nothing. You think I’ll just let you take everything from me and walk away? You think I’ll just forgive you for ruining my chance to finally be something—someone who’s feared?” Her words seethed with venom, each syllable dripping with bitter regret. “I was going to show them all. I was going to make everyone see that I was worth something. That I wasn’t just some second-rate nobody. But you—” she spat, pointing at Ladybug and Chat Noir, “—you destroyed that. You ruined everything I fought for. And for what? To make sure the ‘good guys’ always win? Well, you may have won, Ladybug. You may have stopped me from becoming powerful, but you’ll regret this. I swear you will.”

Ladybug’s heart rate increased. Lila’s desire for power, her craving to be seen as more than what she was, had consumed her completely, and now it had left her broken.

“You don’t need that kind of power to be special, Lila,” Ladybug said softly, but with conviction. “What makes you special isn’t the power you have—it’s the person you choose to be. The way you treat others, the choices you make… those are what define you.”

Lila’s eyes burned with fury, her voice rising to a near scream. “You think I care about your words? About your idea of what’s right and wrong? I don’t need your lessons or your pity, Ladybug! You took away everything I ever wanted, and you’re going to regret it. I’ll make sure of it!”

And with that, she turned away from them, “oh, and maybe ask your so-called partner why he was cheating on you with the bakery girl. Not very identity savvy, is it?” Her words left a sharp, cutting silence behind. Lila’s form disappeared into a nearby alleyway, the weight of her rage lingering like an echo in the air.

Chat turned towards ladybug, fiddling with her gloves, “my lady, I can explain—“

“Ladybug! Chat Noir! There you are!”

Both superheroes turned in unison to see Alya sprinting toward them, her phone ready in hand. She was practically glowing with excitement, her eyes wide with energy. Despite the intense scene that had just unfolded, Alya seemed unfazed, her journalistic instincts kicking in as always.

“Explain to me at patrol tomorrow,” Ladybug whispered.

“I knew something was going down when I saw the explosion,” she said, skidding to a stop in front of them, her smile bright and eager. “What happened? What was Lila— I mean, Envy—doing here? And how did you stop her? I need the full scoop for the Ladyblog!”

Ladybug blinked, momentarily taken aback by Alya’s sudden appearance and the rush of questions. She could feel the adrenaline still buzzing in her veins, but the eager sparkle in Alya’s eyes was impossible to ignore. As always, Alya was a whirlwind of energy, ready to turn every event into the next big story.

“Alya,” Ladybug said with a small smile, trying to gather her thoughts. “It’s a long story. Lila—well, Lila got akumatized again. She became Envy, and… she was pretty angry. It was hard to stop her.”

The sudden, sharp beeping of Chat Noir’s Miraculous interrupted the moment, signalling that their time as Ladybug and Chat Noir was up.

“We’ve got to go, Alya. Maybe an interview next time?” she said with a small smile, before turning to Chat Noir.

“Pound it!”

With a nod, they both leapt away, disappearing into the shadows.

Ladybug swung away in the opposite direction of the bakery, using the last few seconds to try and confuse any onlookers before making it back to her room.

Ladybug landed gracefully on her balcony, the cool breeze ruffling her hair as she quickly de-transformed. In a flash, Marinette stood in her room, breathing a sigh of relief. The weight of the battle and everything that had happened that night was still heavy on her shoulders, but for now, she could relax—at least for a moment.

She rushed to her mirror, checking to make sure everything was in place. With a quick glance at the time, she realised it was getting late, and her parents would probably be worried. Without wasting another second, she hurried downstairs, making sure to keep her footsteps light.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was greeted by the familiar warmth of her parents' arms.

"Marinette!" Sabine exclaimed, "are you okay? We were going to check on you but we got jammed in the kitchen when the akuma attacked!”

Marinette shook her head, smiling reassuringly. “I’m fine! Everything’s okay now thanks to Ladybug and Chat Noir.”

Tom chuckled, “I don’t know what we’d do without them. And it sounds like we could all use some of my famous chocolate chip cookies to unwind. What do you think?”

Marinette’s eyes lit up. “You’re reading my mind, papa,” she said with a grin. “I’d love some.”

However, unbeknownst to her, a pair of green eyes was watching.

———

5 minutes before

Lila stood in the shadows of a narrow alleyway, her fists clenched and her heart pounding with frustration. The night had not gone as she had planned. The akuma’s power had been fleeting, slipping through her fingers just when she thought she had everything under control. And the worst part was, despite all her efforts, Ladybug and Chat Noir had defeated her. Again.

Her mind was a whirlwind of anger and confusion. How could they have stopped her? How could they always win?

And then, like a flash in the dark, Ladybug appeared.

Lila’s breath caught as she watched Ladybug leap effortlessly across the rooftops, her movements swift and graceful. For a moment, the anger was replaced by a strange, sharp curiosity. She hadn’t noticed before, but there was something in the way Ladybug moved that felt so... familiar. Almost as if she had seen it somewhere before.

Without thinking, Lila took off, following from the shadows, careful to keep her distance. She wasn’t sure why she felt compelled to follow her this time, but her feet carried her anyway. She needed answers. She needed to understand how Ladybug always eluded her.

She trailed Ladybug as she made her way through the streets, finally watching her land on the balcony of a building.

The Dupain-Cheng Bakery?

Lila hid herself behind a corner, her breath shallow as she leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on the figure now standing on Marinette’s balcony.

Ladybug stood, her back to Lila, and then she did something that stopped Lila’s heart cold—she de-transformed.

Lila’s mouth went dry as she watched the miraculous glow flicker and vanish. The light around Ladybug’s suit disappeared. It must have been unintentional as the girl let out a quiet squeak and spun around to check the street below. In Ladybug’s place was the simple figure of a girl—someone Lila recognised instantly. It was Marinette.

For a second, time seemed to freeze. Lila’s mind raced, trying to process what she was seeing. The girl she had tormented, the one who always seemed so ordinary, was Ladybug? The realisation hit her like a wave, crashing over her with a mix of jealousy and bitter satisfaction.

She stared, her breath catching in her throat as Marinette turned to go inside. Her heart pounded. The connection was undeniable now. Every little moment, every strange coincidence—it had all led to this.

Lila stood frozen for a few moments longer, trying to make sense of everything. Marinette had always been so clumsy, so boring, so… harmless. And yet, she had been hiding the truth all along. Ladybug, the one person Lila had always seen as an obstacle, had been in front of her the whole time. It was Marinette, again, who had taken everything from her—who had ruined her plans, defeated her every time.

A malicious smile tugged at the corners of her lips. This was an opportunity. A chance to finally take control, to turn the tables. But it wasn’t enough to just defeat Ladybug anymore. She needed to destroy Marinette.

Lila took a step back, retreating into the darkness of the alley once more, her eyes still fixed on the balcony. She knew exactly what she needed to do. She would make sure the truth was known. Marinette’s secret would be exposed. And then, the game would be hers to win.

As the night grew colder, Lila moved swiftly toward the bakery. From the shadows of the window, she watched Marinette’s every move. She had the information. She knew who Ladybug really was. And now, there was only one person who could help her take down Marinette once and for all.

Gabriel Agreste.

She and Gabriel had… similar ideals. He was the one that brought her to Paris in the first place.

She arrived at Gabriel’s mansion, the grand structure looming over her like an impenetrable fortress. She could feel her pulse quicken as she rang the doorbell, the sound echoing through the empty street. Nathalie, as always, opened the door with a calm demeanour, but even she couldn’t mask the fact that something felt different in the air tonight.

“Mademoiselle Rossi,” Nathalie said with an arched eyebrow, but she stepped aside without a word, as if she already knew what Lila was there for.

Lila stepped inside, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floors. She barely noticed the opulent surroundings; her mind was focused on one thing: Hawkmoth. And tonight, she wasn’t just bringing him information—she was offering him the key to Ladybug’s destruction.

Nathalie led her down the dimly lit hallway to Gabriel’s study. The air in the room felt heavy, suffused with the weight of untold secrets. Gabriel was seated behind his desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him as he looked up at her. His cold, calculating gaze pierced through her, and for a moment, she felt the familiar chill of his presence.

“Mademoiselle Rossi,” Gabriel said, his voice smooth but laced with an almost predatory calm. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Lila took a deep breath, savouring the moment. She was no longer the powerless, defeated girl who had failed to defeat Ladybug.

No.

Tonight, she was in control. “I have something very interesting to tell you, Mr Agreste,” she said, her voice low and confident. “Something that could bring Ladybug—and everything she stands for—down for good.”

Gabriel didn’t move. His eyes remained fixed on her, unreadable. “Go on.”

Lila leaned in, her heart pounding in her chest as she spoke the words she had been waiting to say. “I know who Ladybug really is.”

The words hung in the air, charged with the weight of truth. Gabriel’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes seemed to darken, his attention now fully on her.

“It’s Marinette Dupain-Cheng,” Lila continued, feeling a surge of power as the information spilled from her lips. “The girl who runs the bakery. I saw her de-transform right before my eyes, and I found Chat Noir in her room earlier today while I was akumatised. Marinette is Ladybug.”

Gabriel’s fingers twitched ever so slightly, but he said nothing. His silence spoke volumes.

Lila pushed on, emboldened by his lack of reaction. “I know it sounds impossible, but it’s true. Marinette Dupain-Cheng is Ladybug. And I’ve got the evidence to prove it. If we expose her, the entire city will lose its faith in Ladybug. She’ll be destroyed from the inside.”

A cold, sinister smile tugged at the corners of Gabriel’s lips, though he said nothing at first. Lila could see the wheels turning in his mind, could feel the dark energy swirling between them. She knew what he was—knew what they both were. They were two sides of the same coin, bound by a mutual desire for power, for control, for destruction.

“The derby hat girl? Well this is… unexpected,” Gabriel mused. “And what about Chat Noir?” Gabriel continued, his voice still as smooth and cold as ever.

“I don’t know. But I’m sure now that we know about one it won’t be long before we figure out the other,” Lila grinned.

Gabriel’s expression shifted ever so slightly, but Lila could see the glint of something dark in his eyes. He leaned forward, his voice low but filled with an unsettling promise. “You’ve done well, Mademoiselle Rossi. This information is... most useful. It seems you and I have more in common than I initially thought.”

Lila’s heart raced. She had Gabriel Agreste’s full attention now, and she knew he wasn’t just thinking about Ladybug’s fall. He was thinking about how to turn this into something bigger, something far more dangerous. She had never felt this kind of thrill before. This was her moment—her chance to prove herself.

“Together, we’ll make sure Ladybug falls. And Miss Dupain-Cheng…” Gabriel’s gaze darkened as he leaned back again, his hands steepled in front of him. “She will learn what it means to challenge us.”

Lila nodded slowly, her voice low and filled with promise. “We’ll make sure she regrets ever crossing us.”

Gabriel smiled, a cold, knowing smile. “Patience is key. But when the time comes, we’ll strike. And Ladybug will be no more.”

Lila’s heart beat faster as she left Gabriel’s mansion, a sense of triumph settling over her. She had everything now—Gabriel’s trust, his plan, and the knowledge of Marinette’s secret. All she had to do was wait. Wait for the perfect moment to expose Ladybug’s truth, to shatter everything she’d built.

And when the time came, Marinette would have no idea what hit her.

Chapter Text

The city stretched out before them, glittering like a sea of golden fireflies. Paris was quiet now, its streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, the Seine reflecting the moon’s silver touch. Their patrol had been uneventful—no akumas, no disturbances, just a peaceful night for once.

Ladybug and Chat Noir landed gracefully on their usual spot atop the Eiffel Tower, the wind ruffling their hair as they caught their breath.

Chat stretched with a content sigh, his tail flicking behind him. “Ahh, another night protecting our beautiful city. And more importantly, another night spent in the company of my favourite spotted heroine.” He flashed her a signature smirk.

Ladybug rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “You mean only spotted heroine.”

Chat placed a dramatic hand over his heart. “Well, that just means you’re truly one of a kind, doesn’t it?”

She chuckled, shaking her head. Normally, she’d brush off his flirting without a second thought, but tonight… something felt different. Maybe it was the way the moonlight softened his usual mischievous expression, or how his emerald eyes held a warmth she hadn’t really let herself acknowledge before.

“Flirting again, Chat?” she teased, tilting her head at him. “One of these days, you’re going to run out of lines.”

Chat gasped as if she had just insulted his very soul. “Me? Run out of charm? Purrlease, my lady, I could write a book on the art of seduction.” He leaned in slightly, his grin widening. “Would you like a personal demonstration?”

Ladybug surprised even herself when she let out a soft laugh, the sound light and natural. “I think I’d break you before we got to chapter two.”

Chat blinked.

Wait.

Had she just flirted back?

For a brief moment, he stood frozen, his mind scrambling to process the sudden shift. He had spent so long throwing out compliments and cheeky one-liners, never expecting anything but an exasperated sigh or an eye roll in return. But this? This was new. And dangerous.

“Are you… feeling okay, Bugaboo?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were—gasp—encouraging me.”

Ladybug felt heat rush to her face. What was she doing? Flirting with Chat Noir? The same partner she had spent years keeping at arm’s length? The same silly, dramatic, endlessly loyal cat she—

Her heart skipped.

No. No, no, no.

She liked Adrien, didn’t she? Adrien. She had spent years pining after him, dreaming of a future where he’d finally see her the way she saw him. So why, then, was her pulse racing at the way Chat Noir was looking at her? Why did her stomach flip when he smirked at her like that?

“I—” She swallowed, forcing a casual shrug. “Maybe I’m just in a good mood.”

Chat, ever the opportunist, wiggled his eyebrows. “Does that mean I have a chance tonight? Because if so, I’d like to formally thank the universe.”

Ladybug groaned, but the warmth on her cheeks betrayed her. This is ridiculous.

“I think your ego has already reached its daily limit,” she huffed, crossing her arms in a poor attempt to look unimpressed.

Chat grinned. “My ego might, but my heart? That has infinite space for you, my lady.”

Ladybug’s breath hitched. Normally, she would have dismissed that as just another of his exaggerated declarations, but tonight… tonight, she felt the weight behind his words.

He meant it.

And maybe—just maybe—a tiny, hidden part of her wanted him to mean it.

The realisation hit her like a freight train, sending her mind into immediate overdrive. No. This was just patrol exhaustion. A passing moment. Nothing more.

Right?

Chat’s gaze softened as he studied her expression, curiosity flickering behind his playful demeanour. “You’re acting different,” he mused. “I’m not complaining, of course. It’s the best plot twist of my life. But what’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours?”

Ladybug forced herself to laugh, ignoring the tightness in her chest. “Nothing. You’re imagining things, kitty.”

His lips curled into a knowing smirk. “Am I? Or are you just bad at hiding things from me?”

She hated how well he could read her sometimes.

Chat Noir stole a glance at Ladybug, watching the way she was rolling her wrist. Subtle, almost imperceptible, but he caught it. Every so often, her hand would flex slightly, her fingers brushing over her wrist as if soothing a pain.

His brows furrowed.

“You okay, Bug?” he asked, his voice casual, but his sharp eyes didn’t miss how she tensed at the question.

“Of course,” Ladybug answered quickly, too quickly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Chat tilted his head, unconvinced. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you’ve been rubbing your wrist for the past five minutes like it personally offended you.”

Ladybug stiffened. For a second, she didn’t respond, as if calculating her next move. Then she forced a chuckle, shaking out her hand. “It’s nothing, just a little sore from using my yo-yo so much. I’m fine.”

Chat Noir narrowed his eyes. Something about her answer didn’t sit right with him.

Her yo-yo? Maybe. But Ladybug wasn’t the type to be careless with her body—she knew how to handle strain, how to pace herself. If she was in pain, it had to be something more than just a sore wrist.

His gaze drifted to Ladybug’s wrist as she absentmindedly rubbed it again. His own hand unconsciously flexed, the memory of earlier that day flashing in his mind—Marinette had done the same thing.

It was weird.

Too weird.

Chat hummed thoughtfully. “Huh. That’s funny.”

Ladybug raised a brow. “What’s funny?”

“Well,” he said, tilting his head as if in deep thought, “I noticed that Marinette had the same exact injury earlier today.”

Ladybug froze.

For a split second, she was motionless—her body stiff, her lips parting like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. But then, like a switch, her expression shifted into something unreadable.

“…Marinette?” she repeated slowly, her tone carefully neutral.

Chat nodded, oblivious to the flicker of tension in her shoulders. “Yeah. She was rubbing her wrist a lot today, just like you are now. Pretty big coincidence, huh?”

Ladybug scoffed, crossing her arms. “And why, exactly, were you paying so much attention to Marinette?”

Chat blinked. That… was not the reaction he had expected.

“I mean, I notice a lot of things,” he said with a sheepish grin. “I am a cat, after all. It’s kind of my thing.”

Ladybug narrowed her eyes. “Uh-huh.”

Something about the way she said it made Chat sit up straighter. He tilted his head, intrigued.

“Wait a minute,” he said, a slow grin creeping onto his face. “Are you… jealous?”

Ladybug scoffed, a little too quickly. “Of course not.”

Chat smirked. “Oh, Bugaboo, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you sound a little possessive.”

“I am not—” Ladybug started, then huffed, rubbing her temples. “That’s not the point, Chat.”

Chat wiggled his eyebrows. “So there is a point?”

Ladybug groaned. “The point is—” she paused, then frowned. “Wait. How do you know Marinette hurt her wrist, anyway?”

Chat shrugged. “I visit her sometimes.”

Ladybug’s head snapped toward him so fast, he swore he heard her neck crack.

“So Lila was telling the truth about something for once.”

Chat Noir blinked, slightly taken aback by the sheer intensity of her reaction. “I visit her. You know, check in on her. Make sure she’s okay. I mean, she’s been having a rough time lately.”

Ladybug didn’t know why, but something in her chest tightened. “And why exactly do you need to check in on her?”

Chat blinked again, his tail flicking behind him. “Because she’s my friend?” He said, as if it were obvious.

Ladybug opened her mouth, then closed it. Then opened it again. What is wrong with me?!

She had no reason to feel… this. It wasn’t real jealousy, right? Right?!

Because it wasn’t like Chat actually liked Marinette. And she wasn’t mad because he was visiting her. That would be—

Her mind stuttered.

…But aren’t I Marinette?

Her thoughts spiralled at an alarming rate. She wasn’t jealous of Marinette, because she was Marinette. So what was this?

Was she jealous that Chat Noir cared about her? Or was she jealous because, for the first time, she was seeing herself through Chat’s eyes—and realising that he genuinely cared about Marinette, not just Ladybug?

Her stomach twisted.

She hated this.

She hated that a part of her was actually pleased by the thought that Chat Noir worried about Marinette—about her. She hated that she liked knowing he was checking in on her even when she wasn’t in the mask.

Because that meant he saw her.

All of her.

And that was terrifying.

Chat tilted his head, studying her silence. “Are you sure you’re not jealous?” he teased, but his tone was softer now, more curious than playful.

Ladybug took a slow breath, composing herself.

“I just think,” she said evenly, “that you should be careful about getting too attached to civilians.”

Chat raised an eyebrow, catching something in her tone but unable to put his finger on it.

“Noted, my lady,” he smirked, still watching her carefully.

Ladybug turned away, her heart pounding as she desperately shoved her feelings down, pretending she didn’t just have an earth-shattering realisation.

That she might actually care about Chat Noir more than she ever wanted to admit.

Steeling herself, she reached for her yo-yo, desperate for an escape before she said—or did—something truly regrettable. “It’s late. We should call it a night.”

Chat’s smirk didn’t fade, but he didn’t push. “As you wish, my lady. But for the record…” He leaned in just a little, voice dipping into something softer, almost teasing. “I like this side of you. You should let her out more often.”

Ladybug didn’t trust herself to respond.

With a flick of her yo-yo, she took off into the night, her heart still hammering in her chest.

Because for the first time in a long time…

She wasn’t sure who it was really beating for.

———

Marinette landed on her bed with a quiet sigh, exhaustion pressing down on her like a weight. The night’s events replayed in her mind—her patrol with Chat Noir, their conversation, the way she had flirted back.

What am I doing?

She sat up, running a hand through her hair before her eyes landed on a framed picture on her desk. Slowly, she reached for it, her fingers tracing the familiar faces.

Her, Alya, Nino… and Adrien.

Her gaze lingered on his soft smile, on the way the sunlight had made his golden hair glow that day.

She had loved him for so long.

And yet, tonight, standing on the Eiffel Tower with Chat Noir, something had shifted.

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably as she replayed the way her heart had raced when Chat had looked at her—really looked at her. The way his words had sent warmth curling through her chest, the way she had liked making him flustered.

But I love Adrien, she told herself firmly. I always have.

The thought should have reassured her. It should have anchored her in certainty. But instead, it felt… hollow.

Because if that were true, why did she feel like she was betraying Adrien?

Before she could spiral further, a soft tapping at the skylight pulled her from her thoughts.

Her breath hitched.

She already knew who it was.

With hesitant steps, she climbed onto her chaise lounge and pushed open the trapdoor. A familiar black silhouette crouched on her balcony railing, tail flicking behind him.

“Bonsoir, purrincess,” Chat Noir greeted, his usual smirk in place—but there was something gentler about it tonight. “Hope I’m not intruding.”

Marinette hesitated, then shook her head, stepping onto the balcony. “You always intrude,” she teased lightly.

Chat put a hand over his heart. “Wounding me right away? I just got here.”

She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her lips quirked up. “What are you doing here, Chat?”

He tilted his head. “I wanted to check on you.” His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity that made her stomach flip. “You seemed… off earlier. And I wanted to see how you were doing after that akuma attack. I didn’t get the chance to really talk to you after.”

Marinette’s fingers curled around her wrist instinctively before she forced them to relax. “I’m fine.”

Chat’s green eyes flickered to her hand before returning to her face. “You know, that would be a lot more convincing if you weren’t continuously rubbing your wrist.”

She swallowed. “It’s nothing, really. Just a rough day.”

Chat studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Fair enough.”

Marinette blinked. That was it? No prying? No pushing?

Before she could dwell on it, he smirked again. “So, how do I cheer you up? A dramatic rooftop performance? A purr-fectly timed joke?” He leaned in, wiggling his eyebrows. “Or perhaps… a distraction?”

A distraction.

That was exactly what she needed.

Maybe if she leaned into this, if she flirted back again, it would help her sort out the confusing mess of emotions in her chest.

So, she smirked.

“Oh?” she mused, voice lighter than she felt. “And what if I do need a distraction?”

Chat Noir froze.

For a full three seconds, he just stared at her, processing.

“…Am I hallucinating?” he asked dramatically, rubbing his eyes. “Did Marinette just flirt with me?”

Marinette laughed, shaking her head. “You act like I don’t know how to be charming.”

Chat’s grin returned, a little stunned but undeniably pleased. “Oh, I know you can be charming, purrincess. I just didn’t expect you to use that charm on me.”

She tilted her head. “Are you complaining?”

“Absolutely not,” he said instantly. “I just need a moment to adjust to this new reality.”

Marinette giggled, her heart racing. She liked this—liked seeing him flustered, liked having the upper hand for once.

Maybe… maybe this was just fun. Maybe it didn’t have to mean anything.

“Alright,” she said, crossing her arms. “So? Are you going to take advantage of this rare opportunity or just stand there gawking?”

Chat Noir’s smirk deepened, but there was something in his eyes—something curious. Like he was trying to figure out why she was doing this.

“Oh, trust me,” he purred, stepping closer, “I wouldn’t dream of wasting this moment.”

Her breath hitched.

For the briefest second, she wondered if she had gone too far.

Chat studied her with that unreadable expression before his smirk softened. “But I do have one question.”

Marinette swallowed. “What’s that?”

His voice was gentler when he spoke. “Why?”

Her heart stopped.

“I—” she started, then shut her mouth.

What could she say? That she was confused? That she was testing herself? That she was trying to figure out if her feelings for Adrien were as solid as she always thought they were?

That she had felt something with him tonight and it scared her?

She forced a shrug. “I guess I just realised you’re kind of cute.”

Chat Noir’s eyebrows shot up, and for the first time in a long time, he looked genuinely stunned.

“…Only kind of?” he echoed.

Marinette smirked. “Alright, fine. A little cute.”

Chat placed a dramatic hand over his heart. “You wound me, princess.”

She laughed again, but it felt almost foreign. Her emotions were a tangled mess, and the more she tried to sort them out, the more confused she became.

She still loved Adrien.

Didn’t she?

Then why did her heart stutter when Chat looked at her like that?

She needed to stop.

She needed to end this before she did something she couldn’t take back.

“Well,” she said, clearing her throat, “it’s late. I should probably get some sleep.”

Chat studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. “Of course. Can’t have you losing beauty sleep.”

She smiled, but it felt forced. “Goodnight, Chat.”

He hesitated, then gave a small bow. “Goodnight, purrincess.”

With one last lingering glance, he leapt off the balcony, disappearing into the night.

Marinette let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her chest.

Her heart was still pounding.

That didn’t help her little dilemma one bit.

———

The morning sunlight poured through the classroom windows as Marinette walked in, clutching her bag a little tighter than usual. She spotted Alya already seated at their usual table, scrolling through her phone.

Marinette hesitated for a split second. Would Alya even want her to sit there?

But then, as if sensing her presence, Alya looked up. Their eyes met.

Alya’s expression flickered—first neutral, then hesitant, before finally softening.

“Hey,” Alya said, her voice casual but carrying something unspoken beneath it.

Marinette inhaled deeply and smiled. “Hey.”

She slid into her seat, and for the first time in what felt like forever, it didn’t feel awkward. The weight between them hadn’t completely lifted, but it felt… lighter.

Alya glanced at her, then at the desk, tapping her fingers against it. “So… uh, you catch the akuma fight last night?”

Marinette nearly laughed at the normalcy of the question. If only you knew, Alya.

“Yeah,” she said instead, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “It was a tough one.”

Alya smirked. “I bet Ladybug and Chat Noir handled it like pros, though.”

Marinette’s lips quirked. “Something like that.”

Alya leaned in slightly, nudging her shoulder. “You know… I missed this. Just talking to you.”

Marinette swallowed past the lump in her throat, her smile turning a little more real. “Yeah. Me too.”

Before she could say more, the classroom door opened, and Adrien Agreste walked in.

She turned toward him automatically, but for the first time since she could remember, her heart didn’t go into overdrive.

And for the first time, her words didn’t get stuck in her throat.

“Hey, Adrien!” she said, smiling as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Alya blinked in surprise.

Adrien, however, froze.

His usual graceful demeanour completely shattered as his face went a deep shade of red.

“H-Hi, M-Marinette,” he stammered, looking everywhere but at her.

Marinette blinked. Wait… was Adrien Agreste stuttering?

The reaction was so unexpected, so unlike him, that before she could even process it, a loud snicker broke through the moment.

Nino.

Nino, who had been standing right behind Adrien, grinning like he had just won the lottery.

“Ohhh, hold up,” Nino said, crossing his arms with an amused look. “Did Adrien just completely short-circuit over a hello from Marinette?”

Adrien groaned, burying his face in his hand. “Nino, please.”

Alya looked between them, eyebrows raised. “Okay, wait, what just happened?”

Marinette, equally confused, turned to Adrien. “Are you… okay?”

Adrien cleared his throat, still noticeably flustered. “Y-Yeah! Totally fine! Just—uh, surprised, that’s all!”

Nino chuckled, slapping a hand on Adrien’s shoulder. “Dude. You’ve literally never reacted like that to anyone saying hi before.”

Alya leaned back in her chair, exchanging a look with Marinette.

“What’s going on with him?” she whispered.

Marinette, just as puzzled, shook her head.

“I have no idea.”

But deep down, a tiny flicker of something stirred in her chest.

For the first time ever, Adrien was the one flustered over her.

And she had no idea what that meant.

Adrien sat at his desk, gripping his pen a little too tightly as his mind swirled with thoughts that had absolutely nothing to do with the lesson.

What just happened?

Marinette had said hello. A normal, casual, effortless hello. No stuttering. No flailing. No turning tomato red and running in the opposite direction.

Just a simple greeting.

And yet… it had completely wrecked him.

His heart had skipped. His face had burned. He had stuttered.

Him. Adrien Agreste. Who had spent years dreaming about Ladybug, pining after her, chasing after every small moment she gave him.

Ladybug.

His Lady.

His heart squeezed uncomfortably at the thought.

He had always believed it was only Ladybug—had spent so long convincing himself that no one else could ever hold his heart the way she did. That no one else could make him feel that way.

But then Marinette had smiled at him like it was the easiest thing in the world, and—

His brain had shut down.

His grip tightened around his pen as he chanced a quick glance across the room.

Marinette was sitting beside Alya, absentmindedly tapping her pencil against her notebook. She wasn’t even looking at him, wasn’t even aware of the hurricane she had just thrown him into.

His stomach twisted.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

This couldn’t happen.

Liking Marinette—not just as a friend, but as something more—felt like betrayal.

Ladybug had his heart. Hadn’t she always?

But then why had he felt that same warmth, that same unsteady thrill when Marinette spoke to him?

Why did he keep thinking about her? About how strong she was, how determined? How she had never let anything break her, even when people turned against her?

Hadn’t he always admired her?

No. No, this wasn’t—this couldn’t be—

A sharp jab to his ribs snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.

“Dude,” Nino whispered, smirking beside him. “You’ve been staring at Marinette for like, a full five minutes.”

Adrien choked. “Shh Nino! I—I was not!”

Nino snickered, leaning back in his chair. “Uh-huh. Sure.”

Adrien groaned, dropping his head into his hands. This is a disaster.

He couldn’t like Marinette.

He shouldn’t like Marinette.

Because if he did…

What did that mean for Ladybug?

What did that mean for everything he thought he knew about his own heart?

His chest ached with the weight of the realisation.

For the first time, he wasn’t sure who his heart was truly beating for.

———

It was a quiet night in the Dupain-Cheng household. Marinette was sitting at her desk, her laptop open in front of her as she brainstormed ideas for the ‘Heroes Among Us' project that they were assigned at school. Of course the hero she chose to do her project on was Chat Noir. Who else would it be?

The soft hum of the city outside the window was the only sound, as Paris slept peacefully under the twinkling stars. Just as she was sketching a new poster, a sudden knock at the door broke her concentration. She glanced at the clock. 9:30 p.m. It was unusual for anyone to stop by so late, especially when her parents were already in bed. Curious, she stood up and walked over to the front door of the bakery.

Opening it, she found herself face-to-face with a tall, imposing figure. Gabriel Agreste—her classmate Adrien’s father—stood on the doorstep, dressed in his usual sharp suit. His piercing gaze seemed to analyse her from head to toe, his expression unreadable.

“Mr. Agreste?” Marinette’s voice was cautious, though she couldn’t help the polite smile that formed on her face. “Is everything okay? Is Adrien okay?”

Gabriel’s lips curled into a thin, calculated smile. “Ah, Marinette. I do apologise for disturbing you at such an hour. I wanted to speak with you about something important. May I come in?”

Taken aback but not wanting to be rude, Marinette stepped aside. “Of course, Mr. Agreste. Please, come in.”

He entered the room smoothly, glancing around as if inspecting every detail of her small but cozy space. His eyes eventually made their way to her earlobes, but his expression remained unreadable.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” Gabriel said, his voice low and calm, though there was an intensity to it that made Marinette feel uneasy.

“Well, I was just working on some designs for a school project,” Marinette explained, trying to keep her voice steady. “What can I help you with?”

Gabriel looked at her for a moment, his eyes calculating. He paused before speaking again, his tone almost too smooth. “I’ve been following your work closely, Marinette. Your talent is... undeniable. Your designs are impressive, and I believe they show great potential.”

Marinette blushed slightly, not used to receiving such praise from someone like Gabriel Agreste. “Thank you. I’ve always held quite a passion for fashion and design.”

He took a slow step closer, his voice taking on a more businesslike tone. “Tell me, Marinette, have you ever considered gaining some experience in the fashion industry? Perhaps interning at my company, Agreste Couture?”

Marinette’s heart skipped a beat. Intern at Agreste Couture? She’d never expected such an offer, especially not from him. But her instinct kicked in, and her thoughts turned wary. “I... I don’t know,” she stammered. “I’m still in school, and I’ve got a lot going on. Plus, I—”

Gabriel cut her off, his smile never faltering. “It would be a wonderful opportunity for you. You would be working closely with the best designers, gaining firsthand experience, and perhaps even collaborating on some of the more... exclusive projects we have coming up.”

Marinette was silent for a moment, her mind racing. There was something about Gabriel’s offer that didn’t sit right with her. What exactly about her piqued his interest? Was this possible Adrien’s doing?

“Of course, I understand if you’re hesitant,” Gabriel continued, his voice smooth as silk. “But think of it as a chance to grow. Your talent deserves to be nurtured, and Agreste Couture could provide that. All I ask is for you to consider the possibility.”

He paused, and for a brief moment, his gaze darkened, almost imperceptibly. “I would be more than happy to arrange a meeting in my office. Perhaps we could talk more about this. I’m confident you’ll see how well you’d fit in.”

Marinette felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else at play here. Why now? Why her? It didn’t make sense. She couldn’t let herself fall into his trap, whatever it was.

She took a breath, steeling herself. “Thank you, Mr. Agreste, for the offer. It’s very generous, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass for now. I’m really focused on graduating from school before moving forward with my career. I’m not looking for internships or extra work at the moment.”

Gabriel didn’t respond immediately. For a moment, there was a tense silence between them, his eyes narrowing just slightly. Then, his smile returned—slightly colder this time. “Of course, I understand. You’re very dedicated, I can see that. But if you ever change your mind, don’t hesitate to reach out. My door is always open.”

Marinette nodded, trying to mask the unease creeping over her. “Thank you again for the offer, Mr. Agreste. I’ll keep that in mind.”

He took a step back, eyes still fixed on her with a calculating look. “I trust we’ll be in touch soon.” With that, he turned and exited the room, his footsteps echoing as he walked down the hall.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Marinette let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Her heart was racing. That was… weirdly unsettling.

———

Gabriel Agreste stood by the large window of his private office, staring out at the city of Paris. The moonlight bathed the room in an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the walls lined with expensive art and the sleek, minimalist furniture that was his trademark. But tonight, none of it mattered. His mind was elsewhere—focused on the one thing he couldn’t afford to lose.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing with irritation. She had rejected his offer. She had turned him down. After all the carefully crafted words, the polite insinuations of opportunity, she had refused.

Why? He couldn’t understand it. She was perfect for the role he needed her to play. His fingers traced the edge of his desk, his mind whirling with frustration. She’s talented, eager, and far too important to ignore... And yet, she refused to see the potential of working for me.

Gabriel’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. She doesn’t even know how close she’s come to fulfilling my plans. How close she is to becoming the key to my success—my true success. He turned away from the window, walking toward the desk and running his fingers over a few papers.

It’s Ladybug, he thought. She’s Ladybug, and she has the Miraculous. He thought back to the night Lila Rossi had revealed to him her identity, and the obsessive desire he felt to capture her. Eyeing the earrings on her earlobes had only confirmed it. The thought of possessing the Ladybug Miraculous had consumed him for years. But the puzzle had proven to be far more complicated than he'd anticipated.

He’d thought Marinette, with her incredible creativity, would be the perfect candidate. She could be lured in by the prospect of an internship at Agreste Couture, brought closer to his world, where he could study her every move. But she was cautious. Smart. Too smart for her own good.

His fists clenched, the frustration building. How could she have turned me down? How could she be so... impossible?

Then, slowly, the idea began to form. He walked back to the window, his reflection merging with the night outside. If she won’t come to me willingly, I’ll have to find another way to pull her in. I need her to trust me... to be comfortable with me. And perhaps... I just need to get closer to someone she trusts more than herself.

His gaze shifted to a picture on the wall. A picture of his son, Adrien.

Adrien.

Of course. His son, the perfect tool. The one thing that could get Marinette into his grasp.

She’s so close to Adrien. So very close. But she doesn’t realise how easy it would be for me to manipulate their friendship, their bond.

Gabriel’s lips curled into a dark smile, his eyes gleaming with cold calculation. I’ll simply play the long game. Use Adrien as the perfect bait. All I need is a reason to get Marinette to my house again. A reason she can’t refuse...

He paused, his thoughts flickering with possibilities. Adrien is young. He needs guidance. He needs me. And I will use that need to my advantage. I’ll tell him that I want him to invite his friends over for a “family” event—something casual, something that makes Marinette feel comfortable. She’ll have no reason not to come.

The plan seemed almost too easy. Once she’s in my house, I can watch her. Observe her. Learn her weaknesses. And once I have that information... Ladybug won’t be able to escape me. Her Miraculous will be mine.

Gabriel’s eyes glinted with a mix of impatience and excitement. Patience, Gabriel. You’ve waited this long. One more step... and then the Ladybug Miraculous will finally be within your grasp. Marinette doesn’t realise how perfectly she fits into my plans. She’s already playing right into my hands.

He turned back to the desk, his fingers curling into tight fists. No one ever refuses me for long. Not when I know what they want. And Marinette... she will come around. She’ll have no choice.

Gabriel exhaled again, his breath slow and deliberate. He had no doubt that it would happen. In time, everything would fall into place.