Chapter Text
Marinette crumbled to the ground as Sublime escorted Adrien out the door, turning back to face her briefly with a look of disgust.
“You don’t know how to love him, so I will.”
Nothing made sense as her whole world fell apart around her. She loved Adrien more than anything, it was painstakingly obvious. Why would she ever cheat on him with her best-friend’s boyfriend? Not to mention how she lied to the whole world for his sake. She’d given up her sanity for his sake. She would probably give up her life too, for his sake. Anything to ensure his happiness, and now it didn’t matter. He would never love her again.
Chrysalis released the trio’s power once they confirmed the plan had been fulfilled. Unbeknownst to her, who was keeping a close presence within the school library, the real Adrien had just witnessed her puppet perpetrators. Now it was a race to see who'd get to Marinette first. An ultrakuma slimmed itself through the crack of an open window with its target locked on. Cat noir rushed in to prevent the unfolding disaster but proved a second too late.
"Hello, forgive my intrusion but I heard your cry of despair as your boyfriend shattered your heart." It had been so long since Lila had seen Marinette, and oh how satisfying this reunion was for her!
"Adrien.. I've lost my Adrien". Poor Marinette had been reduced to such a pathetic state, barely comprehensible through her broken sobs. Every tear she shed sent a bolt of ecstacy through Lila, barely masking her excitement to see the only girl who'd dare challenge her, so defeated. A pity she had to keep it contained for the sake of her new alias.
"You would do anything for your Adrien to love you again, wouldn't you?" Lila placed a gentle hand on Marinette's shoulder, tracing her thumb back and forth to provide a facade of a comforting presence. She of course already knew the answer to her own question. Marinette was so devoted to Adrien that it was annoying.
"Yes I love him more than anything" Marinette finally lifts her head from the nest of her palms, her delirious tear strained eyes not meeting Lila's. Taking this opportunity Lila intertwines her hands with her favorite victim and lowers herself to meet Marinette's downward gaze.
"If only you had the power to fix peoples broken hearts.. that way your boyfriend would love you again." An enticing offer that she can't refuse. Lila places the pairs of their hands on Marinette's overdriven heart, subconsciously enforcing the decision. Although she seems to linger in that position just a moment longer than she should.
"And that wouldn't hurt anyone?" Ah of course Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes asks that, like any there was ever any akumatization that was actually peaceful, but still count on Marinette to try and justify her bad actions. Lila pondered if the girl would want to hurt her if she knew the truth about who she was speaking with right now. The thought of Marinette trying to kill her was weirdly exhilarating.
"Of course not! It would only allow Adrien and you to be a loving couple again." She tilts Marinette's chin up to meet her gaze before floating to a position pressed up behind the girl, "I can give you that power.." She grips her shoulders, pulling her back and whispering into her ear, "only if you agree of course.." . Then like an innocent puppy begging for food, Lila nuzzles her cheek against Marinette's while awaiting her decision.
As predicted Marinette defeatedly caves in, and Heartfixer is born.
"In exchange for your power Heartfixer, all I'm asking for are Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous... Which, should you happen to be Ladybug, shouldn't be too much of a problem! Are you Ladybug Heartfixer?" Before Marinette even reacts Adrien is able to snap her out of it. Lila hadn't even realized his presence till now. What a pest, she almost hated him more than Marinette, almost. It doesn't take long for Heartfixer to begin her attack for his heart though, her fighting style just so eerily similar to Ladybug...
"You didn't answer my question, Heartfixer." Chrysalis is more assertive this time, but Heartfixer is still leaping around the room as Adrien dodges her. "Are you Ladybug Heartfixer?" Again she's too focused on her little heart-of-gold counterpart, who's proving to be a real nuisance. Adrien suddenly hugs Marinette from behind.
"You don't need to fix my heart Marinette, it's already mended!"
"It is?"
Oh he is really starting to piss her off. If Lila can't convince Marinette otherwise she will surely de-akumatize, and any shot of getting a Ladybug identity confirmation will be lost.
"NO, don't listen to him! He's manipulating you!" She can feel her connection beginning to wane, she'll have to rely on luck now. How ironic...
Marinette still hesitates, but overwhelmed from processing the verbal clashing of everyone around her, she struggles against Adrien's grip.
"That's right, now Heartfixer, if you are Ladybug, you can transform right now and use your power to fix things! You can make your relationship go back to the way it was!"
Marinette lets out a painful groan of frustration from the physical restraint and constant pestering of Chrysalis. Adrien continues to shower her with heartfelt words, still they don't erase the memory of him ending things in the courtyard, and only heighten the fear of what his reaction could be to the real underlying secret.
"I'm just asking so I can boost your powers and help you! So are you Ladybug?"
Marinette really considers it now, she could create a new reality and make things perfect, she'd never have to worry about secrets again. Was that even possible? It was what this new butterfly holder was promising at least.
"..Yes" Then Adrien kisses her and the ultrakuma breaks free, neither of them aware that Paris is now in imminent danger.
Chrysalis had gotten exactly the answer she had been conniving for, it was surreal. Both of her most loathed enemies in one pretty package. She knew Ladybug's friends, parents, even where she lived. That lie she told so long ago about being Ladybug's best friend seemed like it actually could be fitting now.
Back within the catacombs, she glues a picture of Marinette, and her alter ego, into a brand new diary, writing the earlier encounter below them.
"I have found your best kept secret, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and now I am going to ruin more than just your school life. You're nowhere near close to finding out who I am, and by the time you do it will be too late."
Lila closes the book. As tempted as she is to go over to the bakery and confront Ladybug head on, that's not particularly her style for one. More importantly, she has to be extremely wary of the rabbit miraculous, as that must've been how she intercepted Timestalker. Instead she has someone she needs to speak with first,
"Greetings once again, Ms. Tsurugi."