Chapter Text
Lila wanted this plan to work. No, she knew it would work. All she had needed was to get close to Marinette, and somehow she'd managed exactly that. Marinette had forgiven her. Given her a second chance. That was all Lila wanted. Nothing more. She wasn’t even that happy when Marinette stopped talking about Adrien. And she certainly didn’t notice that the bluenette started to talk to Adrien like she talks to her other friends. Lila couldn’t care less about Marinette’s silly little crushes.
Okay, maybe she wanted to be liked by Marinette.
Alright, back to the plan.
She just had to be there with her during an akumatization. Her goal wasn’t even to obtain the earrings. She just wanted proof that Marinette wasn't Ladybug. At first. Somewhere along the way, she had started wanting Marinette not to be Ladybug.. She didn’t want the villain to see the similarities between Marinette and Ladybug. He was not an idiot, if he had taken some time to observe Marinette, he would've figured it out.
Because no way Lila was the only one who noticed that Ladybug (who she hates for humiliating her by the way) and Marinette are equally nice, smart, pretty and–
Hot.
Wait, what?!
No these were not Lila’s thoughts, she just listened to Alya’s Ladybug podcast a bit too much, she wasn’t in love with her/them, maybe they are not even the same person. And of course she’s Ladybug’s biggest and only hater. She can’t find her hot. Also, she’s literally helping Hawkmoth right now, she can’t have thoughts like this. Sure, it’d be nice to know Hawkmoth’s identity, but she’ll figure that one out later.
“Just akumatize someone, anyone today two hours after school and I’m 99% sure I can obtain the Miraculous of the Ladybug” she explained to the man who was frustrated because of the previous attempts.
“This ridiculous plan better work, Lila” the man sighed. He accepted her help because she was able to fool everyone around her.
“It will, trust me” she smirked. She’ll spend the afternoon at Marinette’s. If she’s not Ladybug, she’ll prove it today. Lila really hoped that she’s not Ladybug.
“And that's worth delaying my attack?” He jumped to the nearest roof.
To be honest, Lila just wanted Marinette to finish her homework. If she was Ladybug she’d have to stay up late to study if the akumatization happened before she could finish her homework. She didn’t want her to be too tired the next day.
“"Do you want the Miraculous or not?" Lila shot back. For Marinette. For Ladybug. She could feel her ears getting red and hot. Thankfully Hawkmoth accepted the answer and left. Now Lila had to run to school. She rushed to the bathroom to check her make up and to get a certain bluenette out of her head.
“What am I even doing?” she asked her reflection. “I ruined my own plan because out of all the people I have to like this one. The clumsiest, annoyingly positive, sweet, caring, beautiful Marinette” she punched the wall. It was painful, and tears filled her eyes, so she had to hide in one of the stalls.
The risk of someone seeing her like this was high and she couldn’t afford that right now. She was in there for a couple of minutes when she heard someone opening a door.
“Who akumatizes someone so early in the morning?” Marinette’s voice was angry, frustrated and tired.
Lila waited. She wanted to hug Marinette. She also wanted to leave, because if she was Ladybug, she wouldn’t want her to know her identity. At least not this way. She was not ready. Lila also felt anger, because Hawkmoth failed to follow the plan. She wanted to do so many things. But she froze, because she heard a high pitched voice from outside.
“Let’s go Marinette, you got this” the voice was cheerful. Just like Marinette’s.
“Thanks, Tikki” the bluenette’s voice sounded a bit more calm now. Lila knew that Marinette walked in all alone. What if…?
Lila froze.
No.
No, no, no.
She couldn't have heard that.
Maybe Tikki was one of the blue haired girl’s friends.
Maybe–
The stall door creaked open.
“Marinette?” The brown haired girl acted surprised. Please don’t be Ladybug. If you are, please, only tell me when you’re ready. I do not want to find it out right now. Her inner conflict wasn’t helping the situation at all.
“Lila, what a surprise” Marinette let out an awkward chuckle. She couldn’t explain who she was talking to. Lila definitely knows now that she is Ladybug. This is the end. She’s going to hate her and do everything in her power to defeat her.
“I had to hide in here, did you call your parents?” Lila asked innocently. She helped Marinette come up with a lie.
“Yes, my mom helped me calm down.” the baker girl nodded. She was trying so hard to explain Lila’s behaviour but she couldn’t.
“I’m glad. I gotta go now, if we hide in the same place the villain can find the both of us” Lila walked out of the bathroom, leaving the shocked Marinette behind. As she walked through the empty building, she heard a yell from the bathroom.
“Tikki, spots on!” The voice was Marinette’s. A second later Ladybug appeared next to her and swung towards the akumatized villain. Lila wanted to check the bathroom again. But she knew. There was no need to do it. And she felt something heavy in her chest. How can she despise Ladybug now without loathing Marinette?