Chapter Text
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Marinette gets a few wires crossed often. There was that time she flirted with Adrien for like ten minutes thinking he was Chat, and the time she jumped right in front of an akuma without her suit on, and the time she threw Adrien at Chloe…
For all of her slip ups, she didn’t expect Chat Noir to be the one to let his identity slip. Or Adrien. Technically Adrien. She’s still wrapping her head around that.
Earlier…
Marinette sighed, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and heading for the library. This had to be just about the only time she wasn’t glad Mrs. Bustier was letting them have some free time before lunch. Why?
Because Lila was waiting for her in the library.
There wasn’t any way to avoid it. Lila would spin this badly no matter how she played it, so the best way to do this would be just to face her and take whatever she wanted to give. Maybe someone would overhear…
But no. The only other person in the library was Adrien, and he was packing up his bags as she walked in, shoving his phone into his pocket. For a moment she fantasized a world where she could put her crush aside and just walk up to him, ask if he was okay, what his dad had pulled him out for this time, if he was coming back to class…
But alas, that world was not the one she lived in. (It probably existed somewhere, right?). As he passed, the most she could manage was a “You good?” to which all she got in return was a shaky nod and a fake smile. He turned the corner. Marinette blew out a breath.
And then she was up against the wall.
Lila stared into her eyes, analyzing her, searching her for any fear. She felt none. It was hard to feel fear over a high school girl when you stayed up until three in the morning fighting for your life with literal Zeus: read, a depressed mythology major.
This was nothing.
The threats she made, however? Those were much harder to take.
“What did I do this time?” She managed past the pressure in her throat— it wasn’t just fear, she belatedly realized, but Lila’s arm pressed against her jugular.
“Oh, you know what you did.” Lila sneered, pressing harder. It took everything in Marinette not to react. “I told you if you talked to Adrien again, I would make you regret it.”
This was starting to get painful. Marinette glanced around— surely the library wasn’t completely empty? “What lie did you tell everyone?” She gasped as the pressure shifted towards her windpipe. “How did you get them out of here this time? Let me guess–” She pressed against Lila’s force, ignoring the pain and getting one of her hands behind her. “You told them you needed the library all to yourself for an interview with some famous person? Or– oh, I know, Princess Anastasia is secretly an immortal goddess who wants to offer you goddesshood yourself for your helping her family so much!”
Lila scoffed. Any moment now… Marinette thought. She had to pull this off quickly, cleanly, and perfectly smooth if she wanted even the slightest chance of Lila being unable to turn this against her. It had worked the past three times. What was Lila waiting for?
Lila smirked. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering why I’ve been waiting for so long to make a move.”
Marinette blinked.
“You’re too strong , sweet Mari.” Marinette bristled, shoving away from the wall and moving to duck under her arm, but Lila shoved her back, having apparently anticipated her move. Breathless seconds passed. Her throat burned. Both of Marinette’s arms now were wrapped around Lila’s, shoving in desperation. She wasn’t a hero now, was she? She didn’t have the superstrength that came with the suit. She couldn’t move. Every attempt was met with searing pain from her arm. What was Lila doing ?
“Getting rid of you before you cause too many more issues.”
Was her vision supposed to be getting spotty? How long had it been since she’d been able to take a full breath? Why wasn’t Lila saying anything?
Brown eyes, gleaming malice, bore into her mind.
Wait. Brown?
Who was Lila?
Panic seeped through the calm Ladybug persona she hadn’t even realized she’d put on.
Ladybug, great hero, rendered unconscious by a random bully.
She pushed off the wall with what strength she could muster–
What?
She’d been struggling this entire time…
She was probably showing her fear…
…
When had they ended up on the ground?
…
She couldn’t scream for help.
Where was her partner?
…
Why couldn’t she get a grip ?
…
Where was he–
“MARINETTE!”
A white and blue blur streaked past her, ripping the weight off her. For a moment, relief was the only thing she could process, but as blessed air filled her lungs breath after breath, no longer restricted, some semblance of reason (when had it left?) returned to her.
Adrien.
She sat up, peering desperately through the way the world was distorting itself around her like the planets about the sun, trying to see–
There. It was still blurry, but he was locked arm in arm with Lila, in full view of the security cameras now. She whispered something too low for Marinette to hear into his ear.
He let out a yell, surging forward–
BAM!
Marinette rubbed her eyes. She was hallucinating. She was dead. Lila flippin Rossi had killed her, and this was hell, because–
There was no way she had just witnessed Adrien Agreste punch Lila Rossi.
“ Stay away from my lady.” He hissed, nearly vibrating in anger. The way he was standing over her, hands clenched into–
Claws?
Marinette tried to speak, but her throat wouldn’t cooperate, sending up a flare of pain instead. She swallowed. Then, she tried again, managing a bit of a rasp– “...drien?”
He turned instantly, that angry courage fading to fear, chest heaving. He rushed over, eyes flashing a million different ways and his hands out to help her up. She accepted them gratefully, leaning heavily against him as she stood. He didn’t move away quite yet, thank goodness. She would’ve fallen if he had.
“What… happened?” She whispered.
He opened his mouth, turning in towards himself as he searched for an answer. Were his eyes always that glassy? Why was he shaking?
“Adrien Agreste, please see me in the principal’s office.”
The intercom beeped, and Adrien’s eyes went wider than ever. His chest heaved. His skin went about three shades paler than it had always been. Marinette tried to speak to him, but it was clear nothing she was saying was making it past his ears. And suddenly, trembling, he wrenched himself from her grasp, sending her sprawling to the floor, unable to catch herself. When she looked up, he was gone.