Chapter Text
It had been a few days since the senti-Ladybug incident. Everything seemed to have gone back to normal as it can be with a magical terrorist in Paris, according to Ladybug.
At Francois Dupont College? Not so much if you ask Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
She was accused of cheating, theft and assault all in one day and got expelled without a proper investigation. It was only Lila, the same girl who framed her for all of those things, also got her expulsion withdrawn.
So no wonder Marinette was feeling a little miffed by that, let alone Lila badmouthing Ladybug and praising her simultaneously a few months ago.
Like right now, at lunch in the cafeteria.
“The other day, Ladybug told me that she couldn’t have done it without my help. Unfortunately, with my injuries all I could do was recommend candidates but she even said that my decisions helped her a lot!”
Marinette rolled her eyes for the upteenth time. Lila didn’t do shit. She chose the people she trusted and knew well herself. And what actually rubbed the salt in without Lila being aware of it was that those who were chosen ate it up. Especially Alya…
The bespectacled Creole looked so ecstatic at that. At least she wasn’t filming the thing. That would be a shitstorm of proportions.
Marinette sighed, looking down at her lunch to spare her the sight of Lila, getting cosy with Adrien and shifting her seat closer to the model.
She admitted that her crush on Adrien was a minor factor to her not-so-friendly attitude towards the Italian… But what really worried her more was the fact that Lila was leeching off her classmates with all but Marinette being none the wiser about it.
She felt a little bitter about her friends defending Lila, especially with Napkin-Gate. That was incredibly irritating. And how they hold Lila to such a high regard as if she was their princess and seemingly looked ecstatic whenever Lila promised them to meet with the celebrities that could make or break their dreams in return for their ‘help’.
But Marinette knew it wasn’t completely their fault. Marinette was initially threatened by Lila because of her connections and adventures that made the noirette incredibly boring in comparison when it came to Adrien’s affections. As poorly accurate as her lies were upon second glance - followed up by panicky reflection in Marinette’s case - Lila was good at making it sound real… On the other hand, all of this could be debunked by the internet of all things.
Marinette would love to see Lila get some retribution by a surprisingly realistic outcome like getting sued or denounced in the public eye… But Lila wasn’t worth going through all that trouble. Lila Rossi wasn’t the only person in the world who lied about celebrities and people who had bigger fish to fry than some random slightly above average teen.
Maybe years later when Lila bit off more than she could chew… but that meant waiting for ages and ages…
Marinette’s lunch got cold just thinking about it… She should’ve gone home for lunch instead…
…
Adrien normally enjoyed having his lunch at school with his friends - and having food outside the house - but with Lila clinging off his arm… that joy kind of waned a little bit.
The blonde questioned if he made the right choice, making a deal that heavily favoured Lila just to keep Marinette enrolled. He initially thought things would go back to normal but even he noticed Marinette was left out more than usual.
Lila did stick to her end of the deal… but in a way used it to her advantage. He had no evidence that Lila was dragging their friends away from Marinette out of spite, rather than Marinette just refusing to have Lila near her at all.
Plagg had a point and only now did Adrien think that it was true. This was a poorly made self-sacrifice and Adrien didn’t think it through. And it was more difficult to get out of this situation now that Lila modelled beside him.
Adrien really tried to believe the best in her, that Lila just wanted a friend, being new and all. He had doubts about it now, with Lila being in his personal space for longer than he’d like. But if he could handle akumas, Lila should be no different… right?
His friends seemed to believe Lila wholeheartedly and took her side over Marinette, someone they knew relatively well before the Italian.
If they trusted Lila over their Everyday Ladybug…
What else could he do?
…
The last class of the day rolled around and thankfully, it was going to be a lazy session. They were going to watch a few videos and take notes on them. Marinette and Adrien could let the guard down a little…
“Ms Bustier!”
Or not. They all knew whose voice that belonged to.
“Can I please sit in the front? I’m short sighted and my eye contacts got dirty because someone tossed them out on the floor...” Lila simpered.
Marinette could feel the gazes of the other students on her back as soon as Lila implied it was on purpose. Fantastic…
Bustier hummed. “Well, is anyone willing to swap seats with Lila just for the lesson?”
Chloe turned up her head dismissively. “I’m not giving up my spot for her! Nor am I sitting with her!”
The teacher turned to Adrien and Nino expectantly.
Adrien raised his hand. “I can swap, Ms Bustier-”
“But my ears!” Lila interrupted with a shrill cry, “The audio might be too loud so it’ll be best if I sit close but also further away from the speakers… Nino will have to swap with me.”
Marinette’s eyes popped open. Lila wasn’t even subtle about it. She’s not even hiding it. And the speakers aren’t in the centre of the classroom anyway!
Nino sighed, shrugging as he stood up without question. “The videos aren’t that long, it’s alright, we’ll just switch back afterwards.”
And again, Lila dramatically whimpered and petted her wrist, drawing attention and sympathy. “I’m so sorry Nino. But my arthritis has been flaring up recently. I might have to share notes with Adrien…”
Alya nodded. “It’ll be best if she sits there the whole lesson, Ms Bustier.”
Et tu, Alya?
To no one’s surprise, Marinette’s frustration, and Adrien’s weakening naivety, Bustier accepted it.
“Just for this lesson. I’ll have to do the roll call afterwards, we have to get through these videos today. No time to waste.”
Lila pretended to limp down the stairs, because she remembered her lie about her ankle from Marinette pushing her down the stairs the other day, giving Marinette a malicious side eye with a small smirk as she made herself at home in Nino’s seat.
Marinette and Adrien both sighed as they tried to get class over and done with.
Could this day get any worse?
The projection turned on and flickered, leaving it as a blue screen for a few good minutes much to everyone’s confusion and annoyance.
Bustier raised an eyebrow, trying to see if her set up was wrong. The screen turned black before piercing red eyes glared through the screen, spooking everyone.
“T-This isn’t the video…” Bustier shuddered as she backed away.
With no one manning the computer, a voice spoke.
“Good afternoon everyone, I’m afraid there’s a little change in the lesson plan today,” The voice speaking was completely unrecognisable, scratchy and discordant as if it was using a voice filter, “Someone in this classroom has been deceiving everyone… and it’s time the truth came out!”
The dark ooze began to creep out of the screen, and travelled quickly as tendrils wrapped around their feet, leading to the students yelping and trying to pull themselves free.
The work of an akuma. And presumably someone Lila pissed off judging by what he said. that’s what Marinette and Adrien thought anyway.
The substance crawled over the walls and ceiling and covered the windows.
Marinette tried to free herself but a brief moment of distraction led to her doom as Adrien was engulfed entirely, leading to her succumbing to the same fate.
Yep, things did just get worse.
Thanks Lila~