Hate to Love ; Leftover grudge from the Last encounter.
She is the girl many loves to hate. But Lila Rossi aka Volpina is more than that. She's human. Join her as she attempts to exact revenge on Ladybug and her subsequent conflict with hating her nemesis and hurting her new friend; Chat Noir.
…..
"Can't we move any sooner?" Lisa whined through her mobile. She paused as a respond flowed from the speaker.
"What!? Two months! But I can't wait that long!" There was a firm reprimand sent back. Lila rubbed her temple in defeat and finally ended the call. Despite being considered well-off and having a high status, Lila rarely get any room to make important decisions.
Like moving away from Paris to avoid facing certain people. Very high profile and popular people. Mainly the Agreste boy and the superheroine Ladybug.
Lila sprawled on a nearby sofa chair and stared upwards at the pattern of tiny scratches barely visible on the white ceiling. The fiasco of her lies being exposed so bluntly in front of Adrien was the first time she bore the full brunt of the consequences of her lies face on. She usually ensures that she navigates carefully around the fragile thread of tales lest she trips on them. Even if her lies are outrageous and temporary, she would be able to run away from them (literally) as a last resort. Looks like there will be no running this time.
Her eyes traced the scratches absentmindedly. It was ironic how she wished for someone great to notice her and now accumulating much attention, albeit negative ones, in spades.
Her eyes then landed on the fox tail talisman sitting casually on the coffee table. Green eyes narrowed in spite. With a flick of her wrist, Lila swipe the offending object off the glass surface and sent it skidding across the floor under the couch.
"Stupid heroes and their stupid powers." She hissed. "Being, oh, so accusing yet trying to be 'rightheous'."
And the worse part was the apology. Because in any apologies, the one who does it first is considered to be 'in the right'. Which means that Lila was now the bad guy in the hypothetical story her universe was considered to be in. Her spite for Ladybug just grew larger.
"She's mean." Lila growled. "She hurt me. She caused me to lose Adrian. And she made me the villain." And the beloved superhero will never understand the feeling of being lost in a crowd, of just feeling like a useless ordinary civilian with no powers to boast of or no friends to turn to.
There was a flicker of dark purple underneath the couch. But it soon fades away.
…..
Marinette Dupain-Chang aka Ladybug considered herself to be a generally good person overall. She treats people kindly and prefers to make friends rather than enemies with the exception of Chloe. But that one accusation against Lila caused her to re-evaluate her morals once more. She was blinded by jealously and had regretted that immensely. She did attempt forgiveness but apparently Lila is one to hold a grudge willingly.
Ladybug usually didn't like to wallow too much on her flaws as a person. But as she passed through the streets of Paris as Ladybug, she spotted a familiar tan skin and brown loosely tied hair among the crowd. Apparently, the Italian girl was stomping away from the crowd as they cheered for their local heroine. The guilt came back again in full force. She never did mean to demean her in front of someone she thought important.
The guilt continued to gnaw at the edge of her consciousness throughout the patrol, causing her to grow quiet and sombre as she raced across the rooftop with her partner, Chat Noir. Her partner noticed the change but didn't push. He merely matched her pace with his own as silent comfort.
It was nearly sunset when the pair have finally completed their rounds and reached the last area for patrol.
"Do you think Lila will be ok?" Those were the first words of the lovely lady in spots as she landed gracefully on a rooftop. Chat Noir arrived seconds afterwards with a small frown. He did spot the ex-villain stomping out of the crowd earlier but bear no thought to it.
"That was what you were worried about? That fox girl?"
"Yes, the fox girl whose name is Lila." Ladybug retorts back. She then fell silent as she gazed unseeingly into the twilight covering Paris slowly. Blue eyes surveyed the abyss beyond, contemplating. Ladybug bit her lower lip.
She continues. "I kind of feel guilty for that incident earlier on. Right in front of her friend too."
"But she deserved it, doesn't she?" Chat replied. "You can't just tell a lie like that and expect everything to go all purrfect."
There wasn't even an echo of a smile at his cleverly used pun. Not that Ladybug ever find his puns hilarious. But she would usually give him at least that 'are-you-serious?' face. Clearly Lila's condition is worrying his lady immensely. This caused Chat to feel concerned for her in turn.
He recalled what little conversation he had with Lila before Volpina manifested. How she was eager to have time alone with him. That, he knows why. How fascinated she was with his relationship with Ladybug, especially when she figured that he does have a crush on her.
Chat frowned. She really knows how to get the truth out of people! It was a good thing they never did talk about Chat Noir. But all in all, she just gave a feeling of wanting attention. She probably wanted a friend that admires her.
Another issue was also troubling Chat's mind. The way she acted right after Volpina vanished and stomping away from the crowd indicated that there was still some leftover grudge for Ladybug. The same grudge that caused the birth of Volpina. Is it possible for a rebirth to occur even after the cleansing of the black butterflies? Even so, Lila was still potentially dangerous.
Something in his mind then clicked. A mish-mashed outline of a plan began to form in his mind. If Adrien was to continue befriending Lila, then that would ensure that at least Lila's friendship with Adrien doesn't seem to be compromised. And Ladybug wouldn't feel so guilty in seemingly destroying a friendship (despite being built on lies). At the same time this could lessen Lila's grudge on Ladybug. Overall, it could also be a good cover to monitor Lila and prevent a rebirth, protecting Ladybug and the city.
Chat Noir smiled. The capacity of his intelligence sometimes amaze himself. Surely, such plan lacked any substantial flaw!
Finally, Paris' two teen superheroes bid each other goodbye and parted ways. Chat found a secluded spot and hid there. As he transformed back to Adrien, the resolution to befriend the Italian girl strengthened. He won't let Ladybug feel down any longer!
….
Lila gave a subtle yawn as she continues nodding at Chloe's chatter. It was morning and the school yard was already glittering with the sunlight dancing on dew drops from the morning mist. There were a few groups of students scattered around the courtyard, chatting. The school bell had not rung yet. And until then, Lila would not take one step into the classroom.
The reason does not include wanting an enriching and stimulating conversation with a particular friend. Lila doesn't really consider Chloe a friend. In fact, she had a suspicion that, except for Sabrina, no one does. But she seems to be the easiest to get her attention since Chloe already label her as an 'equal' (whatever that means). And her current stylish get up does add points in the blonde's eyes.
In the middle of the chatter, Sabrina accidently dropped her notebook which landed at Lila's feet. Chloe merely gave an annoyed eye roll and commented on Sabrina's clumsiness before resuming her wondrous tale of finding the right shoes. Lila quietly scooped up the notebook and handed it back to her without missing a nod to Chloe's incessant chatter. Clutching the notebook to her chest, Sabrina uttered a barely audible thank you. Lila replied with a subtle smile. Her green eyes then surveyed the before-school crowd across the courtyard.
Nobody else seems to be willing to let a stranger break into their conversation with their seemingly close clique mates thus, her talk with Chloe. Lila is not one to shy away from socializing but she prefers not to undergo the awkward stage for attempting to fit in. It was too much effort. At the same time, she does not want to portray herself as that friendless loser who sits alone in the classroom before school starts. That felt really pathetic looking at her status. In addition, she wants to avoid a certain situation of being alone with another undesirable someone.
There was a sudden purr of engine and a white limousine arrives. A dark skinned boy (his name is Nino right?) walked right up to the opened door where a blonde boy exited from.
Green eyes widen and her pulse quicken ever so slightly. There is one bane of her current existence. That undesirable someone. The nice cute cinnamon bun who now views her as a disgusting liar.
"No thanks to Ladybug." Lila muttered and she turned to head further away from the Agreste boy. Best to avoid him as of now. Hopefully for two whole months.
But to her irritation, Chloe spotted Adrien and squealed. She then headed straight towards him. There goes her conversation partner. Sabrina merely gave a small smile to Lila which she returns and followed Chloe.
Lila peered at the small crowd in front of the limousine curiously. She smiled in amusement as Chloe flung herself on Adrien which causes him to put her at arm's length. Silly Chloe. But her air-head tendencies can be truly amusing.
It was by the grace of luck that the school bell rang just then and Lila have a solid reason to start walking briskly to her classroom. She managed to just avoid crashing into a teacher and manoeuvred around a crowd of students before she heard familiar loud hurried steps against the floor getting closer. Not looking back, Lila sped up her pace until she crosses the threshold to the classroom. She made her way to the back, the furthest she could manage to get from Adrien sitting in the front. The bustle of students in the class manage to shield her from the sight of whoever was near the front. Lila let out a huge sigh.
"Good morning student." Came Ms Caline Bustier's firm voice over the hubbub of the students. Immediately there was a response of good morning and the classroom was permeated with silence.
Lila can see Adrien clearly from her seat as he turned to whisper to Nino about something. She traced his soft locks with blissful eyes and the visible outline of his face. Her crush on Adrien never really did go away. It just transformed into something akin to mortification whenever he glanced her way.
It was just then Lila noticed the peculiar bluenette sitting at the back of Adrien. From the view of her position from the back, she seems to be staring at someone…in front.
Oh no.
Apparently getting Adrien have a lot of competitors. There always seemed to be one more girl crushing on the handsome blond. Lila glanced at Chloe as well. Well, one less competitor.
Jealousy which was just a trickle gradually transformed into waves which washed over Lila as the bluenette continued staring at the pretty boy in the front. Green eyes flashed menacingly at the bluenette. Who does she think she is?
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng." Ms Bustier called out. "Please look to the board please."
There was an embarrassed gasp and the bluenette sat up straighter. A titter of polite laughter resonated across the classroom punctuated with Chloe's loud snickers. Ms Bustier's voice of reprimand cut off the noise in the classroom immediately and she turned once more towards the whiteboard. Lila then decided to steal a quick glance at the bluenette's face but met green eyes instead. She froze.
Adrien, while turning back to look at the bluenette, somehow spotted her and proceed to smile and gave a small wave. Lila gave her own uncertain smile and a nod before focusing on the board with full attention yet with no idea of what was written on it. Her mind was full of Adrien's smile. It was a fantastic picture which she planned to keep in the confines of her mind forever. However, the moment was perverted with the ugly reoccurring question of WHY? Just what was his intention? Her suspicious mind would not let it go.
Maybe he is a very forgiving cinnamon bun. Maybe he was just being polite? Or…he just pities her.
Her fingers curled into a tight fist under her desk.
Back at Lila's apartment, the flicker under her couch grew stronger.
…..
The last ring of the school bell for the day finally filled the hallways and Lila wasted no time packing and high tailing out of the classroom like a thief with his goods. The whole day felt like a hug cat and mouse game as Lila smooth talk and tiptoed her way around classes to avoid Adrien. At the same time, he seemed to try his best to seek her out. Oh, the irony of having previously wanted attention! There was a close call in the library when Lila found herself trapped between the bookshelves but the surprising presence of Chloe managed to help distract Adrien and let her slip out unnoticed. Sabrina was there too and gave Lila a quiet nod. Lila returned it with gratefulness.
She escaped out of the confines of her school and into the lazy afternoon sunlight. The warmth felt good and Lila enjoyed her walk for a while. For that few minutes there was only her, the trees, the afternoon still and nothing else. Any thoughts of ladybug or humiliating acceptance by Adrien was cleared out with the soothing breeze rolling about. In the end, nature helps to bring some tranquillity to the heart.
Back at the apartment, the thoughts of Ladybug and Adrien once again surfaced to her consciousness. Her mood immediately soured. No matter how, she can't seem to get rid of the malice embedded in her heart. She was also helpless to get revenge on the spotted heroine. It's not like she can instantly develop powers to rival that of Ladybug and even so, the people of Paris probably would object strongly to the demise of their beloved hero. In the end she still loses.
And the taste of humiliating defeat was so bitter!
There was a particularly strong burst of dark purple light under the couch which caused Lila to blink a few times. Slowly, she lowered herself and extend her arm under the couch. It was a few seconds of grabbing in the dark before she withdrew the fake foxtail talisman from the void. It doesn't seem to be a fake talisman just then. It was vibrating with power, enveloped in dark aura.
A sudden familiar sensation coursed through her body and a faint outline of a butterfly glowed in front of her face.
"It seems that you have finally regain the intense hatred for Ladybug." The deep malevolent voice echoed in her head, with a touch of wonder. "There is still remains of the dark butterfly in your talisman despite Ladybug's cleansing. Your hatred is one that is underestimated."
A slow smile began to bloom on Lila's face. "I never did lose that hatred, Hawkmoth. And a comeback is just what I need and what she deserves."
The talisman was once again around her neck, her eyes ablaze with green malice and her smile, sadistic. She turned to look at the distant Eiffel tower outside her window. Strangely, she was not transformed into Volpina yet.
"I won't change just yet." Lila said, in response to Hawkmoth's questioning silence. "The best revenge is the one carried out well and that requires some patience and planning."
"I concede to your devious ways." Hawkmoth replied, amused. "Truly, you represent the namesake of your talisman rather well. Cunning, wise and passionate. I will be expecting a success of your endeavour. Just do not forget one thing; bring me their miraculous." With the last words ringing in her head, Hawkmoth's voice was replaced with silence.
"I'll do that and some." Lila smiled, her mind already filled with many ways to defeat her nemesis.
A/N: I know that she's meant to be a non-redeemable character, that she's mean and that Marinette is soulmates with Adrien (judging from the most popular ship in this fandom).
But I can't help but to sympathize with Lila. She reminds me so much of myself. Many go through life overshadowed with popular and 'good' people surrounding them and if they want to change that, they end up doing something which make them seem even more 'evil' in the eyes of many. Not that I have that experience. But I do encounter similar emotions before and I can understand so easily why she does what she does.
Of course, it was also her own fault for choosing the wrong actions in response. But in the end, everyone does experience that at some point, no?
Anyway, I thought it would be fascinating to attempt a fanfic from Lila's viewpoint and her relationship with Adrien because there are some similarities with their situation too (though you gotta squint a bit to make a connection). Both are kind of neglected by their family (Lila's situation is not really clear though) and both wanted attention from another they considered great. The difference lies in their respond. Adrien choose to pursue honesty, hard work and hope that someday, his father and Ladybug will have the relationship he always wanted with both of them. Lila, meanwhile, choose a quick dirty method to create the perfect persona so that she can get the attention she wants.
And I decided on the pairing with this in mind; sometimes, you don't get to end up with the one you love but the one that needs you the most. Cause to me, the best kind of pairings are ones that complement each other and learn from each other to grow even stronger. Of course, it doesn't have to be strictly romantic. Just know that these kinds of friends will be the best to get you through in life.
I do hope you will join me on my journey of exploring Lila's path to redemption. I would lovelovelove it if you could review my story too. A conversation is boring if it is only but a monologue.
May peace be upon you SKH out!
P.S. Why doesn't Lila have her own name in the characters list? :(