Hi I've decided to drag my sorry arse out of the realm of unproductivity and start a new project! THIS IS A SEQUEL TO ACCEPTING THE RAIN, WHICH IS AN EXTENSION OF IGNORING THE RAIN. Obviously I would recommend you read those first, but I can't tell y'all what to do.

~BH

Prologue

Lila had returned home after being akumatised feeling like her broken heart had been stamped on. Once again, she had missed her chance with Adrien, even without a jealous Ladybug exposing her. She had a chance as just herself, and it had once again been ruined, this time by Marinette. She figured being a new student put her at a disadvantage as everyone already had their friendship groups and crushes, yet she thought that her fabricated past would make her fit in easily. After Ladybug exposed her, she almost faded into insignificance, as the truth spread and she became just another new kid. Her memories of Volpina had gone, the feeling of regret lingered.

But she regretted nothing, she insisted to herself firmly. She tried to pursue Adrien, she tried to get his attention, but he was simply already in love with somebody else. Maybe if she had entered his life sooner, he might have considered her, but something told her that the love he had for Marinette was far too deep rooted, and more than just a teenage crush.

She entered her bedroom, turning to the diary that she had been confiding in since she started high school. She was surprised that it had been left open - normally she guarded the secrets that were inside that small black notebook with her life, but maybe she was in a rush. She vaguely remembered the akuma touching her necklace when she was last here but the following hour was just an untouched void.

Peering closer, written in faded, yet familiar handwriting, was a sentence that changed everything.

Marinette is Ladybug and Adrien is Chat Noir.

Her eyes widened, reading the sentence once, twice, thrice, absorbing it to memory. Was this real? Was this true? She had no recollection of writing it, but looking at it for the umpteenth time made her realise that the handwriting was familiar because it was her own. She must have written it while under the influence of the Akuma, so when she forgot her memories once again she would at least know this.

Well, I should always look after number one, she mused, closing her notebook gently, as if the information would fade further if she didn't treat it well. She couldn't quite put two and two together as she knew she didn't have Volpina's memories, but then she remembered how Marinette had drawn such an accurate picture of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Sure, anyone could make fan art, but Adrien and Marinette made the whole situation almost intimate, as if it was more than just the interpretation of the drawing. It also made sense when it came to Ladybug being so hellbent on revealing her lies to Adrien, because Marinette was already in love with him. It was no secret to everyone (except Adrien at the time) that Marinette harboured the biggest crush on the teen model, but it made sense that both Ladybug and Marinette had ruined her prospects with him, because they were one and the same.

Maybe she was clutching at straws here, but she was certain that she wouldn't have recorded this if she didn't want to know or didn't want to act on it. She wanted Adrien. She saw he was gentle, and kind. She knew he would look after her and care for her. Marinette had an enviable support network of family and friends so Adrien wouldn't make a difference to that, surely?

But now she knew Adrien was more than just a boyfriend. He was her partner in crime and her other half. They could even be soulmates. Their identities could have been intertwined by fate. Maybe if she had powers too she'd have more of a chance. Now, thanks to this information, she had a power that would easily subdue Marinette more than magic ever could.

The power of knowing her identity could ruin her. She would probably have to surrender her powers and then Lila could be free to take it and be Adrien's new partner. She would have to think this through. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but she would find a way to bring her down.

Is revenge a dish best served cold or should she strike while the iron is hot? Thoughts of blackmail ran rampant in her brain as she opened the notebook again, once again seeing the eight words that would consume her waking days. It was almost too easy, especially since she had both their identities as leverage. She knew that Marinette would never forgive herself if she put Adrien's life in jeopardy.

She figured it would be best to lure them into a false sense of security first. They must already be paranoid about other people finding out so they would be on edge. She supposed they were lucky that they were exposed by each-other, which put closure on the whole fiasco quite nicely. She had read enough comic books to know that the identity of a superhero was something that was guarded more than their own lives, as it was the key to protecting their people.

She would definitely be able to have some fun with this.

—

Hawkmoth was furious. How in the world had Ladybug and Chat Noir managed to get away again?! Although he had now returned to his civilian form, Gabriel Agreste was certain he had the perfect Akuma victim. She seemed to have a direct connection to Ladybug and Chat Noir, and a motivation that coincided with his desire to have them thwarted.

She was in love. Unrequited love.

On the other hand, he thought, he knew that this wasn't the first time that she had been his victim. He didn't think one could be akumatised twice, but he supposed that people can feel negative emotions over time as well as in isolated occasions. In many cases his victims were people who were angry over a standalone incident, and one that could be resolved afterwards. Love was much more complicated than that.

He was not a man who was devoid of love. He truly loved his wife before she disappeared, and still did. He also cared for his son, Adrien. He knew he could never be a stereotypical family man, but he always wanted what was best for his child.

As the anger started to dissipate, he couldn't help but be intrigued by Lila Rossi. He wondered if she would be interested in helping him thwart the superheroes that had plagued his life for years, but he had no way of contacting her as Hawkmoth when she wasn't akumatised, and he had no way of contacting her as Gabriel because not only would that look suspicious, it would reveal his identity. He couldn't and didn't want to fathom how that would impact his relationship with his son, and losing that too would break his heart.

Continuing to pace around his hideaway, he started to scheme, a quivering Nooroo watching his every move with fear in his small eyes.