It was a foolish effort to try and escape the large, long cat monster. Before Lila could even get back to the more public part of Trocadero, to help; the large cat caught her. Purple claws grabbed her, tearing through her jacket, earning a fearful cry from the girl as she was slid under Ches, encased in the large cat's shadow.

His bright eyes were locked right on her, his smile far too wide and filled with teeth.

Caught you, he silently teased, claws twitching at her back.

The large cat's mouth opened, showing Lila all his teeth. She screamed, trying to push that large claw off her, trying to escape. He was going to eat her!

He was going to-

A sandpaper rough tongue, slick with saliva, slathered over Lila. When it withdrew, she was a slobbery mess, her clothes drenched, her hair matted and gross and stinky with cat breath and spit. The large cat gave a purring laugh down at her horrified, eyes gleaming down at her.

Making a frustrated sound back at him, Lila tried to push those claws off her, tried to get away and get home before she could be seen.

The cat had other plans.

The cat lifted his paw just so and Lila moved to dash out; only he brought it down and pushed her back to the ground, dragging her back to him.

The cat plopped his large head on her middle, winding her and started kneading at the ground and just grinning at Lila's growing frustration. When she started to squirm to escape, the cat took the opportunity to chew and gnaw at her jacket, making her escape all the harder, and ruining her jacket all the more, much to her ire.

She started to snarl out, "You stupid-"

"CHES!"

The cat whipped up, ears perked up, unintentionally dangling Lila over the ground and peering out. Yellow eyes locked on a stiff girl, one he recognized. Mistress liked this girl. He's heard her in the room a few times. He's felt her bounce the bed whenever she goes through the door above.

Ches gave her a wide smile, body wiggling in greeting.

Alya held up her hands, slowly approaching the large cat.

Behind her, a boy Ches didn't know ran up, slowing as he took the big cat. "Oh boy," Ches heard the boy utter nervously.

"Get me away from this thing!" Lila cried, thrashing about from where she dangled, drawing Ches' attention back down to his toy. Ches dropped her back down tot he ground, keeping her under his chin and preventing her escape.

He heard the boy give a frightful gasp. "He's crushing her with fluff!"

"Ches," Alya called once more, drawing the amber eyes back to her. "Let her go." Alya crept closer.

A jolt went through Ches, the cat hopping up to a crouch, teeth still sunk deep into Lila's jacket, keeping her pinned to the ground. Alya paused, meeting Ches' excited gaze, sparing a fast glance to the big fluffy tail, tipped pink.

She knew this pose.

This was a coy cat, ready to play keep away with it's toy.

And one wrong move could set him off.

"Ches," Alya called again, praying that the cat wouldn't overreact.

Ches wiggled, watching, waiting, and ready.

Just one move…

"Drop her," Alya continued to call.

Ches continued to watch her, waiting.

"Ches," Alya stressed.

Ches gave an impatient wiggle.

"Drop her."

The large, six legged fluffy cat did as bid, releasing Lila and sitting up on his haunches, turning to peer down at his mistress, flashing her a toothy smile.

The mistress didn't meet it. Her grim gaze was settled on Alya, who too had turned to her. Lila took the chance to flee, racing to them, grabbing Alya's arm, pointing to the akuma wildly. "She attacked me!" Lila cried, "She sicked her monster on me."

Ches chirped with a big smile.

The akuma gave no answer, just eyeing them tiredly, contemplative. Alya returned her stare, nervous, gripping the Ladybug doll tightly. "Marin-" she started to call.

The akuma moved, holding her hand up.

Ches moved, dropping down beside Marinette. The akuma moved, climbing up onto the cat's shoulders. Alya ripped her arm away from Lila, rushing to Marinette, shouting, "Marinette! Wait!"

She stopped when the akuma's sharp gaze settled on her. The akuma opened her mouth, looking ready to shout and snarl at her, only to falter. She looked unsure of what to say. Unsure of what to do. She shook her head, pulling her hood up, hiding herself from the world once more. As soon as her hands went back down to Ches, the cat turned, racing away, leaving a ruffled up Alya behind, staring after them.

"Marinette," she whispered, heart pounding heavily in her chest.

She expected angry words, shouting, snarling and…

There was something more unnerving at the silence, her just turning away and leaving.

"Woah there!"

She sharply turned, spotting Nino stopping Lila before she could leave. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"Let me go," Lila growled.

Alya stomped over, demanding as she held up the doll, "Did you do this?"

At Lila's blink, Alya repeated, "Did you do this?" She jerked the doll at Lila.

Lila grimaced, moving to swat the doll away, only for Alya to bring it back, her glaring burning and set on the Italian.

Alya lowered the doll, gripping her hard with eyes ablaze. "You caused her," she uttered.

Lila turned away, hand going to her face, a loud sniffle coming out of her. "I was under threat," Lila declared, "she threatened me. Me Alya. I was only protecting myself."

"By hurting her," Nino put in slowly, letting her go and stepping away.

"Under threat how?!" Alya snarled.

Lila didn't answer, just had her arms crossed, glaring out, trying to keep some form of dignity despite the slobber and tears and mess that she was right now.

Alya wouldn't keep quiet. She accused, "You've been lying this whole time. And she knew. She knew and that's why?!" Alya shook where she stood, gritted and bared. "You, you," Alya stuttered out, gaping at her, "you really were never friends with her! You, all those times you said that you sent a text to Marinette, stating that she was busy, those were just, just lies!"

Lila pursed her lips, looking away, like she didn't do anything wrong. "It was self defense," she repeated.

Eyes narrowing, Alya moved at her, hand reaching for her hair; only to be grabbed and stopped by Nino. "Alya," he stressed.

"Nino," Alya growled, turning her furious eyes to him.

"It's done," he said, "let's just focus on Marinette for now. She needs us, Alya."

Alya glared at her.

Lila turned away with a slight harrumph, starting to walk off, grimacing down at her saliva slick attire and how it clung to her. She couldn't believe she had to go home like this...

"Did it even matter to you?" Alya called out, hurt and angry.

Lila stopped.

"Was any of it real?!"

Lila stood there for a few minutes, then continued walking, not answering Alya at all.

Alya tightened her grip on the doll, growling.

She wasn't going to get away with this.

Nino tugged at her, and with scowls, the two turned away and hurried after Marinette, their insides burning and agitated at the trickery, the hurt.

Lila was not going to find school so welcoming that very next day.

They would see to it themselves.

I tried very hard to make Ches more villainous but can't. It's a cat pillow that was made for cuddles. The worse he can be is just being too playful.