Author's note: Happy Easter everyone! Sorry for the relative delay but I've been seriously busy.
/
He's gotten used to looking at his own reflection in the mirror over the course of the past few months. What had once seemed like a stranger's face he now associates as his own.
The teen is doing up the last couple of buttons of his shirt. He keeps on giving himself the occasional glance in the mirror. He wants to look nice tonight. Partly out of vanity; he wants to impress his date. Equally, he doesn't want to embarrass her by looking anything else but like someone who's actually put some effort in for a change. He checks himself out, ensuring that he looks presentable before checking his watch. He should almost certainly be on his way if he doesn't want to be late.
Emerging into the living-room/kitchen, he finds himself faced with a pair of blue eyes glancing over to him from the pots. He averts his gaze, preferring to look elsewhere. It's not that he's met from hostility so much as it's impossible to face Nathalie without thinking back to their conversation a couple of nights ago. It's made things awkward between them. Killing that trust and dare he say it? Affection which had been steadily building. Over the past couple of days, he doubts that they've exchanged more than a handful of words and even those are strictly when necessary.
They've gone right back to square one. Maybe, like Nathalie says, it's for the best.
"Is that you?" She asks him seemingly interested.
"Yeah. I don't think I'll be back that late."
She nods once granting him permission to leave. The teen makes his way over to the door, feeling that familiar off sensation that's been bothering him for a while now. He tries to concentrate on what's to come. He'd been so excited until the confrontation a couple of nights ago. Since then, everything seems to have been turned down. It's hard to get worked up about anything any more. He doesn't struggle to put his finger on just what's wrong… Despite his best efforts, there was something of a feeling that Nathalie would always be there for him. Now, he wasn't too sure. When this was all over. Assuming they were both still alive and free, presumably she would want to get on with her life.
"Hey!" To his surprise, she calls after him. "You look nice. Have fun tonight..."
"Thanks..."
He leaves a few seconds, his jacket slung over his shoulder. It's pleasantly warm out.
The ride to the school seems like a long one. With nothing else to do, he finds himself with little other than his thoughts to occupy him. They're not exactly easy ones at the moment. He's relying on the upcoming party to take his mind off of matters in fact. In the meantime, all he can do is relive that argument they'd had.
I'm not your mother… Those words haunt him.
Of course she's not his mother. There's no blood there… His mother is currently in some sort of magically induced coma which, according to Nathalie, should she ever be taken out of stasis would kill her. He's taken that to mean that she's closer to being dead than she is alive. There's no replacing her. She was his mother, someone whom he still loves dearly with all of his heart. If he thought there was a way of getting her back without anyone else having to suffer in the process, he would do so in a heartbeat. He couldn't have said what his father's former assistant had become to him or rather, perhaps more honestly, what he had hoped she might be to him…
Dylan could pretend to be the tough guy who didn't need anybody all he wanted, he knew in his heart that it wasn't true… He did need somebody. Somebody who wasn't about to turn away and leave him. Right now, there was only one person who he could imagine doing that.
"Hey there!"
Marinette meets him with a smile one street away from the school. She's beautiful and he can't help but wonder if that dress is of her own design. He's aware that he's staring but can't help it.
They had agreed to meet here, away from the others. Both have kept it a secret that they're going together. Why? Largely to avoid gossip and rumours. Whilst it's unlikely that many people would care, it's still not something that either of them could face, not when they had so much revision to do. Adrien walks somewhat nervously the sort distance separating them from the school. He's not too sure how to behave around his companion. She seems relatively relaxed whilst he is awkward or maybe she's just better at hiding it.
He gives her a few furtive glances. Trying to recall just what he's supposed to do or say. Once more in his life, all he has are some American movies and series to base himself on.
"You look..." He pauses trying to think of the right word that's ideally not going to come across as creepy. "Really pretty."
"Aw. Thanks." She blushes slightly, eyes dipping in response. "You look good too."
"You made that dress, right?"
"So you do have an eye for fashion after all!"
"I have an eye for Marinette Dupain-Cheng."
She smiles softly in response and he feels his spirits lift.
Nobody notices the two of them arrive. Perhaps they haven't realized that they're a couple or more likely they have better things to worry about. Only Mrs. Bustier, waiting by the door to welcome to the students in and ensure that all is well. She seems to pick-up that something's up and tentatively, in her usual polite way asks them if they're actually here together. They exchange a slightly uncertain look, not too sure if they can explain it, even to themselves.
"We're friend-dates." It's Marinette who eventually finds a term for it.
"Good one." Dylan agrees with a nod.
"Well, you two go and enjoy yourselves." She instructs with an affectionate smile.
They oblige. Whilst there is some music playing, it's largely just for ambiance and no one appears to be dancing.
So they seek out some familiar faces. Well, they know everyone here but Marinette's eager to find her best friend and it's not like Dylan has a specific to-do list tonight. He's not all that familiar with this sort of event and so allows his companion to guide him through it. It's Alya who spots them first. She flags them down, calling out to the baker's daughter. They join them a few seconds later. Both teens look very smart.
"Now this is a surprise..." Alya eyes the two of them slyly.
"Yeah! You didn't say you were dating!" Nino agreed with her.
"We're..." Another awkward look is exchanged. "Giving it a go?"
That seems to suit the others more than Dylan thought it might.
They chat idly, discussing how things are going between them and the upcoming exams. The latter they quickly think better of as it reminds them of the stress of studies and things that they would rather not think too much about. Others come and go. Naturally, such an event is creating a lot of gossip and babble. Lila isn't present. That's a relief. Apparently, she can't bear to attend without her precious Adrien. That causes a slight smile to make its way onto his face, visible only as a slight twitch in the side of his mouth. Finally, she's caught herself out.
"You okay?" Marinette asks him half-way through the evening.
"Yes… Of course."
"Enjoying yourself?" He quickly realizes she's referring to the crowds.
"Yeah. So long as I have good company." He gives her a reassuring smile. "I'm not cramping your style, are you?"
"Of course not silly! I'm glad you asked and-"
They're suddenly distracted by some commotion coming from the entrance. There seems to be a crowd gathered. They're chatting excitedly. He even sees a few flashes from cameras. Strange… In the space of a few moments, he gets a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. He doesn't know what it is but something isn't right.
A few seconds later, his concerns are confirmed with a glimpse of golden hair.
His blood turns cold as for the first time, Dylan Lebrun lays eyes on Adrien Agreste. He's handsome, perfect standing by the side of Ms. Lila Rossi. The teen's got to admit, she's done a good job. As Nathalie always says, it's the details that count. This boy is obviously older. He's taller, sports a somewhat leaner physique and is terribly handsome. He's charming too, that much is apparent through his wide smile and the way that he greets his old friends.
Akuma. Of course Dylan realizes that much in a flash. Adrien isn't the akuma so much as a symptom of one. Instantly, he spots the problem. He is Adrien. Looking at an Adrien he knows to be fake.
"I'm fine..."
Marinette speaks softly and meets him with a gentle smile. He hadn't even realized that he'd taken her hand. He releases it promptly, muttering an apology. His companion is torn, that much is apparent. For a few seconds, he can see the pain behind her eyes, a clear sense of betrayal. Perhaps not that Adrien is there with Lila although that must certainly will be a blow. It's more that it gives her at least modicum of credence, inevitably inviting doubt into the mind of a young woman who sadly knows no better.
Dylan realizes that he's stuck. Naturally, Adrien is her friend and she probably wants to greet the teen whom she had perhaps thought she would never see again. If she stays next to him it's out of some strange form of awkward loyalty. She told him how she felt about the boy and now he's here. Perhaps she's afraid that he'll be jealous. Jealous of himself… Now there's an interesting thought. He can't say anything without giving the game away for the simple reason that there's no feasible way for Dylan to know that this isn't Adrien Agreste. The two have never met!
Lila might have become tangled in some of the strings of her own web of lies but Dylan is well and truly paralyzed by his own.
Hopefully Marinette passes off his unease – if she even picks it up on it – as simply being a result of the awkwardness of the current situation. He's standing there like a bit of a moron, simply staring at the two of them, desperately looking for some form of a solution.
He can't let her just walk on over to an akuma, can he?
No need. The akuma is coming straight for them with clone/illusion/puppet/whatever that Adrien copy is. He only has a few seconds to steel himself. He had to do so twofold. The first so that Dylan appears as cold as he usually is and the seconds so that Marinette (or anyone else for that matter) don't pick up on the fact that inside he's panicking. It's imperative that he gives the impression that everything's normal.
"Hey there Marinette." Whoa… Apparently this Adrien hasn't had to go through his voice breaking quiet yet.
"Adrien! I thought you were in China!" Her voice is surprisingly calm, she doesn't look away or appear flustered.
"I was but when I heard that Lila wasn't going to attend the dance without me, I just had to come back."
That makes him angry. He understands just what part of this is about once more. Despite his warnings, which have actually proved to be effective for a while, Lila has gone after Marinette once more. She's a been a bit sneakier this time, using a ruse that at first glance seems like the genuine article. He would have been fooled as well if he wasn't… Well, Adrien Agreste.
The worst thing is that he can't act. He has to pretend that this is real to him and for the moment, the worst they could possible accuse the "happy couple" of being is insensitive. Granted, that would once have been enough to cause Dylan to fly off the handle. For a few brief seconds, he contemplates it but things better of it. All that would achieve is getting him kicked out, causing Marinette to potentially lose face and they'd still be no further along. No… He has to be patient and let everything slide. No matter how insulting...
"I see you found a replacement." Yeah, as if he'd known as Adrien that she had a crush on him.
"Wha-" Instantly, the girl appears flustered, maybe a little hurt. "You knew? But-"
"I might be an improvement..." Dylan can't quite help but grumble, cutting Marinette short.
"What's with the accent?" Adrien raises an eyebrow, his tone curious.
"I'm from down south, what do you reckon?"
"Oh… A bouseux, I get it."
An attempt to insult or provoke? Probably both.
He grits his teeth, squaring up to… Whatever the thing accompanying Lila is. It's almost amusing how perfect this Adrien is. He's the best part of an inch taller than Dylan and well and truly without a flaw. Somehow, in the back of his mind, that makes things all the sadder. Marinette's fingers brush against his hand. She seems to position herself slightly between him and the other teen. He doesn't know if she's trying to ensure that he doesn't fly off the handle or if she's actually giving the other two a silent message to leave him alone.
"It's good to see you again." There's a certain clipped tone in her voice that lets him know that she'd rather they move along.
She gets something of a curt nod as a response but at least they're left alone. It's only once the two of them have moved along, chatting amicably with Rose and Juleka that Marinette starts to breathe once more. She seems frazzled. The encounter has no doubt shaken her. Her gaze lingers upon Adrien for a few moments. It's a pained look, full of regret. Perhaps not that he's here but rather disappointment at how he seems to have changed. Flustered, her companion shifts uneasily by her side, wondering if this might be one of those times when a respectful silence is best.
"You okay?" He tries tentatively.
"Of course..." Her smile says otherwise.
He's trapped. Perhaps Cat Noir would be of more use here but then how would he know just what was going on here.
Like it or not, Dylan reasoned that they would have to be patient. Sooner or later, things were bound to flare up. Hawk Moth wouldn't have bestowed powers on someone if he didn't think that there was a chance of him being able to obtain the ladybug and cat miraculouses in the process. In order to do that, sooner or later, Lila would have to act, giving away her akumatization in the process. Maybe not for a while though… Perhaps they had an agreement that allowed her to attend the dance with a lie so long as later on, she helped him more actively; like some sinister spin on Cinderella.
In which case, they might need to wait for some time yet. His attention turns back towards the girl who stands next to him, still shaken. Perhaps, if he's discrete, he might be able to clue her in without appearing to intentionally do so:
"Funny… I thought you said he knew she was a liar?"
"He… Does." Marinette frowns, thoughtfully for a moment.
"Guess he likes jerks then because why would he come here with a girl like that? I mean it's not like he's dating her for money or fame..."
I would never go out with someone like Lila he wants to scream. He realizes after a few seconds that his words don't quite seem to be reaching her. She's somewhere else, pensive. Her expression has become somewhat grave. He hopes that the clone's words haven't have too bad of an effect on her. Dylan feels trapped, powerless. All he supposes he can do is stay with his friend in the hopes that Lila slips up eventually.
"Dylan… I'm going to go to the toilet." She informs him, still not taking her eyes off of the duo. "Please, stay away from Lila and Adrien."
"You okay?" He can't help but be concerned.
"Fine. I just need a moment."
He allows her to go. What else can he do?
Dylan keeps silent watch on the two. He does his best to be discrete, only giving them the occasional glance. It's hard not to stare when he keeps on expecting something akin to an explosion. So far however, everything seems to be remarkably calm. It makes him nervous and a glass full of orange juice isn't enough to keep him from fretting. He's quite close to calling Nathalie when some cries from the room draw his attention. They're not scared so much as in awe.
"Ladybug!"
The hero seems to be relaxed. She's composed as she drops in amongst them, walking steadily through the crowd. They fix her with a mixture of admiration and clearly some concern. There aren't a million reasons why Ladybug would be here. He feels some relief. Finally, with her here, there's a chance that all of this madness will be exposed. He wonders briefly just how she realized that something was wrong but decides to think about the matter in more detail later on. For the time being, he stands ready. In all likelihood, once things kick off, he'll need to run, hide and transform as quickly as possible.
Professional as always, Ladybug is quick to take charge of the situation. She reassures everyone calmly but lets them know that they need to leave. There's no need to panic but they should still get out. There's some confusion. Where is the akuma?
In a flash, all becomes clear. He's never been so happy to see Ladybug get sucker punched, even if it is by his evil clone. It triggers the chaos that he needs to sneak away. Listening to the surrounding chaos would be pointless. It's clear that things have gotten out of control with the others, he can hear them yelling as he slips away into one of the empty locker rooms to become Cat Noir.
By the time that the hero emerges. It's no longer Adrien standing there. It's something else, something more recognisably monstrous. It stands by its creator's side, the spider at the centre of the web of lies. Cat Noir is quick to run over to his partner's side, noting that everyone seems to have gotten the message and is running for the exits. He hopes that Marinette is amongst them. She's a clever girl, he tells himself, she'll know when it's time to flee. The only thing he worries about is her being selfless and trying to get everybody else out at the expense of her own safety.
With little other choice, he forces himself to focus on the task at hand. He turns back towards Ladybug who stands there spinning her yoyo, anticipating another attack:
"Lila? Again?" He pretends to sound surprised. "She really needs a loyalty card! What caused it this time?"
"Not entirely sure. Doesn't really matter..." Her eyes narrow with determination. "You with me kitty?"
"Of course my lady!"
An easy smile passes between the two of them. Business as usual…
The fight is a long one. There's no doubt that Hawk Moth's akumas are getting more powerful. That being said, Cat Noir is aware that he's growing in strength as well, as is his partner. Whether that's simply because they're getting used to this constant fighting or its a natural part of their growing bodies becoming tougher and more resilient, he can't say. As usual, the battle spills out to envelop half of the city.
By the end of it, the two heroes stand atop the Eiffel Tower, battered and bruised but still alive. They listen to Lila's apologies or more accurately put up with them. Whilst it's tempting to just leave her there, both fear that will only cause the bitterness to grow. The toxicity is such that they reluctantly drop her off in front of the school. She wants to come clean apparently. That gives them some hope – some, they've been burned on more than one occasion… Even if she were to try and lie, Adrien struggles to see how she could possibly get out of the mess that she's currently created. He turns back to his friend, she seems equally dubious about the girl's claims:
"So… This time next week for Lila round 5?" He asks, the comment earns a sigh.
"I wish I thought you were joking. I think we'll have defeated Hawk Moth before she stops getting akumatized."
He has to agree with her on that one. They part ways on good terms. She really has to be somewhere else apparently.
Cat Noir makes quick work finding somewhere secluded and turning back into Dylan. He runs back into the building, only to find it remarkably calm. After over a year of constant attacks, parisiens have become somewhat accustomed to akumas. Once they're gone, they're quickly back on their feet. Brown eyes quickly scan the crowd, looking for a familiar face but failing to find it. Concerned, he starts to walk. Where is Marinette? She'd left him mere moments before the action had kicked off. He reasons that it's not impossible that she spent the whole time hiding.
Eventually he asks Alya and Nino, they're less than impressed that he's lost her but inform him that she's likely either still hiding or he's simply missed her. They are somewhat concerned however and agree to help him look. The group split up.
Quickly however, he finds himself distracted by Lila. The girl is practically in tears, quite a large crowd surrounds her. For a few seconds, he actually thinks that she might actually have bit the bullet, done the right thing and gone through with it. Then, the words she's speaking reach his ears. He feels the rage bubble away in her stomach. She must really take them all for fools. Then again, judging by the compassionate looks she's being given, he's willing to assume that they're actually buying it! Teeth clenched. He abandons caution, determined to put things right once and for all.
A hand catches him, wrapping itself around his wrist:
"Easy there..." She whispers softly to him. "That's only going to make things worse."
"You had me worried!" He tells Marinette, letting out a sigh as he sees her.
"Sorry… When I heard the akuma attack, I thought it might be safer if I stayed in the toilets." She seems awkward, perhaps embarrassed. "You're okay, right?"
"Asides this circus?" He gestures over the crowd. "Yeah. Fine, I guess. Akumatized because she misses Adrien so she creates a clone? Seriously?"
"Some people are desperate." She informs him, taking his hand. "Just, please leave it."
His gaze softens.
He knows that she hates Lila and yet here she is, telling him not to make things worse. Had Adrien Agreste really had that much of an effect on the young woman? With everyone crowding around Lila expressing sympathy and trying their best to comfort her. They're good people being unfortunately abused. It would be easy for Adrien and Marinette to reveal the truth, yet for some reason both hold back. Perhaps they hoped that she might reform? That seemed unlikely. On the other hand it could have been that they hoped that eventually she would get caught out. It seems impossible that she can continue on this way forever.
They watch for a few moments, somewhat detatched from what's going on. After a few minutes, Dylan lets out a little sigh and turns to her:
"Would you… Dance? With me?"
She gives him a smile and a nod. The music continues to play and they have the dance floor to themselves. Nobody will notice. He doubts anyone will care.
"Can you dance?" Marinette asks him, taking his hand.
"I don't know." His response gets a raised eyebrow, confused but somehow amused. Perhaps she thinks he's joking. "Lets find out."
Adrien can dance. Dylan? Well, he and Nathalie never decided on that much...