The next day came and Luci was being interrogated by Marinette's father.
"What did you do to my daughter!?" Tom shouted, spitting all over Luci's face. She wiped the spit of her face, and stepped back, giving some room between them.
"I swear on my life sir that I did nothing!" Luci responded, putting her hands up defensively. Tom gave an unconvinced look, but Marinette rolled her eyes, standing up from her chair.
"Leave her alone papa, she did nothing," Marinette stepped in, slightly moving Luci.
"You've been acting different Marinette," Tom said, making Marinette's smile fade away. "I'm worried for you."
"Just because I've changed, doesn't mean it's because of the people I surround myself," Marinette replied, walking away. They watched as Marinette walked out of the kitchen and heard the bakery door slam shut. Luci then looked at Tom, who was eyeing her down.
"She was like that before I met her. The only one of my friends who knew her before this change is Mia, but I've known Mia since I started high school and I know that she wouldn't try to change anyone," Luci explained, not meeting Tom's gaze.
"Do you know anything that we should know?" Tom asked calmly, suddenly changing moods. Luci took notice of this but shook it off.
"There is this girl, her name is Lila Rossi. I'm guessing you know about her lies?" Luci started, earning a nod. "She's constantly trying to hurt Marinette in different ways. Luckily, Marinette never seems affected by any of it more then she should be. When things get dangerous, like one time there was death threats involved, my friends and I step in. I made a mistake of not protecting one of my friends 10 years ago. I'm not taking that risk again," Luci continued, her voice going from concerned to no tone. Just her normal tone.
"What about her new friends? A person who bullied her and a person who intimidated her? What happened there?" Tom continued, referring to Chloe and Kagami.
"I'm not so sure about that, but I think it has to do with Rossi. I've seen this girl, uhh, brown hair, dark skin, hazel eyes and she has a mole, she's been a pain too. Following Miss Liar practically everywhere she goes, always taking her side. I think Marinette has some history with her," Luci added, trying to remember how Alya looked like.
"Alya? But she's Marinette's best friend!" Tom exclaimed; shock written all over his face.
"Not anymore, I guess. I'm sorry, but I must leave. I kinda promised my friend I'd meet her before she started work and if I don't leave now, I'm going to be late. Thanks for letting me stay I guess," Luci apologised, before starting to walk off.
"Before you go," Tom started, allowing for Luci to stop and turn around. "What's your name?"
"Luci Freeman Jefferson, sir," Luci replied, unsure if she should have mentioned her family's last name.
"Freeman? You're the daughter of that criminal! That disgrace put everyone he knew in danger!" Tom realised; his eyes widen in shock.
"As much as I don't like it myself, he's an ex-criminal and still my father. I'd appreciate if you don't talk about him like that. And what can I say? It runs in our blood," Luci replied, smirking at the end. She then walked off, leaving a dumbfounded Tom to figure out how in the world Marinette ended up befriending an ex-criminal's daughter.
"It runs in her blood?" He thought, taking out his phone to search up their family. Freeman, he typed and searched. The phone flooded with news reports from way back in the past when Luci's father had attempted to murder an 'innocent' person, was on the run for two years, before turning himself in. He clicked on the first article, to which he skimmed across the statement, until his eyes landed on the part which was a direct quote.
"Before my father got arrested and died in the hands of police, he told me that 'we do strange things for love'. It wasn't until now that I understand what it means. Love, romantic or platonic, can make a person do anything. It made me turn myself in, it made my father run away and it made my grandfather die," Tom read out loud, hiding the ever-growing shock. He had no doubt in his mind that Luci had committed a crime before, but searching around, he could not find anything. Not a single article. That was until-
"Alex Pamin arrested for murder of Emily Ain? Luci Freeman as eyewitnesses? Is this the mistake she was talking about?" Tom thought, before shutting of his phone. He placed it in his pocket before walking towards the bakery, helping his wife with preparing for the orders customers had placed the day before.
With Lila…
"I'm sorry, my plan didn't work," Lila apologised, avoiding eye contact with the not so mysterious figure standing over her. The figure sighed, before he flipped his cane to point towards the exit. Lila looked down in embarrassment, walking out of the room. He let out his hand, allowing a butterfly to land on it, questioning whether if he should akumatize himself once more. While debating, he felt a strong amount of anger coming from what he thought to be his son's school. Smirking a little, his free hand hovered over the butterfly, transmitting his dark energy into it. Hawk Moth removed his hand, allowing the akuma to fly away. His usual speech was not uttered, too disappointed in his partner to think of a speech.
The akuma flapped and fluttered away, passing hundreds upon hundreds of emotional citizens. Its target set on a visitor at College Françoise Dupont, Milly Cular, who's a detective. She was coming into the school to give those boring speeches to find out she had been replaced with another person. Furious with this, she stomped out of the school. Not too long after, the akuma was flapping its way down towards Milly.
Luci was walking to Café Miraculous to meet up with Victoria. She was listening to her music and accidently looked up, seeing the akuma. She instantly stopped, looked around for the emotional person and her eyes set on blonde haired girl. Luci sprinted up to the lady, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Excuse me Miss, but- Milly!?" Luci gasped, as the blonde turned around. Milly raised an eyebrow, her chocolate coloured eyes looking her up and down.
"Luci Freeman. It's been a while," Milly smiled, calming herself down at the sight of Luci.
"Actually, it's Luci Jefferson now," Luci blushed a little, looking off to the side. Milly gasped, bringing her hands to cover her mouth, her eyes darting to Luci's ring finger to find a ring on it.
"Congrats! How did I not notice your ring earlier!? Did your boyfriend, eh Cameron I believe his name was, did he propose or was it someone else?" Milly questioned, forcing a hug onto Luci.
"Yes, it was Cameron. Well what about you, did you find your special someone?" Luci asked, quickly looking up to see the akuma start to flutter away. She relaxed a little.
"I've been in and out of dating, but I think I finally the one," Milly looked up dreamily. "So, what were you gonna tell me?"
"Oh, there was an akuma headed your way, so I wanted to warn you before you got akumatized," Luci explained, and Milly kind of shrugged.
"Didn't realise I was that mad, thanks for calming me down."
"Why were you so mad anyway?" Luci questioned. Milly went on to explain what happened, and Luci made the question between the school, and offered to talk to someone for her to which Milly kindly rejected. It wasn't long before they exchanged contact and Luci finally made her way to Café Miraculous.
"Why did you ask to meet me here, Victoria?" Luci asked, closing the door as she walked in. The café wasn't empty, but it wasn't full. They both walked into her office.
"I found out something about Lila Rossi that you should probably inform Marinette about," Victoria spoke in a calm voice. Luci raised an eyebrow, as Victoria continued. "On my way to Mia's shop to drop of her morning coffee like I usually do, I passed Rossi. She was talking on the phone. I didn't pick up much, but I heard the words 'Hawk Moth', 'plan', 'failed', 'Ladybug', 'Marinette' and 'Chloe'. From all that, I think you should tell Marinette and her blonde friend Chloe to stay on alert and that Hawk Moth has possibly teamed up with Lila," Victoria explained, recalling everything she heard earlier that morning.
"Thanks Victoria," Luci said, before walking out of the office with her phone in her hand. Victoria smiled and turned to her computer, starting to type into a random document.
Luci called Marinette's contact as soon as she left the café. As expect, she didn't answer. Instead, it went straight to her voicemail.
"Hey M, this is Luci. As soon as you hear this, call me back because we need to talk. It's really important," Luci recorded her voice, then ended the call and placed the phone in her pocket before sprinting home.
Marinette was in the middle of class when she felt a tug coming from her purse. She raised her hand and asked to be excused, before leaving the class and heading straight to the toilet. She went to the cubicle furthest to the right and opened her purse, allowing Tikki to fly out.
"Sorry to have to pull you put of class Marinette, but Luci called and left a voicemail about something really important. You should call her right now," Tikki spoke in a calm voice. Marinette pulled out her phone and called Luci. She tapped her foot as she waited for Luci to pick up.
"Hey Marinette, sorry to disturb you during school but Victoria told me something really important," Luci started, pausing and waiting for a response.
"Hi Luci, it's alright, there isn't anything important we are learning today anyway," Marinette responded, Tikki flying back into the purse. Tikki nibbled on a cookie.
"Well Victoria told me that while she walking to Mia's shop, Rossi passed her and was muttering the words…" Luci continued, pausing the think about the words. "Hawk Moth, plan, failed, Ladybug, Marinette and Chloe."
"Lila really needs to pay attention to what she's thinking and what she's saying out loud," Marinette thought, letting out a little laugh.
"You and Chloe should be careful. I know you're a superhero and all, but you're still a kid, you shouldn't have this much pressure on you," Luci added. Marinette knows Luci's smiling sympathetically.
"I'll be alright Luci, you don't have to worry," Marinette replied.
"Mari, you're my friend, it's my job to worry. Plus, I have nothing better to do."
"Get a job then, start a family, I dunno, do something," Marinette shot back.
"MARINETTE!" Luci shouted, making Marinette giggle. "Although, getting a job doesn't seem like a bad idea. Thanks Marinette and stay safe."
"You too," Marinette replied, before ending the call. She placed her phone back into her purse before walking out of the stall and out of the bathroom. Lila sighed as she walked out of the stool.
"Nothing. Nothing that might help me!" Lila thought, clenching her fists. She planned to spy on Marinette to find out any dirt on her, anything at all. "Of course, she would be careful. This is Marinette we are talking about."
Later that day…
Marinette walked out of school with Chloe and Kagami chatting behind her. Surprisingly, Luci was leaning against the wall, muttering something to which she believed is the lyrics to the song she's listening to. Marinette sprinted up to Luci, tapping her hand to grab her attention.
"Oh, what's up M?" Luci asked, tapping her earphone to pause her music.
"Just wondering what your doing here," Marinette replied.
"You'll see," Luci smirked, before walking into the school, leaving a confused Marinette. She shrugged and walked off, catching up to Chloe and Kagami.
"So, why are we going to your house again?" Chloe asked, seeing as Marinette paced herself to walk at the same time as her friends.
"Am I not allowed to invite my friends over?" Marinette replied with a question. They walk to Marinette's house, Chloe ignoring that little pain she felt in her chest. Marinette glanced back at the school, seeing Luci deep in conversation with Mr Damocles. She raised an eyebrow, before turning back and looking at Chloe and Kagami. Kagami was focused on Chloe but Marinette could not see her expression. Chloe, on the other hand, had an unreadable expression, but one thing Marinette could point out was Kagami and Chloe knew something she didn't.
"You guys alright?" Marinette asked, grabbing their attention. Chloe's expression suddenly changed, giving a half smile. Kagami turned to face Marinette.
"We are doing fine. Thank you for your concern," Kagami replied.
"You don't have to be so formal Kagami," Marinette laughed.
"Sorry," Kagami muttered. Marinette opened the bakery's door, seeing her father serving Luka.
"Hi papa, hello Luka," Marinette greeted, followed by Chloe and Kagami's greeting. Tom smiled at his daughter and her friends, before handing Luka a couple of loose coins.
"Hey Marinette, Chloe and Kagami," Luka waved.
"We are going up to my room, Luka, would you like to join us?" Marinette announced, grabbing onto Chloe and Kagami's hand. She stopped and turn to Luka, awaiting his answer.
"I will have to pass," Luka answered, smiling sympathetically. He turned away and walked out of the bakery. The girls walked up to the stairs to Marinette's room.
Minutes later and the girls were already deep in conversation. Kagami had been curious as how she had received the ladybug miraculous, to which Marinette happily repeated the story, from when she saved Master Fu, to the encouraging words from Cat Noir.
"Cat Noir," Marinette thought. "I don't remember the last time we had proper conversation."
The conversation went on, adding in the theories on who she thought Cat Noir truly was. Chloe spaced out as she already has this conversation with Marinette. Suddenly, the akuma alert went off on the girls' phones. Marinette leaped up climbing up to her bed, then climbing onto her balcony.
"TIKKI, SPOTS ON!" was heard and so was a scream of excitement.