She was awoken by a news alert on her phone of an akuma attack. It was six thirty in the morning on Saturday.
"Marinette— wake up! It's Hawk Moth again!" Tikki said, pushing her little hands into her cheeks.
"I'm up, I'm up." She said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
Because Hawk Moth apparently had no need to sleep in like everyone else. Who knew how long the akuma was out before the news crews started to live report on it.
She grabbed her phone and opened to the news, looking for the location.
Then she saw the akuma had taken a hostage— Adrien. In an instant she was jolted awake from her sleepy state.
"Tikki, spots on!"
And she was out through the roof exit and off to save the day before the sun had fully come out.
The akumatized person had some sort of firework powers— explosive and very very loud. That meant she didn't have to spend too much time looking for them thankfully.
Chat Noir also hadn't shown up throughout the entire fight and she hoped he wasn't off snoozing somewhere in a different part of the city completely unaware of what was happening. At least this villain was easy enough to take care of by herself— seemingly distracted by the hostage they had taken.
This time Adrien wasn't being dropped off the edge of a building or frozen in glitter so she had to at least appreciate that. His hearing would probably be a bit off for a day though.
Ladybug wondered what happened this time to make another akuma target him. She didn't really recognize the person so she couldn't make any guesses if they did this to get back at Adrien or his father.
She broke the object the akuma was hiding in and purified it. Using her miraculous to clear the cracked building edges from their fight area. The sun was over the horizon now, she definitely had time today to run back home and make it to school without being late.
But before she could speed off and detransform—
"Hey can I talk to you about something?" Adrien asked, causing her to halt her getaway.
"Me— oh um well… sure…" She said, and hoped that didn't sound too awkward.
Adrien gave her a weird look and paused for a few seconds before speaking.
"I think Hawk Moth is working with someone else." He said.
Immediately she was a bit confused.
"Yeah, her name's Myurra." Ladybug responded— she thought everyone knew about her already.
"No. Someone else else or— or maybe she is Mayura. I didn't really think about that until now."
He implied he was talking about a civilian and not a miraculous user.
"You think you know who Mayura is?"
How did he come across this?
"Well I mean. I don't know that she's Mayura— she probably isn't— but I have very strong suspicions she's working with Hawk Moth. I'm not saying to go around accusing anyone or anything but—"
"— I'll look into it. And I'll only tell Char Noir about it until we both have complete confirmation. This is a very serious subject. What evidence do you have."
He looked down.
"Did you know Hawk Moth can talk to people without akumatizing them?" Adrien said, and Ladybug had an immediate suspicion this was going to go somewhere— that maybe all this has been happening for a long time and there were a lot of pieces she didn't know. "He sent a butterfly just to talk to me. Implied that there was someone else like me, like a… civilian accomplice that helped him. I refused— of course I refused but… before that I had seen this girl talking to herself, and I overheard her mentioning sending butterflies to her school and one time I thought I saw purple lighting her face and —"
He paused.
Her timer ticked down to two minutes.
"Hawk Moth said this person he was working with knew you really liked me and that's why he needed my help. He wanted me to bring you into a trap."
"Oh— really?" Adrien liked her? Her eyes went wide and she felt herself flush. Ladybug got back on track. She was running low on time. "I mean… what's this girl's name— the one you think might be working with Hawk Moth?"
Adrien looked to the side.
"Lila Rossi."
"Lila is working with Hawk Moth!" Marrinette exclaimed and grabbed her hair after she detransformed in a nearby alleyway. "I knew she was bad news and not a good person but this is crazy!"
"Calm down Marinette." Tikki said floating in front of her.
"Okay good news. The butterflies at the school were not meant for me. Hawk Moth has no idea I go to school there." She looked at Tikki. "Oh, here you go."
And gave her a snack.
How was she supposed to even prove Lila was working with Hawk Moth willingly? Even if Marinette somehow got evidence she could easily say she was threatened or forced and then everyone would feel bad for her and she'd still be working with him. Everyone in all of France knew Hawk Moth uses some kind of magic mind control to make supervillains— it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for Lila to say he's been controlling her this whole time. And she'd get away scott free, again.
"Tikki— Spots on!" She said and transformed back into Ladybug.
Then opened her compact to send Chat a message.
"Where are you Chat— meet me at our usual place. I have very important information that could change everything."
She hoped he would get her message and get to her soon.
At the very least, the fact that it was Saturday meant she wouldn't be missing out on any school while waiting for him.
"My Lady." Chat said and bowed, meeting her a lot faster than she anticipated, practically getting to their usual meeting place a few seconds after her.
"Be serious Chat."
"Of course. So… what's up?"
"Do you remember Volpina and Chameleon?"
"How could I forget?"
"I've been told she might have a deal with Hawk Moth."
"Oh. Okay." He leaned in his staff, taking it all in stride and looking very causal. "Do you think she knows who he is?"
"It's not likely. Apparently Hawk Moth can talk to people through his butterflies without fully akumatizing them."
"... Where's this info coming from?"
"Adrien Agreste. He said Hawk Moth wanted him to be an accomplice as well."
He looked down for a moment and stopped leaning on his staff.
"It's going to be very hard to prove she's not a victim in this." Chat stated.
"You believe me?" Immediately, Ladybug responded.
"Of course." He said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
That was a new feeling. Having someone believe her about Lila Rossi.
"So… do you have any idea where to start?"
He stood up.
"It might take a little while. We'll need testimony— that shouldn't be too hard— but the proof that's she's working with him of her own will… we might have to set up recorders in her room, follow her around to see where she goes— it might take weeks until we come across something that can really prove it. And we'll only be able to hear half the conversation she has with him."
"Where are we going to get things like that?" She asked.
Cameras and audio recorders weren't exactly cheap.
"I have somewhat of an idea." He smiled at her. "Leave it all to me, my lady."
The list of potential witnesses was painfully short— so the first person Ladybug decided to speak to was Miss. Rossi.
Chat had decided to question Adrien Agreste, in case there was anything he left out. And Ladybug couldn't help but think maybe that was for the best seeing as how distracted she tended to get sometimes when she was near him and that was only going to be multiplied now that she knew he had a crush on her— well, her as in Ladybug her. Not Marinette her.
But really, she had to try not to get too distracted now. There was a job to do.
Before she could enter her house, Ladybug stopped Miss. Rossi.
"Ladybug?" She questioned looking a bit supprised. "Is something wrong."
"That's what I'm here to find out." Marrinette didn't really talk to people when she was Ladybug, it was a bit weird how different people treated her, with a lot more respect and trust and seriousness. It was as if they didn't really see her as a child at all, even though she knew all of Paris was aware she wasn't an adult. "Has your daughter been acting suspicious recently?"
It wasn't until now that Ladybug realized her and Chat were the supreme authority for stopping Hawk Moth and his magic related terrorism and what that actually entailed. It meant more than just stopping his akumas and hoping he would show his face eventually. The two of them really needed to try and narrow down who he could be at some other date.
"Why would you be asking about her?" Miss Rossi pushed her eyebrows together.
"Don't tell your daughter this but… Chat and I think she's been talking with Hawk Moth outside of akumatizations."
"You think my daughter is being used by Hawk Moth?"
"If that is what's happening we're planning on catching it in the act. But before we start spying on her we have to be sure. If you've overheard her talking to him or anything like that, can you let me know?"
"A few days ago… I thought she was arguing with her friends but when I opened the door her computer was closed. I just brushed it off— what was I supposed to think?" She said.
It wasn't much, but it still helped lean towards what they were already thinking.
"Thank you for your time."
"Chat, did you get anything new?"
"Hmmm… yeah I think." He answered. "Apparently he also saw a butterfly leaving a bracelet of hers at a photoshoot, without being Akumatized."
"And Miss. Rossi said she had heard her arguing with someone in her room despite her computer being closed."
"So that's more than one person then. Anyone else we might wanna ask?"
"Um…" Chat looked away. "When I was talking to him— to Adrien— he said his father said something weird about Lila. Maybe you can go ask him about it?"
If Chat already knew this why didn't he just ask Gabriel Agreste while he was at the mansion questioning Adrien? Chat was really annoying at times. He probably just wanted to get out of doing work.
"... Sure."
Being led into the Agrest mansion as Ladybug felt very strange. Knocking wasn't something she did as LadyBug but jumping the fence would probably be rude.
Nathalie acting exactly the same as she always did as if she wasn't a superhero certainly didn't help the awkward feeling.
"Mr. Agreste, I hate to bother you but there are some questions I need to ask." She said after being led to his office.
He was standing at his desk, tablet pen in hand— he had likely been designing something. There wasn't any kind of surprise on his face when he heard her voice.
"Of course Ladybug."
Nathalie quietly closed the door behind her.
"I'll have to ask that this conversation is something you don't mention to anyone else."
He narrowed his eyes for half a second.
"What is it you would like to speak with me about." There was a slight stern tone to his words.
"Lila Rossi, a friend of your son is suspected of working with Hawk Moth. Chat Noir and I are talking to witnesses who know her before we start spying on her."
His eyes softened and he turned away from her and put the tablet pen down on the table.
"I… thought I had been imagining things." He stated slowly and carefully, leaning his hands on the desk. "I've certainly heard her speaking to herself before."
She has only seen him look disgruntled once and that was immediately after he had been Akumatized. Whenever she met him as Marrinette he was always so much larger than life, an imposing figure looming over everyone else. Stubborn and quick to anger.
"Do you remember what she said?"
"I cannot remember her exact words." Gabriel stated. "I do know it was something about my son."
Lila might have been talking to Hawk Moth about making Adrien an accomplice. Or maybe that's when she mentioned her crush on him.
"I do not exactly know Miss Rossi well." Gabriel interrupted her thoughts. "Might I ask why you would speak with me and not Adrien?"
"I've already spoken with him. Chat and I suspect the reason an akuma targeted him wasn't akuma victim motivated, but Hawk Moth himself taking revenge on Adrien not wanting to work with him like Lila Rossi is suspected of doing."
She saw Gabriel clench his jaw.
"Ladybug. In any other circumstances I would immediately remove that girl from my son's life, but considering Hawk Moth is involved and he was kidnapped after he refused to help… what is your advice?"
She didn't know. But she had to say something.
"Chat and I will take care of it Mr. Agreste. It wouldn't do anything good to have him after you as well. For now, it's best if you acted like this conversation didn't happen."
"Of course. And you're welcome here anytime."
"While you were off chatting guess what I did?" Chat playfully asked.
Ladybug gave him a serious look in response.
"I planted the listening device."
"Already?"
"What can I say? I know a guy." He then handed her a flash drive. "Plug this into whatever computer you have and it'll let you hear what's happening on the other side. I have one on my end too so don't think I'm letting you have all the fun."
Even if she sometimes doubted him, he seemed to always come through one way or another.
"Thanks Chat."
Marinette finally made her way back home for the day and depowered in her room.
"Do you really think this will work?" Tikki asked.
"I hope so." Marrinette said, while opening up her laptop.
At first the only thing that came out of the other end was white noise and for an hour Marrinette was able to catch up on homework while it played in the background. She was prepared for it to be like this for a while. Chat said it might take weeks until that get lucky. Then all of a sudden—
"You certainly took your time getting back to me." Lila's voice came from her laptop.
Marinette raised her eyebrows and sent a look to Tikki before rushing to sit in front of the computer.
"And you totally messed up with kidnapping Adrien— you did it all wrong! You should have talked to me and I would have told you how to set it up— Chat Noir wasn't even there."
"She was the one who told Hawk Moth to kidnap him!
That wasn't akuma related!?" Marrinette exclaimed to Tikki.
It seemed after all those times of Lila ruining her life with her perfect luck it was time for her turn. This time Marrinette was the one with the perfect circumstances. She couldn't have had a better first conversation to listen in on.
"Well then I want my powers now. Before I help you." Lila said.
Marrinette was not lying when she said she would give nearly anything to hear the other half of this conversation. It sounded like Hawk Moth did make a deal to give her superpowers.
"How long can you even give them to someone?" Lila asked.
There was a short pause.
"I think it is my business."
"There's just someone in my class I need to get out of my way."
"I don't think that's any of your business."
At least they weren't as organized or working together as well as she dreaded they would be. She was pretty sure Lila Rossi wasn't Myurra now. Hawk Moth and her always have this sense of ride or die together that Lila and he clearly did not have. Even though she could only hear half of the conversation it sounded like they were both arguing like they were five year olds.
"How can you not know that by now?"
"Look, this will work out well for you too. After I'm done you'll totally be able to akumatize that Dupain-Cheng girl. She's the one I wanna mess with."
At the mention of her name her eyebrows immediately shot up.
"Hawk Moth is conspiring with Lila to ruin my life! Me specifically! That means Hawk Moth is officially ruining my life twice!" She exclaimed to Tikki.
"How am I supposed to do that?" Lila said. "Am I not feeling enough now?"
There was a long pause.
"At least neither of them think you're Ladybug." Tikki tried to reassure her.
"Fine, whatever. I can wait. But I'm not helping you until I get them."
Marrinette sighed.
"At least there's that."
"Isn't this too easy?" Chat questioned then took a few short steps away from her. "Doesn't this feel wrong somehow?"
He sounded a bit paranoid to her.
After being so unlucky for so long it was about time things turned in her favor.
"Or maybe we're just too good."
Chat looked at her for a few moments before looking away— then quickly he turned back to her again.
"I guess it's time to confront Lila then. Let's go."
"Ladybug! Chat Noir!" Lila exclaimed, sounding fake happy. "Why are you stopping by at my window?"
Chat gracefully made his way through her window and Ladybug shortly followed suit.
"Cat's outta the bag." He said and leaned against her wall with crossed arms.
"Lila Rossi." Ladybug stated and put her hands in her hips. "We know you're working with Hawk Moth."
"What?" She looked genuinely surprised for once. "How could you even say that to me! I know I've been akumatized a few times by him but everyone knows the victims can't control themselves!"
"If you know who he is and tell us, you can probably get away with it." Chat said moving his arms to rest a hand on his staff, ignoring everything she just said.
"You have no proof— I'm not working with Hawk Moth! I'm not some kind of villain!"
"Well first off we have recordings of you talking to him— and oh by the way these recordings have you trying to convince him so you can't exactly say he made you— then there's that little fact where Hawk Moth and your plan backfired and that other accomplice you two were trying to get ratted out the fact that he had civilian help and he's willing to testify in court." Chat counted on his fingers and spoke very matter of factly.
"That's not true." Her eyes widened. She shook her head. "None of that is true."
"We do have the proof to back it up." Ladybug said. "If you know anything about who Hawk Moth is, now is the time to give it up before we bring you to the police station."
Lila was quiet for a tense few seconds before she responded.
"Hawk Moth is setting me up!" Lila yelled. "Please you have to believe me! He wanted this!"
"Why would he do that?" Chat tilted his head.
Ladybug had to do her best not to roll her eyes at him, she hoped he was just going along with it just to see what she says and not that he was believing her lie
"I don't know but… you can't go to anyone with this— if we all work together we can figure out why he's doing this."
"So you admit to working with him?" Ladybug said.
"He made me do it and now he's setting me up!" She repeated.
"Hawk Moth isn't the one who let slip to us about your little deal." Chat Noir told her. "It was a bunch of random citizens so he couldn't really set you up, we figured it all out on our own."
"Your own mother heard you talking to him in your room. Adrien Agreste saw you talking to him at a photoshoot. And Gabriel Agreste heard you talking to him in his home about his son before he was kidnapped." Ladybug listed off.
"That was—!" She looked to the side then back at them. And practically growled through her teeth. "He's the one who's lying! He's like completely crazy— asked me to spy on his son for him. Hawk Moth never even talked to me in that house!"
She knew Mr. Agreste was certainly very overbearing over Adrien and definitely eccentric, but that was a bit too much for her to believe. The fact that the worlds were coming out of Lila Rossi's mouth certainly didn't help.
"Yeah… are you even thinking these through?" Chat asked, picking up on how weird of a story it was. "Why is that the thing you choose to lie about?"
"Because I'm not lying I swear to you both."
Ladybug wanted to slap herself in the face for all the ridiculousness of this situation. You just couldn't argue with someone like her. She was so over everything about her. The only thing not making her absolutely lose it right now was that they had proof everything she was saying was a lie and that this was probably the last time she would ever have to deal with her.
And at least Chat was on her side right now.
"Look— we'll all be talking in circles forever so, I guess you'll have to tell that to the judge."