A/N: Happy Easter ya'll! I apologize for the (semi) late chapter, technically I can update anytime within 14 days of the last post but that's still no excuse from breaking from my usual posting schedule. Thanks for your review, guest- hope this clears some stuff up.

Be Prepared

The evening had started out marvelous. All the girls looked stunning, of course, but he only had eyes for Marinette: her shy glimpses up at him under long eyelashes, the way her hair curled over her shoulders, the smattering of freckles on her collarbone. She looked beautiful, and he was not about to be the lucky bastard that threw away his shot. So he tried to be polite, and he tried to be courteous. But when Marinette made clear exactly how much she respected and admired Chat Noir, he had to go. Félix stalked down the halls, head down as he turned to a random classroom and leaned against the desk, hands at his mouth like a love-struck schoolgirl.

Ladybug couldn't do anything she does without him...she couldn't survive without him.

It wasn't true, of course, but it was nice of her to say it.

Félix raked his hands through his hair, breathing deeply. He was in serious trouble with her, and maybe it was time to tell her how he felt. The strains of a slow song floated through the corridor outside his room and he smiled. Perfect. He stood, starting for the door when a girl with curled brown hair and sallow green eyes blocked his way. He almost snorted. Of course Lila would show up now.

She approached him, swaying her hips in a manner he supposed was supposed to be sexy, but ended up as just...weird.

"Hey, Félix," she said sweetly. She cocked her head. "Oh! I like this song...wanna dance?"

Félix glared at her. "You have literally harassed me, my friend, and my twin. What do you think?"

She tapped her chin with her finger. "I think...you do. Because I can, and will, tear you and your 'friends' apart. The entire school hates you because of your Hawkdaddy; no one is going to side with you. I have them wrapped around my little finger, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

Félix glared at her. "I will never dance with you. I don't even want to be within six feet of you. Besides, there's another girl."

He knew the instant the words left his mouth it was a mistake. Her eyes sharpened, deadly.

"A girl, you say? Who...oh. Marinette. You like that clumsy, ugly, friendless nobody? Oh, this is too good." She laughed and Félix wanted to hurt her or leave her far behind. Perhaps both.

"Don't ever talk about Marinette ever again," he hissed. She quirked an eyebrow.

"I'll do whatever I damn well please. In fact, I- do you hear that?"

He heard it as well- footsteps approaching them. Before Félix could move, Lila was rushing at him. "Lila," he said lowly, threateningly, and hopefully with enough warning in his tone to make her back off.

She didn't, and instead her hands fisted in his hair, tugging on his skull painfully as she shoved him against a desk, lips crashing onto his. Her legs hooked around his waist, and with surprising strength she pulled herself up against his body. He stumbled back, hands automatically bracing them both against the table to keep them from falling. A choked sound came from the doorway and his head twisted around, Lila's face mercifully lifting from his as he stared at the one person he didn't want to see this, whatever it was. Marinette's eyes were wide, shimmering, and her mouth was slightly open in shock as she stared at them. Lila's legs unhooked and he shoved her off, stepping towards Marinette.

"Marinette, no-"

And then she was gone, her heels clicking away. He lunged after her, but Lila caught his sleeve.

"I told you I could ruin your life. So...wanna dance?"

He twisted away from her, running after Marinette, Lila's mocking laughs grating on his ears. He skidded onto the dance floor and rushed up to Adrien and Bridgette, both of whom were dancing peacefully. He almost hated to interrupt. Almost.

"Bridgette, have you seen Marinette?" he asked quickly. Bridgette lifted her head from Adrien's shoulder.

"Sorry, no...maybe she's in the bathroom?"

Félix honestly doubted it but it was worth a shot. He turned and weaved his way through the crowds, reaching the hallway and running down it, checking all girls' bathrooms with a quick glance in each. He was running out of time, and he paused at the last bathroom. Skirts rustled inside and his heart leaped with hope- she could be in there, and he might be lucky, just this once.

"Everyone decent?" he called, and, receiving no response, opened the door.

Sabrina and Chloé sprung apart, faces flushed. Félix rolled his eyes. "Have you seen Marinette."

It was more of a demand than a question, and Chloé didn't take kindly to that. "No, Your Highness, but we can go search for her if you want," she sniped. Félix sighed, turning around.

"Call me if you see her!" he shouted, and then stopped abruptly halfway down the hall.

Call her...

He thrust his hand in his pocket, jerking his phone out and scrolling to Marinette's contact.

"Hi, this is Marinette!" she said.

"Marinette, please-" he said breathlessly, clutching the phone like a lifeline.

"Leave a message after the beep!" she giggled.

A harsh beep sounded and Félix slumped against the wall.

"Marinette," he choked out, betraying more emotion than he had in years. "Please, you have to listen to me. I-I was overwhelmed. I hid in a classroom. Lila found me, she heard you, she kissed me. I didn't like it, I didn't ask for it, I don't want anyone kissing me except-" he paused, unsure what to say. He settled for sighing loudly. "Please, call me back so we can talk. Lila's gone too far and she definitely broke the unspoken agreement we had." He hung up, stalking down the hallway. He reached the entrance to the school, and, surprise surprise, it was raining. Of course. He noticed a lone black umbrella in an umbrella holder and grabbed it, opening it quickly before he flung the doors open and raced outside. Pouring rain and howling winds soaked him to the bone as he walked steadily down the sidewalk, headed towards Marinette's house. If she wasn't here, he didn't know what he'd do. He knocked on the door to the bakery, disregarding the 'closed' sign on the door. A large man wearing an apron came to the door, opening it roughly. He remembered this man; Marinette's father, Weredad. It had seemed so serious back when Bridgette told him she loved him. He didn't know what to do, especially since he was certain that she loved Adrien. He remembered Marinette's wide eyes and 'oh crap' expression.

He was pretty sure that was what he was displaying as he stared up at Tom Dupain.

"Please, leave," he rumbled, fist clenching threateningly. "Marinette doesn't want company."

"I need to talk to her," he said desperately. Tom shook his head.

"Go away."

He slammed the door in Félix's face and Félix took shelter in a nearby alley. At least she was there, although Félix would never be able to see her.

Félix wouldn't, but Chat Noir might...

He transformed quickly, leaping up to the balcony and knocking on the glass window into her room. He could see her startled face as she looked up at him, and then her anger and she stood on her bed, flinging the window open.

"What do you want?" she hissed. "Sorry, Chat, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Chat winced, remembering who exactly caused this mood. "Sorry, I just wanted to stop by. Take the umbrella, it's really raining."

She took it from him cautiously. "Thanks."

He leaned back against her railing and eyed her. Dress soaked, mascara running. "Any reason you were crying on your bed?" he asked, a little stab of guilt piercing him.

She sniffed defiantly. "No."

He rose an eyebrow. "Right..."

A moment passed and she huffed, opening the skylight. "You can come in- but only to get out of the rain. No funny business."

"Chat's honor," he winked, dropping onto her bed after her.

The comforter was drenched and she huffed, shooing him off the bed and stripping it quickly, throwing the bedding over the railing. "Let me get that for you," he said, moving towards it to pick it up. She scowled at him.

"You can't go downstairs. Just leave it, dry off. We can sit on Bri's bed," she said, jumping from one bed to the other as if she'd done it millions of times. She probably had. He used a semi-dry blanket from Marinette's bed and toweled himself off quickly, tossing it to her. She spread it over Bridgette's bed and sat carefully. He climbed up after her, and for a moment it was just them, cross-legged and inches apart in the dark room.

"Want to talk about it?" he ventured. She looked away from him, threading her fingers together.

"There's this boy," she began.

"Isn't there always," Chat muttered. She glared at him and he winced. "Sorry, go on."

"I thought that we were friends, allies at the very least against this awful bully. I thought...I thought he may have liked me even a bit more than as a friend. I-" she paused, thinking.

You liked him too?

He hoped she 'like-liked' him.

"We were friends," she decided. His heart crumpled a little. "We went to this dance together with Bridgette and her boyfriend, and a couple other friends, and I freaked him out. He left, so I went looking for him, and when I found him...he was kissing the bully. Like, not just a peck. Passionately."

Chat felt a renewed wave of anger but tampered it down. "Oh? Did you think that he had a crush on her, at any point?"

She shook her head vehemently. "No! Of course not! He's not that shallow, he'd never go for Lila."

"Check your phone."

Marinette pulled her phone out, tapping on the voicemail he sent her. They listened to it in silence, his apology filling the air. It ended with a click and Marinette stared at her phone.

"So?" Chat said softly. She jerked, looking around.

"Félix?!"

Shitshitshitshit.

"No, it's me, Chat, remember?" He pitched his voice a shade lower and she deflated, looking embarrassed.

"Yeah, sorry. Well, that was...unexpected. Chat, what should I do? I jumped to conclusions so quickly." She genuinely looked guilty and Chat reached out, taking her hand.

"It's not your fault- you were both set up. I think you know what to do, princess." He stood, stopped as to not hit the ceiling, and crossed over to her bed, opening the skylight. She joined him and stared up at him as he crawled out.

"You look beautiful," he said lowly, and, kissing her hand, he fled across the rooftops of Paris, leaving Marinette staring after him.

Back at the dance, Adrien and Bridgette rushed up to him. "Marinette sent Bri a text, saying that she needed everyone immediately, something to do with Lila. Where have you been?" Adrien panted, looking very winded.

Félix shrugged. "Here and there. I'll go get Chloé and Raincomperix, you guys fetch Kurtzbeg and Anciel, who I assume is okay with coming?"

Bridgette and Adrien swapped glances. "Hopefully," Bridgette said, but she didn't look very certain. "We'll ask. C'mon, Adrien." They merged with the crowd and Félix took out his phone, calling Chloé.

"Chloé Bourgeois. What's up, Félix?" she said, her voice coming through clearly. She sounded like she was on the outskirts of the dance.

"Get Raincomperix and meet up at Marinette's place as soon as possible," he said shortly, and hung up. He strode towards the entryway, waiting for them to appear. They walked in with Bridgette, Adrien, Nathaniel, and Marc, who looked pretty passive about having to leave early. Chloé strode past them.

"Let's go. My car."

They all squeezed in, the extra space Chloé's car provided giving them all a seat. Félix sat tersely in the front, eyes trained on the road right along with Chloé's driver. He was mere minutes away from what could quite possibly be one of the most crucial moments in his (civilian) life. They arrived, and Bridgette hopped out of the car, exchanging hurried conversation with her aunt and uncle before waving them inside.

Mr. Dupain glared at him just as much as before- maybe with a shade less animosity, but just a shade. He hurried past him and up into Marinette's room along with the rest of her friends.

He supposed they were his friends, after the way they had treated each other for the past few months. It was odd, having friends that weren't Kagami, Chloé, or some other kid who he knew because of Gabriel.

Speaking of, Félix had been doing well since Gabriel's incarceration. They were set to move soon, and he couldn't wait. It would be liberating, getting out of the house that had been a prison for so many years.

Nathaniel nudged him and he realized that Marinette was talking.

The girls were all huddled on Marinette's bed, exchanging quick conversation. They all turned to stare at him and he flushed nervously. Marc leaned over to talk to him. He hadn't spoken to the boy since...well, ever, really. He and Nathaniel were wearing simple black suits and matching masks. He knew that they really liked each other, although he didn't know enough to call it love.

He didn't really think it was possible to fall in love at such a young age before Marinette.

A lot of things had changed after Marinette.

It scared him, how much he was attracted to her, and not just sexually- physically. He couldn't help but get closer to her, touch her casually and shiver every time they made contact. He wanted to know her every thought, her hopes, her dreams, what made her tick. He wanted to fulfill her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams, and become the reason she continued to live.

He didn't think he ever could, and that scared him too, because she fulfilled his hopes, his dreams. She occupied his thoughts and she was the reason he woke up every morning.

He sounded like a total creep. Well, no one ever said that Félix was poetic.

Bridgette narrowed her eyes at him and he suddenly knew exactly what Marinette had been discussing with her.

He really thought that Marinette had been okay with him after Chat's visit, but as Bridgette climbed down the ladder he mentally prepared himself for death. Bridgette grabbed his shoulder and leaned in close to him.

"Do it for real and you're dead, Draco Malfoy wannabe."

That was probably the biggest insult he'd ever gotten.

"Want to commit murder with me?" she asked cheerfully, leaning away and speaking loudly. Marinette got a shocked expression on her face.

"Bridgette!"

Bridgette rolled her eyes and Félix eyed her appreciatively. She should show her Ladybug side more often. "Social murder, darling. Lila has crossed a line, agreed?"

Alix came pounding up the ladder. "Wait for me!" she gasped out. "I wanna help!"

Marinette looked over at Nathaniel. "Did you call her?"

Marc held up his phone. "I texted."

She nodded, smiling. "I'm glad you're here, Alix. So what are we going to do?"

"We're going to knock her down brick by brick," Chloé hissed. Everyone raised their eyebrows and she flushed.

"Listen, Du- Marinette and I may not be the best of friends, but we're definitely allies, and she's Adri-kin's girlfriend's closest friend and sister. I'll have to be friends with her at some point, and no one hurts my friends. Plus, I just really hate Lila."

"Wow, Chloé. That was almost...nice," Bridgette teased. "Back to business," she added, face growing solemn. "How exactly are we going to destroy Lila?"

"Easy," Félix drawled. He leaned against the wall. "We compile a list of her every lie. Nathaniel, you mentioned her stealing your art? Put it in. Alix, your brother and Lila's non-existent relationship? Also excellent proof. Start getting contacts, and getting evidence. Does anyone have anyone that can help?"

"My cousin's a doctor. She could probably debunk Lila's disease claims," Nathaniel volunteered.

"Rose gave me Prince Ali's email when I helped them out with volunteer work, I could email him about Lila supposedly helping him out?" Sabrina added hesitantly. Bridgette nodded at both of them.

"Yeah, that's great. Marc? Chloé? You two have any contacts?"

Chloé inspected her nails. "Daddy just got me Steven Basielburg's number. Remember that utterly ridiculous comment she made about hooking Lahiffe up with him? Bet that's bullshit."

Marc flexed his fingers. "I took a hacking class over the summer. I took tenth place in a competition I did."

Chloé snorted. "Oh, you got into Starbuck's secret menu, big oof-"

"I wasn't finished. There were over five thousand competitors."

Everyone stared at Marc. "That's...terrifying, but how does it help us?" Bridgette ventured.

Marc shrugged. He was a lot more confident than Félix remembered. Maybe that time he met him, he was having an off day?

"There's security cameras all over Dupont. I'll hack in, get the tapes of Lila pushing herself down the stairs, and we can play them for the final icing on the cake."

Félix grinned at Marc. "You are my type of guy."

Marinette snorted. "Oh, so you have a type? Anything you want to tell us?"

Félix raised one eyebrow. "I'm straight if that's what you're wondering."

"No one had any doubts, Fe-Fe," Chloé said scathingly.

"Rude."

Bridgette clapped her hands. "Alright, alright. Any more ridiculous lies we can disprove?"

Adrien shrugged. "I'm kind of useless, sorry. Just here for emotional support."

Bridgette smiled at him softly. "Aw, that's ok. You can get us food when we get started."

Adrien got a hungry look in his eyes. "Yeah, I'll do that."

Félix got a brilliant idea. "I can contact Chat Noir, who can contact Ladybug. I'm sure they'd deny having any knowledge of Lila!"

Bridgette got a look like, why didn't I think of that?

"Excellent idea. Marinette, I know you have Jagged Stone's number and I also know for a fact that he has you saved as 'My Favorite Niece'. Get to texting and setting up a video chat."

Marinette didn't look entirely comfortable with this. "Listen, guys, I know that Lila is a complete lying bastard but all at once like this? It seems a bit...bully-ish."

Félix leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. "Marinette, she's already tried to ruin lives. Yours. Mine. Hell, she just tried to ruin our-" He paused before he could say 'relationship'. Technically, that's what she tried to do, but the implications of that were immense. "- dynamic," he settled for. "That's not okay, and I understand if you don't want to contribute to this. But like it or not, it's happening and you can only help us clean-up after."

"I don't want there to be clean-up," she muttered, shimmering eyes cast towards the floor. "I just want her out of my life. I want my friends back."

He scooted forward, taking her hands and prompting her to look into his eyes. The emotion she displayed... she couldn't look at him like that and only feel platonic love for him. She just couldn't. It wasn't fair. "I know. I know, Mari. I want that for you. But Lila's sunk her claws in too deep and there are going to have to be stitches if you want those 'friends' to survive. The only thing we can do is get them out before they go deeper."

She leaned her forehead against his and the world fell away.

Time seemed to stop as their breaths mingled and he could see every last freckle sprinkled across her cheeks. Her hair fell slightly between them and her lips were parted- oh, God, her lips, and he couldn't movecouldn'tthinkcouldn'tbreath-

Chloé cleared her throat, uncharacteristically considerate as she brought them back to reality. "So, are you going to do it?"

Marinette took a shuddering breath, just as disoriented as him. "Yes." She took out her phone and Bridgette grinned evilly.

"Let's get to work people. Get video of the people debunking the claims and we can edit over the weekend, ready for Monday. I have to...get Ladybug."

She fled the room and Félix went after her, making hasty excuses. He hid in the same alley he had used only an hour before and transformed quickly, opening his baton to a message from Ladybug. She hadn't wasted any time.

"I found out that this bit- this girl, Lila, has been claiming to be good friends with us. Obviously, this could be putting her in danger. Marinette has agreed to video us debunking her claims and send it to the Ladyblog. Bug out!"

He was pretty sure Marinette had not agreed to video, and positive that she wouldn't be sending anything to the Ladyblog. But Chat Noir didn't know that, and so he greeted Ladybug on Marinette's balcony.

She smiled at him fondly. "Chat, excellent. Let's head down."

They dropped down quickly, scaring the crap out of Marc, who had been focused on hacking into the school system already. Marinette spun around in her chair. "Chat? Bri-LADYBUG? What are you doing here?" she asked, flushing from her near slip-up. Chat smirked at her, twirling his belt-tail.

"Uh, here to get your testimony about a certain purr-jerer."

"Liar. He means liar. Who says perjurer?" she hissed the last bit at Chat, who shrugged.

"Anything for a pun."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Set up a camera, please, I need to be somewhere."

Marinette got the hint, and, while everyone else watched(and Chloé visibly restrained herself from fangirling), she set up her phone and nodded at the pair.

Ladybug cleared her throat. "It has come to our attention that a certain Lily, was it?" she asked dramatically. Chat paused, tapping his chin.

"I believe her name was Lilo."

"No, it was definitely Lile," Ladybug countered.

"Purr-haps Lilu? Or just Lil?" Chat suggested.

Marinette half coughed-half snorted. "Her name is Lila Rossi."

Ladybug nodded sagely. "Ah, yes, Lila Rossi. Anyways, she's been telling her classmates that she personally knows Chat and me."

"She doesn't, but she could." Chat winked at the camera, knowing that it would a) fluster Marinette and b) annoy Lila. He could practically hear her screeches of 'that mangy alley cat!' right now.

"Obviously, this places a big target on her back from Hawkmoth and other mercenaries. So, let me state this- Chat and I have never contacted Lily Rossi-"

"Lila Rossi," Chat corrected. Ladybug nodded again.

"Lila Rossi, outside of her multiple akumatizations. Please do not believe this claim, even if she tries to cover it up. You don't have to know a superhero to be cool, kids! Bug out."

"Cat-ch you later!" Chat added, shooting the camera with finger guns and a flirtatious wink.

Marinette cut the camera, grinning at the pair and hugging Ladybug. "Thanks, guys!"

Everyone's jaw practically dropped at how familiar Ladybug and Marinette seemed.

The superheroes and Marinette realized this at the same moment, and, jaw set, Marinette approached Chat and hugged him quickly.

"We have work to do, so bye!"

She shooed them out and Ladybug turned to Chat with an odd look on her face. "Do you like Marinette as more than a friend?" she asked, point-blank.

He stammered and turned as red as her suit. "No-o!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Sure...you didn't hear it from me, but I'm pretty sure that Adrien kid's brother is head-over-heels for her."

So he was that obvious. Chat winced and covered it up by leaning on his baton. "Purr-lease. He couldn't take a cool cat like me."

Ladybug looked doubtful but waved him off anyways. "If you say so. I gotta go." She flung her yoyo out, propelling herself far away in a second. He jumped down, de-transforming.

After all, they had work to do.

Our teeth and ambitions are bared.

A/N: Gah, again I'm really sorry for the wait. Family drama and all, you know how it is. I feel like i say this every chapter BUT next one is a doozy and I am pretty sure it'll clock in at over 5k, making up for the shorter one this time. If you couldn't tell, I've run out of pre-written chapters. Thanks for reading guys! We have three left, so hang on tight.