It had been six days.
Six days since Hawk Moth appeared in front of the heroes, revealing he was working with another Miraculous user. And it's been six days since Raven and Cat Noir's identities were revealed to each other.
The pair saw no change in how they acted, in the six days since. The only difference were that Plagg and Kiismet didn't have to hide anymore- though the kwamis vanished into Plagg's nest of dirty socks more often than not, making the teens laugh.
During those six days, two akuma attacks occurred and few things happened that required some practice and training. Ella and Kiismet decided to keep it a secret until there was definite proof of this new predicament with the next akuma attack. The teen also went out after school one day and bought a second phone, on Kiismet's advice.
The Thursday after everything, Adrien and Ella arrived at school early to turn in music assignments, before they headed up to the classroom.
"Great- you guys are here!" Alya's voice shouted as the couple slid open the door.
"Morning Alya. What's going on?" Ella asked, moving to place her bag down at her desk.
"Lila's coming back to school and since she's got tinnitus so she's gotta be at the front." At that name, Ella froze. Anger spiked in her chest as she turned back to her redheaded friend.
"...she what?" Ella spoke, keeping her voice tight. At his girlfriend's tone, Adrien moved and took Ella's hand. He squeezed it tight, signaling for her to stay calm.
"Yeah she's got some sort of ringing in her ear so she's gotta sit up at the front. So we're gonna change seats!"
"Interesting." Ella started, shifting to cock her hip, her free hand sitting atop the fabric: instant sass and disbelief, "and which front row is she expecting to sit at? Cause as far as I'm concerned, if anyone's changing seats, I'm parking myself next to Adrien."
"You can do that. Lila suggested Nino moving up to the second row to sit by me..." Alya went off, and the rest of the class began moving to the new seat they wanted. Adrien sighed, moving to his usual seat and pulling Ella to sit at his right.
"I know you don't like her-"
"That's putting it mildly."
"But if you sit here, you can put her in her place. You know I love you and that ring proves it, my lady~" Adrien whispered towards the end, lifting Ella's hand and placing a kiss on her skin just above said ring. His smirk widened as Ella blushed and turned her eyes down to the desk.
"Your Cat Noir is showing, hun..." She muttered, her eyes flitting up to meet his.
"And you like it~" Adrien teased, reaching up with his free hand and poking her in the cheek. She half-heartedly smacked at his hand but leaned over and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
The pair stayed in their own little world as the class moved and retook new seats. By 8:45- the start of class- every usual student but Marinette was present. Ms. Bustier just left to go to the office to get Lila; Adrien once again had to clench Ella's hand, as the only open front seat was to his left and while he wasn't happy about it, he knew he -and Ella- had to play nice if they wanted to stay at school.
Seconds after Ms. Bustier left, the door slid open again and Marinette slipped in, panting. The girl took a moment to collect herself before she seemed to register what was different in the class. Ella gave her a small sympathetic wave, one Marinette returned as the blunette moved around their desk up to her old spot beside Alya.
"Alya, what's going on? Why is everyone moved?" She asked loud enough for the couple in front to hear; Ella turned to see Marinette moving to sit down but Alya stopped her.
"Wait- hold on girl. Your seat's over there."
"At the back? Why? What's going on?"
"Well since she's got a hearing issue, there's no way she can sit at the back of the class, right? Which means she needed a place up in the front." Nino spoke up.
"So to make it work Ivan sat next to Mylène, Nate sat next to Alix. Besides she came up with the idea of moving Nino here, so now we get to spend more time together. And Ella moved down to sit by Adrien, of course- nothing can keep those two apart anymore."
"Who is this "she"?" Marinette asked, just as the door slid open and Miss Bustier returned.
"Good morning, students. I'm sure you've all heard by now, but Lila's home from her trip to Achu and she's back in school with us again."
And like a cockroach to an abandoned pastry, Lila scurried into the classroom.
"Hi, everyone." The teen smiled and waved; her fake happy attitude made Ella almost vomit. Everyone but the couple and Mari chorused a hello back.
"Oh, a seat in the front row! You all remembered my hearing issue! You're such sweethearts, all of you." She blew a kiss to the class; Ella turned her head from view to gag. Adrien patted her hand, silently agreeing.
"You have a hearing problem, Lila?" Marinette asked, as said girl sat down. Adrien and Ella subtly scooted to the other side of the desk away from her, leaving plenty of space between them and the liar. Ella kept her eyes on Adrien as Marinette and Lila went back and forth, the blunette trying to catch the other in her lies but abruptly, the conversation turned to the blond. Ella stiffened as Lila addressed Adrien, and in a moment of brilliance, switched the ring from her index to her wedding finger.
"Adrien, you'll be able to help me catch up with all the schoolwork I missed while I was traveling with my parents, right? Would you do that for me?"
"...I guess I could, Lila." Adrien frowned through his words, wanting to reject the girl's request but he had to play nice. It was going to be hard enough keeping Ella from getting into it with Lila, especially with their history.
"Miss Bustier, why do I have to sit in the back now?" Marinette asked, moving her attention to the teacher.
"Do you have any trouble hearing or seeing, Marinette?"
"Uh, I... I..."
"Ella and I have good eyesight and hearing. We can sit in the back of the class and you two can sit up front. We don't mind, right Elle?" Adrien spoke up, his eyes moving to Ella as he finished.
"No/No!" Ella and Lila spoke at the same time before Marinette spoke again, "You two shouldn't have to move."
"My return is causing so much trouble, maybe I should have just stayed on the other side of the world. If Marinette and Ella have an issue too, then I should be the one to go and sit in the back. It's okay."
The class gasped, glaring at Marinette and Ella, but noirette surprised everyone as she scoffed.
"I have no problem where anyone sits. And I doubt Marinette does either. I just find it funny that you sat at the back of the class when you first showed up here, Lila, and had no problem hearing or seeing then."
"Ella..." Adrien whispered, gently tugging at her hand- the silent reminder to play nice so they could stay. The girl met his eyes and after a moment, sighed and propped her chin up in her right hand, staring straight ahead.
"I don't actually have any trouble seeing or hearing. I was just curious too." Marinette tacked on to Ella's statement, grabbing her bag and moving to the back row, leaving the class and Ms. Bustier in shocked confusion at the usually nice girls. Adrien just sighed and turned to face the blackboard.
Across the city, in Hawk Moth's lair, that circular window once again slid open. The white butterflies fluttered to life at the sunlight, flying around the villain as he stared out at the city below.
"Ah, high school, the arena of teenage angst, where emotions are so intense. A perfect stadium for my dear akumas. Being separated from your friends, becoming isolated: just what devastating anger is made of. Fly away and evilize one of these angry high school girls."
Ella stiffened as her vision went black, and a hazy image danced in her mind. It was only there for a few seconds but it was long enough for her to recognize where it was heading. The image faded and the classroom came back into view, the teen silently and subtly pulling out that small black phone.
Back in the classroom, Marinette unpacked her bag. She was still angry at Lila for her usual lies, but grateful to Ella for also calling Lila out in a way. The blunette sighed angrily- this was going to be a long day. As Ms. Bustier called the class to attention and started the lesson, Marinette felt her phone buzz. Pulling it from her pocket, she saw a text from an unknown number.
'Calm your anger. We can't have you being akumatized again. I'll deal with Lila- R'
Marinette glanced up quick, making her neck crack as she scanned for any sign of the feathered heroine, but she couldn't see purple anywhere. So instead, the blunette took her right-hand's advice, took a deep breath and calmed herself down.
"Strange, I feel the fury dying down, but the wheels are in motion. It's only a matter of time, be patient now my akuma. "
Ella smiled gently as she slid the second phone into her bag. They needed Marinette calm- Hawk Moth was going to attack today, now that Lila was back.
Morning classes went by at a grueling pace and Ella couldn't be happier when the bell rang for lunch. She convinced Adrien to stay in the cafeteria, so the couple joined Marinette, Alya and Nino in line. At a table by the windows, Lila is sitting with the rest of the class around her, all of them bringing her food.
"I'm sorry I can't carry my own tray. It's almost impossible with this sprained wrist." The redhead lied again, that fake smile grating on Ella's nerves. But she took a breath and moved her gaze from the annoyance back to her tray. Her ring clacked against the plastic- she had moved it back to her index finger since the pair were in public and she didn't want Alya especially assuming things.
"Lila's totally lying. She made up that whole tinnitus story just so she could sit next to Adrien, and her sprained wrist's completely bogus, too." Marinette complained angrily, grabbing random food at this point. The noirette placed a hand on her friend's shoulder, silently telling her to calm down.
"I don't get it, Marinette. You barely know Lila. Why all the hate? And why are you so mad she wanted to sit next to Adrien? You'd figure Ella would be mad about that."
"I have no reason to be mad. She can try anything she wants to get Adrien's attention, cause I know I'll always have it." Ella answered smoothly, picking up her tray with one hand and gently taking Adrien's in the other. Alya cooed for a second before returning to the previous point.
"Anyways- why are you so angry with Lila, Marinette?"
"Fine, I'll tell you everything." The blunette grabbed Alya and moved to an empty table, switching to grab Nino as they passed him. Ella sighed and followed the trio, with Adrien trailing behind. Alya and Nino sat on one side, Marinette on the other, with Ella to her left and Adrien at the end of the table to Ella's left.
"You remember Lila when she first came to school right after the summer break? She was only here for one day and then she left on that 'round-the-world' trip. Everyone was captivated by her. Something just felt off to me. So I followed her after school."
"What?" Alya and Nino exclaimed.
"She lied to Adrien and said she was best friends with Ladybug. She lies with every breath."
"Wait. You eavesdropped on Lila and Adrien? That's not cool." Nino half-scolded, his eyes moving to Adrien, who just shrugged. Ella sighed at the whole thing and stood.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom." She whispered to Adrien, leaning to his ear. Green eyes met grey and he nodded once when she brushed her fingers against her Miraculous.
Ella walked to the locker room, and made sure it was empty before letting Kiismet out of her pocket.
"Come on, Kiis. We gotta do something before Mari does anything stupid." The kwami nodded as Ella pulled the black phone from her pocket and texted Marinette once again.
"Alright. Kiismet, touch the sky!"
Marinette grumbled as her classmates accused her once again of hurting Lila and saying she was lying. The blunette opened her mouth to defend herself when her phone buzzed again. Pulling it out, she saw the unknown number again.
'Ella told me what's going on. Come to the bathroom.'
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom." Marinette growled out to Alya and the other two, grabbing her bag and leaving in a huff. She moved down to the locker room and knocked on the bathroom door.
"Marinette?" Raven's voice called from inside.
"Yeah."
"Okay, open the door."
The blunette entered the room and shut the door behind her, coming face to face with Raven.
"You really need to keep your anger under control. Hawk Moth has already released an akuma in reaction to your anger. We can't risk you getting akumatized again." The feathered teen laid down the law right away, making Marinette angrily sigh.
"I know but Lila just angers me so much! She lies about everything and everyone believes her, no questions asked! Wait- how do you know Hawk Moth released an akuma?"
"But you, Ella and Adrien know she's lying. You're not alone in that fact. And what affect are her lies having on you? Is she lying about you? Is she ruining your reputation?" Raven spoke, avoiding the last question.
"She's lying about Ladybug!" Marinette almost yelled.
"And that's why I'm here. Leave her lies about your other half to me. Don't forget she claims to be my friend, too. And that I will not excuse. Get through the day with your anger in check and leave the rest to me." Raven said, her tone leaving no room for discussion. Marinette sighed, defeated and nodded.
"Good. Now, I trust you'll be okay. Ella already promised to keep an eye out and let me know if any other problems arise."
"Is that how you got my number? From Ella?" Raven nodded, eyes moving towards the door.
"I've gotta go keep an eye out for that akuma. I will text if something comes up." And with that, Raven vanished out the window.
Marinette sighed again, leaning against the sink. Raven's words danced through her head when the door creaked open slowly.
"Mari? You okay?" Ella poked her head in, smiling softly at the girl. Marinette nodded, standing straight.
"Yeah. She just... ugh she annoys the crap out of me!"
"I know, same here. But we can't let her get to us. You know what she says is untrue, same with me and Adrien. We know and so that's all that matters." Ella rested a hand on Marinette's shoulder, making the girl smile.
"Thanks Ella. Glad to know I'm not alone in my theories."
Ella grinned, leaning against the counter beside Marinette as she finished calming down. She played with her ring, switching it between fingers when the bathroom door opened again and the object of their anger entered.
"Marinette? Oh, are you crying? And Ella too?"
"No, I'm not!" Marinette snapped, her annoyance returning. Ella sighed, placing her ring on her fourth finger as she stood straight.
"I can sense that you two don't like me, but I don't understand why. We barely know each other. Don't tell me it's because of this new seating arrangement in class!" Marinette turned away from Lila, not bothering to engage.
"It is! Of course, you're jealous because I'm sitting next to Adrien, because you would've given anything to sit there yourself. You know what? It's really not worth fighting over a boy. You and I could be friends, and who knows, I might even be able to help you with Adrien."
At that, the pair stopped their conversation as Ella burst out laughing; she couldn't help it!
"O-oh that was the best laugh I've had in a while! Thanks for that!" She gasped out, wiping away invisible tears.
"Why are you laughing at Marinette's feelings? That's cruel, Ella!" Lila countered, making the noirette laugh again.
"Cause Marinette doesn't have a crush on Adrien anymore. She gave up on him. Cause he's in love with me." Ella smiled sweetly, holding her left hand into view, the ring glinting under the fluorescent lights. Both girls (though Marinette hid it better) gasped at the sight, and Ella could see the silent rage growing in Lila's eyes.
"You and I will only be friends the day you stop lying, Lila! I can't prove it, but I know for a fact that you don't have tinnitus, that your wrist is just fine, that you don't know Prince Ali because you've never even stepped foot in Achu, and despite what you got Alya to write on her Ladyblog, Ladybug has never saved your life!" Marinette continued the previous conversation, filing away Ella's new bomb for later.
"I only tell people what they want to hear."
"It's called lying!"
"There's nothing you can do about it, anyway. People can't resist when they hear what they like to hear. If you two don't want to be my friend, fine! But soon neither of you won't have any friends left at all. And trust me, I'll find a way to end whatever you have tricked Adrien into, Ella. You both seem a little less dumb than the others, so I'll give you one last chance. You are either with me or against me. You don't have to answer right away. I'll give you 'till the end of class today." Lila left the bathroom with a smirk. Ella fumed silently before she took a deep breath and with one last pat on Mari's shoulder and a promise to always be on her side, Ella exited the bathroom and quickly darted to the window. She slid it open and hopped out silently, kneeling out of sight while Kiismet floated, wringing her little paws.
"This is gonna get bad, Kiismet. I hope you have the energy cause Marinette's about to need us."
"I'm ready!"
"Kiismet, touch the sky!"
After Ella left, Marinette went into one of the bathroom stalls, sitting as Tikki flew out of her purse.
"I thought Chloé was evil, but Lila really takes the whole cake! She's like a supervillain who doesn't even need a costume!"
"You mustn't let her get to you, Marinette."
"If I don't manage to expose her lies, she'll ruin my life, Tikki. She'll turn my friends against me! And she's gonna try to break up Ella and Adrien! I can't let that happen after all they've been through!" Marinette screamed out in frustration and slammed her fist against the side of the stall.
"Yes! I can feel it. The anger's about to emerge!"
Marinette buried her face in her hands, sobs escaping. The tears only escaped for a moment before a thud sounded and had the teen looking up.
"I thought we were keeping a lid on our angry emotions." Raven said, her words slightly scolding but her tone and sad smile said otherwise. Marinette sniffled before throwing her arms around the feathered heroine and letting out another sob. Raven wrapped her arms around the blunette and let her cry, while Tikki came to rest on Marinette's shoulder.
"It's okay, Marinette. You're not alone in this Lila problem. I'm here and so is Ella. She told me what happened. No matter what, she and I won't let you become alone or let Lila win."
Marinette pulled away from the heroine with a sad smile on her face, when something squeezed through the cracks of the door.
"Marinette, Raven- look out!" Tikki shouted as the akuma entered the stall.
"Aah! An akuma!"
**
