Snippet: Breakup
-.-
Nino breaking up with Alya...
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Nino what he is planning on doing could either make or break his relationship with Alya forever. He knew that if he cannot convince his girlfriend that Lila is bad news, it is the end of their relationship. Of course, the teen had tried to warn his girlfriend time and time again, but no matter how much he tried, Alya would wave him off.
There was so much more than that too. Nino knew with Alya's method of gathering information for the Ladyblog could be seen as unethical, more so with showing videos of very private moments of the heroes. Things that should have been discussed beforehand before they were published. Did he warn her? Yes, yes he did. Did Alya listen? No. No, she did not listen.
Did Nino warn Alya about the Lila video's? Against his better judgment, he did not try hard enough to talk her into talking to Ladybug herself about the information. During that time, there was little voice in the back of his head that told him he needed to double check Lila's words. The voice telling him that what Alya is doing is going to get her in trouble in the long run… but Alya had a way to convince him otherwise.
This would become a cycle between them, with Nino trying to convince Alya that she needed to check her work and her convincing him that her information is legitimate. There was nothing wrong with her work and he's overthinking everything. Everything Lila is saying is the truth.
Everything Lila is saying is the truth. Emphasize on period.
Ever since Lila came into the picture, she became Alya's whole world and in turn, his as well. Whatever to keep his girlfriend happy and that only resulted with so much stress add to their relationship.
Lila this-
Lila that-
Lila said this-
Lila told me-
Lila…
Lila.
LILA!
Alya's ever need to clung onto every word that slips out of Lila's mouth has caused friction between the couple. Nino was pulled into every conversation, forced to take on opinions that were not of his own. It got to the point where he suspects Lila has been talking crap behind his back to Alya whenever he did anything that displeased the liar.
Nino wanted to ignore it. He really did. More so with how Adrien took everything in with stride with that megawatt smile of his, but that should have been the first red flag. Adrien only smiles like that when he has something to hide, it's too rehearsed for his own good.
The metaphorical cheery to this cake? Marinette.
Nino should have trusted her word against Lila, but did not. He could still remember how Alya would tighten her hold him whenever he wanted to say anything and he kept quiet. Not this time.
After a long day of reevaluating everything that has been happening since Lila came to their school, it has been increasingly evident that she has targeted Marinette for one reason or another. After talking to Ladybug… it's clear that Nino should have listened to that little voice in his head.
Nino hopes that after this, he could still be considered Marinette's friend. A title he shouldn't have taken for granted.
-.-
"Lila told me that Ladybug-"
"Alya…"
"Then she told me that-"
"Alya."
"Marinette shouldn't be such a bi-"
"ALYA!"
"What? I'm just giving you a recap on what I've been talking to Lila before you got here?" Alya questioned Nino, giving him a skeptical look as she leads him through her home. Her expression changed when she realized that Nino did not move beyond entryway of her home. "Nino?"
"Are you parents' home? Your sisters?" Nino asked, taking a look around the apartment.
"My parents are out on a date and Nora took the twins out." Alya asked, becoming annoyed. "Come on, let's go to my room and I'll tell you what happened."
"I rather talk here." Nino said, not budging from his spot. He stared at Alya, seeing that her eyes were still red from her crying earlier but he has to push that away from his mind. "I talked to Ladybug and what she said has me thinking over a lot that has been happening to us, Marinette and Lila."
Alya's expression shifted into fury at the mention of Marinette. "I thought you went to talk to Ladybug and not her."
"I did speak with Ladybug and what she said is very telling." Nino said, his gaze hardened when he saw Alya walked down the stairs to walk up to him. More so when Alya started to talk about how he's now taking Marinette's side, same as Ladybug. "Are you accusing Ladybug is being manipulated by Marinette?"
"What else? Lila told me that Ladybug has been talking to Marinette a lot and she suspects she's manipulating her." Alya stated, with the upmost certainty. "The bitch has been brainwashing Ladybug against Lila!"
"Is that it? You're going to take Lila's words for granted?" Nino accused. "That's all you have been saying and doing since Lila came into the picture. Lila this- Lila that- Lila said this- Lila told you- LILA! The main reason we never have time to ourselves is because of her. The reason Marinette has started to avoid everyone is because of her. You what's the most fuck up thing about this, you're so hung up on Lila's words that you refuse to see what exactly is going on around you."
"Don't talk like that about Lila! She's my friend, just as much as she is yours." Alya defended, her eyes now show a fury. "Lila has been helping me with the Ladyblog and so much more! More so than anyone else by the looks of it."
Nino's features turn stony at Alya's words. "Did you ever bother to ask Ladybug herself if she's friends with Lila?"
At that, Alya rolled her eyes. "Lila to-"
"Did you ever ask Ladybug herself if she's friends with her?"
"No, but-"
Nino slowly raised his hands into the hair and placed them on his head, gripping his hat in an attempt to hold back his dismay. He did not bother to hear Alya's excuse. He's heard it time and after time again. "That means you did not verify your sources. You didn't verify with Ladybug herself on what Lila is saying about her."
"Please, Lila told me that Ladybug will deny know her for her own protection. What you're just saying is that you got from Marinette!" Alya accused.
"For the last time, I did not talk to her, I talked to Ladybug herself!"
"Marinette is just manipulating Ladybug and now she's trying to manipulate you too!"
"A decent report always verifies her sources. You never once bother to ask her if Lila's words are true."
Slap-
Nino blinked a couple of times, he slowly looked over at Alya's raised hand and the look of shock that spread across her face. He slowly lowered his hand to his now throbbing cheek. One thing rang through his mind, there was no way their relationship could be salvaged at this point. "Marinette nearly got akumatized because of Lila… three times. All you could care about is your blog. Lila has been tormenting your supposed best friend and all you want to do is demean her by saying she's jealous and manipulating everyone?"
Shock gone replaced back with her fury. "Maybe if she jus-"
"I'm warning you Alya, Lila's words will be your fall and at some point and like a house of cards, you will be dragged down by them if you don't open your eyes. As for me… I'm done." Nino turned around to head towards the door to leave. He tugged had one hand on the door and the other on his shirt when he felt Alya had gotten a grasp on it. "…Ladybug told me she could no longer trust you for the fact you were unable to separate your hero life and with your civilian life. She could no longer ignore your behavior and to be frank… I'm ashamed for how we have been treating Marinette for something so… stupid."
"Is that because you still have feelings for her? Is that it! Lila told me-"
"I'm done." Nino tugged his shoulders out of his now ex-girlfriend's grasps and walked out. He ignored Alya's cried for him to return before the sound of her slamming the door shut reverberated the silent street. When he got to the end of the street, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. Taking in a deep breath he dialed a familiar number and hoping they could pick up.
"Hello…? Nino?"
