Spoiler Warning for Season 2: If you haven't watched the first episode, then go take care of that. (But c'mon. Y'all wouldn't be here if that's the case.)

Major Spoilers? for Season 4 Finale: The latter isn't really a spoiler, and I wrote nothing that could (probably) spoil what it is, as it hasn't been confirmed, but it's highly pointed out in the climax of the show…

Go check it out if you haven't yet so we can be traumatized together. ( ; - ;)-ω-)つ

Chapter 2: Having a Chat

The Eiffel Tower, France's most iconic landmark. It was the piece that made Paris famous, representing the city of love and summer.

I sat on the black rail in silence, cold numbing my body as I brought the vermilion coat Lila wore closer to provide some sense of warmth.

Now, it was just another discarded part of land, fallen like the rest. A reminder of this world's ruin.

I maintained a poker face as the root of it all was beside me, tugging one of the short auburn pieces that framed L̶i̶l̶a̶'̶s̶ my face in contemplation.

It seems he was keen to play with my hair, for some reason. Maybe it was to reassure himself that L̶i̶l̶a̶ I, the only survivor left, wouldn't disappear.

I hoped that explained why he had his arm wrapped around me tightly, or perhaps it was to prevent me from falling to an untimely death at the depths below.

I tried to speak, but my mouth forgot the ability to form words at the sight of what's notably a fictional character. I didn't know how to interact with him, especially now that the second protagonist of Miraculous Ladybug was a very, very dangerous akumatized being.

If I remember correctly, Akumas were created from Hawkmoth, targeting those with intense negative emotions. The akuma alters the individual it has ensnared, bestowing them a power based on their new twisted personality.

There are no exceptions. It didn't matter if they were the nicest character out there. Those who have dipped into the deeper end cannot escape Hawkmoth's grasp. Their fate is to become cruel, hardened beings, all to fulfill their dark desires.

At least, that's what I deduced from the few episodes I bothered to watch.

Chills went down my spine. This time not because of the frigid weather, but because of the tragic realization I came upon.

One could break an akuma's hold if they exerted a strong will, but if the foreshadowing during the finale of the show's last season was correct…

The son of Hawkmoth would never have that choice.

ฅ-*୨୧*-ฅ

"It's snowing." I murmured, marveled yet bitter. From the situation at hand or the unfamiliar emotions that swirled within me, I didn't know.

Specks of white fell from the unchangeable sky, admiring how the perfectly crystallized snowflakes covered everything they touched.

The miraculous wielder surreptitiously gazed at me. His tail swished back and forth in displeasure at my soliloquy mood.

"What's so great about watching the icebox, anyway?"

"It's nothing." I shook my head, promptly turning away from the scenery to find an unamused Blanc.

His eyes slit down like that of a cat, making my skin crawl.

"Don't lie, Lila."

.

.

("Papà!" A little girl opened the door, huffing as her breath was exposed against the cold air.

There was snow coating the streets, cars, houses… everything as far as the eye could see, but all she paid her attention to was a man walking towards her home.

"Look how much you've grown!" The man welcomed her into his arms.

"Ew papà!" The girl whined, wiping away her forehead in disgust. "I'm too old for kisses."

"You don't love papà anymore?" The man took out a package. He opened it to reveal golden circular bread. It was fluffy, flecked with pieces of almonds, and candied fruit peels, making the girl's mouth water.

"Then I suppose you don't want this." He pretended to open his mouth wide to bite it.

"No!" She cried out, stomping her feet in protest. The girl was stumped, but then she smirked as she thought of a devious plan.

"No." She said, far more calmly than before, which confused her father. "You can eat it."

Hook.

She turned around, intending to walk back to the house. "'Cause I love mamma more, and she can buy me more."

Line.

The man slumped in horror. "Anything but that!"

She stopped, turning around to face him with an innocent smile. "If you give it to me, I'll love you the most in the whole wide world." She stretched her arms to demonstrate how much, adding to the cuteness factor.

And sinker.

The man easily gave her the package, filling the girl with glee.

"Did you extort your papà, fragazza?" A woman came out of the house and stared at the pair lovingly.

The man fake gasped at the girl. "How cunning of you!"

Then he whispered towards the woman, "Hear that? She loves me more."

The woman laughed, and the man held the girl's tiny hand inside the house.

That day was extra special, savoring the enriched store-bought bread in front of the fireplace, enjoying each other's warmth and company.

Lila Rossi wished for snowstorms to happen every day.)

.

.

"It reminded me of something." I weakly said, preferring not to divulge more than that, or set him off by sounding like the original Lila. "And I like the scenery."

He narrowed his eyes at the frozen landscape with a calculative glint, almost as if he were searching for something. His face shifted into something I couldn't identify, before turning back to me.

"Meowch. You're cold, my vulpi." The change in attitude surprised me, not to mention the terrible puns.

"What. Am I not chill enough for you?" The big, bad, superpowered cat was pouting. Right in front of me, one of the antagonists of the show.

The world must be ending–oh wait.

It did.

His glowy eyes were all big and round. I might've thought of it as… cute, if it wasn't for the wild intensity they carried or the fact that he directed them towards me.

"Well… You certainly fit the part." I carefully commented, pointing out what was once golden, yellow hair that matched the sun, only blank, snowy strands remained.

He merely grinned back in response, showcasing pearly, white canines that were too sharp to be normal.

"There's nothing out there." He stated with finality. I stayed reticent when he leaned on my shoulder, hiding his features away from my sight.

His grip on my person was a tad tighter than before, and I didn't know if he was oblivious to my discomfort or was outright ignoring it. I understood that anyone under the akuma's effects aren't fully conscious of the actions they make, so I tentatively let it slide with a sigh.

"Nothing but ghosts…."

I glanced upward for a moment, noticing how my breath was visible, just like in that memory from earlier.

Chat Blanc was right.

This time, there wasn't anybody Lila or I could stick around for.

There was no one waiting for us.

.

.

("Merry Christmas, Piccola Volpe.")

.

.

But whether the snow came from a force of pure destruction or by natural means, the world being blanketed in white will always remain the same.

Filled with life… or empty of it.

"So focus all of your attention on me." The primary love interest's words went unheard as I closed my eyes, dismissing Lila Rossi's memories for another day, and rested my head upon the former protector of Paris.

He was warm.

"... Or lay still as stone as the rest below."

ฅ-*୨୧*-ฅ

A/N

I rewrote this chapter not once, not twice, BUT TEN TIMES! I decided to get it over with and post it, before I changed my mind again. (ﾒ﹏ﾒ)

I had no idea Lila's Italian.

Look on the bright side, SI Lila, you have another language under your belt! Maybe not all the languages as the original lied about, but this has to serve as compensation. ( , _ ,)