(Summary: When Principal Damocles proclaimed that Marinette Dupain-Cheng was expelled, she realises that she only has one option left. Exposing Lila.

Okay, so this is a standalone oneshot, like the previous in this series. I just… really hate Lila Rossi. Seriously. I've tried reading those 'Lila gets redeemed' stories, but I couldn't stomach the utter bullshit that was spewed.

I mean, sure, she's fifteen, but I'm younger than her, and I have more sense than that! Also, can we talk about how fucking sensitive this class is? I mean, the only person I know that is as sensitive as what's portrayed here, is my ten-year-old sister.

Also, Marinette's parents aren't present when Damocles expels her and he does it in front of the entire class.)

Expelled. Expelled. He had expelled her. Expelled! What? Marinette couldn't understand.

She looked up at her principal in utter disbelief. He couldn't just expel her, could he?

Marinette glanced at her classmates. Some looked as shocked as she felt, others looked… satisfied. Like she deserved to get expelled. Kim's arms were crossed, his face carefully neutral and Max had a small, smug smirk on her face. She breathed in, deeply, ignoring the anger poking through at the carefully constructed walls around her mind, tempting her to scream and shout until she was akumatized so she could get her revenge and─

No. Marinette needed to be smart about this. They wouldn't let her get a word of defense in for herself. Well… maybe Marinette should use her more dramatic tendencies. She should really start fighting fire with fire.

And so, Marinette's classmates watched as she snorted, loudly over Lila's babbling over 'how she tried to help Marinette, but she never listened!', raising a single eyebrow and leaning her back against the far wall.

"What is that English phrase again… 'innocent until proven guilty'?"

Sabrina scoffed, loudly. Marinette was almost surprised, but Sabrina was currently firmly on Lila's side─a fact that Chloé hated. "Well, I think you've been proven!"

"No, I haven't. Frankly, I'm disappointed in all of you." Marinette frowned at them, letting her gaze settle on her teacher and principal. Mlle. Bustier was convinced that problems could be resolved with a simple apology and handshake and Damocles' spine was as brittle as sand. Chloé leaned forwards, for once interested in the ongoings of their class. Adrien was frowning at Lila, his eyes wide as he considered that she was more than just a tabloid. Nino and Alya were whispering fiercely, their eyes glancing between Marinette and Lila like they were watching a tennis match. Rose looked terrified, Juleka was frowning with creased eyebrows and Alix was scowling in consideration as Max and Kim conspired beside her. Nathaniel's attention was completely off of the comic he'd been doodling in, and Mylène was still staring at them in shock, Ivan's comforting arms around her shoulders.

"Disappointed? You pushed a girl down the stairs." Kim muttered, louder than intended.

"Yes," Marinette drawled, her voice laced with sarcasm. "And Lila has all of the cuts and bruises to back up that statement, too."

Lila's mouth fell open, fake tears pooling in her eyes. "M-Marinette, I can't believe you'd say that after you just…" Lila flinched, a sob spilling from her mouth. Marinette had to hand it to her, she was a damn convincing liar.

"I didn't do anything," Marinette said. She turned to Principle Damocles. "You haven't even bothered to check over the fucking security cameras!"

The old man flushed, stuttering out a reply. "W-well th-the evidence is very damning!"

"What evidence?!" Marinette demanded. "An answer sheet for a mock exam being in my bag? Finger print it, I dare you! You won't find a single of mine on it. Same goes for Lila's necklace! It's not a 'family heirloom'! It was made by Gabriel! And it could've easily been slipped into the locker, and you know it!"

Mlle. Bustier frowned. "Marinette, mind your language. I understand that you're angry, but you have to face the consequences of your actions!"

"Actions? Actions?!" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "That's bullshit! Lila has had it out for me ever since I called her out on her shit! I didn't like my friends being lied to and manipulated, so I told her to stop! She says I'm either with her or against her and threatens me! So I'm sorry! I apologise for giving a fuck about my friends! For caring that Lila is manipulating them!"

"Marinette…" Adrien looked at her, shock in his eyes, but dawning realisation was also in the green orbs. "She threatened you?" Marinette flinched, ignoring the disbelieving gazes of her classmates, focusing solely on Adrien. "I… I am so sorry. This is all my fault─"

"How?" Kim asked. "We all know that Marinette was jealous of you and Lila, but that's not your fault, bro." Marinette's eyes widened and she found herself stumbling backwards. Did Kim just out her crush to Adrien?! Oh no. Oh no! Oh no! No! No! NO! This was bad, very, very bad!

Adrien sputtered indignantly. "J-jealous? Of Lila and I? Why would she be─" Adrien cut himself off, looking out the window and catching sight of purple flapping wings. "Akuma!" he shouted, pushing past Nino and towards Marinette. He grabbed her arm, just barely keeping the small demon from entering her left earring. The class looked at the door, where Marinette was currently standing beside Adrien, a purple butterfly aggressively trying to enter her accessories. The only way out would be to go near the akuma! As it was, Mlle. Bustier and Principal Damocles were trying to keep the students calm.

"Shit!" Marinette exclaimed, looking around the room for a jar. "Adrien," she grabbed his grip on her arm as she dodged the butterfly once more. "Stand beside Lila─make sure she doesn't go for it!" She couldn't see any jars to hold it in. Marinette decided to go with the next best option─leading it away. But as Marinette grabbed hold of the doorknob, she discovered that it wouldn't budge. Marinette could vaguely recall Lila lingering, longer than necessary, near the door as she shut it.

But Marinette couldn't focus on that. No, she was too focused on the butterfly mask on her face, the voice in her head and her purple purse. Tikki! Tikki was in her purse! And she was wearing her Miraculous!

"Princess Justice…" Hawkmoth sinisterly started. "Wronged by those you only meant to protect… by a liar who manipulates and steals…"

"Marinette!" Adrien exclaimed, rushing forwards. He stood in front of her, grabbing her shoulders, making her face him. "Listen to me! Listen! You're stronger than him! You can resist him! Marinette, please! Listen to me! You can fight him! Don't listen!"

"Ah, the dutiful model whom you're smitten with! But where was he when Lila was pushing you down? Threatening you? Lying? Stealing your friends?"

Marinette reached a hand up to her ears, feeling an overwhelming urge to give Hawkmoth her Miraculous. But she couldn't! She was Ladybug! She couldn't be akumatized.

"No!" Marinette gasped, tugging painfully at her head. "No, I won't!"

"They don't appreciate you! They don't care for all of your selfless acts. They─"

"Shut up!" Marinette shouted, squeezing her eyes shut. "Stop! I won't! I can't!" Marinette felt her resolve weakening. What would happen to Tikki if she was akumatized? There wouldn't be any Ladybug to stop her! She couldn't give in! "You manipulate and steal! You're a coward! I won't become some mindless slave to a bastard too weak to do the job himself!" Marinette couldn't bring herself to feel bad about her classmates' flinches at that statement.

"Yes, Marinette! Fight it, fight him!" Adrien encouraged, looking back at his fellow classmates. They were all frozen, even Alya, but she was also recording the encounter, so she didn't count. Lila was inching towards the front of the class. Adrien narrowed his eyes.

"But, Princess Justice, you─"

"My name is Marinette!" she shouted, interrupting his spiel, reaching down and tearing her purse in two. An akuma flew out, but so did Tikki and a handful of macarons. Lila dived forwards, but it would've looked like she had tripped to anyone behind her, going for the akuma. Adrien, however, was ready for her, catching the liar before she could catch the demon.

Marinette knew she had very little options. The akuma was already flying towards a shaking Mylène. Biting her tongue, Marinette knew what she had to do. "Tikki," Marinette started, receiving a wide eyed look from Adrien, who recognised the name of Ladybug's kwami, unbeknownst to her. "Spots on!"

Gasps rang out through the classroom, but Marinette ignored them. She opened her yo-yo, catching the akuma in one fell swoop.

Alya opened her mouth to state the obvious. "You're Ladybug! But you're also─" Alya attempted to mouth her name, but only came back with a garbled sound.

Many other students tried to state her real name, but the only person who actually succeeded was Adrien. "Marinette is Ladybug," he whispered, eyes wide.

"Well…" Marinette looked at the shocked class. "That's handy." She extended her yo-yo, taking Alya's phone from her grasp. She went to delete the video, only to discover that it ended just before Marinette started the transformation sentence. She sincerely doubted Alya had ended it. She looked around sheepishly. "I suppose you'll believe me now when I say that Lila is not Ladybug's best friend?"

Alya stumbled forwards in shock. "You're... you're…" she flinched, her jaw still dropped. Alya turned to Lila. "That means… you were lying !"

Marinette was feeling rather sarcastic today. "No!" she mockingly exclaimed.

Chloé suddenly laughed. "You know, Principal Damocles, in light of recent events, you might want to retract your expulsion. I don't think that Ladybug threw Rossi down the stairs. She would've at least broken her neck, knowing how strong she is."

"R-ri-right!" Damocles exclaimed.

Adrien suddenly laughed. "This is such a coincidence!"

Marinette looked at him curiously. "What's a coincidence?"

Adrien smirked, an expression she'd seen many, many times, on a certain masked feline. "Well, Milady, I do believe it is when two things happen to coincide." She rolled her eyes, not quite processing the statement. "Plagg, claws out!"

Marinette stared at Chat Noir in shock. "Holy shit!"

Three days later, Marinette was very happy. Adrien was Chat Noir, she wasn't keeping secrets anymore and she didn't have to worry about Lila. See, now that there was an appropriate amount of doubt surrounding Lila, Damocles had called in her mother, who learned just what her daughter was up to. Let it be said, that Mrs Rossi was quite unlike her daughter. In fact, Marinette rather liked the woman's exclamation of, "that's it! We're returning to Italy!"

Well, there could've been worse ways to reveal her identity. At least she didn't have to tell her dad. Weredad was not about to make an appearance, thank you very much!