Sorry this chapter is a day late. Busy weekend.
I thought I was going back to torture, but I have more I want to tell during this time stretch. Later in this fic, I anticipate there will be a few back to back chapters of torture. Since I won't always show them from the watcher's point of view.
—
Alya and Nino returned to school. It was nearing lunch time, but everyone was still in class, allowing Rena Rouge and Carapace to slip into their respective bathrooms undetected.
"Hey pretty girl," said Trixx sympathetically, "how you doing?"
"I…I'm not great."
"That's okay." The little fox said, nuzzling her cheek. "It's okay to be upset, especially in this situation. But you've got me, Nino, Wayzz, and the parents."
Alya smiled a little at that. "Thanks Trixx. It's nice to have encouragement in my pocket."
The bell rang, indicating that lunch was starting and students would be coming out soon.
The fox grinned back and then swooped into his hiding place.
Nino was waiting for her outside, and held out his hand as she approached.
She worried her lip, "hey um…I'm…I'm not sure if I'm up to going to class. After all that…"
"I think we should." Nino said simply. "Our classmates know what's happening, and they know how close we are. I think it's best if we're around a group of people that can support us, rather than be alone in Adrien's room."
She thought about it for a moment, and then agreed. "I'll give it a shot."
"Let's see if we can find a group to tag along with to lunch, huh?"
Coming back into the courtyard, they noticed plenty of schoolmates milling around and chatting. Upper classmen, lower classmen, other classes, they were all just together in the courtyard. But the aura was rather somber.
In one such circle were several students, including Kim, Mylene, Rose, and Juleka (unfortunately, the most gullible group in the class) gathered around a bench.
"Hey guys," said Nino, approaching. Though his voice stopped when realized someone else was talking.
Lila.
"Of course, the FBI even came to talk to me! All the way from the U.S.! Since I am Ladybug's best friend, I would be a large target. They thought that maybe Salo would try to use me against them. But as Rena Rouge, I would be able to defend myself. I'm actually stronger than Ladybug and Chat Noir, but that power is exhausting, so I have to just be an auxiliary member."
Nino cleared his throat, and the group parted like the red sea, revealing Lila who looked smug and not the least bit stricken. Despite what they knew she saw yesterday.
"You guys aren't actually believing this garbage, are you?" Nino asked with malice.
It's exactly what Alya was thinking, but she was overcome with so much rage, she wasn't able to articulate any sentences.
"Well…" began Mylene. "No one knows who Rena Rouge is…"
"It's not her." Said Alya, shaking.
"How do you know?" Asked Kim. "Ladybug and Chat Noir don't know each other's identities, so maybe whoever gave them their Miraculous also gave Lila one."
Alya tightened her fist. "I talked to Ladybug about this. Only the Ladybug and Black Cat where given by…the Guardian. Ladybug has dealt all the others. And I'm 100% certain she didn't give it to you."
"What's your proof?" Asked Kim, challenging her.
"What's hers!?" Alya shrieked. "She admitted to lying about Marinette taking those photos! Why are any of you giving her the time of day?!"
Lila had that faux look of concern on her face. "Why Alya, you mean you didn't know?"
"…know what?" Alya asked, with her heart in her shoes.
"Marinette's not really Ladybug. And Adrien isn't Chat Noir. The stream is a performance piece. I thought, surely you would know! I know the director and he told me all about—"
The next second, Lila was on the ground, again, her nose bleeding like a fountain.
"Don't. You. Dare." Alya seethed. "You bitch."
People were backing away from the two quickly, eyes to the sky.
"Alya!" Lila cried out. "You need to calm down! It's not that big of a deal!"
"You're…a piece…of shit." Alya managed out between her grit teeth and heavy sobs. "It is a big deal! I don't know if you live in some sort of fantasy or delusion, but you will not drag everyone else into it! Marinette and Adrien, Ladybug and Chat Noir, are in hell, being tortured on live stream and you have—you have the gaul to make it about you! You disgust me! I can't believe I ever listened to you!"
"Alya!" Nino shouted, startling her.
But it wasn't enough warning. A long forgotten chill ran down her spine and purple light covered her vision.
"So, we meet again, Miss Cesaire." Hawkmoth's voice was thick with concern, and false comfort.
"No!" Alya shouted, gripping her head. "Leave me alone! I won't—I won't listen to you! I—I can't! They need me!"
"They certainly do. And I'm going to help you save them."
"I will never work with you! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!"
The butterfly flew out of the fox pendant around her neck, and flapped around in the air innocently. It waited a moment, and then departed from wince it came.
Alya fell to her knees, sobbing. Nino was at her side instantly, holding her and trying to stay calm himself, though he was boiling inside.
No one spoke for a moment, but all were eager to hear who would speak up.
Lila recovered first. "Look Alya. I'm really sorry. I know it's hard to find out that your friendship with someone...isn't as mutual as you thought. Maybe Marinette just didn't tell you. I know her and I don't see eye to eye after I caught her stalking Adrien, but I swear this all isn't as horrible as it seems."
"That's enough," a sharp voice spoke.
A young woman, a fellow student, stepped into the group. Usually one to keep her head down, but never one to back away from the fight. And Lila sure looked like the enemy here.
Kagami Tsurugi crossed her arms and stared Lila down with a scowl. "Can't you see you're hurting them?"
Lila twitched her eyebrow at the appearance of this new foe. "I don't know what you mean! Alya's thinking the worst, but it really is a performance piece. A prank, really."
"I meant, you're not just hurting those two, but Adrien and Marinette."
Lila scoffed. "I just thought everyone deserved the truth!"
"They do!" Kagami barked. "And you're not giving it to them!"
"I swear I am!"
"Then swear to Mr. Agreste!" Kagami spat. "He called my mother this morning to cancel a meeting, and he was extremely upset. Of course he has no idea where Adrien is, and he's beside himself!"
"Oh, Mr. Agreste didn't know about it? I'll make sure to let him know."
Kagami barked out a laugh. "You're really trying to say that Mr. Agreste didn't know about an activity that Adrien was participating in? One on such a national scale? Yeah right."
"M-maybe the director forgot to mention it?"
Kagami rolled her eyes. "You're pathetic. Not only do you refuse to admit to your failures, you refuse to understand that the world doesn't revolve around you. I thought you were in love with Adrien."
"I-I-I am! We're dating! Look!" She took out her phone, where the picture of her kissing Adrien on the cheek shone as her wallpaper.
"You already used that against me." Kagami said blankly, "that photo is a couple years old now. That's the only photo of you two together?"
"I-I...I was just—"
"Lying. Wasting everyone's time. Giving false hope. Taking attention away from where it's supposed to belong. You scum."
Lila clenched her fists in anger, and then stalked off in rage.
Kagami sighed, her shoulders releasing from her tight hold.
"That was...really cool." Nino stated, still kneeling on the ground. Alya wasn't crying anymore thankfully.
"Thank you, for that." She stated, wiping her eyes. "I don't usually have a hard time arguing with people, but this is..." Alya shook her head. "Lila is so good at improvising lies. It makes it impossible to convince people otherwise...Marinette was never able to."
Kagami held her hands out. "Come on. We're going to lunch. I'm Kagami Tsurugi."
"Yeah," said Alya, automatically taking her hand. "Alya Cesaire."
"Nino Lahiffe."
—
Alya and Nino decided to return to the Agreste mansion for lunch, mostly just to check in with Tom and Sabine.
Nathalie looked at the three that entered, and nodded to Kagami. "I hope you all brought your appetites." She said dryly, leading them to the dining room.
"Huh?"
Inside, there were platters and platters of pastries and breads of all sorts of varieties.
Tom was bringing out another tray from the kitchen. "Oh! You're back! Please kids, feel free to help yourselves!"
"Did you make all of this, Mr. Dupain?" Asked Nino.
"Ah, Yeah...But, I think I may have gone a bit overboard. I can't sit still! I know I can't do anything to help, but I'm just—I can't just sit around worrying. We'll be giving whatever we don't eat to the soup kitchen, but feel free to take whatever you want back with you." Then he noticed Kagami. "Ah, sorry, I don't believe we've met. I'm Tom, Marinette's father."
"Kagami. Adrien's friend."
"Well, I'll go get Sabine and we'll all have a proper meal. We've got stuff for sandwiches! I've got sliced ham and roast beef and mustard and so many cheeses..." he continued to talk as he left the room.
Kagami smiled softly as he left. "Marinette is a lot like her parents then."
"Yeah, they're crazy close." Nino supplied, "I'm surprised they're taking this so well."
"You think this is taking it well?" Asked Alya, gesturing to the spread.
Nino shrugged.
They both sat at the table, and glanced through the food. As much as they hated to admit it, they were both hungry from their morning activities.
Despite what they had seen before that.
"It's okay, Kagami, come and sit down." Nino beckoned.
The girl nodded at took a seat as well.
Tom returned with yet another platter, of sandwich fixings, before he left again without a word, his mind seemingly in another place.
"So…" began Alya. "Not that I'm complaining or anything, but why did you want to have lunch with us?"
"To talk." Kagami answered simply, cutting into a ciabatta roll with a knife.
"About something specific, or are you just lonely?"
She paused, then answered, "A little of both, I think." She looked to Alya, who was very much still suffering from the after effects of her near akumatization. "I've seen you two the most, on their instagrams. You're the ones they're the most close too. I knew if I needed to talk to someone, surely I could trust you."
Alya offered a sad little smile. "I see. We…we'll listen if you need us to, but…" She sighed. "It's hard."
"I know." Kagami put her sandwich down, having taken two bites. She wasn't that hungry anyways. "I thought—I thought I loved Adrien."
Nino choked on his sandwich. "Oh dude, sorry!" He coughed. "I'm super bad in the love department."
Kagami shook her head. "I don't need advice. I just…I've been thinking about things. All my life, I've had to strive for perfection. Grades, arts, fencing…everything. So, naturally, when it came to having a crush, it fell on Adrien. He was…perfect. Gorgeous, kind, smart, talented…everything I ever could have wanted. To find out that…that this whole time, he's been Chat Noir…it felt like I was being lied to."
Nino folded his hands in front of him. "Yeah…it felt like that for me for a little bit. Just long enough for it to sink in that he had hid his identity from me for so long, before it was replaced with worry for his well being."
Kagami looked at her plate. "You're a better friend than I. I…I was only angry. I felt deceived. Chat Noir…he's not bad. He's a hero, of course, but…he's reckless, goofy, and just…doesn't take things seriously. Those I qualities I resent in people." She rubbed under her eye. "If his secret was more…secret, I guess, more private, that is, I might not have been so angry. Like if he was a closeted alcoholic, or he was a messy person, I might not have been so mad. But because he's shown to be two different people, so publicly…I felt like I didn't know who my friend was. Who was the real Adrien? The model, or the superhero?" She shook her head. "Then I realized that I didn't actually love him at all. I idolized him. I fantasized being together, because I thought we would be good together. But that's what I get for putting him on a pedestal.
"I realize that saying all of this is…extremely selfish and shallow. Adrien doesn't deserve that. He needs people that love and support both sides of him, in and out of the mask. Now, more than ever. And…and I know I'm not the only person who's felt this way. All over the internet, girls are talking about how disappointed they are to find out who he is…if I knew how to hack, I'd erase all those comments before Adrien got the chance to see them. And…and Marinette. She deserves so much of my respect. She…she had, or still has, a crush on Adrien, and she still volunteered to accompany him on a date with me, because he was nervous. She put her own heart on the line for the comfort of her friend. She really is Ladybug."
"You don't have to beat yourself up so much." Said Alya, finally breaking her silence. "You deserve someone that you can love wholly and completely, without their flaws feeling like they're 'tainting perfection'."
"That…would be nice…but it's not going to happen. I'm sorry if what I said offended you. It know it must be hard to hear someone talk about your friend like that…"
"Do you hate him?" Asked Nino. "Now, with everything you know?"
Kagami shook her head easily. "No. But now, more than ever, I realize that I've never really been a good friend. To either of them. So I want to help. In any way I can."
Alya sighed in relief. "Well…directly, there's not much we can do. We can watch the streams, and look and listen for clues and report them to investigators. But we don't have the resources to do more than that."
"I see…"
"But," said Alya, with a little more hope in her voice. "There is something we can do. There's someone out there spreading lies and trying to make this whole thing seem not as bad as it actually is."
"You mean that Lila girl?"
"Yep. Most of our class knows better, since we were basically all together when the stream went live. But…some are still gullible. We have to stop her now. I took down her interview where she claimed to be Ladybug's best friend, but a lot of people saw that. No doubt, reporters will try to find her to ask questions. That would…that would be devastating."
Kagami stood, taking her sandwich and wrapping it up in a napkin. "I will take care of it. It seems like Lila is a sore topic for you."
"A sore topic is putting it nicely. She incites me to violence."
"And that doesn't help anybody."
"Exactly. Thanks…Sorry we couldn't really make you feel better about Adrien." Alya sighed.
But Kagami had a soft smile on her face. "I'll get over it myself. For now, I just want to do what's right." She nodded her head. "Give my thanks to Mr. Dupain for the sandwich. The bread is fantastic."
It was at that moment that Tom came back out, this time with a stack of boxes. "Oh are you leaving? Here, take this and fill it with whatever looks good. Take it home for your family."
Kagami couldn't help but giggle a little. The man was so warm and kind.
It was reassuring to know that when Adrien and Marinette got out, they'd have a man like him to take care of them.
Not that she thought badly of Gabriel, of course. But she couldn't imagine him having good bedside manners.
She would also need to work on her stoic disposition. Anything to get Adrien to smile again.
—
After lunch, Alya and Nino returned to school. Strengthened by her conversation with Kagami, Alya felt a little better. She would go and talk to the other classmates to see what they were believing in this mess.
Nino walked with her, holding her hand. Though he didn't say much until they reached the locker room. "Hey Al?"
"Yeah, babe?"
"What…what did Hawkmoth say to you earlier? Do you remember?"
She closed her locker, biting her lip in thought. "I do. It's just…it's weird."
"What?"
"He called me by my name. I was sure that he addressed people as their akumatized names."
"Oh? What else did he say?"
"I told him to go away, and that they needed me. He said 'indeed they do, and I want to help you find them.'"
Nino frowned in thought. "That…that is weird. And you'd think he'd have plenty of people to akumatize. Watching the stream had been more upsetting than listening to Lila."
"Yeah, you're right." Alya took out her phone and took down some notes. "I wonder…what Hawkmoth is thinking."
"He's probably thinking of the best way to get those miraculous while causing the least amount of damage, since there is no Ladybug to fix things."
She typed it out. "That's a good theory. For now, we'll keep our eyes peeled for akumas. He ought to be looking for another victim soon." She turned to leave the room, but managed to bump into someone, knocking their books out of their hands.
"I'm so sorry!" Alya gasped.
"It's fine Alya." Said the girl. Though Alya didn't recognize her at first. Was it another new student?
Blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, track pants, and a hoodie.
"Do I know you?" Alya asked.
The other student looked up with a weak glare. "Oh please, I know I look horrible. But it's not that bad."
Alya's eyes blew wide. "Chloe?"
"Who else?"
"I just…I've never seen you without makeup before. It was…jarring."
"Yeah well…I didn't feel like putting on makeup, or doing my hair, or wearing a cute outfit…because…because Adrien and Marinette probably haven't gotten to even take a shower, or—or brush their hair…" She let out a sob.
"Oh Chloe…" Alya found herself saying with great sympathy.
"No. Don't talk to me like that. Please just…keep being sassy. Let me have some normalcy for a little while."
"Okay." Agreed Alya. She cleared her throat. "Uh, geez Chloe, can you fit any more rats up in that bun?"
Chloe's response was watery. "Can you fit any more in yours?"
Alya gave her a little smile. "We'll work on it."
—
In the classroom, Alya was swarmed by classmates, all running to hug her. Rose was bawling her eyes out. "Alya! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have listened to Lila! I was—I was just so scared for Marinette and Adrien and to hear that they weren't actually in trouble was so nice and-and—!"
Alya hugged her tightly. "It's okay Rose. I understand. I almost wanted to believe her too. But…That's not fair to Adrien and Marinette."
"I feel stupid," said Kim. "For even giving her any attention. It's not gonna happen again."
"What did that bitch say this time?" asked Chloe.
"She was trying to convince people that Adrien and Marinette weren't actually being tortured. That they weren't actually Ladybug and Chat Noir, and that they were only doing a performance piece. When Alya called her out, Lila kept lying and Alya almost got akumatized."
Chloe seethed. "No one does that to my Adrikins! Of course he's Chat Noir! How could anyone doubt that he's so selfless and caring and wonderful and—he's a hero! And Dupain-Cheng—!" Her voice choked on a sob. "My daddy will be hearing about this! I'll get her banished from the city! No! The country!"
Alya had the smallest hint of a smile at that. "Now that, is something I'd like to see."
"Let's all make a pact." Said Nathaniel.
"Yeah, a blood oath." Said Alix, with gusto.
"No…" Nathaniel clarified. "I mean, let's just all swear from here on out to take everything Lila says with a grain of salt, and to do whatever we can to support Adrien and Marinette, now and when they get out…especially Marinette."
Congratulations Lila, you made good on your threat. You've turned everyone against me, just like you said you would. But I'm ending things on my own terms. If you ever need me again, think twice.
Everyone seemed to remember her final words to them collectively. She only delivered them two days ago, but it already felt so long ago.
"Didn't Marinette say something about a threat?" Asked Alix, aloud.
"…maybe…there's more to Lila than we thought."
Juleka broke the silence, standing up and looking at her phone. "Uh, Alya…? Have you updated your blog?"
"No, I haven't even looked at it since this all happened. Why?"
"Uh…you should…"
Quickly, Alya took out her phone and opened her blog tab.
Right there on the front page, where everyone would see it, was a brand new post that she hadn't written at all. It was short, but the contents were chilling.
There was a link. And the caption stated, "Hawkmoth. We need to talk. —Salo."
—
I made Kagami kind of shallow. But I'm basing it off her behavior in Onee-chan.
And I'm going camping in a few days, so I'm taking a week off of this story. Who knows when the next update will be? Not me!