"A problem can get bigger or smaller, it all depends on how we view it individually."
"Let me go!" Lila screamed, tears streaming down her face. He heart felt like it was frozen, or being stabbed, or both. "You're a monster!"
Hawkmoth laughed. "Maybe. But if I am a monster then so are you, my dear." He balanced her chin on his forefinger and lifted her face to his.
Lila's lip quivered and she turned away. "Am I not yours. I am not your slave, and I will not bend to your will anymore! Volpina is dead, you hear me?!"
His grip tightened on her hand as the brunette heard a quiet fluttering in her ear. Lila smiled. "There's nothing you can use to bring her back, dumbass."
The villain dropped her. "I think there is."
Lila slipped as she tried to stand. "There's nothing you can do to bring her back." She repeated. Through her tears; she could see the butterfly, flitting around and hovering, trying to find something it could possess.
"There's nothing..."
One Month Before
Days since incident: 9
"Rossi, Lila?"
"Present."
Here am I again, for the third time. Since Monday, Lila had been trying to muster up enough courage to speak to her desk partner. Come on, talking to guys isn't this hard!
She took a deep breath, and turned to Nathanaël. He was focused on his comic, bolding the outline of his characters with a felt tip pen. His face was emotionless.
Lila went to open her mouth, the words she had practiced dancing on her tongue and ready to perform. Come on, Rossi.
"I-"
"Can you all please open your textbooks so we can pick up where we left off."
Lila spun around and let her face drop into an expression of utter betrayal. Seriously, Bustier?
The teacher had her back to the class and was jotting some notes on the board. Lila mouthed some Italian curse words at her book, and her language was getting particularly colourful when Nath leant over to ask what they were doing. He poked her and she squeaked.
"Non cazzo tocco me!" Lila hissed, her mind still on Italian mode. Nathanaël simply blinked, oblivious to the insult she had just spat at him. "Uhh... What?"
Lila gasped. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! The teacher, she just-" She paused. I'm talking to him. Yes! But I also swore at him in Italian. This is not a good start.
Nathanaël smiled at her weakly. "I just wanted to know what page we're on."
Lila wasn't listening. I need to ask him about his book. Ask him now. Now!
"Mi piace il tuo album da disegno!" She blurted, trying her best to make her smile seem natural. Wait. Her smile dropped. Wrong language.
"I mean- I like your notebook! No, sorry, sketchbook! The one you draw in! I mean- of course you draw in it it's a sketchbook. The drawing are so pretty, I hope you don't mind me saying-"
Lila paused when she felt eyes on her. "Miss Rossi, is there a problem?" Lila slowly turned around and released most of the class was staring at her. "N- no, sorry. I was just-"
Nath raised his hand. "What page are we on?"
Lila ducked her head and stared at her book. I feel extremely Marinette right now.
"Page 51, Nathanaël."
"Thanks."
Lila looked up and prayed that Ivan had shifted so she was hidden. This is so bad. Mlle. Bustier never calls anyone by their last name, only me. It feels... Like I'm an odd one out. Only half-welcome.
She blinked away a tiny tear welling in her eye. Letting her fringe fall into her eyes, Lila tried to continue her work.
On the other end of the table, Nathanaël found himself constantly checking on the brunette. Dropping his pen, he quietly leant over and whispered. "I'm glad you like my drawings. If you want, after school I like to go to the park. I can show you my other sketchbooks if you'd like to come with me."
Lila opened her mouth, but not trusting her voice, she closed it again. She nodded, and smiled.
"So... do you want to come?"
"Y-yes." Lila internally took a breathe. "I'd love that."
A weight felt like it dropped from Lila's shoulders. She flashed the boy a small smile from under her bangs. Likewise, the shy red-head offered a small but encouraging grin. Silently, the two retreated back to themselves and to their work.
Author Note! Hi all. Hope you enjoyed this, and are surviving hiatus. At least we now have the Christmas Special and some adorable wedisodes to keep us sane until season two is released! I have two questions for you guys; first - what is your honest opinion on Lila? Don't sugar coat, I want to know. And second - please tell me I'm not the only Miraculer who doesn't live in the US and is concerned she'll never see this lovely show given the treatment it deserves on the air? Does anyone know if Australian Netflix will air Miraculous?
Also I can't speak Italian so I'm sorry if Google translate lied to me but hopefully Lila says what was intended for her to say. For those who can speak Italian... You guys are the luckier ones and I envy you for being bilingual. :)
