(hollering noiseS) back at it again with the lilanette
this fic will be less lilanette centric and more lila-centric and plot-centric. gonna have a crap load of angst i think. maybe. well see. i only planned out the basic concept, this is still gonna be half-yolo. as always, dont trust me to update regularly, i go to college and stuff and have hw. ill try my best to update but i wont make any promises anymore cuz i will fail to fulfill them.
this fic will contain a lot of kwami stuff and other stuff. we gonna have more superheroes too
PROLOGUE
My name is Lila.
People say that I am a liar. A snob. A fox. They say that I'm annoying, that I'm selfish, that I'm stupid.
But I am not.
I am strong. I am smart. I have changed. I have grown, and I will continue to grow.
I will continue to grow until I have sprouted feathers and and taken to the skies and transformed completely into something new and different. Someone who can value the truth. Someone who can trust and be trusted. Someone that others will be glad to have met.
I will be something incredible.
CHAPTER 1
It was warm and cozy, and Lila didn't want to get up.
"It's late, Lila," An amused voice said gently, but Lila kept her eyes shut, content to stay in the bed of pillows and blankets.
Lila heard a sigh, and she smiled a little bit.
"I know you're awake," The voice said teasingly, and Lila slowly opened her eyes in resignation. Her grandma looked down at her fondly, her laugh lines and crow's feet deepening in her smile.
"Buona mattina," Lila murmured contentedly, and Silvia chuckled.
"Buona mattina. Breakfast is ready down in the kitchen," She said, standing back up from her bent position, "I hope you'll like it,"
At that, Lila sat up immediately, hands brushing hair back from her face.
"It's not going anywhere," Silvia laughed, hands going to her hips, "Take your time, and I'll meet you there,"
Lila watched as her nonna walked off, wrapped in a fluffy house robe, and then she swung her legs off of the bed and got up, a sense of tranquility in her body. She liked this colorful apartment more than any place she'd had to live in.
And Silvia would be in the apartment almost all of the time. No longer were the days when she returned from school to an empty place, where she pushed a frozen meal into the microwave or toasted some bread. She'd never been poor, but she'd never had anyone cook filling meals for her. Her parents would normally eat out during work. They would buy groceries, sure, and occasionally eat at home every once in awhile, but usually Lila would throw something simple together or eat school lunches.
It's not that her parents were bad people, but Lila knew that the jobs they had and the lives they lived, they couldn't spend much time with Lila. After they parted ways, they mainly communicated through e-mail or phonecalls, and it was far easier and more comfortable to do it that way. With her parents no longer fighting or worrying about Lila's opinion on traveling with them, conversations were calmer and happier. When she had stood up to them, though, there had been much emotion. Apologies and arguments and discussions over it all, but once it was over, everyone was better for it.
Although, even if Silvia did make meals for Lila, they weren't always that good. It was kind of charming and humbling that her grandma had that flaw. Talking and laughing together with her over burnt toast slathered in jam was far better than any meal she'd had before.
Lila stepped into the cozy bunny slippers at her bed and wrapped a house robe like Silvia's around herself (although hers was pink while Silvia's was mint green), and headed to the kitchen. The walls were cream and modern canvases decorated the hall, each featuring geometric patterns and bright colors. Her feet padded on dark wooden planks until she reached the kitchen, where the wood gave way to white tiles.
Silvia was sitting at small table in the corner of the kitchen, and she gestured Lila over.
For a second, Lila was back in Italy.
She was young and wild and she was seated across her parents in a restaurant. Her hands were wrapped around a warm mug of hot chocolate covered in cream, washing down cookies and fette biscottate and rolls of bread. Her parents, for once able to eat together with her, had steaming cups of coffee with milk and cream that they sipped between bites of fresh bread. The restaurant was filled with busy chatter and clinking cutlery and the scent of coffee.
Silvia had set out a plate full of rolls and next to a jar of jam. Two cups were placed on opposite sides of the table, one steaming and one empty. But next to Lila's empty cup was a coffee pot, milk, juice and even a bottle of chocolate syrup.
"I figured you might want to choose what you wanted for your drink," Silvia explained, and Lila shuffled forward, almost embarrassed by how happy she was. Even the smallest things that Silvia did for her overflowed with thoughtfulness and affection, and it was so heartwarming to be feel so loved.
"Thank you," Lila took a seat across from Silvia and opted for hot chocolate, just like she used to drink in the past.
"This is one of the only things I can actually make," Silvia confessed, pouring a generous amount of chocolate syrup into the cup before getting up to heat some milk, "That, and tea and coffee. Everything else is almost a disaster."
Lila got up again despite having just sat and wandered over to Silvia. It felt wrong to do nothing while her grandma made her a drink.
"I'm sure it's not totally a disaster," Lila said, pulling out the whipped cream as Silvia poured some milk into a pot.
"You'd be surprised," Silvia returned, twisting the stove dial.
"Well, I'm not too good, either," Lila replied, thinking back to her mediocre meals and microwave dinners, "Maybe we should combine our powers,"
"You know," Silvia said, standing back and giving Lila a thoughtful look, "I think we should. We can learn how to cook together!" Lila blinked, and then her mouth stretched into a big grin.
"That's an awesome idea!" She agreed. Stumbling over recipes and baking cakes or things like that with her grandma… it honestly sounded like something she really wanted. It was such a small thing, and yet it was just that appealing to Lila.
When the hot chocolate was done, the two sat down to have their breakfast.
"What kinds of things should we make?" Lila asked, hands warmed by the hot mug. She'd given herself a generous amount of whipped cream, and poured some extra syrup on top that.
"I'd say we could try just about anything," Silvia said, dipping a knife into the strawberry jam jar, "even desserts."
Desserts! That sounded honestly amazing.
"Even entire cakes?" Lila asked in excitement.
"Especially entire cakes," Silvia nodded in satisfaction, eyes crinkled in amusement, "In fact, I'd say we should go grocery shopping today in preparation."
"Today? What kind of cake are we going to make?" Lila asked, although she would probably be happy with any answer.
"Well, what's your favorite kind of cake?"
Lila fell silent for a moment, thinking.
"I think tiramisu might be a bit too difficult," She finally said, "What about a strawberry shortcake?" Lila suggested.
"I love strawberry shortcake!" Silvia gushed, "Let's find a recipe after we finish eating."
Every summer morning had been a happy one, this one included.
It was just-
Disgusting.
Lila paid the voice no heed.
You're disgusting.
She shook her head slightly, as if to clear up her thoughts.
"This hot chocolate is really good," She said between sips, savoring the the sweet and thick drink.
"Thank you," Silvia said, "It's one of the only edible things I can take pride in,"
At that, Lila laughed a little bit.
"Are you seeing Marinette today?" Silvia then asked, giving Lila a knowing glance.
"I don't know. I was actually thinking about maybe getting a haircut first," Lila shrugged, "It's really hot right now, and having all this hair isn't really helping,"
"Oh! Have you ever cut your hair before?" Silvia inquired curiously. It was a reasonable question, because Lila's hair was extremely long.
"Other than my bangs, no. I think it's finally time for a change. I'm finally going to be staying put in a country, after all. It's a new me," Lila said cheerfully, running a hand through her disheveled hair.
A new me…
It sounded so wonderful.
"That sounds like a good idea," Silvia nodded, wiping her mouth with a napkin, "I can take you to a nice place. I got my hair cut recently after coming to Paris, too."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
"It's no big deal," Silvia said.
There it was again. The affection. The love.
Lila looked down and smiled.
"I really appreciate it, Nonna."
"Of course, Lila," Silvia gave Lila another warm smile, "We can go whenever,"
"We can go grocery shopping right after that!" Lila suddenly realized, "I'll find an easy recipe for the cake." She decided, pulling out her phone.
"Yes!" Silvia stood up from the table, excitement glowing in her eyes. "Maybe we could even invite Marinette so she can make sure we don't burn the apartment down! Since she's from a family of bakers, you know."
"You always have the best ideas, Nonna," Lila said fondly, and got up to give Silvia a quick hug.
"I try," Silvia agreed as returned the embrace. It was warm and gentle and everything Lila ever wanted.
"I'll go get ready, then, and find the recipe." Lila helped clean up the remains of breakfast, and then headed back to her room to shower and get dressed. She'd recently adopted a new set of colors to wear. Gone were the days of orange and black. Now she freely wore green clothes that matched the pale hue of her eyes. Her closet was full of new colors that she felt helped represent her change from before. She'd wear dark blue and deep purple as well as pinks and lilacs. She'd wear polka dots that matched Marinette's dotted outfits, and she'd try stripes and floral patterns.
She was a new Lila, after all.
Lila pulled out an outfit she'd bought recently (with Marinette, no less). Her loose emerald green top would be tucked slightly into a pair of white jeans, and she set out a pair of black flats. With the clothes ready, she ducked into the bathroom.
Lila stopped as she passed the mirror, glancing at her messy reflection.
Ugly.
She thought her hair had found creative new ways to tangle in her sleep, and some of her bangs stuck out at the sides. But overall, with her happier and healthier life, she felt her skin seemed a bit clearer and the bags under her eyes a bit lighter.
She felt like she was just fine.
What a joke.
Lila undressed and stepped into the shower, twisting the knob to warm while nimbly dodging the cold spray that the showerhead let loose. Eventually it turned from cool to room temperature, to a comfortable heat that Lila liked.
Every morning had become a pleasant experience. She'd fallen into a routine that felt nice and comforting. Waking up to warm sunlight streaming through her window to having a fun breakfast with Silvia. Showering and washing her hair to spending time with her friends or her grandmother.
She'd become someone who didn't need to wear a mask, anymore. She didn't need fake stories to make friends or be appreciated. She didn't need to be cool and popular to get attention. She had her friends and she had her grandma.
She had Marinette.
Do you, though?
She'd become happier overall. She'd gotten a better life.
So why was there always a thought saying the complete opposite?
I'm saying the truth, is all. Stupid.
Lila's mouth thinned as she worked shampoo through her wet hair.
She could ignore it. She had been already, for several weeks. Maybe it was a hormonal thing.
You wish.