Miraculous Dragonus (Lila Rossi x Male Reader)

Arc 09: Chapter 08: Truth Be Told

"Lila?" Adrien asked quietly. Chloé nodded. "Of course it's her. I ruffled her feathers yesterday afternoon, she decided to get back at me in the middle of the night. It's not like I'm accusing Dupain-Cheng of being Maladea."

"You know better than that." Marinette replied, silently fist-pumping under the table. "But getting back to Lila, it honestly makes perfect sense. She hates both of me and probably only loves what Adrien has rather than who he is. Or different sides? I dunno, I don't want to think like she does. Either way, the point is that we have a very good lead on the Darks, and once we figure out Dragonus's true identity..."

"If he pulls the ' I know who you and your families are ' routine, you'll pull the ' we know who your girlfriend is ' bit on him and scare his pants off?" Amber finished, taking a bite out of her croissant.

"Exactly. And if we play our cards right, he won't have any idea that we do know." Adrien added. Chloé checked her nails as she nibbled on her croissant. "Explain."

"We're going to lay low for a little while." Marinette said. "This new information doesn't go any further than this room - for now, at least. There's much less of a chance that the Darks would manage to corner one of us and learn the truth of what we know if it's just the four of us."

"Seven." Plagg interjected. "Though I don't think there's as much to worry about if the Darks don't get their claws on our Miraculouses."

"That's why I'm not worried as much about the kwamis." Marinette confirmed.

"So that's it?" Chloé demanded, her helpful demeanor suddenly dropping. "You're going to let Lila walk free after she did that to me?! I risk my neck for you two, and you aren't taking them out now?!"

"I wish we could, Chloé, but right now, things are quite touchy between us all." Marinette answered, tossing a quick glare at Adrien, who looked away sheepishly. "Since some of the others invaded the Darks' base and the Darks chased them out... it's in everyone's best interests that our as-of-now cold war stays cold. Besides, Maladea's actions might've heated it up on the Darks' side."

"But once everything goes hot again..." Chloé's voice trailed off expectantly.

Marinette sighed. "Yes, we'll make sure Lila is punished accordingly for everything she's done."

"Good." Chloé replied. "And Marinette... I can tell you want to do that more than anything. Don't lie to yourself. I'll make sure you relish in her destruction."

"This isn't going to be like that, Chloé." Adrien interjected. Chloé turned her gaze to him and sighed. "Oh, Adri-kins. I can tell you want to do it, too. No one'll stop you once the truth has come out to the world. In fact, I can guarantee they'll build the bonfire. Don't you want that?"

Marinette and Adrien glanced into each other's eyes before looking away in shame. Why does Chloé have a point?

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"What even was that?" Lila hissed. (Y/N) shrugged. "I don't see the problem. I was only making conversation."

Lila pinched the bridge of her nose and took a sip of her water. "A conversation that started with yelling about 'vegan grits,' which escalated to outfit snarking, getting the cook from the back, crooked posters, barbeque types... I'm still trying to process the rest of it."

"Look, this was an awesome idea and I love that you found this place and gave me a little taste of home, but if you're going to tell me there's a Southern-style restaurant in Paris, I'm going to be skeptical." (Y/N) replied, sipping his sweet tea. "And they weren't terribly offensive questions, either. It's common knowledge back home for a lot of those."