Falling for a Villain (Miraculous Ladybug)

The Games People Play

Marinette

~~~

"Play chess? I already know how to play chess." Marinette raised a skeptical eyebrow at Felix.

He was the picture of relaxed and composed in her bedroom, leaning against the back of her chaise. Felix looked so out of place in her pink room. Her room was fun and colorful, the complete opposite of his monotone suit.

Felix's green eyes sparkled with mirth, "Not actually chess, I refer to the games people play. Social manipulation and such."

"Why would I want to learn that, especially from you?" Marinette crossed her arms.

In all honesty, learning how to lie well could help her keep her identity as Ladybug a secret, but she didn't trust Felix as far as she could throw him... As Ladybug she could probably throw him relatively far... maybe she trusted him a tiny bit but only for Adrien's sake.

It was as if he could read her mind because he let out a chuckle that drew her attention, "Your face gives you away, Miss Dupain-Cheng. And as much as I find it adorable that you wear every thought in your expressions, it won't help our goal."

Her face reddened, both in anger and embarrassment. She weighs her options, "Will I become like Lila...?"

Felix raised an eyebrow, turning a bit more serious, "That is ultimately up to you. You choose when and who to lie to. Lying strategically and effectively is an invaluable tool but also a dangerous one. It can become almost addicting like you're able to become someone you aren't. You can also trap yourself in lies if you aren't careful."

Marinette nods, considering this. She appreciated him being upfront about the risks. The question now was... how far was she willing to go?

"I accept."

~~~

After accepting Felix's offer to help her, he instructed her to get a pencil and paper for notes. Marinette's father, Tom, was a bit curious and poked his head in, offering a plate of cookies with a smile. Marinette took the tray thankfully and shooed her father away, a bit embarrassed by his interruption. Once she had grabbed a pen and paper, Felix moved for her to sit on the chaise beside him.

Felix's hands folded in his lap, "Now, we are going to play a little game called Truth or Lie."

"How will playing a game help me?" Marinette makes a confused face.

"It helped me, and I'm great at it." Felix smirked, "Now, here's how the game goes. We take turns telling a truth or a lie and the other has to guess. If either of us guess correctly with good reasoning, we get a cookie," He gestured to the tray, "If we guess incorrectly, we give critiques. Simple enough, right?"

Marinette blinked and nodded softly.

Felix smiled slyly, "I'll start, and let's keep it easy." He thinks for a moment, "I'm right-handed."

Marinette's brows furrow. Her eyes dart to his hands that are folded on his lap, then to his eyes to see if he will give anything away, "True...?"

"False," he responds and holds up his left hand, "I'm left-handed."

Marinette pouts, "That was a hard one, you tricked me."

Felix merely smirked, "Perhaps, when you learn to play the game, you'll be able to tell. Your turn, Miss Dupain-Cheng."

Marinette nibbles on her lower lip in thought. She looks around the room for inspiration... she could do one about sewing...

"Try to pick something that isn't too obvious," Felix said, almost as if he could read her mind again.

"Stop doing that, I'm thinking."

Felix chuckled and her eyes lit up as she thought of something.

She put on her best poker face, "I've never been to the States."

Felix looked her over, his gaze cold and calculating, "False."

Marinette pouts, "How'd you know?"

Felix plucked a cookie from the tray, "A few things, get out your notepad." He waited until she was ready to take notes, "You were as tense as a plank of wood for one, and you were staring at me as if you could burn holes through my skull, you need to relax when you attempt to lie. No one will believe you if you're pushing it on them too hard... and I already knew about Adrien's class going to the States a while back."

Marinette huffed, writing down 'Stay relaxed' and 'Don't push too hard'. "Well if you're so good at it, you go again."

"I will," Felix smirked, "The last time I visited Paris, I met the Mayor."

Marinette knew he didn't, but only because she had to protect Felix as Ladybug, "False," she spoke confidently.

"Good, and your reasoning?" Felix smiled.

"You didn't stay long and got attacked by villains, I assume you didn't have enough time to visit the Mayor." She said, thankful for a quick excuse.

Felix's eyes seemed to flicker a bit as he watched her, "You just lied to me, but you did it decently enough, using information you had on hand, go ahead and take your cookie."

Marinette took a cookie and noted down 'use the truth'.

Felix smirked as he saw the note she made, "You're a quick learner, I'll give you that. Using selective truths at the right times is essential to lying effectively, ironic as it is. The trick is to make them think they know the answer by referring to a past event-- but you don't want to over-explain yourself and make them overthink it."

Marinette nodded, he knew a lot about this stuff, it was a little scary.

~~~