Falling for a Villain (Miraculous Ladybug)

Chess

(A/N: I find the idea of a Miraculous Ladybug-themed chess board hilarious)

Marinette

~~~

Ladybug and Chat Noir followed Tracker into one of the buildings.

As they entered one of the apartments, it almost looked empty-- hardly lived in. Tracker entered one of the rooms and Ladybug and Chat Noir heard a girl scream. They rushed inside, kicking the door down. The room was messy and chaotic with various props and posters lying about.

Lila sat on her bed, backed up against the wall, her green eyes wide with fear as she stared at Tracker. Tracker gave her a wolfish grin, his eyes never leaving Lila even as he spoke to Ladybug and Chat Noir, "I suggest you leave, heroes. It's not yet your turn."

"Leave the lady alone, Tracker," Chat Noir said, readying his baton for a fight.

Ladybug mimicked Chat Noir's stance, spinning her yo-yo so fast that it could deflect most thrown objects.

"Lady? This isn't a lady, Kitty Cat. This is a snake," Tracker leaned closer to Lila, harshly grabbing her wrist and yanking her off the bed. "And unfortunately for you, little snake, you're about to lose your fangs. I will make you admit every lie you've told to all the people who put their trust in you."

"Ladybug, Chat Noir, help me!" Lila shouts.

Chat Noir lunges, but Tracker is too fast, throwing Lila over his shoulder and breaking through the window. Ladybug just watched.

Chat Noir asked Ladybug, "Why didn't you do anything?" He demands.

Words form on her lips before she can think, "What if what Tracker is doing isn't that bad?"

"Isn't that bad? Ladybug he just kidnapped someone!"

"I know, I know... But listen, Lila has been causing a lot of problems, wouldn't it be better for her to be known as a liar so people don't inevitably get hurt by her?" Ladybug asks softly. Perhaps she was being selfish and just wanted her friends to know the truth.

Chat Noir shakes his head, "Just because she's a liar now doesn't mean she always will be, if we expose her like this then she won't be trusted ever again."

"So we just let her hurt others instead of letting her face the consequences? Where's the justice in that?" Ladybug demands.

"Where's the justice in letting a civilian get intimidated into revealing information? It only matters if she tells them herself that she's lying."

"You mean that it's the only way for things to possibly end well for everyone. Well, I hate to break it to you but the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. We don't know if Lila will ever give up her lies, just look around." She gestures to the room full of various props, "What do you think all this is for?"

"What's going on with you, Ladybug? I know you don't like her but she's still someone in need of saving!"

Ladybug swallows and sighs, he had a point, even if she did too. She was a hero and heroes save people from villains... even if the person they're saving is a villain themself... "You're right, I'm sorry. I've just been under a lot of pressure recently and I shouldn't have taken it out on you like that."

Chat Noir's eyes soften, placing a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay LB, Let's just go save Lila."

She nods, "And Felix."

~~~

Tracker had effectively taken over the Bourgeois Hotel and was trapping people on the roof. By the time Ladybug and Chat Noir showed up, Tracker had nearly gathered up all of Marinette's class on the rooftop.

"Ah, the little bug and kitty cat, welcome to my demonstration. All that's left is Marinette and Adrien" Tracker said smoothly.

"I'm afraid Marinette won't be joining you," Ladybug said, her and Chat Noir looking at Tracker from another rooftop.

Tracker's eyes narrow, "No matter where you've taken her, I will always find her." Tracker proceeds to open his book and starts writing Marinette's name.

Ladybug's eyes widen. She makes a swipe with her yo-yo. Tracker pulls the book back, halting his writing. Ladybug didn't know that if he wrote Marinette's name it would lead to her. And if it didn't, Felix was smart enough to theorize and maybe connect some dots.

"Chat Noir, don't let him write her name in his book! I hid her earlier!"

Chat Noir nods and leaps into action, fighting Tracker one-on-one with his baton.

"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug throws her yo-yo into the air. Next thing she knows, a chess set falls into her hands. Her eyes widen, "Oh you've got to be kidding me..." She didn't need to look around for items to help her this time-- she knew that this lucky charm was telling her to play a game.

"Tracker!" Ladybug landed between him and Chat Noir, halting their fighting, "I have a proposition.

"Oh? well, let's hear it, little bug."

"Let's play a game of chess. If you win, I'll tell you where Marinette is, if you lose, you hand over your book."

Tracker looked intrigued beneath his mask. But he smirked, "No deal, I can just use my book to find Marinette, you'll have to sweeten the pot, little bug."

Her eyes narrowed, "Fine then, I'll give you my miraculous."

"That's a little better, I accept."

"Ladybug what are you doing?" Chat Noir whispered to her as she tossed the chess set to Tracker to set up.

"I'm playing a game... a very dangerous game. But I need you to get these people out of here while we play, Chaton." Ladybug's determined gaze met Chat's and he nodded.

"Are you ready, Ladybug?" Tracker asked, sitting at a table.

She nods and sits across from him, noticing he gave her the white chess pieces, "You're letting me go first?"

"A gentleman, aren't I?" He smirked.

The game began as Ladybug moved one of her pawns.

~~~