When Walls Crumble

Chapter 43: Schemes

Adrian lost no time.  Half an hour later, he was sitting in a cafe with Lila, pretending to flirt.  If she cared, she didn't show it.  She was just as cocky and flirtatious as always.  Even with his decades of modeling and acting experience, he was finding it difficult to not glare.

She gushed over everything: his hair, his clothes, his new job, his abs...yeah.  Adrian cringed too.  She forcibly typed her number into his phone and texted herself.  The only thing she couldn't get was his address.  She kept dropping hints and talking about her place, hoping he would follow her lead and spill.  He got the hints, but artfully dodged around them.  No way was he letting that creepy stalker of a bitch know where he was staying.  

He brought the conversation to Ladybug and Cat Noir naturally as possible.  

"Oh, those two?" she scoffed.

Adrian carefully controlled his defensiveness to mere patriotic affection for the heroes.

"Lila, they've saved you many times and lately...well, they've saved me more than I can count.  For some reason, most of the poor people who were akumatized have gone after me."

Lila cupped his cheek in her hand, fake sympathy dripping from her eyes.  It took all his will power to not pull away, slap her or both.

"Oh, mon amour," she slurred.  "That's absolutely horrible!  I would do anything to help you, you know.  I'm always here for you if you need me."

Adrian cocked an eyebrow.  "Anything?"

"Anything and everything."

With great difficulty, he stopped the sly smirk from twisting his face.  "Lila, word on the street is that you have blackmail on everyone.  Some even say you have some of the heroes' identities.  Who is Hawkmoth?"

Lila dramatically turned away and looked at the ground.  "Adrian, dear, ask me anything but that.  I don't want you to be hurt by that awful fact."

"Why would I be hurt?"

"Because...well, I can't say.  Can you just trust me?"

Adrian pretended to be really hurt.  "I had hoped so, but you don't seem to have changed."

Lila gasped.  "I have changed and I'll prove it to you!  I'll do anything else!"

"You do know who Hawkmoth is?"

"Yes."

"Stop him.  Bring me his miraculous."

She looked at him incredulously.  "You want his miraculous?"

"Lila, you have potential.  But you hurt yourself by lying all the time.  I'm giving you a chance to be a hero.  Prove to me that you've changed.  I might be able to love you if you can prove you aren't the same liar that used to repulse me."

Lila took a deep breath.  "Okay.  I will do it for you, Adrian."

She stood and left.

"Liar," Adrian laughed to himself under his breath.  

He paid the tab and took out his phone.  

We'll see how well this works, he texted Marinette.

Lila?

Yeah.  She is apparently going to blackmail Hawkmoth.  

:)

Well, I'm the one who just blackmailed Hawkmoth.

Very funny, kitty.

I feel sorry for her though.  She hasn't changed at all but she could be an amazing person if she would swallow her damn pride and be herself.

I feel a little bad too.  I always kept trying to give her chances and advice.  She never took it.

That night, Lila texted Adrian to tell him to meet her on the Pont des Arts at sunrise.  He turned it to Marinette.  She snorted.  

"Romantic location and romantic time.  She doesn't exactly grasp subtlety."

"Heh, you laugh.  I'm going to have to deal with this and some full-blown confession of her undying and everlasting love.  And how she would do anything for me and yadda yadda yadda until the end of time and space!"  He flung out his arms dramatically.  Marinette giggled.

"If you don't want to, I can get Rena Rouge for an illusion..."

"That won't work.  She will go through it right away.  I'm willing to bet that she walks right up to me and grabs my hand.  Maybe even kisses me."

Marinette shuddered.  "She had better keep her hands off..." she turned red.  Adrian realized the implication and his face followed hers.

Tikki and Plagga laughed.  "Jealous, Marinette?"  Tikki asked.

Plagg fell back, laughing his little bobblehead off.  "Oh, she totally is!  And he totally loves it!"

Marinette's face re-defined red.  "W-we'll discuss this some other time."

Adrian smirked.  "Oh, I've heard what I need, princess."

"Are you gonna marry my mommy?"

Marinette and Adrian whirled, to see Luka in his pajamas standing in the balcony trapdoor.  He was holding his little stuffed snake that Adrian had given him for his third birthday.

Marinette exhaled.  "Luka, what are you doing out of bed?"

He shrugged.  "I wanted a drink.  And then I heard you talking."

Adrian tossed him up in the air.  "Come on, bud.  You need to get some sleep."

He shut the trapdoor behind them.  Immediately, Luka re-asked his question.

Adrian laughed softly.  "Now that's a very loaded question.  We haven't gone on a single date yet."

"But you want to?"

The blonde stared off into the distance.  "I'm pretty sure she hasn't gotten over your daddy yet.  Maybe one day."

"Tomorrow?"

"Doubtful.  These things take time."

"But you do love her?"

Adrian smirked.  "Now, Luka, why don't you just go to bed and let me worry about that, okay?  You just worry about school tomorrow."

"School's boring."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  I only like music class."

"I'll make a note of that.  Now go to bed."

"Goodnight, Adrian!"

" 'Night, Luka.  Sweet dreams."