When Walls Crumble

Chapter 45: Drawing Close

When Adrian walked up the bridge at sunrise, he nearly threw up.  Lila was wearing an incredibly low cut dress and had set up a candle walkway for him.  She was sitting as provocatively as possible and fluttered her long fake eyelashes at him.  He uneasily sat down at the end of the bench.  She scooted right up next to him, barely allowing him room to breathe.

"Adrian, dear," she softly exhaled.  "I brought you the butterfly miraculous."  She opened her hand and set it on his leg.  The butterfly gem was right there.  

He took an uneasy glance at it.  "But is it real?"

"Adrian!  Would I lie to you?"

"You did with the fox.  And with Marinette."

"She's a crazy old widow.  But the fox was the first day I met you.  I really wanted a good impression, can you blame me?"

Adrian seethed inwardly at the insult lobbed at his lady but contained himself.  "Look, can you just prove it's real?  I can let go of past mistakes as long as you don't keep making them."

Lila pouted, placing emphasis on her obviously surgically enhanced lips.  "Of course.  It is real, but I would hope you can trust me."

"Earn it.  Right here, right now."  He let his tone drop some sincerity and although he cringed at the sound of it leaving his mouth, he forced his tone to be flirtatious.

Lila smirked.  "Nooru!" The kwami appeared.  "This is a kwami," Lila said, her tone dripping a smug self-satisfied tone, making clear how happy she was to be able to explain something to him.  Adrian faked amazement and poked at Nooru, who winced and looked down dejectedly.  

"What's a kwami?"

"Every miraculous has one.  He is the butterfly kwami and transforms Hawkmoth."

Adrian nodded.  "So...how did you get it?"

"Oh, I have my methods."

"Who was it?"

"Adrian, I've already told you.  The truth will be painful.  You don't want it."

He leaned in close.  "Lila, please."

A small trace of a blush flickered on Lila's face.  "Oh...mon amour," she gasped.  "I hate hiding this from you, I really do.  But just trust me and don't pursue this."

Adrian stood suddenly.  "Then I have no more to say to you, Hawkmoth."

Lila gasped and looked down.  Her hand was empty.  "Wh-what...?"

Adrian smirked and held up the broach he had lifted expertly when he leaned in and distracted her with a flirtatious face.  "Oh, Lila...you never have and never will change."

"Adrian..."

"I have nothing left to say to you, liar."

He turned and took a few steps away before her voice cut him off.

"Gabriel Agreste.  He was Hawkmoth."

Adrian stopped and smiled to himself before turning around.  

"He hasn't been for over five years.  You have been lying and cheating and double-crossing everyone solely to get close to me.  You set my best friend after me, fully intending to trap me in a world of loneliness so you could be my consolation.  You shamelessly went after another of my friend's family.  Luka hadn't even been buried before you took advantage of everyone.  You killed me and almost killed Marinette's son when you akumatized a little girl."

"What...I don't know what..."

"I know enough.  And let me tell you this.  You are hated by everyone and it's your own damn fault.  You were warned to be honest and be yourself, but you didn't.  You lied and lied and lied until you couldn't tell the truth if you wanted to.  But more than that, you've hurt people.  You have torn at Marinette's confidence too many times.  You almost murdered her son.  You killed me."

"I would never hurt you!  When did I ever come close to killing you?"

"Pyra.  I was dead for half an hour while Ladybug saved the little girl.  Her miraculous ladybug brought me back."

"But how did you..?"

"I've been helping Marinette get back on her feet for the last five years.  I was there after she was akumatized.  She told me that your voice came to her head.  And she knew what my father sounded like since you nearly got her akumatized back in school.  I can't make you tell the truth or do the right thing, but if you cross the line and hurt the love of my life, I won't hesitate to come down with a vengeance.  You've lost almost everything.  Have a nice life."

He strutted down the bridge and ducked in a nearby alley to transform.  He leaped away in the sunrise to Marinette's balcony.