I actually suggested this prompt for this edition. Got more than a few ideas for this one, I mean, Marinette's openly very athletic, and Lila is capable of climbing down from the Eiffel Tower... But in the end, I've gone for this, the one sport-related thing we know for sure Lila can do better than Marinette.
Day 2: Sports
Right after she and Marinette had left Agreste Mansion, where they had informed Gabriel Agreste of why a certain Grimoire was (in Ladybug's hands) and would be returned as soon as she had copied it all, inadvertently convincing him that Adrien was not Chat Noir as she had reasoned he had taken it to try and bring it to Ladybug himself and if he had been Chat Noir he would have known better to bring that book at school (try telling that to Plagg), Lila had to admit the man's character explained far too much of Adrien Agreste's personality.
"We have to take the poor boy out of that man's clutches as soon as we figure out how to keep it from impacting your career." she decided. "That is the hard part, getting Adrien out should be simple enough considering what you've told me."
"I wouldn't underestimate him, he built his company just thanks to his talent." Marinette reminded her friend.
"Talent, his wife's money, and his wife's inexplicable friend. Nine times out of ten people like him leave some gigantic opening to screw them over, and I've already spotted his. Need to be good at that, if I'm to help you with your butterfly problem. Speaking of which, you're free tomorrow afternoon, aren't you?"
"I thought we could spend it catching up."
"That can wait. You're my friend, and we'll be lovers if I get my way, as it always happens-"
"And how does that happen?"
"Hard work and a fine brain. I'm not wearing excessive make-up and some disgusting display of plutocratic complacency, am I?"
"*sigh*No, you aren't."
"Good. As I was saying, considering all that I need to make sure you're the best fighter you can be, and I happen to know how."
"Lila... I have my yo-yo."
"And how long ago was the fashion disaster who neutralized it with a playing card? Also, you don't have it when you aren't wearing the sexy suit-"
"LILA!"
"-and knowing how to throw a proper punch can help you with those too weak-willed to keep their hands to themselves. And I may not be an Olympic fighter yet, but I can still teach you a few things. The basics, at least. For now all you'll need will be gym clothes and a pair of handwraps, everything else I already have."
"Lila, seriously, I don't need it."
Marinette thought it would settle it. Then she looked at her childhood friend's face and realized that she was about to get talked into it.
______
"I'm still not sure about it, Tikki." Marinette said, hesitating right before the school gym's door (available for students to exercise after hours, obviously under the supervision of professor d'Argencourt or another qualified adult).
"Why? You said it yourself, Lila knows what she's doing." Tikki pointed out.
"I know! But... She's something of a seductress, and she's after me, and... And it's almost summer and Mom just did the laundry, and I had to dress like this!"
This being a pair of dark blue yoga pants and a short black top tank, plus her usual gym shoes and a pair of yellow handwraps just bought at the shop.
A bit peeved, Tikki gave her a LOOK and said: "You'll be fine, now go in."
With another sigh, Marinette entered and saw Lila sitting on a bench, reading a book on boxing and streetfighting while dressed in a short orange top tank, orange with white borders shorts, and black with white stripes boots that, by the brand, were likely made specifically for boxing, an outfit Marinette was willing to bet had been chosen specifically to show off her toned arms and legs and, for a teen, well-defined abs. As she noticed her arrival, Lila stood up, came close while taking a good look, and said: "And right now I'm wishing I was competent enough in wrestling to teach it to you. By the way, did anyone ever tell you you're cute when you're facepalming and blushing?"
______
Considering her shameless flirting, Marinette had half-expected Lila to touch her around with the excuse of correcting her stance. Instead she directly touched her only to correct her hands' position, using a workout stick for the legs.
"I'll grope you when you'll be comfortable with it, and with no excuses." she said while looking directly in Marinette's eyes from far too close as she put on a pair of black boxing gloves with the word "Winning" in a roundel on their back. "Now that I've got you blushing again, the straight punch with the forward arm. In English, the "jab". Just extend that arm as fast as you can while rotating the fist to have the back upward, then take it back just as fast. When I'm satisfied you're good with both hands we'll go with the straight with backward arm, the "cross"-knowing you, shouldn't take much."
"Aren't those the most basic punches?" Marinette asked.
"I was expecting this question. That's why we're here at the bag."
With a smile, Lila gave the bag a jab-cross combo, hitting the target twice in less than a second and making it swing with some speed before taking off the gloves.
"First thing, a proper cross can take out most opponent. Second, it's a progression: the jab gives you the movements to learn the cross, and once you've learned the cross you can go with the heavier punches. It's called the basics because it's the base for everything else. Now, let's do some jabs, OK?"
Lila and Marinette started doing some jabs in the air, with Lila looking at her friend's form-and having some trouble keeping her eyes on the arm and not the incredibly cute face. On the plus side, Marinette could enjoy seeing Lila blush when she finally caught her in the act...
Notes
When it comes to hand-to-hand combat, Marinette isn't exactly skilled: her footwork is good, as we saw in "Anansi", but when it comes to striking we saw in "Felix" her technique is, well, completely absent. Lila, on the other hand, has proven herself quite capable in "Chameleon", reflexively parrying the infamous killer napkin the way a boxer would be taught and, once she was Chameleon and had copied Chat Noir's powers and physical abilities, quickly overwhelming Ladybug and going for a ground-and-pound. We can safely say that Lila has formal training in kickboxing and possibly MMA and aced it, while Marinette goes on purely on fighting experience... And could benefit some proper training. Thus the whole set-up... And Lila having quality boxing equipment (just google "Winning boxing gloves" and look for a review).
Also, I wanted to say where I got the "disgusting display of plutocratic complacency" comment, as it's not something I came up for myself: a DISNEY comic, shouted by Donald during a discussion with Scrooge. You can find some interesting things when you know where to look, can't you?
