A/N: Super long chapter ahead. Mainly Lila's point of view. 😘

Lila hummed as she groggily sat up from bed. She yawned and stretched while standing up. She walked through the hallways, feeling it quiet. Lila rolled her eyes, knowing her mother once again is gone. But at least was decent to leave her lunch in a bag. 

Getting ready for the day, she adjusted her wig and grabbed her phone, blinking as she just received a voicemail. 

"Hi, darling. Your breakfast is on the table, your lunch is in a bag, and your dinner is in the fridge. I'll be home late tonight again, but I'll do my best to be there this weekend. Pinky promise. And just call me if you need anything. Love you to bits, my angel! Muah!"

Lila huffed, shoving her lunch in her bag while taking a bite from her apple. She's not sure why her mother bothers to try to get in her good graces. Her eyes narrowed at her locked drawer, glaring at it silently before shrugging her bag on her shoulder. 

Ever since he left, it has been...dark in their apartment. Her mother refused to talk to her for the first few years and it hurt. Especially when her mother would snap at her a few times. 

But now that her mom has a job and a girlfriend, she's barely even home. Lila could care less about it. Well, that's what she tells herself. Lila would just stay home or hang out with Gwen when she was not working. She's fine with it. 

She's fine with it. 

Lila walked out of her apartment and locked the door, looking through the door's reflection and adjusting her wig. With a nod, she walked out with blank thoughts. 

Lila didn't realize she was clutching her bag tightly and frowning while she walked until she heard a call from behind. She stopped and glanced back to see Nino catching up to her. 

"Is something wrong, Lila?" Nino asked, seeing the frown on her face. 

Lila blinked before putting up a smile as they both started walking to school. 

"Uh, no, I'm doing great! It's just that...my mom wants me to go with her to this fancy embassy function tonight, but I got way too much homework and I'm so behind after being away for the first term. I'm just going to have to tell her no. She'll be so upset."

She wasn't wrong though, she missed the first term of school and she couldn't thank Gwen enough for helping her with the homework. But the teachers keep sending her more homework and it's exhausting. Lila did recall a time Adrien offered to help her but she's not sure about that. 

Lila doesn't hate Adrien. He's cute but it gets annoying how Gwen and Adrien's feelings come to a close but something always happens (without her knowledge) and they just go back to normal. 

Nino frowned, "Oh, yeah. Bummer."

Lila blinked, smirking quietly. She peeked at Nino, knowing he is Adrien's second best friend. If she can find a way for Gwen and Adrien to finally get together, she'll just have to give a small push. 

"Adrien said he'd help me, but I don't want to bother him with it. He's probably forgotten anyway. He might think I've got a crush on him, just like all those girls who are constantly hanging all over him," Lila shrugged, giving a pity look. 

Nino's eyes widened and beamed, hoping to cheer the girl up. "Adrien's a great dude. I'm sure he won't mind. I can put in a good word for you if you want?"

"Oh, you'd do that for me?" Lila beamed. "Oh thanks, Nino! You're the best!"

"No sweat!" Nino rubbed his nape as they crossed the sidewalk.

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen closed her eyes as she sat in front of Pollen who was peacefully sleeping. She silently sat while Fu gave a few minutes of healing to the kwami. 

Her phone buzzed, making her take out her phone and look at the notification. She smiled softly as she saw Lila sending her a message saying she was on her way to school. 

"I'll get going," Gwen stood up and grabbed her bag, glancing at Fu. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," Fu nodded as Gwen crouched and caressed Pollen with her pointy finger lightly. 

"Get well," she whispered and walked out of the apartment. Gwen didn't bother bringing her skateboard this time as it was a nice sunny day and she felt like walking. 

"This feels like a good day," Gwen nodded and clenched her fists. "Right. Nothing bad will happen and I won't let it bring me down," she huffed and looked down at her phone, biting her dry lip.

"No more danger, no more stupidity, and no thoughts about anything that would stress me," she raised her chin. Gwen stopped and ran back as she saw a new drumset being shown from the store. Her eyes widened and grinned at it. 

"Awesome..."

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen entered the class and sat on the back row like always, she pouted as Nathaniel sat next to Alix. She didn't mind but was glad that Lila immediately sat next to her with a grin. 

They conversed most of the classes all day. Gwen even helped Lila with some of the homework she brought with her while Ms. Mendeleiev was talking about science. 

The bell rang, announcing the end of the day. Gwen sat up, gathering her stuff and putting them in her bag. "Hey, after work do you want to hang out? I heard there's a good café not far from here," Gwen turned to Lila. 

Lila beamed, grabbing her stuff. She nodded, excited to talk to the girl more. As she stood up, Adrien walked over to them. Gwen smiled at him, making him smile back. Lila looked between them and rolled her eyes, poking Gwen's hip. 

Gwen stopped and looked down at Lila, rolling her eyes to see the girl smirking teasingly at her. 

"Hey, Lila," Adrien turned to her, making Gwen blink and look between them. 

"Nino told me about your problem. I can still help you with your schoolwork if you want," he suggested. 

Gwen frowned, glancing at Lila. "You're still struggling? Sorry, I'm not a good tutor am I?" she sweatdropped, rubbing her nape. 

Lila shook her head, "It's not you. I just wanted to know how Adrien does it. You do tend to drift off when you help."

Gwen's eye twitched and huffed, turning back to Adrien. "Well, then. While you're at it, make sure to give her a hard time," she teased while Lila gasped, looking at her in disbelief before turning back to Adrien. 

"Thanks, Adrien. You'd be a great help," Lila smiled. 

"No problem, Lila. Happy to help," Adrien smiled back and turned to Gwen. "You work today, huh?"

"Yup," Gwen nodded. "Although, Sabine said it was a slow day so who knows? Maybe I get out early but you guys have fun. I'll see you around," she waved and walked out of the room. 

Her senses flared, making her look back slightly as Adrien and Lila continue to converse. But that's not what caught her attention. A certain pigtailed girl was hiding behind them. 

Gwen didn't bother to do anything and just walked out, heading to work. "I get my paycheck today," she grinned and gave a little dance. "Hell yeah."

🕸🕷🕸

Just as Gwen left, Lila grinned at Adrien. She stopped as she noticed Alya and Marinette hiding behind her and narrowed her eyes at Marinette. She looked back to Adrien and grabbed her bag. 

"Why don't we go to your place to do our homework? It would be so much quieter, wouldn't it?" she asked. 

"My father would never agree to that," Adrien grimaced, knowing his father. 

"I bet you I can change his mind," Lila grinned and grabbed his arm, running out of the classroom. They ran down the stairs and out of the school. Adrien's bodyguard was already at the front, waiting for Adrien. 

She grinned, slowing down and letting Adrien's arm go. Lila saw as Adrien's bodyguard stopped her from getting inside the car. She understands but just smiled. 

"Hi, I'm Lila, Adrien's classmate. I was hoping you don't mind if I can go with Adrien for a tutoring lesson. You see, he promised me that he will help and he told me his schedule will be busy. Can you pardon this excuse for us? It won't take long, I promise," Lila smiled. 

Adrien's guard hesitated but let it slide, letting them inside. As they all entered, they drove off to Adrien's mansion. Lila smiled as her plan was set. Lila wanted to do something for Gwen and hoped this can work. At least to help Adrien talk to Gwen about his feelings. 

"What's the worst grade you've ever gotten?" Lila couldn't help but ask. She knows the boy is basically the definition of perfection, based on the rumors. Lila at least wants to get to know the boy when he finally goes out with Gwen. 

"An A- in math," Adrien replied and frowned, having second thoughts and bringing Lila to his house. Gwen would often come around but always sneaks inside. His father didn't let Nino hang around the house, what makes him think Lila would be any different? "Listen, Lila. You should forget about this. My father can be harsh with anyone he thinks is an intruder."

"Not even Gwen?" Lila asked, glancing at Adrien. 

"Gwen met my father once," Adrien sweatdropped, recalling his model shoot. "It was brief but Gwen hasn't visited my house."

Lila hummed, looking out the window. "We're not doing anything wrong. Just leave it to me," she smiled at him. 

Just as they arrived at the mansion, they were immediately met with Nathalie, who narrowed her eyes at Lila. "I'm sorry, Adrien, but you know your father–"

"Sorry, excuse me, ma'am?" Lila apologetically interrupted. "But is there any way I can ask him directly? Just in case," she tried. 

"Mr. Agreste is busy designing and must not be disturbed for any reason," Nathalie informed. 

Adrien sighed, expecting this. "I told you so. Maybe another time during school?"

"Oh, Adrien. I wanted to help you make up all the schoolwork you missed due to all the modeling you've been doing lately," Lila gave him a pointed look, seeing his eyes widen at the lie. "What will your father think if he finds out about your lower grades, Adrien? Who will he believe?" she looked back up at Nathalie, seeing her hard expression softening at her words. 

"Adrien?" Nathalie worriedly frowned at the boy. "Have your grades gone down?"

"He'd never tell you himself but when I saw Adrien crying the other day because he only got an A-, I just felt like I had to offer him my help. I would've taken half an hour," Lila suggested looking back at Nathalie who raised a brow at her. 

Lila sighed, looking away. "I understand. You're only doing what you think is best. I did what I could, Adrien. Good luck," she patted his shoulder and started walking off. 

"If it's only half an hour," Nathalie spoke up, making Lila smile and turn to her in relief. 

"If you really insist, I'll do it. Thank you so much."

Lila turned back to Adrien as he guided them inside his room. Lila couldn't help but look at the place in awe. She can only frown at the lack of color but only followed along. 

As they entered the room, Lila's eyes widened at the place. His room is big compared to her apartment. Looking around, she stopped as she saw a picture of a blonde woman with Adrien on the three computer screens. 

Her eyes softened, seeing how happy they look. "Is this your mom?" she asked. 

"Yeah," Adrien nodded, sitting on a desk and pulling out his book. 

Lila looked back at him and nodded. "I'm sorry, Adrien. I know I said that I need help with homework but it was a lie."

"What?" Adrien turned to her, his eyes wide. "Why would you lie about that?"

"Look, sure, I need help with homework and all but I came here for one reason and one reason only. When are you going to tell Gwen that you like her?"

Adrien sighed, leaning back on his chair. He rubbed his nape and looked up at her. "Look, Lila. I don't think I want to have this conversation right now. Especially that you lied to me."

"I really am sorry," Lila frowned, sitting on the sofa. "You see, Gwen is the kind of person that everyone relies on and I just want her to be happy...and I can tell that you make her happy too. Even though you and I don't talk much, I also want you to be happy. Gwen tells me how you're always busy with modeling and Gwen would sneak here and there, I just want you guys to be okay with this."

Adrien glanced at her before looking down at his dog tag. "I want to...but it's not easy for me. When I'm around her, I just freeze. She's amazing and I want to be with her. But...what if she doesn't like me ba–OOF!" 

Adrien yelps as Lila threw a pillow at his face. Her eye twitched with annoyance. "Are you kidding me?! You're telling me, that you're being a wimp to tell your feelings to Gwendolyn Maxine Stacy because you think she doesn't like you back?!" 

Lila groaned and threw another pillow at him, making Adrien's eyes widen and dodge the throw but yelped as he was hit again. 

"What do you want me to do, then?" Adrien asked, swatting away the pillow. "Gwen's always busy with work and school, I don't want to bother her and there's also me with modeling."

"You suck!" Lila cursed, pushing him to his chair. "I didn't come here and lie just for you to say that you have no time. You should have all the time for Gwen. Sure, Gwen is in her internal struggles because of her friend boy, but you can always be there for her."

"I know," Adrien frowned, looking down at his hands. He yelped as Lila slapped him upside in the head. 

"Well, try harder! You are annoying me and it's getting old!" she snapped as she sat on the bed. She huffed, looking away. Lila stopped as she saw a picture frame next to Adrien's bed. 

Lila frowned as it was Adrien's fencing class but it wasn't what caught her attention. It was the girl in a red suit. She was standing in front with Adrien. She also took notice of Adrien's hand on her shoulder. 

"This girl in red is pretty. Who is she?" Lila turned to Adrien. 

"That's Kagami. We take fencing classes together," he turned to her, seeing her focusing on the picture. 

"She looks nice," Lila smiled at the picture. "You should introduce me to her sometime."

"Lila," Adrien gave her a pointed look. "Didn't you want me to help you with your homework?"

Lila groaned, grabbing her bag from the floor and placing her homework on the table. She looked through the instructions and occasionally asked Adrien for help but did some of it on her own. 

Lila stretched her back on the chair, raising her arms but stopped as she noticed something inside a large trophy. She hummed and stood up, reaching for it. 

Her eyes widened to see a few pictures printed inside the trophy. She half expected to be a dozen pictures of Ladybug, knowing he was a fan, but instead saw a few pictures of Gwen from the beach. 

Lila smiled, liking the angle from the picture. "You must really like her. She looks beautiful in the picture."

Adrien sighed, smiling at the picture too. "Yeah, I'm just...worried how she will react if I tell her."

"What do you mean?" Lila sincerely turned to him. 

Adrien looked down at the picture, running his finger on the smooth page over Gwen's smile. "You must have heard her best friend passed away almost a year ago."

Lila nodded, indicating for Adrien to keep going. "She couldn't confess to him. She loved him...because of that, she heavily blames herself for his death and I feel like with me just bringing up my feelings would make her feel bad."

Adrien frowned, placing the picture on the table, his heart breaking at the thought. "I don't want to bring much pressure on her. She already lost so much and I don't want to burden her with my presence."

"Hey," Lila softly smiled, sitting next to him. "I don't think you would be a burden at all."

Adrien blinked, looking back at the smiling girl. "In fact," she grinned. "I feel like you are the person she needs the most, you know? She may hide her feelings and deny all outcomes, but you can softly break her shell. She cares for you a lot."

Adrien took a moment to process her words and smiled, "Thanks, Lila. You know, you can be nice when you're not lying."

"Who said I wasn't?"

"What?"

Lila and Adrien blinked before laughing at the moment. She smiled at him and patted his shoulder. "Now, if she does push you away, never let go of her."

"I won't," Adrien beamed. 

They both stopped as they heard the door open. Nathalie briefly entered and turned to Adrien. "Time's up, Adrien. Your father could come out of his office at any minute," she informed before walking out. 

Lila stood up and gathered her things. "I guess I won the bet. How about a little souvenir photo?" she grabbed her phone and teasingly kissed his cheek as she took a selfie. Adrien chuckled, shaking his head at the girl. 

"Feel free to ask if you need any more help with your math," Lila winked knowingly at Adrien and walked out. She looked down at her phone and sent the picture to Gwen, unknowingly sending it to everyone in Paris.

Lila saw Nathalie and Adrien's bodyguard waiting for her and ran towards them. A creak of a door stopped her from moving forward and looked back. Her eyes widened in disbelief to see the Gabriel Agreste walking out of his office. 

Adrien's bodyguard attempted to hide her but grew more nervous as Gabriel narrowed his eyes at him. 

"Mr. Gabriel Agreste!" she gasped, jumping out to see him better. "I am such an admirer of your fashion designs! This is the best day of my life!" she beamed but stopped as Gabriel was glaring at her silently. "I know how busy you are, so I won't take up any more of your time. Have a good evening!" she waved and ran off the mansion. 

She shivered, not liking the glare Gabriel gave her. "Geez," she shook her head. Passing the gate, she stopped as she saw several trash bins on the ground. Her eye twitched to see Marinette inside a trash bin. 

"Why do I even bother?" she asked, rolling her eyes. Grabbing her phone she went to call Gwen to meet. 

🕸🕷🕸

"What was that young girl doing in my house?!" Gabriel shoved his phone at Nathalie, showing Lila's selfie. 

"I decided it would be good for her to help Adrien review his mathematics," Nathalie shamefully looked at the ground. 

"I'm the only one who decides what's good for my son! This isn't the first time you've been fooled by his classmates," Gabriel turned away, glaring at the photo.

Nathalie grew worried, looking up at Gabriel. "Do you want...to take Adrien out of school?"

"No," Gabriel shook his head. "But I won't allow Adrien to be influenced by the company he keeps." He stopped and looked down at the picture.

He smirked, recalling Lila's connection to the blonde girl she's always with. "On second thought...I think this photo is going to help me get those young girls in particular away from my son once and for all."

🕸🕷🕸

Somewhere in Jardin des Tuileries, a certain dark-haired girl leaned against the tree from her practice. Her mother worked her to the bone with her staff and was relieved to get a break. 

Kagami recalled getting a message. She frowned as she doesn't have many contacts to get a message. She lightly blushed, thinking it could be Adrien. She felt that they have been getting closer these days and she couldn't be any happier. 

Pressing the message, her eyes widened in disbelief to see a picture of a girl kissing Adrien's cheek. Her eyes immediately narrowed as she seethed at the girl. In frustration, she threw away her phone and went through her pockets, pulling out her scrapbook. 

Feeling the hardcover, she flipped through the pages, finding what she wanted to see. A cropped picture of her and Adrien in their fencing uniforms. Not only that, a rose was between the pages. She didn't want the flower to die, so she kept it in her scrapbook, leaving the beauty still inside. 

This rose is special to her. 

It was the same rose Adrien gave her a few weeks back. It was the first moment they had a nice conversation between them. And to see a girl kissing Adrien brought rage within her, gripping the rose to her chest unaware of an akuma flying towards the rose. 

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen stretched, grinning widely as she stepped out of the bakery. It was a slow day as Sabine expected and let her off early. She received a call from Lila that she wants to meet up at the café, so she headed in that direction. 

Gwen hummed a tune as she walked with her arms behind her head. "I wonder if Lila learned from Adrien. She's cursing me out for drifting off but she's always distracted and changes the subject," she chuckled, shaking her head. 

Passing a few blocks, she spotted Lila not far and ran towards her, tackling her in a hug. Lila yelped, swinging her arms to slap but stopped when she saw Gwen's grinning smile. They laughed as they walked towards the café. 

🕸🕷🕸

Adrien finished planning his work and turned on the computer to start his report. As his hands worked, his mind was elsewhere. A smile slowly spread his lips as he remembered Lila's advice. His hand subconsciously grabbed his dog tag. 

"She's right," he whispered. 

"Adrien."

Adrien stiffened, turning his chair and paling to see someone standing on his window. He just knew they were akumatized from their outfit. 

"I am Oni-Chan. You and I were made for each other, Adrien," Oni-chan looked at him. 

It took a moment for Adrien to recognize her voice, making him pale. "Kagami?"

"I will protect you from anyone who tries to harm you. I'll protect you from Gwen and Lila," she showed her phone with Lila's selfie on it. 

"They're not dangerous," Adrien frowned. "Lila just craves attention and Gwen's never hurt me."

"They don't deserve any of your attention. What they deserve is punishment!" Oni-Chan swung her red blade and jumped off. 

"Kagami, no!" he screamed and ran towards the window, seeing her jump off. He cursed, now bringing Gwen more problems. 

"Wow," Plagg flew out of Adrien's pocket. "With all these girlfriends chasing you, I guess it was only a matter of time before they ended up fighting each other....my camembert's on Gwenchy."

Adrien's eye twitched. "I don't have any girlfriend!"

"...not yet."

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen chuckled as she stuffed her face with cake pops. She saw Lila drink her tea as they decided to walk to the park. "These are amazing," Gwen groaned. "Back in New York, they had these pizza pies in this small store. It was so good."

"Pizza pies?" Lila chuckled, turning to Gwen who nodded. 

"Yeah, I used to go there and grab corndogs all the time but I have been craving pizza pies. I wonder if they still have it," Gwen shrugged, taking another bite of the cake pop. "These are good too."

Gwen dusted her hands and glanced at Lila. "How did it go with Adrien? Was it easier to learn?"

"Please," Lile rolled her eyes. "You're better."

"Ahhh," Gwen amusedly smiled at the girl. "I believe someone owes me an apology."

"Oh, yeah," Lila gave her a pointed look. "Well, I am sincerely sorry for insulting your distracted notions."

Gwen laughed, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulder. "Do you want to have dinner later? I finished my homework back at the bakery."

Lila beamed, turning to the girl. "Yeah! You should sleep over, too."

"I'll ask Gramps," Gwen smiled. "We can grab pizza for dinner."

Lila rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. We can eat mom's dinner for a midnight snack afterward."

Gwen chuckled, nudging the girl lightly. She stopped, however, as she felt her senses flare.

"Lila..."

Lila flinched as an ominous voice echoed through the streets. Looking around, she couldn't find anyone there. She subconsciously grabbed onto Gwen's coat and warily looked around. "Uh...Gwen?"

"I hear it too," Gwen's eyes blankly looked forward as she kept her pace normal, tagging Lila along. "We're being followed."

"Gwen..."

Gwen's eyes narrowed as she can feel eyes staring at them. She kept her calm composure through the process as she's gotten used to being followed. Lila, however, was having none of it. She gripped Gwen's hand and ran to hide. 

Leaning her back against the wall, she panted as fear started creeping up on her. 

"Lila and Gwen!"

Lila yelped, jumping back as she saw someone appear in front of them. Gwen immediately pushed Lila behind her, glaring at the akumatized victim. 

"What do you want?" Gwen demanded as Lila gripped her coat tightly. 

Oni-Chan aimed her red bokken at the girls, glaring at them. "I forbid you to go anywhere near Adrien!" She swung her blade at a car, causing it to fly back and land on the ground. "Give up on him and I will spare you."

"Adrien? I don't know anyone named Adrien!" Lila yelped, making Gwen and Oni-Chan turn to her in disbelief. 

"Don't lie to me!"

"Don't lie to her!"

Gwen and Oni-Chan stopped and glared at each other while Lila apologized. 

"You're gonna have to give in. Otherwise, you'll really get it, whether you want it or not."

Gwen smirked, "Oh? What makes you think Adrien is yours in the first place?"

Oni-Chan's eyes widened before she seethed at the girl, raising her blade. 

"Don't you think you should ask the lucky guy what he thinks?" Oni-Chan stopped as Chatnoir stepped into view, smirking at her. Oni-Chan gritted her teeth and swung her blade at him but he dodged, slicing the car in half. 

"Hey, I'm just trying to help," he shrugged from on top of the lamp post. 

Oni-Chan followed him and attacked him. Ladybug jumped down and grabbed Lila's wrist, pulling her along. "Follow me!" she shouted at the girls. Gwen wasn't sure what Lila did this time but she refused to let Lila by herself. 

They ran through the park when Lila snatched her wrist back and glared at Ladybug. "I don't need you, Ladybug. I was perfectly capable of defending myself. Besides, that ugly horned girl doesn't stand a chance with Adrien," she crossed her arms. 'Not when Adrien belongs with Gwen,' she thought.

As she said those words, Chatnoir came flying and landed on the ground. Gwen grimaced, feeling bad for the guy. 

"Are you really sure I don't stand a chance?" Oni-Chan walked through the park and kicked Ladybug away, pointing her blade at Gwen's forehead. 

Chat's eyes widened and stood up, running towards them. Ladybug was quick too, throwing her yo-yo at her blade, stopping it from hurting the girls. 

"They got it! Come on!" Gwen grabbed Lila's wrist and ran out of the park. 

"It's no use running. Wherever you go, I'll find you," Oni-Chan looked at where the girls ran off. 

"Not before we capture your akuma anyway," Chat glares. 

"Where's Ghost?" Ladybug looked around for the hero as she tensed at the villain. 

Chat's eyes widened, "Um...she mentioned she had an errand."

"Really? Right now?" Ladybug looked at him in disbelief. They both yelp as Oni-Chan swung her blade at them. 

🕸🕷🕸

"Wait! Gwen!" Lila shouts as Gwen kept dragging the girl in the streets. She attempted to dig her feet on the ground but yelped as she was later in the air as Gwen kept speeding. Gwen stopped and grimaced as she spotted Officer Roger and ran to his car. 

"Stop!" Gwen raised her hands, causing him to stop the car and look at her weirdly. She ignored it as she dragged Lila to the window. "We're being followed by a supervillain," Gwen informed. 

"And Ladybug's failing miserably!" Lila added. "You're the only one who can help us! Please protect us!"

"Get in," Roger pointed to the backseat. "I can protect you down at the precinct."

Gwen sighed in relief and ushered Lila to get inside first and closed the door behind her. 

"Unfortunately, there's not much I can do about your forehead problem, though," Roger glanced at Gwen. 

Gwen's jaw dropped in offense, "I don't have a big forehead!" she patted her head, stopping as she felt a stump. Looking at the mirror, she gasped as she saw a red horn. "What the hell?!"

"You have a horn!" Lila's eyes widened. 

"You think?!" Gwen sassed, looking back at the mirror. "Oh, man..." Her senses flared as her horn lit brightly. Not a moment later, Roger's phone buzzed, causing him to stop the car and pull it out. 

He frowned as he saw a logo of a black rose with a diamond on top as a notification. "What kind of message is this?"

Gwen and Lila were instantly on alert as Roger disappeared but was replaced by Oni-Chan.

🕸🕷🕸

Oni-Chan stopped as she stood in front of the heroes. She smirked as she felt her horn light up and stood still. Ladybug and Chatnoir used that chance and lunge at her, swinging their weapons back to attack. 

They couldn't believe their eyes when Oni-Chan was gone and Officer Roger stood in her place. They yelped and gripped their weapons tightly, falling to the ground. Looking around, they couldn't find the villain anywhere. 

"What just happened?!" Ladybug frowned. 

"Where's my car?" Roger looked around confused. "What happened to the young lady with the horn on her forehead? The ones being chased by that supervillain?"

"Lila and Gwen?" Ladybug blinked. 

Chat stopped and realized when Oni-Chan did something to Gwen's head. "Gwen..." he gasped. 

Ladybug twirled her yo-yo and swung off. Chatnoir didn't wait a moment after as he jumped after her. 

🕸🕷🕸

"Shit," Gwen cursed as she kicked Oni-Chan's seat, causing Oni-Chan to stumble to the steering wheel. "Come on, go, go, go!" Gwen ushered Lila out and grabbed her hand as they ran away. 

Oni-Chan groaned, rubbing her nose from the impact, and glanced in their direction. "Go ahead and run. As fast and as far away as you can, Lila Rossi and Gwen Stacy."

Oni-Chan blankly looked up at the street as Ladybug and Chatnoir finally arrived, standing in front of the car. 

Chat frowned as Oni-Chan only stared at them with a smirk on her face. "I feel like she's taunting us."

"She won't be laughing for long," Ladybug took the initiative and trap Oni-Chan inside the vehicle by wrapping her yo-yo around the car. 

🕸🕷🕸

As the girls ran, Gwen took in the situation. The supervillain is obsessed with Adrien. What else is new? They are against her and Lila. Why? Gwen glanced at Lila, seeing the girl getting scared by the minute. Gwen narrowed her eyes before groaning. 

"What did you do?!" Gwen exclaimed. 

"What are you talking about?! I didn't do anything!" Lila panted, trying to catch up with the girl. 

"You went with Adrien earlier. Did someone see you or seem against you somehow?!"

Lila thought back but the only thing she could think of was when she saw Marinette trying to get inside the gate. "I think it was Marinette. I saw her spying on us earlier."

"Marinette?" Gwen blinked and shook her head. "It can't be her...can it? What else happened?!" they turned a corner, bumping into a few angry people. 

"I sent a picture to you, which by the way! You should be checking your messages, Gwen!" Lila glared at her.

"What picture?" Gwen stopped in her tracks as Lila stopped beside her, leaning on her knees to take a breather. 

"The picture," Lila deadpanned at her. She sighed and stood up, grabbing her phone and showing the selfie to her. Gwen's eye twitched at the selfie but snatched the phone to look through it. 

"Hey!" Lila deadpanned. 

"You only sent it to me?" Gwen turned to her and Lila nodded. Gwen strained a smile and showed her messages. "You sent it to Paris."

"Huh?!" Lila snatched her phone back and looked at it. She saw that not many people opened their messages and connected the dots to the time when the villain appeared and to the list. 

"Kagami Tsurugi," Lila paled, recalling Adrien's fencing classmate, and apologetically turned to Gwen. 

"Kagami? Are you serious?" Gwen sweatdropped, rubbing her horned head. "You got to be kidding me," she cursed. 

Gwen found the culprit and the reason for the girl's akumatization. But why her? What did she do? She shook the thought and felt her horn. How did Kagami change places with Roger?

Roger pointed out her forehead when he looked at his phone. Her eyes widened and sighed. "This sucks. Come on, we have to keep moving."

Lila groaned and ran after the girl for a few blocks. The girl spotted the bakery and ran inside, closing the door shut behind them. 

"Sabine!" Gwen gasped. "A villain is after us, let us hide here for a while."

"You have something on your forehead," Sabine frowned, looking at the girl. 

Gwen's senses flared as her horn lit up once again and Sabine's phone buzzed. Gwen's eyes widened as Sabine goes to pull it out and ran towards her. "No, wait!"

But it was too late as Sabine opened the notification. "What a strange message."

🕸🕷🕸

Ladybug and Chat looked around the car, making sure Oni-Chan can't escape. Ladybug smirked, holding her yo-yo tightly. "We got her!"

They both stiffened as the inside of the car started glowing red. "Not again!" Chat exclaimed and ran to look inside the car. He blinked as Mrs. Dupain-Cheng was inside, confused about how she got there. 

🕸🕷🕸

Oni-Chan appeared in front of the girls once again with a smirk. "So, you think you can get away from me?" she aimed her blade at them. 

"Honey?" 

Gwen's eyes widened in horror to see Tom looking at Oni-Chan in worry for his wife. But Oni-Chan ignored him, grinning at the girls maliciously. "All you have to do is give up on Adrien, and all of this will stop."

Oni-Chan stopped as Tom tapped her shoulder and crossed his arms, clearing his throat. "Nobody attacks customers at the Dupain-Cheng bakery. Let alone, my employee. And where is my wife?" he demanded. 

Gwen gritted her teeth as Oni-Chan turned to him to attack. She ran behind the villain and kicked behind her knees, causing her to fall to the ground with a yelp. 

"Gwen!" Lila and Tom gasped as Gwen put the villain in a chokehold before looking up at them. "Get out of here! She's only after me!" Gwen shouts as she tightened her hold as Oni-Chan struggled. 

Lila shook her head as Tom tried to intervene but Oni-Chan raised her blade and hit the man far from them. 

"Tom!" Gwen's eyes widened. 

Oni-Chan used this chance to elbow the girl and turn around, throwing a right hook. 

Gwen wasn't expecting it as she was sent flying out of the bakery and onto the pavement. "Ow..." she groaned as she faced the ground, lifting herself up. 

"Gwen!" Lila screeched and ran after her, pulling her off the ground and dragging her off. 

"Wait, what about Tom?!" Gwen turned back but stopped as Ladybug and Chatnoir landed in front of them. 

"Lila, Gwen, are you okay?" Chat frowned. He stopped as he saw a bruise on Gwen's jaw. "Gwen!"

Gwen spat on the ground beside her, wiping a smudge of blood from her lips. "I'm fine. Wasn't expecting it." She didn't realize her horn grew a centimeter.

Lila gasped as she never expected to be saved once again by Ladybug. "You're rushing to our rescue even after all those nasty things I said about you?"

Ladybug goes to reply when her yo-yo buzzed. She pulled it out and frowned at it. "What kind of message is this?"

Gwen's and Lila's eyes widened and shouted, "Wait!"

But it was too late as Ladybug was gone and Oni-Chan took her place. 

"Hey! Not cool! The girls were just starting to get along!" Chat raised his staff and lunged at Oni-Chan.

🕸🕷🕸

Ladybug blinked, not expecting to suddenly be inside the bakery. She frowned at the mess and turned around, gasping to see her dad on the ground. 

"Ladybug! My wife answered the phone, and then Poof! She disappeared! And then that villain showed up, and now you're here, and–"

"Don't worry," Ladybug gently raised her hands to help him off the ground, sighing internally to see he was all right. "Your wife is in a police car, safe and sound," she smiled. 

She walked over to the window, frowning as she saw Chatnoir fighting Oni-Chan. She started to think about the situation for a moment. If only Ghost-Spider was here. She's usually a good investigator. 

"The supervillain sends evil phone messages and swaps places with the person who looks at them. And Gwen's horn acts as a kind of cell tower," Ladybug's eyes widened in realization. "That's how the villain always tracks her down. I know how to defeat her now, thanks to you!" she grinned at her father and ran out of the bakery.

🕸🕷🕸

While Chat was fighting Oni-Chan, Gwen used that chance to grab Lila's hand and run off. She looked back just as Oni-Chan stopped mid-fight and run after them. 

"Give Adrien up!" Oni-Chan shouted. 

"And let you hurt him? No way!" Gwen shouted as she kept running. 

Chat caught up to them and extended his staff, blocking Oni-Chan from going any further. He swung his long staff and smacked the villain back. Oni-Chan fell to the ground but rolled to her knees, glaring at him. 

"Adrien, Adrien, Adrien," Chat mused. "All the girls are fighting over him. No one's fighting over me. Yet, I'm so much more sophisticated, funnier, and definitely better dressed than him."

He stopped as Oni-Chan furiously charged towards him, swinging her blade at him. "How dare you compare yourself to Adrien, you cursed cat! Adrien is perfection personified! He's the only one who's worthy of me! And the only one I. Will. Ever. Love!"

"What?!" Chat and Gwen stopped and turned to her. Lila paled and tried to drag Gwen but the girl was too focused on the villain's words. "Gwen! Now is not the time to get jealous!" Lila snapped at her. 

"What the hell does she mean by 'love'? They only met in the gym!" Gwen raised her hands in disbelief but Lila was having none of it and kept pulling. 

Gwen sweatdropped as Oni-Chan swung her blade and managed to strike Chat, sending him flying back to a billboard. "What are you smiling at?" Chat groaned, glaring at Adrien's picture.

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen panted as it was annoying her that they keep running. "This is getting ridiculous!" she snapped. "OMEN! When I see you! I'm going to kill you!"

They ran past a civilian, unaware that Oni-Chan swapped places with him, and ran towards the girls. She jumped and landed in front of them, pointing her blade at them, causing them to stop. 

"Do you get it now?" Oni-Chan threateningly walked towards them. "I'll hunt you down wherever you go. Just give up on Adrien, and I'll stop tracking your every move."

Gwen gritted her teeth and worriedly looked at Lila. She closed her eyes and slowly kneeled on the ground in surrender. "All right," Gwen glared at the ground. "I'll give up on Adrien."

Lila's eyes widened as she saw Gwen's horn grow. It only irritated Oni-Chan as she glared down at the girl. "You're an awesome actress, but you're lying. Your horn betrays you, see? It will only disappear once you've sincerely given up on Adrien."

Gwen glared up at her and intimidatingly stood up, smirking down at the villain. Adrien belongs to no one but himself. Even Gwen doesn't belong to him. 

"Well then, you'll just have to do something better. I'm not giving up on Omen, so give me everything you've got," Gwen glared at her, clenching her fists. 

"Very well," Oni-Chan raised her blade but Lila had other plans. She turned around, spotting someone from three blocks from where Ladybug and Chatnoir were running. 

"Hey! Look at her large forehead!" Lila shouts, waving her arms and pointing at Gwen. 

Several civilians turned to Lila, pointing out Gwen's face before their phones went off. Oni-Chan's eyes widened and goes to strike the girl but Gwen threw a hard punch at her jaw before she disappeared, a young woman standing in her place.

"What happened?" the woman frowned, but Gwen turned to Lila. "You need to go."

"What?!" Lila's eyes widened. "No!"

"My head is a satellite," Gwen informed. "Someone points it out, and Kagami comes back. Go!"

"Gwen! Wait!" Lila reached for her hand but Gwen ran off, trying to hide her horn from view. 

"Gwen!"

🕸🕷🕸

Oni-Chan gritted her teeth as she has been tricked. She turned to the next objective as she started attacking Ladybug and Chatnoir, thrusting her blade at them constantly. 

"Chatnoir! If anyone receives a text message, you can't let them open it," Ladybug informed, standing in front of Oni-Chan. "That's how Oni-Chan teleports herself."

Oni-Chan was getting impatient. She has to reach Gwen and put a stop to it. Lila worriedly looked where Gwen ran off to and knew Ladybug and Chatnoir can find her. 

She dropped to the ground and held her ankle, "Help, Chatnoir!" she cried out. "It hurts so much! I think I might've broken something!"

Chat stopped and turned back to see Lila on the ground. He turned back to Ladybug who was still fighting Oni-Chan. "Ladybug, I have an emergency. I won't be long."

"Are you sure she's not pulling your leg?" Ladybug dodged a swipe. 

"She wouldn't do that now. She really looks like she's in pain," Chat ran off to Lila. He frowned, however, when he didn't see Gwen anywhere. "Where's Gwen?"

"She kicked my ankle and ran off!" Lila turned to him. "She's in danger! We have to find her!"

Chat's eyes widened in disbelief, "She ran off?!" He rushes off to find her when Lila called out to him. "Hey! Come back here, stupid!"

Chat sweatdropped and ran back to her and carry her to find Gwen. Ladybug saw them leaving and looked back to Oni-Chan. She gritted her teeth, finding no choice. She summoned her Lucky Charm. Just as the plastic tubing was going to drop into her hands, Oni-Chan jumped and snatches it. 

Oni-Chan threw the tubing at Ladybug, causing it to coil around the hero. 

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen huffed as she can see people staring at her back as she ran off. It was getting ridiculous for the girl. She felt her horn and groaned. There's no way it can detect lies. 

"I don't love Adrien!" Gwen waited. Her heart hammered against her chest as the horn lit up and grew. She gasped and shook her head. "No! No! No, I don't! That's a big word! This shit is rigged!" As she denies this, the horn only grew and grew. 

A screeching stop caused her to stop too as a firetruck stopped in front of her. Just as she goes running away, she was suddenly tackled to the graveled ground. She groaned turning around to throw a punch but froze as Chat grabbed her wrists and pushed them above her. 

"Are you insane?!" he glared at her. "Running away when you're in danger?! What were you thinking?!"

"Get off of me!" Gwen shouted back. 

Chat grunts, falling on Gwen's chest as Lila started kicking his back. "Get off of her, you creep!"

"I thought your ankle hurts! Ow!" Chat goes to move away but Lila kept kicking him. 

"I lied!" Lila shouted. 

The fireman sweatdropped as he saw a girl kicking Chatnoir who was having trouble getting off of a girl with a weird forehead. The fireman stepped out of the truck and cautiously walked over to them. 

"Um, Chatnoir?" 

The three stopped and looked up. Chatnoir immediately stood up and helped Gwen to her feet. The fireman stopped as he looked at Gwen. "You have a weird forehead."

"Thanks!" Gwen snapped irritatingly. 

Gwen's senses flared as her horn lit up as the fireman's phone buzzed. The man goes to reach for it when Chat stopped him, "Wait!"

But it was too late as the fireman saw the notification. Next thing they knew, he was gone and Oni-Chan stood in front of them. 

"Surprise, Oni-Chan?" Chat glanced at the girls. 

🕸🕷🕸

A few minutes earlier, Ladybug was tied down by her own miraculous tool. Oni-Chan was close to grabbing her earrings but was filled with relief to see Oni-Chan gone and replaced by a fireman. 

"Ladybug?" he blinked. "What am I doing here? And how did you get tied up like that?" he rushed over and stood behind her to remove the tubing. "These hoses are so strong, it once took us two full hours to get a kid untangled."

"Really?" Ladybug's eyes widened before finally realizing. "Wait! I've got a plan!"

🕸🕷🕸

Gwen shielded Lila as Chat fought with Oni-Chan. Gwen frowned as she tried to think up a plan. Where is Ladybug? 

Chat grunts as his staff hit Oni-Chan's blade and pushed her back. Oni-Chan stopped as Chat's staff rang. Chat answered it and smirked, "Yes, Ladybug?... Sure, I'll bring her over to you right now."

Oni-Chan wasn't sure what they were planning but it wasn't good. She charged towards him and swung her bokken several times but missed. Chat dodged one last time and swung his staff at her, causing her to fly back and hit against the firetruck. 

Chat didn't waste more time and rushed to the girls, grabbing Gwen's wrist. "Hurry!"

"Hey! Go easy on her!" Lila shouts as she followed them. 

Chat held his staff as he wrapped an arm around Gwen's waist and jumped high in the sky. Lila was unfortunate to grab Gwen's ankle as they jumped. 

🕸🕷🕸

Ladybug smirked as Chat arrived with the girls. Ladybug stared at Gwen and grinned. "Need a helping paw?" Chat smirked. 

"No, just a little phone call," Ladybug smirked as Gwen's horn glowed and her yo-yo buzzed and clicked on the notification. 

Gwen's senses flared and turned around, seeing Oni-Chan dropping down behind them. Oni-Chan's eyes widened in horror and raised her arm at Ladybug. "No!"

As Gwen's horn glowed, Oni-Chan swapped spaces with Ladybug and was finally stuck, wrapped with the tubing. Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around Oni-Chan's bokken and threw it at Chatnoir. 

"Chatnoir!"

Chatnoir used his cataclysm and destroyed the bokken, dropping it on the ground. Ladybug grinned as she captured the akuma and purified it, bringing everything back to normal, including getting rid of the horn on Gwen's forehead. 

Oni-Chan turned back to Kagami. 

Gwen watched beside Lila as Chat crouched and grabbed the flat rose, handing it to Kagami with a smile. 

"Pound it?" Ladybug grinned, raising a fist to him but Chat already had Kagami in his arms. 

"I'll take her back home," Chat stated, glancing at Gwen. His eyes wandered to the bruise on her jaw and frowned in worry but nodded to Ladybug before taking off. 

Ladybug blinked, not expecting her partner to leave without their fist bumps. She sighed and turned to the girls, more particularly to Lila. "Your leg looks better."

Lila blinked and put up a smile. "Being around you superheroes has toughened me up."

"Thank you, Ladybug. We can go home from here," Gwen nodded as Ladybug nodded back and swung away. 

Lila looked back at Gwen who had her brows furrowed and her fist clenched. "What's wrong?"

Gwen gulped, looking down at the anklet and back at Lila. Lila frowned worriedly as Gwen's lips quivered, trying to blink the tears away. 

"The stupid horn is wrong, right?" Gwen hiccuped. 

Lila frowned, grabbing Gwen's hands but Gwen continued. "I can't...be in love with Adrien...right? There's no way."

Gwen can feel her body heat up in guilt and shame as Lila's eyes widened and pulled the girl in a hug. "Gwen...Peter would have wanted that–"

"I don't want to love anyone," Gwen hugged the girl tighter. "A small crush is fine. I can't love anyone...they'll end up hurt because of me."

Tears brimmed in Lila's eyes. Guilt overwhelmed her as she wasn't sure how to respond to Gwen's words. 

🕸🕷🕸

The next day, Lila walked up to Adrien with a guilty expression and showed her textbook. "Can you help me with my homework after school? Gwen's working again."

Adrien sighed as he and Lila were walking out of the classroom. "Sorry, I've got fencing. Besides, I think you're already light years ahead of me when it comes to calculus."

"I'm behind. I really need help on this one, though," she tried. 

"Nathalie and my bodyguard got reprimanded last time because of you," Adrien frowned at her. 

Lila's eyes widened, "Really? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just trying to–"

"Lila," Adrien interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You can always count on me and I can always count on you when it comes to...Gwen," he whispered the last part. "But, please don't do it if it hurts the people I love."

He goes to walk away but he felt a tug on his wrist, turning back to see Lila with a forlorn expression. 

"I'm also sorry for your fencing friend...but I need to know...There's nothing between you two, right?" Lila looked up at him. 

Adrien blinked, frowning. "No. You know I like Gwen. Kagami is just a friend."

Lila wasn't sure if she should feel relieved or scared for Gwen. She really doesn't have a good feeling. She nodded and put up a smile, letting the boy go. "Just teasing. See you later," she waved. Adrien waved back and walked off to the locker room. 

Lila watched him walk away and stopped, pulling out her phone, receiving an unknown caller. She frowned and answered. 

🕸🕷🕸

Lila wasn't sure what she was doing. She only stared blankly at the white mansion in front of her. She already texted Gwen to come over for dinner again. 

🕷Flashback🕷 

"Hey," Lila turned to Gwen who was eating a slice of pizza. "Adrien told me that you met his father a while back. Already meeting your father-in-law?" she smirked teasingly while Gwen rolled her eyes. 

"I met him, haven't talked to him," Gwen dipped her pizza in ranch. She furrowed her brows in thought, "Have you met him?"

Lila nodded, "I tried talking to him but he just glared at me." 

"I don't know what it was," Gwen hummed, getting Lila's attention. "Once I saw him walk the catwalk, I felt cold. I didn't like it."

"He's like that," Lila shrugged, taking a bite. "To everyone."

"I heard," Gwen nodded. "But I don't know. Something about him feels off. I don't like it."

🕷Flashback over🕷

Lila was permitted entry and walked inside, seeing Gabriel Agreste looking out the window. 

"Thank you for inviting me here, Mr. Agreste," Lila stated. 

"You got into my house without my authorization. By lying and manipulating my son," Gabriel scornfully turned to her. 

"I only meant well," Lila looked into his eyes. "Adrien needed to talk. You do such a good job of shielding him from bad influences that he actually feels very alone," she lied. 

Gabriel hummed, "You're opening my eyes to a problem I didn't even know existed. What would you do in my position?"

Lila's eyes narrowed for a moment before going back to neutral. She saw his lying flaw. 

"I think he needs a friend his age. Someone who understands him, who can protect him from negative influences," Lila explained but she knew that she had to dig deeper. "Someone you can trust, too."

"You and I think the same way," Gabriel smirked, giving her a hand. "See you again very soon, Lila."

Lila looked at his hand for a moment. She later raised a hand and shook his, giving a smirk of her own. If Gwen feels off about this guy, she'll make sure he doesn't intervene with Gwen and Adrien.

"See you soon...Mr. Agreste."

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Next Episode: Miraculer ♥

A/N: Memes by halla92455

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Published: April 13, 2023

Word Count: 8849