ML Fic: Soulmate Survey Part 30 (12K Follower Special)
(Check out the previous parts here)
I want to thank you guys for being so patient with this fic. Its hard to believe its been a year since I first wrote part 1. I have been agonizing over this part for so long, I hope you all enjoy it. PS, I would love to hear what you guys think. And please share it around.)
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Lila used her key to unlock the front door. She quietly entered only to see her mother smiling at her.
“I was wondering where you were. How is everything honey?” Her mother greeted.
Lila put on a smile for her and greeted her with a cheek kiss. She was not expecting to see her mother up. She would have sworn she would be asleep. The work at the embassy often left her mother drained, it was rare when she was up an about at night when she was home.
“I had to slip by the school. Make sure that I had everything I needed for tomorrow.” She answered.
“Studious as always. I am so proud of you.”
“Of course! If I want to be as amazing as you I have to keep up with my school work.”
Lila knew her mother would eat up the flattery. Her mother was a gullible woman that loved to be complimented. She was not stupid, but she was far too trusting. The brunette knew all too well that her mother had often had her kindness taken advantage of by others.
“I was listening to the answering machine messages, and I noticed your principal called. He says that he is glad to have you back from your leave of absence?”
Lila didn’t bother sweating the comment.
“It’s an error with the school computer. Remember how my old school had similar issues? I will clear it up this week.”
“Of course. School systems don’t really change much wherever you go, we really need to discuss that at the next meeting.”
“Don’t worry Mamma, I am making the most of it.”
“Mia stellina I know you will. That is why I got you a gift.”
Lila watched as her mother pulled out a small box that was gift wrapped. Handing it to her daughter.
“I am sorry I had been gone most of last week. Things have been hectic. What with the… oh you don’t need to worry about all that. I saw this on my way back and I was saving it for your birthday, but I figured now would be a good time.”
Lila opened the present to reveal a lovely silver bracelet, with a small charm in the shape of an eye mask. Her mother knew Lila had a love of masks and would make sure that if there was some place she went that was interesting, she would get her a mask from that place.
“Thank you, Mamma, it is lovely.” Lila hugged her mother. Managing to hide how little she actually cared about the gift.
“I knew you would love it. It will look so lovely on you when we go out to dinner with your boyfriend.”
“The handsome blond model you told me about. Adrien?”
“Oh! Right. Yes of course. My boyfriend. Though I am not sure he will be able to have dinner with us anytime soon. His father has him on such a strict schedule.”
“We can work something out another time. I’d really like to meet him.”
“I’m sure he feels the same way.”
Lila began making her way to her room.
“I think I’m going to get ready for school tomorrow.”
“Alright dear, I will be here all day tomorrow, maybe I can swing by your school and we can have lunch together.”
“Sounds great. Looking forward to it.”
Lila closed the door to her room.
She let her fake smile leave her face as she looked at the bracelet.
Lila didn’t hate the gift, no, she did like that her mother did take the time to get her something. She just wished her mother could have gotten her something better. But really, Lila couldn’t really expect much despite how hard her mother works.
Lila looked over the bracelet more, her mind wandering as she stared at the little mask charm. It looked reminiscent of the masks worn in Mascaraed balls. Lila had to admit it was very fitting.
Everyone wears masks. People sculpt a persona, a personality in which they deal with people. They wear it as best as they can. People often change their masks as they grow or go to new environments. Lila was well aware of that. She was practically a master of it at this point.
Even her sweet naïve momma wears a mask. The mask that she is happy and doing fulfilling work. Lila knows better than anyone that her mother was practically forced to take this position.
Being a diplomat to Paris was considered the worst option when given a choice. Considering how there are depressed supervillains that pop up and nearly destroy the city several times a week because of a Super Terrorist’s quest for jewelry. Lila remembered how her momma tried so hard to spin this into a positive light. How this was her first role as an ambassador and that if she proved herself, she could choose her next assignment. Lila would have rather had gone to any country other than France, even America was preferable and they have their own craziness to deal with. Nevertheless, her mother did her best to be cheerful as she was thrown into this.
Lila refused to be like that, one’s mask should be the person they want to be, not the person they have to be. She would try out a different persona with each place she went, and sure enough, she would leave with a fun experience just before everything went crumbling down. She would then start from scratch and no one was the wiser.
Paris turned out to be the best place for this, since everything here is so bizarre here, no one would think twice about looking into a lie that seems outlandish. So, Lila allowed herself to be a bit more reckless with her actions. She had to admit, that her carelessness now needed to be corrected, she had allowed herself to get too lax with how good things have been and it nearly blew her cover 3 times. She needed to fix things.
She snapped back to reality, staring at the bracelet. She still wasn’t a fan of the look, but it was still a gift from her mother.
She would wear it tomorrow for her lunch with her mother. But afterwards she can slip it into her bag or something and forget about it. Her mother would be back to being worked like crazy and forget about it after two weeks.
Her phone began vibrating, pulling her out of her thoughts.
She looked at the number and her eyes went wide. It was Alya.
Did that nosy reporter see her at the school?! No, that can’t be possible. She was likely calling about something else. The Italian exchange student took a calming breath and answered her phone.
“Hey girl.” Alya greeted with her usual cheery tone. Alya was doing her best not to be in a fiery rage right now, she needed to be calm. A good reporter keeps calm under pressure. “I am just working on an article for the Ladyblog. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Of course. So, if it’s for the Ladyblog it must be ladybug related. What do you want to ask about? I am an open book.” Lila matched the cheery tone Alya had given her, she was hiding her absolute disgust over the subject. Ladybug was one of the last people Lila wanted to talk about right now, especially with how that heroine left her locked in a closet during the last akuma attack.
“Oh, it’s about akumatization. You know, that thing with the butterflies that maniacal monster Hawkmoth does to people. I am writing an article of how it impacts people and with how close you are with Ladybug, I figured she might have leaked a detail or two that I wasn’t aware of. Do you mind answering some questions about it?”
This wasn’t a complete lie, Alya was writing about Akumatization, but it was about Lila’s times as an akuma specifically.
“Well I might have a detail or two that could be shared. Ask away!”
Lila knew she had already had a close call with Alya earlier this week, she didn’t want to give the reporter a single reason to think she was a bad person. She could lie about a thing or two if needed to ensure that this line was secure, until she left the girl dangling from a cliff.
“Great! Thanks for doing this. You are a life saver.”
“Glad I can help, so bring on the questions.”
“Right. First question, how many times have you been akumatized?”
Lila was about to answer three, once during her first time in Paris, once during Heroes’ day, and once during her day back, that of course wouldn’t be good. She had said during Heroes’ day she was on a leave of absence outside of Paris. So that won’t do.
“Two. Once on my first day at Dupont, and the second time on my first day back.”
Alya had noticed the lie, Lila had been akumatized at least three times. Once was during her first day, the second time was at Heroes’ day because there were reports of Volpina among the akuma army. If Lila was out of France at that time, Volpina couldn’t have possibly been there. The day she got back had to have been her third time akumatized.
“I see, and during both of those times you felt intense emotional distress. Correct?”
“My memory is a bit fuzzy on them, but yes. I can say that I felt emotionally vulnerable.”
“As expected. And you have no memory of the activities you did while you were an akuma?”
“That is correct. If I was in complete control, there is no way I would have done such awful things.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t. Now this question is a bit more of a confirmation, something of a rumor among the Ladyblog. There is some speculation that if you accept the akuma willingly, you will maintain your memory of what happened while as an akuma. Is that something you can confirm?”
“Yes, Ladybug mentioned it once during a conversation. She was worried that Hawkmoth had some ‘Supporters’ that willingly did his bidding. I also believe if the person gives up the akuma willingly back to Hawkmoth they retain their memories during their time as an akuma. But I am not certain of that.” Lila added a touch of some truth to make it appear more legit that she and Ladybug are close. That is some personal information she discovered for herself. Lila was certain that this would ensure Alya trusted her.
Alya was certain Lila was willingly working with Hawkmoth and that she would never trust this liar ever again.
“Oh wow, that is very interesting. So just to assure the readers that you aren’t one of those followers. Have you ever accepted the akuma for yourself willingly?” Alya made sure the question had a lighthearted tone to come off as a joke.
“Willingly work with that butterfly creep? You would have to be someone with no empathy to even consider it.”
“One last thing, is it alright if I quote you in my article? If not, I will keep your name out of the…”
“By all means go ahead. I would love to be a part of your work if you want me to be.”
“Alright, I’ve got everything I need. Thanks again Lila. I should have this article out by tomorrow.”
“Anytime. I’m looking forward to reading it.”
Lila hung up the phone with a content smile.
She is none the wiser. I even did a little bit of good letting her in on that bit of information on Hawkmoth. That should send some good karma my way
Lila smiled as yawned suddenly. She decided now would be a good time for bed.
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