"Truth Resurface"

I sat with Kagami and Adrien during lunch, the three of us casually discussing a new strategy game Max had developed. I listened, nodding along as Adrien tried to re-explain what Max told him on the mechanics, but my thoughts were elsewhere. My gaze flickered across the cafeteria, landing on lila who—conveniently, already had her eyes on me. I murmured her name aloud, as if her presence was merely incidental, but in my mind, it was anything but.

I've noticed Lila watching me more closely these past few days. It was subtle a few peaks here and now, standing behind a corner longer than anyone should, she was starting to act like Marinette in a way. But she's too careful to make it obvious, though I can every time feel her gaze lingering, sharp and calculating. She's piecing something together, and I'm not sure if it's about me, or something else. Either way, it's a problem I can't ignore.

My connection to Queen Bee is delicate, and the last thing I need is Lila poking around, unraveling secrets that aren't hers to find. But I also know how she operates. She thrives on attention and power. If I can redirect her focus, make her feel like she's part of something bigger, maybe I can keep her from becoming a total threat.

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Later, in class, I sat at my desk, tapping my pen against the edge of my notebook. The classroom was quiet, save for the occasional murmur of students getting out their things. But my soul focus was entirely on a lingering suspicion that had been nagging at me since earlier—something about the way Lila had begun to look at me during lunch, the way her eyes had narrowed whenever someone casually mentioned Queen Bee had been my tipping point in todays 8th bell class, it as clear she knew to much, throughout the entire day she'd learn or hypothosize something new her eyes grew thinner.

They hadn't said anything revealing, just admiration for Queen Bee's latest heroics, but I could tell Lila had picked up on something. Not the words themselves, but the unspoken weight behind them. She was good at reading between the lines, at catching subtleties others missed especially when listening to me. And the way her gaze flickered toward me, it was as if she was trying to see past what I wasn't saying.

At first, I brushed it off. Lila was always trying to pick apart what people weren't saying, but the more I thought about it, the more it nagged at me. There was a connection she was starting to piece together, and if there was one thing I couldn't allow, it was her unraveling my secrets before I was ready.

After class, I walked by the Seine, my guitar slung over my back, pretending not to notice her trailing just behind. I took my usual spot on the steps near the Liberty whenever I needed a breather, letting my fingers drift over the strings as I stared out over the water. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the river, and the faint sound of my playing drifted through the air. When she finally stepped forward, I barely needed to glance up.

"Lila," I greeted smoothly, my voice even. "What brings you here?"

She tilted her head, her smile widening. "Can't I just want to talk to a friend?"

I chuckled softly, my fingers stilling on the strings. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

She sat down beside me, gaze fixed on the river. "You know," she began, "you're a hard person to understand. Most people wear their hearts on their sleeves, or are just bad at hiding it. But you… you're different. It's like you're always, a step ahead, like you already know exactly what everyone else is thinking. It's… impressive, really."

I raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on my lips. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an accusation."

"Neither," she said, turning to look at me. "It's an observation. And it makes me wonder… what are you hiding?"

For a moment, I just looked at her, letting the silence settle between us. Then, setting my guitar aside, I leaned back, resting my elbows on the steps behind me. "Everyone has secrets, Lila. Even you."

She laughed, light and melodic. "True. But my secrets are usually harmless. Yours, on the other hand… I think they might be a little more consequential."

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I stared out at the river, pretending to weigh my options. Finally, I turned to face her, voice calm and measured. "You're right."

She blinked, caught off guard by my admission. "I… I am, huh?"

I nodded. "I am connected to Queen Bee. But not in the way you think."

Her expression didn't change, but the gears were turning in her mind. "Then how?"

I held her gaze, letting my next words land with precision. "I know who she is. But I can't tell you. Not yet."

I watched her closely as she processed that. Every neuron in her brain was firing—I could tell. She hadn't expected me to be so upfront. And that, in itself, intrigued her.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes—sharp, calculating—mirrored my own. She recognized the game we were playing, and for once, she wasn't the one in control.

"Because I think you could be an ally," I said simply. "You're smart, resourceful, and you know how to play the game. If we're going to keep Paris safe, we need people like you."

She leaned in slightly, intrigued but still guarded. "You want me to help you?"

"I want you to consider joining me," I said, standing up and slinging my guitar over my shoulder. "Think about it, Lila. You could be part of something bigger—not to mention the benefits. But if you're not interested, that's fine too. Just know that I trust you enough to be honest with you."

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving her sitting on the steps, lost in thought. I could feel her gaze lingering on me as I disappeared into the distance.

I'll give her this opportunity. A belief that she had a way in.

She didn't realize it yet but she was already playing my game.