Shadows of Deception

How to make a stalker snap

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The bench beneath the weeping willow was quiet, almost tucked away from the rest of the park. Long branches swayed in the late afternoon breeze, filtering sunlight into shifting patterns that danced across the ground. Adrien sat comfortably at one end, his schoolbag set neatly beside him, while Lila rested at the other. Her crutch leaned against the bench within easy reach, though she had stretched her injured leg out carefully to avoid strain.

For a moment, neither spoke. The distant chatter of families and the soft trickle of water from the pond filled the silence. Adrien tilted his head back, letting the light warm his face, while Lila studied him with curious, thoughtful eyes.

"You know," Lila said at last, breaking the stillness with a quiet laugh, "if someone had told me my first day here would end like this—sitting in the prettiest park in Paris with Adrien Agreste of all people—I'd have thought they were joking."

Adrien lowered his gaze, a little embarrassed. "I'm really not that special, Lila."

Her lips curved knowingly. "See, that's exactly what makes you different. Most people in your position would be bragging about photo shoots or name-dropping designers. But you... you'd rather hide behind the trees."

Adrien chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I like peace more than attention. It's easier to breathe when people aren't watching every move." His voice carried a weight to it, one that surprised even him. "Sometimes it feels like... I don't get to choose who I am."

Lila's expression softened, thoughtful. She leaned forward slightly, her hands folded in her lap. "Always told what to do? Where to be? How to smile?"

He blinked at her. "Exactly."

"I know the feeling," she admitted. "It's not the same, but... moving so often, I never really got to be anyone. Every time I'd start to settle, I'd have to leave. New school, new faces, new expectations. After a while, you start to wonder if people even see you at all—or just the version you present."

Adrien's chest tightened at her words. It was like she had taken a thought he never dared to voice and laid it bare.

"I never thought anyone would understand that," he said quietly.

"I do," Lila replied with a small smile, though her eyes betrayed a trace of sadness. "That's why I admire Ladybug so much. She's not afraid to be seen. She stands in the middle of chaos, fearless, and somehow makes everyone around her feel safe. If I could inspire even half of that..." She trailed off, shaking her head softly. "That's what I want."

Adrien studied her, truly studied her, as though seeing her for the first time. The playful tone she sometimes used in class was gone; this was rawer, unguarded.

"You don't just admire her," he said slowly. "You want to be like her."

Lila's smile widened, touched with something genuine. "Exactly."

Adrien looked down at his hands, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You remind me of my mom when you talk like that. She always said fashion wasn't just fabric. It was about giving people confidence, making them feel beautiful—even on their worst days. She believed one person could change how someone saw themselves."