So this is inspired by another fic I recently read to explain why Lila's lies work so well despite them being pretty weak. I decided to take it in a different direction, but if you haven't read "Occam's Razor" by flairina, its pretty good. I personally hate Lila, so writing her was a challenge. This is why not much I wrote is from her perspective. Sorry for the bouncing around ahead of time.=^-^=

Also, I was influenced a bit by some fun fics by RicardianScholar.

Ch.1 - Curious Kitty

Lila couldn't help the smirk that crawled up to her lips as she watched that goody two shoes squirm. Serves her right for not getting out of her way. Trying once again to call her out on her lies? As if that was ever going to work. It never has, and it never will. She'd had people believing lies she'd made up about even themselves before after all. As long as it was something they wanted to hear, they took it easily. None of these naive idiots wanted to believe she was lying, not when her lies were so interesting. The very fact Marinette continued to try was ridiculous... and vexing.

It's very rare for someone to figure her out, and it never happened so quickly before. It was just annoying every time she had to double up on her lies to work around Marinette's attempts to thwart her. It wasn't really hard at this point, but tedious. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had to put some 'would be' Moral Mary in her place. At the same time, however, it felt oh so nice to watch her crumble. It was her own fault of course, nothing she couldn't have avoided if she'd heeded the warning. Too bad. Not! Lila chuckled as Ms. Bustier entered the room and the class grew quiet at attention. Though the Italian couldn't look back at her prey anymore, the arm candy at her side was fine for now.

Marinette slowly lifted her head at the sound of the dismissal bell. Lila's latest lie had really taken her by surprise. Even after being framed and expelled, this one really hit home. Lila was being considered for a spotlight piece on a new accessory she supposedly designed. The really frustrating part was the fact it was so similar to one of Marinette's own sketches from a few weeks ago. It had disappeared right after class, but now she knew the truth. Of course, like with everything Lila says, no one believed her when she mentioned the similarity. It was just her being jealous or paranoid.

"We all know you're a great designer Marinette, but that doesn't mean Lila can't be good too. I don't know why you're so down on Lila." The words of her supposed best friend hurt the worst. She'd even seen the sketch before it went missing! This was going to be that hat fiasco all over again only Lila was smarter than Chloe. She wasn't dumb enough to miss the subtle signing in the design, so now there was no miraculous proof.

Marinette grabbed her bag and waited only a moment for most of the class to clear out before going out herself. Lila was surrounded by the girls as they went out in a big group. "Well if this does go well, I wouldn't mind making each of you one. After all, I doubt I would have been brave enough to submit my design if you all weren't so supportive." She announced just loud enough she knew Marinette could hear.

When she turned into the hall she felt a hand on her arm before being pulled to the side. It was so surprising she didn't think twice about pulling out a little self defense. In less than a second she had Adrien flat against the wall with an arm twisted behind his back. "Whoa, Marinette, I just wanted to talk to you."

She let him go like he was on fire and nearly tripped over, with the railing stopping her. "Oh! A-Adrien... I'm so s-sorry about twisting my arm- I mean twisting your arm..." She looked down to her shoes in shamed embarrassment.

"It's fine, Marinette, really." He chuckled while rubbing his wrist. "I did surprise you... though I really didn't expect that reaction either. You're stronger than you look." He praised trying to abate her guilt. "Anyway," He began again when she made no attempt to speak. "About that bracelet... it really was your design wasn't it?"

Marinette's head shot up as she looked into his genuinly concerned eyes. Of course he would believe her. He knew Lila was lying. "Y-yes... it was..." Her eyes turned away again as the pain of being robbed resurfaced. If it was just that, then it wouldn't hurt so much though. What really stung was not being believed.

Adrien could see the water building in her eyes, and couldn't fight the scowl it brought to his own face. It seems that deal to get Marinette out of trouble didn't mean she would leave her alone. He'd been foolishly tolerating her clingy behavior thinking Marinette would be safe. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know it doesn't feel that way, but it'll be alright. You know you're the real designer. If that design of hers really hits it off, then that only means your idea was brilliant." He gave her one of his best smiles. Not one he used for the cameras, but a genuine one.

Marinette's face was doused pink as she looked back at him. "So you really believe me?"

Adrien chuckled. "Well, you don't have to twist my arm." He rubbed his wrist again, and wasn't disappointed. Though he couldn't stop her tears, he heard her laugh instead. It was such a beautiful sound. It was also a sound he hadn't heard much recently.

"I'll try not to." She finally responded without a single stutter. "And that's a really good way to look at it. Even if I don't get the credit, at least I'll know people liked my design."

Adrien nodded and pat her shoulder again. "I can already tell you it'll be a hit. Every design I've seen you do has been awesome."

Marinette's blush intensified at the compliment. "You really think so? Thank you, Adrien..." She then cut herself off as if saying his name suddenly reminded her she couldn't talk to him clearly. At seeing her suddenly go quiet and shy again he couldn't help feeling his own anger return. Lila shouldn't be able to get away with this sort of thing. How did she always get away with it? Even framing Marinette seemed way too easy for one person. Not to mention... weren't there systems in place to check these sorts of crimes? Yet it went straight to expelling Marinette. Adrien wasn't going to claim to be an expert on public school, but something about it really seemed wrong. And the longer he thought about it, the worse that feeling got. "Adrien?"

He was snapped out of his thoughts by a confused Marinette. "Oh, uh sorry. I was thinking about something." He then placed both hands on her shoulders with a determined expression. "And don't worry about Lila. No matter what she says, I believe you, and I think I know someone who can give us some advice." He then grabbed his bag from the floor and started off. "Remember, you'll always have me Mari!" He gave her a wave before starting down the stairs just before she melted to the ground. Her usual dopey love struck grin replaced with one of grateful affection.

"So what's eating you, kid? You keep that up and you'll ware a groove in the floor." Plagg remarked as he admired his latest cheese magazine.

"It's Lila."

"Oh, that crazy girl huh? Trust me kid, thinking about her will only give you a headache."

Adrien rubbed his head showing it may have been too late. "But it's wrong, Plagg. How could someone be like that? And what's worse is how she can lie so... effortlessly."

"Maybe you should look up what a Sociopath is, kid."

"No," Adrien directed with a wave of his hand. "It's the lies. I mean how is it so easy? The more I think on how she framed Marinette, the more I think there's something to it. And then that lie she used to cover it up. Her 'condition' that makes her lie, and no one thinks twice about what she says even knowing about this 'condition' of hers." He used more emphasis than was necessary, but it did peak the kwami's interest.

"Well, now that you mention it, that does sound fishy. I mean I know your classmates aren't the best and brightest-" He paused at the glare his holder sent him. "-cool it kid, I meant in a naive kinda way. You are still kids you know. Anyway, it does seem unbelievable how easily she makes people believe her."

"Like it was some kind of power." Adrien agreed as his eyes widened. "Maybe Hawk Moth-"

"Hold it!" Plagg cut him off. "I can tell you right now, she's not Akumatized." Adrien simply raised a brow though he was a bit frustrated at being cut off. "Nooro's powers cannot directly infect the same person twice without some kind of catalyst like a transformation. Even during that Heroes Day thing, Hawk Moth only akumatized everyone once remember? He'd need a bigger boost to do it twice on the same person. I don't remember it ever even happening either."

"But he has Akumatized Lila more than once!" The blond argued.

"I meant at the same time. Two Akuma would interfere with each other, plus there's the whole lack of power thing?" He drew back. "But I do kinda think there's something to her lying... Maybe something more than naive kids."

Adrien sat down on the bed with his kwami. "Maybe a miraculous?" He didn't want to believe a miraculous could do this, but there were a lot more than what was in their miracle box.

"Nu-uh, but magic isn't out of the question either." Plagg then shrugged. "I'm not really attuned to that sort of thing though... Sugar Cube might know though.." He muttered at the end.

"Who? I couldn't hear you." Plagg floated up to his shoulder. "Ladybug's kwami, Tikki is way more attuned to other forms of magic than I am. You may want to ask her." Though she'd probably be mad at him for suggesting it, he really wanted to get to the bottom of this. It was driving him nuts to see his holder pace around, plus, he may be able to get more cheese out of it. That aged Camembert wheel on his magazine may make a nice reward for being so helpful after all. Plagg could already smell it as he rubbed his paws together.

"That's a great idea! Plagg, Claws out!"

Only a few minutes into his search did he realize his problem. He'd originally wanted to talk to Ladybug about it since she knew Lila already, but they weren't scheduled to patrol tonight, hence why he was pacing in his room. Finding Ladybug's kwami would be just as hard as finding the heroine herself. He slumped over the railing of his current roof as the wind fell from his sails. "Talk about leaping before I look..." He sighed as he noted the Dupain-Cheng Bakery not far away. "I wanted to give Marinette some new advice tomorrow, but Ladybug and I don't patrol again until Friday." Of course that only reminded him of his own unhelpful advice. Trying to ignore a bully was all well and good, but who would want to stand by and let someone make up lies about you? Especially destructive ones that get you in trouble when you've done nothing wrong. He couldn't begin to know just how powerless Marinette felt about it.

"Chaton?" He jumped as he was pulled out his thoughts by a familiar voice. "Whoa, calm down!" Ladybug directed as she stepped back from Chat's reflexively raised claws. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you, Chat Noir, sorry."

Chat let out a breath of relief it was only Ladybug. Wait... Ladybug! "Ladybug!"

She held her hands up defensively. "Uh... yes?"

"This is perfect! I really wanted to talk to you!" He jumped up with a fist pump at how lucky he was before realizing he'd really freaked her out. "Uh... sorry."

"It's alright, I just didn't expect you to be so... excited. I came over when I noticed how down you looked." He was close enough to her balcony that she could see every sigh he released and every drop of his ears. "Something bothering you that I can maybe help with?" She proposed with a small smile. Even with all her own problems, she still wanted to help her partner. Maybe it would be good for her too.

"Yeah, at least I hope." He then leaned over the railing towards Marinette's balcony. "You remember that Lila girl right?"

Ladybug had to use all her self-restraint not to curse at the mention of the name. "How could I forget." She nearly growled.

Chat knew she didn't like Lila, so it was expected. "Well at my s-" He cut himself off before he could slip. "There's a girl like that at my friend's school." Much better. "She lies, and no matter what it's about, everyone just believes her. Well, except my friend, but even though my friend tries to tell everyone the truth, now they all think she's lying. She even gets away with some really bad lies that really got my friend in trouble."

Ladybug couldn't help shaking her head at the news. So someone else had to deal with a Lila too? That anyone else had to put up with her own situation is ridiculous. "It's unbelievable how someone can lie so easily. What does someone like Lila get out of it really? It's not like lying will make it anymore true. Stealing someone's idea won't make the idea yours."

Chat raised a brow at the statement. Did Ladybug have experience with someone stealing her idea too? "Yeah, I know, in Lila's case, she probably just wants the attention. did you know her mom's a diplomat? She works all the time so Lila probably doesn't see her much."

Ladybug rolled her eyes. "As if that's any kind of excuse."

"I never said it was." Chat shot back a little harshly before realizing how he'd said it. "Sorry, I just... I know how it feels to want a parent's attention." He sighed thinking of his own father. He had to schedule a meeting with his own father to speak with him for any length of time.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Chat... I'm not trying to belittle her home life issue. I can't relate because my own parents always have time for me. I just don't think she should use it as an excuse. If you know how she feels, then you should be madder than I am. You don't go around lying to people, right?"

"Touché, Milady. I do not." He gestured with his finger like a sword and leaned back on the rail. "Though that does come back to another reason I wanted to find you. I was talking to my kwami and he and I agree it's a little too unbelievable how easy her lies are for people to believe."

Ladybug raised a brow. "What do you mean? I mean, I know they're insane but-"

"That's just it though. Some of the lies she tells are just too incredible. I heard Jagged Stone wrote her a song and named it after her, but I've never heard it, and I'm a big fan."

Ladybug raised a finger to her chin. "That's right... and I've heard all his songs too."

Chat grinned at finding out a new fact about his love, but kept it to the side. "So two big fans never heard of this song? Jagged is pretty big, so how come no one's figured this out?"

"Yeah, and she even said she'd rescued his cat, but Jagged's never had a cat. He mentioned before that he got Fang before his career took off. Having both would be insane."

"According to this biography he got Fang when he was 16. Whoa... Fang's even older than him. Did you know crocodile's can live like 70 years?" He looked up from his Staff's screen to meet an exasperated Ladybug.

"His age doesn't matter, Chat."

"It's still kinda cool."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "It just goes to show how easily her lie can be proven wrong and yet no one believes m- I mean everyone just believes her."

"That's what got me thinking, Milady, what if it's more than just coincidence? Plagg mentioned there maybe something else to it."

"Like magic?" She inferred with a curious expression.

"Yeah, but Plagg's not good at sensing that sort of thing. He say's your kwami is though."

That was an interesting idea, though Tikki never mentioned feeling anything when she was around Lila. "So you think she's using magic to lie to people? Well, that would certainly explain why everyone's so quick to believe her."

"Yeah, and maybe our miraculous protect us so we don't believe her."

Ladybug raised a skeptical brow at him. "You certainly were quick to believe her hurt ankle story during the Oni-chan fight."

Chat pouted at her scolding tone. "I never said I really believed her, Milady. It's just, in that situation, what if she wasn't? What kind of hero would I be if I didn't help her, even if she did cause the problem to begin with."

"Yes my kitty certainly does have a heart of gold." Ladybug teased showing she wasn't really mad at him. "And that isn't a bad theory either. I bet the miraculous even protects us as civilians. I've met her outside the suit, and her lies are just as bad."

"Me too." Chat agreed, not even noticing how they both just shared a detail on their civilian lives.

"That does make me wonder... Chloe's in her class... but she seems to believe her lies."

"Chloe doesn't keep her miraculous like we do though, Ladybug."

A valid point, the heroine could not ignore. "Good point, so she has some kind of power? Is she Akumatized?"

Chat shook his head. "No, Plagg already debunked that theory. Nooro's power can't be used to Akumatize someone who's already Akumatized."

Ladybug then leaned over the rail as she pondered another idea. "What about a miraculous?"

"That's what I was thinking, though I do find it weird our kwami's wouldn't notice."

"True... though maybe it's another kind of magic?"

Chat could only shrug. "It just seems too unnatural to be normal."

Ladybug nodded. "Alright, I'll talk to Tikki. I'll investigate her a bit, and we can meet up here tomorrow?"

Chat Noir bowed dramatically. "As you wish, Milady." He then snatched her hand before she could grab for her yo-yo. "But do be careful, no kitten caught, pawmise?" Ladybug let out a small groan as he kissed her hand. Always with the puns. It was cute in a way, but some were just really bad. He gave a salute before leaping off across the roof tops, his 'friend's' problem completely forgotten.

This is part one of 3. Please let me know if I missed anything. Every time I go back over it, I find at least one thing wrong. (Usually little)=^-^=