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Adrien felt trapped. A ball of nervous energy was building in his chest and he needed to get out. Out of this house, away from his father, out of the lies, out of the secrets, and out of this life.
“You know kid, if you want to get away that badly, just transform.”
The tired blond looked at his kwami with a deadpan gaze and replied, “You know Ladybug doesn’t like us using our powers for personal reasons.”
“Aaaaand I also know she wouldn’t want you moping around here like a kid who just got his favorite toy taken away.”
Adrien flopped his head back down onto his pillow and let out a long groan. After about two minutes of silence Adrien sat up and asked, “Where would I even go, Plagg? I don’t want to be alone with my thoughts, and I can’t exactly bother LB with something as trivial as this. Plus, if I detransform once I’m out someone could spot me and then I’d just be dragged back here.”
Plagg didn’t even bother trying to counter him, and instead offered a different suggestion. “You and a certain someone have been awfully close lately. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind your company.”
Hearing the smugness in his voice, he decided it was best not to dignify that with a response and simply called, “Plagg, claws out!”
He leaped out the open window and used his stick to vault safely to the roof of a nearby building. He decided to wander for a bit despite what he had told the little cheese maniac earlier. He had to admit, the sunset was rather beautiful that evening.
As he wandered, he drew nearer and nearer to the Seine, and realized where he was headed, however unintentional it may have been.
When The Liberty came into view he dropped into a nearby alley and debated whether he should detransform or not. He decided that while he could do this either way, he really wanted someone to know who he was. With that in mind, Cat Noir headed towards his friend‘s home and took some deep breaths.
He reached the ship and knocked on the exterior wood. Luka was sat on the ship‘s deck tuning a violin. Upon hearing the knock, the blue haired boy set the instrument down, looked up, and gave permission for the hero to board.
Cat Noir approached Luka with his head down and simply said, ”Can we talk somewhere private?”
A confused look plagued the musician’s features, but he nodded and responded with a simple, “Sure.”
Luka sent a quick text off to his mom and sister, then began dragging the cat away. Adrien was sort of surprised by how calm and okay with this he was, then again he was Luka. Kind, caring, sweet, hands-
“We’re here.” Luka’s words pulled him from his thoughts. “I usually climb up with the ladder, but I guess you don’t need to do that.”
They were standing in front of a large seemingly empty building overlooking the river. Luka put a foot on the first rung, but Cat Noir’s hand darting out to grab his wrist stopped him from any further movements.
“I’ll take you up.” As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted how blunt they sounded. “If you’re okay with it of course!” He tacked on with hurried speech.
Luka gave a gentle chuckle at his fumble. “I’m okay with that, Kitty.” Despite his attempts not to, Adrien blushed. In an effort to hide the redness painting his cheeks, he wrapped an arm around his waist and extended his stick, lifting them both to the roof of the building.
As they watched the sunset reflected in the water, Luka was completely silent. “Aren’t you curious as to why I asked to talk to you?”
“I mean yeah, a little bit, but I’m not going to push you. I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”
“You seem to understand me a lot better than you should.”
Another soft laugh escaped Luka’s lips and left the leather clad boy wondering what the meaning behind that could possibly be. They sat in silence for a while longer, content to watch the oranges and pinks fade to darkness.
Adrien sat there for a long while thinking about how he should say what he needed to say. Eventually he let out a long sigh and simply said, “Plagg, claws in.”
The kwami opened his mouth, probably about to ask for cheese, but thought better of it when he saw the two boys. Plagg disappeared back into Adrien’s shirt pocket, once again leaving the two alone.
Adrien cautiously looked up to face Luka fearing the worst, but instead of anger, sadness, or any of the other possibilities racing through his mind, he found a kind smile and a gentle gaze.
“Thank you for trusting me with this, Adrien.” He carefully set his hand on the hero’s knee. “Please don’t worry about me telling anyone. I would never do that to you, in fact I’ve actually known for a while now.”
Adrien had to admit, it made sense that he knew due to how easily he had agreed to talk with Cat Noir when there was no obvious threat present. Still, he wasn’t quite sure how he knew.
“But, I’ve been so careful. How could you-”
“Think about it for a minute.”
It took him about 30 seconds before he realized, and wondered how he hadn’t thought of it before.
“Shit, Wishmaker.” He stared at Luka with wide eyes. “I thought you told Ladybug that you didn’t see who either of us were.”
“Yeah,” He trailed off as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “I knew she’d feel better if she thought no one knew.”
“Well, I’m glad you know, Luka. I trust you.”
“Thank you, there’s actually something I wanted to tell you too, but give me a minute.” Luka disappeared down the side of the building, only to reappear a few minutes later, guitar in hand.
Beautiful chords filled the air, and soon a gorgeous voice joined them. “What would I do without your smart mouth? Drawing me in, and you kicking me out. You’ve got my head spinning, no kidding. I can’t pin you down.”
Adrien thought back to all the times he fumbled over words or even his own feet around Luka. He certainly wasn’t as clumsy as Marinette, but occasionally he made some good competition. He blames it on Luka’s stupid pretty face.
“What’s going on in that beautiful mind? I’m on your magical mystery ride. And I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright.”
Adrien couldn’t believe Luka was calling his mind beautiful. Not when Luka was sitting right there. He could spend hours talking about how creative and talented his love was. Building instruments from scratch, composing his own songs, learning to play new instruments. All of that’s without mentioning how kind, caring, and selfless he is.
In all of his daydreaming, he hadn’t even realized they had reached the chorus.
“Cause all of me, loves all of you.”
Adrien’s heart skipped a beat and his breath stuttered. Could Luka really feel the same way? He shouldn’t get his hopes up, right? Luka has always said he communicates better through music. Maybe these really are his true feelings.
“Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections.”
Adrien fondly thought back to all the times he had confided in Luka. Telling him how modeling for his father sometimes made him feel as though he wasn’t good enough. How it made him hate his body at times. Every time, Luka would tell him that he was perfect the way he was. Told him he didn’t need to change for anything or anyone.
“Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you. You’re my end and my beginning. Even when I loose, I'm winning.”
One of the things they had been doing together the past couple months was playing video games. Every time one of them lost, they were never upset. They were simply happy to be in each other’s company. Adrien had managed to beat Luka in every single round last time they played. Just before they parted ways, He had told him, “I don’t mind loosing, as long as I'm losing to you.” A fond smile graced his features as he continued his reminiscing, letting the gentle notes and words cloud his brain. By the time he was truly focusing on the lyrics and their meanings again, and not just letting Luka’s voice soothe him, he was on to the second verse.
“How many times do I have to tell you, even when you’re crying you’re beautiful too.”
Now Luka had never directly called Adrien beautiful. However, he did regularly remind him that it was okay to cry, and it didn’t make him any less of a beautiful person.
“The world is beating you down, I’m around through every mood.”
That was certainly true. Every time his father’s words or lack of presence got to him, Luka was the one he’d go to. Sometimes it would be a simple text of “The open sea,” their code for “I’m having a bad day, and need a distraction”. Other times, it would be the two of them talking on the phone for hours on end. Luka was always happy to provide solutions, conversation, or even just sit in silence and listen. When things were really bad, Adrien would transform so he could sneak out and see Luka. The other boy simply greeted him with a warm smile and open arms every time. He never asked any questions or pried into what had happened, just asked Adrien what he needed.
“You’re my downfall, you’re my muse. My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues. I can't stop singing it's ringing in my head for you.”
Adrien’s face flushed a bright scarlet at this. The press and people of Paris could call him handsome and gorgeous all they wanted, but hearing those words from Luka, even in a song melted Adrien. Somehow, he could tell he meant them.
He’s pretty sure his brain short circuited for a minute or two, because it felt like only a few seconds had passed, and yet he could tell the song was winding down.
“Cause I give you all of me. And you give me all of you. I give you all of me. And you give me all of you oh-oh.”
Luka’s fingers brushed over the guitar strings a final time letting the chord ring out. Adrien didn’t even know where to begin or what to say. Luckily he didn’t have to sit in silence for long.
“That may not have been an original song, but everything I said is true. I meant it, every word. I love you, Adrien.”
“I love you too, Luka.”
The two teenagers slowly drew closer together like a moth to a flame. They only broke eye contact when Luka glanced down at his lips and whispered, “May I?”
“Please.”
Their lips met and there were no butterflies or fireworks in the sky. However, a feeling of safety and contentment washed over them both, and they knew that without a doubt, this was where they were meant to be.
This was home.