Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters

DEAR RED LADY

'I'm sorry.'

He read that one line again perhaps for the 20th time – a perfect summary after a bitter-sweet message.

He pushed himself against the wall, crumpling the paper in his fist. The letter really was a better option than letting her say it to him face to face. He wouldn't know what he'd do if Marinette started crying in front of him, mentally torturing herself for breaking his heart. He was glad he was able to save her from that.

It didn't make him hurt any less, though.

"Damn it." He hissed, stretching his legs across his bed and banging his head against the wall.

A creak up deck made him switch his posture into a more relaxed sitting position, at least as relaxed as he could muster at the moment. A few minutes later, he heard his sister's voice.

"I'm home."

Juleka stood by the doorway, looking as forlorn as usual. She scanned the cabin and her eyes fell on his brother. Her face lit up a bit with a pretty smile.

"Hey, Jul." He greeted warmly, finding himself mildly revitalized at the sight of his sister.

"I think my Juleka battery is dead." She mumbled, frowning again.

"I guess it's time for a recharge, then." Luka announced, spreading his arms as if Juleka would do something like jump into them. His enthusiasm made her laugh.

Juleka let her bag drop on the floor before scampering on the bed to his side while pushing her shoes away. She took her place beside him, legs tucked beneath her, and immediately gave a long sigh, already feeling that sense of relief simply be being near him. Before she could relish in the moment of rest, she heard her brother's playful scoff.

"What's this?"

"Um, I think I'm too old to…" she tried to explain herself, but Luke cut her off.

"Says who?"

Juleka yelped as Luka picked her up by the waist and placed her on his lap. He leaned back to make her sway his way and he framed her slender form with his arm.

"There."

The timid girl looked up at her brother, his usual calm smirk matching the coolness of his blue eyes. She took a moment to stare at them.

"I'm not always going to be your baby sister, you know." She said with a pout.

"Of course you will." He said, leaning down and rubbing his nose on hers, making her giggle softly.

Luka watched her close her eyes, and lean her head on his chest. Her features begin to etch a serene expression, the kind of expression he knew she always have had it not for her constantly downing herself.

"I got a 'C' in physics today." Juleka said in a somewhat shameful tone.

"Didn't you get a 'D' last week?" Luka asked. She confirmed sadly with a light nod.

"Cool! It means you're getting better! I bet you're gonna get straight 'A's at the end of the semester."

"I doubt it." She said, amused at the quick escalation.

But she appreciated it nonetheless. She felt him squeeze her closer, and she responded by snuggling to his chest.

"I think Rose hates me now." She voiced her next concern.

Luka of course immediately dismissed the notion. The girls couldn't hate each other even when they're possessed. But Luke still humored her.

"What makes you say that?"

"She's only hugged five times today. She used to do it at least seven times."

So hugs are a normal thing for girls, huh? And apparently twice every after subject. Luka quickly crafted some witty rationale. A simple idea made his face light up, and he spoke reassuringly, "She's been hugging you less, but each hug lasts longer than before, I'm sure."

Juleka shook her head at his eagerness. It didn't bother her that much, but she thought it'd be good to share with her brother.

Luka caught on and he gave her a sheepish smile. He brushed the purple streaks of hair from her face and laid his chin on top of her head. He felt her sigh in contentment, at which point he began to sing with a soft and tender tone;

'Oh my dear, red lady – friend of the light

Looking over Paris in the day, in the night'

She looked up at him with a lazy smile before joining him with a rusty voice that oddly complemented his suave melody.

'Oh my dear, red lady – leaping to the sky

Happy is a day when you say

'Bye-bye little butterfly'.

It was a short lullaby Kitty Section wrote for the little kids in the spur of the moment when an overpowering wave of akumatized citizens seemed to have bested the champions of Paris. The band was in the middle of a small charity concert for orphaned children when it happened, and the only thing sparing the city from more negative emotions of fear was the strum of Luka's guitar and the sound of his icy voice singing that song with so much warmth. Ladybug pulled through, of course, and the victory memorialized their miniature song which is now being sung to little kids everywhere.

Luka gave her a boop on the nose as he repeated the last line with an imitation of Ladybug's sweet manner of speaking: "Bye-bye little butterfly."

He lifted his finger from her face and motioned her hand away, fluttering his fingers like a butterfly.

After a hearty laugh, Juleka took one deep breath and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek.

"Thanks, Luka."

"You're welcome, Jul."

She snickered slightly, making him raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"The way you say my name," she began answering, "It sounds like you're saying 'jewel'."

Luka grinned at her, liking the thought. "Seems pretty appropriate for my PRECIOUS little sister. How's that battery?

"Fully charged." Juleka said with confidence. "Now it's your turn."

"Huh?"

She hoisted herself up, and slowly made her way behind him. Luka felt a small pair of arms coat his neck like a scarf, and his sister's cheek press against his.

"You never crumple paper." Juleka whispered to his ear. "And you weren't playing your guitar when I arrived."

Luka gulped, and he was sure that Juleka felt that as his adam's apple bobbed. He managed a forced smile.

"What are you talking about, Jul?"

"It's okay, Luka." Juleka whispered, her voice deepening and her hold on him tightening, "It's okay. I'm here for you too."

He was about to argue when he noticed his vision began to blur in a watery haze. The first trail of tear was quickly followed by another, and another, until he was effectively soaking his sister's sleeve.

With teeth clenched and mind finally giving in to vulnerability, he pulled his sister's arms closer, muffling his voice as he cried, cried louder than he had ever done, cried all the memories of hopelessly falling in love with the only girl who had given him the melody of his heart.

"I love her, Jul. I love her so much." He managed to say in between the sobs and the stifled bawl, "And Adrien – that bastard Adrien – I'm doing my best to get mad at him, to blame him for all of this, but I just can't, because – damn it, I've grown to love him too, and no one else can make her smile like he can. God damn it all, Jul."

Juleka pulled him towards her so that she'll have her back against the wall, and Luka would be the one on her lap. She couldn't capture his entire figure like he did, but she was satisfied to be able to pull him to her chest and rock him gently, occasionally pressing her lips on the silken blue top of his head.

When his mumbled curses finally subsided, and his shoulders stopped shaking, Juleka began to sing;

'Oh my dear, red lady – friend of the light

Looking over Paris in the day, in the night

Oh my dear, red lady – leaping to the sky

Happy is a day when you say

'Bye-bye little butterfly'.

Luka took one deep breath, and stood up. He stared at his sister who seemed to have had her share of tears while he was wailing his lungs out. She wiped her face with her sleeve and smiled at him.

"Bye-bye… little butterfly." She sang that last part again while poking his nose like he did to her earlier.

Luka forgot that while she truly will be his baby sister forever, she is also capable of giving him the strength he needs – always.

"Thanks, Jul." He said, wiping his face clean before leaning towards her forehead to plant a kiss.

"Excuse me, is anyone home?" they heard an unfamiliar voice from the deck.

"Be there in a minute." Luka called out.

He quickly walked towards his sister's nightstand to fix himself up, making sure there'd be no evidence of their little moment together. As he walked up from below the cabin, his sister trailing behind him, he could already make out a person clad in a sky blue dress and shaded under a parasol. Long, yellow pigtails swayed as she turned her head towards him to throw him a kind smile.

"Hello," she greeted, "My name is Aurore Beauréal. I'm not sure if you've heard of me, but…"

"Hey, I know who you are," Luka said, immediately recognizing her, "You're that girl who…"

"Got akumatized a thousand times because she couldn't get her act together and had too many issues?" it was more a jest, but she filled-in his words for him with sharpness and hints of remorse.

"I was gonna say - the girl on the weather forecast and the cover of 'GABRIEL' last season."

The girl blinked at him and his nonchalance before blushing.

"Oh – well, all of the above, then." She said. Luka could tell she was fighting the urge to fiddle with her blue parasol.

"What can I do for you, Madame Beauréal?"

"Please – Aurore is fine. Um – can I call you Luka?"

Luka noted how creamy her cheeks are that the tiniest of blush was wonderfully obvious. He gave Aurore an approving nod.

"Great – Luka – I'm here to ask you for an exclusive interview. I have a joint segment with Ms. Nadja Chamack – we're making a short documentary about that song you guys wrote, 'Dear Red Lady', and… You see, people usually 'repel' me, before I could even get close to them. Because of my reputation, and all. That makes information rather hard to come by."

Luka winced at the choice of her words, like she was some sort of insect people should just get rid of.

"Anyway – since you haven't sent me away, called the cops, or thrown any projectiles at me, I take it you'd be more accommodating?" she said in a hopeful tone, looking up from a downcast face. She sighed when she didn't get a fast enough reply.

"Listen – I'm not here to force anything on you guys. This documentary means a lot to me – I had a little cousin who was having a panic attack that day, and it was only your song that was able to calm him down. It's fine if you don't want to speak to me – but can I at least convince you to have this interview with Ms. Nadja? Please."

She was practically begging, something Luka didn't expect for her to do considering her flashy appearance. Luka looked at his little sister who had this look on her face that seemed to empathize deeply with the blonde. She too had been akumatized one too many times.

"Those shoes look painful." Luka pointed at the excessively high heels the girl was maintaining her posture with. She looked at him with desperate wide eyes after that statement, realizing that he understood her. This girl had been rejected way too many times by so many people, yet here she was.

Luka had a little lullaby with him growing up, his constant fan in whatever silly things he does, and now standing beside him, clutching on to his hand and wordlessly telling him to help the poor girl.

Luka shook his head and laughed.

"You must be tired. C'mon in, throw your feet up and we'll serve you serve some juice. Then, maybe, I can give you that exclusive." He teased.

She looked like she was about to cry.

"Can I really?" she asked in a shaky whisper.

Luka chuckled at her reaction. He then reached his hand out to guide her on to the boat.

Her parasol fell behind her. Then her shoulders dropped, her back hunched up a bit, until finally, she threw her shoes in whatever direction and basically dragged her wearied body over the plank. The sound of Juleka's soft laughter rang in the air. She found the sudden character shift hilarious. Luka joined her, though fearful as well that their guest will find it offensive.

Aurore didn't seem to mind, nor care for that matter. She just took his hand, and let him lead her on a chair in the middle of the deck. The moment her back made contact on the cushion, a long breath of relief escaped her lips. She was utterly exhausted.

"I'm gonna go get your shoes." Juleka offered as soon as she was done laughing.

"Don't bother, honey." Aurore said, flicking her wrist dismissively at the notion, "I'd rather walk around barefoot than with those awful things."

Realizing her lack of grace and sudden laid back disposition, the blonde sat straight up and looked mournfully at the younger Couffaine.

"I'm sorry. Juleka, right?"

Juleka nodded with a smile while keeping a tight clutch on her brother's shirt.

"We go to the same school." Aurore said when she saw the curious look on Luka.

"You seem really worn out." the boy pointed out, sitting on the chair opposite. He pulled Juleka beside him on the chair.

"I usually am at the end of the day." Aurore said, then gave them a shamed expression, "I probably should've asked you if I was intruding."

"Nah, my sister and I, we were just… charging our batteries." Luka said, playfully bumping the young girl beside him with his shoulder. Juleka looked up at him with a smile.

Aurore watched happily at the two, and felt a familiar sense of envy, albeit the warm, dreamy kind. "It's nice to have someone you can recharge with."

"Don't you have that someone? You know, someone you can just talk to?"

Aurore shook her head and gave him a graceful expression, "There are more people who hate me than love me, and to be honest, I'd rather keep it that way. Less friends you have, less people you hurt when you get akumatized."

"That's also gonna wear your battery out quick." He reminded. She just shrugged, and leaned back on the chair, letting out a condensed breath of weariness.

"If that's what it takes." she said.

"I'll got get us some juice." Juleka offered kindly.

Luka whispered a 'thanks' to this sister before kissing her on the cheek and letting her walk.

"You can always come here." Luka said to her after Juleka was beyond earshot, "Recharge, sort to speak. Or if you need a place to hide from people who want to throw stuff at you."

Aurore laughed, a soft yet heart-felt laugh, and Luka felt a familiar warmth hearing it.

"Do you normally offer your boat to barefooted people?" she asked while wiggling her little toes.

Luka shrugged.

"Not really," he said smoothly, "only to the pretty ones."

Her blush was unmistakable at that point, and it was a rather endearing sight. She bit her lips, bent her stretched legs in sudden consciousness of him, and started fiddling with her fingers. This is what she's like without the act, without the parasol, without the image, Luka thought.

"Thanks, Luka, really."

"For not throwing stuff at you?"

She chuckled at him.

"Yeah, that, and for offering me a place I can 'recharge', to rest... And for calling me pretty, I guess?"

The way she tucked her hair behind her ear forced the boy hold his breath as a familiar string in his heart felt like it has just been plucked, and he could feel a new melody being formed.

Luka gave Aurore a kind smile, before wondering if it's a melody he's ready to play again.

The End