Chapter 14: The Hangout
"Everyone who has ever had anything to do with the Miraculous will forget all memories involving it and forget their feelings for the person they love the most!"
Those words kept echoing in Marinette's head. She slowly left the museum in a haze, unaware of her surroundings. Could what Trent said really be true.
"How could you be okay with something like that?" Marinette asked, her voice mixed with emotions.
"I never said I was," Trent shrugged off. "It is just something that I have to do. If you don't want it to happen then just pass."
"It isn't fair!"
"Why would the Guardians have something so cruel?" Marinette wondered. Her eyes glanced up at the sky. It was getting dark. How long was she in the museum? "I understand protecting the Miraculous and the secrets, but to go through such lengths."
"Marinette!" a voice called out.
"Who's there?" she called out, snapped out of her dazed.
"Whoa calm down," a calming voice said. "No need to be so defensive."
"Adrien?" she was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way home from practice and saw you walking alone," he said. "You looked pretty down. Anything wrong? Can I give you a ride home?"
"He is so sweet to be worried about me," Marinette thought to herself. "No. I appreciate the offer, but I am on my way somewhere first, before I head home."
"If you're sure," Adrien said a bit dejectedly. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, and you look so down. I am here if you want to talk."
"Thank you Adrien," Marinette showed a small smile. "I wish I could take you up on that offer, but it is something I can't talk about."
"How strange," Adrien chuckled. "Just the other day I received news that I can't talk about either. It would seem we are in a similar boat."
"Yeah," Marinette chuckled as well. "I bet yours is more important seeing how you're a model and your dad is a world famous designer. I bet there are all sort of things you can't talk about like upcoming trends in fashions."
"You make my life sound more interesting than what it is," Adrien smiled. "Well my body guard is signaling for me. Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes, I think so," Marinette said. "I just need time to process it all."
"Everyone who has ever had anything to do with the Miraculous will forget all memories involving it and forget their feelings for the person they love the most!"
"Adrien," Marinette called out. This is her chance. She has to tell him how she feels before it's too late.
"What is it?" he turned around. The street lights reflected of the boy, giving him an angelic glow.
"I…" Marinette started, but the words didn't come out. "I….thank you."
Adrien smiled and waved as he walked off.
"Oh Marinette," Tikki patted Marinette's head. "You really did try this time."
"Let's just get to Master Fu's place and tell him everything that we learned," Marinette suggested.
The bell's ringing echoed throughout the classroom, signally the end of the school day. The rustle of students packing up quickly filled the air. It was Friday, finally, and everyone was ready for a well-deserved rest.
"Hey Trent!" Adrien said as Trent walked down the stairs from the back of the class. "Are you ready?"
"Of course," Trent smiled.
"Oh, where are you guys off too?" Ayla asked, small smile on her face.
"Off on a date," Trent wrapped an arm around Adrien.
"Wanna make it a double?" Ayla pulled Nino close, wrapping herself around his arm.
"Not funny," Adrien smirked and he removed Trent's arm. "You're going to give them the wrong idea."
"Yeah, like you could score Adrien," Nino said, laughing right after.
"You scored Ayla, so miracles can happens," Trent playfully stuck out his tongue. "You give hope to guys like me."
"He's right you know," Ayla winked, causing Nino's face to turn red.
"It's Friday," Marinette muttered, "You should have fencing or Chinese lessons today."
"My dad gave me the day off from my schedule," Adrien said. "I am going to jam out with Kitty Section today, and I am taking Trent along with me."
"I am a musical prodigy," Trent smugly smiled.
"Play a pretty mean recorder don't you?" Ayla chuckled.
"I wish I was skilled enough to play the recorder," Trent laughed. "I play a pretty mean triangle."
"Funny," Nino said. "Did you stay up all night writing that?"
"Nah man, I was in bed around 2."
"Wouldn't it be better to pick a more common instrument?" Marinette asked.
"The sillier the instrument, the funnier the joke," Trent shrugged.
"Did you watch the video I sent you?" Adrien asked.
"Yeah. Kitty Section is pretty good," Trent nodded. "Shame they cover their faces with masks, they're a good looking group, although I do love their aesthetic."
"You know Marinette designed their costumes," Adiren said. "She is pretty creative."
"If you think they're a good looking group, why don't you tell them to their face?" Ayla suggested. "Most of the members are in this class."
"Hey Ivan!" Trent called out.
"Whoa," Nino gasped. "He is actually doing it."
"You're pretty good looking!"
"Shut up!" Ivan slammed the desk. "I don't like being made fun of!"
"I don't think he is making fun of you," Mylene reassured.
"What about Mylene?" Ivan shouted back.
"She not in the Kitty Section video!" Trent answered. "But, she is good looking too!"
"You guys sure are lively today," a female voice said.
"Hey Lila!" Ayla and Nino greeted.
"Can I borrow you guys?" she asked innocently asked.
"They're all yours," Adrien said, tone flat. "We were just leaving. See you guys later!"
"Peace out?" Trent said, a little confused as to why they were leaving all of a sudden.
"Follow me," Adrien said as the two teens exited the car.
"Where are we going?" Trent asked. "It doesn't seem that there are any houses in this area."
"You'll see," Adrien smiled.
The two teens walked along the bank of the Seine, taking in the scenery. The trees were full and lush green casting a lot of shade, making the walk rather pleasant. A gentle breeze blew keeping the temperature cool. The river flowed calmly on disrupted by the ripples of falling leaves.
"Here we are!" Adrien announced.
"Whoa!" Trent marveled. "It's a ship. A pirate ship! We're having our rehearsal here?"
"Yeah. Luka and Juleka live here," Adrien explained. "Since half of Kitty Section live here, and their mother is a pretty free spirit, band practice is always here. The only hard part is figuring out where their ship is docked on any given day."
"They must be pretty crazy to live here," Trent said, "because their boat is in Seine."
Adrien just stared.
"What?" Trent asked. "That was funny. Way better than anything you have said as Cat Noir!"
"How can you be like this?" Adrien asked. "After everything you told me the other day, you are acting like nothing has changed."
"I see," Trent sighed. "I figured you of all people would understand it. You do it too."
"What do I do?" Adrien asked.
"Keep your personal and professional life separate," Trent answered. "I'm not always Boom Barrier or a Guardian in training, just like you're not always Cat Noir or a super model."
"Right," Adrien nodded. "Just it is hard to tell which you is the real you."
"Does it really matter if they're on the same coin?" Trent muttered. "Anyways, I may not be your ally for this whole judgment thing, but I am your friend. Besides, you were the one who reached out to me a few months ago."
"I remember," Adrien said. "Things just got complicated really fast since you came. It is a lot to process."
"If your feelings changed, why didn't you cancel our hangout?" Trent looked away. "I would have understood."
"Well we already made plans and I didn't want to break them at the last minute," Adrien scratched the back of the head. "Plus, you're only here for a short time so I want to make sure you don't have any bad experiences."
"Aren't you sweet," Trent chuckled. "Can we put everything aside for the time being?"
"That might be best," Adrien smiled. "Just a heads up though, don't tell your joke."
"Which one?"
"The river one."
"What?" Trent gasped. "That's gold."
"I don't disagree," Adrien said. "Just their mother is a real free spirit and I feel like she might love that joke a little too much."
The two teens walked up the ramp-wooden plank that connected the boat to the path along the river. Adrien crossed it rather quickly, but Trent took slow step, making sure he didn't fall overboard. Despite being a superhero, he was a rather cautious guy.
"Permission to come aboard?" Adrien knocked.
"Wait, do we have to do pirate talk, or are you messing with me?" Trent asked, but Adrien showed a small style. "I don't know why everyone likes you, you're the worse."
"Tell me how you really feel," Adrien laughed.
"Sounds like a good time out here," a soft and gentle male voice said. A teen appeared at the door. He was tall and slender. He had black hair with teal-blue dyed tips. "Hey there Kitty, who's your friend?"
"Kitty?" Trent's Cheshire smile was hard to ignore. "A pet name or is it something more?"
"Luka this is my friend Trent. He is visiting Paris for a short while," Adrien greeted. It was clear he was trying to ignore the situation. "Trent this is Luka, lead guitarist of Kitty Section and Juleka's older brother."
"It's nice to meet you," Trent stuck out his hand. "I am a big fan of your music."
"The pleasure is mine," Luka shook. "Juleka told me her class got a new student, one who does alternative fashion."
"I dabble," Trent said. "I know the clothes I want don't really exist so I have to make them. I figured other people would like them so I made a website."
"I'll have to check it out sometime," Luka said.
"I think you might already have," Trent pointed to Luka's wrist. "So why did you call Adrien Kitty?"
"Uh," Luka looked at Adrien than coughed. "All us members of Kitty Section call each other Kitty."
"Not bad for thinking on your feet," Adrien thought to himself. "That might not have been the best answer. He will probably test it out."
"Is that so?" Luka smiled.
"Is Adrien a member of Kitty Section?" Trent asked. "He is not in any of the music videos."
"He's an honorary member," Luka gestured towards the doorway. "Let's talk more inside. Trent do you play any musical instruments?"
"He's a musical prodigy," Adrien was met with Trent starring daggers. "In fact, he was just bragging about it earlier today."
"The worst," Trent coughed.
"What instrument?" Luka asked, leading the teens to the living room stage area.
"The triangle," Trent answered.
"Oh that sure is unique," Luka said, "acoustic or electric?"
"Even more niche," Trent winked. "Dinner."
"Don't you have one lying around?" Adrien smiled. "There are always all sorts of musical instruments lying around here."
"Of course," the musician nodded.
"Why are you like this?" Trent shook his head, hiding his smile. "I gotta say Luka, mad props for recognizing my joke and playing along. Just wish Kitty over here didn't beat me to the punch."
"It was still funny," Luka smiled sweetly.
"Thank you," Trent said. "So be real with me. Why do you call Adrien Kitty?"
"It's fine Luka," Adrien said. "He knows my secret too."
"So you know as well?" Luka asked.
"Yeah, he wasn't exactly subtle with his transformations," Trent said.
"You're telling me. There was this time in the sewers," Luka started. "Ladybug had told Adrien and me to hide, so we were going to hide in some lockers."
"Why does the sewer have lockers?" Trent asked.
"I never thought to question that room before," Adrien said. He was now wondering about that too.
"So Adrien tells me he is going to hide in another locker, but leaves the rooms. Cat Noir comes into the room not even a moment after. So that is when I first had my inkling," Luka sat on the couch. "What confirmed it for me is what came after."
"You saw him hop in a trash can as Adrien, then hop out as Cat Noir?" Trent asked. "That would give you actual confirmation."
"Ha. No," Luka shook his head. "Something similar though."
"Wait, that trash can scenario was a little too specific for an example," Adrien pointed out, "did that really happen?"
"It is how I learned Ladybug's identity," Trent chuckled at the shocked expression that over took the other two teens' faces. "Please continue your story."
"It seems that Ladybug gave Adrien a Miraculous earlier, not knowing that he was Cat Noir. When I came onto the scene Adrien was giving the Miraculous back to her. He suggest she give it to me and he was going to go hide. He rounds the corner, and not even a second later Cat Noir comes. Kitty over here didn't even wait a beat before rejoining our little group," Luka finished.
"How has no one in Paris figured you two out yet?" Trent asked.
"Well when people are running for their lives they don't really have the luxury of looking around and taking in their surroundings," Adrien said.
"Oh Adrien is here!" a girl voice squealed, snapping the boys attentions. "Didn't know you were going to join us today. You brought Trent with you too!"
"Hi Rose! Hi Juleka!" Adrien greeted.
"Hey Kitties!" Trent smiled.
"Told ya," Adrien whispered to Luka.
"Kitties?" Juleka and Rose looked at each other than back to Trent, confused. Was he hitting on them?
"Luka said members of Kitty Section call each other Kitty," Trent said.
"But you're not in the band," Juleka said.
"Oh," Trent's face went red. "I thought Luka was trying to pull a trick on me so I was going to call him out on it. Now I feel silly."
"Don't worry," Luka patted Trent's back before holding his shoulder, "playing along with jokes run in the family. Ladies could you take Trent to the instrument storage to pick out something to play while Adrien and I set up the equipment?"
"Sure thing," Rose squealed. She grabbed Trent by the arm and led him away, Juleka following behind.
Adrien and Luka walked around the stage setting things up. Wires were laid out and pulled in to the proper places while some instruments were in the process of being set up on the stage. Who knew a drum kit required so much work?
"So Adrien, what's on your mind?" Luka asked.
"Nothing is on my mind," Adrien said as he carried a big drum to the stage.
"I can tell something is weighing on it," Luka said. "I am here if you want to talk about it. Does it have anything to do with your new friend?"
"Kinda," Adrien said. "He said some things and got me thinking."
"It does show on you face," Luka plugged his guitar into the amp. "Come help me carry the keyboard."
"Is it that obvious?"
"It is obvious something is on your mind," Luka nodded. "Your eyes don't have the same look they normally do."
"The same look?"
"Normally they're soft and bright," Luka said, "but right now there a distant look in it. It is hard to pinpoint the exact feeling. Sadness? Loneliness?"
"It is more confusion than anything else," Adrien said.
"What did Trent tell you that has you so shaken up?"
"A number of things," Adrien sighed. "What's weird is the thing my mind keeps coming back to."
"Oh?"
"I could lose my memories and everyone involved with me can lose their memories, but I keep focusing on something else."
"Hold on," Luka's head snapped up. "What's this about memories?"
"I keep focus on what he said about my love for Ladybug," Adrien said. Although it seems likes he didn't hear Luka's question.
"Did he ask you if you loved Ladybug as a person or the idea of Ladybug?" Luka raised his eyebrow.
"More or less," Adrien gasped. "How did you know?"
"It was something I was wondering myself," Luka answered. "I noticed that the Adrien everyone sees is different from Cat Noir. So that logic can be applied to Ladybug or any hero for that matter. You must really love Ladybug if it's bothering you this much."
"I thought I did," Adrien sighed and sat on the drum kit's stool. "Now I am not sure. Do I really know what Ladybug is like? Trent said that civilian and hero Ladybug are different people."
"Do you think Ladybug is still Ladybug outside the mask?"
"I want to believe so, I really do. I think she is, but she could be like me, a completely different person." Adrien spun. "I am not sure how to feel."
"Why do you keep pursuing Ladybug?" Luka started to tune his guitar. "From what you have told me, she keeps rejecting you and your advances."
"I think she likes me, but puts her duty first, I think I can get her to lower her defenses," Adrien confessed.
"That's not a good mindset to have," Luka twisted a knob. "Even if you were successful, would you be happy being with someone who settled for you?"
"No. I don't think I would." Adrien looked at Luka. "I just wish she would give me a chance you know?"
"Maybe you should take a break from pursuing her," Luka suggest, placing his guitar down and picking up a different one. "Give her a chance to come to you."
"I think that could work," Adrien said. "Is that how you got Marinette?"
"No," Luka chuckled. "Marinette and I are not together. She is in love with someone else."
"But you guys are always together."
"I am willing to be there for her as a friend, after all, she is a great person," Luka said. "and I may have encouraged her to pursue the guy she is after knowing that I will be waiting for her."
"Are you waiting for her?" Adrien asked.
"Well, it's complicated," Luka answered, eyes meeting Adrien's. "I do like Marinette, but she doesn't have much interest in me like that. Not as long as she is pursuing that other guy. Plus I am kind of interested in someone else."
"Whoever you are interested in must be pretty lucky or special," Adrien said.
"I think they are," Luka smiled sweetly.
"Whoa hold on a minute," Trent said as he turned the corner. "It looks like Adrien and Luka are having a serious talk. We shouldn't interrupt them."
Two girls poked their head around the corner and saw Adrien and Luka in deep conversation.
"I recognize that look," Juleka said.
"Oh no!" Rose suppressed her squeal. "This isn't good!"
"Wow Rose," Trent gasped. "I wasn't expecting that from you. You're dating his sister."
"No not that," Rose defended, gripping the corner tightly. "I mean it isn't good for Marinette."
"You mean Marinette likes Adrien?" Trent looked down at Rose.
"Yeah and the whole class is trying to get them together," Juleka mumbled looking up at Trent.
"Oh I can see why this wouldn't be good," Trent shook his head. "It probably wasn't going to happen anyways."
"What?" the girls gasped. The three teens quickly withdrew their heads, making sure they weren't seen by the other boys.
"Well as much as Adrien considers Marinette a good friend, he feels she doesn't feel the same way," Trent said, but quickly covered his mouth. "Forget I said anything. Adrien told me that in confidence."
"I promise to keep it a secret," Rose said, "please explain."
"Okay, but promise me this stays between us," Trent said. "PROMISE!"
"I promise," Rose stuck out her pinky. She elbowed Juleka who soon followed suit.
"Well Adrien thinks Marinette doesn't like him too much," Trent released the pinky. "She doesn't want to be left alone with him, she is constantly nervous and panicky, plus she is hardly able to speak full sentences to him. Adrien believes that Marinette is scared of him."
"Marinette!" Rose growled. She literally growled. The sweet, cheerful girl is frustrated. "Marinette is a sweet girl, but she gets shy and flustered around him. I never thought it could have been interpreted this way."
"She really did this to herself," Juleka sighed.
"We all tried to help her admit her feelings to him," Rose turned to Juleka, pressing her head into the other girl's chest. "I even gave her an ultimatum, but she said the words wouldn't come out. Oh Marinette, Marinette, Marinette."
"Adrien," Luka looked right into Adrien's green eyes. "I know this isn't the right time considering everything we talked about, but would you like to go out on a date with me?"
"A date?" Adrien was speechless. "You want to go on a date with me?"
"Yes," Luka nodded. "You don't have to answer right away. Just think about it. If nothing else, it'll help to take your mind off of things for a little while."
"Yeah," Adrien looked away. "I'll take some time to think about it."
"What are you guys doing?" Luka called out.
"Spying on you guys," Trent responded, peering around the corner.
Rose and Juleka appeared from behind the corner, and walked towards the stage with Trent.
"We weren't spying," Rose said.
"Yes we were," Trent laughed. "We saw that you and Adrien were having a serious talk so we decided to hang back and let you guys finish."
"That's not spying, that's being considerate," Rose told Trent.
"What instrument did you pick out?" Adrien asked. "Did you get yourself the triangle?"
"Nah, don't want to make people feel bad with my legendary skills," Trent shook his head.
"Thanks for considering out feelings," Luka winked. "So what did you pick?"
"Oh, the accordion," Trent said. "My grandfather taught me how to play. It's not exactly a rocking out instrument though."
"All that matters is that you have fun playing it," Luka said.
"Hello!" a girl voice called out.
"We're here to rock out!" a male voice followed up.
"Mylene! Ivan! Good to see you guy!" Rose waved. "We have everything set up and ready to go."
"Oh Adrien, you are going to join us today?" Mylene asked.
"Yeah, if you don't mind," he smiled. "I love playing music with you guys."
"Trent is going to join us today too, so out sound is going to be really different," Luka said.