Chapter 4 – Of Freedom and Acceptance

"Well, maybe I spoke too quickly on the keeping you your word. You've been gone so long I almost forgot your face." Luka said by way of greeting, coming behind the counter and grabbing Adrien's face, moving Adrien around like he was inspecting him and trying to memorise his face.

Adrien couldn't meet his Luka's eyes.

He ripped his head from Luka's hands and put a few feet of distance between them, his cheeks burning from the touch.

Luka looked confused, almost hurt at Adrien's reaction.

"Sorry-"

"It's fine." Adrien turned and walked away, going into the back to find Tom.

"Adrien! Good to see you." Tom beamed, spreading his arms to greet Adrien. "Is Luka in yet? I'll get him to train you."

"Morning, Tom. Yeah, he just got here."

"Perfect, perfect. Come with me." Tom dusted his large hands on the apron around his waist, and lead Adrien back out to where Luka was cleaning down the counter top in preparation for customers.

"Alright, Luka. I want you to handle Adrien's training for the next few weeks. I'll be around to help as well, but I'll leave Adrien in your care."

"No worries, Tom." Luka smiled at Tom, then turned again to Adrien, the smile faltering slightly from their earlier interaction.

Adrien still couldn't meet his eyes.

Just. His. Luck.

Was it too late to quit? To run out and change his mind?

"Let me take you around and show you the ropes." Luka said, turning and looking over his shoulder for Adrien to follow.

The half an hour that followed felt like torture to Adrien. The sound of Luka's voice, the way his plain white tee accentuated his muscles and clung tightly to his biceps. The way Luka would drag a hand through his hair, fingers catching in the thick strands only to have them fall back into his face.

Adrien darted his tongue out to wet his lips and tried to distract himself, something that Luka caught.

"Are you ok? You seem off today. If I upset you earlier by touching your face, I'm really sorry. I was messing around since it seems like you've been avoiding me. Did I do something?"

Yes, you're walking around looking that attractive. Have some sympathy.

"I'm fine." He muttered again, eyes focused on the ground.

Fingers held onto his chin and forced Adrien to look into Luka's gorgeous blue eyes, making Adrien swallow quickly and fight the overwhelming desire to kiss Luka, wrap his arms around his neck and tug on that hair.

He prayed his eyes and bodies' reaction didn't betray his thoughts.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that you're ok, that I haven't done anything to upset you."

He opened his mouth to do just that, but nothing came out.

Luka clicked his tongue knowingly and quirked an eyebrow.

"Out with it."

He didn't let go of Adrien's chin.

Adrien didn't speak, unwilling to spill his secrets, the thoughts he was having about Luka, someone he'd only known for a short time.

Was he so desperate for love or attention? So disgusting?

Yes.

He was.

"I'm just nervous about my first day." He lied, knowing Luka knew it was a lie.

Luka let it be when the bell above the door chimed.

"Come on. I'll show you how to take orders and put it through on the register." Luka sighed, finally letting Adrien go and walking back to the counter from the back.

When the shift finally ended, Adrien was hoping he'd be able to slink back home without needing to deal with Luka again.

He couldn't be so lucky, as Luka cornered him in the back room, literally. He'd pushed Adrien quite literally into the very back corner of the room, against the shelves.

Adrien's face became red, and he could feel the heat of it.

God, he's hot.

Luka's eyes went wide.

Adrien's mouth fell open in horror.

"No- I-!"

"Is that what the issue is?"

Cornered both literally and figuratively, Adrien was forced to nod. "Yes. I'm attracted to you and I hate it. I'm disgusting." He finally admitted.

Luka's eyebrows furrowed. "Why does that make you disgusting? It's fine if you find me attractive."

"It- my father he said- he said being gay is…disgusting."

Luka let out a little whoosh of air, dropping his head in disbelief. "No. It's not disgusting. It's fine, it's normal. Being gay is not a big deal. Never think of yourself that way."

"But I'm not- I'm not gay! I'm not that way! I can't…I can't be gay." Adrien adamantly denied in horror.

"What the fuck did your dad say to you?" Luka whispered, horrified and deeply sad for Adrien, that he'd had to endure hearing those things. "Adrien, seriously: It's ok."

Luka moved his arms from beside Adrien to rest on his shoulders, staring deeply into his eyes.

Adrien sighed, and nodded. "I'm attracted to you. I'm very attracted to you. That's why I've been avoiding you. And…I'm gay. I know I'm gay, but I don't want to be."

A tear fell down Adrien's face.

"I'm attracted to you too."

"You're…what?"

"I'm attracted to you too."

"But I thought you and Marinette were-"

"Not anymore. When we were about 15 we tried, but it didn't work. Now we're just best friends." Luka shrugged, and added, "I'm also bisexual."

"Oh." Adrien breathed, looking down as he took it all in. "Thank you." Adrien smiled softly.

They stood their in silence for a moment, as Adrien became keenly aware of how close their were and the position they were in, in light of the conversation they'd just had.

"So…I'm attracted to you, and you're attracted to me. What do we do from here with that information?" Luka was the first to break the silence.

"I…don't know. I've never had this happen before. I mean- I've liked people and I've dated people, but it was all for publicity and they were all chosen by my father for the image."

Luka gave him a look. "Who is your father?"

"Gabriel Agreste."

"Like the…fashion designer? From Paris?"

"That's the one."

"I knew you sounded French! Marinette loves the guy! She's a fashion designer herself, you know. God, I knew you looked familiar!" Adrien smiled shyly, and Luka paused. "But…what are you doing here then?"

"I ran away."

"I don't think I need to ask why, given the little I've heard about his views on gay people."

"More like his views on his image. He just didn't want his son to be gay. But…then again he does have some choice things to say about…yeah."

"God. I'm so sorry."

"Luka!!" Adrien and Luka were snapped out of the moment they were having, shipping their heads out to the counter, where Marinette was calling for them.

They separated and made their way out to her.

"Mari, Mari, calm down. What happened? Are ok?"

"No! Well, yes! But no!"

"What! Spit it out!" Luka said, excited and worried and almost laughing at Marinette's hyper state.

"Gabriel Agreste is coming here! To our city to release his new line!"

Adrien paled and stumbled back a few steps, the walls suddenly closing in and his breathing becoming laboured.

But…how…how had his father found him? Why could he never be free of him!

"No. No. No. That can't be happening."

"Adrien, are you ok?" Marinette paused her excited squealing to look at Adrien with concern, watching as he fell back against the wall.

"How did he know? How did he find me?"

Adrien clawed at his chest, trying to breathe, trying to escape his own body.

"What does he mean? Luka, do you have any idea what's the matter?"

"Gabriel Agreste is his father. He's Adrien Agreste. He ran away."

"He…oh." Marinette breathed in concern and realisation.

"I can't let him find me. He can't take me away and lock me up, not again. I can't go back." Adrien started hyperventilating, panicking as he wasn't able to get the air down. Panicking at the thought of being confined to that house, beaten again and controlled.

He couldn't. He couldn't go back to that.

He needed to get away.

But he'd never be able to. His father would always find him.

Always.

AN: When uploading this fic, an idea popped into my head. Suddenly I had an idea for a story title that sounded very sad or bittersweet.

And then I was like: …huh. That's actually fantastic. I've already got ideas for that.

I had all these thoughts for what I could with it for a sequel, and because it sounded so sad, I was like: …huh. What if I gave this fic a sad ending.

At first, it was a joke, something I was doing just for the fun of it. But, as always happens in the world of fiction, it doesn't stay a joke for very long, and suddenly I was actually really wanting to make this.

And I have decided I will. After much thinking, I will.

This fic was originally meant to have a happy ending and only have one part (not a one-shot, but not have a sequel). But all the best ideas evolve as they go along, right?

So, this part will have not have a happy ending. Oops, I spoiled it. But, since it's been a late decision, I figured it would be best to let everyone know now so that they can dip out now if they don't want to have an unhappy ending, even though I am planning a sequel, since an unhappy ending wasn't the original plan. But don't worry: they will get there eventually.

And as for the name that got this whole idea started:

'For all the Stars we Touched, and the ones that Burned Out'.