Adrien/Cat Noir's P.O.V.-

"Akumatized villain alert! Everyone please remain inside! Remain inside!" Those alarms the mayor had installed were super useful. I wasn't the biggest fan of Mr. Bourgeois, but he did have some good ideas. The sirens were going off all around the city centre; the university district, to be precise. I never told Marinette this, but our universities were quite close to one another's. I could walk to her department building in ten minutes. Course that had to stay my little secret; while I knew all about her life, she knew literally nothing about my civilian life, other than the fact that I was in university too. She just didn't know which one.

One major blessing about her university campus being so near mine was that it allowed me to go check on her whenever someone attacked this part of Paris. Sneaking out of my macroeconomics lecture, I transformed in the boys' bathroom. Then I escaped out the window, heading straight towards my girlfriend's school. I know, I know. Paris is under attack and my first thought is Marinette- that's bad "superheroing". But I literally couldn't fight as well as normal unless I knew she was safe. Just one quick peek to ensure she's hiding with the rest of the citizens and I'd be off! Besides, I bet Ladybug would get there before me anyway. She could handle whoever this villain was on her own for a minute.

Pressing my back up against the wall when I finally landed in her department building, I slithered around trying to stay undetected. If anyone caught me that would lead to some awkward questions about why I'm here and not where the akumatized person was. Being as invisible as possible, I crept around a corner towards where I knew her classroom was. It was two o'clock; she'd be in Sixteenth-Century French History right about now. With the classroom door in sight, I waited a minute to see if anyone would come out. This turned out to be a good move as the door flung open some seconds later, and my heart dropped when I saw who emerged.

"I'll be right back! There's something I've got to check on!" A frantic Marinette emerged from the room. She looked like she was yelling at somebody on the other side of the door. I didn't hear the other person's reply, but it didn't stop my girlfriend. I have no idea what Marinette had to check on, but she sure looked determined about something. "No! You don't understand; I've got to go! This is really, really important!" She screeched this and I began to wonder if it was me she was so eager to check on. The very idea made my heart flutter, both in a good and bad way. While I was over the moon at the notion of my baby wanting to make sure that I was alright- and honestly, how could I not be thrilled by that revelation- it made me worry too. That girl… She should get herself to safety; not be worrying about me. She knows I always come out ok from these battles. But then, someone could rightly use my own logic against me; Plagg did all of the time.

She stepped out into view further and I held my breath. No, don't come outside; get back in the room where it's safe! If she took one more step, I would come out there. And it looked like she was about to until a hand grabbed her wrist- someone grabbed onto Marinette, effectively keeping her in place. This brand new and very powerful sensation flooded all throughout my body, piercing every fibre once I saw this figure of a man reveal itself. He was the one Marinette had been speaking to, and he was the one holding onto her now.

"Are you crazy?! There's an alarm going off! We're supposed to take shelter!" I was both stunned and irate by the furious tone of his voice. He was yelling at my girlfriend, holding back no restrain. "You don't understand! I have to do this! Let go of me!" "You can't go outside, Marinette! It's not safe! Just wait until after Cat Noir and Ladybug have taken of it!"

Cat Noir, him saying that made my eyes widen a bit. There was something about this man; something I couldn't quite put my finger on. He looked….. familiar. I'm pretty sure I've seen him before, but I can't remember where from. His voice too… All of them were ringing bells in my head. But damn if I remembered them. Oh well, I'm sure it doesn't matter. What did matter was the fact he was gripping my girlfriend's arm so tightly, it made me wince.

Marinette frantically thrashed to break away from his grasp. "Please, Luka! You've got to trust me on this! I'll be right back! I swear!" Luka? So that's his name, is it? Huh, he sounds like a prick; I already don't like him. And I really, REALLY didn't like the way he glared back at Marinette angrily. "What could be so important that you'd risk your life? Come on, Marinette! Get back inside!" "No! I have to do this! Let go! Let go of me!" She was forcibly trying to push his hand off her. This jerk had the audacity to roll his eyes. "We're done talking about this!" "No, we're not! Please, please let me go! I'll explain everything later!" "Would you just shut up and get back inside?! You're being unreasonable, Mari!" Mari? My fingers twitched in jealousy. Oh…. I didn't like that. Not at all. I would have intervened sooner but a tiny piece of me was hoping that he'd just bring her back inside. At least I'd know she'd be safe in there. I could kick his ass later, which I already jotted down on my mental "to do" list. But that plan went out the window the moment I saw tears forming in the corners of Marinette's eyes. "You don't understand, Luka! I have to go! Please! Please, let go of me!"

Ok, I've seen enough. Both their heads twisted in surprise as I made a show of jumping from around the corner, acting as if I'd just arrived. The wave of relief across Marinette's face was tangible. "Cat Noir!" She gasped. Luka didn't appear so impressed. "Are you really Cat Noir? The "Cat Noir"? Well, what are you doing here? There's an akumatized guy out there destroying the city." Oh crap, he has a point. Gotta think of an excuse fast! Walking up toward them, my mind raced through a hundred suggestions before landing on one that seemed appropriate.

"I um, uh am just making sure that everyone's been evacuated to safety first. I'm sure Ladybug's handling the situation already," I proclaimed with confidence, not noticing the colour disappear from Marinette's cheeks. No, my incensed glare was now locked onto Luka's idiotic face. If looks could kill….. I don't know how livid I must have looked just then, but it had to have been something.

"Would you mind removing your hand? The lady said "let go"," it took all my strength and then some to sound remotely casual. In reality, I wanted to scream in this asshole's face. I felt the urge to physically tear him away from her when he refused to obey this command. I think his fingers actually gripped her skin tighter! "Maybe she'll listen to you. Tell her to come back inside with the rest of the class," he hissed. After flashing him another deadly glare, my face immediately softened as I then gazed to Marinette. She was staring back at me with wide, moist eyes. You can guess what I did next- I smiled at her. How could I not… whenever I look at her?

"You should get to safety, milady. It's dangerous out here." "Exactly. So come back inside with me. I won't let anything happen to you, Mari," my glare immediately shot back to Luka. You think that's your job? Oh, I don't think so! If you don't get away from my girl in three seconds, I swear I'll…..

Marinette's eyes drifted back over to his face in desperation. "Nothing'll happen! I promise! Besides, Cat Noir's here now! It's totally safe!" Well, she's got that right anyway; my smart baby! But Luka's face instantly darkened again, his eyes narrowing in onto hers. "Why are you being so stubborn?! I'm telling you to stay inside! Cat Noir's telling you to stay inside! What possible reason could you have for wanting to leave in the middle of an attack? Do you have a death wish or something?!" Marinette's lips pursed with heightened emotion. Meanwhile I was about ready to slug this creep in the face; I'd hit him so hard, he'd land in next Tuesday. Course my beloved wasn't so violent.

"Why can't you just trust me?! I thought we were friends!" She cried out loudly. I instinctively frowned- well, frowned even more than I already was. Uh, yeah; I think he's got more than "friendship" on his mind, babe. Luka growled, yanking her an inch closer toward him. That moment right there: that's the closest I've ever come to beating a man to death with my bare hands. Even Marinette looked startled by this show of aggravated aggression. "We are friends! That's why I don't want to see you go get yourself killed!" "Oh, so I should let myself be moved around like a ragdoll then?!" My girlfriend fired back. His hand gripped her even snugger.

"No, you should stay put and let me protect you!"

We walked through our mansion's garden, my hand cradling hers. I listened quietly, but attentively, to my girlfriend relay the day's events, giving particular anxious attention to the part about Luka. My least favourite part.

That damn bastard. I thought all this crap was over when Marinette finished her undergrad degree. I heard it all second-hand. Luka's repeatedly confessed his feelings for Marinette over the years, but graduation was apparently when it got bad. He confessed, she refused, and they broke off their friendship- or so Marinette thought. Where does he get the nerve, showing up all this time later? And when he knows she's engaged, no less! I never did get to beat Luka up, though I desperately wanted to. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't bring me great satisfaction to know that I'd be marrying the woman he's been in love with forever. Serves the bastard right!

But, if I'm being truly transparent, I wasn't overly concerned with his reappearance now all of a sudden. Nothing would change. He'd declare his undying love, Marinette would shoot him down, and he'd disappear again. Same old, same old. What bothered me was Marinette's reaction to all this. Unlike she, she was genuinely apprehensive about Luka's return- or more rather, how I would react to it. That's why she told me everything right away. She wanted to see my reaction, and while I wasn't happy, I wasn't put out by it either.

I still had kicking his ass on my bucket list, after all.

Once she had finished spilling her guts out, her gorgeous head nervously spun towards mine. I could tell she was gaging my expression. "And that's what happened….." "Is that all that happened?" I inquired, already knowing she told me everything. She merely confirmed this with a single nod of the head. Then her top teeth bit her bottom lip in a fearful fashion. "I'm so sorry, Cat Noir." Oh no…. Grinning slightly, I gently pulled her in closer to me as we continued to walk forward. Our eyes locked again.

"What are you sorry for? This isn't your fault, babe." "I know, but…" I stopped her by lifting her hand up for a kiss. "There's no "buts". It couldn't be helped; you had no idea he would show up randomly like that. I'm not mad at you, Marinette. How could I be?" I cooed, and her eyes softened onto mine. Her face visibly relaxed as she pressed the side of her arm up against my arm. "You're so understanding….. How'd I ever get so lucky with you?" "I'm not understanding, sweetheart. I just know you'd never do anything to deliberately hurt me." "Oh never! Just the thought of you in pain…. I think that hurts me more than you," she revealed. I watched this perfect one for a moment before giving the front of her hand another peck. "Dido, my pruuuuuuuncess."

She smiled at me, leaning her head against my shoulder blade. She nuzzled the side of her cheek into my cat suit, making that "hmmmmm" sound as she did so. I said nothing, merely continuing to stare down at her. This overwhelming sensation, this mighty feeling came over me again. It was the exact same feeling that I experienced when I first laid eyes on Marinette, and just as powerful…. It never ceased to amaze me. Ten years later and she still took my breath away, like it was the very first time. God, I love her…. A thousand times over, I effortlessly adore her.

Loving Marinette was the easiest thing I ever did do.

My precious one let out a flutter of sighs, still keeping her head on me. "I wish we could stay like this forever," she hummed to herself. I nodded smoothly in total agreement. "Me too." "Do you ever wish it was different? That you weren't chosen to be Cat Noir….. That we could have a normal life just like every other couple?" I thought about her question for a moment, only gripping her hand tighter in mine. "But if I was never Cat Noir, then we would have never met." "Hmmmm, that's true." "I get your point though. Yeah, sometimes I wish I could have an ordinary life like every other man my age. That would have been so much easier….. But if that means never meeting you, then I'd pick this life endlessly." "Cat Noir…" Marinette kissed my shoulder. My head leaned in to rest against the top of hers, my eyes shown out into the rose bush on the pathway in front of us.

"Don't worry about Luka. Everything will be alright, honey. You'll see." "How can you be so sure?" She asked me, but her voice was low and silky. I proceeded to nuzzle my nose into hair; man, it smelt good! My smile intensified. "Because I know you. I've always known you, milady. You're like a melody to me…. where each note is more beautiful than the last." "Cat Noir," she breathed. "I know you, and you know that you can always come to me, Marinette.

Come with your beautiful music."