Chapter 15: Dreaming

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning. "

-Gloria Steinem

When Adrien woke from his dreamless sleep, he found himself surrounded by warmth. The warmth felt so nice that he almost didn't want to wake up. So instead, he buried his head deeper into his pillow that smelled of baked goods and sugar. Running his nose along the pillow, he inhaled even deeper to get more of the mouth watering smell and froze when his pillow shivered and sighed. Opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of blue hair in his face. He shifted back a little and the warmth behind him moved as well. Turning slightly, he was met with Luka's peaceful sleeping face very close to his own. Adrien's shock at being sandwiched between his two crushes was almost overwhelming... and amazing... and nerve wrecking as he remembered what had happened last night.

He had kissed both of them in front of each other. What had he been thinking? He hadn't. He came over wanting to talk and ended up kissing them. Last night he had wondered why they hadn't kicked him out, but he knew why: both of them were kind hearted people who constantly put others above themselves. They hadn't wanted to hurt him more so they had let him stay and gave him comfort. They were both truly good people.

A trait that was partially responsible for him falling for them.

Now that it was morning, what would happen? How would they react? Would they politely shun him? They'd never say a mean word to him but he deserved it all and it was their decision to make. All he could do now was wait for the ax to drop and let his dream of either of them slip away. What else could he expect? As he saw last night, they were happily into each other. What difference would his feelings make?

So Adrien decided to revel in the feelings of being in Luka's arm and having Marinette in his as long as he could before the peace was disturbed. He closed his eyes and tried to think about nothing but, surprisingly, the kiss he'd walked in on last night - not any of the heartbreaking stuff he'd been through before that- kept playing in his mind.

Seeing the two people he had been dreaming about almost every night kissing so passionately had started a fire under all the other raging feelings from earlier. With a now clear mind that refused to think about his father, the fire was at the forefront and it was burning hot. It had him wondering what it would be like if one- or both- of them kissed him as they had kissed each other. Imagining Luka's hand on his waist under his shirt or Marinette's hand gripping his shirt and tangling in his hair nearly did him in. The thought of both of their lips on him spread the fire lower and Adrien quickly tried to control his thoughts and body before it alerted the two sleeping people of his inappropriate thoughts. His inner chanting of "camembert, smelly camembert" was interrupted by the bed shifting behind him.

"I see you're awake." Luka whispered. Adrien opened his eyes and gave him a shy smile. He carefully got out of the bed and Adrien followed. When Luka made to walk out of the room, Adrien paused and looked back at Marinette, who had shifted to burrow into the warm indentions their bodies had left.

"Should we...?"

"Nah. She's not much of a morning person so we should let her sleep. She'll join us in a little bit."

They moved out into the kitchen area and Adrien took a seat at the table, looking around the quiet cabin. "Where's the captain and Juleka?"

"A weekend trip to London." There was silence as Luka moved around the kitchen and Adrien sat lost in his thoughts until there was a cup of hot tea placed in front of him. "How are you feeling?"

Adrien wrapped his hands around the hot mug and took inventory of himself. There was shame for his actions last night. He didn't regret the kisses but he knew they'd been stupid to do. There was a lot of anger and pain from his father's reaction. Although he had prepared himself, nothing could stop the echoing pain of knowing his father cared more about appearance and the brand. Feeling the emotions bubble back up, Adrien took a drink of his tea to disperse the lump in his throat.

"Sad. Angry. Apologetic." The last bit was said with a small smile and glance.

Luka smiled slightly and waved it away. "Don't worry. We know that you are going through a lot."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I should've done it."

Luka sobered just a little and nodded. "You're right, but don't beat yourself up over it. Neither of us holds it against you." He paused. "And we don't have to talk about what happened last night until you're ready. It had to have been a big moment for you."

Adrien looked down into his tea. "Thanks, but it's okay. It's out there already so we might as well talk about it whenever Marinette joins us."

"Okay. So let's talk about your dad then. It is why you came over last night." Adrien scowled and sipped more of the hot liquid but didn't disagree. "It went exactly like you thought?"

Adrien sat the cup down a little too hard. "I guess. I came out as clear as day and all he wanted to know was who knew before he graciously declined my decision to date. Which, I mean, it makes me wonder if I should bother dating: what's the point if I'd have to hide them from him or the world? He also talked about how I could hurt the brand with this scandal. All of that I expected from him. What I didn't expect was for him to nearly admit that he cared more about his brand than me. I asked and he didn't say no. Talk about words unsaid." Adrien huffed and ran his fingers through his hair. "My own father cares more about what people think of his stupid clothes and jewelry and fragrances than his own son. It just tells me that nothing will ever be more important than being his perfect model son for his perfect brand." Angry tears filled his eyes and Luka put a hand over his and squeezed. As usual, the silent comfort was a balm to his wounded soul and he felt okay... until there were arms wrapping around his shoulders from behind.

"I'm sorry." Marinette mumbled into his neck as she hugged him. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard and I'm... just so sorry and mad for you that he said that." Trying not to bawl again, he leaned back into her as she held him. This effort was shot to hell when she unwrapped herself to move around so she could face him. As she gently cupped his cheeks, Adrien looked into her cloudy eyes that threatened to rain. "Your dad is wrong. Who you love will never be a scandal or something to hide away. And just by you being you, you are definitely more important than any brand, whether you're perfect or not. You're worthy of all the love and attention you need and deserve. Don't believe anything different. Your dad's an idiot."

Moved by her impassioned speech, Adrien could only nod as the tears ran again. She wrapped her arms around him and he clung to her waist as he wept. When the tears had stopped, he met her eyes again and she gently wiped his face before glancing over at Luka, who got up to make more tea. Adrien, again, marveled at their silent communication and understanding, and how he still dreamed of having the same someday with someone he cared about. As if hearing his heart's desire, Marinette started to stroke his hair.

"I know you already have Luka to talk to, but I want you to know that I'm here for you, too. I care about you a lot and you should never feel like you're alone." Adrien nodded and leaned into her again. They stayed like that until Luka returned with tea and biscuits. With a smile, Marinette moved away and sat at the table with them and they ate in comfortable silence.

When there was nothing but crumbs left, Adrien knew it was time to face the music. He'd already apologized to Luka so he turned to Marinette. "Marinette, I'm sorry for last night: for springing my problems on you and kissing you."

Marinette nearly knocked her cup off the table in surprise and a blush rose to her cheeks. Adrien wondered why. "Oh. Um, it's okay. Thanks...for the kiss- I mean for apologizing. Thank you for apologizing for the kiss."

Adrien was perplexed at the sudden change in her. A moment ago she was confident and speaking in full sentences. Now she was back to word soup and being clumsy? He could see Luka holding back a smile but he decided not to comment on either thing.

"No problem. But I guess you might want to know the why, right?" Adrien took a deep breath. "As you probably figured out: I'm bi. Only you, Luka, and my Father know. I figured it out because I developed a crush on..." He blushed and peeked at Luka who nodded in encouragement. "I got-have a crush on Luka. He was there for me when I needed him most and eventually I couldn't imagine my life without him and I just... knew. I've also never felt what I feel for him for anyone else." Adrien turned and connected eyes with her. "Until I fell for you."

Her eyes widened and it looked like she stopped breathing. "You... fell for me?" She squeaked and he felt his heart squeeze.

"Yes. I'm not sure if it had already happened before but I knew for certain at the anniversary party when we were on the roof with Kagami. You were so free and open and beautiful and it just hit me." He could see the wheels in her head turning so fast he swore there was smoke coming out of her ears. Luka leaned over and rubbed a hand down her back and she took a deep breath. Curious about her reaction but not wanting to lose focus, he trudged on. "But I know it doesn't matter. You're both in a happy relationship with each other and my feelings shouldn't matter-"

Luka grabbed his shoulder again. "Your feelings always matter, Adrien, especially to us."

"Especially when we like you back!" Marinette blurted before her face turned red and she buried it in her hands. Adrien's mouth popped open and he looked to Luka who was also a little red in the face and looking surprised at Marinette's confession.

"You both- both of you like me? Is that... is that true?" He angled his question at Luka, who he knew was all about honesty, even with hard or uncomfortable truths.

Marinette dropped her head on the table as Luka collected himself. "Yes, it's true. After last night, I figured out I did, but this one-" He wrapped an arm around Marinette who was now red to her roots. "has liked you since you gave her that umbrella."

This knocked Marinette out of her internal freak out and her head snapped up to look at Luka as she gasped. "Luka!"

"You're the one who started this confession, babe."

"But he didn't need to know how long!" As Luka laughed, Adrien sat back, astounded.

Luka liked him? Even after Adrien had bared all of his soul? All his insecurities and doubts? All of his imperfect pieces?

And Marinette! She'd been crushing on him for more than a year?! As he thought back, this new information colored all of their previous interactions. Her extreme word soup and clumsiness around him that didn't seem to happen around everyone else, the constant blushing, the posters of him in her room, all the pushing from their friends to randomly get them next to each other, and everything else he had explained away as Marinette being Marinette made so much more sense now. She wasn't scared of him. She liked him.

"You've liked me for a year?"

Marinette took a deep breath and nodded. "How could I not? You're p-" She stopped for a moment before continuing. "You're you."

Adrien felt like he was in a dream as he processed everything. He could hardly believe it. But...

"So what does it mean? We all like each other but what's next?"

There was silence as they looked at one another, contemplating and assessing. After a ten minute collective think session, it was Luka who spoke first.

"What if we- all three of us- were just... together?"

Adrien's head tilted and Marinette bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

"What if we all just date each other? I know that you like us, I want to be with both of you, and Marinette has struggled with her love and attraction for both of us for a long time."

Marinette rolled her eyes but sighed. "True."

"So why should she have to choose? Why should any of us? We can define our own happiness and relationship and be what we want because I refuse to choose: I want you both." Luka's calm declaration clouded Adrien's mind as he imagined the three of them together: talking, hanging out, cuddling, kissing... It was something he dreamed about and had no reason to hope for, but now it was there in front of him.

"I want that too." He admitted, grabbing Luka's hand. He turned to Marinette who was still biting her lip and looking between them. When she looked at him again, he gave her a shy smile. "What do you say?"

Adrien could pinpoint the exact moment the wheels grinded to a halt and she made her decision: her eyes cleared and she grinned. Before he could react, she was across the table, kissing him and holding him close. Adrien's relief was palpable as he relaxed into what he- and apparently she- had been wanting for a while.

Sparks flew behind his closed eyes and his heart beat rapidly in his chest as her mouth moved with his. He hadn't thought he'd be kissing either of them ever again but here they were: making out in Luka's living room after deciding to be together. It felt amazing and nearly unbelievable after thinking for so long that it would never happen.

The sound of music broke them apart and they separated to see Luka's guitar appear almost magically in his lap. The song he was playing was familiar to their ears: he had played different parts for both of them. The song weaved and threaded between three distinct melodies, each with their own tempo and feeling, before the three blended into one. When he finished, they were all left in awe.

"That's it." Luka said as he grinned at the two of them. "That's our song."

Adrien's eyes teared up a bit. "Our song?"

Marinette smiled and squeezed him around the waist. "Our song. I think it fits us perfectly."

"I agree. But I think I forgot something."

"What?"

He sat his guitar down and approached them. "This." And he kissed Adrien with so much love and passion that Adrien was sure that he was dreaming.

But he wasn't.