Passing Papers - Chapter 2
A Lukadrien fanfic by InfamousAmooogle.
Back in the Agreste mansion, the young boy collapsed onto his bed after a meeting with his father the instant he'd returned from the Couffaines' to discuss his revised schedule for the upcoming fashion season.
Pleased that that meant they could also be free, the cheese-obsessed kwami emerged from the teen's jacket to consume something of their finest aged camembert collection.
"Finally, ahh, I've missed you, my dear camembert~"
Adrien turned and grumbled into his pillow to hide from the smell.
"Do you have to eat that right now?"
"Of course I do! I've been kept from my lovely gooey cheese for far too many hours thanks to your band and your father. I was so very close to having withdrawal symptoms!"
The kwami's holder sighs at the constant reminder he will forever be smelling of cheese, but his phone reminds him of why he puts up with it all as an akuma alert fills the screen.
"Looks like Ladybug will be needing our help."
"Can't you at least let me digest?"
"No time, Paris' safety is at stake. Plagg, claws out!"
.
.
Chat's excitement for a fun battle with his Lady was ruined at the sight of Mr Pigeon and his flock. At least he would be able to get to bed sooner and hopefully not be sleep-deprived for the next day. As predicted, the battle ended quickly, but that didn't make it any less exhausting, so much so Chat barely had the energy to pound it with Ladybug. By the time he got home, he collapsed on his bed, totally drained of any motivation to prep his school bag for tomorrow. He figured it wouldn't be too important.
.
.
[Next Morning]
"Alright class", Miss Bustier began, smiling at her class with the same warmth she carried with her everyday, "quieten down everybody, it's time for the test! Get your equipment out and we'll start."
"Aw crap", Nino muttered to Adrien, "I forgot to replace my pen after Chris took it yesterday. You think I could borrow one of yours?"
"Oh yeah, of course", Adrien replied, reaching into his bag but paused as his hand brushed against something alien. He frowned, confused, and rummaged around to see what the mysterious object was. He gasped as his gaze landed on the card Luka had shown him the evening before. Unbeknownst to Adrien, his heartbeat quickened at the realisation, but pushed his thoughts aside and grabbed the pen for Nino.
As the test began, Adrien found his focus drifting. For example, why was Luka's love note in his bag? Wasn't he supposed to give it to the person he liked? And did anybody else see the note? He reread one of the questions on the paper over for a third time before it finally sank in, and Adrien scribbled an answer in admittedly not his best handwriting, but he considered it better than writing nothing at all.
'At what year was the battle of… oh my god what if somebody saw the note? What will they be thinking?'
Needless to say, Adrien's mind was not focusing one bit.
Between questions about names of historical figures and dates of important events, Adrien's mind wandered from who Luka has feelings for and why that's none of the blond's business, to how he should approach the situation. Should he return it to Luka and how? Or should he try to deliver the note himself, after all, maybe that's why it's in his bag- Luka did say he wasn't used to these sorts of things, right?
When Ms Bustier announced the end of the exam, Adrien was too busy planning on how to return Luka's note in the least embarrassing way possible; least embarrassing for Luka that is, Adrien didn't have any issues with helping his friends. His gaze remained staring at the table as Ms Bustier circled the room, collecting the test papers in.
Once she walked towards the back of the classroom, Nino leant in to Adrien
"Hey dude, you alright there?"
"Yeah, thanks Nino", he replied, smiling "just got some stuff on my mind right now".
"Is it your old man again? I swear he never gives you a break, man."
"As if! … No, for once it isn't my father. Just life stuff I guess."
"Alright, y'know if you need me I'll be there for you, right?"
"Yeah, of course, but thank you."
Adrien nodded to Nino as he left his seat and wandered to the back of the class where Juleka and Rose sat together, trying his best to look casual.
"Hey guys! Or uh… Girls?" Adrien laughs nervously, already regretting speaking.
Rose giggled, sensing how uncomfortable Adrien had just accidentally made himself.
"Hiya Adrien! Did you need something?"
"Ah, yeah, about that. Hey Juleka, do you know where I could find Luka? I have something of his and I figured you'd be the best person to ask."
Juleka paused for a moment, almost surprised by the question,
"um, I guess you could find him outside the school at the end of the day. He sometimes walks me back home if Rose isn't around."
"Will he be here today?"
Juleka nodded and Adrien couldn't help but let a smile spread across his face upon seeing that.
"Perfect, thanks!" Adrien said as he turned to leave.
Now Adrien knew where to find Luka, the next challenge would be having to be patient enough to get all the way through the rest of the day.
.
.
Somehow, Adrien managed to get through the day without imploding, which was lucky for him because it was now his chance to get Luka alone. Well, they didn't necessarily have to be alone, he just figured that would be the most comfortable way to do it.
He raced to the front gate of the school to see Luka chatting casually with Juleka and Rose, it was just then that Rose sees Adrien out of the corner of her eye and calls him over.
Adrien waves shyly to Luka who of course was as cool and collected as always.
"Hey Luka, I was just uhm- I was wondering if I could talk to you?" he asked.
Adrien felt like dying on the spot, why did he stammer? Luckily for him, Luka doesn't seem like he noticed and smiles softly at the blond, motioning for Adrien to lead the way.
Not that Adrien noticed, Juleka and Rose watched the pair leave with amused looks on their faces.
Once they were alone, Adrien faced Luka with a sudden air of confidence, his nerves having calmed as they'd walked. Luka watches with bemusement as Adrien reaches into his bag and hands him the note from yesterday.
Luka's mouth forms a smirk, "so you found it?"
"Found it? Oh yeah, I'm returning your love-note-thingy back to you, you must have dropped it yesterday."
Adrien became puzzled when he didn't see Luka take it back or thank him, "what?"
"Hm?"
"Aren't you going to take it back?"
It was at that moment Luka giggled- he actually giggled. Adrien only stared at him oddly, and held the note tighter, looking to the ground shyly, feeling he was being mocked. When Luka became conscious of that, he quieted, and spoke softly to him, "I'm assuming you didn't read it then?"
"What? No! Of course not! Why would I do that?"
"I think you should."
"What? Why should I…?"
"Just do it, trust me."
Confused why he was being asked this, Adrien hesitated, but upon reading it, his heart stopped.
Dear Adrien,
I expect you'll try to return this when you find it,
that kindness is one of the things I love about you,
you're the one I'm confessing to,
Luka Couffaine.
It took a good few seconds before the facts settled in. It felt like Adrien had just been slapped in the face. He couldn't speak, he could barely breathe. It was after a concerning number of seconds had passed that Luka finally spoke up.
"Adrien? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah I just- uhm- I don't know how to-"
Luka slowly took a single step toward him.
"That's okay, I understand if you-"
"Sh, please-"
He obeyed.
Just as Luka was about to risk speaking again, a strange noise escaped Adrien's lips, and before Luka could process what was happening, Adrien was gone.
