Passing Papers - Chapter 5.

A Lukadrien fanfic by InfamousAmooogle.


Luka has understandably been having a hard week, but when Adrien doesn't show up to Kitty Section rehearsal as he'd promised, the guitarist feels the last straw in his hurt heart snap, convinced by this point that the rich blond has a vendetta against him and was planning on avoiding him as long as possible. The other members don't seem as phased as they are far more used to Gabriel's persistent interrupting of their plans with his son, more being a little put out by the lack of communication from Adrien, but even then they assume he'd been whisked away without the time to officially cancel.

It's not until Luka's fingers start burning sometime during the fourth song that he realises he's been playing aggressively yet it seems nobody has noticed. Inside his mind, he berates himself.

I should be able to cope with a little rejection better than this. Why did I have to let that blond kid get in my head? I can't believe I- wait, somebody's talking? It's…. Juleka.

"Luka, what's up with you?" his sister asks, standing before him with concern written all over her face.

Luka glances down at the guitar in his hands; it stares blankly back at him. He sighs, an unpleasant churning mix of sadness, frustration, confusion, heartbreak, and exasperation that he can't just get over it already swirling inside.

It takes Luka too long to realise he's supposed to respond, so grunts with a strained "whatever", just wanting to continue to play to cast his pains to the side, if only for a moment. Just leave the thoughts of Adrien behind.

While it's true Adrien has decided to avoid Luka, it's not for the reasons Luka's hurt heart assumes, nor is it for bitter reasons. The young celebrity is having more than a minor identity crisis, and he learnt from looking at pictures of his friends that so much as seeing Luka sets off a strange feeling in his chest that always leaves him flustered and nervous. That's why, in the end, he decided that he can't risk making Luka think he hates him now all because Adrien can't pin down the source of his Luka-centric jitters.

It all started since he was given that damned note, that delicately written, perfectly cut out, unfeigned genuine affection and care all filtered into one stupid card with a confession of the purest form. While Adrien had been outwardly loathing the thing in Plagg's presence to avoid having to deal with the tiny demon of a god's teasing on top of his crisis, he was still somewhat thankful of its presence regardless of how it messed with his head and dare I say his heart too?

An update from the Ladyblog makes Adrien's phone divert his attention from his homework, the screen showing a picture of Ladybug in her ice suit. What did she call herself again? Ladyice? Was that it? Just like the dream from a few nights ago had, Adrien's thoughts of his lady quickly shift to thoughts of Luka under the stars, how he figured the light reflecting in his eyes would only make them more beautiful. He sits up, startled by his own thoughts. What was he doing? Raising hands to his face, he feels his face flushed hot and he fears that he'd find himself blushing if he were to check a mirror. In an attempt to restore his thoughts to the beauty that is Ladybug, Adrien returns to the blog. Below the image lays the caption "I can't believe I've had this gorgeous picture of Ladyice in my gallery this entire time and never shared it! I love my bf to bits, but this bi blogger can't deny she makes me feel things." That makes Adrien pause. That's right, he'd forgotten both Alya and Nino are openly bisexual and would probably both be quite understanding of whatever these weird feelings he's having are, but that would require Adrien having feelings for boys, wait that's stupid how did he end up coming to the conclusion of talking to his bisexual friends. I need to get a grip, he thinks. By some blurred chain of events, he ends up in his contacts, thumb hovering over Kagami's contact, debating calling his dear friend for advice before ultimately deciding against it. He doesn't like Luka, well of course he does but- not like that, and calling Kagami would make her thing he changed his mind, he can't let that happen he thinks, shutting down the tab, his thoughts going with it.

The heart-shaped love note sits on the desk, burning a hole in the clueless Agreste's heart.

- ~ - ~ -

It's late and Adrien can't sleep. He can't stop thinking of Luka, or at least the note. It's not like he can ask Plagg for advice, though they have their surprising qualities and occasional sage advice Adrien cringes at the thought of airing these thoughts to the cat. But then who could he talk to instead? His father? Hah, forget that. Gabriel doesn't give Adrien enough time for simple matters, there's no way he'd have the time to listen to his son's confused ramblings. Then a thought pops into his head, with Adrien practically leaping out of bed. It's not because he's eager to return Luka's sentiment, no it's not that at all, he just wants to be able to sleep and not have his thoughts plagued by an attractive guitarist……… What?

Landing in his desk chair with perhaps a little bit too much enthusiasm, Adrien finds the most excessively fancy pen he can, along with a piece of leftover card from a homework project that just so happened to be a shade of blue reminding Adrien of Luka's eyes but that's irrelevant…. Maybe. But the moment he places pen to paper, his mind blanks, unable to think up what he was supposed to write in response to a confession. Was he supposed to say if he returned the feelings? Or was he supposed to say something different altogether? What if I called Kagami? Wait no it's what time…? Almost 1am, I can't do that.

Adrien groans, planting his face into the desk loud enough to wake Plagg.

The disturbed kwami floats over to their holder, yawning as they speak, "you'd better have a good reason for waking me, I was having such a good dream about my beloved sug- sweet camembert".

"Kwamis can dream? I didn't know that. Wait no, that's not what's important here."

He sighs, laying his head on the desk to mull about his situation. Plagg was about to turn to teasing Adrien, catching on pretty quickly what this is about, but realises just as quickly that this is probably one of the opportunities to share his rare advice.

"What you strugglin' with?"

"What do I even write?"

"I can't believe I'm about to say something so cheesy but, what's wrong with just puttin' how you feel?"

"But he'll know I wrote it! I can't do that!"

"How can he know if you don't sign it?"

"Oh c'mon Plagg, he's not stupid, of course he'll be able to tell it's from me. … And no, I'm not signing it from someone else before you even try to go there."

"What about if it was from Chat Noir? That way, it's still from you, so you're not lying."

Adrien gives Plagg a hard stare, "yeah how about no, are you trying to get my identity exposed?"

"Hey, don't say I didn't try to help. But whatever, I still say you write whatever comes out, it'll still be from the heart or whatever."

"Are you really sure this is a good idea? I mean, what if I creep him out or something? Plagg!! I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I scared Luka away!! What the hell are you thinking?!"

"Haha woww Adrien, chill. Besides, didn't he start this? If it all blows out of proportion, that's on him."

Adrien pouts with a muttered, "that's easy to say until he gets akumatised because of me."

Nevertheless, Adrien takes Plagg's advice of just writing whatever comes out, leaving the blue paper covered in a messy yet heartfelt ramble.

- ~ - ~ -

Dear Luka,

Wait no I shouldn't be this formal

Hello Luka? Hi?

I'm writing what comes to mind, no editing! Hah this is so embarrassing -

So hey I just wanted to apologise for running away before.

And well done not getting akumatised because of me!

Not saying I think you wouldn't cope or anything like that, I'm sure you're very capable, I'm just saying I don't think I would've handled it so well if you know what I mean?

Anyways, long story short I'm sorry you're super sweet and kind and considerate oh look I'm rambling again.

I didn't want to hurt your feelings, I didn't know what to do the other day and panicked, I understand if you don't want to see me, but I'd love to talk soon

And for the record, you're the kind one, and I look up to you a lot.

– Sincerely, Adrien Agreste

Unless that's too formal

See you soon, bye! : )