Phew, this took longer than I hoped. Why do vacations have to be so stressful...
Anyway, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who reads, kudos, and/or comments on this story (or any, really). You have no idea what each of you means to me.
. o O o .
Chapter 6: Being Honest
Luka smiled as he heard the door to his cabin opening. Well, he'd been smiling before already, but now it grew a little wider still, less absent.
"That sounds beautiful," Juleka said after she'd quietly closed the door behind herself. "A new melody?"
Luka ducked his head so his bangs hid his face. His twin had always been too observant, too good at picking up on his moods based on his music.
"Mmh, yeah," he mused. "I felt inspired to try something new."
"I like it," she said after another minute or three of listening. "It sounds… happy."
Luka's lips twitched. Dear Jule… She knew better than anyone else how crushed he'd been for a while that her friend wouldn't return his feelings. But while nothing in that regard had changed… so many other things had!
"Well, I am happy," he admitted quietly. He played a few more chords of that melody he'd been thinking about lately. Juleka was right; it was far more cheerful than many other tunes he'd come up with. Like sunshine transformed into tones and rhythms..
"Did you meet someone new? Do I know her?"
"In a way, yes…" He continued playing, but his thoughts were somewhere else, away from the music. He could only imagine how much effort it had cost Juleka to ask these questions; she would never ask more, no matter how much she wanted to know the answer. But that didn't change that he owed her the truth. As much as he could give her.
He stopped playing and threw her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Jule, I can't tell you much more. It's… his family would never approve." That was at least part of the truth. Luka had no doubts that the Liberty's days in Paris would be numbered if Gabriel Agreste ever learned of him and Adrien.
Juleka's expression softened, and she nodded in understanding. "I see." She sat down next to him on his bed and, after another moment of hesitation, wrapped her arm around him in something of a hug. "It's fine. All that matters is that he makes you happy." She stood up and went back toward the door. "It's probably better this way, anyway. I'm not sure Marinette will ever get over Adrien…"
Her words were barely more than a murmur, so quiet that they probably hadn't been meant for his ears at all. But Luka's head perked up nonetheless.
"So it really is Adrien she's in love with?"
Juleka's eyes grew wide, and she hastily shook her head. "N-no, no, not at all! She… she's…"
Luka raised an eyebrow at her sorry attempts, and her shoulders slumped.
"I wasn't supposed to say that," she mumbled, nearly incoherently, as her hair fell like a curtain around her. "Forget about it, okay?" She didn't even wait for his answer, was out of the room before he could react.
Luka gazed after her, but his mind was somewhere else entirely, his breathing growing faster and his heart beating quicker. So far, he'd only speculated that it was Adrien Marinette was in love with, and he hadn't seen the point in sharing something he wasn't sure about with his boyfriend. Now though? Now, he felt torn.
It wasn't his place to tell Adrien about Marinette's feelings for him. She had the right to tell him herself when and if she was ready. He had no right to interfere.
But keeping this to himself felt wrong.
There was a small voice in the back of his mind, low but insistent. It tried to tell him that Adrien would turn away from him if he knew about Marientte's feeling, and that keeping his new knowledge secret was the only way for Luka to stay with him. But even though the thought of him ending up alone hurt, Luka knew that he mustn't listen to this voice.
"No," he whispered under his breath. "I won't become a victim of my fear."
He took a deep breath, then slowly let it out again, forcing his mind and body to slow down. He focused on relaxing one part of his body after the other; his jaw, his forehead, his shoulders, his back. This fear was irrational, he knew that. And losing control of one's emotions had become too dangerous—especially when one knew about a certain secret identity.
Feeling calmer, Luka examined his emotions with more logic. There was no reason for him to believe that Adrien might leave him for Marinette if he knew about her feelings—just like he didn't mind Chat flirting with Ladybug. What they had wouldn't just evaporate into mist because someone else might be available. Maybe it would make things more complicated or maybe it would lead them somewhere else entirely. But either way, pondering about it now wouldn't do him any good.
No, this was not why the idea of not telling Adrien made him feel uneasy.
Chewing on his lower lip, Luka glanced at where Juleka had sat only minutes before. The reason was obvious, actually. He hated lying, and even just keeping the truth about his feelings and the reasons for his happiness secret from his family felt wrong. Their safety and Chat Noir's true identity were good enough reasons, though, so he didn't mind, not really. But keeping something from Adrien?
Exhaling another deep breath, Luka made a decision. He deeply cared for Marinette, and her feelings were not something to be played with.
But he'd promised Adrien always to be honest with him.
. o O o .
Luka was nervous when Chat Noir showed up at his window that night. But as it turned out, there was no reason for that.
"Hey, what's up? Is something bothering you?"
Chat Noir only needed one look at Luka to know. But even though Luka didn't try to avoid the topic, his mind instantly focused on something else.
"And have you slept at all lately?" he asked back, a mix of amusement and concern on his face. There were dark rings beneath Chat's eyes, and the moment he landed in Luka's cabin, he staggered and would have fallen if Luka hadn't caught him.
Leaning into his embrace, Chat threw him a sheepish smile, his eyes slightly unfocused, and gave a noncommittal shrug. "Probably? Although I can't say when exactly or for how long. It's been… busy." He rewarded Luka with a grateful smile as he led him to sit on the bed. "Mr Pidgeon again, then another employee of the hotel who got slandered by Chloe. Then again Mr Pidgeon." He let out a deep sigh. "Just give me five minutes to rest, then I'll be back to normal."
"Sure." Luka's lips twitched into a smirk, then softened into a fond smile as Chat Noir leaned back to rest his head on Luka's cushions, his eyes falling close almost instantly. He allowed himself a moment of simply gazing at his boyfriend, of marvelling about how gorgeous he was, with and without the mask. Never giving up, always doing what he had to do without ever complaining. And he was so good, deep to the core, committed to do what was right with his whole heart. Luka still couldn't believe how lucky he was to have Adrien in his life.
Still smiling fondly, he left the cabin, carefully closing the door behind him, and went to get something to drink from the kitchen. Chuckling, he even considered getting some warm milk for the sleepy kitten in his room. The incredulous look on Chat's face alone would be worth it.
However, when he reached the kitchen, he found it already occupied by his family. Juleka was preparing some late dinner while their mother sat in a corner and, seemingly lost in her own world, played her guitar.
"Hey," Juleka greeted him, her head only halfway turned away from the pan in front of her. "Do you want some crêpes, too?"
Humming, Luka shook his head. "Maybe later."
"Your loss, Luka," came their mother's voice from the other end of the small room. "I can't promise how much will be left later, they sure smell delicious."
Luka couldn't help his lips twitching. Since it was Juleka cooking and not their mother, he was sure the crêpes would taste deliciously, too. But still. "I'm not hungry."
His mother opened one eye and threw him a bemused look, but then just shrugged and kept playing her eccentric tune. Sure that she wouldn't pay him any more attention unless he addressed her directly, he took a bottle of some fizzy lemonade and reached for two metal cups from the cupboard. When he turned, Juleka was looking at him with a raised eyebrow. She said nothing, though, and Luka just gave her a crooked smile and a shrug before he headed back to his cabin.
Chat Noir was still asleep when Luka closed the door behind him. He'd turned onto his side and lay curled in on himself, almost like an actual cat.
The sight sent a wave of warmth and calmness through Luka's body. He looked so peaceful, as if nothing could trouble him.
Unable to bring himself to wake him up, Luka climbed onto the bed behind Chat and cuddled up against him. He still planned to talk to him. But that conversation could wait until his boyfriend had got some dearly needed sleep.
. o O o .
It was four hours later, according to Luka's alarm clock, when Chat Noir finally stirred again. Curled around his back and with his arm wrapped around his waist, Luka woke up as well, smiling when the first thing he sensed was the scent of his boyfriend's hair. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but just cuddling like that had been too comfortable to care.
"Urgh, wha— where… Did I fall asleep?"
Chat sounded adorable, voice heavy with sleep even as he tried to hide it.
"Mmh, yeah. Fell is the right word," Luka teased him gently. "I think you were out even before your head hit the pillow."
Chat grimaced, peering up at where Luka now lay propped up on his arm next to him. "I'm sorry," he said sheepishly.
"For what?" Luka asked, chuckling. "For being human?"
"For wasting so much of our time together," Chat replied, but his expression softened. "I was really looking forward to having a few hours with you."
"I wouldn't say you wasted any time. It was pretty comfortable." Luka leaned down to brush his lips against Chat Noir's, more a soft caress than a real kiss. It was enough to bring a smile to Chat's face though, his eyes behind his mask brimming with affection. Luka thought that he could happily gaze at him all night.
But then Chat's expression changed, his brows furrowed and his eyes became thoughtful. "So, what was up with you, earlier I mean. You looked tense. Did something happen?"
"Ah, right." Luka pursed his lips. But he'd decided to be honest with Chat, and if they didn't talk about it, it would keep rumbling around in the back of his mind anyway. Better to get it out of the way directly.
"No, nothing happened. Not really." He let out a small sigh. "I just chatted with Juleka earlier. She blabbed, and… well, I'd had a suspicion, but now I know who Marinette is in love with."
He added a smile to show that this didn't really bother him. Because it didn't. But Chat Noir's looked concerned nonetheless.
"I see. And… who is it? Someone you know?"
Now, Luka's lips twitched into a true grin. "You could say that. And I really can't blame her for her taste."
"Oh?" Chat Noir raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Is there someone else you're interested in I should be aware of?"
There hadn't been even the slightest hint of jealousy in those words, only fond curiosity. And, oh, how Luka loved how open-minded Chat Noir was. If possible, it made him cherish him even more.
With his eyes fixed on Chat Noir's, Luka shook his head at his question. "It's you."
Chat blinked. Then he frowned and propped himself up on his elbows, his head cocked in confusion. "Me? Marinette is in love with Chat Noir? But… but I thought she'd—"
"No," Luka interrupted him. "Not Chat Noir. She's in love with Adrien."
"Ah." Chat sank back into the cushions and his expression… flattened somehow, the smile on his face a little off. "No, she's not."
"But Juleka said—"
Chat Noir shook his head. "I get why she would think that. Marinette sometimes acts nervous around me and her room is full of my pictures. But she once explained that to me. She's not interested in me, specifically, but in fashion. She admires the designs and compositions, and it's just a coincidence that it's me who models for all her favourite brands and designers."
Luka listened, frowning. He was pretty sure that Marinette had a huge crush on Adrien, had seen the signs long before Juleka had confirmed his assumptions. The dreamy expression she always got when Adrien was around and how flustered and clumsy she became.
"Are you sure she didn't just say that to mask her true feelings? She could have been just too embarrassed to tell the truth."
Chat let out a humourless laugh. "Yeah, no, I don't think so. I've seen her in so many difficult situations, and… Marinette is so strong, so capable. Once she set her mind on something, she can do everything. She's smart and funny and courageous. Why would she be embarrassed about anything?"
"So, are you saying I should be aware of her in more than just the obvious way?" Luka teased, mainly to lighten Chat's mood. It worked in that he smirked, but the emotion didn't reach his eyes.
"No, don't worry. She's an amazing person, but we're just friends. She even told me so when we went to the wax museum the other day. I like her, but… I don't know. It feels different, somehow." Chat said with an off-handed shrug. Then his eyes grew a little wistful. "Besides, I don't think I'm interesting enough to catch her attention—or anyone's, really. All these fans I have only ever see the model, the figurehead of my father's fashion brand, the son of a rich man. They never me. And I'm afraid the person behind that front is really rather boring."
With every word Chat said, Luka's heart was sinking further. Not necessarily because of what he said—that stupid burst of fear about getting left behind had been just that, stupid, and in a way, he would even enjoy seeing Marinette and Adrien happy together. Even if that meant they were happy without him. Or maybe…
Luka shook his head; such thoughts wouldn't help right now. Because there had been something in how Chat Noir had said these words, so self-deprecating. He truly believed that he wasn't worth anyone's attention.
"Well, you at least caught my attention, and I don't think you're boring," Luka stated with conviction.
Chat Noir met his eyes, a spark of love and gratitude gleaming deep within them. "Yeah. And I still don't know how I managed that or what you're really seeing in me."
Glad to see Chat Noir lightening up, Luka rolled around until he was on top of him. He barely held himself up on his elbows to either side of Chat's head, knowing that with his enhanced strength, his weight wouldn't bother him.
"I think there's a lot about you that's intriguing," he murmured, his lips ghosting over Chat's. "You have a great sense of humour. Your jokes never fail to make me smile. And you have a great sense of justice, too. You always know what's the right thing to do, and you're courageous enough to do it, as well. You're loyal to those around you, your friends, the people you care about. And you're kind, always willing to help and support. You're amazing."
For every point on that list, Luka placed a light kiss on another part of Chat's face, his lips, his nose, his eyes, eyebrows, and cheeks. He only stopped when Chat Noir chuckled, a true grin on his face now and the sadness from before entirely gone.
"Thank you!" Chat leaned up to nuzzle against Luka's neck.
"Any time," Luka replied with a slight smirk. "Besides, I don't allow any defamation of my boyfriend in this cabin. Not even from said boyfriend himself."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
"Good," Luka murmured. "Oh, and one more thing."
Chat Noir hummed questioningly, almost like a purr as he twisted to reach Luka's mouth with his own.
Luka's lips twitched, staying just out of reach. "I love you."
Chat Noir laughed, low but true. Free. "I love you, too. And now come here so I can kiss you properly."
This time, Luka gave in all too happily.
. o O o .
Thanks to everyone who reads this story. I'm so thrilled so many like it. ^.^ And if you have the time, I'd really appreciate a comment as well.
