AN: I keep forgetting to update here as well, I'm so sorry... ._. I recommend reading on AO3 instead, where the updates come a little more timely.
In my original notes, this chapter and the two previous ones were meant to be one chapter. Yeah, that would have gotten a bit long. 😅 On the other hand, it means this chapter now turned out a bit shorter.
Viperion's POV this time.
. o O o .
Chapter 15: Trouble
Something was off…
Luka had always been able to hear people's inner music, as he called it. He couldn't explain why or how it worked, it just happened. He could judge their personality and mood, changing yet recognisable, like a personal melody played in different variations. But lately, this talent was acting up, and it confused him to no end.
For a few weeks now, Ladybug was asking for Viperion's assistance whenever she and Chat Noir were fighting an akumatised supervillain. Not once did he actually have to use his powers, but he understood why she kept bringing him in.
What he didn't understand, though, was why trying to listen to her inner music made his head ache. There was something about her that seems familiar, but the more he tried to focus on her, the more her melody slipped away from him. It was as if some sort of inner veil covered her, something that warped and contorted her melody until all that remained was the fading memory of a dream. He couldn't grasp her, couldn't place her, and it was just so frustrating.
As so often lately, Viperion crouched on a rooftop, partially hidden behind a chimney and with his hand ready on his arm-ring, and watched Ladybug and Chat Noir fight. It was an entertaining fight—or at least as entertaining as things like these could be. The akumatised victim was a former professional dance teacher, and after her school decided to replace her with a younger colleague, she now desired to prove she could still turn every pupil into an elegant dancer. Viperion would have set back the time as soon as her commanding voice affected Ladybug or Chat Noir, but they'd discussed it before. They'd been confident they could defeat Dancine even when forced to dance, and unless they were in true danger of losing, Ladybug had asked him to not interfere. Keeping Viperion's involvement a secret and HawkMoth's attention away from him was more important.
And honestly, he wasn't complaining. Watching his boyfriend do all these extravagant moves was the best show Viperion could have asked for, and even seeing him and Ladybug perform perfect ballroom dances had an oddly… soothing effect on him. They really made for a beautiful couple.
"Okay, that was possibly the most fun fight we had in a very long time," Ladybug said, a little out of breath as she landed on the roof after she'd purified the Akuma and everything was back to normal.
"Oh, is that so?" Chat landed right behind her. "Then maybe we should dance more often, Milady."
He wrapped one arm around her waist and took her hand, pulling her against his chest, and whirled them around in perfect waltzing steps.
"Stop it, Kittycat," Ladybug laughed, clinging to his shoulder. "Stop!"
"Whatever you ask for, Milady."
Viperion watched with interest as they came to a halt, Chat's arm still wrapped around Ladybug, holding her close. They gazed at one another, her hands resting against his chest and with barely any space between their faces, and for a hot second, Viperion thought they would kiss. He even hoped it would happen. The moment was perfect, with adrenalin running high after the fight, both catching their breath and their lips only a finger's width apart. And it seemed as if they both wanted it, too—in Chat's case it was no question, but even Ladybug leaned in a little closer, her lips parting as her eyes dropped to Chat's mouth.
But the moment passed without anything happening.
"Now, now," Ladybug laughed as she took a step back, firmly pushing against Chat's chest to keep him from following her. "What's your boyfriend going to think?" Her eyes darted over to Viperion, but hastily looked away again, something that looked like a blush on her cheeks.
"He'd probably cheer us on," Chat mumbled.
Viperion bit his lip. Chat was right, he would have been more than happy. He wanted for them to become a couple; for Chat's sake, and… who knew, maybe it could even lead to something more. Getting to know Ladybug better had made him understand why Chat adored her so much. She was gorgeous.
Chat had spoken too quietly for Ladybug to hear him, though—or at least she didn't react. Instead, she merely winked with a sheepish grin on her face and then turned on her toes. "I'll be waiting behind that chimney over there," she said, then jumped away without another word.
Once she was out of sight, Chat let out a heavy sigh. "You've seen that, too, right? That didn't just happen in my imagination?"
With a light chuckle, Viperion got up on his feet and walked over to where Chat was still gazing after her. "I've seen it, too," he said, placing a hand on Chat's shoulder. "See? I told you not to give up hope. Maybe she'll come around eventually, after all."
"Yeah, maybe…" Chat replied distractedly, and Viperion couldn't help the fond smile on his face. Because even though she'd pushed Chat away in the end, there had been something… hadn't there?
"Who knows," he said teasingly. "Maybe it's really just a matter of time until you can finally kiss the love of your life."
"Haha," Chat deadpanned, finally turning toward him. "If it were just about that, I could kiss you whenever I wanted."
As if to prove his point, Chat all but pounced on Viperion, holding his face with both hands. Before Viperion could even react, Chat pressed his mouth to his own, and his eyes fluttered shut in sudden bliss. He moaned, giving Chat easy access, and he couldn't keep himself from trembling as his tongue stroked along the roof of his mouth. Chat's kisses never failed to affect him, but when he was Viperion, everything was so much more intense. He clutched at Chat's back, desperate for just anything to hold on to. If only he hadn't shown Chat this technique; it always made him weak.
"We should probably take this to your cabin," Chat mumbled, his voice raspy with want.
Viperion hummed in agreement. "Sounds like a plan." He extricated himself from Chat's hold, then stepped back into the shadows behind a nearby wall. "Sass, scales rest." Letting out a deep sigh, he transformed back and caught his Kwami in his open palm. "Here, for you," he said, offering Sass a piece of leftover meat pie Marinette had brought over earlier that day.
"Thankssss, Luka," he hissed, nibbling at the pie with obvious delight. The sight made Luka chuckle, wondering what Marinette would say if she knew how much these interdimensional creatures enjoyed her baking skills.
After Sass had refuelled a bit, Luka took off his arm-ring and handed it to Chat Noir. They'd developed a certain routine over the last weeks. Instead of Chat accompanying Viperion home and then bringing his Miraculous back to Ladybug, Viperion transformed back where she couldn't see him and Chat handed the Miraculous back directly before bringing Luka home. It had felt a little weird in the beginning, getting carried around on Chat's back or in his arms, but by now, Luka could see the advantages. It really was just another way of sharing experiances, and it also meant Chat could stay with him at the Liberty insteat of having to leave again right away.
Waiting in the shadows, Luka jumped when Chat sneaked up on him from the opposite direction. With his arms wrapped around Luka's waist from behind, he stretched for his mouth to reach the line of love bites on his neck, hidden by Viperion's suit until now.
Biting his lip, Luka laid his head to the side to give him better access, his knees trembling at the lovely dart of pain and heat Chat's kiss sent through his entire body. "Ch-chat…"
Chat Noir chuckled. "Let's get out of here," he whispered, picking him up as if he weight nothing and jumping away toward the Seine.
. o O o .
The man stood behind a nearby window. He'd watched all that had occurred on the roof across the street, with rage churning in his guts. His eyes were narrowed in hatred, his teeth gritted against the stick of a lollipop between his lips.
How dare he?
To think that Ladybug was still wasting her time on that wretched excuse of a hero was frustrating enough. But watching how Chat Noir betrayed her with the next best person the moment she turned his back on him? No, that was too much! Inexcusable! If only he could get his hands on that bastard, he'd beat him into a pulp and break his bones one after the other, would choke the life out of him, would—
He stiffened, his hand tightening around his hammer and chisle. A cold shiver ran down his back, oddly familiar, before a dark voice echoed in his mind.
'So, we meet again… Copycat…'
. o O o .
duh~duh~dum... 😬
