Chapter 7

Another day, another fight, another vanquished akuma later, the trio of heroes stood on the Eifel Tower overlooking the city.

Ladybug's miraculous beeped, a warning of her impending detransformation.

"See the two of you next time! Bug out," she said, swinging away.

Panthera poised herself to jump to the next building before Cat Noir grabbed her hand.

"Panthera, wait," he said, gently pulling her back.

"I can't. I have to practice," she said, trying to pull her hand away, but Cat gripped it tighter.

"You've had to practice all week," he said.

"It's a big performance. Donors are supposed to be there," she insisted, eyes wide as she tried to pull away again.

"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to hurt you, and I know how privileged I am that I wasn't the one they gave up. Even if Mother is missing and Father is absent in every way that matters, at least I got to know them. Please, let me make it up to you, Sister," he said, loosening his grip on the striped glove.

Panthera stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes before they hardened, and she crossed her arms. "Okay, how?"

"Kitty Section is having a concert tomorrow. They want me to play on keyboard so Father is letting me go. Even if you can't meet your family, at least let me introduce you to the rest of my friends."

"You can't introduce me as your family. If word got out, Father may put two and two together. Even if you did just call me your sister," she said, a small smile forming at the edge of her lips.

"I'll text you the details," he said, grinning from ear to ear as he extended his staff and jumped from one building to the next.

Panthera shook her head as she followed suit, running toward her home.

The next day, Cassandra curled her hair at the tips before pulling the mass into a high ponytail. As she put her black ballet flats on, she heard a knock on the door.

"Very punctual," Cassandra said as she opened the door.

"Trust me, it is a learned trait," Adrien said, stepping into the small apartment.

The living room and kitchen shared the same space with a set of barstools at the counter separating the cooking area from the couch and television.

"Do you live by yourself," Adrien asked.

"Yes. My parents technically lease the apartment, but they are only here a few times a year. I have a credit card in their name to buy anything I need," she said, walking down the narrow hallway until she was out of Adrien's sight.

"Do you ever have any friends over," he asked, fantasizing about having his own space for the people he liked to come and go as he pleased.

"Well, that would involve having friends," Cassandra said, coming back with a small black purse hanging by her side, the strap crossing over her chest.

"You're not friends with any of the dancers," Adrien asked, following her out of the door before holding the door to his car open.

"If you ask them, we're all great friends. And we do go out together every once in a while. But, most of them would kill to be in my position, and that does not exactly allow for anything beyond basic pleasantries, unfortunately. It gets lonely close to the top."

"And you don't go to school, right," Adrien asked.

Cassandra shook her head. "Homeschooled ever since I earned a place at my first dance academy. Graduated early last year."

The two sat in comfortable silence, looking out the windows as Paris flew by.

"Do you ever want to quit? Modeling, I mean," Cassandra asked, snapping Adrien back to reality.

"All the time. Modeling was my father's idea. However, the only way I stop modeling is to take over the company, and I can't imagine liking that much better. I mean, people will start taking me seriously, and at least that part of the job requires me to be fully clothed. But, I just wish I could choose for myself, you know? It's my life, and so much of it is mapped out for me."

"It's a little different for me. Yes, I am so tired of dancing that I visualize throwing my pointe shoes in the choreographer's face more than I listen to him. But, you're so confident that you'll be good at other things," Cassandra said, shaking her head, "This is all I've ever known, and it's finite. I'm going to get old or have an injury or want a family someday, and dance will disappear. And I have no clue what I'll be left with when that day happens."

The car stopped moving and Gorilla opened their door, gesturing for the two to get out.

"We're here," Adrien said, getting out first before offering his hand to Cassandra.

"You're a bit of a gentleman, aren't you," she said, smiling as the two walked onto the ship.

"You should see me as you-know-who. People tend to think I'm a little bit of a catsanova," he said, low enough for only the two of them to hear.

"Holy shit, you're awful," she said, giggling as she shoved his shoulder, "No wonder you-know-who thinks you're a flirt."

"She'll fall in love with me eventually," he said, shrugging before the rest of the group noticed they were there.

"Hey, you made it, Sunshine," Alya said as Nino fistbumped him.

"And you brought your friend. Hey, Dudette," Nino said, leading the two of them to their seats.

"Hey," Cassandra said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"So, this is Ivan, the drummer, Juleka, the bass guitarist, Luka, the lead guitarist," Adrien said, pointing out each member of the band before stopping short. "Hey, guys, where's Rose?"

Ivan and Juleka shrugged. "We don't know. She's not usually late," Luka said, answering for the group before turning to Cassandra. "Hey, you're that new ballet dancer, right? The one they keep talking about on the news?"

"That's me. Cassandra Taylor," she said, offering her hand.

Instead of taking it, Luka began playing a melody. It started off haunting and low before growing more uplifting.

"Luka's really good," Alya whispered in her ear, giggling when Cassandra jolted.

"Does that sound right," Luka said, looking up at her.

"It's really close if it isn't," Cassandra said, smiling at him.

"Rose isn't coming," Juleka mumbled, putting her phone back in her pocket. "She's sick."

"Oh no, who can sing now," Marinette said, moving a little too close to Adrien before jumping back.

The group looked between themselves, their frowns growing deeper.

"Dammit, we'll have to call off the concert. I'll go tell Mom," Luka said, moving to go find her.

"Wait," Adrien said, "Cassandra can sing."

"Hold up. Adrien, I can't sing," Cassandra said, putting her hands up.

"Yes, you can. I heard you in your dressing room the day we met, remember? You're really good, Cass," he said.

"Hang on, what exactly were you doing in Cassandra's dressing room, Adrien," Alya said, and it took everything the pair had to not scrunch their faces up at the implication.

"I was waiting to meet her, and I heard the music," Adrien said, turning his attention back to his sister.

"I've never sung in front of a crowd before," Cassandra said, turning around to look at the group.

Their faces, once hopeful, fell once more. Luka stepped out of the group, looking at the shorter girl.

"Will you please try? It'd mean a lot to us," Luka said, offering his hand.

Cassandra looked back and forth between the boy's hand, covered in a fingerless glove and his aqua blue eyes.

"I wouldn't know what to sing," she said, shoulders slumping.

"We could figure it out together," he said.

"Ugh, fine, I'll try," Cassandra said, taking the boy's hand before her resolve could crumble.

She followed the group, now cheering, to the back of the stage.

Luka faced her, moving his hands to the back of her head.

"What are you doing," she said, feeling him tug her hair tie out of her hair. The blonde curls cascaded over her shoulders, falling to her waist.

"Helps you look more the part. Plus, you can hide yourself in it if you get nervous," he said, handing the black band back to her.

"Play that song again," she said, and he did as she commanded.

She looked back to the rest of the group, gesturing them to follow his lead. They did so, stumbling at first before finding the rhythm Luka set.

"Okay, follow my lead," Cassandra said, gripping the microphone until her knuckles turned white.

"Your wish is our command," Luka said, strumming his guitar.

The curtain fell, and Cassandra's stomach followed suit. Luka joined her at the microphone.

"Hello, thank you for coming. Kitty Section had a last-minute substitution. Please, give a huge round of applause for our guest singer, Cassandra Taylor," he said, and the crowd obliged, the sound reverberating across the ship.

Cassandra looked back at Adrien who gave her a small thumbs up.

"This may sound a little bit different than what you're used to, but I hope you like it," Cassandra said as Luka began the song.

How did we end up here

Sifting through our own ashes?

Our fires burned brighter

We were a beautiful disaster

Traveling at speeds

Where we couldn't see

Anything that passed us

But no one can survive

At the speed of life forever

We are miles from where we were

Lost in a wanderlust

But time moves on and carries us

Into the wild of the great unknown

Far beyond the horizons

We'll leave what's left of our ashes

Where we can free these faded memories

Forever (ever, ever, ever)

We are miles from where we were

Lost in a wanderlust

But time moves on and carries us

Into the wild of

Of the great unknown

Of the great unknown

We are miles from where we were

Lost in a wanderlust

We are miles from where we were

Lost in a wanderlust

But time moves on and carries us

Into the wild of

Of the great unknown

Of the great unknown

But time moves on and carries us

Into the wild of

The great unknown

The great unknown

The song ended and the crowd cheered, most of them standing to do so. Cassandra's smile stretched from ear to ear, not noticing that Luka and Adrien could only look at her.

"Adrien knows how to pick 'em, doesn't he," Alya said to Marinette, her smile softening at her friend.

"I hope she makes him happy," Marinette shrugged before crossing her arms.

"Well, it looks like he may have competition," Alya said, pointing to Luka.

The group played for the next two hours, Cassandra's confidence growing with every song. Sometimes, Luka started the song, and Cassandra followed while others Cassandra started singing and Luka matched her with a tune of his own. By the end, most of the crowd were swaying to the music, and even Marinette started smiling and dancing.

"We are Kitty Section," Luka said, holding his guitar over his head, "Thank you and goodnight!"

The group left their instruments and walked off the stage to meet their friends in the crowd.

When all the eyes left the group, some leaving with a few autographs, Cassandra launched herself at Luka.

"That was amazing. Did you see their faces when Ivan joined us on the chorus? I can't believe I did that," she said, pulling away to look at his face.

"We were really something up there," Luka said, the surprise on his face melting into a soft smile.

Cassandra let go and stepped back, twirling her hair between her fingertips.

"Sorry about your girlfriend, Dude," Nino said as Adrien joined them, all four staring at Luka and Cassandra as they talked, laughed, and blushed.

He shrugged. "She's not my girlfriend. She's more like family."

~Author's Note~

This song is The Unknown by 10 Years