The Rebellion of Adrien Agreste

by Rose Thorne

Disclaimer: Don't own Miraculous Ladybug or make any money writing fanfiction.

Chapter Four

An hour later, Marinette made a trip home for her design sketchbook and supplies, and returned also with a box of pastries and a leftover black Kitty Section shirt with the blue Luka design in Adrien's size.

"I figured this could be the basis of your outfit," she said. "After all, you're dating him."

Adrien liked the idea, and Luka smiled as he held the shirt up against his chest to demonstrate the look.

"I never did get to make a design for you, Adrien. But maybe that and an outfit for the next concert if you're able to play," she continued. "Oh, and I was thinking—we need to call Kagami."

"Kagami?"

Marinette nodded. "She got Akumatized when Lila sent that photo of her kissing you and implying you were dating. It's best if we let her know. She's your friend, and she's trustworthy."

He nodded. "Uh, I don't know how closely my father monitors my phone, though…"

Luka silently unlocked his phone and handed it to him.

"I'll text her to let her know to expect a call from an unknown number," Marinette volunteered, pulling out her own phone. "And see if she wants to come over here. She might have more ideas."

Pretty quickly, they had another person on board and actively planning with them. Kagami seemed to understand the gravity of the situation immediately.

"That girl is bad news," she said when she arrived. "Your father's actions make little sense."

Marinette snorted at that. "They never have. I like his designing, but he's basically awful otherwise."

Adrien didn't bother defending him. Really, it'd been bad for a while except for the bright spot of being allowed to go to school. Everything else had been difficult.

Kagami actually quirked a smile. "With the exception of his day wear, certainly."

Marinette goggled, then started giggling helplessly. It didn't take long for the rest of them to follow.

"Oh, man, Kagami. You're right; he dresses terribly," Marinette gasped when she could breathe again.

"So since I'm disobeying, maybe I can tell him that?" Adrien wondered. "I mean, I already called him 'Gabe'…"

The others stared at him, and he shifted uncomfortably.

"Really?" Kagami asked softly. "For you to be that upset, you clearly feel safer angering him than being in a fake relationship with that girl."

Adrien hadn't thought of it in exactly those terms, but she was right.

"Her heart song is… disturbing," Luka commented. "I've heard ones like it, but it's rare."

"What does it sound like?" Marinette asked, glancing up from her sketching.

Luka was silent for a moment, as though searching for the words to express it. "Empty. It's like there's an echo, and it sounds ominous. I'd compare it to foreboding music from a TV show or film, all off-beat, the kind of music that raises goosebumps in the bad way."

"Like Jaws?" Adrien asked.

"Worse," Luka murmured, shaking his head. "I'd offer to play it, but I'd rather not foist it on anyone else."

They were quiet, taking that in for a minute, until Marinette cleared her throat.

"Okay, so we're doing this. Adrien, change into the shirt so I can see what it looks like and plan accessories for Penny to get. I'm thinking torn black jeans, for starters, but I need to conceptualize."

He grabbed the shirt to change in the bathroom; when he got back, he wasn't expecting what she said next.

"And if you've been getting closer to Luka and decided to go out recently, you guys need to seem comfortable with each other." Her cheeks were flushed. "Um. So. You need to get used to cuddling."

Adrien blinked, glancing at Luka, who seemed to take this in stride, lifting one arm welcomingly. He moved closer, startled regardless when Luka's arm dropped on his shoulders. The blond didn't often have contact like this except with maybe Nino. And Ladybug, but he couldn't admit that to anyone. And when it was people he was close to, he liked contact like this; but it was weird when it was… fake. He and Luka were friends, but they'd never…

"Is this okay?" Luka asked. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I, um… I'm not… used to this, I guess. Like, my dad never hugs me or anything. I get hugs from friends, and…" He shrugged slightly.

No one spoke for a minute, and he internally panicked. He wasn't supposed to speak up and be needy. When he spoke again it was soft. "I wish I got them more."

He completely missed the way the others exchanged a glance, trying to avoid their glances.

The next thing he knew, he was halfway in Luka's lap, his head in Marinette's, Kagami close to her side, all of them in contact with him. It was wonderful—after the initial shock wore off, anyway—their affection and the physical warmth was just absolutely what he wanted. There were hands in his hair, Luka's arm across his waist.

Luka was smiling. "I kind of like snuggling, anyway. Though you might have to compete with my guitar."

Marinette was blushing a bit. "There's nothing wrong with platonic affection, Adrien."

"Although it is not the norm in Japanese culture, living in France has accustomed me to it," Kagami added. "Although often between genders it is assumed to be less than platonic."

"So probably it should mostly be you and Luka in public, unless you want to come out as bi and so not into Lila at all," Marinette chirped.

"Careful," Adrien joked. "I might get too used to this."

"You'll have to, if we're going to pull this off convincingly," Luka told him with a laugh.

Marinette, sadly, remembered she had a job she was doing and sighed, grabbing her sketchbook and removing her hands from his hair.

"Okay, so clothing-wise, I was thinking black jeans, maybe skinny jeans, and a leather bomber jacket. And, um, for more of a punk look, they have these awesome men's combat boots with buckles that go like halfway up the calf. Then a few bracelets, like what Luka has. But black and green?"

"I think the green in his hair should match his eyes," Luka commented. "Neon would seem off. So probably the same with the bracelets. They have really nice green beaded ones that would do the trick."

Adrien glanced at Luka's face and hair. "Like how yours is kind of similar to your eyes?"

That earned a soft look from the guitarist. "Yeah, exactly like that."

Kagami coughed delicately. "And that is how you should look at each other."

He knew from the way his face heated that his blush mirrored Luka's.

Marinette snorted. "Come on, Kagami. Let's get Penny and go shopping, and leave these two to figure out their cuddling."

She twisted out from under Adrien, letting him fall back on the couch awkwardly, his legs flailing a bit as he tried to find balance.

"Hey," Luka protested in faux outrage, "no manhandling my boyfriend."

"My hero."

Marinette and Kagami laughed all the way out of the room.

These kids are dorky af.