Chapter 16
-Chat Noir-
She was there. He watched her from a distance. She looked like she was doing better now, but he still couldn't really believe that she loved him. As Adrien he'd confessed his love, but he couldn't act the same way now as Chat. He wanted so badly to reveal himself to her, to hold her in his arms, but he couldn't burden her with this tonight. It would have to continue to wait. But for now, there was no problem in saying hello. Maybe he could cheer her up again.
"Hello, Princess." He said softly, landing in front of her on her balcony. She didn't look too surprised, but he could still tell that she was struggling with something. "Are you doing okay?" He asked. "No." She admitted and Chat already knew. "Do you want to tell me about it?" He asked. She looked at him for a moment with her big blue eyes, searching his eyes before she answered, "I'll tell you." She stepped back to her lounge chair on the balcony and Chat sat beside her. "I'll tell you everything."
"I liked the same guy for a pretty long time, and after being in the friend zone for a while, I started liking someone else who'd always been there for me." She said and secretly Chat knew all the underlying meanings. She meant him in both contexts. "And then the guy I used to like got friendlier, we grew closer and he told me that he hadn't realized that he loved me and so I just went out on a date with him, but I just had to tell him that I like someone else. Still, even after I told him, he said he'd still be there for me." Chat nodded in understanding, "So you gave up an old love for the new guy?" He asked. Marinette nodded, blinking through tears. "I just feel so bad, because I'm worried that I just broke his heart, and I never wanted to hurt him." Chat felt his heart flutter, though it was now unbroken with his hope of getting Marinette's love. "Don't worry Marinette. If he's half as strong as you, he'll be just fine."
-Marinette
It had to be him. Who else could be her wonderful Chat? And he hadn't seemed so sad when she'd told him she wanted Chat. Despite his efforts to hide it, his precious green eyes had shone with hope. "Thank you, Chat." She answered and he gave her a happy smile. "Don't worry Princess. The one you love will come around." He said, kissing her hand. "I'm sorry I've got to go, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay." She smiled gratefully as he leapt off across the rooftops. There was only one way to be sure. Once he was nearly out of sight, she called to Tiki in her clutch, "Spots on!"
She followed him from a distance as he zigzagged across the buildings, definitely headed somewhere specific. She nearly got too close when she saw him stop, catching herself before she almost revealed herself following him. But after a little while, she saw him leap onto a building across from the Agreste home. He did a check all the way around him to see if anyone was watching before he leapt in Adrien's window and detransformed. It was definitely Adrien. But how was she going to deal with this information without revealing herself? Ladybug couldn't be sure, but she knew there was at least one thing she for sure had to do, and it wasn't going to be easy.
-Luka-
He was worried. He hadn't been able to keep up with her after she'd ran out on him after he'd blurted the truth to her. Luka was worried it had all come crashing down on her and hurt or confused her. He didn't want that to happen to her. She didn't deserve pain, and even though he'd reminded her so many times, it always seemed to come her way. He wasn't sure what to do. Luka headed out early that Saturday morning to the park by the fountain. The water was flowing today, just like the melody of a pure song. The lyrics to 'His Princess' were still gushing through his head, haunting him of something that he would probably never have.
He was there all morning, watching the water and strumming a few notes every once in a while. He couldn't bear to play the whole song over again. His performance for Marinette would probably be the only time he would play it for someone else. Luka didn't have her phone number to call or text her to try to say anything, but that wasn't one of the things he wanted to ask his sister about. Imagine that conversation, 'I'm in love with one of your best friends, could you please give me her phone number so I can try to tell her how I feel over text?' Heck no. He tried to remain satisfied with what he'd been able to say through music.
He stayed there past lunchtime before he saw someone he knew. The Agreste kid was walking through the park with his best friend, the kid with the red cap. Neither of them noticed Luka, and he was okay with that. He didn't need any awkward conversations today. But apparently he was due for one, because at around 1, Marinette walked into the park, waving hello to the two boys that were clearly her friends. When she looked at the blonde haired boy, Luka felt something in him crumble just a little bit. But then she saw him, her clear blue eyes as calm as an ocean sweeping over him, and a moment of realization seemed to hit her. And slowly, she started to walk over to him.
-Marinette
She had to tell him now, before her silence did any more damage. She did not want to hurt Luka either, but waiting to tell him would only make the blow more crushing. Marinette sat down next to him on the bench. "Hey, Luka. I'm sorry I ran out on you the other day." She said, giving her best shot on starting the conversation. "Hello, Marinette." He said softly in his deeper tone. He looked up from his guitar into her blue eyes and something told her that he already knew what she was going to tell him. "Luka, I have something to tell you. I loved your song, you're a great artist, but I-" She tried to say before Luka cut her off, "It's okay Marinette. I get it if you choose someone else. I just want you to be happy." He said, shocking her in an instant.
"Thank you for understanding," She smiled, "But it would be a shame to waste your talent by not sharing your song." He gave her a quizzical look, tilting his head just a bit to the side. "What do you mean?" Marinette smirked a little before she answered, "I have a pretty awesome connection with Jagged Stone. I think if I could get you a private session with him, he'd love the power you have in your song. Maybe with a few practices with him, he'd have you perform with him at his next concert." Luka's eyes widened, "Are you serious? Could you really do that?" Marinette nodded, "I'll give him a call later today and let you know what he says." Luka was absolutely speechless, "Thank you so much, Marinette. You're an amazing girl." Marinette smiled one last time before standing up to leave, promising to let him know later on.
-Luka-
Watching her go was the most painful thing all day. How could he ever endeavor to deserve her kindness? But if he was supposed to play for Jagged eventually, he would have to play his song at least one more time to practice. Luka reached for the strings, plucking the first few notes, but even those brought on a new measure of pain. He couldn't take this. He looked up from his guitar, and saw Marinette sitting on a bench with the Agreste boy, and they were laughing and chatting about something. The boy in the red cap had obviously gotten the message that the two wanted to be alone and had slipped away. Maybe it was time Luka did the same.
But as he left, the nasty girl from school that Marinette had named as her bully ran into him. She laughed when she saw Luka's crushed expression. "You better move on, loverboy!" She taunted. She passed him, but Luka still heard her calling after him, "You better get used to it, scrub!" and he tried to shake off her words. He just wanted to go home, and to try to forget everything that had just happened. But he was so focused on getting away that he didn't notice the little black butterfly flapping along just behind him. He stopped on the lock bridge, unable to go any further. He leaned against the railing, looking out at the busy riverside, full of boats and people enjoying a Saturday afternoon.
He even saw Juleka and Rose walking along a different bridge together. Why was he cursed to never have that? His moment of defeat and giving in to pain provided the opportunity Hawkmoth had been waiting for. The little black butterfly flew into the guitar pick he was turning over and over in his fingers and Hawkmoth's symbol appeared over his eyes, "Hello Heartbreaker. I'm Hawkmoth. I'm granting you the power to play your heart out so that everyone must listen. All I ask in return are the Miraculouses of Ladybug and Chat Noir." Luka answered in a broken sad tone, "Sure, Hawkmoth. All of Paris will mourn with me!" He cried as his form was consumed in black as he began to transform.
****I know the idea of Luka getting akumatized is kind of overdone, but I'm going to do my best to make it pretty original and unique! I'll try to update tomorrow afternoon, but it might end up being kind of late. Thanks for all of the support! Let me know your reactions or opinions!
****Also, this story will probably only have a couple more chapters. It's been so much fun writing it, and you all have been super helpful! I'm thinking of writing another fanfic, but I don't know what I want to write it about. If you want me to write one about a specific ship, or from a specific plot point, I'm open to ideas! Thanks again!