Chapter Thirty-Nine: Unraveling

Nothing happened. Time came, and time went, but Luka didn't show his face. Morning waned into early afternoon, and she sighed, continuing to give Adrien updates. After the first few, he stopped replying, but she saw the 'read' statuses next to each text, and groaned. He was seeing them, he just refused to comment.

"Maybe you should go back," Fu muttered patiently. "I would not blame you."

Ladybug shook her head, tugging on her aqua ponytails. "It's fine. I know he's upset with me, but we'll work it out."

The Master sighed, but nodded. "Very well, but we will give it just another hour or two, and then I'm ordering you to leave," he said firmly, and she tensed, staring at the clock. Two. Okay, that was fair.

***POV Change***

Adrien held Chloe close to his hip as they entered the giant courtyard, the light from the lamps and fire breathing performers lighting the sky as people screamed joyfully. His heart was erratic as his eyes scanned the mysterious crowd, unable to determine the people beneath their masks.

He had wanted, desperately, to surprise his Love with tonight, hoping she'd enjoy accompanying him to the Carnevale fashion tribute with him, here in Venice, the home for the very festival, but she still hadn't arrived.

"I didn't think you'd look nice in tights, "Chloe scoffed, snorting. "Or the funny hat, but you kind of pull it off," she teased.

"It's called a tricorn hat," he countered, only half listening.

"Well, it looks like a pirate thing," she said, tugging on the deep U portion in the front of his hat, pulling it down over the ivory volto mask he donned. Normally, the two would be attached, but he'd made sure they were independent in case he wanted to remove one or the other for any reason.

"Oi!" Adrien huffed, smacking at her hands, pushing his garment back up, adjusting his obsidian cape. His entire outfit was black and emerald hues, in traditional 18th century fashion as he escorted her into the busy Venetian Doge Palace courtyard. Well, everything except for the mask and the white tights leading to his shoes.

"You look rather fetching," Chloe choked out, her voice laced with honesty and a hint of lust.

He blushed beneath his mask, and smiled. "Thank you, but the compliment should go to you, the beautiful woman on my arm. You are quite the sight."

He gave her a spin as they reached the bottom of the stairs, releasing her just enough to take in the full view as she twirled. Her outfit was a full skirted crimson outfit based on the 18th century royalty, with glimmering sheer material, and the scoop of her bodice was low enough to show the swell of her beautiful ivory breasts. Her golden hair was hidden beneath a sparkling black veil pulled around her head, trailing to her shoulders, and only her bright blue orbs peeked out from her own volto mask…except hers had been decorated with delicate crimson and golden lace.

"Breathtaking," he said in awe, blinking his emerald orbs at her in appreciation.

He couldn't be completely sure, but she might have been blushing. "Th-Thank you," she whispered, holding out her hand, and he offered the bend of his elbow in automatic etiquette. She giggled, hooking him, as he guided her into the dancing mass. "Where is your woman?"

"She….she had something important to do." His voice trailed off into the unforeseeable distance as his mind scattered, and Chloe gripped his fingers, tugging fiercely to center him again.

"Must have been dire for you to allow her out of your sight all day," she observed, and he sighed, pulling his phone free from the secret pocket of his hip.

(5:37 a.m.) Mari: He's a no show. I'll be coming as soon as Pegasus shows up. He's running late. I've very sorry. Please, Love, forgive me? I…can't beg you enough.

He hadn't sent a reply to her pleas, and the time was cresting on 6:30 now.

"You look conflicted," his best friend commented. "Just say something to her."

He laughed, short, nervous, but he nodded. "Yeah. I probably should. I've been so busy trying to make her see the error of her ways, that maybe I'm punishing her for the wrong reasons," he admitted, opening a new message.

(6:26 p.m.) Adrien: Meet us in the courtyard. I'm dressed in…my alternate colored fashion, and Chloe is in vibrant crimson. I look forward to greeting you, whatever style you appear in. Just, meet us. I miss you, deeply, truly, lovingly. I love you, Mari.

"Done," he said firmly.

Chloe snorted. "Then allow me the first dance while we wait for the tardy queen," she teased, holding her arms up.

He grinned. "Of course!"

***POV Change***

"Marinette, please, take a seat, or at least, stop pacing," Fu pleaded.

She tugged desperately at the ribbons in her hair and shook her head rigorously. "Where is he? He's late, and I have to be back! I was supposed to be back almost an hour ago!" She pulled out her phone, staring at the last message.

(6:26 p.m.) Kitty: Meet us in the courtyard. I'm dressed in…my alternate colored fashion, and Chloe is in vibrant crimson. I look forward to greeting you, whatever style you appear in. Just, meet us. I miss you, deeply, truly, lovingly. I love you, Mari.

"Adrien wanted me back by six! It's almost seven!" She whimpered, dropping to her butt on the wooden floor in her spotted outfit. "What if he thinks I'm standing him up because I'm mad?"

"There's a simple solution to that."

"Yeah?"

"Just tell him you're running behind," Fu chuckled. "I'm sure he'll understand. Tell him your ride is late."

She giggled, pressing her fingers into the keys, but before she'd typed anything significant, Pegasus appeared, huffing. "S-sorry! I..f-family…thing," he breathed, blushing. "I'm r-really sorry!"

The bluenette gave him a glower before her face broke into a grin. It was hard to be mad, simply because she empathized. "It's fine, trust me, I get it, but we really need to get going…now."

***POV SHIFT***

Viperion watched them go, and slid with languid ease through the window, pooling his liquid muscles into a pile. He grinned, tilting his head as he stared at the Guardian.

"Mm, I knew, if you were calling on me, it must be important." He stalked closer to the old man, eyes narrowing.

"Luka, I need you to take a deep steadying breath, and then, you will hand over your Miraculous." Fu's voice was firm, unwavering, and the musician grinned, raising his left wrist deftly, staring at it.

"Hm?" He clucked his tongue. "Oh? You want this back. Well, that hardly seems fair when I've barely had a trial run," he mocked, gliding across the wooden floor with ease to procure one of the cups from the table, sliding his tongue over the lip of the object, moaning loudly.

"Luka," Fu warned.

"G-God, if I had only known," he whimpered, eyes rolling. "M-Marinette…" He gasped, back arching slightly as his free hand groped his straining arousal. "My sexy Ladybug," he said thickly. "I'd have felt far less conflicted about going full out," he growled, lowering his dangerously dark gaze. "Now," he smirked lustfully, "I can let loose."

"You will do no such thing," the Master commanded, gesturing with an arm, and Wayzz appeared.

"Shellt—!"

The snake hero was in front of the kwami before he could finish his sentence, swatting him harshly through the air before he activated his ability. Second Chance. He was going to hitch his ride back to Venice…right behind the spotted heroine…and pick his perfect moment.

***POV Change***

"Adrien," Marinette moaned softly, dancing closer, spinning. She giggled softly, and his eyes lit up as they slid down her form. Her gorgeous curves were encased with sapphire silk, echoing Chloe's outfit for the royal full skirt, and he saw the edges of her bite marks on her ivory orbs. His, and Luka's. The second gave him, pause, but he gave them both a kiss, making her shiver beneath his lips.

"I missed you, my Love," he said honestly, inhaling as her arousal reached his nose. The scent was absolutely intoxicating, leaving him nearly drunk on the desire alone, and he groaned, his fingers sneaking to her ample backside, squeezing desperately to pull her into his aching excitement.

She moaned, and his mouth layered kisses along her collarbone, delighting in the wonderful sounds she made, until a hand gripped his bicep so tight it gave him a moment's pause.

"A-Adrien," Chloe whispered. "W-Wait."

He frowned, swallowing. There was an edge of uncertainty in the blonde's voice, which was reason enough for him to halt his motions. He trusted her, unequivocally at this point, and knew enough that she wouldn't cease him out of jealousy, so what was it?

He lifted his gaze enough to stare at the woman in his arms, and her head was tipped back, enjoying his ministrations, eyes closed with pleasure, and his brows creased more. Why did that seem strange?

"Adrien," Chloe said firmly, bringing Marinette's attention to him immediately. Her eyes snapped open suddenly, and the color shifted, minutely, but it was enough. She…she…wouldn't have kept her eyes closed. Not…recently. His Mari was sure to make him stare at her…to see him…to make sure she could see the emerald of his orbs as much as possible.

Adrien shoved away from the woman, snarling under his breath so viciously she startled. "A-Adrien?"

"You're not Marinette."

The smirk that twisted her face was confirmation enough, and she tilted her head. "Well, if Chloe hadn't ruined it," she chided. "We might have had some fun. It seems the pheromones do work wonders when you can't see me. Though I'm not entirely sure why you seem to be the only one immune," she mused, sighing.

Adrien tried desperately to break the veil of her scent, but all he could do was inhale Marinette's allure. "Who are you?"

"That wouldn't be fun, would it? So much preparation would go down the drain," she chuckled.

He opened his mouth to growl a threat, but a burst of energy erupted from the center of the courtyard, and purple smoke billowed through the air. "WHERE IS SHE!?" The entity shrieked angrily.

"Looks like that's my cue," faux Mari snickered. "Have fun, until I see you again." She blew a kiss, skipping off into the distance.

Adrien desperately wanted to lunge after her, but the new threat cascaded into a tower of feathers and dripping skin, her form….unstable. "Where is…MARINETTE DUPAIN-CHENG!? I warned her…to stay…away…from...my boyfriend!"

He took in a sudden breath, as he realized the morphed and excruciated form was Mayura. What was going on?

AUTHOR NOTE:

I'm going to try to wrap this up with as much dignity and speed and…'awesomeness' as paw-ssible. By nobodies fault but my own, I feel like this has become a huge let down, and I've failed in some huge existential way that I can't even begin to explain, and I can't begin to fix it. It may be the crippling depression, and it may be my own insecurity…but it is what It is. However, that does not mean I will put any less effort into the writing, so hopefully I don't lose anyone…and I'm…really sorry…to anyone I have disappointed…or may disappoint by the end. Thank you everyone…truly for your continued and wonderful support. You guys are incredible people, and I love you all from the bottom of my heart. Without you, I'd probably…not even be…here…or anywhere, really. *smiles sadly* Thanks!