Chapter 4: Birthday Smash

You felt like you were in a dream.

Luka Couffaine, the real Luka Couffaine in flesh and blood, was holding your hand and walking your home.

For the first time, you wanted to thank the asshole deity for putting you in Miraculous as Chloe. You wouldn't ever have the chance to experience this otherwise.

You dreamily looked at Luka and listen to every word he was saying.

You both have talked about music.

You were surprised that besides Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale from the show, singers from your world exist here too.

So it was no problem for you to talk about your favorite singer and your favorite songs.

You learned that Luka practically liked any kind of music. He had said that any music style had something the other hadn't and was beautiful for this.

Luka was also beautiful when he talked about his passion.

You never wanted to reach the hotel, but sadly you did.

That's when Luka asked for your number and you could barely hold the excited scream back before you gave it to him.

He told you would send you a message when he was home.

You didn't know where you found the courage, however, you gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and thanked him for walking you home.

The black-haired boy with the turquoise tips smiled brilliantly at you and said that it was no problem at all.

Then you had to sadly say goodnight to each other.

As you were making yourself ready for bed Luka's message came

+3246896848942

I'm home, I wish you sweetdreams, [Y/N]

I wish you sweet dreams too, Luka. I hope we will see eachother soon again.

We will, don't worry,sleepwell.

You too!

Love-struck you hugged your phone to your chest and let out a sign.

This was the perfect end of this rollercoaster of a day.

You just needed to do one more thing.

You memorized Luka on your phone under: My Prince 3

The next days passed in a flash.

On Tuesday Miss Bustier told your class with tears in her eyes that she wouldn't be your homeroom teacher anymore and you would get a new one on Friday. Besides you, who had to control your winning smile, everybody protested and where sad. Also, she told you that Damocles wouldn't be the principal anymore and a new one would come on Friday too.

They would survive this, even more so when they got a finally a competent teacher and principal.

On Wednesday, you had your first day in the workshop Miss Cortez put you in. It wasn't that bad, but the other kids, scarred you shitless. These were real bullies and you worried they would start to pick on you. May it is because you are the mayor's daughter or they didn't have the guts to do it in the workshop, but they left you alone.

Thursday, you got Adrien's presents ready for Friday. You hoped with them you could prevent a future Akuma and hit the weak foundation of the love square.

That ship needed to sink fast and hard.

You also wrote a lot with Luka and with Zoe.

It felt nice getting to know Zoe and sharing your thoughts with Luka was wonderful.

Maybe, you should ask him if he wanted to do something on Saturday with you?

Then it was finally Friday.

The day started with a school assembly in the school auditorium.

It was time to say goodbye to Damocles and Bustier and welcome your new Principal and the new homeroom teacher who would take your class.

Your principal was a black woman by the name of Angela Gilbert and your homeroom teacher was a man named Philip Bernard.

Mrs. Gilbert looked like someone who took her job seriously and you shouldn't mess with her.

A badass woman, you had the feeling.

Mr. Bernard seemed a goofball, but you saw how sharp his eyes were and he hadn't any problem demanding respect from you kids.

It showed in the way he taught.

He was nice and friendly, but when Kim started to be restless, Mr. Bernard just looked at him with cold blue eyes and said in a calm tone if he didn't stop right now, not only would he have detention but he would let him write an essay about why it was not okay to disturbed classes with at least 10000 words.

Never did you see Kim shutting up that fast.

Your other classmates seemed in awe, but also a bit scared of Mr. Bernard.

In your book, he was really cool.

The first half of the school day was over and it was now time to give Adrien his present.

You waited with Sabrina in the schoolyard.

You both talked a bit about an anime she found interesting and you didn't know, but your ears were directed to Adrien and Nino.

When Marinette tried to give him her present was your time for your entrance.

That's when you heard her yell and how awkward she greeted Adrien and he back.

You turned to Sabrina: "Oh, Sabrina, today is Adrien's birthday, I better give him his gifts now."

"What did you get him?", she asked curiously.

"You will see. Will you wait for me?"

"Of course."

With that, you got down the stairs to stand beside Marinette. Like you had known she was trying so hard to tell Adrien that she made him a gift.

Better help her out.

"Adrien.", you said and pointed at Marinette. "Marinette has a gift for you."

This stopped Marinette's awkward bubbling and she looked in disbelief at you. Did…did you just help her?! Even Alya looked from their hidden spot at you like you were a three-headed cow or something.

The blond-haired boy smiles a bit.

"What really, Marinette? You didn't have to."

"Erm…I…I…wanted?"

Did she really make it sound like a question? God, the poor girl.

"Go on, Marinette, give him your gift. I will give you my gifts after her, Adrien.", you told them.

Now Marinette looked at you warily, she probably thought you had an evil plan or something, while Adrien smiled bigger.

"Oh, Chlo, you didn't have to."

"We are friends, that's pretty normal.", you argued back.

Even if deep down you couldn't careless for him, but anything to save canon/the world.

Shy Marinette gave Adrien her gift, which he opened excitedly.

"Oh, Marinette, what a nice scarf.", said Adrien happy and holding the blue scarf in his hands. "Did you make this?"

She nodded rapidly.

"Thank you, really. It's so cool from you."

"Welcome you are…I mean, are welcome…No! I mean, you are welcome!"

Adrien grinned awkwardly at her. Sheepish Marinette rubbed her head and took a few steps back.

"This is from me.", you told Adrien and gave him your two gifts. "Hope you like them."

The first was a book.

"How to be NOT a nice guy?", read Adrien aloud and blinked at you confused.

You grinned just back.

"Read it, trust me."

He shrugged his shoulders and then opened the second one.

The boy gasped and grasped the DVD in his hands like it was the Holy Grail. You saw how tears formed in his eyes and fell down his cheeks.

Marinette's handmaid scarf fall down on the floor, not that Adrien cared.

"C-Chloe?! H-How?", he whimpered.

Nino looked worried at his friend and Marinette felt devastated that the scarf she made with so much love was laying forgotten on the ground, also why was Adrien crying over a DVD you bought him?

This was not fair!

"Took me some time. But I found a copy of your mother's film. Probably the only one remaining."

Not a second later you had a happy crying Agreste in your arms, who hugged you tight. He had just walked over Marinette's scarf like it was nothing.

You saw how Marinette was sad and hurt about this. Maybe that would show her a bit of the real Adrien.

Meanwhile, you patted his head awkwardly, while he thanked you repeatedly.

"Okay, Adrien, calm down. You are snooting all over me.", you stated.

"Just b-because you gave me the best present ever!"

"Yeah, but let go now."

He really had a problem with understanding no and personal space, he just hugged you tighter. Rolling your eyes, you shoved him from you and pointed at him.

"Adrien when someone says let go, do it, even if you want to hug more."

Sniffing he whipped his tears and grinned just at you. He hugged the DVD tight to his chest.

Not even saying sorry? You really hoped he read the book.

Asshole.

At this moment his limousine arrives.

"Gotta go. Photoshoot.", he says in Nino's direction and turns to you. "Thanks again for this amazing gift, you are the best!"

"Get in the car, Adrien.", you just deadpanned.

He just does it and forgot Marinette's scarf. It's still laying on the ground with one of his shoe prints on it.

Marinette kneels beside it and picks it up. You see the tears in her eyes. You don't want to imagine what she is feeling.

Alya joins her and wraps an arm around her shoulder. Nino, as you know from watching the episode, starts to walk to the Agreste Mansion, even if he gave Marinette a sad look.

"He was always like this.", you tell Marinette and Alya. "He cares only for what is important to him. He isn't that golden boy you all think he is. I should know, I was exactly like him."

You don't wait for an answer and just join up with Sabrina.

It hurts you that you had to do this, but you hoped with all your heart Marinette would start to see the cracks in Adrien's perfect golden boy image.

"Miss Sancoeur, it really wouldn't be a problem."

"Miss Bourgeois, it is nice of you to offer your hotel so Adrien could have a birthday party, but Mister Agreste just doesn't think it's a good idea."

Tired you rub your forehead and look at Sabrina who is sitting on your couch. Even she seemed lost for words.

You wanted to try to prevent the Bubbler by offering the ballroom of the hotel. Maybe if Mister Agreste didn't have kids in his mansion, Adrien could have his party. And so Nino wouldn't be turned into the Bubbler.

However, it seemed that Gabriel was just anti anything that would have Adrien having contact with anything out of the mansion.

That he could go to public school now was a wonder.

Why did Gabriel Agreste need to be like this?

How faster you got Adrien out of this home the better.

"All right, but the offer still stands.", you said into your phone.

"Goodbye, Miss Bourgeois."

With that Nathalie hung up and you throw your phone into one of your armchairs.

Seems like the Bubbler would be happening.

You couldn't always win it seems.

How frustrating.

"Adrien's dad sounds…strict.", said Sabrina carefully.

You let out a sign and sit down beside her.

"He is an abusive controlling asshole. Adrien needs to get out of that house like yesterday."

"That's why you wanted me to record the conversation?"

"Yep."

Now you both let out a sigh and smiled warily at each other. You would need more than this to help Adrien, but it was a start.

"What are we doing now, Chloe?", asked Sabrina.

"What do you want to do, Sabrina?", you counter-question.

"Me? Whatever you want."

The red-haired girl got nervous and played with her hair. Chloe really fucked her up. Even after a whole week with you and starting the therapy she still falls into old patterns of behaviour.

It was still only one week, she wouldn't magical change you had to remind yourself.

Still, it hurts to see her like this.

Poor girl.

Nevertheless, you didn't need to worry about what do to now, since the Bubbler came for you two and invited you to Adrien's birthday party.

Saying no against an Akuma was not a healthy thing so, of course, you had obeyed.

Besides, if you were sneaky enough you could film something that would be of interest to a certain guardian of the miraculous…

Adrien didn't know what do to. Here was Nino akumatized throwing him a party with his classmates and yet he didn't know what to do now.

He had run up in his room and was now looking pensive at his ring.

Unaware that you manage to get into the mansion, good that Bubbler was more interested in his DJing, and followed Adrien to his room.

You got your phone ready and filmed the conversation Plagg and Adrien had.

This would show Fu how Adrien patronized his own fun more over his duty to fight Akuma, even if Ladybug wasn't there. Okay, Plagg pushed him too, but Adrien should know better himself.

When you are a hero you have a duty to the people. Which comes always first.

As you saw that the two were done talking, you stopped the recording and hide fast in the next room beside Adrien.

You could hear him opening his door and walking away.

Puh, that was close!

You waited for a few seconds, just to be sure. Then you got out and joined the party.

Ladybug would arrive any second now.

Not in your dreams would you request a slow dance and dance with Adrien.

The Akuma of the day would be done soon.

You were right of course, without her jealous attack, Ladybug was on the roof and throws her yo-yo. It hits the power strip and unplugs the Bubbler DJ Station. She retracts her yo-yo.

"Sorry, Bubbler, but the party is over.", she tells him.

You literally feel how everybody relaxes since she is here now and will save you. You know that you will end up soon in a bubble.

Yeah, being closed in a bubble and slowly floating towards the sky would be really cool if you didn't end up in deep space.

Well, Ladybug and Chat Noir did their job and after a Miraculous Cure, anything is back to normal.

You mentally strike the Bubbler from the Akuma List.

Three Akuma's down.

How much more till you would get to Papillion?

It was night in Paris. You were sitting on your bed and talking with Luka.

You felt so shy, but at the same time, you wouldn't stop talking to your crush about anything in this world.

Right now you both were talking about the experience of the day.

"So the friend of your childhood friend got akumatized just because he wanted to throw him a party?", repeated Luka. "You know, this is somehow cute, in a way. Makes me feel a bit better that I was trapped in this bubble and taught I would fly off into space."

You giggled a bit.

"I had the same thought."

"Great minds, think alike.", Luka mussed.

He couldn't see you, of course, still, you put shy a bit of your hair behind your ear. Getting compliments from Luka was so awesome.

"What are you up, to tomorrow?", you asked him and played nervously with your teddy bear.

"Besides my pizza delivery job? Nothing much. Why [Y/N]?"

Always when you heard your real name from his lips you wanted to turn into goo. You were so gone for him already. Didn't help that you had already a crush on him when he was just fictional.

"Erm, maybe we could take a walk? I could show you my favorite manga shop and educate you a bit.", you said the last thing jokingly.

"Mmh, if I can show you my favorite music store. You need to expand your music horizon, [Y/N]."

"You have a deal then."

"Let's make this a date then, [Y/N]."

…What did he just say?!

You turned red like a tomato and gasped for air.

"You, me, date?!", you sounded like Marinette when she had her moments, but you hadn't expected this.

A date?

A date-date?

Already?

Were you dreaming?

You thought you would need more time to make Luka interested in you?

"Is it too soon?", you heard how unsure he sounded. "It's just, I have the feeling I know you already. Your heartsong, it's like an enchanting melody, which draws you in and never leaves you. A one in a kind, that I just want to hear to understand it."

Damn, that was beautiful. Nearly as his love declaration to Marinette.

"No, Luka, I was just surprised. I would love to go on a date with you!", you nearly yelled.

He laughed relieved.

"All right, then it's a date. How about I pick you up after my shift?"

"Sounds awesome."

"Then I should let you sleep, sweet dreams [Y/N]."

"You too, Luka."

You both hung up.

Long you stared at your phone, then the reality hit you.

You.

Had.

A.

Date.

With.

Luka.

Couffaine!

"What should I wear?!", you shrieked panicked, and run to your closet.

The date was for tomorrow, but you needed to get anything now ready!

You couldn't and wouldn't mess this up!

And so you spent the rest of your evening trying to find an outfit that would make Luka speechless!

Author's Note 21/09/2022: Hello, my dear readers.

I'm sad to make this announcement but I have noted that writing for Kick the cat out of the bag put me under a lot of stress. Or more the rule of update once per week.

Sometimes I lack the motive to write and then when it's time to update a write just something so I could update.

Sometimes also I wish I could work on my other works because I got suddenly inspiration for them or I want to write something new, but because I made Kick the cat out of the bag my priority I can't.

You can imagine how my creativity suffers under it.

So I have decided I will put all my stories in sporadic updates and write what I want when I want.

Like this, I hope I don't fall into writer's block as I do for every update for one story.

And I really want to write for other fandoms too when I have an idea.

So I hope you can accept my decision.

I think this is the best for anyone.

I can write when I'm most creative and what I want and you get awesome chapters, even if you have to wait for them for a bit.

Please accept my decision and don't leave my stories and me behind.

Writing should first and foremost be a pleasure for me and not a worksheet I have to do to or the teacher gets angry at me.

I hope you understand what I mean.

On my Tumblr, I will post news and similar things so you should check it out to see where I'm with my stories.

Again I hope you can understand me and I wish you all a nice day/night