Glass clanked against each other and liquids vibrated as music blasted from little bluetooth speakers around the room; shaking atmosphere. Clusters of people clung around the long wood bar counter, each shouting a different brew drink they were wanting or socializing with one another, it being the hotspot of the establishment. Tiny groups of people stood around the open floor room, all talking amongst themselves. Tables lined the outer walls but most remained empty as the majority of the guests wanted to socialize with others. Brighter then most bars but the lights were still dimmed compared. Luka stood behind the counter in a skin tight black v-neck t-shirt, a towel draped over his shoulder and his hair was loosely pulled back in a high ponytail. Blue tuffs of his hair curled around his jawline and his bangs remained to be a tad in his face. He wore his signature black gauges but these ones had music notes on them. He swayed his bangs from his face with a jerk of his neck as he reached for a vodka bottle, eyeballing the measurements as he poured it into his shaker, he followed up with some coffee liqueur and he reached for espresso as it was dispensing from the counter's machine. He placed the lid to the metal cup on top and began shaking it.

A girl at the counter bit at her pink nail as she stared along his tattooed muscles that vibrated from his motion. She was one of their semi regulars that came in to oogle at him and Zeke the other male bartender. Luka noticed her staring but kept his attention to his coworker as she was talking about some random story from the night before. He replied with short "uhuhs" and "oh yeahs". Luka reached for a martini glass and stained the drink into the glass and slid it to the lady. "Here love. Enjoy." He spoke as he pressed the shaker into a jet cleaning attachment on the sink and swished his hair out of his face again. She oodled at the beads of sweat going down his cheek. She smirked with lustful eyes. Luka sighed as he shook the shaker dry as he turned his head away from her. He called most women 'Love'. It was something he picked up from his mom. He felt it softened human interaction with others but he often forgets that some people take that as something else. "Sundays are your normal night, your not playing?" She asked as she took a sip of her drink.

Luka shook his head. "Nah. Speaker is out. No entertainment tonight."

"That's fine, can always find other ways to entertain myself." She smirked as her eyes looked his body over as she bit her lower lip. Lukas cheeks turned red and he forcefully cleared his throat as an awkward chuckle escaped his lips. She giggled after as she reached into her purse.

The blonde girl slid a $10 bill his way, he side eyed her as he reached for it and she placed her hand on his and winked before she slid her fake manicure nails against the top of his hand and turned away. Luka huffed as he looked at the bill and a sticky note attached saying Cynthia - call me and her number. He couldn't help but glance and watch her walk away, eyeing her plum butt. She was very attractive. He looked back at the note as a smile peeked from the corner of his lips. His eyes glanced at his Miraculous on his wrist. You have responsibilities it screamed. Luka groaned as he crunched the paper in his fist and then he tossed the paper into the trash. His heart dropped a tad when doing this. He gets flirted on a lot at work but not many girls hand their number over. He put the money in the till, taking his 2 dollar tip. "Sir, can I get a Mexican coffee cocktail please." A girl asked him. Luka returned back to earth and nodded.

He made a few drinks with barely any responses to everyone that ordered his way. He was good at keeping his eyes down and conversations short.

As the crowd began to disband from the counter and to the floor, Luka whipped the towel off his shoulder and wiped the counter down as he felt his Manager Austin's eyes on him. He walked over. "I commend you on your hard work," he spoke as he leaned across from the other side of the counter. Luka eyeballed him sharply and crumbled the towel in his hands and with a click of his jaw, he avoided looking at him. "But?" He sighed as he tossed the towel in the sink and leaned on his palms. Here we go. Austin chuckled as he bobbed his head and slid his palms along the counter and the back toward himself. "You need to socialize more, connect with people. I'm not going to get mad if you flirt with some girls. It brings more girls in if the hot bartender is flirty." He looked back and forth as he leaned forward and whispered softly. Luka didn't know why he whispered. Couldn't hear over the Bluetooth speakers. "What you do after work isn't my business. But can you at least smile and try to engage in some convo."

"Austin, you pay me to make drinks. I don't socialize. I'm here to work."

Austin stood up straight. "You are the face of the bar, without a bartender, there is no bar, people expect a bartender to be social at least the tinest bit. People vent their day to people like us and come back for that. You need to talk."

Luka huffed, feeling cornered. This was what felt like the millionth time Austin had told to him about his lack of conversation banter. Luka did yearn to talk to people but he felt it was best to just come to work and then home. No people to socialize in the in-between. Luka felt lonely but it made things easier. If he had to stop to become Viperion. It was easy to get away. He didn't have to lie. He didn't have to worry. He could stay concentrated on the task at hand. No distractions.

"Look I'm not going to force you or fire you for not, you are right, it's not in the job description to socialize but we are in the industry to be nice to people. I let you play your music here, that should count as something. Throw me a bone."

"You let me play but only allowed to take requests from The Top 100, pop and country, wouldn't call that my music." Luka stretched and then scratched his neck. Austin hung his head in defeat and tapped his index against the counter. He clicked his tongue a few times as he thought and then had a eureka moment. "Ah! How about this, if you at least act nicer to others and smile, and engage in conversations, I'll let you hold the Friday spot and you can take requests of your top 50 picks. I'll even commission a flyer to be made for you."

Luka blinked stunned and quickly looked to his manager. Was he for real? Friday night? That was their popular night. A smile crept on his face. Maybe playing songs he liked to people would bring his spark back to write his own music again. "My top 50? Why not 100?" He started bargaining. Austin sighed. "50, the other 50 will be still from the top 100. Not everyone wants rock, screamo, or whatever you're into."

Luka puffed a bit mad. "75?"

"50. I'm firm on that. All I'm asking is a bit of back and forth, Luka, I'm not asking you to kiss everyone."

With a long sigh and a hang of his head, he stood tall and smiled, taking Austin's hand and shaking it. "Deal. I'll write up my list for you."

"Now, try and make some friends, cause you may be hot, but you're giving loner poet vibes and it's going to kill the vibes here. Land a girl. Do something."

"No promises, should have said that before the shake." Luka chuckled as he grabbed the towel from sink and re-draped it around his shoulder. Luka crossed his arms as chuckled, leaning against the counter as he watched Austin rolled his eyes as he walked away. Luka's smile faded as he looked down at the empty glass behind the counter as he fixed them around and looked about as the crowd was all socializing. His fingers glided across the counter grabbing a notepad. Leaning across the counter he began writing on the paper. He twiddled the pen as he began to think. What songs would he enjoy playing. Luka reached as he scrolled through his playlist on his phone. He inhaled slowly as he scribbled. House of Memories, I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Whispers In My Head, Heathens, Check Yes Juliet, Leave It All Behind, The One Who Laughs Last, Once In A Lifetime. Dirty Little Secret. He stared and quickly marked that last song off the list. He looked down at the trash can at the note the girl gave him. He pondered for a second as he twiddled his pen once more. He sneakily reached in the tiny tin and stared at it. He flipped looking on the back of the note. It was a torn paper from some other flyer. Couldn't tell from what.

"Go for it." A girl's voice spoke. Luka jumped and looked to his coworker Kristen who was leaning against the counter. She had been staring at him this whole time. Luka rolled his eyes as he turned away, blushing, looking into the cooler. He noted they needed more sliced lemons. "We need more citrus, I'll go get some from the kitchen."

She giggled. "Look, dude, I pick up guys here all the time. You need to let loose and blow off some steam, you may be well built but I can see the stress in your shoulders. You radiate blueball vibes right now my friend." She pointed circles toward him.

Lukas glared as he reached for a shot glass and took a quick swig of some vodka as he poured it. "Guys only go for you cause you're easy, Kristen."

"It's a bar, all girls are easy at the bar." She argued with a glare. Her bangles jingled as she gestured outward toward their establishment. "80% of girls come to get attention or hook up. 10% just for fun. 70% of men come to pick up girls. 20% to watch football with the guys."

Luka eyed her. "And the other 10%?"

She pointed to the only person at the counter who was passed out. She reached for the square glass from the passed out fellows hand and held it in her finger tips. She held it in view of the light, a tiny bit of bourbon remained at the bottom. "They drink their sad lives away. Which is starting to look like you soon if you don't loosen the fuck up. If you ain't going to date, then go after someone easy." She said gestured the glass toward Luka eyeing the shot glass before she swigged the remaining drink and then she tossed the glass into the sink next to her as she was still irritated by his answer about her from before. She turned to assist a customer. Luka rolled his eyes as he walked away and toward the kitchen. He never wanted to admit she was right but he was probably one bottle away from being a passed out drunk. Placing his hand on the swinging door, he looked down at the tiny note and then looked around the room and noticed the girl across the way, she was flirting with another man that were hitting on her. She was hanging him a piece of paper, the same color as the scrape Luka had. He leaned against the door and swung himself inside as he pondered.

══════⊹⊱≼•| |•≽⊰⊹══════

Her hand firmly grasped the nape of his neck as her fingers played with his long loose locks and tugged slightly. Their lips smashed against one another. His hands firmly gripped the part of her exposed bottom that met her thighs as he had her pressed against the wood panel wall, her legs wrapped around his waist as he grinded against her curled up skirt. His fingers glided across her laced underwear. Cynthia pulled her face away as she leaned her head back as she moaned loudly. Luka bent down bitting her neck as his hand covered her mouth trying to keep her noise level down. This just made her more excited. He continued to grind against her. His needs pulsed for attention with each thrust he made.

It had been a while but he quickly got into the motion. His head was spinning at how fast this was going though. They were just at the bar and he had offered her a free drink and then they flirted for a little bit and as soon as he got off work, they started to make out a bit outside the bar and he brought her back to his place on his Aprilia RS 660. His hand moved down from her mouth and lightly gripped her jawline as he went back kissing her face. Their tongues wrestled together. Her moan got him more excited but he couldn't shake that pit feeling in his stomach. He held her firmly as he cradled her against him as he walked over to his bed. He threw them both onto the bed. Him on top of her as he pinned her wrist down as they continued to kiss. Sweat beat down his spine and he sat upright on his knees as he reached, taking his shirt off. His various tattoos shined in his sweat. Snakes, music notes, and he had a compass above his hip. She used this opportunity to reach for his pants button. He was doing this. He really was. He smirked with excitement. Her peony rose perfume and hints of her coffee alcohol danced in his nose.

He stood up and quickly jerked his pants off and tossed them on his night stand as they both crawled further onto his queen sized bed and away from the edge. He reached taking her skirt off and then quickly kissed her again. His thoughts were racing so fast that nothing made sense anymore and nothing mattered anymore. It was this moment right now he was wanting to enjoy himself. But it was as if an angel and a devil on his shoulder were arguing in the back of his mind while he continued on.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

Luka looked and noticed his phone sticking out of his pants pocket and it was ringing. Cynthia's fingers guided his jawline back to full attention to her. And then her fingers glided down his neck. A chill went down Lukas spine. Her nails tickled his chest.

You worked so hard as a superhero. You are allowed to have fun. But you're using this girl to get a stress reliever. She totally wants this, right? Maybe she was looking for a relationship and not a booty call. Or maybe she was. What was Luka wanting? Was he wanting a booty call? Or something more? His angel and devil argued at the back of his head. Their words made him begin to doubt and pull away. Cynthia on the other hand pulled him back in. Their lips sloppy and wet mashed together.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

He looked and reached for it. Before he could see who it was however Cynthia gripped his shoulders and rolled them over where he was now on the bottom. He blinked stunned as his hand firmly gripped the phone and stared up at her. She giggled and reached, taking her shirt off and exposed her braless boobs. Luka couldn't help but say a 'wow' outloud. Their eyes locked. His blue and her brown eyes. She kissed his lips as her hand reached playing with his happy trail and the rim of his boxers. Luka moaned as she bent down biting his neck as she grinded her underwear self against his thigh. She began sucking his neck muscles hard as her fingers slipped under his boxers. Her nipples flicked against his chest.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

Luka cursed to himself as her fingers grazed him down below and he looked lustfully down at her, biting his lip as she pulled away from his neck. She kissed his collarbone and licked along its crease.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

His rib.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

His stomach.

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz.

Luka panted but couldn't help but glance down at his screen and quickly jumped like a rocket. It was his sister. She never calls. She only ever texts him. She only calls for emergencies. Cynthia sat up right from his jerked motion. She glared a tad. "I-Im sorry. It's just..it's my sister. She never calls. Something must be wrong." He said. He swung his legs over her and off the bed as he hunched over. He placed the phone to his ear. "Jules? Everything okay?"

Cynthia cradled next to him as she twiddled her fingers on his chest hair and began to travel his fingers down. Luka pushed her hand away. She huffed. She looked and reached touching his muscles along his biceps and smirked but he shook her off him.

Cynthia crossed her arms glaring at him as she stood on her knees next to him. She tapped her finger along her arm growing impatient. "What?" He spoke. "Okay okay, stay calm. I'll be right over. Yes, yes, yes, you are fine. No, I-I'm not in the middle of anything important." He continued. Her mouth fell open. Did he really just say that? "Uhuh, yea" Luka glanced as he felt the bed move and saw Cynthia reach over grabbing her shirt on the edge of the bed. "H-hold on" Luka whispered. "What no..not you. Who? Ah nobody." He expressed as he turned red. Cynthia glared and quickly put her shirt back on. "Y-yeah, give me 20 minutes to drive up there. Okay. Okay, yeah, okay, bye Jules" Luka hung up the phone and stood looking at Cynthia who was gathering her bag. "W-wait. I'm sorry. That was my twin, her shop on the other side of town was ransacked and she was panicking. She's not good with talking so I need to just help her with the police and then I'll be back, you can wait here if you want. Or let me take you home. We can try again another time, maybe get dinner first?"

She laughed. "Like a date? Pfft. Seriously. Have you heard of one night stands? If you are going to be this distracted the whole time," Luka retracted back in his neck as he glared. "It's not worth the energy to put in just for some dick. I'll put the energy into another guy." She scuffed. "Along with, I'm not waiting around in a stinky fish water boat. What girl would? And I just have another guy pick me up. One that wants this. Thank you anyways." She growled as she twirled and took off the direction of the stairs as she pulled her phone out.

The room grew quiet after he listened to her heels above disappear off the boat.

Luka shook and then yelled. "FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK" He punched the air and then slumped back on his bed as he huffed and stared at the ceiling. He always manages to fuck something up in some shape or form. Her perfume still lingered in the room. Her green eyes lingered in his memory. He scuffs. "You're not worth my time." He mocked outloud. Sass flew over from his bag and crossed his arms staring down at Luka. Luka stood and began getting dressed. "Like André states, my girl smells of coconut and mint. Not your toxic cat piss. And my girl has blue scoop eyes. So you are not worth my time nor energy." He shimmied on his tight pants as he continued to fake argue with someone who wasn't even there. "I bet my girl isn't into wearing fake dollar tree nails or I bet my girl likes boats and music. And my-"

"Luka." Sass called out. Luka looked to him and sighed. He slipped his shirt on.

"I-I'm sorry. I just…"

"You deserve a day of fun. I understand. I'm proud you tried. I just hope this doesn't deter you from trying again."

"I just need to…go see my sister"

Luka was filled with intense sadness as he walked upon a horrible scene. His sister Juleka and Rose, her sisters girlfriend were sitting on a decorative bench in the room and two police officers stood next to them. Rose and Juleka had their own tiny shop where they sold flowers but also their own custom perfumes that they made from the flowers. Its bright pink look was blinding by itself from the lack of flowers cutting through it all. There were broken pots and tossed and broken flowers around the room, glass lined the floors and the strong scent of mixed smells entered his nose. Lukas' heart dropped seeing his sister crying in her hands as Rose was over her trying to comfort her. "Why are you not understanding? She's saying Jerry was being a butt face cause we wouldn't give him a raise."

"I'm sorry ma'am but she was the witness. We need to hear it from her."

"Well that is just stupid." Rose glared. Her eyes met Lukas across the room. He rushed over but the police officer stopped him. Luka glared as he pushed the man's hand from his shoulder. "That's my sister."

Luka knelt down, ignoring the broken clay pot shatters under him as he placed his hand on Julekas shoulder. He tilted his head to look into her eyes from under her bangs. Her makeup was all over her face and his hand felt her body shaking. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm here." He whispered. Julekas eyes widened and hugged her brother tightly. She started panic mumering to him. Luka shushed her to keep her calm. "Shh, shh, start from the beginning, please."

Julekas went on with what happened. She was starting to close for the night when Jerry, their delivery man approached Juleka and asking for an advance on his pay but also for a raise. Julekas tried to explain to talk to Rose but her not being there, it angered him. He stated; that Juleka being the owner should have a say and should give him a raise for his hard work. That he has been doing lots of overtime. Juleka felt he was trying to make her feel bad and on the spot. But she didn't know anything about the finances toward the business. He wouldn't take no, something about his ex wife was breathing down his throat for child support that he gambled away. Julekas started shaking again as she went on that he started breaking things and then abruptly left. Luka pulled her in close, his stomach churned with rage but he tried to remain calm.

Luka looked to the police officer. "The witness is traumatized from the event, you can take our word for what happened. Now are you going to arrest the man?" Luka firmly states as he stands taller than the officer. "Officer Bubs." Luka snarled. The officer sighed and nodded as he fixed his shaders. He stated they were going to get his information and proceed with the charges. Luka escorted the officers out and shut and locked the door. As Viperion, he has had many issues with Officer Bubs, he was a corrupted man that loved his power over others, he didn't take his job seriously when it comes to crimes but loves feeling superior to anyone, even victims, but mainly women. It made Luka sick, he wanted to spit on the man's shoes. But Viperion only had issues with him, not with Luka. Luka grimaced, hating him with his whole being. He turned and eyes softened as he walked over to Juleka. "It's okay Jules, why don't you head upstairs with Rose and I'll clean up the mess." Their home was on the second floor. Julekas sniffed and hugged Luka again. She mumbled. "Yes I'll come up in a few minutes." He replied. His heart ached hearing her shaking voice in his ear. He gestured to her to go with Rose.

Sass floated out into view as they walked out of sight. "Wow, this is horrific." He spoke as he floated over picking up a shard from one of the broken pots. Luka was thankful he wore his black combat boots, cause surely all this glass would have broken through his converse shoes. His eyes glazed over as his mind and emotions were on full throttle that he could not feel anything now. Luka began to sweep up the broken glass after he picked up the dislodged flowers and sat them all in an empty propergating tray. Their inventory was surely going to be impacted by this shrink. Luka leaned on the short broom as he looked around the room as he felt a tad nauseous. He coughed as the smell was starting to make him sick. All the different scents were overwhelming. He walked over, unlocking the front door and opening it. The cool crisp air flooded in and shifted the scents around in a dancing tornado. Luka took a strong inhale of the outside air before returning to the clean up. Not how he thought his night was going to end. Sass floated along as he was picking up pieces he could lift and threw them in a big box Luka has wrangled up from the closet to throw all the broken clay pots and glass.

Sass stared along Lukas emotionless face as he was quiet. Such a rough start of the day he had and it seemed to just get worse. "If you don't want to talk tonight, I'd understand." Sass stated. Luka blinked and stood up straight as he wondered for a brief second and then realized what he ment and replied with an 'oh'. "There isn't much to talk about. You know everything. Why talk about it?" Luka huffed as his bangs covered his eyesight as he looked down, sweeping the ground that was already clear of debris. Sass flew over and sat along his shoulder. "I know but, some people grieve if they talk about the traumatic event a few times before they can start healing. Or some try and say what is on their mind to move past the experience. You did it with the woman earlier." Sass said. "You started venting things you wished you would of said. Did you feel better after saying all that?"

Luka stared along the ground still but nodded slowly. He did feel better in a way. His eyes searched the particles of dirt on the pink and black checkered tile floor. An inhale entered his nose slowly and shakily released. "I miss my team." He choked. "I miss having a purpose."

Luka tilted his head back as he blinked a few times trying to keep the tears from falling as they formed in his eyes. "I feel, guilty for what happened to Master Fu, to Monarch. I just wish Chat would have stopped to understand my side then just assume I was unfit as holder of the Snake Miraculous instead he, just, left, he abandon his duty as protector of Paris, he abandoned Plagg, he abandoned RubyBug, he abandoned…me."

"Give him time, he may come back, Adrien lost his Miraculous Master and he used his powers against Monarch all in the same day. All of this was an accident. It was out of your control." Sass suggested as he floated sitting on the edge of the island counter.

"I know his identity, he can't come back. Besides, part of me…part of me doesn't want him to." Luka inhaled sharply as he stared straight ahead. Though he missed his team, Adrien Agreste was a selfish man in his eyes. He may have been a good teammate on some accounts but he was careless on others. He always gave attitude toward anyone, as Chat or as Adrien. Though he didn't know this at the time. He only came across Adrien Agreste a few times as Luka, he always left a bad taste in his mouth. But part of him felt bad for him, his dad was abusive toward him. "I can't-" Luka stopped and turned as he heard his name.

"Luka." Rose called as she descended from the metal twist stairs. "I-" she blinked as Luka stood awkwardly against the counter with the broom in his hand but the bristle pointing toward the ceiling. "Um, I was going to ask a favor." She questioned as she stepped onto the floor, she picked up an empty box and knelt down picking up a few shards of clay. Luka smiled awkwardly. "S-sure, what's up?"

"Well, I hate asking, but I know you are always looking for more work. Since we don't have a delivery guy anymore, I'll have to make the deliveries since Juleka doesn't drive, just until we get a new driver. But with Jules' issues talking as it is and now this, I can't put it on her with training our new hire that starts Tuesday." She started as she filled the gap between them. He smiled, taking the box from her. "I'll help out, no problem, as long as it's before my 3pm shifts at my other job."

"Really?" She smiled. "It's just until our new girl is settled in and then I can make the deliveries, or until we get a new driver hired, whichever comes first."

"No worries, I'm willing to help as long as you need it." He put the box behind him, hiding Sass in the process. He pulled her into a tight hug. She was so little compared to him. She had not grown since highschool and himself. He had just gotten taller. Like she read his mind. "You need to stop growing, you're like a weed." She giggled and hugged him back. He chuckled at her remark. Rose was such a sweet girl. His sister got a good one. He hoped to find someone as sweet as her. Luka looked down at Sass as he gave him a judgemental look. He knew that look. Luka pulled away and sighed. He can hear it now. I know you want to be helpful but you already have a lot on your own plate.

Luka didn't care, it helped distract his head with the odd job selection he had. Not just the bar and now the boutique but along with he did a side delivery system on multiple apps, even delivered pizza from time to time. It helped along with paying toward the bills for the boat. Luka and Rose agreed he would return on Monday to see the weekly roster and start Tuesday when she will have her hands full. He will work 8am to 2pm doing deliveries, some side deliveries in-between and he would do his bar job 3pm to 11pm. Easy peasy.