As her mind began to feel dead, Marinette stared down the handle leading to the home she shared with her family. She experienced feelings of isolation and rejection, but above all she felt betrayed. Her friends presence stood behind her. Marinette had been forced to experience the inconceivable. She was face to face with a dangerous villain, one that said hurtful words, that hurt her and almost killed her. That villain was her supposedly bestfriend for almost a decade; Alya Cesire. Being slightly taller than Marinette, she was hunched over her. She had always felt tiny among her friends, but now that the world was collapsing around her, she felt insignificantly small. She felt sick to her stomach as she contemplated opening the door.

Rubybug escorted them to her parents' Bakery but left them to solve their own issues; in private.

Alya had been questioned by the heroes and it seemed that Alya was siding with the villains. It was unlike her. She always supported the heroes and now this? Marinette wanted to know why but she also wanted to just shut the door behind and never look back. "Are we going to talk?" Alya questioned behind her. Marinette could feel the onset of a wave of tears. Are we going to talk; was almost as hard hearing someone saying you okay? when you know you weren't. She didn't want to converse; instead, she wanted to yell, scream, and cry. She couldn't decide which she wanted more.

In a villainous state, Alya-Screen Searcher had stated, more or less, that she believed Marinette to be self-centered. The fact that Marinette had deserted her. That Marinette was a stalker. Someone who is completely deranged. A liar. She couldn't help but feel Alya was right but along with it wasn't Alyas fault she said those things. But if Screen Searcher felt that way, it really meant that Alya felt that way. "What's there to talk about?" Marinette was able to get the words out without crying. Alya creased her brows as she touched her shoulder. "About what happened back there." She stared as Marinette shook her shoulder.

"I think you made it very clear how you truly feel." Marinette said as she placed her key into the knob.

"What did I say?" Alya creased her brows. After being akumatized, you are left with only one thing to recall. Feelings. Memories of what corrupted-you would say were gone but all would be left would be the ghost of your villain self. The phantom of your feelings. All Alya had felt when she awoke from being Akumatized was two feelings. She felt heard, almost empowered and she felt guilt. She didn't know why she felt guilty, she felt it was because she hurt people, controlled people but Marinette knew something she didn't know. Words she spoke.

"You said I was self centered." Marinette told as she turned the key. "That I abandoned you." Her voice grew louder with each word. "That I was a freak for pawning over Adrien. That I'm a liar!"

Alya stared astonished and then face grew serious. "I." She stopped as she turned Marinette to face her. "I'm sorry I said those things."

She didn't deny it. Marinette pursed her lips as she tried to keep herself from glaring. "So you feel that way? About me?" She questioned. Alya looked down and then back at her. "You're my best friend, we all have our faults, but that's what makes us human, it's what I love about you that you should only care about, not what I don't."

"So you do think I am self centered."

"No, not all the time, you just, have a tendency to change the conversation over to yourself. I know you don't mean to."

"You think I was crazy for pawning over Adrien?"

"Marinette, come on, you knew the man's every waking minute of the day." As this went on, Alya's rage grew. She made a conscious effort to maintain her composure. She reached out and touched her friend gently on the shoulders. Wanting to ease their worries with physical contact.

Marinette gazed at the floor as she fumbled for the right words. "You think I'm a liar and that I abandoned you."

Alya frowned as she pulled her hands away from Marinette's shoulders. No words uttered out of her mouth.

"Still! You still think I'm lying. After everything tonight, you still think I'm lying." Marinette glared. "What kind of friend are you?"

It wasn't that she thought Marinette was liar it was just hard to switch her brain to thinking Lila was lying.

"I'm your best friend but you have to understand, I don't know who to believe right now." She frowned. "You got suspended from school and would never talk about anything but feeling your friends abandoned you when I still stood by your side. We were left with Lila who probably did fill us with more lies to make matters worse. I don't know. As soon as we all graduated and Adrien proposed to you. I was there to help plan your rushed wedding. I was by your side when Adrien left you. I tried to be there for you but you just left."

As if she didn't want to hear it, Marinette shook her head. The universe knew both sides were justified, but neither could see past their personal pain and fury to see the big picture. "Are we?"

"Are we what?" Alya asked.

"Bestfriends?"

"I still believe we are, don't you?"

Marinette didn't answer. She was hurting inside. "Maybe it's time." She frowned. Alya stared confused. "Maybe we need to take a break from each other for a little longer." She sighed. Alya stared intensely at Marinette.

"Huh?"

"Look, I think, I need to focus on settling back into Paris. And you-" she stopped. She thought of a scathing remark, but restrained herself by biting her tongue. "You need to forget about me for a while, just while I think things through."

"Things through? What things?"

Marinette was quiet as she thought. What did she want? Without hesitation, the words fell from her lips.

"Do I still want to stay in Paris or not?" She sighed. "I just, feel out of place now, nothing has gone right since I've gotten back. Maybe that's the universe telling me something."

"Fuck the universe. You belong here in Paris, with your friends, your family, me."

"Alya, please, if you are my best friend, then you should understand why I want this. I need this. I spent almost a decade drooling over Adrien. Two years dating him. Crying over him. The whole time in New York I was obsessed with why Adrien left me and why my friends chose a liar over me. I think I need a moment to find who I am supposed to be and-" She hesitated. "Who I want in my life."

Alya huffed in defeat. "This is what you want?"

Marinette nodded.

Alya sighed. "I will fight for you, any day, but I don't want to fight you over something you want."

Marinette opened and stepped into the doorway. "Thank you."

Alya frowned before she turned away. "Bye, Marinette." She walked toward her car as Marinette watched her leave down the road. Marinette frowned as her heart clenched. "Bye" she whispered. This didn't feel right but she also felt it would be the best. A break. That's all she needed. Something new. She got a new job. New coworkers. New interests. New...love?

His blue eyes popped into her mind, his voice calling her mouse made her look off at the rain that vibrated the puddles on the streets. Maybe something more? Her heart clenched as she looked to the sky where Viperion had disappeared off to.

That excitement was over.

She knew what she wanted now. After tonights excitement. She knew what she had been wanting. Change. The excitement from dancing with a stranger, to the thrill of flying through the air while being chased by zombies, the traumatic events of being face to face with a corrupted person. Almost dying! A lot has gone wrong here in Paris since she returned but not all the wrong was wrong.

She turned to shut the door as her eyes caught sight of the bracelet along her wrist. She gasped. "Zoe!" She yelled as she quickly pulled her phone out and dialed.

Together with Viperion, Rubybug grimaced as they stood on the Eiffel Tower's metal flooring. The air was thick with the tension of the preceding battle. Something her ladybugs could never take away. As soon as she regained consciousness after being corrupted, she knew this conversation was inevitable.

"They know your identity now."

"How? Chat had been controlled a few times before. What makes this different?"

"That's different. You were out of costume for a part of your corruption." He started as he circled the area around them, his eyes never looking to her. "If we as heroes get corrupted, we can't control our actions just like anyone else, but what's different is the villain can't read our mind or memories like they can to a civilians mind. They can trigger emotions and memories to control and benefit them. But when we are heroes. They can't access that part of us because of our cloaking magic. They can make us remove our mask but they can't read our minds to who we are. The second the mask is down. The magic is gone. The shield is down. That second you became yourself in that stairway the villain knew who you were."

"We don't know this."

"He is right." A voice cut between them. They both turned to Su-Han as he stood along the ledge of the railing, just where Atlas had stood before. The rain trickled down his forehead as he was not deterred by the rain. "The second that mask dropped. Atlas saw into your mind. He learned your name, your home, your true identity."

Rubybug's heart raced fast as he leaped down onto the platform and filled the space between them. "Your adventure ends here." He states.

Rubybug and Viperion blinked as they looked to him. "W-wait, all we have to do is watch over her. Make sure they don't do anything funny."

"For how long? How long will it take you to find the missing Miraculous?" He glared toward Viperion. He had a point there.

"How about she just changes her identity. Goes under a different name? Atlas stated they didn't care who we were."

"And you believe them? No. Besides. A part of her was still there. Your cloaking magic helps ward off hypnotic magic for a short period. She knew she was corrupted and just didn't tell you. Am I right?"

Ruby clenched her fist as Viperion looked at her. She nodded slowly.

"My mind is made up then."

Rubybug's heart jumped.

"Give me your miraculous." Su-Han demanded with a firm out reach of his hand in a commanding gesture. His extended hand reached for her, palm up. Her breathless heartbeat was prompted by his hand. In an instant, she could see him holding her Miraculous, and then he would be gone. Forever. She clenched her fist to her heart, as if doing so would protect her from the harsh realities of the world beyond her safe space. Tikki would be gone. Forever.

Her body twitched back in hesitation and fear made her feet move along the metal of the flooring. She would be even more alone. Silence lingered in the air except for the wind that rushed by and caused a flag along one of the beams of the tower to snap in the air. Viperion observed from in between, frightened himself. He swallowed hard, trying to form words, but nothing came out. The sight of Ruby's distress and terror brought tears to his crimson eyes and his blood to a worrisome boil.

With an aggressive gesture of warning, Su-Han yanked his hand away and flicked it back in her direction. "Miraculous!"

Viperion wrinkled his brows as she stared at his hand, her arms trembling as tears formed in her eyes. "Please! I can't! Without Tikki, I'll feel completely alone." Words Viperion related to very well. But Su-Han didn't budge. Viperion frowned a long face. He knew what he had to do. "Please! I'll be careful. I promise. Don't do-" she stopped as a new hand reached toward her. She and Su-Han watched as Viperion's hands struck a similar stance to Su- Han's. Their master nodded as he took a step back and tapped his cane along the ground firmly as he watched closely. Her throat hurt so badly that she had to force herself to speak without screaming or crying. "Vi, please refrain from doing that." He held his ground and said nothing.

Fear. That's all she felt at that moment. Her fingers twitched near her yo-yo that laid upon her hip. She could run. Her tear filled eyes stared along Su-Hans expression. He furrowed his brows in anger and disappointment. But he would find her. He knows her true identity under the mask. And now that the villain knows. Despite her resistance, she knew she had to face the truth. She said the words that she desperately wanted to avoid saying when her heart was clenching as hard as a water balloon just before its to be thrown against a wall.

"Tikki, spots off." She mumbled it below her breath while frowning and casting a dejected look down at the ground below her. She felt defeated and alone. A cold chill breezed along her body as the trickling bubble spotted magic swarmed and left her body.

Viperion clenched his eyelids more quickly than a hummingbird can flap its wings out of sheer habit. As he stood there, his eyes opened very gradually as he observed the appearance of his companion with a very wide expression. A familiar face that he had just seen for a moment not too long ago stood before him. It seemed as though the world was getting smaller and smaller around him as he realized that the individuals who were a part of his hero life were closer to him than he had previously believed.

Her eyes were a melancholy sky blue that were painted with suffering of pain. Zoe looked up at him with eyes that were suffering from betrayal but also tinged with a trace of interest. Tikki's little red grape sized body materialized next to her like a floating sparkly wisp. Her eyes stared confused. "Su-Han, maybe we can talk about this."

Su-Han raised a hand to silence the little Kwami.

Tikki's mouth shut quickly as her expression shifted back to Zoe. "You were an amazing holder. Don't forget that. And an amazing friend." Tikki whispered.

Zoë's eyes flooded with streams of tears. Her world shattered with those words. Hearing them made her both happy but it broke her. She slowly reached for her earrings. "Thank you, Tikki. I'm going to miss you." She expressed this as the Kwami disappeared before her very eyes at the same instant that her earring was pulled from her lobe. She kissed the jewels after removing the other.

Her look changed to one of anger as she pushed the jewels into Viperion's hand. She had the feeling that he had betrayed her because he made no attempt to defend her.

Viperion fixed his gaze upon the jewels in front of him. The magical stones shifted in tandem with the moonlight, and sparkles engrained deep inside the scarlet could be seen shimmering ever-so-slightly. His heart raced fast as he went to speak. As he spoke those words, Zoe was taken aback, and she snapped her head back up to look at him.

"Sass, Scales Rest," he says.

Electric lights encircled his torso and snaked in a zigzag pattern along his angular, mesomorphic frame. She was aware of his attire from before, yet he proceeded to do something that she did not anticipate him to do. As fast as he could, he pulled the cheap mask with a superhero theme off of his face and exposing his identity. She did not know this man but her heart stopped finally seeing the face of someone she fell for many times. "What are you doing?!" As she and Su-Han realized what had just taken place, both of them let out shocked gasps. Because the event occurred so suddenly, there was no time for them to react. Sass floated to Lukas side as he tried to read his master's face. "Luka?" He asked. Zoe's eyes widened as she took in his appearance, and she quickly averted her gaze when she recognized his name. Was this the man Marinette spoke of earlier?

Luka took a drawn-out breath in and out. "I'm sorry Sass, you will understand why I am doing this." He said as he glanced at the little snake. "Be patient." He whispered. Sass stared after him as he reached for his Miraculous. They both closed their eyes with acceptance and Sass was gone. When Luka placed his jewelry in the palm with Zoes, Su-Han stood there in a state of mortification and astonishment. "Have fun finding our replacements now." He stated as he extended his hand out to Su-Han to take the jewels back. Luka was rather furious. Even though he hadn't found a suitable substitute for Chat Noir yet, Su-Han was now attempting to steal Ruby away from him. By doing this, he was causing him harm; it was unethical. When Luka placed the gems into Su-Han's outstretched hand, Su-Han sneered at him.

"You are making a foolish error child." He stated.

"No, you are," Luka said firmly. "Stuff happens and you're punishing her for something out of her control. That's not right. Well, now you get to handle something out of your control."

Luka's glare remained fixed on Su-Han as he studied the jewels for a moment before the man pulled his hand behind his back. He did not speak another word before leaping away like the monk that he was with such a strong yet elegant leap.

As Luka's legs collapsed, his heart sank to its lowest point. When he fell to the earth, he gasped for air as the world continued to spin around him. "Vi! Why would you do that?!" Zoe questioned as she raced to his side and lightly touched his shoulder as she did so. Luka was at a complete loss for what to say. Even he couldn't believe that he had done it to himself. He tried his best to hold back the tears as he dug his fist into the earth and pushed himself up right.

"There is a huge threat at stake in Paris," he started. "I firmly stand for what I said before, the fault wasn't entirely yours. But him taking you away from me, doesn't just mean you'd be alone, I'd be all alone as well. And it's not right for us both to be alone with all the hard work we have put into protecting all of Paris." He looked at her. "We may not always get along, but it's not right."

Zoe was captivated by his appearance as she noticed it more clearly now that he was facing the moonlight. She quickly averted her gaze as the first signs of a flush began to appear on her cheeks. He was very handsome. Her eyes grew firm when she thought back for a brief moment. "I thought I heard you whisper to Sass to be patient. What did you mean?"

The pause shown by Luka drew her attention to him, and she saw that his eyes were fixed on the city below. He didn't want to jinx anything. It was a hunch, but he had a feeling they were crosspaths again. "I trust you, we have worked hard together, we make mistakes but our team is strong because we work so well together. You just have to trust me on this, please." he stated as he looked down to his wrist, he stared at the paler skin that had been hiding under the wrist from lack of sun exposure. Her frown formed on her face now shifted to a small smile. "You gave up your Miraculous, for me, I trust you one-hundred percent." she held her fist up.

His eyes studied her fist as a chuckle cracked through his lips as a roll of his eyes happened. He took a step back as he pressed his fist to hers. "Pound it." Words they had not said in almost what felt like forever. His cracked smile faded as he looked to his left at the empty spot. He imagined Chat Noir standing there for a brief moment and he then was gone.

They walked next to each other in silence as they made their way down the dark and still raining street. Their turned expressions hid their faces from the rain and each other. Zoe followed slightly behind as she watched the swaying of his broad shoulders shift with the movements of his walking. She looked down to his thick combats that were upon his feet as the chains jingled with his steps. She had often wondered what Viperion would look like outside his costume but this wasn't what she expected. She adjusted her hood as she reached into her hoodie as her phone vibrated lightly. Her eyes stared down at the phone and stopped in her tracks. It was Marinette messaging her. Are you okay? Zoe didn't realize she had a few messages and missed calls from Marinette in the last twenty minutes. Hey you okay? Where are you? Zoe please answer! Zoe frowned a tad from her friends' panicked messaging. Zoe sent. I'm fine. Are you?

She knew from being Rubybug that Marinette wasn't not okay. Her hands clung to the phone as she watched her phone type away. She could tell that Marinette was hurt and possibly traumatized by this experience. Alyas words were very hurtful for being Marinette's best friend. Zoe didn't know how to feel about the situation. Her being a hero. She knew people could become confused on their emotions after an attack but the victims of the attack aren't just the corrupted villains. It's the civilians in the crossfire.

Zoe looked ahead of her as Luka had kept walking a good distance ahead but he had stopped and looked back at her. She walked over to him as she filled in the empty space. "It's, uh, Marinette." she spoke before he could ask. She saw the shift look in his eyes from sadness to a sparkle but then quickly changed to sadness once more as his eyes averted from her. She stared upon his clenching jaw. She could tell he was fighting something off and wanted to say something as his foot tapped nervously. "Soo, your the Luka Marinette was talking about~" she forced a smirk. Luka blinked and huffed as he turned fully from her and began to walk away. She ran after him with an annoyed 'hey'. His hands shoved in his jean pockets as turned a sharp corner around the buildings.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." Zoe hollered after him. "If you want, I can put a nice word in for you." He scuffed annoyed as he continued to walk along the street as the rain continued to fall along his shoulders. Zoe recoiled as a car light flashed from behind her, and the tire skidded, striking a puddle close by as water spilled all over Luka's body. This caused her to jerk her body back.

Both of them came to a complete halt as they watched the vehicle continue to go forward and then vanish down the road. Luka would be mad but at that moment he was feeling so many emotions directed toward other reasons. So much was running through his head all at once.

He looked as he approached his parked motorcycle parked along the curb. He opened his storage box on the back and unbuttoned his vest and placed it inside the box before he pulled his grey oversized Metallica hoodie out. The fuzzy inside lining felt odd against his wet skin and soaked tanktop. He zipped the hoodie up and took the semi warmth in as a cold chill went down his spine. He didn't have time to think about his cold wet body, he didn't have time to entertain his lost puppy of a partner, he didn't have time to think about-

As he pulled his arms through the dry jacket, his eyes glanced up the street and parked a few yards away he saw something familiar. A pink bike, covered in flower stickers and other fancy etches.

Marinette.

Zoe and Luka noticed the bike at the same time and in unison they looked up the entry walkway toward the club and saw a small mouse figure clinging to her damp wet body as she was reproaching the curb with her eyes glued to her phone. "Marinette?" Zoe voiced with concern as she ran over to her friend who snapped her head to her. "Zoe!" Marinette cried as they interlocked hands and hugged tightly. "You're okay, thank goodness." She sniffled. Luka looked away from her tiny figure as he reached for his helmet. He didn't know if it was the rain or if she had been crying but her makeup was water falling down her cheeks. A lump in his throat was caught. "I was so worried when you didn't respond right away and-" Marinette stopped and looked to the figure behind Zoe as he placed a helmet over his head. She stared along and noticed the bike he was hovering over. She knew that bike.

"Luka?" She called out. Zoe looked back to him as he tilted his helmet head toward them as he gathered himself onto his bike. His hands gripping the handles firmly as Marinette approached him. His eyes glanced at the corner of his visor to her and his stomach churned seeing her sad expression. She held Zoes hand firmly. "What are you doing here?" She asked. He tapped his fingers along the gripping pads of the handles as he wasn't sure if he should answer and if he did, what should he say. He hated lying though, especially what she dealt with that night. Even though Luka wasn't suppose to know. "I was at this Club, got swept up by the Akuma attack, came to retrieve my bike."

Marinette starred along his figure and then looked over to Zoe with the look of do-you-know-him?. "We ran into each other after everything was fixed, he was walking me back to get my car, since, I got caught up in the attack too." Zoe told with a horrible acting voice and a fake laugh. Luka rolled his eyes, she was not good at acting today. Luka reached into his phannypack to retrieve his key to his bike as he quickly zipped it back up trying to ignore the lonely empty lacking Kwami space that was inside. "Yepp, you made it back, so I'm going to bounce." He stated as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Marinette stared along his locks that poked from underneath. His hair was a lot more vivid then she remembered. She stared and then blinked as Zoe interrupted her thought process. "Thanks Luke." Zoe forced a fake name to make it seem they weren't acquainted. "Luka." Both Luka and Marinette said in unison.

Luka put his key into the bike when Marinette spoke. "H-hey," she stopped him. He didn't look at her but stopped. Her voice sounded so soft with such hurt and loneliness. "Thanks for watching over Zoe. It means a lot to me." She whispered. Luka didn't answer but just nodded.

He went to start the bike again when she stopped him again. "Hey, Luka, I don't know what's wrong, but hey, how about we three go back to my place and get some hot chocolate." She started. Luka blinked and quickly looked to her. "I…" he stopped as he thought of Atlas's words. "Can't. I really need to get my bike out of the rain." He whispered as he turned away from her. Marinette frowned as Zoe stared between them. Her eyes scanned the ground and she inhaled hard before she stepped over to Luka. "Okay, how about we go to your place?" She said forcefully. Luka astonished stared at her. "You got hot chocolate ya?" She questioned.

"Zoe, I don't think that's a good idea." Luka growled.

"I didn't hear a no." She sung. Marinette blinked as Zoe put her arm around Marinette. "We follow you to your place, get your bike out of the rain and we all make hot chocolate."

Lukas cheeks were visibly pink as he scuffed his eyes away. "What's the matter? Never had a girl over before?" Zoe egged him on.

"Of course I have! Lots of girls!" He stopped and looked to Marinette. "I mean, not lots of girl, just some, maybe 3 or 4, but that doesn't matter, I don't even have hot chocolate, I only have tea." He snapped.

"I could go for some tea." Zoe shrugged. "Marinette? I think after today, we are due for some tea right?" Marinette stared questioningly at her friend. "Just say yes."

"Uh, s-sure." Marinette commented.

"No." He said firmly. His eyes glared at them but then softened along Marinette's soaked body and distressed makeup. "It's, really late." He sighed as he looked as he pulled his phone out. "It's 2 in the morning. And a lot has happened." He frowned as he stared down at his wrist. He couldn't dare utter he lost his best friend today because of an impulse move. Marinette frowned. "I understand." She spoke softly. He wasn't wrong, a lot did happen. She was on the edge of falling over. "Thank you again. Maybe another time."

"Yea, rain check." He spoke. Marinette giggled suddenly. "Check." She said as she check marked the air as the rain continued to sprinkle around them. Luka couldn't help but chuckle toward her. "I'll see you at work tomorrow then." She spoke.

"Yea, see you tomorrow." He started. She started to turn away but Luka sighed hating seeing her leave. He was a hero and had to fight his urges to pursue after her. He stared down at his lack of a magically jeweled wrist. He wasn't a hero though right now? He had to. He wanted to. When an opportunity knocks, you have to take it. Right?

"You want to get coffee tomorrow before work?" He blurted out suddenly. "I-I-I have to stop by my work to drop off my equipment for the showing tomorrow night. I can get you a coffee or meet you there." He stopped. "Well, I guess it is tomorrow- already. So-in a few hours I guess is the correct turn of phrase."

Marinette turned and smiled. "Uh, sure, I can meet you there. I think we will definitely need a coffee." She giggled.

He smiled.

"Music nights off tonight." His words hit hard like a punch to the gut.

Luka had stopped by at the shop early that morning to drop his guitar and laptop off for the showing that night. Both anger and disappointment painted on Lukas face. He pulled his ear bud out from his left lobe in disbelief as if he heard wrong. He was tired. He didn't sleep from the feeling of loneliness of his empty home of lacking one floating Kwami, to when he did manage to fall asleep, the nightmares began again.

"What do you mean?" Luka questioned. Adjusting his strap along his chest to his guitar case he walked around the bar counter to face his boss that just laid a disappointing news mic drop. His boss looked at him with an annoyed expression, he knew this was coming. "Sorry, but Kristin and both cooks called in, need you at the bar tonight. While Zeke and I cover the kitchen."

"What? Why did Kristin call in?"

"I guess the Akuma attack last night really shook her up." He sat two cold brews on the counter in a to-go carrier. "Here's your drinks."

"We all had to deal with that shit last night, and I'm still working both my jobs." He glared as he sat his silver laptop down that was covered in old band stickers that were on the urge to peeling off or completely wearing off; AC/DC, Korn, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Seether and even Paramore and Evanescence. He picked up the drinks as someone went to grab them thinking they were either theirs or trying to get a freebie. Luka scuffed toward them.

"Last night got pretty nasty here when the attack happened. She was by herself without you and Zeke here." Austin turned as he avoided eye contact with Luka as he continued to help customers for the morning shift. He handed a expresso to a lady that was lowkey judging Lukas appearance like he was a vampire. Luka glared at her. "What? Take a picture. Don't worry, I do show up on film." He bit. She sneered her nose to the sky as she turned. Luka was used to people staring at him in such a way like he was some sort of creature of the night but being the city of fashion, you think people would get a clue. "Luka, you can't talk to people like that."

"What, I'm not on the clock." He glared as he rose his arms up with a shrug. Austin sighed. Luka grumbled under his breath, feeling partially guilty that Kristin was so disturbed by the incident last night, but this was the only thing that had motivated Luka the previous several days, so of course he was upset. He needed tonight to vent his feelings. "Come on man, can't your wife come and help work the kitchen? She's done that before."

"Out of town visiting her sister, sorry." Austin spoke as he turned to the next customer. "I'll be right with you."

Luka groaned loudly in frustration as he noticed his boss approaching him from behind the bar counter. Austin extended one arm, directing him to the door, while the other grabbed his laptop and pressed it against Lukas' chest. "I don't have time to negotiate with you, you will have to wait for the gig next week to swoon the girls with your music lineup and beautiful voice." With his now free hand, he opened the swinging door as a customer walked through. "Besides, you look like you need some sleep anyways. We will see you tonight for work."

"I'm meeting someone here."

Austin stopped in his tracks. "Someone?" He stared over Lukas shoulder. Luka shifted his shoulder as the guitar strap started to fall. "Yea." Luka said with annoyance. "Now I got to jumble all this shit to my other job." He shimmied his shoulders around to fix the strap while his hands were full of his laptop and the coffee holder. Austin sighed and looked back at the line waiting for their orders to be taken. "Okay, look, you can put your stuff in my office, laptop can go in my desk, the key is under the keyboard. But you have to take the shit home until next week after work. Got it."

Luka was still annoyed by the cancellation but smirked. "Fine." He spoke as he walked across the room. "Watch my drinks, make sure no crack head takes them or roofies them."

Luka walked through the kitchen that was quiet without the hustle and bustle of the chefs cooking greasy and unhealthy food. He wasn't use to walking through the kitchen in the morning unless he was picking up his check. The joint only served coffee in the morning and occasionally local desserts from bakeries in the area but the kitchen was more lively at night. He made his way across the checkered tile flooring and through a faded green painted metal door that sat on the wall between the freezer doorway and the cleaning closet.

Austin's Office. A sign printed and laminated was duck taped poorly leveled on the metal.

Luka walked in to the smell of faded cigar smoke that smelled almost of musky vanilla. It vaguely reminded Luka of the cigars his late great grandpa use to smoke when he was little. Him and Juleka called him Pa. That was really the only memory he had of him besides him giving Luka a cheap keyboard piano from the dollar store for Christmas three years in a row and along with watching Barney with Juleka when they were 3 in front of his old vcr set. Juleka use to hint to their Pa that she wanted his marble collection that he kept in those big empty water jugs. Juleka use to believe that marbles were expensive like gold doubloons on a pirate ship.

Luka wondered what happened to those marbles after his Pa passed away. He bet those marbles might of been worth something now. Or maybe not.

The memory made him smile as the loud sound of the wonky overhead fan blared loudly. The metal fan was wedged in the ceiling. The fan clunked like it was slightly off the router and would fall right through the metal cage that guarded it from falling on an unsuspecting victim that stood below. And from where he sat. Austin would be that person. He often turned the fan on to get some cool air in the tiny office and also did it to circulate the cigar smoke out.

Luka propped his guitar case in the opposite corner of the desk where a single chair sat for interviews that had not happened since Luka was hired and walked around the hard wood desk that was lined with a sea of papers. His fingers glided along to find the keyboard and huffed when he lifted it up to find no key under. He scrunched his brows as he flipped a few papers over.

No key.

Turning around he saw the safe that all the checks would be placed in during pay period. He of course didn't know the combination. Ontop was a paper slot file that was half broken as one of the plastic shelves caved into the other. The papers were covered in a bit of dust as it had not been messed with since the shit broke. Hope there weren't any important bills in it. He looked on the shelves of the book shelf that was lined with various books. Luka half believed he put books there to make him feel smart to others but the 25 cent stickers on some of the spines made him believe he just bought them at a thrift store and the line of dust on the shelf showed nothing had been touched since they were placed there.

He turned around in the tiny space and glared as he didn't have much to look at in the small room. No key was clearly in plain sight.

He sat down at his chair and leaned back toward the desk and one by one he picked up the papers and stacked them neatly into his palms. He probably missed it somewhere in the cesspool of bills and fliers.

"Getting cozy?" He heard Austin call as he entered the kitchen. Luka looked up to him as he was holding a bag of coffee beans he retrieved from the stack of boxes near the door. Luka leaned back in the chair and threw his hands up in defeat. "Your key isn't here bro."

Austin thought and then realized as he shifted the bean bag in his arms and reached into his pocket. "Shit, forgot, I still had it." He tossed the key to Luka who quickly unlocked the drawer and placed his laptop inside amongst miscellaneous folders, Cliff protein bars and hidden Fruit Punch Rockstar Energy Drinks. "Put the key under the board and close the office up. I think your girl friend is waiting for you." He smirked as he turned away. His head snapped upright like a Pez head. "She's not my girlfriend." Luka stated as he quickly got up and shut the door to his office.

"You met her at the club you and Zeke went to last night?" His stare of confusion made Austin chuckle with a roll of his eyes. "Zeke told me."

Luka pondered if he should tell him she was or wasn't. Smart move was to deny anything. "Uh, no, she's from the floral shop."

It was probably for the best. If Marinette got a whiff of Luka being there with a mysterious girl in a ladybug mask, it was game over. She would know he was Viperion. He thought. Would that be so bad though? Would she keep the secret? Would she fall for him as Luka if she knew he was a superhero? The word was echoed his mind.

"That's the girl you've been moody over?" Again Lukas look was confused and then a glare as Austin uttered the words again. "Zeke."

"God, going to kill that man, telling everyone my life stories."

"Strike out?"

"An Akuma attack full of zombie like possessed people can be known to kill the mood, ya know."

"Eh, I guess," he spoke as he pushed the door open with his back. "It's good to see a pep in your step though."

Luka couldn't help but glare as he felt it was an embarrassment jab. He was the loner and everyone always poked at him for it. He didn't care but it got old, fast. And now everyone is pawning for information about his every waking minute. His glare faded seeing Marinette sitting along one of the small stool tables as she glanced along her phone and then to the front door. She was waiting. For him.

A blush formed on his cheeks as he thought of the adrenaline and lust filled energy that had circled them last night. She was so shy at first but like a switch, she changed into something new. She was like her own creature of the night. Like a moth to a flame. He was attracted to her and wanted to get closer.

He wanted to see that side of her again.

Luka was so confused on what it was about her. As Mouse, she was shy and sweet like a sweet sugar candy pixie stick that he wanted but wasn't allowed to have. As Ladybug, she was like a sweet brown sugar coconut syrup that should be drizzled on a German chocolate cake destined to be devoured but instead it trickled down his throat and the taste of her still lingered on his tongue. A sugar rush that he couldn't fight and wanted more. But seeing a traumatized Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Seeing her as a person that was afraid and had feelings. He was afraid to touch her, afraid to hurt her but he also wanted to hold her and make everything all better.

A noise he didn't know he could make left his lips as she looked toward him and smiled with a tiny wave. Luka inhaled shakily as he walked to the counter and grabbed the cold brews that waited for him. He grabbed one cup, pulling it from the holder and then the other as he tried to shake the cardboard holder from the bottom. He glared as it wouldn't come loose. He shook it slightly more vigorously before a presence appeared to his side.

"Morning" a voice chimed. The smell of mint and coconut cut through the coffee grinds. He turned toward her as the cardboard holder fell to the ground. "Uh, hey, hhhhows it going?" He uttered awkwardly. She rose a brow as she reached to the ground and grabbed the holder. "Good, a bit tired. This place is pretty cool." She states as she looked around. Luka looked along her body as she looked away.

She was wearing a layered black dress and black tattered leggings and black combats popping from underneath. On top she wore a ripped up fishnet like shawl that had black and white stripes. It shimmered with glitter sparkles embedded in the thread and it slipped slightly off her right shoulder. Her hair was pulled up in its cute two mouse ear buns. Lips, raven red black. She looked like a goth model that should be on a cover of Goth Chik issue.

Luka would buy that in a heart beat.

Her eyes looked to him as she sat the cardboard holder on the counter. Her blue eyes, pierced his heart. They read a mixture of emotions; love, sadness and even lust. He gulped and quickly extended his arms toward her in a jerk motion. She flinched back and rose a brow. She giggled before she took the coffee. Was this how he handed coffee to everyone, or just me? She wondered.

"Uh, thank you, are you okay? You look tired." She spoke as she took a small sip. Luka could feel Austin glancing over at them with curiosity. Luka laid his hand on the back part of her shoulder as he gently pushed her away from the counter and toward a table. "Yea, I'm fine. Didn't sleep much."

Marinette turned as she sat elegantly on the stool. "We didn't have to do this."

"Nah, it's fine. I needed coffee and besides. Getting my energy back now that you're here." He spoke without thinking. Marinette blinked and stared at him as he took a sip of his beverage. She lowered her head and smiled sweetly into her cup. Luka was an intriguing character she had to admit. She was at a loss to understand his character. Curiosity drove her toward him. He was charming and kind, awkward and endearing all at the same time. But she couldn't shake the notion that something about him today was both mysterious and familiar. She pondered along his face at what he was thinking of in that moment as he was avoiding eye contact. Her eyes drifted along his body. He was wearing a loose black T-shirt but the sleeves were a bit shorter than the average, so a bit of his arms were showing. She stared at his tattoos along his arms. Again. Familiar she felt. Did she see him with tattoos before or is she misremembering?

His jeans were both tight along his body but very bagging in some areas. The pants rippled as they were attempted to be tucked into his large dark brown work man boots. She'd only ever seen him wearing his combats before, she was kind of disappointed to see him wearing work boots. It kind of took away from his dark aesthetic that she thought was rather attractive on him. His hair was a tad messy like he had just rolled out of bed and just brushed it back with his hands. She would bet that's what he did from the look of tired in his eyes. His eyes looked to her as they caught her staring. He smiled. Her heart jumped suddenly at his smile.

His smile was very familiar that it made her suddenly feel nervous that her cheeks flushed pink as she pushed a hair strand behind her ear as she looked about the room at the cream colored walls and brown trimming. "So, this is where you are playing tonight?" She questioned. Her eyes caught the tiny stage near the corner of the room. It was so small that she wasn't sure a band of 4 could stand up there. He was silent which made her look to him. His eyes were shifted toward the floor as he inhaled slowly through his teeth. "It got canceled for tonight."

"Oh, no, I'm sorry. I was looking forward to hearing you play." She told. Luka quickly looked to her. His eyes from her view seemed to sparkle with excitement.

"Oh, so you were coming?" He asked, his heart pumped slowly as his stomach churned but in a good way. Time seemed to slow around him.

"Yea, didn't I say I was?" She questioned. He shook his head. He wanted to bring up that he thought she had a date with Adrien but it felt a bit of a touchy subject after last night. "Oh, sorry, yea, I was going to stop by and hear a few songs. That's a bummer you aren't playing tonight."

"It's fine, I guess it gives me time to think over some of the songs in my line up." He hadn't gotten confirmation she was going, so hearing her say she did plan on coming made a nonexistent tail want to wag as he smirked a bit wider.

"You taking requests?" She asked as she leaned into his space. He blushed as the smirk stayed. "Song requests? Or a different type of request?" He said in a teasing tone. "I'll make an expectation for you." She blushed and sat up right. "Kidding." He laughed as he leaned back and sipped his coffee. She rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her own. The blush lingered on her face as her ears heated up. "I try not to, do what's on the list, but I can think it over." He winked, he couldn't help flirting with her, what was wrong with him?

He looked along the table as he tried to see if life instructions were written in the cheap resin sealant to why he was such an awkward flirt bag all of a sudden. If it was there, he couldn't read it. He loved seeing her get flustered and blush, it was quite exciting. Part of him wanted to somehow trigger that flirty girl last night.

She couldn't help but giggle like a little bell. Just like before it sent electricity through his blood and bones. God he loved that. However her pink face suddenly dropped white as her eyes caught something in the doorway. She quickly looked away. He stared confused and then a name he had not heard in forever cut through the air like a high pitched stuck up serrated knife. "Lu-Lu!"

Fuck, he wanted to die, right then, right now. He did not move or motion even in the direction before a warm colored figure entered his sight. Lila Rossi. Of all people to show up, especially after last night, why did it have to be her? He looked quickly to Marinette as she turned toward the table as if the table would protect her as she hid herself into a long unnecessary sip into her drink. She was white as a ghost as her eyes looked like they shimmered with a layer of tears. He looked back to Lila as her eyes stared at him but her body was turned toward Marinette. Her slender fingers gripped together in each of her hands as it seemed to try to pose all cute like.

It wasn't.

"Oh my gawd, you come here now? That is so crazy we go to the same shop." She spoke with a forced happy tone. Fuck, he totally forgot she had mentioned she did come her every morning. She didn't lie about that one? Go figure. He rubbed his hand along his face as he rested his elbow along the table. His fingers opened like he parted blinds in a window to peek through at Marinette. He totally fucked up. He invited Marinette here to basically be forcefully greeted in the presence of a person that triggered a good part of her friend's attack last night. As if she knew by hers and Lukas body language. She looked at Marinette. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there Mari!" She totally did. "Wow, so weird to see you two, here, together."

Luka rolled his eyes as he dropped his hand from his face. "Lila, her and I work together. It's not that shocking."

"Well, what about Rose and Juleka, are they going to be here? You did invite them, right?" She looked around as if Rose and Juleka would walked through the door any second. Even though she very much could tell they weren't going to.

He glared, he hated her trying to pry information but she was good at finding holes that shouldn't even be there. "They do have to open the store before we get there, now do you mind?" He glared.

"Oh don't worry, I won't be long, just getting my regular caramel frappe." She giggled. "Like I told you before that I come here every morning, this place is amazing."

She was so good it was scary. But she wasn't that good when others knew she was lying.

Marinette glanced toward Luka almost like she had been betrayed. Her heart sank as did his. Did he do that on purpose? Marinette wondered as she couldn't help but shift away in her seat. Luka bit his inner lip as he stared daggers at Lila. She was clearly trying to make the air sour between him and Marinette. Was it jealousy or was it something else? It didn't matter, he wasn't going down without a fight. "No, sorry, I thought you were lying, because, well, they don't serve frappes here." He smirked as he sipped his drink feeling like a winner. Marinette glanced through her lashes at him and then to Lila who was racking her head around now.

"Oh, well, I know the owner here, she makes one for me every now and again. Only when she isn't busy."

"Oh, you mean, my boss? Him over there?" Luka pointed. Lilas jaw shifted as she looked over to the counter to Austin who was still helping customers. She looked back toward them and smiled. "Maybe I'm thinking of another shop I go to." She glared. "I try and spread my business to all the mom and pop shops, you know."

"Very chartable of you." Luka stated as he swirled the coldbrew in his fingers. Marinette couldn't help but giggle toward his comment which made him and Lila look to her. He smiled. Lila didn't. Marinette gulped her giggle down as she sunk in her seat as she tried to force her smile away but the corners of her lips stayed a tad up right. Luka looked to Lila who looked back at him, but instead of a face of defeat, she was smiling. "You work here?"

He grumbled. Oops.

"Yea, I work here, only some nights at the bar."

"You play?"

"Sometimes."

"I'm sure your plays for Nickelback and Ed Sheeran on your guitar playing is good for this tame crowd."

Marinette glared toward Lila. She felt she was trying to insult him somehow. Marinette didn't mind some of Nickelback's music but if Lila who is suppose to know Luka better then Marinette. Maybe he didn't care for them. Which means that was a jab.

"Lila, can you please leave us be, we kind of want to enjoy our drinks before work." He glared.

"Coffee beans are already bitter as it is, don't need you making it worse." A voice chimed in. He looked to Marinette who sat up right and glared toward Lila. Lila glared back. He chuckled in his drink as he took another sip. His smirk made butterflies flutter in Marinette's stomach. She got a sense of confidence suddenly. "He happens to be playing his own lineup of rock music next week."

Not good. Luka mentally groaned in his head as Lilas posture shifted in a bent over stand as she leaned into Marinette's space. "Oh he is?" She smirked. "What day?"

Marinette realized her mistake as she started to sink back down into her chair. "F-friday."

There was a

strange feeling

that shifted

over Luka that

caused his skin

to crawl.

His eyes looked around like he was watching his body move on it's own and the world slowed down. It felt like he had lived this moment before but he knew he had not. Deja vu. He muttered in his head.

"Oh, that's too bad, he was supposed to play at a bat mitzvah to make up for his lateness the other day." She smirked. Luka snapped his head toward her. It wasn't next week, was it?

"It's not next week, you said next month. The invite said November. It's now October."

"No, I'm pretty sure the invite said October." She shrugged with a smirk on her face. "Here, I have the event in my phone planner." She pulled her phone out as she scrolled through. Luka looked to Marinette and then to Lila as she hummed to herself. "Sorry, so many events going on, so busy with work and all." She giggled. Info Luka didn't care to hear. "Ah yes, here." She angled the phone over to him. He stared.

"You had to have altered it."

"Check the invite, it says October." She smiled as she put her phone away. "Well, it's been so fun, but I better get my cold brew." She stated as she looked down at their drinks before she tussled her short locks before she sharply turned away. Marinette frowned as she felt her blood pumping again.

"I'm sorry." She stated. Feeling like she just gave ammo to an enemy. Luka continued to glare along Lila; he didn't trust her, she was up to something. Marinette noticed and half smiled. It was nice to see someone wasn't on the side of Lila for once. She however was curious to what happened between them. "So, why-" she stopped.

"It's fine, how about we go." He said as he took her hand into his. Marinette blushed as her blood got hot from his soft yet somehow firm touch as he pulled her from behind. Lila turned as she watched the two leave. Her emerald eyes flashed a wicked glare across the two of them and their holding hands. She tapped her index to her jaw as she thought. Reached into her shoulder purse as the line moved, she looked to Austin and smiled. "Can I have a caramel frappe by chance?"

Austin rose a brow as he pointed to the small menu of morning drinks they served. Hot coffee, espresso, cold brews and ice coffee.

"Your Austin Delaray, correct. It's for my business partner. Adrien Agreste." She smiled as she put her phone to her ear. She pulled a letter out suddenly out of nowhere and slid it along the counter. "I think you might be interested in this."

Luka was angry as he stormed out of the shop. Blood boiling to the levels that he could probably cook an egg on his skin. Lila Rossi always struck a nerve. Why was he seeing her all of a sudden everywhere? He successfully avoided her for almost three years. Of course he saw her from time to time but was able to dodge her, no problem. Now he can't seem to shake her like she is a pesky flea in his dog of a world.

He was so mad that he didn't realize he was tugging a little mouse along. He looked back with an apologetic smile and the awkward scratch of the back of his head. "Sorry." He stated. He looked down realizing he was holding her hand. It felt, nice, her hand was so small in his. He slowly let go and tried to shrug the touch off like it was nothing.

But Marinette couldn't shake the touch off. His hand was warm and strong. As it left her presence, she had this feeling she felt almost naked and unprotected. She hid her arms under her shawl as she smiled softly. "It's okay." She responded.

Luka had walked a bit up the road to where he had parked on the crowded street. "Where did you park?" He asked as he looked for her blindingly pink scooter. She blinked and awkwardly laughed. "Uh, I walked. I was in such a hurry inside last night. I left the key in the ignition in our garage and blew the battery straight into the grave." She sighed. "Won't be able to get a new battery until I get paid next week. So I'll be walking." She shrugged. "Parents offered to replace it or drive me, but I have to be ready for the outside world eventually. So I'm taking care of it. It kind of blew into my plans on saving for a deposit on an apartment. Oh well."

"I would have taken the free battery." He chuckled as he stared over at his bike. "Want a ride?"

She blushed a deeper red, a red that actually made Luka concerned. Was she getting sick? Marinette stood frozen in her spot as she stared along the bike and every thought passed her mind. She was going to die. What if she fell off? What if the bike tips over? Her parents would kill her? And then she blinked back to earth as his hand grazed hers as he took her drink and turned away from her. He placed it in a holder at the back of his bike within a tiny box case. He wasn't taking no. The question wasn't even a question was it?

Different thoughts passed over her mind now as he straddled over his bike and his jean pants grew tighter around his bending figure.

She couldn't help but lick her dry bottom lip and then continued to bite it. His muscles flexed as he turned the motorcycle on and revved his throttle, looking the bike over up and down.

Different dirty thoughts.

The engine blasting loudly caused Marinette to jump and squeak, even though you couldn't hear it.

She'd have to hold onto him, tightly. She'd have to put every ounce of trust into this man to get from point A to point B. She looked down, she was wearing a dress, even she knew riding her scooter with a dress was hard, having to basically rub pelvic to the tailbone.

She turned redder as she turned away from him to hide her steaming hot face. Too close for comfort. Too close for any type of feeling in the book!

Different and perverted thoughts that she should go to jail for thinking!

She turned slowly as he held out his helmet to her. "Come on Mouse, what are you, scared for something new and exciting~" He said almost seductively, his blue eyes staring along her body like she was everything. He had nothing left to lose. He was feeling freedom on his body that had not been there in some time. The only time he felt free was during their dance last night. He wanted that feeling again and this time to last a little bit longer.

Her stomach fluttered. She stared at the helmet. After the hell fire that was last night, and the disappointment that was her goodbyes to not just her long time best friend but to a certain sexy hero figure. This wasn't just a simple ride on a motorcycle to her.

This felt like a turning point.

Was she ready? Did she dare plunge into the cold bath into the unknown? Did she dare take the risk? Was she ready to say goodbye to a tame lifestyle and hello to an exciting one?