Chapter Ten: The Highlands

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London was definitely different than Paris. Adrien felt a little overwhelmed by the massive buildings, the overcast sky, and crowded streets. He was crammed into the back of a private SUV with his travel trunk in the back. He sat in the middle of the back bench seat with Luka on one side and Chloe on the other, Marinette sat in the front passenger seat. The SUV had brought them to the train station first so they could load store their things for the trip to Scotland. Then they started on the drive to the boarding school.

Marinette and Luka were planning to explore the public part of the campus while Adrien and Chloe checked into their respective dorms. It had been with a huge wave of relief that Adrien discovered that his roommate would be his cousin, Felix.

"Are you sure you'll be okay, wandering the campus?" Adrien asked. "I can see about getting you a guest pass to the dorms."

"Marinette wouldn't be allowed into the boys' dorm," Chloe argued primly. "And I'm not inviting her to my dorm."

"We're fine, Adrien. We'll mostly stick close to the fountains. My dad told me that there's a band performing there," Luka said. "Come find us and we'll head out from there."

Chloe looped her arm through Adrien's once they checked in with the registrar. "Those two are just too much," she hissed.

"Chloe, I have a headache. Can you not talk," Adrien groaned. He didn't actually have a headache, but her voice was grating on his nerves. He thought she might be okay for a while, they had gotten along fine on the plane right. But as soon as they left the private airfield, she'd flipped a switch and was her usual disgruntled self. "You should try to reach out to Kagami. She was transferring here."

"I'm not friends with Kagami," Chloe huffed.

"Then you'll need to make friends, Chloe. Your dad won't be able to bully people into bending towards your will. And you cannot always cling to me," Adrien warned. "You'll attract people to you by being nice and not mean. And why were you flirting with Luka?"

"I thought you didn't want to talk to me," Chloe countered. "Why are you being mean to me?"

"I'm not being mean. I'm …..Never mind," Adrien grumbled. He was worried about his dad. He was worried about how he was supposed to protect Paris while he was living in London. And he was worried about how Luka was acting around Ladybug when he was supposed to be with Marinette. And he was worried about his own confusing feelings for Luka and was worried he was losing Ladybug at the same time.

He really hoped their trip up north would offer him the clarity he so needed.

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The four teens had a private train car for the ten hour ride from London to Inverness. Chloe had flirted relentlessly with Luka, Adrien stared at the window looking lost, and Marinette tried hard not to bite her nails. Instead, she drew in her journal page after page of costume ideas of Kitty Section. Then she drew a sketch of Egyptian themed versions Ladybug, Viperion, and Chat Noir. Nate hadn't quite finished the comic book he and Marc were working on for her, but she expected it to be done later that summer.

She was sitting next to Luka, his hand was resting flat over her thigh. It was warm and made her belly flutter. Yet, he sat across from Chloe and the blond woman just kept blatantly flirting. Luka would answer her, but he kept his tone neutral. He was overly polite. He never flirted back, but it still bothered Marinette. She closed her book and brought her hand over Luka's. His attention snapped to her immediately with a ready smile.

"I'm going to the restroom. I'll be back," Marinette said, excusing herself. Luka squeezed her thigh gently and then released her.

"I actually need the restroom too. I'll walk you," Luka said, standing and offering his hand to her.

Marinette could see the scowl on Chloe's face and the faint smile on Adrien's from his reflection in the window. She took his hand. "Okay." They left the room together, saying nothing as they walked to the back of the train towards the restrooms three cars back.

"Are you okay?" Luka asked quietly. "We can get some snacks too while we're out."

"I'm okay, just a little hard being around Chloe is all. She's acting like I don't exist," Marinette said.

"I honestly don't care about Chloe," Luka said. "But it is good for Adrien and her to work out their friendship." They reached the bathrooms — it was a pair of unisex and Luka pushed them both inside one of the cramped rooms.

"What are you doing?" Marinette hissed.

Luka's arms banded around her waist, holding her against him. "What I've been wanting to do for the past hour." He dipped his head and pressed his lips against hers. "I love you so much, Mari," Luka murmured, drawing back a little and then nipping her bottom lip.

"I love you too, Luka," Marinette answered breathless.

"And I know you still love Adrien," Luka added. She was about to protest, but he kissed her again. "It's fine, Marinette. I'm going to tell you who Chat Noir is. And that — I kissed him. And if you're open to it, I would be okay with a relationship between the three of us."

Marinette was upset to learn he had kissed Chat but confused why he was talking about Adrien. And what did he mean? "What?"

Luka's hands tightened around her waist. "Adrien is Chat Noir. I know in the past, everything fell apart when you both knew. But I don't think that will be the case, because I'm involved directly — in your relationship. It didn't work before because the two of you would become completely obsessed with each other — both behind the masks and without them."

"Chat likes Ladybug," Marinette whispered.

Luka nodded. "You two are connected."

"I spoke to the kwamis. Usually the Miraculous of Ladybug and Cat are a couple, but sometimes it's the Snake. There was a famous incarnation of our powers in ancient Egypt," Marinette explained.

Luka held his finger over her lips. "Mari, I don't care about ancient Egypt or what happened in another lifetime. This is our lifetime — here and now. And I want you. And Adrien wants you. And you want me and Adrien. And Adrien and I have chemistry. We could work."

"Chloe is going to be so pissed," Marinette whispered.

He pressed his forehead against hers. "It's none of her business. She and Adrien will go back to London after this weekend. And you and I will focus on us. But it's important for dealing with Hawk Moth that we know where we all are — if he attacks right now, we'd all have to scramble to get there."

"Rena Rouge and Carapace can hold him off for a while," Marinette assured him.

"I want to invite Adrien to join us in Brazil on Dad's tour. Along with the rest of Kitty Section," Luka said. "And next year, when we're at the same school — would you consider learning an instrument? Would you like to be part of the band?"

Marinette grasped the front of Luka's shirt. "Slow down, Luka. We don't have to figure everything out." She laughed. "Usually, I'm the one trying to plan everything out to the most asinine detail."

Luka smirked. "Yeah, sorry," he sighed. "I'm just nervous." He looked past her towards the toilet. "Did you uh—-actually need to toilet?"

"Not really," Marinette admitted, biting her lower lip.

"Alright," Luka said, smiling down at her. "You want to make out instead?"

Marinette pushed him against the door, laid her palms gently on his cheeks, enjoying the feel of his stubble. "Let's," she agreed, standing on tip-toes and kissing him.

Twenty minutes later, with their arms laden with snacks, Marinette and Luka returned to their train car. Marinette's lips were swollen from his kisses and Luka's hair was wild from her fingers running through it.

Adrien laughed when they entered their compartment. "I'm glad I didn't go looking for you two."

"I don't know. That could have been fun," Luka added.

Adrien's cheeks tinted pink and he looked back out the window. Chloe frowned but said nothing as she pulled out her bejeweled phone and started texting Sabrina.

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Luka's grandmother had a chauffeur waiting to transport them from the train station to the castle. They passed plenty of highland cattle with their shaggy burnt orange fur and their pronged- horns and sheep — lots and lots of sheep. When the castle finally fell into their purview, two thirds of it was magnificent and pristine gray stone with turrets reaching into the sky and ivy cascading down the walls. One third of it was a blackened ruin from a fire long ago.

"It's a bed and breakfast, so we can all have our own rooms. There's a falconry class we can schedule if we're up for it. Seanmhair can ring up the instructor. I thought we could hire Fairy Glen Falls tomorrow," Luka explained as the car parked in front of the castle.

"I'd be up for some falconry," Marinette said.

Adrien had a slight grimace. "I might not be in the mood for falconry." He rubbed his arm absently. "With my pigeon allergy I'm not sure I should be in close proximity to any birds."

"I'll give everyone a tour once we've all settled into our rooms," Luka offered. "We can have dinner together and have an early night so we can go hiking in the morning."

"Whatever," Chloe said. "Is there a massage parlor at this castle? Or a place I can have a mani-pedi?"

"That's not a bad idea," Luka said. He helped Marinette out of the car once they parked. Chloe climbed out next and stretched his arms high above her head. Then Luka offered his hand to Adrien and helped him. He kept hold of Adrien's hand and Marinette's hand briefly, gave them both a quick squeeze and then released them to start getting their belongings out of the trunk. The chauffeur also helping with their items.

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The night before, Luka slept restlessly. Marinette knew about Adrien being Chat. And he needed to tell Adrien, without re-writing time. And then they needed to all have a discussion together. He could feel a song writing itself in the back of his mind with all the emotions he was feeling. He may have been humming the new tune, but he wasn't quite ready to put words to it. He couldn't have even if he wanted to!

"I don't understand why I have to wear these dreadfully ugly things," Chloe whined, gesturing towards the lace-up hiking boots she'd borrowed from the supply room.

The castle had an assortment of hiking gear for both the summer and winter months. While snowshoes weren't necessary in June, the hiking boots definitely were. "If you don't want to sprain your ankle, you need hiking boots."

"Well if I sprain my ankle, someone will just need to carry me," Chloe countered, hands on her hips and eyes locked on Luka.

He held his hands up. "Or you can just avoid getting injured all together," Luka suggested.

"If you get hurt, I'll carry you," Adrien offered, smiling softly at Chloe.

She huffed. "I don't know. You've been really rude to me lately."

"Just wear the hiking boots and mind your step and no one will have to carry you," Marinette pointed out. "But if you do sprain your ankle, then I'll carry you!"

Chloe gasped. "Like hell you will!"

"Then don't get hurt," Marinette said, smiling sweetly.

"Maidin Mhaith!" Maisie Couffaine greeted. "Good morning!" She swept down the staircase, royal blue robes fluttered behind her.

Luka smiled at his grandmother. She really was quite the character. "Maidin Mhaith, Seanmhair!"

"It's a good day to be checking the forest. Fair outside, clear skies. You should be able to avoid any rain storms. Did you pack swim suits? The Fairy Glen Falls are quite the romantic spot." She waggled her gray eyebrows and the aquamarine eyes Luka inherited from her twinkled in mirth.

"We have some under our clothes," Luka assured her. He shifted the straps of his bag more secure around his shoulders. He was used the weight of his guitar across his back, it was a little odd having a hiking backpack. It was a good forty extra pounds between the towels, snacks and water. Since he was the host, he thought it would be best for him to carry the gear. And it would be a good excuse to not be able to carry Chloe should she decide to injury herself. "And I have towels in my back pack so we can towel off afterwards."

"That's excellent, Ogha," Maisie said. "Well you youth be off now." She shooed them away. "Go have fun and don't come back until your feet are so sore your blisters have blisters, you hear?"

Luka led the group out of the castle, along the trail towards the woods. Marinette walked alongside him, bumping shoulders with him in their proximity and he couldn't help the smile on his lips.

"She's not serious is she?" Marinette asked nervously.

"No. But if we do get blisters I also have a first aid kit in this monster of a pack of mine," Luka said gesturing towards the gear.

"The air is so fresh here!" Adrien commented. He did a random cartwheel and burst out laughing. "I feel a bit like a little kid."

"Great! Because I packed us a picnic too," Luka said.

"Oh, is that a bee hive?" Chloe started towards the edge of the trail, a hive hung from a low branch of a sycamore tree. "What kind of tree is that?"

"It's a sycamore, or a plane tree," Luka answered.

"Do you miss being Queen Bee?" Marinette asked quietly.

Chloe turned around, the haughty expression on her face faded as she realized she was with three people that wouldn't care about her putting on airs. She deflated. "Yes. I know I messed up. I think that's the real reason Daddy has sent me to boarding school. He thinks my behavior had endangered Paris too often."

"He's not wrong," Adrien said. "But it will also be good for you to explore somewhere new. I remember when we were younger, you were always eager to try new things." He walked towards her and laid his hand gently over her shoulder. "Acting out won't make your mom notice you. You have to start living your life for yourself, not trying to gain her attention."

Chloe stepped away from Adrien's touch and turned a glare towards Marinette. "Well my mother noticed you. Repeatedly. Asks why I don't have a creative fashion design like that Marinette? Why didn't I win the contest of Jagged Stone's sunglasses or Gabrielle Agreste's hat contest? Even that American half-sister of mine likes you!"

"So you bully me because you're jealous I won't a couple of fashion contests?" Marinette asked quietly. "And because I'm friends with Zoe?"

"And because your parents are disgustingly sweet and caring," Chloe added.

They crossed over a bridge and the sound of water crashing into the distance drowned out anything further Chloe might have to say.

"We're here," Luka announced. He gestured to the north where the waterfalls were flowing. "This is a good spot for a group photo." He shuck off his backpack and held out his phone with the camera app ready. Marinette slipped between his extended arm and settled against his chest while Adrien stood at his side with his arm casually over Chloe's shoulders. They smiled and captured the moment. "Perfect for Insta," Luka murmured. And he could crop out Chloe if she ended up being too annoying.

They spent the next four hours lounging by the waterfalls. Swimming, laughing, snacking, and singing. The whole experience had been a balm to the soul.

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Marinette couldn't sleep. She stood in her bedroom that looked like it was made for a princess with a four-poster canopy bed and elegantly carved wardrobe closet in the corner. An ornate mirror hung behind the fancy dresser and the antique lantern's light flickered as it illuminated the room. She picked up her phone to check the time — it was late. Once more, she stared at the image Luka had texted her and Adrien. About an hour after their hike, Chloe had become impatient and stormed back to the castle, leaving the three of them alone together.

It was a shot of the trio with Luka in the middle and Marinette on his left and Adrien on his right as they laid on the ground smiling up at his phone. Marinette had been resting her head on Luka's bare chest and Adrien had been resting his head on Luka's shoulder. And Marinette and Adrien had been holding hands, joining them over Luka's belly. It had felt so very natural and playful when they all ended up cuddling together.

Now that Marinette knew that Adrien was actually Chat Noir — her best friend. She felt way more comfortable around him. She wondered if he knew about her identity too or if he just felt more comfortable around her because of Luka.

There was a brisk knock at her door, so she set the phone back down and tugged her shaw tighter around her shoulders. She ambled over to answer it.

She was surprised to find both Luka and Adrien standing there. "Oh, um, hello. Is everything okay?"

"May we come in?" Luka asked.

Marinette nodded. She stepped back until she sat down on her bed. The boys sat on either side of her.

"So," Adrien started. "I need to tell you something, Marinette."

"I should probably tell you something as well," she worried, biting her bottom lip. She knew he was Chat Noir. He was her best friend this whole time!

"I'm in love in Ladybug," Adrien blurted out. His emerald eyes darted past her to Luka for a moment. "And I like Luka."

"Oh," Marinette didn't quite know how to react to that. "Well, you see. I'm Ladybug."

Adrien smiled faintly. "I know. And I'm Chat Noir. And the world isn't going to dissolve into ash and despair now that we know." He looked past her again. "Right, Luka?"

The blue-haired musician nodded. "Right. It will work out."

They hadn't stopped Hawk Moth yet. Adrien would be in London for the next several months. Marinette and Luka would spend the summer break between the castle in Inverness and Jagged's Brazilian leg of the concert tour. It was decided that Adrien and the rest of Kitty Section would be part of the tour.

"So, how does this work?" Marinette asked, gesturing between the three of them.

Luka shrugged and answered them like the musician he was. "We'll play it by ear."

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A/N: I wrapped up this story sooner than I originally intended. It's very open ended. I wanted to write fluff, but then I didn't know what my plot was outside of the three of them accepting a relationship together. I'm sure there are typos, my apologies...I tried to fix them all.

I had a lot of adventures plotted out originally, but I'll be saving it for my new story: The Musician and his Fashionista. It's darker and a bit an AU. I just watched the newest Miraculous movie with the parallel universes and had a nice idea. Hopefully, if you liked this story a little…you'll like that one a lot. Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!