Chapter Text
Luka wants to leave, he wants to run away but he can’t. his significant others were also in despair. Marinette tried grabbing both of them the moment she read the title, for such a small girl she’s surprisingly strong. Adrien ripped his arm away moments after that, moving away from them. He’s pacing in front of the bed, muttering under his breath. Marinette is still clinging on to him for dear life, scared that he will leave the safety of the bed as well.
“Mari, Melody, I need to go to the bathroom. please,” Luka whispers. He gives her a small kiss on her forehead while he untangles them. He gets on his feet quickly before Marinette could grab him again. He makes his way to the bathroom, leaving his partners behind. He couldn’t help them right now, he’s too hurt himself.
He makes a detour to the living room, grabbing a pillow from the couch. In the safety of the locked bathroom He lets his tears fall. He screams into the pillow. The scream holds rage, agony and the desperation he feels in his bones. The media didn’t know, he was portrayed as a simple playboy, using Marinette for money. The journalists also found who his mom was, linking them and blaming her for Marinette’s alleged adultery. Luka slumps again the wall, cooling his skin. He needed to calm down. He was the anchor in their relationship, he was the safe haven they could return to. But right now, his heart was broken and he needs some time to collect himself before going in again.
Marinette is sitting paralyzed on the bed. She is too much in shock to do anything. She wants to help both of them but just can’t move. She never cheated on anyone… So many feeling are swirling inside her that she can’t really understand what she’s feeling. Her mind screams to go after Luka but her legs don’t work with her. She’s stuck, completely frozen in place. She can just watch Adrien pace and mutter. She doesn’t register the tears falling from her eyes or the sobs her body creates.
The moment Adrien understood what the tabloids had written, he jumped up from the bed. His blood was boiling, he could feel the anger run to his fists. He wants to hit something, he wants to fight. Preferably Lila. But right now he’s in his bedroom, Luka just bolted out of the door and Marinette is sobbing on the bed. He wants to go comfort them, they all need comfort but his body is too tense, too full of anger to stop pacing. He’s getting scared of himself, normally he doesn’t get angry but this somehow triggered him into an angry monster.
The faint scream from somewhere in the apartment snaps them both out of it. Before he really understands how Marinette is pulling him along towards the bathroom. Luka has never made a sound that sad and angry before… It slightly scares him, hopefully Luka was alright.
The door is locked when they try to get to him. “Luka, baby, are you alright?”, she yells franticly through the door. “I just need some time”, comes muffled through the door. Adrien grabs Marinette and pulls her away. Marinette clearly want to keep trying to get Luka out and be with them but he knows better. Luka needs some space and time.
“Princes, let him have some time. He will be okay” he whispers
“I don’t know what to do, this is such a disaster. What if I ruined our careers with this? I’m so stupid”
“None of that! This is Lila’s fault and no one else. We’ll deal with it”
“How?” Marinette seems to calm down. The idea of fixing everything is giving her purpose again.
“I have to call some people, I want you to take our phones and delete social media apps for a bit. Text the people that are worried about us. Don’t post anything online, nothing. Can you do that?”
Marinette nods and asks Luka permission to delete the apps. The yes is barely audible but it’s there. Adrien follows Marinette to the bedroom. He gives her a big hug and kiss before starting to delete all the notifications and getting to work. He knows how to deal with scandals, he knows which people to call and how to minimize this mess. His mind is already forming plans to have revenge on Lila, she will have to pay for putting his partners in such distress.
Adrien has made multiple calls since this morning, almost burning a hole in the carpet from pacing. It’s mostly contacts from his famous life to do some damage control but he also contacted Gorilla. He agreed to bodyguard them while they’re hot in the news. Although he’s happy to see him again Adrien wishes it wasn’t in these circumstances. Marinette pushes a bowl with some fried rice and chicken in his hands. He kisses her hand thankfully and shovels the food in his mouth.
“How are they?”, she gently asks. “They’re excited to work with Adrien Agreste again but I trust these people to do the thing they get paid for”, he answers. Marinette nods with understanding. She’s the only one that hasn’t deleted their social media apps. Her phone has been buzzing like crazy.
“How is it there?”, he checks with her. Marinette shakes her head, “it’s… bad, like really bad. They’re calling me names and sending me dead threats” Adrien feels his heart breaking or her. He knows he’ll find people calling him stupid and other names when he finally looks at his social media but he’s used to this from his modelling days. But his partners aren’t used to this, they don’t know that most of these people are just bored and that it will all be over soon.
They both look up when they hear Luka coming from the bathroom. His eyes are puffy and his face is blotched red but at least he’s with them again. Marinette goes to get him some food but gets pulled into Luka’s arms instead. Adrien feels himself getting pulled in as well. They just hold each other for bit, calming down now they’re back together.
As soon as they let go Adrien feels guilt and shame pulling his chest tighter. This is all his fault, both cause he didn’t listen to Marinette and cause if he wasn’t famous, this would have never happened. Marinette and Luka notice the change in Adrien and have a silent conversation. Marinette leaves to go grab Luka some food while Luka pulls Adrien down on the couch.
“It’s not your fault. I’m not angry at you, Marinette is not angry at you. There will not be a punishment for this. We still love you. We’re not leaving”. With each sentence Luka says he takes away a fear that has lodged itself in Adrien’s brain. He takes a deep breath, everything will be okay. No one is leaving him or punishing him. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted. Out of nowhere there are tears on his face. Luka pulls him in for a hug and just holds him while he sobs. Marinette returns with more rice and quickly places it down so she can join the hug.
“Oh sweet kitty. It’s not your fault. We’re not leaving. We still love you”, she whispers, she starts stroking his back while he slowly calms down. They break apart and Luka takes his rice and starts eating it quickly. He might have forgotten to bring food when he locked himself into the bathroom. Adrien grabs his food as well, Marinette always makes good food.
“What are we going to do?” They all have been fed and Luka is back steering their ship. He’s looking for a game plan, to get this situation under control.
“I already called some competent people to keep his out of the tabloids but the word is out and it might take a while to die down. It’s my first scandal since stopping modelling so…”, Adrien trails off.
“We have two options. We can try to ignore it and just try to keep living our life or we come out to the public. Which is scary”. The moment Marinette finishes that sentence they look at Adrien. He will have to decide their fate. Luka and Marinette wouldn’t mind coming out but Adrien always had reservations to it. Partly cause he knows how cruel the tabloids and the social media can be but also cause he’s afraid of the reaction of his father.
“We have to, This is unfair to both of you. I don’t want to hurt you” Adrien states. He’s so incredibly scared but he will do it for his loved ones. It might be the permanent break between his and his dad. Luka swallows: “ you don’t have to, I can be your secret. I mean I am the misfit in our relationship. You’re a model and Marinette, you’re a rapid growing designer. You two make sense, I don’t.”
“And you’re a starting artist who works hard and loves even harder. You fit with us just as much” Marinette easily rebukes. They all have their insecurities but Luka is the anchor they ground themselves to, without him Adrien and Marinette would float away into stress and responsibilities. “Without you we wouldn’t even exist. You’re the safety we need. You’re such an amazing person. I will never be ashamed of you or see you as anything less than the wonderful person you are”, Adrien adds. He loves Luka, plain and simple he’s not letting his boyfriend feel secondary. They’re all important in this relationship.
“I actually have an idea on how to do our coming out but it might take a few days. While I’m fixing everything please lay low. Don’t leave the house and delete your social media of your phone. It will get worse before it dies down”, Adrien warns them. He remembers all too well. They both nod and dutifully grab their phones. Adrien will keep the people he loves safe, even if it meant breaking the last strings to his dad… And his mom in some extend.
Adrien is going to do it. He’s coming out to the world, including his father. They just arrived at a show Luka is playing. His names has been in the tabloids and he’s getting a lot of attention lately. If it wasn’t such a sad reality he would have been excited for his boyfriend. Right now he’s completely terrified. There will be no turning back. He wishes his partners could be by his side. Marinette is already backstage, she went early to avoid the fans. He didn’t get so lucky and now has to sneak in. Hopefully no one will recognize him through his disguise. Gorilla accompanies him to the backstage after getting through security.
Marinette is sitting on the couch in Luka’s dressing room, waiting for the show and him. Adrien’s heart skips a beat when he sees her. She’s wearing one of her own designs on his advice. These pictures will be circulating a lot, it would be good promo for her. He plops down next to her and grabs her hand. They share a nervous smile. The importance of this day is written over their faces.
Adrien is secretly glad Gorilla is here with them. Even if all hell breaks loose, he still has a tie to his old life trough him. He hopes he doesn't get shunned, the upper class isn’t known for their acceptance. Hopefully Kagami will still hang out with them…
Kitty section is finishing one of their songs. Normally they both would be enjoying to the music but right now it feels like they’re glued to this couch. They can hear the crowd go wild as expected, Luka and the others are really good. They can hear Rose’s voice trough the speakers: “We want to thank you all for this amazing opportunity! We have two more songs for you, enjoy!” The next song is about loving yourself, Juleka wrote it back in high school when she still struggled with herself but there is almost nothing left of that shyness.
Nino walks up to them and pulls him in a big hug. “Hey bro, you doing alright?”, he asks. Marinette gets a hug as well. “Don’t worry! Ayla has everything set up to get the best pictures. The whole article is already written and ready to post. Everything will be okay”. Nino is clearly trying his best to calm their nerves by just talking about something random. Instead of focussing on what he’s saying Adrien pulls himself from the conversation and replays memories of his old life and his new life. The moments he was the happiest are mostly from his new life, but some of his mom are there as well. God he misses her, she would probably be supportive. His dad comes to mind but he pushes it away. He already disappointed him, this can’t it make so much worse right?
Luka’s voice booms trough the venue: “Hi everyone, thank you all for this amazing show. This is our last song and I want to dedicate it to the people I love the most.” The crowd interrupts him with cheering. When it’s calmer again he continues: “they’re here and I would love for you all to meet them. Our last song is called ‘Like sunshine on plum blossom!’” the first notes start playing. It’s a slow ballad about loving people. Luka wrote it when they started dating. Adrien looks at Marinette, she’s slowly swaying to the beat, he follows her lead and hums along. Nino is watching them like a proud father.
The song ends. Adrien feel his whole body stiffen. It’s time. He knows he can back out if he wants to, Marinette could join Luka alone and then he will be the secret. They wouldn’t be mad or disappointed. They would just try to keep everyone happy. He knows that but he wants to come out. His father has had control over him long enough. He wants to openly love the people he loves.
They stand up and walk to the edge of the stage. Nino gives them a thumbs up before disappearing. He can see the crowds is going crazy, there are so many people here. He grabs Marinette’s hand. He can feel her thumb petting him soothingly. He can do it, they can do it. He spots Alya in the crowd. She has her camera ready in the front row. She can’t see them but the familiar face helps calming his nerves.
The other members of Kitty Section say their goodbyes and leave the stage until only one person is left. Luka takes the mic: “I promised that you would my lovers after this song and I will keep my word. I’m very happy you get to meet them, please join me on stage!” He looks at their direction with anticipation. They share one more look before walking onto the stage.
The crowd goes wild. There is so much noise, they’re screaming and yelling. The flashes are blinding. They let go of each other to both grab Luka’s hands. They all hug and then Luka dips him and kisses him like there is no tomorrow. It feels like fireworks. The soft lips move against his with passion that only happens after a show. He doesn’t register the pictures or the yelling from the crowd, it’s only Luka and him that exist now. They break apart and Luka hugs him again. “I’m so proud of you songbird, I love you” Luka whispers in his ear. Before he can say anything back Luka lets go and gives the same treatment to Marinette. After that Marinette and Adrien kiss just to make clear that everyone is involved with everyone.
“I would like you to meet my partners Adrien and Marinette. We’ve been dating for a little over a year now. They have been my inspiration, my motivation and my ankers. I love them very much. We didn’t plan coming out like this but most of you have seen the articles after someone leaked pictures of us. We wanted to make clear that we all love each other and that we know everyone is dating. I am want to show that love can take many forms and that those forms are beautiful. They’re the light of my life and I love them so so so much. Thank you and goodnight!”
They run off stage and collapse on the couch. The crowd is still processing what happened. They all cuddle and smile. “We did it”, Marinette whispers. He smiles: “We did it indeed.” Adrien feels content for the first time. There are no more secrets to hide. He can finally stop being scared of getting caught with either of them. No more blackmail. No more pressure. They’re free.
Their friends join them with some drinks and snacks to celebrate coming out. Obviously Kitty Section is here but Alya and Nino joined them and much to his surprise Kagami is there as well. They celebrate the show, them and everyone else. He hasn't been this relaxed in a long time. He doesn't have to worry about tabloids or Lila for that matter. He can finally openly love his partners. He sees themm dancing in the crowd while sipping his drink. All is well.