Chapter Text
The morning light peers through the curtains. His room illuminates shades of orange and yellow auras. The crisp air is relentless, causing fleshy goosebumps on his arms and face. He turns over, snuggling himself in the warmth of his blanket. He knows that peace and solace won’t last long, however; not when he can see Felix on the other side of the room. Like a bird trying to fly in its nest without altering a fly fox, Luka closes his eyes.
“Morning sunshine,” Felix yawns.
“Morning,” Luka tried not to sound irritated.
“Sleep well, Rockstar? ” Felix sits up and begins to brush his hair with his fingers.
“I guess. I kinda had a nightmare that I was hit by a train,” He retorts, glaring in Felix’s direction. Felix’s lips furrow into a smirk. “But you wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Felix shrugs, rummaging through his closet until he finds a suitable outfit. “No, I guess I wouldn’t. I slept so peacefully, dreaming about the things I’d like to do to Marinette.”
Luka freezes midway through putting his feet on the floor and throwing off the blankets. “I thought we agreed to leave her alone.”
Luka doesn’t see the world the same way Felix does. Sitting here he wonders what they even have in common. It’s as if Felix is missing some colors out of his palette and refuses to blend them together to make new ones. He is stuck in a world of monochromaticity. Luka, on the other hand, wants to explore every inch of the color wheel.
“We did,” Felix hums as he begins to gel his hair. “But it’s kind of impossible considering she goes to your school and dates my cousin, huh? Don’t worry, Rockstar, you’re dismissed from the adult games. The kiddy table has an assigned seat just for you.”
Luka clenches his fist, knowing if he shows any sign of vulnerability, Felix will prey on it. He wonders how it got to this point. Felix used to be someone who could bring him out of his shell, albeit a little naughty. Luka thinks everyone is worth saving, even the broken sentimonster.
“Milk and cookies there too,” Felix winks as he ruffles Luka’s hair.
Shimming on a pair of black skinny jeans and a white jagged stone tshirt, he sprays cologne on his neck, wrist, and collarbones. He looks at the chips on his nail polish, noting he needs to change that later. He notices how his lips feel chapped, cracked from the wind chill from the night before. Paris is windy, especially on a scooter.
“So, when are you going back to London again?” Luka asks as he walks over to his nightstand and retrieves chapstick.
“Soon. Why? You wanna get rid of me? I can always crash back at Adriens,” Felix pouts.
“Not necessary,” Luka shudders. At Least here, he can keep an eye on him. “I’m going to a party tonight. You want to come?”
“Thanks for the invite but I have a meeting with my Uncle,” Felix's eyes look glazed over.
“Hmm,” Luka ponders. “Suit yourself.” He throws his backpack over his shoulder and heads toward the door.
Felix follows closely behind him, wrapping his arms around Luka’s waist. “Sounds like you want me to go.”
“If you say so,” Luka rolls his eyes. “You just seem lonely, but you refuse to socialize,” he tears Felix’s arm away from him.
“What’s gotten into you lately?” Felix snaps. “You’re moody, Couffaine.”
“Nothing….” Luke tosses his head side to side. He knows exactly what it is. Knowing the identity of Ladybug and Chatnoir weighs heavily on his soul. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m stressed or something. I don’t mean to take it out on you.” He stops walking, inching closer to Felix. “Forgive me?”
Felix presses his body into Luka and bites his lower lip. He puts his hand against the wall pinning them forehead to forehead. “Maybe,” Felix breathes into Luka’s lips. “Maybe if you get me a date with Marinette.”
Luka closes his eyes and looks away, ignoring the heat wave on his skin. “Mmm. Why do you gotta do that before class?”
“Because,” Felix runs his finger across Luka’s bottom lip. “You are my best friend and I need to remind you of that every now and then.”
“Hey, I can skip class and….” Luka can feel his pulse rising, face growing flush. He tries to not be a whimpering mess, but it just isn’t in his nature.
“And what?” Felix breathes in.
Luka’s mind becomes clouded with misjudgement. His heart beats for Marinette, but here and now, he isn’t even sure who he is anymore. Something about Felix makes him addicted, exciting. He feels stronger to resist him everyday; although maybe today he will be more successful.
“And….” Luka’s mouth parts open as his head collides with the wall.
“Can’t,” Felix whispers seductively in his ear.
Luka’s eyes flutter open as he stares defeated into Felix’s crystal blue eyes. “You need to figure out what you want!” He snaps through clenched teeth as he makes his way down the hallway. Who am I right now? He thinks as he crosses a mirror on the wall. Luka misses his own calm demeanor.
Satisfied with the reaction, Felix adjusts his cardigan and exit’s the Couffaine house.
“Um, Luka,” He hears a small voice behind him. “Was you and Felix about to….kiss?”
He winches when he hears his twin sister Juleka ask the question. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“Um. It’s complicated. Here, look, a new melody,” He panics as he searches for his guitar. “It sounds like this.”
He starts strumming, minor chords appearing out of the acoustic guitar. Juleka nods as she walks past him, not continuing the interaction. Luka sighs in relief.
“You’re coming to the party tonight, right?” Luka asks, changing the subject.
Juleka nods.
“Good because I need someone to watch Marinette. I kinda offered her as a sacrifice to Felix,” the words feel like vomit in his mouth.
“I’m not following you,” Juleka cocks an eyebrow.
“Well, last night, me and Felix were at La Manche just hanging out, ya know?”
“Mmmhmm,” Juleka leans in.
“And he parked his scooter on the tracks, and wouldn't get off them. Almost as if he wanted to be hit or something, I don’t know. He said he wouldn’t leave until I gave him a reason to live. In what could’ve been my final hour, Marinette’s face came in my mind….and it worked,” Luka sounds surprised. “Felix wants her.”
“What a dramatic retelling,” Juleka chuckles. “But anyway, so do you. You declare your love all the time, telling her you’re going to wait on her and all of that.”
All of that, Luka swallows. Juleka don’t know the burden of having to love someone from afar. She don’t know the paranoia of everyday waiting for HawkMoth to akumatize him into telling the identities of Ladybug and Chat Noir, the very woman he loves and one of his best-friends.
“Luka?” Juleka snaps her fingers in front of his face.
“Oh, sorry. Must’ve been daydreaming."
“Listen to me,” Juleka’s tone turns serious. “It’s been a hard enough year finding out our father is Jagged Stone. We deserve happiness. You always put others first to the point you neglect yourself. We’re going to go to this party and have a good time. This is hard for me Luka, socializing, but I’ll do it for you, my other half.”
“I love you, Sis,” He smiles at her.