Work Text:
As Adrien opened the door, his arms full of groceries he could hear a guitar strummed into a jangly little tune that went high and low seemingly searching for a certain something as it interweaved itself around the boards and the beams of the modest home. It felt as if it was the song of their home itself. From only a room away he felt drawn to it. Leaving the groceries on the counter he passed the color strewn walls, and photos of their family were plastered across the fridge and hung across the walls. Following it to the source, he stepped over shoes and picked up toys left lying around as he listen to the bare bones of something to come. No words accompanied the melody, Luka was always insistent it wasn’t his strong suit regardless of how many hits he recorded, but if Adrien was certain of one thing he knew that Luka certainly knew how to make music speak on it’s own. It was a sweet and somber. A little reminiscent too during this spring afternoon.
But most of all he could hear it was full of love.
Leaning against the door frame to Luka’s “studio,” a fair-sized study away from the other rooms that contained some recording equipment, and thanks to Luka a fair collection of musical instruments cast about from multiple kinds of guitars, a sitar, a set of drums, bongos, and a piano; however mixed among the music were even more toys, soft plushies, building blocks, and a baby monitor at Luka’s side, Adrien quietly watched him with a smile, Luka’s eyes were closed as he strummed out the feeling. The silver wedding band gleamed as he shifted his hand and repeated the last chord and opened his eyes. There he saw his husband focused on the remnants of the song as he let it fade into silence. He swore that he still needed to put a bell on this man with how quiet he could be at times.
“And that there,” Luka said purposefully slipping into his silky interview voice, “was for my Kitten.” He winks and sets his guitar onto a nearby stand earning a laugh from Adrien and his pretend shoutout. And Luka couldn’t help, but grin widely. Seeing the man he loved smile was one of the highlights of his life. And getting to love him and being loved back by him was another. Their whole shared life made his heart sing in a way he had never felt before in his life.
“So does this one have a name?” Adrien asked knowing full well how this conversation could go.
But Luka had a surprise. With a proud little smirk on his lips he quirks a knowing brow at his husband and replied with a cocky, “It might.”
“Oh?” He crossed his arms genuinely surprised by the response, “Well, look at you Mr. Words-Aren’t-My-Forte,” Adrien teased back as he gestured with a tilt of his head that said, ‘Come on, help me pack away the groceries, rockstar.’
“And I stand by that by the way. We’d still be calling our kids ‘Thing-One’ and ‘Thing-Two’ if I had been left to name them.” Luka still remembered the anguish he had felt for months looking over, considering, and hearing suggestions from their friends and family. This decision was harder for him than his first official tour with Kitty Section.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You did come up with Karina’s name. And there were a lot of…” Adrien’s face scrunches as if he ate something sour, “interestingly creative suggestions.”
“Terrible you mean. You can say Jagged’s suggestions were terrible.”
“They weren’t…” Adrien hesitates. Jagged had been so nice and welcoming to him since he had started dating Luka. Though he still couldn’t help, but grimace as his mind subjected him, unbidden, with some of Jagged’s suggestions including his own name, “that…bad.”
“He suggested Jaggy Junior.” Luka winced just saying it. And even he couldn’t even nicely sugar coat his father’s suggestion by saying it was a joke. Jagged had been 100% serious.
The look on Adrien’s face screamed that he remembered that suggestion just as well as he did. Everyone had been sent into a tizzy. Mom, Juleka, Rose, their friends, everyone. Luka shook his head at the memory himself as he he removed some toothpaste from a bag and set it aside with the rest of their toiletries to take to their bathroom later.
“Sooo…” Adrien’s voice broke the silence as he finished unpacking and sorting their things, “What were you thinking for that song?”
“I was thinking…‘Promises.’” He replied somewhat sheepish.
“‘Promises’…” Adrien repeated with a thoughtful look as he leaned against the kitchen counter. It was a sweet name for a sweet sounding song, but as Luka’s eyes avoided his own he knew there was more to his answer than meets the eye. He knew his husband well and while he knew it was a rarity for him to attach any words to a song this early the process, but he also knew that there was more to it than that.
A song for Luka was more than just notes on a page or a tune in his ear, but rather a pure unadulterated feeling like a sudden grasp of his hand, words tenderly whispered in his ear without prompt, or a firm declaration of his love. It was always earnest and in the moment.
Luka stared at Adrien, taking in those wide, green, curious-as-a-cat eyes of his and smiled knowing the question that lingered just behind them.
He wondered if Adrien remembered all the promises he had made to him in the course of their life.
****
It was after school and on board The Liberty Luka strummed his guitar while he waited with Adrien for his ride to get there. Juleka and Rose had gone down to hangout in her room, which left the two of them to sit on the deck by themselves, and to much of Luka’s chagrin, in silence. Even though they went to the same school and played in the same band Luka couldn’t say he really knew Adrien. He was nice, and funny, he had some great ideas musically, and when he could join Kitty Section for a session they all synced together really well. But outside of rehearsal the silence crept in between them, and things felt awkward. Even his own strumming reflected the mood as a discordant tune that was plucked at with hesitation, and honestly it could barely be called a ‘tune’. More like notes that wouldn’t come together. Much different from their jam sessions.
Luka let out a sigh and saw Adrien looking through the photos on his camera, silent, and sullen seeming as time just went by without a word. Putting his guitar down Luka walked to the deck chair Adrien was sat in.
Adrien’s green eyes flicked through the photos he had taken the last couple days. There were photos of the architecture of the city, statues and monuments, Ladybug’s included, as well as photos of a cafe early in the morning with chairs half unstacked and the lighting gave the unpopulated scene with only a few pigeon nearby a sleepy quality. It was a photo Adrien had felt proud taking, but right now his movements were mechanical, every few seconds he’d click to see the next photo, but his were eyes glazed over and empty as he was lost to his thoughts. Once Gorilla picked him he’d have a modeling session for his father’s latest collection, then Chinese lessons, and after that piano practice, homework, and—
“Wow. Those are really good, Adrien.” Luka’s voice dragged him from his thoughts, and without a second thought he quickly hid his camera back in his bag. Surprised green eyes caught Luka’s own bright blue ones.
“Oh! Heh.” Adrien let out a laugh trying to play off his surprise and fear, “Thanks.” He replies hesitant for a moment. Having already shown his photos once he wasn’t ready for a repeat, but Adrien realized that there was no hint of mocking on Luka features as he had figured there might be. Instead, he looked just as surprised as Adrien by what happened.
Luka hadn’t meant to take the other by surprise or make him uncomfortable. So not to linger Luka forged ahead trying to make conversation, “I, um, didn’t know you liked photography.”
“I…These are just for art class actually.” It was half truth. While they were for class and a grade, Adrien had also taken them for himself. The cafe had looked so nice that morning that he couldn’t help, and he felt proud of himself and his photo. “My father says photography would be a waste of my time. ‘Agrestes are supposed to be in front of the lens not behind it. Agrestes are not like everyone else’.” He repeats with a sigh toying with the strap to the camera, twisting it around his finger with a nervous energy.
“Oh.” Luka frowned at that clear as day and without a hint of hiding it. It was a shitty thing for his father to say, and while Luka didn’t say it aloud he certainly thought it. “I guess it would be a conflict of interest since you do model a lot as well.” He shrugs trying to spin it toward the positive. Surely talking about what they liked would be less awkward than this, “I guess you must like modeling a lot with how many ads you appear in.” They were all over the city at times and hard for Luka to miss. Adrien’s pretty face was practically everywhere.
Adrien’s brows furrowed deeply at the comment and his lips pressed together in a thin line. “I…” Adrien started and then stopped. “I…” It was the kind of look on a face that made Luka wonder if had said something wrong just then, but finally Adrien manages to speak, “Do I?” questioned aloud curling his knees up to his chest and further into himself, his hand clutching his camera. Just like his Chinese lessons, and piano, and all the other activities in his life he simply had done them because it was what his father had told him to do. At first he had liked it since childhood. Playing to the camera, helping to create a scene, a vision for someone else, but nowadays he felt more like a doll posed and passed around every which way. Nowadays, he wasn’t sure he liked it as much as he had back then.
Though Luka was sure he had opened a can of worms he hadn’t meant to. Words truly weren’t his forte at times, and this was unfortunately proving his point as his words sent Adrien into an existential crisis.
“Hey, hey, hey,” He said worried, panicked, that he might have hurt Adrien with his questions. He had been quiet for too long, “It’s not a big deal.” They were still young and had a lot of time to make decisions about their lives.
Luka glances as the camera he still held in his hands.
“Do you really not like photography?”
He made the same tight lipped expression before and hugged his knees to his chest, “You’ll laugh like—My father doesn’t—”
“Hey.” Luka said softly, gently, as he placed his hand on Adrien’s shoulder and squeezed it trying to comfort and assure him, “Whatever you like I promise I will never laugh at you. This is just me talking to you as a friend. We’re friends Adrien and I would never laugh at you no matter what you like.” And Luka meant. “So, do you, Adrien, like taking photos?”
With his wide eyes Adrien stares at Luka and nods. “Yes.” He replies firmly and nods once again saying more resolutely, “Yes, I like photography. I like taking photos.” And he was certain of that single thing. He might not have been as experienced and good at it like he was with fencing, or Chinese, or his modeling, but he was certain that he liked it. That he loved looking through the viewfinder, steadying his hands, and taking snapshot of a moment or a feeling he wanted to convey.
Luka nods and grins at Adrien simply happy for him.
A car horn honks in the distance, and pair look over to see Gorilla and the limousine ready to take Adrien home.
Adrien hurriedly grabs his things, holding his camera firmly in his hand, and happier than before. A light seemingly shone in his green eyes as he slung his messenger bag onto his shoulder.
“Thank you, Luka.”
“It was nothing, really.” Luka shrugs and begins to wave him off, but as Adrien opened the door to the Limousine his attention was suddenly drawn back to Luka who called out with a loud ‘Hey!’.
“And I really mean it. Those photos are really good!”
And for what seemed like the first time Adrien smiled at him, and just him, not simply to be polite, but because he was happy. And Luka smiled back and waved goodbye as he disappeared into the limousine and holding the camera more proudly. Once he was inside and the door closed the car drove off and into the distance.
Luka whistled out a note as it appeared clear in his mind and he walked back to his guitar and began to strum. This time the same notes from before flowed together more easily. A new tune was on his mind.
***
While the miraculous Ladybug was away the cat and snake will play. Or rather Chat and Viperion are in charge of keeping the city in one piece while Ladybug found herself preoccupied with other things. She had mentioned something about urgently needing to speak with Ryuko herself.
Without Ladybug around it seemed Chat was, well, less chatty today. Something seemed a bit off between them. Even his quips were far and few between. Maybe he thought that he didn’t appreciate them, though that was far from the truth. Luka found them entertaining as well as cute. Or maybe it was just him? Whenever he partnered up with Chat and Ladybug he felt a bit like a third wheel at times. Necessary in the moment, but once his job was good and done: unnecessary and extraneous. Being a tricycle must be a hard existence he thought.
However, today Chat had asked him himself, so maybe it was all in Luka’s mind. He hoped so at least as they patrolled the city jumping from rooftop to rooftop surveying the city and its inhabitants. And the silence broken between them during a moment of free fall as Chat quipped, “You know I’ve heard of it raining cats and dogs, but not cats and snakes.” He grinned a toothy grin.
Luka snorts and shakes his head. “Terrible, just terrible.” He grinned. It was just one of those terrible jokes you couldn’t help but love.
With that the doubt began to clear from his mind. Perhaps it really had been all in his head. Awkwardness and insecurity on his part. He didn’t feel that way now.
Thankfully the only trouble the pair encountered today had been akuma-less though no less important as they helped the good people of Paris. They had managed to help a little girl who strayed too far from her mother, stopped a runaway bus, and Luka’s favorite moment of all: experienced the irony of Chat Noir rescuing a black cat from a tree.
“Don’t worry about getting stuck up there, Chat,” Luka had called up to him arms outstretched and ready to catchy any falling cats from trees, “I’ll be sure to save you if it comes to that.” And he meant it.
“Har-dee-har.” Chat had said rolling his eyes at Viperion’s joke before jumping down from the tree with his little fuzzy counterpart in his arms and a few more scratches on his person than he had climbing up the tree. Here he thought he was the only one with cat jokes to tell. It was nice actually to hear someone join in for once.
It had been two years since Luka had been first given the snake miraculous and now he found himself as its permanent holder. It hadn’t been what he expected to happen in his life, but—He glanced over to Chat who let out a loud whoop of delight as they leapt from one rooftop to another in sync—But Luka had realized over the years that he was happy this had happened to him. Happy to have met Chat Noir and Ladybug.
Taking refuge on a rooftop, they sat and took a break, catching their breath, and snacked on some sandwiches they received from the kind owner of the black cat. ‘Kinder than her cat’ Chat had been sure to comment with a huff and a pout before biting into the ham sandwich with a little hum of delight. The pair ate and chatted as they watched the city below from their spots way on high. The streets bustled with life, busy, yet peaceful.
“I, uh,” Chat started with nervous rub of his neck, “I just wanted to say thanks for coming on patrol with me.” Today had been so much fun with Viperion and…and he had been so shitty to him in the past, “And that I’m sorry.”
Luka blinked at him blankly. Did…Did he hear him right?
“I—” He took a breath and exhaled. He knew he had to say this. “I haven’t been great to you in the past. I wasn’t kind. Didn’t treat you like apart of the team, and you are. Indispensable. You’re a great guy too!”
“Chat—”
“And that last time we teamed up. You really saved my skin.” With cats ears folded flat against his head, blonde hair covers his eyes as he tipped his head down unable to look at the other hero. Shame coursed through Chat Noir.
“Chat—”
“I mean it!” He urged in a worried tone, “You really saved one of my nine lives back then.” He said with a weak laugh in an attempt to alleviate the pressure he felt in his chest, “While I’ve just been jealous and terrible.” And Chat knew it. He had pretended he couldn’t see what he was doing, but he knew and needed to admit it. He had let his insecurities get in the way. Viperion was better at being a hero than he was and he had been doing it for a shorter time than him. Both him and Ladybug were so much better than him. At times he thought, maybe, he wasn’t really needed. He couldn’t take down akumas like Ladybug, he wasn’t as insightful as Viperion out in the field, so what was left for him? He couldn’t help but ask if he was necessary? Was he dispensable?
And what had made it worse in Chat’s eyes was how well the two of them got along. He would watch how they laughed and had their own jokes and thought maybe it was true.
Luka let out a single loud and incredulous laugh, surprising Chat to the point his cat ears stood up in shock.
“Jealous? Of me?” Luka couldn’t believe it in the least. What was there of him to be jealous of? He wasn’t the one here who was Chat Noir, superhero extraordinaire, one of the beloved heroes of Paris who worked tireless for everyone’s sake, and to add just plain charming in Luka’s opinion. “You’re the spectacular one here Chat.”
“What?” Now it was Chat’s turn to be surprised. See? This was what Chat was talking about. Viperion was simply so nice! And supportive! And genial! Here he was trying to apologize to him, and he was just, well, like this! Taking it in stride! How could he not be jealous of a guy like this?
“I thought you might take my place, or maybe I was scared that I was so easily replaceable and took it out on you.” Monopolizing Ladybug’s time after a mission with the three of them or just give him the cold shoulder, “That’s not spectacular in the least.”
Viperion strums his lyre with contemplation, one note slowly after the other. So his previous concern had been right, but despite that Viperion still gave him a kind and sympathetic smile. He just kept proving Chat’s point. He was the kind of guy you wanted to be or wanted to be with. Despite it all he wasn’t mad in the least. The jealousy was understandable after all had he not been jealous of Chat himself?
“You invited me out today, though. And you recognized what you did was wrong, and apologized. You didn’t have to do any of those things you know. I would have been none the wiser.” He admitted as he strummed his lyre once more, but this time in a more manner harmonious. He couldn’t blame Chat for feeling how he did at all.
“I’m still sorry.” Chat replied.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up
“It’s fine. Really. I forgive you. But maybe you should talk to Ladybug about this as well? Let her know how you’ve been feeling.”
“You think I should?”
“Yeah, it’s better to make your feelings known than to keep them bottled in.” Luka knew how it felt as well, “And knowing Ladybug everything will be fine. She’s your friend and only wants the best for you. I want the best for you as well.” He added with a smile.
“Yeah…” Adrien knew what it was like to keep all his feelings bottled up. At home, in his real life, now being Chat Noir. This was supposed to be where he could really be himself. Free. Himself. And Ladybug was his friend. If he couldn’t be himself with his friends, well, what was the point? Chat nods, “I’ll talk to her.” A small smile graces his lips. Everything would be fine.
“I’m glad to hear it.” And Luka truly was.
“Viperion…” Chat fingers pinch at the fabric of the other’s sleeve, “Thanks for, well, everything. Having my back and…being you.”
Vipereon smiled at him and it felt like his stomach flipped, “I’ll always have your back, Kitten. Promise.” He said standing up, “…And y’know while we’re admitting things…I’ve found myself a bit jealous too. Ladybug’s the one who gets to spend all her time with you.” He replied with a soft smile on his lips. Luka winks at Chat and leaps from the roof onto another ready to resume the patrol. His bottled feelings were off his chest and now that just left Chat. As he leapt through the air Luka felt a bit lighter himself.
“‘…Kitten?’” Adrien repeats with his brows raised high beneath his mask. He could feel heat rise up to the surface of his cheeks all of a sudden, and he bit at his bottom lip fighting the smile that tried to grace his lips. It was new and a first for him, his stomach even flipped again, but it wasn’t unpleasant feeling in the least.
More like a buzz. It was exciting and new.
Adrien took a step back and with a running start he leapt, chasing after Viperion.
***
A deluge of rain poured across the city. The clouds the sky and made the dark night even darker.
Every which way it seemed there was the same newspaper headline plastered around or blowing in the wind as Luka ran across the city, soaked, out of breath, and each heavy footstep splashing up rainwater with pure panic etched across his body and actions.
The headline read in bold black letters:
HAWKMOTH UNMASKED: TERROR OF PARIS REVEALED AS GABRIEL AGRESTE
Luka wanted to tear down every headline he could, but time was of the essence. Adrien had run from the scene of the fight. He had yelled and screamed and then ran off without a trace. Luka had tried calling him, searched for him from the rooftops of Paris, checked his home, school, other friends places, practically everywhere he could think of.
His phone began to ring. Juleka was calling him, and her voice was urgent. He was on the run once more.
He had checked everywhere except one place.
Out of breath, and soaked to the bone Luka ran up the gangplank to The Liberty as fast as he could, skidding on the slick deck and he rushed inside, past his mom, past Juleka, each trying to tell him something and threw his arms around Adrien and pulling him close to his chest, as close as he could get the other to him. To envelope him. To protect him. To shield him from whatever may come.
“I-I didn’t know where else to go.” Adrien squeaks out; His voice raspy and raw.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. You’re always welcome here.” Worry exuded from every inch of Luka’s body as he squeezed him tightly. It was the first time Adrien had ever seen him like this. It was the first time Luka had truly felt this way himself.
“What were you thinking running off like?” Luka asked, all worry and panic
In truth he wasn’t. Every instinct in his body just told him to run as he saw the facade of Hawkmoth dissolve into his father. To run far. Far far far away from the truth.
In that moment Luka felt two hands cling to the back of his jacket, and Adrien buried his head in his chest. Neither cared that Luka was soaked in this moment.
Luka could feel how Adrien’s back heaved beneath his fingers as he sobbed into his chest. Adrien’s crying was drowned in the rain. There was always something bigger than him. He was constantly drowned beneath his father’s name, and now he found himself drowned once more. His father was Hawkmoth. At twenty-one years old he was finally finding out who his father truly was. What sort of man he was.
Repeatedly he had put people he loved into danger. He had put him into danger, and for what? Had his father even thought of him once?
What would everyone thing of him now? The son of Paris’s supervillain.
“What am I going to do?” He hiccuped and heaved out against Luka’s chest amidst his sobs. What would the other think? Would they hate him? Abandon him? A sob painfully caught in his throat
Luka simply held onto him tighter. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what to do as a hero. He didn’t know what to do as a friend. For once he didn’t know what to do or what to say.
“I—I don’t…” Even his voice was beginning to quaver. He couldn’t be like this. He couldn’t be helpless when Adrien needed him.
“We’ll get ya boys some warm dry clothes first is what we’ll do!” It was the voice of his mother, boisterous and confident. “And a hot dinner! Good thing we were having stew tonight.” She let out a bright and hearty laugh as Luka stared at his mother. A confident grin on her lips. He knew she didn’t have as much of a clue of what Adrien could do, but she’d support and protect him just like he was one of her own.
“We’ll all be here for you, lad. A Captain protects her crew, and mates look after one another too, after all.” She assures him with a proud and adamant stance. And Juleka too quietly and earnestly agreed with a, “That’s right.”
“Yeah,” Luka nodded as he loosened his hold around Adrien to let him have some space, but like a tether he kept his hands on his shoulder not willing to leet him drift away and feel alone again, “We’ll always be here if you need us or just a place to stay….Whenever you need me I’ll drop everything and I’ll be there. No matter when. No matter where.” And he meant it.
Rubbing his red eyes and tear stained cheeks Adrien sniffled out a croaky thanks as he followed Luka to his room to find them some clothes. His entire life had been flipped upside down in an evening, and while things weren’t all right all of a sudden, he felt loved and supported in the moment he needed it most. He knew he wasn’t alone in this moment.
Soon the both of them returned in dry clothes, Adrien having borrowed one of Luka’s old band t-shirts, they sat around the living area each with a hot bowl of stew, Luka sat close to him sticking to his side, and talking about whatever came to their minds. What had happened at college, something funny Ivan had said during a band practice, they just talked and laughed like it was any other normal day. Adrien even joined in and it felt like nothing was amiss. It was as if he had always been apart of the family.
Adrien could feel tears prick at the corner of his eyes, but he was happy. He could feel the warmth of sharing a dinner with people who cared. It was the first time in a long time that he had enjoyed eating dinner a family dinner.
***
“I’m telling you, Adrien. I don’t need anything special for today.” Luka laughed as they walked hand in hand down the street to Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie.
“No way! I’ve got to do something special for my boyfriend on his birthday.” His first boyfriend in his life, and today would be amongst many firsts. First boyfriend, first time celebrating a significant other’s birthday, as well as planning a surprise party on his own for him. Nothing too huge of course just them, their friends, and Luka’s family. Jagged was even coming to play with the rest of Kitty Section to perform a song he, Juleka, and Rose had collaborated on. Adrien had even also invited Chloe, who had promised to be on her best behavior for his sake. With a stifled chuckle he even remembered how she had given Luka the, “If you hurt him I’ll hurt you” speech as soon as she had found out they had started dating. Not even his father had done that, not that he had given him opportunity to, but Adrien had found it sweet, overprotective of her, but sweet. Regardless he knew his friends, even his childhood friend, would have his back no matter what.
“So long as you’re with me my day is already special enough.” He said with a squeeze of his hand
Adrien grinned at that. His smile was bright and his demeanor reminded Luka something of like a sunflower. He was tall like one too. Only the slightest bit taller than himself. “As sweet as that is you’re not getting off that easy.” No one was going to stop him from celebrating his boyfriend’s birthday.
The bell to the bakery door rang as they entered, and the smell of sweet confections wafted in the air.
“Hi Mrs. Cheng!” Adrien greeted as Luka waved and gave a polite hello as well. The three of them exchange pleasantries and caught up on what had happening in their lives. The bakery was as busy as ever now with Marinette’s cute designs decorating their pastries, and it helped that her own fame had begun to take off due to her fledgling status in the fashion industry. A few people were starting to recognize her name and came by the bakery to grab a bite and maybe if they were lucky to see her. Luka and Adrien had mentioned their respective endeavors. Luka’s music had been going well and Kitty Section was scheduled to tour with Jagged Stone come the summer. While Adrien’s photography was gaining more and more traction after a recent showcase. They how after college they had moved in together, taking residence in a decent apartment not too far from the bakery. They had been by each other’s side for so long now that moving in together had felt like a natural step. Very little had changed between them considering that he had practically lived at Adrien’s apartment prior to their moving into a larger apartment.
Though Luka was certain he saw Gorilla just as much as he did prior to moving in. Any event Adrien was at he wasn’t far behind. He would even still stop him sometimes from seeing Adrien though they had been dating for a few years now or living in his apartment. But Luka had to admit that he was good at his job and genuinely seemed to care about Adrien though he might not express it or even look it. He even doubled down on his bodyguard duties for after what had happened with Mr. Agreste, and Adrien had needed it after he decided to get away from the public eye for a bit and took a break from modeling. Paparazzi swarmed to get an interview or even a glimpse of him after that and Gorilla had been there to fend them off and keep them away. It had been a hard time, but thing were better now.
Luka smiled at Adrien as he listened to him and Mrs. Cheng talk, he was certain that things were a lot better now.
“Mrs. Cheng would you mind if I used your restroom?”
“Not at all, dear. It’s upstairs. Here. I’ll show you where it is.” She said before quickly calling her husband, who was in the back, to get Luka their order.
“Ah! Luka! You’re just in time! I’ve got everything ready.”
Luka stares at Tom surprised and joked with a chuckle, “Do you have ESP or something Mr. Dupain?”
“Heh! Let’s just say a little bird told me. Happy twenty-fifth birthday, son. I hope the cake’s to your liking.” He happily said presenting a large white box to Luka that looked much, much bigger than the order of a pistachio macaron’s, Luka’s favorite, that Adrien had mentioned they were going to get.
“Thank you, Mr. Dupain. I appreciate it, but ah…Cake? Adrien and I didn’t order—” And suddenly it clicked as he looked down at the large white box. This was Adrien’s doing. Holding the box, a curious part of him wanted to take a peek, but he knew he shouldn’t. Looking to Mr. Dupain he opened his mouth to speak, but at the moment Marinette’s voice rang and the sound of her footsteps were coming in fast.
“Daaaad!” Marinette called rushing down into the bakery in a haste, almost tripping down the last step as she did. Same old Marinette, Luka couldn’t help, but think in that moment.
“Noo! Don’t tell me you told him!” She said snatching the box away from Luka and hiding it out of sight, and grabbing the order of macarons that Adrien had meant for them to pick up now, and gave it to Luka instead.
Luka flashed a sheepish smile her way, “I guess you could say…the cat’s out of the bag?” He smiled. If Adrien had been here he surely would have pulled out the pun himself.
“Now, even his terrible puns are rubbing off on you.” Marinette smiled, as much as she said they were corny or playfully rolled her eyes at them she couldn’t help, but like them too. “You won’t say anything will you?” She clasped her hands together and plead.
“Of course not. I promise I won’t let on that I know.” It was sweet of his boyfriend to do all this for him after all.
“Good. Kagami and I will see you both tonight after her fencing match.”
“Tonight?” Luka grinned realizing another cat had escaped the proverbial bag. Cake and a surprise party to go with it too. Adrien was really spoiling him today, but Luka didn’t even know the half of it.
“Ngnnnn!” Marinette let out a high pitched noise stricken at the blunder, and pulled at her hair. “Pretend you didn’t hear that!” She urged and whined shoving the box of pistachio macarons into his arms. “Even better forget about everything you’ve heard!”
Luka stifled a chuckled with his hand. Like father like daughter. “Your secret is safe with me, Marinette. Completely forgotten.” He promised as he heard Adrien come back down the steps.
“Is everything alright?” He asked from the stairs.
“Ah, yeah. I just got our order, kitten.” Luka smiled and held up the box of a macarons with a smile as if everything was absolutely normal.
Adrien stared at him for a moment wondering if something was up. It wasn’t every moment that Luka called him by that nickname. Usually when he was feeling affectionate or just flirty. “Oh! Good! Good…” Adrien said as he gave Marinette a look as he noticed her worried expression.
At this moment Luka purposefully busied himself with looking at the macarons, admiring their handiwork, and trying one out as the silent conversation of looks happened past him with Adrien giving Marinette one look, and she in turn gave him another trying to persuade him that nothing was wrong and Luka had absolutely no idea that there was a surprise party happening on The Liberty tonight. A whole conversation was going on that was beyond any onlooker who might catch it. It was the kind of conversation that close friends of years who had been through it all could possibly have.
He had promised he wouldn’t let on after all for boyfriend’s sake.
And he didn’t.
The night and the party went on without a hitch. Rocking music was playing, all of their friends were there having a good time, and things were simply great. What Luka remembered the best was when everyone on deck started singing “Happy-Birthday” to him and from inside, Adrien came out carrying his birthday cake, his smile beaming brighter than the sparklers and candles stuck in the cake. Luka’s eyes were solely on him.
***
Luka took a deep breath knelt on one knee and spoke the words he had been practicing for the last couple of month.
“Adrien Agreste, will you marry me?”
There was silence.
“Wait- No. Dammit.” He muttered to himself as he fumbled with the velvet box in his jacket pocket. He had forgotten to take it out in his practice run and let out a sigh as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. Twenty-nine years old, dressed in a suit jacket over a t-shirt, his hair messily slicked back, stray hairs from bangs unwilling to cooperate, and still undecided if he should take his snake-bite piercings out when he proposed, he felt as much of a mess on the inside as he seemed on the outside. And that wasn’t taking into account the mess he had made out of the kitchen looking for wine glasses, trying out different wines, seeing where candles would look the best, and considering whether he should go big and throw out some rose petals around the room.
In other words Luka was completely and utterly nervous. He had never been this nervous before in his life. Never before a gig. Not when Kitty Section released their first album and they were waiting for the reviews. Not when they started touring on their own. None of that had ever made him feel nervous or scared like this did.
But Adrien fucking Agreste did.
Spending the rest of his life with the man he loved? He couldn’t picture what that sort of future held. What sort of life they would have together, but he knew beyond a doubt that he was happy with him.
The thought of being together, spending his life with him…it scared and excited him. It was like an electric current going through him or the sound of a power chord ripping through a silent venue packed with people. The feeling lingering, thrumming and vibrating on the tips of his fingers long after. Irreplaceable.
He stared at the little velvet box, twirling it in his hands before pressing to his forehead with a pained groan. He wanted this to be perfect. Perfect for Adrien. He could only dream and hope that he made Adrien as happy as he made him in life.
Luka let out a sigh as he stood up, tossed the jacket onto their bed, and pocketed the engagement ring, deciding that right now it would be better to clean up the kitchen and get dinner started. He’s held onto the ring for a month so far, what was a few more days or weeks?
As he turned the radio on, letting whatever song that was on to flow freely as he cleared away the candles and the bottles of wine save for one with a little black cat embossed on the side, his mind began to wander back to conversation he had with Kagami months prior.
**
While Adrien and Marinette were catching up in the kitchen, Luka had stood with Kagami on their balcony. The night lights glinting off her wedding band.
Ever perceptive she had caught him staring at it, contemplative and with a question dancing on his tongue, “You want to know how I asked her.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of the truth.
“I—Yeah,” Luka rubbed his the back of his neck, “How did you know?”
“It’s easy enough for anyone to see, Luka. You two have been together quite a while as well.” She replied taking a calm sip of her drink, “You make a good couple as well. Balanced. Good for each other.”
“Thanks.” He said leaning against the rail, “So how did you go about it? Just holding onto this ring is…” He waved his hand looking for the right words.
“Driving you mad?”
“Exactly.” He laughed, “Guess I’m not the only one.”
“Not in the least…It was difficult even for me.” She smirked, “But I wanted it to be more than just a declaration of love. I wanted her to know clearly what I felt.” A faint blush tinged Kagami’s cheeks as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not simply that I wanted her for myself. To be with me.” And she did indeed want that. Kagami always knew what she wanted in life. “But that I wanted to experience life with her. To share our lives and everything. Together.”
Kagami smiled and let out a sigh as she twisted her ring.
“What do you want Adrien to know, Luka?”
**
“What do I want him to know?” Luka whispered out to himself as he shoved the candles away into a cabinet, and washed the dishes left over from earlier. The water ran, loudly as he scrubbed at the dishes feeling somewhat aimless. There were so many things he wanted to tell Adrien, but what did he want him to know?
“It’s more than the fact I adore you.” He began speaking aloud to himself, “It’s more than the song I hear in my head when I’m with you…I love you. As clear as a music note I know I love you. I love you as you are, and will be. My heart thrums and shakes at the thought of you. It swells with the thought of your smile. I want to make you as happy as you’ve made me over all these years. Honestly. Earnestly. I want to share the rest of my days with you. Every morning, noon, and night. Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want to spend every new moment with you.” A smile cracks on his lips as he places another dish on the dish rack, “…Will you marry me, Adrien Agreste?”
“Yes.”
Luka’s eyes widened, and he whipped around in an instance to see Adrien leaning against the doorway with a grin on his lips that would rival the Cheshire cat’s own. He was back from his modeling gig sooner than Luka had expected.
“Yes, I will, Luka Couffaine.”
Luka was beet red and caught off guard. It wasn’t a perfect proposal like he had planned. It was messy, and unrehearsed. And the ring! Adrien hadn’t even seen the ring yet! “Oh my God.” Luka clutches the sink counter and leans all of his weight back. Conflicting emotions of embarrassment, surprise, relief, and happiness overwhelmed him all at once.
He had said ‘yes’.
The realization Adrien had said ‘yes’ to his proposal hit him even harder that tears of happiness began to well in his eyes. “Oh my God.” Luka repeated, “Did you really just say yes to the least rehearsed proposal in the world?” Possibly even the worst Luka thought. He had a dinner half-planned and so many more things, but simultaneously part him threw all of that to the wayside as his heart pounded in his chest because Adrien had said ‘yes’!
A snort of a laugh escaped Adrien’s lips, covered by both hands, because he simply had never expected his boyfriend—no, now his fiancé—to react like this ever. Adrien had never seen him so overwhelmed in his life. Luka was always the calm one between them while he was the more emotive. “No. No! This was perfect.” Adrien replied in earnest as he closed the distance between them and pressed close to Luka, his arms instinctively wrapping around him, pulling him closer, and pressed his lips to Luka’s own in a sweet and soft kiss reminiscent of their first as nervous energy exuded from one of them. Though this time it wasn’t Adrien.
“It was perfect, Luka.” Adrien promised in a whisper as he pressed his forehead to his. The proposal was very much Luka to his core. Earnest and raw and true to the point that now Adrien felt tears well in his eyes. He never needed candles, or rose petals, wine, or some flashy show of affection. All he ever needed was the person he loved to tell him he loved him. That’s all he would have ever wanted in a proposal, and that’s what Luka had done.
They held each other in their small apartment kitchen as music played around them.
****
“So why ‘Promises’?” Adrien’s question echoed as all the groceries were put finally away.
Luka stared at his husband. There was more time on both of their faces, less sleep around their eyes, and lines where they hadn’t been before. Adrien wore glasses more often, and instead of being a full time model like so many assumed he become he found himself behind the lens, while Luka found himself with more tattoos across his body, and Kitty Section having gone so far. They even had their own little family of four with the birth of their twins, Emile and Karina. So much had changed for the both of them, but those little promises they made over the years would always remain.
He clasps Adrien’s hand, wrapping his fingers firmly around his, and brings it up for a kiss, his snake-bite piercing brushing against the soft skin of the back of his hand.
Adrien gasps Luka’s name out in embarrassment and surprise, before laughing out a ‘What are you doing? You’ll wake the kids,’ with his nose wrinkled with his laughter and delight betraying how pleased he was the little display of affection. After so many years together, of sharing both good and bad times, it was the little moments that made the largest impressions in their lives. Just like those promises they made.
He trails another kiss further up his hand, then onto his wrist, and arm before affectionately pressing a kiss to his lips. The pair find themselves pressed up against the kitchen counter lost in the moment.
“It’s called that because I’ve been thinking about us. Our lives. And all of the promises we’ve made after all these years. They mean everything to me. You and the kids mean everything to me.”
“You mean everything to us as well, Luka.” He replied kissing him once more, forehead pressed to his own, green eyes coyly staring into Luka’s own blue, “So I guess you could also say we’re your mew-ses?” Adrien grinned, and Luka couldn’t help, but laugh.
“Yes. Yes, you could.” He said seeing how proud Adrien was of his pun. His life would be so different without him and his corny puns, but here they were after all these years, and the ups and downs. Here they were and neither would have it any other way.
“Love you.” Adrien said as he squeezed Luka’s hand and slipped past him as the sound of little whine and stirring echoed over the baby monitor.
“Promise?” Luka asked with a smile of his lips.
“Promise.” Adrien replied in earnest, and the pair went to check on their children.