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Luka - presently Viperion - stood idly on the rooftop, gazing out at the horizon.
The full team had just split off from their mid-month meeting, and Chat Noir had asked him to stick around. Apparently, he wanted to talk to Viperion after a quick check-in with Ladybug, before Chat and LB took their regularly scheduled patrol.
It was a cold February morning, but Luka couldn’t feel it - not with the magic of his miraculous’ transformation keeping him warm.
“Thanks for waiting,” Chat called from behind him.
Luka turned, smiling. “Of course,” he said warmly. “You’re the boss, aren’t you?”
Chat frowned, rubbing his neck. “I, uh- I’m the boss’ assistant, if anything,” he said sheepishly.
“Please,” Luka dismissed. “Ladybug’s always insisting you two are equals.”
“I know,” Chat relented. “It’s just- this might be borderline harassment, if I’m the boss.”
“Oh?” Luka grinned.
Chat smiled shyly, turning away slightly. “I, uh- I wanted to give this to you in advance, not late, but it wasn’t ready, and-”
Luka watched as Chat unzipped his pocket and pulled out 3 cards, flipping between them to find the right one.
“Here,” he said gently, holding one out to Luka. “For you.”
Luka knew Chat pretty well. He knew Chat had a difficult home life, to put it mildly, and that being a superhero was largely an escape. A chance to be a carefree, goofy kid.
Seeing the pile of cards, and the heart on the front of his, Luka smiled.
It was adorable, he decided. Chat was reviving that elementary school tradition of getting Valentine’s cards for the whole class.
Viperion was probably one of the last few teammates to get his.
Adrien lay back in his bed, wondering what Luka thought of the Valentine he’d given him as Chat.
It had taken a lot of strength to give it to him, more even than the Valentine he’d given Ladybug shortly afterwards.
Your sharp, observant eyes
Your brilliant tactical wit;
I used to think we were meant to be,
A destiny we fit.
But now I know romantic love,
And it’s not what I felt for you.
Thank you for being there-
As my partner, and best friend too.
Marinette smiled as she read the poem.
Her kitty had figured himself out.
She’d admonished him a little when he gave her the Valentine- but she didn’t mean it, really. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, something she admired. He backed off when she told him too, so she couldn’t fault him.
"Just read it," Chat had insisted. "Please. You'll understand when you do."
Marinette was glad she'd listened, instead of assuming she knew what it was.
Luka sat on his bed, staring at the card Chat had given him.
He hadn't opened it, yet.
Some part of him was scared to.
Luka had deduced, from the fact Chat had a pile of Valentine's cards on him, that it was a generic card he'd given every member of the team.
But some part of him still hoped otherwise. And as long as he didn't open the card, he couldn't be disappointed.
"What's that?" Juleka asked, in her quiet way.
Luka shrugged. "Just a card from Chat," he replied nonchalantly. He'd long ago found out Purple Tigress' secret, and shared his in turn. "You've got one too, right?"
Juleka didn't say anything.
"Right?" Luka asked again, eyes narrowing. "He had like, a whole stack. I thought he gave one to everyone."
Juleka smiled. "Nope," she said simply. "Just you."
Luka frowned, confused.
He opened the card.
Your gorgeous sky-blue hair,
Your brilliant opal eyes;
I wish I could admit I knew
Who you are when undisguised.
I used to think I already knew
How it felt to love so true;
But now I’ve fallen for you, instead,
And I hope you love me too.
Luka swallowed.
Chat knew who he was.
Chat loved him.
That boy was going to be the death of Luka.
Adrien looked up at the gangplank to The Liberty, shaking.
This was it.
He took a step. Then another.
Had Luka had a chance to read the first card?
Was giving him the second one the right thing to do?
How would Luka react?
Adrien swallowed, and took another step.
"Luka!"
Luka groaned. "Yes, captain?" he shouted back.
"Ye got company, lad! Up and at em!"
With a sigh, Luka stretched and got to his feet, making his way abovedeck.
"Adrien!" he exclaimed. "How- how'd you get out the house?"
Adrien just smiled. "I, ah. I think this might explain it," he said shyly, holding up a card.
It looked like the one Chat had given him, Luka realized. Of course, Valentines being a commercialised holiday, it was only natural that eventually someone would get the same card from two different people.
Then Luka remembered the poem from Chat had been handwritten; Adrien must have written something too.
He accepted the card, though hesitantly, and opened it.
I know you hear melodies,
The songs in people's hearts.
I hope you hear me long for you,
Whenever we're apart.
You helped me find my place in life,
My heart, please know you've won.
Please you and I be Valentines,
Chat Noir and Viperion.
When Luka looked up, Adrien was nervously fidgeting with his ring- no, his miraculous- and looking down.
"Hey," Luka breathed, taking a step closer and using a hand to lift Adrien's face to look at him. Luka's other hand dropped the card, taking both of Adrien's hands instead.
Adrien gave a shy smile, as Luka pulled his hands out the way and stroked Adrien's cheek with his thumb.
Luka pulled Adrien close, the hand on Adrien's cheek snaking around to hold the back of Adrien's neck, his other hand reaching around Adrien's back to hold him tight.
Adrien was blushing hard, and Luka didn't miss the glance Adrien gave to Luka's lips.
"Gentle with the piercings," Luka said softly, leaning in.
Adrien looked back at Luka's lips, trembling. "I-" he stammered. Adrien looked back up to Luka's eyes. "We-"
"Shhhh," Luka whispered, closing his eyes, before pressing his lips to Adrien's.
"Well," Anarka boomed, "Isn't this a surprise? Luka, me boy, you know where to find the condoms."
Luka pulled away quickly, stammering. "Mama!" he yelped. "It's not- Don't just- Ugh!"
Adrien grabbed his hand, squeezing gently. Luka flushed, smiling.
"What's the point o being yer mam, if I can't embarrass ya?" Anarka smirked.
Luka groaned. "Mama, please. You'll scare him off!"
Adrien leaned in to Luka's side. "I'm a superhero, remember?" Adrien whispered, chuckling. "I don't scare easily."
"Maybe," Luka whispered back with a smirk, "We should go find a rooftop to cuddle on."
"Anarka," Adrien called with a mischievous gleam in his eye, still looking at Luka. "Where are the condoms again?"
Luka went red. "On a rooftop?" he exclaimed as quietly as he could.
Adrien smirked. "Just teasing you," he said, poking Luka in the cheek.