Chapter Text
It was like a dream come true for Marinette when Adrien, her and their team took down Shadow Moth. It had come as a relief to all of Paris, but the heroes most of all. Finally, they no longer needed to hide their identities, and they could be honest with each other.
The night that Ladybug and Chat Noir revealed their identities to each other, the whole of Paris seemed to stand still. Marinette and Adrien had been connected in both their civilian and hero identities, and neither of them had ever known.
They had held each other on the roof of the Dupain-Chengs’ bakery. There had been tears, a fair bit of airing out dirty laundry, and reassurances throughout it all.
It was a picture-perfect love story, but there was something that still ate at them both.
“I’m not proud of how I treated Luka,” Marinette admitted, on a quiet night where Adrien was sleeping over. “Even though I loved him, some part of me was still stuck on you. He never did anything wrong, but…”
“It didn’t work out at the time,” Adrien finished. “It was the same with me and Kagami…”
“I feel awful for having avoided him, but… I’m scared my presence might be more painful.”
“Luka didn’t mind helping as Viperion, even after you two broke up,” Adrien pointed out. “He’s a good person.”
“So is Kagami.”
“Yeah…”
“If Tikki was here, she’d be telling us to talk it through,” Marinette murmured. Tikki and Plagg were spending the night catching up with the other kwamis in the Miracle Box; as dual Guardians, Marinette and Adrien were biding their time and letting the nineteen rest a bit before any would rejoin their holders if they wished. “I bet Plagg would, too.”
Adrien laughed. “Plagg always did believe in tough love, even if he’s a big softy when you give him time.”
Marinette smirked. “Didn’t I have his trust from day one?”
Adrien flushed. “Isn’t that because you’re Tikki’s holder?”
Marinette giggled, before stopping as her ever-productive mind came up with an idea on how to re-bond with Luka and Kagami. Communicating it to Adrien got a chuckle out of him. “Yeah, I like that idea! That’s ma dame.”
Maybe meddling in Luka and Kagami’s lovelives wasn’t the most mature idea, but if it didn’t work out, at least Luka and Kagami would get a friendship out of it. Marinette was sure of it!
Okay, maybe 90% sure…
Anyways, Marinette had suggested that she and Kagami go to the art gallery at the Louvre. After Ladybug and company figured out she colluded with Shadow Moth, Tomoe had fled the country, leaving Kagami behind in her haste. Kagami had spent the rest of her dependent years with the Césaires, who were happy to have her, though there had been some growing pains since Anansi was at a foreign kickboxing tournament for a few months, and now Kagami was much more well-adjusted. She had even had the support of the Césaires when she took up art more seriously and almost entirely dropped fencing.
The prospective secretly-a-double-date would have been perfect. Unfortunately, Luka and Adrien didn’t make it. When she noticed Adrien’s caller ID, Marinette covertly picked up the call.
“Adrien? Is everything okay?”
There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line, before Adrien quickly said, “There was— problem— Luka’s bike.”
“Adrien, you’re breaking up.”
Another rustle, followed by the clearer sound of her partner’s voice. “Sorry about that, the signal was rough. Luka’s bike broke down. We’re going to have to take it to the mechanic. I’m so sorry, but I think we’re going to have to take a raincheck.”
Marinette sighed. “That’s alright, buttercup. Thank you for calling me.”
Once Adrien hung up, she explained the situation to Kagami, who visibly deflated. “What a shame…” Kagami mumbled. “I was looking forward to seeing the portrait gallery…”
“We can still see them! We’ll just have to do it without the boys!” Marinette declared, taking Kagami’s hand and dragging her inside. Kagami was so used to it at this point that she let herself be maneuvered all the way through paying.
The portrait gallery was full of paintings depicting various major figures throughout contemporary and ancient history. There was even one of Team Miraculous, which made Marinette blush a little. She remembered having it painted, and how awkward, but exciting, it had been to pose for the portrait with her friends and allies.
They’d needed Rena Rouge’s help to get Rooster Bold and Chèvroi (Nathaniel had rebranded from Caprikid as an adult) in the painting, but clearly Marc and Nathaniel’s work had gone fine, if it was being featured in the Louvre’s upcoming artists exhibition.
Kagami eventually caught Marinette staring up at a portrait of La Pucelle. “Fitting choice for you, somehow,” she murmured to Marinette. “You’re everyone’s hero.”
“An everyday Ladybug,” Marinette replied. “That’s what Adrien used to call me.”
“I recall,” Kagami said, a touch too stiffly.
Marinette flinched. “S-Sorry! I know this is probably a sore subject.”
“It is alright, we were young. My issue was never Adrien’s feelings for you. I took issue with the secrets we were forced to keep from each other, and the strain our parents’ presence put on our relationship. Even if I loved him, I was in no place to be dating, was I?”
Marinette sighed. “When you say it like that, not really.” An awkward moment passed. “Would a hug be nice? I know you…” Can be emotionally repressed. “… aren’t the best at expressing your emotions, but if you’re okay with it…”
“I don’t need to cry,” Kagami murmured, a touch too swiftly, “but a hug would be appreciated. Just don’t bowl me over, please?”
Marinette nodded and gently took Kagami up in a hug, not pulling away but giving her plenty of room to do so herself if she wished.
“Is there anything else that would help?” Marinette asked.
Looking over to the paintings on the wall, Kagami took her sketchbook and pencils out of her bag. “Could I… draw you?”
“Sure!” Marinette took a moment to find a good pose - she’d gotten good at posing for pictures as Ladybug, but he was nowhere near as good at it as Adrien - before giving Kagami a little thumbs up to let her know to start.
It was kinda fun to watch Kagami work. She always got really in the zone when she was doing something she liked, a sort of laser-focus that Marinette never saw from her when she was fencing. Kagami was definitely much happier as an artist than a fencer.
“You’re very pretty, Marinette,” Kagami said, looking up from her sketchbook. “If I didn’t know better, I might wrongly assume that you were the artwork.”
Marinette blushed a little. She was used to Adrien’s more flowery declarations of love, but hearing similar things from Kagami was enough to leave her flustered all the same. “Oh, um… thank you.”
“I hope Adrien appreciates the wonderful girl he’s dating,” Kagami continued. “If he doesn’t, I just might have to steal you.”
That was… definitely more like a declaration of love.
No, Marinette was probably reading too far into things. She had always been an overthinker at the best of times. Kagami was probably… being friendly? That was it! Letting her know that there was no bad blood between them, even if Marinette was dating her ex. They could still be friends.
From inside the girls’ bag, Tikki groaned. Her wielder still had a lot to learn about love…
Ever since Adrien spent the evening helping Luka get his broken bike to the shop, they’d been texting on and off for a few days. Luka was a chill enough guy. Adrien could see what Marinette liked about him, even if their relationship didn’t end up working out.
Luka: Hey, you coming to practice today?
Luka: Nino’s been asking after you.
Adrien: I should be able to make it!
Luka: Perfect! I’m looking forward to seeing you :)
Why did that seemingly innocuous message send a little shiver down Adrien’s spine?
Trying to ignore it, Adrien started packing his bag, getting ready to head to the Liberty. Plagg floated over, turning over in midair. “What’s got you looking like the kitten who got the cream?”
“Nothing? I’m just happy that Luka thought about me. That’s all.”
“Y’know… you had that same look on your face right before you told me you liked the Bug.”
Adrien scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. Luka is Marinette’s ex-boyfriend.”
Plagg shrugged. “The heart wants what the heart wants and, sometimes, the heart wants your girlfriend's ex.”
“I’m not a cheater, Plagg… aren’t you only in love with Tikki?”
“Yes, but we’re two different guys. Oh, and I didn’t say anything about love, did I?”
“Hush, Plagg.” After a few moments of silence, Adrien paled. “You can speak! You can speak! I’m so sorry!”
Plagg shook out the effect of being silenced. “Thanks…”
“I’m sorry… we’ve really gotta figure out how to free you…”
“I forgive you, kid. Everyone makes mistakes, right?”
Adrien faltered. “… right.”
“Look, I don’t wanna talk about this if it's just gonna upset you,” Plagg continued. “Plus, you’re going to be late for practice if we stall for much longer.”
“Oh, right! Come on, Plagg!”
Practice with Kitty Section went pretty much the same as it always did. They were working on a new song, though, which was fun. Adrien had struggled to keep up on the piano, but hopefully, if he practiced a bit, he’d be up to speed by next weekend.
“Hey, Adrien! Can you help me move the keyboard?” Luka called, as everyone started packing up.
“Sure thing!” Adrien said, moving over to Luka.
“Thanks. This thing’s an absolute bitch to move sometimes. I don’t know why it’s so heavy!” Luka grumbled, grabbing onto one side of the folded up keyboard. Adrien followed his lead, holding onto the other side. “It’s going into the cupboard in my room, by the way.”
“Alright.”
The pair moved the keyboard, eventually stopping in Luka’s bedroom. Distantly, Adrien realized that this was the first time he had been in Luka’s room. Apparently, the first time Marinette met him, it had been in this room… and Luka had been pretty flirtatious…
NOT THE TIME!
“This is going in the cupboard, right?”
“Yeah, but it's going to be a tight squeeze. I think I’ve got it from here, though,” Luka said. Reaching to lift the keyboard into the cupboard, stowing it away on the top shelf, Adrien was suddenly keenly aware of how tall Luka was. He’d grown a few more inches since they were in college, while Adrien had stayed about the same height.
Maybe it was a little vain to find height of all things attractive, but Adrien couldn’t stop thinking about it. Luka was very attractive, there was no denying it. Maybe not traditionally attractive - like the models Adrien grew up around - but he carried himself well, and his features were striking.
Maybe Plagg had been right, after all…
“Adrien, you okay?” Luka asked. “You went pale, all of a sudden.”
Adrien faked a cough. “Yep! I’m all good! Nothing to worry about!”
Actually, there was plenty to worry about, but Adrien sure as fuck wasn’t telling Luka that.
He really, really needed to talk to someone. But who?