Chapter Text
It's been a few weeks since Luka left for Brazil. And it hasn't been one day since Adrien hasn't called. On occasions, he would even take the power up and fly to Brazil. One of these days, he'll make it to the news saying "Chat Noir flies to Brazil."
On occasions like today, when he just landed on the roof of Luka's room, peeking in from the window and knocking on it to get noticed.
"Chat, you're here again??" Luka rushes over to open the window and let Chat Noir in. And he welcomes Adrien.
"I missed you." he says. And that's all the explanation he gives for his late night intrusion from all the way to Paris.
"You can't come here anytime, Adrien. Paris needs you." he tries to reason with the boy who was already making himself comfortable on Luka's bed.
"Paris has Ladybug, Carapace, Rena Rouge and so on. They can handle Chat Noir being gone for a while"
At this point Luka doesn't know what to say, he just sighs a smile and goes over to sit beside Adrien. "Would you fly here everytime you feel lonely?"
"Yes." he answers firmly. As if he won't budge even if Luka tried to convince him not to. "You're the only one I can tell EVERYTHING to, Luka. I need you by my side and I miss you every day."
He speaks so casually. Oh, he says it so casually. He doesn't get how much it affects Luka, he has no idea how fast he gets Luka's heartbeat running with such simple, but sincere words. 'Only one I can tell everything to,' somehow that makes Luka feel special. He knows he shouldn't feel this way, it's selfish to feel this way. But he can't help it. Imagining being the only one Adrien can come to when he needs someone to talk to, oh how luxurious. He's Adrien's only escape...
"Why couldn't you just stay in Paris?" Adrien's brows are crooked, eyes watery again as if they'd spill over with one little poke.
"I...I can't... If I get akumatized it'll be dangerous for both you and Ladybug. And I can't risk that."
'I can't risk you' the latter part stays unsaid. Luka can't bring himself to be too sincere. He doesn't know what will happen if he spills something, anything.
"I get it...I do, but, I just wish you were there, with us."
'With us.'
Not 'with me.'
He really doesn't see Luka in the same light as Luka does him, does he? Now it's three secrets Luka can't dare ever say.
1. Marinette is Ladybug.
2. Adrien is Chat Noir.
3. Luka Couffaine likes Adrien Agreste.
But how is he to keep that a secret for so long when Adrien comes to him so often, talks so sweet to him so often. Even now, Adrien has come all the way from Paris to say "I miss you" to him.
"Let's go get ice cream." Luka offers.
He goes over to his cupboard to grab a jacket. Two jackets.
And a muffler. Two mufflers.
He dresses himself in the jacket and the muffler. Then he dresses Adrien in his jacket and his muffler.
It looks nice on him.
"Let's go"
He turns around, suddenly a hand grasping his from behind.
Adrien has held onto him. His heart rate spikes again.
They go out to have ice cream in the middle of the night. Nothing other than 24/7 super shops are open, so they sit at one, eating ice cream as melting droplets drips down their hand.
"Everyone in Paris misses you a lot."
'And you? What about you?' Luka wants to ask, but he just smiles and nods. He can't get too eager...
"Sometimes we need Viperion in our fights and midway to your house we realise you're not there anymore."
"You guys will find a new Snake holder soon, I'm sure"
"No, Viperion cannot be replaced so easily. We need you, Viperion." The sincerity in his eyes hurt. He's being honest. He doesn't want to replace Luka as the snake miraculous holder. And it makes Luka feel special again. But he tells himself Adrien talks like that to everyone. Besides, he's in love with Ladybug. He's not special. He'll never be special.
"You're special. You cannot be replaced."
And there Adrien breaks his self control.
Luka throws himself over at Adrien, arms wrapped tight around his torso.
"Don't call me special. I don't even know why you chose me to be the holder of the snake miraculous."
"I chose you because I knew you can do it. You can fight Crysalis. You don't have to run away, Luka."
"I can't risk your identities, Adrien. You don't understand!" he pulls back from the embrace, his hands still holding Adrien by the shoulders as he moves back to face him properly.
"All I'm saying is you can visit us too, you know!" Luka's eyes go wide, he's surprised at the sudden outburst from the usually laid back boy. "Why am I the only one flying here when you have your miraculous too?"
It's hurt. It's hurt in his eyes. He's asking "why don't you put in the same effort?" "Why don't you visit me too?"
And Luka has no answer to it except "I'm scared I'll fall for you even more, and be an obstacle in your and Marinette's story." So he stays quiet, not saying anything as Adrien's expression slowly changes to understanding.
He reaches out to hug Luka this time, a warm embrace Luka could deep dive in.
"Visit us sometimes too. We miss you. I miss you."
'I miss you.'
He emphasised it.
Luka's hands couldn't hold back, they slid in to hold the other boy close. So close it could actually hurt, but neither of them said anything. They stayed like that for a while, neither of them saying anything.
"I need to get going." Adrien breaks the moment with the notice of his leave. He moves back from the embrace, his hands lingering on Luka's for a moment too long before he let's go completely and transforms.
"Bye..."
And he takes off, leaving Luka standing there in a daze.