Chapter Text
As a large face-shaped butterfly figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere and threatened the destruction of Paris, exhibiting the new addition of 15 jewels to his collection, Luka's heart ached for her as she grieved the loss of the one thing she swore to protect. He knows what it feels like. After all, he'd once lost her herself. Though, thinking twice, losing her if anything seemed to help the future of the city. Really, she'd needed their separation to focus on her work as Ladybug. He respected her decision wholeheartedly especially so since he discovered her identity. This? This was destruction. This was darkness lurking around every corner, taunting innocent Parisians, flaunting its power over them. Paris was no longer in her hands but stolen by the twisted jaws of fate. They were mere pawns particularly so with the loss of all but two miraculous to France's most terrifying domestic terrorist.
He could imagine how she feels, though. After all, she was still Marinette, and for as long as he'd known her, she'd been obsessed with control. Perhaps this is what made her a good guardian. Perhaps it's also partially what made her a crappy partner at times. He'd held out hope that they'd get through it. When push came to shove, the two were darkness and light. Yin and yang. Soulmates.
The Ladybug and The Black Cat, he reminisced, It was always meant to be them. Just them. Even if she had another reason for leaving, there would always have been some other block in their path. It didn't matter. They were never meant for each other not when he was so very obviously her other half. In the end, was he any more than a blip on her map? Did he really matter anymore now that Sass was gone (the poor kwami)? Was he destined to be another background character? He couldn't help but feel jealous of Adrien. But really, was it so bad that he was just another civilian now? Could he handle the responsibility now that the stakes were higher than ever? Sighing, he dismissed his line of thinking. It does no good to dwell on things no matter how painful they may be, not when she was hurting. He couldn't answer these questions anyway, so he continued to watch her from a distance.
Rain fell around him, the pitter patter of it pounding down on the street drowned out by the murmurs of the gathering crowd. He wrung his hoodie out, but his efforts were futile as it poured harder around him. Luka stood dead center, watching, tears consistently flowing down to the ground never to be seen again, washed away by the droplets cascading down from the heavens. He was so caught up in his own feelings he almost forgot about her. His clothes were soaked, but he didn't care. He pushed his soggy blue locks out of his face and squinted, trying to focus on the bright red of her suit amongst the darkness. She was hunched over alone on that rooftop, and suddenly he felt powerless. He couldn't help her like this, so far away on the ground. No, the only person who could was nowhere in sight.
He pushed through the crowd determined to get to her. He didn't care if people questioned why he's trying to get closer to the lone superheroine or why she would sink into his arms as she let her frustrations out into his shirt. He didn't care that the probability that he'd be able to scale a building was pretty low. Nothing mattered except the new ballad, a solemn piece that tainted her melody. His Melody.
Just as he reached the front of the growing sea of people, a lithe black figure appeared next to her. Breathing out a sigh, Luka studied them as the cat reached out a hand. He watched as she stared up at him and as lightning flashed and thunder clapped, reverberating around them. Luka might have been in the center of the crowd, but they were in the center of the world. How could they be so surrounded by other people and only see each other?
He watched as he pulled her up out of her despair and embraced her lovingly. He watched as he whispered something inaudible into her ear. This was it. He saw the way her eyes lit up upon seeing the young cat-themed superhero. It was the same way he looked at her when she wasn't paying attention. True love. Despite how bittersweet the moment was for him, he couldn't help but smile at their tender embrace. Maybe they would find each other, and maybe Paris would be okay. Just maybe...
The cat boy was obviously doing his best to reassure her, but Luka would be damned if she had any shadow of a doubt in her abilities. He screamed her name into the darkness, raising his arm in triumph. He had to admit he looked pretty cringeworthy in the moment, like some kind of emo drowned rat. His voice was rough from lack of use, and it cracked from all of the tears, but he kept on anyway, chanting her name again into the sky.
Slowly, the rest of the crowd joined in, and as she faced the rendition of Monarch, it was almost like time had turned back. She looked just as she did so long ago when she first stood up to him, when she was a random girl who barely had a name. Luka saw it all on TV. Though she was just a kid back then, her beautiful blue eyes were fierce, her stance dripping in so much strength. Now, she was a bit wobbly, and her pigtails were lopsided from the rain, but she stood taller than ever.
"Ladybug! Ladybug!" their voices drummed in harmony, their unity almost a threat to the looming villain.
He felt a shift in her song. While it was still solemn, the slow, sad notes blended into pure determination and passion. Even as a blip on their map, even if he could never be enough for her, he lived peacefully knowing His Melody would never stop playing.
Hopefully his mom wouldn't notice his absence. It'd be pretty hard to with most everyone being understandably preoccupied with Paris' newest developments even so late at night. He cracked another smile, turning back to the two heroes for a moment. Letting out a shaky breath, he gulped, pushed his emotions down, and went back home.