Crumbling Down

Departure

After spending the better part of yesterday being badgered by Natalie to pack my things needed for my 'vacation' I'm finally sitting in the car with Gorilla at the wheel heading to Liberty to pick up Luka. Thankfully Natalie is driving a different car with her and Gorilla's luggage.  As we drive down the street leading up to where Liberty has been parked, in the distance I can see Luka with a suitcase standing sur le quais along with his mother and Surprisingly Juleka. I thought that she would've been with Rose. I'm pretty sure that they're dating but I'll wait until they say otherwise to mention anything if at all. I know that I surely wouldn't want to be outed like that myself. 

As we were pulling up to where they're standing I can see that Luka has a small smile while Juleka has a more neutral look as well as their mother Anarka. Gorilla and I exit the car after he parks and we both head over to where the Couffaine family is standing. 

"Hi Luka, Juleka, Mrs. Couffaine." I say with a smile.

"Hello Adrien, you're mighty cheerful today, and please call me Anarka," she comments.

Rubbing my neck nervously I say "Yeah, it's a pretty exciting thing, you know? Going on vacation with your friend that is."

"It sure is, Luka wouldn't stop playing his guitar since you invited him, said he couldn't find the right tune." 

At that Luka flushes slightly and groans while covering his face with his hand, "Maman." 

He's wearing his usual attire only now he has his guitar strapped to his back, honestly, he's quite cute and so soft-spoken. I really like him so I guess that's another reason to be excited for the trip as ill be able to spend more time getting to know Luka.

After staring in awkward silence for around a minute Gorilla grunts and motions to the car. everyone takes the hint and Luka and his mother works on loading his luggage into the trunk while we make small take. Once that's over and done with Luka says his goodbyes and we get into the car, as we're pulling away I look back at Anarka and she has tears rimming her eyes. 

I turn to Luka and he's staring intently out the window at the many houses passing us by. Since it's rather early in the morning, I figure it's best just to sit in silence until we've woken up a bit more. 

"Adrien?"

"Hm?" 

"I couldn't seem to figure out your tune, thank you for inviting me to come along on your vacation. I look forward to getting to know you better and figuring out your tune."

"Oh is that so? And you're welcome, I'm looking forward to getting to know you better too, though I wish we'd had the chance a long time ago to do that. Sadly my father keeps me on a tight schedule." 

"Yes, since I've only ever spent time with you while playing music, so your tune is incomplete. What are the plans and other such things for the vacation? I forgot to ask earlier." he says looking away slightly, a light blush dusting his cheeks.

Im a little embarrassed I didn't think of anything but oh well, it's in the past.  "Oh hm, I honestly didn't think that far ahead, I guess we'll be going swimming in the ocean though, definitely see the sights and hang out at my father's beach house," I reply honestly, briefly turning to look out the window.

Giving a light chuckle he says "How nice, looks like we'll be going with the flow then, it's one of my favourite things." 

I smile at him just with an offhand comment he manages to make me feel better about my lack of planning skills and that I've done something he really likes. 

"Glad I could be of service," I say while throwing him a wink before I can think too much about what I'm doing. Now I'm acting like Chat, no one has been able to make me act like myself outside of costume in a long while. it gives me a warm feeling inside. It also helps that Luka grins and winks back at me. 

After that short conversation ends we fall into a comfortable silence. My hand falls from its place on my lap onto the middle seat of the car, just brushing against Luka's. I flush but don't move my hand, neither does Luka, though when I take a peek at him he's got a light blush dusting his cheeks and a small smile.

We stayed like that for the next 20 or so minutes until pulling into the airport. We exit the vehicle and head through the airport, going through all the necessary security before finally boarding my father's private plane. Thankfully since it's my father's private plane Luka is allowed to take his guitar on board.

As we're boarding he whispers to me that he was worried about not being allowed to have his guitar with him on board. 

We sit down on two adjacent chairs near the rear of the plane, once we've gotten ourselves situated Luka begins to gently strum his guitar as we're waiting for Natalie to board and for the plane to take off. He turns to face me continuing to stum, "This is what your tune sounds like so far."

He stops suddenly but even though it was only played for a short time it was sweet all the same, it resonated with me, but still felt incomplete. 

"I'd like to help you finish it. And I'm curious what does your tune sounds like?"

"My tune?" a shocked look appears on his face before turning into a smile, "No one's ever asked me that before besides Maman and Juleka. Usually, people are always interested in their own tune."

"Oh, I bet yours is wonderful you have an excellent sense of hmm, I don't know what to call it, to be honest," I chuckle a little at my loss for words.

"Why thank you, Adrien. And I can't think of a word ether, guess we'll have to figure that out over the next two months. Here is what I've found my tune to be so far" his fingers glide across the guitar strings and a slow sad melody fills the plane. eventually, it becomes upbeat and fast-paced then slowly mellowing out and switching from mellow and of to upbeat and sharp until he finally stops in the middle of strumming.  Since the tune was becoming faster and sweeter enticing me to listen more I was sad when he finally stopped wishing he would continue to play his beautiful tune. 

"Wow, Luka. your tune is beautiful, thank you for sharing it with me." 

"Thanks, it comes from the heart, also Adrien, I'm always happy to share my tune with you."

Trying not to think too much into that last part I answer "I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

"I think my father has a piano at his beach house, maybe we could play something together?" 

"I'd like that very much, Adrien." 

We drift into silence again, well other than Gorilla's occasional grunt and the tapping of Natalies fingers on her tablet, though those sounds were mostly overtaken by the light strumming emitting from Luka's guitar. It's comforting and I find myself closing my eyes and just listening to the music that had overtaken my sense of hearing along with my sense of time. 

I thought that only a few minutes had passed and that we hadn't taken off yet, oh how wrong I was, apparently, I missed take off and most of the plane ride. Only becoming aware of this when something shifted under my head. Opening my eyes I found that I'd fallen over sideways in my trance and was leaning on Luka's shoulder. 

"Guess you were tired, you slept for the majority of the flight we're about to land," he says quietly, I flush and slowly sit back up,  he frowns briefly but in a flash, it's gone and he's smiling at me again.

"yeah, I guess I was..." I say trailing off because I don't what else to say, and honestly, I don't exactly want to say much around anyone who's paid by my father. I'd really rather not risk them telling him anything I don't want him to know. Though I guess they could tell him I'm acting odd, if I indeed am, thankfully they won't be staying in the house with Luka and me other than to check on us every once in a while and drive us around. I guess Both Gorilla and Natalie worked it out with my father to take a vacation while I'm on vacation. If that's the case then I have no idea how my father ever agreed to it though I should count my blessings, I won't need to worry about either of them for longer periods of time, therein giving me more freedom.