The Helpers

Walking Home

"Sorry I can't take you farther." Ladybug's earring chirped demandingly at her,"You know the way right?"

Sabrina cradled her broken case to her chest, eyes downcast, and nodded silently.

Ladybug reached out, and laid a hand on her shoulder,"If I can, I'll try to find you again soon. Even if I can't, there are people who can help. I may not know everything you are going through, but just know you don't have to go through it alone okay?"

Sabrina nodded again, taking in a shaky breath and squeezing the case tighter.

Ladybug hesitated, taking her hand back but searching for more words. The sound of a bike chime interrupted what she might have added though. She looked up the twilight street then spun her yo-yo up and swung off into the evening.

The bike pulled up to a stop beside Sabrina and she slowly dragged her bloodshot eyes up to look. A boy all in Blues put his foot down, looking up into the night. He turned his gaze from the sky to Sabrina; his eyes were aqua, like hers,"Was that Ladybug?" he asked in a slightly awed voice.

Sabrina swallowed. Her throat was raw and her limbs were starting to tremble again, though this time it was just from sheer exhaustion,"y--ye-yes." she choked out, finishing with a quick bobbing nod to emphasize her point.

"Cool." he smiled, then his eyes seemed to take her in a little more completely,"Hey, you okay? You look like you had a rough time. Did you end up too close to an Akuma?"

Sabrina sniffled, trying to uncurl a little from around her briefcase. It shifted in her hands, threatening to slip and spill the haggard contents once more. Sabrina flailed to right it and was startled when the boy half-dove to help, upsetting his bike in the process but getting hands under the bottom of the case before the seam slipped.

"Got it." he said in quiet triumph. Sabrina was suddenly aware of how close he was to her.

"Thanks." she squeeked.

He lifted the case, his larger hands able to grip the width of it to hold it shut,"Maybe we should let this ride on the bike?" he offered. She didn't resist as he plucked it from her half-numb hands and hop-nudging his bike back into an upright position settled the case flat in an oversized basket on the front.

Without her burden Sabrina managed to uncurl a little more, but also felt acutely vulnerable. "Thank you umm." she brushed at her cheek, the tears had dried but she still felt them.

"Luka." he offered,"and no problem, glad to help." Luka got off his bike on the opposite side, leaving it as a space between them. Sabrina relaxed just a little. "So, where are we headed?"

"We? I oh, um." Sabrina fidgeted, suddenly missing the barrier of the case,"I live across the river, but you don't need to..."

"Hey." he smiled. His voice was little more than a soothing whisper but carried despite the distance between them,"I said I was glad to help, and I am. I'll leave if you don't want me to, but otherwise I won't hear anything else about it, okay?"

Sabrina tucked her hair behind her ear, it immediately fell forward again,"umm okay. Thanks." She didn't know what came next. Talking to boys wasn't something she'd done a whole lot of.

Luka gave her an encouraging smile,"Which way?" he prompted.

"Oh!" Sabrina thumped her fists against her legs nervously,"This way." She turned and headed along the river towards the nearest bridge. Luka kept pace with her, walking his bike between them. The silence settled comfortably around them, just the night sounds of the city. Sabrina felt some of the tension across her shoulders slowly start to unknot itself.