Story of a first kiss.

Part 6: A fairy at the park.

Adrien managed to arrive on time for the photo session that his father had organized for him at the last minute for that same night.

The section of the park where the session was to take place had been arranged with white string lights, similar to those used to decorate at Christmas. Exotic vine-like plants had been placed on the trees.
The team of support models were already wearing their silk and chiffon costumes. The slightly metallic makeup, the prosthetic extensions over their ears, and the wings on their backs completed their fairy-like looks.
The costume assigned to Adrien was more elaborate since he was going to represent being the prince of the fairy world.

The pictures taken in that session would be used for the cover of a new book, and for its publicity.
After over an hour of trying different variants and acting out several of the scenes from the book, the session had finally come to an end.

"How was I?" Adrien asked his bodyguard.

"Your father will be very pleased. It was a first class job." Simon answered.

Adrien smiled and looked down to see his outfit.

"Do you think they will be very upset if I take the costume somewhere else for a little while?" Adrien asked.

"Someone in particular whom you want to enchant with your princely powers?" Simon laughed lightly. "I don't think they'll let you, but how about taking a selfie?"

"Good idea! But it'll be better if you take the photo. I want more of the trees to show in the picture." Adrien said, running towards a tree that still had the strings of lights on it.

The bodyguard took a couple of pictures with the boy's phone and gave it to him to see the result.

"Mister Agreste, the wardrobe manager is asking for you. We need you to go change." A girl told him.

"Yes thanks. I'm coming." Adrien answered her.

"Thanks Simon, the photos look great. Now I need to hurry before... Simon? " Adrien told his bodyguard who was distracted, seeing something in the distance.

The expression on his friend's face was one of concern. Adrien turned to look in the direction that Simon was looking and immediately knew what it was that had caught his attention.
Luka was there. A good distance from them, but still there was no doubt that it was him.
Adrien sighed taking a step in that direction, but he was stopped by the hand of his bodyguard on his shoulder.

"What? It will only take a couple of minutes." Adrien said.

"Unless they decide to get romantic." Plagg laughed from the bodyguard's sack, where he had been hiding during the session.

"You know what the wardrobe manager is like." Simon said, ignoring the kwami. "And being a friend of your father, he can get you into big troubles with him if you take any longer. But... that is not all."

"What do you mean?" Adrien asked concerned.

"Well, just look." Simon said. "He is leaving one of the paths that come from one of the innermost parts of the park. That area is pretty run down and lonely. You can't even cycle around there. And it is said of the existence of caves in there where not very good people gather and... that box that he is carrying in his arms. What is he carrying in there... or what was he carrying in there? Doesn't everything seem very... suspicious?"

They turned to see Luka. He was finishing fixing the box to the back of his bike. Then he quickly looked both ways as if he was checking that no one had seen him and quickly got out there.
Adrien looked up at his bodyguard and Simon could see the concern in his eyes. He knew that he was right and that there was something strange there.

* * *

On the way back to the Agreste mansion, everyone was quietly inside the limousine. Even Plagg just looked from Adrien to Simon without saying a word.

"Adrien..." At last the bodyguard said when there were only a few streets away from reaching their destination.

"No. Please don't." Adrien said, without turning to see Simon. "I know your intention is good, but... please don't say anything bad about Luka. He is not bad."

"I just want you to be careful around him. I don't want your feelings to cloud your better judgment if... there was something not so good about him. " Simon said.

"You exaggerate." Adrien replied somewhat impatiently. In his mind, it crossed the memory of that same afternoon with Luka crying in his arms.

After a few seconds of silence, Simon tried again. "I know what it is to be in love ..."

Adrien didn't answer anything, he just shook his head in disagreement.
Simon finished parking the limo. Adrien removed his seat belt and was about to open the door when he felt Simon's hand on his forearm.

"Perhaps... Chat Noir could investigate the matter a bit. I don't know... see if he can take a look in that mysterious box or in his room or-" Simon was saying but was interrupted.

"Dad!" Adrien said looking at him indignantly. He immediately lowered his gaze when he realized what he had called him. "Sorry." He said quietly.

Simon looked away. It wasn't the first time the boy had accidentally called him that way.

"I am not going to invade Luka's privacy." Adrien said opening the door.

"I didn't mean to pry into his personal life, just... see that he's not getting into trouble." Simon said.

Adrien didn't say anything, just shook his head in denial before running off into his room.
Simon sighed in concern. He was about to get out when he heard something in the back seat. Turning around he saw the little kwami sitting there.

"Second time in a day that he forgets me." Plagg said crossing his arms.