Facing the Music - Lukanette (Miraculous fanfiction)

Q u a t r e

She was back at it again. Another akuma attack, Hawk Moth never knew when to stop. 

After a long battle and she returned the victim home. As they waved goodbye to her and closed their door, Ladybug realised she had been stressed lately. She had assignments to do, Jagged Stone asked for a new album cover, the new project with Gabriel Agreste that she was still waiting for confirmation and she was working on her declaration of love for Adrien. 

Being a superhero allowed her to escape her normal life for a while, but in a way, it was another challenge piled up with the others. Letting out a sigh, she thought it was a good idea for some alone time to reflect and get fresh air.

Ladybug swung her yoyo and soon enough, she found herself at the top of the Eiffel tower. She took in a deep breath and allowed the soft wind blow her hair off her face. She should do this more often, it felt relaxing, like how a baby feels in their mother's arms.

Closing her eyes, she listened to her surroundings. Ladybug heard cars driving around the city and the sound of pigeons. Typical of Paris. But as she listened more, there was a soft sound ringing in her ear. 

She swore it was a guitar playing. It sounded like the song Luka composed for her. She relaxed at every note. When she opened her eyes, the music went away. All she could hear was the wind whipping in her ear now. 

It was in her mind. The song, it played in her head whenever she couldn't sleep and it allowed her to drift off into a sweet dream. She just couldn't figure out why it was so special to her. She had only heard it once but she had memorised it.

Standing up, she thought she was losing her mind and was about to go home when she saw a familiar boat floating in the Seine river. Ladybug felt tired but she realised she needed someone to talk to. She swung down from the tower and landing softly on the boat.

She observed her surroundings, no one was on the deck and there was the soft sound of a strumming guitar. The ship rocked softly with the waters below and Ladybug breathed in the spray of water.

She needed to leave, no one was there. Thinking it was a mistake, she was just about to leave when she heard a voice behind her, "Ladybug? What are you doing here?" 

Ladybug's bluebell eyes met his and she had the sudden urge to smile. But she fought it and told him, "Oh, I don't know. I guess I wanted to see how you're doing. The snake miraculous and all," 

"I'm doing well, thanks Ladybug," He smiled at her. Ladybug shuffled on her feet, feeling awkward. She never felt like this when she was Ladybug, she normally felt more confident and less clumsy in that outfit but that wasn't the case as she stood on Luka's houseboat.

"Well, I better get going. You don't need my help," She spun the string on her yoyo, just about to swing it, but Luka interrupted her. "It would mean a lot to me if you stayed and listened to a song I was working on." He offered.

He was playing with the latch of his guitar case with pleading eyes. She put her yoyo down, "I would love to hear one of your songs, Luka." She sat down beside him and looked at the horizon, the sun sinking. 

The chilling wind blew her ponytails and she heard a calming chord. Ladybug looked beside her and saw Luka with closed eyes, concentrating on his soothing harmony. She couldn't help it, she stared. He looked at peace, he was in the zone. The wind ruffled his highlights and Ladybug had to resist touching them, they were just so fascinating to her.

The ship creaked, dancing along with his harmony. Ladybug hadn't realised it until now, music could enhance the world around you. She never appreciated the sunset because she was so busy. She looked at the pink sky, smiling as the colours reminded her of the friendship bracelet she had given to Adrien. 

She frowned, she took out the one Adrien had made for her. Ladybug held it towards her heart and she had the feeling that she shouldn't be there. Before Luka strummed the final chord, she stood up, "I need to go, I can't be here."

Luka didn't say anything, instead, he bent his head down and started playing a new melody. It was soothing, yet something was wrong with it, Ladybug couldn't place a finger on it. She stood there frozen as she felt her eyes closing, feeling the music. 

Luka looked up at her, "This is how you feel like, you're conflicted. Why?" Letting out a sigh, she thought of the golden boy she had been crushing on for a year and she knew he couldn't know. He would know her secret identity if she told him. She was a crazed crushing girl, everyone knew that.

"I can't tell you, it's my other life. Something is bothering me, I don't know what. There's this tugging at my gut that I can't ignore but I can't follow it either." She held her arms, unsure of what she was feeling anymore. 

"I'm not the best at advice but by experience, I can tell you that you always have to trust your instincts. I learned it the hard way." Luka's eyes dimmed as if recalling a bad memory. "Do you want to talk about it?" She cautiously asked. Even though he was calm, she had always known he was fragile, he had a bad past of some sort. She could see it in his eyes.

"I want to tell you, you're so easy to talk to but... I'm not ready." He put his guitar down, pain in his eyes. Ladybug noticed he was grasping his wrist, the one covered in wrist bands. She bit her lip, "You know what? Let's make a deal. When the time is right, you can tell me your story. Then I promise, I'll tell you mine."

Luka smiled, "I would like that," He held out a hand and she took it. "You have a way with making people feel better, you remind me of someone..." Ladybug hid her surprise and took a step back.

"I need to go, it was nice hanging with you." She gave him a nervous laugh, "Bug out!" She swung away with difficulty breathing. She had to be more careful, no one could ever know. She shivered knowing what Hawk Moth would do if he had her miraculous. If she had to protect her identity, she couldn't talk with Luka like that again. He just knew her too well.