I
Marinette looks into the waters below. She was on a bridge, Andre’s Ice Cream in hand.
Her eyes catch Adriens in the reflection.
When the blonde realizes he sighs.
“Marinette.”
“Hm?” She turns to look at her boyfriend. (Her Boyfriend!)
“I-” He hesitates. A small frown gracing his face.
Marinette continues to stare at him. Growing concerned, she urges him to complete his thought.
Adrien chooses his next words carefully, he doesn’t want to hurt his dear friend. “I don’t think that this relationship… is going to work.”
Marinette's pupils contract in shock, “Wha-”
Adrien continues, wanting to explain, “Not that you're not an amazing person! I realized that after we revealed our identities I- I was hoping that I could finally love ladybug. I now know that I was blinded, I was so focused on Ladybug for so long that I didn’t see you for you! You don’t deserve that, and you…”
He inhales a sharp breath.
“You also don’t need to be with someone who can’t cherish you like you cherish them. You deserve so much more than me. So, that's why I think that this relationship won’t- Won’t work. I realize that I still see you as just a friend.”
Marinette looks at him, her crush, her first love, eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears.
“I under- I understand.” Her voice cracks.
“I’m gonna… I’m gonna go now. My parents. I forgot they needed me at the bakery!” She lets out a laugh devoid of mirth. “Well, um I’ll be going now!”
Adrien gapes, “Wait Marinette!”
Marinette turns and runs. Tears finally flowing freely down her face. Leaving trails, hot and unending.
Adrien turns to run after her. Getting nowhere seeing as he runs directly into someone's chest. He startles back and starts to apologize profusely, before trying to continue his pursuit, when a hand catches his wrist.
He looks up, staring straight into the face of Luka Couffaine. He lets out a strangled noise before he is able to speak properly, “Ah! L-Luka! I’m sorry I have to- have to go!”
Beside him another voice, not Luka, speaks.
“Are you the reason Marinette is crying?”
“Kagami?”
“Yes, and I’ll ask again. Are you? The reason? Marinette is crying?”
Adrien lets out a noise of alarm when Luka turns to let Adrien meet Kagami’s eyes. She was glaring daggers. Her eyes burning with a sort of hatred he only ever sees when they spar, and even then it was half hearted, playful almost.
“Now now.” Luka tries to mediate “Lets calm our heads down so that we can talk this out rationally, I’m sure Adrien has a good explanation.”
Kagami looks up at him, her eyes knowing but annoyed, then back to Adrien. “All right, speak.”
Adrien hesitates, he’s really not looking to have his face smashed in at the moment.
She taps her foot in annoyance, he was taking too long. “Luka, you talk to this bastard I’m going to find Marinette.”
At that she rushes in the direction that the other girl had previously taken off.
Adrien stares at Kagami’s fleeting form.
Luka looks down to the broken boy in front of him. “You mind telling me what happened.” He speaks in a soft tone. A complete 180 to Kagami's rage.
“Luka… I really messed up.” Adrien can feel his eyes burn. Not only did he mess up a romantic relationship, he feels as if he has lost Marinette as a friend too. “I shouldn’t have… I don’t know!” His voice rising. “Luka. I had too! What else was I supposed to do!” He gasps, “Ah. I'm sorry you didn’t- you didn’t deserve that. I’ll go now. I need to go.”
Instead of letting Adrien leave, however. Luka grabs him by the hand. “You look like you need someone right now. Would you like to talk? It's fine if you yell. You just need to express emotion don’t you?” He tilts his head, questioning.
Adrien looks at the hand holding his, then turns to look at Luka’s face.
“Yeah, lets… Can we go somewhere private?”
Luka nods, still not letting go of the younger’s hand. “Let's go to my house and we can talk.”