Chapter Text
It wasn't supposed to go like this.
When Marinette had gently planted her feet against the soft white sand, powering down her cosmo suit into her regular Ladybug gear, she had no idea how badly things would go for her.
Her plan wasn't perfect, sure, but Marinette didn't think it would backfire this badly.
Worst case scenario, Luka would react poorly, and she'd use the snake miraculous to rewind time. That was okay; that was the whole reason she borrowed it in the first place.
Her first mistake was being caught off-guard. She had prepared for Luka to get angry, get upset... Part of her even entertained the hope that maybe he'd be understanding.
What she hadn't prepared for, however, was Luka demanding to borrow her miraculous. Nor for his response when she (obviously) questioned him with as much conviction as her shaky voice could carry.
"Marinette, I love you! You're the strongest person I've ever met, but this time I have to protect you!"
She understood the words, but she couldn't even begin to process what they meant, because she was already making her second mistake.
She backed away, telling Luka that she shouldn't have said anything. A mistake, because she couldn't predict what that resistance would lead to.
Her makeshift wall — a rainbow umbrella propped up against the porta potty they stood next to — squeaked as her back pushed against it. She tucked her left wrist behind her, as if trying to hide the snake miraculous from existence.
But the tall, blue haired boy approached her with slow methodical steps, his silver eyebrow piercings glimmering in the Brazilian sun. His usual serene, cerulean eyes seemed... sharper, and Marinette could've sworn she felt them piercing through every last nerve in her body.
"Marinette, you don't understand! Give me your—"
He cut himself off with a gasp as she pulled her left wrist in front of her, setting her fingers against the snake head, ready to push it back—
"Please, forgive me for this..."
She could barely hear him mutter under his breath; they were the words that preceded her third and final mistake:
Forgetting that Luka trained with Grand Master Su-Han.
He was fast, much faster than a civilian should ever be, managing to pull her right hand away from the snake hand. She barely even saw him reach for it; her hand was just suddenly forced to the side.
"Luka, wait! What are you—"
It was just like it was with Grand Master Su-Han, when they first met. When she battled him and was quick to realise just how severely she underestimated him.
Though Luka's movements weren't quite as fast, Marinette's mind was racing far too quickly to even try coming up with a plan.
She just had to rely on reflexes.
But the realisation dawned on her that reflexes wouldn't be enough. Not when a strong gust of wind smacked against her abdomen, and her right arm flew to her stomach as she shrank into herself. Her back pushed hard into the umbrella, and a loud squeak rang through the air. Despite the stress it was under, the umbrella somehow stayed propped up.
And with nothing guarding her left wrist, Luka gently pulled the snake miraculous off of it. Once the magical whoosh of sparkles enveloped her, she knew that the purple accents on her suit had turned back to red, and her slitted amber eyes reverted to their regular bluebell shade.
"W-Why...?"
She looked up at Luka, now holding the snake miraculous in his hand, eyebrows furrowed with the slightest frown. The kind of look she could've never imagined to be plastered on his face.
"I'm sorry, Marinette. But I'm the only one who can fix this. Please... Trust me."
It was strange. Watching the one who just overpowered her, beg for her trust in a quiet, shaky voice.
Any retort she had caught in her throat. At least, it would've if her mind wasn't too frazzled to think of one.
But something about those piercing cerulean eyes... When he told her he was going to protect her, she was sure that, somehow, he was being sincere. If it was to protect her, then why was he acting like that? Why wouldn't he just explain what was going on? What did he know?
"Marinette, please... Say something..."
Was he mad? Did he feel betrayed? Why would he need her earrings?
"Y-you... You still love me?"
Of all the questions muddying her mind, that was the one she blurted out.
Why? After everything, why did he still...?
She managed to hold his gaze this time, but he wasn't so successful. His eyes darted to the side as he paused.
"Don't worry about me. You're with Adrien now, and I couldn't be happier for you two."
He gave a small smile, and Marinette had no choice but to believe him. Even if that was the topic her mind jumped to, there was a far more pressing matter to deal with.
Luka knew the truth now. There was no way to go back.
It was impossible to accept something like that, so she wasted no energy in trying. Instead, she concentrated on her racing heart and the dryness of her throat, until Luka spoke up again.
"I won't take your earrings by force. If you still don't want to entrust them to me...then I'll find a way to fix this without them."
And with that, Luka turned his back to her, whispering his transformation phrase as a wave of sparkly teal light enveloped him.
Viperion stood before her. He placed some kind of chocolate ball in his mouth, another wave of light washing over him as he swallowed it.
Now adorned with a cosmic helmet resembling a snake head, Luka stood before her for an everlasting moment. It didn't take long for him to disappear into the Brazilian sunset.
He's going to tell Adrien...
As soon as that thought wormed its way into her mind, she clutched at the side of her head to will it away.
He's going to tell him everything...
How Monarch was his father, how Ladybug lied to the world, lied to his face.
His girlfriend lied about being a superhero. She lied about his father being a hero, to his...face...
No. No! This was Luka, for crying out loud. He would never do something like that! Even if, no, especially since he apparently, somehow, still loved her.
For whatever reason, no matter how short-lived their relationship was, no matter how obvious it was that she only wanted Adrien... He loved her.
He wouldn't do that to someone he loved... Right?
"Ladybug?"
She quickly raised her head and looked at the brown-haired girl looking right back at her. Marinette didn't realise that she was suited up, visible, and had her head bowed under her arm before hearing that girl's voice.
When did she even reach the other side of the umbrella?
She swallowed before she could blurt out a confused "Irupé?"
"Is everything okay?"
She was supposed to smile and reassure her. She was supposed to come up with some excuse as to why she was eleven hours away from the city she was meant to be protecting. Then she was meant to tell her that the danger had passed and she was heading back to Paris.
Instead, Marinette stayed silent.
"I didn't know you knew Luka, Ladybug. He's never mentioned you before."
Her folded arms and slightly raised eyebrow, under normal circumstances, would've had Marinette thinking fast for an explanation. Something, anything!
Instead, her eyes were drawn to the large bird-shaped feather pendant resting against Irupé's collarbone. She had never noticed the intricate detailings across the gorgeous blue — the camera didn't do it justice.
For that reason, though, something seemed strange about it. Though Marinette had no idea what it was, there was a sense of familiarity. A familiarity that, logically, didn't make any sense.
This was, no doubt, the first time she was seeing it in person. So why did it feel like she should know what it was?
The silence must've lasted a while — long enough for Irupé to realise that she was staring at her necklace. She slid her hand under the pendant, gliding her finger along the feathers.
"Beautiful, isn't it? It was a gift, from someone really special to me..."
"Y-Yeah, it's nice..."
She gave as convincing a smile she could, praying that Irupé wouldn't pick up on that heavy feeling in her chest.
"Well, citizen, I should probably get going. Paris isn't going to protect itself!"
With another 'convincing' smile and a performative giggle, Marinette prepared to eat her space-power macaron. Before she could plop it in her mouth, Irupé's words made her freeze.
"Does Luka have a miraculous?"
Marinette met Irupé's gaze, expecting a stern glare. But her eyes, a shade of burnt umber, did not have that intensity. If anything, they felt... Gentle. Serene.
The tension tightening her body in a strangle hold loosened up, and a vague sense of calmness washed over her. She felt as though she could trust Irupé. Like Irupé was an old friend she had forgotten about until now.
And if anyone was going to help her get through to Luka, it would be his girlfriend. The girl he moved countries for. The girl who could be loved by him when Marinette couldn't be.
With that weight in her chest starting to lift, Marinette was ready to feel light once more.
And so, she took a deep breath.
"I'll explain everything."