Since it's Pride Month, my prompt is Aroace Adrien. Whether he already was aware of this or is in the midst of discovery this is up to you.
Marinette Salt Prompt Compilation
Aroace Adrien Agreste
I knew when I got the ask for this that I wanted to go towards a more hurtful route. And I knew one of the things I wanted done was Marinette, being aphobic (tho she'll never admit it), looking up ways to "fix" Adrien (and Alix and Max after she thinks about it). So, conversion therapy/camp, corrective harassment/sa, the whole "I can fix him" thing, etc. This is serving as your main warning. Each prompt will have it's own as well.
Prompt 1: I Was Just Trying To Help
Ships: N/A
TW: mentioned conversion therapy
Marinette hummed as she scrolled through the site she was visiting. She was writing down the names of different camps. All of them well known to help people who were confused realize they weren't asexual and/or aromantic. There were so many positive reviews!!
The sad thing is that there weren't many since France was one of the countries banning them. She doesn't understand why. These people needed help.
Her Adrien needed help.
She remembered hugging him when he came out, the nervous look on his face. The way Alix and Max had spent the day with him, telling him about their own experiences. Maybe she'll give them the camps information as well.
But clearly her Adrien was just confused. There's no way he's aroace.
--------
Marinette could only watch as Alix and Max lead Adrien out of their homeroom towards the nurse's office.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM!!"
Marinette jumped back as Nino yelled at her.
"CONVERSION CAMP?! SERIOUSLY?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Marinette looked around at the angry faces around her.
"I," she gulped, "I was just trying to help! If you just-"
"No, Marinette!!" Alya yelled, "Those places are awful!! They hurt people!! Adrien isn't broken!! Alix isn't broken!! Max isn't broken!! None of them are broken because they fall on aromantic and/or asexual spectrum!!"
Marinette huffed and crossed her arms, "I was just trying to help!! They need help!! Clearly none of you-"
"Marinette. Dupain. Cheng."
Marinette turned around, Mrs. Bustier and her mother were at the door. Sabine had been the one to speak. The fury in her eyes clear.
"Come. Here."
Marinette gulped but made her way towards the door.
"Never have I ever been more disappointed in you," Sabine said, holding her hand up when Marinette opened her mouth, "I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear another word. I'd make you apologize to those poor children, but I know you won't mean a single word. We're going home. Your father and I will discuss your future once you're there. But as of right now, you are not coming back to Francois Dupont."
"WHAT?! MOM-"
"BE QUIET MARINETTE!!" Marinette stepped back as her mother began to cry, "JUST BE QUIET!! I don't know where your father and I went wrong. I thought we raised you better. To think...to think you'd give three of classmates the names of camps that would hurt them. To think you thought they were broken because of their own feelings and identities. Marinette, I don't know where we went wrong. I don't know what happened to my daughter-"
"Mom-"
"But the young woman before me isn't her. Principal Damoclès is waiting for us."
Marinette sniffed and wiped her eyes as she followed her mom out. As they left she caught site of Adrien, Alix, and Max in the nurses office. Adrien was wearing a hoodie to replace his soiled shirt. He had thrown up after Marinette had given him his copy of the list of camps. Alix and Max had also looked sick, but managed to keep their breakfast down. She wanted nothing more than to go in there and tell them they'd be okay. The camps would help.
As if sensing her, Alix looked up from where she was rubbing Adrien's back. She glared at Marinette and slammed the door shut, pulling blind down afterwards.
Marinette wiped her eyes again.
She was just trying to help.
Prompt 2: But What About Our Kids?!
Ships: N/A
TW: talk about corrective sa/harassment
Marinette could only stare.
Adrien was having another interview. She and Alya were watching it together. They wanted to support their friend. Adrien had mentioned he was going to announce something big. Something personal.
She thought, she hoped, that it would be a confession...
That Adrien would confess his feelings for her. She wiped her eyes, looking at Alya when she placed a hand on her knee.
"Hey," she said, "it's okay. This is a big deal for Adrien. I'm sorry it's not what you wanted, but you can still be together!"
Marinette nodded, but stopped as she thought about it. Her and Adrien as a couple. But they didn't do normal couple things. Adrien never kissed her. He only ever held her hand. They had a hamster but no kids. She had to accept that Emma, Hugo, and Luis wouldn't exist. They slept in separate rooms. She wasted away. Motherless.
"But what about our kids?!" She looked at Alya, "We can't have kids!!-"
"Sure you can-"
"He won't want to touch me!!"
Alya sighed as Marinette stood and began to pace around.
"I mean, sure there are other options, but I wanted to give birth to our first kid."
"You know you can talk to Adrien about this once you start dating and become serious, right?"
"Yeah...yeah!! We can talk!! He just hasn't met the right person-"
"What?"
"Obviously I can't do it now, we're too young-"
"Marinette?"
"But once we're older and married, I'll show him!! I'll make him realize he was wrong. And we'll have our babies-"
"MARINETTE!"
Marinette paused, hands clenched, and turned towards Alya, "Yes?"
Alya gave her a look of disgust, "You're not...you're not planning on forcing yourself on Adrien when you're older...are you?"
"No!" Marinette waved her hands quickly, "no! Of course not. It's not force if I can talk Adrien into-"
"YES IT IS!" Alya retorted, "You want to talk him into it? So, what, you two get married and you won't drop it until he gets you pregnant?! You might not be forcing yourself on him, but you'd still be pressuring him into doing it! When I said talk, I meant telling him you want to give birth to your and his kids. See if he's willing to do it at least once. He said he's on the spectrum, so he might be sex positive!! He doesn't know that yet, he's still exploring this side of himself!!"
"But I can't risk-"
"You know what?" Alya stood up, "I'm leaving. I'm leaving, and I'm going to tell Adrien you don't support him-"
"Alya, no!"
"-because clearly you don't!"
Marinette ran after her best friend, begging her to not tell Adrien. She did support him! She was just thinking of their kids. If they didn't have sex when they were older and married, Emma, Hugo, and Luis wouldn't exist. Ever.
--------
Marinette couldn't believe it. She did it. She actually told him. She couldn't believe Alya told Adrien.
Adrien had been avoiding her. Only telling her he wanted her to stay away from him now that he knew, and that he's sorry, but wasn't interested in relationship with her. Now or ever.
She didn't do anything. She was just concerned for their babies. It wouldn't have been that bad. She's sure. She would have made it feel nice. And after they had their three kids, they wouldn't have to do it anymore.
But now that wouldn't happen. And it's all Alya's fault. The fucking snitch.
Some best friend, huh?
Prompt 3: I Can Fix You!!
Ships: AdriNathMarc
TW: aphobia, implied corrective harassment
Adrien grew up seeing his parents in love. Seeing that love extend to Nathalie. He wasn't unfamiliar with it. If anything, growing up with it made him wonder why he didn't feel like that. Why he was told he'd understand when he was older, but as he grew he...he didn't. If anything he got more confused.
It wasn't until he started going to school, until he met Alix, and Max, and a few others, that he began to understand. They were able to explain things to him. They were able to see what was happening. The disinterest at best, discomfort at worst. The annoyance that seeped through at times.
They were able to answer his questions, made sure he knew he didn't mean it when he said something offensive unintentionally, and helped him learn why it offended them.
They were with him when he decided to come out to the rest of the akuma class.
Honestly, he'd hope things would have settled after that. But...
Okay, listen. Marinette is a great girl. But she's been making advances that make him uncomfortable. Advances that make his boyfriends uncomfortable. It was always towards him as well. She didn't get as close to any of the other boys as she did with him. She kept trying to get close. Too close. He's told her that she was making him uncomfortable. But she just wouldn't stop.
--------
Marinette frowned as Nathaniel took Adrien's hand and walked out of class with him. They were going to go pick up Marc and have lunch together since Adrien was allowed to eat with them today.
It wasn't fair. Nathaniel and Marc had each other. They didn't need to take her Adrien from her. They didn't need to fill his head with the nonsense Alix, Max, and the others were filling his head with. Everyone knows asexuality and aromanticism weren't real. Anyone who says they are either hasn't met the right person, just doesn't want to admit they're waiting until they're married, or are probably gay and want an excuse to hide it.
She was trying to show Adrien what his real feelings were. That he would like it when she pressed against him. When she laid her head on his shoulders. When she tried to hold his hand. Do things she's seen Nathaniel and Marc do.
She was trying to show him he was just exploring right now. That this was just a phase. And when it's over, she's the one he'll like.
--------
"Can you quit it?!" Marc yelled. He's lost count of how many times this has happened. They knew their relationship with Nathaniel and Adrien would bring eyes on them. That some people would be upset or accuse either him or Nathaniel of stealing Adrien from them. But he didn't expect Marinette to be one of those people.
And what makes it worse is her invalidating Adrien's identity. She clearly doesn't support them being together.
"Clearly you don't care about us! You're like the others who bother and harass us! "Wah, you stole Adrien from me! You turned him gay!" GROW THE FUCK UP!!"
Marinette stared at the writer in shock, before she scowled, "I am not like them! I'm not accusing you of turning Adrien gay!"
Marc scoffed, moving to block Marinette's view of Nathaniel and Adrien.
"Funny," he says, rolling his eyes, "because, yes, that's true. What you do is worse. Because you KNOW what Adrien identities as. You KNOW what his boundaries are. Adrien TOLD you. He made sure YOU were in class before he TOLD you. But you decided, no. I know what Adrien's real feelings are. And I can show him that by breaking those boundaries and doing things his BOYFRIENDS do. Because only THEY have permission to do so. Why? Hmm..Nathaniel?"
Nathaniel looked up from where he was running his hands through Adrien's hair, "Because, unlike Marinette, we talked about what we wanted in this relationship. We listen to each other. We won't force it if it makes someone uncomfortable. A no is a no. If you say stop, we stop. If you want to try something, we try it. But communication is key when it comes to a good and healthy relationship. Right, Sunflower?"
Adrien hummed in agreement, "Somethings aren't negotiable, like Marc's pronouns, Nathaniel being called "Nath" by only people he's close to, and me only liking intimate touch from my boyfriends and people I know I'm close to, like Nino or Chloe."
Marinette crossed her arms, "Adrien, you know everything they've told you is made up? There's no such thing as being asexual or aromantic. If you're gay, that's fine. But you didn't have to lie to me or the rest of our class-"
"JUST FUCKING GO!" Marinette jumped when Marc yelled again. "TAKE YOUR APHOBIC, UNWANTED, SELF AND GET LOST!!"
Marinette frowned and tried to look at Adrien, but Marc blocked her again.
--------
Marinette glared at Marc, who glared back at her. They were in Principal Damoclès office. Marc had told his parents what she did, and they demanded a meeting with Marinette's parents. And with the way things were going, she wouldn't be able to help Adrien.
God, he already has Nathaniel. Isn't that enough?? He and Nathaniel had each other. They didn't need Adrien. And now he's gone and gotten HER in trouble. All over NOTHING.
Prompt 4: Stay Away From My Sister
Ships: BatCat/Brucelina
TW: aphobia, transphobia
Maribatsalt
"Are you excited, Cori?"
Corinne smiled at her eldest brother as she nodded. It has been half a year since she was last in Paris. Half a year since her father...since Gabriel was arrested. Half a year since she learned Gabriel was Hawkmoth. Half a year since she was thrown under the bus, accused of knowing. Half a year since she ran. Since she cut contact with everyone. Since Selina found her and took her in. Since she found herself. Since she found a new family. Half a year ago her name was Adrien Agreste. Today, today her name is Corinne Wayne-Kyle.
"I'm also a little bit nervous," she admitted, "what if...what if they still..."
Dick wrapped his arms around her, "it's okay, everything will be okay. We'll be there with you."
Corinne sniffed as she nodded into his chest, Plagg's purrs comforting from where he sat in her shirt pocket. She'll be okay. She won't be alone. She'll be okay.
--------
"It's a pleasure to meet you, and your family, Mr. Wayne." Mayor Bourgeois said as he shook Bruce's hand, "would you mind introducing them?"
Bruce smiled and nodded, "Of course."
He held up Selina's hand, "This, is my wife, Selina. We've been married for a few months now, but we've known each other for years."
"Feels like we've been married all this time." Selina purred. "We just made everything official."
Bruce laughed, "Absolutely. And these are some of our children. Our eldest, Dick, our third eldest Tim, and our second youngest, Corinne."
As much as they wanted to come, Cass, Jason, and Damian agreed to stay in Gotham to keep an eye out alongside Kate, Duke, and Luke. Bruce had agreed they would join him on his next trip to Paris.
Mayor Bourgeois smiled as he shook their hands, pausing at Corinne.
"Do I know you, young lady?" He asked, "you seem very familiar."
Corinne quickly shook her head, "No, sir. We've never met before now."
He nodded, "I must be mistaken. Very well, I hope you enjoy your stay at my hotel. Welcome to Paris!! And, once again, I hope you enjoy your stay."
Bruce thanked him before he ushered his family towards the elevator that would take them to the floor their rooms were in.
--------
"Finally!" Plagg zoomed out of Corinne's bag, "I thought we'd never get outta there. Think they can bring up some camembert?"
"I'll add it to our list," Tim muttered from his bed. He, Dick, and Corinne were sharing a room, while Selina and Bruce shared the other. He and Dick agreed to rotate between sleeping on the actual bed and the couch that turned into a bed. Corinne had tried to tell them she wouldn't mind swapping so they both slept on the bed once in a while, but they refused.
"So," he continued, "here's what we know. Gabriel Agreste used a magical jewel to terrorize Paris and was arrested for his crimes about half a year ago. He had a child who was accused of aiding him," he looked at Corinne who flinched, "despite there being no proof of it. The child disappeared after about two or three weeks. And now Gabriel has broken out of prison, with many believing his child had helped him. People who have spotted Gabriel say he was looking for his child, saying he was doing this for "him". This has lead those people to believing his kid wasn't a part of what he did, and likely went through a lot of emotional and mental abuse. Some even believe that, had he not been arrested, or had he escaped earlier, he would have akumatized his own child."
"He wanted to bring my mother back," Corinne said, "she died making me...using the peacock miraculous. People thought I was acting as Mayura's stand in since she wasn't seen in battle."
Tim and Dick frowned.
"I didn't realize when I first found them... but looking at them again, Plagg knew we had to take them. But I couldn't...I couldn't keep them."
"So you handed it over to someone else."
"My cousin, Felix. He goes by Argos while he uses the peacock miraculous. His father had died recently and I missed the funeral. He...he was upset with me. I thought he wouldn't want to speak with me or take the peacock miraculous and Grimoire."
--------
"Adrien?"
Corinne flinched. She and her brothers were walking around. She should have known coming here was a bad idea. But Sabine and Tom had made some of the best pastries she's ever had.
"Adrien, sweetheart," Sabine said she walked over, "we've missed you."
"Her name is Corinne." Dick said firmly.
Sabine paused before she smiled gently, "Corinne. That's a beautiful name, sweetheart. I'm sorry I assumed what your name was, it's been so long."
"It's fine, Mrs. Cheng," Corinne mumbled, "you didn't know."
"Well, I know now. And I still care about you. Now, what would you like?"
Corinne smiled. Maybe things wouldn't be that bad?
--------
She was wrong. She was very, very, wrong.
"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?! HER NAME IS CORINNE!! WHY CAN'T YOU ACCEPT THAT?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE HER FRIEND?!"
"My "problem" is that your weird family clearly kidnapped Adrien and messed with his mind!! You made him think he was a girl!! And not only that, you made him think he wouldn't ever want to have sex!! Because you knew the minute he did, people would find out he's really a boy!! You're probably waiting for him to be a legal adult before you continue with your plans by hiring a surgeon to change his body!!"
"DO YOU FUCKING HEAR YOURSELF?!"
"DO YOU?!"
Corinne covered her ears as she let out a sob. Tim and Marinette paused their argument and watched as she ran off. They glared at each other as they both moved to follow her.
"Stay the fuck away from my sister."
"You stay the fuck away from my boyfriend!"
"YOU'RE NOT DATING HER! SHE'S NOT A BOY!!"
"He's just confused. And it's all because of you and your stupid family!!"
Marinette had been surprised when she saw Adrien, he was with the Wayne boys for some reason. Maybe they met somewhere and became friends?
Well, turns out he was adopted by their mother, Selina Kyle. She thought she and Adrien would reconnect. That he'd ask her to return to Gotham with them and introduce her as his girlfriend. But then he said his name was "Karina" or whatever. He said he was a girl. Said he was "asexual" and "aromantic." And that's when she realized. The Waynes brainwashed her Adrien. Her Adrien is a boy. A boy who was eager to have a family with her in the future. Three children. Emma, Hugo, and Luis. A hamster or two. Maybe a dog. No cat. Her Adrien was with them too long. And if she didn't catch up to him soon, he'll still be under their control!!
Prompt 5: I Thought You Loved Me
Ships: Adriennete, implied Feligami, implied endgame Lukadrien
TW: aphobia, gaslighting, abusive relationship
Adrien thought Marinette would have supported him. That he could tell her, come out to her, and nothing would change.
He wasn't expecting her to be so mad. He wasn't expecting her to yell. To look at him with...disgust.
He thought...
Was he...wrong?
When she finally calmed down, Marinette had sat down with him and told him there was no possible way he was...
How could he be, when he was in love with her? If he was in love with her, he clearly felt romantic attraction. He wasn't bothered by her kissing him or being all over him. Right? He loved her. He wasn't lying to her, was he?
He did love her. He really did.
Maybe...maybe she was right.
--------
Kagami frowned as she watched Marinette steer Adrien away from Max, Markov and a few other kids. She had heard from Max that the group was made up of kids who identified under the aro/ace spectrum. Others were invited as well, to learn about asexuality and aromanticism. She had agreed to checking the group out one day.
But Marinette was steering Adrien away from them after he had shown interest.
The way she held him made her wonder if everything was okay. Maybe she was imagining things, but she swore she saw the start of bruising on Adrien's arms. She swore every time she tried to spend time with Adrien, he had an excuse in order to not to. But all his excuses didn't feel like him. She just had a bad feeling... maybe this is something she has to talk about with Felix.
--------
Marinette glared at the group walking by. She couldn't believe they would try and convince her boyfriend that he was a broken, robotic, being incapable of love. She couldn't believe Adrien had wanted to join their group. It wasn't too surprising, seeing how he told her he was aroace not too long ago.
But she took care of that quickly. And she made sure to remind him. She wasn't hurting him. She was just firm. Reminded him that he loved her. Made sure he knew how much it hurt her when he hesitated to say it.
She knows what's best for him.
And that includes who talks to him.
Kagami was getting suspicious. Too suspicious. She wouldn't stop trying to get Adrien to spend time with her. She has her own Adrien. The fake Adrien. The worse Adrien. Because that's all Felix will ever be. Another Adrien. A fake Adrien. The worse Adrien. She had no business trying to get alone time with HER Adrien.
So, being the good girlfriend she was, she declined all the attempts. It was for Adrien's own good.
--------
It had taken them some time, but Kagami and Felix had managed to get Adrien alone.
They really had to thank Alya and the girls for distracting Marinette enough to pull Adrien away. And they were glad they did. Because what they were seeing was not okay.
Adrien was withdrawn. He wouldn't look at them. His sleeves fully covered his arms.
"Adrien," Kagami finally spoke up, kneeling next to Adrien, "talk to us."
Adrien looked at her before returning his gaze to the floor.
"Please," she continued, "Adrien I know something is wrong. Talk to me. To us!"
Felix moved to sit on the other side of Adrien. He placed his hand on his cousin's knee.
"I know I haven't been the best cousin to you," he said, "but I'm concerned. I don't know what to do to help you. Not really. But Kagami is right. Something is wrong, and we want to help. Please...tell us what's wrong."
The trio sat in silence for what seemed liked ages. Felix never took his hand off his cousin's knee. Kagami only ever took her eyes off her friend to check for Marinette.
The couple thought they would have to leave without an answer, but to their surprise it came out.
Adrien coming out to Marinette. Her response. Her telling him she'd remind him how untrue it was. The way her grip would tighten whenever she asked him if he loved her. How her nails dug into his skin when he showed interest in joining the group Max had told Kagami about. Because even if Marinette was right, he wanted to learn more about what it meant to be ace and aro. He wanted to show his support.
He told them how Marinette told him to give her access to his phone. How she would be the one to answer. How upset she got when he asked who messaged him, or who called. Asked if he didn't trust her.
He told them how Marinette began to force kisses on him when he didn't want them. How he knew he was an awful boyfriend because he was hurting her. How she cried, because he was making her feel like he didn't love her.
But he did love her. He loved her so much.
He's an awful person. He's broken. Useless. God, what kind of boyfriend hates it when his girlfriend makes out with him? What kind of boyfriend hates talking about the future he and his girlfriend will have? What kind of boyfriend gets sick at the idea of starting a family, of doing it with the girl he loves??
The more and more Adrien spoke, the more enraged the couple got.
--------
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE BREAKING UP WITH ME?!" Marinette yelled, not caring about the crowd she was attracting. "DID THEY TELL YOU TO DO THIS?!"
Adrien shook his head. "Marinette. I'm not happy-"
"YOU'RE NOT HAPPY?! YOU'RE NOT HAPPY?! WHAT ABOUT ME?! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LIED TO ME! YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME!! BUT YOU WERE USING ME!!"
"I-"
"YOU'RE A DISGUSTING PIG, ADRIEN AGRESTE!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR FATHER WANTED YOU TO REMEMBER HIM AS A GOOD PERSON!!"
"Marinette!" Tikki whispered, trying to stop Marinette from letting the secret she was holding in come out.
But Marinette wasn't listening. She wanted to hurt Adrien. Wanted him to feel the pain she was feeling.
"What do you mean?"
""What do you mean?" ARE YOU STUPID!! I LIED TO YOU!! I LIED PARIS!!"
"Marinette!!"
"GABRIEL AGRESTE WASN'T A HERO!! HE WAS NEVER A HERO!! HE WAS MONARCH!! HE WAS MONARCH AND I LIED BECAUSE OF YOU!!!"
The crowd began to murmur in surprise. Questioning if what Marinette was saying was true.
"AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S BETTER THAN THAT?! YOU'RE NOT HUMAN!! YOU'RE A SENTIMONSTER!! JUST LIKE YOUR STUPID COUSIN AND HIS STUPID GIRLFRIEND!!!"
Marinette panted as she ended her rant. She smiled as her words began to sink into Adrien. This would show him. Show him what deserved for breaking her heart.
Now the secret was out. And everyone will hate him. They'll hate him for being Monarch's son.
--------
"Are you okay, Adrien?"
Adrien looked up. It had been a month since he and Marinette split up. A little more than that since he told Kagami and Felix what was going on. A little more than two since he came out to his ex-girlfriend.
It had been a month since Marinette had revealed her big secret. Since she outted herself as Ladybug. Since Su-Han showed up and removed her status as Ladybug and the Guardian.
Marinette didn't get out unscathed. She didn't lose her memories, like she believed. Su-Han made sure she remembered her crimes.
Nathalie was serving her own sentence, and Felix was working on his community service. Something he was surprised at, since he thought he would get a harsher sentence.
But Marinette revealing the three sentibeings existence brought things into question. They were human. The way they were conceived didn't change that. But they were sentibeings first and foremost. Would normal human laws apply to a being that was made exactly the same way the many sentimonsters Mayura and Shadow Moth made?
New laws were being made to protect sentibeings. While they only knew Adrien, Felix, and Kagami were sentis, Felix having the peacock miraculous would be able to help find other sentis, should they be out there.
But with Marinette no longer being the Guardian or Ladybug, someone had to step up. And Su-Han had handed the ladybug miraculous to Luka.
Luka had taken to the ladybug quickly. He held onto the snake miraculous until it's new holder, Chloe, had shown up.
"I'm...better."
Luka smiled. To say he was shocked to learn about everything was an understatement. He couldn't believe Marinette would do something like this. But when he saw her, when she tried to convince him she did nothing wrong, when she demanded her miraculous back, he knew he had to cut contact with her.
He had turned his attention to Adrien. Let him know he was there for him if he needed anything.
He was there when Adrien finally came out. Told their friends what happened and why his and Marinette's relationship ended. He was there when Adrien joined the aroace kids, gave his hand a reassuring squeeze when it was his turn to share his story. He was there when the statue honoring his father was torn down. He was there when he moved into his aunt's apartment.
Luka had left Paris because he knew who Ladybug and Chat Noir were. Because he was still in love with Marinette.
But returning to Paris? Any love he had for Marinette had withered away at the reveal of her true character. Any respect he has for Ladybug died when he learned she protected Monarch in the name of his son, his son, whom he had hurt far longer than anyone else, who had gotten sick after everything she revealed sunk in. When he became Carmine, he wasn't expecting it to be easy. He expected there to be some people who loved Ladybug enough to forgive her.
But so far? So far everything had gone smoothly. There have been a few bumps. But overall?
Luka shot a subtle glance Adrien's way. The blond wasn't covering his arms anymore. He sat a bit straighter. He was smiling more. The aroace pride flag was folded on his lap, a gift from his friends. When Adrien looked back at him, Luka's smiled widened.
Things were going great. It was about time he truly moved on from Marinette. Moved onto someone more deserving of his love and attention.
And he wouldn't be lying if part of him wanted to rub it into Marinette's face that both her exes had found more happiness with each other than they ever did with her. But he would wait for Adrien to be ready. Until then? Until then, he was happy just spending time with him.