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quickspinner · 3 years

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“I trust you.” Viperbug 🐍🐞💙

Edit: Part 2 is now posted

Greetings from the fuuuuuutuuuuuuure...

Yeah, okay, so remember way back in uh....September, when the NY special aired, and I was so mad about it I decided to take Lukanette fluff prompts to ease my soul? Well, there were two prompts that never got answered because it turned out I had a bit too much salt to keep a lid on it altogether, and my dear friends who requested those prompts were okay with me going off the rails a bit...and then things happened and here we are months and months later. But finally! Here is part 1 of 2, and I've posted it on AO3 separately from the original Here for You so that those who were just coming for the positivity and don't want the salt can skip it.

Chat salt, Adrien salt, mainly ML writer salt to be honest but it gets taken out on Chat so screen accordingly.

The premise here is that Uncanny Valley could not/did not take the ring back to Chat, and the consequences of that decision. We'll be keeping, of course, the original Lukanette (or more accurately for this part, the Viperbug) love-and-support intent, because that's just how we roll on this blog.

Live With It Part 1

Luka was frowning as he played, staring at the lights on top of one of the cranes that had been brought out to deal with the rubble still littering the streets of Paris. He was worried.

Luka was not naturally a worrier. He mostly let things happen as they happened, preferring to face the aftermath once he knew what he was dealing with rather than to obsess over possibilities.

With the state of things lately, though, it was getting hard not to worry. All of Paris was worried, in fact, suddenly feeling vulnerable in a way that they hadn’t truly felt since Ladybug gave her speech defying Hawkmoth all those months ago, and released her ladybugs for the first time.

There had been no ladybugs this time. No Ladybug, no ladybugs, and all Paris was frightened, the whole city resonating with bone-deep dread. It didn’t matter that Ladybug had clearly pursued Hawkmoth to New York, that she had averted a crisis there halfway across the world. What mattered was that Paris had been left undefended and unprotected, without even a warning, and its people wanted to know why—and how they could be sure it wouldn’t happen again. The city was tense, silent, and frightened.

Even Luka felt it, that fear, despite his implicit trust in Ladybug. He knew that if she had left Paris, it was for something important, and it was unlike her to not have a backup plan or a backup to a backup plan, so...Luka was worried. He was sure something had gone wrong, he just didn’t know what, or how he could possibly help.

It frustrated him, being unable to do anything about the problems occupying his mind. Even if he could, though, he wasn’t sure his assistance would be welcome, and that stung even more. A few months ago things would have been different, but now...he was a liability, thanks to Miracle Queen.

He struck the strings in his frustration, and the chord rang out, vibrating over the water, still perfect despite the discord within him.

Luka sighed again.

The thud of superhero feet landing on the deck of the Liberty jolted him out of his funk, and the sound had never been more welcome.

“Ladybug,” Luka gasped, leaping up from his chair and dropping his guitar in it to cross the deck. He took her by the shoulders before he could stop himself. “I am so glad to see you. Are you all right? Of course you’re all right, sorry, it’s just we were all so worried when you didn’t show for the Sentimonster attack, and then that fight in New York looked vicious and I knew you had to be okay, but...I’m just really, really glad to see you.” He closed his mouth quickly before any more uncharacteristic babble could spill out.

“I’m all right, Luka,” Ladybug said, one hand curling around his forearm. Something in her voice scared him, and without thinking about it he cupped her cheek and tilted her face up into the light.

“Are you really?” he asked softly, and then asked the question that had been bothering him ever since he watched the fight in New York. “Ladybug, where’s Chat Noir?”

She stared at him for a moment, and then tears welled in her blue eyes and spilled over the edges of her mask.

“I’m not all right at all,” she cried, throwing herself against his chest and sobbing into his hoodie. “Chat—Chat’s gone.”

Luka sucked in a breath, arms curling instinctively around her, but Ladybug was pulling back to shake her head. “No, no, not like that, I’m sorry. The person, the b-boy who was Chat Noir, he’s all right as far as I know, but…” She looked around, and then back up to Luka, a frightened expression on her face. She rose up on her toes to speak next to his ear and whispered, “He gave me his Miraculous back.”

“No,” Luka breathed, and wrapped her up close in his arms. “Oh my God,” he whispered, rubbing her back as he held her. It occurred to him that he was being awfully forward and touchy with her, but he’d been so worried, not knowing what was going on, and tangled in knots about Marinette as well, who’d come back from her New York trip even more uncertain and depressed than when she’d left. Ladybug buried her face in his chest again and shook with silent tears, so he figured she didn’t mind.

No wonder. She probably really needed a hug as badly as he did right now, if not more. His hand continued to move across her back mechanically as he tried to take in the implications of what she’d told him.

Ladybug had no backup. Fighting by herself would be massively more dangerous and require a total change in tactics. She now had possession of both the black cat and the ladybug miraculous. Hawkmoth had only to capture her, and he would win. All her temporary heroes had been exposed, including himself. And all of Paris was clamoring to know why they hadn’t been protected in this last attack, why Ladybug had left them defenseless with no warning, and where was Chat Noir?

“You’ve had it rough, huh,” Luka murmured, squeezing her tight. “You always do, but I mean. More than usual.” She made a pitiful little noise of assent, barely audible from where she had her face smushed against him.

Luka took a deep breath and sighed it out slowly. “We can stay like this as long as you need to,” he told her. “When you’re ready, then you can tell me your plan.” She tensed slightly, and he added, “And if you don’t have one, we’ll make one.”

“I do,” she said without lifting her face, gripping his hoodie tight. “But we can’t talk about it here.” She took a deep breath. “I need Viperion. I know...I know that it’s dangerous, but I don’t know who else I can go to right now…”

“If you say it’s necessary then I trust you,” Luka said simply, putting as much conviction in his voice as he could. Ladybug straightened, and looked up into his face. He smiled, reaching up to wipe a tear off her mask with his thumb. Ladybug took a shuddering breath, and then unclipped her yoyo, reaching into it to retrieve the box. She met his gaze, and put it in his hands.

“Luka Couffaine,” she said, her voice shaky but strong. “Here is the miraculous of the snake. You will use it for the greater good.” She paused and swallowed. “When it’s no longer needed, you will return the miraculous to me. Do you accept this responsibility?”

“I do,” he said softly, opening the box. When the flash faded, he smiled at Sass. “Hey, buddy. Long time no see.”

“Luka,” Sass said simply, his expression grave. Luka reached out and stroked his hooded head.

“It’s going to be okay,” Luka told the kwami. “We’re going to make it right.”

Sass flashed a brief, small smile, one fang popping out.

Luka slipped the bracelet on, and then let Ladybug take hold of him and swing him off the boat and up onto a nearby roof where he could transform.

When the light faded, he found Ladybug looking at him, eyebrows raised.

“That’s...different,” Ladybug said, and Luka looked down at himself. It certainly felt different.

His suit was black. No, not black, he realized as he lifted his arm and the light hit it. Very dark green, indistinguishable from black in the shadows. He reached up and touched his face and head. The suit now sported a green-black cowl hood that appeared to be attached to the center top of his mask, covering his hair. Ladybug popped open her yoyo and handed it to him so he could look at his image on the screen. Lenses in his mask gave his eyes a yellow cast in addition to the usual green-gold color of his pupils. The bright yellow fangs on his mask extended farther down his face. It felt like there was more armor in his suit, too, as he moved. Still sleek, but more protected. He looked...dangerous. All the colors of his suit were darker, except for the bright yellow accents flashing here and there.

“Is this just Sass being dramatic?” Viperion wondered aloud.

“Maybe,” Ladybug said thoughtfully, circling him. “Maybe not. You look really different...maybe this is Sass trying to disguise you as much as he can. Make it look like you’re not the same Viperion Hawkmoth unmasked. I don’t think it would be hard to convince people you were someone else, done up like this.”

“I think you’re right,” Viperion said, concentrating on some...sense or feeling, an odd vibration almost that was tingling the back of his mind. “But I also think...it’s a warning…”

“A warning?” Ladybug repeated, tilting her head slightly.

Viperion nodded, and gave her a grim smile. “I think Sass is pissed .” He raised his arms slightly, looking at the bright yellow and green diamonds running along the outside of his sleeves. “They’re on your hood, too,” Ladybug told him. “Running all the way down your back to your—” she stopped, and blushed.

“It’s definitely a warning,” Viperion muttered, and then grinned. “Mess with the bug, and expect to pay.” He winked at Ladybug, and she covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

“I don’t think Sass is the only dramatic one,” she teased, and Viperion just shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, enough admiring my wardrobe upgrade,” he chuckled. “Let’s get going.”

He followed Ladybug across the rooftops, until she stopped on the roof of Montparnasse. She gave him a slightly apologetic glance. “The Eiffel Tower is more picturesque, but too obvious,” she said.

Viperion shrugged. “I’m not here for the view. Tell me how I can help.”

“Okay...so…” Ladybug began to pace, twisting her hands. “I think...I think I better tell you the whole story, so that you’re...prepared.”

“I’m listening,” Viperion said, folding his arms and leaning back against the roof ledge.

She told him everything—some with words, and some he could read in what she left unsaid. How she’d needed to leave Paris, and she’d left Chat to protect the city, and made sure he had the means to contact her if there was trouble. How, without telling her, Chat had left Paris and gone to New York—followed her to New York? He wasn’t clear on that part, whether Chat had gone knowing Ladybug would be there or if he just happened to go there himself for some reason. Viperion honestly wasn’t sure which possibility pissed him off more.

Then the disaster of a fight with the supervillain akuma (and hell wasn’t that phrase a nightmare by itself), her argument with Chat, the accident, getting berated by New York’s superheroes. Worst of all, Chat’s sudden attack of useless, frustratingly selfish conscience. How Ladybug had almost quit herself because she’d been so crushed by Chat’s actions, but had been called back because she simply couldn’t abandon her responsibility, especially when it was a rogue miraculous putting New York in danger. His fingers dug tight into his bicep as Ladybug berated herself for having been so harsh on her partner, but he clenched his teeth, determined to say nothing to the end.

By the time she wound up the story of how she’d teamed up with two young superhero apprentices to take down an entire city full of insane fully-grown, powered-up superheroes and a miraculous-enhanced akuma, he kind of wanted to punch something. Of course he’d seen part of that on the news, but it was different thinking about it with her standing there in front of him, so young and small and tired, and knowing all she’d been through leading up to it.

Maybe not even all of it. Ladybug was only part of who she was, after all. Who knew what else she had to deal with that had nothing to do with the mask.

“Chat could still change his mind,” Viperion said, as she began to pace and mumble to herself. His heart wasn’t in the words, but he felt like he should point it out. “I know you don’t know who he is, but he could find you fairly easily. Presumably his kwami would be able to confirm his identity. If you even want him back,” he couldn’t help adding, a slight edge creeping into his tone despite his best efforts..

“He’s my partner, of course I want him back,” she muttered as she paced. “I can’t do this alone, I don’t want to!”

“You’re not alone,” Viperion said reflexively, but went on quickly when her head snapped up to look at him. “It’s Chat’s call, then. Does he still have the thing you gave him when you left for New York?”

Ladybug’s eyes widened. “He does, actually,” she gasped. “The alert I gave him to call me if Paris needed me. He still has it! Unless he...unless he threw it away.” She shook her head. “I’m sure he wouldn’t. He could contact me with that if he wanted to meet up!”

“Okay,” Viperion tapped one finger on his arm. “Has he?”

Ladybug deflated. “No…”

“Too bad,” Viperion muttered. “I’d like to have a few words with him.”

Ladybug looked at him and seemed to register his expression for the first time. “You’re mad.”

Viperion felt his face soften just a little. “Not at you, Ladybug. You did everything you could. Nothing that happened was your fault.”

“But—if I hadn’t—”

Viperion threw his arms out, finally letting some of his frustration burst out. “Why wouldn’t you be angry that he betrayed your trust, left the citizens you entrusted to him undefended so that he could—I don’t even know what he was trying to do, honestly, but regardless, he broke your agreement and you had a right to be angry at him. If he didn’t want you to be angry, he should have made different choices. He did kill someone. Nearly killed you, in fact.” He gestured at her, and she seemed to shrink into herself. “And then instead of taking responsibilities for his mistakes in any kind of meaningful way, he does this tragic, noble sacrifice that amounted to abandoning you without backup, knowing there was an undefeated akuma-charged supervillain running around, to face the consequences of his actions alone, without even acting to take responsibility for the monster that wrecked Paris on his watch—and he did all that knowing that Hawkmoth was still in New York!” He paused, taking a breath to rein in his temper, and then another. When he was calm, he shrugged slightly. “Yeah, I’m mad. More than mad, honestly. But I care more about helping you than kicking Chat’s ass, even if I could find him.” He gestured his own emotions aside. “Regardless of how I feel about it, It’s Chat’s call whether he wants to come back, since he’s the only one with means to get in touch with you. That’s not something we can control or count on. So. What do you want to do, and how can I help?”

Ladybug stared at him for a minute, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what he’d said. Then, shaking her head in a clear I’ll deal with that later gesture, she came back to the moment. “I need to arrange a press conference with Mayor Bourgeois to reassure the citizens of Paris that they’re still being protected.” Her hands came together, clenched, and twisted as she spoke. “I...don’t know how it’s going to go. I don’t want to give Hawkmoth more information. The last thing I need is for him to know that Chat gave his ring back, that if he catches me, he gets the entire miracle box.” She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “I need you to be there. I should be able to make the speech in less than five minutes, at least the important part. If it...doesn’t go well, if I let something slip, or the people don’t like what I have to say...I want the chance to do it over. This is too important, Viperion. I can’t just wing it and hope that I don’t mess up.”

“I understand,” Viperion nodded. “We’ll need a signal.”

“We can do that,” Ladybug agreed. “But if you think things aren’t going well, then do what you need to do. I trust you.”

Viperion put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I know that trust probably doesn’t come easy for you right now. I promise I won’t let you down.”

Ladybug looked down, and then covered his hand on her shoulder with her own. “It’s always been easy, trusting you. Thank you.”

He hoped the new mask would cover the heat rising from his neck to his face.

He knew from the way her lips quirked that it didn’t.

“The new look suits you,” she said, unclipping her yoyo from her waist. “I’ll let you know when I get things set up. Try to transform and check your communicator as often as you can. I want to get this taken care of as soon as possible.”

Viperion blinked. “You’re not—you want me to keep it?” he said, lifting his wrist where the bangle still rested.

“For now,” Ladybug shrugged, and for the instant before her blue eyes flicked away from him, they were sad and worried. “I’ve got to do what I need to do to survive and protect the city. That means the rules are changing. I just...haven’t figured out how yet. But this feels right.” Her gaze returned to him and she smiled. “Like I said, I trust you.” She winked. “You might want to think about a different name, though. To go with the new look.” She pointed at him. “Not Black Mamba, understand?”

“No respect for the classics,” Viperion complained, folding his arms.

“Your love for that movie is unhealthy,” Ladybug sighed, and Viperion raised his eyebrows slightly.

“I’m surprised you even know that about me.”

“I know a lot of things about you,” she smiled, giving him a wink. “You’re not the only observant one.”

“Have you been stalking me, Ladybug?” Viperion teased, and Ladybug snorted.

“Like I have that kind of time.” She took out her yoyo. “I’ve got to go. Be safe, okay? If you have any second thoughts, call me.”

“I understand,” Viperion nodded. Ladybug gave him a lift down off the skyscraper, and then he ran home on his own, his thoughts full of everything she had told him.

Still, he realized as he landed lightly back on the deck of the Liberty, as angry as he was...he felt better. At least now he knew. At least now he could do something.

At least now he could be there for her.

Clearly somebody needed to be.

#quickspins #Live With It #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain-cheng #miraculous ladybug #miraculousladybug #miraculous new york #new york special #ml writer salt #chat salt #adrien salt #pro lukamari #viperbug

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21stcenturyyfoxx · 5 years

Text

Sabotage: Chapter one

Characters:

Keanu Reeves, Y/N, Andi, possibly Chad Stahelski appearance; who knows?

Summary: You and Keanu have been friends for a couple years after working together on several movies. But what happens when someone comes in and tries to ruin the friendship.

Warnings: Angst, Fights, Curse words... just a bag of just MESS.

———————————————————

You sat there silently, listening to the other end of the line; your breathing caught in a fight to escape your chest to your throat and out of your mouth, but it wouldn’t come.

The words that spewed out of their mouth like fire, you were sure they were flavored with honey as they praised the woman they had been working with the past year; now, however, things had turned on a dime, there were — feelings.

“... and she talked about us three grabbing dinner tomorrow night at Bacchus...” He said.

“Y/N? ...”

“Y/N? Are you even listening?”

“Yeah, sorry, Ke.” You cleared your throat, a sigh escaping your parted lips.

To be overwhelmed was an understatement, you were absolutely in panic mode as the realization came that you had a feeling you couldn’t shake.

You had this inexplicable sensation that this girl Keanu was purring over was not all she had painted to be, something perturbed you but, you’d give her a fair shot, maybe it was just you being protective of your friend.

———————————————————

Two years earlier

———————————————————

You sat on the couch, your fingers and mind aimlessly swiping your thumb across the screen of your phone. Your trailer was the perfect home away from home, decorated with trinkets of your actual home that laid tucked into the hills of California; your favorite color danced around you in the atmosphere.

You had been on set for exactly three months, filming the first in many franchises you’d grace your presence with, the fourth installment of The Matrix.

You had been ecstatic about getting the role of Crash, the savvy and sarcastic computer programmer/hacker that was planned to save the next human race when she would revive Neo and Trinity, or rather, if she could.

You had always wanted to meet the star of the movie, Keanu Reeves, but it proved to be trickier than you’d originally thought until the script landed in your managers hands and then the role subsequently fell into yours.

——

A knock at the door interrupted your mindless scrolling; standing up you groaned, the line work had put you in a state of torment, your body sore and bruised.

You swung the door open revealing the source of the knock, Keanu.

Your mouth parted to say something, anything, but nothing would forfeit out of your vocal chords.

“Sorry to bother you, Ms. Y/N, but I was wondering if you’d happen to have a cigarette? I’m out and in all honesty, too tired to go to the gas station.” He chuckled, a sheepish grin forming on his mug.

“Of course, Mr. Reeves, I actually have a pack you can have.” You smiled softly, moving into your trailer grabbing the two packs and the lighter that was atop of the cartons before stepping outside.

“You know you can call me Keanu, right?” He said muffled as he placed the cigarette in between his lips, lighting it successfully on the first try.

“Keanu..well, if that’s the case then just call me Y/N.” You smiled softly, placing a cigarette between your lips and taking a sharp inhale.

———————————————————

You and Keanu struck up a friendship quickly, gossip blogs never ceased to follow you two around, penning you two together like a royal couple of the film arts.

But it was far from the truth, nothing ever was between you; but now, something didn’t feel right, something sat deep within your gut about this female he had been blabbering on about for the past hour, two hours? You zoned out often.

“So the dinner— tomorrow? Me, you, and... I’m sorry what’s her name again?” You sighed, lighting a cigarette up, not caring if the offensive smell lingered in your house.

“Andi. Her name is Andi.” He said shortly, your stomach churned thinking if Keanu was angry at you for the forgetfulness.

“Sorry, I was somewhere else when you brought her name up. Anyway, yeah, tomorrow night, 7, Bacchus. Sounds good to me.” You said hastily trying to get off the phone, you simply couldn’t take another second of his incessant speech about this woman.

“Alright, yeah, 7.” He said sighing into the line before hanging up without a goodbye.

You sat there, phone in hand, thoughts like a rolodex.

——

The night felt full of dread as you went through your routine of picking a dress, heels, and wether or not to smoke a whole pack of cigarettes.

The thought of suddenly dying amused you more than having a nice dinner date with your friend, although, before you’d love nothing more than to sit across from the man, but now, the tides changed with the new moon, a woman was thrown into the atmosphere and now suddenly you had a sickening feeling that it wasn’t all pretty fixtures and flowers.

You slipped your new dress on, it reached your thighs; black, pairing it with black high heels and a black leather jacket that rested perfectly on your waist.

You sighed as you did dark makeup, you normally favored lighter tones to bring out your eyes but tonight, was a funeral of sorts, at least that’s what your instinct screamed.

——-

“Y/N! I’m so glad you’re here..” Keanu rushed to your side, holding the umbrella over you as the abnormal Los Angeles rain fell onto the pavement. You had just stepped out of the Uber, opting out to drive through the Saturday night traffic in your own vehicle.

“What makes you think I’d miss seeing my favorite man?” You looked up at him, a sweet smile tugging on your blood red lips, you had decided in the car to put some lipstick on, red being the classiest choice.

Keanu kisses your cheek, his hand firmly resting on the small of your back. Protectively. Guiding you inside the restaurant.

His hand dropping as the two of you approached the round table.

Then you saw her.

Andi.

She had short brunette waves with flecks of grey tucked hidden away, her eyes were this piercing emerald.

She stood up to meet you, she was taller than what you had expected.

Her hand reached for yours, her handshake making your stomach churn.

“Keanu has told me so many great things of you.” Andi said with a smile, her eyes flashing between you and Keanu.

“Well, I’d hope so.” You half heartedly laughed, shaking her hand in response.

——

After dinner and exhausting conversations about how the two met and eventually began a romantic agenda, you had excused yourself to the side door for a quick smoke. The alley was dark but you weren’t worried if someone were to grab you.

You had your back turned when you heard the door shut behind you, you thought it was maybe Keanu joining you, but alas, you were wrong.

You saw her in your peripheral, an exhale of smoke billowed from your pout. You decided to play nice and not warn her that you would end her existence if she would happen to fuck up with Keanu.

“So I think it’s pretty cool you made that one, uh, sculpture. The picture you showed me looked pretty cool — twisted up like that.” You said in a bid to compliment her on her arts.

She looked at you, the facade crumbling.

She smoothed her hair back with her fingers, a soft laugh erupted from her lips as she stepped closer to you. Her face only several inches from yours.

“You know, he thinks you’re annoying..” she started, causing your adrenaline to feed into your body, your heart raced.

“He got off the phone with you last night and told me how immature you really are, how you can’t even pay the simplest attention to hold a conversation.”

“He’s told me how he didn’t even want to work with you, he just did it because his manager told him it would be good publicity and a good role change.”

You and Keanu had in turn did a high-grossing horror film together the past year. You gulped not knowing what to say, tears threatening to fall.

“You should save yourself some embarrassment and just go home — he’s going to confess, after we sit back down, that he doesn’t want to be friends with you anymore, because, how did he put it, you’re too immature, reckless, and he thinks it’s creepy you have some high school crush on him...”

The last phrase hit you hard.

With the cigarette long abandoned, you gathered yourself and maneuvered your way through the restaurant and grabbed your purse.

Keanu looked up at you concerned, his hand reaching for yours — he didn’t find it.

You rushed outside, rain hitting your face as the tears spilled; you didn’t care to call an Uber or hail a cab.

You, however, failed to notice Keanu rushing after you.

“Y/N?” He yelled but you didn’t turn around, instead, you kept walking.

Finally reaching your house after what felt like hours, you slammed the door behind you, stripping your dress off as it felt like a noose at this point and slid down the door, knees to your chest.

“Fuck them. I don’t.. I don’t need anybody.” You cried out, voice rattling like the broken heart in your chest and rib cage.

You fell asleep at your door that night, too exhausted to rise to your feet; too empty not to care anymore.

#keanu reeves #sabotage #series #Andi #keanu reeves x reader

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