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Okay, done!" Vincent shouts, and everyone in the studio disperses to their respective sections, leaving Adrien and Vincent alone. Adrien stretches out his stiff body, adjusting his posture.
"Amazing! Amazing!" Vincent exclaims and grabs Adrien's shoulders, getting his attention. Adrien smiles, trying to ignore how hard Vincent is gripping him.
"I see you on the headlines! Spectacular, Adrien!"
"Thank you, Vincent," Adrien replies bashfully. Despite his years of modeling, he doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to the compliments anytime soon.
"You’re off, boy. You’ve done enough work for today." With that, Vincent releases him and grabs his things, leaving Adrien behind in the studio.
To be frank, Adrien wasn’t concentrating at all today. He was afraid Vincent noticed his inattentiveness. Clearly not. Instead, Adrien’s mind has been preoccupied with someone he hasn’t had a chance to talk to all day because of his busy schedule.
Adrien reflexively touches the outline of his phone in his designer jean pocket. Should he call him? He could be busy. Besides, Adrien isn’t certain if he’s completely alone here. He doesn’t want anyone prying into who’s on the other end. But he misses him. A lot. Terribly, as if they hadn’t been together all day yesterday.
The studio’s heat feels suffocating now, the walls closing in around him. Adrien drags himself out of his thoughts and heads to the back to change into more comfortable clothing.
He smiles when he notices his shirt wedged between his own in his bag. It’s incongruous, its muted tones starkly contrasting with the bright colors of his other clothes. Running the pads of his fingers along the soft fabric, Adrien feels a pull.
He wants to wear it. God, he really wants to. But if anyone saw him in this, it would warrant unwanted questions—questions he doesn’t feel like answering. His boyfriend’s style is as foreign on him as it does to everyone else who knows him.
With a sigh, Adrien tugs at the stiff fabric of his blazer, suddenly too aware of how much he wants to get out of the studio. His body feels tight and stiff from hours of posing. Begrudgingly, he reaches for a plain white shirt—safe, simple.
He pulls it on, and just as he’s adjusting the collar, his phone pings. Adrien snatches it up eagerly, a huge grin spreading across his face as a lightness blooms in his chest.
LUKA <<33 🐈⬛️: Hey :)) Are you done??
For a split second, Adrien wonders if he’s grinning too wide, if he’s acting too eager. But before he can second-guess himself, he types out his response.
ME: Yeah :,)
Adrien debates whether he responded too quickly. He doesn’t want Luka to assume he was waiting for his text—which, admittedly, wouldn’t be a lie. But Luka’s next response is immediate, steady and reassuring, quelling any doubts Adrien has.
LUKA <<33 🐈⬛️: Perfect, come toward the back. Waiting for youu 🫶
Adrien nearly trips over his own feet in his haste to finish packing. His fingers fumble with the buttons of his bag, and he grabs his things, already imagining the moment he’ll see Luka again. He throws his bag over his shoulder and thoroughly assesses himself in the mirror before dashing out the door.
Stepping outside, the brisk autumn breeze sweeps over him, a welcoming shock. The scent of damp earth and leaves mingles with the fresh air. Adrien pauses for a moment, breathing it in, letting the coolness clear his mind.
The tension in his shoulders eases as he strides forward, a renewed lightness in his chest. His steps quicken, each one a miniature bounce, until he rounds the corner and sees a figure crouched beside a stray black cat.
"Luka?" Adrien calls, his voice carrying a mix of relief and excitement.The man turns around, and Adrien’s chest tightens at the sight of that familiar face.
"Adrien," Luka responds, his calm, soothing voice sending a wave of comfort over Adrien. He stands, stretching his arms out in invitation, his genuine, wide, real, alive smile beckoning Adrien to step closer.
Adrien doesn’t hesitate. He practically leaps into Luka’s arms, stumbling into him with a force that nearly knocks them both off balance. He clings tightly, his cheek pressed to Luka’s chest, where the steady rhythm of his heartbeat matches Adrien’s own erratic one.
"I missed you, you know that?" Adrien murmurs, his voice muffled against Luka’s jacket. The familiar scent of wood, leather, and fresh cedar fills his nose, grounding him in a way only Luka can.
"Mm, I know," Luka replies, pressing a kiss to the top of Adrien’s head. Of course, he knows. Adrien is hopelessly obvious, but Luka doesn’t seem to mind. He holds him tighter, rubbing slow circles into Adrien’s back.
Adrien pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at Luka, their faces now only inches apart. The world feels quieter in this moment—like it’s holding its breath for them. Adrien’s eyes search Luka’s for a fleeting second, as if trying to capture every hue of blue in his eyes, every trace of tenderness they carry.
Luka’s gaze softens as he lifts a hand to Adrien’s face, brushing a strand of blonde hair away from his refulgent eyes. His thumb lingers on Adrien’s cheek, the touch so gentle it makes Adrien shiver. Luka leans in slowly, and Adrien’s breath hitches when Luka’s lips brush the corner of his mouth.
“Can I kiss you?” Luka murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes locked on Adrien’s. The question hangs in the air between them, fragile and full of quiet yearning.
Adrien doesn’t respond with words. Instead, he nods—just a small, almost imperceptible movement—but it’s enough. Luka closes the distance between them, his lips meeting Adrien’s in a kiss so soft and deliberate, it feels like time itself slows.
The kiss is unhurried, careful, as though Luka is savoring every second of it. Adrien feels his knees weaken, his hands instinctively curling into the fabric of Luka's jacket to keep himself grounded. Luka's hands cradle Adrien's face, his thumbs brushing over his jaw.
There’s something deeply intimate in the way Luka kisses him—like he’s memorizing the moment, like he’s telling Adrien everything he feels without speaking a single word. He tilts his head slightly, pressing into the kiss with more confidence now, and Luka responds in kind, just enough to make Adrien’s heart thrum dangerously.
Luka's lips are warm and inviting, coaxing Adrien into a rhythm that feels natural, effortless. He melts into it, his hands moving to rest on Luka's chest, feeling the steady pulse of his heartbeat beneath his palms. He can hear how quickly Luka's breath is coming, shaky, as though he's as nervous as Adrien is, and it makes Adrien's chest tighten in something close to affection.
The kiss shifts, growing more fervent but still slow-each movement deliberate, as if neither one of them wants to break the spell. Luka tilts his head slightly to deepen it, and Adrien gasps softly against his mouth, his heart racing as Luka's hand cups the back of his neck, holding him steady.
His heartbeat quickens under his fingertips, becoming rapid and as erratic as his own. It's a tender, fragile thing, this connection they have-vulnerable and raw, but impossibly real. It's not rushed; it's intimate, slow, like they're both savoring every second. Adrien feels himself getting lost in Luka's touch, in the way Luka's thumb gently strokes his jawline as their lips move together, hesitant and yet full of longing.
When they finally pull apart, both of them are breathless, their foreheads resting together as they try to steady themselves. Adrien lets out a shaky laugh, his cheeks flushed, his lips tingling and sensitive.
Luka’s hands strokes the back of Adrien’s neck, the intensity of his lips still lingering on Adrien’s own. He feels light-headed, caught between the overbearing heat of Luka’s presence and the softness of the kiss they just shared. The memory resides like a sweet aftertaste. It’s a quiet moment—one that seems to stretch on forever, yet it passes too quickly.
It’s shocking how much Luka means to him, how deeply he's burrowed into Adrien’s heart without even trying. Luka has this way of soothing him—pacifying the constant buzz of nerves in Adrien’s mind. It’s frightening, how much he feels for him. Adrien... likes him. He really likes Luka. A scary amount.
"Let’s get out of here," Adrien says, his voice quieter, almost unsure, before he moves away, just enough to grab Luka’s hand. When their fingers touch, Luka swiftly intertwines them, tightening his grip in a way that's steady, certain. Adrien’s stomach flips, a surge of butterflies flooding him at the simple connection.
Get a grip. You’re acting like a schoolgirl with a giddy crush. Adrien scolds himself.
He can’t help it, though. Luka’s his first true.. his true love, and he feels it so intensely. Every gesture, every glance—it’s all so.. strange, so encompassing, like every beat of him is being rewritten.
"My place?" Luka suggests, already tugging Adrien in the direction of his house.
Adrien smiles, letting Luka guide him forward. He loves going to Luka’s house—it’s so much better than his own. It’s cozy, quiet. Juleka is usually at Rose’s, leaving them alone. Even when she’s there, it’s easygoing. She's the only one who knows about their relationship.
As they approach the sidewalk, Adrien slowly pulls his hand away from Luka’s. His fingers almost seem to resist the separation, lingering for a moment, unwilling to let go. But out here, where anyone could see them, Adrien knows better.
Luka glances back, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face, but he doesn’t say anything. Adrien offers him a small, apologetic smile and gives his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
It’s a quiet reminder: Not here. Not yet. Luka understands, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
They continue walking, side by side, their shoulders occasionally bumping as they fall into step, never quite able to keep their distance when they’re together. The space between them feels heavy, a reminder of what they can’t have yet but long for.
Adrien can't risk it. He isn't ready for the world to see them—not yet. His image, the constant scrutiny—it keeps him guarded. For now, the distance is his only defense.
Luka isn't fearful of showing his love for Adrien in public. He wants to hold him close, to kiss him where anyone could see, to take him out, but he knows Adrien isn’t ready for that yet. And that’s okay. Luka understands.
His patience isn’t out of reluctance; it’s because Adrien is worth the wait. No matter how long it takes, no matter the hesitation, Adrien is worth every moment. Luka will wait, because in the end, Adrien is everything to him.