Lukadrien Vault

damn i shouldve added some sort of scale texture or something... whatever

Adrien's face flushes, and he holds the bouquet closer. "I'm not dressed."

Luka waves a hand dismissively. "Ohhh, don't worry about that, you're handsome even just in plain old pajamas." He leans in closer, a smile widening across his face.

Adrien crooks a brow. "Well I can't get up to dance, so..." He trails off.

"Thennn, it's just a party! Not everyone dances at a dance, we can just hang out here." Luka pulled up his other leg up on the bed, sitting crisscrossed.

If Father had seen it, he would be angry about shoes being on the bed. But Adrien has always liked Luka for the very reasons Father wouldn’t like Luka. Of course there were other things, but this just made Adrien like him more.

Plus, Luka's shoes were nice. Actually, seeing Luka in a suit is nice, he looks great.

A giddy smile comes across Adrien's face. "Does that mean snacks? Parties always have snacks."

"Oh- I did plan on that- Too worried about getting the bouquet on time. I can go get some real quick if you want?"

Adrien giggles. "Not yet, I still want you here." He looks down at the bouquet crinkling in his hands. "You did all this for me?"

Luka shifts closer, pointing to the flowers in the wrapping paper. "I knew you liked roses, and I know you like orange, so, orange roses."

"There's red roses too." Adrien smirks, shifting the bouquet to show Luka.

"Well." Luka clicks his tongue. "You like romantic too, needed classic red roses."

Adrien just smiles, staring down at the flowers.

Luka continues, "When's your birthday?"

"What?"

"When's your birthday? I can do more then. You haven't had a birthday come up yet, aaannnddd I know it's gotta be some time."

Adrien rolls his eyes. "October 13th."

Luka nods, taking in the information. "You've never had a proper birthday party, right? That's why the bubbler happened?"

Adrien pursed his lips. "Yeah, Nino was upset Father said no."

"That was before you were Indigo. What did akuma attacks feel like then?" Luka tilts his head.

"Life felt... Normal then. I was just glad my Father got me an actual gift, not some lousy pen for the 3rd year in a row." Adrien lets out a huff of amusement. "It was one of the times I thought Father cared."

"I'll get you a gift."

Adrien's face felt flush, he tried to conjure up a proper smile, playing it off as cockiness. "You already got me a gift."

"I'll get you more, birthdays are usually filled with them."

"That sounds... nice." He breathes a sigh of endearment.

Adrien ghosts his fingers over the flower petals. They feel soft, and he rubs one of the petals in between the pads of his fingers. He'd apply more pressure if he could, but that would rip the petal, and Luka got these for him as a gift.

His face drops, because he loves gifts, Luka loves giving him gifts.

He can't let Luka continue doing this for him.

He's not going to make it to his next birthday.

"Adrien? What is it?" Adrien blinks, looking up at Lukas concerned face.

"Luka I..." He glances back down at the bouquet. "We can't pretend this will last forever."

Luka is quiet for a moment. His face softens. "You deserve to be happy."

"And you dont?"

Silence again. The soft sound of Adrien touching the single petal back and forth in his fingers fills his ears. 

He shouldn't have said that. They have talked about this before, many times, but tonight wasn't a time for that. Luka was trying to do something sweet, he didn't need a reminder their relationship is on the clock. 

Adrien doesn't want to be reminded of that either. He's just reminded of it every time he coughs, every time he even attempts to stand, to get up.

Adrien exhales. "I’m sorry, you were doing something nice and I ruined it."

"No no, It’s ok." Luka stares down at his lap. "I just meant... We deserve to be happy, even if it's not permanent."

"That doesn't bother you?"

Luka swallowed. "Just... Don't worry about it."

A petal rips, and Adrien bites his lip. Luka doesn't need this, he doesn't need a doomed relationship, he doesn't need someone who will let him get hurt.

But he also wants to indulge Luka.

He knows he's close to the end, he knows any day, hell any moment, it'll be over. He can't get out of bed without wobbling, he feels weak, he can feel his body wanting to give up.

"How about those snacks, huh?" Adrien swiftly says, changing the conversation.

Luka blinks and drops his feet to the floor, still facing Adrien. "Uh, yeah, I can do that." He leans forward, pushing adriens bangs out of the way and kisses his forehead. 

He then backs off the bed, smiling now. "I'll be back, I know what you like." He starts walking backwards, like he wants to keep looking at Adrien, and it makes Adrien smile.

"Plagg, claws out." With an electric green light, Kitty Khaos finally turns around and climbs outside the window.

The canoe pulled up to the dock near the entrance. A woman with blonde hair was helped out by the port master, guards in varying red and black following after her. There was a small child still waiting with a guard, who’s hair was untied and wild, flying in the cold wind. The child took a step forward and seemed to launch himself in the air, clearing over the adults in the group before landing on his feet, barely making a dent in the snow beneath his feet.

“We welcome the Fire Lady and heir to the Fire Nation to the Southern Water Tribe.” The port master said, bowing low, the members of the council behind him doing the same. The port and all its entrances were handled by the master; the members were there as the welcoming committee for the Fire Lady.

Bowing slightly, the guards putting palms to hands and following the bow, the Fire Lady smiled gently. “Thank you. Thank you for collecting us.”

“My Lady, your ship would have been allowed inside the gates.”

She shook her head. “Coal powered ships work better in colder waters compared to the new electric ones. I didn’t want to stir up old memories with black snow. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see the city through the perspective of her people. Adrien loved the ride. Adrien, what do we say?”

Blonde hair poked out of the hood of the parka the child was wearing. It was nicely made, no doubt a gift sent to the Prince by the Tribe Chief. He bowed with his fist and palm, hood sliding lower and obscuring his face more. his voice was slightly squeaky with age, but firm as expected of a prince. “Thank you for guiding our ship into safe waters and welcoming us.”

“My Lady,” one of the council members spoke, “our Chief is waiting for you inside the manor. You’ll stay with his family and of course, your guards are more than welcome to stay with you. we’ll be having a welcoming feast tonight. Please.” He gestured towards the carriage hooked to a polarbear dog.

Arnaka heard a little gasp, watching the little one stare up at his mother. She smiled down at her son, looking at the guard behind him. “Plagg, after we’re settled, make sure to ask our hosts if we can visit their stables. I’m sure they have a calm cub Adrien can pet.”

“Yes My Lady.”

She finally got to see the boy at the feast. The whole village had been invited, all seated at long tables within the hall. She was near most of boating families, her kids already abandoning her to talk to their friends when drums started and they came rushing back. The doors opened and the Chief came in, dressed finely in his best parka. The Fire Lady was dressed in a thicker outfit, blue with splashes of black. Walking next to her was the heir to the throne. His hair was also blonde and Arnaka could see his eyes were green. He was dressed in red and gold robes, though peeking out, were thick pants that no doubt kept him warm if his inner fire wasn’t. though, she had also heard air benders were good at regulating their temperature. His hair wasn’t quite long enough for the famous flame crown the royal family would wear, though there was a necklace of beads around neck, the symbol for the Air Nomads sitting in the centre. They were seated next to the Chief and his family and once the drums stopped, he raised his hands.

“Welcome everyone! We are blessed with the presence of Fire Lady Emilie and Prince Adrien of the Fire Nation. We are doubly blessed to also be hosting the next Avatar of the cycle in the young prince. Prince Adrien will be staying with us for the next 6 months to get started in his water bending training. Fire Lady Emilie will be leaving us in a month to return to the Fire Nation, but he’ll be protected by his guard, and I know everyone here. I do hope our tribe will make him feel welcome and keep the Lady’s mind at ease.”

So young! Aranaka was surprised this was the plan, but the last set of Avatars started their training younger and younger, most wanting to get it out of the way to focus on diplomacy. With spirit entrances open now, they’d wanted to also focus on the lost understanding of the Spirit World. Avatar Korra had started the process and the trend continued. She was sure the pressure of being prince and Avatar didn’t help.

“Is he gonna be in Luka's class?” Juleka asked, sitting on her knees to lean over the table, trying to get a better look.

“Maybe. Be nice to him, ok? He’s very far from home.”

Her children nodded and she looked over at the child again. He was young and had no doubt, large amounts of pressure on him.

_____________________________

Luka almost didn’t notice him. He didn’t know how, he was a bright spot against the snow in his orange and red robes and blonde hair. The Prince was staring from around fenced area from their igloo, but not at him. He was staring at Fang, Luka’s uncle’s crocwolf. The oversized lump was half buried under the snow in the front yard as always, his half scaled and furred tail flicking out from the snow, the only indication he was there.

“Hello?” Luka called, when he saw the Prince staring.

The younger one let out a squeak, ducking behind the fence. Luka also noticed the Prince’s main guard had been standing behind his charge, bowing his head when Luka noticed him. He seemed to be waiting for the Prince to come back out. he hadn’t been this shy earlier at their water bending lesson. He was all bright smiles and with their teacher’s permission, showing his air bending skills. Luka remembered watching him launch into the air to get off the canoe and his mini tornados created a downpour of snow. The kids had all shrieked with joy as the snow fell around them – even though snowfall was so normal – but Luka kept being drawn to his smile.

“Your highness?” Luka tried again.

“Don’t call me that!” finally, a reply. The Prince came out from behind the fence, pouting. “My name is Adrien.”

Luka felt a bemused smile grow on his lips. “I’m Luka.”

“You’re in the older class.” The Pri – Adrien was in class as an intermediate beginner.

“Yeah. Did you,” he glanced down at Fang, who’s snout started to unearth from the snow, “did you wanna say hi?”

Adrien’s eyes started to sparkle a little. “Can I?”

“He’s not gonna hurt you. he’s really lazy. Fang, here.” Luka called, huffing when the pile of snow only moved to create cracks in the pile. “Get out here.” Fang only unearthed his head to stare blankly at him, before dropping his head back on his paws.

During that, Adrien got closer, somehow standing behind Luka and staring down at Fang. “Is he gonna bite me?”

“I’d be surprised if he managed to get further out of the snow pile. Here.” He took Adrien’s gloved hand and pulled him to kneel down next to him. He led Adrien to put his hand on Fang’s snout, hovering when Fang huffed, kicking up a bit of snow. “Rub up and down.”

Adrien did as he was instructed, smiling when Fang made his pleased grumbling sounds. “I think he likes me.”

“I think so to.”

Adrien looked up at him. “Can I come by to pet him again? And maybe…could you teach me how to do the water rope? You were really good and I’m having a hard time getting mine to stay still.”

Luka had no clue what agreeing to that would bring him years later.

__________________________

“Luka!”

“My Lord!”

Those were basically all of what Luka heard before he was assaulted by piles of fabric knocking him onto the gangplank. If Adrien had actually managed to knock them into the water and Luka didn’t catch them, Juleka would never let him hear the end of it. he’d be required by law to pull her in, taking advantage of her non-bending ability, but he’d probably get his ass handed to him during training with her club. Or her boomerang. How both her and Adrien, the two people he taught, managed to be better at it than him, made no sense sometimes.

Thankfully, he managed to not bang his head on the metal gangplank, instead, taking a second to reorient himself to he could stare up at the hyper Avatar. Adrien’s hair was finally long enough to be pulled into a topknot, the golden flame crown perched within the golden strands. It stood out against the greens and creams of the Earth Kingdom robes Adrien wore.

“You’re here!”

“So am I, but thank you for not pushing me off the ship.” Juleka comments, smiling down at them.

“Hey kitten.” Plagg said, suddenly standing over them and pulling Adrien up by his collar. “Maybe act like a prince for a bit longer?”

Juleka helped her brother up, already pulling the dropped bag onto her shoulder. Luka could have taken it back, but he got distracted by the many laughing faces of the crowd they gained. The arrival of the Prince’s friends had caught the attention of the crowd and clearly Adrien’s uncaring attitude of princely behaviours wasn’t new based off how they seemed to be smiling with those knowing ‘there he goes again’ looks. They became common in the 6 months Adrien first stayed at the Southern Water Tribe. Luka could only imagine the impact he made at the Northen Water Tribe, who were still known for being a bit more uptight.

“Welcome to the Fire Nation, honoured guests. Please, this way to the carriage, so we may arrive to Caldera City, where my father will give a pompous welcome.” Adrien said loudly, with an exaggerated bow.

Plagg sighed and let Adrien go, turning and heading down the plank. Laughing, Luka followed Adrien, who waved to the many Fire Nation citizen who were watching, smiling at the confused looks from those visiting from other areas, not used to the prince’s personality.

“You can’t be normal for a few more days?” Plagg asked, opening the door.

“I’m not gonna be prince soon. Who cares?”

Juleka waited until the armadillo rhino started its trek to the palace to ask. “So, it’s official? You’re abdicating the throne?”

“Being the Avatar can’t happen if I’m more partial to one area. It’s different than having a deeper love for the country you were born into before finding out you’re the Avatar. I don’t want people assuming I’ll take the Fire Nation right back to the 100 Year War. Ruko, as much as he was praised, made a mess of things by not holding people accountable because of who they were. He knew one incident was going to lead to a bigger mess and instead of keeping an eye, he let his guard down. I’m not expecting Felix to do that, but it would be harder to rule a nation and not have people think that about me.” Adrien explained.

Luka put a hand on Adrien’s. “They’ll understand why.” He reassured. “You’ve made it clear how much each country means to you, and how you’ll strive to keep the balance.”

“You’re gonna be an amazing Avatar.” Juleka jumped in.

“Thank you. and thank you for coming to the coronation. Felix doesn’t have many friends and I know he’ll like you guys. Honestly, he’s probably heard the most about you.”

“Well, Water Tribe does dominate.” Juleka said.

“Obviously.” Adrien agreed teasingly, hand out to clasp Juleka’s.

Luka knew from Adrien’s many letters, all the friends he’d made in the many nations were his closest friends. He drew everyone to him so easily and Luka was more than sure it wasn’t because of his Avatar status. He had a way of understanding people and his welcoming nature just made people want to gravitate towards him.

They arrived at the palace with a full welcoming committee waiting for them. it was like whenever Adrien would arrive at the Water Tribe, but in reverse. It was their first time coming to the Palace, so Luka felt a bit out of place, even more when everyone bowed towards them.

“Welcome honoured guests.” The Fire Lord said, bowing his head.

This was the first time Luka met the Fire Lord. Adrien’s father never joined them when they came to the Water Tribe. In fact, according to Adrien, he never left the capital. Whenever there was a need for all the world leaders to meet, either the Fire Lady or the royal advisor would go. Once Adrien started getting older, able to travel without an adult escort, he’d gone to speak on behave of the Fire Nation and try and be the impartial viewer as the Avatar. Felix, Adrien’s cousin, had started coming as the speaker for the Fire Nation after his very early graduation from the Academy and steady rise through the ranks of politics and becoming a Fire Bending Master, months before Adrien was considered one. Adrien had been more than happy to suggest that Felix take his place as heir to the throne so he could focus on being the Avatar.

“Thank you, Fire Lord Gabriel.”

“I take it you’re Luka.” the pale eyebrow rose and Luka tried not to feel self-conscious. “What an interesting choice in hair colour.”

It took a lot to not start messing with his hair, undoing the wolf tail Juleka had managed to control his hair into on the boat ride over. hair dye was a new commodity and while most of the older members of the tribe didn’t care for it, being their mother’s children, Luka and Juleka took to it like turtleducks to water. The blue in his hair was recently done, so it was brighter.

“I told you, it’s like the water in the South Pole. And this is Juleka, his younger sister.” Adrien introduced.

“My son tells me you’re quite the threat with a boomerang.”

“He’s no slouch either, My Lord. All thanks to my brother, he was the one to teach me and the…Avatar.”

With Adrien giving up the throne, he and Juleka had been trying to figure out how to address Adrien in front of his father, who Adrien had warned was insistent on respecting hierarchy.

“Has he?”

“Father.” Adrien interrupted. “I’m sure you and the council have to finish getting everything ready for coronation, so we’ll get out of your hair.”

“Adrien.”

The Avatar seemed to ignore his father, dragging the siblings past the welcoming committee. They were greeted by passing servants when Adrien spotted one. She was small, short blonde hair, but she seemed to carry the pile sheets with ease.

“Rose!”

“Hello Adrien.”

Luka felt his brow raise. He didn’t think servants would call royalty by name. though, this was Adrien, so the idea he wouldn’t insist on it was silly.

“This is Luka and Juleka. Rose, I want you to look after Juleka while she’s here. Sass will look after Luka.”

“Of course. Hi! It’s nice to meet you.” Rose said, a bright smile on her face.

Luka glanced over at his sister, smiling at the slightly dazed look on her face. He nudged her and she jumped. While she greeted her, he shared a look with Adrien.

While Juleka was whisked away by Rose – if they weren’t best friends by the end of this trip, Luka would eat his bow – Adrien led him to the gardens.

“How’s your mom?” Luka asked as they walked towards the turtleduck pond.

Adrien crossed his arms, hiding them in his robes. “She’s…not getting better. The Fire Sages, the best healers from the Northern Water Tribe, healers from Ba Sing Se and even the Air Temples have all come to try and help. Honestly, it’s me keeping my father from killing them all when they don’t have answers. Mom would hate it if he started another war over her.”

“I’m sorry.” Luka said, thinking about the kind woman, who almost always had a smile whenever he met her.

Adrien huffed. “I know being the Avatar means knowing that there’s balance in everything, but could it not mean losing my mom? I know accepting loss and letting go of it is what will help in achieving the Avatar State but –”

“It won’t be easy.” Luka said, taking Adrien’s shoulders in his hands, looking down at him. “Adrien, no one ever said it was easy. No one ever said being the Avatar means you can’t be mad at the world and upset. It just means it can’t control your whole life, but you’re allowed to give yourself moments to feel that anger and sadness. It makes you human, regardless of how people view you. Adrien, you are human.”

“I know. I just wish being the Avatar meant I could save her.”

Luka pulled Adrien into a tight hug, wanting nothing more than to assure him it would all be ok and that someone would find an answer. That as he stood in the crowd watching the Fire Sages allow Adrien to crown his cousin, Fire Lady Emilie standing with her husband, looking pale but proud of her nephew, that everything would be easily fixed. That watching Adrien get giddy over the fact that Felix’s sass seemed unable to turn away the friends Adrien had made throughout the world and how easily they accepted the new prince, meant that maybe if not forever, everything would make sense and be fine.

They were halfway back to the Southern Water Tribe when a Fire Nation ballon with metal benders on staff, boarded the ship, with instructions to bring Luka and Juleka back. Fire Lady Emilie had passed, the Fire Lord refused to leave his chambers and it was now up to the new Prince and the Avatar to plan the royal funeral. This time, when Luka stood in the crowd, at the front next to Adrien, he didn’t let go of his hand. Things wouldn’t be fine, not for a while, but Luka would try to help, however he could.

___________________________________

Heartbeats were the same technically, but a person’s life made it beat a certain way. When you focused on the feeling of a person’s blood, pumping their heart, you started to pick up on small cues. It was probably a little creepy, but since learning how to blood bend, it was how Luka kept track of those around him, at least his friends. His heart songs let him know to not attack first and ask questions later, a skill gained from being friends with Felix and Chloe.

He did love and respect them, but the fact the two fire benders hadn’t set the whole city on fire with how they acted was a surprise. And one of them was acting Fire Lord.

“Kagami?”

The aristocrat turned guard didn’t seem surprised that Luka called out to her as he came into his apartment. The fact she was in what was a locked room should have been weird, but it was Kagami. She was taught how to get in and out of places by a boy who moved like air.

“It’s so much smaller than I was expecting.” She commented, looking around the kitchen, most space taken up by the table. Just opposite was his bed and trunk, the Earth Kingdom style room covered in pelts from home.

“It’s student lodging, it’s not supposed to be big. Is Felix here? I didn’t hear anything about the Fire Lord coming to Ba Sing Se.

Kagami gave a small smirk. “No, different member of power. One who would like to spend his night here, rather than the overly large room the King of Ba Sing Se wanted to give him. I’m doing a perimeter check to make sure it’s safe.”

Adrien, other than being a master of all elements, knew how to fight with swords, was incredibly flexible and quite the strategist. Luka was sure Adrien could defend himself with ease, but Kagami was stubborn, which was why she was head of the guard at her age.

“Where is he?”

“He should be arriving back from the palace soon. Talks of life in the rings and such.” Kagami explained, picking up on of Luka’s textbooks he left on the table. “You’re doing healing for your studies?”

“The positive affects of blood bending. Avatar Korra had only just started legislation to remove it from banned styles and it only just passed before Adrien was born. So much about it is still left unknown and removing the stigma helps it not to be abused. My dissertation defence is tomorrow.”

“Well,” Kagami said, placing the book down, “thank goodness for the distraction that is Adrien.”

Adrien, in lighter clothes of the Fire Nation, burst into the room in all his normal loud glory.

“Luka!” he cried, no doubt using air bending to get from the door to the kitchen in seconds, wrapping his arms around Luka’s waist as he hugged him from behind.

“Easy!” Luka warned, pulling the wok further from him so Adrien wouldn’t burn himself. He looked over his shoulder at Adrien, who rested his chin on him and was smiling up at him. “I thought you were in Omashu.”

“I was. I was supposed to be there for longer, since the land is shared by both the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation and Felix sent me act is mediator, but the Earth King wanted to talk about the rings. If I never step foot in another place filled with way too much porcelain, it’ll be too soon.”

Luka laughed, focusing back on the wok of noodles. “glad to be of service.”

Dinner was had at the table, Kagami standing against the wall, at the ready for anything. She refused when Luka offered her food but disappeared for a few minutes once they were done eating to place a fruit basket on the table.

“Why is there a basket of fruit with pieces cut out?” Luka asked, picking up the red fleshy fruit, it’s white inside exposed thanks to a missing piece.

“Gift from the Earth King. They had their poison testers try each fruit in front of me.” Luka made a face and Adrien replied, “I didn’t love it either but get this. turns out her whole family has been doing this for years. They have ingested so many poisons, that they’re practically immune. All they get is a rash. I thought they were water benders or it had something to do with their chi but nope, just years and years of eating and drinking poison. Though, they do have cousin who’s a water bender studying at the university. They mentioned she’s also doing her dissertation on blood bending.”

“Nia. Her focus is toxins in the blood.” Luka said, knowing who Adrien meant.

He was taking one of his discarded chopsticks to hack a piece of the fruit off when Kagami spoke. “Nia. She was that girl you were walking with.”

“Why are we stalking me?” Luka asked, taking a bite out of his piece.

“It’s my job.” Kagami stated. “you two must be close, with your focus being blood bending.”

“I guess. We study together since we have to get rare books for our papers.” Luka gave Adrien the last bite of his piece.

“She’s very pretty. It must make focusing quite hard.”

Luka frowned at Kagami, trying to guess what her point was. Nia was pretty but she was also – a crack shattered through the small room.

“Adrien, I’m sure Luka would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t destroy his kitchen wear.”

Their cups, stone ones Nino had gotten him as a present for getting into Ba Sing Se University, had cracks in them. Luka looked from them to Adrien, who’s cheeks where flushed and was looking away in shame.

“You ok? You never lose control like that.” All the control of deep breaths to control Adrien’s inner fire went into control for the other elements so he wouldn’t cause a natural disaster every time he got upset.

“I’m just surprised.” Adrien said, looking annoyed. “I thought you’d tell me if you were dating someone.”

Luka bit back a smile, realising why Adrien lost control in the first place. “Well, I didn’t realise you’d want to know about Nia’s wife.”

Adrien’s expression turned into confusion. “What?”

“Oh, I thought Kagami would have mentioned, since she was spying, that when I was with Nia today, her wife came to get her for a celebratory dinner. She did her defence today and passed.”

A laugh escaped Kagami and she looked away as Adrien turned to glare at her. “Oh, that’s right. How silly of me to forget that.”

“Ok, you can go patrol outside now.” Adrien ordered, though it was obviously more so she’d stop laughing at him.

Luka couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Adrien’s pout. “come on, Adrien. You’re my best friend. You know I’d tell you if I was ever with someone.”

Adrien hummed, leaning on the table with crossed arms and opening his mouth to beg for another piece of fruit, which he was given. “And if you had feelings for someone? Would you tell me?”

Luka chewed slowly on his piece of fruit. He’d tell Adrien everything, but that? Not unless he wanted to put more undue pressure on Adrien. The last thing the Avatar needed to deal with, was finding out his best friend had feelings for him. When they started, Luka wasn’t 100% sure. he knew he was drawn to him the first day Adrien arrived at the Southern Water Tribe and when Adrien came to the Couffaine hut to pet Fang. After that, they stuck together, even though he was older than Adrien. He taught him everything he learned about water bending, until Adrien ended up in his class. He’d always wait with excitement for Adrien’s letters, reading his adventures through learning the elements, perfecting the side ones like metal bending, lava bending, lightening. His letter on explaining he learned how to redirect thanks to Felix’s stay attack had been sporadic and wild. Luka had grown on the stories of Avatar Aang and he knew from history of Fire Lord Zuko, that getting struck was bad. He’d been so worried reading that letter, he wanted to board  a boat to find Adrien and yell at him for making him worry so much.

Maybe it had been after that letter, when Adrien came back to visit – and some other Avatar business, he couldn’t remember – but seeing Adrien in the Water Tribe parka Luka’s mother made for him, his bright smile on his face, maybe that’s when the thought suddenly clicked in his head.

“I like Adrien.”

Not the Avatar or the heir to the Fire Nation. Adrien, who wore all nation clothing as a way to show his love of all the elements but would normally be bouncing around like a cathawk with his air bending. Who loved spicy food and despite growing up with a lot of Air Nomad traditions, couldn’t give up meat. Who made friends with everyone he met, wherever he went and would defend them with everything he had, be it words of fighting back. Who almost bottled up his sorrow over losing his mother to avoid an uncontrolled Avatar State, but broke down when Luka reminded him to not do that. Adrien, who shouldered more responsibility helping his cousin rule their country, because Fire Lord Gabriel was so focused on his own grief, he refused to leave his room. Any attempt at getting his to abdicate was met with some law or reason it wouldn’t work and Adrien already had issues around the world to take care of as Avatar, refusing to stay stuck in Republic City and have people go to him. Telling Adrien how he felt, it would just cause issues and Luka wasn’t about to let Adrien lose his best friend since childhood.

“Yeah,” he told Adrien, who had stared at him expectedly, “I’d tell you.”

It was one of the few lies he’d ever tell Adrien, because unless it was at risk of his life or Adrien admitting he felt the same, he wasn’t ever going to say a word.

______________________________

Snow crunched under his boots as Luka made his way to the city centre. the Southern Water Tribe was normally lively, but now it felt like a live wire with everyone running around. A wedding was happening and the guest list alone made everyone talk. He found his uncle and aunt in the middle of it. Jagged was throwing instructions around, while Penny was actually giving orders. Fang was curled up around his owner’s feet as normal.

“Make the canopy bigger!” Jagged yelled at the water benders who were constructing the gazebo for Juleka and Rose to marry on. it needed to be big enough for the two and also tall enough so people could see them. it looked fine now, but Jagged was nothing if not the man who spoiled his niece and nephew to the Spirt world and back.

While Jagged was distracted with Luka’s arrival, Luka watched the benders look at Penny, who shook her head. he wondered how long it would be before his uncle realised the canopy attached to the gazebo was the same.

“Hey kid, prince here yet?”

“Adrien isn’t a prince anymore.” Luka reminded, not that Jagged would ever change his nickname for Adrien.

Jagged, like always, waved it away. “every other one of his friends are here.” who were also Juleka and Rose’s friends, but again, semantics. “we’re just missing the one to bless the marriage.”

“Yes Luka. if the Avatar isn’t here, your uncle will marry the girls and, we don’t really want that do we?” Penny said, Jagged looking insulted.

“I’d do an amazing job!”

“You’d do…something.” Penny said, patting his shoulder.

Luka hid his laughter into a cough, looking away from the glare he was given. Taking in the scene, he felt nervous. His little sister was getting married. She’d met Rose nearly 6 years ago, a servant within the Royal Palace of the Fire Nation assigned to her by Adrien. The Avatar admitted he’d done a bit of matchmaking and between, well, everything, he’d done his best to have Juleka come to the Palace to see Rose or make some excuse for Rose to be assigned as a servant with whatever Fire Nation ambassador or dignitary going to the Southern Water Tribe. Somehow they made it work and not long after Luka was finally done with school – after the charged talk with Adrien – both girls came to see Luka and managed to both propose to each other at the lantern fountain in Ba Sing Se.

Rose only had her parents and they were more than happy to have their daughter’s wedding in the South Pole. Turned out, Rose loved the cold and since Juleka travelled a few times a year, she was more than happy to make her permanent home in the Southern Water Tribe. Juleka was one of the better fighters in the area and everyone knew her, so the wedding was a big deal. And, since Adrien’s friends easily became everyone’s friends, the guest list of high officials and status made it even more of an event. Chloe was complaining about the cold, Kagami was sent ahead of Adrien and Felix, Marinette – an air bender who was a famed designer – was doing last touches on wedding dresses with the Tribe seamstress, Marc and Nath – who wrote stories based on the past Avatar lives – were exploring the markets and Ivan – Earth Rumble champion – was testing to see if he could move a boulder of ice. Adrien and Felix were the biggest guests and the only ones missing.

“It looks amazing, Penny.”

“Thank you. everything should be finished by this evening. The wedding is tomorrow; I hope the ship gets here. I’ll even take the morning of.”

“Adrien won’t miss this for the world. Felix, well, he’ll try not to at least.” Luka assured.

It seemed prayers were answered, or maybe any nearby spirit thought it a good idea to go and hound the Avatar. Luka didn’t agree with how it happened though.

“You used the Avatar State to get the boat to move faster?”

Adrien hid his face in the Fire Nation coloured parka he wore, looking embarrassed. The noise of the pre-wedding party escaped from the igloo Rose was staying in until after the wedding, the fire casting enough light for Luka to frown at Adrien.

“I’m fine.”

“You literally only just learned how to access it, without the need for strong emotion.” Adrien’s grief from his mother was harder to let go of with his father still refusing to let her go or be of any use to the Fire Nation. It wasn’t quite Avatar Aang before he unblocked his chakras, but it still wasn’t good.

“I just, didn’t want to miss the wedding.”

Luka sighed. “They would have been ok if you had, you know that. Adrien, please don’t push yourself like that for us. We know you have to do it for pretty much everyone else, have the grace to know if you mess up with us, we’re not gonna hate you.”

Adrien kicked the snow at his feet. “I know. I just, I really wanted to be here, with you guys.”

Luka’s urge to lecture disappeared as he took a closer look at the Avatar in front of him. Adrien had seemed upset, but Luka had assumed it was nerves of being late and then when Felix told them what Adrien had done. This was different than the embarrassment of a lecture. Adrien seemed tense and he was sure if it was any higher, the water in the air or ice all around them would be reacting to his emotions, like when he put cracks into Luka’s stone cups.

“What’s wrong?” Luka asked, taking Adrien’s gloved hands.

“My dad, he’s been wanting answers about the Spirit World, if spirits can stay here permanently. It’s not recommended. Kind, gentle spirits can be so easily affected by human emotion, they can turn dark. The guardian of the Spirit Library, back in Avatar Aang’s time, he still isn’t over the affects humans made on him. He’s still considered a dark spirit, which for one who guarded all the knowledge in the world, isn’t the greatest thing. I know my father is asking because of my mother.”

“Adrien.” Luka said.

Adrien sighed, unearthing his face from the fur of his parka, looking up sadly at Luka. “I used to look at my parents and see the life I wanted but if it means wanting to defy the laws of nature just so I don’t have to let them go. I don’t know if I want that.” He looked at the doorway into the igloo, where a burst of laughter, Rose’s the highest, poured from. “Except, I look at people like Rose and Juleka and try to remind myself not everyone is like him. I wanted to be here, not just because I promised to marry them or that I missed all of you. their love makes sense in the way air bending does. It just, is. I’m probably not making sense am I?”

Luka let go of Adrien’s hands to pull him closer, letting Adrien wrap his arms around his waist. “It does make sense. Remember, just because you’re the Avatar, doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to live a normal life. I don’t think you dad should be bothering you like this, not when I’m sure you’re mother told you to not keep her here.” Adrien looked down at the reminder. Few people knew that after the funeral, Adrien took himself to the Spirit World just to see if his mother was alright. He was in his meditative Avatar State for days before he returned, eyes full of tears and reassuring his mother was fine. “don’t let his obsession keep you from experiencing love. Attachment is something you let go of to reach the Avatar State, right?”

“Keeping hold of it. I’m allowed to form attachments, but letting it completely control me is what I have to let go.”

“See? The person who loves will know you love them too, but will also remind you the not make them the centre of everything. They’ll be there to support you when you have to focus on everyone else, making sure you know they’ll be focused on you. you’ll balance each other out.”

Luka had more words to reassure Adrien that things would be ok, but they didn’t leave his mouth when Adrien moved closer and kissed him.

“Sorry, I – ” Adrien had started to pull away but Luka dragged him back.

He said he’d never say anything unless Adrien did and as far as he could tell, Adrien didn’t. he thought he knew Adrien inside and out as his best friend, but there was a saying that Avatars tended to be the best secret keepers, even with their whole lives written down in books.

“Since, since when did you want to do that?” Luka asked when he finally pulled away.

“the day you honoured as a master water bender. I think I always knew, but I just thought you were my best friend and that was why. You were always there and I didn’t want to lose you, so I just never said anything. A few months ago, before your defence, when Kagami mentioned Nia.”

“You were jealous.” Luka said.

Adrien, even though they’d just been kissing, went red. “Well, you never showed interest in anyone and I thought I had a chance. Then Kagami brings up some girl.”

“Who’s married. And now that I think about it, Kagami no doubt knew how you felt and knew Nia was married.”

Adrien huffed, tossing a glare over his shoulder. “I knew she looked too smug.”

Luka took Adrien’s face in his hands to turn him back. “When you came to visit, after you learned to redirect lightening. You were wearing the parka mom made you and you had that big smile on your face and suddenly, it clicked. I lied that night, when I said I’d tell you if I had feelings for someone. You were the only person I had feelings for and I wasn’t planning on telling you.”

“You mean if you had just said something, I wouldn’t have been worrying the past few months if I was gonna lose you?”

“I didn’t want to put pressure on you.”

Adrien huffed. “You are the last person who could do that. But, you really want to be with me?”

Luka nodded, wishing he wasn’t wearing gloves so he could feel Adrien’s red cheeks under his hands. “I do, if you’ll have me. I mean, I do need to practise my blood bending healing on people who are willing and I don’t think you’ve settled since Felix was crowned Prince.”

Adrien smiled in excitement. “Yes! Please come with me. I’m not nearly at good at healing as you and I really want to get better. I also want people to see the person I see. Of course, we’ll have to wait to tell the others.”

Luka laughed. “If Juleka wasn’t betting we’d say something before, on or after the wedding, I’ll eat her boomerang.”

“We still can’t overshine her day. Later, we’ll tell them later.”