ANGST TIME BBY, takes place after migration so spoiler warning!!!

"Adrien! You have a package!"

He practically leapt out of bed, slid down the stairs railing and ripped the package from Nathalie's hands. He'd been waiting for this one, he knew who it was from.

Ever since Luka left to tour with his dad, he'd been sending his friends packages full of souvenirs from the places he went and exclusive tour merch. Luka had gotten pretty popular amongst Jagged's fan base, all the teen girls saw their favourite singer had a pretty emo son who played guitar with him on stage and lost their minds. Soon enough there were fancams, edits, hashtags and the classic flower crown photoshop from the old tumblr days all over the internet. Despite the sudden fame, Luka was very quiet online and didn't really step into that spotlight. Once he was off stage he stayed his usual introverted self.

Adrien wished he could stay on the down low like that, his dad would never allow that though.

He bought the box back up to his room, sitting in the floor by his bed to open it up and dig into its contents. It was a pretty big box this time, he was exited to see what was inside. He tore the tape off and opened the flaps, seeing first a folded letter on the top and several other goodies underneath it.

He put the letter aside, he knew Luka usually explained the stories behind the gifts in those letters so Adrien liked to see what they were first and then get the context.

First was a hoodie, the newest tour merchandise. Black in colour with purple letting on the front and back. The front having the tour logo with the iconic tattoo art style crocodile the tour has become associated with. On the back all the dates and locations. Adrien felt the inside, it was so fluffy and made from a good, thick, warm fabric. Definitely more on the emo side of fashion but at this point, he'd been dabbling into that with all the merch Luka had sent him.

Next was the tour shirt, a classic white tee with two interwoven snakes hissing surrounding the logo on the front and all the dates on the back. This one definitely reminded him of Luka, not just the black art on white shirt style, but the snake themes. Again the garnet was made from good quality materials and felt soft but thick and sturdy. He'd just found a new pyjama shirt, that's for sure.

Next in the box was a keychain, clearly hand made. On it was a guitar pick, slightly stuffed from use and several beads holding it to the clip. Cleary one of the pics Luka had used on stage, turned into a little momento. Adrien smiled, chuckling to himself. Luka always did like his meaningful hand made gifts...

The next in the box was something he'd picked up in the last city he was in, which was Tokyo. He and Adrien both liked anime, although their tastes did differ here and there they had a few shows in common. Luka liked the older and more dark psychological stuff. Serial experiments Lain, Death Note, Elfen Lied, Future Diary and such. Adrien was more into the light hearted stuff, Chobits, Inuyasha, Ouran HSHC, Haruhi Suzumiya. But one genre they both had a soft spot for was magical girl stuff.

So he wasn't surprised to find a sailor moon figure in that box at all. He smiled ear to ear when he pulled it out and carefully unboxed and assembled it. It was one of the more elaborate figures with a glitter finish on the wand, flowing details in the long pigtails and a unique stand that fit in with the aesthetic. It went right up on his shelf with his other collectables. Although this one got to be in the centre, for all to see first thing when they turn to face that shelf.

The last thing in the box was what made it so damn big and heavy, something was wrapped up in bubble wrap and his interest was majorly peaked. He was careful with it, unsure what it was but not wanting to damage it. Carefully cutting the tape off the bubble wrap and unwrapping it revealed an entire vintage record player and three records, each one a soundtrack from his favourite games. Everything being from Japan meant it was all written in Japanese, but he'd listened to those albums so often he knew the track list by heart.

Clearly Luka has hit the jackpot in one of the many retro tech stores over there. Taped to the albums was hand written instructions on how to set it up, Luka was kind enough to go to the trouble of translating everything and providing an adapter cable to the Japanese chord could fit into a French socket.

Adrien spent good 30 minutes reading and re-reading the instructions trying to figure it all out, ending up having to call Nathalie to help. But in the end it was all in perfect working condition, and had a spot on his desk now where he put one of the records on to test it and couldn't help but giggle in excitement when it began to play.

This was so cool! An actual vintage Japanese record player AND his favourite game sound tracks AND it all worked! Luka was seriously the best person ever.

Finally, he got to that folded letter. Sitting on the end of the bed listening to the music play from his gift as he opened the paper and saw a photo fall out. It was taken by one of the concert photographers of Luka mid-jump off one of the speakers with his guitar. It was such a cool shot, it make him look like a movie poster for a rock star movie. But it was the shirt he was wearing in the photo that caught his attention.

#1 cat noir stan

Written in green with claw marks through it. Where on earth did he find that?! And where did Adrien get one? He couldn't help but laugh, Luka was out here advertising a Parisian superhero half way across the world on his shirt, on stage. Just like him to pull something like that...

Adrien set the picture aside and picked up the letter again, finally getting to reading it.

Hiiiii! Oh my gods I miss you.

I'm writing this while I'm still in Japan, let's hope it arrives on time lol. If it does I'll be in South Korea by now, I'll send you some Kpop stuff in the next package haha.

That record player instantly made me think of that conversation we had about old game soundtracks, and how it was so hard to find records of them in France. So I immediately knew who to send it too. Everything in Japan is so much better quality and cheaper, even second hand. That record player and all the records are still in perfect condition all these years later, it's insane how well made everything here is. I know you'll like it, you were the first one I thought of.

The figure came from seriously the biggest anime shop I've ever seen. It was an entire 9 storeys tall, I spend forever in there. And they had so many titles I've never even heard of, I bet some of them don't even have world wide dubs they're so obscure. The figure floor (yes it was a whole floor) was PACKED with display cases. You'd have gone insane in there.

Of course you get the newest merch as always, those designs aren't even out yet. You're one of the first. And the keychain I made at like 3am on the airport floor while waiting for the plane, all the staff probably thought I was so weird with my little craft box poking holes in all my guitar picks. That one I used for all the Asia shows so far.

I wish I could bring you here, you'd love it. Not just for all the weeb shit but the food is amazing, the scenery is beautiful and the fashion in harajuku is the coolest I've ever seen. One day we are SO doing a Japan trip together. As fun as all this is, I miss you guys. It's not the same spending weekends on a tour bus and not messing around on the boat with you guys. I seriously hope the whole mess gets cleaned up soon so I can come back for a while and we can hang like the good old days (saying it like that makes me sound so old haha).

I can't wait to see you again, playing without you next to me on keyboard just isn't the same. I miss you so much Adrien. Remember to stick to your goals and fuck what your dad says, make me proud and have your rebellious teenager arc for me ok? Then you'll have some crazy stories to tell me when I get back.

I miss you, pretend I'm giving you a bone crushing hug right now.

-Luka :)

It wasn't until he saw the ink of the pen on the paper suddenly blur did he realise he was crying, and his tears had fallen into the smiley face at the end making it smudge.

Why was he crying? Sure he missed his friend but... That much?

He tried to wipe his eyes with his sleeves, but the tears just kept welling up. The almost melancholic music from the soundtrack playing wasn't helping.

He really did miss Luka that much...

He sighed in frustration and buried his head in his hands.

"Idiot Adrien... you're an Idiot! You talked to him the day he left and you didn't tell him..." he muttered to himself.

If only he'd had the courage to tell him that ever since their fight together as desparada, it wasn't Ladybug or Marinette or Kagami he was in love with. It was him. This whole time everyone had assumed he liked Marinette, and he understood now that he may have accidentally been sending mixed signals. He didn't mean to, he just didn't really understand social cues that well and had been mirroring her behaviours. Ever since he realised though, he stopped. But it was too late, she was smitten and everything was shipping it.

But it was Luka, it was Luka he'd fallen head over heels for and he had no idea how to tell him, or anyone really. He was scared it'd mess up the friend group because well... they all wanted him with Mari and Luka was her ex.

But he couldn't get over Luka, he felt like such and idiot for not just spilling everything and telling him before he left. Even if he didn't like him back, just getting it out there and off his chest would have helped with the crushing feeling he had inside. He was a coward, he had his chance that day they sat on his bed to put everything out in the open and clear up any misconceptions. But he didn't, he was too scared.

And now Luka was on the other side of the world, he was the one that got away. And he'd be away until it was safe in Paris for him, and who knows how long that'd take. He could find someone else by then...

"Fuck... why am I like this?" He sighed, voice shaky and hands wet with tears.

He missed Luka. He missed Luka so bad. And as much as he adored the gifts it was a constant reminder that he was gone for god knows how long.

He should have just kissed him that day on his bed. He should have, but he didn't.