#this is the same snake that shows up in DL btw

[fragileizywriting]

"i don't understand," she mumbles, tapping on the glass. "how come this one is a pet?"

"was probably raised in the tank," he shrugs. "hasn't been touching garbage its whole life, unlike the one we saw in the metro."

they're at a pet store, because she'd heard birds chirping, and had pulled him in. of course. there are birds and mice and snakes, too, with a very excited store owner following them around asking if they're looking for something in particular. marinette asks to hold the rat, and the store owner lets her, and he has such an urge to take a photo of her petting the little ears with her equally little thumb.

"look at this," marinette says, eyes wide and lashes pluming, ignorant to how he snaps a few photos of her hands with the little tiny white mouse cupped in her hands. "how can something like this be so cute?"

"you've never seen a mouse before?" the store owner asks.

she meets their eyes with a smile. "i thought this was a rat?"

"mouse. i've got rats, too, if you want to see them."

"what's the difference?"

"size, usually. tail length, too." the store owner pauses. "do you not know what a rat is?"

luka tries not to cringe.

"uhm—" marinette winces herself. "we— i'm from canada, and i... we don't get those, there. ever. i mean, i've never even thought that these little things could exist, they're just so cute, and i— uh— yeah."

they buy it. somehow. "you know? i heard rumors and saw the memes online about it, but i honestly didn't think it was true. huh. the more you know, i guess."

they disappear around the back, saying something about getting some more bedding for the tank the mouse lives in.

"oh, stars," she whispers, and luka is doing his best not to hit his head on a shelf from how cute she looks. "i've never felt a coat of an animal so soft, this little guy can't be real."

"he reminds me of you," luka snorts.

"it's the nose twitching," she deadpans. "or no, wait, is it the constant need to clean behind the ears?"

"you can fit into my hands pretty easily, just like this little mouse."

she gives out a giggle, just as the store owner comes back.

"are you looking for any reptiles? snakes, maybe?" they ask luka.

he tries not to blink. "uhm...?"

"you've got too many already," they answer sympathetically, nodding their head sagely.

"i look like a guy that collects snakes, huh?"

"don't you?"

all his life he's been asked the same thing. he just gives off the impression that he has them, ever since he was little. he doesn't mind it. finds it funny. maybe he should feel offended, but it's never happened, because he finds them alright. pretty interesting. one could argue that his tail is pretty snake like with how long it gets, but not really.

"nah. fish, though. lots of them. we've got a few huge tanks at home, cause she loves watching them swim."

"you have snakes here?" marinette is almost bouncing on her feet, making sure to gently put the mouse back inside the tank before squeeing. "wait, where are they? oh, i love snakes, can i see?"

"they're in the back of the store; we have a few demigod boas, if you're interested"—they taper off just as marinette goes skipping down the aisle, leaving them both behind—"alright, then."

he tries not to dissolve into quiet, loving smiles when she pulls on his hand the moment he finds her again, pointing excitedly at a blue snake that looks similar to his own tail pattern.