#yes lukas you should party hard tonight!

[bubaboos]

"what's next?"

"☺️"

"...olympics?"

"☺️"

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

You’re The Reason | Eric Matthews

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Requested: Yes/No

A/N: My first Boy Meets World fic! Gah! I hope you like this! Couldn’t stay away from the JATP boys though, so it’s kinda like a JATP x BMW crossover... Lemme know what you think! 

Pairing: Eric x Fem!Reader

Song(s) used: none

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, party

Words: 4,028

Eric Matthews. The goofy, charming oldest boy of Alan and Amy. My best friend since forever. Our parents always told us the story about how we met in the sandbox in Kindergarten. I was building sandcastles when Jason, Eric’s first best friend, came to ruin them. Eric, being the charmer he always had been, told Jason off and pushed him out of the sandbox before helping me rebuild my sand castle. Ever since that day, the two of us had been the best of friends. 

We did everything together. Everything from play dates to eating ice cream to going to middle school and eventually high school. Though we never graduated together as my parents had to move when I was 16. We moved to Los Angeles and never returned to Philadelphia. Eric and I were so torn. We had promised we would keep in contact and the first few months were hard, but we eventually found a rhythm in our long-distance friendship. 

Every evening, we would call each other except for the weekends as those were date-weekends where both of us went out on dates. But come Sunday evening, we’d both be on the phone, telling the other what had happened during said dates. 

During summer vacation, Eric would come to L.A. to visit me or I’d go back to Philly, just so we could hang out together for a few days. Those had always been my favorite days. We’d reconnect and find that spark again we always used to have, which, in its turn, brought us closer and made the next few months a little less hard when all we could hear was each other’s voice. 

Last summer, however, I realized that I’d rather kiss those beautiful pink lips than stare at them as he talked about yet another girl he took out over the weekend and made out with. It stung, to say the least, but I couldn’t tell him how I felt. We were miles apart from one another, it would just hurt more. 

Though what hurt even worse was when Eric called me one time in the middle of the night, crying. Confused and worried, I listened to him as he let everything he was feeling out of his system. 

“Mister Feeny is retiring, Cory’s going to college and eloped with Topanga tonight and I just– everything’s changing and I don’t know what to do about it. I wanna stop time and just go back to the way things were. All of us in high school, Cory and Topanga fighting over God-knows-what or Shawn and Cory getting into even more trouble. And you… Not miles away from me…” 

I choked back tears as I listened to him. He sounded so broken, so lost. I wished I could just hold him and let him cry as he spoke about how he felt. I wished I was in Philadelphia instead of Los Feliz, a place I didn’t quite belong. 

“I’m sorry, Eric, I wish I could make things better for you…” I said, my voice just above a whisper, afraid I would cry if I spoke any louder. 

Eric sighed on the other side of the line. “Why don’t you just– come home? Study at Pennbrook with me?” I stuttered and stumbled over my words, unsure what to say to him. 

It wasn’t like I thought about it. I’m an adult, I could change my whole life around and move back to Philadelphia. Back to Eric. But while that sounded all beautiful and wonderful and like a dream come true, I couldn’t just drop everything here. I had my new friends, a college degree I needed to finish. 

“Come on, babe. You know you want to…” Eric pleaded, knowing all-too-well what was going on in my mind right now even though he couldn’t see me. “I know I want you to.” 

I heaved in a deep breath. “I can’t, Eric… I gotta finish my degree here. I gotta–” Just as I wanted to continue summing up reasons as to why I wouldn’t be able to go back to him, four guys I knew like the back of my hand entered my dorm and jumped onto my bed. I didn’t even need to see who it was to know who it was. “Guys– I’m on the phone here,” I scolded them as the floppy-haired guy gave me his best smoulder. “Lukas, no.” 

“It’s alright, y/n,” I heard Eric say, though I could tell it wasn’t actually okay. “You go back to your friends. You stay put. Okay? Whatever makes you happiest.” 

“But you make me h–” Before I could even finish my sentence, Eric had hung up the phone. “Happiest…” I mumbled before placing the horn back on the receiver. 

“You okay?” the  blonde guy I knew best as Alex Mercer asked me solemnly. 

I pressed my lips together. “No– not really…” 

Luke wrapped his arms around my waist and snuggled into my neck while Reggie sat on the end of my bed with his legs crossed. “I think you ought to go visit him,” he said. 

“What?”

“No, seriously. You miss him, he misses you and you clearly need each other right now. Go back to Philly, y/n. Even if it’s just for the weekend.” For once, Reggie actually spoke some sense. 

“Yeah, I mean, you clearly miss each other and you need each other right now. And maybe, whilst you’re there, you can figure out whether you’d wanna move back to Philly or come back to us,” Alex added. 

I had met Luke, Reggie, Alex and Bobby during orientation day, along with Rose, my roommate. There hadn’t been a day where we didn’t spend time together. All six of us were sewn to the hip. Wherever one went, the others went too. A lot of people called Rose and I their groupies as the four of them had started a band way back in high school. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say those four were actually married to one another. 

But to be fair, Alex and Reggie were speaking some truth now. I did miss Eric. I missed him tremendously. And maybe, once there, I could see that Los Angeles was truly where I belonged or if I should stay in Philadelphia with Eric… It was the ultimate life test. 

I heaved in a deep breath before lifting my hand to ring the doorbell at apartment 3E. Nerves bunched in the pit of my stomach and my hands were getting clammy. I wasn’t even sure if Eric was home. I wasn’t even sure if coming over was such a splendid idea. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. 

Even less so when a tall fiery red-haired girl opened up the door. My throat dried up for a second. Did I get the wrong apartment? Eric hadn’t told me about a girl roommate or anything. All I knew was that he lived with Jack and Shawn. Though I figured since Shawn had gotten into Pennbrook too, he might’ve moved into a dorm with Cory. 

“Hi, can I–” the girl stopped in her tracks as she let her eyes glide over me. “You’re y/n, aren’t you?” Her lips curled up into a smile. “Eric has told me so much about you!” 

The nerves in my stomach made room for fluttery butterflies. Eric talked about me. Even to girls as pretty as this one. Knowing Eric the way I do, I didn’t think he ever would. ‘Girl repellant’ he’d call it. 

“Uhm… Yeah… I wanted to surprise him… Is he here?” 

The girl chuckled. “Believe it or not, but he’s actually in class right now.” 

“Eric? In class?” 

She nodded her head, her lips curling up into a smirk. “I’m heading to campus now, you wanna come? His class is almost over.” 

It definitely beat sitting here, waiting for him. 

“Sure,” I replied and the girl quickly went to grab her stuff before walking out and guiding me towards the elevator again. 

“I’m Rachel, by the way. I just moved in a couple days ago,” she said while pushing the button to call the elevator. 

Rachel. Roommate Rachel. She was definitely Eric’s type… A girl. 

“Eric hasn’t told me about you yet. For a second, I thought I was at the wrong apartment,” I said, chuckling a little. 

Rachel and I got into the elevator and she told me about how she wound up living with Jack and Eric. I had to admit to myself that I was only slightly jealous of the moves the two boys had made on her. Not that I cared about Jack hitting on Rachel, but I did care about Eric doing it. 

The red-haired fury led me towards campus and we talked all the way there. Mostly about Eric. She asked me questions about our childhood and I told her every single story about him. It wasn’t hard talking about Eric. Everything we went through together flowed out of me like a waterfall. A waterfall of Eric-filled stories. 

“Oh, look. He’s at the Student Union, as predicted,” Rachel said, pointing towards where Eric, Jack, Shawn and Cory were seated on the sofas, sipping coffee. 

A smile involuntarily crept its way up to my face. Eric Matthews. Seeing him now made my heart beat faster and my stomach fill up with all sorts of butterflies. My LA boys were right. I did miss him tremendously. 

“Come on, let’s go say hi!” Rachel urged, pulling me along by my wrist. 

“Don’t you have a class to go to?” 

She shook her red mane. “I’d rather see this beautiful reunion,” she said. 

Cory was the first one who met my eyes. His laughter made room for confusion to then turn into delight. “Y/N?” he exclaimed, causing everyone’s head to turn my way before he got up to embrace me. Jack and Shawn hugged me next and when I turned to Eric, he was still seated on the couch with his cup of coffee halfway to his lips. 

“What are you doing here?” he finally asked. 

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. “What? Aren’t you happy to see me?” 

His wide eyes turned back to normal and as he put his cup on the coffee table in front of him, he blabbed while getting up to hug me. “Wha– of course I’m happy to see you, y/n. I just didn’t expect you to come? Don’t you have classes and stuff?”  

I inhaled the familiar scent of Eric Matthews. As my senses filled up with him, my nerves finally calmed down. I was home. 

“I wanted to surprise you…” 

His hands cupped my face as he regarded me. He inspected every inch of my face as if to see if I was complete and really there. “And surprised I am,” he whispered. 

Shawn handed me a cup of coffee as we all settled back onto the couch. They asked me questions about LA and about college in LA, and I answered each and every one of them. It felt good being with this gang again. It was like coming back home. 

Eric took me everywhere that weekend. Friday night, we went to Chubbie’s. On Saturday, he took me back home where I reacquainted with Alan and Amy, and we spent some time with Morgan. 

Now it was Saturday night and we were all at the club for a good party. I was three drinks in and chatting with Rachel at the bar. I had grown close to her over the two days I had been here. Just like Rose, she always knew exactly what to say. And she listened. She listened to all my sorrows and worries. She really listened. 

“I think you’re in love with Eric,” she stated before taking a swig of her beer. 

“What? No! I–” She raised an eyebrow at me. “I am in love with Eric…” 

She let out a cackle. “Ha! I knew it!” 

“I can’t act up on my feelings though, Rachel. We live miles apart. Being friends is already hard enough, I don’t even wanna know what being a couple would do to us. If Eric would reciprocate my feelings, that is.” 

“Would you believe me if I told you Eric is in love with you too?” 

“No.” 

“Well, he is! The way his eyes light up when he talks about you… It’s pure love. Sure, he can be a bit daft and he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but when he talks about you, he almost becomes poetic.” 

“You’re ridiculous,” I said and sipped from my beer again. 

Rachel shook her head at me. “See for yourself.” She pointed somewhere behind me and the second I turned around, Eric was in front of me with those big, sparkly eyes of his and that goofy smile I’d come to love. 

“Dance with me, baby!” he shouted and pulled me along to the dance floor. As I looked back at Rachel, she gave me a knowing look. She wasn’t right. She couldn’t be. 

“I need you to stay,” he slurred, clearly having drank one too many beers. “Please, can’t you stay?” 

“Eric,” I sighed, “You know I can’t. I’ve got –” 

“A degree to finish and friends to go back to, I know, I know…” 

I pressed my lips together in a thin line as I watched him. He was still moving, swaying from side to side to the music, but there was a lot less enthusiasm behind than before we started talking. 

“Hey,” I started and placed my hands on his shoulders. “You know I would stay if I could, right? I just – I can’t, Eric.” 

“Yes, you can, y/n. You can stay here, transfer to Pennbrook, live with me and Jack and Rachel. Be here. With me.” 

His offer sounded alluring. A little too alluring. The alcohol coursing in my veins almost made me say ‘yes’, but the sober part of me knew that wouldn’t be a good idea. “I need a better reason than that, Eric.”

“I’ve got more reasons for you to stay.” 

“Gimme one.” 

Before I could properly process what was happening, Eric grabbed my face and pressed his lips to mine in a deep kiss. As we pulled apart for a moment, I had to take a breather and process what had just happened. 

“That’s a good reason,” I whispered before kissing him again. 

I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the fact that we’d actually wanted to do that for a long time, but the rest of the night we spent together, making out in a corner of the club until Rachel and Jack pulled us apart and brought us back to the apartment. Eric and I fell asleep together on the couch, cuddled up. The place where I’d wanted to fall asleep for months now. The place where I belonged.

It felt weird waking up in his arms. Not that we hadn’t done that before, but the events that preceded it were new. I hadn’t ever been kissed the way Eric had kissed me last night. It was with so much passion and love that filled up all my senses, that sobered me up almost straight away. 

Though, when he woke, it was like nothing happened. 

He didn’t speak about it, and changed the subject whenever I tried to. I didn’t know what had gone wrong. It was probably a mistake on his part. He probably didn’t want to kiss me. It was probably the alcohol speaking and not his heart. He didn’t love me the same way I loved him. 

It was all a mistake. 

“How was your night?” Alan asked playfully when we entered the Matthews’ kitchen for lunch on Sunday. 

“Good! We had fun,” I replied and glanced over at Eric. He had jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he moved over towards the fridge. 

“It was okay,” he spoke and shoved a knife right through my chest. 

I had no clue what I had done wrong or what had gone wrong. All I knew was that Eric was giving me the cold shoulder. The kiss must’ve been a mistake. It must’ve been something he didn’t even want to do and it was just the alcohol taking over. And now it had ruined our entire friendship. 

“When’s your flight back home?” Amy queried. 

I placed my knife and fork down as I had just finished the delicious lunch Amy had made all of us. “Tonight at eight,” I responded with a nervous smile. My stomach churned when I felt Eric tense up next to me. 

“Back to Northridge then, huh? Must be a big change going from cold Philadelphia back to warm and sunny LA,” Alan said with a smile and I nodded my head. 

“It’s gonna be quite the di–” before I could finish my sentence, Eric had shoved his chair back and without uttering a word, he stormed out of the kitchen. I could feel my heart break in my chest. He seemed angry. Frustrated. All of the things I didn’t want him to be before I went back to LA.

“I’ll go check on him,” I said and carefully slid my chair back before following Eric outside. 

He sat on the cushioned bench where we have had many a talk before as the sun set and the stars appeared into the sky. Though right now, it seemed awfully dark and gloomy. Nothing like what it used to feel like. 

“Eric, are you okay?” I plopped down next to him, placing my hand on his shoulder. 

He scoffed. “No, I’m not okay. You know, I didn’t ask you to come here. I didn’t ask you to visit me. I didn’t ask and so I couldn’t prepare for you to leave… Again.” 

“Eric, I’m sorry. I thought it would be nice to surprise you. I–” I stopped talking as soon as he shot up from the bench and took a few steps away from me. He looked angry and sad at the same time and it broke my heart even further. 

“Don’t you know how much it kills me to see you go every time? But at least in the summer, I can prep myself for the goodbye that’s about to follow. I can prep myself for the heartache and now that I didn’t see it coming, I’m not ready for you to go.” 

I opened my mouth to say something else, but before I could, he gave me another glare and then stormed off to God-knows-where. I couldn’t move. I was frozen to the bench. My best friend just yelled at me and ran off. I didn’t even say goodbye to him. 

“Miss y/l/n, what a surprise,” a familiar voice sounded, causing me to snap my head towards the older man that stood in the next-door garden on the other side of the white fence. 

I smiled at him, but I knew it wasn’t genuine and I knew he knew it wasn’t. “Hey Mister Feeny.” 

“Are you okay?” he asked and opened the small gate. He made a beeline towards me and sat down on the bench next to me. 

I heaved in a deep breath, breathing in the familiarity of my old teacher. “No, I –” I mulled over my words. “I missed Eric, so I came to surprise him but I think it might’ve not been such a good idea.” 

“Why not?”

“‘Cause now he’s mad at me because he couldn’t prepare himself for me leaving…” I mumbled, focusing on the rings on my fingers as I twisted them around and around. “I don’t know what to do, Mister Feeny. I wanna stay with Eric, but I’ve got a life in LA. I’ve got friends and I’ve got Northridge and my family still lives there too…” 

I looked up to see my favorite teacher regard me with such a tender and familiar look. He felt sorry for me and I also knew there was a  pep-talk coming in a few seconds. Though at that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for that pep-talk. 

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Miss Lawrence when she came to me with her dilemma,” he started wistfully, the only way Mister Feeny ever spoke. “You stay at Northridge unless you have a good reason not to.” 

My mind immediately went to last night’s events when Eric kissed me after he told me he had reasons for me to stay. If I had a reason, it would be Eric. Eric would be the one and only reason for me to move back to Philadelphia and I couldn’t lie when I said Eric weighs out every other reason I had for going back to LA. 

“I think you know what to do, Miss y/l/n,” he said before placing a comforting hand on my shoulder and getting up again. 

“Hey, Mister Feeny,” he stopped halfway to his house. “You’re a good teacher, you know that?” The genuine and heartwarming smile that curled Feeny’s lips upwards made me feel nostalgic. I had missed that man. 

“Thank you, Miss y/l/n. And you’re a good student.” 

As Mister Feeny returned to his home, I couldn’t help but think everything over. Every thought, every moment of the past weekend seeped back into my mind. There was only one way to stop my thoughts and I knew exactly what it was.  

“Y/N?” His voice caused me to snap out of my thoughts. There he was. Finally. “What are you still doing here?” he asked, visibly getting nervous. “I thought you’d gone home?” 

 I patted the spot next to me on the cushioned bench. Eric hesitantly took the spot, but I could tell he was tense and didn’t quite know what to do. He didn’t look at me and his hands fiddled around in his lap. 

“I am home.” 

Now he looked up at me. Confusion was written all over his face, a look I had seen on him before. The reminder of everything I ever told him that confused him made me giggle a little. 

“What do you mean? Don’t you have to get back to LA? Back home?” He turned his face back to the sky. It was starting to get dark out and the stars above us were starting to make an appearance, along with the bright moon. 

“I talked to Feeny and he told me that I should go back to Northridge…” I watched Eric’s jaw clench. “Unless I had a good reason not to.” 

He turned his head to face me again. “Is there a good reason?” 

I sighed. “I thought about it. I’ve got reasons to go back. Like my degree and my friends out there, my family…” Eric slowly nodded his head and I knew his mind was already preparing him for me to say I was going to go back. “But there’s one reason that makes me wanna stay here. One reason that outweighs all the other reasons.”

“And what’s that?” 

A soft smile befell my lips as I leaned in and cautiously pressed my lips to his. Last night’s memories seeped back into my mind. 

“You’re the reason, Eric Matthews.” 

He smiled as his eyes darted from mine to my lips and back before he fully kissed me on the lips. I couldn’t help but giggle before melting completely into the kiss, into him. After years of being best friends and months of pining for him, I was finally kissing my best friend. I had finally given into my feelings. 

And I was making the right decision. I knew that now. I knew that moving back to Philadelphia would be the right choice. I would be moving back home. Back with Eric. Close to Cory and Shawn and Jack and Topanga. All of my friends from when we were younger. Home. 

The only thing left to do now was break the news to my friends in LA… 

But that was a problem for later. 

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[jawira707]

Lukadrien - random thoughts

1.) Luka visiting Adrien even though his father didn’t allow it. They forget about the time - so when Gabriel comes back home late at night and enters Adrien’s room, Luka hides under the piano. He’s not discovered, but when Gabriel enters his hideout, he is shocked: “Where is this unusual amount of happiness in his house coming from?!”

2.) Luka clearly knows that Adrien is Chat Noir, no matter how hard Adrien tries to convince him otherwise. So he plays along to not stress him out any further while still trying to support him in his superhero duty. “Rough fight for Ladybug and Chat Noir tonight?” “Yes...the akuma was really strong this time” “I hope he didn’t get hurt.” “I’m fine” “That’s good to hear.” “I mean...I think HE is not hurt...” “Of course you meant that” “Yeah, I don’t even know him” “Me neither. He seems nice though”

3.) Adrien composing a song and playing it for his father who doesn’t like it at all, stating how it’s just a waste of time. But the next day Adrien records it on his phone and shows it to Luka who loves it. That’s all the approval Adrien needs and he feels great about his work =)

4.) Adrien sneaking out of a fashion show, black suit and all done up, but super bored. Once he has made it out of the building he texts Luka: “Hey, do you wanna hang out?” “Adrien, it’s 2am, what do you wanna do?” “Something fun!=)” “Bro, where are you at?” “NY” “New York!?!?” “Yes, please come, it’s soo boring” “How tf should I do that!?” “Don’t know. Just meet me here?” “No” “Please?” “Damn”  *Sigh* “Sass are you awake?”

5.) Adrien wanting Gabriel and Luka to meet and get along but it really doesn’t work out. “Your dad hates me” “No, I’m sure he doesn’t!” “Adrien, he nearly got me arrested TWICE!” “But did you get arrested?” “Luckily, no!” “And still you get to visit me =)” “I just climbed in through that window” “Which he left open!” “Wow”

6.) Luka taking the blame for things Adrien screwed up automatically, because he knows his dad would flip out on him. “Yes, Madame Bustier I forgot to water the plants.” “Yes, I forgot to bring Adrien’s homework, he left it at my place yesterday” “Yes I forgot to return this book...how is it called...”Molecular Physics, an experimental approach, Part 3”...my god, why did I borrow this” “Did you read it? Are you Adrien Agreste?” “Yes, I am an the book was great.” “Isn’t the material a bit heavy for a student your age?” “Maybe. It was heavy to carry all the way up here at least!”

7.) “Luka, why are you upset with me?” “You texted that “You did something stupid” and I thought...well...not that this was about a math test!”

8.) Juleka and Luka throwing Adrien a surprise birthday party two days after his actual birthday because he told him he always wanted a surprise birthday party on his birthday and no Luka is not waiting a whole year and wouldn’t Adrien be really surprised?

Thoughts?

[quickspinner]

Killer Combo Ch 7 - The Final Showdown

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 Epilogue | Bonus Tidbits | ART inspired by this story! | AO3 | Fiction Master Post

I sincerely apologize to everyone who prefers short chapters, as this is another really long one. Pace yourselves as necessary, and thank you so much for persevering to the end with me. I'm so grateful for everyone who has read and liked or reblogged or replied, and I hope though the journey is uh, long, you will find it satisfying. You can search *** for the scene breaks if you need to stop and come back.

Kagami, predictably, was not happy when Marinette returned alone, but Juleka’s vindictive smirk when she heard what her brother was doing was enough to convince Kagami to delay any plans of vengeance she might have been making. “I hope he gives that bitch the earful she deserves,” Juleka muttered darkly, and then snorted. “But knowing Luka, he won’t. He’ll be all gentle and patient and she’ll keep arguing for way longer than he should let her before she realizes she might as well be talking to a brick wall.” 

“You don’t think,” Marinette began, and then stopped, reaching up to smooth her hair self-consciously, shifting her weight on her feet and feeling like a fool as several pairs of knowing eyes turned her way.

Juleka arched an eyebrow, but her smile was sympathetic. “I definitely don’t think,” she said warmly, reaching out to squeeze Marinette’s shoulder in a move that reminded her strongly of Luka. “Luka’s very perceptive and empathetic. It makes him too gentle sometimes, but he’s no pushover. She might think she has a chance, but he’s been over her for a long time. Even if he hadn’t... met anybody , she wouldn’t get anywhere with him.” She grabbed Marinette’s hand and pulled her towards the dance floor, reaching out her other hand to snag Rose on her way. “Now enough about my stupid brother, we only have like an hour of party left, let’s go have fun.” 

Marinette giggled, grabbing Kagami’s arm and pulling her along. 

Kagami had offered to let her stay overnight at the mansion, but Marinette had declined in favor of a ride home. She crept into her room as quietly as she could, sent her parents a text to let them know she was home just in case one of them woke up and worried, and went to wash her makeup off and get ready for bed. 

Her phone beeped just as she was drying off her face, and she picked it up to find a text from Luka. Just letting you know I made it home. Sorry for leaving so suddenly. 

Marinette sighed, and smiled slightly as she answered him. It’s okay, I understand. Did you get everything worked out in the end? She chewed her lip as she sent the message, but she needed to know, and there really wasn’t any good way to ask the question. She finished up with her moisturizer and climbed the stairs up to her bed, wincing at the ache in her feet.

She sat cross-legged on her bed to read his reply. As much as it can be. She’s not happy, but making her happy isn’t my job anymore. She got the message, finally, and that’s all that matters to me. 

Before she’d even finished reading that one, another message came in.

I know it’s really late and I’ll understand if you don’t want to, but I’d really like to hear your voice one more time. Is it okay if I call?

Marinette really wanted to hear his voice too. Before she could second-guess herself too much, she hit the call button.

He picked up immediately. “Hey,” he said softly, voice a little rough and tired-sounding but still enough to make her feel warm and remember the soft touch of his lips against hers. 

“Hi,” she said shyly, suddenly breathless.

“Marinette,” he sighed, and she had to smile at the way he said her name, like he was relieved and happy and exhausted all at once. “I just wanted to say I am so, so sorry about how everything went down tonight, and also...thank you. I think I got some closure tonight that I really needed, and it was really thanks to you and your friends, and...and I’m just incredibly grateful. And I totally owe you a rain check on the party date because I was having a great time until—” he sighed again. “All that other stuff. Your friends are pretty cool.”  

“Yeah,” Marinette smiled, picking at the hem of her pants. “They really are. We’ve had our ups and downs, but the ones that have stuck around, they’re really amazing.” She sighed slightly through her nose, brow furrowing in annoyance. “And I’m really sorry you haven’t had the same experience.”

“Well,” Luka said, and the smile in his voice made her smile too, “I got a taste of it tonight. It’s nice to know friendships like that really exist. I mean, I know they do, I’ve had some...still have some, even if they’re far away, but...okay, I’m rambling and I’m keeping you awake and you’re probably just as tired as I am, but I just, um...I wanted to…” He took a deep breath, and went on a little too quickly, “When I kissed you tonight, I wasn’t, I didn’t do anything right and I was kind of overwhelmed and not thinking clearly, but I want you to know I really—” 

“Wait,” Marinette said quickly, her heart suddenly pounding. “Wait. I think...Luka, if it’s okay with you, I think I’d rather talk about this in person. Maybe when we’re both a little clearer headed than we are right now?”

“Yeah,” Luka said slowly. “Yeah, okay, I guess that makes sense. So...when can I see you in person?” 

Marinette winced, turning and pulling down her schedule. “I have so much to do this week,” she nearly moaned, fisting a hand in her hair and tugging hard. 

“Hey,” he said, and something in his voice made Marinette cringe. “It’s okay.”

“No, I want to, I promise I’m not blowing you off, I really want to talk about this with you, it’s just—of course everything always has to happen at once and…ugh, timing. ” Marinette chewed her lip, scanning across the week, trying to find some time. Surely she could spare him ten minutes somewhere...but was the conversation they needed to have something that she really could rush? What was she even doing, why didn’t she just let him say what he wanted to say, why was she...she was…

Hesitating. Why was she hesitating? Marinette chewed her lip and blew out a frustrated breath, forgetting that Luka was still on the phone. She jumped when he spoke again.

“Marinette,” Luka said, his tone gentle, and she made a distracted noise of acknowledgement. “Listen. Don’t sweat it. I know you have your presentation this week and the tournament, right? If you’re busy and you need some space, that’s fine. Don’t worry about it. We can settle this afterwards. I’m not going anywhere. Well. Not until we talk, at least.” 

Marinette’s eyes landed on the weekend, colored in red and outlined in black. “The tournament,” she said softly. “The championship. We could...we could talk there? Maybe after?” 

Luka was silent for a moment, and Marinette heard him take a deep breath. “Is that the best time?” he said cautiously. “Do we really want to have that on our minds?” 

“You know what,” Marinette said, beginning to smile. “I think it’s the perfect time. It’s where we met, afterall.”

“Well,” Luka said, and she could tell he was smiling too. “There is a certain poetry to that.” 

“Okay,” Marinette said, her smile growing into a grin. “After I’m done kicking your ass in the finals, then.” 

“Oh, brave words from the lady with the forty percent win rate against me,” he laughed, and Marinette made a face.

“You’ve been spending too much time with Max,” she accused. 

“Max is a fun guy,” Luka chuckled. “Not as much fun as you, but you know, he has his moments.” 

Why was she so pleased at that, that he preferred her company over Max, ugh she was pathetic. She covered a giggle anyway, but it turned into a yawn.

“I’ll let you go to sleep,” Luka said, amusement clear in his voice. “Good luck this week, Marinette, and I’ll see you this weekend and...we’ll talk.” 

“Yes,” Marinette nodded decisively, though he couldn’t see her. “We will.” 

***

Two days later and elbow deep in unfinished clothes that were supposed to be runway ready in less than twenty-four hours, Marinette was actually feeling good about her decision to defer her talk with Luka.

Not everyone agreed, however.

“ Girl ,” Alya screeched from Marinette’s floor, where she was hammering rivets into a jacket. Max winced from where he was sitting at Marinette’s desk, pliers in his hand and a spool of jewelry wire next to him. “Why did you do that?” 

Marinette sighed, and bit her lip. “Because—” 

“Because what? ” Alya demanded.

“Because I need to be the one to say it,” Marinette sighed, as she rearranged the fabric on her sewing machine. “It’s just...it’s something I need to do, Alya. I don’t expect you to understand.” 

“Oh I understand,” Alya sighed. “I just think it’s silly. You could be making out right now if you’d just let him say his piece.” 

“First of all,” Marinette grumbled. “You don’t know that, you’re making assumptions. He could have been about to say he really values my friendship and he doesn’t want anything to change. Second, I have way too much to do this week. I wouldn’t have time for making out even if I did have a hot new boyfriend to do it with. Third, I just...I told you, I need to do it. I need to know that I can put myself out there and tell a boy I like him and not just...let it happen to me.”

“You must have done that lots of times, Marinette, what about all those guys you made out with that last year of high school?” 

Marinette rolled her eyes, glancing at Max with a blush, though he was studiously ignoring the conversation, focused on the task in front of him. “It’s not even close to being the same thing.” She felt a little ashamed, actually, of the way she’d used some of those guys, even though they were usually more than happy to be used and she’d never been dishonest with any of them. “This isn’t about just kissing and proving to myself that someone can like me and be attracted to me. It’s not just as simple as asking a cute guy to a party, I just…” She sighed. “It’s the first time I’ve really felt like this since then, with all the butterflies and the fear and the...the…” 

“Passion?” suggested Alya smugly, and Marinette rolled her eyes again.

“Whatever. The point is, I just need to be the one to say it, and I want to do it face to face.” 

“Well, maybe you’re right and I don’t really get it,” Alya sighed. “It sounds like he’s pretty into you, so it seems like you’re splitting unnecessary hairs. But I guess you do what you have to do, girl.”

“I will,” Marinette said firmly, “And what I need to do now is get these garments finished for my presentation so I can put that to bed and focus on beating my gorgeous potential boyfriend this weekend before I confess my—”

“Yeeees?” Alya teased.

“Feelings,” Marinette finished with a flush. “Look, can we be done talking about this now?” 

“Fine,” Alya rolled her eyes and put the hammer down, stretching her fingers. “I’m going to go grab some water, do you guys want some?”

“Yes, please,” Marinette and Max chorused together, and Alya stood up. Before heading to the trap door, she crossed the room to look over Max’s shoulder at the wire he was twisting to match the sketch Marinette had given him. 

“Wow, Max, you’re surprisingly good at that,” Alya commented, and Max gave her a look over his glasses.

“I know my way around wires and a pair of pliers, thank you very much,” Max sniffed. “It’s not that different from wiring a circuit board.” 

“Well, the next time you need help with something like that, count me in,” Marinette said, frowning as she tried to untangle the mess her bobbin had mysteriously become. “I owe you guys sooooo much for this.”

“I will give your offer due consideration when the time inevitably comes,” Max replied. “Incidentally, do you happen to have another ticket to the show? I seem to have misplaced mine.”

“Max, really?” Alya sighed, heading towards the trap door. “You’re going to ask her that now? Have you checked under your piles of nerd crap?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Marinette said, reaching over to grab a decorated box on her desk and rummage through it. “Here you go, Max. Kagami can’t make it so I had one more than I needed anyway.” 

“Thank you, Marinette,” Max said, with a grin that would have made her look twice if she hadn’t been so preoccupied. 

As it was she barely noticed it, and forgot it entirely until much later, when her presentation was over and the high of achievement and the exhilaration of her first really professional fashion show were finally wearing off and she was about to fall into bed for the night. As she fumbled to plug her phone into the charger, she noticed a text on the screen and paused. 

It was from Luka.

You were fantastic up there. Sorry I couldn’t stay long enough to see you after. Congratulations, all the hard work paid off. 

Marinette gaped at the phone for a moment. You were there? she texted back, and then berated herself for not checking the time first. He was probably asleep, he must have sent that text hours ago.

Even as she thought it, her phone pinged with a response.

Yeah, I hope that was okay. Tell Max thanks for the ticket. ;) 

Marinette gaped again, and then pouted for a moment before hitting the call button. 

Luka picked up right away. “Surprise,” he said, laughter in his warm voice.

“Max is a sneak,” Marinette pouted, though she was trying not to smile. “And I’m going to kill him.” 

“Max is a sneak,” Luka agreed. “But don’t be mad. I ran into him the other day and asked how you were, and we got to talking, and I let it slip that I really wished I could be there, and he gave me his ticket on the spot. Made me promise not to tell you until after, though. I would’ve stayed to say congrats but I had a gig I had to get to, and...well I didn’t want to make things weird.” 

“I’m glad you were there,” Marinette smiled, and then added shyly, “You really think I did well?” 

“You did amazing,” he said sincerely, and Marinette felt a thrill that made her wiggle a little in place. “I know a thing or two about stage presence, and you’ve definitely got it. I’m really glad I got to see you present. And...well I can’t claim to know much about fashion, but I really liked what you did.” 

A hot flush raced up her face and she slapped a hand over it even though he couldn’t see her. 

“Marinette? You okay?”

Marinette made an affirmative noise. “Sorry. I just...that makes me really happy. That you think so. That you liked it. I—” She made a high pitched whine. “I’m not making any sense.” 

“It’s late and you’re tired,” Luka chuckled. “It’s fine. I don’t want to keep you up any longer, I just wanted to let you know I was there. Juleka said it was creepy to show up without telling you.” 

Marinette giggled. “Well, she maybe has a point. I would have gotten tickets for you and Juleka both if you had asked.”

“Sorry,” Luka sighed, and she heard a thump that she thought might be his head hitting a table. “I promise, I didn’t mean anything by it, I just...I knew it was important to you and…I know you needed space and I didn’t want to confuse anything and—” He cut off with a strangled noise and sighed. “Okay, I’m going to tell you good night now and hang up before I dig myself any deeper.” 

Marinette had to bite her lip to stop her giggling, “You don’t have to be sorry. I’m really glad you were there, Luka. Really. That...it was important to me, and it’s an important part of me, and I didn’t think about it before but...I’m really glad I got to show you that. Seeing you play on stage, I felt like I really got to see an important side of you that I didn’t know anything about, so...I hope maybe tonight was like that for you.” She bit her tongue, feeling like she wasn’t explaining herself well. 

“It was,” Luka said, his voice softening a little in a way that made her shiver. “It really was, and…” He paused, and cleared his throat. “Well. I know you’ve been working hard and I don’t want to keep you up any later. I just wanted to tell you I thought you did great tonight and I’m super impressed, as always. Get some sleep, okay?” 

“Sleep,” Marinette repeated, hand still over her face. “Sleep would be good. Maybe for like a week.” 

“You’ve really been running hard, huh,” Luka said sympathetically. “Once all this is over, we’ll take some time and just hang out and relax. I’ll play for you.” 

“Really?” Marinette perked up.

“Yeah,” Luka chuckled. “Just like that day on the boat.”

“That was nice,” Marinette smiled, finally letting her hand slide down off her face. 

“Mm. It really was.”

There was a long pause. 

“I should—” she began, just as he said, “You should—” and they both laughed. 

“Good night, Marinette,” Luka said at last. “Rest well.” 

“Good night, Luka,” Marinette murmured. “See you soon.” 

“Soon,” he repeated, and hung up. 

A few minutes later her phone beeped with one final text.

Can’t wait to see you this weekend.

Marinette sent back a single pink heart and fell back giggling onto her bed, kicking her feet for a second in a brief burst of energy before she crawled under the covers and fell asleep with a grin on her face. 

When Max showed up for practice the next day, she punched him in the arm, and then threw her arms around his neck. “You’re a great friend,” she mumbled into his shoulder. “And I hate you.”

Max just chuckled and patted her back.

***

The morning of the UMSIII Master League Championship, Marinette was a fluttering, nervous wreck. That wasn’t totally unexpected, and her parents put up cheerfully with her clumsiness, absentmindedness, and confusion, giving her gentle encouragement and moving the breakables quietly out of her path. Finally they kissed her goodbye, handed her the bag she’d been about to forget, and promised that they would be in the stands with the rest of her friends. 

She leaned her head on the cool metal rail of the subway and tried to breathe. There was a lot on the line today. Marinette was fairly confident she could place, but...she wanted to win. There was a steep drop in the prize value between first and second place and an even sharper drop between second and third. She wanted to do well, yes, but really she wanted to win. 

Luka wanted to win too, and that made her stomach twist. She hadn’t seen him in person since the night of the party. Other than their brief conversations, Marinette had been trying not to think too hard about him, to focus on the competition in her practice sessions with Max, but she wasn’t entirely successful. A lot of things had fallen into place for her since she’d seen him on stage. Now she understood how he played to the crowd in his interviews, the way he could project his voice in a crowd, the calm, easy going demeanor he kept up even in the heat of competition. He was used to pressure, he was used to crowds, he was a trained vocalist, and he enjoyed having an audience. Marinette felt like she had a much better picture of him in her mind now, a better understanding of who he was, and everything she knew just made her want to know more. 

She was determined to tell him so. 

But first she had to get through the tournament. And some small, ugly little part of her was afraid. Would he still want to talk to her if she beat him? 

Of course he would. It was ridiculous to think otherwise. It was just a game, after all.

A game with both their dreams on the line.

She almost missed her metro stop. 

Marinette swallowed hard as she walked up to the huge stadium and showed her player pass to the guard. She was on her own for the moment; the individual finals would be held in the afternoon and the team competition in the evening, so Max couldn’t come with her. Marinette was the only player in the finals for both the individual and the team championship. Well, and Luka. Technically he was still part of the team, even if he wouldn’t play.

She was escorted to a small lounge area where other players had already begun to congregate. She scanned the room but didn’t see Luka. Marinette wandered back and forth aimlessly, growing more and more restless the longer they were stuck waiting, her thoughts growing scattered and fragmented and her hands starting to shake slightly. She wished she’d brought her sketchbook, or some knitting. Something, anything, to vent her energy on and focus her mind.

A touch on her shoulder made her jump and she whirled around to find Luka behind her, looking surprised and then apologetic, shoulders hunching slightly. “Sorry. I called your name, but…” He shrugged and held out a bottle of water, a slow smile spreading over his face. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Marinette smiled shyly back. “Sorry, I guess I was zoned out.” She took the bottle and twisted off the cap. “Too much energy and nowhere to spend it.” She took a sip, peeking at him around the bottle. He wasn’t wearing his Viperion hoodie, but his old one, with her red stitching at the seams. She focused on the logo on his chest as she lowered the bottle. “New shirt?”

“Yeah,” Luka rolled his eyes. “The league sent it to me. Apparently they don’t want their vintage branding on the livestream tonight, so they asked me to wear the new logo.” 

Marinette huffed a quiet laugh. “Naturally.” She wrinkled her nose slightly. “The old one was better.”

“Right?” Luka groaned. “I almost wore it anyway, but…” He shrugged. “Wasn’t worth the fight, to be honest.” 

Marinette started to ask why he hadn’t worn his Viperion hoodie, but changed her mind, not sure that she wanted to know the answer. Instead she blurted, “You look good,” and promptly wanted to kick herself. He did look good; the new shirt fit him better than the old one, his hair was styled more deliberately than usual and the color in it looked recently touched up, bright and vibrant. He was freshly shaved and, she was pretty sure, wearing a touch of makeup, probably to keep from looking washed out under the lights. Of course he would consider those things. Was that peach lipstick? It was a good color on him.

Oh God she was staring. 

“You do too,” Luka smiled, reaching up to brush her pigtail back behind her shoulder. suddenly he winced and jerked his hand back quickly. “Sorry, I shouldn’t—sorry if I’m—”

“It’s okay,” Marinette said, catching the hand he was pulling back. “Really, Luka, I don’t mind. I know it’s how you connect. I know you won’t do anything inappropriate, and I don’t mind the rest, so just don’t worry about it.” 

Luka relaxed, and she squeezed his hand before letting go of it. “Thanks,” he said, reaching up to run a hand through his hair and stopping just in time. He tilted his head slightly, looking at Marinette, who found herself beginning to fidget again. “Are you okay?”

Marinette smiled, but her face felt like wood. “I’m fine. It’s fine.”

Luka raised his eyebrows slightly, and Marinette noticed absently that he was wearing eyeliner. “You don’t look fine,” he observed, and nudged the hand holding the water bottle. “Drink. It’s going to be crazy once things get going. Better to start hydrating now.” 

Marinette drank, more because she didn’t feel like arguing than from actually believing she needed it. “How can you be so calm?” she asked with a gusty sigh after she lowered the bottle.

Luka shrugged and flashed a grin. “Don’t forget I’ve done this before. Helps that I was practically raised on stage, so the lights, the effects, none of that really bothers me.” He put a hand on her shoulder and massaged gently. “I’m honestly a little surprised to see you so tense. I didn’t think anything would rattle you after seeing you up on stage before. You owned it and you didn’t look nervous at all.” 

“That was fashion,” Marinette hissed, glancing at the other competitors. “And I was busy. I didn’t have time to freak out. Not like this, with all the...the waiting. ” She tugged at her pigtails and resisted the urge to whine. “I just want to get started already! Just—all this—” she flapped her hands, trying to indicate the pent-up energy inside her. “There’s nowhere for it to go.” 

“Ah.” Luka glanced away, and then looked at her again. “I don’t know if it would help, but...want to meditate with me? I always try to meditate for at least a few minutes before I have to go on stage. Or into a competition.” 

Marinette blinked at him, for a moment and he shrugged. “But if you don’t want to, it’s fine, I know it’s a little weird, to think about sitting still when you’re so worked up—” 

“No, I—that sounds good.” Marinette glanced around. “But where—”  

Luka tipped his head to indicate a direction and Marinette followed him to a corner of the lounge where there was an old, battered, but currently empty sofa. He sat down and Marinette sat next to him. She glanced around a little self-consciously but most of the competitors were focused on their own pre-game rituals. The nervous chatterers were congregated together, fidgeting back and forth as they all talked over each other. Several others had headphones and closed eyes, a couple were pacing, and the only other female competitor in the room was staring at the ground, mumbling with her eyes closed and her weight shifting from foot to foot. No one was paying the two of them any mind at all. 

“Everybody’s too worried about their own game to care what we do,” Luka murmured, slipping a guitar pick out of his pocket and rotating it in his fingers. “Don’t worry about them, just focus on you.” He held the pick between his thumb and forefinger and breathed in slowly, and then out, closing his eyes. 

Marinette watched him for a moment, then placed one hand over the other in her lap, palms up, and did the same. It took some effort to keep from fidgeting, to force the circumstances from her mind and bring her scattered focus to her breathing and the flow of her energy, but Luka’s calm presence and the slow, regular swell of his ribs moving his arm against hers, helped her settle her mind.

As she breathed, the nervous flutters ebbed. She felt more solidly in her skin than she had all day. The tension was still there, but it was more focused now, less chaotic. She felt worlds better...but a little guilty.

“You shouldn’t be helping me so much,” Marinette murmured, her eyes still closed.

Luka’s shoulder vibrated against hers as he chuckled. “Have you looked at the brackets? Clearly the marketing geniuses have been at work because we don’t face each other until the finals. I want you to be there, not flame out from nerves in your first matchup.” After a moment he added quietly, “And you’re my friend. I can’t see you unhappy and not help. You’ve done a lot for me too, you know.” 

Marinette unfolded her hands and fumbled blindly beside her. She found his forearm and slid her hand down to slip her fingers through his and squeezed. 

“I’m really glad I met you, Luka,” she whispered. “Whatever happens today, I hope we can...” She hesitated, not wanting to say stay friends, because that wasn’t what she wanted. She opened one eye and peeked at him, and saw his eyes open as well as he smiled at her. His thumb caressed the back of her hand lightly.

“I hear you,” he said softly, and the drop in his voice made her insides quiver pleasantly. She was suddenly extremely aware of the rough skin of his hand enveloping hers, the warmth of where their shoulders pressed together. “I’m glad we met too. I want you to be in my life, no matter what happens today.” 

Marinette had to press her lips together to contain her smile. “Yeah...me too.” 

Luka glanced at the other players and gently extracted his hand. He took Marinette’s wrist and put her hand back on her own knee before curling his fingers back together and closing his eyes. Marinette understood, folding her hands back together and deepening her breathing again. It wouldn’t do for them to be cuddling too obviously in front of everyone else. There would already be talk, she was sure, if Ladybug and Viperion began dating after the tournament was over, no matter who won. 

But before she could think of that, she had to win.

And before she could even think about beating Luka, she had other competitors to worry about. He was right. She needed to focus and not let the situation get the better of her.

She stayed there, meditating alongside Luka, until the handlers came to get the players and walk them through their entrances and the procedures between matches. The sight of the jumbotron overhead and the giant stadium full of currently empty but soon-to-be-packed seats made Marinette’s nerves flare up again. Luka’s hand squeezed her shoulder, bringing her focus back to the moment.

“Hey,” he murmured when she looked up at him. “It’s just another match. The livestream’s just a little more up close and personal than we’re used to.” He grinned at her. “They’re all coming to see Ladybug and Viperion face off.” 

Marinette grinned back, and then brought her attention back to the handler explaining the procedure and reiterating the rules.The quarter finals and semifinals would be best two out of three, and the finals best three out of five. Matches would be held simultaneously using the pyrapods set up at ground level, and at the back, an elevated stage contained two pyrapods that would be used for the finals. 

None of this was news and Marinette was back to shifting from foot-to-foot impatiently, checking the time. Luka seemed as calm and relaxed as ever, but she could see the tightness beginning around his eyes and knew he was ready to get started too. 

Finally they were dumped back in the lounge, and Marinette went to the restroom. She’d done the rest of her routine at home, but she wanted her makeup mask fresh and bright. The ritual of putting it on, dusting the red mask across her eyes and drawing in her spots, calmed some of her resurging nerves, and when she straightened up from the mirror, Ladybug looked back at her. 

Ladybug was not going to lose because of stage fright.

Marinette reached back into her makeup bag and hesitated as her hand found her tube of black lipstick. She bit her lip and looked at her reflection again. The championship seemed like a bad time to be making changes, but…

Marinette swapped the black lipstick for red and painted her lips with quick, decisive movements, and then snapped the cap back on with a quiet click. She made sure her pigtails were still tight and secure, tapped her lucky earrings three times, and then zipped up her bag and went back to the lounge, already feeling more confident and ready to compete.

Luka caught her eye immediately when she stepped back inside, and she saw him grin at the change, but then the competitors were being herded out of the lounge and into the tunnel they would take into the arena.

In the chaos, she felt Luka’s hand wrap around hers and squeeze, and quickly let go. The competitors milled around in the tunnel aimlessly, well back from the fog machine spewing smoke near the entrance, until two production assistants dressed in black brusquely took charge and lined them up in a supposedly randomly generated but very important order, warning them to not, under any circumstances, shuffle the order or cross the line before their names were called or move from their place in line. Marinette found herself in the middle of the line, with Luka right beside her. “Random, huh,” Luka chuckled. “Yeah, right.” 

“They’re really hyping us up,” Marinette agreed. 

“Guess we better not let them down.” Luka and Marinette exchanged a look, and then a fistbump. “See you in the finals, Ladybug,” he grinned. 

“I’ll be there,” she grinned back. “You better not stand me up, Viperion.”

“Never.” 

“Oh my God, get a room,” muttered the guy on Marinette’s other side. “You two are disgusting.” 

Marinette flushed, but Luka just chuckled again. “Aww, Pharaoh, you know I love beating you too, it’s just not in the cards today, man.”

Pharaoh scowled over Marinette’s head at him. “Kiss my ass, snake boy.” 

“Oh, when Ladybug here’s done kicking it you’re gonna need somebody to,” Luka said, winking at Marinette. “‘Fraid I’ll be busy, though. Tagger can do it for me, he’ll be free.”

“I hate you so much,” Tagger, Luka’s first round opponent, grumbled from down the line. “Fucking cocky bastard.” 

Marinette giggled, and Luka nudged her shoulder playfully with his. She looked up into his face and she could see the thrill of competition beginning to get to him, in his pirate grin and the sparkle in his eyes, and the challenge there sparked Marinette’s own competitive spirit.

“He’s not wrong,” she said, arching an eyebrow. “I thought the very same thing to myself during our first match.” Luka feigned being struck in the heart. 

“Betrayal!” he laughed. “I’m not cocky, I’m right. It’s not boasting if you can back it up.” 

“You can back it up all the way to second place.” Marinette poked him in the chest and he grabbed her hand, leaning down over her with a grin.

“Don’t make me break out Max’s win percentages again.” 

“The numbers can’t help you now,” Marinette shot back, pulling her hand free. She stepped up close to him and looked up into his face, shoulders back and hands on her hips. “We’re starting with a clean slate today and all that matters is here and now. I hope you enjoyed winning all those matches, Viperion, because it’s only going to make it sweeter when I finally take you down.” 

Luka bit his lip, and Marinette quirked her eyebrow a little higher, and then Pharaoh coughed, making them both jump. “We’re still here, you know,” he said sardonically as Marinette and Luka turned away from each other, Luka clearly fighting a grin, pink coloring the high points of his cheeks, and Marinette turning a brilliant red that she could only hope would fade before she was announced.

Mercifully the announcer began calling names, distracting everyone as a murmur of excitement went down the line.

Suddenly there was no one in front of Marinette and her heart began to pound.

“Ladybug!” the announcer roared, and the crowd erupted into a deafening roar that startled her. Marinette wasn’t given time to hesitate, though; the production assistant planted a hand in the middle of her back and shoved her forward into the fog. For a moment she was blind and confused, but then she stumbled out of the fog and into the bright lights of the stadium. Marinette quickly pasted on a wide smile and raised her arms to wave with both hands to the crowd, though her knees felt like jelly at the sight of so many people and her own promo picture on the jumbotron, smirking at the camera in full makeup and a challenging posture.

Somehow she made it across the field to her mark next to Pharaoh, and then the announcer was calling Viperion, and she turned her head, clapping automatically as Luka emerged from the fog and waved, looking completely at ease with his usual relaxed smile as he sauntered over to stand next to her. Part of the stadium started up a chant for him and he waved again, ducking his head slightly. Suddenly a competing chant of Ladybug! Ladybug! came up and Luka nudged her with a grin. She raised a slightly shaky hand to wave back, and then Luka made a settle down gesture with his hands. Marinette copied him and the chants died down so the announcer could call the next player. 

Marinette curled her fingers together, willing herself not to take Luka’s hand or grab onto his sleeve. Beside her, Luka folded his arms, and she wondered if he was fighting the same urge to touch her. He glanced at her and then quickly away, and her cheeks warmed, and she quickly aimed her suddenly much more sincere smile at the crowd, waving again. 

“You’ve got this, Ladybug,” Viperion leaned down to whisper when the announcer dismissed them to their pods. “I’ll be cheering for you.” 

“Worry about yourself,” Ladybug grinned and winked. “Like you said, I’ve got this.” 

Viperion grinned and shook his head as they separated.

Marinette was still nervous but smiling as she stepped into her pod and picked up her headset. “Viperion’s going to be so disappointed when I beat you,” Pharaoh said as soon as the channel was active. “Poor little Ladybug’s about to get squashed.” 

Marinette snorted. “I hope your game is more interesting than your trash talk,” she snickered. “If that’s as creative as you can get this is going to be really boring.” Pharaoh spluttered and Marinette grinned as the countdown began to blink. The controller in her hands felt like a part of her by now, and she bounced on her toes a little, eager for things to finally begin.

It wasn’t easy; crappy trash talk aside, Pharaoh was a highly ranked player and skilled enough to be a challenge. It was a perfect first match for her, actually, because she had to think to beat him and once her mind was focused and fully immersed in the game, she overcame the few mistakes she’d made early on. She was grinning broadly as she stepped out of the pod and raised her arms to acknowledge the cheers that followed when the announcer boomed out her name as the winner. Even as she did, though, she was looking for the leaderboard on the giant screen above them. At first she saw only her own flushed and happy face, but then the leaderboard reappeared, Viperion’s name blinking and then advancing to the next level. 

“Yes!” Marinette squealed, jumping up and down in place. She whipped her head towards Luka’s pod and watched him emerge. He looked up immediately just as she had, and punched the air and looked back at her with a broad grin. They both stood and watched as one by one the other players turned red or blinked green and advanced. 

Like Kagami’s party, like her presentation and fashion show, everything seemed to go by in a whirl and a blur. Months of preparation and planning and practice and the slow-motion waiting of the morning gave way to a heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping whirl as she faced down match after match, dominating some and barely squeaking by others. Before she knew it, she was staring up at the jumbotron while the crowd screamed and the announcer cried, “And this is what we’ve all been waiting for, this is what we all came here to see! The final matchup in the Master League Championship will be! Ladybug! Versus! Viperioooooooon!”

Marinette raised her arms and waved with both hands again as the crowd cheered then she was being ushered off the field, back into the tunnel and then to the backstage area to wait while the runners up duked it out for third and fourth place and the crew made sure everything was set up for the final.

Marinette stared up at the steps to the stage and felt herself start to shake. She didn’t even notice Luka speaking at her side until he took her arm and turned her to face him. 

“Marinette, are you okay?” he asked, the grin quickly dropping from his face as he looked at her.

“Yeah,” she said, trying to smile. “I’m f-fine.” 

“You’re pale as a ghost.” Luka’s expression was grave and worried and he pulled her over to a chair and pushed her into it. “Sit. Breathe, Marinette. Are you dizzy?” 

“I’m fine,” Marinette said, trying to take his advice and slow her breathing. “I’m okay. I just...I need a second.” 

She felt Luka move away, but he was back in moments, kneeling in front of her to press a bottle of water into her hand. “Drink,” he ordered, helping her sit up. “Look at me.” He put his fingers under her chin and gently tipped it up so he could look into her eyes. “You’re sure you’re okay? Do you need the medic?” 

“No,” Marinette said, taking a deep breath before lifting the water to her trembling lips. “I’m all right, Luka.” She drank and then sighed. “That was just really intense.” She shot a sardonic smile up at him. “It felt really good though.”

Luka grinned as he took her hand between both of his and rubbed it gently. “It’s a rush, no doubt.” 

Marinette took another drink and mumbled weakly, “Gonna be even better when I beat you.” 

Luka laughed softly and leaned forward, resting his forehead on hers. Something about that touch was very comforting and she leaned into it. “I’m gonna give you a fight, I hope you know that,” Luka told her. “I’m not going to just hand it to you because you’re—” He paused, and Marinette back to look at him. He brought a hand up to cup her cheek, and Marinette wasn’t sure what might have happened if the production assistants hadn’t come looking for them just then. Luka stood up quickly, turning away from her for a moment, and Marinette put a hand over her chest, feeling the frantic flutter of her heart against her palm. 

“Head in the game, Ladybug,” Marinette murmured to herself before she shoved up out of her chair, shaking out her limbs and noting that at least her hands weren’t trembling anymore. 

It was time. The handlers lined them up shoulder to shoulder, in front of a fog-covered arch similar to the one on the field. 

Luka caught her hand and Marinette let him lace their fingers together. His hold was tighter than she expected and she glanced up at him. That competition spark was in his eyes and she could see the tension across his shoulders. He really was pumped up for this. 

He let go of her hand before they walked out together through the fog, waving at the cheering. The lights were hotter and brighter on the stage and Marinette’s nerves increased. She turned to shake hands with Luka and met his eyes, feeling like she was standing outside of her body, but simultaneously hyper aware of his touch and the blue of his eyes and the quirk of his smile before his hand slid away and they each turned to get into their pyrapods. 

Marinette came back to herself a bit when the pod slid closed behind her, shutting out the lights and the noise. She became aware of how fast she was breathing and made an effort to slow it down before she picked up her headset and put it on. 

“Hanging in there, Bug?” Luka asked, and though his voice was teasing she knew he was checking on her.

“You wanted it,” she replied, “I’m gonna bring it.”

“Show me what you got, Ladybug,” he chuckled, and Marinette grinned, pleased that he remembered after all this time. “I can take it.”

The countdown flashed on the screen, and Marinette took one last deep breath. “It’s been a long time since that first match,” Marinette pointed out with a smile. “I’m not the same newbie you played back then.”

“I know,” he said, and she could see his pirate grin in her mind (and she was kind of glad she couldn’t see it projected on the big screen outside; at that magnitude it might actually kill her). “I can’t wait.”

Once they started playing, there was no time to think about anything but the game. 

Luka won the first match, and Marinette couldn’t help her sigh, annoyed with herself. She’d been nervous and jumpy in the beginning and it had cost her. She and Luka were so evenly matched at this point that both knew they couldn’t give an inch or make a single mistake. She was going to have to do better. 

“It’s just the first match,” she heard Luka say over her headset, and she wasn’t sure if it was meant to comfort her or steady him. 

“I never thought it would be easy,” Marinette replied, and then smiled. “So let’s give the people the show they came for.” 

“You know it,” he laughed.

The next match was closer but Luka won that one too, and Marinette bit her lip hard, fighting the churning feeling in her stomach. If she lost the next one, that was it; she couldn’t afford to lose any more. 

Luka groaned as the third match ended. “Man, how do you do that. I was sure I had you there.” 

“I’m full of surprises,” Marinette replied, putting down the controller and shaking out her hands. They trembled slightly from the close call; he really had almost had her, and that would have been the end.

“You really are,” Luka chuckled. “Playing you is never boring, that’s for sure. Okay, just one more match to go.” 

“Oh, don’t count your trophies before they’re in the case,” Marinette muttered, narrowing her eyes though a smile tugged at her mouth. “No way I’m letting you take it that easily.”

“We’ll see,” Luka said, and then the countdown started again. 

The fourth match turned out to be an easy win for Marinette; Luka misjudged his timing early on and Marinette gave him no time to recover.

Marinette had to take a few more deep breaths as they prepared for the fifth and final match. Her stomach felt like jelly but her hands were steady. One more. She just had to beat him one more time. Either way, all of this would be over soon. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that so she pushed it aside, needing all her focus for the game. 

It was close, it was so close. Both of them had just a sliver of health left and Marinette was starting to panic. She’d managed to deflect his first venom strike, but the fight had gone on long enough that the ability had recharged and she hadn’t been able to dodge a second time. He didn’t even have to land another attack; if he held her off long enough, he would win with the recurring damage from the venom strike. She needed to take him out, but he kept interrupting her attacks, taking low level damage from her defensive moves to prevent her from getting a combo attack together. He was gambling that he could hold out until the venom strike wiped out the last of her health bar, and it was a bet he was going to win if Marinette couldn’t get off a decent attack. 

She bit her lip and tried to think. His armor has always been his weak point; she just needed to get one killer combo off and he’d be finished. Luka knew it, too. If he failed to interrupt her even once she’d take him out. Every time he attacked her directly, though, he took damage from her shields and counterattack. He could keep gambling on his health to hold out until the venom strike, or if he timed it just right, he could get his stun attack off and freeze her. If he could get the move off, she’d be held just long enough for the venom strike to finish her. 

But he couldn’t interrupt her attacks while he was charging the ability. If he tried it, and she was fast enough...she’d have to be so fast. It would have to be bug bombs, they were the fastest, and they should be enough. She’d have to be ready and watching, and...

Will he still want to be with me if I beat him? Or will I just be another girl that ruined his dreams?

The thought was both terrifying and unwelcome but even as it hit her, she saw Viperion draw back and begin to charge a glowing ball between his hands. Marinette had no time to deliberate, no time for hesitation. Her fingers moved and her mech exploded into action. She executed the attack and dropped the controller, grabbing her hair with her hands as she watched.

The stun left Viperion’s hands—and her bug bombs landed. Even as her mech froze in place, Viperion went down in a series of dramatic explosions. 

The screen flashed GAME OVER. It flashed up a picture of her mech with the word WINNER over and over.

“Holy sh—,” she heard Luka whisper, but the channel cut off.

She won.

She won.

Numbly she reached up and took off her headset as the pod door slid open behind her. 

She stepped out shakily, looking up uncomprehendingly at the crowd.

Across from her, Luka’s pod door was sliding open. The second there was room, Luka exploded out, leaping out with one of his deafening whoops as he caught her up in a bearhug that nearly took the breath from her. He swung her around. 

“That was amazing,” he shouted, nearly in her ear to be heard over the crowd. “I thought there was no way you could get an attack off fast enough, but you knew—you knew I was going to do it, didn’t you, you were ready, you’re so incredible—” 

“Luka,” Marinette gasped, and laughing, Luka set her down on her feet.

Before Marinette could do more than gasp in a breath, he had ducked down and—well she wasn’t sure exactly what he did, but suddenly she shrieked as he ducked his head under her leg and somehow managed to lift her onto his shoulders despite her flailing. He caught her hands and steadied her, and then let go of one hand to pump his fist in the air and cheer for her. Marinette kept a death grip on his other hand but she managed to smile and reach up to wave at the crowd, letting out a breathless laugh once the shock wore off. The crowd was cheering and her face was on the jumbotron, smiling but still looking more stunned than victorious. Luka turned in a slow circle so she could wave at the whole crowd until her arm was sore. 

It took her a minute to realize the announcer was trying to get her attention. “Ladybug, you are the Ultimate Mecha Strike III regional champion! Congratulations! How do you feel right now?” A slightly hysterical giggle escaped her at the way he had to hold the microphone up above his head to catch her answer. 

“I feel amazing, but my day isn't over yet,” she laughed. 

“That’s right, we’ll see you as part of Team Lucky Charm in the team competition later tonight! We’ll be looking forward to that. Viperion, you and Ladybug have had quite the rivalry going on and you were heavily the favorite to win coming into this event. How do you feel about taking second place tonight?” 

“I can’t be sore about a loss like that,” Luka laughed. “Of course I wanted to win, but—” He shook her head. “You can’t deny that was brilliant.” He patted Marinette’s leg on his shoulder. “Congratulations, Ladybug. The best player definitely won today.” 

“All right, look for more exclusive interview content with Ladybug and Viperion on the blog later tonight,” the announcer said into the microphone, looking up into the crowd. “We’re going to take a short recess to get things ready here and then we’ll be back to bring you the Master League team championship. “Congratulations again, Ladybug and Viperion.”  

He gestured them back towards the arch, and Luka carried Marinette back through it, both of them waving at the crowd as they went.

Marinette’s legs felt like jelly as she scrambled down from Luka’s shoulders, and he held her elbows as she swayed slightly, and when she was steady he hugged her tight. “Congratulations.”

“You’re not mad?” she asked softly, looking up at him through her lashes.

Luka curled a finger under her chin and tipped her face up so that she was looking at him more directly. “I’m not mad,” he promised, and the soft smile he gave her and the gentle look in his eyes made her believe him. “I’ll be disappointed, probably, tomorrow. I’ll have to scale back my plans. But that’s okay. I took a chance and it didn’t work out in my favor. You played your best. No regrets here. I’m so happy for you, too, and impressed, and…” he paused, and took a deep breath. “I’m definitely not mad.” His hand moved up to cup her cheek, and his thumb brushed over her face for a moment. 

“Viperion, Ladybug! Press room, let’s go.” 

“Oh,” Marinette gasped, but Luka just chuckled and put a hand on her arm. She went with him a little numbly until they were separated for the post-game interviews. Marinette wasn’t sure anything she said was coherent, but she had enough presence of mind to work in a mention of the bakery and her fashion business, so hopefully it wasn’t a total loss. 

“I’m sure you did great,” Luka told her as they walked out. 

“I hope so,” Marinette sighed, putting a hand against her forehead and flapping her hoodie to get some air under it. “But it’s over now, so no point in worrying about it.” 

“Yeah,” Luka smiled, and then nudged her shoulder with his arm. “I guess you better go. You’re not done yet, remember?” 

“Yeah,” Marinette nodded, turning to face her. “But...you’re going to stay, right?” 

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Luka grinned. “I’ll be cheering you on, no fear. And...I’ll be here after. Assuming you still want to talk?” 

“I do,” Marinette said quickly, blushing. 

“Okay then. You go get ready and find Max, and I’ll see you soon, okay?”

“Okay,” Marinette whispered, and rose on her toes to quickly kiss his cheek before following a production assistant with a clipboard back to the player lounge.

Max nearly knocked her over in his enthusiasm as soon as she walked in, and she clung to the back of his hoodie, laughing incredulously. “I still can’t believe it,” she whispered. 

“I believe the evidence is irrefutable,” Max pointed out, and Marinette rolled her eyes, pushing him away. 

“You changed your lipstick,” Max observed as she looked up at him, and Marinette’s fingers flew to her mouth. 

“Oh, I forgot. I can—I can go change it back, if you’re afraid it’ll jinx us—” She knew how Max would react as soon as she said the words and pouted while he snorted with laughter.

“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t think the color of your lipstick will be the deciding factor,” Max snickered, and Marinette shoved him, making him stagger.

“Jerk,” she muttered. 

“I bet Luka liked it,” Max observed smugly, and Marinette’s face flamed red. 

“We’re not going to win this tournament if I break your arm before it starts,” she threatened, punching Max (lightly, as she knew her skinny friend bruised easily) in the arm. 

“I’m sure Luka would comfort y—ow!”

The waiting dragged on again but at least this time she had Max to talk to and strategize with. Once they walked out of the stupid fog tunnel, the whirl began again. It wasn’t any easier, Marinette found, but this time it was Max, confident in his calculations and their abilities, who was her steadying influence. She had more leeway, too, with Max there, they could cover for each other's mistakes. It felt like only moments before they were ushered into the backstage area, waiting to face their final opponents. Marinette felt a bit shaky and weak in the knees again from the rush, but this time she sat herself down and breathed through it while Max paced, muttering strategy and calculations to himself.

Someone cleared their throat beside her and Marinette looked up to find Luka standing there. Now he was wearing his Viperion hoodie, his face made up in a very good approximation of the mask Marinette had put on him when they played together, and he grinned widely at Marinette’s staring eyes. “Surprise.” 

Marinette sputtered for a moment, leaping to her feet as Max reversed his pacing and came over. “What are you—how did you even get back here?”

Luka shrugged, still grinning. “I’m on the team roster so I’m cleared to be here. I just wanted to wish you good luck,” he said, addressing them both though his eyes kept coming back to Marinette. “Not that you need it. I um, I hope this is okay.” He gestured vaguely at himself, and Marinette shut her gaping mouth with a snap. “I didn’t feel right wearing it while we were going head to head, but I just...I wanted to be here and support you guys as much as I could.” He held out his hand to Max, though he sent a worried-looking glance at Marinette, who couldn’t seem to move. 

“Absolutely,” Max said, stepping forward to meet Luka’s fistbump as if he didn’t notice Marinette was suddenly paralyzed next to him. “You’re a part of this team, and it wouldn’t feel right doing this without you.” 

Luka shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t do that much.” 

Marinette’s mouth dropped open again, this time in outrage, but Max beat her to it. “Don’t conflate the magnitude of the effort with its importance,” he told Luka, reaching out to pat his arm awkwardly. Luka’s eyes flicked to Marinette for a moment and she could see his amusement, though he kept a straight face. “Without your assistance we would never have finished the tournament in such an advantageous position for the finals,” Max continued, drawing his hand back to adjust his dark glasses. “We are indeed grateful and your position as a teammate is by no means honorary. I hope when we emerge victorious, you will join us in the awards ceremony.” 

“Oh, I—” Luka looked thrown, but Marinette nodded enthusiastically, catching his arm and squeezing it.

“Max is right. You belong up there with us.” She aimed a reassuring smile at him. “I’m glad you’re here.” 

The tension left Luka’s shoulders and he started to say something, but he was cut off.

“Team Lucky Charm!” the man with the clipboard shouted without actually looking at them. “Prep for entry. Go up the stage steps but do not cross the yellow line until you’re announced.” 

Marinette’s eyes widened slightly, and her whole body tensed. Once again she put a hand over her wildly beating heart and tried to breathe. One more time. She just had to face the lights and the screaming one more time.

Luka’s hand covered hers on his arm and Marinette realized she was digging her fingers into his sleeve. “Hey,” he said, gently detaching her fingers from his sleeve. “You’ve got this. Just like before, right? Own it.” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips lightly. Warmth spread from her fingers down her arm and through her body, pooling in her face and stomach. “Come on, before Max leaves you behind,” Luka said, letting go of her hand and placing his on her lower back, pressing gently until she began to move. He walked with her to the bottom of the stage’s metal stairs behind Max, who was marching forward with determination, confident that the numbers were on their side and determined not to be swayed by something as illogical as stage fright.

Marinette paused at the bottom of the stairs, Luka’s hand still warm on her back, her heart beating wildly in her throat. 

“Remember,” Luka soothed from behind her. “All you have to do is get across the stage and it doesn’t matter how. Once you’re in the pod you’ll forget everything else, just like before. Besides,” he grinned. “They’re just people. You’re the champion.” 

Marinette turned impulsively and hugged him tight. “Thank you,” she muttered, not quite daring to press her face into his chest. Luka’s hands went to her shoulders and squeezed. “Thank you for everything today.

“You’ve got this,” he repeated, sliding his hands down to her arms and shifting her gently back until she stepped up onto the first step, and once her eyes were level with his it became a little easier to breathe in the face of his calm confidence. “Whatever’s gonna happen is gonna happen, right? So just get out there and play.” He grinned. “Good luck, Ladybug.” 

Marinette felt an answering smile growing on her face.

“Marinette!” Max called from where he was waiting near the top of the stairs. “Hurry up!”

Marinette looked up at Max as Luka let go of her, but she turned back quickly, grabbed Luka’s face in her hands, and pressed her lips hard to his. He made a startled noise, and when she would have pulled back his hand came up to cradle the back of her head, prolonging the kiss as he swayed after her. Max hissed her name again from the top of the stairs and Luka let her go, breathing hard, something kindling in his blue eyes that made her flush and grin stupidly back at him. 

Then Max was grabbing her arm and hauling her, stumbling, back up the stairs with him. “The sooner you two have that talk, the better,” he muttered as they went up the last few steps together, Marinette trying to contain the stupid grin that kept wanting to break out on her face. "May I remind you we have a competition to win? The sooner it’s over, the sooner you two can go make out in a supply closet.”

“Max!” Marinette whisper-shouted in horror, and Max just grinned. 

“Win first,” he told her, adjusting his horseshoe pendant. “Kisses later.” 

Before she could retort, the announcer roared out, “Team Luckyyyyyy Chaaaarm!” and there was no more time to think about anything besides the bright lights and roaring crowd, and then the blink of the countdown and the hard plastic of the controller against her palms.

***

Luka was waiting when Marinette came flying down the stairs, a laughing Max following in her wake. 

This time she leapt into his arms, making him stagger, and her feet never touched the ground as he laughed and spun her around. He bounced her a couple of times before she let her feet drop to the floor and gave him enough room to share a fistbump and back-slapping hug with Max. 

Then everything was a whirl again, as all three of them were ushered to the press room for interviews and soundbites, and Marinette wasn’t sure whether she managed to get out anything coherent or not. She and Max both kept a hold on Luka, dragging him into the interviews with them, and they presented as a team. Luka’s experience bailed them out a couple of times when unexpected questions gave them pause, and his hand on her back was steadying when she started to stammer. Marinette paused and took a breath and steadied her voice before answering the next question. 

“You guys did great,” Luka murmured when they were finally released, and then there was another flood of bodies on them, and Alya was screaming in her ear and Max’s mother was screaming in his and then Kim wrapped his arms around both Max and Mrs. Kante just as Marinette’s dad did the same to her and Alya, and for a few moments it was a fight to breathe. Marinette saw a flash of Juleka’s purple hair and heard the Captain’s voice boom but everyone was talking at once and Marinette was too overwhelmed to focus on any of it.

Finally, the families were ushered back out to the stands with instructions to be back in their seats in forty-five minutes for the official awards ceremony. As the room began to clear out, leaving the top players milling around with varying expressions of elation and exhaustion. Marinette looked around and found Luka. He was looking right at her, and when their eyes met he tipped his head slightly and indicated the doors. Marinette nodded, heart suddenly in her throat, and Luka flashed her a quick grin before turning away. 

“Max,” Marinette whispered watching Luka slip out of the doors, “What are my odds?”

“The human heart is impossible to calculate, Marinette,” Max said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Although that kiss would argue for a positive response.” He squeezed her shoulder lightly. “No matter what happens, I support you one hundred percent.”

Marinette’s brain was already humming, giving her a list of excuses and reasons why it would be better to put this off, starting with the looming awards ceremony and moving on from there, but Max’s hand on her shoulder and Kagami’s words in her mind got her moving forward. No more hesitation. 

Marinette wormed her way through the bodies between her and the door and slipped out. She nearly collided with Luka, who was clearly waiting for her. He flashed her a grin and caught her hand, tugging her down the hallway. 

“Luka, where are we going?” Marinette hissed as he walked quickly, pulling her along.

“Somewhere we can talk,” he told her, keeping his voice quiet. “Just don’t make too much noise, okay?” 

Marinette frowned. “We better not really end up in a supply closet.” 

“What?” Luka nearly choked trying to muffle his laughter. “No, I promise, I can do better than that. My mom’s played this arena a couple of times, I know my way around.”

“But—” Marinette began, but then closed her mouth as Luka opened the door to a stairwell and started up it. “I don’t think we’re supposed to be up here,” she whispered as Luka checked the floor number and peeked through the window of the door. 

“Nope,” he grinned, opening the door and motioning her through. “Do you trust me?”

She did, so she went through. “We’re not going to the roof this time, are we?” she asked skeptically, and Luka chuckled. 

“Not this time.” She followed him down a dimly lit hallway and did her best not to squeal in incredulous dismay as he jimmied a door lock with a credit card. 

“All the security on the entrances, and crap locks up here,” he said, swinging the door open. “Typical.” 

“I didn’t realize you were a cat burglar in your spare time,” Marinette muttered as he took her hand and drew her inside what turned out to be some kind of private viewing lounge. She could see through the big windows down into the stadium, and the room was scattered with couches and cocktail tables. 

“Nah,” Luka laughed quietly through his nose, slipping his wallet back into his pocket. “I’m a pirate.” 

Marinette looked at him, and he winked at her with that grin, and she couldn’t help breaking into giggles. “You are, aren’t you,” she laughed, covering her mouth. Luka snickered with her, and for a moment they could only stand there trying to stifle their laughter. Luka made no move to turn the lights on, probably to keep anyone from noticing that the room was occupied, but there was enough light from the windows that they didn’t need it, and eventually their laughter died down, and they were left just looking at each other. 

Luka cleared his throat, pulling two bottles of water from the pockets of his hoodie. He held one out to her and she took it gratefully, suddenly aware she was parched. 

“I feel like you’ve been taking care of me all day,” Marinette said, stifling more slightly hysterical giggles, and Luka grinned at her. 

“Sorry. Big brother thing I guess. Or...well, maybe not,” he blushed and looked away. “I just know you’ve been pushing yourself a lot lately, and today was…” He blew out a breath and shook his head with a grin. “A lot. It can really take it out of you if you’re not taking care of yourself, so...sorry if I’ve been pushy.” 

Marinette smiled at him over the rim of her water bottle as he reached to twist the cap off his own. “I didn’t mi—whoa, are you okay?” she reached out to steady him as he suddenly fumbled it, spilling water over his hands.  

“Fine,” he said, a little too quickly, shaking the water off his hand without looking at her. “I’m fine.” He took a drink and then coughed, and Marinette pounded his back, concerned. 

“Geeze, slow down,” she said, torn between amusement and exasperation. “Maybe somebody ought to be taking care of you.”

He coughed through an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry. God, you always catch me off guard.” 

Marinette blushed, though she didn’t understand exactly what he meant. Getting control of himself he added quickly, “Congratulations. You and Max both did amazing. I think I screamed myself hoarse cheering you on.” 

Marinette hunched her shoulders slightly with a pleased smile. “You did really great too. I can’t wait to watch the replays, I heard you destroyed Desperada in the second round.”

Luka winced. “Yeah, that was rough, our skills just…” He shook his head. “She’s an amazing player with what she’s got but she’s basically never beaten me because of the way our stats stack up. She’s done so well, I hated for her to go down like that, but…” He shrugged and grinned. “I did what I had to do. Wasn’t going to miss going up against you in the final.”

Marinette grinned back, and then dropped her gaze, a silence falling between them that threatened to become awkward if one of them didn’t find a way to start. Determined that it would be her, Marinette began in a rush. “Um. Well I wanted to—we haven’t really talked, a-about, and we said we would, and I know maybe it might seem like we don’t need to, and, well this might not actually be the best time but if we wait for the perfect moment it’ll never happen, and I know we, uh, before, and then tonight, and so maybe we don’t need to but I just, I hate it when there are all these misunderstandings because people don’t talk and we should talk and—stop laughing!”

“Sorry,” Luka said, bringing up a hand to cover his mouth as he continued to chuckle. “I can’t help it. I’m happy and you’re really cute.”   

“Damn it,” she hissed, reaching up with both hands to pull on her pigtails in frustration, “I’m so bad at this!”

“You’re doing fine,” Luka said, taking the bottle of water from her and setting both hers and his on one of the tables. He stepped closer and put both hands on her shoulders, and rubbed lightly. “I can go first if you’d rather.” 

Marinette groaned and buried her face in her hands, suddenly mortifyingly close to tears. She was being an idiot. He’d kissed her, and let her kiss him, and acted like he wanted to keep kissing her, and with the texts during the week, and the way he’d been smiling at her all night, and he came to her fashion show, and bringing her up here and the way he was acting now, he really couldn’t be more clear, so why was she still so terrified? 

“Marinette,” he said, his voice soft and affectionate, “Listen, I think you’re—”

“No!” she yelled, throwing out her hands and stepping back from him, breaking his hold on her shoulders. “No, I have to do this, please.” 

God, she was going to ruin everything, he must think she was insane. There was no way that she could explain to him the utter train wreck that had been her years-long crush-obsession with Adrien Agreste, all the things she’d said and completely failed to say, all the time she’d spent analyzing their least little interactions, all the times she’d practically stalked him only to lose her courage and lie at the last minute, until finally, finally, the words passed her lips in a jumbled wreck and were met with— 

She peeked one eye open and could see that Luka was looking at her with concern. His eyes were blue and not green, his hair dark and not blond, and the expression on his face was concern and empathy and not blank confusion.

It wasn’t the same. She could do this. It wouldn’t be the same. It wasn’t the same. She wasn’t the same.

“Are you sure?” Luka said hesitantly. “If it’s this hard for you, then—I mean I thought you’d know by now that I—but you don’t have to say anything you’re not ready for, you know that, right?” 

“No, it’s not that, and it’s not you, it’s me, and I need to deal with it. Please, Luka,” Marinette added desperately. She needed to put this ghost to rest and this was the only way she knew how.

“Okay. Okay, Marinette.” He reached up and took her hands, tugging them gently away from her face and then pulling her over to sit on one of the small couches. “I’m listening. Do what you need to do.”

“I’m sorry,” she sighed, slumping back for a minute. “It’s just, the last time I did something like this it...it didn’t go so well and I know this is different, I do, but it’s...it’s hard. But I want to. I want to do it. I...I kind of need this, Luka.”

“Okay.” Luka slid a little closer, his hands still wrapped around hers. “I hear you. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” 

“Right,” Marinette whispered, half to herself. “Okay.” Luka squeezed her hands and she realized they were shaking. She needed to get this over with before she went completely to pieces. Why did he always have that effect on her?

No.

Adrien had that effect on her. 

Luka—Marinette forced herself to raise her eyes to Luka’s, and saw only warmth and encouragement there. She straightened and put her shoulders back and took a breath to steady herself, though the shaking didn’t stop.

“I r-really like you, Luka,” she began, wincing slightly at the stutter and feeling her lips begin to tremble too. “You’ve been a wonderful teammate and a good f-friend, but you’re—” She swallowed hard; this was too close, too close to the words she’d used back then, but it was too late, she had to keep going. “You’re so much more than a friend to me,” she went on in a rush. “At least, I—I want you to be. S-so maybe, if you, um, if you want to, maybe we could go out. Sometime. On a date. A real date, not a just-friends date.” She squeezed her eyes shut and looked down quickly, face burning, suddenly feeling totally inept and like a complete fool and what had she been thinking—

“Yeah.”

Marinette looked up. “What?” Luka was grinning broadly, and he looked oddly...proud. Of her? 

Maybe he really was as perceptive as Juleka said.

Shit he was talking, she should listen. 

“I said yes. Yes, hell yeah, I’d love to go out with you.” 

Marinette blinked at him uncomprehendingly. Luka laughed at the look on her face. “You’re unbelievable,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Smart, sassy, gorgeous, tough, incredibly brave, why wouldn’t I go out with you? Do you really think I’m that big an idiot?” 

She gaped at him like a fish.

“Can it be my turn now?” Luka asked, when she didn’t find anything to say, and she nodded dumbly, not entirely sure her soul was still inhabiting her body.

Luka leaned toward her and gently framed her face in his hands. “Marinette, these last few months have been the best I’ve had in a long time and you’ve been a huge part of that, as an opponent and a friend and...honestly the more time I spend with you the more amazing you are to me. I know there’s probably still a lot we don’t know about each other, but I want to. I want you to know me, and I want to know you. All of you. I want to be an expert in Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” 

Marinette had to giggle at that, slapping her hand over her mouth in horror at the high-pitched girly sound of it. Luka’s grin widened as he shook his head and pulled her hand away from her mouth, threading his fingers through hers and lowering their hands to his lap. “Don’t cover it up, it’s so pretty,” he told her, and his slow grin set off an entirely different panic as he tipped her chin up with his free hand, brushing his thumb lightly across her lips. “I was right about the red,” he said, and when did his face get so close, oh no, but also yes, but wait was this too soon or should she—but she wanted to and if he wanted to then that was good enough, right? ”Can I kiss you now?”

“Okay,” she said shakily, and he leaned in slowly, watching her face. 

“You sure?” he said, pausing and sitting back a bit. “You don’t look like you—”

As she stared at Luka frowning with concern because he thought she didn’t want to kiss him, there was almost an audible snap in her head as the past settled back where it belonged and the now became sharp and clear. What the hell was she doing?

Marinette grabbed the front of Luka’s hoodie and dragged him forward. “Get over here,” she ordered, though the breathiness in her voice took a lot of the force out of it. It was enough, though, Luka closed the distance with a desperate little noise and their lips met once, twice, three times in hard, passionate kisses, before finally settling together into something softer but no less heated. The hand under her chin slid up to flatten along the side of her throat, and then slid farther back to curl around the back of her neck, Luka’s thumb brushing her jaw as he tilted her back. He was kissing her like—like— 

Like he really did like her as much as she liked him, like he meant all those things he said to her, like he’d been thinking about it for a while now— 

And he was really good at it, she acknowledged dizzily as his lips began coaxing hers to open. 

But hell if she was going to let him run the show. She nipped his lower lip and he startled slightly. Grinning in the small space that granted her, Marinette wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled the other free from his hand to grab the back of the couch and pull, forcing him back as she straightened and rolled up to her knees so that he was the one with his head tilted back, and only then did she part her lips and slide her tongue into his mouth, hands moving to hold his face at just the right angle. The strangled noise he made and the way he grabbed at her hips was very satisfying. It felt so good to get some payback after all the time she’d spent agonizing over her crush on him. She wasn’t even sure he was aware of the way his hands were scrabbling against her, trying to pull her into his lap. 

She broke the kiss, laughing when he tried to follow her to prolong it. “Easy, we still have to go back in public after this,” she teased, and Luka groaned, letting his head fall back against the bench.

“Fuck me,” he muttered breathlessly, and Marinette snorted, leaning against him.

“What kind of girl do you think I am?” she scoffed, and Luka’s eyes flew open. 

“No, no, God, no, I didn’t mean, I wouldn’t—” 

Marinette let him stammer for another few moments out of pure revenge for all those times he had grinned at her while she tripped over her tongue, before she leaned in and kissed him, softly this time. “Shut up and put yourself back together, Viperion, we still have an awards ceremony to get through.”

“ Shit. ” Luka let go of her and covered his face with his hands. “I’m gonna need a minute.” 

Marinette put her hand over her mouth and tried not to laugh but she couldn’t help it. She was just so happy. Luka dropped his hands and grinned at her, reaching out to snag her around the waist and pull her close, kissing her even as she continued to laugh, pure joy singing from her soul as she pretended to dodge him. He planted kisses on her jaw and her neck as she squealed and tried half-heartedly to wriggle away before giving up and turning to kiss him again on the mouth, and then again, and then again, slow, deep kisses. 

“What?” she asked as Luka chuckled against her mouth. 

“Nothing,” he sighed, nudging his nose against hers. “Just feeling lucky I guess. I’m so happy, Marinette.” 

Marinette smiled, but they did need to be getting back, so she pushed his hands away for real and slid off the couch.

She bit her lip in amusement when Luka whined, leaning his elbows on the back of the couch and letting his head hang back. “Do we have to?” he groaned. “I really hate ceremonies.”

“Yes,” Marinette grinned, grabbing his hand and pulling him up off the couch. “I want to see you up there, right in the number two spot where you belong.” 

“Oh, low,” Luka laughed, dragging his feet as she tugged him towards the door. “Wait, wait.” He pulled his hand free and turned back to grab their water. “Never leave evidence behind,” he said, handing her one of the bottles with a wink. “Especially not evidence with lipstick stains.” 

Marinette giggled. “Wait, is that why you—” 

“No comment,” Luka said, cheeks reddening as he threw the incriminating evidence in the hallway’s recycling bin.

They weren’t very sneaky coming back down the stairs, giggling and snuggling and nearly tripping more than once because they were standing too close together. 

When they emerged into the full light of the hallway outside of the lounge, Luka looked at Marinette and smirked. “Hey Ladybug.” 

“Hmm?” Marinette raised her eyebrows.

Luka leaned in and kissed her until they were both breathless. “Fix your lipstick,” he whispered against her lips, and laughed as Marinette cursed and jerked back, slapping a hand over her mouth. Her red lipstick had held up to the relatively innocent kisses backstage, but now it was smeared all over his mouth, blended with the peach he’d been wearing, and her face couldn’t possibly look any better. Luka burst out laughing at her expression, and Marinette began to giggle again too. 

“Here, I have some wipes,” he managed to say at last, pulling a packet of makeup remover wipes from his back pocket. “Let me help.” 

“You should, since it was your fault,” Marinette shot back, taking the packet from him and pulling a wipe free. She pouted as Luka snatched it back from her fingers, but she didn’t really mean it, and she let him take her chin in his hand and tilt her face up.

“I’m not even sorry,” Luka chuckled, eyes on her lips as he gently wiped away the smears. “I’ll buy you a better brand.” He winked, and then his humor settled into a quiet contentment that shone in his face. “That was pretty amazing, Marinette. I hope we can do it again sometime soon. Maybe I could take you out to dinner and—”

“Marinette!” Max called, bursting out of the doors down the hall and looking around for a moment before spotting them. His shoulders slumped in relief. “There you are! You weren’t answering your phone, I was getting concerned. It’s almost time.”

Luka winced, going to work quickly on his own face. “Busted,” he murmured, and Marinette could hear the laughter in his voice.

Marinette snorted. “Like he didn’t already know. He’s been teasing me about you since we met.” She raised her voice and called, “We’re coming.” She took Luka’s hand and tugged him along with her back to the doors where Max was waiting. 

Max adjusted his glasses and looked at his phone. “We’re due for the ceremony in two minutes and forty-five seconds.” 

“Thanks for the heads up,” Marinette smiled. “I’m good to go, I just need to grab my makeup bag and fix my lipstick.”

Luka made a noise that sounded suspiciously like choked laughter, but Marinette didn’t look at him, squeezing his hand tight enough that he winced. 

“Oh, you left it on the drink table earlier, I picked it up for you,” Max said, pulling her lipstick tube out of his pocket and coming down the hallway to meet him. “It looks good to me, though, are you sure you want to take the time?”

Luka coughed into his hand, obviously trying not to laugh, but Max didn’t even glance at him.

“It’ll only be a second,” Marinette said, taking the tube from him. She opened it and paused as they reached the doors, using her reflection in the window to apply her lipstick over her naturally reddened lips. She could see Luka over her shoulder finger-combing his hair back into place. She capped the tube and handed it to Luka with a wink. “Hold onto it for me? I have a feeling I might need it again later.”

“Sure,” Luka grinned, and reached around her to pull the door open. “Just find me whenever you’re ready to need a touch up.” 

It was Marinette’s turn to choke on a laugh, while Max threw Luka a slightly puzzled glance, but clearly dismissed his odd phrasing in favor of ushering them all back into the ceremony. Marinette grinned. Max might think he’s all worldly, but when he’s focused on something he doesn’t notice anything.

***

They made it through the awards ceremony and almost an hour of the afterparty, accepting congratulations and fistbumps and handshakes and ribbing (mostly good-natured, some not so much, but Marinette had never cared less in her life than she did at that moment). Then someone on the game committee stood up to make a speech and Marinette saw her opportunity. She grabbed the lapel of Luka’s hoodie and tugged lightly. He met her gaze and grinned, following her pull willingly. 

She ducked into a shadowed hall, pulling him just beyond the light from the party, and as soon as she leaned back against the wall he was bending over her, though the kiss he laid on her lips was soft and gentle and over much too quickly. 

“Sorry,” he murmured, with a lopsided grin. “That was kind of presumptuous I guess.” 

Marinette grabbed the lapels of his hoodie and pulled him in for another soft kiss. “Maybe. I don’t mind though.”

“I really like you, Marinette,” Luka said, one hand finding her hip while the other leaned on the wall beside her. “In case I didn’t make that clear before. Not just kissing you, though, for the record, I really like that too, but. You. It’s you.” 

Marinette smiled, a happy flutter in her stomach making her wiggle a bit. “You should probably know I’ve had a massive crush on you for weeks,” she admitted shyly, still holding on to his hoodie. 

Luka’s grin got wider, his eyes lighting up. “Yeah? Weeks?”

Marinette pouted at him. “Don’t lie, you knew.” 

Luka chuckled and looked away. “Maybe. I just...I didn’t know what to do with it for a while. I didn’t want to lead you on if I wasn’t...but then I was, and...” He looked back at her and grinned slowly. “Just weeks, huh?” 

Marinette shrugged, looking somewhere over his left shoulder. “Weeks. Months. Something like that.” She twirled her finger in the string of his hoodie, still not quite looking at him. “So I’m maybe not at all opposed to—presumption.” 

“That’s, um…” He was clearly trying to keep his smile under control, but it wasn’t working. The grin on his face was rapidly crossing into idiotic. Marinette giggled. “That’s really good to hear,” he continued, “because I’ve been getting really stupid over you really fast since we started working together, so...I’m kinda glad you got a head start. It’s actually really flattering coming from a girl like you.”

Marinette frowned slightly. “A girl like me?

Luka gave her an amused look. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, Marinette, but you’re kind of a catch.” 

Marinette blinked at him, startled, and Luka buried his face in her shoulder to muffle his laughter. “Oh my God, you really hadn’t noticed. You’re so damn cute.” 

“Cute!” Marinette huffed indignantly, but Luka lifted his face from her shoulder and nudged his nose against hers with a low chuckle that made her shiver.

“Adorable,” he told her, with so much affection that she couldn’t be offended. “Also really, seriously hot, which, I don’t even know how you manage to do both of those at once, but—” He cleared his throat. “Can I—” 

“Yes,” Marinette giggled, tugging on his hoodie, and he bent, closing his eyes and kissing her with a slow heat that made her weak. She slid her hands up his firm chest and over his shoulders until they met behind his neck, savoring the pleased noise he made. Luka broke from her mouth and laid soft kisses along her jaw. 

“When can I see you again?” he asked, his voice so deep it was practically a growl, and Marinette shivered again. Luka cocked his head slightly. “You okay?” 

“I, um,” Marinette bit her lip. “I really like your voice,” she admitted in a rush. 

“Yeah?” That idiotic grin was growing on his face again and she was rapidly falling in love with it, with the way that he looked at her…

With him. She was falling pretty hard for him. And her only consolation was that he seemed to be tumbling head over heels along with her. The idea of loving someone who loved her back was...heady, to say the least. Not even the most euphoric moments of her ill-fated pining compared to this.

“Marinette?” he prompted, nudging his nose against hers. “I’m serious. I really want to see you again soon.” 

She kissed him again, just because he was so close. He chased her when she would have ended it, and she smiled against his lips before letting him coax her into a much longer, deeper kiss. 

“Wednesday?” she said, when he finally drew back. 

“Hm?” he blinked slightly glazed eyes and Marinette giggled. She straightened up off of the wall and leaned into him instead, fingers sliding up to play with the short hair at the nape of his neck. 

“Wednesday,” she repeated. “You can pick me up at seven. Bring your guitar, you promised to play for me again.” 

“I did,” he agreed, voice dipping low again as his hand slid around to the small of her back. “I can’t wait.” 

“Bring your A-game,” she told him. “I expect to be swept off my feet. But come hungry and plan somewhere light for dinner because my parents will freak when I tell them I have a boyfriend. There will definitely be appetizers. There might be cake. Maybe even a souffle. You tell Papa his rematch will have to wait though because I’m not sharing you this time.”  

The dopey grin returned. “I’m your boyfriend?” 

Marinette blinked, and then blushed hotly, which both made him grin wider and limited her ability to play it off, but she did her best. “You’re on trial. Think you can handle it?”

“Oh, definitely,” he chuckled, and that dopey grin turned into the pirate grin that always made her melt. “The question is, can you?” 

“Oh that’s how it is,” Marinette managed, raising her eyebrows. 

“Yeah,” he murmured, freeing one hand to slip it behind her neck and tilt her face up. “That's how it is. So you let me know when you’re convinced.” His lips descended on hers and his body pressed hers in the wall and by the time he was done kissing her Marinette was pretty thoroughly convinced.

Not that she planned to admit it anytime soon.

She was pretty sure she was going to like this game.

[gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights]

Rating: G

Chapter Summary:  Adrien and Ladybug skate together. Chloe and Kagami play damage control.

Word Count: 2,809 | Chapter 3/4

XXX

“XY!”  Chloé shoved partygoers aside as she stormed up to the DJ table.

“Huh?”  Her former-favorite musician looked at her like she was crazy.  He was crazy!  ...And he couldn’t hear her through those stupid clunky headphones.

She yanked them off of his ears.

“Hey!  What gives, Cholera?”

“It’s Chloé.  Seriously, we’ve met five times!  How hard is it to remember my name?”  If she had to call Jean Claude by his real name, the least everyone else could do was give her the same respect.

“Chloé, Coleslaw, whatever.  Why are you yelling?”

Chloé pinched the bridge of her nose.  XY was probably just too stupid to remember.  Just like he was too stupid to follow basic instructions.

“You posted a picture to Instagram!”  

“Yeah?”  XY grinned and dug his pinkie in his ear.  Ugh.  His ears had to be clogged if he could stand being so close to the blasting music.  “Pretty cute, huh?  Lu’s a really good skater.”

It had been a pretty cute photo of Luka lifting XY above his head, while XY spread his arms wide like an airplane.  Frankly, it was shocking that Luka’s skinny noodle arms could lift his boyfriend.  But none of that was the point.

“No one is supposed to post photos until after the party.”  It shouldn’t have even been possible.  XY’s phone must have been some fancy model that could get past Max’s data block.  “You’re going to bring Adrien’s bodyguard right to us!”

“Pshaw, it’s no big deal.  They’ll be too busy looking at me to even notice he’s here.”

Chloé smacked her forehead.  She did not get paid enough for this.

“Is something wrong?”  Luka asked, approaching Chloé and XY with two slices of passionfruit cake.

“Yes, there is!  Your utterly ridiculous boyfriend is going to get Adrien’s party busted!”

Luka sighed at XY.  “Baby, we talked about this.”

XY’s bottom lip jutted out.  “But… it was just one teeny-tiny little picture…”

“Just listen to Chloé and take it down.  You can post it again when the party’s over.”

Finally, someone was taking her seriously!

“Awwww, fine.”  XY pulled out his phone and deleted the post.  “Happy now, Clooney?”

She huffed, but turned her back before she could say anything she’d regret.

“Excellent work, Chloé.”  

She jumped.  Kagami was standing right there.   How did she always show up like some kind of ninja?

“We will still need to engage our failsafes.”  Kagami began typing on her phone.  Chloé stood on her tip-toes, looking over her shoulder.  She was posting… some selfies with Adrien in a blue wig?  

“Hey, I thought no one was supposed to post pictures.” Chloé frowned.

“These will lead Nathalie and Adrien’s bodyguard off our trail.  I’ll adjust the lighting to make them appear as if they were taken just now.”  She added filters, and the background grew dark.  “Now they will believe Adrien is at the juice shop with me.”

“Not bad.”  Chloé smirked.  “You know, for someone who never lies, you’re awfully good at fooling people.”

“Only when necessary.  Adrien’s happiness tonight is my number one priority.”

Kagami’s gaze shifted down to the rink, where Adrien and Ladybug were skating hand-in-hand.

“You’ve done a good job,” Chloé said quietly, leaning against the railing.  Over her shoulder she watched Adrien and Ladybug weave figure eights.  Even over XY’s blaring music, she could hear their laughter.  Two years ago that would have made her jealous.  

But it was good to see her oldest friend and her biggest hero make each other happy, even if it was only for one night.

“Come on.”  Kagami smiled at her.  “No more slacking.  Time to learn how to skate.”

Chloé faked annoyance.  “Oh, alright.  If you insist.”

XXX

Adrien glided like he was in a dream.  The soft pressure of Ladybug’s hand in his was the only thing anchoring him to the ground, and even that felt too good to be real.

But she was real.  She was here.  She cared about Adrien enough to come to his birthday party.

“You didn’t hit your head too hard, did you?”  Ladybug giggled.

Oh.  He must have been staring at her stupidly again.  That was how he’d tripped over Marc and crashed the first time.

“I’m fine.  It helps that the ground is a built-in ice pack.”

She laughed again.  She never laughed at Chat Noir’s jokes this much.  Maybe she was just trying not to hurt his feelings on his birthday, but he’d take it.

“Look at that.”  She bumped his shoulder with hers.  “Looks like Queen Bee could use an ice power-up.”

He laughed as he saw Chloé wobble onto the rink, Kagami steadying her with both hands.  He was glad they were both getting along, or at least trying to.  Having so many of his friends in one place was the best birthday gift of all.

“I bet she’d love that.”  He wished he could use his ice powers too.  It would make it easier to avoid slipping and embarrassing himself again.

Not that she’d laughed at him, really.  That would be weird to get used to—not that he should get used to it.  As soon as he was suited up again, they’d be back to bantering and making fun of each other like normal.  

But for now, he savored the feeling of her eyes on his, of the way her brow softened beneath her mask every time he smiled.

(He was smiling a lot.)

“Hey, Adrien!  You gonna kiss her yet?”  

Adrien’s face caught fire at Kim’s shout.  Kim didn’t just say that.  

Please tell me he didn’t just say that.

His eyes darted to Ladybug’s.  She’d dropped his hand, and her mouth was stammering wordlessly.  

He couldn’t blame her.  His brain wouldn’t send a coherent thought to his mouth, either.

Kim turned around and started skating backwards.  “I’ve got a bet with Alix.  She thinks you don’t have the guts, but I believe in you.  Don’t let me down, man!”

He promptly crashed into Nino and Alya, and all three of them wiped out.  Normally, Adrien would’ve rushed to help his friends up.  But right now, he wanted nothing more to melt through the ice.

“Please just—ignore him,” he said quickly, falling back and clinging to the handrail.  “I don’t know where he got the idea that—I mean, not that I wouldn’t—er—I’m going to shut up now.”

She laughed hysterically, eyes darting back and forth.  Was she already looking for a way to escape?  

Gah, and everything had been going so well too!  He could almost believe that Ladybug… that she… what, liked him?  Just because she was nice to him and laughed at his jokes and held his hand…

“You know,” she said quietly, “I wouldn’t, um, mind if you…”

His heart sped up.  It could’ve done backflips in the pauses between her words.

“If I…?” He asked, trying not to sound too eager.  She could’ve been about to say anything, after all.  

Like maybe she wouldn’t mind if he left her alone forever.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind if he faceplanted on the ice like Kim did.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind if he locked himself in a tower, never to see the light of day until a fearless ogre came to save him.

She leaned in closer.  Her eyes sparkled as bright as the frosty tips of her tiara.

“If you… got me a slice of cake!”

He blinked, pulling back.  “O-of course!  Um, did you want me to bring it back here, or…?”

“Uh, yeah, sure!” She said.  “Er, on second thought, there’s no tables on the rink, haha, and I’ll probably trip even with my powers if I try to eat down here…”

“There’s tables closer to the entrance,” he suggested, still startled by Ladybug’s sudden shift.  The smile on her face looked strained.

“S-sounds great!”

Unfortunately, getting out of the rink meant skating past Kim again.  He’d finally made it to his feet with Nino and Alya’s help.  Alix sped past, blowing a raspberry at him.

“Just don’t make eye contact and we might be fine,” he said under his breath.

...Or not.

“Yo, Ladybug!  How’s my little monkey dude doing?”

Ladybug groaned.  “That’s my luck.”

“I thought Chat Noir was supposed to be the one with bad luck?” Adrien joked right before Kim got close enough to sling an arm around Ladybug’s shoulder.

“Hey, King Monkey.” She grimaced.  “Xuppu’s doing fine.  But, um, Adrien and I were just about to get some cake, so…”

“Aww, come on!  I bet my boy Adrien tastes better than some kind of fruitcake.  Who even thought of putting fruit and cake together?  Gross.”  Kim stuck out his tongue.

Plagg was shaking with laughter inside of Adrien’s borrowed hoodie.  Couldn’t the kwami Just Cataclysm him and put him out of his misery?

“It’s passionfruit cake,” he corrected on principle.  “And Marinette made it, so it’s going to be amazing.”

For some reason, Ladybug’s face only got more red at that.  “Right, amazing!  Definitely better than kissing Adrien, ha!  Ha ha ha…”

Ouch.  Now that hurt worse than a Cataclysm.

Kim winced in sympathy before patting Adrien’s shoulder.  “Sorry, buddy.  I tried.”

“Please stop trying,” he whined.

He and Ladybug finally escaped Kim.  Adrien glanced over his shoulder, and saw Nino flashing him a comforting grin.  Alya had dropped her head in her hands.

Me too, Alya.  Me too.

XXX

“Lesson’s over,” Chloé said while pulling her phone from her pocket.  She didn’t slip, even without holding onto the handrail.  Despite her attitude, she was implementing Kagami’s lessons well.

“The student doesn’t decide the length of the lesson.”  She crossed her arms.  

“She does when she has bad news.”  Chloé scowled.  “Max just texted.  That tracker you and Nino put on the Gorilla's car?  It’s going off.”

She held up her screen, which showed a map of the streets near their location.  A red skull icon flashed towards the ice rink.  Not good.  Adrien hadn’t even gotten the chance to eat his cake yet.

“We’ll have to deploy the contingency plan.”

“I thought you already—”

“The other contingency plan.”

Kagami grabbed Chloé’s hand and skated towards the exit.  

It was time to find Wayhem.

XXX

Marinette’s  pulse pounded in her ears.  Adrien was still holding her hand, even after Kim had come along and… well, been Kim.  But she could take it.  She was cool.  She was confident.  She knew Adrien had a crush on her!

And yet she was still too much of a coward to kiss him.

What if Nino and Kagami were wrong?  Granted, Nino knew Adrien better than anyone, and Kagami had probably never been wrong in her life.  

But still.

“I hope you like passionfruit.”  Adrien rubbed the back of his neck before cutting her a slice of the three-tiered cake.  It had taken her two days to fine-tune the recipe, not including the full afternoon she’d spent adding details with icing.  It was a pale shade of pinky-orange, dotted around the edges with rosettes of spring green.  Just like his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I love it!” she said.  It was a bit of an exaggeration, but she had gained a taste for it after eating one passionfruit macaron a week for the past two years.  “You’re lucky Chat Noir isn’t here.  He’d finish off this whole cake as soon as your back was turned.”

Adrien laughed.  “He’s got good taste, then.”

It was too bad Marinette didn’t know Chat Noir’s birthday.  Passionfruit was his favorite favor, too; she could reuse the recipe.  

They took their cake and some plastic forks and settled down at a table.  She sat across from him, but the table was small enough for her knees to bump his underneath.  She’d dismissed her ice transformation, so she didn’t have to worry about stabbing his feet with her blades.

“Wow,” Adrien said through his first bite.  “I knew this cake was going to be good, but this is—I’ve never tasted anything like it!”

“Really?”  She grinned.  If he was saying that to Ladybug, then he wasn’t just saying it to be nice.  He really liked her cake!

“Really.  I shouldn’t be so surprised, though.  Marinette’s amazing at everything.  She’s designed album covers for Jagged Stone, and won the student Ultimate Mecha Strike Tournament, and even impressed my father.”  He sighed wistfully.  “It’s too bad she couldn’t make it.  I really wanted to thank her.”

Her heart fluttered like a butterfly on steroids.

“I—I’m sure she wanted to be here too,” she said.  Should she find a way to sneak off and detransform?  Would Adrien have been happier if she’d come as herself?  “And I’m sure, if she were here… she’d want to thank you.  For being such a good friend.”

He stared at her with soft eyes.  A bit of icing still clung to his bottom lip.  She tore her gaze away.

You heard what he told Kim.  He doesn’t want to kiss you!

Wait.  That was what she told Kim.  After she’d panicked and blabbered something stupid by reflex.  Why had she said that?  She did want to kiss Adrien!  Now he was going to think that she hated him and probably hate the birthday present she’d brought and— 

“Ladybug?”  Adrien’s voice finally snapped her out of her spiral.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Huh?  Why wouldn’t I be?”  She grinned too wide.

He glanced down at her plate.  Her fork was stabbed into the thin styrofoam.  That wasn’t the only thing she’d stabbed, apparently.

“You, um.  Spaced out and carved a broken heart into your cake.  Unless it’s supposed to be an upside-down spade…?”

She hurriedly shoved forkfuls of cake into her mouth.  Ugh, she was a mess without Alya here to help her keep cool.  How would Alya feel about getting her miraculous back for the sole purpose of wingmanning?  

It probably wouldn’t work.  There wasn’t an illusion strong enough to cover up Marinette’s spazzing.

She swallowed her cake.  “I’m sorry, Adrien.  I just got distracted for a second.  What were you saying?”

“I was just talking about Marinette… you two are friends, right?”

“Friends?  What—what makes you say that?”  She blinked.

“She helped you fight the Evillustrator and Kwamibuster.  I guess I just assumed, but—”

“Wait.”  Marinette dropped the fork back to her plate.  For once, her mind whirled for a reason other than proximity to Adrien.  “You—how do you know Marinette helped with Kwamibuster?” 

Had Chat Noir gone around blabbing about Multimouse to everyone?  No, there’d never been a trace of her on the Ladyblog.  And Chat wouldn’t reveal heroes’ identities like that, even if she’d already told him that “Multimouse” couldn’t hold a miraculous again.

“Um… because, she… told me?”  Adrien shrugged.  A tentative smile graced his lips.

Her brow creased.  “No, she didn’t.”

This didn’t make any sense.  How did Adrien really know, and why would he lie about it?  

Unless—?

Before she could follow that train of thought, Chloé’s hands slammed down on their table.

“Sorry to interrupt, but you two need to go.  We’ve got company.”

“What?”  Marinette blinked.  “Is there an akuma?  I’ll—”

She shook her head.  “Worse.  Kagami’s backups failed.  Nathalie’s here.”

“What?”  Adrien stood, nearly kicking Marinette’s shin in his haste to get up.  “I have to stop her before she tries to have Nino arrested again!”

Marinette grimaced.  Yeah, Adrien’s sixteenth birthday party hadn’t exactly worked out.  But she wasn’t about to let this one get ruined, too.

“No way, Adrikins.” Chloé blocked his path.  “Kagami’s handling her.  She told me to make sure you get out before you’re grounded for life.”

“But—!”

“Ladybug, I know you’re smart.”  Chloé turned to her before he could protest.  “Take him out the window before he pulls one of his little self-sacrificing stunts again.”

Self-sacrificing.  That would be like Adrien.

(It would also be like a certain partner of hers, who also liked passionfruit, knew about Multimouse, and had a crush on Ladybug.) 

“I can’t just leave you—!”

Marinette stood and wrapped an arm tightly around his waist.  He cut off, blushing at their proximity.

“You heard Queen Bee.”  She winked at Chloé, who smiled.  “Let’s trust your friends.  And trust me, too.  I’ve got a surprise for you.”

He looked down into her eyes, then hesitated as if about to ask something.

“Whatever, just take your surprise out there!”  Chloé pushed them away from the tables.

“Right.  Hold onto me,” Marinette told Adrien before grabbing her yo-yo.

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” he mumbled into her hair, his arms firm around her shoulders.

This is fine, she told herself while trying not to melt into an ecstatic puddle.  Then she cast out her yo-yo and swung through the distant window.

She and Adrien had a lot to talk about.

[quarantine-writer]

Why do stray cats follow me? P. 2

Part [1] [2] [3]

“Hey girl, Mylène is inviting us to her house for a pizza party. Are you free tonight?” Alya whispered lowing her head so Ms. Mendeleiev couldn’t notice them talking.

“Sorry Alya, I have plans with my mom. Lately, she has been very interested in to teach me how to cook Asian food”

“I heard Luka is invited”

Marinette smiled at her friend “Still no”

Ms. Mendeleiev let her rule hit the desk to catch the girls’ attention and warned them with her eyes. Both immediately stopped the little chatting. But Alya was not an easy quitter. 

After a while she passed a note to Marinette. “Everybody saw how Luka played a song to you the other day by the river. You were clearly enjoying it. Do I need to beg for details? Because I’m going to beg”

Marinette wrote down a quick response “Let’s have this conversation later”

“You have been avoiding the topic for the past 4 days, girl. Even I have a limit.”

“Maybe I don’t know what to say?”

“Ok, you asked for it. Just reply to the questions I know I want to know: 1) Are you going to give away all the gifts you made in advance? 2) Have you already kissed Luka?”

“Yes. No.“

“Do you want to kiss him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, if the moment is right. I won’t push it or pursuit it, though”

“Do you find sexy he is older? >o<”

“It’s actually refreshing how mature he is. It’s easy to have conversations with him. Hard to believe he’s just a year older.”

Alya let out a little chuckle, she was about to write another question when she felt Mendeleiev presence next to her. “Can I have that paper, Miss Césaire?

Before Alya could react, Ms Mendeleiev was already reading the paper and Marinette was close to fainting. Alya’s face was pale as a ghost, but she still tried to beg for mercy.

“Please don’t read it out loud Ms Mendeleiev, I was the one pushing it.”

Adrien and Nino turn on their sits to watch the scene, along the rest of the class that was paying full attention to both girls. Rapidly increasing Marinette’s anguish.

“That I can see, Miss Césaire. Miss Dupain-Cheng next time avoid replying to this kind of conversations during class. Older boys can be attractive but that has nothing to do with Bohr’s Model of the Atom. Clear?”

Marinette was completely ashamed, the louder the class’ whistles, the brighter the red tone of her face. “Clear”.

Adrien smiled softly to her, and she wanted to die right there.

And it was the first class of the day.

                              ━━━━━━━━※━━━━━━━━

To Marinette’s misfortune, Nino and Adrien joined them for lunch.

Alya stopped her apologies when the boys approached them. A best friend job is to know the last person Marinette wanted gossiping about the morning incident was Adrien.

Of course, the blond didn’t even try to mention a thing.

“So, Mari, who-ough” And when Nino tried to bring up the topic, Alya silenced him with a stomp and a fresh new conversation.

“So, learning Asian cook?” She shamelessly ignored Nino’s complaints.

“Yes, my mom says I’m almost seventeen and that I should be self-sufficient, know more about my culture and not starve to death in case she’s out”

“But Mari, you literally live on top of a bakery and you know how to do literally every pastry there” Nino managed to say, foot pain already forgotten.

“I guess ‘Woman does not live by bread alone’ is strong on this mom”

“And what’s she teaching you?” Adrien asked.

Marinette did her best to reply as a normal person. It was a little bit easier every day. “Little bit of everything, I already know how to do a basic fried rice but today I’m going to explore the wonders of stir-fried beef.”

“Whenever you learn how to do Kung Pao chicken, sign me up!”

“You want to learn how to do it, Alya?”

“Nope, but I will surely have Kung Pao chicken hungry that day. Trust me, I have my sources.”

The four of them laughed together and Mari promised to bring everybody a portion whenever she learns. Lunch was somehow relaxing until a non-invited presence appeared at the table. 

“So, Mari, tell me, who is the lucky guy? Are you head over heels for an older boy? Naughty!” Obviously, Lila appeared just when everything was ok in her world. She did not hide the discomfort on her face.

Surprisingly, it was not Marinette who cut her off.

“Aren’t we being a little bit rude, Lila?”

Four pair of eyes were on Adrien, who was not smiling, not joking, not looking at her, just stating a fact while cleaning his lips with a napkin. He was already done with lunch.

Marinette was maybe the most surprised of them.

Lila was not surprised at all. Last time she talked to the blond he let clear that he was putting his limits where Marinette discomfort started. She even had to lie to bring her back to school anyway. Honestly, she was there only to test if Adrien was capable to face her in front of others as well. Looks like the answer was yes.

“I was just joking Adrien” she giggled a little, “since you are all so close to Marinette I supposed all of you already knew about the mysterious guy. But I don’t want to upset her more, I did already too much last week and I apologize again Marinette” this time she was looking directly at her blue eyes, with a puppy face “I can’t control my disease but I will leave immediately to not bother you anymore”.

“You are not bothering Lila, but we were already leaving” Alya stood up, followed by the other three “Class is just about to start”.

“Oh, sure, let’s go” Lila followed them and engaged a conversation with Nino and Alya.

Marinette and Adrien were walking side by side in front of them, in silence. Each of them immersed on their own thoughts.

                             ━━━━━━━━※━━━━━━━━

“Hella weird, girl” Marinette had Alya on video chat on the rooftop. She was planting the Asian Greens in her new flowerpot. Alya was getting ready for the pizza party.

“It was just... so sudden? He is not like that” Marinette was still surprised by Adrien standing up for her. She didn’t know how to feel about it, or what to think.

“Yeah, I mean, I thought they were friends. His dad even helped her to get her first model job... Which pants do you think look better on me?” Alya showed two options to the camera.

“The blue one.”

“Maybe Adrien realized he has a crush on you after you were expelled, you know. Realizing he won’t be close to you again and that. Deal breaker feelings.”

Marinette let out a dry laugh “Impossible Alya, you know he likes Kagami. You saw them.”

“But explain why he was suddenly so aggressive on your behalf.”

“Maybe he has spent a little too much time with Lila and now he sees who she really is”

Alya was a little more on board to Marinette’s side after she heard Lila’s excuse. It was a super sad story, granted, but Marinette was in her full right to stay as far as possible from a friendship with her. Even if everything was solved the next day with Lila’s apologize. “Maybe Mr. Sunshine resembles more his father than we originally thought. His voice was so cold that it caused me shivers.”

“Maybe.”

“So, what about the gifts?”

“Not delivered yet” and Marinette gave her a sincere smile “Luka will help me to carry them on his bicycle tomorrow after school.”

“I like Luka, you know. I approve him, in my best friend position.”

“Not that I asked your permission, though! Or that anything is going on!”

“You obviously don’t need to ask for permission, it’s all wrapped in the best friend package.”

“Marinette, honey, it’s time!” Sabine’s voice called her from the distance.

“Guess this is the goodbye. Shame you can’t come to the party.”

“I’ll go to the next one, I promise. Bye”

“Alya out”

Marinette sighed. She just wanted to fall into bed and sleep until tomorrow. Too many mixed feelings were bubbling inside herself.

But she couldn’t let her mom down. “Coming mom!”

Part [1] [2] [3] 

I didn’t think so many people would like this story! I’ll try my best to keep writing constant updates. Thanks for reading guys! Feedback appreciated :).

The marichat will eventually come, I promise! As I said, this is a sloooow burn fic ^^U

[myladyladybug]

When your best friend rigs the Secret Santa to hook you up

Merry Christmas @hoppershedgie ! I am your Secret Santa for @mlsecretsanta! Hope you like your Lukanette gift fic~

“Alya!” Marinette screamed, admonished. “How could you?”

“How could I set up my best friend with her crush? I know; I’m a Saint.” Alya looked up briefly from her phone and fluttered her eyelashes in innocence.

“What am I going to do with this?” Marinette continued, flailing a slip of paper she had drawn from a hat earlier that day and refused to confirm nor deny Alya’s self given title. A slip of paper was normally something Marinette would have little to no concerns about, but this particular slip of paper had a name on it, which under coincidental circumstances, she would have had no issue with, that she currently had issue with because of purposeful conditions that had caused to be in her possession. Worse yet, Luka had a similar slip of paper baring her own name. She really wished she hadn’t asked about it.

“You’ll get Luka the perfect gift,” Alya began with a flourish, “sign it, confess your feelings to him, and kiss under the mistletoe at the party tonight!”

“Or, he’ll hate my gift, realize that knowing me is a complete and total mistake, and never ever want to see me again!”

“You know that will happen.”

“It could! You don’t know that!”

“This is Luka we’re talking about, right? Nicest guy in the world? Wouldn’t hurt a fly? Totally head over heels in love with you?”

“You don’t know what either.”

“Don’t know he’s the nicest guy in the world? I think I do.”

“You don’t know that he’s in love with me!”

“Uhm, yea I do. The whole class knows it. The neighbours know it. All of Paris knows it. He’s even told you how much he likes you.”

“But that’s not the same. This is a confession we’re talking about here. This is a huge deal. I can’t mess this up.”

“Like you would have even done it in the next century if you hadn’t drawn his name.”

“If you hadn’t given me his name!” she retorted pointedly.

“Well, you might as well get planning,” Alya shrugged. “What are you going to get him?”

~

After a week of arduous planning and embroidering, Marinette held up her handiwork to present to Alya, Juleka, Rose, Alix, and Mylene as a final check. The girls sat in awe and approval at the sight of it.

“It’s beautiful, Marinette!” Rose bubbled, hands at her cheeks.

“He’s going to love it,” Juleka agreed.

“Now that we’ve got that all sorted,” said Alya, “what are you going to wear?” Marinette immediately stood and ran for her hangers, more than ready for this line of questioning.

~

It was agreed that they would unceremoniously reveal themselves to their Secret Santa recipients. Since Alya was the one to arrange the whole event, party aside, it was easily in her power to make that particular decision. This, of course, paired very well with Marinette’s intent to have a rather private discussion with her Secret Santa recipient. This all only left one problem: Marinette’s willingness and strength to approach Luka herself, without the pressure of all her peers’ expectations. Worse yet, if she didn’t approach him, he would be left as the only person at the party without a gift, and she would never forgive herself for leaving him that way. And even if she somehow managed to avoid facing him with her gift, and other things, on her own, he was sure to find her himself, having drawn her name as his giftee. It was all a mess and a small part of her (that somehow managed to take over her entire body) didn’t want to attend the party. But with a friend like Alya, how could anyone say no.

Chloe Bourgeois always held the most lavish parties. Even into their university years, she never ceased to impress, inviting anyone and everyone she knew, and even some she didn’t know. This made convincing everyone to exchange their gifts personally much easier. The dress code was nearly non-existent. People came in suits and gowns, contrasting those in khakis and crop tops. Marinette personally enjoyed her sweet, pink, semiformal dress. From across the way, Marinette spotted Luka. He was wearing a dress shirt and tie underneath his usual blue hoodie. Although it was not a style she would have put together herself, she found it ridiculously charming nonetheless. He made the effort, and something about that thought made her smile uncontrollably.

It almost melted her heart to see the smile immediately form on his face just at the sight of her. She wasn’t the only one.

“Hey Marinette,” Luka greeted when she approached his corner of the room.

“Hello,” she said, unabashed by the happiness in her tone. There was a nearly unnoticeable moment of silence, had neither of them been thinking about what to say and how to say it.

“Have you given your gift to your Secret Santa person yet?” Luka asked.

“Not yet.” Marinette shrugged.

“Neither have I. Who’d you get?” he prompted. Without another word, Marinette took the carefully wrapped present from behind her back and offered it to him. He blinked confusedly for a few moments before smiling and accepting. “Wow Marinette, you had my name? That’s amazing! I had your name!” Luka produced a small package from his pocket. Alya had mentioned that Luka had her name, but the sight of the small box still produced a gasp from her lips.

“You should open yours first,” she insisted. He tore into the wrapping of the gift and pulled the cloth from the remains.

The guitar strap was a deep blue and black, with tiny pink flowers embroidered into the swirling design. The contrast provided a cute and cool look to the overall design, but secretly, Marinette had made it with the idea of their styles combining into a single image. Not that she would ever be the one to point it out.

“So… what do you think?” she asked when he didn’t say anything. When she finally had the courage to look at his face, she noticed his eyes tracing the designs of the strap, his mouth slightly agape and his face flushed. Her brain searched for the meaning behind such a face.

“What do I think?” he repeated, like he was shocked that she could ask him a question with such an obvious answer. “It’s amazing, Marinette.”

“I’m so glad you like it. I wasn’t sure-”

“Open yours,” he interrupted. It was rare for him to ask her of much, so her curiosity spiked at the request. Tearing apart the wrapping, she was met with a plain velvet box. Inside was a small, pastel, pink, rose pendent on a silver chain.

“Luka!” Marinette gasped. “It’s beautiful.”

“You like it?”

“I love it!”

“May I?” Luka held his hand out, asking for the necklace. She nodded and turned around, pushing aside her hair so he would have access to the back of her neck. He draped the necklace around the front of her neck and secured the clasp.  

“It looks even nicer on you than it did in the box. It suits you,” said Luka.

“Thank you,” she replied, blushing and staring at the floor. A smile crossed her face and she gently touched the pendent, feeling all the intricate details of the design. “Hey Luka?” Marinette started. He looked down and smiled at her.

“Yes?”

“I have something I need to tell you.” She bit her lip and shifted her gaze nervously.

“What is it?”

“I… I really like you.” The words practically flew from her mouth as she rushed to get them out lest she change her mind.

“I like you too Marinette,” Luka replied, not missing a beat. The grin on his face was unparalleled. If Marinette had the courage and forethought to look for his reaction, she might have caught it.

“No, not like that!” she rambled, looking everywhere but at him. “I mean. I do like you. As a friend; but also as more.”

“More?” he asked, amused.  

“You mean so much to be Luka. And you’ve always been so kind and caring, and I can’t believe I couldn’t see it before.” Taking a deep breath, she mustered the courage to look him in the eyes before uttering the following words. “There is no one as sweet as you, or who makes me feel as comfortable and happy as you do.” She needed him to understand her seriousness and sincerity. “What I mean to say is that, I love you.” Luka pursed his lips through his smile and reached out to hold her hands, draping his gift over his shoulder.

“Marinette, thank you. That means so much to me. Thank you. I love you too.” Her head snapped up in shock at the statement.

“Really?” she asked, disbelieving. He laughed briefly.

“Of course. I haven’t been trying very hard to hide it either. Marinette, I care so much about you and I want you to be your happiest always.”

“I… I’m sorry, I had no idea,” she said. A giggle escaped her lips shortly after. “How could I have not noticed?”

“Well, it is more difficult to tell when you’re involved.”

“Everyone’s been telling me for ages that you liked me, and I just couldn’t believe it.” Luka’s hand rose to cup the side of her cheek and she rested her head into it.

“Believe it or not, it’s true,” he reassured her. “I really like you.”

“Oh. That’s good.”

“Just good?” Marinette’s brought her own hand up to her face to rest on top of his.

“That’s really good,” she grinned.

“Good. Good that you think it’s good.” The whole world seemed to blink out of existence as Luka slowly leaned forward and Marinette stood on the tips of her toes. The kiss was quick, but the fluttering in her stomach lasted the remainder of the evening, as did her smile.

[mcsmmafia]

Round IX of MC:SM Mafia 👥

THE 9TH ROUND OF MAFIA

What you did was go exploring and discovering new worlds, new stories. Yet, you never expected to end up in a place as strange as this.

Endermen… just… endermen everywhere! You have never seen anything comparable! Well, besides the end, but… this was a swamp! Anyhow, there was something in the wind. Something familiar, yet so odd… you just couldn’t put your finger on it.

Luckily, as you made your way through the wetland – constantly looking down on your feet to avoid triggering any of these oversensitive social phobics –, you hit your head right into an entrance door of a big mansion. Oh, it should be well lit in there – and that would mean that you could finally lift your head again! Seriously, your neck started to hurt badly.

So you knocked, and to your relief, someone opened it.

A person, completely covered in black and wearing a big, white pumpkin on their head, was this someone. You could see long, vividly red hair coming out of it. It reminded you of something… wait.

You turned around to glance at the swamp you were in- which was a bad idea.

Thousands of endermen were staring at you, as you stared back… your glance captured by theirs… if you would look away just for one second-

"Here, this pumpkin will shield your eyes from meeting the endermen’s!", the resident yelled and put it right on as you continued to stand there, petrified.

It should’ve helped, but… the endermen… just… continued to… to… stare…

"Alright, are you gonna come inside or what?", the resident asked. But you didn’t dare to move.

So they pulled you inside with force, and closed the door behind you.

"There, you’re safe in here. We have food, we have beds, everything you need. I don’t know myself where all these endermen are coming from, they just started to appear out of nowhere this evening… but anyway, do you happen to have a green flint & steel?"

You had to look out of the window – there it was, still watching you.

"Hellooo… are you listening??"

Those magenta, creepy, soul-eating eyes…

"Hey, I’m talking to you, I need the FLINT & STEEL!"

Even though they were not torturing physically, mentally, you could feel your sanity fading away…

"Urgh, FINE! You try one time to be nice, and this is what you get…"

You shrieked and nearly tripped turning around as you heard footsteps – oh, it was from the stranger… as they walked away… wait. The red hair, the mansion in the swamp- this person must be CASSIE ROSE!!! AND THERE WAS NO ESCAPE!!!

Dear guests, it is time. T

o hide.

BEFORE THEY STEAL YOUR SOUL!

But maybe there’s someone else you shouldn’t have triggered…

~

Story note: Ellegaard finally had managed to craft a command block and after all these years of research and trying, she wanted to try it out so badly – but since the whole wither sturm event, the use of command blocks was banned in her dimension. So, what else to do than visit new dimensions to experiment with her command block!

However, she was really unhappy when she realized that the first world she hopped into was in a swamp, near nightfall… urgh! How she hated these slimes – oh, yes, that’d be the perfect use of her new command block! Just… set the biom to… end… there we go, that should solve the problem!

…Wait, why are suddenly thousands of endermen appearing out of nowhere-

☀ Results of Day 1:

Harper wished everyone a good morning.

🌑 Results of Night 1:

Well, yes, endermen are kinda creepy, but for everyone to be this reticant… they were really overreacting, in Harper’s humble opinion! …Or were they? The more she thought about it, the more unsure she became – and as she peeked outside the window and met an enderman’s eyes, she suddenly was so petrified she couldn’t even move! She loosened from her rigidity when she heard a sardonic meow behind her. Dang it, that darn kitty stayed with her! She tried to pick him up, only for him to leave a quite aching wound on her hands. "Ow! Stupid cat!" Anyway, Winslow being here can’t mean good news, so she stayed alert and ready to fight.

Seriously, though… how rude of everyone! How rude to not answer a simple question, on which CASSIE’s life depended on… Looks like sje had to get the FLINT & STEEL the hard way, so she made her way to the living room and thought about her next action. Not being too glad being all alone, she decided to stake everything on one room: The kitchen. Meanwhile, Winslow would prevent anyone from coming to the entrance hall. It was the perfect plan! …Except that it didn’t work out. Not in the slighest. Dang it!

…Yeah, if anyone caught the wind of Ellegaard’s command block- they would throw them out to deal with them. That could not happen. So she participated in the big silence and sneaked off to the dining room when no one was looking. Luckily, nobody followed her, so she could exhale and… wait, what if someone comes here!? She considered activating a trap, but then again, she didn’t really want to kill someone innocent. But, then again… she needed to defend herself! Although, how would she be able to defend herself when she had to deal with neck tension from sleeping on chairs? And so the decision was made: She would rest well in the bed chamber and deal with all her problems later!

Oh, Gabriel was not scared of no mobs, especially not endermen! But he was kinda intrigued by the idea of just staring at someone the whole night… maybe he should try it for himself? Hopefully Lukas won’t mind if he stared at him for a bit! Lukas sure seemed to be super afraid to sleep in the dark. "You can’t just cover all the windows, it’s the only light source!", they yelled at Stacy. "I can’t sleep without lights on!" Somehow, that did persuade Stacy to not cover up all the windows with books, and Lukas went to sleep, probably very soothed from knowing he won’t have endermen nightmares tonight. He slept through until morning, unlike Gabriel.

Endermen are terrifying, so as soon as night fell, Lukas went to hide in the library and cuddled Dewey to calm his nerves. He was even more terrified when he noticed Stacy trying to cover up all windows with books. "You can’t do that, the windows are our only light sources!", he yelled. "I can’t sleep without lights on!" Somehow, that successfully dissuade Stacy from actually doing it, so Lukas could go to sleep without having to worry about nightmares from those endermen. Yay for him!

Maya liked to act as if she didn’t have any fears, but, to be honest… endermen are super scary! In fact, she was so frightened by them, she couldn’t even move… so she continued to stare outside to the window when everyone else was going to hide somewhere else. When she realized that she was still here, standing in front of the window, she recovered herself and looked around. Oh no, Winslow was here, that’s not good… she should better flee to the attic while she still could! …She thought to herself and headed to the door, but she saw the source of all problem already being in the hallway, waiting to scratch any bypassers. No way she would try to deal with him!

Shudder… endermen are scary, but luckily Stacy had Wink to protect her back. Still, she couldn’t stand to see what was going on outside any longer, so she went somewhere where she could cover the windows with a load of books – the library! Ugh, the nerves of some people. "You can’t just cover all the windows, it’s the only light source!", "I can’t sleep without lights on!" Lukas sure was determined to not let Stacy have some peace, so she tried to keep herself busy brewing potions all night.

☀ Results of Day 2:

Harper thanked the goodness for zero deaths today, then got upset saying Winslow was with her. The grown kitty sneered at her and jumped up on a shelf, where he could watch her undisturbed. Harper considered drawing her stone sword, but revealing that she had a weapon wasn’t worth it for this good-forsaken felinae after all. 😼

Instead, she questioned everyone about their whereabouts. Gabriel and Ellegaard answered, also stating who was with them. Stacy then asked if anyone was with Harper, and Harper confirmed that Maya was with her.

🌒 Results of Night 2:

The kitty didn’t do anything… for now. But will he continue following Harper? Only one way to find out – to the bed chamber! And, look at that, she was alone there… oh, no, nevermind, here comes Maya- Her gladness over Winslow not having followed her quickly faded when she saw Maya’s pumpkin-head. She has been following Harper around it seems, and that could only be a bad sign… or coincidence. Either way, since Harper was pretty tired, she just asked her to not kill her and went to bed. And, to her relief, it turned out to not have been too much to ask for after all!

After the disaster that was the first night, CASSIE was determined to do it better this time around, so she told Winslow to stay put and went back to the living room. Oooh, nice party here! Three traps for three people, she couldn’t have wished for better conditions! Now, she only had to hope that they’ll be good and go to sleep, so CASSIE’s traps could hit… and- they did! Well, one of them, anyway.

Ellegaard wondered if it was a good idea after all to reveal exactly where she had been last night… welp, another problem she would deal with when she crossed that path! For now, though, she figured the best idea was to stay in the entrance hall and observe – no, not the endermen, that was a bad idea. Instead, she stared Winslow into his evil green eyes… and shivered! Looks like he won’t go away! She pondered about how to get away from this fluffy yet deadly little tomcat, but figuring that he won’t let her leave anyway, she concluded that the best thing to do right now was to have a little sleepless slumber party with him. Come here, Winslow! Come huuug!!! She chased after him for the whole night. Darn, he’s fast…!

After the enlightening results from stalking Lukas last night, Gabriel decided to do it again. Maybe if he kept stalking him, he could figure out who he really was! So he followed him to the living room and was surprised to see CASSIE and Stacy there, too. Anyway, back to business! Gabriel sat down and stared into Lukas’s very soul – well, for the first few hours, anyway. Slowly but surely, he had to blink with increasing frequency, and longer, and eventually, he drifted off to sleep… …When he clearly shouldn’t have, as he was awakened not by the first rays of sunlight, but by an heavy anvil dropping right onto his head, squashing him into pieces! Ouch!

Lukas had a good, enderman-free visit to the land of dreams, but as soon as he was awaken by the first rays of sunlight, he remembered why he felt uncomfortable in this world. He nervously awaited the end of the conversations in the entrance hall, and headed to the living room to find several people there too! Even though pumpkin faces surely aren’t as terrifying as those of endermen, Lukas wasn’t exactly glad to have this many people around him, so he snuck away to the hallway and hid there, hugging Dewey and nervously waiting for the sun to rise. Luckily, it eventually did, with nothing happening at all… or so he thought-

Last time, Maya missed her entry and had to bear the consequences – but that would not happen a second time! And because she was pretty tired from last night, she chose the best room to go to: The bed chamber! Oh, of course, Harper had to be there, too… she seemed pretty suspicious of Maya, even asking her ever so kindly to not murder her. …It kinda made Maya feel strong and superior, she liked it! Anyway, she didn’t have any murderous plans for now, so she went to bed and enjoyed the beautifully tender mattress.

Fine, so Stacy guessed that the library was where Lukas wanted to stay, but pillows will probably also do as a window cover, so she went to the living room and – OH C’MON!!! She really didn’t want to have another mindless discussion of "Oh, but I need light!" and "You vampire!", so Stacy skedaddled to the attic instead. Luckily, nobody else was there, so she could save her potion of swiftness, too. And THERE WERE NO WINDOWS! Killing three birds with one stone!!!

Gabriel was hit by a trap and died!

☀ Results of Day 3:

Harper asked everybody around who has got a pet and who hasn’t. Stacy, Ellegaard and CASSIE answered, all three technically honestly – although CASSIE at first claimed to not have a pet, but quickly corrected themself. Harper therefore concluded that Stacy and CASSIE were safe.   Stacy however reminded her that they could be lying. Despite a friendly reminder from the voice from up above that closets don’t lie, nobody used their voting rights. Lukas claimed to have a pet, too, and Stacy vouched for that.

🌓 Results of Night 3:

Welp, three people have claimed to have a pet… and Harper was not one of them. Uh-oh. Anyway, since she couldn’t decide who to put into a closet, she decided to stay extra safe tonight and headed to the attic – and was relieved to note that no one followed her this time! Relieved, she went to sleep. Until next morning…

Ha! Not only did Harper believe CASSIE’s claim even after she quickly rectified it, the guests also didn’t vote anyone into the closet. How gullible they were! With a slight change to her strategy, CASSIE went back to the living room and sent Winslow to stay in the kitchen. And she was alone – which was only for the better! She set off traps in the library, gallery and dining room. And, the next morning…

It’s a bad thing that Ellegaard is among the suspects, but at least she didn’t get stuck into a closet. Well, actually, no one did… which in turn was a bad thing. But she had a plan – if anyone followed her into the bed chamber, she could set off a trap if she didn’t feel comfortable with them. …And oh my, someone did! At first, she was glad about the company, but in the end she didn’t feel safe around someone who cleary wasn’t a pet owner and wouldn’t respond to her, so she fled to the attic. Until next morning…

Okay, this time, Lukas would seek peace in a room where probably nobody would go to, because of the double traps risk – the dining room! But, of course, Stacy was there… and if that wasn’t enough, she immediately went and hugged his cat. Excuse me, Stacy!? – Wink is yelping for attention! Suspicious of Stacy’s behavior, he signaled Dewey to go sleep on her chest and went to sleep himself. Until, suddenly in the middle of the night…

Maya didn’t want to actively admit that she didn’t have a pet – she really hated narrow spaces, and maybe if she didn’t say anything, the others wouldn’t notice she was even there… It actually did seem to have worked, surprisingly. Nobody said anything… so she sneakily followed Ellegaard to the bed chamber, ready to play the silent detective tonight. She will stalk her until she knows her! But when she entered the room, she suddenly had a serious case of absentmindedness and forgot what she wanted to do at all. She spent the whole night trying to remember, until the next morning…

Being well-rested, Stacy figured she would endure the consequences one more time and actively followed Lukas to end up in the dining room with him. It was all for the kitty – yes, Dewey, you’re who she was talking about! Lukas gave her a confused-slightly worried look as she went and hugged his cat – and Wink yelped jealously. He will definitely forgive her, but still – how could she!?! After a good pet, she went to sleep satisfied. Until next morning…

The Last Night

He felt stared at… watched. Lukas suddenly awoke in the middle of the night, panting, as he had a nightmare about endermen chasing and dismantling him. But even the calming essence of Stacy’s dog beneath him wasn’t enough to calm him down… something wasn’t right-

He suddenly felt the urge to turn around and look at the painting of the chicken jockey behind him. It had never scared him as much as in this moment.

And now he knew why.

Where there used to be two empty, black sockets staring at the viewer’s soul, there were suddenly big, red pupils, staring into Lukas’s widened eyes. And then, in the next moment-

He couldn’t see anything, nor hear anything but a beaming sound, nor feel anything but pain as the red dots revealed themselves to be lasers, blinding Lukas and burning his hair, skin and body alive. It was faster than Lukas could even scream.

Wink of course barked as if there was no tomorrow, but the blinding laser light was too bright for Stacy to see. And then, the next morning…  

"Guys, GUYS! Lukas is dead! DEAD-"

"Dead!?"

Harper, Ellegaard and Maya were shocked to hear the news Stacy had told.

"Dead-dead! I heard Wink barking in the middle of the night, there was this bright, red light- I don’t know exactly what happened, but I couldn’t find his drops in the morning, so it must have been a TRAP! All that’s survived is his cat, which I was cuddling this night…", Stacy said and took poor orphan Dewey into her arms. Wink whined sympathetically.

"I can’t believe it… who could do this, and why?! WHY!?, Harper cried. Then, suddenly-

"Oh, c’mon, you know exactly why.", CASSIE said, throwing something shiny in their hand up and down. Actually, it was the Flint & Steel-

"CASSIE!", Stacy screamed, well aware that this could only mean one conclusion. CASSIE must’ve been the one setting off the traps that killed Gabriel and Lukas!

"How could you", she continued, "you soulless monster, you absolute bastard, you never-forgiveable creature-”

"Hey now, listen! When I invited y’all to my mansion, I asked each and everyone of you for the Flint & Steel – completely pacifically, mind you – and no one, not a single person was kind enough to answer a simple question after I’ve just saved y’all from a bunch of endermen. What else should I have done??"

The guests were about to argue back, when suddenly, out of nowhere-

"It’s all my fault", Ellegaard confessed.

"…What?", everyone asked in union.

"It’s my fault those endermen appeared everywhere… I’ll show you how. But first, Cassie, can you crack my pumpkin?"  

"Umm… excuse me?"

"Just do it, please.", Ellegaard asked ever so politely.

Cassie pulled out her diamond axe, slowly approached Ellegaard and awkwardly but gently strikes them right on front.

"Ow – That suffices, thank you…", Ellegaard said as she broke apart the pumpkin pieces and revealed her face – it was Ellegaard!  

"Ellegaard!? What are you doing there-", Maya asked, more than surprised.

"Well, it’s uh, a long story. – But that’s beside the point. I have a little explanation to do. So…", she took a deep breath and revealed what no one had expected.

"So, after years of research and hard work, I have finally managed to craft… this."

She brang out something some of them had never seen before – a real, blinking command block! Everyone gasped at the sight-

"Why’re you all gasping? What is that?", Cassie asked unimpressed.

"It’s a command block", Ellegaard answered. Cassie’s eyes widened.

"But isn’t that-"

"Extremely rare and powerful? Why, yes, it is." She put it on the ground.

"You’re telling me you crafted that!?"  

"I did", Ellegaard proudly responded, quickly followed by a rueful "And that’s the reason why this world is now overflowing with endermen – see, command blocks are forbidden in my world since a certain… incident, so I came to this world, hoping to be able to experiment a bit with it… but it all derailed when I wanted the swamp to end – suddenly, endermen started to spawn everywhere!"

"You set the biome to… the end?", Harper asked surprised. "Well, yeah, I was just trying to – wait… I set the biome to end… to end… to THE end… Oooooh.", Ellie facepalmed herself as the realization sank in. "Now I know what’s going on! Those endermen started spawning because they think it’s their home land!"

"Just set it to the plains or something. Can’t be too hard if you already done it once, right?", Harper suggested.

"Oh my, yes of course- how did I not think of that! Thank you so much!!", Ellegaard said and started typing into the command block.

But before she could finish, Cassie spoke again.

"Enough talking. I’m leaving!"

"Stop right there! We’re still gonna take revenge for Lukas!!", Stacy yelled and ran to grab her arm.

"Let – go – or do I have to resort to more murder!?", Cassie shouted, but Stacy didn’t let go.

"We’ll see who has the upper hand!", Stacy yelled and threw a light blue potion onto Dewey and Wink – was that… a potion of swiftness?

"Wink, Dewey, go and GET HER!"

With that, the two family-friendly pets turned into killing machines and jumped onto Cassie.

"AhhHHHH- Winslow, WINSLOW!", Cassie screamed as she fell onto the floor, dropping her axe and covering her face with her arms.

As called, Winslow appeared – and with him, about one thousand of loudly meowing calico cats. They jumped down from shelves, windows, cabinets – THEY WERE EVERYWHERE! 😼 😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼

"AHHH! SO MANY EYES! THEY’RE EATING MY SOUL-", Maya freaked out.

"Wink! Dewey! Hang on there-", Stacy wheezed, grabbed Cassie’s diamond axe and swallowed another potion of swiftness. Then, she tried to lift the heavy axe and release it onto Cassie, but Winslow and the thousand other kittys punced onto her, oppressing her by pure weight.

"OWW-", Sea screamed as they all extended their claws and scratched her good. This caused Wink and Dewey to let Cassie be and instead try to help Stacy, but the felinae were too many-

"Good thing I still have THIS-", Cassie said and revealed a bow and arrows, shooting down Harper, Ellegaard and Maya, who where just standing there, watching in terror. Then, she set a big fire in front of them and whistled her cat back.

"Winslow, come here, we’re going home tonight!"

Winslow and the other cats quickly followed, gracefully jumping over the green flames that circumvented Stacy and the others.

"Bye, suckers!"

And with that, the whole mansion and everything burned down. Meanwhile, the sun outside was shining again and endermen started to disappear, like they would on a normal plains biome.

And what happened to the command block, which was inflammable? Well, Cassie didn’t care.

CASSIE has won the game! 👥

[chloegami]

stand and face me (chloe/kagami one shot! fwb mutual pining type gig)

  AO3 link

 “Do you want to come over tonight?” Asks Chloé, leaning against the car like it’s her’s and not her dad’s and also chauffeur-driven. Even though it’s a question, and a very fucking loaded one at that, she phrases it like she’s asking Kagami for nothing more than a gal-pal sleepover.

  Kagami sighs, adjusting her fencing bag. “Sure.” She gives Adrien the slip, saying Chloé’s going to drop her off home instead. The boy just says he’s glad the two of them are friends now then smiles widely, which Kagami echoes, because Adrien is so perfectly, blissfully, eternally oblivious. It’s why she finally picked up and moved on from him. It wasn’t her job to teach him how to notice her flirting.

  Chloé picked it up much quicker, and was much more reciprocative.

  The car ride is silent. It usually is. Sometimes, when they’re tipsy from a party, Chloé will pull up the partition and they’ll hardcore make out instead. It shrouds the back seat in awkwardness and an emotion Kagami refuses to pin down as yearning.

  They refrain from touching as they walk through le Grand Paris’ crowded lobby and hallway. Kagami’s pretty sure the entirety of the hotel staff have figured out what Chloé gets up to with her new friend, but that doesn’t mean Mayor Bourgeois, who surpasses Agreste in terms of total lack of situational awareness, needs to know why his daughter still hasn’t gotten a boyfriend.

  As Chloé shuts the door, it’s like a veil lifts. Kagami likes to tuck things neatly away in nice, clean, compartmentalised boxes and whatever it is she has with Chloé is the same. Once that doors closed, and until that unseen fog of pretend falls back on the two of them, Kagami is allowed to indulge in Chloé without feeling bad or having to think too hard about it.

  Kagami shoves Chloé against the wall, receives Chloé’s hard kiss eagerly, and lets herself melt into her.

  The fog falls, and Kagami wonders whether it was a smart or stupid idea to pretend to be asleep so she wouldn’t have to ask Chloé whether she should move to the sofa.

  They have rules, unspoken as they are. They kiss, because kissing’s great, but only once the metaphorical (though usually literal) door closes. They never stay over at Kagami’s, but Kagami can stay over at Chloé’s when Audrey’s not visiting. None of their friends can know, except Marinette figured it out, but she also knows Kagami doesn’t like to talk about it so there’s no worry of ever having to acknowledge anything.

  They do not speak about whatever arrangement they’ve created. Not ever. They ask whether the other is free, they ask whether they want to come over, but never any details. They don’t discuss what it is, or what it means, or what it entails, or what responsibilities they have now.

  That’s don’t need to talk. From the first moment, when Chloé had laced her fingers in Kagami’s and leant in, there had never been words. They just knew. They knew what they liked, they knew what they wanted, they knew.

  Or, Kagami likes to think she knows. It’s easier that way.

  It’s easier than obsessing over every word, easier than worrying how much she’ll spill just by opening her mouth, easier than having to confront feelings and confront Chloé.

  She wonders if Chloé thinks the same.

  She knows she doesn’t.

  She likes the think she knows she doesn’t.

  She falls asleep, tossing and turning and hoping the bed is large enough that she won’t end up clinging to Chloé during the night.

  “Put that down. It’s disgusting.” Chloé leans over her balcony, thin ribbons of smoke curling into the air from her cigarette. Chloé rolls her eyes. “Who are you, my mother?” She scoffs, but Kagami notes she doesn’t put it back into her mouth. She’s glad, even though she doubts she’ll be kissing her again anytime soon. It’s a dangerous time, two hours past midnight. A part of her wonders what woke Chloé up. A part of her aches to ask.

  But the bigger part of her, the one that recognises how thin the thread their relationship hangs from is already, and that if she doesn’t want it to snap she should keep her mouth shut.

  Paris is beautiful. The Eiffel Tower, kitschy as it is, glows with such brightness and she’d be lying if she said she wouldn’t be content to sit at the balcony and just stare out over the city till she falls asleep. Kagami misses Tokyo and she doubts she’ll ever truly feel at home in France, but Paris has its beauty.

  But maybe it’s the little things that make her think that. Maybe it’s all those outings to the Eiffel Tower with her friends, maybe it’s the stupid parties they throw that makes the city glow for her, maybe it’s Chloé that makes her want--

  “Are you going to Alya’s thing tomorrow? Or today, whatever time it is. You know what I mean.”

  “Yes, I’m going.”

  Chloé takes an edged breath. “Do you want to come over tomorrow night? After the party.”

  “I can’t.” She doesn’t bother softening her voice. Maybe she should. It’s easier not to. “Okaa-sama’s only letting me go if I get home before ten.” She’s already saying too much. The thread threatens to snap.

  Chloé shrugs. “Whatever. I’m going to bed.” She flicks her cigarette off the balcony with a sharp finality. Kagami might chastise her. It might make Chloé stay outside with her.

  She doesn’t.

  The bed is wide enough that Kagami would have to stretch her arm out to reach Chloé, and even then she might just wake up to it empty.

  She’s thankful her mother’s gotten more lax about her having friends, though she wishes it hadn’t taken an akuma to teach her that maybe her daughter should be allowed to have a social life. She likes parties, contrary to what people think. She’s not much of a drinker, never quite fell into the casual drinking of Parisians or teenagers. It varies amongst her new friends.

  The Designated Sober Friends are Marinette, because she really is the mother of the group; Adrien, because his dad forbids all fun; Luka, because he’s the only one with a driver’s license and Juleka, because Rose is such a lightweight she needs constant supervision. Everyone else drinks to some capacity. Alya and Nino are prone to drunken karaoke, Alix and Kim spend most of the night competing in drinking contests (which Max supervises, even though he gets just as plastered as them) and Ivan and Mylene are affectionate drunks, forming into one really hug-y creature until Alix loses it and shoves them into a closet so they can have some peace.

  Kagami drinks so she feels less guilty about wanting Chloé. If she’d drunk when she stares at her, she can blame it on the alcohol and not consider any sort of introspection.

  Chloé drinks, though Kagami doesn’t let herself speculate why. That falls to close into admitting she cares about her.

  They’ve fallen into that portion of the evening when languidness takes hold. The air hangs thick, mainly with the smell of nicked vodka and beer. They’re half-watching some teen drama Rose squeals about, and everyone’s fitted nicely into some niche. Marc paints Nathaniel’s nails, Marinette pretends she's not stealing glances at Adrien, Juleka’s smiling at Rose as she tells everyone to keep watching because the third season’s gay, and Chloé lays in Kagami’s lap.

  Chloé likes to be cherished, and Kagami likes Chloé, so of course she indulges her.

  Chloé has soft hair and it’s fucking infuriating. It’s so feathery and luscious and it makes Kagami insane with longing. Every time she’s in its general vicinity she wants to comb her fingers through it, and what's worse is Chloé loves it when people ravish her and practically melts in Kagami’s hands whenever Kagami shoves aside her rationality and lets Chloé lay in her lap so she can stroke her golden locks and pretend she isn’t imagining what it would be like to do that as a girlfr--

  “I need to throw up. Kagami, you’re holding my hair back.” Chloé’s bluntness used to shock her, the cultural clash hitting her like a ton of bricks, but it very, very quickly became one of Kagami’s favourite things about her.

  She follows her into Alya’s bathroom, and has to suppress a yell when Chloé closes the door by pushing her against it.

  “Since you can’t come by tonight,” is all Chloé says by way of explanation. “But keep quiet and be fast, this house is so fucking small--” and Kagami cuts her off.

  If she tugs Chloé’s hair in the middle of it all, and watches Chloe’s pupils dilate as she tries to stay silent, then no one can really blame her for tucking that away for future consideration.

  “We should go back,” she says, every word harder and harder to say. Chloé pouts, but shrugs. She doesn’t let go though, and the thread pulls ever thin. “Do I look like I threw up?”

  She looks beautiful.

  “Sure. Splash water on your face.” Chloé doesn’t. She stays where she is, with their legs laced together. Chloé watches her curiously, flushed, in a way Kagami can’t interpret and doesn’t want to try. Her companion breaks out from her reverie and gives her a kiss, so lightning-fast Kagami doesn’t have time to react. And then she’s up like that was nothing.

  Affection for the sake of it isn’t something they do. Kagami’s lips burn.

  “Come on. Adrien will have figured it out if we stay here any longer.”

  He doesn’t, but Kagami’s pretty sure Juleka gives them a once-over. Chloé notices it too, Kagami’s sure of it, but it doesn’t stop her from putting her head back in Kagami’s lap. If Kagami were to die like this, her hands in Chloé’s hair, she’s not sure she’d be too upset at that.

  “I can’t come over,” she says, because she doesn’t know what else to say. They’re waiting outside Alya’s, both for their respective rides, since Nora came home early and kicked everyone out.

  “I know,” Chloé replies, “You said.” Her voice is harder than usual, and it doesn’t sound like it’s from the vodka.

  “Or the next three weeks. We’re going back to Tokyo for a little.”

  Chloé is silent, until she isn’t.

  “You should have told me.”

  It comes out like a stammer, which is something so alien to Chloé that it nearly knocks Kagami back. She doesn’t know how to reply. Apologise? That assumes Chloé is missing something with her leaving. Offer to skype? That establishes there’s something.

  She’s saved by Chloé’s car pulling up. Or she’s not, because Chloé pulls her in for the longest kiss they’ve ever had, and it’s soft and sweet and Kagami’s world is crashing down and she doesn’t even care, because Chloé Bourgeois is kissing her like nothing else in the world matters.

  And then it’s over, and then, like a fucking idiot, Kagami pulls her back in and kisses her till she’s sure her mother will comment on her lateness. Then she drops her hands from Chloé’s waist and stalks off, because she’s a fucking idiot.

  Kagami shoves her stupidity to the back of her head, and enjoys home. Paris has nothing on seeing her grandparents and cousins and fencing practice in Ueno Park and seeing the fireworks at Sumidagawa, but Paris has Chloé and that’s more than enough for her to be thoroughly ready to swim her way back to Europe.

  They get back, swimming unnecessary, but Kagami restrains herself from immediately hopping a cab and driving her way to the hotel and climbing the balcony like she’s some poor lovesick fool in a Shakespearean tragedy. She imagines Chloé would push her off if she tried.

  So she goes about her week like normal, not thinking about honey-blonde hair or her fingers through it, not snippy remarks or the pink lips that say them, not of blue eyes and bee combs and goddamn Chloé Fucking Bourgeois.

  It’s after fencing class she finally sees her. Kagami had probably gone a little hard on her peers today, and so she’s panting and distracted as she walks out of the school, only to be practically barrelled into by a flash of blonde hair. She registers arms around her, registers the smell of Chloé’s perfume, registers that Chloé’s now kissing her--

  Adrien makes a noise between a squeal and a whoop, which brings Kagami and Chloé back to Earth. Adrien blushes. “Oh...um...I’ll...I suppose Chloé’ll drop you off?”

  Chloé glares. “And why do you suppose that?” She doesn’t stammer, but she sounds a lot on edge. She tosses her hair behind her hair. “Ridiculous.” And then she’s gone, not wasting another look on Kagami.

  Kagami would leave, but Adrien’s her ride home. They step into the Agreste car, because the Gorilla waits for him outside fencing class because who knows what nutcase might come by and try to abduct him. Adrien coughs, breaking the awkward silence. “So...are you and Chloé together? I feel a bit dumb now.”

  “You are dumb. We’re not together.”

  “O-oh. Okay. Um, sorry?”

  She was sorry too.

  Chloé didn’t bring it up, didn’t treat her any different. They slipped into a closet at Alix’s party, met up at Chloé’s on Kagami’s free day, went back to the hotel like usual after fencing, and not once during any of those did Chloé hint at the incident.

  Kagami wasn’t sure if she wanted her to or not. She wondered if she should.

  They sat at the balcony, one past midnight this time. Chloé had lit a cigarette, but Kagami chastised her and she only holds it. They sat in silence, until they didn’t.

  “Do you ever want to come out to your mother?”

  It was so out of left field Kagami had no choice but to be honest. “Yes. But I won’t.”

  “Me neither.”

  “Your mum’s in town?”

  “Yeah. Came by last Monday.” Kagami pretended she wasn’t counting back the days. It would have been during her trip away.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Chloé shrugged. “Whatever.” She tapped her cigarette on the railing, pausing to watch the ash fall. “Do you want to go out tomorrow? We can see a movie together.”

  They didn’t do things together, besides the obvious. It was only in groups. Doing things like this was too close to a date, and Kagami would never in a million years have suggested that. The thread was frayed enough as is, and she wouldn’t risk it for anything.

  “I have a tournament tomorrow.” It wasn’t a lie, but it felt like one.

  Chloé shrugged again. “Whatever.”

  She lost the tournament. It was tied, and her opponent won by priority.

  Her mother didn’t come, which means Kagami has to call her. She stares down at the contact. Tsurugi Tomoe, Okaa-sama . She can feel her eyes prickling with tears. She can already see the disappointment practically radiating off her mother.

  “Hey,” calls a voice from behind her. “Kagami, hi.”

  “Chloé.”

  “Are you...are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I watched the tournament. Adrien wanted me to go. I’m...I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “You did really good.”

  “I lost. My mother will think I’m a failure.” Kagami doesn’t know what makes her say that out loud. Stupidity, probably. Delirium.

  “Then your mother’s an idiot,” says Chloé, her voice so firm Kagami believes her. “I watched the whole thing, it was totally unfair. if your mother had actually been here she’d know that.” Kagami hadn’t realised Chloé knew fencing, and she tells her as much.

  Chloé laughs. “Yeah, I picked it up after watching Adrien. You don’t really know much about me though, do you?”

  That was unexpected. Kagami shrugs. “Do you know much about me?”

  Chloé is quiet a few moments. “I know what matters,” she says finally. Kagami can feel her cheeks redden. If Chloé notices, she doesn’t show it. “Look, I know you’re an amazing fencer. Don’t worry about what your mother thinks, she’s not you and if she can’t see who you really are then who gives a shit?”

  Kagami wishes she had Chloé’s total confidence in herself, but something about Chloé makes her feel just a little like everything will be okay. She wants to reach out and thank her, but vulnerability is not her strong suit.

  Chloé turns back to her so suddenly Kagami jumps a little. “I’m getting a milkshake. Wanna come with?”

  “What?”

  Kagami thinks she sees Chloé’s smile falter, but it’s probably wishful thinking. “Do you want to come or not? Christ.” Chloé kicks at the ground. “Screw your mum. She’s gonna be mad either way, right? Why not have some fun first?

  That’s the stupidest logic she’s ever heard.

  But then again, Kagami’s well and truly whipped.

  She nods as nonchalantly as she can manage. Can you nod nonchalantly? She hops her nod doesn’t convey how much she’s freaking out over how beautiful and adorable Chloé is. “Sure, why not?”

  It’s less awkward than Kagami freaked out that it would be. They’re friends already, they talk at parties, but a social gathering with a gang of friends is different to sitting across from the girl you definitely aren’t head over heels for, so close you’re touching knees which shouldn’t be that crazy because Lord knows how many times you’ve seen her naked but it’s different somehow, so different.

  A good different.

  A great different.

  Kagami was worried she wouldn’t know what to say. She still hadn’t got the hang of friendship and social interaction. She cringes at how she acted around Marinette at first and she’s gotten better, but she’s still barely halfway there.

  She needn’t worry, because Chloé talks enough for both of them three times over. She can make a complaint out of anything and back it up with ten arguments and have you just as convinced of it as her, from the intensity of the fashion industry to whether pain au chocolate or chocolatine is a better name. Kagami listens to everything, because she’s getting better at that and because she’d listen to anything Chloé says.

   Yin and yang, she thinks and then suppresses, because she’s pretty sure Chloé would laugh at her for how cheesy it is and because that’s dangerous thinking.

  Not that all of this isn’t dangerous. She’s still not sure how she’s supposed to be addressing this. Is she supposed to ignore their rendezvous? Is this an escalation of them? Is this just another one, with less handsiness?

  She does talk a little, when Chloé asks her about fencing and her mother. Chloé listens too, which surprises Kagami. When Kagami had first started hanging out with Adrien and Marinette’s friends, Adrien had warned her that Chloé could be prickly and was rather set in her ways, and even Marinette, who was the epitome of goodness and kindness, had said that though Chloé was much better than she used to be, she could still be quite aggressively assertive.

  Chloé was confident and commanding, but Kagami had never found her to be aggressive or prickly. She had been prepared to hate her. Marinette had told her a little of how Chloé used to treat her and it broke Kagami’s heart but Chloé was nothing like she’d expected.

  As she watched Chloé lazily blow bubbles into her strawberry milkshake, golden hair practically glowing in the afternoon sun, Kagami thought now was as good a time as ever to admit she was madly in love with her.    

  They walk down the Champs-Élysées together, with Kagami dopily listening to Chloé complain about American consumerism and the influx of annoying tourists, and it’s something that might be romantic if Kagami were naive enough to think Chloé might like her back.

  She tells her mother when she gets home, who grounds her for three weeks and forbids her to speak to her friends.

  The days are agony. And not just because of Chloé, Kagami does in fact have a life outside of her. She can’t see Marinette. She can’t go to Juleka’s birthday party. Her mother accompanies her to her fencing lesson, scrutinises the entire time and makes it clear in no uncertain terms that if she talks to Adrien she’ll be punished.

  By the second week, she’s done.

  She’s fresh out of a lecture from her mother about how much of an awful influence her friends are and how dare Kagami sully the Tsurugi name and the moment they can they’re leaving this godawful country and frankly, Kagami’s such a mess of anger, tears and boredom she’s the perfect target for doing through with a really dumb idea.

  She watches the window. She could do it, it’s not like her mother’s cruel enough to put bars up.

  She can’t go to the Dupain-Chengs’, because Marinette’s really weird about people going over to her house unannounced, especially at night, and Tomoe took Kagami’s phone. Going over to Adrien’s would be a death sentence, both because her mother would kill her for embarrassing them in front of Gabriel Agreste and she’s pretty sure the Gorilla wouldn’t appreciate someone trying to sneak into the Agreste mansion. Everyone else is crossed off by virtue of them only really being friends via Adrien and Marinette.

  Which leaves one person. One person who she really fucking wants to see.

  But by God would it snap the thread.

  That stupid fucking thread that does nothing but stop her from doing what she wants, no better than her mother, and put in place by her own damn self.

  It’s possible she’s being dramatic, but it’s easy to be dramatic when you’re scaling down your building in nightwear and a coat at 11:00pm on a Monday night.

   This is a stupid idea, she repeats to herself as she tracks her way through the streets to the Grande Paris. She gets a few looks but most Parisians have been desensitised to oddities, and a teenager frantically bolting from the 16th arrondissement to the 8th in a jinbei is hardly the weirdest thing they’ve seen.

  It really is the dumbest thing she’s ever done, but somehow, in the twenty minutes or so it takes to run to the hotel, not once does Kagami think of turning back. She does wonder, though, if it is cowardice or courage.

  She doesn’t run through the doors, because the doorman is very nice and she doesn’t want to upset him, but she does start running when she gets to the hallways.

  She halts when she reaches Chloé’s. She knocks before she can start regretting her decisions.

  “Mother please, just leave me...oh my God, Kagami?” She cuts her off by falling into her arms and embracing her.

  “I needed to see you,” she breathes, by way of explanation. Chloé hugs her back.

  “I’m glad. I...I missed you.” She pulls back, leaving Kagami cold. “Did you run all the way from your house?”

  “Yes,” she says, because she’s never been one for lying. Denying the truth, certainly, but never lying.

  Chloé barks an uncertain laugh, before pulling her back in. “That was a stupid idea. Your mother’s going to kill you if she finds out.” She only holds her tighter though. “Thank you.” She whispers, so quietly Kagami can’t be sure whether she imagined it.

  Chloé finally pulls back, her face flushed. Kagami can’t pin why. “Come on, you should shower. I’m not kissing you when you’re like this.”

  She lays content in the afterglow and doesn’t notice Chloé watching her until she turns to soak in her last image of her before Tomoe grounds her for the rest of her life. She paints her ocean eyes, her rose blush, her shell lips.

  She’s being dramatic, but it’s easy to be dramatic when you’ve run half an hour to your hook up’s hotel because you’re madly in love with her because you’re a dumb bisexual who can’t just sit tight for three weeks until you see her again.

  “I should go home,” she mumbled into the pillow, not wanting to ever leave. She wants to hold onto Chloé’s hand and grasp it and never let go.

  So she does. She reaches out and laces her fingers through Chloé’s.

  She waits for Chloé to pull back, to laugh, to sneer.

  She only gives her a reassuring squeeze.

  “Stay a little longer.” Her voice shakes, and Kagami remembers with guilt that Chloé too has her own problems, that she doesn’t just materialise into existence every so often. She wonders what had happened earlier to have made her say what she said about her mother when she opened her door. Kagami wants nothing more than to make Chloé feel confident again.

  She pulls Chloé’s hand to her lips and kisses her, and hopes it conveys more than her words could.

  It apparently doesn’t, because Chloé sits up and pulls away as quick as lightning. “I can’t do this.”

  Her heart sinks.

  “Oh.”

  Chloé must notice her crestfallen expression, which only makes her wince. She can’t even keep her stupid emotions to herself.

  “No, no,” Chloé croaks, rubbing her eyes. “I just...I don’t know what any of this means, and I can’t do this if it doesn’t mean what I want it to.”

  “Oh?”

  Chloé groans, flopping back down. She turns to Kagami, expression unreadable. “Why did you come by tonight?”

  “Because I love you.”

  Kagami is not one for lying.

  She does reconsider this when Chloé’s eyes go wide.

  “I just...I just mean…” But that is what she means, and there is no other way she could phrase it.

  Chloé makes a joyful babbling noise as she moves to straddle Kagami and hold her bewildered face in a soft hands, kissing her frantically all over her, her forehead, her temple, her cheeks, her jaw, her nose, her lips.

  Kagami understands why Chloé likes to be ravished.

  She pulls away, but only to ask, “How did you not already know I was in love with you? All I do is stare at you.”

  “Adrien told me I needed to stop assuming things of people.” Chloé’s voice is serious, but soon she snorts. “And anyway, like you’re any better than me. How many times did I kiss you in public? And when I straight up asked you on a date?”

   Oh. Chloé laughs at the utter astonishment that must be Kagami’s face.

  Chloé smiles down at her. “So. Girlfriends?”

  Kagami laughs at the bluntness. She loves that about her. “Yeah. Girlfriends.” She furrows her brow. “But if Tomoe wakes up and I’m not there she’ll probably...what is it? Rapunzel me. Put me in a tower, never let me out.”

  Chloé’s laugh could light up the world. “I’d save you. Knight in shining armour.”

  “Knight in a striped unitard, antennae and a spinning top.”

  “Don’t diss my miraculous! It’s a great outfit, philistine.” Chloe pauses. "You know, you're the only person I know who noticed I started smoking and told me I should stop."

  Kagami kisses her. "Well, I'm telling you again to stop. It's gross, you'll ruin your lungs."

  "Already the nagging wife, huh?" Chloe laughs between kisses.

  She sneaks back home and Tomoe wakes none the wiser, though Kagami still has a week and a half of her punishment to go.

  Sneaking out to make out with her new girlfriend does make it alright, if she does say so herself.

(title is a sappho quote! “stand and face me, my love, and scatter the grace in your eyes.")

[sassyduckqueen]

30 Days of Lukanette - Mermaid (1/3)

This is it. The beginning of the end. Get your tissues, hold on and get ready for this ride because this is how it's gonna go down. Party Crasher, Felix and Songbird are all happening after these Cat Blanc events. To work with the themes, I have rearranged them again! This is now the order that they will be in: Mermaid, Soulmates (Cat Blanc!!), Reincarnation, Witches & Cats (Felix), Songbird and finally Vigilante (Party Crasher? Maybe? Seriously, trying to think how to do this one without Master Fu). Like my version of Loveater and Miracle Queen, this next three chapters will all be set one after the other. Good luck.

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"Hey, Marinette! Hey, Luka!" Kim grinned as he waved over at them. Luka waved back as Marinette grinned before she grabbed his hand and rushed over. "Didn't think you two were into swimming?"

 "We're not so much but the pool can be really fun and relaxing," Luka smiled as Marinette nodded.

 "Yeah. I'm not very good at swimming but I've improved since I took up lessons," She smiled. Luka looked at her.

 "I could always show you two how to swim!" Kim grinned proudly. "I've got a spare time til Ondine turns up. She's my girlfriend and swimming partner! She's so fun and super cool! Hey, why don't you two join us after swimming? We're gonna grab food afterwards!"

 "We wouldn't want to intrude," Marinette gasped as Luka nodded.

 "You wouldn't be!" He grinned, proudly. "Here she is now! I'll ask her! Hey! Ondine!"

 "Hey, Kim," She gasped as she ran over. "Are you ready for tonight? I was able to get us a table at Bouillon Chartier for tonight,"

 "Amazing! Hey are you cool if my friends Luka and Marinette joined us?" He asked, making her frown.

 "I don't know if we'll be able to change the table to accommodate for four people and I was hoping it would just be us two...." She mumbled, looking down. 

 "Hey! Don't worry about us two!" Luka grinned as Marinette nodded.

 "Yeah! You two go have fun and enjoy yourselves!" She grinned, causing Ondine to smile.

 "Oh thank you," She gasped before grabbing Kim's hand and diving into the pool. Luka and Marinette both smiled before sitting at the pool edge and relaxing. Luka looked up at the celing and smiled to himself.

 "You ok?"

 "Yeah. Just remembering the last time we were here. Hey, will we get ice cream after this?" He asked, grinning. She laughed softly.

 "If you want," She smiled as he looked at her. She blushed lightly as her eyes landed on his lips before she blushed and looked away. "Um..."

 "Mari," He stated, sweetly, causing her to look at him again before he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. She blushed heavily as she wasn't expecting it.

 "W-what was that for?"

 "A thank you... my life has improved so much since you came into it... I'm even thinking about rejoining school..." He admitted, making her raise an eyebrow.

 "Why did you leave in the first place?" She asked. He sighed softly, knowing she would ask eventually. "You don't have to tell-"

 "I was getting bullied," He admitted, causing her to be a little surprised. "Both me and Juleka were. She got it worst then me. It's why she is the way she is now. All shy and scared. She found a solution to stop it. She made herself invisible but it's like she can't stop... but me... in a way, I got the worst of it. I got beaten up on a daily basic and called every name under the sun. When I tried to tell the teachers, the kids responsible made me look like I was lying and emotionally blackmailed me. They often used Juleka as a way to hurt me even more. They threatened to hurt her if I told anyone. Because I was a child, I believed them. That's why I took a dislike to Lila. She reminded me of the bullies I had to face when I went to school,"

 "I'm so sorry that happened, Luka," Marinette gasped. She had seen him hurt and depressed but the only word she could describe the way he looked was right now was broken.

 "It got worst as the years when by. As you know I was diagnosed with depression at 10 years old. Well, my school didn't believe me or my mum despite the medical records and when my bullies found it, it just made everything worst. Anyway, after three years, I finally broke. My mum had just gone through a divorce with my dad and the bullies thought they could try and use it to hurt me more then they already did but it didn't work out for them. I ended up just completely lashing out. I broke one of their noses and put the ringleader in hospital with broken ribs. I didn't mean to kick him that hard but I just had enough and all the times he had shoved me in a locker or punched me in the face.... they just flooded my mine and I kept kicking him before I finally stopped and suffered a full blown panic attack..." Luka mumbled as he looked down. "I know I should have been the bigger person... but they said it was my fault that my dad had left... that he couldn't stand having a son like me..."

 "Luka..." Marinette sighed as she hugged him. He hugged back before he pulled away.

 "I was expelled from that school and when it came to finding a new one, I begged my mum not to let me go and to home school me instead..." He sighed. "She promised to if I promised to learn how to control my anger and depression. Hence why I meditate,"

 "Oh, Luka," Marinette gasped, taking his hands and looking at him with a look of pure admiration. "You're amazing and brave. It's no wonder why Master Fu chose you,"

 "Marinette..." He felt touched by her words but as usual, he wasn't sure how to say so. So he wrapped his arms around her and brought her into a hug, which she happily returned. He nuzzled his face in her neck as she placed her cheek against his shoulder. "Thank you,"

 "For what?"

 "Everything..." 

 "Luka..." She mumbled before they both heard shouting. They separated and looked over as Ondine looked heartbroken at Kim.

 "You forgot!" She gasped. "It's our one year anniversary and you forgot!"

 "I'm really sorry, Ondine. I've had a lot on my mind," Kim gasped as she ran into the girl's locker room in tears. Kim sighed as Marinette and Luka got up and walked over. "Oh, hey... I take it you heard that..."

 "Yeah..." Luka mumbled as Marinette frowned.

 "I'm gonna go check on her," She stated before heading inside the girl's locker room. Luka looked over at Kim.

 "What happened?"

 "I'm an idiot. That's what happened. I completely forgot today was the one year anniversary of our relationship. She had gone to all this trouble to get a table at one of the fancies restrantants in Paris and even got me a sighed swimming cap and I forgot. I asked what the cap was for and she told me. I thought she was joking at first so I was like no way and she was like yes, it is and then I had to admit I forgot..." Kim sighed. Luka gently placed his hand on his shoulder and smiled. 

 "I'm sure you two can work it out," He stated as Marinette rushed out the girl's locker room. As soon as she did, the level of the pool began to rise. "That's not good,"

 "Kim, get to the roof now!" Marinette ordered. Kim didn't need telling twice as he legged it out of the room. Marinette grabbed Luka's hand but the water suddeny washed over them, seperating them. Luka panicked as he looked around for her before swimming his way to the top. He swam across towards the boys' locker room before taking a deep breathe and diving underneath. He swam over to his locker and noticed it was already open and his bag was gone. He swam up and out of the room before looking around.

 "Sass?" He gasped before swimming over to the fire exit. He dived back under and swam through the now open door. He noticed his shoe floating and grabbed it before swimming towards the roof. He finally caught up with where the water was rising and saw his other shoe. He picked it up as he got out of the water and ran up. "Sass?!"

 "Luka?" He heard the little snake gasp. He rushed over and saw Sass trying to get his bag to the dry part with Tikki, who had Marinette's bag. "As soon as the water appeared, I grabbed Tikki and headed this way. Sorry, I dropped your shoes,"

 "It's fine," Luka gasped, grabbing his bag and taking out the power up cakes.

 "Luka, where's-" Tikki hiccuped red bubbles but he knew what she meant. He gently patted the little Kwami.

 "I'm gonna go find her. Get to the roof top ok?" He smiled softly before He took out the green one and threw it to Sass. "Sass, power up!"

 "Aqua Sass!" The little snake declared as he transformed.

 "Aqua Sass! Scales Slither!" Luka declared before transforming into Aqua Viperion. He dived into the water as Tikki floated to the roof and swam back into the pool area. He looked around for Marinette before noticing her float near the bottom of the pool. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't moving. He swam over to her and grabbed her around the waist before swimming as fast as he could to the rooftop. He broke the surface and swam over to the doorway before laying her down on the floor. Tikki gasped as she saw them and floated over. Marinette was completely still and she wasn't breathing. She seemed to have a cut on the side of her head. Panic rose in him but he took a deep breath, calming himself before he pressed against her chest softly before he pinched her nose and took a deep breathe before placing his mouth over hers and pushed the breathe into her. She suddenly gasped, causing him to pull away before she coughed up water.

 "Marinette!" He gasped, moving her hair as she coughed and looked at him. 

 "You're ok," She gasped, hugging him. He hugged back. "Ondine got reakumatized. She can-"

 She coughed before shaking her head.

 "Go find her before she hurts someone else. I'll catch up in a moment," She declared. He frowned but nodded before getting back up and diving into the water. He swam around.

 "I didn't think snakes could swim," The familiar voice of Ondine made him turn around. Only she looked more like a mermaid now.

 "Well, there are such thing as water snakes," He grinned. "So a little fish told me you're upset about your boyfriend forgetting your on-"

 "Shut up!" She screamed before diving at him. He dodged at her.

 "Look, I get it-"

 "He doesn't care!" She screamed. "He forgot!"

 "People have a lot of things going on their lives that can make them forget the important things but I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose. I'm sure he loves you,"

 "What do you know about love?!" She screamed, trying to hit him with her tail. 

 "A lot more then you'd think," He replied as Ladybug and Cat joined him. He swam over to them. "Think we'll need a rest point, Aquabug?"

 "Should be fine, Viper,"

 "Do I get a cute nickname too?" Cat purred, making him laugh.

 "Sure, Catfish," He grinned before three of them charged at the mermaid. Despite her been in her element, it didn't take them long to defeat her. With the help of a lucky charm in the form of a fishing net, they captured her and freed her akuma before Ladybug used the miraculous bugs to restore everything back to normal. With Paris no longer submerged, Luka detransformed on the roof, away from prying eyes and ran back down into the swimming pool, where Kim and Ondine were making up. He rushed over as he saw Marinette and hugged her. Even though, he had saved her and fought by her side in the water, seeing her unconscious at the bottom of the pool still freaked him out. for one thing, it reminded him she was a normal human but it also made him think about his dreams. She hugged him back and rested her head against his chest. "You really scared me,"

 "I'm sorry, Luka. I didn't expect that wave to happen," She mumbled, looking up at him before whispering. "Thank you for saving me,"

 "I told you I will always have your back," He smiled softly, looking at her deep in the eyes. A blush came across her face as she looked back. All she could see in his eyes was a look of true love. He really loved her and was willing to protect her. She smiled softly as she moved closer to him.

 "Thank you," She smiled. "I have your back too,"

 He smiled and wrapped his arm around her small frame as Kim and Ondine walked over. 

 "Are you two ok now?"

 "Y-yeah," Ondine replied.

 "I'm taking her out tomorrow night to make up for it," Kim smiled. "But I'm really sorry we interrupted your date,"

 "Date?" Marinette gasped. "O-oh... we're not on a d-date? We're j-just hanging out...."

 Luka frowned but he didn't fail to notice the small, sad look Marinette put aside as she mumbled something.

 "You're not a couple?" Ondine asked. "Kim and I thought you were. We're so sorry,"

 "It's fine. Me and Marinette... are taking it kind of slow..." Luka smiled softly before looking at her with soft eyes. "I'd wait for an eternity for her,"

 "Luka..." Marinette gasped, blushing.

 "Well, I think you make a cute couple!" Ondine gasped, making Marinette blush more. "We're better go anyway! Again, sorry for the trouble!"

 "Bye!" Marinette waved along with Luka before turning around and facing him once there were alone. "You're really ok with taking this all slow?"

 "Of course," He smiled softly.

 "But... what if-"

 "Marinette, your happiness is the most important thing to me," He smiled softly, looking at her. "You know how I feel about you but I don't expect you to love me back. I've said before and I'll say it again. That choice belongs to you. I won't lie because I would love for you to be my girlfriend but if you chose not to be, I will never hate you for it. I promise you here and now that I will always respect your choice regardless of how it affects me and that I will always value you as a person and a friend and if you decide I'm the one for you then I will try my best to make you happy but if you decide I'm not then that's cool too,"

 "Thank you, Luka," She smiled, hugging him. "I like taking it slow with you. I like getting to know you,"

 "I like getting to know you too," He smiled softly. "Shall we get changed and go get some ice cream?"

 "Sounds good to me,"

 ~The Next Day~

 "We were happy," Cat stated as he walked over. His eyes were cold and blue. "I was happy..."

 "Cat.... please... tell me what happened!" Ladybug gasped as she stared at him with Ryuko was ready to attack if she had to but Bunnyx was no where to be seen. Viperion, on the other hand, was looking around. The whole of Paris had been flooded. Everything was submerged, apart from the building they were stood on now. He looked around and frowned to himself as he saw the moon in the sky. Only it was partly destroyed. "

 'That's what caused the flood,' He thought to himself as he turned his attention back to Cat, who was looking down.

 "I made a mistake and I lost it all but now you're here, I can fix it," He mumbled before looking at her. "Just give me your miraculous, Mi'lady and I can fix all of this! No more hawkmoth! No more pain! Just me and you together forever!"

 Viperion instantly moved in front of Ladybug as Cat looked at her with an insane and almost hungry look. Ladybug looked absolutely broken and Ryuko looked mad but not as angry as Cat looked right now.

 "You're always getting in my way!" He snarled. "You slithered into our team and stole mi'lady from right beneath my nose!"

 "I never stole her because she was never yours to begin with or mine!" He shouted back. "Ladybug is her own person! Her choices are hers! Not ours!"

 "Shut up!" He screamed before flying a white ball at Viperion, only for Ladybug to push him out the way and get hit by it. Viperion screamed as he tried to catch her, only to see her cold, dead eyes before she turned into stone. "Mi'lady!! Look at what you've done!"

 Viperion didn't say a thing as he held her. Tears rolled down his face as his bracelet beeped. He looked up as Ryuko dives at him, only to be turned to stone too. Cat keeps walking towards him as he seemed determined to hurt him. Bunnyx suddenly dives out of a burrow but Cat is too fast for her and pretty soon, she joins Ladybug and Ryuko.

 "Look at what you've done!" Cat snarled. "I had a chance to fix it and now they're all dead! Everyone is dead because of you!"

 "No... I didn't do this! Cat, listen to me! Hawkm-"

 "Hawkmoth is dead!" He snarled as Viperion detransformed into Luka. For a minute, Cat seemed shocked but then he narrows his steel blue eyes and a deep growl comes from his throat. He doesn't try to destroy him. Instead, he just smirks and the bright light forms again....

 Luka woke up in a cold sweat as he came back from his nightmare. It seemed to have gone into more detail then the last time. He felt like every time he had one, it was bringing him closer and closer to the event that caused this. He wasn't sure what it was but it must have been bad for him to be getting these dreams. He got up and headed to the bathroom. He splashed his face with water and shakily looked in the mirror. He looked tired and drained. He sighed and dried his face before heading back to his room. He paced up and down it's length as Sass watched him.

 "Luka?"

 "I'm trying to think," He mumbled. "What could possible have caused Cat to turn into that... thing? It must of been something devastating to him because the cat I know. He would not end up like that. Hawkmoth must of done something... and the moon... it was split in half, Sass... god, this is so bad... and I don't know what to do. Why am I having these dreams?!"

 "You are sensitive and a good match for me," 

 "I wish I wasn't right now. I just... She dies.. Marinette dies! They all die and I don't think it's just my friends... Sass, the moon controls the ocean and Paris was completely submerged in water so what happened to the rest of the world?! Is everyone dead? Oh, god... Juleka... Mum.... Rose... all the friends I've made! They're all gonna-gonna... d-die..." Luka felt his breathing hitch as he started to realize that everyone he ever loved would be dead. He gripped his chest as he started to hyperventilate. Sass floated over and gently placed his hand on his shoulder.

 "Breathe, Luka. Copy me," He stated in a calm voice. "Breathe in!"

 He inhaled and Luka copied.

 "Breath out!" He released the breathe. Luka did the same. "In!"

 They took another deep breathe.

 "And Out!" They released that breathe together, repeating the action til Luka could breathe again. He sank down into his floor as he finally let the tears roll down his face. The despair he felt knowing that everyone would die, that Cat would be driven mad to the point of destroying the earth and feeling hopeless to save it. It was almost too much but Luka knew he had to calm down. If he didn't, an akuma could come for him and that was the last thing he wanted to happen. Especially with it been Adrien's birthday today. He had been very surprised when he had gotten an invite to his party. All the celebrities were going but apparently, Adrien had convinced his father to let some of his friends go and he apparently considered Luka a friend, even though they didn't hang out that often. However, he did like Adrien and didn't want him to have a bad birthday so he decided to go. it helped that Marinette would be there, along with their other friends. He kept taking deep breathes before finally calming down. "You good?"

 "I'm good, Sass," He smiled softly. "Thank you,"

 The little snake hugged himself against Luka's cheek.

 "Good. I don't want you to be akumatized," He smiled before sitting on his knee. Luka patted his head softly. 

 "Me Neither, Sass,"

[sasuhinasno1fan]

Dates can be an escape to freedom- Lukadrien June Day 6

I’ve been rewatching a lot of Degrassi and I’ve always really like Eclaire. This is also a cannon divergant, mama Agreste is alive and well, maybe a bit sick from the Peacock Miraculous and Gabriel is still HawkMoth. Marinette and Adrien are still Ladybug and Chat Noir but they know each other identies and have gotten over their former crushes for each other. @lukadrien-june Freedom

Adrien glanced over to his mother, who stood staring at the street next to Gorilla almost snarling at anyone he thought was a problem. To anyone looking, they would see his mother just staring calmly at the street as more cars pulled up to drop families off for the Mineur César Awards, awards given out across schools for best films produced by students. But even from where he stood he could see the pursed lips, narrowed his, deep breathing to keep from blowing up. His parents had been fighting and all the extra hours at the fashion house and not with his family, even after making his only son model for it on top of his heavy schedule, was getting to his mother The house they lived in was huge but it still couldn’t stop him from listening to them argue over how mother felt like they didn’t matter to his father when it came to fashion.

When Adrien found out Nino’s film, which he’d acted in, was up for nomination, he told his parents, hoping the night as a family would cool any tensions and maybe make them talk. But of course, his father was late, his mother was mad and all he wanted was for the night to end so he could go on his date.

Yeah, date.

During filming, Juleka, their makeup artist and classmate, wanted to try different looks on him to match the costume Marinette made, so she invited him to her house. Well, boat house to be more accurate, but still. While there he met Luka, Juleka’s older brother. He’d gotten lost when coming back from the bathroom and walked in to find this older blue haired musician strumming on his guitar. He smiled at Adrien, as in his embarrassment, rambled on how he was looking for Juleka’s room.

“Juls’ room is next door. Look for the rainbow sticker Rose put on the door one day. You know, Juls’ said you were much nicer than she imagined a model to be, but she never said how cute you are when you ramble.”

As a model, Adrien had been complimented a lot, he was immune to it. But hearing it from Luka, he felt his face get hot. He felt oversensitive to the idea that Luka was close by and he collapsed to his friends, begging for help.

Alya was smiling like a fox when Adrien was done. “Someone’s got a crush.” she sing songed.

“No I don’t. I just met the guy.”

“Adrien, remember when I had the biggest crush on you?” Marinette asked.

“Um, kinda?” he had been oblivious to it until Marinette confessed.

“How you just talked about him, I’d talk about you.” Alya nodded in agreement. “Look, if you do like him, than maybe it’ll help you figure out if you’re bi or not, like you’ve been questioning. Just, unlike how I did it, maybe get to know him a bit better instead of just going for mostly looks?”

So he did. He’d join him when the filming group would take a break and jam out – which later formed the band Kitty Section for which he did keys – , talk when they had the chance, he even helped tutor Luka in physics. During that time, he got to know Luka better. He loved music, especially Jagged Stone’s, he was a pretty amazing ice skater, he could play the emotions he heard in people’s hearts. The first time he’d done that to Adrien, he’d dealt the the backlash of his parent’s arguing when his mother harshly snapped at him on her way to work. Adrien was expecting a pat on the back and told to suck it up, but Luka sat and listened as Adrien ranted and when it was over and he was near tears, Luka opened his arms for a hug. Luka gave great hugs.

“Have you ever considered talking to your parents about what you've been going through because of their arguing? I know they wouldn’t like seeing you like this.”

“I’ve tried but they keep saying everything is ok.”

“Well music is what I usually use in place of words and you said your parents taught you the piano right? Maybe you could write a song and play it for them, if you can’t talk.”

it had been good advice. Getting them both when free had been hard but Nathalie was a huge help. It had worked for a while, his parents talking, but then it down spiraled again. He didn’t even think about it then, he just went to the boat house and sat in Luka’s room.

“I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.”

“You’re not. If the boat house is your escape to freedom, then door is always open.” Luka put his hand on Adrien’s. “I’m here if you need it.”

When filming was over and turned in, they had a cast party at the park near Marinette’s family patisserie and he talked to Luka about how much he appreciated being there for him.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” Adrien had said.

The usually calm looking Luka looked shy as he said the next words. “How about a date?” his shyness was overtaken by nervousness when Adrien hadn’t responded. “Unless I read the signs wrong?”

“No! No, you didn’t. I would love to go. Um, I know you’re going on that trip to London though, with your school and I have, practically everything else. When you get back?”

“Sure.”

His usually after-school activities took quite a lot of his time, but the two were able to survive with calls and texts and messages through Juleka. When Luka scored tickets to a private premier to Jagged Stone’s new album, that was going to be there date, after the awards. But his mom shut that down real quick, saying she and her father had something they needed to tell him. He didn’t want to guess, mostly cause he didn’t want it to be true. All he wanted was to escape into freedom with Luka before everything he knew went crashing down around him.

                                                  ______________

“And I like to thank my parents for instilling a love of theatre in me at such a young age, thank you.” Adrien drown, the model persona he’d usually throw on in front of a large crowd of mostly strangers absent.

His father was late, just arriving as the awards began. But with him he had a huge bouquet of flowers for Adrien as a congratulations, even though he hadn’t won anything yet.

“An Agreste never fails at what he does.” his father said.

“Except show up on time.” his mother snapped back.

The two were arguing around him until he snapped himself and told them to stop. When his category was called, Best Male Lead, he was filled with nerves, so when they called his name, he was elated. He heard his friends cheering for him but when he realised his parents were too busy being mad at each other to even clap for him. He might of stomped up the stairs like a child but he felt like it was allowed.

With his award in hand, he went backstage, needing a moment before he went back out to deal with his parents when he heard someone clapping for him.

“Luka.”

“Quite the speech, if not a bit monotone. I can hear your heart, sad and angry. Even tonight?” he asked, referring to Adrien’s parents.

“Even tonight.”

“Well at least we have our date to distract you. oh.” he said, seeing the look on Adrien’s face. “they said no?”

Adrien was going to say yes, but then he realised something. With the way his parents were acting, he felt like he couldn’t breath and he knew what was coming. Just for a little while, he needed to be free.

“Why should they get to ruin my night? Will it be ok if I use our date to escape?”

“I offer you the freedom you deserve, even if for only a night.” Luka said, outstretching his hand, which Adrien took.

The blonde model pulled him across the stage, darting behind the announcer and no doubt exposing them to his parents, but he could care less. When he was around Luka, he felt like anything was possible, like he could breath. Like he was free.

They arrived at the secret party in the more party area of Paris but inside because of the small crowd, things were going well. Penny greeted him, whispering that she wouldn’t say anything to his dad and steering them away from the alcohol.

“I hate really hard stuff anyway. Most I do is wine and that’s at high function evens. With my parent’s permission.” Adrien said as he stood next to Luka as they ordered sodas at the bar.

“Lightweight, inharited from my mom. Drinks plus rocking boat doesn’t make for a good time.” Luka joked.

“Thanks again for bringing me here. I’m having a good time.”

“And our night is barely starting. Who knows what waits for us?”

the rest of the night was the best. They danced to the heavy rock music and he saw Luka fanboy a little when Jagged Stone came over and talked to them. Adrien’s parents tried calling him and the only reason the French version of the SWAT team didn’t come descending to find him was because Adrien put on the counter app Max made to block his location.

After the party, Luka took him to his favourite all night cafe.

“Did they hurt?” Adrien had been asking about Luka’s piercings, staring at them as he pushed Luka’s hair away from his ear.

“A bit. I want to get an auricle piercing next. It’s kinda halfway down your ear shell. Luka traced as Adrien moved his hand but moved just a but closer to him.

“Maybe I’ll get a matching one.”

“Badge of teenage rebellion?”

“More like badge of freedom. I have a feeling my parent’s might lock me away when I get home. This was completely worth it though.”

“Maybe I’ll have to find a way to sneak into your room.”

Adrien let out a laugh, fingers playing with the ring on his finger. “I think I’d actually have better success than you on that front.”

Luka took Adrien’s hands into his. “Think I can convince you to breath free air a bit longer? If not, I’ll walk you home myself. Unless the fighting would be worse.”

“Well at least they’d both be mad at me when it comes to that, but I think I can, in exchange for something. Juleka says that PDA is banned in your school? Something about a really horrible principal and an untimed hit from an Akuma?”

Luka looked interested in what Adrien was saying. “Your heart is singing a mischievous song. What are you planning?”

“I stay out a bit longer in exchange for some contraband kissing?” Adrien had never kissed anyone, well not really, but he wanted to kiss Luka, bad.

“I’m astonished at you. I never break the rules. Then again, where’s the fun in that though?”

Adrien couldn’t help the smile that came to his face when Luka kissed him. He might have to kiss his freedom goodbye when he got back home but for a moment like this, it was totally worth it.

[rowan-catsandcoffee]

Mine & Yours | Amon

Fandom: Ikemen Revolution Pairing: Amon Jabberwock x MC Word Count: 1718 Notes: Kabedon, it was started out as starting a makeout scene and devolved into this... not as steamy as I had first planned but I like it Written for: @ikemen-discord-writers Request: Something Steamy with Amon by Anon

MC chuckled as she left Fenrir in his room.  She had dropped off a plate heaped to almost tipping with all of his favorites.  He just refused to partake in the Halloween party.  Apparently the amount of guests who decided to dress up as ghosts were getting to him.  So he deemed it better for him to turn in for the night, though he didn’t want to miss out on all of Luka’s goodies.

Through the windows MC could see the open court yard full of people having fun, doing various traditional party games, dancing, and their usual horsing around.  The party was for the Black Army, guests, and whomever wanted to come from the Black Army territory.  Many people had invited their own significant others, family, and friends.  There was only one person that MC invited.  She had been seeing him around lately.

The man who introduced himself as AJ was tall, scrawny, short tempered, but had such lovely long silver hair and strong brown eyes that made her feel like he remembered every single move she made.  Even if that move was to jab him and reprimand him for suddenly raising his voice and acting like he was entitled to whatever.  Some days were better than others, but he was always able to control himself after she reminded him that he couldn’t just bark orders at her.  He had been doing it less lately and she thought maybe if he made more friends he would be better.  However she hadn’t seen him yet.

For her costume MC had chosen a more fairy like theme, a pale dress that puffed out slightly, a mask that was pearly white that lead into some silver accessories in her hair that Seth had to help her with.  She had wings that spread out to the sides of her, making it a little harder to get around than she’d like.  But judging by how speechless it left some members of the Black army and how much Seth cried seeing her in it, she thought it must have looked lovely on her.  She had hoped to get his response tonight, but-

MC sighed and resigned herself in returning to the party, knowing he wasn’t going to be there, however as she turned another corridor she found herself staring at the back of a man who had long silver hair pulled back in a ponytail.  His outfit had black pants, and an ornate blue suit jacket.  She could see black horns curving and sticking up and probably attached to his mask that he held up with a handle.

“AJ?”  Her footsteps hurried to catch up with him, he spun around with a slight snarl on his face which immediately relaxed when he saw her.

“Alice!  There you are.  I was looking for-“  He moved his mask and looked her up and down a little, “what are you wearing?”

Not exactly the response she was looking for, “it’s it lovely?”

“You’re a very lovely…. Moth.”

“I’m supposed to be a fairy, what about you?”  She pointed at the black mask which now looked like a skull with bull horns coming out of it.

“I modeled it after some stories that I got about the Land of Reason.  I thought you would like it.”  He said as matter of fact unable to see the blush that crept along her cheeks as she considered that he wanted to impress her as much as she wanted to impress him.

“Well, I like it.”

“I’m glad.” He smiled and took a step towards MC which she was surprised that she took a step back instantly.  A nervous flutter in her chest warned her of something.  “Alice…. Come here.”  He murmured in a way that made her insides tighten, and she felt pulled towards him.  His smile widened as she got closer until she stood just outside of arms reach.

“I’m glad you could make it, have you been here long?”

“I just got here,” he glanced out the window, “good to see the party is in full swing.   I was surprised when you weren’t waiting for me and went looking for you.”

“Oh, sorry I was bringing food to Fenrir, he doesn’t really like all of this.”

“I see, so he’s nearby?”

“Just down the hallway.”  MC turned to look in the direction she just came from, being startled as AJ grabbed her wrist and started leading her in the opposite direction.  “AJ?”

“Where is a good place for us to talk?  I don’t want to run the risk of being interrupted.”  He was looking at every room they passed, his grip tightening.  MC stepped toward and intertwined her fingers with his.  He turned to gape at her as she winked and started pulling him.

“This way.”  It wasn’t a long way to the common room.  With everyone out enjoying festivities it was a ghost town, sorry Fenrir.  “Alright, we should be good in here.”

“I’m glad.”  He stepped close to her, and she kept retreating until she felt the thud of her back hitting the wall, and trying to twist and move only caused her wings to scrap against it and complain.  AJ’s slammed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her.

“Alice.” His eyes glinted as he struggled to keep from smiling, “I l-like you.  I would like for you to come with me to my home.  I’d like to introduce you to my family.”

“Oh AJ, I- umm…”  She blushed, gently setting on hand on his arm, pulling on it a little to try and free herself. “I-I like you too, and I’d love to meet your family.  When would be a good time for us to-“

“Tonight, you will come with me tonight.”

“The party isn’t over yet, by the time we head out it would be really late.  So-”

“You don’t seem to be understanding me.”  He stepped closer, finally moving one arm so he could tip her chin up, his body pressed against her as his lips claimed hers.  He nibbled on her bottom lip in between exploring her mouth with his own.  His tongue snaking in and inviting hers to join him, his hand wrapped around her neck gently to keep her from going anywhere at first.  But then assisted him in holding her as his mouth went to tease and nip at her quickening pulse along her neck.  “You will be coming back with me now, and we will be together.”  His voice was husky, and dripped with a desire that echoed in herself.  But-

“No.  I-I won’t.  I will come with you another time to meet them but- this isn’t a good time for me to just disappear with you.”

“I thought you liked me.”  He snarled.

MC stared hard at him.  Pushing him away was relatively easy, and he snarled as she did so.  “I do like you.  But I don’t like you when you’re like this.  I am not going anywhere with you.”

“’No’?”  The chill in his voice sent a shiver through her, her heart back to racing in her neck, though not all that unpleasantly.  She faced him, straightening her back and placing her hands on her hips.

“No.”  She dared him to argue.  She was getting ready to shout him down when she was startled by his laughter.  It was loud and sounded a touch mad, it took a moment for him to stop, but MC got to see the relaxed look on his face as he laughed, the twinkle in his eyes.  It was a joyous look although it was accompanied by a villainous chortle.

“Alice, Alice, my sweet Alice.  It would’ve been better if you came with me night, but-“ He approached her, wiping the tears from his eye.  Taking her hand he swept down low and placed a kiss upon the back of her hand, he squeezed it and smiled up at her.  “I will be patient a little longer.  But only a little.”

“We can just plan another time for me to come over.  Or you could bring your family here!”  MC offered.

AJ shook his head, “no, if we planned it in advance I have a feeling you would get chaperoned and to be honest,” he shot her his lopsided grin, “I do not like sharing you with them.  Or anyone for that matter.”  He brought her hand to his cheek, turning his head he kissed and nipped at her wrist.  “You’re mine.”  Her heart skipped a beat.

“You shouldn’t be saying things like that so freely.  We only just said we liked each other.”

“And I kissed you, and you kissed me.  Alice, say you’re mine, I don’t think I’ll rest at all until I hear you say it.  Tell me that you’re mine.”

“AJ…”  At that point she was sure she was red from head to toe.  “Isn’t that a bit too fast-“

“Not when we only have a little time together, let me enjoy each moment with you, say it.”

She sighed, smiling to herself.  “Alright, if you’ll do the same.”

“What?”  He stilled, his hold on her hand loosening.  He stood up straight, staring at her.

“Say you’re mine too.”  She chuckled at his confusion.  It was only fair if it was both ways.  Slowly AJ stood up, his face a stony mask as his eyes sought her, all of her, as if he was taking in everything that she was, it made her want to hold her breath and wonder about what he was looking for.  Finally he brought her hand up to his chest, and held it there.

“Is that what you really want?”  He asked seriously.  Was there a custom in Cradle that she wasn’t aware of?  Was this more serious than she was thinking it was?

“Yes?”

“Then…”  Tenderly his other hand caressed her cheek.  “I swear to you MC, that I am yours as long as you are mine.”  For some reason she found her eyes starting to tear up as she smiled at him.

“And I am yours, as long as you are mine.”  Echoing those words seemed to be the magic words to get him to relax.

AJ leaned forward, and MC could feel the ghost sensation of his lips on hers.  “Sealed with a kiss.”

[ladybub]

Thanks for the 6,000 followers!!

As promised, I said I’d write a fic for the Overboard AU. 

Here’s the first chapter!

Overboard (2424 words) by Ladybub Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir/Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Alya Césaire/Nino Lahiffe

Characters: Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Sabine Cheng, Tom Dupain, Chloé Bourgeois, Alya Césaire, Nino Lahiffe, Lila Rossi, Gabriel Agreste | Papillon | Hawk Moth, Nathalie Sancoeur

Additional Tags: Overboard AU, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - No Miraculous, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst, Fluff, Fake Marriage, I have literally got nothing planned, i am winging this, most likely smut

Summary:

Overboard AU. Marinette Dupain-Cheng hasn’t had the best of luck in her life, not only has her husband Luka passed away tragically three years ago, she’s one failed test away from losing her scholarship, and also already lost her job at the cafe. With three children to take care of, she doesn’t have the time to dawdle and needs to find another job, or a miracle, stat! Meanwhile, on his own personal yacht, Adrien Agreste - the heir to the Gabriel fashion line - hasn’t a care in the world and women on his arms at all times. He’s living the life of a Bachelor with no problems whatsoever, other than the hangovers he gets the morning after. However both their luck changes after a chance meeting, and when the son of the rich designer has an accident which causes him to lose his memory…

Marinette was a bit down on her luck lately.

She had just lost her job at the café just across the road from her University. It was perfect and convenient but unfortunately it seems she dropped one too many cups of coffee, and the boss couldn't ignore it any more. She couldn't really hold it against them; they didn't end on bad terms, and whilst her boss was very apologetic about letting her go, they had no other choice.

Every now and again she found some commission work by making dresses, and helping out the bakery, but those jobs were so far and few in-between. She also couldn't impose on them by moving out of her apartment and back home, not with Hugo, Emma and Louis - her parent's home wasn't big enough for all of them. No, she'd have to simply find another job. Fast.

Another job that could work around her University schedule and give her time to drop off/pick up the kids from school.

God, this was going to be impossible.

Suddenly, Marinette was dragged out of her thoughts when her phone started ringing. She quickly fished it off the counter and balanced it on her ear, "Hey maman." Oh, please have good news...She thought. "What's up?"

"Hi honey," Her mother's voice came out, "We just got in a last minute catering order, and was wondering if you were free on tomorrow night to help out as one of our servers, and also to bring back the equipment the morning after. Of course, we'd be more than happy to have the kids over for the night."

Marinette felt a small relief, she'd take any little bit she could take. "Yes, that'd be great maman, thank you. You have no idea how much I needed it," She took a deep breath, "I might have... lost the job at the café."

"Oh, Marinette..." Sabine murmured sympathetically, "How are you going for rent? You know if you need to borrow any money-"

"No, no, no! It's fine! I have some money saved that will get us through the month and I'm sure I'll find a new job in no time!" Marinette lied, she didn't actually have any money saved up, but she couldn't let her mother know; she'd already borrowed hundreds off her parents already, she didn't want to ask for a cent more. She plastered a too-big grin on her face - and since her mother couldn't see her, it was mostly to convince herself.

Sabine sighed on the other side of the line, "Alright, but you let your father and I know if you need anything, and we'll be sure to call you when catering events come up."

"Thank you, maman."

"You're welcome anytime, of course, dear. Tell the kids goodnight for me."

"Will do, goodnight!"

"Goodnight, sweetie."

Marinette shuffled the phone down from her shoulder and onto the counter, continuing on the soup she was cooking. She dipped a spoon in and tasted, happy with the flavours. "Hugo, Emma, Louis! Dinner is ready!" She quickly prepped the table, moving around the mess that sat on top so that there was room for all four of the bowls.

The patter of children running into the dining room was broken only by the collective moans they made when they saw what was put onto the table. "Dumpling soup again?" The eldest boy, Hugo, cried out. "But we've had it for the last two nights!"

"And now, we'll have it again just one more night." Marinette said, and began serving the soup into the bowls. "I promise tomorrow we'll have something else but for now, Maman needs to study extra hard tonight since tomorrow she'll be serving for your Grandma and Grandpa, and you know what that means..." She reached over the kids to grab some of the textbooks that lay in the pile of other things she pushed aside on the table.

"Sleepover at Nan and Pop's!" Louis shouted excitedly, accidentally flinging a dumpling on the floor. Marinette quickly scooped it up and gave him one of the dumplings from her dinner, all without taking her eyes off her textbooks.

"Mhmmm, that's right." Marinette hummed, taking a sip of her soup and highlighting some areas that she felt she'd need to remember. She looked up and booped Emma on the nose, and then pointedly looked at all of them, "Now, promise you'll behave or I'll let Grandma know that you'd love dumpling soup again tomorrow."

"We promise!" They all shouted in unison, their mouths filled with food.

The morning after, on a bed of thousand thread sheets and down pillows, a blonde groaned and scratched his head, further mussing up the glistening hair but somehow, not ruining it at all. It was way too early, but slowly as the blinds on his windows automatically rolled up, it wasn't long before the sun was shining right in his face. He grumbled as he lifted his head, squinting as he glowered outside to the stunning skyline along the Seine river. What happened last night? Last he remembered was having a line of shots out on the back of his new yacht, a surprisingly generous birthday present from his father.

"Nathalie!" The blonde's husky voice called out, before clearing his throat and following with a much clearer and louder; "Nathalie! Please, I'm dying here."

Heels clicked on the polished wooden floor before stopping at the entranceway to the young man's room. "Yes, Adrien, I have already brought you some aspirin and water, it's right next to your bed." She sighed and looked away as Adrien shifted, the sheets no longer hiding his tan and muscular frame, as he reached for the glass.

"Thank you, Nathalie, but right now what I really need," he dropped the pill in the glass, waiting as it began to fizz before taking a large gulp, "is a Vodka Sunrise right now. Oh wait, no, make that two, could you get them for me?" He gave her a droopy toast with the glass with a smug smile on his face.

Nathalie took a deep breath, bringing out her phone and tapping on it a few times, "Today, your father wants you to get dressed by eleven, he has a few investors coming in to discuss some important last minute details for the Spring Gala in April, and you are to to join them for lunch which is scheduled at twelve."

Two more sets of heels came in behind Nathalie, showing two beautiful girls in their bikinis, only a sheer shawl covering their shoulders. They completely ignored Nathalie as they walked up to Adrien's bed.

"Adrikiiiins!" The blonde cooed at him, and wrapping her long tanned arms around his neck, "Come and join us in the jacuzzi, Felix found a lovely bottle of chardonnay that may or may not have come from his father's personal collection." She tugged on his arms as the brunette next to her was rubbing his shoulders sensually.

"On second thought, Nathalie, no need to bring me anything, I've found a couple tall drinks all on my own..." He purred, letting the girls pull him up from his bed. He picked up a pair of swim trunks with a golden Gabriel logo emblazoned right across the ass. "Come on, Chloe, Lila, we should go now before Nathalie can get the Gorilla to drag me to a boring meeting with my father. After all," he slipped on the trunks with feline gracefulness, "I think we'd have a lot more fun emptying that jacuzzi and filling it with jelly, what do you think?"

Nathalie furrowed her brow, "Adrien, your father won't be happy if you skip another meeting, he has high expecta-"

Adrien's face turned sour, "I know, he always has 'high expectations' of me as his son, just like I had 'high expectations' of him as a father. Maybe when my expectations are met, then we can negotiate. In the meantime..." He wrapped his arms around Chloe and Lila, who took no time in draping themselves on him. "Tell him that I'm indisposed, if you have to, but either way," He squeezed the girls and gave Nathalie a cheeky smile, "I've got important things to do."

"Adrien..." Nathalie reached out for Adrien but he brushed her off and kept walking.

"I told you, I have important things to do."

As the three waltzed past Nathalie, she couldn't help but feel for Adrien. She would have never predicted the sweet boy she knew years ago would turn out like this. It seems that as the years went on, the distance between Adrien and Gabriel only grew further and further. When Adrien couldn't win his father's love with being the perfect son - graduating top of his class in lycée, being the star of the most prestigious fencing academy, along with becoming the face of the Gabriel fashion - he turned into getting his father's attention another way. He started partying more and shirking his duties with the company, spending his father's money on expensive and materialistic things that he used to have no interest in before.

But she knew there was nothing she could do to help, not unless Gabriel pulled his head out of his work to see that he's losing the only family he has left.

So she quickly wrote up a text to Gabriel, letting him know the situation, before leaving the Agreste estate.

"Hey girl!"

Marinette looked up from her coffee, to see her best friend waving at her from down the sidewalk, "Hey, Alya!" They both reached out, hugging each other tightly, and then kissed each other's cheeks, "Thank you for coming out with me, on such late notice, to go resume dropping of all things!"

Alya smacked her arm lately, "I'll take what I can get, outside of work, it's impossible to get your nose out of those book and fabrics." They looped their arms together as they made their way towards the first café, restaurant or shop Marinette wanted to stop at. "How's University treating you this semester? I know a big test and assignment is coming up soon, are you getting enough time to study?"

Marinette sighed, the sound exhausted, "The only good thing coming from losing my job has been the extra time to practice and work on my final project piece. But I can't afford that extra time, I need to get a new job or we'll get evicted - Emma had the flu last week which meant I already took time off to take care of her, I don't have the rent for this month, and I can't ask my parents; they've already leant me so much and I can't take any more from them." She straightened her back, "If all else fails, I'll just," her voice cracked a little, "I'll quit the course, find any job I can get regardless of what it is and just, pick University back up when I can afford the time off."

Alya's heart panged when she saw the tears beginning to spring into her friend's eyes, "No, honey, if you get evicted you and the kids can move in with me and Nino for a little while, at least until you can get another job and afford your own place again." When she saw Marinette open her mouth to protest, she squeezed her arm and gave her a warning look, then went on, "You'll get through this, trust me. You're Marinette Dupain-Cheng, you'll pass your exams with flying colours and you'll be amazing."

Marinette smiled at Alya, "What did I do to deserve you?"

Alya gave her a wicked grin, "I didn't say it'd be free, I want a chocolate éclair every Monday, freshly made from your parent's bakery - I'll accept no other kind!"

"I'm sure I can manage that." They both giggled together, Marinette feeling warm with gratitude.

After the laughs subsided, Alya looked at Marinette with a glint to her eye, "So anyway, you would never guess who Nino ran into the other day." Alya began, "Nathaniel! You know, from Collège?"

"Yeah, I remember..." Marinette had a sneaking suspicion on where this was leading.

"They ended up having a couple drinks that night and caught up a little, Nino said that he was staying in Paris for the forseeable future, and also that apparently Nath asked about you!" Alya grinned excitedly, nudging Marinette a few times in the side.

"Alya! Not this again."

Alya simply ignored her, "We both know he had the cutest crush on you in school before he moved away, and Nino said he absolutely kicked puberty in the face like, whoa!" She whistled, "Nino originally was thinking he'd make a good third, but I told him that we should let you two have a date or two first before passing out any invitations." She gave a wink, "but just think, if he's just as sweet as he was in High School, he'd be a real catch."

Marinette flushed a little at the idea, she couldn't lie that she felt lonely. But she shook those feelings away. "You know I don't have time right now for dating," Marinette pointed out, and went on. "Besides, I doubt anyone would want to. No one wants a widow with three kids." She felt her entire body sink, she accepted her reality a long time ago. Luka, her late husband, was her entire world. She just felt like she would never be able to love someone like she loved him, and she didn't want to be introducing man after man into her kids lives, right now they needed stability.

"Shut up, don't you dare talk about my friend that way." Alya's voice was firm, but full of love, "I told you already, you're an amazing, talented, smart, capable woman and a beautiful, loving mother. Any guy would be lucky to be in your good graces." She added with a soft voice, "Luka would want you to be happy, and to be able to move on and find love again."

Marinette nodded, a weak smile on her lips, "How do you just," She shrugged her shoulders helplessly, "know exactly what it is I need to hear all the time?"

"Because I love you." Alya stated, stopping to give her friend a hug. She held onto Marinette's shoulders, "Now. Less dallying, more resume dropping." She pointed to a quaint cafe just on the corner of the road, "Let's get you a new job before the day is over, hm?"

"If only I was that lucky." Marinette laughed.

Notes:

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter for my Overboard AU! I hope that it's not too boring, please please please let me know what you think? I haven't written a fic since I was 14 and that was a really cringey self-insert for Fruits Basket. (Don't ask, trust me.)

I have no clue how many chapters this is going to be, it could be 5, it could be 20, it'll probably be like, 3. I guess it depends on how much you guys like it, since I feel so nervous about posting.

[quickspinner]

Second Chance - Ch 2 Second Chance at a First Date

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8

“Luka, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go,” Marinette pouted when the chauffeur helped her into the car next to him. “I asked you out, I should have planned the date.”

“I know,” he grinned. “But this way we have a chance of keeping at least this one date out of the tabloids.”

“I hardly ever see you in the tabloids,” Marinette remarked. “Why is that?”

Luka chuckled. “One of my friends from lycée works for a legitimate entertainment magazine, so I make sure all the news goes to him first and that heads off some of it, but honestly, for a rock star, I’m boring. Juleka and I wanted to retain as much control as possible over our brand, so I work a lot. I don’t drink or party, I don’t date all that much. I’m not really hard to find because I eat at the same places and work out at the same gym every day, so mostly they show up and take a few invasive pictures and then get bored and leave. I don’t get mobbed at the door everywhere I go unless there’s an album release or something big like that. The last time the tabloids really cared about me was when I was dating Clara.”

Marinette gasped. “That’s right, I forgot you dated Clara Nightingale!”

Luka ran a self-conscious hand through his hair. “Yeah, I can’t actually believe I had to guts to hit on her in the first place, but we were on the same tour and she’s so sweet, I’d developed this massive crush on her, and when you’ve been up for thirty-seven hours straight a lot of stupid things get said.” He blushed a bit at the memory, putting a hand to his forehead. “Man, I was so awkward, but she was really nice about it. She was even sweet when she dumped me, although I think we had both realized by then that neither of us were invested enough in the relationship to overcome the challenges once the tour was over. It’s bad enough trying to date with my schedule but you add hers into the mix and it was—” He shook his head. “We parted on good terms and we still keep in touch when we’re both in town, despite what the gossip rags tried to make it. When I didn’t spiral into drunken despair, they moved on pretty quick. Way more profitable to follow someone like Jagged who makes a scene everywhere he goes, or someone like XY that people love to hate.”   

“How inconsiderate of you not to go on a bender and be found in a ditch on the side of the road,” Marinette giggled.

“Very. I’m terrible for magazine sales.” Luka took her hand. “Anyway, I figured if we used the car service and went to a restaurant with a covered entrance we’d squeak by without ending up in the papers. I can’t guarantee that, though.” 

“I figured,” Marinette shrugged. “I kinda got used to it while I was with Adrien. I’ll get used to it again if I have to.” 

There were thrilling implications there he didn’t want to think about too hard just yet. “You look beautiful. Is that one of yours?”

“Thank you. It’s actually not,” Marinette admitted, looking down at her dress. “One of my friends made it for me a few months ago as part of a trade. It’s lovely, though, isn’t it? He did a great job. He’s going to be huge once his line debuts next summer, I’m sure of it.”

Luka smiled. “And when does your line debut?”

“Oh,” Marinette sighed, and made a face. “That’s kind of the hard thing about coming off of this internship. I’ve had two years where everything was sort of laid out and planned for me, and now I have to figure out what the next step is on my own. Although before even that, I have to put together a mini show and presentation for the awards committee to demonstrate what I’ve taken away from the experience. There will be a lot of really important people in the industry, I’m hoping to make an impression and see what opportunities develop from there.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.”

“It is,” Marinette shrugged, “But it’s worth it, and I’m certainly not lacking for inspiration material. I’ll get it done.”

“And you still made time to go out with me.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “I’m flattered.”

Marinette smiled at him. “Prioritizing is definitely something I’ve gotten better at while I was away.” She laced her fingers through his and darted a glance up through her lashes that hit him like a punch to the gut. “I missed you a lot while I was gone, Luka. I’m not about to miss you while we’re both right here.”

“Well,” he said, hoping his sudden inability to breathe wasn’t too obvious, “We’re in total agreement on that one.”

Luka was relieved that he managed to make it to their table without tripping over himself (Marinette wasn’t so lucky, but that was normal for her, and he was there to catch her). He rubbed his hand on his knee as he sat down, reassuring himself that he was in fact wearing pants, since he was getting increasingly worried he might be dreaming.  

Except if he were, wouldn’t he be dreaming about the sweet, stuttering, blushing, beautiful mess he remembered? Not this confident, flirty, undeniably hot woman.

He was in so much trouble.

“Thanks for taking me out, Luka,” Marinette said once they were settled. “Honestly I didn’t even know if you would want to see me after all this time, and...everything.” Marinette’s cheeks reddened, and Luka found himself relaxing at the familiar flush. “I probably owe you an apology for everything that happened back then.”

Luka shook his head. “You didn’t hurt me on purpose. We were all young, you were in love. I knew it; I think everyone did but Adrien.”

Marinette groaned and covered her face with her hands. “I’m still sorry. I could have handled it better. I could have handled you better. Sometimes I want to die when I think about how I was back then.”

“Well, we all have some memories like that,” Luka chuckled. “I don’t hold any of it against you. How is Adrien?”

“He’s doing well. Things were hard for him for a while, especially right after we broke up, but he’s in a better place now. He...I don’t want to say too much or speak out of turn, but he’s had some long-standing issues and he’s finally seeing someone about them, and he’s made a lot of progress.”

“That’s good to hear, I’m glad he’s getting some help.” Luka glanced away. “The way he grew up would have messed up anybody. But I’m sorry it took losing you to make him realize he needed it.”

Marinette shrugged, and her smile was crooked. “I’d really rather not get into it.”

Luka winced. “Of course, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.” 

Marinette shook her head. “It was messy for a while, but we’re both in good places now, both individually and in our friendship, so let’s just leave it at that.” 

“Right,” Luka agreed. “So tell me more about this presentation you have to do, it sounds interesting.”

“In a little bit,” Marinette smiled, leaning on the table towards him. “We talked so much about me last time, I want to hear more about you. Is being a rock star everything you dreamed it would be?”

“Yes and no,” Luka admitted. “It’s awesome, don’t get me wrong, and it blows me away how many people want to hear my music, but—hang on, let me think about how to say this right.” He frowned as he considered his words. “It’s great bringing my music to more people,” he said slowly. “I don’t regret anything and I’m so grateful. But…”

“Take your time,” Marinette encouraged, putting her hand over his on the table, and he flashed her a grateful smile.

“I miss the deeper connections, I guess. I miss looking in someone’s eyes and playing something that’s meaningful for just that person, or for just the two of us.” 

“Like the day we met,” Marinette agreed softly, and he nodded, smiling fondly at her.

“I don’t get to do that often any more, and I miss that.”  

“Can I ask you something?” Marinette said, cheeks tinting pink again. “That song you wrote the first year you hit it big…”

Luka didn’t even need her to finish. The whole album had been about moving on, letting go, and several of the singles had hit big, but he knew exactly which song she meant. “It was about you, yeah. I hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“I cried when I heard it,” she admitted. “To this day, it’s the only one of your songs I can’t listen to.”

“I’m sorry. I kind of hoped you wouldn’t figure it out, but I should have known you would.”

Marinette shook her head. “Don’t be. Clearly it was something you needed to write, and I think it was something I needed to hear.”

Luka smiled. “So you listen to my music, huh?” 

“Of course I do,” she exclaimed. “I have every album you’ve released, physical and digital copies.”

“You’d do that even if you didn’t like it,” he teased, though he was touched.

“That’s true. But I do like it,” she leaned in, and the fingers covering his hand brushed over his knuckles in slow strokes. “I like the music, and I like the man who makes it.” 

“Careful, angel,” he told her, voice deepening slightly as thrills danced through him from her touch. “You’ll make me blush.”

“Luka, that voice is dangerous,” she laughed breathlessly, cheeks a bright pink.

“Mmm, so I’ve been told,” he grinned slyly, pleased to find he affected her. She’d had him off balance since he’d laid eyes on her at the concert. “I think there was even a magazine vote about it once. But I think your eyes are what’s dangerous. I could get lost in them forever.” 

Once upon a time Marinette would have combusted on the spot, sputtering and stammering until she literally fell over. Tonight Marinette just blinked those beautiful eyes and asked softly, “Would that be so bad?”

Luka moved his hand to thread his fingers through hers. She remained solid in his grip. Still not a dream. “It sounds like heaven to me.”

***

Luka was feeling a little thunderstruck as he walked Marinette back up to Alya’s apartment, where she was staying for the time being. On the one hand, he’d been burned badly by Marinette once before, whether she’d intended to or not, and if she’d been fire then, she was something infinitely more dangerous now. On the other hand, she’d made her interest in him clear, and he wanted very much to explore what they could be together. The chemistry between them was as strong as it had always been, and just the way she’d been looking at him tonight was enough to make him feel weak. Add in the flirty banter and soft touches and he was perilously close to melting at her feet. 

The old saying about things that seem too good to be true was in his mind as she turned to face him outside the apartment door. Luka flattened one hand against the door and leaned in, keeping his hand in his coat pocket. Marinette raised her face to meet him and he pressed his mouth to hers softly. He felt her fingers tangle in the front of his shirt to pull him closer. He took her hands and detached them gently. 

“Next time,” he said softly into the space between them, and then he had to clear his throat. “Can there be a next time, Marinette?” 

“I’d like that,” she said, and then, more hesitantly, “You don’t have to hold back so much, you know. I’m not delicate.”

He took her hand in his and flattened her palm over his heart so she could feel how it pounded in his chest. “I know that, but right now, I am. My life already goes so fast I feel like I can hardly keep up. I’d really like to take things slow between us, if that’s okay.”

The smile she gave him was slow and soft. “Definitely.” 

“And part of it is that…” he paused, thinking over his words. “Sorry, it’s just I don’t want to say this wrong.”

“Take your time.”

“I still have a lot of past Marinette in my head,” he said, running his thumb along her cheekbone. “The girl I was in love with all through lycée.” Her breath caught and he gave her a moment to absorb that as he considered his next words. “I want us to get to know each other again, if that makes sense. I don’t want to be blinded to who you are now by a bunch of memories and unresolved feelings. I want be sure I’m really seeing you, and I want to make sure you’re really seeing me too. So...can we start like strangers?” He huffed in frustration. “No, that’s not what I mean, exactly…”

“It’s okay, I think I understand, and you’re right.” Marinette curled her hand lightly around his wrist. “I know I probably put you through a lot back then and I’m not trying to rush you into anything.”

“Marinette,” Luka said gently, “If we’re going to have anything in the here and now, you need to let that go.” He smiled. “I was never angry with you, and you don’t owe me anything. Clean slate, okay?” He bit his lip and looked away. “I’m not asking you for anything, but for my own peace of mind, I want you to know that I won’t be seeing anyone else, casually or otherwise, until we figure out what we want us to be.” He gave a lopsided grin. “I know that there are all these preconceptions that people have about rock stars, but I have to be honest, I’m not very good at casual anyway. Just not my thing, you know?”

“I wondered,” Marinette admitted. “It didn’t seem like you, but it’s like you said, about rock stars and you always look really hot on stage and—“ she buried her face in her hands. “And why haven’t you stopped me yet, oh my God…”

Luka lost his battle against laughter and he pulled her to him, hugging her even as she punched his arm. “Ow, you’re strong,” he laughed, squeezing her tight. 

“So are you, that was like punching a wall,” she said, her tone grumpy, but she slid her fingers down his arm with appreciation, leaving goosebumps in her wake even through his dress shirt.

“My personal trainer thanks you for the compliment,” Luka grinned, and then he sighed, loosening his arms and taking half a step back. “I’m supposed to be saying good night here before I get carried away.” 

Marinette slid her arms up around his neck, and the smirk she gave him nearly killed him on the spot. “It wouldn’t hurt to get a little carried away, would it?” 

Resistance crumbling, Luka let her pull him down into another kiss, fuller and deeper than before, taking a moment to really savor the feel and the taste of her and the way she moved against him, and then he pulled back and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Marinette. I can’t wait to see you again. I’ll call?”

“You better.”

***

Juleka was sitting on his couch when he got home with his guitar in her lap, playing Seven Year Ache at half tempo with a morose expression. Subtle as a funeral dirge, he thought, rolling his eyes as he hung his keys on the rack by the door and took off his suit coat. “I’m gonna take my key back if you start waiting up for me every time I’m on a date,” he called.

Juleka took one look at his face when he walked into the living room and groaned, letting her head fall back. “I thought you were over this, you absolute idiot.”

“It was a lie,” he sighed, flopping on his back on the loveseat and propping his long legs on the arm. “I was never over it.”

“Luka, she wrecked you for years.”

“No, she didn’t,” he protested. “One, it wasn’t her fault, and two, I was fine.”

“You were heartbroken.”

“Heartbroken and fine, Juleka.”

“Fine is not the same thing as happy,” Juleka snorted, folding her arms. 

“I’m happy now,” he replied, grinning at the ceiling like a loon. 

“You could at least string her along for a bit,” Juleka grumbled. “Make her suffer just a little.”

“She didn’t do anything wrong, Jule, cut her some slack.”

“I don’t need to, you give her plenty for both of us.” Juleka pursed her lips. “She picked someone else over you.”

“That was her right. I don’t hold it against her, why do you?”

“She hurt you.”

“Yeah, well that hurt went platinum, so I think you can forgive her now.” Luka scowled and tossed a throw pillow at her. “Considering we paid for these apartments with the money from that album.”

“There’s no amount of money that can make up for what she put you through,” Juleka groused.

“Come on Jule, she was your friend.”

“She was, until you went and fell in love with her like an idiot and she broke your heart.” Juleka looked at him and rolled her eyes with a sigh that meant she was giving up. “But you’re obviously going to date her whether I think it’s a good idea or not, so I’ll save my breath.” She pushed off the couch and dumped his guitar on his stomach.

“I sure as hell am,” Luka agreed happily, and Juleka groaned as she opened the door to go back across the hall to her own apartment. 

“You’re disgusting, you know that right?” she called, and the door slammed before he could answer her.

Luka rolled his eyes and pulled the guitar into place, strumming lightly as he grinned at the ceiling.

[kouei116]

Seth's Bar: Zero, if you want to express your feelings, how about now?

I’m guilty for being lazy and skim through Zero’s part in the Cradle’s Scoop story, so here he is. 

In Cradle’s Scoop story, Edgar tried to distract Alice from questioning him by saying Zero was changing job. All the guys were preparing a secret party for Alice, and Zero was getting fresh flowers when Alice saw him. Similar to Seth, Fenrir, Edgar, Luka, Jonah, Blanc and Mousse, Zero had to keep the party secret from Alice - which made her sad and wondering what was happening, but the story had a sweet happy ending.

Anyway, back to Seth’s Bar. This time the guest is Zero - the Ace of Hearts.

Mousse (the former Ace of Hearts) in case you miss his story :) 

In the world of Wonderland called Cradle, there is a midnight secret bar at a street corner for whimsical people. But today, the door opens from the middle of the day for a special lamb. People call this place “Seth’s Bar”.

Seth: Alice, welcome!!!

Zero: Wel..welcome.

Seth: Seth’s Bar has a special opening today. Because our cute and lovely Alice is here!!

Zero: I was hired as a temporary staff to entertain you, please enjoy your visit today.

Seth: Come on, let’s have a drink first, shall we? Zero, please make the special cocktail for Alice.

Zero: To prepare for today, I learned how to shake cocktails from King Lancelot, please entrust this task to me.

Seth: Indeed, your boss can shake cocktail with one hand right? … Do you remember Alice?

Zero: I think it was about one year ago… Time passed like a blink.

Seth: Yeah. Alice and I met for about 2 years .. from our first date to our first kiss. We both love each other so much, and have many nights of such and so together

Zero: Is that so?

Seth: It is … well, I guess not! But I want it to happen at some point in the future. If you aren’t careful (dumb), someone will meddle in, you know!

Zero: I apologize, I’ll be more careful from now on. Seth: Ahem … pull yourself together. You have something you would like to tell Alice right?

Zero: What things?

Seth: Like how you incredibly unexpectedly love her ?? This is serious. Super serious matter!  

Zero: That’s right… I’m sorry. 

Seth: You seriously like Alice, and don’t want to let her go right?

Zero: Yes, that’s correct. I love Alice. I can’t think of a life without her. 

Seth: Our sweet pure ikemen! You really cannot be outshone, you ☆

Zero: … I’m embarrassed .. please don’t poke my stomach …

Seth: I can teach you many good things, pure swordsman

Zero: Good things?

Seth: It’s been 2 years since you met Alice, right? The 2nd year is the magical year for couples and married couples, you know

Zero: Magical year …

Seth: The so-called “Ennui Attack” (Note: Ennui = boredom, lack of excitement)

Zero: … So I should do something? 

Seth: Would you be ok if you two start to drift away from each other? Please take this seriously! 

Zero: A, ah… 

Seth: In order to keep your favourite Alice’s heart, as always, I have no choice but to help you, my new friend. Freshness is important you know, freshness!

Zero: I understand, I will study hard. 

Seth: Dear Alice, you want to see our new fresh sides too right? Anyone who agree, please clap your hands!

Zero: … Thank you Alice, but it’s hard to show you a fresh side out of a sudden.

Seth: Then how about we imitating each other? In many ways, it’s fresh, isn’t it

Zero: Is my hurdle not high?

Seth: Oh, you don’t want to imitate me? 

Zero: It’s not like that, it’s quite difficult ...

Seth: Come on, stand in front of Alice. Our fresh Ace of Hearts, 3,2,1 …

Zero: Err… Alice, please come closer to me. There are so many things I want to talk with you tonight. 

Zero: I would like to serve you the most exceptional wine. Tonight let’s drink until sun rises … And not only mine, please show me a new side of you as well. 

Seth: Hey, the last bit is sneaky

Zero: … Please forgive me, I suddenly feel very embarrassed halfway… 

Seth: You know what, it’s annoyingly cute.

Zero … Next is your turn. 

Seth: My fresh side, please enjoy plenty of it! 

Zero: Your strange confidence is scary … Our fresh 10 of Spades, 3,2,1 ...

Seth: Alice, will you eat this lollipop? It’s a candy snack of the tavern. You’re so cute, it suits you. But my snack isn’t this candy, it’s your delicious-looking lips

Zero: … Wa.Wait Seth Hyde! I definitely do not say such things

Seth: Yeah yeah, I don’t take any objections/complaints. Sooo Alice, did you enjoy our fresh sides?

Zero: … I will never imitate Seth Hyde again ...

Seth: If you are going to show us your smiles like that, it’s not bad to show a fresh side sometimes. And you can hold Alice’s heart firmly. 

Seth: These past 2 years, I have always been a good Sister Seth in front of you right? But the time will come soon when I show you a different (not-sister) side of me. In our third year, expect to see more of a man in front of you. 

Zero: The 2 years I spent with you, I have changed. Especially this year, I met Rikosu and fell in love with you…. I used to be only interested in swordsmanship, but now have become interested in many things. Thank you, Alice. In our third year, let’s make lots of beautiful memories together … From now on to forever, I love you. 

(Note: リコス - Rikosu is Zero’s pet, I think it’s a Golden retriever?)

Seth: Hey, can you lend me your ear? Whatever happened at this bar tonight

Zero: … they remained here as our secret tales, just between you and me. 

In our third year, we will deliver our unending love to you. We look forward to your next visit. 

The End ---

[chelleaslin]

Lukadrien June 2019 Day 9- Not Alone

@miraculouschallenges

“There you are!” Luka sighed as he finally found the guy he had been searching for all night, the birthday boy. Adrien had hired a hall out for his birthday, in secret of course. His Father didn’t want him celebrating his 18th birthday,he claimed that it’d be far too reckless of the boy. Adrien was completely devastated until his best friend, Nino, had this idea.

“Here I am.” Adrien sighed sadly from where he sat on the cold, concreate. It was just past 10pm and Adrien went MIA. Everyone was wondering where he had run off to and rumours started spreading about the ‘golden child’ finally losing his virginity.

Luka was a little miffed upon hereing this and went to look for the younger man right away, only, he couldn’t find him anywhere. Almost half an hour later and Luka found him out the back of the venue, sitting on the concrete, staring up at the stars.

“Are you okay? You kinda disappeared on everyone back there.” Luka laughed, breathlessly as he join Adrien on the ground. Adrien sigh, closing his eyes, his head still thrown back. Luka couldn’t help the way his mouth went dry, Adrien truely was a beautiful human. His blue eyes racked over his blonde hair, he had switched up his style few years back, opting to keep the top short and the side shaved, it made him look older. Luka subconsciously started to play with his much longer pony tail.

“I just-“ Adrien hesitated. “I need some air.”

Luka nodded, not bothering to mention that Adrien had been gone for over an hour now.

“Well when your ready, we should get back in their before the rumours get worse.” He faked a laughed. He cursed himself inwardly, he was a jealous idiot. He had no reason to bring up the silly, childish talk that was happened inside, to Adrien other than the fact that it gave him the upper hand to pry if the boy had done the deed tonight. He looked around, there really wasn’t anywhere he could go and do it and not a single person in site.

Luka sighed, even if Adrien did, he was legal and his own person, why did he care so much. A nagging voice in the back of his head that sounded a lot like Sass told him he knew exactly why this was hurting him so much.

“What rumours?” Adrien piked up, fear in his eyes.

Great, now you scared the kid on his birthday.

“Uh, it’s nothing-“ he hesitated, “just that you’ve left the party to have sex..” he mumbled the last part, hoping Adrien didn’t hear it but the way his green eyes widen and a blush burned at his cheeks, he had heard.

“I-me-did..what?” He mumbled, completely mortified. “No, no, no, no, no.” He shook his head violently, as if to get the pure thought of it out of his mind. “I-I didn’t.. I swear.”

Luka held his hands up in mock surrender.

“Hey, it’s okay!” He laughed. “Calm down. I believe you.” He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Adrien seemed to viable relax under his touch, all his once tense muscles loosening.

It was silent for a few minutes, both boys just admiring th stars and enjoying each others company. Luka checked the time on his phone, he’d been out here for quite sometime, meaning Adrien had been ‘missing’ longer. He better get them back to the party. He stood up and stenched, rubbing his butt that was numbed by the cold concrete.

“Hey, we should-“

“I was offered to have sex tonight!” He blurted out.

Luka froze. He turned to Adrien with wide eyes, what the actual fuck was that. Adrien looked just as shocked that he had blurted such private information, his green eyes just as wide.

“Explain?” Luka choked out. Adrien’s face was bright red, he turned to stare at the ground, playing with his fingers nervously but he spoke anyway.

“Chloe.” He cleared his throat. “She offered to, Uh, rip the band-aid off.”

Luka felt a little sick hearing that. He knew that Chloe had feelings for him, feelings she had harboured for many, many years but to hear someone that claimed to care, to love him, talk about his first time like that, like it was a burden, it sickened him. Luka loved Adrien, there was no deniying that anymore, he wanted to hold him, kiss him, comfort him and make love to him. He wanted his first time to be slow and gentle, he just wanted him to feel loved. He sighed as he pushed those fantasies away, he needed to reply.

“Oh, that’s...nice?” He awkwardly replied. Adrien sent him a glare before glaring back at the ground.

“No, it’s not. Don’t lie.” Adrien spat. “It was disgusting and disrespectful.”

Luka apologised quietly before sitting back down.

“Can I ask why you said no?” Luka awkwardly asked. Adrien sighed, throwing his head back as he did so. He rolled hishead to the side and gave Luka a bitchface.

“Other then the obvious?” Luka nodded. Adrien thought for a second before speaking. “I know it’s expected of young males to be horny..” Luka gave him a weird look. “I’m not saying I’m not horny! I am.” An even weirder look. “Oh, god! Not right now, I’m not horny right now!” He yelled. Luka started to chuckle at the absurdity of this conversation.

“Noted.” He winked making Adrien groaned and bury his red face in his hands.

“I’m just saying I’m healthy, I do get horny, but I’m not in a rush to loose my virginity like most people.” He glanced at Luka who was giving him a unidentifiable look, he panicked. “No offence.” He rushed out. Luka furrowed his brow.

“Non taken?”

“Good. Well, I want to wait for the right person and the right time. Losing it to Chloe half drunk at my 18th isn’t exactly ideal to me. Actually just to Chloe in general.” He screwed his face up, making his button nose crinkled. It took everything in Lukas power not to lean over and kiss it.

“Actually just having sex with Chloe in a no-no, or any other girl, ever.” Luka froze, breaking away from his thoughts on Adrien’s nose and stared at the boy with widen eyes. “I can’t see my first time or anytime after that being with a women, oh god” he turned to Luka, his eyes wide as well.

“I think I might be gay.” He gasped. Luka choked on nothing, sending him into a coughing fit. Adrien panicked and slammed his hand down on his back with enough for to send Luka buckling forward. “Sorry!” Adrien apologised sheepishly.

“You-what?” Luka coughed, giving him a look of pure horror and maybe a tinged if excitement from other parts of his body.

Adrien gave him a flat look, Luka didn’t understand why.

“If your going going to be homophobic about this than-“

“What? No! I would-“

“Some people just like to have sex with men, okay?” Adrien raised his voice over Luka, cutting him off. Luka was mortified, what could he say to even get this kid to listen to him.

“Adrien, Listen, the thing is-“

“No! Okay?” Adrien snapped. “I’ve been thinking about this for forever! Literally my whole life, it’s been there at the back of my mind. Always pushed away and always ignore but no, I give up, it’s time for the truth to come out, it’s time for me to come out.” Adrien stood up, wobling on his legs a little. Luka wondered then, how much had he actually drank? “I’m Adrien Agreste and I’m gay!” He yelled out into the night air.

Luka jumped at his volume, quickly scrambling to get onto his feet and stop the boy, he clamped his hand down kver Adrien mouth, muffling whatever he was about to yell next.

“Adrien, quiet.” He hissed, face heating up as his blue eyes darting around to look for witnesses. Adrien bit down on his hand and pushed him way, a very angry expression on his cute face.

“You will not silence me with you homophobic ways!” He screamed, a fingering pointed right between his eyes, actually touching his glabella. “I want a cock in my ass and you can’t change that.” Luka felt like crying, from amusement or horror, he wasn’t sure. “You are a pathetic homophobe but I am the mighty gay!”

Luka grabbed the boy by his shoulders and shook him a little to get his attention.

“Me too, okay? You’re not alone!” He yelled back. Adrien seem to freeze as he took in the new infomation, his tipsy brain taking longer to process what Luka just told him.

“You want a cock in your ass too?”

Lukas face heated up, oh my god!

“Not exactly...” he drawled out “but I’m gay too.”

Adrien was silent for a moments more before a grin broke up on his face.

“That’s awesome now I have an experienced gay to ask all my questions too!” He cheered with glee. “Do you top or bottom? Or both? Because I’ve heard the phrase, a pancake isn’t finished tills it’s been flipped on both side, which I guess makes sense.”

Luka’s ears were burning because of how hard he was blushing . He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, for as long as he’d known Adrien, the boy had been quiet innocent. It was an on going joke amoung everyone that knew him, that must protect his innocents at all times. Yet here he was openly talking about sex, quite vulgarly as well.

“I-I don’t..” Luka stuttered, he pointed at himself as he spoke. “Virgin?” It came out as more of a question but Adrien seem to get what he ment. His mouth fell open in a small ‘o’ shape. “Yeah..” Luka awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“Well,d-do you wanna...” Adrien drawled out. Luka gasped as he realised what Adrien was suggesting, did he want to have sex with? His stomach fluttered with nerves, this was it it was finally happen, oh god.

“Yes, god, please, yes.” Luka gasped out. Adrien gave him a weird look.

“Did kmow you wanted to get back to the party that bad?” He laughed, pulling himself of the ground. “Come on, lest go?” He offered his hand to Luka how was too busy cringing, oh god. He wanted to go back inside not have sex, holy shit, he almost fucked that one up.

“Yeah, it’s just cold out here.” He lamely replied. He grasped Adrien’s hand, allowing himself to be lifted off the ground and onto his feet. Together they walked hand and hand back into the party. New rumours started after that, but each boy didn’t really seem to mind.