Author's Note:
I do not own any of these characters.
This was written for The Family Challenge in the The Miraculous Challenges Forum.
Setting is in Frozer after Marinette invites Luka to the ice skating rink.
"Hey Juleka," Luka started, "you're pretty good friends with Marinette, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," Juleka replied hesitantly. "What's going on?"
"Well... she just invited me to go ice skating," Luka explained. "Apparently she's meeting a couple of other friends there."
Juleka froze for a second, thinking Did Marinette really just ask my brother out on a double date with Adrien and Kagami?
"I kind of like her," Luka continued. "She really gets what I'm trying to say with my guitar when I don't know what words to use."
Juleka's eyes widened. She had never heard of her brother being interested in someone, much less one of her classmates.
"But, her heart always seems heavy," Luka felt his face burn a little, "and I don't think it's because of me."
Juleka smiled. Her brother was so perceptive. He had a good heart.
"Don't get me wrong," Luka backpedalled, "I think she's amazing. But, I wouldn't want to be the one she settled for, knowing she's thinking of someone else. Do you know if she already likes someone?"
There it was. The question Juleka had hoped she wouldn't be asked. "There is... but, she's thinking of trying to get over him because he's trying to date someone else."
Luka nodded and strummed a chord on his guitar thinking about what Juleka had just said. "So, she might really be wanting to move on with me?" he asked aloud, more to the universe than to Juleka. He just sighed and stummed another chord.
"Did she say who else was going ice skating?" Juleka asked hesitantly.
"She said it was her friend Adrien and someone he was trying to impress," Luka answered. "She was going to be there for him so he didn't feel so nervous," he offered.
Juleka was a little relieved that Marinette was up front with Luka about who was going to be there, but was certain she hadn't told Luka that Adrien was her crush.
"She's a really good friend," Luka continued while Juleka was trying to process what to say. "But, I think she might want me there so she doesn't appear to be a third-wheel. What do you think?"
Juleka froze again. Another tough question, she thought. Then she remembered Alya giving her a hard time about liking two boys shortly after her mom was akumatized. "I think," Juleka began slowly, "she might actually like you a little. You might have a chance."
What am I saying, she yelled at herself mentally, I'm just going to send Luka in with hope only to have his heart crushed. She knew Luka deserved to be happy and that Marinette deserved to be happy. She knew Marinette wasn't happy right now because of Adrien. If Marinette was truly going to move on, and if she already liked Luka a little, then maybe it would work out for her brother.
"Just..." Juleka began, "just be careful, Luka. I don't want your heart broken if she decides to keep pining for her crush instead of trying to get over him."
Luka nodded and stummed a couple chords on his guitar. "Thanks, Juleka. I'll see if I can get deeper into her heart tomorrow. If not, then I'll be a friend to her and try to encourage her to fight for her crush."
Juleka knew things were going to be interesting at the ice skating rink, but didn't want to give Luka too much hope or take away any of the little hope he had. She knew he would figure out it was Adrien. Marinette was terrible at hiding her feelings for him after all. But, maybe it'd work out for Marinette either way. Either she'd let go of Adrien and find Luka, or Adrien would see Marinette and Luka together and realize he wanted to be more than friends with Marinette. What else could possibly happen, right?