Title: Do You Want to Take the Subway Together?
Timeframe: The end of Frozer
Warning: SPOILERS for Frozer
Special thanks: LovelyLiliana101 for beta reading.

"Do you want to take the subway together, Marinette?" Luka asks her, as they're waiting outside the ice rink. He sees her disappointed face as she stares at Adrien shutting the door to his car and smiles sadly. "You should go over and talk to him. Thanks for inviting me out today." He means it. He loved spending the day with Marinette, and he wasn't lying when he said that he might have a new song to write soon. However, he doesn't want to be someone's second choice or have anyone settle for him, and he knows Marinette is much too polite to leave after another guy without encouragement.

"Thanks for coming with me, Luka." Marinette nods with a smile of her own. She kisses his cheek and runs after the model. She makes it half way to the car, before she stops, stares at the car in front of her and then back at the musician behind her. She lets out a soft sigh and turns back to the rink. "Luka!"

Luka can't help the massive grin that spreads across his face as he hears the girl's shout and sees her running back to him. She stops right in front of him, her hands on her knees as she catches her breath, and he can't help but let out a soft chuckle at the sight. She is the most adorable person he's ever met. She's been a beautiful melody constantly in the background of his thoughts ever since he met her at band practice. He never thought he'd be the one to have a crush on one of his little sister's friends, yet here he was.

"Can we still catch the subway together?" she asked, looking up at him with a hopeful smile. He hold his hand out to her and is filled with a warm feeling when she takes it without any hesitation. "Yeah, let's go."

"Luka, can I ask you something?" The two of them are seated on the bench on the subway, far enough back that they have a little privacy from the other passengers. Luka had immediately wrapped his arm around her shoulder once they sat, and Marinette had actually mustered up enough courage to lean into his side. She looks up at him just in time to see his little nod. "Of course."

"Why- I mean- with Ad-," she takes a deep breath to compose herself before continuing. She doesn't want to stutter and barely be able to string words around Luka. "Why did you tell me to go after Adrien?"

"I've overheard enough of Juleka's phone calls to know you have a crush on him. I've even overheard some of your crazy schemes to try to get to talk to him. I didn't want to interfere with that or have you feel like you couldn't go. Which is why I was honestly a little surprised when you asked me to come with you today. Even more than that though, I don't want to be someone's back up if that makes sense. You're an amazing girl, Marinette, but if you want to spend time with me, I want it to be because you want to be with me, not just that you couldn't be with someone else."

"I understand that," Marinette agrees, and she does. It was one of her major issues (outside of Adrien, of course) with Chat Noir's little crush on Ladybug. Marinette would always be second best when it came to Ladybug, and she would have to share that side of her with him eventually if they ever decided to seriously date. They couldn't exactly go walking around hand in hand in full superhero costume. "My stop is coming up soon. Would you want to come with me? Papa is testing out a new cupcake recipe."

"I'd love to," he grins, placing a small kiss to the top of her head. Marinette lets out a surprised squeak before jumping up and pulling him along with her to the doors.

I'd love to hear you thoughts! I'm just getting back into writing after years, and would love constructive criticism. I know it's a little short, I'm struggling to write anything longer than a simple one-shot right now. I'm also on the hunt for a beta reader, so feel free to send me a PM in you're interested.

-Maman Abeille