Notes: Hrrrrngh this chapter kept fighting me. I should know better by now, but instead of just letting the story be the story I kept thinking, "No, this is getting too long, be concise." Once I stopped standing in the characters' way it all came together much easier.

I Pick You

Chapter Three: Picking Us

Despite Luka's assurances that he was fine with Marinette keeping the pick – that he wanted her to keep it – she wasn't fully convinced. It didn't help that she now knew how rare the pick was. She was still a little floored that he had such faith in her that he trusted her to keep something so valuable safe.

Marinette wasn't used to people having that kind of faith in her. She supposed Master Fu had – he'd entrusted her with the entire Miracle Box, after all – but that had been different. For one thing, by the time he had given her the Box he had already been training her for over a year, steadily preparing her for the day she now knew he was planning on making her his successor. He had already known and trusted her, and even if he had been forced to pass the Miracle Box on sooner than he'd intended that had still been his ultimate plan. For another, the Miracle Box was…well, it was just different. Being Ladybug was a job. Her responsibility. Yes, she loved it, but she couldn't deny there was a certain weight that came with being Paris's savior and Guardian to an entire Miracle Box.

Luka's pick made her feel a whole bunch of things, but weighted wasn't one of them. Not in the same sense, at least. Knowing Luka trusted her to keep it safe made her feel…valued. Cherished. And yes, a little terrified, because she was still her and she was still scared she'd break his trust, pull a classic Marinette, and lose it.

Which is probably why she decided, not even a full day after Luka had hooked the pick necklace back around her neck, that she had to find a way to get him to take it back.

She went for the direct approach at first. When she showed up with Juleka and Rose for band practice the next day and caught him eyeing the charm with a smile, she asked him again if he was sure he didn't want it back. He just chuckled, shook his head, and assured her there was no one else he'd rather keep it. She asked him again the next day, and a few days after that, and over text again that same night. Just to be sure.

LC: mari

She swallowed at the curt reply.

LC: stop it. please. how many times do i need to tell you i want you to keep it?

She could practically feel the rolling of his eyes in that text.

LC: please just drop it. please?

So she stopped asking, but she didn't stop trying to sneak it back to him. A few days after that text exchange, she slipped it in his pocket when he greeted her with a hug. He'd looked mildly annoyed when he found it later, but he said nothing. She thought he was maybe finally coming around and set up in the corner to work on her sketches, but not ten minutes later he was dropping a bottle of water on the deck beside her. When she looked up to thank him, she found he'd knelt on the crate behind her and was slipping the necklace back around her neck.

He caught her wrist the next time she tried to slip it back in his pocket, and she had been a little too distracted by the way he'd flipped her hand to press their palms together to realize he slipped it back into her own pocket instead. She didn't find it until she was back home, and by then she had no choice but to keep it.

So she realized she might have to get a little…creative.

Luka's birthday was a little over a week away. She'd already been working on a new hoodie for him, and jewelry was easy enough. He was mildly curious when she looped a string around his wrist to measure it, but she just waved him off and told him she was working on a new merch idea for the band. He'd let it drop, but his eyes kept darting back to her the rest of the afternoon. She kept her nose buried in her phone, researching Celtic knots and sketching possible designs. She left the boat that day with a rushed goodbye, refusing to let him see what she'd been working on and eager to start her next project.

A quick stop at her favorite craft store on the way home found her purchasing black leather cording that was sturdy but flexible enough to weave. She rushed upstairs as soon as she got home, barely greeting her parents on her way up (they were used to her mad bouts of creativity by now and just smiled fondly after her), and sequestered herself in her room to figure out how she was actually going to make it.

Weaving was simple enough, and a few online tutorials and videos had her mastering the basic steps of knotwork in an hour or so. The leather cording was stiffer than the yarn she had practiced with, though, and working with the actual bracelet took her a bit longer. The Celtic knot she had chosen for Luka, a sailor's knot, was a bit more intricate than the basic knot the videos had her practicing, but by the end of the night she had a completed band long enough to fit his wrist. And…it actually looked good. She was kind of excited about it, and she hoped he would be, too.

…even if she had woven a loop at the base of one of the knots where she could easily affix the pick charm. She was hoping the band itself would overshadow the fact that she was once again trying to give the pick back to him.

She waited until the night before his birthday to hook the pick onto the loop, not wanting to arouse his suspicion by suddenly not wearing it. The Captain and Juleka (well, ok, mostly Juleka and Marinette…) had organized a small gathering (mainly just his family, Kitty Section, and his friends from school) for the afternoon of his birthday, and Marinette went over early to help them set up. The party wasn't a surprise, per se, but his friend Dingo had taken him out before she'd arrived to get him out of the way. So they could set up. For his definitely not surprise party.

…that they totally surprised him with when he came back and they all jumped out screaming, "JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE!" He actually stumbled onto the boat instead of walking with his usual easy gait, laughing as his wide eyes looked around at them, but that could also have been because Dingo had shoved him.

That was around when Marinette realized that it actually had been a surprise party, as after eighteen years Luka knew the Captain and had definitely not been expecting the gathering they'd thrown together. When his eyes caught hers over the Captain's shoulder as his ma hugged him and he mouthed thank you, a warm little thrill ran through her.

And the party was…well, not a raging success, not by Couffaine (Captain) standards, but Marinette thought it was nice. Even if the Captain kept lamenting that it was her darlin' b'y's eighteenth birthday and Roger only showed up to tell them to keep it down. Marinette, still relatively new to Boat Life, honestly thought nobody getting arrested was a good thing. Roger hadn't even shown up to issue the warning, which was given in more of a familiar, teasing lilt: he'd had his own birthday gift for Luka to deliver. It was a new wallet, to hold his official driver's license once he passed his test. (That had amused all of them to no end, especially when Roger had waved a fresh ticket pad at him, winked, and said, "Remember to park legally, son.")

But Luka was enjoying himself, and he'd even managed to stop her nervous fluttering long enough that she was enjoying herself, too.

"Please, Marinette?" he asked when she started making her third round of the night collecting discarded plates and cups. Nino had just put a slower song on, winking at Mylène and Rose as they pulled their partners to the portion of the deck they'd cleared for dancing. Even Brielle and Dingo were out there already. Luka had caught her wrist and was still loosely holding it, smiling almost nervously (imploringly) at her but still leaving the decision completely up to her. No pressure. There was never any pressure with him. "I'm sure you're responsible for most of the planning and decorating and everything here, so shouldn't you get to enjoy it, too?"

He gave her a knowing look, and her cheeks warmed. He wasn't wrong. The Captain's grand scheme, for all her Chaos, had been a bag of chips and some old records, which Luka probably would have loved, yes, but…it was his eighteenth birthday. That was a Big Deal that called for a bit of Occasion. It was supposed to be special.

"We'll clean up later," he said, gently pulling her towards him. Towards the dancefloor. "Enjoy yourself now. Please? Dance with me?"

She wondered how, only a handful of months ago, she would have spluttered and made excuses before ultimately letting him take the lead, whether that meant a dance or a skate or…but there was no hesitating anymore. Not with Luka. There was no Alya shoving her in his direction, or carefully orchestrating the perfect song to play just so (…well ok there had been a little DJ Nino Manipulation, but that had also been Rose and Mylène for their own gain, not hers, so it didn't count), or schemes.

There was just a boy. Asking her to dance with him. And there had been a happy little fluttering in her stomach as she flipped her hand to break his hold, grabbing his hand as she raced ahead to join their friends on the dancefloor. She was too busy stepping closer to him, resting her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her and they began swaying, to notice his startled, pleased look – or the knowing grins their friends shot them.

It was all enough to make her, even if only momentarily, forget about worrying over his reaction to her gift.

It was a bit harder to ignore the worry when, a short while later, the Captain loudly declared it was time for cake and presents. Somehow, Marinette had ended up squished against Luka's side. She was pretty sure it was Dingo's fault, who only squished her more when he reached around to try and smash Luka's face into the cake when he tried to blow out the candles. When Luka finally got to her gift, her knees were tucked up against her chest and she was nibbling on the last few bites of her slice of cake. He'd turned to her when Rose had shoved the shiny navy bag with light pink polka dots in his lap, but she just smiled nervously around her fork.

He loved the hoodie, and everyone had laughed as he immediately shrugged the hoodie-jacket thing (she still wasn't sure what to call it, and fashion was her life) he always wore off and put the new one on instead. It fit like a glove – just like she knew it would – and looked great on him. He loved the Kitty Section logo she'd embroidered on the back, and the little music notes and lightning bolts she'd stitched along the pockets and trim. He zipped it up and laughed when he noticed the little patch with his mask on it on the right side of his chest. He shoved his hands in the pockets, grinning as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you," he said. "I love…"

She knew the moment he found his extra gift. She could feel his arm tense as his fingers locked on it, and there was a curious little frown on his face as he pulled his hand out. His eyes widened when he saw the bracelet (when he noticed the familiar charm hanging from it), and she honestly couldn't tell if he was delighted or annoyed.

"I…I know you said you wanted me to keep it, but…" she started, painfully aware of the curious gazes of their friends on them, "…but it still…I'm so worried something's going to happen to it, and I'd never forgive myself if it did because I know it's your favorite, and I thought…it's a sailor's knot, because you're…and it…"

His fist closed over the bracelet, and he was kissing her cheek again. Her mouth snapped shut, her face warming as the snickers started. (Rose actually started to squeal, but Juleka and the Captain both clapped their hands over her mouth. She could also feel Dingo shaking with barely suppressed laughter beside her – and Brielle's smack to the back of his head that knocked him over.) Luka was smiling warmly when he pulled back.

"I love it," he said, holding it up to her. "Help me put it on?"

She smiled in relief as she secured the clasp. It fit him perfectly. His arm hooked around her shoulders, and her blush darkened when he pulled her into a hug.

"Ok, ok – me next!" Dingo cried, shoving a large black box with lime green ribbon at Luka and knocking her back a little. The moment – if there had been a moment – was sufficiently over, and the matter of who would be keeping the Jagged Stone pick finally seemed settled.

Until, two days later, she caught Luka trying to sneak the charm back into her jewelry box when he came by to pick her up for practice. She hadn't been quite ready yet and had invited him to wait in her room while she finished packing the boxes with the band's updated costumes. She'd run downstairs to grab some snacks for everyone later on, and when she came back up she'd caught him pick-handed.

"Luka!" she cried, dropping the bakery box to the floor as she raced over to him. The bracelet was still on his wrist, but he had removed the charm and was in the process of putting it back on the cord that was still in her jewelry box. "I thought you liked it!"

"I do," he said, shrugging. "I love it. But I told you: I like you having the pick."

She snatched it from him and took his wrist in her hand, quickly finding the loop made specifically for the charm and reattaching it. She gave him a pointed look, and he shrugged helplessly.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said. She hummed, pressing her thumbs gently into his arm below the bracelet. She could feel his pulse thumping beneath her touch, but she told herself she was just imagining the way it seemed to pick up a little.

"I'm starting to wonder," she said. "It's a gift, Luka. You don't return gifts like that."

He raised an eyebrow and gave her his own pointed little look, and she rolled her eyes before turning back to grab the bakery box.

"…you know what I mean," she huffed.

Except it turned out he was about as stubborn as she was. It was probably (at least partly) why they worked so well together.

Because a week after that, he tried to give it back to her again.

They were walking through a little craft fair that had popped up in the park across from her home when she'd stopped at a little stall selling handmade jewelry. She'd been admiring a few pieces, and Luka had just watched her with a smile on his face as she started talking shop with the crafter at the table. She had almost forgotten he was there, actually, getting lost in her creative excitement as she compared notes with the woman.

"Wow, it sounds like you know your stuff!" the crafter laughed. "Why don't you have a table set up here?"

"Oh, I'm…" Marinette blushed, ducking her head as a hand came up to rub the back of her neck anxiously. "I'm not that good. My main passion is clothes. Jewelry's just kind of…a hobby? I mean, a good accessory can complete any outfit, so it seemed like a good skill to learn, but…I'm still learning."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short," Luka cut in, nudging her with his elbow. Her blush darkened as she looked up at him, but he was smiling at the crafter. He held out his wrist, where he still wore his sailor's knot bracelet proudly. "She made this for me."

"Oh, wow, that's so cool!" the woman said, pulling Luka's wrist closer for a better inspection. "Knots are hard, man. Took me years to get the weaving right!"

"Thank you," Marinette mumbled. Luka reached for her hand with his free one, squeezing it gently to bring her eyes back up to him.

"You made those barrettes for Juleka, too," he said. He winked at her. "And that necklace you refuse to wear anymore."

"Th-that doesn't count!" she squawked, pulling her hand from his to hold her fists up indignantly.

"You turned the pick into a charm," he said, shrugging. The woman at the table was still holding his hand, but she wasn't looking at his bracelet anymore. Her eyes were darting between them in amusement.

"And damaged a priceless keepsake in the process!" she huffed. "All I did after that was stick it on a cord – that is nothing like what she does!"

"I still thought it was awesome," he said. His smile turned a little bittersweet as he bent his head towards her. "…still kinda upset you don't want to wear it anymore."

"I told you –!" she started, but the crafter started laughing and brought their attention back to her. She let go of his wrist and grinned, leaning her arms on the table as she nodded at them.

"Sorry, it's just…you guys are too cute," she chuckled. "Man, your boyfriend is a sweetheart. I wish my guy supported me like yours does. How long have you been together?"

Marinette froze, her eyes going wide as she stared at the woman. But Luka…Luka just laughed, shrugging a little as he kept looking at her.

"We're not," he told the woman, and Marinette would have sworn he sounded sad about it. Her head snapped towards him, and there was definitely something sad about the way he was watching her. There was also definitely something sad about the way she had to acknowledge that he was right, even though…

"…why aren't we, though?" she asked, and he blinked at her as his eyebrows rose. She reached for his hand again, squeezing it with both of her own. "We should be. I mean, shoot, this whole day already feels like a date – why isn't it a date, Luka?"

"I…uh…it…" he stammered, and a part of her thrilled at that. She'd actually left him speechless. She liked that. He shook his head, but there wasn't anything sad about his smile anymore. "Marinette, are you…are you asking me out?"

"I…yes," she said, nodding, but then she frowned and shook her head. "I mean no. I mean…stop," she said, sticking her tongue out at him when a strangled little laugh escaped him. "It's just…it already feels like a date. You already feel like a boyfriend, Luka, but you're not. And you keep getting upset that I won't take the pick back, but…why would I? Wearing it feels like a girlfriend thing, but I'm not your girlfriend. And…"

"…are you saying you'd wear the picklace again if you were my girlfriend?" he asked, frowning. "I thought you didn't want to keep it because you were afraid you'd lose it."

"I was," she said, nodding. "Because it's valuable. It's important to you. And it just…felt…heavy? You don't entrust something that big to a friend, Luka."

He looked like he wanted to say something to that, but he just pursed his lips and looked at their hands. After a moment, he nodded.

"But…I might…I miss wearing it," she said, squeezing his hand. "Ok? I liked wearing it. I liked that it kept you close. But…I shouldn't feel like that about a friend. I should feel like that about my boyfriend. So…yeah. I might be inclined to wear the…picklace…again," she said, and he grinned at how she rolled her eyes at calling it that, "if it was my boyfriend's. If it was yours. And you were. Y'know. My boyfriend."

"Are you sure, Marinette?" he asked softly, his other hand coming up to cup her cheek. "Because I am in no way objecting. I just…are you sure?"

"…seriously," the crafter cut in, still grinning at them. Her hands were over her heart, and she had a dopey smile on her face. She was even sniffling a little, which just made Marinette blush harder as she realized she had just said all that in front of a complete stranger. "How are you not together already? Just kiss her, man!"

Marinette squeaked, her wide eyes zipping back to Luka, but he just laughed before bending down to kiss her forehead. (He'd give her a proper kiss later, when they didn't have an audience and he could take his time learning how to kiss her right.) Before they left, he ended up buying her the necklace that had started the conversation, the one she'd been geeking out over with the crafter. She even let him take the pick charm off his bracelet and hook it between the pink and blue beads on the necklace, and when they walked away from the stall, their hands linked, it was back around her neck.

– V –

She didn't take it off again after that. The knowing little smirks their friends sent them when they noticed her wearing it still made her blush, but for a different reason this time. Luka would just smile and squeeze her hand, usually kissing her cheek or head, and the moment would pass. No one was really surprised when they finally said they were together, anyway. Juleka had just rolled her eyes and muttered, "About time, dumbass."

When Jagged rolled back into town and he called her up for a fitting on the jacket she'd been working on, he just gave her a little grin when she showed up with the picklace on proud display. Her cheeks had warmed when he waggled his eyebrows, and she shoved the garment bag at him as he laughed.

"Ok, fine, you were right, ok?" she huffed, tucking some loose hair behind her ear. "He's…he's a special friend."

"I'm happy for you, baby girl," Jagged said, pulling her into a tight hug. "You deserve the world. But make sure he knows he's got Fang 'n me to answer to if he screws up."

"Luka would never –" she started, but Jagged barked out a laugh and clapped his hands together.

"Luka? Nanarchy's boy?" he crowed. He shot a look over Marinette's shoulder at Penny, who was hiding her smile behind her tablet. "Look at you! That kid's so rock-n-roll – I knew you had taste!"

"I keep forgetting you know him," she mumbled, and he slapped a hand against her shoulder.

"Offer still stands, baby girl," he said with a wink. "No matter how hard that kid rocks. He hurts you, Fang's going straight for his ass."

"Ok, ok," Penny sighed, shooing him off behind his dressing screen. She gave Marinette a sympathetic smile. "Actually, I'm kind of surprised to see you still wearing the necklace, Marinette. You seemed really upset when we told you how rare it was. I honestly thought you'd give it back to your friend."

Marinette smiled, her hand closing over the pick.

"I did," she said, "but he kept giving it back. It's actually…we kinda started dating because of it?"

Penny smiled, her eyebrows lifting in question as she asked, "Oh?"

"He was upset that I wouldn't take it back, and I was upset because he was trying to give me this big, important thing, and…well, I guess it just made us evaluate what we meant to each other?" Marinette said with a little shrug. She laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "I only took it back after we started dating."

"You know I can get you another one, right?" Jagged called. They looked over to the screen as he came around the edge, tugging on the lapels of his new coat. He was grinning ear to ear as he admired her work. "Perfect as always, Marinette! But yeah. I can totally get you another one. So you can both have one. Matching set and all that."

"That's not necessary, Jagged," she said. She smiled as she touched the pick again. "It's…it wouldn't be the same. I like the pick because it's Luka's. Because it's important to him. It feels like I'm carrying a little piece of him around with me, you know?"

"Stop trying to fix something that doesn't need fixing," Penny admonished. She walked around Jagged, inspecting the coat, and shot Marinette a smile. "Excellent work, Marinette. I know you've got your heart set on the fashion scene, but you'd be a killer stylist someday. If you ever wanted to tour with us."

"Maybe…" Marinette hummed. The topic of the pick was forgotten as she pulled out her portable sewing kit and started inspecting the coat on Jagged. Penny and Jagged just shared a smile over her head, both certain they'd eventually get her on the road. Someday.

– V –

And so the question of the pick's ownership was finally settled.

For a few years, at least.

Marinette kept it safe, wearing her picklace every day for two years. Occasionally, when he had a really big test or audition or gig coming up, she would clip the charm back onto his bracelet and he would wear it. Just for luck. It would inevitably end up back on her necklace, though, where they both agreed it belonged.

But then, not long after Luka's twentieth birthday, something Big happened that had her giving it back to him at least semi-permanently.

Jagged Stone never forgot Luka Couffaine. It was kind of hard to, when both were still a constant presence in her life and she always took the opportunity to brag on her boyfriend (Jagged never minded, as he thought it was cute and always seemed interested in what was going on with the young Couffaine). He never forgot how good he was with a guitar, either, so when his lead guitarist broke her hand three days before they were all set to leave for the next European tour, Jagged knew exactly who he wanted filling the spot.

"C'mon, kid!" he begged, slinging an arm around his shoulders and pulling him up against his side. Luka stared at him with wide eyes that immediately sought out Marinette's. She was walking back in from the kitchen, a tray with tea and snacks on it. "I know how you play – no one's as good as you! Well. 'Cept me, but you've got the skills, Luka. You're way better than I was at your age – you'll be out-rockin' me in no time!"

"I…thank you," Luka said, shaking his head as Jagged released him and he sat back up. Marinette put the tray on the coffee table and went to sit next to Penny on the loveseat next to the couch. He looked back at her, his brow furrowed in concern. "What do you think, Mari?"

"Of course she thinks you should – she's the most rock-n-roll chick I know!" Jagged said, but Penny shot him a look that had him sinking back into the couch. Marinette's hand had gone to her necklace, her fingers worrying the pick charm in a familiar tick.

"…it's…it's a great opportunity, Luka," she said. "It could really jump-start your career."

"Yeah! See! Knew you'd be on my side, baby girl!" Jagged crowed.

"Jagged!" Penny hissed, and he squawked out an indignant what? Luka wasn't paying attention to him anymore, though.

"…but it's three months," he said.

"It…it'll fly by in no time!" Marinette said, her hand fisting over the charm so tightly her knuckles blanched. Luka was immediately on his knees before her, taking her hands in his own and squeezing. She was smiling at him, but there was a familiar anxiety about the corner of her lips. "You can't pass this up, Luka."

Luka pursed his lips as he looked at her. She was starting university in a few weeks. She had just moved in with him, because his flat was closer to her school and would be better than living at a dorm or with her parents. They were just starting their life together – at least their adult life together – and now he was being asked to leave.

"I'll still be here when you get back," she said, cupping his cheek in her palm. She bent down to kiss him, and his hand wrapped around the back of her neck to hold her to him for a moment longer than he probably should have in front of his new boss. "Go. Be the rock star I know you are."

Three days later, when he boarded the bus, the pick charm was back on his bracelet. To keep her close, Marinette had said. His own little Marinette Charm.

"I fully expect you to take care of it," she'd teased him with a wink. "I want it back as soon as you're home."

"It goes back with you first thing," he'd promised before pulling her in for a long, slow kiss.

In the end, it got back to her maybe second thing. First thing involved more kissing and…well. It had been a long three months, and he was glad to finally be home.

– V –

That tour ended up being the first of many. Marinette had been right, of course, like she always was: Jagged showing up at their flat that day had been a great opportunity, and it had opened more doors than Luka had ever thought possible. By the time Marinette was wrapping up her final year at university, Luka had gone from Jagged's backup guitarist to his opening act. There was an album in the works, and Luka had found himself on the road more often than not.

Which…he wasn't always crazy about. There were times he wished he was home more. That he could be there for Marinette more. But they were both committed to their future together, and they made it work. And it was a silly little tradition, but he always took the picklace – or picklet, when he was wearing it on his bracelet – out on the road with him – just like she always kept his favorite hoodie at home with her. It was just something to keep the other close during their time apart.

…though she usually ended up stealing his hoodie even when he was home, but he guessed that was only fair as there had been a few summer tours she had joined him on where he still kept the pick firmly attached to his bracelet, even when she was right there cheering him on from the wings.

The latest tour barely counted in Luka's books. It was only a few weeks on the road, and they'd barely be leaving the country. Usually for something this short, he wouldn't even think of taking the pick with him, but…he had a plan. Well. An idea. An inkling.

Because he was at a good place with his career. Marinette was well-established at a prominent fashion house. They'd been living together for ages now. They'd actually be celebrating their eighth anniversary shortly after he got home. Tom kept dropping not-so-subtle little hints that had his wife and daughter kicking his shins under the table at family dinners. And…they were ready.

He was pretty sure they were ready, at least. He was ready. He didn't want to leave his girlfriend waiting at home anymore, at least. He wanted…he wanted to come home to his wife. And it just seemed kind of...maybe not appropriate, but…cute? Romantic? He had an idea of how he could propose using the pick charm, and he was pretty sure Marinette would love it.

Because Marinette was still a hopeless romantic at heart, and while he was pretty sure she'd say yes regardless he knew she'd also appreciate having a good story to tell people when she showed off the ring. He wanted to give her that.

So when he was packing his bags the night before he was supposed to leave, he went to her jewelry box to retrieve the charm only to find it was missing.

"Darning?" he called, moving a few pieces aside to make sure he hadn't missed it. "Where's your necklace?"

"I'm wearing it," she called back from their shared study. He followed her voice to find her sitting on a rolling stool before a mannequin, pinning some swatches in place. She glanced over at him as he entered, a smile on her face. "Where else would it be, silly?"

"I just wanted to pack it now," he said, walking over to her. His hands found her shoulders, and he bent to kiss her head beside her bun. "I'm leaving pretty early tomorrow, and I didn't want to forget it."

"…oh," she said, her hand automatically finding the charm to finger as she frowned at him. "It's just…you're taking it this time?"

He lifted an eyebrow. She bit her lip, and he squeezed her shoulders before he started to rub, working out the kinks she'd built up from so long bent over her sewing. She sighed, her head dropping back against his stomach.

"It's my good luck charm," he said, winking at her. When she crinkled her nose in distaste at the name – she'd always hated calling it a lucky charm – he chuckled. "Ok, ok. My Marinette Charm. I always take it on the road."

"Mmmm," she hummed, her shoulders relaxing under his touch. "I know. Just…it's only going to be a few weeks, and I thought…I kind of wanted to keep it this time."

…shit.

"Oh?" he asked, his eyebrows raising again. She shot a sheepish smile up at him.

"I just have a big presentation next week," she said. "I was…it's silly, but I wanted to keep it with me. Keep you with me."

"That's not silly," he said, bending down to kiss her. Her hand combed through his hair, holding him to her and prolonging the kiss. All of their kisses got like that before he left: longer, sweeter, a bit more desperate…even if they both knew he wouldn't be gone long. His hands left her shoulders to slide up her neck, cradling her face and tilting her head back a bit more. He smiled at the little whining noise she made at that, at the way her hand fisted in his hair. "That's why I like taking it, isn't it? Because it keeps you with me."

"Are you done packing?" she asked. He chuckled before kissing her again.

"Are you done in here?" he asked. She smiled up at him, and he laughed as she pulled away and spun her stool around. A moment later she had stood and was pressed against him, her arms around his waist with her chin propped against his sternum, a little smile on her face as she looked up at him.

"I can be," she said. "I'm not leaving for three weeks tomorrow morning, am I?"

"Cruel," he growled, diving in to steal another kiss. She laughed when he scooped her up, her arms scrambling to lock around his neck as he turned towards the door.

The picklace was forgotten – at least mostly forgotten – for the rest of the night. Except Luka knew, much later as he watched Marinette fall asleep in his arms, that he had to figure something out.

He wanted to marry her. He was proposing, one way or another, when he got home. He just hoped he'd be able to sneak the pick away from her long enough to use it…

Notes: Hi I'mma just Nerd Out on y'all for a moment~ So for his bracelet, I went with a Celtic pattern bc Scottish Luka. But the Sailor's Knot specifically isn't just bc he's a 'sailor'. The lore behind the Sailor's Knot goes that it was commonly woven by sailors during their long journeys at sea to remind them of their loved ones. While it's a fairly simple knot to make (just two ropes woven together), it's also one of the strongest and is meant to represent a 'bond that cannot be broken'.