22 August 2019

Prompt: Summer (Word)

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Character/Pairing: Tom Dupain, Sabine Cheng, Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Rating: K / G / All Ages

Notes: You know what sucks? Starting the school year on a Thursday, with a two-hour delay schedule (that just like…messes everything up – it's great when you're a student, but it sucks when you're staff), so that you come home wiped and are just like…"WHY IS IT NOT FRIDAY?" (…that has nothing to do with this other than I'm just whining and this is short because I came home and took a Nap. Like an Adult.)

"Yes, can I help…?" Tom's greeting trailed off, his jovial smile replaced with a concerned frown, as he took in the teen who'd been kicking at his door. His eyes trailed critically over the tip-dyed hair, the beanie covering the hair (despite the fact that it had been a warmer than usual day), the ripped jeans, the loose tank with Jagged Stone's face on it, the piercings (…ok, it was just his ears, but Tom had a feeling there would be more before long), the heavy boots (again, despite the warm weather)…and the Marinette slumped over his back (which explained why he'd been kicking instead of knocking, but still). She was asleep, her face nuzzled against the boy's neck, and every inch of exposed skin – from the arms curled around his neck to the legs he was supporting with his own arms – was bright, sun-burnt red.

"Evening, sir," the boy said with a nod. Tom was still frowning. The boy shifted, adjusting his grip on Tom's daughter, and diverted his gaze. (One of the few perks of being a big man was the Intimidation Factor, especially when it came to boys and his daughter.) "I…uh…I'm just bringing Mari home?"

Mari? Tom thought with narrowed eyes. Who was this boy that was familiar enough with his daughter to call her Mari, and why didn't he know him?

"We kinda lost track of time, and she got burnt pretty bad, and it kinda wiped her out…" the boy rambled. "Her phone died, and the only number any of us had was hers, and when we tried to call the bakery –"

"Was closed," Tom said, folding his arms over his chest. "We switch to an answering service at night so after-hour calls don't disturb our home."

"Yeah," the boy said, nodding. Mari groaned in her sleep and cuddled closer to him. He seemed to get over his nerves when he looked at her, his entire face softening as he watched her sleep. "I just wanted to make sure she got home safe."

"And you are…?" Tom asked. The boy winced, the nerves returning.

"Right," he said. "Sorry. Luka. I'm her…I'm Juleka's brother?"

"Oh! The musician!" Tom said. Luka blinked in surprise as Tom's entire demeanor changed. He stepped aside and waved him inside. "Yes, yes – come in! Marinette's told us so much about you! I'm so sorry. My wife says I have a bit of an over-protective streak, but you can never be too careful these days. What happened, again?"

The boy – Luka, he reminded himself – was smiling nervously as he carried Marinette inside, like he was all too aware of how over-protective Tom could be.

"Here – you live by the river, right? That's a long way to carry someone. Let me take her," Tom said, moving to remove Marinette from Luka's back. Marinette groaned in her sleep and clung to Luka tighter.

"It's ok," Luka said quickly, stepping back. Tom's frown returned. "I mean…she's not…I've got her."

"Tom? Who was at the door?" Sabine called as she came over. Her face lit up when she saw Luka. "Oh! Luka! It's so good to see you again! Goodness, what happened? Is Marinette all right?"

"Good evening, ma'am," Luka said, nodding in greeting.

"Sabine, please!" she said, and he smiled slightly.

"Wait – you know him? We've met him?" Tom asked, looking between the teen and his wife. Sabine rolled her eyes and patted his arm.

"Of course, Tom," she said fondly. "Luka is Juleka's brother? Part of Kitty Section? Marinette helps with their sets and costumes. He's been over with the band."

"Where was I when this happened?" Tom asked, frowning.

"Working," Sabine laughed. "He's also visited Marinette in the bakery before, dear. Now, Luka, what happened?"

"Mari was hanging at the boat with us," he said. "She got a little…a lot sunburnt, and we all kinda lost track of time?"

"It happens – it's summer, after all," Sabine said fondly. She brushed her daughter's bangs back and winced at how red her face was.

"Her phone died, and none of us actually had your home number," Luka said. "I was gonna bring her home sooner, but she was kinda out of it from the sun, and she needed the rest, and –"

"Luka, Luka, it's fine!" Sabine laughed. "Thank you for seeing her home safely and watching out for her. She doesn't always remember her sunscreen when she should."

"She did," he said quickly. He smiled slightly and shrugged. "…she just forgot to reapply."

"That sounds like Marinette," Tom chuckled. He held his arms out. "Here, son. Hand her over. I'm going to have an easier time getting her to her bed than you are."

He looked uncertain, but after a moment he nodded and let Tom take her from his back. Tom noticed Marinette's flip-flops were in Luka's hand (he also noticed the chipped nail polish and bracelets). Marinette groaned and curled against him, and Luka reached out to brush her bangs back. He looked like he didn't want to leave – like…

"We'll have her call you in the morning, dear," Sabine said, placing an arm on his shoulder. She took Marinette's shoes from him and led him back to the door. "Thank you again for taking care of her."

"She was kinda queasy earlier," Tom heard Luka say, but he was already halfway up the steps to Marinette's room. "I think it was just the sun, and she didn't throw up, but she really wasn't feeling great."

"We'll keep an eye on her. Now, I know Anarka's a bit more free-spirited than we are, but she's still you're mother and I'm sure she's going to worry if you don't get home soon," he heard Sabine say. There was a bit more muffled conversation – he thought he heard Sabine giving Luka their home number – as he moved around Marinette's room. He placed her on the chaise, thinking it would be safer than her bed if she still wasn't feeling well when she woke up, and placed an empty trash can beside her. Her purse was placed by her desk, her phone pulled out and placed on the charger, and after a final check he made his way back downstairs. Luka was gone, and Sabine was waiting for him by the counter. There was a fond smile on her face that she was trying to hide with her teacup.

"So –" he started, and she shook his head.

"I like that boy, Tom," she said, still smiling at him. It was the kind of smile that told him he was not to interfere and exactly what would happen if he did. "I really like that boy, and Mari does, too."

"But I thought she liked Adrien!" Tom said. He leaned on the counter across from her, frowning. "When did our baby girl start liking bad boys?"

Sabine snorted, choking slightly on her tea, before laying a hand on Tom's.

"Luka's not a bad boy, Tom," she laughed. "He's…a blueberry. Sweet, with just enough edge to make it interesting."

"But Adrien is…the perfect fluffy choux, with a sweet cream filling and –" he started, but the roll of her eyes made him stop. "Are they…dating?"

"Not yet," she hummed, sipping her tea, "but…summer's not over yet."

Tom glanced up at the trap door that led to his daughter's bedroom and sighed. They were just getting over that Chat Noir fiasco, and now…he missed the simpler days, when his baby girl was still a baby girl and he didn't have to worry about boys.