Notes: Just a reminder: all of these chapters ARE connected. Also I can safely promise that no one will die in this fic. Things may get a little…damaged, but nobody dies. (Note: Luka is "things". I'm not even sorry. I love this chapter.)

Marinette's 29 Valentine's Days

Day Three, Loop Two: Candy Hearts

Marinette didn't want to wake up. She'd been having the best dream.

She had been dreaming of Valentine's Day, and it had gone perfectly. Luka had picked her up for school, and he had asked her out. On a date-date, not just a coffee-not-really-a-date-confession-date. He had kissed her, multiple times, throughout the day, and even though they were chaste little cheek kisses he had kissed her for real after school. And at their café. And he had told her he loved her before she had laughed and given him his Valentine.

"It seems kind of silly now," she had told him in her dream, sitting on his lap with her head on his shoulder as he held her hand. "I had this whole big…not a plan, but plan enough. I was going to give you this and tell you I like you."

He had grinned at her as he ate a chocolate, and she remembered feeling butterflies at the look in his eyes.

"But you're right. It's easy, and I shouldn't have been nervous," she'd said, and when she'd kissed him he tasted like coffee and chocolate.

And she hadn't been nervous around him at all.

It had been a good dream.

A great dream.

But the glaring screen on her phone confirmed that it had been, in fact, just a dream, and now she had to wake up and blunder her way through the real thing. She was feeling butterflies again, but she wasn't so sure they weren't the purple kind this time. Despite the great dream, which should have meant a great sleep, she was exhausted, and the fact that it was Friday, 14 February, meant that she had school. And she still had to confess to Luka after school.

And that was only if he agreed to get coffee with her.

"Tikki, can I just stay in bed?" she whined from under her pillow. She heard her kwami's giggle before the tiny red god tugged at her fingers, trying to move them from where they held her pillow in place. She peeked out to find Tikki smiling at her.

"Come on, Marinette – it's Valentine's Day!" she cheered, doing a little back-flip in the air. "Aren't you excited? You're finally going to tell Luka how you feel today!"

Marinette smiled, bringing her hand up to place her fingers on her lips. She knew it was only a dream, but Dream Luka had been a great kisser…and she was certain Real Luka would be even better. A manic giggle escaped her, and she pressed her face back into her pillow before kicking her feet.

Ok, new plan: not only was she going to tell Luka Couffaine she liked him by the end of the day, but she was going to kiss him, too.

She sang along with her radio as she got ready for the day, a giddy smile plastered to her face. As she grabbed Luka's chocolates and placed them in her purse, she realized she couldn't remember why she had been so nervous the day before. She knew Luka liked her – or at least he used to, not so very long ago – and she was pretty sure he still did. The only reason he hadn't made a move yet was because he was respecting her and giving her time to deal with her feelings for Adrien, but those hadn't been an issue for a while now. So…really, she had no reason to be nervous. Everything was going to be fine. It was just Luka.

She bit her lip, giggling again as she remembered the dream kisses. She was being silly. Ridiculous. It was just Luka, and she was just Marinette, and they were just them, and by the end of the day…she pulled out her phone as she slipped her backpack on and started down the steps.

MDC: Hey girl! Sorry about the freak-out last night.

MDC: I'm gonna tell Luka I like him today, and everything is going to be GREAT.

MDC: (Happy Valentine's Day. :) )

She was entering the bakery by the time Alya responded.

AC: woo-hoo! That's my girl – go get im!

Marinette laughed and went to put her phone back in her bag, practically skipping over to her dad to greet him with a hug.

"Morning, Papa!" she said cheerfully. He laughed as she scooped up the box of macarons, turning down the radio that had just started playing an old Hall and Oates song. Marinette frowned as a feeling of déjà vu came over her. She half expected Tom to scoop her up in a dance as he sang along, but all he did was place two candy apples on top of her macarons. Her frown deepened as she took them. "Two?"

He glanced behind her, a knowing smile appearing beneath his mustache, and winked at her before turning back to the apples he was still dipping. She turned around with a shrug, and she froze as she saw Luka leaning against the wall by the door. His head was tipped back against the wall, eyes closed, with his arms folded over his chest and a leg propped up against the wall. He almost looked like he was sleeping, and when she stopped in front of him she paused to wonder if he was.

He…looked like he needed it, if she was being honest. There were bruises under his eyes, just faint enough to make her worry. She wondered if he had slept the night before. She wondered if maybe she should still ask him out or just insist he head straight home after school – if he should even go to school.

"Luka?" she asked, making him jump. He was smiling when he looked down at her, though that did little to ease her concern. "What are you doing here? And more importantly, are you ok? You look…tired."

It was the nicest way she could tell him he looked like crap.

"M'fine," he mumbled, standing up and rubbing at his eyes. They were a bit clearer when he looked back at her. "Yesterday you said you were bringing macarons. Thought you might like a ride."

She put the box of macarons on the windowsill beside him and reached up, cupping his face with her hands. She brushed a thumb beneath his eye, against the faint shadow, and frowned when he closed his eyes and sighed. He leaned into her touch, his hands coming up automatically to rest against her own. His thumbs rubbed against her wrists, a steadying gesture, and she bit her lip.

"I don't think you should be riding anywhere, Luka," she said. "I'm amazed you made it here in one piece."

"I'll be fine, darning," he said, his voice low and sluggish. Her brow furrowed at the endearment, something tugging at the back of her mind…

"…darning?"

"What? I thought it was cute. Like darling, but better, because you sew."

"…oh my God, you are sucha dork! How long have you been sitting on that one?"

He opened his eyes and gave her a lazy smile, and suddenly the butterflies were back in force. She realized, belatedly, that she was still holding his face, and she swallowed before pulling her hands back. He slipped his grip from her wrists to her hands, locking their fingers together and squeezing.

"I love you, too, darning."

She sucked her lower lip between her teeth, biting down slightly. His eyes dropped to her mouth, and she cleared her throat before she could get any more distracted. She had never noticed him stare at her mouth like that before…

"You know," she said, clearing her throat again when her voice came out an octave higher than she intended, "I was going to ask if you wanted to get some coffee after school, but maybe we should get some now? You look like you need sleep, Luka."

He bent down, pressing his forehead against hers, his eyes closing again. His lips quirked up in a smile.

"…would you believe I've already had two cups this morning?" he whispered, and her eyes snapped open to gawk at him. "M. Belcourt's going to kill me. I've got Theory first thing."

"I'd like to get coffee now, but school's going to start soon and I've already had a cup this morning. I've got Theory first thing, and Belcourt will kill me if I drink that much caffeine before class."

Her brow furrowed again at the niggling in her mind. He opened his eyes and leaned back, bringing up a thumb to rub against her forehead, smoothing her frown.

"What's got you thinking so hard, darning?" he asked. She shook her head and gave him her best smile.

"…nothing. Just…nothing," she said, shaking her head again. His mouth quirked in a lopsided smile, but before either could say anything Sabine was by their side. She grasped their shoulders and looked between them.

"All right, you two," she said fondly. "I know it's Valentine's Day, and as adorable as you are, if you don't get a move on you'll be late for school."

"M-Maman!" she gasped, but Sabine ignored her and turned to Luka.

"Dear, leave your bike with us," she said. He went to protest, but she shook her head. "Marinette's right. You look exhausted, and you shouldn't be riding right now. Hopefully the walk will wake you up."

He nodded with a sigh and grabbed the macarons. He stuck his elbow out for Marinette.

"Ready?" he asked. She rolled her eyes and looped her arm through his.

"I was serious, though," she said before they could leave. "Would you like to? Get coffee with me after school?"

"There's no one else I'd rather spend Valentine's Day with," he said, opening the door for her. She bit down on her lip again, but she couldn't hide the smile spreading on her face. She was beaming. She glanced back at her mother as they stepped out onto the street, and Sabine grinned back at her as she gave her a thumbs up.

– V –

Marinette had been distracted all day.

They had made it to school just in time for the bell, partly because they'd been walking and partly because they'd been walking slowly, thanks to Luka's exhaustion. When she'd pestered him about it again, he'd kissed her forehead and told her not to worry.

"I didn't sleep well last night," he'd finally said. He dipped down a little, winking at her. "Can you keep a secret? I was just a little excited about today. Kept waking up all night."

"You were excited about Valentine's Day?" she'd asked, bemused. He stood straighter and smiled, keeping his gaze on the sidewalk ahead of them. "But you said yesterday you didn't have plans for today. That's why I asked you to coffee. Did…that didn't change, did it?"

"Well, if you really want to know," he'd said, pausing to yawn and pointedly ignoring the look she gave him when he did, "I was going to ask you, if you hadn't beat me to it."

That had stunned her a little, until he'd glanced down at her and added, "Everyone else had Valentine's plans, and we were the odd ones out. If you didn't have plans, and I didn't have plans, why not make plans together?"

"Y-yeah," she'd mumbled, looking back down at her shoes with a frown. "That's exactly what I'd been thinking…"

Except it hadn't been, because that had just been her excuse. Was it possible it was just an excuse for him, too? She wasn't so sure anymore. The confidence she'd felt in the morning had faded fast, and it didn't help that Luka had still looked beat when they'd reached the school.

"Here," she'd said, holding out the macarons to him. He'd raised an eyebrow and grabbed one, even as she was putting one of the candy apples in his backpack. "I don't think the caffeine's helping. Maybe a sugar rush will do?"

He'd surprised her when he pulled her into a tight hug. That wasn't really odd for them (they hugged all the time), but what had been surprising was the mumbled words muffled against her neck: "You're the best, Mari. What would I do without you?"

He was acting like a boyfriend. And yes, that was the ultimate plan – goal – whatever for the day, but…she felt like she was three steps behind. They'd always been close, and he'd told her he liked her months ago, but she hadn't told him the same, had she? Not yet, at least. That was the whole point of afternoon coffee!

And, of course, there was that nagging feeling that she'd already struggled with this before…

He didn't make it to lunch. Dingo had said he had a group project, though he wasn't sure how useful he'd be to them since he'd been a zombie all day. Marinette had frowned at that, asking if he had perked up at all through the morning, and Brielle had just smiled coyly at her and told her yes, any time he'd mentioned how they had plans after school. Marinette, trying to ignore Brielle's smirk, had sent him a quick text, reminding him to eat something so he wasn't starving all day, and he'd sent back a winking emoji and told her the candy apple was just enough apple to keep him full and just enough candy to make the sugar rush last. She'd been so distracted by his text that she didn't notice Dingo grab the last of the macarons, though Brielle did slap the back of his head when Marinette had whined that the toasted marshmallow ones had been for Luka, not him.

By the time the last classes of the day had let out and she saw him waving at her from the entrance, he looked worlds better. Still tired, but more alive.

"You made it!" she cheered from where she was waiting on the sidewalk. He chuckled as he approached her, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. He pulled her towards him when he reached her, sighing happily as he pressed his face against her shoulder. She giggled nervously and wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back uncertainly.

"Someone promised me coffee," he said. He sighed and adjusted his head, resting his cheek against her shoulder and pressing his head against her own. "I've been so tired the thought of coffee with you was the only thing getting me through."

"I-is that so?" she asked. He hummed, nodding, and she giggled again as she gave him a squeeze. "Well, we should get going, then. I think my favorite guitarist needs some caffeine."

He grinned as he pulled away from her. He grabbed her hand and started walking away from the school, and she smiled as she followed after him. She was finding she liked holding his hand.

"Your favorite guitarist?" he quipped, glancing down at her. She felt her cheeks warm. He squeezed her hand. "Don't let Jagged know. I'll be he's got a jealous streak a mile wide."

"Oh, he knows you're my favorite," she said primly. She winked at him. "I think he even ships it."

Luka stumbled slightly, his eyes going wide and cheeks dusting pink, but she just smiled and kept her gaze ahead of them. They continued on in silence for a bit after that. He continued to gawk at her, and she continued to ignore him. As they neared their café, she heard his stomach grumble and finally faced him again. His face was still red.

"…coffee and food, then," she said. She nudged his arm with her shoulder, shooting a worried look towards his stomach. "You said you ate."

"A candy apple, and it was delicious," he said. He winced as his stomach made another noise. "I could use some real food, though."

"I owe you some macarons," she said thoughtfully. "Dingo was a jerk and ate yours."

"Dingo is a bottomless pit with legs," Luka laughed. She snickered at that, and he smiled as he squeezed her hand. He nodded ahead of them, where their café was waiting across the street. Marinette frowned as she noticed how packed it was, and yet somehow that didn't surprise her, either. It was Valentine's Day, after all. "Seriously. His stomach is a black hole. Anyway, they make great sandwiches. I'll be fine."

"I should have expected them to be busy," she sighed as they crossed the street. Even the outdoor tables were taken. "How about you grab us a table and I'll get the coffee?"

"You find the table," he said. She frowned at him.

"Luka, I was the one who asked you out," she said. She froze when she realized what she'd said, especially when she noticed the grin he was giving her. "I-I mean, for coffee. I asked you to get coffee with me. So-o let me pay."

"Nope," he said, placing both hands on her shoulders and leaning in to kiss her forehead. She felt her face getting hot again. "Besides, didn't I tell you I was going to ask you out if you hadn't asked first? Let me be a gentleman here and get my girl some coffee."

"Y-your girl?" she squeaked. He pulled back and opened the door, smiling at her in lieu of an answer. She pushed out a breath and gripped the straps of her backpack, shooting him an annoyed look as she crossed under his arm. He reached out before she could get too far and caught her hand again, making her look back at him.

"Hey…any special requests?" he asked. When she frowned at him, he shrugged. "Not feeling like an iced coffee or something, are you?"

"An iced coffee?" she asked, her eyebrows soaring. She reached up to lay a hand on his forehead, grinning as he rolled his eyes. "Maybe you are coming down with something. Luka, it's freezing outside. Why would I want an iced coffee?"

He rolled his eyes again and nudged her forward when another group came up to the entrance behind him.

"All right, all right," he groused. "Go find that table. Forgive me for trying to be considerate. Just…I don't know. Had a feeling."

She did, too, if she was being honest, because an iced coffee sounded like a great idea. But it was freezing out, and even if it was warm in the café – warmer still with all the extra bodies – she'd still prefer a nice, hot tea over an iced coffee.

"Maybe a tea," she called out as she walked away. "Instead of a coffee. But still a hot one!"

The only table she could find was back in the corner by the bathrooms. There was a group leaving the table beside it, and while she was tempted to grab that one instead the group had left it a little…messy. She sighed and looked back at Luka, gesturing at the table and the hall to the bathrooms helplessly, but he just smiled and sent her a thumbs up before the barista called him to the counter. She looked back at the table and bit her lip. She supposed it could be worse.

She slid into the chair by the other table, figuring Luka would have more room in the other chair, and reached into her purse for his chocolates. Tikki grinned up at her encouragingly as she handed her the box.

"Good luck, Marinette!" she cheered. Marinette giggled and ran a finger along the kwami's head.

"You are luck, Tikki," she whispered. Her smile warmed as she thought back to their conversation at the door. "Besides…I'm his girl, apparently."

They grinned at each other, and Tikki darted deeper into the purse with a giggle when they heard Luka approaching. He raised an eyebrow as Marinette put the box on the table by his chair.

"I got our order to go, just in case you wanted to find somewhere quieter," he said, handing her a takeaway cup with her favorite tea in it. She hummed as she inhaled the steam, her smile growing. "What's this?"

"This is fine," she said. She glanced behind her as another couple claimed the table behind them, scooting closer to the wall as a girl with long auburn hair sat behind her. She looked as nervous as Marinette felt, or felt she should feel. She turned back to Luka and wrapped her hands around her cup, sighing at the warmth. "And that's for you. For…you know. Valentine's Day."

She looked down, unable to hold his gaze as a blush stained her cheeks. She went to drink her tea, but he put a finger against the lid.

"Careful – it's hot," he said absently. She smiled at him and took a small sip, grateful for the reminder. It was really hot. He pulled his chair out, put his own cup on the table, and held out a treat bag to her with a chuckle and shake of his head. He sat down and opened his sandwich, glancing up at her as he took a bite. She pulled a heart-shaped macaron from the bag – cherry, if the smell and color were anything to go by. She looked up at him with a laugh, and he shrugged.

"I doubt they're as good as yours," he said nonchalantly, "but there's a whole display of them by the register, and I didn't come prepared."

"You…thank you," she laughed. It probably wasn't as good as hers, and it definitely wouldn't be as good as her papa's, but it was the thought that mattered. She placed it on the table, tracing a finger along the ganache stripes drizzled along the top. "Dork."

"So far today you've given me a candy apple, a macaron, and now whatever's in here," he said, holding up the box. "Not that I'm complaining or ungrateful or anything. I just feel like I have some catching up to do."

She smiled and looked back at her tea, flexing her fingers in a slight squeeze. She supposed it was now or never. If she didn't say anything, he was just going to open the card and find out anyway. She opened her mouth to say something, and –

"Mine!" the girl sitting behind her cried, and Marinette froze as Luka looked behind her. She felt like a bucket of ice had been dumped into her veins as she listened to the girl ramble on, her voice just shy of a panicked shriek. "That is, be mine! I mean, not mine-mine, but…y'know –"

"…conversation hearts…" Marinette whispered, her wide eyes staring ahead of her. She had heard this conversation before. She'd heard Luka…Luka was chuckling, looking at the couple with a sympathetic grin.

"Man, brutal," he said quietly. He looked back at her, and that feeling hit her again. Like a lead weight dropping into the pit of her stomach, even though he was smiling warmly at her. "I can't –"

"No, wait!" she cried, lurching forward with her hands out to stop him – but she had forgotten she'd been holding her tea. Her eyes widened in horror as she flung her scalding hot tea at him, the lid flying off as it bounced on the table and poured into his lap. He cursed as he leapt back a second too late, his chair skidding into the wall as he gripped the molding around the doorway that led to the restrooms. She gawked at his lap in horror – and then a different kind of mortification as she realized she was staring at his crotch and jerked her eyes up to his face. He was gritting his teeth, a pained smile on his lips as he took a few steadying breaths. She slapped her hands over her mouth, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. "Oh my God. Luka, I am so –"

"It's…it's fine," he said through a wince. He stood a little straighter and jabbed a thumb towards the bathroom. "I'll be right back. Honestly, Mari. It was an accident. It's fine."

Except it wasn't, she couldn't help but think, because she'd just dumped hot tea on his…she groaned and buried her face in her hands when he smiled at her again before heading towards the back. She slumped forward onto the table once he was gone, hiding her head in her arms and banging her forehead against the table. Her self-deprecating mental tirade was cut off by the girl behind her shoving her against the table in her rush to flee her own failing date. Marinette looked up to say something when she noticed that the last bump had also made Luka's coffee spill, and not only was the drink dripping onto the floor but it was also soaking into the card he hadn't even opened yet.

It was the final straw.

This was officially the worst Valentine's Day ever.

With a frustrated whine, and completely ignoring Tikki's concerned questioning of whether or not she was ok, she shoved away from the table and fled the café. Once she was outside, she stopped by the streetlamp and pressed her forehead against the cold metal, raising her arms to cover her head. She felt a tugging on her scarf and ignored it. She couldn't go back inside. She couldn't face him. What the hell had she been thinking, trying to confess on Valentine's Day? What did she…

"Marinette!" Tikki's shrill voice cut in. "Stop it – you're over-reacting!"

"No, I'm not," she grumbled. Tikki tugged on her scarf again.

"What's Luka going to think when he comes back and you're gone? Don't do that to him, Marinette!" Tikki begged.

"He deserves better," she whined. Tikki zipped out of her purse and ducked beneath her arms, hovering a few inches from her face. Her kwami's expression softened when she saw the tears on Marinette's cheeks.

"He doesn't think so," Tikki reminded her softly. "You can still salvage this, Marinette, but you have to go back in there. It will hurt him more if you don't."

Marinette bit her lip as Tikki placed a paw on her cheek. She nodded slightly, and Tikki smiled as she stood straighter. She cupped her hands around her kwami, hiding her from sight, and Tikki nuzzled against her.

"You're right," she sighed. "What would I do without you, Tikki? You're…"

But when she looked up, a painfully familiar purple butterfly was flapping its way across the sky.

"Akuma!" she hissed, and Tikki looked up just as the akuma flew overhead, continuing on across the street. Marinette groaned and looked down at her. "Luka's going to have to wait. We have to…"

But when she looked back up, the akuma was gone. With terrified eyes, she anxiously searched the sky for any trace of the little butterfly, but she had lost it. She whirled around, her stomach sinking as she scanned the café behind her. Luka had returned from the bathroom, and he was standing over their empty table with…oh, God. The look on his face was killing her. He was reading something, and she realized too late that it was the ruined card. Her stomach twisted painfully as he looked up, desperately searching the crowded café, until his gaze found hers through the window. His eyebrows furrowed, his lips pursing with a question, but then someone was screaming behind her, and he was looking at her with horror instead of heartbreak.

She turned just in time to be hit by a wall of light.