Notes: The good news: class is officially OVER and I'm looking at some glorious time to catch up on this beast. Aaaaand…I see the length. I see the looks. And look. Guys. Fam. Y'all. Sometimes you need long, elaborate loops where lots o' stuff happens. Sometimes you just need to drop a piano on Dean Winchester and call it a day.

Marinette's 29 Valentine's Days

Day Nine, Loop Eight: Letters

Marinette woke with little preamble, her hand reaching for her alarm as a sigh slipped past her lips. She ignored Tikki's concerned looks as she climbed down from her loft and gathered her things for the day. When she was dressed, backpack on, and Luka's valentine in her bag, she wordlessly held her purse open for Tikki.

"Marinette, I –" Tikki started, but Marinette just shook her head.

"I know, Tikki," she said. She bit her lower lip and hesitated, just a moment. "…I'm sorry, too. Let's just finish this."

Tikki nodded and zipped into her purse. Marinette threw her brightest smile on her face and headed downstairs.

The smile slipped a little when she entered the back of the bakery and heard her dad singing along with that Hall and Oates song she was really starting to hate. It slipped a bit more when Luka wasn't sitting at the table with her dad. It disappeared entirely when her mom walked past her on her way to the front and handed her a postcard with a kiss to her cheek.

"Someone had an early-morning visitor," Sabine said with a teasing giggle before returning to her customers. Marinette blinked and looked down at the card, her eyebrows soaring as she recognized the outside of the café. The photo was from one of the warmer months, and people were sitting at the outdoor tables. An empty table had been circled with a heart in thick silver marker, and two words had been scrawled across the top in familiar, messy handwriting.

Valentine's Date?

Her heart fluttered as she flipped the card over. The back was blank, but there was no doubt in her mind the card was from Luka. Her dad cleared his throat, and she looked up to find him standing before her with the box of macarons in hand. Two candy apples were sitting on top of it.

"You better get going before you're late, sweetheart," Tom said. Marinette opened her mouth to ask about the card, or more specifically to ask about Luka, and Tom smiled and shook his head. "He also asked us to apologize for not staying, but apparently he's busy with some last-minute surprise for you."

Tom winked at her, making her blush, before adding, "…not that I was supposed to tell you that. Not that I did tell you that."

She looked down as she took the box, her smile returning, and Tom continued whistling as he returned to his apples. Marinette was almost out the back door when he called, "Good luck, sweetheart!"

Once outside, she did pause to double-check the sidewalk. Even with the postcard, even after her dad had told her Luka was busy with some last-minute preparations, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when she didn't see him or his bike waiting for her. She tucked the box of macarons under one arm and pulled out her phone, pulling up his text chain before she started walking.

MDC: Hey you. :)

MDC: I got your postcard.

MDC: A Valentine's date sounds great!

She paused at the corner, waiting for the light to change, and stared at her last text. She chewed on her lip for a moment before deleting it.

MDC: I'd love to go on a date with you.

MDC: We can talk details at school?

Satisfied, she tucked her phone back into her pocket and crossed the street. When she reached the school, she immediately started scanning the grounds for Luka. He was nowhere to be seen.

"Mari! Oi, baby girl! Over here!"

Her attention was called back to the wall by the steps with Dingo's shout. He was sitting next to Juleka and waving her over. Rose and Brielle were looking at something on Rose's phone on the steps beside them.

"Hey, guys," Marinette greeted. She looked around the courtyard again, frowning. "Where's Luka?"

"Oooooh, got his little love note, did ya?" Dingo snickered, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. Juleka elbowed him, and his grin grew. "What? He said he was dropping it off at the bakery. Of course she got it."

He paused and looked back at Marinette, popping his sunglasses up and narrowing brown eyes at her.

"…you did get it, right? I didn't just blow the whole thing, did I?" he asked. Marinette rolled her eyes and held up the postcard.

"I got it," she said. She put the card back on top of the macaron box and pulled out her phone. He hadn't replied to her messages yet. "I texted him, but he hasn't said anything yet. Where is he?"

"It's a surprise," Juleka mumbled, though she was grinning. She crossed her ankles and leaned back, grinning down at Marinette. "He's here, though."

Marinette puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Sure, he was here, but he wasn't here. She'd been hoping to talk to him before class.

"Is he joining us for lunch at least?" she sighed.

"Maaaaaybe," Dingo sing-songed. He looked up, pushing out his lip in a thoughtful expression. "Well. I don't know, actually – he said something about a group project, but he might blow it off."

"You'll see him soon enough," Brielle said, reaching over to pick up the postcard. She smiled as she looked at it. "Aw. He's such a sap. Juleka's right: you two are disgusting. I love it."

"Told you," Juleka hummed. Dingo looked down at Brielle, tapping her shoulder.

"Wait, you like that shit?" he asked. Brielle hummed and put the postcard back on the box.

"We have time before the bell," she said. "He wanted to talk to you before class, so he should be here soon. He's just…well, you'll see."

Marinette frowned.

"Bri, c'mon," Dingo said before Marinette could ask any more questions. He tapped Brielle's shoulder again, shaking her a bit when she pretended to ignore him. "Do you like that sappy love note shit? Do you…what the hell is that?"

They all looked up at that. Dingo was no longer looking at Brielle. He had jumped up on the wall and ripped the sunglasses completely from his head. He was gawking into the distance, and Marinette felt her stomach drop.

No.

There was no way.

It was entirely too early – the day had barely begun!

And yet, when she turned around to see what Dingo was gawking at, she was completely unsurprised to find a wall of light rushing towards them. The last thing she heard before the light overtook the school was Dingo's flabbergasted shout.

"What the shi-?!"