Notes: Sing it with me: "You will never be satisfied – God, I hope you're satisfied!" (Did y'all know Renée Elise Goldsberry also played Mimi in the recorded final performance of RENT? Maybe if Hamilton had taken her out that night they'd both have been satisfied~)

Marinette's 29 Valentine's Days

Day Fifteen, Loop Fourteen: Satisfied

Marinette fell from her loft with a scream. Her alarm was still beeping loudly above her, but she was lying face-down on her rug. She groaned as Tikki flew down to her, flittering about worriedly as she asked if she was ok. Marinette wasn't sure she was. She felt like the akuma had drop-kicked her into the past – and maybe she had. She pushed herself up on her elbows and looked up at Tikki.

"New…plan…" she gasped. She rolled onto her back and winced, every muscle in her body sore. "We –"

"Marinette!"

Tikki dove into her hair, and she thumped her head over to find her mom had thrown her trapdoor open. Sabine was staring at her in concern, her arm still raised and holding the door open. Marinette felt Tikki settle against the back of her neck as she sat up. She bit back the pained whine that would have given away how sore she was.

"Are you all right? I heard a crash," Sabine said. Marinette laughed nervously and nodded. It was less convincing when the laugh cut off in a cough when her ribs throbbed. Sabine was already kneeling beside her, checking her over for injuries. "Did you fall, sweetheart?"

"I…yeah," Marinette sighed. She shrugged at Sabine's surprised look. "My…uh…my alarm scared me?"

"You fell from the loft?" Sabine gasped. Marinette winced, nodding again. She could understand her mom's shock: as accident-prone as she was, she had never fallen from the loft before. It was part of the reason her parents had agreed to it when she had first asked for the raised bed. Initially, she had only been allowed to keep it on a trial basis: when she proved she could sleep safely in the little alcove beneath her rooftop door, her parents had been fine moving her mattress there. Sabine frowned as she looked up to her bed, where her phone was still going off. "Are you sure you're all right, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine," Marinette sighed. She raised her arms and flexed, winking at her mom to hide her wince. "See? No harm done! It's not like it's the first time I've fallen."

…even if it was the first time she'd fallen out of her bed.

Sabine frowned, looking unconvinced. After a moment she sighed and stood.

"All right, if you're sure," she said. "Just…be more careful, dear?"

"I will, Maman," Marinette sighed. Sabine nodded and kissed her forehead before turning back towards the stairs. Above them, Marinette's alarm stopped going off.

"You have a visitor downstairs," Sabine called before heading down to the bakery. She cast one last look back to her daughter, a knowing smile on her face. Her voice was gentle, almost teasing. "Just thought you should know…"

Marinette sighed and slumped forward, wrapping her arms around her stomach. Tikki flew up to her bed to retrieve her phone, and when she went to clear her alarm Marinette was surprised to see a text waiting for her.

LC: so i wanted to come up but ma s said no

LC: are u ok? heard the crash all the way down here

LC: …happy valentine's day, btw :x

LC: (surprise?)

Her face warmed at the messages. She looked up at Tikki, but her kwami was still frowning. She held up her phone so Tikki could see the messages.

"Marinette…" Tikki said, her voice almost whining. "We have to get back to de Bretagne."

"Luka is downstairs, Tikki," Marinette said. Tikki went to argue, but Marinette beat her to it. "And Maman already came up here to wake me up. If I just escape through the roof, they're going to be suspicious. I can't just lie and say I left out the back door without saying anything to him, especially since Maman already told me he was here. How suspicious would that look?"

"Marinette –" Tikki started, but Marinette shook her head and stood. She winced, laying a hand on her side.

"I…I have a plan, Tikki," she said. "Trust me."

Tikki did trust her, but the kwami was also starting to think that was part of the problem.

A few minutes later, Marinette was slowly making her way down the stairs to the bakery. She was dressed in her Valentine's shirt, Tikki was hiding in her purse with Luka's valentine, and her backpack was slung over her shoulders. She was watching the steps in front of her, feeling a little unsteady after the morning's fall, and parting her hair when she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Morning," she called, looking up to find Luka helping her dad with the candy apples. Luka blinked when he saw her, a slow smile that made her cheeks warm spreading on his face. She frowned at him, tugging on a strand of hair. "W-what?"

"Nothing," he said. He put the apple he'd just dipped on the stand and walked over to her, holding out a hand for her hair ties. She gave them to him with a look, and he kissed her cheek before stepping behind her. "You hardly ever wear your hair down. It's always a bit of a surprise, I guess. A nice one. Just a surprise."

"It's just easier to tie it out of the way," she said. Her eyes closed as his fingers brushed through her hair.

"I get it," he said. He leaned forward and kissed the back of her head. His voice was quiet when he spoke next. "You ok? Your ma said you fell."

"I'm fine," she said, tipping her head forward when he pushed gently against the back. "You know what a klutz I am. What are you doing here, anyway?"

"It's Valentine's Day," he said. He gave a final tug, and she realized her hair was already set in her signature pigtails. She turned to face him, smiling. "Can't a guy surprise the girl he's head over heels for with a ride to school?"

"Head over heels, huh?" she laughed. The laugh cut off abruptly when he leaned in. For a moment of wild panic she recalled how he had kissed her the other morning, fiercely and with no regard for her dad watching behind them, but then his lips were pressed against her blushing cheek before he bent by her ear. His breath was a whisper against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Crazy, stupid in love with," he said easily. He kissed her cheek once more before pulling back. "If you must know."

He was smoldering at her again. She started laughing, collapsing against him and burying her face in his chest when it started burning. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close in a hug.

"H-how are you always so smooth?" she asked, her voice muffled against his shirt. His chuckle cut off in a snort.

"I am not smooth, Marinette," he laughed. "Aren't you the one who's always reminding me what a giant dork I am?"

"No, no, son – she's right," Tom called, waving an apple at him and winking. "You're pretty smooth."

She glanced up to find Luka grinning at her dad. She tugged on his shirt, making him look back at her. The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile, and before she could talk herself out of it she leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth. He blinked at her in pleasant surprise, his smile growing.

"This girl's crazy, stupid in love with you, too," she said softly to him. She leaned up to kiss his cheek before she stepped away and went to grab the box of macarons. Her face felt like it was on fire – which was stupid, how could she still blush around Luka after everything? – when she saw her dad gawking at her. She looked at her feet, grabbed the box, and was halfway back to Luka's side when Tom called for her to wait. He placed two candy apples on top of the box of macarons and grinned at her.

"I'm proud of you, sweetheart," he whispered, winking at her. She didn't know how her face could get any warmer, but it did. Tom looked back to Luka and waved. "Have a great day, kids! Have her home by a reasonable hour!"

Luka laughed and nodded, waving before following Marinette out. Marinette paused when she reached his bike.

"Wait…reasonable hour?" she asked, looking back at the bakery with a frown. "We're just going to school."

"I, uh…I may have told him I was planning on asking you out," Luka said. He took the macarons from her and fastened them onto the back of his bike. She was a little baffled and amused at how he averted his gaze, seemingly embarrassed to look at her. "On a date. Because I like you. And would really like to date you. Officially. Of course, I still have to actually ask you, and you still have to say yes, which I'm hoping you will, but there's absolutely no pressure or assumption that you would, and –"

"Luka!" she called with a laugh. He snapped his mouth shut and grinned at her, scratching his ear. She was pleased to see his cheeks were pink, too. "Ok, I take it back. Definitely not smooth."

"I told you," he chuckled. He climbed onto the bike and patted the seat behind him, holding out her helmet with the other. "C'mon. We don't want to be late."

She winced when she climbed on behind him, taking a deep breath as she wrapped her arms around his middle. He looked over his shoulder and frowned. He laid a hand over her own, squeezing a little.

"You ok?" he asked. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, trying not to wince as she stretched.

"Yeah," she said. "Just…a little sore. I fell out of bed, remember?"

He didn't look entirely convinced, or maybe he was just concerned about her. Either way, he continued to watch her instead of starting towards the school.

"Would walking be better?" he asked, sounding uncertain. She shook her head and pressed her cheek to his shoulder. It was easier than leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Just…maybe ride slow?"

He bent down to drop a kiss on the top of her helmet, and then they were off. When they reached the first intersection, she squeezed his middle.

"Hey," she called, "can we take a detour?"

"A detour?" he asked. "Aren't we supposed to be heading to school?"

"We will," she said. "I just…have to pick something up on Rue de Bretagne?"

"Rue de Bretagne? What in the world do you need there?" he asked, glancing back at her. "That's at least ten minutes out of our way."

"It's barely six," she huffed. He leaned forward, bopping his helmet against hers.

"I ride slow when a pretty girl's holding on," he whispered. She bit down on her lip and tried not to grin up at him. "Fine. I guess it doesn't matter if we're late anyway."

"Belcourt will get over it," she teased. He rolled his eyes and hung a left at the light.

Luka didn't pedal any slower than he normally would, but he also didn't rush to reach their new destination. Despite it being a Friday and the time people were typically leaving for work and school, the streets were relatively clear. Overall, it took maybe about eight minutes for Luka to turn onto Rue de Bretagne. Marinette tapped his shoulder and pointed to the flower shop a few buildings down. Geoff was just exiting, smiling at the bouquet of daisies as he adjusted the card in the bouquet.

"There!" Marinette called. She couldn't see Luka frowning.

"A flower shop?" he asked. "You're picking up flowers? Wait. Did you want me to get you flowers?"

"You can get me flowers later," she said, her voice urgent and distracted. Flowers were the last thing on her mind at the moment. "I need to talk to that guy!"

"…ok," Luka said, pedaling a bit faster. He pulled to a stop before the shop, startling Geoff from whatever he'd been typing on his phone. Marinette hopped off the bike, wincing a little as she landed, and ran over to him. She didn't see the worried way Luka was watching her.

"Geoff!" she called. Geoff's green eyes widened.

"Uh…yeah? Can I help you?" he asked. He frowned, looking her over. "…er, do I know you?"

"Yes, and no," Marinette said. She gestured to the flowers he was holding. She didn't have time for Twenty Questions when the akuma was going to be there any minute. "Are those for Hannah?"

"…you know Hannah?" he asked, and she nodded. He looked at the bouquet, smiling a little. "Yeah, they're for Hannah. I…um…I was going to surprise her for Valentine's Day."

"Do you like her?" Marinette asked, her eyes narrowing. Geoff's eyebrows rose.

"Sorry?" he asked, laughing nervously. Marinette placed her hands on her hips and tipped her head towards the building across the street.

"Do you like her?" she asked, enunciating each word slowly and carefully. "Because I have it on good authority she likes you. She really likes you. And –!"

"Marinette!" Luka said harshly, suddenly behind her and pulling her away from Geoff. Geoff looked more confused than ever, but a disbelieving smile was trying to break through the confusion on his face. Luka's grip tightened on her shoulder, gripping her almost painfully. "What the hell? You can't –"

"Luka, I love you, but please –" she tried, but he was already cutting her off.

"You're acting like Rose," he said, frowning. He glanced at Geoff, then back at her. He was actually glaring at her. "If he likes this Hannah, shouldn't it be his place to tell her? Or hers to tell him? Let it be, Marinette. Give them a chance. Don't…look. I love her to death – you know I do – but don't be Rose."

"Hannah and Geoff need a chance! Just…just give them a chance!"

…a chance. More time. But Marinette was sick of time. If they got together first thing, then what could possibly go wrong? Wouldn't the akuma just let the day end? Wasn't it worth a chance – didn't she deserve that chance? But she knew, deep down, Luka was right. If it was going to work, it had to happen organically, on their terms, and she couldn't…she couldn't be Rose.

She looked back to find Geoff was looking at his phone again. When he saw her watching him, he gestured to the flats.

"So…I'm gonna just…go see Hannah," he said. "Um. It was nice meeting you, but…look I'm sure you're late for school, kid. We're going to be late for work if we don't hurry. So…bye."

He paused before crossing the street.

"Look…" he sighed, fiddling with the card again. "…thank you. I do like her, ok? I've been trying to build up the nerve to confess for months now. I guess…Valentine's Day seemed like the perfect day for a new beginning, you know?"

She did. She knew that all too well.

Before he could leave, she rushed over to Luka's bike and grabbed one of the candy apples out of the basket. She handed it to Geoff with a smile.

"Good luck," she said. He smiled in thanks, and then he was gone. She looked back at Luka with a small smile. "Sorry."

"Wanna tell me what that was about?" he asked. He still looked annoyed, which only made her feel guilty. She had dragged him into this without any explanation, and now…as far as he knew, they were going to be late for school for absolutely no good reason. No wonder he was annoyed with her, she thought with a shake of her head. "Marinette."

"Just…trying to help out a friend," she sighed. She stepped up to him and held up her arms, silently asking for his forgiveness. He shook his head and pulled her to him in a hug. She pressed her face against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent. "Sorry. You're right. Love has to happen on its own, doesn't it?"

"It's usually best that way," he said. He sounded weary. "I mean, it took us a year, but we're in a pretty good place now, right?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "I guess –"

A scream echoed from the rooftops above them. Panic jolted through her, and she tried to jump away, but he held onto her as their heads snapped up to scan the skies. She couldn't see anything from the street – everything looked clear down here. Nothing was along the edge of the flower shop's roof or any of the adjacent stores. Her eyes narrowed as she searched for the akuma, but then Luka was cursing and huddling around her, jerking her towards the shop's wall as he faced his back to the flats. Light was spilling from a window on the corner of the fourth story, flooding down the building and racing towards them. She pressed her face against his chest, mentally cursing herself as the light swallowed them up.