AN: So, as promised, more Lukanette content.
This chapter kept growing and growing until I decided to split it in half. But they're just too cute.

. o O o .

Chapter 10: The Date (1/2)

"Ooh, Tikki, what am I supposed to do?"

Fidgety like the nervous wreck she was, Marinette couldn't stop walking up and down in her room, hands pulling at her hair. This was going to be a disaster. Why, oh, why had she decided to go to Luka and ask him for a date? If she was already this nervous before he even came to pick her up, how was she supposed to actually talk to him later? What if, by admitting her feelings for him to herself, she'd brought the same curse down on herself that prevented her from talking to Adrien?

"I think you should calm down," Tikki said in her usual cheerful tone. "Don't panic before you know what will happen. You never had a problem with talking to Luka, and this morning, it went well, too."

"More or less," Marinette muttered. She still wanted to hide somewhere when she thought about how she'd fallen straight off that chair.

"You'll see, everything will be fine."

Marinette sighed. "Maybe you're right. But what does that mean, then? Why can I act normal around Luka but not around Adrien? Does that mean I don't really love Luka after all? Am I really doing the right thing here?"

Tikki flew closer, her short arms pressed against Marinette's cheek in a tiny embrace. "You're following your heart, Marinette. That's never wrong. Your feelings for Luka are as true as those for Adrien, even if they're different. Maybe they just need time and the chance to develop. And if not, it's not as if you're giving up on Adrien altogether. Just relax and see how the evening flows."

Marinette took a deep breath. "You're right. This is not a decision that will cement my entire future. It's just a date, right?"

To her own surprise, she did feel calmer now—at least until the doorbell downstairs rang.

"Aaaaahhh, Tikki, he's here. He's here! How do I look? Am I even dressed?"

"Breathe, Marinette. Everything will be fine."

Pressing her eyes shut, Marinette forced herself to breathe calmly, for her heart to stop beating like ten horses in full galopp. Tikki was right. At least she already knew that Luka liked her, too. Less chance to make a complete fool of herself.

Theoretically…

Practically, she was so excited when she spotted Luka standing at the bottom of the stairs and smiling up at her that she forgot how her feet worked. Missing a step in her hurry, Marinette experienced a scary moment of weightlessness before she plummeted to the ground, screaming and eyes shut against the impact.

However, the pain she'd expected never came. Instead, there was lightness and a strange sense of security. A pair of strong arms holding her against a warm chest. The sound of his rapidly beating heart. And a scent she already knew so well as Luka's that it made her tremble.

"Hey there, careful. Are you all right?" he asked, his breath tickling against her ear as he spoke.

A fierce blush spread across Marinette's cheeks. She'd climbed these stairs thousands of times; why did she have to stumble today?

Hastily, she struggled back up on her feet, even though she already regretted the loss of being so close to Luka. It had been so… comfortable!

"Yes, I'm okay. Sorry for falling for you. On you! Falling on you. Did I hurt you?" Marinette's blush grew even fiercer. If only the ground could open up to swallow her whole—she'd be forever grateful.

Luka just chuckled at her awkward slip of the tongue, a lovely sound, and gave her a radiant smile. "No, you didn't hurt me. And I'd be happy to catch you again whenever necessary."

"Aww, look at them, Sabine! They're a perfect match, don't you think? And he's so chivalrous. I really couldn't think of a better choice for our Marinette."

Marientte flinched at her father's words. Oh, really, could this moment become any more embarrassing?

"Let's not be too hasty, Tom," her mother luckily interfered. "Didn't you say you prepared some treats for Marinette and her friend?"

"Oh, yes!"

Her father disappeared in the direction of the bakery, and Marinette mouthed a quick Thank you to her mother. Sabine winked.

"Here you go," her father announced as he returned with a picnic basket, presumably filled with baked goods. "Just some pastries with different fillings, sweet or savoury, and some—"

"I think they will have fun discovering all those for themselves," her mother once more interjected. She took the basket and handed it over into Luka's outstretched hand. "Have fun, you two."

"Thank you, Madame."

A minute later, they had finally left the bakery, and Marinette let out a relieved sigh. "I have to apologise for my dad. He can be a little… overeager sometimes."

"He cares a lot about you. You're lucky to have him."

Marinette bit on the inside of her cheek, inwardly cursing herself. Right, Luka didn't even know who his father was. She really should have been more careful with what she said. When she looked up at him, though, he didn't seem upset so she relaxed again.

"So… where do we want to go? Any suggestions?"

Luka shrugged with one shoulder—the other held his guitar—and nodded to the left. "How about a stroll along the Seine?"

"Sounds great!"

. o O o .

About half an hour later, they found a patch of late evening sunlight directly at the water's edge, and settled down for their picnic. So far, they'd only talked about simple things, just ordinary small talk, really. But Marinette still felt liberated. Talking to Luka was so different from all her attempts at talking to Adrien. So easy. The contrast was almost ridiculous.

"So, that melody you played earlier," she said after eating a small pastry filled with blueberries. "It was really beautiful."

Luka ducked his head, smiling. "Thank you."

Marinette hesitated, then asked, "What was it?"

"Mmmh," he hummed, throwing her a measuring look. "It was a melody I composed myself. For… for a very special person in my life."

Marinette couldn't help herself; she was intrigued. "You composed that one yourself? Wow, that's impressive!"

Luka beamed at her.

"Can I… maybe hear it again?" The question felt bold—too bold for her, usually. But around Luka, she felt more self-confident. And… well, she knew Luka had a crush on her for quite a while, so she couldn't help but wonder. Was she this 'special person'?

"Of course," Luka said, a strange smile tugging at his lips.

Positioning his guitar, he quickly checked every string for tuning, then started playing. Marinette closed her eyes and listened avidly. The melody was beautiful, just like she remembered it from this morning. It was light and happy, like sunshine dancing on the rippling surface of the river. But even though she could have kept listening for hours… was this melody really her?

When he stopped playing, the last notes seemed to hover around them for a few heartbeats longer, then everything was silent again.

"That was so beautiful. You're so talented, Luka."

Again, that strange smile played around his lips. "I'm glad you like it," he said, even though he didn't seem surprised. Instead, he grew a little hesitant, throwing her another careful look. "I… also wrote a melody for you. Do you want to hear it?"

Marinette blinked. So that first melody hadn't been for her, after all. But even though she wondered for whom else he wrote it, the fact that he actually did write one for her as well drew more of her attention. "Of course!"

Humming under his breath, Luka nodded. Marientte watched him carefully as he shifted into another sitting position before his long fingers danced across the strings. And as soon as the first few notes reached her ears, Marinette was stunned.

This melody… It felt as if it ran deeper than mere tones from any instrument had the right to do. As if it caressed and cradled her very soul. She couldn't even say whether it was a happy tune or a sad one, whether she could prescribe any attributes she considered fitting to herself. This was simply her. So true.

"Uh, Marinette? Is everything okay?" Luka sounded alarmed. The song had ended, but Marinette was still too stunned to react.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said in a weak voice.

She more felt than heard Luka shift next to her. "Are you sure? You're crying."

Was she? Absentmindedly, Marinette reached for her face, her fingers indeed coming back wet. How strange. She hadn't even noticed that she'd started crying.

"Yes, I'm okay," she sniffled, wiping her face. "I'm just… That was… That was overwhelming. So beautiful."

Luka visibly relaxed, relieved. "Okay. For a moment, I thought… I'd never want to make you cry, to hurt you. I care too much about you, and I…" He trailed off, then cleared his throat and started again. "I really like you, you know? More than… than just as a friend. I'm in love with you, and have been right from the first day we met. I was so happy when you asked me out, that we're here now. I don't want to ruin that."

Marinette was touched by this heartfelt confession. But even though she wanted to assure Luka that she felt the same, she couldn't. It was what he would have deserved, but he also deserved honesty.

"I like you, too, Luka. I really do," she said quietly, then averted her eyes. "And I've liked you for a long while. But the thing is… Ah, this is all so confusing!" She looked up at him after all, whishing she could just project her jumbled thoughts and emotions into his mind, to make him understand without having to say anything. But even though it wasn't that easy—of course, it wasn't!—she still felt calmer from how he just gazed at her, waiting patiently.

"Okay, the thing is this," she continued in a firmer voice, hands curled into fists in her lap. "I've been hesitant to admit that I like you because… because I also like someone else, too."

Anxiously, she waited for Luka's reaction. Would he get angry? Confused? Condescending because he'd won over whoever else she liked? She wasn't sure whether she could stand anyone belittling Adrien. Or maybe he would just leave. Tell her to get lost until she'd made up her mind.

But none of that happened.

"It's Adrien, isn't it?"

Marinette's eyes grew wide. "What? But how did you— I mean, no! It's… it's not…" Her shoulders slumped. "Is it that obvious?" She thought she'd kept her feelings under control, mostly. But all her friends had figured it out as well, and Luka was always so perceptive.

Humming, Luka shrugged. "Maybe I just paid more attention to you than most."

She sighed, eyes cast unseeingly to the Seine. "Yeah, it's Adrien."

Luka nodded, slowly. As if thinking something through. "Have you ever told him how you feel about him?"

With a somewhat desperate snort, Marinette shook her head. "Didn't you just say you paid attention to me? Haven't you seen how I am around him, then? I can't get out even one coherent sentence in his presence, let alone have a conversation with him." She let out a deep sigh. "No, me and Adrien, we're not meant for each other. I've accepted that.

"Besides," she went on in a lighter tone. "This past hour alone proved that I made the right choice. Talking to you… being with you is so easy. It feels so right." She gave him a smile, putting in as many of her feelings for him as she could. "I really like you, Luka. But I want to be honest with you. I tried to make sense of my feelings, but it's not that easy. I don't know whether or when I will forget about my feelings for him. I want to give this, us, a chance and see where it leads us, but you deserve to know just how much of a mess I am before you agree to anything."

"I don't think you're a mess," Luka assured her, his voice as kind as ever. How did he do that? How was he always so calm, so understanding? "I can see you're worried. But as long as you're honest with me about how you feel about me, you also having feelings for someone else doesn't bother me. In fact…" He hesitated, just for long enough that Marinette looked up at him in curiosity. "I would love to try and see where this leads us, too. But I also have to tell you something first, and if it's too much for you to accept, then I won't blame you for backing out, okay?"

Marinette cocked her head, confused. "O….kay?"

"All right. So, the thing is… I get what you mean by trying to make sense of your feelings and not being able to forget about your feelings for one person just because you also like someone else. Because… it's the same for me."

"It is?" Marinette perked up. She'd hoped for his acceptance, but this still surprised her.

Luka nodded. "Yeah. Aside from you, I'm also in love with someone else. And actually… I'm already dating this other person."

Marinette's shoulders slumped as realisation hit her. So Luka was already taken, and this date was just him letting her down easily? She should have known there was a catch. Everything had gone too smoothly.

Before that thought could settle in, though, Luka already went on. "My partner knows that I also have feelings for you and doesn't mind. We talked earlier, so he also knows about this date and is okay with it, even if we should decide to keep seeing each other. He wanted me to let you know that he'd be happy for us."

Blinking in confusion, Marinette shook her head, slowly. "I… I don't understand," she muttered. "What… are you trying to tell me?"

With a slow, deliberate motion, Luka reached for her hand, his eyes—calm like the deep sea—holding hers in an intense gaze. "What I mean is, the choice is yours. I won't break up with my partner, I'll be honest there. But if you can live with an arrangement like this, then I'm more than happy to date you, too."

The sensation of his hand around hers was a wonderful one, so calm and reassuring. Everything inside her longed to curl up in his embrace and feel this kind of security in a more meaningful manner. And yet…

And yet, his words still confused her. "Is that… even possible?" she asked, trying to make sense of what he'd said. "Wouldn't that be like cheating?"

Smiling patiently, Luka shook his head. "No, it wouldn't. Cheating is going behind one's partner's back, lying to them, breaking their trust and promises made. But as long as we're all honest with our partners, with what we feel and who we see, it's all good. And as for whether it's possible… Why not? The only rules that matter for a relationship are those we agree upon. So, again, it's up to you. I'd love to keep seeing you, and my partner wouldn't mind."

Without really knowing what she was doing, Marinette briefly squeezed Luka's hand, then stood up. She wanted to reassure him that she wasn't about to run away, but she also needed a moment to think. And Luka, observant and supportive as ever, gave her that space.

Her mind was spinning with too many thoughts. Luka apparently having a secret boyfriend surprised her. Why would he keep this hidden? Nobody among his friends or family would judge him. But that was only a small side note in the turmoil inside her head.

Being with Luka when he was already with someone else… was that something she could do? Logically, it was the natural extension of having accepted romantic feelings for more than one person was possible. But it was still a lot to consider. The idea of having a boyfriend alone was daunting to her. But having to share him? Having to compete with whoever that other person was? Was that something she could or want to do?

While her thoughts were going in circles, Luka had picked up his guitar again. He wasn't playing one of the tunes from before again but a combination of both, interlaced with other melodies she'd heard him play before. And just like that, something inside her mind clicked into place.

This wasn't a competition. It wasn't about sharing, about fighting for her place, or about having to prove her worth. She glanced back at Luka who was smiling contently as he switched from one tune to the other. Playing the melody of his life, his family, his friends, the people he loved. To him, all individual tunes mattered, were all important in their own way.

No, this wasn't about becoming 'the most important part' of Luka's life. The choice she had to make was whether she wanted to be one part of his life, of his song. And whether she wanted him to be a part of her life, too.

And the answer to this question was so simple, she nearly burst out laughing.

Surprisingly content with her decision, Marinette sat down next to him again and listened.

"So, that other melody is for your boyfriend, then?" she eventually asked. It wasn't really something she needed an answer for, but she still wanted to make sure.

Luka smiled absentmindedly as he played on. "It is."

He glanced at her, a silent question in his eyes, then sighed when instead of a verbal answer, Marientte leaned against his side. And for the moment, that was enough, all the confirmation they needed.

"Would you tell me who he is?" she asked after another few minutes of comfortable silence except for Luka's music. She assumed that he would have a reason for keeping his relationship hidden, but she could at least ask, right?

Luka played slower, then stopped completely. He turned toward her, looking very serious all of a sudden. "I can tell you if you want to know. You have the right to know. But…" He trailed off, biting his lip as he averted his eyes.

"What is it? I promise I won't judge you, no matter who he is."

Luka's lips twitched, and he threw her a grateful smile. "I didn't think you would. It's just…" He became serious again. "If I tell you, then you have to promise—no, to swear that you won't tell anyone."

"Uh… what?" His sudden sincerity confused her.

"This is important, Marinette. I want to tell you; I wouldn't want to keep something important like this from you. But this has to stay a secret, under any circumstance. You'll understand why…"

Marinette gulped. She could see how important this was to Luka and… well, she trusted him. Whatever the reason for this secrecy, she was sure it was a valid one. "Okay. I promise not to tell anyone. You have my word."

"All right. So…" Luka took a deep breath. "My boyfriend is… Chat Noir."

. o O o .

AN: Cliffie!
I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not. If you've read any of my other stories, you know how much I love adding cliffhangers.
So, now she knows. How will she react? Will she make the (obvious?) connection? How may their date go on?
We'll see... O:)