More Lukanette fluff. ^.^
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Chapter 13: Everything's Perfect (?)
Marinette's heart was pounding in her throat.
She stood in Luka's cabin, the strap of his guitar over her shoulder, his arms around her, his hands brushing against her own. He was showing her how to play a specific chord, and even though she wanted to listen and learn, a part of her also enjoyed being this close to him too much to care. His chest pressed against her back, his breath tickling on her neck. It made paying attention to his instruction difficult, her eyes fluttering close as she leaned more heavily against him.
It was strange, she mused as her fingers tried to copy the chord Luka had shown her. She couldn't help but notice how good she felt around him. So comfortable and confident. So different from how awkward she always felt around Adrien. And yet, her feeling for both of them were still flying high.
"Make sure your pinky finger doesn't touch the string below," Luka said. "Yeah, that's it. You're doing great."
Once they were done with their impromptu lesson, Marinette placed the guitar to the side and turned to Luka, beaming up at him. "Thank you for teaching me."
"You're more than welcome." Humming, Luka gently placed his hands on her waist.
Heat rose to Marinette's cheeks as he pulled her closer, holding her gaze as he leaned in. She'd thought it would take her longer to get used to all this, to the closeness and the intimacy. But with Luka, it all seemed so easy, so natural. Smiling as their noses caressed, she bridged the remaining distance between them and kissed him.
His lips were so soft against her own, so much softer than she'd imagined. The playful back and forth, the taste of his smile. The low groan that rumbled in his chest as the kiss grew deeper, tongues dancing to their inner music. Luka's hands on her waist twitched and held her tighter as her hands slid up, around the back of his neck and curling around his cheek. Holding him close. And even though she had to stretch and stand on her toes to reach him, kissing Luka always felt like flying. As if she was weightless.
"I think it's time for you to get home," Luka murmured a little later, his forehead resting against her own.
"Already? Too bad… But I better get going then."
Marientte had to fight to keep a grin out of her voice. Luka was just so sweet. He always made sure she got home in time, least her parents would get angry and forbid her to see him again. As if they ever would. Tom and Sabine positively adored Luka.
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
He always offered.
"I'd love that. But before we leave…" Her eyes dropped to Luka's neck. Or more precisely, to a specific group of love bites. They were in various states of healing, forming a line that led from the side of his neck down to his shoulder and then further down to his collarbone.
It was a bit of a joke between them, evident by the way Luka chuckled breathlessly as she pressed her lips to his skin and sucked a fresh bruise at the end of the line. Something like a game. It had started when she'd seen the first marks on Luka's neck, certainly not from her. Similar to when Chat had shown up with bruises from Viperion, imagining how these had made it onto Luka's skin made something inside her stomach quiver. Marinette wasn't even sure anymore what she'd thought that first time. She'd just leaned in and placed her own mark next to Chat's, as a sign that she'd been here, too. As a silent greeting to her partner. Chat Noir didn't know that she knew him so well, of course, but it was still fun. Since that day, the line on Luka's neck grew every time he saw one of them, and he wore their signs of affection like a badge of honour.
"Okay, I'm ready now," she said, inspecting her handiwork with a satisfied nod.
Luka swallowed, his eyes a little darker than usual. "Then let's get going."
On the way back to the bakery, they walked hand in hand, enjoying the warm evening air. Luka was noticeably quiet, though, and not just in a companionable silence way.
"Is everything all right?" Marinette eventually asked, pausing in her steps. "You seem distracted."
"Hm?" Luka stopped in his tracks when he felt her tug at his arm, turning to look at her with strangely thoughtful eyes. "Oh, it's…" He trailed off with a sigh, his free hand rubbing at his neck. "Yeah, everything is all right. I was just thinking, you know?"
Marinette cocked her head, questioningly. But instead of explaining himself, Luka looked around before leading her to a bench overlooking the Seine. Sitting down, Luka took both her hands in his.
"I'm so happy, you know?" he said, eyes brimming with emotions. "I mean, I was happy before, too. But now that I can be with you and with… you know. And that it somehow works out? That's… I can't even put it into words. It's amazing!"
Marinette chuckled. Seeing him so visibly happy made her happy, too. "Obviously, your heart is big enough for two people without making them feel constricted." Which was true. She never felt as if she was missing out on anything, least of all his attention.
And, well… There was probably no one she'd rather share with than her trusted partner. Except maybe Adrien—but that was a silly thought he and Luka barely knew each other except from band practice and…
Marinette shook her head, physically chasing away that thought and keeping herself from babbling in her mind. Maybe Luka didn't mind her still pining for Adrien, but that didn't mean she had to do so in his presence.
At her words, Luka's lips had twitched into a strange smile. "Maybe you're right. But in that case, the same must be true for you, too. Everyone knows you have the biggest heart of all."
Blushing, Marinette looked away. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… that I think you should tell Adrien how you feel about him."
"What?" she all but squeaked. Was he able to read her mind now?
If possible, Luka's expression grew even softer. "Hey, it's okay. I know about your feelings, remember? It's just that… I don't know. I guess I want you to be as happy as I am. For you to not hide your feelings, but let them fly instead."
"I… I don't…" Biting her lips, Marinette looked away. "I don't think I can do that," she eventually murmured. "It's not like I haven't already tried. You've seen it, I just can't talk to him. And you and Alya and just everyone seems to be so sure that he'll return my feelings. But what if he doesn't? Then I forever made a fool of myself. Or what if he does, but can't accept me being with you, too? That's… that's not a decision I want to make, ever."
Her voice had grown quieted toward the end, her eyes stinging. Just thinking about being in such a situation made her want to cry. Being with Adrien would be like a dream coming true. But being with Luka… that already was like a wonderful dream.
"Hey, it's okay," Luka murmured, gently pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I just want you to follow your heart. And you can never know how things turn out. Maybe you'd be surprised at how easy things can be."
At that, Marinette snorted. "Nothing in my life is ever easy." She sighed, then straightened. The look Luka gave her spoke of true concern, and something inside her seemed to click into place at that moment.
She didn't want to lose Luka, not ever. Not even to her own confused heart.
"Except being with you," she quickly went on. "With you, I feel more like myself than anywhere else."
"I'm happy to hear that," he said. With his hand on her chin, he tipped up her head and kissed her. Soft, gentle, so sweet that she thought she'd melt right then and there. Then she felt him smiling against her lips. "But I still think you should tell him."
Chuckling a little shakily, she pulled away. "Maybe someday. Or, if you're all correct and he actually has feelings for me, too, then I can just wait for him to confess, right?" She grinned, if a little forced.
Luka smiled, but it didn't feel entirely true, either. Sad, somehow. "I doubt he'd do that now he knows we're together," he said quietly.
Marinette sighed. "So it's not to be." She leaned against Luka, basking in his warmth, the arm he placed around her shoulders. "But that's okay. I'm happy with how things are now, I don't need more. Because… Luka, I…" She swallowed, then looked up at him, getting a little lost in gazing into his eyes. "I love you."
Luka's eyes widened with joy. His lips stretched into a grin, then he leaned in to press another kiss to her mouth; quick and rough, emotions flowing over. "I love you, too," he murmured, holding her in a tight embrace.
Wrapping her arms around him as well, Marinette let herself relax in his arms. She'd never thought she could ever feel so good, to light, and she wanted this moment to never end.
Eventually though, they continued their way back to the bakery, walking arm in arm and chatting lightly. Being with Luka was just so wonderfully easy like this, no lingering tension even after such a conversation.
Once they'd reached her parents' house, they hugged goodbye. Her parents always watched them, and Marinette was too self-conscious to kiss where they could see them. Another point where Luka was just so wonderfully understanding. He simply placed a soft kiss on her forehead. When he retreated, their hands stayed connected, holding on to each other for as long as was possible. With a smirk playing around his lips, Luka placed another kiss to the back of her hand, his lips caressing over her skin just a tiny bit longer than was decent. "See you soon, Marinette. Love you."
"You, too," Marinette replied with a faint blush.
She waited until he'd walked around a corner and out of her sight, then she let out a small sigh. She was always a little wistful after they had to part, and today, it was even worse.
"Maman, Papa, I'm back," she called on her way up to her room. As if they didn't know already. Sure enough, there was hasty shuffling coming from the living room, making her fondly roll her eyes at her too-curious parents.
Once in her room, she thought about what Luka had said. Telling Adrien about her feelings… that idea was daunting as ever. She still wanted to, in a way. But at the same time, she was happy as she could be with Luka. What was the point in making everything complicated when it was perfect already?
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Well, Luka tried... but these two stubborn idiots will need some more work as it seems... ;)
