Another rather brief installment in the collection of one-shots. This one is just a short piece of fluff dreamed up while listening to The Eagle's "Peaceful, Easy Feeling." A care-free afternoon date in the summer heat turns into an accidental yet lasting memory for my favorite young couple. Nothing profound really, just something sweet to enjoy if it's your thing as always.
The sun is hot and high overhead on this particular July afternoon, glaring mercilessly down upon the cityscape. The weather has been this way for the last several days now. Soaring temperatures, dry air, not so much as a cloud to provide even minimal relief and no end currently in sight looking at the forecast. Normally, one would seek as much indoor, air-conditioned activity as possible during a streak of hot weather like this.
During this time, two people have been doing exactly that. Staying indoors with the AC blasting all day. Unfortunately, overuse of an air-conditioning system in abnormally long streaks of hot weather tends to create some...disfunction. When her AC unit had sputtered to a stop this morning and she hadn't been able to get the thing to turn back on no matter what she tried, she'd texted her boyfriend to rant about it. As it turned out, his unit had also been experiencing some technical difficulties and he'd had to shut it off to stop the high-pitched screeching from troubling his neighbors. The result of these problems, as with many other locals, is that Marinette and Luka have both called out for repairs. With hiding from the heatwave in the air-conditioned comfort of their homes out as a viable option until the next day when the repairs can happen, the pair is left with no choice but to come up with an alternative way to ward off this insufferable heat.
After some deliberation this morning via text message, they have decided upon finding Andre's mobile cart for some ice-cream and spending the afternoon in the air conditioned shopping center. Though the walk to locate the person they seek is far less than what can be described as comfortable, it doesn't take all that long to find him. Several other people seem to have had a similar plan for the day, so they also end up waiting in a bit of a line before being able to order.
As soon as he finishes preparing a cone for each of them, the pair takes refuge from the heat in the shade of some large trees lining the park. With a slight breeze wafting about and their frozen snacks, this small patch of grass shielded from the direct sunlight feels passably comfortable.
Ultramarine eyes move in her direction as they sit together in this quiet space. It has been a little while since the last time they were able to be together like this, sans responsibilities. Normally more in touch with his feelings, it is odd he hadn't recognized what was happening to him over the last couple of weeks. Perhaps he'd simply been too caught up in his work to take time to process the emotions. So, the cause of moments where he'd felt melancholy had evaded the man until this moment. It suddenly dawns on him -those sensations that felt so out of place had been loneliness. There is but one name to put to this subtle ache he held inside over the last couple weeks. Simply put, he had missed her. It's so obvious now that he is right here beside her.
Unconsciously compelled to indulge in sneaking a look to take in the details of the woman in this time they have now, his eyes trail over her. Her dark blue hair is tied back into a high ponytail to keep it off her skin, but still flutters about in the breeze. The same warm summer wind rustles through the leaves of the trees overhead. Patches of sunlight that manage to peek through the gaps in-between clusters of leaves and branches shift as the wind toys with them. Those patches of bright light that dance across her skin create an appearance that is almost too dazzling. He takes a deep breath, losing himself in the understated pleasantness of this moment. Despite the uncomfortably hot weather and dry air, this afternoon together is still as precious as it is serene.
The bluenette woman next to him works her way carefully through the black raspberry and blueberry cone Andre had crafted for her, doing her best to keep it from melting on her hands in the heat. The sound of his sigh reaches her ears as she finishes off the top scoop, prompting her to glance in his direction from the corner of her eyes. His electric stare is locked unflinchingly on her and she feels a little rush of embarrassment at this fact. It's awkward to be stared at while eating, though it is still enjoyable to a certain extent to have garnered his undivided attention.
Completely missing the contented expression he wears, she can't manage to stamp down the discomfort brought on by being looked at this intently as she squirms in response to a rush of nervous energy. A sheepish smile tugs up on one corner of her mouth. Her bluebell eyes meet his for a split second, clear embarrassment within. An awkward laugh passes over her lips as she averts her gaze.
Until she looks away, he isn't even aware he's been staring. Only as Marinette shakily tucks some hair behind her pink-tinged ear does it occur to him that his eyes have been trained on her for too long. He hadn't meant to come off as scrutinizing and make her feel self-conscious. There had been no substantial motivation behind it in the first place. It was a completely unconscious action, which then evolved into him getting swept up by his own contentment at being able to spend this day together. Turning away as he gets hit with a brief rush of guilt at her discomfort, he tries to focus on his food. Perhaps his hunger can take his mind off the flashes of embarrassment he's feeling reflexively.
"S-sorry...I uh...didn't mean to stare..." He sputters out awkwardly, receiving only an embarrassed shake of her head in response. In his defense, he is a bit out of sorts today.
Last night had been another all-nighter for him. This entire past week has seen him frequently working on writing the lyrics for a new song during hours he should use for sleep. However, once he becomes passionate about a project, he can't put it down. His focus can lean a tad on the obsessive side, like many other creative types. Situation being what it is due the combination of his passion projects and work, he'd only fallen asleep one to two hours before sunrise and then he'd slept through breakfast this morning. The combination of sleep deprivation, the heat and his hunger has his mind feeling a bit cloudy.
After making plans with Marinette via text, he'd rushed to clean up and get ready, barely giving himself time to grab a mini banana nut muffin on his way out the door. The priority had been seeing his girlfriend and finding something to eat went to a back burner in his mind. With food in front of him now, it's clear his body is still craving nourishment. The hunger pain that has been present for hours becomes apparent when his stomach growls as he begins to enjoy his own ice cream -a rather delicious mixture of raspberry and blueberry.
As the couple each enjoy their cold snack in companionable silence, the rustling of leaves in the wind and some far-off music from an unknown location are the only sounds filling the quiet afternoon with hints of activity.
As hungry as Luka is, he ends up making short work of finishing his food and settles back against the tree they've taken refuge under. Reaching back behind himself, he grabs his acoustic guitar from it's resting place on the ground and settles the instrument in his lap, beginning to play the melody from a long-forgotten song. Tuning the guitar when some of the notes strike him as off-key, he draws a deep breath and lets his head dip back, bumping softly against the rough bark of the large oak tree. A grin lights up his features as he realizes he can hear Marinette humming along to the tune. Contented, the musician's eyes slowly drift to a close. The sounds of his guitar and her accompanying hum seem to add an appropriately whimsical soundtrack to the moment, further accentuating the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the young couple on this sweltering afternoon.
Once her food is finished, Marinette settles languidly into a laying position on the dry ground. The sound of the browned grass under her body giving way as her weight presses into it gets his attention and he briefly opens his eyes and tilts his head in her direction to check in with her. Even with the ice cream and the shade, it is still a very warm day. Best to make certain she isn't feeling over-heated. Their eyes meet for a split second and she smiles softly up at him, causing the concern he felt to fade away instantly. She's simply getting comfortable. Her eyes hold his gaze for a few seconds longer before they break away so she can see where the pocket of her shorts is to stow the waffle cone wrapper away until it can be discarded properly. Likewise, his eyes return to the instrument in his lap, focusing on the meandering notes produced by his playing.
"This is nice." Her overall state of relaxation is clear in her tone of voice.
"Yeah," Comes his quiet reply as he continues absently striking the chords of his guitar, "It is."
Though no longer worried about heat exhaustion, when she lets out a breathy sigh, he feels the concern well back up. From time to time, he still finds himself anxious over the idea that she might not feel as happy as she wants to appear in front of others. He can't help but hope that insecurity of hers is something she can kind of forget while in his company -that she knows he's always on her side, cheering her on, supporting her, and loving her with all his being. Turning his head to get a better look at her, he notes the soft smile playing on her features as her blue bell eyes follow the swaying branches overhead. It would seem his worry about her mood was just as unfounded as his concerns over heat exhaustion.
With the worries effectively quashed, his attention returns again to his playing, producing a new melody -the one he has been practicing.
Laying here beside him is nice, but the young aspiring fashion-designer can't help but crave more physical closeness. Looking his way, the pangs of loneliness and longing she's felt when thinking of him these last couple weeks feel sharper and somehow more intense than ever and she must bridge the gap that lingers between them. Shifting into a maneuverable position and wriggling her way toward him, she chooses a resting place on his thigh and carefully lowers her head down against her make-shift pillow.
His eyes fall upon her, a brief look of surprise crossing his features before it passes and he feels himself relax again. If she wishes for the same closeness he does, he won't turn her away. Not counting the heat that scorches his skin -which he dismisses as just the warm weather getting to him- this moment of being sought out by her for a benign and sweet type of physical intimacy is reassuring. All tension seems to leave his body while he continues to sit reclined against the tree and she settles the back of her head comfortably against his leg.
"We don't get to spend as much time together lately," Her voice is tinged with hints of regret, though she gives attempting to sound neutral her best try. The statement elicits an empathetic look from her boyfriend. Carefully, he studies the woman's body language and expression for a second or two. She doesn't appear to be seeking any corroboration from him. Satisfied that it seems she is only stating a fact, he continues to try and adjust the melody he currently plays. "It's stupid...but I kinda wish we could just stay like this forever." A breathy laugh escapes her lips after she finishes her thought, as if she need further illustrate the unreasonable nature of her wish.
Luka laughs reflexively, though he holds an identical hope in the privacy of his own thoughts. Even still, he chooses not to share this fact aloud, offering her a compassionate glance in place of words. Spying a few strands of hair the wind had plastered to her lower lip, he reaches down, gently brushing them aside and tucking them neatly back behind her ear. It is something she could have done herself, but the opportunity to show a form of physical affection isn't something he wants to pass up. As if she possesses some innate ability to sense this desire, she clasps her hand over his, bunting against him delicately in a way resembling a cat.
A warmth blooms from within, expanding rapidly throughout his body like a bursting firework. His contented smile vanishes, overshadowed by a look that is somehow both milder and more roguish. There is a tenderness to her smile that reaches her periwinkle eyes, only serving to further heighten the intensity of the surge of affection overtaking his being. As she holds his palm in place against her cheek, he can feel her lean further into his touch, making it all the more difficult to point out the reality that they are unable to stay like this indefinitely. Make no mistake, the notion posed is a lovely one, truly. Lovely, yet impossible. If only life could be so simple as to spend all one's days eating delicious ice cream in the shade of a cluster of trees with the person you adore most.
"We can't, you know." 'Resist the temptation to add to the thought, Luka.' His mind still practically screams the thought in an echo chamber of it's own making. 'Even as nice as that sounds.'
While he obviously has to point out the absurdity of such a wish, there is another chance at similar togetherness he can offer her going forward -provided she wants to take him up on it. Once the thought pops into his head, that's all there is to it. The words spill from his mouth unbidden and entirely unfiltered before he can remind himself to think things through.
"If you want to spend more time together, we could always find a place to share..." once he begins the thought it's like his mouth takes on a will of its own and he can't seem to stop the words as they tumble haphazardly out over his lips, "maybe even at some point we could get...married..."
The instant that final word is spoken, the full weight of his innocent suggestion becomes quite apparent.
Luka freezes in place as the words he had just uttered so casually begin an instant replay in his mind. Marinette's expression turns serious as she studies him carefully from her reclined position against his leg. Sky blue eyes seem to both widen with realization and zero in to focus on him at once as her lower jaw falls slightly agape in surprise.
Whoa, whoa, hold up...
Just wait for one damn minute.
Did he just unintentionally propose to his girlfriend?
No plans have been made. No ring has been purchased. He hadn't thought of some cute quip or flowery, poetic lines to make the moment that much more special. The idea hadn't even entered his mind until about fifteen seconds ago. Regardless, the words are now spoken into existence and both people take the several seconds of silence that follow to digest them. In the short few years they've been dating, he's never felt any compulsion to alter their current relationship dynamic. While neither of them is against marriage by any means, there has been an unspoken mutual understanding for some time now. This is stable. It works for them. They are both happy. What they have built together so far is wonderful. It's as close to perfect as they need it to be. Their unspoken philosophy has been essentially thus: No need to repair something that isn't broken. Well, something like that, anyway.
Sitting up, his companion stares at him, still wearing an understandably stunned expression.
For a moment, his mind seems to go entirely blank as he takes in that dumbfounded gaze of hers.
His face and ears are practically ablaze. This time, there is no blaming it on the summer heat. 'Holy shit. I really said that.' It takes him several minutes to work through the internal melt down he's experiencing and come up with some sort of explanation.
"Wait...no...I didn't mean..." before the thought is even complete, the bluenette woman's expression falls. The surprise fades quickly into the darkness of disappointment. The new, dour look she sports makes him snap his mouth shut as he silently wishes he could snatch every single word from the air and put them all back inside his head. As he watches her, waiting for some sort of resolution, her downcast blue bell eyes seem to darken a few shades.
"You didn't mean it?" The words leave her lips in a solemn pout.
It is true he hadn't planned on proposing, but hearing the woman before him pose this question helps him to gain some measure of clarity and perspective regarding the situation. Despite saying such important words with the careless abandon of some throwaway line and somehow arriving at this moment completely unprepared, he absolutely does mean it. When it comes to matters involving their relationship and his feelings for her, Luka is only at most a bit mischievous. But being a bit of a tease and joking about something serious with the potential consequence of being seen as cruel or hurtful are very different things. For him, making a joke out of a proposal would be the later, not the former -very much not who he is, nor how he wants to be seen. He will not have her believing him to be a man who is careless with the feelings of others. He's got to make himself clear, be concise and for the love of all that is good in the world...he can't screw it up this time.
"No, that's not...I...s-sorry..." So much for concise. Stumbling right out the gate with finding the right way to express himself, Luka still makes his best attempt to choose the proper words. "What I meant to say is I didn't come out today planning to talk about getting married. It just kinda...happened..." While attempting to clarify, he watches the emotions flutter across her expression. Seeing the sadness melt away, slowly transforming into amusement which then yields to flickers of excitement and joy is more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. "Still, if it would make you happy -if you want it- then I want you to know I want it too. I am very serious. I'd be happy to-"
"Okay." That confident and firm tone of voice contains not the slightest hint of doubt as she cuts in, stopping his previous thoughts short.
"Okay?" The meaning behind those two short syllables doesn't register with his mind initially. With a sudden feeling of confusion spurring him on, he repeats the word back to her, his inflection sounding more akin to a query, rather than a statement.
"Okay." Deliberately stressing her tone as she repeats herself, she makes a point of nodding in an exaggerated fashion, adding a clear visual aid that further illustrates her affirmative answer. "I'm saying my answer is-"
"Yes..." He completes the thought in her stead, the simple word caught halfway between being an incredulous statement and a request for a repeat confirmation. Despite the woman's best efforts to make her feelings on this matter clear, Luka still can't help but feel somewhat insecure. On the whole, the way it happened was thoughtless. He'd said those weighty words as if he were telling her he'd changed his mind about what he wants to eat for dinner. Should it even get to count as a genuine proposal? Is she really okay with accepting something so wishy-washy as a serious request to legally commit to one another?
"Y-yeah." Despite the obvious bashful tone her voice holds, those bluebell eyes of hers line up with his, alight with emotion.
Her bright and enthusiastic smile is both captivating and encouraging. The joy and growing excitement are plain to see in her features as she maintains eye contact. It helps him feel certain that she is indeed happy about the result of this silly verbal slip-up. Clearly, it's time to let go of whatever doubt he's felt up to this point. She wants this too. The person before him is as willing to take this step forward as he is. He could possibly be the most accidentally fortunate man on the planet. He's never considered it before, but his inability to filter his words may actually be a bit of a blessing in disguise. At the very least, it worked in his favor on this occasion and that's more than enough.
"Is it okay if I hold you for a little while?" He studies her reaction to the question, aware the imploring gaze he fixes her with betrays the intensity of the private hopes and thoughts currently filling the space inside his mind. It really can't be helped; there is simply no containing the desire to have her in his arms after the accidental yet still profoundly beautiful moment they have just shared. Maintaining a passive façade after asking her to commit to him in such a significant way is impossible. On top of that, it isn't as though he's ever proposed marriage before. In as much as this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for her, it is for him as well. And frankly, it's enough to throw even the most stoic person for a loop.
She doesn't respond in any verbal manner and chooses to simply act. Carefully, the bluenette woman maneuvers herself into a sitting position in the space between his legs, reclining against his chest and torso. Her body is light and her skin warm as she carefully adjusts to the new seating arrangement, surrounded by all things Luka. She takes in the heat and firmness of his body, breathing in the scent of his soap and shampoo while reveling in the hastened yet rhythmic thumping of his heart. Shifting slightly, that dark blue hair tickles his skin as she lets her body go limp with deep relaxation, enveloped in his soothing presence. The bashful glance she shoots his way as she turns to look at him over her shoulder melts his heart.
"This fine?" Even as she asks, he is already easing his guitar over her head, bringing it to a resting place in her lap. Idly, she strums at the chords once or twice with unpracticed fingers. Allowing the instrument to fall from his grip, it is now supported entirely by her body. Luka's arms encircle Marinette's upper body, tightening down around her small form. Bringing his chin to a comfortable place on the woman's shoulder and nuzzling her neck affectionately, the man is struck by a mischievous sort of delight when he feels an involuntary shiver automatically run through her body.
"Thank you, Marinette..." Luka whispers the words of gratitude into her ear, voice taking on a gravely lilt as the weight of this moment begins to catch up with him, "I love you..." He didn't know something he thought to be unnecessary could fill him with such unfettered joy.
"You don't have to thank me for cuddling you," It is a misunderstanding on her part that causes her to respond the way she does, "and I love you, too." Even so, he finds it difficult to care when hearing her say these words as she reaches over her shoulder to run her fingers though his hair.
"That wasn't because you're cuddling me. It was because you said yes." His embrace tightens, pulling Marinette's body impossibly closer as the words leave his lips.
"Oh...well…uh th-thank you for acting- uh…er, I mean asking. Thank you for asking." Looking slightly miffed about her stutter, Marinette says nothing more, the makings of a pout coloring her expression as she casts her gaze down at the guitar in her lap once more.
Hell.
This person is so utterly adorable that it may just kill him.
Though it's been a long-term nervous habit of hers to stutter or fumble with words when excited or anxious, it's been less and less frequent these days. In the time that has passed since their romantic relationship began, the two of them have gotten closer and Marinette has become far more comfortable around him. As glad as he is that this means she is less hyper-aware of her every minor action, he's also somewhat sad to see less of it. It had always been a behavior of hers he thought of fondly, so that sentiment is amplified ten-fold now that he sees her getting flustered as a result of her excitement from his proposal.
Until this moment, he didn't even realize that he's missed this mannerism of hers. Until now, he'd forgotten how cute he had once thought it to be -getting her so worked up with a few simple words.
His arms tighten again briefly as a cacophony of feelings consumes him. This person he's come to love so dearly is more incredible than any imaginary partner he could have conceived of in the time he had been single. In the end, an outing that had been mostly devoid of unnecessary dialogue had somehow became a spur of the moment proposal. One which she accepted so easily -eagerly, even. The arrival at this specific juncture would be unbelievable if he weren't experiencing it in real time.
The pair remains locked in the comfortable and loving embrace for a while longer, hiding from the scorching sun in this shaded and breezy location. When they do take their leave eventually, the next stop they make is in the commercial district to spend some time in the air-conditioned shops as planned. Time seems to pass so much more quickly in each other's company and before either of them realizes, the sun is beginning it's slow decent toward the distant horizon. Both people know they should head home and open windows to air out the stuffiness that has surely built up inside their respective living spaces during the hours they have been absent.
He offers to accompany her back to her place before he heads home, now carrying a surprise for his companion he wants to gift her in a less public setting.
As always, Luka sees her to the door and when she pauses on the porch to say goodnight he quickly reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box that has been practically burning a hole into his clothing for the last hour. Marinette freezes before him, her eyes widening with surprise and realization. Luka feels a strong surge of apprehension as the bluenette's wide eyes shift between holding his gaze and the small box he presents to her. He says a silent prayer to whatever driving force guides the universe and all within that the expression she wears as she gapes at him means that she is pleasantly surprised and not upset. He wants this to be the joyful experience it should be and not so overwhelming it becomes burdensome. Hopefully this isn't too much.
"Did you really…" Even as words fail her, a look of genuine delight brightens her features, a smile replacing her slack-jawed awe.
When Marinette had excused herself to take a bathroom break earlier this evening, he'd gone back to the jewelry shop they'd stopped by and quickly picked up the ring she'd tried on. It was something she had done with a playful and unserious attitude, but he'd seen the way her expression softened as she had gazed at that small diamond-encrusted silver band. There was no mistaking that distant yet somehow still warm glow in those bluebell orbs. Her mind was no doubt lost within the brilliant imaginings of a happy future together.
Spending his life with her is something that he's wanted for a long time. He had simply never considered marriage a vital piece in achieving a long-lasting and loving relationship. It's never been necessary. Despite his acute awareness of the facts, the musician cannot deny how deeply impactful it had been as he stood next to her, watching the thoughtful expression play with her features as she envisioned a happy future with him. He knew in that moment he wouldn't leave the center without buying the small silver band. It feels like the first time he's ever wanted to give a gift this badly and it very well may be.
"I had to. Nothing else about this was traditional -which I guess is very 'us'- but I figured if one thing was gonna be, this may as well be it," He steps closer, pressing the velvet box down into her palms when she finally reaches out, "and…the way you looked at it when you tried it on was good motivation."
She pulls back on the small velvet lid and the box opens with a pop, revealing the treasure held within. Speechless, all Marinette can do is admire the small piece of jewelry. Warmth bubbles up inside the musician's chest as a look comprised equally of tenderness and awe dominates her features. More words seem like a hinderance to the beauty of this scene playing out between them and yet the dopamine and oxytocin firing from one receptor to another in his brain has him jittery and he needs to do something with the burst of positive energy. With a slow step forward, he reaches down and plucks the small metal object from the divot in which it rests. The woman's sparkling bluebell eyes turn upward, lining up with his own adoring azure gaze as he extends his hand toward her and waits for her to place her palm in his.
It takes her a moment to realize what he's requesting, but when she does, her fingers rise slowly -almost as if she feels the need to proceed carefully. The touch of her small fingers is light as a feather as her hand comes to rest atop his. Proceeding with an equal measure of gentleness, he takes hold of her wrist for stability and slides the small piece of jewelry into place on her ring finger. Once the objective is complete, his fingers release the soft grip he just held on her wrist before sliding down and letting her palm lay over his.
Still speechless, she snaps the box in her hand closed and shoves it into the pocket of her shorts.
Both people continue to stare down at that spot on her finger, now adorned with a physical representation of their promise, taking in the sight in silent disbelief.
Then, all at once, reality hits him like a cold ocean spray. They are engaged. Engaged in the way that people become when they are intending to marry. He asked and she said yes. This is real. Holy shit. Luka inhales sharply and at length before letting it back out in a shaky sigh. It feels like what transpired in these last few hours should be too improbable to be real, and yet somehow, it feels so perfect and right at the same time. He squeezes down on the fingers that he's been loosely supporting, moving them within his grasp as if ensuring they are real. His gaze rises quickly from the ring on her finger, finding and lining up with hers once more -searching for something from the woman that even he can't identify. Affirmation? Comfort? Affection? Praise? Words of celebration? Expressions of joy? He hasn't the slightest clue.
She knows the man before her well. On the surface, he may appear to anyone else as calm as ever. He doesn't speak a single word of distress. He doesn't fidget in the way she might when under pressure or feeling anxious. His gentle expression is only altered in the minutest of ways by wonderment related to the rawness of the powerful milestone they just hit together. Still, the tension in the grip he has on her fingers makes his mental state obvious. He may have a convincing poker-face, but he feels things much more deeply than what his calm exterior would lead a person to believe. For her, it takes less than a fraction of a second to spot the transition in his oceanic eyes from someone experiencing a moment of feeling awestruck to someone who is becoming entirely overrun by emotions. It takes even less time for her to choose to take action.
Swiftly, Marinette closes the distance between them and wraps him in a tight embrace. While one arm encircles his mid-section, pulling his body flush against hers, the other hand rises and softly settles on the back of his head. Gentle fingers slide easily through the dark locks of his hair decorated with electric blue highlights. That familiar and oh-so-mild touch of hers soothes him, effectively sedating him and quieting the spiraling thoughts before they can become too out of control and he leans into it, readily seeking out as much comfort as she wants to offer.
'Ahhhh...' He sighs with relief inwardly as he melts into the warmth of her embrace, 'This is it. This is what I needed.'
"You know, you're probably the only person I feel this comfortable with. Even though I want to be with you whether I marry you or not, I really feel lucky...it's like...I don't know...it belongs to me more now or something...even though I know it doesn't matter...but anyway...Luka…" She mutters these words quietly against his chest, snuggling close and clinging to the man she loves for a short while longer.
The bluenette slowly lifts her head from it's nestled placement against his body and backs off just enough to meet his eyes, her shy expression lighting him up inside like the warmth from a cozy campfire. Pointedly withdrawing her left arm from the embrace, she stretches her hand out as if putting it on display. Making certain he sees the approving look in her eyes at the new addition to the list of things she treasures the most, she completes her thought. "Thank you so much, this is amazing."
All the stress that was beginning to eat him alive is at once rendered irrelevant. Though this is an emotionally turbulent moment, settling down is easy when she is holding him so sweetly, speaking the words he hadn't realized he wants to hear, kindly offering him her unobtrusive brand of reassurance. She had not only known exactly the right action to take, but the right words to say and it means the world. Lips quirking upward as a warm smile that lights up his features, he pulls this incredible person back into a new embrace, squeezing her body tightly.
"You're really extraordinary Mare," With some reluctance, he pushes himself back from the contact and meets her eyes for the final time, "I know I already said it…but thank you."
Her eyes flick quickly away from their alignment with his cerulean pools, trailing down over the other features of his face briefly before rising once more, now filled with obvious intent. Expression somewhat coquettish, she leans in. Her lips brush softly against his, instantly triggering sparks of pleasure and joy. The contact is at first so gentle that he is led to believe it will be short-lived. That doesn't turn out to be part of her plans, though. It isn't long at all before she makes it clear she does not intend this to be a chaste peck on the lips -deepening the kiss within a measure of time likely shorter than seconds. She can't help the smile as she feels her boyfriend -now fiancé- begin to respond in kind with a grin of his own and a small, indiscernible noise of enjoyment. If one thing is true of Luka, it's that he will quite happily finish anything his partner begins- a trait of his that seems to only sharpen in intensity in response to obvious displays of enthusiasm on her part. In no time at all, the soft and slow passion shared between the two lovers evolves into a much more heated variant of itself.
Though heated, the kiss does end after a moment or two, Luka being the one to withdraw himself first. Those sky blue eyes smolder with desire as she follows his movements and the pout on her lips nearly crumbles his resolve to not let things advance any further. He must remind himself that if he gives in and lets this continue to progress organically, he soon won't possess the will to leave here. The repair appointment for the air-conditioning system is early tomorrow morning, and he knows he needs to be at home when they arrive. It isn't something that he can afford to skip. Through the haze of desire clouding his mind, he prepares to bid his fiancé a begrudging good night.
Taking a couple of steps back from her, he silently curses his stupid broken air-conditioner and the stupid eight o'clock appointment he'd scheduled for tomorrow morning to avoid the stupid mid-day heat. For a moment his gaze remains trained on his companion and the look of disappointment she sports stirs a momentary impulse to tease before that feeling is overshadowed by another strong wave of adoration.
"I'm not busy tomorrow afternoon," Offering this option makes her perk up instantly, "I could come over. Only if you want, of course."
Goddammit. He's already reminded himself once not let his emotions be in control. What he is supposed to do is leave now -which would be the most responsible and reasonable action. However, it's already far too late to make some half-hearted attempt to resist his girlfriend's charming behaviors. Seeing her immediately improved mood is incredibly endearing and he finds himself drawn toward her like one of two magnets in a set. His next actions are too swift to allow for a response on her part. With a single long stride toward her, he leans in and presses a short yet somehow still urgent kiss against her lips before reversing direction and moving back with another long stride.
That smolder she fixes him with strikes another of Luka's heartstrings, tugging with intensity that nearly nullifies his will to leave and he continues to dance along the edge of indecision. The bluenette certainly isn't making it easy for him to leave today. After another moment of heated eye contact, she finally relents.
"That sounds...good. I'll text you, then?" She waits until he nods and turns to walk away before unlocking her front door and stepping inside.
Despite being the one to offer her lover comfort moments prior when emotion had overwhelmed him, she can't deny she is also feeling the weight of today's events. In the silence of her own home, surrounded by nothing but the darkness of the night, it all seems to finally catch up to her. They might have taken the long way around, making mistakes and hurting one another along the way in their youth, but they made it here at last. Luka -the same sweet, compassionate and talented kid who had shelved his every agenda for her in their teenage years- that Luka had asked her to spend her life with him. To now be his fiancé, not only his girlfriend. To eventually be his wife. To one day in the future accept him as her husband. As those thoughts take shape in her mind, she can't help but succumb to the rush of unadulterated joy that flows through her.
Lost within a dream-like haze, she slumps back against the door while letting out a sigh that somehow sounds at once airy and contented and full of jittery anticipation. Their marital status aside, Luka is the kind of perfect gentlemen who will spend his life treating her with the same tenderness and loving her in the same altruistic way he always has. In and of itself, that is already plenty to look forward to and the easiness and peace that wash over the woman as she contemplates the idea are the emotional equivalent to being wrapped in a plush blanket on a cold winter night. Going forward, all she wants is to make sure he can feel the kind of tranquil joy she does right now.
However, no such peace seems to be meant to last all that long.
Her phone goes off in her back pocket and when she pulls it out, she sees a message from the chat her group of friends uses to keep up with one another. As one might expect, Alya is very curious about how the date went. Heaving a long sigh, Marinette brings herself back into a standing position. While she is eager to share the good news with her closest friends, she had been hoping for more time to herself to let today's events sink in -time to wrap herself in the warmth of the memories and become more used to the concept of being someone's fiancé. However, she knows her best friend's curiosity won't afford her that luxury. If she doesn't reply in a timely enough fashion, Alya will continue to blow up everyone's phones for the next few hours.
One corner of her mouth quirks up into a smile her fingers fumble to press the right keys on her smartphone screen. A single message consisting of just two words is what she sends off. It states simply: "HE PROPOSED," unintentionally in all caps thanks to her shaky hands.
Within seconds, her phone is flooded with messages from her friends, each woman echoing the same thoughts -that they will be by tonight with goodies to celebrate the monumental occasion. And just like that, a peaceful and dream-like afternoon is set to become a downright rowdy evening.