Happy holidays to all who celebrate. This will be as close to a festive story that comes from me -it's really just never been my favorite time of year. AU is meant to mimic our world in it's present state, so there is loose mention of things going on within society. This is a story about creating one's own joy in otherwise difficult times and how sometimes even those who are good at appearing unaffected need support too. The song which motivated this short piece is "I Melt With You" by Modern English. This is obviously a Lukanette story and as always, enjoy if it's your thing and read something else if it isn't.
Life has not been easy lately. In fact, scratch that, life has been needlessly difficult and downright absurd lately. This is one thing of which he is sure despite the confusion, turbulence and chaos which has been ever-present in his life the past two years. Since late 2019, upheaval and anxiety have become the baseline state of existence. Political unrest in all corners of the globe- dishonesty and corruption blurring the lines of facts and fiction. Natural disasters of unprecedented magnitude and severity destroying hundreds of millions of acres of land and displacing people and animals living in said areas. Images of brutal conflicts between civilians and authorities dominate every imaginable news outlet. Oh, and as if the three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich needs additional balsamic sauce, there's also the freaking plague.
When the news initially broke, it was something of a joke. Internet memes and conversations treated this situation as something light-hearted or laughable. If it was a joke, it wasn't a very good one -no one laughed for long. Not much time passed at all before normal societal functions came to a stand-still for months. The world slipped into effective quarantine in a matter of weeks. No more commute to work. Online interface only. No more going to concerts, movies or restaurants. Stay indoors, away from others and wash your hands often. The chaos only intensified from that point forward. Social rules were altered to an unrecognizable point, and new mandates only made tensions among the public rise. Ordinary household items became commodities in high demand and short supply. Production and transport lines were interrupted as more people were required to stay home. Without a regular and dependable workforce, those same supply lines were rendered nearly impossible to maintain. In short: The going got real tough, real quick.
Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. When the going got tough, the tough then went and made things personal. The past twelve months have brought with them tragedies which have hit much, much closer to home than the numerous global catastrophes. Sparing the details, this year hasn't been kind within the scope of their own lives as well.
It's only within the last few months that things have come back into some semblance of control. However, that doesn't stop the burnout and exhaustion one feels living through these kinds of rapid and extreme changes. Anyone would say that a break from the harsh realities of daily life amidst all this turmoil is long overdue. Creating some small pocket of joy in which to reside for a few hours is a sorely needed form of escapism. As a result, the plans for today were chosen and set up for throughout the morning -after he had seen to a couple of chores outside the apartment as well. While his partner had left for a short trip to the store to pick up some snacks and ingredients for meals, he had made use of his free time by preparing for a cozy day-long staycation. There couldn't be a more prefect day for one.
His turntable plays, filling the small space inside their apartment with the sounds of classic rock n' roll. Their new gaming console is all set up and Mario Kart is cued up on screen. A stack of board games sits at one end of their small coffee table while card games line the surface. The connected strings of soft white Christmas lights he and his girlfriend had secured along the upper part of the apartment's walls yesterday provide ambient lighting, complimenting the laid-back vibe he's going for. Standing before the stove, he mixes the contents of a sauce pan -hot chocolate he only put on within the last few minutes. Everything else is in place to create an enjoyable yet relaxing atmosphere. All that remains is meal preparations.
As if she has read his mind, a second later a text message lights up his phone screen. The person his thoughts have been shifting toward has just arrived, pulling her small sedan back into the apartment complex parking lot and she is going to need help getting the haul of groceries inside. Quickly shutting off the burner, he heads for the door and steps into a pair of boots before throwing on a sturdy cold-weather jacket.
A blast of cold air rushes him as he steps out into the early winter morning, snowflakes melting on contact with his skin, hair and clothing. Snow squalls began around an hour ago, lasting only minutes each time. Within the last thirty minutes, however, it's begun to steadily fall and is now just barely beginning to stick to the barren tree limbs and bushes as he searches out and spots her car. The temperature has dropped since the early morning, the thickening clouds overhead a clear reminder of the weather to come, promising the same fierce winter storm the local news has been warning the residents of. Everyone has been talking about the front moving in, which will bring heavy snow and wind going into tonight. It makes this a perfect time to hide inside the warmth of their small yet cozy home and enjoy some of life's small comforts while the opportunity presents itself.
But first there are some chores to get through. In a few quick paces, he reaches her parking place and is already grabbing several of the reusable bags from the back seat before she even exits the car from the driver's side door. Between the two people, all the bags are unloaded from the car and brought into their apartment in one trip. Marinette leads the way in, pausing once she steps inside to glance around at the entertainment-laden living room. Luka makes his way around his girlfriend as she continues to take in the sight of everything he's set up for them. As short as their time spent living together has been, she is already very aware of how much Luka likes to show her a good time on special occasions. Today isn't a holiday or a birthday -at least, not to her recollection. Is there something else she's overlooked?
"Is there some sort of special thing happening today?" Having made her way into the kitchen, she shoots her musician boyfriend a puzzled expression as she begins to unload the contents of the shopping bag onto the counter.
"Nah," as items are placed onto the counter for him, the young man shuffles around, storing away each item and placing a quick kiss to her temple mid-movement, "I just feel like spending some time together and unwinding. You up for it?"
"Sure," though still troubled by a more mild form of the same confusion she felt at first, Marinette can't help the grateful smile that tugs up on her lips, "once we're done with this and I change clothes."
Less than ten minutes later, the two of them sit on opposite sides of the coffee table, each with a mug of hot chocolate and a hand of seven cards a piece, about to start a round of Uno. As only two people are participating in the game, they agree to pick a card at random from the stack that remains face down on the tabletop until the start of the small but spirited match. Turning the playing card over reveals the color blue and the number four. Marinette, having volunteered to go first, lays her card atop the first randomly chosen card that lays face-up next to the draw pile. Right away, she makes it clear that she wants to keep this friendly game interesting -using a yellow card bearing the number four to change the playable suit.
To the bluenette woman's delight, her partner's face scrunches up into a look of disapproval as he reaches out and picks up the next card in the draw pile. Frown only worsening, he continues to pull from the draw pile until another six cards are added to his original hand of seven before finally tossing a green card bearing the number four onto the pile. Laugher bubbles up from within at the man's misfortune and comes spilling out before it can be stopped.
"Playing it like that, huh?" Alight with mischievousness, his alpine eyes rise from the sizable collection of cards he now holds and he arches a playful brow at his girlfriend.
"It wouldn't be fun any other way." She maintains eye contact as she drops a green draw two on top of the one he had played. The corner of her mouth quirks up into a devious grin as she takes in the sight of the resigned nod from Luka, who appears to visibly deflate, seemingly conceding his momentary defeat. "Aww...that's unfortunate..."
"For you, maybe..." As if to punctuate the statement, Luka lays another draw two on top of hers, grinning triumphantly in response to the exasperated look that replaces his companion's unearned self-satisfaction. "Hope you enjoy your four new cards."
The game continues in this manner for a few more rounds, each player taking their turns besting the other whenever the cards in their hand allow for it. The competition is just serious enough to keep both people invested in attempting to claim victory and just light-hearted enough to still be a pleasant form of entertainment. Both people get one more win before the third and final match, in which Marinette claims victory before they move on to something different.
The remainder of the afternoon is spent switching between the assortment of board games and video games, laughing, talking and ignoring the outside world. In this safe and welcoming bubble where only the two of them reside, it's easy to feel as though the weight of the world and all it's troubles are fading slowly, slipping out of this reality and into non-existence. By evening, the two of them have made a cozy nest out of an assortment of pillows and blankets and snuggle up within that warmth while they play a two person game of Cards Against Humanity. In the background, the turntable continues to play classic rock, though the playing method has been switched from the vinyl records to radio.
After the last absurdly crass combination of cards, the two of them are absolutely in tatters. The guitarist has his head resting back against the couch as his shoulders shake with uncontrollable laughter. Marinette -struggling to wipe away tears produced by the stress of laughing so hard- takes a couple pictures with her smart phone to send to Alya and Nino. This is a game where one must use their wit and the phrases on the white cards in their hand to complete the prompt written on the black card in the draw pile, the more off-color, racy or blue, the better. It's a game both young people excel at, but it is Luka's latest combination that has them in their current state.
Try as they might to calm themselves, for the next several minutes the pair of young people struggle to control their laughter. Each time the laughter begins to die down, simply looking at one another brings on another wave of giggles. Unable to even draw enough breath to make full words as her sides begin to feel sore, she just looks at her boyfriend in amused wonderment. It's truly incredible how such a good human with the kindest nature amongst anyone she knows can also have such a dark sense of humor. Of course, she isn't complaining. Actually, she kinda digs how cutting his humor can be -it isn't as though the darkness of her own humor is too far removed from where his is at. It is thanks to that dark humor that she can laugh like this right now. What a fantastic feeling it is to laugh so openly again! It feels like it has been far too long.
In the background, Foreigner's "Waiting For a Girl Like You" begins to play, the hypnotic rhythm of a synthesizer instantly bringing down the energy level in the room. A realization occurs as he lets the mellow tones wash over him. This song was playing over the speakers in the restaurant they went to the night he asked her if she wanted to live together. A swell of affection rushes though him thinking back on it and he can't help himself. Leaning in with the intent to place a soft kiss on the woman's cheek, he is pleasantly surprised when she misinterprets this intention and turns her head as well, resulting in his lips connecting with hers instead of his original target. For a few seconds, the kiss shared between the two begins to intensify before Luka breaks contact.
With this action, the pair has finally managed to almost completely overcome the laughing fit.
"So...you hungry?" Even after clearing his throat, his voice still comes out sounding hoarse. Bringing himself up onto his feet, a small smile threatens to send him right back into the fit he'd just escaped as he sees his girlfriend is once again struggling to control her amusement in order to answer him. Seeing and hearing her carefree and airy laughter fills him with both a sense of relief and pride. A small smile here and there which never truly reached her eyes has been a staple of the last couple months and he loathes having become so used to it.
The bluenette nods, finally able to shake off the last of the laughing fit as she moves to stand up -only to then be halted by Luka extending his arm in front of her. Her question need not be asked aloud as her eyes line up with his.
"This one's on me." Offering his trademark gentle smile, he gives her a moment to process his offer. He knows she may still feel compelled to jump in anyway, as meal prep is often something they do together, but today he wants to cater to her. "I want to make food tonight."
For a moment, a look of contemplation crosses the woman's features. She is studying her companion -trying to make a determination as to what may have inspired this extra high level of attentiveness. Luka is usually pretty tuned in to her needs, so she seldom needs to ask for emotional support from him but even this is a step or two beyond his normal. She doesn't mind if he feels like pampering her today, she's only interested in hearing where it's coming from. For about five seconds, curiosity builds and she considers asking if he's sure she hasn't forgotten some sort of occasion. Ultimately, she just nods and settles back into her seat, deciding that he will tell her eventually anyway.
With a slightly wider smile brightening his features, he shuffles past her, moving around the couch and heading into the kitchen. The curiosity in his partner's bluebell eyes was entirely unobstructed -she's very interested in his motivations for setting up this entire staycation, though she didn't end up questioning him on it. This knowledge keeps the smile from fading even once as he gets into the cupboard, retrieving a bottle of tequila.
"Drinks?" Luka calls over his shoulder, holding the bottle up so she can see the label if she turns to look his way.
"Sure." Her nonchalant reply is not long-awaited.
He's made these same drinks on a few occasions this year, so the process takes but a few moments. Quickly, the musician prepares both glasses by coating each rim generously with fine salt and dropping in a few ice cubes. Mixing the tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur with a few measured shakes, he pours each of them an equal serving. With both glasses prepared, Luka makes his way back to their couch to drop off her drink, bending down and carefully lowering the glass into her waiting hand.
"Thanks bartend," The woman teases, tossing out a flirtatious smirk that makes his breath hitch for just a moment, "So...what's the chef got on the menu tonight?"
"Well...I was thinking we could start off with Tomato soup," the monologue begins, inflection mimicking the scripted speech of waitstaff reviewing the course selection, "and move on to garlic-parmesan zucchini noodles with some toasted baguette...and then..." trailing off, a certain thought begins to form in his mind as he recalls the fun afternoon of flirting and their kiss. A grin tugs up on the corner of his lip as he leans down and whispers an additional proposal into her ear.
"Ah...I get it now! This is you...seducing me?" He can tell from a combination of her facial expression and her demeanor that she doesn't actually think this is all a ploy to coax her into participation in more adult-themed pass times. The tone of the question was meant to come off on the surface as another simple tease between lovers, and underneath it is her fishing for answers.
"No." His answer here is firm and even, a quiet reminder that such manipulative actions aren't his style. Then, after a moment, he allows his lip to quirk up into a smirk. "Is it working?"
Through a small sip of her drink, she snorts in response to way he dramatizes the interest in his tone, playing it up for effect. Though it would be a lie to claim there is no interest at all, it is also a fact that such a motivation is not part of why he wants to make today special. Regardless, that small bit of humor lands well and his girlfriend is left struggling to control a second fit of laughter as Luka gets back into an upright position, feeling proud of himself.
"Right now, all I'm trying to do is spend time with my girlfriend..." How should he word this? "...and if I did have anything else I wanted to bring up, I'd probably want to do that after I have fun hanging out with the person I love. That good enough?"
"Not that you do have something else in mind, of course." With a playful eyeroll at his avoidant wording, she takes another sip of her drink.
"Of course." This is a game it's easy enough to play along with.
"I guess that's acceptable." Honestly, she just keeps hoping that he isn't about to give her some sort of bad news. More bad news is flatly unacceptable after these past few months. "If you're not gonna tell me what this is about, will you at least promise it's not bad news?"
"I would be really surprised if you thought this completely hypothetical news was bad." A compelling retort in it's own right, this phrase has the desired effect. A response is issued without demanding too much be given away. All in good time.
"Completely hypothetical." She repeats his words with an exaggerated wink and a slow nod. There are times when Marinette is not up for lengthy banter. Today is not that day.
"Okay, okay...I get it. When I'm ready, alright? Can I make us dinner now?" Gesturing toward the kitchen, he hopes this last attempt will end this discussion for the time being.
"Fine...I'll be patient. Go and make dinner..." Just as the young man turns to leave, the designer reaches out, grabbing his wrist and stilling him, "but...before you do, just one more thing?"
He nods, noting the way her facial expression has begun to soften as she gazes up at him. Tender-hearted as he is, that earnest inquiry and the adoration in her smile is not a combination he'd dream of turning away from.
"Thanks for everything you already did today...for everything you're always doing." A grateful smile just barely touches those summer sky colored eyes of hers as her grip around his wrist tightens slightly.
Feeling his reservations start to crumble under the pressure of the warmth of her words, the young guitarist feels the tension leave him all at once. The allure of her affectionate smile and warm touch simply makes him melt. Every time. A tender smile tugs the corners of his lips upward as he pulls his wrist from her grasp, threading his fingers through hers instead. Bending down and leaning in once more allows the young man to capture his lover's lips in their second kiss of the afternoon. A much greater intensity burns behind the innocuous touch of their lips before he pulls away to allow for eye contact. Orbs of pure blue alpine connect with a pair as blue as the heavens and the electricity crackles and fizzes in the space between them. A brief and wordless exchange of deep adoration is shared before he pulls his hand away, moving back into an upright position once again.
"Always." One simple yet heartfelt word passes over his lips before he moves away and into the kitchen to begin dinner preparations.
The reheated tomato basil soup they'd made the night before is the perfect thing to warm up with on this stormy winter day. Following are the zucchini noodles Luka put together today, which are so delicious that she has to go back for seconds. The crunchy toasted baguette is the perfect vessel for the vegetable noodles cooked with garlic and topped with parmesan cheese. Dinner is followed up by splitting the remainder of the margarita Luka had mixed up just prior to cooking. Playing a few rounds of Mario Kart, they also munch on the cheese and veggie platter she had bought while on errands.
It isn't until long after all the dishes from the food and drink have been washed and stowed away and the pair is snuggled together under a fluffy blanket with a classic Christmas film playing on the TV that the topic he hasn't yet broached is brought back up. The gravely sound of Blondie's "One Way or Another" fills in the empty space left during a commercial break in the film when Marinette's fingers dig into the fabric of his shirt. Glancing down at the woman, he can't even pretend he doesn't see the unease which sours her features.
"So...whatever this news is...are you gonna tell me now? I'd rather you just say it if it's something bad, you know." Brow furrowing with worry, she looks up at him, those periwinkle eyes trembling with anxiety as they hold his gaze.
With a deep breath, Luka removes the arm he had flung around her shoulders and backs out of what had been a comfortable embrace. He gets her trepidation. It's totally valid. In the last twenty-four months, if society as a collective has learned one thing, it's to expect that most incoming news is bad news. This time around, however, he must admit he takes a great deal of pleasure in disappointing the woman -at least for today he has no upsetting news to break. Surprising her with something nice is the only wish he currently holds.
Marinette, on the other hand, has no way to know this and her anxiety only continues to grow. She misses it when Luka opens his mouth to explain and jumps in with her own rapidly-beginning-to-spiral thoughts.
"It's already been such a long year...with so much awful stuff happening. It's like every time I turn around there's some new bad thing waiting to make things even worse..." Giving voice to these concerns causes another onset of panic to rush her, and what was anxious rambling blooms into a full-on rant. Against his chest, the man can feel the woman's small hand shaking as her fingers clutch his shirt.
"Whoa, hang on..." The attempt to quell her stress-induced monologue goes unheard.
"I really don't want more bad news. Like, really don't want more. Every day it's like 'what happened now?' I mean, seriously-"
"Marinette..." He tries to interject just one more time, but it clearly isn't going to work. Knowing her panic will only increase as time goes on, he raises his hand, gently pressing his index and middle finger against her lips, even as they move. Her increasingly frantic speech ceases at once. Her blue bell eyes reconnect with that intense cerulean stare of his just as he presses the index finger of his other hand to his own lips in the "shushing" gesture. He can't recall if there had been a specific trigger for it somewhere along the way, but this action always seems to instantly garner her undivided attention.
Now that her attention is only on him, the fingers pressed to her lips fall away as he allows his hand to drop into his lap and moves his index finger away from his own face. Such an earnest curious gaze is directed his way that he can't help the warm smile that takes takes over his features. Gently, his fingers come to rest over hers, threading through and removing them from where they grasp the fabric of his shirt.
"I wanted to wait until after you'd had a chance to unwind because I know that bringing up anything that has to do with your mom can be difficult for you," though obvious pain begins to mar her expression, the young guitarist presses on, "but...I'm bringing it up for a reason. Is it okay with you?"
A moment of somewhat tense silence follows before the young designer offers a stiff nod of hesitant approval. The weight of her grief is palpable as he gives her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"When we went to visit, you two could go on for so long talking about this one kind of pet you really liked -you remember that?" Leading in with this question, relief floods him as he sees the pain in her expression fade slightly, a nostalgic look taking the place of the less desirable emotions.
"I do! We both loved color-point cats, like Siamese or Snowshoe or Ragdoll-" Even before this last word is completely past her lips, a realization has begun to form. Curiously, she eyes the man before her, wondering if this conversation is leading where she thinks it might be. "Why?" the anticipation in her questioning tone has Luka feeling giddy as he gets onto his feet and waves over his shoulder, motioning for her to follow him.
In seconds, the bluenette is on her feet and trails close behind him as he leads them in the direction of the spare bedroom. He turns to look at her over his shoulder, lip quirking up into a knowing smirk as he spies the mixture of puzzlement and anticipation playing in her features. The door swings open easily once he turns the handle, and he steps inside. Marinette freezes in place as she takes her first step into the room, eyes fixed on a small, fluffy bundle which lays curled up against a plush toy on the sofa bed directly ahead of where they stand.
"Are you serious?" The words spill out, not so much a question as an instinctual expression of disbelief.
"Completely." His answer comes all the same.
Awakened by the commotion, the small creature's head pops up, eyelids opening to reveal a beautiful pair of crystalline blue orbs -similar to but not quite the same as Luka's. A plush coat of cream and burnt orange markings gives the animal an almost royal appearance. Suddenly, it seems to realize that a person it recognizes is present and blinks slowly before standing and arching it's tiny back in a long stretch. With a loud trill, it leaps from the sofa, sprinting straight to Luka and launching its tiny body at his leg, quickly scaling the fabric of his jeans. With a wince and a hiss through his teeth, he plucks the feisty rascal from his clothing, holding it up before his face as if squaring off.
"Hey you little shit...that's skin you're climbing up and stabbing with those little daggers." In a most endearing scene, her boyfriend chides the infant cat while holding it out before him. The tiny feline can nearly fit within Luka's palm as he looks at it, and as if understanding and replying, it trills once again. "Okay...I guess when you put it like that, I can forgive you." The guitarist draws his arm in close to his chest, creating a cradle for his feline friend to settle into as the little fuzz ball begins to purr loudly.
With this conversation apparently closed, he rotates his body to face in the direction of his human company. A person who stands before him now, slack-jawed and speechless.
"No way..." The next set of words that she manages to get out are nothing more than a few exasperated syllables.
"Yes way." His is a curt but honest rebuttal.
Eyes shining with intrigue, Marinette reaches out both hands, demonstrating a desire she doesn't use words to communicate: "Let me hold the cat please." He wastes no time in appeasing this unspoken request and places the baby animal into her waiting arms.
Pulling the small, fluffy bundle in against her chest, she practically melts as the kitten stretches it's neck out and bunts roughly against her chin. "Awwww..." the bluenette coos in response, a delighted smile warming her features. Watching and enjoying the cavity-inducing sweetness that plays out in front of him, right now he can practically feel his heartstrings being tugged upon. The rush of oxytocin and serotonin leaves the man feeling a little light-headed. "Oh...my gosh...Luka," a second passes before her eyes rise to meet her partner's, finally able to be torn away from the adorable baby animal in her arms, absolutely sparkling, "How? When?"
All but lost in the innate charm of such a precious moment, the mirth reaches his electric eyes as he explains.
"Your dad found her rummaging around in the garbage outside the bakery a week ago. He got a little attached since this cat is so..." Delight ripples through the woman's expression as the kitten bunts against her chin again, still purring loudly. A swell of deep affection only continues to build within him as the musician continues, "affectionate. But...he has the bakery to run and didn't think he'd have time to take care of a pet, so he asked me if you maybe were still interested."
Satisfied with this explanation, her attention returns immediately to this small but happy family's newest member. Nodding enthusiastically, Marinette only cuddles the tiny animal closer to her chest, practically oozing joy into the atmosphere inside the small room.
"I dunno...seems like it might be a bad fit. Seems like she really doesn't like you. Better call your dad and see if he has someone else in mind..." Luka teases his girlfriend as she continues to fawn over the little fluffy cat who sits contentedly in her arms, returning that affection in droves. He reaches out in jest to take the cat back from Marinette, only to be blocked when the blue-haired woman turns away pointedly to prevent that happening.
"Okay, okay. I was kidding." Carefully he moves in and gathers her small body into a tight hug, mindful of where their new companion resides in her grasp.
After some time to get acquainted, the two of them leave the fluffy bundle to sleep on the sofa bed, quietly shutting the door as the kitten curls up next to the plush toy it had been nestled up against earlier and begins to groom itself.
As they settle back down onto the couch in their living room, the designer is quick to wrap her life partner in another tight hug, mumbling unintelligible words of gratitude against his chest. Eagerly he returns the gesture, nodding softly in reply.
"So that was what all this today was about?" Apparently still unconvinced, she questions him yet again while moving back from the embrace.
Those alpine eyes of his lock on to her gaze and for a moment she feels as if his sight reaches far beyond what is visible to the eye. The man before her remains silent for a few moments, his expression softening into something contemplative and almost pensive -though it would seem not in connection with her or her question. Unable to imagine any reason he needs to consider his answer, Marinette matches Luka's pace, allowing the lack of conversation to settle over her while attempting to zero in on what might have his attention. Suddenly, she realizes. A new song has begun to fill the silence, coming from the radio, still continuing to play in the background. Modern English's "I Melt With You" fills the room with it's whimsical opening chords.
"You were right when you said it's been awful these last couple years." In his eyes, the focus shifts from the music back to the conversation, the warm yet distant gleam dissipating slowly as he speaks. "It was a little selfish...but it feels like everything has gone wrong since we've been together. I wanted to try and make up for lost time, I guess. Create some happy memories to look back on, so, if we're still together years from now...we don't always look back and think of this as the worst part of our lives."
A flash of frustration shines through in his ice blue eyes as he watches her, piercing her deeply as she spies it. The joviality present in his expression during the hours of gaming and laughing has fled him, leaving a troubled grimace in it's wake. They study one another during the break in conversation, each trying to draw conclusions about the other's thoughts from the respective expressions they wear. Between them, Marinette is the first to formulate any thoughts she wants to give voice to.
"Luka," A soft and compassionate air tempers her voice as she slides closer and wraps the man in what feels like the millionth embrace of the day, pulling him in so his head rests close to her chest and he settles in with a heavy sigh, "none of this is your fault. I won't let you take the blame for things you don't control. You can't do that to yourself."
"Sorry...that isn't exactly what I meant." He has tried time and again not to let the situation they're in get to him. Frequent meditation and practicing self-care are long-time habits of his and even in spite of keeping up on both practices as a matter of routine, he's been having a difficult time coping. True, he could just be succumbing to a pity-party, but he knows better than to try and deny or downplay them when negative emotions need addressing. The bottom line is that he feels discouraged. Beginning a relationship with her had been one of the happier moments in his adult life and he still treasures everything they have. His biggest hurdle here is after everything they went through to be together, having the timing of the beginning a life together coincide with all the tragedy they've faced really sucks. "I have been having a hard time with everything. I guess I also needed what I was trying to give you -a break from all the bullshit."
A swell of many emotions runs through her body hearing this admission from the man in her arms, and, not knowing what to say, she simply tightens her embrace. To say she can empathize with his frustration and grief on a profound level would almost be an understatement. More than simple empathy though, the woman is filled with great affection and admiration for him in this moment. It's not nice to see someone she loves feeling so low, but she respects how vulnerable he makes himself when opening up about what troubles him.
Searching her mind for the words to utilize in response to that vulnerability seems to be an increasingly fruitless effort. There are no words to cover the scope of the suffering going on both in general and in their personal lives. Neither person is a doctor or a scientist, so the answers or solutions aren't at their fingertips or hidden within the puzzle of some test or experiment -waiting to be discovered. New information may come, but all they can do is muddle through like all the other ley people. Await some absolution that may never come.
After a moment of simply holding the man and making an attempt at offering some quiet solace from the seemingly endless troubles of the world, the right words suddenly seem to find her as the song continues in the background. Backing out of the embrace, she leans toward the table and picks up one of the Mario Kart controllers before turning back toward her boyfriend, a playful eyebrow arched.
"You know, I think you had the right idea," he has at least succeeded in giving her one of the most fun days she's had in a long while, and now she's nothing if not determined to return the favor, "Let's stop the world and melt for a while." Last-minute thought this phrasing may be, however it does happen to fall in line with those exact lyrics in the song in it's final chorus before the closing chords.
It takes another moment for Luka to catch up to the sudden tonal change, but a smile finally breaks through his otherwise sullen features and he reaches out, taking the controller she has extended in his direction.
"Sounds good." He leans in, kissing her on the cheek. "Thanks Marinette."
"Sure thing. And after I destroy you, we can pick out a name for that little kitten in the spare room."
The woman's confident reply is like a siren song to his competitive side, presenting a challenge that he simply can't ignore.
"Challenge accepted, Dupain-Cheng," Leaning in again, he prepares to whisper the rest into her ear, "if I win, we're calling the kitten..."
With his thoughts concluded, Marinette shoots back with a wager of her own. "Alright...but if I win, I pick the name and then..." in keeping with Luka's trend, she whispers the last bit into his ear, pulling away and watching as his eyebrows raise in response, a little flush coloring the skin along the back of his neck.
"Are you trying to persuade me to throw the match?" He must admit, she makes a compelling case.
"I would never!" Playing it up for dramatics, she eyes him as his alpine gaze comes to rest upon her once more, unconvinced expression telling her everything she need know. "Is it working?" Carrying nearly the same inflection he had used when asking this question earlier, her quip has him chuckling to himself as they select their characters for the race.
As the two settle in for more gaming in their quest to forget the chaos of the outside world, one thing is completely clear: One way or another, this evening will certainly be an interesting one.