It was a warm summer night on the Siene, and Luka Couffaine sat back on the wall next to his bed in a plain white tank top and basketball shorts; his summer pajamas. He lazily stroked his guitar, when an unexpected noise on the deck of the Liberty startled him out of his almost meditative state.
To his great surprise a less than graceful Ladybug bursted into his room clearly showing an expression that perfectly mixed fear, sadness, anger and surprise.
"MAR-Ladybug! WHAT'S WRONG?!?" Luka blurted, quickly correcting as he scrambled to get up as fast as he could sensing her distress.
Her eyes slightly widened and she seemed to deflate letting go of a breath she clearly hadn't even known she was holding, and clamping her hands over her eyes as she crumpled down on the foot of his bed groaning.
"AHHH!!! You DO know!!!" She said dramatically.
Realization dawned on Luka and he also let out a breath in relief, he understood her distress wasn't an Akuma. He walked around his bed and sat gently down next to her putting a reassuring hand on her back soflty, before saying: "I do."
She groaned again and stood up putting some distance between them. "Since when?" She asked loudly.
Luka stared up at her now clearly annoyed face and averted his eyes to the floor. "Since the job fair incident..."
"You lied to me!?" She asked seemingly hurt.
"I'm sorry." He said still looking down.
"Why did you?" Ladybug asked pleadingly.
"I didn't want to worry you..." Luka said aqua eyes meeting piercing blue ones. "I finally understood everything you have to deal with every day of your life, and I thought... I foolishly thought, I could help you carry that burden a little bit."
"By lying? Luka, I just had to sneak out Alya's slumber party after being ganged up on by all my friends, including your sister, thinking I was secretly dating you again. Since apparently, every time I disappear, you've been vouching for my excuses."
"I thought that would help..." He said wide-eyed. "I'm sorry Marinette, I should've never lied, I didn't think it would cause you more trouble..." He said sadly and returned to staring at the floor.
"Ugh... Tiki spots off" Marinette detransformed in a flash, her hair was down and she was still in her tank top and pijama pants, she sat next to him again.
"I'll help myself to a snack in the kitchen." Tiki whispered and flew away.
"I'm guessing Juleka told you mom's out of town." Luka said smiling sadly at the floor.
"Luka, look at me" Marinette said and held his hand.
Luka saw into her clear bluebell eyes and felt his heart leap, there was his melody again loud and clear.
"I know your heart was in the right place, and given Bunnix hasn't popped up yet, this probably won't lead to the end of the universe...(Luka would need to clarify that one with her later...) I just can't believe you've been lying all this time...you hate lying."
"I only lie for you Marinette...I'll do whatever it takes to help you anyway I can, I hope you know that..." He said sincerely.
"I do Luka..." She said squeezing his hand reassuringly.
She was so wonderful, why couldn't he just be with her? Right, she wasn't in love with him, she was in love with Adrien who just happened to be Chat Noir and be madly in love with Ladybug that happened to be her, they were destined to be together..."Maybe I can help you out anytime you need to get away, or make an excuse, or find a secluded spot so you can transform." he said trying to sound enthusiastic.
"That...would be useful...but I'm asking you to lie again." she said sadly looking down but never letting go of his hand.
"I'll do it, I'll do anything you need me to Marinette, I mean it." he said solemnly.
"Why Luka? Why are you so willing to put yourself through all this for me?" She said staring at him intently.
"Isn't it obvious Marinette? I love you, I'll always want what's best for you, even if it's not me. Which is really why you and Chat Noir should reveal your identity to each other."
"Wait! What?! You know who Chat Noir is too?!" Marinnete asked wide eyed.
That was her takeaway? He thought sadly. "I do, but I haven't told anyone, Mari."
"He can never know who I am!" She said frantically.
Now Luka was genuinely confused. "Why??"
"Because it caused the end of the world once... almost the universe. And we had to go back in time to avoid it." Marinnete said it in an almost rehearsed matter. As if it were something she had to remind herself constantly.
"What?!" Luka couldn't comprehend how Adrien knowing Ladybug was Marinette could end the universe.
"It was very bad, I can't know who he is either okay?" She said sternly.
He had figured Marinette and Adrien were destined to be together, but she was so adamant right now, it lit up a tiny spark of hope in him that had died that fateful day he learned their secrets.
"Are you sure? Isn't that overly complicated?" He said trying not to sound as hopeful as he felt.
"Yes, very, but I can't risk it...maybe whenever I need him before we transform you could just tell him you know who he is and Ladybug sent you, but if he asks you don't tell him you know who I... WAIT!!! YOU LOVE ME!?!?" She screamed that last part.
"Yes." He said almost outright laughing at her delayed response.
"Like right now, right now?" She asked gesturing wildly.
"And for a very long time Marinette, you are the only melody in my heart." He said with the sweetest smile he could give her.
She blushed the prettiest shade of pink and looked up at him through those wonderful lashes of her melting his heart. "I love you too Luka, I couldn't tell you my secret before, but I never wanted to break up with you."
His brain suddenly melted, she loved him too? "Maybe... we could give it another try... If you want to... " He asked hopefully.
"I really want to." She said happily hugging his chest.
"May I kiss you Marinette?" He said gently stroking her sweet almond scented hair.
She sat up to meet his intense gaze, pupils blown and inches from his lips. "Please do. "
Luka had dearly missed every second ever since he had last tasted her sweet lips, even when their relationship had been a long time ago, too short and constantly interrupted, he remembered their passionate makeout sessions vividly. Now on the eve of their getting back together it was like their bodies picked up immediately were they left off, hands slowly tangled in hair and clothes, as mouths hungrily kissed lips, jaws and necks.
She climbed onto his lap and straddled him, hungry for his touch. He ran his hand up and down her back pulling her even closer as he kissed from her ears down to her clavicles feverishly.
"I missed you so much Luka... I was so lonely without you, I cried every day for months after we broke up..." She explained raking her nails gently through his scalp.
His breath caught in his chest and his heart felt heavy, it wasn't her fault, it wasn't either of their faults. She had done the best she could at the moment, he understood now. "I'm so sorry my melody, how can I make in better?" He asked looking at her fervently. He'd commit murder at this point, if that meant wiping away the suffering she went through for him.
Their eyes met and Marinette seemed to hold her breath for a second before making up her mind and softly said: "Love me, let me spend the night with you."
Luka's brain melted for the second time that night. "Are you sure Marinette?"
"Never been more sure about anything in my life." She sweetly said and kissed him with so much passion any doubt in his mind left him completely.
Clothes dropped to the floor and Luka confirmed what he had always known, she was by far his favorite instrument, each and every sound that he caressed off her body was transcendent, the song they made a symphony he would never surpass in any other medium.
After hours of making music together they laid in his bed silent.
"I don't remember ever being this relaxed... " Marinette happily cooed as she laid her head on Luka's bare chest as he lazily stroked her back like the cords of his guitar.
"I will happily do that anytime you need to relax, I'll just put on a record on high enough to avoid my family's prodding questions."
"Won't loud music at 2am get you into more trouble with them?"
Luka laughed "You obviously haven't spent enough time on the Liberty."
"So...I can pop in through your window late at night for an encore?" Marinette asked suggestively.
"Anytime, melody." Luka said sincerely.
"I should really get back to the slumber party, I left all my stuff there." Marinette said pouting.
"Well on the bright side when I tell the others that you were with me, hopefully it will be sometimes true." He said beaming.
"More often than not I hope... You're not getting rid of me that easily Couffaine." Marinette said as she pulled herself up to kiss him once more.
I guess we can make our own destiny after all...