04 October 2020

Prompt: Ambush

Character/Pairing: Dingo King (OC), Marinette Dupain-Cheng; Lukanette, Bringo

Rating: K Plus / PG / Most Ages

Notes: "Ver, Ding's the dumbass, goofball son. Why do you keep mixing FEELINGS into these?!" Because is Mari ambushing Dingo, is Dingo ambushing her, or am I ambushing y'all?

"Hey, Dingo?"

He looks up from the reading assignment he was really only half-focusing on anyway at the voice. Marinette's sitting on the steps above him, her chin propped in her hand and elbow on her knee. She's staring at the courtyard before them, and he follows her gaze to see Brielle and Luka talking. Luka says something that makes Bri laugh, and Dingo's distracted for a moment by the way the sun glints on her nose ring, how wide and happy her mouth is, the shine of her hair as she throws her head back.

"Dingo?" Marinette asks again, and he shakes his head before turning back to her. He doesn't get as distracted by Marinette as he does by Bri. That's Luka's job.

"Yeah, baby girl?" he asks, and she rolls her eyes at the endearment. She nods towards their friends, her fingers drumming an absentminded beat against her chin.

"What's the deal with you and Bri, anyway?" she asks.

Dingo almost chokes. Almost. But Dingo is unflappable, completely unable to be flapped, and just snorts and laughs it off like she's the crazy one, not him.

"What'cha mean, what's the deal? There is no deal She's Bri," he says easily. She doesn't look convinced. He dips his head, sliding his shades down his nose, and lifts his pierced eyebrow. "What's the deal with you and Lulu?"

She actually does choke, spluttering out an indignant little squawk, before turning her red face away. Her eyes betray her, though, and slip back towards the courtyard in time to catch Luka's eyes on her. Her face darkens a few shades and she glances away again.

"W-we're…we're friends," she huffs, tapping her chin a bit sharper. "He's a very good friend."

"You know, for someone who was on the receiving end of very good friends for as long as you were, you're pretty quick to toss that around like it doesn't mean anything," he observes. She sucks in a breath, her head snapping back to him, but his nose is back in his book. He hopes she doesn't notice it's upside-down. "Luka tells me things."

"He shouldn't be telling you those things," she bites. He sighs and puts his book back down. He doesn't even mark his spot.

"Easy," he says. Brielle is looking for something in her bag, but Luka's still watching them. His hand has fisted on his guitar strap, and Dingo gives a subtle shake of his head. That doesn't seem to ease Luka's concerns any, judging by the bleached knuckles. "He didn't…it wasn't like that. He just worries about you."

"He shouldn't have to," Marinette says, but there's less bite to it. More resignation. Dingo shrugs.

"Yeah, he should," he says. He feels Marinette's eyes on him again. "It's what you do when you love someone, right? You worry about them. If they're ok. If they're happy. If they're ever gonna love you back."

"I –" she starts, but he waves her off.

"Am his friend, I know," Dingo says. He tips his head back and grins at her. There's a sort of hopeless abandon about that grin that sets her stomach squirming. "Just like I'm Bri's friend. So I ask again, baby girl: what's the deal with you and Luka?"

She looks at her lap, the uncomfortable expression on her face letting him know she feels a little attacked. The meaner part of him is glad for that: he felt much the same when she asked him. He sighs and looks back at the courtyard. Brielle is waving her arms at him, gesturing to the phone in her hand, and he winces as he remembers he was supposed to help her with an assignment. He slaps his hands on the steps and pushes himself up.

"It sucks, right?" he asks, dropping a hand on her head to ruffle her hair. Her face scrunches, and there's a flash of annoyance in Luka's eyes that Dingo's become all too familiar with. He's not possessive, but he is…protective. He's been trying to protect Marinette from Dingo since they first met. Dingo thinks maybe Marinette can more than hold her own and Luka just needs to chill the hell out. "At least you know where you stand with him, even if you're not as willing to admit where he stands with you. Me? I'm just stupid in love with someone who probably won't ever love me back."

"…Bri loves you, Dingo," Marinette says, and he pauses on the last step. Smiles a little, because he's Dingo and all he ever does is smile. Even when he doesn't really feel like it. "She does. She's just…Bri."

"No offense, baby girl," Dingo says, pushing out a breath and shoving his hands in his pockets, "but you're still new. Bri…Bri loves me as much as she's able. I don't think I'm it for her, though. Not like you and Lu."

"I think you're wrong," Marinette says, and Dingo laughs. He doesn't see the way Brielle's gaze lingers on the glint of the sun on his shades, on how wide and happy his mouth is, and the bounce of his mohawk as he tosses his head back. She doesn't get distracted by him, not like he gets distracted by her. Like Luka gets distracted by Marinette. "I think she loves you more than either of you are willing to admit."

Bri's still waiting for him in the courtyard, but Luka's started making his way towards them. Towards Marinette. Dingo spares her one last glance, his shades tipped again so she can see the glint in his eyes.

"Tell you what," he says, low enough that Luka won't overhear, "how's about you stop lying to yourself about my mate Luka there, and I'll stop lying to myself about Bri? Thought you hated liars, anyway."

…it was a low blow, and one Luka would give him hell for later, but…maybe not. Maybe he might end up thanking him. He slaps his hand against Luka's shoulder, winking at him as they pass.

Maybe.