AN: I am loving the response to this fic, I'm glad you guys are enjoying it enough to review! It really makes my day. I will try to reply to guest reviews in my Author's Notes from now on, especially considering I've gotten some questions from guest reviewers. Also, if you've left a review while logged in and I haven't replied or thanked you, I apologise, I may have missed you!
Before I begin though, some notes on the previous chapter:
- Marinette was not akumatised, just in case you're confused. She just fainted. The poor dehydrated baby. I swear I've never seen her drink anything in the show!
- Tikki did try to warn Marinette about how Kitty Section might be feeling towards her after the day they had.
- The idea of dropping a piano on Lila is shamelessly borrowed from RicardianScholar Clark-Weasley's fic: Five Times Lila Rossi Was Killed. If you haven't read it, it's genuinely hilarious and they have a number of Lila takedown oneshots which are fabulous!
And now, replies to guest reviews:
Reply to guest in Chapter 2: I'm glad you're interested. :) As for Kagami… you'll have to wait and see ;)
Reply to Prompts, Chapter 3: Thanks so much for the compliments! And I love your ideas, I was thinking of putting a Marinette v Adrien confrontation scene in a little bit later in the story, and that's the kind of vibe I was looking for! I'll see how it works out and I hope you keep reading. :)
Pie and Last Season Boots
Marinette was woozy when she came to, but she had a firmer grasp on her surroundings. The front of her shirt was wet and someone propped her up about the shoulders.
"Have you had anything to eat today?" That was Luka, close, in her ear.
Marinette worked her tongue in her mouth, but it was too dry to bring words. A cup was pressed to her lips and cool water offered relief. When it was removed Marinette attempted again.
"Fru sal'd." She tried, forcing her eyes open at the same time. Luka considered her, expression scrunched up in concern. Marinette coughed and squinted at him. "Why's my shirt wet?"
Luka shifted his weight behind Marinette more before he spoke. "You fainted, and I thought water might help." Marinette nodded slowly, so as not to dizzy herself. "Mylene is going to get you something to eat, but the others are all on deck, practicing."
"Why aren't you with them?" Marinette asked, tilting her head to better watch Luka's reaction. He offered a weak smile before turning his face away. "Luka?"
"I quit the band." Marinette gasped. "I didn't know things were so…" Luka trailed off, clearly frustrated, waving his free hand about vaguely.
"Yeah." Marinette sighed with a slow nod. "I messed up pretty bad at school today." Luka gnawed on his lip. He opened his mouth to say something when Mylene appeared in the doorway, a bowl of what looked like leftovers in hand. She avoided both their stares and handed the bowl over to Luka with a mumble before retreating in a hurry.
"The girls told me that Ivan had asked Lila to tell you about the costume thing," Luka blurted. Marinette chewed on a piece of pie, the inside was warm, tender meat, but it continued to taste like cotton. "They only told me about it yesterday, but they said you've known all week."
Marinette scowled at the bowl in her hands. "Of course they'd think that. Wouldn't know a lie if it smacked them in the face with last season's boots." She shoved another spoonful of pie in her mouth before continuing. "A Snucci designer?" Marinette could feel herself slowly gaining strength as she ate, becoming less dependent on Luka to hold her up. "Like a Snucci designer would dress like her. Please. As if." Luka considered Marinette as she ate and ranted, gaining colour as she worked herself up into a mild simmer. "Stupid girl wouldn't know fashion if it bent her over and-"
"Okay!" Luka cut that sentiment off before it could continue. Marinette blinked several times at the interruption, almost seeming to come out of a trance. He shuffled round to face her. "What's this about lies?"
"Oh." Marinette grew pale again. "I tried telling the others but none of them believed me, and Adrien hates me and my only friends are you and Chloe and I don't want to lose you too because I tried to tell you something you didn't want to hear, and then Chloe's my only friend and she and I end up horrible lonely hamster ladies together because she's so mean to everyone she'll never get married and-"
"Marinette." Luka gripped her by the shoulders and gave her a light shake. "It's okay." Marinette went still and quiet, eyes on her empty bowl. Luka removed his hands from her shoulders and pried the bowl from her fingers to set it on the floor beside them. "Just tell me about it."
And she did. Mostly. She told him about following Lila and Adrien into the library, where she stole a one-of-a-kind book he'd 'borrowed' from his dad, watched her pretend to be a superhero just to get a boyfriend. She told him about how Ladybug turned up and outed Lila as a liar. When she heard that, Marinette realised nothing that girl said actually lined up. But every time she tried to expose Lila for what she was, Marinette was instantly given the cold shoulder and more than a few dirty looks.
She told him about Adrien telling her to take the high road, to ignore the problem until it went away. She told Luka about how she'd ruined everything during lunch by refusing to pretend that Lila wasn't taking advantage of her friends. About Adrien, that very afternoon, telling her the only way for her friends to forgive her was to make a show of apologising to Lila. To stop her friends from hurting, as if she wasn't hurting as well.
Marinette didn't tell Luka, however, about being threated in the bathroom, or forced into yet another competition for Adrien's love. Didn't tell him about nearly being akumatised because of Lila. Or about how Adrien had broken her heart that afternoon. Luka didn't deserve to hear about that. He was too sweet, too devoted to Marinette to not be outraged by those things and be akumatised. Marinette couldn't bear to fight him again.
"And that's everything," Marinette finished glumly. She met Luka's eyes and swallowed nervously. His expression concerned her, all furrowed brows and tight jaw and thin lipped. He nodded once and his expression immediately softened.
"I want to help you." Marinette could have cried or sung the hallelujah or both while dancing a jig. She'd been wanting to hear those words for weeks. With a sob Marinette launched herself at Luka and pulled him into a hug. His arms curled around her and held her tight.
Marinette let herself relax into his grip, feeling safer than she had in months, and sighed. Tears dribbled down her cheeks to wet Luka's shirt and she found herself giggling.
Marinette pulled away and wiped her cheeks. "You wet my shirt. And I wet your shirt." She giggled. "I got you back."
Luka grinned and there was something about it that made Marinette's chest feel lighter. "I guess you did." They sat together in peaceful quiet, interrupted only by the occasional giggle from one or the other, until Marinette's backside had grown numb from sitting.
Marinette shifted to fish her phone out of her purse. "It's getting kind of late, and I have homework."
Luka stood, stretched, and offered Marinette a hand up. She took it and he pulled her to her feet with surprising ease. "I'll walk you."
"Thanks, Luka." Marinette scooped her discarded bag and sketchbook from the floor, and he picked up the empty bowl and cup. On their way to the deck, Luka deposited the bowl and cup in the kitchen sink.
As they neared the deck, and the source of Kitty Section's music (minus a guitarist), Marinette slowly grew more tense. She was not looking forward to being glared at again.
"You can hide behind me if you want," Luka offered, and his earnest, selfless kindness brought a smile to Marinette's face.
"Thanks, Luka."
Luka reached the top of the stairs first, facing the band head on so that Marinette could hide behind the width of his back. It wasn't very much, granted, but it was better than nothing. Marinette walked towards the gangplank, connecting the boat to shore, while Luka sidestepped between her and the others. Marinette could only muffle her giggles so much, thinking of the undoubtedly funny picture they made, before she grabbed Luka's hand, dragged him the last few steps off the plank, and ran, howling with laughter, away from the boat. She was pretty sure he was laughing just as much.
A quick update seeing as it's short. Figure I'd give Marinette some happy times for a break.
I was Really disappointed that no one commented on my Snucci brand last chapter, so I added in some extra Snucci comments this time. This chapter feels a little bit stilted but who cares, you guys will read it anyway.