Ladybug was staring at the gramophone, gong, and mallet she was holding. I wonder what will bring more attention… Marinette carrying these home through the streets of Paris, Ladybug awkwardly swinging from rooftop to rooftop lugging around large, heavy objects, or Ladybug lugging these things around and *not* swinging from rooftop to rooftop. I'm not sure Master Fu thought this through. I'm not even sure *I* thought this through. OK. Can't hurt to try something. "Lucky Charm!" she called, and a large red polka-dotted sack fell at her feet.
Not bad! This is probably the first time in forever that Lucky Charm has been immediately obvious. Now… let's give it a try. I've gotta get home in five minutes or less. I hope this is sturdy! She opened up the sack and carefully placed the gramophone, gong, and mallet inside. Tying the sack shut, she picked it up. Nice! I've just gotta keep my landings soft and make sure I don't crash into something, and we should be good to go. She slung her yo-yo toward the nearest rooftop and launched herself into the sky.
She barely arrived home before de-transforming, setting the sack down on her balcony before her transformation - and the sack - disappeared in a flash of pink light. "Nice work!" she told Tikki, who giggled. "Here, have a cookie while I get this set up in my room. We're going back out!" She pulled a large chocolate chip cookie out of her purse and handed it to the kwami.
As she lowered herself and the things Master Fu had given her into her bedroom, Tikki flew after her. "You've had a busy night, Marinette! Are you sure you want to go out? There's no akumas, and I'd hate for you to run into Serket!"
"I'm just taking the Ladybug Express a short distance. I'll be fine, Tikki," she reassured her kwami. She cleared off some space on her dresser and set the gramophone down. The gong and mallet were placed behind her mannequin. "This will have to do for now. I should probably get some records or something to keep curious eyes off of the gramophone. What do you think?"
"Master Fu had a few records… maybe you can pick them up on Friday when you see him again!"
"That's a good point." Marinette checked her watch. "How's that cookie coming along?"
Tikki rubbed her belly and grinned. "Ready to go, Marinette!"
"Thanks, Tikki!" Marinette called for her transformation, and Ladybug exited through the skylight, swinging toward the Seine.
Ladybug landed near the Couffaine houseboat and de-transformed. Marinette walked up and listened for the sound of guitar music. Sure enough, a melancholy tune drifted across the air to her ears.
"Hey," she called out. "Sounds like you could use some company tonight."
The guitar playing stopped. "Marinette?" Luka said. "Wh-what are you doing here? You didn't walk all the way here at night, did you?" He helped her onto the houseboat.
"I was in the area," she said evasively, looking down at the ground. "That wasn't your usual cheery song. Is something on your mind?"
Luka smiled at her. "You were, actually. After the other night, you just seemed really down. That music wasn't me feeling that way… it's how I imagined you were feeling. You definitely seemed better yesterday, though. Still feeling better?"
"You are so sweet," Marinette said, giving Luka a hug and a squeeze. "Things are… kind of heavy in places right now. I'm not going to lie. But knowing that you're here to support me when I need it makes all the difference."
"And tonight? What can I do to support you tonight? Want to talk about it?"
"I… can't. Close friend stuff that I can't share right now. But being here in your arms and listening to you play music… that I can do."
"Come with me, then." He led her over to an empty spot on the deck and sat down. Marinette sat down too, her back against his. Luka picked up his guitar and began playing a slow, sweet melody.
"You're going to put me to sleep," Marinette complained lightly.
"Just relax. I'll let you know when it's time to go," Luka said.
Marinette closed her eyes and drifted off to the soothing music.
True to his promise, Luka woke her up half an hour later. After confirming that she was relaxed, they got on his moped and he drove her back to the bakery. Ducking into the building and assuring him that she was okay, she pecked him on the lips and thanked him for the music and the ride.
Once she heard the moped drive off, she called for Ladybug again, exited the building, and yo-yo'ed her way up to the balcony, where she sneaked into her room for the second time that evening and de-transformed.
"You owe me one, Marinette," Tikki giggled.
"It was worth it, Tikki," Marinette said, then collapsed into her bed and immediately fell back asleep.
Tikki listened to the light snoring coming from her bed and floated off to get a cookie from Marinette's desk.
Marinette woke up on Thursday morning to her mother standing over her bed, frowning. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng! What on earth were you doing last night!" Sabine thundered.
A small squeak escaped Marinette's lips as she froze in bed, covers pulled up to her chin. "Mom? I… I… I don't know?" she said helplessly.
"Well, whatever it was, please make sure you are taking care of yourself. I know you've got this band project you've been working on, but it's summer, and seeing you sleep in your clothes means you're working too hard. Take a day off! I mean it, young lady! I won't have a daughter of mine stressing over something trivial during her summer break!"
Marinette smiled. Whew… that was close. "Thanks, Mom. Don't worry… I'm going to be taking it easy today. Luka's coming over for an ice cream date right after lunch. What time is it, by the way?" She rubbed her eyes.
"Time for you to realize that breakfast has been on the table for two hours now! But don't worry, honey," she smiled sweetly, "I understand that teenage girls need more sleep than usual. I've put some food in the fridge for you… if you need me, I'll be down in the bakery." She leaned forward and kissed Marinette on the forehead. "Remember… take it easy today, or else!"
Marinette listened to her mother's laughter as Sabine went down the ladder and through the door to the kitchen. I've gotta pinch myself sometimes to realize just how lucky I am.
Marinette got out of bed and dressed in a black Kyo shirt and short denim shorts. After eating a light lunch, Marinette tidied up the kitchen while humming Luka's song from the night before to herself. That really is catchy - he should work on that one too, even if it's not the happiest song. I should tell him that when I see him.
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Marinette answered it and exclaimed, "Luka!" She jumped into his arms and gave him a long kiss. "I was just thinking about you! That song you were playing last night, before I got on the boat? It's amazing. I think you should make that your next song for the battle of the bands."
Luka returned the kiss. "You think so?"
"Oh, absolutely, it's catchy, sad but sweet at the same time… I think it really has potential."
"Well then, why don't you tell me more about it on the way to ice cream. Andre's?" He held out his elbow.
Marinette paused. The last couple of times I went to Andre's I got the same thing: Peach pink like his lips and mint like his eyes… I'd hate to get that again with Luka standing right there. "Umm.. how about the ice cream parlor right across the street? Andre's has a huge crowd during lunch, and, um… large crowds make me nervous!"
"Suit yourself!" Luka shrugged playfully and waited for Marinette to take his elbow. She closed the door behind her and put her arm in his, and they went down the stairs.
Twenty minutes later, the couple was sharing childhood memories.
Luka snorted around his ice cream. "I can't believe your father used to do that!"
Marinette laughed. "True story! I think he and Mom used to have competitions to see who could make me jump the highest. Joke's on them, though… now I startle easily and I'm a total klutz. I can't really be trusted around the bakery too much. Just small pastries and cookies for me!"
"Really, I don't think you're a klutz… why, I can just see you now, doing a couple of twirls, a deep bow, maybe a nice, high kick… you're more graceful than you think!"
Eep! "That's very sweet of you, Luka… but I hope for my sake that nobody ever sees that."
Luka laughed. "Fair enough… hey, let's get a selfie. You got your phone?"
Marinette unlocked her phone, opened the camera app, and handed it over. "Your arms are longer than mine… you take it." She put her head on his shoulder, her hand on his chest, and smiled as he took a picture.
"Not bad… let's get another one, just to be sure…"
"AKUMA ALERT!" The shopowner called out, indicating a TV hanging above the counter. Onscreen, Serket was in front of City Hall, menacing a squad of police officers.
"Ladybug, Ladybug, come out, come out, wherever you are!" came the voice from the television screen.
Marinette froze as the other customers in the store left in a general panic. Luka prodded her, "Come on… let's go hide in the back."
"Oh, um… let me use the restroom first." The Nyan Cat song sounded from her purse. I thought I silenced that! Crap! "Um… time to take my medication! I get really woozy if I don't take it. Don't wait up... I'll meet you in the back!" She ran to the restroom, closed the door, and transformed.
Instead of going back to the shop, she opened the window and swung over to her balcony. Dropping into her room, she went over to the gramophone. I don't know what state Kitty is going to be in, but I doubt he's going to be at 100%. We're going to need all the help we can get! Let's see… Alya and Nino are out of town… Master Fu is too weak. Gabriel Agreste is the only other Miraculous holder with any experience, and there's no way I can trust him. Hmm… trust…
She entered the code into the gramophone, exposing the Miracle Box. She opened the lid, and the sides automatically opened as well. We're going to need an edge… what did Jalil say about Serket? Her eyes fell upon a teal section of the Miracle Box, and she smiled. Of course! She picked up a bangle, closed and replaced the Miracle Box, and swung back to the ice cream parlor.
Ladybug found her way to the back. "Luka!" she called out. A head with blue hair poked itself up from behind a counter. She walked over, grabbed his hand, and pulled him out the back door into an alleyway.
"Ladybug! Wow… I wasn't expecting to see you. Is… is this about Marinette? I still have her phone," He cast a worried glance over her shoulder, toward the shop.
Oh man, that's going to be hard to explain! I should have taken it back. "She's OK. I need you, actually."
"Me? Why?"
"Because I need someone brave, and someone I can trust. Right now, you're the only person I can think of."
"Brave? Trustworthy? I don't understand! We've only really seen each other once…"
"And during that time, you were very calm when Captain Hardrock captured those kids. Being calm in the face of danger like that is a sign of bravery. But you also helped us escape Hawk Moth's akumas during Heroes' Day. That…" Ladybug blushed. "...That meant a lot to me."
Luka looked thoughtfully at Ladybug, then smiled. "Wow, I didn't think anybody would have noticed or remembered that. You win, Ladybug. How can I help?"
Ladybug extended her arm and opened her hand. "Luka Couffaine. This is the Miraculous of the Snake, which grants the power of Suggestion. You will use it for the greater good. When you are done, you will return the Miraculous to me. Can I count on you?"
"Yes, of course, Ladybug." Luka took the bangle and put it on his wrist. Sass materialized in a flash of bluish-green light. "What is that?"
"I am Sass, human. I will help you become a superhero to aid Ladybug in this time of need. To transform, all you need to say is Let's Slide!"
"OK." Luka took a deep breath. "Sass, Let's Slide!"
A teal light flashed around Luka as his costume began to take shape. When the light faded, Luka was wearing a dark teal suit, with lighter teal snakeskin-patterned boots, gloves, and chest piece. His hair lengthened and lightened. A teal mask with snake nostrils covered his eyes, which had turned yellow and taken on the appearance of snake eyes. At the bottom of the mask were two small snake fangs. There was a small gold diamond on his chest and, below that, light teal segments that resembled a snake's stomach. He carried a small teal lyre.
Ladybug released her breath. Not bad! If I didn't see him transform, I wouldn't know it was him. Good thing Chat has something similar happen to his eyes, otherwise, I'd be *really* creeped out right now. "Looking good! Ok, um… well… I can't call you by your real name in costume. Do you have a preference?"
"Hmm… how about… Viperion?" he grinned. To Ladybug's relief, he didn't have real fangs to go along with his costume fangs.
Ladybug smiled back. "Alright, Viperion… let's get moving! We've got a job to do."