Content Warning: The following chapter contains depictions of sexual harassment. It's not meant to romanticize, but it's worth mentioning in case anyone finds such content triggering.
God this chapter nearly killed me I hope I did decent enough. I got a lot of people following I cannot let anyone down...And it's funny...Originally I wasn't good at writing multi-chaptered fanfictions but I guess with the new year like a flower in bloom I am honestly more interested in writing multichapter fanfics than simple oneshots...I have certainly came a long way from when I first wrote Lukanette oneshots in 2020 while suffering from the pandemic blues. Anyways, thanks for your continued support. Without further ado...
Disclaimer: Miraculous Ladybug belongs to Thomas Astruc and ZAGToon. This is just a fanfic written by a fan...
It was Sunday when Marinette dreaded going to school more than enjoying the weekend. Not only was schoolwork a thorn in the side but there was also her classmates' obsession with dating and teenagers all around being immature. It was enough to tire Marinette out.
But as the night grew dark, Marinette got a surprise video call notification. Marinette wondered who would video call her at this time of night. Maybe it was Alya who wanted to talk about the latest gossip. But when Marinette picked up her tablet, to her pleasant surprise, it was Luka.
And Marinette certainly didn't argue; having a conversation with her smooth-talking guitar friend was a welcome change, even if it was getting late. Marinette thought she might sleep in, which was a great excuse to skip school…If her parents didn't punish her.
Marinette pressed the answer button on her tablet and smiled when the cute boy with blue hair appeared on her screen. As usual, his guitar was on his lap.
"Hello Marinette."
Marinette grinned. "Hey Luka!"
Luka smiled at her, and Marinette couldn't help but blush as she twirled a lock of her hair with her finger. "I see you are working on a song I haven't heard yet," she said. Marinette quickly picked up her harp.
"I wanted to apologize for leaving abruptly," Luka said.
Marinette shook her head. "It's ok; I am sure you probably have a lot of responsibilities. It's none of my business!"
Luka gave her a sorrowful look, but Marinette looked so content running her fingers through her harp to play him a gentle nighttime melody. When she looked at him again, her bluebell eyes shining like jewels, he felt reassured and smiled back at her as he tuned his guitar.
"Well, I still wanted to apologize to you anyway," Luka said as he played a gentle tune on his guitar.
"You're here now," Marinette smiled. "It makes me worry less about going to school tomorrow."
Marinette took a moment to lie on her bed and sighed as she played gentle notes on her harp again.
"In my school, everyone is obsessed with dating, is part of judgemental cliques, and can be really closed-minded," Marinette sighed as she continued to vent her emotions with her harp. "It makes school even more exhausting."
Luka gave her a soft smile in return. "I'm sorry Marinette."
Marinette tried to be strong and smile for him as her harp playing became even more personal; it had a similar energy to her first time playing the giant harp on her balcony.
"The melody in your heart is still so beautiful though…" Luka said dreamily.
Marinette stopped playing for a moment and blinked. "Hm?"
Suddenly Luka's breath caught in his throat when he realized the words he had spoken. Marinette's bluebell eyes were full of curiosity and familiarity, but Luka swallowed and changed the subject.
"Just keep on being strong; I know it's hard, but I have never known a girl stronger than you, Marinette, even when things are hard," Luka said.
Marinette blinked some more and then smiled with an unmistakable blush.
"...Thank you Luka…."
Luka was trying to keep it cool, but now he felt he was making it worse by saying too much. With Marinette, it was becoming difficult to keep his Viperion persona separate. His heart was beating out of his chest, and then suddenly, Marinette changed the subject.
"You're lucky! You get to go to one of the best art schools in Paris!" Marinette cried. "I remember trying to get into that school when I was in middle school, and I got rejected. I cried so much, and I had to push myself to work on art again."
Just then, Luka put his guitar down and gave her a serious look. "Well, the people in charge were wrong for rejecting you Marinette! You make the most amazing art in the world! They were absolutely blind for rejecting you!"
Hearing Luka's words, she grabbed her nearby blue heart emoji pillow and held it close.
"It's ok Luka, I survived, and I still love drawing and painting…"
But Marinette wished she could attend art school with Luka and Kitty Section. Sure, it was still a high school with all its annoyances, but Luka's art school would be better. People would talk about art, and Marinette could learn new things to become a better artist.
And unfortunately, Luka had to come to terms with the fact that there were some things he as a hero could not control like his terrible school board rejecting Marinette. Just when he thought he had helped Marinette free herself, she was still held captive by the horrors of public high school. But he would be darned if he didn't imagine using his powers to make miracles happen and have Marinette come to his art school in a beautiful silver carriage and be welcomed with open arms.
Marinette looked at the clock and the stars outside her window and tried to hide her sad smile. She turned back to Luka and gave him a look of gratitude, and Luka could not bring himself to look away.
"I…Need to go now…" Marinette said.
Luka smiled at her and played her one last passionate chord on his guitar.
"I'll see you tomorrow, I promise," Luka said.
Marinette took a moment to squeal. "Thank you Luka!"
Marinette couldn't stop the smile on her face, and they both looked at each other before pressing the button to hang up the video call.
She sighed happily as she laid back on her bed and rolled over to turn off her lamp.
But she couldn't help but remember what Luka told her over the video call.
"The melody in your heart is still so beautiful though…"
Marinette looked up at the moon and stars outside her window as she held her blue heart pillow close and blushed. It reminded her so much of a particular snake superhero who told her to never let the melody of her heart fade away…
Marinette wondered, but then she didn't want to jump to conclusions. If anything, Luka had too much on his plate to be a superhero! Luka and Viperion were both just really charming and mature and liked music!
That had to be it! And Marinette couldn't help but muse at the thought.
"Oh Viperion! Oh Luka!" Marinette thought. "Why must both of you treat me so well?"
Marinette looked back at her harp and held it close with her blue heart emoji pillow.
"Oh well! I just need to get through school, and then I will practice playing my harp with Kitty Section!" Marinette thought as she closed her eyes and smiled.
"Everything will be fine!" Marinette thought as she fell asleep.
For the most part, everything was going well. Marinette decided to be positive because she knew Viperion would encourage her to stay strong. And this Monday was mundane, almost boring. But boring was good! Marinette got to say hello to her fellow classmates, along with the girls and Alya. She worked through tricky math problems and only zoned out a little during lectures.
Then she checked up on her beloved art club. An art club that only got a little activity, but it was Marinette's home away from home nonetheless. It was still peaceful with sun rays from the windows and the gentle breeze, not to mention all the decade-old art supplies Marinette cherished. Marc and Nathaniel took such good care of the art club, and they were very easygoing for Marinette to talk to when high school became too much.
The arts may not have been as important in her ordinary public school as they were in Luka's fancy art high school. However, Marinette still made the best of the humble art club room along with Nathaniel, Marc, and the other members.
But now wasn't art club day; it was time for lunch.
And lunchtime was the point where the high school drama picked up.
Marinette wanted to enjoy her adorable packed lunch in peace. Still, Marinette started to notice that Alya and the girls seemed to be excited about something. And eventually, the girls noticed Marinette was around, and they all grinned at her; Marinette wasn't sure how to respond.
"Marinette is finally here!"
A few girls quickly rushed to Marinette's side, and Marinette held her lunch box close to her.
"You're going to be so surprised Marinette!" One of the girls cried gleefully.
Marinette blinked. "Surprised about what?"
Alya quickly placed her arm around Marinette and smiled at her. "A special someone planned something for you and him."
Suddenly Marinette felt herself losing her breath. "What?"
Before Marinette could speak out, Alya took her away, and the girls eagerly followed. One of the long tables in the lunch room was placed away from the other tables in rows and decorated with a tablecloth and shiny plates with silverware. An entire banquet was meant for a party, but on a golden plate in the middle of the table was a stationary letter with a simple note.
"For Marinette."
Suddenly Marinette started to lose all feeling in her legs. "Oh no…Not…" Alya didn't bother to notice as she still had her arm around Marinette, even if she was about to lose footing.
"Ohmigosh Felix!" Another girl cried.
Marinette gasped as she turned and saw Felix Graham De Vanily walking through the crowd of girls as they screamed. Marinette thought about simply leaving the lunch room, but Alya still had a hold on her.
"I appreciate the affection of you girls, but my affection only belongs to one girl," Felix said.
That didn't stop him from flirting with the other girls for sport as he made his way to the banquet. When he finally got to Alya and Marinette, he revealed a single red rose out of thin air like a magic trick. Alya certainly was starstruck, but Marinette wasn't impressed at all.
Alya finally released her hold on Marinette and stepped back as Felix came face to face with Marinette. But Marinette couldn't help but be disgusted as Felix smiled down at her with a devious grin.
"Hello Mari…"
Marinette could only look down and clench her fists before she finally spoke.
"I told you to leave me alone!" She spat.
Felix stepped closer, and Marinette glared at his unyielding devious smile. She was about ready to deck him straight in the face.
"But I am eager to hear you play sweet music all day long, my dear songbird. You have been practicing, after all," he said as he showed a picture of her playing the harp on his phone.
Marinette gasped and nearly lost all color in her face when she realized he was stalking her. And as much as she wanted to beat him up for that, she knew she shouldn't humor him any further. So she growled at him and ran straight across the lunch room as if it was a racing track. It didn't matter to Marinette that everyone was watching her.
When she got to the front of the school, she fell on her knees in the grass, her face still burning up. Marinette could eat her sandwich, drink her strawberry milk, and calm herself down. When the breeze cooled off whatever fire was left in her, she briefly thought of a particular hero with a harp.
Marinette promptly took her harp out of her bag and crossed her legs, closing her eyes to feel the breeze on her face and listen to the wind brushing on the strings of her harp, making a pleasant sound.
Marinette ran her fingers through her harp and played whatever song her heart wanted to convey. She was lost in her melody that made a magical aura appear around her and affected the grass she sat around, and the wind became more gentle. A magical melody she wasn't fully aware of yet, but Marinette did feel stronger with her ability to play music.
But she still wished her beloved Viperion was around.
"Your melody is beautiful, Marinette," a familiar voice said in a sinister tone.
Marinette gasped, picked herself up, and quickly held her harp close as Felix smiled right before her.
"Please, don't stop on my account," he said in clear amusement.
Marinette growled at him again and took a step back. She wondered what an arrogant jerk like himself knew about beautiful, insightful melodies.
Marinette wouldn't stop fighting, but unfortunately, she couldn't just run out of school even if she was being harassed. Felix pursued her until he eventually towered over her; at a distance, Marinette saw the girls running over.
"Felix! Marinette!" A few of the girls cried.
Felix turned back to smile, and Marinette was busy giving a look of "Are you serious?"
"We get to see the moment where Felix tries to woo Marinette again!" Alya cried.
Marinette thought she was going to lose her mind. She was being harassed by a guy she didn't like, and her so-called friends were encouraging it. They stood by, and a few of them cheered. Felix waved to the crowd, then turned back at Marinette and again gave her that ever so charming evil grin. Marinette couldn't possibly feel any more dead inside.
"Don't be shy," he whispered in a way that would make Marinette's skin crawl.
"Hmm, that harp of yours is wonderful," he said.
Marinette glared at him like her gentle bluebell eyes could turn into blue flames.
"I question," Felix said as he reached out his hand. "...Where you got this little harp." He said as he ran a finger through one of the strings.
Marinette growled in response to Felix laying a finger on her harp. She quickly hit his shoulder with her hand. Still, Felix only recoiled slightly and purposely threw himself forward so he and Marinette could fall on the grass with him on top of her. Her harp fell out of her hand and rolled onto the grass.
Marinette cried out in distress, and the girls only oohed and awed at the sight of what looked like a romantic moment out of context. And Marinette could only be tough for so long; now she looked like she was about to cry as Felix postured himself over her and smiled like a pleased venomous snake that caught some prey. Not a gentle garden snake like Viperion.
"Ooh! How romantic!" One of the girls aside Alya said. The girls still didn't understand Marinette's discomfort, and Felix's face was getting too close to Marinette's.
Suddenly a girl got behind them with an expensive-looking camera.
"Quick! Catch the moment!" A few of the girls yelled.
Marinette winced and closed her eyes as the bright camera flash blinded her.
A cruel camera flash only made Marinette fall into despair. The camera really knows how to capture a moment out of context for the world to declare as romantic.
Marinette wondered why this had to happen to her.
Meanwhile, in an art school where the outdoor lunch area was decorated with students' art Luka and the members of Kitty Section did some band practice. This was the perfect place for practicing their instruments and moving to the beat. Nearby, a girl named Kagami Tsurugi tapped her foot while drawing a picture in her sketchbook. Right beside her was her boyfriend Adrien Agreste. This boy looked eerily similar to Felix, who happily bobbed his head to Kitty Section's music.
All the art students were in harmony in this lunch area. Then Kitty Section's performance was uncharacteristically interrupted by Rose's phone notification going off. All the bandmates stopped for a moment, and Juleka groaned.
"Rose, I thought we agreed that we would at least silence our phones for the sake of practice," Juleka said. "I am trying to get into the zone!"
Rose took her phone out of her pocket and smiled. "Sorry Jule!"
"We should take a break anyway," Luka said. "We are doing great! I am proud of all of you!"
Juleka looked like she still wanted to practice, but Rose grabbed her stuff and winked at Juleka before moving to the bench.
"Boo! Lame! Keep playing!" Adrien playfully whined.
Kagami giggled under her breath before giving his leg a playful kick and then returning to her drawing. But Adrien smiled and moved closer to his girlfriend to see what she was drawing.
Luka sat beside Ivan and Mylene with his guitar in hand. The gentle breeze reminded him briefly of a beautiful girl who played the harp beautifully. Even if he called for a break, he couldn't help but play a simple tune on his guitar for a moment.
"Ain't no rest for the wicked," Ivan teased.
Luka smirked as he continued playing. But it was hard not to be inspired in a tranquil place like this. Playing music in response to Adrien and Kagami being playful, his little sister Jule totally not having a crush on Rose, and Mylene making flower crowns for everyone as if there was no care in the world.
It was the perfect day for Luka to reach new heights with his music.
"Uh guys!" Rose said.
Rose sounded awfully urgent, and Luka felt the need to stop momentarily. Juleka looked over Rose's shoulder to see what was on her phone.
"I think Marinette is in trouble!"
Luka quickly picked himself up to see what Rose was talking about, and Ivan and Mylene followed him. Before Luka could ask, he saw the Instagram photo on Rose's phone.
Luka remembered what Marinette told him as both Viperion and Luka. The rich jerk Marinette mentioned. The one who automatically assumed that her annoyance and anger at him were disguised romantic passion. The guy who would constantly harass her as if this were just an amusing game to him. And even if he did give her nice gifts, it was all about the intention, and she was allowed to be upset and reject him.
Someone else posted an Instagram photo of Felix on top of Marinette and Marinette looking suffocated. And Marinette's pink harp was on the ground near them; Luka had to stifle a gasp. The caption for the picture said, "Felix is trying to woo Marinette again!"
"This looks like harassment!" Juleka cried.
"Poor Marinette…" Rose cried.
Luka clenched his fist as his inner hero instinct kicked in.
"We need to stop him!" Luka cried in a serious tone that caught all his friends off guard. His friends knew him as a usually chill guy, but his aquamarine eyes gleamed with anger.
Rose and Juleka frowned in return.
"Luka, I know this is terrible, but we'll get in trouble if we leave school…" Rose said.
Ivan got beside Luka. "We should go if the school board isn't going to do something about this…."
Rose continued to worry as she held on to Juleka's arm.
"But, what if we start a school war?" Juleka said.
Mylene got beside Ivan and took his arm. "Marinette is one of us," she said.
After taking a moment, Rose and Juleka nodded in agreement. Ivan and Mylene took out their phones to call car cabs, but Luka placed his hand in his jacket pocket before running off the lunch area.
"I'll go ahead! Meet me there!" Luka cried.
Juleka reached out for him. "But Luka–"
"Let him go!" Ivan cut in. Juleka gave him a confused look, and Ivan continued. "We'll meet up with him."
On the other hand, Kagami sat on the bench, completely bewildered. "He is certainly in a hurry."
Adrien smiled and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend to bring her closer. "He just has a strong sense of justice," he whispered into her ear in a husky tone that made Kagami blush.
Before Luka left the lunch area, he concealed himself in an area of the main entrance building where nobody was around.
"Sass! Come out!" He cried.
The snake kwami didn't look very pleased with Luka but dutifully answered. "Yes Master?"
"I need to transform!" Luka cried with such urgency, but his little kwami wasn't deterred from the cardinal rules of being the holder of a kwami.
"Oh? There has been no cry from an Akuma," Sass said.
"Yes, but my friend is in trouble." Luka cried.
Sass turned and floated away from Luka. "Master, you cannot use your powers for personal gain. You cannot just transform to beat up people, even if they are ruffians…."
Luka clenched his hands. "At least take me to her!"
The little snake kwami turned back to Luka, this time intrigued by seeing his master look dead serious. Sass moved closer to Luka as the teenage boy held out his hand for the little snake kwami to perch himself.
"As you wish, Master."
As Luka used his powers to unite with Sass, a green light flashed in the shadows, and Luka was Viperion again once more. Yes, there were no akumas around, but who said he couldn't transform to stop sexual harassment, especially when it happened to Marinette? And without a second to waste, Viperion used his powers to teleport to Marinette's school.
This would be one of Luka's most significant challenges to see if an ordinary young guitarist like himself was fit to be a powerful hero. He had already cursed himself for not running to her sooner when he knew Marinette was targeted by a rich jerk.
Felix just learned the hard way that Marinette was no pushover. He wouldn't even kiss her without warming her up to him first. But after a few fleeting moments of him posturing above her and smiling down at her, Marinette kicked him in the shin, causing him to roll over.
Marinette's shining moment of self-defense left all the girls witnessing speechless. They saw a new side of her; her eyes were angry like a feral fox as she stood her distance, ready to protect herself and her harp again.
But Felix rolled over again and positioned himself like a model as he smirked at the feral Marinette. He pulled a faux rose out of his pocket and presented it to her, causing her to groan under her breath again.
"That was fun," he said with such amusement under his breath.
Felix was a sore loser, but Marinette was ready to hit him again, only harder! To her surprise Alya and the girls were no longer cheering for such a forced romance; they were left speechless as Felix was about to pursue Marinette again.
"Marinette!"
Marinette nearly lost her breath, gasping at the sound of a familiar voice. She thought it was Viperion, but when she turned around, it was Luka running towards her.
"Luka…" Marinette was speechless as her heart rate picked up. This was all so weird because she could've sworn she heard Viperion. But she couldn't think any further because now she witnessed Luka glaring at Felix and Felix, looking even more amused as if this were some romantic drama.
This was a romantic drama, and Marinette hated it, and now Luka was in this mess as well.
"Well, I now meet the loser boy who you have been spending time with Mari," Felix said.
Suddenly Marinette felt herself clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, and Felix chuckled.
"What is a poor loser boy with a flea market guitar doing with you," Felix said with another laugh.
Marinette stood by Luka, and while Luka was pissed off, he was also taken aback by how intense Mairnette's inner fire was. He was trying to play hero for her, but now she was playing hero for him.
"DON'T TALK TO LUKA LIKE THAT FELIX!" Marinette cried in a tone that caused Alya and the girls to gasp.
Luka couldn't bring himself to say anything; Marinette was like a beautiful blue flame. But this was not a dramatic scene from an action movie.
Felix approached the two of them, ready to deflect anything.
"But he should know…." Felix said as he placed his hand under Marinette's chin. "That you're taken by me…."
Marinette glared at him as he looked down at her with dark intentions.
"Stop that!" Luka cried. He was going to grab Felix, but Marinette was one step ahead. She pulled away from Felix and slapped him across the face well enough to leave a red mark.
"You uptight–" Felix cried as he tried to grab Marinette, but this time Luka got in front of him and grabbed him by the shoulders. In response, the angry rich boy grabbed onto Luka as well.
Felix and Luka grabbed each other so fiercely, and the glow in both of their eyes showed Marinette that they were seriously ready to fight each other. This time Marinette could only watch nervously as Felix was about to hurt Luka, but Luka wasn't frightened.
"Wait!" Marinette quickly felt a rush in her heart from the sound of a familiar voice.
The members of Kitty Section ran onto her school campus as if this were a sporting event, and Marinette couldn't help but feel relieved.
"Everyone…" Marinette cried.
"Please stop fighting!" Rose cried.
"Brother!" Juleka cried.
The members of Kitty Section took a moment to catch their breaths, and Luka turned to meet eyes with Ivan even if Felix still had his hands on him. Marinette and Luka were too preoccupied to notice, but Felix's usual smug demeanor deteriorated into annoyance. Although he deserved to be now that the playing field was evened.
"Alright guys! We can all solve this fairly. Just think first and stop fighting!" Ivan pleaded.
"As soon as this loser boy minds his business!" Felix scoffed.
A low grunt came from Luka as he tightened his hold on Felix and pushed him back a few steps. Felix was still confident, but his eyes did widen in shock.
"Leave Marinette alone!" Luka growled. "You are harassing her!"
The members of Kitty Section, along with Marinette, moved closer to the two fighting boys. Even if Marinette was scared about this event's seriousness, a slight blush formed on her face.
"Luka please! We need to make harmony between our schools; we can't start fights!" Mylene said.
Luka was still fuming, and his aqua-blue eyes were still intense. He took a moment to calm himself before speaking.
"He needs to leave Marinette alone…."
It wasn't like the members of Kitty Section disagreed. All the members gave Felix dirty looks that caused him to shrink like a little puppy.
Rose held two fists up. "We'll teach him respect!" And Mylene and Juleka candidly agreed with her.
Marinette moved closer and grabbed Luka's arm as her bluebell eyes sparkled for him. It was enough to stop the rain from falling as he softened up a bit.
"Luka…" Marinette pleaded.
Luka released his hold on Felix and stood by Marinette as he felt her gentle touch. Felix was left absolutely dumbfounded.
"Marinette…" Luka said softly.
Suddenly a loud crash caught everyone off guard and caused all the students to scream and panic. Marinette and Luka nearly fell down together, but Marinette kept her hold on Luka, and Luka, with his superhero experience, kept them both grounded.
Felix however, landed flat on his ass like the ungraceful rich jerk that he is.
But after the echo-ing of a loud crash, everyone's phones went off with Akuma alerts. Repetitive alert noises that could cause someone's ears to bleed.
"Oh no!" Marinette cried as she couldn't help but tighten her hold on Luka's arm and pressed her face against his shoulder in fear.
Luka looked down at her. If he could right now, he would tell her that he would protect her no matter what.
But right now wasn't the time.
Instead, Luka released her hold on him, and Marinette looked up in confusion and looked as if she was about to cry. Luka gave her a serious look and then turned to all the petrified students.
"You know what to do. Everyone get into your school's safe area!" Luka cried.
Marinette noticed that Luka had picked up some safety protocols from his mother. It was inspiring, but then she felt guilty for getting distracted while everyone ran and screamed. Marinette didn't even realize that Felix was looking intently at both of them.
As everyone cleared out, Marinette was about to grab Luka's arm and take him with her. But Luka started running off campus as if he had something important to take care of.
"Luka!" Marinette cried.
Luka gasped and turned to Marinette, who was reaching out for him, but he had to turn away and hide the ashamed look on his face.
"I will be right back Marinette! I promise!"
"But…" Marinette cried.
Luka ran out of her reach, and she couldn't even ask why. Marinette was so bewildered, as if the world was falling apart due to the latest Akuma attack. Still, she had to turn around and find the members of Kitty Section along with Alya and the girls.
But then there was the harsh sound of a glass shattering.
Marinette looked at the main building, wondering where it happened. She felt it may have come from the second or third floor.
Then to her horror, she saw one of the art club windows, originally decorated by one of the members, shattered to pieces.
"The art club isn't useless!"
The cry sounded familiarly of a person possessed by an Akuma. Marinette's heart dropped, and she found herself losing breath as she realized it was one of her friends from the art club.
"Marc! Nathaniel!"
Another window broke to pieces.
"No! The art club!"
Ugh! This chapter was originally going to be longer but I decided to cut in half...Leave you guys with another pesky cliffhanger. I wish I didn't leave it there because there is so much more excitement that I want you guys to read...But I promise it will be there next chapter.
See you guys then and have a beautiful starry evening! This is your beloved Starlight Emiko signing out!