A/N: I also like the Lukanette pairing, and since 1. This is elijahhedgemond's favorite pairing, and 2. I can't get enough of National Chicken Wing Day, here's this story. Enjoy!

Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Luka Couffaine were doing their best to beat the heat as they took a trip to a rather unlikely place: Johnston, Rhode Island. Their reason for being here was that Jagged Stone was doing a concert tour of the US, and one of his shows was at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in the state capital of Providence, right next to Johnston. Known for short as "The AMP", it was originally constructed in 1972 as the Providence Civic Center and rechristened as the Dunkin' Donuts Center – "The Dunk" for short – in 2001 before gaining its current sponsor and name in 2022, playing host to numerous events over the years: rock concerts, monster truck shows, sporting events and conventions such as the Rhode Island Comic-Con, to name a few. At this moment, Marinette and Luka had some time to themselves before the concert, so they were exploring the surrounding municipalities by chauffeured car, much to the blunette's delight:

"Wow, this is such an amazing state! Your father picked a heck of a spot to have a concert!"

"I know!" said Luka. "Seems like there's so much to do for such a small state! Where should we go first?"

"I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. Why don't we grab some dinner before the concert?"

"Sounds like a plan to me! Question is, where do we go?"

Marinette looked up "restaurants in Johnston Rhode Island" and pored through a few before one caught her eye:

"What about this one?"

Luka looked at the entry that was showing in her phone: a restaurant known as The Chicken Coop.

"OK! Let's go! Driver, please take us to The Chicken Coop on Atwood Ave!"

The driver – a middle-aged man with graying black hair – gave a thumbs up. "You got it!"

The driver headed on down to The Chicken Coop. Originally opened in 1985 as "Wings to Go", it changed hands around 2017-2018 and was rechristened "Wings On 5" – alluding to its location on Route 5, aka "Atwood Avenue" – before shuttering again and reopening in 2022 under its current moniker. Also in the same plaza were a now-defunct bowling alley known as Town Hall Lanes and the future site of a Coastal1 Bank. Parking was a bit tough because of the site of the bank, but the driver managed to find a spot for his black 1973 Cadillac Sixty Special. Marinette and Luka got out and headed into the restaurant, which was clean and decorated with numerous photos and newspaper clippings. They took a seat at a table near the corner. Soon enough, a waitress – a tall brunette – came over with a couple of menus.

"Hi, can I get you something to drink?" asked the waitress.

"I'll have a Coke, please," said Marinette.

"I'll have a lemonade, please," said Luka.

The waitress left to get their drinks, while Luka intently studied the menu:

"Hmmm…they've got some interesting items on this menu. I'm not sure what I should go with…"

"Why don't we order some chicken wings?"

"Chicken wings? Why?"

Marinette smiled. "Today is National Chicken Wing Day!"

Luka tilted his head slightly. "'National Chicken Wing Day'? Never heard of it."

"I hadn't heard of it either until I found out about it by accident on a food blog I was reading."

"Very interesting! Do you read a lot of food blogs?"

"Well, I enjoy cooking and baking, so I'm always on the hunt for new recipes."

"Really? Tell me about some of the recipes you found."

"This one recipe that I wanna try is a chicken-and-rice recipe from a guy named Mark Bittman. I also found a recipe for braised short ribs that looks really good."

"Aw man, we haven't even ordered our food yet and I'm already hungry!"

"I think we're in luck…"

The waitress came over with their drinks.

"Are we all set to order?" asked the waitress.

"You go first, Marinette."

"OK, I'll have twelve chicken wings with sweet Thai chili sauce and some French fries."

The waitress turned to Luka next. "And for you?"

Luka stroked his chin. "Right, I'll have twelve chicken wings with honey BBQ sauce and some onion rings."

The waitress left to get their orders ready.

"So, what else have you been up to?" asked Luka.

"I've also been practicing bass guitar."

"Keeping up with your lessons, I see. One day, maybe you could be the new bassist for Kitty Section!"

Marinette raised a hand. "Thanks, but I'll let Juleka keep her job! Actually, Mylène's interested in learning how to play music, and I was thinking that maybe once we got back to France, you could teach her?"

Luka gave a thumbs up. "I'd be happy to help!"

"Great! Anyways, enough about me, what about you?"

"Well, I was talking with Ivan, and he said that this American pen pal he had introduced him to a band that none of us had ever heard of before."

Marinette leaned in closer. "Really? What band?"

"They're called Hammerhead. They're a British heavy metal band from the 80s. I can't remember any of their songs offhand, but if I remember one, I'll show it to you."

Marinette clasped her hands together. "Please do! I'm interested to hear what their music sounds like!"

"That's one of the things I've always loved about you, Marinette: your open-mindedness."

"Awww, you're so sweet? You wanna know one of the things I've always loved about you?"

"What?"

"The fact that you're so sweetly affectionate. I mean, no other guy's called me 'Love Song' or anything like that!"

"Not even Adrien?"

"Don't get me wrong, Adrien's still a good friend of mine, but you…you helped me to see just how fruitless and empty my obsession with him was."

"And I'm glad, because you're the cutest girl I've ever met!"

Marinette blushed. "Oh, stop!"

"What? Is a guy not allowed to tell his girlfriend how much he loves her?"

Marinette giggled. "OK! OK!"

Eventually, the waitress came back with their food.

"Thank you!" said Marinette and Luka.

Marinette and Luka proceeded to dig into their chicken wings. Both of them nodded and let out "mmmms", indicating their approval.

"These are some of the best wings I've had anywhere," said Luka.

Marinette swallowed. "I know! These wings are a little spicy, but not too spicy. In fact, I think sweet chili could become one of my new favorite sauces."

"Really? I'll have to try some next time!"

"Then I'll try out some of that honey BBQ sauce!"

After they'd finished their meal, Luka paid for both of them before they headed out to the car.

"That was really sweet of you to pay for us!" said Marinette.

Luka wrapped an arm around Marinette. "Anything for my Love Song! Now let's go; the concert begins in less than an hour."

"OK!"

Luka and Marinette kissed each other before getting back in the Cadillac. Overall, their latest American trip would be one to remember.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.