Chapter 5

Note: If you have cute ideas for Lukanette moments, leave them in the comments. These two are just getting started and this story, while eventually ending with the love square, is going to include a lot of Luka. There will be no Luka bashing. I have a few dates planned for them already, but I am open to more ideas and I really want to pace them in a healthy way instead of having Marinette jump to a new crush just a couple months after deciding to leave her years of obsession.

As soon as she said goodbye to Luka down in the bakery, Marinette rushed up to her room needing some time to process what just happened. Tikki flew out of her purse with bright shining eyes and a large smile on her face, happy for her charge to finally receive the affections of a decent boy.

"Wow, Marinette. What are you going to do?"

Honestly, she had no idea. After all, it was so nice finally knowing where Luka stood in their relationship and very flattering to hear how he felt. Plus, the older boy is totally swoon-worthy and declared himself in the sweetest of ways…

"I don't know, Tikki! I like Luka. I like him a lot, but is it enough?" She fell backwards on her chaise lounge and covered her eyes with her hands dramatically.

"What do you mean, Marinette?" Tikki asked, confused. She hovered just over Marinette so once her eyes opened again they were face to face.

"I mean is just liking him as a person enough? I mean, he is such a great friend and he is really cute and sweet and understanding and…"

"Marinette, listen to yourself."

"But… I don't think I love him. Not that way, at least." So many emotions were flooding her mind and she had no idea how many of them were genuine. After all, she knew she liked Luka as a friend, but was there something more happening or was it just the way he told her about his feelings? Any girl with half a brain would swoon at that declaration!

"Marinette, love takes time. It doesn't come overnight and it isn't something that should be taken lightly. You like Luka, right? Want to spend time with him? Maybe be more than friends?" The centuries had given Tikki plenty of experience with crushes, love and friendship, but she knew that this is something Marinette had to think through and decide for herself.

"I do like Luka and I think… I wouldn't say no to being more." Images of his arms wrapped around her waist and his forehead against hers as he stared in her eyes had her heart picking up tempo and flashing back to earlier that night.

"Perhaps all you need is a new heart? I would give you mine."

Marinette's eyes grew wide at his declaration. She was too shocked to move her hand from his chest so it stayed resting above his heart with his much larger hand holding it.

When she didn't answer for a few seconds, Luka wasn't sure how to press forward. However, she didn't pull away, so he took that as permission and stepped closer until they were inches apart, ready to give her space if she began to show she was uncomfortable. His other hand reached up to softly brush against her cheek and his lips were graced with a gentle smile.

"Don't answer now. Just think about it."

Both of his arms dropped slowly to her waist, leaving her hand pressed lightly against his chest and he leaned down, never breaking eye contact, until his forehead rested against hers. He had not moved any closer and their clothing brushed the others without any pressure. Marinette realized that he was letting her decide to close the distance if she chose.

"Like I told you, Marinette. You are a girl worth waiting for and I can wait until you are ready."

Finally her brain decided to start working again and she pulled back slightly, fighting to calm her racing heart and forcing breath into her starving lungs. Marinette hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until she felt relief at a rush of new air. She forced a step back, but only enough to meet his tender gaze.

"I'll see you at practice next week."

_

"But I'm not sure and I don't want to rush in and hurt him." Marinette held her furiously blushing face in her hands and groaned. "Why is love so difficult.?"

"Well, he said he would wait for you. Maybe try to let him get closer and see where things go naturally?" Tikki's never ending encouragement and friendship was a balm to her anxiety.

"Yeah, I think maybe? But it feels like he likes me so much more than I like him…" she explains. After all, unbalance emotions is what caused so many issues with her and Adrien. She can't do that to Luka too.

"That's okay, Marinette. Do you like him enough to give him an opportunity?"

"Yeah… yes. I think I do."

The following days, Marinette did her best to figure out what she truly wanted. Her friends spend most of their school lunches together and they are so much less awkward now that she isn't stuttering every time she tries to talk to Adrien and Alya has stopped pushing her to admit her undying love. Now, they can laugh, joke and just enjoy the time together.

Nino and Alya start sharing a crazy story about how the latest akuma interrupted their date night and they all find themselves howling with laughter. Marinette is particularly giggly seeing as they have no idea she was there the whole time as Ladybug and saw for herself the ridiculous display. Afterall, an akuma upset because someone spilled his popcorn? Hawkmoth seriously needs up his game because that one has had Paris laughing for all week!

"Speaking of dates…" Marinette blushed heavily as she began to speak, unsure how to explain the situation. "I think I'm going to ask Luka if he will get lunch with me..."

Alya and Adrien both immediately started encouraging her and sharing their excitement. Nino reached over for a high-five, a goofy grin on his face.

"Way to go Marinette!" Alya exclaimed, thrilled that her friend seemed to be moving on. "What brought this on? Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited, but it seems a bit sudden."

"I- I, uh, just want to see what could happen. Luka confessed at practice a couple nights ago." She blushed heavily just trying to force the words and and wasn't looking so she jumped when Adrien whoops.

"Finally! Took him ages to say it." The grin on his face was wider and more mischievous than Marinette had ever seen and it looked almost out of place.

"H-How long have you known?!?" stuttered Marinette, not sure how to handle this new development. She reached out to grab her cup and took a sip simply because she needed to do something with her hands.

"Marinette, that wasn't the first song he wrote about you." Apparently Adrien was a hopeless romantic as well and he seemed excited to know that Luka's affections are returned. Marinette paled, not really sure how to respond. There are more songs? About her? Her heart started racing and she wonders what else he wrote.

Their ritual habit of Luka walking her home after practice was a time she began to treasure and last week Hawkmoth decided to steal it from her by sending an akuma. Thankfully she was able to "hide" in a spot that was too small to fit them both so he had to find somewhere else and she could safely transform. Marinette prayed that Hawkmoth was busy this week so she could have that time with Luka and enjoy their… whatever this was.

Friendship didn't feel quite right. They were friends, for sure, but it didn't feel like… enough. They felt like more. Which when she thought about it was silly because there were no labels between them, no declarations of love since Luka offered his heart to heal her heartbreak three weeks ago. No talk about whatever this was forming between them. Something was definitely forming between them.

That week was the first time Marinette arrived early to practice. She arrived before anyone else and Tikki did her best to calm her down and keep her company until the band arrived twenty minutes later.

Luka was shocked when he first walked in, but immediately beamed when their eyes met. She kept up an easy flow of conversation the entire time he was unpacking his equipment and realized just how much she loved making him laugh. At that moment, Marinette decided she would do everything she could to keep him laughing. Several times during their conversation she opened her mouth to try to invite him to lunch, but each time she lost her nerve and changed the subject to easier subjects such as whick songs were on the playlist for this week. Maybe in time he could play them for her?

Eventually she was forced to back away so they could practice. Tonight, she spent the whole time really considering the lyrics of each song trying to find their meaning. Adrien said that balad wasn't his first about her and she was bursting with curiosity. However, it didn't seem like any of them were about her this time. They were all beautiful and poetic. Maybe she would eventually get the courage to ask.

At the end of practice she pulled every ounce of courage she could muster to the surface. Strengthening her resolve, she marched forward, determination etched all over her face.

"Do you have lunch plans Saturday?"

Luka's eyes grew wide at the implication and he grinned in pure delight. "Not yet, but I would love to make some."

"Will you go eat out with me? I mean, go out to eat? T-together?" Feeling the familiar rush of embarrassment, Marinette's entire face flushed. Not again. She can't stutter this time.

"You mean, a date?" The joy on Luka's face was evident, but there was a slight bit of hesitation until he clarified her request.

"Yes. I mean, not if you don't want it to be. I mean…. Maybe?" Why did her tongue betray her by talking before her brain decided to function? Perhaps that is the real issue: her brain felt like it was trying to turn off and she couldn't form full sentences when it came to the topic of dating.

"I would love to have lunch with you, Marinette. Just you." He added a slight stutter as he sometimes did. Marinette knew it was a tease for her, but honestly it was just cute.