A/N:Spoiler warning, some references to Season 5. You may not want to read if you're not up to date. If you read the original chapter 1 from two years ago, you'll want to re-read, the story has been modified and re-inspired.

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Chapter Two: Slumber Party

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There were no Akuma alerts, the news was mundane with a focus on the upcoming spring storm expected to arrive in the next couple of days and the bi-annual pet-adoption drive that would be hosted at the local pet store. Without an emergency to rush off towards, Marinette gave Luka her undivided attention. She'd gone through her sketch book with him and shown him her latest designs. He'd commented on certain aspects and she asked his opinions — he always had good ones. It had been comfortable sitting on the floor next to each other, thumbing through her work.

They'd only spent about twenty minutes hanging out in her room before her mother called to let them know dinner was ready.

Dinner was a typical Dupain-Cheng feast. "You should have another serving," Sabine suggested, holding a spoon laden with a dollop of broccoli cheddar casserole.

Luka smiled and held his hands over his stomach. "I can't eat another bite, Mrs. Cheng. I really appreciate this delicious meal, Mr. Dupain," he said inclining his head towards Tom.

"We're just happy to have Marinette's friends over. She's always so busy these days, running off to her different projects. I'm just glad that bully Chloe has stopped harassing her. The incident with the pool last year?" Tom shook his head in anger, his green eyes glimmered in ire. "No one should mess with such a sweet, kind-hearted person like Marinette." He flashed a smile at Luka. "I hear she spends a lot of time with your band?"

"She's designed all our costumes and is a real inspiration," Luka said. He glanced at Marinette. He didn't know about this pool incident, maybe he'd see if she might explain it to him. "I never get nervous when I look into the crowd and see Marinette's presence." He picked up his glass of water and sipped. "I'm happy to help with the dishes once everyone is done."

"Non-sense!" Tom protested. "Sure! You and Marinette can do the dishes," Sabine agreed simultaneously.

Marinette laughed. "Can Luka stay a little longer? Maybe play some video games?" She looked over at him, her bright periwinkle eyes wide. "I mean—if you want to, of course. You don't have to!"

"That sounds fun." Luka smiled softly. He picked up his empty plate and Marinette's and then started for the kitchen, remembering where it was from previous visits. "I'll get started. Do you want me to put away the left-overs?"

"I'll do that," Marinette answered, following after him.

They worked in tandem, storing the left overs, soaking, scrubbing, rinsing and drying the dishes, silverware, pots and pans. Their heights complimented one another — he could easily reach over her head when needed and she could fit in front of him. Occasionally, the smell of her jasmine shampoo tickled Luka's nose. It took all his willpower not to bury his face in those dark tresses. He could already feel a song being written about just that.

He flicked a handful of bubbles onto Marinette's nose playfully and she swiped it off and settled it onto his cheek.

Luka chuckled and with his arms deep in the sink, leaned over and wiped the bubble on her shoulder with his face.

Marinette shook her head. "You're silly," she whispered pausing a moment to dry her shoulder.

"What happened at the pool last year?" Luka asked quietly. "If you want to talk about it."

She stared down at the glass in her hand and slowly started drying it. "I used to have a crush on this boy that loved swimming— it was my first crush. So I had suggested that we hang out at the pool. Well, for some reason, Chloe enjoys picking on me — she pulls strings at the school to make sure we're in the same class every year. She found out about the crush — I'm not really sure how. Probably Sabrina overheard or something. She had the boy help her — he's not very smart and he thought it was a funny joke. They'd gone to the animal feed store and gathered those live insects you feed to snakes? Stashed the opened bag in the locker I was using. I still have nightmares about the swarm of insects and I was so embarrassed."

"That's not funny nor is it a joke. It wasn't that this boy wasn't smart, Marinette. He was unkind." Luka felt his temper flare. He was more versed in the tortures of the notorious bully Chloe — Juleka was a frequent target of the pompous brat as well. He wanted to protect Marinette, but he couldn't go back in time. Maybe he could help her understand. "And Chloe is jealous of you. You have two parents that love you and you have this glow about you— this melody that lights up every room you walk in."

"I've been jumpy ever since. I wasn't really such a klutz until after that incident. And that's also the reason for my meticulous plans. I try to anticipate all the things that could go wrong and plan accordingly— contingency after contingency. I haven't been able to swim at that pool since then either." Marinette shook her head. "It's silly. It was just a bunch of bugs."

That ability to plan meticulously and adapt was one of the reasons she was an excellent superhero. "There's a really nice beach my family visits every Spring. Maybe next time, you come with us?" Luka suggested. "Juleka always brings Rose."

"I would like that. I haven't been to the beach since I was a little girl and we visited my Dad's family in Italy." Marinette dried off the last of the dishes and Luka drained the sink. "Come on, let's go play the newest tournament-stye fighting game. My dad just got it last week and I haven't had a chance to try it yet."

"Sure," Luka agreed. "Will your parents be playing too?"

"No, Papa is too competitive. I don't want to take it too serious. Let's just have fun." Marinette grabbed hold of Luka's wrist and led him to the family room. They played video games for an hour. Whenever they fought the best out of three matches, inevitably Luka would win one and she'd win two. She started to suspect that he kept throwing the third match because he definitely had impressive dexterity and hand-eye-coordination from years playing the guitar.

He was always more interested in the experience of playing than in winning.

"Marinette, I should probably head home. It's getting late." Luka stood and brushed his hands down the front of his pants, looking at the clock on the wall with a regretful crease furrowing his brow. His hands were a little damp from holding the video game controller so tight. She'd been a merciless opponent. "It's going to take me some time to walk— so. Thanks for a pleasant evening, I enjoyed myself."

"Walk? No! I'll drive you!" Marinette rushed to her feet and started for her keys.

"You're not experienced enough to drive at night on your own. Maybe after a few more practices during the day." Luka smiled and laid his hand gently on her shoulder. "It's fine. I like the night breeze. Since it's supposed to rain starting the next few days, I won't have much opportunity."

"Or, you can stay?" Marinette suggested, raising her hands and covering his. "I have a sleeping bag and we can make a pallet on the floor — that's what I do when Alya spends the night."

Amusement danced in those light aqua eyes. "I'm not sure your parents will appreciate a guy spending the night, Marinette," Luka explained patiently. "Even if they've tolerated me fairly well so far."

"Non-sense, Luka!" Marinette's bear of a father, Tom, entered the room, his large form obscuring the light from the window and cast them into darkness. "I trust you — you're always such a nice young man. You've helped our bakery so many times with deliveries and you always take such good care of Marinette. She couldn't ask for a better boyfriend! Just remember, I have good hearing." Tom chuckled and slapped his hand on Luka's shoulder, knocking the teen to the side a little with the force. "So don't try anything."

"Papa!" Marinette's cheeks were crimson in embarrassment.

Luka didn't correct that he was no longer the boyfriend. He'd be more than happy to accept the title once more. "Thank you, Mr. Dupain. I'll just text my mom to let her know I'll be home in the morning."

"I'll bake you fresh pastries to bring to your mother and sister!" Tom suggested with his green eyes flashing excitedly. "But, in the morning, because it is way past this baker's bedtime."

Marinette's mother walked into the living room with her arms laden with bedding tucked inside a turquoise laundry basket. "Here's a couple of thick blankets for you Luka and actually, you left an outfit here weeks ago. It's been freshly laundered so you can change if you want — take a shower. Just relax. We're downstairs if you need us." The friendly smile she flashed dispelled all concerns of any parental disapproval.

The two friends watched Tom and Sabine retreat into their bedroom and practically left the teens to their own devices.

Marinette stared at her parents closed door. "I cannot believe my parents have no issue with you staying the night. I'd already gone through a litany of reasons why they should allow it — ready to argue our case— and they didn't even ask!"

"It's because they trust you." Luka lifted the laundry basket Sabine had left on the floor. "Then if you don't mind, you lead and I'll follow." He grinned down at her. "We might as well start our slumber party."

They climbed up the stairs into Marinette's attic bedroom. She settled on her bed and Luka stretched out on the floor with his pallet. He'd already texted his mom — she told him not to bother coming home before noon. Luka turned on the music app on his phone and they relaxed while listening to some songs together.

"Do you want to hang out tomorrow?" Marinette asked. She really wasn't ready to relive her embarrassing rejection with any of her other friends. Luka wouldn't make her talk about it again. And it was always nice to be around him — assuming Hawk Moth didn't interfere.

"Sure, if you're not tired of me by then," Luka answered casually. "We could go ice skating, but it's usually pretty crowded on Sundays." He drummed his fingers absently across his stomach and noted his chipped nails. "Or we could go get manicures and pedicures?"

"You do mani-pedis?" Marinette giggled and then covered her mouth, worried she'd hurt his feelings. "I've never actually had one before."

"Sure." Luka yawned and belatedly covered his mouth. "Mom has been taking me and Juleka since our eighth birthday."

"The bakery is usually pretty busy on Sunday mornings with all the delivery app requests," Marinette cautioned.

"I'd be happy to help you make the deliveries," Luka volunteered. "The nail saloon I usually visit doesn't open until ten on Sundays anyways. The breakfast rush should be over by then."

Marinette tossed her pillow towards Luka and he caught it with ease. "You don't have to be so nice, you know?" She felt her eyes well up with tears and wiped at them angrily, looking away from him towards where the box containing the Miraculous was hidden away. "I was a terrible girlfriend to you and you're still being the best friend ever!"

Luka said nothing and all she could hear was her own ragged breathing. Then she felt the edge of the bed shift under his weight as Luka sat next to her. He slipped his arms around her and held her against him. "Marinette, I'm not mad at you and I still think you're the most amazing girl I know. Maybe you need to not worry about being anyone's girlfriend and just be you."

She turned into him and buried her face against his neck, breathing in the comforting scent of sea breeze that seemed to radiate from his skin. "The whole reason I broke up with you was because I didn't want to keep lying to you," Marinette confessed. She leaned back to look into those lovely aqua eyes.

Luka raised a dark eyebrow. "Oh? It's not because I'm not Adrien?"

Marinette shook her head. "I still liked you —- of course, I have feelings for you! You're kind, smart, creative, gorgeous." She sighed. "You're the only person I've ever felt completely comfortable around. You know, even if Adrien had accepted my confession, it wouldn't have fixed my problem. I'd have ended up lying to him too."

"If you weren't worried about revealing your secret identity, it would be a lot easier, Marinette." Luka glanced towards where the Miraculous box was tucked away. "You realize as Viperon, I retain countless memories. I've seen a thousand possibilities and countless algorithms that go awry. But, even before you entrusted me with Sass, I have recognized you for several months now."

"What are you saying, Luka?" Marinette chewed her bottom lip.

"I'm saying I know you're the Guardian of the Miraculous, Marinette. I know you spend most of your nights and half of your days with Chat Noir trying to keep Paris safe." Luka took hold of Marinette's small hands inside his large ones, his thumbs rubbing absent circles over her knuckles. "I'm saying you don't have to continue to carry all the weight on your shoulders alone."

"Do you want to keep the Miraculous of the Snake?" Marinette asked quietly.

"If you need me to," Luka said. "I'm at your disposal. You're the guardian. But I want you to think of me as your shield. If I can't be your boyfriend, then i want to be your protector. I'm definitely your friend."

She looked to the side and smiled faintly before nodding. "Well, Sass wants to be reunited with you." She pulled her hands from his grasp and stretched across her bed and opened a hidden compartment before removing the Snake Miraculous and handed the small lacquered box to Luka.

He opened the familiar box and slipped the bracelet over his wrist. "Hello, Sass," Luka greeted with a gentle smile. "Welcome my old friend." The snake miraculous flew around Luka and then as if in unison the other kwami ventured out of their storage and swarmed the two friends — talking at once and so excited to have another human to converse.

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Marinette laid in her bed, snug under her covers on her side, watching Luka's sleeping form a few feet away on the floor of her room. He looked so calm and peaceful, his dark hair obscuring half his face. He slept on his back with his arms tucked under the pillow under his head.

She grabbed her phone to check to make sure there were no Akuma alerts and then settled back. Her mind was racing with all the emotional turmoil of the day. She'd confessed to Adrien and been rejected. She drove to Luka's boathouse and they'd ridden around Paris. Then she'd spent all evening and night with her ex-boyfriend.

Then she learned he knew her secret identity — no wonder he wasn't mad about her lies. And wasn't that the whole reason she broke up with him? And now she'd entrusted him with the Miraculous of the Snake — permanently. And there was the added benefit of when he donned the Snake, he didn't time out because the Miraculous considered Luka an adult.

"I can hear you thinking, Marinette. It's late. You really need to get some sleep," Luka said, never opening his eyes, but aware of her anyway.

"How do you do that?"

Luka cracked one eye open to look at her sleepily. "Because I can hear your music. You're just full of nervous energy."

"Well, maybe I need a good night kiss," Marinette suggested teasingly. She didn't think he'd take her seriously. They were just going to be friends, right?

Luka's eyes opened completely and he stared at the ceiling for a few precious heartbeats. "Marinette, do you want me to kiss you?" He shifted his gaze back to her, all mirth gone from his face, his expression unreadable.

"I—yes. I think I do, Luka." Marinette swallowed bravely. With Luka, there were no panic attacks, no sweaty palms, no stuttered words — just a rapid beating of her heart.

Luka sat up and crawled to the side of Marinette's bed, on his knees his face aligned with hers as she lay on her side. He traced his hand through her loose hair and cupped her cheek. "Good night, Marinette." He leaned forward and pressed his lips softly against hers for a fleeting moment. "I'll see you in the morning."

Marinette smiled at him hesitantly, her lips still tingling for his touch. "Good night, Luka."

He pulled away and laid back in his sleeping bag, back in his previous position. "And Marinette, if you want a hamster. You should just get one — we can visit the pet store tomorrow."

"It sounds like we'll be having a busy day," Marinette mused. "Deliveries, manicures, pet-store. I'm sure we'll need to eat at some point. The drive back to the boathouse." She ticked off the items on her fingers, watching him the whole time and enjoying the transcendent look of the moon's beams dancing on the light blue tips of his hair.

"Or we can do absolutely nothing together." Luka looked back over at her, his aqua eyes intense with adoration— for her. "If I'm with you — it will be a great day."

"Luka, I don't think I want to just be your friend," Marinette said softly.

"I'm okay with not just being your friend either," Luka agreed.

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