Chapter Four: The Intuitive One

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The houseboat was empty when Luka waved back at Marinette. He watched from the dock as she vanished into the distance until he couldn't see any more pink. She's progressed quickly in her skills on the motorbike. He hoped that meant they'd see each other more often.

Likely his mother and sister went to get some fresh groceries. It was the Sunday afternoon routine for his family. He ambled towards the kitchen and found the sink full of dirty dishes. No one in his family was particularly tidy. He'd often had the stray t-shirt tossed on his bedroom floor, but the kitchen and the bathroom — he was a firm believer they needed to be clean at all times.

Luka got to work on righting the kitchen. He wondered if his father was a tidy person or if he had staff to clean up after him. While he soaked the dishes in soapy water, Luka began to hum. It was an upbeat tune, just like his mood.

His kwami, Sass, flew into view and hovered to his right. "It's good to have you back, Sass."

"It'sssss good to be back, Luka," Sass answered. As the de facto kwami leader of the Miracle Box, the Miraculous of Intuition bonded best with natural-born leaders. "It is always difficult to find someone wise enough to use my powers. The burden of so many memoriessss issss often difficult for humanssss."

"I can see that. You have to decide when to rewind time and when to let it ride," Luka mused. "It's hard to know when you need to let go of something."

"How are you feeling?" Sass fluttered about the sink, peering into the soapy depths.

"Are you hungry?" Luka asked, avoiding the question. He was trying to not think too deeply about how he felt. He just knew he was in a good mood after spending so much time in Marinette's company. "There's still some food in the pantry."

For much of his life, Luka had tried to stay calm and meditate on the soothing sounds of the river. His mother was an amazing woman and his sister was kind and funny. Luka had felt anger— so much of it. As he grew up without having any idea of his father's identity, it had left him feeling unmoored and adrift. It was so strange that it ended up being his father's music that brought him a sense connection to the world around him. Discovering music led to Luka's discovery of peace. And that mutual love for Jagged Stone brought him Marinette. Now, he knew who is father was — but it didn't change who Luka was. It was just another pleasant connection to another human. And his love for Marinette — the instant connection to her — he would reshape the world for her. So, unfortunately, he also understood Shadow Moth's motivation.

"Perhapsssss later." Sass moved to settle on Luka's shoulder and leaned against his neck. "I know you have strong feelingssss for Marinette. Are you okay?"

Luka focused on rinsing the dishes and placing them in the drainer. "I've been in love with Marinette from the moment I first saw her. It was just my bad timing that she'd fallen in love like that with someone else first. My feelings for her haven't changed, but I hope that with her trusting me — completely — we'll have a better chance for a healthy partnership. We've always had fun around each other." He shut off the water and dried his hands. "She's the inspiration for half my songs. Even when we're not together, just being around her helps me feel at peace." He smiled faintly as he pictured her in his mind — dark hair pulled back, bright blue eyes shining in excitement as she showed him her latest fashion design, her watching him perform on stage with her hands clasped over her chest.

"What about Chat Noir?" Sass asked, his voice laced with concern. "There'sss only been one time in the history of the Zodiac Miraculoussss where my holder and the Ladybug holder end up together. It's almost alwayssss the Cat she endssss up with. Tikki and Plagg are bound to one another — it's hard for their userssss to not feel the same."

Luka moved to the breakfast table and sat down heavily in the wooden chair. It was a thick seaworthy wood - Teak. Those four chairs were his mother's prized possessions. "I've seen Chat flirt with Ladybug and Marinette confessed to Adrien yesterday." He folded his arms over the table and cushioned his head over his forearms. "Are you saying their attraction was influenced by Tikki and Plagg?"

Sass nodded. "That is my sssssuspicion."

"What about the time Ladybug and your previous holder ended up together?" Luka asked. "I don't think my relationship should be dictated by precedent. I'm me and Marinette is Marinette."

"In that time, long ago, the two holderssss knew each other prior to obtaining the Miraculoussss," Sass explained. "They already had a connection. But even so, once the Cat Miraculous was entrusted to another, Ladybug gravitated to him. It was only after his death that she and the Snake were finally together — though they did remain close throughout."

Luka chuckled. "So he bided his time too, huh?"

"I supposssse ssssso."

"After that cat user passed, did the serpent combine powers with the cat later?" Luka asked.

"Sometimessss," Sass agreed. "Ladybug's powers work best that way. But the current Chat Noir isss not a good holder for my powers. He failed twenty-five thousand nine hundred and thirteen timessss before you were given back the Ouroborosss bracelet to correct a situation. Though, one time he managed in two timessss to correct a problem. He issss not you."

Luka remembered just a few weeks ago when Shadow Moth had defeated both Ladybug and Chat Noir. Sass had found Luka and explained the consequences of using the Absolute Power. Luka had given Sass permission to go back and prevent that fate. It was an odd feeling to save the world and have no one remember you did it — except for the Snake Miraculous and Luka themselves.

"Let's get you some food." Luka rose from the table. "Then I'm taking a nap. Adrien will be here in about an hour. I have a feeling he's going to want to talk."

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Independence. There as nothing quite like it. Marinette felt confident on her moped— at least during the day. Twice, she'd driven out to The Liberty to pick up or drop off Luka. With him behind her, she'd made all the deliveries for the bakery. She could do it! Both Luka and her parents had asked that she limit herself to driving only during the day for now. After a few weeks, she could drive without restriction.

Since the night was usually busy with Ladybug patrols, Marinette didn't have any issues with that condition. Her mobile phone kept chiming with messages from Alya. Her friend desperately wanted an explanation, but Marinette just wanted to relax in her bedroom, stare at the ceiling, and enjoy her freshly painted pink fingernails.

"You know, Marinette," Tikki said, coming to rest on her pillow. "You haven't looked this peaceful in a long time."

"Do the Miraculous users for Ladybug and the Cat always end up involved romantically, Tikki?" She looked over at her crimson kwami. "I don't want to hurt Luka again."

Tikki flew into the air and her antenna twitched thoughtfully. "Usually, but not always. There was this time in ancient Egypt where Ladybug and the Snake Miraculous user were together."

"Oh?" Marinette sat up, eager to hear the story. She'd just gone to the museum with Adrien the day before. The Egyptian exhibit had captured her interest. "Can you tell me more?"

Tikki settled on her shoulder. "The Ladybug at that time was originally a princess when she first acquired the Miraculous. Eventually, she became the Pharaoh."

"A woman Pharaoh?" Marinette's pulse began to race. "Was it Pharaoh Hatshepsut?" She'd been the second female pharaoh and was of the Eighteenth dynasty. She'd lived thirty-six hundred years ago.

Tikki nodded. "She was very wise and creative."

"And the Grand Architect Senemut was the Snake Miraculous holder?" Marinette asked.

"Architect, Royal Tutor, Chief Counselor to the Pharaoh, the best friend ever." Tikki smiled in memory. "Maybe we can visit their mortuary temples off the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. They should still be in good condition. Senemut was extremely meticulous in his planning." She sighed happily. "Luka does remind me of Sene."

Marinette snatched up her phone and scrolled past the messages from Alya and started typing Luka.

'Hey! I was talking to a friend about ancient Egypt. I've got to tell you the story about Pharaoh Hatshepsut and her Chief Architect Senemut. There's an exhibit about them at the museum. Maybe we can check it out.'

Marinette stared at her phone while Luka tapped out his response. Those familiar little dots showed up immediately. It felt nice that he started answering her text immediately.

'Hey Ma-Ma-Marinette! You literally just dropped me off only an hour ago. I gotta admit to feeling flattered that you're already thinking of me. We can talk more about it this evening. Maybe we can even hop on an airplane during the summer break. Luxor is only a five hour plane ride from Paris. I'm spending a few weeks with Dad next month and he said he'd take me anywhere in the world I wanna go — I wanna go anywhere with you.'

Marinette felt her cheeks warm with a blush. Would her parents let her travel to another country with Luka under the supervision of Jagged Stone? Would she be able to protect Paris from abroad? She could travel pretty fast these days in her Ladybug form with the various modifications of evolution she'd created once she applied the knowledge from the grimoire— as long as the notifications about Akumatizations worked, it should be possible.

Another text appeared. It was a photo of Luka and Adrien sitting together on the Liberty's deck shooting her the Victory sign. Marinette dropped her phone in shock. She knew they were friends, but her ex-boyfriend/current boyfriend hanging out with the boy she'd spent the past school year crushing on that had rejected her was still a difficult thing to process. She glanced towards her wall where she'd removed her shrine to Adrien.

Given the comfort she felt in Luka's presence, she wasn't surprised that Adrien too found joy in the musician's company.

She flipped on her photo printer and sent the image. Moments later, she had a four by six photo of her two favorite guys. "Just add Chat Noir and you'll have my three best guy friends," she murmured.

'I literally just printed that photo and put it on my wall.' Marinette texted back.

'We're just missing your beautiful melody.' Luka sent back. 'I'll pick you up in a few hours. Take it easy and rest up.'

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"So."

"So, yeah. I guess we're cool then, huh?" Adrien chuckled after Luka sent Marinette the selfie of the two of them.

"We're always cool, Adrien," Luka assured him. He tucked his phone into his pocket and picked his guitar back up. Yesterday evening and that morning was officially the longest he'd been away from the instrument. "Did you want to talk about it?"

Adrien leaned his head against the wall. "I didn't realize she had such strong feelings for me. I mean — I always thought you two were really great together. It was only when she was dating you that she didn't act anxious and awkward around me and I really started to consider her one of my best friends."

Luka began to strum his guitar. "She liked you first. Marinette cannot move on from one idea to another until she's done everything to see if the first idea will work." He smiled at Adrien. "Her melody is much calmer now."

"You're a lucky man, Luka," Adrien murmured.

"How's it going with your father?" Luka saw the exhaustion sat heavy on his younger friend's shoulders.

"He's still as strict as ever. His hair is white and no longer blond these days. He's obsessed with making tasteless pancakes." Adrien chuckled with a sad smile. "And he's been spending time in London a lot. It's good when he's gone. Nathalie has been very lenient. She says it's what Mother would have wanted."

"So what are you wanting to do these days?" Luka asked. He set aside his guitar, crossed his arms behind his head, and leaned against the wall like his friend. "The summer break will be here soon. Are you going to London with your dad?"

"Maybe, but I don't know. I don't really like leaving Paris. I can get overwhelmed when I travel," Adrien admitted. "Honestly, I was hoping to spend most of the summer either here with you or hanging with Nino or Max." He sighed. "It's awkward with fencing now that Kagami and I broke up. We're still friends, but her mother has been extremely pushy. I thought it would be nice to spend more time hanging with Marinette, but after yesterday…"

"People have to shoot their shot, Adrien. You don't always hit the target. You just find a new song. You're welcome to hang out with us on the Liberty. Jagged wants me to accompany him on some of his travels this summer. He has a gig in Rio de Janeiro in a couple of months, but otherwise it's pretty chill."

"That's really far from Paris." Adrien twisted the onyx ring on his finger.

"You can travel, Adrien. You don't have to be in Paris to work," Luka pointed out.

Adrien turned towards Luka slowly, realizing he'd been playing with his ring. He caught the silver glint of the metal bracelet on Luka's wrist. "That's an interesting bracelet you have."

"Yes, it is," Luka agreed.

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