8 Letters
Chapter 6
Disclaimer: I do not own the series Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. No copyright intended. I do own the story line, because I made that all up with my brain.
*Time Skip: 3 days later. Saturday.*
"Chat Noir, watch out!" I yell as the akumatized victim, Electro, hurls a lightning ball at him.
Chat turns just in time to use his baton as a back and send it hurling back to Electro. We've figured out that the akuma is in the hard hat that Electro is wearing. I'm assuming someone had a bad day at work and Hawkmoth manipulated the poor guy into being akumatized as he does every victim. It takes us a while of dodging and planning to beat Electro but we still manage it as we always do and with Miraculous Ladybug, everything gets restored.
"Pound it." Chat and I say as we fist bump.
"Pleasure as always Mi'lady." Chat says, grabbing a rose from the florist bouquet display and holding it out to me with a bow. We just happened to be here by chance as it was where we caught the akuma. But this sly kitty never misses a beat.
He takes my hand in his and kisses it, "Until we meet again, Bugaboo."
"You never waste an opportunity do you, Chaton?"
He winked at me and grinned, showing his canines. "Love has no bounds, Mi'lady."
I laughed and shook my head, "Merci but I have a boyfriend."
"That doesn't mean I still can't admire you being a kickass heroine. Simply purrfect in every way."
"Later, kitty cat." I said, using my yo-yo to leave.
I swung expertly back into my bedroom and de-transformed, making sure to give Tikki a macaroon as I plopped on my chaise.
"You were amazing today, Marinette." Tikki complemented.
I sighed, "Thanks Tikki."
"Marinette, you can't go to sleep now! You have to get ready for your date with Luka, remember?" Tikki asked, with concern on her face.
Which is what I was about to do after helping dad finish the macaroons we had made together. When an electro ball flashed past the bakery window, I told my dad I had to go to the bathroom and ran up to my room. Transforming and going to fight the akumatized victim.
The thought of Luka brightened my mood, "Yeah, you're right Tikki. Maybe a hot shower will wake me up."
I walked over to my trunk and shuffled through it trying to find the perfect outfit. I smiled as I pulled out a red halter dress that ties in the back, casual yet fancy. It's simply perfect. I then grabbed some clean panties then went downstairs, headed to the bathroom to shower.
Mom smiled at me on my way downstairs as she was cleaning up the living room, "Getting ready for your date with Luka?"
I nodded and smiled at her, "Yes maman. Do you need to use the bathroom before I go shower?"
She shook her head and smiled, "No, honey, go on ahead."
I sighed then went down the hall and closed the bathroom door behind me. I undressed from the blue jean capris and plain white t-shirt I had on while baking with my dad and started the shower. I bummed a random tune that came to mind as I scrubbed my hair pausing only a moment to realize that I was starting to pick up Luka's habits. Just wait and he'll start tripping over his two feet next. I giggled just thinking about it. Once I was finished with my shower, I dried off then put the towel in the hamper as I put on my dress, clean black lace panties. Then left the bathroom, stopping at the closet to grab my makeup kit, curling iron and my hair dryer then made the climb back up to my room. I passed my mom again and she offered to help me carry the things upstairs. She asked if I needed her help getting ready and I was about to say no then I smiled as I looked at her.
"Actually that would be great maman."
She grinned at me, instantly lighting the room with her smile. She grabbed my hair dryer and hair brush then motioned for me to sit in my desk chair.
"He will never know what hit him." She said, excited.
I laughed then my mother got to work on my hair. I told her I had wanted to curl it then put it in twin low ponytails. She told me that she liked my idea but was concerned with the curls holding, being tied in ponytails and said she might have a better idea and to let her know if I liked it or not. If not she'd do what I asked to get my full opinion on what looked better. I agreed with that and closed my eyes, loving the feel of my mother working on my hair. We talked occasionally, sharing a laugh here and there and just had a really sweet mother-daughter moment, I loved it. Mom showed me the two looks and mom was right, her way was better. She re-curled my hair making sure they were tight and threaded mousse to strengthen the hold, then took the two parts of hair that usually framed my face and pulled them back, braiding and tying them in the back.
Grabbing a golden hair comb that had small roses on it and the leaves had small diamonds decorating it. Once my hair was done, mom moved onto my makeup, giving me a smokey eye effect and winging the eyeliner, dusting my lids with a light red fade. She painted my lips with a clear lip gloss and added a little color to my cheeks. It was sweet seeing her so focused on getting it right. She then moved onto my nails, painting them red. She was just finishing putting the clear polish on to make them shine when footsteps sounded downstairs.
"Marinette!" My father's voice called.
"What is it, Tom?" My mom called back, getting a little annoyed at the interruption.
"Luka is here to pick her up!" Dad yelled up.
"Offer him some tea or something, he'll have to wait. We aren't done yet." Mom yelled back.
I could hear Luka's laugh from downstairs and it brought a smile to my face. Mom blew on my nails trying to dry them as I did the same to the other one. While my nails were drying, mom rummaged through my small makeshift closet and brought out my pair of over-the-knee black boots and helped me put them on so I wouldn't ruin my nails. She adjusted a few things on me then sighed after she looked me over and smiled.
"I think you're ready."
I smiled, bringing my arms up to hug her. "Thank you maman."
"Of course. Now grab your purse and please make sure to get a jacket, it may be summer but there's a chill in the air tonight."
I nodded, "I will."
Mom then defended the stairs first and I sighed as I looked into the mirror. I gasped at the sight of me. Tikki came out of hiding to look at me too.
"Oh my gosh, Marinette. You're stunning."
I giggled then grabbed my phone and took a picture of myself in the mirror, then sent it to Alya with the question, do you think it's too much? My phone chimed a minute later.
Adrien: You look radiant, Marinette. Luka is a lucky guy for sure
Delivered: 7:54pm
My eyes widened, noticing that I sent the photo to the wrong 'A' name in my contacts. I mentally smacked myself.
Marinette: Thank you, Adrien. I'm sorry I sent you that, I meant it to go to Alya. Lol
Delivered: 7:54 pm
I quickly sent the picture to Alya this time, double checking her name before sending it.
Adrien: By accident or not, thank you for sharing it with me.
It means a lot to think my opinion matters to you
Delivered: 7:55 pm
Marinette: Adrien, are you okay?
Delivered: 7:55 pm
Adrien: It's nothing. Enjoy your time with Luka
Delivered: 7:55 pm
Marinette: We're still friends, Adrien.
You can talk to me.
No judgment, I swear. *smile emoji*
Delivered: 7:55 pm
I waited for his reply but it was Alya, not Adrian.
Alya: You are in nosebleed territory girl and I'm totally here for it
Delivered: 7:56pm
Marinette: You don't think it's too much?
Delivered 7:56pm
Alya: Never, you look amazing. You slay, big time.
Serves him right for blindsiding you with that surprise make over
Delivered: 7:56pm
Marinette: Revenge is sweet
Delivered: 7:57pm
Alya: Karma is sweeter
Delivered: 7:57pm
Marinette: So I accidentally sent this to Adrien at first…
Delivered: 7:57pm
Alya: You did what?
Delivered: 7:58 pm
Marinette: In my defense you both have 'A' names.
Anyways, his reply seems sad. Is it just me?
*Sent screenshot of conversation with Adrien.
Delivered: 7:58pm
Alya: It sounds like he is. Hold on, I'll text Nino to see what he knows. I'll keep you posted.
Delivered: 7:59 pm
I sighed as I put my phone in my purse, making sure Tikki came along to hide inside. I put on some last minute jewelry, just a necklace and bracelet that matched my hair comb, then I grabbed a black cropped sweater and started making my way down the stairs. The murmurs of Luka and my parents talking, laughing suddenly died when I made my appearance known. Luka rose from his seat and looked at me in total awe. I smiled, check mate. He was dressed in black dress pants, chains attached at the belt loop that's attached to his wallet in the back pocket, a plain turquoise v-neck shirt and black blazer jacket, with his usual converse as well as his usual accessories.
"Luka? Are you ready to go?" I asked.
He swallowed, "Go?" he said, absentmindedly confused. I laughed.
"R-right. We're going. Let's go." He stuttered.
"You two have fun." Mom said as we descended the stairs and walked out into the cool night sky.
I looked around for his bike and frowned, not seeing it. He took notice and rubbed the back of his neck, is he nervous? I grin at him knowing what I do to him.
"I-I thought a nice walk would be better tonight. I have dinner reservations at Pari Beaubourg for 9pm, the walk will take us some time." He explained, I blinked.
That's one of the famous restaurants in Paris, now I know why he'd pick up all those doubles at the pizza place he works at the past week when we weren't together. I smiled and looped my arm through his, leaning my head on his shoulder as we walked.
"I think that sounds really nice."
Luka laced our fingers together as we enjoyed our moonlight stroll through the city.
"You look amazing tonight. Now I understand how you felt the other day."
I giggled, "Uh huh. None of that until after the date. I'm planning to be impressed and so far so good."
He grinned and kissed my hand, then my phone buzzed. I checked it, it was a call from Alya. I answered it, bringing the phone to my ear.
"Did you already leave for your date with Luka?" Alya asked me.
"Yes, why?"
Alya sighed, "Am I on speaker?"
"No."
"And you're far enough away that Luka can't hear me?"
I furrowed my brows and let go of Luka's arm, I held up a finger asking him to give me a moment and I walked across the bridge we were on for some privacy since she was really starting to freak me out.
"No, he can't. Alya what's going on?" I asked, getting worried.
I felt her hesitation through the phone, "Nino told me that Adrien and Kagami had a huge nasty fight a few weeks ago. They broke up."
My heart sank for a moment, "Oh no. No wonder he sounded sad. He has a lot going on, I feel so bad for him. Maybe we should plan a day for all of us to hang out, help him get through it."
She took a breath, "There's more Mari."
"Okay?"
"The fight was about you."
"M-me? Why me?" I asked more confused than ever.
"Apparently because Adrien had some hidden unresolved feelings for you. Romantic feelings." She said for emphasis so I would understand.
"W-what?"
"Nino told me that's what he admitted it the other day when we presented our assignment."
"You have got to be kidding me." I said, shocked and a little ticked off.
"I know." She said with a sign.
"Ugh, thank you for telling me but I seriously can't deal with this right now. I'm supposed to be on my date with Luka, I feel like I'm being really rude to him for making him wait on me."
"I understand. Don't think about it, it can be tomorrow's problem. Have a great time on your date tonight, tell me how it goes?"
"Course."
"I love you." She said, with worry in her voice.
"I love you too." I said then hung up, putting my phone away and walking back to Luka.
"I'm so sorry about that. Let's move on with our walk, shall we?" I said sighing and looping my arm back around his.
Luka raised his eyebrow, "Everything okay? You seem… stressed."
"I'm great. I'm with you, I couldn't be more great." I said with a smile.
"Marinette. I know when something is wrong with you so what is it?" He demanded, getting in front of me, grabbing my shoulders to look me in the eye.
He knows I buckle under that intense stare of his but not tonight, tonight is about us. No room for other drama. So I did the only thing I could think of to get me out of his persistent questioning. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me for a kiss. I knew it shocked him at first then he kissed me back, getting my strawberry lip gloss on his lips. I then pulled away and grabbed his hand.
"Let's get going before we miss our reservation." I said, tugging him along.
He complied after a moment and we continued our romantic walk. When we got to the restaurant the host greeted us with a warm smile and happily showed us to our table. Hours pass by that feel like minutes as we enjoy our meals with some red wine and talk about anything and everything. Simply enjoying each other's company. It was so nice to have this time with him, finding out new things about each other. After Luka paid and we left the restaurant he took both of my hands in his and smiled as he told me the next part of his plans but all he would tell me is that we were going back to the boat house for a surprise and that his mom and sister will not be there as he asked them to have a nice night too, even paid for it for them. I smiled at his excitement getting there myself as I wondered with anticipation what might be in store for me. When we neared the boat house he told me to close my eyes. I scrunch my nose at him and he chuckled.
"Trust me, Marinette."
I sighed and took his hand then closed my eyes. I let him lead me to where he wanted to, then heard him shuffling around. I giggled.
"Can I open my eyes now?"
"No." He said, as I heard the flick of a lighter.
I waited a few more moments just listening to him adjust things and my impatience grew.
"Now can I open them?" I asked.
I felt his hand take mine, "Alright, now."
I had to blink a few times to take it all in, this beautiful scene before me. Twinkle lights were streamed above and all around us, the furniture was pushed off to either side and in the middle of the deck was a huge red blanket, a platter of chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of wine were placed on the side of the blanket where the array of pillows enveloped the area. His guitar was neatly placed on the other side, leaning against some pillows just waiting to be played. Candles were lit on a small table where a projector sat, I then noticed the large white sheet hung over the wall near the docks. He guided me to the blanket as he grabbed his guitar. He clicked a button and the projector roared to life, images of me were in a collage displayed on the screen. He saw my questioning face.
"Just listen okay?" He said, taking the pick out from under the guitar string holding it.
I sat down with my legs tucked under, using my right arm to keep me up as I watched him grab his guitar. He took a deep breath then started playing the tune he feels as me, I gasped at the realization. Luka smiled at my first reaction then cleared his throat. I looked over at the screen and a slideshow of memories filled the space with him, the gang, me and my parents but mainly of us. Telling our story.
"You crashed into my life so unexpectedly. I first thought you were a funny girl, always tripping over words and your own two feet."
I could feel my heart flutter in my chest, he wrote a song for me. I smiled and giggled remembering the first time we met, I was so nervous. Due to social anxiety not because I thought he was attractive. Okay maybe a little. Luka smiled as he sang.
"You're clear as a music note, sincere as a melody. You've been the song inside my head since the first day we met. I never want it to end."
My smile grows wider as I realize he used his confession to me the day he was akumatized into Silencer, and made them lyrics to his song for me. My heart swelled with so much love and joy towards him.
"You are a good daughter and a good friend, but to me you'll always be the most extraordinary girl."
Tears brimmed my eyes as he looked into mine, filled with so much love for me it made my heart ache. It's real. The fairytale endings, the absolute and unconditional love someone can have for someone else, the passion and romance, the book boyfriends, all of it. It's real and it's before my very eyes. This is it, at this moment, I wholeheartedly never want us to break up. I want to be with him for the rest of my days. He played a few more chords to the melody, my melody, before looking up at me. I threw myself at him, barely giving him enough time to put the guitar aside as we fell back onto the array of pillows he set. He grinned as he wrapped his arms around me while I kissed him. I pulled away and caressed his face, looking into his gentle eyes holding so much love in them.
"Luka Jay Couffaine, marry me." I said before I could even stop the words from coming out.
His eyes widened then he broke out into a grin, "In a heartbeat. But I think our parents would kill us."
I shook my head, "I don't care. I love you so much, Luka. I would feel utterly lost and empty without you by my side. You see me on a deeper level than anyone else and you take such care of me and I mean really take care of me. Mind, body and soul. You've always been the one most there for me, all this time, it's always been you. I don't care if it's too soon, to me, it doesn't feel like that at all. It feels as if I've known and been with you forever, like in a past life. I think I loved you before in every lifetime. All I want is to be with you in this life and the next."
"Mari…" he said trailing off, looking at me so awestruck at my declaration.
But it's all true, every word is exactly how I feel at this moment. And it's the first time I ever saw him close to tears as the traitorous salty water welled in his eyes.
"I- I don't know what to say." He said, quietly.
"Don't say anything. Take a minute but know that I mean every word."
Without another word, Luka pulled me to him and we fell back to the floor with him on top of me as he kissed me so gently, so sweetly, I was melting right under his touch. It was silence as we let our bodies do the talking for us, making love under the stars. We didn't care as we got tangled up in the blanket. This time we went slow and steady, making sure to feel every bit of love we felt for each other. A soul-deep connection and felt every bit of pure euphoria. It's as if time had stopped and it was only us two, exploring each other's bodies as we hadn't before. Taking such gentleness and care with each other's bodies and when we were finished we laid there, holding each other. After a while of comfortable silence, Luka's voice startled me.
"Are you going to tell me what Alya was talking about earlier?"
I groaned and moved off him, grabbing the blanket to cover myself with. "That would totally ruin our moment."
"Why?"
I sighed and looked away. "It's about Adrien."
Luka sat up almost immediately, "What about him?"
I bit my lip, unsure if I should tell him, not because I may still have feelings for the blonde without knowing it but because I know what Luka will do once I tell him. But he has a right to know. I sighed.
"Do you want the long version or the short?"
He gave me an angered expression and I sighed, "Short version, it is. Adrien and Kagami broke up because he discovered that he has feelings for me."
I would've been better off punching him in the gut, that's how deep the confusion, anger and sadness rolled into his aqua eyes. Then his face turned dark as he growled.
"He what?"
I nodded, "See now why I didn't want to tell you until tomorrow. I didn't want to ruin our night and it was such a perfect night."
"It still is perfect, Adrien needs to get his shit sorted. You're mine, Marinette."
"And you're mine." I reminded him, with an equally agitated tone.
"I'm more worried if he is going to try anything." Luka mused.
I shook my head, "Adrien is an idiot but he's not that much of an idiot. He knows we're together."
"Trust me, when it comes to being in love with you, you're impossible to forget." He said, and I blushed.
I rested my hand on Luka's arm, "It doesn't matter. I know where my heart lies, you hold all the keys. My love for Adrien faded the day he used me to help him get a date with Kagami. Sure, he's a good friend but that's all he'll ever be."
"Mari, it's not you I don't trust, it's him."
"Let it be tomorrow's problem. Tonight you're all mine, every amazing inch of you." I said, running my hands down his back.
He smirked and kissed my hands, "Let's take this to my room, have some privacy."
I laughed, "I don't care. Let the stars be jealous." I said as I flung my arms around his neck, letting the blanket fall. The night chill gives my bare skin goosebumps.
He laughed, "You're not the least bit worried about my mother and sister finding us in the morning. Let alone whatever poor sap decides this to be their morning walk. Exposed."
"Well, when you put it like that, it could get awkward." I said slowly as I nodded, smiling.
"Yes it really could." He said, then kissed me, grabbing my ass.
We laughed as we put our clothes back on then I helped Luka pick up and put everything away. I sighed in as I looked over at him, folding the blanket. Everything will be okay, I have to believe that. For everyone's sake.