Marinette got up from the ground and took a deep breath
O-okay Marinette! Y-y-you got this! Everything's fine, Luka, he...he just...got to close...for a moment. Yeah! That's all! Take your mind off of...your friends...amazing...cool...older brother.
Marinette slapped her forehead.
"Ugh! What is wrong with me!"
She shook her head and turned towards Luka, who was whistling softly as he walked back towards his house. She clenched her fist and began walking.
The gears on her mind were working in overdrive. How could she possibly be even t-t-thinking the possiblity of l-l-liking Luka! She couldn't! She already had Adrien! And she was in love with him! Yeah! Marinette had no room in her heart for another boy! As cool...and handsome...and charming...that boy...may...be.
"Aw nuts..."
Marinette muttered under her breath as she continued walking behind Luka, pushing her bangs aside and outwardly sighing. She looked up and say those electric blue highlights shifting with each step he took and she felt her face warm.
B-bad! Bad Marinette! Stop oogling your friend's brother! That's bad manners!
Marinette inwardly scolded herself. They soon approached the boat house and she hurried in front of Luka so she could hold the door open for him
"Thanks Mari."
Marinette went scarlet at the wink that was thrown her way before the young man entered and set everything on the table.
"Jules! We're back!"
Luka called out to his sister and disappeared down the stairs briefly before coming back with the girls in tow.
"Hey girl! That was fast, thought it take a little more, time, huh?"
Alya winked at her and Marinette squinted her eyes before the red head grabbed a croissant and bit in to it with a happy squeak of joy.
Luka gave Marinette one more glance before excusing himself to go practice. As soon as he shut the door Alya practically pounced on her.
"Soo, tell me, how was your little walk with Luka, Mari?"
Marinette glared as Alya looked at her with a mischievous smirk before her gazed shifted to Juleka and rose on the couch. She felt weird, Luka was Juleka's brother, Marinette didn't want her, well,whatever it was, to affect her friendship with her. She shifted on her feet before remembering what Luka said to her and his proximity at the time.
Her cheeks flushed red and she raised a hand to her freckles.
H-he smelled nice... Almost like.. spearmint. Like he had just come out of the shower...
What am I thinking about!?!
Marinette blushed even harder and Alya's eyes widened.
"Mari!?"
Marinette came to with a helpful shaking of the shoulders courtesy of Alya and she looked up at her best friend. She bit her lip and grabbed her hand before yelling to Juleka that she forgot something upstairs.
"HE SAID WHAT!?"
"Shhhh! Alya! Be quiet!"
"How can I be quiet when he basically confessed to you the other day and now he's going on full attack mode!"
"Oh please Alya he's just a -"
"Girl I know you aren't trying to tell me he's just a friend right now!"
"Alya please, just listen -"
"Nu uh, no way!"
Marinette sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. This was going to take a while wasn't it?
"Alya Césaire."
The red locked eyes with Marinette and cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Luka is...he is... Just a friend. Alright? I... I love Adrien, you know this!"
Marinette squeezed her arm and looked at the floor, shifting her weight. Alya squinted at her but sighed and shook her head.
"...Whatever you say Mari. I just want you to be happy, you know?"
Marinette looked up and saw looking at her with a concerned expression. She bit her lip.
"I know..."
"I dont think you really do Marinette. I just... Look, at least give the guy a chance alright? You look so happy when you're with him and you have lots of fun too. Girl I can tell just from the look on your face. I know you feel like you are betraying Adrien but the thing is... You aren't. He... He doesn't see you that way... Yet! I'm certain, eventually he will, but... Until then, why not give Luka a shot? He certainly feels something special for you."
Marinette bit her lip harder and averted her best friends gaze. She looked towards the ground, memorizing every detail of her pink flats. Suddenly she felt soft but determined arms grab her face and force her to look up.
"Marinette Dupain Cheng, I am speaking to you! Girl, please! Don't do this to yourself. I don't want to see you get... Hurt."
Alya's strong voice lowered to barely a whisper as she let the last word slide from her lips. Marinette gulped and looked into her eyes, she could see the genuine worry in those big brown eyes and she could feel tears start to swell in her own. Alya hugged her and Marinette lowered her face into her best friends shoulder and wept silently.
After a few minutes she softly pushed Alya away and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She stood up straight and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Thank you Alya, I truly appreciate you as my best friend. I love you so much. I-I needed this. I really did. But I need you to give me some time to reach... My own decision. I'm just... Confused right now. I can't... Can't decide yet. But I promise I'll get myself together. I... I'll try."
Alya gave her a reassuring smile and her hand a small squeeze before nodding and turning to walk back inside.
Marinette watched her back disappear under the deck. She sighed and took a deep breath before walking towards the ledge of the boat and gazing at the water. She felt a little paw stroke her cheek and she leaned into the gentle caress of her kwami.
"It's okay to love two people you know Marinette."
"Is it Tikki? It feels unfair to do so."
"You haven't confessed to either of them you know... It isn't unfair to anyone except yourself if you keep pushing away your feelings. You'll end up hurting yourself worse than anyone else could."
Marinette sighed and propped her elbows on the ledge and grasped her head with her hands.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do Tikki. Luka is so... Amazing. He's truly wonderful. But Adrien is perfect. He's kind, compassionate and sincere just to name very very few things. But then theres' Luka, who's all of that and more, and to top it off he's a super cool musician! I just feel like my heart is in pieces and I don't know what to do Tikki!"
Marinette felt her eyes begin to water again and hastily wiped them and sank to her knees.
"Oh Marinette, my wonderful holder. You must not torture yourself this way! You don't have to choose right away, you must listen to your heart-
"I just told you it's in pieces!"
"Then listen to all those individual voices!"
Marinette looked up, shocked to hear her kwami raise her voice at her in such a way.
Tikki floated down in front of marinette's face and met her stare with a kind gaze.
"Listen to them Marinette. If you are indecisive then you must act upon your indecisiveness, this will lead you to your final decision. Knowing you, you won't get lost. You are ladybug. You have gotten yourself out of worse situations than this! So what if you love two boys, I love everyone and everything in the whole wide world! I'm sure both those boys , if not everyone in Paris, will eventually see what a treasure you truly are. You are amazing."
"B-but, I'm not really ladybug... Y-you are!"
Marinette's tears were flowing down her face and she didn't make an effort to rub them off. She let them flow freely as she curled herself into a ball. Tiki snuggled into the crook of her neck and began singing.
Blue as the night sky
Strong as the sea
If you would let me
My love could
Set you free
Many and plenty
Will come, far and wide
But the one who makes my heart sing
Is here by my side
Oh freckles and dimples
And a cute button nose
Isn't it adorable, the way she sews
Marinette, you are beautiful
A Wonder of the world
And I would love more than nothing
For you to be my girl
Marinette sniffed and turned her head towards Tikki.
"W-where did you-
"Luka was singing it earlier. I heard him when you were talking with Alya. He seems to really care for you Marinette. I don't want to pressure you, I'm just letting you know. And I'm not ladybug Marinette. Sure I can give you your powers, but the one who knows how to use them and saves the day each and everyday, is you. I may give you the mask, but you are the one who is behind it, thinking of the solutions and always saving the day. Luka is right you know, you really are a Wonder of the world."
Marinette sniffed and wiped her eyes for the third time that day and gave her kwami a kiss on the cheek. She stood up and starting walking down the stairs. Just as she reached the last step she slipped and felt herself falling backwards. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the inevitable pain that was merely seconds away.
Oh great!
Suddenly she was floating. She was floating? She can't float. What was going on. She tentatively opened her eyes and almost squeezed them shut again. There was Luka, once again, saving her from herself. One hand was on the top of the railing while the other was wound tightly around her waist.
Brain... Shutting... Down.
Marinette.exe has stopped working.
Luka chuckled and straightened both himself and marinette before letting go of the railing and flicking her in the forehead.
Wh-WHA too close too close too close too close!!! Can't... Move!
Lukas hand remained at marinette's waist and she could feel every single detail of the boys palm and fingers and how his thumb was softly caressing her hip and gahh she needed to leave. Now.
Marinette locked eyes with Luka and felt her breathing stop.
Was...was he! Was he wearing eye liner?!
She bit her lip, which only seemed to amuse him more and she looked nervously behind him. If Alya caught her like this there'd be no end of it! Marinette shakily put an hand on Lukas chest and pushed softly with the tips of her fingers, restraining herself from laying her palm flat on his chest to feel his heart beat. A low, almost husky chuckle emerged from the boys throat but he made no sign of movement. Marinette could only stare into his eyes as as she lay her palm flat against his chest now, her breath returning to her, almost to quickly. She felt his heartbeat travel her hand all the way to her own heart.
It...it feels like... Electricity.
I... I shouldn't be doing this... I...
Marinette's eyes almost popped out of her eye sockets as she noticed him lean towards her ever so slightly and that wonderfully fresh aroma filled her nostrils. She gulped and bit her lip harder and she almost froze as she saw him raise his hand towards her face, skimming her lips with his thumb. He leaned even closer to her and she felt her legs losing their strength.
"Don't bite your lip so hard... They'll be... Consequences that you'll have to deal with..."
He whispered into her ear and finally moved, taking his hand off her hip and moving to the side so she could get through.
Just as she passed him Alya walked into the room and noticed the weird vibe. Being the reporter she is, she immediately commented on it.
"What's going on you two?"
Alya's eyes sparkled and marinette's cheeked flushed so red she thought she might pass out.
"Just telling Marinette what a bad habit she has of biting her lip, she'll leave a scare on it before she knows it."
Luka replied smoothly before winking to both the girls and going out the door.
Hey I hope you guys enjoyed! see you next time ! :)