#lmfeb2020

“Luka?” Marinette gaped, just as stunned as he was, and he had the barest instant to be pleased she recognized him before she threw herself at him. “Oh my gosh!”

He caught her with one arm, instinctively raising the flowers out of harm’s way with the other.

“Oh my gosh, Luka!” she cried again, “It’s so good to see you, it’s been years!” 

“It has,” Luka chuckled, giving her a quick squeeze with the one arm he had around her. Wow, okay, that felt different in ways he was not going to think about right now.

“Wow, you’re strong,” she said, pushing back with her hands on his shoulders, squeezing appreciatively. Luka grinned and shrugged, trying not to look too pleased. 

“Believe it or not you can actually get injured playing the guitar; building muscle in the shoulders and arms helps prevent it.” 

“Doesn’t hurt at shows either, I’ll bet,” she teased with far more brazenness than the Marinette he remembered would ever have had.

Then again, she clearly wasn’t the Marinette he remembered. At fourteen she was cute, at twenty-two she was—His eyes flicked over her, up and down, and he bit his lip. She’d kept her slim figure, but her sharp edges had all rounded off, and she’d added confidence to that cheerful glow she’d already had. No more hunched shoulders, feet too close together, or slightly ducked head. Marinette stood with her shoulders thrown back, one hand on her hip, her stance was strong, a brilliant smile on her face, and she was just...

“Wow,” was all he could say, shaking his head. “You look—you look amazing, Marinette.” She lit up pink, and he had to laugh. Maybe she hadn’t changed that much. 

“I grew up a little since you saw me last,” she giggled, winking.

“Mm, not so much,” he teased, leveling a hand with her head. The top of her head used to be level with his eyes; now she was closer to his chin. 

“Oh, a short joke already, Luka?” Marinette pouted. “Oh my gosh, where are my manners, please come in! How did you even know I was here? I just moved in last week.’

“Oh,” Luka suddenly remembered what he was doing there. “I—I can’t stay, I’m working, I just wanted to bring you this. I mean, I was sent to bring you this—” he eyed the arrangement again. “It, uh, definitely wasn’t my idea.”

To his mild surprise, Marinette wrinkled her nose as she looked at the flowers. “Great,” she sighed, and then shook her head quickly. “I mean, thanks, Luka, I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just, I'm pretty sure I know who these are from and, well...I’d rather he didn’t.” She perked up a little. “Although it did mean I got to see you, so I guess I should be grateful after all.” The grin on his face was growing moment by moment. “So, delivering flowers instead of pizza now?” 

That brought him back to earth real fast. “Oh, yeah, I—well actually I work at a music store, you know,” he said in a rush, “Instrument sales and rental and all that, and I still write and perform and I do some production work when I can get it. It’s not always the steadiest work though, and it’s been a bit slow lately. There’s always a rush for delivery people leading up to Valentine’s, so Rose got me this gig at the place she works. It’s cool, people are happy to see me, and happy people tip generously, so…” he shrugged. “Just picking up some extra cash on the side.”

“I think that’s great that you find ways to support yourself so that you can keep doing what you love,” Marinette smiled warmly. “It’d break my heart to hear you were working at some soulless nine to five and letting your passion for music wither away.”

“Well, I never could disappoint you,” Luka chuckled, and then he sighed. “But I do kinda have to go, so—” He held up the flowers. “You want these, or should I just drop them in the dumpster on my way out?”

“No, that would be a waste,” Marinette grumbled. “I’ll take them. I guess I just have to call him and tell him it’s not going to happen, I’m not his and I don’t want to be. Again.”

Luka frowned. “Again? Marinette, are you safe?” He grimaced. “Sorry, I know I’m probably overreacting—”

“No, you’re just being you. Sweet and concerned for everybody,” Marinette smiled, putting a hand on his arm and letting it slide off. “I’m fine. He’s harmless, I promise, just...overly enthusiastic. It’s, um...complicated.” She blushed and looked uncomfortable.

“Sure,” Luka said sympathetically. “I didn’t mean to pry.” 

“You didn’t,” Marinette said, taking the flowers and leaning on the doorframe. She looked at him with a softness in her blue eyes that made him weak, even after all this time. “Thanks, Luka. For the concern, as well as the flowers. Oh!” She straightened and turned back into her apartment. “I know you have to go, but hang on just one minute...where are they...argh…” 

Luka put his hands on his hips and looked at the ground, shoulders shaking slightly with laughter as he listened to her dig around. He lifted his head again as she reappeared, looking at her through his shaggy bangs. She held out a card decorated with her signature flowers and a monogrammed M. “Here’s my new number,” she told him, smiling hopefully. “I’d love to see you again sometime soon. Maybe we can get together and catch up?”

“I’d love that,” Luka grinned, taking the card. “It was really great to see you again, Marinette, even if only for a few minutes. I’m glad you’re doing so well.”

“I’m glad to see you too, Luka,” she said, with more warmth than was good for him. “But I won’t keep you, you’ve got places to be. Text me, okay?” She popped out of the door for a moment and he leaned down automatically to receive and return her bise. “Have a good day!”

Chapter 1: Mine

The soft patter of rain against the cobblestone alley was music to Marinette’s ears as she stepped out of her back door. Since she had moved, no matter what she tried, the apartment always felt too confining and stiff. Which, honestly, it was, compared to the cool and rainy air of Chengdu, and her tiny flat there. Four years of working in southwest China had made her forget about how dry and bland Paris could feel at times. 

That wasn’t a problem, exactly, but she did miss the climate of the place she now thought of as home. It was humid, but usually not too hot. That wasn’t even bringing up the lifestyle there either. It was city life without the pressure of an over-expensive and over-saturated market built on tourism. Fashion was part of everyday life, and she could eat at a dingy food stand one night and an aesthetic cafè the next. The best part was that people were always looking for the next interesting thing, and her commissions had taken off because of that. 

But now she was back in Paris, staying in a borrowed apartment for the month, all for some event that she had been volunteered for at the last second. Was it an excellent opportunity? Of course. Did she still wish she had never left China? Undoubtedly. 

It was a little uncomfortable, but she was still trying to make the best of it. Her parents had been ecstatic when she finally told them she would be in Paris for a whole month. They had even offered her her old room for the month, which she had quickly declined, not wanting to step back into her old life that much. Even with the awkwardness, she was still a little happy to be in the city she had grown up in, and she had plans to catch up with some old family and friends over the month. Plus, her schedule for the event kept her busy enough that she hopefully wouldn’t get too bored for the month. 

It was only the morning of her second day, after she had crashed immediately upon landing the day before. She hardly even remembered leaving the airport, let alone getting to her apartment, but she had woken up in a strange bed and reminded herself where she was. After a cup of green tea hadn’t quite woken her up, she had dragged herself through the process of getting ready. 

It was only as she looked in the mirror that she had the thought that Chengdu street style was much more adventurous than Parisian, and she hadn’t really packed anything that would fit in. The girl she had been before she left Paris would have been terrified at that, but this version of Marinette took pride in it, and stepped into the alley way with experienced charisma. She was even happier when she noticed the rain, just light enough to not need an umbrella, which was good considering she hadn’t actually packed one. She popped the collar of her blazer and stepped out of the doorway completely. A gust of wind shivered down the alleyway and she pulled the jacket tighter around herself and shaking her scarf loose in the process. She unwrapped it and pulled it off the rest of the way so that she could readjust it, but another strong breeze barrelled into her and knocked it out of her hand. The pale pink fabric fluttered down the alleyway, coming to a stop for just a moment only to be picked up by another wind current. She started after it, lightly jogging to catch up to the scarf and almost wrapping her hand around it before it was carried away again. Giving it a look, as if to say ‘really?’, she sped up behind it. Preoccupied with her annoyance, she didn’t notice the person stepping into the alleyway until they reached out and snagged the scarf from the air and she skidded to a halt in front of them.

“Oh! Uh, sorry, that’s mine,” she apologized quickly, holding her hand out for it. “The wind just kind of swept it up.”

The man smiled slightly and nodded, gently handing it to her. She curled her hands around the now damp scarf, shaking her head. 

“Well, uhm, thank you! For catching it, I mean,” she stuttered awkwardly and doing her best to give him a polite smile in return. He didn’t seem to be the talkative type, which wasn’t a problem by any means at all, but it was something contradictory to his look at least. He looked every bit like some kind of alternative rock star, ripped black jeans and a jean jacket covered in patches from a variety of bands. His hair was just a little too long and just a little too messy, with teal dyed tips. 

“No worries,” he finally replied and her heart jumped inside her chest. He had what might be the kindest voice she had ever heard, and that was even more startling when paired with his edgy aesthetic. He gave her one last smile and started to turn around and she could feel herself staring awkwardly without any willpower to stop herself. Then, just as he started to walk, she managed to find her voice. 

“Wait!” She called a little too loudly, quickly fumbling with her purse. By some miracle, she managed to find a business card and slide it out, holding it out to him. “Sorry. I’m Marinette. That scarf is actually, I guess important, sort of? So thank you, again. If I can repay you in any way, give me a call.” 

He raised a brow at her and she flushed, quickly holding her hands up and shaking her head.”I swear I’m not flirting with you, I would never, well I mean, not never, you’re obviously attractive but I mean that totally professionally, I think. Oh, what am I saying, I soun-”

In the middle of her rambling, he burst into laughter and she froze, eyes wide and face as red as a tomato. It took him an embarrassingly long time to finish laughing at her, and Marinette was just about ready to pass out. 

“Sorry, sorry, that was just… cute. And, thanks for the compliment, I think. I’m Luka.” He took the business card and gave her one last smile before walking away, leaving her standing there like an idiot with the dorkiest grin on her face. After a long minute, she shook herself out of it and hurried back into her apartment, closing the door and falling back into it. 

She giggled shyly, “So what you’re saying is, I really should go up to him in a plastic bag and smack a kiss on his face.”

“Exactly,” Alya laughed, tackling her best friend in a hug before letting out a shout as the two rolled off the small chaise. Both girls looked at the other in shock before they began chortling. 

Leaning against her friend, Marinette wheezed petulantly, “This still doesn’t help me! I have no idea what I’m going to give him for Valentine’s Day.”

“Alright, alright,” her friend panted out, “I think I have an idea... You remember those glasses you gave Jagged Stone a while back?” she nodded, a light frown on her face as she thought that far back before Alya continued, “Well, what if you made him a pair of heart-shaped glasses and then also wrote him the gushy letter where you pour your feelings out to him.”

Marinette nibbled her lip in concentration, attempting to think of a design for her friend’s suggestion. Her fingers itched to grab a sketchbook and start the new look before she turned to Alya with a bright smile, “That sounds perfect! It’s just cheesy enough for Valentine’s Day but it’s also completely different from what people usually do! I just hope Luka likes it.”

“I’ve already told you, Mari,” the brunette reached out to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly, “There isn’t a thing you could make Luka that he wouldn’t like.”

She tapped her fingers together shyly, glancing up at her friend from beneath her lashes, “Still, I want him to like it!”

Alya patted her shoulder, “Alright, girl, I’ll leave you to it then. I know how you get when you’re designing.”

“Shut up,” Marinette giggled, throwing the pillow on her chaise at her best friend.

The reporter merely chuckled menacingly, dodging the pillow as she opened the trapdoor, “Now to get started on my Valentine’s Day plans with Nino,” her eyebrows wiggled up and down playfully.

“You two are too cute. Send him my love,” she blew her a kiss as she descended down the stairs.

“Will do!” Alya called over her shoulder, “Make sure to send Luka my own!”

Marinette rolled her eyes before she shot over to her desk. Flipping open a fresh page of one of her notebooks, she began sketching the design that had been stuck in her mind since Alya had first mentioned the idea. Taking her a few tries, she finally had the perfect design and she held it out in front of her with a bright smile.

“Finally have a good design, Marinette?” Tikki’s sweet voice came from behind her and she shrieked, practically throwing the sheet of paper on the floor. The kwami gave a sheepish chuckle and the designer merely beamed at her, thrusting the paper towards her.

“Do you like it, Tikki?” Marinette asked eagerly.

“I think it’s adorable,” her kwami nodded her head and she squealed, quickly turning around to her supplies to begin creating the glasses. Taking the pink frame from a pair of sunglasses she had lying around, she began creating the hearts. Time flew by as her tongue stuck out in concentration, barely noticing the clock. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours as Marinette worked carefully, pouring her heart into the design. She finally finished with a light sigh, brushing her forehead with her hand as she stared down at the finished product.

Placing the glasses around her eyes she began posing for the small creature who was watching her curiously, “Well? What do you think?” she giggled, pushing the glasses down her nose.

“I think Luka will love them!” Tikki said cheerfully.

“Aww, thanks Tikki!” Marinette patted her kwami on the head before turning back to her desk as she blew out an exhausted breath, “Now just what am I supposed to write in my letter?”

“Just pour your heart out,” the small, bug-like creature responded enthusiastically, “Alya’s right, you know, I’m sure Luka will like anything you give me.”

With a shy giggle, she ducked her head down, her cheeks flushing a rosy red. Spotting a piece of pretty, pink paper that she had lying on her desk, she quickly snatched it and a pencil. Tapping the eraser to her cheek she thought of exactly how she was going to pour her heart out to the musician. Within seconds her pencil was flying across the page, the words seeming to appear magically as her heart sang.

When she was finally finished, Marinette sighed contentedly. Her eyes glanced over towards the clock and she shrieked suddenly, “I’m late! I am late! I am so so late!” grabbing her purse, she shoved the note inside, holding onto the glasses tightly as she raced out of the bakery and onto the street below. It was with hurried footsteps that she dashed out towards the Seine river, ducking and dodging against the people heading the opposite way. Kitty Section’s concert was about to start soon and she wanted to get there before the crowd of people did. Panting heavily, Marinette leaned against the bridge to Luka’s houseboat as she caught her breath.

“You alright there?” a teasing voice caught her attention and her head jerked up to stare into the bright, happy eyes of Luka.

“Luka! I’m so glad I saw you before the concert! I have your Valentine’s gift right here!” she grabbed the note from her purse before thrusting the items into his chest.

Marinette winced as he let out a slight whoosh of air as her gifts collided with him. Recovering quickly, he smiled down at her, his fingers brushing against hers purposefully as he took her present. Luka chuckled quietly as he looked down at the glasses, “I’m glad I saw you too. I have your present as well but you’re going to have to wait till the concert starts for that,” he winked at her.

She blushed faintly before noticing that his hand was extended outwards for her to take. Grabbing it shyly, he led her onto the boat, where she looked in awe at the pretty pink and red decorations, “Wow!” she murmured, “It looks amazing!”

“I’m glad you like it,” Luka squeezed her hand. 

“Where is everyone else though?” Marinette’s brow furrowed as she noticed the empty space around them.

“So I may have told a little white lie,” he winked at her before letting go of her hand, heading up on stage as he slung his guitar over his chest, “There is a concert tonight. But it was only ever meant for you.”

Her mouth dropped open in awe and shock as he began strumming the guitar, playing a song that she had never heard before. She swayed gently to the wonderful music as his voice spread around them. About midway through the song, Luka put her sunglasses on with a cheery smile causing Marinette to laugh loudly. When the song ended, she clapped and cheered loudly, “Encore! Encore!”

“I will, I will,” he chuckled, “But only after you answer my question. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, will you be my valentine?”

“Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes,” she squealed quietly, “B-but only if you’d be mine! I think you should read your card first.”

A crooked smile spread across Luka’s face as he pulled out her love letter. Marinette watched his face nervously as he scanned the note. Her fingers crossed behind her back as she hoped that he would like it. When he had finished reading, he tucked it carefully back into his pocket before walking down the steps back towards her. She let out a whoop as he picked her up, spinning her around. Finally, he placed her down with a light peck on her lips, “Marinette, I would absolutely love to be your boyfriend.”

She squealed happily before dragging his head back down towards hers, connecting their lips once again. This time, she made certain their kiss lasted for longer as her arms wound around his neck and his came to hook around her waist. Marinette sighed into the kiss as she played with the hair on the nape of his neck. I love Valentine’s Day, she thought to herself as Luka picked her up and spun her around once again. 

When he put her back down she raised a curious eyebrow at him, “Am I getting my encore or not?”

Luka merely chuckled down at her, “You can get your encore after I get another kiss.”