#supportive luka

"How's it coming girls?" Luka called towards the dressing room. He'd been sitting in the waiting room for a while, waiting as they tried on dresses for a dance.

Rose squealed and came running out in a pink tulle dress with billowing sleeves. "Luka! How do I look?! Do you love it?! I love it!"

Luka chuckled. "It looks great, Rose. Juleka won't be able to keep her eyes off you."

Rose jumped excitedly and ran back into the dressing stall.

"Hey Lu? Can you come here? I'm not sure about this one." Juleka asked softly from…somewhere in the dressing rooms. He had learned how to listen for her but pinpointing exactly where she was could still be difficult given how softly she spoke.

Luka walked over to the stall next to Rose and went to knock gently on the door. The latch must not have caught properly, because the door swung away slightly at the pressure.

Luka's face turned red as he was faced with a blushing Marinette, wearing a beautiful dress that faded from dark blue to teal, with sparkles in the fabric. He silently thanked Tikki he hadn't walked in sooner, saving them both further mortification.

"Sorry!" He finally croaked out. "Wrong dressing room. You look stunning."

Her blush deepened. "Thanks Luka."

When he finally found Juleka, the next stall over, she was snickering at him.

"You know she doesn't have a date right?" Juleka grinned mischievously.

It takes her a long time to realize it, but Luka feels like home to Marinette.

His gentle smiles, his comforting touches. He never pushes. It's only inviting and supportive. He never takes more than she gives.

A pat on the bed beside him. Reading her cues before sitting beside her. A reassuring hand on her shoulder. Standing on his bike so she doesn't have to hold him intimately if she doesn't want to.

Even when she breaks down and collapses in his arms, or when he shields her from an attack, he is only supportive and there. He is never holding on too long, pushing her boundaries, asking for more than she is willing to give.

Lazily laying her head in his lap while she sketches. Platonic cuddling on movie nights. A piggy bavk ride when she feels so heavy from everything. A gentle massage when she's been huddled over a mannequin for hours.

It's taken a long time to realize it, but now that she has it's impossible to not think about it. How soothing his touch is. How comforting his presence is.

"Luka, I'm comfortable with you." She blurts out one afternoon as she has her legs laying across his. He just gives her an amused smile, waiting for her to reassemble what she means. She blushes. "I mean you feel like home. Luka…I like you. Like-like."