Work Text:
Take it
She gives you her heart, don't you break it
Let your arms be a place she feels safe in
She's the best thing that you'll ever have
Marinette sighed, standing to turn off the radio. It had been playing Luke Stone’s newest album all day. While she loved the music, the lyrics always made her sad. It was always something about loving the girl that got away. She wished that Luka would come back so she could just tell him the truth. But ever since he’d found out about her identity as Ladybug several years ago, he’d not been back. Before it was to protect her, himself, and his family. Then it had been because of his career. He’d made it big, touring with Jagged Stone for a time before he entered the spotlight on his own. Now it kept him away. And Marinette just wished she could see him.
She wanted to tell him all the things she hadn’t been able to before. Not just about Ladybug, but about her heart, too. While they kept in touch through calls, video phones, and even e-mails, these were things she had to tell him in person. She wanted to tell him more and more every day, but he hadn’t been able to make it back yet. And she wasn’t going to tell him when there was a chance he’d misunderstand what she knew to be true. With another soft sigh, Marinette readied for bed.
The mornings were usually hard for her to do much of anything, but on this particular morning, Marinette felt more aware of the space between her and Luka. She knew birthdays were special things, but not being able to wish him a good one in person felt worse every year. She had sent a care package with Penny not long ago, but it wasn’t the same. She wanted to bake him anything he wanted, to see his smile up close again, and hold him for as long as he’d let her. Instead, she had to make due with baking his favorite lemon blueberry cupcakes and giving them away. Or else she’d eat them all while missing him. Tying her hair back, Marinette did her best to stay positive. She’d thought ahead to close her boutique for the day and was determined to make the best of the day. After all, Luka wouldn’t want her to be sad on account of him.
Getting the cupcakes in the oven was the easy part. Waiting for them to cool proved harder without another project to work on. So she brought out her sketchbook and the new fabric she’d been working with. Settling into the couch for a moment, she began to sketch, inspired by the deep ocean blue of the fabric. Her pencil only left the page briefly a few times she was so deep in thought. She almost missed the knock on her door she was so lost. But she did hear it.
“Coming…!” she called, her voice distracted as she set everything aside slowly.
Standing up, she went to her door, thankful she’d gotten ready for the day. When she opened the door, her heart stopped. Or maybe it was time. Standing in front of her, in person, was Luka, wearing a bright but hesitant smile.
“Hey Marinette.”
“L-Luka…?”
The tears that flooded her vision made him swim and blur until she had to close her eyes, knowing the tears would fall. She almost thought she was dreaming, but then she felt his strong arms wrap around her and pull her close. And, oh, the sound of his heart beating against his chest was a sound that she’d never forget. She didn’t know how much time passed as they stood, embraced and unaware of the world, but Marinette didn’t care. All the time spent apart, only for him to show up at her door, had her in near hysterics. But she held tight to Luka, the one who could always ground her, and let herself cry for all the time she’d missed him. When she finally calmed down, she tilted her head up to look at him.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were on tour.”
Luka’s smile was tender and he gently wiped her tear-stained cheeks.
“I was. But there was only one thing I really wanted today. So...I just had to come.”
“You wanted to come home for your birthday?”
“Yes. And I probably should have called you, but you know how I am about last minute adventures and- I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“I’m not upset!” Marinette shook her head frantically, gripping his shirt tightly. “I just...I missed you so much. And I didn’t expect to see you, especially not today-”
“It was a last minute thing. But...I had to come.”
Marinette sniffled some before she remembered where they were. Regretfully, she pulled back from his embrace, immediately missing his warmth.
“Well come in. I have some cupcakes cooling, and we can catch up!”
Opening her door wider, Marinette let Luka in, feeling his eyes on her as she moved towards the kitchen.
“Want some coffee?”
“That’d be great, actually.”
She smiled and got to work on making a fresh pot. When they were both seated at her small kitchen table with steaming mugs, she looked at him.
“So, when did you get here? I mean, to Paris.”
“Late last night. Too late to meet with you.”
“Did you see your mom and Jules yet? I know they’d love to see you. Since you’re home.”
Luka looked down at his mug with a smile.
“I haven’t seen them yet. But I will. I just...I had to be home first.”
“Well, yes, that’s usually how it works-”
“No, I don’t mean Paris, Marinette.” He looked up at her, his eyes full of such intense feeling it made Marinette breathless. “I mean, Paris is great. But..that’s not the home I was talking about.”
She gasped, then squeaked, her cheeks turning pink.
“Y-You mean...me?”
She watched Luka nod with that intense stare and tender smile. She felt grounded, secure, but also like she was floating, walking on clouds. Everything around seemed to fade away and all she could see was Luka.
“Your songs are wrong, you know,” she all but muttered, watching the confusion grow on his face.
“Huh?”
“Your songs. They’re all about the girl who got away. But what if you’re wrong? What if she never got away?”
Marinette watched the hope slowly rise in his eyes as Luka made the connection.
“You’d have to tell me if she did. Did she get away?”
Shaking her head, Marinette couldn’t take her eyes away.
“She never left, Luka. She only wished she had told you before. Wished she could have told you how much she wanted to be honest. About everything. That she held so many secrets. That she would never forget you. That she loves you-”
“You do?”
Blushing softly, Marinette nodded. Luka pulled her into his lap, ignoring her squeak of surprise. He gently held her chin in his hand, looking down at her with that intense stare again.
“Marinette, do you love me?”
“Yes, Luka. I love you. I love you so much. I’m sorry I never told you before. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you here. I’m so sorry for everything. But, yes. I love you, Luka.”
The air charged with electricity for only a second before Marinette was swept up in the passion of Luka’s lips against hers. And then she could only focus on that. The pleasure of the kiss was packed with all the passion they had kept back for years, sweet from the new love they openly shared, and was only broken when they couldn’t breathe anymore. Panting, Marinette looked to Luka’s eyes, her heart singing with the warmth, the promise, and the love she saw there. He smiled at her in the same tender way he always had, pressing his forehead to hers.
“That...you, Marinette, are the best present I could have ever been given.”
“Oh, Luka...you’re going to make me cry again.”
He chuckled softly and Marinette moved her head to press a kiss to his jaw. He looked at her and Marinette had never felt so at home before.
“How long will you stay?” she whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
“I have one last concert to go to. But it’s not for a week. And being Jagged Stone’s son, I have some connections. And, Marinette,” he looked at her, made sure she was listening before he continued. “When I get back, I want to take you out. On a real date. I won’t be leaving Paris again after this last concert.”
“You won’t? Really?”
“Not unless you come with me.”
Marinette smiled and hugged him close, her heart full.
“I would go anywhere with you.”
Luka’s arms stayed around her for a long time and Marinette was reluctant to move away. But she only did when she heard Luka’s stomach growl.
“You had mentioned cupcakes..?”
Giggling, Marinette went to work on the frosting for Luka’s favorite treat. Luka was finally home!