Soothing Sore Heartstrings - Luka Couffaine X M Reader

01

"I just don't know what I'm doing wrong..." he mumbled, his voice trailing off in defeat.

After countless attempts at making things work with his girlfriend, my poor friend Luka looked ready to give up. His eyes held that familiar, tired sadness.

And here I was, sitting beside him for the seventeenth time this month, trying to hold him together. Yeah, I've been counting.

I placed a steady hand on his shoulder, searching his face for any sign of hope. His expression was a blend of confusion and misery. "You've put so much effort into the relationship, but tell me, has she ever really tried?"

Luka shook his head slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. I gave him a gentle smack on the back, hoping to snap him out of this spiral.

"Exactly!" I said, using my hands to emphasize every word. "You need to toughen up, man. She's always chasing after that model, and let's be real, she always will be."

He glanced up at me, and I could see the realization beginning to settle in. "She doesn't love you that way... It's a hard truth, but deep down, you know it. Sooner or later, she's going to hurt you, Luka."

For a moment, he looked directly at me, his eyes glassy. The silence between us grew thick, until he let out a small sniffle, his vulnerability hitting me right in the chest.

"I don't want to see my best friend hurt," I said softly. Reaching over, I grabbed a tissue and handed it to him. He took it, blew his nose, and crumpled it up, staring at the balled tissue in his hand as if it held all his regrets.

"Right then..." he muttered, barely above a whisper. "Next time she runs off, I'll confront her?" He looked at me, searching my face for reassurance.

I nodded firmly. "For your own sake." Standing up, I stretched, feeling the weight of his emotions spread throughout the room. "I'd advise you to just end it already."

I knew he didn't want to hear it, he loved that girl so deeply, even though everyone around him could see the wreck it was causing. Over time, I'd watched his mood spiral, and his sister had noticed it too.

His music felt different, like the spark in it had dulled. His whole vibe seemed off, like he was there physically, but his mind was somewhere else.

His grades had slipped, and he was just...a wreck. He hasn't been the same ever since he fell in love with Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

The more I thought about it, the more my own mind wandered, sinking into that same melancholy. I barely registered the world around me until the boat suddenly rocked beneath my feet, jolting me back to the present.

'Right... I'm supposed to be leaving.'

I shook my head and hurried off the houseboat, the cool Parisian night hitting my face. Gripping my backpack straps tightly, I walked through the quiet streets, noticing how late it had gotten.

The streetlights cast a soft glow along the empty sidewalks, illuminating my way home as the city settled into the evening stillness.

"At Luka's again?" My dad's voice cut through my thoughts as I stepped through the front door.

"Yeah, just giving him some advice," I replied, shrugging off my jacket and slipping out of my shoes before wandering into the kitchen.

He sat on the countertop, coffee cup in hand, with only the warm light from the cooktop casting a glow over him. The rest of the room was dark, giving the space a cozy, almost surreal feel. I chuckled as I walked in, raising an eyebrow. "What's with this setup? Midnight coffee in the dark?"

He gave me a mock glare before taking another sip. "Just needed a break from reality. Work was rough today, and my boss is as needy and demanding as ever."

"Mm-hmm," I hummed politely, making an attempt to sound interested. My dad's rants about his boss were nothing new, and I'd learned to nod along. I opened the fridge, spotting a box of pizza and grabbing a slice without hesitation.

"Oh, Ricky brought that over," he mentioned casually. "Be sure to thank him next time you see him."

"Will do," I said, before popping the slice in the microwave. Ricky, my dad's best friend (or so he claimed), was practically family by now, dropping by with food or helping out whenever he could. A second later, the microwave dinged, and I grabbed my pizza with a napkin before heading to my room.

Settling onto my bed, legs crossed, I took a bite of the pizza and idly scrolled through my phone. I payed no attention to my surroundings until a sudden clap of thunder roared outside.

I glanced up, hearing rain start to beat against the window. The weather had changed fast, dark clouds now blanketed the sky, and sheets of rain were pouring down.

"Damn, lucky I got home before that hit," I muttered, imagining myself soaked and sprinting through the rain.

My phone buzzed just then, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced down to see a message from Luka.

Luk: Did you get home okay??

A small smile tugged at my lips, he was always looking out for me.

Me: Yeah, got home a while ago. All good.

Luk: Good to hear. Oh, and I've been thinking about what you said. You're right... Call?

Without a second thought, I hit the call button. He picked up after a few rings, and I put him on speaker, biting into my pizza as I settled back against the pillows.

"What's up?" I mumbled through a mouthful of food.

"Well," he started slowly, like he was still deciding on his words. "Kitty Section has rehearsal again this weekend. I invited Marinette... as usual."

He paused, and I could almost picture him on the other end, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "I already know she's going to be late, she always is. I've been thinking that maybe... maybe it's time I ask her where we really stand. If she's not serious, I don't want to drag this out any longer. I just need to know, you know?"

There was a new steadiness in his voice, like he'd finally resolved himself to take that leap, whatever the outcome.

I took a moment before responding, letting his words settle. "Yeah, of course, dude. Whatever you need. I'll be there, no question."

He sounded relieved. "Thanks. I really appreciate it... I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Mhm," I replied, a plain smile crossing my face as he ended the call.

For a moment, I just sat there, watching the rain slide down my window, thinking about how sometimes letting go of someone you love is the hardest step... but maybe also the bravest.

1166 words
Sorry this was short, honestly the plot isn't too complex so this first chapter was just a lil starter for the next one