Soothing Sore Heartstrings - Luka Couffaine X M Reader

08

"Let me guess, you're both gay for each other?" My dad lifted his coffee mug, gesturing between me and Luka with a smirk as we stepped downstairs together.

I froze, feeling a sudden pit forming in my stomach, then took a deep breath, managing a small nod. He chuckled, a warm but slightly weary sound, and took a slow sip of his drink.

"Alright, well... get home, boy," he said, turning to Luka. "I don't want any problems with your mother."

Luka nodded quickly, his confidence weakened, and he hurried off to put on his shoes by the door. Within moments, he slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him as if he'd never even been here.

I turned back to my dad, noticing for the first time how tired he looked, sitting there on the counter in the low light of the kitchen.

It was one of his odd habits, perching on the countertop as if it were a makeshift office, his usual stack of papers beside him. "Why are you up?" I asked, surprised to see him awake at this hour.

He shrugged, glancing at the paperwork. "Gotta get these forms filled out and sent over by the end of the week. They first go to another company, then I've got to..." He trailed off as he noticed my look and sighed, having felt ready to go on for a while about work. I took the opportunity to slip back toward my room, hearing him grumble softly to himself as I closed the door behind me.

I sank back onto my bed, feeling a jumble of emotions: relief, nervousness, and something more difficult to name. I stretched out, kicking my feet a little, and my foot hit something by the side of the bed.

I leaned over and realized it was the box Luka had brought earlier. Whether he'd forgotten it on purpose or by accident, I wasn't sure. My fingers hovered over the lid for a moment, heart racing with curiosity, before gently opening it.

Inside was a long sheet of paper, carefully folded, with the title "Soother of Heartstrings" written across the top in his handwriting. I unfolded it and held it up to the glow of my phone screen, eyes scanning the lines, heart beating faster with each word.

—

Soother of Heartstrings

There's a quiet in the spaces where you linger
A warmth like morning light, soft against my skin
I hold my breath, bite back the words I'd say
Fearing if I let them go, you'd slip away

You're the soother of my heartstrings, pulling them tight
Like a melody that aches in the still of the night
And though I keep these secrets, close to my chest
Your voice is my comfort, my heart's place to rest

I wear this silence, hiding what I feel
While you, unknowing, make my world stand still
There's a thread between us, gentle, unseen
And each step you take draws you closer to me

You're the soother of my heartstrings, pulling them tight
Like a melody that aches in the still of the night
And though I keep these secrets, close to my chest
Your voice is my comfort, my heart's place to rest

Every laugh, every glance, just makes it harder to pretend
That you're only my friend, when you're so much more
I'm tethered to you, can't break free or ignore
This quiet yearning, this heart sore and true

So I'll carry this love, open and deep
Bound by heartstrings I can't unwind or keep
You're the song that lingers, the ache that stays
The one I'm drawn to, in every way

—

As I read, it dawned on me that this was more than just lyrics, it was a confession, carefully woven into a song. He had poured his feelings onto this paper, his words tender and raw. The verses were intimate, capturing the emotions he usually tried so hard to hide.