Heartstring ✅

Chapter 11

Marinette sat on the edge of the fountain in the park, the sound of water flowing and birds tweeting the only noises. She glanced around, trying to spot vibrant blue hair and a Jagged Stone shirt. As she looked around, she caught sight of the bench where Luka was akumatized for the second time, and smiled faintly at the memory.

The fact that his main goal was to protect her sent a new wave of pink across her cheeks, but before she could think of it anymore she heard a calm voice say, "Marinette?"

Turning around, she saw Luka with a concerned look occupying his features. Giving him a small smile, she patted the space next to her, allowing him to sit down too.

After a tense few seconds, they said in unison, "I'm sorry."

Shocked at each other's words, they both faced each other, Marinette questioning, "Luka, why would would you be sorry?"

"Because..." He took a deep breath. "Because I got myself akumatized and needlessly put you in danger, when I should have rejected what Hawk Moth offered. Knowing that you probably got hurt- just...I feel so guilty, and I understand if you're angry at me."

Marinette's mouth hung open, staring at Luka's face. He took her silence as anger, and was about to say goodbye when she said, "I'm not angry at you." He turned to her as she elaborated, "Not at all."

"Luka, I wasn't in danger at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite because you wanted to protect me." Luka blinked at her as she explained, "You became akumatized all for me, and I'm just so happy that someone actually cares about me as much as you do."

Her voice was barely a whisper when she added on, "Especially because of what happened in school."

A pair of arms wrapped around her huddled form, pulling her into a wide chest. Marinette wound her arms around his waist, burying her head further into him and murmuring, "Thank you, Luka."

He simply leaned his head on hers as he replied, "You deserve to be cared about."

They stayed like that for a while, until a buzzing noise broke the serene silence. Reluctantly, Marinette leaned back, still in Luka's embrace and pulled out her phone. Her breath hitched when she saw the caller.

Alya.

Luka caught onto her tense state and asked, "Who is it?" She turned the phone around, watching how his nose wrinkled in displeasure before saying, "Will you answer it?"

Only five seconds passed, but by that time, she had rejected the call and already leaned forward into Luka again. A muffled voice said, "I want to hang out with my real friend right now."

She felt Luka smile on top of her head and pulled back, pressing a lingering kiss on his cheek. His skin flushed, as she smiled sweetly and stood up.

Turning to him, she suggested, "Why don't we get some ice-cream for the two of us?"

He smirked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and whispering, "I know the perfect cart to get them from."

They both began to walk to André's, now hand in hand, not noticing the slit green eyes that watched the whole interaction.