𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐹𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝒹𝓈 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒰𝓈 *Slow Updates*

Chapter Six

Sorry if this chapter seems boring or rushed. word count: 1215

In the kitchen

Luka followed Mr. Dupain's lead, followed every instruction that was thrown at him. Listened to every detail that he placed into his pastry making.

"How long have you known my daughter?" Mr. Dupain suddenly says, slamming the sweet bread dough onto the counter and continued to knead it.

Luka, decorating cupcakes with pink mixed with purple frosting, briefly paused, thinking of the question. He hadn't known Marinette very long, but he knew her just enough to love her.

"I can't say for sure, Sir, " Luka began resuming the cupcake decorating. "Maybe a year and a half?"

Slam.

"Not long, huh?" The pastry chef said lowly.

"No, Sir, " Luka said carefully. "But, I want you to know, I think Marinette is amazing. She's funny in her own way, she's strong, so clumsy, but I think it's incredibly cute, she's approachable, creative, amazing and bright, and really pretty."

Tom abruptly stopped his kneading, surprise filling him. He quickly took notice that the boy mentioned the many traits of Marinette before admitting she was pretty. He knew then and there, Luka was a keeper. But after Chat Noir {episode: Weredad}, he wasn't willing to let his baby girl see just anyone.

"I'm glad you think so. Mari is much like her mother."

Luka didn't answer. It was probably for the best he didn't say anything at that moment. 

"Boy." Mr. Dupain's strict voice sent a jolt through Luka's body.

"Yes, sir?" Luka, still holding on the icing bag as he faces Mr. Dupain.

"Do you..." the bulky man began hoarsely, clearing his throat with a brief cough. "Do you like my daughter?"

 A smile immediately blossomed on Luka's lips. Liking Marinette was a complete understatement, the teenager felt deeply.

"More than you can imagine, Sir." Luka bravely met Mr. Dupain's eyes.

"Do you now?"

"Marinette captivated me ever since we first met, " Luka admitted. "She was so clumsy and awkward and she didn't really know how to act. I found it incredibly adorable, honestly. But, I didn't say anything to her."

"Why not? You seem to be a pretty confident young man."

"I don't want her to feel like she's being pressured. See, she recently got hurt by this guy and she's still hurting from the rejection. I want her to heal as much as she can before she decides anything with me, " Luka lifts his left arm up and ruffles the hair on the back of his head as he chuckles light. "And I'm almost sure she doesn't even like me the same way, and that's okay. Some people are worth hurting for."

Now Tom felt that. It panged his heart and he felt he knew this one was the right one. Probably not the one-one, but a nice and right one.

Luka went back to icing the cupcakes, barely squirting the frosting on the cupcake before feeling like he was forgetting something. Like, it was on his mind and then suddenly, it was gone. It was like walking into a room and forgetting what you went in there to get.

A few minutes passed until he finally remembered what he had forgotten.

Unfortunately, it was too late to do anything.

!

Smoke filled the kitchen and wafted into the shop. It was light colored and didn't look like a big deal, or it wouldn't have been if the smoke detectors weren't screaming their faces off like crazy.

Marinette nearly trips as she hurries down her spiral staircase. The smoke burned her nostrils as she tumbled into the counter.

"Dad?!" She calls frightfully into the smokey kitchen.

She waits a few seconds and received no answer from her father. Her heart pounded anxiously in her chest and a lump began to form in her throat. She quickly hurries around the counter but is stopped by something—someone. That someone being a head taller than she was, blue-tipped hair and knee-ripped jeans. He was also wearing a kitchen apron, which was covered in all sorts of mystery stuff

"L-Luka?" 

The boy seemed just as surprised to see Marinette as she did to see him.

All shrieking shrills of the smoke detectors were silenced and then a loud hacking could be heard.

"Oh, hi, Mari!" Luka grins sheepishly as he leads her away from behind the counter.

"What are you doing here, Luka!" Marinette gaped at him before looking him over for any injuries.

"Oh, um, that's a really good question!" Luka nearly stammered over his words. "I've got a really good answer and—"

A laugh thunders throughout the smokey shop. "We forgot about the snickerdoodles!" 

"Dad, are you okay?" Marinette brushed past Luka to aid her father.

"Finer than a horse on fire!" Tom bellowed wholeheartedly as he patted his flour-covered apron and shirt.

"You almost were it looks like!" Marinette laughed dryly seeing the burnt blotches on the hems of his apron.

"Yeah, " Tom laughed lightly, ruffling Marinette's hair gently.

Luka quickly noticed her hair was down again. His heart fluttered as she looked at him and then her father again. If he was honest, he thought it was a one-time kind of trend for her. He thought her hair down was extremely cute!

"What happened, Dad?" Marinette's voice dragged Luka from his thoughts.

"I forgot the cookies!" Mr. Dupain chuckled, bashfully rubbing the back of his neck.

"Cookies?" Marinette quirked an eyebrow, moving to open the store doors, propping them out with the door stoppers. That was a stupid question...this is a bakery, after all, Marinette scolded herself for her stupidity.

"For deliveries. We've got more than thirty and the cookies were meant for someone's family reunion, " Tom explained. "Your mom is out delivering the rest of this morning's orders, " He turns away, tiredly looking at the kitchen, which became more visible now. "I simply don't have enough time to bake more and deliver the pastries on time!" 

Tom actually began to panic. He's never been late with delivery before! If he didn't get them done soon, rates were surely to drop!

"We can help."

Tom and Marinette look at Luka, who began taking off his apron.

"What?" Marinette was a little surprised.

"We can help, " Luka repeated himself, softly smiling at Marinette. "If we help your dad, the orders won't be late and the customers will be satisfied."

"Luka—"

"No, no, Marinette, " Tom interrupted his daughter. "He's onto something. It will be very helpful if you did this important errand for me."

Marinette felt she had no choice, after all, she worked in the bakery, too. It was also her job to make sure customers were given their sweets and give them the best attitude she could muster. She breathes in and out deeply. 

"Okay. We'll deliver the orders and you can do the order you guys charred, " As she said this, both males chuckled timidly. "You clean up and we'll take care of the rest."

Tom breathes out in mild relief, "Thank you, Sweetie!" He quickly kisses Marinette's crown. Then he looks at Luka, coldly, but less cold than he did before. "Watch after my baby or else..." He squinted his eyes into a narrowed, protective glare.

"Will do, Sir, " Luka nodded briefly with a smile. "C' mon, Marinette, let's get delivering!"

"R-right!"