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"I wasn't always a romantic." He whispered, leaning his head back against wall behind him.
Adrien glanced at the man sitting beside him, wishing to comfort him. Eventually he gave in and reached out, taking Luka's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "At yet... here you are."
"She has a melody in her heart that just calls to me, and I keep searching for the right notes to bring it to life. Her song is so beautiful, and I want to share it with the world..."
Adrien chuckled quietly, "That sounds romantic to me."
"I'm sorry, this is probably so awkward for you, and I don't mean to make you uncomfortable." Luka turned his head away, attempting to bottle up the emotions he would normally strum away on his guitar -- but now was not yet the time for music. Some things had to be put into words.
"No. Don't... I mean..." Adrien sighed, turning his own head away and leaving a breath of silence before continuing. "I think it's sweet. And for what it's worth... I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I never truly had a chance." A bitter note in Luka's voice made Adrien's heart twist. "But... I will always love her."
Adrien closed his eyes. "I know. And I'm sorry..."
"What did I just say about apologies? You did nothing wrong. ...she chose you. She always will."
They both settled into the silence between them, and allowed the lulling rocking of the ship to gently bring peace to what should have been a toxic situation.
"So... what is it you wanted to ask me?" Adrien finally said.
"I'm not sure if you would agree... but... I wanted to offer you a wedding gift." Luka replied, reaching to pick up his guitar and with gentle sounds, quietly adjusting the pitch of the strings.
"A... gift?" Adrien was taken aback.
"Yes. I know her melody, her song... it is beautiful." Luka smiled fondly, "But her song is entwined in yours. It always has been. I would like to find your melody... and bring them together in a song."
Adrien stared at the man beside him. A man who should hate him. A man who should be angry or bitter or jealous or... and in that moment, Adrien realized just how deep Luka's love for Marientte was. So deep, that even in his pain, he would do anything to make her happy.
"Yes. Marinette would like that." He whispered, voice slightly broken as he realized his own emotions were getting in the way.
Luka glanced back at Adrien, a twinkle in his eye. "She would... but this gift is for you, Adrien."
"What?" Adrien blinked, surprised.
"To help you remember that she has been and will always be yours. Your heart songs merged into one united melody. And one day, when everything begins to fall apart and you feel unworthy of her love, this song will be there to remind you that her song was made to entwine with your own." Luka said, fiddling through melodies on the guitar.
"You really are a romantic," the blonde man whispered in awe.
Luka's smiled with genuine. "I wasn't always this way... but Marinette has a way of changing you to become a better version of yourself."