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Marinette swore she could feel heat coming off of Luka's hand from where she sat nearby—but still outside of casual touching distance. The warmth drew her in and she scooted a tiny bit closer without looking at him. She wanted to keep it casual, as if she were shifting to a more comfortable position. Luka flashed her an easy smile as she settled before he turned back to the conversation around them.
Marinette had been struggling as fall rolled into winter. She couldn't seem to keep warm, and she always felt drowsy. When Maman had been worried she was coming down with some kind of sickness, Tikki had finally mentioned that prolonged exposure to the Miraculous at a relatively young age might have impacted her physiology.
"Sometimes holders pick up aspects of their Kwamis namesake, Marinette. That might be why you've been getting cold so easily."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
Tikki shrugged. "It isn't common, and it's been a long time since I had to think about it. It didn't enter my mind until your mom started worrying."
"What can I do, Tikki?! I can't hibernate—I'm a person, not a… bug!"
"I'm not sure there is anything you can do. Once it starts, it's usually permanent. But you're right, Ladybug can't sleep through the winter! Paris needs you."
Marinette had tried taking the earrings off at night, but a midnight akuma followed by a dawn akuma less than a week later had put a stop to that. It had taken too long to put the earrings on while feeling sleepy. It hadn't seemed to help anyway.
"Will I ever be normal again, Tikki?" She'd wailed, curled up under all the blankets she could find.
The wide-eyed silence had been deafening.
After a few days of pleading, Tikki had finally caved, but the information hadn't been much good. "Well, my only other two holders who wore them for as long and as consistently as you have, enjoyed very sleepy winters—even after they gave up the Miraculous. I'm sorry, Marinette."
Dejected but determined to triumph over the urge to sleep, Marinette had started packing scarves, hats, and fingerless gloves to keep her warm during outings and even classes. She claimed the seats nearest to the heaters and spent a lot of time helping Papa at the ovens instead of at the decorating counter.
Tikki hadn't said it would happen, but after looking up ladybug habits, she had become afraid of falling asleep and not waking until Spring. Hopefully, being cold and sleepy was as far as it would go.
Marinette shifted closer to Luka inch by agonizing inch until the back of her hand was almost touching his. The warmth from this distance felt delightful — utterly so.
Luka's hand twitched, brushing their knuckles together. The heat was so nice, she sighed in delight and despair when he pulled away abruptly.
"Geez, Mari! Your hand is like ice."
Before Marinette had the chance to panic and flee from embarrassment, Luka had caught her hand in his, encasing it in a cocoon of warmth.
"Here. Let me hold this for you for a bit."
Marinette felt her face flush, and while the reaction was a little embarrassing; mostly she appreciated the extra heat. Besides, Luka was holding her hand! She felt giddy-even if it was just to warm her up. A lot had changed over the last couple of years and she was kind of in love with him these days. Kind of a lot. But the last time they dated, she had ended up hurting him, and that was the last thing she wanted to do now. She wanted Luka to be happy as much as she wanted to protect her own heart. So she stayed quiet about her ever-growing feelings and enjoyed being in his presence.
"Is this okay?" He asked, peering at her with concern.
She nodded, setting her worries aside to enjoy the moment. "Yeah. It feels nice. Thanks, Luka."
He chuckled. "You don't have to thank me for holding your hand. I'm happy to do it any time."
Marinette smiled at the thought, but she had not planned on taking him literally.
Luka glanced up the stairs at the steady steam of students where Juleka and her friends giggled as they talked about… whatever girls talked about. They had a Kitty Section rehearsal, and he had decided to walk them over to the Liberty after his work shift. Marinette kept drawing new designs for the band—she didn't make all of them, but it was always fun to see what she came up with—and she was now an honorary Kitty Section member.
Luka watched in concern when he noticed the usually vivacious designer trailing down the stairs behind everyone else, but his heart started to beat in double time when she smiled as soon as she spotted him.
"You okay, Ma-Ma-Marinette?"
A huge yawn split her face, even while she nodded. "Mmhmm. Just tired." She slipped her hand into his and Luka had to bite back a yelp. How was she so cold?! He turned to face her and grabbed her other hand–it was just as cold.
"Boiler break down at school or something?"
Marinette shook her head, but her eyes were glued to his hands wrapped around hers. It was Juleka who answered.
"She needs to check her circulation or something, she's been freezing all week—even with that giant scarf—but everyone else is fine."
Luka glanced at the huge pink accessory that looked more like a narrow blanket than a scarf. If it had been anyone else wearing such a thing he might have laughed, but on Marinette it was cute. He pulled a hand away from hers for a second–garnering a whine from Marinette–and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't feel feverish. If anything you feel cool."
"Not as cool as you, though." Marinette was smiling through sleepy eyes and Luka reclaimed her hand with a grin. The rest of the group started ambling away from school, but Luka wasn't about to cut the moment short.
"You think I'm cool?"
She rolled her eyes at him before sagging into him with a laugh. "Boat Kid. Guitarist. Older brother of the goth girl. It's like an automatic in to the cool club. I don't think you're cool, you just are–by default."
"So you don't think I'm cool."
"Nah. You're warm." Marinette teased him, snuggling even closer. " But I know your sister, so I have insider information. I know you're a dork. But… I guess you're a cool dork."
Luka could live with that. What he couldn't do was hold Marinette's hands while walking his bike. His smile slipped. Marinette's hands still felt cool–not as cold as when she'd first slipped her hands into his, but the last thing he wanted was for her to get colder. He looked at their hands, at the bike, and grinned.
"Want a ride? I think I think I know a way to keep your hands warm."
Marinette nodded and soon they were passing the rest of Kitty Section on their way to the boat; Marinette flush against his back with her arms wrapped around him and her hands threaded through the pocket of his hoodie. The chilly air stung his face while he pedaled, but with Marinette's arms wrapped around him in a hug, he wasn't bothered by it.
Marinette's hands and nose grew cold quickly once band practice was underway. Her heart still felt warm after the bike ride though. There was something warming about having Luka taking care of her. Marinette was pretty sure he would do it for any of his friends, but she couldn't help hoping he still thought she was… special. Things had been a little odd after their failed attempt to date, but Luka wasn't the kind of guy to hold a grudge.
It had taken her a while to sort out all her feelings, focus on being Ladybug, and figure out who she was without a debilitating crush on a boy who would only ever think she was a good friend. But she had managed to land hard with the realization that a crush could grow slowly over time and develop from patient friendship into something deeper. What she didn't know was what to do next.
She fished through her bag in search of fingerless gloves that would let her keep sketching while holding in some small bit of warmth. Luka watched her–the space between his eyes crinkled and she knew he was worried about her–so she held up the gloves and slipped them on triumphantly, relieved to see him smile and refocus on the music. While it would be nice to be the girl who distracted Luka Couffaine, she wanted it to be for a reason other than him worrying over the state of her chilled hands.
Not that she wasn't a little worried herself. She breathed on her hands and rubbed them together for a moment, but the friction paled in comparison to having her hands wrapped in Luka's.
A chill ran through her and she shivered. Winter had hit cold and fast this year, and even Tikki had taken to flitting about nervously whenever Marinette shivered under her blankets. Pushing the thoughts of cold nights out of her head, Marinette focused on the music and bent over her sketches.
Black had taken over her designs today. Not completely–but as a background. The vibrant colors she associated with the band popped brightly against the dark and she was happy with this new design, if her friends liked it, it might be worth making for their next performance or competition. Black with electric blue for Luka of course. For Juleka there was a rich violet which made it look as if the blackness had woken up and was on the prowl, and Rose's hot pink was as eye-catching as her voice. She studied Ivan's design, she had chosen a different color palette this time–deep gold seemed to cut through the darkness like molten sunshine. Together, all the colors looked more cohesive than her last creations. She wanted to add something shiny. Glitter, or maybe metal? Deep in thought, Marinette didn't even notice when the music stopped.
Luka couldn't help but fret whenever he spotted Marinette shiver. It wasn't that cold, chillier than this time of year usually was, but that didn't explain why Marinette looked so pale. Luka had only half his mind on the music today–he could tell Juleka noticed by the way she was looking at him–but it was hard to care. Marinette was wearing a brave face, but her occasional shivers hadn't gone unnoticed. It was with an odd mix of feelings that he dropped into the seat next to Mari once practice ended. As much as he liked holding her hands, he wished it wasn't because she was desperately cold.
"Hey there, Melody. What are you working on?" Curious as he was–she had been intently focused the last several songs–he didn't lean over to look. Art was personal, and he wouldn't invade anyone's space like that.
Marinette slid closer until he had to pull his arm out of the way to drape it over her shoulders. She snuggled into him and he pulled her close, rubbing her arm to warm her up. He caught her free hand (her exposed fingertips were like ice again!) with his as she flipped the sketches to face him with one hand.
"What do you think?" Marinette's bright blue eyes blazed with excitement and he forced himself to look at the designs instead of gazing into the luminous blue depths.
The new take was incredible. He felt a blush rise up his neck at the care she'd taken with his design. Her drawing of him was fully fleshed out and colored. The rest of the band were still simple pencil sketches wearing her vibrant costumes–but that was probably because she hadn't finished yet.
"Wow, Mari. The colors really pop, and I like the new designs. You've managed to make them playful and a little more mature at the same time."
"I'm toying with the idea of mixing some of your guys' colors somehow. What would you think of having a little purple in yours to go with Jules, while Juleka could have pink from Rose, and Rose could have splashes of gold, and Ivan could have some blue." Marinette looked up at him expectantly.
Luka considered the idea. It wasn't bad, but he liked the purity of her current plan, and if he was going to boast another color he wanted Marinette. "What if I want pink for our designer instead?"
Marinette's face went as pink as her giant scarf and Luka grinned. "I guess I could find a way to add a little bit of all the colors. Maybe as a removable accessory so you can keep it pure when you want?" She tugged her hand out of his to make notes and quick sketches next to the carefully colored designs, and Luka felt its loss in his heart as much as his hand.
He nudged her gently before she could fall completely down the rabbit hole. "C'mon inside, Mari. The greenhouse is warmer."
Luka breathed a sigh of relief once she was working inside and her pale cheeks slowly pinked with warmth as she sketched her ideas into being. Having her ensconced against his side while she chatted animatedly about her ideas was one of the best feelings in the world.
"Miraculous Ladybugs!"
Pink swirled through the city and the only good thing about the akuma attack–warm sand and palm trees–disappeared. The cold hit Ladybug like a wall once the false heat was gone. She still had almost five minutes on her earrings so she called out to her partner.
"Hey, Chat!" She was careful not to call him Kitty or Chaton. Terms of endearment, no matter how casual, had not helped her communicate the line of their relationship. She didn't want to break the careful partnership they'd finally seemed to create.
"What's up, Bug?"
There was warmth radiating from her partner too, and she couldn't help but move an inch or two closer, but the idea of snuggling up to him was not nearly as irresistible as crawling into Luka's lap. Not that she'd gone that far. Yet.
"Have you noticed any differences in your… behavior since working with your Kwami?"
Chat canted his head and she smiled at how much he seemed like a housecat sometimes. "I don't think so. Why? Did you have something on your mind?"
She shivered again, she needed to get home, grab some cocoa, and bury herself in blankets for a homework session. "Well, Tikki told me that sometimes our bonds get a little intense and we might take on some of the traits of the animal we represent. You've had Plagg for as long as I've had Tikki, so I was wondering if you were experiencing anything like that."
Chat shrugged. "I guess I like sitting in the sun, but it's been cold out. Are you dealing with something more noticeable?"
Ladybug nodded. "Apparently ladybugs hibernate. The cold has been getting to me and I've been really drowsy. I don't know what to do other than bundle up and drink coffee."
"Huh. I don't think I've felt anything I couldn't resist…other than the fact that I can't seem to get enough sushi or milk these days."
Ladybug laughed. "You weren't a milk and cookies kind of guy before you got your miraculous?"
"Nah. My diet has always been pretty controlled. I've always had to be more of a 'lean chicken, salad, and sparkling water' kind of a guy."
Ladybug wrinkled her nose. "That doesn't sound like fun."
Chat shrugged. "We all live different lives I guess."
With only two beeps on her earrings, Ladybug decided not to push it.
"Thanks for sticking around for a minute, Chat, but we better go."
"No problem, LB. Stay warm, alright?" Chat Noir saluted and vaulted away and Ladybug made a beeline for her room to try and follow Chat's suggestion.
Staying warm was getting harder with every dip of the mercury.
"I knew you were an idiot. I didn't think you were a masochist."
Luka looked up from his guitar to glare at his sister. Being close to Marinette wasn't painful–it was only when he had to watch her go that it hurt. "I don't know what you mean."
Juleka scoffed, crossing her arms. "Like hell you don't."
Luka sighed, set his guitar down, and tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. He could see a couple of faint squiggly lines from the time somebody had told him that throwing pasta at the ceiling would help to tell if it was done or not.
"Please let me have this. I know it might not mean anything or go anywhere, but…" Luka closed his eyes and tried to find the words he needed. There were different kinds of love in this world and maybe he and Marinette would never share the same kind of affection, but she did care. Marinette was a good and loyal friend who was always willing to go out on a limb for her people. Despite their failed attempt to date a few years ago, she had never seemed cruel or callous afterward.
"I love her, Jules. Let me take care of her. She doesn't have to love me romantically for me to want her to be happy. It would hurt more to rebuff her. The idea of turning her away…" Luka winced. "I can't." His eyes settled on the concerned face of his sister and she slumped into the seat next to him.
With a sigh, she leaned her head against his shoulder like she used to do as a kid. "I just don't want your heart broken."
She didn't say 'again', but it hung between them anyway.
Luka tipped his head 'till it rested on top of hers. "I know. And I love you for it, but it's my heart."
There was silence. They weren't twins in the traditional sense, but they shared a birthday and had been thick as thieves since he first held her when he was just two years old. They rarely needed words to communicate. The old peace that had always existed between them settled around them like an early snow.
"Could you do it?" Luka asked suddenly.
Juleka grunted, "Do what, idiot?"
Luka chuckled at the insult. Love sounded differently to different people, and he wouldn't change his sister's melody for anything in the world.
"If Rose didn't love you the way you love her. Could you just stop caring? Would you turn her away when she needed you?"
He felt, more than heard, Juleka sniffle against him. He felt bad for that, considering he knew her answer already. Her voice was thick when she answered. "No."
Luka nodded against her silky hair. "That's what I thought. And I know Mari is your friend too–you don't want her freezing any more than I do."
"Of course not! I just… Luka–you're my brother. And I'm always going to choose you, okay?"
Luka smiled. "Okay. Right back at you, sis."
Neither of them moved for a while, and Luka was glad he had Juleka for a sister. Ma used to tell him that he'd wanted a toy firetruck more than anything for his second birthday, but he was glad he'd gotten a sister instead. Best present ever. His thoughts drifted to Marinette, and he smiled at the memory of her tucked in close to him. Juleka was the best birthday present so far–but who knew what the future held.
A blaring fire alarm had sent the entire school outside until the building was cleared by the fire Marshal. Most of the students didn't seem to mind–Nino was sharing earbuds with Alya while they chatted, Rose and Juleka were scribbling in a shared notebook, and Mylene and Ivan had their heads bent together. Normally Marinette might have joined Alya or one of the Kitty Section members, but she and Alya had grown apart in the last couple of years and she didn't want to interrupt the couples.
The worst part of the unexpected break was the fact that they hadn't been allowed to bring their bags with them. Marinette had shrugged her coat on while they filed out, but her hat and scarf were inaccessible, and the cold was getting to her. She almost wished that there was a fire because then it would be warmer.
She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms to hold the heat in. The bubble of warmth lured her into closing her eyes. Maybe she could take a little nap…
Her eyes felt heavy, but something or someone was nudging her. Marinette blinked slowly awake as a voice broke into her awareness.
"Are you okay, Marinette?"
She was freezing. And oh, so tired. She wanted to go home, or maybe stop by the Liberty. She wanted to go somewhere warm. She tipped her head back to see green eyes and blond hair looming over her. Concern was written on his face, so she made an effort to crack a small smile.
"Hey, Adrien. I'm alright. Just tired. And it's cold out here."
Adrien sat down next to her, and even though he exuded warmth, Marinette shifted to give him more room.
An air of awkwardness hovered for a moment before Adrien broke it. "I could sit closer–try to keep you warm if you wanted."
He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck and Marinette couldn't help but laugh. What she would have done two years ago for an offer like that! Adrien was sweet, but they clearly didn't have chemistry of any kind. Had she been so starved for positive attention that an umbrella and an act of kindness had been all it took to make her crazy for a year? Apparently so. She ignored the confusion that crossed his face and shrugged, shaking her head. "Thanks, but I'm alright, and I'm sure they'll let us in soon."
She glanced across the waiting area to see Juleka watching her. She raised a hand in a wave and smiled at her friend. Juleka grinned and stood, pulling Rose up with her.
A moment later all her Kitty Section friends joined them. Juleka sank gracefully down between her and Adrien and Rose settled into Jules' lap. Mylene and Ivan flanked her on the other side. Marinette started feeling warmer almost immediately. She smiled at her friends. "Hey guys."
"Cold again, Marinette?"
Marinette shrugged and leaned against Rose and Juleka with a smile. "It's not so bad when I have friends like you."
It wasn't much more than ten minutes later before they were allowed back into the building. Juleka caught her hand, slowing their entrance, but dropped it again quickly. "God. Your hands are cold." There was a pause, clearly that wasn't what she wanted to tell her. Marinette waited patiently for Juleka to get her thoughts in order.
"You should talk to Luka. Not just…use him to keep warm."
Marinette sputtered, feeling both embarrassed and indignant. "I–that's not–it's more…" She sighed. Juleka was right. She should tell Luka how she felt.
Juleka hugged her quickly. "I know. I just think he deserves to know too, and so do you."
Marinette followed her silently into class. Was she ready to voice her feelings? Would Luka hear her?
Luka set a bowl full of freshly popped corn on the table and surveyed the room. Extra blankets and throw pillows were readily available, and there was a whole stack of DVDs by the TV ready to go. Juleka planned on kicking off their Christmas movie night with the Nightmare Before Christmas and the Captain had even made a pot of hot grog for everyone—with only one minor edit to her usual recipe for the younger crowd.
"Look lively! Yer mates are arrivin'." Ma called out, throwing the door open with a bang. Marinette grinned from behind her, she had a box clutched in her hands.
"Whatcha got there, Melody?" Luka asked.
She smiled at him, "Macarons. Chocolate and marshmallow so it will be like eating hot cocoa."
"Sounds great! Ma made grog. Let's get you a cup and warm up those hands."
She pouted, and Luka had to force his eyes away from her lips. "What if I'm warm today?"
"Are you?"
She shivered and shook her head. "No." Luka set her goodie box down and grabbed her hands, rubbing them between his to warm her up. "I don't remember what it's like to be warm."
"Then will you accept my offer of grog and cuddles?"
Her pale cheeks flushed a soft pink and she nodded with a smile. "I would love that. Thanks."
Everyone had shown up for the Couffaine movie night, and Marinette who had been snuggled pretty close to Luka to begin with, ended up in his lap as more and more people had squished into the limited space.
It hadn't taken much either. When Adrien and Kagami slipped in quietly just as the first movie began and looked hesitantly for open space, Marinette had just scrambled into Luka's lap with a quick glance to make sure it didn't bother him. He'd wrapped his arms around her waist in a hug and she knew he didn't mind at all.
She couldn't remember the last time she had felt that warm. Luka's warmth seemed to envelop her and she relaxed into him to enjoy the movies.
As the movies continued and the packed house slowly began to empty one person or couple at a time, Marinette kept her spot. Even after getting up to refresh her cup or grab more snacks, she reclaimed her spot and Luka tugged into himself with a smile that made her heart flutter.
By the middle of the third movie, Marinette gave up and drifted off to sleep. She knew she was safe and warm on the Liberty with Luka's arms wrapped around her.
"Feeling any warmer?" Luka asked, gazing down at her. She was supposed to be leaving. The last movie had ended nearly half an hour ago and Juleka had shuffled off to bed once Rose left. But even though she'd gotten up and made it halfway across the room, Luka hadn't let go of her hands, and she didn't want him to.
She smiled, lost in his eyes, as the warmth from his hands seeped slowly through her and the warmth of his smile seemed to heat the rest of her.
"Yeah. Only my nose is still cold."
Luka grinned and bent down, pressing a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. Warmth flooded her cheeks and a burst of clarity or inspiration hit. Maybe she could use this moment to explain how she felt.
"My lips are cold too."
Luka's gaze dropped to her lips so quickly Marinette felt lightheaded at the thought that he might actually kiss her.
But though his eyes were riveted in her lips, he didn't move. Was she too late? Had Juleka been wrong? Marinette started to pull away, but Luka didn't let go.
"Mari. Sweetheart. I can't—I can't kiss you only because you're cold."
A sudden sense of heaviness welled up in her chest and she had to fight back an urge to cry. She took a deep breath and realized that Luka's attention was still on her lips. Maybe—
She took a quick breath and blurted out the truth, "What if I was kind of… completely in love with you? Would that—"
Luka moved so fast it reminded her of a striking snake.
"Mmmph!"
It didn't feel like a snake attack though.
It felt like he was maybe in love with her too.
Luka released her hands for what felt like the first time in weeks. But it was only so his arms could wrap around her—coat and scarf and all—pulling her close while she melted into the kiss. She felt warmer than she had in months. Warmer than she had been in his lap just a short time ago. She wrapped her hands up and around his neck to pull him closer, apologizing against his lips for her cold hands.
Luka chuckled softly and paused to study her face. She wondered if she looked as giddy as he did. "You love me?"
She nodded. "I have for a while. After before… I didn't know how—" She buried her face in his shirt, hating that it was still so hard to say what she meant.
Luka tipped her chin up, he was grinning. "I love you too. I have for years."
He moved slowly this time. Luka captured her face with his hands and pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead, only to drop his lips to her nose before reclaiming her lips.
Marinette sighed into his mouth and teased the ends of his hair with her fingers. The cold couldn't seem to touch her. She had finally figured out how to stay warm.
Ladybug sluggishly dodged another icicle—it slammed into the ground uncomfortably close, freezing the street into an icy sheet. 'Arctic' might be the death of her if she couldn't come up with a plan before she froze. The Akuma was just a kid—devastated that a group of bigger teens had destroyed his carefully crafted snowman—but his temper tantrum was encasing the city and it's people in jagged shards of blue ice one tearful blast at a time.
Slipping and sliding across the ground, Ladybug spotted Chat Noir out of the corner of her eye. "Chat! The carrot! Grab the carrot!" She screamed, the temperature was still plummeting and she could barely work her yo-yo. She fumbled it once before swinging to the side to give Chat a chance to make a move.
"Get out of here, LB!" Chat called desperately. "Warm up—I'll get the akuma and you can purify it once you're warm."
Ladybug hesitated, but Chat insisted, "Go! I'll get the damn carrot!"
Abandoning her partner felt like an awful idea, but she was more of a liability than a help at this point. Her mind felt as sluggish as her body and she struggled to remember where she could go to warm up.
Warmth. She needed warmth.
Somewhere safe.
Rest and recharge.
The Liberty!
Luka.
A slow, awkward tug on her yo-yo sent her in the right direction. She had a plan.
Was there anywhere warmer than Luka's arms?
Icy wind howled outside the porthole of Luka's berth. There was a vicious Akuma pinning everyone down and he was glad that both he and Jules were safe inside noodling on their instruments. The only thing keeping him from enjoying the musical interlude was concern for Marinette. The idea of her out in the cold with how chilly she'd been lately was disconcerting. His eyes kept flicking to his phone, where his texts to her sat unread.
Juleka kept trying to reassure him. That alone had him more worried. "She's probably up to her elbows in dough by the ovens, keeping toasty warm. Stop fretting."
"Probably." He looked out of the window again, shuddering at the blue-white cityscape. Something red came sailing towards them and he moved without thinking. He set his guitar aside and flung the window open just in time to be knocked to the ground by a frigid Ladybug. Something red and spotted fell out of her hands and hit the floor. Luka tried to right himself while her earrings beeped frantically.
Juleka jumped up and swung the window shut, bracing herself against it while Luka tried to figure out what to do with the shaking heroine. He snatched a blanket off his bed and wrapped it around her, pulling her into his lap as he sat so he could rub his hands over hers in a desperate attempt at creating heat from friction.
Juleka bent to pick up the spotted gloves that had landed on the floor.
"What do we—"
Pink light flooded the room and Luka was left gasping and breathless when he found himself holding a blue-lipped Marinette, face icy pale and still.
Whatever hesitation he'd had when it came to holding Ladybug too closely vanished, and he pulled Marinette closer, twisting her so that he could press her chilled face into his neck. He shuddered at the icy sensation but held her tighter still.
"Holy shit," Juleka whispered, echoing the sentiment racing through his mind.
"We need a Ladybug to stop the Akuma!" A tiny red-spotted floating thing squeaked angrily, startling both Luka and Juleka into shifting their focus.
Luka scowled at it, and his usually even temper snapped. Couldn't it see that she was unconscious?! "I don't think she's going to be ready to go for a bit. You need to chill."
Relief flowed through him the moment Marinette started shivering. She had been too still before. Juleka tossed him another blanket and he wrapped it around both of them, pressing kisses to her cheeks, forehead, and nose; willing his warmth into her.
"If the Akuma is stopped and purified, my magic can repair all the damage!" The floating bug insisted. She pointed at Marinette, pleading with Luka, "Take her earrings and stop 'Arctic' before it gets worse out there!"
Luka looked desperately out of the porthole and back to Marinette before he shook his head. He wasn't going to leave Marinette frozen and alone.
Juleka slipped on one of the spotted fingerless gloves with a sigh. "What do I have to do?"
Luka froze, panicked, to stare at his sister in shock as the little bug-thing introduced herself, Tikki, and started explaining how to use her magic earrings.
"Wait! This is dangerous!" Luka interjected. "Marinette's more than half frozen, and she knew what she was doing."
He looked at Tikki, "Right? This wasn't her first time as Ladybug?"
"Of course, it wasn't! But that's the problem! My bond with Marinette is so strong that she's taken on some ladybug traits. The cold hits her extra hard! Neither of you will have that problem unless we establish a bond."
The wind whistled, throwing the porthole open before Juleka lunged to close it again. "You don't have to do this, Jules."
Juleka held out her hands, the spotted gloves fit her perfectly. "I think I do. I think you need to take care of Marinette like only you can, and I'll… help her with her homework."
Marinette was dreaming. She had to be. Because she was warm, and while she couldn't quite remember why she should not be warm at the moment, she knew she wasn't supposed to be. She snuggled into the warmth and blinked her eyes open to find herself in Luka's room. She blinked again because it seemed like she was in Luka's bed, and while they had been dating since the movie night, they definitely hadn't spent time in each other's beds before. She stiffened and warm arms tightened around her and she felt Luka's lips dance across her neck.
"Warm enough?"
"Uhhhh... Yes?"
Luka chuckled and she liked the way the sound rumbled through her body where he was pressed against her. "That wasn't very convincing."
"I know. It's just that I am warm. But—" she twisted in his arms until she could see his face. "When did I come over? I don't remember…"
A pink wave swept through the room and Luka sighed in relief while Marinette trailed off as the memory of blue ice splintered across her thoughts.
Luka kissed her forehead and sighed. "You, Ladybug, were freezing. You fell through the hatch and detransformed."
She jolted up, "The Akuma! Chat!"
Luka tried to soothe her, tugging her back into his arms. "Hey. It's okay. You felt the cure, right?"
She nodded, trying to reconcile everything. But then Ladybug swung almost silently into the porthole. Marinette grabbed for her ears as Juleka appeared in Ladybug's place.
"Oh, good. You're alive." Jules pulled out the earrings and held them out. "I do not want your job."
She turned to Luka. "I leave for ten minutes, and you've got a girl in your bed. You are such a guy."
Luka grinned and blushed, glancing at Marinette. "I guess I do."
Marinette couldn't find words…and it was obvious that Juleka was teasing both of them, so trying to set the record straight would only make her look ridiculous. Instead, she skipped the 'secret identity revealed' panic that was trying to overwhelm her and simply said, "Thanks."
"Yeah, well, you're family now, Marinette. It was no problem. I can keep a secret. And now you know, if you ever need a hand…" Jules grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair and walked to the door. "I'll be there for you." She glanced between them. "I'm going to go see Rose, I need to shake that off. Be good, but uhh, stay warm. Alright?"
Juleka left without waiting for a response, and Marinette looked at Luka shyly, thinking about all Juleka might have been implying.
Luka grinned at her, making her blush harder. "So, are your lips cold, Marinette?"
She wanted to lie. To tell him yes. To let him wrap himself around her even more. But there was one glaring problem with being Ladybug. Her best friend never went away.
"Is this the part where having a boyfriend turns into making out, Marinette? That should keep you very warm!"
Marinette groaned into Luka's chest as he laughed.
"She never goes away. Are you sure you still want me?"
Luka kissed the top of her head and whispered into her ear. "I'll always want you, Mari—cold hands, Ladybug, Tikki, and all."