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Marinette pushed a frustrated breath through her teeth, her cheeks puffing out in the process. Her hands landed on her bare hips, a manicured nail tapping anxiously. Her eyes surveyed the disaster zone the past two hours had made her room, clothes strew haphazardly over almost every available surface. She was pretty sure every single thing she owned was on the floor, tossed over a chair or desk or chaise, or hanging from her mirror or loft. Luka was going to be there any minute, and she had a big problem.
She had absolutely nothing to wear.
…well.
Nothing appropriate, at least. Acceptable. Good enough.
Nothing that would work for their second first date, at least.
“Marinette,” Tikki sighed from the windowsill (the only safe surface she had found to tuck away in with her cookie), “you’re being ridiculous. Just pick something! Luka will like whatever you wear!”
Her kwami was more than a little frustrated with her. The rest had disappeared into the Miracle Box within the first hour. Sass had toughed it out a little longer, determined to help in the interest of his favorite snakelet, but even his patience had worn thin when a belt (specifically the buckle) had smacked him in the face.
And now here she was, two hours later, in nothing but her underwear and no closer to finding a suitable (Second) First Date Outfit.
Oh, why hadn’t she picked something out last night? Or started earlier? Then she could enlist the girls’ help, because everyone knew she was just hopeless with this stuff, and what was Luka even thinking, anyway, wanting to go on a date with her…?
She shook her head, clearing it of those spiraling thoughts.
Luka loved her.
She knew he did.
“Of course he will – he’s too great like that!” she huffed, tapping her foot. Because it was true and she knew that. A flash of brown caught her eye, and her nose wrinkled as she saw the suede miniskirt she had considered for all of five seconds before remembering how hot it was outside – but the yellow sundress lying on top of it might do the trick… “I know he’ll like whatever I wear, but I don’t want him to like it. I want him to love it.”
She dropped to her knees by that pile and held the dress up, considering. She’d have to change her underwear – the blue set she was wearing was too dark, even with a slip. It would totally show through the thin, lighter fabric. Oh, why had she picked it out again? It wasn’t like Luka was going to see her underwear today – it was just a first date! You don’t see underwear on the first date!
…well. It wasn’t technically their first date, and she supposed some people did see underwear on first dates, but…she wasn’t entirely certain she was the kind of people who saw underwear on first dates, and she definitely wasn’t sure if she was ready for Luka to see her underwear. Not yet. Maybe. Probably.
…even if the way her body had sung for him a few days ago, when he had finally kissed her (and kinda senseless to boot), made her think maybe she was.
…and even if she had picked out the dark blue set with him in mind. Even if, maybe, someday, she definitely wanted him to want to see it.
Which was why her outfit today had to be perfect!
“I want him to like what he sees, Tikki,” she sighed, looking up at her kwami. Tikki was smiling at her, or at least she thought she was. Her eyes seemed to be looking at something behind her more than her. “Is that so bad? I want him to…I want him to like it enough to keep me. This time. Even if…even if I mess it up again.”
There was a thud behind her, and then she was gasping as arms wrapped around her – one around her middle and one around her shoulders – and tugged her back against a familiar chest. Luka’s head dropped onto her shoulder, and then he was turning to press his face – and a kiss – against her neck. She sucked in another breath as he squeezed her tight.
…she was still wearing nothing but her underwear. And his arms burned against her skin – or maybe that was just the blush she was pretty sure stretched straight down to her toes.
“For the record,” he murmured, his voice soft in her ear, “you could be wearing a flour sack and I would want to keep you. Last time. This time. Any time.”
“L-Lu…Luka!” she tried to sound scolding, but she just sounded kind of breathless. He kissed her neck again, and she swallowed as she reached up to grip his forearm. His hand was holding her shoulder, and he squeezed it before he dropped a kiss on the back of her neck.
“And I was the one who messed us up last time,” he added, making her roll her eyes. It was an old argument by this point. They had agreed that they both could have done things differently before, and were determined to do better this time around, but she knew he still blamed himself as much as she blamed herself. It was hard not to, after believing it for so long.
“Ok, sure,” she said, and he shook his head with a sigh. He glanced down, his eyebrows lifting.
“Anyway. If you’re going for something to make me want to keep you, this is really nice, but I don’t think Tom would approve,” he chuckled. His thumb stretched, barely brushing against the smooth cup of her bra. Her head whipped about to gawk at him, her cheeks burning, and he smiled softly at her. He tapped his thumb against her ribs, and she swallowed. “Can I…?”
She swallowed again as he watched her, patient as ever, and after a moment she felt herself nod. She expected to feel his hand on her breast when he smiled, but instead his hand flattened against her side and he moved his head towards her. He was kissing her in the next breath, and she found herself sinking against him with a happy sigh. The whole time, his hand stayed on her ribs, just below her chest but not actually reaching for it.
“Somehow, and I have no idea how,” he murmured when he pulled away, his lips brushing against hers with every word, “I always manage to forget just how beautiful you are. And then I see you, and you steal my breath away all over again.”
“…shut up,” she giggled, but he just grinned and kissed her again.
“And then I find myself thinking damn, how lucky am I, because you were crazy enough to say yes when I asked you out again,” he said. His grin had turned a little silly – Juleka would probably say stupid – but she had a feeling her answering smile was just as stupid. “It’s nice to know you’re as nervous about this as I am.”
“…you’re nervous?” she asked, blinking. He nodded, and then he rested his head on her shoulder to smile wistfully at her.
“I don’t want to mess us up again, either,” he confessed. “Mari, I don’t think I could do it. Losing you again. It was hard enough last time.”
She smiled sadly at him and rested her forehead on his. She squeezed his forearm, and the arm around her middle held her closer. The fabric of his slacks – and they had to be slacks, and he wore slacks for her??? – brushed against her legs and made her stomach do silly little flips.
“Yeah,” she said. “I don’t remember freaking out so much about what to wear the last time. I’m pretty sure I wore my same old jeans and blazer combo.”
“You didn’t,” he chuckled. When she lifted an eyebrow at him, he shrugged. “I mean, you did, but I meant the freakout. Though to be fair, I don’t think you realized the last one was a date until I tried to kiss you goodnight.”
“Oh God, don’t remind me,” she groaned, dropping her face against his arm as he laughed. “That was so embarrassing!”
“It was sweet,” he said. “I didn’t mind. That first kiss was worth the wait.”
She peeked up at him, her nervous smile hidden behind his arm, and he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
“You don’t have to wear anything fancy, Marinette,” he said. “You’ll probably want to wear something, but don’t stress for me.”
“Well, that’s just silly,” she huffed. “Of course I’m gonna stress for you. Besides, I like when you like what I wear. That look you get, like you’re a little speechless? I like it.”
“A little speechless? Gorgeous, you take my breath away,” he said. She stuck her tongue out at him, but the second it was back in her mouth he was chasing after her for another kiss. His hand maybe crept a little higher, his thumb brushing against her bra again. Her grip tightened on his arm, and he sighed when he pulled away. “You leave me absolutely speechless.”
“See?” she said, smiling almost shyly at him. “I like that. I want that. It makes me feel…” powerful, she wanted to say, but settled for: “…pretty.”
“Pretty feels like an insult,” he chuckled, kissing her again. “Stunning. Beautiful. Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.”
“The song that’s been stuck in your head since the moment we met?” she teased, and he laughed as he brushed his nose against hers.
“One I want to keep playing the rest of my life,” he said. She sucked in a breath, and his smile was nervous again. “…sorry. Too much?”
She shook her head, kissing him instead of answering.
“N-no,” she said. She bit down on her smile, her cheeks warming again. “…I said I want you to want to keep me, didn’t I?”
“Forever,” he breathed. He glanced to the side, and his smile turned wistful. “Though we’re going to miss our reservations if we don’t get going.”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Reservations?” she asked, surprised. “Luka Couffaine, did you plan?”
“Maybe a little,” he chuckled. He bumped his head against hers. “I want you to want to keep me, too.”
“What time is it, anyway?” she asked, turning to look at the clock on her desk. “You weren’t supposed to be here until…oh my gosh!”
She yelped and shoved away from him, sending him sprawling as she scrambled to her feet. Her hands clapped against her cheeks as she looked around at the mess on her floor, desperate to find anything to wear.
…their date was supposed to start half an hour ago.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she cried, turning to look back at him. He was leaning back on his elbows, his mouth open and eyes wide and face a little flushed. She frowned as she stared at him. “…what?”
“…damn,” he breathed, and her brow furrowed before she followed his gaze to…she yelped and scrambled, reaching for something – anything – to cover herself with.
“L-L-Luka!” she screeched. “You…you…you can’t see me like this! Get out! Go!”
“Ok, ok,” he said, smiling as he turned and clamped both hands over his eyes. “Better?”
She bit down on her lip, hating the way everything felt warm. She was pretty sure even her toes were blushing. And yet…her eyes moved over his back, from the way his dark blue dress shirt stretched across his shoulder to the way his slacks hugged his ass, and…yeah. Maybe she hadn’t entirely hated it.
It was just…weird. Thinking that Luka had seen her…and that he had apparently liked…
“S-sorry,” she stammered out. His shoulders slumped, and she swallowed. “I…I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“I tried calling,” he said. “Twice. And I knocked, but…”
“Sorry,” she mumbled again.
“Don’t be,” he said. “It’s fine. We have time. You’re not exactly punctual, Mari. I maybe told you to be ready an bour early.”
“That was…kinda smart,” she said, laughing helplessly. He hummed. She laughed, and it only sounded a little manic. “Oh my God. You really did plan for me.”
“Can I turn around now?” he asked. “I don’t have to. If you’re that uncomfortable. But…really, Marinette. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. And maybe I can help?”
She bit down on her lip, watching his back for another moment. He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t even attempting to. He was waiting for her signal, just like he always had, to let him know what she was ok with.
…he’d seen her in her swimsuit before. Was this really any different? It wasn’t like she was…not going to finish that thought, because then she really might actually black out.
She took a deep breath and steeled herself. It was just Luka. Luka. There was nothing to be embarrassed about with Luka.
“Ok,” she finally said, though she kept the…whatever she had grabbed held against her as she nodded. “Yeah. That…thank you.”
He lowered his hands and pushed himself up. She started looking around the various items strewn around the room, considering. She had to have something that was appropriate, right? Something that would look good and match his dress clothes (dress clothes, he had dressed up for her, did that mean he was taking her somewhere fancy or…???). Something…
“…huh,” he said, and she turned back to find he was staring at her again – or at least what she was holding up. He walked over to her and held up the skirt, considering.
It was a black dress. One she had made a few months back but hadn’t really had the chance to wear yet. It was sleeveless, with a skirt that would flare out around her knees. The bodice was a matte black, but the fabric of the skirt was inlaid with specks of glitter that would be sure to catch the light if spun out in a dance. That had maybe been what she’d been daydreaming about, when she’d made it. Dancing with Luka under a streetlight as he walked her home after a date.
“Is this new?” he asked, looking up at her. She shrugged.
“Kind of,” she said. “I don’t think you’ve seen it, at least. I haven’t worn it yet.”
“Wear it,” he said. “It’s perfect. And you won’t have to change…”
His finger came up to trace along the strap of her bra, and her face flamed again. His smile softened as he bent to press a kiss to her shoulder.
“Flour sack, Marinette,” he whispered to her. “You are going to be the absolute death of me.”
“Shut up,” she giggled, and he hummed before kissing the place where her neck and shoulder met. His breath was warm on her skin, and she shivered at how close he was. “G-go on. Downstairs. I’ll be down in five.”
“Promise?” he teased, grinning up at her. She dropped the dress and reached for his face, pulling him up into a kiss. His arms wrapped around her, and she squeaked as his fingers skimmed along the waistband of her panties and then snapped it against her skin. He was still grinning – practically leering – when she jumped back. “On second thought. Pretty sure I want to keep you even without the flour sack. Especially without the flour sack.”
She rolled her eyes and shoved at him, turning him towards the door.
“Go,” she said. “I have to get ready! If you keep distracting me, we really will be late!”
He laughed as he nodded and headed back downstairs, but as he saw her bending to pick up the dress and he was afforded a wonderful view of her cleavage, pushed up so nicely by that amazing bra…well.
It wouldn’t be so bad, right?
Missing their reservations?