VIPERION'S'/LUKA'S POV
After parting ways with Cat Noir after defeating Wishmaker, Ladybug and I run hand in hand back to the beach hut.
Ladybug looks around making sure we weren't followed before we run in and close the door.
'Scales rest!' I say, turning back into myself.
Trixx met us there too. 'Reality!' he said, making my illusion disappear.
'Thanks for your help, Trixx!' Ladybug said.
'No problem!' Trixx replied.
Ladybug put the fox miraculous back into her yo-yo, and Trixx disappeared.
I gave her back the snake miraculous and she returned that to the yo-yo as well, and Sass disappeared.
'Spots off!' she said, turning back into Mari.
'That was close. Did anything happen that I should know about?' Mari asked me.
I made it a point that I always wanted to be truthful with Mari. 'Yes, Wishmaker did hit you, but I used my power of second chance' I smiled lovingly at her.
'Luka...' Mari breathed as she pulled me close and hugged me tighter than she had ever hugged me.
'You protected my identity from Shadowmoth.... thank you....' she whispered.
'Of course, I did my melody... I would never let Shadowmoth hurt you...' I replied, wishing I could hold her in my arms forever. We gazed into each other's eyes, our cheeks flushed with red as I caressed her beautiful face softly before we moved in closer and closer as our lips met and we kissed each other passionately, never wanting to pull away.
In that moment I had never loved anyone more than I loved this girl. My sweet melody. I wanted to protect her forever.
I had never felt so close to Marinette as I did in that moment. I mean, I know I already knew her identity, but I really felt like her protector from anything that could harm her. And I wanted to keep her safe for the rest of my life, as long as it takes. I think Mari felt our connection growing too as this was the tightest she had ever held me. And I loved it.
'I want to protect you for the rest of my life Marinette' I whispered, kissing her hair.
"I'd like that Luka...' Mari breathed, sighing happily in my arms as I could feel our hearts beating in unison.
'Oh, wait...' Mari said, pulling away after a while. 'Does that mean you know my childhood dream?'
I smiled. 'If it's any consolation, you make a pretty cute knitting fairy!' I giggled.
'You realise if you tell anyone about that I shall have to punish you!' she pouted.
'Oh no! What kind of punishment?' I asked.
'Hmm... no kisses for a week!'
'Aww...' I said with a playful smirk. 'Well, that's like denying me air my melody... I live on your kisses...' I whispered into her ear.
Mari gasps as she looks into my eyes.
'You're right... I can't live without them either...' she whispers in reply as we kiss each other passionately again, running our fingers through each other's hair.
After a few seconds, we hear Adrien's voice calling us: 'Marinette?... Luka?'
'It's Adrien! We shouldn't make him worry!' Mari says, as she takes my hand and we make our way out of the beach hut.
Adrien runs up to us. 'There you are! I'm glad you guys are okay!'
I gripped Mari's hand a little tighter than usual, now knowing Adrien was Cat Noir and he had a crush on my melody. I had nothing against Adrien, but he lost his chance with Marinette and I was not about to give her up now. I loved this girl with all my being.
'Yeah, Luka hid me in this beach hut until it was safe!' Mari replied, looking at me and smiling as I smiled back and squeezed her hand.
'That makes sense Marinette!' Adrien replied nervously. 'Well, I might come back tomorrow and see if I can find a career with a fresh set of eyes. See ya!'
'Bye Adrien!' we both say together.
'Can I walk you home?' I ask Mari. 'The expo is closing for the day now. I just need to lock up the booth before we go.'
'Sure!' Mari replies.
NOBODY'S POV
At the Agreste mansion, in Adrien's room, Adrien looks at the framed picture of him and his mother.
'I may not remember my childhood dreams, but that's okay! It's time to focus on the future and find my inner music, like Luka said! Who knows, if I go back tomorrow, I might find a booth I missed that might tickle my fancy. Plagg? What are you doing?'
Plagg listens to a round block of cheese with a little stethoscope. 'I'm curious to hear what a camembert concerto sounds like!'
Adrien laughs.
After they lock up the booth and walk to Mari's place, Luka goes upstairs to Mari's room for a while.
Marinette smiles at Luka. 'Thanks for your advice before Luka! You know what? I decided that I'm gonna do it all! I'll be Ladybug, I'll design clothes, jewellery, furniture, CD covers for Jagged, Kitty Section costumes for you and the group, I'll be Adrien's friend, and I will love you forever Luka!'
Luka smiled. 'That sounds great my angel...' he replies, as his voice trails off.
'Is something wrong my prince?' Marinette asks him, looking concerned. 'Whatever it is, you can tell me' she says sitting down next to him and taking his hands in hers.
Luka sighed. 'Your identity wasn't the only identity I had to protect today' Luka said, looking at her with a serious look.
'Wait, what are you saying? Are you telling me you know Cat Noir's identity now too?' she asked.
Luka nodded with the same serious face.
Mari gasps. 'That's okay that you know Luka, but please don't tell me who he is. It's imperative that we don't know each other's identities.'
'Of course, my angel' Luka smiles.
Mari's mind went back to her memory of Cat Blanc. She could still see those soulless eyes in her nightmares. She never wanted to risk him coming back.
'Mari?... Mari, you okay? You spaced out for a second there!' Luka smiled.
'Oh, sorry! Yeah, it's all good! Just thinking about how I'm going to make my dream career a reality!' she giggled. I'll tell Luka about Cat Blanc one day... she thought to herself.
'I have another question for you my melody' Luka asked her, feeling a little uneasy about the events that transpired today.
'Sure, I'm all ears my prince!' she replies.
'Just hypothetically, if someone you used to have feelings for told you that they had feelings for you now, what would you say?' Luka asked her.
'Wow, big question but okay' Mari began. 'That's an easy one to answer because I no longer have feelings for anyone other than you, Luka Couffaine. You're the one who occupies my heart forever and nothing or nobody else could change my mind. Or my heart! Or whatever!' she giggles.
Luka smiled. 'Same for me my melody. You will always be in my heart for the rest of my life' he whispered, holding her close.
'Aww!' Mari says, kissing his cheek. 'You're the sweetest boyfriend ever, Luka!' she says as Luka blushes.
'One day I hope to be something more than that' he whispered.
'I'd like that too, my love' Mari whispered back.
Just then Alec was on TV: "Welcome to "Live Your Childhood Dream"! And now, we're gonna love one another, starting with everyone loving themselves! Because how are you gonna love other people if you don't love yourself? Welcome to "Live Your Childhood Dream"!"
'Now that sounds like a great show!' Mari smiled as Luka smiled back as she laid her head on his shoulder as they watched together.
'Say, you wanna come hang out with me at the stringed instruments booth tomorrow?' Luka asked Marinette. 'I could teach you how to play guitar' he smiled.
Marinette smiled. 'Sounds amazing... my King of Strings...' she whispered as she kissed him on the cheek.
Before the next patrol, Marinette transformed into Ladybug early. I need to text Alya she thought to herself, opening up her BugPhone.
"Hey Alya, Ladybug here! Sorry I couldn't use the LadyCam for its maiden voyage when we fought Wishmaker. It was quite a sensitive situation involving the risk of our identities being revealed."
Alya texted back: "Totally understand Ladybug! As luck would have it, I happened to go to the careers expo myself so I got a lot of great footage! And all identity reveal free! Hopefully you can use the LadyCam next time! Keep up the great work Ladybug!"
That's a relief! Ladybug thought to herself as she swung away to meet up with Cat Noir.
THE END