“No no no no no!” A voice exclaimed, pulling Luka out of his sleep. He opened his eyes, but the sunlight caused him to snap them closed.

   “Marinette?” He groaned.

   “Luka.” She exclaimed, but it came out as a high pitched whine. Alarmed, he turned his head to see her. 

     Bluebell eyes were wide and she gave a small pout. Luka tried to blink to sleep out of his eyes.

   “What’s got you all riled up?” He asked while he stretched. Luka patted the seat beside him and she joined him with a sigh.
   
    Marinette dropped her head to his shoulder and he put an arm around her waist. At first, she didn’t say anything, she just took a moment to enjoy herself. The bluentte could feel the coldness from his hand seep through the fabric of her shirt, and she shivered closer to the warmth of his side.

   “I didn’t expect to come here and fall asleep,” Marinette admitted, lacing her fingers together in her lap. “I was hoping I wouldn’t ruin my sleep schedule, and I told Weylen that I would make it to see the play. I promised a bunch of little kids, actually. And I don’t have anything prepared and I-”

   Luka laughed, bringing her words to a halt. She pouted as his blue eyes met her bluebell. He moved his hand in soothing circles against her hip and pressed his forehead against her temple.

   “Marinette, I don’t say it enough. But you truly are an extraordinary girl.” He sighed blissfully before pulling away. “I don’t think I know anybody more devoted to helping kids they hardly know. Especially with helping them just to help them.”

  Marinette felt her face heat up and she looked at her feet. How did he always know what to say to her? It drove her up a wall in the greatest way possible.

     A phone began ringing behind them. Luka fell back into the bed, pulling Marinette with him. She giggled as he answered the phone.

   “What’s up?” He asked as he played with Marinette’s hair. He froze suddenly and stared up at the ceiling. “What?”

   Marinette wasn’t sure what caused his distress, but she was pretty sure it was Juleka that he was talking to. She lifted her head to see his face, and she couldn’t look away. She knew that stern face, it was the same one Adrien had when he was upset about his business. The same face he had before they fought.

   Before she could pull away, Luka glanced at her and gave a weak smile. His calloused hands reached up to caress her cheek and his expression softened. Maybe he had seen the hint of fear in her eyes.

    “Okay, look Juleka. I’m sorry. I know I put you in a hard place, but I just can’t do it. I don’t care that he’s changed, I refuse to speak with him. Wasn’t there something that Wey needed me to do? Hang up posters or flyers?”
  
       Luka clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as she responded. Even though he was upset, Marinette didn’t have the need to protect herself. Being so close to him actually soothed any nerves she had and caused her to feel safe.

    “I’ll be over to pick up the papers. That’s the end of discussion, okay?” Luka covered his eyes with his arm and sighed. “I love you, stay safe. Bye.”

    He hung up and tossed his phone to the side. Luka didn’t move. Marinette pressed her cheek against his shoulder and poked his side.

   “Rough call?” 

    He lifted his arm slightly to see her face. Luka visibly relaxed. “It’s just family problems. But it’s nothing we can’t handle.” 

    Marinette could see he had something more to say. His lips were pursed and different emotions flickered across his face. She drummed her fingers above his heartbeat as she waited, and appreciated that the rich smell of almond and a hint of cinnamon. Even though she had been around him for quite a while, she couldn’t stop herself from taking a deep breath and sighing blissfully.

   “Could you promise me something Marinette?” 

    She glanced up at his face. His eyebrows furrowed together and worry danced across his eyes. What had caused him to be upset like that?

   “Anything,” Marinette whispered without thinking. 

   “I don’t ever want to hurt you,” Luke admitted, watching her face for her reaction. “Not physically, not emotionally, nor spiritually. But in the event I do, promise you’ll tell me. Hurting you is the worst imaginable thing I could do, but you hiding that hurt from me…  I just can’t do that to you.”

    “Where is this coming from?” Marinette pushed herself up, and one hand remained on his chest.

    His cold hand covered the one she had over his heart and pressed it harsher against him. Marinette could feel his quickened heartbeat beneath her fingertips.

    “When I was on the phone, did I do something to scare you?”

    Marinette's breath caught in her throat, and all she could do was give him an alarmed look. His hands kept her from pulling away, and it took her a second to calm down. You’re safe, she assured herself. Taking deep breaths, she reminded herself that he wasn’t the same as Adrien. He wouldn’t hurt her, heck he even said so himself. But didn’t Adrien do the same in the beginning?

     “Your hand.” She managed to squeak. Luka lifted his eyebrows and was quick to let go. “I’m sorry. When you were on the phone, you looked so upset. You didn’t do anything wrong. I just… I don’t know I got reminded of something.” She shrugged and looked away.

     Luka lifted his hand up, giving her every chance to ignore his hand. She slipped her finger against his and intertwined their fingers. 

    “Marinette Dupan-Cheng.” He said the words like they were sacred. “I can promise you with everything I have that I would never, ever get upset with you over some outside source. I want you to feel like I could be your safe place if you desired.”

     Marinette smiled and patted his cheek. “I know that. That’s why I stayed by your side. My anxiety may tell me otherwise, but I know that you have good intentions and I can trust you.” 

        She checked the clock beside the bed and sighed. She climbed off the bed and stretched her arms over her head.

    “I think it’s time we start to get ready for the day. Did you say something about hanging up flyers? I’ll help you with that if you help me make sweets for the show.” Marinette put her hands on her hips and grinned.
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    “Oh my god!” Marinette laughed as she ducked behind the counter. White powder flew over her head and some settled in her hair.

    “You started this!” Luka exclaimed, leaning over the counter to see her. 

   “That is not true and you know that!” Marinette flung some flour up at him and scurried away.  She tripped, unfortunately, leaving her victim to the nearing Luka. Well, if he had realized she had fallen. He tripped over her, and his hands shot out to either side of her head so his forehead didn’t crash into hers. The flour he had been holding got in both of their faces.

   “Kids, kids!” Tom cried out as he busted in from the back room. Sabine followed behind him, lips pressed together to hold back her laughter. “What are you doing?”

   They pointed at each other and said their accusations. Tom put his hands on his hips and shook his head. Sabine came up beside him, patting his shoulder.

   “Remember when we were like that, Honey?” Sabine giggled as she took things from the counter to put in the sink.

    Luka stood up and offered Marinette a hand. She hopped up and looked down at herself. She was covered in flour from head to toe, and Luka mirrored her. Honestly, Marinette couldn’t remember how the flour fight had begun, or even why. But she does know it resulted in the running around the bakery for quite a few minutes.

      “I’m sorry Ma'am, we'll have it cleaned up right away.” Luka tilted his head down as he spoke. 

   Marinette bit back a giggle as she stood on her tippy toes to ruffle his hair. Flour flew out of it, causing her to step back with a playful cough. He cracked an eye open and smirked. 

   God, Marinette loved hanging out with him. She couldn’t even imagine where she would be at right now without him. Certainly, not having this much fun. 

     The bluentte looked down at her feet and tilted her head when she saw the ankle brace Luka was wearing. She bit her lip. How could she keep forgetting about that? Marinette only seemed to remember he had hurt his leg right after they did something he probably shouldn’t do.

     “Luka, no need for such formalities. Sabine will do just fine.” Sabine insisted as she tossed them a dishtowel. She peered curiously at the cookbooks that managed to steer clear of the flour war.  “Two different recipes? Dear, what are you making these for?”
   
    She looked up to see Luka whispering something to Marinette with his hands on her hips. Marinette snickered into her wrist and leaned back to whisper something back.

    “They’re for the play. They’ve been working so hard so I decided that they deserve some sweets.” Marinette stepped forward to check on the timer. “I wanted to surprise them. I had a spy on the inside tell me that snickerdoodles and macaroons are the way to go.”

       Tom shook his head but smiled. Sabine ushered him into the back room. “Let’s leave the two love birds alone.”  Tom gave a puff and looked over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes at Luka.

   Marinette hopped onto the counter and picked up the bowl she had been previously stirring. “ don’t know if it’s sweet enough.” She admitted. “I didn’t add vanilla extract, my parents just used the last of it on Jagged’s cake. But I don’t think it’ll be worth the trouble to run out and get some when an order of the will be here later today.”

    Luka stood between Marinette’s legs and stared down at the bowl. His hands covered hers and he stopped her from mixing. “Have you tried adding syrup?”

    Marinette stopped and looked up at him like he was crazy. “Syrup?”

   “Yeah. That’s what my mom used when we were traveling. It’s actually a really good substitute, you can’t taste the difference.” 

   Marinette scrunched her face up in disbelief. Why hadn’t her parents taught her that? Was it true? She leaned back and looked towards the door her parents disappeared behind.

   “Mom!”

   “Yes, dear?”

   “Can syrup substitute vanilla extract?” 

   It took Sabine a moment before she pushed through the door with a bottle of syrup.

  “Yes, it can. We don’t use it often because we’d have to ask permission from the people we’re baking for. But if you’re making these things for kids, it should be fine.” She handed the bottle to Luka and went back to her husband.

      Marinette pouted as she looked up at Luka. He grinned and pressed his forehead against hers. His hands rested on either side of her on the counter. 

    “I think I could get used to this.” He admitted, closing his eyes. She was so close, her breath fanned across his face. “Being right and all.”

    Marinette swatted his arm and he pulled back with laughter. 

  “I need the measuring spoon.” She mumbled and waved towards it. 

   “Why?” He tilted his head. “Can’t you just eye it? You’ve been baking since you were fifteen. I’m sure you’ll have the right amount-ish.”

   “Luka.”  She whined. “Just do it, please. For me baking so long, I still have to be professional.”

    The guitarist couldn’t help but to tease. Why would he stop when he got such a cute reaction out of it?

   “It doesn’t matter if you pour the entire bottle in this bowl.” He leaned forward to murmur in her ear. “It’ll never be as sweet as you.”
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                   Author's notes:
     Bet you didn't expect an update, huh? Well, here it is in its half-assed glory.  Anyways, not much to say. Feel free to tell me when I need to update. I do forget sometimes, so a friendly reminder never hurts.
   
    Check out the song in the media. Stay safe, wear your masks, and wash your hands! Don't forget to comment and vote! I love hearing what you have to say! Fluffy moments you want to see? Have A great day/night! See you next update!