𝒲𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐹𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝒹𝓈 𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝒰𝓈 *Slow Updates*

Chapter Thirty

*very short chapter, only 700 something words. Not particularly exciting but I hope this somewhat quenches you. Also Im sorry for the many delays and waiting. As I haven't been working on this story as often as I used to, I'll be going back and editing previous chapters and refresh my brain. Anyway. Enjoy*

Ladybug. 

The most beloved heroine in all of Paris. 

A hero who's abnormally agile and quick-witted. A hero who's brought magic and hope to Paris for the past two years. She protected all citizens, young and old.  Rich or poor. She was the kind of hero every little girl, teenager, and woman wanted to be, the kind of hero boys and men hoped to be with. 

She was beautiful and kind. And stronger than Luka could ever hope to be. 

And... Marinette's Ladybug. 

In truth, he had suspected this to be a factor. The two were beautiful, resilient, and terrifyingly witty. Not to mention, the hairstyles and her voice were the same. How anyone else didn't recognize her as Ladybug, he didn't know.

"You...don't look surprised." Marinette's blue bell eyes fixated on Luka's face. 

"I guess I'm not," He shrugged lightly. "I think I've known for a while now. All the pieces just fell into place. But, Marinette, why didn't you tell me before now?"

Marinette gnawed on the inside of her cheek. "Well... I wasn't supposed to tell anyone my identity. Just in case Hawk Moth or Mayura found out and hurt anyone I was close to. They want the Ladybug and Chat Noir Miraculous. The 'why' is a bit fuzzy and I don't understand it fully. I'm sorry I deceived and lied to you, to all of my friends. I hate lying to them about this, but it's for their safety."

Luka tilted his head. "What about your safety?"

"I'm a lucky bug," Marinette joked, giggling softly. And then she looked into Luka's eyes. "Although when I fight against akumatized people, I don't really get hurt, not much anyway. What would be broken bones and fatal injuries turn out to be cuts and bruises. I'm not really in danger."

"You say that, but---"

"I've been Ladybug since I was fourteen."

"That long?" Luka felt his mouth go agape.

Marinette nodded. "It hasn't been that long, but yes."

All those times...he never knew. A guilty bubble formed in his chest, which dropped into his stomach.

The girl seen him shift in mood and smiled. "I love being Ladybug. I get to help people. And if you want it, we can help people."

Seeing her smile at him, his stomach fluttered through the pain. "I... I accept, but... I kinda need to recover before I do anything."

"Yeah, I mean, of course," Marinette nodded again. "I wasn't going to make you do it now."

A sourness suddenly formed inside her, any giddiness or nervousness was squashed by it. Lyla did this to him, and she had help. The 'who' was... unknown. She observed the large red and purple bruises on Luka's face. It hurt her to see him in pain like this. Someone big and strong, she concluded. 

"I don't know why she's so cruel," She whispered, slumping her shoulders. "I don't get what she gains from all this."

"She's got some serious issues," Luka grimaced as he reached for her hand. "And apparently, she hates you."

"That much is evident." Marinette huffed bitterly.

"But why? I mean, I know some stuff, but I guess I don't understand it."

"It doesn't matter right now," she shook her head. "Please focus on getting better. You have more than enough to worry about."

"Will you stay with me?" 

Marinette met his eyes and smiled, a blush rising up her face. "Yes."

Luka's chest swelled and he laced his finger through hers, the warmth of her hand was almost infernal. The physical contact caused her to redden but she didn't pull away. She scooted the chair she sat on closer to the head of the bed to be closer to him, that way he didn't have to lean halfway across the mattress.

"Thank you."

She blinked in surprise. "What for?"

"Being here. Thank you."

"Y-you're someone p-precious to me, Luka," she said warmly. "I'll be here until you don't need me."

"That's the thing, Marinette, I'll always need you."

She giggled, flushing with new fluster. Their hands readjusted to one another, comfortably lacing their fingers together and holding tight. Almost afraid the other would disappear if not held onto.

They stayed with their hands interlocked, in a comfortable silence while nurses and his family weaved in and out of the room. It stayed near silent for the rest of the evening. Officer Roger probably had been scared off by his mom a while ago, so that meant he didn't need the stress of recalling the beating. With Marinette next to him, he felt the bad evaporate and the pain numb into a warmth, as if he weren't hurt at all.

And that, he was grateful for.