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goldenlaurelleaveswrites · 2 years

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Juleka vs. the Forces of the Universe ch10

Juleka vs. the Forces of Two Idiots in Love

Juleka vs. the Forces of the Universe (AO3)

I know it's been a hot minute since I updated, and for that, I am so sorry (especially since I didn't think it would take me this long 😬) Anyone else feel like they blinked and April was just gone? Because I do. But the good news about one of the reasons it took me so long to update is because I've been having lots of fun working on some of my other current WIPs (and there are even a few new ones 😉) But I really appreciate your patience and support everyone!! 💖 💖 💖

I'm super excited for you all to read this chapter and I think quite a few of you have been waiting for something like this (I think. I hope). I've actually had some of these scenes written since January, but obviously other things had to happen first. All that being said, I hope you enjoy!! 💖 💖 💖

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She couldn’t help but frown at the sight in front of her, despite how seemingly perfect it was. Marinette and Luka were sprawled out in two of the lounge chairs on deck; Luka with his guitar and Marinette with her knitting. And every so often, he would look at Marinette with his Marinette smile like the completely lovestruck sap he was. And every time he looked away, Marinette would look over at him with her completely lovestruck Luka smile.

But they kept missing each other. If they would just look at the same time, maybe those two idiots would see what was staring them straight in the face!

It was infuriating! If it weren’t for the fact that she had just touched up her hair colour, she would be ripping her hair out.

They said love was blind. And so too, apparently, were the two idiots who were so in love with each other.

Those two idiots were blind… but it was a good thing she wasn’t.

***

She had considered trying the subtle approach. But that hadn’t worked out in her favour with Luka so far. And given his record of being a total and complete idiot about the whole Marinette situation…

She didn’t want to give him any opportunities to weasel himself out of the talk they were about to have.

“When are you going to ask Marinette out?” she asked, plopping down onto the sofa.

Luka jumped. “Jeez, don’t sneak up on me like that!” He narrowed his eyes at her. “And what do you mean, ‘when am I going to ask Marinette out?’”

“I mean,” she said, not bothering to hide the way she rolled her eyes, “when are you going to ask Marinette out?”

“I’m not.”

“What?” She almost jumped to her feet but stopped herself at the last second. Was he still going on with the sweet but completely misguided 'not wanting to pressure her' thing? “Why in the world would you not?”

Luka seemed to sink further into the armchair as if he was trying to disappear. “I don’t see how this is your business-“

She levelled him with a glare. “Why won’t you ask her out?”

He sighed. “She doesn’t like me that way.” He said it so matter of factly. So assured in the perceived accuracy of his statement.

How could he be so stupid?

“Well, how do you know she doesn’t like you back?” Where had he gotten that ridiculous idea was beyond her.

“I told her how I feel.”

What?

“What? When?” His face was bright red, and he wouldn’t look her in the eye, even though she had practically thrown herself against the arm of the sofa in her demand for answers.

“At the TVi station,” he mumbled, still not looking up from the textbook in his lap.

So he had confessed… the same day he had been akumatized. But if he had confessed to her… how was Marinette under the impression that he didn’t like her? She needed details! She needed to know exactly what he had said!

And what Marinette had said…

“What did you say to her?”

Finally, he met her gaze. The annoyed glare he was shooting her was an odd contrast to his flaming face. “It doesn’t matter… and I really don’t know how that’s your business-“

“Just tell me! Then I can tell you where you went wrong!”

“Where I went wrong? What makes you think I did anything wrong-“

“Are you currently dating Marinette?” She took his spluttering as a no. “Then obviously something went wrong.” She reached out and grabbed his arm before he could get up to leave. He was not getting out of this one. “Now tell me what you said,” she said as gently as she could while still leaving no room for argument.

“Fine,” he mumbled. “But I don’t know why I’m telling you this…” he sighed again. His face was turning an… interesting shade of red. “I said… I told her…” the words tumbled out of his mouth in a torrent, so fast she almost didn’t understand them. “I said she’s as clear as a musical note and as sincere as a melody. I said she’s the music that’s been in my head since the day we met.”

Damn. The way he so often relied on his guitar… it was easy to forget how good he could be with words. Despite what he said otherwise. Damn… “And then?”

“And then?”

“What did she say?” she all but shouted her question. She was on her feet now, staring down at him as he sank further and further into the armchair.

He sighed and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t… what do you mean you don’t know?”

“I walked away.

“You- you what? Why would you walk away?”

“We were about to play! And I wanted to give her space… I didn’t want to pressure her- ow! What was that for?”

“For being an idiot!”

“I am not-“ he flinched as she moved to smack him upside the head again. But he was too slow. “Will you stop hitting me?”

“Will you stop being an idiot about Marinette?”

***

If he was going to continue to be an idiot, she would just need to get her answers elsewhere.

Besides, there was another idiot she needed to talk to. Hopefully, this one would give her answers.

***

Queen of Darkness 🦇: Hey

Queen of Darkness 🦇: I learned some new techniques in the makeup class I’m doing

Queen of Darkness 🦇: Could I use you as a practice model again?

Pink Idiot 🌸: Yes!!! It was fun last time!😊😊😊

Pink Idiot 🌸: I’m free tomorrow morning

Pink Idiot 🌸: Does 10 work?

Queen of Darkness 🦇: It’s great. See u tomorrow

***

“I’m going to do the eyeliner now. Do you mind if I hold your eyelid just so it doesn’t move?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

She uncapped the eyeliner, and held her breath as she brought it to Marinete’s eyelid. Much like the Universe seemed to sense when she was trying to get her idiot brother and idiot friend together, liquid eyeliner could smell fear. With short, precise strokes, she brushed the eyeliner across Marinette’s lash line, the way she had learned to in the latest session of the makeup masterclass. The makeup classes were really paying for themselves. Because already, she could see how much she had improved in her technique.

And it gave her a perfect opportunity to dig deeper into the whole ‘idiots in love situation’ as well.

With a slow and even breath and a final flick of the brush, the eyeliner was done. “You can open your eyes now.”

“Can I look?”

“Not yet. I need to do the lips still.” She pretended to busy herself with looking for the right lipstick in her makeup bag. She knew exactly where it was. But if she wanted to get Mari to open up, she needed to be cool.

Casual.

Encouraging.

“I like the new pictures,” she said, nodding her head towards the wall by Marinette’s desk while keeping her gaze on her makeup bag. But she didn't miss the way Marinette's cheeks flushed.

The Adrien pictures were long gone, replaced by sketches and new photos. She recognized the selfie they had all taken the day they ordered ice cream from Andre, and a picture of Kitty Section that Mari must have taken while they were rehearsing.

There were even pictures from the day they did the photoshoot. There was a candid one Aimee had taken when Marinette was fiddling with the hem of one of the dresses she had modeled. And the selfie the four of them had taken once the photoshoot had wrapped up.

And in the place on honour, front and centre, was one of the photos Aimee had taken when Mari and Luka were modelling together. The placement of that particular photo on the gallery wall wasn’t lost on her.

“Me too.” Marinette’s voice was faraway sounding, her eyes trained on the photo of her and Luka.

This was her opening.

“You know,” she said before pulling the lipstick from the bag with a flourish, “I think you and Luka are really great together…”

She could see the glimmer in her friend’s eyes as she applied the lipstick. But she didn’t prod her, even as she sat back to admire her finished work.

“Juleka,” Marinette’s sigh was quiet and fragile, “he doesn’t like me that way.”

“How do you know?” How could she think that when Luka had confessed?

“Nino had a crush on me.”

What?

Marinette flashed her a wry smile. “I know, right?” Marinette laughed humourlessly.

She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. But Marinette didn't seem to notice.

“But then all it took was an hour being locked in a cage with Alya- Animan,” she said in explanation, “for them to become an item. And for him to completely forget about me.”

“I didn’t know that,” she said quietly.

She did not like where this seemed to be going.

“And then there was Nathaniel…”

She definitely did not like where this was going.

“He liked me enough that he was including me in his comics.” Including her? He had been centering his comics around her! She frowned. He had been, but- “But then Chloe outed his feelings in front of me-well, the class, and there was the whole Evilustrator debacle and by the end of it…” Marinette shrugged helplessly, “he was over me. Just like that,” she snapped, “and poof, all his romantic feelings for me were gone.”

She really, really did not like where this conversation was going.

“But, that doesn’t have anything to do with my brother-“

“It has everything to do with Luka!” Marinette cried, throwing her hands up in the air before letting them drop to hang limply at her sides. “Don’t you see?” Marinette’s voice was small. Quiet. And bursting with defeat. Her friend wouldn’t even look her in the eye. “It took them no time at all to get over me. Less than an hour. All it took was trying to go on a date with me or their feelings coming to light… and they were over me.

Like it was nothing.”

“Nino and Nathaniel are idiots.” She was beginning to think all boys were. Or, at least, the ones she knew. “But Luka…” Luka was an idiot. But he was also still head over heels for Marinette, “how do you know he-“

“He walked away. He told me…” Marinette’s cheeks were suddenly the same colour as her super suit. “Well, it doesn’t matter what he said. He said something to me, and then he walked away.”

He had confessed. He had confessed in a beautiful and poetic way- is a way Marinette deserved.

And she was caught up on the fact that he had walked away?

She got it. She did. Because it had been a stupid move on his part. But she also got why he had walked away. And Marinette…

How could Marinette think all of his feelings would evaporate the second they came to light? Sure, there had been Nino and Nathaniel—and why did it feel like the Universe was involved in that somehow?—but the situations weren’t the same! They weren’t even close!

Especially given he was still hopelessly in love with her. How could she not see how it? It wasn’t like he was subtle.

“Maybe he-“

Marinette cut her off with a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Let’s go get some coffee or something! It would be a shame for me to waste this makeup by just sitting around inside all day!” Before she could even blink, Marinette had grabbed her purse and made her way to the trapdoor that led to the apartment below.

She sighed.

For being one of the most brilliant people she knew… Marinette was an idiot when it came to love.

***

How was it possible that the two smartest people she knew were also the biggest idiots she knew?

Honestly, they were probably the biggest idiots in Paris.

That was the only explanation for how they could both be so totally and completely oblivious to the obvious fact that their feelings were mutual.

***

It was her turn to make dinner, and she had plenty of plans for what she would be serving up.

She dumped a steaming plate of pasta in front of Luka, not bothering to be gentle about it. The beat-up tin camping plate clattered against the wood of the coffee table, jarring her brother from whatever daydream he had been occupying—probably one about Marinette—as she plopped herself down on the sofa.

“Thanks, this looks good-”

“You need to ask Marinette out”

“Jules…” his voice was caught somewhere between a groan and a whine.

“You don’t want to pressure her?”

“You know I don’t.”

“Then stop stepping back.”

“But- but Jules, I don’t want to put her under any press-“

Pasta wasn’t the only thing on the menu; she was about to serve up some cold, hard facts.

“And what do you think you’ve been doing?” He blanched. She watched as he gaped at her like a fish; she could practically see the gears trying to turn in his head. Something between a sigh and groan escaped her. “Luka,” she began, massaging her temples, “you aren’t giving her room to make a choice.” She looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “By stepping back, you’re making a choice for her. How can she choose you if she doesn’t know you’re an option?”

***

Maybe this wasn’t the best topic to broach while Marinette was fitting a dress mockup on her, pincushion in hand.

But on the other hand, there was no time like the present.

“Y’know…” she said slowly, trying not to move as Marinette adjusted the shoulder of the dress she was trying on, “just because he walked away doesn’t mean-“

“But Nino and Nathaniel-“

“Are idiots.” She said flatly. “And they’re also not Luka.”

Marinette’s gaze flickered down to her feet, but she could see the way her friend was biting her lip and the way her cheeks were turning pink. “Does… does Luka…” Marinette’s voice trailed off, but the question was clear as day.

She had to bite back a groan.

Because she had promised Luka that she wouldn’t blab about his feelings. It was the same promise she had made to Marinette.

Everything would be so much easier if she could just tell Luka that Marinette liked him and tell Marinette that Luka liked her! But no! She couldn’t take the path of least resistance.

Because she had promised.

And while she wasn’t one to tell a secret that wasn’t hers to share in the first place… well, she had a newfound appreciation for the importance of secrets.

Even if some weren’t really secrets, given how obvious they were.

But she had promised. And she was not going to betray either of their trust.

She had to choose her words carefully.

“I can’t speak for my brother.”

“Oh,” Marinette mumbled.

She turned, wincing when some of the pins marking the needed adjustments pricked her, and grabbed Marinette’s hands. She gave them a comforting squeeze, and when Marinette looked up at her, she gave her her most reassuring smile.

“I know it’s been hard with A- in the past. But isn't it time you went after what you wanted?"

“B-but… what if he… what if I… if he’s over me… ”

Luka would be over Marinette the day Gabriel Agreste gave out hugs on the street.

“The only way to know is to talk to him.”

***

Even after their little talks, neither her brother nor Marinette had made any discernible move to just tell the other how they felt! If anything, they seemed even more intent on pretending they were just friends.

She couldn’t help but groan as she watched them laughing over some video on Marinette’s phone.

How did that saying go?

‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’

Well then, it stood to reason that given life had given her two idiots, it was her job to make them see reason. The forces of the Universe be damned.

***

The sun was shining, the breeze was soft and cool and there was barely a cloud in the sky. The sweet scent of the flowers in bloom drifted through the lush greenery of the Jardin des Plantes. It was the perfect day in the perfect place for a romantic rendezvous.

The trick would be getting them here without making either of them too suspicious.

Or at least, without making them too suspicious until it was too late.

Her phone buzzed in her hands. She shrank further back into the bushes she was crouched in and pulled up the text conversation with Luka.

Idiot 🎸: be there in 10

Idiot 🎸: but why are we meeting there again?

Queen of Darkness 🦇: good

Queen of Darkness 🦇: it’s a beautiful day. We should be outside

Idiot 🎸: You want to spend a day outside?

Idiot 🎸: won’t you turn to ashes?

So what if she preferred the shade and shadows to the sun? Besides, she was doing him a favour—even if he didn’t know it yet—he could at least pretend to be grateful.

Idiot 🎸: also what’s wrong with home? We can just hang out on deck

Queen of Darkness 🦇: ha ha very funny

Queen of Darkness 🦇: we always hang out on deck

Queen of Darkness 🦇: besides, the gardens smell better

Her phone buzzed again, this time with a notification from Marinette.

Pink Idiot 🌸: SORRY IM LATE

Pink Idiot 🌸: ALMOST THERE

Pink Idiot 🌸: 10 MINUTES TOPS

Queen of Darkness 🦇: no problem

There was no problem at all. In fact, the timing would be perfect.

By the time ten minutes had passed, her leg had filled itself with pins and needles, and her other leg was close to falling asleep too. But she didn’t dare move lest she accidentally attract any… attention.

Especially given Luka had just shown up. Wearing the Jagged Stone shirt he had bought when he and Marinette went thrifting together. And the jacket Marinette had made him.

Which didn't really surprise her. He didn't seem to ever take it off.

She watched as he squinted down at his phone before casting a look around, obviously looking for her.

Idiot 🎸: where are you?

Queen of Darkness 🦇: I’m by the greenhouse

She watched as he wandered a little off to the side, holding her breath as he passed by her hiding spot. Thankfully, he didn’t notice her. A flash of pink in the direction Luka had just come from caught her attention.

Marinette had arrived. Wearing the same outfit she had worn on the day of the photoshoot. The one she had been wearing when Aimee took her’s and Luka’s picture.

Marinette had been wearing that outfit a lot lately.

Pink Idiot 🌸: here! Where r u?

Queen of Darkness 🦇: I’m by the greenhouse

She was. She just happened to be in the bushes by the greenhouse.

Idiot 🎸: where?

Pink Idiot 🌸: I don’t see u

Now it was just a waiting game. From the shelter of the shrubbery, she watched as Marinette and Luka drifted closer together. They hadn’t seen each other yet, their eyes glued to their phones waiting for a response that wouldn’t come. It wasn’t until they had almost bumped into each other that they looked up.

How neither of them noticed the other’s flush was beyond her. But she did have to smile at the way Luka’s face lit up and then softened as Marinette burst into surprised rambling. And she had to smile at the way Marinette lit up and seemed almost effervescent when Luka said something too quiet for her to hear from her hiding place.

Now there was only one thing left to do.

Queen of Darkness 🦇: sorry something just came up and I have to cancel

Queen of Darkness 🦇: sorry for it being so last minute

She saw the flicker of suspicion cross their faces as they got the texts she had sent- the same to each of their respective numbers. But then, as they were both typing on their phones, Marinette said something. And Luka laughed. And they both looked up from their phone screens, and their faces softened. And turned bright pink.

The dots on her phone screen indicating they were typing disappeared.

Her smile grew even more as they wandered away, side by side, their arms brushing against each other. And their respective, original plans seemingly forgotten.

***

Luka almost never posted to his Instagram. And when he did, it was almost always a picture that featured Marinette in some way. So getting a notification that he had posted something to Instagram was always a good sign.

And looking at the picture he had posted, she was not disappointed.

It was a selfie. Taken in the greenhouse at the Jardin des Plantes. With the backdrop of all the flowers in bloom and the way he had his arm draped around Marinette’s shoulders, and the way they were both beaming at the camera, it looked like they were on a date.

She scrolled down to read the caption and groaned.

luka.couffaine: There’s nothing as inspiring as spending a day in the gardens with my best friend @MariBlossom

The idiot!

Had her words gone in one ear and out the other? Or should she have explained it to him in music metaphors? Maybe if she hit him over the head with a guitar, it might get the message through that thick skull of his…

And this would just further Marinette’s ridiculous idea that Luka didn’t like her!

As if the Universe was laughing at her, a notification telling her Marinette had posted something new to Instagram popped up on her phone.

Another selfie. But it looked like this one had been taken by one of the water fixtures in the outdoor areas. Marinette had her head on his shoulder, and their smiles were almost incandescent. And they were both more than a little pink in the face.

Silently, she prayed to any benevolent forces that could be out there as she scrolled enough to see the caption.

But it seemed all of the forces in the Universe were bent on mocking her.

MariBlossom: A great day in the gardens with the greatest friend I could ask for 💐 🌷🌸@luka.couffaine

Pain seared through her forehead as she flopped onto the table.

They were stupid. They were idiots.

Stupid, stupid, stupid idiots.

She groaned.

As it turned out, making lemonade was way easier than making those two idiots see reason.

#juleka vs. the forces of the universe #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #pro lukamari #juleka couffaine #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #juleka 'I am surrounded by idiots' couffaine #they're idiots your honour #and the Universe isn't helping

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