AN: In this one-shot Luka is 25 working at a bar. Mariette is 23 and has become a recent regular at his bar. 

He noticed her as soon as she walked, her dress was far too fancy for this hole-in-the-wall bar. She also was clearly trying to keep it together. He looked her up and down, she seemed like a hard raspberry lemonade kinda girl. So he poured her on and when to meet her at the barstool she'd just sat down at. "Looks like you could use this." He slid it to her, respecting her space. 

"You have no idea." She sighed and looked at the drink he'd given her, "How did you know? I didn't know this bar existed until tonight." 

"I've been at this a while, and I've always been good at reading people." He looked around and noticed many of the guys staring at her. She didn't need this tonight. Thinking quickly he shrugged his sweater off and slid it across the bar, "Unless you're looking for a guy to take you home tonight, put this on." 

She raised her eyebrow then did a glance around and seemed to understand his point. She slipped it on zipped it all the way up. If he thought she looked good before seeing this girl in his favourite sweater made her even cuter. "Thank you. I guess I stick out a lot, huh? I come clearly on the verge of falling apart in an evening dress, kinda asking for attention." 

"They can still respect you." He shrugged. He knew most of the guys by name, it wasn't a popular bar, but it was a local favourite, as most tourists didn't know about it they didn't have to deal with them here. They had a good stream of local talent come through and play on Friday night. "I'm Luka by the way." 

"Names Marinette." She whipped a stray tear away. "I'm sorry I really should have just gone home, but I know once I do my roommate will drill me about tonight." 

"I'm guessing this isn't what you had planned." He cleaned a few glasses just so he could keep talking to her. 

She gave a harsh chuckle, "Not even a little bit." She took a breath, "I thought I was gonna be leaving that restaurant with a ring, not an 'It's not you, it's me.' speech." A few more tears leaked from her eyes. She used his sweater sleeve to whip them away. "Sorry I don't even know you, that was way too personal." 

"I'm a bartender trust me I'm used to it. But seriously I'm sorry, that burns. Tell you what, I have my break in about 5 minutes. And I play a few songs for the regulars here then I take my real break, which is 30 minutes, we can go sit out back and enjoy the lovely night and you can hope your roommate goes asleep or I can call you a cab and get you where you want to go, or if you're close by I can walk you home. I don't know how far you walked to get here but it's late and you're too dressed up to be out here alone. " 

"The restaurant was like two-door downs. I was gonna sit here and be gone as long as he and I were usually gone. But I think I'm gonna need at least two more of these," he handed him her empty glass, "So ya I wouldn't some company. I should call my mom, they live like five blocks down, I could just stay with them, get spoiled for a night or two." 

"Sounds like a plan," he handed her two drinks. "So you don't have to deal with my coworker. Got any requests?" 

"Jagged Stone?" She gave him a small smile, the first real one he'd seen on her face tonight. 

"One of my favourites." He could bomb drop he was Jagged son another day if she came back.  He walked up and played a few a Jagged stone classic, then one of his own originals. After around of applause, he let his coworker know he was heading out for his break and walked over to the girl in his sweater. She had moved from the bar to the door and was ending her phone call with what he assumed was her mom.

"They will be ready for me by the time I get there." She tossed her phone in her purse. 

"You mean we, I know we just met but I was serious, I'm not letting you walk home in that dress alone, it's getting just late enough that the oddballs are out." He offered her his arm. 

She looked at him, "I don't know if it's cuz I'm that worn out or what but I'm choosing to trust you." She slipped her arm around his. "This way." 

They spoke softly, Luka didn't ask her about her night, he didn't need to know. Instead, they talked about their creative passions, she a designer and he a musician. He dropped her off, she handed him her sweater back and thanked him. Luka assumed he would never see her again. 

But he had been very wrong. She showed up at the bar every Friday night. She sometimes brought her sketchbook, other times she brought a redhead he assumed was the roommate. Sometimes that roommate brought someone who he also assumed was a boyfriend.  She normally comes alone though and they could visit when it was slow. They would help each other when they were in creative ruts. After four months, Luka asked her out for coffee and within the next four months, they were dating. 

Luka never asked about the boy who broke her heart, it didn't matter to him, he had fallen for her, and her for him. One Friday night she comes into the bar, looking a little down. He slid her, her usual, "Melody? Are you okay? Before my shift, you told me your day had been really good, what happened?" 

"Nino asked Alya to elope next weekend, and Alya's and lease is up, and without Alya, I can't afford to stay where I am. But a damper on my good mood." 

"Oh, well my sister is moving out of our apartment, so we could the next step and move in with me." Her face told him this was maybe more of a loaded question than he thought. 

"You want me to move in with you?" Her face brightened. 

"Of course I love you, why wouldn't I want you to be with me all the time?" he smirked and winked.

Soon they were approaching a year since they met, Luka wanted to make it something special. He had two songs picked decided to play both or pick one based on the mood of the night. Once again sitting at her spot at the bar enjoying her hard raspberry lemonade. The door chimed and Luka looked over at the door, "Well those to stick out." he nodded his head to the two well-dressed blond men who just walked into the bar. 

Marinette gasped, "That's my ex." She pointed to one of the men. Thankfully they sat at a booth, not the bar, meaning they were the floor worker's problem. 

"Is it now, well that picks my song for you tonight for me." He winked and headed to the stage, "Good evening everyone, welcome to open mic night, as per usual I will be starting us off. Now normally I'd play two songs, but tonight is a special, as you regulars know, my beautiful girlfriend is here tonight like every Friday. But tonight is once a year since we met and I want to sing a special song for her. So Marinette my love, come and sit front and center please." 

He heard a glass shatter just before his regulars clapped as Marinette walked up and sat on the stool facing him, face flushed.

He strummed his guitar...

I kinda wanna thank him
But I kinda wanna knock him out
I kinda wanna push him up against the wall
Kinda wanna buy him a round
I kinda wanna make him pay
For whatever he put you through
Ah, but then again, if it wasn't for him, guess I never woulda got to you

He walked down to the stool and kissed her cheek.

Whoever broke your heart, he must've been crazy
Whoever didn't see the girl I see right now, wasn't lookin' at you baby
If he didn't do what he did, then you never would've ended up here in my arms
If I know one thing is true
I ain't ever gonna be like whoever broke your heart

He spun the stool around and pointed to his friend who took over playing guitar. And he pulled her off the stool and danced with her while their bar friends cheered.

I don't even know his name
But I got a couple for him
Yeah, I don't know what he was thinkin', what he was drinkin'
But he must've kept pourin'
'Cause nobody in their right mind
Would've ever said goodbye to an angel like you
Yeah, there's a lot of things I'd like to say to

She was smiling and spinning with him, she seemed to be loving every moment of this.  

Whoever broke your heart, he must've been crazy
Whoever didn't see the girl I see right now, wasn't lookin' at you baby
If he didn't do what he did, then you never would've ended up here in my arms
If I know one thing is true
I ain't ever gonna be like whoever broke your heart

How badly he wanted to pop the question, but not on the day that loser left her. He had a big romantic plan for a few days from now anyway, this was to keep her from thinking it was coming anytime soon. 

Whoever went and did you wrong
Whoever left you all alone
I'm sure glad that he's gone
I just wanna help you move on

He pulled her in close smiling. 

Whoever broke your heart, he must've been crazy
Whoever didn't see the girl I see right now, wasn't lookin' at you baby
If he didn't do what he did, then you never would've ended up here in my arms
If I know one thing is true
I ain't ever gonna be like whoever broke your heart
I'm sure glad he's gone
I'll never break your heart

He slowly dipped her...

Whoever went and did you wrong

Whoever left you all alone  

And he kissed her like no one else was in the room. "Come love let's go home, he tossed his apron to his best friend who owed him a shift anyway. He took her hand and the two walked out together. Forgetting all about her ex sitting in the bar.