luka trying to keep marinette from being into him bc he knows she’s ladybug & she can’t risk relationships. but on the flipside, marinette is feeling like. increasingly more deprived of the little fix she gets from his romantic affections and subconsciously just doubles down on her post-breakup crush on him.

luka isn’t outwardly trying to deny her or anything (bc if she straight-up asks him to be with her, he doubts he’ll have the willpower to say no) but he’s trying to like. subtly turn her off him while still trying to stay close in case he needs to protect her & also to keep her friendship bc he adores her

- nino & alya helping luka at some point bc. god dammit this whole thing is too hard bc boy does luka really love marinette actually

- kagami giving marinette romantic advice she’s taken in from poorly written romantic media again

- juleka is definitely getting roped between both sides