#LBSC exchange

[verfound]

FIC: Paris's Favorite Not-a-Couple (MLB; Lukanette; LBSC Valentine 2025; 1/8)

...good Lord that's a mouthful 😂

Rating: Mature

Characters/Pairings: Alya Césaire, Juleka Couffaine, Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Rose Lavillant; Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng, minor Juleka Couffaine/Rose Lavillant

Summary: If you ask anybody in the world — at least anyone who follows celebrity gossip and cares — Luke Stone and Marinette Dupain-Cheng are totally in love.  If you ask Marinette, they’re just really close, really old friends.  If you ask Luke…totally the same.  There is absolutely no truth to the rumors, none at all, not…not even a bit…

(Or: the one where everyone but Marinette and Luka realize they’re totally dating, so why don’t we get on that already, huh?)

Author’s Notes/Warnings: HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLES!!!! Who's ready for another @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Valentine's Exchange? 😁

@omnoramayday asked for a Famous AU (where fans can’t believe they’re NOT dating), posing with each other (like as an art ref), or pirates (any way you sail it).  Somehow I think I twisted all of it together to get you a Fake/Assumed Dating Celebrity AU with Wardrobe Malfunctions and a smidge of sea shanties?  I also may have kidnapped Quick’s Angie again.  And Rose is unhinged as ever.  And I was screaming at them to JUST KISS before I even hit 2k.  So…happy Valentine’s, I think?  I was your secret admirer.  😁

Chapter One: A Favor Between Just Friends

“What?  No way.”

The microwave dinged, and Alya kicked back from her desk, hopped up from her swivel chair, and walked across her flat to the kitchen to retrieve her dinner.  Her mom had sent her home with leftovers when she had visited a few days ago, and she’d been saving them for a deadline night.

It wasn’t actually a deadline night, but she had been too busy staking out her latest story to remember to do the shopping this week, and it was raining, and who wanted to go grocery shopping in the rain, anyway?

So, mom’s leftovers it was!

“Because I’d know,” she laughed, rolling her eyes as she stirred the stew to distribute the heat.  It was steaming, but she’d been fooled by steam and a frozen center before.  Kimi, a friend from another publication she was currently on the phone with, said something else into the bud Alya had popped in her ears.  “Girl!  She’s, like, my best friend.  I would know if she was dating Luke Stone.”

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC 2024 Valentine's Secret Admirer Exchange

Yes, I know, we're all distracted with other things right now, but here's the official schedule for 2024 so you can start planning!

Sign up period: December 27, 2023-January 10, 2024

Last day to drop out: February 5, 2024

Submissions to be uploaded to the AO3 collection by midnight on February 13, 2024

Collection revealed on February 15 for Valentine's Day

Look for more information to come over the next few weeks, and in the meantime, you can check out previous years:

2023

2022

2021

2020

And feel free to join us on the LBSC discord server! (not required for participation, just for fun)

[nerdypanda3126]

Playing with Fire – Ch. 10

Hiii! lol this story isn't dead or abandoned, I promise! 😁 Huge thanks to @verfound for the eternal bog conversation 😆 and to @mintaka14 for betaing this chapter! 💖

Jagged catches up with Tom and Sabine, Marinette and Luka start their search, and Juleka has an unexpected visitor.

Read on Ao3

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

As Jagged made his way through the little town on the way to Luka’s tower, he noticed instantly that something was wrong. 

For one thing, the bakery was closed. 

And for another, not one person asked him about his new mandolin, or told him to stop playing. 

Everyone just seemed… jumpy. On edge. Watching each other out of the corner of their eyes. 

He stashed his mandolin on his back and shoved his way into the bakery door, despite it being closed. Tom and Sabine had never had an issue with his visits, considering he was a regular, one of the King’s Wizards, and always bought huge quantities of their bread. 

Instead of the bright, booming laugh he’d come to expect, though, he was greeted by Tom’s big hands shoving him back out. 

“No bread today,” he growled, “just like yesterday and the day before that. Not until the people of this town apologize.” 

“Wait, whoa, hold up!” Jagged yelled as he stuck his hands and feet in the doorway to prevent being shoved out. There was a harsh crack of wood behind him and he groaned as he realized his brand new mandolin was probably broken at the neck. Again. “I’m here as a friend!” 

The hands pushing him out were pulled away and Jagged turned his head to look. Tom had taken two huge steps back and was rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. 

“Sorry, there, Jagged, I guess I thought…” 

Jagged relaxed and slipped the mandolin from around his neck to assess the damage. Snapped completely in half, strings ripped apart… geez, how much brute strength did the guy have anyways? Luckily he knew the repair spell by heart and he forced the wood back together to perform it. 

“Now then,” he said when he finished, “what’s going on in this town?” 

Sabine scuttled forward with a cup of tea and she laid a hand on Tom’s arm as she set the cup on the table and invited Jagged to sit. He waved her off and the couple shared an uncomfortable look. 

“Marinette was here,” Sabine started carefully, “...with Luka.” 

Jagged snorted. “Well, that explains a lot.” 

“It does?” 

“Sure, great leapin’ lizard shows up outta nowhere. ‘Course people are scared.” 

“Well, no, he wasn’t… he looked human, it was just…” 

“He’s not,” Jagged completed simply. “And people don’t like what they don’t understand. Can’t understand.” His own brow furrowed with the thought. Wizards hadn't been all that acceptable at first, either, until the King realized they were useful. Still left a bitter taste in Jagged's mouth. 

“There was some sort of stand off in the town square,” Sabine continued. “They both escaped, but the townspeople… well…” 

“They formed a bloody mob and went after them!” Tom thundered. Sabine laid a hand on his forearm and he quieted. 

“We tried to explain, it was out of self-defense, but no one would listen to us.” 

“Then they wanted bread the next day like they hadn’t just gone after my family,” Tom growled.  

"Wait, they went after them?" Jagged asked, his attention snapping back to Sabine. "What do you mean 'they went after them'? What happened?" 

Tom let out a little snort of laughter and sat to cover his chortles. It made Jagged feel somewhat better that he was laughing and not distraught, but the question remained. 

"They weren't there," Sabine explained, with a fond sidelong glance to Tom. "We went up with them to try to do something, or convince someone. They'd already left, but—"

"My daughter's a genius," Tom managed between laughs. 

"The townspeople heard one wail and ran. Turns out Marinette had strung some armor up. When the wind blew through it, it sounded like some sort of moan, and it made the townspeople think the tower was cursed." 

Jagged blinked at Sabine, then at Tom, who was still laughing. Sabine just shrugged, smiling a little, and finally Jagged let out a whooping laugh. 

"That's my little baker's girl!" He nudged Tom's shoulder good-naturedly and they fell into laughing together. When they finally stopped, Jagged had to wipe some tears from his eyes. "I can definitely work with that," he said, grinning. Sabine and Tom exchanged a nervous, knowing look. 

"No enchanted bogs, Jagged." 

"I would never—that was—" Jagged spluttered indignantly. "That was one time!" 

"Once was enough, thank you," Sabine said curtly. He rolled his eyes at her and pulled out his mandolin to pluck a few lines. 

"Just because that mayor's daughter fell into it doesn't mean—" 

Sabine silenced him with a look. He couldn't help grinning, though, as he nodded and clamped his lips shut.

Later, when he made his way up to the tower, he realized what Sabine and Tom had been talking about. The air was filled with unearthly wails and moans that sounded like the dead had been raised, along with the tell-tale clink of empty armor against the trees. Through the greenery, he spotted one of Marinette's rabbit traps holding up a cuirass and he had to smile. Tom was right. Genius. 

Jagged rolled his neck and cracked his knuckles as he decided how best to enhance Marinette's plan. A few simple rune traps would add to the effect. Nothing big, just some eerie mist, maybe a spectral form here or there… When they were stepped on they would activate and the whole thing would work like a "keep out" sign for suspicious villagers. 

When he'd finished the perimeter, he stood back to admire his work, then turned his attention to the tower. Luka would've left a note, he was sure of it, explaining things. That's the way the kid was. He liked to have things buttoned up and tidied away. He would've said goodbye. 

When he did climb the tower, he found the small blue flower that Luka had left, preserved with a little bit of magic Jagged had taught him and kept in place by a stone. When he opened the note, it was blank except for the words, "Thanks for everything." 

But, thanks to the preserved flower, Jagged knew exactly what to do to find his real message. 

He crumbled the flower and blew the resulting powder into the paper. The residual magic stuck to the encoded words and shimmered a glittery blue in the fading afternoon light. 

Jagged, it read, we're headed west into the forest. I'll leave a trail for you so you can come visit wherever we end up. 

You've probably already helped Marinette with her idea. If I can ask one more thing of you, there's a trapdoor hidden in the floor in the back of this room. I'm not as skilled in magic as you are, so I couldn't protect the door with anything but a simple lock charm. I know you'll come up with something better. 

No enchanted bogs. 

Jagged rolled his eyes. Seriously it was one time! Why was everyone so focused on the one time he tried a new spell and turned the entire town into an eternal bog. It wasn't even eternal—the whole thing only lasted a month or so, although, well, the smell did linger a while longer. 

He looked around and found the door Luka had mentioned. While it would be hard to find for anyone who wasn't looking, he understood why Luka would want it protected. Those books of his were his life while he'd been here. He looked back to the note and there were only two lines left. 

Until I see you again, Luka. 

P.S. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. 

Jagged smiled as the last line thrummed with a magic Luka probably hadn't intended. He really had to teach that boy about the way love and magic so often coincided.

Although he had a feeling that Luka was starting to discover that for himself. 

***

"Dragon?" the merchant asked, rubbing his chin in thought. "No, none of those in these parts. Heard tell of one the next village over, though. 'Round a tower. King's offered some gold for its head if memory serves." 

Marinette offered him a tight-lipped smile in return as she paid, conscious of Luka's tense energy beside her. 

She turned, handed him the gloves, and pulled at his shirt to prompt him to walk away. He followed, albeit stiffly. 

"Luka, I told you already, no one knows it's you they're talking about." 

"Doesn't make it any easier," he grumbled back. But he glanced down at his forearms that were still covered in scales despite their stones and tugged the leather gloves on anyway. "Besides, I doubt anyone around here will know where to find Jules. We keep to ourselves, really, and if it hadn't been for my incident I doubt anyone would've even known dragons were still out there." 

When he held up his hands to show her what the gloves looked like on him, she glanced over them in approval, then frowned in thought and reached up to brush his hair out of his eyes. 

"Nothing we can do about these, I guess." 

"Or the teeth," he added, smirking for effect. 

“Or the teeth,” she agreed fondly. “I guess just don’t… smile at anyone for now.” 

A dry chuckle slid out from between his clenched teeth as his eyes darted around the square they were in, on guard and suspicious, taking note of the people still around them. "Not a problem, love." 

She tipped up and kissed the edge of his jaw, which surprised him enough to jar him out of his rigid paranoia and turn that soft look on her. For good measure, she brushed his hair out of his eyes again, more to trail her fingers along his cheeks and down the sides of his neck than because she wanted to see the bright blue of his eyes match the blue of the stone at his neck. 

Something ignited in his gaze as he looked at her and she blushed as she pulled her hands away. She'd never felt in danger with Luka before, but that look was definitely dangerous. 

"Come on," she muttered, lacing her fingers through his and tugging him along. "There are still some people we can ask, and maybe we can find a place to stay tonight." 

***

Juleka startled to attention as footsteps resounded in the empty space of the cave she'd hunkered down in for the time being. It wasn't as cozy as other places, but there was a village nearby that was too close for comfort and she preferred to keep her distance. Stay invisible. Stay alive. That'd been her saving grace for as long as she'd been on her own. 

Arguably, she was young for a dragon to be by herself, but without Luka to smooth the waters between them, Juleka and her mother were… inflammatory. 

She thought she'd done well enough, but the human stumbling into her cave proved her very wrong. The tiny thing looked up with bleary blue eyes under a fringe of bright blonde hair and gave Juleka a wobbly smile. 

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice weak, "I just… I'm so tired… I need to…" She didn't even finish the sentence before her knees gave out from under her and, without thinking, Juleka darted towards her to catch her with an armored claw. The sprite of a human gave her a thankful little smile, snuggled into her scales, and promptly fell asleep. 

Juleka lowered her head to check that the human was still breathing, careful not to transfer her fire. Luka's mistake had been drilled into her head and she knew—she knew—that if a dragon shared their fire they shared their life. It wasn't worth it, her mother had said, giving up the freedom of the skies for anyone or anything.

Not that Juleka wanted to. Looking at the tiny, helpless thing in her arms that she could easily swipe aside without another thought—protect herself and protect her secret—she couldn't see why a dragon would ever bother with them. If it weren't for Luka's accident, she knew he wouldn't have chosen a human. 

Still, she had to admit, the way the blonde's eyelashes fluttered in her sleep was… maybe a little cute.

[spikartxx]

LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange 2024

Hello! Long time no see hehehe

Anywhoooooo~ I decided to take a tiny break from school duties and I participated in the LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange of this year! Organized by @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers (quite a lovely event, as always!)

I’ve never forgotten my Lukanette roots hehehe so here I am!

*drum rolls* 🥁✨

@trixxiephantomhive … I’m your secret admirer this year! ♪( ´θ｀)ノ✨

I did this piece based on the third prompt you proposed! It was a wonderful time reading the story, so it was a pleasure doing this piece too! I hope you enjoy it~

Also, sorry for the delay, I’ve had quite a busy day, but here it is, yaaaaaay!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 🩷

[djwriterkp]

A Very Buggy Christmas

Santa needs help around the world and Marinette is stressed and tired.

Merry Christmas from the LBSC

LBSC Secret Santa Exchange 2024!

ANNALULZ! I was your secret santa! I want you to know I scrapped and restarted this whole thing like four times trying to get it right so I hope you enjoy! :D

Work Text:

A Very Buggy Christmas

Taking a break from his latest song writing binge, Luka came into the living room to find his wife passed out on the couch. The apartment was spotless, save for the kitchen, where the different counters were covered with various sweets and cookies were in different stages of completion. The newly married Luka and Marinette were hosting Christmas at their place for the first time and Marinette was stressed. 

The DuPain-Cheng/Couffaine/Stone/Lavillant Christmas gathering was in the morning and Marinette was taking her role to supply the desserts very seriously. He smiled softly at the sight of his Marinette - of his wife - slumped over the arm of the couch, snoring slightly. He made them both hot chocolate and went to the living room. He set the mugs down and gently took her in his arms and sat down on the couch and leaned her back against him. She moaned slightly as they shuffled to get comfortable.

Her eyes fluttered open, “Hey rockstar,” she mumbled.

“Hey Melody,” he smiled back, stroking her hair.

“How long was I out?” she asked.

“Just a few minutes, love. I just came in and saw you crashed. You need a break.” He stroked her hair and gently pulled her close for a kiss. 

They had been together for almost seven years at this point, but they had waited until Marinette was established in her own fashion brand before getting married. It had also been long enough for Paris to return to normal now that all the Miraculous were safe back in the miracle box, hidden safely in her design room.

 After Monarch was taken down, the Chat Noir and Ladybug dynamic never was quite the same, and after one day accidentally seeing him detransform into Adrien Agreste, it was too much for Marinette to bear. She ended things with him. Three weeks later she found the black cat’s ring abandoned on their rooftop. Word reached her that Amelie Fathom and her son Felix were moving  back to London.  Nathalie had said he had found out everything. Adrien had run out into the night and had not been heard from since nor had anyone heard from him. 

Marinette was heartbroken. She immediately went to her best friend and cried in his arms. Luka Couffaine still loved her as strongly as the day he met her, but he knew she had been hurt. A year later, Chrysalis aka Lila Rossi was unmasked  and the butterfly was saved and all the miracle jewels were reunited. That day Luka had the courage to ask her out. They dated all throughout their university times and became engaged at Marinette’s graduation party. Three years later, just seven months ago, she became Marinette Couffaine.  Married life was everything Luka had dreamed of. Waking up beside Marinette was equally the best morning of his life. Each kiss they shared, felt like their first kiss, back six years ago on Heroes Day, during the fireworks celebration. 

Each day, he was more in love with his wife than the previous day. And being married with their own place, meant that couch kisses could lead to couch make outs could lead to couch lovemaking without nosy sisters or moms interrupting. Being married was fun.

Marinette made that moan that made him lose control and he started reaching for his jeans when they heard it.

It made both of them freeze. 

Quiet was surrounding them, the timer on the oven was frozen. 

“Hello-ho-ho-ho, Ladybug,” Santa appeared before their eyes, never minding the fact that he had just interrupted a perfectly good intimate session. 

Luka tried his best to hide his glare at the magical man. Marinette just silently stared at him. She had once fought him years ago, back when he had been akumatized when they were teenagers. 

She groaned quietly into Luka’s chest and then nervously looked at the magical man. 

They separated from each other and sat up  facing Santa Claus.

“What do you need sir?” Luka asked, trying but failing to hide his frustration.

“Well, son, I’m having issues with my sleigh and I’m needing some help.”

 Santa then spent the next few minutes explaining that he’d already recruited the New York Heroez to cover New York and LadyDragon to cover Shanghai and so now, He needed help to cover Paris. 

Luka and Marinette agreed. The timer on the oven  sounded and Luka went to the oven to get the batch of cookies out while Marinette left the room to go to the Miracle Box. 

Luka dialed his sister and her wife. They had promised they would be there within 10 minutes. 

Luka looked over to Marinete. She was looking over each jewel, gently running her fingers over each one in pensive thought.

“Melody?” he questioned.

She startled at the sound of his voice, “Sorry,” she said, “It’s just been a while since they’ve come out,” she said, referring to the kwamis. The little animal gods pop out once in a while, but rarely more than one or two at a time, Sass and Tikki more than the others. 

Luka hesitated for a moment. “They were separated for a long time, Melody.” Marinette looked at her husband and smiled.��

“It’s just sometimes I think back on that night and after all that, it was all Lila in the end,” she stopped mid sentence. 

“It still hurts,” Luka finished.  She grabbed the bracelet of the snake and a coin necklace he didn’t recognize.

“Not Tikki?” Luka questioned?

“We need extra hands,” Marinette said, putting the necklace on, and the mouse kwami came out, hovering near her shoulder. 

Just then, the knock on the door, notified them of their reinforcements arriving. Juleka let herself and Rose inside the Couffaine apartment, “You two better not be naked,” Juleka snarked as she walked in, grinning. 

“Hey guys!” Rose squealed, “What do you need help with?” Marinette handed the jewel of the pig to Rose and the jewel of the tiger to Juleka. Their Kwamis appeared and had joyous greetings with their holders. They then looked at Marinette with confused looks. 

“Well,” Marinette smiled, “It’s up to us to save Christmas for Paris.” “Marinette!” Mullo squeaked. Mullo hugged Marinette’s cheek and Marinette smiled. 

“Mullo, You up for saving Christmas?” 

Mullo nodded and Marinette transformed into Multimouse.

Luka was floored at the sight of his wife in a different superhero form. The light gray and pink trim on the suit and her hair in twin buns on her head. 

“Multitude!” she called and suddenly five smaller versions of Multimouse were suddenly crawling over her husband. Luka smiled as he suddenly had many versions of his wife crawling over him. Then the other three former superheroes called on their transformations, and each took a magic Santa sack. 

“Let’s meet back up in an hour and see where to go from here,” Multimouse said, standing on Viperion’s shoulder. Each hero (and clone) took off in a different direction, ready to spread Christmas Cheer and magic throughout Paris.

After an hour, they had covered less than a quarter of Paris. They met back up, and Multimouse reformed her clones back together. Viperion looked at Multimouse. “Who else can we call in?” 

Multimouse mentally ran over the former heroes. Adrien had disappeared. Felix and Kagami were in Japan. Mylene was pregnant with her and Ivan’s fourth child. Alya and Nino had moved away after lycee and Lila had been exposed. Alya had taken the loss hard and her budding career as a journalist was over before it ever began. They hadn’t spoken in years and no one had heard from the former fox and turtle heroes.  Zoe had moved to LA and become a famous actress. Alix was in Egypt. Marinette shook her head. “There’s no one, Vi. We’re all that’s left.” Marinette was becoming stressed. Viperion placed a loving hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“We’ve got this, Melody,” he said, lifting her chin to place a chaste kiss on her lips.

Tigress and Pigella lifted their sack again, “Let’s go.”

The next hour passed and they covered more ground that time, and by the time they met up again, over half the city was covered. 

Their spirits were lifted as they met back up again to recharge and take notes on where else needed their help. 

“One last push, you guys,” Viperion rallied them together, “Let’s meet back at the Liberty once we’re all done with this last hour.” 

The three heroes (and clones) agreed and they went their separate ways one final time.

It took Multimouse a little over an hour and half to finish her last five parts and she was the last to arrive back at the old houseboat. As her last clone arrived back, they reformed back into one Multimouse. Juleka and Rose returned their jewels after one last farewell to their kwamis back to Marinette. Luka came back with a tray of hot cocoa and the two couples snuggled under thick winter blankets to stargaze on the cold winter night, on Christmas Eve, reveling the fact that in the morning Paris children would wake up to their wonderful Christmas morning. 

“I love you Marinette,” Luka nibbled her ear.

“I love you too Luka,” she replied as she sighed contentedly. Paris Christmas was saved and they were ready to host Christmas at their -

Marinette choked on her hot chocolate. 

“Melody?” Luka asked, concerned.

“I have to finish the Christmas cookies!” She replied, panicked.

Luka chuckled, “I guess sleep is not in the plans for tonight.” 

She playfully smacked him as the young married couple left Luka’s childhood home and headed back to their apartment. 

The next day, their tiny apartment was packed as the three families gathered together in love and celebration and delicious food. 

Marinette barely finished her Christmas lunch before she passed out on Luka’s shoulder.

“Eh, long night, eh Kids?” Jagged mocked. Luka cut his father a look as he lifted her in his arms. 

Sabine just smiled as Luka carried his sleeping wife to their bedroom to take a nap in peace. 

Half an hour later, she woke to find her family trading stories and taking part of her cookies, and a little red kwami sneakily carrying off two or three back to the miracle box. 

It was a good Christmas after all. 

[trixxiephantomhive]

@celestiall0tus I hope you enjoy!!

This is for the LBSC valentine's Exchange, my prompt was Fantasy Lovers

[quickspinner]

Weekly Lukanette Link Roundup

What is the Weekly Roundup? | Previous Weekly Roundups

From @starlight-emiko: Glittering Cotton Candy

From @smileytrinity: Chocolate Kisses

From @verfound: Booty Call (nsfw) | The Birthday Chocolates

From @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers (various authors): LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange Works

If I missed something that should be included, reblog, reply, DM, or drop the link in my asks and I’ll make sure it goes on next week’s roundup! If you prefer not to be included in these roundups for any reason please drop me a message, or if you post something that you would like to be sure I include, please drop a link in my asks and I’ll make sure it gets listed (Lukanette endgame only please - see what is the weekly roundupfor more details). If you want to be sure I’ve flagged your work for inclusion you can check the quickroundup tag on my blog to see what I’ve got in the queue for this week.

If you find something you like please like/reblog the original post to let the author know you enjoyed their work!

[justknitstuff]

hi! i had a question about the secret admirer exchange, where should the art be sent/ uploaded? (ive never taken part in one of these events before so i'm a little confused)

Hi there! Thanks for the ask!

All gifts are uploaded to the Ao3 group. We'll be putting up a link to it in a few weeks. I know uploading art to Ao3 can be a hassle, so if you've never done it before, there's a how-to linked in the LBSC page.

If you don't have an Ao3 account though, you can put it up on your Tumblr and just tag your giftee and the appropriate lbsc tags so we can find it and reblog it as well.

[ladyfreya123]

Hi! @goldenlaurelleaveswrites. I’m your secret admirer this year! I went with your ‘meet cute’ prompt. I was having a lot of fun with this because I also like fluff. I hope you like it. 😊😊💙💙

“A street musician, Luka Couffaine was struggling with writing his new song, he felt he was a bit blocked. This afternoon was sunny and calm but he couldn’t find his own peace, his head was gloomy. He entered a small coffee shop to take a break. A cute girl appeared before his eyes. Marinette, the waitress, had a beautiful smile that illuminated everything around. She was like a shining star and he couldn’t take his eyes away from her... The writing of the new song was about to start and then something new started as well.”

@lovebugs-and-snakecharmers

[verfound]

FIC: Paris's Favorite Not-a-Couple (MLB; Lukanette; LBSC Valentine 2025; 2/8)

Notes: I was going to stick to a weekly posting schedule, but when I split the fic up this ended up being the shortest chapter?  And I’ve had so much fun with this one, guys, and I’m so excited to get it out, so…hey, let’s do a Sunday update!  (Sunday’s probably going to be my posting day for this one.  It’s also one o’clock in the morning and totally Sunday already, right?  😝)

Also, Angie is the lovely @quickspinner s. We just kidnap borrow her from time to time as needs be…

Chapter 1

Chapter Two: Another Wee Ask…

There were three pictures online the next day.

Two of them talking and laughing over their lunch ‘date’.

And one of their parting hug, when he’d foregone the traditional bise for a lingering kiss that was definitely closer to her mouth than her cheek like than should have been.

 His lips still burned from it.

“You two are absolutely disgusting,” Juleka groaned that night while they waited for Rose to finish up dinner. He looked up from where he was playing with Angie in the living room, a frown on his face.

“That’s a horrible thing to say about your own daughter,” he said. He scooped the almost-year-old baby up off the playmat and held her up, pulling a pout when she giggled and swatted at his face. “Look at her: she’s an angel. How can your ma be so mean, huh, baby?” “Not you and Angie, dumbass, you and Marinette,” Juleka groused.

[nerdypanda3126]

😍😍😍 omg lin I can't even word properly, this is so pretty and soft and they're so happy and cute and skdjskasdk thank you so so much!!

Happy Valentine’s day! Here’s my gift for @nerdypanda3126 for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Valentine’s exchange. I had to improvise a bit with the domestic fluff prompt + the wildcard haha I really hope you like it. Have a lovely day!

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

Valentine's Exchange - AO3 Collection

A few notes for participants of our Valentines Secret Admirer Exchange:

If you need to drop out of the exchange (we get it, life happens!) please let us know by Feb. 5 so we can activate a pinch hitter. Even after the fifth, please reach out to us if you are having difficulties. We understand that things come up, as long as you communicate with us so we can keep your giftee updated.

Here is the link to our AO3 collection for this year's exchange.

You can post your fic to the collection at any time. It will not be sent to your giftee until the collection is revealed on Feb. 14. Once you publish to the collection, your work will show up as a mystery work, even to you, but you will still be able to see and edit it if needed. This is a change from previous years (although I think it was already in place last year). If you have any difficulty please reach out to us.

One thing to note: Your publication date will be the day that you published to the collection, not the day the collection is revealed. This means if you post on February 12 and we reveal on February 14, your publication date will remain February 12. Why does this matter? The fic searches default to sort by date, so your fic may not show up on the front page when the collection is revealed. After the collection is revealed, you can go in and change your publication date to the current date (it will not allow you to choose a future date) to bump it up closer to the top results.

[starsforseiya]

bye bye, little butterflies!

💌 happy valentine’s day @mari-onberry! (You asked for a valentine’s day where not everything goes smoothly.) I’m your secret admirer for @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers‘s exchange! 

[spikartxx]

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!~ Σ>―(〃°ω°〃)♡→

@verfound … I’m your secret admirer~ (*˘︶˘*).｡.:*

It’s my first time in the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers Secret Admirer Exchange and I really enjoyed it ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

I did the 2nd prompt: Cupid’s Son AU. I’m not a good storyteller but I still hope you enjoy my gift 💝

Physical wings are overrated lol I drew him ✨ magic wings ✨ Can’t wait to do this again next year 💖

[nerdypanda3126]

Hot and Cold – Chapter 4

Marinette plucks up the courage to tell Luka her real name and Luka tries not to die of cuteness. 

First Chapter | Previous Chapter

Read on Ao3

Marinette wrung her hands as she paced back and forth along the Seine, taking a few steps towards the Liberty, then chickening out and doubling back before forcing herself to turn back around. 

She’d been doing this since she left the bakery. The whole time she was trying to talk herself into and then back out of what she was doing. Plagg had already resigned himself to sleeping in her pocket, but every once in a while she heard a very obvious, very annoyed snore emanate from where he was stashed.

But this was crazy. It wasn’t like Viperion liked Marinette, he liked Lady Noire. And she just happened to be behind the mask and she wasn’t nearly as brave as her hero alter ego and what if she got there and he wrinkled his nose and turned her away? 

She stopped and spun back for the bakery, dejected, before his words from last night rang in her head. He said she was welcome any time. And he said that after he knew—or at least saw—who she was. So that meant he wanted her there, right? 

Her feet spun her back around and she set her jaw against that awful voice in the back of her mind. He said she was welcome. He wanted to see her. At the very least, she could tell him her name and then that could be it. If he didn’t want to take her out after all, if he decided he didn’t like her after all— 

She froze in her tracks and her eyes widened in horror as she turned back around hurriedly. 

“Nope, nope, nope,” she muttered to herself. 

Plagg yawned loudly and came out of her pocket to nestle into her hair. She would’ve admonished him for being out so obviously if she wasn’t preoccupied being… a total chicken. 

She stopped again. What if he did want to see her? What if he did still want to take her on that date and what if he did still like her? Wasn’t that a possibility too? She bit her lip and changed direction again. 

“You know, I’m not really an expert or anything,” Plagg drawled lazily, “but you seem to be struggling with something.” 

“He’s Luka Couffaine, Plagg,” she said, like that explained everything.

“And?" 

"And…" She twisted her fingers together harder. "And I'm maybe a little afraid of him?" Plagg snorted at her and she couldn’t help but pout up at him. “What?” 

“Nothing, nothing,” he said quickly, and she stopped in her tracks to wait for the inevitable ‘but’ she knew was coming. “But you didn’t seem all that afraid of him when you were mooning over his poster,” Plagg muttered into her hair. 

She had to hide her burning face in her hands. Of course he would bring that up right now. The mortified groan she let out was muffled by her fingers and Plagg cackled. 

“I have a poster of him in my bedroom!” She whisper-shouted back at him, exasperated. She started pacing back and forth instead and waving her arms around to emphasize her points.  “What if he thinks I’m some crazy stalker? Then he’ll never want to speak to me again and then I’ll have to give up my Miraculous out of shame and then I’ll never see you or him ever again and I’ll have to move to a deserted island and live out the rest of my days alone!” 

She threw herself down on a nearby bench, pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, and forced herself to take a few calming breaths like Vi taught her to. Catastrophizing, he’d called it. Always thinking the worst would happen. She could almost hear his chuckle when he caught her doing it and feel his hand on her elbow to keep her grounded there with him. She didn’t know if that made it better or worse, because now her heart was pounding, too. 

“Hey, kid,” Plagg said then, which made her peek out to look at him. “He might be some cool rockstar wannabe—” he rolled his eyes at that and waited until she stuck her tongue out at him and he’d stuck his back out at her to continue seriously. “...But he’s also your partner.” 

For the first time since she’d left the bakery, her shoulders relaxed. 

Plagg was… right, wasn’t he? Luka Couffaine was Viperion, and Viperion was Luka Couffaine. So every moment she’d spent with him was just that. Time spent with him. Every time they’d fought together. Every time they’d helped each other. Every late night conversation and every pastry she’d brought him and every time he’d hummed a bit of a song he was working on and every time his smile lit up all of Paris for her.

She knew him. 

And he knew her.

She took one more deep breath and smiled at Plagg, thanking him, before she started walking purposefully toward the Liberty.

---

Luka was humming tunelessly to himself as he fought with the hopelessly tangled rigging. It wasn’t really that it needed doing, but it gave his mind and his fingers something to do other than worrying. It wasn’t helping though, because it was only making him frustrated on top of worried. 

Juleka sighed in his general direction for what felt like the thousandth time that day and he tossed her a glare. 

“Stop,” he said, a bit harshly, admittedly, but she’d been sighing at him ever since he told her what happened. “I’m fine. It’s not a big deal.” 

“Yeah, you’re fine,” she snarked back, setting aside the magazine she’d been pretending to read. “You just had a sudden craving for rope splinters.” She walked over and tugged the rope out of his hands and put it aside pointedly. When he started picking at his chipped nail polish instead, she smirked. 

“Okay, you got me,” he said irritably, forcing his hands to still before he sighed deeply. “I think I screwed everything up.” 

“Probably.” 

He glared at her again, but she met his gaze evenly and he relented. 

“You should’ve seen the way she looked at me.” His eyes fell back to his hands. He had torn them up pretty good with the ropes, but it was nothing a bit of rubbing alcohol and time wouldn’t fix. 

Time. He scoffed at himself as his eye caught on the silver bangle that had a permanent spot on his left wrist. Ironic that he wished he could redo something. But if nothing else, the reveal was still a good thing. They’d never had a way to contact each other outside of the masks and now… 

Now she probably wouldn’t ever talk to him again, anyways. 

“Yeah, no kidding,” Juleka said, and when he looked up she was smirking again, but not at him, and there was a devilish gleam in her eyes that he didn’t like. “Kind of a cross between star-struck and about to throw up.” 

He squinted at her suspiciously. “...Yeah, actually. How did you know?” 

Her impish grin widened and she gestured with her head to something behind him. “I think that’s for you.” 

“What’s…?” He turned to look and—

Holy shit it was her. Lady Noire. Or, well, civilian Lady Noire since he hadn’t gotten her name. She was standing at the edge of the gangplank and twisting her fingers behind her back as she tipped up on her toes and settled back on her heels, making her skirt swish around her knees with the movement. He’d recognize that adorable nervous energy anywhere, but to top it off he just barely caught a black flash as Plagg phased into her purse.

He was standing—when did he stand?—and he waved woodenly. Juleka smacked the back of his head fondly before she disappeared into the interior of the boat. He let the momentum carry him forward until he was at the other end of the gangplank and helping her across it. 

Her hand was so small in his. How had he never noticed? And when she started to totter, he wrapped a steadying arm around her waist and his heart nearly choked him. He’d steadied her so many other times, and in a skintight catsuit, no less, but this… this was something else entirely. 

When they were safely on deck, he let her go and took a good step back to try to make her more comfortable. But the way he was staring definitely wasn’t helping. She was so incredibly cute and soft in her fluffy coat and pink skirt, but there was also a nod to her alter ego with the black tights and knee high boots. She was so inherently Lady Noire and so inherently… herself. 

She was biting her lips and twisting her hands together still and waiting for him to say something, but he was too caught in her eyes—her real eyes, blue, not green, and so clear and beautiful—to even form a word.  

“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” she asked nervously, then her eyes widened in horror. “Ohmigod, I’m so sorry, that was so awful.” Her face disappeared behind her hands, but the glimpse he got of it was bright red. It broke him out of his stupor and he chuckled as he rested his hands on her elbows, holding her lightly to ground her. Like he always did when Lady Noire got flustered.

“Actually it was kinda cute,” he admitted. She peeked out at him and he smiled back. “Hi.” 

Little by little, her shoulders came down and finally she sighed. “How do you do that?” 

He hadn’t even noticed that he’d unintentionally pulled her closer while he was trying to calm her down and now she was close enough that she had to look up at him. He squeezed her arm gently before he forced himself to pull away. 

“Practice,” he said, and flashed a teasing grin at her. 

She rolled her eyes back at him and crossed her arms haughtily, turning away from him. He had to remind himself that she wasn’t suited up. That was classic Lady Noire and if he’d doubted at all that she was his partner, that would’ve confirmed it. It was a relief she was treating him like they were just on patrol, like it was just another night. Even if it meant she was putting the mask back on mentally. 

He tugged on one of her pigtails playfully and it startled her into turning back to him. He was grinning now, but he couldn’t seem to help it. She clamped her hands down over her hair, protecting it, pouting, and he laughed. 

“Lukaaa,” she whined. 

It was his turn to blush. She’d taken that tone before when he was Viperion, but it was so much different hearing her say his actual name like that—like they were friends in real life as well as hero life. Maybe she’d gotten over being star-struck? Maybe this could actually work. They could work. 

She must’ve caught on that something had affected him, because she was blushing again, too, and her eyes darted away as she started biting her lip again. 

“Is it… okay?” she asked quietly. “That I call you that, I mean.” 

“It’s my name,” he said, a bit stupidly, he had to admit. “Of course it’s okay. I just wish I knew yours, too.” 

She swallowed hard and took a deep breath before she met his eyes again and held his gaze. For all of two seconds, at least. Then they were back on the toes of her boots and Plagg muttered something from her bag—or at least he assumed the kwami said something because Lady Noire huffed out another breath and grouched, “I am not stalling.” 

“You are,” Luka agreed, teasing, and she flashed a glare at him. He grinned innocently back. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me,” he continued after a moment. “I can call you something else if you want.” 

“Like what?” 

“... Kitty?” he suggested. “That’s like a girl’s nickname, right?” 

The way her face flushed was either a resounding ‘no’ or it meant that she liked it more than she’d like to admit. 

“Okay, no,” he said, chuckling despite himself. "Maybe I can guess?" 

She shook her head hard enough that her pigtails smacked her cheeks. "Plagg's right," she sighed, "I mean, he usually is, but this time he's really right." She took a deep breath—one he recognized because he'd taught her how to do them—and squeezed her eyes shut, hard, like if she looked at him she'd lose her nerve.

“Ma-Ma-Marinette,” she finally stuttered out. “I’m Marinette.”

Thankfully there was a crate behind him to fall on because for some reason hearing her real name knocked his knees out from under him. 

“Marinette,” he repeated breathlessly. 

“Yeah, uh, Dupain-Cheng. My parents own the bakery across from the Place des Vosges, you know, the one with the fountains? I think we’ve been there before together, probably one time I brought you pastries, there’s always extras at the bakery and it’s a shame for them to go to waste, especially when we have a late patrol and you said you liked the macarons so much and…” 

She was rambling, apparently oblivious to his internal meltdown. He heard most of it, but it was washing over him without absorbing. 

“...Are you okay?” 

While he hadn’t been able to function, she’d knelt beside him and laid a hand on his knee, trying to catch his eyes. He laid his hand over hers absent-mindedly and nodded. 

“Better than. I just…” He met those gorgeous blue eyes and lost his train of thought. He must’ve been making some stupid face because she hid a giggle behind her hand. 

“Guess it’s not just the cold that makes you freeze.” 

“No,” he choked out, “apparently not.” 

Her head tilted at his tone, exactly like it would’ve if she was in the mask, and it helped things click together for him. It wasn't like she was different this way, she was still the same Lady Noire, and still his partner. It was just that knowing her name, and seeing her in person, and hearing that she had parents that he could meet—should meet, he reminded himself—it made it all so real. She wasn’t some unreachable, unknowable ideal. She was here. 

He reached out to cup her cheek in his hand and she blushed, but she didn’t pull away from him. 

“Marinette,” he repeated again, stroking his thumb along her cheekbone, much like he had the other night before they’d had their reveal. Her cheek was just as soft now as it always was. 

She giggled nervously, but held his gaze. “Yes, Luka?”

His mouth had gone dry and he swallowed, hoping his words came out in the right order. “Can I kiss you?” 

She let out a small “eep” as her face turned crimson again. 

“...Or take you to the movies, or walk you home, or just… sit here and stare at you?” He gave her what he hoped was a roguish grin but was probably another lovesick smile. “Whatever you want to do, I just want to spend time with you.”

She was twisting her fingers together again and he took one of her hands in his to help. She stared at their joined hands before she took another deep breath. 

“I kinda… did tell my mom…” Her eyes flicked nervously up to his. “I was going on a date?” 

His hand tightened around hers reflexively. Date. A date. With Marinette Dupain-Cheng. He was nodding before he even realized it. 

“Yes,” he managed to croak out. “Absolutely.” 

He stood and helped her up with him, although that was more to keep himself from falling down again than anything else. She seemed to sense how unsteady he was because she looped her arm through his and stayed close. 

“So… Movie?” she asked, but he heard her nerves come back in full force. When she looked up at him, he got lost in those eyes again and could only smile back at her. Her cheeks pinked as she ducked to hide her face in his shoulder. “You have to talk, Vi, or I’m just going to like self-combust over here.” 

“Sorry,” he said, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders instead. “I was wishing the cat had my tongue.” He laughed and rubbed her shoulder as she squeaked again. 

She nuzzled further into him and a rush of warmth and excitement hit him like a wave when he barely heard her reply, “Later.”

[plunniesattack]

Growing Up From You (pt 1)

For the LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange 2022!

Marinette was surprised yet happy that Juleka had reached out and invited her to hang out. After of course having a mini freak out and making sure that the invite was sent on purpose because Juleka could've meant to text someone else and she didn't want to show up if it was an accident- Bottom line was, the Amber eyed girl did invite her out and would be meeting at the small coffee shop in fifteen minutes. Idly the budding designer wondered what she would think when Marinette showed up on time. The shop was decently busy but not overly so and Marinette spotted Juleka right away. She was sitting with her back to the door and by herself which puzzled the ravenette for a moment as she made her way to the table.

"Hey, Juleka! Just us today?" Okay, that sounded bad.

"Rose was busy but I also wanted to talk to you alone."

Marinette froze awkwardly halfway to sit down, prompting her friend to laugh at her and sit down hastily. As a peace offering, the taller girl slid a piece of apple pie across the table.

"You asking me, the daughter of baker parents, to cheat on them with this apple pie?"

"Whatever weirdo, I actually have something serious to talk about. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine?" Blue eyes blinked in confusion at the baleful look from Juleka.

"I mean it. You just finished a huge and very impactful chapter of your life."

"Oh. You're talking about me leaving Adrien." A small frown pinched the designer's face and she leaned back in her chair, ignoring the pie completely now. "I'm fine, honest. Yeah, it was hard but it's what I needed to do. No matter what anyone else says, I made the best choice because no one else would. It sucks, sometimes it hurts and sometimes I wish things were different. Sometimes I wish this whole thing didn't even happen but I can't afford to live in the past anymore, I refuse to."

There was a quiet silence at the table for a few moments, both processing the words that sat heavily between them. Marinette used the excuse of needing a drink to escape and went to the counter to look over the menu. The line was short but the other customers were picky enough that it gave her a few much-needed minutes before it was Marinette’s turn and placed her simple order for an iced mocha coffee. She couldn’t help but glance over at the table a few times but each time Juleka was on the phone and looked relaxed, probably chatting with her girlfriend.

“Order for Marinette!” Turning back, the designer took her drink and made the short but nerve-wracking walk back to the table, and slipped into the seat with a worried frown. The musician took a couple moments to finish her text and take a sip of her drink before Marinette’s nerves broke.

“You’re not going to tell me I should give him another chance? Or that I should hear him out? Apologize for ignoring him in his time of need? Being selfish and thinking only of myself? That I walked away from something meant to be, I just was scared to put in the work? Nothing?”

“Do you want me to?” Juleka asked very seriously, staring directly into surprised blue eyes in a rare show of how serious she was. "Look, back in the beginning, I admit it was a match made in heaven. It seemed you just both needed a push to realize what was right in front of you. And I apologize."

"What, Juleka you don't-"

"I do Marinette. I may not have all the details but rumor mills are based on half-heard truths and I'm sure you're tired of being told you're a bad person and how wrong you are when no one is putting the same pressure on him."

The designer was shell-shocked, to say the least, Marinette never imagined that this is how the conversation would go. Juleka basically undid every nail in the coffin she felt trapped in for the last couple of weeks. Some of the girls weren’t even talking to her right now or maintained a distant but polite attitude if they were. Only Rose had even tried to maintain their relationship but both girls led busy lives and it was rare to actually get in touch.

“Look, I know you didn’t break up with him just because and I’m sure there was a reason but you haven’t had the chance to talk about it yet. I want to hear it if you want to share it.” Juleka lowered her eyes, her speech done, and idly fiddled with her pastry.

“You sound like someone else I know.” Marinette teased, grinning back at the small smile the taller girl had. “Yeah there’s a ton of little things and it just adds up you know? Good things, worthwhile things always take work and patience and time- I gave it my all. Gave him my all and it just… Wasn’t enough.” When she sighed, it felt like she deflated or the strings that were controlling her movements were finally cut. Half-heartedly the raven-haired teen finished her pie, her Maman could make it way better.

“Next time I’m totally invading your parents' bakery.” Juleka muttered, also not able to finish her slice.

“Don’t do it too often or they’ll go broke feeding you for free.”

“There’s a tip jar.” Marinette laughed at the dry humor from the other girl, she had missed this.

“Are you doing anything after this?” “Nope, got any ideas?” “A few…” Marinette grinned mischievously and they cleaned up their table before leaving.