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annalulz · 2 years ago

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More than Words (to say I Love You)

This is my piece for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers’ Secret Admirer Event 2023 for @karin848 !

Prompt 1 asked for wholesome fluff/Luka being supportive of Marinette/identity reveal so I did a little bit of everything :3

Read on AO3

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️

Marinette groaned and dropped her pencil on top of her sketchbook. Luka watched her from her chaise lounge, and with a soft smile, he set his guitar aside and stood up, walking over to where Marinette was sitting by her desk. He grabbed her hands gently before she could pull her hair in frustration.

She looked up at him and her upset expression relaxed at the sight of his patient smile.

“Talk to me, Melody,” he said, bringing her hands down toward her lap. “Let me help you.”

Marinette felt her eyes water as she looked at Luka, her frustration overwhelming her.

"Sorry, Luka, I didn't mean to disturb you," she said, looking away from his earnest, kind face. He shook his head and opened his mouth, most likely to tell her she wasn't disturbing him, but she started speaking again before he could say a word. "It's just… a difficult commission and I'm kind of blocked."

The soft smile on his face didn't falter as he pulled her away from her desk towards the chaise.

"You need a break, Melody, you've been working too hard," Luka said, gently nudging her to sit next to him.

Almost immediately, Marinette cuddled up into his side, laying her head on his shoulder as he hummed the tune of the song he'd been composing this time.

Slowly, she relaxed against him, the vibrations of his humming lulling her into calmness that she hadn't felt in a long while.

As her eyes started to droop, Marinette thought that perhaps one day, not too far in the future, she'd be able to tell Luka the truth about Ladybug.

For the time being, she was content with relaxing against her boyfriend's wonderful embrace.

***

"Achoo."

Marinette giggled as Luka sneezed for the fourth time in a row, and handed him the bowl of chicken soup her mother had helped her prepare for him back at home.

The poor boy wiped his too-red nose with a tissue and groaned.

"Maybe try not to jump into the Seine in the middle of winter next time?" she said, still giggling, while Luka took a few spoonfuls of the delicious broth.

"I didn't jump, 'Nette, Dingo pushed me," he replied, sighing. "This is delicious, by the way."

Marinette blushed slightly at the compliment but still rolled her eyes at his reply.

"At least he's suffering as much as you are," she said, patting his hand.

"As he should," Luka huffed, petulantly, making Marinette giggle yet again.

The cabin got quiet while Luka finished eating, and once he was done, he flopped back down on his bed and groaned.

Marinette got up from his narrow bed, so he'd be more comfortable, took the bowl from him, and with her free hand, she pushed his sweaty bangs away from his forehead.

"Sleep, Rockstar," she said. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Comforted by her words, Luka smiled at her and let sleep overtake him.

It took another two days for Luka to shake off the cold, and once Marinette started sneezing, he was right by her side with a delicious bowl of soup.

***

Studying for exams had always been a stressful time for Marinette, though nowadays that stress had become more bearable with Luka in her life.

His calm, steady presence, coupled with the soft strumming of his guitar was a balm as she paced around her room, notes in hand, muttering to herself as she went over the material again and again.

She couldn't help but smile as he went down the trapdoor and came back a few minutes later, carrying a tray laden with food and declaring it "break time".

They sat together on her chaise, sharing the snacks he had brought up, and chatted about anything and everything that wasn't related to her upcoming exam, and while a part of her kept stressing about it, itching to run back to her notes, she knew deep down that she needed the break.

Leaning over, she placed a light kiss on Luka's cheek and smiled in amusement as his face turned a light pink all the way up to his ears, even after all this time they'd been together.

He was just so cute.

***

Viperion landed on silent feet on a rooftop and fell apart.

He shook from the memories of the battle, of Ladybug getting hit over and over by the Akuma right before he rewound time. And while those timelines would never be thanks to his power, the memories remained in his mind.

Sass had once told him that was the burden the Snake Holders had to bear, and some in the past had gone mad, losing touch with reality, haunted by the echoes of time. It was a heavy burden to bear, and he bore it gladly for Ladybug, though he sometimes wondered if she had made the right choice by giving him this Miraculous.

"Viperion? Is everything okay?" Ladybug asked, landing just as silently as he had, next to him.

He nodded, tersely, crossing his arms tightly over his chest to hide the trembling of his hands.

"How many times?" Ladybug asked, her hand twitching towards him.

"It wasn't that many," he replied in a tight voice. "It was what happened in them… You— the Akuma… and I couldn't stop him, I just—"

Ladybug's face crumbled, her heart breaking at the sight of one of her strongest teammates—the love of her life, though he didn't know it—breaking down under the pressure of his Miraculous.

"I'm so sorry, Vi," Ladybug said, a part of her feeling guilty for having put that burden on him, on Luka.

"Don't apologize, Bug, it wasn't your fault," he told her, resolutely.

"But I—" she started to say, but he cut her off with a shake of his head.

"I made my choice, Ladybug. I can take this. Just… Can I—"

"Yes?"

"Can I hold you?" he asked.

Ladybug opened her arms in answer, and Viperion couldn't help but sigh in relief as his arms wrapped around her, his body trembling slightly. She rubbed his back gently when he hid his face in her shoulder, whispering comforting words in his ears.

***

"Ladybug?" Luka asked, looking up at her as she landed a few feet away from him on the Liberty's deck. "Is everything okay? Is there an Akuma?"

Ladybug shook her head and sat next to him. Luka set his guitar aside and turned to look at her, a slight frown on his face.

“Are you alone?” Ladybug asked in a soft voice.

“Yeah, Ma went to work and Jules is hanging out with Rose,” he replied. “Are you okay, Ladybug?” he asked when he saw her fidgeting nervously with her hands.

She took a deep breath, looked at him with a determined glint in her eyes, and nodding to herself she whispered the detransformation words. Luka’s eyes flew open in surprise when the magical pink light faded, leaving Marinette sitting where Ladybug had been.

“Melody?” he asked, a little incredulously.

She had always been so strict about keeping her identity a secret, so he couldn’t understand why she would reveal herself now to him.

"Surprise?" Marinette said in a sing-song voice but he could see how tense she was on the line of her shoulders.

"Not really," he blurted out.

“What?” Marinette exclaimed, her worried expression turning slightly panicked.

“It’s not really a surprise for me, Melody,” Luka said, as calmly as possible. “I’ve suspected for a long time, actually. And I’ve known for sure for a while now, too.”

“You—you have? But how? When?”

Panic started to rise in Marinette as she rambled, wondering out loud if she had ever made a mistake, maybe she de-transformed without noticing he was around?

“Marinette! Listen to me!” he exclaimed, holding her by the shoulders, and shaking her slightly. Her panicked eyes settled on him but he could see that she was on the verge of a breakdown. “You never made a mistake! I started suspecting you were Ladybug when you first gave me the Snake Miraculous because, at that moment, her song sounded so much like yours.”

“My song?” Marinette repeated, the shock turning into confusion.

“Yeah.”

“And when did you know for sure?”

Luka took a deep breath and said, “Remember that Akuma a few weeks ago? The one we fought with half of the team?”

“You mean when you—”

“Had a breakdown after watching all of you die several times?” he said wryly. Marinette nodded, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it lightly in support. “You know that, even when I turn back time, and those timelines are erased, I still retain memories of them, right?”

Marinette nodded, a sympathetic look on her face.

“Well, in one of those timelines, as we were fighting the Akuma, you ran out of time and detransformed. I turned back time immediately, but…”

“You’d already seen me.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I’m sorry I never told you but, you always said how important it was to keep your identity secret. I didn’t want to worry you.”

Marinette shook her head, her panic gone and replaced with relief. She gave him a sweet smile and squeezed his hand again.

“I’m glad it was you, Luka,” she told him. “I came today to tell you because you’re the person I trust the most, and I felt you deserved to know. You’ve always been there for me, and… I trust you with my life, Rockstar.”

Luka felt the warmth in his chest grow at her words, so he smiled back at Marinette and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side.

“I’ll always have your back, Melody,” he told her, kissing her temple. “With or without the mask.”

FIN

#lbscexchange2023 #lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #pro lukamari

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quickspinner · 2 years ago

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We’ll Take Our Time

Hi @emixion I’m your @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers secret admirer! I hope you enjoy!

Marinette was in her robe, brushing out her freshly dried hair, when she saw Luka in the mirror, leaning against the doorway behind her. His hair was still a bit damp from his own shower, and he was still wearing sweatpants and a white sleeveless undershirt. “So are you going to tell me where we’re going tonight?” she asked teasingly, turning to smile at him. “I need to know how to get ready at least.”

Luka chuckled, and came to stand behind her, taking the brush from her hand. “How about if I doll you up tonight?” he said, running the brush gently through her hair. Marinette closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling.

“Okay,” she said, opening her eyes to wink at him in the mirror. “You’re better at it than I am, anyway.”

Luka chuckled, and put the brush on the vanity. “You do just fine yourself. I just feel like pampering you a little extra tonight.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the hinge of her jaw.

“And you don’t want to tell me where we’re going,” Marinette pouted, turning on her stool to watch him as he went to fetch a chair.

“And I don’t want to tell you where we’re going,” Luka agreed, setting his chair beside her stool.. He reached around her to grab some clips,on the vanity, and then sat down to pin her hair up out of his way. “I get to surprise you so rarely, let me have this one.”

“You can have whatever you want, you know that,” she told him, nudging his knee with hers, and he fumbled the last clip. It skittered away over the floor, and Marinette giggled. Luka made a face at her, grabbed another one, and clipped the last bit of her hair back from her face.

She watched him idly as he pulled items from her drawer and occasionally his own, setting out a row of makeup supplies. She raised an eyebrow slightly at how many things he was setting out, but only smiled when he turned to face her with a cleansing wipe in his hand. She closed her eyes as he held her chin gently and got to work.

There was something different about him tonight, a little more intense than was normal for an average day, but he’d been out of the house a lot, working on a new project, and sometimes he got a bit moody when he was digging deep for a song. Maybe he was still a little caught up in his feelings over it—or maybe he just missed her. Either way, she wasn't complaining, as he leaned close to her and gently stroked the pad over her face.

Maybe tonight he would actually have time to talk to her about the new project. Every time he started to tell her about it, he got distracted, or they got interrupted. He was humming something she didn’t recognize under his breath even now. Maybe that was it. Really, she’d been busy too, trying to straighten out the problems with the last order that had somehow gotten bungled…

She let her mind wander for a while, and then was brought back to reality when Luka sat back from her for a moment, reaching for a bottle on the counter while he regarded her with a small frown. Deciding what he wanted to do, she was sure. Some of the tension he’d been carrying had eased out of his shoulders as he worked, and though his expression was thoughtful, he also looked content. Happy, even. He always had when she let him make her up, even before they were dating. Once they got together, and even more so after they moved in together, he took every chance she gave him.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked. Luka’s lips quirked in obvious amusement and she added, “Something maybe a little awkward?”

“I’m listening,” he said, taking up a small sponge. He began applying her foundation with little fluttering pats that made her want to giggle.

“Why do you like doing this so much?”

Luka took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Marinette watched his face change as he took in the question. She liked this serious, thoughtful look he got when she asked him something he didn’t immediately know the answer to. He kept working, but there was a distant quality to his eyes now, as he tried to weigh whatever was in his heart. Luka was an intuitive person; he acted much more on instinct and feelings than rational thought, so sometimes her why questions caught him off guard, and he had to backtrack and analyze his own thinking in order to put it into words. She rarely saw his thinking face this close up, and she took her time studying it while he worked out his answer. His lips were tight and his brow creased, but he didn’t look tense or upset.

Marinette waited.

Luka lowered the sponge and looked at her, his eyes more focused as they roamed over her face, but it was clear he was still thinking.

“I think,” he said slowly, picking up a contouring shade and going back to work, “Part of it is just…being this close to you. Sharing such a close space.” His knee brushed against hers as he shifted. “I know we’re close all the time, but it feels different. There’s no…” Luka paused, pressing his lips together. “There’s no rush for it to become something else,” he said finally. “I can just spend as much time as I want sharing space with you, and it’s not going to become about making out or sex. You’re not going to run away to do something else. We’re not really talking much. It gives me time to appreciate just being with you.”

Marinette frowned, but he put a finger on her lips. “It’s not a bad thing,” he assured her gently. “I’m not saying that kissing is bad or that you’re always running out on me or that I don’t like our conversation. I just mean, when we’re doing this, it’s like the natural flow of life just sort of…pauses. It’s not weird or uncomfortable for us to be still like it would be if we were just staring at each other. We’re not waiting for something to happen. We’re just here, in the moment, existing together, and appreciating each other in a different way.”

He put down the foundation and reached for the powder, dusting the brush off on his wrist before dipping it into the container. He tapped the brush on the edge of the jar and faced her again with a fond smile. “I also get to look at you,” he continued, as the brush fluttered gently over her face. “In a way that I don’t usually. I have time to really notice every little thing about you, all the shapes and lines and curves that make up the face I see every day. I have time to think about what’s changed over the years, and appreciate all my favorite things about you.” He grinned. “Your freckles. Your eyelashes. I’ve spent hours thinking about what makes your mouth so damn pretty.” He leaned forward and kissed her softly, making a low hum in his throat. Marinette leaned into him, but when he pulled away, he went right back to his makeup kit as if it hadn’t happened.

“This line right here,” he added, running a thumb lightly along her jaw before he cupped it in his hand to steady her face while he applied concealer below her eyes. “I love watching how it changes when you move. Lots of little things that would make me sound like a creeper if I was just sitting on the couch staring silently at your face for an hour, and which I wouldn’t see half so well if I wasn’t thinking in terms of how to accentuate your face.” He was quiet for a moment, and then asked, “Why do you let me do it?”

Marinette’s answer was quicker. “You’re right about being so close. I like the way it feels. I also like having your attention completely on me. I like how intense you are about it.” She smiled. “And you always make me look really good.”

“You’re so beautiful, Marinette,” Luka sighed with a slight shake of his head. “I don’t have to do a thing to make you look good. You shine all on your own.”

“I love that you think so,” Marinette replied affectionately, placing a hand on his knee. Luka smiled, and leaned in for another warm, soft kiss.

“I love you,” he murmured, and leaned back from her again. “Close your eyes.”

Marinette did so. This was her favorite part, truth be told, with his gentle touches and the flutters of the brushes, and his soft, slightly distracted voice warning where he was going to touch her so she didn’t jump. She shifted so that both hands were on his knees, wanting just a little extra contact tonight. Luka’s lips brushed her forehead, and she smiled, appreciating his affection. He was always one for touch, of course, but he seemed like he could hardly help himself tonight, and she wondered what was going on in his mind tonight that made him so sentimental.

She sighed happily.

***

Luka dabbed a small dot of gloss in the middle of Marinette’s lower lip and smiled, sitting back. The hardest part about doing her makeup was not immediately ruining her lipstick. Over the years he’d managed to find some brands with pretty good staying power, but only his plans for the night stopped him from kissing her senseless and cheerfully starting over.

“Okay,” he said, indicating that she should turn back to the mirror. “Hair next.” He stood and moved his chair out of the way, standing behind Marinette. He plucked the clips out of her hair until it hung loose in a shiny, silky cascade, and then raked his fingers lightly through the soft strands. Marinete’s eyes half-closed and her relaxed smile made Luka smile himself as he watched her in the mirror.

He stroked gentle fingers through her hair one more time just to hear her quiet hum of appreciation, and then gathered it gently up from her neck until it cascaded over his hands. He saw Marinette twitch at the brush of his fingertips against her neck, and smiled. He loved coaxing those little reactions from her, could spend hours doing nothing but touching her and watching her moan and sigh and whimper—

He bent, letting his breath feather across her neck just before he placed a soft kiss behind her ear, making her shiver. Luka lingered there for a moment, just breathing against her, and then straightened. He had a whole night planned, after all, and there would be time enough later to indulge. Luka picked up the brush and brushed out the tail of hair he still held, and then used the brush to gather up the stray strands and smooth everything out as he considered what to do. He did think Marinette beautiful with her hair down, but he also enjoyed getting to let it down himself when the night was over. He selected several pins and put them in his mouth, long fingers twisting and braiding Marinette’s soft hair and carefully pinning it into an elegant pile that left her neck tantalizingly bare, and that would fall and unwind in the most gratifying way when he was ready to run his fingers through it again.

“There,” he murmured when he was finished. “Now, do you trust me with your clothes?” He grinned when Marinette scoffed and smacked his arm.

She trailed after him as he went back into the bedroom to look through the closet, pausing to admire herself in the mirror over the dresser, where the softer light was more flattering than the white glare of the vanity. Luka chuckled to himself, and went back to his task. He saw that his hands shook as he slid the hangers aside and sighed. I’m an idiot , he told himself, but it did nothing to ease his rising nerves. The sensual indulgence of helping her get ready had kept him from losing his mind so far, kept him in the moment, but he was beginning to think that keeping his cool through dinner would be impossible. Well, he still had to get himself ready, so maybe that would be distraction enough. It wasn’t like his mind to run ahead like this, and he didn’t want to lose a single moment with Marinette tonight to irrational worries.

He debated for a moment over a flowy, off-the-shoulder dress in a sweet pink ombre, but decided it wasn’t quite right. Instead he selected a halter dress in a rich, velvety fabric he didn’t know the name of, that would leave her lovely shoulders and sculpted arms bare, and the part of her back where his hand tended to rest, without making her feel uncomfortably exposed. Metallic embroidery along the side caught the light and shimmered in twisting vines and flowers that made his breath hitch with another surge of nervousness.

Fine. Everything would be fine. He draped the dress carefully over his arm and carried it out to her. Marinette raised her eyebrows as he handed it to her.

“A little heavy for summer,” she said, and Luka shrugged.

“Trust me,” he said, with a grin that was genuine enough to keep his nerves from showing. Marinette gave him a knowing smile and took the dress from him, and then winked at him as she turned into the bathroom. Luka pretended to pout as she peeked at him mischievously through the door before closing it entirely.

He slumped a little in relief once the door was closed, and turned back to the closet to get his own clothes with a sigh.

He was never going to get through this night.

***

Marinette took her time putting on her stockings and the dress Luka had selected for her, unable to stop smiling to herself. Luka did have a way of making her look and feel fantastic, and she couldn’t help pausing again to admire herself in the mirror. She’d never considered herself particularly vain, but she did like feeling pretty, and the way Luka looked at her never got old. She couldn’t help teasing him, just a little bit, just to see those soft eyes of his go dark and intense. She fastened the collar of the dress around her neck, but left the zipper on the back of the skirt open.

Her own breath caught when she stepped out of the bathroom, though, and Luka was sitting on the edge of their bed, leaning back on his hands with his eyes closed, breathing slowly. He was wearing dark slacks and a shirt she had made especially for him, in a rich dark blue color that was her favorite for him. The expensive fabric had a slight shimmer to it, and he’d rolled the sleeves up over his forearms. He probably did it more out of habit than any kind of fashion statement, but it was such a good look for him that she never complained. His collar was still open, and Marinette decided in an instant to leave it that way. Luka would put on a tie if she asked him to, she was sure, but she decided that the peek of his collarbone through the open collar was worth the sacrifice of a little formality. Her hands twitched at the thought of smoothing over that silky fabric on his firm chest.

Marinette recovered herself and swaggered into the bedroom, drawing a lopsided smile from Luka as she sashayed up and turned in front of him. Luka’s fingers brushed down her spine lightly before he took the zipper and slid it carefully up. Marinette faced him and his smile deepened, his eyes soft as he stood up and looked her carefully over. “Perfect. You look amazing.”

Marinette blushed and looked down, but he caught her with a finger under her chin and made her look at him again.

“You know what, I take it back. There’s actually one piece missing,” he said softly, and Marinette blinked as she realized he was no longer relaxed. Tension threaded through his body, and she put a concerned hand on his forearm without thinking. Luka took a slow breath, and then bobbed his head to the side before meeting her gaze. “The thing is, technically I can’t give it until you say yes, so…”

“Yes?” Marinette frowned in confusion.

“Will you marry me, Marinette?” he asked in a rush, and she wasn’t sure how, but suddenly there was a ring box in his hand, and she stared as he opened it. He held out a hand to her, and, still speechless, she put her hand in his automatically.

“Well?” he asked, with a teasing little smile, but she could feel his hand shaking under hers.

Marinette looked up into his eyes, reality beginning to sink in, and she breathed, “Yes,” as a brilliant smile lighted her face. Luka dropped her hand to cup the back of her head in his, pulling her in tight for a hard, slow kiss that made her head spin—partly because he had surprised her and she hadn’t managed to get a good breath first. She gasped in air as he let her go. Luka was grinning as he looked down and took the ring out of the box before he reclaimed her hand.

She watched him slide the ring on her finger, giggling as she realized his hands were still shaking. That was fine; now hers were too.

“There,” he grinned. “Now you’re perfect.”

Marinette laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Luka grabbed her around the waist and picked her up, squeezing her tight.

“You big dummy,” she murmured into his neck. He smelled so good. “I can’t believe you were nervous.”

“Neither can I,” he laughed. “This wasn’t exactly how I planned things. I can’t believe I just did that.” He leaned his forehead into hers, chuckling. “After all the work I put into this evening.”

“Well,” Marinette laid her head on his shoulder, stroking the back of his neck lightly with her fingers. “I was definitely surprised.”

Luka breathed a long sigh. “And I’m definitely relieved. That thing’s been burning a hole in my pocket for—well. We still have reservations, and now that you’re properly dressed up—” he lifted her ring hand and kissed her fingertips. “Let’s go celebrate.”

She giggled, and let him twine his fingers through hers and lead her to the door. She snagged her purse as he opened it, and they walked out into the blaze of lights that was Paris at night.

There was a car waiting for them, rather to Marinette’s surprise. “Where are we going?” she asked Luka. He opened the door and held her hand to steady her as she got inside.

“Not too far,” he reassured her, getting in beside her. “I just wanted to spare your feet, and we’re a bit fancy for the metro tonight.”

She shot him a look, aware that he hadn’t actually answered her question. By the way his lips curled at the corners, he knew exactly what he was doing. Marinette rolled her eyes, but then, touching her thumb to the ring on her finger, she smiled and settled back against the arm Luka put around her shoulders. She supposed she could let him have his mysteries tonight.

She raised her eyebrows slightly when they pulled up at one of the riverfront docks. One of the double-decker boats that carried tourists up and down the Seine was waiting there. Luka grinned at Marinette’s open-mouthed surprise as he helped her out of the car and led her past the line of tourists waiting to board. A crew member in uniform led them on board and up a set of stairs to a large, glass-walled dining room on the upper half of the boat, softly lit and empty except for a single table in the middle of the room. The glass panels all around allowed them an expansive view of everything the boat would pass on its slow glide down the river.

“Oh,” Marinette gasped, as she took it in, turning around slowly. There was a faint hum audible from the tourists filing onto the lower deck, but it was distant enough to be only a pleasant background. Luka watched her, smiling, as she took a few steps and turned, taking it all in. “This is lovely,” she murmured, eyes shining at him as he came to take her hands. He walked with her to one of the window walls, and Marinette leaned into him as they looked over the water together.

“I’m glad you like it,” Luka told her, his voice low even though it was just the two of them. She felt a surge of affection and gratitude at the intimate atmosphere he’d managed to create for them in the midst of the busy city. Part of her wanted to scold him for spending so much money, but she touched her thumb to her ring and shoved the impulse down. Obviously, tonight was special, and he must have planned and worked so hard to make this happen. Luka was not naturally a planner, after all, and he must have put a lot of thought into this. She wouldn’t ruin it by fretting.

They stayed there silently, watching the city they had worked so hard to guard and protect, until the boat cast off and began to make its slow way down the river. A well-dressed waiter appeared at Luka’s elbow and inquired about drinks. A few minutes later, they sat down at their private table, Luka’s hand automatically finding Marinette’s across it as the waiter poured two shimmering glasses of wine for them. They toasted and sipped, smiling at each other.

“You know, I think I’m glad I got impatient,” Luka chuckled as he set his glass down. “I was so nervous, I don’t think I even would have tasted this. I’m happy that now we can just enjoy it. I don’t even have to worry about you guessing the surprise.” He winked at her.

Marinette giggled, caressing his fingers with her thumb. “I think I would have been suspicious that something was up. This is way less spontaneous than your usual habits.”

“I was worried about that,” Luka admitted. “That we’d end up feeling stiff and formal and smothered.”

Marinette smiled. “I don’t feel that way at all.” It was true that taking her dancing barefoot on the Liberty with the loudspeakers turned up would have been more Luka’s style, but they could save that for their engagement party. This catered to Marinette’s sense of the romantic, while keeping the intimate, familiar atmosphere that had built up between them as they got ready. She felt wrapped in Luka’s love, even as their hands separated to make room for the first course of the meal the waiter brought them.

They turned their gaze to the windows as they ate. Many of their best memories were tied to the Seine, and they pointed out landmarks to each other, ones that no tourist would recognize, and remembered a conversation, a laugh, an adventure, or a kiss. They fell silent as they passed under a particular bridge, and their hands met again, clasping tightly until the bridge, and the memory, had passed.

Music began to play softly as they were eating dessert, making Marinette look up. It was one of Luka’s songs, of course, one he had written for her long ago, and he smiled and blew her a kiss when she beamed at him. The waiter appeared again and whispered something in Luka’s ear, and Luka nodded at him. As they finished their dessert, the waiter opened several of the panels in the wall, letting in the breeze over the Seine. Marinette shivered slightly as it brushed past her skin, but she wasn’t really cold. It was a warm summer night, and though the noises of the lower deck were now more prominent, the music more than made up for it.

When she set aside her dessert spoon with a sigh and delicately wiped her lips, Luka put aside his napkin as well and stood, offering her both hands. She blinked in surprise, but smiled and put her hands in his, letting him draw her up to her feet. Luka chuckled when she quickly stepped out of her high heels, and led her away from the table. He pulled her close in front of the open panels, folding one of her hands in his as he wrapped his other arm around her waist. Marinette put her free hand on his shoulder, but soon slid it up to play with the soft hair at the nape of his neck. Despite their posture, Luka didn’t move immediately, and Marinette wondered for a moment what he was waiting for. Then the song he’d written her so long ago faded out, and as the next one began, Luka’s arm on her waist tightened, coaxing her to sway with him.

The music rose, drowning out the conversations below them, and Marinette realized it was one she hadn’t heard before. Luka’s sharp cheekbones were tinted faintly pink, and she grinned up at him. “Is this what you’ve been so busy with the last few weeks?” she whispered, and giggled when he admitted, “Yes.”

Marinette laid her head on his shoulder—or rather just below it, since he was still wearing dress shoes and she’d left her heels by the table—and gazed out over the water, not really seeing much as she focused all her senses on Luka and the new song he’d written—written for her. It was beautiful, of course, intense and emotional and she was blinking back tears by the time it got to the bridge. Luka leaned in as it crescendoed, and she lifted her face to meet his kiss with a passion that made him step a foot back to keep from losing his balance. He matched her fervor, and for a long moment they forgot all about dancing and the music. Luka pulled back, breath heavy even as he grinned at her.

“That was when I was supposed to ask,” he told her, eyes shining. “But I think maybe that was better.” He didn’t resist at all when Marinette pulled him back down into another kiss.

“I’m so excited to marry you,” she whispered, and saw him swallow before he crushed her against him in a tight embrace.

“I love you,” was all he managed to say, in a choked voice. “I love you…so much.”

She held him, stroking gentle fingers through his hair, as he shook in the grip of overwhelming emotion, tears stinging her own eyes at the depth of his feelings and her own. Over his shoulder, she could see the lights of the Eiffel tower growing nearer, and clutched Luka even tighter.

They stood like that, holding each other, occasionally exchanging soft kisses or gentle nuzzles, until the boat bumped gently to rest by the dock.

They sat with clasped hands in the car home, comfortably silent. As soon as the door of their apartment closed behind them, Luka’s lips were on her mouth, then her neck, and she felt him sliding the pins out of her hair even as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

She groaned as his hands brushed along her spine in the lightest of touches. “No you don’t,” she muttered against his lips, gripping his shoulders hard to pull him closer. “You had your turn teasing me while we were getting ready. I’m not waiting all night for you this time. Touch me, Luka. You can take your time and worship me later.”

His sigh was frustrated, but she could feel his smile, and as they fell into the bed together, he did as she asked.

Prompt: Prompt: Proposal fic - Luka takes Marinette on a romantic date to pop the question. It's very intimate and tender.

Fiction Master Post

#lbscexchange2023 #quickspins #we'll take our time #lukanette #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #luka couffaine #marinette dupain-cheng #miraculousladybug #miraculous ladybug #pro lukamari

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trixxiephantomhive · 2 years ago

Text

LBSC Valentines Exchange

This one is for @airi-p4!!! Violin Valentine Ch1

Prompt/Summary: Alya invites Marinette to a piano contest because Adrien is playing. It turns out that she ends up fascinated by the blue-haired violinist accompanying his playing instead (and completely forgets about Adrien).

“Hey, girl! I just found out Adrien is going to be in this super hard to get into piano contest. You have to come and see him!”

“Y-Yeah Yeah! Of course I’ll come”

Those were the ill fated words that lead her to this moment. Her fading crush is constantly being re-sparked by her friends. Obviously she doesn’t mind. She and Adrien would look great together. But, her daydreams of marriage and three kids no longer seem so perfect. Yet, she still puts on her favourite red dress: knee-length, flowy sleeves, and black details. Perfect for a formal concert.

She sits and does her makeup as she waits for Alya to come and get her, hyping herself up.

By the time Alya does arrive, she’s fairly excited. Good music, good friends, and probably some yummy snacks. Tonight will be great!

“Hey, girl!” Alya smiles and gives Marinette a hug. Marinette, of course, looks at Alya's outfit to see what her friend decided to wear. Her outfit is an orange ankle-length Boho dress made with tons of ruffles, she brushes her friends bare shoulders and looks at her.

“Aren’t you going to get cold? Also– Hi!”

Alya laughs, “I’ll be alright, I can always borrow nino’s jacket. He’s meeting us there.”

Marinette smiles, and thinks “oh, great. I’m the third wheel again” but just laughs with Alya as they leave for the event.

Once they arrive the room and decor is breathtaking. Not surprising for a young pianist competition held in the Philharmonie de Paris. A large lobby awaits the girls as they stand by the doors in search of Nino. He finds them within a few minutes.

“Hey, girls!” He calls out and smiles, wrapping Alya in a close hug. Marinette smiles and waves.

“We should head in, Marinette and I wanna get good seats so we can see everything” Alya looks over and winks at her best friend, while Marinette puts on a smile, not really caring about seeing the “everything” that Alya wants her to.

She doesn’t feel any ill-will towards her friend though, she never explicitly told her best friend about not feeling so inclined towards Adrien anymore. Since as a lycée aged girl, she’s supposed to have a crush, right?

They walk into the theatre and sit down. Three seats in the middle section, five rows from the stage, Marinette takes the aisle seat with Alya on her left. If an akuma strikes during the contest, she’ll need to be able to get out quickly. She leans back into her seat and watches the stage. The show won’t be ready to start for another 5 minutes, and people are still filing in.

“No flowers for Adrien?” Nino asks Marinette teasingly.

“Wh-what? No, no, I didn’t think about it. Should I have?” Marinette asks back, worried she may have made a mistake or that it was impolite to have not brought him anything.

Alya then glares at Nino, “Girl, He’s just teasing. Adrien will be happy we came to see him.”

Marinette sighs in relief, silently cursing herself over getting so worked up. Her need to please other people is a constant annoyance in the back of her brain.

As she’s thinking and calming down, the house lights go down as the stage lights come on. Two young men in red tuxedos introduce themselves as the hosts of tonight's show, The hosts begin thanking the night’s sponsors and of course thanking the GABRIEL brand for the use of the tuxedos.

They then introduce the name of the first pianist and the song they’re playing. The first contestant is a girl with long black hair, and a uniform-like outfit of navy blue and gold. She plays an original piece called ‘Requiem 1 of 9, for each life of a cat’’. A weird name, Marinette thinks, and that is that. She sits down to play a piece that starts playful, but by the end sends chills down Marinette’s spine. After around five minutes of music she exits the stage and a new contestant sits down to play. The only flair of the event is the change in coloured lighting and occasional addition of extra accompaniment. A few players had violinists with them, one or two had a cello, And one was announced to have a viola, but Marinette really couldn’t tell the difference between it and a violin

After many performances, the awaited time came and Adrien himself walked onto the stage, announced as “Adrien Agreste, son of the famed Gabriel Agreste. Tonight he will be playing Chopin’s ‘Raindrop Prelude’ Otherwise known as Op. 28 No. 15.”

He nervously tugs at his tie as he sits down and prepares to play. Marinette is surprised to note there is a violinist on stage, a blue haired boy in an older looking suit plays along. The melody is a gorgeous but sorrowful one. The lights sparkle behind him, in the colour of a pale blue, almost reflecting the hair of his violinist.

Marinette doesn’t know why, but her eyes seem to unwillingly give this boy a spotlight.

The way he grasps his instrument with a firm hold and keeps his head tilted at such a thoughtful angle; Marinette doesn’t know much about musicians or how to play violins, but she can just tell out of the others, this boy is by far the best.

Marinette is pulled out of her examination as a burst of sound hits, Adrien’s playing becomes more dramatic and starts to feel louder even if he seems to be keeping a bit of a consistent volume. Her gaze sweeps back towards the boy, his closed eyes and pursed lips reflecting each change in the song. When it switches to a lighter melody he seems to stand up straighter, his face seems more relaxed. Every motion is so subtle, yet so perfect. It seems as if he could play forever. But just like that, the song is over. The two boys bow and walk off stage. She claps along with everyone, but her mind is focusing solely on that particular violinist. She decides, in a brash thought, that after the show, she must get backstage. It’s a fact cementing in her mind. His calmness compared to the sweat on Adrien's brow, his subtle gestures compared to that of Adrien forcing out some flair.

It was as if crushes could jump to one person from another like a flu. It almost could be true. She never knew it could happen so quickly. Adrien be damned, another boy she’s barely met has taken his place in a heartbeat. But now she has the pesky problem of finding out who he is.

The rest of the competitors go by, if one were paying attention you could almost giggle about how obvious the difference between the students who had paid to perform and the students who are here on talent is. Marinette though, was not. —Much to her friend Alya’s dismay when she tried to crack several jokes.—

She was too preoccupied with thinking about the best way to get backstage, and how she hoped the blue-haired violinist of her dreams had not yet left.

Finally, the concert ends and Marinette bolts up from her seat and makes her way towards the backstage entrance.

“Where’s the dudette going?” Nino asks Alya, watching their friend sprint away

“Probably going to find Adrien!” Alya says with a smiles.

Meanwhile, two older gentlemen sit in the back row, quietly muttering to each other. One is a stocky man with a short build and not much hair. The other is tall and slim, with a moustache that can only be described as villainous.

During the show they had remained uninterested, though only until Adrien appeared. But it may have not been him they were focusing on. As the show ends, they make their way towards the backstage entrance whispering something about a violin.

When Marinette reaches the entrance she is stopped by a large but familiar bodyguard. Dressed in all grey and frowny as ever, Gorilla stands in front of Marinette, raising a hand to inform her that “no one is allowed backstage.”

But Marinette is not one to be told no by this man once again. So she stands back to create a plan.

At the same time the two shady men continue to walk forward. They watch the young girl denied entry by a tall and bulky man. They’ll have to find another way in.

“Wait,” The shorter man says “Look at that girl, she seems determined. Maybe she’ll find us a way in.”

“Are you sure?” The skinny man replies “How do you know she’ll be any good?”

“Doesn’t matter. We can just wait a moment. We’ll get caught if we rush.” The two men nod at each other and stand behind a large potted bush, waiting for this determined girl to act.

Marinette glances around the room and takes a few steps back. She looks down into her purse to get a view of Tikki, attempting to force her brain into Ladybug mode.

That is when she notices the desert table and a fan nearby. Staring at those items, she comes up with a plan.

Marinette smiles and walks over since there's a few people getting snacks at the moment. She grabs the fan and places it at just the right angle to blow the smell of the fresh pastries towards the bodyguard. They may not be from her parents' bakery, but hopefully any dessert will suffice.

The fan blows the lovely sweet smells over towards the bodyguard and he immediately perks up, looks around and doesn’t see anyone by the door, so he strides over to the dessert table for a long awaited snack. Marinette smiles at her success and sneaks right in through the door, searching her way backstage.

｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *

The two men witness everything and nod to each other. They creep their way to the door. Marinette seems to have other plans, she makes sure the door closes behind her to avoid the guard getting into trouble. Unfortunately for the men, the door doesn’t just close. It slams, so the bodyguard, hearing the noise, whips his head over and sees the men trying to get in. He storms over and pushes the men away with a glare.

The men go outside, wondering if there’s a backdoor with possibly an easier guard to sway.

“We need to get that violin. And soon.” The shorter man exclaims once the pair is outside.

“I know. I know.” The taller man responds to his partner with exasperation

“If the kid takes it back to the Louvre it’ll be a hell of a lot harder to steal.”

“I know, stop explaining everything. Someone will overhear.”

The crooks bicker,. trying to cement another plan. They do find a back door, several actually, and all they have to do is climb a fence. How hard can that be?

｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *

Marinette, now backstage, walks around looking for that mysterious boy, seeing him just about to exit the stage. She almost sighs in defeat, until she notices an open violin case holding the specific and well designed violin the boy was playing.

While Marinette spends time finding the boy backstage, the thieves make their way over the fence, and into the nearest door, which leads them into a room right behind Marinette. The crooks think they’ve won, as the Stradivaris is laying in its open case on top of a dressing table. They make their way to it, creeping closer. Just as they are about to grab it, Marinette gets the bright idea to reach out and grab the case at the exact same time. She closes it and excitedly makes her way towards the violinist.

“Hey uhm, I grabbed this for you! It’s a nice Violin!” Marinette exclaims, hoping she didn’t make a big mistake.

“Oh—thanks, I should be watching it better. It’s a Stradivarius on loan from the Louvre.” Luka sighs, tired after the show, but also interested in this strange yet familiar girl. It feels as if he’s seen someone like her in a picture before.

“Oh Wow!” she replies, “You must be pretty popular to get something like that…”

The boy shrugs, “I’m no one special, it was requested for the accompaniment of the contestant I was playing for. Oh, I’m Luka, by the way, What’s your name?”

“Oh— Uh, Ma-Ma-Marinette!”

“Nice to meet you Ma-Ma-Marinette,” Luka smirks and stifles a laugh, Marinette blushes yet frowns at the same time. “Oh, I’m sorry” he says, “I’m not great at introducing myself to people. Especially… ones so helpful” He takes the violin case from her hands and tucks it under his arm.

Meanwhile the Crooks are fuming. This is the second time this girl prevented them from getting to that violin.

Luka looks at his phone and frowns “Well, it was nice meeting you. I have to go to an after-party event. The concert hall donors and judges are going to be chatting up the pianists and their parents. I have to be there to discuss the music aspect of everything.”

Marinette feels a bit crestfallen, and it must show on her face, as Luka amends his farewell, “Although, I suppose I could give you the address and we could meet up again. If you’d like.”

“I would love to!” Marinette smiles and leans towards him a bit, but quickly tries to tone it down. “I uh, I mean that would be fun!”

Luka grabs a notebook from his pocket and tears out a piece of paper to write down the address and the time, which is around an hour from now, presumably to give the contestants a moment to adjust their outfits or to relax. Marinette takes it and waves as he walks off.

Our two crooks stare at each other. Having overheard the conversation, they realise hijacking this boy on the road might be their answer.

Marinette smiles dreamily, this fascinating boy asking her to a private reception. What fate is this, that in a matter of minutes she finds herself closer to a date with this Luka than three years of pining over Adrien. She walks back to her friends to tell them of her early departure. But on her way over, she runs into an unexpected classmate, her friend Juleka.

“Hi, Juleka!” she calls out, “What’re you doing here?”

Juleka smiles slightly and walks up to Marinette. “Looking for my brother,” she mumbles quietly.

“Oh gosh, I forgot you had a brother. Older right? Is he a pianist?”

“Actually a violinist… He was the one accompanying Adrien.”

Marinette’s jaw dropped, a flashback of Luka’s kind smile as she handed him the violin hits her, She thinks about his appearance and it’s obvious the two are siblings.

“Oh, cool!”

“Yeah, I think he was over the way you came from,” Juleka says in her quiet manner, “Have you seen him? Blue tips in his hair— Looks like he’s running off two years worth of caffeine?”

Marinette didn’t notice the last part, but no matter, since she knows exactly where he’s going, “Yeah, actually he just went outside.”

“Damn it.” Juleka groans, “Sorry, I thought the idiot was going to wait for me. I have to go” Juleka gives Marinette a quick hug and runs off, leaving Marinette to continue searching for her friends. Once she finds them, she thinks about what to say. Not confident in admitting she’s going to an event with a guy she just met, she goes for a half truth.

“Hey, guys!”

“Marinette! Where have you been?” Alya looks at her friend with concern, always the caring, protective one.

“Yeah, dudette, you totally just ran out on us,” Nino laughs, not particularly caring one way or the other.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I got distracted.” not technically wrong, “But, I actually have to head home now. I’m getting stuffy in here.” also not wrong.

“Oh–” Alya lets out her small sound of disappointment but pulls it into a smile for her friend, “That's okay, girl, whatever you need. Do you mind if I head back with Nino then? We wanna run and get some ice cream first.”

Marinette nods and laughs, “Girl, it is way too cold for ice cream, but have fun with that!”

The trio departs, and Marinette makes her way home to fix up her outfit and figure out exactly where the event is being held.

The thieves also try to figure out where the event is being held, by sneaking around backstage until they’re inevitably thrown out by none other than the gorilla-sized bodyguard who blocked them earlier.

#LBSCExchange2023 #lukanette #pro lukamari #airip4 #art #miraculous ladybug #miraclous fanfic #lukanette endgame #valentine #violin

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goldenlaurelleaveswrites · 2 years ago

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I Should be Asleep

12:30 am

I Should be Asleep (AO3)

@nerdypanda3126 Surprise!!! I’m your secret admirer!!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 PLEASE FORGIVE ME THAT THIS IS SO LATE!!!!! Your prompts were so amazing and they really got the inspiration flowing for me again, it was so hard to decide which one(s) to use. But then I listened to this song and I knew I had to use this prompt!! I've low key become a bit obsessed with it 😂 Again, I'm so so so sorry for the delay, and I hope you enjoy it!! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

“Uh- hey! My Name’s Mama! Uh Ma-Ma-Marinette! Your mom sent me to down here- the groove- uh, the group’s waiting for you.”

“Hello Ma-Ma-Marinette.

Sorry, I tend to make more sense with this.”

***

It was always hard to really see the crowd when he was on stage. When he wasn’t being blinded by the lights, the faces tended to blur together. Especially the more he got into the music.

But even with the lights and the music, he kept catching glimpses of her face.

He had seen her before today. But only in Juleka’s pictures. And sure, he had noticed, in a casual, passing glance kind of way, that she was cute. But her picture hadn’t really prepared him for meeting her. And she was just…

He glanced up from his guitar to flash a blind grin at the cheering crowd as he riffed. And his eyes immediately found her face in the crowd. The way the lights caught her eyes… they were so bright and vivid and clear.

And so sincere.

***

Truth be told, when she had found out Rose, Juleka, and Ivan were in a band with Juleka’s brother—Luka—she hadn’t expected… well, she hadn’t been entirely sure what she had expected. But given Rose’s… pinkness, she hadn’t expected Rose to sing like that. Just like she hadn’t expected shy and quiet Juleka to transform into a hair flipping, spotlight seeking star. Or for Ivan to be grinning so broadly that his megawatt smile would rival the lights for their brightness.

And she hadn’t been expecting… she hadn’t been expecting Luka.

When she had found out Juleka had a brother, she hadn’t been entirely sure what to expect. She had assumed he would maybe dress a bit like her friend, and she hadn’t been entirely wrong on that front. And she had thought that maybe he would be quiet, the way Juleka was. She hadn’t been wrong about that either. Not exactly anyway.

She furrowed her brows as her gaze drifted to land on him. He was quiet. But he was quiet in an intense kind of way. But he was also so… open too. And he was sweet, the way he had played for her and given him his guitar pick. And so brave the way he had drawn Captain Hardrock’s attention away so she could escape. And-

She shook her head. She was supposed to be enjoying herself. Enjoying the concert. Not thinking about- Especially given Adrien had been able to make it after all.

***

He had only tumbled into bed maybe twenty minutes ago, but usually he was able to fall asleep pretty quick. Especially after a day like today.

Because it had been a day.

Thinking about it, it was pretty impressive his ma hadn’t been akumatized before today. She liked to be contrary, and she lived her life to the beat of her own drum, no matter how many warnings and tickets officer Raincomprix gave her. And his ma was… if someone was being polite, they would probably say she was expressive. Officer Raincomprix, on the other hand, would probably call her volatile. What in all fairness, was true.

And that had meant she had been a tough akuma. It had been impressive, seeing Ladybug up close in action like that. And she had saved his ma, the way she always saved Hawkmoth’s victims. And the concert had been able to go ahead almost exactly as planned, minus a few decibels and plus a keyboard.

Overall, it had been a good day.

He shifted in bed as he stretched out his legs to angle them into a more comfortable position and let out a sigh as he sank a little deeper into the mattress. It had actually been a really good day. Because on top of the concert going off, not without a hitch but successfully nonetheless, he had made a new friend.

Juleka had gushed about Marinette before. Well, as much as Jules gushed about anything. Marinette’s name had been a familiar one on the Liberty, even though she hadn’t set foot on board before today. And he got it. Marinette was sweet. Kind. Funny. And she was brilliant, the way she had gotten them out of the chains, and so brave the way she had gone to alert Ladybug. If Juleka’s words and first impressions were anything to go by, Marinette was the kind of friend he wanted in his corner. And she had offered that friendship almost instantly.

It had been a great day.

But he was tired now. And he had to get up early tomorrow to pick up his bike from the repair shop. Except, no matter what he did, no matter how comfortable he made himself, he couldn’t sleep. He felt like he was plugged into an amp. And there was music in his head, begging for him to untangle the melody and make sense of the notes. And the music sounded an awful lot like stumbled words and blue eyes and a heart worn on a sleeve.

Normally, when he couldn’t sleep he would just grab his guitar and play until he was ready to sleep. But somehow, he had a sinking suspicion that if he started playing now, he wouldn’t be able to stop playing that song.

With a groan, he rolled onto his back to star up at the ceiling. It was just barely visible in the dim light of the streetlights filtering through the makeshift curtains he and Jules had draped haphazardly over the portholes. In the dim light, he could just make out the cracks in his ceiling, some of which he and Jules had tried to cover with with stickers when they were younger. Maybe he just needed something else to focus on to settle his mind…

***

She snuggled a little closer under the covers. It had been a long day. Juleka’s mom had been a tough akuma, and having her friends so close to the action always put her on edge. But everything had turned out fine in the end.

And despite the akuma, it had been a really good day. The concert had been able to go ahead, and Adrien had been able to make it in the end. A sigh slipped past her lips at the thought, and she let her eyes flutter shut. It had been a good day, but a long one, and she was ready to slip off into her familiar dreams.

Or maybe a new one.

She had gotten to see Adrien play with the rest of Kitty Section, and she was sure that would offer plenty of dream fodder. Already, she was hoping piano music and emerald eyes would fill her dreams.

She couldn’t help but smile to herself as the memories of the evening washed over her. Behind her closed lids, her eyes were heavy, and already, she could feel herself slipping toward sleep. The technicolor lights were softer in her mind than they had been during the show, and they were skewed in rosier tones. But that wasn’t unusual; her dreams of Adrien tended to be rose-tinted.

She sank into the dream, surrendering herself to the music, gentler than what Kitty Section had played. More heartfelt. More intimate.

The softly plucked notes of the guitar swirled around her, almost caressing her as she drifted closer to sleep. A mouth twisted into a shy and embarrassed smile as blue eyes flashed from under a sweep of dark hair. And a calm and quiet voice-

The world lurched around her as she sat bolt upright in bed. From somewhere beside her bed, Tikki yelped as her pillows topple off the bed.

Guitar music?

Blue eyes?

“Marinette! What’s wrong?”

Her gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, landed on her desk. Where the guitar pick Luka had given her sat, propped up against her water bottle. She couldn’t make out Jagged’s grinning face in the dark, but she could picture it clear as day with his wide grin and blue eyes. Eyes almost as blue as-

“Marinette?” Tikki was suddenly hovering in front of her, her eyes wide with concern.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

She cast another quick glance at her desk before shaking her head. “Nothing,” she said, trying to smile, “it was just a dream.”

It was just a dream, wasn’t it?”

***

He had no idea what time it was now. All he knew that that he should have been asleep right now. And that he wasn’t.

That, and the only thing that he had accomplished by staring up at the ceiling was memorizing all the cracks in it. And the placement of the stickers.

And that trying to not think about music, especially when there was music demanding to be thought about, was impossible. At least, for him.

He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow, partly to muffle his groan so he wouldn’t wake Jules—he did not want to face her full Queen of Darkness fury for waking her up—and partly so to give himself a break from staring at the ceiling. But it was burned into his mind. Which didn’t bode well for how much time he had spent staring at it instead of sleeping.

And the music was in his mind, captivating his thoughts no matter how hard he tried not to pay attention to it—a first for him for sure—and the more he tried not to pay attention to it, the more it demanded his attention.

It was all he could think about.

But she was Juleka’s friend. And he had only just met her. He had known her less than a day.

But her song was so sincere.

She was so sincere.

As sincere as a melody…

***

She bit back a huff as she stared up into the darkness. She had no idea what time it was, but she knew she should have been asleep by now. She should have been asleep ages ago.

But every time she closed her eyes, her visions of green eyes and gold hair and a perfect smile were replaced by glinting ocean eyes and messy dark hair and a sweet and lopsided grin.

Sighing, she rolled over, carefully so as to now wake Tikki, and glared at her alarm clock. The numbers glowed dimly in the darkness, mocking her.

She should definitely be asleep right now.

Groaning, she rolled back onto her back. Why was Luka suddenly invading her dreams? Was it because of his mom being akumatized? But if that was the case, shouldn’t Juleka have been in her dreams too? He was Juleka’s brother after all. Her thoughts drifted to that moment in his room. When he had played his guitar for her and-

The pick!

It must have been because he gave her the guitar pick. That had to be it.

With that settled, she closed her eyes and snuggled back into the embrace of her mattress. She let her breaths deepen as she willed sleep to come to her. She focused her mind on the slow, steady rhythm of her breath. In and out. She repeated the words in her mind with every inhale and exhale, lulling herself toward the brink of sleep.

‘I think Marinette the compass has found herself a new statue.’

Her eyes flew open, and she shot up in bed as Alya’s words from earlier echoed in her head.

#lbscexchange2023 #lbscsecretadmirer2023 #endgame lukanette #pro lukamari #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #fluff #pining #I'm sorry it's so late

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mintaka14 · 2 years ago

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This is my LBSC Secret Admirer Valentine’s 2023 exchange fic for @Rierse. Thank you, Rierse, for the inspiration and the excuse to break Luka’s brain one more time 💙😂

Locked Out 3: Get a Key

A Miraculous Ladybug fanfiction

By Mintaka14

Luka wasn’t quite sure what he’d done in a former life to land him here in Marinette’s bed, but it had probably involved sainthood.

Last night, they’d gone to a little restaurant nearby. He was pretty sure they’d eaten at some point, but he couldn’t for the life of him have said what he’d ordered, or what it had tasted like. He’d been too caught up in the play of expressions across Marinette’s face, and the way she lit up when she talked about her work in fashion, and holy crap she was the genius who’d designed the Rock Giant album. And when he’d talked about a song he was working on, she’d been inspired to sketch an impromptu design on a napkin that had left him breathless. Somehow, it was as if she’d managed to turn everything he was hearing in his head into a few pencil lines and a suggestion of fabric. Luka’s fingers had itched for his guitar. But then she’d glanced up at him through those impossibly long lashes of hers, and he’d heard something more than music.

Somewhere around the time when the waiters were pointedly sweeping up around them and putting chairs on tables, she’d blushed and asked if he wanted to come back to her apartment for a coffee that they never ended up drinking.

He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything as gorgeous as Marinette, her lashes dark against her cheek and her hair a rumpled mess on the pillow. It all felt like an incredible dream, but the silk of her hair against his cheek felt real, and the adorable little snort she made in her sleep as she burrowed deeper into his side was definitely not something he would have dreamed up. Nor was the increasingly insistent demands of his bladder, and with a soft curse, Luka gently eased his arm out from under Marinette and went in search of her bathroom.

One thing dealt with, he wandered into the kitchen. Maybe he could make Marinette breakfast before she woke up. Luka found himself staring into the depths of the fridge, his brain still a foggy mess. He managed to pull himself together enough to register that it was a little short on the things that he knew he could manage to cook passably well. She’d mentioned last night that she’d been too busy at work to eat at home lately. And there wasn’t enough milk left for coffee.

The coffee mugs Marinette had started to get out were still sitting untouched on the kitchen bench, and his thoughts drifted off in a happy haze remembering what had distracted them, until the fridge began to beep insistently at him and he closed it quickly.

Milk. He needed milk.

Juleka had milk.

Luka padded, barefoot, out of the door and wandered vaguely down the hall in the direction of his sister’s apartment. He was oblivious to the startled stare of two elderly women gossiping in the hallway as he passed, and knocked on Juleka’s door. There was no response, and he tried again, the knock becoming a syncopated drumbeat while he was waiting for the sound of movement inside the apartment. He was just transitioning into the rhythm of the chorus when the door was ruthlessly yanked open, and Juleka glared at him, swathed in a robe and clearly in no mood for niceties.

“What?” she snarled at him. “You have your own key, why did you have to get me up?”

“Good morning to you, too,” he said mildly, and pushed past her, heading for her kitchen.

“Oh, you’re kidding me,” she said from behind him. “Luka, pants.”

“Huh?”

“Pants,” she repeated more firmly, and Luka glanced down at the boxers that he’d obviously managed to pull on before he’d left Marinette’s bedroom.

“Huh,” he said thoughtfully. “I don’t remember putting those on.” It was probably just as well that he had. His jeans were still somewhere on Marinette’s floor, several stories up.

Juleka was staring at him with her mouth hanging open. Finally, she managed to say, “Did you even come home last night? I thought you and Marinette were just going to get dinner together.” Luka could feel his ears heating up, and he ignored her to investigate the contents of the fridge. “And now you’re wandering the building in your boxers, and waking me up at an unholy hour because you forgot your key and your jeans.”

He pulled out the bottle of milk, and set it on the counter, and then turned back to grab the eggs, and a hunk of cheese. He could work with that.

“Has your brain completely liquefied? What on earth did Marinette do to you??”

Luka didn’t answer that, but he couldn’t help the dazed little grin that curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Oh, gross,” Juleka complained. “I don’t want to know.”

“Then don’t ask.”

“At least I can assume that your date went well.”

“Yeah,” he said on a happy sigh. “Marinette’s so amazing, and sweet, and that smile that just stops the room... Jules, have you seen her smile? I could write a hundred songs just on her smile, and those eyes of hers… When she looks at me, I forget my own name…”

“No kidding,” Juleka muttered. “Not to mention your pants.”

“She’s brilliant, and creative – have you seen some of the clothes she’s designed… ?”

“I’m a model, dumbass. I’ve worked with her before, that’s how we met,” Juleka said, but he was still rhapsodising.

“… she just talks about it like it’s nothing, but the people she’s worked with, and the way her mind works…”

He glanced up to find his sister watching him with an expression that was somewhere between fond exasperation and understanding.

“You have got it bad, haven’t you? I’ve never seen you like this over anyone before.”

“She’s…” he trailed off, and gave a helpless little shrug. Words felt profoundly inadequate. “She’s like music.”

“Oh god. You’re hopeless.”

“I can live with that.” He added a bundle of fresh herbs to the collection of ingredients he was piling on the kitchen bench.

“What are you doing, dumbass? You do know that’s mine, right?”

“Marinette might be hungry when she wakes up,” he said simply, and stacked everything carefully into his arms.

He gave the two elderly neighbours a friendly smile as he passed them in the hallway, and tucked the bottle of milk into the crook of his arm as he reached out to open Marinette’s front door. His mind full of thoughts of Marinette, it took him far longer than it should have to realise that the door was firmly locked, and that he was on the wrong side of it with an armful of groceries.

Luka stared blankly at the handle, and wished he had Marinette’s skill with lockpicks – that would be really handy. So would a key.

He briefly wondered how difficult it would actually be to climb up the balcony to get in – Marinette had made it look so easy - but gave up the idea after due consideration. It would make a mess of the eggs and milk, and he wasn’t sure Marinette’s balcony door was open this time anyway.

Juleka should have Marinette’s spare key. Hopefully she’d replaced it after Marinette had locked herself out the last time.

With a sigh, he started back down the hall again, past the critical stare of the two neighbours once more and down the two flights of stairs, to thump on his sister’s door again.

This time, when she ripped open the door, he just said, “Key.”

“I swear, I’m disowning you,” Juleka growled. “For the love of all that’s holy, put some pants on before I’m kicked out of the building for harbouring a pervert.”

She reached into the bowl beside the front door, and shoved Marinette’s spare key at him.

“Put some pants on, and replace my groceries, idiot. You owe me so big here.” As he wandered down the hall towards the room he’d been staying in, his arms still full of milk and eggs and cheese, she called after him, “And if you drag me out of bed again this morning, I’m going to hunt you down and flay you alive.”

“Noted,” he called back.

Faced with the dilemma of how to put jeans on when his hands were full of breakfast ingredients, Luka backtracked to the kitchen, ignoring his sister’s snort of derision and pointed comments about where his brain was. He was fully clothed, although barefoot, this time as he passed the neighbours for the fourth time that morning. It didn’t stop them from watching him go past with scandalised expressions, identical platinum bleached heads leaning in to mutter furiously to each other once he was out of earshot. Luka couldn’t find it in him to care much.

This time, he had the key, and once he managed to balance everything, he successfully got the door open. Marinette was shuffling sleepily around the kitchen when he walked in, her hair a rumpled mess and the strap of the top she’d pulled on sliding off one shoulder when she stretched to pull the coffee down from a shelf. She didn’t seem to have heard the click of the lock, or the sound of his bare feet on the floorboards. He put the groceries down on the counter, and leaned in to drop a soft kiss on her cheek.

Luka had spent the night learning a lot of things about Marinette, things that left him fascinated and falling deeper with every second. This was the moment when he learned about Marinette’s wicked reflexes, and just how strong she was.

With a startled yelp, she spun around. Her hand shot out and grasped his wrist in a grip like iron, pulling him forward over her hip as she pivoted and swept him down with her other arm around his waist. He had no very clear idea of what happened next as he felt everything go out from under him in a rush. He hit the linoleum floor in a way that was definitely going to leave bruises later, the wind knocked out of him, with a knee digging into his chest. When he swallowed, he could feel a flat edge pressed against his throat – was that a teaspoon?

Bruises and potential head trauma notwithstanding – he was pretty sure he was seeing stars when he stared up into the fiercely hot blue eyes of the girl pinning him to the floor – he was a little distracted by the way she was straddling him, and the way her thigh muscles flexed against his abdomen. And wow, this was something he hadn’t known he was weak for, but then the situation had never come up in any of the handful of fleeting relationships he’d had. His heart was hammering in a way that wasn’t entirely due to the sudden rush of adrenaline in his system.

Oh, there were going to be bruises, and they were worth it.

“Luka!”

“Hi,” he said softly, and then made a strangled noise when she shifted. Her eyes widened in alarm.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry! Did I hurt you?”

“Not the problem here,” he managed to get out.

Marinette dropped the teaspoon she was holding to his throat and moved her knee, sitting back so that she wasn’t pressing into his chest, and had a sudden realisation of what he was talking about.

“Oh. Oh.” Heat flamed up to her hairline, and Luka watched in fascination as she bit her lip.

It was entirely possible that he would live through being slammed into the floor only to be finished off by the way she released that bottom lip and let it curve up in a mischievous little smirk, even as she blushed fiery red.

What a way to go, he decided deliriously as she bent down to brush a soft, teasing kiss against his mouth.

She jerked back suddenly when someone thumped on the apartment door, and Luka almost whined.

“Marinette? Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are you in there?” an insistent elderly voice shouted.

They froze.

“Marinette, are you being mugged? I heard something!” The woman banged on the door again. “Do I need to call the police for you?”

Marinette shoved herself to her feet, leaving Luka plastered to the kitchen floor and trying to remember how his limbs worked as she ran for the door, yanking it open.

“Mme Gillette!” she said breathlessly.

Luka somehow managed to haul himself upright. His legs seemed to have turned to jelly, and it took him a while to stand, leaning heavily on the kitchen counter. When he glanced in the direction of Marinette and the front door, he could make out a narrow face peering suspiciously over Marinette’s outstretched arm. That platinum wave of carefully coiffed hair looked familiar, and Luka recognised one of the gossiping neighbours from the hallway earlier.

“There was a hooligan in the building just now. And he wasn’t wearing any trousers,” Mme Gillette informed Marinette in a scandalised tone. Luka caught the swift, wide-eyed glance Marinette shot him, and her smothered little choke of laughter. He buried his face in his hands, raking his fingers through his hair with a groan. Juleka was going to kill him for this.

“I’m sure he was –“

“I saw him trying to break into your apartment,” Mme Gillette’s voice rolled right over her. “And then I heard a banging noise in here just now, and I know you live alone, so I was going to call the police. He had blue hair and he was covered in tattoos,” she added with relish.

Luka glanced down at his arms. He hardly would have described the tattoo that coiled up his bicep and across his shoulder as covering him.

“I think he’s from one of those criminal biker gangs that’ve been on the news lately.”

“It’s alright,” Marinette tried to interrupt again. “He’s… he’s a friend. He’s a musician.”

Judging by the way Mme Gillette’s face pinched, she obviously didn’t consider musician to be much of an improvement over criminal gang. The door swung a little wider, and she caught sight of him, and glared. Luka managed a weak smile, and lifted his hand in a wave. He was deeply grateful that he was at least wearing jeans and a t-shirt now, and that the kitchen bench was concealing anything… incriminating. Mme Gillette gave a sniff that summed up her view of tattooed musicians who roamed through the hallways in a state of undress in general, and Luka in particular.

“Thank you for looking out for me,” Marinette was saying, turning a sweet smile on her neighbour. The infinitesimal softening of Mme Gillette’s expression suggested that Marinette’s charm was having its effect.

It certainly had its effect on him.

“If you’re sure don’t want me to call the police –“ she said reluctantly, and shot another sharp, suspicious look in Luka’s direction. She reached out to pat Marinette’s hand. “If he gives you any trouble, you just call me. I’ll sort him out,” she added grimly. “I can have a squad car here in minutes.”

When Marinette finally got the door closed, and leaned against it in a fit of helpless giggles, one hand pressed to her mouth, Luka said reluctantly, “I should go, before she really does decide to call the police.” He bent to kiss her, leaning his forehead against hers with a soft sigh. “Can I see you again tonight?”

“You still want to see me, after I practically maimed you just now, and almost got you arrested by my neighbour?” she teased, but he could hear the thread of nerves under it all. He kissed the tip of her nose. It was very kissable. So were her lips, and he kissed those again too.

“Sweetheart, I think that last one’s on me. I really should have remembered to put my jeans on before I went down to Juleka’s for the milk.”

Marinette giggled at that. “We really don’t have a good track record with pants, do we?”

“In my defence, you are very distracting.”

“Really?” she asked wistfully, and his arms tightened around her at the doubting note in her voice.

“Marinette,” he said with all the conviction he could muster, “I’ve been stupid for you since you turned up at the door. Jules is just about ready to kill me. I’m just hoping that I haven’t made as much of an idiot of myself as she seems to think I have.”

Like proposing the second time he’d seen her. Juleka had given him hell for that one, and he knew it was too soon for Marinette to know how she felt about him. He could wait a few months to try and convince her he’d meant every word, if it meant she’d stay.

Marinette pulled back, those expressive blue eyes of hers clouding with a frown.

“Juleka doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” she said tartly. “I know she’s your sister, but how could anyone not see how incredible and sweet you are?”

Luka laughed a little helplessly at her incredulous tone. “Please tell her that.”

“And last night was…” she broke off, turning a charming shade of pink again. She chewed her lip, and he could see her trying to come up with the right words. “Do you ever have that moment – I don’t know how it works with musicians, but when I’m designing something – there’s that moment of certainty when you know what you’re doing? For one brief, shining moment, everything comes together in your mind, and you feel like you can do anything?”

Luka rubbed his cheek against her hair, thinking of every song he’d ever written when it all snapped into focus, and the moments when he’d stood on stage with his guitar in his hands and felt the energy of the crowd, and just knew that he owned it. That electric moment of creation.

“I know it,” he said softly. He’d felt that the moment that he’d opened Juleka’s door and fallen into her eyes.

“That’s how it feels with you.”

Luka felt as though she’d just floored him again, all the breath knocked out of him in one dizzying rush.

“I don’t exactly have the best track record with relationships,” she said. “There’s a whole lot of overthinking, and plans that always go wrong, and then I do something like lock myself out of my apartment and they think I’m weird when I don’t wait for the building supervisor. I don’t get why they think I should waste time when the balcony is right there.”

He suppressed a little whine at the memory.

“You have no idea,” he managed to tell her, “how very, very hot that was. I think you’re amazing…” He kissed her perfect mouth again. He’d never get tired of doing that. “… and gorgeous…” another kiss, on the curve of her jaw this time “… and mind-blowing…” she let out a soft gasp as he pressed his lips to the pulse in her neck “… and any man would be lucky to have a chance with you.” She blushed at the unmistakable sincerity in his voice.

“Maybe I was just waiting for the right man to drop his towel in the hallway and propose to me,” she said a little breathlessly, and if he hadn’t already been fathoms deep in love with her, that would have been the moment he fell.

All thoughts of waiting went right out the window.

“How do you feel about a spring wedding?” he asked in a daze, and she gave him a mischievous little smile.

“Why wait? I’m free this afternoon.”

Take me. I’m yours.

Somehow they found their way back into Marinette’s bedroom, and the rumpled mess of her bed, when Luka suddenly thought of something. He groped blindly for his phone, which was still in the pocket of his jeans where he’d dropped them next to the bed last night.

“Seriously?” Marinette asked, one eyebrow lifting and a smile hovering around the corners of those very kissable lips as he somehow managed to dial the right number. “You need to make a phone call now?”

“Just one, real quick,” he told her as the phone rang, and was answered by an incoherent snarl. “Hey, Jules,” he said blithely. “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“This had better be good,” his sister growled in response. “I did mention flaying, didn’t I?”

He grinned, even though she couldn’t see it. “Want to be best woman at our wedding?”

“That’s not funny, Luka.”

“I’m not joking, Juleka,” he said in a cheerful imitation of her tone, as Marinette buried her face in his shoulder and giggled. “Marinette said yes.”

“You’ve known each other less than a week! When are you getting married?”

“I told you. This afternoon.”

There was a long, long silence, then Juleka groaned, “Oh, gods, there’s two of you. I’m stuck with two of you.”

As an afterthought occurred to him, Luka added, “Oh, and if the police turn up looking for me, you don’t know where I am.”

He held the phone away from his ear. It took a lot to get his little sister to raise her voice, but he was pretty sure that everyone in the apartment building could hear the outraged shriek coming up from two floors below.

Luka hung up the phone in the middle of Juleka’s profanity-ridden response, still grinning, and turned to the woman giggling in his arms. He had much more important things to think about than his sister’s offended sensibilities.

He had a wedding to plan.

#lbscexchange2023 #lukanette #pro lukamari #Locked Out #Locked Out 3 #they're idiots your honor #Juleka is Done #you can hear the sound of Luka's brain overheating #zero to sixty in 3.5 #pants are important

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mystic-myrtille · 2 years ago

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Chapter 4 is up !!

#ml #ml fanfic #my fanfic #lukanette #pro lukamari #endgame lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #ml au #orchestra au #lbscexchange2023

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airi-p4 · 2 years ago

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LBSC Secret Admirer Exchange 2023 - Winter vacation

This is my piece for the @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers ‘ Secret Admirer Event 2023 for @nonbinarynino !!

I went with Prompt 1, a winter fluff story with ART at the end! I hope you enjoy it! 😊

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!! 💙

________________________________

AO3

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Winter vacation

Marinette couldn't believe it was really happening.

After years being unable to leave Paris because of her Ladybug duties (and until a couple of weeks ago), she had assumed it was just an impossible dream. But now, at 18 years of age, it was happening: a winter vacation! With the best company she could ask for- her boyfriend Luka.

The trip had started roughly, with rain and a traffic jam as soon as the couple left Paris. His lack of driving experience showed, not only for the 'newbie' sign at the back of the rented car, but also with his annoyingly slow speed. And sure, safety first, as her parents had said, but they had completely miscalculated the time it would take them on the road. In consequence, the shopping for supplies had been rushed, just before closing time, and they barely made it to sign the rental contract and get the keys before the office closed as well. Later, at night, the concert they had gone to had been amazing and, luckily, the bed they finally crashed into after a long day was nothing but comfortable and warm.

It was perfect.

Almost.

Because the slim thread of light that crossed through the slit of the window's dark curtain and angled with precision on her closed eyes that morning was annoying.

Marinette internally groaned. If it wasn't for the inappropriate sunrays, she would still be sleeping safe and sound: safe, because of the arms that surrounded her warmly; and sound, for the audible yet relaxing humming of her loved boyfriend (and her own snores too).

"Good morning" Luka finally decided to speak after noticing her shifting because of the sunlight. "It's mid-morning. Shall we wake up?"

"Hmmm" she stretched her legs and pushed closer to him, trying to avoid the sunlight. He smiled as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, to her contentment.

"Do you want a coffee?"

"Hmm… Yes"

Warm coffee in bed, with Luka, while it was cold outside sounded like a little piece of bliss. Luka rolled to the side and sat down on the bed, putting his slippers on, ready to stand up. She immediately noticed her own mistake when she missed his body heat.

"Wait no! Don't go!" Her hands instinctively moved closer to hug his torso from behind. "Snuggles in bed?"

"Snuggles or coffee?" He chuckled, rubbing the arms surrounding him, interlacing their fingers and turning just enough to see her face.

"Both?"

Despite being weak to his girlfriend's pleading voice and the temptation of snuggles, Luka brought out all determination not to cave. He smiled fondly, placing a kiss on the back of her hand while skillfully releasing himself from her embrace. "I'll be back in a minute"

"Noooo" Marinette whined as he stood up and started walking away. Luka giggled, amused by her reaction: cute.

He exited their bedroom and moved to the open living-dining-kitchen. The bungalow they had rented was small, but very practical. Certainly more than enough for the two of them. And for the kwamis. The lack of neighbors made it even better, more private and quiet, ideal for those little noisy gods to play around without having to worry for them to be seen.

Luka's steps stopped at the window, and when he ran the curtain to look outside… his eyes opened wide.

"Wow… You have to see this, Marinette"

"Hm?" She mumbled, from the bedroom.

"C'mon, sleepyhead! Come here" He called, chuckling at her lazy mumble. Soon enough, clumsy feet hopped to him rapidly and her arms wrapped around him in search of some warmth.

"Cold"

"It is," he smiled, naturally returning her embrace. "Look"

He pointed outside, and Marinette's eyes opened wide, sparkling at the sight.

"Woah-! Snow!" She jumped closer, not letting go. "There's snow, Luka!"

"Yes, there is."

He loved her excited grin. She was dazzling. And he couldn't stop his lips from curving up watching her bright smile.

"Let's go!" She pulled him and then ran towards the door.

"Huh? What about coffee?" He asked, but she was already putting her boots on.

"Not now!"

"And snuggles?" He tried.

"Later!" She rushed and opened the door wide, too mesmerized to worry much about the change of temperature, despite her shivering "Aaahh!! Snow!!"

"Marinette, wait! You're still wearing your pajamas! At least put a coat on! And gloves!"

"Ah-!" she stopped mid-door realizing. She put on her thickest coat that Luka handed her and the gloves she had inside it's pocket and immediately ran outside to touch the snow. "C'mon, Luka!"

"Fine, fine…" he didn't bother to change either. With his boots, coat, gloves and a knit hat on, he soon followed after her. When he reached his girlfriend, he handed her a pink knit hat that she immediately put on.

"It's so nice!" The girl laughed, stepping on the snow fully unaware of Luka's smirk.

"Marinette-"

"Hm?"

She turned around to his calling and-

Pooff

A snowball hit her forehead.

"Oh, no! I'm sorry! I wasn't aiming for your face!" She quickly covered her face with her hand and he reached closer to check on her, with worry. "Are you ok?"

Before he could see her face she turned to him and-

Pooff

A snowball hit straight to his face.

"Hahahah payback!" She bent her middle while laughing.

"So you choose war…" his eyebrow arched and his smirk turned up playfully.

"You started!" She stuck her tongue out. "Besid-" Another snowball almost hit her as she was about to talk, but she dodged it skillfully. "Ha! You miss-!"

Pooff

Before she could celebrate another smaller snowball hit her from another angle.

"Hey! That's not fair! You should be helping me and not him, Sass!"

"Ssssorry! Luka promissssed to give me a feasssst and to play my favorite ssssong if I helped him!" Luka shared a knowing look with his kwami.

"Sneaky you!" She protested, but Luka dodged the snowball she threw at him.

"It's no use. You should know by now that it is important to have good allies in battle!"

Oh, Marinette knew that too well. She had no doubts that the final battle against Hawkmoth and all that preceded it wouldn't have ended as well if Luka hadn't been with her, her closest and most reliable ally to lean on. When he confessed he knew about her secret identity, she had regretted not having told him earlier.

Oh, and talking about allies...

"Tikki!! Help me!" Marinette called. But Tikki stared at them from the other side of the window, shivering and covering herself with the curtains. "Tikki!! C'mon!" The kwami ignored Marinette’s call for help. Before the human girl could complain, another snowball fell on her head. "Ouch!"

The snowballs kept flying from one side to the other, taking cover behind the few trees and bushes of the wide garden, laughing filling the space.

"Well? Do you surrender, Marinette?"

"Never!"

She knew she was at a disadvantage, but the words 'surrender' and ‘give up’ weren't in her vocabulary. Cornered by Luka on one side and Sass at the other and without anywhere to take cover she relied on her last resort.

"HIYAAAH!"

She charged against Luka, tackling him to the not so deep snow mat on the floor, her body over his.

"You cheater! That's not how a snowball fight works!" Luka laughed, pulling her closer in a tight hug.

"Everything is allowed in battle! And I won! That's all that matters!" She raised her face to meet his eyes and grinned.

He chuckled "You little mi-" ‘mischievous?’ she expected. "Miraculous girl" he unexpectedly ended, kissing the top of her nose. "You're too cute"

She flustered, hiding the reddish color in his chest. "That's not fair…"

"Didn't you just say everything is allowed in battle?" He smirked and she sank her face on his chest deeper as she shook her head lightly in disagreement.

If it was cold- they didn't mind it. They were pretty warm and cozy holding each other closely, despite his back being sunk in the snow.

"Is the snow battle over now?"

Sass's question brought them back to reality.

"Yes, Sass. Thank you for your help. There's some tofu in the fridge. You can take one pack. I'll prepare more for you later, your favorite."

"Thhhhhank you, Luka!" Sass’ tail bounced happily and the pair looked amusedly as Sass flew away, crossing through the window where Tikki had been some minutes ago. Then, Marinette rolled to the side, her back on the snow, next to Luka. They shared a smile.

"Do you want to play more with the snow or-"

"Snow angels!" She proclaimed. "I want to do it!"

"Sure. Let's do it"

'Her enthusiasm is contagious,' Luka thought.

Marinette laughed as she moved her arms and legs, spreading up and down against the snow. When her arms were stretched towards Luka, her hands bumped into Luka's arm.

"You're too close! It's not going to look good!" Her cheeks pumped up, lips puckered as she stood up to let herself fall on the snow a bit further away. He looked entertained at her excitement and copied her action, making sure he left enough space for her to move freely without him being in the way. "This feels great, Luka! So much fun!"

At this point, Luka was just relishing watching Marinette play. She blushed when she looked to her side and found him staring at her with those enamored eyes of his. Arm strengthened, he pulled himself slightly closer, just enough to approach her hand, carefully, so he didn't destroy her snow angel. She gladly took it without a second thought.

"I'm so happy, Luka" she squeezed her hand in his. "This place is super lovely and I have the best company I could ever wish for. I love you. I'm so glad to have you in my life"

"The feeling is mutual, Marinette" he hummed a melody, and she listened closely, letting herself get lost into it. "Do you want to head back or do you want to play more with the snow?" He asked.

"I want to make a snowman!" She exclaimed.

"Sure" he smiled at her begging eyes. "But why don't we have lunch first? I heard your stomach rumble"

"You heard!?" She blushed.

"Yes, I did. I'm hungry too. Let's cook and eat first and work on the snowman later? We can have our coffee after lunch"

"Sounds great!" She grinned.

"And what about the snuggles? Do you still want them?" He teased.

"Of course I do! All day! Next to the fireplace!" She daydreamed out loud. "But only when the snowman is finished!"

"Very well" he chuckled, his back straight up. "Let's hurry inside. It's freezing here" he stood up and moved in front of Marinette, who took his hand to help herself up to her feet with a quiet "thank you". He pulled her hand tightly. "You know, Marinette? I was thinking that maybe the kwamis will want to help us with the snowman"

"Oh! What a great idea!" Marinette's eyes filled with sparkles. "It's been a while since they've been outside the box! I bet they'll love it!" Her eyes looked at the window and she spotted Tikki frowning her brows. Marinette's expression mimicked the kwami's. "Well- as long as they're not as weak to the cold as Tikki…"

Luka snickered at the glare Marinette gave to the red kwami. He didn't expect her to be so hurt by her kwami's betrayal over a playful match. The scene was somewhat funny to him.

"Marinette, I-" Tikki called as soon as the girl entered the house, but Marinette tilted her head up and to the side with an annoyed "Hmph!" and moved to the bedroom to change her clothes.

Luka and Sass approached the kwami, who was sulking. "Don't worry, Tikki. She understands you dislike the cold. She's just a bit hurt"

"But…"

“You should help us to build the snowman later. It will be fun and I'm sure Marinette will be pleased. And if you need help with her, we’re here” Luka assured, and Sass nodded.

"Okay"

Tikki was still a bit unsure when Luka left to start lighting the fireplace. The guitarist didn't think the day he was going to use Anarka's survival skills teachings would come, but there he was- lighting a fire with logs and kindling. Tikki and Sass watched him carefully light the fire, learning while being fascinated with the flames growing taller. With the fireplace ready, Marinette approached to warm up beside it while waiting for Luka to come back with dry clothes on.

"Luka! I'm going to cook for you!" She informed him, with her apron on. "I want to thank you for always being so wonderful to me"

He had just finished hanging his winter clothes next to hers by the fireplace with Sass and Tikki's help when she spoke.

"Let's cook together, then" he rolled his sleeves up as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Eh? But-!"

"I want to thank you and show you my appreciation for you as well."

"You don't have to! You already spoil me all the time… I want to spoil you too!"

"You do spoil me, Marinette. Every minute you spend with me, I feel like the most fortunate person in the world"

"That’s not true! You're the one spoiling me! Why won't you let me spoil you!?" She whined.

"What do you want to eat? Should I cut some vegetables?" He tied his apron on.

"Luka! I was talking-!" She started, but he gave her that innocent look of his as he got a knife and had a couple of leeks ready in his hands. "Ah- yes, vegetables are good, if you please"

Argh- Lucky her how Hawkmoth never realized Luka was her weakness.

______

Marinette had already known from previous (multiple) occasions, but she really liked how well she and Luka worked together. Be it with fashion and art sense, cooking or fighting akumas. They understood each other without words, almost as if they could read the other's minds. And she loved it. The calm and assurance that Luka gave her made her relax and feel at peace. It almost seemed like a brand new feeling, after years of daily stress from her double life routine.

Luka was her safe place.

A very special person she loved and wanted to keep close by in her life forever.

____

Marinette released the kwamis while the quiche was in the oven. Some of them immediately sought for warmth by the fireplace that Sass was feeding with more logs, following Luka’s instructions. Apparently, a few kwamis also disliked the freezing weather as much as Tikki did, the humans noticed. Meanwhile, Pollen, Kaalki, Roarr and Ziggy searched for items to decorate the snowman later and the other kwamis played around the room while Luka played his acoustic guitar and Marinette knitted.

"Tikki" Marinette called her kwami. "Come here, please"

Nervous, the creation kwami nodded and reached her human friend, who had her hands closed. "Yes…?"

"This is for you," the human girl said to the kwami's surprise. When she opened what was hiding in her hands, Tikki was speechless in delight.

"That’s-"

"I knitted you warm clothes. Now you have no excuse not to come play with us, ok?" She winked.

"Marinette!! I love it! Thank you!!" Tikki flew to hug her smiling face tightly. "I'm sorry for earlier!"

Marinette giggled at the tears of joy spilled by the kwami and returned the embrace. "I know, Tikki. I'm not mad. I know you would come and help me no matter how cold it was outside if I was in real danger. You already proved so many times." If the kwami wasn't red they would have noticed her blushing. "But I wanted you to come and play with us, too. It's rare to have free time like this, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. You worked very hard these past years and I'm very proud of you! I'll be very happy to help with the snowman!" She grinned, wearing the robe and its hoodie on.

"Good!" Marinette grinned. "Why don't you go help Kaalki and the others then?"

"Okay!" Tikki flew away to join the rest of the kwamis.

"Tikki! Your robe looks so cute! I want one too, guardian!" "Me too!" "And me!"

"Fine, fine" Marinette giggled, knitting a few more pieces of clothing for all of them- or at least for the ones who disliked the cold.

Luka continued playing his guitar, but he couldn't help but to smile fondly at the happy sight. The moment he made eye contact with the ladybug kwami, he made sure to wink in reassurance and the kwami smiled brightly in response.

_______

After lunch and coffee, Marinette, Luka and the kwamis went outside to build the snowman. They worked playfully while singing the song from Disney’s movie Frozen altogether (Longg sang it in Japanese, to everyone’s surprise). Marinette and Luka chuckled as she admired Fluff’s effort not to eat the carrot used as the snowman’s nose.

Before they could give the snowman its final touch, the ladybug themed knit hat suggested by Tikki, a strong gust of wind made the piece of clothing fly away with it.

"Oh- no! Come back!" Marinette straightened her arm, trying to catch it, but Luka pushed her the other way as the wind became stronger. A few branches fell down to the snow covered floor.

"Marinette, everyone! Inside! Now!" Luka yelled.

"But the hat!" Marinette protested.

"When the weather improves! Now let's get safe inside!"

Once safe inside, the kwamis and Marinette looked at the snowman with puppy eyes through the window.

"The snowman will be cold…" one kwami lamented. "Can't we really go get it real quick?"

"I want to. Maybe it's still close if we hurry-"

"No, you can't," Luka settled, cutting Marinette's suggestion short.

"But you bought that hat for me, Luka! It's important to me!"

"It's just a hat, Marinette. There's nothing as important to me as your safety." Marinette let her body weight fall onto Luka, wrapping her arms around his middle and she rubbed her back with care. "Let's go search for it when the wind and the snow stop, ok?"

"Will we find it?" She mumbled sadly into his clothes.

"Well- I can't say. But we have luck on our side, don't we?" He touched her earrings with his eyes.

"You, dork!" She giggled at his comment. "But well- it's true that I do feel very lucky with you. Plus we do have the best little allies!"

He laughed back and wrapped her even closer, lifting her slightly to the air. After a few awkward steps, he let themselves fall down on the couch, by the fireplace. He smirked at her confused face. "Now- snuggles?"

"Yes!" She laughed cozily, hugging her boyfriend even closer.

They didn't need to ask before the kwamis brought them a blanket and joined them around.

‘Definitely the best allies’, they agreed.

_____

They spent the rest of the afternoon there, cozy, snuggling together with the warmth of the fireplace, with the kwamis either playing around the fire or nestling with the couple under the blanket.

“I really needed this vacation… It’s been a very long while since I’ve felt so nice… maybe never,” Marinette hugged him tighter. “Thank you for taking me here, Luka”

“Thank you for coming with me, Marinette” He kissed the top of her head and returned the embrace, making sure the blanket covered her properly. His efforts turned out worthless as she changed positions, rose up to kiss his lips lovingly and settled comfortably between his face and his shoulder. He readjusted the blanket over them.

Maybe they were away from Paris, from their families, from their friends… and from the flat they were going to move into together next month…

But being there, safely snuggled in each other's arms…? It was very, very nice…

At home.

As for the kwamis? They were noisy, sure, but it was joyful being able to let them play freely like that.

A happy family she wanted to keep forever.

“Let’s come back next year,” she suggested with excitement. “And every year from now on…” she dared, expectantly.

He looked at her in surprise, but immediately softened at what she implied.

Luka knew he wanted her forever… The little box he kept hidden inside his guitar case was proof enough. Besides, Valentine's day was around the corner. Maybe it was about time to pop the question…

“Every year from now on sounds wonderful,” he whispered in delight.

“Good!” Marinette squished her lips into his cheek and took cover once again into his shoulder. She was quite sure he was blushing, but the warmth from the fireplace made it hard to tell.

Their wide smiles left no trace of doubt about their love and happiness, though.

_______

The next day, the wind and snow had stopped. Together, with the kwamis, they finished the snowman. Luckily, the ladybug themed knit hat got stuck in a bush nearby and Tikki found it easily. She had wanted to help despite the cold, and Marinette had rewarded her, gladly, with hand-made macarons.

On the third day, the snow melted, including the snowman. The kwamis teared up and cried at their loss, but the sun was out and the weather was very nice for a stroll amid nature and a picnic. The day turned out to be really enjoyable.

During their little vacation, Luka composed a few songs- all of them about Marinette- and Marinette sketched a few designs- based on Luka (and a few of the kwamis). They shared plenty of kisses- too many to count-, cuddled a lot beside the fireplace cozily, whispered hundreds of ‘I love you’, tenderly, to each other’s ears and made love for the first time when they felt naturally ready for it.

They never failed to inspire, love and support each other.

And when their vacation ended, they were sad to leave the bungalow behind, but made sure to leave the reservation for next year and for the same dates paid beforehand.

And that next time, when they returned, Marinette wore a shiny engagement band on her ring finger, expected to soon be substituted by a wedding band that matched her now fiancé and future husband, Luka.

Year after year, they kept the tradition and they agreed to call it ‘the best days of the year’.

___________

#LBSC Secret Admirer Event 2023 #LBSCExchange2023 #my art #my fic #airip4 #lukanette #Pro LukaMari #lukanette fic #endgame lukanette

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mystic-myrtille · 2 years ago

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Chapter three is up!

@lovebugs-and-snakecharmers

#ml #ml fanfic #my fanfic #lukanette #pro Lukamari #Marinette dupain cheng #Luka couffaine #julerose #Juleka couffaine #rose lavillant #Orchestra AU #lbscexchange2023 #endgame lukanette

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lovebugs-and-snakecharmers · 2 years ago

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Happy Valentine's Day!

It's reveal day for our Secret Admirer Exchange! Our AO3 collection has been revealed and can be found here!

We still have some works expected to come in later today, so there will be new stuff to enjoy throughout the day!

#lbscexchange2023 #lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #endgame lukanette #lukanette endgame #pro lukamari

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airi-p4 · 2 years ago

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SJDFNSJDFNSDFJN

This is not how I expected the violin story to go but I’M LOVING IT 😆

THANK YOU TRIXXIE !!

Happy Valentine’s Day 💙💙💙

LBSC Valentines Exchange

This one is for @airi-p4!!! Violin Valentine Ch1

“Hey, girl! I just found out Adrien is going to be in this super hard to get into piano contest. You have to come and see him!”

“Y-Yeah Yeah! Of course I’ll come”

She sits and does her makeup as she waits for Alya to come and get her, hyping herself up.

By the time Alya does arrive, she’s fairly excited. Good music, good friends, and probably some yummy snacks. Tonight will be great!

“Aren’t you going to get cold? Also– Hi!”

Alya laughs, “I’ll be alright, I can always borrow nino’s jacket. He’s meeting us there.”

Marinette smiles, and thinks “oh, great. I’m the third wheel again” but just laughs with Alya as they leave for the event.

“Hey, girls!” He calls out and smiles, wrapping Alya in a close hug. Marinette smiles and waves.

“No flowers for Adrien?” Nino asks Marinette teasingly.

“Wh-what? No, no, I didn’t think about it. Should I have?” Marinette asks back, worried she may have made a mistake or that it was impolite to have not brought him anything.

Alya then glares at Nino, “Girl, He’s just teasing. Adrien will be happy we came to see him.”

Marinette sighs in relief, silently cursing herself over getting so worked up. Her need to please other people is a constant annoyance in the back of her brain.

Marinette doesn’t know why, but her eyes seem to unwillingly give this boy a spotlight.

She was too preoccupied with thinking about the best way to get backstage, and how she hoped the blue-haired violinist of her dreams had not yet left.

Finally, the concert ends and Marinette bolts up from her seat and makes her way towards the backstage entrance.

“Where’s the dudette going?” Nino asks Alya, watching their friend sprint away

“Probably going to find Adrien!” Alya says with a smiles.

But Marinette is not one to be told no by this man once again. So she stands back to create a plan.

At the same time the two shady men continue to walk forward. They watch the young girl denied entry by a tall and bulky man. They’ll have to find another way in.

“Wait,” The shorter man says “Look at that girl, she seems determined. Maybe she’ll find us a way in.”

“Are you sure?” The skinny man replies “How do you know she’ll be any good?”

“Doesn’t matter. We can just wait a moment. We’ll get caught if we rush.” The two men nod at each other and stand behind a large potted bush, waiting for this determined girl to act.

Marinette glances around the room and takes a few steps back. She looks down into her purse to get a view of Tikki, attempting to force her brain into Ladybug mode.

That is when she notices the desert table and a fan nearby. Staring at those items, she comes up with a plan.

｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *

The men go outside, wondering if there’s a backdoor with possibly an easier guard to sway.

“We need to get that violin. And soon.” The shorter man exclaims once the pair is outside.

“I know. I know.” The taller man responds to his partner with exasperation

“If the kid takes it back to the Louvre it’ll be a hell of a lot harder to steal.”

“I know, stop explaining everything. Someone will overhear.”

The crooks bicker,. trying to cement another plan. They do find a back door, several actually, and all they have to do is climb a fence. How hard can that be?

｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *+:｡.｡:+* ﾟ゜ﾟ *

“Hey uhm, I grabbed this for you! It’s a nice Violin!” Marinette exclaims, hoping she didn’t make a big mistake.

“Oh Wow!” she replies, “You must be pretty popular to get something like that…”

The boy shrugs, “I’m no one special, it was requested for the accompaniment of the contestant I was playing for. Oh, I’m Luka, by the way, What’s your name?”

“Oh— Uh, Ma-Ma-Marinette!”

Meanwhile the Crooks are fuming. This is the second time this girl prevented them from getting to that violin.

Marinette feels a bit crestfallen, and it must show on her face, as Luka amends his farewell, “Although, I suppose I could give you the address and we could meet up again. If you’d like.”

“I would love to!” Marinette smiles and leans towards him a bit, but quickly tries to tone it down. “I uh, I mean that would be fun!”

Our two crooks stare at each other. Having overheard the conversation, they realise hijacking this boy on the road might be their answer.

“Hi, Juleka!” she calls out, “What’re you doing here?”

Juleka smiles slightly and walks up to Marinette. “Looking for my brother,” she mumbles quietly.

“Oh gosh, I forgot you had a brother. Older right? Is he a pianist?”

“Actually a violinist… He was the one accompanying Adrien.”

Marinette’s jaw dropped, a flashback of Luka’s kind smile as she handed him the violin hits her, She thinks about his appearance and it’s obvious the two are siblings.

“Oh, cool!”

“Yeah, I think he was over the way you came from,” Juleka says in her quiet manner, “Have you seen him? Blue tips in his hair— Looks like he’s running off two years worth of caffeine?”

Marinette didn’t notice the last part, but no matter, since she knows exactly where he’s going, “Yeah, actually he just went outside.”

“Hey, guys!”

“Marinette! Where have you been?” Alya looks at her friend with concern, always the caring, protective one.

“Yeah, dudette, you totally just ran out on us,” Nino laughs, not particularly caring one way or the other.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I got distracted.” not technically wrong, “But, I actually have to head home now. I’m getting stuffy in here.” also not wrong.

Marinette nods and laughs, “Girl, it is way too cold for ice cream, but have fun with that!”

The trio departs, and Marinette makes her way home to fix up her outfit and figure out exactly where the event is being held.

#LBSCExchange2023 #lukanette fic #endgame lukanette #💙💙💙

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