#lukanette 2020

[verfound]

FIC: Sweet Dreams (MLB, Lukanette, Lemony Fresh)

Characters/Pairings: Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng; Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Ladybug thought Sweet Dreams was pretty harmless as akumas go.  After all, what could be so bad about having your favorite dream running around Paris?  Viperion was hesitant to agree, especially after he gets hit and Marinette Dupain-Cheng is suddenly standing in front of him in nothing but his favorite Jagged Stone t-shirt…

Author’s Notes/Warnings: Y’all know why I don’t generally consider myself a smutficcer?  Because this simple, easy @smutember prompt has been fighting me since 2020.  😂  I just…can’t make things easy on myself.  I can’t have just the lemonade – I need the fancy lemonade, full of fruit infusions and fun-shaped ice cubes and a little umbrella to boot, and does it come fizzy?  (Which is all to say Plot Always Happens.  😂  There was a point where this fic was two separate docs, one of which was cut up into little flashcards to get arranged on my desk because I liked the ideas just not the order they were in.  Ironically enough, this wasn’t even a prompt I was originally going to do – I just had an idea I liked, then that idea fought me tooth and nail for three years.  😂  Writers, man.  😂)

“Sweet Dreams”

Luka looked up as the bedroom door opened, a smile warming his face as Marinette walked out.  She was yawning, her short hair a mess and her arms raised above her head in a sleepy stretch that pulled the hem of his old Jagged Stone shirt higher on her creamy thighs.  She hadn’t bothered putting her pants back on.  He wondered if she’d given the same courtesy to her underwear – if it was still lying on his floor, wherever he’d thrown it earlier that night.  Her arms were still above her head, hands clasped on her elbows, when she opened her eyes and caught him staring.  A lazy, sleepy smile curled her lips.

He loved that smile.  It was one of his top five favorite things in the world.

“Hey, you,” she said, her voice thick and groggy from sleep.  That voice – the way it sounded after just waking up, in his bed, where he hoped she’d decide to spend every night for the rest of their lives – was quickly becoming a favorite thing, too.  He held his hand out for her and beckoned, wanting her closer.

“Hey,” he said, smiling as she moved his guitar to prop against the side of the couch, crawling onto his lap instead.  He chuckled as his hands found her hips, his eyes closing as her hands sank into his hair.  “Did I wake you?”

“Only in that the bed was suddenly too cold and empty,” she answered, bending to press a slow, languid kiss to his lips.  “I woke up freezing, and then I heard you out here with Claire and thought, ‘That hussy.  He could be putting his hands to much better use.’”

[sidsinning]

Lukanette 2024 vs. 2020 redraw 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[mysterynoel]

12 Days of Ficmas Day 7 - Lukanette NYE

Title: Undecided

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Ship: Marinette Dupain-Cheng / Luka Couffaine

First made: August 2020

Last worked on: July 2023

“This was a great party, Adrien.”

“I’m glad you could make it, Marinette.”

“Well, I better get going. I promised my parents I’d watch the bakery so they could rest after the morning rush. It wouldn’t be good if I was falling asleep when someone came in.”

“It’s really late. Are you walking home by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine!”

“I should at least call you a car.”

“Don’t worry about her, Adrien,” a voice called out from across the room. Marinette turned to see Luka standing on the stage, facing them. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe, if that’s okay with you, Marinette?”

[airi-p4]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖💖💖

(In my opinion comics also count as fics if you want to talk about your writing and comics)

Thank you @goldenlaurelleaveswrites @blueberry-macaron for the asks 💙💙

I think it's not surprise if I say I'm more confident about my comics than my writing, right...? ^^;

COMICS (choosing only 5 is HARD so I'll go with 6 + 2 bonus):

1- I'm very fond of this old one called Recharge. I wanted to draw a comic that didn't need text to be enjoyed and I'm happy of how it turned out.

2- Loneliness (less). What can I say? I LOVE Juleka and this idea had been in my mind for A LONG WHILE. Originally, I planned it as a fic, but I think it works great as a comic too (even if I'm not 100% convinced with the dialogue). I love it <3

3- The real truth. This one will always be canon in my mind. Salty? Sure. But 100% TRUE.

4- To every Lukanette fan. I really like the message I wanted to convey with this comic and how well received it was, not only in the Lukanette fandom but in general, in other fandoms as well. I'm proud of it -^v^-

5- Short-circuited. Old but 100% accurate. ALWAYS.

6- Costume. A Halloween Special comic that I love. Plus @verfound 's fic "You could say I'm a fan" based on this is PERFECTION.

BONUS: Fairy Misunderstood AU. I like some chapters better than others, of course, but I'm happy with the overall idea. I hope I can find the time to work on it again soon!

BONUS 2: The parrot series. I love that silly bird. CUTE.

Of course there's more, but I think I these are the ones I like the best? ^^;

FICS:

Would it be a surprise if I said that I prefer short fics over long fics...? But then these short fics are SO GOOD that I can't help it but want more??? Ugghh That's what usually happens to me, either when reading or writing... (and I'm so bad at finishing multichapter stories sorry ;_;) Anyway, here we go:

1- Trapped. My first fic ever (with pics!). It''s a bit embarrassing for me now but it will always hold a special place in my heart...

2- Luktober 2020 Day 6: Wild. This is a super short story I wrote a long while ago and, even though I know that the writing could be better, I really like the idea (and how short it is). -LukaNoire MY BELOVED-

3- Delivered. Plagg being chaotic with Luka? Ladybug finally getting some decent help? JuleRose and Lukanette happy ending? A pinch of salt? YES.

4- Surfacing secrets. SALT. Satisfying salt. (+ angst, + happy ending)

5- Love in the Sky. I know this one is not finished yet, but it works as a one shot too, and I really like it that way. I always struggle to write long stories, after all... (but I can't help it but get excited and write more *sigh*)

I think that's it.

Wow- this took me so long (it was fun). It made me realize that I really want to improve more and more with my writing... I'll keep working hard on it! (òvó)

[fenheart87]

WIP WEDNESDAY 12.9

Pin, wrong color pen, dead pen, another pin, because of course when Marinette needed an actual pen that writes, her luck ran out. Deciding it would be quicker to steal one from her boyfriends desk, the designer made her way to the studio room. Honestly all she was trying to do was leave a little pick-me-up for Luka because she knew band practice was wearing on him for the next concert. Opening the door, there on top of a sizeable stack of papers was Luka's favorite pen.

"Sorry babe, gotta do what I gotta do." Marinette apologized to the empty room, snagging it and writing a quick note with a flourish. Clicking the pen so it wouldn't dry out, the words 'Official Bonds Agreement...' caught her attention. Reading through it she noticed it was some sort of contract to add a new person to the ever infamous Boat Kid Fund. Marinette had honestly thought they had been joking about it until the first time Bri had dragged her down to the police station to retrieve their idiots.

[virgichuu]

PHEW AAAAAAA Sorry for being late but here is my gift for @stardust-make-a-wish as part of the @lukanette-exchange!! I apologize again for my lateness ;;o;; hope you’ll like it!! I went for a grown-up version of our lovely otp here :3

[alittleshycat]

🎃Happy Kwalloween!!! 🎃

As I promised here is a bunch of kwamis in costumes!

Thanks everybody for all those wonderful request 💙 and have a

Happy and Safe Halloween!

Let’s start the costume runway

A little ghost plagg to start! 👻

Just look the little mane of this Lion Pollen 🦁

A little Fairy Nooro for @goldensmilingbird​​ ✨

Fitting the Couffaine style! A pirate Sass 🏴‍☠️

(I refuse to make Duusu cry again so i thought in this) so here is a little Sadness Duusu for @plaggandadrienbondingisthebest​​ 😢

Just Plagg in a sock (a clean one a least) for @whitennerdiest​​ 🧦

Steal master, Solid Snake Sass 🕶

I was so disappointed cuz nobody ask for this!!! Like, come on Tumblr its the perfect match! A Plagg Bills (Bills Plagg? idk) and his sanity reason, Camembert Whis 😼 🧀 Edit: Aaaaactually, this was a request of my BFF and I kinda forgot say it xD So, this is for you Lando, Luv u  💙

Camembert Plagg for an Anon?… He kinda make that costume himself but, hey! it counts too! 🧀

Weapons for the God of the Illusion? Yeah! sounds good to me. So here is a Robin Hood Trixx for @jarl-deathwolf​​​ doing some archery practice with a Swipper Trixx mirage for @plaggandadrienbondingisthebest​​ 🦊🏹

The power couple as the power couple, Tikki Sherlock and Plagg Watson for @bakergirl13​​ 🔍🎩

A AKNT (Ancient Kwami Ninja Turtle) Wayzz and a Little Cupcake Tikki for you Anon 🐢🧁

Well, They make it happens, sort of, i think... here a kwami kwami swap for a Anon 🐱🐞

Congratulations @teatimetroubles​​! Plagg hates you for making him dress up as Ladybug! and a Scarecrow Ziggy, until he eats that costume 😾🐞🐐

My special one, for a wonderful artist that is @chrwrites​​​​ I was in awe when I saw your request, so this Corpse Bride Duusu is for you, hope you like it 💙

And finally, a explication Bonus under the cut 👇

I had to do this (and it's a good excuse to give a little Lukanette flavour) Who do you think made all those beautiful costumes? Poor Marinette, and she only had to dress 8 kwamis!

[paragonmedic]

Valentine's Day

---

Happy Valentine's day everyone

(/◕ヮ◕)/ ❤️❤️❤️

Some of my fave characters x Marinette shipping [ both canon and non-canon ]

Thought it would be appropriate for the day

PS. if you get the reference then Kudos to you ٩(｡・ω・｡)و

[02.14]

[to-illustrate-the-stars]

my gift for @virgichuu for the @lukanette-exchange !!!! i went with your prompt of “red string of fate” hope you like it!! ♡

[artwolfaja]

Happy Vlaentine's Day~ 💕💕💕

[lalunaunita]

Hey there! It’s time to share my art for the 2020 Lukanette Exchange @lukanette-exchange.

My recipient is @verfound, a talented, creative, and prodigious fan-fic writer!

I stuck with the prompt hair dye shenanigans, as I always love to see confident Marinette having a good time with her friends. :) I hope you enjoy the art -- and I’m so excited to read your AMAZING Lukanette fic, verfound!!

[quickspinner]

Haste to the Wedding

Here’s my fic for the @lukanette-exchange​, for @misslenamooney​! I hope you like it! The prompts were “Lukanette, happy Marinette, and if you’re feeling a bit salty, you can salt on Alya and Lila.“ I only have the faintest sprinkling of salt here, more like an echo of the past than anything else, but it was a convenient frame for the story. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! This will be up on AO3 later today.

Come haste to the wedding ye friends and ye neighbours The lovers their bliss can no longer delay. Forget all your sorrows your cares and your labors, And let every heart beat with rapture today. ~ Haste to the Wedding, traditional Gaelic jig.

“Oh, Marinette, it’s so perfect,” Alya breathed, bouncing slightly and then stilling before Marinette could reprimand her. The gown was lovely, the white lace making beautiful patterns against Alya’s darker skin where Marinette had left it open, and forming a more subtle texture in the areas where the dress was lined for modesty. It skimmed Alya’s body beautifully before flaring in a subtle trumpet shape towards the bottom, with just enough train in the back to form a nice shape on the ground behind her. All in all, Marinette felt very satisfied with it. Sophisticated and strong enough for the tough reporter, with a touch of the whimsy and fantasy that one expected in a wedding dress.

Alya was glowing with happiness, and Marinette smiled absently as she selected another pin from a cushion on her wrist. They’d grown apart a bit, going to different lycées and both traveling extensively for their careers, so they didn’t get to see each other often and sometimes didn’t speak directly for months at a time, but they were still good friends, and when Alya had called and asked Marinette to personally design her wedding dress, there was no question of saying no. Marinette had even hesitantly offered to work with Alya on the wedding planning, since she’d be in Paris much more than Alya over the coming months, but somewhat to her relief, Alya had dismissed her offer, telling her she’d run into another old friend who was starting up a wedding planning business and that she was taking care of everything. Marinette wasn’t sorry to be exempted from the planning (and also from bridesmaid duties, since Alya had decided to have only her sisters attend her).

Now she need only worry about the dress, which Alya of course insisted only Marinette could do. Alya had opted for a crisp white pantsuit look for the civil ceremony at City Hall, saving her wedding dress for the fancifully American-style wedding reception they had planned for the next day.

Despite her faith in her friend, Alya had been a bit nervous, Marinette could tell, about having most of their consultations long-distance, but Marinette was used to it, and she had treated Alya like any of her several high-profile clients that couldn’t always meet with her in person. Marinette’s professionalism and smooth process had seemed to soothe Alya’s worries, and they had managed a couple of in-person meetups for the most critical stages.

The only thing that had given Marinette pause was the idea of not having a final fitting until the day before the wedding, but it really couldn’t be helped. Marinette preferred to have multiple redundant contingency plans and plenty of time to implement them. She’d had several mini-meltdowns at the very idea of a huge last-minute problem, and had actually been in the middle of one when Alya walked in the door, fresh from the civil ceremony and glowing with happiness and excitement. The irrational panic that Alya wouldn’t like the dress had melted away as soon as Alya caught sight of it and let out a deafening squeal, and once the dress was on, it became apparent that Marinette’s assistant had been right in telling her to have more faith in her own skill. The dress was nearly perfect. No emergencies, no last minute creative fixes, no (or at least, no more than usual) stress. Marinette only had to pin the hem to the final length for Alya’s shoes and finish it that night, and it would be ready for tomorrow. 

She just had to endure Alya’s teasing until then. “Marinette, come on, spill,” the bride urged. “I know something’s going on with you and Luka since he got back from his tour. I just want to know what it is!”

“So do I,” Marinette muttered, selecting another pin from the cushion on her wrist. “I don’t know, Alya, we’ve been flirting a lot and there’s been...I mean, he’s always been a touchy-feely person, so I don’t know if it means anything—”

“Girl, when it comes to you Luka has always meant something and you know it.”

Marinette blushed, but she couldn’t deny it. Luka had never pressed his admiration on her but he never hid it, either, and Marinette had never been unaffected by it. Busy as they were with their own careers, both made it a point to make time to see each other whenever the two of them were in the same city, and the meetings were always comfortable, enjoyable, brief, and just on the edge of flirtatious, charged with potential they never had time to explore. Since he’d come back from his tour and she’d actually managed to be in town for a few months consecutively, they’d met up a few times now (more than a few) and it was—it was so fun, and Luka was so sweet and smooth and it felt so good to be the center of someone’s attention, and they’d always had so much chemistry together, and she was really starting to think that maybe— 

Focus, she thought, sticking some pins in her mouth as an excuse not to speak. Fortunately, Alya’s mind was too focused on the wedding to pester Marinette for long.  

“We thought about asking if he could play the wedding, but I know it’s not normally his thing, and my friend said she had some other options, and boy, did she! And how amazing will it be to have Jagged Stone playing the reception? It’ll be huge for Nino, for people to know he has enough connections to get someone that big to play—Marinette? Are you okay?”

Marinette’s head had snapped up to stare wide-eyed at Alya, and she was completely frozen now, a sick feeling forming in her stomach. Slowly she took the pins out of her mouth, sitting back on her heels as she looked up at Alya. “Alya,” Marinette began hesitantly. “Jagged’s in Greece. He has three back to back shows scheduled over the next three nights, and two more shortly after. There’s no way he’s going to be in Paris tomorrow.”

Alya’s mouth dropped open slightly, and then she laughed. “That can’t be right, Marinette! He’s been booked for the wedding for six months!”

“Six months?” Marinette echoed, her brows coming together as that sick feeling got worse. “Alya, Jagged’s schedule is booked out for two years at least.” 

“Well yeah, for normal people.” Alya flapped a hand dismissively. “But Lila said—” She paused and bit her lip. “I mean—for you know, people with connections…” but she trailed off as Marinette laid her pins aside and stood up. 

“You let Lila book the band for your wedding?” Marinette demanded, and then at Alya’s guilty look, she sucked in a horrified breath. “Lila is your old friend that’s in the wedding planning business?” 

“See, this is why I didn’t want to tell you,” Alya sighed, twisting her hands together. “I know you guys never got along and I knew you’d be mad.” 

“Mad isn’t the word I would use,” Marinette sighed, pacing the floor and pulling at her hair. “Alya, how much of the wedding did Lila book?” 

“Almost all of it,” Alya shrugged. “My mom got us the venue and she’s doing the catering, and I insisted on having you do my dress, but Lila booked everything else.” She smiled dreamily. “It’s going to be beautiful, Marinette, she got so many incredible things and her budget was so reasonable. Her business is really going to take off after everybody sees how well she’s done. I was a little nervous, but I knew she could pull it off.”

Marinette just stared at her for a moment, her lips in a firm line, and then she pulled out her phone. “Just a minute, Alya,” she muttered, and dialed. It went to voicemail, as she expected. “Hey, Penny, this is Marinette. I was um, working on a project that I wanted Jagged to see, and since I hear he’s going to be in Paris tomorrow, I was hoping he could make some time for me. No pressure, just, if he’s available. Please let me know either way.” 

She hung up the phone and put it back in her pocket, trying to keep her face neutral.  “Alya,” she said quietly, “What did Lila book for you?”

Alya shrugged. “Everything except the dress, which of course had to be you, the food, which of course had to be my mom, and the venue, which we already had reserved through one of my mom’s contacts. Flowers—oh, you should have seen the pictures she sent me they were to die for—favors for the guests, the band obviously, the cake—she tried to get your parents but they were booked solid and we agreed we shouldn’t bother you about it—the makeup and hair and photographer, from all that modeling she’s done you know, and the decorations.”

Marinette took a deep breath and sat down in a chair, covering her mouth with her hands. This was going to be a disaster. Alya’s wedding was going to be a disaster. Oh, the important stuff was still there, at least no one would go hungry and they weren’t going to have hundreds of guests descend on some poor bewildered staff person demanding to be let in to a wedding that didn’t exist. Alya and Nino were already legally married and they could still—

“Lila doesn’t have the rings, right?” Marinette demanded, looking up sharply. 

“No, Nino does,” Alya frowned, putting her hands on her hips. “Marinette, what is  your problem?” 

Marinette got up and swatted Alya’s hands away from the fabric irritably. “Don’t, you’ll soil it. My problem is that Lila has never delivered on a single thing she promised you. Have you actually talked to any of these people yourself?”

“No, but Lila and I have been talking every week and she sent me pictures and samples and she did all the consultations. I didn’t have to worry about a thing!” 

Marinette moaned, tossing her head back. “You never confirmed anything she booked?”

Alya rolled her eyes. “She sent me invoices for all of them! I can show you the check stubs if you’re that upset about it.”

“You wrote checks?” Marinette gasped. Charges on a credit card they might have been able to dispute, but—okay, no, this was too much. She’d worry about that part later. “Did you sign a contract with her?” 

Alya scoffed. “Of course not, we’re friends.” 

Marinette pressed her lips together and folded her arms and reminded herself that Nino would be upset if she strangled his bride the night before the wedding. “We’re friends,” she pointed out tightly, gesturing between herself and Alya. “I still made you sign a contract.”

Alya rolled her eyes. “Well, you’ve always been anal like that.” 

“Anal like—” Marinette stopped, turning her back for a second to breathe, and before she could formulate a response her phone beeped with an incoming video message.

She set it to play on speaker. “Hi, Marinette,” Penny Rolling said, looking pristine as always despite the chaos behind her. “Always great to hear from you! Unfortunately it seems like there’s been some kind of misunderstanding? Jagged’s not scheduled to be in Paris again for two more months. I know he’d want to see what you’re working on, so text me later and we can work out a video call instead. So sorry for the mixup. Talk to you soon.”

Marinette looked up at Alya, who was doing a credible impression of a fish. 

“That’s just—okay, so there was a misunderstanding, you’ve told me how Jagged is, I’m sure—maybe he forgot to tell Penny and she didn’t put it on his calendar, but it’s just one thing, there’s no need to—”

“Alya.” Marinette met her friend’s gaze steadily and Alya cut off, seeming to shrink a little. “This is your wedding. Do you really want to take the chance?”

Alya just stared at her.

“Call the florist first,” Marinette said calmly. Too calmly, she knew, but she also knew that Alya was finally listening, because the color drained from her face and she began fumbling for her phone. 

Not bothering to wait for the outcome, Marinette pulled out her sketchbook and flipped to a fresh page, making a list down the page as she frantically thought about her options. In a few moments she had a plan sketched out and was dialing her own phone.

“Adrien,” Marinette bit out as soon as he picked up. “Did you know that Nino and Alya’s wedding planner was Lila?”

There was a good thirty seconds of silence on the other end of the line before Adrien breathed, “Oh no. No, I didn’t know, it never even occurred to me to…what are we going to do, Marinette?”

“We’re going to fix this disaster so our friends can have the wedding they deserve,” Marinette said as if it was simple. “You’re on photography and flowers. I know you hate trading on your name and your contacts but so help me, you better use every ounce of fame you have to get this done—”

“I’ll do it,” Adrien said quickly. “I’ll do it. And count on me to cover the cost of whatever else you need to get. Whatever premium you have to promise.” 

“I’ll hold you do that,” Marinette told him, and then glanced over her shoulder. An increasingly panicked-looking Alya wasn’t even paying attention to her. “And call Nino and tell him he better get back here now. Thanks, chaton.” 

“You can always count on me, my lady. So can Alya and Nino.” 

“All right, I’ll call if I need anything else.” She hung up the phone and dialed again. 

“Hi, boss,” a chipper voice greeted her. 

“Sabrina,” Marinette sighed, unable to match her assistant’s cheerful tone. “Listen, there’s been a problem with Alya’s wedding and I need you to ransack the warehouse for decorations. Anything that we might use for a wedding photoshoot. And start calling any stylist and makeup artist who’s ever done well for us and get them on board to do wedding hair and makeup tomorrow. I know it’s short notice but we need somebody on board in a hurry. Money is no object. Adrien’s footing the bill so if you need a credit card or something, call him. He’ll be expecting you.”

“Colors?” Sabrina asked, and Marinette smiled at the brusque tone and lack of questioning. She’d been nervous when Sabrina had called her looking for a job, having been fired (again) by Chloe, but taking her on was going on Marinette’s list of best management decisions ever. Sabrina was a huge asset to Marinette’s successful and growing business, and the only assistant Marinette had ever hired that was detail-oriented and organized enough to keep up with her.

“Orange, mint, and forest green,” she replied, making a note on her list to text that to Adrien as well for the florist. “Just have the guys pile it all in the van and we’ll sort through it when we get there. Grab whatever you can find in the scrap fabrics, too. I’m not sure it’ll be much but we’ll work with whatever we can have.” She paused. “Sabrina, this is a personal favor, not a job, but I—”

“Got it, boss,” Sabrina chirped. “Text me the address and what time the venue opens, and I’ll meet you in the morning.”

“Thanks, Sabrina,” Marinette smiled, making a mark on her list. 

Next, she called her mother, made Sabine put her on speaker so that Tom could hear, and begged shamelessly, using every “Papa’s little girl” trick she could think of to get them on board. Naturally, Tom couldn’t refuse. Marinette felt guilty for putting that much work on them but she’d find a way to make it up to them later.

Looking at the next item on her list, she hesitated. She set her phone down and pressed her hands to her face, and then looked back down at the list, feeling her face heat. She knew what she needed to do—she knew who she needed to call, but…

She glanced up at Alya, who was sitting motionless in her chair, the phone in her lap, staring into space with a blank expression that was...bad. On Alya, it was really bad.

Marinette took a deep breath and dialed the phone. She put a hand over her racing heart and pressed as if that would stop the fluttering. 

“Hey, beautiful,” a warm, deep voice said, and Marinette smiled in spite of herself. “Didn’t think I’d hear from you today. Figured you’d be busy.”

“H-hey, Luka,” she said, and swallowed, hating the stutter. “I—well, I am busy, but I—that is, I mean—argh.” She groaned, and pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. God, she hated to do this. “I need a favor,” she said through gritted teeth, and then sighed. “A big one. Huge. A really big, I-have-no-right-to-ask-you-this-sized favor.”

“I’m listening,” Luka said, unruffled as always, a touch of amusement in his voice. 

“So, the wedding,” Marinette took a breath and blew it out. “Well, long story short, the band fell through. A lot of things fell through, actually, and we’re really scrambling to fix everything and I know this is super, super short notice and I won’t blame you one bit if you tell me to jump ship, but—but this is really important to me, Luka, and I...I…”

“You want me to find you a band in less than twenty-four hours?” Luka asked incredulously.

“W-well,” Marinette cringed, fisting the fabric of her skirt in her hand. “I was sort of hoping you’d be the band? Not that I don’t trust you, I’m sure anybody you could get would be great, but you’re amazing, and I really need amazing for this. This—I can’t explain everything but this is not going to be the wedding Nino and Alya had counted on and I really, really need it to be the best we can possibly give them, and you’re definitely the best, so—please, Luka, I’m begging, I’ll do anything, Adrien’s covering all the expenses and we’ll come up with a number to make it worth it for you and anyone you can bring with you, and I’m sure there’s going to be industry contacts there because of Nino, and I just—”

“Marinette,” Luka said firmly, and she shut her mouth abruptly. 

“Yes?” she ventured, when Luka didn’t say anything more.

“What time do you need me to be there?” he asked, and she could hear his smile. “I’m not sure if I can get the rest of the guys, or even subs, it might just be me—”

“You’re more than enough,” Marinette assured him, and then blushed. “I mean. Well. You are. Anyway, I, um...I’ll text you the details and you let me know how it turns out with the others.”

“Yeah, sure. Be sure and send me anything they wanted as far as the set list. First dance and all that.” He chuckled. “I haven’t played many weddings but I remember that much at least.”  

“Okay,” Marinette said, glancing aside as the door opened and Nino came through, expression worried. “I’ll probably have Nino get in touch with you directly about that stuff. I’m so sorry to ask this of you, Luka, I...I feel like I’m taking advantage…”

“Marinette,” Luka’s voice was velvety, rich and alluring, and despite the situation it sent a shiver down her spine. “You can take advantage of me any time you want.” 

Mairnette scrunched her shoulders as a fierce blush spread over her face. “Luka,” she whined, and he laughed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told her, still in that voice. “Save a dance for me.” 

The call cut off and Marinette dropped the phone in her lap, dropped her head in her hands, and squealed softly. 

Okay. Plenty of time later to think about her complicated relationship with the guitarist and how much she’d been wondering lately if kissing him stupid would uncomplicate it or make it worse. For now, Alya was coming out of her catatonic state, Marinette’s phone was already blowing up with texts from Adrien and Sabrina and her mother, and she had a disaster to mitigate.

At least that was something she was good at. She picked up her notebook and marched over to Alya and Nino.

***

It could have been worse, Marinette reflected with satisfaction as she looked around the party hall. Sabrina was a miracle worker, and that was a fact. Resourceful and much more ruthless than her (current) employer, she knew how to use her contacts and how to trade on Adrien’s name and wealth to get things done. Marinette only hoped they hadn’t screwed anyone over too badly.

“You know it’s bad form to outshine the bride at her wedding,” said a deep voice in her ear, and Marinette jumped and whirled to smack Luka in the shoulder as he laughed. She pouted and shook her finger in his face. “No flirting until after your set.” 

“All right,” he chuckled, catching her hand and bringing it down gently as he smiled at her. “You’re the boss today.” His thumb rubbed over the back of her hand in a way that made his words a lie. “Where should we set up?” 

“We?” Marinette blinked, her mouth dropping open slightly as she finally tore her eyes from Luka to look over his shoulder, where three other people stood with instrument cases and bored expressions. 

“I called in some favors,” he grinned. “I’ll probably be playing dive bars and who knows what else for weeks to pay this back, but...anything for you, Marinette.” 

She should have scolded him for flirting again, but she couldn’t because she knew that he meant it. He was only laying it on so thick now because she’d been flirting back and encouraging him over the last few weeks, and when he looked at her like that, well...she had a hard time being sorry. 

Luka raised his eyebrows slightly and she realized he was still waiting for an answer to his question. He was still rubbing her hand with his thumb, though, too, and Marinette whipped her hand away and turned on her heel, calling “Follow me.” 

“Anywhere,” he said softly behind her, and she bit her lip, trying not to giggle like a teenager. 

Once she had led him to the stage and the sound system, he sobered a bit, clearly settling into professional mode as he gave his bandmates instructions for setting up. Marinette hovered while he checked the stage lights and asked for some adjustments. The venue staff accommodated him with admirable speed. Marinette was called away for a bit to consult with the frazzled, tired-but-triumphant florist and figure out how best to distribute what they had managed to acquire. She was surprised at how much there was. A lot of it was white but it was tastefully mixed with the orange and pale green blossoms. It would do, distributed correctly.

When she returned, the band was set up and tuning up for their sound check. Marinette checked the time nervously.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be ready,” Luka’s normally soft voice boomed through the sound system, and she jumped slightly. She looked up to find him at the microphone, guitar slung across his shoulders, and as he tossed back his hair and smiled at her, she was reminded of the boy from the boat, Juleka’s brother, the boy who gave her rides on his bike and smiled at her with soft eyes and played songs that resonated in her heart. 

Almost as if he could hear her, his hands went to the strings, but it wasn’t her heart that he played this time. She recognized the intro to Alya and Nino’s first dance song, though it sounded more vibrant with Luka’s distinctive rock edge. It would be perfect for them, she noted absently. Luka’s eyes found her again and he smirked. Marinette was barely aware of the drums picking up the rhythm and the bass coming in a bit late as Luka took a breath and sang, low and smooth, his eyes on her.

“What would I do without your smart mouth, drawing me in and you kicking me out, you’ve got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down. What’s going on in that beautiful mind? I’m on your magical mystery ride, and I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be all right.” 

He dropped his eyes, and Marinette thought he might be blushing as he launched into the chorus. She put a hand over her heart and sighed at the way it beat against her hand as she closed her eyes to listen to him singing All of me loves all of you… 

It gave her goosebumps. Luka wasn’t Jagged Stone, and he didn’t try to be. His voice was so rich and full it seemed to fill the space and make everything sound closer and more intimate. 

He cut off abruptly and stepped back, motioning his bandmates to cut off. “Okay, can we bring the bass up just a little bit?” The guy working the sound waved an acknowledgement, and they played the lead-in again. This time Luka nodded in satisfaction, and then turned back to ask his bandmates something Marinette couldn’t hear.

They ran through parts of a few other of the more important songs, and Marinette was more and more impressed at the way Luka managed to fit the songs to his own style, without changing the substance. 

When he was satisfied with the way everything sounded, they all put the instruments in their stands and came down off the stage. 

Luka opened his mouth to say something but Marinette raised up on her toes, took his face in her hands and kissed him briefly on the mouth. “Thank you so much for doing this,” she told him. “You’re really my hero today.” 

He licked his lips, and made a visible effort to drag his gaze from her mouth to her eyes, but they flicked right back again when Marinette bit her lip again to keep in another fit of giggles that wanted to burst from her. He always had that effect on her. She patted his cheek. “I have to go check on Alya, but I’ll catch up with you in a bit, okay?” 

“Sure,” he managed finally, and cleared his throat as she turned away. She got a few steps away before he called her name and she turned back. 

“You really do look beautiful,” he said simply, and Marinette blushed, hands going automatically to smooth her simple pink and mint cocktail dress. 

“Thanks, Luka,” she said, watching his eyes follow the slight shrug of her bare shoulders. “You look really good too. I like your usual look, but you clean up nicely too.” She winked at him. “Don’t forget you promised me a dance after your set.”

Luka’s mouth dropped open slightly and he looked a bit as if he’d been hit in the back of the head with a board. Marinette tossed her hair and blew him a kiss, and if she put a little extra sway in her hips as she walked away, it was just for the sake of making her skirt swish that little bit more. 

Behind her, Luka put a hand to his heart and pretended to faint into his bandmate’s arms. “She’s gonna kill me,” he muttered with a happy sigh.

“So long as I get paid first, mate,” his drummer grunted, heaving him off. 

***

Alya cried when she saw the hall, despite all the ladies in the group converging on her and begging her not to make her eyes puffy on her big day. In all honesty her eyes were already puffy from the hopeless weeping that had followed her denial and disbelief, but the makeup artist Sabrina found did a masterful job hiding it, and the glow of Alya’s happiness and relief did anything else that was wanted. 

It maybe wasn’t the decorations Alya had picked out, or the hairstyle Alya had decided on, or exactly the shade of eyeshadow she had planned on, but it all came together just fine. No one would ever know the disaster the wedding had almost been. Marinette spared a moment to viciously wish that Lila might see the social media pictures of just how lovely it had all turned out in spite of her, before putting the horrible woman out of her mind entirely. 

“You’re a miracle worker as always,” Adrien sighed as they paused for a congratulatory fist bump. 

“Sabrina gets most of the credit,” Marinette observed. “She did a lot of the legwork, and we for sure wouldn’t have been able to do as much without you backing us. It sure would be nice if I could find the money to put a bonus in her next paycheck.”

Adrien nodded. “How about you overcharge me for a custom suit for the charity ball I have to attend next month?” 

“That should do it,” Marinette agreed. “Have your assistant call Sabrina, we’ll set something up.” 

“Still,” Adrien said, nudging Marinette with a cat-like grin spreading across his face. “Somehow I doubt Sabrina had much to do with the music for tonight.” 

“No, that was Nino,” Marinette replied airily. “He called in a favor with a DJ friend of his that was on the guest list anyway.”

“Uh-huh. And the live music?” Adrien nudged her a little harder and Marinette shoved him off so hard he nearly fell.

“I’m going to check on the cake,” she announced, though she knew her parents had delivered it to Mme Césare’s staff earlier and that they surely knew what they were doing.

The ring ceremony went off without a hitch, with Alya’s sisters at her side and Adrien and Noel at Nino’s, without any hint of the drama that had been going on behind the scenes since yesterday. 

And the dress, Marinette noted with satisfaction, looked perfect. 

Then Alya and Nino took the dance floor, and Luka took over the mic, and then he was singing again, in that voice that gave her goosebumps. It had been quite a while since she had seen him perform live, and she hadn’t exactly forgotten the way he could command a room, but it still gave her the shivers. She drifted closer and closer to the stage as she moved through the crowd, and then suddenly she was looking up at Luka, and he was looking down at her, and Marinette might have felt self-conscious except that everyone else was locked on Alya and Nino. No one had any attention to notice the way they were looking at each other as Luka sang, “You’re my downfall, you’re my muse, my worst distraction, my rhythm and blues. I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing in my head for you.” 

Really, to Marinette, it felt like all those other people weren’t even there.

***

She was looking for him, once the band had wrapped up and the DJ had taken over, and he still managed to come up from behind and surprise her. 

“Is now a good time for that dance?” 

“Luka, stop sneaking up on me,” Marinette scolded, turning to find him grinning down at her once again. 

“I’m not even sorry,” he told her, chuckling as he held out his hand. “May I?”  

Marinette rolled her eyes, but she was grinning as she put her hand in his and let him guide her onto the dance floor, where his broad, warm hands settled on her waist as her own delicate hands joined behind his neck. 

“You did an awesome job up there,” Marinette told him as they swayed. “Really. Jagged Stone himself couldn’t have done better.” 

Luka snorted. “As if Jagged could ever contain himself enough to play a wedding. He’d be upstaging the bride every chance that he got.”

“That...is probably true,” Marinette admitted. She loved the rock star, but she was by no means blind to his faults, which included being extremely self-absorbed and a natural attention magnet. It really was better that he hadn’t been here. 

She sighed. “I still can’t believe Alya thought Lila could actually deliver on all those promises. I thought after everything—but she did eventually manage to lie her way into some real connections, so I guess maybe she had just enough authenticity to sound credible this time.”

“Don’t think about her,” Luka said softly, whisking her into a turn. “I don’t like the faces you make when you do,” he teased, lifting one hand to stroke the deep crease between her brows. “You pulled it off, Marinette. Look at Alya and Nino. They couldn’t be any happier, so just dance with me and forget about all that mess. What’s on the big calendar for this week, hm? Or should I even ask?” 

“Actually, I was wondering if maybe I could take you to dinner,” Marinette said as lightly as she could manage. “As a thank you.” 

Luka looked away for a second. “I think you already know I’d love to go out with you, Marinette,” Luka said, his voice serious even though he was still smiling when he looked back at her. “But I’d rather it not be out of pity, or even gratitude. I want you on your own terms.” 

Of course he did. That was just...so Luka. Marinette took a deep breath and shifted a little closer to him, letting her fingers drift up to toy with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Okay.” 

“Okay?” he repeated, the eyes that had gone half-lidded at her touch snapping open. 

“Okay,” Marinette confirmed. “Here’s my terms. I work a lot. My business is very deadline driven and I’m very hands-on with a lot of people as part of the fitting process. It’s entirely professional, entirely necessary, and you have to be okay with it.”

“I can handle that,” Luka agreed, looking as cool as ever, but they were now moving ever so slightly off-beat with the music, so she knew he was rattled. 

“I can’t always be home to cook dinner. I might not even be home to eat dinner. I’ve worked really hard to get where I am and in a couple more years I might be able to bring on more staff, but that’s not a guarantee.” 

“I’d never ask you to stop pursuing your passion, Marinette,” Luka told her, the corner of his mouth tilting up. “But if you’re not taking care of yourself, if you’re not eating and sleeping enough to at least function, I’m gonna ask you to slow down.”

“Fair,” Marinette acknowledged. “I travel a lot. I’ll be in other cities a lot, on my own, with a lot of clients and models. The tabloids like to stir up trouble and it’s only a matter of time before they have me shacking up with somebody. I expect you to talk to me before you jump to any conclusions.” 

“Of course,” he said so simply that she believed him. 

Marinette took a deep breath. “Sometimes I have to be places that I can’t explain,” she said softly, no longer looking him in the eye. “I don’t want to have to lie and come up with excuses, so...I need you to just trust me. And if it gets to be too much...I need you to tell me that too, so we can stay friends when we split up.” 

“Okay,” Luka said, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Is that all?”

Marinette shrugged and tried to smile. “Mostly, yeah.” 

“All right then,” Luka grinned, twirling her around. “I accept your terms. Are you ready to hear mine?” 

“O-okay,” Marinette stammered. 

“We’re in the same boat on the travel. I work a lot of odd jobs and weird hours,” Luka began. “My schedule’s never the same from week to week. I work a lot of late nights and I hate mornings.” 

“Me too,” Marinette giggled. “I think I can live with that. What else?”

“I get hit on kind of a lot,” he said, looking away slightly as a faint hint of red colored his cheeks. “When I play a gig. And this tour was—it was crazy, even though we were just the opening act. Some people get a little handsy. I don’t like it, I don’t ask for it, and it’s got nothing to do with things between us—no matter what it looks like when you walk up. So, same courtesy? Talk to me before you freak out?” 

“I don’t freak out as easily as I used to,” Marinette mumbled, blushing herself. “But yeah, I got it. Okay. I don’t really like that people are touching you when you don’t want them to, though. I can’t promise I won’t bend a thumb or two if they’re where they don’t belong.” 

“Hmm, we’ll negotiate on that,” Luka chuckled, pinching her waist lightly. “I don’t personally mind but I don’t want my girlfriend getting kicked out of every club in Paris.” He gave her a soft look. “And you would be my girlfriend. I’m not interested in dating around if being with you is an option.”

Marinette blushed harder, but put her nose in the air and pretended to consider. “Hm. That sounds reasonable. Besides, I don’t mind making time for you, but otherwise I’m way too busy to date.” She held her “Chloe face” for another moment and then broke down in giggles, and Luka laughed too, and they collapsed against each other for a moment, Luka’s forehead coming down to rest on hers as they snickered. Marinette closed her eyes, breathing in the peace and contentment she always felt with him, and wondered why they hadn’t had this talk sooner. It felt so...right.

Reluctantly, Marinette pushed him back after a moment, pulling him back into the dance. 

“I don’t want to steal Alya’s spotlight,” she murmured, glancing at her glowing friend, floating around the room on her new husband’s arm. “She’s already going to be mad enough we stole her song.”

“Did we?” Luka chuckled, and Marinette grinned. 

“I think we did. It sure felt like it to me.” 

“Yeah, it did,” Luka sighed. “I should probably be sorry about that. Hopefully everyone else was focused on the bride and groom. But seriously, I think you’ve already kind of stolen the show here. You say you didn’t do much but I was talking to Adrien a bit before.” He shook his head. “You’re amazing. Anyone else would have just patted her back and left her to figure it out on her own.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Marinette sighed. “I just happened to have the resources to make it happen.”

“Because you’re amazing,” Luka chuckled. 

Marinette’s lips twitched as she tried not to smile too broadly, pretending to dust something off his shoulder as an excuse not to look at him for a moment. “Maybe. It did turn out pretty nicely, after all. I guess I deserve some credit for that.” She glanced up at his face, half-afraid he’d be put off by her lack of modesty, but he just squeezed her waist lightly and nodded. 

“Absolutely. The business you’ve built at your age, it’s incredible. You’re so dedicated and driven and passionate, it blows my mind. Makes me feel like I’m really slacking. If I had your dedication I’d be on my third album by now.”

“You would be,” Marinette chided, squeezing his arm. “If you’d accepted Jagged’s help.”

Luka sighed and looked away. “That’s complicated, Marinette.” 

“I know,” Marinette said, giving him a sympathetic look. “And you’re doing great on your own. Are the final numbers in from the tour yet? I know you were waiting to hear.” 

A smile tugged at the corner of Luka’s mouth. “Yeah. They’re, um...they’re pretty good. Really good, actually. Nothing’s certain yet, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to pick up our option for the next album.”

“Really?” Marinette screeched in a whisper, bouncing on her toes. “Luka, that’s amazing!” She popped up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Her eyes went round when she realized what she’d just done, but Luka’s went heavy-lidded and dark. 

Suddenly he made a sharp turn and pulled her into an alcove they’d been about to pass, shielded from the rest of the party by a draping of fabric that some professional corner of Marinette’s brain recognized as leftovers from her spring collection. Then Luka’s hand was cradling the back of her neck and his lips were pressed firmly, though gently, to hers, and she was pulling him down into her, pressing up on her toes to deepen the kiss while Luka’s other hand found the small of her back and pulled her closer. 

“Marinette,” Adrien’s amused voice was low, and when Marinette gasped and looked behind her, she saw Adrien was standing casually (or what passed for casually when one was an internationally famous model) with his back to the entrance of their little alcove. “They’re about to round up all the single ladies, and Alya’s going to come looking for you.” 

“Right,” Marinette gasped, reaching up to touch her face. “Do I—” 

“You’re fine. Me?” Luka smiled at her with so much happiness that Marinette almost didn’t register his question. 

When she did, she reached up and wiped away a smear beneath his lower lip with her thumb. “I think that’s all.” 

“Hmm,” Luka sighed. “We’ll have to do better next time.” He laughed when Marinette gasped and smacked him in the chest before flouncing out of the alcove to punch a snickering Adrien in the arm.

“So violent,” Adrien moaned, rubbing his arm. “Do you know how much money that arm is worth?”

“You’re insured,” Marinette huffed, eyes narrowed as she got in his face and flexed her own arm. “And we both know I can take you so don’t be giving me shit, Agreste.”

Adrien rolled his eyes and turned to Luka. “Are you seriously signing up for this, Couffaine?”

“Hell yeah,” Luka sighed, clapping a friendly hand on Adrien’s shoulder and shoving him away from Marinette. “That was hot,” Luka grinned, putting his arm around Marinette’s shoulders as  Adrien jokingly pretended to stagger into a drink cart. 

Marinette giggled. “I think growing up with your mom warped your personality.”

“Almost definitely,” Luka chuckled, his arm slipping down to squeeze her waist, but before he could say anything else, the DJ was calling all the single women to the floor.

Marinette tried to hang back but Adrien was blocking her exit, so any attempt she might have made to hide was thwarted, and then Alya grabbed the microphone and yelled into it, “Get your ass up here, Marinette, front and center!” 

“Favoritism!” someone yelled, and Alya just laughed.

Marinette reluctantly wandered over and let herself be pushed to the front. She tried not to feel self-conscious as she stood with the other single ladies, all of whom were quite a bit taller than she was. Stupid Alya and her tall genes and her tallish friends. She exchanged a look with Nora, who looked bored and was clearly only participating because her mother had ordered her to be for the sake of having all the sisters in the pictures. 

It was a stupid, meaningless tradition anyway. She’d much rather still be basking in Luka’s calm yet electrifying presence. Marinette pasted on a smile and prepared herself to make the minimum effort necessary to look good in the pictures 

“Ready?” Alya called, turning her back to the group. “One...two…” 

Suddenly a pair of hands wrapped around her waist and a familiar voice softly murmured, “Jump” in her ear. She obeyed without thought just as Alya yelled, “THREE!” and flung the bouquet back over her head. For a moment Marinette felt weightless as she was lifted up high—very high—high enough to snatch the bundle of flowers out of the air. She looked over her shoulder and found Luka grinning up at her as he lowered her to the floor. 

“That was cheating,” Ella pouted, and Marinette very maturely stuck out her tongue at the younger girl. She giggled and leaned back into Luka’s chest, his chuckle rumbling against her back before they made their way back off the dance floor as guests began to trickle back onto it. 

Marinette grinned down at the fragrant bundle in her hands, feeling a little flutter as Luka, still behind her, leaned his face down beside hers. 

“So I know we only just became official and everything, but I’m just saying, you know, whenever you’re ready—”

“Luka!” Marinette laughed, turning in his arms to look up at him. He grinned and shrugged.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” he teased. “I’m not saying I won’t wait for you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, but I wouldn’t be sad if I didn’t have to anymore.” 

“Mm-hmm,” Marinette grinned wickedly, and then pulled her phone out of the hidden pocket of her dress. “Hold that thought.” She dialed and brought the phone to her ear. “Hi, Sabrina, sorry to bother you but hopefully this will be quick. I know this is short notice, but you know that flight for Vegas I have booked for Monday morning?” Marinette continued, watching Luka’s eyes go wide and his mouth drop open. Oh, that was fun, taking him off guard for once. “I need another ticket. Mm-hmm. Great! Let me know when it’s booked.” She hung up and slipped her phone back in the pocket. “You should know by now that I don’t hesitate anymore,” she teased, looking up into his shocked expression with a grin. “So if you were bluffing you better speak up now, Luka Couffaine.” 

“You know I wasn’t,” he breathed, voice low and serious. “So don’t mess with me here, Marinette.” 

Marinette shrugged slightly, blushing as she picked at imaginary lint on his sleeve. “You’ve always been more honest with your feelings with most people, so...yeah. I didn’t think you were.” It was an effort to meet his eyes, but she managed it, though it brought the heat to her face again. “Neither am I.” 

A single beat.

“Well all right then,” Luka grinned, taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers. “But we probably should stop by City Hall on our way to the airport just to make sure.” 

“You know I like to be thorough,” Marinette agreed, and then squeezed his hand hard. “But if you let a word of this slip before then I’ll kill you. I’m not upstaging Alya’s wedding after all the work I put into saving it.” 

“That would be a shame,” Luka agreed. “Also a crappy thing to do to a friend, so.” He tugged her hand lightly. “You know the sooner we get out of here the less we can give away.” 

“I like the way you think,” Marinette giggled. “Let’s see if I can keep it together enough to say goodbye.” 

Fiction Master Post

I hope you enjoyed it! Here’s the cover I had in mind when Luka played the wedding song.

[peachmyeonnie]

Merry Christmas @charlietheepicwriter7 I’m your @mlsecretsanta secret Santa this year! Sorry it took me so long to finish! I hope you had an amazing holidays! Happy New Year!

[minnesota-fats]

Day 6 Friends

Just some friends on a date.

@lukadrien-june

Don’t just like please reblog!❤️

[fenheart87]

manikin

Lukanette 2020 Exchange piece For @the-alice-of-hearts, enjoy! 

Marinette was on a mission,step outside of her comfort zone and again echoed by her technical design professor to be more daring and assertive and bold. She needed to round out her styles and portfolio as much as she could to make herself a more attractive candidate for any applications she submitted or even just expanding her online commissions and bulking her portfolio that way if she chose to start out on her own. It was difficult to just be set in one style and make it big when just starting. Mari figured that she would explore as much as she could before committing to one genre or style, it would keep her far from being burnt out like some of her fellow classmates.

“Hey Nathaniel! Have you seen Juleka?” She called out, walking a bit faster to the redhead who waited for her to join him.

“She was around this morning but I haven’t seen her since. Have you tried calling or texting her?”

“Yup, nothing but silence though. I’m out of touch with everyone’s schedules the more time goes by.”

“Is she complaining she can’t be super Mari and be our everyday ladybug again?” Marc teased, sneaking up and poking the shorter girl’s sides resulting in a squeal.

“Marc!” She smacked a red clad shoulder before they disappeared behind their boyfriend. “Stop doing that!”

“Stop making it so easy?” Nathaniel offered, smirking at Mari’s adorable pout.

“I hate you. I really do. Welp, if Juleka is busy and you’re both too shy to play model and dress up and have proof of it, I guess I need to find a model.”

“I’m pretty much free if you need a mannequin, class ends at three for me this week.” Marc offered kindly, green eyes peeping over Nathaniel’s shoulder.

“Oh wonderful! I found another sample fabric I wanted to try for you!” She did her jump and hip shimmy, ignoring the giggles.

“Only exception being Thursday, that’s date night this week.”

“Fine, have your boyfriend Marc on Thursday, I get your girlfriend Michelle the rest of the week. See you later!” Mari dashed away, giggling as the bright red spots on Marc’s cheeks.

After walking around campus and deciding against searching too far as she still had classes, she was no closer to finding her muse model but it did nothing to dampen her good mood. It was a sign that meant she would just have to explore the in and outs further and stay away from her usual haunts. Instead of using her eyes she decided to let her ears guide her, Marinette glanced around a few times and focused on conversations instead of what people were wearing, hearing the emotions in their voices. With the new mindset, carefully the young designer wandered around and sketched some expressions, new emotions to craft into fabric choices and color schemes to make them come alive as clothing to wear the emotion plain as day. There was a ton of laughter and giggles around her until she got closer to the library. The sound of a guitar drew her in like a sirens song.

Marinette needed a break from all the walking and climbing she had done so far and decided to stop by the library for the few books she had on hold. Skirting around the cliques that hugged the stairs more often than naught, the petite designer made her way into the library. Seeing Max working the check out desk, Marinette bee lined for him, smiling wide enough to crinkle eyes just slightly.

“Marinette, how are you today?” Max greeted, shuffling books around to scan them and write the names on the cards for the reserved items.

“I should have a few books on hold, all fashion related of course, there was one that was checked out but if you could see if it’s been returned?”

“Sure thing, book title, author or DEWY code?”

“There’s several, here’s my card.” Marinette held it out for Max to scan, rocking on heels slightly to a rhythm she could hear every time the door opened.

“Ah yes, you have five reserved and it looks like two have not been checked back on yet. Would you like me to check the return bin?” Max asked, finding the appropriate stack of books and setting them on the counter.

“Yes please, even if we can find one more that makes it easier to study and hopefully pass with flying colors.”

“Fashion has always been a huge part of you Marinette, as long as your heart is in it then you’ll pass with flying colors.” Max smiled at the rare blush on the young woman’s face, “I’ll check the returns for you, be right back.

Marinette breathed deeply to calm her sudden nerves, her friend’s unwavering faith in her abilities always managed to take the designer off guard but she wouldn’t change any of them for the world. While waiting, she filled out the cards for the books in the pile to make Max’s job easier but kept getting distracted by the wonderful music that kept sneaking through.

“I managed to find both luckily, if you could fill these out then you free to chase whatever has you so distracted.” The glint from his glasses made Marinette squeak in embarrassment as being caught.

“Thanks Max!” Quickly she stuffed the books in her backpack and marched at a reasonable pace to the door and only let out the breath she was holding once outside.

Students shuffled to and from the library, stopping to chat quietly or bask in the music for a moment before continuing their way. The solo guitarist was the center of attention, playing a mix of old and new songs. The overall genre seemed to be with the intent to soothe stressed students and teachers alike as they passed by, Marinette could feel herself relaxing and her creative block lifting. Deciding to obey her muse, the slim young woman snagged a bench that was being vacated by a couple who had finished their coffees. Unsure how much time had passed, the designer lost herself to the world of inspiration, completing outlines with notes and vague sketches with the knowledgeable experience telling her to be swift and flesh then out later.

The music had become a soft and sweet ballad, just hovering in the background for anyone to notice or ignore if they were passing by. Marinette took a quick glance at her outlines and notes, polishing little things or rewriting fabric choices, her eyes fell to the musician that she could finally see and she froze. This was exactly what she was looking for, his expression spoke of calm but hid the slight anxiety every time he started a new song. When he suddenly changed tunes and a couple stopped fighting because the music took over made his lips quirk in a faint grin. His clothes were made to blend in, ripped jeans and combat boots topped with a plain Jagged tee and lightweight layered Hoodie. That did absolutely nothing to help hide his hair with the blue tips, was that a tongue ring?! Marinette felt the need to sketch and design and she had to see what color his eyes were.

Swiftly but carefully she put away her supplies and made her way to the musician that was quietly packing away his guitar and removing the tips from his case. The designer caught his attention and when the weight of gaze met hers, Marinette just blurted out what came to mind.

“You’re hot, can I undress you?” With a squeak, she smacked her face with her sketchpad and took a few deep lungs full of air. “I’m sorry! I want your clothes- I just, you were playing and sound sexy- GOOD SOUND! I really like you- YOUR  style it’s mysterious but like nice- I really want to undress you- I mean I-!”

“Deep breaths.” His melodic voice cut through her anxiety like a hot knife to butter. “I’m Luka.”

“Ma-ma-Marinette!”

“Nice to meet your Ma-ma-Marinette. You’re an artist too?” He nodded causally to her sketchbook.

“Yes. Fashion designer. Project.” Few more deep breaths. “I need to branch out and try a new style and I usually create women’s clothes. So my professor told me to challenge myself and your music inspired me and when I looked at you, you’re perfect. That is- I mean, if you wouldn’t mind being my model?”

“So do I get to undress myself or is that your job?” Luka teased with a grin, causing Marinette to hide her face again with a squeak. “I have a crazy schedule but I’d love to help.”

“I have time on Tuesdays from two to five, Thursdays from five to seven and Saturdays after the morning rush so more like three or four to eight.” She rattled off, pulling out her planner to his amusement.

“Okay I’ll have to check my schedule, two of my classes are up in the air. How about we exchange phone numbers and then I can text you what’s my schedules going to look like? It changes week to week.”

“Most musicians do it seems, one of my best friends is a DJ and he takes all kinds of gigs so it’s hard to sit down and catch up.” They traded phones and saved their numbers before swapping back. “Some of this we can do via Skype if needed, you have to be comfortable with the design too and just wearing it to help my grade.”

“Seems like you’ve done this before.” Luka stuffed his phone into his pocket and packed away his guitar, shouldering his case.

“Fashion student, too broke for mannequins so I lure in unsuspecting folk with delicious free pastries from the best bakery in town.” She teased with a huge grin.

“Well then, I look forward to those pastries.”

Waving, they went their separate ways and Marinette had a skip in her step that had been missing due to the stress. Texting her other friends that were her usual models but this time with ideas of clothing to compliment the designs she had drafted for Luka. Everyone had a positive response and she had just enough people for a full collection, Marinette was sure to blow this project out of the water.

- - - 

Luka stared down at his phone with a smile. As far as first impressions go, he didn’t think negatively of Marinette. It was easy for the musician to recognize the spark of creativity making her blue bells shine and the dark circles the byproduct of sleepless nights from the muse keeping her awake to do her bidding. Her song was the dead giveaway, it was beautiful but unfinished with the crash of crescendos and decrescendos in spots, showing she was afraid to stay loud and bold.

“That had better not be another cat meme.” Juleka muttered, sliding into the booth across from him.

“Nope, I just got asked to undress for a pretty cute girl.”

“What girl wants to see you naked?”

“Not naked, she wants to dress me up.” Luka corrected, waving the waitress over so they could order. “Caramel cappuccino and one hot fudge vanilla shake.”

“Design student or art student?” Luka had no trouble hearing his sisters mumbles, even over the din of the coffee-shop.

“Design student, I guess she felt a good vibe with the music I was playing and she got bit by the creative bug.”

“Not the only one that got bit.” Juleka smiled innocently as the waitress set down their drink orders. “When’s your first fitting?”

“I don’t know, I told Marinette I would text her my schedule for the week once I figure it out.

"Well them, you had better bring me back an eclair and a chocolatine, try the macaroons.” With that cryptic advice, Juleka took her drink and left her brother confused. A ding from his phone had him opening a picture of a very familiar face forwarded from his sister.

Is this the ‘go get em tiger high-five from you?

You hurt her and you’ll answer to your future sister-in-law.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[ninaninndraws]

So this is my fic for the #LukanetteExchange, my fic is for....... @quickspinner!!!

I hope it has everything you asked for, Marinette asking Juleka permission to date Luka, the babysitting Fang and a cute moment with the pet (not exactly their pet, but you'll see)

Hope you like it!!!

~more~

Juleka was trying her best to not laugh at Marinette's face. 

There she was, the greatest girl she's ever known -after Rose-, asking HER permission to ask Luka out without breaking their friendship. 

"So… You want to date my brother…" 

"Yeah, that resumes pretty well what I was trying to say" Marinette blushed hard, she said other words, for not making it that aggressive, but yeah. 

" But if you don't let me is ok, I mean, boys come and go but friends are forever, and he's YOUR brother, even if he can make his own choices, because he's a human being, I don't want to risk our friendship, because it really matters to me and… "

"Mari, Nette, Marinette, is ok. Really." Juleka promised herself an ice-cream later, because she wasn't laughing yet and Marinette's boy problems always were hilarious. "I know you won't hurt him, even if you tried. He's sensitive, but strong." 

Marinette tried to say something -probably about how she would never try to hurt him, but Juleka cut her off. 

"And, more importantly." she gave Marinette a teasing smirk, making her open her eyes knowing that she was going to say something embarrassing "He's crazy for you."

Marinette blushed in dark red, but smiled a little. 

Juleka sighed. 

"Also, I'm nobody to talk to you about ruining friendships. You forgave me for following Lila, even when it was obvious a liar. I'm sorry about that, Marinette." 

Marinette gave her a warm hug. It still hurted, but was good to know that her friends were there for her.

"About Luka," Marinette cleared her throat

"Today I'm going to babysit Fang, and I know he's a big fan of Jagged, so I was thinking about inviting him to come, if that's ok." 

"He will love it" 

"YES I WILL!!" 

"LUKA!!" Juleka shouted at him. "Stop harassing Marinette!" she gave Marinette an apologetic smile and went out her room in the ship. 

"MOM!! LUKA WAS SPYING ME AND MY FRIEND WHILE WE WERE IN MY ROOM!! HE PROMISED GO STOP DOING THAT!!" 

Marinette.exe had stopped working.

She was trying to process that Luka was listening while she asked her sister her blessings to ask him out. She buried her face in her hands. Her face was burning in shame. 

That boy. That stupid boy. She thought while she smiled like an idiot still in her hands. 

"Are you mad at me, Nette?" 

Oh, that boy. 

"Why should I, Luka?" she laughed a little. 

She was going to talk, but he cut her off. 

"I'm sorry, I thought you were talking about how you have been lately and I've been so worried about you, but then you started talking about the guy you liked and I was curious, and you said my name and I just stood there, with my ear in the wall, I was shocked and then, then… " now he was blushing, hard and deep red, he was too ashamed to look at her. 

" And then you reacted" she took his face gently, making he look at her face, his cheeks were burning, even more than hers, and when their eyes met they just felt calm and peace.

"Will you, Luka Couffine," started Marinette " go out with me, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, today?" 

Luka's eyes were shining. 

"It's not a proper date…" 

"I know" 

"We will just babysit a pet-" 

"Jagged Stone's crocodile pet" 

"But if you want-" 

"I do" 

"Can you just let me finish my sentences? Please?" teased Marinette

Luka laughed. 

"Sorry, familiar tradition, I guess" 

"Whatever, will you go out with me in a proper date? Someday? And be my boyfriend?  Maybe? Please?" she was laughing and nervous, her hands were still in his face and he got his on her face to make her keep looking at him. 

"Sure." he got closer to her, closed his eyes and she closed hers, their lips were going to meet… 

"FINALLY!" 

"MOM!" 

"Luka I'm so glad you finally got yourself a co-captain to share the ship with!" 

Juleka cleared her throat behind her mother. 

"Mom, they were about to make out. Leave them" 

The woman opened her eyes widely, seeing her mistake. 

"Oh. Oh! Sorry, sorry… Keep going, we will just go out and… Do some stuff… Bye Marinette, darling!" 

She went away running, while Juleka followed, laughing at her.

"Welcome to this crazy family, Marinette." Luka whispered in her ear. 

Marinette turned around, took his shirt and pulled him in a kiss. 

"Glad I'm in" 

________________________________________

"Uncle J, this is Luka. He's my boyfriend and will help me to babysit Fang." 

"Anarka's boy, ain't you? If you say he's rock n' roll I think it will be all cool with him" he hugged tightly her adoptive niece protectively. 

Marinette laughed at his behavior. 

"Uncle J, he's cool. He's pretty cool and really awesome, actually. He's from that band, Kitty Section, remember?" Jagged noded and gave him a high-five. 

"Glad my Nette ended up with some good quality rocker. Not like that followers of that YZ guy." 

"I don't think that's his name" 

"Who cares Netta? He's an idiot"

"Jagged!" she turned to Luka in a search of support

"Sorry Marinette, but I agree with your… Uncle. That guy's music is garbage, he even tried to steal our music and YOUR designs… He doesn't deserve your protection." Luka agreed with Jagged and Jagged put his hand on Luka's shoulder, approving what he said. 

" Your boy knows what's up with that idiot, I like him. He's a keeper. "he said 

" Uncle J, you are going to be late to your meeting. "

" Fu… I mean, damnit! True, I gotta go. Bye Nette!! "

" Say hi to Penny from me!! "

" Count with it!! " and Jagged desappeared.

Marinette sighed.

 

" Sorry 'but that. Sometimes he's… Too much to deal with. Hope he didn't intimidate you"

"Are you kidding, Marinette? He's super cool! He's my favorite rock star and he high-fived me! God! JAGGED STONE HIGH-FIVED ME! I think I'm going to pass out." Marinette laughed, she had never seen Luka so excited about anything. He was cute. 

She had to admit that she was scared about what Jagged could do to him, but now she was just happy they were cool. 

" Well, where's the little boy we have to take care of?" 

"I wouldn't call him little. But he's in this way" 

Marinette lead them through Jagged's room to the bathroom, where Fang was. It was going to be harder to get his approval to Luka.