FIC: "How Do I Look?" (MLB; Lukanette; Sprint Fic)
Rating: Teen & Up
Characters/Pairings: Luka Couffaine, Marinette Dupain-Cheng; Luka Couffaine/Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Summary: Alya’s making Marinette go out, and Marinette really doesn’t want to. Luka’s not sure he wants her to, either.
Author’s Notes/Warnings: The week before Thanksgiving is always a little nutty at work, and I did some sprinting to unwind. From November 2023’s Sprint Challenge Prompts over at @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers, using the social media prompt that said: “The single most important thing a man can do to be an ally is give his woman friends permission to give dudes at the bar his number so when they call he can angrily say that’s not funny because she died 15 years ago that very night.”
Just a reminder: LBSC Sprint Challenge Guidelines: Three 15-minute sprints to write the fic. 24 hours to edit/post.
“How Do I Look?”
“I really don’t want to go out tonight.”
Luka looked up from his Cheerios at Marinette’s voice, his spoon still in his mouth. His eyes widened when he saw the red dress she was wearing, and he almost swallowed the spoon when she sat on the edge of the table and gave him a pouting look. Between the smoky eye she had painted on and the deep red lipstick that drew his focus to those kissable lips…yep. He was swallowing his spoon. And tongue. And…
“You…you’re going out tonight?” he asked after a moment, when he finally felt like he had regained some sense of composure. Barely.
“Unfortunately,” she sighed, bending to slip on a strappy pair of heels that just…weren’t fair. She glanced back at him, a smirk on her lips like she knew exactly what she was doing to him. “I’d much rather stay home in my comfy jammies, with my favorite emotional support musician and a tub of ice cream. Binge watching bad movies.”
An alternate snow story speed write that didn't fit the original 'snow' prompt but I felt compelled to write. Not related to the first but hopefully you enjoy it!
Part 1/2 | AO3
~~~~~~~
Taking a calm solitary stroll through the park on the way to the library was interrupted when a pink blur collided with his chest, knocking him back into the snowbank behind him with an “oof!” Scowling as he shook free the snow that had fallen into his face, Felix took in the sight of one Marinette Dupain-Cheng sprawled across his lap and looking a bit dazed from the impact. “Miss Dupain-Cheng, to what do I owe the pleasure…”
“I saw her go this way!” The sound of the quickly approaching voices of their classmates, namely the those of the classroom pests Miss Rossi and Miss Césaire, broke his train of thought.
Marinette snapped out of her stupor and sat up to glanced around, assessing what her best escape route was with her limited amount of time. She quickly deduced that she wouldn’t be able to lose them in the wide-open park. Her bluebell eyes took in the now disheveled and snow-covered Felix with a calculating gaze before nodding. Pulling her knit cap down and tucking in her pigtails, she addressed the taciturn blond. “Sorry, Felix. I’m trying to avoid Alya and Lila.” Having disguised her hair as best she could, the young designer then grabbed his jacket lapels with a firm grip. “You’re an actor, right? Think you can play along?”
“Play along? What are yo—”
In one swift motion, and with a strength he hadn’t known she possessed, Marinette pulled Felix in for a kiss and then flipped them so that he was on top of her in the snow. With the last vestiges of his awareness, he caged her against his chest, so as not to crush her with his weight and block her face from being seen. Her lips were warm and sweet, like a cookie straight from the oven. With a muffled moan and compelled by a dizzying yet sudden hunger, his lips began digging into hers. He felt her body quiver before her mouth answered his with equal fervor. His hands cupped and gripped her body with a soft growl of desire; she mewled into his mouth as her fingers took purchase in Felix’s hair. When Marinette’s tongue shyly brushed against his bottom lip, he eagerly deepened the kiss with his own. Their mouths now locked in a heated battle for dominance; a mess of lips and tongues as their bodies pressed together in the snow.
While lost in the moment, their senses completely overwhelmed with each other and blissfully unaware of the world around them, Lila and Alya slowed to a stop about ten meters away. They were sure they had seen Marinette come this way but the only thing they found was some overly amorous – and vocal! – couple snogging in the snow.
“I could have sworn she came this way! Sorry, girl, we’ll get your scarf back from her next time,” Alya regretfully patted Lila’s shoulder.
“Thanks, Alya! You’re the best! Let’s go. These two are making me uncomfortable,” Lila replied as she pointed a thumb over her shoulder towards the couple. They quickly walked away, shouting comments about ‘getting a room’ as they exited from whence they came.
Marinette broke the kiss and peeked over Felix’s shoulder to confirm her two pursuers had gone before meeting the blond’s eyes. They both were breathing raggedly, their cheeks flushed and warm, their pupils blown wide as they stared at each other, and their bodies still intimately entwined. At some point his jacket buttons had come undone and her delicate hands had found their way beneath his shirt. She fared no better, his one hand causing little electric jolts while stroking the exposed skin on her spine while the other cupped her butt through her jeans.
Felix broke the silence between them first, the hand on her butt squeezed gently to accentuate his words. “You’re quite the method actor, my dear.”
“What can I say? I’m full of surprises, Mr. Fathom,” Marinette smirked slyly, slowly dragging her foot up the calf it had wrapped around.
“Although, I do have a few notes on how to improve your performance,” the blond glanced down at her lips. He leaned in, his forehead and nose resting against her own. Felix pressed closer until their lips were about to touch, murmuring before diving in for another kiss…
“Once more from the top, shall we?”
~~~~~~
NOTES: Dialogue my brain came up with that just didn’t work for me at the time:
“That was…quite a realistic performance, Miss Dupain-Cheng.”
“…What if it wasn’t entirely a performance, Mr. Fathom?” (she bites her lip nervously)
(he leans in, his voice becomes a rough/growling whisper) “Oh. Then you should stop biting your lip, that my job now.”
Daminette Class Reunion[class salt?] Its Marinette's class reunion where her old class learned the hard way how Lila's connections and promises weren't true, and wish to reconnect with their once 'Everyday Ladybug'. Only she's not really having it, coolly responding to them and only warm to those who (really) had her back, someone snaps at her (Alya? Adrien?idk) but is instantly stopped by a handsome man who walked into the room and doesn't like the words they were spewing at his wife.
Who Do You Think You Are?!
Marinette stared at the school right next to her from her seat next to the taxi’s window as she sat inside th car. She didn’t really want to be here, but she wanted to see what happened to her class after their fallout. Wanted to see how her ex-friends fell from their glory space. She sighed sadly and was thankful that the taxi driver was understanding of her predicament. Well, at least some of her friends would be there too, and she could stay around them and avoid everyone else. Yea, she could do that, besides Damian said that he would be here soon. So gathering up her courage and thanking the cab driver she stepped out and walked to the entrance of her old highschool.
“There you are!”
She heard Chloe say in her exasperated and fondly annoyed voice.
“Hurry up, I’m starting to lose my patience hanging around these losers.”
Marinette smiled and rolled her eyes at her friend.
“I’m coming, I’m coming, though I’d rather not be here.”
“Yea, yea.”
Chloe said flippedly as she grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the common area.
Alya watched as Chloe dragged her best friend towards the left stairwell where Nino, Max, Sabrina, Rose, Juleka, and other students from other classes were also standing. They all greeted her with excited hugs and smiles. Alya crossed her arms and glared at the group. They must think they were better than everyone else, just because they didn’t spend time with Lila. Though, Lila turned out to be a lying fraud. Because of all the lies on her LadyBlog, she was unable to get a successful job as a reporter and was currently working as a barista in one of the coffee shops near her apartment. She had talked to her other classmates as well, and learned that they also suffered greatly for believing in Lila. Kim wasn’t able to make it to the Olympics and had ended up having an accident that caused him to be unable to do any sports for a while. Now he was a kids swim teacher, so it wasn’t all bad for him she guessed. He was also married to Ondine and was expecting a kid soon. Nathaniel never really was near Lila, and they never really talked much, so while he wasn’t able to make it to his dream job as a comic designer for Marvel Comics, he was selling lots of his work online and doing commissions. Adrien still worked for his father, and he seemed so worn out and tired. She felt bad for the guy. Alix was working as a hairstylist, she said she was okay with it. Everyone was unable to pursue their real dream, yet everyone seemed happy with their life except her!
She glanced at Adrien and saw the way his eyes sparkled as he laid eyes on Marinette. She could tell that he was now interested in the young lady. Maybe she could get them together, and that would make up for all the bad she had done to the girl during their school years.
“Come on Adrien, let's go say hi!”
Alya said happily as she grabbed Adrien’s wrist and dragged him towards the group, before she could get there though some of the other people from the class came up to her first.
“Hey Mari,”
Kim said in a small yet happy voice. Marinette turned to him and the others, her eyes cold and calculating.
“Kim.”
She said briskly. Kim gave her a small awkward smile,
“I just wanted to apologize for my behavior in highschool. I know you probably won’t forgive me, and I understand that, but you did a lot of good. I hope your life only got better after you left, you deserve it.”
Marinette smiled softly at Kim and the others as they nodded in agreement and added their own apologies and well wishings. Alya rolled her eyes, why were they apologizing when it wasn’t their fault? It was Lila’s fault, they shouldn’t be asking for forgiveness. Alya pushed to the front with Adrien still in her grasp, only releasing her grip on him when they were in front of Mari.
“Marinette! I’m so glad to see you again!”
Marinette’s soft happy eyes turned cold and blank when they turned to her and Adrien.”
“Césaire. Agreste. What do you want?”
“What’s with the last names gurl? There’s no need to be formal like that, we’re all friends here!”
“No, we are not.”
She said before turning back to her group of friends, something about Rose and Juleka starting a flower shop/ beauty boutique. Alya huffed in annoyance,
“What are you talking about, of course we are! Look, I brought Adrien over!”
“I don’t care.”
“What do you mean?! What’s wrong with you?! Why are you being so cold-hearted?!”
Marinette didn’t say anything, choosing instead to ignore them. Adrien then decided to finally make a move. Adrien quickly grabbed her shoulder and she could see Mari tense under it. She must be so excited!
“Marinette, why are you acting so cold? It’s not a good look on you.”
The air seemed to chill around them, but the only people who didn’t notice the change were Adrien and Alya.
“Take your hand off of me this instant Agreste or I will remove it for you.”
Adrien sighed annoyedly,
“Marientte-”
Before he or even Marinette could do anything another hand grabbed Adrien’s wrist and yanked it away harshly before pushing him away.
“I believe she said to remove your hand, Milksop.”
Marinete turned around quickly, her eyes shining more brightly than they had the entire night.
“Damian! Thank goodness you're here.”
She said as she launched at him for a hug. He easily caught her and chuckled softly, careful now, we wouldn’t want to startle the little one.
“Wait, what?! Gurl, what’s going on?! You should be with Adrien, and-”
“Quiet you harlot, you do not understand the nonsense you spew.”
The man said again. He was tall around 6’ 7”, very well built, had dark black gelled back hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. In short, he was an intimidating figure, but she had seen and faced worse in her youth.
“I am no harlot, and who are you to say that I don’t understand what I’m talking about! I’ve know her longer than you and am her best friend.”
The man snorted and rolled his eyes. He gently grabbed Marinette holding her to his side with an arm wrapped around her waist. Adrien glared darkly at the man, but he just smirked back at him, a mischievous glint in his dark green eyes.
“Allow me to introduce myself,”
He said with mock courtesy,
“My name is Damian Wayne, this is my wife Marinette Wayne, and this,”
He said placing one of his large hands gently on Marinette stomach, which now clearly looking at it was rounded slightly,
“is our lovely child. So I’m afraid that the poltroon has no chance with her.”
Marinette smiled softly leaning into the side of The Damian Wayne, and placing her hand atop the one one on her stomach.
“That was the surprise you were going to tell us!”
Chloe yelled as she marched up the couple.
“Well, now I have to come with you so that we can plan a baby shower when the gender is revealed.”
“Wooo, this is so exciting!”
Squealed Rose as she ran up and hugged the couple, Juleka standing off to the side giving them a thumbs up and saying,
“Congratulations you guys.”
“I’m going to be an uncle!”
Nino cheered, fist bumping the air proudly. The large group now surrounded Marinette asking questions. Kim and Marinette started to talk about both being parents that are expecting a child, her telling him about the stress of being the man and her telling him about what it’s like being the woman. Alix and Juleka were talking about working at beauty boutiques and talking about different techniques they used. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their life, even after all the hardships that were brought upon them after Lila. Well, everyone except Alya who was never able to move on with her life and recover, and Adrien who is still stuck in his father’s shadow and expecting the world to give him good karma for all that he did in his teenage years as a superhero.
I love Adrien. He's my third favorite character from the show. I am a little mixed about him sometimes because I don't like Chat's behavior when it comes to how he pursued Ladybug (ie: not accepting her rejections and kept pushing) and how the show or fandom talks about or ignores it/his flaws, especially when Marinette's problematic behavior is talked about/called out as if she's the only one who made the LS dynamic unhealthy. Once I rewatched the show after my first binge of it, it didn't sit right with me.
Again, I love him. He's part of my favorite Miraculous ship (Lukadrinette) and I enjoy him as a character most of the time. There's just a bit of salt mixed in with my love for him due to canon/fandom.
To be fair, you have to pretty gay to understand the joke. The humour is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of homosexuality most of the jokes will go over a typical Tumblr user’s head.
