Merry Christmas @myladyladybug! I am your Miraculous Ladybug Secret Santa for 2020 (@mlsecretsanta). I hope you enjoy this Cinderella AU for Marinette and Adrien <3
Happy holidays @chloe-bourgeois-is-big-gay! As your secret santa, I’ve written you a Lukanette story featuring the soulmate AU, where soulmates can feel any intense emotions that their soulmate’s feel. This went through several re-writes so I apologize for cutting it so close to the deadline, but here it is!
@mlsecretsanta
For Marinette, there were many times growing up that she doubted whether or not she had a soulmate. She couldn’t recall ever being overcome by a strong emotion that wasn’t directly linked back to how she herself was feeling. But according to her parents, everyone had one some were just more obvious than others.
The first time she actually noticed a difference, Marinette was working late on a school project. She had been spending hours staring at a blank screen in the hopes that inspiration would strike and she could complete her written report before it was due the next day. But nothing would come to her. All she could think about was the overwhelming stress of turning in another assignment late and disappointing both her teacher and her parents. The stress alone had her spinning in her computer chair.
On the verge of giving up, Marinette covered her face in her hands. She could attempt to go to sleep now and maybe get up early enough to actually be able to focus in the morning or she could push through in the hopes something would come to her. Granted she had a bad habit of sleeping in and at this rate, it seemed like she would even if she completed the assignment.
Gradually she felt a soothing wave wash over her. And her shoulders relaxed. And her thoughts were no longer racing. And she didn’t feel so hopeless. And then just calm.
It was as if someone were draping a warm, soothing blanket over her shoulders. As if she was feeling someone else’s emotions, someone like her soulmate!
A gentle sigh escaped her lips and Marinette sent a silent thank you to her soulmate. Whatever they were doing they were managing to overcome her emotions with their own. The thought alone helped Marinette relax, finally knowing that she wasn’t so alone like she had feared. There was someone out there that could match her stress and overpower it with a sense of calmness.
For a moment Marinette lost herself in thought again. Guilt. Her soulmate would be around her age of course, but would they already have grey hair? Aside from Marinette, who else could handle her daily stressors? Between running late to school, staying up late working on homework assignments, and everything else, how could someone else handle all this random stress?
Her dad had even mentioned how before meeting her mother, he would stress bake whenever he felt any intense emotion from her.
Marinette almost laughed when the wave of calmness came back. Subtle at first, but still effective. As if her soulmate were trying to soothe her fears once more.
“Ok, I’ll take the hint,” Marinette whispered to herself. “Thank you.”
A small smile formed on her lips as she began typing out her report.
“Someday you will have to tell me your secret to staying so calm.”
~~-~~
The day that Marinette became Ladybug, she started to worry in the back of her mind about her soulmate. It was one thing to have the weight of Paris on her shoulders, but now she was giving that stress to someone else without any of the necessary context.
Through all of her interaction with Stoneheart as Ladybug, Marinette couldn’t feel her soulmate’s soothing calm over her own feelings. Which in turn only enhanced her fear and self-doubt. Even with Tikki and Chat Noir, she felt alone again.
All until Alya was trapped by cars as Stoneheart went on another rampage. The desire to help Alya overcame her worries and she accepted the ladybug miraculous. Just as the magic of the suit was washing over her, she could feel the wave of calm again. Mixed in there was a hint of relief that Marinette was overcoming her own doubts and a sense of pride for her.
~~-~~
So much worry. Luka wasn’t sure why, but his soulmate was stressed beyond belief at the sudden introduction of akumas. Her emotions before now were nothing in comparison. More than anything, he hoped she was safe.
Normally in times like these, Luka would strum his guitar and play a soothing melody. One that would break through his soulmate’s stress and help her calm down, but now he couldn’t seem to break through to her.
Not until Ladybug seemed to show up again. As soon as he had seen her on TV zipping into action, Luka imagined his soulmate found some relief in the superhero. She was still doubtful, but Luka took it as an opportunity to play his guitar and focus on sending soothing thoughts to her.
Confidence answered him back and Luka smiled to himself. Whatever had happened to his soulmate during Stoneheart, they were safe now and seemed to be more confident in themselves now.
“I’ll have to thank Ladybug for this someday.” Luka thought to himself as the ladybugs washed over Paris.
~~-~~
The day Luka became Viperion, he began to understand what made a person lose themselves in self-doubt. The weight of a miraculous was a heavy burden, but Luka also found it to be a source of power. While his soulmate handled her emotions better after Stoneheart, there were still times when he could feel her concern grow during a particularly powerful akuma. As Viperion, he could take a more active role to help his soulmate.
Every time Ladybug came to his requesting assistance in her and Chat Noir’s battle with the akumas, Luka was quick to accept her offer.
~~-~~
“Ladybug!” Viperion called, his freehand laying over his Miraculous. “Are you alright?”
Winded, Ladybug took a deep breath and gave herself a moment to collect her thoughts.
“I’m fine. Just taking a breather before I rejoin Chat Noir in the fight.” Ladybug called back, turning her face to look at Viperion.
Even from a distance, Viperion could see the crease in her brows, made all the more evident by her mask.
Doubt. Fear.
Suddenly, Viperion’s mind was clouded with his soulmate’s emotions.
Without thinking about it, Viperion moved his hand away from his miraculous and pulled his lyre from his side. He began to strum his fingers along the strings. While he usually enjoyed the comfort of feeling his soulmate’s emotions, as if they were always next to him, he couldn’t afford to lose focus with so much on the line.
When he played music like this, Viperion liked to imagine that his music conveyed the words he wanted to share with his soulmate even if they couldn’t hear him play.
Ladybug was surprised as she watched Viperion play his lyre. As Marinette, she had heard him play his guitar before, but not like this. Through the instrument, it was as if Viperion were having an intimate conversation with someone.
At the same time, Ladybug could gradually feel her soulmate’s feelings wash over her. Their feelings calmed her nerves and Ladybug could feel her confidence growing once more. Reinvigorated, Ladybug wound up her yoyo before propelling herself back into the fight with Chat Noir.
A sigh escaped Viperion’s lips as he felt his soulmate calming down. He slipped his lyre back on his side and held his free hand back over his miraculous, prepared to call second chance if needed.
~~-~~
“Thank you for your help today, Luka.” Ladybug smiled, “You did a great job.”
“Of course,” Luka replied, placing the snake miraculous in her outstretched hand.
With the snake miraculous back in her hands, Ladybug prepared to send off her yoyo before hesitating for just a moment.
“I was curious”, Ladybug started until Luka interrupted her.
“About why I was playing the lyre?” Luka couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s an old habit I picked up. Usually, when my soulmate would get stressed out in the past and I could feel her emotions spiraling out of control, I figured out that I could play my guitar and help her calm down. I’ve always been pretty calm so I always worried my soulmate would feel alone, but at least this way I know they can feel me silently supporting them.”
A shy smile made its way onto Luka’s face and Ladybug couldn’t help but blush in return. She felt a swelling in her chest and she wondered silently to herself if her soulmate was standing in front of her now. It would make sense after all. Who else could handle emotions like that than Luka who was always so calm and relaxed? What were the odds?
Ladybug wanted to ask more questions, but the beeping in her ears reminded her that she was limited on time.
“Your soulmate sounds like a very lucky person.” Ladybug smiled, “I hope you get the chance to meet them soon if you haven’t already.”
With those words, Ladybug sent her yoyo high into the rooftops above before giving a sharp tug and flying into the sky after it.
Luka watched as she disappeared, feeling a likewise similar warmth in his chest and wondering idly if it was his own feeling or his soulmates. Or maybe both.
ML Secret Santa 2020 Sign-Ups are officially open!!
We’re so excited to begin our fifth year of Secret Santa!
Each participant will be tasked with creating a new piece of Miraculous Ladybug fanwork for their assigned giftee. Every individual who creates a gift for someone is guaranteed to receive a gift in return! It’s the ML fandom’s way of spreading positivity and cheer throughout the season!
This event is, as always, open to Artists, Writers, and Gif-makers/Editors of any skill level, we only ask that you take a look at our FAQ, Guidelines, and Calendar pages before signing up.
If you have any questions that aren’t already answered in the linked pages, feel free to send us an ask on our blog or contact one of our mods.
We can’t wait to see what you all create!
SIGN UP FOR THE 2020 ML SECRET SANTA HERE!
Sign-ups will close at 11:59PM ET on October 31st.
