Work Text:
“It wasn't vandalism. I made a simple but necessary improvement!”
“Don't deny it, Miss Dupain-Cheng, we caught you red-handed.”
Marinette frowned at the blue paint still staining her fingers. Officer Raincomprix had zero sense of humor, let alone any sense of artistry. “I'm not saying I didn't do it! I'm just saying it isn't vandalism! Nothing I did warrants arrest!”
Sabrina's dad glared at her. “Defacing a public mural is vandalism.”
“I didn't deface anything! It was a simple update based on recent events. And you know it.”
“Just because the Couffaine kid made his big stage debut…”
“Luka was amazing last night! Maybe the best that stage has ever seen," she retorted.
“Right. Who am I calling for you?”
Marinette swallowed. She hadn't expected to land in jail when she decided to add Luka's portrait to the mural on the side of the wall across from the theater. Her parents would be appalled. Of course, she knew someone who had dealt with the police before, someone who would definitely be on her side. “Anarka Couffaine.”
Roger sighed, “Aww, c’mon kid. Don't do this to me.” The pain in his eyes gave Marinette a glimmer of hope.
“You could just let me go, you know. I provided a public service! And even if you don't agree, you have to admit it wasn't malicious.”
Officer Raincomprix harrumphed and frowned at her, “ Public Service indeed! It's not like you're Ladybug here, you painted on a city wall.”
Marinette covered her sudden urge to laugh with a dramatic clearing of her throat.
“I didn't cover any of the existing artwork, and I designed the portrait to blend in with the preexisting style. Have you had any complaints?”
“Not yet, but that doesn't change what you've done.”
Marinette crossed her arms defensively and kept her head high, “Then you better call Anarka, you can't keep me long without calling someone. I'm still a minor after all.”
“Is that why you decided to vandalize the city this week instead of next?”
What?! How dare he suggest her upcoming birthday was relevant to the situation.
“No! Of course not! It wasn't vandalism! It was a compliment. You're the one blowing it out of proportion.” Marinette hissed, refusing to shout at the lawman. She didn't want him adding any charges to her ‘bill’ or whatever it was called in prison. Prison. Oh gosh. Her parents were going to be so disappointed. Papa, at least, was likely to see her side of it, Maman however, would ask why she hadn't considered the consequences of her decision before jumping in.
“Have a seat. I’ll let you know if your contact decides to come for you.” Roger gestured to a bench at the back of a holding cell, and Marinette sat with a sigh, jumping a little when the door clanged shut.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Luka had told her once that if he ever got to play at the historic Le Trianon Theatre and see himself added to the iconic mural, he would feel like he'd made it. So when last night's amazing concert had given way to glowing reviews in the morning paper, Marinette had sought Alix’s advice and impulsively decided to add an image of Luka bent over his guitar to the mural’s lineup of the great musicians who had played at the theatre.
She wanted him to know she thought he was incredible. Hopefully, he knew that already, but surely a grand gesture wouldn't hurt. Of course, jail time had not been part of her plan to celebrate his success. She had planned to finish the art, walk to the Liberty, and ask Luka out for smoothies or coffee, where they would conveniently pass the mural and she could tell him how much he deserved every accolade in the world.
Alix had jumped at the chance to help her, offering paint and sealer suggestions, and had even held the ladder steady for her- right up until she spotted Officer Roger's patrol vehicle. Alix had bolted with a thin excuse about Marinette being more likely to get off without a repeat offender around.
“Dupain-Cheng!” Roger's voice snapped her out of her reverie and she looked up.
“Yes, officer?”
“You have company.”
Dark blue hair appeared behind Roger, and Marinette blushed. Why was Luka here?! Roger was supposed to call Anarka!
Luka looked as surprised as she felt, he clearly hadn't been told the whole story before he came down. “Roger, I think you've got the wrong girl.”
“You were supposed to call the Captain!” Marinette exclaimed.
Roger ignored her and tapped his clipboard while he addressed Luka. “One act of vandalism. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Not the wrong girl, this time anyway. I'm sure your Ma will be back soon enough. Are you willing to claim her?”
Luka glanced at Marinette and beamed. “I'd be happy to claim her if she doesn't mind.”
Roger snorted. “Considering it was your face she was scribbling all over the city, I don't think she will.”
It was Luka’s turn to blush and he did it admirably. Marinette sort of liked that, but she couldn't let Roger get away with his wild accusations.
“One part of one wall is not the whole city, Officer Roger!” Marinette was fed up with his attitude, and her stomach felt all knotted up with butterflies with Luka standing there grinning at her after he announced he was willing to claim her.
Luka's face scrunched up, “Wait, really?” His blush rivaled her own and she couldn't find the words to explain, Roger however didn't share her shyness. He produced a black and white print of the photo he'd taken on the site.
“Proof of the incident. Are you still willing to bail out the miscreant?”
Luka's puzzled expression turned into a blushing smile, which only widened as he studied the photo. He turned to her in amazement.
“You did this? For me?”
She shrugged and leaned against the bars that separated them, the butterflies in her stomach flapped wildly when Luka closed a hand around hers. “You deserve to be part of the pantheon. And it isn't just me. There wasn't a single negative review about your concert last night. You are definitely one of Paris’ greats.”
Luka leaned in and Marinette's heart beat faster as she mirrored his action…
“No!” Roger shouted, and both Luka and Mari jerked back. “No kissing before bail. I don't get paid enough for these teenage shenanigans.”
Luka rolled his eyes. “I'll cover bail, but could you let her out now, please?”
Roger huffed, but there was a degree of fondness in the sound, and he unlocked the cell. Marinette didn't waste any time leaving her prison and Luka pulled her into his side and wrapped an arm around her protectively. “Are you alright, Melody?”
She snuggled into him with a smile. “I am now that you're here.”
Luka made a quick job of the paperwork, and they set off. “So, do I get to see your masterpiece?”
Marinette frowned, suddenly worried. “If they haven't covered it up already.”
Luka shook his head. “Nah. The bureaucracy is too slow for that.”
Her addition had dried perfectly during her brief incarceration, and Marinette was glad there weren't any drips. While she had managed to finish it before the police arrived to put an end to it, she hadn't been able to really look at it. The depiction of Luka blended almost seamlessly with the rest of the mural and she couldn't help but smile. The only thing that stood out was her ladder, lying abandoned along the base of the wall where it had fallen in her haste to climb down.
Luka broke the brief silence. “Wow, Marinette. You made it look like I belong up there.”
She blinked at him, “You do. You deserve to have everything you want.”
Luka tugged her closer, “I have everything I want right here."
Marinette blushed, but her cheeks felt tight from the smile Luka put there. She tugged his arm and pressed a kiss against his cheek.
He looked at her, almost reverently, "I can't believe you went to jail for me, Mari.”
She smiled at him, "You're worth it."
Luka's kiss missed her cheek and landed squarely on her lips instead. Totally worth it.