A different morning

The morning after Risk was akumatized, Nathalie went to comfort Adrien.

They were alone in Adrien’s room and seeing Adrien look so disappointed and depressed, it made Nathalie sad.

She cared for Adrien. She did.

“Adrien, i thought you would be more excited,” she commented, coming in. “You’ve always expressed a desire for more freedom.”

Adrien: you and I both know this trip gives me no freedom. It’s a business trip. I’ll be leaving my friends behind.

Nathalie knew better than to mention Lila Rossi. She overheard his deal and knew he could not like the girl.

Being stuck with the clingy liar for the whole trip…Nathalie doubted he would even be able to appreciate the scenic landmarks in that frame of mind.

I am froggy

Adrien: and another thing, I hate Lila. Why did father even hire her? She got you and my bodyguard in trouble! Did she make up some story about her celebrity connections? You have to have suspected she was lying at least!

Nathalie pushed up her glasses. “Your father found that Lila’s Italian heritage gave him inspiration for a new line of clothing and he rewarded her with a job.

Adrien did not look impressed.

Nathalie came closer. “Adrien, I know you’re unhappy with your choices being taken away from you. But your father does care for you. The main reason behind this journey was because he wanted to send you away from Paris for your own safety.”

Adrien blinked. “What?”

Nathalie sat down. “With all the akumas roaming around Paris and the never-ending war between the heroes and Hawkmoth, Gabriel doesn’t want you in the middle of that. Nor the rest of us.”

“Then why doesn’t he join us?” Adrien pleaded.

Nathalie gave a sad smile. “Adrien, who is resting in Paris?”

Emelie.

Gabriel would rather die in the city with her than leave with his son.

Adrien did not know how to feel about that. So he settled for, “Why does Lila have to come? We have other models in the agency.”

Nathalie shrugged. “She is your classmate. Your father didn’t want you to get lonely.”

He made a face. “You didn’t protest? We’ll be stuck with her for weeks.” A never ending tale of how many celebrities she claimed to know and amazing feats she really never performed.

That…was a very unpleasant scenario.

Nathalie grimaced as well. “It’s too late to change the details after our announcement.”

After she left, Adrien and Plagg looked at each other. “We can’t leave Paris. Should we ask Ladybug for the horse miraculous?”

Plagg: worth a shot.

Adrien transformed and called Ladybug, telling her to meet him ASAP.

He was busy roaming the streets to broadcast his presence and kept busy saving careless civilians.

Alya noted Chat’s presence and informed Ladybug.

Ladybug: what do you mean you’re going away too?

Chat: too?

Ladybug: never mind. I suppose I have to give you the Horse Miraculous.

However Ladybug soon had another message from Rena. “Adrien’s gone missing again?”

Chat: what?

Oh yeah, he was supposed to go to school in his limo but ended up meeting Ladybug. Oops.

Ladybug: I don’t blame him for running away from Lila. He looked so sad in the news.

Chat perked you as he got an idea to discourage Ladybug from finding his alter ego. “Does that mean we shouldn’t find him? If he doesn’t want to be found.”

Ladybug frowned. “I’m not sure.”

I am froggy

“But if this is what Adrien wants, then so be it.”

Chat never planned to run away but sure!

Ladybug headed to school, with Chat rushing to save some children running across the road.

Everyone was concerned about Adrien. Why would he run?

Marinette: does no one notice Adrien frowning? He doesn’t want to go!

Mylène: but why? I thought Adrien loved to go out.

Nino stared at the phone. “It’s a business trip. He won’t really be having a holiday, not with his schedule.”

Lila frowned and gritted her teeth. She texted Adrien to keep his end of the bargain or she won’t either.

Chat received the text message and hissed.

I am froggy

“I’ve had enough of her!”

He had some visits to make.

Less than two hours later, there was another scandal on the loose.

Chat Noir had made a video post where he interviewed various celebrities from Jagged Stone to Prince Ali about Lila Rossi.

Their answer was always the same: Who?

He even visited Mrs Rossi to ask about her daughter’s visit to Achu.

Mrs Rossi: I’ve never been to Achu. And now please leave. I have to work.

The whole school stared at Lila, exposed.

Bustier: Lila, if you weren’t in Achu, where were you?

Ivan: you’ve been lying this whole time haven’t you?

Lila: it’s my condition. I have a rare lying disease from the time I visited a rural village in the Amazon.

Bustier: lying disease or not, you still missed a large chunk of the school year. I’m afraid it looks like you will be held back a year.

Lila: I can provide the paperwork to excuse myself. Just give me time.

Alix: seriously? Ms Bustier, how do we know she isn’t making up this lying disease!

Caline paused.

Alya: we should at least check with her mother to confirm the story.

Lila: my mother is very busy! You saw that in the video.

Caline pauses. Unsure what to do.

I am froggy

Alya and Marinette transform.

Rena: so Ladybug, are you actually friends with Lila Rossi?

Ladybug: of course not!

Rena visits the embassy while Ladybug helps Chat save civilians.

Rena: Mrs Rossi, is it true that your daughter has some rare lying disease?

Mrs Rossi: what are you talking about? My daughter is perfectly healthy. Why are you heroes harassing me?!

Rena: you might want to visit your daughter’s school.

Rena’s post was watched during lunch break.

Gabriel also made another announcement.

Alec: in light of the recent Liar Rossi scandal and his missing son, Gabriel has cancelled the upcoming trip and fired Liar Rossi from his company.

So much negative emotions. It was a shame he couldn’t become Scarlet Moth again.

Satisfied, Chat returned to school and detransformed. His friends greeted him enthusiastically and congratulated him on a narrow escape

Lila was upset and stuck in the principal’s office. Where was her akuma? She was furious right now!

Gabriel was waiting for Adrien to come home, safe and sound before he created Strike Back.

With the scandal about Adrien gone missing, Felix hesitated in coming to Paris.

Strike Back is unleashed on Paris.

Rena Furtive informs about Risk.

Ladybug rushes to find Sabrina.

Miss Hound retrieves Risk’s toy.

Now they just have to defeat the sentimonsters.

Gabriel feels so defeated.

Ladybug and Chat Noir’s risk was exposing Lila as a fraud, but the massive negative emotions resulting could not be taken advantage of since Nathalie could not become Catalyst.

Even though Alya was receiving criticism for not checking her sources and Lila was still seething, Gabriel felt defeated and not in the mood to akumatize them.

They had their chances at least twice and failed.

He’ll just keep failing.

Nathalie: are you so ready to give up? Perhaps we should try this from another angle.

Gabriel: like what?

Nathalie fumbled. “There are other miraculous out there. What if we were to acquire them?”

Gabriel considered. “An intriguing idea.”

He made a master thief sentimonster, Sneak, then akumatized it to be able to find foreign miraculous.

“Go forth, Sneak, and bring me miraculous to counter Ladybug’s own!”

Hanging out

Adrien just wants to stay with his friends. And since Marinette seemed to have something to want to talk to him about, he visits her, in his Felix disguise.

He calls her.

Marinette immediately picks up. “Adrien! Goodbye, I mean hello. I mean, what’s coming?” she facepalmed and groaned.

Adrien gave a slight chuckle. Marinette’s antics always cheered him up a bit. “Is it alright if I hang out at your place for a bit?”

“Sure!” Marinette exclaimed in surprise. “But, did you tell your dad you want to stay in Paris.”

Adrien sighed. “No. My cousin showed up and offered to trade places with me.”

A cold feeling settled inside Marinette’s stomach. Felix is back?

I am froggy

“Better your cousin leaves with Lila than you,” Marinette declared.

“I agree,” Adrien stood up and started walking over. “I just can’t figure out why he’s doing this now all of a sudden. It can’t be for my sake.”

“Maybe he just really dislikes your father. Didn’t your dad turn into the Collector because of him?”

Marinette’s brain spun with all the possibilities.

“I’m glad I can talk about this with you, Marinette,” he said. “I’m almost to your place.”

“Gah!” Marinette was instantly distracted. “I’ll meet you at the back door, I mean the front door!”

Marinette welcomed Adrien into her living room.

Then Kagami called and berated Adrien for not standing up to Gabriel.

He stood up. “Kagami’s right. It’s time I stood up to my father!”

Marinette cheered.

Adrien texted Felix before he dialed the Gorilla, who gaped at the caller ID and then at Felix. Gulping, he accepted the call.

“Hi. I’m at Marinette’s place. Could you come pick me up.”

Normally in this situation, the Gorilla would have just come to get Adrien and send him to the train station, ignoring his order to return him home.

But with Felix present…

Gorilla discreetly texted Nathalie and Gabriel.

Gabriel: pick up my son and send him to the train station. Felix can board the train back to London.

He saw the safe and knew Felix fell for bait.

Adrien and Marinette frowned to see Felix in the limo again.

Nathalie: Adrien, it’s time to go now.

Adrien: no, i want to see my father!

Nathalie: Adrien!

She subtly touched the ring.

His shoulders slumped.

Marinette looked dismayed and disappointed.

Felix: you couldn’t even stand firm for more than two minutes! I can’t believe we’re even related.

I am froggy

Adrien clenched his fists. “I’ll show you.”

He promptly ran off, against the flow of traffic.

Marinette chased after him. “Adrien!”

Nathalie hopped back into the car. “Follow them.”

Plagg: where are we going?

Adrien: anywhere but the station. Plagg Claws out!

Marinette stopped short, unable to find Adrien anywhere. Though why was Chat outside? Never mind. Adrien was running away! Again!

The car drove by. “Marinette, where did Adrien go?” Nathalie demanded.

Marinette: i don’t know

Nathalie: we’ll split up. Call me if you see him and I’ll do the same.

Then she drove off.

Marinette; wait, why am I helping Nathalie find Adrien? I want him to stay in Paris.

Tikki: so what do we do?

Marinette: i don’t know.

Tikki: Adrien doesn’t want to be found right now, Marinette. If he wants you to find him, he’ll call you.

Marinette: yeah, I guess you’re right.

With Adrien still in the city, Hawkmoth can’t create Strike Back yet.

And Chat is willing to take the risk of staying in his hero form for now.

Hours pass and no one can find Adrien.

Nathalie calls everyone for a mass search.

Marinette takes the risk of not joining in.

This reminds her of Santa Claws where she made things worse. She just has to trust Adrien.

Tikki is also very sure Adrien is fine, especially with Chat Noir so ostentatiously present on patrol. He certainly is kept busy since civilians are getting more reckless and careless

Everyone wonders why Adrien would run away and finally realize that he maybe he doesn’t want to go on this trip after all.

With the danger increasing, Gabriel is concerned about Adrien and creates a sentimonster to find him.

The sentimonster fails.

Fed up, Gabriel finally makes a public announcement that says Adrien can stay in Paris if that is what he wants, just come home.

Just like that, Adrien miraculously appears at the mansion gates.

Gabriel: you’re still grounded.

Nathalie monitors Adrien while Gorilla sends Felix to the train station.

Lila is furious the trip is cancelled because of Adrien and calls to threaten him.

Adrien: oh, and what if I ask Jagged Stone and Ladybug to defend Marinette. Wouldn’t that be a shocker to see such famous celebrities calling you a liar in public?

Lila: you would risk me getting akumatized?

Better her than Marinette.

Adrien: i trust the heroes to wipe the floor with you any day.

Lila hung up and scowled.

With Adrien safe in the mansion under the watch of the returned Gorilla, Hawkmoth creates Strike Back.

An akuma alert is sent out and Adrien goes to the bathroom to transform. “I’m gonna take a nice long soak.”

Cue the fight.

With everyone taking risks, Ladybug is unsure what she should do.

As such, she gives Luka his miraculous in case anything wrong should happen.

Ladybug detransforms and merges Baark and Fluff.

She returns back to the present and destroys the akuma and casts the cure, removing Risk’s influence.

She detransforms and transforms again and sends the sentimonsters to the sun.

Rena gives back her miraculous.

Gabriel is absolutely discouraged by this defeat. Even when taking risks, Ladybug still hasn’t made a mistake. What was he expecting when she has good luck on her side?

Nathalie doubts he will give up. This is just a setback, like with Style Queen. Eventually, Gabriel will remember why he is doing this and regain his determination.

Kwami advantage

I finally finished Strike Back and it gave me a lot of fic prompts. Here is one.

Ladybug realises that all humans are likely infected by Risk but kwamis are not. She detransforms to consult Tikki, then transforms into Pegapup.

Together Pegapup and Tikki travel back in time.

When they return to the present, Kaalki swaps places with Tikki.

The day is saved.

Meanwhile Felix is irritated he has been been tricked. And there is no way in hell he is going on a world tour with Miss Blabbermouth. At least he has Nathalie’s tablet. An informative consolation prize.

Gabriel is infuriated by the defeat and orders Nathalie to return home with Adrien. He feels like giving up.

To his surprise, he finds Adrien at home demanding to stay at home.

To Adrien’s surprise, his father immediately agrees to cancel the world tour and even stop his joint photo shoots with Lila. Then asks Adrien to leave him be.

Adrien: but i want to spend time with you, normally. Not just for business dinners.

Gabriel: Adrien, i have to call Nathalie and let her know she is with Felix. Did you even consider what Felix might gain from this? I listened to you already, now you listen to me. Leave my presence immediately.

Without even looking at Adrien, Gabriel calls Nathalie or texts her about Felix and warns her to check that nothing is stolen.

Nathalie discovers her pad and ring missing and demands Felix return them. In a public setting, with Gorilla summoned, Felix sulkily hands over the items.

Lila is dismayed to learn the trip had been cancelled.

Marinette is so relieved and proud Adrien stood up to his father.

Adrien himself feels this is a bittersweet ending. He gets to stay at home but now his father feels like he can’t trust him.

Plagg: cheer up. We can blame this whole thing on the Risk akuma