Two days after his run in with Gabriel, Adrien was back in his fathers office and again not by choice. Though this was his usual day to see the interns in the 'Gabriel' building, he hadn't intended on spending the better half of the morning with his father shouting down his throat and throwing his weight around like a sleep deprived toddler.

"I'm not doing it," Adrien said stubbornly, currently in the same chair as the last time he went head to head with his father. His arms crossed over his chest as he lazed back, fully intending not to be the first to blink.

"You don't have a say in the matter, you're the face of this company, Adrien, so start acting like it."

"Gabriel!" Emilié attempted to settle into her normal role, the net between two hard hitting tennis players.

"Don't," the man's angry voice threw force at his wife, causing her to step backwards and behind Adrien's chair, she cowered once again under Gabriel Agreste's presence.

Adrien stood, moving forward to place his hands on Gabriel's desk, glaring down at his father in disgust. The older man never batted an eyelid, knowing full well Adrien couldn't do anything. He always had one up ... one little nugget of information that would win him the hand.

"I'm not working with Lila. Do you not understand what she does during the shoots? It's borderline illegal."

"Don't be so dramatic Adrien, Lila is one of our most professional models in the industry, we're lucky to have her. She's never done anything unseemly and she's atheistically pleasing on the eye."

"There is so much wrong with what you just said father."

"If you want to stay in university then you do this shoot. Any funny business and I will stop your funds."

Adrien felt the fight leave him, just another threat from Gabriel, a threat he would be good on, just as he had done so many times before.

"You know this is blackmail right?"

Gabriel laughed, a laugh that Dick Dastardly would be proud of. It was evil, calculated, manipulative ... It was Gabriel Agreste down to a tee.

"Adrien, leave it." His mother once again stepped into her role as peacemaker. A role she should never have to play.

Tearing his eyes away from Gabriel, he looked back into his mothers eyes, his resistance caving once again.

"Fine," Adrien said, "but I'm only doing it for her."

"Are you sure you're not doing it for the intern. She's very good, you know, she could have a great chance of succeeding in this industry, as long as she's friends with the right people. Are you one of those people Adrien?"

God he hated how Gabriel said his name, and the implications of what he'd just said were obvious. Either Adrien is with Gabriel or against, and turning against would only cause trouble for Marinette in the long run.

"Yes, father."

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that." Gabriel cupped his ear in mockery of his son.

"Yes, father!" Adrien raised his voice a little louder than usual, his father baskin in getting one up on his own son. The sneer and smile of triumph on the older man's face had Adrien clenching his teeth to stay quiet.

"Good, now, your photoshoot with Lila will be for the new 'Love' line. Luckily for you, she has already signed confirming she's okay to kiss you, be glad she didn't run because of this little thing going on with Ms. Dupain-Cheng."

"Why can't Félix do it?"

"You know he's not in the position to put himself under pressure, and I won't allow him to wear himself out unnecessarily when I have you."

"Whatever." Adrien slumped down in the chair. "I won't be doing any kissing though, not now I'm dating Marinette. I'm not you, father, I'm faithful.."

Adrien wasn't sure what happened first; the loud scream from his mother, his body hitting the floor, or Gabriel's hand connecting with his face.

"Seems like I won't be 'model ready' for the shoot after all." Adrien wiped the back of his hand against his lip, wincing at the pain his father had just inflicted and taking note of the blood smeared across the back of his hand.

"Get out!" Gabriel's voice was filled with aggression and all Adrien could do was laugh. Just sit and laugh.

"Whatever would the press say," Adrien teased, "knowing you beat your son. They'll think that's why you've been so reclusive over the years." He watched Gabriel's aggression slowly dimmer down. "Tell me, dad, do you strike out at Félix too?"

Gabriel took a step around his desk, ready to launch himself at Adrien once more, the young adult remaining seated on the ground. The fury in his father's face sent fear down his spine. He'd gotten Gabriel angry numerous times, but this ... this was nothing Adrien had ever seen before. He held his own, not backing down from his fathers volatile behaviour.

A purple butterfly suddenly materialised in the office, heading straight for Gabriel and being consumed by the designer's tie clip.

Purple bubbles surrounded his frame, engulfing the once fashionable male into one of questionable fashion taste. His white suit jacket and grey slacks transformed into a silver, purple and black ensemble even the Avengers wouldn't wear.

Where his glasses once sat, a visor had taken over, his head being encompassed by a full metallic helmet.

Scrambling to stand up, Adrien moved away from his father, grabbing his mother and leading her out of the office, trying to get her out of the building and away to safety.

Sending her to the stairwell, he gave her a quick push encouraging her to run.

"What about you?" She asked, watching Adrien retreat back into the main building.

"I'm not going anywhere without Marinette."

Engulfing her son in a hug, she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Be careful."

With a nod, Adrien turned on his heel heading to the office he knew Marinette was working in.

"Kid, it's an akuma. You need to transform." Plagg flew from Adrien's shirt pocket, following his chosen as he moved down the hall like a mad man.

"I'm not doing anything until I find Marinette." Adrien said, finally hitting a wall of people and guiding them out the building.

Bouncing around, he looked over the heads of those around him, trying his hardest to find Marinette. Not paying attention to where he was going, Adrien found himself slamming into another body, one with bright pink hair he recognised.

"Avery?" He questioned, "thank god! Where's Marinette?"

"She was with me I swear, I had her hand in mine," suddenly the strong, confident woman Adrien had come to know evaporated and instead left a frantic and worried woman. "She let go, Adrien. I'm so sorry. She let go." Avery cried, grabbing a hold of Adrien's shirt and pulling him closer burying her head in his chest.

"I'll find her, just get out of here now." Prying her hands from his chest, he moved her away and towards the exit, following the rest of the crowd.

The lights over head flickered, before turning off. The emergency lighting now being the only guidance away from whatever this thing is. The sound of screaming travelled the hallways followed by the sound of smashing. Wherever had got Gabriel Agreste was coming this way, and in full force.

"Go now!" Adrien commanded, pushing Avery to the emergency stairwell and continuing to look for Marinette.

The rooms grew more and more silent as he moved deeper into the building, most members of staff already being able to get away. The lights continued to flicker on and off, Adrien's heart beating intensely with fear for himself and Marinette.

"Adrien, listen," Plagg had released himself once more from Adrien's shirt, flying in front of the determined adult's face. "You need to transform, Ladybug needs her Chat Noir."

"And I need to make sure Marinette is safe. I'm not doing anything until I know." Adrien was determined, more than he ever had been before. He was not going anyway without Marinette by his side.

A deafening explosion was heard behind him before the emergency lights cut out completely. He was trapped and on his own, ceiling tiles and bricks falling around him.

"It's time kid, you can use your cataclysm to break through the wall and escape. Ladybug will be able to fix the damage with her lucky charm."

Looking down at the ring on his finger Adrien took a deep breath. He was about to become a superhero, he was about to see what the big deal was about his soulmate, his partner.

"Okay, wish me luck." Adrien sighed, hand clenching and ready to call his transformation.

"You don't need it kid. You were made for this."

A quick smile thanked the kwami and Adrien extended his arm out. "Plagg, claws out."

A green blaze covered his body, as his formal stuffy work suit was engulfed in some sort of magical fabric, one that made him feel overwhelmed by power and strength.

He looked down at his outfit before running his fingers through his hair to find two cat ears hidden in between his locks. His hands moved lower, reaching a golden bell around his neck, the perfect accessory for a domesticated cat.

Finally, he reached for the baton behind his lower back when he noticed a movement in his peripheral vision. He turned sharply coming face to face with a beautiful girl and a red floating creature, a smile stretched the width of his face.

Oh this was too good!

"Adrien, hi, this is my hamster, Tikki."