Ladybug's life was literally hanging in the balance.

As she dangled from the Eiffel Tower, she wondered how the public would react to this.

There was clearly no trouble in Paris, so citizens and news reporters were asking why Ladybug was alone, clinging to her yoyo as she hung 900 feet up in the air from the Eiffel Tower?

Her mind was whirling; for some reason she couldn't think of a way out of her current situation. She could swing herself over to an observation deck, but she would risk being trampled by the groups of fans that were beginning to form there.

Usually Ladybug always had a plan.

But this time, she didn't.

Anything could've been responsible for her lack of ideas; whether it be because of her current dilemma, which was highly improbable since she has gotten herself out of sticky situations before, or because her mind was still thinking about Adrien

She guessed it was the second reason.

All she could do now was hope Chat Noir would show up before she became too weak to hold on any longer.

The same little girl below on the observation deck held out her arms over the fence, her eyebrows furrowed in worry. "Ladybug! I'll catch you!"

She looked towards the high pitched voice and smiled warmly. "Thank you, but I'm afraid I'll have to get out of this sticky situation myself!"

The mother pulled her daughter away from the edge and apologized to the superhero. "So sorry! My little Daisy loves you!"

Ladybug felt her grip weaken and she tightened it immediately. "It's alright!"

Next thing Ladybug knew, Alya was pushing her way through the crowd and was at the edge of the deck. "Ladybug! Hang in there, help is on the way!"

People had finally started to realize that Ladybug was in actual danger. The superhero needed saving this time.

"Thank you, Al- uh, young lady!" Ladybug quickly replied.

Alya looked so worried. Her eyes were glued on the superhero, praying that she wouldn't lose her grip on the yoyo string.

News channels were circling up on the ground, many reporters getting out and standing in front of the Eiffel Tower to give their reports.

Ladybug scolded herself. How could she get into such a stupid predicament?

Down below on the ground, Nadja Chamack was giving her report.

"Parisians are startled to see that Ladybug is in danger. For the first time, our beloved superheroine needs saving. Many are asking what caused this to happen in the first place, as well as, where is Chat Noir?"

*

Adrien walked out of the bowling alley, tears staining his cheeks.

He was hurt and confused that Marinette would think Louise was just using him.

As if the problems with his father wasn't enough.

He quickly wiped the tears away and tried to act neutral before entering his limo. Louise was already sitting inside, waiting for him. She immediately scooted closer to him, placing a comforting hand on his chest.

"What's wrong, babe?" she asked quietly. "Why are you crying?"

He didn't want to get Louise involved with this matter, nor did he want to cause other problems for Marinette by doing so. Even though she confused him and hurt his feelings, he still cared about her.

After all, Marinette was the first friend he ever really had.

Adrien sniffed, faking a smile and pointing to his right foot. "I, uh, accidentally dropped a bowling ball on my toe and it hurt a lot. Ridiculous, right? I'm such a klutz."

"Awww," Louise said, leaning over and kissing his cheek. "Sorry baby. It'll feel better soon."

"I hope so," Adrien mumbled, a strange feeling of guilt building in his chest. He wondered if he was still going on with the lie, or actually fighting with himself about what went down with Marinette?

"I thought those girls might've hurt you," Louise whispered, crossing her arms.

"Not at all," Adrien replied quickly. "Nothing like that."

"Good," Louise smiled, kissing him again, but this time on the lips. "I love you, baby." She pulled out her phone and began texting.

"Love you too," Adrien repeated, staring straight ahead.

He saw Marinette exiting the bowling alley. He couldn't see her face, but that was alright. He wouldn't have seen her crying and that would've made him feel even worse.

"So, have you reconsidered what I told you at school? You know... going away?" Louise asked, looking up at Adrien.

Adrien blinked, looking at her. "O-oh, yeah. I have."

"Well?" Louise asked.

Hurt. Pain. Sadness.

He wanted to leave it all.

Adrien grabbed her hand and held it tight, giving her a reaffirming nod. "I'll do it."

"Yay!" Louise cheered. She turned her phone towards him and it revealed a luxurious hotel suite. "This is where we will be staying. Well, the first place we will be staying. After all, we're gonna be everywhere in the United States! For 5 months!"

Adrien tried to remain positive. He smiled. "Yeah."

"And then at the end of it, babes, you can participate in that fashion show you've always wanted to be apart of."

Adrien laughed, but really, he didn't care for it as much as his father did.

The event in question was a yearly fashion show held in Los Angeles. The Gabriel company was always asked to participate, along with the star child Adrien, but turned it down every year because Adrien didn't want to be away for months at a time. And without Adrien, his father didnt find any reason to go. Sure, the opportunity meant big for Adrien's career, but he didn't care about the money and fame.

And luckily, Louise knew it meant big exposure for her so, of course, she wanted Adrien to go.

The Gorilla started up the limo and it sped off.

*

Adrien greeted his father with a usual nod, smile, and wave as he entered the Agreste mansion and headed up the stairs towards his room.

He tossed his messenger bag on the bed and sat in his swivel chair, overthinking things as always.

Plagg buzzed out of Adrien's jacket, highly annoyed. The kwami crossed his tiny arms.

"Well, it's about time! Do you know how suffocating it was inside your jacket?! Especially since you were bowling?"

"Sorry, Plagg," Adrien mumbled, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm really not in the mood."

"I don't care! Where is my camembert?" Plagg yelled.

Adrien didn't respond, his eyes remaining closed.

"Well?!" Plagg exclaimed, flying up in front of his face and waving his arms around. "Just because you went off on your little friend doesn't mean you can neglect to feed me!"

Adrien snapped his eyes open, shooting Plagg an ominous glare. He stood up abruptly, walked over to the mini fridge, and took out a slice of camembert for the kwami. He chucked it directly at Plagg.

"Wahh!!" Plagg screamed, the powerful impact of the cheese throwing him into the wall. He smacked against it with a thud before sliding down and crumpling to the floor.

Adrien gasped, instantly feeling regret. "Plagg! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to throw it that hard."

"Geez, if I would've known you would go all psycho I would've just gotten the cheese myself..." Plagg mumbled, lifting up and flying away.

"Plagg, please wait," Adrien begged.

The kwami obeyed and came to a halt. After taking a nibble of camembert, of course.

"I'm sorry, I'm just in a bad mood," Adrien admitted.

"No kidding," Plagg murmured.

"I just feel betrayed by Marinette, you know? Never in a million years did I think she would lie to me."

"What if she didn't lie..." Plagg whispered under his breath, barely audible.

"What?" Adrien asked.

Plagg looked over his shoulder, narrowing his glowing green eyes. He was already disinterested from the conversation. "Nothing."

Adrien raised his arms up incredulously. "I just find her words hard to believe. No one wants to hear that their love life is a lie! Would you?"

Plagg's expression softened, and he looked at his camembert endearingly. "I couldn't bear the thought of not having you, mon cheri," he whispered, before smashing his lips onto the surface of the cheese.

Adrien winced, covering up the sight with his hands. "Okay, okay, enough."

A sudden news alert appeared on the TV screen just then, prompting Adrien to turn his attention towards it.

Nadja Chamack was on the screen, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Flashed across the bottom of the screen it read, "BREAKING NEWS! Superheroine in Peril!"

Adrien's heartbeat quickened. He leaned in closer to the TV. So many red flags were going off in his head.

That's when his gaze traveled to the background, where a curious black speck was seen against the Paris skyline. But as the camera zoomed in closer, Adrien felt the air leave his lungs.

Ladybug was dangling off the Eiffel Tower.

"Eyewitnesses say she has been up there for 15 minutes. If she was going to make an escape, surely she would've done so by now," Nadja Chamack reported.

Adrien felt his heart drop.

"Our hero, Ladybug, is in danger. Some say she doesn't have long before her grasp weakens on the thin yoyo string that is keeping her alive."

Adrien swiveled his head towards Plagg. He clenched his fists, set in determination and forgetting about all of his current worries. They were nothing compared to the danger Ladybug was in.

He had to save her.

"Plagg, claws out!"