Chapter 1

"This isn't fair!" The model shouted. "Just because he's an Agreste means that he gets the spotlight? I've worked for years at this", the man continued, drawing attention from everyone at the photo shoot, "I deserve to be on the cover this time! This is nepotism! This isn't right!"

"Look buddy, has anyone ever told you that life isn't fair?" The photographer was getting very annoyed. This was simply unprofessional, and he didn't have time for it. There was a schedule to stick to, and nobody wanted to upset Gabriel Agreste. He shot a desperate look at his boss's assistant, Nathalie. She simply shrugged and shook her head.

Adrien had been modeling since he was little. This wasn't the first time he saw someone have a breakdown on set, but he still felt bad. The guy was right. It wasn't exactly fair; Adrien was all too aware of the privileges his last name gave him. The photographer, on the other hand, was right too. Nothing about this industry was fair. It was cold and ruthless and getting emotional doesn't help anyone. Nathalie must have been reading his mind.

"It's not your fault Adrien. He isn't acting like an adult like he should be." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. The young boy looked up at her.

"I still wish I could do something about it", he muttered. Nathalie sighed. Gabriel may be cold and stoic, but his son certainly was not. It didn't make her job easier. She tilted her head to the side and gave Adrien a rare smile.

"What you can do is prove that you earned this spot and help us get through this as quickly as possible. How does that sound?" Nathalie had never worked with kids before being hired by Mr. Agreste. She was never particularly fond of them, but still tried her best when it came to Adrien. Maybe it would be easier if he was a brat sometimes so she would be able to be unattached, but of course her boss had to have the most perfect angel of a son in all of Paris. She patted his shoulder again and walked over to the model throwing a tantrum to escort him off the set.

Adrien knew he had a job to do. He didn't particularly like it, but what father wanted was more important.

"Hey", a small whisper came from his shirt pocket. Plagg tentatively stuck his head out to speak to his charge. "The sooner you get done making your stupid faces at this camera, the sooner Chat Noir can start his patrol, eh?" Adrien beamed at the thought of dashing across the rooftops of Paris as his masked alter-ego.

"I've got a whole wheel of camembert in the kitchen for you, Plagg", he replied enthusiastically. His kwami grinned and darted back into his pocket. Adrien rolled his shoulders back and walked out towards the set. He still had a knot in his stomach over the whole situation, but he couldn't pay attention to that now.

Marinette had been walking in the park with Alya when they heard the outburst. They both stopped dead in their tracks to listen to the grown man scream about the front-page shoot he deserved. Marinette balled her hands into fists.

"Adrien is just as talented as any other model in this city", she said to herself. Alya laughed.

"You gonna go over there and defend your husband, Marinette?" She teased. Marinette blushed.

"Shut up, Alya! You're the worst." They both giggled as the man yelling stormed off, trailed by Gabriel Agreste's assistant, Nathalie. They sat themselves underneath the closest tree to watch the photo shoot. About thirty minutes of mindless chatter and aweing over Adrien Agreste went by before they heard a scream. Everyone in the park froze and snapped their heads over to the source of the sound. Marinette instinctively grabbed Alya's wrist, looking for the quickest way out of there.

"I bet you twenty it's an akuma", Alya whispered excitedly, pulling out her phone. Marinette whipped her head back to her best friend. She was going to get herself seriously hurt one of these days, she thought to herself. Marinette shuddered thinking about how close she was with the mummy incident.

"We are not staying to find out", Marinette hissed. She yanked Alya's arm and made a dash to the other side of the park. She needed to get the budding reporter as far away as possible before she went back and transformed into Ladybug. Another scream. At this point everyone in the park was grabbing their things and running in fifty different directions. Alya whined and tugged at Marinette in protest, but her grip remained firm. They weaved through the panicked crowd towards the gates. Almost out of here, Marinette thought. Got to get Alya out of here. Today, it seemed, was not going to be Lady Luck's lucky day.

The model-now-akuma came out of nowhere and stood directly in their path. Marinette huffed and rolled her eyes. Really? Here? Now? This was tiring, to be honest. Alya was totally engrossed in filming the whole thing. Well, I can't help her anymore as Marinette, the young girl thought to herself. She let go of her best friend and started waving her arms around and shouting.

"HEY UGLY! YEAH! OVER HERE!" Marinette dashed to the other end of the park, hoping to find some cover to transform, or at least lure the man away from Alya.

"MARINETTE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Alya shouted through the chaos. She dropped her phone and started running. Journalistic integrity be damned; her best friend came first. She wasn't going to let little Marinette get hurt on her behalf. The akuma was getting whiplash trying to pick a victim between the two of them. He then turned his attention right behind the young reporter and narrowed his eyes. Adrien Agreste.

Marinette ducked behind some props and opened her purse.

"Tikki, transform me!" Ladybug jumped out onto the scene and looked around. She felt her heart stop when she found the akuma…going straight for Adrien.