Hello again, readers!

As promised, a 2nd story to go with 'A Helping Claw' but with Adrien being liberated.

Just so u all understand; the only similarity to that story with this one is that Jessica was already Eagle. The events of her liberating Marinette didn't happen.

This is like a separate universe but with a similar set-up.

Other than that, the events of the special are relatively the same (although, if Jessica already has the Eagle miraculous, why would Technolizer break into the museum so Hawkmoth could take it? My quick explanation-not a big part of my story so I didn't embellish on it much: after Gabriel took the eagle talon and put it on, he saw that it was a fake. So he just re-akumatized Techno-Pirate and sent him back out to fight Ladybug and Chat Noir, and possibly whoever has the real eagle miraculous).

But that's not this story's main focus. It's about Adrien being freed of his biggest fear and what's holding him back the most. Which I think we all know...

So please, read on, and enjoy!

Rain fell from the dark New York sky. A sad girl with bluenette pigtails sat on a bench in Central Park. She didn't care that it was chilly or that she was getting wet.

She couldn't fix the damage to Paris done by Robostus—if that was really him—and what was worse, she took it out on her partner. And where did that get her? Sitting in the rain with an equally depressed Plagg in her purse alongside Tikki, holding his silver ring in her hand.

In her other hand, she held the little black kitten alarm figurine she had made for Chat Noir to alert her of an emergency while she was away. Even if he gave back his miraculous, he might still have the tiny remote she had given him to activate it and make it meow.

Marinette was hoping, praying Chat hadn't thrown it away. Then he could activate it. Maybe as a sign that he wanted to see her. They could talk and…Chat could possibly forgive her.

She knew Chat would think he was the one who needed to be forgiven—for not telling her that he was leaving Paris that same week too—but she was the one who blew up at him and made him think she didn't trust him whatsoever anymore.

How could she do that to him? He was her best friend. What kind of best friend does that?

She didn't know who he was. How was she supposed to find him and apologize?

"Chat," she whispered. She looked down at her hands and closed them tight around both trinkets. "I'm so sorry." Marinette raised the items up to her chest and sobbed.

What was she to do? How could she go on without her Chat Noir?

She would never see him again.

His phone buzzed in his hand, but Adrien paid it no mind as he walked through the rain. He noticed more, the empty spot on his right ring finger.

He hated himself for everything. For letting his lady down, for cataclysming Uncanny Valley, and for renouncing Plagg. Now he was alone. No kwami, no powers, no lady. He was miserable.

But hopefully Ladybug would find herself a new partner when she returned to Paris. He could barely stand the thought of anyone else beside his lady. Patrolling with her, having her back in battle, making her laugh, fist-bumping her after a victory. It made his stomach sick and his heart ache. But this wasn't about him and his useless pining, it was about Ladybug having a partner she could really rely on and Paris's safety.

When Adrien finally reached the Lafayette building, the doors opened without trouble and he walked in. Everyone was gathered around the big TV in the lobby. The news was showing an alert that Mike Rochip aka Techo Pirate, who was still akumatized into Technolizer, was still somewhere out there in the city.

Upon hearing the front entrance doors open, most of the students turned to see who had come in.

"Adrien!" Nino exclaimed as he and their other classmates all rushed up to him. Each of them with worried looks on their faces. "Dude, where have you been?"

"Uh, I was…" Adrien hesitated for a second. He was normally good at coming up with cover-ups on the stop, but his sadness was clouding his brain. "still in the Lafayette room in the museum when that akuma attacked. I ran off and hid then walked back here after it was safe," he explained. That was the last time any of them saw him after all.

Everyone seemed to understand. After all, Nino had sent him in there to 'look for his missing headphones' so Adrien wasn't with them when Dean Gate opened them a portal that brought them all back to this lobby.

"Oh. Well, why weren't you picking up your phone? We've been trying to call you," Nino asked. But before Adrien could tell him another excuse, Alya pushed passed him.

"Where's Marinette?" she asked the blonde model.

Adrien was taken aback by this question. "Ma-Marinette?" Why would she be asking about her?

"She was in the Lafayette room with you at that same time. Where is she?" she demanded. Alya looked on the verge of tears.

"Marinette's not here?" Adrien's chest froze over and his face paled.

"No. You were both together at the time and were both missing so we thought she was with you," Mylene stated. The others nodded.

"I haven't seen her since the Lafayette room," he said numbly.

"Well, she's not picking up her phone," Alya said, franticly looking at her phone again. "Oh, this all my fault! I'm the one who told her to go back into that room," she cried, pressing her hands to her head.

Nino and a few of the others tried to comfort her while Adrien just stood there, catatonic.

Marinette was missing?

The last time he had seen her, she was standing under a column in the Lafayette room that was starting to crumble. He transformed to save her but Technolizer and Uncanny Valley smashed into him and the column he had been hiding behind. When he finally dug himself out of the rumble, she wasn't there anymore. Only Ladybug with Sparrow's arm over her shoulders.

His lady had told him that she had gotten Marinette out of there. She told him that she was safe.

But if that was true, then where was she now?

On the other side of the room, away from either crowd, Jessica and Aeon were having their own private conversation.

"This is serious, Jess," the android told her friend.

"I know. That Techolizer said he wants Eagle's miraculous, as well and the miraculouses of Ladybug and Chat Noir. We gotta find those two, fast," she stated.

"Correct. We, our moms, nor any of the other superheroes will be able to defeat an akuma without Ladybug's power. I will attempt to track her and Chat Noir down. I'm the only one who can."

"Okay. In the meantime, I'll try and track down Captain Chrome-Dome." Her mom might have forbidden Sparrow from taking part in the hunt for Technolizer, but Eagle was free as a bird.

"Good luck," Aeon said before running up the stairs. She could take off from the roof.

Meanwhile, Jessica ran into one of the bathrooms. She pulled the eagle talon out from her pocket, put it on, and her kwami appeared in a tiny ball of gray light. "Come on, Liiri. We got work to do," she told the little eagle. "Liiri, Wings of Liberty!"

Adrien joined the others, watching the news feed. Normally, Adrien would be sneaking off to transform so he could help. But he wasn't Chat Noir anymore. He couldn't do anything.

Ladybug hadn't shown herself yet. Which was a bit strange. He was expecting her to come onto the press conference and announce that Techno Pirate was indeed akumatized so only she could purify it and defeat him. That this was her way of extending a hand in honor of French-American Friendship Week.

Then maybe even announce that she was looking for a new partner and was accepting resumes. That bitter thought crossed his mind at least once or twice.

But she was nowhere to be found. Why wasn't she there helping the American heroes in the search?

And that wasn't the only search he was desperate to be a part of. Marinette was still missing too.

All the superheroes were looking for Technolizer, but who was out looking for her? President Hombee said the Friendship Week celebration was postponed and asked for all citizens to stay safe indoors.

If Marinette was in a safe place indoors, why hadn't she called to let them know?

After a few minutes, Adrien felt his phone vibrate again. He knew it couldn't be Nino this time. He looked at it quickly, hoping that it was Marinette, but his stomach dropped at seeing his father's face on the caller ID.

He sighed, took a deep breath, and pressing the green button to pick it up.

His father's concerned face appeared on his phone screen. He couldn't tell where he was calling from though. The background behind his head was just a plain white-gray wall—which could be almost any room in their house.

"Adrien, are you alright?" the older man exclaimed worriedly once he saw his son's face on his own screen.

"Yes, father. I'm fine," he answered, giving him a small smile. He then walked over to the other side of the lobby, by the front door, as to not disturb the others with his talking.

This seemed to be enough for the designer because his expression quickly snapped to his usual, all business, poker face a second later. "Good. Because you are coming home. Tonight."

Adrien's face and stomached dropped once again. "W-What? Tonight?"

"Yes. I've already sent a car to pick you up and take you to the airport. There is a private jet waiting for you," Gabriel explained. "That city is much too dangerous. It was foolish of me to let that friend of yours talk me into letting you go," he continued.

Hearing this reminded Adrien that Marinette was the 'friend' he was referring too. How could he go home without knowing if she was okay?

But what could he do? His father's word was always final. No discussion. No compromise.

He felt powerless. And without Plagg and his miraculous, he was even more so.

Jessica, now Eagle, stood on a high beam overlooking the lobby. She was watching the news, waiting to see if they found any trace of where Technolizer had gone. So far, none of the heroes had seen him since the fight in the museum earlier.

However, her focus was averted, when her attention was caught by the blonde French model on his phone on the opposite side of the room.

She could smell repressed emotions and despair from ten city blocks away. Whatever conversation he was having, wasn't good on his end.

Her hero instincts kicking in, Eagle was unable to resist moving closer, still out of sight, to watch and listen in.

"But…father, I-" Adrien tried to protest weakly. But Gabriel cut him off without care.

"No buts, Adrien. I decide what's best for you, and you shouldn't be anywhere near dangerous things. They're hazardous to your health," he said forcefully.

Jess knew what this was. She already knew Adrien was a famous model, but she had been hearing from the other Parisian students the truth behind his perfect boy exterior. Gabriel Agreste wasn't just a tight-fisted, stoic-faced business man. He was a tight-fisted, all business father to his only son too.

Controlling, distant, cold, with zero listening skills.

But how could he listen if Adrien was too afraid to speak up to him?

She could tell Adrien wanted to stay. Only he had the power to change that. And she had the power to help him realize that.

From her perch in the beams, she had a clear shot view of the back of his head.

"Liberation!" she whisper/shouted, summoning a golden feather into her hand. After quickly aiming, she fired it directly at the young model.

It hit him directly in the back of his neck. Adrien's body gave a light jolt upon impact and his eyes spaced out, hearing a comforting and uplifting voice in his head:

"Adrien Agreste. Your father controls everything about your life that you are meant to choose for yourself. You think it'd be disrespectful to speak up and go against his word, but you're wrong. As your father, it's not just his job to protect and guide you, but to be there for you and listen to you. Therefore, you must make him listen. So, I free you of your fear! Speak your mind and make him see that you can be your own person with a backbone. You're a smart boy. You know what's right, so tell him!"

Adrien snapped out of whatever that was, his eyes focusing back on where he was and what was going on. His father was still barking away on what he had to do, but the blonde model was barely listening. He had listened enough.

With every word his father spoke, the angrier Adrien became.

His father had let him come on this trip through the miracle that was Marinette's tenacity and kindness, and now he wants him to come home early because of an akumatized super villain?

Were any of his other classmate's parents making them come home early? No! Last he checked, Paris was the epicenter of akuma attacks! And he didn't send him away to 'protect him.' Heck! He still let him go to public school! He would barely let him out of the house for anything before Hawkmoth made his first appearance and it was only afterwards that he let him go like he always wanted. Seriously, where was the logic there?

Adrien wanted to point all this out to his overly strict father, but, surprising him most of all, he had no reservations nor qualms about it. No fear that he'll make him angry or of being punished. Before, his fear of being punished held him back the most. His father could pull him out of school or keep him locked up at home at least until he was eighteen. But now, he had a new perspective.

His father could stop him from seeing his friends, but he couldn't stop him from liking them. Or stop his friends from liking him. Even if he could never go back to school again, they would still be friends, no matter how far away they were. Like America and France. They were friends even with the North Atlantic Ocean separating them.

Adrien loved his friends—each and every one of them—and he knew that his father couldn't drive a wedge between them. Not completely. Their friendship was stronger than his father's word. He believed that.

Maybe it was because they weren't directly face to face. They were talking through a screen—like usual. They weren't even on the same continent. Maybe that was why he felt less intimated and brave enough to do this.

Father wasn't going to talk at him like he was helpless. Not this time. This time, Adrien was going to make his stand.

"Adrien! Are you listening to me?" Gabriel grilled his son. Adrien's vacant expression told him he was either not paying attention or was thinking hard about something else while he was talking. "Go pack your things, find your bodyguard, then go outside to wait for-"

"No," Adrien said firmly, cutting his father off.

Gabriel was stunned. "Wh-what did you just say?" he demanded.

"I. Said. No. Father," he repeated slowly but still just as firm.

"Adrien, you will listen-"

"No, you listen!" His louder voice drew the attention of a few of his classmates and even a couple of the Queens students. They looked over their shoulders, away from the TV, and watched Adrien looking angrily down at his phone. "I don't want to leave New York yet. My class is here for French-American Friendship Week. The celebration is on hold for now, but after the superheroes defeat Technolizer, everything will be fine and we'll all have a great time," Adrien explained in a slightly calmer voice but was still determined. "So there is no reason for me to leave."

Gabriel, however, still wasn't having this. "It's dangerous there, Adrien! And if I say it's too dangerous-"

Adrien smiled ruefully. "Oh, that's right, I forgot. 'You always know what's best for me,' right? You make all my decisions for me, right? I'm not smart or mature enough to make my own choices, right?" His voice got edgier on that last sentence.

The aging fashion designer's face fell a bit. "I-I never said you weren't smart or mature, Adrien. But you are still a child. My child."

"Your child? Your son. Right," he said, still smiling that smile that held no actual joy. Only pain and a slightly manic despair. "Adrien Agreste. Son of world-famous fashion designer, Gabriel Agreste. The star model of the Gabriel brand. Flawless and perfect," he rattled on before his face shifted to an unmasked scowl. "Well…news flash, father! I'm not perfect!"

"Adrien-!"

"No, father! For once, I am going to speak my mind and you are going to listen," Adrien hollered without resolve. The next second, everything he had been holding inside came spilling out like a busted dam. "I feel clueless socially because you've kept me sheltered most of my life. You thought it'd protect me, when really, it's hurt me more than anything. That's not what's best for me. I grew up with only Chloe for a friend. While she was there for me when I was a kid and I still care about her, she is not the only friend I can ever have! And neither is Kagami. My other friends from school are kind, fun, and I can be myself around them. They actually care about me and how I feel. But do you care? No! You only want me to sit in my room all day, learn what you want me to learn, and only want me out to model your clothes. And even if we live in the same house together, you still never want to see me. You hardly ever let me out, you never go anywhere anyway, and it's still like I never see you. I have to make an appointment just to talk to you about something that should be simple like you attending a school event or to even ask how your day was! We have dinner together once a week, if I'm lucky, and the second I say something you don't want to hear, you shut me down. That's not what's best for me either!"

Gabriel's expression was shocked to say the least, but he still tried to take back control of the conversation. "Adrien, please. Your being so-"

"What? Overdramatic? Just like mom?" Adrien thought bringing up mother was a bit too much, but it was truly a key issue that needed to be addressed. Either now or never. "Oh yeah, I can't talk to you about mom either. It makes you sad, right? Well, it makes me sad too! I miss her too! And the fact that you're never there for me makes me feel like I've lost both my parents!" Adrien cried, a small tear starting to form in his eye. Gabriel's face fell again, this time a bit more sullen. "Why do you think I was so eager to go to public school and come on this trip? I wanted to spend time with my friends and get out of that house. To have fun, and be myself without anyone breathing down my neck about what I can or can't do." Adrien paused for a second to quickly catch his breath. Surprisingly, his father didn't seize the moment to talk back. "I thought you were finally understanding that when you let me come here. But I guess I was wrong," he sneered.

Regaining some composer, Gabriel tried once again to justify himself. "I let you go there because that classmate of yours-"

"Her name is MARINETTE! And don't you DARE blame her for this!" the blonde model shouted. Gabriel actually flinched a little. Marinette was the hero of this story. He was indebted to her after everything she's done for him purely out of the goodness of her heart. Adrien truly thought by his father allowing him to come to New York after Marinette talked to him, he wasn't just grateful to her but overjoyed that his father was finally learning to listen to others. And not just any others; his friends. He really wanted his dad to like his friends so he would be fine with his son being with them anywhere; at the house, out of the house, or even out of the country. Then just like that, when the smallest thing goes wrong, he changes him mind and thinks it's ludicrous to give his son that kind of freedom. And that wasn't because Marinette didn't convince him well enough, it was his father's for being so untrusting. "You wouldn't let me come here and she had the guts to go to you on her knees to get you to say yes because she cares about me! She's an amazing girl and…" Adrien stopped, his throat closing up a bit at the reminder. "…and she's missing, father," he choked out. "We got separated when Technolizer attacked the museum and she hasn't come back or answered anyone's calls."

For a moment, Gabriel's expression looked almost sympathetic. "I'm…sure she'll be fine. You shouldn't worry about-"

"I SHOULDN'T WORRY!?" he shouted again, even louder and more outraged. "That's where you're wrong again, father. I do worry! Because I care about my friends, just as they care about me. If it was me who was missing for hours, my friends would be combing the streets looking for me. Would you go combing through the streets looking for me? No, you wouldn't. You'd just send Nathalie and my bodyguard to do it for you!" Just like last Christmas when he went missing. He had stayed in the house doing nothing while the Gorilla drove around and Nathalie called all his friends to see if he was with them. But all his friends, plus their family members, left the warmth of their homes—on Christmas Eve—to walk around and search for him. Then they came by the mansion to make sure he was okay after he returned. "I'm not the carefree, blissfully ignorant, obedient, perfect, golden boy you think I am. I have flaws, fears, insecurities, passions, and emotions, just like every other boy my age does." Gabriel thought Adrien was so different and so special just because he was his son, but that was a load of crap. Adrien was normal. He strived to be normal. And it was high time his father finally accepted that. "I listened to you, trusted your judgement, and did everything I was told because I respected you and I thought it would make you proud of me. But you never are! You've never once congregated me for any achievements, even for things you made me do. All you do is expect more and more, like nothing is ever good enough for you!" his yelling elevated. His throat was sore and his eyes were stinging, but man, getting all this off his chest to his father's face—even through his phone—felt so good, he didn't mind. "So no, father. I won't be getting on any private jet tonight. I'm gonna stay here to celebrate with my classmates and new American friends and I am not leaving New York until I know that my dear friend Marinette is safe and sound. So… good day, sir!"

And with that, Adrien pressed the end call button.

Adrien stood there, breathing heavily. He glanced to his left and saw everyone staring at him with wide eyes and dropped jaws. All was silent in the lobby—the TV had been muted not long after all the students diverted their attention to him.

Then that silence was shattered with clapping, whistling, and cheers. Mostly from his classmates.

"Yeah, Adrien!"

"Stickin' to the man!"

"That's my bro!"

His classmates all came over to him, shouting more praises. Adrien smiled, proud of what he had done and thankful that all of his friends looked proud of him too.

Eagle watched the group of students flocked around Adrien, offering him high-fives, fist-bumps, and pats on the back.

With his talk with his father completed, she believed her job was done. Adrien stood up to his father and now wasn't afraid of being disobedient or going against other people's wishes. So now he didn't need her anymore. Now he needed to build his own full potential from the taste she had given him.

Her powers opened the door, but it was his own job to keep it open afterwards.

"Cool down," Eagled uttered, pressing her hands downward in front of her.

Suddenly, as he basked in his friend's cheering and tried to accept as many high-fives and fist-bumps he was offered, Adrien felt his original fears and reservations crashing back into him. The weight of what he had just done and said—all of which he fully remembered—settled into his stomach and made him feel a bit ill.

Did he really just say all of that to his father?! The Gabriel Agreste! To his face?!

Where did that bout of temporary insanity come from? And why was he only now coming back to his senses? What on earth happened?!

No one else noticed Adrien's horrified state as they continued to congratulate him. But with their continued praise, his worries of repercussions melted away. Reminding him of why it was so important he stand up to his father. Not just for himself but for his friends too. What happened—whatever had happened—was a good thing. A gift. While he had no idea where that amazing stroke of fearlessness came from, and even if it was gone now, he was still grateful it had happened. If even for just a few minutes. Maybe some of Marinette's tenacity had finally rubbed off on him.

The thought of his dear, pigtailed friend brought Adrien back to a much more pressing matter.

Marinette was still missing.

His friends had combed the streets looking for him when he went missing on Christmas. She and her parents had gone out looking for him and came over afterwards. She'd do the same if it was him again or anyone else.

So who was he to not do the same?

He swore he wasn't leaving New York until Marinette was found and he intended to keep that promise.

"Everyone!" Adrien pocketed his phone before shouting to get them to quiet down. When they were settled, he spoke again, loud and determined. "I know the president told us to stay safe until Technolizer is caught, but there is one of us who is not safe and sound." They all knew who he was talking about. As happy as they were for Adrien, they were quickly reminded of their missing friend. "Marinette is our friend, and you don't let a friend down," Adrien confidently reiterated what Marinette had said when she swore to convince his father to let him come to New York. "And you certainly don't leave them when they're in trouble. I don't know where she is or if she is indeed in trouble, but I can't just sit here when there is a strong possibility that she might be. I'm going out there to find her. Who's with me!?" Adrien cried, thrusting a fist above his head.

"I AM!" All his classmates and a few Queen's students cried, raising a fist in the air proudly.

Just because he wasn't Chat Noir anymore, didn't mean he couldn't do the right thing and help those he cared about.

Adrien lead the students out of the Lafayette building. Thankfully, the rain had stopped. But even if it hadn't, they all would have still gone out. They had a missing friend to find.

When the lobby was empty, Eagle jumped down from her hiding place and discreetly made her way outside, finally ready to help stop Technolizer.

As he followed his best bro down the sidewalk, surrounded by their classmates and new American friends, Nino beamed with pride. Even more pride than seeing Adrien floating over his head while holding Marinette's hand the other night at the rooftop party. Getting him closer with Marinette was wonderful, but finally standing up for himself to his old man was something else.

Forget about hatching. Adrien burst right out of that shell, shattering it like TNT.

Finally, Adrien was truly flying. With a backbone and everything.

How'd u like liberated Adrien?

Writing Adrien chew Gabriel out for all of his crappy parenting was soooo scarifying.

I have an idea for a bonus chapter for this too, so look out for that in the future.

So, stay safe, stay healthy, stay respectful, and stay tuned ;)