He was going to die. Barely graduated, recently turned 18, never even had a chance at finding love, and Adrien Agreste was going to die. He knew he should have followed Nino's advice on gone on the passenger line directly to Neo Paris. Those were never attacked by pirates other than the occasional baggage and jewelry raid.
Instead he went on a ship full of cargo that apparently owed money to pirates.
At least if he died, he knew it would be from mortification as Ladybug shifted his position so his face was buried in her breasts rather than the poisonous air surrounding them. He'd prefer the poison, less humiliating.
"Hold on," he could hear her muffled voice through the mask and wind.
Before Adrien could look up or question what she meant, he felt them land on a fabric surface, his nose hitting her sternum as they bounced.
"On the port side Captain," called out a young voice Adrien swore sounded familiar.
"Bring 'em in lad!" A thick accented voice called out, the fabric beneath them lowering them into a cradle position until they rested flat on a hard surface. The corners of the fabric lowered around them, Adrien scrambling away from Ladybug, only to bump into something. He looked up to see a jolly looking fellow with a red scarf around his neck. What surprised Adrien most was the lack of gas mask the man wore.
"Welcome aboard the Glaciator monsieur!" The heavily accented man extended a hand to help Adrien up, but Adrien froze when he noticed the cutlass at the man's side.
"You're a pirate," Adrien whispered.
"More like an escort, one of the few ships able to sail this fog fast enough to catch the ships topside the cloud surface," the man answered.
"Leave him alone Andre," ordered Ladybug as she stood up, straighten her shirt and coat, "he's only hostage until Mr. Agreste pays up. No need to get too friendly." The pirate stormed off to another part of the cutter, passing by a recognizable face.
"Nino!" Adrien scrambled up, running to his best friend from the academy. Adrien had met Nino Lahiffe first year at the academy as roommates, and had been close ever since.
"Thank goodness your here," Adrien pulled his friend into a hug, Nino stiffening at the contact.
"What are you doing here bro?" Nino pulled Adrien back at an arm's length distance, concern filling his eyes.
"I was on one of my father's ships when Ladybug attacked demanding payment for her 'Master'. Who is he, and what does father have to do with pirates?"
Nino lowered his head before turning to Ladybug, "I told you not to drag him into this," he stormed over to Ladybug as she gazed over the rail.
"The ship was marked back in Chinn, out of your control," she responded, not looking the boy in the eye.
"Whoever marked it saw the ship as valuable. Not my fault if the crew chose to give me the boy over their goods."
"Liar!" The three pirates turned towards Adrien, shuddering as tears began to form.
"You didn't give them a choice. You killed one of them before they even had a chance to negotiate. You chose to take me, not them."
When he looked up, he found himself eye to eye with the black glass covering Ladybug's eyes on her gas mask.
"One man stood up for you. Not even the captain was brave enough to put a stop to it when he had a gun at his side."
"H-he didn't want to hurt me," Adrien whispered.
"He had a clean shot, so did the rest of your crew but they did nothing. Minimize the damage of their crew and save their cargo. They owe you nothing so why would they want to save you? Without your father, you are nothing," she hissed.
Adrien sunk to the floor in a catatonic state, unable to meet any of the gazes of those on the ship. Nino hesitated, starting to take a step when Ladybug's iron gaze prevented him from moving any more forward.
"To Normadeir Captain Andre," Ladybug commanded. The once jolly man, solemnly nodded as he made his way back to the ship's wheel. Ladybug made her way to the prow of the ship, watching the clouds around them.
Once out of Ladybug's view, Nino moved towards Adrien, throwing his coat around him.
"I'm sorry bro," he whispered, leaning next to him. Adrien remained frozen, flinching slightly as Nino patted his shoulder before heading back to work.