Miraculous Ladybug One-Shot Drops

Mask or Not

"Adrien!" Monarch roared.

    Adrien jerked wildly in the direction of the angry voice and flinched to find Monarch glaring at him, his sceptre pointed at Adrien.

    "Monarch?" he said in surprise.

    "You're coming with me," said the villain, "and now, Adrien!"

    Adrien had to two things running through his mind--
    1. Run!
    2. Transform!

    Grimacing at the second thought and frozen on the spot, Adrien figured he'd have to run but even that seemed impossible with the short distance between him and Monarch.

    "Adrien!" another voice called out urgently, a voice that brought him immense relief but then, sudden worry. He whipped around for the voice.

    "Mari-" he began but was stopped by the fiercely protective gaze belonging to no other but Ladybug.

    Her yoyo spun beside her as she held a fighting stance.

    "Ladybug --!"

    "Adrien, I need you to run as fast as you can to safety! " she ordered, her blue eyes flashing.

    But, he couldn't leave her like this!

    "Ladybug, you need to-!"

    "Adrien."

    At that second, they looked at each other, the unmasked green eyes clashing with the masked blue.

    I'll be back in a second, Ladybug, he said silently in his head.

    And he nodded, then turned and ran, sprinting like lightning, just as Monarch lunged for him. Ladybug flicked her yoyo, smacking Monarch in the face.

    As Adrien ran, looking left and right for an alley, an abandoned car, an empty building -- anything to transform in privacy, he heard Monarch roar.

    "Get out of my way, you insolent insect! This has nothing to do with you! "

    "As long as you attack and prey on innocent civilians, this will always have something to do with me!" he heard Ladybug yell as she fought.

    He didn't get to hear Monarch again because his pocket vibrated. He pulled his phone out as he jogged down an alley, frightening some pigeons. It was Nino.

    "Adrien, my dude!" his friend was yelling, his breath coming fast as he, too, was running.

    "Nino!"

    "The Resistance shall live! We're coming, Comrade Mayo!"

    " How do you know I'm in trouble? " Adrien asked in surprise.

    " Nadja's got it on the news. He's pretty much screaming your name on the streets, now. "

    Adrien pulled a face, then frowned.

    "Where's Marinette?" he asked.

    "I dunno, dude! What are you doing?"

    " Running for my life! Listen, Ladybug needs help and make sure Marin--!"

    The call was cut short by Monarch suddenly stepping out of a portal and grabbing Adrien's arm forcefully.

    "Hey! Let me go, Monarch!!!" Adrien yelled, trying to wrench his arm free.

    "We're going, now," said Monarch and was about to yank him into the portal when a certain yoyo zipped out of nowhere and smacked Monarch's face again. His grip loosened on Adrien's arm and, as he roared out "LADYBUG!" in pain, Adrien took his chance to escape with open and willing arms and ran for the nearest doors.