Cataclysm

Dear princess

Trying to not make any sound, Viperion opened the window of the hospital. He looked around the dark room to check there was no one else but him and the sleeping figure of Master Fu.

This was the second time since the gala that the snake hero sneaked into a place, after he tried to recover the miracle box from Lila's room only to discover that it wasn't there.

''Hello, Master. You don't know me yet but I guess it's time I introduced myself...'' The snake hero started whispering after hesitating for a bit.

''I'm your successor, the new, ah, guardian'' The boy could feel his face blushing as he spoke. Why was he being so awkward talking to a comatose man?

Viperion sat on the bed, Master Fu was small enough that he didn't need the extra space anyways. He sighed.

''I've tried my best, but I think I'm not qualified for what is happening right now...'' He said, and immediately knew he didn't really believe that. He was sad about the result of the fight at the gala two days ago, but he was also sure that no one else could have done anything differently. Maybe he was getting arrogant, but Viperion truly believed they did everything in their power to solve their problems, and the terrible consequences were just... life being unfair, or maybe destiny.

He sat in silence as he started overthinking all the things he could have done better, but, and this was most frustrating for a hero that could manipulate time, what was done was done.

''I hope you wake up soon... Not because I want you to see this mess, but there is a girl that really needs you right now'' He said, walking again towards the window.

Sure, he was the new guardian, and he knew Marinette pretty well. He had done, along with their other friends, their best to comfort each other and the girl after Adrien disappeared. But Master Fu had trained Ladybug, helped mold and guide her to what she ended up becoming. And he was sure that what the girl needed the most right now was a reminder that she was still Ladybug, and this man that had chosen her was one of the few people that could do that right now.

-*-

''Anything else, miss?'' Asked Jean the butler before he left her alone in her room again. Chloe shook her head.

''I'm alright, thanks'' She assured him, realizing too late that her being nice and polite was probably only gonna worry the man even more. After a bit, she heard the door closing behind her, her eyes still glued to her phone.

She was watching a debate where a bunch of people that didn't even know any of them in person argued with each other about the heroes of Paris. She suppressed the irritation that hearing these people speak out of ignorance inspired in her, and tried to listen. She needed to be informed after all.

''I don't think we should be judging these kids so harshly'' Was a woman saying, and Chloe instantly liked her just because of that.

''A girl died, sure she was a bit of a liar and she probably had a grudge against the heroes, but killing minors is not the solution! The law is the law, Adrien Agreste should be in jail with his father'' Said a bald man. Chloe cringed at the mental image of her Adrikins wearing striped clothes and eating unidentified substances from the prisons cafeteria.

''It's still not confirmed that Gabriel Agreste is Hawkmoth'' Retorted another man, sitting beside the woman that talked first.

''I think that basement under his house is proof enough''

''And it makes sense, why else would the so called heroes leave him be? Because it was the father of one of them!''

Chloe recalled the news following the raid into the Agreste mansion right after the gala, where they not only discovered the strange basement full of butterflies, but also that a lot of stuff was apparently missing, like some of Adrien's clothes and almost everything in the safe. The girl had no idea how he did it that fast, but she was glad Adrien was at least acting rationally instead of just... running off without anything. There was also no sign of the family's bodyguard.