-Adrien-
Adrien walked into school, smiling with relief at the thought that no mobs of students would be crowding him. He walked further into the building, sidestepping groups of friends and partnerships.
"Ladybug thinks she's all this and that." A girl said, just loud enough for Adrien to overhear. He paused, looking over at a group of girls who looked a year younger than him.
"I know right?" Another girl replied. "I just with they'd disappear."
"Stupid superheroes don't know their place." Another girl added, and the others nodded in agreement.
Adrien shook his head and forced himself to keep walking. It's like that couple from yesterday, and all of those people shouting and glaring at me. Adrien thought to himself, continuing to walk towards the stairs that led to his classroom.
"Are you joking? I hate Ladybug and Chat Noir!" A boy said loudly.
"Hah! Ladybug and Chat Noir? They're complete idiots!" Another kid protested.
Adrien's heart began racing as he climbed up the stairs. He walked into his classroom and sat down. Surprisingly, Marinette was already there. She looked worried.
"Did you hear all of those people down there? It's like someone flicked a switch in everyone's heads!" Marinette whispered.
Adrien nodded. "It's gotta be Imperiumal."
Marinette bit her lip. "After school we'll go see Master Fu."
"Agreed."
Soon Alya and Nino walked in together. They both sat down and smiled at Adrien and Marinette in greeting.
"What's up, dudes?" Nino asked.
Marinette glanced at Adrien before turning to Alya. "How's the Ladyblog doing?"
Immediately, Alya and Nino both scowled. "I took it down." Alya said flatly. "Ladybug and Chat Noir don't deserve it. They don't deserve anything."
Nino nodded. "They've done nothing but cause problems for everyone."
"You guys talking about Ladybug and Chat Noir?" Kim asked from across the room. All eyes turned to the four friends at the front of the classroom as conversations stopped dead in their tracks.
Marinette nodded hesitantly. "Yeah…? Is that a problem?"
Kim slammed his fist on the table. "You're not the problem! Those wimpy superheroes are!" He proclaimed. The entire class nodded in agreement, and soon the class erupted with the students shouts of hatred for the two superheroes. Adrien's heart felt like lead. He turned and looked at Marinette, who had the same look of disbelief and horror on her face.
"This isn't good." Adrien whispered to Marinette as his friends and classmates continued spouting insults at the once famous Guardians of Paris.
But how could you guard someone who absolutely despises you?
Marinette reached up and knocked on the door. "Master Fu?" She asked, panting. They had both sprinted here, trying to dodge the rocks and trash civilians had thrown at them as they traveled across the rooftops. It was a wonder no one got hit in the head. Apparently, now everyone in Paris hated Ladybug and Chat Noir.
Adrien heard footsteps beyond the door and the knob turned as Master Fu opened the way for them to enter. They did, and Adrien saw Wayzz hovering nearby, with a fearful look in his eyes. He was shaking his head and hands, like a gesture of warning. Master Fu looked at them blankly and stiffly as he turned and walked further into the room. Marinette and Adrien followed, but Adrien was hesitant. The way Wayzz had looked at him was enough to make him nervous.
"Master? We need to talk to you." Marinette said.
"What?" Master Fu spat back, his whole posture rigid.
Marinette glanced at Adrien with concern, a look in her eyes questioning if they should leave. Adrien was about to nod and turn away when Master Fu suddenly lunged at Marinette, yelling. Marinette yelped as they toppled to the ground. Adrien instantly grabbed the old man by the arms and pulled him away from Marinette, who was staring at him in fear.
"I hate you! I hate you both!" Master Fu shouted, struggling in Adrien's grip. "You're pathetic excuses for superheroes! You're not worthy of the miraculous! You're not worthy of ANYTHING!" The old man screeched, finally wrestling out of Adrien's grip. His face was red; his eyes full of fury. He lunged at Adrien, but Adrien sidestepped the attack and he and Marinette quickly ran out of the room, slamming the door behind them. They could hear Master Fu inside still screaming insults about them. They could also hear Wayzz frantically trying to keep Master Fu calm. It wasn't working.
Without a word, Adrien and Marinette both transformed and ran away from the old man who was still screaming inside his room, his kwami desperately trying to keep him contained.
Panting, the two superheroes landed on Marinette's balcony, Ladybug double over as she tried to catch her breath. Chat's mind was spinning. "W-what was wrong with Master Fu?" He asked. Ladybug looked up at Chat, her eyes wide with fear.
"I-I don't know. Why did he attack me? What's going on here?" She replied, asking more questions than Chat could answer.
"Hey! It's Ladybug and Chat Noir!" A man suddenly yelled from the street. Ladybug and Chat looked over the railing, and soon a mob formed beneath them.
"Get out of here lousy superheroes!"
"We don't need you!"
"We don't want you!"
Soon the civilians found rocks and they started to throw them up at the bakery. Chat quickly took out his baton and extended it. He began to spin it, deflecting rocks that would've shattered the bakery window.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir! Get off of my property!" Someone shouted behind them. Chat saw the blood in Ladybug's face drain away. Chat stopped spinning his baton and turned, only to find Tom Dupain-Cheng glaring fiercely at them, rolling pin in hand. "Get off!" He shouted again, swinging the rolling pin threateningly. Ladybug and Chat backed away until they were against the railing. Chat looked at Ladybug with worry. She was frozen in shock and disbelief.
"Ladybug, let's go." Chat said quietly to his partner, taking her hand and leading the way as they leapt across the street and away from Tom and the mobs angry shouts and insults. Away from the place Chat had called his sanctuary. His home.
The superheroes continued running and jumping, avoiding trash and rocks that were thrown up at them. They continued to run until they made it to the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. Looking over his shoulder, Chat could see civilians running towards them with angry, flushed faces. He looked at Ladybug, and despite her pale face, she nodded and they began to climb.
It didn't take them long, especially with the angry mob below them forcing them to speed up. Once they got up at the top, Ladybug collapsed onto the ground, leaning against the middle of the tower. Chat sat down next to her, both of their chests heaving.
"What's going on?" Ladybug whimpered, putting her head in her hands. "First Master Fu, now my dad, and-"
"Hey, it's okay." Chat said, cutting his lady off. He hated to see her panicked. "We'll work this out. Like we always do. First we'll calm Master Fu down, then we'll do our best to get on everyone's sides again."
Ladybug took a deep breath. "It happened so suddenly." She said, her voice no longer shaky. She was containing her fear and hurt. Chat couldn't imagine how she felt, seeing her father wishing she were gone. Is that how my mother felt about me? Is that why she left? Chat immediately shoved the thought aside. He didn't have time to worry about himself or his mother.
"Imperiumal has to be back." Chat said confidently. "It's either that or a different akuma that's hiding."
Ladybug leaned her head back. She sighed. "Do you think Master Fu's gonna be okay? Do you think the miraculouses are safe with him?"
Chat's hands went cold. The miraculouses. "I'm sure Wayzz will keep them safe. The kwamis can protect themselves." He said comfortingly, smiling and taking Ladybug's hand.
"You're right." Ladybug nodded. She paused. "We need to get back. Dad's probably going to start wondering where I am."
Chat's heart sunk as he thought about his own father. I'll try looking for him again tonight. He thought to himself firmly. "Right."
Ladybug stood, and Chat followed. She was slightly shaky. "Hey, everything's gonna be okay." Chat said, turning Ladybug by the shoulder and hugging her tightly.
Ladybug quickly melted into the embrace, and he could feel her racing heart start to calm down against his chest. "We'll work this out." Ladybug replied, whispering the words into Chat's ear.
Chat hoped she was right. He hoped he was right as well.