"Master Fu?"

"Ladybug," the old man beamed, waving his hand rapidly when the spotted heroine entered his office "Come in - and please lock the door. Thank you."

She immediately complied by pressing the lock button on the knob, then asked: "I don't understand your message about not informing Tikki or anyone about this meeting."

"That's because it's a secret," said Fu, pulling his own seat when she walked towards his office desk and sat on one of his visitor's chair "And something personal."

He noticed how her face twitched, albeit subtle, as well as the way she clenched her hands tightly on her lap but decided not to point it out.

"We're not talking about your parents. Rest assured that your family is safe," he clarified, and saw how her expression gradually relaxed "What I'm referring to is your connection towards the young civilian named Adrien Agreste."

Her posture went rigid "Adrien Agreste, Master?"

"I didn't call you here to scold you about saving him again if that's something you are worried about," the man chuckled at her bewildered gaze "I called you here because I'm a curious old man who wants to know about this young man's personality, his lifestyle...and how you two became friends."

"For what reason, Master?"

Fu cracked a smile despite her defensive tone "I'm fully aware that everyone knows about the ongoing dissolution panel between our organization and the French government. If the proposal will be signed on its third reading and wins the majority vote, the Order of Miraculous is going to be separated from the state and considered as a private entity. Which means that us, Miraculous wielders, will lose our state immunity and can be arrested for treason."

She snorted indignantly "For what, defeating Akumas?"

He cocked a brow "Aren't you aware of the rumors surrounding on the Miraculous wielders?"

"Ah," her face immediately turned sour "Are we talking about that rumor of us kidnapping some children and experimenting them to become Miraculous wielders? Or the other one wherein we steal corpses in the cemeteries and turn them into dummies we now call as Akumas?"

"Stealing corpses? I haven't heard that one yet," he caressed his chin with bemusement, much to the girl's chagrin "Must be something new. Anyway," he cleared his throat "Fallacy aside, the Congress made a proposal that we should end this war by having a truce with Papillion."

"A truce?!" her voice shrieked with disbelief "Are they out of their minds?!"

"That, or we'll just surrender ourselves to Papillion."

She almost leaped from her seat at the absurdity "That's bullshit!"

"Exactly," the old man remained unfazed as he went on "But there are proponents, the so-called elitists of our society, who are standing behind the proposal. One of them happened to be the CEO of Gabriel's fashion house."

Ladybug glowered "Gabriel Agreste,"

He concurred with a nod "Now, here's my question – why is it that Gabriel Agreste wants to dissolve the Order of Miraculous? Did we do something harm on his business? Did we fail to protect his family from the Akuma? If so, what can we do to rectify that?"

"Are you proposing to use his son in order to reach him?"

"Is that a smart decision, Ladybug?"

"No, it's not," was her adamant answer "Gabriel treats his son as nothing but a poster child. Ever since his wife died, he dedicated his life to work and never once he spends a single moment with Adrien that is outside the fashion arena. He's a cruel, selfish, manipulative bastard and most of all, a heartless father that must be removed in this world at all cost."

"And how about Adrien?"

"Adrien is a...sad person," she trailed off with looming eyes staring on her lap "He's a loving, kind and compassionate being. He loves his father despite his cold demeanor. He's friendly but socially inept due to his tight upbringings. He might be submissive, but he's self-sufficient. He can stand on his own, especially if he knows that he was right."

"Do you think Adrien can also stand himself against his father?"

Ladybug shook her head forlornly "I don't know, Master. Adrien may be persistent but Gabriel's words are absolute. You'll end up talking to the wall."

"I see," Fu reclined his back then eyed the masked heroine with fondness "Marinette must be friends with Adrien to know his life story."

"They're not just friends, Master," she sighed with a nostalgic smile "They're best friends."

"And probably more, if the circumstance allows it."

Ladybug didn't give an answer.

"How did you two become friends?"

"We grew up together," she told him as she reminisced the past "His mother Emilie was one of our frequent customers; she often brings him every time she makes a shopping. He was home schooled, you see, so Emilie wanted him to have some friends other than rich kids like Chloe."

Fu noted how she sneered at Chloe's name.

"I never liked him, at first," she continued "Especially when he threw a bubble gum on my hair. I recalled having a meltdown when the gum got stuck and the only way to remove it was to cut my hair. My hair was long during that time - I think it reached around my elbows - so having a bob cut was a tragedy for my six-year-old heart."

"I cried and cried the whole day. I didn't even eat my supper because I was so sad, and I slept that night with tears in my eyes. The next day came and he was there, standing outside of our door alone, and I remembered the anger of seeing his face; the desire of hitting him with anything but solid. I also remembered yelling, blaming him for ruining my hair and asking him to leave me alone. He didn't. He remained at our doorstep until I stopped crying."

"Then he presented me this beautiful wreath, and I was like 'his money won't buy me' but then I saw his dirty little hands filled with band-aids. He told me how sorry he was for my hair, that he didn't mean to throw the bubble gum on my direction. He confessed that one of the kids stuck the gum on the bench, so he tried to pry it but the gum went all over his hands. Before he realized it, the gum flew out and landed on my hair."

"Adrien must have sacrificed his sleep to make that wreath."

Ladybug nodded "Afterward, Emilie told me that Adrien combed their garden to find the 'most beautiful flower fit for the Princess' and spent the entire night weaving my flower crown. I think it was a combination of hyacinths, carnations, and orchids."

"Ah, the flowers of forgiveness," the old man sighed dreamily "And I believe young Marinette accepted the apology of her great Knight."

"We became friends that day," said the heroine. Until last year...

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, the old man patted the underside of his eye "Your glamour didn't break this time."

"I didn't make any eye contact, Master," she replied, touching the edge of her spotted mask "He didn't remember me, or anything about Stoneheart's fiasco."

"Well, that's good," he nodded casually "Cataclysm is a very strong spell, Ladybug. No one has ever dispersed it except those with an ancient magus' blood."

"Adrien is just a normal boy with a normal life. He was born with normal parents with a normal lifestyle. He's not like me."

Fu only made a non-committal hum "Do you think Gabriel loves his son?"

"By love, you mean imprisoning him in a cold, lifeless fortress he called as home? I'd say yes to possessive love."

"Was he like this before his wife died?"

Ladybug tilted her head as she mulled over "I don't think so? Emilie died when Adrien was eight so my memory was a bit hazy.... but I do remember seeing Gabriel carrying Adrien in his back."

Fu patted his thighs then stood up "I think I got the answers that I needed."

"Are you sure?" the heroine hastily followed suit "I mean, about Adrien –"

"Oh no, you don't need to worry about Adrien," he gesticulated as he ushered her towards the door "And, Ladybug?"

"Yes, Master?"

"If Marinette can't stay as friends with Adrien," he suggested, "Why can't Ladybug befriend Adrien?"

Fu had to stifle his grin when he saw the confusion ebbed on the girl's face, but after he shut the door closed and engaged the locks, his expression turned into somber.

"Wayzz?"

A tall, lean man in green clothes emerged from the shadows "Yes, Master?"

"Call Plagg," he commanded, "Tell him that we found the magus who bears the power of Destruction."