Chapter 12)
"With HIM?" asked Luka, ignoring voice in his head.
He changed into improved copy of Adrien Agreste, well, a bit older, taller, more masculine, and more muscular.
"HOW DARE YOU USE POWERS WAY I DID NOT ALLOW YOU TO USE!" screamed Hawkmoth in his head.
With few twisting of his fingers, user of Moth Miraculous Hawkmoth was able to cause extreme pain in Luka's head.
Chat Noir observed scene just for a fraction of second before he ran there.
Hawkmoth was surprised. Luka in anger and pain kicked him out of his mind. He changed again into different person. Now he has an outfit of Assassin, with hood and with long dagger in his right hand.
"I'm Sicarius*!" he shrieked. "You broke my heart, I'll stab your!"
(*Sica is short sword or large dagger used in old times in northeastern Mediterranean. Literally murderer armed with dagger.)
Hawkmoth made several attempts to take control over him, but all of them failed.
Chat Noir was on scene really in last second. His staff elongated enough to push Sicarius from his potential victim.
"Marinette, go hide somewhere!" shrieked. "Did you observed, where is his akuma?"
"In his wallet," said girl. "Be careful Mon Chatton!"
"Sure!" next punch he made directly to Sicarius's right wrist, broking it. "Place warning on Ladyblog, please! And move away, now!"
Akuma was not much slowed down by fracture. To Chat's disgust, when Sicarius adjusted his hand, it healed literally on observers' eyes. Any way, he was probably weakened a bit, as he grabbed the dagger by left hand.
Chat Noir banged with his staff and broke Sicarius's left forearm.
"Seems, the only way to distract this cretin is repeatedly break his hands!" said Chat Noir. "Maybe Ladybug will not come too soon, so I could enjoy a good time!"
He made two punches, broking simultaneously Sicarius's right forearm and shoulder. This time akuma was evidently shaken more.
"M'lady?" called Chat Noir, using his baton as phone. "We have akuma here," he said address of sidewalk café. "It's Luka Couffain, akuma is in his wallet and he proclaims himself as Sicarius. No need to hurry, I have a good time broking his hands."
Sicarius, dagger in left hand again made attempt to follow escaping Marinette. Chat Noir broke both his legs.
"Here you stay!" Chat Noir continued in 'cat and mouse game'.
He divided his staff into two batons and started punching his ribbons and broking them.
"Does your band need a drummer?" asked with evil smile.
Once Marinette was out of Sicarius sight, villain focused more on fight with Chat Noir. Chat blocked attack by dagger to his abdomen by baton in his left, made half-twist, and punched again by baton in his right to break Sicarius's hand again.
On Chat's Noir back gawked woman's voice:
"Inspector Marion Barniere. What the heck is it here? Another akuma?"
Chat risked short look to that woman. For his surprise it was same policewoman, who was in restaurant yesterday during lunch time.
"This time it's a bit different," said Chat Noir and broke villain's calf bone. "He proclaims himself as Sicarius. He tried to kill unarmed innocent girl just because she broke with him. I believe, he's not under Hawkmoth's control. He did not demand for Miraculous and just keeps attacking. So I think, he should be punished for attempted murder."
"There's not enough evidence for that, Chat Noir," answered Inspector. "You might be right, but your testimony would not be enough and procureur would drop whole thing."
"OK, may I borrow your handcuffs?"
"Sure," said Inspector and passed it to Chat Noir.
He forced Sicarius to nearest chair and fastened villain to it.
XXXXXXX
Marinette had hard time to find unoccupied toilet to transform. All was either occupied or under surveillance cameras pointing on entrance. Finally she found one and after usual "Tikki spots on!" she left it as Ladybug.
She hurried to place, just to observe Chat Noir together with policewoman from yesterday, fastening akuma to chair with handcuffs.
"How get you here so fast, Kitty?" asked Ladybug. "Did you stalk the girl?"
"I followed akuma," snorted Chat Noir.
"This one?" asked Ladybug, pointing on Sicarius.
"No, this one," pointed Chat Noir on dark moth, observing situation from canvas shelter.
Ladybug caught insect by yo-yo without words now.
"So Hawkmoth sent another akuma to direct you here?" asked Inspector.
"I guess so."
"So there is no chance to prove, this idiot really wanted kill that girl you are speaking about or whether he was urged by Hawkmoth to do so."
Inspector Barniere shook her head and continued: "I really disdain man, who tries to kill a girl just because of being rejected."
"OK," nodded Ladybug. "Kitty, do you know, where is his akuma?"
"According that girl, in his wallet."
"So now you're allowed to be a pickpocket," smirked Inspector. "Pickpocket under police protection…"
"HA HA HA," said Chat Noir with bitter grimace.
When Sicarius threshed about, Chat Noir slapped him. Finally he found right pocket and released akuma from wallet.
"No more evil doing for you, little akuma!" used her catchphrase Ladybug and yo-yoed escaping moth. "Time to de-evilize!"
As there were too many witnesses, she had to release both white butterflies.
"Bye-bye little butterflies!"
"Pounded it!" Inspector decided to add her own fist to it.
When Sicarius turned back to Luka Couffain again, Chat Noir asked Inspector Barniere:
"Could you please do the paperwork?"
"As usually, stupid paperwork!" muttered policewoman, but nodded.
"WHAT?" asked Ladybug.
"Time to pay visit…"
"True, let's bug out!"
XXXXXXX
Professor Lefebvre was not alone in his lab. Together with him was little girl, Chat Noir estimated her age about ten. She was blond with short hair, dressed in costume of Chat Noir, what both heroes surprised. Chat Noir passed entomological killing jar to professor, who nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hi, I'm Corrine. Corrine Trotta. Nice to meet you! Will you sign my baton?"
Chat Noir nodded and professor passed him marker, normally used for writing on glass.
Ladybug made a picture of them both.
"You look so cute together," she laughed. "Chat and Kitten Noirs."
Corrine gave her really ugly view.
"So, what's the result, professor?" asked Ladybug.
"According plant toxins residuum chromatography, they really used Nasturtium to feed caterpillars. Butterfly seems to be a new species of Antheraea. I need confirm it by genetic test, to exclude possibility it could be a hybrid or klepton. But for genetic tests I need to say director, I'm working on an article. Will you agree with species name ladynoir?"
"Yes, we will," said Chat Noir. "I know your phone number, once it is possible, I'll ring you, that cat is out of bag."
"OK," nodded professor.
"Ladybug, are you and Chat Noir couple?" asked Corrine suddenly.
"No, why are you asking?" answered superheroine.
"Fine, if he would be without you after eight year, I'll have him," said little girl.
"And how will you find me, you don't know my name," said Chat Noir.
"But I do know who you are. Bend down, I'll tell you."
Chat Noir bended down.
"You are Adrien Agreste!" whispered Corrine into his ear.
-How is that possible, so many people are able to recognize me?!- thought surprised Chat Noir.
Panic in his grimace was observed by Ladybug.
"So she really revealed you?" Ladybug shook her head in disbelief and laughed. "Never underestimate little girls, remember Puppeteer."
Corinne starred daggers on Ladybug for a moment.
"You're not nice, Ladybug. I could forgive you, if you also sign my baton."
Ladybug burst in laugh, but signed that.
"Remember, you have eight years!" said little girl.
"Unfortunately, she's as clever as a barrel of monkeys," said professor. "Be nice little girl Corrine, or I'll not allow you catching newts on our next expedition."
"But grandpa…"
"As I said, be nice or I'll not allow you that fun!"
Corrine made kitten eyes on him.
"That doesn't work if used too often my dear," said professor with laugh.
That moment ringed both Chat's Noir baton and Ladybug's yo-yo.
"Another akuma," looked Chat Noir. "In Saint-Denis…"
"Well, this will not be nice," said professor and shook his head…
When both heroes were about to leave, professor Lefebvre stopped Chat Noir:
"Well, Mr. Agreste, one advice for future," said sotto voce. "When you're right and woman is wrong, that's the situation woman probably never forgive you. If YOU are wrong, you have chance to be forgiven, if you plead pretty. And if you're lucky and you're forgiven for being right, you must NEVER remind that to her. Remember this easy rule, your love life could be much easier that way, trust man with experience."
"How?"
"How did I figured out, who you are?" professor smiled. "I'm man of science, I pay attention on details and I recognize facts. Paris is overfull of your photos. I'm rather surprised, not so many people recognized you yet and your identity is not an open secret yet. I guess, some are simply stupid, some recognized, but disbelieved their own discovery, and some are rooting for you and remain silent."
XXXXXXX
Vladimir Vorontseff was not a happy man. He was nearing to eighty. His parents left in young age Russia, turned into Soviet Union in order to avoid Bolshevik terror. They settled in Saint-Denis and ran their antiquarian bookstore. Unfortunately, communists appeared even there and thanks to several communist mayors place became spoiled…
Vladimir stubbornly refused to left his place and sell it. On the other hand, real estate agent offered him too low price for it. His family life was dissatisfactory too. Elena, his bellowed wife died three years ago and none of his both sons spent too long time with eldering father and sternly refused to run his shop.
"Dad," said his son Alexander. "People almost do not buy books nowadays. Hard to say, whether they read them."
Vladimir was sure, once he is dead, his place will be sold for that unsatisfactory price. Time for that will come soon. According oncology specialist his lung cancer was discovered too late to be operable. Thanks to metastasis in liver and even in bones his life will end in less than three months for sure. And even this short time was not quick enough for somebody. He could reconcile with fact, his bellowed, however unprofitable, bookstore will change into just another falafel buffet. But why they need him to leave the place quicker, using even Molotov cocktails to destroy his property?
Vladimir extinguished another bottle with gasoline and heavily panted. When he observed dark wings of nearing akuma, he said it aloud: "Наконец-то!*"
(*"Nakonec-to!" / "Finally!")
Vladimir offered his crook to infection.
"Hello Old Man, I'm Hawkmoth!"
"Привет Бражник! Я Дед Мороз!*"
(*"Privyiet Brazhnik! Ya Ded Maroz!" / "Hallo Hawkmoth! I'm Grandpa Frost!")
Hawkmoth felt insulted and caused terrible pain to eldering man:
"Stranger, I do not speak language of your tribe. Behave yourself or I'll take your powers away from you."
"And that's all you are capable for?" asked Vladimir. "Trust me, my cancer pains much worse now. So we have deal, you give me powers to get my revenge and I'll try to obtain Chat's Noir and Ladybug's Miraculouses for you."
"You just try?"
"Let's be realistic, Hawkmoth," eldering man smiled a bit. "Till now everybody, you sent on them, were kick-assed. Am I not right?"
"Deal," said Hawkmoth. "So now, show yourself!"
Vladimir felt the new power, bigger, than he was used in his young age. He was wearing kaftan and papakha, both made from dark brown fur. His crook changed into a big scepter of kind, looking like made from ice.
He marched to club, where gang members responsible for attacks on him tend to come. Music there sounded to him, who was used hear rather Tchaikovsky, as something like: 'Soomeeboodyyy staaands ooon myyy baaalls!'
"What do you sniff here old infidel?" asked one of those shitstains.
"Справедливость пришла до вас сволочи!" said Vladimir and pointed with his scepter on questioner. "Русская зима! Замерзай!*"
(*"Spravedlivostj prishla do vas, svoloczi! Russkaya zima! Zamerzay!" / "Justice came to you, rabble! Russian winter! Freeze!")
Gangster was hit by wind of unbelievably cold air and froze on the spot. His accomplices panicked and tried to escape, but old man was pissed too much.
Vladimir left the place and observed incomers. Some of them though, having heavy pieces of pipe or big knives gave them chance against akuma magic…
He allowed only one of them escape. Some people made footages hidden after curtains.
That was situation, how it looked, when Ladybug and Chat Noir succeeded to come…
XXXXXXX
"When you thrashed Luka Couffain, it seemed to me like being personal from your side," said Ladybug when they hurried to action.
"Maybe a little bit," snorted Chat Noir. "I can't tolerate fucker, who tried to kill unarmed innocent girl with a knife. Maybe you'd better come a bit later. I'd do a better lecture for him. He was good guy during Heroes' Day. Being rejected by Marinette, he went bad."
Ladybug shook her head, but fell silent.
When they reach crime scene, they observed strange person in long fur coat and fur hat with a staff made from ice. Several people laying around looked like being frozen. Hard to say, whether they were alive or not…
"Чёрный кот с Жучком наконец-то подскакали!" old man said. "Кто до посоха моего коснётся, никогда не проснётся!*"
("Czornyi Кot c Zhuczkom nakonec-to podskakali! Kto do posokha moyego kosnyotsya, nikagda ne prosnyotsya!" / "Black Cat with Littlebeetle finally arrived! Who touch my staff, that will never wake up!")
"Sorry sir, but I don't understand a word!" said Chat Noir. "This man is not really charming one, m'lady," he said to Ladybug.
Vladimir did not waste time and shrieked:
"Русская зима! Замерзай!"
Both heroes dodged terrible freezing cold wind.
"What do you think m'lady, should we better use our special powers?" asked Chat Noir.
"He could escape or wreak more harm, maybe even to somebody innocent. Let's finish it as quick as possible."
Ladybug stayed so Chat Noir was like a shield between her and strange villain.
"Lucky Charm!"
Even Lucky Charm lost its temper. As answer she obtained sword with real flames on it. Lucky Vision showed her flaming sword, Chat Noir and strange ice staff of that old man.
"Time for fencing duel Kitty!" said, showing flaming sword.
"WOW!" said Chat Noir. "Really a hot stuff!"
He grabbed the hilt of sword:
"En garde!"
Vladimir sent several winds of his freezing power.
However Ladybug made her best to keep hidden on Chat's back, she was hit by one of them. Chat Noir observed her falling from the corner of his eye just in moment, when he was on contact distance to Grandpa Frost. His attack was more furious, than during normal training duels. Even Vladimir stepped back, once he lost his scepter after one strike.
Chat Noir changed hands on hilt of flaming sword.
"Cataclysm!" shouted.
When he touched staff with destructive energy, he felt for a short moment killing freeze.
Akuma leaving the staff was caught by yo-yo without usual catchphrase. Ladybug was evidently close to faint.
Chat Noir kneeled to her and placed hilt of flaming sword, hoping its heat could help her or at least everything could be fixed by her magic of creation…
"Miraculous Ladyb…" she lost her consciousness…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Владимир Высоцкий - Баллада о борьбе - окончание
Если мяса с ножа Ты не ел ни куска,
Если pуки сложа Наблюдал свысока,
И в боpьбу не вступил С подлецом, с палачом, -
Значит, в жизни ты был Ни пpи чём, ни пpи чём!
Если, путь пpоpубая Отцовским мечом,
Ты солёные слёзы На ус намотал,
Если в жаpком бою Испытал, что почём, -
Значит, нужные книги Ты в детстве читал!
Vladimir Vysotski – Ballad of Fighting – ending (translation by Alex Lvovsky)
If the meat from a blade You did not eat a bite
And your arms folded - stayed And looked down from a height
Entered not into battle Against butcher and scythe
Means that life proved your mettle You had nothing to give.
If you cleared your way with your father's sword
And your tears had dried leaving nothing but salt
If in heat of the battle found out what's what
Means your read useful books when you were only small.