AN: Found some grammar mistakes and uppdated the chappie. Sorry bout that.
Chapter 31
"In the flesh, my sweet," Sly replied, gazing up at his lady love rapturously.
"Aw, great. Just super," Carmelita groaned, now worried that her beau would see her make a complete and utter fool out of herself.
"What?" Sly returned, moving up the small set of stairs to her side, his expression somewhat confused.
"Sly," Carmelita said softly, now that he was close by. "I don't want you here."
Sly blinked at that, stung to hear that she wasn't glad to see him. "Oh?" he questioned, gamely trying to smile, despite his feelings.
Carmelita closed her eyes briefly, realizing how she must sound to Sly. "C'mon, honey," she soothed, after she had re-opened them. "You know I didn't mean it that way."
"Hmm," Sly said noncommittally. "Then…exactly how did you mean it, querera?"
Carmelita felt even worse now. She lowered her head, not able to look at him now. "It's just…well, I---no," she began then turned away, embarrassed.
Sly understood that Carmelita was having a problem…and one that didn't directly involve him. "Carmelita….c'mon, sweetie," he coaxed softly. "What's really the matter? You can tell me…"
Carmelita didn't turn around, but did answer him. "You'll just laugh," she countered, feeling very unattractive just now.
"I will not," Sly countered, moving up to her side, putting an arm about her slim waist, looking around to see the expression on her face. "Yuri asked me here to help you…not ridicule you," he pointed out, then smiled his most caring smile her way. "I love you, Carmelita…I want you to be happy."
Carmelita felt a shiver through herself at that. "I'm---I'm just not sure I can do what Yuri wants me to do, Sly," she admitted finally. "I just look at her and how graceful she is…and then I look at me…I'm about as graceful as an ox."
Sly gently turned Carmelita toward him, looking directly into her troubled brown eyes. "I spoke briefly with Yuri a moment ago…and she said you were fantastic," Sly told her, then grinned. "Which, by the way, didn't surprise me the least little bit." He gave her a confident grin.
Carmelita blinked and looked in surprise over at him. "It didn't?" she questioned, feeling a hopeful flutter in her chest. "Sly…I've never done this sort of thing before. I mean, I was a cop…which, incidentally, isn't the most feminine job in the world, you know." It was evident she was worried.
Sly smiled again at Carmelita. "Until just last week you were never a Master Thief before either," Sly pointed out. "But, and do correct me if I'm wrong, you aced that with flying colors, my pretty girl, did you not?"
"That was different," Carmelita protested, but smiled at him, her eyes grateful. "I've always been athletic, Sly. You know that. How do I know I won't look like some graceless fool up on that stage?"
"You don't," Sly told her bluntly, but softened that with a smile. "But, Carmelita my love, let me tell you something, okay?"
Carmelita just nodded, gently squeezing his hand.
"You are the most beautiful girl in the world, you know," Sly told her, truthfully and honestly. "You have style, and grace to spare, querera. Why do you think I take the time to watch you walk, hmm?"
"I dunno," Carmelita said with a smile. "You're a pervert?" She laughed softly.
Sly shook his head, a smirk on his lips. "You know that's not true," he answered, grinning. "I watch you because you are bewitching, Carmelita. Yes, that the word…bewitching. Your every move is entrancing…from the soft sway of your hips, to the movement of your shoulders, to even the way you hold your head fairly shouts 'woman'!"
Carmelita was stunned, yet grateful. "R-Really?" she questioned, hoping but not quite sure. "Me?"
Sly smiled a warm smile. "Yes, you, sweetheart," he answered. "You are feminine, you are beautiful, and you---thank goodness---are mine."
Carmelita smiled, then looked away, embarrassed---but in a good way---at the emotion in Sly's words. She suddenly understood how she must appear to him, and that image made her heart swell with pride. "I'm that beautiful?" she repeated, looking at him.
"None lovelier, Carmelita," Sly assured her, kissing her hand.
"I'm that feminine too?" Carmelita continued, grinning.
"Enough so that I can't seem to take my eyes off of you," Sly explained, his warm, loving eyes drinking her features in until Carmelita felt herself blushing with pleasure.
"Sly, stop," Carmelita chided him, unable to meet his gaze…but loving him all the more for showing her how much he adored her. "You're making me feel like I'm not wearing anything, you!"
"Now, there's an image for you," Sly teased, glad to see her sounding more confident.
"Sly!" Carmelita responded, blushing quite prettily. "That's about enough out of you, buster!" But, a moment later, she threw her slender arms around his neck and held him tightly to herself. "Thank you so much, sweetheart," she whispered into his ear. "So…you think I can do this, do you?"
"You'll have them all panting after you're through with them, Carmelita," Sly assured her. "But…" he added, then stopped, grinning again.
"Okay, what?" Carmelita prompted him, gently tweaking his ear.
"Hey," Sly exclaimed softly, wincing slightly. "All I was going to say was that I can't believe I'm lucky enough to get to see you first is all…"
Carmelita blinked, surprised…then gave him a bright, thankful smile. "I'll do my best," she promised.
Sly just grinned, moving in to kiss her quickly upon the lips. "Be still my heart!" he moaned, making Carmelita giggle and hug him tightly for a long moment.
"Okay, you…git!" Carmelita said, laughing, shooing him off the stage. She then turned to Yuri, giving her a dazzling smile. "Thanks, Yuri," she called.
"Don't mention it, cheri," Yuri replied, smiling. "Every girl needs that one special fan, nes pas?"
Meanwhile, Ling wasn't making nearly as great a headway with the more stubborn Kitty. "I'm not wearing a dress…period!" Kitty protested, crossing her arms before her chest…a sure sign she was upset.
"Kitty," Ling reasoned in his soft voice. "My darling Kitty," he repeated…watching her big blue eyes for her reaction, smiling when he saw those topaz blue orbs soften a bit. "You need have no worry," he told her. "You are more than lovely enough to wear any dress. I know just how lovely your legs are, dear…"
"Okay," Kitty allowed, the barest hint of a smile appearing on her lips at his compliment about her legs. Kitty did have very nice legs…though she didn't show them to just anyone. Ling had seen them, and he thought her the loveliest girl he'd ever seen. "I know that much, buddy."
"Then…think, Kitty," Ling continued, using all of his persuasive skills, "just how lovely you shall look in one of Yuri's dresses that shows off your beautiful legs, yes?"
"I'll look like some little girl," Kitty complained.
"You will not," Ling disagreed. "Kitty…come now! Your figure is not by any means imaginable that of anything other a very lovely young woman. You must trust both Yuri and I, my love…you will fill out a dress quite admirably." Ling then allowed his admiring eyes to linger generously over Kitty's svelte figure. "Quite admirably indeed." He raised a telling eyebrow then.
Kitty grinned, then blushed at his attention. Hmm, she thought quite suddenly, maybe this dress thing won't be all that bad. I mean, wow…I'm liking the look in Ling's eyes toward me right now. Yeah, a whole lot! "Okay…maybe," she wheedled, wanting to hear more.
"Who better to tell a woman how special she looks," Yuri proposed, "than the man who loves her, no?"
Ling put his arms slowly about Kitty's narrow waist, then briefly nuzzled her neck affectionately. "There is no woman lovelier than you, my Kitty," Ling told her truthfully, his heart in his eyes. "None."
Kitty leaned her head back against Ling, enjoying his attention very much. "D-Do you really think I can do this, Ling?" she asked so only he could hear. "I'm sort of new to this whole girlie thing, you know."
"Kitty," Ling answered in her twitching ear. "The only one who doubts you are a woman is you. I have known you were a woman for quite a long time, you know…I was attracted to the woman you are the first time I met you. If you should doubt me, go ask your friend, Sly. He will tell you much the same as I do."
"Maybe I will," Kitty said, pretending to be petulant, but her small clever smile gave her away. She moved over to where Sly now stood, watching Carmelita with warm, affectionate eyes. "Say, Cooper!" she called out.
Sly blinked, turning toward Kitty. "Ah, Kitty," he greeted her. "What can I do for you, pretty girl?"
Kitty grinned at that. Maybe Ling was on to something after all! "Um," Kitty began only to stammer to a halt, unsure how to ask the question of him. "Okay, quick! Me. In a dress. What do you think?" She watched him, trying to read the expression on his face.
"If it's the right dress," Sly answered after a moment to think. "I'd say I'd probably be just a bit envious of Constable Chu over there." He grinned at Kitty's answering smile. "That answer your question, Ms. Petro?"
"Yeah," Kitty said, nodding her head, her mind singing. "Pretty much. Thanks."
Ling stood there, smiling just a trifle bit smugly. "And?" he prompted her.
Kitty grinned, then put her arms up to clasp her hands behind Ling's neck. "Wise guy," she accused, then smiled up into his handsome face. "Just when did you get so smart anyway?"
"Ancient Chinese secret," Ling answered most mysteriously, then laughed.
Kitty giggled at his silliness, but enjoyed it. "And I thought you were from Tibet…"
"That isn't all that far from China, Kitty," Ling pointed out with a grin.
"Thanks for the pep talk, Coach," she teased, then hugged him fiercely a long minute. She then leaned away from him, smiling thankfully at her heartthrob. "Thanks for everything, Ling," she told him quietly, privately. "And…thanks for coming. I couldn't of done this without you, you know."
"Yes, you could," Ling told her. "But, I am happy to of been of some help, my love."
Yuri stood talking with Naomi, trying to watch her friends---without really watching them. "It appears that Carmelita is ready now, and if I'm not totally mistaken, our Kitty too."
"Oui, Madame," Naomi replied, nodding. "I've spoken to Maria, and she is ready to go. She is one determined young lady, Madame."
"That is good," Yuri replied. She then saw poor Svetlana standing off by herself at the mid-point of the runway. "Hmm, I think I have one more task remaining, Naomi," she said, gesturing to Svetlana with a jerk of her chin at Naomi. "Oh, Monsieur Sly," she called out.
Sly was chatting with Carmelita, who nearly now bubbled with excitement and purpose…her case of the pre-show jitters apparently dispelled. "Yes, Yuri my sweet?" he replied, giving her a charming smile.
Yuri grinned at the suave charmer. "Do you ever behave, Monsieur?" she laughed. She lifted a hand to gently pat Sly's cheek in thanks. "I was wondering if I could enlist your help for a moment?" she added a moment later.
"Oh?" Sly answered, his eyes flicking over to Carmelita, who was now talking animatedly with Kitty. "With what---or perhaps, whom---may I ask?"
Yuri linked arms with Sly, and then without a word, led him over to where a very quiet Svetlana stood, gazing off into space. Yuri leaned over to speak directly into Sly's ear. "I think Ms. Umanova could use a good old-fashioned dose of that Sly Cooper charm just about now. Don't you think?"
Sly looked over to the obviously worried little tigress, then grinned and nodded to Yuri. "Leave it to me, Yuri," he told her. Yuri turned to go, then softly squealed as she felt Sly gently pinch her derriere.
"Monsieur Cooper," she accused, rubbing her tush gently, then grinned, "kindly keep your hands to yourself." She fought hard to suppress the shiver his action had caused.
"C'mon, Yuri," Sly teased in reply. "With that lovely little heinie of yours…my fingers acted all on their own!"
Yuri giggled, shaking her head. "Sly Cooper…you are a rogue," she said, flipping her head back, her chin held high. "A rogue, perhaps…but, you are charming one." She then flicked her eyes to Svetlana. "Now, go see if you can get that sort of reaction out of our poor Svetlana, no?"
Sly grinned, then moved over to just beside the small, yet very beautiful tigress. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle," Sly said softly, in his most charming voice. "What is a lovely girl like you doing over here all by herself, hmm?"
Svetlana gasped, her cheeks flushing as she whirled to see none other than Sly Cooper himself beside her. "Monsieur Cooper!" she fumbled for words. Even knowing that Sly was already taken by Carmelita, Svetlana couldn't help but feel her pulse quicken and her breathing speed up. "I---" she stammered, then fell silent.
"Okay. What's the matter, Svetlana?" Sly asked her kindly, his eyes curious.
"It is nothing, Monsieur Cooper," Svetlana answered, turning away from him, and his hypnotic brown eyes.
"Uh-uh, sorry…I ain't buyin' it," Sly said, shaking his head, then he moved in front of Svetlana. "C'mon, kiddo…spill it."
Svetlana felt mezmerised by Sly's masculinity. She tried to hide her face, but he was on to her. So, finally, unable to get away, she looked reluctantly into his face. "Monsieur Sly?" she finally was able to ask, "do you---do you think I am a flirt?" She blushed, her cheeks going pink.
Sly chuckled, then playfully chucked Svetlana under her chin, making the young woman smile. "Of course," he answered. "What woman isn't one? It's part of what's so wonderful about all you lovely girls, you know."
"Nyet," Svetlana replied, shaking her head. "I misspoke it seems. I mean, I have always been told that I am---how you say?---what some would call a tease, perhaps. Do I appear that sort of woman?"
"What?" Sly questioned in reply. "Because you're small and well---c'mon, let's be fair, Svetlana…you do fill out your clothes very nicely…if you get my drift. Is that what you mean?"
"Da," she answered, looking away. "I have heard it all…from the other girls in Polarsky's organization. How I flaunt myself at all the boys…like some sort of…" Svetlana's lower lip suddenly trembled and tears welled up in her dark brown eyes.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Sly said, holding up his hands. "Svetlana, hold on! You are probably one of the sweetest, kind-hearted girls I've ever met. Really, I'm not lying! Hey, look…it's not your fault you're voluptuous. Don't be ashamed of that, girl…be proud! You've got a terrific figure, one that many a woman would envy, girl. And…just for the record, I do not---I repeat!---do not think you are like that at all. No matter what other girls may have said."
Svetlana sniffled, but nodded her head. "I will tell you something…because you have been so sweet and kind to me," she said softly. She grinned, wiping her eyes, and then reached over and pinched Sly's own rump once impishly. "I have had the biggest crush on you, Sly Cooper," she said with a shy, yet engaging smile.
Sly flinched at Svetlana pinching his behind, then laughed. "You have? Well, gee, I'm flattered, Svetlana. Really," he told her. "Though, I'm sorry…but, well…you know, I'm already taken." Sly's eyes flicked over to where Carmelita stood talking with Naomi now.
"Da, I know," Svetlana, observing this, said ruefully, smiling.
"But," Sly said conspiratorially. "Why now, if I hadn't of ever met my Carmelita…well, you would of definitely had my full attention, girl." He waggled a telling eyebrow at her, and gave her his most come-hither smile.
Svetlana grinned at his compliment, then giggled. "That's probably one of the nicest things any man has ever said to me. Thank you," she admitted.
"Hey, no problem, Svetlana," Sly answered. "C'mon, it's time to get you over there with all the other lovely ladies, eh?"
"Da, I shall come," Svetlana announced, then gasped a moment later as she felt Sly cleverly pinch her own rounded behind. She eyed Sly a moment, then burst out in a soft fit of giggling. "I suppose I deserved that," she observed, her eyes dancing. "That pinch to my behind, I mean."
"Yeah, I suppose you did," Sly answered, grinning, ever the flirt. "Of course…if you'd care to pinch mine again, I'd be more than happy to return the favor, cutie-pie." Sly gave her a pretend lecherous look, then grinned broadly at her.
Svetlana laughed, then clapped her hands in delight. "Da!" she laughed, "I shall let you know, should I wish to, no?"
"You got it, Svetlana," Sly answered with a laugh of his own. "Now, go on and let all those guys out there know just what they're missing."
"Da, I shall!" Svetlana answered, then moved up on her tiptoes to quickly, thankfully buss Sly's cheek once. "Thank you so much."
Sly moved back over to Yuri's side then, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. "Didn't I tell you I could handle it, Yuri my friend?" he stated.
Yuri tried to keep her face impartial…but could not, and burst out laughing. "You are ever the resourceful one, Sly Cooper," she said. "But, thank you…you've made a difference in Svetlana's mood, I can see."
"No problem," Sly answered, rubbing his knuckles against his chest, cocky as ever. "Any time, Yuri."
"If you would pardon me, Monsieur," Yuri said with a much satisfied smile. "I have work to do. I'm sure you understand, no?" She smiled sweetly at him.
Sly just laughed, shaking his head. "Yo, Ling!" Sly called out, looking over to where Ling still hovered around his Kitty. "Hey, lover boy, front and center! It's time for we gents to get off the runaway, pally boy."
Ling looked over to Sly, who was waving him over, then back to Kitty. "You will be all right now, yes?" he asked…one last time.
Kitty grinned at him. "Yeah, I'll be fine," Kitty assured him. "Now…get going before Sly comes over here and drags you off by your ear." She grinned again, then quickly kissed his cheek…before she shoved him toward Sly.
"All is well, cheris?" Yuri questioned her Naomi and her budding protégés. There were nods all around. "That is wonderful, of course." She then moved closer to them all. "As you can see with myself," she then said, pointing out her changed appearance again. "What you do with your hair, your face, and your clothing can make a most dramatic difference in your appearance…and, may I also point out…just how well my outfits that you wear sell." She grinned at them all, ever the businesswoman. "Naomi…if you would?"
Naomi nodded her head, her blond hair swaying. "All of you---with the exception of Kitty here---will be wearing your hair up upon your head. We do not want to obscure Madame's outfit with your admittedly beautiful hair now, do we? Non," Naomi informed them. "Also, I or one of Madame's staff will be doing each of your make-up…in accordance with Madame's wishes."
"Whoa, hold on there a minute, sport," Kitty protested, almost immediately.
Naomi waved away her almost inevitable protest. "Hush, Kitty. We will not be doing it this night, mon ami," she allowed. "But, come our debut…you will wear what I say, and you will do so with a smile. Am I abundantly clear, Mademoiselle?" Naomi's amber eyes were hard, yet showed her affection for the stubborn vixen.
"Yeah, yeah," Kitty grumbled. "But, I get the final say, right? I'm not going out there looking like some clown."
"I assure you, Kitty," Naomi told her, reaching out one long arm to pat Kitty's cheek. "You will not look the clown, cheri. You will be even more beautiful than you are now."
"Now," Yuri then chimed in, taking the lead once more. "Beginning today, and until my seamstresses complete all of my designs…we will be training. And training very hard indeed! I will have security personnel guarding the doors to this ballroom and---"
Just then, the gilded doors to the Malta ballroom swung open forcefully, and a pair of burly coyotes in dark business suits entered, their mismatched eyes shifty and malevolent.
"What is the meaning of this?" Yuri began to question, bristling at the unexpected intrusion.
"You will shut your mouth, Madame Sing," commanded a most memorable voice…that of Gaston Ripperoux. "This time…it shall be what I say that is so." He gestured to another pair of bully boys---these ones jackals in black ninja suits, who followed closely in his wake.
Yuri was having none of this! "You will leave immediately, Monsieur!" she commanded, moving down off the runway, her green-gold eyes blazing.
Ripperoux shook his head, his jowls swinging. "I think not, Yuri my sweet," he answered. He then moved up toward where Yuri and her faithful Naomi stood in the aisle. He gave Naomi a look of raw hatred. "Mademoiselle Rousseau," he remarked, his dark eyes glittering.
"Monsieur," Naomi replied, as politely as she could manage. She would not embarrass Madame!
Then, surprisingly, Gaston stepped forward and backhanded poor Naomi across her face, sending her staggering backward. "Bitch! Not so tough now, are we? You are nothing without your Uzi, are you?" he sneered. Made bold by his success, he drew back his hand to strike her again. Only…his hand stopped halfway through his swing. An enraged Gaston Ripperoux looked down to see his wrist caught in the question-mark shaped head of a most curious cane.
"A gentleman never strikes a lady, fella," Sly Cooper remarked, his dark brown eyes flinty.
"Release me, you wretch!" Gaston hissed, trying to free his arm…with no success.
"Sorry…not until you apologize to the lady, friend," Sly remarked again, only this time he emphasized his statement with a tap of his cane's tip to Ripperoux's forehead.
"Rid me of this fool," Ripperoux growled, waving to his henchmen ahead.
"That," Sly remarked with a wry grin, "would be a really bad idea, Monsieur." Sly then shrugged, appearing more bored than anything. "Of course, you do what you think you have to…"
"Oh, I shall, Monsieur," Ripperoux replied nastily. "Take him!"
However, before the two jackals in the ninja suits could even make one threatening gesture toward Sly, two massive hands appeared seemingly out of nowhere to cup each of the jackals' heads a moment…before slamming them against one another hard enough with a resounding crack to render both of them senseless. The two slumped to the floor unconscious. "Don't you worry none, Sly…you deal with Mister Fancy Pants," Murray offered up to his friend, his face set in stone. "The Murray will take care of these other guys…if they make me." He turned his attention toward his Naomi then. "You okay, Naomi?"
Naomi smiled, one hand to her burning cheek. "Oui, I am fine, Murray," she informed him. "Your timing is quite impeccable, mon ami."
Murray grinned, eyeing the two suddenly nervous coyote toughs like slabs of fresh meat. "Thanks, but you can thank Sly…he thought I might like to tag along tonight," Murray told her.
Yuri and Naomi looked over to Sly. Sly shrugged. "Hey, what can I say?" Sly replied. "He's been bugging me for months to see a fashion show. Who am I to deny him that, huh?" He grinned.
Gaston was a great deal unsure of himself now. "Sly?" he said aloud, then paled. "As in Sly Cooper?" Ripperoux blinked, then paled slightly. "Mon Dieu."
Kitty then decided to get involved. "You know, I probably should run you in, fat boy, for assaulting Miss Rousseau," she observed aloud.
"Oh? You should, should you?" Gaston replied, sneering at the small vixen.
"Yep! Oh, by the way, I'm Inspector Kitty Petro, Interpol Paris Division," Kitty said, giving him a toothy grin.
"Interpol?" Gaston gasped…then his quick mind worked. "Oh, then if that is the case," the weasel grinned cleverly. "There is Sly Cooper…arrest him!" He looked over at Sly…his expression triumphant.
Kitty pretended to be stunned, looking over to Sly. "You're Sly Cooper? Really?" she gushed, her blue eyes intent, though she did give Sly a clever little look when Gaston was not looking. "The most wanted man in all of Paris?"
Sly grinned, twirling his famous cane. "Little ol' me?" he answered. "C'mon, Inspector, do I---even remotely---look anything like the world famous Master Thief?"
Kitty looked Sly over. "Hmm, now that you mention it," Kitty replied, rubbing her chin idly. "You don't look all that much like Sly Cooper." Kitty grinned.
Carmelita then added her two cents worth. "Trust me," she remarked. "I've been chasing his annoying furry butt halfway around the world. If that were Sly Cooper, I'd know it."
Gaston looked over at the lovely dark-haired vixen…pausing to run his eyes hotly over her curvy form. "You would? Oh, and how would you---?" Gaston then stopped, gasped then grinned. "You are Carmelita Fox! I have seen you on the television many times, Mademoiselle Fox…you are tres belle manifuque!"
"Charmed, I'm sure," Carmelita said with a smirk, and a toss of her lovely sable-haired head. She then noticed his hot, beady little eyes running over her body. "Hey, eyes back in your head, pal," she growled.
Gaston blinked, then wiped the small trace of drool from the corner of his lip. "Pardonnez moi, Mademoiselle Fox," he responded. "Or, may I have the honor of calling you Carmelita, mon belle cheri?"
"No," Carmelita answered, her lip curling, her dark brown eyes flinty. "Miss Fox will do nicely, thanks." She paused a moment, then added. "Unless you prefer former Inspector Fox, of course."
Sly grinned over at his lady love, his approval in her handling of this guy in his twinkling eyes.
"Who is this troublesome fellow, Madame?" Maria ventured, moving up to stand beside the troubled snow leopard woman. Now, Maria was not as tall as Yuri, nor did she possess her inherent grace…however, Maria did possess something that Yuri did lack…the power to intimidate. "Perhaps, you would like for my Svetlana and I to…er, have a pointed discussion with him, da?"
Maria's eyes were peculiar…in that the blue seemed to change with her moods. When she was happy and at ease, her eyes were a clear blue…like fine blue topaz. However, when she was perturbed, or angry---like she was now!---her eyes became an icy frigid blue---reminiscent of sunlight through an iceberg.
Gaston immediately did not like the look of the cool Arctic vixen before him. His internal alarms began sounding even as the Russian first spoke. "This is of no concern of yours, vixen!" Gaston rebuked her, waving her imperiously away, despite the fact that he felt a wave of icy fear at the nape of his neck just now.
Maria grinned an icy smile---full of implied malice---the fat weasel's way. "Da. For now, perhaps…but it easily could become my 'concern', Comrade," she answered, her small powerful hands curling as she adopted an easy, confident fighting posture.
Svetlana moved up to stand just beside her friend, Maria. Even Sly was surprised by the coldness in the petite tigress' eyes. He knew Svetlana to be a charming, kind-hearted soul…but that hardly seemed to be the case now…as her demeanor had changed to that of the cold-hearted thug she had once been. "If you strike Ms. Rousseau again," Svetlana observed in her sweetest, most chilling voice. "I shall delight in tearing out your throat, Monsieur." Gaston looked to Svetlana's small hands just then, and gaped as he saw curved, inch long, razor-sharp claws emerge from her fingertips.
"Er, boss," one of the coyote thugs whispered into Ripperoux's ear. "I'm getting' a bad feelin' about this." He divided his attention between his unsettled superior, and Murray, who was entertaining himself by bending---and then unbending---a solid brass stanchion beside the door.
Ripperoux was again sweating in fear. His plan---his glorious revenge!---had gone definitely awry. He had thought that he and his four goons would strike fear into a group of seemingly defenseless women. Sadly, it seemed, these women hardly seemed defenseless now…indeed, they had more than adequate ones! However, his pride refused to have him back down again in front of Yuri and Naomi. "I agree," he stated softly for their ears only. "Plan B, gentlemen," he added.
The two thugs grinned, then dipped their hands inside of their jackets to withdraw deadly Incom Mac-10 submachine pistols. Ripperoux delighted in the shocked looks on the girls' faces, and felt his control of the situation steady. "I'm afraid you all still do not understand," he stated. "I am in control here…not you."
"Say Murray?" Sly thought to mention just then.
Murray, who had been staying out of things for the most part, stepped forward, and then reached his huge hands over to wrap them over the small stubby weapons in the thugs' hands. He grunted as he exerted pressure, and smiled as he heard the tell-tale sound of metal bending and crushing. He removed his hands, then crossed his big burly arms before himself, satisfied.
"Aiee," whispered the left-most thug, looking down at his Mac-10, which was now pinched to paper-thinness at its middle, completely and utterly useless for anything more than a very small club. "Ah, Monsieur?" the thug offered to his boss…gazing down at his machine pistol then Gaston.
"Is it time for The Murray yet, Sly?" Murray asked, eyeing the two thugs like they were nothing more than convenient punching dummies just now.
"Not yet, pal," Sly answered with a grin. He turned to Gaston, who stared back at him dumb-founded. "You know, you're right, bud. You are in charge," he stated. "So…what's your play, fella? Do you apologize and talk nice to the ladies? Or shall I let my pal here wipe the floor with you three?"
Gaston was sweating again…damn it! "Um," he wavered, eyeing Murray with not a little fear just now. He turned to Yuri, his eyes full of frustration. "Your pardon, Madame," he muttered, gritting his teeth. "I regret my…er, indiscretion with regards to Mademoiselle Rousseau earlier."
Yuri grinned smugly. "That is quite all right, Monsieur," Yuri answered. "You are under pressure, oui? We all are, no?"
Gaston nodded woodenly, but inside he howled in frustration. He gave Yuri a small smile, and then stared blatantly at her ample bosom. "Oui, we are, Madame," he answered, giving her a lecherous look. "You as well as I, no? Though, after our bet, that may change, no?"
"Perhaps, Monsieur," Yuri allowed, feeling her skin crawl from having him staring so boldly at her body. "You may wish to reconsider…before I win your entire line, you know."
Gaston snorted at that! As if that could ever happen, he told himself. He looked over at each of the assembled girls trim figures, enjoying staring at them, bold as brass. "It is perhaps you who might wish to reconsider, my sweet luscious Yuri," he remarked smugly. "Especially when I come to collect my prize, no?"
Yuri glared at him. "Go! Take your thugs with you and go, Gaston," she instructed, pointing her hand toward the still open door. "Before I have my friend Murray here bodily toss you from the premises." Yuri's green-gold eyes glittered dangerously.
Gaston gulped then, realizing just then that she was right. "Very well, cheri," he answered, indicating the two coyotes should pick up their unconscious teammates. "All right, I am leaving…for now. Howver, do remember, Yuri my sweet," he added, turning his head to gaze lewdly at Yuri´s most shapely posterior. "The Fall Spectacular is in but two months' time. Do you really think that even you, cheri, can make these pathetic wannabees of yours into models before the show?"
"As a matter of fact, Monsieur," Yuri declared, smiling confidently over at her friends. "Oui, I think my lovely girls will do quite nicely, in fact. Can you and
your stable of street walkers say the same, Gaston?" She intentionally made her statement as scathing as she could manage. "Besides…it is the clothes that are the star, are they not? And, since that is the case, I am quite confident I shall prove victorious. Can you say the same, Monsieur?"
Grumbling under his breath, Gaston---and his nastily surprised henchmen---departed the ballroom. Murray did them all the favor of shutting the door and locking them.
Yuri's composure finally broke, and she wavered, having to clutch at Naomi to remain steady upon her feet. "Mon Dieu," she exclaimed. "Oh, thank you all, mon amis…I was so frightened." She shivered.
"Madame, we are always here for you," Naomi assured her, her cheek still a little pink from where that bastard Ripperoux had slapped her.
"My poor Naomi," Yuri fussed, her hand stroking Naomi's hurt cheek tenderly. "That man is a monster!" She looked into her friend's eyes. "Are you all right, cheri?"
"Yuri, I am fine," Naomi replied, meaning it. The slap had been worth the pain, just to know that her friends were there for her, and that she---in turn---was always there for her friend Yuri.
"That is good," Yuri answered, pausing to kiss Naomi's cheek in her gratitude. "Ugh! That man! He would try the patience of the saints themselves. I rue the day my pride allowed me to sign that trickster's contract!"
Sly frowned, then looked at Ling. "Contract? What contract?" Sly and Ling asked.
Much to Sly amazement, Yuri looked away, her cheek flushing red. "I am ashamed, Sly Cooper," she admitted, hanging her proud head, her long slightly wavy blond hair sweeping around to partially cover her face.
"Okay," Sly intoned, confused, then looked to Ling. "Ling, my boy, I think we're missing something here."
"I agree," Ling offered, confused as well.
"It is like this, gentlemen," Yuri reluctantly replied, filling them in on her hastily made bet…as well as what was at stake should she lose.
Sly, after hearing the whole story, balled his fists and grit his teeth. "Yuri, why didn't you tell me all this before?" he complained. "Had I known, I would of sicked Murray on that bastard good!"
Ling nodded his agreement. "It is becoming most apparent, I think, that this lecherous weasel is as dirty-minded as our Inspector Gaines," he replied.
"Inspector Who?" Sly---as well as everyone not affiliated with Interpol asked in rapid fashion.
"Gaines," Carmelita said, scowling furiously. "Some twit of a zebra that thinks he's God's gift to women." She exhaled sharply, surprised to realize that idiot still irked her even now.
Kitty nodded, grinning. "Oh, yeah. That'd be him, all right. Haughty little bastard's tried to get all of the girls to sleep with him over the years."
"Guys like that can work at Interpol?" Sly asked, perplexed. "I thought he'd of garnered the suspicion of Internal Affairs with that kind of behavior."
"Yeah, well," Carmelita answered a moment later. "Ordinarily, Sly, you'd be right. However, Gaines is the nephew of the Paris Interpol Secretary-General."
She left her statement just like that…it not needing any further explanation.
"Ah," Sly said…his one word speaking volumes.
"You don't know the half of it, pal," Kitty explained to Sly. "He had a special interest in your lady friend there. Yeah, more than twice a day he'd be propositioning poor Carmelita."
Sly's brown eyes became hard. "You'll have to point this guy out to me sometime, Kitty," Sly said in a good-natured voice…but his eyes relayed an entirely different message.
"Oh, don't worry about that, pal," Kitty assured him with a laugh. "Here, let me explain, okay? Now, on the day Carmelita quit, Gaines had the absolute nerve to try and coax her over to his apartment to 'talk things over'..." Kitty grinned suddenly. "I bet he wishes he hadn't of now! Carmelita was just awesome! She gave him his answer, all right! She blackened both his eyes, and gave him a kick that had him walking funny for the rest of the week!"
Everybody laughed, until Naomi broke the silence. "I do not wish to rain on everyone´s parade…but, we only have one month to do get ready, no?" she pointed out.
Yuri nodded. "Thank you, my Naomi, for that. As she says, my Mademoiselles, it is time to get this show on the road!"