𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬| 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧!𝐂𝐡𝐥𝐨é 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐢𝐬

Chapter 12. Copycat(bug): Part 2.

“Monsieur Bouge is getting away!” An officer's voice crackled through Officer Roger's walkie-talkie.

Dame Noir and Roger ran inside the museum, only to find several police officers scattered on the floor groaning in pain.

“Well, if he's so innocent, then why is he running away?” Roger asked.

“Well, if you were wrongly imprisoned, wouldn't you run?” Dame Noir shot back, her voice full of defiance.

Just then, her baton began to ring, she looked at it to see a familiar profile picture of her partner.

“Requesting assistance, I repeat, requesting assistance. We are in pursuit of the suspect,” Roger said into the walkie-talkie.

Ignoring Roger completely, Dame Noir ran up the stairs to answer her partner's call. “Monsieur Bouge, what's going on?”

“Someone is trying to frame me, you know I'm innocent right?” Monsieur Bouge said.

“Of course, I know you're innocent,” Dame Noir said without a moment's hesitation.

“I'm gonna find the real culprit and save my tail. I'll get back to–” Monsieur Bouge ended the call.

“Did he really just hang up on me?” Dame Noir muttered to herself. She ran outside to the museum courtyard. The police officers were chasing after her partner, who was running on the rooftops.

“Give yourself up, Cat Noir!” A police officer yelled through the megaphone.

Officer Roger walked out of the Louvre and up to the cat hero. “Aren't you gonna go after him?”

Dame Noir met his gaze, a defiant smirk on her face. “I don't chase my partner, Officer. I fight with him. I'm going after the real villain.” Without waiting for a response, she extended her baton and launched herself onto the rooftops, ready to find the impostor.

With Monsieur Bouge:

Monsieur Bouge arrived at a subway station, the police trapping one end of the stairs before scrambling into the station to find him. Monsieur Bouge now back to Luka casually walked up a different set of stairs from across the street. He hid behind an advertisement sign.

Tikki floated up in front of his face, her expression a mix of concern and determination. “That was a close one, Luka.”

Luka sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know. It's crazy. One minute I'm a hero, the next I'm a fugitive.” He peeked out from behind the sign, watching as police officers scrambled through the station. He couldn't stay here forever.

“Well,” Tikki said, her voice small but firm, “the thief was definitely a fake. I'd say he was akumatized.”

Luka nodded, leaning against the ad sign. “I know.” He pulled a small, colorful lollipop stick from his pocket, something he'd discreetly taken from the crime. “See that lollipop stick? The sculptor, Théo, had one just like it. How did I not see that jealousy coming a mile away?”

With Dame Noir:

Dame Noir landed on the top of a building, taking a moment to survey the city below, when her baton received a call from Monsieur Bouge. A wave of relief washed over her, and she immediately answered.

“Where are you, Monsieur Bouge?” She asked.

“I found his den,” Monsieur Bouge replied, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation.

“Den? Whose den?” Dame Noir questioned, confused.

“My Copybug. Remember the sculptor, Théo, from the ceremony? He's the one impersonating me.”