Chapter 65 - "Tsurugi's Prize"

Adrien: 🐶💙 I had a dream you came back and brought me New York pizza

Adrien: Then I woke up and realized I'm living in a cruel, Luka-less world

Kagami: Sounded bad, your singing that is not the very tragic absence of Luka.

Adrien: It was ART, Kagami!

Adrien: 🎭💔🎵

Kagami: It was off-key.

Adrien: RUDE but probably accurate

Adrien: Luka would've harmonized with me 😢

Kagami: Luka possesses considerably more musical talent than either of us.

Kagami: Speaking of which—Luka, I hope you're finding what you're looking for there.

Luka: Yup, its a treasure for sure.

Adrien: Wait what's he looking for? LUKA ARE YOU ON A SECRET MISSION?

Adrien: Are you a spy now? That would be SO COOL

Adrien: 🕵️‍♂️🗽🇺🇸

Luka: Just exploring. Trying new things. You know how it is.

Adrien: No I don't know how it is! I've never been able to.. leave and explore

Adrien: You're like this mysterious cool guy and I'm just here missing you aggressively

Kagami: Adrien's coping mechanisms have become increasingly dramatic in your absence.

Adrien: They have NOT

**Kagami**: Yesterday you sighed wistfully seventeen times during practice.

Adrien: ...you COUNTED?

Kagami: I count everything.

I smiled. that not the most creepy thing a girl has done so. These two idiots, for the most part I genuinely missed them. And it was great to have this chat where the both of them could be themselves.

Rain streaked down the panoramic windows of my New York apartment, the city lights below blurring into abstract patterns of light against the glass. The soft clicking of my phone punctuated the silence as I scrolled through images on my laptop.

I sat at my sleek black desk, the glow of my newly bought laptop illuminating the digital blueprints spread across the screen. The museum's east wing was mapped out in precise detail, but my eyes were fixed on the glowing highlight, the Eagle Miraculous display case, complete with the building's exact address burned into my memory.

Sass was coiled comfortably on the couches plush edge near my desk, those ancient eyes tracking my every movement with patient curiosity. He knew something was brewing.

I walked to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water before returning. Time to lay the groundwork.

"I found something interesting today, Sass," I said, settling back into my chair and reopening the blueprints.

His head lifted, scales catching the dim warm lighting. "Oh?"

"One of your lost brothers—the Eagle Miraculous." I turned the screen toward him, watching as his entire body language shifted to alert attention. "It's being held in a museum exhibition."

Sass uncoiled slightly, sliding closer to get a better look at the claw pendant. "The Eagle? I haven't sensed Liiri in so long... Where?"

I zoomed in on the display case location. "Metropolitan Museum, east wing. And here's the thing, Sass, I want to retrieve it. For the kwami's own freedom."

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "That's... a dangerous proposition, Luka."

"More dangerous than leaving it in the wrong hands?" I leaned forward, keeping my voice calm and reasonable. "Think about it. That kind of influence could crush individuality instead of inspiring it

Sass was quiet for a long moment, processing this. I could see the conflict in his expression.

"The Eagle', no Liiri's ideals are about freedom."

"The ideals must be protected."

Sass studied me for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "The Eagle's ideals must be protected."

"Exactly." I smiled, closing the laptop.

---

I approached the museum in standard black attire a dark long sleeve, A mask, beanie, tactical pants, steel-toed boots that would silence my footsteps. The black duffel bag slung over my shoulder contained everything I'd need for the job. A small crowd lingered outside during the evening gala in the west wing, perfect cover as security focused their attention on the prestigious event.

The service entrance was exactly where the blueprints said it would be. With security bunched around the main event, slipping inside was almost disappointingly easy.

The maintenance corridors were dimly lit and thankfully empty—until they weren't.

A guard rounded the corner, flashlight beam sweeping the hallway. I moved before he could react, my baton connecting with the side of his neck in a precise strike to the jaw that dropped him instantly. He'd wake up with a headache and no memory of the past few minutes.

I relieved him of his staff ID and continued deeper into the building, the stolen credentials getting me past two checkpoints without question.

Then I reached the laser grid hallway leading to the east wing's glassed artifacts section. The area was closed for the day, which explained the additional security measures and lack of light. Red beams crisscrossed the corridor like a deadly web.

I unzipped my duffel bag and pulled out my dark coat, slipping it on as I pressed myself against the wall. Time to even the odds.

"Sass, scales slither," I murmured.

The transformation washed over me, and suddenly the laser grid became as clear as daylight. Miraculous enhanced senses turned the deadly maze into a walk in the park. I moved through the active laser maze with fluid precision, my body bending and twisting around each beam with almost casual ease.

The reinforced display case came into view, and insidr, there it was. The Eagle Miraculous, gleaming like a captured star behind bulletproof glass.

---

I detransformed just before approaching the final security measures, and Sass immediately slipped free from the bracelet. He glided silently across the display room, scanning for any obvious traps and hidden guard placements that my earlier reconnaissance might have missed.

After a few tense moments, Sass gave me a subtle nod. The coast was clear.

I unzipped my bag and pulled out my glass cutter, a precision tool designed for exactly this kind of work. The display case's security was impressive, but not impossible. I began scoring the glass in a careful circle, just large enough for my hand to reach through.

Then Sass's head snapped up, his body going rigid. "Two heat signatures," he hissed. "Moving fast from the west corridor. Heading straight for us."

My hand froze on the glass cutter. "Guards?"

"No. This is something else."

---

Heavy footsteps echoed from above, not the measured pace of a security patrol, but steady steps that spoke of someone who knew exactly where they were going. The sound was coming from the ceiling, which meant...

Glass shattered somewhere overhead, and a dark figure dropped through the skylight behind me. I didn't turn around immediately, my frame still focused on the display case, but every instinct screamed danger.

"Step away from the display."

The voice cut through the darkness with deep authority, processed through some kind of voice modulator that made it sound more machine than human.

I turned to find Knightowl who stepped into the light, her armor gleaming, cape trailing behind her like liquid shadow. Her stance was rigid, military precise, and completely ready for combat.

I wondered what alarm I'd tripped on my way here to get this level of luck. Had there been a silent alarm this whole time? Some sensor I'd missed ?

"Look, I'm just here for a quick score," I said, trying to sound like any common thief would. "Can't A man just feed his family."

She wasn't buying it. Her grip shifted on her weapon, a baton crackling with energy at the tip and she took a step forward.

"You went to a lot of trouble for 'just a quick score,'" she said, advancing with predatory focus.

Time for plan B.

I transformed mid-sentence, the change happening almost wordlessly through my mouth. One moment I was just another black-clad burglar, the next I was Viperion in full miraculous regalia, still covered by my beanie and cloak.

Knightowl's eyes widened behind her mask—she'd been expecting a common thief, not a enhanced one. That moment of surprise was all I needed.

She struck first, her energy charged baton sweeping in a wide arc aimed at my head. Heavy, precise strikes designed to incapacitate quickly and efficiently. But I was already moving, using my enhanced agility to slip around her swing and force her to overcommit to the attack.

Close-quarters combat in a museum display room—not ideal for either of us, but I had the advantage of superhuman reflexes. Every time she committed to a strike, I was already somewhere else, staying just one step ahead of her considerable skill.

She tried to corner me, driving me toward the center of the room where she originally landed, I could see automated defense systems placed onto the floor. Of course America had weapons like this. In a world with miraculous holders, what did I expect?

But I knew of these systems too. Instead of retreating where she wanted me to go, I used her momentum against her, guiding her charge so that she stumbled into the activation zone herself.

Energy fields crackled to life around her feet, forcing her to leap back or risk getting stunned by her own security measures.

"Clever," she admitted, already repositioning for another attack.

Our weapons met in a series of quick exchanges, her baton against my own I refused to use my lyre even if it was stronger, it simply was to much of a dead giveaway. the impacts began echoing through the halls like gunshots. She was good, better than most opponents I'd faced, but I had something she didn't.

Time.

With the diversion of our fight drawing her focus, I snapped back into focus on my real objective. The glass cutter had done its work, one more quick score and I'd have my opening.

Guiding her back over to the left hand side I managed to get an opening, thrusting my baton towards her neck like a fencing master. Unfortunately she caught my duffel bag handle snapping it into two in retaliation but it made her retreat with smoke bombs to disguise her exit.

Unfortunatrly I could she just fine, the final thin layer of glass gave way as I cut out a perfect circular shape.

My fingers closed around the Eagle Miraculous, the talon shaped jewel warm against my palm. For just an instant, I could swear I felt something stir, a kwami awakening from long slumber.

I tucked it securely in my jacket and immediately moved toward the maintenance hatch I'd scouted earlier. The narrow opening led to the building's old service tunnels, a route that would get me out without having to retrace my steps through the laser grid.

"Stop!" Knightowl shouted after me, her deep, masked voice carrying through the smoke and debris from our weapon exchanges. But by the time she'd cleared the distance to the hatch, I was already gone, the sealed entrance giving no hint of where I'd disappeared to.

---

I stepped out into the rainy New York rooftops avoiding the police now surrounding the building, unhurried now that I was clear. I'd changed back into my new street clothes. designer jeans, vintage band t-shirt, and Harsh black jacket that cost more than most people's rent.

The Eagle Miraculous rested safely in my pocket, its presence a warm weight against my ribs. Sass coiled back around my wrist, resuming his bracelet form with practiced ease.

Mission accomplished.

Now came the interesting part—meeting Liiri and convincing her that I was worthy of wielding her power. Or more Kagami was. But as I jumped down and walked through the rain-soaked streets, I felt confident about the chances.

After all, I'd just liberated her from a cage with there money. What better proof of dedication to freedom could there be?

———

Author Note—

idk about using emojis tell me if it okay or not. I've only done it once before.