Chapter 6
As the building shuddered all around them, Hawkmoth could sense his akumas vanishing under the attack. The thick layer thinned under the onslaught.
"Gather in tightly," he ordered, but the children ignored him, continuing to wail and cry in fear.
Ugh, he was never good with people, least of all children. What would Emilie do if she were here? Or Adrien?
"Okay, everyone," he shouted, loud enough to rise over the screams but not enough to frighten them further, "we're going to hug each other. Everyone squish together as close as possible and squeeze as tight as you can."
Actions, Gabriel, not words, he thought. He reached over and lifted the limp form of the babysitter, clutching her close to his chest in a comical overly dramatic hug. Some of the kids stopped crying and giggled. He looped one arm around the shoulders of one of the calmer kids and tugged them in. Their shrieks of laughter silenced the rest of the sobbing as the kids all watched with wide-eyed fascination.
"Come on," he urged. "Get real close."
That did it, as the little ones shuffled and scooted inward. Hawkmoth clenched his fist, and the dome shrunk, tightening as the akumas restrengthened the shield. Several heart-stopping moments later, the last of the rumbles died down, and Hawkmoth could no longer feel any impacts upon his akumas.
With great caution, he ordered his akumas to open a tiny window – no bigger than his fist – to peek out. Rubble blocked his path. He shifted the hold all around, getting a complete view of the room. Chunks of rock and concrete were scattered across the room – or what was left of the room. Most of the walls had collapsed. The drywall blended with the other bits of the demolished building. Slowly, tentatively, he lowered the shield, thinning the akumas gradually until he felt it safe enough to drop it entirely. The room was demolished. Enormous piles of rubble lay strewn all around them. Several fragments had smashed into the plastic playground. The slide had broken into two pieces, the front edge of it crumpled flat. Most of the tables collapsed under the weight of the destruction, and the ones that remained would have offered little protection. Had it not been for his akuma dome, many of the children would be injured, or worse. Most of the glowing butterflies vanished, but he kept a few around to distract the children. From their soft giggles, it appeared to be working for the moment.
But it wouldn't last, and neither would the skeletal remains of the building. They needed to escape – and fast.
Time to return to his roots.
Icy blue eyes swept over the children, studying them in a brief instant before dismissing them just as fast. Frightened children were perfect for indiscriminate destruction designed to draw out Ladybug and Chat Noir, but he needed someone with a clearer mind for this more delicate task. If only their supervisor could awaken. But alas, he couldn't wait that long. Closing his eyes to help block out the children around him, he allowed his senses to explore beyond the walls. He could akumatize himself if needed, but he really didn't want to potentially expose his identity. That would remain a last possible resort. If only he could find just one person nearby...
There!
Helplessness, sorrow, guilt. A strong desire to help. To do something.
He summoned a butterfly to his palm, imbuing it with familiar power before sending it on its way. It flopped and fluttered, easily bypassing the bigger rocks before vanishing after its target.
A moment passed.
Connection!
"Architect, my name is Hawkmoth," he began, the monologue springing forth to his lips easily despite the urgency of the situation. "You desire to assist in any way you can. I can giv-"
"No."
Hawkmoth paused. "Architect, I am not going to harm you."
"No, I mean, I'll help, but I want to pick my identity."
He didn't have time to object or argue. He needed someone with a level head to accept his powers. "Fine," he agreed. "Choose whatever identity you desire, but there is a whole room full of children trapped upstairs. We need assistance immediately."
"You got it, Hawkmoth! I'll be right there."
He released the telepathic link temporarily to allow the akuma champion to work unimpeded. Turning his focus on the kids, he sent a few of the butterflies into spiraling dances just above their heads, creating a wondrous show to distract them. At least the throbbing in his head might start to fade now that the kids were calmer.
Before too long, however, he heard something approach. With a snap of the fingers, a new swarm of white akumas appeared, sending the children into a gleeful happiness. Hawkmoth, however, stood wary. If people were moving toward them, it's possible they might shift the rubble and dislodge more of it. His shield would be ready to protect anyone.
The rubble in front of him cleared at last, and a silver head poked through. Different from his silver mask, this one appeared stiffer. Metallic. Did he just create an akumatized version of the Tin Man?
"It looks like you're attempting to escape from a collapsing building. I can help with that!"
The children stared up at the new face. Some in confusion, some in trepidation, some in excitement.
"What's your name?" one little boy asked.
"I'm Clippy, and I'll be your personal assistant in helping you get to safety today!"
Oh dear. He wasn't entirely certain he could convince Parisians he was on their side anymore once the citizens got one look at the newest "heroic" akuma.
"Today we're going to be learning how to successfully navigate through rubble," Clippy continued.
Seriously? This hero could have been the Architect and now Hawkmoth was stuck with the most annoying paperclip in existence. He was never letting another hero design their own form ever again. He didn't care when they were villains – whatever got the job done, after all. But now he had a reputation to uphold!
"Remember to line up in single file!"
Ugh.
At least the akuma-hero managed to keep the kids calm and interested in his words. Clippy began to lead the children through a narrow path that... wait that wasn't there before. How did that happen?
He reluctantly picked up the rear, carrying the unconscious woman as Clippy cut through the rubble. Or rather, the debris seemed to magically vanish and reform around them. Smatterings of "walk briskly but don't run" and "no need to panic and push, we'll all get out of here together" filtered back to him. Clippy stopped in front of a broken elevator. He pointed to the button with a T-square ruler and the button disappeared, melting into the wall until only smooth metal remained. "Remember, children, do not use the elevator in the event of an emergency. Locate the nearest stairwell and descend safely. Do you need help finding the stairwell?"
"It's over here!" a little girl shouted, pointing to a dust-covered door.
"Nice job! You're certainly getting the hang of this!" Clippy praised as the group shifted over to the door. "You'll notice this door opens inward to the stairwell and not outward. Keep an eye out for obstacles on the stairs and hold onto the handrail at all times. Down we go!"
Once at the bottom of the stairs, Clippy raised his T-ruler high into the air. "Who can tell me what are some important considerations when designing a tunnel? If you need help answering, just let me know."
"Uhm, walls?" one kid suggested in a timid voice, peeking from around another child.
"That's correct!" Clippy praised. "Supporting beams are essential to any solid construction." He lowered his arm, and the T-ruler tapped against the collapsed pile in front of him. Immediately, the rubble shifted aside to form a small tunnel. Wooden beams criss-crossed above and to the sides, and if Hawkmoth didn't know any better, he would claim he was about to enter a mine shaft. As a precaution, he shifted his butterflies to provide additional support from above.
"Perfect!" Clippy crowed. "We can proceed safely now. Remember, always secure the scene before attempting to enter, otherwise you may get injured. What are some other things to be aware of when entering dangerous territory?"
They progressed like this. Clippy leading the way with irritating "helpful" tips and advice, the children following after, protected with an additional layer of butterflies, and Hawkmoth bringing up the rear, carrying their limp caregiver in his arms. Though Hawkmoth had to give his akuma some credit – his endless nattering and "safety quiz" questions sufficiently distracted the kids enough to keep them calm while they wandered through rubble that magically shifted to form a pathway whenever Clippy waved his T-ruler.
At last, a piece of rubble slid to the side, and a bit of sunlight poked through. The children closest to the front cheered. The giddiness quickly spread down the line. With another tap of his T-ruler, the rubble widened into an archway.
"Congratulations! You successfully navigated through the difficult task of escaping a collapsing building," Clippy praised.
The children ignored him, surging past and bursting into the sunlight. Hawkmoth could hear screams of joy. He trailed last, stepping out into the outdoor light only once every child had already scampered free to safety. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.
"There he is!"
The indignant cry reached his ears before his vision cleared, so when the black spots finally faded, the first thing he saw was Mayor Bourgeois storming over to him. Ladybug and Chat Noir trailed behind, both more concerned than angry, unlike André. Hawkmoth ignored the red-faced mayor, turning and diverting his path to one of the emergency service vehicles.
"She's been unconscious since the collapse," he informed one of the medics, depositing the girl with gentle care on an unoccupied gurney.
"We'll take care of her," the medic told him, immediately reaching for her bag. Another medic came up to assist. Hawkmoth turned to face Mayor Bourgeois, who was trailed by Roger Raincomprix. Clippy stood nearby, focused upon a tablet device he had magically summoned. Ladybug eyed the akumatized person warily, her hand hovering over her yo-yo. She made no further action, probably because the akuma had yet to act aggressively.
By now, André had reached Hawkmoth. The former villain stepped off to one side to allow the paramedics to work without him getting in the way. The mayor thrust a finger into Hawkmoth's face. "How dare you!" he hissed. His face began to turn purple with rage.
"Excuse me?" Hawkmoth channeled his frostiest glare at the mayor.
"We gave you a second chance, and not only do you release an akuma, but you destroyed the brand new convention center. People are hurt. People could have died."
Hawkmoth pursed his lips into a thin line, but before he could say anything in his defense, André whirled around to Ladybug.
"Use your magic to repair this," he ordered the heroine.
She frowned at the mayor, but withdrew her yo-yo and summoned her Lucky Charm anyway, her eyes flickering over to Hawkmoth. He returned it with a bland expression. Barely waiting for the object to touch her hands, she launched it skyward with a cry.
"Miraculous Ladybug!"
The swarm of magical ladybugs circled around the convention center. When they cleared, instead of a pristine building, the collapsed walls remained.
"What?" Mayor Bourgeois began. He stared at the building, his jaw slackening in disbelief.
Almost as if responding, the building groaned. They watched as it toppled inward even more. An enormous cloud of dust puffed out, billowing over the crowd.
"I-I don't understand," Mayor Bourgeois stammered.
"It appears like you're trying to understand why the Cure didn't work," Clippy chimed in from where he had been standing. "I can help with that!"
All eyes turned to him as he continued tapping on his tablet. He looked up with a smile.
"What is this akuma still doing here?" André snapped, jabbing a finger at Clippy while he turned to glare at Ladybug.
"Miraculous Cure repairs all damaged caused by a Miraculous," Clippy continued, unperturbed by the mayor's ire. "The only 'damage' I technically caused was creating tunnels for everyone to escape. Removing the supporting beams I installed weakened the structure further and led to the collapse you just witnessed."
It took a moment for that to sink in, but when it did, the mayor blinked. "So you're saying this wasn't because of Hawkmoth?"
"Very good!" Clippy praised, and coming from anyone else it would sound patronizing. "You're getting the hang of this now!"
Okay, maybe it still sounded a little condescending.
"Well, now that everyone is safe," Ladybug cut in, diplomatically heading off an argument, "maybe you could recall your akuma?" She directed the last bit toward Hawkmoth.
He nodded and snapped his fingers. The butterfly fluttered up and away, needing no cleansing. The metallic costume melted away, revealing a man that Hawkmoth recognized.
"You're that protester," he said, "from out front."
The man blinked as he got a hold of his senses. Because the akuma wasn't forced out, the man retained his memory. His eyes swept over the remains of the building, past Ladybug and Chat Noir, and settled upon him.
"Yes," he admitted. "I knew something like this would happen. That's why I was so desperate to speak to the mayor."
Chat Noir frowned. "You mean you weren't protesting the fact that Hawkmoth was here?"
"Hawkmoth is here?" His eyes widened. "Wait, you're actually...?" He slapped a hand to his forehead. "Right. The akumatization. Sorry, I'm still processing everything."
"Who are you?" Mayor Bourgeois turned his attention upon the man. "And what did you mean by you knew that this would happen?"
The man rubbed a hand through his sandy hair. "My name is Jef Ferdi. I'm the architect who designed this building."
"So your design was inadequate?" Roger chimed in.
The glare Mr. Ferdi leveled at the officer would have put any of Gabriel's glares to shame. Hawkmoth nodded in approval. "Absolutely not," Mr. Ferdi snapped, his eyes flashing in anger over the accusation. "I told them that the project was moving too fast. I warned them to slow down, that the concrete hadn't had enough time to properly cure. But no one listened to me, so eager to upstage one another that they didn't bother to check their egos at the door." He waved his hand at the destroyed building behind him. "You're lucky no one was killed!"
The Miraculous at his chest buzzed, but Hawkmoth ignored it.
"It's a shame," he drawled instead, "that it appears the blame will fall upon Mayor Bourgeois for this mishap." Might as well stir some drama.
Maybe a smidgen of revenge.
All eyes snapped to him, then to the mayor.
"Now just wait one minute," Mayor Bourgeois began, his face alternating between the colors of Gabriel's favorite suit. Hawkmoth wondered if he would pass out. "How dare you level the blame at me for this!"
He shot him an idle look in return – one of boredom. He hoped the gleam in his eyes didn't betray him. "Isn't it?" he said. "You're the one who greenlit the project to advance faster than what was safe. And all for what? To upstage a certain fashion designer? So Paris could see me begin to enact my punishment at your convention instead of another?"
"The inspectors will have to examine the building to determine the final cause," Ladybug cut in, shooting him a look. Hmm, seems she saw through his feigned nonchalance. "But I think we can all agree that Hawkmoth here performed admirably today."
"Heroic, even," Chat added with a wink.
"It's certain that children would have died had it not been for his quick and selfless actions," Ladybug tacked on.
Mayor Bourgeois still bristled in anger over the jabs against him, but he calmed a bit at the new statements. "Yes, I suppose the city of Paris thanks you for your service, for once," he added, not bothering to mask the disdain in his voice.
"You're welcome," Hawkmoth replied.
"So in light of that," Ladybug continued, "I think Hawkmoth's services for this weekend have ended. He's put in enough time, I feel."
"Ah, I suppose," Mayor Bourgeois said, the obvious reluctance in his voice clear to everyone.
"I can stay if you want," Hawkmoth said. "I don't mind using my akumas to shift around rubble and start to rebuild this bette—uh, well, back to normal."
Oh, he was enjoying these little jabs at the mayor. If they forced him to remain the rest of the weekend, he would certainly make sure to hover around André looking for any opportunity to upstage him.
Apparently the mayor sensed that as well.
"That's okay. You're free to go back to your home," Mayor Bourgeois said. "We'll be in touch about your future punishment services, of course."
"Of course," Hawkmoth answered, maintaining the lighthearted tone that appeared to irritate André the most.
Ladybug grabbed his arm and practically dragged him away from the group. "You're awfully good at riling people up," she hissed to him once they were a good distance away.
"Thank you," he said.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"It all depends on how you look at it."
"Whatever," she grumbled. "Now that we're out of risk of you antagonizing everyone further, I think I have an explanation for why we had headaches all weekend."
That caught his attention. "Oh? Do share."
"Well, Chat Noir has enhanced hearing and vision when transformed. I'm thinking since both of our transformations are insect-based, we were able to sense the subsonic sounds of the metal and concrete grinding and shifting against each other. It set our teeth on edge."
"Quite literally," Hawkmoth added, rubbing his chin as he mused over that information.
"It's the most likely explanation," Ladybug said.
"And I like it," he said. "I'm just glad that infernal headache is finally gone."
"But we'll still be seeing Mayor Bourgeois when he talks to us again in the future," Chat Noir interjected with an innocent smile.
Hawkmoth groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. "When did you get to be such a smart aleck?"
"I learned from my father."
"Well I, for one, am going to get back home and shower this dust off me," Hawkmoth said, ignoring the bait Chat Noir laid out for him.
"Fantastic idea," Ladybug agreed. "I'll be seeing you around! Bug out!"
As she threw her yo-yo to the skies, Hawkmoth turned to his son. "Does she say that every time she leaves?"
"Yep!"
He sighed at Chat's lovesick expression. "Come on," he said. "Let's go home. Maybe we can watch a movie together or something."
"Sure, I'd like that."
And they, too, bounded off into the skies.
The next morning, Gabriel was at the breakfast table, perusing the headlines on his tablet with his usual scowl.
"What is it, Father?" Adrien asked as he sat beside him.
In reply, Gabriel showed him the tablet.
Instead of the dramatic "Heroic Hawkmoth Rescues Children" headline that Gabriel was expecting to be front topic (it was buried a dozen articles down the page), the top story had Adrien bursting out into laughter.
Hawkmoth a Janitor in Civilian Life?
This past weekend, convention goers to the latest Ladybug and Chat Noir appreciation event were treated to an unusual sight – one of the janitorial staff cosplaying as the fearsome reformed villain Hawkmoth. It turns out that this was no mere cosplayer, but Hawkmoth himself! The ex-supervillain began working off his punishment service to Paris this weekend by getting down and dirty with the bathroom cleaning service.
But it turns out that cleaning may just be in Hawkmoth's blood. Our journalists received many reports of Hawkmoth's fantastic work upon the cleanliness of the restrooms. Multiple sources agreed that the bathrooms Hawkmoth had been assigned remained some of the cleanest of the entire convention hall. And what's more, the man actually seemed to be at ease while performing his duties. Word has spread like wildfire, and more and more eyewitness accounts of Hawkmoth are coming in: from whistling cheerful tunes, to excitedly talking about the different panels, to mock-battling cosplaying heroes. Is our once-feared villain secretly a janitor in his civilian life? It could certainly explain why some of the akuma designs were so trashy. Follow the discussion in the comments below!
Gabriel groaned and buried his head in his arms as Adrien read aloud the article several times, emphasizing key phrases over and over with delighted glee.
"At least this helps your cover," his son said once he had finally calmed down. "I mean, who would ever think the great Gabriel Agreste to be such a skilled janitor?"
The End
Author's Note: Once again, thank you so very much to PerditaAlottachocolate for beta-reading this!