Archive of Our Own ^beta

Death arrived in Paris early in the morning.

Paris is a city located on what the locals call Earth, but the wizards of Unseen University call Roundworld… neither name was very imaginative in Death’s opinion.

Death occasionally filled in for his Roundworld counterpart when they needed a holiday.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE WERE LAST HERE?

SQUEAK, replied his companion, who, like his larger friend, was a skeleton, but rather than a human skeleton, this one was the skeleton of a rat standing upright and had a tiny cloak and scythe; this was the Death of Rats.

OH, YES, NOT THAT LONG AGO, ABOUT A DECADE.

SQUEAK.

INDEED, WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

At first, things went simple enough; people died, and Death would be there to greet them before they moved on. But then something unusual happened.

IS THAT A TROLL? I DIDN’T THINK THIS WORLD HAD ANY.

SQUEAK.

TRUE, THEY HAVE MYTHS AND LEGENDS BUT TROLLS AREN’T EXACTLY SUBTLE SO IF THERE WERE ANY HERE I THINK WE WOULD KNOW.

The maybe-a-troll was fighting against vehicles with long tubes attached to them. Tanks, Death believed they were called.

Later that day, people were turned into statues identical to the maybe-a-troll.

THIS MAGIC SEEMS… FAMILIAR.

SQUEAK.

YES, I KNOW THIS DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SOMETHING ONE WOULD FORGET. AND YET…

Death shrugged his shoulders and got back to work.

The next day, the maybe-a-troll returned, and the statues came to life.

THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FAMILIAR ABOUT THIS.

SQUEAK?

I DON’T KNOW BUT IT’S ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE. METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING OF COURSE.

Just then, a swarm of ladybugs swarmed around the city, undoing the damage done by the battle.

OH NO, NOT THE MIRACULOUS AGAIN, Death said in mild annoyance.

He was beginning to have suspicions about the timing of his counterpart's holiday.

It didn’t take him long for Death to get an opportunity to talk to the current holders of the Ladybug and the Black Cat.

Ladybug and Chat Nour were running along a rooftop when they spotted him.

“A Grim Reaper Akuma?” Ladybug asked.

“Hawk Moth must be feeling gothic today,” Chat Noir said.

They jumped down to confront the ‘Akuma’.

“You’re not taking our Miraculous!” Ladybug declared.

OKAY, I DON’T WANT THEM.

They blinked, “Pardon?”

I DON’T WANT YOUR MIRACULOUS.

“...is this some reverse psychology thing?” Chat asked.

NO.

“What kind of Akuma are you?”

OH, WELL, THERE’S YOU’RE MISTAKE. I’M NOT AN AKUMA.

“And we’re just supposed to take you at your word?” Ladybug asked.

I SUPPOSE NOT, BUT TIKKI AND PLAGG CAN CONFIRM I’M NOT SOMEONE CORRUPTED BY THE BUTTERFLY MIRACULOUS.

The duo exchanged looks.

“This could be a trap,” Ladybug pointed out.

THEN DON’T ASK THEM, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME.

Before they could respond, an explosion could be heard a few streets over.

“Ladybug! Chat Noir! Surrender your Miraculous!”

The heroes slowly looked at the figure they now knew was not an Akuma.

“You’re… You’re really… Death?” Ladybug asked.

ONE OF THEM.

“What does–”

SQUEAK.

They were stunned by the sight of the Death of Rats walking up to his friend.

INDEED, THEY ARE RATHER YOUNG.

SQUEAK.

“Who is that?” Ladybug asked.

THIS IS THE DEATH OF RATS. HE WAS ONCE THE PART OF ME THAT TAKES CARE OF RATS AND OTHER RODENTS BEFORE HE BECAME A SEPARATE ENTITY… IT’S A LONG STORY.

“Other rodents? Like hamsters?!” Ladybug asked.

YES, HE HAS MANAGED QUITE A FEW HAMSTERS IN HIS TIME.

Strange, Death mused, they seemed more horrified by that than meeting him.

“We should go take care of that Akuma,” Chat said.

“Umm, yes, absolutely,” Ladybug said, and they ran off.

That night, the Kwamis went out to find him.

“So,” Plagg began, “Our usual guy left you to deal with us again?”

INDEED, I AM QUITE PUT OUT ABOUT IT.

It was always a headache when a significant number of people refused to stay dead.

“Well, it’s good to see you again,” Tikki said politely.

AND IT’S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. SO HOW DID NOOROO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THIS HAWK MOTH? I WOULD EXPECT THE ORDER TO BE HERE TO RECLAIM HIM.

“Oh, they’re gone,” Plagg said, “They left our Guardian, who was a child at the time, alone with our box to ‘teach him discipline’, and he created a Sentimonster that he lost control of and destroyed them and lost Nooroo and Duusu’s Miraculous in the process.”

THAT SEEMS EXTRODINARLY CARELESS..

Plagg snorted, “You’re telling me.”

SQUEAK.

They turned to the Death of Rats.

“Oh, and how are you?” Tikki asked.

SQUEAK.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

SQUEAK, Death of Rats replied before glaring at Plagg.

SQUEAK.

“What do you mean, don’t even think about it?!”

SQUEAK.

“You know very well I only eat cheese. Besides, you would hardly make a good meal, being literal bones and all.”

SQUEAK!

“You’re the one who brought it up!”

And so over the next few months, Death met many people who temporarily died as a result of Akuma attacks.

Adrien’s bodyguard’s ghost grunted in confusion.

YOU WERE BRAINWASHED BY THE AKUMA.

“Hum?”

CHAT NOIR SENT YOU DOWN AN ELEVATOR SHAFT. I MUST ADMIT, I DIDN’T THINK HE HAD IT IN HIM.

The bodyguard looked downcast.

DON’T WORRY, YOU PROBABLY WON’T BE HERE LONG.

The Mime sliced through the Eiffel Tower.

Some ghosts emerged from the tower before they were returned to life moments later by the Miraculous Ladybug.

SOMETIMES I WONDER WHY I BOTHER SHOWING UP.

Paris became flooded.

OH DEAR.

Half the city became ghosts.

When Feast was defeated, Death felt the Order being restored.

THAT IS GOING TO ANNOY MY COUNTERPART WHEN HE GETS BACK.

Death did not seem bothered by this.

“Mister Skull Man?” Ghost Rose asked, “Is that you?”

If Death had lips, he would be smiling, ROSE LAVILLANT, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

“Everyone told me you were an imaginary friend I made up to deal with being sick.”

YOU HUMANS ALWAYS FIND WAYS TO EXPLAIN AWAY THINGS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. EVEN WHEN IT ISN’T TRUE. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

“You remember my friend Juleka? We’re dating now!”

HOW WONDERFUL.

Marinette came across Death with some curry in his lap.

GOOD DAY, LADYBUG.

“Wha?! How?! I…” Marinette spluttered.

THE PROTECTION THAT CONCEALS YOUR IDENTITY IS DESIGNED FOR HUMAN MINDS. I AM NOT HUMAN.

Marinette looked round and realised that no one was acknowledging Death’s existence.

“Why can’t anyone see you?”

THEY CAN. THEY JUST SEE ME THROUGH A REALITY FILTER AS SOMEONE THEY VIEW AS NORMAL, UNLESS I INSIST ON BEING SEEN, BUT I USUALLY ONLY DO THAT WHEN THEY HAVE DIED OR ARE HAVING A NEAR-ME EXPERIENCE.

“Yet, I can see you as you are.”

THOSE WHO USE MAGIC CAN SEE THROUGH THE FILTER. CHILDREN CAN ALSO SEE ME AS THEY HAVEN’T DEVELOPED A FILTER YET, AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE CATS.

“Cats?”

YES, CATS ARE SPECIAL. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOND OF THEM.

Marinette smiled, “Yeah, me too.”

Adrien opened the door to his bathroom to see Death standing in the doorway.

“Aaahh! What are you doing here? Am I going to die?!”

YES.

“...am I going to die now?”

I DON’T KNOW, IT COULD BE TOMORROW OR IT COULD BE MANY YEARS FROM NOW. I HOPE IT IS THE LATTER.

Adrien sighed, “I return to my original question, why are you here?”

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING A… SENSE, IF YOU WILL, OF SOMETHING IN THIS CITY. SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TRACED TO YOUR HOME.

Plagg came out of Adrien’s pocket, suddenly interested, “What is it?”

IT IS LIKE THERE IS SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE DEAD, YET THEY ARE NOT. NOT COMPLETLY.

Adrien frowned, “That is odd, no one has died here in years. Well, except my mother.”

YOU’RE MOTHER?

“Yeah, one day she was just gone.”

THAT IS GENERALLY HOW DYING WORKS.

“No, I mean… she just disappeared.”

SO YOU DIDN’T ACTUALLY WITNESS HER DEMISE?

“No, but my father said… my father…”

Death and Plagg stared at him.

WE NEED TO SEARCH THIS HOUSE.

Hawk Moth didn’t know how Ladybug and her team had found him, but he wasn’t going down without a fight.

He had made it to his wife's pod, surrounded by his enemies.

Then he noticed one he had not met before.

“Who are you? What kind of Miraculous do you use? You are modelled after the Grim Reaper, The Rat Miraculous, perhaps?”

SQUEAK!

MY FRIEND TAKES OFFENCE TO THAT.

Hawk Moth stared at the little rat reaper that had been hiding behind the larger one.

He shook himself, “I don’t really care who you are, I’ll steal the Miraculous to bring back my wife!”

THAT’S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? HOW… WHAT’S THAT WORD? CLICHE.

What?!”

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I’VE HEARD THIS OVER THE CENTURIES? IT GETS OLD VERY QUICK.

“How dare you! She’s my wife!”

EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER DIED HAS BEEN SOMEONE’S SPOUSE, PARENT OR CHILD. WHAT IS YOUR POINT?

Hawk Moth trembled in rage.

“You will pay for your impudence!”

He sent an Akuma into the figure's scythe.

The heroes gasped.

Hawk Moth frowned, “Why can’t I sense any emotions?”

The figure calmly grabbed at the scythe and pulled the Akuma out, which a stunned Ladybug purified.

I DON’T HAVE GLANDS.

“...what is that supposed to mean?!”

YOU NEED GLANDS TO HAVE EMOTIONS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, I HAVE NONE.

“Wait, we’ve seen you have emotions,” Ladybug said.

IT IS ONLY A PALE IMITATION OF WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE, WHICH TAKES ME A LOT OF CONCENTRATION. AND I CAN STOP ANYTIME I WANT.

Hawk Moth gaped as he realised who he was facing.

“You… you can’t be.”

I AM, AND I WISH TO HAVE A FEW WORDS WITH YOU.

Hawk Moth gulped as Death approached.

“Is he…” Rena Rouge asked.

DEAD? NO, I’M NOT A MURDERER.

The team weren’t sure how to respond to that, so they moved on to the next subject.

“What about… her?” Chat Noir asked, indicating Emilie.

IF HER TIME COMES, IT WILL BE MY DUTY TO TAKE HER.

“Is there nothing you can do?”

I CAN, BUT IT IS AGAINST THE RULES.

Chat Noir looked heartbroken. “So that’s it?”

YES. UNLESS YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME.

“I’m sorry, what?” Ladybug said.

A GAME. FOR EMILIE AGRESTE’S LIFE.

“Is that allow–” Pegasus begins to ask before Chat interrupts, “Yes!”

EXCELLENT, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? CHESS? CARDS? A BOARD GAME?

“Ultimate Mecha Strike III!” Ladybug and Chat Noir said in unison.

VERY WELL.

It was a flawless victory for the heroes.

So as agreed, Death walked over to Emilie’s pod, and an hourglass appeared in his hand.

It was frozen just as the last few grains were about to enter the bottom half.

Death turned it over, and Emilie’s life signs immediately improved.

Death turned to see the heroes holding their arms out.

ME?

“You helped save the day,” Ladybug said.

Death of Rats climbed onto Death’s arm and held out his paw, looking at Death expectantly.

OH, VERY WELL.

“Pound it!”/POUND IT!/SQUEAK!

Death and the Death of Rats watched as the figure approached them.

SO, I HEARD YOU ENCOUNTERED THE MIRACULOUS AGAIN.

YES, Death told his counterpart blandly.

I HOPE IT WASN’T TOO MUCH OF AN INCONVENIENCE.

IT WAS… EVENTFUL.

Death of Rats would have stuck his tongue out if he had one.

WE'D BEST BE ON OUR WAY.

Death and the Death of Rats left for their home while this world's Death reached out with his senses to see the state of things.

THE ORDER HAS BEEN RESTORED A HUNDRED YEARS AFTER THEIR DEATHS, he said in mild annoyance.