Chapter Text
“You're sure that this is a Miraculous like yours?” The small box was unassuming, and the jewel inside more so, a simple amethyst oval set in a silver backing with soft ribbons forming a bow around it giving the illusion of butterfly wings.
“As I can be sir, Duusu was adamant but with her condition she isn’t very…coherant. Hopefully with this one being undamaged we can get answers.”
“Hopefully.”
The jewel was carefully lifted from the velvet and attached to the lapel of his suit. At once the colour changed to a muted gold, the ribbons vanishing forming into elegant filigree suggesting the form of a flower and the amethyst changing to a more rounded topaz.
With a burst of light a little ball burst free of the broach flitting around the two before stopping in front of the older solidifying into a small pixie like creature with butterfly wings.
“Greetings I am Nooroo, Kwami of the Butterfly Miraculous of Transmission.”
The stick hummed holding out a hand for Nooroo to land on aware the other stick at his side was leaning in dazzled by the small being. “I have questions Nooroo, I expect honest answers.”
The Kwami bowed his head. “I will answer to best of my abilities Master.”
“What is your power, we are already aware of the basic abilities of the Miraculous I mean those of the butterfly.”
“The power of the Butterfly is Transmission, both giving and receiving. While transformed you are attuned to the transmission of the emotions of others around you and can use that to pinpoint one who while powerless in the moment, has the bravery and courage in the moment to wish to stand up and fight for what’s right. Once you have done that you can use my power forming a butterfly of magic and energy to empower that person with great superpowers!” Nooroo seemed proud of his explanation the two sticks sharing a look.
“How powerful can these abilities be Nooroo?”
The Kwami looked a little concerned at the question. “W-well very powerful with the right person and mind, arguably as strong as a Miraculous holder.”
“Strong enough to bring someone back from death?” The younger stick asked wincing at the look the older gave him, Nooroo winced and shook his head.
“No, the power to reach beyond the veil of life and death is not one I can grant.”
“Is there one that can?” Nooroo froze for a second, the elder stick’s eyes narrowing “Nooroo, I order you to answer me.”
The Kwami winced “Technically...yes, while there is no one specific Miraculous able to do so. If….One where to combine the Powers of Creation and Destruction the abilitys of the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous. Then you could make a wish that rewrites reality…..” The younger sticks eyes widened grabbing onto the others arm.
“Rewrite everything so…It wouldn’t just be bringing them back, but be like they never died?!” Nooroo nodded the elder stick tilting his head eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“How exactly does the wish work Nooroo?” The Kwami gave a helpless shrug.
“I truly don’t know. While we Kwami know the basics of the abilities of the others how exactly those powers work isn’t ours to know.”
“And where are the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculouses then?”
Nooroo went silent closing his eyes for a moment before opening them “I, I can’t pinpoint a location. But I can sense that several of the other Miraculous are near by, perhaps within a mile or two?”
“Within the city then….” The elder stick narrowed his eyes in thought. “Hmm…”
“Sir? What are you thinking?”
“If the other Miraculous are close by then they must be under the care of someone in the know about their power. And from what Duusu has told us-” Nooroo startled hearing the other Kwami’s name “The Miraculous where meant to be used to fight evil. So, how does one draw out the protector of jewels made to combat evil?" The elder stick paused staring at a picture on the wall of himself with a younger stick beside him, though not the one currently at his side. "....You provide them villains to fight.”
“Master, the Miraculous where not meant to be used for evil!” Nooroo squeaked in alarm.
“Only temporarily, only till we get the Ladybug and Black Cat and put right what went wrong. Then, We’ll hand you over to the guardian, or make it part of the wish that you where always with them.”
“And Duusu?” The younger stick looked alarmed hand going up to a broach they where wearing.
“Only if Duusu wants, their rather attached from what I’ve seen.” He glanced at a clock on the desk of his office “You should get going, you don’t want to be late.”
The younger squeaked seeing the time rushing to the door before pausing “...S-Sir, you won’t start without me will you?”
“I promise, this is as much your wish as it is mine.”
The knocking on the door made him groan and turn burying his head into the pillow tempted to pull the covers over head.
“Sec, come on your going to be late.”
He groaned what could have been an answer, but was honestly closer to gibberish.
“Second Coming if you don’t march yourself out of that bed not only are ya’ll not gonna get any breakfast but you are gonna be late for your first day of school Mister!” Hearing that made Sec jolt up into awareness his curls even messier then usual.
“School? SCHOOL?! THAT WAS TODAY!?” He yelped scrambling out of bed rushing around to get dressed.
“Whhhhhy do you think Me an’ Alan we’re tryin’ to get you to go bed early last night?” Sec groaned pulling his shirt on and deeming his self at least somewhat presentable, opened the door smiling sheepishly at the stickwoman tapping her foot, somehow looking both unimpressed and amused by his antics.
“Beeeeecause your the best Auntie Mitsi who cares for my wellbeing?” He grinned Mitsi snorting with laughter ruffling his curls.
“Ya’ll look like your wearing a rats nest on your head. Sort it out, pancakes on the table.”
“Love you!” He chirped almost launching his self through the door opposite into the bathroom. He winced seeing she wasn’t wrong, having forgotten to wear his scarf to bed last night it did look like an absolute mess. But having no time to really fix it sprayed it liberally with mist hurriedly brushing and putting it up in a scrunchy, resolving to actually take care of it later. He hurriedly brushed his teeth spitting and sprinting into the kitchen sliding into his seat next to his dad the older purple stick not even looking up from his paper as he lifted his coffee cup to keep Second from spilling it.
“Cutting it close Sec.” Alan warned watching as the orange stick started tearing into the pancakes sat waiting for him “And for Clouds sake closed mouth when chewing.”
“Ou can ven see!” Second grunted at him Alan rolling his eyes as Second gulped down his breakfast and grinned at the other stick sitting across the table. “Mornin’ Uncle!”
“Good morning Second, think this is the earliest I’ve seen you up since you where a baby.” Victim chuckled shaking his head “How the time flys, first day of highschool.”
“Of public school!” Second chirped “It’s gonna be so cool getting to meet everyone, and the fact Green’s in the class means we get to hang out without worrying about his parents pulling him away for another video or livestream.”
“Now don’t you just mess around with your friend all day.” Mitsi lightly chided him. “You know the deal.”
Second groaned “I know, I know. You guys are only letting me long as I keep up the 3.7.”
“We just wanna be sure your set up well for life.” Mitsi smiled leaning over and petting his curles Sec leaning into it with a smile “We’re not always gonna be here to take care of you-” She glared at Alan who coughed as he was drinking his coffee. “So we want you to have the best education and life experiences we can give you.”
“You know you are cutting it close.” Victim noted glancing at the time “If your not ready yet, I’m sure the school would understand if….we put it off a day, or two, or maybe next week…”
Second stared at his uncle before glaring standing up and slamming his hands on the table.
“YOU PROMISED!”
The grey stick startled by the younger literally jumped out of his seat.
“Sec-!”
“YOU, PROMISED YOU WEREN’T GONNA TRY AND TALK ME OUT OF IT! YOU PROMISED I GET AND MAINTAIN A GOOD GPA THAT I COULD GO! This is LITERALLY all me and Green have been able to talk about all summer! It’s all I want! I love you guys and I love getting to hang with Green but I want to know more people! I want friends my own age! I wanna try and be a normal kid not the nephew of a CEO!”
Victim quickly looked to the other two sticks in the room hoping for backup. Alan still hadn’t looked up from his paper and Mitsi was just giving him a disappointed look….while slipping Alan a twenty.
“What the-YOU TWO BET ON THIS?!”
“She and Agent bet on it, I’m just the bookie.” Alan said flatly as he flipped a page “Agent won by the way.”
“We did promise that Sec could do this Vic.” Mitsi sighed turning to the younger “Second, take a deep breath ok?”
Sec huffed folding his arms
“your Uncles only doin’ this because he loves you. Your fifteen now and I know you feel like an adult who can take on the world, but to us. It feels like a blink of an eye since you where a little babe we could swaddle up and protect from the world. Out there is a dangerous place where, we’re not always gonna be there to help you. Now I think Vic’s being an idiot about it.” Victim sighed at his wife “But it really is comin’ from a place of love and just wanting what’s best for you.”
Sec sighed letting his shoulders slump “...Yeah I get it….Sorry for yelling Uncle Vic.”
“Appolagy accepted, and I’m sorry to.”
“Let’s hope the teachers as willing to accept apologies since at this rate you are definately late Sec.” Alan noted looking from his paper at the clock on the wall.
“Uhoh.” Sec got up grabbing his bag and quickly hugging Alan, then Victim finally giving Mitsi a squeeze grabbing a travel mug off her. “Love you guys!” He called over his shoulder racing over to the elevator.
“You might as well wait it’ll take a minute-SECOND NO!” Victim screamed chasing after his nephew as Second ignored the elevator and vaulted over the railing dropping down the well-hole leaving the grey stick clutching the railings staring at the vanishing form of his nephew. “SECOND FOR THE LOVE OF CURSORS STOP DOING THAT!”
“Honey we all know he’s never gonna stop. Now come and eat your pancakes before they get too cold.” Mitsi hummed feeling very smug as Alan grumbled slipping her a ten.
0o0o0o0o
“What’s that noise?” The new intern wondered poking their head out into the well-hole of the staircase running up the Rocket Corp building “Sounds kind of like-”
The grey stick yelped as her shoulder was roughly grabbed and she was pulled back landing on her ass as a large orange blur dropped down where her head was only a moment ago if it wasn’t for Hazard.
“SORRY!”
Ballista, the gremlin he was, climbed up onto the railing peering over and pressed a hand to his throat letting an electric cackle sound out. “FIVE POINTS FOR ALMOST HITTING THE NEWBIE SEC!”
“What the….” The Intern looked up as Primal patted the top of her head trying to be soothing and not knock off the large bow the intern had affixed to her helmet.
“The Bosses nephew, practically the company mascot. You get used to him.” Primal said dryly
“....Do….you….?” The intern asked looking up at the two, Primal sighed and shook her head Hazard doing the same while having his left hand raised two fingers extended and touching his thumb signalling ‘No’.
0o0o0o0o
“Oooof!”
Second grunted as he was caught around the middle by another stick leaning over the railings.
“You really need to give me a heads up when your doing this Sec.” Agent grunted helping the teen swing his self over the railings of the first floor.
Second just laughed squirming out of Agents hold and offering the travel mug. “Auntie only gives me stuff for you when she knows your already waiting to catch me.” He couldn’t see behind the others sunglasses but he could tell he was rolling his eyes as he took the mug of coffee from him.
“Touche." Agent took a sip sighing. "So first day of school, how you feeling?” He asked walking with Second down the last flight of stairs to the entrance.
Sec shrugged fidgiting with the heartshaped locket he wore as an earring. “Nervious as all hell honestly. But I say that in front of Uncle he’d never let me out the building.”
Agent snorted into his coffee chuckling “I love that man, but does not understand the concept of 'overboard' when it comes to you.”
“No, no he doesn’t.” Second sighed “I love him but I, I just really want to try and be independent and live like a normal kid like Green.”
“Kiddo." Agent said flatly "I need you to listen to me. Green is not normal.”
“More normal then me.” Second grunted folding his arms and looking away peptulantly.
“Agree to disagree.” Agent shook his head pausing at a closet and pulling out a green and orange jacket Second immediately grabbing and putting it on “Just, try and be you ok. I know it’s daunting especially since you're jumping straight into sophomore year. But Just relax, you already have a friend in your class and pretty much long as you don’t immediately like, punch someone in the face as you enter the classroom they should be open minded about you.”
Second snorted with laughter and hugged Agent who smiled looping an arm around his shoulders “Love you uncle Agent.”
“Love you to, now get going your cutting it way to close.” Second blinked glanced at the digital clock built into the foyer wall and yelped running out of the door narrowly avoiding crashing into an employee coming in as he sprinted for school.
“Mornin’!” Red called out as he sauntered through the door for homeroom, a few sticks looked over waving before going back to finishing homework or their own conversations. Red paused at Blue and Yellows table and had to bite his cheek.
“You can laugh.” Blue sighed her hair streaked with glitter and parts of it sticking up from hairspray “Cyan and Turquoise really wanted to help me get ready for school this morning.” Yellow hummed holding a few hair ties in their mouth brushing out the hairspray stuck parts with one hand and neatly braiding Blue’s hair with the other.
“...I mean the glitters nice?” Red tried before snorting with laughter “I’m sorry, where did they even get it I know you don’t keep that stuff in the house.”
Yellow grunted taking the ties out of their mouth to tie off the braid “My fault, the buildings had a rash of porch pirates so some of the other residents asked me to make something to deal with it.”
“...And your solution was glitter?” Red tilted his head.
“Glitter bombs that go off when they open the packages with a glue that sticks to them.” Yellow looked sheepish “At least they got into the failed batch that wasn’t sticky enough else Blue’s hair would probably be fused to her head.”
“Plus it means I got to guilt him into doing my braids for me~” Blue chuckled wincing a little when Yellow went back to brushing pulling at a knot.
“Sorry, and you don’t need to guilt me, it’s soothing like when I’m doing wire management.”
“....Did you just compare my hair to computer wires?”
“And I’m out.” Red snorted as the two best friends started to lightly bicker dropping his bag onto his table-
Only for it to be immediately shoved off Red jumping back and cursing.
“Green! What the fuck, your lucky I did’t have anything breakable in there!” Red scooped up his bag glaring at Green who was giving him an unimpressed look sneering at him.
“You don’t sit there.”
Red stared at Green just baffled “What the- Yes I do they told us at the end of last year we keep our homerooms and seats it’s just the teachers that change. Green stop being a dick.”
“No~ You. Don’t. Sit. There. Anymore.” Green smirked going back to his phone typing on it.
“Dude the teachers gonna be pissed and I’m not having them upset with me because your being an asshole and doing some weird ass powertrip thing.”
“Teachers approved the change actually~” Green grinned flashing teeth that looked far too white to be natural “Said it’s best to help with acclimitization~"
Red just felt more and more confused tilting his head “What?”
Green groaned finally putting down his phone “We, are getting a new student, and he just so happens to be my absolute best friend. He’s never been to public school before so the teachers approved him joining this class and sitting next to me to help him adjust.”
“Oh god there’s going to be two of you.” Red groaned pinching his brow Green scowling at him.
“Don’t you insult Sec!”
“You know what, fucking fine, you wanna sit next to your boyfriend whatever, go wild.” Red groaned walking back over to Yellow and Blue and sitting at the empty table behind them both of them looking at him confused.
“What was all that about?”
Before Red could answer the door to the classroom slammed open startling several sticks, Dusk Silver up at the back actually falling out of his seat as a strange orange stick stood in the doorway panting some of his curls having escaped his scrunchie and now sticking to his face.
“I-I’m not late am I-?” The stick yelped in alarm as the bell rang looking confused for a second before spotting Green waving at him.
“Apparently." Red narrowed his eyes as the stick took his seat next to Green smiling. "Him.”
Silently the figure pushed open the door taking care to make sure every movement was utterly silent. He didn’t need to worry too much, they wouldn’t be back for at least another hour and he’d be long gone. And they hadn’t ever installed cameras here too confident in the cameras bristling in every corner of the building below.
Their loss, his gain.
He paused staring at the photo’s on the wall just taking a moment to take in the happy family, the smiling faces. He raised a hand hesitating just before he would touch a picture of three sticks he’d only ever been able to watch and never interact with.
He sighed turning away trailing his fingers across the wall till his nails found what any normal person would just dismiss as a tiny gap between two wallpaper panels. He knew better.
He dug his nails in pulling till the panel came close revealing the small hidden recess and the safe inside. He smiled a little as he typed 1002 into the keypad and it opened for him “Sentimental idiot.” He muttered wincing at how hoarse and cracked his voice sounded from lack of use.
He carefully picked out two hexagonal boxes staring at them having to swallow down the nausea, longing and bond deep regret that came with holding them. He shook his head stuffing the two into his pocket and grabbed three sheets of paper off the mess on the desk writing out three messages.
The first, short and simple written in the language he knew only the three who he needed to read it could understand.
The second took more time, though only for having to remember how to write in english it being only a little longer then the first.
The third made him stare at the page pen feeling heavy in his hand. He took his time,slowly writing out each kanji wanting to try and get across the heavy feelings making his insides squirm, and apologize for the burden the other would have to carry.
Satisfied with what he’d written he tucked the two notes away and gave himself another minute to try and memorize the images on the wall, the moments he’d allowed himself glimpses of but could never show himself for.
“...Fluff.” He sighed, turning away back to the door “Clockwise. Burrow.”
He let himself relax in the Burrow finally feeling safe in his stronghold outside of time. Outside of danger. Looking to the time window he carefully manipulated it pausing at a moment where the two bags where unattended, pulling out the notes and boxes he stared down at them.
“...I hope you can forgive me one day.” He whispered carefully tucking them into each bag. Guilt, that’s what this was. He sighed sitting back to watch.
At least it was an emotion he was used to sitting heavy on his shoulders.