A sweet yet light scent of rose floating in the air could be smelled as Frankenstein poured his Master's tea into a black porcelain cup. He added 8 spoonfuls of sugar, then placed the cup on the table for the Noblesse. Frankenstein stood beside his Master and watched as he gently lifted the tea cup and took a small sip in a calm and elegant manner. Neither of them said a word. The Noblesse was never a talkative person and he could tell that there was something not right about Frankenstein at present. After a while, when he had drunk half of the tea, Frankenstein decided to speak up.
"Master, how was the meeting with the Lord?" There was a short pause before he received the answer.
"It was troubling."
Frankenstein nodded in understanding. He didn't ask any further, instead he let his Master finish his tea.
A clicking sound reverberated as the Noblesse put down the now empty teacup. Frankenstein picked up the teapot at once in order to fill his Master's cup, but the Noblesse beckoned for him to stop with a raised hand. Placing the pot down, Frankenstein stepped backward to his place. His gaze dropped onto the cup with an uneasy look before darting back to his Master. The Noblesse was leaning against the couch with his eyes closed. He looked exhausted. He was exhausted.
"It is a full moon tonight, so it's a convenient time for you to enter the shrine…" Frankenstein stated with an almost hopeful voice.
There was no reply as crimson eyes slowly opened, however the Noblesse refused to look at Frankenstein.
"It would not be prudent to delay it any longer, Master."
There was still no response from him.
"Master." Frankenstein felt like he had told his Master thousands of times. "You need to rest in your shrine."
Finally knowing that he couldn't avoid the subject, the Noblesse said without turning to his Bonded, "Frankenstein, we have already discussed this."
"Master…"
The Noblesse said nothing in response to his human's plea.
"Your body can't hold out any longer. If you keep using your power like this, soon you will collapse… or even worse."
"There is no need for you to worry, Frankenstein. I'm fine."
An obvious lie and they both knew it. The same request had often been replied to with the same answer, but tonight, Frankenstein wouldn't accept the word no.
"You don't have to do this, Master. The last battle with the Union took most of your life source and you are suffering from it."
His Master tried to never show any sign of weakness when everyone else was around, but now, the Noblesse's exhaustion was so obvious that nobody could deny it.
"The Nobles are strong enough to handle the Union by themselves. There's no need for you to participate in this war. They don't need your protection, Master."
Once again Frankenstein waited in silence for his Master to respond.
In the silence, they could still communicate, since they were able to understand what the other was thinking and feeling. Even in this silence. And sometimes, Frankenstein hated the fact that he could already predict what his Master would say. He had hoped that he could convince the Noblesse to enter the 'sleep' willingly, because after all, this would be best for him and for Frankenstein.
"Frankenstein, I'm not protecting the Nobles…" He took a deep breath and continued speaking. "Nor am I protecting you, nor the modified humans."
Warm crimson eyes met confused sapphire as their gazes locked and suddenly, the loyal servant of the Noblesse found those rubies shining with happiness.
"I'm fighting side by side with them, with you, together, against the Union."
"Master, but you-"
"You know even if I enter my shrine, I won't recover."
Their eyes remained in contact. The fact that the Noblesse for once admitted that he wasn't fine hurt Frankenstein as badly as when his Master lied about his weakened state. He tried his best to maintain a low voice as he talked to his Master, because it would be wrong to shout in front of him. Frankenstein just needed to convince his Master and everything would be all right.
"That's why you should not delay this, Master. If you 'sleep' right now, the chances for you healing will be much higher. You still have time. Please stop pushing yourself and take a rest."
The longer their eyes remained locked, the more Frankenstein found himself close to remorse.
When the Noblesse rose from his seat to stand in front of Frankenstein, Frankenstein knew that he had failed.
"I'm sorry, Frankenstein." His Master whispered to him. "I'm causing you nothing but trouble, but please understand my weakness for wanting to spend the time I have left with the people whom I hold dear."
Frankenstein really had failed. He looked at his Master. Guilt was eating him by the second. He had failed in making the person he cared about most enter his shrine by his own will. His heart ached as he looked into those crimson eyes, full of trust. The Noblesse trusting him only made Frankenstein hate himself more, as if his own guilt wasn't enough to sicken him. Had his Master willingly 'slept', he would have never had to see this pure being whom he loved being hurt.
Why couldn't things ever turn out the right way?
However, if he had agreed to go into his long sleep, then it wouldn't be like the Noblesse at all. He wouldn't be Cadis Etrama di Raizel.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Frankenstein shut his eyes. He wished that he didn't have to do what he was planning to do, but fully understanding what kind of a person his Master was left him with no choice.
"I knew you would say that." His eyelids flew open, allowing his Master to clearly see all of his adoration for him. He wanted his Master to know that no matter what happened next, no matter what Frankenstein was about to do, he did it for him.
"I'm sorry, Frankenstein," said the Noblesse.
"No, Master. I'm sorry."
A weak smile crossed the Noblesse face when he heard Frankenstein apologize. He patted Frankenstein on the shoulder. "You have never done anything wrong… at least not to me, so don't be." He tilted his head a little to the side in a teasing way, copying the human children's behavior.
The sight of his Master trying to cheer him up only hurt him further, like a cut from a sharp knife into his dark heart. No. Being cut by a knife doesn't hurt nearly as much as this.
"No, I haven't. Master."
The Noblesse was becoming more confused as Frankenstein's expression was becoming darker.
Frankenstein wanted to kneel down at his Master's feet and confess, but he couldn't. His emotions were a mess: his guilt, his horror, and this terrible decision were killing him.
The Noblesse's eyes were filled with worry. He believed that Frankenstein didn't deserve whatever he was struggling with in his mind. He was worried about him.
His Master trusted him, but it was too late turn back. He couldn't let his Master die, even if he had to betray himself, even… He was betraying this pure being, wasn't he?
"Forgive me, Master."
Betrayal or not, that wasn't important anymore. Not now.
"What do you m…"
A slight look of confusion appeared on the Noblesse's face before he suddenly collapsed and fell into Frankenstein's arms. It was the only thing preventing his warm body from meeting the cold floor. Crimson eyes widened in shock as Frankenstein pulled his Master tightly against him.
"Master, you're too weak like this and I can not allow it."
A wave of a familiar power poured inside the Noblesse as Frankenstein released his aura.
"Do not be scared, Master. I swear to you that I would never do anything to harm you."
He pushed away the pain, trying his best to focus on summoning that dark power instead of the sadness reflected in the eyes of the one he held most dear. It hurt so very much, to see Frankenstein's own aura emanating from his Master as the Dark Spear answered the call of its owner.
Crystal tears falling from his eyes were gently wiped away.
"Please, do not cry. I am so sorry, but I need to do this."
The crimson aura glowed as the Noblesse forced himself to fight against the Dark Spear hopelessly. Frankenstein felt a light push at him. He looked down and brought that trembling hand of his Master close to his heart. He embraced his Master tightly with one arm, ignoring the push, ignoring the horrible feelings rising in his gut at what he was about to do.
Master was pushing him away. He wished he could stop, but Frankenstein had already gone too far. If he stopped… Oh God, if I fail…No, no, no Frankenstein! Focus! Focus! This is for Master!
The part of the Dark Spear inside the Noblesse was growing, taking control over him on Frankenstein's orders. Though the Noblesse was struggling, he was beginning to get weaker and weaker. His crimson aura was being locked away as it was replaced by dead violet. The stark contrast in colour between the dark purple and his Master's snow white skin made Frankenstein realize how pale Raizel truly was. His skin was sickly white. His sad, tired eyes were filled with tears as he looked up at Frankenstein. Nevertheless, Frankenstein whispered sweetly to console his contracted who had finally becoming unconscious. His trust had never faded, and even now, Frankenstein could see it as clearly as his own reflection in a mirror. His Master, even in this state, still cared for him.
"I'm sorry."
Frankenstein's eyes shot open.
His whole body was breaking out into a cold sweat; his breathing harsh. Shocked blue eyes stared at the ceiling. He didn't recognize the room at first; it took him a moment to finally force himself up to get a full view. He was in a bedroom. Blinking a few times, the blonde man shook his head to clear his thoughts, but soon regretted doing so when a dull pounding headache started forming. Ever so slowly he looked up and eventually recognized the room as his bedroom in the house he had purchased in New Zealand.
Exhaling in relief, Frankenstein leaned back against the headboard. His gaze wandered around the room as he tried to compose himself and lock down the pain, the pain that was a sign that his Master was still alive and with him.
He hated it. Now as he was calm again, the dream flooded back into his mind with every single detail. Frankenstein could almost feel the warmth on his fingertips from the hot wet tears he had wiped away. He could hear his Master's voice so close to him as though it weren't just a dream. Well… it wasn't. It was a memory. Those emotions, his guilt, everything was so real, like it had just happened. Frankenstein thought he had forgotten that, even. For the past seven years, he hadn't thought about it. He had managed to not think about it. He really had, until M-21 showed up that day and ruined everything.
A heavy sigh escaped from him as he closed his eyes and locked the pain away. He had a day to start, work to do. Sitting here all alone and tormenting himself would not take him anywhere. Who knew how long he had been sitting like this, a minute? Ten? He wasn't sure, but obviously that did not help. Not to mention if he was going to sit here any longer, the Noblesse would definitely be late for school. With that idea in mind, the blonde hurried to drag himself out of bed.
After having dressed, Frankenstein went down the hallway to where the Noblesse's room was. His Master had chosen it himself, the one with the biggest view to the city. Right on the first day that they had arrived at their new home. Frankenstein did not really enjoy the idea. He preferred for his Master to stay in the room across from his. But he still let him make his own choices because there were only the two of them in his big house (Frankenstein wanted his Master to have enough space for outdoor activities). If things went wrong, he would know; he would handle it. Their rooms were on the same floor anyway. Also the blonde man had to admit that he might be slightly overprotective of his little Noblesse. Deciding every single thing for him might guarantee his Master's safety, but would only make him feel uncomfortable, like he was being trapped and controlled, and that was the last thing Frankenstein wanted.
Gently opening the door, he let himself enter into another classic-style chamber. As was his habit, Frankenstein looked around to check whether there were any unusual signs or not before crossing to the king- sized bed that was settled in the middle of the room. Slowly he pulled back the cream colored blanket as he whispered sweetly to his Master.
"Cadis, wake up my little sun shi…" only to find the bed empty. The noblesse was gone.
Frankenstein threw the blanket from the bed. His heartbeat quickened as if it would fall from his chest. There was no sign of his Master. Where was he? Where was the Noblesse?
The blonde started to panic. That memory/dream flashed though his mind and stopped at the image of tears falling from crimson eyes.
"CLANG!"
The loud sound caught his attention.
"What the…?"
The blonde became a blur of speed as his ears picked up more sounds of metal objects hitting the floor. He jumped down the stairs as he called out "Cadis, is that you?"
Frankenstein followed the noise that led him to the kitchen, where the sight that almost gave him a heart attack.
The seven year old boy was standing on a chair, his back to Frankenstein as he was trying to reach to a… bloody hell, his Master was trying to get a knife, not just any knife but that knife, the meat cleaver… the big knife. Why the hell did he even have a knife like that in his house?
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT THING, CADIS ETRAMA DI RAIZEL!"
At the sudden warning from Frankenstein, the seven-year-old startled. He turned around, unaware that he would show the blonde a sight that would make him even more horrified and get himself in even more
trouble. Another clang was heard as he dropped the small knife (only small when compared to the big one) that he had been holding all along.
"Daddy?"
He stood still on the chair, too scared to get down, his face pale. He winced in his place as his dad approached him. He was picked and held tight as if his dad wanted to make sure he wouldn't try get down.
"What was that all about? What were you thinking that- Oh, now you just look at this mess! What on earth were you doing?"
Knives and saucepans were scattered on the ground. On the kitchen counter there were bowls and chopsticks all put aside, noodle crumbs all over the place and a saucepot that had water which was still being boiled.
Frankenstein walked Cadis into their living room and placed him down on the couch before beginning to examine his condition at the same time as starting his lecture.
"I always tell you to stay out of the kitchen, Cadis! You know it's not safe in there with all those utensils!"
Big hands turned his face to left then right, there was a little bit of something on his cheek that his Dad wiped away.
"Did you even think before doing this? Gosh, what exactly were you thinking?"
"Daddy, you are overreacting…" He mumbled, not expecting Frankenstein to reply.
He didn't look his Dad in the eyes as he checked his small hands.
"Overreacting…! You were the one with those knives, Cadis, and I haven't even talked about the boiling pot! You are lucky that you didn't spill hot water on yourself! Had I not come, you would probably have been-"
"You startled me…"
"You will not interrupt me when I'm talking, Cadis Etrama Di Raizel!"
And so the boy quieted himself. He was still scared because he had never seen Daddy angry like this before.
Despite the noticeable repentance that the Noblesse expressed, Frankenstein kept scolding him on and on, not aware that his voice was building in volume.
"I am serious! You think the kitchen is your playground?"
"No, Daddy, but-"
"You could have fallen from that chair before you even had a chance to put one finger on that pot! What if you'd slipped? What if you'd been burned and I couldn't get to you in time? Why do you think I keep repeating to you to stay away?"
"I-"
"What is this, Cadis?" Frankenstein questioned as he saw bruises and scratches on the Noblesse's knee.
His gaze stopped at his knee for a second before going back to his Master, who was clumsily trying to cover the bruise. Sapphire eyes turned darker.
"You DID fall!"
"Daddy, you are yelling at me…"
"I AM Not-…"
It wasn't until his Master jolted at the last sentence, that Frankenstein realized what he had been doing.
"Not…" He trailed off, not knowing what to say more as he noticed that his Master was now trembling.
His head lowered, shoulders tensed up, both hands squeezing the expensive fabric of his dark blue shorts.
"I just- …"
Frankenstein desperately hoped he hadn't just done what he thought he had done. My God, have I just…? Oh dear, God.
The dream he had earlier, not finding Master in his room, then finding out that he had been in the kitchen, trying to use a knife, and now this.
"Oh, no…"
Only one morning, but too many things had happened, now he had scared his Master.
"No, no, no, Cadis…! Cadis, look at me, look at Daddy. Come on."
Just fantastic. Frankenstein thought as he pulled his Master into a hug, gently stroked his back, letting him hide his face in his daddy's chest. Of all the things he could possibly screw up, he had to frighten the most precious being in the world to him. What was worse was that he had actually scolded and… Frankenstein really didn't want to think about it, but it was true… he had yelled at his Master. He had actually yelled at his Master. As he now faced the truth, he wished he could bury himself into the ground.
"Cadis, will you look at me? Let Daddy see your pretty eyes."
The Noblesse made no move to show that he would look up, his grip tightened on Frankenstein's shirt, and he still stubbornly kept his face buried in his father's chest.
For a moment Frankenstein began to panic when he thought his Master was crying. But as he didn't hear any sobs or hiccups, his nerves settled down a bit.
Just when Frankenstein thought things could not get any worse, he was proven wrong when he smelled something burning.
Turning the stove off, Frankenstein dropped the saucepot into the sink and turned the faucet on. Hot stream flew up as cold water fell on the burning metal surface. The scientist then kneeled down and gathered all the knives, saucepans, bowls and chopsticks that had been left aside. After dealing with those kitchen utensils, Frankenstein turned back to check the damages. He concluded that except for the saucepot, which he would need to replace as its whole inside was completely black, the kitchen was fine, though he would definitely have to give it a more thorough clean later.
Yes, things definitely could have been worse.
The morning was terrible itself… or rather, he'd just started his whole day in a terrible way.
"Daddy."
A light tug on his sleeve took Frankenstein out of his thoughts. He looked down. His Master stood next to him, big crimson eyes timidly looking up under those long eyelashes, while ivory teeth worried his pink bottom lip.
"Are you still mad?"
No sooner had he asked than Frankenstein spoke up.
"No, Cadis, I'm not mad."
He bent down and brought the Noblesse up to his eyes level. Then he let his Master rest his head on one shoulder as his large hand patted his Master's back.
"I was just… I was worried, Cadis. I didn't intend to scare you or yell at you. It's just that… you scared me, Sunshine."
His voice got smaller and smaller, becoming nothing more than a whisper as his mind went back to the memory.
The Noblesse heard what he'd said. However, he only understood that Frankenstein was unhappy about about his earlier action.
"I didn't mean to, Daddy. I'm Sorry."
The apology was cut off by Frankenstein's hold around the Noblesse, tightening to providing more warmth and comfort, till Frankenstein pulled away slightly so he could look into his Master's crimson eyes.
"Let's… don't do that again, all right?"
"All right."
"That's my boy."
His lips curled up into a small smile, which became wider when his Master smiled back to him.
"What were you trying to make? Ramen or what?"
"I knew how to make Ramen."
"Cadis, why didn't you just ask me instead?"
"I want to make breakfast for both of us and you were asleep and you definitely would have gotten up and I don't want you… You've been tired for days."
Horrible guilt gnawed at Frankenstein at his Master's words.
His poor Master. Because he was worried about him, Frankenstein, he'd tried to prepare a meal for him. Master had almost hurt himself while doing that, and what had he gotten back? Instead of receiving a 'thank you', he had been scolded, yelled at, and frightened by his Bonded, by the one he'd been worrying about.
How could he ever make it up to his Master?
A low growl from the Noblesse's stomach drew both of their attention. He looked down and saw light pink appearing on his Master's cheeks.
"Daddy, Let me prepare breakfast. Please? Ramen?"
Another growl was heard when the Noblesse mentioned his favorite food.
"After what you've done to the kitchen? I don't think so, Sunshine."
"Then… Can I make Ramen with you?"
Frankenstein found this to be quite a good idea. That way, his Master could still cook what he liked without creating a mess in his kitchen or hurting himself.
"Very well."
"Can we start now?"
"No."
The Noblesse looked unhappy at daddy's short response. He frowned and mouthed the word 'why'.
"Because you did not listen to me, so you need to be punished."
"Daddy, It's not fair-"
"But, since you had good intentions…"
Frankenstein bent down and kissed his Master on his silky raven hair, then his cheek, then his small ear, which earned the cutest giggle from his Master.
"We're going to have cheesecake."
"Can I help?"
"You may."
He put his Master down on a chair, prepared the necessary ingredients and smiled at his excitement. Frankenstein started to make a perfect cake while planning how to make up to his little Master.
Cadis Etrama Di Raizel rested his chin on two hands, crimson eyes never leaving his daddy's movements as his mind wandered to the delicious soft cake with golden cream. In the next few minutes, he forgot all about the man's anger. 15 minutes later, he couldn't remember what Daddy had told him as he watched the mixture rising in the oven. Something involving kitchen, he guessed. And when Daddy took out the tray, the incident soon flew away when he was allowed to help mixing the cream.
When the cake was finally done, Frankenstein cut it into smaller pieces. He placed two of them into dishes while the remainder was kept in the refrigerator.
"Daddy," Cadis called after they had settled down in the living room once more.
"Hm?"
"You do realize that school started 30 minutes ago, right?"
"Daddy?"
