Disclaimer: Noblesse isn't mine.

Awaken (Part 10: M-21)

Ikhan's head drifted down toward the table, and he propped it up with his chin resting in his palms. Even just sitting there looked exhausting, and Suyi wasn't any help. Her phone captivated her attention, and she was too busy with texting Yuna to notice just how bored he was. With Rai sick, Shinwoo late, and Regis missing, he didn't really have anyone to talk to, and even Tao hadn't shown himself yet. Ikhan glanced over at Suyi as if about to start a conversation but let the moment pass with a sigh. This must be killing him.

M-21 turned back to the kitchen and waited for the coffeemaker to brew the coffee. It never seemed to take this long when Seira made it. Was he doing something wrong?

"Do you remember how Frankenstein left him a note about making coffee?" Takeo leaned against the counter near the sink and spoke just above a whisper although the kids weren't close enough to overhear.

"Yeah. What was it? Eight teaspoonfuls of sugar?" M-21 pressed the largest button again, but nothing changed. Maybe it was broken? "Or was it tablespoons?"

Takeo laughed into his hand, muffling the sound so that the kids wouldn't hear it. "The three of us were so helpless. Couldn't even make one cup of coffee. I guess not much has changed."

M-21 tapped the side of the coffeepot, causing his fingernails to click against the glass, and he looked up with frustration. "I followed the directions."

"It might help if you plugged it in." Takeo opened a cabinet and pulled out two white mugs. He placed them next to the coffeemaker and moved on to find the cream and sugar. "It looks like Ikhan and Suyi don't know anything. I guess Shinwoo and Yuna didn't tell them yet."

His body stiffened involuntarily, and M-21 plugged in the cord to give himself a little time to recover. He did not want to have this conversation right now. "Those two are taking awhile to get here."

"I don't know how long Tao will be, either. We need to talk before he comes back."

"I'm a little busy right now."

"Don't give me that." Takeo's eyes narrowed into a glare, easily undermining the weak diversion, but he quickly banished the expression before the children looked over. Instead, concern filled his voice although he tried to hid it. "What happened to you?"

"It was…" M-21 struggled for the right words, but nothing came to mind. He held his hand over his heart absentmindedly. It felt unnaturally calm as if in direct contradiction to what had happened earlier. Did that mean that Rai was doing well? He dropped his hand before Takeo noticed the gesture. If the others started to worry about him, they would only tell the boss, and he didn't want to take Frankenstein's attention away from his master. "It was right after Frankenstein called… he just told me to come without explaining anything, and I guess I overreacted. I thought he may have…"

"I understand." Takeo exhaled slowly. "I would have done the same."

Finally, a small stream of coffee trickled into the coffeepot. M-21 filled both cups and turned off the coffeemaker. "I'll talk to Shinwoo and Yuna when they arrive."

"Need some help?" Takeo stirred creamer into the cup closer to him. "Communication's not exactly your strongpoint."

"I'll manage." M-21 stole both cups and carried them out of the kitchen.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"What? You thought I was making this for you?" M-21 smirked as he walked out to the balcony. "Make your own."

Seira stood alone with her hands on the railing, and she looked up at his approach.

"I made some coffee." M-21 balanced the cup on the rail next to her and cradled his own cup between his hands. The warmth of it sank into his fingertips, and he gently blew away the rising steam. "Ikhan and Suyi just arrived. Why don't you spend some time with them?"

She slipped her fingers around her cup and stared into it rather than answer.

"I bet the kids are worried since you left during the middle of class." M-21 folded his arms on the railing and dangled his cup over the edge. He had his own absence to explain to the children. Maybe he should have taken Takeo up on his offer, but at least Yuna and Shinwoo weren't here yet. He had a little more time before he had to worry about that.

Seira finally brought the cup to her lips and didn't cringe as she took a sip. It must taste okay, but even if it didn't, she would have never said anything. It was hard to tell. She lowered her drink and looked over at him. "I would have made this if you had asked."

"That's why I didn't ask. I thought you could use a break, too."

"I see."

"You've been spending a lot of time out here ever since… but I guess there isn't much to do with Regis helping Frankenstein."

Her gaze fell back down to her cup.

"Is there something wrong?"

Seira slid a few strands of hair behind her ear. "It's just that-"

"I don't know what's taking them so long." Suyi slammed her phone down on the table hard enough to make Ikhan jump. "Yuna said she'd be here soon. Honestly, it doesn't take that long to walk here from school even if she forgot her backpack."

"Is it that surprising if Shinwoo's with her?" Takeo called from the kitchen as he made another pot of coffee. "He's always late for everything. I could go buy some snacks while waiting."

"No," Suyi crossed her arms smugly, "Shinwoo's last. He can do it for taking so long."

"Tao's taking awhile, too." Takeo poured the coffee into a mug and reluctantly selected a game to play. Something that had weak penalties for when he lost. "I sent him a text when you guys first got here."

"He usually comes without a second thought as soon as the conversation ends." M-21 walked over to the doorway and glanced back at Seira. Whatever she had wanted to say wouldn't be finished right now. "I'll go find him."

"Ajussi?" Ikhan looked a little nervous. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "It's nothing. Never mind."

"I'll only be a minute." M-21 dodged into the hallway but immediately took the elevation to the lab instead of looking for Tao. Once Yuna and Shinwoo arrived, it would be difficult to hide what had happened to him. He needed an excuse to explain that it wasn't a heart attack, but it wasn't anything serious, either. He couldn't talk to Frankenstein about it, but there may be a medical book that he could use.

"I think Frankenstein's scared."

The words were soft and sincere and not spoken to him. M-21 lingered in the elevator rather than approach. He held his palm against the door to keep it from closing and interrupting the conversation.

"He's acting as professionally as he always does. I can't really explain it. There's just little things like the way he left me in charge or how he wants Seira to look after us while he's down here with you. I guess there's no real evidence, but I think he's the most scared of all of us. Maybe it's because he's the closest to you, or maybe he just knows the most about what's happening to you. Either way, I think he's really worried. He just doesn't show it. That's why you have to wake up soon. I don't know what he'll do if he loses you again. It'd be hard on all of us, but it'd be the worst for him."

M-21 removed his hand, allowing the doors to slide closed. It was time to reveal himself. The conversation was private. He shouldn't eavesdrop.

"Ah, what am I saying? I shouldn't be telling you depressing things like that. What's happy? The children came to see you. We couldn't let them down here, of course, but I thought you'd like to know. They're here now. Upstairs. Takeo's with them, probably losing at some game. I swear they cheat. I have no idea how they always win. I should probably be up there with them, but it doesn't really feel right without you there. Being down here's a little hard, too. I'm trying to think of the last time that I talked to you like this, but I can't. I guess we've never really talked that much. Strange how it takes this to make me think of that. Know what else? M-21's here, too. He's hiding over by the elevator. Probably doesn't want to interrupt, but he can't quite leave, either. He's like that sometimes."

M-21 gave up his position and walked into Tao's line of sight. "What are you doing?"

"Just talking to him." Tao sat on the floor with his back against the door just as Regis had done. "I heard that you're supposed to talk to people in comas. It helps."

"I didn't know that."

"Yeah, he probably can't hear me, but I just thought… if there was a chance…" Tao shook his head. "The kids still here?"

"Suyi and Ikhan."

"Ahh," his head tilted back, knocking against the door, "if Shinwoo's not here then maybe Takeo stands a chance. Might actually win for once."

"He'd have a better chance if you were up there with him."

"Alright, I'll go." Tao picked himself up from the ground and dusted off his clothes. "The boss really needs to get come chairs down here. There's nowhere to sit except at the computer."

"You could have pushed that chair over here."

"That is out of the question." Frankenstein's voice was firm as the elevator doors slid open.

They both looked over, and Tao laughed nervously. "Sorry, we-"

"I ask you to reconsider." Seira trailed after him as he stepped into the lab. "I am able-"

"It is not a matter of capability." Frankenstein slid open a drawer, grabbing a new lab coat from it, and he smoothed out the wrinkles with his hand. "And it's not that I haven't considered it…"

"I think it's time for me to go." Tao spoke under his breath even though they both knew Frankenstein was aware of their presence. "I'll see you upstairs."

M-21 nodded without taking his eyes from the boss. Was this what Seira had started to say earlier?

Frankenstein tugged the lab coat over his shoulders and pulled his hair out from under the collar. "But if my master knew that I had left the others unprotected for his sake-"

"He wouldn't like it." M-21 said from across the room and rested his hand against the door that separated him from Rai. Energy flowed behind it peacefully. Was that a good sign? "But if there's something more that you can do for him, don't hesitate to do it. We're all willing to take the risk."

Frankenstein shook his head. "Master wouldn't-"

"What if it's something light? You were holding back for Regis, right? You could do that for Seira, too." His hand fell to his side, and he turned to face them. "Where is Regis?"

"I gave him a sedative so that he could rest. He doesn't yet have the stamina for creating a shrine. He has to recover between every attempt."

"I am able to help." Seira offered quietly. "I want to."

"Alright," Frankenstein conceded, "as long as it's light work it should be fine. M-21, send the kids home. I don't want them to be here for this."

A/N: Paraphrased quote from Noblesse chapter 28. All credit goes to the creators. I used the English translation version from EGScans.