Disclaimer: Noblesse isn't mine.

Awaken (Part 14: M-21)

"You didn't talk to them, did you?" Takeo's voice teetered somewhere between accusation and disappointment, and it was evident from his expression that he wouldn't back down this time.

"Sure, I talked to the kids last night." M-21 shrugged, causally brushing off the question. "I tried to, but it wasn't going well. So I'll try again later."

"Try again later?" Takeo crossed his arms, unimpressed by the answer. "Do you think you have that much time? I've been lying to Tao for you. It won't take him long to figure that out."

"I never asked you to do that."

"I know you didn't." Takeo paced the width of the hallway and back twice before dropping his hands to his sides with a sigh. "Maybe I shouldn't have hidden it. I should have told the boss at least."

"You can't tell him." M-21 said, immediately regretting the sharpness in his tone. He glanced down the hallway, but no one was around to have overheard. "Don't worry about it. I'll talk to them again soon."

"How could I not worry about it?" The words were whispered softly. He shook his head as his defenses slipped, and the last of his resolve gave way. "It's not easy for me to be the only one who knows. Something happened to you. I can't tell if it was serious, and I know you don't want me to ask any questions. The children saw it. Now Yuna's not in school, and Shinwoo's acting like this?" Takeo gestured toward the principal's office but quickly shoved his hands in his pockets. He walked across the hallway and back one more time before settling next to M-21. "Sorry, I guess I'm a little stressed."

"Yeah." M-21 leaned back into the wall so that his shoulders supported a large portion of his weight, and he let his hair fall away from his face as he looked up at the ceiling. "You don't have to worry about me. I just overreacted to Frankenstein's call. Like you said, we're all a little stressed."

"I understand." Takeo stood with his hand behind his back, palms pressed against the wall, and he crossed his legs at the ankle so that he balanced on one foot. His head shifted downward, pulling his hair over his shoulder. "I really do understand. I would have done the same thing you are doing. I would have hidden it. But don't think for a second that just because I'm keeping quiet about it that I believe it." Takeo pushed off the wall and knocked against the office door. "I have seen you overreact, M-21. It doesn't look like a heart attack."

"You're back?" Tao poked his head out the door and glanced in between them before his eyes landed on M-21. "What's wrong with him?"

"Wouldn't know." Takeo moved to the side to see around him and peeked into the room. Shinwoo was facing away from them, but his head was turned slightly towards the door. "Just finished the rounds. Any changes here?"

"Not really. I tried to call his dad, but he's still on a business trip. There aren't any other emergency contacts on file."

"That's not a problem for you."

"No, but even if I found the information, I couldn't hand off a student to a stranger without written consent from a guardian. I can't reach the boss, either. He's not answering his phone."

"He's not?" M-21 looked up, finally leaving his place next to the wall to join them at the door. "Did something happen?"

"I haven't heard anything." Tao stepped out into the hallway and called over his shoulder as he headed toward the security room. "I'll try again."

"I'll go with you," Takeo offered, already falling in step behind him.

"What about Shinwoo?" M-21 stared into the office as he spoke. The boy flinched at the sound of his name and forced himself to face forward again.

"Why don't you watch him?" Takeo said unsympathetically and gave a heartless smirk as he followed after Tao. "I'm sure you'll find something to talk about."

He slowly turned around, shutting the door behind him, and let his gaze wander rather than face Shinwoo. Sunlight beamed through the open window, illuminating the vacant desk. Without Frankenstein, the office felt uncomfortable. M-21 pulled himself into the attention stance just as if the boss had been present, but it did nothing to ease the atmosphere. Then again, it was just as unnerving when he was here. M-21 finally turned his focus to the sitting area. "Umm… Hey."

Shinwoo sat rigidly with his hands clasped tightly enough to cut off the circulation to his fingers. He moved them briefly to slide his palms along the fabric of his pants and returned them again to their death grip. "Hey."

"So…"

Shinwoo anxiously glanced up and looked back down at his hands.

Right. A military stance would seem intimidating. M-21 circled around the sitting area and awkwardly sat on the couch across from him. "Tao's trying to call your dad…"

"He's not home."

"I know." A long silence passed, and M-21 cleared his throat. "So, you were trying to skip class… Is there a reason for that?"

His fingers uncoiled from each other and gripped the couch on either side of his legs. The cushions bunched beneath his hands, and when Shinwoo finally looked up, his eyes were hard and full of suspicion. "Where's Yuna?"

The question was too serious, too intense, and it set him on guard. "She's sick."

"What did you do to her?" Shinwoo stood and carefully rolled his weight onto the balls of his feet as if preparing to attack. "If you hurt her…"

"What are you trying to say?" The words hissed through his teeth. M-21 found himself rising to his feet, his temper spiking, and he balled his fists to keep it in check.

Shinwoo's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Just stay away from my friends."

M-21 clenched his teeth and shoved the door open. It slammed shut behind him hard enough to draw a few teachers from their classrooms, but he had already turned the corner before they had the chance to see him. He pressed the button to activate his headset, and impatiently waited for the low buzz to indicate that the others were listening. "One of you two go watch Shinwoo. I'm leaving."

"Did something happen?" Tao's voice rang through the earpiece, and the humorless sound to it felt unnatural.

"Nothing. I just need to talk to the boss." M-21 switched off the headset before Tao could reply and ripped it from his ear. Footsteps pounded behind him, echoing though the hallway, but he didn't slow his pace. He pushed through the last set of doors into the outside air.

"Hey, wait!" Takeo called after him, finally catching up, and grabbed him by the shoulder. "What happened?"

"Nothing." M-21 knocked the hand away. "I don't know what happened. I almost lost it with one of the kids."

"With the kids? What-" Takeo put his hand to the earpiece, and they both fell silent. He nodded as he listened and then looked up at M-21. "Shinwoo just escaped."

"I'll go find him." M-21 looped the wire to the headset behind his ear once again. "This is my fault. I left him alone."

"No… Just let him go. I shouldn't have forced you to talk to him." Takeo took a hesitant breath. "M-21... are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay." Takeo whispered softly, and he turned to reenter the building. His fingertips brushed the doorknob but didn't try to open it. "M-21... Don't… I trust you. Don't forget you're part of a team, okay?" He swung open the door and dashed inside, leaving M-21 alone.