Summary: There was something in Master's hands. It was brightly coloured and Master smiled when M-21 approached to investigate it.

Quiet, patience, and family prompt for the Noblesse Let's Fix It event. I wrote the scenes out separately and then decided to post them all as one since they were all short anyway.

Worth

By Dark Ice Dragon

Hat

There was something in Master's hands. It was brightly coloured and Master smiled when M-21 approached to investigate it.

"Do you like this?" Master asked him, holding it out so M-21 could have a proper sniff. It smelled like fabric. It looked triangular with a furry ball on the smallest tip. It was too small for something Frankenstein or Master would wear - what was it?

"It is a hat."

A hat?

Master stretched it, revealing a hole near the bottom and-

M-21 froze as Master put it over his snout, the fabric resting over his ears and under his snout.

Was it something he wore? What was it for? Everything was muffled, M-21 feeling the fabric every time he tried to move his ears.

"M-21...?"

Was this a punishment? Had he done something wrong?

"Master, do you need - ah."

"What is wrong with him?"

Should he move? Master had put this on him, so there had to be a reason why.

Frankenstein crouched next to him, running his palm down M-21's back. "I don't think M-21 likes it, Master."

"Oh..."

There was something on his head. It wasn't as constrictive as the metal collar he used to wear, but he couldn't hear properly!

Frankenstein pulled the hat off him, and M-21 shook himself, moving his ears now that he could do that again properly. Much better.

"I thought it would look nice," Master said, scratching M-21 behind the ears.

"You might have to let him get used to it first."

"Hmmm."

He wouldn't get used to that, M-21 was sure of it.

[-]

"M-21...?"

There was something in Master's hands and M-21 paused, squinting at it. This one was a big cone with string attached on opposite ends.

"This is another hat," Master said. "It will not cover your ears."

That sounded better than the previous one. M-21 padded over, sniffing at it. This one smelled like cardboard.

This time, Master didn't reach over. "Do you want to wear it?"

The string looked breakable if it didn't feel nice, so M-21 nodded.

He flattened his ears anyway, trying to keep them out the way as Master pulled the string and put it over M-21's snout.

When Master was finished, he flicked his ears back and forth. He could feel the light circular pressure on his head and the string, but he could move his ears. He could hear.

"How is it?" Master said, watching him.

M-21 nodded.

And the hat fell off his head.

Oh...

Master smiled, patting him. "I am glad it did not bother you. Frankenstein might know a better hat that would suit you."

If anyone would know what hat would work, Frankenstein would.

[-]

There were hats on the living room table. M-21 squinted at them. They were identical cones with fluffy balls on the top, the only difference being they were different colours.

Three of them. Did Master want to put them all on him?

"No," Master said, setting his teacup down beside the hats. "Only one if you want to wear it."

M-21 looked back at the hats again. Then who were the others for? The children weren't here, and that wasn't enough for all of them anyway...

"They are for Frankenstein and myself."

M-21 blinked up at him. Master and Frankenstein were going to wear the hats as well?

"Yes." Master smiled at the hats. "The human puppies said these were very important to celebrate with."

Hm. And that was why Master kept putting hats on him?

Master nodded. "I wanted you to be comfortable while you wore one."

M-21 tilted his head. But why did he need one? It would have been fine if Master and Frankenstein wore the hats - he didn't need to be included.

Master looked at him. "You are part of this family, M-21. You do need to be included."

M-21 stilled, his eyes going wide. Family...? Pack? Master and Frankenstein saw him as part of their pack?

"Of course."

Tail wagging furiously, M-21 buried his head into Master's lap, trying to curl up as much as he could against his leg, pawing at the floor. He whined as Master ran his fingers over M-21's head, too many wants running through him. He wanted to run around with joy, play with Master, find Frankenstein, and just stay by Master's side.

He had a pack again!