Author's Note: I apologize for more angst lol, I swear there will be much more humorous bits but after reading chapter 262…my feels…my feels man.

~~~GW~~~

Excerpt 2: A Reason to Live

M-21 stepped silently through the sliding glass doors that led out onto the overhanging balcony and turned to close the door behind him. The chill wind caught at his silver hair and tossed it playfully past his face. Briefly his eyes flickered upwards to take in the hunched form of Takeo leaning dejectedly against the railing before he glanced over at Tao who flashed him a thin smile in return before turning his attention back to his upset comrade.

He could sense the tension between the two men heavy in the cold air with unspoken words and a turmoil of emotions. Worry and anxiety was emitting from Tao's hovering form as he stood close by the sniper, his brow knit in concern as he argued with the man. On the other hand a much sharper feeling came from Takeo. Rage, disgust, defeat-it all radiated from him in hot angry waves of spite and distrust. M-21 leaned silently against the door frame and watched the two, understanding their feelings exactly because he had been there before with M-24 and he knew exactly what they were going through. He himself had felt that same feeling of despair that Takeo was feeling and that same gnawing worry that was surely pestering Tao.

The Hacker's hand snaked out, resting briefly on Takeo's shoulder in an attempt to draw his attention but the purple haired man immediately tensed and shrugged off his hand. Tao's concerned expression was more than enough to send a sudden lance of emotion through M-21 and he blinked in surprise. And suddenly he was incredibly envious of the two of them. Of the somewhat hesitant brotherly relationship they had with one another. It was faint and new but all the same it was still there. The understanding between the two, the confidence that at least they had someone they were familiar with to turn to, the way they could talk with one another if only they just tried. He'd once had that before-all of that…with M-24.

And now he was gone. Dead. And with his death went all of his goals, all of his worries and dreams that he had shared with M-21. That stayed behind like a lingering ghost in the silver haired man's mind, a constant reminder of that lost determination. Of that lost life, and now Takeo had the audacity to stand before him and complain that he no longer had a reason to live? How pathetic! This man had no idea…what it was like to begin with no meaning in life. What it was like to start out with nothing and to claw his way until he had finally found a reason to live. He didn't know what it was like to have those new found dreams easily cast aside by the Union, to hang over the precipice of death ready and willing to just vanish from this world before suddenly being wrenched back and having yet another meaning of life forcibly thrust upon him.

M-21's eyes flickered over to Tao and the rather stricken expression on his face. He could see again that resigned look in the hacker's eyes as he'd hesitated before stepping closer to Krantz. That sickeningly tragic smile that had spread across his lips. This is the fate of modified humans like me. Takeo if anything was the luckiest out of all of them. He'd had a reason for living from the beginning even if fake. He'd still had one.

How ironic.

"…Funny." The words slipped past his lips without meaning to but once they had he didn't regret them. The two experiments glanced up at him, Takeo's brow drawn in confusion as the three of them regarded one another. "That's funny." He continued regardless, his temper boiling underneath his seemingly lax expression.

"M-21?" And suddenly the words were lashing out, his eyes snapping open with a glint of determination that days ago would not have been there. Takeo responded in anger but hell that was better than nothing! That was better than sitting there like a lost doll-a broken toy thrown away by those Union bastards because it was no longer fun to play with! You're free! He felt like shouting. Do you not see it? Can't you? You're alive!

"Don't have a reason to live?" He spat angrily, sickened by the spoiled statement. "Do you know what kind of words you're spouting in front of me?!" He shouted, his body shaking from the sheer indignation of the man before him. An image of M-24's lopsided grin flashed into his mind and he cast his eyes away, his lips parting ever so slightly. "Don't ever…say anything like that in front of me again." He murmured softly, the tinge of regret so sharp in his voice that it tasted sour. "At least you…have a partner that you've been with all this time." He called over his shoulder, his hands jammed deep into his pockets to prevent their trembling. At that Takeo glanced over at Tao, surprise laced across his features as M-21 turned his back on them and returned inside.

Silence fell heavily between the two of them as Takeo stood there, slowly processing the angry words of M-21. Beside him Tao wrapped his thin arms around himself, the chill wind brushing past his thinly clothed form as he waited for Takeo to come to whatever decision he may be looking for.

"I remember…it's a blur but I remember you coming for me…" Takeo suddenly spoke up quietly and Tao blinked before looking up at him.

"Yeah."

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you escape-you came back for me." Takeo demanded and Tao shrugged, his lips twisting into an ironic grin.

"You were different from the others. Truthfully? It doesn't really bother me that they're dead." He replied honestly and Takeo stared in surprise. "On missions you formed relationships with people so easily, I was always kind of envious of that ability. Krantz had me stuck at the base all the time with Shark-" An expression of disgust suddenly twisted his normally smooth features before he shrugged it off but Takeo bristled.

"That ability caused countless innocents to die!" He snapped roughly and Tao shrugged before suddenly brightening. He snapped his fingers and grinned deviously at Takeo causing the sniper to pause as a long finger was suddenly jabbed at his chest.

"Well there you go!" The hacker beamed cheerfully. "There's your reason for living then! You have to amend for that don't you? You can't just give up and die!" Tao informed him blatantly and Takeo's eyes widened in astonishment. "Hehe pretty sharp huh?"

"But how am I supposed to…?"

"Just do the opposite of what you did before!" Tao interjected, smiling madly as if he'd just cracked the most challenging computer code out there. "Instead of getting people killed…maybe we can help them out?" He proposed thoughtfully. Silently Takeo pressed a hand to his chin, mulling the idea over deeply before he abruptly shoved past Tao and stalked towards the door. "Ah Takeo-damnit…" Tao grumbled, quickly trotting after him as they burst inside. The sniper made a beeline over to where M-21 was sitting and drew up short, towering menacingly over him in a nervous ball of energy and confusion. The room drew silent, waiting on bated breath as a crackling tension filled the air. M-21 looked up at him, his grey eyes level and defiant as the two modified humans eyed one another.

"I'm…sorry for the pathetic display." Takeo eventually exhaled and a pleased smile flickered across M-21's mouth before he laughed. And just like that the tension was gone and Takeo was humbly asking for help from Frankenstein. M-21 grinned ruefully to himself and glanced up, catching Tao's eyes from where the ebony haired man stood and suddenly he flashed M-21 a grateful smile, relief shining on his face. A jolt of unknown emotion passed through the werewolf and he returned the smile hesitantly, confusion filling him. An ache converged in his chest and as he watched the two make their way to the lab below he wondered if maybe one day he would ever be a part of something like that…

~~~GW~~~

Author's Note: Annnnd back to writing English essays! Fuuuu~ So not counting Frankenstein and of course Rai and the other characters, out of the three of them (M-21, Takeo and Tao) who is your favorite? I'm curious let me know! So far the consensus seems to be M-21. Lol. Also reviews would be appreciated, let me know if you liked it, if they're not in-character and etc.