Title: Chapter V: Redemption

Writer: Madame aZure

Fandom: Noblesse;

Pairing: None

Genre: Family;

Rating: K;

Warnings: there are no warnings for this chapter. Read at your own risk.

Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse or any of the characters. No trademark infringement or profit is meant from the writing of this fanfiction.

The child looked at him with fearful eyes, lower lip trembling softly, his little arms pulled to the chest in a protective manner, shoulders drawn in, adopting a hunched posture that was meant to reduce damage should the other decide to hit him, backing away slowly.

Oh, god, what has he done? Frankenstein should've known better than to raise his voice at a child! The little one hasn't even done anything wrong – he simply attached to his leg like always, following him around. With this new 'pocket accessory' the scientist couldn't get any work done, which was rather frustrating. Before he could ask someone from the household to take care of M-21, he had raised his voice, his dark aura seeping out. He didn't even have the intention to scare him, merely to attention him, but the child reacted really badly to his louder than usual voice and threatening aura. Now there he was: standing in front of a terrified 5-year-old, who looked about to cry, but bravely tried to hold back his tears. Frankenstein felt guilt twist his heart at the little one's behavior, because all the trust he had worked to build these last days had vanished in a second of inattention.

"I'm sorry, I –" he kneeled before the child, reaching out to caress his hair, only to have him shy away as if he thought the scientist would attempt to hurt him. The little one scanned the room around him with fugitive glances, trying to find a way to escape, because angry adults were dangerous. Angry adults liked to hit him – and despite the trust he had put into Frankenstein, he wouldn't risk it. He had to run and hide until the other calmed down. If he stayed out of his sights until then, he would be safe, he wouldn't get hurt. He just prayed the other didn't like that liquid that made the other adults lose their temper and become even more violent – if he did, he did not stood a chance.

"Little one," the scientist called him in a gentle voice, making the child turn his head to him rapidly. "Please, forgive me. I never meant to raise my voice," he said calmly, but M-21 didn't believe him in the least, still holding a defensive position.

"If it makes you feel safer, I will leave and ask someone else to take care of you, is that alright?" he asked, knowing that it was better to put some distance between them and give the child the safe space he needed to calm down. It would account to nothing trying to convince him to trust him – trust was built in time and destroyed in a second.

The child looked at him, trying to figure out what Frankenstein wanted to do. He was the first adult to give him the option to be left alone. Usually, they'd snap at him and, in mere seconds, they would hit him – they did not waste words on explanations and choices.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked timidly, and in that moment Frankenstein felt his heart being torn apart by that faltering voice, the same way it was torn when his Master used his own life to protect those important to him.

"No. What happened was all my fault, you are not to blame," the scientist answered, shaking his head.

"You… you won't hit me?" the werewolf asked, still not making any attempt at running away. If the other wanted to hurt him, he would've already done it – it's not like M-21 could fight him anyway. Besides, this whole situation was weird: despite what happened, the blond still felt safe. These past few days, he took care of him, fed him, bought him clothes and did not hurt him in any way. Sure, he was a little silly, the way he fussed over Raizel, who was a grown up and could obviously take care of himself, but he was a good person… The blond scared him when he shouted at him, but he immediately said he was sorry about what he had done – bad people never said they were sorry. The werewolf was still unsure, but there was something he could do to test him.

"Never, I give you my word," the scientist put a hand over his heart to signify the promise he made.

"Are you feeling sorry?" the child slowly let go of his defensive position, but was still cautious of the other.

"Yes," Frankenstein answered with conviction.

"Make me pancakes."

"Excuse me?" Frankenstein raised his brows in surprise.

"You said you're sorry," the child averted his eyes, deciding to see how far he could push his luck, knowing that bad people hated being defied. "Make me pancakes," he repeated quietly, looking at him under his eyelashes.

Frankenstein huffed in amusement and relief – this was probably the most unexpected and favorable outcome he could have anticipated. If this is what he had to do in order to reconcile with the child…well, he had some cooking to do.

"Right away. I suppose you want chocolate chip pancakes?" he asked, smiling warmly.

The child looked at him for a few moments, and pleased by what the scientist said, he nodded, and approached him with wary, slow steps. Frankenstein stood still, waiting to see what M-21 wanted to do, smiling gently when the little one hugged him, expecting to be embraced in return. Sneaky little werewolf! However, the scientist obliged, wrapping his arms around the child and picking him up. He stood up, taking M-21 to the kitchen: he had an order of chocolate chip pancakes to make to buy his redemption.

TO BE CONTINUED… :)