Title: Chapter VI: Cookie Monster

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.

Author's Note: Solace asked for Muzaka to make an appearance.

Muzaka looked at him with wide eyes, his mouth agape, shocked at the sight. The pup… was even smaller than he remembered. The puppy, who barely reached his waist, was hiding behind Frankenstein, looking at him with mistrustful eyes, gripping the fabric of the scientist's pants.

"H-how?" the werewolf asked, pointing at the puppy with a finger, looking at Frankenstein with a what-the-hell expression.

"He suffered a forced biological age reset through a defensive mechanism which was triggered by the reflexive absorption of a massive amount of energy," the scientist said it quickly, but when he saw the lost expression on the werewolf's face, he rephrased his answer. "He shrunk."

"Oh," that wasn't really an explanation, but Muzaka chose not to press the matter, because he was sure he wouldn't understand the mechanics behind the pup's current state. "Hi there," Muzaka crouched before the child, smiling broadly. The puppy hid behind Frankenstein even more, frowning at the stranger. "It's ok, I won't hurt you," he told him, but the pup made no attempt to come out from his hiding spot behind the scientist. The child's eyes went wide when Muzaka extended a hand, wanting to ruffle his hair. Frankenstein noticed his reaction and stepped in front of him, completely shielding M-21 from the other werewolf.

"I'd appreciate if you'd refrain from doing that," the scientist said when Muzaka looked up at him with a confused expression.

Frankenstein turned back at the child and picked him up in his arms. "Let's go tell Master that his friend came to visit, ok?"

M-21 nodded and wrapped his arms around Frankenstein's neck, looking over his shoulder at Muzaka, with a wary, yet curious expression.

The werewolf continued smiling at him and followed them into the living room, a little disappointed he couldn't cuddle the child.

"Hey, Raizel," Muzaka said, draping himself on an armchair, the Noblesse greeting him with a nod.

"Stay with Master while I go prepare some tea and snacks," Frankenstein told M-21, putting him down on the sofa.

"I can help," M-21 said, glancing at Muzaka.

"Don't you want to stay with Master?" the scientist asked, making the child consider it. He wasn't too keen on staying in the same room with the stranger, but after throwing a glance at Raizel, he nodded, shifting closer to him. He hid behind the noble, peeking occasionally at Muzaka. The child was cautious, but curious – he probably felt that Muzaka was a werewolf too.

~Z~

They were talking for a while, or mostly Muzaka was talking and Raizel listening, when the werewolf unknowingly reached for one of the snacks on Raizel's plate.

"Those are his cookies." M-21 warned him, eyes narrowing at Muzaka, making him stop before he took one of them. "Don't eat his cookies, eat your own," the pup continued and Muzaka had to refrain himself from smiling like an idiot at the little puppy, who apparently was protecting Raizel's cookies. Even the Noblesse seemed amused at his reaction, a small smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh, and what if I want to eat them?" Muzaka asked, smirking.

The child glared at him, pondering what to do: it wasn't like he could fight the stranger anyway. Frankenstein could fight him, but he went to prepare more tea, so for now M-21 had to buy time.

"Here, have mine. Leave his alone," he said pushing his plate of cookies to the werewolf, but the other did not accept his offer.

"How about a deal?" Muzaka asked. "If you give me a hug, I won't eat Raizel's cookies," he really wanted to cuddle that precious, little pup, who glared at him with the cutest frown he has ever seen.

M-21 really, really didn't want to get any closer to the stranger, but Raizel's cookies were in danger and Frankenstein was nowhere in sight. He was sure the other wouldn't hurt him, given that he was Raizel's friend, but that didn't mean hugging him would be pleasant. Still, if he didn't do something quick, that greedy meanie would eat everything, and that would upset the noble.

M-21 slowly slid off the sofa, mustering his courage to come closer to him. He approached him with careful steps, making sure he could retreat at any moment. Muzaka stood up from the chair, then crouched down in front of the pup, with his arms open wide, inviting him to hug him.

"You better leave Raizel's cookies alone," the puppy mumbled.

"I promise."

M-21 cautiously wrapped his arms around Muzaka's neck, feeling the other embrace him in a warm hug. He was really warm, warmer than anyone in the household, and the child wondered if it was because the other felt similar to him, in a way.

"I see that you have become friends now," Frankenstein said as he came back with the tea.

When M-21 saw the scientist enter the room, he attempted to escape the hug, only to find himself lifted in Muzaka's embrace as the other stood up. The puppy was more than irritated that he was tricked, and started pushing against the other's chest to put some distance between them. He looked at Frankenstein with an alarmed expression, asking to be saved from the stranger. The scientist sensed M-21's distress and came to them to help him.

"It seems that I have guessed wrong, he doesn't really like you," Frankenstein sighed.

"What are you saying, we've just become friends," Muzaka ignored his comment, cuddling the little child.

"No, we haven't. You're just a big bully who eats other people's cookies!" the pup squirmed and struggled further, glaring at the other.

"See, he doesn't like you," the scientist said, a little proud at M-21's courage.

"Ah, but I just wanted to hug him," Muzaka pouted playfully, energetically ruffling the pup's hair.

"Go. Hug. A tree," M-21 hissed in annoyance, one of his hands founding its way onto Muzaka's face, pushing it away, but the other just smiled at the pup's antics.

"There, there, let's go have our afternoon nap," the scientist chuckled at the child's witty comeback, finally taking him from the other werewolf's arms.

The moment he saw himself in Frankenstein's embrace, M-21 wrapped his arms around the other's neck, holding him close and glaring furiously at Muzaka. Nope, he did not like the other in the least.

TO BE CONTINUED… :)