D (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
esp_dragonv2) wrote2024-06-01 03:25 pm
esp_dragonv2) wrote2024-06-01 03:25 pm
Entry tags:
Footsteps
Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: M-21 always associated the sharp click of footsteps with Union scientists.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 757
Status: Complete.
M-21 always associated the sharp click of footsteps with Union scientists. Even when he was finally out of the lab and as free as he could be in Frankenstein's house, he still held his breath whenever he heard Frankenstein walking around. It was too similar, M-21 bracing himself for pain as the footsteps neared, preparing to be drilled about something, had to prove his worth, prove he was still useful enough to let live.
But Frankenstein never went into M-21's room, passing by instead.
He wasn't in the Union. M-21 knew that. But it was only after Frankenstein's footsteps faded that M-21 exhaled, just able to make his muscles relax, his heart slowing down only after the footsteps were gone completely.
Yeah, M-21 knew he wasn't in the Union, but his body decided how he reacted instead, because that was how it had always been.
And while M-21 was out of the Union, Frankenstein was still a scientist.
It was just a matter of time until Frankenstein proved he was the same as the others.
* * *
M-21 heard Frankenstein's footsteps approach while M-21 lay in his bed. The school day had been...all right. He'd had to scare away some paparazzi, but that had been as interesting as the day got. The press were starting to learn that if they saw him, they had to run - it wasn't often they saw him first.
Frankenstein's footsteps were different from Union scientists, M-21 could recognise that now; the scientists were usually rushing from project to project, eager to see what their latest experiments' results were. Frankenstein's were even and deliberate - he knew where he was going and that he had timed everything to perfection. That and his tread was softer in the house, thanks to the house slippers.
M-21 started when Frankenstein knocked on his door instead of walking by.
"Yeah?" M-21 said, swinging himself upright. He'd gotten used to not standing to attention whenever Frankenstein came to his door, and that Frankenstein wouldn't enter unless M-21 said so.
Frankenstein poked his head into M-21's room. "Dinner will be ready in five minutes."
"I'll get the table set then." M-21 had even started getting used to the schedule of the house and what was expected of him.
Frankenstein smiled at him and left. M-21 listened to Frankenstein's footsteps fade, taking a deep breath to-
M-21 paused, frowning.
His heartbeat hadn't jumped at the sound of Frankenstein's footsteps. There was no need to calm it down.
Since when had he stopped associating Frankenstein's footsteps with something to brace himself for...?
* * *
M-21 grimaced, hearing the heart monitors beeping before he'd even opened his eyes.
Every breath made his ribs ache and everything else felt like he still had claws embedded in him.
Hyperaware of his entire body, of his heart struggling to beat, but that meant he was alive and while the heart monitors were reaching through his ears to claw at his brain, that meant the others were alive too.
Over the sound of the monitors, M-21 heard the sound of approaching footsteps and he felt himself relax.
All it took was to hear one step and he already knew who it was, already knew it was Frankenstein coming to check on them, make sure they were okay, to make it hurt less.
M-21 leaned back into his pillow with a sigh, listening to the footsteps get closer.
* * *
M-21 spat out blood, the handcuffs cutting into his wrists and limiting his movements. Not that he could do much with the drugs in his system, slowing his healing and his thoughts.
It had only been a matter of time until he was kidnapped, really. Maybe he should have listened when Tao said it was almost time again.
Like fucking clockwork.
He grunted when he got a boot to the chest, his chair knocking back into the wall behind him.
The leader was talking, demanding information or something and he had to pay attention, find out what this group knew and thought he knew.
But all he could hear was the familiar click of footsteps getting closer.
They were more hurried than usual, but recognisable all the same.
M-21 was grabbed by the hair and yanked up enough the chair came with him.
"This is funny to you? You enjoying this?"
Oh. He had been smiling.
M-21 just let it grow into a smirk.
Frankenstein was announcing his presence, after all; it wasn't his fault this group didn't know what it meant yet.
Summary: M-21 always associated the sharp click of footsteps with Union scientists.
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 757
Status: Complete.
M-21 always associated the sharp click of footsteps with Union scientists. Even when he was finally out of the lab and as free as he could be in Frankenstein's house, he still held his breath whenever he heard Frankenstein walking around. It was too similar, M-21 bracing himself for pain as the footsteps neared, preparing to be drilled about something, had to prove his worth, prove he was still useful enough to let live.
But Frankenstein never went into M-21's room, passing by instead.
He wasn't in the Union. M-21 knew that. But it was only after Frankenstein's footsteps faded that M-21 exhaled, just able to make his muscles relax, his heart slowing down only after the footsteps were gone completely.
Yeah, M-21 knew he wasn't in the Union, but his body decided how he reacted instead, because that was how it had always been.
And while M-21 was out of the Union, Frankenstein was still a scientist.
It was just a matter of time until Frankenstein proved he was the same as the others.
M-21 heard Frankenstein's footsteps approach while M-21 lay in his bed. The school day had been...all right. He'd had to scare away some paparazzi, but that had been as interesting as the day got. The press were starting to learn that if they saw him, they had to run - it wasn't often they saw him first.
Frankenstein's footsteps were different from Union scientists, M-21 could recognise that now; the scientists were usually rushing from project to project, eager to see what their latest experiments' results were. Frankenstein's were even and deliberate - he knew where he was going and that he had timed everything to perfection. That and his tread was softer in the house, thanks to the house slippers.
M-21 started when Frankenstein knocked on his door instead of walking by.
"Yeah?" M-21 said, swinging himself upright. He'd gotten used to not standing to attention whenever Frankenstein came to his door, and that Frankenstein wouldn't enter unless M-21 said so.
Frankenstein poked his head into M-21's room. "Dinner will be ready in five minutes."
"I'll get the table set then." M-21 had even started getting used to the schedule of the house and what was expected of him.
Frankenstein smiled at him and left. M-21 listened to Frankenstein's footsteps fade, taking a deep breath to-
M-21 paused, frowning.
His heartbeat hadn't jumped at the sound of Frankenstein's footsteps. There was no need to calm it down.
Since when had he stopped associating Frankenstein's footsteps with something to brace himself for...?
M-21 grimaced, hearing the heart monitors beeping before he'd even opened his eyes.
Every breath made his ribs ache and everything else felt like he still had claws embedded in him.
Hyperaware of his entire body, of his heart struggling to beat, but that meant he was alive and while the heart monitors were reaching through his ears to claw at his brain, that meant the others were alive too.
Over the sound of the monitors, M-21 heard the sound of approaching footsteps and he felt himself relax.
All it took was to hear one step and he already knew who it was, already knew it was Frankenstein coming to check on them, make sure they were okay, to make it hurt less.
M-21 leaned back into his pillow with a sigh, listening to the footsteps get closer.
M-21 spat out blood, the handcuffs cutting into his wrists and limiting his movements. Not that he could do much with the drugs in his system, slowing his healing and his thoughts.
It had only been a matter of time until he was kidnapped, really. Maybe he should have listened when Tao said it was almost time again.
Like fucking clockwork.
He grunted when he got a boot to the chest, his chair knocking back into the wall behind him.
The leader was talking, demanding information or something and he had to pay attention, find out what this group knew and thought he knew.
But all he could hear was the familiar click of footsteps getting closer.
They were more hurried than usual, but recognisable all the same.
M-21 was grabbed by the hair and yanked up enough the chair came with him.
"This is funny to you? You enjoying this?"
Oh. He had been smiling.
M-21 just let it grow into a smirk.
Frankenstein was announcing his presence, after all; it wasn't his fault this group didn't know what it meant yet.