Work Text:
"Right this way," the handsome blonde man— and apparent owner of this absolute mansion— directed.
Takio doesn't think he's ever seen a place so big, outside of the Order's facilities. The vague memories of his hometown certainly didn't stack up, and neither did any of the locales the DA-5 had been sent to.
It was excessive in a way that set him on edge. Like the owner himself— all glamour and refined edges hiding the frenzy and violence underneath.
But that was stupid, Takio chided himself. What could a house be hiding?
For starters, his mind supplied, the giant lab he had woken up in. That was nothing if not a red flag. His pulse quickened at the thought of all the machines and tanks he had caught a glimpse of before heading out into the living room.
Living room. That was right, he had been brought to a living room instead of a holding cell. The house's owner was leading them towards bedrooms, not barracks.
Takio was being treated like they thought he was a human or something.
That set off every alarm in his head. There was no reason for a man this powerful to be showing him this kind of decency, especially not after Takio had been a direct threat to his master and his kids.
But it was M-21 who had spoken up for Tao and him, and M-21 wasn't a normal human either. For whatever reason, the blonde man seemed to be fond of him. And he wasn't alone— his master had shown quiet signs of affection and concern towards M-21 once they came out from the lab.
There was always the possibility that they had M-21 gaslit into thinking he was cared about, or that M-21 was acting as some sort of middleman to lower his guard and lure them in once they were vulnerable.
From what he had observed of M-21 though, the guy resented authority moreso than even he did. He could be wrong, but he doubted that M-21 would give himself over to a scientist like that.
Who knows. Even Takio had been strung along, deceived by the very team he had come to somewhat rely on.
Ever since finding out, Tao was practically latched to his side. The scope of who they could trust had drastically shrunk down, and neither wanted to let go of any companionship they had left. He'd flutter about in that overamplified excitement Takio knew to be characteristic of him, but he'd never stray too far from Takio's orbit.
Not that he was faring much better himself— it was taking monumental control on his part not to dart his hand out and drag Tao back towards himself whenever they got more than a few steps apart.
Beyond the desire for familiar company, it didn't feel wise to stay apart. The DA-5's members were all highly independent, but at their core they were a team. Their real strength would always come from their ability to function together as a unit.
Which seemed to be on the homeowner's mind as well, if he were to judge from the way he stopped before a pair of rooms standing parallel across the end of the hallway. Separate rooms would be easier to block off, if need be. He might have taken Takio and Tao into his house, but he wasn't about to give them any advantages.
"These will be your rooms," the man explained casually. "M-21's room is over here on the right, and to the left you will find Seira and Regis' rooms. Please work it out between yourselves, who will get which."
"For both of us?" Tao asked, incredulous. It was always hard to tell what emotions of his were genuine and what were an exaggeration, but in this case Takio was almost certain they were on the same page. The brief flicker of eye contact between them just confirmed it.
"You're both young men after all," the man said with a smile. "I figured you'd want your space. However, if it's better suited for you, you may share. I'll just need to know your bedding configuration so I can get furniture to suit your needs."
That made the man’s intentions more than clear . He wasn't born yesterday, he knew there was some unspoken 'but' hanging in the air after his offer. That was how the scientists would always work-- they'd concede to some of your desires knowing they still had the upper hand, just to make you think you were the one in power.
As Takio opened his mouth to respond in negative— he was not going to let this man think he had any leverage over him-- Tao piped up first, "We'd like to stick together for now, if it's no difference to you."
The man's smile widened, making all of Takio's hairs stand on edge. It reminded him too closely to the devilish grin he sported as he danced effortlessly around Takio's bullets.
Maybe he and his teammate weren’t as coordinated as he’d thought, but it worked out well enough. They ended up together in the end.
"Not a problem at all," the homeowner said. He then took a step forward and paused to place a hand on M-21's arm.
M-21 didn't even flinch in the slightest.
"I'll forward some funds to your account, would you mind taking the two of them to get some clothes and whatever else they'll need for tonight? After you've all settled in, that is."
M-21 paused, seeming to think over an answer— as if he had any answer to give to a scientist but an affirmative. But to Takio's surprise, he shook his head lightly.
"How about I make us all lunch first? I know I don't normally, but I'm sure you'll be busy with him, and Seira's looking after the kid right now," M-21 said.
The stiff politeness in the man's face softened, and he squeezed M-21's arm within his grasp.
"You've had a knife stabbed through your chest, you'll do no such thing," he chided. "I shouldn't be long checking in with Master— but then, are you starving? Seira prepared something before we left and found you, you can always reheat that if you can't wait."
M-21 shrugged. "I'll do that, then. No reason to do more work when we've already got it done," he snorted, to which the man reciprocated with a light chuckle.
"Alright," he conceded. Just when Takio thought he'd leave, the man turned his piercing blue eyes upon him and Tao.
"You two didn't starve him, did you?" he quipped— but Takio felt the severity behind his words. His body involuntarily tensed as the whispers of that man's cursed powers brushed over his skin.
Either oblivious or deflecting, Tao chirped out enthusiastically, "No, he made Shark go to one of the stores nearby and get him some sort of package of noodles, then actually cook them for him. It was literally the best thing I've seen in my life."
"Oh?" the man hummed, and Takio could've sworn there was a hint of pride behind his smile. His hand slipped up to give M-21 a firm pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure Regis would love to hear more of your weaponized hooliganism later. For now, get yourselves something to eat."
"Thanks, Frankenstein," M-21 said with a soft sincerity that made the other man scoop him into a brief, comforting squeeze.
Takio's gut response was to shove the scientist off of him, and it must've shown on his face. Tao's hand wound around the crook of his elbow, keeping him restrained as he pensively observed.
Watching them gave Tao the same look in his eyes as the time he asked Takio what it was like being an older brother. It made Takio's heart squeeze in empathy.
He pressed himself closer to Tao's side. He felt a similar weight against him in return.
Their hearts yearned for a home. Admitting such a thing while in custody of the Union was begging for death, but here, in the presence of this family...
It seemed to give Tao and M-21 hope.
For the sake of his companions old and new, he would look inside himself and find hope, too. He would hope that this man— Frankenstein— and his master were nothing like every other person who held a position of power and used it to manipulate those who looked to them for comfort.
He would hope— but more importantly, he would watch.
Takio would not let betrayal sneak up behind him a second time.