Summary: [Just in case you're worrying about being unable to find Tao,] Frankenstein said, and M-21 perked up, focused on his words, [he is with me in the lab.]

Working on this because one wip was like, 'Let me throw in a new element and now you need to rework your outline' and the wip I did give me a break from the previous one was like, 'This plot is too basic - it needs a subplot'.

I just wanted something quick and small to write! D:

Set probably earlier in the timeline.

Mission

By Dark Ice Dragon

Lab

M-21 shook himself off when he landed in the garden. When he was done, he pressed the door button and slipped in.

He tugged his jacket off and hung it, ears flicking, trying to find where Tao was. The kitten had been dozing when he'd left but all the doors had been closed and Frankenstein had been in the room, making tea.

Frankenstein wasn't there and... M-21 furrowed his brow. Tao wasn't in his bed and he couldn't hear movement either.

His collar buzzed and he turned his ears towards them, sitting down as he waited for Frankenstein to speak.

[Just in case you're worrying about being unable to find Tao,] Frankenstein said, and M-21 perked up, focused on his words, [he is with me in the lab.]

M-21's ears flattened. Had Tao done something wrong? Was he being punished?

[We should be finished in thirty minutes, to give you a timeline.]

Thirty minutes... Maybe they had just started?

M-21 scratched the collar twice to show he'd heard.

M-21 glanced at the door going further into the house.

Tao was being punished for something, but...maybe it was M-21 who was at fault. If he'd been home and keeping an eye on Tao, whatever the kitten had done wouldn't have happened.

Hm.

Head lowered, M-21 headed down to the lab.

[-]

The lab door hissed open but M-21 hesitated. If Frankenstein didn't want to be interrupted, he would be angry if M-21 disturbed him.

But this was for Tao. And it would draw Frankenstein's ire away from the kitten.

Exhaling, M-21 padded into the lab.

"Raow raow raow!"

"This isn't for you," replied Frankenstein. His voice didn't have the clipped tone it had when he was angry.

"Raow!"

"Yes, you do have a loud voice, I've noticed."

If Frankenstein hadn't brought Tao for punishment, then why were they here?

M-21 followed their voices deeper into the lab.

Frankenstein was standing by one of the machines, Tao perched on his shoulder.

One of Tao's ears twitched towards M-21. "Mrrp? Mrow!"

"Mm?"

Tao started crawling down Frankenstein's back before he picked him up. Frankenstein turned around and raised his eyebrows when he saw M-21.

"M-21? I would have thought you would prefer to stay upstairs?"

He would have, but Tao was here. It was his mission to look after Tao.

Frankenstein set Tao on the floor and Tao dashed towards M-21, headbutting him and purring.

Tao was happy and M-21 couldn't smell any blood. Good. That was good.

M-21 sat down, and groomed Tao whenever the kitten stayed still enough to reach.

Tao wasn't being punished? Then why was he here?

"I'm not sure if Tao wants to continue overseeing what I'm doing," Frankenstein said, "but as I said, we'll be done soon. You don't have to stay here."

It was his mission to look after Tao. Even though he didn't want to stay in the lab. Tao was more important.

Tao climbed up M-21's back. "Mrow!" That was usually the sign Tao wanted M-21 to take him somewhere.

Away? He could do that.

M-21 stood up, tail high and tip wagging as he headed for the door.

"Rah." Tao patted M-21's neck.

When M-21 paused, Tao walked over to the direction of Frankenstein.

...Oh. Tao wanted him to carry him to Frankenstein.

Head lower, M-21 slunk towards Frankenstein.

"You don't need to stay," Frankenstein repeated, patting M-21's head.

He would, just in case. Something could happen and he was needed.

Tao jumped up to M-21's head and dashed up Frankenstein's arm.

"Very well," Frankenstein said, stepping back. "Though you should be interested in what I'm doing."

He should...? M-21 had never been interested in the Union scientists' experiments, trying to keep as far away as he could.

"Mrowmrow," Tao said, pressing up against Frankenstein's neck.

"Not for you," Frankenstein replied.

If it wasn't for Tao, then it had to be for Master.

There was a clack and then a hiss of air. M-21's nose twitched at the scent of meat.

"Do you like it?" Frankenstein asked, still focused on what he was making.

M-21 bobbed his head. But his opinion didn't matter. It was for Master's tastes.

"Hm."

M-21 sat up straighter when Frankenstein held a bit out for him.

"Mrowmrow!" Tao said from Frankenstein's shoulder.

"You should take it before Tao steals it," Frankenstein said, amusement in his voice as he held the meat closer to M-21.

Tao was already clambering down Frankenstein's arm, and M-21 licked the food from Frankenstein's fingertips.

It was nice.

"Raaaow!" Tao wailed.

"Still not for you," Frankenstein said, tapping Tao's nose before washing his hands.

Frankenstein continued asking M-21 questions and letting him sample of the food, though Tao did get to eat a little bit of it as well.

"Now," Frankenstein said, stepping back from the counter, "I think it's ready."

Tao crouched down, wriggling and Frankenstein scooped him up and set him on M-21's back.

"Let's go upstairs, shall we?" Frankenstein said, smiling.

M-21 nodded, following Frankenstein.

"Mrow!"

Frankenstein picked up a bowl and they went back to the house.

Tao crawled up to M-21's head but didn't drop off, continuing to meow as they left the lab.

When Frankenstein went to the kitchen, M-21 went to the sofa. Tao jumped off before he reached it and dashed towards Frankenstein.

"Raowraow!" Tao called out.

"Yes, yes, I'm making your dinner now."

"Prrt!"

There was the usual sounds of Frankenstein pouring Tao's food into his bowl and M-21 double-checked all the doors were closed while Frankenstein was doing that.

"Mrrroooow!"

M-21 looked over to see Frankenstein holding Tao's bowl in one hand and Tao in the other. Tao wriggled, pawing towards the bowl.

Frankenstein set the bowl down first and then put Tao down next to it.

"Blissful silence," Frankenstein said, patting Tao's back before going back to the kitchen.

It wasn't quite silent, Tao's meows filling the room with each bite, but compared to Tao's previous meows, it was a lot quieter.

"M-21."

By the time M-21 looked over, Frankenstein was already carrying his bowl over. M-21 sat, waiting for him to put it down.

"You can eat," Frankenstein said, petting M-21's head after setting down the bowl.

M-21 huffed to acknowledge the instruction and went to eat.

He paused as he opened his mouth, the scents from the food familiar. Very familiar.

It was everything Frankenstein had let him taste in the lab. He looked up at Frankenstein, blinking.

"I made your dinner in the lab because I wasn't satisfied with what I was buying from the shelves," Frankenstein said.

But...Frankenstein tested Master's meals there. Why would Frankenstein want to make something for him?

"Hm." Frankenstein stepped closer and stroked M-21's head. "Will you try it?"

Of course he would. Frankenstein had made it.

M-21 ducked his head and ate. He paused at the taste - it wasn't as dry and the taste was stronger than the previous meals he'd had. His tail wagged as he ate the rest of it.

M-21 heard Frankenstein's soft chuckle. "You like it?"

He finished up and went to Frankenstein, leaning into him with a sigh. Yes, he had.

"Then I'll continue making it," Frankenstein said, petting him.

That would be nice.

And even then, this was still longer than expected. XD

There was going to be an attempt of M-21 having an okay association with labs, but that'll need more steps than just the two, haha.