Summary: "M…" M-21 knew that tone of voice, knew it intimately well and what would follow after. "No." "Wha – hey! I haven't even said what it is yet!"

Set post-season 5.

Accessorise

By Dark Ice Dragon

M-21 felt arms slide around his shoulders from behind and he sighed when Tao rested his head on his shoulder. He stopped in the corridor so they wouldn't look ridiculous trying to walk together like that.

"M…"

He knew that tone of voice, knew it intimately well and what would follow after. "No."

"Wha – hey! I haven't even said what it is yet!"

M-21 grimaced. "Don't shout in my ear, and I don't need to know - my answer's still no."

"I wasn't shouting." Tao sniffed like he was upset. "I was exclaiming, because how could you say no already? It's a great idea!"

"And that's why I'm saying no." Because anything Tao thought was a good idea usually wasn't for the rest of them.

Tao made a grumbling sound and retracted his arms, going around to stand in front of M-21, his arms crossed. "Okay, hear me out first, and then you can decide."

"No."

Tao pouted. "M…" He drew it out, his eyes wide and pleading. "Please?"

M-21 sighed, shifting his weight on his feet. He should walk away, but Tao would follow him and mope in his direction until he listened. "Fine."

Tao's expression cleared and he beamed. "Great! Okay, so!" Tao clapped his hands once. "What do I, Takeo, and him have in common?"

M-21 raised his eyebrows at the question, but after the effort Tao had put into wanting him to listen, it had to be relevant. "You're all guys," he eventually said. That was the only connection he could think of.

"Heh, nope." Tao flicked his own ear, drawing M-21's attention to it.

"Earrings," M-21 said. And Tao had asked him because – "No."

"You can get clip-on ones, you know," Tao huffed, snickering.

"Then why are you asking?" When Tao was involved, there was always a reason for everything.

"Well, there's no point me getting you a pair if you're not going to wear them."

M-21 studied Tao, trying to see if he was covering something, but it didn't seem like it. "Why earrings?"

"Because we'd match," Tao said, nodding resolutely. "I was thinking we all have hoops." A small pause, Tao's expression turning more serious. "I'd also put a tracker in it – squeeze it and we'll come running."

M-21 stilled at that elaboration, turning it over in his head, and then nodded. "All right, I'll wear one." He peered at Tao, frowning. "Why didn't you say that first?" If it was for their safety, then he wouldn't mind what it was.

Tao's expression eased back into a smile. "Because that's for precaution; I just want us all to wear earrings."

"Including Frankenstein?" M-21 asked, his eyebrows raised. The rest of the household would be okay wearing earrings, but since Frankenstein was the Principal… Though, with Ye Ran's reputation, Frankenstein wearing an earring probably wouldn't make a dent.

"Hm… Yeah, maybe I'll make him a ring instead…" Tao murmured, tapping his chin. "Heh, thanks!" Tao walked off, muttering under his breath.

M-21 sighed, and then went back to heading towards the kitchen. Tao had already said the earrings would be hoops, and they would have to be small so not to make them too attention grabbing so Tao shouldn't go too overboard with what he eventually chose…

Yes, Tao's wearing an earring on the season 5 cover. 8D

So it seems in Korean culture the older generation don't really like guys with earrings so it might make Frankenstein seem less professional or something.