Human

"Who is he?"

"Wow, he's really cute isn't he?"

"First Rai, now him? Principal Frankenstein must be promoting our school somewhere important to get guys like these."

M-21 merely stared straight, making sure no one or no thing got through that gate. He knew his job was just that, not giving in the attention that the students gave him.

Though he had to admit, it felt pretty good to be praised instead of being looked down upon all the time.

If only M-24 was here to see this.

He shook his head. He couldn't think about his departed friend, not now. He had to focus on the gate. Especially now that it sounded like something huge was padding down the sidewalk. He put a foot forward, narrowing his eyes.

Let's see you try.

"Missterrrrrr!"

What?

He blinked returning to his normal stance.

It's just him.

Shin Woo ran quickly through the gate, greeting him with a goofy smile and loud good morning.

He simply nodded.

Shin Woo waved at him, nearly tripping on the small bit of elevated concrete.

Idiot, you're not even late. Slow down, will you? You'll get your self hurt, moron.

Despite the angry tone of his thoughts, he briefly smiled. M-24 always had a soft spot for kids, and due to their closeness, it had rubbed off on him. He cleared his throat and reverted back to his annoyed looking expression when he heard another yell.

They won't think your intimadating at all if you have a grin on your face.

Ik-Han followed, at a much slower pace than Shin Woo, screaming at the red headed boy to stop and wait for him. His face had had beads of sweat rolling down, most likely from running after his impatient friend. His legs picked up the pace, his hand shooting up in a wave while running towards the schools door.

Doesn't anyone know how to walk carefully?

After a minute, Yuna entered through gate, softly smiling. She waved happily, stopping briefly in front of M-24, wishing him a good morning.

"Have a nice day!" before continuing on her way.

You too.

He kept guarding the gate, secretly grateful that Regis had arrived without a single word out of his bratty mouth. Seria was quiet as always, giving him a simple nod.

At least she knew how to be civilized.

He kept his eyes to the front of the gate. He didn't know if any one from the Union was nearby and he certainly hoped it wasn't the case. Either way, he knew that Rai and Frankenstein would come and save the kids if he wasn't strong enough to.

But who would save him?

Frankenstein was keeping him safe from the union as it is and he never knew what Rai thought, though from what has been shown so far, he seemed to at least tolerate him enough to let him stay.

He tried to snap himself out of these thoughts. M-24 didn't die so that the mission could end with him torn apart on school grounds. Everyone had a name and he still needed to find out what they were. He couldn't rest until he found out the names of his comrades.

Until he found out his own name.

Until he found out M-24's.

He looked down at his shoes. Who would've known that this is where he'd be. Working as a school security guard for two men that had allowed him to live.

Working.

Like a human being.

A small smile was on his face once more.

He was working.

Not killing someone. Not hurting others. Not concealing himself.

He was out here in the open.

Working.

Something humans always did.

He was doing something human.

Something that so many took for granted brought a smile to his face.

He was working honestly.

Not his usual arrogant smirk that he always had on his face when he was first observing this place with M-24. A genuine smile, the type that showed up so rarely. The type that only M-24 could bring out with his optimism about their future and about their past.

The past before their numbers were just 8.

Before they watched their comrades be removed from their test tubes.

Before they woke up in the green liquid in the first place.

M-24 always told him that he felt like he had younger siblings. He didn't know why or how, he just felt like it.

So what did he have?

A mother? A father? Did he have older siblings? Younger?

Was he good? Bad?

Rich? Poor?

What was he?

The one thing he knew though, was that for the first time in forever.

He felt human.