Chapter Text
MK woke up to his alarm going off once again. This time he turned it off, before covering his face with his pillow. He was not having it. He wished he could sleep in without Pigsy screaming his name to go downstairs.
That's when he heard the knock on his window. Pulling the pillow away he was met with Red Son about to tap on his window again. When he stood up, Red Son put his arm down and moved out of the way so MK could open his window.
"Red Son?" MK asked dumbfounded. Causing the Demon prince to roll their eyes. " Yes, it is I, Red Son. Son to the Demon Bull King, and Princess Iron Fan, and now I'm your time loop stuck buddy, so come on. I know a place we're we can get information."
"Like a library?" MK asked as he grabbed his coat, and followed Red Son out. Only to remember the dull ache in his chest from the loss of the staff. "Noodle Boy, is something the matter?"
MK looked up at Red Son and just nodded. "Ya I'm good. It's just. I don't think I can jump from rooftop to rooftop any more. See i don't have the staff, and the staff is what activates my powers so."
Red Son rubbed their eyes before growling out. "If I let you touch that stupid staff will you be satisfied and we can get on with finding a way to break this loop?"
MK nods almost immediately. Way too existed when Red Son put their arms around his waist before they were both lit up in flames.
Once the flames died down MK saw his staff, and immediately went to go and retrieve it. "Wait Noodle Boy. Keep the staff where it is. Just activate your stupid powers so we can get on with our lives."
MK looked at Red Son and stuck out his tongue like a child. What he didn't expect was for Red Son to do it back. He couldn't stop the grin that came on his face when he saw them do it back
With a bit more skip in his step he touched his staff, feeling the familiar warmth of Monkey king's power returning to him. He then let go of the staff, and went back to Red Son who pulled him close.
Then they were teleporting.
To the cloud. It was beautiful. He's only ever heard of it but actually being here. Was a whole 'nother thing.
"Noodle Boy listen to me very carefully. Do exactly as I say. And whatever you do. Do not open that mouth of yours. Let me do the talking."
"Alright. Alright, don't get your dick in a twist Flame boy." MK said before snickering at his inappropriate joke. That had Red Son sputter out. "Why I-I can't believe- I will turn you into my new-how could you say- why would you- My dick- why are you going after my reproductive organ!?"
"Maybe I want it. Not in a sex kind of way, just a,,, Let me be my gender." MK said before realizing what he said, and tried to back it up.
"Don't you already have one?"
"Oh Buddha I wish. But no. I'm Trans actually."
"Trans,, what is Trans. Is that a funny word for trains? What do trains have to do with your gender?"
MK couldn't help but snort at Red Son. Though he tried covering it up with his hands, it was already too late, Red Son had heard it already. Their hair lighting up on fire.
"YOU DARE LAUGH AT ME!! I'D KILL YOU RIGHT NOW IF I HAD AN IDEA ON WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THE TIME LOOP!" The bull demon shouted, causing MK to go into a louder fit of laughter.
Only to go pale when two booming voices made themselves crystal clear. "Who goes near the doors of the Cloud, speak up or well have you removed!" Both guardians said at the same time. Red Son glared at MK before they walked forward, and bowed.
"Great protectors of knowledge. I am coming seeking you once again for information."
"Do you have the necessary tribute to access our knowledge? The Red demon asked.
"Of course."
MK backed away from Red Son, not wanting to be a part of this game anymore, was their truce over, were they going to hand them over to stop the time loops. This was really the end for the Monkie Kid, wasn't it.
But nothing happened. Instead Red Son reached into their pocket and pulled out what looked to be a library card.
Both guardians grinned.
"Welcome back Red Son. You should possibly also renew your pass, as it will expire In 7 days."
"Thank you for your wisdom, great ones. Oh and the mortal over there, he's with me. A guest."
"Of course the more the merrier. If your Guest wants to, he can actually get his own card."
Red Son grabbed MK by his coat jacket, saying thanks to the guardians. As they walked into the wall and out of it, MK couldn't help but gasp at how big it was."
"Impressive isn't it little guest. Anything you may want is right here in this massive collection. We got everything here from games to really old books. If you need anything, call out and we'll be there."
Before either guardian could go. Both MK and Red Son grabbed their attention. " Wait Wait, we do need your help." Both said in unison, causing the guardians to stop and look down at him.
"Ummm are there any books about time loops? Like any in general." MK managed to get out.
The two guardians looked at one another, before scratching their beards. "We have a few. Let me and my brother retreat them for you." They disappeared in a flash. About 3 seconds later they returned with about 20 books each.
"This is all the books that have or have mentioned time loops. All is non fiction, as we do not think your here for fiction are you?" Both boys shook their heads.
The guardians only laughed at the two. Placing the pile down. Before cutting the 20 down into 4 piles of 10. Easier to grab.
Both MK and Red Son thanked the guardians, before going right into opening up the first books, reading each one given to them.
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"Loop 13, day plus original day 14. I have gotten thru 10 of the 40 books. While Noodle Boy has only got threw 5. He is an idiot, and can not read."
"I can hear you, you know, and stop with the recorder. You know it just resets." MK huffed angrily as he tried his hardest to reread the passage he was finally getting the hang of until Red Son interrupted him.
Red Son only smirks at the successor. "Maybe if you weren't such a slow reader. We'd be able to get these done faster."
"What do you want me to do about it? Make a copy of myself to read 15 more books?"
Red Son lifted up his eyebrows as if asking, 'did MK just ask him that'. "Isn't that one of Sun Wukong's powers? Able to create clones from his fur?" Red Son asked smugly.
MKs face lit up. "No, I haven't thought about whether I can create clones or not."
"So what powers from the great sage equal to heaven have you gotten?"
A pause for MK before he murmured out the answer. "What's that Noodle Boy?" Red Son was having way too much fun with getting the younger adult all embarrassed.
"I said true sight. There you happy Flame boy!!!" Red Son couldn't help it but he laughed at MK's admitting he only knows one of Sun Wukong's powers so far.
"It's not funny Red. I can't exactly have Monkey king train me, while we're in a loop. So all I can do now is try to figure stuff out on my own. There you happy that I admit I do not know how to do every single cool Monkey King powers."
"It actually does."
"Oh you little shi-"
"Ababut. You didn't let me finish. It makes me feel better knowing that you won't be a copy of monkey king. I look forward to besting you once we get out of this loop. Show me what MK can do, not Monkey king."
MK was really too stunned to speak. So he did the only thing he could do. Pulling out a hair. He looked at it, before blowing on it. Much like how Wukong does it.
Both sat in silence as they watched the hair flutter out of MK's hand. Only for nothing to happen.
"What, but I thought it would work. How else does he do it?"
"There could be a musical note he plays to activate them. That or he spit in his hand and let the hair choose the most annoying DNA."
"Red Son that is gross!!" MK lightly shoved Red Son, but couldn't help but laugh, leading Red Son to laugh as well. Catching MK off guard, were the really sharp teeth he has.
He got lost in Red Son's laugh, lost in the feral wide opened laugh Red Son was making.
It almost took his breath away.
"You should laugh more."
"Ya you should laugh more Red So-" both human and demon turned their eyes to the MK- no MK clone sitting where the hair used to be. MK did it. He did it, he made his first clone!!!!
"Not so bad for a first time user of the clone. Now can you make one that can read?"
""Red Son don't be rude."" Both MKs protested, before og MK, tried making his copy poof away, to think of a more scholarly clone.
The second time he put his hands on the clone, a beautiful golden mark came from his hands, outlining the clone before it poofed back into a black hair.
With a satisfying smirk MK took out ten more hairs, blowing on them, watching as they fluttered to the floor, but not before thinking of the one scholarly person he knew.
Tang.
In an instant all the 10 hairs poofed into MK, landing on the ground with more grace than he could ever do.
"Alright boys. Pick up a book and start reading. Find anything you can that relates to time loops that can stick two people in.
The 10 MK's nodded immediately, going to grab a book from MK's pile, before sitting down quietly to read, just as quickly as Red Son read.
MK let himself relax once again, as he opens his book back up. Ignoring the way Red Son's eyes trailed over him, as if trying to search for something.
"You're staring Flame boy." MK said not to look up from his book. "One, don't call me Flame boy, and secondly you're different from when the loop started."
MK blinked, looking up from his book to see Red Son trying his hardest not to look up from his book. " Different. How?"
"You're. You're less annoying. You are much more confident then the Noodle Boy that dropped on me the first time."
"So your saying I'm growing on you." MK grinned. Causing Red Son's hair to ignite into flames, before immediately calming down.
"Yes. You are growing on me Nood-"
"-MK"
Red Son looked at MK confused.
"My name, well my nickname actually. But a name none of the less. I don't think you know what my name actually was. So my name is MK."
Red Son said MK's name under his breath. Before a small smile came, but was immediately covered by his hand. Playing it off like he was resting it on his face.
"MK,,, yes, you are growing on me. But once we figure out how to stop this loop. We are mortal enemies once again."
"Why though? I wouldn't mind being friends with you." MK said quietly, but it was loud enough for Red Son to hear.
"Friends!? I'll think about it Noodle- MK. Now read. Your clones are faster than you." Red Son couldn't fight back the chuckle that came after the offended 'HEY' from the younger adult.
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Loop 19. 6 loops of doing nothing but reading from the 40 books the Guardians keep bringing them.
With MK's clones, they were able to get down to the last 5 books in the three loops. What Red Son or MK were surprised about, were MKs clones; once summoned, five took on the clothing appearance of Tang, the other five took on the clothing appearance of Sanzeng
But much like the 10 colored coded peach pickers, the 10 scholarly MK clones had different colors, making them all unique even for being MK clones.
MK and Red Son closed their own books, placing them in the 'read' pile before grabbing two more of the books and opening them up, and reading.
Two of the MK clones, closed their own books, placed them in the read pile then grabbed two other books, leading the last book on the floor.
The book was different from the others, it couldn't possibly be in a pile of time loops. But yet here it was. The book cover was called. "History of Soulmates."
And no one paid it any mind until another clone was done. The Orange clone was the one to pick up the book, before growing confused. It walked back over to the others and showed the clones, who had the same exact face as the first.
"Is something wrong?" Red Son asked the clones, he had looked up as to why the clones all simultaneously closed their books, and were looking at the book in the Orange MK's hand.
Upon hearing Red Son the clones all turned to him, before the Orange clone walked up to him showing him the cover of the book.
"Soulmates? What do soulmates have to do with time loops?" Red Son asked, just as confused as the others.
"Soulmates. Like those fanfics Mei reads about two people finding one another, and suddenly they were meant for one another?" MK said, putting his book down.
"Of course you think it's a work of fiction, MK. Long ago Soul connection was all the rage with mortals, so much so that Buddha and a few other gods got together to create souls that were connected right off the start. The infamous Red String of fate, was the most popular of mortals.
Over time the gods stopped creating connected souls, and just let them find love without them interfering. So unless you are a reincarnation of someone with the Red string of fate. You don't actually have a soul mate. So that book is useless to us."
"Useless" the booming voices of the blue guardian said, and soon he and his brother were in front of them. " You asked us to give you every mention of time travel. This book may look cheesy. But it holds information of time travel."
"But the Red strings-"
"-Was the most popular, but there were others before they ended up with the red string. Then nothing."
"Let us share with you the story of soulmates Red Son." The Red guardian said as he opened up the book. All of them were immediately pulled into a completely different world.
There in front of them was the Buddha himself. His smile was kind as he listened to a young girl. Before saying something, no one could understand. Then the scene changed to Buddha and a few other gods, around the world of reincarnation.
There they took the souls that were due to reincarnate and tied Red strings to their souls. Connecting the end to a different soul. Then the souls were off together.
The strings extended as the souls went to reincarnate in different areas.
More souls with Red strings connected until there were no more Red strings in the basket.
"That is the Red strings of fate Red Son, Guest. Now you think this is all that they did. Yes it was, but that was for mortals. For demons and celestials were completely different." The Blue guardian said before flipping to a new page. The scene changed around them for a third time.
This time a demon mother was holding her new born baby protectively in her hands. She said something to it before grabbing some ash from the bowl next to her. She drew a symbol on her child's forehead, there it glowed before disappearing entirely.
Then they were watching the now older demon try to fight a mortal. Ripping it with its claws before getting slashed. Defeated, the Demon marched away, before sleeping. Almost like magic the sun and the moon went backwards. Going to the moment the Demon woke up that morning, and having no slashes.
They met the traveler again. Both had the same reaction as to why they were not injured. No words, just they can all tell by the body language.
More of the loop passed between them. And the two grew close until they kissed. The mortal and demon shared the next day together cuddling, and kissing. The Demon accidentally nicked the mortal's thigh, but the mortal told the Demon not to worry.
But the next day/loop the wound didn't go away. No it was still there, and new things were happening around them.
The Blue guardian shut the book. Allowing them to come back to the Cloud. "That was a time loop bond. Demons did it for so long, that now no one knows how they did it and no newer demons know how to do it as well. Only older demons remember the spell to search for a soulmate worthy of their strength, and the time loop helps them get together with said soulmate without having anyone else bother them. Mostly because no one but the two even remembers the loop."
Both MK and Red Son were in total shock. They read through every single book. And not one had a reason as to why only two people remember the time loop, but the soulmate book does.
"Umm. How long does the loop normally last?" MK got his voice back first. "30 loops. Not including the original day." The Red Guardian said happily.
Red Son gripped his pant legs, head downcast so that only his mouth was shown.
"Red Son?" MK asked as he slowly reached out to the Demon Prince, but he immediately got out of reach.
"I believe we're done here. Thank you for your time, guardians of knowledge." Red Son bowed before leaving. Not even letting MK follow him. Causing the successor of Sun Wukong to run after him after getting rid of the clones.
Once Mk caught up to Red Son he was about to teleport away. But Mk stopped him when he grabbed his wrist. "Why are you running away!!! Isn't this the answer we need?"
"Why are you so calm about us being Soulmates!?" The Demon growled, but MK didn't let up at all. "Because being Soulmates doesn't mean we have to be together. We can just be friends. I know it's a lot to take in, and we can let our friendship grow before we talk about a relationship"
"There's no such thing as platonic soulmates Noodle Boy, and there will never be a we. Don't you get it. We can't be soulmates, we are enemies."
MK gripped Red Son's hands harder, the other hand going to grip his own shirt. "Why do you hate the thought of being friends!? I thought we were bonding, we were bonding in the Cloud."
"Being friends with you will ruin my reputation. Being soulmates with Sun Wukong's successor would ruin my reputation even more. Sun Wukong has done nothing but disrespect to my family. He sealed my father under a mountain, and you expect me just to be cool with it? You tried to seal him away on the original day, and 3 loops too!!!"
Red Son was on fire. His hair and eyes blaring brightly, making MK pull away from the bull prince, who used that small time to get away from him.
"See you when the loop ends." In a rage of fire Red Son was gone. Leaving MK at the Cloud.
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Loop 27. Red Son hadn't shown up in any of the previous loops. When he went to go and get the staff, it was only Princess Iron Fan who was pulling it out with the gauntlet.
Finding Monkey king in each loop didn't brighten his mood one bit, and fighting DBK was not rewarding. It was still only DBK and PIF, no Red Son.
Did Red Son truly hate the thought of being friends that much? Just because they were soulmates, they didn't have to be romantically involved if it upset Red Son so much.
But now the time loop was almost over, and the moment it was over Red Son would go back to being his enemy, but MK didn't want that. He spent 6 loops with him. Laughing, telling jokes, general friends stuff.
So waking up to his alarm clock on loop 27, MK didn't want to move, much like the last couple of times. He turned away from the window, and hugged his pillow tightly to his chest. Trying so hard not to cry.
Red Son was right though. How could they be friends if he tried to seal his dad away the first couple of loops. It truly was better just to be enemies.
That was until there was a knock at his window.
Getting up, he looked over at the window only for his eyes to go wide, seeing Red Son at his window. He gets off the bed, tripping over his blanket, before going to the window and opening it up.
"Red Son!!!" He said excitedly, before pausing when Red Son had a somber look on their face. "Red?"
"I must apologize for my action on loop 19 MK. I was not thinking clearly." Red Son said, looked actually guilty.
"I do want to be your friend, but if my parents found out, they'd hurt you, and I can not lose another person that is close to me. I lost my father. I basically lost my mother. I lost my way after I returned from Guan Yin's garden."
Red Son's arms were shaking. Prompting MK to grip them in his own. "You're Not Alone, Red Son. You'll have me. And after this loop is over. I can start to introduce you to my friends. You'd love Sandy. His tea is the best and the therapy cats really do work."
Red Son let out a small chuckle, before an actual laugh came out of him. MK got lost in their laughter again. A small lopsided smile came on MKs face, that when Red Son was done laughing, they got lost in MK's hazel brown eyes.
Both got out of just staring at each other when a bird cawed close by, too close, but it got them out.
"I should. I should get back home." Red Son said. Ready to step back when MK grabbed their sleeve.
"Wait,,,, actually instead of waiting for the loop to end. Maybe we can stop it. Remember back to the cloud, the Demon and mortal kissed. Making them leave the loop the next day. Of course we really don't have to kiss If kissing makes you uncomfortable, we can always just wait for 30 da-"
MK's speech was getting increasingly quick with each sentence, making the bull Prince cup MK's cheeks, pulling him closer, before a light kiss was placed on top of Mk's.
It startled the young adult into silence. Letting Red Son's warm lips cover his. MK let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding when Red Son pulled back, a smile of their own on their face.
MK couldn't help but push forward. Grabbing Red Son's shirt, pulling them closer to capture their lips in his once more.
It was Red Son's turn to be still as they let MKs lips rest on their own. It took less time for Red Son to recover, and once they had control over their body again, their hands gripped the back of MK's head, deepening the kiss, as they both tilted their heads.
They traded kisses back and forth.
Red Son's hands never left the back of MKs head, while MK's hands never left Red Son's shirt. Their kisses were sweet and caring. Never trying to push the other into doing something they didn't feel like doing.
Red Son pulled away for air on the 15th kiss, before going back in for the 16th slow kiss, only to jump when MK's door smacked the wall behind it, showing a very angry pig, thrashing around a spoon.
"MK I CALLED YOU DOWN 3 TIMES. IF YOU'RE STILL SLEEPING I'M REPLACING-" Pigsy's anger immediately turned off as his eyes turned to the slowly pulling away young adults. Both lips were Red and puffy, from the constant kisses.
"H-Hi Pigsy" MK said with a shaky breath, telling the pig demon that yes, they had just been kissing. Pigsy's anger was no longer on MK when it started back up, no his anger was on the Bull demon Prince.
"You. You come up to my son's room, and you try to get into his pants!" A little bit over reacted, but MK had no time to calm his boss (dad?) down when he got to the window quickly, causing Red Son to trip on his own two feet before scrambling off the fire escape.
All the while Pigsy screamed to never come back.
Once Red Son was out of sight, Pigsy turned his attention to MK, but there was a soft smile to his face as he checked MK over. Making sure that 'That demon didn't touch you anywhere else.'
"Pigsy I'm fine. They didn't do anything more than kiss me."
"And that'll be the last time they kiss you, demons can be very possessive of mortals if they see a mortal worthy of their time. So if that demon comes around you again. You call me."
"Eye-eye boss."
"Good now put on your work clothes quickly. Customers are coming in."
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Loop 28 felt very different for some reason. MK didn't know why, but for some reason, he felt like if anything happened in this loop it would be permanent. MK waited for Red Son to appear at his window.
He opened up the window for her, where she pulled him into a deeper kiss then the last loop. " I missed you." MK said love struck. Red Son hummed. Bumping foreheads with him. "You saw me last loop."
"That was last loop. This is an entirely new loop."
"Well the next time we sleep we should be out of the loop. So why don't we treat this loop as the first loop." Red Son said before pulling MK into another kiss, this one with a bit more sharp teeth biting his lips.
"But won't that mean I have to try and put your dad under a rock?" MK said once Red Son released his lips.
"Ehh. I was speaking out of my ass when I was saying that. I was just. Angry that the answer was so simple, soul mates. And then it spilled down into if I introduced you to mother and fathers. They'd try to hurt you. So my logic was if I made you hate me. We wouldn't go through that."
"But you couldn't resist me." MK teased, before gasping when Red Son bit lightly on MKs ear.
"Yes. You're too irresistible. You and your phantom dick."
MK broke out into laughter. Pushing Red Son away to get ready for work. The Demon reluctantly agreed.
"So you finally found out what Trans meant." MK snickered once he had his work shirt on.
"Yes it the short word for transgender. You really should have said that first."
"How many years have you been alive for?"
"Not important Noodle Boy. Ah. I must leave. See you at the staff my mate." Before MK could get another word in, Red Son was already flame traveling.
Leaving MK a small warm spot nestled right next to the hole Monkey King's magic would go.
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This time MK didn't wake up to his alarm going of. No he woke up to a weight on his bed, and opening up his eyes, he thought it was Red Son sitting on the end of his bed, but when he opened his eyes he came face to face with Monkey king.
"Monkey king!?" Mk sat up immediately, before his shoulders were grabbed and pulled to be closer to the immortal monkie.
"You were in a time loop."
"Umm yes?"
"Who was the Demon that touched you? I'd need their name, what species they are. And I'll take care of the rest"
"Wait so you know about Soulmates, why didn't you say anything about it in the time loop when I asked you?"
"I'm going to let you in on a little secret kid. I may be the powerful Sun Wukong, but even time loops are out of my jurisdiction. So whatever you managed to get out of me in a loop, was the only information I could have given to you at the time."
"You didn't even know we were in a time loop."
"Again. Time Loop out of my jurisdiction."
"Uhg '' MK layed back down once he realized Monkey King was no longer holding him up. " Well, Monkey King. I just had to go through 29 loops. I'm really tired. Can we talk about this later?"
"Of course, of course. I completely understand. Just one more thing before I leave."
Mk turned his head to look at his mentor, as half his face got surrounded in shadow.
"Who was the Demon that touched you?"
"Monkey King we'll talk about this later!!!!!"