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When the sword pierced his skin, the world stood still. Every breath stopped and all movement froze. It was as if the world stared at their hero with shock and terror. Maybe this wasn’t the case for the rest of the city, but it most certainly was for his allies.
The demon smiled wickedly at its triumph and a burst of energy shot from its hand and through the sword, directly into MK’s wound, sending the hero through the air.
“MK!” Screamed Mei’s voice.
Red Son snapped towards her with horror coursing through his blood.
When she looked back to him he knew he wasn’t alone. However, it was only a split second before the sword in her grasp began to crack and spark with dangerous green energy. Her face darkened as the shock faded and something much more deadly replaced it. “Go, help MK. I’ve got this,” she hissed out, turning towards the cackling villain.
Red Son knew better than to argue with her, as much as he too felt the flames of his anger explode within him. Instead, he nodded and began to ride his fire in the direction that MK had been thrown.
In his peripherals he could see green and blue energy sparking and exploding throughout the sky above. She would need help soon. However, theoretically, their other annoying friends should arrive at any moment. Thus, giving Red Son time and ability to help MK.
When he finally found the other it was lying on a pile of rubble. What looked to be the wooden remains of a shattered vegetable cart. Cabbage or something, Red Son noted, not that it mattered.
He shot down to the other and quickly called out to him. However, there was no immediate response. Red Son knelt beside MK and pulled away his jacket to get a better look at the wound. The fabric of his shirt was singed from the magical energy attack and was quickly soaking up the blood profusely spilling from the injury.
“MK?” Red Son bit. The other only gave a groan. “MK!” he hissed louder. “Listen to me! You better stay awake and help me keep your stupid ass alive, you noodle-brained moron!”
MK puffed out a pathetic sound that almost sounded like a pained laugh. He pulled open an eye, then slowly the second and looked at the demon. “Jeez, you’re mean even when I’m bleeding out. Don’t ever be a nurse. Your bedside manners suck.”
Red Son huffed angrily at that as he gently moved to pick MK up by the shoulders and help him into a sitting position against a market stand. “I wouldn’t have to have any bedside manners if you hadn't gotten yourself stabbed!”
MK frowned at that. “You think I wanted that?” he hissed back. “Yeah. No. I could have really done without it, thanks.”
Red Son rolled his eyes and carefully pulled off MK’s jacket. The hero gave a hiss in pain at the movement, causing Red Son’s eyes to quickly flick to his face. MK’s features were twisted in pain. Something that, back when they first met, Red Son would have wished he could have caused. Yet now, where they sat, when they sat, Red Son would have done nearly anything to prevent such a disaster.
He balled up the middle of the jacket and pressed it against the wound, this time causing a sound that was almost a scream, clearly muted by the other biting down on his tongue. Red Son didn’t look up this time. Whatever was on MK’s face, he didn’t want to see it. Instead he worked to use the sleeves of the jacket to tie it in place. It was a struggle to do so. His hands shook as he tried. His hands were shaking. Why were his hands shaking?
“Your hands are warm,” slurred out MK’s voice.
“Wha-”
“‘M cold.”
Red Son frowned at that. “You’re going through hypovolemic shock, you nimrod,” he hissed out. He had to act fast. MK was losing too much blood much too fast. Red Son carefully pulled the other up and into his arms. The hero almost immediately wrapped his arms around the demon’s neck, seeking out the warmth of his body. Red Son only sighed and shifted to be able to carry him best. He then got back to his feet and ran.
Blasts of fire lighting with every step, accelerating him faster through the streets as he made his way to the closest safe house- MK’s apartment. He jumped up the steps of the fire escape and kicked open the, thankfully, unlocked window. He placed the other down on the bed and started to rummage through his things.
“For the love of- Don’t you have any first aid equipment, Noodle Boy!” he growled out in frustration.
MK sluggishly moved his head to look at him. “Huh? Oh uh, no. I think I used it all,” he mumbled.
Red Son let out another frustrated groan. Nothing to well bandage the wound, and if the quickly spreading stain was anything to go by that jacket wasn’t doing the trick. Shit. He had to stop the bleeding. Maybe there was another way. Maybe he could- oh. Oh fuck. His eyes widened in horrific realization.
He had to cauterize the wound.
There wasn’t enough time to think of a better plan or run off to look for other help. If he didn’t do something fast MK would die. With a sigh, Red Son yanked a random shirt from MK’s drawers and stomped back over to the bed. “Bite this,” he demanded, shoving the cloth into the other’s mouth.
MK gave a sound of protest and a confused brow but Red Son gave him no time to question the action.
The demon raised MK’s tattered shirt and, with no hesitation, slapped his hand to the wound and ignited it. The scream that came from the hero was downright blood curdling. If Red Son hadn’t given him that shirt, he was sure MK would be cracking his own teeth.
Red Son used his other hand to push against MK’s chest and keep him down. He writhed against the pain as tears started to slip from behind his tightly shut eyelids. Red Son could feel the tissue scarring over under his fingers. The soft skin crusting over with dried blood and what was definitely going to be a serious burn scar later.
Finally after what felt like an eternity, the wound stopped bleeding and Red Son raised his hand. He, instead, placed it on the side of the bed to hold himself up. His other hand slipped from MK’s heaving stomach to follow suit. The act of igniting such a flame was in no way exhausting. He wasn’t sure why he felt so out of breath. As if he had been holding it the whole time. Which, he realized, he had been.
Aside from his own breathing, the only other sound in the room was that of sobbing. Red Son squeezed his eyes closed. For as long as he’d spent wanting nothing more than to annihilate this idiot. And yet now, here he stood, attempting to keep calm from just merely harming him, and to save his life no less. He ran his hand over his forehead and then down his face.
Oh how the villainous have fallen.
He raised up to stand straight and looked up to the window. The sounds of fighting and the sparks of light had vanished. They must have ended when he wasn’t paying attention. He only hoped it wasn’t for the worst. He turned and looked back over to MK. The poor bastard looked absolutely wrecked.
Sweat and tears drenched his face as he tried to calm down in his pain. Red Son pushed back some of his fallen hair from his eyes.
MK squinted up at him. He looked ridiculous with that shirt still in his mouth. His face flustered and twisted in agony.
Red Son sighed. He pulled the shirt from the other’s lips and tossed it to the ground. Heavens, what a weak heart he turned out to have. The way it twisted and pulled at such a sight. Absolutely ridiculous.
He let his hand smooth out MK’s hair then moved to his check. “I’m going to go aid your idiot friends,” he informed. Much less bite in his words than normal. “Don’t do something stupid while I’m gone. Like die.”
MK gave a hum of acknowledgment and closed his eyes. He pressed into the hand and Red Son mentally chalked it up as a near-death lapse in judgment. Either way he didn’t allow himself to linger and quickly pulled away to head back to the battle, hoping the others were able to pull their weight without him.