Chapter Text
Another successful day at Pigsy’s Noodles. While they scarf down their bowls, slurping noodles and drinking the flavorful broth, Mei rambles, spilling the exciting details of today’s training session with Red Son. His constant reminders of the importance of patience and balance, for the samadhi fire, is an unconquerable force, tamed by the one and only dragon girl.
Tang takes out a pen and a small notepad, “Impressive! Is there anything else? I plan on writing this into my book.” With Tang’s persistence and love for stories, new and old, they would all go down in history, known as legends before they'd even met their graves.
“Hmm. Oh! That fire wave I unleashed! Red Son looked like he’d seen a ghost. I didn’t think he would be frightened by fire.”
“I wasn’t scared.” Red Son rolls his eyes.
MK’s undivided attention is on Mei’s storytelling, unaware that noodles are dangling over the edge of his bowl and chopped carrot pieces soaked in broth are cold on the counter. Pigsy pulls out a white cloth, cleaning up the mess.
“Could you watch how you’re eatin’?” Pigsy tries his hardest to keep the noodle shop in its most pristine and sanitary condition, especially the countertops. It's not always easy with an absentminded meal enjoyer like MK.
“Oh, sorry.” MK wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He turns to Mei, “So like, how does it feel to use the fire? It's so powerful."
Mei stares down at her hands, a vivid image of the fire in her mind. “My palms get all hot and there’s this energy around me. But it doesn’t feel like it’s too much to handle anymore. I think I’m becoming a samadhi fire master.” She chuckles, shifting in her seat.
“You have a long way to go before you can call yourself a true master.” Red Son chimes in again, chin resting in their hands as they set their chopsticks beside their bowl.
“Suree. With your wisdom, I’ll be some kind of fire god soon.”
“What do you think your title would be? ‘Mei Dragon the Fire God’ or ‘Mei the Fire Lord Dragon’?” MK hands his bowl to Pigsy. Pigsy sets it in the sink with the others, taping a note above the faucet as a reminder for Tang to do them.
“Oooh! I didn’t think of a cool title for myself yet. Maybe ‘Mei the Fire God, Descendent of the White Dragon Horse’.”
“Awesome. The best out of the 4, I mean, 3."
“I know.” Mei admires herself in the reflection of her phone screen.
Mei goes on. Red Son zones in and out of the conversation, consumed by their thoughts. He wants to be proud of Mei, and that would be easier to do if his heart didn’t sink deep into his chest at the mention of the samadhi fire. Losing their appetite, they push their bowl away, hopping down from the stool.
“Thanks for the meal, but I think I’m ready to go home.”
“Sure you don’t want more? I have plenty.” Pigsy motions to the pot on the stove.
“Certain.”
“You can save them for me, Pigsy~” Tang bats his eyelashes, gesturing that he wants another bowl of noodles.
“At least they won’t go to waste.” Pigsy pours more into Tang’s bowl.
“Need some company?” MK stands beside Red Son.
“No, no, you don’t have to come with me.”
“I've finished anyway."
“So?”
“So, I can come with you.” MK throws an arm over Red Son’s shoulder, grinning.
Red Son isn't in the mood to dispute or deny MK's offer, so he lets him come along. He doesn't wait for MK when he gets distracted. MK says goodbye, waving a hand as they depart. He catches up to Red Son, who is already halfway up the street. MK chases after them, assuming they used their teleportation to lengthen the distance between them and the noodle shop in seconds flat. MK catches his breath, "Wait up! We're walking together, remember?"
"I don't recall this agreement." Red Son shrugs.
"Yeah, I totally believe you. Are you actually gonna walk all the way home? That's a long trip."
"Perhaps halfway," Red Son tightens his ponytail, "Some fresh air will probably do me some good."
"Why'd you wanna leave?"
Red Son draws a sigh, heading up the street. They don't utter a word, sorting through their racing thoughts. It's complicated, but MK has faced far greater challenges so surely he could make sense of Red Son's cluttered mind. They hear MK's footsteps beside them and can feel his eyes on him, patiently expecting a response.
"I'm not feeling well."