Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Red Son, the spawn of the Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan, walks through the city’s streets, making his way to Pigsy’s noodle shop. In his hand, is a flier poster. He stood just outside the door for what seemed like hours. He was debating with himself whether or not to go in. ‘You can do this, Red Son. Just go inside and ask Mei to go with you to this city festival with you. The worst she can say is no,’ he thought to himself, before going in. “Salutations, peasants.”

Before he knew it, the noodle boy slammed him to the ground. “Hey, Red Son! Long time no see, buddy!” his on-again/off-again enemy yelled in his face with cheer.

“Get off me, Noodle Boy…please,” he added, trying not to flame up before MK could do as he was told and helped the demon boy up. He dusted himself off and looked for the paper he was holding.

“Oh, I forgot there’s a festival tomorrow night at the park,” he heard the dragon girl’s voice from right behind him. He quickly turned around to face her trying not to blush. He couldn't help it. Every time he saw her now since the lady bone demon was defeated he felt so warm without even needing his flame. “Oh, sorry, didn't mean to scare you, Red,” she said before she handed back the poster to him.

Red Son cracked a smile before taking it from her. “I never get scared, but I was wondering if you wanted to go to it?” he asked before turning away to hide his blush again. “With me?”

“Sure, it sounds fun. Right, guys?” she said before to her friends.

Pigsy and Tang shook their heads. “The shop is gonna get more business and I need MK to help with deliveries,” the pig man said.

“And I have to be here for moral support, for a bowl of free noodles of course,” Tang added, before getting slapped on the back of the head by Pigsy.

Mei smiled and rolled her eyes. “Looks like it's just you and me tomorrow night, Red Boy.”

The demon boy wanted to correct her, to tell her that it was meant to be an invite for a date but decided not to. “Oh well, we can make it work,” he said with a forced giggle. His phone went off with a ping. “I have a few other errands to accomplish this evening. So, I will meet you here on the marrow at 5, Dragon girl?” he asked before heading out.

“Sure, that sounds great,” she answered, waving goodbye.

He smiled, beaming with happiness. It wasn't the way he planned it out, but he took the win. He finished his errands and headed back home. “Mother, Father, I have returned,” his shout echoed throughout the lair. They were glued to their baking show. It was getting late so went to bed. He couldn’t wait for his date.

Chapter Text

Red Son awoke from his slumber and began to mentally prepare for his date as he did his morning chores. He started breakfast and noticed that Princess Iron Fan had made her into the kitchen. “Good morning, Mother. Sleep well?” he asked with a smile before cracking an egg into a skillet and frying it with his hand.
“Yes, you seem chipper today. Is something happening you’re excited about? Wait, today is not your birthday, correct?” she asked with a concerned look.
He shook his head, still smiling. “I’m just happy because there is a festival in the city tonight and I thought it would be fun to see what all the fun is about,” he explained with a contented sigh.
PIF noticed that he was blushing a bit. “Oh my dear son, I know that look of lovesick bliss when I see it. Is there a certain horse girl or monkey boy joining you there?”
Red Son almost dropped the pan at that statement. “Alright first, I see the monkie boy as an irritating ally, yes he is relatively attractive, but still not my type,,” he said before adding some spices. He extinguished his flaming hand, plated the egg, and handed it to his mother. He sighed. “Mei will be accompanying me to the festival, but she thinks we are just hanging out as friends,” his smile became a disappointed grimace. Then some negative thoughts started forming. ‘What if she wants nothing more than a platonic relationship with me? If she does wishes for me to court her, how would we explain it to our families? I mean, I am a demon and she is of dragon nobility.’
His spiral stopped when he felt his mother’s hand on his shoulder. He turned his gaze to her. “If you feel for her then tell her. I do not know what she will say, but I do know that love is blind to both good and evil. Just be true to your heart.”
He stood there, stunned for a moment. He quickly pulled her into a thankful hug. He doesn’t hug either of his parents very often, but he is always happy when he is hugged back.
Hours past after breakfast and he was now driving to the city. ‘Mother is right. I need to tell Mei how I feel. No matter what the outcome I need her to know.’

Chapter Text

Red Son pulled up in front of the noddle shop and saw that there was a line of customers out the door. He locked his car and went to find Mei. “Red Boy~” her voice blasted into his ears before he turned around and saw she was right behind him. He was stunned by how lantern light enhanced her beauty with an enchanted glow. She wore a lime green mock-neck with a gold trim, black ripped jeans, and her usual sneakers. “Ready to have some fun?”

Red Son lingered for a moment with a blush dusting his cheeks. He snapped out of it and cleared his throat. “Yes, it will be quite enjoyable.” He then took something out of his pocket, a small green jewelry box, and handed it to her.

“You brought me a gift? You didn’t have to do that,” she said before taking the box and opening it.

“I saw them in a store near here before I went home yesterday,” he said before Mei took out a matching set of emerald dragon earrings. “Thought they would look good on you,” he said with an awkward smile.

She then put them on each ear and threw her hair back. “What’s the verdict, fashion judge?” she asked with a big smile.

“I was correct.”

The dragon girl took out her phone and brought him in before taking a picture. “Thank you, Red Son. They look great,” she said as studied the newly taken photo. She giggled for a moment before putting her phone away. She then took his hand and started pulling him as she started running towards the festival, not even noticing him blushing.

The fairgrounds were full of people, games, rides, food trucks and tents, and shop booths. Red Son looked almost overwhelmed. He took a deep breath and went in with Mei. “What would you like to do first? I was hoping to save the Ferris wheel for the end.”

“So we can have a better view of the fireworks, right?” she said as she looked around in fascination.

He was stunned. “Yes, exactly. You know me better than I know myself sometimes,” he smiled at her. He then led her over to the game area. “I know some or all might be rigged but the world can be very surprising,” he explained.

“I love the bottle-knocking game, but how about the ring toss? This time I won’t have to steal one from your dad,” she said, lightly punching him on the shoulder before heading over to said booth.

He followed and looked to see what kind of prizes it offered. There was a red dragon plush that ignited his interest. ‘That would be perfect for Mei to think of me,’ he thought before ringing the bell.

“Well, well, well,” a cockney voice came from behind the stand.

“If it isn’t the red bull spawn and the child of the dragon family,” another cockney accent said. Emerging from behind the stand were the gold and silver demons. “Long time no see, Fire Diaper,” Yin said to Red Son.

The flame demon blushed with his hair sparking a bit. He could hear Mei chortling next to him. “Just because you two watched me when I was an infant does not mean you can call me that in public!” he growled at the two con artists demons, trying not to light the game on fire.

“We could tell your girlfriend some stories that she would love,” Jin said with a cackle.

“She’s just my friend, you fool,” Red said another growl still blushing. He then took a few deep breaths before slapping down a dollar. “Three rings, now…” he asked rudely before looking at Mei. “Please.” He was handed the gold, silver, and wisteria-colored rings. Focusing on the bottles for a moment, he quickly threw the gold one, only to have it ricochet off the rim and fell on the floor.

“That’s one,” Jin said before grabbing the failed ring.

“Two more chances,” Yin added,

He tried again with the silver one and almost got it, until the bottle tip over a bit, making the ring fall to the ground.

Mei sighed. “You want me to try, Red Boy?”

“I got this!” he snapped at her, making her flinch. He then threw the wisteria ring in anger and missed entirely. With his eye twitching, he was about the walk away in frustration when Mei took his hand.

She was staring straight in his eyes. “Deep breaths and think of the sound of the wind, fire is only destructive if you let it be,” she said to him calmly.

He did as told and felt more serine. ‘Wait a minute,’ he thought. He grinned happily. “You remembered that?”

She nodded. “It was first thing you taught me during our fire training. I’ll always remember that,” she said before turning to the stand and slamming down a bill of her own. “Three rings, I’m playing for that red dragon.” The demons gave her the rings and she quickly threw them in unison. The rings landed perfectly on three bottles. All three demons were stunned. “So, if it’s not rigged, why are you two so shocked?” she said cheekily.

Yin and Jin sighed and gave her the dragon. “Take it and leave .”
Red Son was amazed. He was about to tell her that he was trying to win that for her, but she handed it to him. “Thought you might like it. Plus, I saw you looking straight at it. Sorry for one-uping you,” she added.

He realized something important in that moment. “I apologize for snapping at you, I think I’m turning into my father,” he sighed. He hugged the plush tightly. He remembered when his father was possessed by Lady Bone Demon. Even though he wasn’t himself, he felt devastated by the things his father said to him. “And not in a good way,” he said while looking away in shame.

He then felt a gentle hand on his cheek, making him meet her eyes. “I mean this in the nicest possible way: you are not your dad. You can be evil, but you care so much about your family and I think that’s good. It’s something you and I have in common,” she told him.

‘Is this the moment? Should I go for it? Aw, the heck with it,’ he thought before closing his eyes. He was about to kiss her. When he heard a rumbling sound. It was coming from Mei’s stomach. He let out a laugh. “Let’s get something to eat. I may not be my father, but you have an appetite,” he said with a lingering giggle.

“Hey!” she shouted playfully.

They went over to the food trucks, leaving the gold and silver demons to their scam. Their accountent who was behind the booth’s tent. “You think they like each other?” she asked the two.

They just nodded together.