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Red Son sat on his best, going over what had been going on recently and the strange feelings pooling on his chest. Not just the fear of the unknown, but also some other weirder ones that began to rise after he became an ally of the Noodle boy and the rest of his gang.
Everything that had transpired since the death of the Jade Emperor had been strange. There were no new plans to take over the world, no fights against the Noodle Boy…
In fact, everything had been surprisingly calm! The Demon Bull King family had actually ACCEPTED Sun Wukong’s invitation to go over on a “beach day” with everyone else.
That was what baffled Red Son the most if he was being completely honest.
Whatever had happened within the memories of the scroll had clearly hurt his father so that uncharacteristic behavior was not as strange as it would commonly be, but even then… It all just felt absurd and uncanny.
To top it off, he had actually been “hanging out” with the Noodle boy and the Dragon Horse girl. Why? Well, the Dragon girl had actually given him a “phone” [an archaic device to communicate with each other] which he dumbly accepted.
Due to the tense situation they had all just gone through he expected it to be for important messages, news about what was happening or even requests for help.
But he was oh so, so wrong.
No. They had used it to constantly pester him about his daily life, to send him “memes” (that he honestly barely made sense of) and videos of small animals, to constantly talk to him and worst of all, to repeatedly ask if he wanted to spend time with them now that they were “friends”.
Honestly, that they even DARED to call him that… Sure, he had trained the Dragon Horse girl and battled alongside them, and sure they spent time at the beach annoying him, but that didn’t make them friends.
They were just allies, that’s all they were. It was an alliance that would probably not even last for life, it was clear that when everything had settled back to normality they would go back to their antics and rivalry as he helped his father conquer the world.
At least Red Son kept telling himself that, but the more he circled around those thoughts once more the more reality set in. His parents were at the very least neutral about their new allies despite their deep hatred of the Monkey King and he had actually been enjoying those trips through Megapolis with those two peasants.
He kept denying it, of course. He complained, sighed and huffed every time they went out but just as he knew all of that was an act, so did the other two.
It was complicated, he told himself. He owed them for saving him and his family (more than once now) and he complied with their measly requests. Sure he was having fun, but that didn’t make him their friend.
And of course the fact that despite all of his might that Noodle boy would not leave his mind did not help in the slightest.
He was plaguing his thoughts at every given second. His dorky smile, his annoying rants and horrible taste about movies and series about Monkey King, the way the light of the sun reflected in his eyes making it look like flecks of gold swam in that sea of brown-
“Ugh!”
Red Son could not help but throw himself back in frustration, the heat of what he presumed to be annoyance at that constant presence digging through his thoughts making his cheeks redden and his hair burst into flames before he breathed in and let himself relax.
That short peace of mind did not last though, the annoying “ding” of his phone snapping him out of whatever meditation he attempted to do to try and push the Noodle boy out of his mind.
Despite that, he found himself mindlessly turning the screen on to check who was texting him that late at night.
It was not too common for them to message him at those hours, although it wasn’t completely unheard of either. The Dragon girl and Noodle boy did sometimes send him stuff to see in the morning.
Still, he looked at them every time he heard that sound. No matter how much he told himself they annoyed him, he was always excited to hear the sound and talk to them even if it was just for a while.
An annoyed sigh left his lips when he opened Noodle boy’s chat, seeing he was the one texting. Oh well, he might as well humor him and answer now, right?
> hey red son?
< What do you want, Noodle Boy?
Even though he frowned with annoyance, Red Son felt his chest flutter with excitement. The day had been long and lonely, he didn’t mind the chat.
> i know its a bit late and all but could you come over?
What a strange question… The Noodle boy usually didn’t ask for stuff so suddenly, especially that late.
> its nothing bad btw! dont worry!
There it was, always making sure nobody felt BAD about him despite the fact that he was constantly caring for others… How annoying.
> just… well. I might have gotten a bit of a flu and pigsy is asleep ^^’
< You want me to be your nurse.
> no no! i just thought you could come over to chat a bit? maybe stay over if you want? I can set up something for you to sleep on or something
< So, your n-
Red Son deleted the message before continuing. Something felt off about the Noodle boy. It was an unusual request. He had asked about having a sleepover before but it always included the Dragon girl. And he never asked for something like that so late, much less without any time to plan. He was one for sudden ideas, but he was still mindful about everyone else’s schedules.
< Ugh, whatever. It will take a while though, the fortress is not exactly close.
> thank you so much!!!!!!!! ill make up to you i promise!!!!
Oh, he would. Red Son was not going to take care of him for free. He didn’t know what to ask for just yet but he had plenty of time to think about it while he took care of him. If he annoyed him too much he could even think of something to annoy him back.
The drive took about two hours. Thankfully Red Son had prepared his vehicles to go through any terrain without trouble so the desert sands weren’t an obstacle, otherwise it would have taken much longer.
He did take a bit longer as he grabbed a few things before leaving the fortress, though.
It was obvious the Noodle boy had nothing to treat himself, otherwise he wouldn’t be asking for help from Red Son out of all people. He made sure to bring both medicine and food so he wouldn’t have to deal with that sickness for longer than necessary.
The rumble of the motorbike’s engine quietened down until the air was still with silence. Only his careful steps broke through that stillness as he made his way up the fire escape and knocked on the window.
The light was on, giving a perfect look of the even-messier-than-normal room and the bundle under the bedsheets that probably was the Noodle Boy.
The floor was littered with stuff: Dirty clothes, folded clothing on a corner that was yet to be put away, litter of several kinds, a bowl with unfinished noodles that were starting to look grim and much more, some of which he could not even identify properly.
Red Son knocked on the window, trying not to think much about the filth all over the room as he watched the Noodle boy slide out of the covers and make his way to the window, opening it for him.
The Noodle boy looked… bad, really bad. His nose and cheeks were red, the bags under his eyes were so big they had eye bags of their own, his hair was an absolute mess (worse due to the fact that he did not have his characteristic hair band, so it fell all over his face), his shirt was filled with stains, his skin was pale and sickly, his eyes were reddish in color and his expression was less than happy. Even with that, though, the boy seemed to light up when seeing Red Son almost instantly.
Entering the room, Red Son put his bag down on the spot that was cleaner and closed the window, glancing up and down at the other to get a better idea of his state.
“You look horrible.” He pointed out the obvious, making the Noodle boy chuckle awkwardly and rub the back of his head.
“It’s just a flu, I’ll be good in no time! No need to worry about me.” Despite his words, he was obviously not doing so great. His voice was quiet and raspy and distorted by how clogged his nose was.
“Go sit down, you shouldn’t be up if you’re sick or you won’t heal and I am not going to stay here if you purposefully push yourself like that.” He commanded with a stern look.
Masking his worry with annoyance, Red Son opened the bag and began to carefully organize everything. The Noodle boy of course watched very closely (or as much as he could from the bed as he did not want to annoy him even more), clearing out his throat. “You uhm- really didn’t need to Red Son, I’m okay, really.”
“You say that and yet you look like you’re about to collapse. This will make your recovery faster so you don’t have to whine about how your throat hurts for three days on my messages.” Red Son’s annoyance seemed to make the Noodle boy chuckle, a fond smile growing on his lips thanks to the warmth being cared for brought him
WIthin a few minutes, Red Son had pulled out a bottle of expensive flu medication, a thermos filled with broth, another one with ginger, turmeric and cinnamon blend with honey and a small set of scented candles.
He then made his way to the sickly boy, carefully placing his hand on his forehead to test for temperature. He was highly aware of the Noodle boy’s colder body temperature by now from how clingy he was, so it was not hard to tell just how hot he was to the touch.
He also noticed something else: There were dried out tears trailing down the Noodle boy’s cheeks.
“You’re burning up. Drink this.” Red Son handed him a cup with the ginger drink, his eyes inspecting the other at all times to make sure he didn’t try to get up.
“Thanks… I really do appreciate it, Red Son. Even if it’s just so I get out of your way, it means a lot to me.”
Those words… ugh. They made his cheeks burn and his body tense. He hated that gratitude. He was just doing it so he could leave sooner! Sure, he was there taking care of him out of his own free will, but that was different! He couldn’t just let his ally suffer in ill health!
“You were crying.”
It was said so lightly that it took the Noodle boy a second to process what Red Son had said, his lips moving away from the cup after a long gulp to let out a sigh. “I-it's nothing, really.”
“If you were in that much pain you should’ve told me, I could’ve brought more-” As worry slipped out of Red Son’s lips, the Noodle boy interrupted him.
“It’s not pain! I promise. It’s just that… my mind is going through a lot right now. Nothing you need to worry about.”
For the first time that day a sigh of actual annoyance left Red Son’s lips. After turning around to turn the candles on (and definitely not to avoid those eyes that bore into his mind and made his heart ache from how sad and pitiful they looked) he moved closer to the monkey boy.
His angry look had clearly shocked the Noodle boy, who quickly tried to stutter an apology, but Red Son did not budge and spoke over him, a frown strongly held on his brows.
“You keep telling me not to worry and yet you are very clearly not okay. You are sick and have been unwell mentally as well to the point you called ME out of all people here. You always want to help others but the second someone even dares to care for you, you push them away.” He was mad. Really mad.
“I don’t care if it was because you argued with the Dragon girl or if you just don’t feel worthy of her care so you refuse to even call her. You have to stop acting like an idiot and let people care for you, MK!”
Just as Red Son raised his voice, he lowered it, or to be more exact went completely quiet. He did not expect himself to call the Noodle boy by his name… or nickname? He wasn’t even sure if that was his real name. “...My apologies…” was all that left his lips afterwards, not because of his anger but because of how he had almost yelled at M- the Noodle boy.
“I-... I’m sorry… I just… It’s not about Mei. All that happened finally just hit me and… well… I wasn’t taking it too well. That’s why I don’t want you to worry. I can deal with it, I just got sick and had too much free time so I started thinking about things and-” That was something he could empathize with. All that free time was making his head spiral into places he didn’t want to wander into.
But for that exact reason he stopped the boy from continuing, sitting next to him.
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you have to deal with it by yourself, get that through your thick skull, Noodle boy”. The anger on his tone had now dulled. “...you can tell me, if it helps. As much as you annoy me with your- your everything, I am still your… ugh, friend.”
Red Son said that word with venom on his tongue although the message clearly was understood as the Noodle boy smiled softly and even let himself lean a bit on Red Son, the other’s warmth bringing him comfort as the fever made him shiver.
“Do you think… maybe this was all my fault?” He muttered out, his gaze looking at the floor to avoid more of his thoughts to be read by the demon that he was now resting against. “...Am I the reason why all of this is happening?”
Those words took Red Son by surprise, his mouth opening and closing a few times before his brain and body were able to cooperate to let anything besides shocked stutters out. “That’s ridiculous. You might be strong but you are not strong enough to magically cause all of this.”
The Noodle boy was clearly not convinced by that response, his body curling up a bit as he slid against Red Son’s chest, his acts partially guided by the fever. He was clearly a lot sicker than he let on and the demon now could feel it even better as MK shivered against him, seeking that warmth like it was his lifeline.
“No, I mean… There were evil people doing those things but… what if I am the reason they could do it…? I had the key that freed the Lady Bone Demon, I accidentally opened the scroll that started all of Azure Lion’s plan… And that’s not even the only times I’ve messed up like that!”
It hurt to see the usually cheery and energetic Noodle boy so low. How long had he been thinking that? The fever was clearly making him talk more than he normally would let on so… how long had that been boiling over?
“Trust me, if you were the reason bad things happen then the world would be a much less welcoming place”. Red Son started, his arm moving to rest over the Noodle Boy’s shoulders carefully. “How insulting would it be that my family was stopped by you of all people, before you even became Monkey King’s pupil, if somehow you were the reason everything bad that is happening occurred?”
Despite the very insulted tone, Red Son was obviously trying to make the Noodle boy cheer up. He couldn’t handle watching him blame himself like that, not after all of his hero talks and sacrifices for the better of others.
“If anything, I’d say you’re much more of a hero than Sun Wukong.”
A loud and playful gasp resonated through the room as the Noodle boy turned around and placed both hands on Red Son’s chest. “You did not just say I’m better than Monkey King!” He loudly talked, hurting his throat but smiling a lot more than before even if tears shimmered still at the corners of his eyelids.
“What if I did?” Red Son teased, smirking and trying to ignore the quickened beating of his heart as the Noodle boy’s hands pressed against his chest. “I’m not wrong, you know.”
The Noodle boy… laughed. His previously sad look now being replaced by one joyful and almost loving. That brightness that had been tainted by all of his doubts was now covered by a bright aura almost as bright at the smile that was painted on his still sick face.
Very much unlike Sun Wukong, the Noodle boy had an innocent look shimmering in his eyes and a smile so radiant it could light up the darkest of nights.
“Well! It means you just complimented me! Even if you did just say something like that about Monkey King!” MK exclaimed proudly, putting his hands on Red Son’s cheeks and squeezing them softly. “The grumpy ol’ Red Son complimented me. That’s quite an achievement, don’t you think?”
Ah, so that’s why he lit up so fast. It was true, compliments were a rare gift from Red Son but to be fair, he did not think Monkey King was all that great so it’s not like it was that big of a compliment.
Not that any of that stopped Red Son from growing flustered out of embarrassment.
“I- Don’t expect any more of those, Noodle boy! You are lucky I’m even here to take care of you.” He tensed up as he responded, his brows furrowing which seemed to only cause the Noodle boy to laugh more.
He looked so happy.
MK smiled tenderly as he slid his hands down to rest his arms around Red Son’s shoulders. “It’s okay, I won’t push you to admit it. But thank you, it helped. You helped a lot.” Those words came out quietly although their weight was no less on Red Son’s chest due to that. He didn’t focus on the feeling though, instead panicking when he saw the boy tear up again.
“Hey I-! I didn’t mean to upset you, you humans are just so… ugh! Please don’t cry”. Red Son desperately begged, putting a hand on the Noodle boy’s cheek mindlessly as he used his thumb to rub them away.
“Oh! These are not from being upset, they’re happy tears”. MK’s words clearly eased up the demon who let out a sigh of relief, still in that caring position without even thinking much about it. The Noodle boy’s caring attitude had been rubbing off on him. “It means a lot to me that you came here and… well, that kinda added onto it and I’m a bit emotional right now so I couldn’t help it.”
Hearing just how much his actions meant made the demon’s thoughts rush too fast for him to form coherent sentences, his mumbles nonsensical as he grew red and his ponytail set on fire.
“You’re cute when you get flustered”. The Noodle boy dared to say right to his face, not moving his eyes away despite his eyes threatening to close. “I like it.”
What once was just a few flames was now a full eruption. Red Son’s hair turned into what could only be compared to the flames of the Samadhi Fire itself emanating from him once more. “Okay! Okay! You are clearly delirious from the fever! Time to sleep! You’re way too clingy right now anyways!” His embarrassment was more than obvious. He did not know how to take a compliment and much less from THE Noodle boy, the one who’s presence always rested on his shoulders.
The Noodle boy's smug smile did not grow any smaller as he watched Red Son panic, his body slumping over his chest as he yawned with exhaustion. “Mm… yeah, I think I do need some rest”. MK snuggled against his chest, the quickened heartbeat not seeming to bother him as he searched for that welcoming warmth Red Son emitted.
“Noodle boy- Let go, you need to lay down!” But no matter how much he complained, the Noodle boy did not budge, his grip strong despite his weak state. “Ugh- You- Ugh!”
By the time Red Son had given up MK was already asleep, leaving him alone with his rushing thoughts, abandoned to his luck against that persistent grip around his mind that left him breathless and incapable of fighting back.
That compliment had cut the ground from under Red Son’s feet, leaving him even more vulnerable to the confusing feelings about the boy now tightly clung to his side.
The only time he experienced feelings that strong was anger, at least until he met him. This wasn’t the first time his heart rushed and his breath got stuck on his throat, but before he pushed it away and focused on his work.
Now he had nothing.
No work.
No freedom of movement.
Nothing but stillness.
All he could do was lay there, holding the Noodle boy in his arms, staring into that pretty expression of his as his mind zeroed on him and what he made him feel.
Everything he could think about was that shining smile, those eyes that basked him with warmth every time they looked his way and the way the color of beautiful autumn trees could not compare to their richness, the way his voice so smoothly resonated against his chest every time he spoke, how every time their bodies even grazed together his skin burned in a way that was so pleasantly annoying…
Oh.
Oh.
That was love, wasn’t it? He was head over heels for that monkey boy.
He was so absurdly in love that even in his thoughts the idea of that Noodle boy made his heartbeat speed up.
And he didn’t even realize.
Now what?
There was no way he felt the same way. Right? Even with the compliments it was obvious MK wouldn’t be saying that if it was not because of the fever.
But fevers didn’t make people just lie about stuff. There was at least some sort of reason for him to be saying it.
But it could just be his sweet and caring self the same way he was with everyone else.
But there was the slightest chance it could be true. Maybe MK did have feelings for him too?
But who would have feelings for him? A failure? Someone that not only fought MK but actively hated his mentor?
The thoughts kept on coming, a mix of dread and absolute unparalleled love keeping him awake for hours.
It’s not like he could sleep with the Noodle boy so tightly wrapped around him. The touch just kept on reminding him about all of those conflicting feelings.
What had he gotten himself into?
Morning came and Red Son woke up as early as always, his eyes glancing over the sleeping and still obviously sick Noodle boy before he carefully squeezed his way out of the now softer grasp.
It was impressive that he hadn’t let go for the entire night, honestly.
With the lack of heat by his side, the sickened monkey boy started to shiver so Red Son carefully covered him with his blanket and monkey plush and then got to work.
Living in such filth was not going to help getting MK to a healthier state, so he might as well organize stuff for a bit while he woke up. He had to give him his medication before leaving anyways.
Hands moved elegantly through the room as Red Son cleaned. Folded clothes were put away, dirty ones were stuffed into a nearby basket, books were piled between shelves and the desk, loose drawings were carefully put together in a stack held by the weight of a sketchbook, dirty plates and bowls were washed and put on what seemed to be their usual spot, trash was thrown out… On and on until the room looked at least habitable in Red Son’s eyes.
The soft scent of incense being burned mixing with the smell of the lotus candles he had turned back on now that he was up and working. They always seemed to make him feel better when his mind spiraled out of control so he hoped they would help the Noodle boy out too…
He really cared about him, didn’t he?
It hurt to realize just how much he loved the sickly disciple of the Monkey King, his father’s greatest enemy. Sure they were on better terms now but it still felt… wrong.
His heart was betraying his father’s wishes, that was for sure.
He was a failure to his family once more.
The thoughts returned from time to time, although with work to be able to bury himself in, Red Son had an easy time ignoring them for the most part, sometimes stopping to gaze at the Noodle boy who rested pleasantly under the pile of blankets. He would change those out after MK- the Noodle boy was up.
They were very much not clean.
It took some time, but the room was soon sparkling clean. Places of the floor that hadn’t seen the light in eons now shone like they were new and the pile of trash now laid in a closed trash bag sitting in a corner. He would take it out when he left.
The sound of stirring quickly caught the demon’s attention, a flicker of his ears being enough to catch onto it. He turned quickly, seeing how the Noodle boy groggily stared at him. He must’ve woken up with the noise of him organizing even if he had tried his best to not make a sound.
“Did I wake you up?” Red son asked with guilt making his stomach clench. The soft shake of the Noodle boy’s head caused his body to relax once more. “Alright then, sit up. I’ll heat the soup up so you can have something warm for your throat. How are you feeling?”
MK seemed to be a tad confused yet, taking a look around as he carefully sat up, blanket still covering him. “You… cleaned my room?” His shocked expression almost made Red Son laugh.
“Well of course, it was filthy. You were not going to get any better if that is how you were living”. While he spoke he picked up the thermos and poured some soup on a now clean bowl, cupping it with his hands to warm it up without it being too hot and burning the Noodle boy’s throat.
“Thanks I-... You really didn’t need to. I could’ve taken care of it. I’m feeling better now.” That lie was caught fast by the demon, who huffed and placed the bowl on the Noodle boy’s hands, glaring at him. “Oh- Thanks!”
“You are going to get a lot better at lying if you want to fool me like that, Noodle boy.” He hissed out, placing a spoon on the bowl and looking into his eyes. “Now eat, this will give you some energy back and help with your throat. I tried to not add too much spice to it since your weak human taste probably can’t handle good cooking.”
MK’s eyes softened and shimmered. “You made it?” He felt a bit guilty getting so much from Red Son but it did make his mind go crazy to see how much he had gone out of his way to help. “Hey, I can handle spice just fine! I bet it’s not even that bad”.
Red Son laughed, finding the Noodle boy’s optimism hilarious. “Sure you can, now eat, Noodle boy. When you’re better we can see just how weak your taste buds are to real cooking.”
The air was calm and filled with tenderness. It felt nice to be like that even if just for a short while. Even if those feelings would never be corresponded.
With a quiet smile the Noodle boy began to eat, his expression and content hums signaling to the demon he had done well with his cooking.
The Demon Bull King was a great cook, so it was obvious he would get some of his skill even if just by watching him cook for years. As a kid he loved to climb on his shoulders and watch through each step with admiration.
Nowadays he no longer watched the same way, only getting glances from the distance or when going past for whatever new tax he had been assigned. The relationship between him and his parents had grown… colder over the years.
Maybe if he was a better son it would have ended better. If he wasn’t such a failure he could’ve freed his father much earlier so his mother didn’t have to suffer alone.
He knew how much she cried behind those cold walls she put up around herself. He heard every night how she closed the door and laid in a bed too big for just her body, holding onto the hope she would one day get her husband back.
If he was a better son his father wouldn’t have been so tired of his failed attempts. Maybe he wouldn’t have needed a better source of power and he wouldn’t have gotten possessed by the Lady Bone Demon.
But if he had been less of a failure… wouldn’t that mean that the Noodle boy wouldn’t have been there in his life?
Was he truly considering… failing his parents hadn’t been that bad?
How could he be proud of his heritage if he had such traitorous thoughts in his mind?
How dare he-
“Red Son?”
That voice, so soft and concerned… He snapped out of that train of thought quickly, looking back at the Noodle boy who now looked a bit worried.
“Are you okay? You went quiet and started looking a bit down. If you need to go do anything please don’t be forced to stay, alright? I- I really don’t want to make you do all of this even if I really do appreciate it-” Oh… he thought it was his fault. It wasn’t, no. Sure, his heart and mind were in turmoil with feelings towards him, but he was not the one at fault.
“You think you could force me to stay? Hah! You make me laugh, Noodle boy. I’m perfectly fine.” Red Son instantly put that mask back on, not letting MK see just how much his heart ached.
“Even then- You can just leave whenever, okay? You’ve done so much for me even after I called you so late at night. I mean, you even brought me food and cleaned my room and slept over even though you always turned the offer down and-”
“Noodle boy”. Red Son tried to interrupt to no avail.
“-and I was all clingy even after the many times you told me you hate being touched and-”
“ Noodle boy ”.
“-all of this after I caused you and your family to get stuck on that stupid scroll! And I didn’t even do anything back for you after all of it even though it was my fault and-”
“MK!” He raised his voice to snap him out of it, putting a hand on his cheek and the other on his shoulder. “Listen to me. I’m not upset or annoyed. I am doing this out of my own free will. So stop freaking out for a second.”
The touch burnt, the areas where their skins touched so scorching hot that it was almost unbearable for the fire demon at that point.
And yet he did not move.
Not until he could know the Noodle boy was alright.
“I’m sorry-”
“Stop saying that”. Despite the seriousness of his voice, Red Son did not sound upset or annoyed, not at MK at least. “Stop saying sorry. There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. Stop being an idiot and listen to me.”
And the Noodle boy did, going quiet and even leaning unconsciously into that warm touch. His fever was in part why he did, but something else in him was begging for that closeness, something more than his need for comfort.
Red Son sighed, pinching his nose with the hand that before rested on MK’s cheek. “You want to help everyone all the darn time, but you’re almost allergic to anyone else trying to do the same for you. If you are so desperate to call me a friend then let me be one. You’ve been nothing but kind to me despite the fact that I was your literal enemy, so let me do this and stop being an empty-brained hypocrite.”
The Noodle boy’s guilty face made him worry that he had gone too far, but before he could backtrack and try to get the boy to cheer up, MK wrapped his arms tightly around him and pulled him into a hug.
Some tears had slid down his cheeks and into Red Son’s neck as he hid against it, causing the demon to shiver and causing his worry to grow much stronger. “Hey- hey don’t cry- I didn’t mean to-” He was panicking. He was not good at reading people’s emotions and much less at HELPING with them. Had he said something wrong? Did he hurt the Noodle boy further?
“Thank you… I really needed to hear that, Red son”. It was an unusual thing to hear from someone he expected to have upset. “You are just so… amazing, you know? I mean, even after everything, you’re here taking care of me even though I basically broke down twice in the span of like, twelve hours? And I was asleep for most of that! Just… thank you, really.”
Small flames began to burst out of Red Son’s hair, his cheeks burning red. He was frozen in that position, letting the Noodle boy cling onto him while he just… stood there very awkwardly. He was glad? And he was calling him amazing? But he had just done the very basics, it didn’t even compare to what the Noodle boy had done for him!
“The reason I didn’t call Mei over is because I didn’t want to see her worry over me, even you noticed I had been crying, hah… I don’t know why, I just… felt it was going to be easier to cheer up if you came over? You’ve always just had that energy around you that always makes me feel a little bit better…” The Noodle boy sighed, snuggling more against him. He was very warm to the touch… That fever really did not get any better. “And I wasn’t wrong. I’m sor- I didn’t mean to break down like that but I am glad you were there with me this time. It’s still a lot to think over but… well, I’m not freaking out as much, if that makes sense?”
Red Son was still stunned but he managed to shift his position, the flames of his hair growing so strong he was worried it’d leave scorch marks all over the ceiling.
The Noodle boy clearly caught on to his stunned state and slowly let go of the hug, looking into his eyes with his hazy own. The words came very naturally to him, either because of the fever or because of the way Red Son always made it so easy to talk about anything.
“I wasn’t joking when I said you looked cute when you blush… and you have very pretty eyes…” He mumbled, growing closer once more although this time approaching the demon’s face.
It took a few seconds for Red Son to even react, his body so stiff one would think he had been turned to stone. He was only able to move when the Noodle boy was so painfully close, their lips almost touched. Was he- Was he trying to kiss him!?
With a quick movement the demon put some distance between the two, carefully putting both hands on the boy’s chest and pushing him back before backing off as well, his blush now so strong that his hair had completely ignited once more. “Noodle boy!? W-wh-!?”
That reaction was clearly not what the human was looking for judging by the way his smile grew thin and forced and his eyes grew glassy with tears. His throat clenched and his hands clutched the blanket tightly to try and not break down again. “A-ah… sorry, I thought you’d- Nevermind- Haha…. maybe I- I am that sick huh…?”
MK’s hurt expression sucked the heat out of Red Son’s body. Now he really had hurt the Noodle boy. “No- No! It’s okay! I just- I wasn’t expecting that!” He tried to recover, gesturing with his hands nervously but the Noodle boy’s quiet shrug proved he was failing at that, too.
“I’m really sorry, I should’ve been able to tell you weren’t… ah, this is embarrassing…” He looked so heartbroken, all because Red Son was too shy to admit what he felt for him. All because of those conflicting emotions causing turmoil in his mind.
“That’s not it!” He insisted, now very visibly freaking out as he moved his hands in every direction trying to explain himself. “I really do feel the same way! I do! I just freaked out because I was really not expecting you to- Ugh, you know!” Red Son was red as a cherry yet again, his hands now stopping to quickly dash towards MK’s cheeks, rubbing those tears away with utmost care. “I promise I… I do love you, MK. I just didn’t know you- well…”
Hearing that seemed to help even if uncertainty still loomed over both of them. “You don’t need to tell me that to make me feel better, r-really! I’m okay-”
No more words were uttered out, the sudden touch of their lips pressing together snapping MK out of that self doubt and embarrassment. Red Son was kissing him and it was more than just a peck, he was holding his head gently to keep him in, but soft enough to let him back off if he wanted to.
“Woah.” The Noodle boy sputtered out, his eyes open wide, mouth now agape.
“Do you believe me now?” Red Son flushed, trying to calm the wildfire that was his hair by patting it down nervously. “I told you, didn’t I? Now stop worrying.” He was barely holding it together enough to talk and MK was too shocked to reply for a bit so he nodded instead, the lingering taste of the other’s lips still burning on his own.
Even with all the swirling thoughts on his mind, Red Son could only focus on just how much better MK looked now, his eyes no longer brim with tears. Soon a wide smile bloomed on his lips that made his expression even more beautiful.
Well… at least now he knew it was not one-sided love.
“You- You kissed me”. He stuttered out with shock and a very vivid joy. He looked adorable like that. Red Son hoped to be able to make him smile like that more.
“Yes, Noodle boy, I think that is quite obvious”. He sassed back with a smirk, trying to ignore the burning blush on his cheeks. He HAD just kissed him, hadn’t he? Not just a peck, no, he went all in despite having no clue how to even kiss someone.
That had just been his first kiss.
MK was his first kiss.
Reality set in and Red Son turned around, the flames of his hair making it quite obvious that he was embarrassed. “Don’t you dare tell this to anyone, got it? I will kill you with my very own hands”. They both knew it was an empty threat, but the demon said it nonetheless.
The Noodle boy laughed. He dared to laugh at his embarrassment! And of course it made it worse, the flames burning so high they left a mark on the ceiling.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep this a secret. I wouldn’t want to make you freak out more, even if you are very cute like that”. That teasing monkey boy, oh how much he wanted to pin him down and kiss those lips- Maybe he was the one getting sick now.
After calming down, the demon turned around and sighed loudly, pushing a small vial against the Noodle boy’s chest, cheeks still in a deep flush. “Drink this, it will help with your flu. Just don’t be an idiot and-”
Before Red Son could even finish, MK had already popped the cork off and put the contents on his mouth without a second thought. That of course was what he had been trying to warn him about and the expression of pure disgust proved his point.
“And try to drink it in one go… because it’s incredibly bitter”. Red Son spoke with a deadpan face, holding the bridge of his nose with two fingers and letting out a loud and annoyed sigh. “Let me get you some tea to wash it down, Noodle boy.”
While MK did his best to swallow the medicine and not gag at just how extremely bitter it was, Red Son poured the ginger tea he brought into the thermos’ cup and heated it up a bit with his hand. He then handed it to the idiot he was so madly in love with and watched him chug with desperation to try and at least remove some of the strong taste off of his mouth.
“Your impulse control rivals that of a toddler. I’m concerned to find out how you managed to stay alive for so long without constant supervision”. Red Son sassed with a smirk, sitting back down next to him. How could he find the Noodle boy’s impulsive actions… cute? Was he that far gone? Or… was it because it meant he trusted him?
“Better?” He quietly asked, glancing at the other and holding back a laugh as he saw the relief thanks to the bitterness being now gone.
MK sighed and leaned against him shoulder against shoulder, letting out a breath he did not realize he had even held in in the first place. “Muuuuch better, thanks. How can you even drink that knowing how bad it tastes? Seriously, it’s so bad!”
Red Son laughed, not realizing how the Noodle boy stared at him with the same wonder he did every time he smiled. “Because unlike you, I try to not get sick to begin with and in a much better train of thought, I take small sips alongside some food or drink.”
When he looked back at the human he could notice the faint blush shining on his cheeks and bringing some color to his skin. He did look healthier, but on top of that he seemed almost… amazed? There was so much wonder in his eyes that Red Son almost had to avoid his gaze.
They remained like that for a while, exchanging soft looks and gentle touches while they chatted. It was still early and the pig was aware of the Noodle boy’s sickness so he didn’t come to tell him he was late to work, letting him rest … or what he thought was rest, as instead he was holding hands with Red son, fingers intertwined in an agreed gesture of care that wasn’t as overwhelming for the demon.
“Hey, Red Son?” MK asked, causing the demon to curiously perk up. “Does your hair burn?”
It was a strange question, but one he was willing to answer for him. “Not necessarily. I am a fire demon, but that also means I have control over said fire. I can choose for it to burn or I can just make it warm.”
Small flames still glided over the strands of red from time to time as feelings overflowed through his power. That seemed to intrigue the Noodle boy, who moved his hand closer. “Can I?”
If it had been anyone else, Red Son would’ve turned their hand into ash for even daring to ask, but for the Noodle boy he let the fire grow, flames now in the place of red hair, remaining in shape until MK moved his fingers through them, amazed at the harmless warmth.
“Woah… It’s so warm! And it doesn’t hurt like at all! That’s so awesome!” All that praise made the flames rise higher but never burn stronger. Not as long as the Noodle boy was touching them. “It feels super weird, i-in a good way of course!”
What was there not to love about him? His almost childlike wonder, his positive aura, those smiles brighter than any light in the universe and those eyes warmer than any fire Red Son could make… And now they were there, together. And maybe he would get sick (even if he doubted a human flu could affect him) but he did not care if it meant being together for a little longer.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Maybe it was not something he had the guts to say out loud just yet, maybe it would take him some time, but he would show it to him every day until he could and more. He would give him the Moon, the Sun and the stars if he could. That and so much more.
“I love you”. A warm voice said by his side. “I love you”, it continued as his breaths shook from the intensity of that emotion- “and I’m glad you’re here”. MK spoke quietly, not because he feared saying it out loud but simply because the moment was so peaceful that a whisper was the most fitting.
“I… love you too”. Red Son whispered back so quietly it went almost unheard, his hand finally daring to go around the Noodle boy’s shoulder to bring him closer against his chest, allowing him to hear the wild beating of his heart if it meant having him any closer.
He rarely heard such words, much less said them, but he had the feeling that was going to change starting from that moment on.
It would be some time until they figured out everything about their relationship but that wasn’t stopping them from sitting together now, hands tightly held together and caring actions being given back and forth for a few hours.
Red Son would have to leave, yes, but that day was one of many more that were to come and as MK healed it would only grow with their feelings.
And sure, the future was uncertain and terrifying at times, but now they were together. Even if their fate was yet to be sealed, there was one thing that they knew and it was their love for each other.
It might not be much against what would soon happen, but it gave them the strength they needed to fight.
So they held their hands. Every burning touch being a reminder of all it meant for them to continue.