Archive of Our Own

There had been a massive increase in demon attacks in Megapolis and they were becoming more and more violent with each passing day. The amount of bystanders and civilians that MK, Mei and Sandy have had to try and save, before they got crushed by the collateral damage, was insane and it was all beginning to get insanely out of hand.

As much help as Sandy had been when assisting them with the continous demon attacks.. he could only do so much. Sandy had sworn to pacifism. Refusing to fight at all. Something to do with his past, that only Pigsy seemed to know the answer to, MK guessed.

Eventually, Sandy had grown exhausted from the constant darting around for days and days on end, so MK had pushed him to rest. He had been a great help and he deserved a break. Mei also seemed to be getting tired of it. Her sleep schedule had been entirely disrupted, as she kept getting woken up in the middle of the night by crashing and slamming outside. Knowing she needed to help, she had been forced to fight demons in her pyjamas many times, and MK was surprised that she didn't have holes littering the fabric.

MK had suggested that she take a break as well. However, Mei was stubborn.

"I can't leave my best friend to deal with all these demons by himself! I mean, when exactly was the last time you rested? I haven't seen you take so much as a second of a break!" Mei argued. She was concerned for her friend and rightfully so.

Even after defeating demons in the middle of the night, and being entirely unable to sleep at all due to the immense stress, he'd still take up his delivery shift in the morning. Even Pigsy had asked him if he needed a break, to which MK replied with "No, no! I'm absolutely and completely fine- I can handle this!" Despite feeling absolutely exhausted and drained. Pigsy had described him as 'enigmatic' after that when talking with Tang.. whatever that word meant. But he couldn't let Pigsy down! Not after everything he'd done for him. 

Regardless of how fatigued MK was, he had to push on. He needed information about what had caused this uprise in demon attacks. So he came to the conclusion that the best person to ask would be his mentor, Monkey King.

Soaring up to Flower Fruit Mountain on his nimbus, MK thought over how he was going to explain this situation to Monkey King. Sure he was kinda smart- but did Wukong really know much about demon behaviours? Was just as in the dark as MK was? As he deliberated over the possibilities of how this would play out, he realised that he had arrived already. The grand form of the mountain towering over the grove of trees and plants beneath him. He lowered his nimbus.

He leaped off of the cloud, sprinting in the general direction of Monkey King's shame temple. Bounding through the groves of peach trees and groups of monkies, he finally reached the waterfall that sealed off Wukong's cave. Pushing through the ward protecting it and sealing it off from unwanted intruders, he continued to sprint into the cave, skidding to a halt when he found Sun Wukong just roaming through the halls. Almost as if he had expected MK to appear.

"Hey- Monkey King!" MK huffed. Out of breath from his running he bent over slightly, as he tried to regain his breath.

"Heya bud! What brings you here?" Monkey King beams at his successor, hands on his hips as he awaits a response.

As MK finally catches his breath, he leaps up, grabbing Wukong by the shoulders and shaking him with desperation.

"MONKEY KING YOU'VE GOTTA HELP ME! THERE'S THIS UPRISE IN DEMON ATTACKS ON THE CITY AND EVERYONE'S BEEN FIGHTING ALMOST NONSTOP! THEY KEEP ATTACKING AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET HURT AND IM SO TIRED- WHAT IF I FALL ASLEEP AND I DON'T WAKE UP IN TIME AND-"

"Kid!.. You're gonna pass out if you don't stop and breathe for a moment." Wukong interjected before MK could spiral into a panic attack.

MK pauses, taking a deep breath, holding it in his lungs for a moment and then breathing out. After repeating this a few times and once MK's calmed down a little, he sticks his thumbs up at his mentor, smiling up at him

"You feeling a little better, kid?" Wukong asked, calmly as he leant forward a little to get a better look at his student. MK was covered in cuts and bruises, most of them a blueish-purple colour. His hair was a mess, unlike how it usually was tied back in his bandana, which was slightly torn and stained ashy black in a few places. His eyes looked exhausted, like he could pass out at any moment, and his eye bags were tinted a dark purple.

"When exactly was the last time you took a break and actually slept?" Wukong questioned, seemingly concerned for his successors health.

"Uummm.... maybe almost a week ago?" MK squeaked out, hoping his mentor wouldn't get mad at him for not being top of his game.

Wukong grimaced a little.

"But it's not as bad as it looks- I'm totally fine! Super awake and absolutely okay!" MK forced a wide grin. He couldn't let everyone worry about him. They already had so much on their plates, adding MK's health to the pile would just stress them out more, and besides he could handle it. I mean he was the monkie kid, after all.

"Bud, you really should take a break. What did you say was keeping you up? Demons?" Wukong tapped his chin with his finger as he tried to recall and decipher all of MK's previous rambling.

"Yea!" Mk supplied "There's been a whole lot more demons attacking recently. They've even ambushed me and Mei when we went on a cheese tea run! And when I've been mid-delivery!"

"And they've been challenging you day and night?" Wukong questioned.

"Yes! All the time! I barely get a break and Mei can't keep dropping everything in the middle of the night to come and help me!" MK frowned. He didn't want Mei to get hurt because she was too tired to fight. What would he do without his best friend? He'd be lost without her support. He'd he lost without her.

"You got any leads? Like a reoccurring demon or a name that they mention during their battles with you?" Wukong asked again as he tried to gain more information to try and put the facts together.

"Hmm..." MK paused, doing his best to recall through all his hectic thoughts. "I don't think so... OH WAIT! there's one demon that keeps showing up. They're a possum demon! I don't know their name though."

Wukong took a moment to process. A possum demon. Sounded a little familiar but then again Wukong's been around a lot of demons in the past. Could be an old enemy trying to get back at him through his successor. Maybe they were trying to tire MK and his friends out so that they could hit him while he's down. Wukong wouldn't stand for it. He's sick of people trying to take their fights with him out on his successor.

"Okay. I'll try and search for some more leads, and see what we can do, alright bud?" Wukong tried to give him some hope as he clarified his plan.

MK nodded quietly. A little disappointed that his mentor didn't seem to know anything about the situation. But then again, maybe that was just wishful thinking. Monkey King was pretty isolated on Flower Fruit Mountain. He only ever really left the hidden paradise when he was visiting MK or when he was in a fight. Other than the other little snow white monkies on the mountain, there was no one else really here. But even though he didn't know much, he's still trying to help. MK was just being ungrateful. He should be happy that Monkey King wanted to help.

As he said his goodbyes and waved to Monkey King, he jumped up into the air, his nimbus forming underneath him before he plopped back down and soared off into the sky. As he did, he got to thinking. If Monkey King is doing some investigating and interrogating then maybe MK should too. However, instead of questioning some random demon, he decided to go to someone he felt comfortable talking to, Red Son.

It was ironic, considering that only a few years ago they were each others nemesis. And now they were almost just as close as Mei and MK were.

Upon deciding his destination, he changed the trajectory of his nimbus, as he sped towards the Demon Bull King's domain.

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Once he reached the Demon Bull King's fortress, he flew towards the front gates. He figured if he was gonna go in and ask Red Son about this, then the least he could do was come in through the front door, instead of sneaking through his window like he usually would. As he jumped off of his nimbus, he stepped up to the front door. A large black steel door stood in front of him, huge onyx bull themed door knockers were present of each of the two doors. Reaching up to one of them and grabbing the ring that hung from its nose, just like the real DBK, he knocked on the door three times and proceeded to wait, impatiently and anxiously tapping his shoes against the stone steps.

After a few moments, a bull clone answered the door, opening the doorway, just wide enough for it to fit through.

"State your purpose" the bull clone demanded in its cold,  monotone voice.

"Oh. Uh.. I'm here to see Red Son?" MK supplied awkwardly to the bull clone.

"Authorising request.." the bull clone responded. Then paused for a few moments. MK stood awkwardly in the silence, the bull clone staring emptilly into the distance as it processed his request.

"Request authorised. Follow" was the only warning MK got before the bull clone started heading back inside, holding the door open for MK for only a second. MK followed as the bull clone lead him through long, dark, bull themed hallways and guiding him through the hidden traps. Eventually, it lead him to a large door at the end of one of the many hallways along the bottom floor, where the basement should be.

Knocking loudly on the door, the bull clone stood motionless before hearing

"Come in" 

from the other side of the door. The bull clone slowly pried the door open, revealing Red Son's massive workshop. The dark purple walls were adorned with large shelves, filled to the brim with books and blueprints. Blueprints and building guidelines lay plastered across the walls, the brighter colours of the papers contrasting heavily with the dark walls. White pegs poked out from the wall next to the door. Black or red aprons hung neatly there, a welding mask hung just on top of them. Then in the middle of it all sat Red Son, peacefully scribbling away at a blueprint.

"You have a visitor, Young Prince." The bull clone stated, before turning tail and zooming down the hallway, completely out of sight.

Red Son halted in his writing before twisting around, once he realised it was MK, he beckoned him over so MK obliged. Slowly stepping in from the dim, dark hallway into the soft, warm glow of Red Son's workshop as he closed the door behind him. MK shuffled over to where Red Son was scribbling away, plopping himself on the desk next to him.

"So.. what brings you here, noodle boy? Have you come to further torment me with that stupid monkie cop tournament or something?" Red Son questioned with a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

"Uh no? And monkie cop isn't stupid, Red. It is a cinematic masterpiece!" MK waved his hands around wildly as if that alone would get the point across and change Red Son's mind about it.

Red Son cackled, lightheartedly before he pushed his blueprints to the side, resting his elbow on the desk and propping up his head in his hand to listen to what MK had to say.

"Anyways- I'm here to ask you a few questions. If you're okay with that?" MK tilted his head a bit. Would Red Son really know much about the situation? Sure there was a good chance he'd know more than Wukong but he still didn't seem to be very social, other than Mei and MK that is.

"What about? Is it something important?" Red Son raised his eyebrow as he questioned. 

"Well...have you heard anything about the demon attacks that have been happening recently?" MK asked, rubbing his eyes as his exhaustion crept up on him again.

Red Son looked at him a little puzzled.

"You don't know?"

Mk blanked. Red Son knew something? He should've come to him first.

"No? What is it?"

"There's been a rumour going around at mother's banquets recently that a new demon has appeared and they have been terrorising weaker demons. They think that they're hypnotising them to work for them. And sending them to battle against you, since you're Sun Wukong's successor and all."

MK sat there in silence. Confusion bubbling up in his head, trying to come up with a reason to why exactly they wanted to defeat him? Sure he was Monkey King's successor, but he hadn't done anything to these demons! He hadn't even seen the majority of these demons before they had started attacking him two weeks ago! Were they mad at Monkey King? Did they just want to get rid of him so he wouldn't take them down later? Did they want to use him as bait to get to Monkey King? And a demon who brainwashes other demons? That's gonna prove to be difficult to deal with in the future- I mean pretty much half of his family were demons! What if they got brain washed? Would MK have to fight them? He couldn't do that! What if he-

"Noodle boy? You okay over there?" Red Son questioned, glancing over at MK with a concerned expression.

"No- yea.. I'm fine." MK smiled softly at him, nodding as he responded. He looked over at Red Son, who was staring at him, worry lacing his features. His eyes bore in MK's, dark coffee brown clashing against deep plum indigo. A near perfect contrast of each other. 

Red Son turned away again, clearing his throat. 

"Well if you insist.."

Sighing quietly, he continued.

"Honestly I didn't think that anyone would dare challenge you again.."

MK tilted his head in confusion.

"Why not? Have they finally realised that I'm not the enemy here?"

Red Son scoffed.

"Of course, it was only a matter of time before they realised that you were only trying to help. I mean how could they dare bring themselves to hurt Sun Wukong's precious successor?"

He mimicked sarcastically, before actually answering MK's question. MK just rolled his eyes, playfully.

"I'm taking about how you defeated Azure Lion. I mean he quite literally had the powers of the jade emperor himself, and you still managed to take him down!"

MK smiled awkwardly, he couldn't take all the credit for that, his friends and family had helped him so much. They defeated Azure just as much as he did.

"I did have some help, you know?" He muttered.

"Yea but the dragon horse girl also told me about that new form of yours, and the kaiju too. 'It was totally awesome and super cool!', I think she said. I didn't think you had one, to be honest. It's kind of interesting... How exactly did you do that?" Red Son questioned, lightheartedly. He was genuinely curious, I mean as far as he knew MK was just a human.

Mortal. Right? I mean.. wasn't he?

"I- I don't know, it just kinda happened! I can't control it! There was these glitches and then I had fur and I don't know I just got caught up in the moment- also I'm supposed to be interrogating you here!" He stuttered out, yelling a little louder than he had meant to.

Red Son only cackled in response, finding MK's ramblings to be amusing.

"Surely you're not serious? You can't control it? Not even a little bit? Did Sun Wukong not teach you how to control these new powers of yours?" Red Son looked slightly concerned now, actually processing what MK had said. 

"No. Not really.. and it was more of a heat of the moment kinda thing.. I think." He muttered, avoiding Red Son's gaze. He looked almost afraid. Red Son was going to try and get him to talk about it but MK cut him off.

"But- I don't need it! I'm already super strong and I have 72 transformations anyways so I don't need to worry about turning into a monkey! Everything's just fine as it is!" MK blurted out his statement before Red Son could even think of what to say.

"I'm sure you are, but.. are you...okay?" Red Son's tone was lighter now. Softer. Gentler. He leaned towards MK, looking at him with a soft, calm look in his eyes, but one still laced with concern. MK sat quietly. Completely stumped by the question. So Red Son continued.

"You look..stressed... If the bags under your eyes are anything to go by." He said nearly in a whisper. His dark indigo eyes flitting across MK's face, scanning his features. MK stayed silent. How could he even begin to explain? He was so tired. He couldn't lie to Red Son, he didn't deserve that.. and he'd see through it immediately. Instead, he opted for flopping on to the desk in front of Red Son. Being careful to not crush anything on the desk with his body, as he leaned back on the desk, facing the ceiling as he rubbed his eyes. Tears and exhaustion bubbling up under his eyelids.

Red Son went quiet after that. Slowly reaching forward, placing his hand in MK's hair. Gently scratching his scalp and ruffling his hair. MK shuddered beneath the affection, trying to stop the dam of tears that threatened to burst through. In an attempt to hide his tears, he held his breath, avoiding his stuttered breaths being heard in the silent room. Red Son continued to play with MK's hair, in an attempt to comfort him, Red Son wasn't very good with this kind of thing but.. he was trying. Trying for MK. That thought alone pushed him over the edge. The dam breaking, MK let out a guttural sob, sounding incredibly loud in the defeaning silence of the room.

Red Son paused in his movements, seemingly stumped with what to do, MK guessed, but he was too drained to think about it. As he continued sobbing uncontrollably, Red Son stood up from his seat, shuffled next to MK and propped himself up on the desk next to him. Carefully, he removed MK's arms from his face and used them to lift him into a sitting position on the table. Red Son pulled MK into a hug, wrapping his arms around him, tightly, as he rubbed circles into his back.

MK's head hurt.

His mind threatened to explode from all the stress building up inside of it. But... in this moment, MK felt.. safe. Peaceful.

Slowly, his hands snaked up from their limp position on either side of MK's torso, to Red Son's back. Resting his head against the crook of his neck, as he slowly calmed down. His once shallow and ragged breathes now slower, steadier. Controlled. Red Son released him from his hug, hands placed gently on MK's shoulders. 

He opened his weary eyes, vision blurred by the tears that still threatened to leave warm, wet trails down his cheeks like the others. Red Son scanned MK's face again, seemingly to be checking if he'd properly calmed down or not. He slowly reached up, softly cupping MK's cheek and wiping away the remaining tears that trailed down his cheek with the pad of his thumb.

"I'm sorry if I made you overwhelmed with all my questions." Red Son whispered, just loud enough for MK to hear. Still scanning MK's face with those beautiful yet concerned eyes.

"It's okay, i know you didn't mean it. But it's not that. Everything's just been so.. draining lately and I don't know what to do... I'm just..tired." MK muttered, exhausted from his constant exertion. He couldn't understand his emotions half the time. So dealing with that and being so drained at the same time? It was a nightmare.

"Do you want to take a nap while you're here then? Or is it the other kind of 'tired'?" Red Son asked, still gently cupping MK's face, but now he was rubbing the pad of his thumb against his cheek, since MK's tears had long since dried up now.

"I don't know.. what if another demon attacks while I'm sleeping? My family-"

"Will handle it." Red Son interrupted before MK caused himself to breakdown again. "You can't shoulder the burden for everything, you know? You deserve a break just as much as they do."

MK thought about it for a minute. Monkey King did say that he would be scouting the area for demons that could have answers. And Mei and Sandy have got to be fully rested by now. Maybe a small nap couldn't hurt.

"Okay" He finally decided. With that, Red Son lifted an arm, creating a swirling vortex of flames around them. Just as swiftly as the flames appeared they were gone and Red Son and MK had both been transported to Red Son's bedroom, sitting on his bed instead of the desk.

"Just stay here, okay? I'm going to get you some extra balnkets and some water-" As Red Son stood up, MK reached out to grab his wrist, ultimately halting his movements. 

"Stay...please?" MK quietly pleaded with Red Son. He didn't want to be left alone, not when he needed reassurance and comfort.

Sighing softly, Red Son nodded and plopped himself back on the bed next to MK.

"Alright, alright. I'll stay. But you have to promise to actually sleep, okay?"

MK nodded, smiling contently as he shuffled about, trying to get comfy on the massive bed. Eventually, he settled for sleeping slightly propped up against the headboard, with a pile of cushions against it. He reached out, tempting Red Son to sit next to him. Red Son sighed again, a gentle smile spread across his face, he edged his way closer till he was sat right next to MK, tucked under the large, warm covers. They talked for a little while after getting comfortable, switching between the topics of Red Son's inventions to MK's training sessions. However, after a few different conversations and a whole lot of yawning, MK finally fell asleep. 

Red Son smiled softly at the sleeping boy next to him, yawning himself as he did. He wanted to go and get that water for MK to drink when he woke up, as he reckoned that all of that crying must of made him dehydrated. However, MK did ask him to stay. So instead he decided to just rest with him. Leaning his head against MK's, he closed his eyes. MK's soft snores coaxing him into slumber as he drifted off to sleep next to him.