Work Text:
The Demon Bull family's fortress was silent as if someone had cast a spell on it. The mechanical bull robots did not dare to move even the smallest screw, all the machines fell silent in fear, and the knocking in the pipes stopped.
There was no sound except deafening silence.
Mk swallowed nervously, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, trying to look as calm as Red Son next to him. However, it was quite a difficult task under the watchful and judgmental gazes of Demon Bull King and Princess Iron Fan sitting on the opposite side of the long table in the fortress's dining hall. Mk remembered very well his first time in this room, when they were looking for the Samadhi fire rings, and then the red-haired man's parents also made him want to run away, although for a different reason than now.
Monkie Kid really wanted to make some stupid joke, but Red Son forbade him to make those kinds of comments. And not only them.
“It's best if you keep quiet, Noodle Boy, and leave the whole conversation to me.” The previously nervous demoness announced as she straightened her clothes once again, and the boy agreed, for her comfort.
But now he was no longer sure of the wisdom of his decision, seeing the emotionless faces before him so similar to the one belonging to the person next to him. Mk was really hoping for a miracle and the possibility that some demon would attack the city and he would be able to get out of his current awkward situation. He wouldn't even despise Jin and Yin! He also hoped that maybe his mentor would argue with Macaque again and use their telepathy to ask him for help.
However, surprisingly, it was a beautiful, carefree day in Megapolis, no bloodthirsty demons were attacking the city, Yin and Jin were minding their own business not related to making Mk's life difficult, and Sun Wukong, surprisingly, was currently a good partner who does not need a trainer to relationship issues in the form of his apprentice, which kept Monkie Kid stuck in that silent dining room.
“To sum it all up, the two of you are currently a couple?” PIF continued to ask dispassionately and sternly, but Mk wanted to hug her for breaking the silence.
“Yes, mother.” Red Son replied in the same tone, returning her gaze, and the room fell silent again.
The young hero wanted to start crying and force some reaction from his future in-laws. At that moment, he saw DBK's urgent look at his wife, very similar to the one Mk was sending to his partner, and he began to wonder if the large demon sitting across from him felt the same way. Maybe he was even banned from speaking like him?
Mk returned to his first activity since the silence began, which was looking around him and finding entertainment in it. At first, activating the golden sight of truth, he wanted to count all the screws in the room, but realizing how many there were, he stopped at number eighty-six or seven. Later he wondered how much bigger he would have to get to touch the ceiling with his head or tear down the walls. He then tried to imagine what his and Red Son's child would look like standing next to DBK, but, embarrassed, he quickly abandoned this line of thought and, bored, returned to observing his hosts.
Princess Iron Fan and Red Son didn't look like either of them had any intention of speaking and DBK rolled his eyes, glancing at the young hero who also sat impassively watching his future father-in-law. The demon smiled slightly at this sight, immediately becoming serious, and Mk came up with a stupid idea for which he was sure that his partner would kill him. Careful so that neither Red nor PIF would notice, the boy pulled out his hair, attracting DBK's attention and blowing on it. The bull king waited tensely to see what would happen, only after a while he saw a small bug walking on the floor towards him. The insect carefully climbed onto the demon and left a small note in his hand.
'What's going on?' the note said and DBK narrowed his eyebrows at the little thief sitting next to his child. Remembering some of the tricks Wukong had taught him, DBK touched the paper and then sent it back with the bug.
‘Some custom from the celestial realms. I went through this too when courting Princess Iron Fan.' was the king's reply.
'But why? How much longer?’ the boy asked through the paper.
‘For me it took three days.’ was the answer, which almost made Mk choke on his saliva reading it.
‘Three days?!’ the terrified young hero replied quickly.
'Yes, mainly because the arguments about getting rid of Monkie King were still going on at that time, and Princess Iron Fan's parents were very involved in the matter, so they rushed to judgment.' replied the demon.
‘So we will be here for at least three days, probably about a week, but there is also a possibility that it will extend to a month?’ asked the resigned Mk.
‘Possible.’ DBK also replied devastated.
'Don't you want to try and conquer Megapolis? Or challenge me to a fight to prove my worth in the fight for Red Son?' the young hero suggested and DBK snorted, forgetting that they were supposed to be quiet and tried to save it by feigning a coughing fit, but it didn't work out well. PIF looked at her husband irritated, to which he immediately began to feign remorse and she just sighed heavily.
Mk i was about to regret losing his only source of entertainment when the woman turned towards him.
“Since neither you nor my husband can wait patiently for a while, I would rather spend the rest of the meeting alone with Red Son.” the ruler announced in a confident voice, and the ashamed demon looked at his wife hopefully, quickly leaving the room.
Monkie Kid glanced questioningly at his partner, who also nodded, and Mk fled the room as quickly as he could, clutching his partner's hand and giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead one moment, and the next he was out in the hall. Satisfied, the boy sighed in relief as he closed the door and looked around for DBK, who, for a figure of his size, didn't move very loudly unless he was trying to scare someone with it. The young hero, having nothing to do, went to the kitchen, where he found his beloved's father.
"Are you satisfied?" the demon asked him, looking around the kitchen.
"I think so? Don't get me wrong, Mr. Demon Bull King, but I really don't like sitting around and getting bored." confessed the young hero, jumping onto a high table.
“It's like Wukong, he could never sit still. And shut up.” snorted the king, taking out the contents of the fridge.
"Seriously? I mean, I know Monkie King is hyperactive, but at the same time, he's super lazy." replied the young monkey demon, watching his future father-in-law's actions.
“That's true too.” the demon shook his head as he started preparing dinner, and Mk moved to help with the prep, such as cutting, peeling and preparing the additions.
“What was Monkie King like when he was younger? Before… You know.” Monkie Kid asked with a wave of his hand.
“Irresponsible, loud, frivolous, intemperate, adventurous and adrenaline-seeking, hot-tempered and stubborn.” DBK replied without hesitation, and Mk felt disappointed. “The monkey was also brave, self-confident, and caring for those close to him and his subjects. He was completely dedicated to brotherhood and the fight against the celestial realms, motivating us and training with us to make us stronger. Azure kept saying something about iron and brothers, and I think that was what went straight to Wukong's heart.”
“When we were in the memory scroll, he told me that he was trying to get stronger, forgetting why he was doing it.” confessed Mk.
“Yes, it's possible. Azure and he had high hopes of overthrowing the Jade Emperor, although for different reasons. Azure wanted to change the world, Wukong wanted to be stronger to protect it. When we were defeated, Macaque helped us escape. Everyone except Monkie King, whose loss was immediately exploited and he was taken to the palace. Then our paths diverged for a very long time.” DBK replied thoughtfully.
“Do you remember any stupid things Monkie King did in his youth? Because once Macaque starts mentioning, he can't stop, but I know that he may not know everything either." asked the boy.
“Of course I'll tell you embarrassing stories about Wukong.” the very satisfied demon only replied, to which Mk smiled deviously, waiting to learn about his mentor's next antics.
~~~~~~
“Woah Monkie King really did that?” Mk asked delightedly, after several hours of listening to various stories about Sun Wukong.
"Of course. And while we're on the subject, do you know how these two stupid monkeys got together?" DBK asked, amused.
“I know something, but not much, they are very secretive about it.” replied Monkie Kid with a frown.
“I'm not surprised, it's embarrassing to talk about it.” the demon began and Mk took out his drawing book, waiting for the juicy details.
“I see you've found something to do together.” their little session of gossiping about the great sage equal to heaven, they were interrupted by PIF entering the room with her son.
“Princess Iron Fan?” DBK asked, waiting to see what his wife had decided about their son's relationship.
“Red?” Mk asked at the same moment, feeling his morning nerves returning, now not stifled by boredom.
“You have my blessing.” the woman announced, after a dramatic moment of silence.
"Really?!" Monkie Kid asked in surprise.
"Of course. Red Son is more than competent to choose his suitors, and you have proven in the past that you are worthy of this opportunity.” the woman replied, walking up to her husband. "I'm hungry."
“Follow me, honey, everything is ready.” DBK replied, heading towards the kitchen with his wife.
“I can't believe we really have your parents' blessing.” Mk confessed in surprise.
“Yes, it was much easier than I expected.” confessed the demoness whom the boy embraced.
“And one more thing.” PIF said, returning to the room.
"Yes?" Monkie Kid asked.
“I don't think I need to explain to you what will happen if you ever hurt my baby?” the woman asked with obvious threat.
“No, I understand perfectly and I will never allow harm to come to Red Son.” Mk replied immediately with seriousness.
“Right, because then silence will be the least of your worries.” the woman said as she walked out and used the wind to slam the door behind her, signaling the end of the topic.