castaside | [Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

"Yes, you're very good at that," Red Son said, running fingers through his hair. "But I'll need soft too," he added, reaching out to take the keychain out of his hand.

MK purred louder and felt Red Son moving. Felt the hand stretching toward his. He assumed it would be to hold it. To grasp his hand. He didn't stop him.

"My fur is soft," He answered. The MK Red Son was looking for, needing, wasn't in him. Not like this. Red Son can grab the keychain.

What happened after he took it? Who knew?

"You like me like this. I know you do," He added and nipped Red Son's neck. "My mate~"

Red Son breathed sharply at the nip. "Of course I do. I like all of you," Red Son said. Which was true. "But right now, I need Noodle Boy," he said and he's going to grab the keychain and pull it away.

MK had been sure Red Son wouldn't do that. So sure he didn't see it coming. The moment the keyring was off his finger, it was a sharp crack! The form sputtered out and MK turned back into his human form. He had been holding Red Son but now his legs gave out. He'd fall if Red Son didn't catch him.

That is the beauty of flying, the air kicking up around them to hold them in the air.

Then he'll slowly lower them down, keeping the keychain close, but his other hand is running through his hair. "Are you okay?" He asked, worry on his face.

MK clung to Red Son as they floated down to the floor. He blinked a few times and looked up at Red Son. The tears welled up and he clung to his boyfriend. He buried his face into Red Son's chest and just cried.

"I messed up so bad! I'm sorry! I-I'm s-so sooooorryyyyyy!"

The expected outcome from sudden softness, really.

Red Son pulls him close, wrapping his arms tight around him. "Its okay. I forgive you," Red Son said, still petting him, and will rub his back after pocketing the keychain. "Its not...the worst thing you could have saad?"

"I shouldn't have said-that wasn't fair! I didn't mean it! Macaque I didn't mean it!" He sobbed harder and clung as tight to Red Son as his strength would allow. Which Red Son would feel was not Mk at his full strength. He was exhausted, physically and emotionally. It was all crashing down like a house of cards.

"I can't. Not again! Keep it. I was wrong. I can't control it! I can't!"

Oh, no, this was definitely a full on breakdown.

Red Son tightened his own hold on MK and glanced to their shadows. Would Macaque want to give him a hug, all things considered?

"MK. MK, it was a small slip. You can make it up to him," he said, letting out his tail to just add extra wrapping around MK.

There's a distinct rumbling, and then a snap like lightning, and a crack forms in the elevator shaft.

A shadow pokes its head out, this one glowing purple and with worried eyes.

"Kiddo..." It's Macaque, all right. Not an aspect of his worst impulses.

Should he be doing this? Probably not. But he heard MK begging for forgiveness and it just happened.

Edited 2024-03-11 02:03 (UTC)

MK was in full meltdown mode at this point. He had been holding it together. He thought he could control the monkey form. Thought he could do this but he had almost done something terrible. Said something so hurtful and now he was breaking down. It didn't feel like a slip. It didn't feel like he could make it up to him. The shadow as right. He did that. He used Macaque's worst fear against him and it was wrong. It was cruel.

His monkey form said it. When he was like that, it was impossible to stop himself. And just then he said something he was scared was true. What if that was what he became? What if that was what would happen if he lost them all? Would he become that animal?

The sound of the thunderous crack jolted him out of his spiraling thoughts. He jerked and looked at the the crack and the shadow. That one word broke MK all over again. He sobbed. Why was this happening?! He'd messed up again. All over again. Broke things he was trying to protect, hurt the people he tried to keep safe, and it was all his fault. He couldn't find the words. He just sobbed and held out his arms for Macaque.

Sorry to scare you, but it's not like he could call for the elevator. None of that matters now anyway. Macaque is here, at least for a few minutes, so all he can do is try to help.

Macaque's shadow peels off from the wall and makes its way over to MK, folding him into a tight hug.

"You're good, kiddo. I've got you. You're doing fine, I know this is a lot."

Red Son felt the crack before he heard it, heating up under MK briefly, but quick to tap the fire down. Jerking and shaking his head to clear the fuzziness.

Help MK. That mattered. And he helped to push his mate to Macaque.

MK clung to Macaque and sobbed against his shoulder. He held tight to the shadow. He wasn't doing fine!

"I keep breaking things. Look what I made you break! I...I'm the worst star ever! I'm trying to help but it feels like I just...I almost...you warned me and I thought I could...I'm sorry!"

Just gonna stroke MK's back and try to calm him down even slightly.

"You're here because I broke more things than anyone else did. Breathe, kiddo. You're the perfect star, as far as I'm concerned. And I know you'll do what's right, even if there's some hiccups."

"Heart games do this to you. It's not you, it really isn't. Isn't that right, Red?"

Edited 2024-03-11 02:27 (UTC)

"Heart games are intense and push your feelings and emotions all over in extremes," he said. Moving closer to rub at MK's back. To offer more comfort.

"We still love you."

Maybe you shouldn't. The first thoughts that came to mind and it felt horrible. Ugly. It was sharp and just aimed inward at himself. He sniffled and pressed more into Macaque. It hurt and he knew they'd never agree. Ever. He shouldn't think that. It was hard. He had to focus on what they were saying. They wouldn't lie. Still, he hurt Macaque. He almost did something terrible and he couldn't think, at the time, why it was bad.

"I love you both too," He said and closed his eyes for a moment. He just let himself feel Red Son's and Macaque's arms and hands. Just let himself sit here and soak it in. Trying to use it to calm himself down. The tears still fell but at least he wasn't sobbing anymore.

Macaque wouldn't have ripped part of his soul apart and forced his way down here just to tell lies. He gives MK a squeeze.

"I only have a minute, kiddo. But I heard you self destructing and I had to do something. No more Misery Kid, hm? You'll do a great job putting me back together as long as you don't give into that."

"And once you're done, I'll give you whatever you need. I'll do my best to take care of you. Both of you." All of them, really.

Red Son curled around MK's back, kissing the back of his neck. More affection and comfort to hell the dark thoughts he was sure were in there.

"See? Macaque still loves and forgives you. Any damage done, we can fix afterwards. But we still need your help, MK," Red Son said. Macaque really should take it EASY after.

But that was a later conversation.

Edited 2024-03-11 03:09 (UTC)

Macaque spares a hand for Red Son, stroking through his hair. He only has another moment, so all the more reason to make it count.

Mk took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was self destructing. He knew it. It was hard not to. It was impossible not to. Not after that. They could try to take care of each other. Of everyone.

"I just want to give you what you need too..." Mk said softly. He nodded and reached a hand for both of them. One for Macaque, one for Red Son.

"I'll keep going. So we can talk...after this is all over," His eyes drifted to that crack. Could they fix it? Could they find something to heal it like the voids?

"T-Take care of yourself too. We'll...we'll finish it. We're almost all the way down."

Macaque took MK's hand and held it tight. He took Red's other hand and held it too... and used some of the grounding magic they'd practiced, since him being down here probably took it out of Red. He feels bad about that, but it was less a decision than just instinctive. MK needed him, and then he was just here.

"I'm fine. Feeling a little better already. Just remember to breathe, yeah? Use what I gave you." The candies, namely.

"It won't do me or anyone else any good if you get out of here a complete mess. Just remember that I've got you, kiddo."

Red Son takes a sharp, shuddering breath with the magic, closing his eyes briefly. Taking a breath, letting it out. He does need it. He already feels warmer than he did before. But he understands. MK was suffering. He'd have come running in Macaque's shoes.

He squeezes Macaque's and MK's hand. "The crack will heal," Red Son said. "Macaque isn't going to have any subconscious desire against that one, that's more...twisting than anything."

He thinks. It feels more like a twisting crack than shrapnel.

"We'll get it done. I still need you, MK. We can all breakdown afterwrds and then bulldozer."

A deep breath in. A deep breath out. One slow long breath. He smiled a little and it was soft. He nodded. He could breakdown after and bulldozer to the moon and back. He nodded. Knowing it would heal was enough to help. The magic helped ground him and he reached into his pocket. He popped two candies right into his mouth without hesitation. To add to the grounding magic.

"You both got me. I'm not going to run away. We'll fix this. And we'll get out of here, have huge breakdowns, and figure it out after. All of it." It was a plan. A plan he could use to stuff all these feelings under and into. Compartmentalize it all and just shatter later. Oh he'd shatter. MK knew himself enough to know that much."

MK nodded and slowly moved to stand up.

"We need to find the key still. I can pull myself together enough to try and find that."

"Twisting." He smiles at Red, more or less confirming that. There's no telling what that really did, but it's too late now.

"I know this is hard, MK. I know it. But I also know that there's nothing you can't do if you're determined to do it. And this is our one shot at this. Red can't do this again, not for a long time."

Macaque jerks backwards like he's a fish with a hook in its back and someone was tugging on the line.

"Looks like my time's about up. Anything else I can do before I'm yanked back?" Think fast.

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