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

"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.

Red Son will lean over to kiss his cheek. "You really are a softie," he teased and nudged MK forward. "Come on, get whatever affection you need to continue being soft and sweet and charming Noodle Boy," he said.

Because if he needs grounding, he can turn to MK again. Right now, MK needs the most grounding. So he'll still be able to keep going forward and keep his confidence for what they need to do.

Macaque leans forward to nuzzle Red's cheek. "I'm a softie for you." Which is a different matter entirely.

MK in that moment felt like he did know what he could use. Being worthy of that was a different story. He moved in and an idea came to mind. Did he need grounding? Yes. There was one thing MK was good at though. It was shelving what he needed and wanted for someone else. It let him push his own problems down and out of mind. Until someone said the word bulldozer, anyway.

He leaned in and kissed Macaque gently on the cheek and whispered to the shadow monkey.

"Give Red Son a kiss before you go. He needs it."

Macaque blinks in surprise when MK kisses his cheek. What happened to those boundaries? Not that he's complaining, more confused. What memories have you been looking at, kiddo?

He glances at Red, then turns back to MK. "I will. But what do you need?"

He can feel himself being tugged. Not much time now. But he does his best to focus, ignore the forces that are trying to yank him back.

Red Son looked between the two in confusion. "Its okay to ask, MK," he said.

"You came all the way down here and told me I'm me I'm the best star." MK said. The boundaries? Shattered. Utterly shattered by two memories in the fucking lobby. Which could either be good or bad. Mk had no idea. Right now, what mattered was getting this done. They had stitched him back together enough so he could keep moving. One more level. One more.

He pressed his forehead to Macaque's for a moment.

"This is what I need. Just this. The rest we'll figure out outside. ...Because we...we got a lot to talk about. So..." MK pulled back and gave Red Son the nudge now.

"Just that. That's all I'm asking for right now."

Macaque, though a bit confused, isn't arguing. He budges MK with his forehead affectionately.

"After I can feel again, we can talk about anything you like. Promise." He's done running from whatever it is.

After MK steps away, Macaque reaches out for Red. "I've been instructed to kiss you before I go, and I'm making a point not to argue with reasonable requests anymore." C'mere.

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