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

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.

Its actually kind of sweet. MK is being affectionate, but a lot more even keel than he has been for a while. Good. That was good and probably best for them both right now.

Then he's told about the request and blushes. But he huffs with some crackling hair. With only a brief flicker of light purple. "It would be rather rude to deny you," he said and moved closer, hands going to his shoulders. "Especially when I make you soft~"

MK turned around and snickered.

"Pretty sure you make him hard too~" He said with his back turned to them. Cheeky monkey boi mode activated.

He was truly a menace.

I glance at MK, amused. "You're so lucky I can't throw something at you right now." But you know, not wrong.

A warm chuckle as he leans close to Red. "Wow. Last time I get romantic with you--" Macaque pauses, realizing what he just said. "But... in all seriousness, it's not the last time, Red. It's not."

It's not only because of that tinge of purple, but that's one reason, that Macaque gives Red one of those intensely heated kisses, like in Choco's heart and so many other times. So many, yet not enough. Macaque intends to make sure there are many more even after his feelings for Wukong are back.

"I'll throw something at him in a minute," Red Son said. Because he CAN throw something at MK.

But Red Son has priorities and right now, those are leaning into Macaque right now. Trying to not linger on the joke as its said. The flirty smile turns to something more vulnerable. Hopeful and fearful at once, fingers idly teasing the ends of shadowy hair.

"Tell me later, Mac," he said softly. He hopes he can tell him later, but with the reminder, he's all to eager to press into the kiss. Something heated and wanting, letting himself linger in the feeling that was softer than lust and made him feel warm. Holding on until he can feel the strain of him staying here like this.

"I will." Soon as he possibly can. At least that's the plan right now, and he can't believe it'll be different when everything's over...

No time for that now. He gives Red the best kiss he can, equal parts heat and softer things, it'll have to sustain him through whatever else of his heart they have to wade through. Macaque can feel himself being tugged away, and he grabs Red around he waist to keep him close as he half-walks, is half-tugged back toward the elevator shaft. Just a few more seconds... although a few seconds passes, and it's still not enough. He really is a softie.

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