Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a normal day at Megapolis, the Sun shined, the birds chirped, and MK was delivering noodles like always.

No demons causing shenanigans, nop, not one. Especially not a child looking demon who wants to, you know, doom the world.

Or at least that's something MK's friends would think, he knows better, he has seen that lady, the one threatening the world with ice on the tip of her fingers and whispers that know your worst fears.

But MK does not want to worry his friends, he wants to protect them. And to be able to do that he needs to be stronger, that's why has been desperately looking for anything that could make him more powerful. So he can defeat her. So he can protect his friends. So everyone can be at peace. (So he's able to sleep at night without the smell of frozen bones and the sound of whispers in the dark, without the promise of impending doom made by a child who is not herself.)

When MK arrived at Pigsy's he was pretty much exhausted. It was mostly because he wasn't able to sleep much the night before, or the night before that, or the night before that one. Spending that precious time to look into the depths of the internet for some kind of legendary weapon of some sort, maybe re-reading Journey to the West for the millionth time, because, maybe there was a secret power Monkey King has that he could learn to defeat you know who. (But it always started with a nightmare.)

—Woah, you alright there kid?

Pigsy asked with a frown. The man was just finishing cleaning a table, when MK passed through the door.

—Yeah, have you been sleeping well?

Tang contributed from his spot at the bar, a bowl of noodles in front of him, notes and textbooks scattered all over the counter.

MK looked at them and recomposed himself quickly, trying (and probably failing) to look casual.

—Yeah, I'm fine... — An akward silence follows. — Just tired, it's been a tough week, you know?

—Oh! I know what will cheer you up!

Mei, who was playing a game on her phone, stands up on the table she was sitting on.

Pigsy sighed mumbling to himself about how he just finished cleaning. Tang rests his hand on the cook's shoulder in silent support.

The dragon girl jumped across the room, her expression was full of excitement, irradiating from every pore in her body.

—A slumber party!! It's been so long since we had a proper one, you know? Just watching movies, eating candy until our teeth falls, gossip about others and drawing on eachother's faces.

She talked very quickly, stimming, her arms moving up and down very quickly.

And MK didn't want to go. Don't get him wrong, he would love to go, he thought it would actually be great to go and relax for a night (and Mei said it herself, it's been a time since they had a real slumber party, he misses it a little). But the weight of a world ending threat had his hand tied up.

On the other hand, he couldn't say no to Mei (he couldn't say no to a lot of people, but that was a problem for a night when insomnia had him overthinking everything about himself and his relationship with others).

—Sure Mei, that sounds great! My house or your house?

MK said with the most happy and carismatic smile he could come up with. He didn't know if Mei actually bought it, he probably would never know.

Mei's smile widened, her eyes sparkled with pure joy. And MK would do anything to protect that smile, he's always known that, but every time he sees it he reminds himself about how far he will go for his family. How many lines he will cross... (The answer is every single one)

—Your house is fine, my father hasn't really cool off from the last time you came by.

Then Mei started rambling about all the things they could do that night and MK just half listened. Praying in his mind to the noodle gods for a night without nightmares.

The sky darkened quickly, the stars twinkling in the black fabric that is the universe. And MK hadn't really prepared mentally for what was about to come.

When he was finishing eating dinner Mei opened the window and came in.

—Hey Monkey Man! — She called with enthusiasm. —You ready for the best night ever?!

MK smiled widely at her with food still in his mouth. The dragon girl pulled out slumber party things out of her backpack.

—How about we watch some movies first?

MK swallowed his noodles while nodding with his head. He hoped they went to sleep soon. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, he could catch a break from frantically looking around for something that would solve all his problems. Good heavens, maybe he wouldn't even have nightmares tonight.

Yeah... Maybe this could work.

Mei turned on the TV.

He woke up gasping for air, cold sweat raining down his back. The nightmare (not dream, never a dream) already slipping through his fingers like sand. But he knew one thing for sure, it was about her.

–Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic...

He thought to himself in despair.

—It wasn't real...

He whispered in hopes of comfort, because, if he said it out loud it would be true (maybe he had seen too many manifesting videos).

He heard the sheets move next to him and froze, a train of scared thoughs about what could it be started. Then MK saw Mei on his periphery.

Right... the slumber party. He had to calm down before he woke her up. He tried to take deep breaths, they were very shakey but he kept trying.

Once he finally calmed down and tried to go back to sleep he found himself in an endless loop of tossing and turning, without being able to keep his eyes closed for long. Images of unspeakable terrors haunted him, hopeless thoughts crawling into his brain like spiders.

Spiders, what horrible creatures. He knows that his phobia is seen as a silly trait, but for him is scary. It's scary and gross, how those arachnids can even exist, how the simple thought of being in the same room as one of those creatures makes him go into fight or flight mode. Some nights, when he wasn't the Monkie Kid yet, he stayed up thinking about how unfair it was for him to have such an idiotic and horrible fear. (When he became the Monkie kid he started thinking about how embarrassing it was.)

MK got up, tired of playing pretend with himself. He went to the mini kitchen in his apartment to get some water, maybe that would calm him down. He filled the glass until the water poured from the edges, drops running down his hand. It was refreshing.

He drank the whole thing, he wanted to drink more, but he knew that if he did the only thing he would get out of it was a stomach ache.

He went back to his bed, only to see Mei sitting on the mattress he had put on the floor for her.

—Hey MK... — She whispered gently. —Went for a midnight snack without me?

The boy just looked at her, suddenly nervous.

—Nah, just went for some water. My mouth was dry.

He answered. He couldn't let her know, he couldn't let his mask fall.

Mei looked at him with innocent eyes. And when he stood there without moving for another fifty seconds she got confused.

—Are you getting back to bed or?...

She asked with a worried frown. (Because she knew something was up, she always knows. Not because MK isn't very good at lying, but because they've been friends for years. She knows him well, that's why she hadn't asked what's wrong yet, because she knew he wouldn't tell her. Mei can't force MK to speak, she only can remind him that she is there for him and wait.)

—Yup! Hehe, on it.

He said, trying, and failing, to sound normal. (He wasn't ready yet, but Mei would wait. She always will.)

MK got into his bed, tucked himself and wished Mei a good night again. He layed facing the window, hoping that his friend didn't noticed anything.

She did, in fact, notice. But she decided that she couldn't intervene now, not yet. She would, later, when she knew that it was the right moment to push, when she knew that he wouldn't lock himself up but instead finally share what had been troubling his mind.

For the moment, she would wait.

And MK? MK would keep building walls around him. Because that's what he knows how to do best.

Chapter Text

He felt the connection before he could see the golden light bath everything else around him, the figure of the legendary Sun Wukong shining gold in front of him. 

He cursed, using every bard word he knew in the privacy of his mind. 

— Heyyy bud! How's it going? 

Monkey King exclaimed, his face lit up, and not just because at the time being he was just a light projection, but because a big smile was sculpted in his face. 

— Hh- Hi Monkey King! It's going great. 

His breath shuttered, his poor lungs almost giving up again. 

He couldn't catch a break, couldn't he?

He just had a panic atack (the trigger has cold hands and whispers to his ears how he is not good enough, how the man he admires, his hero, chose wrong, how he is not worthy, how he will end up alone, his friends turning their backs on him.) and now he had to worry about pretending he didn't in front of his mentor? 

Wukong immediately noticed something was wrong. 

— You sure buddy? Cause you don't really look like, uhm... you know... You don't look great. 

MK's right eye flinched, the eye more red than white, veins marking a notorious path. 

— Psh, whaat? — He replied in high tone, praying in his head for Monkey King to buy it. — I just had a rough morning at Pigsy's, y'know? 

MK was deliberately making the effort of keeping his breath stable, he could not let the panic win, not when his hero was right in front of him (not when that would prove how Monkey King chose wrong, how he is not worthy). 

Sun Wukong just raised an eyebrow. (He believed that the kid would trust him enough to ask for help if he needed it, Buddha knows he would do anything for him. Deep within himself lies the truth that he wouldn't ask for help either, and it just so happens that the kid it's a bit too much like him) 

— Well, then I guess you should take a break, resting it's important too. I can always contact you later. 

Wukong didn't want to leave him just yet, but he gave MK the option anyway. Some time ago he read a parenting book (he was just bored, he would swear, if anyone ever asked), it said that kids need options and to choose for themselves. 

And MK saw the opportunity to escape this situation without raising suspicion, a little blessing from the heavens that showed that they still acknowledged him (If it was to torture him or to help him he would never know). 

He took it. 

— Uhh, yeah... I would like that! — He even tried to make his voice sound alive, still trying to impress him, to prove his worth to him (he never knew he never needed to). — I'll just go get some sleep, how about you contact me tomorrow night? 

He didn't think about how he chose the night for their reunion, about how he desperately wanted to avoid getting asleep in the darkness of a room he had started to feel unsafe in. 

Wukong just nodded, giving him the biggest smile he could gather (he didn't know if he would be free at that time, but he would make an effort for the kid). 

— Ok then, see you tomorrow MK! And go get some well deserved sleep.

The gold light vanished, and MK relaxed a bit. 

He couldn't feel the tips of his fingers and his head was hurting. Maybe he really should get some sleep. 

And he did just that.

Sun Wukong, The Sage Equal to Heaven, felt his insides churn with worry. Something was up, and it was just a matter of time before something serious happened and everyone found out. He needed to hurry up and get that map, maybe he would be lucky and he could get the "treasure" too. 

Sadly, he was never so lucky...

Chapter Text

Sandy wasn't expecting visit that day. 

He was just spending the time writing in his diary (one of the many coping mechanisms his therapist taught him) when he heard a knock on the door. 

He wondered who could it be, it was almost dinner time. 

A few of his cats meowed in a tone of distress, getting up from the places they were getting the last rays of the Sun and instead ran into different rooms. Sandy, unconsciously, decided to ignore the strange behaviour (some cats just get uncomfortable by sudden changes). 

He went to the front door and opened it, just to face the sight of a very tired looking MK. 

Hm, now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen him in a while. (It probably had to do with the fact that he has been immersed in his latest greatest project. He tends to go into an hyper focus mode when he works... He's working on it.) 

—Hey MK, what brings you to my humble abode so late in the evening? 

The boy suddenly looked nervous, if someone could look exhausted and ready to combust because of nervous energy it was him. 

—I was wondering if you had some of that relaxing tea left. 

He said, avoiding eye contact like a pest. 

—Sure, I can give you some bags. — He stepped aside to let enough room for the kid to enter. — Come inside, you can put me up to date while I get it for you. 

MK walked in doubtfully, like if something was always over his shoulder, watching his every move. 

Sandy closed the door and led MK to his kitchen, hearing the kid ramble about one of his last adventures with Mei and the others. 

Suddenly he felt a cold air current pass through the room, making him shiver. The kid got quiet. (As if something shushed at him.) 

The blue demon looked around and realised that one of the windows was left open, probably one of the cats' fault. (He also saw, from the corner of his eye, how MK turned pale as a ghost, eyes open and cold sweat tearing down his face.) 

Sandy went to close the window, abandoning his search for the tea for a moment. 

—What were you saying MK? — He asked as he closed the window. (There was nothing suspicious outside, but he wasn't looking for anything like that, why would he need to?)

Silence. 

Sandy turned around to see MK staring at the wall. 

— Little man? 

He came closer and put a hand on his shoulder, and before he could say anything the kid looked back at him and started apologising. 

— Sorry sorry, I blacked out there for a second. 

— Oh, no problem MK. — He smiled at him, going to look for the tea again. 

An awkward silence followed, leaving Sandy to wonder if the kid had finished his last story. But he decided to change the subject anyway. 

— So, trouble sleeping? 

— H-huh? 

— Yeah, since you're asking for some tea for sleeping I figured you would need it. It's kind of an obvious statement. 

— Y-yeah, you're right. It's just that I've been getting up in the middle of the night. You know how it is... — A weird, akward laugh followed. 

Sandy finally spotted a box of the tea in the back of one of the high cabinets. He made a victorious exclamation and handed the tea to MK, who put the box in one of his jacket pockets, molding a big cubic shape on the cloth. 

— There, now you will be able to sleep like a baby. 

— Thanks man, I really appreciate it. 

— It was a pleasure to help. — He concluded with a big happy smile. 

The demon looked at the clock, thinking about if he had enough time to start a quick project once MK left or if he should just call it a day and start making dinner. Then his visitor spoke once again. 

— Uhm, Sandy? 

— Yeah? — He looked back at the kid. — Do you need anything else? 

— Well, I was wondering, since you're in therapy and stuff, if you knew how to... fix panic? 

The kid looked like he was about to throw up just for asking the question. 

— How to fix panic? — MK scratched his neck nervously. — Like, grounding techniques? That kind of stuff? 

— Yeah, I thought it would be nice to know those things. 

Sandy suspected that something else was happening here, but he wasn't going to ask and make MK regret asking him. He hadn't known him for long, but some things you learn fast. (Oh how he wished he just asked.) 

— Sure, I'll teach you a few. How about you go to the living room and get comfortable while I make some tea? 

The kid granted him with a smile and a nod, practically flying out of the kitchen. Sandy turned around and grabbed the teapot and two cups. As he put water to boil on the teapot he looked in the cabinets for the perfect tea, the boy needed something relaxing, he seemed tense. 

The tea was ready in less than five minutes.

He found MK petting multiple of his cats at the same time, a big smile painted across his face. 

The demon put the plate with the tea on the coffee table and gave MK an indication to sit in front of him. 

— Ok, there are a lot of techniques to calm yourself down, but not every one will work for you, and some will be better than others. For now I will teach you the basics, and if they don't work you can come up to me again for more. How does that sound? 

The kid though about it for a bit. 

— Sure, that sounds good. 

Then Sandy got into a deep explanation of how controlling your breath or focusing on other things can help someone overcome an anxiety or panic atack. How by regulating your breath you can slow an accelerated heartbeat, and by focusing on other things you can distract yourself from the source of panic. 

— For now I'll teach you two techniques, one that has to do with breathing and other that has to do with change of focus. 

The kid nods in understatement, his eyes focusing very hard on Sandy in general, like he was trying to absorb the knowledge by photographic memory. 

— Ok, the breath one. There are loads of different number patterns on this one, but the base is the same. You take a slow big breath with your nose, you keep inhaling for, let's say, 5 seconds. Then you hold your breath for 6 seconds. And lastly, you exhale through your nose slowly for 7 seconds. — He stopped talking to make a few demonstrations. — And that's pretty much it, you concentrate on your breath and keep trying until you feel calmer. Try it out. 

MK closed his eyes and started inhaling, falling by default on a meditation pose. 

There was silence, only broken by MK's, a bit exaggerated, breaths. 

At one point Mo came out of his hidden spot and sat in Sandy's lap, demanding attention (that he was very happy to give). 

Then the kid opened his eyes again, a clear expression in them. 

— Huh, I feel very tranquil right now. Normally it takes me a lot to reach this level of calmness. 

— Maybe it had to do with the fact that you had a task, you weren't just focusing on your breath, on the physical feeling of it, but instead you were given the instructions to count and control it. 

The boy stared at him, and for a moment he felt uneasy, crystal like eyes looking through, not at, him. Like if something bigger, something out of his comprehension (something that was and wasn't his friend) was looking down upon him, deciding his fate. 

He brushed it off quickly. 

— Yeah, maybe... 

MK said, without realising the lapsus his friend just had. 

— Well, the other one is pretty simple. You just have to list a different number of things based on your five senses. Six things you can feel, five things you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can smell, and two things you can taste. You don't have to say it out loud, but it's better if you do. 

— Ok, that makes sense... 

— How about you try it right now? Just as practice. 

And then MK proceded to list out loud all the things he could. 

— Uhmm, I can feel my headband, my jacket, the floor, that cat rubbing on my leg, my socks and the chill air (so cold it freezes my lungs). — MK looked around the room carefully. — I can see you, and Mo, and myself, I also see the teapot and that cool figurine over there (I can also see the shadows lurking menacingly at every corner). I can hear Mo purring, the waves crushing against the boat, your clock and my voice (and the whispers that haunt me telling me my biggest fears). — MK closed his eyes. — I can smell the saline air of the sea, some ink and this tea (I also smell old bones exposed to air). I can taste the noodles I had before and the tea (and blood, my own blood). 

MK opened his eyes again and Sandy looked at him proudly. 

— That was very good MK! Now that you know how to do both techniques you can try them when you need them, and if they don't work you can come back and I'll give another ones. 

The kid looked at him with a happy smile on his face (it was a real one). 

— Great, thanks Sandy, I really appreciate it. 

— You're welcome. — He answered with a big smile, getting up from the ground and picking up the plate with the empty tea cups to take it to the kitchen. — You should come by more often, I really enjoyed spending time with you. 

— Yeah I will, I liked spending time with you too. 

Sandy couldn't see MK's expression as he said this (guilt, it was guilt), but by his tone alone he could say that what he said was true. Once he turned around he saw MK looking outside the window. 

— I should leave now, I promised Pigsy I would help him do the inventory. 

— Well, go then, it wouldn't be good for you to be late. Have a good night. 

MK thanked him again and rushed to the front door, Mo meowing him goodbye as he passed by. 

— BYEE!  

Sandy heard him yell, and when he went to the window to wave at him, the boy already was at the other side of the dock. 

A big smile grew on the blue man's face, oh, how he loved that kid.

He hoped that his techniques would help him if he ever needed them. (And he would, but sadly, not even all the grounding techniques in the world could help that kid with all that was about to come.) 

Just then, MK entered through an alleyway so dark it looked like the shadows shallowed him whole, for a solid second Sandy's heart fell to his stomach, it felt like a bad omen. (If it was for that skeleton monster or what would come after he would never know.)

The boy got out of the alleyway with the noodle shop's scooter safe and sound not even a minute after, Sandy's muscles relaxed and let the akward feeling of malice drain away. 

He was probably worrying about nothing, he thought. 

And then he went to make dinner without a worry in mind.

Chapter Text

Tang had spent the last seven hours nose deep in some ancient texts trying for dear life to decipher when and where the events described in form of poetry and fancy old spelling happened when he decided he needed a break. 

He got up from his old chair, trying to get away from his wooden rustic desk as quick as possible. He knew where he needed to go. 

Not even twenty minutes later he was facing the front door of his second home, the smell of Pigsy's noodles already calling him through the door like sirens. 

The scholar entered the establishment and sat on his spot at the bar, one look around let him know that he was the only client at the moment. That meaning he would have all of Pigsy's attention. Just how he liked it. 

— Welcome to Pigsy's--- Oh, it's just you. 

The man, or demon pig, himself said as he got out of the kitchen. 

Tang frowned jokingly. 

— Wh- what? Is that the way to treat your most loyal costumer?! 

Pigsy just rolled his eyes and went back to the kitchen, coming back out a few minutes later with a bowl of noodles that Tang caved in immediately. 

— Figured you'd come by sooner or later since I didn't see you this morning. 

The human smiled softly at the cheff, they've been doing this dance for years now. It's just normal at this point to know eachother so deeply. 

[=|=|=] 

MK had spent the last three hours sat on his bed with his pc laying on his lap burning with the heat of a thousand suns, looking into the depths of the internet and talking with shady strangers when he decided he needed a break. 

He got up from the bed and stretched a bit, thinking out loud about how exhausting it was to do all this research. 

The boy's stomach roared, calling for food. And MK, could only dare to listen. He looked in the cabinets for a quick snack to kill the the bodily urge to feed itself, only to be faced by nothing but dust, some pasta packages and loads of Sandy's tea boxes. 

He slowly closed the cabinet and opened the fridge. An almost empty brick of milk, an egg, some cheese and a half eaten birthday cake (not for anybody in particular, he just felt like eating cake that day). 

MK closed the fridge and decided to just go downstairs and get something from Pigsy's, his next turn would start soon, so he could try to be in time for once. 

The first thing MK saw when he crossed the door was Tang, eating silently and looking at Pigsy, who was ranting about something. 

— And the guy has the audacity to ask for another one! 

The scholar hummed, then swallowed. 

— People nowadays don't have any respect for customer service workers. 

Pigsy nods in angry agreement. 

— I know right?! 

MK decided that would be a moment as good as any other to make his presence known. 

— Hey! Good afternoon guys! 

He said with an exited tone, walking towards the bar table to sit next to Tang. 

— Woah, looks like someone's early for once, huh? 

Tang chuckled, covering his mouth with his hand. MK frowned a bit. 

— Ha ha, well, you see, I was very hungry. So I thought I could come down and eat before my shift starts. 

Tang nods in understanding. Pigsy sighs and goes to the kitchen to make something to eat for MK. 

Meanwhile the boy of the red bandana looks at Tang's bag on the floor, wondering what was the scholar up to with his research. 

He decided to ask. 

— Hey Mr. Tang... 

He said in a question leading tone. 

— Yes MK? 

— I was wondering about what have you been up to with the university stuff. 

The man's eyes looked exhausted for a moment. 

— Well, I was deciphering some old parchment that was recently discovered. But I've been struggling to understand what it's describing. 

— But... you know how to read it, right? How could it be hard to understand? 

— It's not as simple as that, I know what the text says, the problem is to understand what it's telling us. 

MK just looked at him confused. Tang kept silent for a bit, thinking how to put his thoughts into words. 

— Ok, let me explain it in further detail. The text I'm studying describes a story, it's written like a legend in very fancy old grammar where everything has double meanings. Everything it's layers deep. For example, in a text describing how two people share a meal, the texture of the food could be implying a deeper act of love, the colours meaning the passion they share. If you get what I mean. 

— So like, metaphors. 

— Basically, yeah. — Tang nodded. — But it's not just that, sometimes, stories can tell the truth of some events that happened in some period of time. Wether it be something nationwide or an event in a small clan. And it is my job and passion to research for the truth in those texts and let it be known to the world, so centuries later those stories can still be remembered. 

MK seemed mesmerized. Then, a sudden thought passed through MK's mind, who was best to know of something that could help him defeat that thing than the man sitting in front of him? 

— Mister Tang? 

— Yeah MK? 

— Out of curiosity, do you happen to know about any sort of, like, super cool ultimate ancient weapon that could defeat anyone in the blink of an eye, would you? 

Tang raised an eyebrow at him, eyes shining with humour. 

— A super cool, ultimate, ancient weapon? 

The man said with an ironic tone, unable to stop the smile cracking his lips. MK withered a little. 

— There isn't one? 

Tang chuckled. 

— Not really, no. In Journey To The West (or any other ancient text) there wasn't such thing as an ultimate weapon, but a tool or strategy perfect for every obstacle in the way. 

The man's eyes softened looking at his bowl almost empty. Then his gaze changed to MK once again. 

— You would need to know what or who you're dealing with in order to come up with a plan or specific "weapon". 

MK's muscles tensed, his body entering a flight or fight stage. A one sided awkward silence followed. 

— Why do you ask then? Things have been really calm lately, why would you need an ultimate weapon for? 

The light shined in Tang's glasses and MK's heartbeat increased. 

— For nothing really! — MK waved his arms and wearing the facade of a smile, denying the existence of the ticking time bomb that lived in the sewers of Metropolis. Hysteria dripping from his vocal tone. — I just wanted to be prepared just in case something happened, you know!? 

Tang felt his heart ache for the kid (a good kid, one he helped raise and considered his own).

He put his hand on his shoulder, ready to give him some motivational words to cheer him up. That has always worked. 

— MK, it's alright. If anything happens you'll have us, and Monkey King, to help you out. Remember? You're not alone. 

The kid relaxed a bit, but his expression still had something sour mixed in it. 

— Yeah... — Tang strongened his grip, a caring smile and fond eyes exposed for the kid to see, to understand the undying affection he felt for him. This time, it seemed like he noticed it. — Yeah. You're right Mister Tang. 

MK smiled, a light feeling of hope filled his chest. Maybe it all would be ok... 

Tang didn't give him the answers he hoped for, but he did give him one or two ideas about what to do next. He didn't need to lose hope yet. He wouldn't succumb to despair, not yet. 

After some time Pigsy comes back with a steaming bowl of noodles and that topic of conversation officially ended.