#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ꜱᴀᴍᴀᴅʜɪ ꜰɪʀᴇ ❞ ¦ 「 Red Son 」

[canon-fcdder]

(( Tag Dump - MK ))

[canon-fcdder]

❝ But… I thought… ❞ Red Son trails, expression contorting into that of confusion. The puzzlement on his face having long since shattered into trembling heartache and disbelief, he looks over to MK, who wields the staff so flawlessly. Voice turns quiet, low. ❝ It was supposed to be me… ❞ // hands u red sun au

-  ✩   「 @samadhifire​ 」   ✩  

「 ☆ 」   This… can’t be right.

This has to be a mistake. MK can feel his soul screaming at him for daring to think such a thing. For hoping it, mostly because of the utter devastation upon the others face. All his desires, his indulgent imaginings and selfish prayers, are somehow coming to fruition. Not only the legend of the Monkey King, but MK actually playing a role in it. Being chosen to do something as important, as worthwhile, as wielding the legendary staff. It’s mind-boggling how a day like any other could transform into a realization of destiny— of his wildest dreams… and how, during what should be the happiest, most ridiculous moment of his life, his stomach is sinking.

This isn’t his role. He’s stealing it. He doesn’t mean to, but intention doesn’t change the staff in his grip. Light as a regular stick, with a mind of its own that MK is choosing not to focus on. With everything happening right now, he can’t afford the headache of pondering a possibly-sentient staff.

Grip on it grows a bit tighter, nerves and a fear of relinquishing one if the few pieces of proof that he’s worth something— mistaken as it may be —causing his hold to turn shaky.  ❝  Well— Maybe it is!  ❞  MK blurts out before his brain can process it, clumsily spoken words sounding as if he’s trying to convince himself. Panic beading upon his brow and slickening his grip, he hastily wipes one of his palms against his shirt. That has to be it. A mistake. Who in their right mind— do staffs have minds? —would choose HIM to wield Monkey King’s staff? Especially if there’s already someone lined up for the position.

That guy is probably a better choice. Why else would he have been put down this path? A path MK can’t just destroy from beneath him… MK has done well enough being a nobody for this long. What’s the rest of his lifetime? What’s giving up on his lifelong, previously-impossible dream? It’s no big deal. It’s… fine.

This will all be FINE. For both of them.

❝  Maybe this is a fluke! Y’know? The staff’s just confused…  ❞  Laughing nervously, MK rests the staff over his shoulder and shrugs,  ❝  I mean— I’m not even trying to do anything. It’s kinda just- happening…  ❞  Unaware that his reasoning likely isn’t helping things, he swiftly swings the staff over, aiming the end of it towards Red Son with a grin,  ❝  Here! You take it! If I can use it without even doing anything, then you’re bound to be able to since you’re actually trying. Right?  ❞

Desperate for his shaky logic to be proven correct, smile strains as he awkwardly shakes the staff, silently urging the other to take it away from him. Because if anyone should be holding it, it’s not the guy who both knows he should NOT be doing-so and yet also would kinda maybe really like to hang onto it for a bit longer…   「 ☆ 」

[canon-fcdder]

" I did this, " Red Son mutters quietly, voice low and barely level. "If it weren't for me..." / hi mk

-   ✩   「 @samadhifire 」   ✩

「 ☆ 」   MK stiffens when he hears Red Son’s voice... It’s quiet. As if the words being spoken aren’t even meant to be heard. Maybe they aren’t. But, intruding upon a personal moment or not, MK hears them. Hears them as clearly as if they were shouted from the mountaintops. Hears them as clearly as they ring in his own mind. As they have been ringing, again and again and again in an unending, merciless melody of self-blame.  

❛  I did this. I did this. I did this I did this I did this I did this I DID THIS I DID THIS I—  ❜

Red Son’s voice sounds like it’s breaking, like HE’S breaking... and MK will be damned if he just stands here and lets that happen. Not right now. Not to him. And not for THIS. A hand rests on Red Son’s shoulder, MK placing a bit of pressure on the hold to get the others attention, but careful not to let it hurt. His own shoulder still screams in protest from where Sun Wukong had grabbed him earlier. Each movement hurts, bruises undoubtably blossoming on skin, but MK ignoring it as best he can. Unwilling to give any attention to what had happened to him.

Unable to linger on the fact that he’d been literally tossed aside by his hero.

❝  No. You didn’t.  ❞  

❝  What you did, was help Mei. What you did, was help ALL of us.  ❞  MK firmly says, refusing to look away from Red Son’s face. Willing his own doubts to not show in his expression, MK clings to what he can be certain of. To what Red Son has done that he can be proud of. To the kind of person Red Son is, whether or not he wants to admit it to anyone or himself.  ❝  If it weren’t for you, the world might not even EXIST right now. What the Lady Bone Demon said, what she thinks— it doesn’t matter. None of it does. What matters is that you’ve shown time and time again that when your friends really need you, then you’re THERE.  ❞

❝  What the Lady Bone Demon is doing, that’s on HER. Not you.  ❞  

MK wishes he could accept his own words, stomach twisting with guilt at his part to play in all of this. Not that he blames Red Son in any capacity. No, it’s not his fault any of this is happening. The Samadhi fire, releasing the Lady Bone Demon, as much as Red Son may be entangled in the story unfolding, MK knows better. Knows that, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not Red Son who has failed in what he was meant to do.  ❝  If you really need someone to blame though.... then blame me.  ❞

❝  I’m Monkey King’s successor. I should be more useful than this but... but I couldn’t save Mei. I couldn’t stop Monkey King from going after the Lady Bone Demon alone. I couldn’t help him when he needed me. I can’t—  ❞  stop letting everyone down. Even Sun Wukong had known better than to entrust anything to him. Closing his eyes and clenching his fists at his side, MK shakes his head as if that’ll silence his thoughts.  ❛  I’m sorry, bud. I need you to sit this one out.  ❜  It doesn’t work. Grimacing, he harshly wipes at his eyes with his arm, not allowing the tears a chance to fall. There’s no time for that. No time for him. 

Sucking in a steadying breath, he shoves down anything else he wants to say. All the other examples that have been gnawing at his mind since the start. The sinking feeling that someone else, ANYONE else, would have been a better pupil than him. Could have caused things to go differently... but it’s too late now. All he can do is keep going. Keep trying. Keep hoping.

Keep quiet.

❝  I can’t stand here and do nothing... Neither of us can. Not when everyone needs us.  ❞     「 ☆ 」 

[canon-fcdder]

He's squinting.

-   ✩    「   @samadhifire​   」   ✩

「 ☆ 」   ... 

 ❝  What?  ❞     「 ☆ 」