#he barely ever interacts with anyone. except for mk

[sketching-shark]

People get mad at me whenever I point out how kinda suckish Wukong is as a person. Saying that I don't understand his trauma or his pain and that he's trying. But like, I understand Wukong might be going through some shit, but his pain doesn't excuse him causing pain to others.

And it's not like those who criticize Wukong are pulling stuff from their ass. It's repeatedly illustrated in the show by the writers that everyone in Wukong's past who is still alive hates him because of the pain he caused them. Because of his mistakes. His decisions. His recklessness. They touch on this A LOT. They have Mei outright say it in S3.

"Don't you realize you're hurting the people who care about you the most?!" Story of Wukong's life, apparently. Macaque, the Brotherhood, MK, Mei. All suffered through extreme trauma because of Wukong. Azure Lion and Macaque get literal PTSD just from seeing MK act/look like Wukong.

Not to say Wukong is a bad person morally, but he's like a ticking time bomb. You can chuck it at the enemy, but it can just as easily blow up in your face as well.

Monkie Kid spoilers + me grumbling and being mean to a monkey on main below

SSSSSSIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHH yea anon you've definitely hit the nail on their being frankly enormous amounts of whiplash in Monkie Kid canon and fanon at this point in terms of the plot going out of its way to repeatedly write Sun Wukong as a reckless idiot who ruins the lives of everyone around him & literally everyone who knew him from his past hates his guts because of dumb destructive stuff he did AND YET the hope is routinely dangled that maybe they'll be some good explanation for why he acts the way he acts and maybe they'll all get to be best friends at some point. But given this unrelenting insistence on more angst & more trauma, which frequently is written as partially or completely the consequence of what Sun Wukong did or what he failed to do, my doubt that they'll be able to write that in a satisfying way given everything that happened beforehand grows stronger. Because if we're being honest at this point the Monkey King has been portrayed as so careless, so destructive, so incapable of making a genuinely good decision that there isn't a single person who's life was made better from their interactions with Sun Wukong, and many whose lives were made much worse. So we're left in this weird state where on one hand lots of people recognize that and thus either hate the Monkey King wholesale and/or frequently depict SWK getting yelled at and rejected by everyone in their fan creations, while simultaneously depicting him in other ways as a beloved member of team good guy & having a strong relationship with Macaque, never mind that the shadow monkey's generally see as the main victim of SWK's badness. In addition, even the audience has barely gotten a glimpse at what the root of SWK's trauma may be, but I worry that at this point any painful past he might be given will be too little and too late to explain his actions. And I HATE that trope of "sad past=automatic redemption" so I really hope that's not what they're aiming for.

Either way & as I've said before, at this point it's kind of baffling why any of the other characters--who it must be remembered have no knowledge about the headband torture times--would even consider legoshow Sun Wukong getting trapped in ink hell world a bad thing. As far as they know he's done nothing but hurt and betray literally everyone for 0 reason except being stupid and selfish. And him getting trapped in the memory scroll means he'll be punished forever for his monkey crimes as he apparently so richly deserves all while the ticking time bomb that is Sun Wukong won't ever get the chance to hurt anyone ever again. So, win-win!

Truly, this was the best way to introduce the Monkey King & Journey to the West to the west & Chinese kids, huh.

[falsementor]

the implication that macaque just let himself be tied up is so funny to me

[skellebonez]

I AM SORRY FOR THIS SKELLE BUT I MUST: 5 (kidnapping them was the only way I was going to get them here),6 (let's make a deal, shall we?) and 41 (can you teach me how to do that) with the demon bull fam and mk with a little hint of 64 (I may have eaten seven of them already). NOW GO HAM MY DUDE

Oh I had way too much fun with this one. I took S2E4 (spoilers mentioned for that!) and some tweets made by one of the show producers on the same day as fuel for a very silly idea I had. I don't write what can be considered "Crack treated seriously" (or at least semi-seriously, this is not a 100% serious fic) often but when I do I go hard. This is more focused on MK and others than SpicyNoodles so it's a bit more gen fic than a full on ship fic as well.

Kidnapping them was the only way I was going to get them here/Let's make a deal, shall we?/Can you teach me how to do that?/I may have eaten seven of them already.

"Red..." MK started off slowly, watching as his boyfriend's face flushed and twisted in embarrassment. "Can you tell me why your mother showed up at my apartment and used her wind vortex thing to teleport us here without an explanation? And then left us in your..." He looked around, noting that aside from the excessively large throne and two smaller thrones beside it this room looked like a... "Living room? On a couch?"

"I can-" Red Son started, raising a hand before pausing a frowning deeply. "Actually, no, I can't explain. This is just weird, even by my parent's standards. I have no idea what is going on, but since you're still here..." He shrugged with a hopeful smile, shaky through the uncertainty. "Maybe it's not bad? I mean, if Mother was truly upset or wanted to do something bad surely she would have not left us to our own devices. Maybe she’s... uh... happy I finally have a boyfriend?”

At the pointed raise of an eyebrow from MK that hopeful smile faltered a bit. Happy Red Son had a boyfriend for the first time in a couple centuries? Under different circumstances he wouldn't doubt that! Happy when that boyfriend was MK?

Oh he did doubt that.

He knew that they shouldn't have been sneaking around the way they had been. It had made sense at first, two people on opposite sides of a feud lasting centuries who discovered they actually enjoyed spending time together more than fighting each other. One who decided he very much would rather not follow through with any kind of domination and see his family hurt, who realized "actually my sworn nemesis isn't so bad", and another who decided "my life is already weird enough, why not give this befriending my enemy thing a shot".

And then one thing lead to another and before they knew it their secret friend meet up became a secret boyfriend meet up. They'd managed to keep everything under wraps for a while (except from Mei because, well... she was his best friend! He couldn't not tell someone and she would have found out fast if he wasn't obvious, and she had quickly become a mutual source of support for both of them), though MK knew Pigsy and the others knew something was up. They didn't question him, though, aside from the occasional good natured jab. "Wow MK, you seem happy today. Got any plans?" and that sort of thing. They seemed to trust him to make his own decisions, as long as he was happy and healthy and eventually told them. (Sun Wukong, however, may have caught in a little when he jokingly asked if MK had gotten a boyfriend and MK had choked on his drink. He never brought it up specifically after that but he was smart. Too smart.)

Red Son, on the other hand, was fantastic at keeping secrets when he tried. Or MK thought he was... the last few months gave no indication that either of his parents had discovered their little sneaky rendezvous. Then Princess Iron Fan broke into his apartment and, well, here they are. Clearly something had gone wrong somewhere along the line.

Before MK could follow through with any questions of whether or not there could be a fate worse than instant death that involved lulling him into a false sense of security, the two men froze at the sound of quickly approaching voices.

“Could this not have been done another way, my dear?”

“Kidnapping them was the only way I was going to get them here, you know that. Noodle Boy is not that gullible, contrary to what we first believed.”

Ah... shit... Red Son’s parents.

Mk quickly ran through all the possessions he had in his apartment and wondered if he had time to text Mei or Pigsy the world’s fastest will and testament and if that would be legally binding. He just hoped he had something for Pigsy to handle the Phantom Orderer they'd had for the last year.

They always ordered on the app and prepaid and managed to leave him a sizeable tip in his tuk-tuk after he dropped off the food at whatever random location they indicated.

"Good," PIF's voice rang clear, far faster than he could even attempt to pull out his phone, and MK turned to see that she was casually lounging on the shoulder of the Demon Bull King. She jumped down, her wind lightening her fall so much so that she barely made a sound when her feet touched ground. "You've made yourself comfortable."

MK couldn't bring himself to move, as much as he very dearly wanted to run away as quickly as possible. Yes, he was The Monkie Kid and had progressed far enough that he could probably escape without much problem. Yes, he and DBK had had an understanding after the White Bone Spirit and Lunar New Year Festival (though he still didn't know if PIF ever found out about that one). Yes, Princess Iron Fan had shown little interest in him before and had even worked beside him with no complaints (she didn't even care enough to attack during the Food Wars thing!). But that was all before she apparently found out he was dating her son behind her back while they were technically still enemies.

He was glad at that moment that she had grabbed them before they went to get lunch... his stomach was doing back flips that would make a gymnast jealous.

"Uh, yes Miss-Mrs-Muh-M- Princess Iron... Fan?" MK couldn't help but stutter awkwardly, holding onto the hem of his jacket and worrying it as he tried to keep his composure. He looked beside him, watching as Red sat straighter and kept an even expression on his face that he couldn't quite place. His hair seemed to spark softly.

Though she raised a brow at this, PIF didn't comment on that at all. Instead she made her way to the other couch across from them as opposed to what was clearly supposed to be her throne, leaning forward right her elbows on her knees and her fingers laced together in front of her. DBK stopped behind her, seemingly content to stay standing.

"Noodle Boy... you prefer to go by MK, is that correct?" She started, and he nodded slowly in confused response. "Hmn... so. You've been dating my son for quite some time. Many months... no, a bit over a year if I am not mistaken in how long his behavior has changed." 'Oh shit' went MK's brain. "You must be quite serious, if you're willing to go through so much just to see each other. Late night meetings. Secret hideaways. Sneaking onto Flower Fruit Mountain, even." 'Oh SHIT' it repeated in horror. "That's quite the dedication to show toward anyone... I hate to admit it, but I am quite impressed." 'OH SH-wait what?'

"Bw-huh?" Was what MK managed out, half a sound that was almost a word and half a squeak of confusion.

"The fact I myself remained oblivious until only a few weeks ago is quite something. Let's make a deal, shall we?" She continued, sitting back straight and looking like the proud Princess she was and not like a woman sitting on a couch that looked comically small in front of her enormous husband. "You and Red Son no longer have to hide your relationship from us and in exchange..." she paused, as if relishing the building tension between herself and the couple before her. "You will come over at least once a week so we can get to actually know you properly."

MK froze. Red Son froze even more.

Then his entire head lit ablaze as he jumped up and gestured at his mother with a gaping mouth. "Th-that's it!? I-I was... I was RIGHT!?"

PIF barely reacted to this, merely lounging sideways as she put her elbow on the arm of the couch and rested her cheek on her hand.

"Whatever you were right about, I suppose you were. But yes," she shrugged, honestly looking... kinda happy? "Has this been about a year ago I perhaps would not have understood what you saw in Nood-MK. But I can see how happy you have been lately, and there's something about him that is like... what did you say he was like, darling?" She turned to DBK, who shrugged himself with an unreadable expression.

"A ball of sunshine given human form."

... that was not what MK ever expected to hear from the Demon Bull King's mouth...

"Yes, that's it," she nodded as if this was completely normal and ignored how Red Son flopped back down onto the couch and stared at the ceiling. "I'd hate to admit it, but you've grown on us through out sparse interactions. Somehow. And we have been eagerly waiting for the day we could finally welcome someone into our son's life. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?"

She seemed... serious. MK may not know her that well, but it was clear to anyone when she wasn't being so.

"Uh... o-ok? Sure?" MK said softly, nodding in amazement as DBK and PIF actually smiled at this.

This was the strangest day of his life, beating our every single demon fight and even the day he got the Monkey King's staff. But he'd take this strangeness over the alternative 500 times over.

"Excellent," DBK nodded himself, there was a lot of that about. "That seems to have worked out n-"

Everyone paused at a loud grumble echoed the room, all turning to Red Son as he flared up in embarrassment this time.

"Don't look at me like that, we were supposed to eat half an hour ago and I am starving," Red Son grumbled as he sat up, not looking anyone in the eye. "I don't suppose we could. Eat now? Please?"

Despite the situation, MK couldn't help but smile at his pouting.

"I could bring us some food from Pigsy's?" MK offered in an attempt to contribute. Something. "I mean, I know Red likes it and you kinda seemed to like it the one time you tried it and... uh... yeah."

"Actually... I may have eaten seven of them already..." PIF admitted, looking away in embarrassment. "l've tried not to give into the temptation, but your father's noodles from the Food Wars were so... I just can't resist ordering some secretly after 5 or so weeks!"

"So you're the phantom orderer!" MK gasped out in shock, but after a moment he frowned and rubbed the back of his head. He had a bit of an idea. "Well... I could... make some for us instead?" He ammended his offered softly. "I may not make it exactly like Pigsy does, but I can get pretty close as long as you have the ingredients! And you wouldn't have to worry about me going there and coming back! We can eat like. Immediately!"

"I think that sounds acceptable," PIF said with a nod as she stood, but MK could see a bit of excitement sparkling in her usually cold eyes. "Come, Red Son. I need to discuss some upgrades the Bull Clones have been asking for with you. Your father can assist him in the kitchen until we are done."

Red looked over at MK and only stood to follow his mother once he nodded, giving his father a pointed look before exited the room. MK, in the meantime, looking up at DBK with a gulp and followed him as he lead the way toward their kitchen.

It was... well, bigger than he was used to. But pretty normal, regal size and decor aside. And it seemed, once he was given the nod of ok from his host (and wasn't that a bizarre thing, DBK and PIF being his hosts on a home visit to his boyfriend's parents... he was going to need to get used to that) he checked the fridge and counters and found he had just about everything he needed to make what he had in mind.

"Can you teach me how to do that?" DBK asked after a moment, startling MK into nearly dropping the sauce he needed for the broth. "Not the recipe itself, just..." He gestured to the counter. "Red Son has a bit of a proclivity toward cooking and he's been trying to get me involved, but we've never cooked anything like. That."

His words were awkward and stilted, but MK could tell he was trying. The same way he could tell PIF wasn't kidding with her offer. They just seemed to... want to get to know him as a potential... son-in-law... huh.

"Sure, but you're gonna want to shrink down a bit for this."

Lunch turned out amazing and, while awkward (much like most of the day)... it was nice not to have to hide their dating for once. And Red actually seemed pretty happy! Though he learned quickly that the Monkey King was still a bit of an (understandably) sore subject that was best avoided. For now.

Maybe not forever though.

(When PIF very not subtly dropped him and Red Son both off inside Pigsy's Noodles after their lunch, the only response he got was a "oh, so they finally found out huh? Looks like things went well" from Pigsy and Tang. Maybe he wasn't as sneaky as he thought he was...)

[greatsagestonemonkey]

I--

Ooooh...

Can... Can I add to this...?

Because it’s kind of my jam.

So... things are awkward at first. Especially for MK because... it’s still Red Son, right? Granted it’s his past self or even an alternate version of him... but it’s STILL Red Son! He gets extremely nervous around anxious around him, hates being alone with him... and though he just barely manages to keep his cool, he hates the fact that he’s there.

The worst part of it is that Red Son notices it. He doesn’t blame MK of course. Not in the slightest... but it kinda stings. Not because he cares or anything, he’s a demon after all, they’re supposed to strike terror into their enemies... except right now the Noodle Boy and his friends are most likely his only ticket back home, to his own reality and sense of normalcy. So while he doesn’t really care, he IS trying to make a good impression.

That’s when things start to... develop. Those things mainly being “feelings.”

Red Son’s efforts to make nice with the group slowly start to work, and they warm up to him. While they are wary of him because of how things started with Red Bull King, Red Son is proves to be a valuable asset. He can spot Red Bull King’s traps for MK from a mile away and can read his schemes like they were plastered in bold lettering for all the universe to see, so he’s able to give the team fair warning of what to expect so they can turn the situation to their advantage. (This frustrates Red Bull King to no end, of course, but that’s for another time). Red Son even sticks his neck out for them on occasion, which makes him feel more like a full team member to them... but then there’s what he does for MK.

He wants to make up for all the insane, sick stuff Red Bull King put him through, but he knows MK is uncomfortable around him. So he does what he can to make him feel safe when he’s alone; he gives the gang super high tech, hidden tracking devices complete with emergency beepers that can be activated by heart rate, so no snatching can happen without anyone else on the team knowing, he comes up with a temporary cloaking device that MK can wear if he so chooses so if he feels like he’s being watched, he can just disappear from sight, he even manages to create sensors that will pick up Red Bull King’s heat signature (he used his own for reference) and go off if he’s anywhere nearby.

These gadgets help. Gradually. And MK very slowly... kind of starts to heal a little. He sees the effort Red Son is making to help--like really, really help him and his friends--and he starts to get a little more comfortable around him. Not completely, at first, but then he sees the way Red Son interacts with his friends, and it reminds him of... old times. Before Red Bull King, back when Red Son was still a little shit with a fiery temper and a smug personality but just kind of a dork in many ways. He starts to feel normal around Red Son again, maybe even is reminded why he started to like him in the first place... but he’s scared of being tricked again, so he’s not letting his guard down. Not completely. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever fully trust Red Son, but he’s... actually kind of glad he’s here. It makes him think of what could have been if things had been better.

And then there’s Red Son, who is started to want to go home less and less. He’s gotten used to the team. And since they’re his only allies in this whole mess he’s gotten... on good terms with them. Things are still tense, particularly between him and the pig and Sun Wukong, but they’re civil enough with each other. And he’d never admit it but he actually thoroughly enjoys having conversations with Tang. He likes having another intellectual around to talk to and they’d sometimes end up just talking for hours while Red Son is working on a new invention or upgrading a gadget. Then there’s MK. He’s seen how MK has become so... vulnerable at times, and in trying to make up for what his counterpart has done he’s gradually become closer to MK and had even... kind of started to like him. A lot. Like... a lot, a lot. But he doesn’t dare act on these growing feelings. He doesn’t even dare to mention or bring them up to anyone else, because he can’t bare the thought of how the others will react if he does. He can’t bare the idea of them thinking he’s just another Red Bull King in the making... and most of all he cannot bare the possibility of MK ever becoming scared of him.

Never that.

So he decides to be content with how things are right now. Even if MK can’t trust him fully he resolves himself to never lose any more of that trust. And if MK can’t feel for him the same way, well... that’s fine too. It hurts, but it’s fine. All he wants is to make sure things get better for him.

He doesn’t even care if he ever gets to go home, anymore...

I have to ask because it's been on my mind for awhile now... What would it be like if another Red Son (either via time travel shenanigans or some weird alternate universe situation) was suddenly thrown into the mix? How do you think he'd react to Red Bull King and his obsession with MK?

Ooh!! I love the idea of Red Son getting to meet his future or alternate self in Demon King Red and just being absolutely horrified at how unhinged he has become.. Red Son had a crush on MK, he’s willing to admit that, but the deep level of obsession this version of himself has delved to is actually frightening. I think the way this would be most fun is if MK and friends also know that this alternate Red Son has been pulled into their timeline as well..

So for that to happen, they’re probably there when he’s summoned somehow. Maybe they’re all fighting in some kind of museum or magical repository and Demon King Red gets knocked into this artifact display, shattering the glass and slamming right against the item sending it flying. There’s a flash and suddenly there are two Reds on the ground.. but one of them is in his old coat with his hair pulled back like he used to dress. There’s a brief moment where they regard each other with confusion, but then MK announces to his friends something like, “Uhhh guys! There’s two of him.. there’s two of him now this is bad!!” And that catches the attention of this new Red Son who stands up, pointing accusingly at MK and shouting “Noodle Boy!! Of course you’re behind this! What’s going on? How did I get here?!”

While MK is startled from suddenly hearing that old nickname, King Red is glancing between this new version of himself and the artifact he’d been thrown into. He decides that this is probably something to explore, so he snatches up both the artifact and a very confused Red Son and makes his escape. Back at the palace Red Son is dazzled by how large and powerful the court Red has assembled is, but he’s confused as to why HE is suddenly a king. What about his father?? That’s how Red Son learns what happened to his family in this reality and before he can get too upset about how his parents are literally dead here, he’s distracted by how this version of himself goes on and on about the noodle boy (who he refers to as Darling) and how perfect he is despite how his friends have turned him against Red and Red Son is getting the sense that he is going to be expected to help King Red try to capture MK before he will be allowed to go back home to his reality....

The glamour and excitement of Red’s palace starts to feel a little claustrophobic once he realizes this, and Red Son decides he’s had enough. He tries to steal the artifact to send himself home, but before he can figure out how it works he’s interrupted. King Red is furious that he’d try to escape before assisting him.. He should know how perfect and wonderful MK is and his friends are poisoning his mind. Doesn’t Red Son WANT to help MK??? Red Son is already extremely freaked out, so he just makes a run for it without the artifact, hoping to figure out a way home later, but he’s not staying here with this guy. Nobody stops him on his way out because he IS their king kind of so they’re afraid to interfere with him. He makes it out of the Firey Mountains and back to the city and isn’t sure what to do from there... his parents are gone in this reality and all the demon allies he might have turned to are already apparently at the disposal of the guy who just went on a mad rant at him about how lovely the Noodle Boy is.... Oh... Right. The Noodle Boy.

That’s how Red Son ends up at Pigsy’s Noodles, hands up in surrender as every kind of weapon is pointed at him, to beg his sworn enemies to help him send him back to his own reality because apparently he has no body else to turn to...