A Colored Spark -*- Spicynoodles -*- [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 4

The two had made it into the noodle shop, and unsurprisingly, Pigsy happens to be awake and caught them in the act. "Mk! Whare you doing up so- WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?" He yelled while pointing at Red son as he glares at Mk. "Okay, yes, this looks bad, but it's all with good intentions!" Mk said, but Pigsy wasn't having any of it. "He's the enemy!" Pigsy persisted. Red son had little to no energy for this, and he had no time to deal with an angry noodle chef! Thankfully he didn't need to say anything since Mk noticed this. "Can we discuss this tomorrow, we're pretty tired," Mk pleaded, "I don't care, you can even cut my pay!" The pig snorted, "Fine, but first thing in the morning we talk about him, along with everyone else!" 

The next day, and as promised, Pigsy had hosted an audience and everyone was there, even the blue guy. -Oh wow, Red son couldn't remember any of their names, usually, he used it as a childish, teasing tactic but in reality, he has no idea what any of their names are. Though, it's not like it'll be so important later on as if he'd ever say the peasants' actual names! And it would be an unnecessary question, hearing all of them say each other's name in loud whispers. "Well, are you going to say anything?" He breaks the silence, or well, interrupts their whispering. "Hey, we'll talk to you when we want to talk to you!" the girl yelled, returning into their huddle. "Okay, okay, I'll explain how we met! No sugar-coating!" Mk got their attention and began, "I was just walking to the park to cool off and I saw Red son there! I don't know much about his side of the story but Red says he ran away. After hearing that, I guessed I could bring him back to my apartment where he can temporarily stay." Red nodded in acknowledgment, a decent summary to say the least. "So, can you tell us why you ran away?" Dragon horse girl said, he still didn't remember her name but he can certainly remember how annoying she was. Who does she think she is to ask a question like that? Red didn't answer Noodle boy, why would he answer her? His thoughts are interrupted. "I don't think he's comfortable talking about it," Mk said, shocking Red son with his words. At least he respects people's privacy! Red scoffed, crossing his arms and looking away from the group. "Okay then... Why are your hands bandaged?" The girl asked, what was with all these questions!? "Mei! I think most of the answers are gonna be the same!" Mk appealed. Red son was beginning to feel a bit drowsy, he didn't have the most comfortable sleep and he hadn't eaten anything yet. "Could I have something to eat?" He asked, and Pigsy couldn't help but take offense to that, "Why would I serve you, demon!?" Red was beginning to space out, a headache forming rather quickly. "Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever, I'll pay just get me something to eat!" He persisted, ignoring all that Pigsy said, he watches them walk over to the kitchen and make him some noodles, he couldn't help but feel a little smug about it. "Oh how generous, make me a bowl too, won't you Pigsy?" Tang coos, he found it rather humorous when Pigsy grumbled. "So, how am I supposed to gain a fraction of your trust?" Red said, he doesn't need to be all buddy-buddy with the peasants but he could take advantage of this, no matter how much it would disgust him. "Well, prove to us that we can trust you," Mei talked back. "I know, but how?" Red said, leaving an awkward silence shrouding them all. "I could give you some therapy lessons!" Sandy offered. "Hm, in all honesty, I probably need that but how would that give me your trust?" Red said, fully aware but he'd like an extra bit of context. "It means that we could help you to be better!" Sandy smiled, and everyone else nodded in agreement. "If you're thinking that I'll be a hero, then you are sorely mistaken," Red scoffed, "Look, all I need is a place to stay, no strings attached!" He swayed his arm and watched them all fumble. Pigsy had finished making Red's noodles and gave them to Red son and got his payment. The group returned to their little huddle while Red ate his noodles, this allowed him to have his thoughts to himself. If he takes up those lessons with Sandy, he could regain some sanity, but also fix his anger issues and hopefully control his fire better. And of course, get some information out of these dorks. "I don't care what any of you say! I think he's got some stuff going on and we should help him out, he'll stay in my apartment like I said," Mk announced, and Red couldn't help but feel touched by his words. "Alright, he can stay, but with one wrong move he is gone!" Pigsy scolded. Mk's face lit up, giving Red a small, warm feeling, but he quickly pushed it aside as soon as it appeared. 

Once Red has finished his noodles Mk brought him upstairs to his flat. "I'm sure I got a cot somewhere, I can take that while you take the bed," Mk insisted. Red didn't fully understand but didn't mind it either, at least he remains to have some kind of entitlement here. He'd set his duffel bag, not in the mood for unpacking his stuff, he'll get his clothes and whatnot when he needed to. He flopped onto the bed, still exhausted, and his legs weren't helping either, he should do something about that. He turned his head towards Mk, watching him set up a cot. "Why are you doing this?" Red asked, his brain still having a hard time wrapping around all of this. "I told you, it's what heroes do!" Mk smiled brightly. "But you hardly know anything!" Red persisted, and Mk only chuckled, "This isn't funny!" Red rolled his eyes while Mk stifled a laugh, "I may not have a definite answer, but I do this because I want to, everyone deserves a bit of kindness," Mk explained, a nice calming tone, almost like sweet talk, Red quickly looked away in annoyance and a bit of something else... Whatever, it's not important. "How are you so good at reading emotions? I hardly needed to say anything because of you," Red said, changing the topic, but this will be valuable information, he can't himself be transparent. "I'm just a people person, I'm used to seeing similar mannerisms and all that," Mk answered gladly. Short-minded noodle brain! Why is he being so open about this?  Red thought, confused but this could work, if he's so open to Red son then he could find a way to manipulate this, but it would take so long though! Oh well, he'll just have to work this out in the long term. "You wanna watch a movie?" Mk asked, and Red reluctantly agreed.

The two watched a film before Mk left go deliver some noodles, leaving Red son alone with his thoughts. It was pretty boring, and he sort of craving interaction but he didn't think he had any permission to go anywhere, or maybe he did but wasn't told about it, or he didn't need to ask for any! Either way, Red son decided to stay inside, for everyone's sake. Red had been laying down on the bed for a while, he wanted to do something productive, perhaps clean out the flat? He attempted to get up from the bed but tumbled back onto it once his legs gave out. "Right! I forgot that my legs are wounded," Red sighed, he pulled his duffel bag up and searched for any medicinals, he only found some rubbing alcohol and bandages, this should do. "Man, I must look terrible!" He snickered while he continued to tend to his legs. As he wrapped his wounds, he began to clean. "I know it's my choice, but couldn't he have thought to keep his room clean before?" He mourned for himself.