Eventide ~ a spicy noodles fanfic

Chapter 4. Late Night Drive

Red son stumbled home to his mother as she once again waited by the doorway.

"So?" She crossed her arms. "I'm sorry. The only information I got was that Sun Wukong trained him everyday. No wonder he's strong."
He looked down in fear. "So you failed to get valuable information? Though, trust takes time. This is an okay start. Go to your room." She suddenly demanded." He nodded immediately and began to walk. "Put more effort into it tomorrow." She sighs.

He enters his room and lays on his bed again. Suddenly, he can't help but think of what Mk said again. "Thank you." Replayed on his head. He had never been thanked before. He couldn't help but feel confused. His work was recognized for the first time.

He kept thinking about how he expressed gratitude but, he couldn't let himself get distracted. This was a chance to prove himself worthy of his families affection and respect. He had to stay serious. He couldn't let himself accidentally become distracted.

Mk sat on his bed in silence still confused. Mk had enjoyed hanging out with his enemy, but why? Why did Red son suddenly want to be his friend? Mk knew that Pigsy, Tang and Mei would never approve of their friendship but he still felt as though he should try. He couldn't figure out why, but he felt as though Red needed help. Why else would he reach out to him? "He's so confusing..." he mumbled before eventually falling asleep.

The next morning, Pigsy was back to working. He made Mk work extra hard to make up for their day of absence. Red son tried to find time to approach him as he drove across the city. After a while, Mk somehow managed to notice him through the crowds of people enjoying the warm day. He stopped his car and invited him inside. He agreed awkwardly, sitting next to him as music blasted on the radio.

"What's up?" Mk asks starting the car up again. "Nothing.." Mk dives down the busy roads. "You're a hard one to talk to. You know that?" Mk says trying once again to make conversation. "Sorry." Red son mumbled. Mk sighed. "Hey. You didn't really give me a clear answer last time. Why do you want to be my friend?" Mk slightly turns toward him. "It's..I..." Red son fails to make an excuse and continues to stutter.

Mk sighs once again and smiles patiently. "If it's something private, you don't have to tell me. I'll wait for you to be ready."

Red son bites down on his lip trying not to cry. He managed to keep himself from tears by reciting his fathers words in his head over and over. Mk quickly ran out of the truck to deliver the final order. Red son sat alone in the car as his heart beat aggressively. It was almost like how his heart beat in the presence of his father. "Sympathy is weakness. Kindness is weakness." He kept repeating in a whisper until he calmed down.

Mk eventually came back with a long sigh and they drove in silence. Night fell upon the busy city and the bright lights became more visible. Loud cars and angry street fights filled Red sons ears. The smell of nicotine and garbage fires came into view. He had never been to the city at night but it seemed hellish. Red son eventually broke the deafening silence between the two as he opened his mouth.

"Why are you allowing me to be your friend? You should hate me." He asked genuinely breaking his act for a split moment. Mk thought for a moment. "I just feel like I need to help people. I guess that's obvious coming from me but it's my way to repay what I owe to everyone." Red son tilts his head in confusion. "Owe? Me?"

"Well not you specifically, but, when I needed help, Pigsy and Tang helped me, so, I just want to repay that by helping others.. it's confusing, but it feels right." Mk laughs embarrassingly.

"Helped you?" Red son asks once again confused. Mk sighs. "That's a story for another time. I must be rambling." Mk giggles slightly again.

"You're a strange one, Red son. I don't mean that in a rude way." Mk looks back to the road as he pulls up to the noodle shop and hood out of the car. "I think we could really be friends. I believe you could really change, Red." He smiled again. Red stared, once again confused. No one had ever spoken to him with such..kindness.