Once Bitten

Fatal Mistake (10)

MK hadn't realized he'd drifted off into a light sleep sitting up until the sun's morning rays cut through the gaps in the windows and caught his eyelids, making him let out a noise of complaint as he came back to wakefulness. 

His whole body ached and felt sore and as he opened his eyes he saw Bai He sleeping peacefully with her head on his lap still which was adorable but also frustrating because it meant he couldn't stretch and his muscles were aching something fierce. 

Blinking tiredly he looked down at Bai He's cat who was by his legs for some reason, staring up at him with wide, unblinking eyes and he realized it wanted food with a wince, wondering how he was going to do that without waking Bai He up. 

The cat could probably wait though, right? It was still very, very early in the morning which MK could tell because his head felt clouded and achy like it always did when he didn't get enough sleep so he couldn't have been unconscious for long.  

The cat lifted a paw, still staring into his soul, and tapped his legs with it, making him snort.

"Alright, little guy. Give me a sec." He whispered down to him before flicking his gaze back to Bai He and slowly shuffling her bit by bit off his lap and onto the car seat instead, freezing every time she shifted even slightly before continuing once she'd settled again. It was a slow process but eventually, MK's lap was free and he could move again, grabbing the cat food and setting some in the cat's bowl where it immediately began eating with a ravenous speed. He tried to remember if he'd fed it dinner last night but couldn't and just hoped that he had.

Now that was done, he stretched, yawning and wincing at his aching limbs. 

God, he was so tired.

He put his head back and closed his eyes again in an effort to get a few more hours of rest but just when it seemed like he was drifting off again Bai He stirred and shifted, waking him back up again as he waited for her to wake up properly. 

It took her a while, with lots of mumbled complaining as she sat up, rubbing at her eyes with messy, bedridden hair that hung in tangles around her head.

"Good morning, Bai He. Did you sleep well?" He asked her and she grunted in response, making him chuckle until she found her words. 

"Mhm, morning." She greeted back and MK smiled, knowing that she must have been tired from the late-night drawing they'd done.

"Here." He gestured for her to move so her back was facing him as she wiggled until she was in that position, waiting sleepily as MK rooted around amongst her things to find- Ah hah! He pulled out her hairbrush triumphantly, tugging it gently through her hair as she leaned into the touch. 

He spent the next few minutes combing her hair, getting it straight and untangled again and once he was done she turned around and took the brush from him, smiling up at him sweetly. 

"Your turn." She told him and MK shrugged, going along with it as he turned so she could reach his hair, slipping off his headband so it wouldn't get in the way. He sat patiently as Bai He brushed through his hair, not minding the way she tugged on it slightly since she seemed happy enough since she was humming a bright tune into his ear. 

With nothing to do, he thumbed over the silky fabric of his headband repeatedly, staring down at it with a warm fondness as he traced over the subtle fire-like symbol on the front and thinking about his interaction with Red Son. He wondered if they'd ever see him again. He hoped so. For someone who yelled so much and seemed so bothered by everything he sure was kind, as evidenced by the way he'd given MK his own band without a second thought and then offered them to stay with him.