Seeing Through the Trauma

A Taste of Normalcy (20)

MK didn't want to move from where he was leaning on Red's shoulder. He was enjoying the peace and quiet of nothing happening for once, sitting and ignoring everything around him as he focused on the fire demon beside him. 

Red was nice enough to let him, holding his hand reassuringly and letting him space out, thoughts drifting. He was tired, but being here was nice. It was quiet, and he was warm. A soft part of his mind told him he wanted to stay like this forever but forever was a long time, and soon enough MK's ears were twitching at the sound of his Baba calling loudly for him. 

He sounded worried. MK sighed. 

"We should probably head back. Baba's worried about me." He said, tilting his head to look up at the taller boy next to him who nodded, eyes settling softly on MK's face. He liked the way he looked at him, chest feeling warm. 

"Tch, that damn monkey can get his own MK. He's always hogging you." He huffed and MK laughed, loud and joyful with surprise. He slung his arms around the pouting boy's neck, smiling a little goofily at him as his boyfriend's hair sparked and burned at the close proximity.

"Aw, are you feeling jealous? Don't worry, I don't really want to go back either." He said, eyes shining at the way Red practically preened at MK's admittance, looking a little more sure of himself as he let his arms settle on MK's waist. 

"Well, we don't have to. We could stay right here for as long as we like." He said and MK leaned into him, resting his head on the boy's warm shoulder and sighing. 

"That would be nice." His voice was quiet, maybe even a little sad but he quickly shoved the feeling away, sitting back to smile at Red Son instead.

"But I think my baba is going to start looking for us any second. He sounds worried." He snickered, ears flicking as he listened to the sound of him stressing out in the house while his dad and Mei tried to calm him down. He listened closer, and it sounded like Mei was trying to stall him, which was really sweet of her. He had the bestest friend ever.

MK leaned away from Red Son, body mourning the loss of the amber heat and he cupped his hands to his mouth, yelling,

"We're coming!" In the direction of the house, knowing that Macaque would hear it. 

"Alright fine, we can go back, but only because I don't want them coming here." Red huffed, standing up and then reaching a hand down. MK took it, letting himself be pulled up and Red just didn't let go of his hand, walking as MK grinned and followed, side by side and hand in hand. 

When they got closer to the house, MK slowed down, trailing to a stop as Red looked back. 

"Something wrong?" He asked and MK looked down at their entwined hands, biting his lip. He wasn't sure how to say it without offending him but... but MK didn't want to let Wukong and Macaque know just yet. Red's hand squeezed his reassuringly and MK smiled awkwardly, inwardly hoping he wasn't about to make him upset. 

"It's just- can we not tell them just yet? About us. It's not that I don't want them to know it's just that I'm pretty sure they'll both freak out and they'll want to give you the shovel talk and it'll be this whole big thing and I'm just- it's been so busy lately and I- I just want a break. Just for a day or two and then we can tell them." He rambled, staring up into auburn eyes and searching for any sign of hurt.

He looked at MK questioningly, probably processing the mess of words MK had just rushed out before nodding, moving to stand closer and grab MK's other hand, bringing both up so they were at chest level. 

"Of course. We don't have to tell them right away if you don't want to. I'd never want to do anything that made you uncomfortable. Thank you for telling me." He said and MK blinked, mouth open slightly as he gawked. It was that easy, that simple?