Becoming Whole Once More (LostVesselAU)

Not Exactly Real

MK was seeing another mentor.

Wukong knew it. He wasn't blind, he could see how the boy grew frustrated with each day of training and with every moment he'd have to converse with Wukong via Gold Vision. And Wukong knew, because he'd seen the interaction with his own eyes.

MK was training under Macaque, and Wukong had no idea whether to interfere or not.

On one hand, he isn't exactly... friends with Macaque. And he doesn't fully trust the shadow user. On the other hand, Mk would get actual on-hands training that helped him improve his fighting skills.

Maybe Wukong should've just...tried harder. He should've continued to push against his magic. He should've done more to keep himself present for his successor. But in the end, it didn't matter, he still failed MK.

So he let MK train with the warrior, and instead spent that bit of time looking over the Bull King family. It wasn't as intimate as before, but he still cared.

He still cleaned up messes for them. Still tucked Red Son into bed. Still restocked Princess Iron Fan's favorite perfumes. And he now tended to leave his brother blossoms that could survive flames.

Was the bull aware it was him? No. But did he find each blossom and secretly kept them?

Yes.

Wukong felt glad, deep down, that he wasn't completely useless. He was upset he'd let Mk down, of course, but it couldn't be helped. He was limited, it was bound to happen. Though the blatant rejection still hurt.

---

He should've interfered.

And now he was holding back a giant fist, standing in front of his successor as Macaque mocked him from above, "SHOW ME THE REAL SUN WUKONG!" The king grunted, gasping as his body flickered.

MK watched with wide eyes, and then the world was golden. The delivery boy gasped as he watched the flickers happen, as he witnessed the monkey's 'body' faze into the king's spirit form. The dots began to connect abruptly, causing MK to reel.

He's like a ghost.

Determination surged within the brunette's veins as the warrior above continued to taunt, "Aww, what's wrong? Trying to escape me, oh Great Sage?" Wukong's eye twitched in irritation. Did this jerk seriously think he was chickening out?!

The staff suddenly flung forward, ramming into the shadow kaiju. Wukong gasped, moving back as MK leaped forward to retrieve the staff.

Debris in the form of boulders flew out, and the king quickly engulfed the brunette, desperately keeping himself intact long enough to shield him. MK squeezed his eyes shut, feeling a strange nostalgia as his mentor's arms enveloped his body.

As if this wasn't the first time the spirit had shielded him.

---

"Monkey King, I'm...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for going behind your back. It was super not cool of me." He sighed, closing his eyes, "I just wanted to be good enough."

Wukong's golden hands moved through the boy's hair as he hummed, "It's fine, bud. I know it isn't fair for you to only see me like this. It must be frustrating." MK straightened up, golden eyes staring at his mentor with a hurt expression, "No, it must be frustrating for you! I should be more patient and understanding, not the other way around!"

"Kid, hey, it's fine. You didn't know, and your feelings are warranted, y'know. And just so you know, you aren't good enough. You're perfect. MK, you'll grow up to be greater than me! But you have to be patient and trust the process."