Once Bitten

Rest Stop. Wait, nevermind (41)

MK flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning around sharply only to see the concerned face of the woman, Jīng. She looked worried, hand resting softly on his tense shoulder. 

"Sorry, dear. I didn't mean to sneak up on you." She said and MK shook his head, reminding himself and his thundering heartbeat to calm down. His mouth felt dry as he spoke. 

"No, my fault, sorry. I was just lost in thought." He explained, giving her a sheepish look and she smiled, taking the knife from him and guiding him to the chair he'd been sitting on earlier with her hand on his back. 

"I understand. Thank you for helping, now take a seat and rest a while. I'll finish up." She suggested and MK let her sit him down on the chair with a press to his shoulders, watching her go back to cooking lazily and wondering when Macaque and Wukong would get back. 

Hopefully they were okay. He was assuming he'd know when they got back since he'd likely hear whatever car they found driving down the street. Maybe he'd go out to greet them or wave from the window so they definitely wouldn't miss the house.

Leaning forward MK spread his elbows on the table, tucking his head into them and listening to the sound of the woman's voice as she started humming again, a rhythmic noise MK was sure would easily put him to sleep if he let it. 

All too soon there was a loud thump, and MK jumped up, eyes springing open blearily as he looked around in surprise only to find the woman staring toward the doorway. 

"Wha-" 

"Did that wake you, dear? They must have dropped something in the living room. I hope your friends are alright." She said and MK jerked fully awake at that, moving toward the living room to investigate while panic soared through his veins. Was Sandy and Mei okay? Were they hurt? What-

"Oops. Sorry, Mrs Lady." Mei was standing over a broken vase, eyes guilty as she hovered around it and the woman sighed, putting a hand over her chest.

"That's alright. It just startled me, is all. I'll clean this up-" 

"We'll do it! I'm really sorry, Mrs. Jīng. I hope that wasn't important to you." MK rushed out, apologetic as he clasped his hands together in a bow and she smiled, shaking her head and patting him on the top of his head twice softly.

"Nonsense, child. Accidents happen. I don't mind cleaning it up-" MK shook his head, interrupting her. It didn't feel right to let her clean up when it was MK's friend who had broken it. 

"It's okay! You can focus on cooking and we'll clean up in here." He promised, smiling helpfully and she nodded, eyes crinkled into soft edges of something old. 

"Alright then. I'll just get you a dustpan. Be careful not to cut yourself on the bits of broken vase." she told him, leaving and coming back in a moment later with a dustpan, and MK took it with a nod, a little embarrassed. 

"I won't!" She nodded and turned back to the kitchen to finish the food, the sound of her humming starting up again as MK turned back to a guilty-looking Mei.

"Mei! We're guests, you can't just go around breaking her stuff." He hissed lowly, the beginnings of another headache pulling at the front of his brain and she winced, taking the dustpan from him apologetically. 

"I know. I'm sorry, MK. I didn't mean to. I'll clean it up. You sit down." She offered and MK let her, sitting back onto the couch with tired legs and sinking into the cushions. He was still tired, feeling like he could fall asleep at any minute and he rested his chin on the arm of the seat as he watched Mei start cleaning up the mess. 

"Thanks. And it's okay, I'm sorry for snapping." He told her, exhausted, and she nodded, smiling at him brightly. 

"That's okay, I know you're a little under the weather. If you want to take a nap we'll wake you up when she's done with the food." Mei told him and MK hummed, letting his eyes drift shut.