Reincarnated MK AU

Grief

Wukong's POV

"Monkey King?" I jolted at the sound of MK's voice behind me, here I was kneeling upon the same bed I placed Yingjie on...

Did I go through a trip down memory lane again? I gotta stop doing that...

"Monkey King? Are you alright?" MK asked, his voice was more quiet than usual...probably still adjusting to me kneeling against a bedside...

I can't face him...not when I just had flashbacks of his blood drying against my hands...

It took me days to bury Yingjie...all because I was in shock of how he died right in front of me...

I could've saved him...

MK...the good kid he was, sat behind me, his back against mine as a form of comfort... "Sorry you had to see me like this bud." I spoke, head placed down to the bed. "It's fine...we all have those days..." MK assured, leaning against my back. "I'll just be right here..."

"What time is it?" I asked, MK doesn't usually come here this early...if it was still nighttime... "It's Noon."

Noon already?! How long have I-? Gods damn it all...

"You were here for training weren't you?" I spoke, clasping my face with my hand. How could I lose track of time like that? "Hey, if you're not feeling okay...we can just...you know stay here a bit..." MK suggested...

The Pig raised him well...I'm guessing he just saw how down I was...I don't even look good, my fur's all messed up...oh god had I been crying?

I hid my face into the mattress...hiding the emotions spiraling through me at the moment...I couldn't face him...not like this...his eyes of kindness and gratitude...how can I look at him like that when time and time again I keep seeing him die over and over?

I had the power to prolong his life, I had the power to give him immortality I had-

I had that power...

But I didn't do it...

In my mind...death was mercy...no matter how much I feared it...and now...

I can see it in his eyes...every single time...

The way he accepts death so easily...

I can't-

Not again...

I felt a familiar warmth around my body, it took me a while to realize that I had been shivering through the pain...trembling with guilt and sorrow...

It caused MK to react...pulling me into an embrace from behind...

It's been so long since I received even a hug...I didn't
realize how much I missed the sense of comfort...

"Hey...are you okay?" MK asked me, it's been weeks since the Lady Bone Demon attacked...I've done nothing but reflect on my past deeds...

The Pig's words to me echoed in my mind. 'You're supposed to be his mentor!' Over and over again...

I kept that in my mind...

I was supposed to be his friend...
His mentor...
His protector...

And what am I to do but stand here and watch over and over again as he dies right in front of me?

It's not fair...

I stifled a sob, quieting it down to a sniffle, wiping my eyes frantically to make the tears stop. MK remained silent, his warmth against mine as he comforted me...