Seeing Through the Trauma

Team-up (42)

"How do we do that?" 

"Well, we do something big. Something eye-catching. He came down the first time you used your laser vision, so he'll definitely get here quick if you do it again." Wukong explained, smug, and MK took a few steps back, shaking his bound hands in front of him wearily. 

"Uh no, that's a terrible idea! We don't want to piss them off even more. Besides, I can't use my powers, remember? The whole reason we need Nezha in the first place." MK told him, his hands in clear view but Wukong didn't look deterred by his refusal, instead, his grin looked even more mischievous. 

"Who said it had to be you? In case you forgot, I'm the reason you can do it in the first place." Wukong said, looking absolutely thrilled at being able to cause a little mayhem. Maybe it was because he wanted a little payback after being framed and put on trial. 

Either way, MK was horrified.

"No! They'll just get more mad! They'll put you in jail for sure." He said loudly, wishing he could wave his hands but finding his cuffs making that much harder. Luckily Macaque backed him up rather than encouraging Wukong's behaviour. 

"MK's right. The last thing we need is to piss them off more. Besides, they're looking for us. It'll be easy to find them. We'll just go where they're looking." Macaque said smartly and MK tilted his head. 

"Pigsy's?" He asked, excited at the idea of seeing them but Macaque shook his head. 

"Nope. Flower Fruit Mountian." 

At the reminder of their other home, MK winced, thoughts drifting back to the monkeys on the island. He hoped they weren't being bothered by the celestials looking for them. If they got hurt in the crossfire MK would be devastated. 

Not that he thought Nezha would let that happen.    

"Great, so we'll go, stir up some trouble, then bring Nezha back here while you wait for us." Wukong chirped, tone bright and ready and MK blinked twice, ears twitching just to make sure he heard him right. 

"What?" They weren't letting him come with?

"Think about it, kiddo. With your hands bound like that and no powers, you're not going to be much use in a fight. It'll be easy for me and Wukong to focus if we're not also worrying about you." Macaque told him and though his tone was sympathetic his words felt sharp, and MK winded, shrinking back under the honesty of the statement. 

He was right, of course, but that's just what made it harder. MK was just a liability, a burden, nothing but deadweight as he left all the work to his dads. 

"Oh. Okay." His tone sounded flat and Wukong frowned, stepping forward. 

"MK I know you want to help-" MK took a step back away from him.  

"No, no! It's fine. I get it, really! You're right. Just... come back, okay?" He asked, voice smaller than he'd meant it to come out and Wukong smiled, reaching forward and ruffling his hair again and MK let him. 

"Course we will kiddo! We'll be back in no time." He promised and Macaque nodded. 

"You'll hardly even know we're gone." They sounded sure of themselves so MK nodded, stomach still twisting with worry but head reminding him that maybe they were right and they'd be fine. They were far more powerful than him after all, with hundreds of years more experience. 

They'd be fine. 

MK just had to remind himself that as Macaque opened a portal under their feet, waving goodbye as they dropped into it and left MK by himself. Alone. The portal closed when they passed through it and the forest around him seemed a lot louder, every sound and animal shuffling drumming in his ears.