Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hii!!

I really, REALLYYYY  wanted to do this for a long time; problem is, I don't have any scenarios to do!

I have a few ideas - but I'd like for you guys to suggest what to do here.

What I can do:

- Fluff

- Comedy

- Legit anything else (I don't know what I'm doing)

What I can't do:

- Smut ( ℑ'𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔤𝔯𝔞𝔡𝔲𝔞𝔱𝔢 and 𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔫𝔡 𝔠𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔰 )

-  Anything that I'm uncomfortable with. I WILL be expressing my discomfort if it makes me uncomfortable.

Chapter Text

You don't hate many things. Life's too short to hate much.

But you have an exception.

Stairs.

Being in need of a wheelchair 24/7, there were an excessive amount of problems in the real world you still have yet to solve. There were good things - it being the recent century - like buildings with ramps.

However - a few weeks ago, when the elevator of your apartment broke down and need a week recovery, leaving you in seemingly trouble,

Your next door neighbour had came and assisted you down the stairs - all the while, talking to you with simple things. Like the weather, or work schedules - simple things such as those.

But, it made you feel seen. Was that enough? Of course it was.

And the same thing happened the next day.

Then the next week.

And the week after that. It's become a schedule - even when the elevator wasn't broken, both of you had agreed that you don't really trust it.

Just as you started falling deep into thought, staring at the same set of steep stairs, a familiar voice calls your name - making you look up.

A smile grazes your face as you see the familiar figure of MK approaching you. You cross your arms and tilted your head.

"Took you long enough," Your eyes catch the sight of his hair - messier than normal. You chuckle.

"Didn't have enough time to brush your hair?"

The comment makes the bandana clad man scoff. He stops in front of you and mimicked your stance - arms folded infront of his chest.

"Listen, my alarm failed me today, and Pigsy isn't kind to me whenever I'm late."

You raise a brow.

"Last I remember, he hasn't been kind."

MK lets out a faux gasp, though laughing afterwards. And it makes your smile broaden just a little more.

"Oh ho ho, you're lucky I don't tell him about that."

Without anymore stalling, he reaches for the back of your mobile, guiding you carefully down the stairs. Out of habit, you reach behind you and grasp his wrist.

MK stiffens before relaxing. It makes you raise a brow - though, you don't find the time to ask as he sets you and your wheelchair cautiously on the ground.

You find the chance to do so once he does.

"MK," You call for his attention, voice soft yet serious. "What's up? You're acting all weird."

He pauses, seeming to be taken off guard before chuckling, rubbing the back of his head. But even you saw that it was a deflecting motion - by the way he avoids your gaze as he began 'explaining'.

"Ah, nothin'. Just already anxious about being late for work, y'know how it is!" His tone is wrong.

Despite such, you don't try to push for more.

You nod, and you just barely notice the sigh of relief coming from him. Almost.

"Sooo," MK sets his hands on your shoulders, trying to seem like he's not attempting to steer the conversation somewhere else. "You wanna go anywhere that involves, I dunno, stairs?"

His teasing gesture almost makes you forget your little notes on his behaviour change. You bristle yet don't respond, only nodding. You'll leave it be for now.

The hero chuckles and just pushes you through the front door, already picking up a faster pace due to Pigsy's stern behaviour on him being late. Gotta love a boss who's strict on the schedule - right?

(( Skip to MK's POV cuz I'm suffering bad from writers block ))

"MK."

Pigsy's voice makes the hero freeze mid wash of the plates.

"What? Wh- wha- what did I do, did I do anything- please don't start scolding me for being late, I was just helping-" MK was rambling, about to mention you before Pigsy cut him off.

"I know about [Y/N]," He says, voice firm yet filled with an odd knowing.

MK froze, not expecting that at all. He could feel his heart rate spike up - he tried to blow it off as he leaned against the counter, drying his hands on his clothes.

"What.. what about [Y/N]?" It came out a lot more defensive, as much as he tried to sound casual about it. Damn it.

"Oh MK," Tang cut in before Pigsy could start, making the pig grumble. "You don't think we know your little crush?"

MK's eyes widen with shock, his face flushing without his permission, betraying him throughly to his boss and Mr. Tang. Though, even so, he waves his arms around, sputtering to try and deny it.

"WHAT?! Noo, they're just- they're not- NO!" He was quite expressive.

Pigsy and Tang simultaneously raise a brow, giving eachother a knowing glance before looking back at MK. The former crossed his arms, and the latter watched with interest, face leaned into his hand.

"MK, we've visited your apartment before." Pigsy points out, making the hero cringe just the slightest.

"And they're so sweet!" Tang chimes in. "They were interested in the stories I told you before. Though,"

The scholar rubbed the back of his head, looking off to the side with a sheepishly amused look.

"They actually listened to more than Sun Wukong's chapters.."

"HEY." MK bristled. He knew Mr. Tang was right - he said it himself, hasn't he?

"Look MK," Pigsy began, catching his attention. "Usually I wouldn't have to say it ya - you're a smart kid; just-"

He pauses, wondering what the right words for that would be.

"..Also a hard headed one."

"True that," Tang commented.

"Wha-!" MK stops himself before he could deny it. He slunks back with a grudgingly resigned face. "Okay, fine, that's true."

Pigsy sighs. And Tang - he find the words to finally tell MK what he should've done when he knew, and when he had gotten a chance.

"You should confess to them."

MK pauses. A bead of sweat pour down his face, and he wipes it off with a hand.

His gaze remained downwards, as if waiting for the words he knew was about to come. And- the words that he may have needed to hear after prolonging his feelings for so long.

Pigsy's usual stern gaze softens as he watches MK await advice. This kid was really hopeless.

The pig steps forward and sets a hand on MK's shoulder.

"Look, kid," He begins. "If you're sure you love this person - and I'm not gonna tell you again," The pig says sternly, but sighs.

"You tell them you love them. I know, it's like a one-time gamble to do so - but you can't live your life knowin' you got the chance, and let it slip you by."

"Plus, you never know if they like you back," Tang chimes in, his expression encouraging. "You can only come clean to yourself. And them, just as much."

MK glanced at both Tang and Pigsy with a small face, a soft frown on his lips as he takes in the words of the more adultier adults. The man looked off to the side, and then the other, crossing his arms over his chest as he figures out what he wants.

Who he wants.

And he knows - they all know, at that - that he wants you.

Then, after a little hard thinking, a soft, almost nervous smile comes onto his face. Thinking about confessing to you after a long time of keeping his feelings on a tight leash, was both terrifying and thrilling. He'd love to come clean to you.

So, so much.

"..Yeah," He finally says, looking up at Pigsy. "Yeah, I'll confess."

Pigsy's smile - as proud as it could be - broadened on his face. He heartily pats MK on the shoulder, his other hand fixing up his bandana and patting down his hair. It was still a mess, just messier than this morning.

"That's my boy."

After closing time, with Tang giving him many quips on how to confess, while Pigsy behind the counter just telling him to go for it - MK stood at the doorway of Pigsy's Noodles, looking back at them with a smile.

"Thanks guys. I really needed that," He says.

Tang gives him a thumbs up, and Pigsy..

"Don't come back to work if [Y/N]'s not with ya!" He teases.

MK tensed up, a smaller flush on his face before he shook his head, chuckling softly.

"Yeah, okay.. I'll come with them tomorrow," He says, already heading out.

"Hopefully."

Chapter Text

You were much delighted to see that Redson could wear his hair down. Much more when you found out that it was long.

"How did you convince me to let you do this?" The Bull Prince grumbled, his hair warm to touch as you fingers weaved them.

You shrug, a small smile on your face. You always had a problem with long hair - no matter if it reached the small of someone's back, or past their ankles - they always seemed.. bland, to you. Acessories only seen on the front, and at the back - a blank canvas of strands just begging to be braided.

Redson, despite his snarky comments, made no move to pull away from your hands.

He would never admit it - but he liked it. Somewhat.

Oh, who was he kidding - he liked it with all his being.

The prince closed his eyes with a long, slow sigh. His face splattered with annoyance, but if you were looking close enough - not that you were looking at all - you would've caught the smallest hint of a blush. And with the way his shoulders relaxed? Dead give away.

For a moment, he relaxed almost nearly. The longer you braided his hair, fingers brushing against his scalp as he sat on the floor while you sat so close behind him - it felt like he was ready to fall asleep right then and there.

"Aaaand done!"

His eyes snapped open just in time with a hairband snapping the end of his braid.

"Finally." He huffed, but felt.. disappointed, as you pulled away.

You were admiring your work, smiling proudly at the small hairclips holding the braid. No glimpse of a stray hair in sight - which just made the feeling of pride light up in your chest.

You watch as Redson stands up, following his movements and dusting off your clothes.

"So." You began, gaining his attention. "You.. like it?"

That gains a scoff from the prince - though the sound doesn't deter you from staring at him with expectant, hoping eyes. He sighs, reaching for the braid and holding it in his hand.

He stares at it for a moment, face blanking as he sees how smooth it actually was. He runs his fingers across the intricate weavery - the dips and curves of his own hair, twined by your clearly masterful fingers.

At that moment, he felt flustered. You had worked so hard on it.

Usually that wouldn't stop him from untying the braid the moment you go away. But.. this was the first time, actually. That he had allowed you to weave his long hair - that he normally wears up.

...Redson huffed, dropping the braid to rest it on his shoulder.

"Yes, yes," He begrudgingly spat, waving his hand dismissively as he looks off to the side. "Now if you'll excuse me. You've wasted enough of time, peasant."

And in the blink of your eye - along with the sound of flames - you stood there in your living room, staring at nothing. You sigh, but still felt somewhat giddy.

There was something that made you happy about being able to braid his hair. His warm hair...

You blinked again, smacked your cheeks with both hands and shook your head. Don't go there, brain.

Please don't go there.

[[ Timeskip: days later ]]

{{ Redson POV }}

' Sorry dude! I didn't think it was so important to you! Really! '

Redson growled, the words echoing in his mind. Another day of a failed attempt at beating MK - that stupid Noodle boy.

But that peasant wasn't the entire object of displeasure.

Sitting at his desk, hair tousled - and down. Slightly wavy from the braid that no longer was being held by the hairtie you had given him so it could always stay.

Said band was the ashes in his hand. He had gotten so mad at MK his hair burned through it.

Just as his nerves were beginning to fire up again, as well as his hair, your words from days ago echoed in the prince's mind.

' Sooo... ' That stupid look on your face he could still vividly see if he closed his eyes. ' You like it? '

..Yes. Yes, he did.

He took in a deep breath. So much.

Much more than he'd like to admit.

Redson sighed, running his hand through his hair. His fingers caught through a knot, but he combed it through with his fingers. The exhaustion that came afterward annoyed him, as it distinguished his frustration towards.. everything.

For a moment, he was at a lost. It was only him, the ashes of a hairtie in his hands, the hairclips that had melted on the way - and this terrifying feeling of shame. Of longing. He wasn't sure which was scarier.

He opened his eyes slowly, staring at the dusty residue that seemed to stare back at him. It felt like it was judging him, his current state and how pathetic he probably looked - getting all sulky over a broken braid and a burnt beyond repair hair tie.

...Redson furrowed his brows, slowly sitting up straight. Something came to him. An idea.

With an idea - came with his usual fiery determination.

And he does not give up on those two things.

[[ Another Timeskip: Day after that ]]

"I..."

You stare at Redson in surprise. One moment, you were just finishing up the dishes of your lunch and about to hit the couch - the next, you had answered a knock on the door;

And Redson was standing there. An oddly blank expression on his face, if it weren't for the slight furrow of his brows and the flush of pink on his cheeks. In his hand - a hairtie.

His hair was down.

"The hairtie you gave me," He began, unable to look you in the eye without embarrassing himself more. "It burned. However,"

Your gaze flicked to Redson's hand as it stays infront of you. Now that you thought about it - the hairtie he was giving you wasn't yours. And he didn't have the clips, so you can assume that they melted.

"Since I feel the need to pity you and your awful braid," He knew he was deflecting - he freaking loved that braid. "I made a much stronger hairtie. Similar to mine - fireproof, so my hair doesn't go down mid-"

"Did you just want me to braid your hair again?"

Redson tensed up, sputtering before shutting his mouth. He grumbles - and a giddy feeling bubbles up in your chest as you realise; he loved your braiding skills!

"Well get in here!" "WhaaAA-?!"

In the end, you were on the floor of your living room again - braiding Redson's hair while saying how smart he was for coming up with the fireproof hairband. Plus, you liked the color change. Redson was flustered all the way - but admit it, he came here, to your house with his hair down.

This guy loves your braids. And that's enough for you.

Chapter Text

You don't mind this kind of silence.

The events that lead to the moment were a climax of things. The Lady Bone Demon, The Ink Demon, The Brotherhood, the chaos after everything. Of course, that amount of action would tire anyone. Both emotionally and physically.

Especially Sun Wukong's successor.

To be honest, you never really saw MK as an enemy. In fact, you avoided the guy most of the time, even if it wasn't in Macaque's lessons to back out from a fight.

You're not too much of a warrior. No matter how much your mentor has trained you to be.

You blinked slowly, staring at MK's hair. None of it mattered anymore. Not right now.

Not when he had his arms around you, holding you tightly as you both lay on his bed, his jacket on your form as a storm rages outside. It felt like he'd never let you go.

MK had his head buried in your chest. Your hands were in his tousled hair, bandana discarded to the side.

... You sighed, burying your face in his hair as you tighten your hold on him. His legs were clinging to your waist - he really was a monkey's student.

"We should do this more." You normally don't do the talking. But if MK wasn't the one doing it, you won't stand for the silence to be coming from him.

The young man chuckles, the sound less sadder than last time. You could tell that everything that'd happened had taken a toll on everyone. On him. On you.

"You don't think Macaque is going to get mad at you?" He questions, looking up at you just a bit. "Here in his enemy's successor's bed? Hugging him, and all that..?"

...

"Eh."

Both of you laugh, sounding tired - but it was a light. A light in the chaos, the tension that had threatened to consume the two of you over, and over. Yet despite that, it never did. It just hovered.

"You really don't care, do you?" MK pulls back, propping himself on his elbow.

Your hands dropped back onto your chest, but your eyes never leave his.

MK paused at the unintentional look you're giving him. He's not sure if he was reading into this too closely - but the longing in your softened gaze, your hair messed up gently.. it made him feel weird. You've never looked at him with such eyes - the wariness replaced by something.. something..

He ended up staring at you awkwardly, a flush making it's way on his face. It was only then when your smile dropped into a curious frown, brow raised, that he snapped out of it and hurriedly sat up.

"A-anyway!" MK began, avoiding eye contact. "You, uh, wanna watch a movie? You're here already anyways, so, uhm.."

You watched with silent interest as he rubbed his neck, sitting up slowly as his next words come to light.

"..I was hoping you'd.. stay? Just.. a little longer?"

...MK, nor you, didn't expect the brightest smile that made its way onto your face - it made his heart skip a beat. Oh no. He's cooked, wasn't he?

"That'd be great."

He's cooked. So cooked.

MK sighed, shaking his head and hopped off of his bed. Something in him yelled at him to get back in there, to hold you, have you. Wait, what?

"I think I got some movies, so uh, just wait, kay?"

Your brow raised higher, a giggle escaping your lips.

"Right," You mutter under your breath, MK already walking away. Then..

"Don't worry. I'll just sit here 'n look pretty."

MK near died on his way, stumbling a bit before hurriedly turning the corner. A sly smirk makes due on your face.

This was gonna be fun.