Chapter Text
Sun Wukong sighed as he looked back at the mountain that sealed both Princess Iron Fan and his former sworn brother, Demon Bull King. His staff planted firmly on top of their prison, he didn’t regret what he did, it had to be done but he still felt a ping of sadness for having to do it. He remembers seeing how in love they were for each other, a celestial warrior and a demon king being together despite all odds. A part of him was relieved that they could stay together even if it was in prison. But those thoughts were pushed away and instead consumed with what was really important. The Monkey King slammed the iron doors open that lead into the palace of his former friends and was quickly surrounded by bull clones.
Red Son was sobbing as he hid under his bed, he could hear the Monkey King tearing apart his father’s clones even when he covered his ears. He knew that something bad had happened to his parents. His father had left early in the morning and had even kissed his forehead goodbye before he left and later his mother had rushed out saying that his father needed his help fighting Sun Wukong and had told him to be brave when he had cried and begged her to stay. She promised that they would both be back soon but now they were both gone and the enemy was going to get him too. He covered his mouth to cover the noise of his breathing when the noise of fighting suddenly stopped. Everything was deadly quiet for a moment before the sound of footsteps started to make their way towards his room. Did the monkey know where he was!?
Red Son squeezed his eyes shut as the footsteps stopped and his door was pushed open slowly. Then it was quiet again, he held his breath hoping that maybe the demon wouldn’t find him. Nothing happened for a few moments and Red Son just started to open his eyes again only for the bed he was under to be lifted in the air. He let out a scream and immediately scrambled trying to get distance between him and the monkey that was lifting his bed with only one hand. Panicked Red Son launched a burst of fire from his right hand making Wukong drop the bed on the ground with a bang. Red Son felt a burst of hope that maybe he could beat the Monkey King but froze.
Red glowing eyes glared down at him and Red Son could see that his fire didn’t even hurt him, it seemed to only irritate him. The hope was now long gone, replaced with deep fear he has never felt before. He wanted his father and mother to come and save him but seeing the simian unharmed from his fire and having just fought both his parents he knew that they weren’t coming. With that the dam broke and the child dropped to the ground and curled into a ball, crying again. He pressed his face into his knees and waited for the terrible fate that would fall on him.
Wukong stared down at the crying boy for a moment and sighed. This was not how he wanted this to go but he supposed it made sense. The poor kid must be terrified and having the one person that just defeated his parents to walk in right after that was no doubt traumatizing. Seeing Red Son again brought back memories of when he first saw him. The samadhi fire was far too powerful and it had to be taken away, at first the kid was legit terrifying. Laughing as he destroyed everything around him and Wukong could feel the power and heat even from a sorta safe distance away. Then they were able to split the fire and the baby fell through the air as DBK rushed to catch him. Wukong only caught a glimpse of the baby but just that made Wukong want to hold him. Red Son was so small and he did always want to be an uncle but knew that he would probably be rejected if he had asked so he simply left with his ring. Now the same child was in front of him crying his eyes out with no parents in sight so he finally crouched down and scooped the child into his arms. Red Son screamed as he was lifted but was immediately shushed softly. “Shhh it’s okay I’m not going to hurt you.” Wukong bounced the child softly and started to walk out of the room into the long hallway.
Red Son sobbed and thrashed but that did nothing to loosen the grip the other had on him. By the time Wukong made it outside of the palace, Red Son had tired himself out. “I-I want my mother! I want my father! Pl-Please take me to them.”
Wukong stared down at him for a moment with a blank face that made Red Son flinch in fear but then his face softened as he chuckled softly, “I can’t do that kiddo but don’t worry I’m your dad now.” Wukong said it with such certainty that Red Son could only stare back in scared confusion but that didn’t matter. Sure he wanted to be an uncle but a dad was ten times better! After all he did defeat his parents so Red Son was now his.
He made a cloud appear below them and started to race through the sky. The sooner they get home the sooner Red Son could get used to his new life and who knows maybe when he was feeling generous he would return to the mountain and let the imprisoned couple know that he was taking their role. Wind whipped around them and Wukong pressed Red Son closer to protect him from the cold. Red Son tried to look around but they were moving to fast that everything blurred together making him dizzy so he closed his eyes. The journey was only a few minutes but by the time they made it to the mountain Red Son was fighting to keep himself awake.
Wukong noticed this so he started to groom the child's long hair after he landed and walked through the island. It surprisingly seemed to comfort the child slightly but Red Son was too exhausted to put up a struggle soon lost the fight and fell into a restless sleep. The monkeys quickly noticed their king carrying a child and cooed curiously as they stared at the boy. Wukong smiled softly and told them all that this was their new prince. They were all surprised but then started to cheer in excitement as they realized what he meant not even thinking to question him but Wukong quickly shushed them so they didn’t wake up the boy.
Wukong walked into the sealed waterfall making sure that not a drop fell on Red Son and quickly walked towards his son’s new room. Of course the room was bare with just being a guest room but he and Red Son could decorate it tomorrow but it would do for now. Wukong lowered the child down to tuck him into bed but the movement jolted Red Son awake. Red Son whimpered seeing he was now in a place he didn’t recognize and Sun Wukong taking him away from home was not some terrible nightmare. Tears welled in his eyes again and Red Son felt shame fill him for letting himself cry three times in front of the enemy. He knew that he was bringing shame onto his parents but couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Then Red Son felt a thumb wipe the tears away and Wukong chirped softly, gathering the child back in his arms and this time let Red Son cry it out. Wukong whispered words of comfort as Red Son finally fought against him slamming his fists into his chest and screaming, demanding that he take him back home. But Wukong would simply tell him this was his home now and that made Red Son more frustrated but soon the energy was sapped out of him completely this time and he fell limp in the monkey’s arms.
Wukong sighed as he once again tucked Red Son into bed, this time Red Son didn’t even stir. Wukong stared down at the boy’s tear stained face and knew that he had a lot of work to do but knew he was the best for the job. He was going to raise this boy as his own and soon Red Son would accept his new life. Wukong thought back to when Red Son had launched fire at him and sure it wasn’t nearly as dangerous as his original power but it still held a threat. Not to Wukong of course but he didn’t want him to accidentally burn down the mountain by trying to attack him. So after searching his relic room he was able to find the three golden bands that would seal the boy’s powers with a snap of his fingers. He also put a tracker seal on it so he would always know Red Son’s location. Wukong quietly entered the room and with a wave his hand the bands flew at the boy and locked around each wrist and around his neck softly. Wukong knew that once his son woke up and saw the sealers he would not be happy but this was the right choice.
Wukong brushed his hand through Red Son’s red hair and kissed his forehead softly, wishing him a goodnight before he turned the light off in the room letting Red Son sleep. Sure the first few days would be difficult but Wukong was still overjoyed that Red Son was his cub now! Wukong swore that he was going to be a better father than his former brother could ever hope to be.