Chapter Text
He has a splitting headache.
One too many booze and his own secret stash of heavenly wine can really do him in. But hey, he at least had a good time. Or as much as he can remember from last night, at least. There was a lot of drinking, mostly fighting, but drinking was what led him here. On the floor right next to his bed as he can feel bruises already formed across his body and his back and neck being sore from sleeping on the floor.
He rubs the saliva off of his chin and scans his room.
Yeesh. It’s a mess. Most of the furniture being strewn about, paintings, vases, and weapons either torn into pieces or out of their place amongst all the clutter. His bed is surprisingly still intact. Although-
A blue muscular figure bursts through the door with a cheerful, “Brother!”
“Too loud,” Wukong whines, grabbing the edge of the bed sheet and wrapping himself over it to hide himself.
He hears a snort and the door being quietly shut as Azure continues to walk around the room before Wukong feels his sworn brother stand beside his hidden form.
“I just wanted to say farewell for now,” Azure gently says, patting his head through the blanket. Azure truly is the kindest and most understanding sworn brother he ever had because Wukong knows if it were any of his other sworn brothers, they would’ve ripped the blanket right off and tossed it–or him–out the window.
He pulls his head out of the bed sheet–wincing at the light coming out from the window–and tilts his head at his sworn brother. “You guys are leaving already?”
Azure sighs, sitting right next to him. “Unfortunately, we have some matters to deal with but I'll surely return to get properly introduced with your new queen. Don’t think I didn’t see right through your scheme of yours”
Wukong almost rolls his eyes if he didn’t feel an oncoming headache from all this talking and bright light. But if anyone was gonna sniff his bullshit out, it would be Azure. His second closest ally right next to his generals.
Azure hums, raising a pawed claw to caress Wukong’s wild mane, making him purr at the touch. “Though, someone from Peng’s court has requested to have an audience with you,” the once celestial lion said while not stopping his ministration.
Uhg. “This early?” His headache might turn into a migraine at this point.
Azure lets out of a soft chuckle, fondness so clear in his eyes. “Afraid so, Wukong. Now you better dress yourself before your court sees you like this.”
Wukong scoffs, wrapping himself once more in his bed sheet, “As if they already haven’t seen me in worse states.”
Azure just laughs at him.
After hastily putting on his robes and armor over his head, he heads off to his throne room where his advisors–and Macaque–is already seated in where they belong. Wukong sweeps in, not caring for his lateness as heads bow down in respect.
He tries to not let out a sigh as he strolls down the wooden floor, finally taking a seat in his massive throne amongst all the riches and weapons he has accumulated in his adventures. He spreads his legs, his posture laid back, his cheek resting on his fist, and his tail swishing in a lazy manner as he waits for the certain audience to finally arrive.
The guards stationed at the great hall door knocks and announces, “Presenting, Advisor Yufei from the Demon Peng Court.”
And out comes an owl demon, his black robes of high quality representing his status and a pipe loosely hanging from his silver belt. Wukong doesn’t so much as react, but Macaque certainly does. Starling, for starters, as his ears twitch and his body jolts. Though, he immediately schools his reaction, fixing his posture in his own smaller throne and his court is none the wiser to their Queen. But Wukong takes clear notice of this.
Interesting.
“Your majesties.” Yufei deeply bows in reverence and acknowledgment.
Wukong simply nods, letting him continue with a lazy wave of his hand.
“This lowly one is thankful you have entertained us and my king so far, especially with my request for an audience. I’ve-”
Heavens, this is going to be painful. He rolls his eyes, his previous headache already returning. Although, as much as he wants to cut the bastard off, he doesn’t want to get lectured again by Marshal Ma. He’d rather revert his five times immortality and just kill himself on the spot than get a long ass fucking lecture from one of his Generals.
“-This lowly one knows of your…hastiness so I'll simply cut to the chase. If you’ll have me, I'd like to train the Queen of Flower Fruit Mountain.”
This immediately sparks whispers among his court, Macaque’s lovely lotus ears twitching with each mumble that falls from his advisors’ lips. His mouth tugging into a scowl, clearly wanting the whispers to die down. And yet, Macaque sits still in his seat, his lips tight shut so as to not spew anything. Wukong will commend him for that. Even without being so versed in politics, Macaque already knows when to not speak, especially in front of their court and an outsider.
Although, an outsider training their Queen? Why should a mere outsider have this great honor of training the Queen of Flower Fruit Mountain? Even if that outsider is from one of his brotherhood’s courts, it’s an insult, practically spitting on Sun Wukong’s capabilities of taking care of their new Queen, of his husband.
Wukong shifts forward in his seat, growling. “And what makes you think that my court lacks in training our new Queen?”
The owl demon doesn’t even flinch at his bared fangs, just smiles and that fuels Wukong’s anger more. “I don’t mean to insult, sire,” Yufei said with a hand over his chest as if that somehow absolves the grave spitting he has done. “If anything, I've taken this as a great opportunity to have closer relations between our kingdoms as Queen Macaque has personally asked for me. This lowly one can only assume he spoke to you about it already?”
Wukong’s eyes widened.
Macaque…asked for him? Why would he-
Oh.
Oh.
He…he understands now. Clearly. He’s been a fool, the greatest fool ever to think that Macaque wouldn’t seek another while their marriage is still intact, but Wukong understands this whole situation, this whole farce that they’re putting up. He remembers in his drunken haze of a balcony, a beautiful garden, and two beings. An advisor from a visiting court and a Queen. It’s all too poetic, even for Wukong’s taste.
“I see…,” Wukong leans back on his throne, a heavy thing sitting in his chest, “have you spoken to Peng about this?”
Yufei nods. “I’ve already informed my king of this arrangement.”
“Very well, then,” he says, his tone flat like everything good in life just got sucked out of him and he couldn’t for the life of him understand why. Maybe, it’s the hangover. “I’ll have someone fix the guest room for you and you can discuss your schedule with my husband.”
“Your majesty-”
“Sire-”
He raises a hand, silencing his advisors. He gives them all an even look, a look that clearly shouts not now. “My decision is final.”
He rises from his throne, as do Macaque and the others, and he leaves.
Wukong steps into his room, ruffling his mane in obvious annoyance, in his frustration, in his obliviousness to the whole situation. Of course, he should’ve seen this coming. Only a true blind idiot wouldn’t have seen this situation from happening.
He feels his claws itch, the urge of destroying something, anything to keep his mind from straying to the thought of Macaque enjoying another’s company.
But before he could properly wreck his already mess of a room once more, a certain someone that’s been plaguing his mind enters his room in hush silence, quietly shutting the door behind him as he faces Wukong’s back.
“Thank you,” Macaque starts. “For doing that.”
He faces Macaque with a strained smile, keeping his hands behind his back to hide his nails digging into his palm. “Well I do have some responsibilities as a husband.”
“Oh?” Macaque hums in intrigue, his eyes light up as he leans back against the wall, ignoring the obvious mess around Wukong’s room. “And what do those responsibilities entail?”
“To provide you with anything you want.” His voice comes out monotone, blank. He can’t afford to bring out his emotions. Not now. “If you want to be loved by someone, I'll allow it. You do have your needs.”
Macaque slowly blinks. “What?”
He lets out a deep sigh. Was he really a terrible husband for his own spouse to think he wouldn’t allow such a thing? “Macaque, I'm not cruel enough to force you to remain miserable and alone. So, yes, you can have an affair if you so wished.”
Of course, in demon society, it was normal for the ruler or king to pursue and, even, kidnap other consorts or concubines while the consorts had to dedicate themselves wholly to their spouse. It was simply how things work. Although Wukong, himself, never really thought much of the whole “amassing a harem of beautiful flowers.” He, unlike the other demon lords, would rather spend his whole life simply being surrounded by his people and generals. But ever since his forced marriage–and that was the whole thing wasn’t it? This marriage was nothing but a ruse, a sham –he had a whole new person to dedicate, to devote his entire being to. But clearly that feeling wasn’t mutual.
He saw the way Macaque went after the owl demon. He saw how close they were at some point in the night. He saw their intense stare at one another. He saw Macaque once again unrelenting in his pursuit to have this demon by his side. And that obviously worked with how that very demon is now asking to stay in his kingdom, by his Queen’s side.
“That- hold on- that's not why I asked him to teach me!” Macaque’s words stumble for the very first time, clearly caught off guard with Wukong catching him in his pursuit to another demon.
He sighs. “Macaque, it's fine. I understand.”
“No! You clearly-”
Knock. Knock.
“Enter,” Wukong said without straying his gaze from Macaque.
A servant walks in with an awkward smile, obviously seeing the tension and growing argument between their rulers. “Uh, sorry to interrupt, but the elder healer wants to speak to you, my king.”
He nods towards the servant, signaling them to leave at once. He casts one more glance towards Macaque and he’s not exactly sure what to tell from his expression. Anger? Embarrassment? Longing? Wukong is not sure what he’s hoping for, but he hopes Macaque can at least learn to like him back in some way.
And so he leaves.
“Sire, what are we gonna do?!”
“...Contain it for now. Make sure no one hears of this. Understand?”
“Of course.”