Chapter Text
He could almost feel the sun’s warm light on his face as he limped towards the opening of the cave. Absolutely exhausted from the battle before. Now though he can finally make due of his promise and leave before anyone could say anything to him.
At least, that’s what he thought he could do until one of his ears flicked at the sound of soft but quick footsteps following behind him. It made him pause halfway out the cave, the footsteps behind him stopping too. It was silent for a moment, the sounds of birds chirping filling the air around them until it was broken by the person behind him.
“You know, you could join us.”
Tang’s voice was soft but held a tone of caution as he leaned against the wall heavily, holding his side with a tight grip. He took his fair share of punches too surprisingly, especially a particularly nasty blow to the side from one of Lady bone demon’s moves. Not that Macaque was looking much better, in fact, he probably had it worse than everyone else seeing as he was their defense in that whole battle.
His ears flicked at the sound of his voice but ultimately stayed quiet. His lack of response spurred Tang to continue. “You’re not looking too good there. We can help you—“ He was cut off by the bitter laugh that came from the dark-furred monkey.
“Ohh Yeah, Yeah alright. Let the guy who trapped you and forced you guys to beat up the kid into your little circle! Yeah, good one. Maybe we can even bake cookies after!” Even in his weakened state his voice was sharp and dripping with sarcasm as he slowly turned around to face Tang.
“Spare me the pity party, Only reason I helped was for our mutual goal- AND because I owed it to MK. That’s all. This doesn’t suddenly make us friends.” He growled out that last part as he glared at Tang. Who took in his words with a sour look before retorting. “Y’know I highly doubt that all of what you did back there was only to repay him.”
The demon monkey scoffed, “Oh yeah? Then what do you think since now you know all about me—“
“You care.”
The glare in his eyes faltered at Tang's words before hardening again, forcing his gaze off those knowing eyes and onto a beetle crawling on the rocky wall nearby, clenching his jaw and fists tightly.
With him looking away, The scholar took this opportunity to shuffle closer to the monkey. It’s not like he suddenly forgot what he’s done, he still has trouble staying in the dark too long, reminding him too much of the suffocating black he was stuck under when the whole shadow play thing happened.
But he also saw how fiercely he helped them, he could’ve easily left them to deal with LBD and save himself, but he didn’t. He helped them fight back against her and honestly in Tang’s opinion without him one of them would’ve been severely injured if not dead. And that’s what landed Tang here, not wanting to see the other go with those injuries and to also hold a branch out to him, a chance.
Tang stopped shuffling once he was close enough to him, not wanting to intrude on his space but still be able to see the ebony monkey more properly, Macaque’s shadow covering him from the sun’s blaring light. His guard slowly dropping the more he goes over Tang’s words in his head, his shoulders relaxing and his gaze moving to the ground where their shadows mesh.
“…Why are you doing this? Is this some sick joke or form of revenge for what I did?”
Macaque whispered a bit hoarsely, his tail moving behind him agitatedly. His face was unreadable except for the slight furrow in his brows the more he tried to make sense of what was happening.
“Would it be alright of me to say it’s from the kindness of my heart?” Tang said jokingly but quickly let it fall flat at the murderous look coming his way before clearing his throat awkwardly.
“..I see a person that’s hurt, someone that tries to live up to this black and white idea that there’s only good and evil.” He paused for a moment to see if he was over stepping anything with the demon. (and maybe out of nervousness from telling the Six Eared Macaque advice—)
But all he got in response was a tail twitch and his expression still unchanging. So he continued with more confidence in his voice: “But you and I know that’s not true at all, people can change. And even though you’re dead set on staying in the dark, you don’t have to be lost in the shadows forever.”
Macaque turned away at that last part, not wanting to see or hear him anymore as his grip around his wounded arm tightened. Making Tang continue as he shuffled against the wall closer to him. “It’s okay to want to change.”
“What if I don’t want to change—“
“I forgive you.”
That’s what made Macaque break his gaze as he stared at Tang in shock. His tail slowed to a stop as he put his full attention on the human in-front of him. Tang winced as he pushed himself off the wall with a little stumble before slowly holding his free hand out to him with a gentle smile. “I forgave you the minute I saw Mk holding you up, and I’m sure the others will warm up to you too, Macaque. All you have to do is take the first step.”
His voice echoed around them as Macaque took a glance at the small hand in front of him while Tang stared at his scarred face. It was easier to see his facial reactions now that he was closer to the monkey. Noticing the way his jaw clenched and his brows furrowed together, contemplating the scholar's words as silence fell between them. “The others huh…”
Then for a second, Tang could feel his heart skip a beat in surprise at the sight of the monkey’s furred hand twitch and loosen the grip it had on his injured arm. A small bead of hope untwisting in the scholar's chest as his eyes widened, until he faltered at the soft chuckle. “You’re a nice guy Tang, almost too nice. But…you and I both know: your wish?” It was less threatening than before which Tang noted, almost melancholic as Macaque’s gaze moved from his hand to his eyes with a bitter smirk spreading across his face.
“That’s just a distant dream.”
It was then his eyes shone a familiar purple that wiped the confused look off Tang’s face as he immediately braced himself for the smoke that bursted from their shared shadows. Forcing Tang to quickly cover his face with his arms at the harsh air whipping at his clothes. When the wind in his ears stopped he uncovered his face to look around for any sign of the monkey, but there was no one there.
Only himself and the sun glaring down at him.