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Macaque didn't get it. And he was not about to admit just how much it was getting to him. He hadn't even been sure just how MUCH he enjoyed it until it wasn't there. So while patience was something he thought he had, he may be second guessing that tonight.
"One more time," he told himself. "one more try, and if it doesn't work I'll give up. Maybe."
Knowing exactly where he would need to go at this time, Macaque lets the familiar feeling of sinking into his shadows take over.
The smell of fresh brewed coffee and old books permeated your senses as you lounged in your favourite booth. Quiet. Sweet calm washed over you. The dead hour at the café down the road from home was a heaven on earth. It was such an ingrained part of your schedule by now, that your usual order was often waiting for you at the front counter. Sometimes, with a random bakery item accompanying it. On the house.
As if you needed anymore reason to frequent the space.
So while you didn't see the shadow from under the table stretching towards the seat cushion beside you, you weren't exactly surprised when a certain demon monkey popped up beside you without so much as a sound. He knew you came here after all.
Finishing the sip of your drink calmly, you waited for a beat before addressing him. His dramatic nature brought out yours after all, so you made sure to add in a teasing lilt.
"Why hello there Mac. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
One second passes.
Two.
Three.
...
He's just... staring.
"Um, Macaroni? You okay ther-"
A frustrated growl rips from his throat, accentuated by the loud thud of his head on the table. Well that was a new one.
Suddenly, you were very glad you hadn't put your mug back down. However that relief couldn't stop your confused chuckling as he continued to growl into the wood surface.
"Why. Don't. You. STARTLE??"
Why don't you-? Oh. Oooooh. So that's what this was about? The chuckling morphed into hysterical giggles, lips twisting into a smirk that was already ready to leave your face sore. Setting your mug down on the table you prepared to unleash the teasing. One deep breath and-
"Awww Macaque, sweetie~" You didn't catch the way he twitched, head turning to you with wide eyes at the pet name, "you were upset that you haven't been able to spook me? I didn't know you'd be so keen to see my reactions!"
He was more than ready to play into the dramatics, as always.
"Okay that's enough out of you!"
Macaque finally peels himself off the table to catch you in a loose headlock, one hand on your mouth. You fight back and he lets you. The two of you grappling back and forth in the booth.
"You can't silence the truth Macaroni! You wanted to hear me squeal all adorably n' shit!"
"More like drop from a heartattack."
"Maybe even squeak!"
"Absolutely not."
"I'd sooner throw a punch at the intrusion."
"Like you could land one on me."
"Please, you'd probably let me connect it."
He scoffs despite the grin on his face.
"Cause your weak noodle arms couldn't even make it hurt if you tried."
Even the concerned glances of the baristas didn't stop you from devolving into slinging fake insults and comments back and forth. All the while, you both 'fought' between silencing or restraining each other's arms. Eventually, as with the start of this faux fight, Macaque decided enough was enough. He caught both your wrists in his hands and pushed you backwards.
Fully expecting your back to hit the cushion of the seat, it was a surprise when the overhead lights seemed to flicker out. And instead of the booth cushion underneath you there was the firmer feeling of the mats in his dojo.
The dojo.
Not the coffee shop...
"Noooo my drink!" The whine escapes almost immediately.
You only had one sip!
The demon monkey above you rolls his eyes. Grin never leaving his face as he got up to let you sit up. Tail flicking into a small shadow on the adjacent wall, it returned with your mug.
"Haha yes!"
If his attempts to finally find a situation that will startle you keep ending like this, well... perhaps he wouldn't give up just yet.
"Hey Jade?" A barista called back into the storeroom. "I think we're missing a mug?"