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Macaque is beautiful, Wukong thought to himself. The whole group was gathered for a dinner on top of the mountain, it had been a year since the defeat of Lady Bone Demon, so they were celebrating! As the others were messing around, grabbing food, or engaging in their own conversations; Wukong was focused in one thing. Well, one person, he was staring at Macaque. It had been a while since he and the six eared monkey had been enemies, now seeing the other now giving a light smile and a healthy laugh made Wukong feel warm, happy even. Macaque had let some of his glamours down in the time that had pasted, now everyone could see the freckles that dotted his face, how his fur fluffed out at the ends (it’s ungroomable Wukong has tried), and his eyes being two different colors due to the long scar running through his eyebrow and iris. Wukong wasn’t sure if Macaque could still see out of the scarred eye, but it never seemed to bother him, and he never mentioned it, so he assumed it was fine. Though when he first saw it again he almost threw up, Wukong shook his head to rid himself of the icky feeling from the memory.
Looking at Macaque now, he saw just how radiant he was. His smile was crooked and teeth barring, Wukong could see his sharp fangs flash as he let out a laugh. It’s the best sight he’s seen in a hundred years, he’s been having that thought a lot lately, old habits die hard he guesses. It felt good to look at Macaque without any malice, hatred, or guilt. He was just so, so undeniably beautiful, it was so hard to describe. When Wukong looked hard enough he could see the purple tint that laced Macaques hair and eyes, it was breathe taking. While Wukong was busy looking fondly at the darker monkey he didn’t notice that Mk had approached him with a bowl of noodles. He poked Wukong’s cheek and look as though he was trying to figure out what he was looking at.
“What are you looking so lovey dovey for?” Mk says, Wukong jumps and immediately goes into a frantic state.
“Lovey? Me? Who said? I never-I didn’t- “He sputtered out; a deep blush spread across the bridge of his nose. Mk was smirking at him now; he was looking so smug he could read Wukong like a book.
“You sure? Seemed like you were makin’ love eyes at Mac over there.” Mk wiggled his eyebrows dramatically; he was never going to live this down was he? True, he was doing exactly what Mk was accusing him of, but did Mk need to know about it? No! “Come onnnnnn admit itttt!!!” Mk was now teasing him, teasing his own mentor! Macaque had really rubbed off on him.
“I was not- making LOVE eyes at Macaque!!” He was definitely flushed at this point; he had been called out. Maybe he said this a little too loud though because at the mention of his name, Macaque looked up from his spot and turned toward the blushing monkey. He stood and made his way over to the two.
“You guys talking shit about me, huh?” Macaque said with a light laugh, Wukong relishes in in. The black furred one takes a seat next to Mk, the bench they sat on was now full.
“Nah, we were just talking about how Monkey King was looking- “A hand was slapped over Mk’s mouth. Wukong had a forced smile plastered on his face and a murderous look in his eyes.
“Talking about how I was looking forward to this dinner and I’m happy everyone is having fun!” He laughed loudly after he finished his rushed explanation.
“Yeah, yeah okay, I’ll let that lame excuse slide since I can see just how embarrassed you are.” Macaque puts a hand over his own lips to cover up his snicker. They continued to talk about how their week’s had been and what new plans they all had, Mk carrying the conversation and Wukong be quitter than usual. He couldn’t stop looking at Macaque’s features, he really did try to pay attention to what they were talking about, but his eyes kept drifting to the other’s freckle filled face. He had almost forgotten how much detail Macaque had on his face, and now he was much closer than across the field the group had settled in, Wukong could see everything. Eventually, Wukong realized just how embarrassing this was, ‘really? Staring at him when he’s two feet away from you? Dumbass.’ He thinks and turns to look the other direction. Soon the dinner is over, and people begin to depart, soon, it was just Macaque and Wukong. They both waved as Mk made his away from the field to descend the mountain.
“So, why were you staring at me?” Macaque says just as Mk is out of the horizon.
“What- Me!? No, how did you- “
“I’m not blind, sage.” Macaque sends him an irritated side eye, he hated how the gold monkey was avoiding the question. “I mean I know I’m a sight to see but the whole damn night is a little ridiculous don’t you think?” His signature smirk returned to his face; Macaque loved messing with him while boosting his own ego.
“Can’t pass up an opportunity to feel good about yourself, huh?” Wukong was also smiling, the embarrassment of the initial question fading. “I guess I was just studying you, if I wanted to put it to words.”
“Studying me?” Macaque questioned, what a ridiculous way to excuse his actions.
“Yeah, it’s a little dumb, but I haven’t seen you so, you, in a long time. It felt really good to see you that relaxed.” Wukong couldn’t look at the one standing next to him, just saying that out loud was enough. He continued anyways. “I was really happy when you were happy, you know?” Macaque was silent, there was no sign of aggression or any negative response, but the silence was long. So long that Wukong feared he had said something wrong, maybe he came off like a dick as he often did unknowingly. “Sorry! Was that too much?” the silence breaks.
“No! no, it was just…really weird hearing you say that.” Macaque’s cheeks were now slightly flushed, so he was embarrassed now too. Wukong let out a loud and hearty laugh.
“I never thought I would hear myself say that!” His laughter continued. “I never thought we’d be here again, that I could look at you like that again!” His laughter turned into to quiet sobs. Macaque shifted to face him in a bit of a panic.
“Wukong- what- are you-?” He didn’t know what to say, he hadn’t seen him cry in so long. When they were children he would’ve gotten him a small fruit and force him to shift his focus to it, distract him. He flipped around looking for something to get Wukong, but he felt a grip on his sleeve.
“No, no I’m okay! I think I’ve just been holding it in for too long!” Tears still fell out of his eyes, but a strong smile was spread across Wukong’s face. “Man, that’s a lot. They just won’t stop ha- “He goes to turn away from Macaque but is pulled into a strong hug.
“I’m happy that I’m happy too.” This was all he could really say, Macaque wasn’t the best at telling people how he felt, he would rather just show it through his actions. Wukong wrapped his arms around his waist and rested his hands on his back, this was nice, a tail wraps around his own and he knows that they’re going to be here awhile.
Soon the two were laying on the ground, the sun had set, the moon rising, and the sky filled with a thousand stars. The gold monkey was laying on Macaque’s chest, the dark furred monkey running his hand through the fur on Wukong’s head. They hadn’t said much, they were perfectly content this way. Their tails were still intertwined, Wukong had his arm resting over Macaque’s waist. Soft snores told Macaque that his counterpart had fallen asleep, he had forgotten how it felt to be with someone like this. To just lay with someone and be completely calm. He took this rare time of seeing the monkey king asleep to observe him, as the other had done to him earlier. Macaque saw things he was familiar with, as well as new features that had appeared in their time apart. He saw that Wukong had bags under his eyes, his once soft skin was now rough, and his sideburns were unkempt. He raises his hand to stroke the ginger hair away from the king’s face, Wukong pushed his face into the touch, Macaque flinched back a bit at the action he was so unfamiliar with it now.
The flinch caused Wukong to stir, his eyes flutter open and he lifts his head. The night sky was twinkling up above him now, so he guesses he had fallen asleep. He feels that he is on top of someone, and that someone has a hand in his hair.
“Well, hello sleepyhead.” The voice is teasing but soft as to not wake him fully. Wukong glances up and sees that it’s Macaque that he is sleeping on, he jumps and attempts to lift himself up. Macaque holds him firmly in place. “Dropping emotional baggage, using me as a pillow, and then Darting off to your mountain cave? Really?”
“What? Ha-ha no! I was just, okay yeah I was going to scram.” Wukong drops his head to the shadow monkey’s chest, points a thumb behind him. And mumbles an apology.
“It’s okay, I would’ve done the same if I were you, we aren’t exactly good at telling each other how we feel.” Macaque threads a hand through course hair.
“Then why are you suddenly being all emotional? If we both suck at it.” Wukong’s chin now rested on Macaque’s chest, and he has a deadpan expression across his face.
“I thought it was time we suck it up, or something.” He looks to the sky, maybe he wasn’t actually ready for this, but he really wanted to be.
“Hm…” Wukong had no more words.
“Nothing to spit out at me, how unusual! Do I need to call a local doctor?” Macaque exclaimed with a chuckle. Wukong’s hands had moved from their original placement around his waist to his hair, they were both messing with each other’s hair instead of talking, childish. Macaque then shifted their position so that they were now sitting up, Wukong halfway sitting in his lap. “Let’s talk about it.”
“What is there to say?” Wukong drops his hands from hair to his lap and looks down at them.
“A lot, there’s tons to say about us.” Macaque wanted to have this discussion right now and was not taking no for an answer.
“Okay well…you go first.” What a childish response, he’s really gonna make Macaque say it.
“I, um, I think I still love you.” It was out there, in the open, Wukong looked him in the eyes with an expression of complete shock. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, maybe I still love you.” Wukong can almost see the tension hanging around them. This could change everything; it could be catastrophic.
After a long conversation about their relationship and how they felt for one another, they shared as many kisses as each of them could give at that given moment. They ended up back at the monkey king’s home and slept peacefully. It was the best moment either of them had experienced in a long while. The morning came and went, it was mostly Wukong doing his normal morning tasks, but with a clingy shadow monkey by his side. Once Mk arrived for their training session he looked a little surprised to see Wukong greeting him with a brighter than normal smile and Macaque leaning against the nearest wall waving to him.
“Hello mentor, and hello…another mentor?” Mk points the end of his staff toward Macaque, who shakes his head and begins to respond.
“Nah, I’ve been here all day, I’m just watching.” Macaque gave a smile, not a smirk, a smile. Mk felt like something was different.
“Did I get trapped in a demon gourd again?” Mk was concerned that this wasn’t real.
“Ha! Kid what?” Wukong clapped a hand on his shoulder. “No, we just- “He glances back at Macaque. “-talked things out.” With that the group walked toward the training arena, all three of them branding wide smiles.