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Wukong and Macaque stood by a cliff on flower fruit mountain. The wind was picking up and dark clouds were looming. A threat of what was to come.
Wukong sighed looking at the monkey in front of him as his hair moved with the wind. “Storms coming” but Macaque just hummed and kept staring at the dark clouds.
He was never good at being quiet, “So umm I was thinking that well- why not stay the night. The storm looks like It’s going to be raging for a while so why not consider staying for a bit. It's not the first time you've stayed in my hut you know”
“I'll consider it Wukong” and yet his eyes never left those dark clouds that were approaching. He looked pensive.
Wukong felt dejected “ ‘Kay I’ll wait till you have an answer then”
He was never patient either. They stood on the mountain cliffside and as time went on Wukong grew impatient. He tapped his foot but figured that would bother Macaque. He then took one of the phoenix feathers he wore and fiddled with it. He wanted to know if Macaque was going to stay. He wanted to know if Macaque had begun to trust him again after all this time. Ultimately though he wanted to know if what they once had could have a chance to blossom again.
Looking at Macaque he took a deep breath gathering all of his courage “ Am I doing enough?” He whispered but he knew Macaque had heard him.
Was he? Wukong had a hard time owning up to the mistakes he had done in the past because he has been afraid of the consequences that came with those mistakes. He was impatient. Wanting things to go at his pace. He still needed to get better at that. He knew that building a better relationship with Macaque would take time but that didnt stop him from longing for what they once had.
“You’re doing enough Wukong,” said Macaque while looking at him.
“Don't lie to me I know I'm not” He gripped the feather that he had forgotten he was holding. “ I’ve asked you to do many things. I asked for you to apologize to MK and Mei for what you did to them and you did so much more than that. You've become their friend, someone they can trust. You even help the others. Pigsy told me you help around the noodle shop whenever you can. Tang said that you and he go out for coffee and talk sometimes about legends and myths and all that. Sandy even said you helped him with his herbs. That's not even all the people that you helped. Hell, you've even helped me with training MK.” Wukong took a shaky inhale “Look what I'm trying to say is that you've done so much and I haven't. I don't even feel like I should be forgiven by you.”
“And you're not. Not yet at least”
Wukong looked at the ground feeling tears build up in his eyes but not willing to let them fall. Not right now.
Macaque shifted so his body was to Wukong. “You've done enough for me Wukong. Enough for me to finally give you a chance. To give us a chance but I'm just not there yet. Not to forgive you for what happened in the past. Someday I will but not today. Not for a while.”
Wukongs was still looking down not wanting to see Macaque's eyes knowing full well he’d end up a teary mess. His shoulders had begun to shake a bit.
Macaque moved closer to Wukong. “Wukong look at me”
Thunder was heard. It was distant but would soon be here. Macaque winced at the loud sound looked at the clouds again and then at Wukong.
Walking closer to him until they were only feet apart he reached for his hand. “Hey look at me” Wukong shook his head. Squeezing the hand he was holding he called again, “Please Peaches”
Peaches. Back then Wukong hated that stupid and childish name. It was predictable and Macaque used it to make fun of him sometimes. Now that same name brought him to tears. Tears fell down his face as he looked up at Macaque who smiled at him as he held his hand.
“I see you're still a crybaby,” said Macaque as he used his scarf to wipe away the tears streaming down Wukongs face. That only made him cry harder.
Wukong hiccuped and sobbed. Inhaled unevenly and exhaled unevenly. He didn't have the willpower to respond to Macaque's taunt. His crying made everything blurry which made him subconsciously wrap his tail around Macaque's thigh. The other let him do so.
Macaque let go of Wukong’s hand and cupped his cheeks using his thumbs to wipe away some tears. “Hey breath, can't have you dying on me the kid would kill me” Macaque half-joked as Wukong gave him a broken hum.
He focused on his breathing. In and out. Breath in for 4, hold for 2 then let out for 6. Repeating that process for a bit made him calm down and had him realize he closed his eyes. He opened them again when Macaque called his name.
“Good job Peaches. You did so well.” Wukong opened his eyes and was met with a smiling Macaque. Macaque squeezed his cheeks and let go, taking a step back.
Wukong whined but Macaque chuckled at his reaction.
“I'm not a crybaby” He pouted but Macaque just hummed.
Taking a deep breath Wukong hugged himself for comfort, still not confident enough in apologizing to Macaque for making such a big scene. Squeezing himself tighter as the wind picked up. Reminding him of the storm. He looked at the clouds and saw that they were much closer. You could smell the moisture in the air and Wukong let himself get lost in it.
“I'll stay” Wukong snapped his head to Macaque who was smirking. “Besides, don't think you'll let me go anytime soon” he pointed to the tail that was still hugging his thigh.
Feeling the heat rush to his face he let go of Macaque.” ‘M sorry” he said with a crack in his voice.
“It's okay I'm used to it” Macaque started walking to the hut, “Come on I wanna go and raid your pantry”
Wukong smiled and rubbed his face trying to get rid of the red on his face, catching up to Macaque, “Sure if you like peaches be my guest”
Making a gagging noise, Macaque complained, “Ugh really peaches? Can you at least eat another fruit or I don't know eat something else”
“Hey, I do I just haven't had time to restock and you say that like if you don't know me, Mac”
“Honestly I'd hoped that after eating that wretched stone fruit for hundreds of years you'd develop a disliking for them” Macaque opened the door letting Wukong walk in first.
“Nope, peaches and I are an unbreakable duo”
Macque sighed and smiled fondly at Wukong “You sure are peaches”
Closing the door to the hut, the storm came with a rage. It was loud but not as loud as the banter and laughter that came from inside the hut. Everything would be fine and with a few bumps in the road so would Macaque and Wukong’s relationship. It would take time and Wukong was willing to put in the time and effort just to make it work again.