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Quiet wasn't an accurate description of a night in Megapolis. Different from others by the admixture of species among its citizens, the shifting between blue and dark skies, instead of it signifying the end and start of day, was a sign of the emergence of each creature that lived within that city's walls.
Megapolis never slept, while humans controlled what spread below the sun, demons dominated the shadows, they woke once black painted the streets.
Xiaotian's dirty, worn-out sneakers sunk in an oily water puddle on the sidewalk, his steps were slow as his coarse, dry hand peeled the paper wrapping off his warm burger, he was careful about the first aid plasters around his fingers.
Sinister eyes glowed inside each shadow he passed by, the jacket sleeves he tied around his waist shifted with his movement and his bandana's ends swayed left and right. The bruise around his eye grew warm as seconds passed, and he met the very promising tickling of pain with a big, hateful bite, meat and melted cheese coated his tongue, and with each pulse of his nerves he chewed.
The scent of humans shouldn’t travel the streets after sunset, but every living being in Megapolis knew Xiaotian was different.
He was a protector.
"That's why you should've accepted when I nicely offered my help"
Though the voice came from nowhere, and the street was empty, Xiaotian still chewed his bite slowly before swallowing it and taking another, not bothered. A lone car drove down the street next to him, its speed tousled the man's hair, his steps were slow as he continued forward.
The end of his break was the last bite of that sandwich, his legs wouldn't do slow anymore facing Megapolis' rampant demons after that.
"Ugh! Come on! Don't do the ignoring"
Xiaotian’s ears caught the soft tapping beside him, and when he looked up his eyes caught a brown cat walking atop the rocky fence, it was trying to keep up with him.
Disguise was demons' favourite trick; many wouldn't confront him with their original form and would opt for other coats they thought he wouldn't question instead.
But that kitten was no demon. The wild, flaming eyes were telling of its identity.
"This city won't last long with you alone, you know?"
Xiaotian only licked his thumb, he never stopped for the little creature even when it was struggling to catch up, "I have my friends" he said, his eyes fell on the demonic gathering ahead.
"Your friends are weak" the kitten huffed, tired of walking on its little legs it jumped, and clumsily landed on the human's shoulder, its paws surrounded his neck for dear life.
"And you're just a little kid", the kitten's eyes were on the glistering oily meat peeking out of the potato bread, noticing its greed the man distanced his hand from the furry muzzle.
"Just because you're older in mortal terms doesn't mean I'm behind in years"
"Doesn't change my mind"
Exhaling in irritation it sat its butt on his shoulder, golden eyes were disinterestedly looking at the bunch of demons ahead of them, little sharp claws were protruded, holding Xiaotian’s white shirt.
"This city is changing, Xiaotian" the human’s head turned to his side at the changing tone of voice, his cheek brushed soft fur, and the tip of his nose briefly touched the wet pink one.
"Those measly demons you were playing hero with are ants compared to what's to come"
Xiaotian wasn't familiar with the golden light covering the feline eyes, he wasn't knowledgeable about the supernatural side of those creatures' world, he fought magic with his fist and mysteries with ignorance. When there was danger, he would simply stand tall and fight tooth and nail till everyone is safe and sound around him, and he planned to keep it at that until he grows old and die. Because Megapolis got to have a protector, even when he was a mere human.
The kitten's back stood straight, its eyes were reading and calculating as it glowed that mysterious gold, "the Demon Bull King is coming" it said, the name heavy on its tongue, like a sin.
Xiaotian’s eyes didn't reveal an opinion or a reaction, he only breathed a tired breath out, and looked ahead.
Megapolis was always changing, that wasn't anything new. If he lived, he lived, and if he died, he died. Xiaotian didn't know what to do other than to keep fighting anyways.
"The city doesn't mean a thing to me" with its eyes going back to normal, the furry face turned to look at him, "but you only have to ask, and I could move a mountain to stop that cow".
"Still a no"
"Ugh!" As if Xiaotian’s shoulder was an entire field, the kitten rolled its body, annoyed. Ignoring the drama happening next to his neck the human took another bite, mindful of the flapping little paws.
Silent demonic eyes watched his every step as he passed through the crowd, ones were sitting on the side of the sidewalk, others were gathered in a circle, a few of them had wings and were sitting together on top of walls. All trained their eyes on him from every direction, their necks moved with his steps and never left him until he was out of sight.
Xiaotian only noticed the kitten ceasing its tantrum when the two of them left the crowd. He swallowed the last of his sandwich, crumbled the paper wrapping in his fist, and threw it in the garbage.
“Why are you rejecting me?”
When he turned his body, the cat was no longer on his shoulder, but sitting on the ground. Both were finally alone; the sidewalk followed the road beyond the horizon and behind it hid Megapolis’ mighty skyscrapers. Ones Xiaotian didn’t know back then when he was just a little kid.
“I’ve been asking you for a year, Xiaotian” taking bouncy, short steps with its fluffy feet the furball moved around his legs, its body stroked the unwashed fabric of his pants, asking for his attention. “Nobody said no to this great sage before” resting its tiny leg on the top of his brownish shoe, it looked up to meet his eyes, its pupils were big, cute, and expectant, they were too prominent within the darkness of the night, “it’s because I like you that you aren’t punished by now”.
Xiaotian’s body clearly towered over it, he could easily trap it within the palm of his hands, yet its presence that moment was overpowering somehow, suffocating.
And who was Xiaotian to be surprised by this?
That cat was no demon, nor a mortal.
Exhaling a soft breath, the human lowered his body to squat before the great sage, his forearms rested on his knees as he looked down, the ends of his bandana leant a little forward by each side of his neck. “I’m not rejecting you”. His words didn’t please the furry creature, it frowned, its body emitted a gust of wind before transforming into a much taller, but still small body of a golden monkey.
Two little hands landed on Xiaotian’s forearms, the monkey’s knees leaned on the man’s shoes as he sat in front of him, “how is not wanting me by your side not rejecting?”. Xiaotian had to purse his lips as he saw the hurt and doubt revealed within the forever arrogant young monkey’s face. “How is refusing my help not rejecting?”. His voice was low and heavy, upset, and confused, his claws dug into the damaged human skin.
Even when the broken appearance of the little monkey tugged at every fibre in his heart, Xiaotian had to stay firm, “you are a child, not a weapon”. The simian actually bared his teeth at this, “then so be it! Just adopt me instead! Why are you saying no to this?”. He dropped his head between the human’s knees, Xiaotian could only see the soft orange hair, “I want to be with you”.
“I want to play Monkey Mech with you…”
“And… and I want to teach you!” his break ended, but Xiaotian forced himself to stay where he was and listen, because it was the least he could do to this lonely kid, “I can make you strong, so when you face those demons, you won’t get hurt anymore”.
“Take me, Xiaotian”
If it were any year earlier, the man’s answer would be yes, but he learned better than to involve anyone he cared about with his life.
The monkey perked up at the sensation of fingers sliding through his hair. The hand stroked the back of his head in an awkward manner, too light and unsure, “you’ll find the right person to call your family”. The head he stroked shot up forcefully, he looked at Xiaotian in such fierceness the man sucked in breath, retracting his head a little. “And why can’t you be this person?” an orange tail hit the sidewalk’s floor speaking for the monkey, frustrated.
They held the contact between their eyes for seconds, before Xiaotian gave in and looked down, “I’m terrible at keeping things safe”. The monkey kid furrowed his brows, confused, “yeah? That’s why you should adopt me, I can teach you how to do better”.
Xiaotian only snorted at the kid’s passion, he ruffled the golden locks, soft purring rang throughout the monkey’s chest at the touch. The man’s eyes were fond looking at the adorable ball of energy, and disgusted when his bandaged hand came to view. “I’m not using a kid to do my job…”.
“…Wukong” the monkey, buried in pure bliss under the loving touch, fur fluffed up and tail sneaked around the human’s hand, opened his eyes at the call of his name.
Xiaotian’s face was blank, his eyes were beneath his brown locks, and his hand over Wukong’s head was hard and strong, “when the day I can say yes to you come, it’s when I’m totally, absolutely, one hundred percent sure I can protect you from harm”.
“If I’m taking you, it’s for my care and love for you, not my desire for your power”
The human stayed admirably strong at the sight of the monkey’s tears, and when Wukong weakly whispered “but you’ll never be stronger than me” he gently pulled him to his chest, pressing the back of his head farther into him.
Just for tonight, he would indulge him.
It wasn’t expected, but the first to pull away was Wukong, and Xiaotian knew the reason when that little brat leapt from his position away from the man and raised his hand, there his fingers clutched the human’s red bandana, a mischievous smile danced in his lips and his glinting eyes exposed his happiness about what he did.
“I’m only returning this to you when you say that yes, then”
Brown hair messily fell down as the human stood up, exacerbated. The monkey didn’t wait for him to protest, he disappeared leaving no trace of him being there, and Xiaotian was alone in that empty street again.
On the contrary to what Wukong believed, that particular headband didn’t hold any significant importance in Xiaotian’s heart.
Weeks, months, and years passed ever since that incident though, and the human never bought a new one.
The End.