Work Text:
-Macaque-
The seal he put on MK was almost full. He should be celebrating, but instead he paced the floor of his dojo, sick to his stomach. He’d only known MK for a couple of weeks, but he ended up growing fond of the kid. He didn’t want to hurt him. But he couldn’t just take the seal off, right? Macaque worked so hard to get to where he’s at. His revenge on Wukong was so close, a few days at most, and yet the thought of hurting MK with even a hint of malice had his stomach in knots. His entire plan, all his preparation, down the drain in less than a month. All because MK had managed to worm his way into the heart Macaque didn’t even realize he still had.
Macaque groaned in frustration, grabbing the fur on his head as he continued to pace.
Stupid emotions.
It was fine. He could figure something else out. He had all the time in the world. First things first, he needed to take the seal off of MK. He couldn’t just rip it off; MK was mortal, and Macaque had no idea how the overflow of magic would react with his body. He would have to take it off slowly. But there was no way he could do it without MK noticing. Placing a seal unknowingly was easy. Removing it unknowingly, however, was much harder. Macaque could probably take it off eventually, but with how quickly MK was improving, he didn’t know if he had time to be subtle before the seal was filled.
What if you just tell him everything?
That had Macaque halting.
He could, couldn’t he? Just sit MK down and explain what he had been planning. Not his entire life story—he’d probably never be ready to tell anyone that—just the important parts. But what if the kid hated him for it? What if he left and Macaque was alone again?
He hugged his arms in an attempt at self comfort.
He had to do it. He knew MK would end up leaving, but the kid deserved to know the truth. Macaque owed him that much.
=====
MK was too sweet.
Macaque told him everything. About hating Wukong, about his plan for revenge, about the seal—all of it.
But MK never left.
He was upset at first, understandably so, but eventually just shrugged it off, saying it was no big deal. Macaque tried to make him understand that the shadow demon wasn’t a good person, but MK shut that down.
“If you weren’t a good person, you wouldn’t be confessing all of this to me,” he had said. “I’m upset, yeah, but I also understand that anger can make you do crazy stuff.”
“It’s not that simple, kid.”
“Really? Welp, guess you’ll just have to stick around to explain it to me then.”
So he stayed. It took three days, but he got the seal off completely. MK promised not to tell Wukong about Macaque being in the city, and in return Macaque promised to not go after Wukong until they could talk to each other. And if Macaque was crossing his fingers when he promised that, well, MK didn’t need to know.
Things were good.
Until Macaque got sick.
He didn’t even notice at first. His head felt a bit stuffy, but it was fine. Then he was having dizzy spells and a fever, which was less fine. It wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle, of course. He’d been sick plenty of times before. This was no different.
Sure, he was currently laying in his bed, his temperature resting at nearly 101, and his head feeling like it was being done in with a sledgehammer, but it was fine. He was fine. So he grabbed his new phone, courtesy of MK, and let the kid know training was canceled for the next couple of days. MK was worried, but told him to get better and promised to check up on him later.
Macaque, despite feeling like he was dying again, smiled at his phone. MK really was too good for this world.
=====
-MK-
MK had handed out his last delivery for the day when he realized how close he was to Macaque’s dojo. He hadn’t gotten a text from his second teacher since yesterday, despite essentially spamming the monkey’s phone. Worry had been gnawing at him all day. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I stopped by, right?
Getting back on the tuk-tuk, MK made the quick trip to the dojo. He left the vehicle running, expecting this to be quick, and knocked on the door and waited.
And waited.
And waited…
The worry in him turned to anxiousness. Macaque had amazing hearing, there’s no way he couldn’t hear the door. MK knocked again, a bit louder this time.
“Macaque? Are you in there?”
Still nothing.
Anxiousness turned to panic.
Something was wrong, he could feel it. He ran back to the tuk-tuk and pulled out the keys, running back to the entrance. Nearly dropping the keyring in his search for the spare Macaque gave him, he unlocked the door and opened it, calling out again. “Macaque, it’s MK. I’m coming in, okay?”
The silence was haunting.
MK, ran upstairs where he knew the monkey’s room was. “Macaque?” He had just reached the last step when he heard a groan. He poked his head down the hall and saw black-furred feet sticking out from the bedroom doorway.
Panic turned to full-on terror.
“Macaque!” He sprinted to the end of the hall, finding his teacher shirtless, on his side, eyes screwed shut. He looked flushed, fur either flat from sweat or sticking up at odd angles. His breathing was heavy and fast, his body shivering. He also had a large scar sitting over his right eye and his six ears were out, neither of which MK had seen before.
“Shit. Macaque?” MK stepped into the room and knelt next to the shadow demon. “Macaque, can you hear me?”
The only response he got was another groan.
Not good.
He placed a hand on Macaque’s head, gasping at the amount of heat pouring off of his teacher.
Very not good.
Not giving himself anytime to hesitate, he pulled out his phone and called the only person he could think of.
“Hey, bud!” Monkey King’s voice spoke through the phone. “What’s up?”
“Macaque is dying and I don’t know what to do!”
Maybe not the best way to start the conversation.
“What?!” Wukong all but yelled. “M-Macaque? Kid, how do you—”
“I’ll explain later, but I need your help! He’s on the ground and he’s not moving and I don’t know what to do!”
“Okay, okay, take a deep breath, I’m on my way,” MK could hear wind through the phone. “Where are you? What’s wrong with him?”
MK took a shaky breath and rattled off the address. “I-I don’t know what’s wrong. He texted that he was feeling sick yesterday but didn’t really specify.”
“Texted?” Wukong sounded very distressed.
MK pressed on. “I came to check on him since he wasn’t answering his phone after that and he was just passed out on the floor! He has a really bad fever and he’s breathing really fast.”
“Shit. Okay, does he have a bathtub?”
“A bathtub? Uh, yeah, but why—”
“Go fill it up with lukewarm water. His temperature is probably way too high and we need to get it down.”
MK stood up shakily, stepping over Macaque and into the hall bathroom. He put the phone on speaker and set it on the counter before running the water. “If it’s that high, shouldn’t we be using cold water?”
“No, that could put him into shock. We have to bring his temperature down slowly.”
“Right. Yeah, that makes sense,” MK mumbled, his hands shaking. “Uhm, how far—”
“Wukon’...?” a raspy voice cut him off.
MK gasped, running around the corner. “Macaque!” The darker monkey was now on his back, blinking slowly at the ceiling. MK jumped back into the room, kneeling next to the demon. “Hey, you’re okay. You have a really bad fever.”
“Get him into the tub!” he heard Wukong call from the bathroom.
MK helped Macaque sit up. “We need to get you into the bathroom, alright?”
Macaque looked at MK, his eyes glazed over. “Wukong?”
“No, it’s MK. Your student. Can you stand up?”
Macaque kept staring, his eyes hardening. “You’re not Wukong…”
MK smiled nervously. “No, but Monkey King is—ACK!” A hand closing around his throat cut him off.
Macaque stood up, bringing the kid up with him. His eyes were practically glowing with rage. "Where is Wukong?”
Well at least he’s standing, MK thought bitterly. He pulled uselessly at the monkey’s arm, fear coursing through him. “Macaque… stop…” he closed his eyes as he was lifted from the ground.
“I won’t ask again.”
=====
-Wukong-
Wukong could see the building.
“Where is Wukong? ” Macaque’s voice could be heard through the speaker, making his fur bristle. Reaching the ground, he hung up the phone, jumped off his cloud, and ran upstairs.
“Macaque!” he called, running down the hall. The sight in front of him was one he’d never forget.
His best friend, his lover, the one he killed all those years ago, panting and sick, holding up his kid by the throat. He knew how to handle this. He was scared, he was terrified , and it'd been centuries since he’d dealt with a delirious Macaque, but he knew what to do.
Wukong stopped in front of them, wincing at the deep scar covering Macaque’s eye, and carefully placed his hand on his shoulder. “Plum, look at me,” he said softly. He wrapped his tail around MK’s wrist as well, trying to comfort the kid.
Macaque glanced at him, his grip loosening. “...Wukong?”
Gods, he sounded so hopeful.
Wukong nodded, speaking slowly. “I’m right here. I’m safe. I need you to let MK go for me, okay?”
Macaque hesitated for a moment, the glossiness in his eyes fading for a second before letting MK drop to his knees. The kid coughed and rubbed at his throat, but gave the king a thumbs up when he glanced his way.
He’s okay.
“Peaches?” Macaque’s voice cracked, swaying on his feet. “Is that you?”
Wukong felt his heart break at the old nickname. He nodded, slipping the demon’s arm around his neck to lead him to the bathroom. “I’m right here, Mac. You’re really sick. We need to get your fever down.”
Macaque let himself be pulled, stumbling over his feet. “Oh, okay,” he mumbled. “‘M sorry.”
Wukong reached down and stopped the water. “It’s okay. The water’s gonna feel really cold to you, okay?”
Macaque hummed, already looking out of it again as he slowly stepped into the tub. He gasped, a shiver going through his body. “‘S cold.”
Wukong helped him sit down. “I know, but your fever is really bad.” He cupped some water in his hands, drizzling it over the other’s head. “The water is going to help.”
Macaque shivered again. “‘Kay. Trus’ you.”
Wukong suddenly felt like he was the one who had been choked, his throat tight with emotions he couldn’t even begin to place. He pulled out a hair and turned it into a thermometer. “Open your mouth, I need to see how high your fever is.”
Macaque did as instructed, lazily closing his mouth around the device. When it beeped, Wukong pulled it out and hissed.
103.4
“Shit, you’re way too hot,” he muttered, pouring more water over the parts of him that weren’t submerged.
Macaque hummed, a dopey smile on his face. “‘M always hot.”
Wukong felt his own face heat up, but was luckily saved by MK walking in.
“Is he okay?” he rasped out, voice gravelly.
Macaque sat a bit straighter, looking at MK. “Kid? Wha’ happened? You hurt?”
Wukong shared a look with his kid. MK smiled and sat on his knees next to the king. “I’m okay, don’t worry about it.”
Macaque narrowed his eyes at the bruise forming on his throat. “Who hurt you? I’ll make ‘em leave you alone.”
Wukong glanced at MK. How long have they known each other? How long have they been hanging out without Wukong knowing?
MK’s smile turned a bit more genuine. “You already did, Macaque.”
Macaque blinked owlishly. “I did?”
The kid nodded, helping drizzle water over the shadow demon. “Mhm. You scared them off and they said they’d never hurt me again.”
Macaque leaned back, closing his eyes. “Goo’. ‘M sorry they hur’ you.”
“It’s okay. Try to get some rest, okay?”
Macaque hummed, head tilting to the side as his breathing evened out.
The duo sat there in silence for the next few minutes, scooping water over the poor monkey. Eventually Wukong checked his temperature again.
101.1
He sighed in relief. “Okay, we can move him now.”
Drying an unconscious monkey was… difficult to say the least, but they eventually managed it. Wukong sent MK downstairs while he changed Macaque into a new pair of pants and finally laid him down on the bed. He pulled out a hair and turned it into a thin blanket, draping it over him. Wukong sat on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through the dark fur, allowing himself this one moment of peace. He didn’t want to leave.
But he had a successor to scold.
=====
-Macaque-
Macaque was curled on his side, wrapped tightly around his pillow. He could feel someone running their hands through his fur. Must still be dreaming, he thought. Might as well enjoy it. A purr made its way past his throat.
The hand stuttered. “Mac?”
Macaque stiffened, his purr cutting off.
This isn’t a dream.
He flew up, scrambling back to press against the wall. Sure enough, sitting next to the bed, hand hovering in place, was none other than Sun Wukong.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, throwing his glamours on.
Wukong dropped his hand. He looked… sad? Disappointed? “MK called me.”
He glared at the king, tightening his grip on the blanket still in his lap. “He said he wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, well, when your secret mentor is delirious with a fever of one-oh-three, some promises end up getting broken.”
Macaque blinked. “What?”
Wukong leaned back, tail lashing anxiously behind him. “You weren’t answering his texts, so the kid came to check on you and found you passed out on the ground.”
Macaque leaned forward to grab his phone off the nightstand, seeing a multitude of missed calls and messages. “...Shit.”
Wukong huffed a laugh. “Yeah. He was convinced you were dying so he called me. We threw you into the tub to get your fever down, and now we’re here.”
He knew the king was hiding something. When people get delirious from fever, they can get sad, or start laughing at everything, but Macaque knew he’d get violent. “What did I do?” he asked shakily.
The golden monkey stiffened. “What do you mean?”
Macaque’s grip on the phone tightened. “You know what I mean.”
Wukong hesitated before answering. “You choked him.”
Macaque let out a harsh breath and dropped the phone, feeling guilt slamming into him. “Fuck ”
“He’s okay, though!” Wukong said quickly. “He’s constantly asking if you're awake yet. Pretty sure he’s in the middle of making you a get-well basket right now—”
“That’s the problem!” Macaque yelled, tears springing to his eyes. “I was planning on using him to get to you! I was going to take his powers! The only reason I stopped was because I didn't want to see him get hurt! And now I choked him and he's asking if I’m okay?! He can’t just do that! I don’t—” he covered his eyes, a sob breaking free before he could stop it. “I don’t want to hurt him,” he finished quietly, shoulders shaking.
He could feel Wukong climb on the bed next to him, feel his arms wrap around him. He knew he didn’t deserve the comfort, but he couldn’t stop himself from turning and hugging the stone monkey back, sobbing into his shoulder. Wukong said nothing, simply rubbing circles on his back.
After a few minutes, once Macaque got his breathing under control, he pulled away, wiping his eyes. “He’s gonna get himself killed,” he muttered. “He’s too nice.”
Wukong chuckled. “Yeah, but that’s what he’s got us for.”
Macaque frowned, looking away. “Wukong—”
“No, listen to me.” Monkey King took his face in his hands, turning his face back forward. “I want you to stay.”
Macaque placed his hands over Wukong’s. “No you don’t.”
“Yes I do. We’ve both done shitty things and we’re stupid and we don’t talk about it and I act like I hate you but I don’t. ”
Macaque shook his head, not wanting to allow himself to hope again. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” Wukong leaned forward. “Plum, I’m so sorry I hurt you. I’m so sorry I killed you. I can’t take it back, but Gods I wish I could. I love you and I have never stopped loving you. I don’t care how long it takes, I want to forgive you and I want to trust you again.”
Macaque squeezed his hands, his heart feeling like it was about to burst. “Prove it.”
“How?”
Macaque took a deep breath and let his glamour fall, looking at Wukong expectantly.
The hands on his face tightened for a moment, his lover’s gaze caught on his right eye, before doing the same.
Red eyes met golden and Macaque smiled. “I want to trust you again.”
Wukong smiled back, leaning forward.
Their lips met, soft and cautious. Macaque knew it wouldn’t magically heal their relationship, but it was a step in the right direction. So he counted it as a win.
“I KNEW IT!”
Both monkeys jumped at the sound of their student, pulling away flustered.
“MK!” Wukong snapped, cheeks red.
MK kept smiling, pointing at them from the doorway. “I knew you two were a thing!”
Wukong covered his face with a groan. “Is it too late to ask you to kill me?”
Macaque chuckled, patting his head. “We’ll see.”