Chapter Text
The cool breeze softly hit Macaque’s skin as he walked through the deathly silent streets of Megapolis. He had always enjoyed how the environment felt around him when he had glamors on, especially on nights like this. Nights where he hadn’t a care in the world. Where the city had finally gone to sleep, where there was no light except that of the moon. It was lovely. Perfect, even.
Perhaps he spoke too soon—for the cries of a child had snapped Macaque out of his state of tranquility. Macaque was able to pick out that the cries had come from that of a little girl. Curious, he dropped the glamors and slipped into the form of a small cat. It allowed him to remain anonymous as he eavesdropped on the conversation. He entered the alleyway to find that same little girl he had heard earlier pulling on her mother’s sweater. “Wait, Mama, where are you going?!” The little girl sounded..frantic, in a way. “Let go of me you little—ahem.” Macaque stood still. He was more than aware he was intruding on a private conversation, but he got the feeling that if he left now, he would come to regret it.
“Mama has to go somewhere real fast, but I’ll be back to pick you up in a little bit.” Go somewhere? Bullshit. He walked up closer, becoming more and more curious as the seconds passed. The little girl’s hand remained on her mother as she looked up at her with a questioning expression. “Where are you going?” The girl’s mother grimaced, eyes darting around to come up with some kind of excuse. She turned to her daughter with a stern look on her face. “What have I told you about asking questions, Bai He?” The little girl—who Macaque now knew as Bai He—pulled her arm away from her mother and twiddled with her fingers. “Don’t ask them unless necessary.”
Bai He’s mother nodded. “That’s right.” She looked up at her mother with yet another look of franticness. “But-but isn’t this necessary? I wanna know where you’re going-!’ She was interrupted with a harsh smack across her face. The sound was so loud, it caused Macaque to flinch slightly. “How dare you speak to me with such insolence! Learn to respect your mother.” Bai He’s wide doe eyes remained wide open for a second before they quickly shut as she began to cry. Her mother scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, none of that. Quit your crying.” Macaque was filled to the brim with rage. It was almost laughable; an undying hatred for someone he had known for no more than 5 minutes. He wanted nothing more than to tear her limb from limb for tormenting the poor child, but he could do nothing but stand there. Like a coward.
Almost instantly, Bai He stood up straight as she stopped her tears. Macaque could tell she was giving her all to not cry. Her mother smiled as she kissed the top of her head. “Good girl. Now, Mama won’t be long. I suppose this is goodbye, my sweet.” Her mother walked off to a parked car nearby, presumably hers. She turned it on and drove off, leaving Bai He there. Alone. She waited a few seconds before the car was completely out of view as she began to let out choked sobs, curling up into a fetal position on the floor. Macaque felt sympathy towards the little girl, for he knew all too well what it was like to be left alone. He walked up to Bai He and nudged her elbow with his head. She sniveled, rubbing her eyes before staring at him, confused as to why he was there. He jumped into her lap, purring and nuzzling his head into the crook of her oversized sweater.
Normally, Macaque would find this utterly humiliating. And it was. But this was the first thing he could think of to cheer her up. Bai He smiled slightly, petting him softly. “What a pretty kitty.” Despite her tears falling onto him, he relished in her touch. He hated to admit how much he enjoyed the feeling of her gentle hands in his fur. Macaque blamed his touch deprivation for that one. Nevertheless, he continued to rest in her lap, not bothering to protest even when she picked him up. “No collar, huh? You must be a stray.” Bai He continued to examine him all over his body before she perked up when it came to his face. She brushed her fingers slightly over the scar where his eye should’ve been. That’s where Macaque drew the line. He yowled, quickly squirming out of her hands and plopping down in her lap. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
Macaque shook his head, scratching behind his ear. “You didn’t hurt me, kid. I’d prefer it if you kept your hands off of there, however.” Is what he wanted to say. However, he was competent enough to know that a talking cat would surely cause her to freak out. Besides, it was preferable that she didn’t know who he was. His past wasn’t the..most ideal. The anonymity was quite nice. It was enjoyable to not have someone damning your existence for once. He patted down on her lap before settling in a comfortable position, looking up at her as his tail swished from side to side. She began to pet him again and he immediately melted into the touch, nuzzling into her hand. Bai He smiled once more as she petted him softly.
“I think you deserve a name. Knowing you as just ‘pretty kitty’ isn’t gonna fly.” Macaque turned his head to the side and let out a small mew in confusion. She pondered for a little bit on what to name him before snapping her fingers, signaling that she had an idea. “I got it! How about Pluto?” Macaque chittered in confusion. “Pluto, huh? Not bad. Least it’s easier to say than something like ‘Liu Er Mihou’.” He let out a meow to show his approval. Bai He smiled brightly. “Pluto it is, then!” She yawned slightly, extending her arms out to stretch. “I’m getting kinda sleepy. Let’s head to bed, pluto. Mama had me bring a blanket and pillow for this exact reason!” There was a twinge of pain in Macaque’s heart. “Kid..” She set up a pillow and blanket, zipping up her jacket and bundling up. “There’s a box over there, Pluto. Perfect for you!”
Macaque internally facepalmed. Right. Cats sleep in boxes. “I truly do wonder what the ‘great’ Sun Wukong would say about this. The Six-eared-Macaque—all mighty warrior, king of shadows—has been reduced to a furry beast, preparing to sleep in a worn out box. I’m acting like I didn’t do that before this, but, whatever.” He begrudgingly made his way over to the cardboard box, finding it to be surprisingly comfortable. He was just about to drift off before he was startled awake as the box was brought closer to Bai He. Macaque quickly relaxed as he plopped back in his original position. “You don’t have to worry, Pluto. I’ll keep you safe.”
He purred, internally smiling at her protective nature before drifting off into dreamland. “And vice-versa, kid. Nobody’s gonna hurt you again.
I’ll make sure of it.”