Chapter Text
Night was peaceful, at least it seemed to be. Only a month after the fight with Lady Bone Demon, and everyone in Megapolis went back to their own lives. The ice melted, and the sky was clear. Animals that lived in the forest seemed to have gone to sleep, and the town was already far enough to not bother the wandering monkey this much.
Macaque needed it. A little, soothing walk. Alone, away from everyone. To think about all that had happened, and figure out what he wants to do next. The first topic to poison his mind was redemption. It kinda made him chuckle a little under his breath. It was just so... surreal and naive. The idea seemed cunning, but he knew all too well that the reality was a bitch. If he would agree to MK's offer, that would mean confrontation with a certain person, or rather a monkey, with who he just couldn't imagine getting along right now. Or any other time. He hated him, and it was mutual. He had one pretty reminder crossing his face to not even slightly trust the other. Not again.
His tail flicked anxiously at the thought, and his heart skipped a bit. But on the other hand, he really liked the kid. Wanted to make up for all the wrongs he did to MK, and his friends. He felt the guilt of his past actions drowning him more and more in all his intrusive thoughts. Even if it wasn't personal, and his actions were aimed at monkey King, he was sane enough to recognize he hurt others in the process and regretted acting out of rage.
He wandered through the forest, going more and more into the wild. Stars shimmered around the clear sky. Moon in his full glory lighting Macaque's path in a truly magical way. Normally in circumstances like those, he would feel relaxed and at peace, but something that night was off. Something just wasn't right, and he had that in the back of his mind for a while now, but it took him a few moments to halt and give this sensation a second thought. He couldn’t see any particular opponents or other threats, even tho his fight or fright instinct was raging like crazy.
He furrowed his brows and pricked up his six ears, moving them a little, to catch the sound better.
Rapid breathing, painful moans, and even tho too fast, oddly familiar, heartbeat. Was he hearing the past again? It must be it. He just went too deep in his own thoughts and heard a muffled memory. That's it. He should just ignore it. It would fade away soon anyway.
Of course, he couldn't ignore it. Not for more than a few seconds. He would love to deceive himself and just get away from the sound, but... Fuck, MK just had to wake up that part in him, hadn't he? It couldn’t just die along with his past life, couldn’t it? Wishful thinking.Slowly he moved through shadow portals closer and closer to the sound, already pretty sure what he will see. But he couldn't understand why...
He stopped a few meters away. Stunned, not knowing how to react. His first instinct was to rush over closer, to protect and help. Yet this instinct was cut short by unresolved anger and scars that over hundreds of years never stopped hurting. Left unhealed to rot and deepen. Dark-furred monkey clenched his fists and watched for a moment in silence.
Macaque focused on his surroundings more, all his six ears alert and aware. But there seemed to be just the two of them. He, and Monkey King himself curling on the ground, clearly in pain. But then again, if there was no one else here, what made him like this?
After a few moments that seemed to be way longer than they actually were, he finally connected the dots. There was only one thing that could break Och-So-Great Sage Equal to Heaven this much to make him a crying, shivering mess. Och, but this time, Macaque was not going to try and help. Not a chance. A playful grin stretched his mouth as he left the shadows, hiding his ears under glamour and walking slowly over tortured Wukong.
„And here I thought I wouldn't have occasion to see you this pathetic ever again.”
Black simian announced his presence, stopping only a few feet away from the other. A painful groan accompanied Wukong when he lifted his head, and red, unglamured eyes meet the towering over him person.
„Macaque...” his voice clearly hoarse from crying „You just couldn't choose a worse time, bud.” he wanted to force a laugh but caught instead ”What are you doing here..?” he tries to get himself together, not too look weak in front of his old friend, lover, moon, rival.
„Well, I was just wandering around when I heard some pitiful cries from here...” Six-eared started to walk around the other like a vulture circling above his prey „Maybe you know where someone this pathetically helpless could be around here?” he asks nonchalantly, crouching next to him. Satisfaction visible on the red-marked face.
„Fuck... off.” the other forced a shaky smile on own face.
„Mmm, harsh. I can see you still have some spirit in you.”
Macaque put his fingers in between the fur on Monkey King's head and clenched his fist to get a good grip. Then he pulled his head higher to meet a pained gaze, drawing a muffled whine from his mouth.
„Ugh...”
Wukong grip his wrist, and desperately tried to get away from the other. Unsuccessfully. Macaque's smile only widen at how weak the King was, he could barely scratch his skin. Ah, that was just the perfect occasion to get his revenge, wasn't it? Tho, finishing Wukong at his lowest somehow didn't ring the bell as much in his head as he thought it would.
„Well we both know it won't last long; don't we~?” he laughed darkly.
„What... ngh... do you want?” Wukong growl angrily, just to again crumble in more pain and give another muffled cry.
„Oh, nothing much, really. Just to watch you suffer for a while. I will probably get bored in a few minutes.” the black monkey shrugged leaning away „And then I'll just continue on my walk.”
„Ugh... Just go already!” he yelled, fury visible through a hurt expression. His fur bristled, and his tail curled up anxiously.
„Anyway, to be honest I thought they had removed this circlet long ago.” Macaque ignored the other request and continued on with his monologue „But then again, I can see why they didn't want to let their dog off a leach~.” his tone was cruel and poisonous, tho it lacked some passion. Like he was just rehearsing memorized lines without putting his heart into his little show. Not that the other could see through that, but it just didn't give the same satisfaction as it should. As he was sure it would.
" If... I am the dog... ugh... what does that make you... Shadow."
Wukong hissed, even in this position he couldn't just let go of his spiteful nature. Some could say it was Heroic, to not give in even in such pain, trying so hard to not show his opponent any weakness. Well, Macaque saw it differently. All he could hear was Monkey King's pride talking, and nothing was heroic about it.
„I am no longer your shadow Sun Wukong,” he growls, tightening his grip. Rusty fur monkey hissed at another layer of pain, oh he wished he just bit his tongue sometimes. „better tell me what happened. Guan Yin is sending you on another journey? You're going to abandon MK again? Leave, not telling where and for how long?” bitterness only grew in his voice when he let go of the other fur. Och it brought back all that anger and hate he hold inside.
„Leave me alone Macaque!” he growled as loudly and angrily as he was able to in his present state. But all he got in return was Six-eared rolling his eyes unimpressed.
Another fall of this painful sensation came through his body, and he again became a sobbing ball of fur. Macaque looked at this picture seemingly unimpressed. Again getting a hold of Wukong's head and making him look up at him.
„Och c'mon. Is it really all that takes to make Oh-So-Great Sage into a pathetic mess?”
Red, unglamoured eyes no longer had the strength to hold tears. And there seemed to be no end to them. His whole body was shivering even tho the King was tensing every muscle in his body to try to hide it. His tail wrapped around his leg tight in seek of comfort. But nothing helped, and he knew better than anyone that nothing would. There was no salvation from this torture. And then he broke, the pain was just unbearable at this point, and he just wanted it to end
„LEAVE! PLEASE! JUST LEAVE! IF YOU'RE HERE ONLY TO- AGH!! GLOAT?!! LEAVE!!! I BEG OF YOU IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT STOP- UGH! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!! PLEA- AGH, FUCK!” and six ears moved, braking the glamour, carried by the sound of this cry, back to the past.
/”MASTER PLEASE! MAKE IT STOP! I'M BEGGING YOU! I'LL- AGH!!! I'LL BE GOOD! I'LL BE BETTER! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE JUST MAKE IT STOP!!!”/
Anger visibly risen in Macaque’s gaze. He felt something braking walls that he build around his no more beating heart.That small part of him that he hoped died with his past life, appeared to be quite big. Big enough for him to even put aside all the hatred, anger, and bitterness that poisoned his soul and mind in Dyu. .
„Who did this to you?” question was oddly familiar and bound to the cursed past all too well, but it didn't matter now.
Wukong stopped breathing for a moment, not sure if he heard right. His eyes moved to the others face in silent question, looking for any trace of a lie.
As much as Macaque would want to, he knew deceiving himself was never a good idea. So even if it pissed him off more, because he would love to enjoy the sight before him, he just couldn't leave. He probably wouldn't mind if it was him himself making such a mess out of his King Wukong, but... The thought of someone other hurting his King Sage was just driving him furious beyond sanity.
„I- ” he looked away ashamed „I don't know...”
„Great. Just great,” he mumbled and again looked around. No one in sight; good.”can you walk?”
„-what?”
„Are you deaf now too?”
„No. It was just- ahg! ...a dumb question. Of course, I can walk. I am The Great Sage...” a pained hiss cut off his speech, as he tried to stand up, falling on his knees „Fuck.”
„Yeah, Pride goes before the fall.” he mocked, but then just squatted and scooped Wukong bride style. Rusty monkey was in too much pain at the moment to even notice the gentleness of his touch „I assume you're here because you don't want the Kid to see you like this, huh.” it wasn't really a question but it got a shaky nod in response „Those secrets will be the end of you one day, Sun Wukong.” he warned opening one of his Shadow portals „But not yet.” he went through it with the King just to come out in his Dojo.
Monkey King was many things. Irresponsible, childish, lying, impulsive, and so on. But he wasn't dumb and he knew better than to trust Six-Eared Macaque. So why he wasn't even trying to get away from said monkey?! Ugh, it was surely because of all that pain he couldn't think clearly.
Macaque put him on the sofa, slowly, not that he could make him suffer more than he already did, but it was more like a learned behavior. He wanted to pull away but stopped when his arm got grabbed by the other. He meets Wukongs eyes with an unspoken question.
„I didn't ask you- ugh-! for help.” he mumbled, confusion and stubbornness visible in his red gaze.
„Yeah, I figured you wouldn't.” he shrugged getting out from the grasp of a weekend palm.
He stretches out himself, looking thoughtfully at the other, not sure what the hell is he doing. Ugh, he should just leave him there and act as if nothing happened. That for sure would be less problematic and confusing. Seeing still unsure gaze he continued on talking.
„Well, you won't ask MK, because you don't want to worry the kid. You won't ask his friend, because you still feel guilty for what happened with Lady Bone Demon, and don't want to be a burden for them any more than you think you already are. And there isn't anyone you could ask for help from anymore. Either dead or now they hate you.” he analyzed for a while, catching the shock painted on Wukong's face before he tried to hide it again „And leaving you to deal with this alone, could lead to another catastrophe, soooo... I am your only option.” he concluded.
Moments passed, and the only sounds that were filling the room were painful groans and muffled moans. It was even more uncomfortable since the rusty monkey seemed to glue his eyes to the other. No deeper thoughts behind them. Just an empty, shocked stare as if Wukong.exe stopped working.
„Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Macaque furrowed his brows „No need to worry about your pride, you don't have to ask for my help.” ‘You never had to anyway’ he thought to himself with a bitter smile „I’ll shove it down your throat anyway.” he says instead turning his expression into more sarcastic, hoping the other didn’t cache previous, way too soft, tone. He did.
„But- Why..?” Wukong asked quietly, and if the other didn't have had six ears, he might have not caught that.
He knew Macaque better than anyone, or at least he used to. There was always a reason for his acts. He wouldn’t help someone he hates if he had a choice. And for him, the good of the world wasn't good enough of a reason to act. So what was his motive this time? Wukong just couldn’t guess, but so did the other.
It was just bizarre. He should have just left the Sage where he found him, and called MK, or anyone other, to deal with wit this. It should stop being his problem the moment that damn stick pierces his skull. Well, apparently learning from past mistakes wasn’t his strong side.
„I wish I knew.” he said with a puzzled expression „ So let’s just get this over with.” he decided, not wanting to think too deeply over it, already knowing it would cause some inconvenient conclusions „What’s the last thing you can remember before... Uhm, pain?”
„Uhm...” he tried to focus, but the pain was driving him crazy, not letting forge even the simplest sentence „I was... going to- Agh!” small pause to catch back his thoughts „ Where we fought... Lady Bone Demon...”
„Why there?”
„MK asked me... to check the area again... He’s still scared... she hasn’t died...”
„...could it be her?”
„No... I’m sure she’s gone.” Wukong shook his head „But there was someone... Fast, and they kept close to the shadows... I heard someone mumbling, and felt... ugh-! Pain. I panicked feeling this again...” he put his hand to the cold circlet „I couldn’t think straight, and just called my Nimbus... But when the pain started to kick in harder, I lost control, and fall...” he admitted embarrassed, looking away „You know the rest...”
„So you don’t have the slightest idea who it could be? Any suspicions?”
„ I have many enemies, in all realms...” Wukong clenched his fists.
„Well yeah, but who would dare to get this close to you?” after this question there was no response from the other for a while.
„...At first I thought... it was you... Shaming again.” he said, curling into himself more, knowing that if he lied, the other would know anyway, but also that truth could mean an end to his help „But I... don’t think that anymore.” he added, surprising the other.
„Not gonna blame you. I probably would be able to do it.” he shrugs at the angry look he got from the other immediately „But where they got that old thing? And how did they manage to put it on you? Surely they couldn’t be that sneaky” Six-Eared wondered.
Again with the silence. Macaque looked at the other waiting for any clearing, because it felt so odd to hear that someone could just sneak up on the King. Even for him, with all his tricks it was hard. So how powerful was their opponent to not just sneak up on Wukong but also make it in a way he didn’t see them after?
Black fur monkey furrow his brows when the silence was getting long. He studied the other thoughtfully, and then he understood. The way Wukong’s heartbeat got faster, how he looked empty to the floor, his tail tangled around his leg visibly too tight, and his body shaking more than before. Macaque exhaled to calm himself.
„Wukong...” he said, getting closer and crouching close to Wukong’s head „Wukong.” he repeated when again he haven’t gotten any answer from the crying monkey „Bud, you need to focus here.” he said tiredly. The last thing he wanted to do was to comfort the other. It would mean getting closer, and that would lead to an inevitable ending. But... Oh, how he hated what that damn monkey was doing to his mind. „Hey, Wukong, look at me.” he took Monkey King’s face in his paws, so he would look at him, but much softer than before. They locked eyes „Listen, I know we’re not... on the best terms right now. I hate your guts, and you hate mines too. But. I am going to help you with this, okay?” he assured, seeing like golden eyes thankfully lost that unsettling emptiness, now there was confusion, hesitance and... something else, that was way too close to hope to be true. Well, better than nothing, he could work with that „I won’t ask you to trust me. We both know that’s not gonna happen. But I need you to calm down and trust that you’re going to be fine. You can endure it, I know you can. You’re strong Wukong, and you are not alone.”
The Sage took a few deep, shaky breaths, his heartbeat slowed down a bit, and he pulled back a little from the other's paws.
„Can you tell me now, how they get so close?” Six-Eared asked after a while when King’s panic subsided.
„They didn’t have to... Nhg-! It was never removed.” Wukong confessed looking away, and now the other was the speechless one.
„What do you mean, it was never removed?” he furrowed his brows „Journey ended centuries ego.” he added harshly, feeling how the rage inside him is on a thin line now.
„Why do you care?” rusty monkey hissed, he really didn’t want to talk about this topic more than he had to. Especially with Macaque.
„Right.”’Right...’he looked away and got up „I don’t” ‘I don’t want to. I shouldn’t’ he clenched his fists „So they just needed the incantation then. That doesn’t help with the fact we don’t know who and where they are.” he mumbled under his breath. Another pained cry from Monkey King only upset him more „So we need to search more area then.” he walked to his desk and took out a map of this part of China „We’ll find them.” he wasn’t really sure who he tried to assured with that statement.
Macaque looked at the King, it was really unsettling to see that damn monkey in such a pitiful state. It made his blood boil exactly like all those centuries ago... Ahg, he shouldn’t think about that now, they had a mission to complete.
„But first, I’ll get you something to drink. Try to... uhm, relax, as much as it’s possible?” he said awkwardly and left the room to make some tea.