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“I bet you $10 that they’ll say you have lingering regrets that prevent you from some shit.” Wukong giggled at his own joke as he continued to drive.
MK, who was sitting next to the ginger haired man in the passenger seat, rolled his eyes at his big brother figure. He folded his arms and slumped further into his seat, hoping his body language would clue the ginger man in that he really, really wanted Wukong to stop talking.
“I mean who doesn't have regrets?!”
The body language went right over Wukong’s head and MK finally let out a loud and audible groan.
“Stop! Just stop it Wukong!” MK snapped, making Wukong give the boy a concerned look.
“MK I’m just trying to-”
“No! You’re just being an asshole!”
“HEY!” Wukong snapped back at the 18 year old.
However the brunette only glared at the ginger. “If all you're going to do is make fun of me and the psychic then you shouldn’t have come!”
“I’m not!” Wukong immediately snapped but then took a calming breath so his tone was less biting, he then said in a more even tone. “I’m not making fun of you MK.”
“Sure sounds like you are with how you’ve been spending this whole drive making fun of the psychic I booked and how going to talk to the “quacks” is just a waste of money.” MK grumbled, turning away from the older man.
“I didn’t mean…” Wukong let out a sigh, realizing MK was right. Intentionally or not he did insult MK by all his bashing. He just did not believe in this stuff and thought MK was being taken for a sucker. And he was used to looking out for MK. The young boy had lost his parents young and Wukong, who was a frequent volunteer at the foster home MK was stationed in, immediately bonded with the kid. Once MK turned 16 he officially adopted the boy but instead of them thinking of it as a Father Son relationship they both treated it more as a brother relationship. Which worked out great for them -no matter what one noisy, opinionated, and loud portly chef said to the contrary.
Wukong let out another sigh as he pulled into the parking structure of their destination. However, before he shut the car off he grabbed the young man’s arm.
“I’m sorry.” MK gave him a glance but nothing more. “I am. I didn’t mean to insult you MK.” He let go and ran a hand through his hair, tugging at it in his stress. “I just…I just don’t want you to get your hopes up or get taken for-”
“A sucker?!” MK said bitingly.
Wukong slumped into the steering wheel and tried to think of how to rectify this when MK saved him. The young man turned to the older man and patted his shoulder.
“Look I know the All Hearing Psychic may be a liar. And maybe I’ll spend this hour listening to lies or some other bullshit but…” MK looked away and clenched his fist. “But if it’s true that he can-that he is real, then I have to take it! I want to take it!” The brunette said with determination.
Wukong let out a breath then smiled at the determined face MK had on. He ruffled the 18 year olds hair and turned off the car.
“Ok then, let’s go.”
MK smiled at him and Wukong figured it was all behind them. However as soon as he was out of the car MK turned to him with a stern look and his hands on his hips.
“Now no more negative talk! And don’t be rude! Or insulting!”
“I won’t.”
“I mean it Wukong! Be on your best behavior! I already paid and I’m not getting thrown out because you couldn’t keep your opinion to yourself!”
“I said I won’t! I’ll behave!” Wukong crossed his heart with a finger. “Promise!”
MK gave him one more warning look then they progressed to the apartment building.
“Wait, it's in an apartment? Like we’re just going to this guys home?” Wukong questioned as MK looked on the buzzer for the correct # to push.
“Wukong!” He hissed in warning but the ginger threw his hands up in surrender.
“Not being rude, just practical! This can’t be safe! What if he has angry clients?! They now know where he lives!”
“Maybe he doesn’t have any angry clients. Maybe they’re all satisfied because he really has powers and helped them.” MK said smugly back and Wukong only glared but held his tongue.
Finally finding the correct button MK pushed it and a silky voice responded with a “Yes?”
“Hi! It’s MK or I mean Qi Xiaotian! I have an appointment at 2pm. I also have my brother with me.”
“Yes of course, come on up!” The All Hearing Psychic welcomed and then allowed the brothers into the apartment building. The apartment complex was nice, neatly decorated and clean.
The two men rode in the elevator up to the 5th floor and then to the apartment of the All Hearing Psychic. MK was ringing his hands together in a show of nerves and Wukong was trying to keep a scowl from his face. He knew why MK wanted to talk with a “real” psychic. He had read MK’s diary; the kid wanted to talk with his parents. Wukong did not want MK to be taken for a ride from this guy who calls himself The All Hearing Psychic, how egotistical. But this was important and MK’s show of nerves only reinforced that to Wukong so he had to bite his tongue.
MK knocked on the door and upon seeing who answered it, Wukong’s promise to MK flew out the 5th story window. A dark skinned and dark haired man with a fashionable goatee answered. He was wearing some loose clothes that had a night sky pattern on them. On his hips he wore a yellow sash that had intricate beading along the edge. He definitely looked the part of an All Hearing Psychic but too bad for him Wukong knew him by another name -Liu Er Mihou.
“Welcome! Come-” Suddenly Mihou’s eyes met Wukong’s and his once open and welcoming expression closed off. Immediately being replaced by a glare and an angry atmosphere.
“Uhhhh.” MK glanced from the glaring All Hearing Psychic to his glaring brother. “Ummm.”
“What are you doing here?!” Mihou bit out to Wukong.
“MK, we’re leaving!” Wukong barked as he grabbed MK’s arm.
“Oh, running away? How cowardly of you.” Mihou said in a taunting tone that immediately got Wukong’s hackles rising.
“Just preventing MK from wasting his time!” Wukong snapped. “I’m sure you don't give refunds but I’ll be damned if I’m letting you take his money AND time!
Mihou stormed over to the ginger, who quickly shoved MK behind himself, and poked a finger into the man’s chest. “Don’t act like you know anything about me!”
“Oh come on Mac!” Wukong said the old nickname in a mocking tone, enjoying how it visibly irritated the man in front of him. “You know I know you!”
“No you used to know me! Or I thought you did, but you proved me wrong!”
“Can someone tell me what’s going on?” MK pipped up as he peaked around Wukong’s shoulder.
Both men looked over towards him and Mihou acted first, shoving Wukong away and grabbing MK’s hand. He then quickly pulled MK into his apartment, talking quickly.
“Apologies for that Xiaotian. Just a pesky old acquaintance rearing his ugly head where it’s not wanted.” Mihou said with a jabbing tone as he glanced back at the ginger man still in the hallway.
“Acquaintance?!” Wukong shouted indignantly as he followed the two inside. “You asshole!” He glared at Mihou.
“Wait so you two know each other?”
“Yes!” Wukong glared, while Mihou waved the ginger off with a “We used to.”
“OK…?” MK looked supremely uncomfortable and Mihou and Wukong shared a glance before Mihou let out a loud sigh and rubbed his forehead.
“You don’t have siblings Wukong, so why are you really here?” The dark haired man turned to Wukong with his hands on his hips. “Did you pay him,” He thumbed MK, “To make an appointment to humiliate me or something? You guys have cameras or some master plan to try and what, deface me?!”
“What? No!” MK and Wukong denied.
“Wukong adopted me 4 years ago!” MK added, “He only came to make sure I was safe.”
Mihou cocked his head at Wukong and looked at him in disbelief. “You adopted a kid?”
“Yes!” Wukong shot back.
Mihou only rolled his eyes, visibly making Wukong angry and MK was really done with the day. All he wanted was to try and talk with his parents. But Wukong decided to be overprotective and tag along with him, making fun of him the whole time, and now the psychic he and Mei researched so heavily turned out to know Wukong and had bad blood with him. MK just couldn’t win today.
With a sigh of defeat MK slumped into the nearest chair, an armless chair that was in the apartment's living room where they were all gathered. The two adults looked over to MK and then at each other. Wukong glared at Mihou who rolled his eyes again but then went over to MK and squatted down in front of the young man. Wukong raised a hand as if to stop the dark haired man but refrained.
“Xiaotian.” The young man looked at the All Hearing Psychic who tried to give the kid a reassuring smile. “You paid for an hour so you’re going to get that.” He stood back up and gestured to Wukong with his thumb “And don’t worry I won’t count the time Wukong wastes by…well being himself.”
“Hey!” Wukong said offended but gave MK a smile when the young brunette looked over to him.
Eventually Mihou gestured MK to go over to the couch, where Wukong joined him, and Mihou sat in the armless chair.
“So you’re not here under Wukong’s orders.” Wukong rolled his eyes but MK only nodded seriously. “So tell me then, what are you here for? What are you hoping for?”
“What can you do?” Wukong asked under his breath and MK elbowed him hard in the side.
“I…” MK took a deep breath. “I want to talk to my parents. I want to know…I want to talk with them…” He admitted quietly.
Mihou and Wukong smiled at MK and then Mihou held out his hands for the kid, who grasped them and leaned forward.
“You can close your eyes or keep them open. I’m going to try and listen for any spirits around you. Fair warning this may take some time.” Mihou then cast a glare at Wukong. “So find something to occupy yourself with Wukong, but be quiet about it.” Wukong threw his hands up in the air but kept quiet under MK’s pleading look.
And it did indeed take some time. MK had closed his eyes along with Mihou; as if willing himself to be able to also hear the spirits Mac was trying to listen for. Wukong had at first debated pulling out his phone but decided against that. He didn’t want Mac thinking he was trying to snap a picture or video and embarrass him or something.
He still wasn’t even sure why Mac thought he would do something like that. It wasn’t like Wukong was the one who stopped communicating with his friend. He wasn’t the one who dropped Mac like a bad habit. Mihou was the one who cut him out and stopped talking to him.
Finally after about 7 minutes of Wukong being as patient as he could be (and bored out of his mind), Mihou pulled away from MK. He then grabbed his chair and scooted it closer to the young man.
“What I’m about to say may hurt you at first but I want you to listen to me.”
MK looked extremely nervous and Wukong even reached out and placed a hand on MK’s back for comfort. MK took a steadying breath and then gave a nod for Mihou to continue.
“Xiaotian, I didn’t hear anyone here now.” Mihou confessed.
MK’s entire face fell and Wukong immediately scooted closer to his brother to comfort him. Mihou even quickly grabbed the kids hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Now let me elaborate.”
MK swallowed audibly but weakly nodded for Mihou to continue, even though he felt hopeless and like an idiot for getting his hopes up.
“When I don’t hear any spirits around someone it typically means either no one that is close to them has died, or the people who have died are no longer around them. And that can be for any number of reasons.” Mihou explained gently as MK looked at him with defeat.
“In your case, with your aura and what I could hear, I believe your parents aren’t around you anymore because they don’t worry about you. They passed on because they know you are stable, safe, in good hands.” he glanced at Wukong who looked shocked at the compliment, “and they know you are a fine young man that they don’t need to fret over. They know you can handle anything life throws at you.”
“Really?!” MK blubbered as he started to cry.
“Yes.” Mihou smiled and MK only continued to cry more. Wukong gently pulled MK towards himself and let the kid cry into his shoulder.
“I-I just wanted to know if they were proud of me. That I turned out how they wanted!” MK sobbed.
“Of course they’re proud of you!” Wukong assured as he rubbed MK’s back. Meanwhile Mihou grabbed a box of tissues from a nearby table and held them out. “Buddy, you make everyone around you want to be better! Of course your parents would be proud of you and knew they wouldn’t have to worry anymore!”
“I-I used to feel them, and then I couldn't! And I was worried I messed up!”
“You didn’t.” Mihou comforted gently.
MK sobbed again and the two older men let him cry.
-
MK had cried himself into exhaustion, the emotional whiplash of the day taking all the boy's energy. Wukong had moved to carry MK out of the apartment but Mihou had quietly suggested they let him just nap on the couch while the other two moved to the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen Wukong tried to crack a joke.
“Gonna charge him for the time he takes up napping on your couch?” Wukong tried for a smile but by the offended look Mihou gave him, he knew he made a mistake. “Sorry, I was-”
“You’re unbelievable.” Mihou grumbled angrily.
“Sorry! I was just making a joke!” He defended.
“All of this is a joke to you!” Mihou snapped.
“Come on Mac.” Wukong tried but Mihou physically shoved him in frustration.
“Admit it! You think all of this is a big joke! I know you do!”
“Of course I do!” Wukong admitted, not missing how Mihou immediately closed himself off after getting what he wanted Wukong to say, arms folding in front of himself and glare set. “But I’m grateful for what you said to MK. He really needed that!”
“I didn’t just throw pretty words at him Wukong!” Mihou growled.
“Oh what? You used your powers?”
“Yes!” Mihou seethed.
“Come on Mihou, I know you! Psychic that can hear the past, present, and future has a nice ring to it, but you forget I’ve seen you get caught on a track ring fence because you misjudged the jump.” Wukong said, reminiscing back to their days in High School, back when they were inseparable.
Mihou rolled his eyes at Wukong and grumbled something under his breath as he poured himself a glass of water, not even bothering to offer Wukong anything. He then leaned against the counter and just gave Wukong a flat stare.
“You adopted him at 16 because he came out to you that he was actually a boy.”
Wukong’s eyes practically popped out of his head as his jaw dropped. He then sputtered nonsense at Mihou’s monotone declaration.
“H-H-How did you?!”
Mihou gave a mean smirk and gestured to himself. “Believe me now?”
Wukong slumped down to the floor in shock. His mind reeling that Mac somehow knew that, when not even a half hour ago the dark haired man accused Wukong of hiring MK.
“You know the worst part about this?” Mihou said as he stared down at the ginger sitting on his floor. “When I finally mustered up the courage to tell you that I had these powers, you mocked me.” He growled down to the man. “I knew you were a skeptic but I thought you’d at least hear me out or respect me enough to let me fully explain my abilities. But no!” He seethed, as Wukong looked up at him. “You immediately started making jokes and disregarding my feelings! But now, now that I can prove to you I have powers you fall to the floor in shock. When you were one of the first people who I even told.”
“I…”
Wukong couldn’t think of what to say. He remembered that talk. Mac had asked Wukong if he could tell him something, something that he hadn’t told anyone yet. Wukong had joked (cause he always makes jokes) about Mac coming out a second time and that earned him a punch. Then Mac had told him how he could hear the dead and Wukong had, and now he winced at this memory, but he had laughed in Mac’s face. He just didn’t believe it. And even now “hearing the dead” that sounded so outlandish. He remembered turning away from Mac to try and stifle his laughter so he didn't see his friend’s face but Mac had rushed to try and explain what else he could do and “Wukong I’m serious, please.” But Wukong had just brushed it off. Thought Mac was joking with him. But he wasn’t and then Mac stopped talking to him. And Wukong-
“I messed up.” He confessed quietly, ashamed.
“Yes, you did.” Mihou replied with ice in his tone.
“Mihou, Mac I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
“But I need to say it.” Wukong shot up and crowded his old friend. “I’m sorry! I was an idiot and insensitive! I should have listened and not been such an asshat!”
“Asshat??”
“Yes! I’m so sorry!” Wukong grabbed Mihou’s shoulders and tried to make sure his sincerity in his apology came across. “I was such an asshat in High School so full of myself and thinking I knew it all!”
“Whoa! Stop! Wukong!” Mihou tried gently pushing on the taller man as Wukong kept talking about how terrible he was in his youth. “Wukong!” Mihou shouted, shutting the man up. “Stop talking!”
“But-”
“No! Seriously stop it!” Mihou slapped a hand over the other man’s mouth.
“We were all asses in High School. Remember Peng? He was a giant prick.” Behind Mihou’s hand Wukong grinned and nodded in agreement.
“I wanted you to grovel and apologize but I don’t need your whole pity party.” Mihou further explained. Behind his hand Wukong tried saying something else but it was mumbled behind the hand still covering his mouth. “No seriously stop talking, I was not prepared for this today and honestly I’m tapped out.” Mihou confessed honestly, letting his shoulders slump in exhaustion. Wukong’s eyebrows knit together in concern so Mihou further explained. “Listening back in the past can be exhausting, more so than listening for the future. And I had to do that for my earlier clients and Xiaotian.”
Wukong finally freed his mouth from underneath Mihou’s hand and gave the dark haired man a concerned look. “You’re tired.”
“Duh.”
Wukong looked back to the living room where MK was napping. “I can take MK and leave.”
Mihou hesitated but then with a sigh replied, “Yeah that might be for the best.”
Wukong then went back into the living room and with Mihou’s help they got MK onto Wukong’s back. As Mihou was about to shut his apartment door, Wukong turned around and called back.
“You know Mac I think I need a reading on my future so when can I come back?”
Mac raised an eyebrow at the ginger but gave a small smile and with a flourish said. “I don’t think you could afford my rates.”
“Well MK didn’t get his full hour so maybe I can take the rest of his time later?” Wukong pushed with a teasing grin.
“MK,” Mac stressed. “Can come back for the rest of his time. You however will need to look online and see when I’m available.”
“Don’t you know when you're available?”
“Don’t you know how to use a computer?”
MK shifted on Wukong’s back, ending the back and forth banter. After ensuring MK was still asleep Wukong gave Mac a last look. “I’ll check online.”
“See you soon Wukong.”
“Is that a premonition?”
“Goodbye Wukong.” Mac closed the door.
-
“Delivery for the only real psychic.”
“Wukong, I have a client coming in an hour.”
“Then buzz me in quickly.”
There was an audible groan but Wukong was let into the apartment complex.
After Wukong and Mac had reunited, Wukong did end up making an appointment with Mihou where the two friends talked and agreed to give their friendship another shot. Which turned into Wukong stopping by as often as he could to the dark haired man’s apartment. MK had also joined Wukong sometimes and did eventually get the rest of his session.
“I still think you should let me buy you an office or something so people don’t come to your home.” Wukong lectured as he walked in with food for Mac.
Mac barked a laugh, “Yeah just buy me an office.”
“I have the money.” And that was true, Wukong was born into wealth and then continued to make more; money wasn’t an issue for him.
“And I don’t want the charity.” Mac replied as he dived into the dumplings Wukong brought.
“I just don’t think this is safe.”
“So you’ve said.”
“And I’ll say it again!”
“Wukong!” Mac groaned.
“Can you honestly tell me right now that there is no future you can hear where something doesn't happen to you because you work from home?”
At Mac’s pointed silence Wukong whipped out his phone and began searching for open spaces.
“Wukong!” Mac argued, reaching over to grab the phone. “I’m still listening!”
“Nope! I think you heard something and just don’t want to tell me!”
“I’m trying to listen, stop it!” Mac argued back as he continued to try and grab the phone.
“Keep listening then! I’m just going to quietly google open office spaces.” Wukong rebutted, laying on the couch to try and keep his phone out of the other man’s reach.
When Mac laid on top of him, still trying to grab the phone the two began to tussle with each other. Laughing, the two played a game of keep away which ended when Mac laughed and gently kissed Wukong’s cheek as if it was something they do all the time, just a common gesture. Except it wasn’t. That was the first time Mac or Wukong had ever kissed and it was such an innocent kiss on the cheek, but it made Wukong freeze which then made Mac freeze.
“Oh shit.” Mac whispered as he scrambled away from Wukong.
“Uhhh.” Wukong let out just staring at the now bright red Mac.
“Shit shit! I’m sorry I got lost, I confused the future and the present! This is why I don’t do anything but sit and listen! I get lost! And I told you to stop!” Mac lectured angry and embarrassed as he ran his hands through his hair.
“Future?” Wukong whispered back. “That’s our future?”
Mac’s face, if possible, turned an even brighter shade of red. “SHIT!”
Wukong however grinned and let out an excited giggle, both at Mac’s reactions and at this revelation.
“How far is that future?” Wukong teased and Mac grabbed a coaster and threw it at him.