Chapter Text
Countless stars twinkle above the land so brightly in contrast to the stygian sky, seated underneath the most beautiful peach tree next to the humble house Macaque, Wukong, and his subjects call home. You can feel the cool breeze brush against your skin but it doesn’t bother you one bit. Oddly enough you feel so warm, and you realize it's because he’s here. Coddled in his warm embrace, you begin to realize, it makes for the most comforting scene.
“Mac…”
“Macaque…”
“MACAQUE”
He’s ripped from his daydream, hearing someone yell out his name. He looks up to see oh, it's only Wukong.
Perhaps the scene was too comforting
“Are you okay?” Wukong asks with concern in his eyes. “Hm? Oh yeah! just… got lost in the moment there” The shadow pulls away from the hug to stretch his arms before settling down once more on Wukong's chest “Did you need something?”
“No! Nope!” Wukong answers hurriedly.
He trails off “Well actually, you never mentioned why you dragged me out here in the first place” Macaque merely chuckles at this “Relaax, I can’t spoil the surprise. Besides, it’s not like you have anything better to do,” he says in a sarcastic but playful way while nudging his side to annoy the king some more.
Wukong’s face goes beet red and his expression sours. Macaque had achieved his goal of irritating Wukong.
Wukong crosses his arms, forcing Macaque to depart from his personal heater/pillow, and practically death glares him “Uh, no! You know I have a lot of important Kingly duties to attend to!”
“Uh-huhh, like what? Throwing your 500th party of the week or something?” Macaque retorts, carelessly waving his hand in the air whilst still keeping his sarcastic tone. “Or unless you’re planning to get on another god’s hitlist, I think you can spare the time, your majesty” lulling that last part in a mocking tone
“Wha- I... It’s not like I-” Wukong is left speechless at this. Without an argument, the king instead whips his head in the other direction, holds his nose up high, and pouts. For someone hundreds of years old, you’d think he would act a little like it.
“Aww come on, don’t act like that now. What will people say when they hear that the handsome monkey king can’t handle some simple teasing?”
Macaque’s tail subtly brushes over Wukong’s nose to emphasize this. Wukong cautiously peers at Macaque only to be greeted with the snidest cocky smirk plastered on his companion
He wants so badly to wipe that smile off his face.
Instead, he gently cups Macaque’s cheeks in one hand being careful to watch his strength and not hurt his dear friend, this worked in his favor. The cocky smile on Macaque’s face is now replaced with fluster and surprise. His eyes were wide, cheeks gathering a rosy red, the color spreading to the tips of his ears, and the slight tremble in his tightly sealed lips.
The moment almost felt tender, warm, and… a little bit even romantic. Was, until not 3 seconds later Wukong shoves Macaque’s face in the air causing the shadow to lose balance and fall face first into the grass beneath them.
Annoyed he tries to get up using his forearms and elbows. With the back of his hand, he rubs the dirt that stuck off his face.
Wukong’s roaring laughter rips through the air “Look who’s so cocky now!” hiccuping, struggling to form the sentence through his guffawing. He grips his stomach in an attempt to breathe when his laughter only heightens as he watches his friend pitifully pick himself up from the ground with a look of pure disdain shot his way.
Now, that is arguably the best view Wukong has seen tonight.
The king is too preoccupied with laughing he’s caught off guard when Macauque lunges toward Wukong and tackles him, causing the back of the king’s head to hit the tree trunk behind him, causing a few fruits to fall down
Damned lucky he's 7 times immortal, but did that hurt plenty.
He hisses through his teeth, his hand massaging the back of his head, all the while Macaque is reclaiming his spot on Wukong’s chest. He nuzzles into the fabric of Wukong’s shirt and settles there. “It’s definitely not you,” the shadow answers back with a satisfied lilt in his voice. The king scoffs at this, complaints die on his tongue, and instead responds with a hearty laugh
He pulls his friend in close in his warm embrace savoring this wholesome moment they have together. He swears Macaque’s company makes every second 10 times more memorable and 100 times better.
Wukong begins to stroke the back of Macaque’s head, combing through his coarse and tangled ebony fur. Yet for him, it feels like clouds passing through his fingers
“You know, you still haven’t told me why we’re here”
“Shhh, just wait”
“Oh wow, look at you being all mysterious”
“I know, It’s great.”
Gods, this little menace. Always has to overcomplicate things, be that with his convoluted stage plays or shadow puppetry, escalating to dragging Wukong outside in the cold midnight.
Not that he minded; not as much as he leads on. He would take the chance to get dragged out like this any day, any week, any hour; rain or shine; morning or night; as long as it were Macaque, it’d be worth it. As long as it were them.
But obviously, he can’t have the other knowing that. Wukong is sure that being the pain in the neck Macaque is, he’ll abuse that information the best he can.
It's a guilty secret that will forever remain in the back of his mind.
The peaceful atmosphere comes back. Everything is quiet, all the animals have taken to sleep. The mellow breeze and Macaque’s slow and steady breathing fill his tranquility.
His moon feels so warm bundled up on him like this. He continues to comb through Macaque’s inky mane with his fingers, petting his moon. He feels a gentle buzz, what can only be hypothesized as a quiet purr, which is quickly interrupted by the shadow shifting in position to try and get extra comfy on his self-proclaimed personal bed.
He presses his ear up Wukong's chest, hearing his friend’s heart beating like music to his ears, its saccharine, calming, and comforting, more than any birds’ chirping or rain falling.
...
A few nights ago, whilst tending to the mountains many peach orchards, Macaque had another one of his “visions”. His six ears gift him with a lot of supernatural abilities. Aside from giving him the power to hear all of the juiciest dramas throughout the island, although coming with the caveat of sleepless nights and constantly interrupted sleep.
His supernatural hearing also gives him the power to hear parts of the past and the future. He and Wukong like to refer to his prospects as visions despite the significant lack of well, vision.
He hears… agony, affliction, pain, agony, disappointment, failure, the brotherhood, but most importantly, Wukong?.
Macaque puts two and two together. This is on the big day, the day they wage war on heaven. He’s unsure if this is inflicted on their side or the enemy’s.
He was never one to act on his visions as most of them were up for his interpretation. They’re vague in the sense that he has to be the one to connect the dots of the sounds he’s so randomly provided with.
He’s tried so hard to get more context, and possibly have the vision come back.
Usually, he couldn’t care less and just let nature run its course, but this time is different; It concerns his Sun. If Wukong gets hurt during this fight, somewhere he can’t help him, somewhere he can’t fight by his side and protect him, then what will he do?
It’s stupid, It’s irrational to think something can even come close to remotely hurting the great sage equal to heaven, someone who is seven times immortal and wields an unimaginable amount of power. He knows his thoughts have no logic to them but he’s too deep in his worries to combat this.
His main concern is the possible damage, to him but mostly Wukong. When faced with the notion that there might come a day he won’t wake up to see the warmest, brightest ray of sunshine greet him.
It’s not something he’s willing to accept.
He’s tried multiple times to coax Wukong out of this plan, to stay with him instead.
But one day during one of their many meetings with the brotherhood discussing their plans their to overrule heaven (and him miserably failing once more to convince the king to step back,)
he was instead offered “the” promise, one he simply cannot refuse.
To stay together, eating fruit for the rest of forever, in this little paradise they’ve made for themselves.
“Whatever you say, Wukong” is all the shadow said.
Macaque has no choice but to let Wukong follow through with his plan. But hell if anyone thinks he’ll let his lazy peach-eating idiot do it without him.
It doesn’t matter if it’ll cause him great pain if it means being able to fight alongside Wukong, serving him with all that he has, even though all his efforts are in vain. He’ll do it.
Despite this, it doesn't erase any of the fear and anxiety he has about his prediction. He wants to at least share one more sentimental moment with Wukong, even for the final time. A grotesque and baseless way of thinking for sure, but Macaque was always the type to calculate for the worst
The night before they planned to attack, he anticipated the meteor shower and pulled Wukong out to watch it with him.
He planned to tell Wukong beforehand because he's trying to get rid of his habit of hiding everything to himself all the time.
Personally, he thinks it's fine, he's the legendary six-eared macaque, and he can handle a few insignificant interpersonal issues just fine.
Wukong seems to think otherwise, his frivolous friend always needing to be updated on the smallest things. He gets all sulky and irritated when Macaque lies to him by omission.
He says he can handle a few issues by himself and the king should stop ‘coddling him’ all the time. What a transparent lie, even someone as dense as Wukong can see right through.
In reality, he's somewhat of a coward, a fact he isn’t eager to shed some light on.
He hates confrontations and always chooses the easy out of difficult situations, even if it means the pusillanimous way out.
That was until he met Wukong, who slowly started to coax him out of his comfort zone, they get into all sorts of hijinx together, and he found what it felt like to live carefreely. Something he hasn’t outright thanked his friend for yet.
…
He wanted to tell Wukong, he really did. Yet heard Wukong’s honeyed laugh accompanied by that marvelous smile.
A sight to behold, one that would make mountains bow and oceans sing. A clip burned in his memory.
He couldn't, if this truly was the last peaceful moment they would share, he won't muddy the memory with the burden of his vision. Another caveat his ambivalent power holds.
As he recalls the vision that came to him, he starts to get a little ansty. Shuffling his face around and burying his cheek deeper in Wukong’s chest all the while fidgeting with his fingers seeming unable to focus. Now usually, Wukong is the restless one, so this behavior catches his attention straight away.
“You doing okay, bud?”
Macaque flinches
“Im good..” he wills himself to rasp out, instead, it comes out soft and unsteady making it glaringly obvious he's agitated. Something is making him uneasy
“Hey, c’mon you gotta tell me if something’s wro–” Wukong moves to touch him, try to comfort him but it only makes Macaque recoil. Immediately realizing his mistake, he tries to cover up his tracks
“Ah– ah! Sorry.. Don’t worry bout it Wukong, I just heard critters roaming around in the distance and it spooked me a bit” He tried to laugh it off, trying to put his signature smirk on nevertheless still coming off as uneasy.
Wukong glowers at this, not buying the very apparent bullcrap Macaque is selling
“C’mon, bud. we had a deal” Wukong grimaced
“I know, I know! And I'm not breaking it. It did spook me you know”
“Mhm, and what ‘critters’ are they?”
Eyes widen, caught off guard Macaque fumble with his words “Wha- How- How would I know?”
“You recognize me just by my footsteps,” Wukong says defensively
“Doesn’t take six ears to recognize your thrashing” Macaque Smugly retorts
“Thrashing?!” the other exclaims “Excuse you, I walk with elegance”
“Pfft, yeah, sure you do. Like how you elegantly walked your way into heaven” Macaque chuckles and ridicules, all while he repeatedly pokes Wukong’s cheek, again beet red from embarrassment.
The king clears his throat attempting to steer away from the topic and save his pride.
Wukong tries to compose himself while Macaque is still poking at his cheek incessantly pestering the king, that signature smug grin plastered on his face all over again.
He gently shoos Macaque’s prodding hand away with his own.
He takes a deep breath and continues “The point is, you’re a really bad liar”
“Because I don’t lie so much, unlike a certain someone” Macauqe scoffs
“Aha! So you admit you're lying” Wukong proclaims with such confidence
“I would neverr" Macaque retorts in a singsong voice
Wukong sighs amusedly at this. Well, at least one of them isn't all grumpy anymore, and they’re back to their usual hijinx forgetting about the prior issue.
Suddenly Macaque lifts himself up from the other, leaving the monkey confused. He looks away from Wukong, focusing on the scenery around them. All six ears of his flick around as if he's searching for something until they finally motion toward the sky.
There is silence for a moment and before Wukong can say anything Macaque turns to him, greeting him unexpectedly with the most genuine and cheerful smile. He whispers in a gentle and pleasant voice
"It's starting"
As soon as those words leave his mouth, behind Macaque, the twinkling bright stars begin to shower from the sky.
Wukong is absolutely starstruck as this magnificent view unfolds right in front of him. A saccharine smile directed towards him, a smile more valuable than any other treasure or trophy on this earth, brighter and livelier than the hundreds of shooting little lights illuminating the night sky, behind his moon, which only brightens his features further
He can only focus on Macaque’s face. Gods, and he thought Macaque couldn't get any more gorgeous.
Has he always been this pretty? Why only notice it now?
He can feel his heart beating, faster and faster; time seems to slow down, and his breath runs short.
The best part for Wukong? This spectacle is his alone to remember
He alone can cherish till the end of time
His thoughts are racing, and the only things his mess of a mind, scrambled like eggs can think of is
'I would do anything for you”
Hold on…
Pause
WHAT?
With this newfound insight, he feels his cheeks burn, butterflies swarm his stomach, and like the shooting lights in the sky a hundred thoughts begin to cascade through his mind running at a mile a second
'I didn't actually think that, right?!'
'We're only friends, is this how deep friends' bonds go?'
'Why would I think that?'
'Why would the heavens do this?!
'What– what even is this?'
'Lights? Shooting from the heavens?'
'An attack?'
'AN ATTACK'
Just like that, in his panicked state, he tackles the beauty he was admiring to the ground in an attempt to protect him
"Mac, watch out!" he yells, using his body to cage the other.
Making himself a shield to protect his friend from any incoming danger.
His eyes ignite with fury, how dare they interrupt one of the already few moments he has with his moon? Couldn't they wait until the damn morning for a beating?!
In a swift and precise movement, he summons his staff and takes a battle stance.
Now the gods have done it. He might as well fly up there this very moment and send the heavenly palace crumbling at his feet this very moment.
But he was stopped from his murderous planning when he hears.. giggling? He snaps his head in the direction of the sound, to find Macaque laughing hysterically on the floor.
What. Is. Going. On?!
"W-wukong" he wheezes "You absolute moron, It's a meteor shower!" He continues to cackle and wheeze, unable to catch some air.
This… THIS LITTLE–
"What do you even mean?!" Wukong snaps back "I don't even know what that is!"
"A-ah, Hah Wukong" Macaque manages to cough up, still struggling to catch his breath. After a few controlled and deep breaths, he takes a moment of silence, and finally
He sighs theatrically
Which only seems to infuriate him further (he's more embarrassed than angry but he can't show that!)
"Wukong…" the shadow breathes out
"WHAT? You keep saying my name!" Wukong huffs
'I think I love you’ the shadow muses 'I’ve fallen for you'
Ah, so this is the answer he's been subconsciously searching for. He's more or less guessed this a while back, can't exactly pinpoint when but it's something he always seemed to put in the back burner.
But this, this is such an obvious wake-up call to the solemn shadow.
Gods, his best friend is such an idiot, such a mess, such a beauty, such a sight, someone dear he wishes to always hold close, someone so caring, yet someone so impulsive, someone who always makes laugh and smile, someone he trusts and someone who trusts him, someone he can be unapologetically himself around
He thinks: This is why he cares so much, this is why Wukong is different, why he tries so hard to please him, why he can never take his eyes off of him, why that adorable smile never ceases to amaze him, why he wishes to be by his side every waking moment
He loves that beautiful ray of cheery sunshine.
It's such a bittersweet conclusion, is this what it feels like to 'fall'?
Fall with no one to catch you. It's not like he can voice this out, even if he wanted to. There's too much at risk and his fragile heart can't take it.
Plus, he doesn't the heart nor understanding to put it into actual understandable words, he can’t even form it into coherent thoughts.
Trying to maintain his composure in front of Wukong, he can't fumble up now.
Looking back up at the sky, the meteor shower hasn't ended yet. "They're just a bunch of falling rocks, Wukong" mumbles in a somewhat defeated yet tender tone.
"Bunch of falling rocks?!" Wukong exclaims bitterly "I've made A LOT of rocks fall before and trust me, bud, they don't do THAT"
The shadow gently pats the patch of grass beside him, signaling the king to come sit down next to him. He catches this and strides over to his companion and very abruptly crosses his legs and plops himself on the ground. Macaque simply smiles at this, finding his bratty behavior at least amusing.
Silence once again engulfs them, trapping them in this blissful moment of serenity whilst the stars continue to fall, striking the earth, and painting the night sky. Not once losing its shine nor showing any sign of its possible finish.
Though the moment is beautiful, Wukong can’t help but still tense up at the view, given his prior fright. But he makes one connection, they look sort of like fireworks.
Without the ecstatic booms rumbling throughout the earth.
Wukong had no problem with that part, it calls for the exciting and prosperous energy that comes with the nature of fireworks.
Truly, mankind's greatest work
Conversely, Macaque abhorred fireworks, generally choosing to opt-out on any new year's party or any party that involves fireworks Wukong and the others hold.
The first time he's experienced fireworks was notably the last, as well as he can possibly avoid them.
Wukong couldn't forget the painful shrieks that pierced the air, watching his beloved friend fall down to his knees, clutching his ears so hard he was sure he would rip them off.
His screams only parr to the roaring fireworks that blast to the skies, tears began to flood from his eyes and roll down his cheeks, Wukong couldn't do anything to soothe the pain, he tried to block Macaque's ears for him but to no avail.
The firework show only lasted 2 minutes maybe 3, being an early development invention after all, yet those were the slowest, most agonizing few minutes of his life.
He can only imagine how much more for his friend.
So Wukong doesn't question nor pressure him when he excuses himself from these types of occasions despite wanting to spend these thrilling and festive moments with his best friend.
This was also when he first come to find out about Macaque's supernatural and sensitive hearing.
It was an overwhelming situation for them both. To have this type of information come out like this, they had some words later, yeah, but it didn't come as a surprise to Wukong though it upset him deeply.
Macaque was a more reserved type, he held information about himself close, preferring not to talk, all the more about himself.
Maybe because he's careful and calculated, but it's majorly because he's revealed to be quite timid and soft-spoken.
Both traits are a stark contrast to Wukong. Though over the course of their friendship, the shadow learned to open up and Wukong learned to listen, to an extent, before he gets distracted and wanders off. Which is most of the time
He's just glad his friend isn't keeping any secrets from him anymore.
The memory made him feel a little dispirited, but despite that, he found solace in the realization he's at least able to have that one moment he's been waiting for.
Although without as many vibrant colors or festive vibes, it's a worthy exchange if it means his best friend doesn't feel excruciating pain from the scenery. He'll settle for this, some might even argue that it's just as beautiful. Consumed in his thoughts he barely notices the hand that crept up over his.
His original nervousness washes away, while he continues to gaze upon the show with his best friend by his side.
The lights begin to dwindle, the shower is coming to a halt. Then Wukong notices the unusual weight, the warmth over his hand, and sure enough when he checks it was Macaque's.
He looks up to see him still looking at the sky, maybe unintentionally placing his hand there, still not noticing.
It doesn’t matter, because out of all the dazzling bright lights he was able to watch dance tonight, the brightest star catches his eye. The one right beside him.
No, THIS has got to be the best view he’s gotten tonight.
His gaze fixated on the shadow beside him, and those complicated yet familiar feelings return. This time, he can’t be bothered to push them down, instead letting them flow freely in his head.
'Wow, he’s so gorgeous' he thinks, awestruck. Although he's said it to himself a million times before he feels the need to say it again and again because it only stays more and more true.
Macaque truly is the prettiest creature to walk this earth, and he's been graced to hold his soft and tender hand, amazed with how the passing lights once again illuminate his beauty only for him to see.
Once again this pleasure is only for him to relish and engrave in his brain.
In the deepest darkest corners of his mind, he wonders, just how satisfying it would be to call his best friend "mine"
He ponders on it some more and he's concluded that he would, in fact, do anything for him
If heaven ever came crashing down on them, he would protect him from the crashing stars and shattering skies
Anything to see that sweet and comforting smile
To have his moon by his side
He is a king, but he has no need for jewels and gold, he only needs his warrior fighting with him side by side
He will gladly service his moon as much as the other please
His soothing presence is far more valuable than any currency in this world
He stops to compare
He only ever thinks and thought this way about Macaques
Though yes he shares a bond with his other friends and cares for them deeply, this felt different, much much different
A bond deeper than the others, then he questions himself again, is this how deep friend's bonds go?
Maybe.. maybe not
He isn't quite acquainted with the idea of a partner or romance, it's something he never bothered to look into, thinking it's not an emotion he will become accustomed to.
Maybe it was that, maybe it was love, but something about it just felt right
The idea didn't repulse him like it used to, because the idea didn't come as if it were any other person, it came to him as his moon, and that only made it more appealing
The lights fickle even more
'Screw it, I don't care”
Until there wasn't any left, the stars still twinkle above them but the ones that cascade cease
'Whatever kind of feeling this is, I don't want to run away anymore'
His hand grips the other's hand tighter, causing Macaque to flinch, but Wukong is too distracted to notice
'I just want you, I want us'
And when he finally holds this new knowledge, he's greeted with glimmering gold eyes.
Ah crud– He caught him staring
'Oh no no no' he panics 'Wukong, what are you doing?!'
He hurriedly withdraws his hand but instead of doing the same Macaque catches it, still maintaining eye contact, his expression remains indifferent
Wukong's eyes widen, appalled.
Slowly but surely the shadow begins to intertwine their fingers, the warmth of his hand overtaking his, fingers gingerly intertwining with his
'Don’t panic, you've done this lots of times before, it's nothing new. Don't overthink it'
The wind has never been this cold, the crickets' chirps have never been this loud, and this struck gaze has never felt more pressuring
Macaque slowly makes his way toward the frozen king, his body moving on its own
Crawling unto his lap and placing himself on it as if it were his throne, his hand still interlaced with the other
He lifts his free hand to cradle Wukong's cheeks, who in turn leans into the palm, not breaking his gaze
And there they sit, closer than they've ever been before, their bodies almost touching, despite cuddling each other every chance they get, this felt more intimate. Their hearts were pounding so loud it’s all Macaque can hear
The air was charged with tension as they stood face to face, their eyes locked in a mesmerizing gaze.
He inches closer
Their breath wavering
And closer
Their eyes flutter shut
And closer...
The world around them fades away, and they were lost in their own private world,
And then finally he plants those petal soft lips on Wukong's.
It's a short and chaste kiss, tasting sweeter than the sweetest ambrosia and bolder than any glass of wine. With this one small and simple kiss, Wukong can get drunk off so easily
And before their lips can part
One last blazing ball of light comes shooting down from the heavens