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A group of small screaming children ran past the resting Macaque, who immediately winced at the noise they were making. Adding to his dissatisfaction was the fact that his partner was having the time of his life and fooling around for the amusement of noisy people. The dark monkey yawned loudly, giving up trying to take a nap and went in search of his partner and cub. He found both of them jumping at the bars, performing to the delight of the crowds. Macaque watched them from the shadows for a moment, remaining virtually invisible himself until Mk began to climb the highest branches, even though he knew perfectly well that he was not allowed to. The black monkey watched Wukong's lack of reaction with narrowed eyes until the little monkey staggered and Macaque shot out of cover, quickly climbing up and catching his baby before it could fall.
‘Mom?’ the toddler squealed in surprise upon seeing his hero.
“Miss, that big monkey is holding the baby!” a child screamed from outside the cage, much to the annoyance of the creature, which placed Mk on its back and moved towards its partner, who was only now aware of his presence.
“This is our very specific family. It seems to us that our star Wukong and that black loner Macaque have taken on the role of parents to little Xiaotian.” the zoo employee explained with a smile.
“So they are a family?” one of the girls asked.
“Don't be silly Julia, two boys can't be together.” the teacher shook her head indulgently.
"Why?" the girl asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“Actually, Wukong and Macaque are the icon of our Zoo, not only because they are a same-sex couple, but also because they are completely different in character and species.” informed the guide.
“What is wrong with you, telling children such ideological nonsense!” the teacher snapped, looking around, hoping her class hadn't heard.
"What? But is this just biology? Besides, you are not the one who has been observing their 'marital quarrels' for several years." replied the guide, making quotation marks in the air.
‘Wukong.’ Said monkey was distracted from the argument by the stern voice of his partner.
‘Mac, my love, what are you doing here?’ the redhead asked stupidly, knowing his partner was angry.
‘Why weren't you keeping an eye on Mk?’ the black-haired monkey asked calmly.
‘I won't say anything more without my lawyer.’ Wukong stated in complete seriousness.
‘Mom, what is a lawyer?’ Mk asked, clinging to Macaque's neck.
‘Wukong, I'm losing patience. Stop using human expressions you don't even understand.’ growled the black monkey.
‘All I understand is that I'm in trouble.’ confessed the star.
‘What is a lawyer?’ repeated the question Mk.
‘He's the kind of person who defends you in case of problems.’ Macaque explained to, a small ball of brown hairs.
'Dad needs him?' the toddler asked cutely.
'Yes.' both monkeys replied simultaneously.
'And I?' Mk asked another question, looking at his parents with huge eyes.
'Of course not, honey. Even though I've told you so many times not to stray too far, especially when climbing.' Macaque replied as he began to groom his baby.
'I'm sorry.' the toddler squealed, trying to grab Wukong's tail, which kept his son in one place.
'I'm sorry too, my moonlight. Will you forgive me?' the zoo star asked, starting to rub against his mate and began to groom him.
'Yhym.' the black-haired man just muttered above his son who was starting to fall asleep.
'I really kept an eye on him, but he disappeared so quickly.' Wukong wailed, combing his partner's fur.
'You know that if something happens to him, people will take him away and we don't know if he'll come back, so you have to watch out for him. Especially when the two of you are fooling around. He is so tiny and you often don't realize your own strength.' sighed Macaque.
'They wouldn't dare take him from us.' Wukong replied sternly, baring his fangs. 'Not with me, not with us.'
'You don't know that, people can be stupid. And you wouldn't be able to fight people on your own, even with my help.' replied Macaque.
'I wouldn't give them our son without a fight.' replied the redhead.
'Me neither. So we have to make sure they have no reason to take him.' the black-haired monkey announced calmly, surrendering to his mate care, ignoring the people watching them, passing by or stopping just in front of the enclosure.
'Okay, I'll keep a better eye on him.' Wukong promised, rubbing his cheek against his lover's face.
'It is enough for me.' smiled Macaque, enjoying the peace, which, of course, was interrupted at the same moment by a child throwing stones at the bars, scaring them and waking up their cub.
“You can't do that!” the guard shouted, immediately running to the child, who just laughed at their reaction.
'I hate the day, it's full of such unattended human spawns.' growled the irritated black-haired man, showing his fangs furiously at the people who immediately started taking pictures using small rectangular tiles.
'I know, moonlight.' Wukong sighed before moving in front of him, shielding him from the crowd. 'You both take a nap and I'll take care of the humans.'
~~~~~~
At night, the zoo was free of visitors and most of the employees, whom, after making sure that everything was working, the animals were fed and their enclosures were clean and closed, went home. There was only one guard left, who always made two circles around the area, then locked himself in the guard's house watching TV, only to come out again after dawn to make a round before the replacement arrived.
What people didn't know was that after the door closed behind him in his little room, his canine helper, a golden retriever, would steal his keys and take the zoo's tenants for a walk around the grounds, with no humans in sight.
After dark, the Zoo was again full of joyful noise, but of animal origin. Macaque loved the moment when the doors to their enclosure opened and he was able to disappear into the shadows of the night, traveling through various corners of the area. Wukong also liked this freedom, although not as much as his partner, who seemed to suddenly regain all the will to live while he watched over their child, who continued to admire all the tenants of the zoo.
'Waoh, what kind of animal are you?' Mk asked fascinated, watching the two dog-like figures.
'We are hyenas.' one announced, giggling.
'Yes, we are the coolest dogs in the world.' the second one laughed.
'Mk, you're not allowed to approach strangers!' suddenly a brown hair monkey rose into the air, held by the father tail, who flashed his fangs at the canine in warning while playing with his son.
'Sorry.' replied the toddler, using the magical properties of his gaze to soften the red monkey's heart.
'Nothing happened, so let's not mention it to your mom, right?' Wukong suggested and Mk just nodded.
'Great parenting methods.' a young black panther interjected as he walked by.
'Nezha, my friend, you should wear a collar with a bell around your neck.' the redhead smiled at the cat wrapped in a pink ribbon, which he always played with, to the delight of the crowds.
'Thanks but no.' snorted the panther as Mk clumsily climbed onto its back.
'Hey Nezha.' the toddler greeted charmingly.
'Hello young one, where is your responsible parent?' asked the cat after greeting him, ignoring the indignant cry of the adult monkey.
'He went to visit aunt.' replied the monkey, playing with the ribbons.
'And you were left in Wukong's care?' Nezha asked and the monkey nodded.
'And we're doing great.' the redhead snorted.
'I just saw.' purred the cat, walking with the monkey and the baby on his back.
'Nezha what is reproduction?' Mk asked innocently, almost giving his uncle a heart attack.
'What?' the cat asked in surprise as Wukong blushed.
'Mk, honey, how about we go visit Mei and have some fun, what do you say?' the red monkey suggested.
'Okay.' replied the happy toddler.
'Reproduction?' Nezha repeated as Mk played with his friend.
'Shut up, please.' Wukong replied, trying to figure out where his son learned such an expression. The panther just laughed as he watched the children play.
'Parenting is good for you. You changed.' Nezha finally admitted.
'I try, even though it's hard sometimes.' replied the redhead, sighing heavily and knowing that he still lacks a lot to be a good, responsible parent.
'I remember when we met, how aggressive and arrogant you were back then. From that wild and thoughtless male, you have turned into a not-so-bad father.' said the panther.
'Are you getting somewhere with this speech?' asked the monkey, stunned by the compliment from his friend.
'There will be a new animal here in a few days.' Nezha began calmly.
'It's nothing out of the ordinary.' shrugged Wukong, picking up the gesture from zoo visitors.
'Yes, but it will be transport from F.F.M.' the cat explained as Wukong stiffened.
'Do you think...?' the monkey asked quietly, without finishing his question.
'I'm sure it will be someone we know who could cause trouble.' Nezha sighed.
'Not good.' Wukong muttered, watching his son.
'I know. But you're not alone anymore and you're not the same person.' the panther replied quietly.
'But will it be enough?' the redhead asked himself, somehow starting to dread the upcoming night with his new tenant.