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Tang was currently enjoying what may be the last Pigsy provided meal he would be getting for a long time. As he miserably chowed down on the last of his leftovers he lamented the loss. He'd been spoiled by Pigsy's cooking for so long he wasn't sure how long he would survive without it.
Perhaps he was being dramatic but anything related to his relationship with Pigsy tended to have that effect on him.
A few short hours ago, he'd been the last to know, bar Pigsy, that everyone apparently thought they were practically married, if not actually properly married and in his shock he had denied such allegations, doubling down and revealing they weren't even dating, before backtracking to say that it was complicated.
The whole thing had been beyond embarrassing and he doesn't know whether he was glad or not that Pigsy hadn't been there to witness it.
He supposed he could focus on the positives that had come out of it - Mei had provided a label for what they had - a queerplatonic relationship and had unprompted sent him hundreds of resources on the topic.
Having scanned through some of it, he was inclined to believe she was correct and it brought him a great deal of relief to know there were other people out there who had relationships like he and Pigsy had.
They'd been doing their best to fumble along in their seemingly unique developing relationship but now he knew there was a whole host of information and advice that they could turn to and he was unbelievably grateful to Mei for introducing him to it.
The other positive was he now had someone with something of a similar situation to confide in. Monkey King's general and marshals hadn't even been back for two weeks and they were already proving to be the four most helpful and competent people he'd ever met!
He wished he'd had more of a chance to talk to Liu about it all but alas it looked like he was going to face the music for this first.
He had messaged Pigsy briefly warning him there might be a slight issue that he'd likely be unhappy about but he hadn't received anything back yet - which wasn't that surprising considering he'd been working today but the anticipation was killing him.
Eventually it reached a point where he was getting a little concerned that he hadn't heard anything and so gathering his courage he called him, half hoping he didn't pick up.
A tired sounding Pigsy greeted him, "Tang."
"Pigsy! I hadn't heard from you. Er. Did you get my texts?"
Pigsy sighed heavily, "I've not read them but I'm guessing they're about the trauma you apparently put MK through today?"
"Hey! If anyone was traumatized it was me!"
"Yeah, sure. Look, Tang, can we put a pin in this and talk about it later? Bottom line is you're a moron but it's not a big deal. But today's been a lot and I'm really not in the right mood to talk about it right now."
Taking the moral high ground not to devolve into bickering over name-calling he instead focused on being concerned, "What happened? Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Yeah. Just a pretty full on conversation with MK about a lot of things and before that I'd found out someone I used to work for way back in the day passed away - I don't have it in me for another emotionally charged chat."
"Oh shit. Who was it? You sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It wasn't someone I've kept up with, it just took me by surprise. They were... They helped me out a fair bit when I was in a tough spot but they weren't exactly a friend, y'know?"
He wasn't sure he really did know but death could rattle anyone regardless of the circumstances around it or how you were connected, "You want me to come over?"
"Nah, tonight's become an impromptu father son bonding session."
"He was really that upset over us not being married?"
Pigsy snorted before sobering, "He was a bit messed up over it but I think it was more a catalyst for him to talk about some other stuff that's been bothering him. He's fine, you know what he's like though. He just gets in his own head and worries grow arms and legs."
"Jeez, poor MK. Alright, can I come by tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"And just to clarify, you're not mad at me?"
"Well I'd hate to disappoint so for you I'm sure I could manage."
"No, no! No need for that! I'll see you tomorrow and we can laugh it up over how silly this whole thing was!"
Pigsy just huffed, "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't go freaking out over nothing."
"I would never! Just take care of MK and I'll see you tomorrow."
With an affirmative grunt, the line cut off.
Ha, see? What was he even worried about? It's not like their relationship was ever a secret or anything. And if anything it was a compliment to their relationship that people thought they were married!
Married! Ha! As if!
...
That was silly... Them, married.
Not that he was against marriage in general - he loved a good wedding! Marriages were fine, great even! He'd even entertained the thought that one day he might even get married! It was just the idea of him and Pigsy being married that was laughable.
...
Oh no.
----
Tang had not slept well. A variety of wedding related dreams and nightmares making sure he was not well rested. Between being stood up at the aisle and dramatic twists of "I object!" and surprise grooms - it was like he'd been watching a twisted K-drama of his life.
He decided he did not want to examine too closely why Monkey King always seemed to be the surprise groom.
Regardless, he had in fact done the opposite as Pigsy said and wound himself up over this highly improbable, hypothetical situation. But that wasn't enough to stop him from making his way over to Pigsy's.
He was surprised when he got there to find MK sitting at the restaurant bar playing on his phone in his monkey form, no Pigsy currently in sight. MK didn't look like he was stressed out so curiously he asked, "What's with the monkey form, MK? Everything alright?"
"Hm? Oh yeah! Yeah! Totally fine. I'm just trying out a new thing." He then looked a little sheepish, "Er... I may have ratted you out to Pigsy for the whole "You're not married" thing. Sorry, Mr. Tang."
Dryly he commented, "So I heard." His tone quickly became lighter, "But I was planning to talk to Pigsy about it anyway so no harm done really. Actually, I'm probably more concerned about you - Pigsy said you were a little stressed out."
That was perhaps a half lie, he was still very much concerned for himself and this conversation with Pigsy but he could easily put that aside for a moment to check in with MK.
"Ah, it was nothing really - just had a lot on my mind. Things have been sort of crazy lately, y'know?"
"That's a serious understatement. Things have been totally nuts! I don't think I can even properly judge what's "normal" anymore. The sky could turn purple and I'm not even sure I'd be alarmed."
MK laughed lightly, "The sky turning purple would be pretty tame compared to what we've seen." He then stood up, "Welp, I'm heading to the island. You staying here with Pigsy?"
Somewhat unenthusiastically he responded, "I sure am..."
MK threw a concerned look over his shoulder before turning back to him, "Can you let me know if he's alright? He wouldn't give me the details but apparently someone he knew passed away?"
"Ah yeah, he'd said. Don't you worry about it, MK. I'll make sure he's ok."
Looking grateful, MK put a hand on his shoulder as he walked past, "Thanks, Mr. Tang!" He then shouted back as he made for the door, "I'm away, Pigsy!"
He heard a muffled shout of confirmation and then with a final wave MK was gone. He took a minute to steady himself before he went upstairs to find Pigsy - mind a little all over the place but determined to talk to him.
He got up into the flat to see Pigsy coming out of his room, "Ah, sorry. I was just coming down. You had breakfast yet?"
He had. Worried that perhaps Pigsy would not be in the mood to feed him, but there was no way he was turning down food, with a grin he responded, "I could eat."
Pigsy rolled his eyes, "Shocker. Jiānbĭng, alright?"
He responded positively as he made himself comfortable at the kitchen table as he watched Pigsy get to work. Not quite ready to breach more sensitive topics he started off safe, "What's with monkey MK this morning?"
"Kid, wants to try and get used to it outside of life or death situations."
"Makes sense - he does seem pretty conflicted about it at times. So, he's just planning on hanging out in his monkey form then?"
"As far as I know, yeah."
He drummed his fingers on the table a little nervously, "MK was a little worried about this person you knew that passed away..."
Pigsy spared him a glance, "MK was worried."
He amended, "And I was worried - you were pretty vague and that normally means that it's something pre-Pigsy's Noddles and you tend to get a little cagey about anything from that time, so..." A thought struck him, "Wait, how did you find out? Did Sandy know them too? Is he alright?"
Pigsy sighed, "Sandy didn't know her. I found out because her niece was sorting through her stuff and found a letter addressed to me. She came by yesterday, told me she'd died a couple months back. Cancer."
"Oh..."
Tang felt the slight twisting of something unpleasant in his chest - a letter from a woman Pigsy had known well before they'd met? He tried to shake it off, Pigsy had always been pretty frank that he never dated. Besides...
"You said you used to work for her? I thought you worked full time at your family's restaurant?"
Pigsy had his back to him as he cooked, but his answer was clipped, "I did. Worked some part time jobs here and there too - needed the money."
He'd known that but he was trying to fish for more information, "You must have been a pretty good employee to get a personal letter from her."
Pigsy said nothing, finishing up their pancakes and placing them slightly less gently than he could have before fetching cutlery. When he sat next to him, he spoke quietly, "I don't want to talk about this. She's dead and it caught me off guard to find out - took me a trip down memory lane I wasn't expecting. Got me thinking about mortality and shit. That's all there is to it. I don't want to talk about it."
Part of him wanted to keep pushing but he knew it wouldn't get him anywhere so instead he let it go, "Alright, sorry. But you know you can talk to me about it if you change your mind, right?"
Pigsy's expression softened, "Yeah, I know... I don't mean to be short with you. There's just enough going on without suddenly remembering people are out here living and dying in such normal ways, y'know? Like getting old or sick, not because someone was fucking about with world destroying power."
"I was literally just saying to MK I don't think I even know what normal is any more."
Pigsy huffed a laugh, "Have you ever?"
He rolled with the lightening tone, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh because you've always been so normal?"
He played up his offense, "That's rich coming from you! I'll have you know I'm probably the most normal out of the lot of us!"
Wait... did he just insult himself...?
It didn't really matter as he watched Pigsy snigger at him. He trusted if things were really getting to Pigsy he would talk to him about it, for now it was nice to fall into their usual banter. He finally started in on his food only to nearly choke on it when Pigsy spoke up.
"So tell me, when you were stressing out about weddings and shit last night, who was wearing the dress?"
His face turned red as he spluttered and Pigsy just laughed at him. He cleaned himself up before accusing, "You did that on purpose!"
Pigsy didn't deny it. His eyes sparkling with mirth as he waited for an answer.
"And no one was wearing a dress!" He paused, "Actually... I think in one of my dreams Monkey King might have been wearing one at one point...?"
Pigsy snorted, "He has to be the centre of attention, even in someone else's dream. So you stress dreamed about weddings all night, huh?"
Despite it being pointless denying it the immediate, "No!" Burst out of him before he sheepishly added, "I mean... Ugh. Yes, fine. I stress dreamed about weddings all night, you happy?"
"No but I'm also not surprised. If anything I'm surprised it hasn't come up sooner. I know your mum has pretty much planned a wedding in full every time you introduce her to your new partner."
His mother, god love her, was a bit of a fanatic when it came to weddings. He wouldn't but it past her to show up at a stranger's special day just because she loved them so much. He's pretty sure the only devastating thing about him coming out to her was the fact there likely wouldn't be a bride's dress to fawn over when he got married. And it had been a when, not an if, as far as his mother was concerned.
But he had never paid her conviction to his future matrimony much mind.
Weakly he defended her, "There's nothing wrong with having a hobby..."
Pigsy conceded, "There are worse things she could be doing."
"Right! Like when she was super into True Crime podcasts? I genuinely thought she might try and pull off a murder just to prove she could get away with it."
Pigsy grinned, "How can you be so sure she didn't?"
"No way! She's obsessed with karma - the police might never know but the powers that be would!"
Pigsy chuckled and Tang laughed with him before he let his mood drop somewhat, with a sad grin he spoke what he knew to be true, "You don't want to get married."
Pigsy's eyes were understanding, "No but you do."
Tang looked down at his plate and played with his food, "I never really thought about it much... But now that I have... It's easy to see how I could want that, yeah."
After a moment, Pigsy asked, "So, what do you want to do then? Because, I'll be honest, it's hard to see me changing my mind on this so don't go thinking if you wait long enough it'll happen."
He took a deep breath, "What you're saying is - if I want to get married it would have to be to someone else... But I don't want to be with someone else. I know you don't mind if I had another partner but I don't think I can be anything but monogamous."
"Then I guess it comes down to how badly you want to get married because I don't want you missing out if it's really something you want."
He continued eating as he thought it over. Pigsy knew his favourite fillings and toppings without having to ask - he'd whipped up a masterpiece of a meal in less than ten minutes.
He tried to picture his and Pigsy's relationship from an outside perspective. How MK, Mei and Sandy must see them - "an old, married couple" was how they'd described what they had.
It did feel like he'd been with Pigsy forever, even if it wasn't always easy, there was something about being with him that felt right. He felt like he was seen, like he was understood, like he was loved and supported.
In some ways it did feel like they were married in all but name but on the other hand...
He recalled one of their very first discussions about their developing relationship, what Pigsy had told him.
If the opportunity came up to hook up with someone I'd want to take it but likewise if the opportunity for you to be in a committed relationship came up I'd want you to take it! If we could still have what we have now while you did? Great but I totally understand if that was no longer on the table.
As far as he knew, Pigsy hadn't hooked up with anyone since they'd been together. He wondered if he would tell him if he had...
Tang was pretty confident he was monogamous and he couldn't pretend he wouldn't prefer his partner to be monogamous as well but then it's not like Pigsy wanted anything more from a hook up than to sleep with someone, there wasn't any connection beyond that.
"Have you hooked up with anyone since we talked about it?"
If Pigsy was surprised by the question he didn't show it, "No, when on earth would I have found the time? Or hell the energy for it?"
Tang felt somewhat conflicted at the relief he felt at that answer. If Pigsy had said yes, he knew he would have been upset but that wasn't fair was it? He'd agreed to those terms but in hindsight maybe he'd agreed thinking it would never actually become an issue.
He thought back on his brief conversation with Liu, he'd asked her if it bothered her to have a partner that slept with others and her response had been no.
It's just a part of who she is and it doesn't at all take away from my relationship with her.
Maybe he needed to talk to Liu some more... And he did have all of those resources Mei had given him to look through.
He thinks though that Pigsy was right. At the end of the day, it came down to whether what he wanted was more important than what he had. Even with his uncertainty he was sure that in the short term at least he wanted nothing between them to change.
"I think I need to think on it some more. Mei gave me some stuff to read and I think Liu and Ma might be able to give me some helpful perspective on it but..."
It didn't feel fair to have Pigsy waiting around for an answer. Pigsy always seemed to handle these talks better than him but he also knew that deep down nothing scared Pigsy than losing someone he loved, especially because of something he had done and this could easily send him spiralling.
He grabbed Pigsy's hand, looking him in the eye with resolve, "But I'm not going anywhere, ok? I just need to get this right in my head. I love you. That's never under any doubt."
Pigsy held his hand in return but there was a pained look in his eye, Tang shook their clasped hands and interrupted anything he was going to say, "And don't apologise for being "difficult" or something equally ludicrous! If anything I'm the one being difficult! You actually know what you want and you're nothing but honest about it!"
Pigsy seemed to struggle for a moment before shamefully he seemed to admit, "I just want you to be happy but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you to be happy with me, as I am."
Tang brought their foreheads together, "I am happy with you. Pigsy no matter what happens, I don't want you changing just to try and make me happy. You wouldn't be you if you did."
He then smiled, "And I don't know if you're aware but I sort of love you the way that you are even if you are super stingy when it comes to my hard earned life time supply of free noodles."
Pigsy snorted and looked fond, "Worst mistake I ever made was offering to pay you in food for babysitting MK."
Tang pulled back, "I think you mean your greatest ever decision, just look at the positive influence I've had on MK. You're welcome by the way."
And with that their heavy talk was put on the back burner for the time being. Pigsy let go of him and huffed, "Just finish your food. I need to get the restaurant ready for opening. What are you doing today?"
"I've got a never ending number of scrolls to study from Master Subhodi. So I'm going to sit in my usual spot and hope some kindly chef will take pity and save me from wasting away while I toil for the greater good."
Pigsy scoffed, "Good luck with that. No kindly chefs around here."
Yeah, right. He was going to be rolling out of this building later. For all the splendor of the FFM library, there was nowhere he'd rather be today than at Pigsy's side.