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“Why do you enjoy this strange holiday so much?” Yang Jian stared at the blinking lights with disdain. The overwhelmingly bright colors and weird designs of the already fine evergreen tree made him want to knock the entire thing down.
“Because it’s fun, duh!” Wukong laughed, “Look at how many smiling faces there are!”
“This holiday has nothing to do with us. We’re CHINESE deities. From the EAST. This is a Western world holiday.”
“Oh not everything has to always be so serious. Give me a smile, Yang Jian. What are you? Scared to get into trouble?”
Wukong was already in his element for some reason. Erlang could tell this was likely not the first time he had stepped foot in America or the rest of the mortal realm where he was technically not supposed to be. For the most part, even being outside the celestial realm was dangerous, much less going to unknown lands where people didn’t even know about them (much less worship them).
The monkey king had on his human disguise, wearing a fluffy coat that matched his fur color and not bothering to hide his pointy ears at all, saying that he “blended in with the elves” (whatever that meant). His cheeks were pink from the cold and the color contrasted well with the falling snow.
If he didn’t look so happy and adorable right now, Erlang would smack him over the head and drag his disobedient ass back to GuanJiangKou.
But he did. And Erlang didn’t want to wipe off the bright smile off Wukong’s face. So he instead responded,
“If I was scared of getting into trouble, I wouldn’t be here with you now.”
Wukong chuckled and grabbed his hand. Erlang's own naturally cool skin was instantly warmed by Wukong’s palms.
“Come on, I’ll show you the “magic” of Christmas.”
***
For the most part, it wasn’t all bad.
The lights eventually stopped being so glaring. And the positive vibes all around was rather soothing.
Wukong did his best to win Erlang over to liking this holiday. But it didn’t end up the way he expected it…
First, he introduced Erlang to strange foods.
“This here is called an “eggnog”. Try it!”
Erlang tried it, but the sweetness of the drink made him gag, and Wukong laughed at his reaction. Maybe the little bastard had planned for this to happen.
It was the same for all the other foods. Everything was so sugary and overly decorated that Erlang got sensory overload just looking at a “gingerbread house”. Needless to say, baking cookies or trying hot cocoa was out of the question.
After a while, Wukong became a bit apologetic and introduced him to famous Christmas events.
“We can go see the most popular ballet in the United States. It’s called The Nutcracker, although I think it’s a bit overrated.”
They went to go see the show, but the entire time both of them became bored. Ballet was nothing compared to actual combat, and it felt more like watching a bunch of children pretending to fight than a performance.
(However, Erlang was entertained by the idea of Wukong wearing the ballerinas’ outfits and performing for him in private. He doesn’t say this outloud of course).
They went around trying different things. Different events. Going to the market, flying above the city.
They arrive at an ice skating ring in the middle of the square and Wukong uses his fur to make both of them some skates.
Erlang was amused as he watched Wukong compete with children over who could skate the fastest. He was just skating off to the side for a bit before deciding it was much more fun to watch Wukong skate.
Seeing him glide and do somersaults made him soften but also roll his eyes. It was almost impossible to get the arrogant monkey to stop showing off.
But that was part of why he loved him.
Soon, a crowd gathered around to watch him “dance” on the ice and a couple of children go up and ask him to teach them. Wukong lifts them on his shoulders and performs some rather startling leaps and spins with them, guiding a couple others by the hand until the parents decide to get their kids before one of them gets hurt.
Erlang can’t help but fantasize a scenario where Wukong was caring for a kid that wouldn’t be injured by his antics. A kid that was entirely theirs…
A couple of teens decide to challenge Wukong to a skate off, which doesn’t end too well for them (they were humiliated after Wukong performed a triple axel).
Out of nowhere, the children then decided to challenge Wukong to a snowman building challenge (since they were sorely losing at ice skating).
They get off the ice and Wukong manages to build a snowman three times the size of the children’s, which made them very impressed. Erlang couldn’t help but notice that the snowman had on a lotus crown similar to his own. And the snowman had a neutral expression rather than a smile.
Very funny huh…
However, one child decided they were not too happy and thought Wukong was cheating. She threw a snowball at Wukong shouting for him to “take this!”
…Somehow, that was a catalyst for a massive snowball fight in which half the square was suddenly throwing snow at each other.
In the midst of the chaos, Wukong and Erlang both leave quietly flying over the city once more to avoid the consequences of Wukong’s actions.
***
In the end, they sat on a tall skyscraper overlooking the city and watched as the people below shouted and screamed in delight among the festivities.
It was snowing a bit heavier now, so much so that white Frosted Flakes of snow were gathering on Wukong’s fur. Erlang uses a hand to gently brush some of it off, admiring the pretty contrast of white with gold, illuminated by the surrounding Christmas lights. Touching the soft warm fur made him feel fuzzy on the inside.
Wukong sat there and allowed Erlang to brush off the snow and then leaned against Erlang’s shoulders and sighed.
“I’m sorry, Yang Jian. This wasn’t how I wanted Christmas to be for you.”
For the first time all day, Wukong was frowning (with a pout) and not looking “jolly” at all.
Erlang smiled and placed a hand on his cheek, making Wukong turn towards him.
It was true that it wasn’t the most perfect day. A little bit of mayhem near the end, too.
“You can still make it up to me…”
Before Wukong could ask how, Erlang leaned down and gently planted a kiss on Wukong’s lips.
Wukong’s eyes widened for a brief second before acting, leaning forward and pressing his lips further against Erlang’s, enjoying the warmth of the moment.
After a while, with them eventually parting, panting out white puffs of clouds in the cold, Wukong laughs and asks,
“Was that good enough?”
Erlang laughed in return and responded, “Yes, very much so.”
There was suddenly a blast of fireworks that erupted and people screaming even louder in unison below.
Erlang was confused by this until Wukong chuckled and exclaimed,
“Wow! I didn’t know it was almost midnight! I think we kissed right as the clock struck!”
Even though Erlang didn’t know what the significance of that was, he could tell it made Wukong very delighted. And that was all that mattered.
“Maybe this should be a tradition then,” he suggests lightly.
Wukong looked at him a big grin, the canines glinting under the fireworks.
“Yes!”
As they watched the fireworks together, Wukong leaned over towards Erlang and kissed him again, this time more deeply while saying,
“Merry Christmas, Yang Jian.”
Erlang wrapped his arms around Wukong and returned the favor once more, holding his lover tight.
“Merry Christmas, Wukong.”