shadowpeach thing final part
The morning into the afternoon, Macaque couldn't exactly call the time that passed well spent.
All it really did was favour his irritation and make him tired. Wukong refused to stop talking his ears off with quips and such other reminiscing.
Luck seemed to be with Macaque today, though, as when he requested for meditation, Wukong agreed. Not the usual way, however. No, Macaque needed a more precarious position.
Now, hung upside down on a tree overlooking a cliff, tail tightly wrapped around the sturdiest branch, Macaque could think.
He peered at Wukong. Seeing him in a state of pleased focus was strange. Urging a question out of Macaque, even.
"… Why do you want this back?"
The look Wukong gave made Macaque want to groan. He knew Wukong could be clueless, but this was too much.
"You know what I mean, bud." He swung off the branch, landing cleanly at the base of the tree.
"You've been hellbent about a lot of things. I've seen you as much. But this?" Macaque gestured between them. "How is this meant to get us closer together?"
"Don't use that again, I beg you…”
"I'm gonna. You used to love meditating together like this! I still remember all the headaches it gave me!" Wukong landed with his usual boisterous laugh, hands on his hips.
An open position contrasting with Macaque's crossed arms. It was almost disgustingly poetic.
"Yeah. Used to. What makes you think I'm the same?" Macaque tilted his head as he asked, his tail lashing once.
"… Well. Nothing." The answer was unexpected. And… Nonchalant. As if Wukong already knew the answer long before.
"You aren't the same. We both changed, I know that- I-I see it. But that doesn't matter!"
"Then, I'll ask you again." Macaque narrowed his eyes. "Why do you want me back this much?"
The silence that followed bothered Macaque. It wasn't comfortable, it was tense. He could see Wukong shift as he stood. He had something, but didn't want to say it.
More hesitation. Then, finally, Wukong met his gaze.
"… Because you understand me."
Macaque went agape. His stance relaxed out of surprise, tail suddenly limp and the buzz in his mind quiet.
"You just… Know me like no one else. Yeah, the kid and maybe jingles do, but… Not in the way that you do. You—"
Wukong stepped forward, Macaque backed up. Wukong persisted. His hand raised to Macaque's chest, pressing right to his left pectoral. His heart.
"You still see me… Even if you don't want to…"
"… All I see is a big headed moron."
Macaque could feel Wukong's hand curl. Could feel how tightly his shirt was suddenly gripped.
"Just… Throw me a bone. I really do want to try…"
The desperation seeping into the silence was strong enough to make Macaque's throat close up.
He'd been dead set on not resuming… Whatever they had. Not in death, not in life. He had wholely accepted that. Even almost convinced himself that he didn't want it.
Although, now faced with it… He had taken some actions to get a shred of peace between them.
Macaque had tricked Wukong's successor. Almost had him abandoned. But he also helped.
Helped when Wukong was under Lady Bone Demon's control, in his own backwards way. Helped when Wukong was trapped in the scroll of memories. Helped when the whole world nearly collapsed…
All of it held a bit of his own interest. But still, he did things he never necessarily had to…
A heavy sigh escaped him. His eyes slid closed, he stepped forward. Head tipped closer just enough to press against Wukong's own.
"… Okay." The acceptance was quiet. It was all Macaque could manage for now.
Macaque nearly yelped when he was pulled into a tight embrace. He lost focus, only able to loosely wrap one arm around Wukong.
"Thank you…" Even with his face pressed firmly against Macaque's scarf, Wukong sounded choked up.
"… Just don't make me regret this, Wukong."
and that's all, folks! maybe I'll post more of what I write in the future lol