F5Fest Day 17: Peaches, Shadowpeach
It was a well-known fact that Sun Wukong loved peaches.
He ate them constantly, the smell of them clinging to his fur and his breath. They grew in plenty thanks to his snacking and his curiosity, a special grove set aside for special peaches of immortality. Even when there was no fresh peaches around, he was drawn to peach flavors, like dried peach chips, popsicles, and more.
However, in Macaque's opinion, there was one thing that Wukong loved more than eating peaches.
The day he had returned from Heaven, he pulled him aside.
"I have a gift for you," he admitted, pulling it out of his pocket.
"No, no, look closer," Wukong cooed, holding it up to Macaque's face.
Macaque looked, although it was hard to ignore the gold of Wukong's eyes. He studied the peach, gave it a careful sniff. It smelled sweeter than usual, with a color that seemed more suited to the brightness of dawn, and it was a little bit larger. He studied it and realized in a second.
"Is this… a peach of immortality?"
"Yes," Wukong nodded. "I have a whole bunch of them, straight from Heaven!" His grin was bright, as though he had not committed the greatest crime Macaque had ever heard of. "I managed to strike yours and my name from the Book of the Dead, as well as several of the monkeys, but not everyone. And, once I get them planted, we'll have a whole garden of immortality!"
"Wukong, that's crazy!" He knew his friend feared death. But to go this far? "What happens if Heaven finds out?"
"Who cares?" Wukong's hand wrapped around his. "Who cares, as long as we have each other?" His eyes softened. "Please, Macaque. Accept this gift."
How could he deny him anything?
Without a word, he leaned forward and dug his teeth in.
Immortality tasted sweet, with a hint of sunshine and dew. It reminded him of early mornings with Wukong, watching as the sun rose, watching as the dawn lit up Wukong's curls with a halo of sunlight, so beautiful…
He swallowed and leaned forward again. And again. And again.
He didn't fail to notice Wukong's blush, especially when the flesh was gone, leaving the pit and Wukong's hand, soaked with juices. Macaque looked up and grinned before his tongue laved across Wukong's palm, lapping up the rest of the juices. When it was gone, he couldn't resist, moving up to press his peach-stained lips against Wukong's.
Immortality was sweet, but not as sweet as the idea of forever with Wukong.
