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Chapter Text

When Macaque had said he wanted to show you something, you'd expected him to simply snap his fingers and summon a shadow portal to whatever destination he had in mind.

You hadn't been prepared for him to take your hand and lead you to the roof of the Dojo, coyly avoiding your questions as he guided you under the starry sky overhead. Summoning one of his gray clouds with a nod, he doubled your surprise by hopping on the back and offering you a hand. The obvious intent of the gesture juxtaposed neatly with your absolute bewilderment at his goal. You'd never ridden with him before, and until now had assumed it to be impossible.

Having expected your confusion, he smiled, his unique mix of confidence and reassurance shifting your uncertainty into curiosity.

"Trust me, alright?" he asked, tapping his boot on the cloud to show its stability. A million questions darted through your mind, but you started with one.

"Can I really-?"

"As long as I want you onboard, it'll let you stay." he promised, compelling you to take his hand at last. Securing his grip around your palm, he helped you up, keeping you steady as the tangible but none-too-solid surface of the cloud almost made you stumble. Your arms automatically grabbed his upper body for stability, and he didn't bother to pretend the gesture didn't delight him. Fangs flashed in a smirk from ears to ears as he winked playfully. "So stay on my good side."

You couldn't help but smile and let out the smallest hint of a chuckle. Keeping one hand firmly on his arm, you tried to set your feet like he was, only to find it nearly impossible to truly keep your balance. When you inevitably pitched forward, your arms wrapped about his middle and your face buried in his back, he laughed and helped you settle with your weight leaning heavily against him for support. It was apparent right away that'd be the only way you'd be able to stay balanced, and he didn't mind the closeness.

"Hang on tight, it's a long way down." he teased as he coiled for takeoff. In the few seconds before he did so, you felt his tail wind about your middle, securing you like an anchor. Smiling, you wondered if he knew how easily you could see through his mask of indifference.

A small sound of surprise passed your lips as the cloud ascended, darting up like a bird and soaring above the city in moments. Cool night air rushed over your face, compelling you to close your eyes and cling to Macaque as he steered the two of you to some unknown destination. His body was warm enough against yours to keep the nighttime chill at bay. For what couldn't have been more than a few minutes, you flew in peaceful silence, almost unable to believe the world was so far below…

"Alright, you can open your eyes." Macaque encouraged after drifting to a gentle stop, tail still keeping its grip about you.

Opening your eyes, you blinked against the light of the full moon, which had all but taken over the sky before the two of you. A mountainscape topped with snow glittered in the silver light, its rivers shimmering like liquid metal as they traced their way down to the ocean below. It was enough for you to gasp.

"Where are we?" you asked in awe, looking up to find him smiling more contentedly than smugly.

"A little place I like to go and unwind. I thought you might appreciate the view." he explained as he sat down on the cloud, encouraging you to do the same. Putting his arm around you, he let you lean in at his side without a word, his warmth guiding you to him.

"It's beautiful…" you said softly, almost afraid to shatter the serenity.

You expected another quip, but Macaque was far more soft spoken when he replied. "I come up here a lot when things are rough." he said, compelling you to look up at him. Moonlight caught on his fur as it tussled in the wind. His smile was gentle when he turned his gaze to you, idly tapping on an ear to make his point. "Gets pretty loud down there, you know?"

Understanding completely, you looped both of your arms around him, cuddling close enough to bring a flush of heat to his cheeks. Looking out on the beautiful landscape he'd shared with you, you smiled and whispered in reply. 

"Yeah, I do."

Chapter Text

The air was thick with smoke, but regular gusts of wind cleared away the worst of it often enough for you to catch flashes of what was happening on the battlefield all around you. Explosions of magical light illuminated the two figures battling through the heavens in momentary flashes of shadows through the smog. You tried to get a better look at them to gauge who the fight was favoring, but they were moving far too fast, rising miles overhead in a dizzying twist.

A crack split the sky, and thankfully you were out of range of flying debris when something plummeted to the earth a hundred feet ahead. Coughing through the dust, you scrambled to get a better look, heart hammering in fear at what you might behold.

Macaque rose from the crater only to stumble forward, his tattered armor and visible wounds making it clear the battle was taking its toll. Collapsing to his knees, he refused to relent, forcing himself to rise as you ran to his aid.

"Macaque!" you cried out in terror, fully aware the demon he was battling had to be anywhere in the sky overhead as you rushed in anyway. 

Getting closer only revealed the true extent of his injuries, and how exhausted he was from the battle so far. He'd just made it to his feet when you arrived at his side, offering your arms for support as his leg threatened to give. Macaque was visibly shocked when he almost collapsed into your side.

There was little time to catch up before the demon he'd been fighting circled overhead, launching a projectile as they taunted the two of you. 

"Get down!" Macaque shouted, finding the strength to put himself in front and push you down behind him as he blocked the attack with a grimace. Sharp fangs flared when he looked up to find his foe circling back for another attack. Using the seconds he had to spare, he looked back to give you a clipped but emphatic instruction. "Stay behind me, okay?" 

Magical power crackled along the length of his palms, clearing away some of the smoke that had gathered around the both of you as he raised a hand to catch the next attack. A whispered promise was the last thing you heard before the demon charged up another blast. "I've got you."

Everything became a whirl of sound and light as the destructive energy surged past the two of you, redirected from your mortal body entirely by Macaque forming an unbreakable shield in front. Refusing to show even an ounce of weakness, he roared defiantly at the demon before overpowering the attack and flipping it around, bouncing the surge of energy right back at your attacker in a move they couldn't have seen coming. The clouds overhead evaporated from the heat as the demon was blasted a solid mile up.

Macaque somehow remained standing, fully aware that the battle wasn't over. You had no idea how he was still conscious, let alone winning , until he turned back to you once more.

"He's not getting through… no matter what…" he promised, taking your hand for the brief amount of time the two of you had before your enemy returned. Wincing and hissing through his teeth, he fought to stay upright and leaned on you for strength to avoid falling over. When his gold eyes met yours, it was impossible not to show your fear. Something like the shadow of a smile pulled on his lip.

"You're getting out of this… remember what I said? I'm not a hero…

Turning back around as the wind whistled with your attacker's impending return, he summoned a fresh rush of power, fur billowing in a breeze of his own creation. Dropping back into a fighting stance, he became an immobile wall at your front, more like a living fortress than a flesh and blood being. You realized what he intended just before he spoke it.

"I'm your warrior."

Chapter Text

Sunlight filtering through the treetops caught the ripened pieces of fruit like hundreds of priceless gems, the myriad of oranges, purples and reds gleaming far more enticingly than any hold of treasure ever could as the trees gently swayed in the tropical breeze. Close enough to the beach to catch the smell of salt and surf, you couldn't help but sigh as all of life's troubles evaporated from your shoulders. Laying back against the mossy trunk of the nearest tree, you let the dappled light dance over you for a moment of pure tranquility. 

"You weren't exaggerating; it's incredible here." you said at last, interrupting Macaque as he idly munched his way through another mango from the pile he'd gathered. Chuckling through a mouthful of fruit, he quickly swallowed to reply.

"What, this old place?" A wave of his hand gestured to the tropical paradise as if it were nothing more than a rest stop. Chuckling back at his antics, the two of you shared a quick laugh before he answered with an honest shrug. "Just a little spot I found in my many adventures. Great snacks though."

As if summoned by the mere mention of food, a group of monkeys chattered and emerged from the bushes to help themselves to his gathered fruit. Not minding in the slightest, Macaque wordlessly broke apart a plum for a pair of especially small babies, making your heart do a small flip at the cuteness. These monkeys must have known him well.

Filling their arms with mangoes, plums, oranges and whatever else they could carry, the gathered troop turned their attention to you next, chirping in curious apprehension as they observed from a distance. Smiling at their adorable faces, you giggled as a brave baby hopped up on Macaque to get a better vantage point. "Your friends sure agree!"

"They're only hoping for some easy food. Which, thankfully for them, I'm gracious enough to provide." Macaque replied, handing an especially sweet plum to the baby without missing a beat. When a few more clamored over him for snacks, chirping excitedly as if he were a fun uncle. Getting one in his arms, he playfully wrestled with them for an orange that he surrendered with another chuckle. "Is that enough, you little rascals?"

"How did this many monkeys get out here anyway?" you asked as a few started getting close enough to inspect you, their small hands carefully poking your hair and clothes whilst they chattered in hushed tones.

Macaque lost the last of his gathered fruit with a roll of his eyes that conveyed more affection than irritation. "I brought them here over time. Every once in a while I'll find a few little guys or girls in need of a home, and if they've got nowhere else to go, here's as good as any. It's sort of become a sanctuary for all my rescues."

Your heart warmed at the story, and you felt even happier to see the monkeys playing about and snacking now that you knew they'd all started somewhere less pleasant. Watching Macaque lean back against his own tree and elbow the trunk to knock down a few more fruits, you caught a mango and leaned in at his side. He looked quite handsome when he was relaxed, enough that you couldn't resist being a little playful yourself. "Oh, did you bring me here to rescue me too?"

"I suppose you could say that." he replied in an enthusiastic answer to your flirting. Using his tail to push you closer, he winked and wiggled his ears in a deliberate attempt to look cute. It worked as well as it always did. "How are you going to pay me back?"

Offering the mango for him to take a bite, a gesture that surprised him for how indulgent it was intended to be, you quipped right back. "I've got fruit."

Pretending you didn't have the upper hand, he graciously bit down, juices dripping down his chin as he did so. Blushing at the mess, he tried and failed to recover by quickly wiping his chin. Succeeding only in making himself look more cute, you laughed and offered him another bite. A quick kiss on his cheek wordlessly conveyed how he didn't need to worry about such things with you.

Chapter Text

You knew that magic was a powerful, uncontrollable thing to be respected and feared, but this was something no one could have prepared you for. Macaque had been aware of the risks around intensifying his shadow portals to attempt travel to further destinations, but you never could have expected he'd tap into other worlds . The beings he'd accidentally pulled into your own reality were equally surprised and indignant.

You'd counted eight "Macaque's" in addition to the original, but more were appearing with increasing frequency, leading you to predict there would be another before the hour ended. It was impossible to sort out much of anything with all their arguing, but you were doing your best to figure out where they'd all come from. Through isolated bits of conversation you'd put together that their realities mirrored and contrasted your own in ways that ranged from minor and ridiculous to massive and bewildering. A Macaque from a world where he and Sun Wukong were more or less switched was especially explosive.

It didn't help that more than half had some version of you they were trying to get back to, and a few who didn't had become smitten with you quite quickly. It seemed likely that a full out war of Macaque's was brewing. 

Sitting heavily on the beaten couch within the Dojo, you were joined by one of the quieter Macaques, who sat down beside you to watch the chaos. He didn't look too different from your own Macaque; similar clothes, similar build… except for the most out of character glasses perched on his nose.

"So, what's your story?" you asked him to break the silence, watching as groups of nearly identical monkeys started to take sides and form teams to make their case. The bespectacled Macaque turned to you, and as with all the others, you had to pretend he wasn't just as handsome as your original. Though the lenses did frame this one's face quite nicely… Clearing your throat, you got right back on track, trying to imagine what reality might have produced the Monkey before you. "

Are you a… scholar?"

"What?" he snorted, adjusting the glasses with a smirk. Chuckling at the very suggestion, he merely shrugged and gestured to the frames as he answered your question. 

"No, I'm just nearsighted."

Chapter Text

He'd known it would happen, it always did with mortals, and even if it wasn't supposed to happen like this he would have thought he'd be more prepared than this…

Yet here he was, cradling your motionless form, desperately looking for any sign of life as he screamed your name and allowed hot tears to surge down his cheeks. His heart felt like it was shattering in his chest, your motionless form refusing to even stir in his arms. A strangled yell tore itself from his throat while all the thoughts of what could have been threatened to fracture his very being.

He hadn't been strong enough, hadn't been quick enough, hadn't been enough of anything … From the day the two of you met he knew he'd only be trouble for you, why hadn't he listened to himself? You'd both be so much better off…

Tears fell onto your face from his, wiping away some of the grit left by the attack that had struck you down. 

"I'm sorry…" he croaked, cradling your head in his shaking hands. Some part of him, some weak and stupid and foolish part, wanted to hope you might still be alive. Perhaps the hit had only knocked you out, and there was still a flicker of life in the heart that had stolen his…

But he was never that lucky.

A cackle at his back evaporated the tears on his cheeks, the demon that had been hunting the two of you obviously delighting in the scene before them.

"Don't worry, you'll be joining them soon enough." they mocked from the sky above. His ears caught the whistle of a magical projectile hurtling his way, much like the one he'd failed to stop before. Rage like nothing he'd ever known filled every corner of his being, blinding him to the pain as he threw up an arm to deflect the attack as if it were nothing more than an insect. A nearby plateau was split when it took the ricochet.

"No, I won't be." he said cooly, laying you down as if you were merely sleeping. Clenching his fists at his sides, he turned away from you, what remained of his heart crumbling to dust. Magic thrummed through him like blood, crackling along his battered limbs until it overflowed and made the air simmer. His foe blanched, perhaps realizing the weight of their mistake as the mountain below started to shift, coming up by its very roots as the world around him became just as broken as he was.

There was some small justice in what was about to happen. You'd get another chance, or end up somewhere better, but him… he had other plans. In the span of an instant he had the demon by the throat, his fangs bared for the world as he made his final vow.

"But I will be taking you with me."

Chapter Text

You were dimly aware of a great many things, but foremost among them was pain .

Everything ached, throbbed, burned or otherwise protested fiercely against whatever had been done to you, making you fight away the wakefulness that was rapidly yanking you into still more agony. Resistance proved impossible, forcing you to leave the bliss of unconsciousness for the cruel waking world. Bleary and confused beyond the telling of it, you didn't understand for the life of you why it felt like you were floating.

Until you opened your weary eyes and found yourself hugged against a very familiar form.

Snow fell in a dense powder on all sides, but you were close enough to make out the face above you, even if it was focused solely on the path ahead. Macaque was holding you close to his front, cradling your body in his arms as he soared his cloud at full speed. Despite the frigid air rushing past and touseling your hair, you were remarkably warm and secure. A small shift of your battered limbs registered a blanket wrapped around every inch of your body save most of your head. 

The tiny movement immediately caught his attention, and Macaque looked down to you, snowflakes dotting his ebony fur as he kept the cloud going at full speed. 

"Y/N?" he asked softly, hushed whisper sending up a plume of steam in the frigid air.

"Macaque?" you croaked in reply. Everything hurt, but for the life of you you couldn't recall why. Questions buzzed about in your cloudy and exhausted mind. "What- ahh…"

"Shhh, don't talk." he hushed, hefting you to hold you closer to his warmth. Concern radiated from his unusually cloudy eyes. "I'm getting you to someone that can help. I promise…"

You still had questions, and you wanted desperately to have answers, but there was simply too much pain to speak through it. Following his advice, you settled more completely into his arms, tucking your head under his chin as he kept talking. "Just hold on… I'm not losing you…" 

A tender hand cupped the back of your head as you drifted off, his voice soft and soothing in your ears.

"Not again…"

Chapter Text

Injuries and adventuring unfortunately went hand in hand, but you rather wished they could stop happening almost entirely to you, especially with your incredibly breakable mortal body seemingly taking every opportunity to suffer.

"Could you hold still?" Macaque insisted for the hundredth time, firm but incredibly gentle as he held your injured arm in the sling he was cobbling together. Even in the dim light of the untended fire you could see that the frustration was a front for the worry showing freely in his eyes, but that didn't make you any more cooperative.

"I'm trying, it hurts !" you hissed back, biting down on the small bit of bark he'd given you. It tasted like the forest smelled, but chomping on it was better than all the cursing you wanted to let loose. At least Macaque was only trying to help…

Such forgiving thoughts evaporated as your limb was set at last, a hard grunt of pain leaving you as Macaque got the broken bones exactly where it needed to be. 

"I know, but, I've almost… there!" he said in time, accomplishment lighting up his features as he released your arm. Cradling it as the pain faded back to a dull ache, you settled heavily on the chair he'd set up for you, a little dizzy from the strain of it all. Macaque was gentle to the point of being apologetic when he laid a hand on your shoulder. "That'll hold until we get somewhere with a doctor."

You nodded, a little pale as the world took its time to stop spinning. Macaque grabbed a spare hunk of tree and set it on the fire, bringing light back to the little campsite. The increased visibility allowed you to see worry he'd been unable to hide, which you knew he wouldn't bring up to you. Not wanting him to stew, you cleared your throat to get his attention, trying to smile when his face turned in your direction. "Feels a lot better."

He smiled back, briefly losing his mask completely. "Good…" he replied softly, his earlier worry coming back to you. Goodness, he'd nearly torn an entire acre of forest apart when you'd been hurt, his fear all but palpable until it had become clear you'd only broken a bone. If only the others knew what a softie he could be…

Catching himself, Macaque coughed and quickly turned away, all six ears flushing in the firelight as he busied himself with rooting through the pack for rations. "I mean; you're welcome!"

You laughed for the first time in a while, not even minding the broken bone.

Chapter Text

The camp was much more pleasant once you got the fire going, warm light dancing over the small forest clearing to illuminate the tent you'd meticulously set up and the two chairs Macaque had laid out for the both of you. After a long day of fighting demons and general adventuring, he looked absolutely exhausted as he reclined deeply in his seat.

Seeing him in clear light for the first time in hours allowed you to catch something you'd previously missed.

"Macaque? You're bleeding." you pointed out with a small touch of concern, gesturing to the cut above his brow. Half asleep already, the Six-Eared Macaque startled lightly at your voice.

"Huh?" he grunted with a vague look your way, squinting in sleepy thought as his mind caught up to the statement. Raising a hand just shy of the injury, he confirmed its presence gingerly only to shrug. "Oh, don't worry, I do that a lot."

Even if it was a small wound, his glibness about his own pain surprised you. It was enough to make you pocket your lighter and leave the fire to get a better look at him. "What? That doesn't make it okay!"

"It's no biggie!" Macaque reassured you quickly. Rubbing his sleeve over the drying blood, he failed to hold back a wince but managed to force a smile after wiping away some of the evidence. "Look, see? All taken care of!"

"Hold still, I have a medical kit." you insisted, going for the little bag you always made sure to have within arms reach. Popping it open, you located a few bandages and some antiseptic, which you'd learned how to apply before heading off on this mission. Granted, he wasn't the one you'd bought these supplies for, but you refused to let him suffer even the tiniest bit if you could prevent it.

"Shouldn't you save that for yourself?" Macaque said, unknowingly echoing a portion of your thoughts. Looking a touch more embarrassed, he considered his next words carefully before speaking them with caution. You're a lot more, uh, breakable than I am."

"I can buy another, now like I said; hold still ." you insisted, kneeling on the chair beside his to have an elevated angle. Macaque frowned and turned away with an expression you dared to call a pout, but didn't resist you, crossing his arms and leaving the cut open for you to access. You dabbed some of the cold solution on a clean cotton ball. "A little disinfectant and gauze should do the trick."

Like a small child, Macaque grimaced as you gently cleaned the wound, tail flicking rapidly as it did when he was intensely annoyed. Staying silent for only a moment longer, he growled and got snappy as soon as you were done. "Ow, that kinda hurts worse?!"

Ignoring the sass, you gently got a bandage prepared and measured it out to the size of the injury, wanting him to be completely covered for the quickest healing possible. Without thinking you cupped his chin to keep his head still, a move that earned you a tangible flush against your fingertips. Taking advantage of the way he froze, you laid down the bandage in a single motion, tapping it into position as carefully as you could. It took only a few measured seconds before the cut was covered.

Moving back, you smiled at his still present blush, a move that snapped him out of his stupor long enough for you to ask, "How about now?"

Gingerly touching the bandage, he tried and failed to keep the appreciation off his face as he muttered in reply. "Better…"

Chapter Text

You were the only being in this or any other world he trusted enough to drop his illusions around. 

It wasn't something he did often, and he was only doing so now to try and conserve some energy, his last fight having really taken it out of him. Sitting on your shared bed on the Dojo, you watched as he tended to his latest injuries in the mirror. His shirt had been tossed aside so bandages could be applied, leaving his bare torso exposed to the room. Scars normally hidden by his illusions were clear as day.

Your heart couldn't help aching with sympathy at all he'd endured. Many of them were old, and he presented them with pride when asked, but you knew some of them had been… difficult to endure. Even if he felt comfortable dropping the illusion that hid them from view, he still refused to show vulnerability with you. 

A soft wince caught your attention as he attempted to get a better look at an injury on his side. Unable to stand by, you got up and approached with the hope of offering what help you could.  

"Here…" you said gently as he turned to you, holding out a hand to take the gauze. You wanted to let him know he could rely on you, that he didn't need to suffer another injury alone… A lingering hesitation in his eyes encouraged you to insist gently by taking his hand. 

"I can help."

"Yeah…" he agreed after a moment of hesitation, trying to sound as much like this was his own idea as he could. You played along, taking the bandage and dropping to one knee whilst bracing a palm against his chest for a better look. It didn't skip your attention that he leaned into your touch rather than away.

Chapter Text

Macaque adjusted quickly to every facet of modern living, but you'd still been impressed at just show swiftly he'd acclimated to the most recent challenge you'd thrown his way; video games.

Stretched out on his comfy but lopsided second hand couch, the Six Eared Macaque was holding his controller as if he'd been using them for six hundred years as opposed to six hours, leaving you with little need to teach. Cuddled against him on the plush fabric, you couldn't help but smile every time you looked over and found him contentedly focused on the task at hand. This was going better than you could have ever hoped.

Grabbing at your shared soda with his tail, Macaque wordlessly handed the drink to you when he was done, making sure you were taken care of as he maneuvered his character about the level with an expression of deep thought. You'd expected him to be a fan of puzzle games, but you hadn't been prepared for how invested he would become.

Flicking his ears in thought, he spoke up at last. "Hang on, I think I've got it…" 

"Oh, do you?" you pressed playfully, quite eager to play along with whatever he had planned. Grabbing a small bag of snacks with his tail, he poured a few into his mouth before offering it to you.

"Yeah, put your little robot guy on the platform." he instructed as he munched down on the salty treats, narrowing his eyes with thoughtful determination. "I'm going to try something…"

Happy to comply, you moved your robot to the area he'd designated, the little machine warbling cutely as it stood with its portal gun ready to go. Macaque moved his own character into position, his nose wrinkling in concentration while he lined up his mental math to the three dimensional world he was moving about in. You had no doubt he could perfectly execute any of these moves in real life, so seeing him try to get a character from Aperture Laboratories to do the same was both fascinating and a little funny.

When he'd made his decision, there was a flash of portal energy and a click that sent a cube hurtling through the air, resulting in a dizzying mix of fictional physics that sent multiple objects flying.

Including your own character, right into the acid vats below.

You laughed as your little avatar respawned and earned a sassy comment from GLaDOS, something that only made Macaque go silent save for a thoughtful hum. Snuggling closer to him on the couch, you secured him and yourself more cozily beneath the covers, chuckling again as Macaque sighed and looked back to you with an expression of sarcastic defeat.

"...Okay, that wasn't it."

Chapter Text

It was the silliest little thing, but that didn't stop you from feeling exceptionally nervous. 

Clinging to the fancy paper bag in your palms, you tried not to squish the precious cargo within, praying that this whole idea wasn't just an absurd impulse. There was no way to double check the gift giving customs of demons and ensure you weren't doing something offensive.

The door to the Dojo swung open as soon as you were within knocking distance, revealing Macaque lounging against the frame in a pose he probably thought didn't look staged. Winking, he welcomed you inside with a wave of his tail. "Hey, it's my favorite mortal, right on schedule!"

"Macaque!" you greeted with an awkward squeak. Coughing to try and banish the sound alongside the resulting blush, you hurried inside, heart pounding as you threw caution to the wind and got right to business. You offered the little bag with hands that thankfully only shook a little. "I, uh, got you a little something!"

"Oh, really? It's not even my birthday!" Macaque replied with a laugh, taking the bag. There was a hint of confusion in his face, but he appeared mostly curious as he opened the top to reveal the contents. A dozen or so orange candies caught the light on their glossy surface as he turned them over in his palm, recognition dawning alongside an even greater sense of confusion. "Are these-?"

"The candies we saw at the store! I had some extra cash from my last paycheck, so I swung back and grabbed a few." you explained quickly, recalling how he'd expressed interest in them but hadn't been carrying enough money. It had taken you quite out of your way to go back, but knowing his love for mangoes, you'd been quite motivated. Watching his every reaction for clues, you added a somewhat rushed addendum. "I hope you like them!"

"Uh… yeah, thanks!" Macaque replied with a rare nervous smile, a veritable cocktail of emotions swarming across his face as he lost his mask of confidence. There was happiness, confusion, even some awe... You caught a small sense of nervous panic in his voice as he spoke up without his usual energy. "I… don't really know how I'll pay you back though."

"You don't have to. They're a gift." you insisted once the pieces finally fell into place. The Six Eared Macaque probably didn't receive many presents, so even the simple gift of a dozen or so mango candies was throwing him for a loop. He had probably expected you to request payment for the candies, or for the inconvenience of getting him something he didn't actually need, even if you wanted nothing but for him to enjoy them. Hearing your reassurance helped him to relax, but he was still openly touched by the gesture, something he didn't bother to hide as he took out one candy and turned it over on his palm with a small smile.

"A gift, huh?" he asked with only a tiny smidge of his sarcasm still holding up.

He must not have had the slightest idea what to do despite the gratitude all but radiating from his very being, so you gave him an additional bit of help, securing the gift bag in his other hand as you clarified beyond a shadow of a doubt.

"That's what friends do."

The very word made his eyes go wide, and to hide his speechlessness he popped the candy in his mouth without a sound, puffed cheeks making you giggle at his antics.

Chapter Text

Every part of you ached with fever, but you refused to submit to your body's wants, determined to grab yourself some breakfast and proceed with the day as planned.

Stumbling down the stairs in the Dojo, your foggy brain had just enough energy to hope Macaque was already out and about, as he'd certainly insist on you getting back to bed. Even if you did encounter him, there was a good chance he'd be far too busy to notice your sniffles. So long as you kept your head down, made sure not to cough and got out quickly, he'd be none the wiser.

To your incredible surprise, the Six Eared Macaque was already waiting for you at the very bottom of the stairs, his arms crossed and his brows raised.

"You're sick." he said before you could even hope to explain yourself.

"What?"

Doubling down, he took a step closer and spoke with a bit more pronounced articulation, not leaving you any chance to argue. "You're sick, I can tell."

"I may have a bit of a cold… no big deal!" you replied when your haggard wits finally gathered. This was not how you'd intended for this interaction to go, and you were floundering without a plan. How had he seen through you so easily?! You hadn't even said a word, had barely been up for more than a few minutes, and he had somehow figured it all out?

"Yeah, sorry, not buying that. You're not really in any shape to be going somewhere." he replied a little more sarcastically, slipping back to his usual snark. You deflated, fully aware he wasn't going to let you leave without more fuss than it was worth. At least you didn't have anything important to do, and going back to bed did sound quite tempting… but a lingering question kept you from complying.

"How on earth can you tell?" you asked, giving him visible pause as he dropped his smile and widened his eyes before catching himself.

"If I tell you, will you go back to bed?" he replied with a gesture up the stairs.

"Deal." you conceded, quite curious until you were unceremoniously hoisted into his arms and carried up the steps. Clinging to him reflexively, you sputtered in disbelief as he brought you right back to your bedroom. "Whoa! Macaque!"

"Just making sure you hold up your end of the deal!" he explained with a laugh. It occurred to you that he was trying to lighten the mood, so you allowed him to keep being silly, resting in his grip as he set you down on the bed and explained. "Anyway, mortal bodies are noisy, and my ears aren't just for show. I can hear how out of whack everything sounds when you're sick."

That was a… very unexpected answer, so much so that you couldn't think of anything resembling an intelligent reply.

"R… really?" you rasped, sniffling as your irritated lungs protested so much excitement. A far more genuine smirk pulled on his lips at your reaction, and you couldn't blame him for being a little smug for once. It had become clear to you through numerous little interactions that he had an incredible sense of hearing, as his reputation and name had warned of in advance, but for him to hear the inner workings of the body so precisely? Could he hear your organs working away even now?

"Yeah. Ordinarily you're pretty quiet, but I could hear every little wheeze as soon as you got up." he continued, crossing his arms again as he savored your awe. 

Even with the fog of your fever clouding your brain, you caught something out of place with the statement. 

"How do you know what I sound like normally?" you asked suddenly, the question blurting out of you as you tried to put together exactly why he'd be paying attention to such things in the first place. Even with the very dear friendship the two of you shared, keeping track of something like that would require a lot of work. "Do you… listen often?"

Macaque's expression dropped to one of bashful mortification, a ruby blush spreading from his nose to the tips of each individual ear.

"Uhhhh…" he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think. The response unintentionally told you everything he didn't have the capacity to say. One didn't pay that close of attention or put in that much effort for anyone, especially someone like Macaque, who rarely opened himself up enough to care in the first place. 

As he stammered and hurried to the window for a quick escape, you could only smile, fully aware despite all of his efforts to convince you otherwise that this monkey loved you in his own silly way. That revelation was only compounded by how swiftly he spoke before jumping from the window, trying and failing to backtrack on revealing just how deeply he cared.

"You know what? I think I'm gonna go grab you some sick day supplies! Uh, only so I don't catch it too! I won't be long byyyyyeeeee!"

Chapter Text

He hadn't known what to do with himself before he met you. Sure, there was the need to survive, to try and right the wrongs done to him, and he'd always found time for a little fun along the way… but there had been no anchor, no one thing granting purpose or giving him a sense of belonging. He'd honestly come to the conclusion that he simply wasn't meant to have a home in the real sense. That had never been a happy thought, but he'd long since accepted it.

Then you came along and changed… everything. 

He tried to play it cool and pretend you were just another friend, albeit a very dear one, but that grew a little harder every single day. Simple companionship had deepened with remarkable speed, and him saving your life on a few occasions had certainly helped things progress faster. Even he had to admit he was getting a little overwhelmed by it all, and his usually impervious facade of laid back apathy was cracking. You'd already caught him staring on more than a few occasions, and he was fairly certain you were growing suspicious of something. He could only lie and say he'd been lost in thought so many times. 

Yet he simply couldn't help but lose himself in your presence. Every time you were near life felt like it made sense, and for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. Perhaps it was just something that couldn't be explained. Everything about you, about being with you, just made him happy; made him feel like he belonged. Making you happy had become his goal at the end of each day, and he often found himself unable to wait for your next meeting whenever the two of you had to be apart.

Was this how it felt to find a home, truly? Could a person be a home?

As he sat with you in a public park, enjoying the sunshine and laughing at another silly inside joke, he felt confident to say you definitely were. Your smile, your laugh, the feel of your hand just brushing over his and the way his heart fluttered as a result… that was home.

So long as he had you, he wasn't lost any more.

Chapter Text

"Is that the last mango?"

Your teeth were just shy of the ripe, tasty fruit when Macaque leveled his accusation from the doorway, stopping you in your tracks. Lifting your head in confusion, you looked to him and found his arms crossed and his expression pouting. 

"Uhhh…" you stammered, unsure of how to answer what should have been quite obvious.

There was a flash of amusement when his expression broke to reveal an amused grin, but he covered it quickly and got right back to the bit. Approaching with a dramatic wave of his cape, he continued to pretend he was upset, though he was so obviously overdramatic no one could have fallen for the act. "I called dibs!" 

Rolling your eyes with just a hint of an amused smile, you went back to your snack. "No you did not, I-"

Never one to do anything halfway, Macaque refused to give up the game, rushing ahead to scoop you from your chair in a rush of movement. Lifting and pinning you against the wall by your wrists, he gave away how much fun he was having with every wave of his tail. You could once again see how much he enjoyed indulging in theatrics. "Here I thought we were friends… I suppose I was wrong."

There was no force actually holding you in place, meaning a simple shake of your wrists would have set you free, but you settled for simply rolling your eyes instead. "You can just take the rest of the mango if you want it that bad, you weirdo."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that, Y/N…" he said with a shake of his head, leaning in close enough for his nose to brush yours. Smirking and baring his fangs in the most mischievous expression of delight, he cut right through your annoyance with his antics. Wukong may have been known as the goofball between the two of them, but Macaque adored his own games just as much. Sighing in mock sadness, he pushed you more intently against the wall. His voice carried a hint of what he probably hoped was flirtatious enticement. "I'll have my vengeance-"

It was your turn to smirk as you effortlessly removed your hand from his grip and shoved the mango right into his open mouth. 

"Here, does this work instead?" you asked, unable to hold back a laugh as he stepped back and sputtered around the fruit. Genuinely taken off guard, he took a moment to spit it out, eyes wide in surprise at your most unexpected turnaround. Blinking as he caught up, his expression returned to a more genuine pout as a flush tinged his cheeks, making you laugh again at his childish demeanor.

"You're no fun ."

Chapter Text

"Look, I said I don't have anything, and I mean it." you explained in the most monotone voice you were capable of, trying not to dart your eyes between the three intimidating figures that had backed you into an alley. "Just let me leave. I don't have anything you want. Please."

An iron grip about the collar of your hoodie yanked you upwards, the speaker's face obscured by darkness. You could almost feel the venom in their voice. "What if we don't believe you?"

Panic made your already racing heart quicken, and you tried to think of any way out. You weren't strong enough to beat them, had nothing to convince them to leave, and there was no one around to intervene… You tried to wiggle your backpack off your shoulders to present it as an easy trade for your freedom. "Take my bag then, okay? There's nothing in it, but you can have-"

"Do you think you get to tell us what to do?!" another voice cut in, grabbing your arm while the other kept their grip on your shirt. Trying not to show weakness and wince, you were unable to keep your voice from cracking with pain and fear. 

"No, but I-"

"If you really don't have anything, then you've wasted our time!" the third one spoke up, making it known they were itching for a fight as they took a painful hold of your other arm. Neatly pinned between the three of them, you were just able to catch a breath before another hand took hold of your throat and slammed you against a brick wall. 

The one you presumed to be the leader tightened his grip, making you wheeze for air as final, frantic hopes of rescue were dashed under a wave of fear. "No worries. We just need to make this worthwhile-"

Total darkness overtook the alley as the streetlights snuffed out in an instant, followed by every iota of light in the immediate area, creating a shroud of absolute night that seemed to swallow the stars. The three muggers dropped you in a sightless panic, allowing you to gasp for air when you hit the pavement.

"Wait, what's happening?" one of them cried out, stumbling footsteps echoing through the blackness.

"I can't see anything!" another shouted just before loudly smashing into one of the others. You heard them scrambling about and took the opportunity to curl into yourself, taking advantage of the cover of darkness to disappear.

"Where did everything go?!" 

Brilliant purple light cut through the darkness and cast it as shadows along the high walls, freezing your attackers in place. Dark figures dashed along the walls like living beings, their shining eyes dancing through the night as they gathered in ever greater numbers. Recognition dawned in your heart moments before the silence was broken.

"Well, well, well …" a familiar voice mused in a mock tone that failed to conceal the speaker's rage. A portal of nothingness opened behind you, illuminating your cowering attackers as a dark figure emerged into the alley. Macaque had his six ears and long fangs on full display in a frenzied grin, his boots thudding on the pavement whilst he approached with full intent to harm. "Am I interrupting something?"

There were panicked explanations and pleas to be released, but not one of six ears heard any of them. Macaque dropped his wild smirk for only a second, replacing it with an expression of dutiful concern as he helped you back to your feet and gave you a glance over to confirm you weren't hurt. Before you could even say a word he finished his inspection and turned right back to the three cowering muggers, gently pushing you behind him as the full weight of his fury was leveled on those who would dare do you harm. 

Laughing to himself, he summoned a fresh wave of power down his limbs, allowing it to hum through the air and terrify his helpless opponents further. The shadow versions of himself grew more physical, pulling themselves off the walls to cut off any hope of escape. Macaque began to hover as a chilling breeze swept in from nowhere. 

"You know, before I forget myself; I gotta say-!" he laughed, his billowing smoke monster form wrapping about him and scooping up your attackers in a single motion. Grabbing all three of them in a gigantic hand, he lost all traces of restraint, voice magnifying and distorting as his rage shook the city. "Picking this mortal as a mark?"

Three terrified mortals were brought to his projections face, where he leveled each of them with a molten glare, shadow magic twisting the heavens overhead. "Wrong choice…" 

You managed to get to your feet with the help of a shadow clone, stumbling as you craned your neck to watch him take his time tormenting your attackers. Judging by his tone, he fully intended to eradicate them…

"Shame it was your last one."

Though you could have let him do as he wished, you were in no mood to see anyone else hurt.

"Macaque." you said simply, cutting right through the roaring wind to one of his ears. The howling ceased and his monster stilled, gaze turning to you as you looked into his eyes. Exhausted and worn down but not interested in revenge, you merely hung your head and sighed. "I just want to go home."

It took him a second of consideration, but eventually, he conceded. Allowing his monster to evaporate, he set the would-be muggers down none too gently at the back of the alley. They remained frozen where he dropped them in a state of shock. As the last of his doubles faded away, he approached you and summoned another portal on the wall. Wrapping an arm about your shoulders, he guided you inside to the safety of the shadows. You knew he'd never let anything like this happen again…

Chapter Text

Though he wasn't sure exactly what time it was when the first rays of morning light landed in his eyes, he did know it was much earlier than was necessary. 

Scrunching up his nose in annoyance, he grimaced against the light and scanned his bedroom. You were still asleep at his side, peaceful face tucked into his chest and arms draped loosely about his neck. Seeing you briefly soothed some of his irritation at being awoken. 

Macaque had no intention of getting up, so he willed the shadows to heft a spare blanket over the window, blocking out the rising sun and plunging the room back into cozy darkness. Sighing in satisfaction, he allowed his head to flop back down on the pillow. The world would have to wait at least a few more hours before he would be ready to rise. Not only was he still intent on lazing about, being snuggled at your side was simply too indulgent to pass up.

Closing his eyes, he listened to your slow, relaxed breathing as he allowed himself to drift back off to sleep. There was nothing more restorative than resting with you at his side. Allowing himself to smile, he wrapped his tail loosely about your middle to keep you close. 

Despite being soundly asleep, you held him more tightly in return, snuggling into the especially fluffy fur on his chest. Macaque nuzzled against your head and placed a soft kiss on your forehead to encourage you to remain asleep. Let the world keep on moving, the two of you had everything you needed with each other.

Chapter Text

"It could be weeks before we see each other again, you know. Months. Years. Maybe even decades-"

"Seriously, Macaque?" you interrupted after finally getting your coat on, turning to him as he remained leaning against the doorway. Having no hurry to get out of your way until you gave in, he huffed and stayed in place, pouting for the fraction of a second it took him to get back in character.

"Let me finish!" he said quickly, clearing his throat to drop back into a charming purr and assuming a far more casual pose. A grin from ears to ears almost made you smile in return, and you conceded he was very good at being endearing even while holding up your errands. Overdramatic silliness was just part of dating the Six Eared Macaque. "What I'm saying is; you'd better make this goodbye count."

As he settled his weight on one arm and presented his face, leading with his cheek to encourage you to plant a kiss, you decided not to make it too easy for him. Grabbing your keys and crossing your arms, you smiled and made no move to meet him in the middle. "I'm going to the convenience store. It's literally down the street."

"So? Anything could happen!" he replied quickly, still playing his bit but genuinely determined to win. Realizing a change in strategy might be in line, he moved out of the doorway, holding up his hands in mock submission as he sighed in overdramatic resignation. The playful delight twinkling eyes left you torn between giving him what he wanted and shoving him out of the way. "But, if I just don't matter that much to you…"

"Fine, here!" you said with a roll of your eyes. Grabbing him by the chin, you pulled him into range and left a small kiss on his cheek. Pretending not to notice the quick flush of heat that bloomed across his face, you looked into his eyes and smiled sweetly. "Better?"

Never content to be easy, Macaque pulled back with a mock expression of disappointment at your abilities. "Is that the best you can do? Come on! Where's the passion? Where's-"

Taking him by surprise made it shockingly easy to push him against the wall. Initially bracing your hands on his shoulders, you wasted no time securing your grip on the fabric of his shirt before slamming your lips against his, locking him in a kiss that was remarkably passionate even for the two of you. A hand freed itself to snake around his neck and brush through the thick black fur, compelling him to all but melt into your touch.

He was breathless when you finally let him go, something that made you all the more delighted as you switched things around and gave him a smirk of your own.

"I'll be back in ten minutes." you promised with a wink, patting his cheek and leaving a blissfully out of it monkey in your wake. As usual, his dramatic antics had gotten him more than he'd bargained for, and far more than he could handle.

Chapter Text

"You sure do like getting up close and personal, don't you?" 

Macaque was smirking as he always did when bantering, but you knew he was genuinely enjoying himself, his eyes alight with euphoria as he kept his hands locked with yours. Thanks to you and your rival's incredible strength, the pavement below your street was cracking just from the strain of your standoff. As much fun as you had with his little back and forths, you knew things would need to end quickly to protect the public. 

Keeping your hands on his and setting your feet properly, you performed the tiniest shrug you could without losing traction. "What can I say? I like confronting my problems head on!"

Taking advantage of the close quarters, you smashed the hardest part of your head against his, sending him staggering back. Jumping back with wide eyes, Macaque found his footing a few paces back before he gingerly touched the wound. A trace of blood on his fingertips made his surprise intensify, but his response was hardly negative. The Six Eared Macaque looked absolutely tickled by the maneuver.

"Oh come on, a face that pretty could be put to way better use!" he teased back, charging again to meet you for another battle of strength. Meeting him with ease, you allowed the fight to move to the top of an abandoned warehouse, where Macaque intensified his battlefield flirting. All you could think at first was how if he was trying to pretend he was still interested in beating you, he was failing. You could feel his heart beating far faster than this much exercise warranted and feel his gaze upon you as something far more than a simple enemy. "Seriously, how about a date; candles, good food, you and me breaking this tension at long last?"

"I don't think you could afford me, Macaque." you replied easily, pushing back to send him flying a few blocks down. He landed with ease on the top of another building by the harbor, blocking a flying punch from you and ignoring the cement cracking beneath him as he did so. You hovered closely enough to feel his quick breaths while he held you at bay.

"You don't know that! I'll take you somewhere nice, we can do a little wining and dining. Maybe at that fancy joint over there?" he offered with a hint of strain as he kept your fist just shy of his face. A tilt of his head drew your attention to a fancy restaurant on the edge of the water, and a part of your brain briefly imagined the two of you visiting dressed to the nines before it squashed down the silliness. Ignoring his still bleeding injury, Macaque smirked and bared his fangs playfully at your confused expression, really giving it his all to look as charming as he could. After everything the two of you had been through together, you had to admit he was pretty good at it, even while the two of you were tearing an entire city district apart. 

"I'll even pay extra for some fun after dessert..."

A smirk rose to your face at the incredibly ridiculous attempt to be smooth. Knowing any kind of irritation would just wind him up further, and not being too opposed to the offer, you merely decided to end things in the one way he wouldn't see coming.

"Well, in that case…" you began, stopping your punch and dropping to the ground. Macaque actually stopped and stumbled where he stood, shocked enough not to have his guard up as you placed a hand just beneath his chin. A wink made him flush and you sealed the deal. "Friday at eight. I expect to be impressed."

"Ahhh…" was all he could say, mouth hanging open in total shock at this turn of events. You two had flirted plenty of times before, but it had never ended in anything but more sexual tension, and he didn't know what to do with this. It was actually somewhat cute.

Thankfully, you knew just what needed to happen next, and the tightening of your free hand into a fist was marvelously satisfying.

"Which, right now, I'm not."

A solid punch sent him straight down and through the abandoned structure, where he crashed in the basement as a dazed and confused but lovestruck monkey.

Chapter Text

"Okay, you're getting closer, but…" Macaque narrowed his eyes in thought and stepped just behind you, allowing his front to press against your back as he looked at your joint reflection in the mirror ahead. You allowed him to adjust your body as he needed, listening intently to every instruction as it was given. "Keep your stance solid . You need to be able to move, sure, but you also need to hold your position. It's all part of controlling the fight. Always go back to that stance after you land a hit."

Every tiny adjustment of your stance came with equally detailed and considerate notes, and while you were intent on listening to each one you couldn't help but allow a warm little bubble of happiness to rise up as he continued. This level of care and attention to detail was a part of him others rarely saw, and you couldn't help but feel a few butterflies upon seeing him so in his hidden element. A small chuckle left your lips after he finished his last note and let you go.

"What?" he asked as he caught the laugh, leaning against an exercise bar. "Something funny?" 

"Nothing, it's just…" you felt a little bashful at having been caught, especially when the reason you'd been so tickled suddenly sounded silly to say out loud. Considering how open he was being at the moment, you decided it couldn't hurt to be equally honest. Resting against the railing opposite his, your voice was soft as you found the words. "You're really good at this."

"What, fighting?" Macaque replied quickly in misunderstanding, chuckling at the idea. "I've done more than my fair share."

"No, I mean teaching. You're good at it." you clarified, catching him off guard with a genuine, open compliment. Sarcasm briefly dropped from his face, but returned after he processed your words.

"There are a few people, one in particular, that would really disagree with you on that." he said with a mock nervous tug of his collar, referencing his many lessons imparted through more dubious means. There was no denying that, you had to concede to yourself. 

"Okay fair enough." you conceded, holding up your hands. Refusing to let down, you smiled softly, encouraging him to listen as you stood back up. It was important to you that he recognized the things he had talent for, even if he needed a little help seeing them. You approached him and spoke confident as you took his hand. "But when you want to be good at it, and you remember to be nice, you are good at it."

Macaque went quiet, thoughtful but touched by your words. Squeezing your hand back after a moment of thought, he stood back up to guide you before the mirror wall once more, encouraging you to take the stance he'd been teaching earlier. "If I really am, you'll be the ultimate test of that, won't you?"

Chapter Text

Cleaning out the Dojo hadn't seemed too exciting of a proposition when Macaque had first brought it up, but you were certainly having more fun than you could have ever anticipated. The sorting had somewhat organized a portion of the mess into groups of related piles, though there was still a waist high cluster of stuff in the center of the main floor that the two of you were sifting through together. Treasures and oddities made the task more of a game than a chore.

"Uh, I think this one belongs in a museum?" you said as you raised your head above the sea of junk. A pristine and seemingly ancient vase rested heavily in your palm, and you couldn't keep the concern off your face as you wondered if you should even have been handling what might have been a priceless artifact. Macaque looked unimpressed.

"That old thing? I don't even remember…" he answered with a shrug, gesturing to the growing number of items that wouldn't be kept. "Eh, put it on the donation pile then."

"Where did you get most of this stuff? Half of it looks older than I am." you asked after setting the vase down in a more secure spot. Wading back into the pile, you started sifting through the items again and tried to imagine how he might have come across half of it. 

"You pick up a lot of stuff over the years! I bet Wukong is absolutely buried by his junk by now, the guy is an absolute hoarder." Macaque laughed as he dipped back below the surface, moving through the mess like a shark. Snickering at the comment and his antics, you waited for him to come back up for air, grabbing a few more items to make your point.

"Pffffft, you're one to talk. I mean, why on earth do you have so many swords? Do you even use swords?" you asked when he came back up, hefting two ornate blades to make your point. There had to be hundreds of different weapons scattered about, none of which you'd ever seen him use in combat, and you couldn't begin to imagine him fighting with simple mortal weapons. 

"It's a warrior thing, you wouldn't get it. Besides, the weapons stay. Just put them in that pile." he replied with ease, pointing to the gathering of blades, hammers, bows and other killing implements that he'd started tossing in the corner. You could only surmise each one had been nabbed after a victory and then tossed aside when the next battle was won. Still not getting it, you followed his instructions regardless. A pile of deadly tools was worth having around if it kept him happy.

"Keeping the weapons, I get that." you agreed before dutifully placing the blades. When your foot caught on a thick bunch of fabric in the process, you nudged it for closer inspection and were quite surprised to find a tangle of clothing. Rolling your eyes, you got to your knees and started unfolding the bundle with a touch of exasperation. "But what about all the clothes? You don't even like human clothes, why do you haven't so many?"

"Yeah, you all dress super lame." he replied, voice muffled under all the junk. Popping his head free, he briefly looked over the clothes before shrugging in indifference. "None of those are mine anyway. I don't know how they got there."

"Not yours, huh?" you repeated with disbelief you didn't bother to hide. Catching sight of a very unexpected flash of neon, you dug deeper, finding a wealth of color you never would have anticipated. Confusion turned to delight once you recognized the clothes as incredibly dated exercise gear. Holding up a practically glowing sweatband, you waved it about like a flag of victory. "Then why is there monkey hair on these?"

Macaque more or less teleported to your side, grabbing at the offending items like an embarrassed kid.

"Gimme those!"

"Are these from the 80's?" you pressed as you grabbed a pair of pink legwarmers, laughing as he gathered every last piece of clothing.

"No!" he sputtered lamely, flushing from ear to ear and tossing the entire pile into the farthest corner of the Dojo.

You giggled at his side. Quite frankly, you'd have loved to see him in a full outfit, but he was almost determined to be embarrassed. Putting a hand on his shoulder, you kept the teasing going. "Because this all sure looks like-"

"It's going on the burn pile!" Macaque said in a rush, willing a ball of fire into his palm and chucking it at the clothes. Neon flames licked outward, and you could only smile and roll your eyes again as you went to grab a broom. There would be an ash pile by the time this was all done…

Chapter Text

To you, it was the most recognizable patch of color in his person. Sure there was no shortage of vibrant decoration across his armor; the golds and yellows and dashes of red were quite beautiful, but your fondness was for the duller scarlet flowing down his shoulders. It had been impossible to miss the first time you'd seen him, and the red in the moonlight had added a genuine air of threatening mystery to him. 

Now, after getting to know him more, you'd learned to adore that particular shade of scarlet.

The first time you'd found the surprisingly warm and soft length of fabric draped over you had been after an especially exhausting mission, when your body had collapsed into the nearest soft surface as soon as you had gotten home. A solid twelve hours of sleep had left you in a fog, making it hard to understand at first why Macaque's cape wasn't with him. It had taken your sleepy brain a solid minute to realize he'd put it over you to keep you warm while your mortal body caught up on sleep. You'd taken your time holding it close, feeling the soft fabric and savoring the faint hint of mangoes and dark forests…

The second time had been atop a mountain, where the two of you had ended up briefly stranded after a fraught battle. Macaque had found the two of you a cave to shelter in, and insisted you take his cape to avoid the cold, wrapping it about your shoulders and ensuring you were warm before he left to seek help. You'd clung to it while he was gone, both to keep the ice at bay and to comfort yourself in the solitude. That day you'd learned how holding it close felt like he was holding you instead. Knowing that had done more to keep you alive until his return than any amount of heat.

The third time was happening now, and he couldn't pretend not to be enjoying himself as you snuggled up to him beneath the cape he'd turned into a blanket for the both of you. Having the night sky overhead light up with fireworks helped to make the cool evening even more cozy. From the shelter of a well chosen outcrop in the mountains, the two of you could see every burst of color in dazzling detail. 

Keeping your head on his chest, you allowed your eyes to wander back to the faded scarlet you were snuggled under. Time and damage had reduced the vibrancy, but you still found it to be the most beautiful shade of red in the world. 

Chapter Text

It had taken him some time to accept what a profound impact your every little move had on his heart. To this day he still didn't quite understand it even if he'd long since given up fighting, and allowing himself to just enjoy it was much more fun. You offered such an endless array of wonders for him to experience.

Six sensitive ears made tuning into you through sound a far more profound experience. From the shifting of blankets off your sleeping form in the morning, to the slow steadying of your breathing as you drifted to sleep, he savored every last moment. He'd freely admit there were some sounds he encouraged you to make simply because he loved hearing them. Your laugh was the most common example of that, hence why he did everything he could to lighten your spirits.

However, some sounds struck an even deeper chord within him. The way your heart quickened when his hand dashed up your spine, for example, often made his own knees far weaker than yours. Hearing the way your body reacted to his cemented that his feelings were returned, and that still utterly overwhelmed him. How had one mortal gained this much power over him?

Even now, in the dead of the night, your gentle breathing was soothing him to sleep with how reassuring it was to know you were at peace in his presence. Having fallen asleep with your head on his chest, you were cuddled up against him and obviously as content as could be. He no longer cared to question why you had decided to trust him. It was enough to be here with you, loved and safe as the beating of your heart lulled him into a shared sleep.

Chapter Text

The modern world had many luxuries he still had yet to try, either for lack of chance or an absence of interest, but you were giving him all the opportunities he could have wanted and far more. 

Thanks to your present insistence after a long day of traveling, he was getting to experience a hotel for the first time. They had existed in his own time, but he'd never had cause to use one, and they had hardly been so… comfortable in his day.

Sitting on the edge of a very fluffy mattress, he tried not to sink within as he gathered himself and watched you get settled. It was impossible not to feel out of place, even if you never gave any indication he was. It was also impossible not to acknowledge how incredibly comfortable the bed was after a full day of traveling without a break… So much of him wanted to just lie back and let sleep take him.

The click of the refrigerator made him perk up, his stomach reminding him he had gone without food even longer than sleep. Looking at you as you approached, he had to hide his enthusiasm as you offered a small bottle of mango juice. It didn't skip his attention that it was his favorite brand as he tried not to drink it down too swiftly. You smiled at his obvious enjoyment. "We'll have to pay for anything we take out of here, but I think we're owed a little treat. I've got room service coming too."

"I should travel with you more often! You really know how to make a guy feel special." he laughed after finishing off the juice, looking forward to a good meal more than words could convey. Traveling so often consisted of struggling for everything, even to the point of needing to steal from time to time, that just having all this handed to him felt almost unnatural. Of course he wasn't going to refuse a free meal, but that didn't make him feel any less off about it.

"You deserve it after today." you said casually, surprising the grin off his face. Hearing that he deserved anything, especially from someone he respected, didn't really compute. The surprise on his face must have been transparent, because you quickly came in to reassure him. "I mean it, you've been working really hard. I can't remember the last time you took a break."

"That's how my journeys always go. No rest for the wicked, and all that." he replied reflexively, unsure of what to do with so much care and consideration. You'd been showing him nothing but kindness on this entire trip, and, well… he wasn't sure why. Some small, blooming part of his heart was actually daring to enjoy it, as terrified as that much vulnerability made him. 

Rising to get a knock at the door, you returned with a tray of food for the both of you, and he perked up at the smell. A rumble from his stomach made him flush and shrink before you offered the tray.

"Well, how about some dinner for my warrior?" you said happily, encouraging him to eat and enjoy himself freely. It would take time, you knew, but one day you would convince him he was worth the little things.

Chapter Text

Sometimes his past felt like a mire, sucking him back down into the dark depths he would never truly escape every time he managed to get his head above water.

Nightmares were the most common way the sins that haunted him came back to resume their torture. Mistakes and betrayals alike hounded him like ghosts, tearing through his mind and reminding him of every being he'd wronged, and how he'd be wronged in kind. Hearing the taunting howls night after night made it easy to believe them when they told him he'd deserved every bit of misery he'd ever encountered.

When the fear inevitably chased him from sleep and he was forced back into wakefulness, he'd always found himself gasping for air, his heart hammering whilst the echoes faded into the cold silence of night. Countless nights had turned to torturous stretches of insomnia when the fear kept sleep at bay, but he'd grown accustomed to that. It was hard to complain when a part of him really believed the torture was earned.

Then he'd met you, and he couldn't have been less prepared for how things would change.

As he awoke from his latest nightmare with a yell of alarm, his blankets a mess and his room a tangle of shadows going haywire by his panic, he could never have expected to find you holding him. Your delicate touch was an immediate anchor against the rush of fear swirling through his mind, and he leaned into you without thinking. A careful hand cupped his head and pulled him in for a loose, comforting embrace, slowing his hammering heart in the process.

"It's okay, it's okay…" you soothed softly, sitting on the edge of his bed whilst you slowly rocked his upper body. His hand went to yours without thinking, holding it tight and finding comfort in the warmth. All traces of his usual reservation were gone as he curled about you, laying his head against you and sighing as the tension faded from his limbs and the exhaustion returned in its place.

"I'm here." you assured further, stroking a hand through the fur on the back of his head in the way he usually refused to admit he liked. Now he was openly leaning into your palm and maneuvering his head into your lap for more, too comforted by your touch to care about his dignity. It wasn't like he had to worry about you telling anyone about this. 

"I'm here…" you soothed again, voice softening as he closed his eyes and drifted off against you. There was no part of him that scared you more than it scared himself, and you would do whatever it took to help him conquer the ghosts of his past. Getting him a full night's sleep seemed the best start, and you'd be there for many more. 

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Before you'd come into his life, happy memories had been rather infrequent occurrences. Most of the time he was alone, and his few encounters with others often ended in combat, so there were few events for him to look back on with fondness. He'd been accepting of that for a long time, and had stopped longing for more until he'd met you. Things had changed so quickly after you'd become his friend…

Under the influence of an illusion visible to everyone but you, he was able to move about at your side without detection, appearing to the many other mortals present as just another human. It was a trick he used often, but until now he'd utilized it purely for scheming. You were the one who'd suggested it might be useful for other things, especially of a more wholesome variety, and he'd been curious enough to concede and let you decide where the two of you would end up.

He never would have expected you to guide him into the local zoo of all places, but he'd started having fun way too quickly to complain.

Allowing you to take the lead, he quickly forgot all about the other humans about, his disguise little more than an afterthought while you showed him around. He'd seen many far off lands and exotic creatures in his travels, but there was something nice about taking his time to admire them in a far more relaxed setting. It didn't hurt that your almost infectious delight was rubbing off on him at every interaction. Feeling your hand in his as the two of you passed by elephants, hippos, bears and lions made him unable to care less who saw him smiling with you at his side.

As the day wore on and he experienced more of the small joys life had to offer, he found himself feeling something he hadn't for a while; excitement for tomorrow. Spending time with you didn't just give him new, wonderful memories to look back on; it gave him things to look forward to as well. It was a somewhat obvious revelation that he took some time to work up to. 

By the time the sun was down and the two of you were utterly exhausted, he couldn't keep the smile off his face or his hand off your own. 

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The world looked very different from the eye of the Smoke Monster.

Perhaps it was the massive amount of power it drained from him, but his processing abilities were quite reduced when he took on the form in the heat of battle, often resulting in his thoughts consisting only of simple directives. Who was good, who was bad, who he needed to defend, who he needed to kill… It was all he needed to think about when a foe pushed him to fight, so he never minded.

This was the first time he'd experienced that mindset while in your presence, however, and even while fighting for your life the effect had been considerable enough to draw his attention.

His enemy was on the other side of the mountain, for he'd tossed them aside in a bid to retake the battlefield after jumping in to save you, and he'd planted himself between you and their inevitable return. A single magical eye focused on you as he prepared to fight. What he saw absolutely shocked even his simplified mind. You were so small he could have fit you in the palm of his hand, and your eyes were wide with terror for both your sakes, your mortal form huddled in a small crevice for safety…

Something clicked within the Smoke Monster at the sight. He was always protective of you, but with the transformation limiting his capacity to see beyond those emotions, he felt a level of primal need like nothing before. Everything boiled down into the simplest whispers of thought.

You were small, he was strong.

You were very dear to him, he did not want to lose his beloved mortal.

Lastly, your enemy wanted to hurt you, and that couldn't be allowed.

Compassion surged through him as he bent down to assure you with a wordless extension of his hand, which he laid over your hiding spot to say stay here . You would need to be sheltered for what he was about to unleash on the mountain range.

The return of your attacker drew all of his attention. Stopping their assault with a mere raising of his palms, the Smoke Monster allowed himself to roar in rage, shaking the earth to its core. This one really thought it would hurt you while he was present? Thought it could get past him and inflict any kind of harm on his beloved mortal? Thought he would allow a mistake like that to go unpunished ?

Turning his single eye upon the demon fighting uselessly against his boundless strength, he had just enough of himself left to smile at what was coming, his great maw splitting into a grin of sharp fangs.

This would be a lesson he would ensure was never forgotten.

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It was a silly hobby, one that would have ended his reputation for life if discovered, but the illusion he kept around his person at all times made him reasonably sure he wouldn't get caught. The payoff always kept him coming back, but he would have been lying if he said the idea of being found out didn't worry him at times. Wukong in particular would probably never let him live it down…

Those fears were banished briefly as he manipulated his magic for the start of another show, the dark shadows and brilliant purple lights giving life to his stage. Hushed whispers of excitement from the crowd made him smile to himself backstage. A few squeals of delight from eager children sent a burst of affection through his heart that he wasn't expecting, but welcomed regardless.

Given life by his will, the shadows formed into slightly more solid beings, taking the shape of the characters in his story. To the knowing eye they were quite similar to a few people from his life, but to his audience they were simply the heroes and villains of an entirely fictional play. As the puppets took their places and the sets glowed with life, the crowd all but rooted themselves in place, eager to see the tale unfold.

He allowed himself to completely take on the role of the mysterious narrator, his hood and disguise keeping his face hidden to add to the effect. Setting the scene of a grand adventure, he couldn't help but be a little touched to see a group of children huddled at the front, their wide eyes locked on his every move. A shadowy dragon soaring over the crowd had them gasping in awe and huddling together with cries of amazement.

Midway through his description of the incredibly handsome warrior and his quest, something in the crowd caught his eye, and it took everything he had to continue narrating.

There you were, sitting in the spot he'd reserved for you, but never would have imagined you'd actually want.

Keeping the play going, he had to fight hard to keep his mysterious grin from turning into a giddy smile of boundless delight. He truly couldn't believe you'd showed up, he'd wanted you to, but he never would have believed you would. It had taken everything just to find the courage to tell you about his plays, and here you were, enjoying one?!

Constant glances in your direction found you smiling and looking pleased enough he felt certain you were having a good time. That only motivated him to try even harder, his shadows growing larger and more elaborate to the delight of the crowd. Whole armies waged small scale warfare across the stage and through the crowd, bringing everyone into the show. His little audience of children at front was barely able to stay in their seats.

For a single moment the two of you looked at one another, and he was grateful for the hood providing cover for his blush. Willing a shadowy projection to rise up at your side, he had it offer a single ebony flower to you as he told of the peace and prosperity that followed the grand adventure, and how the hard work of the hero had all been worth it. Such a thing was far sappier than he usually went for, but you had a habit of bringing that out of him. 

As the audience erupted into cheers, your applause was what he focused on, the happiness in your eyes making him quite grateful he'd decided to trust you. You were probably the only being on earth that could convince him to dare try again, and it was already proving well worth it. He only hoped you'd stay for the encore…

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He rarely got sick, but when he did, it was often an unpleasant and lonely experience. Trying to care for himself while under the weather was hard, but he had suffered through it often enough to have a rough idea what he was doing. It was always a matter of just weathering the worst of it until his fever broke, and he was more than tough enough to handle a few days of misery.

Now though, things were very different.

He almost felt out of place surrounded by so much love and care, but he wasn't sure what to do beyond staying exactly where you'd told him, curled up on his bed beneath every other blanket he owned. It was impossible to deny how nice this felt, but he was quite out of his element. The fog of a fever settling over his brain did not make thinking any easier.

Footsteps drew his attention, compelling him to lift his head as you walked back into the room. Your arms all but overflowing with blankets and medical supplies, you wasted no time setting down the pile when you saw he was awake, coming to the head of the bed so you could check on him. A careful hand to check his fever sent a tingly wave through his cloudy mind. "Do you have enough blankets? Are you comfortable?"

"If you pile any more of them on, you may not be able to find me." he replied, playful and a little out of it. Memories of waiting out fevers seemed so far away now that he was here with you. It was almost impossible to remember those days, and how he'd spent so much time struggling alone…

"Good to know you're comfortable." you replied in a similar mood, smiling as you adjusted the covers. He allowed himself to lean into your hands, the dull ache in his head lessening at your touch. A few moments of contact almost had him asleep before you spoke up again. "Can I get you anything else? Anything at all?"

"Nah, I'm good." he croaked on reflex, the soreness of his throat catching him off guard. Briefly tempted to keep the discomfort to himself, he gave in when a rough cough racked him with discomfort, and your offered kindness proved too tempting. "Alright, maybe another one of those mango lozenges would be nice…"

"Here." you said without delay, handing him the unwrapped sweet before he could blink. Popping it into his mouth, he savored the delicious flavor and soothing relief in equal measure. 

"You're the best." he sighed without thinking, so lost in the comfort of your presence he forgot himself. The many days he'd spent suffering alone felt like distant and faded memories compared to the simple delight of being at your side. He hadn't a clue what he'd done to deserve this, but he didn't especially care. Your careful hand lovingly stroking his head was all it took to lull him into a near sleep.

"I know." you said softly, ensuring he was fully tucked in. Quite aware of how rough life had been for him, you had no intention of letting Macaque suffer another day alone. His past would not reflect his future.

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"Morning, gorgeous… I brought up some breakfast."

Opening your eyes, you rolled over on the bed just in time to greet Macaque as he came to the top of the steps. Smiling through still lingering sleep, you yawned and moved over so he could sit down, perking up as he handed you your breakfast.

"Mangoes again?" you asked playfully as the fruit was pressed into your palm, finding it cute how much he enjoyed them. Pausing to shrug just before he could take a bite, Macaque laid down at your side, happily munching on the ripe juiciness before he offered an answer.

"I like stone fruit, what can I say?" he said with his mouth full, making you chuckle at how utterly relaxed he was in your presence. Pressing up against his side, you took a much more polite bite of your own breakfast. It was absolutely delicious, so you certainly couldn't complain about his choices. A bit of variety in the future wouldn't be a bad idea though…

"I'll have to get up early and make us something one of these days." you suggested after a moment of thought, getting on your phone to scroll through the morning posts on your socials. A particularly tasty looking plate of sweets gave you an idea. "How would you feel about mango pancakes?"

Macaque tried and failed to hide his enthusiasm, but he still played it cool as best he could, shrugging and chomping down on his fruit as if you hadn't just suggested the breakfast of his dreams.

"I'd be cool with that…"

Chuckling at his antics, you happily finished up your mango and settled in to enjoy the rest of the early morning. You could hear the world waking up outside the window, but felt no compulsion to join it just yet. Recipes for delicious meals you might someday make scrolled across your screen without any particular urgency, and you allowed the relaxed atmosphere to pull a sigh from your lips. It was impossibly nice just to enjoy these little moments, snuggling against Macaque and having nothing particular to accomplish… how far the two of you had come, and how much farther you planned to go…

There was still nothing better than now, the moment the two of you got to enjoy together.

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You were quite the enigma to him even now, probably due both in part to the power you had over his heart and the very unique relationship the two of you had developed.

Demons rarely involved themselves with mortals for benign reasons, and while he liked to point out that was also true of Celestial Beings, he knew most would rightfully look upon his relationship with you and be suspicious. He couldn't have cared less about the "rules" other beings liked to put into place, though he knew there would always be hurdles. No one was ever going to give the two of you permission to be together.

Not that he needed that, of course, but it would have been nice to have for your sake. Knowing you would be okay even if he were punished might have removed a considerable weight from his shoulders.

Knowing that would never happen, he was content to just enjoy what the two of you had however long it lasted.

Moving through the heart of the festival in disguise, he allowed you to lead him along and introduce him to the many human wonders he'd always been too far removed to experience. There were countless games and goods that mortals had prepared to celebrate the new year, and you seemed determined to show him them all. It was almost impossible to think of anything beyond the moments you took his hand in your own.

The rightness he felt as you smiled at him made him more certain than ever of your shared decision. Neither one of you could ever know what the future entailed, but that mattered little when you would face it together.

"Something on your mind?" you asked as you caught him staring, speaking up to be heard over the children laughing.

"Nah, nothing really." he replied, tightening his grip on your hand. "Just… thinking about what we'll do next."

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"I feel ridiculous."

"You look incredibly handsome." you assured, straightening the collar of his costume and pretending not to notice how he perked up at the compliment. Smirking and almost swelling with pride, he allowed you to finish your adjustments without disturbance.

"Well, that's just a given ." he snarked, looking in the mirror as soon as you finished. It was impossible to deny he cut a very dashing figure in the iconic blue suit. "What did you say we're supposed to be again?"

"Beauty and the Beast." you answered with a twirl of your sparkling yellow dress. His eyes lingered on the flowing fabric before they returned to yours, a brow cocked in the start of a smirk.

"Ah, I take it I'm the beauty then, right?" he teased, looking at the two of you side by side in the mirror. There was no way the costume party would be prepared for your arrival.

"I'd rather think of you as my handsome beast." you replied smoothly, cupping his cheek to lay a kiss there. Macaque flushed at the gesture, but found himself emboldened enough by the costume to respond quickly. Sweeping you off your feet, he dipped you low, the tails of his suit sweeping dramatically in his wake.

 "I'm happy to be thought of as such." he purred, lips meeting yours as you realized without much fuss that the two of you were going to be late to the party.