hiraeth

you didn't really give a shit to begin with

sure, it was amazing having MK as a best friend AND successor to some immortal jackass

all you've heard from MK is that Wukong was—

"HE'S THE BEESST!" MK squealed as he swung the red staff around in the air, swiftly doing stances with each turn. "Just as the legend says, [Name]! He's strong, handsome, and- and- he taught me that you should ALWAYS believe in yourself—"

"MK, I could have told you that myself."

though, there was a small part of you that wasn't atleast curious of what or who Sun Wukong is

it seemed MK talked about you alot, because sometimes Wukong asked for you to join

"Hey [Name]." MK would approach you as you held twenty dishes in hand, "Monkey King asked me... to ask you, if you wanted to- sort of- join in on the training—?"

that'd be when MK would receive a wooden spoon to the back of his head, sending him flying to the ground face-first

"HELL NO! HE GOT ONE OF YOU, I'M NOT LETTING HIM TAKE THE OTHER!" Pigsy would screech, somehow spawning another wooden spoon in his palms.

after that, MK stayed for shifts a bit longer than expected‐ you'd ask why and he'd tell you Monkey King seemed like he was sulking, so he gave him a break

weird stuff

it was during personal training that you'd finally meet the Great Sage‐ not under great circumstances

and no, it wasn't for the end of the world

MK was prepping his own moves, with you on the side for... support? Mei came around in a bit, sitting beside you.

"I wonder what else I can do.." MK mumbled to himself, pushing his hand out as it began to glow a bright yellow. "YAAAAAAAHH!"

everything went black

and you slowly opened your eyes to see Mei beating the absolute shit out of MK

"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY—"

"YOU TURNED MY BEST FRIEND INTO A BUNNY- CHANGE HER BACK, NOW!"

you blinked, looked down, and screamed.

you quickly rushed- well, hopped‐ towards a full-length mirror and gazed upon yourself.

you turned into a life-sized bunny

half the day was spent with MK trying to turn you back but nothing worked, just a sweaty man on the floor and a whole lot of sobbing apologies

it would've been fine but you were starting to do strange things

like, you hated Pigsy for example

"Kid, what the hell is up with you?" Pigsy asked, his eyes filled with nothing but concern.

"Don't TOUCH me!"

you found some menstrual pads, chocolate, and some take-out noodles on your bed the next day

you weren't on your period.

you nudged people, head-butted, and didn't sleep at all at night

sometimes you'd watch MK sleep and he'd wake up to your purring, and then others would wake up to his terrified screams

finally, MK took you to Flower Fruit Mountain- he couldn't turn you back himself, but someone can

that'd be the Monkey King himself

you were especially weird this week- you had made a dirty den in the shop, growling at anyone who came near

so, yeah, that was kind of the last straw for Pigsy

when Monkey King came out to greet MK and Mei, he never did

he squealed at the sight of you, pushing the kids aside (quite roughly, sending them flying off the stairs) and rushed you with open arms

he kissed your face, nibbling your cheeks— a part of him actually thought you were an early birthday gift

"O-M-G! You're so cute! What brought you here, hmmmm? Oooooooo, I just wanna eat you up and put you in my pocket-" He babbled nonsense as he carried you, pinching your cheeks.

that was until you practically pounced on his face, pulling his nose close to yours as you stared into his eyes.

"You'd give me great kittens."

"...Oh?"

It took MK a while to try and separate you both and it took a while longer convincing Wukong to turn you back

"Look, man, I need you to bring her back to her- you know, normal self."

"But why????"

"You KNOW why!"

"If dealing with her is so difficult, I could... take her off your hands—"

"MONKEY KING." "DON'T YOU DARE!"

"WHAAAAATTTT?"

eventually, after like two days, MK convinced Wukong. it would've taken longer if it weren't for you actually telling him that you wanted to be yourself again

after Wukong's dramatic tears and hard hugs, he turned you back

lucky for you, you don't remember anything that happened after being converted

well, lucky for like a few seconds after you got back to the shop

"So you kind of asked Monkey King to, uh.." MK got close to your ears, whispering the rest."

your face went red, "I did what?"

"I think he was into it too—"

He didn't know why he didn't just use his ability to shadow himself to where you were. Maybe it was because he'd gotten used to not using them around you.

After a whole hour, he checked the spot he least expected you to be in.

The mountain where he betrayed MK.

...Were you secretly still hating him for that?

He gulped and approached your crouched figure, standing beside you. He knew you knew he was there.

"...Can I sit here?"

Your nod was all he needed.

Macaque sat down next to you, and there was silence.

Then, you spoke. "I thought you trusted me."

Macaque instantly perked at that, waving his hands side to side in a panic. "I do, I do! You're one of the few people, I swear!"

"Then why were you so distant this past weeks?"

He paused, and you frowned.

"You refuse to talk to me about it. I know we made those boundaries, but you just seemed so deflated and depressed, I can't just stand by and watch you be like that." You inhaled sharply, "I wanted to see you atleast smile today, but—"

"I yelled at you." Macaque finished for you, turned his head away.

You stared at him, noticing how his tail curled. He was distancing again.

"...Does this have something to do with MK? Wukong?"

Macaque sighed and placed a fist to his heart as a way to calm himself. "Alright, alright... so, um.." He pulled at his scarf and reached for a white piece of paper before handing it to you.

You took it, staring at the faces of Wukong and Macaque. It was them from the past, for sure, Wukong was making a goofy face, probably the one who took the picture while Macaque was caught rolling his eyes.

You flipped it and found the date. The date was today.

"Today is the day I died."

You looked up to see him.

"The day me and Monkey King fought. You know the story..." Macaque mumbled as he played with his black hair, before raising a finger. "Of course, this isn't an excuse for me yelling at you, I just.." He trailed off when he turned to you.

Your eyes were wide, soft tears began to brim those gorgeous eyes he loved so much. It made Macaque instantly begin to sniffle, looking away.

"I-I didn't want to bring it up." He continued, "He and I just... fuck, he was my best friend. For so many years, and it's just gone, it always blows my mind. I just... I sometimes wish I can share a peach with him again, and just talk... fuck.."

You moved close for a hug, and he returned it, burying his face into your neck as he cried. You cried with him.

"I miss him, [Y/N]..."