#goldennight

Many arguments filtered in through MK's head as his eyes refused to tear themselves away from the other's relaxed posture―inspecting her trimmed nails with boredom as the rest of the group discussed their next plan of hangout up ahead.

Side by side like this, without every ounce of charged tension or malice that usually accompanied their close contact with each other, not being harshly pinned down or pushed back, he started to notice things. Things that he had never given the time of the day before. Things that made butterflies flutter in his stomach, heartbeat quickening if he allowed himself to indulge on it.

Side by side like this, MK painfully realized Macaque was captivating.

When they had first met, all that MK could focus about was the similarity between Macaque and Monkey King, the easy impression stuck to him for the most of their interactions, managing to differ between the two later on. So between that and the impression of being a lackey of Lady Bone Demon, he hadn't been able to look closely at her like this, just as Macaque herself and nothing else. Separating her from any of his previous views.

Macaque was peculiar as much as she was nice to the eyes. She was shorter than him, a point that MK hadn't realized because she liked to elevate herself on a platform or make sure he was down below her. A tactic of intimidation, he would guess. Trying to always remain both untouchable and invasive at the same time. Using the resources and methods that she had to manipulate her presence into a controlling one.

Without all that, she was shorter. It is cute. And it only led to more discoveries. Realizations. More and more as it plagued his mind. Unable to pinpoint why now.

Her narrowed or half-lidded lashed golden eyes, flashing violet at times, menacing but strikingly beautiful if he hadn't been busy being thrown around whenever he met her gaze. The dark chocolatey skin that fitted snugly against her night-colored fur, coaxing him to search whether stars existed somewhere in there. Her expressive tail, always reacting and revealing hitches in her emotions despite her everlasting grumpy look. How she pouted at things, sometimes more obvious and sometimes more held back but always there, irritation clear as day. How her long hair had always cascaded down her shoulders, sometimes tucked into her scarf, smooth strands proving enough care put in it despite how she carried herself like she could never care for such things. Same as her nails that were painted purple and glinting in the light. And then how her fighting style could be violent and more on the rough side but she moved elegantly at other times, as if performing on a stage, always calculating the audience's thoughts.

In that sense, MK wondered if him thinking like this was also something that she aimed for.

Especially for today. Because Macaque had styled her hair into a high ponytail, allowing a glimpse of her nape behind the crimson fabric and―――

"You know you could try to be less obvious," Macaque said suddenly, halting his train of thoughts.

MK stared dumbly at her. "Excuse me?"

Macaque turned to look at him, his bored expression earlier quickly shifting into a teasing one. She looked like she was truly having fun as her words rolled out slowly, "You're staring. You think i didn't notice?"

It didn't register right away at first but once it did, MK's face flushed red, roses blooming onto his cheeks. He averted his gaze, small voice almost squeaking out, "I-I'm not."

"Really now?"

MK bit his lip at Macaque's mocking tone, scratching his head, letting his eyes wander back for a split second before he resolutely chose to stare at his own feet. "Well, uh, your hair is different today."

"Oh, this?" Macaque hummed, twirling a lock around her finger before letting it fall on her shoulder, a stray piece now over her chest instead of running down her back. "I guess i could take it as a compliment?" She purred, trying to lean forward so that their eyes would meet again but MK stubbornly avoided her gaze.

MK nodded nervously, not trusting his voice to not turn too loud or stutter from his flustered state.

Macaque thankfully seemed to take it in stride, laughing sweetly, strangely satisfied with his frozen up response. "Thanks, bud."

MK would sigh in relief right then and there at the seemingly safe turn of events but like everything else recently, the world just decided to surprise him. Or in this case, Macaque decided it wasn't the end of the conversation.

Perhaps a payback for not meeting her eyes, Macaque's tail was the one to trap him, wrapping around his wrist and then slithering up his arm. A shiver running down his body. Her tail tapped on his arm curiously a few times as she giggled behind her hand. "Your heartbeat speed up again. Tell me, do you like this hairstyle more?"

"I――" MK barely managed to get his words out before Macaque took his hand to intertwine with hers. She caught his eyes this time and he realized what he felt towards those dirtied golden orbs.

"I'll wear it more, you know," Macaque started, smiling as mirth crinkled the corner of her eyes. Like a wolf that had caught its prey, watching it wriggle and try to escape. "But only if you invite just me next time."

Wait――

"Are you saying...?" MK trailed off, the thumping of his heart echoing in his ears now, only notes of hope playing inside his chest. "A date?"

Macaque laughed the second time, reaching up to pull MK down into a short kiss while ignoring the shocked gasp from afar as Mei surely pointed at them furiously right now. She pulled away to watch MK's awe-struck look with too much glee in her fanged grin. Still confident but with a matching faint blush across her face, she uttered her words like a sweet nectar.

"If you're going to be so enchanted by me, at least take me out on a date first."

MK couldn't help what he did next, cradling the back of her head as he hugged her in excitement, new feelings already soaring while the other yelped and the unexpecting audiences whistled wolfishly.

He took that offer, of course, even if his damsel pouted from his last reaction, failing to make MK fully stop functioning from embarrassment.