Handsome Stranger
(Monkey King Reborn) Sun Wukong x Reader
(Prompt - Oh No, He's Hot)
Next
It was odd to see the market so empty. You wandered along the sparce road, offering your basket of fruit but the only thing anyone seemed interested in trading was gossip.
The whole village had been buzzing with excitement ever since the arrival of the pilgrims. While travelers weren’t uncommon, word of the newcomers’ strangeness spread like wildfire. It was whispered the monk seemed normal enough; kind, humble, and ordinarily human. But his disciples were another story. A blue-skinned demon wearing a necklace of skulls. A pig monster that leered at the village women. And a furry creature that glowered with murderous intent.
You didn’t actually see the travelers when they first arrived; only the crowd that offered them gifts and hospitality as they were escorted to the local temple. And there the villagers had lingered, hoping to catch another glimpse of the demons; whether out of suspicion or curiosity, you couldn’t be sure.
With everyone too preoccupied to shop and the gathering clouds turning the sky a gloomy gray, you decided to return home and hope for better luck in the morning. As you walked along the empty streets, the ominous feeling of being watched prickled the hairs on the back of your neck. It was so nerve-wracking, you actually jumped when a voice suddenly called out.
“Hey.” It didn’t sound like a greeting, more like a gruff command for attention. “What do you have there?”
You had barely turned around when a blur of red, green, and brown breezed by you. One moment, there were four pieces of fruit in your basket. The next, only three remained.
The culprit stood just a few feet away, the missing peach in his clawed hands. He looked nearly human at a glance, wearing robes of red and green with a circlet glinting from the hair across his brow. But the rest of him was covered in brown fur all the way down to the tip of his long, swaying tail. His dark-rimmed eyes made his piercing gaze that much more intense.
“You’re a demon,” you stated rather than asked, swallowing down your growing fear.
“Congratulations,” he said drily. “You’re not a complete idiot.”
The backhanded compliment stung but you bit back a retort and settled for a tight frown. “Are you some kind of cat or something?”
His eyes widened and jaw dropped in outrage. “I’m a monkey!” he snapped before crossing his arms smugly. “The Monkey King, actually.”
You blinked once in confusion before repeating back, “Congratulations.”
The self-proclaimed Monkey King clearly expected more of a reaction. He scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. “Shows how much you humans know.”
Ignoring his fumbled introduction, you glanced at your basket of fruit thoughtfully. “You’re here with the monk, right?”
“Why?” The word was hissed, laced with defensive bitterness. The monkey suddenly appeared in your space with a sharp, threatening grin. “If you’re wanting us to leave, we’ll be gone in a few days so deal with it until then.”
Up close, it was impossible not to see the smallest details about him. A constellation of freckles speckled across his cheeks and crinkled nose. How the fur framing his face looked so soft, you wanted to run your fingers through it. The slight flecks of red and gold in his brown eyes as they studied you. For a demon, he was surprisingly attractive.
The realization burned through you, fluttering your heart and coloring your cheeks in a bashful blush. A rush of feelings, both affectionate and amorous, sparked in your chest as you forced yourself to look away.
“Actually,” you squeaked out, shoving the fruit basket into his arms. “I was going to say you can have the rest.”
The monkey was caught off guard, staring in surprise. A flush of pink colored his cheeks and slight pout pulled at his lips, making him more adorable in your smitten eyes. “I have nothing to trade,” he admitted quietly.
You only smiled. “Consider it a welcome gift.”
Before he could reply, a flash of lighting lit up the sky followed by a rumble of thunder. You startled a bit while the Monkey King watched the darkening clouds.
“The storm will be here soon.” He reached to plucked a strand of hair from his head and blew on it. In a flash of gold, it transformed into an ornate umbrella that he held out to you. “Here, this will protect you on the way home.”
Despite being a hair only a few seconds before, the umbrella felt heavy and solid in your flustered grasp. “But I–”
“Consider it a gift,” he bluntly cut off your refusal. “You should go. Bring more fruit tomorrow and I’ll have something to trade.” It sounded like an order with just the smallest hint of a request hidden in his tone.
You nodded, both grateful and bashful at once. “Alright.”
The Monkey King’s answering smile was small, soft, and almost relieved. “See you then.”
And just like that, he was gone, fruit basket and all. You glanced around but saw no trace of him along the empty street. As the first few raindrops started to fall, you ducked under the umbrella and hurried home, mind wandering to the handsome demon and what fruits you should pick for him.
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AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62162575/chapters/217904111
