#shadowpeach fic

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Macaque was leaning over the ship's railing, eyeing the fast-moving landscape with furrowed eyebrows. Saying that he was worried would be an understatement. Lady Wan stated that she needed a proper environment for carrying out his operation. It was a delicate work after all and any disturbance could make it fail. After much debate, Red Son offered his lab. It had all the equipment needed for this type of work and it was sanitized regularly. Don't get him wrong, Macaque was glad to see others work so hard for his well-being, and he was quite grateful to Red Son for offering his place, but Red Son's lab was in the Bull's territory… And Macaque wasn't on the greatest of terms with the Bulls.

Now, Macaque didn't induce the Bull's wrath, contrary to his sun, but it didn't mean he was welcomed on their lands. He had never been that close to DBK. At the time, he was still wallowing in his own self-hatred and his overcoming jealousy, believing the brotherhood was trying to steal Wukong. And while Macaque never truly interacted with PIF, he knew she didn't like the brotherhood, and even if he never truly fit in within the group he was still part of it. Not to mention he never tried to rekindle with them after his rebirth. Choosing to focus on Wukong instead. Surely this didn't bettered his image to them. It was admittedly quite rude to utterly ignore your old-friend and chase after your killer instead. He didn't think DBK was mad at him for not reaching out but surely it cemented the fact they were never close to begin with, and all relationships between them were ground to dust.

And now Macaque was going to knock on their door and plead for them to allow him in. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. The fact they were coming totally unannounced and without gifts was also quite rude. But Lady Wan made it clear that they didn't have time for decorum. His soul was on the line. They had to hurry.

Sock jumped on the railing and pushed against his arm, demanding pets. Macaque wasn't one to refuse her (nobody was truly), he lowered his hand and scratched behind her ears.

“I'm sure even the Bulls would not refuse you.” Snorted the six-eared monkey as he moved his scratches under her chin. If there was one absolute power in all three realms, it was cuteness. He couldn't even begin to count all the times he allowed Wukong to do something utterly stupid because the other managed to sway him with a cute bat of his eyelash.

Macaque admitted to himself that he ought to harden his resolve. Even if Wukong wasn't as shameless as in his youth, Macaque was pretty sure he would still fold rather easily if the great sage tried to be cute.

Lava-filled lands appeared on the horizon. Macaque felt the ever-present heat of the Bull's territory hit his face, he tugged at his scarf in a vain attempt at protecting himself. He wasn't a fan of extreme heats. Nor was he a fan of harsh valleys. At heart, he was a monkey of glistening sun and soft meadows. But he had to admit that the Bull's territory heat was somehow easier to take in than the Black-Ash Desert’s glaring sun.

The ship dived down within the lava-filled lands. They settled down and walked toward the fortress. Surprisingly enough, they weren't immediately chased after knocking on the door, probably because Red Son was with them. Instead they were settled around a long table made of obsidian. Macaque gulped. The seats were elegant yet cold, somehow they fit the feel of the ones ruling over the lands. Food was served, but no one dared to eat, except Xiaobo who didn't seem to care about where they were as long as food was on their plate.

Wukong was by his side, fidgeting with Sock, seemingly as nervous as he was.

“This is kinda nerve-wracking.” Whispered Macaque, Wukong turned towards him and smiled. Something small, almost hidden by the shadows of his face, yet undoubtedly there.

“Talk to me about it.” Sighed the great sage, his tail coiled around Macaque's. The warrior let it happen, feeling reassured by the familiar warmth latching on the appendage.

DBK was the first to appear, his steps echoed in the floor, making it whine. He settled at the table's end, hunched over. He was as imposing as Macaque remembered. Yet somehow he also looked softer. There were ripples on his battle-hard face that weren't there in his youth. The vicissitudes of life didn't spare anyone it seemed, even the mightier. His wife settled by his side. She was as cold as ever. Her face was not betraying one ounce of her emotions.

“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Asked PIF with narrowed eyes. Her eyes hardened when they settled over Wukong.

Macaque concluded that since this matter was related to him, he should be the one to plead for his cause. He didn't want to let the others do everything. His soul was the one in danger. He should be the one shouldering the responsibility of it. The black-furred monkey cleared his throat and straightened himself, he didn't dare to raise himself.

“We came here for Red Son's lab.” It was better to be straightforward with what they wanted. “We need it to perform an operation on me.”

“I was the one suggesting my lab.” Chimed Red Son, his mother raised an eyebrow at his inputs.

“What kind of operation are we talking about?” Asked DBK, his gaze swept over Macaque's form with inquiry.

Lady Wan, who until now was helping her nibling understand the vast world of silverware, perked up at the question. She put her fan down and faced the Bull without any signs of nervosity.

“It is a delicate operation involving the soul.” She answered, her input surprised both rulers. Souls affairs were no light matters after all.

“The nature of the operation put aside, why should we allow them in our home?” Asked PIF with narrowed eyes. Even if the Bull's agreed to put their world-domination ambitions to rest, they were still officially enemies of Sun Wukong. Reputation was everything for a demonic family. And allowing someone related to their enemy in their home would tarnish their reputation.

Wukong tensed, he knew very well that he was the reason why the Bull's were hesitant. The golden-furred monkey hardened himself and sat up, Sock jumped out of his lap and settled on the floor. Despite his stage fright, he paid no mind to the eyes turning his way. Under the table, his tail twitched nervously and coiled tighter against Macaque's. Wukong stared at both DBK and PIF with resolve before slowly bowing. He didn't fall on his knees, he knew it would be insincere, but he inclined his head.

“I plead to put our quarrel on the side. If you could allow this, you'll have my entire gratitude.” Silence prevailed. Both DBK and PIF were frozen by shock. Nobody expected the Great Sage to bow. The mere idea was revolting. Macaque sprang on his feet and grasped Wukong's shoulders.

“You don't have to.” Mumbled the black-furred monkey, voice shaking. For his sun to bow because of him. It was bitter. Sun Wukong was supposed to be unbending.

“I want to.” Firmly replied Wukong, not moving an inch. Macaque gulped, throat tight. He naturally bowed alongside his sun.

“Please.” Muttered the six-eared monkey, voice strangled. It didn't take long for the rest of the team to bow too, except perhaps Lady Wan and Xiaobo.

“I'll take responsibility, mother, father.” Added Red Son with a firm gaze, not willing to back down.

PIF was about to say something but she was stopped by her husband, DBK put one of his large hands on his wife's shoulder and sighed. The Bull seemed quite tired, his gaze pinned down both monkeys before settling on his son.

“If our son is so determined, then so be it.” Macaque sighed in relief, so did Wukong. The golden-furred monkey looked up at his ex-brother with gratitude.

“Thank you.” Said the great sage with a smile.

“I am not doing this for you.” Answered DBK as he rose, he gestured for servants to take the team to guest chambers and left along with his wife. Wukong's shoulders sagged, as if disappointed by the Bull's answer, he averted his eyes.

Macaque squeezed his forearm, trying to comfort him. The golden-furred monkey smiled and leaned in the touch. They were guided to their guest rooms, Lady Wan needed to familiarize herself with Red Son's lab, as such they couldn't begin the operation right away. At the same time the Bull's didn't want them to wander in their fortress, and so they were confined to guest rooms.

Macaque and Wukong chose a room for themselves, the warrior could easily see how affected his sun was by what happened. He needed some time to think it through. Macaque knew how much Wukong had valued his friendship with the members of the brotherhood. Seeing DBK mustn't be easy.

Wukong collapsed on one of the beds while Sock wandered in the room, sniffing every new corners. The black-furred monkey eyed him from the corner of his eyes while he unfastened his weapons. He didn't like to see Wukong so down but he also knew he wasn't the best when it came to comforting people, still he tried.

“You're okay?” Asked the black-furred monkey as he leaned over his sun and sat on the edge of the bed. His weight made the mattress shift. Wukong sighed, he looked up at Macaque and tried to muster up a smile.

“Yeah…”

“That wasn't convincing.” Snorted Macaque. “If you wanna lie, do better.” Wukong scoffed fondly, he sat up and leaned on Macaque's shoulder.

“You think… I'll be able to patch things up with DBK?” Quietly asked Wukong, his voice so feeble it was immediately lost in the room's silence. Macaque gulped. That was a sensitive subject. While he wanted to believe they could reconcile, he didn't know DBK's mind on the matter. In fact, the Bull's mind was quite unfathomable to him, they were polar opposite in many ways.

“It'll be hard.” Hummed Macaque, he put his hand over Wukong's shoulders and brought him closer.

“You know, normally people say stuff like : ‘you will totally be able to patch things up, who can stay mad at you Wukong!’” Macaque snorted at Wukong's poor imitation of his voice. He didn't sound like this at all.

“Do you want me to say that?” Asked Macaque with a raised eyebrow. Wukong looked up at him and sighed, he cupped Mavssue's face and squished his face. How dare he?

“No, it'll freak me out if you're too nice. I prefer you when you're all sarcasm and brutal honesty.” Chuckled Wukong, Macaque rolled his eyes and pushed his sun's hands away.

“You didn't have to bend, you know.” Muttered Macaque in a sigh. Wukong put his forehead on Macaque's and dived in his gaze.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Macaque would be lying if he said that didn't make his heart flutter. The old Wukong would have never let go of his pride, even if it was for his sake. Not that he cared less but that his ego wasn't something he was willing to put down at the time. The warrior felt something warm erupt in his body, he wanted to… to love that stupid (wonderful) sun. Macaque lurched forward and kissed the great sage.

Wukong's muffled sound of surprise was drowned in their lips. Macaque pressed closer, he grasped Wukong's clothes and latched on him. Slowly, he pushed him on the mattress and pressed him down. Wukong closed his eyes, he grasped Macaque's shoulders and pressed him even closer. Their lips pushed against one another in a fierce war of tenderness. Wukong licked his moon's lips, hoping for entrance. Macaque didn't deny him.

They pushed and pushed, wanting to merge, to lose themselves in the other's everything. It was intoxicating to be this close. Especially for ones as touch-starved as themselves. It burned them in the most delicious of ways.

“I don't know what brought this up.” Panted Wukong after they separated, his eyes were glazed by mind-numbing clouds. “But I am not complaining.” He smiled, his tail thumping loudly on the mattress. Macaque's tail wasn’t better.

The warrior scoffed fondly, he made himself comfortable in his sun's arms and closed his eyes. Wukong welcomed him with glee.

“Don't get used to it.” Huffed Macaque.

“That's too late.” Chuckled Wukong. He tightened his hold on the warrior and nosed his head. “I will never be able to live without this anymore.”

Macaque turned his head and hid his smile in Wukong's chest. They curled around one another, their limbs coiling, so much that they almost became one. Macaque felt so very good. He thought, if he wasn't able to make it through the operation, he wanted to go with this memory etched on his mind. With the feel of his sun's arms on his skin. With the feel of his breath fanning his head. With the sound of his purr and the flutter of his heart in his ears.

If he had to go, he wanted to go coddled in the memory of their love.

Sock jumped on top of them, not happy to not be included in their cuddles sessions.