Work Text:
Flowers.
The thick scent of roses and poppies filled the air, tinting the area with strong flowery fumes. Wukong inhaled the scent and tried to slow his heartbeat.
So what if he was stuck in this stupid scroll Azure had trapped him in, and so what if MK and the others hadn’t gone back in to find him yet? So what if he was caught in his memories, which showed no signs of stopping? And so what if he was in most of them?
Wukong slowed his breathing and took stock of his surroundings. What horrible memory would he be forced to relive this time? What –
His breath skipped as he sensed a cold piece of metal on his head. His hands rose to trace the familiar golden crown on his forehead.
NONONONONONONONO not again not again not again not again –
‘Wukong! There you are!’
He froze.
Nononononononono –
‘Where have you been?’
Wukong quickly shut his eyes, trying to shut out who was coming closer, closer, closer –
‘Hey, what’s wrong?’
He tentatively opened his eyes to find – nonononononono – a familiar monkey staring up at him, slightly shorter than Wukong. His shiny black fur shone in the sunlight, his yellow eyes curiously looking into Wukong’s, searching for the reason he was upset.
Macaque.
Even the name sent chills through Wukong’s body.
He knew what happened in this memory.
Nononononono –
‘What’s up with you?’ Macaque tilted his head to the side, taking Wukong’s hands in his.
Involuntarilly, Wukong flinched and backed away, breath quickening.
‘Don’t.’ he gasped through short breaths.
Might as well go through what’s supposed to happen in the memory.
‘You hurt the Monk, Macaque.’ He whispered. ‘You therefore need to be punished accordingly.’
Tears were already bubbling at the edges of his eyes, even though he knew this was barely the start of the memory.
‘Wukong? I-Is the Monk making you do this?’ Macaque stuttered, eyes drifting to the crown on his head.
Breathe.
Just breathe and everything will be alright.
Hands shaking, Wukong raised the staff, ready for combat, waiting for Macaque to do the same.
He avoided his eyes as Macaque just stood there, shaking and trying not to scream. He had looked the first time. The eyes had shone with denial, confusion, betrayal.
Betrayal.
‘I used to love you,’ Macaque whispered in horror, and Wukong shivered, staring at the ground in shame as he readied his weapon.
‘Wukong?’
A different voice.
Different.
But still the same.
He slowly looked in the direction of the voice.
Macaque.
Present-day Macaque.
Macaque’s eyes shone in confusion, before finding Past-Him. He flinched.
Macaque’s eyes drifted to Wukong’s. Wukong gulped. Tears finally toppled down his cheeks, and he began to sob, mumbling weak apologies and trying to force air into his lungs.
What he didn’t expect was Macaque to shoot towards him, arms wrapped tightly around Wukong.
He buried his head in Wukong’s shoulder, tears toppling down his cheeks in return. The two sobbed into each other, arms tightening in comfort for the other.
Flowers.
The thick scent of roses and poppies filled the air, tinting the area with strong flowery fumes. Wukong inhaled the scent and tried to slow his heartbeat.
So what if Azure had trapped him in the scroll?
He had Macaque now.
Flowers.