Chapter Text
The planned attack on heaven was just a few tantalizing hours away. The brotherhood reviewed the strategy one last time, as planned. Yellowtusk and Demon Bull King would break past the initial defenses of heaven, leaving them open to an all-out attack from Peng, Azure, Macaque, and, of course, Wukong. Once the heavenly troops were distracted, Azure and Macaque would make an opening for Wukong to go and attack the Jade Emperor. Once the Jade Emperor fell or conceded defeat, Azure would take his power and then usher in a new age for both the celestial and mortal realms alike.
It sounded so easy when you said it like that.
With the golden sky on the horizon, everyone was gearing up. Wukong noticed Macaque fumbling with tying their armor "Hey bud! You need help again?" He asked cheekily, his hands already moving on their own to help accord. Macaque just rolled their eyes playfully "I had it on fine before. Worried?" They asked with a tilt of his head. Wukong just gave a hearty laugh, "PFFFT! NAH! We have this set! We've been over the plan a thousand times already! We're gonna waltz up there, beating up everyone in heaven easy peasy, and then BOOM! We're so immortal nobody would even think about messing with us again! We won't even know what to do with it all!" Wukong smiled cockily.
"An oversimplification of the plan. Wukong, please do take this seriously. You have to be your strongest up there. Promise?" Macaque stuck their pinky out as a childish way to make sure Wukong stuck to his word. Wukong nodded determinately, a slight flush on his cheeks as he interlocked pinkies. "I promise. And then. We'll just chill out for the next... forever!" Wukong's grin widened as he broke pinkies to link up and give the same talk with Azure. He missed the way Macaque looked at him with a knowing smile.
Then it was time.
Everything was going according to plan, Yellowtusk and Demon Bull King had broken through Heaven's initial defenses with the slighest step back being that Demon Bull King seemed to be getting bested by one of the heavenly maidens. She was as powerful as she was beautiful. With one of their brothers getting distracted, the all-out attack lagged, but it was nothing; the unstoppable duo that was the hero and the warrior couldn't have stepped up. Armies fell under the combinations of attacks; they worked in tandem with each other. Their fight was no different than a dance, each step and clash of weapons felt like it was all to a familiar tune.
Wukong couldn't help but be silently amazed at his warrior. Macaque was so powerful yet so precise and graceful, their six ears glowing faintly in the warm light of heaven. They had a composed beauty to them that Wukong thought could rival even the most stunning of princesses. But they were stronger than an army; he was one of the few beings who could keep up with him while he was still gaining his powers. Even though they eventually were surpassed, they did everything to refine their skills and what they were good at. Wukong couldn't help but blush and smile at his warrior, knowing it wouldn't reach their eyes.
He was never one to truly understand his feelings, despite being so emotional. He knew he didn't like being disrespected; he knew what he liked and didn't like, but mostly, he knew what he wanted and had the drive to work towards it. He wanted to be immortal, so he went to Master Subodhi and erased his name from the book of the dead. He wanted more power, so he stole the immortal peaches, drank the heavenly wine, and even ate the immortality pills in Lao Tzu's alchemy. But when it came to Macaque, he couldn't help but want something from them, too.
He didn't know what it was; it felt stronger than any sort of feeling he had felt before. The closest thing he could compare it to was want.
Even now, when the soldiers of heaven started to fall back, Azure and Macaque were working to make an opening for him to take down the Jade Emperor. Even the adrenaline rush he was feeling, getting so close to finally taking down heaven, and winning. It felt minute compared to what he felt towards Macaque. His heart was pounding against his chest, beads of sweat rolling down his face.
He didn't know what to think of his feelings towards Macaque; all he knew was that he wanted them to never leave his side. Once they all ruled heaven, he could put Macaques' worries at ease. The two of them could relax together. It would be just the two of them.
Wukong hopped on his nimbus and plucked out a few strands of his hair so the formed clones could take down the soldiers coming his way. The Jade Emperor had finally caught on that he was about to lose it seems. He dwarfed everyone easily. And yet, Wukong's gaze fell back on Macaque, who was fighting soldier after soldier. They looked back to smile at Wukong.
Time seemed to slow if just for this moment. Wukong would be happy exactly like this, smiling at each other like no one else mattered. Not the brotherhood, not heaven, not anybody. Yes. That's what it was. A want. I want to spend the rest of eternity next to Macaque. Listen to them talk about anything and everything. I want that future, with them by my side.
My shadow.
My warrior.
My peach.
My moon.
...
The horrifying squelch of a sword being driven into flesh seemed to deafen everything around Wukong as he saw Macaque get stabbed from the back of his chest, the end of the sword protruding outward.
Wukong felt his entire being screech to a halt as he watched the sword get yanked out of his moon's chest, letting the other fall to the ground with an almost insignificant thud. Everything seemed to buzz together in white noise as he felt his cloud disappear into nothing, letting Wukong fall to his shaky legs.
He was shaking, wasn't he? Even as the Jade Emperors' figure towered over everyone, all he found the strength to do was reach and pull Macaques' body closer. He was sure Azure was shouting something as he and the rest of the brotherhood were getting cornered, but he didn't care; he was more concerned about why Macaques' hand was so cold. So still. That shouldn't be right; there should be a pulse. Why wasn't there a pulse?! Wukong felt a sudden lack of breath as he interlocked hands with Macaque.
He had held hands with Macaque before, and Macaque never seemed to mind much, even when Wukong's hands got sweaty. They would always tease him for being so clingy. "...Macaque?..." He sounded so quiet and weak then. His voice breaking as burning tears began to well in his eyes and fall down his cheeks, landing on Macaques' clothes. The rest of the brotherhood had retreated already, Yellowtusk, Peng, and Azure using their celestial weapons to leave with the Demon Bull King still nowhere.
It was just the two of them now.
Macaque stared back up at him, a small smile etched on their face, with a pair of lifeless eyes looking back at him. It must've been uncomfortable to be so cold. Wukong pulled Macaque closer, burying his face in their shoulder, trying to warm them up. He was no doubt ruining their scarf with his tears. Macaque would surely scold him once they woke up and headed back home.
Of course, it's so simple.
Once this was over. The two of them would go back to Flower Fruit Mountain, eat a bunch of peaches till they get sick of eating them... lie in the grass under the clear night sky and count stars... fall asleep under their favorite tree by the beach... and they would do that for eternity... Just the two of them
Wukong didn't dare move himself off Macaque, even as the celestial guards had surrounded the two of them, and the Jade Emperor's shadow loomed over both him and Macaque. He couldn't stop his tears from flowing like hot lava down his face. He didn't care to listen to their mutterings about how he was behaving; he didn't want their pity or scorn. He just wanted to keep holding Macaque close. Even when their blood started soaking his clothes.
And before he knew it. Then came his swift punishment from heaven.
Wukong shot up from his couch, tears pricking the corners of his eyes as he did. He sat there panting for a few minutes before realizing it was just another memory turned nightmare. Wukong let his hand catch his head as he sat there in his all too silent hut. He's had many regrets over his long life, Macaque was never one of them, and yet they seemed to haunt him the most in his sleep.
Despite it being many centuries ago, this was still something Wukong couldn't seem to move on from. Move forward, he could, he had to, but moving on was an impossible ask of him. Wukong got by day to day, but there would be these moments, these nights, where the memory of Macaque and their demise would come back to taunt Wukong of what could have been and what did happen.
If only he hadn't been so reckless and wanting in power. Maybe Macaque would be with him on the mountain today. Maybe they would be sleeping in the same bed. Macaque could watch him mentor Mk; he's sure Macaque would like a bunch of those anime cartoons Mk keeps basing some of his attacks on. They could've both seen the world evolve around them... Maybe the two of them could've been more than friends, maybe Wukong could've realized what that feeling he had for Macaque was all those years ago.
These nightmares and dreams of Macaque have been getting more frequent for Wukong; he hasn't been getting much sleep lately, which is a pain since he's supposed to be training Mk tomorrow. Maybe he'll just have Mk step into the strike, break a mural of his pilgrim brothers or Macaque... get their face out of his home so he can finally get some sleep.