To Fix and Mend || Lego Monkie Kid

A Crush

Chapter Text
"That will be 48 dollars," The cashier announced.

MK fumbled into his pocket to pull out his wallet and grab his card, stopped only when Macaque settled a hand on his shoulder.

"I can pay for it," the monkey says, whipping out a crisp 50 dollar bill from his pocket. He slipped it to the cashier, tapping his foot as he waited for his change. As the cashier readied their change and got their groceries into some bags, Macaque could feel MK's curious eyes on his back. "Yes?" he asked over his shoulder.

"You sure have been paying for everything lately," MK notes, rubbing his chin. They were just supposed to get some ice cream for tonight's meet up. And of course MK wanted to get every ice cream flavor they had in various large tubs cause a party NEEDS a lot of ice cream. Clearly.

"Well I've got a lot of extra cash lately. Literal cash." Macaque shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pocket. MK could hear the distinct sound of crumbling bills when he did so.

He found it odd, considering he hadn't even thought Macaque owned a wallet let alone cash. Somehow or another Macaque seemed to just make money materialize. Lately though, there was a very clear and obvious influx of physical money in Macaque's possession.

"Are you secretly rich?" MK narrowed his eyes, leaning against his mentor to make grabby hands when the cashier handed them their bundles of ice cream.

"No?" Macaque snorted, handing the cashier a tip as he left. A nice 20.

MK stared after the cashier, then back to the moon monkey. Side by side, the two made their way down the street.

"Then what is with all the money? I thought you hadn't opened your shadow house yet?" MK poked, pursing his lips.

"It isn't open yet. Still a gaping hole in the wall from a certain someone." Macaque smirked, side eyeing his student. MK looked away, innocently whistling.

"Shouldn't have thrown shadow versions of my friends at me." he says with a smile.

"Right right," Macaque ducked his head, "But you know, I have been covering for you quite a lot at the noodle shop."

"Not that much." MK says.

"3 out of the 5 shifts, yeah I have. Since you are just SO busy with whatever you are doing." Macaque shrugged. He could tell the kid's eyes frantically glancing at him, like the kid worried he might pry or something. But Macaque wasn't really about that like Wukong was. "So yeah, money."

"Pigsy is nice, but the pay is minimum wage. You are like, loaded." MK watched as a 20 slipped from Macaque's pocket and down the road. The guy didn't even seem to care, the money of no concern to him in the long run. "Seriously what are you doing during the noodle runs that I'm not??" MK demanded, circling his mentor to seek answers.

Macaque's lips quirked upwards in a ghost of a smile, but the corners of his mouth soon turned downwards as MK continued to push and shove him. "Kiddo, really-!" Macaque gave the small boy a gentle shove away from him, huffing exasperatedly, "It's all from tips anyway. So really you should be asking yourself how to charm the customers better." he gave a teasing smirk, using his tail to ruffle the kid's hair.

"Hey!" MK huffed. "I'm plenty charming." he puffed his chest out, "I'm categorically adorable~"

Macaque rolled his eyes, even if he found some truth to that, "Who told you that?" he mused.

MK went still, his eyes widening in recognition of the implications of his words. The air suddenly felt heavy and tense, "Um-" his ears flushed red, offering a sheepish smile as he looked away. "C-Can't remember who," he says. Macaque felt that was a lie but didn't push. Wasn't his business. "Anyway, I've never gotten tips that good."