Seeing Through the Trauma

Therapy (27)

When MK came back the three stayed on the bed together, easily falling into a cuddle pile that squished MK in the middle, and despite their cub's insistence at not being sleepy his eyes quickly fluttered shut when Wukong started grooming through his fur again gently, fingers careful as a rumbly noise built up in the kid's chest. 

It was sweet, and all the tension lines on both his little family members seemed to drop in the pleasant moment of affection. Affection was something monkeys, whether demons or not, needed. It was a social thing, good for mental health, and Macaque himself found how easy it was to relax with the two next to him, MK pressed into his side and Wukong's tail linked with his.

MK wasn't asleep yet, Macaque could tell from the pattern of his heartbeat but he looked halfway there, blissed out and comfortable and Macaque was warm, unsure as he traced a finger down the boy's nose softly and smiled at the way his nose scrunched at the touch how he'd ever gone without this. 

He looked up and stared at Wukong who only had eyes for their cub and wondered how he'd managed for so many years without him, either, when it felt this good to be with him. They both brought a new meaning to the word happiness for him. 

That's why he flicked his ears, listening to the noises in the city and then beyond even though he was sure it would give him a headache later. There was so much noise, the sound of his family's heartbeats and breathing the loudest but Macaque couldn't help but check on the other sounds, wondering if any were threats.

"I think he's asleep." Wukong's ever-so-soft whisper made Macaque focus draw back to the room, only realizing he'd closed his eyes to listen now that he was opening them. Registering his lover's words he looked down and, sure enough, MK's chest rose softly with his breathing, lips parted slightly in sleep and Macaque smiled wider at how his ears flicked in annoyance at the sound of Wukong's voice. 

"Seems like it. Glad he had fun today though. Looks like he needed it." He said, not wanting to go further into that as Wukong hummed, still moving his fingers through the boy's fur carefully. 

 "Yeah. He deserves it, too, after everything." Wukong's voice was low and before Macaque could respond he heard the sound of a bike down the street a few blocks away, something that was clearly traveling in their direction and he sighed. 

"Sounds like MK's little friend is on her way." He muttered, listening to her bike and the sound of the tires screeching on the road too fast to be safe. Wukong sighed at his comment, brushing his fingers through MK's bangs and pouting. 

"Think we can convince her to sleep on the couch tonight?" He asked and Macaque laughed, shaking his head. 

"Not a chance." Wukong's pout grew bigger and Macaque found it adorable. 

"But I want to sleep with him tonight." He whined a little dramatically but Macaque could hear the upset longing in his tone and sighed, reaching out to grab one of Wukong's hands and place a soft kiss on the back of it. 

"I'll ask her for you." He said, knowing what Wukong was asking for and the king's eyes brightened, wide and pleased as he grinned. 

"Thanks! I owe you one." He chirped and Macaque rolled his eyes at the quick change in emotions.

"And don't you forget it." He chided, flicking the other's nose playfully before untangling their tails and carefully getting out of the bed, MK making a soft noise of complaint as his eyebrows scrunched for a moment at the change before he curled closer to Wukong instead, tail curling around the sage's leg. 

It was adorable, like a clinging infant, and the way Wukong's eyes lit up brightly, his smile growing twice as wide, made Macaque inwardly snicker before the sound of an engine stopping outside the restaurant and then turning off made both of them turn their heads to the window.