Pretentious Faces (Masquerade Au)

Welcome The Shadow

MK huffed, swinging the hammer, "This is hard, Monkey King!" His body was crying out, sweat soaking through his shirt and headband. The burning in his palms finally convinced him to let go of the handle, sighing deeply.

Wukong patted the boy's back, observing the wall closely, "Well, it'll help you with your enhanced strength, bud. I know it sucks, no, really, I know..." The king shuddered, making the student laugh, "But it's super important. You can only learn so much." MK felt his smile falter.

Was he not enough?

His phone suddenly rang, startling the brunette. He turned to Wukong, holding it up, "City's in trouble, bye, Monkey King!" He turned, rushing back towards his home.

---

...That couldn't be Monkey King. He wasn't wearing a mask, and his clothes were pretty different. However, he also blasted away the giant monster, so maybe they should talk to him.

MK and Mei followed after the figure, scurrying up a rooftop, "Wait! We just wanna talk!" The stranger stopped, turning around to face them. MK stopped abruptly, blinking owlishly, "...Uh, what's your name? This is Mei, and I'm--"

"MK, the Monkie Kid. Yeah, I know, the staff kinda gives you away." The stranger chuckled, "I'm Macaque. The Six-Eared Macaque, actually. Not, uh, sure why that's my name." Mei beamed, "Can you teach MK how to fight like that?!"

MK sputtered, "Huh?! But--" She dragged him away, leaning them down and speaking with a hushed whisper, "You feel like you aren't doing enough, right? Then get an extra hand if Monkey King isn't helping you advance enough!" MK pursed his lips, thinking it over.

"...Okay. I...yeah, why not?" He turned to the dark-furred monkey, "Can you train me, please?"

Macaque hummed, raising an eyebrow, "Isn't Monkey King already training you?" MK glanced away, "Well, yeah... But I'm barely advancing. I don't want to make him upset, y'know?" Mei looped an arm around her friend, giving him a soft squeeze.

The monkey smirked, "Sure. You can never have enough mentors, after all!"

---

It was hard work, keeping up with a second mentor.

He would work at Pigsy's, delivering food and running errands around the city. Then he would go train with Monkey King, hammering away at a mural as the king cheered him on with references he'd learned, keeping the mood light.

And then he went to Macaque.

The shadow user was ruthless in his methods, pushing and grinding MK down into fine powder, constructing him with tough words. He would criticize everything, pushing against the boy's limits. He would chastise the young hero, declaring him a weapon that needed proper sharpening.

MK had never felt more alive.

Wukong seemed to pick up on his advancing skills, though. He'd tried to talk with MK, tried to tell him that it was dangerous. "It can seriously tear apart your body, kid! You--"

MK seethed, baring his teeth at his mentor, "I'm finally getting better! I'm not as helpless anymore, Monkey King! You should be happy I can smash that stupid wall!" His lips pressed together, fists shaking. The masked monkey slowly moved forward, raising a hand towards MK's hands--

The student turned away, spitting out a harsh excuse for leaving. A twinge of regret barely passed over his foreign rage, failing to snap MK out of his haze. It was as if something was draining him, taking him apart.

A signature the king recognized wafted off of the brunette's body, a claim, a taunt, cool as shadows. Wukong's eyes widened, his stance faltering.

It seems an old friend had come to visit.