CURSES /LMK.

twenty-eight

She stirred awake with gentle breaths, finding Mei looming over her figure, concern etched across her features like a delicate brushstroke. A sudden jolt of pain shot through her back, causing her to cry out involuntarily. "What's wrong with-?" she managed, pushing herself up despite the discomfort, her muscles protesting against the movement. As she attempted to stretch her left wing, another cry of pain escaped her lips. Her healing factor seemed to have failed her, leaving her vulnerable and exposed to the throbbing ache that radiated from her injured wing. With a frustrated groan, she opted to keep her wings as still as possible, fearing exacerbating the injury further. "Mei..." she trailed off, her voice tinged with exhaustion as she met Mei's gaze, noticing the somber look in her eyes. Mei stepped forward, her movements gentle yet purposeful, offering to help bandage her injured wing with practiced precision. As Mei worked, deft fingers maneuvering the sterile bandages with care, (Y/N) couldn't shake the questions swirling in her mind like a tempestuous storm. Had they lost the battle? Where was Mk? Where were they now? She strained to catch a glimpse of their surroundings, her eyes scanning the interior of the airship from her vantage point on the ground, but Mei's presence blocked her view, momentarily distracting her from the pressing concerns that weighed heavily on her mind.

"(Y/N), I know you might have passed out before you made it to the ship, but you should know..." Mei's voice trailed off as a boisterous laugh interrupted their conversation, slicing through the air like a sharp blade. (Y/N)'s right wing flared instinctively at the sound, the muscles tensing with a mixture of apprehension and dread. She winced as pain shot through her injured wing, the sudden movement exacerbating the throbbing ache that pulsed beneath her feathers. "Wukong..." she muttered through gritted teeth, the mere mention of his name sending a shiver down her spine. With a determined grit, she pushed herself up from the ground, ignoring the protests of her protesting muscles, and moved past Mei's kneeling figure, her jaw set in a stubborn line. 

She crept behind Mk, her steps cautious and deliberate, but he had already caught her gaze, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her freeze like a deer caught in headlights. He looked at her with a mix of awe and regret, his expression a mirror of the turmoil of emotions that swirled within her own chest. "Oh, would you look at that! What a coincidence to have you both... here haha," Mk spoke, his attempt at lightening the mood falling flat between them, his laughter ringing hollow in the silence that followed. Ignoring his feeble attempt, Wukong turned his attention to her, his gaze piercing as he examined her figure with a scrutiny that made her skin prickle with unease. "Is your wing alright?" he finally asked, his voice laced with genuine concern that caught her off guard, the warmth of his concern washing over her like a balm to her wounded soul. She nodded slowly, her mouth dry and her throat tight, unable to form words in response to the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "Are you... Are you alright?" Her question came hesitantly and softly, a whisper in the deafening silence that enveloped them like a suffocating blanket. It was clear that he had missed her, his concern for her well-being evident in every word and gesture. Wukong smiled at her, a flicker of warmth lighting up his eyes as he waved his bandaged tail in her direction, a silent invitation for her to draw closer. "Could be better," he replied with a playful wink, his tone light yet tinged with a hint of vulnerability that she couldn't ignore.

The air fell into an awkward silence as Wukong looked over her face once more, his gaze lingering on the small scratches that adorned her skin from the fierce battle they had just endured. Guilt gnawed at him like a relentless beast, clawing at his conscience as he berated himself for not arriving in time to aid her and his trainee. He felt pathetic, powerless in the face of the dangers that threatened to tear them apart. "Okay! Gather around everybody, it's Monkey King story time," he declared, his voice filled with forced enthusiasm as he attempted to shift the focus away from the lingering tension between them.