Redemption |ShadowPeach|

Addressing the situation

If the chapter escalates then you'll know why. I tried to take my time as much as possible while writing this.

Thanks for being a part of this journey with me! Enjoy the chapter!

| Third person |

| TW//; Mentions of r@pe are ahead. Read with caution! |

Friday morning dawned with a soft glow, hinting at the impending warmth of the day. Wukong sat in the backseat of the van, his thoughts a whirlwind as he mentally prepared for every possible mishap that could unfold. The air was thick with a blend of apprehension and determination; he had made sure that nothing was left to chance. A few of his colleagues from the agency had gathered to bring him to the mall, a simple mission to buy clothes that would help him blend into the civilian world. The thought of leaving his beloved albino chimps alone nagged at him, even though he had faith in their ability to look after each other.

As he sank into the plush seat, a sense of punishment washed over him, a lingering reminder of a single mistake that had spiraled into this awkward situation. Wukong reflected on how easily one misstep could lead to a devastating downfall; it was a swift regression back to the person he had fought so hard to leave behind. Yet, he was keenly aware that he wasn't regressing in the traditional sense. Rather, he found himself acting out in a childlike manner, a fact that both amused and troubled him. His usual inclination toward procrastination crept into his thoughts, a familiar companion he could not shake off.

"Soo..." he ventured to break the silence, turning to Ao Lee, who was perched beside him in the back of the van. Ao Lee regarded him with a skeptical gaze, finally letting out a dramatic sigh. The transformation in his demeanor was striking; he had shifted from his usual reserved self to an exuberant and talkative presence in the span of a few days.

"You really need to step up your game, Wukong. If I hadn't brought up the clothing issue to Buddha, you would have been shot down without a second thought." The gravity of his words hit Wukong like a cold splash of water, the implications sinking in. 

A shiver ran down his spine, and his hair bristled in agitation as his chimps, ever attentive, began to pat it down—a loving yet comical sight. Two of them perched on his shoulders, their tiny fingers combing through his locks while the third sat in the back seat, diligently searching for any unwanted pests. In that moment, Wukong recognized this whole ordeal as a fitting punishment. If it weren't for his stubbornness, things might have turned out differently.

Wukong forced a wide, exaggerated grin and shrugged, trying to brush off the tension. "Yeah. Haha, shot down. Right. Okay." But Ao Lee's demeanor shifted dramatically, the bubbly energy replaced by a seriousness that made Wukong uneasy. Leaning closer, Ao Lee's intense gaze pierced through him. 

"Don't underestimate the enemy. Do you understand me?" he pressed, his voice steady and earnest.

"Uh... yeah, bud. I got it." Wukong replied, swallowing hard. "I made a mistake, and I have to fix it. But I guess this is my punishment for being stubborn."

"Sun Wukong. Get your act together. If you intend to play the part of the enemy, you need to dress and think like one." 

The words left Ao Lee's lips, as Wukong began to register the meaning of his words. A light bulb flickered on in his mind.

"Ah. Okay! That makes sense!" His grin broadened, genuine this time, as he felt the spark of clarity return. Ao Lee's demeanor shifted too, snapping back to his quirky, effervescent self. He bounced slightly in his seat, a childlike enthusiasm radiating from him—an appearance that was decidedly deceptive, Wukong mused. Acting the way he did might keep him—hopefully—out of trouble.