A kiss for good luck {shadowpeach}

Part 7: Chase is on

"Give me that!"

Macaque startled as an arm snaked over his shoulder to pluck the bottle from his grasp. Wukong, who had picked himself from the ground was leaning over his shoulder, breathing right in his space and - yep, his breath reeked of the same flowers and wet soil. Peaches and mossy rocks too, but that was the usual.

He wrestled the bottle from Wukong's grasp, leaning forwards to gain a better hold. Wukong tried to follow, but was swiftly stopped by a kick to the shin.

Thinking of, it really was a poignant smell. Alcoholic too. Some kind of booze then.

He jammed an albow backwards, hitting Wukong in the ribs and sending him back to the floor. With the stains and litter. Where he belongs.

Then again, that wouldn't be quite right either. Wukong never liked mortal made alcohol. He claimed it was 'way too watered down' and 'barely packed a punch'. He'd down bottles upon bottles of the stuff, and still it'd barely scratch the surface of his stupidly high tolerance. That could have changed of course but...

He took another sniff, really focusing this time, and the alarm bells rung in his head. Heavenly wine. That's why it seemed so familiar. It was one of the only constants of his early life, following the brotherhood everywhere they went.

That thought prompted another realization. He turned around and stared at the sheepish-looking Wukong gathering his bearings.

Suddenly, everything made sense. From the jumbled messages, to the odd behaviour. Normally, Wukong would tear himself in half before he allowed Macaque to push him around. Now he just stared at him like a confused puppy. If puppies were annoying, good for nothing creatures, that is.

There was only one explaination Macaque could think of.

"You're drunk." It wasn't even a question.

Of course he was drunk. Wukong would never willingly spend time with him if he was sober. He'd never ask for his help or invite him over. He couldn't stand the sight of him. Though the feeling was mutual, the thought still stung.

And if he was called here on a whim of a drunk man...

"There never was any danger, was there?" He glared at Wukong over his shoulder. "Just you and your stupid jokes. You're so great you think everything's a joke." He took a breath and looked him in the eye. A part of him needed to know. "Am I a joke to you?"

Wukong huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. It was such a defensive stance Macaque could have laughed. He felt empty instead.

"Well, I never said there was danger, did I?"

Such a Wukong thing to do. Focusing on the least emotional parts. Macaque sighed. Fool me twice...

"Guess that one's on me." He turned away, towards the center of the room. It wasn't all that important anyways. Just one night amidst the thousands he had wasted because of Wukong. For Wukong.

"What did you want anyway?"

He saw Wukong stiffen from the corner of his eye. It lasted barely a second before he visibly relaxed, though the curl of his tail betrayed him. It wasn't something anyone would notice unless they were specifically looking for it. Shame Macaque was one of the few that knew to.

Wukong let out a laugh that bordered on hysteric before answering: "You know, that's funny 'cause I totally just forgot all about that! Why does anyone ever do anything anyways?" His laugh tapered off. After a few moments he snapped his fingers like he just had an idea. A bit too quick. A bit too mechanical.