Loving a Prison

Chapter 13: Allies

Macaque frowned as he watched Wukong cradle their egg. Ever since Heaven had tried to steal their baby, he was rarely seen with MK in his arms. It was also since then that Liang Bai had calmed down, and she could be seen walking by the Priestess's side.

"Peaches," The Shadow King knelt before the other, watching as those eyes looked to him.

The words he had wanted to say faltered inside his throat. There was pure terror in those golden-red eyes. He had never seen such a look on Wukong's faces except for when he feared he would have to kill him. But unlike before, Macaque felt like there wasn't anything he could do to help ease it.

"Peaches," he tried again, "they'll be safe... I have reinforced the barrier, even put one specifically around the nest." He reached forward, cupping his Priestess's face. "They'll be alright."

A terrified chitter escaped Wukong's lips when he opened his mouth, fear clouding his ability to communicate in the human tongue.

"Sshh, sshh." Their foreheads pressed together gently, both of their eyes closed as the egg and Liang Bai laid between them. "We'll train the guards, have a few openly guarding them and have a few Shadows watch. They won' leave our care."

"T-They want war." The tan monkey whimpered, squeezing his eyes closed.

Memories flooded his mind, all bathed in red. How could he forget how violent so many of his forgotten missions were? The reckless amount of bloodshed and destroyed lives was something that he had once turned a blind eye to. Should he had even trusted them after everything he had originally dealt with?!

"Then we'll prepare." Macaque's voice drew him back, opening his eyes to those cool amber ones. "We have allies. Strong and clever allies that I do trust. We won't begin the fight, we'll only prepare and tell the truth."

"The truth." The smaller simian echoed, his grip on MK loosening.

That was right, unlike before they had true allies. They had friends that would care for them. That could take in citizens and give them military aid.

"But what about now?" His brows furrowed, desperately looking for answers from his oldest friend.

"The Brotherhood. We can call upon the Brotherhood."

"But Peng and Tusk-"

"I've found them." His words froze Wukong, his breath stolen in fear. The scroll was supposed to be hidden for another few hundred years. "I even found a way to free them without breaking the scroll. And should they try to betray us, or leave us behind, they will go back there." Macaque's voice was hard, his eyes beginning to glow that twisted purple look.

Strangely, it had a calming effect on the Sun, who completely surrendered to those dark eyes. It was safe, protective and entirely serene. He took a deep breath, slowly nodding.

"Okay..." He muttered, giving his opposite a shaky smile.

Macaque rubbed their noses together, cooing at the tan monkey. Said monkey's smile became more relax, the fear within his glamoured eyes fading away. Liang Bai decided to make herself known by mewing at that very moment, pawing at the front of Macaque's tunic.

The two ancient monkeys laughed, Wukong swopping down to smother the cub with kisses. She mewled more indigently, but she didn't really try to flee from his love. Macaque watched the scene in front of him for a few more moments. After that, he had ordered the servants to get a few rooms ready for the future guests.

While the bedrooms were being prepared, he had sent a letter to Azure. They weren't exactly on talking terms, but they each did occasionally send an invite to the other. It was more of a curtesy than genuine friendship. This wasn't one of those times. It wasn't an invite; it was a summons. The blue lion would be foolish to think he could refuse, especially since it involved his true Celestial Brothers. The ones he cared both so much and so little about.