The air in the vehicle grew stifling as the cramped quarters made everything feel hotter by the second. (Y/N)'s cheeks flushed with the heat, as she wiped her forehead with the back of her palm, trying to keep the sweat at bay. Everyone else seemed just as uncomfortable, though they busied themselves with conversation about whether or not they were heading in the right direction.
Wukong, however, seemed completely at ease, sitting on a pillow with his legs crossed in deep meditation. Suddenly, without even opening his eyes, he blurted out, "Yo, blue thing, want to crank up that AC, brother?" His casual tone cut through the tense air, and everyone shot him a look of disdain—except Mk, who stifled a laugh. Mei, already on edge from the heat, snapped, "Hey, little help up front, Monkey King?"
Without missing a beat, Wukong simply tilted his head back and let out a loud, exaggerated snore. The noise was obnoxious, and Mei rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin.
(Y/N) quickly tuned out the conversation around her, sinking into her own thoughts. The chatter from the others became a distant hum as her mind wandered. She found herself thinking about Macaque, his mischievous smile, the way his presence always seemed to linger even when he was absent. Biting the inside of her cheek, she shifted her gaze toward Wukong's silent form. He sat in his meditative position, breathing so softly it was barely noticeable, his body relaxed and still. Her eyes lingered longer than she intended, tracing his features. How similar... The thought caught her off guard, and a flicker of Macaque's face flashed in her mind. Did she... miss him? The question unsettled her, stirring feelings she hadn't expected.
Just as the thought began to settle, Tang's voice cut through her reverie. He pointed at an open map spread out between his hands, interrupting the flow of her thoughts. "Right, so how did this map work exactly? How does it know where to find the three ?" She turned her gaze to the map in front of her, pointing out the spots she had previously explained. "The samadhi fires... We're close to one of them, but this terrain isn't helping." MK, trying to stay optimistic, laughed awkwardly. "I was going to say... exactly that! We're close to something!" He looked at the group, hoping for some shared enthusiasm, but they all just looked at him, unimpressed. "Not to rush anyone," Pigsy grumbled again, "but how far 'till the next pit stop?"As the engine sputtered and gave out, the entire group let out a collective groan. The once-hopeful atmosphere inside the vehicle shifted quickly to one of frustration.
(Y/N) furrowed her brow, glancing out at the endless expanse of desert surrounding them. The heat seemed to intensify as the engine went silent, the oppressive stillness settling over them like a heavy blanket. "Well, if the map's right," MK continued, brushing off the tension, "it looks like we're close to... some kind of... landmark?" His voice trailed off as the others groaned."Right, Sandy?" MK turned to their towering companion for reassurance.
(Y/N) sighed, brushing her forehead with the back of her hand again as the heat bore down on them.
As they exited the vehicle, the desert sun bore down on them relentlessly. The heat was suffocating, and (Y/N) instinctively lifted her wings above her head, creating a makeshift canopy to block the harsh rays. Mk, quick to find comfort, grinned mischievously and grabbed one of her extended wings, pulling it over his head. "Ah, much better," he said with a sigh of relief, stepping under the shade she provided. Mei, scooted closer to Mk, nudging him over. "Move over, MK, I'm not frying out here either!" she said, squeezing herself into the small patch of shade created by (Y/N)'s wing.
(Y/N) rolled her eyes but said nothing, allowing them to huddle beneath her wings. "You know, you could've brought your own umbrellas or something," she muttered, her tone playful but edged with the slightest hint of annoyance.
"Why would we when we've got you?" MK joked, looking up at her with a cheeky grin. "Best winged shade in the business!" Mei nodded in agreement. "Yeah, seriously, these wings are lifesavers."
"Lifesaver?" Pigsy grumbled from the back, wiping sweat from his brow. "More like wing hogs. No room for the rest of us!" He cast an envious glance at the trio huddled under (Y/N)'s wings.
"So, how is meditating going to help him recharge or whatever he's doing?" Mei asked, casting a skeptical glance at Wukong, who was sat on a palm tree. Mk shrugged, trying to sound confident but clearly unsure himself. "I don't know. He's always a little... sketchy on the details. But hey, if Monkey King says it works, it works, right?" Mei raised an eyebrow. "Right... and that's why he's just sitting on palm tree like he's on a beach vacation while we're out here melting."
Mk chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, well... probably part of the whole 'immortal monkey' thing." Before Mei could fire back with a sarcastic comment, Tang suddenly pointed toward something in the distance. "Hey! Is that—?" All eyes turned toward where Tang was pointing. A shimmering oasis appeared on the horizon, lush trees, and clear water glistening under the harsh desert sun. "An oasis!" Pigsy yelled, his voice filled with joy. The group erupted with excitement, their weariness forgotten as they broke into a sprint toward the oasis.
"Can you watch Wukong, Okay. Thanks Bye (Y/N)!" Mk's hurried words hung in the air as he dashed off, leaving (Y/N) standing there, her wings outstretched, casting shade over herself. She watched him run to join the others, a small scoff escaping her lips as her nose scrunched up in mild irritation. "Great," she muttered under her breath, shifting her wings to settle more comfortably. She glanced over to where Wukong had seated himself by a palm tree, deep in meditation, looking completely at peace while the rest of them sweltered in the desert heat.
She stood by the vehicle, leaning against it for support. The coolness of the metal under her hand was a slight comfort, but her attention kept drifting back to Wukong. He sat with his legs crossed, eyes shut, his breathing slow and steady. His tail flicked occasionally, a subtle reminder of his presence even in stillness.
A part of her wanted to just ignore him and focus on herself, maybe retreat to her thoughts, but another part of her was curious, drawn to the way he could simply detach from everything so easily. She sighed, her wings shifting slightly as she walked closer, still keeping her distance but feeling the need to at least check on him. "Of course, leave me to watch the 'great sage' while the others run off on another wild goose chase," she muttered softly, half to herself, half to the still desert air.
She studied Wukong's calm form for a moment, her thoughts wandering. His face was serene, completely at odds with the chaos and tension that always seemed to follow them. She couldn't understand how he could meditate so peacefully, given everything that was happening around them. There was a time when she would have trusted him completely, when his easygoing demeanor would've been enough to soothe her own anxieties. But now, things were different. His apologies, his efforts—it all felt too late, too shallow. Still, watching him now, there was something oddly comforting about his presence, even if she didn't want to admit it.
She leaned back against the car, arms crossed, her wings folding slightly as she tried to push those thoughts away. He was still Wukong—infuriating, unreliable, and reckless. But also, somehow, still the one person she couldn't entirely turn her back on. "You're just guarding him, that's all. Nothing more," she told herself, watching the horizon where the others had gone. The sun beat down relentlessly, and the quiet between them stretched on, broken only by the occasional rustle of Wukong's tail and the distant sound of the others' voices.
(a/n): surprise.
YOU ARE READING
CURSES /LMK.
Fanfiction"He did this to me..so he would be king." Her back was faced towards him. She was vengeful and hurt allowing the memories to return to her. A man she had once knew, betraying her as if she was nothing. Her world turned red for a mere second.
