The Two Kings

Macaque, Part 2

A/N: OKAY, IT'S HERE! DON'T COME AFTER ME!!

It was late when MK and Parker finally trudged back to their apartment, the city streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The tiredness from their long day weighed heavily on them, but they couldn't escape Pigsy's occasional reprimands. The pig man had been waiting for them at home, tapping his foot and muttering under his breath about their tardiness. 

Nonetheless, the two didn't seem to mind much, nodding sheepishly as they made their way to their shared room.

Without much of a word to each other, they fell straight into their bed routine, the only sounds being the soft rustle of clothes being discarded and the faint hum of the city beyond the walls.

"Sorry you didn't get to train with Macaque today," MK said, tossing his jacket over the back of a chair. His voice was casual, but his eyes lingered on Parker, trying to read his mood. "So, tell me again... why do you want to talk to Monkey King?"

Parker stiffened at the mention of Wukong's name, a flurry of emotions flickering behind his eyes. Rather than answer right away, he began slipping into his black and red pajamas, his movements precise, almost mechanical. He removed his scarf and draped it carefully over the shared coatrack, before diving under the covers, pulling them up to his chin like a shield.

"I don't know," he muttered after a long pause, his voice almost distant. "Maybe... talking to him will give me some answers. I saw him in my dream, and... I think if Wukong can figure out what's going on with me, then maybe I can, too. Y'know?"

MK nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken fear hanging in the air. "Yeah, I guess. Hey, what do you think you were like... back then?"

Parker froze for a moment, confusion creasing his brow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... when you were... you," MK trailed off, his eyes brightening with curiosity. "Like, what was your name? Did you have siblings? Any pets?"

Parker blinked, then let out a small laugh. "My name was Panini, and I had three cats. I was a homeless man with an obsession for bugs and insects." He gave a dramatic shrug, his tone light but teasing.

"Ha!" MK burst into laughter. "No, no, wait—you were a prince from a faraway kingdom! You were on a quest to save the love of your life from a dragon!"

Parker's eyes lit up, and he grinned. "Plot twist! The dragon was me all along!"

The two of them dissolved into giggles, the stress of the day vanishing as they lay back on their pillows, trying to catch their breath. Their laughter, once loud and unrestrained, slowly faded to quieter chuckles.

Eventually, the room fell into a comfortable silence. Parker, now with his hair tumbling free from its usual tie, busied himself with the delicate task of untangling the strands, absentmindedly running his fingers through them. He didn't notice MK watching him intently, his gaze lingering a little too long before MK cleared his throat.

"I like your hair," MK blurted, the words slipping out before he could stop them. His cheeks immediately flushed pink, and he clamped his mouth shut, realizing his mistake as he caught Parker's confused stare.

"Huh?"

"Nothing, nothing!" MK fumbled, his voice turning flustered. "What are you doing?"

Parker blinked, still confused. "Just trying to get this tangle out. My hair's always a mess when I go to bed," he said, running his fingers through the length of his hair again. "Do you think I should get a haircut? It's, like, down to my knees when it's loose."