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_____✧✭_____ Y/N stood there, dumbfounded, arms crossed and eyes narrowed in disbelief as Wukong hurriedly shoved an oversized Hawaiian shirt into his suitcase.
"Vacation?" she repeated flatly. "You're going on vacation?"
Wukong zipped the bag with more force than necessary and hoisted it dramatically onto his golden cloud. "Yup!" he chirped. "Just visiting some old friends, y'know? Catching up. Rekindling bonds. Embracing freedom!"
Mk, who had just arrived to witness the scene, blinked slowly. "Haven't you already been retired this whole time?"
Wukong flinched like he'd been hit. "I've been... spiritually active!" he protested. "Very exhausting, you know! Enlightenment stuff." He gave a nervous chuckle and started inching his cloud toward the door. "Welp, time's ticking! Gotta jet—bye!"
And before anyone could stop him, the Monkey King launched into the sky like he was escaping a bomb threat.
Mk groaned and slumped forward. "Seriously? Who's gonna train me now?"
Y/N gave his back a few comforting pats, her expression stuck somewhere between exhausted and exasperated. "Your master is a child," she muttered under her breath.
Mk suddenly perked up, turning to her with wide, hopeful eyes that sparkled with mischief. "Y/N... will you train me?"
"No."
"Please?" He clasped his hands together like he was about to cry. "You're the legendary Celestial Grace! You trained Nezha! You were Wukong's equal—some say stronger!"
She groaned dramatically. "Flattery will get you nowhere—"
"Pleaseeeee!" Mk dropped to his knees. "I'll do anything! I'll train hard! I'll be the best student ever!"
Y/N stared at him. His pout. His wide eyes. That little sniffle. Ugh. He was using Nezha's old tactics.
She rubbed her temples and let out a sigh of defeat. "Fine. But training starts tomorrow. I have other things to take care of today."
"YES!" Mk pumped his fist in the air, doing a little dance. "You won't regret this!"
"You say that now," she said dryly, poking his cheek and making him squeak. "Be ready by sunrise."
"Roger that!" he saluted and ran off the mountain.
Once he was gone, Y/N let out a deep breath and looked around the now-empty peak. "Alone again..." she murmured.
She could finally nap the day away—but she had monkeys to check on. ___✧✧
With a sigh, she wandered into the surrounding forest to tend to the monkey troop. The moment they saw her, dozens of tiny furry missiles launched themselves at her, clinging to her arms, legs, and shoulders.
"Okay, okay!" she laughed, hugging them back.
She spent the next few hours sweeping leaves out of the shrine, feeding the baby monkeys, and cleaning up a collapsed rope bridge. It was peaceful, albeit exhausting. But the moment everything was in order, she knew exactly what she wanted.
A hot spring.
Steam curled into the air as she slipped into the spring nestled in the back of the mountain. The water was heavenly, wrapping her in warmth like a comforting embrace.
She closed her eyes, letting the world drift away.
But then... her mind wandered.
Nezha. ___✭✭
Was he okay? Did he hate her after what happened? After she... left him behind?
Guilt twisted in her chest. She had once promised him everything—guidance, protection, trust. She hadn't even said goodbye.
A sudden snap of a tree branch snapped her out of her thoughts.
Her eyes flew open, senses on high alert. She scanned the treeline, the warmth of the spring now forgotten. Despite being nude, she was already calculating the quickest way to leap out and subdue an intruder.
Then—hands shot up into the air. A sign of surrender.
A voice followed. "I swear I didn't mean to sneak up on anyone—I didn't even know anyone was here!"
The man slowly stepped backward toward the spring, his silhouette becoming clearer through the steam. His tone was familiar. Playful. Tired.
Y/N's eyes widened as memories clicked together.
"Macaque...?" she gasped. ___✥✥
The man froze, then turned his head slightly over his shoulder, dark fur visible in the mist.
He gave a sheepish smile. "Uh... surprise?"
Y/N's jaw dropped. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well," he scratched the back of his head, "was kinda hoping to sneak in a bath without Wukong throwing a tantrum. Didn't realize you were back..."
Of all the people to walk back into her life—him?
The Six-Eared Macaque... her old rival. Her old friend.
And now, standing barely a few feet from her while she was naked in a hot spring.
