The noodle shop smelled like smoke, broth, and exhaustion. Pigsy's place always carried warmth, heat from the stoves, noise from the street, life packed too tightly into every corner, but tonight there was an undercurrent of exhaustion that clung to the walls like steam that refused to lift.
Pigsy sat behind the counter, arms crossed, a bandage wrapped messily around one wrist. Tang occupied his usual stool, glasses slightly askew, posture composed despite the faint tremor in his hands. MK paced, restless energy crackling beneath his skin, while Mei leaned against the counter, helmet resting at her feet.
No one was talking much from the ordeal that happened today, They didn't need to, they all were feeling the adrenaline slowly going away.
The Spider Queen's lair had been dark, suffocating with webs thicker than walls, tunnels that swallowed sound. They'd gotten Pigsy and Tang out, yes, but not without cost. The memory still itched under Mei's skin. the way the silk had tightened when she struggled, the sound of Pigsy's breathing turning labored, the way Tang had stayed calm even when fear pressed in from all sides.
They were safe now, that's what mattered.
Pigsy cleared his throat. "So.....uh. Noodle night?" he offered weakly.
MK snorted. "You mean trauma carbs?"
"Exactly."
Mei laughed softly, more relief than humor. She accepted a bowl when Pigsy slid one toward her, wrapping her hands around it gratefully.
"Thanks," she said. "For... everything."
Tang smiled at her over the rim of his tea. "You were very brave today, Mei."
She ducked her head. "We all were."
They spent a few hours calming down from such an eventful day.
Until her phone chimed, the sound was sharp in the quiet. Mei froze, then glanced quickly at the screen.
TRAINING: 10 MINUTES 💪🪷⚔️
Her eyes widened. "Oh! Oh...shoot. Have to go guys I'll see you later"
Mei hesitated for a moment, guilt flickering across her face. She looked at Pigsy's bandage, at Tang's tired eyes, at MK still vibrating with leftover adrenaline.
Pigsy waved her off. "Go, kid. We're fine."
Tang nodded. "Discipline is forged in consistency."
MK sighed dramatically. "Fine. But you owe me bubble tea."
She grinned, already tugging her helmet on. "Deal!"
Moments later, she was gone, engine roaring as she tore through the streets, the city blurring around her as anticipation replaced exhaustion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Macaque's home rested in a pocket of the city that felt... muted and more calmed down from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Mei slowed as she approached, the familiar tug settling in her chest as she dismounted and headed around back, toward the reinforced entrance beneath the house.
The dojo door slid open at her touch.
"Macaque?" she called.
"Down here."
She stepped inside, eyes immediately drawn to the large presentation board set up at the center of the dojo.
Covered in notes.
YOU ARE READING
Rising Moon
FanfictionMacaque does not die when Monkey King makes his killing blow to his eye. Macaque crawls his way out of the abyss he has made for himself for loving wukong.Instead of dedicating his live in hating wukong and seeking revenge and making his life misera...
