Chapter Text
Musci - Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine (Official Lyric Video) - https://youtu.be/CwGbMYLjIpQ?si=LFZm6VY8GYPh9qXf
Soft chirps echoed from the upper floor as Mei and Macaque got closer to his home, high, bright notes of curiosity and excitement sounds followed by the unmistakable padding of small feet racing back and forth across wooden boards. Something bumped gently into a wall. There was a pause before bright laughter was heard; they were just happy.
Mei stood frozen in the entryway.
Her helmet slipped from her fingers and struck the floor with a muted clack, rolling once before coming to rest against the wall. She didn’t notice. Her eyes were fixed ahead, wide and glassy, breath caught somewhere between shock and reverence.
Two small figures toddled into view. They were dressed in dragon onesies, soft fabric molded into rounded scales, each suit a different color. One shimmered deep emerald, the other a warm, sunlit gold. Across the fabric, star-shaped markings were stitched and lightly enchanted, glimmering faintly whenever the cubs moved.
And they were moving.
Their tails… real tails……. were tucked into the dragon-tail portion of the onesies.
Which wagged, side to side, perfectly in sync.
Macaque walks into the door behind her “ the one in green is Savage and the one in gold is Rumble, they are my children with my mate”
Mei’s knees buckled.
“…I can die now,” she whispered, voice barely audible as she flops to the floor in a dramatic fall ready to ascend into heaven.
The cubs noticed her at the same time. They froze as four bright eyes stared and tiny noses twitched with the new scent that had entered their home.
Then they chirped…short, excited sounds and toddled forward with surprising speed.
Mei barely had time to gasp before one climbed onto her shoulder, little fingers tangling immediately in her hair, while the other pressed both palms against her jacket, fascinated by the texture.
“Oh no,” Mei breathed, laughter bubbling up helplessly. “I’ve been chosen.” The cub on her shoulder chirped triumphantly and tugged her hair harder. She let out a weak sound as she went lip on the floor, surrounded.
“This is it,” she said faintly. “This is how I go.”
From the hallway came the sound of hesitant footsteps.
Sandy appeared, hands clasped awkwardly in front of him, posture unsure in the way of someone entering a moment he doesn’t want to disrupt.
“Uh…..hi, Mei,” he said softly.
She snapped her head up. “…YOU !!!”
Sandy blinked.
“Your Macaques HUBBY !!!!,” she said slowly as she sat with her legs folded beneath her on the floor, her head up as the cubs continued to explore her hair and jacket.
“Yes ~” he replied, bashful as he cups both of his cheeks that were powdered with a bright blush as he looked away giggling like a school girl confessing about liking her crush.
Her gaze darted between him, the cubs, and Macaque slowly connecting the dots.
“You live here.”
“Yes.”
“With him.” as Mei pointed at Macaque who leans against the wall in amusement with his arms crossed watching her process this new information.
“…Yes.”
“And you have—” she gestured weakly at the children now attempting to climb her like a very enthusiastic jungle gym “—CUBS !!!!!”
Macaque’s voice drifted down from the doorway, calm as ever.
“I value my privacy, especially with the history I have with not only preforming and battles I have been apart of I need to make sure that my enemies and crazy fans don’t know where I keep my most precious people and treasures”
Mei stared at the cubs again and glanced around the room in understatement and continued with the most important topic in the room.
“They’re wearing dragon onesies,” she whispered with religious awe. One of them chirped and wagged harder. Mei flopped backward onto the floor enjoying the interaction with rumble and savage.
As Macaque and Sandy look at each other with smiles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monkey demon culture did not encourage distance between parent and child.
Quite the opposite.
Cubs were kept close…. always. Mothers and submissive demons rarely allowed them more than a few steps of freedom, and even then, only within the safety of their own troops. Outsiders did not often see monkey demon children. They were raised within layers of protection, touch, sound, scent.
Macaque knew this well.
He had spent years, centuries even, helping mothers and submissives within the troops, back on Flower Fruit Mountain and during his travels. Grooming. Guarding. Carrying. Teaching older cubs how to climb without falling, how to tumble safely, how to read the body language of others, how to protect and evade if necessary.
He found it rewarding.
So when Mei finally regained consciousness and the cubs resumed climbing all over her with unrestrained curiosity, touching her sleeves, her boots, he only watched with quiet amusement.
“They don’t meet many people,” he explained calmly. “They’re still young.”
Mei nodded weakly, one cub now perched on her stomach, the other attempting to shove its entire head into her jacket pocket.
“I understand,” she said reverently. “I am honored.” as she got a little teary eyed with the level of trust he has given to her after spending months training with him. She was happy her Shifu trusted her with this.
Date night came carefully.
Intentionally.
Mei was stationed firmly on the floor with snacks, blankets, and explicit instructions that mostly amounted to let them climb you. As it was a way of comfort for baby monkey demons to be attached to a caretaker or parents.
Sandy disappeared to change first.
He returned in black dress pants and a white, form-fitting shirt that clung just enough to make Mei do a double take.
“…Oooooh~~, why don’t you look sharp and dressed to impress?” she said with a grin and confident tone.
He flushed from the compliment which he said a quick thanks to Mei.
Then Macaque emerged.
To Sandy, it seemed like time stopped for a moment.
The dress flowed from black to deep purple, fabric skimming his form with deliberate elegance. The halter neckline bared his shoulders and collarbones, the back open just enough to tease, ending just above the swell of his hips. His tail slipped through a tailored slit, white fluff pristine as it swayed lazily behind him.
His mane was drawn into an intricate bun, curls escaping to brush the nape of his neck, deliberately exposing the silver mate mark there. Purple eyeliner framed his eyes followed by black shimmer shadowy smokey eyes which enhanced the light against his red facial markings. As a hint of glitter glossed his pouty lips that made him look like a temptress.
He walked in thick-heeled sandals like gravity was optional.
Sandy stopped breathing trying to get the words out of his mouth.
“…You- ” he tried. and Failed. “ I’m ….beautiful…..…..no—”
Macaque smirked, stepped close, and lifted Sandy’s chin with one finger.
“What’s the matter?” he murmured. “Cat got your tongue~?”
Sandy turned red all the way to his ears.
Mei reappeared like a rocket.
“YOU LOOK MEGA GORGEOUS !!!!!!!!!!!”
Macaque startled, fluffing instinctively, forgetting about her for a minute
Mei snapped to attention. “ENJOY YOUR DATE. I WILL PROTECT THE GREMLINS.”
They laughed as they gave kisses and hugs to the kids before going on their much needed date.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The boat cut gently through the water, its wake barely disturbing the glassy surface of the bay.
Sandy had anchored them in a place he’d discovered months ago during an early-morning supply run, an overlooked stretch of reef where coral bloomed like living embers beneath the surface. Schools of fish wove through it in slow, glittering currents, flashes of silver and blue catching the light as the sun began its gradual descent.
It was quiet.
Not the absence of sound, but the presence of peace.
Sandy set out the food with practiced care, movements easy and unhurried. A blanket was spread across the deck, weighted at the corners so the sea breeze wouldn’t steal it away. Containers of carefully prepared lunch followed fresh fruit, steamed buns, lightly seasoned fish wrapped in lotus leaves and a little tiramisu mango cake for dessert.
Macaque settled beside him, folding his legs beneath himself with the ease of someone entirely at home on unstable ground. His dress flowed around him, fabric pooling like ink at his thighs, tail flicking lazily as he watched fish dart below the boat.
“Mmmmm, you went all out, ” Macaque murmured.
Sandy smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Of course I did.”
Macaque gave a soft smile before they ate slowly.
Talk drifted between them without urgency, small things, unimportant things. Stories Sandy hadn’t finished telling. Places Macaque had traveled long ago but never properly described. Moments that had slipped between cracks of responsibility and survival.
At one point, Sandy reached out without thinking, brushing his thumb along the edge of Macaque’s hand.
Macaque shivered with delight. Then turned his hand over, fingers threading together naturally.
The sun dipped lower, Gold bled into orange, Orange into violet as the sun continued to descend.
Macaque’s fur caught the light in a way that made Sandy’s breath hitch, each strand glittering faintly, as though dusted with starlight. When Macaque turned his head, the glow followed, illuminating the sharp elegance of his features, the soft curve of his smile, the sun reflecting beautifully from his amethyst eyes.
Sandy leaned in slowly, carefully, giving him time to pull away if he wished.
Macaque didn’t, Their foreheads touched.
Breaths mingled as the world narrowed until it was only them left as they orbit each other.
And then they –
“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
A scream tore through the moment.
Followed by laughter.
Then a splash.
They froze as their lips barely a breath apart as both slowly turned their heads towards the noise.
“…Mei?” Sandy said weakly.
Another row of laughter happened closer this time.
Macaque’s ears flicked sharply, pupils narrowing as he looked up.
Above the boat, a small shadow portal shimmered as two familiar shapes tumbled through the air, the twins.
They were giggling together as the wind cradled them, slowing their descent like playful hands lowering a kite. Their little arms paddled instinctively, tails wagging so hard as with only their diapers on.
For a full second, neither parent moved.
Then—
“KIDS!” Sandy shouted as he bolted.
Chaos erupted immediately.
Sandy disappeared into the cabin, reemerging seconds later with every soft object he could grab blankets, cushions, folded jackets dumping them into a haphazard pile on deck.
“Soft landing! Soft landing!” he muttered frantically.
Another splash rang out beside the boat.
Macaque glanced over the rail.
Mei surfaced, hair plastered to her face, her eyes dazed, coughing and laughing at the same time.
“No more bath time ~!” she gasped. “So many bubbles!”
Sandy whirled, panic redirecting instantly. “Mei….hold on!”
He scrambled for the buoy, flinging it with far more force than accuracy as it splashed into the water.
Nowhere near her.
They all stared at it as the buoy bobbed uselessly.
Mei treaded water, blinking.
“…Uhhhhhh”
Before anyone could react further, the twins zoomed past them still airborne as they snagged the buoy with delighted chirps and promptly used it as a makeshift raft as the wind carried them in wide loops across the water’s surface.
They squealed.
They chirped with joy at the fun they were having.
Sandy stared, horror-struck.
“…Papa is coming,” he whispered hoarsely, striking a dramatic pose with another buoy in hand, only to toss it gently and watch it plop uselessly into the water.
The twins zoomed past again, jumping onto that buoy and continued onward as the wind also snagged the fishing rod Sandy had set up for later as he wanted to show Macaque his fishing tricks. With all the commotion he didn’t notice that he had snagged something on the line.
Now the kids were using it like a water ski rope helped by the wind in keeping their balance throughout their joy ride.
Macaque just stared and then gave a laugh.
A full, unrestrained laugh that shook his shoulders and loosened something deep in his chest.
Sandy turned slowly, eyes wide and wet. “Macaque ”
Macaque sauntered past him, cupping Sandy’s chin briefly in reassurance before lifting his hands.
The wind shifted and softened as it lifted. The twins were carried gently back toward the boat, fishing rod and line rising with them as the fish still stubbornly attached. As they descended in front of their parents.
The fish slapped Macaque square in the face.
There was a stunned pause. No one expected that would happen as the fish wriggled free and vanished back into the sea.
The twins were the first to collapse into giggles as Sandy burst out laughing right after them
Mei clung to the side of the boat, wheezing and giving weak laugh from what happened.
Macaque started there in shock then narrowed his eyes playfully.
“Oh, it’s on ~”
With a flick of his wrist, wind scooped seawater and splashed all three of them lightly.
They shrieked not expecting it as Sandy and the twins exchanged a look before Sandy flipped a dock box open and produced water toys.
Chaos resumed as water sprayed everywhere. Laughter echoed across the bay.
Me was finally hauled aboard and wrapped in a towel and regained enough strength to start taking pictures, already plotting a scrapbook in her mind.
When Macaque noticed, he splashed her too.
She yelped and almost dropped Sandy’s lemonade tea before laughing hysterically and joining in on the fun.
As they continued playing until the sun dipped fully below the horizon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Night Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The boat drifted quietly again as the butterfly lights came on to illuminate the deck softly. Not the heavy silence of exhaustion, but the gentle hush that followed joy, when laughter had burned itself out and left warmth behind.
Macaque moved slowly through the deck, barefoot now, gathering scattered toys and damp towels. The moonlight reflected off the water in soft ribbons, casting pale silver across the boat’s interior. Every movement was careful to be mindful of the small shapes curled up and sleeping nearby.
The twins were bundled together in a nest of blankets Sandy and him had fashioned, tails loosely wrapped around each other, faint chirps slipping from their mouths as they dreamed. Mei lay not far from them in their nest, half-buried beneath another blanket, phone resting loosely against her chest, breaths deep and even.
Sandy rinsed the last of the dishes quietly, sleeves rolled up, shirt still wrinkled and water-spotted from the earlier chaos. His mohawk was a mess, sticking out at odd angles, clothes still faintly damp at the tips. He glanced over his shoulder at Macaque, a soft smile tugging at his mouth.
As Macaque set the final item away and exhaled quietly as the last things were put away. His ears flicked not sharply but just enough for sound to drift through the deck, barely above a whisper.
Music.
Soft and Slow.
‘Moon, a hole of light
Through the big top tent up high
Here before and after me
Shinin' down on me’
The melody was gentle, almost shy, as if afraid to wake anyone. Macaque turned toward the sound, eyes catching on Sandy standing near the old radio tucked against the wall.
‘Moon, tell me if I could
Send up my heart to you?
So when I die, which I must do
Could it shine down here with you?’
The water demon looked just as rumpled as him. Sleeves rolled unevenly, collar crooked, faint saltwater stains marking his clothes. His face still held the lingering glow of laughter, eyes warm and a little tired.
Sandy hesitated for just a second.
Then he stepped forward.
“Can I have this dance?” he asked softly, extending his hand.
Macaque stilled.
He looked down at himself, dress wrinkled beyond belief, fabric clinging faintly where it had dried unevenly. His mane had completely escaped its careful bun, cascading down his back in wild curls, damp strands clinging to his shoulders. Water spots freckled the fabric and his fur alike.
Slowly, he looked back up at Sandy.
His expression softened.
“You may,” he murmured.
Their hands met warm and familiar
'Cause my love is mine, all mine
My love mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
My baby here on Earth
Showed me what my heart was worth
So when it comes to be my turn
Could you shine it down here for her?’
They moved together without speaking, bodies naturally finding a rhythm that matched the song. Sandy’s hand settled carefully at Macaque’s waist, respectful, grounding. Macaque rested his head lightly against Sandy’s shoulder, tail curling loosely around his leg.
They swayed.
Barely moving.
Just enough.
The music carried on, quiet and intimate, wrapping around them like a shared secret. Outside, the moon climbed higher, its glow spilling through the windows and bathing them in silver light.
'Cause my love is mine, all mine
My love mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine
Nothing in the world is mine for free
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine'
When the song ended, neither of them stopped.
They kept swaying, breathing together and existing in that fragile space where nothing else mattered.
Behind them, Mei stirred.
Her eyes cracked open just enough to take in the scene two figures slowly dancing in the moonlight, unaware, unguarded, utterly real. She fumbled quietly for her phone, lifting it just enough to frame the moment.
Click.
She smiled sleepily, tucked the phone back against her chest, and curled closer to the twins before drifting off again.
Unnoticed and Uninterrupted.
Eventually, the night settled fully around them.
Days later, many photographs would be framed, hung and cherished.
Macaque would stand in the living room, adjusting many on the wall as he would touch the frame gently and smile softly, utterly content.