Archive of Our Own ^beta

It had been Macaque’s idea.

Wukong thought it was brilliant. He grinned as Macaque roped his wrists together- not something that could hope to hold either of them- and mused on how well Macaque knew him. A way for Wukong to be even lazier in bed? It was like Macaque could read his mind.

“I’ll wipe that smirk off your face.” Macaque finished the knot with a sharp flourish, eyes glinting. 

They were already fulfilling their roles well. Wukong was playing himself, of course, and Macaque was the evil demon who’d succeeded in capturing him, leaving Wukong helpless to his dark whims.

He managed to not laugh aloud at that.

Anyway, it made Macaque happy, and Wukong was always down for playing a new game, so Wukong could let the unrealistic plot hole where anybody bested him slide.

Especially Macaque. Imagine.

“Oooooh, no one’s ever managed that before.” Wukong gave it his best, irritating delivery. Just as Wukong hoped, Macaque took the bait. Macaque grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him close, mouths meeting in a heated clash. The combative nature of the kiss suited them both. There was power behind Wukong’s playfulness, and he wouldn’t shy away from reminding Macaque of it.

Macaque pulled back. Wukong couldn’t quite reach to give him another kiss, so he let Macaque have the morsel of control. He tugged on the rope binding Wukong’s hands together, leading him towards Wukong’s bedroom. “It’s always been that attitude of yours that gets you into trouble.”

“Yep!” 

Wukong’s cheery tone did nothing for Macaque’s acted mood. Macaque drew him forward once again to get him into the room before slamming the door shut. Wukong patiently twiddled his thumbs as Macaque loomed behind him. Purple shadows tinted the peripherals of Wukong’s vision- man, Macaque was really going all out- and he felt Macaque’s hands rest on his shoulders, Macaque’s low voice spoken directly into Wukong’s ear.

“Mine.”

Wukong’s tail waved happily. “Sure.”

Macaque growled, hands going lower. Wukong leaned back against him, letting Macaque possessively rub down his sides and hips. “Hey brilliant captor of mine, why did you tie me before taking the tunic off? Seems like an error in your order of operations here.”

“You think your insolence is funny?”

What a stupid question. Wukong grinned.

“Yeah, of course it is!”

The shadows radiating out from Macaque’s form rushed to swallow him from both sides, and within a second the shirt was gone from his body and discarded on the floor. That was a new one. Wukong was impressed. “Hey, cool! I bet you could do some wild tricks with that. I have a coin somewhere-”

“Your bravado has gone on long enough.”

With that declaration, Macaque pushed against Wukong’s back.

Wukong didn’t budge.

In his defense, Macaque’s average shove was too gentle to actually move or unbalance him. He’d expected to be led by the rope. Wukong glanced behind him, trying to figure out what Macaque was doing. Macaque hissed with frustration, shoving harder. “You’re supposed to go forward!”

“Oh, to the bed?”

Macaque almost broke character, turning his groan of frustration into a snarl instead.

A shadow opened under them and Wukong landed on his back on the bed, Macaque on top of him. Macaque had never kept the purple miasma and glowing eyes thing on in bed before. Wukong pondered what he thought about it. Seemed like a lot of effort. The look wasn’t bad- it was mostly just nice that Macaque was having fun. While he was lost in his evaluation thoughts, the shadows in the room drained the last warm traces of the sunset from the air.

“So, Monkey King.” Macaque grabbed Wukong’s wrists and pinned them above his head, leering down at him with a smirk. “I have you right where I want you.”

“It seems you do.” As Wukong spoke, chains of shadows wrapped around his ankles, pulling his legs apart. He looked around Macaque to his own foot. “What was the point of the rope then, Mac?”

Macaque grabbed Wukong’s face, holding him still so he had to look into Macaque’s eyes. He grit his teeth, black tail lashing behind him. “You don’t seem to appreciate the gravity of your situation.”

Line? Wukong realized he should give Macaque another shot and nodded, throwing him a ball, so to speak. “Oh yeah- and what’s that again?”

“That you’re trapped and helpless under me, with no one coming to your rescue,” purred Macaque, delivering his villain monologue as though he’d rehearsed it. “I, Demon King of the Shadows, have finally won my prize. After a long and arduous battle, your surrender was inevitable.” Wukong bit the inside of his lip, trying to not smile. Macaque seemed to not notice. “There you lay, defeated, but in my mercy I brought you to my home, for you to submit to my love. You have fallen for me, and I for you, in these days together.” He continued, a hand on Wukong’s collarbone, their faces close as he continued with a seductive grin. “Now, Monkey King, you shall give into the part of you that longs for the darkness, for I know what your heart craves, and I will see to it that your deepest desires are fulfilled until you can barely think.”

A moment passed. He was probably supposed to say something about how badly he wanted to give into the shadows of his heart or all his dark desires.

Wukong roared with laughter.

Right in Macaque’s face, no less.

“AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” He doubled over, breaking free of the rope and shadow ties by complete accident, knee slapping laughter overcoming him with such force that his eyes shut. Wukong could hardly breathe as he coughed, rolling onto his side as Macaque slid off of him and the late daylight returned to the room. Every time he thought he was over it and could face Macaque, he just kept laughing harder. “Sorry- s- aHAHAHAHAAA!”

“Peach pit,” said Macaque sourly. Wukong recalled that had been their agreed upon term for ceasing their game. Macaque glared down at Wukong with folded arms. “You can’t get into this at all?”

Wukong sat up, breathing deeply. “Whew. Okay, I-” he giggled again, completely unabashed despite Macaque’s peeved mood. “It’s funny acting that out! I know you were trying really hard. My heart longs for darkness-” he cut himself off again with another laugh, turning away to try and stifle it.

“You were supposed to be intimidated! Or pretend to be!” Macaque groaned. “You don’t think I’m powerful or scary at all?”

“You’re almost a match for me!” joked Wukong.

Macaque scowled deeply.

Wukong scooted close to him and threw his arms around Macaque’s waist from behind in a hug, cuddling him close. “Look Mac, I’m happy you were having fun, and I know you’re gonna be a little mad, but you just aren’t scary to me at all. You’re too cute!” He squeezed Macaque a little tighter, nuzzling his neck. “It was so funny because I know you’d never hurt me.” He couldn’t, to start.

It was also a surprising admittance of the depths of Wukong’s trust.

“Is that it?” Macaque relaxed in his arms, tail finding Wukong’s to wind around. He sighed, shaking his head. “Guess I can’t complain too much.”

“Hmmhmm.” Wukong kissed his cheek. “I know how soft and warm you are under all that shadow. I’m afraid this roleplay won't work.”

“You’re too good at being yourself.” Macaque smiled despite himself.

Wukong could still sense that he owed Macaque some more encouragement, even as he snuggled closer. “I’m sure any other demon or human out there would have been so scared and turned on by that.”

“I guess.”

“The shadows obey your every command, sweetheart. You’ve got such a resounding monologue voice; it really draws you in. Props to the atmospheric effects.”

Macaque’s chest shook and he eventually succumbed to his own laughter, bumping his head affectionately against Wukong’s. “Heh, stop it. You’re a bad captive. Criticizing my bondage material choices.”

Wukong still wanted to be close. He draped the blankets around their shoulders, cheek pressed against Macaque’s cheek. It was a relief that Macaque had bounced back with a little love given to him. Wukong could understand that for Macaque, someone laughing in his face when he was in the middle of something intense didn't feel great. It was, however, something Wukong was likely to keep doing to people forever. “I’m sorry that didn’t work out, my Demonic Shadow King.”

“Haha, it’s okay. It was a bit silly.” Macaque turned his head so he could kiss Wukong, lingering for a moment. “But it felt really good to declare I’d bested you in battle.”

Wukong winked. “That? Totally a plot hole.” 

“You went along with the most important part, though.” Macaque’s smugness was obvious as he scooted closer in order to be able to hold Wukong’s waist.

“Which was?”

Macaque leaned his head on Wukong’s shoulder, nuzzling his fur. “That you’re mine.”

Warm affection flooded Wukong’s chest. He smiled, resting his head against Macaque’s, ready to enjoy a cozy night in with him. “You got me there.”