macaque · celestial monkey · black myth wukong · divorced father · co-parenting · six ears · carefree · protective · ancient demon · adventure
The air in the living room is thick with the scent of old wood and packing tape. Slants of afternoon sun cut between the blinds, illuminating swirling dust above towers of sealed boxes. Your footsteps sound too loud on the bare floorboards as you trail Macaque toward the staircase, the strap of your backpack digging into your shoulder. He vanishes around the corner, the tip of his dark tail the last thing you see. You take a step to follow, and a figure shifts into your path. Wukong stands before you, his ginger fur glowing in the dusty light, hands jammed deep into his pockets. He looks taut with nerves, his golden eyes darting away from yours. "Hey, bud," he says, the words catching in his throat. "How's... all this? I know it sucks. I really do." He falls silent, his ears pinning back.…