Sun Wukong had only seen Erlang Shen smile five times: the first time they fought, the second time, when they were called to defeat a beast together much later, in their rematch...their date in heaven, in a spar, and right now, this was the fifth time.

Though it was winter season on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits, it hadn't started snowing yet. The sky that night was clear, with visible stars and constellations, accompanied by a beautiful white moon.

Wukong took a bite from a peach he had picked from the nearest tree and sat down to wait for his guest, who arrived shortly, and the Monkey King didn't even turn his head to look at him.

"...So, you came."

"You have a tendency to appreciate the Earth more than Heaven, even though you're always welcome there after your sentence," responded Erlang Shen, arriving at the mountain and walking behind the monkey before finally standing beside him, keeping his gaze fixed on the starry sky.

"Unlike you and those hypocrites, I was born here... no matter what kind of deity I become, this will always be my home. Besides," he paused, lifting his head to look at the dark-haired god next to him. "...The moon looks better from down here than up there. It's beautiful, don't you think?"

Erlang let out a sigh as he heard a mocking laugh from the monkey.

"Ugh... don't joke about that, Wukong."

"Hehe, killjoy... come on, sit down already." He replied with a light laugh and patted the ground for the other to sit next to him. The two remained in complete silence, contemplating the moon, until after a few minutes, Erlang decided to break the ice.

"Why did you call me here, Monkey?"

"Can't I invite a friend to watch the night without having a superiority complex?" he replied with another question and a chuckle. Erlang looked away from the brunette and sighed. "...What do you understand by family, Yang Jian?"

Erlang was surprised to hear the Monkey King call him that, and he turned back to look at him, carefully thinking about his answer to that curious question.

"...Besides siblings, I have my sworn brothers, friends... they all form a crucial and large circle, one that I must... protect at all costs."

"Aha... and where do I fit in?" Wukong asked, pointing to himself and leaning towards him. They looked at each other with completely different expressions. "Ugh, come on! Don't look at me like that; do I really mean nothing to you? How sad, really..."

"...Tch, shut up, monkey," muttered Erlang, shaking his head as he looked up again at the moon. Perhaps the Monkey King noticed, or perhaps he didn't, but a slight blush appeared on Erlang's cheeks. "...You, and the rest of my family, mean everything to me."

"!!!" Wukong's eyes widened at those words he definitely hadn't expected from Erlang Shen, and he quickly turned to face him, now with a deep blush on his cheeks as well. Erlang didn't return his gaze, but it wasn't necessary.

"E-Erlang...!!" The Monkey King's words were suddenly interrupted by the sound of growing squeaks and the characteristic sounds of baby monkeys, and he turned just in time to be greeted by a group of little ones jumping directly toward him and the dark-haired god. "H-hey! Where did you guys come from?! Haha! Hold still, hold still...!"

Erlang was mildly startled as he felt the babies jump onto his back, and he turned to look at them, holding them in his hands to keep them from tearing the fabric of his white robe.

"You know them? Don't tell me..." he trailed off as he began to piece together why the baby monkeys had gone directly for the other.

"Haha! Of course not, it's not what you think! Obviously, I know them; they're little troublemakers who sneaked away from their mother, right?" he replied to Erlang, also addressing the little ones, allowing them to climb on him, one even perching on his head and playing with the feathers of his hat. He pet one that had simply fallen asleep, hugging him around the waist. "They see me not only as a King but as a hero, a friend... a role model. Even though I had no parents, nor children... they and the rest are all under my protection. They are my family."

That response, inwardly, surprised and pleased Erlang quite a bit. Feeling comfortable with the monkey, he allowed himself a slight smile. Wukong immediately noticed.

"Erlang Shen, is that a smile I see?" He leaned in, smiling with great satisfaction, wanting to point it out. "So you can smile after all!"

"Only when it's in private... and in good company," Erlang replied, not erasing that gentle expression from his face, his eyes meeting the golden gaze of the Monkey King. Wukong's mocking, excited expression turned to one of shock and blush.

After a few seconds, Wukong came back to his senses, smiling slightly as he turned to the moon, feeling at peace with him.

"Heh... you should do it more often, Yang Jian. It suits you."

With that compliment, Erlang felt something else near his hand resting on the grass. It wasn't one of the baby monkeys but Wukong's tail, reaching out to brush against him.

"...You were wrong about one thing, Wukong. Although I was born in Heaven, the Earth also feels like home to me. Thanks to...my mother." Erlang said, lowering his head down with a hint of sadness in his eyes. 

Wukong turn his gaze upon the dark-haired god, a bit of surprise rushed his face, but he thought this might be quite hard for Erlang to tell. 

"...I suppose...whatever that happened, it did just as I think?" He tried to ask. 

Erlang took a few seconds to response, with a blue tone. "...Yes, by someone you know, and tried to take his place in Heaven". 

Wukong's eyes widened in surprise upon realizing they were talking about the Jade Emperor, and he looked at him in astonishment, but quickly pursed his lips in a sign of pity.

"...I'm...sorry to hear that."

Erlang shook his head just to tell him that was no need to sorry, but at least, he felt a kind of relief when he finally opened up to Wukong, after so many years...He gazed up again to the moon, with a slight smile on his lips. 

"And you're right. The moon down here...looks more beautiful than in Heaven". 

Erlang felt Wukong's tail settle over his hand, curling around his wrist, which only made him smile a bit more, returning the gesture by gently stroking the fur with his thumb.

Nothing more needed to be said; the silence was simply complementary, but the expressions and experiences already spoke for themselves, saying everything clearly, with the same glow of the moon marking the beginning of a new season.