You nearly jumped out of your skin but halted when they spoke.

"Easy kid, easy. It's just me." Macaque assured with an amused grin.

"Macaque! You scared the crap out of me!" You huffed with a glare.

"Well if you'd pay attention-" Macaque gestured to a river just Infront of you. "I wouldn't have to scare you."

You backed away from the river anxiously.

"Sorry, I guess I should have looked where I was going." You apologized with a nervous smile.

Macaque chuckled and started walking with you, his hands buried in his pockets. A comfortable silence filled the space between the two of you as you walked. And the world seemed so calm.

That was until a question started percolating in your mind. You attempted to ignore it and just take in the beauty of the night, but it pressed at you.

"Macaque?"

"Hm?"

"Were you spying on me?"

Macaque glanced at you with a shocked look, then glanced away with a forced grin.

"Heh, you caught me. I just wanted to check up on you. Hope I didn't scare ya."

You shook your head.

"No, it was...confusing. But it didn't scare me. Until I nearly took a late night swim." You smiled at at him. "But I'm glad you were there to catch me before I fell."

Macaque's shoulders tensed ever so slightly and his tail began to flick. Were you imagining it, or was that a blush on his cheeks?

Macaque smirked at you. Suddenly you felt his tail curl around your hips and tug you against him just in time to dodge a falling plant pot.

You squeaked a bit in shock and your cheeks ignited red.

"Careful." Macaque chided falsely. "Wouldn't want you to get hurt."

You looked up to see where the pot had come from and caught a brief glance of the shadows fleeing from a window sill.

"You did that on purpose!" You accused with a laugh.

"Oh did I?" Macaque asked leaning close. "Prove it."

"You little-" You tugged his scarf up over his eyes and took off in a run laughing.

"Oh is that how it's gonna be?" You heard Macaque ask behind you playfully. "Alright then, I'm game."

Meanwhile

Monkey King drank his boba tea as he wandered around the darkened city. Peach flavored boba always helped him to think.

He knew y/n from somewhere, he just couldn't place it. And Macaque's behavior was odd. He never simply spied on someone. He rarely even came close to his opponent unless he was ready to strike.

'checking up' on M.k was a flat out lie. Monkey King knew Macaque better than that. Despite what Macaque thought. But if he wasn't there for M.k, what was he doing there?

It was that moment when he saw Y/n dash around the corner and dodge as Macaque lunged at her.

Monkey King's eyes flashed and he took off towards you.

You giggled as you dodged Macaque's attempts to grab you. Sticking your tongue out at him after a particularly impressive escape.

"You cheeky little brat!" Macaque shouted as he attempted to trip you with his tail.

You jumped over it but still lost your balance. You fell forward and braced for impact when you hit something firm and warm. You glanced up to see you had fallen against the Monkey King's chest. Your entire face exploded into a dark red.

"M-Monkey King?!" You stammered. "I am so sor-"

Monkey King pressed you behind him as Macaque turned the corner and halted.

Macaque seemed to study the scene and stand up straight shooting Monkey King his biggest malicious grin.

"Monkey King! How's it going bud?"

You squirmed behind Monkey King trying to pull out of his grip without being forceful.

"I didn't know you were in the kidnapping business, Macaque. Targeting young girls now?"

"K-Kidnap- no! No, Monkey King you have it all wrong." You said tapping his shoulder.

Monkey King looked over his shoulder at you with a confused frown.

"He wasn't going to-"

Macaque darted forward and punched Monkey King square in the jaw. The force flipped him over you and threw him into a brick wall.

You screamed on instinct and ducked. But the moment you realized what he'd done you rounded on Macaque.

"Macaque what are you-"

Before you could finish Monkey King turned to a tiger and lunged at Macaque.

The two fought viciously changing between animals and their powers flaring dangerously.

Worry turned to panic and every moment the panic grew inside of you. With each blow the feeling built until it exploded.

"ENOUGH!" You screamed. A silver magic burst from you and rippled out in all directions. It slammed both Monkeys into opposite walls. Then trapped them there with silver strands.

You gasped for air and felt your body shaking from the shock and exhaustion.

"Please.... don't...fight." you murmured just before your legs gave out and your world faded to black.

Monkey King's jaw dropped once the silver strands locked him in place. He knew this magic. And he knew that scream. Just at that moment memories of Xue Bai bombarded his mind. Her laughter, her tears, and most painfully her final scream.

That scream had plagued him for a century. Eventually he had blocked out the memory to escape the pain of arriving just minutes too late. Now tears welled in his eyes just before she fell. When her strength gave the strands snapped and Monkey King rushed forward to catch her.

Meanwhile

Macaque felt the air rip from his lungs when his back met a brick wall. He hadn't enough air to tell y/n to stop. Dread churned in his chest when he saw Monkey King's reaction. How realization dawned in his eyes.

Macaque nearly growled outright. How could Monkey King forget Y/n? Forget him? He wouldn't let him hurt Y/n. Not again. When she muttered, however, Macaque focused solely on her. Then her legs gave out and the silver strands broke. Without hesitation he dashed forward to catch her.

Both Monkeys caught Y/n's form before it could touch the pavement. They shot each other a glare but Monkey King gathered her in his arms. Macaque looked ready to kill, but refused to attack as long as Monkey king held Y/n.

They took her to her apartment and laid her on the couch then waited for her to awake. A pregnant silence filled the apartment.

The two enemies were left to speak or sit in a silent truce until Y/n awoke. Monkey King settled on the former.

"How long have you known?" His tone was dangerously low and sounded as though he was barely keeping his patience.

Macaque smirked smugly.

"What's it matter to you? You didn't give her the time of day the last chance you got. So she suddenly matters now?"

Monkey King's glare changed into a worried and almost hurt glance as he looked to your unconscious form.

"Ohohoho nooo. You feel guilty don't you?" Macaque taunted mercilessly. "Well it's about time."

"I tried to save her, Macaque." Monkey King shot back.

You groaned as the world came back to your senses bit by bit. First came your sense of hearing. You couldn't register much but you did catch on to the tones of people talking around you. They sounded tense and angry.

The next sense was touch as you recognized the couch under you. Last came sight once you opened your eyes. The world was blurred so you blinked a few times.

Macaque tensed when you looked at him but knelt next to you.

Monkey King stared at you worriedly but kept his distance.

"Macaque? Monkey King? What happened?" You asked sitting up slowly.

Monkey King sighed.

"That's a long story, kid."

*That's the end of this arch for now. Don't worry I'll write more one shots with these guys and you can always request it. Since I don't have any requests at the moment. In the future, for the sake of a shorter title, I'll name these one shots Silver Sorceress. So you can all recognize it. I might even make a whole book based on that we will have to see. *