Today had been painful for you in every conceivable way. Family fights before school, bullies at school, and dropping your phone in the river on the walk home after school.

Today was the anniversary alright, your own personal Friday the 13th. The anniversary of your mother's death threw you off your game every year. You had thought the third year or maybe the fourth would be the end of the heartache, now eight years later you would still cry yourself to sleep at night.

She had died of natural causes when you were only 12. Yet it stung just the same as it had all those years ago.

Your friend, Macaque, knew nothing about it. You hadn't wanted to trouble him with the emotional baggage. After all, he was still healing from his own.

You closed the door to your home and tossed your bag on the couch. If you couldn't talk to anyone about it, you'd sing. It had been your release, your therapy. And you knew just the song.

You walked to your living room and sat at the piano. You set your fingers to the keys, and unleashed the melody.

Macaque hadn't seen you in days, and you hadn't picked up your phone when he called you after school. now he was annoyed.

One of his biggest pet peeves was being ignored. It was like abandonment all over again. He wouldn't stand for that, not again.

He'd been busy for a while and he had assumed things were fine. But when you didn't pick up the first time, he got annoyed. The second and third times had made him confused and irritated. For your sake he almost hoped something had happened.

Macaque parkoured from rooftop to rooftop trying to get to your apartment. Maybe there would be clues there. And maybe, just maybe he'd get lucky and find you. However doubtful that was.

When your house came into view he pushed himself to move faster. Finally he landed on your balcony with a thud.

And there you were. Peacefully playing your piano without a care in the world.

Macaque blew out a sigh of frustration, but his tail eased it's agitated flicking. Then he reached for the window. When he got in there you were going to get the scolding of your life.

But just before Macaque's hand could touch the window, he froze.

Your voice drifted through the glass, and his jaw dropped at the sound. It was beautiful and in perfect harmony with the piano.

Although lovely; your voice caused hiss tail to flick agitatedly again. You sounded so mournful, so heartbroken. Suddenly, scolding you seemed a bad idea. 

Maybe he could get you to talk to him about it later. For now atleast, he wanted to hear this, to hear you. So, Macaque did what he did best. He opened the window silently, shut it behind him, then vanished into the shadows.

You hadn't noticed a thing outside of your melody. Every note resonated in your soul, and your heart felt as though it was a little less broken.

"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone. But though you're still with me, I've been alone; all alone." You sang feeling tears brim in your eyes. It wasn't exactly true. You had Macaque. You allowed that truth to comfort you.

Macaque flinched at the latest verse. It wasn't offensive, no. It simply hit a little too close to home. He knew that feeling all too well.

When you finished he watched you wipe at your eyes then relax some. Now seemed a good moment to intervene.

Macaque painted on a smirk, and started to clap.

You jumped in your seat with a startled squeak, before whirling around.

Macaque walked from the shadows with a smirk as he clapped.

"Bravo, songbird."

Your cheeks burned crimson at the compliment.

"H-How long have you been standing there?!"

"Oh long enough." Macaque chuckled.

"Why???" You groaned, burying your face in your hands.

Macaque grinned walking over to the piano and leaning on the edge of your seat.

"Well you didn't pick up your phone." He leaned so close your noses nearly touched, then gave you a grin; yet his eyes held warning. "Care to explain that?"

You went to back up but felt his tail curl around your lower back. You weren't going anywhere.

Your cheeks exploded with red and you felt so warm you thought you might die.

"I-I-I-"

Macaque watched you squirm and stammer amusedly.

'Heck this works better than scolding her ever has. Seems I found a better punishment.' he thought his grin growing.

"I-I dropped it in the river on my way home." You stated finally.

Macaque rose an eyebrow, his grin still firmly in its place.

"Is that so?"

Your face exploded into a darker shade of red and Macaque finally leaned back.

You gasped as your heart pounded in your ears. Macaque had always been a flirt, but he hadn't ever tormented you with it till now. You eased in your seat catching your breath.

"That was just mean!"

Macaque chuckled and sat next to you.

"Good. Maybe next time you'll be less of a clutz."

You stuck out your tongue at him.

Macaque chuckled, then after a few moments he cocked a brow at you.

"You never told me you could sing."

You shrugged.

"You never asked. And I have a piano for a reason."

Macaque rolled his eyes.

"I knew you could play that....I've just never heard you sing before....I've never heard anything like it." Macaque uttered the words with such sincerity you felt your heart flutter.

Macaque leaned back, his arms folded behind his head. "But why the sad song?" His tone was casual, and he acted nonchalant. But you could feel his gaze on you. "I've never heard you sound like that."

The last statement piqued your interest and you had to ask.

"Sound like what?"

Macaque flinched at the question and looked away.

"What?" You frowned.

Macaque let out an annoyed sigh. 

"Like me, alright?"

Your heart felt as though it shattered in that moment. He felt alone, abandoned, and yet still haunted. But for him it wasn't only on a single day of the year. For him, that heartbreak was his world. You'd witnessed his winces on new years, his flinches when someone on the news mentioned monkie kid and monkey king saving the city, and so much more.

"Oh....I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Heh, not your fault, kiddo." Macaque cut you off. "I'm the one who broke in here."

A pregnant pause filled the space between the two of you for a few moments.

"So, why the sad song?" Macaque ventured again.

You blew out a sigh, looking at your hands.

"Eight years ago, my mother passed away. I wrote her the song before-" you couldn't finish that sentence, so you left it hanging.

"Before she left you." Macaque finished for you, and you only nodded.

"I'm sorry, kid." Macaque offered with sympathetic look.

You nodded and grew a smile.

"You really broke in to hear me sing?"

Macaque bristled at the accusation.

"No! I broke in because you wouldn't answer your phone."

You laughed.

"That's a lie. If you had only come about the phone you'd have made your presence known! Instead of creeping around."

Macaque rolled his eyes.

"Y/n?"

"Yes?" You held his gaze for a moment.  

"Why don't you sing something less mopey?"

A smile graced your lips, and you turned back to the piano.

"Any requests?"