You stare in awestruck at the simian casually laying on a fluffy cloud with his hands behind his head, and back scratcher held in his tail using it as a third limb. He pries an eye open to you. He sighs as he sits upright. "Are you just gonna sit there and stare at me? Not that I mind but ya know at least compliment or swoon over me. It's kind of creepy being stared at for too long." You bashfully turn away as he reminds you about manners.

"O-oh, I'm sorry. I-its just that I can't believe you're real." Sun Wu smirks as he finally receives the exact response whenever he meets a fan. His ego boosts ten folds knowing his past deeds grant him everlasting praises. "You're also the one who saved me, I take it?" He nods in acknowledgment. It makes you feel ashamed for not saying something earlier. He was right to call you out otherwise you would still be star-struck over the monkey all day. You were just processing the fact that a legend of the great Monkey King is real. All of his heroic acts during his journey led him to become a ray of hope to all. That hope meant that anything is possible, including magic. The fact alone lapses into your empathy. It's far more unusual than what you've researched. There is nothing about seeing hints of colors around a person to be normal. Of course, you already accepted your empathy is supernatural, yet there has been no clear evidence of the paranormal.

Sun Wu clears his throat, snapping you back to reality. You send an apologetic smile for blanking out again. "Ya do that a lot around people?" He asked. You hang your shrink in your seat ruefully. "Aha...I'll take that as a yes."

"Mr. Monkey King, sir?" The name made said simian scrunch his nose. He's heard plenty of odd nicknames, but coming from you didn't sound appealing. "Why did you save me?" You proceeded.

He cocks a brow, "Well, I was in the neighborhood, and I saw you struggling to climb out of impending doom so I said "what the heck", and here we are." By the sound of his tone, you knew he was being cheeky. You realize how stupid you made yourself sound rather than giving a proper explanation.

"Sorry, maybe I should have been specific. I meant, why did you decide to save me, and then take me to your home. Why show yourself to me?" You queried.

"Ah, well ya see, my friend is partly to blame for your crash. When he told me about what he did, I had to take responsibility on his behalf." You tilt your head confused.

"Your friend?" On cue, an albino monkey from last night jumps on your lap. They say hello and chatter as if apologizing. They hang their head regretfully to which you comprehend his intention. "It's alright, little guy. It's water under the bridge. You didn't run away. That's what's important." You scratch it's cheek earning a cute purr from him. Had you been paying attention to Sun Wu, you would notice him pouting. The monkey gifts you a flower which you accept. The albino runs off with it's friends leaving you alone with the King.

You fiddle with the patch over your head becoming aware of the bandages across your body. They weren't as secure as you'd like them to be, but at least the king made knew what he was doing. Your obliviousness knew no bounds remembering the time of day when the sun started to blind you. "Oh gosh!" You squeaked. "H-how long have I been out?"

"Half a day," Sun said nonchalantly. Your face turns pale as you shoot to your feet in a panic. "Lin! She must be freaking out." You race out of the cave into the jungle ignoring Sun Wu's calls. As soon as you reach the end of the tunnel, you come across the sea, guarded by a ring of molten lava. Your jaw drops as you fall to your knees. Distraught to be far away from home. "I tried to tell you that we are not in the city." Sun Wu squats next to you, staring at the horizon. "We're in Flower Fruit Mountain." Flower Fruit Mountain, is the origin home of where Sun Wu came to be. You remember the lore Lin told you when you first moved in. You weren't that big on history so you knew little about him. "Not to worry, I can fly you home."

"Really?" You lean close to him hopefully, unaware of overstepping his boundary. He blushes slightly as he leans away.

"Um...yeah! Lemme just..." He whistles for his cloud to appear out of nowhere like a sentient object. "Hop on."

"Thank you so much." Sun offers to lend you a hand aboard the cloud. You hesitate to comply for it would be the first intimacy with the great Sun Wu. You felt a spark the minute your hand touched. A soothing warmth, unlike any other influencing you trust the monkey. You lock eyes curious if he felt what you did. He merely smiles, in turn, you do the same. You waste no time in mounting the cloud, ready to disembark home. The nimbus cloud starts to levitate at a high altitude causing you to buckle onto your knees out of lack of balance.

"I forgot driving a cloud is not normal for mortals." He chuckled. "Hang on tight." You grip a patch of cloud just in time before launch. The hefty air smacking your face, and the height between the water and you make you shut your eyes for the duration of the ride.

"This is so nauseating!" You shouted. The primate laughs amusedly at your outburst. He purposely howls joyfully when rocking the cloud, like some sort of skate.

"You'll get the hang of it one day." He snickered. "Once we reach the city, I'm going to leave you at the entrance. I don't want to be seen." You frown as you assume the worst. Of course, he doesn't want to be seen with you. Who would? You're a chubby blob filled with insecurities. You've made no effort to communicate with anyone for the same reason. It's all in your head, but it's a lie you truly believe. You've seen how it works and refuse to be rejected if you even tried. You overlooked the fact that you have made some acquaintances back home, but that's all they were to you for your reasons alone. Sun Wu probably can tell how much of a loser you are when he encountered you. He witnessed how small you get, and he doesn't want those negative vibes around him. You're sure of it. If anything, your meeting is merely an inconvenience.

As you sulk in your thoughts, Sun Wu detects your shift in mood leaving him to wonder. He shrugs it off for the time being not wanting to impose and instead focuses on the course ahead.

You've made it as promised by Sun Wu. You bow as thanks, before curtsying. Sun Wu was left befuddled as he wasn't even given a chance to say something suave. "That's a first." He pouted. "Priorities. I'll check in later." He figured. In a snap, he transforms into a bird and soars into the sky.
______________________________________

Meanwhile, you stroll into the café half-heartedly ready to face Lin's wrath. As suspected, she had been pacing back and forth. The first glance of you sends her to gasp before throwing her arms around you in a tight embrace. "(Y/n)! Thank heavens you're here!" She started. "Where have you been?" Her puffy, red eyes show the damage you have inflicted upon her. Your absence has left her in a flutter of worry.

"Hey, Lin. I'm sorry for my disappearance. I was-" Your words are cut off feeling more than one person in the room. Lin steps aside revealing MK, and the gang sitting at the bar wearing the same expression. The gray cloud cast overhead erased the minute you stand in view. MK and Mei mirror Lin with a tight hug.

"Miss (Y/n), we're so glad you're alive. The police said you were dead." MK cried.

"They didn't say that. They said you probably fell to your death, but it was inconclusive until now." Mei explained. Much like the Monkey King, you feel a heavy weight on your heart. Exhaustion creeping up your spine. You are feeling what everyone else it's feeling. Overwhelming you with the pressure that you can't push aside. You hold onto the pair wanting in despair.

"I'm sorry." You whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you all."

"We came as soon as we heard the news from MK," Pigsy said.

"I came because Pigsy dragged me." Tang earns a scowl from the anthro's insensitive comment. It was a joke to liven the mood. You can tell by his colorful, moon-gray aura.

"Quit crowd'n around her, kids. Ya suffocating her." Pigsy argued. MK and Mei pull away while Lin escorts you to the bar where they interrogate you about the incident. You begin the story about riding down the mountain, leaving out the part about being saved by the Monkey King. Instead, you told them you crawled your way to safety, and spent the night in the jungle lost until you found your way to civilization.

"Wow! That sounds super intense. I can't picture being stuck in the middle of nowhere near the brick of death." MK holds himself over the image. Mei and Pigsy nudge MK as you become uncomfortable by the reminder. "I mean, it's cool that bravely escaped that situation. I'd probably be screaming my lungs out." You twiddle your thumbs as the room falls silent. A sign that you are done having a conversation. You're unaware of the fact that everyone has caught on to your knack. Rather than continue speaking to you, they usually move onto themselves to lay off you. You were grateful to the universe assuming every time it was their doing. They never resented you for being the way you are. Entering a new domain, a new environment definitely takes a toll. However, having someone new is always an exciting treat. The reason for becoming tense has to do with another emotion engulfing the room. Your eyes stray to Lin who is staring acutely at a cookie jar.

"We better get going and give (Y/n) space." Pigsy initiated. You turn to the piglet, telepathically thanking him. He smirks as if to say "don't worry about it, kid". MK, on the other hand, complained attempting to stay, but ultimately gets dragged away by Mei leaving you alone with Lin. She has been making you fidget since you arrived. You see a red aura surrounding her. The color of rage formed by guilt. The deafening silence itself felt violent. You wait patiently for her to speak.

'Come on! Say something!'

You internally scream hoping to hear her spill her guts out. Anything to alleviate the brewing anger. You could make the first move, but you don't know how to even start. You don't know where it will lead. You're not sure if it will even help.

'You just got into an accident. She can't be mad at you. She probably feels bad. Even so, I don't want to make it worse. I'm not good with confrontation.'

Your nails dig into your arm feeling cowardly.

"I bet you want to rest upstairs after the fun you had, huh?" She teased. When you raise your head, you find a forced smile on her lips. The aura around her remains stiff and red. You bite your lip to keep it from quivering.

"Y-yeah...it's been a long day." You chuckled. The awkward air didn't expel. "Are you...ok?" The question prompted Lin to answer. A hint of sadness was briefly found in her eyes.

"I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind." She said. "Why don't you take the day off tomorrow?"

'You're not ok. Talk to me.'

"You can't manage the café alone." You said matter of fact.

"Don't worry, I'll have my hubby come in to help. You're not the only baker." She sends playful a wink, but it still unsettles you that your boss remains convicted. You didn't want to press the matter if she isn't willing to speak up. For all you know she has her coping mechanism.

'You just had a car accident and she doesn't even care! Seriously?'

"Ok." You reluctantly cave in to her request to retire for the rest of the evening. "I'll see you on Thursday." As you take a few steps up the stairs, you can hear Lin let out an exasperated sigh. A sign that sounded close to a breakdown. You resisted the urge to come back to leave her to her own.
______________________________________

After mending your wounds from a hot bath, you set your sights on relaxing with a cup of tea and a slice of peach cake. The tea calms your soul on the first sip. Beverages are not your forte, but it compliments the sweets. You don't want too much sugar. A minute into your leisure time, your mind wanders to Lin and the Monkey King. Everything that has happened in learning about the celestial hero's existence, to how much you cower. The burden you placed upon your boss because you couldn't keep focus. Rather than confronting her, you ran away like a coward. Just like Lin, you're keeping everything subtle, closed up because you're allowing fear to consume you.

"What else am I supposed to do?" Tears trickle down your cheeks. The stress takes effect on your self-esteem. You cease your tears after hearing flapping out the window. Perched on the frame is your bird friend. It surprised you to find him at your complex during the night. A rare sight to be visited as though he heard your cry. "Oh hey, sweetheart." You sniffled. "I'm alright just having a bad day." You welcome him with a scratch on his cheek. "It's curious how you arrived in my hour of need." The bird tilts it's head quizzically. "You look like you understand me." You commented before retreating to your depressive state. "I nearly died last night. I was saved by a legend and kept his secret. I mean, he didn't ask me to but nobody else seems aware of his existence. I at least want to spare him his privacy. Besides, it's not like I'm ever gonna see him again." You sadden at the idea. "I think it's better that way." The bird frowns perplexed by the confession.

As you sip your drink, the memory of him reminds you of his odd greeting. Your cheeks grow rosy the more you think about it. "One strange thing is our meeting. When he said hello he called me "sweetheart" as if he knew me." You hummed in thought.

"Why do you think?" You whip your head around the room in search of the voice, but there is no one in sight except for you and the bird. You slowly turn to your feathery friend now grinning cheekily.

'There is no way it's him.'

 The world proved you wrong when he spoke again, "you gave me that name." In a blink of an eye, the bird that once perched itself on your lap transforms into Sun Wu Kong.

"M-Monkey...king?" You squeaked.

"The one and only." He poses heroically on the coffee table. "I can't believe you didn't pick up on that. I was hoping you'd recognize me." He laughed. "Oh man, you should see the look on your face." He begins to mimic you while you speechlessly process his presence. Eventually, you piece two and two together becoming increasingly flustered. The entire time you've been pouring your heart out, he's been listening, and he didn't even tell you until now. What's worse is he barged into your apartment to make fun of you? Somehow that's not true, but you truly believe so. Now wasn't the time for games. You've been an off day while the monkey is having blast. As if your face couldn't get any red, rage boils within, coursing through your veins, and steaming out of your ears.

"That's so mean! You shouted. "You were the bird this whole time?" Sun Wu tilts his head after coming down from his joy. "Why? Were you spying on me for your sick prank? Is that what you do?" He flinches the more you raise your voice. You're attacking him without letting him speak. He hadn't expected his surprise to backfire.

"Easy, I'm not pranking you." His reassurance failed to appease the burning fury rising in you. Everything you held bottled up is spilling out, and each syllable from your mouth is like a personal attack to him to defend yourself as if to give yourself purpose. All you can see is red, and you can't seem to stop. It feels right to vent out your frustration, yet not in the healthiest way. Everything you've felt up to now is replaying in your mind. The reason you're overreacting, the way you hate yourself because you've written yourself to be horrible.

"Are you sure? Because I've heard you used to cause all kinds of mischief for your entertainment. If so, I will not be a part of that so please leave." You clench your fist until the whites of your knuckles are visible. The simian grows dark, you can feel the air turn cold. The color of his aura is a mixture of colors. He holds himself back from saying something stupid. You watch as he takes a deep breath then march on over to the window sill. The last thing he says catches you off guard.

"You're not mad at me. You're angry at yourself. You need to figure yourself out before you destroy everything." With that, he takes flight into the night sky whilst you stand like a dear in headlights. You stare at the empty apartment and realize you're alone, again.