Chapter Text
Wukong snuck up on the slumbering form of his mate, his silencing spell was serving him well, Mihou didn't have the slightest clue he was here.
He pounced, rolling Mihou onto his back with claws digging against his throat.
Pure purple eyes stared back up at him.
“ Another clone .” He growled.
He squeezed the shadow clone’s throat until it poofed.
It had been exactly thirty eight days since Mihou ran away with the cubs.
Of those thirty eight days, he had only been searching for seven. He had spent the first thirty one days making preparations for once he returned Mihou to his rightful place.
His little mate was trying to throw him off his trail with clones, but he was growing steadily closer to the real Mihou with each clone he got rid of. He could feel his mate's presence.
Mihou could go wherever he wanted, but unless he found some particularly clever way to hide himself, he would always find his moonlight.
It was only a matter of time.
XXX
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Mihou snapped into alertness at the horrible sound.
The horrific sound that had been forcibly carved into his brain.
Sun Wukong.
No no no no ! He can't have found us already! I sent out dozens of clones- why haven't I felt any of them disperse? Panic consumed him.
He couldn't get caught. He couldn't imagine the horrid consequences he would face if the king caught him.
He shot up from the bed mat he had been laying on, Wukong was close . The king's heartbeat was pounding in his ears.
He had been constantly on the move to try and shake Wukong off his trail as he tried to find someone who would help him.
Despite his magic being back, he was seven centuries out of practice, he couldn't portal very far. The majority of his power had been spent on getting away from Flower Fruit Mountain, and it was taking a very long time to recover. He didn't doubt Wukong had been doing something to cause that.
“Baba?” Chao-Xing yawned.
His focus snapped to his cubs, both were sitting up, woken from their restless sleep by his movement. He rolled their bed mat up and stuffed it into his bag, moving his cubs out of the way.
“Baba, it's sleepy time.” Yingyue complained.
I can't let them know he's coming! Mihou gave his daughters his best smile.
“I-i know… b-but we have to go, I need you to get up.” He told them.
Chao-Xing blinked sleepily at him.
“Something wrong Baba?” She asked.
Wukong was getting closer with every second.
“N-no! Nothing! We just have to leave!” Mihou repeated.
His cubs exchanged confused glances, shrugged, then crawled over to him. He quickly secured them into his scarf, they fussed a little but otherwise they settled down quickly, curling up with each other, and thankfully, quickly going back to sleep.
It was so hard to get them to sleep easily, he was certain it had something to do with the medicine Wukong has been shoving down their throats for the last two years.
He couldn't let them go back to that.
He checked the secluded alley way he had set up for the night in, just to make sure Wukong wasn't there yet, then he bolted into his shadows.
He made it to the edge of the little town before a horrible screech of pure rage shook the very earth itself, startling him out of the safety of the shadows.
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
Gods, it was everywhere!
His head spun, it sounded like Wukong was coming at him from every direction. He very well could be, sending all his clones out to corner him. Blindly, he dashed in the one direction he couldn't hear Wukong, too focused on escape to think about it for even a second longer.
He blindly followed the Wukong free path deep into the dark wilderness surrounding the small town.
He ran until he came across a cave nestled in the mountains, a cave was something he did not want to be caught with the king in, the chances of getting caught were much too high.
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
He's getting closer!
He could hide the cubs in the shadows of the cave and lure Wukong away, then circle back and get his cubs.
He hid his cubs in a dark crevice of the cave, keeping them bundled into his scarf for warmth. They thankfully didn't wake up and stayed adorably cuddled up together.
He could hear Wukong so close to him.
He had been free for forty four days, Wukong only started actively chasing him after the first month, and this was the closest he'd been to getting caught since.
But I won't be caught, I have to escape… I have to! He dipped into the shadows, coming out in a random place in the forest so Wukong wouldn’t be able to track where he'd come from. Then he took off running.
It didn't take him long to attract the attention of a clone.
The copy made a horrifying, eager sound and darted off to tell its master it had found his runaway moon.
I'm so fucked. Mihou thought.
The heartbeat came screaming towards him, he dropped into the shadows just in time to dodge the claws reaching for him.
He tucked himself deep into the shadows, watching Wukong pace where he had been cautiously. He knew Wukong couldn't get to him in the shadows, but he still didn't feel safe being so close to him.
Keeping an eye on the golden monkey, he slowly, silently slipped away through the shadows, he didn't have the energy to hide in the shadows for hours like he wanted to, he'd have to make a break for it.
Once he was safely far enough away from the king, he bolted out of his hiding spot.
A twig snapped.
He froze, snapping his head towards the source.
A figure stood outlined against the darkness of the first.
Red eyes glinted in the dim moonlight.
Wukong.
The real Wukong.
He had been watching a clone the whole time.
He fell for one of Wukong's oldest tricks!
He growled at the golden monkey.
“Don’t look so surprised, moonlight, I said I'd catch you.” Wukong grinned.
He could hear the clones closing in on his position, the king was trying to trap him.
“As much as I enjoy our little game, it's time to go home .” Wukong said.
“No.” he hissed.
The grin vanished, dark rage flashed in the king's eyes.
“ No ? I don't think you understand , moonlight. You and the children are coming with me .” Wukong said, his voice low and dangerous.
“ None of us are going anywhere with you .” He snarled, dropping into a defensive stance.
“That’s a cute joke , Mihou.” Wukong hissed, barely concealed rage flickering to the surface.
“I'm not joking. You'll have to drag me back there.” Mihou spat.
Wukong scanned his form, an eye twitched in irritation.
“If that's the way you want it, Mihou, then it can be arranged.” Wukong growled.
The king lunged for him, he dodged the blow and landed a swift kick to the king's back. Wukong stumbled but stayed on his feet, he glared over his shoulder at him.
He hadn't fought like this in seven hundred years, not since his last battle with Wukong, he could only hope this one had a different outcome.
Wukong attacked again, slashing his shoulder with his claws. He lurched away, going on the retreat to put as much distance between himself and the king.
He had no weapons, he still couldn't get his shadows to do much more than make portals, he didn't even have his claws, they hadn't grown back yet.
I'm so fucked!
Wukong came for him again, he deflected the brunt of the blow and kicked Wukong in the chest. The king grabbed his leg and yanked him off balance.
He slammed into the ground with a harsh thump, he barely avoided Wukong pinning him while he was down, rolling out of the way into his shadows.
He was dealt a punch to the back that flung him into the branches of a tree. A branch pierced his torso, he snapped it off the tree rather than waste the time trying to pull it out of him and avoided another attempted grab with his shadows.
Wukong snarled angrily, he breathed a sigh of relief to temporarily be safe from him. Not that it did him any good, Wukong could still sense his presence.
He was getting beaten.
Of course he was, it was Sun Wukong , did he really think he even had a chance?
I have to save them, I must save my cubs. He shook his head, he couldn't let himself think like that, his cubs were counting on him to save them from the monster hunting them.
Mihou took a deep breath and gathered whatever power he could, it was all or nothing now.
XXX
Mihou gasped in pain, hacking up a glob of blood. He slowly pushed himself onto his hands, his body screamed with every movement.
Wukong chuckled darkly as he approached, his ears flattened against his head with a growl.
“What was the point of this all, Mihou?” Wukong prompted with a tilt of his head.
“I mean, you had to know I would've caught you eventually , so why'd you do it? Why would you hurt me like this?” He asked, sounding genuinely confused.
“Don't act like you actually care.” He hissed.
“Do you think I don't love you?” Wukong growled.
“You don't!” He spat.
Wukong glared down at him, Mihou pushed himself to his feet, leaning against the rock behind him for support.
“You don't love me or the twins or anyone!” He shouted.
His voice echoed off the walls… they were in a cave… the same cave he'd hidden the twins in!
Fuck! He played me! He knew the whole time! He whirled around, scanning the shadows for his cubs.
“Oh my darling moonlight, you're so predictable.” Wukong snickered behind him.
Mihou lurched away from the king. Behind him, his cubs squeaked.
He spun around, a clone was holding the twins, one in each arm.
“No!” He lunged at the clone.
It swiftly dodged his imprecise jump, tripping him up with its tail. He hit the ground hard.
“Papa stop!” Chao-Xing growled.
“Yeah, you're hurting Baba!” Yingyue agreed.
“Oh? But he hurt me first. He says I don't love him when that couldn't be more false.” Wukong hissed.
Mihou tossed a rock at him, Wukong snarled.
“I didn't realize you were this desperate.” Wukong growled.
He pushed himself off the ground, ready to fight tooth and nail to escape. He needed to save his cubs from the king. He could do this.
“You were doing so well moonlight, I actually thought you finally got past this infuriating little phase.” Wukong tsked.
“You should know by now that I'll never stop.” Mihou hissed, watching the king's every movement for the opportune moment to strike.
“You're so ungrateful.” Wukong rolled his eyes.
“Ungrateful?!”
“Yes! I gave you the best position you could possibly hope for, and you threw it away!” Wukong shouted.
“And what is that position you have so graciously gifted me? Cause I've been your prisoner and fuck buddy for seven. Hundred. Years !” He threw another punch at the king.
Wukong caught his wrist, twisting his arm behind his back with frustrating ease. He tried to elbow the king's face, and got both arms pinned behind his back for his trouble. Wukong held his arms back with one hand, cupping his face with the other in a bruising grip.
“The wonderful position of being my mate. My side is where you belong.” Wukong growled darkly.
Mihou ripped his head free of his grip. Wukong frowned, disappointed but unsurprised by his behavior.
“You know I hate it when I have to discipline you, moonlight.” He sighed.
Click!
The small sound was deafening to his ears, cold metal dug into his wrists, they felt like they were burning .
Celestial handcuffs! He's taking my powers! He realized just as his connection to the shadows was snipped like a stray thread.
He struggled against the binds, hearing only the clanking of chains as he tried to free himself. Wukong snapped, the chains tightened, yanking him to his knees.
The king rounded on him, grinning maniacally.
“Wukong… what are you doing?” He asked in a whisper, fearing the answer he would get.
Wukong cupped his face with both hands, forcing him to look up at the king looming over him.
“I told you, moonlight, you need to be disciplined , and you need to learn your place. You have repeatedly proven that the only way you learn is through pain .” One of Wukong's hands slid down to his throat, his other stayed in place on the right side of his face-
“No-!”
Wukong choked his protests out.
“I didn't want to do this, I really don't like needing to hurt you, but you must be hurt to learn.” Wukong shrugged.
He fucking shrugged!
“Papa?!”
The cubs!
Out of the corner of his eye he saw them struggling against the clone holding them. He looked back to Wukong fearfully. Wukong was cruel and twisted, but surely maiming him with the cubs present would be too far, even for him… right?
The king was eyeing the twins with a thoughtful expression. He glanced down at him, a wicked grin spread across his face.
“I was going to excuse them from this, but it's a wonderful learning moment for them too .” Wukong snickered.
No! Please no! Anything but that! He tried to scream, Wukong's grip on his throat tightened.
Searing hot pain stung his face.
His cubs screamed bloody murder.
Wukong's claws sank into his skin excruciatingly slowly. The white hot pain drowned every other sensation out. There was only the king and pain.
Wukong pulled his hand away, he was holding something round and bloody. His eye, the bastard was holding his eye .
The king glanced between him and the eye in his hand with a wide grin then crushed his eye like a grape.
His body trembled with fear as blood gushed out of his gouged out eye socket. His children were seeing this, he couldn't see them, but he could hear them screaming.
How can you claim to love me when you do this?
Tears welled up in his eye, all he wanted to do was get away from this monster, why did it have to go so horribly wrong?
A broken sob escaped him, Wukong’s hand tightened around his throat. His claws dug into his neck, piercing the skin. He looked at Wukong in horror.
“I told you, I'd rip your throat out if you misused it, and you didn't listen.” Wukong tsked.
He didn't even get to scream.
His airway was crushed under Wukong's hand, claws punctured his throat.
His whole body was yanked forward, the ripping of flesh and muscles exploded in his ears. He could barely register the hot, sticky blood dripping from his throat, or the cold night air touching what it was never meant to, or the spots swimming around his vision.
He could only feel pain.
“You need to learn what you are. You are mine . Mine to hold. Mine to keep. Mine to love . You belong to me .” Wukong hissed directly into his ears.
The world was going dark, it couldn't end like this, he couldn't let Wukong take him back. He weakly raised his head, trying to protest-
Wukong kissed him before any semblance of a sound could come out. He couldn't take it, his grasp on the world was slipping away.
“Don't worry, my love , I'll take care of you.” Wukong whispered as he faded into the darkness of an uncertain future.
XXX
Wukong rested his scheming mate on his cloud gently.
He was still very upset with his darling moonlight, but further punishment would be taken out when he was awake. It would do no good if he was unconscious the entire time, he didn't really want to hurt his mate beyond what was necessary for him to learn.
And despite what his moon thought, he did love him, his moonlight was just too stubborn to accept the totality of his affection. Perhaps his moon was scared of just how much he loved him, he couldn't possibly share his most prized treasure with the world. No. He had to keep his mate safe, he never liked sharing anyway.
Someday moonlight, you'll understand. He thought.
He turned to his crying, screaming cubs. The poor things were hysterical, frantically trying to free themselves from the grip of his clone, their little fists couldn't do enough damage to disperse it.
“Oh don't worry little ones.” He cooed.
The children froze, staring at him with nothing short of absolute terror in their eyes. That wasn't the ideal response, but he could redirect their fear to someone else.
He loved his cubs as much as he loved his moon, he loved them enough that he shared his moon with them. He couldn't share his two little stars with anyone but his moon.
“Your baba will be just fine.” He took the pair in his bloodied hands.
The moment he touched them, their efforts to break free resumed. They were trying so hard, and they were so very bad at it. It was almost adorable, if they weren't trying to run from him.
They'll never want to leave me after this. He thought.
He separated the pair, allowing a clone to take one each. They screamed and cried louder at being separated from each other.
He cupped their tiny, tear stained faces, squeezing just tight enough to leave a bruise. Just a little tough love to keep them in line.
They would remember this how he wanted them to, he would have all the time in the world to reconstruct their memories once he had them all home. Planting the idea in their heads now would only be beneficial to him.
He put on the water works.
“My precious stars, I'm so sorry this happened to you… that you had to see the cruelty of the celestial realm first hand… I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you or your baba . I won't ever fail you again. Sleep now, your papa is here to make everything okay. I'm here, you're safe .” He told them.
He knocked the twins out with a special sleep spell, they'd stay asleep as long as he needed with it.
He bundled the pair in his cape, their tears finally stopped as they slipped deeper into the enchanted sleep.
He dispersed his clones and climbed onto his cloud next to his misbehaving mate. Mihou's punishment was far from over, but he kissed the other's forehead anyway.
As angry as he was, he still adored his mischievous little mate.
He set his cubs securely in his lap, not one of them stirred. He brushed the drying tears off their cheeks. It was such a shame Mihou had to drag them into his foolish little escape attempts.
He took off on his cloud, taking his family back home .
They would never leave it again.