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MK cut the engine off as soon as he parked, looking up at the building to see if any of the lights were on this late in the night. Thankfully there's a faint light from one of the windows, so he gathers up the only bag from the back of the scooter. Taking a deep breath, he heads up to the entrance.
He knocks lightly on the door even though he knows the noise won't wake up anyone else in the surrounding homes. Intermittently gripping the bag hard in an attempt to calm his nerves, MK wonders if he's even awake at this hour. It's silent from what he can hear. Loosening his grip on the bag, he looks at where his scooter is parked, debating if this was a good idea. Just as he's about to turn back to leave, the door opens to a rather freshly woken-up Macaque.
Macaque went from blearily blinking out sleep to a wide eye stare at MK. MK wide eye staring right back at him even though he was the one knocking. The only sounds coming from the rustling of the bag that MK holds out to Macaque. He takes the bag and cocks an eyebrow at MK for an explanation since the kid hasn't said anything yet. MK just flexes his hands on his sides obviously trying to come up with something to say.
"Uh, thanks kid," Macaque says uncertainly. Still nothing from MK, "Well. Night?" Macaque says while slowly going to close the door. The movement finally brings MK to the present causing him to panic and blurt out "Hey! Yeah! Sorry! I just was on my last delivery and noticed I had an extra order and thought, you know, might as well stop by since I'm already here, and brought to bring it to you and, uh," MK catches his breath, finally slowing down, "Just catch up, you know?"
Macaque looks over his shoulder to what MK assumed was a clock nearby. "11 at night bud?" MK seizes up a little but gives a tight nod, starting to fiddle with the edge of his jacket, "Just happened to be nearby..." MK reiterates lamely.
Looking at the fidgety delivery boy, Macaque gave a small sigh before opening his door more and walking towards the kitchen. MK allows himself in, closing the front door with a quiet click, following Macaque to the kitchenette across the room and noting how sparse the living area is.
"So," Macaque sets the tied bag down on the kitchen table, "you wanted to catch up huh?" He lazily gestures for MK to sit down at the table as he leans back on one of the counters. MK sits down and frets with his hands once again, steeling himself. "How are you Macaque?" MK looks at him, studying the monkey's face, "Like actually? Last time we saw each other you weren't looking too great. And to be honest, you aren't looking much better." he says, brows furrowing.
Macaque crosses his arms, looking unfocused toward the unopened bag of noodles. MK looks at him with a barely concealed look of concern but waits for an answer from him.
"Like actually' as you say?" Macaque hums quietly, "Hm, not great." he lets out a small humorless laugh, finally focusing his gaze on MK. "Mostly tired since a certain kid decided to wake me up from my beauty sleep," Macaque says, forcing himself to bring a smug smirk on his face. MK doesn't take the bait though, just looking at Macaque with open worry, the fidgeting of his hands not stopping.
Macaque's smirk slid off as his jibe didn't land, looking away from the kid, unfocused gaze back on the bag. Like as if the bag was hiding something that could bite him instead of feed him. MK doesn't say anything, noticing that Macaque was struggling with the next thing he's going to say, watching as the monkey's tail jerks side to side in as small movements as possible. The only sounds in the apartment coming from the clock, punctuating the now tense atmosphere.
Macaque lets out a small sigh as he finally moves from the counter to sit at the table with the kid. "I am tired though. I haven't stopped being tired no matter how much rest I've been getting these past few weeks," he admits, meeting the kid's gaze again. "Trying to take everything slow to heal again." Macaque says quietly, gesturing to the slim strip of bandage wrapped around his head.
MK thought that he was saying more than just physically heal from the way he continued to waving his hand around. "You don't have to worry though kid, just," Macaque took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, "processing and figuring out where to go from here is all." He tried to give MK a small reassuring smile, but felt it came out more like a grimace. MK felt oddly endeared that Macaque tried though.
"But enough about me kid, what about you? How've you been holding up?" Macaque leaned his crossed arms on the table to fully look at MK, noting that the bags under his eyes and how pale he looked was better than when he last saw him, but still there nonetheless.
MK grasps his hands together and puts them under the table to hide the slight tremor. "I've been... doing better." he said hesitantly, "I've been working on it," he said in my shorter tone, indicating he didn't want to talk anymore about his state. "But anyway what're you going to do now?" shifting the attention back to Macaque. The monkey appraises MK once more, debating if he should push the matter but gives another huff in response, noting to sit down with the kid again later to talk about it.
"I'm going to eat these noodles and hopefully pass back out, gotta get my beauty sleep and all that." MK's face pinkens in embarrassment, sheepishly he says, "Oh. Yeah, I guess it is pretty late, sorry." Macaque waves a hand at him, "I'm just pulling your chain MK. But, I'm probably going to do a shadow play or two. Spend my energy on making some cash. Do something nice with my time," he casually says.
It seems to work as MK perks up at that, "Oh? What did you have in mind for the play? When are you doing the show?" Macaque laughs at the sudden enthusiasm, "Well I guess you'll just watch yourself. I'm not going to give any spoilers on that." MK chuckles back, Macaque watching as the kids' shoulders finally relax since he came in.
It quiets down to a pleasant silence that makes Macaque's skin crawl, not feeling like he's earned this peaceful atmosphere so easily. Always to ensure there's nothing easy in his life, Macaque sighs, "Look MK, I'm not trying to scare you off, but what are you trying to do here?"
MKs' brows furrow again at the shift of atmosphere, the peaceful feeling replaced with unease. "I'm not 'trying to' anything Macaque. I just wanted to check up on you, as friends do, you know?" he looks intensely at the table's wood grain, hoping it would give him strength somehow, "or at least become friends again," he mumbled.
"Again?" Macaque asks. "Well, yeah. Even when you were pretending to care about me as a student I still thought we were friends. I think you actually did care. Still do." MK looks up at him, the furrow between his brows deeper.
Macaque remains silent as he studies the younger face, the worried brow, and the slight frown. He doesn't know what to say to him that doesn't sound disingenuous.
"I like to think of myself as a simple guy. I know I still view you as a mentor and friend even after the..." MK flourishes his hand in a lame wave, "Prior events that happened. Especially the most recent events." MK takes a deep breath, "I also like to think that you wouldn't have stuck around and helped if you didn't care, even after all that messed up stuff that, um, you did," MK finished weakly, looking up to Macaque.
Macaque doesn't break eye contact with the kid being so honest with him, even though he knows it's true, it still hurts. MK continues, "People who don't care normally wouldn't help after reaching that point. I'm assuming at least. Once again I'm a simple guy so I'm just guessing here." MK looks at him with unasked questions, feeling too out of his depth to even ask them.
"And to be fair, I'm still extremely pissed about the whole thing. But I get it, especially after," MK pauses for a second to reign his feelings in, "the ritual. Like, no one had any control in that situation." MK breaks eye contact feeling overwhelmed and needing to take a minute. He wanted to be angry and show it, but it wouldn't help any of them now. MK grips his hands harder under the table, "Especially you Macaque."
The monkey looks at the struggling kid, worry and hurt briefly flitting across his face before schooling it to a more neutral look. MK looks up only to see the frown, immediately regretting saying anything.
MK quickly gets out of his chair with the immediate urge to leave, "Anyway, sorry for intruding on you so late, and I'll, um, see you later?" Macaque tries to make eye contact with the kid, getting out of his chair slowly to not spook him. MK stares intently down at the ground as he makes his way back.
They both walk to the door in tense silence, Macaque struggling to find anything to say to comfort the kid. MK not looking at him, his face pinched in guilt and worry from overstepping, opening the front door a little too quickly.
Macaque huffs out a small breath, letting his frown let up and gently speaking up, "MK. Thanks." MK snaps his head up to look at him, surprise taking over his face. Macaque breaks out into a small smirk, "Anyway, showings tomorrow, 7 pm sharp. I'll see you then, okay?"
MK's face shifts to confusion before melting into a small smile. "I'll see you then Macaque." He opens the door fully and lets himself out, Macaque leaning against the frame seeing him out. "Night MK. And thanks for the noodles."
MK nods at him, the small smile still there, and turns around, leaving the monkey to watch him depart on his scooter. Macaque lets out a large sigh after MK drives out of sight, closing the door behind him and turning to the unopened bag of noodles. He allows a small smile to come onto his face as he goes to open the bag.