If I may I'd like to send in a stupidly fluffy fic because I need some distraction from a bad week
Macaque breached the threshold of his home, rolling his shoulders with a small grimace.
The monotony of kingly duties felt especially grueling today, making him want to become a puddle on the floor.
Ears twitched at the sound of a giggle trying to stay muffled from the side of the couch.
"Is that my Xiaotian I hear?" A small smile formed as Macaque took a few steps closer, prompting more hushed giggles.
Macaque walked past the couch purposefully keeping his gaze up, letting the six-year old think he had succeeded in being sneaky.
"Hmm, how strange. I wonder where my little star has gone?"
Xiaotian was doing his best not to laugh not noticing the shadow creeping up behind him like a cobra waiting to strike.
When it did shrieks of laughter filled the room as Xiaotian was snatched from his hiding spot and dangled upside down in front of his father's face.
"I got you," Macaque's voice was softer in comparison to Xiaotian's laughter but still spoken in a smile. Large hands gently grasped the boy and held him close, nuzzling his face.
"Oh, Liu'er!" A large blue form emerged from the kitchen, holding a bowl of fruit. "You're back early."
"Not early enough if you ask me," Macaque said, plucking a few strawberries from the bowl, offering one to his son who ate it happily. "Thank you for watching Xiaotian. I appreciate it."
"It's no problem at all, I'm always happy to come watch him." Sandy smiled serenely, a colossal finger coming up to tussle Xiaotian's hair. "It's about time I head home, my cats will be expecting dinner. It's best not to keep them waiting."
"Of course," Macaque could only chuckle at the mention of Sandy's herd of cats he's accumulated these past couple of years. "Safe travels home, Brother."
"Bye bye!" Xiaotian chirped as he waved him off, leaning into Macaque's shoulder.
It was easy to get into a pre-bedtime routine, besides trying to wrangle the hyper boy into the bath, it went relatively smoothly.
Some movie played on the TV as Xiaotian sat on his lap. Clawed fingers ran through his boy's hair, absent-mindedly grooming like he would for the little ones on Flower Fruit Mountain.
"Xiaotian? Did you know your birthday is coming up soon?" Macaque questioned fully expecting the way Xiaotian sprouted up at the mention of his birthday. He remembers the dissonance that the birthday he celebrates with his son, the day demon hands lifted a baby from an alley, and the actual date of Xiaotian's birth that remains a mystery for only heaven to know. "Is there anything you'd like, Little Star?"
"Noodles!" Xiaotian spoke excitedly, "And more fancy pencils for drawing!"
"That's all?" Macaque questioned, thinking of Ao Lie's little granddaughter who seemed to be showered in a glittering gifts every year. "Out of anything in the world?"
"Uh-huh, getting noodles with everyone is the best thing in the whole world!" As soon as Xiaotian said that a thought crossed his face making his brow furrow. "How come we dont do anything for your birthday?"
"Oh well, I don't really have a birthday." Macaque spoke simply, "You see Xiaotian, I was born a long long time ago and old demons like me don't really keep track of that kind of thing."
"That doesn't seem fair, everyone deserves a birthday." Xiaotian murmured back, head tilted slightly as he digested the information before brightening up again. "I know! We can share mine!"
Blinking down at the boy in shock, Macaque wants to dismiss the notion. That Xiaotian shouldn't squander his own special day for him but he finds that he can't deny that sunshine smile.
"That's a very generous idea, my little star." Macaque nuzzles the boy, earning a bright giggle in return. He thinks that their 'sharing a birthday' will only last one year, if that.