#why does he mrowww...

[twisting-in-wonderland]

why does he meow?

[pinkpastels113]

two is a party

a bechloe + a cat drabble

“Mrowww.”

Beca groans, rolling over in bed and opening her eyes to see Chloe’s cat yelling at her girlfriend’s face. She glances at the bedside table where the digital clock blinks 3am. “Dude.” She untucks her hand from under her chin to pet Danny’s back. “It’s three in the morning.”

Chloe stirs, a sleepy sound leaving her lips even as she snuggles her face further into Beca’s neck. “What does he waannt,” she whines.

Beca chuckles. For all people say about how Chloe seems like a morning person, Chloe is actually just as bad as Beca; sleeping late and waking up late and having a persistent scratch in her voice until she’s had her morning coffee. Chloe’s just drifted off for a half hour, and now her cat is giving her a hard time. Beca shifts her attention to Chloe’s red locks. She kisses Chloe’s nose, laughing at the way it wrinkles. “I think he’s hungry. Or bored.”

“I filled his bowl before I came to bed.” Chloe huffs, her eyes still refusing to open. Her arms tighten around Beca’s middle, the moonlight dancing in from their partially curtained window reflecting off the few freckles on her skin. Beca breathes in Chloe’s sleepy flowery scent, her heart content with the way they currently are. As if feeling left out, Danny meows again. “Becs, make him stop please. I wanna sleep.”

Beca looks at the cat again. Danny stares at her, and then slow blinks, perfectly innocent in all his troublemaking mixed gray tabby glory. “Maybe he just needs some attention.” She reaches across the blue comforter to play with his white socks. “Are you bored, baby?” When Danny chirps low in his throat as if in agreement, Beca coos. “Awww.”

And Beca doesn’t know if it’s because she’s become soft now that she’s in a relationship with her long-time crush or if she’s practically adopted Danny like one of her own, but the sympathy she has for the small thing now pawing at her fingertips prompts Beca to sit up. This proves to be a bad idea, because seconds after she’s detangled from Chloe’s arms, she’s quickly reminded that she’s naked. Goosebumps erupt up her spine and on her chest, and Beca curses, gripping the comforter to her skin. Chloe’s also realized that her warmth is no longer there, which causes her to grumble and sit up as well.

“What the hell,” Chloe says, her face all scrunched. She glares at the situation, her blue eyes narrowing surprisingly more at Beca than Danny, even though it was Danny who started this stupid thing. “What was that for?”

Beca gapes, appalled. She doesn’t mean to be defensive but it’s not her fault Chloe was woken up. She’s confused as to why Chloe’s more irritated at her than at her cat. “What do you mean? He needed us! What am I supposed to do? Ignore him?” She crosses her arms, clutching the bedsheets closer. It suddenly feels chilly. “I would never do that.” Beca looks to Danny for support. “Right, buddy?”

Danny meows his affirmative. He makes a show of getting on his hind feet and rubbing his face on Beca’s hand.

“You didn’t have to leave me like that though.” And those words, combined with the disgruntled tone of Chloe’s voice, allow Beca to truly understand what the problem was. “You could’ve given him his attention from here.” Chloe pats the space between them.

Beca bites the smile spreading across her mouth. Something flutters in her chest, settling dense and deep into her lungs and blood. “Wow.” She leans into Chloe’s pout, scooping up Danny along the way, cuddling him against her cheek, “You’re just as needy as him, aren’t you?”

The accusation is met with a heated kiss, Chloe’s tongue flirting with hers. Her weight tries to push Beca down, but with Danny’s protest, Chloe changes course. She switches their usual position, lifting Beca and the cat up until they’re both in her lap. Chloe then scoots them all down, laying on her back with a nip to Beca’s lower lip. When she’s done; when Beca is tracing a trail down Chloe’s neck and Chloe is gasping and Danny is happily kneading biscuits into the mattress beside their heads, Chloe answers.

“Maybe. You are mine after all.”

*****

fin.

[dancingthesambaa]

The Smell of Plum Blossom Tea Chapter 24

Summary: Just like a butterfly wing, a single act of kindness can change the course of the future, it certainly did for MK as a black furred monkey put out a hand towards him.

Rating: Teen and up

Final Chapter and boy let me say it's been one heck of a ride!

Chapter 24: Eclipse

“Can you put the plate of dumplings over there,” Macaque pointed to the already filled table of food.

“Which one?” The little girl asked.

“Both of them.”

“Okay!” Bai He grabbed both trays and placed them down.

“Thank you meteorite.”

“It’s no problem Papa, when is everyone else coming?” She asked as she stood next to her dad and watched him.

“Well, you know your brother and your dad are on their way after coming back from their training trip from the Jade rabbit home.”

“I never knew he was Minsheng's oldest brother,” the girl piped up.

“Threw me for a loop when I found out too,” he agreed. “You also know your sister and Red are out back with the rest of Yanyu gremlins-”

“Where’d you want this Doc!” The said bluenette called out as she brought in a batch of moon cakes.

“Set them to the side with the rest of the deserts!”

“Got it!”

“And the idiot trip along with Ahmed are with them to keep an eye out, or mostly Med is there to keep a watch. Pigsy and Tang are coming over in an hour after he closes up his shop along with Sandy after he finishes his last session and Shennong may be coming later if he feels like dragging his ass over here,” he finished as he kneed the dough.

“Okay! I just can’t wait to light up the lanterns!” She excitedly said. She has never done it for the Lunar New Year, usually she just went around and begged for some food before sitting off to the sides to watch the fireworks.

“Right, this is your first time isn’t it,” the simian smiled at her.

“It is! And I and Gou are really excited! Aren’t we Gou!” She turned to face the small gray cat, who was sprawled on top of the cabinets.

“Mrowww,” she lazily purred and shifted slightly.

“She agrees.”

“I bet she does, her enthusiasm says it all,” he joked and felt a soft kiss on his cheek. “It’s about time you two got back, might have thought to start the celebration without you guys.”

“Sorry sorry, we just got a little held up with a bunch of bandits,” Wukong apologized with none of the sincerity.

“You got held up by bandits?” He raised his eyebrow.

“More like I decided to use the bandits as a nice training exercise,” he cheekily said as he wrapped his arms around his mate.

“They make great testing dummies for an accurate calculation on how far they can fly when I drop kick them in my ape form!” MK excitedly told his dad as he picked up his younger sister.

“That makes more sense,” he then slapped the fiery hand that was coming close to the pile of dried fruits. “You are not about to put your dirty paws in my food until it’s well and done peaches.”

“Aww but Mango, I’m hungryyyy,” he whined.

“Eat a plum from the trees, but this food is off limits until it’s done and your cleaned, you know the rules dumbass.”

“Finnnee,” he fakely sighed as he gave him one last kiss before grabbing his child, both of them, and bringing them both to the bathroom. “Come on my sweet fruits, we got to get cleaned.”

“But I’m not dirty like you too!” Bai He complained as she was hanged upside down.

“And I was about to go to Mei and Red!” MK mimicked as he pouted.

“You can flirt with your boyfriend and girlfriend after you're done,” the simian said. It just happened two months ago when they were hanging out in the forest and it was surprisingly the Bull prince who confessed first. Then it was just a domino one after another as both humans blurted out their confessions as well and the next thing they knew they were all giggling in the fields. The only reason why both monkeys found out in the next hour was that the fairies are huge gossipers. Let it be known that fairies would take any chance to gossip about anything juicy just to see the reactions on the other person's face. By the time the lovers got home, everyone was supporting a grin on their faces and they, in turn, burned a bright red. “And you know the saying, all for one and one for all!”

“Actually the full quote is ‘All for one and one for all, united we stand and divided we fall,’ and secondly that phrase was used when they needed to face a great feat together! Not when they were washing their hands!” Bai He huffed.

“You've been reading with Jin haven’t you,” Wukong deadpanned.

“He is someone who appreciated the finer tastes in books,” she said as MK also nodded.

“Well you're still being dragged along.”

“Oh come on!” She flailed her arms as they went into the bathroom.

“I swear this family,” Macaque fondly rolled his eyes as he looked up at Gou. “What would we do without them?”

“Meoww.”

“You got that right.”

“You’ve outdone yourself once again Pigsy!” Daiyu yelled as she slurped down a bowl. “This really hits the spot.”

“Heh heh heh, you know it! I made those especially for the New Year,” the pig demon proudly said as his fiancé leaned on him.

“If there wasn’t the lamp lighting, I would have taken a nap right here and now…on second thought,” Tang muttered.

“Don’t you dare!” Bao, Yanyu's younger brother, shouted at him. “You can’t fall asleep now old man!”

“Old man!” He sat straight up to glare at the child, “I am not old!”

“You're an adult,” Fen, Daiyu's younger sister, retorted. “Which makes you old.”

“But I’m not an old man!”

“But you're older than us,” Bai He joined in with a mischievous grin.

“Bai He,” the historian warningly said.

“Which makes you an old man!” She cheerfully said as the trip of children began to run away from him as he began to chase them.

“Get back here you gremlins and face the tickle monster!” He shouted as he chased them all around the deck.

“Makes me glad that I’m not on babysitting duty,” Mei commented as both of her boyfriends nodded their heads. Ever since Bai He met the younger kids, they have gotten along like a house on fire as they went through all sorts of mischief. Unfortunately for the older trio, they were the ones on babysitting duty when there was no adult available and the chaos the group went through was pure hell. She still didn’t know how they managed to find a Dijiang in the span of an hour, but it took so much bargaining and having to bring in all guardians, parents, and sisters included before they finally released it back to the Celestial Realm. That didn’t mean the creature entirely was gone, they still came to visit and even had sleepovers in the forest with some of the beasts. At this point, the forest might as well be the creature's second home, much to almost everyone's dismay. “I have to apologize to Pops for the shit we caused him, I still have nightmares about that little four winged bastard.”

“You and me both,” he grimaced at the memory of the Dijiang flipping the entire forest upside down, literally, there was a reason that thing was associated with chaos.

“I think I still have the taste of bubblegum and durian whenever I bite into an apple,” Red noted as he sank into both his partners' embrace. The no face beast made every food in the forest have a different flavor, which was quickly reverted back as an angry black immortal simian glared at the creature with half a plum in hand. He did not like his hard-working fruits that he grew, tasting like tar and cotton candy had a baby monstrosity. “I sometimes still feel cautious each time I eat anything.”

“Same,” those who were in the forest at the time all chimed in. Their own experiences in a new dive of taste will forever haunt them.

“Just be happy you haven’t seen his other form,” Macaque commented as he sipped his mug labeled Best Monkey Dad.’

“I’m sorry the what now,” all three kids whipped their heads towards him.

“Oh yeah his other form is a pure terror to some,” Wukong chuckled as he held a mug as well that was labeled ‘Number 1# Monkey Pop.’

“But he looks so cute in his little butt face form,” Yanyu said.

“Not surprising, I mean there had to be a reason why it called the ‘primordial and central chaos’ of the realm,” Pigsy commented.

“You’ve been listening to Tang lecture again,” Sheng smirked as they stuffed another dumpling in his mouth.

“Both him and Ahmed, they wouldn’t stop,” he shrugged.

“I would apologize, but I wouldn’t truly mean it,” the lion said with a grin.

“Of course you don’t, I had Tang rant to me after it was all over on how your theory on the ‘postmedial state of mind’ was ingenious, while still insulting it at the same time.”

“His own theory of the Meridian lines connecting to the earth was also an interesting point.”

“How did we go from Dijiang to this,” Bohai amusedly spoke.

“Honestly this is tame compared to other conversations,” the vulture pointed out.

“True.”

“Ehh don’t be too frightened of that little shit,” Shennong laughed as he put down his bottle. “They just like to play.”

“Says the God,” Mei muttered.

“Not just me, I’ve seen him in full form in front of Sandy here,” he patted the giant arm. Everyone turned to him.

“He likes his tea very bitter and salty,” he smiled.

“Of course you would befriend them,” Mac sighed, “you befriend anything that breathes. Speaking of that, how is Huntsman doing? I’ve seen him come around your place more often lately.”

“He’s good,” his smile brightens, “he says he never had tea before and he really likes the taste and likes to spend time around me.”

“That’s good to hear buddy, but remember,” Pigsy smiled turn into a slight frown, “if he does anything to you, call me and I’ll kick his ass for you.” He saw their interaction once and knew almost instantly that the spider had an attraction towards his best friend. He won’t interfere, he had trust in him, but if he tries to hurt him then all bets are off.

“Same goes for me,” Tang halted for a moment to put in his own two cents before going back to the chase.

“Same! I could use a new test dummy for my glitter prank!”

“I’ll happily kick his ass!”

“Don’t worry, Big sister Yan Yan will take care of it if he fucks up.”

“Awww you guys, thanks,” he knew the threats were their own way of showing how they care for him and it touched him. “But I think I will be fine.”

“Sandy I love you with all of my heart, but I am serious,” MK went and squished his face. “Just say the word and he’ll be the next potion ingredient.”

“Or at the end of my blade,” Mei casually said.

“Or set on fire,” Red added.

“Just say the word Sandy and we'll happily get rid of him for you,” Wukong said as Mac nodded his head.

“I’ll be fine,” he chuckled. “He really has grown these past couple of months.”

“If you insist,” the black simian shrugged, “now who's ready for mooncakes?”

“ME!” Everyone shouted as they rushed, children and Tang included, to the table to enjoy their delicacy.

“I don’t know which is better for star watching, the mountain or the forest,” MK commented as he looked up at the starry night sky.

“Mountain/Forest,” both monkeys said, earning a small stink eye to each other.

“Pffft,” he spurted out as he saw both his dads about to start arguing, “how about we call it a draw before you two get into it. At least we can all agree that the city can’t compare to both your places.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Wukong nodded.

“Too much pollution does that to a place,” Mac agreed.

“It sure does,” the monkey's successor sighed as he looked at both his parents standing close to each other, then he heard the voices of his partners lightly teasing other as they argued over whose lantern was better, he also heard the voice of his little sister giggling like the rest of his friends and family (even some of the forest creatures as he heard Kappa obnoxious laughter and Ní soft sighs) were all boisterously laughing down below. Finally, he glanced out to the lit up city in the middle of the Lunar Festival as he had a nostalgic look on his face. “You know, I never thought I would be here.”

“What do you mean bud?” The Monkey King immediately asked before his mate could.

“When I was younger, before I was here, I always thought that I had to please my sperm donors to be happy. That I had to make them proud of me so that I can feel proud of myself. That my only reason, and only goal, in life was to please them so that I can finally be happy.” He admitted as his eyes continued to stay focused ahead.

“Comet/MK,” both immortals had a concerned look on their faces but stopped when he continued.

“That was what I thought, until Dad found me and showed me that I didn’t need to do any of that, didn't need to force myself to please people, who wouldn’t even care if I just laid down and died in front of them.” He turned to face his monkey who showed him love and warmth for the first time. “I still remember that night, you were the first person to stop that night when I was alone, the first to ever share their scarf to me when you saw me shivering, the first to ever hold out their hand in kindness towards me, and I am so happy that I took it. I am so happy that you took me in and showed me that it was okay to be happy for myself. When you picked me up and held me in your arms, I didn’t realize then, but now I finally understand,” He turned to his misty eyed dad and gave him a tight hug.

“Thank you for making a new start for me, for showing me that there is such a thing as kindness and happiness in life,” he stuffed his face deep in his father's fur as two furry arms held him tight.

“You would have probably been fine without me,” Macaque choked out as he nuzzled his son's head.

“Maybe, but I don’t think I would have been as happy if you weren’t in my life,” he rebutted.

“That makes the both of us,” another pair of arms joined the group as Wukong hugged them both tightly. “I am so happy to be able to find a new family with you all with my flaws and all, thanks for never giving up on me moonshine.”

“I never have sunshine,” he croaked out a small laugh, “I’ve known you too long to let you go so easily.”

“I'm glad you haven’t,” they stayed in each other's warm embrace for a few more minutes before finally letting each other go.

“Why don’t you go tell everyone that the floating lanterns should start soon starlight,” the black monkey gently nudged his child.

“Will do dad,” he smiled as he walked in.

“I’m lucky to have met him,” he sighed as he watched as he tackled both of his partners to the ground and cuddled them, “to have met all of them.”

“The same can be said for them for you,” he felt a kiss being pressed to his cheek as a warm hand gently turned his face to meet soulful golden eyes, “and for me as well meeting you for the first time.”

“Pfft, you were lucky to meet me when your ass was being chased by a pissed off deity,” he chuckled as he rested his head on his partner's forehead.

“You have to admit that it was certainly an interesting first impression,” he joked as he felt his tail being wrapped around another tail, he gripped his lover's tail right back.

“You're not wrong…I’m glad to have met you,” he whispered in the shadows of the night, “and that we somehow made it back together despite the clusterfuck that happened.”

“Same here, I’m truly happy that we are here,” he lovingly said as a sad smile formed on his face. “I’m truly grateful to have met Ping that day, who knows what direction my life would have turned out if I didn’t go back.” He had many thoughts about this before and he could only ruefully think that he would not be anywhere as happy as he was now.

“I wish I could have met him,” Wukong said.

“He was a crazy old bastard, but he was one of the best bastards I could have ever met,” he chuckled as he leaned closer to him.

“With how everything in this forest is? I believe that,” he grinned as he kissed the tip of his nose. Whether it be from the chaos the creatures of the forest have to the sheer safety the trees exclude, he really did wish he could have met Ping, if only to thank him for being there for his mate when he couldn’t.

He smiled at the kiss then his ear twitched as the two shared a smile as they both grabbed their lanterns and when everyone else was ready, let it float amongst the sea of rising lights in the forest.

“Still think fireworks are better than this,” Mac teased as he leaned against his mate.

“We can agree to disagree,” he shot back with a satisfied smile on his face.

“Coward.”

“Maybe,” then a mischievous look appeared as he plunged his nose right into his lover's neck, “did I ever mention how I love the smell of plum blossom tea on you?”

“Yes, a million times,” he chuckled knowing what he was doing.

“And I’ll say it a million times more, you smell of beauty and life itself,” the Monkey King sweet talked him.

“You’re a sap.”

“But I’m your sap~” he cheerily said as he wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed his neck. “Happy New Year mango.”

Macaque gently tipped his lover’s head to meet his lips as he softly spoke when they parted. “Happy New Year peaches.”

Then the two cuddle close together as they look up at the floating lanterns delicately flying above the recovering forest. It illuminated the starry night sky as it seemed almost iridescent amongst the battered and growing forest.

And amongst the glowing forest, was a small clearing that contained a bed of Protea flowers, some Lotus flowers, a patch of Magnolia flowers, and a lone Cherry Blossom sapling with a few blooming flowers within its branches being surrounded by the cover of the Plum Blossom Forest.

The forest may have lost a lot all those months ago, but all it needs is one seed to rebirth something anew, to make it even better than before.

And all it takes is one hand outstretched in kindness, one small action, and there can be a whole new change awaiting you.

All you need to do is to risk the unknown, take that hand, stand up and see it.

See that there is something wonderful if you take that chance.

THE END

Let me just say, it has been a true privilege writing this story for you all. I thank everyone who has been reading this from the bottom of my heart!!

Thank you all!

[funnygirl117]

@gingerrose-hub A gift for BrownGirlDreams and all for all of us who have lost and loved a fur baby.

I’m so cold. I don’t like the rain. I never have. I’m afraid my new life is starting off rather disappointingly. It will soon be better, I’m sure.

My last life was warm and sweet and filled with love. How I so hated to leave her. She was the light in my sky, and the catnip in my bowl. It was the favorite of my lives so far and I’ve had plenty, let me tell you, each one of them as blessed as the last.

For years I scurried around the edges of the life I inhabited, like a spy or the mice I love to torment, until Old Man Fate guided me to my sweet girl.

She was confined, tense and waiting on the edge of adventure and she welcomed me into her true, beautiful and funny heart.

She grew and grew, and became so strong, and so fierce. She was ready, she would conquer the world. It’s the bittersweet truth of my purpose, when you no longer need me, I must go.

I’ll miss her so much. My sweet girl, so full of vitality and wonder, her brown eyes full of dreams. I’ll take all that she is to me, our experiences and memories, what a blessing they’ve been, and pass them along as I always have, to all the ones I’ve ever loved.

Ooh, I hear footsteps and the lovely scent of roses fills my nose. I believe the Old Man has guided me to another to love.

“Mrowww.” Best to make myself known.

Hmmm. “Mrowww.” I cry out again. I’m cold, please pay attention to me.

“Ohhh, poor kitty, you’re so waterlogged. Would you like to come home with me?” A kind voice with a pleasing accent responds to my pitiable cry.

I look up into the soft green eyes of the human kneeling next to me. He’s soaking wet too, his fur looks just like mine, but it’s only on his head, he can’t possibly understand the depths of my suffering.

“Mrowww.” Yes, please take me home. There’s someone there I need to meet.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m sure we'll set you to rights quick enough.”

Oh how lovely the flowers smell. What a kind man he is to cuddle me so closely to his warm chest right next to the bouquet. He must love and be loved by someone very much to take such good care of a bedraggled stray.

“I’m sorry I’ve no umbrella to share, but we’ll be home soon. My Rose will be so happy to meet you, I may avoid being scolded for forgetting it.” The kind man chuckled softly as we hurried through the rain.

He is fun, this kind man. Although I’m certainly not a fan of puddles, he is happy to run through them, a booming laugh escaping him as he does. I do appreciate him tucking me under his coat to protect me from the splashes.

Ah, this must be where we'll live. The kind man dashes up the stairs of a three story brick row house and quickly unlocks the door. “Rosie, I’m home darling.”

Rose is a pretty thing, little buns top her head and her dress is my favorite shade of yellow. But it fades in comparison with her smile. Why, I think she would brighten even the darkest of nights.

“Oh, Armitage, you’re soaked through. Cmon, let’s get you into a hot bath.” She’s laughing as she slung the towel she was drying her hands with over her shoulder.

Armitage is the kind man’s name. I like it. Perhaps a bit stuffy for someone so clearly filled with a zest for life. He is trying to shrug out of his coat while trying to juggle the flowers and my poor soggy self.

“I know darling. I have someone for you.”

Rose’s eyes fill with tears as she meets mine. “Ohhh.”

Her hands are warm and soft against my fur and I believe she smells even better than the flowers. “Mrowww.” I’m sorry I’ve crushed your bouquet, I apologize as she quickly wraps me in the towel.

“I’ll let you off the hook for trying to catch a cold.” Rose smiles at him. I could stare at her smile all day, I think Armitage agrees, he looks a bit dazed by it.

Rose takes me next to the fireplace and the towel feels so nice. As my fur dries I start to drift off to sleep. Very bad habit, cat naps, but I’m so very cozy and she’s so very soft.

Armitage joins us and sits behind Rose, his arms and legs wrapped around us, hugging us close. “She was almost drowned when I found her. Poor thing.”

“I’m so glad you did.” Rose sighs, happily content. She’s soft and smells so sweet.

I love them already.

Armitage kisses Rose’s cheek softly. “Hmmm, it was the strangest thing really. I left work as usual, but there was some construction along my normal route forcing me to take a detour. I stopped at a flower stall and there she was.”

“It was Fate.” I’m warm and dry now and Rose settles me on her tummy. I can hear another, softer heartbeat and a tiny voice laughing deep inside.

Oh! Hello my sweet boy. I’m looking forward to meeting you. I have so much to tell you, so many blessings to share. We have many memories to make you and I.

I shall tell you of my sweet girl, and how I love her still.