Chapter Text
You heard a crash not too far off from the small garden which you tended. Curiosity and concern filled with each step that got closer to the source. In time, you came across a creek and a newly acquired crater beginning to pool with water. The center of the crater carried an unmoving body.
To say you freaked out from the site would feel like an understatement, considering the scream you let out before covering it with your hand in an attempt to regain composure.
You took in deep breaths as you slid into the crater and got closer to the body, hoping that whoever that was in it was still alive. To your relief, that was the case.
The person’s back rhythmically rose and fell, a small strain coming from them when you rolled them off their chest and onto their back. The hood of their cloak draped over his face, carefully you pulled it back to see if there were any injuries. You paused at the fact that this wasn’t a human in front of you, but a demon.
The skin on his face was light brown except for the deep red skin that surrounded his eyes and spread to his brow, cheeks, and ended at his nose. There was a deep cut over his right eyebrow and the blood didn’t look like it would stop soon. The jet black hair he had was closer to fur with how it covered more than just his head, it went on as far as his hands which were as sharp as claws.
Hesitation took over you, unsure if you should try to help the demon at all. Slowly you backed away, the rippling water announcing your movement.
Three of the six ears of the demon twitched from the sound. Something latched onto your wrist, of course it could only be the demon's hand.
You struggled, trying to pry it off. You only stopped once you noticed the demon was staring right at you.
There wasn’t any form of malice in his eyes, only a look of exhaustion seeking any kind of aid. Glints of gold shone in the light as his grip on you weakened, eyes fluttered shut after.
You couldn’t find it in your conscience to leave him with the look he gave. A pout was on your face, soon you made your decision and tried to pick him up.
You looked around, trying to see anything that could be of help but nothing stood out. You wanted to act fast and get this demon out.
You groaned, pulling one of his arms over your shoulder and wrapping one of your own around his waist. It was a little surprising that he felt lighter than he looked. You shook the thought out of your head, not to question it.
You looked up at the morning sky, wondering what could have the force to slam a being mountains away and still leave a dent at the very end.
Hopefully you would never meet that demon.
A few hours passed, the six eared demon awoke with a loud groan as he tried to push himself up right. You could hear him yelp in pain from another room and made your way back to see how he was doing now.
“Careful,” you told the demon as you quickly came to his side. “I don’t want your wounds to reopen.”
The demon paused from your words once you gently placed a hand on the bandages that you wrapped around his chest, shoulders, and back. You looked over to see if any blood had spilled and saw the bandages were still clean.
“Okay,” you muttered. “You’re good here.”
The demon kept his eyes on you, watching the small movements of your hands.
You turned your attention from his back to his face, specifically the bandages that wrapped around his head and over his eyebrow. Carefully you brought your hands to his face, softly digging under the bandage and exposing it to your view.
You gave a confused look at the vanished wound, not so much as scarring leftover. “I guess we can take this off, it looks like it’s all healed up.”
The demon just stared at you with golden eyes as you slowly peeled off the strip of bandage off his head.
“You feeling any better?” you asked as you had the bandages wrap over your hands.
“Who are you?” the demon asked back, his hand grabbing your wrist like he did before. “Why am I here?”
You flinched from the contact made by the demon before you answered with your name. You took a deep breath so you wouldn’t freak out, you did notice that the demon wasn’t squeezing your wrist at any capacity.
“I found you by the creek and was worried,” is all you could really answer. “I brought you here since I thought it would be easier on you if you were sleeping on a couch than dirt.”
The demon looked away after that, he seemed disinterested. You would have given him alone time, but his hand was still around your wrist and stopping you from leaving.
“What’s your name?” you asked.
“Macaque, The Six Eared Macaque,” he answered, his ears twitched to give no further reason on why that was his name.
The name sounded familiar, but you figured if you asked it would be something he has probably heard several times over.
“Okay, Macaque,” you said, trying to set his name in your mind. “Do you wanna stay here a bit longer while you recover or do you want to just get going?”
Macaque’s tail twitched and swayed as he seemed to consider it, his chin in his free hand. “I’ll think it over.”
You smiled at that. “Okay. I made enough stew for two but if that’s not your thing I have a bunch of fruit in the kitchen.”
Macaque smiled at you, it was much more charming than you would have expected from a monkey demon. It may have helped with how soft and smooth his voice sounded too.
As you stood to walk away, you forgot that Macaque had a hold on your wrist and promptly stopped you. You stared at where you connected for a brief moment.
“Thanks by the way,” Macaque added as he quickly released you.
“It’s nothing,” you told him, your smile widening a bit. “You can stay right there, I’ll bring the food over.”
As you walked away, Macaque pressed his thumb against the palm of his hand, feeling remnants of the warmth of your touch.