Can't Teach an Old Monkey New Tricks

I is for I'm Trying

MK didn't look convinced, turning instead to Wukong. He was currently having a hard time not laughing.

"Well, he's not not helping," Wukong hummed, ignoring the look he got from his former brother, "It's more like he's being a welcome nuisance,"

"Nuisance!? We had a bonding moment!" Macaque dramatically leaned against Wukong, feigning agony at his words, "I cradled you in my arms!"

"Hey, you did not 'cradle' me!" Wukong pushed Macaque off, fur poofing slightly. Mei and Redson gave each other wide-eyed looks. "You're always so dramatic!"

"...So, you two made up?" MK asked, clearly bewildered.

"Something like that," Wukong huffed, a mischievous grin gracing his face, "He came crawling up to me, begging to be forgiven!" He bit his lip to stifle a laugh when Macaque let out an offended scoff. "He looked so pathetic- I didn't have a choice, really!"

"I did not!" Macaque puffed, arms crossed. Wukong's grin just got wider.

"Did too! I saw it with my own two eyes!"

"You didn't have your glasses on, you obviously weren't seeing clearly!"

"Okay, fantastic, you two have made up!" Redson interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Now, we have things to do today! Are we going to get on with it, or continue bickering like children?"

"Yeah, yeah, just give me a minute," Wukong grabbed a leaf, sticking it in the book and closing it. He handed it to Macaque and pushed himself up, a symphony of joints popping as he stretched. "Ugh, Diyu!"

"Ha, old!" Macaque laughed, dropping the book in a shadow portal. Wukong rolled his eyes.

"Did you guys warm-up already?" The three in front of him nodded, "Great! Let's get started then!"

.

Wukong watched the fight with an appraising scowl, Macaque standing beside with his arms crossed. Redson and MK were evenly matched for the most part, but what MK had on Redson in strength, the Bull Prince made up for in experience and skill. MK charged Redson, staff flipping around. Wukong scowled. MK floundered and was thrown back, landing with a rough thud on his back. He went to scramble to his feet.

"Stop," Wukong said, holding his hand up as he approached the pair. He glanced at MK. "What are you doing?"

"Well, I'm trying to do that move you showed me the other day!" MK huffed, running a hand over his hair, "Redson always-"

"Don't blame it on your opponent," Wukong interrupted, pulling MK to his feet, "Because in this case, it's a lapse in your skills,"

"It is?" Wukong nodded, getting into a fighting stance. MK quickly followed suit, brandishing the staff.

"It is," Wukong hummed, starting on their practiced moves, "You're rushing," He swept his hands in front of him, shifting his feet into the next position, "You're worried about Redson hitting you, so you're trying to complete the move before he does,"

"Well, yeah, he always hits me before I finish it!" MK huffed, sweeping the staff across to try and hit Wukong, who easily dodged.

"Okay, but rushing through the moves isn't your solution here," Wukong jumped back from MK, stepping out of the way of his jabs. "All that does is create haste. Haste is your enemy,"

Wukong was stepping around MK's attacks, the kid following him with both the staff and his feet, strategically moving in tandem, just as Wukong taught him. He ignored the spike of pride that went through his chest, instead, moving through the moves that MK was rushing through.