"MianhaeMianhaeMianhaeMianhae kyuhyun oh my god i am so sorry." He brooded, large wide eyes staring at one of those odd supposedly mood changing posters they always put up on the hospital walls. 

 

It had some kind of cheery character on it that disturbed him more than the sight of Kyuhyun's blood. 

 

He should have expected this... he should have thought "Hae it's fine-"

 

Kyu's strained voice entered his thoughts and despite himself he couldn't help but flinch. His eyes flickered for a moment to where Kyuhyun's wrist was being stitched up after being massacred savagely.

 

Savage.

 

It wasn't a word he could place on the sweet little monkey and he could already feel the signature lump in the back of his throat.

 

He was going to loose him, he was going to loose Hyukjae like he'd lost sunny and then he'd have nothing.

 

By the looks of things he wouldn't even have kyuhyun either... considering the fact that his friend was trying to hide his current pain and annoyance it was clear that he was even regretting trying to reaquant himself with a long lost friend. Hyukjae had done a lot of damage... not only to the bite mark in Kyuhyun's wrist but to Donghae's heart. For the first time in all these years he saw a feral light in Hyukjae's eyes that reminded him that he was a wild animal.

 

He didn't belong with donghae.

 

in a deep breath and trying not to zone out he leant his elbows on his knees, extending himself in Kyuhyun's direction. "Can i get you something?"

He questioned, deterred by the tight lipped shake of Kyu's head.

 

"Okay Mr Cho... you're hands still stitched up but because of the dog bite, we're going to have to give you a shot, just for precautions."

 

Of course, who would ever suspect that Donghae was keeping a monkey under his roof.

 

It wasn't impossible, he'd heard of other cases but it was certainly rare enough.

 

He let out a whimper as he stopped himself from correcting her. It was nothing to be proud of... it was a mistake, and one that someone would surely jump at the chance to take the animal away from him.

 

His hyukjae.

 

"WHAT BUT I HATE NEEDLES!"

 

Donghae lowered his head down into his hands, pinching the bridge of his nose and inhaling deeply.

 

------------------------------------

 

Donghae sat on his doorstep for long enough for him to get his thoughts together. What Kyuhyun had said struck home and it did nothing to the itching in the back of his throat and the restless ringing of the steering wheel on his way home. 

 

"I'm not bitter about it Donghae but i'm worried about you."

Nod.

"You... you should really stop isolating yourself."

Nod.

"And get rid of that monkey while your at it."

Nod- "Kyu...-"

"He's agitated Donghae, he belongs to be with other monkeys and keeping him is doing him no good."

 

Donghae could do nothing but stare, the dawning feeling that he was right... to think that Cho Kyuhyun would no more about his own pet than he had ever thought to know himself. 

 

Closing his eyes for a moment he sighed, getting to his feet and unlocking the door, hand hesitating. To think he was scared... to enter his own home.

"H-hyukkie?" He whispered, stepping within the threshold and closing the door behind him, resting his shoulder blades against the door and darting his eyes about in search of him.

 

The destruction from earlier was still present, specks of blood lining the tiles, making things look worse than they were. Kyuhyun insisted that he didn't mind, he said at least he could flaunt the fact that it wasn't every day someone got monkey teeth in their hands. 

 

Odd... the fact that there were no destroyed pieces of furniture, none of his clothes were strewn about, the usual punishment from the monkey for leaving him for too long.

For a moment his heart started palpitating at the idea of perhaps... maybe he had left a window open. "Hyuk..." He called out, making his way upstairs, starting to slow agonizing process of searching for him.

 

Part of him didn't want to. Part of him wanted to delay what he was about to do for as long as possible. 

 

Eventually Donghae struck gold, swinging the wardrobe doors open and there, appropriately placed among a bundled of clothes, some in which were draped over his head, only chocolaty brown eyes peering over the top of a plain grey t-shirt that donghae recalled he hadn't warn in a while.

 

So that's where it went...

 

"Hyukkie?" He whispered, even though he expected an answer.

 

Dogs seemed to be good at picking up emotions. Apparently Monkey's were better. It's as if he read the intention in donghae's mind before he was even miles close to home... and he seemed reluctant to leave his hiding place. 

 

He recalled back to the time he'd first brought him home and faced with a new environment the young monkey had been unable to settle until he curled himself up among the pile of washing on donghae's middle shelf. It had been one of his favorite places ever since.

 

About to extend his hand to him donghae hesitated, retracting his hand back to his body and dropping his gaze. He was ashamed. Ashamed that it came down to him talking to an animal, feeling genuine guilt swelling in his heart, not even being able to look said animal in the eyes.

 

It was like he was the one who was in the wrong. 

 

Lowering himself down onto the edge of the bed he gave in, shoulders hunched and face buried in his hands.

 

He could still remember her touch, the smell of the shampoo she insisted on buying, imprinted on the pillow besides his for months after she up and left. The insistent Aegyo that he sometimes chose to ignore. He thought he was over her. He was... he didn't miss her exactly, he just missed being. Having a purpose. Breathing the same air as someone else.

 

How could he have been so stupid as to give that up?

 

Dragging his palm down the side of his face his eyebrows shot up, Hyukjae had gotten over his current fear, of what Donghae didn't know, probably his outburst of screaming at him, and was now currently sitting, head tilted, his large ears tilted back beneath his fur. To think that his teeth were bared at him, something threatening to anyone else entering his home but honestly he knew that it was Hyukjae's attempt at a smile and he couldn't help but let out a breathless rather hysterical laugh.

 

Cute... but oblivious.

 

Oblivious to just how unfair Donghae was about to be. 

 

Getting to his feet with what little strength he had from driving an hour and back to the hospital, rubbing at his temples to try and clear the pressure of just how he was going to tackle this. Looking down Hyukjae was crouched on the floor, still grinning at him, big brown eyes round with an innocence that really... only Hae could love. 

 

The little monkeys forehead creased into a frown before he squeaked, pouncing up and touching Hae's thigh before bounding off and crouching at the top of the stairs, balanced precariously on the banister. **

 

Chuntering to himself, seeking Donghae's pursuit his head tilted when he stayed where he was. 

 

Running back and touching his leg again before he pelted off, long sleek tail bouncing behind him, peering at him with one tiny hand raised in front of him, poised to run in case Donghae decided to follow him.

 

And donghae did follow.

 

Although the delighted squeal the young monkey let out was one that had Donghae's heart clenching as he followed him, scooping him up in his arms and burying his nose in the soft fur on top of his head. "C'mon Hyuk... lets go for a ride in the car..." He whispered. 

 

 

---

 

Hyuk had always loved going in the car. Even now he was none the wiser, despite Donghae's death grip on the steering wheel, he didn't seen to pick up on how tense he was. The current rain outside was running in droplets down the window and Hyukjae was preoccupied with it, his nose squeaking down the window as he followed them, scrunching his face up and furiously at the glass, trying to catch the beads of water before they disappeared.

Chattering to himself quietly he rolled his head back, making a soft clicking noise in the back of his throat as his eyes landed affectionately on Donghae both palms spread against the window as he continued to gaze in awe at the outside world as it moved in a blur behind his splayed fingers.

Donghae groaned when they stopped at a set of lights, leaning his forehead against the steering wheel. He didn't know at what point he started letting things slip out of his hands. He didn't like not having control, he hated not knowing what tomorrow would bring and the very idea of living alone, spending any waking minute on his own terrified him.

 

"Why don't you get a dog?" Kyuhyun had suggested but Donghae rejected the idea. Dogs bit too... what was the difference.

Running his finger over his iphone greeted only by a picture of himself, being photo bombed by a certain monkey that just so decided to enable him blind by covering his eyes up as he decided to take the picture. Amusing and in his opinion credited his face a long more considering it was covered up. 

He remembered that day... he remembered a lot of days. The time that he first allowed Hyuk out into the garden and fascinated by the birds he almost gave Donghae a heart attack when he scurried up one of the trees.

 

Maybe that should have rung alarm bells. That monkeys belonged up trees, and Hyukjae's belonged their too. 

 

Suddenly started... Hyukjae having soon lost interest and crawled his way over to Donghae on unsteady feet. The last thing he needed was affection that seemed to change his mind. 

 

If you love something... set if free.

 

He had to replay that over and over in his mind as tears stung in his eyes. Hyukjae wasn't helping, especially when he placed himself in the dangerous position between Hae's chest and the steering wheel, knotting his arms around his neck, the motion of the car sending him to sleep within moments.

Momentarily distracted, driving with one hand tilting the wheel, the other absent mindedly running through the soft fur on top of Hyukjae's head he had no spare hands to reply to a text from Kyuhyun.

 

'Have you done it yet? -Kyu.'

 

Maybe he could just turn around. Maybe... Maybe Hyuk wouldn't like this idea because he was certainly liking it less. Dark round eyes catch the glimpse of a sign so green that it was impossible to miss, dotted with various images of extravagant animals, lions... even bears.

 

He'd driven two hours to get here...there was no turning back.

 

Prising himself out of the car, an unconscious Capuchin hanging from his neck, tiny hands unconsciously curling into the back of his hair.

It was getting long, maybe he should cut it.

 

When the monkey began to stir, whimpering at the unfamiliar surroundings he blinked up at him, reaching a hand out to touch the side of Hae's face questioningly. 

 

"We're at the zoo hyukkie...." He whispered.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

** Touching and running in capuchins is a sign of courtship >:D

 

Will Donghae really be able to part with Hyukkie?

 

note: Hyuk point of view coming up in the next couple of chapters! Who wants to know why he really bit Kyu?