He was on watch again, not that he was all that surprised... Wukong scratched behind his ear thoughtfully as he watched over his family.
A usually sly grin softened slightly, he wasn't going to deny it. A being that once threw the Heavens into chaos, who once reigned over flower mountain was now part of a ragtag group he now acknowledged as family.
"Wokong."
There it was, that gentle voice that now ruled his every thought. Grinning the Monkey King leaped down from the tree branch landing in front of Xuanzhang, making the startled monk step back in surprise. So many years on their pilgrimage and the holy monk still wasn't used to his first disciples antics.
"You could have simply answered me."
There was a note of admonishment but that flew over Wukongs head easily enough.
"What is it master? Unable to sleep? It will be day soon, so there's no big hurry to get on right?"
Blinking under the barrage of questions, Xuanzhang simply laughed and reached out patting Wukong's head affectionately. A few years ago, this would never have happened, but after being rescued so many times by this unruly ape Xuanzhang would never deny that he was fond of this furry nuisance.
"It's late, I brought some water for you in case you got thristy."
Wukong looked at the offered and blinked away sudden tears, "Oh..." For once out of words, he took the cup with both hands and when the monk made to move his hand away Wukong grabbed it instead, earnestly looking at his master and searching for words.
He wanted to tell him about how he made him feel, how unbelievable that someone so good and trusting and faithful and unbelievably annoying existing seemed impossible.
Instead after a moment he let go and grinned his usual shit eating grin, "Hey, thanks. Now I better get back to guarding before you get kidnapped again."
With that he left his bewildered master behind and hopped up into the tree.
It was a moment before the monk went back to his map to continue sleeping.
Oh and another thing... That water was delicious.