((Just FYI, I have no idea how to write them as the animals that they are so just imagine your own human versions. I know this isn't a very popular ship, but if you want something that badly, you have to do it yourself! Special thanks to my best friend who edited for me!))

Days had passed since the battle in Gongmen City, and our warriors had begun their journey home by the same boat they arrived in. After that, the rest of the traveling would be done on foot.

It was late, and with the full moon at its peak, it illuminated the water and made any surface that was smooth enough radiate its glow. The night was peaceful, although the same can't be said about a certain master's state.

Monkey had jerked himself awake. Despite everything that happened there just wasn't any peace, sleep didn't seem to help. The rest of the Five, and Po, were sleeping soundly though, rest assured. He made his way out to the deck in the cool air of the night. Meditating would take his mind off of things, he needed to clear his head.

Turns out somebody couldn't sleep either.

"Mantis?"

"muh-mmMonkey!" Mantis stuttered. "Hey!! I was just- I was... -I was just out here.. drinking."

Monkey made his way towards Mantis. "What are you drinking?" he asks.

A pause, to answer his question-

BELCH

"I don't fucken' remember.." Mantis muttered as he shakily took a sip from the bottle between his fingers. "D'you want some?"

"No thanks, you know I don't drink."

"Oh right, okay.." he paused, struggling to put his thoughts together. "Couldn't sleep either huh?"

A nod.

"Sooo.. you wanna.. do you wanna, talk?"

What was a conversation about the fears they had for the past few days turned into a one-sided rant, on Mantis's behalf. He had been rambling on and on about stuff like retirement plans and.. relationships, which predictably, lead to women. Even so, Monkey didn't really care about what he was talking about; for he had been lost in Mantis's voice, his deep, rich voice. It was rather raucous at times; he'd be loud and have a sort of roughness to it. And that fruity laugh; strong and sonorous in such a delightful way, as if one could say he does have a husky voice, but having taken out the attractiveness of it and adding a bit more gross and aggression. He slurred his words and spoke continuously, long with short breaths, occasionally swigging in his drink because his voice became hoarse. His body would sway to the movement of the boat. Eventually he slowed down, and his speech was reduced to hushed tones. It was by this time Monkey noticed they layed together, Mantis leaning onto his shoulder, arms entwined in a lover's tango, face mushed against his own. Monkey realised Mantis was now talking about how much he appreciates him as his friend. It took brief pauses, with him staring into the horizon trying to find the right words.. it was pleasant, to be thought of in such a nice way. He was very amiable about it.

Mantis lifts his head off Monkey's shoulder, arm lingering as he mumbled something barely audible, and soon had his hot gaze fixed on Monkey's by now flushed face.

Monkey could've sworn he misheard the words; 'I really love you, man'.

Now, Mantis was giving him that smile, that damned smile, one he often gives off to the women who showed interest in him. However this time, the moonlight seemed to have soften his hard gaze, in which instead of radiates a seductive aura and lust, he received a tender and dreamy look, one which you would not often get from guys like Mantis, or at least, was reserved for those soft spoken moments. It seems that, the stars were in his eyes.

His tantalising red eyes.

Guess this was one of those moments.

The space between them was nonexistent, but that's okay, because he couldn't be any more closer to the man he secretly loved.

A sudden gust of wind runs down Mantis's back, making him yelp. 'Till this point, it was already too late for them to notice that their lips had touched.