DISCLAIMER-I don't own any of these characters or other property from the original Rise of the Planet of the Apes story. New to you? Mine. Seen it before? Not mine.
"Dodge?" She looked curiously into his eyes; glazed over and fixed on a distant point. "Hey," she put her hand on his cheek and gently turned his face towards her. He seemed to shake off whatever had been holding him and smiled wearily.
"Sorry, Al." He rubbed his face and put his hands back on the table, on either side of his untouched dinner plate.
"Where've you been, space cadet?" Allie teased and circled back behind his chair. She rubbed into the knots into his shoulders and he rolled his head.
"Work. New ape. The stupid thing thinks it's special because his stupid owner put clothes on him," Dodge sneered. "Sick." Allie dropped her hands and went back to her seat across from him at the small kitchen table.
"Quit it," she said disparagingly. "They're animals, Dodge, not some kid on the playground. Cut the bully act." She sipped on her water and Dodge rolled his eyes. Allie shook her head and cleared her dishes from the table. She stood at the sink and scrubbed the pizza sauce off of the plate angrily. Dodge sighed and moved behind her, leaning down to rest his head on her shoulder. "You know how much I hate it when you act like that, Dodge. It's your job. If you hate it so much then quit, but don't be that way towards them. They don't like it any more than you do." He nodded and Allie sighed heavily, pulling away from him and leaving him standing in the kitchen. He pounded a fist on the counter, cursing the damn monkeys, making his life hell.
"You know I can't quit!" Dodge yelled after Allie. She came back in, crossing her arms and standing in the doorway.
"Give me your reasoning again, then, go on."
"My father!" He started out angrily, but saw Allie's look and took a breath. "My father," he began again, "took the job from his father. It's family, now it's my turn. I promised my mother I'd give it at least a year. I've only been there for a month and if I left him, too..." Allie crossed the room and hugged him.
"I know," she said. "Just try and give them the same chance you're giving the job, hmm?" When Dodge nodded she kissed his chest. "Come to bed now, it's late. I want to relax with you." Allie took his hand and led him out, shutting off the lights and pulling him with her into the bedroom.