I think this has graphic content ahead, but I don't know. I don't think this counts; it's very mild.
Knowing she'd go insane from just sitting in the village doing nothing and knowing that she'd go mad from just waiting for all the males to return while she racked her brain with worry, she chose to travel back to the waterfall, her own secret place where she was able to think, but as she explored more of the caverns she discovered behind the running waters, the more time seemed to fly without her knowledge, the labyrinth of caves seeming more endless the farther she went. Only when she placed her small hand on the cave wall to steady her steps did she realize how late it had become, her limb not even slightly visible in the pitch black, and only then did she have the strength to feel her way back out from behind the waterfall, just in time to see the first few droplets of rain cascading from the greying skies, as if warning for trouble to come. Yet, she didn't pay it any mind and continued back to the village, not surprised to hear that everyone had been back for a while. What did startle her, however, was Koba's absence between all the apes who were preparing for the night's rest, pulling her towards Caesar and Maurice for answers, who sat on top of the hill, even if only to get halted by the orangutan motioning her towards the huts on the side of the cliff.
She was surprised by Maurice's rash movement, him not even giving her time to reach them, but the fact only made her concern worse, realizing that he, too, must be worried about the ape's strange behavior – everyone knew that Koba never retired for the day until it was absolutely necessary. Her breaths grew loud in her ears, still barely loud enough to be heard over the nervous pounding of her heart, while she rushed down to her home, her pace growing more and more rushed with every passing second. She couldn't imagine him being hurt – she didn't even send him off when they left.
And so, when she stormed into the hut to see the sight of Koba fast asleep, just like the day before, her unease was flattened immediately and escape her body with a relieved sigh as she slumped against the frame next to her. The mere shatter of the anxiety that had built in her body in the few minutes of searching for him was enough to make her fall into the nest, back-first, next to Koba like a joint-less sack of potatoes – though, only a faint grumble and the feeling of a strong arm wrapping around her waist was enough to unwind her tight-knit nerves to the point where she could smile with ease. Too glad she was – he was alright, just tired.
After the sudden drop of stress, she quickly felt herself drifting off to sleep, only able to groan briefly when she felt Koba's grasp tighten around her, his face nuzzling into the side of her neck. "Koba?" She murmured weakly, but only got a tired grunt in return before she felt him snaking through her thick hair and sluggishly nip at her neck, sending a shiver across her shoulders and chest. Wearily, she tilted her head away from him to give more access, only edging him on and making him move over her, his experimental kisses trailing from the side of her neck to her jawline while his hand slid from her side to her hips. Despite her drowsiness, she could feel him unknowingly attempt to kiss like a human, the sentiment sending warmth rushing through her veins, her skin growing hot underneath his chapped and scarred lips. Drawing a faint but pleased groan from her lungs, her nerves tickled underneath his touch as his wrinkly fingers snuck beneath her shirt, his rubbery touch feeling soft from his body heat as he trailed it across her toned stomach, unintentionally following the outline of her muscles, and compelling her to arch into his embrace.
Placing himself between her numbing legs, he snuck another hand beneath her leather clothing, the sound of her shallow breaths echoing in his eager ears while he pressed his large body flush on top of her small frame, his own pleasure pushing him forward as his kisses grew more eager.
His tender touches and slow caress burned Haley's skin like fire, her tired mind slipping from its slight sleep to a cordial and hormonal daze that silenced the sound of the drizzling rain on their makeshift roof, a faint moan slipping pass her lips when his hands massaged her sides gently. "Koba." She breathed in bliss, forcing her eyes to creak open so she could gaze down at him, though barely a blurred image of his silhouette pierced pass her lashes. Barely notable, she saw his image clear up, but before it had the chance to finish, a face suddenly glided into her vision, her body instantly stiffening at the sight. Oddly human and bright green eyes peered down at her with a painful fondness flickering in their depths, dull lips sending a loving and apish smile down at her and erasing most of the creases around those caring eyes – it was the only face she could place with those tender touches, but she instantly knew that it was not him who was touching her, forcing her eyes to widen before she suddenly screamed a single word beyond her control, "Stop!"
Never before has Haley fled that quickly from an embrace before, cowering back against the wall behind her while she studied Koba in terror, his gaze looking no different from hers from where he still sat on his knees in their nest. The horrific silence felt as if it drew on forever before it was finally broken by an annoyed tisk, Koba tearing his gaze from her and gluing it to the doorwat to her left as he sat on the edge of the nest. "Did human ever stop loving Caesar?" He drawled out, and immediately, Haley felt her two years of progress shatter like fragile glass – no, it was a dilution, not progress – and made her face fall into dismay. What was he talking about, she forced herself to wonder in denial, not allowing herselfto believe the reality that was clawing up from her subconscious, it wasn't his face she saw, was it? Nevertheless, Koba knew, and so, when he glanced over his shoulder and saw her disbelieving and unblinking stare, he bared his canines with an annoyed growl and quickly looked away again. "Human didn't notice?" He continued lowly and paused before he asked something else instead, hoping it would get his point across, "Is home with Caesar or Koba?"
This time, Haley instantly knew what he was talking about and lowered her head in shame, the fact that she recognized what he was talking about allowing her to realize how terrible her words had been when she spoke to Caesar a few hours before. Instead of answering him, however, she asked her own question in a small mumble, "How many apes heard me?"
"Think it was just me." He answered, despite clearly not wanting to, before he circled around to leer at her and sign angrily, "Why!?" He was only lucky that she could see it pass her bangs.
Quickly, her head shot up so she could glare at her mate, "So I can know how many other apes misunderstood what I said!" She could see her words deflating Koba's anger at once, though not completely, but she didn't dare to stop, knowing he'd want an explanation, "You know everything about my past, as I do yours, so you know I had no one – no one except Caesar," She began to relax, straightening her disheveled, fur coat on her shoulders, "he will always remain my family, Koba, and he is the only family I have left. You want me to think of you as family? Then this, whatever we have, is going to have to chance completely – I'll call you my brother, how's that?"
Eyes darkening at her taunt, he interrupted, "Human telling me she doesn't love Caesar?"
"You know I love him—" Haley snapped, quickly falling silent when her own breath hitched in alarm, those words leaving her mouth dry, her body growing heavy when she realized it was her first time admitting it aloud. Shaking her head, however, she forced herself to snap out of her shocked and frozen state. "You knew from the very start that I did." She pressed breathily, her brows knitting with an odd combination of pity and sorrow as she nudged closer to her mate, "Though you've never said it aloud, you knew I went into this with my only intent being to forget about Caesar," Koba briskly turned away and unintentionally gave her everything she needed to confirm her suspicions, "but never have I been able to figure out why you agreed to this, so what was it? You could have just walked away, something I am sure you thought about. I thought it could have been out of a fear of what Caesar would do to you if he knew the truth, but you knew I would never let him find out, so what could it have been?"
She saw his head turning her way, but not nearly far enough to be able to gaze into his blind eye, especially not far enough to look into the other, and never did he say a single word. At least a minute passed without her receiving an answer before she sighed in defeat, knowing there wasn't one to give – he didn't know his reasons either. Nevertheless, their first true and honest discussion after two years of being together allowed her to realize one simple and haunting fact, something that made her chest clench with fear, a fear of what exactly her heart was capable of when she isn't paying attention to it. It was a realization that came to her when she knew she didn't want Koba to leave her.
"Koba," She hummed, interrupting the isolation of nature's enchanting song, and pushed herself back onto the nest beside him before shakily placing a single hand on his shoulder, still unable to see his face but clearly seeing him stiffen under her touch. "Despite what you believe," she began in a whisper, her eyes wandering over the hairless spots and the scars on the bonobo's shoulders and back while she looked for something to focus on, her tongue feeling heavier than steel while those necessary words struggled to be said, "I do…" her words trailed off, her grasp tightening on his shoulder, while she squeezed her eyes shut, as if not seeing him would make it easier for her to confess what she had realize only a few moments ago, "I do-… I do love—"
Koba and Haley immediately broke apart and looked to each other in alarm when the sound of a gorilla's scream vibrated across the village, their conversation turned entirely irrelevant when their duties became their focus. Swiftly, both of the shot up and sped from the hut – of only they forgot their duties for a few seconds and allowed her to finish, then maybe things would have ended with peace. But no, only in her thoughts was she able to finish, 'I do love you, Koba.'
I really hope you can all get some enjoyment out of this one, because I personally think it's just sappy and terrible. On the bright side, I almost didn't upload anything, so...
