Reality felt fuzzy and sheared when Hale finally dragged her feet back into her hut in the middle of the night, but she only rubbed at her tired eyes in some unfruitful attempt to get rid of the blurred surroundings, too drained to do anything else. Never has she felt as exhausted in her life as when she leaned her quiver and hunting bow against the wall and tossed her tired body back into the nest, only enough strength to make sure she didn't collapse on top of Koba by accident. She could feel every single one of her joints slack in delight when they didn't have to keep her up anymore, the tension in her shoulders quickly fading away, and silently sighed the last bit of stress pass her lips. She didn't dare to reflect back on the day – a day of being told she was a worthless human, a day of being told she wasn't valid as a person, a day of realizing her feelings for Caesar never changed, and a day of being ignored by her mate, who she finally realized she loved – but still her gaze shifted to the ape next to her without her control, her chest tightening from pure, mental torment. Nibbling her lip in contemplation, she turned herself to Koba and perched herself on her elbow to loom over him. For a minute, she just watched him sleep, her pained eyes studying his chest as it rose and fell steadily and tearing at the sight of the pale scars that part his dark skin and unhealthy hair, his pelt ruined from all the abuse he had taken in his past. But eventually, she reached up and gingerly poked his chin, the prickly hairs tickling her fingertip. She repeated this a few times before Koba finally stirred and groaned in protest to be woken so early (or late, as it was) before he finally pulled his eyes open, his green orbs falling on Haley's immediately.

The sight of his face contorting in distaste when he saw her stabbed viciously, but before he had the chance to whisk around and turn his back towards her, she growled in frustration and quickly straddle his waist, locking him in place. "No, you've ignored me long enough." She scolded with a huff, scowling at the stubborn bonobo beneath her, and as soon as she saw him slouch back in defeat and look away, her glare fell and she sighed again, "Listen," she continued more calmly, playing with the few disheveled patches of hair on his lower stomach to occupy her hands, "can you at least look at me? I don't want to fight anymore."

Haley found herself instantly awash in relief when his demeanor softened and he forced his head to stiffly turn back her way, his pride clearly fighting against his choice. "You know, you never gave me the chance to finish what I was telling you this morning." She pointed out with an almost playful smile and leaned down to place her hand against his neck as her blonde dreads fell pass her shoulders to frame her shadowy face. Her smile only grew when she caught Koba's frown dissipating into shock, his heterochromatic eyes never-before as bright and wide as they were in that moment. "You know my affection for Caesar isn't going to die." She confessed drearily, not surprised when she felt Koba tense underneath her, but merely closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his, his fur pleasantly stroking her thighs when her lower body inescapably rose from his, "but," she interrupted, once again feeling her mate relax as her hot breath washed across his face, his eyes falling shut, "I…" she trailed off for a moment, her heart hammering loud in her ears as nerves weighed heavy on her tongue. Nevertheless, her nerves quickly unwound when she felt a warmth stroke her cheek, Koba's leathery touch cupping her face, and eventually forced her words out, "I love you, Koba, and I think I do more than I do any other ape."

'No, you don't.' A chilling voice whispered in her ear, but she didn't seem to hear it as dull and dry lips experimentally brushed against hers. In a single moment, Haley realized that she never kissed the bonobo she, supposedly, loves, her breath hitching at the thought, and peeked at the shut eyes in front of her before she finally inched forward as well. Unsure, she reluctantly pressed her lips against Koba's, the almost non-existent edges feeling like chapped and dry paper to her soft and tender flesh, but slowly, as her heart pounded harder in her chest, she melted into the foreign feeling. A pleasing shiver ran across her skin as Koba's fingers slid into her tangled hair, his head tilting against her with the same uncertainty she felt slowly fading from her body. She could do nothing but hum in encouragement as Koba sat up and allowed her to straddle his lap, a single arm wrapping around her middle and pulling her close.

Enthralled by the feeling of his hard chest pressing against hers, she curled her arms around neck, his rough hairs sending satisfying tingles up her wrists and biceps, and held him as close as she could, sluggishly deepening their inexperienced kiss and trailing her tongue across his lips on instinct to ask for access. She could feel the reluctance coming from Koba as he parted his lips for her, humoring her, but smirked despite herself when he grunted in approval at the sensation of her licking against his canines, even if only to get interrupted by his frustrated growl and him grabbing her wrists from behind his neck and wrenching them away, forcing an aroused whimper passed her lips – she knew not when or where she fell into the pit of no return and began to enjoy his forceful touches, but her mind was too clouded to think about it. Breaths shallow and ragged, Haley's head fell back as he licked at her neck and left agonizingly gentle kisses across her collarbone, his memory all-too clear of how she enjoyed it before – if anything, she was almost scared by how quickly she was at his mercy.

Her wrists ached under their new bruises when he finally let go so he could wrap his arms around her middle, driving a faint moan from Haley as she was pulled down to feel his growing aroused through her clothes. "Koba." She pleaded breathily, completely and enjoyably victimized in the power of his embrace, his mouth viciously attacking her neck, collarbone, and shoulder like the animal he was. Gods, how cruel and untrue can she be – she was just with the humans.

As his leathery skin and prickly fur sent pulses of bliss down her spine, his hands wandering up and down her back from beneath her shirt, and as her body involuntary grinded against him with moans and whimpers, Carver's words wormed themselves into her thoughts. Her family, her species, they have all suffered from the Simian Flu. In a single moment – a confusing and unexplained moment – misdirected anger bubbled through her veins, forcing her eyes to darken and her body to still while Koba continued to touch her obliviously. Cold, slick, and solid, Haley suddenly felt something in her hand and snuck her arms over the ape's shoulders to gain the ability to raise her grasp behind him and out of sight, curiosity overwhelming her. There, glimmering in all its silver and deadly glory, a dagger remained clasped in her hand, her lips pulled into a ghastly smirk at the sight. Somehow, she knew what she had the weapon for, even if she knew it was for reasons she would personally never have, which made the entire situation so much more bewildering.

Thoughts of Gen-Sys forced themselves into her mind – thoughts of how Koba started it all, and how he was the one who spread the virus and destroyed the lives of so many humans, her kind – and before she knew what was overtaking her, or how it overtook her, she felt fresh blood covering her hand while it, on its own, pushed the blade through Koba's spine and into his heart. Immediately, an agonizing and apish roar screech across the hut, never destroying the uncharacteristic craze in Haley's eyes, but as it echoed around her, it inexplicably morphed into a human cry. With fear suddenly shaking her to the core, Haley broke away, and the person who collapsed like a corpse in front of her only amplified her horror. Completely nude, she laid before herself, mouth agape from her final word – her final scream – and her form unmoving. Quickly, Haley tossed the dagger to the floor with a metallic clatter and jumped from her mirror's lap, but as she stepped away, an unnatural limp in her step, she halted in terror. Slowly, reality dawning on her, she looked down, and immediately felt nauseated when she saw her hands, Koba's palms where hers should be.

"Human," She growled in disgust, the words tossed from her mouth like vomit and the rumbly voice definitely not her own – she was Koba, "no place here. Humans not ape! You must die!"

Like a violent jerk, the hellish and twisted world was suddenly ripped away from her, and never before did Haley feel so relieved to be shaking in fear as when her eyes shot open that morning, her breaths ragged and her skin soaked in nervous sweats. As if trying to wipe the nightmare from her memory, she harshly rubbed her face clean with her trembling hands, only to quickly jerk them away and study them to make sure they were her own this time, sighing with relief as soon as she saw they were. Though, the calm quickly passed when Koba's presence in her nightmare came back to her attention, making her sit up in alarm and search the nest around her for him, somehow craving for his touch despite the context of what she just witnessed. Nevertheless, to her disappointment, she found him stalking out the door, silent as ever.

"Where are you going?" She stuttered out, too uneasy after her nightmare to keep herself composed, not matter how hard she tried, but unlike what she hoped for, she barely got a grunted "hunting" before he disappeared from view. His demeanor left her to narrow her eyes at the doorway suspiciously, somehow doubting his answer, which only increased when she saw his spear still leaning against the wall, untouched.

When has he ever left without his weapon, she tried to recall, but merely dismissed the thought while she forced herself to get ready for the day, trying her best to shake off the fear that still coursed through her. After all, she'll soon come face-to-face with Koba in another way anyway – Carver.


I think someone's getting a bit scared of what being human means for herself around Koba. Anyways~ Thank you all for reading. Don't forget to like, follow, and/or leave more of those sweet comments I love so much.