Orion
"Why don't you just tell her?" Alex asked, an inquisitive look in his eyes as he regarded Orion. "It's getting really obvious, you know?"
The young ape in question whipped his head around so fast it might as well have snapped right off his neck, a mixture of surprise and anxiety on his face.
"W-what?!" He stammered.
"Ivy. You've been staring at her for the last five minutes." Alex elaborated, looking up from his sketchbook. He had been drawing Maurice as he taught the ape children a few yards away while they were waiting for Ellie and Malcolm to return from a foraging expedition, and Orion had been talking with the teenaged human all the while. Or… at least he had tried to…
It was just that Ivy was sitting all by herself at the other end of the main cave, completely engrossed in the task of weaving yet another of her intricately patterned baskets.
Orion shook his head and avoided Alex' stare by focusing on the drawing in the human teen's hands. It was a good drawing, honestly. It captured Maurice's posture and expression perfectly, and everything was well proportioned. Alex had even written down the apes' laws on his depiction of the cave wall Maurice used to teach the young apes letters and numbers.
The teen closed his sketchbook when he noticed that his friend was avoiding the question, and Orion almost groaned when Alex nudged him to draw his attention back to the human's face.
He really didn't feel like discussing this… again.
"It's not like she's going to bite your head off, you know? Ivy seems cool." Alex spoke with an easy shrug of his shoulders.
Orion knew he was right about that… It was just that…
"It is not that simple. Alex…" Orion spoke as he absent-mindedly scratched his arm in discomfort. "I do not know. How I should approach. An ape female about this… Mother could never. Teach me that."
"Is there really that much of a difference?" Alex questioned as he packed away his sketchbook and drawing utensils. "I mean, your dad got together with Lydia, didn't he? I suppose he had even less experience with human women than you have with ape females, huh?"
Well… That was true…
Orion sighed in defeat. Alex was right – Father had managed to get with Mother despite not knowing a single thing about how to approach a human woman. Granted, Orion was quite convinced Mother wasn't like most human women, but that didn't change the fact that Father had still managed to land a mate from an entirely different species.
And here Orion was, fretting because he didn't have a clue how to approach one of his own kind.
"I suppose. You are right, Alex." Orion spoke in a defeated manner, discreetly eyeing Ivy once more as he spoke his next words. "It is just difficult. You know? I never felt like this. With anyone."
He was glad that it was only him and Alex speaking together right now. He didn't like the thought of Blue Eyes being out there fighting somewhere in the forest, but right now, perhaps it was a good thing the Ape Prince was not here. He would have teased Orion relentlessly for not plucking up the courage to do something about Ivy – he had done so before, after all, and though Orion knew it was only meant as friendly banter, he really didn't appreciate it all that much.
It was different with Alex, however. While he did have it in him to be playful and teasing, the human adolescent seemed to have a better understanding of Orion's predicament and was much better at offering advice.
Alex laid a comforting hand on Orion's furred shoulder, an encouraging look on his face.
"I don't know, man. I haven't really liked any of the girls back at the colony in the city, so I don't exactly know what you're going through, but… I'd say just be yourself, go up to her and start telling her. Worst that can happen is she doesn't feel the same. That's hard too, I know, but at least then you'll have your answer, right?"
Orion nodded, though he could already feel how his heartrate was going up by the mere thought of just casually walking over to her and speak the words.
Just then, Malcolm's voice was heard calling for his son from the entrance of the main cave, and both Orion and Alex' heads turned in the direction of the adult human male's voice. It would seem like he and Ellie were back from their foraging expedition.
"Coming, Dad!" Alex called back at his father. It was time for them to go train with the bows until Mother came back from her hunt to instruct them – they could do that much on their own nowadays.
Orion looked on as his human friend got up from his cross-legged position on the cave floor and picked up his satchel.
Before he left the young ape male, however, Alex turned around and, very obviously, cast his eyes across the room at Ivy before his gaze returned to Orion with an encouraging smile on his face.
"Just do it, Orion. Trust me."
And with that, Alex turned and made his way out of the main cave of the colony, leaving Orion to ponder on what he had said.
There had been truth to Alex's words, no matter how much Orion wanted to deny it. The thought of finally coming clean and telling Ivy about his feelings was a mind-numbingly scary prospect, but when he really thought about it, it would be a temporary discomfort no matter what her answer would be. The worst he could get was a rejection and with that, a possible awkwardness tainting their friendship from then on. But when Orion truly looked through his heart for answers, it quickly became clear that he was way more frightened of the possibility that she actually returned his feelings, but would end up with another male because Orion never had the guts to tell her how he felt.
He honestly couldn't bear the thought.
In the end, it was that which finally motivated him to get off his rump and slowly walk over to the beautiful female ape. His steps were heavy and calculated, and his lips felt dry, but he'd be damned if he gave up even before he had begun! Neither of his parents would have approved of such an attitude – it was not how they had brought him up.
When he had finally reached her, Ivy immediately lifted her gaze from the exquisite piece of craftmanship between her hands and smiled brightly up at him.
Goodness, she was pretty…
"Can… Can I sit. With you?" He asked, fighting the lump that was already forming in his throat.
"Of course, Orion!" She signed excitedly in reply, her emerald eyes bright as she patted the ground beside her. "Sit, sit! Is it okay if I still work on this?" Ivy gestured to the half-woven basket in front of her, the primitively dyed reeds creating an intricate pattern as a result of her deft hands twisting them together seamlessly.
He nodded and quickly moved to sit down by her side, though he didn't immediately say anything.
It wasn't as if that was uncommon, though. Orion often shared comfortable silences with both Ivy, Lake, Blue Eyes and Alex, not to mention most of the other young adult apes in the colony. Many only ever used sign language to communicate, so if they were gathered and one or more had to do a task which required the use of one's hands, silence often prevailed. It was still good to be in each other's company all the same.
Only this silence was not at all comfortable to Orion, who's palms felt clammy and who's heartrate had skyrocketed since he decided to go over to sit by Ivy.
Had Father felt like this when he had confessed to Mother all those years ago? Had he even done this sort of thing at all or had it just… happened? Like Mother had indicated?
Goodness knows he felt like a fish out of water right now.
But then again, Orion thought, if an ape like Father could get together with a human like Mother, then this shouldn't be that much harder.
And with that thought in mind, Orion swallowed the lump that had appeared in his throat and turned his head towards the slighter female ape by his side. She was still contently weaving her basket, fingers working the material between them like it was the simplest thing in the world.
Admittedly, to Ivy, it probably was.
"Ivy… I-I have… S-something to tell." Orion stammered, sucking in his bottom lip once he finished his sentence.
He felt like an utter idiot already – it's not like he hadn't spoken with Ivy a hundred times before, for crying out loud! He knew pretty much everything about her by now. Her hobbies, her preferences of foods and flowers, her humour, her wishes for the future…
And throughout these talks, he hadn't stammered or stumbled even once, even after he had begun to feel that insistent tug at his heart and the fluttering of butterflies' wings in his stomach – so why was he suddenly so nervous?
Probably because he knew that what he was about to do would change everything.
Ivy only turned her head from the task in front of her, a slightly concerned look on her delicate features as she bestowed her undivided attention on him.
"Yes?" She signed with a soft, confused pout.
Orion thought it was the sweetest look in the world.
"I am… I mean, I… ugh…" This wasn't working out very well at all and she was already looking at him like he had eaten some bad fish and was starting to turn green.
How in the world did Father, or anyone for that matter, ever manage to do this?
Before Orion could utter another word, Ivy lifted her hand and placed the back of it gently on his cheek, immediately shutting him up completely and making his heart skip several beats.
"Are you unwell, Orion?" Ivy signed at him once she had withdrawn her hand from his face.
She looked so genuinely concerned for him that Orion almost felt sorry for making her worry unnecessarily.
"I am fine… Truly." He cracked a small smile at her and waved his hand dismissively in the air – a habit he had picked up from his mother quite unknowingly.
Many of the apes in the colony often commented that he took a great deal after Lydia, referring to his mannerisms and the fact that he spoke out loud as much as he did. Those comments were more often than not followed by a subdued huff of laughter and the acknowledgement that such things seemingly transcended bonds of blood and species.
Honestly, speaking was something he had begun doing in earnest once he had met Alex, though Maurice had always said Orion had a great advantage when it came to speaking because of his mother.
Orion supposed that was true. Mother had always spoken while using sign, so he had been exposed to it from an early age. Even though Caesar could speak exceptionally well for an ape, he hadn't done it all that much up until the humans arrived and so, Blue Eyes had never done it either.
It made it all the more ironic that words should fail him now, of all times.
"Nobody is hurt either?" Ivy continued to inquire, now completely setting her unfinished basket aside to turn fully towards him.
The young male ape shook his head in the negative – she looked relieved by that, at least. He then took a calming breath and released it as a heavy sigh, making Ivy's brow crease further in concern, though she waited patiently for him now.
"I just wanted… I only wanted to say. That I think you are…" He trailed off at that as he lifted his hand to her face, his large fingers gently grabbing at the lone, silvery braid beside her ear. She only ever wore it at one side of her head, preferably the right side, and it always had a single, small feather of a hawk tied to the end of it.
He knew it was a rather strange thing to do, grabbing onto her hair like this, but he needed the brief distraction before he could finally lift his own eyes to meet her piercing gaze.
"I think you are. The most beautiful ape." He spoke sincerely, finding his voice at long last.
"You are spirited. You are stubborn. You are kind and fun. You are talented and beautiful and. Always a good friend." With each word of praise Ivy's emerald eyes widened a fraction and a look of surprise found its way to her face. It was almost as if she couldn't believe what he was saying.
Yet Orion knew every word to be true.
She didn't draw back from his touch, and Orion realised that his fingers were still curled softly around her thin, slivery braid. Once he became aware of that, he immediately let go, embarrassed. And when she still didn't say anything after several intense, agonizingly awkward seconds, Orion became painfully aware of all the insecurities he had nurtured every time he had thought of confessing to her.
"Sorry… I-I know. That it is. probably not... I mean. Coming from me. That is… I know. That I am not…" Orion couldn't finish a single sentence once again and grit his teeth in frustration at himself.
He knew he was not one of the oldest, most dominant males – at least not yet, anyway – and he knew that he came from a family that wasn't exactly as most apes are. He had no idea how to approach ape females in this way in the first place! She probably thought it was weird of him to come up to her and confess something like this.
What hope did he have anyway, of a female such as Ivy to like him in return?
He was so distracted by his own thoughts that he didn't notice Ivy's insistent hand movements as she attempted to regain his attention.
At least not until he heard something… unusual.
"Orion." Ivy said softly.
That had gotten his attention. She spoke his name. She actually said it out loud!
The young ape male's eyes widened as they shot up from the ground to study her face.
He had never heard a lovelier sound. Her voice was breathy and faint from disuse, but it was feminine all the same, and soft to his ears like a flower petal is to the skin.
And what was more, the look she was regarding him with was the tenderest he had ever received from her, and Orion found his heart contracting within his own chest as their eyes met.
"You are the one ape I always hoped to hear this from." Ivy smiled as she signed, nothing but pure honesty in her emerald orbs. "I was just surprised. Never thought anyone would say it. Many say I am… difficult. Too stubborn."
Orion cracked a soft smile at her and shook his head. He had said she was stubborn as well just moments ago, but unlike others, he had meant it as a compliment.
"I like that. About you." He spoke with a bright smile on his light face. "You do not. Let others decide for you… What is best and. What is not… And you tell what you think… I like that too… Your honesty."
She reached up with one hand to play with the braid at the side of her head in an almost shy manner. Ivy was clearly not used to be praised or complimented for that particular aspect of her personality. Orion knew some of the other males their age thought Ivy was pretty enough, but that she was too headstrong. Not as complaisant as many of the other females their age.
Orion thought that was utter nonsense. What was wrong with a female who could stand up for herself? Someone who stood by who she was and didn't let others dictate who and how she should be? He personally thought that was pretty attractive.
When he had spoken about this with Blue Eyes and Alex, the human teen had said that it sounded like Orion was looking for someone like his mother, to which the young ape had merely shrugged. What was wrong with wanting someone like Mother? She was as nice a female as any and Father had always loved her dearly for who she was.
Honestly, Orion would argue that his parents had had a better relationship than most because of it.
"Thank. You. Orion." Ivy said out loud, her voice as breathy and quiet as before.
He still adored the sound and swore right then and there that he would make an effort to make her speak more. Compliment her on it every chance he got if he had to. There was no way he was going to be forever content with just her signing after hearing that sweet voice of hers.
They sat in silence for a while, staring at the bustling colony just a short distance away from where they were seated. Maurice teaching the children. Adolescent females playing with those still too young for school yet. A couple of leftover males going about the business of reinforcing the colony's defences – Orion should probably help with that soon.
"It would seem Lake was right, then." Ivy signed after a while, a pondering look on her face as she observed the females playing with the smallest ape children.
"L-Lake?" Orion stammered, eyes wide once again at Ivy's words. What did Lake have to do with this?
"Yes. She said you had been looking. I didn't believe her."
"Sorry…"
"Don't be." She signed back good-naturedly, though after that, she seemed to turn shy again as she elaborated. "I don't mind it… As long as it is you. I always thought you were a good, kind ape... Handsome too…"
Orion smiled brightly at that and dared scooting closer to Ivy. She only smiled at him in return, accepting his advances.
The adolescent male thought his heart would burst out of his chest at that.
"Speaking of Lake… Do you… Do you think Blue Eyes knows that she likes him? I mean, you are his best friend – surely you would know?" Ivy asked then, a questioning expression on her fine features.
Orion huffed exasperatedly at that and rolled his eyes to the skies. It was obvious to everyone that Lake was interested in the elder Ape Prince, sitting close to him at meals and going out of her way to spend time with him every chance she got – granted, she didn't get many of those chances recently, but it was still almost painful to look at. How Lake was doting her attention onto the blue-eyed ape and he was absolutely oblivious to her feelings.
"Blue Eyes has no clue." He spoke, leaning back onto his long arms as he did so.
"Do you think he could like Lake? Ever?" Ivy signed, studying his face.
Now that was a different question altogether. Orion thought that Blue Eyes might be interested in Lake – the way his eyes had begun to search for her when she wasn't within his vicinity was proof enough of that, honestly. Orion imagined that Blue Eyes was either too proud, shy, busy or perhaps downright foolish enough to not do anything.
He was utterly hopeless, really.
Orion nodded nonetheless.
"I think he could. Yes… But I do not think. He would act on it…" The young ape male spoke thoughtfully, pursing his lips. "He is… very busy… and very unaware."
Ivy nodded at his words and rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
"That is true…And I am happy you are not." She signed, scooting closer and leaning her head onto his shoulder.
Orion resisted the urge to tense up in surprise, doing his best to enjoy the moment instead as he felt her smaller frame lean against his flank.
He had done it! He had approached the female he liked and confessed how he felt – and she had accepted his advance! She was even reciprocating his feelings as well! This had started out so horribly awkward for him, but in the end, it had turned out to be the best thing he had ever done.
Orion honestly couldn't remember the last time he felt this content and accomplished.
Perhaps this was how Father felt when he and Mother officially became a couple? Orion couldn't know for sure, but he could imagine it.
After a short while of sitting together like that, Ivy shot Orion a sweet smile before she straightened up and returned to her unfinished basket, continuing from right where she left off.
She made it look easy, and as Orion looked on while she worked, an idea popped into his head. Something Mother had suggested. Something he had rejected at first…
Perhaps it wasn't such a terrible idea to learn something new…
"Ivy? Would you show me. How to weave?"
Ivy turned her head towards him again, seemingly startled by his sudden speech breaking the silence – or perhaps it was the request itself which had surprised her, he really couldn't tell. Nonetheless, she gave that mirthful smile of hers then, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Only if you teach me how to fish." She answered playfully, though Orion knew she meant it.
A chuckle left the young male ape's throat just then, and he nodded in acceptance at her request – or ultimatum, as it were.
He could teach her that, alright.
And as Ivy began explaining the fine craft of weaving baskets to him, Orion reminded himself that he would definitely have to thank Alex for talking him into doing this.
