A/N: This is a story I've had in my mind for a while. But the new movie reignited my desire to write it and gave me a good timeline to do so in. I so hope you enjoy my first try at a Monsterverse fic!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but Jake and other OCs.

There will be no overt romantic pairings at this time.

PROLOGUE

He found the boy in the last place he'd ever expect: a clearing in The Hollow Earth.

It should have been impossible, he was too young. The humans didn't let their young anywhere unsupervised. And yet there he was, battered and bloodied; but alive and lying in a clearing. He was small, younger than Jia or even his own adoptive son, Suko and on first observation did not appear to be Iwi.

Most Titans would have left him, a humans problem after all. But Kong knew, and had love for mankind - a species that had been kind to him. And so, with great caution he slid a single paw underneath the child's body and began his trek back home.

A dozen thoughts ran through Kong's head. Ever since the incident with Skar King, Monarch made less and less trips to Hollow Earth. While Ilene and Jia did visit as much as they could. As he understood pushback from human governments made it increasingly difficult.

So if not Iwi or Monarch, how did this child end up here?

He carefully leapt into the chasm that lead into the underbelly of Hollow Earth. Taking great care to make sure he didn't jostle or harm his new companion. Perhaps if the human awoke and knew sign language, he could give them answers. But until then, he just had these questions.

He arrived back to his tribe in record time, carefully nodding a greeting to the guards. He was careful to hide his discovery, unwilling to start a panic yet. But he hadn't counted on Suko, by now a growing adolescent great ape to be waiting for him. "Father!"

Kong held the human close to his fur as the auburn ape approached him, curiosity in his eyes. "Did you see anything interesting above?" He asked as if seeing through Kong's nervousness. "I hear the -."

"Not now, Suko," He rumbled quietly. "We can speak in a moment. I have something to attend to."

The younger ape appeared surprised, as his father was often very talkative with him. But instead simply trailed behind him, now more concerned. "What's wrong, dad?" The more informal version of the term underlying his worry.

Kong waited until he was deep in the cavern, in the alcove they shared to open his paw and reveal the boy. Suko's eyes widened, pure curiosity filling them as he reached forward. "Is that...?" Kong nodded. "But how?"

"I don't know," Kong rumbled. "But until I do. This stays between us."

Suko nodded, though gave his adoptive father a weary look. Just as worried, and just as curious.

Pain and voices.

Those were two things that Jacob was throughly aware of. Where was he? How did he get there? Those were questions that came as his green eyes fluttered open and he took in his surroundings. He was on a comfortable bed of leaves in the corner of a large cavern. And while he couldn't remember much, he definitely knew that wasn't right.

He sat up carefully, pain running down his side. Had he fallen somehow? But in a cave? The twelve year old tried not to panic. Especially when he noticed his side had been wrapped in leaves of some kind too.

Someone had been looking after him.

Panic returned at the footfalls. Loud and thunderous. Something big was coming, as he hitched his breath and tried to steady his breathing. He didn't have to wait long before an ape the size of a skyscraper came into view.

His heart raced, threatening to pound right out of his chest.

With what strength he had, he scrambled back in fear and reached for the biggest rock he could find and hurled it. Like it did much more than bounce off the giant's foot. And was that an... Amused smirk on its face? What the heck? Was it laughing at him?

It approached him in only three long strides and crouched low holding a single finger to him. Jake didn't dare even go near it - fear continuing to pulsate through his body. "Don't be afraid, little one," A soft baritone came from his lips, gentle and kind. "I will not hurt you."

Did this thing just... "Y... You can talk!?" He asked. "And what do you mean you won't hurt me?"

The look on its face spoke volumes, it was surprised as he was. The great ape took a step back, and only echoed his sentiment. "You can understand me?"

It was going to be a very long day.

A/N: Subsequent chapters will be longer, but wanted to get the set up out of the way. Hope you enjoy!