Chapter Text
Blue Eyes rubbed his mother’s back as she took another sip of her hot tea, hoping her headache would clear. He huffed calmly, Cornelius hopping down from her chest and rolling around in the padded dirt of his mother’s leafy bed.
“Mother,” Blue Eyes signed, “is your pain clearing up?” She grinned at her son, patting him on his shoulder. “Yes, I’m feeling better now.” Blue Eyes smirked, grunting as Cornelius climbed up his back, wanting to play. Lake laughed softly and picked up the baby chimp, tickling his belly with her nose. Blue Eyes smiled and gently poked her arm.
Cornelia hooted as she looked around the room, noticing that Caesar hadn’t returned yet, which was unusual for him to just randomly disappear. “Your father- where is he?” She signed.
Blue Eyes glanced back at his mother, his smile fading from his face, and looked back at Lake worriedly. Her head sloped to the side in confusion as Blue Eyes gazed at her.
“Is he still with Rocket?” Cornelia signed once more.
Blue Eyes shuffled around in his spot, scratching his back, and tried to make the reasoning sound like nothing to worry about. “ He… ” He struggled to sign back. Lake hooted to catch his attention as she put Cornelius down. He peeked over at her and watched her hands as she signed, “ What troubles you, Eyes? ”
Suddenly, a heavy pair of footsteps was heard rapidly approaching where the family was, causing Blue Eyes to snap out of his thoughts and focus on the stairs that lead to the throne room. Cornelius jumped up on his older brother’s shoulder and gently tugged on his ear, causing Blue Eyes to let out an annoyed huff. A deep hoot was heard echoing up the stairs, all four chimps immediately recognized who it was. Rocket emerged from the shadows, making eye contact with Blue Eyes.
“Rocket!” Blue Eyes signed and stood up, walking over to his friend. “You startled us.”
“I apologize, Eyes,” Rocket hooted as his hands danced, “I have to tell you all something.”
Cornelia watched Rocket signing, her brows furrowed in concern. Blue Eyes glanced back at his mother and siblings, a knot of guilt forming in his chest. He already knew what Rocket had to say. It had to be something about Caesar since he hadn’t returned. Rocket’s demeanor was serious, and Cornelia sensed that something wasn’t right.
“Caesar…” Rocket began, his signing slow and deliberate, “...ran off in the thunderstorm. He went to find Koba.”
Cornelia’s heart sank. Caesar, her husband, father of her children, and leader of their ape community, had ventured out into the dangerous storm to seek out Koba, a trouble-making ape who decided it would be okay to run away over something small. Blue Eyes looked to his mother and saw her grip her tea cup tightly, her eyes wide with concern. Lake gasped softly, her hands moving rapidly in worried gestures. Cornelius was left confused, watching Lake fiddle with her hands.
Cornelia signed urgently, “Did he find… Koba? Is Caesar alright?"
Rocket’s expression darkened. “I’m not sure. This storm is fierce. I tried to stop him, but he was determined.”
Blue Eyes felt a surge of anxiety. He cares deeply about Koba, but his father’s safety was now uncertain, and the weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon him. He exchanged a glance with Lake, who placed a comforting hand on his arm. Cornelius clung to Blue Eyes’s back, sensing the tension in the air.
“We must find him!” Cornelia signed firmly, her determination clear despite her worry.
Rocket nodded solemnly. “He said he would return soon. We should not go out.”
Blue Eyes suddenly chimed in, signing, “The storm… It’s too dangerous now, mother. I don’t want you to get injured.”
Lake nodded, hooting softly and signing, “We’ll wait until it passes. Caesar will be okay, he’s Caesar.”
Cornelia shuffled in her spot, and her eyes began to glisten from tears as her imagination filled her brain with pictures of Caesar being greatly injured. Blue Eyes heard her sniffling, his demeanor quickly changing. He focused on her instead, shuffling over to her and wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. Lake followed close behind, joining her partner and hugging her mother-in-law.
As the family huddled together, uncertainty gripped their hearts. They could only hope that Caesar would return safely from his perilous journey into the stormy night in search of his trusty lieutenant.
~^*^~
Inside the hollow, the roar of the storm was slightly muted. The dim light from each lightning bolt barely illuminated the ape’s faces, but it was enough to see the pain and anger etched in Koba's eyes. Caesar sighed, knowing that this was not going to be an easy discussion. As he looked more closely as a lightning bolt lit up the night sky, he noticed Koba's shoulder was bent out of shape, bleeding, and his nose was bruised.
“Koba,” Caesar’s deep voice echoed, “You are hurt.” The concern was evident in his voice. He reached out to examine the wound on Koba's shoulder, but Koba flinched away, huffing.
“It's nothing,” Koba signed back sharply, his hands trembling with anger. “I can handle it myself.”
Caesar shook his head, ignoring Koba's protest. "Let me help," he insisted, his hands dancing in rhythm. Before Caesar could even lay a hand on Koba’s shoulder again, Koba backed up and bared his fangs at Caesar, frustration evident in his glare. Caesar pulled his hand back, watching as Koba threw another tantrum.
“Why…” Koba growled, “Why come after me?” Caesar sighed and looked at his friend in his one good eye, watching as each lightning strike lit up Koba’s eye. The great ape scootched closer to him, only causing Koba to retreat back.
“Koba, I care-”
“YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ME!” Koba shouted, his angered voice echoing off the walls of the hollow. Caesar’s shoulders slumped, feeling a blanket of annoyance and anger shroud him. Koba would never listen to him, and he knew it, but he had to get his words through to him somehow.
“YOU IGNORED MY FEELINGS! BACK AT-” Koba slammed his fist down in the dirt as he said that, but felt a sharp shooting pain jolt up through his arm from his wounded shoulder, causing Koba to hiss and grip onto his wound with his free hand. Caesar hobbled over to Koba’s side to try and aid him, only for Koba to flinch away again, sighing. Caesar’s expression dropped, watching as Koba groaned whilst rocking back and forth.
He glanced down and saw his reflection in a small puddle that was forming in the dirt, his eyes twinkling every few seconds from the storm. Caesar felt like his power, his title of being the leader, was making Koba feel conflicted with him. He didn’t want to make Koba angrier by trying to get some sense in him, but he had to if they were to rekindle their relationship.
“If I don’t care about your feelings,” Caesar paused for a second, glancing over at Koba who was looking away, “Then why am I out here looking for you?” Koba didn’t glance back at him, he just stayed in his spot holding his shoulder and sniffling.
“Koba…” Caesar’s deep voice whispered softly next to Koba’s ear. Koba growled at him and frowned, his gaze still focused on the wall. “Why did you run away?” Caesar wanted to get to the root of the issue. He guessed it was because Koba was being stared at, but he wanted to hear Koba admit it and give him a good explanation. The loud thunder rumbled the tree the two apes were staying in, spooking Koba a bit.
“Caesar…” Koba began, “...not understand.” Koba’s hands fiddled as he signed. Caesar huffed in frustration, not knowing why Koba thought he couldn’t understand.
“Koba, I will understand,” Caesar’s tone became firm. “You need to talk to m-”
“Caesar not UNDERSTAND!” Koba yelled again, his head darting in Caesar’s direction, and his grip tightening on his shoulder as he continued to break down. “You don't understand what it’s like to be Koba!” Caesar stayed put in his place as Koba kept screaming and getting closer, watching as the sparkles in Koba’s eye get brighter and brighter.
“Apes stare because Koba different!” The bonobo’s voice started to crack from how much screaming he was doing. “Apes stare because Koba UGLY!” He pointed at the long scar running down his face with his hand, watching as Caesar’s face didn’t change.
“You are loved by ape colony,” Koba growled, watching as that made Caesar’s face change from blank to troubled. “You have wife, children,” Koba paused, taking in a deep breath, “...family.” Caesar frowned in response, noticing that Koba was no longer shouting and instead mumbling. “Caesar loved, Caesar strong, Caesar respected.” The chimp went to sign something but was quickly blocked out by Koba’s deep grunt.
“You have everything, everyone,” he began, a small twinkle in his eyes catching Caesar’s attention again. “Koba have…” he paused, looking down into the puddle that Caesar glanced in and saw his own reflection. Koba looked at his blind eye and the scar that caused it, seeing nothing but a mistake and a reminder of pain. “...nobody.” Caesar watched as a small tear rolled down his friend’s face, landing in the puddle the two both looked into. The ripple moved the puddle’s water, and Caesar watched his reflection become mangled.
“I ran because I'm better off alone, where no ape can find me.”
“Koba…” Caesar started, his voice breaking slightly. He reached out slowly, gently placing a hand on Koba’s uninjured shoulder, but Koba flinched again in response. “I see your pain. I see your anger. And I know it’s not easy.” Koba looked away, quickly wiping away his tears and putting his mental mask back on to hide his true emotions. Caesar took a deep breath, his hand moving to gently lift Koba’s chin, forcing him to look into his eyes.
“You are not alone,” Caesar spoke with a soft, but firm tone. “You are part of my family. I am here for you. I always have been.”
Koba shook his head, frustrated that Caesar couldn’t understand “Caesar not know what it’s like,” he signed weakly. “To be feared, to be hated. Koba always alone.”
“I know it feels that way,” Caesar responded, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “But you have me. You have our family. Let me help you, Koba. Let me be there for you.”
Koba’s eyes hardened, and he pushed Caesar’s hand away, anger flaring up once more. “You always say that,” he signed angrily. “But words mean nothing. Where were you when apes mocked me? Where were you when apes stared, laughed?”
Caesar’s face fell, the weight of Koba’s words hitting him hard. “Koba, I cannot be everywhere at once,” he signed, his movements slow and deliberate. “But that doesn't mean I don't care about you. I care deeply about you.”
Koba’s hands trembled as he signed back, his anger barely contained. “I don't want pity. I want respect. I want… to belong.”
Caesar took a deep breath, his expression resolute. “You do belong, Koba. With me, with our family, with the colony. But respect is not given; it is earned. And you have earned it through your strength and your courage.”
Koba’s eyes softened for a moment before hardening again. “Respect? I have scars. Pain. Apes see weakness, not strength.”
“Then show them,” Caesar signed firmly. “Show them your strength. Show them who you are, not what they think you are.”
Koba looked down, his shoulders slumping. “I'm tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of proving.”
Suddenly, Koba hissed after realizing he shouldn’t have slumped his shoulders. His wound was still affecting him, and his nose being bruised up didn’t feel good either. Caesar went to the entrance of the hollow, reaching down and grabbing some liquid mud to rub on Koba’s bloodied wound, his calloused hand getting covered in rainwater and icky mud. Koba slowly backed up into the wall as Caesar approached him, but finally allowed him to touch his wound, his fur standing up as his friend applied the mud to his injury. He winced slightly from it burning but turned his head away from Caesar’s direction as his heart rate picked up. Caesar’s touch was gentle and delicate, trying his best not to harm Koba any more than he already was.
“Apes…” Koba started to speak again, catching Caesar’s attention. “...not love Koba. Never have mate.”
Caesar applied the last bit of mud to Koba’s wound and attached a big leaf to it, making sure it stuck on like a bandage so it could shield his injury better. He glanced back up at Koba’s face, which was still turned away. He was confused on the sudden topic change, but just assumed it was better to do so since the previous conversation was hurting Koba. He spoke softly.
“Never?”
“...Never.”
Caesar’s expression softened, a deep sympathy filling his eyes. “I’m sorry, Koba. That must be lonely.”
Koba hesitated, his heart pounding. He wanted to say more, to hint at the feelings he had buried deep inside. His hands trembled as he switched back to signing, his movements slow and uncertain. “Koba always alone… except with you.”
Caesar tilted his head slightly, not fully understanding the weight behind Koba’s words, and confused as to why he kept switching from speaking to signing.
“You are not alone, Koba. You have me. You have our family.”
Koba shook his head, frustration and desperation mixing in his gaze. His deep voice mumbled, “You don't understand. Koba feel… different with you.”
The storm raged outside, the lightning casting fleeting shadows that danced across the hollow’s rough walls. Each flash momentarily illuminated Koba’s scarred face, revealing the depth of his turmoil. The wind howled through the trees, a distant roar that seemed to echo Koba’s internal struggle. Koba’s heart hammered in his chest as he tried to find the words, the signs, to make Caesar understand. He glanced at Caesar’s concerned face, his deep, empathetic eyes reflecting the occasional lightning strike.
Koba took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to his hands as they moved slowly and deliberately. “Koba feels safe with Caesar,” he signed, his hands trembling. “Different… more than family.”
Caesar frowned slightly, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“More than family?” he echoed. “What do you mean, Koba?”
Koba felt a wave of frustration wash over him. Why couldn’t Caesar see? Why couldn’t he understand the emotions that churned within him? The bonobo’s hands moved again, this time more forcefully, his signs urgent and pleading. “I feel something… deeper. When with you, Koba not just feel safe. Koba feel… strong, happy.”
The storm seemed to pause for a moment, the thunder rolling away into the distance, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Caesar’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to grasp the meaning behind Koba’s words. He shifted closer, his large frame casting a protective shadow over Koba.
“Koba,” he spoke slowly, carefully, “You are my friend, my best lieutenant, it's good to feel strong and happy.”
Koba growled in frustration, slamming his good fist into the dirt again, sending small clumps flying. “Not just friend!” he huffed, his voice sharp and almost desperate. “I feel… more. When you near, Koba’s heart… strong, fast.”
Caesar’s confusion deepened, his eyes searching Koba’s face for clarity. He reached out, placing a gentle hand on Koba’s uninjured shoulder, trying to offer comfort. “Koba, I'm lost. But you are important to me, to all of us. Blue Eyes, too.”
Koba’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, his frustration mixing with a deep sadness. He wanted to scream, to make Caesar understand the complexity of his feelings. But the words, the signs, seemed inadequate, failing to convey the depth of his emotions.
“Caesar… special to Koba,” he signed, his hands moving slowly, each sign heavy with meaning. “More than any ape.”
Caesar’s eyes widened slightly as he began to understand the depth of Koba’s feelings. A troubled look crossed his face as he realized what Koba was trying to convey. His heart ached, torn between his deep bond with Koba and his commitment to Cornelia.
“Koba,” Caesar spoke slowly, trying to be careful with his words, “I understand now. But this... Koba this is... it’s… complicated. I have Cornelia, my family, my sons.”
Koba’s shoulders slumped, a wave of sadness washing over him. He looked away, the storm outside mirroring the storm within him. “I know,” he signed weakly. “I don't want to hurt Caesar. Just… wanted you to know.”
Caesar felt a pang of guilt, his heart heavy with the weight of Koba’s confession. He moved closer, his hand still resting on Koba’s shoulder. He spoke up. “You mean so much to me, Koba. I don’t want to lose you, but I'm unsure how to feel now.”
Koba looked up, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and sorrow. “Caesar mean everything to Koba,” he signed slowly. “I just want to be close. To feel… loved for once.”
In that moment, Caesar’s resolve wavered. He leaned in closer, his hand moving to gently lift Koba’s chin. Their faces were inches apart, the storm outside forgotten as the intensity of the moment took over. Caesar’s eyes searched Koba’s, seeing the vulnerability and longing within.
“Koba,” Caesar whispered, his voice barely audible. “You are loved. By me.”
Before he could second-guess his actions, Koba closed the distance between them, pressing his lips gently to Caesar’s. The kiss was tender and filled with unspoken emotion, a moment of connection that transcended words. Koba’s heart soared, his eyes closing as he leaned into the kiss, his hands gently resting on Caesar’s arms. The storm raged on outside, but within the hollow, there was a moment of peace, a fleeting connection that brought solace to both their troubled hearts.
As they pulled away, their foreheads resting against each other, Caesar’s eyes were filled with a mixture of love and conflict. Koba’s heart was racing faster than ever, doubting that the kiss ever happened. He pulled back from Caesar’s touch and looked into his eyes, reading that Caesar was conflicted with their bond, but also intrigued.
“Koba,” Caesar snapped Koba out of his thoughts. “Have you ever mated?”