More important - AmyriustrixR0se - Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Movies) [Archive of Our Own] (2024)

He frowned in his sleep.

They were on their own. He and Mae.

Just for a while, he promised his mother.

...

He woke with a start - the screams and howls of his family in Proximus's kingdom jarring his head. He took deep breaths and tried to collect his thoughts. He looked down at Mae-

She wasn't there. His heart lurched.

She had fallen asleep beside him. Tucked into him-

He sniffed the air. Her scent wasn't near.

He was wide awake and his teeth were bared. "Mae!" he called out in a harsh whisper. "Mae?!"

Even with no more of Proximus and his army, he was still hesitant to freely call out, especially at night. And he was still nervous in not knowing where she was.

Nervous that someone had hunted her and taken her away.

Twigs and foliage rustled nearby and he whipped around.

Mae stood there. Eyes wide at seeing his fear. She watched him realize it was her. She watched how his shoulders softened and how he breathed out a long and tired exhale. She waited another moment before stepping to him.

"I couldn't sleep. I... walked around for a bit." She was there before him. He was still exhaling hard and pain marred his features. She tentatively touched his chest. "I'm sorry."

His gaze was still hard. He listened to the night and looked around. He slowly relented when he was satisfied things were fine. He grunted and returned to their sleeping pack. He lied down and waited for her to join. He watched her.

She took off her boots and picked up the discarded blanket. She sat down and looked at him as she turned over.

He offered a small smile as she settled. He exhaled again, calmer, gentler, now confident she was alright.

She returned his smile and snuggled beside him again. Tucking her face against him, keeping the cold air off her nose.

He draped his arm over her and breathed out an exhale of finality. The hairs on the back of his neck that had been raised in his alarm were just beginning to wilt.

He stuck his nose against her hair and breathed in her scent, giving his customary snort at the distasteful odor her kind had. It was more of a joke between them now. No trace of insult. Just something to make her laugh.

And she did. She giggled and lightly thumped him.

He chuckled, smiling fondly though she couldn't see. He tried to hold onto that moment. He tried to let sleep pull him back under.

But his thoughts were spinning and they kept spinning even in slumber.

He frowned in his sleep again.

"I saw the way you looked at Mae," Soona had whispered. After Mae shot the ape that had a knife to her throat. Before Noa pleaded with Mae to let things go. Soona said she saw that look. That tenderness.

That loyalty.

And it was the same look he had given Mae when he saw her again. When they had seen each other after the end of all things. Even though she had nearly gotten him and his family killed.

His gaze still held that tenderness.

Soona noticed upon his return. She had pressed her forehead to his and wished him well.

His heart had lurched at her sadness. He tried to undo her pain, but she was firm. She said she'd always carry fondness for him but that his heart lied with Mae.

He was torn. Guilty. Even as his mother agreed with Soona.

By their gentle insistence, he left but held a promise to return.

Mae was there. Standing away from the interaction, giving them privacy. His mother stood back and beckoned her near. Then he felt it. That tenderness and fondness for Mae. He felt it swell in his chest and he knew it showed on his face. He watched her and his mother touch foreheads.

He looked to Soona and she gave a nod and an encouraging smile. He winced out one of his own - the pain of betrayal still very prevalent in his heart.

Soona wandered to him and put her hand across his shoulders and smiled. She nuzzled his cheek. "Go."

He looked at her. Pained.

She smiled again and wiped away a stray tear. "Go. Go and see- the world- with Echo."

He snorted and gave a small grin. "Echo."

She grinned and nodded toward the wild. "We'll be here."

"We'll be here."

When he awoke again, she was gone. His ears twitched as he heard some soft shuffling behind him. He stretched out and turned over.

She held out an apple. He took it and sat across from her and sniffed. He watched her and took a bite.

"I'm sorry for scaring you," she said quietly.

He gave her a fond look and a bit of a smile. "It's okay. You're safe. With me."

She smiled too.

His smile curled further. He got a very strong look about him. "You are- important."

She took out the necklace Raka gave him. "This important?"

His mouth twitched and he crossed the space to her. He brushed the carving with his finger before tracing the curve of her jaw. "More important."

His heart swelled with her smile.

And they kissed.