Koba's Planet of the Apes (Book 1) {COMPLETED}

Chapter 2: Peace Does Not Exist

{Koba's POV}

Sitting among his inner circle, he looked around at the plentiful trees and land. He watched his tribe go peacefully about their day, nothing to keep them on edge for the time being. Koba snorted. The apes could've won the war he'd started, but Caesar ruined everything. There could've been a great victory, but that human-loving weakling tossed that victory away when he let Koba drop down that tower. At the memory of weightlessness, his muscles tensed.

He then felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, and turned his gaze to see Devon.

The human male looked concerned. 'You okay, Koba?'

Koba nodded, then noticed the other apes giving Devon disgusted looks. He bared his teeth at them, putting an arm around Devon and tugging him closer. The human blinked with wide eyes, whispering "K-Koba, I don't think-" He went quiet when the bonobo only tightened his grip. Koba had a weird way of showing it, but he'd grown rather attached to Devon over the years. Even though Koba now had tons of apes to follow him, he found the most comfort in the species he used to despise no matter what.

He glanced down as Devon hesitantly snuggled into his furry shoulder, the healer's blue gaze looking away from the disapproving apes. Koba then looked as Grey signed. 'Are we going to kill Caesar at meeting?'

Koba shook hid head. "We... will stay honest. I just want to see Caesar first. Then... we plan attack."

The apes grew silent, and Koba contented himself with Devon's presence. He buried his face in his neck, inhaling his scent and causing the human to shiver.

"Something... wrong?" Koba questioned in a whisper in Devon's ear "Cold?" The human shook his head with a blush, only nuzzling the bonobo in response. "Don't get yourself hurt by fighting those other apes. I hate having to bandage you up." Koba snorted again, but didn't respond. He used his free hand to wave the other apes away, watching them turn and head off to wherever in the large encampment.

"Koba?" Devon asked, looking up at him.

"... what?"

"Did Caesar really take everything from you? First?"

Koba grew quiet, looking away again. He removed his arm from Devon, who blinked once in confusion. "Caesar was weak leader. Koba stronger leader." He turned his scarred gaze over to the human, who had gone quiet as well, looking hesitant. Devon looked like he wanted to say something, but kept quiet, simply getting up and turning away to go to his little setup, which was a large dome made out of wood, leaves and dirt and full of all kinds of herbs and medical supplies.

Koba watched him leave before walking to find Grey, who was sitting alone at a section of the wooden log walls.

' You used to despise all humans. What makes Devon so different?'

Koba glared at Grey. 'Devon is useful. Nothing more, nothing less. When he stops being useful, he will be treated just like any other human.' However, as he spoke, there was the slightest hint of hesitation, as if what he said was a lie, which it was. Devon probably would never stop being useful, even with the females in the tribe that knew healing, cause his techniques were more advanced. And even then, Devon was not like any other human to Koba. He was the first one to ever show him kindness before anything.

Yet none of the apes would care, or understand why Koba treated him like an equal. The bonobo was perfectly capable of forcing Devon to do what he said, but there they'd been a few minutes ago, snuggled up together. Koba also seemed to listen to the human more than he would any other human before. When he was angry, Devon would calm him down with soothing words. When he was unsure about something, Devon was there for him to confide in.