Secret Meetings

Exposure

Just a warning, the end of this chapter is a bit disturbing. Read at your own risk.

...

"Blue Eyes. Blue Eyes. Wake up."

The young ape groaned as his mate's voice ripped him from sweet unconsciousness, yet Ash was undeterred and continued saying his name whilst shaking him. He tried to turn away, and when Ash continued with his pestering, Blue Eyes swatted at him playfully before burying his face in the blanket and letting out a more exaggerated groan. But, like a persistent little mosquito, Ash kept poking at him until he finally rolled on his back and opened his eyes. His mate hovered over him, and smiled apologetically when the prince's annoyed eyes locked with his.

"What's wrong?" Blue Eyes asked.

"Nothing," Ash admitted, fiddling nervously and giving his mate a shy smile. When Blue Eyes did nothing except let out an annoyed sigh, he quickly looked away before adding,"I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you."

Blue Eyes cocked his head, but pushed himself into a sitting position and stared at Ash. The speckled chimp refused to meet his eyes and kept them locked on his legs, all the while playing with his fingers. He seemed scared that Blue Eyes would be angry with him.

"It's fine," Blue Eyes signed, watching as Ash raised his head slightly to read them. The realization seemed to relax him, and he finally straightened up. He shot the prince a thankful smile before laying his hands in his lap.

"How long were you awake?" Blue Eyes asked.

"A long time," Ash replied with a tired sigh. A loud, drawn out yawn interrupted him before he could jump to his next sign. He lifted his hands and rubbed his eyes with them when he was finished, as if trying to remove any sleepiness from them. It didn't do much, and the young ape still looked tense after he lowered them.

"I can't sleep," he finally explained. "You know, after everything that's happened..."

Though a little irritated at being woken up, Blue Eyes understood Ash's reason for such distress. He reached out and pulled his mate closer with one arm. When their furry sides met, his other arm coiled around Ash as well, enveloping the other chimp in a warm hug.

"Is fine. Not angry," Blue Eyes promised again.

Those emerald eyes lit up with further relief, and he leaned against the prince's toned body for a moment. Soon though, he adjusted his body so he could continue signing without breaking contact.

"I tried to let you sleep for a while," Ash went on. "I just got lonely."

Blue Eyes stayed quiet but nuzzled him affectionately, his silent way of telling Ash that everything was alright and he didn't need to keep explaining himself. The speckled chimp let out another sigh, but relaxed in the prince's arms and laid his smokey head on Blue Eyes' unscarred shoulder.

"It's still early," Ash eventually signed. "We can stay here for a while."

"That sounds nice, but we can't stay for very long," Blue Eyes countered, finally breaking his stillness. "I don't want Koba to get mad at us again."

"I don't either," Ash admitted. "But the sun hasn't come up yet. The others probably aren't awake. We have time, Blue Eyes."

The prince considered and glanced towards the wall, where a small window covered by two thin pieces of human cloth showed a sliver of the outside world. Ash was right; it was still early. Enough so that the young prince could see a piece of the moon and some scattered stars in the black sky. There was no reason to go back right now.