ENIGMATIC.

The footsteps are noticed by the older ape, though he doesn’t place much stock into what he can hear; mental guard is disabled and that means all footsteps and the gaits he can usually identify alongside them blurs into a simple mess of sound, sound that he ignores tonight, in his comfortable stupor. 

The compliment draws a rather comfortable smile to stretch upon larger features. Lazy in nature, the grin begins at one ear and ends at the other and reflects something not often seen on Andross. Something real, something genuine. 

Happiness.

It’s not performative; it isn’t pompous, it’s not over-confident, or egotistical or self-righteous… It’s pure joy written upon his face, such raw positivity was hardly ever visible upon the features of the tired and angry self-proclaimed emperor. His happiness was always tainted by stress or by the fear of truly becoming vulnerable or letting his guard down. 

Any real attachment to anyone or growing too accustomed would always leave the great ape with innocent blood on his hands while picking up the pieces of a shattered heart.

But here it was tonight, and the reptile that was often treated to his cold shoulder, even despite his insistence that Andross indeed cared about him, was to remain front-row seat for the ape’s jovial mood. 

“Aha, I will admit… I could become accustomed to this feeling…”

what   a   rarity   it   was,   to   see   him   like   to.   to   behold   in   his   light   the   warm   that   lie   just   underneath   the   rather   frigid   exterior.   he   knows   he   cares,   he   knows,   he   knows.   he   insists   it   when   the   ground   below   shakes   and   shudders   and   threatens   to   give.   it’s   always   something   give,   to   tide   snake   over   it   seemed.   but   not   now,   not   in   this   moment,   and   wasn’t   that   all   that   mattered.   there’s   a   visible   sign   of   the   reptile   relinquishing   further   to   the   feeling   of   being   within   his   presence,   leaning   into   every   word   he   speaks.   fingers   idly   drumming   on   the   table   with   one   hand   while   the   other   withholds   the   weight   of   his   head.   no   movements   made   to   realize   him   of   the   moment,   or   take   it   a   step   too   far,   each   would   grant   him   the   right   to   wake   up   alone   once   more.   and   perhaps   too   tonight   would   result   in   the   same,   but   by   all   means   that   would   be   fine   by   him.   as   long   as   he   were   permitted   to   take   refuge   in   the   soft   moment   shared   between   them.

 ❛         I   hope   you   don’t   mind   if   I   join   you.         ❜

overlooking   the   view   of   the   war   torn   planet   with   a   grin   etched   across   his   face,   the   creature   moves   with   grace.   slinking   around   to   face   the   self   proclaimed   emperor,   the   figurehead   of   which   he   knew   all   too   well.   no   further   explanation   or   awkwardness   shared   among   them,   not   in   years.   and   while   said   question   would   normally   be   met   with   perhaps   offense   or   confusion,   there   was   nothing   of   the   sort   present   in   him.   tone   cool   and   content,   he   simply   replies.

❛   not   at   all.   ❜

with   no   further   delays,   fangs   are   carefully   placed   within   the   vial   and   muscles   along   the   side   of   his   head   are   tensed   to   activate   the   venom   glands.   the   commander   offers   as   much   as   he   can   to   the   other,   before   carefully   removing   his   mouth   from   the   vial   and   pulling   loose   a   handkerchief   to   dab   at   his   lips.   after   all,   it   would   be   rather   uncouth   of   him   to   be   seen   such   a   mess.   cloth   is   then   tucked   safely   away,   back   into   the   inner   pocket   of   his   jacket   before   he   slinks   to   the   other   side   of   the   ape’s   chair.   welcoming   himself,   he   perches   upon   the   edge   of   the   table   with   a   smile.   though   this   one   differs   from   the   one   he   normally   offers   to   the   common   filth   the   reptile   must   face   in   day   to   day   life.   there’s   no   threatening   demeanor   about   his   grin.   no,   for   now,   it   was   something   tender.   basking   in   the   warmth   of   the   other’s   smile   he   can’t   help   but   place   a   hand   upon   his   cheek.

❛   my   my ,   it   seems   as   though   our   little   ‘ hero ’   is   turning   into   quite   the   vile,   resentful   villain   of   our   story .   how   exciting   indeed ,   I   suppose   that   means   now   you   must   play   the   role   of   the   reluctant   hero ,   my   love .   ❜  

         𝙸’𝙼     𝙽𝙾𝚃     𝚄𝚂𝚄𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈     𝚃𝙷𝙴     𝚃𝚈𝙿𝙴     𝚃𝙾     𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙳     𝙰     𝙶𝚁𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴.                          [     .     .     .     ]     𝙱𝚄𝚃     𝚈𝙾𝚄’𝚅𝙴     𝙰𝙵𝙵𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙴𝙳     𝙼𝙴.