Listening out for the sound of Will and Caroline leaving, Caesar peered out of the window of his attic room, watching them drive off. They'd be gone a week or two, visiting distant relatives. And Charles was staying with some friends, too.

Which meant the house was empty. Which meant Caesar had it all to himself. Hooting in excitement, the chimpanzee made his way to another window, peering through it and into the house next door, looking through your bedroom window to spot you. An odd warmth spread through the ape's chest, and Caesar swallowed thickly.

For weeks now, as he matured into an adult ape from a teenager, he'd had these odd... urges. Urges aimed at you, his human friend.

As much as he loved his human parents, they didn't quite understand that Caesar was fully sapient like them. It stung a little, but he dealt with it. Humans weren't quite ready for other intelligent lives.

But you accepted it. You knew it. You'd always treated him the same as others– better, even. It's what made Caesar love you so much. What made the urges grow stronger when you were around.

Usually, he felt the urge to bite you, to sink his incisors into the area between your neck and shoulder, to leave a mark. Claim you. It was an unfamiliar want, something instinctual. Caesar didn't know what to think of it or do about it. What if he scared you away? What if you hated him after?

It made him weary to give into his instincts, but something told him he'd do so sooner or later.

With the house empty, now was the perfect time to hang out with you. Caesar always got a fluttery, excited feeling in his gut when the two of you were alone.

Using a flashlight, he signalled to you to come over, flashing it until you nodded and signed you were coming.

Before long, you were entering the house through the garden, and Caesar greeted you happily, pulling you upstairs to his bedroom in the attic.

'They'll be gone at least a week,' Caesar signed, smiling. 'What would you like to do?'