A/N: So… this is what happened when I was watching "Behind the Legend" on the TLK 1 1/2 DVD. It got me thinking… does anyone really know how Timon's life was as a child and up? Or how he lost his father? What about his desire to live alone and unaided? Well, here we are. Going "Behind the Legend" in quite a bit more than five minutes! Unfortunately, Peter Graves couldn't be reached for narration this time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Timon, Max, his Ma, his real dad, or the Lion King franchise in general. However, all characters in this story not featured in the other movies are indeed mine, and copyrighted to me.
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The first day of spring arrived at the stroke of midnight right after the last day of winter. This day would forever be known as the day one of the most adorable, precious meerkats in the entire colony of Shombay was born. Nobody knew it yet, but this was one of those special occasions that would go down in history as a life changing moment. This particular meerkat would go on to live in memory as one of the bravest, least understood creatures of his day. From the moment he was uncovered by his mother to the rest of the colony, an outside observer could tell the little one would be a force to be reckoned with, once he discovered who he truly was.
Timon was born that day too, and even at around the same time, coincidentally. However, he wasn't exactly the most precious, adorable creature to be found. Down in his tunnel, his proud mother Meeca was displaying him to the only four (well, technically three) creatures that had gathered the interest to be there and remain this long: Meeca's best friend Shakina and her fairly sleepy kit Daren, the rest of the family was elsewhere, Timon's father Danso, who was smiling like the day Meeca became his mate, and Danso's brother Max, who was scowling like usual. The surly meerkat had always had the reputation as being a stickler, and not even Meeca, talking over the thin wails of Timon, could get him to crack a smile.
"Come on now, Max, you should be happy!" she said with a weary, small grin. It had been four hours since Timon had been born, but she was still regaining some of her strength. Timon had been quite a pawful.
"I'll be happy when this little furball gets meat on his arms so he can dig!" he snapped. Danso's smile immediately faded, and he thumped Max on the stomach.
"Oy, Max! That 'furball' there is my son, and for the eighth time, his name is 'Timon.' Call him proper or I'll make sure Shombay has you one sentry duty for a month," he snapped, his voice completely serious. Danso hadn't been named 'reliable' for nothing. He was quite an upstanding member of the colony, and well respected by their mob leader Shombay. He had always performed his duties to the letter, an obedient, productive member of meerkat society. The only reason nobody else was here to celebrate his child's birth was because that other kit was Mosi's, he reflected bitterly as he looked about the empty chamber.
Max rubbed his abdomen and glared, his gaze softening just a tad when he looked down at the little kit, who's wailing was reduced to simple, subdued mewling after some comforting coos from his mother.
"Well… the kid does look like he's got potential."
"'The kid?'" repeated Danso. Max sighed. He had never liked being bossed around, or told what to do under any circumstance… one of the reasons he had never found a mate.
"Timon looks like he's got lots of potential," he corrected with a bland smile. Danso nodded firmly.
"And what a proper name it is," remarked Shakina. "That head of his looks strong enough to move a boulder!" Meeca was too proud of the occasion to be bothered by the comment, whether or not it was a compliment. She simply nodded and smiled down at Timon, who stared out at the world with his barely opened eyes. The kit in Shakina's arms squirmed. He was old enough to have all his fur, but was still very much a kit. He looked down at Timon, blinking owlishly. Shakina smiled at her son's curiosity and knelt down, leaning forward. Daren reached out a tiny paw and gently touched Timon's shoulder, but unfortunately this disturbed him enough to begin crying again. Shakina laughed and withdrew, throwing back her fairly long blond head fur.
"I can tell they'll be best friends already." Meeca was silent, simply cuddling the kit against her chest. Danso and Max looked on, both proud of the female in their own ways, Max's way certainly quieter and rougher than Danso's. The slight, permanent scowl was back on his face. Meeca finally tore her gaze away and looked up at Shakina.
"You'd better get back to your mate, Shakina. Don't want to miss too much of Mosi's presentation." She pointedly ignored the loud, unified snorts coming from Max and Danso's direction. Shakina rolled her eyes and sighed, adjusting Daren.
"Ugh… I know, I know. Don't want Oji mad at me. Come on Daren, let's go see daddy…" she said to her kit as she moved off up the tunnel. Daren tried to repeat "daddy", but succeeded only in a muddled, "Dam-da!" Meeca smiled after the two and then turned to Max and Danso.
"You know, you boys really should show at least a façade of respect for the guy…"
"Mosi's an arrogant creep and we all know it!" barked Max. "Well… all of us here, anyway."
"It's only his glib tongue that got that guy where he is," added Danso with a shadowy tone. "It's him who should be here respecting our child! I refuse to go up there while my son lies still a newborn." Meeca sighed. Mosi was definitely one thing that Max and Danso agreed on whole-heartedly. The sly meerkat wasn't necessarily bad-hearted. But he was something of an opportunist, and the intense rivalry and hatred between he, Max, and Danso since they were kits hadn't helped matters. He was a handsome thing, to be sure, and could dig tunnels like everybody else. But when it came to valor and honesty… well, Mosi wasn't exactly a paragon of those ideals.
"Oh, you males and your rivalries. Mosi is a respected member of this colony, and he deserves the same honors as us," she explained patiently. Danso sighed. Her great, golden heart was one of the reasons he loved her so, but in situations like this, it could get exceedingly trying, especially when he was trying to vent his frustrations.
"Mosi's just a load of talk," he muttered bitterly, unwilling to concede and look Meeca in the eyes. She sighed with resigned affection nand spoke up again after a few moments of silence.
"Come here, you two, come hold Timon," she said. "I want him familiar with all of us!" Max let Danso take the honor first. The strong bodied male knelt down slowly, his eyes wide as he looked over his first and only son. Before, when some of the other colony members had had the courtesy to come by, he was all smiles and the modest receiver of congratulations. He had remained at the front of the tunnel entrance, keeping his distance from both Meeca and his baby boy. Now that they were so close, he didn't know if he could handle it. He had never had the softest fur or the lightest touch, and the kit looked so small and fragile. Danso's frame was, among meerkats, considered quite durable and handsome, in a very rough kind of way. Little Timon looked like he could be crushed just by touching him. The older male swallowed nervously. They were two worlds apart and they had barely been together for half a day.
Danso felt his throat tighten as he leaned forward, looking terrified and overcome with joy at the same time. He held up shaky paws, his breathing slow and shallow. Meeca gently pushed out and placed Timon into his father's grasp. Danso was so scared of dropping the little bundle; he quickly pulled the kit to his chest. Surprisingly, the small bump did not disturb Timon, who gurgled as he smelled something new and felt something warm like his mother. Danso carefully wrapped his arms closer around the child, sniffling as his eyes watered, a smile slowly beginning to creep over his face. He coddled Timon as close as he could, a wave of intense protectiveness washing over him. The kit nuzzled into his fur, and Danso had to struggle to keep himself from bursting out laughing. Instead it came out as a mix between a sob and a gasp. Meeca felt herself beginning to tear up herself at the sight of her big, tough mate trying to be tender. It reminded her of the clumsy time he had asked her to be his mate.
Max remained stoic as always, but the scowl was gone.
"For so long… so long I've dreamed about this," whispered Danso to himself and Timon. The child was too small to understand, but he was too happy to care. A single tear ran down his fur. "My future… I've made my own future at last. I helped make you..."
The tear dropped down off his cheek and plopped onto the kit's forehead. He stirred slightly, and Danso bent down and kissed the spot where the tear had landed.
"Timon," he said with a smile, which the kit seemed to return with the barest upturning of his lips as he curled sleepily against his father.
"My son is born with a smile," said Danso proudly.