She was strange and naïve, and a part of him, the part that always wanted to scream when Zira lectured him, loved it.
She was bold and innocent, Kiara was, and that part of him, the part that desperately wanted to wear the country's crown, hated it.
He was Scar's heir. Not his son, exactly, but he didn't have to be. He resembled Scar enough that no one even questioned it, with his dark hair and emerald eyes. And she was clearly Simba's heir; no one questioned that either. After all, she was a blonde-haired bundle of trouble and excitement, just her predecessor had been. She was a beautiful princess, and in a way, Kovu was grateful. It was easier to play the part of her lover when she was beautiful.
Too easy.
It was almost too easy to look into her eyes, wide and blue and expectant, and feign redemption. Too easy to run with her in the country side, laughing and spinning and falling all over each other like drunkards. Too easy to sit with her under the moon, whispering things into each other's ears like two teenagers. In a way, they were just teenagers, two people that each had too much expected of them. So easy that he began to believe it himself. A weight would be lifted off his chest, though, when it was over. And when it was all over and done and everything about his lies was exposed, he did not feel the weight leave.
Instead, it got heavier.
It grew worse when they exiled him, and he considered drowning himself in the river. The weight would certainly do the job well. But as soon as he considered the thought, she was there, running as fast as her legs would carry her. That was the thing. She wasn't ashamed of anything, not even caring for him. She openly cared, although he wouldn't call it the love he had for her. That was fine. Her compassion was enough, and with the thought she was flying into his arms and clinging like a starfish, crying and begging him not to go like a child. Old Kovu, the one Scar wanted him to be, would have laughed. New Kovu held her just as tightly.
Even though he had managed to get into a world of trouble, he decided he liked New Kovu better.