Kion opened his eyes as he started to wake up. He found himself still in Rafiki's tree as daylight was showing through the leaves. The cub groaned softly, since he still had a headache.
"Hey Kion, how are you feeling?"
Kion turned and saw Kovu laying next to him on his belly. He looked happy, but also concerned at the same time. Did he really wait for me to wake up? he thought. "Hey Kovu. I think I'm alright. My head still hurts though."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope you'll get better soon."
"No need to be sorry. You saved my life." Kion chuckled. He gave his friend a sweet smile.
Kovu sighed. "I just... I can't believe my mother would do this to you. If only I knew, then... Then I could have stopped it."
"No, Kovu, don't blame yourself. You didn't know." Kion got closer to Kovu and nuzzled his head. This made Kovu more at ease.
"I'm glad you're okay." Kovu said.
"And I'm glad you're here with me." Kion responded, before smiling at him again.
Rafiki climbed up the tree with a bowl in his hand. "Good morning, Kion! Do you feel better?"
"Hey Rafiki. Yeah, much better than yesterday."
"Good, good! Here, you should drink." Rafiki said before laying down the bowl with water right next to Kion.
Kion took a few gulps until the bowl was empty. "Thanks, Rafiki."
"It's all good. Now, let's take off the bandage." The wise baboon then took off all the vines and leaves that were bandaged around Kion's wounds. The cuts were still clearly visible, but at least they dried up.
"There we go." he said as he took everything off of Kion. "It looks like your wounds haven't been infected, which is really good news. Can you try and stand up?"
Kion did what he was told and stood up. To his surprise, he managed to stand up on all fours without too many problems. "It still hurts if I move around." he said.
Rafiki nodded. "Yes, that's normal. Take a good rest for a couple of more days before you're doing patrols with the Guard. The pain will ease itself." Rafiki advised.
Kion nodded in agreement. "Thank you for your help. I really hope the Guard can go a few days without me. What will I do in the meantime?"
"They're the Lion Guard, I'm sure they'll be fine!" Kovu said optimistic. "Besides, I can keep you company."
Kion turned to Kovu and smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Rafiki saw how the two cubs were happy with each other and smiled on the inside. "Well, take a good rest. If you need some more help, you know where to find me."
"Alright, thanks Rafiki!"
Both Kion and Kovu made their way down the tree and were heading to Pride Rock. Kion's parents probably want to see him, he figured. As they arrived in the royal den, everyone was catching up with each other, including with Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri. Not long after, Fuli came into the den, looking for Kion.
"What in the Pride Lands? Kion, what happened to you?" she asked as she saw Kion's wounds.
"Don't worry, Fuli. I'm doing fine." he assured. "Long story short, I was attacked by Zira, because I was seeing Kovu multiple times."
"That's horrible! Can you even go on patrol with us?"
"I'm afraid not. Rafiki says I should rest a couple more days before I can join the Guard again. You can take over the lead in the meantime."
It hurt the cheetah to see Kion like this, but she knew he was right. "Alright, Kion. I promise I won't let you down."
"I know you won't." He smiled at her.
"I'll keep the Guard updated. We'll check on you later!"
"Alright, see ya!"
With that, Fuli left the den.
"Kion?"
Kion turned to his father. "Yes, dad?"
"I want you to be close to Pride Rock until we figure out what Zira is up to. You can go to the watering hole, but not any further, so you're always in sight. Understood?"
The yellow cub nodded. "Yes."
"I'll make sure I keep him company." Kovu said happily.
Simba looked at Kovu with an uncertain face. He still wasn't sure if Kovu could be fully trusted, but from the looks from both Kion and Kovu, he decided to give the brown cub the benefit of the doubt. "That's fine. But be aware, I trust you to get close to my son. Don't disappoint me, or there will be consequences." he said with a determined tone.
Kovu gulped and flattened his ears. "Y-Yes, your highness. I promise I won't do anything stupid." he answered nervously.
"That's what I like to hear. Now, off you go."
Kion and Kovu said their goodbye's and headed to the watering hole. They were walking slow, so Kion could easily keep up.
"You looked pretty scared back there." Kion chuckled.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I really don't want to mess anything up." Kovu responded.
"I can tell! But don't worry, I know I can trust you. My parents will too, eventually."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
They reached the watering hole and drank from it. As soon as Kion was done, he looked at his reflection from the water. "Hevi kabisa... She got me pretty good..." Kion said, looking at his wounds on his face and body.
"Are you alright?"
Kion sighed to himself. "I just stood there, letting her pin me down... Zira..."
"distracted you?" Kovu finished. As soon as he heard Kion's first sentence, he knew what Kion was talking about. He remembered his fight with Mwalimu, where he got distracted and got punished for it.
Kion turned to his friend. "Yes, indeed. How did you know?"
"It happened to me too during training. She's so unfair and mean..."
"Yeah..."
Kovu stared at the injured cub. He looked at his wounds. There were three cuts on his left cheek right next to each other, a couple of large cuts on his right foreleg and some smaller cuts on his chest and shoulders.
"Kovu? What's wrong?" Kion asked, who noticed Kovu staring at him.
"Nothing." he responded as he shook his head. "I'm just glad you're safe now." He smiled.
"Me too."
Kion then got closer to Kovu and rubbed his head under Kovu's chin. Kovu immediately nuzzled his friend back and closed his eyes. Both cubs were purring, enjoying their moment with each other for as long as they could.
Simba was sitting on the tip of Pride Rock, looking at Kion and Kovu nuzzling each other. Nala was laying in the den watching over Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri. She glanced at her mate and noticed he was a little tense. She decided to join him and sat next to Simba. She then looked where he was looking at and noticed the cubs as well.
"They seem really happy with each other." Nala said.
Simba kept staring in front of him. "I don't know, Nala. Kovu could still pretend he likes our son."
Nala chuckled. "Simba, are you hearing yourself? Kovu is just a happy, loving and caring cub. He would do anything for Kion, I know it. Look at them. If this doesn't convince you to let Kovu stay in the Pride Lands, then I don't know what will." she said, still with a calm and caring tone.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm being overprotective."
"And that's okay. I know you want to protect Kion, so do I. But Kovu can be trusted."
Simba finally looked at his mate and smiled. "Yes, I believe so too. I'm glad I have you on my side." he said before nuzzling her.
With one final glance at the nuzzling cubs, the king and queen made their way back into the den.
Kovu and Kion spent most of the time at the watering hole resting and talking with each other. The Guard also came by to check on Kion. As the sun was hanging low in the sky, the cubs decided to head back to Pride Rock. When they arrived, dinner was almost ready. Nala had taken down a good sized zebra for the lions to eat. Simba was dividing the meat to all the cubs, Nala and himself. Meanwhile, Kovu saw how everyone was catching up with each other how their day was.
"Thank you, your majesty." Kovu responded as he got his share of the zebra.
Simba simply smiled at the brown cub. Kovu glanced at all the other lions who started to eat before taking a bite from his meal. Everyone was still talking with each other, except for Kovu. He simply listened to the talking lions and admired how everyone seemed so... happy. This was totally different from the Outlands.
Kion noticed that Kovu was quiet and figured he could help him. "What about you, Kovu? How was your first day in the Pride Lands?" he asked.
"Oh, eh, I enjoyed it! Everything looks so much prettier here. And I really like you guys!" Kovu responded before taking another bite.
Nala chuckled. "That's great to hear."
"What did you like most then?" Tiifu asked, looking at Kovu.
"Kion, duh." Zuri replied and started laughing.
Everyone else laughed as well, although Kovu was feeling a bit awkward and shy. He wasn't used to have this much happiness around him, but he still enjoyed having dinner with the rest of the royal family. He felt welcomed.
When everyone was done with dinner, the sun was setting and the lions headed to the royal den.
"Man, I'm stuffed!" Kion said and laid down on his back.
Kovu joined him and laid too on his back next to him. "Me too! And I don't say that often." he chuckled.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it!"
"Yeah, I really like it here. I could stay here forever if I could."
"Maybe you can! It would be awesome if my dad allows you to stay in the Pride Lands."
"I'd love that."
Kion and Kovu sighed of satisfaction from having eaten.
"Kovu, can I ask you a question?" Kion asked after a while.
"Of course." Kovu replied, looking at his friend.
"Are you really okay with... You know... Leaving your family behind?"
Kovu sighed. "They aren't family to me. All they care about is for me becoming king so they could live in the Pride Lands. You showed me what it feels like to love someone, and now I don't think they even love me."
Kion didn't really know how to respond. "I'm sorry for you." he finally said.
"Don't be. I have you now, right? You're even more than family to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." he smiled.
Kion smiled as well. He got closer to Kovu and hugged him. "Sounds like a dream coming true." he said.
Kovu hugged his friend back and closed his eyes.
"Good night, Kovu." Kion then closed his eyes as well.
"Good night, Kion."
Kovu felt so happy and loved. He has never felt this before. For the first time in his life, he spent a day without worrying about food or training to kill Simba. And that's all thanks to Kion.
"Kion?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
With that, the cuddling cubs were sleeping peacefully.
"Finally! Took you long enough." Zira said annoyed.
Bosa arrived in the Termite Mounds as the sun was fully set. She had been spying on Kion and Kovu in the Pride Lands without being seen. "Kovu is with them." she said.
"WHAT?! Are you sure?!"
"Yes. Kion and Kovu seem still in love with each other. Kovu was even allowed to sleep in the royal den!"
Zira growled. "He cannot betray us like that!" she said and then started to head back to her den, thinking of another plan.