SIMBA

Fuck, this just isn't fair. I guess I have to be the one to address the elephant in the room then. This morning was extremely awkward. I couldn't stand to get myself to look Nala's way, for the most part, that it. When I did manage to steal a glance at her- just because I felt like all eyes were how one me anyway. She was staring back at me. She looked... I don't know sad, confused?

It was too much for me to want to think about this morning. So I did the most mature thing I could do and ignored her. Even with everyone asking her questions, about how she got here I did my damnest to block her out. The tension we had between us could be seen miles away, even in the densest morning fog. Why, why is she here?

Oh, I know why, to make me go back to a place I want to forget. Kings, my life must be some big fucking joke to the great kings of the past right, I mean I can't get away. No matter how hard I try. Between the nightmares, and actual figures of my past coming back to haunt me, I can't catch a break! It makes me wonder what the hell I did to deserve this life. Hell, maybe it was something I didn't do to deserve this, I don't fucking know...

I sat to the side, while I watched Kenya and her sister play with cub. From how her day is going to how mines is going is night and day. She's over there having a blast with that kid, while I have to be hidden away, avoiding everybody. Like some scared cub or coward. what the hell, why should I be the one looking over my shoulder afraid of what going to happen next, when this is my damn home!

I shouldn't haven't to be the one tiptoeing around anywhere, like I did something wrong. I live here, and I have control. I belong here she doesn't. I don't care what that old freak Rafiki says, I'm not going and that's that. I finally rebuilt my life for the better and im just going to let one lioness throw it all away. Fuck no. In fact, I'm going to tell her. Best she knowns now than to waste he time here. and maybe once she knowns she get the hell out my life... and that damn monkey too.

"Hey!" I called getting up from under the shadow of a tree. " I'll be." I began to walk away, but then I heard my mate call to me. i stopped to see her cheerful face in front of me. well, at least today isn't all that bad, if I get to see her smile.

"Oh, babe wait!"

"yea?"

"Where you off to?"

"River, to get a drink," I explained, sucking my teeth. The one things I've noticed while staying here with this pride is that they're very close. Irritatingly close, I can't leave for a second or decide to just...be by myself without someone worrying that something is wrong. like...no one needs to be that close to someone. And they are all like that, from Kye to Kenya and her two sisters in-between. They make it their business to know everyone else business. I know it's coming from a good place, but still. I always get the feeling like I'm being treated like a cub at times but still...

"You okay?" she gave me a quick kiss on the muzzle. " you seem, I don't know off to yourself, everything good?."

"peachy, just having a to yourself kind type of day." I watched her nodd her head. I know she could never understand me wanting to be alone. Because, she was either always around me, or her sisters. A real homebody, even when she is upset at me. She never goes too far.

" Well, you want to join a game of tag with us when you get back? The little guy has a tone of energy."

"I'd, rather not."

"Alright then shoot yourself, but don't be gone too long. We have to head out for the evening hunt soon and we need you to watch Roho."...excuse me?

"Wait what- hold on how did I get stuck watching the kid?"

"Because we can't just leave him alone. that would be irresponsible. I'd asked my dad, but you know he'd fall asleep on him and then what."

"And you didn't think to ask the lioness he came with to watch him?" if this whole Nala situation wasn't cutting my patience short, this surely was. At no time do I remember signing myself away to be some cub sitter. Heck when I was growing up, no one watched me! and if this wasn't bad enough the look on Kenya face told me I had said something wrong too...kings, I can't win.

"One, her name is Nala-"

"I know what it is."

"And two, no she needs her rest. The last thing she needs right now is to watch a hyperactive cub. but I guess that doesn't matter to you." kings, I could tell right then that I had done it. Being a good lion is damn near impossible. It's like everything I can say can be wrong. Even when I'm not feeling up to it, I have to make myself fell up to it. I for a fact didn't want them here, and now im the one stuck paying for it? "its's fine Simba, I'll ask my dad."...don't hit me with the 'it's fine' lionesses all know they can use that tog et what they want!

"Okay okay, I'll watch him."

"No no, you didn't want to. I don't want you to do something you don't want-"

" Ha, that's all lioness do, and yet we still love you for it." i leaned over and kissed her, remember our vows. standing by each other for better or worse. Right now this was worse- for me. But it's my job to handle business so that it doesn't affect her. and no matter how hard I try, I can't truly be mad at her. In her heart, she feels she doing the right thing. Even when doing the right thing, cost me my wedding night... " You don't have to get your dad, I'll watch the kid for you."

"Thank you baby, and his names Roho."

"I know, but im not going to get close to him. you know they have to leave one day. the less your close to him the better it will be for you when they leave."

"I'm not getting close to him."

"Please, you have puppy eyes whenever you're near him."

"He's just so cute Simba. I can't help it." kings, she this isn't even her own cub yet and she already in love? "Besides he's been through a lot at his age." haven't we all... "But you're right I won't get close to him, no matter how hard I want to snuggle and cuddle him."

"Thanks. I'll be back."

Right as soon as I see her I'm going to tell her. Look Nala, I'm not going back. not matter what you say or do. The pridelands are no longer my home and the pride at priderock is no longer my family anymore. I have no obligation to return to them. Okay, that sounds good. I just have to stick with my gut and everything will be fine. I stopped around the corner, before heading into the den. It's hard to believe our friendship had really come to this...what am I talking about that friendship has been over. It was over the moment she told me to go away.

When I stepped into the den I was expecting to see a sleeping lioness, but when I got there she was gone.

* I wrote this chapter twice... I had about 2,000 words and then my laptop froze because my wifi decided to end its service. The Great Kings of the past hate me...

+ RyanSquad, Right! that idea came to me, at 4 in the morning at work. I was like... I have to go with this. Now I have no idea where this story will take me. I'm just as surprised as you all when I write.

+Wolf heart 22, thank you for the review, and yes Nuka making the stakes a lot higher for us now...

+KawaiiCutie12, right I was like... I need a just as devious lioness as Nuka. And bam it was Shanti, who knew.

+Guest, yes the latter, Nuka isn't' focused on Nala right now, he still wants her but it's not his driving force. Shanti was a stepping stone to get his sister, and now she's much more. because he sees how much they have in common. He's evil, but he still doesn't want to be alone. He still has this sense of proving himself and he needs someone by his side to feel fulfilled.

How things will end for Kenya and Simba will be more of self-sacrifice if you will. Right now Kenya still has no idea who Nala is to Simba and what his life was/ who he was in the past. I can imagine after learning that, it has the possibility of changing her perspective about him. I'm a panster when it comes to writing, so sometimes I don't know where the story will go myself. I just get into the mood and go where the characters take me. but I do know when their relationship ends, it'll be for the betterment of the story for both characters. However, it may not seem that way to the character when it starts out.