Chapter Four

Tyber lay wide awake in bed. Tonight was especially cold, and even the blanket did not warm him enough. Or perhaps he felt the presence of the Dark Side – he couldn't be sure. He couldn't get it out of his head. He kept remembering his family, the night they died, and the explosion that took them from him. He had long known of the treachery... the lies... how dangerous he was to him...

… it was a tragedy he should have foreseen.

A soft creak alerted him to the presence of another, and he felt whose presence it was through the Force. "I thought you were asleep," he croaked.

"I could say the same of you," Vitani replied. "I could hear you shifting in bed."

Tyber immediately felt a pang of sorrow. "I apologize... I often find it difficult-"

"Don't apologize, Tyber," Vitani interrupted with a soft voice. "You did nothing wrong. Truthfully, I've been having as much luck as you, sleeping tonight."

Tyber shivered – quite heavily – before saying, "I'm just... so cold, tonight... I don't know why."

"I can't say I blame you," Vitani responded. "You don't have fur like we do, so you cannot as easily weather the cold. And tonight, much like the night we met, is only supposed to get colder."

"I..." Tyber paused momentarily as a shiver crawled up his spine. "... hate to ask, but have you an extra blanket?"

Vitani smiled. "In a sense," she said slyly. She walked to the side of the bed, then, in a completely unexpected move, she crawled under the blanket next to Tyber. Tyber was about to yelp, but she quickly silenced him.

"Simba will kill us both if he finds us like this," Tyber warned.

"Why? It's not like we're doing anything," Vitani whispered. "You have no fur, I do. I can keep you warm tonight... until this cold weather passes." Tyber was quiet for a moment.

"That's... surprisingly sweet and selfless of you, Vitani," he whispered. "But will Simba-"

"Let me handle Simba," Vitani cut him off. "He'll understand. You get some sleep." Vitani wrapped her arms around Tyber, pressing her body against his, and breathed on the back of his neck. Gradually, Tyber's shivering slowed, until it ceased entirely, and he was sound asleep. Vitani smiled, chuckling mentally, then closed her eyes and fell asleep herself...

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Simba walked into Vitani's domicile when she didn't appear for the morning meal like she usually did. Oddly, she was not in her room, so – on a hunch – he went for Tyber's room, and came across a sight he was not expecting to see.

In Tyber's bed was Tyber, fast asleep – and not twitching and writhing, like he usually did – and right next to him, arms wrapped around him and nose pressed to the back of his neck, was Vitani. Before Simba could speak, her hand reached out, forming a motion to stop. She then retracted that hand, pressing a finger to her lips.

"This is the first time since he arrived that he's slept so soundly," she whispered. Simba took stock of the situation – aside from Tyber and Vitani in the same bed, the situation seemed normal; the air didn't reek of any kind of musk, there weren't scattered clothes, and the only thing that seemed odd was the room was rather cold.

"I take it he was cold?" Simba asked quietly.

"Very," Vitani affirmed. "And not just in the temperature sense; I couldn't leave it be – I had to do something."

Comprehension dawned on Simba gradually. He smiled and chuckled. "That's very sweet of you, Vitani," he complimented.

"I also did it because I know what it's like to sleep cold and alone," Vitani added. "No one deserves that."

"Agreed," Simba said. There was a momentary pause before Simba asked, "Can you take him somewhere in the Pridelands, keep him busy for a few hours?"

Vitani opened an eye and looked back at Simba. "What for?" she asked quietly.

"Kion is coming home today, and not only do I want to welcome him home, I want to break the news about Tyber to him," Simba responded.

Vitani smiled. "I can do that," she responded. It was then that Tyber awoke with a soft gasp and a slight jump – a major relief to Simba, given that, ever since Tyber's arrival, he'd always awakened from a nightmare with a terrified scream. Indeed, this time, the nightmares he typically woke from were not present in this instance.

"Sleep well, Tyber?" Simba asked. Contrary to being startled by Simba's voice, Tyber froze in place, as though he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to, and his eyes flushed purple. Simba chuckled at his tension. "Relax," he told him, "Vitani explained it. Frankly, I think it was a very sweet and selfless act on her part." Tyber relaxed, his eyes turning brown, and he sat up and yawned, then stretched. "Did you sleep well?" Simba repeated his earlier question.

"For a change... sir," Tyber replied groggily.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" Simba asked.

"Old habit, sir," Tyber answered. "My immediate family, except my brothers, were all ex-military."

Simba crossed his arms, an expression of interest on his face. "Your family was ex-military? Hnh... did you have plans to join the military?"

"Never got the chance... and there were, shall I say... unfortunate circumstances that interfered with that," Tyber explained. "Even though I couldn't join the military, I still developed military technologies through the Force."

"I see... well, we can talk about that and your computer coding hobby later," Simba said. "My son, Kion, is coming home today, and I was hoping to have you and Vitani go do something for a few hours so I can break the news of you to him, help him understand the situation."

"So he doesn't make any snap judgments about me," Tyber surmised. "I can appreciate that." Simba smiled, then left the room so the two could dress. He had just walked into the foyer when he stopped on what he saw next. Kion, evidently having arrived ahead of schedule, was talking with Kiara and Kovu when he looked over and spotted Simba.

"Dad!" he greeted. They both shared a hug, and Kion spoke in a tone belying impression, "Three months. Three months I'm away on this assignment, and the first thing I hear when I get back is that Vitani's supposed soulmate arrived while I was gone."

"Easy, Kion," Simba cautioned him. "He's still new here, and there are circumstances behind his arrival that neither you nor us understand – don't judge him until you know the full story."

"When have I ever-" Kion began, stopping midsentence as he looked behind Simba. Simba sighed as he picked up on the tension.

"He just walked behind me, didn't he?" Simba asked.

"Yeah, he did," Kion responded.

"Tyber... this is my son, Kion – Kion, that's Vitani's new... roommate, Tyber," Simba introduced the two. There was a long, silent and uncomfortable pause before Simba heard Tyber say,

"Drem Yol Lok, your highness."

"Well, at least your respectful, though I don't know why you're armed," Kion responded.

"Where I come from, sir... it's better to have something and not need it, than to need it and not have it," Tyber said. Tyber then walked past Simba and Kion with Vitani, donning his hood as they headed out of the foyer.

"Vitani's roommate, huh?" Kion asked Simba as soon as the two were out of earshot. "Where's he from?"

"The human homeland," Simba replied. "And even there, he was... unique. Different."

"How so?" Kion inquired.

"If what we've seen of him is any indication, he can use the Force – and has, in fact, used the Force to create technologies that don't exist in his homeland," Kovu told him, "Though even Tyber couldn't explain how he does it."

Kion continued looking at the doorway where Tyber and Vitani had left. "Man doesn't say much, does he?" he commented.

"No... but considering what happened to him, I can't say I blame him," Simba sighed.

Kion turned his head to look at Simba. "Why? What happened to him?" he queried.

"Someone tried to kill him," Simba said. "But we don't know who or why."

"So, how'd he end up here in the Pridelands?" Kion asked.

"We don't know that, either, good prince," responded Rafiki's voice. "All that we know is that it was a temporal event that brought him here."

"A temporal event...?" Kion repeated, evidently surprised.

"Yes, one that both Tyber and I are apparently involved in, though neither of us know how or why," Simba affirmed. Kion looked again to the doorway Tyber and Vitani left through. "Kion..." Simba started sternly.

"Something isn't right about that guy," Kion boldly stated.

"Kion!" Nala scolded.

"What?" Kion said defensively.

"Kion, he has nowhere else to go!" Nala told him. "And near as we can tell, he's done nothing wrong!"

"But how do we know what his intentions are?" Kion countered. "How do we know what he told you is the truth?"

"Because he has no reason to lie to us – if you had seen the condition he was in when he arrived here... you'd understand," Simba stated. "It wasn't a pretty picture, and there are still elements of his past we do not yet know; remember the family rule."

"Never discuss each other's past unless they're ready to talk about it," Kion said. "But he's not family-"

"But he is, Kion," Kiara said. "He became such when we took him in. What choice did we have? He was broken and bleeding on a bench when we found him. He would have died there if we hadn't done something."

Kion paused momentarily, then nodded his head. "Well, you have a point there – but something seems off about him. And what if whoever tried to kill him comes back to finish the job?"

"That's one thing I was going to bring up with the human ambassador – get into contact with their government, try and find the one responsible for what happened to Tyber, try and catch them before they have that chance," Simba responded. "In the meantime, I'll let you get unpacked. But heed my warning, son – Tyber is unlike anything you've faced before. Don't provoke him; he's easily offended." Simba then left the foyer, and started for the Human Consulate...

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While Simba talked to Kion, Tyber and Vitani were exploring the Pridelands for the first time since Tyber had arrived in the Pridelands. Tyber had not left Pride Rock since he showed up in the Zira Memorial Park – right on Pride Rock's doorstep. He knew very little of the Pridelands apart from what he saw that night in the park. With Vitani playing the part of his guide, Tyber took this opportunity to take stock of the area surrounding his new "home".

"So... what do you think so far?" Vitani asked.

"This place... these... Pridelands... are unlike any place I'd ever seen before," Tyber admitted. "Your people have a greater respect for the environment around them than my own ever did."

Vitani smiled, liking the complement. "Well, thanks," she said. "That means a lot. We try to make this place as beautiful as we can without drastically changing the environment."

"It's a damn sight better than my own homeland," Tyber said. "Somehow, though... this place reminds me of a world I once read about, one that followed similar environmental laws to yours... but I cannot remember what world that was."

Vitani spotted an eatery. "Hey – let's go grab a bite to eat," she suggested. Tyber wordlessly agreed, and they both moved for the eatery. Tyber played the gentleman, pulling out a chair for Vitani at one of the tables. Vitani gladly took the seat. "Playing the gentleman, huh?" she chuckled.

"Should I not?" Tyber said with an evident hint of sarcasm that made Vitani lightly laugh. "No, back home, I didn't ever get the chance to do something like this."

"Like what?" Vitani asked.

"Go out for a day in the city, eat at a place like this with a woman," Tyber clarified. Vitani's smile broadened.

"Thanks," she said.

"What?" Tyber queried.

"You called me a woman, not a girl," Vitani said. "And, admittedly... I'm coming to think of this as our first date." This time, Tyber chuckled.

"We were thinking the same thought. Which reminds me... thank you," he stated.

"For what?" Vitani asked.

"For keeping me warm last night. That's the sweetest thing any woman has ever done for me," Tyber told her. "And that was the first night in a long time I've ever been able to sleep like that." Vitani smiled, looking directly into Tyber's eyes – which had shifted to an emerald green color – with a soft expression of her own.

"No one should ever have to sleep so cold and alone like that, Tyber... I know what that's like," Vitani said softly. Then, remembering something, she added, "And I know this is the last thing you'd want to talk about on our first date... but I know what it's like to lose family. Kovu... until Kovu married Kiara, Kovu was the only family I had left. My father died long ago... my mother and other brother died in the Unification Incident. Like you, until I came to the royal family, I had nothing."

"At least you still have family," Tyber said. "Me... I lost everyone at once. Everyone and everything. Believe me, I wish someone had survived... but I saw it happen. I saw them die. Even if someone survived the initial blast, they would not have survived the fire or being buried in the remnants of what was once my home." Tyber's gaze drifted down to the table as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

Just as suspected, Vitani thought. He trusted her. He was willing to confide in her, tell her what he refused to tell the others. But why? Just what was it about her that compelled him to trust her? It made her think of something. "Tyber... the night we met, you somehow knew who I am when we'd never met before... if we had, I'd remember you, or your voice."

"Words aren't the only way people meet," Tyber said, his tone melancholic. "Sometimes, it's the paths we walk, the scars we bear... but no, we'd never met before that night."

"So how did you recognize me?" Vitani asked.

Tyber looked at Vitani, his eyes shifting from blue to that emerald green. "I... had a vision. Of you. What we were doing... I'd rather not say."

A vision of her, just as she had of him. "Was this before or after the explosion?" she inquired.

"Just after, when I was lying on that bench waiting for death to claim me... I was dreaming of you. Then your brother woke me prematurely, before the dream could finish. Just as I am easily offended, I can be easily startled... more so now than before," Tyber explained. "Waking me from my dreams like that can be... dangerous."

The talk of dreams made another thought occur to Vitani. "So, if you have nightmares of what happened to you... why didn't you have one when we were sleeping together last night?"

Tyber shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it; but sleeping in your arms like that was... comforting, somehow. Soothing." With a shake of his head, he added, "And I was certain Simba was gonna rip me in half when he found us like that."

Vitani smiled and chuckled. "Let's just say Simba respected my decision and the reasoning behind it," she said. In an effort to change the subject, she commented, "Where's the waiter? I'm hungry."

Tyber laughed softly. "You and me both." It was then that a waiter appeared.

"Apologies for the wait," he said, "We were getting things squared away in the back. What can I get you to drink?"

"How cold are your drinks, sir?" Tyber asked.

The waiter blinked a couple times, apparently unfamiliar with such a formality. "Sir?" he repeated. Looking to Vitani, he said, "I like him very much, Princess Vitani."

Vitani inclined her head. "You haven't answered his question," she told him.

"Oh, right!" the waiter exclaimed. He returned his attention to Tyber. "Our drinks are ice-cold, except for certain beverages that are typically kept warm."

"Do you keep any soft drinks?" Tyber asked.

"Oh, definitely!" the waiter answered. "A human trader supplied us with drinks called 'colas'." Tyber looked interested.

"Is that right...? I think I'll have one of those," he said. The waiter was quick to jot that down, then turned to Vitani.

"And you, madame?"

"Make that two," Vitani said without ever taking her eyes off Tyber. The waiter jotted that down and left to get the drinks, where Tyber smiled broadly.

"A woman after my own heart," he chuckled. "Can't say I expected that from you."

"No?" Vitani asked, a faux expression of surprise on her face. "What were you expecting?"

"I don't rightly know," Tyber said sarcastically with an amused frown. "Just wasn't expecting you to order a cola. Didn't seem like something you'd drink." Vitani laughed.

"So you do have a sense of humor," she stated in confirmation.

"Contrary to popular belief," Tyber agreed. Vitani had to admit, she liked this side of Tyber. She liked seeing him forget his troubles, even if only for a little while. Deciding on playing that, she asked,

"What kind of music do you typically listen to?"

"I listen to rock, primarily – metal, indie..." Tyber began.

"... Rap?" Vitani asked, feeling she already knew the answer.

"Not anymore," Tyber replied, much to Vitani's relief. "Not after it became what it is today. Closest thing to Rap I listen to these days is the work of Linkin Park."

Interesting, Vitani thought. Similar tastes in music. "Imagine Dragons?" she asked.

"I have a few songs from them – latest addition to my music library is the song 'Believer'," Tyber replied. The waiter returned with their drinks. Tyber, on getting his glass, raised it toward Vitani. "To endeavors?"

Vitani smiled, tapping her glass on his. "To endeavors," she agreed. They both proceeded to take a swig. There was a momentary pause as they both placed their order, and when the waiter left to get their orders started, Tyber said,

"Kion isn't gonna trust me. I could feel it in his mind."

"You were reading his mind?" Vitani inquired with a raised eyebrow. Tyber cracked the same facial expression as he responded,

"Invade the mind of another? It is not something done carelessly, or when there is nothing to be gained." He paused, then added, "But I could feel Kion's tension when he saw me. He won't trust me."

"Not right away, no – and only because Kion was not there when you arrived here. Kion has always been... slow to trust outsiders, more so now than before," Vitani said. "Ever since Simba made that trade agreement with the humans."

Tyber frowned. "He doesn't trust humans?" he asked.

"He's not prejudiced against them, if that's what you think," Vitani answered. "He just... doesn't trust them. But that's why, I imagine, Simba had us go do something today – so he could explain the circumstances of your presence here to Kion."

"Yeah, I know – but neither Simba nor I figured on Kion getting here so soon," Tyber stated.

"Kion just needs... time," Vitani told Tyber. "After all, he just met you. He needs time to get to know you."

"And what about you?" Tyber asked. "Don't you need time?"

"Yes, but I didn't just meet you; I've been sharing my domicile with you the last few weeks – I know you better than Kion," Vitani replied. "Now I'm on a date with you, and we're truly enjoying each other's company."

"Well, as dates go, this has been a great one, if I may say so," Tyber chuckled.

"Considering neither of us has ever really been on a real date before," Vitani chuckled back. With a sympathetic smile, she added, "You being Force-Sensitive, I would have thought you'd have your pick of women to date."

Tyber scoffed, almost amusedly. "You'd think being touched by the Force would bring people to me... but the truth is, most people are very intimidated by me and my Force abilities. Especially women. I've seen them... quiver in fear, when I walk by them. They quickly hurry out of my way, as though afraid I'd strangle them for being in my path."

Vitani felt a pang of sorrow. A cruel irony that Tyber's most outstanding quality is what alienated him so much from society. "Well, if it's any consolation, I think you're a great guy, marred by harsh events. I don't see your force abilities as something to fear – in fact, I think it's your most outstanding quality. Most... unique." Tyber looked at Vitani, and Vitani pressed on. "You realize, your Force abilities are a gift – no human from your world has ever had the Force like you do. You can do things even the greatest of them cannot."

"But the Force often proved as much a curse as it was a gift – these powers are dangerous, and no one back home can teach me to control them," Tyber said.

"Maybe not – but as I recall, the dangers of the Force stem from your emotions. We can help you find peace with them. Emotions should not be shunned, Tyber – but you can learn to control them, and that, I think, would help you control the Force," Vitani suggested. "I've only known you a few weeks, but I know you enough to know you're a good person, deep down. Never forget that. Even after what you've been through, you can still be a good person."

"I don't know... last night..." Tyber's voice trailed off momentarily, then returned, "Last night, I fear I may have been feeling the presence of the Dark Side. Could it be that what happened to me... pushed me toward it?" He paused, then continued, "When it all sank in... the death of my family, being the last of my family, and the one responsible for it... all I could feel was anger. Anger and vengeance. Emotions of the Dark Side."

Vitani moved closer to Tyber. "To be angry is to be normal," she said to him. "Your family was taken from you. Even though I suspect they mistreated you, I agree with you in that they did not deserve to die like that. You have every reason to be angry. That does not make you a bad person, nor does it make you a Sith."

Tyber chuckled softly. "I never claimed to be Jedi or Sith. I like to say I walk the borderline between the light and dark sides. Even so, I fear I have been pushed toward the dark side because of what happened that night."

"Even though it's still a fresh memory, Tyber, don't dwell on it – your family wouldn't want that," Vitani said softly. "They would want you to be strong, and keep moving forward."

Tyber heaved a melancholic sigh. With a shake of his head, his eyes shifting blue, he responded, "The last thing I ever said to my family was that I hated them – that they could all die tomorrow, and I would happily dance on their ashes... and yet, the only reason I'm still alive is because they stood between me and that blast."

"Tyber... that wasn't your fault," Vitani told him. "You may have been angry at them, but their blood isn't on your hands. You shouldn't feel so guilty they died."

"No... I didn't kill them, but they still died because of me," Tyber said.

"What do you mean?" Vitani queried.

"A good question... but one for another time," Tyber answered. Looking up at Vitani, his eyes again shifting green, he added, "But I appreciate your sympathy. Even where I'm from, there aren't many with kindness to spare for anyone who isn't kin."

Vitani gently pulled Tyber into a warm hug. "You deserve such sympathy and kindness... even if I'm the only one who gives it," she told him. "While it saddens me that someone has suffered as I have, even though your circumstances are far harsher than mine were, always remember..." She put a hand on his jaw, her thumb wiping away a single tear that had escaped his eye. "... I will always be here for you. If ever you want to talk, you can always turn to me."

He didn't directly acknowledge Vitani, but she saw in his eyes that her words hit home. And in that moment, she realized she was beginning to have an influence on him...