A/N: Hey guys, so glad to be back! I know it's been almost a year since I posted my last chapter. This is one of the longest and most emotional chapters I've ever written. Also, TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter talks a little bit about Lee's life with his abusive father. If that bothers you, skip this chapter. Anyway, please read and review.
Every herd for five miles of Pride Rock looked up in horror at the home of the royal family. The most vicious, hate-filled roar had just come from the mouth of the cave. And it could only belong to one creature.
King Simba stood on the platform where he and his family slept. Right now, he was staring at two of the most despicable abominations to walk the earth. One was the human who thought he could replace his human son, the one who questioned Simba's leadership at every turn. But Jason paled in comparison to what he was holding in his arms. The cub that was destined to be Scar's next in line.
"What is that thing doing here?" Simba spat in discuss.
"Simba!" Nala snapped.
The queen and the rest of the royal family stood off to the side. Kion and Kiara stood under their mother. The princess had tears rolling down her face, while the prince's eyes were as wide as pizza pans and he was shaking like an earthquake. Tiifu and Zuri stood under Sarafina, burying their faces in their paws.
"Rafiki found him starved nearly to death on the border!" Jason defended.
"And your first thought was to bring him here?" Simba said in disbelief.
"It was Rafiki's idea. He claims the poachers that have been giving us trouble are about to move in on the outsiders."
Simba growled, "That's not our concern."
Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was the lion that took Lee in really capable of condemning an entire group of his species to death? Kiara and Kion still had nightmares about the place they were trapped in. Not all of those lionesses could be as completely unredeemable as Scar. How could Simba be this blinded by hate?
"Simba, please just let Kovu stay here. Don't condemn an innocent cub to death." Jason pleaded.
"No! I will not have the cub that Scar hand-picked to be his successor be around my cubs! Scar must have seen something terrible in him from the day he was born. Take him back!"
"Take him back? The place you exiled him to is a barren wasteland even if he avoids the poachers, he'll starve to death in less than a day. We may as well just kill him ourselves if you're making me send him back there."
"Do whatever you have to. I don't want to see him when I get back. Go with him if you want to."
With that, the King made his way to the entrance of Pride Rock; nearly bumping into Jason and Kovu as he passed them. The cub in Jason's arms sank deeper into his chest. Kovu's ears fell against his head as his body started to shake like an earthquake. Jason slid his hand gently against the cub's back. Nala made her way over to the two of them when Simba was out of earshot.
"Stay here, make sure he eats something. I'm going to talk to Simba." She explained.
"What if you can't convince him?" Jason asked.
A flash of terror fell over the queen's face as she looked down at the cub in Jason's arms. Whatever evil Simba saw in Kovu was unnoticeable to her. His lip was quivering as Jason tried to calm him down. Nala gave the cub a sympathetic look before she sprinted out after her mate. She reached him before he stepped off the incline to Pride Rock.
"Simba!" She screamed.
The king of the Pride Lands stopped at the sound of his queen calling to him. Yet he didn't turn to face her. All he did was stare out into the distance. His head was swimming with a thousand thoughts a minute. What was that boy thinking, bringing the one creature that was destined to take his throne into Simba's home? Lee would never have...
"What are you thinking? Sending this child back will kill him!"
"We don't have a choice Nala! He could play innocent for a while, maybe even years, but he will take the throne the first chance he gets."
Nala rolled her eyes, "How do you know that? What could possibly lead you to make the conclusion that your rein would end at the paws of a defenseless cub no older than Kiara!"
Simba finally turned to her, his eyes fuming, "Because the one lion that took my father from me and turned my kingdom into bones and ashes picked that cub to be next in line! You know deep down Scar wouldn't have chosen Kovu if he saw anything except complete evil."
"Simba, that's not true, and you know it. It can't possibly be that simple." Nala pleaded.
"Enough!" He snapped, "We have enough going on without having to constantly look over our shoulders! Jason will take him back to where Rafiki found him, or..."
Simba stopped himself. Even though he knew what he wanted to say, he couldn't bring himself to say it. He took a hard swallow and inhaled deeply as he looked down at his paws. Nala's eyes widened beyond belief as the realization of what Simba was suggesting sank in. Was the same lion she was raising her family with actually telling her they needed to take the life of one? Needing to hear him say it, Nala stepped closer to Simba and lifted his face with her paw.
"Or what," Nala whispered, "Are you capable of taking his life?"
Not being able to answer, he pulled away from her. Simba turned and started to walk further away from Pride Rock. With untold amounts of rage in her voice, Nala yelled out after him.
"If Kopa and Lee, if our boys, could hear you right now they would be ashamed!"
Nala continued to scream after her mate until her voice became so raw she was sure to get a sore throat tomorrow. With hot tears streaking down her face, she retreated back inside to work out what to do next. Jason was currently feeding Kovu by hand because he was too malnourished to lift his head. Under better circumstances, they could get him back to health with proper nourishment. Sadly, as seen just a moment ago, circumstances are far from ideal.
"Could you convince him?" Jason asked as he fed Kovu another chunk of zebra.
Nala shook her head, "I don't think anyone can. He was already dead set against letting any outsiders in, even before Lee died."
Kovu's eyes widened while he tried to chew the last bit of food they had hunted a day ago. They would have to go out again. Jason started rubbing the cub's back again to soothe him. Nala made her way over to them and nuzzled the cub with as much tenderness and compassion as if he were a newborn. The cub didn't know what to do with this gesture. So he just let the lioness comfort him in a way his own mother never did.
"Don't worry little one, we won't make you go back to the Outlands."
"Hey, is everyone ok?"
Everyone turned to see Sam standing in the entrance of the cave. His bare chest, plastered with red chest hair, was drenched in sweat. All he wore was a pair of jean shorts and grey sneakers. A thick, full beard covered Sam's face. The axe he used to help Jason fight off intruders was clenched in his hands. Simba's roar must have brought Sam running.
Nala stepped forward, "We're all okay Sam, thank you for coming to check on us. Jason brought a young cub home. He is severely weak from a lack of food; we cannot send him back to where he came from. But Simba is dead set against him staying here."
The giant of a man set his weapon down and made his way over to them. A curious look edged into his face. When he stood right next to Jason, towering over the much smaller boy, he stared intensely at the cub Simba despised so much. All Sam saw was a frail, terrified little creature who probably wouldn't hurt a fly if he could. That same being looked directly at Sam and coward deeper into Jason's frame. Sam's curiosity was now replaced by plain and simple pity.
"Why won't Simba let him stay?" Sam asked no one in particular.
Nala answered him, "He was supposed to be Scar's next in line. Despite the fact that Kovu was only a few weeks old when Scar died, and his abusive mother is dead; Simba still won't let it go."
"That's ridiculous," Sam all but laughed, "Since when is it a kid's fault what lunatic picks him to be his apprentice?"
"He's scared," Nala replied, "Ever since that day in the gorge all those years ago, Simba has been shouldering the weight of his father's death. Now he's been facing loss after loss non-stop for a while. The thought of welcoming someone he believes will bring him more lose is unthinkable. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe for a second Kovu would do anything to hurt any of us. Simba, however, can't see past his pain."
"I see," Sam agreed, "But we aren't just going to send him back, are we?"
"No, I don't know how, but we'll find somewhere safe for him to stay." Nala declared.
The agony of those words hit Simba like a herd of cape buffalo. Despite every atom in his body screaming at him to turn around and talk things out with his queen; Simba pushed forward. He kept walking until Nala screaming his name was just a slight breeze in the afternoon air. He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts, that Simba didn't even realize he had wandered into "Big Springs." This place was usually packed with herds of animals, but this late in the afternoon they were all getting ready to turn in for the night. The Pride Land's king was the only one who bothered to be out this late. Him, and whoever had been stalking him this whole time. The scent was unmistakable.
"You better improve your stalking if you want to be a good hunter, Kion," Simba spoke without turning around.
Simba's youngest son emerged from the bushes with his ears flat and eyes down; looking like he always did when he got into trouble. Although, because he looked up to Lee so much, and Lee was such a well-behaved child; Kion tended to stay out of trouble more than Kiara, Tiffu, or Zuri did. Without bothering to explain what he was doing here, Kion sat next to his father and stared ahead at the setting sun. The sky being painted a hypnotizing pink, yellow, and blue.
"Are you going to make him leave?"
The question hung in the air like a thick poison. Almost immediately, Simba thought 'yes', but for some reason couldn't say it out loud. It's as if some unknown force was trapping the word in his throat. Was it anger, sadness, or even guilt? With an exhausted sigh, Simba managed to speak.
"I don't know," Simba admitted.
Kion continued to gaze out at the vast open space. The last bits of pink sank under the pitch blackness of night. From what he saw of Kovu from back at Pride Rock, he didn't look like he had the strength to wrestle with Kion. Forget about taking over the whole kingdom! So what was it about this specific cub that could probably weigh less than Kion that sent a shock of terror throughout the king's body?
"If you make him leave, will Kovu die?"
Even as he asked it, Kion knew the answer. But he thought asking it might cause his father to re-think his decision. No matter how far gone Simba is because of all his losses, Kion can't bring himself to believe his father would cause, even indirectly, the death of an innocent cub. The light had completely disappeared from the horizon, leaving the entire kingdom drenched in darkness. A choir of crickets sang out in the night. On any other night, this would have felt cozy. But the difficult subject that hung in the air made it impossible to enjoy the scenery.
"He will, undoubtedly," Simba stated bluntly.
Kion felt a shock run up his back. What were they going to do with him? His mom would never allow his dad to send him away if it meant his death. Then again, Simba seemed unwilling to budge on his decision that he didn't want Kovu in the Pride Lands. Thoughts of Kion's deceased human brother filled his mind almost automatically. That tended to happen when Kion got scared. The prince just knew Lee would think of a way to convince Simba. Almost like a burst of light, a new question emerged in Kion's brain. One that might shake Simba out of his stubborn thinking.
"What would Lee do?" Kion asked, looking up at Simba.
Even in the pitch black, Kion could make out his father's face. Slowly, his muzzle dipped into a frown as his ears fell flat against his red mane. The same color of fur was on top of Kion's head too, but it would take years to grow as thick and full as Simba's. The young prince hoped more than anything to look half as mighty and majestic as his father one day. They sat there, neither of them daring to say anything after Kion had gone to the one place Simba didn't want him to. As he sat there, pondering his son's question, he knew the answer clear as day. And if he went against what he knew his human son would have done, he was nowhere near the king, or more importantly, the father Lee had thought he was.
With an exhausted sigh, Simba kneeled down and affectionately nuzzled his son for the first time in weeks. It took Simba only a second to realize he hadn't done this to Kion, or any of his children since Lee died. Shame washed over Simba like a river during the rainy season. So heavy it might knock him over and wash him away. He had let the loss of his son, on top of losing his mother, completely close him off from the rest of his family. Forcing them to grieve without him there for them to lean on. The smallest ray of happiness was on Kion's features once Simba pulled away from him.
"What was that for?" he asked in an almost amused voice.
Simba almost smiled, "Do I need a reason to show my son how much I love him? Come on, we should get back before your mom tears Pride Rock apart looking for you."
Kion felt himself almost drifting off as he was being carried back to Pride Rock in his father's jaws. Although he knew he could walk back if he had to, he didn't even protest when Simba gently picked him up by the scruff and trudged back home. If he was being honest, he actually enjoyed it more than he did when he was really little. It was just something about having these strong teeth that he had seen crack skulls at dinner now be so gentle with him. And something told Kion Simba somehow needed this to feel better. The young prince had been so close to falling asleep in mid-air that an enraged feminine voice shook him awake.
"Kion!" his mother bellowed.
The queen came charging at them like they were a fresh kill. Kion was grateful he was so close to his father, so Nala didn't knock him down when she came to nuzzle him while also berating him angrily.
"Where on earth have you been young male? I was just about to send Jason and Sam out to help me look for you. You know how dangerous it is to be out on your own. Espesially at night!"
Simba set Kion down before affectionately licking his queen on her muzzle. Nala was so taken aback by this affection that her mate hadn't shown her in so long, that she forgot why she was so angry. Nala sighed in a mixture of frustration and relief as she pulled Kion in with her paw. Nala licked his face and head so hard, that his mane became completely disheveled. Afterward, She told Kion to get his tail inside the cave and not even think of moving it from the platform where they sleep. Once Kion was inside, Jason and Sam approached Simba. Both of their faces showed signs of both determination and caution.
"Simba," Sam began, "We were talking, and if you grant us permission, Sarah and I can take care of Kovu. Jason would need to come stay with us too because he is the only person Kovu kind of feels safe with. You wouldn't have to see him at all. And we will watch him like hawks, not that I think he can do anything anyway. I know you think he is destined to destroy your legacy, but please give him a chance."
"I would like to see Kovu, please" Simba requested calmly, not an ounce of hostility in his voice.
Both of the humans glanced at each other, then back at Simba. Did he really have a change of heart or was he playing them to get within killing distance of Kovu? With a cautious nod, Jason went back inside to fetch the outsider. He was seen talking to Kiara while Tiffu and Zuri were whispering and giggling to each other Kion laid on the platform they all used as a bed. Kovu looked up at Jason and smiled.
"Hi, Jason."
"Hey, buddy," Jason says, scratching the cub behind the ears. "King Simba wants to talk to you."
Almost on instinct, Kovu pulled away from Jason and violently shook his head. And with the way King Simba reacted to him not even two hours ago, Jason couldn't blame him. He calmly reached out and patted the cub's head. That at least somewhat calmed him down. Kovu pressed his head against Jason's palm.
"I promise you, all he wants to do is talk. When he came back, he didn't seem as angry as when he left. I'll be with you the whole time."
With an encouraging nudge from Kiara, Kovu allowed himself to be carried out by Jason. The human's strong arms made Kovu feel as if he were guarded by a hundred lionesses. Even as he was led outside and came face to face with the lion that wanted him gone not too long ago. When Kovu looked into the king's eyes now, however, all the rage was gone.
"Did you get enough to eat, Kovu?" Simba asked him.
Kovu swallowed hard, "y...yes, sire."
Simba nodded, "Very good, then you will be staying with us for the time being. If you like, you can sleep with Jason, since you seem so comfortable around him. And you will receive more than enough from our kills to get your strength back up."
Kovu's eyes widened in astonishment, "I... thought you said.."
"I won't hear any arguments, young cub," Simba interrupted, "You will stay here under the protection of the royal family and that is the end of it."
He didn't yell a single word of that exchange. Just spoke calmly, like he took extra care not to scare him. Maybe the realization of how cruel he had been had finally started to dawn on him. Jason stared at the King with both relief and gratitude that they wouldn't have to resort to more drastic measures. For the first time since Simba got back, Jason forgot about Lee's old revolver that was tucked in his pants, behind his back. Simba turned his attention to Jason.
"Jason, would you be willing to take Kovu into your care? We could wait until Shuja and his mates get back to ask them, but he already seems used to you at the very least."
It took a moment for Jason to process what Simba was asking him. When he finally did, the question hit him like a semi. He was more than capable of "taking care of" poachers and predators who killed too much prey. When it came to something like this, however, he was completely at a loss. What did Jason know about caring for a smaller being? He had never even had a pet goldfish! Just as he was about to ask if they could wait until Shuja got back, then he looked down at Kovu. The cub's eyes were wide with hope as a small smile spread across his face. The question Jason was about to ask all but evaporated. He inhaled deeply through his nose and out of his mouth before addressing Simba.
"Sure," he stated flatly, "No problem."
Simba nodded, "Very well."
Nala suggested that the two of them should go inside and get some rest. Once they were alone, she looked back at her mate, who was currently facing away from her. Simba was staring at the night sky. A million stars where the Great Kings looked down on them. All of them, Nala was sure, were beaming with pride at Simba's decision. She walked over to Simba and sat right next to him, so close she could feel his mane rubbing against her fur.
"What changed your mind?" She asked in a monotone whisper.
"Something Kion said," he answered in the same tone, not being able to look at her yet.
"What did he say?" She asked
He inhaled sharply, "What would Lee do?"
All of the air had left Nala's lungs in a second. Hot tears streamed down her face almost automatically. Although she had improved a great deal in her emotional state since her dream with Lee; even hearing his name felt like a poacher shot her in the heart. After losing Kopa, and then getting pregnant with Kiara, the hope of having children again filled her with so much optimism and love. But with that also came just as much fear and anxiety. All of this was amplified when they adopted Lee. Because now they were choosing to accept this human into their hearts as their own child. When they lost him, they felt like they were on the verge of dropping off the face of the planet. If not for their other children, they wouldn't have survived losing Lee. All of a sudden, a thought dawned on Nala.
"Simba, " She asked, "What's really going on with you?"
She half expected him to growl and stomp inside like he always did when she tried to seriously talk about their problems. But instead, all he did was sigh wearily. As if having to talk through his emotions was more draining than hunting a male cape buffaloe. She turned to her king, and when he turned to face, she was terrified to see Simba crying.
"I promised him, Nala" Simba choked out, "I promised Lee!"
On instinct, she pushed up against him in a loving nuzzle. It was a good thing she was eating regularly and hunting a lot more; otherwise, she wouldn't have had the strength to hold Simba up. He practically fell against her with a sob, burying his face in her shoulder. Nala tried shushing his cries that were so loud, she feared any of her children would come out any second. Not that there was anything wrong with the cubs seeing their father cry; but they needed to get to the bottom of why Simba had been acting this way. That wouldn't happen unless they were completely alone.
"What did you promise Lee, Simba?" She asked as his sobbing finally quieted down.
With one last deep breath, Simba confessed to his queen.
(Simba's POV, Several months ago)
I woke up earlier than usual one morning. Looking down, I found a family member missing from our little pride. My queen lay beside me with our three daughters snuggled against her, but our son was nowhere to be seen. It was clear from the lack of sun coming in from the opening of Pride Rock or the mouth of the cave that it wasn't even daylight yet. Growling quietly so as not to wake anyone, I rose and, as quietly as I could, tip-toed off the platform and out of the cave.
Lee was sitting on the edge of Pride Rock. His long, mane-like brown hair touched the bandages on his left arm. The Croc attack gave Lee quite an injury, that would certainly leave a vicious scar. Something I would be almost proud of if not for two things. One, he is lucky he didn't lose his arm, and two, Nala hasn't stopped fusing about it since we got home. She came out crying after her talk with Lee, but I couldn't get her to tell me why. They must have made up because Lee was sleeping in his usual spot when I woke up a few hours ago.
"What are you doing up?" I asked him as I made my way to sit down beside him.
He shrugged, "I just needed some air."
"Well, you shouldn't be walking too much, especially now that you have that," I say, gesturing towards his arm.
He looked down at his injury, then looked up at the stars; taking extra care not to meet my gaze. Something that puzzled me, considering we had been able to talk only hours ago. Maybe he thought I was too hard on Kiara, or maybe he was still mad at me for sending Timon and Pumba out after him and his sister. Honestly, I couldn't blame him for the second reason. It's not that I didn't trust Lee to keep Kiara safe, I just wanted them to go along as a precaution. Now, did I lose my son's trust in me?
"Lee, I'm sorry," I confess.
He didn't look at me, "For what?"
"For what I did today. I told you to look after Kiara. I put my trust in you, and then I sent Timon and Pumba anyway. You need to know it wasn't because I didn't think you couldn't keep her safe. If anything, you have proven you're more than capable of doing that today. Sending them was just me being cautious. But I was wrong to betray your trust like that, I apologize."
Lee shook his head, "Thanks, but that's not why I'm out here. If anything Simba, I owe you an apology. I'm sure you saw Nala after she came out of the cave crying. The reason she was crying was because I yelled at her. I told her... I told her you weren't my father!"
I looked at him and saw tears streaming down his face. Shame fell over his features like a shadow. Part of me wanted to be upset with him. After all, Nala and I had taken him in out of the goodness of our hearts; and he turns around and says this? Then again, I also understand it was a very stressful day for all of us. Only a few hours before his and Nala's conversation, Lee had been swimming in croc-infested waters. Also, he wasn't exactly wrong. But it's not like I was actively trying to replace his father. With a long exhale, I addressed my human son.
"You're right, I'm not, and I'm sorry that your birth father isn't here with you now. But I know too well what it's like to lose the most important male in your life. So, if you ever need to talk about what happened with your father, or anyone in your human family, I'm here. We all are.
Lee just stared at me for a solid minute, his eyes searing with the pain of all the loss he had suffered. Then, he lowered his head until it was buried by my auburn mane. His shoulders rose and fell with sobs that made parts of my mane shake. Placing one of my paws on his uninjured shoulder, I realized how large my paws were. One of them covered the entire length of Lee's shoulder. For the first time since I've known him, he truly did look like a child. After a solid five minutes of this, Lee broke away and looked me right in the eye.
" Can I tell you something private Simba, something I haven't told Nala?" he asked.
"Of course."
He swallowed hard, "The real reason I got mad at Nala when she called you my father, wasn't because I had a problem with you. My birth father... he wasn't a nice one."
His face no longer looked sad. Now, Lee wore a look that I rarely saw, fear. And for someone who can take on a clan of hyenas or jump on a crocodile's back with no regard for his own life, whatever this "man" did to Lee to ingrain this type of feeling in him must have been nothing short of monstrous. A growl, loud and deep, similar to a crash of thunder, escaped my throat.
"Go on." was all I could say.
"When I got stronger, I was able to handle it. That's why, even when I got here, I could handle myself so well. But when I was younger, when he drank and got angry, he... I couldn't do anything to protect my mom! Sometimes I would get so angry, I would do something to set him off so he would take everything out on me! Thank goodness my mom was so good at stitching people up. That look on her face, when she would cover my bloody nose with a tissue or pop my shoulder back into its socket, that look hurt worse than anything he could do to me."
As his eyes filled up with tears again, I grabbed him with my paw and pulled him in so tight I feared I would hurt his damaged arm. My entire body shook with a mixture of my own rage and Lee's uncontrollable wailing. How he managed to stay so kind and gentle after being subjected to that for most of his life, I have no idea. It must have been the need to protect his human mom and sister that helped him hold onto his humanity. He needed to know something, right here and now.
"I swear," I began, "no one will ever hurt you like that again! Not as long as I am your father! I promise you that!"
(Present Day; Third person POV)
"Oh, Simba!" Nala cried.
The king fell back against Nala with a sob. The shame and guilt of what he couldn't do what he promised his son was unbearable. What kind of father couldn't protect his own children? Simba knew Lee could handle himself just fine, but he shouldn't have had to. Simba should have been there to save Lee from that hunter! Nala's words brought Simba back to his senses.
"Simba, you know it wasn't your fault."
He spoke to his queen with agony in his voice, "If I had been there, I could have saved him from the hunter! I made him a promise and I failed him! What use am I to any of them now?"
To his astonishment, Nala chuckled, "Do you know what I saw when you got back a while ago?"
Simba blinked, "Me carrying Kion, why?"
Nala nodded, "I saw a cub who could not feel safer being carried by his father. Our cubs still think the world of you. But you can't keep holding onto the guilt of something you couldn't have seen coming. If you do, it will destroy you, along with any hope of ever connecting with them again."
They both stayed there in silence for a long while. Simba still resting against Nala's frame. Nothing could be heard except their breathing and the melody of crickets chirping in the background. Nala began to pur as she licked the side of Simba's face. He did the same to her. They continued this back-and-forth show of affection until Simba pulled away and looked down at his queen, his Nala.
"My mom and Jason can watch the cubs until we get back. What do you say about taking a midnight walk to Big Springs?" She asked, teasing him with an all-too-familiar look.
For the first time in a long time, Simba smiled, "That sounds lovely, my Queen."
A/N: Hope youv loved this chapter. I promise I will be more persistent in getting chapters out in the future. Also, I'm going back and changing a chapter so Lee does not have his "Shape Shifting" powers. It's just something I don't want in my story anymore. Reviews are always welcomed, see you next time.