Denial

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Prequel to:  So here's the regret Kiara mentioned before~

Kiongozi found the cheetah alone as always as she padded through the tall grass, light rain drops peppering her golden pelt. He'd been looking all over for Fuli, it seemed luck was on his side that the Fastest was within reach. Grinning, the lion prince quickened his pace and shouted for her attention. Fuli stopped, jade eyes blinking rapidly before she turn to spy the leader of their little group.

"There you are Fuli!" Kion chuffed happily, sounding a little out of breath as he reached her side. "I've been running all over the Pridelands!"

She smirked. "You call that running Kion?"

"I'm just the Fiercest, not the fastest, remember?" Kion quipped, shaking his mane out. "Anyway, glad I caught you because I've got something important to ask you."

The cheetah arched her brows in skepticism, long tail sweeping at her heels. "And what is this important question if I gotta ask?"

He grew sheepish and sighed softly, Fuli drew her face back in concern. "Tiifu and I are getting married," Kion finally confessed, meeting Fuli's eyes, only to see them grow larger than the moon. "I wanted to personally invite you, Tiifu says she'd really love for you to be one of the bride's maids."

Fuli however didn't respond, only stared blankly at Kion with her jaw dropped. She felt as if she were hearing white noise buzzing in her ears, stomach churning alongside it. She swallowed loudly, throat dry before she managed to speak without sounding like a fool. "Married... you and Tiifu?" He nodded though looked perplexed at her reaction, thick brows knotting together. "I... uh, I mean... don't you think..."

"Think what?"

She bit the words out practically. "Don't you think marriage would be inappropriate for you? You're the leader of the Lion Guard, Kion!"

Kion gave her a surprised look, frowning. "So? Why should my title keep me from getting married?"

"You have a duty to the Pridelands first!" Fuli hissed, scowling as she fought the shaking in her legs. She was being stupid and dug herself further into a pit of shame, Kion looked very much hurt. It was his life, he could do what he wanted with it. Besides, wasn't this what she always wanted, a solid reason to help her get over a hopeless endeavor that was Kion himself?"Getting married to Tiifu would distract you! She's sheltered, she'd hold you back and... you're being unreasonable... it would..."

"I can still do my job Fuli, not all of us want to be alone our whole freaking life!" Kion growled back, saying the last part with emphasis. It made Fuli fall quiet in shock before she suddenly lashed out at him with a paw, cuffing him along the snout. Claws sheathed luckily. Stunned, he stared at her in visable surprise.

"You know what? Fine, go get married! Congrats by the way," the cheetah snapped, beginning to turn around only to feel Kion grab her by the tail, stopping her. 

"Why does me getting married really bother you so much Fuli?" Kion demanded, staring her deeply in the eyes.

Fuli felt her eyes growing glassy and she shut them tightly. "It doesn't, I'm just thinking about the sake of the Guard, Kion."

"You're my friend, there's something bugging you," her lion friend insisted, not letting her go. Fuli opened her eyes to see him staring at her softly, concern on his handsome golden features. He saw through her, the way she'd unintentionally winced at the word friend. He knew, oh great Spirits above he knew! Fuli felt horrified at his gentle question that followed. "How do you really feel about me Fuli?"

He finally let go of her tail, stepping back but never letting her out of his sight. Fuli's blood ran cold and she flexed her claws into the dirt, tense. This was her chance, she could finally tell him how she felt. There was nothing to lose, Kion was asking her himself of her heart. It thundered in her chest with a furiously she never felt before, no matter how fast the cheetah ever ran. Instead, she painfully growled out, "I feel nothing, okay? Nothing!"

Unable to face him any longer, Fuli turned on her heel and raced off like lightning, choking on a frustrated cry at how she just threw her only chance away. This was the right thing to do, she tried convincing herself, she was a cheetah. Cheetahs were to be alone, lions had their prides. Loving him was to disrupt the balance that was Circle of Life itself and everything she stood for by fighting for it with the Lion Guard. It was the laws of nature, the entire essence of her and his being. As well as fighting what she was and who she was.

She was a cheetah, he was a lion.

Um... have more Kion/Fuli angst