Brothers Meet

The orange lion looked at the much younger brown lion in front of him. ''Who are you?'' he asked. Ajani took a deep breath. This was going to be hard, seeing as Simba was looking at him quizzically at the moment. He wouldn't be surprised if Simba had already figured out his roots.

''I'm your brother, Ajani.'' he replied. Simba looked at him and studied him.

''My mother was not pregnant when my father died. So, it would not be possible for you to be my brother. Unless...''

Ajani nodded. ''I'm Scar's son. Your mother and Scar's son.''

He noticed a dangerous fire flash through Simba's red-brown eyes. ''You're HIS son?'' he asked again.

Ajani sighed. ''I don't truly know how your mother allowed it. But all I know is, I'm here now.''

Simba faced him with a challenging look in his eyes. ''How can I trust you? If you're Scar's son then you're probably his heir as well. How do I know you won't try to kill me the first chance you get?''

''I WAS his heir, until I realized what he did to the lands. And please, I may look a lot like the lion who ripped you of a normal life, but do not judge me by my parentage. Remember, our fathers may be different, but the two of us share the same mother.''

Simba backed up a little, the anger in his eyes replaced with respect and satisfaction. ''Wise words, Ajani. Maybe you really do take after our mother.''

This was the first time that Ajani heard Simba refer to Sarabi as 'our mother'. It forced a smile to tug at the corner of his mouth, making Simba smile and look down at him in a way he would a brother. ''I think the two of us have a lot to discuss.''

Ajani heaved a sigh of relief, releasing the air he didn't know he was holding. ''Oh, and Simba?''

''Yes?''

''I just wanted to let you know, and don't judge me on this, but even though Scar ruined your life and pretty much everyone else's, he was still my father, and I always loved him, deep inside.''

SImba belongs to Disney