Running from the past

by Annie1273

Summary:

The past is hard to forget, especially for Leena. The war that tore her childhood apart haunts her til this day, with fear and insomnia disrupting her nights for years.

Until somehow, one day, this issue leads to something she never saw coming.

Notes:

Well, hello there!

This will be my first fanfic here, and consequently the first fanfic for this show in ao3. Despite already having some on wattpad it is still a very unknown series that I believe deserves more attention. I hope you enjoy this and that somehow you remember this show or at least watching it when you were young :D

(And even if you don't remember it at first, try searching it up. It may bring back some forgotten memories, who knows. If you really haven't watched it at all though, consider giving it a chance! )

Her boots hit the cold, soaked rock floor harshly, droplets of water spilling and flying as she passed by. Her legs moved as fast as possible, her breaths quick and panicked. 

 

"I can't leave my dear Leena on her own..." her father said. 

 

He had left her on her own. 

 

"I'll always be here for you, girl!" Marine said. 

 

She was captured and dead now. 

 

"You can't leave the underground, it's too dangerous up there!" the professor said. 

 

She ignored, disobeyed and was now in the kingdom anyways. Running from dark creatures. Running for her life. 

 

The streets were so dark and so cold as she turned in an alley, her legs starting to get sore as she heard the creatures getting closer and closer to her at an alarmingly fast pace. 

 

"GET BACK HERE YOU INSIGNIFICANT FEMALE!!" 

 

She has no idea how she got here, she really doesn't. One second she was in bed and the other she was here, living a memory long gone, being followed by beings she swore were destroyed long ago. Defeated together with their master. Defeated by none other than herself and the lost king, Max. 

 

Max... 

 

Was it all a dream? Did she go to bed and get stuck in a never ending dream where she finds the lion in the jungle, brings him back with her to end this madness, rescues her dad and after it is over her and the now king Max fight a couple more battles together? She wants to believe that what she is experiencing now is the actual dream but the water under her feet feels so real, the screams of the creatures ring so harshly in her ears and the fall she experiences brings true pain upon her. 

 

This is it. She is done. 

 

Did her mother face this same fate? Killed by these ugly and dark creatures? Or did they do something before that, something so disgusting she needs all strength left in her body to shake such thoughts away. She can't die now, she can't! Her dad, he needs her, she can't- 

 

"NO!" 

 

She jolts up, sitting on the giant royal bed as a shaky breath leaves her throat. Her hands grip the silk sheets so tight her fingers feel sore. 

 

Here she is. Back in her bedroom. Alive. 

 

She was back in the reality she knew, far away from these memories. The ones involving a fallen kingdom, a penetrating darkness and a lost father. Right now, all of that is gone. 

 

Happiness reins over, her father lives with her in the castle, well conserved despite being stuck in a cell for so long. His mechanical abilities are as sharp as ever, since age has yet to get to him.

 

And of course, Max. How could she forget about Max? 

 

He is now the king, fulfilling his duty but still being so different from others. Growing up in the jungle means he wasn't raised to be a sophisticated, traditional king. However, he was raised to be a kind, fair leader. One that isn't afraid to protect his people and face danger. One that is so, so dear to her. Considering all the pathetic excuses of men she endured all her life, that was really special. 

 

She considered him special. To her. 

 

She takes deep, shaky breaths, trying to focus on the thought of her best friend and his kind features in an attempt to calm down. On the corner of her eyes she carefully watched her white husky Cotton, making sure he was asleep, and he was. At least he didn't wake up with her outburst. 

 

These damn nightmares. 

 

They just won't leave her alone. All of this happened so long ago but she still has to deal with these memories, watching as they turn into nightmares that leave her sleepless and on the verge of tears every single night. She hates crying, showing weakness and knowing these horrible memories make her do just that makes her feel so miserable and...weak. So disgustingly weak. She hates it. 

 

Leena shakes her head harshly, doing her best to hold back the tears that are threatening to form in her eyes, something she has been doing regularly now. She carefully gets up from the bed, keeping her eyes on Cotton to make sure he doesn't wake up. Upon noticing he was still asleep she makes her way to the door, carefully opening it so she can leave for a while. She needs to get some fresh air. 

 

Arriving at the royal garden isn't a hard task, as Leena already knows the Palace and its corners like the palm of her hand. She walks through corridor after corridor, knowing exactly where she was going, her steps echoing slightly. Finally, after coming down a giant staircase, she's at the front door. 

 

In a normal situation, the guards standing there would have asked her if something was wrong or what she was doing there but after so many nights doing this same routine, even they got used to her little escapades. Without any words one of them nodded, opening the door for her and letting her cross it. She mutters a quiet "thank you" before exiting the Palace, feeling her nerves calm down slightly upon feeling the gentle wind on her face. 

 

Sometimes she also chose to run away from the castle, escaping to the village for a couple of hours until she felt tired enough to come back. She would jump from roof to roof, feeling the wind hit her face as she travelled through the night, a silent figure barely visible for the ones still awake. Today, however, she didn't feel like doing such a workout. Instead, she was content with just sitting on the big, gorgeously crafted fountain that stood in the middle of the royal garden, one of its most beautiful symbols. 

 

She simply sits there for a bit, looking around the arranged place until something catches her eye. With a big, warm smile on her face she gets up, walking up to the source of her sudden happiness. 

 

Before her stands a grey, rock made statue that was placed there only days ago. The figures sculpted on it are none other than Max and herself. Both of them were in fighting poses, with the king holding his lion staff while she held her magic bow. The professor, Twitch and Spike also have statues of themselves but they are separated from one another, scattered in different places in the garden. Hers and Max's were still kept close to each other though. 

 

Perhaps that was deliberate. 

 

"I believe they really managed to bring us to life on that one, don't you think, Leena?" 

 

If the voice wasn't so familiar to her, she would probably have had a heart attack from the scare she got. Instead, she immediately turned around, her smile widening as her eyes landed on the so-called king she held so dear in her heart. 

 

Not that she would simply admit it out loud, of course. 

 

She chuckles briefly before relaxing, watching as he walks up to her and stands right in front of her. 

 

"Well, good night for you too, your majesty. Shouldn't you be enjoying your royal slumber right now?~" 

 

The sarcasm which practically sugar-coated her voice and the little bow she added in the "your majesty" bit had him chuckling quietly as well, enjoying how confident and relaxed she felt in his presence. She didn't bother with his status, she didn't treat him like a superior, entitled king. She didn't fear him or worshiped the ground he stepped on. She just treated him normally, something that never changed despite how different their relationship became. Despite how much it evolved from the first time they saw each other. 

 

"Well, young lady, your worry flatters me, but I can assure you everything is okay. A king may also need to get some air at times, don't you think?~" 

 

They stay in silence for a few seconds before bursting out laughing, finally done with the little teasing section. It has been years but some things surely never seem to change. 

 

After a while both of them catch their breaths, still standing in front of the statues. Leena turns to Max, eyeing him curiously. 

 

"Alright, now being serious, what are you doing up at such an hour? You have a royal conference tomorrow morning! You should be resting..."

 

"I could actually ask you the same thing, couldn't I?" his tone sounds teasing at first but after seeing her unimpressed expression he sighs "Yeah you're right, I should be sleeping right now and I swear I tried! It didn't really work so when I saw you I decided to come down here and keep you company." 

 

This leaves her a bit surprised, as she wasn't quite expecting him to know she was already here. 

 

"Wait, you knew I was here already?" 

 

"Yes, I did..." he scratches the back of his neck, looking away sheepishly. "I went to the balcony to see if some fresh air would help and then when I looked down I saw you sitting in the fountain. I supposed coming down here wouldn't be a problem." 

 

Well, at least it didn't sound like he knew this had been her routine for the past month. She nodded in understanding, letting out a quiet "I see" once he finished his explanation. Again, silence fell over both lions, this one just a tiny bit awkward. 

 

Thankfully Max quickly breaks it, asking her if she wants to sit down on the fountain, which she gladly complies with. As soon as they do though, Leena's thoughts immediately drift to Max again, most specifically for the reason behind his lack of desire to rest. Like the straight forward person she is, she instantly voices her concerns. 

 

"So...why can't you sleep, hm? I know royal conferences can discuss some serious topics at times but you never seemed bothered by them before." his body seems to stiffen visibly after her question, making it clear this was something he wasn't very proud of talking about. 

 

"Well, you see..." he hesitates for some seconds before proceeding, appearing to be uncharacteristically nervous "I wanna do the best I can for the kingdom, make it better at every chance possible. And I can say everything has been going really well until now but still, I..." 

 

He trails off, hesitation filling him once again. Leena waits though, knowing that whatever comes out of his mouth next is something he has been keeping inside for a while. Why else would he be so hesitant? 

 

"I'm afraid of failing. Of not being good enough, of not being a good ruler. I'm afraid I'll let people down!" he sounds incredibly anxious as he keeps going, prompting Leena to fully turn to him, worry filled her features "I already grew up in a completely different environment, I was raised in a jungle! I have been in this position for years but I still feel people judging me, I still feel like I may disappoint them. I still feel....guilty." 

 

He chooses to look down at the ground, avoiding her concerned gaze as much as possible. However, she will not have any of that, so she grabs him by the shoulders, trying to both comfort him and make him look her in the eye. 

 

"Max, it's okay to feel overwhelmed and afraid of making mistakes, it truly is. That's part of being a king. But guilt? Why would you even feel guilty, especially after everything you did for all of us?" her confusion was clear. Guilt? Why guilt? 

 

He still doesn't make eye contact, shocking her a bit by freeing himself from her gentle grasp. His eyebrows are furrowed, his expression overcome by regret. 

 

"I don't feel guilty because of what I did. I feel guilty because of what I could have done." 

 

Wait, what? 

 

"What do you mean by that-" 

 

"What I mean is..." - He stops her abruptly - "That while I was growing up in the jungle, living my best life, you and everyone in the kingdom were suffering because of Shadow Master and his control over the kingdom! I know there was nothing I could have done to stop it before the time came but thinking about everything you must have gone through because I was away makes me feel horrible." Now it's Leena's turn to look down, overcome with sadness, remembering why she was down here in the first place "And now, even after that people still treat me with all the respect and dignity they think I deserve but do I? Do I really deserve it? Do I really deserve to sit in a conference room and decide what the kingdom needs?" 

 

"Do I really deserve to...be a King...?" 

 

She is not used to such vulnerability coming from him and when it does, she feels lost, unsure of what to do. This is what they have always been doing, helping each other, lifting each other's spirits but this sounds different. This sounds heavier, something he kept inside for so long. Soon confusion is replaced with anger but not directed at him. It was purely directed at Shadow Master, the monster that caused all of that chaos and suffering to begin with. 

 

And then, compassion. So much compassion for him. 

 

Max feels a hand on his chin, gently turning his face to the side. His eyes met Leena's and a million butterflies filled his stomach at the sight of her sweet and caring smile. The blush that spread throughout his cheeks was obvious but the lioness chose to ignore it for now, more focused in trying to comfort the young king. 

 

"When will you get in that stubborn head of yours that if there's anyone that deserves to rule this kingdom, it’s you Max. You saved the kingdom from Shadow Master, you rebuilt it and are making a huge effort every day to help it grow and evolve. You may not have been here for long but how would you know? You were just a baby when all of this started!" Her hands fell on his, as she felt his fingers intertwining with her smaller ones. He squeezed her hands lightly, enjoying the warmth. 

 

"It seems you have no idea how important what you did is. How many lives you saved. I'm telling you, you are more than a hero. You are a savior and without you, we would all have perished in darkness" Her confidence seems to lower suddenly, something the lion manages to notice. She gazes uncertainly at the ground, as if debating whether or not what she's about to say is something she can even let out. Finally she sighs, locking eyes with him again. 

 

"And I, oh my... Where would I be now if it wasn't for you?" The smile that was on her face didn't fool him as everything in her gaze looked sad and regretful "You probably don't really know it, or maybe you think you do, just not in the right sense. But you, Max, you saved me. You saved me and I have no idea what it would have been of me if you hadn't appeared in my life." 

 

Now it was her turn to squeeze his hands, her small fingers pressing against his, her hand completely enveloped. Max's worry grew as he noticed how anxious she seemed, looking like she was trying to contain any stronger emotions in her. Leena felt like she was at the verge of tears again, the memories in her nightmare flooding back to her head. She had never even thought about revealing her deepest feelings and struggles to anyone, let alone those who were close to her. But at this point, she felt like she was gonna explode and she needed to let this out with someone before it was revealed in a worse way. 

 

And who’d be a better first person to know than her own best friend? She can trust him. 

 

"Leena." She looks up again, the gentle and caring tone used leaving her on the edge already. She feels Max snuggling a little closer to her, his concerned gaze never leaving his face, their fingers still intertwined "Is there something you wanna tell me? It's okay, I'm here, I'll listen. Just... take your time." 

 

He watches as she nods quickly, patiently waiting for her to speak. He runs his thumb across the back of her hand, a silent encouragement that she does feel and appreciates greatly despite how it didn't quite succeed in calming her nerves down. But she wants to speak, she needs to speak, this has to come out. It has been inside for so long she can't hide it anymore. 

 

She just can't. 

 

"Before you came into my life, things were looking worse than ever" Her voice cracks slightly already, a small clue on just how bad what she was about to reveal was "It may have looked like I was hopeful, looking forward to the future. I had found my dad's projects, dropped out of school in order to train in his old laboratory, knowing that would make me even stronger. A plan to defeat Shadow Master was starting to form and most believed we would make it. That we could take him down at last. And I wanted to believe in that so badly but...my optimistic behavior was purely fake." 

 

"I was in a really, really bad place Max. Everything I cared for, anything I was attached to was slipping away, being taken from me. My mom died when I was only days old, on the day of the first attack. My dad was kidnapped 7 years later, leaving me for years without seeing him, wondering if he was even alive. And Marine, my first and only friend, was also taken and murdered by Shadow Master's creatures, during a city patrol both of us were doing. I lost them all and because of this, loneliness became a big part of my life, even with the professor always looking out for me. I wasn't happy but I didn't want others to see that! I just wanted everything to...to go away." 

 

At this point, Leena's gaze is glued on the ground, tears threatening to fall off her eyes as she fights them away with quick blinking, still not wanting to cry. She just can't bring herself to look up at her best friend, to see his scared gaze, knowing he probably already figured out what comes next in this confession. However their hands are still intertwined and he's still so close, his warmth shielding her from the cold slowly making itself present outside. He's still here and he wants to listen. She can do this. 

 

"I wanted to end it all. I just wanted that hell to be over, to sleep and never wake up again. Because why wake up in a living nightmare when you can just sleep for eternity, am I right?" Small sobs started to break out at last, making her attempt at irony even sadder. Max's heart shattered completely as soon as that first, 6 word quote came out of her mouth, shocked beyond words. He had no idea she was hurting this badly at the time, as she seemed so confident and tough when they first met "And I almost did it. I almost slipped away. Standing on a cliff, looking down. I almost fell. But I suppose I was too weak to do it. Looking back now, I'm so glad I was for once. Because maybe I wouldn't be here if I toughened up and...did what I thought I had to do" 

 

His grip on her hands tightens and he keeps his strong gaze on her. She's not looking at him but he doesn't care. He really doesn't have to because, at last, her head moves up and those watery eyes are locked on his, breaking his heart a little more. 

 

"Despite that failed attempt I still wanted to do it, as horrible as it sounds. But then...so many things happened and so fast. I discovered the phoenix, my dad's biggest secret giving me a small purpose, to find its energy source. Our hideout was discovered, forcing us to execute the professor's secret plan sooner than we expected. Then, after the escape and during the flight to the jungle the professor told me about you. The lost Prince that was destined to save us all." 

 

"I'll admit it, when he told me your story I wasn't as convinced as I should be. Seeing you trying to destroy my ship didn't help either" This actually made him chuckle a little, remembering the abrupt start of their relationship "But I suppose I just had to get to know you to realize how special you were. Despite the poor way I treated you at the start, you never hesitated in helping me when I needed the most and always showed kindness. You promised to help me find my dad and kept your promise. We became so close, inseparable and I just can't thank you enough for coming into my life! For giving me a family, for letting me accompany you in so many adventures, for giving me a reason to keep going. Thank you Max for...for saving me." 

 

Tears were dripping down Leena's face as soon as she was done, her hazel eyes still glued on his. This had never come out of her mouth, it was something she kept locked inside of her for so, so long. She didn't think she would ever need to share such depressing thoughts with anyone but the weight she felt being lifted off her shoulders makes her realise that it was okay and that she needed this badly. 

 

"Leena… I..." he's at a loss for words, he has no clue what to say. He truly had no idea someone as strong as her could have been holding such demons inside for so long, all alone. Without a warning he lets go of her hands, wrapping his arms around her in a tight and protective embrace. Said gesture was so sudden she was unsure how to react at first, feeling a bit shocked. But soon she melted into the hug, burying her face on his shoulder as she still tried her best to muffle her sobs and stop crying. Max ran his hand through her tied hair, in an attempt to help her calm down. He knew how much she hated letting her guard down and showing such a sensitive side of hers. Even if he knew letting these feelings out was the best thing she could do, he still wanted to comfort her in any way possible and see her smiling again, in that way that never fails to brighten his day and send a million butterflies to his stomach. 

 

They stayed like this for a while, still holding each other even after Leena visibly relaxed, no sobs being heard anymore. However she didn't really want to take her face out of her best friend's shoulder yet, afraid to face him after such a meltdown. 

 

Max is still unconsciously caressing her head, glad to see she was calmer. Still, he doesn't push her, letting her take her time to let go of him when she feels like it. Some more minutes pass and he feels a weight being lifted out of his shoulder. Her now puffy, anxious eyes locked on his again. 

 

Leena hastily wipes the tears away from her eyes and face as soon as she recovers, still feeling Max's arms around her, holding her close. Such proximity allows her to take a closer look at his face, noticing with surprise the wet trails of tears he had himself. This gets a hoarse chuckle out of her, as she uses her thumb to wipe away his tears. His hand falls on hers as she does so, wanting to keep her warm hand glued on his face forever. 

 

"Why are you crying, dummy? I thought I would be the only one getting emotional here..." Her voice sounds hoarse and raspy but still so full of irony, as only she can do in such moments with a smile on her face. He smiles as well, coming across as a rather weak one compared to her slightly bigger one. 

 

"I'm just so...fuck, I don't even know what to say." The smiles they wore instantly fell off both of their faces, as Max tried to find the right words to express what he was feeling after such a confession "I knew things used to be so bad at the time but I never thought...you could have been feeling this, ever. You are the strongest person I have ever met and knowing you felt this way, even if it was in the past...scares me. No one deserves to have such thoughts, let alone you. I don't really know if you need to hear this but I'm just so...so proud of you for holding on. Because if you hadn't, things may have gone so differently, and in the worst way possible." 

 

He stops talking briefly, his face filled with emotion, one Leena can't quite figure out despite how overwhelming it is. Her breath soon gets caught on her throat as he brings one of his hands up to her cheek, caressing it with immense tenderness and care. Their faces are so, so close, both can see the tint of gold in each other's eyes, contrasting with the warm hazel color that fills them whole. 

 

"I can't imagine living life without you by our side, Leena. By my side." The lioness leans slightly against his touch, feeling so much emotion filling her once again "No matter what happens, never forget that. Never forget how much you mean to me and how much you did for me. I would be nothing without you, this kingdom would be nothing without you. And from now on, I'll never stop reminding you how proud I am of you and how important you truly are." 

 

Soon their foreheads are glued on each other and their eyes lock, filled with adoration purely directed to one another, showing feelings that had been hidden for a long time. But now, the fear of letting them out was slipping away, as they felt each other getting closer and closer. 

 

"And as long as I live, I can guarantee you that I'll never let you feel that way again. That you will never have to experience such pain once more. I swear on my own life that I will always be here, right by your side. Just like you keep saving me, I'll keep saving you too." 

 

"So it's us against the world?" 

 

Max smiles brightly after this question, a view that leaves her breathless, lovestruck even. This action is enough of an answer for her but despite that he still feels the need to voice it, their faces so close they can feel each other's breaths as they speak. 

 

"Always Leena. Always." 

 

They don't know who took the initiative but in a matter of seconds their lips are connected, both lions sharing a sweet, passionate kiss under the moonlight. There was no initial shock, no hesitation in the moment, not even discomfort due to the cold outside. No, the only thing that mattered to them was the sensations they were experiencing, relieved that their feelings finally being out didn't seem like a problem at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. 

 

Their eyes fluttered closed, their arms wrapped around each other, holding on tight. Max's arms were on the lioness' waist, while Leena's hands traveled up his chest, ending up on his neck where she kept them for the rest of the kiss. Air was running out but none of them dared break the connection uniting them, afraid it wasn't even real to begin with. This just felt too good to be real, like one of those hyper realistic dreams where everything feels and resembles real life but once you wake up, you realise it was but a dream. 

 

When the kiss comes to an end and their lips finally separate, they look into each other’s eyes and they know it’s real. It’s not a product of their imagination, a projection of their biggest desires, it happened and realisation hit them both equally hard. 

 

They let go of each other abruptly, blushing intensively and looking away in embarrassment. Leena brings a hand up to her lips, tracing them with a finger, still trying to process what had just happened between them. Max covers his mouth, the sensation of Leena's lips against his carved in his mind and sending shivers down his spine.

 

They may look scared, but oh they felt everything but fear. Their eyes were shining, their hearts beating so fast and yet it wasn’t a bad thing. 

 

The shock died down, but they continued to avoid each other's gaze, their faces still considerably flushed. 

 

Soon, the silence filling the air was broken at last, with a faint, barely audible whisper coming out of the lioness' mouth. 

 

"Did you really mean it? Everything you said, the kiss...is it true...?" 

 

The answer is so obvious, right there in her face but she still asks anyway, just to be sure. Obviously he wouldn't tell her any of this with such conviction if he didn't mean it. He wouldn't look at her with all that love and affection in his eyes if he didn't mean it. He wouldn't have kissed her if he didn't mean it. She knows how much he cares, how he's here for her but she still needs to be reassured, like she can't really believe someone like him cares so deeply for someone like her. 

 

Max breaks out of his little trance as well, looking back at her almost incredulously upon hearing this question. In a split second he's close to her again, his gaze softening upon seeing the look on her face. She looked confused, insecure, in a way he had never seen her look before. Like she couldn't really believe this was happening. Sure, he didn't either but her confusion seemed deeper, more of an insecurity rather than just the shock you feel in the moment. 

 

"Of course I mean all of this! I mean, how could I not? Have you looked at yourself?" His voice irradiates confidence at first but that quickly changes, the embarrassment and shyness in the last part being quite noticeable as he goes on. Leena's mouth curls up into a small, equally shy smile, finding his stuttering utterly adorable "Why can't you see how amazing you are? How kind, strong, compassionate, how beautiful you are? I really, really mean it when I say you matter a lot to me. And after everything we've been through, I know there's no way I wouldn't end up...falling for you." 

 

His next words sweep her off her feet, wild emotions and insane feelings she wouldn’t’ve dreamed of even thinking about years ago took over her senses. She was overwhelmed, but she felt nice. Safe. 

 

"I...I love you Leena..." 

 

And here it comes, the waterfalls threatening to come out of her eyes again. Does this guy have any idea of what he does to her? How vulnerable he leaves her every single time he opens his mouth or even looks at her? It's unbelievable, so weird and yet she just can't get enough of it. 

 

It makes her feel alive, happy. Like she hadn't felt for so long. 

 

Relationships used to be something Leena avoided intensively. You see, when you live surrounded by war, hunger and destruction, some support can for sure be an advantage. However, in the lioness' eyes, such a thing only brought even more pain and suffering. 

 

Most of those she had a strong bond with, that mattered to her, were taken away in the most cruel way possible. Her mom, her dad, Marine, all of them vanished from her life, intensifying the emptiness already inside of her. That dark, unbearable feeling that prevailed each time someone was ripped away from her, she never wanted to feel it again. She couldn't feel it again. 

 

Because if she did, she knew she wasn't gonna be able to handle it. It would crush her to a point beyond repair. She would break completely. 

 

But then he came in and changed it all. The world practically forced her to connect with him and she's so thankful it did because now she isn't afraid anymore. She's not scared of creating bonds with people, she isn't afraid to deepen this specific bond. No, she longs for it, craves for its change.

 

And it's thanks to this change that she can finally see a future and a very bright one. One that includes her dad, her friends… 

 

And the love of her life. Her jungle boy. 

 

It's with these thoughts that she hugs him again, surprising him quite a bit due to how sudden it was. She hides her face in between his shoulder and neck and he immediately feels her tears in his skin, leaving him a bit alarmed at first. But as he hugs her back he manages to hear her say something that takes his breath away, in the best way possible. 

 

"I love you too, Max. Gosh, I fucking love you too…" 

 

Melting into each other's embrace they drowned in the silence that followed this second confession, finally starting to feel better after the abrupt start of their late night talk. At some point Max stops feeling Leena's tears tainting his skin, meaning her nerves had calmed down again. His cheek moves to rest on top of her head, the young king smiling as he felt her nuzzling against his touch. He really loved her soft side.

 

It takes a while but eventually she disconnects from him again, still surrounded by his arms as she hastily wipes the tear stains away from her face.

 

"Shit, the things you do to me. I had never once cried this much in my entire life"

 

This gets a genuine laugh out of him and her smile widens upon hearing it, as it sounds like the most beautiful thing she has ever heard in her life. It makes her want to keep him happy forever, stay by his side and give him all the happiness and love he deserves. Wait, since when did she become so cheesy herself?

 

These thoughts were brutally interrupted by a sudden gust of cold wind, shivers running down both of their spines as they finally seemed to realize how cold it was getting outside. Leena hugs herself as soon as she feels it, trying to create some friction in order to stay warm.

 

"Maybe we should go inside again, Max. It's getting really cold here. Besides, it's already pretty late…"

 

"Yeah, you're right. Let's go then."

 

They both get up, ready to leave before Max stops momentarily, hesitating. She looks at him curiously, wondering why he stopped.

 

"Is everything okay?"

 

He nods, coming close to her, his hand grabbing hers. She gives him a questionable look, trying to figure out what he was up to.

 

"Actually, I was thinking about something."

 

Shyness overtakes him as he speaks and she finds herself smiling warmly at this side of his. She doesn't say anything, letting him talk.

 

"You know, since both of us are having a hard time sleeping and this just...happened, why don't we...spend the night together? I-It may help…!"

 

A giant blush immediately spread through her cheeks the second he finished the suggestion, matching his equally flushed face perfectly. It's not like they have never slept together anyways, their adventures have already forced them to do that at times. They're used to sharing a sleeping space.

 

But now, after what happened, that suggestion feels different, deeper. But unpleasant? Not really. She doesn't dislike the idea of sleeping with him at all, seeing it now as a possible way of comfort. She was afraid to admit it before but his touch never failed to calm her down in tough moments, whether it was a hug or simply a hand on her shoulder. Just having him by her side would for sure be enough to get her through the remaining hours of the night.

 

"That's actually not a bad idea, you know? I...I wanna try."

 

Max's face twists into a surprised expression, intense blushing still adorning his cheeks. She supposes he wasn't really expecting her to accept such a suggestion already, as they just finished their mutual confession mere minutes ago. He quickly recovers though, smiling lovingly at her, their hands still intertwined.

 

"Shall we go then?"

 

She smiles back at him, nodding quickly, both lions finally exiting the garden and its cold atmosphere. They walk through the castle's corridors, careful not to make any noise. 

 

Upon choosing the bedroom they'll be staying in, they quickly decided it would be the closest to them, which happened to be Leena's. They entered it quietly, letting out a sigh of relief after closing the door. Max was about to speak when Leena immediately covered his mouth, signaling in Cotton's direction to alert the king of his presence. Despite this, the white husky seemed fast asleep, making it possible for both of them to at least whisper to one another. 

 

Since they were already in their pyjamas, only wearing a coat each one put on in order to go outside without freezing to death, they simply take the coats off, instantly ready to go to sleep. 

 

If Leena could, she would have practically fallen on the bed, feeling extremely tired after the day, especially the intense emotions she experienced in the past hour. But because of Cotton and the fact he was sleeping on top of the bed she opted for just laying down carefully, letting out a hum of satisfaction as she felt the comfortable mattress under her body. Her eyes stay glued to the ceiling for a few seconds before she looks to the side, spotting Max as he's still putting his coat down. His movements are slow and stiff, making it clear for the lioness he's hesitating. 

 

"Are you coming or not, jungle boy? I'm tired…" 

 

Her whispering reaches his ears and he instantly turns to her, his face still slightly flushed. He nods, letting out a quiet "sure" before walking up to the bed, stopping right by its side. Leena looks up at him, waiting for him to move and lay down but he seems as stiff as a wall. She resists the urge to laugh, simply raising an eyebrow at his behavior. Was he this nervous just because they were sleeping on the same bed? 

 

He truly was adorable, wasn't he? 

 

"Max…" 

 

"Are you really sure you don't mind us sharing the b-" 

 

The stuttering lion is suddenly interrupted by Leena, barely letting out a tiny scream as she grabs his hand, pushing him down. He lands on the bed right by her side, his extremely red face so close to hers their noses are touching. She laughs quietly at his clumsiness and reddish features, amazed at how shy he seemed to have become. Her happiness seems to calm his nerves down though and he finds himself gazing tenderly at her, quietly laughing along. 

 

"If I did mind, I wouldn't even let you step into my bedroom, dummy" 

 

He chuckles softly, taking a strain of hair away from her face. 

 

"Yeah… you really wouldn't" 

 

He leans in, their lips locking into a small, brief kiss. His arm loops around her waist, her body coming closer to his as he holds her, practically melting upon feeling her snuggling against him. He turns both slightly around, allowing her to rest her head on his chest, his arms still enveloping her body and his cheek against her head. His heartbeat fills her ears, so calming and soothing for the sleepy lioness, a satisfied sigh coming out of her mouth. 

 

"Has someone ever told you how comfy you are? And there you were, asking me if I was sure this was a good idea. This was a brilliant idea." 

 

She nuzzles against his neck, her other hand coming up to rest on his chest as well. He rolls his eyes in a playful manner, hiding how truly delighted he was that they were in such a position, his cheeks threatening to redden again. Despite this he teases her back, his confidence overshadowing his little inner freak out. 

 

"Getting comfortable now, aren't we, Leena?"

 

Instead of answering she simply kisses his neck in response, a small peck that makes him have to resist the urge to laugh once more. 

 

"And apparently really soft too. Quite unusual for you, hm?" 

 

She chuckles quietly, using her finger to draw small circles on his chest, feeling him doing the same but on her back. 

 

"That is entirely your fault, your majesty. You're the one leaving me like this…"

 

He smiles playfully, not feeling even the slightest bit of guilt about it, actually proud he's able to soften her so profoundly. He picks up the hand she had resting on his chest, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it gently. Now it's her turn to get all flushed again, burying her face in the crook of his neck in an attempt to hide it. It fails though and Max's smile widens, her sudden shyness increasing his own confidence.

 

"I'll gladly take the blame for this one then~"

 

His hand is still intertwined with hers as he moves his mouth up to her forehead, kissing it affectionately. She can complain about him leaving her like this all she wants but he's not afraid to admit she does the same to him as well. And now, gazing down at her, seeing her looking almost delicate with her eyes closed and a peaceful expression adorning her features, he knows this is all he wants to feel for the rest of his life. He wants to be soft for her and soften her back, love her as much as possible. He adores her. 

 

 "But hey, don't worry. You're making me feel all soft and corny as well"

 

He says this while grabbing the elastic band that ties her hair up, carefully taking it off so it won't hurt her. He watches her brown hair come undone, unconsciously running his fingers through it once it was loose. She snickers under her breath as an answer to his statement, her eyes still fluttered close but a sneaky smirk on her face. 

 

"What are you even talking about, Max? You're already soft and corny on a daily basis, I have nothing to do with that~"

 

"And who do you think makes me act like that, hm? Obviously it was always you, miss"

 

She snuggles even closer to him, humming in understanding. 

 

"Oh, is that so? Well, in that case, I don't mind taking responsibility for that too…" 

 

"Thank you." 

 

Leena opens her eyes slightly, looking up at Max. His eyes are finally closed, his breath starting to slow down as he drifts to sleep. This view leaves her smiling lovingly at him, still feeling his lips on her temple, his head turned in her direction. The night really couldn't have gone any better and now she's completely sure of that. No nightmares will torment her tonight, she believes. Because he's here, keeping them away. Even if he doesn't know that. 

 

Allowing her body to relax completely she closes her eyes once more, feeling so warm and at peace. Like she hadn't felt for so long, at least not when the night came. And all thanks to him. 

 

"No, Max. Thank you."