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tired-lamb · 14 days ago

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Never Alone (On Christmas Day)

A TLG christmas fic brought to you by yours truly. Takes place in a modern human au, where the Guard are young adult age range. For the purposes of this story, Kion works under Rafiki who runs a store (idk what he sells).

Merry Christmas TLG tumblr! I wanted to put something out for the season, and speedwrote this in like. 2 hours max last night. Due to that very reason, the following christmas tlg fic is extremely messy, rough and all over the place, for which I apologise. I tried brushing up whatever I could in the morning, and though it’s not my best work I’m still pretty satisfied with it. Hope you enjoy either way, and Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to you!

[ THE greatest(s) of all ]

best bud!! 6:21 p.m. [ Image attached depicts Bunga, Ono, Beshte, Timon and Pumbaa all facing the camera. The house and their surroundings are decorated with Christmas lights and wreaths. Bunga holds the camera up, and the rest are seated behind him, posing. ] best bud!! 6:21 p.m. merry christmas eve guys!!!! emergency no. (fuli) 6:25 p.m. aww, you guys spending christmas at timon and pumbaa’s huh? best bud!! 6:25 p.m. you BET!! @Kion wish you were here dude You 6:27 p.m. Wish I could too, Bunga, but Kiara’s bugging me to spend it at her’s You 6:27 p.m. Esp with the baby on the way literal teddy bear 6:30 p.m. Due in a couple of months, right? literal teddy bear 6:30 p.m. Must be hard :( hope you still have fun there, Kion! We’ll miss you emergency no. (fuli) 6:31 p.m. you sure you don’t want me to drop by or anything? emergency no. (fuli) 6:31 p.m. I know I whine about how you guys always wanna ruin my christmas me time but I seriously could come over if you want You 6:32 p.m. Nah, it’s fine. Besides, I don’t think Rafiki will let me off aaand you’re also like a bunch of kilometers away from me, Fuli. You 6:32 p.m. Idk why but it feels like this year everybody wants to keep me busy around this time best bud!! 6:32 p.m. whaaat why would they do that emergency no. (fuli) 6:32 p.m. 🙂 literal teddy bear 6:32 p.m. Lmao You 6:33 p.m. ?? You 6:33 p.m. Ignoring whatever that was, I gotta go. Rafiki’s calling, seems like someone’s got a problem with his shit again, lol. local braincell 6:33 p.m. late to the convo but goodluck with the baby and rafiki, kion! we’ll miss you :( You 6:34 p.m. Let me guess, Timon and Pumbaa fussing over you again? You 6:34 p.m. Ok, seriously gtg now. Bye guys! Merry christmas eve :)

.***.

Kion really didn’t mind that his Christmas might get wiled away thirdwheeling his sister and Kovu, and definitely doesn’t mind that all his best friends are spending Christmas without him. Definitely doesn’t mind that even his other friends, like Jasiri and Janja, are also busy with plans for Christmas. He also most definitely doesn’t mind that he’s stuck working with Rafiki in his spiritual-y shop, and that Rafiki has unusually been working him to the bone these days. Doesn’t care that the snow and the Christmas lights call to him, or that everytime his friends send him photos of their celebrations, his heart aches just a little bit.

Nope. Definitely doesn’t mind.

Kion sighs, nearly letting the box of ornaments in his hand fall to the ground. He manages to save it just in time, however, and lets out another sigh, this time of relief, because he just saved himself another scolding from Rafiki. From somewhere around the extremely-messy-despite-his-best-attempts shop, he hears Rafiki laughing heartily with a customer. The sound fills the air, and as much as Kion hated to admit it, it pierces through his heart in a negative way. He can’t help it; it seems as though the entire world, including even his own boss, is enjoying this season. The entire world, but him.

He makes his way towards the main counter, finding Rafiki and the customer he had been laughing with. He places the box on the table with a loud oomph, alerting the other two of his presence.

“Ah, Kion! Kion! Come, meet Mrs. Janna!” Rafiki calls to him loudly, even though he’s right next to him. Kion forces a smile, because he doesn’t want to dampen other people’s mood, and faces the ‘Mrs. Janna’ in question.

She’s an old lady, evident by the smile lines and crow’s feet on her face. Despite this, there’s a general warmness to her that you don’t usually find in older people, something akin to a crackling fire in the winter months. Mrs Janna smiles at Kion, genuine unlike Kion’s own. Kion thinks she knows his smile is only for pleasantries, but doesn’t seem to mind.

“Habari, Kion?” Mrs. Janna asks, her voice deep and grounding. It reminds him of the recordings he heard of his grandfather’s voice.

“Sawa, Mrs. Janna, thank you,” Kion responds, trying his best not to let his despair seep into the conversation. He should get a hold of himself.

Rafiki laughs once more, giving Kion a pat on the back which feels more like a slap than any pat Kion’s ever gotten.

“Kion here is unhappy these days, I won’t let him off work! Ah, Janna, what can you-a do? When the season arrives, that is when people come! Am I not right, Kion?”

Kion lets out a nervous chuckle. “Well, I wouldn’t say unhappy, but definitely a bit lonely.”

“Ey, ey, Kion,” Rafiki says, moving on from the previous topic, “Mrs. Janna here has found someone who can help us! She is interested in working with me, isn’t that right, Janna?”

Mrs Janna nods, her eyes sparkling for just a moment. “Indeed, Rafiki. I do have someone who’d like to come and work here, though she’ll be arriving after the New Years. Maybe then Kion might not be so unhappy, perhaps?”

She looks to Kion, half teasing and half serious. Kion appreciates the sentiment nonetheless, and responds in the affirmative. Better to say yes than anything else, he supposes.

It’s not long before the two are lost in their own conversation, something about old times and how things have changed so much. Kion decides to leave them to it and visit his favourite corner of the store; the little nook where their biggest window lies.

It’s a little elevated, and sits right where their staircase turns. Kion has to climb up a bit in order to get to it, but he manages in the end, and it’s worth it. It doesn’t have much space, just enough for Kion to sit in peace during his breaks, but the view outside is what makes it Kion’s favourite corner. The roads lie some way beneath the window, strangers passing by. These days, the numbers have multiplied. He credits it to the Christmas season, and how there must be families visiting relatives in their small town. Now, sitting in his space, he remembers that he, too, will be visiting his own family this Christmas.

He’s not totally bummed out that he’s spending it with Kiara and Kovu; just that he wishes he could spend it with his friends instead. He loves his sister and brother-in-law to death, but Kiara’s moodswings are more frequent nowadays due to the pregnancy hormones. Kion hasn’t visited in a while to know how bad it is, but he’s dealth with her period hormones before, and Kion would rather do anything but go through that again, thank you very much.

Alas, the only other option is to stay in his apartment and hole up, since all his friends are out of town. He supposes that visiting his family, even if it means thirdwheeling, is still worth it.

Today, Kion finds himself watching the snow fall on the streets, snowflakes occasionally decorating the window beside him. Rafiki and Mrs. Janna’s conversation can still he heard from where he is, but slowly the sound muffles and Kion feels his eyelids grow heavy. He knows Rafiki will call him back to work soon, but just for now, he lets his body shut down.

Just for now.

.***.

The big day has arrived, and boy has it kept Kion busy. Texts and notifications flood his phone screen before getting cleared out for later. Rafiki orders him about with customers here and there, the store bustling with company. Somehow, the loudest sound in the store isn’t Rafiki’s voice today, and Kion finds his ears nearly bursting with how much chatter he can hear at once. Outside isn’t any better, as snow collects itself in piles and trucks blare horns as they come to clear the pathways. People are shouting here and there, wishing each other a merry Christmas, and families flood the streets with little kids running around in mufflers and big, poofy jackets.

It’s the busiest the town ever gets, and will ever get. Kion’s become accustomed to it, though the sight of friends and families and their joyful faces as they spend the day together does sting just a bit. He gets more than a dozen texts from his friends, all of them wishing him a merry Christmas. Amongst them lies his sister and his conversation, where Kiara is going on about something that Kion can’t comprehend because his mind is in a whirl when he’s in work mode. It can’t be that important, if Kiara’s not calling him about it, and so Kion decides to read through the messages once he gets his break.

“Kion! Where are you?” Rafiki calls from somewhere. Kion chuckles to himself, glad that his Christmas is at least starting with someone familiar.

.***.

dada kiara 3:16 p.m. Hey Kion! Merry Christmas little dude :] dada kiara 3:16 p.m. There’s been some change of plans, so is it alright if you meet me and Kovu at this place? dada kiara 3:16 p.m. [ Embedded: link to location ] dada kiara 3:17 p.m. We won’t be home by the time you come, so just meet us here and we’ll go back home together dada kiara 3:17 p.m. Ok??

dada kiara 4:00 p.m. Boy you better see the message

dada kiara 4:32 p.m. Kion.

dada kiara 5:12 p.m. Don’t blame me if you find our door locked

dada kiara 6:46 p.m. I hope you’re on your way now at least

[ 2 Missed calls from dada kiara ]

You 7:43 p.m. 👍

.***.

Kion groans to himself as horns blare at him and his taxi in the middle of traffic because of course there would be traffic on the busiest and most celebratory day in all the year. He opens his phone for what feels like the twelfth time, the bright screen burning into his retina as he scrolls through all the unresponded messages. He booked a taxi the minute he got off work, and somehow despite being two hours into traffic, he still has no energy to reply to all his friends and family.

Why did the meet-up place have to be on the busiest street?

He lazily scrolls through his chats, trying his best to ignore his driver’s cursing and horns that were still blaring at Spirits know what. His fingers pad his screen, finding their way to his best friends’ and his groupchat. Without actually wanting to, Kion opens it.

[ THE greatest(s) of all ]

local braincell 5:20 a.m. merry christmas everyone! best bud!! 5:20 a.m. ono why are you up local braincell 5:20 a.m. I could ask you the samw question

literal teddy bear 7:01 a.m. Samw literal teddy bear 7:01 a.m. Merry Christmas everyone!!

emergency no. (fuli) 10:07 a.m. why in spirits’ name are you three up so early best bud!! 10:10 a.m. damn merry christmas to you too ig emergency no. (fuli) 10:10 a.m. yea yea merry christmas to you too loser best bud!! 10:10 a.m. um ☝️ if I recall I’m not the one spending christmas ALONE?? best bud!! 10:11 a.m. so really whose taking Ls here local braincell 10:11 a.m. if you don’t get your ass in the car this minute then it’ll be you emergency no. (fuli) 10:11 a.m. LMAOOO thanks ono 🫶 local braincell 10:11 a.m. <3

literal teddy bear 3:20 p.m. [ Image attached: A photo of Bunga, Ono and Beshte in Timon and Pumbaa’s garden. Bunga is running away from Ono and Beshte, who have big snowballs in their hands. ] best bud!! 3:24 p.m. HEY

best bud!! 6:58 p.m. This message was deleted. best bud!! 6:58 p.m. wait nevermind wrong group emergency no. (fuli) 6:59 p.m. This message was deleted.

Kion is just about to type a message, when he finds himself lurching forward. He nearly hits his head against the back of the front seat, mumbling curses to himself. His taxi driver apologies, blaming a car or two in front of him. Kion doesn’t respond, instead going back to his phone. Where before there was the groupchat with his best friends, his keyboard open and ready for a message, there now lies a black screen.

Kion knows it’s not that deep, but somehow it manages to sprout tears from his eyes, and before he knows it there’s streams flowing down his face while he tries his best to keep quiet so his driver doesn’t make a fuss. He misses his friends. He was going to meet some of his family, but somehow he misses them too. It’s as if he’s been aching for them the entire day, the entire season. Christmas without them doesn’t feel right, and Kion feels a hollow, aching pain inside his chest. His friends were somewhere celebrating while he was stuck in traffic, a mess both physically and mentally. He missed his home— his true home.

Unfortunately, the road itself doesn’t give him any time to wallow in sadness as his driver is now speeding through. Kion hurriedly rubs tears away, trying his best to look composed, and finds that they’re no longer stuck in traffic. He recognises the area now, and quickly sends his sister a message saying he’s almost there. He takes a deep breath, maybe two, and the thought of meeting his sister in a couple of minutes manages to cheer him up just a bit.

The taxi soon halts in front of the location, and Kion is slightly surprised to find that the place he’s meant to go to is some basement belonging to the house right in front of him. After double-checking with his sister, he pays the driver and makes his way towards the basement door.

He takes in another breath.

Two.

No time to sit in self-pity, Kion, he tells himself, just.. enjoy the moment. You can call your friends later. Don’t be whiny about it.

He pushes the door open and leads himself down the staircase, groaning to himself once more when he finds the room dark and otherwise empty. He’s just about to look around for a light switch and call his sister, when all of a sudden the room bursts with warmth, joy and light as the actual lights turn on, too. Kion blinks a couple of times courtesy of the sudden change, but soon he’s opening his eyes to find—

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” yells Bunga, Beshte, Ono and Fuli. His friends. His friends that he thought he would be spending Christmas without. His friends that he thought were faraway and not right before him. His friends that he somehow got because Spirits does Kion not deserve them at all.

“Hey, I know what you’re thinking,” Bunga says, a stern glance directed towards him, “and to be clear, you do deserve all of this.”

Kion sputters, still recovering from the shock. He takes a look around the basement itself, and finds it well decorated, with some cakes set on a table and a beautifully lit Christmas tree behind his friends. He struggles to find his words, and is left with his mouth agape.

“How— but— Kiara..”

“Kiara helped us plan the entire thing, and, just to be clear, you’re still spending the rest of the season with her,” Fuli explains, making her way towards Kion and giving him a good pat on the back in an attempt to bring him back to reality.

“However, you will be spending tonight and the next two days with us,” Ono continues, a wide smile painting his face. “We’ve already planned everything out, and we’ll be having a huge slumber party right here for tonight.”

“The blankets and pillows are arriving in a bit, we had to rely on your sister for that too,” Beshte says, a sheepish grin on his own face.

“But— wait, whose basement even is this?” Kion finally gains enough of a hold on himself to say.

Here, Bunga steps forward and proceeds to perform elaborate moves before proudly standing in front of his bestest friend.

“This would be my uncles’ brother’s sister-in-law’s friend’s basement! They talked it all out; said we’re lucky enough to get in even for a night.”

Kion is still trying to digest everything in when he feels his phone buzz and sound a notification. It’s a message from Kiara.

dada kiara 8:27 p.m. Tell your friends we’ll be there in a bit, yea? dada kiara 8:27 p.m. Hope you enjoy little bro <3

He can’t help but smile, feeling a little silly about all his worry a couple of minutes ago. He looks back up to his friends, all surrounding him, radiating joy, love, and home. He feels the same things bursting in his chest, and Kion can’t help but give in to his impulses. Just this once.

He tackles all of them down to the ground and pushes them into a hug. A flurry of laughter fills the air, and it’s the best Christmas gift Kion has ever gotten.

Still squeezing them as best as he can, while stretching his arms out too, he thanks them and thanks them, before finally screaming and yelling as loudly and as lovingly as he can—

Merry Christmas.

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