Work Text:
The more Mufasa follows the circle, the more Scar threatens to hurl himself away from it. He hangs with the hyenas and kills for the fun of having something take his anger. He eats too much and wastes prey. It doesn't matter if Banzai and Ed finish it off. The disrespect to the “Kings of the Past” him and 'Fasa are supposed to model themselves after is enough.
Rules be damned for the kingdom they saved. This lush, flourishing land full of more prey than can ever be eaten and more water than can ever be drank. He should be king beside Mufasa. This land's rule has ruined them. Mufasa was his brother in arms, his only friend. They have never been so distant.
It aches his chest.
He cannot seem to find his voice, and only avoids the topic or mutters. A mess of emotions which swirl within him and only reach his eyes.
Scar screams when he's alone, screams the truth to a gorge which can only echo back.
This place is against him, it's against them and everything they promised.
And everyone else... Everyone else sides with this madness. Zazu, Rafiki, even Sarafina and Sarabi. He's humored Sarafina many times, her company is scant, but she uses him as a shield. He looks away when she flirts at the border then hides behind him. If she believes in her heart of hearts that he will stop any rogue from killing her, she is wrong. He'd gladly let them consume her rather than flirt back. He will not claim whatever lays in her womb growing and likely being sold as his. He will not say otherwise, for she may yet have use, but he has never lain with her. His attention grows thinner and when she plays keep away and laughs at her own jokes while leaning upon his shoulder, Scar focuses on the horizon and imagines the past.
They had traveled across all of Africa together, no females, no males. Just them bound together, having found each other and managed. Sarabi has come between them now, what Scar hoped would be shared as always, the kingdom has decided must be monogamous.
She only has eyes for Mufasa.
His Mufasa.
Scar bites back a cruel laugh at times when Sarafina and Sarabi talk as if they know them so well. He laughs to Sarabi's face when she says Mufasa shares everything with her. If he did, he'd share Scar. Scar himself isn't even sure he wants Sarabi as much as he wants to have a way back into his brother's life. To be held by him and Mufasa to look away from Priderock and into his green eyes the way he used to.
It's like they never happened. It's like Mufasa is hiding a great wounding lie. The Pridelands rules can be changed by the king. This is their land! They together could rule. They could both say damn the old methods and take over!
So then, why does Mufasa share his bed with Sarabi and regard Scar so coldly?
“We need to talk.” Scar hisses.
Mufasa is large and smiling when he looks upon his 'brother'. “Everyone is so happy. The wedding will be soon. What do you need, little brother?”
The exclamations die. Mufasa is so happy. In Scar's heart, he only wishes he could feel a tenth of the red-maned male's joy. He turns his head down, watching giraffes play with their young, and grinds his tensed teeth together. “I wish you a happy marriage.”
Huge paws pull him into a hug. Everything is right for a bit. Then he's cold and alone anew.
