True Deceit

Part One

Cheetara let out another sigh. Once again, she was spending another lonely night in bed. Her husband, Lion-O was out again, somewhere in the lair, more than likely in his private study. Cheetara wondered what had happened. She rolled on her side and looked at Lion-O's side of the bed. She ran her hand over his side. They have been married for six months. Two months ago, they were still acting like newly weds, and now nothing. She knew the newly wed romance would end soon, but she didn't think it would be this soon and so abruptly. Lately, all he would say to her was a good morning and maybe a kiss once in a while, but not a real kiss, just one on the cheek or maybe a light brush against the lips. Now for the past month, he would come to bed long after Cheetara fallen asleep and he would be gone before she woke up in the morning. What happened she wondered? The cheetah got out of bed. She walked to the full-length mirror and looked at herself. Her figure was the same as they married. Didn't Lion-O found her desirable anymore? Maybe a surprise visit from her to his study would help she thought. She went into her closet and put on a slinky piece of lingerie that would leave little to the imagination. The cheetah saw it was just before midnight. She threw on her black robe and left to go to Lion-O's study.

Lion-O busied himself with his study. He was working on another speech for the city opening tomorrow. He reread it again and smiled. "Yes. Perfect."

Cheetara entered the study quietly. She smiled looking at her husband. The cheetah wondered what it would be like if her husband took her now across his desk. She blushed at the thought. She walked to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

"Just reading my speech for tomorrow's city opening."

"Are you nervous about it?" She asked rubbing his shoulders.

"A little, I guess. That feels good."

She leans closer and whispered into his ear in a sultry voice. "I can make you feel better."

Before the confused lion could talk, Cheetara got between Lion-O and his desk. She sat on top of the wooden desk and opened her robe.

Lion-O’s mouth fell opened. He stood up and closed Cheetara's robe. "Cheetara, what are you doing?"

Confused by her husband actions, she spoke, "What do you mean?"

"Dressing like that."

"Don't you like it?"

"Cheetara, I don't have time for this. I have to prepare for the city opening tomorrow."

"But Lion-O," her voice was shaky, like she was hurt and wanted to cry.

Lion-O ran a hand through his hair. "Cheetara, could you just leave. I'll join you later, but not right now. Can you do that for me?"

Cheetara nodded quietly. "Yes, good night." She abruptly left the room and started crying. Unable to see through the flood of tears that rushed out of her eyes when she left Lion-O, she didn't see whom she ran into.

"Cheetara?"

"Oh, I'm sorry."

The person grabbed her arm gently. "You're crying. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, Tygra, really."

"It doesn't look like nothing to me. Come on. Let's go some where to talk." He took her hand and led her down the hall.

*****

Cheetara and Tygra sat at a table. Tygra poured Cheetara and himself a glass of milk at the kitchen table. He hands Cheetara hers before pouring his own.

"So, what's wrong?" Tygra asked.

"Nothing," she lied.

“Then why were you crying in the hall way a few moments ago?” Tygra asked. Cheetara remained quiet. “Is it Lion-O?”

Cheetara quietly drunk her milk.

“It is Lion-O, isn’t it?”

Cheetara put her glass down. “I don’t want to discuss this,” Cheetara said getting up from her seat.

Tygra got up, grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. “It’s all right. You don’t have to tell me now,” the tiger said soothingly rubbing his hand up and down her back.

“Cheetara?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you wearing any clothes under your robe?”

Cheetara pulled back and looked at the tiger with a flushed face.

“What-what makes you say that? Of course I have clothes on.”

“Oh, it’s just that it didn’t seem like it you had much on. You don’t, do you?” Tygra asked raising an eyebrow.

Cheetara didn’t answer. She rushed out the room embarrassed. Tygra just stood there with an odd look on his face.

Cheetara entered her bedroom and fell on the bed. She curled herself up like an infant, holding back tears of hurt from Lion-O. Somehow, she manages to go to sleep. When she woke up the next morning, she was alone again. Either Lion-O came in late and left before she woke up or Lion-O didn’t come in at all. Either way she was hurt. The Lady of the Thundercats got out of bed, put on a more proper gown and robe and headed for the dining room. The only ones in there were the twins and Tygra. Where were Lion-O and Panthro?

“Good morning, everyone.”

Everyone turned to Lion-O and said their good morning. Cheetara went to the head of the table where Lion-O slept trying to get the feel of him as if he was there. Tygra looked at the twins and signaled them to leave. They picked up their plates and left the room.

The door opened. Cheetara and Tygra looked at the furry creature walking in. Snarf put Cheetara’s plate before her. “Thank you, Snarf.”

“You’re welcome, Cheetara.” Snarf said and walked out.

“So, where did Lion-O and Panthro go?” she asked as she began eating.

Tygra looked at his friend puzzled. “They went to the city opening remember? I couldn’t go because I am getting ready to start another city. I thought you knew.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot.”

“Are you all right?”

Cheetara looked at the tiger and smiled. “I’m fine. It’s just that I’m not thinking straight this morning. I didn’t get much sleep.”

“Why?” Tygra asked curiously. “What happened last night?”

Cheetara shook her head slightly stuttering over her words. “It’s--it‚uh, nothing really. Just one of those nights you know. We all had bad nights.”

“True, but I really want to continue to talk about last night. You were obviously upset and you still are. What did Lion-O do to you? Did he hit you?”

“Of course he didn’t hit me. What makes you say a thing like that?” Cheetara asked angrily.

“I’m sorry, Cheetara. I just wanted to know what was wrong. I’m your friend, remember? I just want to help you get better, but it’s clear that Lion-O is the problem.”

Cheetara resumed eating her breakfast, ignoring Tygra.

“Cheetara, you know you can talk to me about anything. Come on. You need to get this off your chest. I’m your friend. You can trust me.”

Cheetara stared at her food for what seem hours. She sighed, giving in and putting her fork down. “You’re right. I do need to say something and I don’t know who else to turn to.” She had to get it out of her system. It was just killing her inside.

Tygra sighed as he sat back in his chair. “What did he do this time?”

Cheetara looked at him puzzled. “What do you mean this time?”

“Cheetara, I do have eyes. Lion-O has been keeping his distance from you for reasons I don’t know. Also, you two don’t act as intimate as you use to. When you married, you were all over each other like newly weds and now for the past month or so, you’re not as expressive for you affections for each other.”

“It’s been two months,” Cheetara stated and regretted it. She hadn’t meant for that to come out. Somehow she figured she had to continue. “Lion-O....he’s been avoiding me.”

“Are you two having intimacy problems?”

“Intimacy problems?” Cheetara shook her head. “Now why would you think that?”

“If he’s keeping his distance from you, maybe he can’t, uh, well, you know, perform.”

Cheetara face became flushing red. “No, we’re not having intimacy problems. Lion-O and I....uh...” she was trying to find the right words for the delicate situation. “We have no problems...expressing ourselves that way.”

“Okay, so he can perform and you can to, so my next question would be when was the last time you had sex?”

Cheetara really became red in the face and looked down. “Um, I’m not comfortable with these questions, Tygra. I think that is a matter between myself and my husband.”

“Totally understand,” Tygra replied. Tygra then laid a hand on Cheetara’s hand and she looked at him. “Are you pregnant and Lion-O’s not accepting the responsibilities of being a father?”

“No.”

Tygra looked somber as if he knew the answer. “It’s not you. It’s Lion-O. He doesn’t love you. I think he rushed into marriage to get in bed with you. And now that his needs has been satisfied, he doesn’t want you anymore.”

“How can you say something like that?”

“Because it may be true. You know, you two were pretty hot and heavy when you dated.”

“Yes, but---.”

Tygra cut her off. “And this is Lion-O’s first romantic relationship. Maybe he should have dated more before he settled down and married.”

“We’ve known each other for years, Tygra.”

“As friends, yes, but not in the romantic sense. You know that’s a whole new level and you will know and see each other differently.”

“He loves me, Tygra.” Cheetara defended her husband.

“Are you sure? He’s still young and new to all this. I’m not sure if he knows what love is.”

“Of course he does. He wouldn’t have married me otherwise.”

“Cheetara, you and I both know that people don’t always marry for love. It could be lust. You’re the only woman he’s been around since we landed on 3rd Earth. He might have been lusting for you all these years, and use his charm or whatever he did to get you to notice him. He only desired you, Cheetara, lusted for you, wanted you fro your body and nothing else.”

Cheetara put her hands to her ears. “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!”

“I’m sorry, Cheetara. I know I sound out of line---Cheetara?” He questioned when she got up from her seat.

“I need some time to think alone, Tygra. I’ve said that too much already. I don’t want you thinking ill about our Lord.” She told him and left the room.

Walking back to her own room, Cheetara begin thinking.

“What’s wrong with us? Me? What did I do to make him not love me anymore? What am I saying? Of course Lion-O loves me.” Cheetara wasn’t sure now after her talk with Tygra. “Doesn’t he?”

“We did get married quick but I was certain we were both ready.”

He is rather young mentally and new to all this.

Cheetara silently gasped at her thoughts. Never before has that ever enter her mind. She always thought Lion-O was ready for anything.

“No, he was ready for marriage and the feelings he has for me aren’t lust. It was never lust. He loves me. I love him. How can Tygra say something like that?”

Cheetara shook her head to get the words out. She begins to think about Lion-O and his distance from her.

“But I just don’t get his distance from me. Why is he avoiding me so?”

Cheetara stopped dead in her tracks as a thought came to her. “Oh, no. Don’t tell me, it’s another woman.”

Go to Part Two

Return to Lady Thundera's Fanfics

Return Home