Secrets
Part Three

The next half hour passed in silence. Panthro turned the satellite off twenty minutes ago, unable to look at Cheetara and Tygra together. He sat in his chair quietly thinking, brooding over the current events and what to do. It was obvious to Panthro that Cheetara was having an affair and it was obvious to Panthro and Snarf that Lion-O had to be told about the matter. The only questions were how and when.

"Do...do you think Lion-O and Cheetara's marriage can be saved?" Snarf asked quietly.

"The only way it can be saved is if Cheetara dumps Tygra or if we could separate them somehow and have Lion-O and Cheetara spend more time together. They haven't have that much lately," Panthro thought and sighed. "But even then they would need counseling. This is a terrible thing to happen in a marriage."

"There's one thing we can do," Snarf said suddenly looking determined.

"What?" Panthro asked curiously.

"Let me kick Tygra's striped orange and black butt clear across New Thundera!" Snarf growled. "I'm gonna go to the kitchen, get a knife and wait for him to return!"

"No!" Panthro grabbed Snarf's tail preventing him from leaving the room.

"Why not?" Snarf argued as he struggled to free himself from Panthro's grip. A useless attempt. "I need to do this! I need to help Lion-O's marriage! He needs me!"

"No, Snarf!" Panthro argued. He looked at Snarf with a determine but angry visage. "You're too feeble to do anything. I'm gonna take care of Tygra."

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What in the world could they be doing in there? Panthro asked himself as he waited outside the doors to Tygra's lab. Bengali told Panthro Tygra and Cheetara were inside when Panthro was looking for Tygra. He had been waiting outside for twenty minutes. Losing his patience on waiting for them to leave the room, Panthro decided to listen in on what they were talking about. Knowing them, they were making out or discussing how they were fooling Lion-O and the rest of the ThunderCats. The thought of that made Panthro's temper boil.

"This is how you want it?" Tygra asked.

"Yes, that's exactly right. If Lion-O could do this, I wouldn't bother you," Cheetara said. She laughed. "Though he tries well, he's not as good at this as you are."

Panthro growled. They were fooling around in the lab? Ugh! Their affair had no limit. How could Cheetara do this to Lion-O? How could she talk that way about him? So what if he was young and inexperience when they were married. She should at least give him a chance.

Tygra laughed. "It's no bother at all. I'm always willing to help when you are in need."

That was it! Panthro wasn't going to allow this to continue while he was around. He punched the keys to the panel and the door slid open. What he saw wasn't what he expected.

Cheetara and Tygra were standing across each other in front of a table, fully clothed. They both looked surprised to see him. Tygra rolled up blueprints that were on the table. So, what was that Panthro wondered. A map of their many rendezvous spots?

"What is it, Panthro?" Cheetara asked.

All right, so they weren't having sex in there but there was something suspicious going on between them. Panthro was ready to go in yelling and pulling Cheetara and Tygra away from each other if he had to but now seeing them fully clothed and not near each other for any physical contact, he had to think of something else and fast.

"Oh...um, I need to speak with Tygra," he mumbled.

"Of course, Panthro," Tygra said and looked at Cheetara. "Excuse me."

"Hurry back," Cheetara said and Panthro grimaced to himself at her words. How dare she!

Tygra didn't have a sixth sense like Cheetara but the strange vibes he was getting from Panthro told him the panther was mad and at him! Tygra didn't have any idea as to why Panthro was angry. What did he do? Tygra became even more suspicious of Panthro's behavior when he didn't say anything once they left the lab and continued down the hall in silence. Where were they going and what did Panthro wanted to discuss with him? Tygra just hoped Panthro was taking him to a place where they would be alone. He knew a lot about Panthro and one thing he knew was to never be alone with Panthro when he's angry at you. They reached the hangar and as Tygra feared, they were alone. Tygra swallowed hard and chose to remain strong. He could handle an angry Panthro. He could.

"What is it you want to talk to me about?" Even Tygra cringed at the high pitch in his voice.

Tygra barely finished his question when he felt his feet suddenly being lifted off the floor and his body slamming hard into the steel walls. Tygra's head pounded once it slammed into the wall. His head throbbed, he lost focused and silently prayed to get out of this situation alive! When his eyes finally focused on Panthro, Tygra saw the strong ThunderCat's eyes blazed with anger.

"Listen, you little slimy, fruit addicting, silky loving, rat bowels! I know what you are doing with Cheetara and you better stop it before I kick you skinny, striped butt from here to Third Earth!" His voice was so cold and menacing. Tygra felt himself shaking with fear. He started to open his mouth but Panthro slammed his head against the steel wall again and stared down at the tiger even more menacingly. "If I find out you and Cheetara are still doing what you're doing, no one will find your body, and I'm a ThunderCat," he said darkly. "I can make it happened!"

"W-what are you talking about?" Tygra blabbered frightened of Panthro.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, you silky addict! I know what you and Cheetara are doing!"

Tygra's eyes widen in surprise. "Y-you do?"

"Yeah! So stop it! Or else!" Panthro threatened. He released Tygra and the ThunderCat crumpled to the floor, still shaking in fear.

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"Stop it!" Cheetara playfully scolded.

"Stop what?" Lion-O asked innocently.

"Tickling me," Cheetara said and playfully smack Lion-O's hand away when he tickled her waist. "I'm trying to read."

"It's my sofa," Lion-O said and tickled Cheetara again.

Cheetara loved moments like this. Finding a free moment with her husband, Cheetara would often go to Lion-O's study and just be with him whether she's talking to him, reading a book while Lion-O worked or sleeping. It was often one of the few places they could be alone. She had meant to continue her conversation with Tygra but she hadn't a chance to since Panthro asked to speak with him but with Lion-O home for once, Cheetara decided to spend time with her husband and see Tygra later.

"Oh, yeah," Cheetara said and shoved Lion-O away. "I own half of that. So, stop." She told him but stopping him was the last thing she wanted to do. "And don't you have work to do?"

"Can't concentrate with you around," Lion-O said pulling Cheetara's book out of her hand. He looked at her surprised, before a smirk crossed his handsome face. "You're still on the same page as you were last week."

"I'm a slow reader," Cheetara said and smiled flirtatiously at her husband.

"Yeah, right. Come here," he growled and Cheetara shriek when Lion-O tackled her on the sofa.

Cheetara laughed and shrieked as Lion-O tickled and kissed her. She returned with some her own tickles on Lion-O's vulnerable spots. The roughhousing got so rough the two fell off the sofa with Cheetara landing on her back and Lion-O on top of her roughly. He looked her over concern he'd hurt her.

"Are you all right?"

Cheetara smiled as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck as she pulled him to her for a kiss. "Perfect."

The door to Lion-O's private study opened and Snarf pushed a cart in without noticing the private scene between the Lord and Lady of Thundera. "Lion-O, I have your lunch and--Oh!" Snarf froze at the sight before him. Lion-O and Cheetara were on the floor and heavily kissing. They stopped when they heard someone. Lion-O looked up irate at Snarf. "I'm sorry!" Snarf blurted and slowly step back leaving the room.

Lion-O rolled his eyes. "Hasn't he ever heard of knocking?"

"I personally think it's Snarf's time of the month," Cheetara mumbled. "He has been acting so weird lately."

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Cheetara marched briskly towards the hangar. What was Panthro's problem scaring Tygra out of helping her with her situation? It wasn't his business. It was disturbing seeing Tygra act like a frightened kitten over what Panthro did. Whatever Panthro's problem was, Cheetara was going to get to the bottom of it. She found Panthro in the head of the lair working on routine maintenance.

"Panthro, I need to speak with you. It concerns Tygra," Cheetara spoke seriously letting Panthro know she was upset with him.

Panthro expected this confrontation. He activated the buggy that elevated Panthro to the ceiling back to the floor and prepared himself. It had been three days since his threats to Tygra. Whatever Cheetara was coming after him, he was ready to throw it and her betrayal back at her. He couldn't believe after what Lion-O and Cheetara went through to be together she does this to him.

"What of it?" Panthro asked gruffly and crossed his arms.

"Tygra didn't deserve those threats you gave him. He's only helping me."

"Helping you?" Panthro scoffed at that. "I guess that's one way to look at it. One sick, twisted way."

"Excuse me?"

"Forget it," Panthro waved a hand dismissing his words and glared at Cheetara. "I did what I had to do and I'll do it again."

"Like the seas of Thundera you will!" Cheetara yelled angry at Panthro's attitude to the situation. "I need his assistance!"

"Assis--?" Panthro couldn't finish the word. It sounded so ridiculous. "Is that what you want to call it? Why not have Lion-O assist you? He is your husband!"

Cheetara laughed at that suggestion. "Lion-O's good but he's not as good as Tygra."

Panthro felt the wind knocked out of him. How could Cheetara say that about her husband's bedroom's performance. It was so vulgar, cruel and unlike her but with Cheetara's affair, Panthro felt he didn't know his friend or fellow ThunderCat anymore. "I don't want to hear anymore. You're sick, Cheetara! You're just sick!"

Cheetara stared at Panthro baffled about his words. "First Snarf and now Panthro. What in the name of Delgore is wrong with those two?"

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Panthro and Snarf grimly stared at the monitor in the Control Room as they saw Cheetara leave once more to see Tygra. It disgusted both of them at the behavior of the two and how disgraceful they are to their lord. Even after threats, the two are still determine to be together and they always chose it on a night where Lion-O wasn't home.

"We've done all we can, Snarf. We can't do anymore except tell Lion-O."

"Brr!" Snarf purred as he rubbed his tail. "It's gonna be so hard to break his heart. Are you sure there isn't another way?"

Panthro shook his head. "No. There's no other way. Lion-O must know. As Jaga once told him, he'll have to take the bad with the good."

Snarf meowed quietly. "You're right. You're right, but are you sure we shouldn't discuss this with the others or maybe just Lynx-O? He could help us."

Panthro shook his head again. "No. We're only delaying the inevitable by doing that Snarf. Besides, Lynx-O, Pumyra and Snarfer should enjoy their break on Third Earth. We'll let them know the bad news when they come back."

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Lion-O returned on time like clockwork but he was surprised to see Panthro and Snarf waiting for him in the foyer. He saw the sadden and concern expression on their faces and became worried. Something was wrong. It was bad seeing Snarf worried but sometimes he was overreacting. However, Panthro had the same expression. Something really must be wrong.

"What is it?" Lion-O asked worried.

While Panthro and Snarf discussed how they would tell Lion-O the horrible news his wife was cheating on him, they decided it was best if Panthro broke the news. "I have some bad news. You may want to sit down."

"No," Lion-O spoke firmly. "I think I rather have the news standing up. Tell me." Oh, no. What could be wrong?

"It's about your wife, Cheetara," Panthro said gravely.

Lion-O's heart dropped. Something was wrong with Cheetara? He didn't know if he could take something wrong his dearly loved wife. Maybe he should've sat down. "Tell it to me straight, Panthro. I need to know. What's wrong with my wife?"

This was the hardest thing Panthro ever had to do. He would rather fight Mumm-Ra, the Mutants and Lunatacs altogether than do this but he knew he must. Lion-O needed to know the truth. He took a deep breath and spoke the horrible words. "Cheetara's having an affair... with Tygra."

To Be Concluded