"that tiger" -- vignette

[saltygirl]

Title: "that tiger"
Author: saltygirl
Status: vignette, complete
Summary: how ang-kor came to be a single father.
Character(s): my original characters
Rating: PG-13.
Genre(s): au, angst, drama
Warnings: adult situations, mild language.
Disclaimer: you've read my salty disclaimer down below, rt?

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aside from the occassional congratulatory salutes from cheerful neighbors, ang-kor made it thru the winding streets & up the hill to his modest, unassuming home in record time. he stepped into the kitchen, hoping to encounter the smells of tnite's dinner. instead, the kitchen was untouched. chantha was there, standing w/ arms folded across her chest. "that's never a good sign," he thought, eyeing her warily.

"i'm leaving, ang-kor," chantha said, her voice wavering. "there's nothing you can say/do to stop me." she tilted her chin up in defiance & waited.

her words hung heavy in the warmly lit kitchen, cast a deep red by the setting sun. ang-kor's workout bag was still slung over his shoulder. she hadn't even given him time to properly come home from the arena & get settled in before making her claim. "way to kill the post-workout high," he thought dully.

ang-kor didn't have to ask why. he knew what this was about. he had known for some time now, but just refused to acknowledge it. that tiger. that tiger noble who kept coming around & always seemed to have business in this part of thundera city when ang-kor was off training. that tiger noble who seemed to become a reoccurring background character in ang-kor's daily life that popped up again & again like a sore that never healed. that ****ing tiger noble who shook his hand & smiled in his face to congratulate him on his last fight.

ang-kor ran his hand through his thick white mane in frustration. he stared @ the ground, searching for the rt words to say to change the situation. but he knew deep down he could do nothing. this charade had gone on for too long & was wearing thin. even the boy knew something was askew between them. chantha had always regretted leaving her clan to marry a mongrel & baring his mongrel cubs. it saddened ang-kor to see she was no longer the girl he had married all those yrs ago. finally he looked up @ chantha & said, "go. be happy."

this wasn't the reaction the tigress expected. chantha waited for an explosion of cursing & punching @ walls & hurling things around. she waited for the fighter to come out. she waited for him to fight for her. but what was the use? this was a fight ang-kor knew he had already lost. he had lost it the very 1st time she took that tiger to bed.

she knew this was all her doing, but she wanted desperately for ang-kor to somehow be to blame as well. she caught turk, her eldest, peeking around the corner, his bright amber eyes burned fierce & silent. turk didn't come to plead for his mother to stay. he didn't even come to say goodbye. he came to watch her leave. chantha suddenly looked pitifully sad & alone. w/out a word, she turned & walked out the door. she didn't need to bring her things. that tiger would give her everything she would ever need from now on.

turk finally emerged from around the corner, walking quietly to his father who was sitting slumped @ the kitchen table. he took his father's hand in his, fingering the worn tape that was still wrapped around his hands.. "did you have a good workout, dad?" he asked, his voice crackled slightly.

ang-kor took a long, hard look @ his cub, only 6 yrs old. a sturdy boy w/ a wild white mane that brushed a bit past his shoulders & a light brown bandit mask surrounding large, amber eyes. ang-kor knew he'd grow up to be his own spitting image. he tossled the boy's mane. "indeed. even learned a few new moves. maybe someday i can use them on the deadly panthro, eh?"

turk nodded.

from somewhere @ the back of the house, the baby started crying, which made the toddler start crying, too.

ang-kor got up. "all rt. seems abyssa & tab are awake. & hungry. i'm a bit starved myself. let's make dinner."

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a salty disclaimer: this story/art work/design/creation is my contribution to thundercat fandom & is strictly for thundercat fandom only. all characters, names, places, & situations depicted here (except those from the original thundercats animated series) are my own original creations. they were created for the sole purpose of free fandom enjoyment, so no, i am NOT doing this for profit. yes, i realize i've created these characters in the context of some1 else's idea (big ups to ted wolf, leonard starr, & the rankin-bass crew, yo!), but please give proper credit to all creative parties involved.
so let's review shall we?
1) please give credit where credit's due (aka don't claim **** that ain't yours). >
2) & if i'm not making any $ off of this, then neither can YOU. so nah! >:P

thank you, & have a nice day! ~~saltygirl >