Simba's Two Dads

Simba's Two Dads is the family ship between Simba, Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King fandom.

The Lion King (1994)
After being told to run away from home by Scar after he killed his father, Simba collapses in the desert from exhaustion and is about to be eaten alive by vultures. However, Timon shoos the vultures away by riding on Pumbaa and the two inspect their foundling. Though Timon jerks away after realizing that it is still alive and panics when he sees that it's a lion, Pumbaa insists that they have to save him, they could teach him not to eat them. Timon initially scoffs at the idea, but then thinks its so brilliant that he pretends he was the one who came up with it. So Pumbaa carries Simba's body to an oasis and Timon wakes him up by spraying him with water. As soon as Simba wakes up, Timon immediately suspects that he will now eat them, but Simba just thinks about trodding back to "nowhere". Timon realizes that Simba must be depressed and he and Pumbaa shower him with questions, where he came from and where he plans to be going, but Simba doesn't give them any straight answers. Simba does imply that he was told to run from his home and Timon starts to actually like the cub since he deduces that Simba must be an outcast like the two of them.

They decide to teach him how to eat insects to further avoid the idea of him eating them. Simba initially thinks the insects are gross, but actually likes them once he tries one. Still finding Simba to be a bit of a downer, they teach him their philosophy of "Hakuna Matata" ("no worries") and tell them the reasons why they were seen as outcasts. Simba is raised to an adult by them and lives a carefree life, but also starts forgetting his responsibilities as he keeps avoiding them.

Having had a good meal, the three of them stargaze and Pumbaa asks Timon what stars are. Timon takes a guess and tells them that they are fireflies trapped in that "blueish-black thing". Pumbaa correctly guesses that they are gas spheres, but that only leads to Timon mocking him for being gassy. When they ask Simba for his answer, Simba tells them what Mufasa told him, they are the kings of the past watching over them. Timon initially considers it, but then starts laughing over the thought of some old guys watching him, with Pumbaa joining. Simba doesn't say anything about them mocking his father's memory, but he does leave in shame.

As Timon and Pumbaa take a stroll while singing on the next day, they are attacked by a lioness. Simba comes to their aid, but then recognizes his childhood friend Nala all grown up and they laugh about it, making poor Timon completely confused. Simba introduces his fathers to Nala and Nala incidentally reveals that Simba is royalty, which wows Timon and he and Pumbaa immediately start acting courteous around him, much to his chagrin. When Nala asks Simba if she could have a moment to talk to Simba alone, Timon insists that whatever Nala is going to say, she can say in front of them. However, when Simba agrees to take Nala aside, Timon starts to panic and tells Pumbaa that they might lose Simba forever. Seeing them act all lovey-dovey around each other only confirms their fears and they declare Simba to be "doomed".

The next morning, Nala asks the two of them if they had seen Simba, but they thought he was with her. Rafiki then arrives to tell them that Simba had spoken to the spirit of his father and that he had gone to Pride Rock to reclaim his birthright. Regardless of how Timon and Pumbaa feel about Nala, they won't let Simba battle his uncle alone. When they arrive at Pride Rock to find it completely barren, Timon quips that it really wouldn't be worth the effort, but he will fight for it if Simba cares about it. Simba in turn sees the place completely riddled with hyenas and figures that they will need a distraction. Timon quickly learns that he should just stop talking as his suggestion of "dressing in drag and doing the hula" has him do exactly that, presenting Pumbaa as bait for the hyenas.

Timon and Pumbaa then re-enter the battle fighting for Simba's people and when Scar is defeated and killed by the very hyenas he manipulated, the two of them stand alongside Nala as Simba's family when he reclaims his title as king. They are then seen attending the presentation of Simba's first cub.

Fanon
Though Timon and Pumbaa are divisive despite their massive popularity, many agree that the positive depiction of two men raising a child together had only aged like wine.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION

Variations

 * Timbaa refers to the ship between Timon and Pumbaa