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At the mention of his mother and father being together, Roho's eyes slid to the side to watch a butterfly float over the tips of the grass, hesitating over his reply. "My mum and dad aren't really together any more." Then he smiled, a touch sadly. "She died when I was a little cub. I barely remember her. Just that she had a pretty smile, and beautiful blue eyes. A lot like yours, actually," he added, looking back at Azima, his smile strengthening, unaware that he'd sort of just paid Azima a genuine compliment.

"But I know they loved each other a lot, when she was alive. And dad still loves her now. I do want to find someone like that." He was also unaware of how he assigned no gender to that certain someone, a subconscious reflection on his lack of discovery of his true nature. "I'd like to have a family, too. Lots of children to love and care for, like my dad did for us." It was obvious, just from the soft and happy expression that settled on his face, that future cubs were something he had thought about - and they were certainly something he wanted.

But despite answering Azima's questions as they came, and the pleasant thoughts running through his mind because of them, he was beginning to grow suspicious of just why the other male wanted to know these things. He was starting to think there was something behind it... finally.

At the apology, Roho just shrugged and reached out a paw to lightly bat Azima's, the way the smaller male had done to him a little while ago. "It's all right. It was a long time ago, and you didn't know." Really, he was never that upset by talk of his mother. He only had one small regret about it, adn that was that he simply never got to spend much time with her. Other than that, there were no wounds in his heart.

At how Azima described his family, Roho frowned a bit, pursing his lips thoughtfully. "Well... I guess some families are like that?" He sincerely hoped his never was, though. He wanted to find a mate with whom he could be openly affectionate at all times; he never wanted to fight with that special someone, or act so harshly. "I don't want a relationship like that, though. I want something... easy and carefree. Love and happiness and kindness." He turned his head slightly to look at Azima full-on. "What about you? What do you want?"

Roho pondered the thought of meeting Azima's family. His mother and father didn't sound like they were openly nice to each other much, but he assumed they wouldn't be like that with strangers. First impressions and all that. At least... he hoped they believed in first impressions. Otherwise, they might not be lions he wanted to see that often again. "Well... different makes things... interesting. If everyone was the same, it would be boring. Maybe one day I can meet them... if you let me." A pause, and then another thought hit him. "And you can meet mine, too, one day. If you want, that is. They're a nice bunch." Saying that, he couldn't be more true; only one aunt out of thirteen other siblings was anything other than pleasant, and he'd had the good luck not to meet her.

Roho wasn't so completely and utterly braindead that something as blunt as that couldn't penetrate his mind. But the first thing that registered was shock... and not the good kind of shock, either. The signals Azima had been trying to send him had failed to get through, so he was understandably surprised when it all suddenly became clear in his mind. That Azima wanted that kind of relationship with him... was something he had never expected. He hadn't even known Azima liked him that much. He'd thought he was just a casual hang-out buddy.

His mouth opened and closed several times, sort of like a fish, as he struggled to think of something - anything- - to say. But what was there to say? How was one supposed to tell if they... liked someone like that? Sure, he thought of Azima a little differently than the other people he'd met, but was that what Azima felt? He didn't know... and he didn't want to say so until he did, because he was more sure it was just friendship from his end. What a dilemma he was in right now.

But he had to say something... even if it was ridiculous. The silence wasn't helping anyone at all. "I... I don't... know what to say..." All right, that was just voicing his problem, but at least it wasn't completely quiet any more. He now understood what the phrase 'silence is deafening' meant somewhat.

As Azima turned to walk away, Roho's dark eyes widened just a little bit. It seemed he'd finally stopped being dense about the other male's feelings, and he could detect the hurt in Azima's voice, and how he sounded sorry, and of course, it was plain to see he was embarrassed. "Azima..." But it was a murmur of his friend's name, and he didn't expect Azima to stop. He was sure he wouldn't if things were the other way around. He would probably have made a quicker retreat than Azima.

Suddenly feeling rather sad, the large male watched the other leave. Was their friendship ruined now? Azima was still going to come and see him... right? Somehow... it seemed unlikely, and Roho was upset just by the thought of it. As his eyes followed Azima and his ears flattened to his skull, Roho began desperately attempting to think of something he could say or do that would make things right between them again. But, of course.. until he thought of that something, he couldn't go after his friend. He couldn't prolong the hurt and embarrassment.