Kovu (College AU)

As a cub, Kovu was aggressive and crude. Upon meeting Kiara, his first reaction was to challenge her with a snarl, and the only game he understood was play-fighting. He was considerably arrogant and egotistical, and liked to brag about his independence and survival skills. However, while aggressive, Kovu was heroic in his determination to save Kiara from crocodiles and showed a willingness to make friends with her, despite the enmity between their prides. Additionally, he stood up for his brother, Nuka, even in the face of their mother's rage.

Though Kovu displayed bravado in his interactions with Kiara, he was submissive and fearful of Zira. He sometimes questioned her bloodthirsty tendencies but gave in if she rebuked him harshly. Even so, he remained open to meeting outsiders, as he was calm in his first interaction with Simba's son, Kion, and did not seem to hold hyenas like Jasiri in contempt.

As Kovu aged, his soft side was beaten down by Zira, who molded him into a cold-blooded killer. He retained his arrogance and continued to show scorn in his interactions with other lions, even going so far as to mock Kiara for her subpar hunting skills. His attempts to kill Simba were subtle and slick, and he proved to be a good actor, as he tricked Simba's entire pride into believing that he had changed for the better.

After meeting Kiara again as a young adult, Kovu began to cave to his softer side, embracing mischief, fun, and laughter. His dark side occasionally slipped in, as seen when he could only pinpoint violent pictures in the stars, but he softened considerably and even showed open affection for Kiara. Ultimately, he chose to betray his pride, revealing that his feelings for Kiara were stronger than his initial drive to avenge Scar. He became gentler toward and more respectful of her and was always willing to do the right thing, even if it meant disappointing those he loved. Despite having betrayed his family, Kovu continued to love them. For instance, he mourned Zira's death despite her refusal to reconcile with Simba's pride.