Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Since Cassim could remember, there was a nagging question in the back of his head.

Just what was fate?

What was destiny?

The driving force behind life? The drawn out life-cycle of an organism decided from birth?

Was only your time of death decided? The circumstances in which you were to live? Precisely how you were to live every second until the very last breath?

Was life only a doll-house for this so called ‘god’ to decide how a human would live, and how miserable and/or prosperous their life would become?

Infuriating.

Mariam, Anise, the blood on his hands, the circumstances in which he was born... Were their lives all drawn out until the very last breath? Were their deaths tied to this demon called ‘fate’?

Could life truly be that cruel?

If so, Cassim wouldn’t accept it. The world ending because of the resistance of fate? What a joke. Fate itself was a tyrannical concept.

What right did this so-called god have to decide how Cassim would live his life? How could some ‘holy’ being decide Cassim would spend his days working in the slums, amounting to nothing?

And so Cassim tested fate, in hands of his dark djinn. Or maybe he was the dark djinn.

It left Alibaba was desperately pleading to Cassim, who formerly had accepted his so-called fate by returning to the white rukh. But not anymore. To think he even considered accepting it was despicable. He was better than whatever useless life some god planned out for him.

Arms were wrapped around Cassim in a tight embrace. There were tiny tremors each time Alibaba, took a shaky breath, on the brink of sobbing. It was all because Alibaba wanted him to live. It meant more to Cassim than Alibaba could ever know.

“Cassim... you and I... we’re best friends, right? So you can’t die. I won’t let you.” The former resolve Alibaba held weakened into a timid plea, his arms loosening ever so slightly as his body gave way.

“...Sorry, Alibaba.” Cassim managed to give the most heartfelt, honest smile he had ever produced, and Alibaba’s heart almost seemed to shatter as he stared at Cassim wide-eyed.

“D-Don’t tell me you’re going to-!” Alibaba jumped away, as though Cassim had burned him. He stared uncertainly at Cassim, whose eyes softened affectionately at his... best friend.

“No, not that. I just... I don’t think this was the answer you wanted.” Cassim’s voice dropped to a whisper, and everything was frozen.

The world was in a darkened state. The sky that was once a bright blue reverted back to its terrible navy-gray color, as though a storm were brewing.

The crack in the djinn was sealed, as if it had never existed. Yet Alibaba didn’t look fearful. That relieved Cassim.

It was as though in slow-motion, that the dark djinn began to dissolve. Cassim felt as though he were falling into an endless abyss, until he felt a cold, hard surface below him.

Everything was disoriented. Cassim could barely make out what was in front of him. Where he was. Who he was. Just what had happened?

It felt unnerving. As though a darkness were creeping up on him, waiting to swallow him up whole. Was this feeling the prelude to death? Was it death that was ready to pounce on him once more, never to let him go?

Would he wander aimlessly forever in the darkness for naught? Was all that was said and done in the djinn a lie?

He had lied. To himself. To Alibaba. And he would die. Forever wandering in the darkness, unable to ever atone for his wretched sins.

At least, that was what he thought. Until a warmth like never before enveloped him. Around his arms, his torso, legs, his entire body.

The warmth wasn’t Cassim’s own though. No, it was from a separate being altogether. The warmth was human. But just who could have...

“Cassim... I’m so...” The warmth on top of Cassim trembled. He recognized the voice as his one and only light, Alibaba.

Alibaba shook on top of Cassim. His voice was a mess, wracked with cracks and sobs. Cassim even felt warm droplets fall onto his face. Was Alibaba crying?

Cassim wanted to comfort him. But he could barely move a fingertip, much less speak. He was utterly numb. Unable to respond in even the smallest of ways. Try as he might, all effort was fruitless.

He merely felt his vision swim, his consciousness grow dim. Everything wavered in front of him, and Cassim couldn’t stop it.

He didn’t want to lose consciousness. The thought of dying... it left him with an uneasy feeling. Too soon, too early, millions of words raced inside of Cassim’s mind. But... perhaps dying in Alibaba’s arms wouldn’t be so bad. His final memory being the warmth he so craved.

Yeah, he was fine dying in his best friend’s arms.

With that thought, he lost consciousness.

Alibaba, however, didn’t pause to think. He just bawled on top of Cassim helplessly, unable to form words. He let out incomprehensible noises as he sobbed. It was an ugly cry, shrill and broken. But it was real. And he used it to spill out all of his gathering emotions.

Here was Cassim in front of him. Fatally wounded from the torso. Neck blistered and blackened from the wound Alibaba gave him. Shoulders, arms, legs, just about everything pierced and bloodied. But he was miraculously alive. Unconscious, but alive. And that was enough.

Yet, sometimes life didn’t always go as planned. Not everything always went by the book. Because now, Alibaba was surrounded by armed soldiers, weapons all pointed towards the fatally wounded Cassim. Those who were captured watched on helplessly as Alibaba stood in the midst of the soldiers.

“Wait!” Alibaba yelled, causing the armed soldiers to flinch ever so slightly, before pressing closer.

“He’s unconscious and badly wounded! He needs help! I promise he’s not dangerous right now, so please! Just get him some help!” Alibaba’s words were less than eloquent for a prince, but they were just about as honest as he could get.

He couldn’t bear to see his best friend in this state. It was cruel. After all he’s done to stay alive and protect those he loves up until now. To give the citizens hope in his own, twisted way. But then he gets charged for treason? It was all too, too cruel. All Alibaba could hope for was that Cassim could be treated, and that he wouldn’t have to spend life in a cell. Or worse, get his head chopped off.

Alibaba wasn’t sure how he managed to convince them, but after a moment’s hesitation, the soldiers lowered their weapons. Alibaba let out a sigh of relief, before Cassim was taken from his arms.

He felt the need to cling onto him for dear life and never let go. If he were to let go, he feared Cassim would never return. But, knowing it was for Cassim’s own good, Alibaba released him without a fuss.

He stumbled as he stood, a feeling of both triumph and defeat consuming him. They clashed violently, filling Alibaba with dread.

His best friend was alive. His best friend would live. He best friend had survived. These were all reasons to feel more than elated.

Yet, so many lives were lost because of his best friend. So many people still despised the royal family for all they have done. How could this ever be fixed...?

“Alibaba, you... He’s still fallen, huh...?” Aladdin’s voice was gentle, as to not disturb Alibaba. He walked over and gave Alibaba a pat on the shoulder as though to tell him he did his best. Alibaba immediately grabbed Aladdin’s hand to stop him. “Alibaba...?”

“I don’t regret a thing. If Cassim falling means he gets to stay alive, that’s fine. He’s not a bad guy. Not anymore, at least. So it’s okay.” He released Aladdin’s hand. He said this to reassure himself more than anything, but only received a blank stare from Aladdin in return. There was an eerie pause where just about everything froze.

Then, Aladdin smiled.

“Then I’m happy for you, Alibaba. If the djinn had cracked and broken, Cassim probably wouldn’t have made it. So I’m glad he survived.” Aladdin responded with his ever so innocent smile.

It took a bit of weight off of Alibaba’s shoulders to see that familiar smile.

“A lot of people lost their lives, Aladdin... I just wish...” Alibaba’s voice trailed off into a whisper, but Aladdin understood.

“Don’t worry, Alibaba. They might not be in this world anymore, but that just means they all returned to the great rukh!” Aladdin responded cheerfully, leaving Alibaba in a state of confusion.

“You’ll see.” Aladdin chuckled as he closed his eyes, holding out his staff. “Solomon’s Wisdom!”

With a hearty yell and a bright flash of light, the rukh came fluttering down, morphing themselves into two beings who held a special place in Alibaba’s heart.

“Mother. Fath-er... Previous king of Balbadd...?” Alibaba stared at the beings in disbelief, as though they didn’t exist. Was this reality? Were his parents truly in front of him at this very moment?

“Those are the rukh of who they used to be.” Aladdin answered Alibaba’s unspoken question. “But now they’ve become part of something even bigger! Flowing through worlds, eternally...” Aladdin explained wistfully before looking back at Alibaba with a smile. “So even though it’s sad when people pass away, it doesn’t mean they’ve said goodbye forever. The way you do things, the way you live... They’re always nearby! They’re always watching over you.”

Alibaba, taking this all in, let out a gentle, pleasantly surprised gasp. Tears began to well up in his eyes, but he held them in. So this is what the rukh really were. His mother and his father, they were always close by... Knowing this brought him an odd sense of joyous relief, one he could barely contain.

Aladdin grinned at Alibaba before holding his staff over his head. “Alright now everybody! Go to all the people you love and care about!” With that, the rukh went flying in all directions, sailing towards those whom they cared for in past lives.

Cassim, however, lay unconscious, oblivious to all that went on. He knew of nothing. Nothing but darkness. Yet, a warmth, a familiar warmth rest on his arm. It... wasn’t human. He knew that for sure. An innate feeling. It was something far greater. Something Cassim repelled, yet it still fought to get closer. At last, Cassim wearily opened his eyes, vision blurred.

There, in front of him, floated a small, golden figure he knew all too well. How could he ever forget her? Did this mean Cassim had...?

No, he knew of warmth. He knew of cold. He knew of smell, taste, touch. Cassim was alive. And here was Mariam.

“Mariam...” He hoarsely whispered, receiving a smile from the small figure in turn. She looked so... happy. Nothing like how she was before her passing. She looked so bright and full of life. It was so...

She leaned down and gave Cassim a huge hug. Though Cassim lacked the strength to hug back, she still clung to him tightly. She then let up and grinned, leaving Cassim to do nothing but smile back.

He felt so... whole, so complete. It was as though the world was perfect. Even if Cassim could barely move. Even if his body refused to cooperate with him. He was content being able to see Mariam again. Even if he lost her, knowing that she could still be happy wherever her soul ventured off too, that she wanted to visit him one last time gave him hope. 

Hope for a better future, one where he’d be proud to stand in front of that smile again.

Chapter Text

He wasn’t sure when he had woken up, or how long he had been out. Before he could even process how he wasn’t unconscious anymore, his eyes had fluttered open, and he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Where...” Cassim let out a weak groan as he slowly raised his head. He felt weak, drained, as though all the life had been sucked out of him and left him with nothing but a useless, empty shell. His arm alone felt as heavy as lead. He’d much rather just... sleep.

“What am I...” Cassim mumbled to himself, trying to pull his sluggish thoughts together. He’d much rather just sleep? What in the hell was he thinking? He should be frantic to wake up, to understand and analyze the situation logically, but his mind just wouldn’t...

“You’re awake.” An unfamiliar woman approached the bed. She stared down at Cassim with a look of contempt, as though she were unwillingly forced into her position. It didn’t help to ease Cassim’s frantic heart.

“You’ve been unconscious for some time, in critical condition. It was quite the wound you sustained. You were lucky we had a magician on our hands who excels in healing magic.” She explained as though it were a chore, not sparing Cassim even a fleeting glance.

He probably deserved that kind of treatment.

“Then I was out for...” Cassim trailed off, looking to the lady who was likely his nurse for an explanation.

“A week and a half. You were placed under priority in the palace infirmary. The only ones permitted to visit you were the third prince and third parties he deemed fit.” The nurse explained with a lack on enthusiasm. Cassim would rather her just leave if she cared so little about his well-being. If only she weren’t so well informed.

“Your body’s in a starved state. I’ll bring you back a light meal that won’t be too hard on your stomach, and inform the third prince of your awakening.” She gave him a short, formal bow before making her way out of the room. Cassim’s eyes trailed after her until she shut the door.

“A week and a half, huh...?” Cassim muttered to himself, allowing his eyes to wander the room. He was apparently in worse of a state than he could possibly imagine. It was... honestly a miracle he didn’t pass. He was punctured straight through the chest, not to mention his burned neck. Can’t forget the endless blades that pierced his body.

He should’ve died.

...Why didn’t he?

Pushing away unnecessary thoughts, Cassim noted that there was also his starved state. He hardly felt the usual sharp pangs of hunger. He just felt... empty. His body and mind were completely drained, and he had trouble producing coherent thoughts.

“I...” If only to keep himself roused, he attempted to survey his condition. His arms felt weaker and looked thinner. He didn’t look unhealthy, but it was still cause for concern. He reminded himself to eat despite his lack appetite.

He gently lifted his shirt to survey his torso, taking care to be quick and concise in the case of the nurse returning. In place of a huge, gaping hole was a fresh, tender looking scar. It vertically ran down the center of his chest in a clean, neat line. He could only assume a scar ran down his upper back in the same area. Not a pretty sight.

Cassim was unable to eye his neck without a reflective surface, but by running his fingers over it, he was able to deduce it was scarred as well. A softer patch of skin replaced the burned area. It felt sensitive.

Curious, He gently pulled down the cloth from his shoulders. So these particular wounds did remain when he parted from the djinn. He had a variety of scars running vertically down his shoulders, from when the swords pierced him. He gently touched them. They stung.

So this was the result of his entire endeavor, huh? Rather anticlimactic.

Deep down, he knew, and acknowledged that he was hoping for worse. That maybe his death or a lifelong disability would bring some people peace of mind.

But before Cassim had the chance to wallow in any more unpleasant thoughts, the door burst open with a bang.

“Cassim, you’re awake!” The loud voice cut through Cassim’s brain like a knife. It was so familiar that that he didn’t even need to look to know it was Alibaba who came bursting into his room without knocking.

“Alibaba, wait!” A small voice called after before a young child, around nine or ten, came into the room. He looked nervous as he glanced around before landing his eyes on Alibaba. He relaxed then.

At the same time, the nurse came running after, panicked. “Please, he’s still recovering. Don’t overwhelm him.” She carried a tray holding food and a cup of water. She placed it directly onto Cassim’s lap after seeing him managing to sit up without much trouble. He gave her a quick thanks before eyeing the mush in the bowl before him. It didn’t look very... appetizing.

“I’m so glad you’re awake, Cassim!” Alibaba exclaimed, a bright look in his eyes. It was blinding. “They said if you didn’t wake up soon, you might not make it.” Alibaba’s eyes darkened for only a moment before they bounced right back up, sparkling. “I have so much to tell you...”

“Mmhmm.” Cassim hummed, more focused on the food before him than Alibaba’s ramblings.

That was a lie. He told himself to keep his eyes on the food. Over and over. To not lock eyes with Alibaba. Over and over. As though it were the only thing keeping him sane.

Looking at Alibaba would throw his entire game off. An array of emotion would end up overcoming him and threaten to spill. He would become overwhelmed just by the mere sight of him.

Cassim couldn’t have that happen. Not while Alibaba was there. So he settled for taking a bite of the gruel with a spoon. It was as tasteless as it looked. He bit back a grimace as he downed the food as quickly as possible, occasionally washing it down with water.

“You’re really hungry, huh? Of course you are, you were unconscious for almost two weeks!” After expressing this, Alibaba seemed to have a realization and faltered slightly. “Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have burst in here after you just woke up.”

“It’s...” Cassim took a quick swig of water before setting his tray to the side. “Fine.” He trailed off, unsure of how to continue. “So, about Balbadd...”

“Right! We’re working on the rebuilding off Balbadd now. I’m working along with representatives from different regions to build a republic as planned. Citizens are helping to provide food and shelter for one another, and rebuild fallen buildings. It’s going really well!” Alibaba briefly explained with a smile, one Cassim could hardly see behind his dreadlocks. It was only then he realized his hair was down and untied.

“That’s really... really great...” Cassim responded absentmindedly, tugging at his hair in order to focus on something other than his irritation. Alibaba had done great. No, amazing. Cassim should feel proud of him. So why did he instead feel so... defeated? Because Alibaba had to clean up his mess for him?

Yeah, right. Like Cassim was that noble. It was probably because Alibaba did better than he ever could. Despite his best efforts, he never could have done what Alibaba had managed. It was such a childish envy he felt. It made him sick.

“Cassim?” Alibaba leaned onto the bed Cassim was resting in, using his hands for support. He peered into Cassim’s eyes, throwing him off guard. Cassim’s mouth moved before his mind could will it not to.

“I just...” Cassim couldn’t bring himself to consult with Alibaba. He couldn’t even consult with himself. He knew he needed to, but... Relying on others made him feel weak, vulnerable. It wasn’t the kind of position he was willing to put himself in.

“Ah, I know! You want to make things right again, don’t you? You want to apologize for all the things you did, and regret not being able to do it sooner?” Alibaba said all that as though it were no sweat off his back. It only made Cassim feel worse.

Here he was, feeling envious of Alibaba’s victory. Of course Cassim felt bad. He felt awful. He needed to apologize. He’d be absolute scum if he didn’t, not that he wasn’t already. But the fact that jealousy took priority in his mind at the moment made him dizzy with guilt and shame.

“How did you...” If anything, Cassim wanted to know how Alibaba could read him so easily. Had Cassim always been an open book for Alibaba? But if that was the case, then why...

“I spoke to your rukh.” Alibaba smiled gently, lifting up Cassim’s chin so they could properly meet each other’s eyes. “Of course I know how you think. I know how you feel too. I don’t know everything, but you told me you wanted to apologize to everyone. And rukh don’t lie. So you’re feeling guilty, right?”

Cassim could only stare at Alibaba. He could only stare blankly at those golden eyes that shined brighter than the sun itself. They held a fire in them, a confident fire. Alibaba wasn’t just guessing Cassim’s emotions, he was certain of them. That was... unnerving.

Cassim casually removed Alibaba’s hand from his chin, but managed to keep eye contact without his emotions running wild. Guilt, envy, self-loathing, yet a small pang of happiness that only brought him more guilt. He shouldn’t feel happy that Alibaba still cared for him. He should feel angry, irritated that Alibaba decided to stay with him despite all that Cassim has done. Not only to Alibaba, but to everyone he got involved with.

“I can’t apologize, much less make up for it. I can’t even help... And it’s my fault. I’m such a piece of trash...” Cassim let out a dry laugh.

These people deserved something, anything for all that was needlessly lost. They could have taken the path of tranquility, but instead, Cassim had ruthlessly lead them down the path of calamity and bloodshed. What pained him most was that it was all for nothing.

Innocent lives were lost for nothing.

Whether he accepted his fate or not, he shouldn’t have dragged innocent civilians into his own petty revenge against fate and nobles.

He didn’t deserve to be forgiven. Not one bit.

“Maybe what you did was wrong, and could never be forgiven. That’s all the more reason to do what you can, right? If you can at least ease others’ pain a little, isn’t that enough?” Alibaba stumbled over his words a few times, but his message came across loud and clear. It was oddly inspiring. Something Cassim needed to hear at that very moment. Since when did this little prince become so reliable?

“You’ve... changed, Alibaba.” Cassim remarked with an expressionless face. Alibaba seemed to take this negatively, for he backed off with a nervous expression. To ease that, Cassim gave him a gentle smile. “Can’t say that’s a bad thing.”

Alibaba shoulders visibly relaxed, a sigh leaving him.

“I need time to think on this.” Cassim averted his gaze, hoping Alibaba got the memo. He seemed reluctant to go, but he turned towards the door without any complaint.

“Alright. I’ll see you later. Let’s go, Aladdin.” Alibaba directed at the younger boy who stood by his side, a presence Cassim nearly forgot. The boy, Aladdin, gave a small nod before glancing at Cassim, who happened to meet his eye.

He looked unnerved, but a simple tap on the shoulder from Alibaba helped to calm him. “Err... goodbye, mister. Cassim...” His voice grew quiet as he uttered Cassim’s name, testing his boundaries. Seeing that Cassim didn’t mind, he grew more confident. “You don’t seem like a bad guy. I can see why Alibaba talks about you so much.” He smiled before exiting the room, leaving a gaping, embarrassed Alibaba to follow suit.

“You weren’t supposed to tell him that!” Alibaba’s cries rang throughout the hall, reaching even Cassim’s room.

He couldn’t help but chuckle, even as the nurse took up the empty tray before announcing her exit.

He was then left all alone. Like a storm that came and went. It was all so quick, so fast, it almost felt like a dream. But... it was reality. He had to accept that.

So there he was, left to think things over without interruption.

He had done terrible things. He stained his hands in blood more times than he could count. He used those very hands to take up a sword offered by an outside source, and used its influence to test fate. He dragged those who would follow him into it without any qualms.

He dragged them into raids. Stealing. Hurting. Hunting. Hurting.

And then what? Alibaba joined. He gave hope to the people, especially when he admitted to being the third prince. And Cassim manipulated him. Into staying. Into following his ideals. But Alibaba went against that. So they became enemies.

Alibaba made a change though. He was able to overthrow the current king and work towards making Balbadd a republic. But Cassim couldn’t accept that. He still couldn’t accept the fact that Alibaba did better. That Alibaba could do what he couldn’t.

So then what? Cassim nearly ended his life in an attempt to stop Alibaba and kill the king and all the officials and aristocrats. For what? He didn’t know the exact people who took everything from him. If he found them, would killing them even bring him a sense of closure?

It was all so... dull. As though nothing came from it. Like it were some stupid spur of the moment idea that popped into Cassim’s mind and he carried out on a whim. Fighting against fate? Wrong. He was merely fighting against nobles.

He couldn’t even begin to fight against fate. Someone like him? Someone who couldn’t even accept the fact that his friend had done better than he ever could? Someone who started an all out war for his own selfish reasons?

He deserved the shitty fate he was dealt. No, he deserved worse.

A loud yell interrupted Cassim’s thoughts as two figures collapsed into the room, tripping over themselves to arrive at Cassim’s bedside. Cassim recognized the two he grew up with instantly. Zaynab and Hassan.

“Out of the way!” Zaynab shoved Hassan aside, causing him to stumble before she arrived at Cassim’s side, panting.

“You’re finally awake. Alibaba just told us. After seeing you... y’know... we thought you wouldn’t make it. We’re glad you did. This guy here was in tears.” Zaynab expressed herself without restraint as per usual, earning an annoyed grunt from Hassan in turn.

It was all too much for Cassim to take in at once while injured. His ears rang, and his head throbbed, crying for the noise to stop. Still, it felt... comfortable. The usual loud bickering of the couple felt normal. Natural.

“Well, Zaynab was saying she’d buy you a get well present because she was all worried, so...!” Hassan counter-attacked, talking to Cassim, though intending to somehow embarrass Zaynab. Cassim didn’t particularly enjoy being in the center of their argument, so he butted in before it could escalate.

“All this yelling isn’t good for my health. I’m still weak and recovering, y’know...” Cassim pulled the sick card, to which both Zaynab and Hassan took the bait.

They profusely apologized, bowing an absurd amount of times until they were both satisfied. After calming down, they both began to speak in a more respectful manner.

“Everyone’s been worried sick, wondering if you’d make it or not. We were left in the dark too, that damn Alibaba. Too worried about the country to reassure his friends.” Zaynab scoffed, and whether that last line was meant to be sarcastic or not, Cassim couldn’t tell.

“We’re hoping you come back soon. We were even thinking of throwing a comeback par-“ A hefty smack to the head interrupted Hassan.

“Dumbass, that was supposed to be a surprise.” Zaynab glared at her boyfriend before turning back to Cassim, a faint smile on her lips. “We all miss you, so get better soon, okay? Don’t push yourself, we all saw how bad you got hurt. Anyway, we’ve gotta rush back to tell the others you’re doing just fine.”

“Oh...” Cassim almost felt disappointed at that news. Almost. It wasn’t as though he actually enjoyed acting as their counselor when the going got tough.

It was just... Somewhere in his mind, he hoped nothing would ever change. That he could deal with Zaynab and Hassan’s constant bickering. That he could drink until he dropped with the men of the Fog Troupe. That he could steal from the rich to give to the poor, to then see grateful smiles on women and children’s faces afterwards.

But nothing ever stayed the same.

Cassim was a criminal now, even if he wasn’t convicted. He lead a group of vigilantes, all for the sole purpose of his selfish desire hidden under a righteous agenda.

If he was going to make things right, he needed to start now, no matter how small.

“I’m sorry.” He locked eyes with both Zaynab and Hassan before giving a deep, sincere bow.

They were both thrown for a loop.

“Huh? W-What are you apologizing for...?” Zaynab clearly looked lost, frantically looking around and waving her hands as though to stop Cassim from bowing.

“Y-Yeah! You never do that kinda stuff! So why are you..?!” Hassan looked just as lost, if not more, than Zaynab.

“I...Dragged you into something I shouldn’t have. A war. The Fog Troupe. If I hadn’t, then...”

“Stop.”

Cassim glanced up from his bowed position at Zaynab, who stared at him with a deadly serious look.

“We knew exactly what we were doing, and we chose to do it. We’re just as much to blame as you. So don’t act like it’s just your fault. We followed you then and we still would now. Right, Hassan?” Zaynab looked over to him for confirmation. He gave a simple nod.

“Exactly. You trying to say we couldn’t make our own decisions and you did it for us? We knew exactly what the hell we were getting into. And you know what? We stayed. ‘Cause you’re our leader, got it? And our friend.” Hassan stared right through Cassim, who could only blink in astonishment.

What did he do to deserve such friends?

“I...” Cassim trailed off, slowly raising his head. He couldn’t find the words to express his gratitude. Words wouldn’t be nearly enough. He didn’t think anything would be.

“Anyway, we’ve gotta run. Get better soon and visit us, okay? Everyone’s still hanging out at the same old place.” Zaynab gave him a small wave as she made her way to the door, followed by Hassan.

“We’re all waiting for you. A little wound like that’s no sweat off your back.” Hassan gave Cassim a confident grin before making his way out.

Those people were his friends. The people he grew up. They stuck by his side, despite all he’s done. Alibaba. Zaynab. Hassan. He didn’t understand. Why did they care for him so much? Why did they regard him as someone to protect? To look up to? To respect? Was Cassim really worth that much?

Hah, what a stupid question.

Of course he wasn’t.

Another week or so passed before Cassim was officially released from the infirmary. After deeming there were no lingering complications, his nurse announced that he would be able to depart at any time.

He was visited by Alibaba a few times during the duration of that week, but they only held small talk. Alibaba was never able to find the words to start a serious conversation, and Cassim never bothered to help him. Had it always been that hard for them to truly communicate with each other? That was... probably Cassim’s fault.

It was why he didn’t feel the need to announce his departure to Alibaba. Alibaba already had enough on his plate, attending meetings, making important decisions and whatnot... Cassim had no right to interfere with that.

After all, Alibaba could find him if he really needed him.

So he left. Completely unannounced, without telling a soul. He couldn’t bring himself to so much as look back at the palace as he made his exit.

He set off, wandering the streets of Balbadd.

It was different. The mood in the air was light and lively. Not nearly as oppressive as it had been two weeks ago. Back then, people walked the streets completely silent, or spoke in hushed voices. They always seemed to have a drag in their step.

But now, people practically bounced around with energy. The streets were lively, filled with enthusiastic chatter despite the dire circumstances. It was as though a heavy weight had been lifted off of everyone’s shoulders. Everyone looked so rejuvenated.

Of course they did. Alibaba was involved.

Cassim could see relief workers handing out free food to those who needed it, men and women alike helping to rebuild fallen buildings, and people of all ages smiling, laughing even. The sight of everyone staying positive despite having to rebuild their broken country from the ground up left him transfixed. The people really were capable of anything they put their minds to.

That feeling soon faded though, for he could feel many stares burning holes through him as he made his way through town. Whispers, pointing, flinching, they followed Cassim with every step he took. He knew it was well deserved. So why did it leave such an empty feeling in his chest? Was he really that damn selfish?

He walked with his head held high. Aware of his mistakes. Aware of his wrongdoings. He walked confidently towards a single destination, unwilling to spare anyone so much as a fleeting glance. He couldn’t allow himself to get sidetracked. Not until he was able to-“Cassim!”

An arm wrapped around Cassim’s shoulder, causing him to stiffen on reflex, then relax. The voice was all too familiar. “Hassan...?”

“You’re back! Were you coming to visit? Even if you weren’t, you’re still coming with me, got it?” Hassan grinned devilishly at Cassim, and before Cassim had a chance to protest, he was swiftly kidnapped.

Hassan dragged him through familiar streets and dark alleyways until they reached a large, run-down building. He then shoved Cassim inside, who ever so gracelessly stumbled into the midst of the former base.

“Hey guys, guess who’s back!” Hassan announced.

Cassim was unable to even add an input before all festivities stopped. It was as though time itself froze. Talking ceased, movement ceased, and almost everyone seemed to turn to Hassan at once. Faces Cassim recognized. People he all knew by name, people he made an effort to remember. They all stared. At Hassan. And then at Cassim.

“Hey, isn’t that...”

“Cassim! But I thought he was de-“

“Of course he isn’t! Look at ‘im. He’s alive, a’int he?”

“Exactly! He’s alive! Cassim’s back!”

Then, a soon as the silence had started, it was gone. It was replaced with an overwhelming amount of people all trying to access the situation and voice their opinions. But most people made to greet Cassim. Hugs, claps on the back, high fives, people bombarded him endlessly. Rather than helping, Hassan stood on the sidelines with a goofy grin on his face. Cassim didn’t expect much from him anyway.

Despite its good intentions, Cassim couldn’t help but find all the attention suffocating. He was used to people constantly gazing up at him, watching his every move. It sort of came with the title of leader. But having people bombard him verbally and physically left him feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

Thankfully, the crowd soon let up, and Cassim was once again granted his personal space. He let out a silent, relieved sigh.

“Well...” Cassim’s eyes calmly surveyed the room. A crowd of eyes peered up at him, expectantly. They wanted him to say something. He’d know that anticipating look anywhere. He didn’t come with a speech prepared, but he found that the words flowed easily out of his mouth.

“Look at you guys. Even when I couldn’t do anything, you provided shelter, rebuilt buildings, and worked towards making Balbadd a republic. Of course, you guys are damn good at hard work.” Cassim’s eyes scanned the room, locking with each and every person he came across. He wanted to get his message across to every single person in the room.

“I can’t just sit here doing nothing, right? So I’ll try to follow your example.” Cassim took a deep breath before bowing among everybody, earning a few confused murmurs and gasps in turn.

“Look, I’m sorry. I... really am. Raiding nobles, attempting to start a revolt against the government, I shouldn’t have dragged all of you into that.” Cassim raised from his bow slightly, if only to look his audience in the eye. “Because of me, innocent people died. I convinced people that starting a revolt was a good idea after Alibaba already worked everything out. I convinced you all to participate in some messed up massacre. So all I can do is... apologize.”

Cassim then stood up straight, feeling his face steel over as he admitted the undeniable truth. “People are dead. And they won’t be coming back.” His mind shifted to Mariam for a split second, but he couldn’t divert from the task at hand. “That’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’m not looking for forgiveness or anything, I just you guys should know how I feel, and that I’ll do my best to atone for it.”

“Hmm...”

“Atone, huh...”

“Err, that doesn’t mean what I think it means, right?”

“I hope not. I’m really grateful to Cassim. It’s because of him my entire family could afford food.”

“My sister... she’s gone... during that war, she...”

“What more do you want, huh? Him dying won’t help anybody.”

Cassim was met with a variety of responses. Some forgiving. Some unforgiving. Some angry. Some confused. And some who couldn’t get over the shock of the makeshift war. Cassim took it all in stride, gifting a final bow before turning back towards the door.

“Where are you...?” Hassan reached out a hand and gently grasped Cassim’s arm.

“You think I only need to apologize to the people in here? There are hundreds of people out there who lost loved ones. Husbands, wives, even children. They deserve to hear an apology more than anyone..” Cassim knew his tone was harsh and uncalled for, but he needed to get his point across. Hassan backed off after a moment’s hesitation.

“O-okay.”

Hassan seemed to want to add on something else, but didn’t look as though he could find the words. Cassim, unwilling to wait for his reply, left without another word.

“Now the real problem...” Cassim was unsure of how he would be able to gather everyone into a single area with a raised platform. Shouting wasn’t his usual tactic. It strained his throat. It was out of the question. He wasn’t sure if anyone would even bother to listen to the man who started a war in the first place.

Still, everyone deserved an apology, if anything. He’d surely be pissed if someone had done what he did without apologizing.

So he had to. No room for hesitation. No room for complaints.

The huge pile of rubble. This was where most of the Fog Troupe originally resided, but a lot more people seemed to crowd around the area with food and water. So all he had to do was get their attention.

“Ahem.” Cassim loudly cleared his throat once atop the huge pile. Few people cared to look, but the few who did recognized him instantly. Seeing he had something to say, they headed closer to the rubble. This piqued the interest of other civilians, and soon people were crowding the broken stone, wondering what could be happening.

“You all probably know me. If not, I’m Cassim.” He began, introducing himself to his audience. It was more nerve-wracking. These people likely held contempt for his very existence, especially the ones who weren’t part of the Fog Troupe.

“I’m the founder and the true leader of the Fog Troupe. You were all led to believe Alibaba was the leader to raise morale, but I handled things behind the scenes.” Cassim explained, though many seemed perplexed if anything.

“I’ll be frank. The only reason I’m up is to apologize. To all of you.

“I haven’t made the best decisions. I thought a revolution would be the better option. I thought that the only way to truly start Balbadd anew was to rid it of its royals, those who oppressed us. So I got people to start a revolt. I dragged innocent civilians into it. The result? Death. Just a bunch of fires, ruined buildings, and burned corpses.” Cassim could hear the gasps of a few people, but he continued nonetheless. He had to. No matter how much it pained him.

“An apology won’t cut it, I know. What I did is not gonna magically disappear. But you all at least deserve an apology. So... I’m sorry. Really, I am. For everything. This is all I can...” Cassim trailed off. He was at a loss for words. What else could he do to express his remorse? What gesture could show the true extent of his remorse? Words were useless at this point. So he bowed. Low. Formally. Stiffly. It was so unlike him, so foreign to him, yet, it was everything he wanted to express in a simple gesture.

He stayed in that position for a long time. He himself didn’t even know how long he stayed like that. He stayed in that position until his back grew numb, until his knees began to tremble from staying locked so long. He didn’t even dare to look up, but was forced to when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He looked up, fully expecting to be met with a complete stranger, or even Zaynab or Hassan. Yet, he was met with someone entirely unexpected. What was his name again...?

“...Aladdin?” Cassim eyed the boy suspiciously, not fully understanding why he wanted to see him. This was the same boy who had pulled out a djinn from his little recorder. The same boy who put it away with only a simple command from Alibaba. Just... who was he exactly?

“Ah, um... Cassim...” Aladdin’s gaze drifted down as he began fiddling with his recorder. Aladdin’s nerves were understandable, but unwelcome. Cassim couldn’t help but glare at the kid, who flinched away with teary eyes. Cassim felt a small pinch of remorse. No way was this kid just some regular old brat if he had his own djinn. He should speak up if he was so great.

“Waaah, you can look real scary, Cassim. A-anyway... there’s trouble. So I thought I should tell you since you’re Alibaba’s friend...” Aladdin trailed off, jittery. To urge him to continue, Cassim stood straight and nodded to signal he was listening.

“Ships from the Kou Empire are coming towards Balbadd. Alibaba was going to stay, but Sinbad decided that he’d take Alibaba to Sindria on a ship instead because it’s safer. It’s leaving in an hour.” Aladdin explained, though his quick explanation only left Cassim all the more confused.

Sindria? Sinbad? Kou Empire...?

And then, it clicked.

The marriage-slave contract. It was the entire reason Alibaba was so frantic to make Balbadd a republic instead of taking over as king. That was terminated, but unofficially, right? Balbadd was in a state of weakness. It was in debt with Kou, and had no true leader, for Alibaba made the king step down. At the same time, a republic hadn’t been formed yet either.

That meant Kou would attempt to take over. It could use debt or even the contract as a more than valid reason. And if Balbadd decided to fight back with that little army they had, a war would be imminent. Balbadd would ultimately lose, no doubt about it.

And even if Balbadd surrendered, it would only become part of Kou. The king along with the princes would likely be killed. Beheaded in the capital to instill fear into the people and prevent an uprising.

So that’s why Sinbad would whisk away Alibaba. To save his little neck from getting chopped off. And he would give him shelter in Sindria, even if Alibaba didn’t want it. Because there was nothing else he could do. Peaceful negotiations would be impossible at this point.

Maybe... Sinbad wasn’t as bad a person as Cassim had initially thought. He still rubbed him the wrong way though.

“A war with Kou, huh... Alright. Did you really need to tell me this, though? I would’ve found out in a few hours, right?” Cassim queried, raising a questioning eyebrow at Aladdin who faltered.

“Well, like I said, the ship leaves in an hour so—“

“You’re telling me you want me to... go with you?” Cassim cut off Aladdin, taken aback by the bold request. He gave a small nod in response to which Cassim groaned and brought his palm to his head.

“Jeez, you must really be an idiot.” Cassim was interrupted by a pitiful protest from Aladdin, but he ignored it. “The uprising was what gave Kou an opening. That was my fault. I’ve gotta stay here and help patch things up. I’m real pissed Kou’s gonna try and take over, and maybe cause another war, but I can’t just go-“

“H-Hey, don’t make big decisions without us!”

“Yeah, you should consult us first, Cassim.”

Hassan and Zaynab made their way onto the huge pile of rubble, scrambling on up. They rushed to Cassim’s side, each grabbing a shoulder, making him to tense slightly. He supposed they were in the crowd the entire time.

“Why don’t you want to go to Sindria? It’s Sindria! We’ve never been out of the country, so you should take the opportunity.” Zaynab grinned, squeezing Cassim’s shoulder tightly.

“Why...?” Cassim’s face darkened, causing both the hands on his shoulders to loosen. He eyed the two with a strict expression before allowing himself to explain. “You do know what atone means, don’t you? You think I can do that partying it off in another country?”

“We told you not to take on the entire burden yourself. Don’t tell me you went deaf too. Atone by going with Alibaba.” Hassan explained with a grin, like it were that easy. Cassim clenched both his fists with a growl.

“And how the hell am I supposed to atone there...? By hanging out with him instead of helping around here and accepting whatever Kou plans to do to us?!” Cassim glared at Hassan, yanking his shoulder away. “I’d just be a coward... running away from all my mistakes. I can’t...” He couldn’t do that. Not again.

“You can’t run away.” Zaynab’s voice was barely audible as she gently ran her fingers over Cassim’s neck. He nearly flinched. It was so sensitive. It made him uncomfortable. He wanted her to stop, because it made him feel so vulnerable.

“You’ll have these scars forever, won’t you, Cassim?” Zaynab gestured to his neck and chest, to which Cassim gave a hesitant nod, if only to stop her from touching him.

“That’s a pretty heavy atonement, one that you bear alone. So you’ll never forget. All we can do here is work to rebuild Balbadd. But you... you can do so much more. You can help Alibaba, who was going to make this place something great. And then someday, you’ll both come back. And Balbadd will become something amazing.” Zaynab whispered gently with a far off smile, one that didn’t often grace her lips. Cassim was... unable to respond for a moment.

“You should go Cassim. You really should, cause I’d sure as hell love to...” Hassan grumbled, though his hands were clenched into shaking fists. ...Was he jealous?

“You two just...” Cassim wanted to argue, to stay. He wanted to put himself through hell so less people would have to. He wanted to take on the burden all by himself, so no one else had to. He wanted to do this alone, so damn bad.

But these two wouldn’t let him. These two whom he grew up with, whom he fought along side of ever since he was a child. Because they followed him. And they were willing to share the burden. They were a couple of idiots. Complete, utter idiots.

“...Thank you.” Cassim had spent so much time apologizing, he nearly forgot to be thankful for what he was graced with. Even if he didn’t deserve it. He received two bright smiles in turn, smiles he would burn into his memory. He returned their smiles with a gentle one of his own before turning towards Aladdin.

“Alright, pipsqueak.” Cassim stared down at Aladdin, offering him a decisive nod. Part of him still wanted to take on the entire burden himself, to fix all of his mistakes single-handedly. He wouldn’t deny it.

But he had friends. And these friends wanted him to rely on them. They were willing to share the burden with him, no, they wanted to share the burden with him. So he’d let them. And he’d do what his friends thought only he could do.

“Take me to the ship.”

Chapter Text

He never accounted for the actual experience when he made his decision. He never imagined that after only a day or so, he’d regret it immensely.

He didn’t think it would come to this. He never imagined just how terrible it could get. Just how unimaginable, unfathomable it would be. Tremendously humiliating beyond belief. To think he was so helpless in such a crucial situation...

“Ugh...” Cassim let out a weak groan as he leaned against the ship’s rail, attempting to hold himself upright. His knees trembled beneath him, ready to collapse. His body threatened to betray him and release all that he had eaten just before.

“Shi-“ Cassim’s hand flew to his mouth as his other clenched the rail. He felt bile rise dangerously high in his throat, but managed to swallow it back. He inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, praying the scheduled breaths would keep his stomach at bay. The salty air seemed to help calm his nerves, and a quick glance at the horizon helped him find his balance. It was enough to keep his legs from shaking helplessly.

Cassim had never traveled on a ship. A boat, yes, but never an actual ship. He didn’t have a reason to. He supposed it was only natural he’d feel seasick, but he was taken aback by just how awful it was. Cassim could do nothing but groan in agony with a bucket by his side the day of departure. The second day seemed to be no better, for here he was, doing nothing but groaning in agony. Over a wooden railing, this time.

He could only wait the bout of nausea out until finally, finally it ventured elsewhere. Likely to take on another unsuspecting passenger as its next victim.

“They say big ships are supposed to be easier to handle...” Cassim exhaled as he released the rail from his death grip, eyeing the cloudless sky before him. It was peaceful. So beautifully peaceful. It was serene. Calming. ...It was absolutely terrifying.

Tranquility was something Cassim never truly bore witness to. His entire life was led by killing, stealing, hunting, and hurting. There wasn’t a moment to spare, not a moment to breathe. Life flew by faster than Cassim could keep up with. There was never a dull moment, he was constantly on edge. Now, though, his only reasonable fears were that the nausea would return all too soon.

The change wasn’t unwelcome, but not easily adjustable. Living with the thought of ‘I wonder if tomorrow’s skies will be this clear’ was vastly different from the daily fret of ‘will we be able to find enough food today?’ The hospitality left Cassim no room for complaint or concern. It was almost scarily so how workers catered to his every need without fail.

Food was brought to him despite how he lie sick in bed. He was offered buckets, and visited often by sailors who seemed to genuinely care for his well-being, despite him only taking up useful space. He couldn’t understand. Was it because they were paid? Even then, the nurse back at the palace infirmary showed no real concern for him. So why?

Compassion was a foreign concept to Cassim.

“Who knows? I’ve never been to Sindria. Sinbad and Ja'far make it sound really awesome!”

“But is this really the answer? Alibaba doesn’t...”

“But Morg, If we stayed, who knows what could happen? I’d follow you if you really wanted to go back, but we should trust in Sinba- Ah, Cassim!” Aladdin, having suddenly noticed Cassim’s presence, lit up and gave a small wave, prancing over to him.

Cassim couldn’t be more grateful the nausea left as soon as it did.

“Oh yeah, you said that Alibaba’s friend would be coming too...” The girl beside Aladdin responded quietly, eyeing Cassim as though sizing him up. Cassim gave her a brief glance before turning his eyes back to Aladdin.

“You’ve never really met Morg, huh? Well, Cassim, this is my good friend, Morgiana! Morgiana, meet Cassim!” Aladdin introduced her with a bright chirp to his voice, and it was only then Cassim truly looked at her.

She was young. Around maybe fourteen or fifteen. There was something about her that radiated power, something that made you think you wouldn’t want to mess with her. Yet she also had a charming innocence about her. She was cute. She reminded Cassim of her. 

Morgiana looked up at him with blank, unreadable eyes. Her empty eyes scrutinized him until she finally opened her mouth to speak.

“Hello, Cassim. You’re Alibaba’s friend.” She stated as though it were a fact, holding out her hand politely. There was something about that tone that felt off. Cassim wasn’t sure how, it just did. He made no comment on it.

“Morgiana. Alibaba talked about you.” Cassim met her handshake in a firm grip. She gripped him back just as tightly, challenging him. When he met her eyes, he swore he saw sparks. Not the kind that gave you butterflies, the kind that unnerved you. The kind you had to match head on otherwise you would falter. So Cassim met it head on with a firm look of his own.

“...He mentioned me?” The sparkle in Morgiana’s eyes betrayed her stern persona. She leaned forward, suddenly intrigued. “What did he...?”

“Hmm... Can’t really remember.” Cassim gave a small, unconcerned shrug. He felt a sense of satisfaction in seeing her loosen, a disappointed look crossing her face before it hardened once more. Perhaps sensing he kept the details hidden on purpose, she glared at him for a mere moment before huffing and turning away.

“...That’s too bad. Let’s go, Aladdin.” Morgiana made her exit, walking away. Each step looked as though she wanted to rush, but she walked calmly, if only to prove Cassim didn’t get to her. Cassim was pretty sure he still got to her. Aladdin fumbled to keep up, yelling a pitiful ‘wait up, Morg!’ Before running as fast as his tiny legs could take him.

Aladdin and Morgiana. Those names left a sour taste on Cassim’s tongue. It was odd. They were Alibaba’s friends, people Alibaba trusted and confided in. They were people who stuck by Alibaba, even when he supposedly betrayed them and joined the Fog Troupe. They trusted Alibaba despite that. Because they cared about Alibaba.

Even then, Cassim couldn’t bring himself to care for them much. Aladdin was nothing more than a child granted a few magical powers. Maybe there was something special about the kid, but all he saw was a little kid who somehow managed to work his way into a group with the big kids.

Morgiana was... difficult. There was tension between him and her, but neither would dare to acknowledge it. Cassim was... unsure of where this rivalry originated from, or why it even existed in the first place.

No, that wasn’t true.

Cassim knew exactly why they started off on bad terms, he just didn’t want to admit it.

It was Cassim’s own pettiness, plain and simple. He didn’t mind when he himself pointed out his flaws, but he couldn’t tolerate other people doing it to him, even indirectly. It was the way she said the word ‘friend’. As though it were just some delusion Cassim thought up. Having a child like her point out something like that pissed him off.

Dammit, Alibaba was his friend. He had to be, right? Why else would Alibaba visit his hospital room often? Why else would Alibaba attempt to save Cassim’s life? Why else was Alibaba unable to murder Cassim? Why else... did Cassim call Alibaba his best friend without a second thought?

They were friends. They had to be. Why else would Cassim decide to go on the boat...?

Why else... would...

“Gh!” A sudden thought popped into Cassim’s mind and he banged his fist on the rail to drown it out with pain. That wasn’t true, he wasn’t... Alibaba wasn’t...

Wrong.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Right? No, wrong.

Alibaba was a fool. That’s what he was. Nothing but a fool. A delusional fool, only setting himself up for disaster. Cassim was only stringing him along, because Alibaba didn’t know any better.

Alibaba took the fact that he grew up with Cassim as proof of eternal friendship. But that was wrong. So, so wrong.

Cassim manipulated Alibaba. He took advantage of his kindness, he tricked Alibaba more times than he could count. All Cassim ever did was manipulate Alibaba. Trick him into doing his bidding, trick him into following his ideals, trick him into leading him into the castle. Their relationship was nothing more than pure manipulation.

They were nothing more than a man and a fool. A relationship where Alibaba allowed himself to constantly get stepped, only to forgive the owner of the shoe the next day. It was so messed up. What right did Cassim have to call Alibaba his ‘best friend?’

Alibaba genuinely cared for Cassim. He saw him as a true friend. He smiled for him, laughed for him, even cried for him. He couldn’t bring himself to kill him, even as enemies.

But Cassim... he couldn’t say with certainty that he wouldn’t kill Alibaba were the need to arise. He couldn’t promise that he’d never hurt Alibaba again. Because he could. He probably would.

It was only a matter of time.

A wave of nausea overcame him once more, as suddenly as it had gone. He attempted to stomach the bile, to keep it from rising.

His stomach ejected everything. He continued retching until nothing but stomach bile would come up. His throat burned, as though seared. His eyes teared, as though clouded with smoke. His body ached, as though pierced. His entire body felt weak, as though he could collapse that very second.

He steeled it out, forcing himself to stumble clumsily down to his cabin, all while covering his mouth, where drool threatened to spill.

He entered his cabin and allowed himself to fall limply onto the bed. He wanted to do nothing but sleep. Just sleep. He was so tired...

His body thought otherwise. He dry heaved over a bucket so many times he lost count. Tears stung his eyes, and he continued to dry heave, with nothing but saliva pouring out of his mouth.

Worthless.

Completely worthless.

“Alibaba told Morg and me about your past.”

Those were the first words Aladdin spoke after a long, uncomfortable amount of silence in the cabin. The only sound being being an unconscious Alibaba’s gentle breaths. It was like he was only taking a short nap.

Cassim knew Alibaba wouldn’t awaken for some time. Still, he found an odd comfort in visiting his cabin, even if he was only met with an unconscious being.

It seemed Aladdin had the same habit as him, for when Cassim entered, he found Aladdin perched on a crate beside Alibaba’s bed, lost in thought. Neither spoke when Cassim sat on the opposite side of the room, eyes focused on Alibaba.

It was only after a lengthy, tense silence that Aladdin made to speak.

”Hearing it from his side makes you sound like the bad guy, Cassim. But Alibaba still thinks of you as a close friend.” Aladdin added, eyes drifting over to Cassim, all his attention suddenly focused on him.

”So? What do you expect to hear? I stringed Alibaba along. He’s a damn idiot, is what he is. ...Guess I am too, since I’m on this ship.” Cassim let out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes, allowing the gentle rocking of the ship to calm him. Once, it made him sicker than he could possibly bear. Now, he felt a familiar comfort in it.

”...It’s almost time for dinner. That sure flew by fast.” Aladdin jumped up, light on his feet. He made his way towards the cabin entrance, a bounce to his step. “Wanna join us this time, Cassim?”

Cassim had managed to avoid group supper for the most of the week. Something about seeing everyone’s faces managed to piss him off one way or another. Sinbad, Ja'far, and Masrur especially rubbed him the wrong way, in all the wrong places. He’d already been humiliated enough by both, and for them to have the gall to kidnap an unwilling Aliababa... 

It was enough to say that Cassim had a rather low opinion on them. Morgiana well... He generally disagreed with Her. He supposed dealing with the little pipsqueak was tolerable enough.

”...Yeah, alright.” Cassim reluctantly agreed, standing from the crate he sat on. It would do him no good to avoid the others forever. He had to confront them sooner or later.

”I’m sure it’ll be really, really fun!” Aladdin grinned, giving Cassim’s sleeve a little tug before making his way out of the cabin, to the dining hall. A place Cassim had avoided as much as possible during his seven days on the ship.

Needless to say, everyone was in shock when a willing Cassim came in behind a peppy Aladdin, an odd duo. Sinbad, Ja'far, and Morgiana were already seated around the large table, talking amongst themselves. Masrur was nowhere to be found. Not like he talked anyway. The conversation halted abruptly when Cassim had entered the room, all eyes trained on him.

...What did they expect? Why did they just... stare, without saying anything? If they wanted to know something, they should speak up.

”Well, if it isn’t Cassim. Glad you could join us.” Sinbad welcomed without missing a beat. The way he spoke seemed to have an underlying tone, but Cassim did his best to ignore it. He could hardly deal with the upfront tones as they were.

”...Yeah.” Cassim responded, plopping down in a random seat around the table. Whether it was to be polite or because he genuinely wanted to, Aladdin sat next to Cassim. For a long moment, there was a lull in conversation. Then, the food was brought out by ship’s crew.

Cassim had always known that the food on this ship was exceptional. The plates they brought to his cabin everyday were sizable. But to see first hand how large each individually prepared dish was, it made him feel a mix of both greed and envy. To think, some people got to eat like this everyday, like it was no big deal. Yet most could never spare a glance towards those who were starving, and they threw away food without a second thought.

The food looked really good. Cassim knew he was staring too hard, but couldn’t resist.

“So then, Cassim. This is the first time you’ve sat with us.” Sinbad started off, amber eyes peering at him. Despite Sinbad’s carefree attitude, Cassim had the distinct impression that Sinbad was calculating him, trying to read what was beneath the exterior. Cassim did his best to ensure Sinbad could not see beyond the surface point.

”Yeah, it is.” Cassim gave Sinbad a brief glance, before his eyes trailed back to the food. Such an array of bright colors. It looked so unnatural, yet, so delectable.

”We should talk a bit about you while we have the chance. So tell us, what led you to coming on this ship?” Sinbad queried, pausing only to say a quick thanks for the meal after servants distributed plates and utensils.

Cassim took a bite of meat, if only to give himself a moment to think. It didn’t help much, for he was still enthralled with the quality of the meal and just how good it really was. Cassim swallowed his bite and carefully eyed Sinbad, seeing everyone’s attention focused on him.

Inadvertently putting pressure on him by making it so everyone would listen? What a dirty trick. ...Not that Cassim had room to talk. Still, he couldn't stand when other people did stuff like that to him. Especially people like Sinbad.

”I don’t know. Spur of the moment, I guess.” Cassim did his best to answer vaguely, but Sinbad was silent, unrelenting as he stared holes into Cassim’s.

Dammit, fine... He’d relent.

”I wasn’t planning to go on this trip, obviously. I was gonna to stay in Balbadd to fix the mess I made. But they, my... friends, wouldn’t let me.” Cassim prodded at his food with his fork, avoiding the curious gazes boring into him. “I dunno if they’re idiots or what. Scratch that, they are. Anyway, they thought I could help Alibaba or something. They’re... really stubborn.”

Cassim exhaled, his voice a bit deeper than before. “I should’ve stayed. Here they are, cleaning up my goddamn mess because they think it’s theirs too. And hell, maybe it is, but if it weren’t for me, it never would’ve happened in the first place.

”...I gave in. Can’t do a a thing about it. So here I am. Not sure what good I’ll do, but...” Cassim trailed off, stuffing food into his mouth to signal that he was done speaking. The eyes of the four around him looked more... surprised than anything. As though they hadn’t expected that answer. ...Did they expect for him to be some cruel, heartless freak?

They wouldn’t be wrong.

”I think it’ll make Alibaba really happy. You know him better than anyone.” Aladdin smiled up at Cassim, though, he was less encouraging with his mouth full of food. Still, Cassim appreciated the sentiment.

”That’s true. Alibaba might not be happy when he wakes up, but I’m sure you can help to calm him.” Sinbad spoke with a slow nod, eating food as gracefully as a king would. Right, he was one of those, wasn’t he...?

 “...” Cassim remained silent, bringing food to his mouth in a way that wouldn’t seem too desperate. It wasn’t as though he was starved, quite the contrary, actually. His body was in a much better state than it was before he regained his muscle, and he felt stronger than ever. That didn’t mean a small part of him wondered if he’d ever be able to eat anything this delectable again.

So he ate.

Drowning out his own thoughts, the side conversations, just focusing on the food. He ignored the way Ja'far stared at him wearily. He ignored the way Morgiana looked as though she wanted to ask something, but held back. He ignored Aladdin’s curious gaze on him, as though he wanted to start a conversation.

Because the only thing he could worry about was himself.

And the fact that in a week, Alibaba would wake up.

In a week, he’d be in Sindria. 

Chapter Text

“The way they keep you knocked out...” Cassim spoke, his voice disappearing into the air, swallowed by rocking waves. 

“Really pisses me off.” He gave the bedding a simple pat before retreating to a crate in the corner of the cabin. Cassim sat on it, eyes glued to Alibaba’s sedated figure. The way Alibaba’s chest rose and fell with each breath was almost hypnotic. The breaths were gentle, undisturbed, the kind that belonged to a child sleeping after a long day of play. 

Yet, they felt all wrong. Alibaba’s breaths should’ve been frantic, pained, as though he were having a terrible nightmare. Yet they remained gentle. Calm. So, so unnatural.

Cassim knew better than anyone that Alibaba was the one most affected by Balbadd’s dilemma. He bet that Alibaba would be mercilessly beating himself up over it if he weren’t unconscious. It was proof that Alibaba’s peaceful figure was unnatural. Proof enough that something forced this look onto Alibaba, making it so he was unable to even comprehend reality. It bothered the hell out Cassim, enough that it made even conversing with Ja'far and Sinbad a difficult feat.

“To think I eat lunch with those bastards every day.” Cassim scoffed with a grin, his eyes drawn up towards the bare, wooden ceiling. For the past week, Cassim took up every dinner invitation Aladdin offered him, for reasons unknown. Maybe it was because he was willing to indulge the kid. Or maybe Cassim just wanted to try and understand Ja’far, Sinbad, and Masrur, who joined lunch sporadically. 

It didn’t do much good, considering Cassim still held a pretty deep grudge against the three. Only, this time, the grudge was for forcefully keeping Alibaba immobile instead of being good-for-nothing nobles. An improvement, he supposed. 

“Then again, Alibaba’s an idiot. He’d probably get himself killed if they didn’t jump in.” Cassim spoke aloud, knowing full well his only audience was an unconscious body. Cassim’s golden eyes made their way over to the figure tucked within the sheets, refusing to leave it.

“He wouldn’t just back down. He’s a pushover, but he jumps right back up soon enough.” Cassim’s eyes narrowed fondly as he stared at Alibaba, who remained oblivious to Cassim’s presence. 

“That’s true.” A small voice spoke up, knocking Cassim out of his thoughts. 

“Gah! When’d you get in here, pipsqueak?” Cassim jumped before staring accusingly at Aladdin, who smiled, completely immune to Cassim’s death glare.

“Just now. Did I scare you?” Aladdin smiled innocently as he skipped over to Cassim’s side, leaning on a crate that stood to his chest. 

“I thought you’d be here. You and Alibaba are really good friends, huh?” Aladdin stared up at Cassim with a grin as bright as the sun, one that forced Cassim to avert his gaze. 

“Sure, sure... Whatever you say, kid.” Cassim rolled his eyes as he shoved Aladdin away by the head, causing the boy to stumble before collapsing onto the floor. He rubbed his forehead gently, wearing a pained expression. 

“H-Hey, that hurt! Anyway, I was gonna tell you...” Aladdin drew himself back into a standing position before continuing. “We can finally see Sindria! It shouldn’t take long for us to arrive. Alibaba’s medicine should be wearing off too, according to Ja'far.” 

“Hmm...” Cassim nodded, an unreadable expression adjourning his face. He stared at Aladdin for a quick moment before shooing him away with a silent wave of his hand. 

“S-Sorry to bother you...” Aladdin responded weakly to Cassim’s indifference, unsure of what to do. He gave a few frantic glimpses between Alibaba and Cassim before walking towards the exit. “Morg wasn’t in her room... Maybe she’s talking with Masrur?” He murmured his thoughts aloud before leaving the cabin with a slam of the door. 

“He just comes and goes whenever he pleases, huh?” Cassim mumbled to himself as his eyes lingered on the cabin door. Such a weird kid. He still didn’t know much about him, he should ask when given a chance. His eyes were drawn away when he heard a quiet, barely audible shuffle.

It was almost enough to make Cassim jump out of his seat and rush over to Alibaba’s bedside. His sense of reason managed to keep from doing so, much as he wanted to. Instead, Cassim sat there, calmly, patiently, watching Alibaba stir in his sleep. After a few labored breaths, Alibaba’s eyelids fluttered open. He stared lifelessly at the ceiling, eyes hazy and unfocused. The only thing that could catch his attention was the overhead lamp that swung with each rock of the boat.

“Ngh...” Alibaba let out a groan, his hand coming to rest on his forehead. Cassim carefully noted how Alibaba seemed to be in acute pain, a likely side effect of the medicine used to put him under.

“This is... a sh-“ Alibaba’s eyes drifted towards the circular window as he began to speak, only for his words to cut off as his eyes carried over to Cassim’s sitting figure. Alibaba blinked a few times, a look of disbelief crossing his face. 

“C-Cassim... why are you... Where’d you go? Why’d you leave without telling me!? It might not be my business, but...” Alibaba’s eyes jumped to life as he stared earnestly at Cassim. It was only for a second, though, for they began to falter soon after, uncertainty swimming within them.

Cassim met Alibaba’s gaze rather than averting it as per usual. Whether it was out of guilt or in attempt of reconciliation, Cassim couldn’t say. Still... he was certain that he didn’t like the fact that he could never look into Alibaba’s eyes for too long. 

“Guess if you’ve got the energy to ask all these questions, you’re fine.” Cassim responded indifferently to Alibaba’s barrage of questions. He slowly stood from the crate, giving Alibaba a pointed look.

“Fine...? What do you mean...? Why are we on a ship, any— H-Hey! Don’t just walk out when I’m talking to you!” Alibaba left his bed at nearly sound-breaking speed as he made to catch up with Cassim, who was already halfway out the cabin door. Alibaba wasn’t able to make the trip without a few stumbles and uneasy footing, but managed. Cassim glanced over his shoulder and gave Alibaba a vague cue to follow him as he made his way onto the deck, towards the bow.

Alibaba seemed to somewhat understand, for he followed after Cassim with blind trust. Cassim could see Alibaba glancing every which way out of the corner of his vision, but promptly ignored him as he stood at the railing of the ship.

“That place...” Alibaba’s voice dropped to a whisper as he made to stand beside Cassim, who was staring silently at the piece of land the ship was nearing. “Isn’t Balbadd.”

Though Alibaba’s upright, unwavering stance hinted at him being confident in this, his tightly pulled back lips and furrowed brows spoke otherwise. He looked... concerned. Confused.

“Right. That over there’s Sindria.” A deep, familiar voice caused both Alibaba and Cassim to whirl around at the same time. Five figures stood towards the entrance to the lower ship, Sinbad having spoken. Aladdin, Morgiana, and Masrur stood a little ways away to his right, while Ja'far stood to his immediate left.

“Sindria...? But...” Alibaba’s eyes traveled upwards as he tried to make sense of the information given.

“We knew you’d be against it, so we...no, I had you sedated until we arrived at Sindria.” Sinbad carried on, his face lacking its usual, carefree smile. His mouth a thin line as he stared at Alibaba. Alibaba’s eyes slowly widened after a few moments. 

“I’m planning to visit the Kou Empire after signing off a few things in my country. I’ll be making an attempt at negotiations.” Sinbad explained, eyes leveled as he watch the silent Alibaba, who hadn’t moved a muscle.

Sinbad had no more to say. Alibaba didn’t either.  

That was, until, he took a shaky step towards Sinbad. Cassim could see the tiny tremors running throughout his body as he did so.

“Just...” Alibaba’s whisper was so silent, Cassim was sure he was the only one to hear. In an instant, though, Alibaba was bellowing, voice ten times louder than before. “Just what right do you have to do that, huh?!” Alibaba’s arms shook as he clenched his jaw, fingers tightened into a fist. Brows furrowed and teeth bared, he stared at Sinbad challengingly. As though if he weren’t given an adequate answer, he’d jump off the ship right then and there. “Tell me, dammit!” 

“You’re right. Sin has absolutely no right at all.” At that moment, Ja'far stepped  forward, earning the attention of the other six. Sinbad’s stance faltered slightly. He reached towards Ja'far, his face resembling a kicked puppy’s.

“H-Hey... Whose side are you on, anyway?” Sinbad weakly questioned, though Ja'far just ignored him, turning his head slightly away. Instead, he pierced Alibaba with his eyes.

“At the same time, he has no need to save you and Balbadd as well.” Ja'far spoke these cutting words without a flinch in expression, eyes boring into Alibaba’s. Alibaba stubbornly returned the gaze with an agitated one of his own. After a few seconds, he relented and relaxed his body first. At some point, Cassim realized, Alibaba had stopped shaking as well.

Then, Alibaba collapsed onto his knees, eyes blank and vacant. A look Cassim knew well. 

Alibaba was defeated, having lost the will to even so much as argue. He sat on his knees for a moment before falling onto his hands, using them as support. “Dammit...” Alibaba gently banged his fist onto the deck. “Dammit. Dammit!” With each curse, each bang grew louder and louder.

Cassim could only stare at Alibaba, who looked so small and vulnerable in that moment.

No one made a move.

So, Alibaba kept banging his fist onto the ground until the side of his hand was bloodied and raw.

“Damn, they’re loud.” Cassim covered a single ear as the sounds of large gongs reverberated throughout his entire body. With each ring, the more his body shook to the heavy vibrations. How the hell did people ring those things without collapsing?

“Those are the gongs to signal Sin’s return. Though he’ll be leaving once again in a few days or so, it’s customary to announce the King’s arrival.” Ja'far explained, somehow standing perfectly stock still, as though the sound didn’t affect him at all.  

Alibaba wasn’t holding up any better than Cassim, for even he seemed to almost collapse from the intensity of it all. Or was that from not having used his legs in nearly three weeks?

Aladdin, meanwhile, grabbed onto Morgiana, who had a foot slammed hard onto the ground. Using her raw strength, she partially penetrated the concerete so the sound didn’t move her. 

Damn, little pipsqueak’s smarter than I thought. Not that I’m dumb enough to try that with her.

Cassim scoffed at even the thought of it. He and Morgiana weren’t on the best terms. The most they did was acknowledge each other’s presence if they weren’t actively ignoring each other. One way or another, they’d get into an intense staring match if they ever locked eyes at the dinner table. What it was for, Cassim wasn’t really sure. Cassim bet Morgiana didn’t have a damn clue either. It was just the way they worked. A silent feud that never grew physical. Thank the stars for that. 

“Sin wanted you guys to get a tour of the castle, where you’ll be staying from now on.” Ja'far said practically yelled these words to be heard over the loud gongs. After a few bongs, they finally stilled, only to be replaced by deafening cheers.

...Staying? 

Castle...?

...That managed to both excite and anger Cassim. The last thing he deserved was to live in luxury after all he did. It was disgusting, selfish of him. How could he stand to be excited about a castle when the people of Balbadd were working their asses off despite everything?

“...sim. Cassim!” A loud yell managed to drag Cassim away from his thoughts, as a warm hand grasped his arm.

“They’re leaving us. C’mon.” Alibaba pointed to the receding figures of Ja'far, Aladdin, and Morgiana before following suit, though he made no move to catch up. He looked content walking at his current tortoise-like pace, as though walking any faster would wear him out.

No, it’s not just that... He looks... 

Beaten. But Cassim didn’t want to tell himself that, so he cut off his train of thought. Though, his subconscious was acutely aware of the tired, exhausted look in Alibaba’s eyes. The raw pain and anger constantly swimming within their shallow depths.

Cassim understood. He moved on from Balbadd pretty quick. He was able to smile and laugh real soon despite all he did. But that was just the kind of person he was. If he couldn’t handle the burden, he wouldn’t have been able to lead the Fog Troupe. He wouldn’t have been able to propose a citizen-run war without hesitation.

Alibaba was a softie though. Things stuck with him forever, poking at him with a sharp needle. That was why he left the castle after his father passed. It was why he joined the Fog Troupe, why he was so willing to see Cassim despite the betrayal. Cassim couldn’t even begin to imagine how much the situation in Balbadd was eating away at him. 

Cassim sighed, giving Alibaba a little shove forward. Alibaba, surprised, stumbled. He looked back at Cassim with accusatory eyes. Cassim merely flicked his eyes towards the three walking ahead in response. “We don’t have all day, y’know.”

Cassim made his way ahead of Alibaba, aiming to somewhat catch up with Ja’far and the other two. Alibaba, though irked, followed Cassim at a quicker pace. After a minute, they easily caught up with the three. Whether they noticed Cassim and Alibaba lagged behind was a mystery, for Ja’far kept speaking of the customs of Sindria without pause or change in expression. Aladdin and Morgiana looked on with interest, while Alibaba looked too lost in thought to be paying attention.

“Of course, you can see the castle from here.” Ja'far smiled as he pointed towards the distance. Past a multitude of buildings and shops, Cassim could see the silhouette out a castle leering in the far distance. It stood high above anything else in the island, towering over at the largest peak, so it could be seen from anywhere. It would be a reassuring sight, for not how far it was.

“H-How long is this walk...?” Aladdin asked as he glanced up at Ja'far. He winced before Ja'far even made a sound.  

“We should arrive before nighttime. A few hours, at most.” Ja'far spoke confidently, but it did nothing to perk up Aladdin, who looked utterly deflated at even the idea. Cassim wasn’t looking for a long hike either.

“Quit looking so down. It’s not that bad.” Cassim gave Aladdin a gentle smack to the head, not nearly enough to inflict damage, but enough to gather his attention. Aladdin let out a little grunt and glanced up, wounded. Seeing Cassim’s false determination, he smiled.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right. Alright, let’s keep—“ Aladdin’s bright nature suddenly descended once he saw how Ja'far and Morgiana were a ways ahead. He let out a little yelp and scrambled to catch up, dragging Cassim and a reluctant Alibaba behind. 

“You’re back.” Morgiana acknowledged the three with a small nod before turning her attention back to Ja'far. She seemed genuinely interested in the history and customs of the country as she listened on with intent eyes. Cassim couldn’t blame her.

The place was stunning. He couldn’t keep his eyes away from the bright, vivid colors that decorated the streets. Surrounding him were food vendors, all selling bright, healthy looking fruits and vegetables. Many people walked around, often wearing flowers crowns, necklaces, and even bracelets. 

The atmosphere was like nothing Cassim’s ever witnessed.

“Huh...” He mumbled to himself, glancing between the vendors and the people themselves. “That king really is something.” Cassim nodded, as though to confirm his own words.

He still held a grudge against Sinbad, no doubt about that. He probably still would for the foreseeable future. But if Sinbad truly made a country this wonderful, it wouldn’t be wrong to respect him. No matter how selfish or arrogant he acted, in the end, he had the stuff to back it up.

That fact irritated Cassim more than he’d like to admit.

Cassim finally let go of his tension when he collapsed onto the plush bed the second he entered the room. He couldn’t help but relish it’s softness, the feeling of the blankets against his skin heavenly.

His rags for clothes were completely out of place on such an exquisite bed. He’d have to take a long bath before he dared to climb into it. Clothes wouldn’t be a problem, as the closet in the room was supplied with a surplus of them.

The room was too good for his own blood. Intricate decorations and a warm atmosphere. He could probably share this room with two, no, three more people if he wanted to. It had to be at least three times the size of the tarp he, Alibaba, Mariam, and Anise stayed in while in the slums.

Hell, there was even a balcony. That was probably the best thing Cassim could get right now. So, pulling himself away from the bed, made his way towards the left of the room. Stepping outside, he slid the glass door shut behind him. The cool wind that caressed his cheeks felt pleasant after such a long trek.

His fingers twitched for the cigar in his pocket. He bought a decent supply from the crew members aboard the ship with little money he had on him. Considering he could hardly go a day without a smoke, he’d say the cost was well worth it. Cassim reaffirmed this as he pulled the cigar from his pocket, casually weighing it between his fingers.

He chopped off the end with his dagger and lit it with a match, letting his shoulders relax with each puff. His eyes drank in the view as he took deep, slow breaths, leaning onto the railing.

Human beings looked like cute little ants from so far above, all moving about the fields, their houses, the markets. The sunset bathed the country a beautiful orange, dying the sky a pinkish-purple hue. Compared to Balbadd, which was depressingly mudane in terms of colors and vendors, Sindria was paradise.

Cassim sighed, smoke leaving his lips. It went by so fast. Just two weeks ago, he was leading the Fog troupe. Just two weeks ago, he abandoned everything to prove his point. Just two weeks ago... He turned Balbadd into a living hell. And now here he was, in a foreign country, given royal treatment for who knows why. How the hell was he staying sane?

“Dammit...” Cassim closed his eyes. He made the decision to come on the ship. He made the decision, knowing full well they’d be headed for Sindria. What the hell was he getting cold feet for now?

“I need a break...” Cassim mumbled, leaving his cigar to burn out in a metal ashtray on the balcony table.

After grabbing some fitting clothes provided in the closet, Cassim, going by Ja’far’s earlier tour of the castle, made his way to the bathroom. After a relaxing (if not invasive with how servants offered to wash his back) bath, he returned to his room, where he found Alibaba hovering at his door, hesitating to knock.

“Yo, Alibaba.”

“Huh? Oh, Cassim...” Alibaba’s shoulders relaxed until he realized his position. He looked between the door and Cassim multiple times before letting out a nervous chuckle. “I, was just, uh...”

“You gonna stand there or what? Come on, come in.” Cassim cut off Alibaba, not giving him much of a choice as he opened the door to his room, beckoning Alibaba in. After a few seconds of hesitation, Alibaba stepped in with confident strides. Seemed he finally made up his mind about something.

“...We haven’t gotten a proper chance to talk after you left, y’know.” Alibaba spoke dryly, his eyes slowly moving up to meet Cassim’s. They were cold, hard, as though daring Cassim to respond sarcastically. 

He didn’t. He just merely stared back, beckoning Alibaba to continue.

 “You... You don’t have to tell me why you left. But I want to know. And I... I want to talk. About a lot of things. And, um...” Alibaba clearly couldn’t hold his resolve for long, for he was stumbling over the words he was initially so confident about. “Completely unrelated, but I um... really want to try sleeping with you. I was too embarrassed to ask when we were in the Fog Troupe, so...” 

...

What?

“...Y’know Alibaba, I’m not really into the whole friends with benefits thing...” Cassim responded with a sly grin, causing Alibaba turned beet red. His voice raised as he tried to vouch for himself. 

“Y-You know that’s not what I meant! I like sleeping with other people nearby, it reminds me of the slums, so it’s calming...” Alibaba rambled, scratching his arm. He took a quick breath before continuing. “It makes me feel... safe. I know I’d be the most comfortable with you, so...” Alibaba trailed off, doing his best to look at anything but Cassim.

Cassim couldn’t hide his grin as he strode towards Alibaba. Once he reached him, he gave him a solid pat on the head. “Man, you’re such a kid.”

His sly grin softened into something much more genuine as he met Alibaba’s tentative eyes. “Sure thing, if that’s what you want, little prince.” 

“Little? We’re practically the same height. I guess you’re a bit taller but—WAH!” Alibaba let out a yelp as Cassim shoved his chest, causing him to stumble and fall onto the plush bed. “C-Cassim...?”

“I sleep on the right, you sleep on the left. Roll over too much and I’m kicking you out.” Cassim declared, crawling under the comforter to the right side of the bed. He allowed himself to relax on the plush bedding that sunk down a little too far, but was still comfortable nonetheless. Alibaba fidgeted slightly before crawling under as well, laying on the left. The bed was so large, they had about two feet in between their bodies at least. Alibaba fidgeted nervously still. 

“Cassim...? I still want to-“ Cassim interrupted Alibaba’s words with a dissatisfied hum and shift, startling him. Cassim rolled over once, closer to Alibaba, before grabbing him by the collar and dragging him towards himself.

“Ah-!” Before Alibaba knew what had hit him, he was pressed gently against Cassim. Cassim’s eyes trailed to the dark ceiling, while Alibaba remained silent. Embarrassment hindered him from being able to speak, but he finally quit fidgeting. Seeing how Alibaba wasn’t going to talk anytime soon, Cassim decided to begin the conversation. 

“Look, I didn’t leave because I was mad or anything.”

“...”

”Okay, I was kinda pissed, but you didn’t do anything.” Cassim found the words left his mouth with ease, almost naturally. Alibaba, though curled up against him, looked to be listening intently.

“Quit staring at me from so close, it’s freaking me out.” Cassim clenched his teeth, glancing away from Alibaba.

“Anyway, I was pretty... down when I first woke up. I was pissed at myself. I couldn’t do anything right. I went and almost got myself killed for nothing. I nearly started an entire goddamn war for nothing. And hell, I couldn’t even repent properly.” His jaw tightened more and more with each word.

”All I could think of was how you managed to stop the war. How you managed to right everything. How you managed to come up with a solution everyone liked. It was always you, you, you...” Cassim clenched his fist, and he could feel Alibaba tense up besides him.

“C-Cassim, I...”

“Shut up.” Cassim snapped before turning his head so Alibaba couldn’t see how disgusting his expression was. “What the hell was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I just be happy... For you, for Balbadd... Why could I only feel envy towards you...?”

Cassim laughed self-derisively, refusing to even look at Alibaba. “The second the infirmary said I was clear, I left. I went to the Fog Troupe base first and apologized. Apologized for getting them involved, apologized for everything I did, all that. Then I stood in front of everyone and did the same thing. Not sure if it made anyone feel better, but I had to do it.” Cassim felt two hands on his shoulders, and it was only then he realized just how incredibly stiff they were. He quickly relaxed them, though Alibaba’s hands remained. Occasionally, he’d move his fingers in a circular motion, as though trying to give Cassim a half-assed massage. Cassim sighed, feeling his entire body relax. 

“I told myself I didn’t tell you about me leaving because I didn’t want to bother you. That was a lie. I didn’t feel like having this kind of conversation with you, alright?” Cassim mumbled, all while feeling his throat close up. He didn’t think he could say more if he tried, so he slowly turned around to finally meet Alibaba head on.

Are his eyes... red...?

“I see...” Aliababa whispered with a firm nod, as though he didn’t have tears poking the corners of his eyes. “So this is how you felt all that time... Me talking about how great things were going must’ve been pretty insensitive, huh... When you were still healing...” Alibaba said this more to himself than to Cassim. 

“I wanted you to tell me. Better that then all to hell, right...?” Cassim offered a weak grin, attempting to lighten the mood. It didn’t work. 

“But I should know better by now! I told myself I’d recognize your feelings better, so you don’t have to feel bad anymore! I wanted to support you. But instead I just...” Tears began running down Alibaba’s face. He wasn’t a helpless, sobbing mess for once. There were just a few quiet sniffles here and there.

“Shut the hell up. Dammit, I can’t fucking stand you. Why do you have to be so... you...?” Cassim’s yell weakened into a mere whisper as he met Alibaba’s tear-filled gaze with a pained look of his own.

“I treated you like shit and you cry over crap like this. I killed people, y’know. I tried to kill you. Why the hell are you crying over this?” Cassim couldn’t help but wince at his own words, reliving that exact moment.

”Don’t you think I know that, you idiot?! But you suffered for so long while I was gone. I just... I want to be there for you now. You’re my friend. My family, got it?” Alibaba whispered, wiping at his tears. He kept Cassim’s gaze, if only to confirm his resolve.

”...You should hate me. I sure as hell would. Hell, part of me even hates you. You know that.” Cassim groaned, rubbing his head. “Wish you felt the same. It’d make things a lot easier...” He admitted, a weak smile playing his lips. Alibaba didn’t seem to share the amusement. In fact, he seemed more affected by those words than any of Cassim’s previous ones. A look of shock crossed his face, and then, a look of pure, emotional turmoil.

“Cassim, I don’t—”

“I’m sick of this. Dammit, this isn’t what I had in mind at all...” Cassim scratched his head, trying to make sense of how this conversation took a turn for the worse. Jeez, he couldn’t even have a civil conversation without getting worked up, huh?

“Alright, I’m done. You are too. We’re sleeping now.” Cassim added feebly, his gentle gaze lingering on Alibaba, who was frantically wiping away his tears.

“Please...” Cassim added that rare word, putting a gentle arm around Alibaba. He was warm, comforting, even if he was the primary source of nearly all of his problems.

How could you hate and care for someone so much at the same time?

Best friend, enemy, pawn... Just what was Alibaba?

Cassim could feel him grasping at his bed clothes, clutching onto them as he curled closer, looking for warmth. He wasn’t cute in the least, but he looked at peace as he drifted off to sleep.

Cassim tightened his grip around Alibaba’s back.

He wouldn’t think too hard about it. For now, he’d just take comfort in his presence. After all, they had a lot of time to tell each other everything. Why spill it all the first day?

Cassim gently closed his eyes, allowing the darkness to consume him.

For now, this was enough.

Chapter Text

Cassim didn’t know much about other countries besides Balbadd. He could only base his assumptions on stories he’s heard from passing merchants the few times he was able to venture into the market as a kid. The time before the slums were closed off and leaving became near impossible.

It felt like decades ago. Back then, he would’ve just finished a raid, successfully looting a passing noble of all his goodies despite being small enough for his guards to toss across the river. He, Hassan, and Zaynab, along with a few others, would bask in their success, dreaming of an untouchable life where they lived in riches and ate to their hearts desire. Cassim weighed the golden trinkets and coins in his arms, but the value was hardly much. Dreams of becoming rich could never be fulfilled with such little earnings.

Cassim would head immediately to the market, stashing away a few extra coins in his pocket. If anything happened, he would need a fail safe. He purchased the kind of food he could never acquire normally, fresh fruits and the tastiest dishes he could bargain. Vendors and merchants were more than happy to share their travels into a world Cassim could never imagine while he stumbled under the weight he carried, but listened with sparkling eyes. They found his naive heart and child-like interest to be endearing, so they were happy to provide a little extra food in turn for hearing their stories.

It sounded like a dream, large birds, huge sea monsters, ginormous animal-like beings and architecture more beautiful than he could possibly imagine. He’d listen every day if he could, but it was a fight to survive, and learning about how terrifyingly beautiful the rest of the world was only dampened his spirits when he realized he could never possibly see it himself. Each passing day in Sindria, that hope rose just a little more, but his younger self would’ve never known better.

No, back then, with his spirits lowered, Cassim would run back on home bearing fruit and fish on his back.

“Cassim, you’re home!” Alibaba cried out, standing up with a large grin. Mariam was curled into a ball next to him, resting. So sweet and gentle, like the world was just. That‘s fine, Cassim would like her to live that fantasy for as long as she was able. She had to live a daily nightmare once before, he’d like to at least give her some illusion of peace for a while.

Alibaba ran up to Cassim and gripped his wrist, other hand hidden behind his back. Cassim raised an eyebrow, eyes darting to the undeniably suspicious arm. Alibaba would always cry out a secret before he became riddled with guilt, so this was new. He practically vibrated with excitement, looking like he was gonna burst if he didn’t do whatever he was trying to do right now.

“What are you hiding?” Cassim attempted to reach behind Alibaba, who jumped and moved away, shaking his head.

“No! You’ve gotta close your eyes to see! And no peeking!” Alibaba pointed, puffing out his chest. That boy was stubborn to a fault on the weirdest things.

But hey, it was Alibaba. The bright, shining Alibaba, the boy who couldn’t so much as squash a bug without breaking into tears. Cassim didn’t have the heart to break his enthusiasm, so sighing, he shut his eyes and held out an arm.

“And... done.” Alibaba giggled while a weird softness tickled Cassim’s wrist, like a bracelet. He opened his eyes to find small white and pink flowers wound around it, woven together with messy care. When he turned his wrist, the makeshift bracelet clung stubbornly despite how delicate the the petals were.

“Isn’t it pretty? Mariam and I went out and we found a bunch of flowers! Mom taught me how to make flower crowns before she... um... Y’know...” Alibaba trailed off, his voice hoarse. He tore his gaze away from Cassim and burned a hole into the tarp, clenching his shaking fist. A grimace replaced his cheeky grin.

Cassim sighed and reached over, wiping a single fallen tear from Alibaba’s eye, who let out a quiet sob at the touch. Such a crybaby. He’d tease him if his wounds weren’t so fresh.

“I wanted to make you something you can wear. A-And you run around a lot, so I— so I thought a bracelet would be good. Think of it as good luck.” Alibaba whispered in the middle of his sniffles, wiping furiously at his eyes while growling. He looked less like a tough guy and more like a defeated puppy trying to stay strong.

Alibaba didn’t have to act tough. He wasn’t old just yet, he could act like a kid for a little longer. Cassim drew Alibaba into his arms and let him cry into his shoulder, who clutched at Cassim’s rags, shaking his head.

“It’s not fair. Why her...?” Alibaba quit the tough guy act and fell limp into Cassim’s arms, letting Cassim’s clothing soak up any tears. The combination of Alibaba’s weight along with the food on his back made him just a little too unstable, and he ended up toppling to the floor with Alibaba sprawled out in Cassim’s grip.

“I know. I miss her too.” Cassim sighed. Alibaba’s hair was soft. It brushed against Cassim’s cheeks, and separated easily in his fingers. He should buy a comb when he gets the chance, so Alibaba didn’t have to work his fingers through it each day. Anise’s old comb had broken a while ago, when Alibaba threw it to the ground in frustration at being unable to get his hair as nice as Anise could. All he needed was a little more practice.

Alibaba’s back felt hot too. It was midyear, when the sun was high and you were always covered with a sheen of sweat. Grabbing extra water from the well would be a good way to cool them.

If the sun burned Alibaba and Mariam to a crisp, there would be nothing left. Nothing left for him to protect...

He ran his hands up and down Alibaba’s back, but Alibaba just sobbed harder and Cassim couldn’t tell if he was doing better or making things worse. His hugs weren’t warm like hers, he didn’t give Alibaba or Mariam the same comfort that Anise provided. She was able to shine upon them like the sun, but she wasn’t scalding, no, she was gentle, like the first peeks of the sun in spring. She could make Alibaba stop crying with bright encouragement and a winning smile. All Cassim could do was make him cry harder.

Anise could handle this. She was an adult. Adults were supposed to handle everything. That’s what merchants always told him. It’s what vendors always said. But all most adults in the slums ever did was abandon their kids or die on them.

...That was the fate of just about everyone who lived in the slums. Starvation. Disease. Overexertion. Ultimately death. Cassim wouldn’t let he, Alibaba, or Mariam end up that way. Ever.

“Mom...” Alibaba wept. He sounded like a real kid. The normal kids Cassim sometimes saw browsing the vendors with their parents. The kids who would ask for food, and their parents would strike some deal about being good for the next week. Or those kids who ran around with that blinding sparkle in their eyes, that naivety that sickened Cassim to his core.

Alibaba was good. He belonged with those kids. Mariam did too, but she knew of the horrors of the slums. Her eyes had lost that innocent sparkle, and despite her age, she worked hard because she knew what life they’d live if she didn’t. They were both good, but something about Alibaba just felt... Different...

Maybe because he was related to Anise by blood. His father probably wasn’t a scumbag. If he was, at least Alibaba had his amazing mother, however briefly.

Aha, was he jealous? And here Alibaba was crying in his arms. Anise was a guardian for him too, he didn’t have to play favorites. They were both grieving. Cassim was just the one who had to stay strong.

“Here. Have one.” He murmured, reaching into his bag and pulling out a polished apple. He pushed it into Alibaba’s arms, who stared with astonishment before looking back up.

“H-How’d you manage—“

“It’s enough for a few days. When Mariam wakes up, make sure to give her some too.” Cassim abruptly stood after slipping the bag off his back, making Alibaba shuffle back.

“But you just got back!“

“I’m going to do something. Stay with her, wherever you go. Got it?” Cassim shot Alibaba a hard look, who curled up on himself. He hesitated, but gave a weak nod, then bit into his apple. Despite his tear stained face, he let a small smile slip at the sweet taste.

Cassim made to leave the tarp, but paused at Alibaba calling his name from behind.

“Hm?” He didn’t glance back.

“Can we play when you get back? Please? I miss you.”

“N—“ Cassim dared to look at Alibaba’s face, and was met with the fragile image of an attention-starved boy. Tragic, real tragic.

“Sure. But it won’t be for long.” He never stood a chance against that pleading look of Alibaba’s. He was pretty good at turning down requests, but Alibaba could make it really hard when he wanted too. Cassim would just have to work harder to finish up quickly.

“Yay! Mariam’s gonna be so happy! She misses you too, so come back soon, ok?” Alibaba was grinning, and Cassim was chuckling like the kid he never got to be. He raised an arm to announce his departure, gifting Alibaba just a small smile.

“Ok.” He exited the cheap hut, dusting his hands off. He might be small, but surely someone could use the labor. Every little cent count, whether he had extra money to spare or not. He couldn’t afford to slack off. He had to work to keep their mouths fed and their heads dry. If anything motivated him, it was knowing he had to go home to those two smiling faces everyday, those smiles that tried their hardest to stay strong despite circumstances.

‘See, Anise? I’m working hard, so I’ll keep them safe since you can’t anymore. Promise.’

...

That was the one promise he didn’t want to break. Even now, he could never recall a time he made good on a promise. He wasn’t a very trustworthy man.

“Sorry, mister!” A little kid bumped into him before running off, shouting a quick apology. The small collision made him stumble and was enough to snap him out of his thoughts. He sighed, pinching his temples to clear his mind while he eyed the city center.

He was here for... What was it again? Probably exploration. He didn’t really need food since they provided it at the palace. Didn’t make him any less interested to try some. He still eyed the center with the same wonder he had as a child.

The bazaar was packed to the brim with people and a variety of goodies, from exotic fruits and fish to intricate jewelry and Sindrian clothing. Sindria. It had a simplistic, but charming clothing style.

Tales of scary kings and queens, peculiar abilities, unconquered dungeons greater and more terrifying than you could begin to imagine... The stories he heard of other countries were endless.

Sindria was the outlier. It didn’t have any dungeons, and it wasn’t ruled by a dictator (giving him one less reason to hate Sinbad despite wishing for more). It didn’t have hundreds magicians flying about and it wasn’t known for its strength and gladiators.

It was small. Really small. Incomparable to the size of most well-known countries on the map.

But hey, it was beautiful.

And with how excited everyone looked to go about their day, they probably thought it was beautiful too.

...He liked this country a lot. Hassan and Zaynab would be dying to experience a place like this.

And she would cling to the edge of his shirt nervously, but point out everything she found fascinating and try to drag him to the nearest vendor.

“This fruit’s really cool, huh?” He whispered, examining the bright-colored produce. There was no response, but he felt a warm gust of wind flow through his dreads, like the tickle of a happy giggle.

“That right there’s a pitaya. Sometimes we call it a dragonfruit.“ The vendor grinned, picking up one of those fruits and tossing it into the air. “Not from around here? They’re pretty good. If you buy a bunch, I’m happy to give you a deal!”

Cassim turned the fruit in observation. Red with green tips. It was so outlandish he wondered if it could even be eaten.

“Sure, why not?” It only made Cassim want to try it more. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few silver notes, handing over the bargained price. He wasn’t really familiar with the currency, but hey, food was food, and doing the quick math in his head, it was a pretty good deal.

“Thanks for your patronage! Stop by again sometime!” The vendor waved, while Cassim dropped the fruit into a satchel he carried around his waist. It was a snack, a mere delicacy... Funny how different you had it when you had all the money in the world. Was this the world he missed out on? The world he would’ve never seen due to his lowly birth, had he followed his ‘accursed fate’?

“What the hell am I doing here.” Cassim looked up, the sky as bright and cloudless as ever. The air was warm and the atmosphere lively, mocking the darkness that had consumed his heart.

Whatever messed up god remained up there was laughing in his face.

He didn’t know why he was even standing here. If Alibaba wanted to be a recluse, let him be, for all Cassim cared. Every time Alibaba walked by, Cassim would glance the other way and not even acknowledge his existence. Cruel, but he wasn’t ready to let Alibaba’s low mood affect him.

Constantly ignoring and avoiding his presence somehow annoyed Cassim even more, so he let his arms slump in defeat and gave Alibaba’s door a hard knock.

“‘M busy.” He responded lazily from inside, but Cassim wasn’t having it.

“Like hell you are. You’ve been doing nothing but sitting in there the past week. Open up.” Cassim crossed his arms, and waited minutes for Alibaba to finally pull himself out of his isolation and crack open the door. His eyes were red, and the area under them resembled the night. He really needed to get out more.

“What do you want, Cassim?” Alibaba scratched his head and Cassim snorted, shoving Alibaba to the side and entering his room without permission.

“Hey, who said you could just walk in? If it’s not important then you should really—“

“Sit.” Cassim ordered, patting the area of the bed beside him. Alibaba blinked, shut the door, and reluctantly trudged to Cassim’s side, taking a seat.

“...” He wouldn’t meet Cassim’s eyes. Maybe out of guilt. Or out of spite. Alibaba was always annoying when he wouldn’t share his problems and tried to suffer through it alone.

“That kid’s taking after you. Seeing you depressed makes him depressed too.” Cassim calmly observed, pulling out a cigar. Alibaba didn’t mind when he lit it, even if the windows weren’t open.

“Aladdin? Oh...” Alibaba gripped his knees, eyes intent on staying in his lap. Cassim exhaled, a puff of smoke disappearing into the air.

“That monster girl’s worried about you too. Keeps shooting you these obvious looks you just ignore.” Alibaba gripped his knees just a little tighter.

“I see.” He didn’t look up.

“So what I’m saying is...” Cassim blew a cloud of smoke into Alibaba’s face, making him gasp and cough. “Get off your ass. Doesn’t matter how depressed you are, moping around here isn’t gonna help anyone.”

Alibaba’s glare fell, and he simply slumped forward, hands on his face. “I... I know that. But what else can I do? Everything just feels hopeless and if I can’t even aid my own country, then what good am I?” He slowly looked up, those eyes desperate and familiar. “Sinbad’s helped me all this time. When it came to Balbadd, I was completely useless. Even now, I’m just sitting here...”

He wanted advice, encouragement, a direction to head in, someone to console him and tell him he tried his best.

Cassim punched him right on top of the head, hard. Fucking wimp.

“Ow! What the hell Cassim?!” Alibaba flinched, rubbing the top of his aching head.

“Oh shut up you damn baby. I didn’t come here just to see you cry and bitch about Balbadd. I’m the one who started the war, don’t you forget. Quit acting like everything was resting on your shoulders. You’re not that special.” Cassim held a finger to Alibaba’s forehead, scoffing. So this was how Hassan and Zaynab felt. He kind of understood why they got so annoyed now.

“Hmph.” Alibaba turned his head away, glaring when Cassim’s finger followed him condescendingly. “Now that I think about it... Why are you here anyway? You never told me.” He tilted his head, though his question had no heart to it. Cassim doubt Alibaba really cared. Alibaba probably wasn’t in a state to properly care.

“Because your sorry ass is here moaning when you could be thinking of ways to help Balbadd. You think everything comes easy to you, little prince? You think everything’s handed to you on a golden platter like at your precious palace?” Cassim poked his head just a little harder, until Alibaba snapped and caught Cassim’s hand in a vice grip.

“No! Of course not! I know—I know I have to work at it, dammit! But can’t I get just a little depressed when I finally do something right and it’s all for nothing?! And quit poking me!” Alibaba growled, shoving Cassim’s hand away and crossing his arms with a heavy pout.

Cassim’s lips curved upward ever so slightly.

“You could. Or you can start thinking about what you can do instead of what you could’ve done. The what-ifs don’t matter. Never did, never will.” Cassim slowly stood up, hitting Alibaba’s forehead with his knuckle, who jumped. “You can act sad all you want. But if you really wanted to help Balbadd, you wouldn’t be acting like this.”

“...” Alibaba’s arms began to tremble, teeth gritted while he shook his head. “Dammit, I just...”

“And when you decide to get off your sorry ass...” Cassim pointed his cigar towards Alibaba, smirking. “Just call me. That’s why I came. To help you aid Balbadd. So hurry up, I’m tired of waiting.” He pushed his cigar into one of Alibaba’s hands, who blinked and held it up to gaze at it. He put it to his lips inhaled way too quick, breaking out into a coughing fit.

“H—How do you make it look so easy?” Alibaba gagged, but still went in with determination to take another drag. He just wasn’t fit for it. He’d gag, cough, then go in for another deep puff and repeat the process. Involuntary chuckles spilled from between Cassim’s fingers.

“You always end up wasting it.” He snickered, moving to the balcony and opening the sliding door. The room needed some fresh air, especially now.

“I’m trying, okay?” Alibaba let out a shaky sigh, but he looked a lot more lively than when Cassim entered the room. Hell, maybe punching Alibaba really did knock some sense into him.

“Whatever. And talk to that pipsqueak, will you? If I punch him, I just feel like I’m bullying a kid.”

“...But you punched me.”

“So?”

“You—Agh...” Alibaba groaned, burying his fingers into his hair. His body was a lot more relaxed, and he looked up wit a small smile. “Hey Cassim... Can I sleep in your room tonight?”

“Tch. Weirdo.” Cassim turned his head to hide his grin. Alibaba’s definitely changed, but some things always remained the same. “Do whatever you want.”

He didn’t look back, because he knew Alibaba had that same goofy smile he always did. He mumbled a bye before leaving with confident strides. Now wasn’t the time to settle down and grow comfortable, but he wasn’t the kind to mope around either. If he couldn’t do much now, the least he could do was explore. Maybe he’d acquire some fun stories to tell his friends when he returned.

He could check out the theatre. He’s seen other people put on mock shows near his home but he’s never attended a real live performance. Or he could visit a brothel, but it was pretty early... Or maybe—He completely to a halt. He didn’t mean too, but Ja’far appeared from absolutely no where and was walking his way. His pause was way too graceless to just play off.

“Uh—Ja'far.” Cassim blinked in his stupor. That wasn’t a greeting. It wasn’t much of anything, just acknowledgement. Well... He wasn’t really sure how to greet Ja'far anyway. That murderous look in his eyes from all those weeks ago still made him shudder to this day. He’s the last person Cassim wanted to interact with.

“Cassim. I’m guessing you’ve talked to Alibaba? He’s been holed up for a while.” Ja'far commented idly. He was... calm. Eerily calm. Something about that calmness was frightening.

Cassim really didn’t like him. Not a hatred of nobles just... a constant unease. Like Ja'far could read and calculate his every move. That angelic face of his didn’t suit him at all.

“Yeah. Not sure if I snapped him out of it or not. Guess we’ll see.” Cassim sighed, adjusting his satchel. Ja'far was one of the top guys, especially now that Sinbad was gone. Should he... Should he apologize? Or thank him? Cassim just didn’t want to stay on his bad side. Even when Ja'far acted civil, Cassim felt he was caught in a python’s grip.

“I hope your talk did good. Then, if you’ll excuse m—“

“Wait!” Cassim called out, and Ja'far paused. Well shit. Uh... “Ja'far. Um...”

Ja'far slowly turned towards Cassim, facing him while he tilted his head patiently. Well now Cassim had to say something.

“Sorry for taking up space. But... uh... Thanks. Y’know, for everything...” Cassim gripped his clothing. Not rags, no, clean, tailored Sindrian clothing. “I’ve never lived like this before.”

“Hm.” Ja'far studied him with a blank expression for a long moment. Whatever he was thinking, Cassim would never guess. Ja'far huffed and turned away, merely tilting his head towards Cassim. “You’d think to say that when Sin was still here.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m... getting used to it.” Cassim admitted weakly, scratching his head. He felt like he was being berated by an adult, like Anise had done to him when he was a child.

“Does that mean you still hold that presumptuous view of us?” Ja'far asked, and Cassim couldn’t tell what this guy’s intent was.

“All the nobles in Balbadd were scumbags. Alibaba’s a... special case. Those guys had everything and still took what little we salvaged.” Cassim growled, clenching his fist when recalling it. Their homes being stolen, what little earnings they had snatched by taxes before the slums were burnt to a crisp. They never cared. Those useless pigs got their rocks off to seeing the poor suffer in agony.

“I see... Your people were treated unfairly. But to hate someone for their standing... isn’t that as unfair as your situation?” Ja'far narrowed his eyes, a challenge.

Cassim would gladly accept.

“I don’t know about your past or Sinbad’s. Quite frankly, I don’t give a shit. I’m not gonna act like I do either. I’m just some brigand who started up a rebellion because we were all tired of getting stepped on.

“Of course you wouldn’t understand. You’re a noble. But where I’m from, they took everything from us.” Cassim took a step closer. “They burned down our homes.” He took another, reaching out to place his fist on Ja'far’s chest. “They tried to turn us into slaves, without having the decency to even tell us. So don’t get pissed when I grow to hate them all, bastard!” He took a final step and pushed his fist forward for that little oomph.

“Hmph.” Ja'far wrapped a hand around Cassim’s wrist, holding it in place. Cassim tugged his arm few times, but he was stuck. Damn. Ja'far was definitely stronger than him, but he hated that self-righteous attitude of his. Like Cassim should grow to like him just because he was helpful or whatever. What made Ja'far so different from the rest, huh? Why the hell should he trust a word Ja'far says?

“Yes, I think I understand your anger.” Ja'far nodded, closing his eyes. “But projecting that notion onto those you’ve never met doesn’t help the situation. Especially when they’re trying to help. Or are you that ungrateful?”

“Quit treating me like a kid!” Cassim snapped, and sent his fist flying towards Ja'far’s face. That guy really needed some sense knocked into him, older or not. Ja'far caught his other hand in a death grip, like this were nothing more than some kid’s temper tantrum, squeezing it to the point where Cassim had to wince and try to pry his wrists away. Damn bastard wouldn’t let go! They were the exact same height and Ja'far still found a way to look down on Cassim.

“That look in your eye. It’s...” Ja'far‘s eyes widened before he sighed, clenching his jaw. This weird look flashed on Ja'far’s face, something slightly fragile, but it was so quick Cassim had to imagine it because when was this guy ever soft? All he could picture was that false sympathy Sinbad tried to provide them and it just made Cassim’s blood boil. Engaging with Ja'far was a mistake, he should’ve just let the guy walk right by.

“Let. Me. Go!” Cassim tugged at his wrists with almost all the strength he could manage. Ja'far had this insane power to him and his grip just kept closing in until Cassim’s wrists creaked with a warning. “Shit—“

“You’re going to be a piece of work, I just know it. No, you already are...” Ja'far loosened his grip just enough for Cassim to let out a relaxed sigh, but Ja'far just pulled the hands away from his body and held them to the air so Cassim stood stupidly with his fists raised. “Why don’t you come with me? I’d like to show you something.”

“Why the hell should I?” Cassim scoffed, turning his head away. The last thing he wanted was to look at Ja'far while in this humiliating position. Right where anyone could walk by, the asshole.

“Why not? Of course, you have no obligation to. The choice is yours.” Ja'far finally let Cassim free and he rubbed furiously at his wrists, which were bright red with handprints that began to bruise.

“Y’know... I really hate guys like you.” Cassim dropped his head, and even with how much he wanted to strangle Ja'far for looking down on him, Cassim silently fell into step with him. He didn’t have to go, he could turn away any time he wanted to. But that somehow felt like Cassim was losing, and like hell he’d lose to this guy of all people.

“So I’ve heard. We’ll be going through the courtyard.” Ja'far didn’t care about how Cassim felt. Cassim shouldn’t either. But being mocked was just one of the few things he could never forgive.

Why did Ja'far want show Cassim something, of all people? It’s not like there was anything special about him.

He was perfectly normal. Just some hoodlum birthed in the dirt of the streets. He wasn’t born a prince or a magi, and he definitely didn’t have whatever strength Morgiana possessed.

Cassim was surrounded by chosen people. Chosen by power, by rukh, by djinns and by the people. The only thing he was chosen for was death and the ability to curse his fate.

That was the only ability he liked. Why bother trying to overcome destiny when he could just reject the notion of it all together? He’d rather let his own actions guide him through life, not the tendrils of fate that tugged at him.

...He felt a ticklish sensation. Fluttering, deep within his chest.

It was probably nothing.

“Right then. Come in.” Ja'far came to a stop by a large door in a different tower, opening it.

The scent of dated paper tickled his nose, accompanied by the sight of hundreds and hundreds of books stacked in shelves.

“Why’d you bring me here?” Cassim wrinkled his nose, eyeing the spectacularly clean shelves despite how worn the pages of many books were.

“I think you could learn a thing or two. About other countries, and about Sindria.” Ja'far stared at the books for longer than Cassim thought normal, then turned to him. “You don’t know much, do you? If you plan to help Alibaba, you should get a better grasp on how other countries function. Then you could come up with a viable plan to help Balbadd.” He sounded as poised as ever.

“Tch.” Cassim turned his head away. “So why are you helping me?”

“Alibaba knows about other countries and politics. He’s a prince, after all. You don’t. If you aren’t on the same level, you’ll only be a burden to the cause.”

“Wha—“

“And, that‘s why I think reading material could help.” Ja'far headed to a shelf and plucked a book. He returned to Cassim without glimpsing at the title, plopping it into Cassim’s hands. “Start with this. This has a basic map and description of each country and its customs.”

“...” Cassim’s eyes fell to the book in his arms, catching a flimsy page in his fingers. Nothing but a bundle of words and sentences on a page now tinted yellow.

“If you need further recommendations—“

“Can’t read.”

“Huh?!” Ja'far blinked, and for once was taken completely off guard. He closed his eyes tightly after a few moments, exhaling deeply. He was probably thinking about something, but Cassim still couldn’t read him, so he just gazed over the page again and again, like he’d magically be able to make sense of the jumble of letters. “So you’ve had no access to education in Balbadd.”

“Uh huh.” Cassim responded without interest. He gazed at the words two, no, three more times before giving up and slamming the book shut.

“You could always attend our sch—“

“I’m not learning with a bunch of five year olds.” Cassim snapped. Ja'far had explained their education system once before, how people could learn within the palace walls in this very building, where the library was located. It was usually very young children who came to learn and as they grew older, they were taught more complex topics.

“You’re quite useless, aren’t you?” Ja'far hummed, bringing a finger to his chin.

Cassim would argue but... He really couldn’t say anything. It was the truth. He wouldn’t be very useful to Balbadd from a political point of view. He’d do a lot better if he were there physically, rebuilding the place. He... He couldn’t just return now. Not after that whole speech Hassan and Zaynab made.

“That struck a nerve. Good. You may be useless, but you might not be hopeless.” Ja'far gazed at Cassim with the intensity of a detective eyeing his main suspect. The gaze was much too searching, and Cassim ended up taking a step back before he realized what he was doing.

“Uh...” Cassim gripped the book tighter in his hands. If he knew Ja'far would stare at him like this, he’d rather just endure his rage. At least then, Ja'far was consumed by anger and not whatever interest he had of prying into Cassim’s soul.

“Really, why do I care? Sin’s right, I have gotten soft.” Ja'far mumbled to himself and smacked his head before nodding to Cassim. “Alright. Cassim. You’ve done a lot of unforgivable things. In fact, you’re quite the despicable man. But Alibaba is a forgiving man, as is Sinbad. Therefore...” Ja'far took a shaky breath. “I’m willing to offer my help. If you can’t read.” Ja'far took a step forward. “Then I’ll teach you. I’ll teach you about politics, about trade, any information you may need to help Balbadd and Alibaba.”

“Wha...” Did... Did Ja'far just insult him? But he also said he wanted to help Cassim and it just... It made absolutely no sense. “I don’t get it.” He whispered. This was just like when Sinbad decided to help the Fog Troupe. Why? What was in it for Ja'far? “I... I don’t get it.”

“When I first met Sinbad, I tried to kill him. Numerous times.” Ja'far responded plainly.

“Huh? You’re so devoted to him...” Ja'far tried to kill him for shit-talking Sinbad, in case he forgot. And... What did that have to do with anything?

“Even when I betrayed his trust, when I slashed him and laughed, he...” Ja'far tensed. “He saved me. He risked his life to save someone like me, a person who’s led an awful life up until then. So...” Ja'far stood confidently. “I won’t give up on you. Because you want to change. Because you remind me of myself.”

“That’s...” Cassim sighed, grabbing a fistful of dreads. Were all Sindrians like this, or was Ja'far just weird? He didn’t understand these people at all. Helping useless scum like him. Back in his country, other nobles would just laugh and never give him a second glance. “Are... You serious?”

“I’ll prove to you that not all nobles aren’t the same. But if we’re going to do this, I won’t go easy on you. And when Sin returns, I want you to give him a proper apology. Do we have a deal?” Ja'far held out his hand, those glimmering green eyes of his staring with a fire Cassim didn’t think he could match. Really, in what world does this happen? He’s used to being stepped on, to having to claw his way to the top of the totem pole with his wits and effortless charm. He’s used to fighting stay alive, to avoiding guys like Ja'far.

And yet this guy was holding a hand towards him, a week into his stay at Sindria. He didn’t stand above Cassim, not anymore. He didn’t hold his chin up and stare down at Cassim like he was some king or savior. He just... looked at Cassim dead on. Not a challenge. An offering. Of peace, of a mentorship.

“I’ll never understand you people.” Cassim whispered weakly, but he took Ja'far’s hand all the same. Ja'far smiled, and gave it a firm shake.

“That’s not true.” Ja'far chuckled, a sight Cassim wouldn’t forget anytime soon. That terrifying man showing a hint of humanity. “I’ll teach you. I’ll teach you everything you need to know, whether you want to learn it or not.”

The vague threat behind those words didn’t hold a candle to the subtle kindness in Ja'far’s eyes, nor the determination he showed earlier at being the one to help Cassim. Ja'far was a strange, strange man. Murderous, forgiving, passionate, kind... Maybe Cassim was just a little bit wrong about the guy.

He’d give Ja'far a chance. Ja'far saw something in trash like him, so the least he could do was regard Ja'far with the same respect.

Maybe... Occasionally... People could be more than their standing. There was no guarantee yet, but Ja'far’s truce ignited the smallest of flames in Cassim’s heart. The soft flicker of hope.