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The kingdom of Agraba was once without poverty. Hakim would know, having grown up within the great city under the palace. The queen loved her people, and was loved in return. It was a great tragedy the day she fell ill. She'd personally requested Hakim in the days leading up to her death. She held his hand, hers pale and clammy and his trembling.
"Please... watch over my daughter. She will turn into a powerful woman- do not let her get herself hurt along her journey." Those words stuck with him as he stepped out of the room, bowing his head to the sultan as he re-entered behind him.
It was all he could think as he approached the stairs leading towards the dungeon- a dreadful place, but where Jafar chose to spend his time. It was always a mystery to Hakim why he chose such a foreboding place. Maybe it was a part of his charm. Whatever he thought of the place, it was clear what Hakim thought of the man himself. He hoped so, at least.
"GRAWK Hakim's here!" The sound of Iago's voice echoed against the dank walls of the underground, drawing a small frown from the man in question. How did Jafar manage to get his bird to speak like this? It was yet another wonder- more mystery surrounding him.
"Ah, just the man I was looking for~" Purred the older man, suddenly only feet away from the captain of the guard and closing the distance quickly to steal a kiss. It sent warmth down his spine, making his fingers and toes tingle.
"Jafar-" He began, raising his hands to smooth them over the other man's chest- but he was interrupted quickly.
"Now now~ Do we really need to discuss business?" Jafar somehow always got what he wanted- especially when he spoke in that low murmur so close to Hakim's ear. It was impossible to resist when Jafar was in this sort of mood- sick of dealing with the things the sultan couldn't be bothered with and needing some sort of release from what he considered hell.
"I.. suppose not." Hakim sighed, tilting his neck and letting his eyes flutter closed as Jafar trailed kisses down from his jaw.
"I knew you'd see it my way~" He chuckled against the base of Hakim's neck, already reaching for the clasps on his armor. "What shall it be today, hm?~ How much time do we have?" The look in Jafar's eyes was dangerous- a yearning mixed with something dark and primal- but his touch was so nice and his voice made Hakim tremble. He wanted to stay here forever, lost in Jafar's touch.
"Ah- I'm afraid not much time, my vizier." Hakim managed after a moment, giving an apologetic look in response to the scowl that earned him.
"Let me guess... *he*'s stealing you away from me again." The vizier sighed out, leaning back and drawing his hands down Hakim's chest to pinch the cloth possessively.
"Her highness is ill. Now is when he needs us most." He hated to bring reality crashing down in these moments of bliss, but it was necessary- even if it only made Jafar more agitated.
He walked away from Hakim, giving him time to adjust his clothes while the sorcerer paced.
"That man..." Was all the soldier could decipher from Jafar's muttering.
"GRAWK uh oh! Poor Jafar." Iago called, startling Hakim momentarily. He'd forgotten the bird was even there. Seems Jafar had too, as he now turned his gaze to the amazon with a quirked brow. This was perhaps the first instance where Hakim had suspected Jafar was capable of much darker deeds.
"Oh Iago..." He sighed, approached the bird to gently scratch at its cheek. "What would I do without you, hm? Shall we find out?" He turned his gaze to Hakim as he asked, fingers finding purchase somewhere past the Iago's feathers. It was this sort of game he played that made Hakim's pulse race. He wished he knew what was going on inside Jafar's head. What could he possibly be thinking right now? He hated to even think about what this man might be capable of. It made him thankful for the sultan's guidance- a man like Jafar as sultan just could not work.
"Perhaps we should retire for the moment- before we make any decisions." Hakim suggested, not letting his tone betray him.
The vizier's expression changed, lips turning up at the corner to smile.
"Mm.. yes, I'd like that." He agreed, petting Iago gently as he removed his hand from under his feathers and returned to Hakim's side. The latter let out an almost imperceptible sigh, approaching the chamber doors that led out from the dungeon.
~~~
Many years later, Jafar had become obsessed with something he would not share with Hakim. Something he had found in ancient scrolls. He spent many late nights pouring over ancient translations, refusing to see anyone or even sleep. It was months before he allowed Hakim inside. Months of speaking to him through the doors or in hushed whispers as they walked the halls.
When he saw the state of things... to anyone else, it would not seem so bad. Some books left out on the desk and a handful of stains on his desk- but to Hakim, it felt more akin to disaster. Jafar would never leave his things I sight of other people. He would even prefer to clean his things himself to prevent any sort of loss to his mystery. The tea stains without cups and the lack of clothes strewn about must mean the servants had entered once the room was left unlocked- he pitied the first to be found once Jafar was done processing.
"My vizier..?" He asked hesitantly as he stepped into his office. Jafar had apparently taken good enough care of himself to at least look healthy- yet another strange thing about him- but Hakim could tell something was wrong. He seemed a little out of it even as he met Hakim's gaze. Troubled, or perhaps even twisted.
"Hakim..." His tone was nearly indecipherable, voice sending shivers down the soldier's spine. "Your soldiers have been...less useful than I'd like them to be." He said slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching as he finished. Hakim couldn't help the confusion in his features.
"Sir?" He questioned, head tilting ever so slightly.
But Jafar didn't elaborate- didn't even say another word. Instead, he approached to pull Hakim into a kiss. It was rough, desperate. Jafar tasted of jasmine tea and ink, a unique mixture of a bitter forbidden liquid and the sweet after taste of a soothing brew. He wouldn't complain, leaning into the vizier as their breathing quickened and Jafar's hands found their way under his clothes to greedily explore his chest and abdomen. Needless to say, it was a sufficient distraction for whatever Jafar was planning.
~~~
Jafar had been leaving for long periods of time in the evening. He did not like strolling the streets of the city, he found it a waste of time. So where had he gone? Were Hakim a different man, his mind may have immediately wandered to infidelity. Thankfully, Hakim was not that kind of man. Neither was Jafar, as it were. While neither could be considered pious men, the vizier had never been interested in a casual fling. Nor was it likely he would ever associate with someone so beneath his station. Still... he had been rather different as of late. Between the incident a few months ago, and the people who began disappearing just days ago- who else could get away with such things but someone of the palace?
Hakim sighed as he made his way down the long spiral steps towards the dungeons once more. He should not jump to conclusions so quickly. Jafar had done nothing to earn his distrust- nothing he could fully prove, at least. Except when he went to knock on the door, he heard voices beyond it.
"Wuh oh! Second!" That was Iago, for certain. There was movement- pacing, perhaps? Someone was speaking, but it was soft. A servant, perhaps?
"Do you have any idea what I've had to do to get the power that I have? The sacrifices that I've made? The bodies that I've buried? The five years spent in a Sherabad jail? People need to understand that they will pay for underestimating me. Second is not enough! And it will never be enough! That's why I need the lamp. And why I no longer need you!" Jafar rambled on, the anger in his voice rising with each word. Hakim expected a rebuttle, perhaps a frantic apology for offending the vizier, but what followed was a scream. It echoed for a long time before it finally cut off, and then there was silence.
Something had happened- but what? He couldn't hold himself back this time, pushing the doors open with as much restraint as he could muster and searching frantically for Jafar. He was stood over the well, staring down into its murky darkness with a look of disgust- though that was quickly changed to anger as his head whipped towards the door.
"What is it?" He snapped, weaving doubt into Hakim's mind. It seems it took a moment to register it was him, and Jafar's features shifted. For a moment, they were unreadable. "....ah. Hakim." This time his voice was much softer, and he approached with a sigh. "I thought you another attempt on my life."
Hakim tensed at the words, though Jafar seemed unbothered as he rested his head against the soldier's shoulder.
"An attempt? Jafar-" But he was interrupted, the vizier's calloused hands reaching up to cup his face. Jafar's thumb slid over Hakim's bottom lip as he looked up from the latter's shoulder.
"Shh... I handled it." He assured, pressing a kiss to the corner of Hakim's mouth. "No need to fuss now."
He couldn't protest as Jafar lead him away from the doors, back towards his office. Maybe he just didn't want to believe anything was wrong, but he chose to trust his vizier.
~~~
Being called in to arrest Jafar was something Hakim never would have thought possible. It was a nightmare. Never before had he been so struck with remorse than when he closed the bars in front of the previous vizier.
"You should think about how quickly the sands of power shift in the storm, Hakim." The words were a warning. They meant he was not through with whatever he had planned. Hakim's fingers trembled as he released door.
"I...am loyal to my sultan." Hakim managed, dragging his gaze from the floor to lock eyes with Jafar. "As you should have been." *Why couldn't you just be the man I saw in you? Why did this have to be how it was? You should have just...been satisfied with who you are. Been satisfied with me.*
"....Hakim." Jafar was still standing but a foot away from him, behind those bars. Hakim froze. "Don't do this, Jafar." He murmured, one hand reaching for the door. "Run away. For my sake." The lock clicked and he stepped away, searching the former vizier's expression. It was unreadable. It always was, wasn't it? Hakim just sighed and turned away, leaving the cell unlocked.
~~~
Finding Jafar in the throne room...hurt. It hurt more than realizing he'd been right about every bad feeling Jafar gave him. It even hurt more than when Jafar called him spineless. Hakim felt like the floor had fallen from beneath him. His pulse was racing in his ears- he almost didn't hear the commands, one after the other, from Jafar. Sultan? Surely that couldn't be true- but there he was, sitting in the throne and adorned with the sultan's robes.
"Hakim!" Was that Jasmine?
"Hakim!" That was Jafar. "You obey the sultan, so you obey me now." What was he doing? Why do this? He hoped all his confusion, all the despair he felt, was portrayed through the look he gave the new sultan. *Don't do this.* But there was no response. Nothing to gain from scouring Jafar's features.
"....My sultan." Hakim dutifully saluted, head bowed for just a bit longer than necessary as he came to terms with the castle's fate. The rest of the conversation fell of deaf ears as he blankly watched Jasmine be dragged away. What about the promise he'd made her mother? Was he truly going to let this pass? His heart thundered in his ears-
"Hakim!" Jafar..? No. It was Jasmine. She was watching him now. He didn't even hear Jafar's command, signaling his soldiers to let her through. "You were just a boy when your father came to work the grounds. But you have risen up to become our most trusted soldier. As a man, I know you to be both loyal and just. But now, you have to choose." She was right. "Duty isn't always honor." Is that what he was doing this for? Duty? Honor? Why did it feel so much deeper...? "Our greatest challenge isn't speaking up against our enemies, but defying those whose approval we seek the most." Approval...? That's not what he wanted. He wanted..."Jafar is not worthy of your admiration nor your sacrifice." ...what had Jafar ever sacrificed to be with him? Time? Effort? His position in the castle? Never. But all were things Hakim had. He'd put everything into loving Jafar, and had gotten nothing in return.
"I wish for nothing but glory for the kingdom of Agrabah." That wasn't true. Jafar was lying. Again.
"No. You seek glory for yourself. And you would win it off the backs of my people! Hakim." Jasmine spoke his name again, and his full attention turned to her. The queen had been right, all those years ago. Her daughter had grown into a powerful young woman. "These men, they will follow where you lead, but it's up to you. Will you stand silent while Jafar destroys our beloved kingdom? Or will you do what is right...and stand with the people of Agrabah?"
Jafar hadn't said a single word. Hadn't spoken an ounce of truth. Had he ever...said it? Those three words Hakim so desperately wanted him to say..?
"..my princess." Hakim bowed, then paused momentarily before lifting his gaze back to her. His shoulders set and he smiled- "forgive me, my sultan."
"Hakim." The false sultan finally spoke up, voice dangerously low. The captain turned to face him, meeting his gaze.
"Guards! Arrest the Vizier." His tone was final.
"...so this is how it will be. Not even the title of sultan will wake the herd from their sleep." Jafar didn't take his eyes off Hakim as he spoke. "If you won't bow before a sultan, you will cower before a sorcerer." He broke away to turn to the towering blue figure standing dejectedly beside him- "Genie! I wish to become the most powerful sorcerer there is."
"As you wish, master." The giant murmured. Perhaps his heart was broken too. Jafar's attention turned back to Hakim once the transformation had finished. There was something there, this time. A look of mourning.
"Hakim.. I had such big plans for you. But now.... you are no longer of use to me." It was that which finally broke his heart. He felt as though all his energy had been sucked out of him. "...Perhaps your men would like to follow you to the dungeon."
The momentary darkness was a relief. Perhaps he'd been killed- but his eyes opened within the very cell he'd let Jafar out of the previous night. Alone. He barely even noticed the time that past before someone was letting his soldiers free and sliding the door open for him. He could only think one thing.
Jafar must be dead.