"I've never been so insulted in my life!" the Prince growled, storming through the palace and ignoring how the Sultan chased after him, trying to stop him.

"Leaving already? Please, you can't- "

"- Good lucky marrying her off, with that cousin hanging around!"

As the door slammed shut behind the Prince, the Sultan growled, "Mozenrath!"

"Jasmine! Mozenrath! Jasmine!"

Storming towards the gardens, he frowned at the sight of his nephew sitting on the edge of the fountain. One wrong move and the boy would be soaked, and that might be the end of it.

Before he could say anything, Rajah and Xerxes stepped in front of him, both playing tug of war with a familiar piece of purple fabric.

"O-Oh confound it you two!" The Sultan resisted the urge to curse under his breath and he joined in with the game, wrenching the purple fabric free as Xerxes instantly started to scream out in protest, "So this is why Prince Ahmed stormed out of the palace!"

"Oh Father…" Jasmine beckoned Rajah closer, as Xerxes slithered back onto Mozenrath's shoulder, "… They were just playing."

"Yeah…" Mozenrath nodded in agreement, "… Prince… Achmed… Ahmed…. Whatever his name was, is way too sensitive. If he doesn't like animals, then what hope does he have with Jasmine?"

The Sultan groaned again, before gesturing for Mozenrath to move away from the fountain, "Get away from there…" he scolded, "… before you have another attack."

"I'm just- "

"- Now Mozenrath!"

Sulkily, Mozenrath moved away, as the Sultan turned his attention to Jasmine. "Jasmine, you and your cousin can't keep chasing every suitor who comes to call! The law says that you must be married to a prince by your next birthday!"

"The law is wrong!"

"You have three days!"

"Father…" Jasmine rolled her eyes, trying to ignore how Mozenrath was pulling faces behind his Uncles' back, "… I hate being forced into this. If I have to get married, then I want it to be for love."

Before the Sultan could reply, Mozenrath suddenly started to cough, prompting both his couin and uncle to glance at him in alarm, with the Sultan forgetting about the problem with the prince and rushing over.

"Alright, alright…" he murmured, clearly thinking his tone was soothing as he pulled Mozenrath back towards the palace, "… I think that's enough for one day."

"It was just a tickle!" Mozenrath protested, "I'm fine!"

"Nonsense… it is a bit chilly today."

A lie… it was boiling hot and still they insisted on him having extra blankets.

As he was dragged back inside, he couldn't help but glance over at the high walls that surrounded the palace.

….

Later that night, Mozenrath snuck out of his rooms, casting a small but harmless sleeping spell on his guards, before heading out to the gardens.

Ignoring how his chest ached with the effort, he started to climb up a nearby tree, in order to make it easier to get over the wall. Before he could grab the lowest branch, someone grabbed the fabric of his trousers.

"What are you doing?" Jasmine hissed, "You can't go out there, what if you- "

"- Stop it!" Mozenrath growled, "Don't you start as well." He then frowned, "What are you even doing out here?"

As if on cue, Xerxes popped his head over Jasmine's shoulder, sending his Master some vicious glares.

"Xerxes said you were sneaking out…" Jasmine sighed, "… Again, what are you doing?"

"I can't take it anymore… I can't stay here, knowing that I'm pitied not respected." He rolled his eyes, "Even you're starting to do it!."

"Mozenrath, you're sick and- "

"- Sick, not weak!" Wrenching his leg free, he made his way up the rest of the tree as quickly as he could, glancing back down at his cousin, "I'm sorry but… I can't take it anymore."

With one last look back at Xerxes, an almost sympathetic look, he disappeared over the wall and vanished from view.

Having to take a break on the outskirts of the marketplace, Mozenrath entered the main area of the city, keeping his hood over his head as vendors called out from every corner, enticing him with food, trinkets and other interesting things.

He was completely unaware that he was being watched.

….

Aladdin's eyes widened at the sight of the figure walking through the marketplace, leaning forwards as the man accidentally bumped into the fire-swallower, startling backwards as the cloak fell from his head and one hand clutching at his chest.

"Woah…" he whispered, watching as the man pulled out a few coins and paid for two apples, handing one over to a small street boy. The man continued on, and Aladdin found himself jumping down from the canopy and making his way over to him.

"Hey…" he gently tapped the man on the shoulder, holding up his hands when he spun around and glared at him, "… woah, I didn't mean to scare you, but I saw what you did for that child and- "

"- and you want me to do the same for you?"

"What? No, no, no!" Aladdin frowned, "I just wanted to thank you."

The man looked stunned at this, "T-thank me?"

"Well yeah, I mean- he lost his parents a little over a year ago, so him and his sister have really been struggling, you know?"

"O-Oh… well, it was nothing really."

Rich then… no-one who had to struggle ever considered spending money on someone else, 'nothing'.

"Are you… new here?" Aladdin asked cautiously.

"… Is it that obvious?"

Aladdin shrugged, "Just a little. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"No. I was going to look for somewhere today. I don't suppose you have any recommendations?"

"You can stay with me." Aladdin held out his hand, only for the other man to stare at it, "It's not much, but it's cheap and cosy."

A few seconds passed, before the man cautiously took the hand and allowed himself to be led away.

"I'm Aladdin by the way."

"… Moz."

….

"We're almost there." Aladdin turned to beam back at him as he slowly pulled him up to the rooftops, "Are you okay?"

Personally, Mozenrath thought his heart was going to tear itself out of his chest, as he tried not to sound like he was gasping. "I'm… fine. Do we…really…. Have to… go this… way?"

Aladdin at least, had the decency to look slightly guilty, as he leapt across a large gap to another building, "Sorry…" he grabbed a board and created a small pathway between the two buildings, "… it's the best way to get around the guards though."

As Aladdin made his way back over, this time using the plank, Mozenrath knew that he must be flushing under his cloak, allowing the other man to lead him over the wooden plank until they were back on solid ground.

Aladdin didn't let go of his hand.

"Okay, it's just through here…. Mind your head." Gently, he led Mozenrath down a hatch in a roof, onto a pile of blankets below.

Mozenrath couldn't help but glance around in amazement, "You live here?"

It looked… comfortable, a pile of blankets underneath him, knick-knacks lining the walls.

"Yeah…" Aladdin smiled, "… just me and Abu, coming and going as we please."

"Sounds…. perfect"

"It's not a lot, but…" Aladdin made his way over to the back wall and pulled a large curtain to one side to reveal a gorgeous view of the city, including the palace, "… the view is amazing."

Mozenrath found himself transfixed by the sight, leaning partially out of the window as he took in everything, "Wow…" he whispered, "… it's beautiful."

"You should see the palace when the sun's rising… now that's amazing."

Oh of course…. Everyone thought that the palace was amazing. Mozenrath rolled his eyes and turned away from the view, "Yeah… sounds nice."

Aladdin didn't take the hint and continued on. "I wonder what it's like to live there. To have servant, nice clothes."

"Oh yeah, people who tell you where to go and how to dress."

"Better than living out here. You're always scrounging for food and running away from the guards."

"You're not free to make your own choices!"

"Sometimes you feel so… trapped" "Trapped."

The pair glanced at each other after realising that they spoke at the same time, before Aladdin shook his head, throwing Mozenrath an apple. "So… where did you live before?"

Mozenrath couldn't force down the scowl on his face, "It doesn't matter… I ran away and I am not going back."

Falling silent, Aladdin moved to sit by his side, gently nudging him in silent encouragement to continue, which Mozenrath did.

"They were suffocating me…" he whispered, "… I couldn't take it anymore, so I left. As quickly as I could."

"That… sounds awful."

Before Mozenrath could reply, the monkey started to chatter frantically, shaking it's fist at the pair of them. Once he was done, Mozenrath couldn't help but laugh. "Don't tell me." He stopped Aladdin from trying to explain, "I've got… I had an eel called Xerxes who is just as opiniated. I think I get the gist of what he said."

"…. Sorry."

Mozenrath turned to him, eyes widening at how close they were, "Don't be…" he whispered, "… it's not your fault."

They leaned in closer, but seconds before their lips could touch, there was the sound of a chattering coming up the stairs.

"Guards!" Aladdin leapt to his feet, clearly preparing to make a run for it, before Mozenrath grabbing the fabric of his pants and stopped him.

"No! I recognise that voice, it's- "

Through the doorway, Xerxes popped his head round and started to chatter eagerly at the sight of his Master.

"- Xerxes."

As the eel made its way over, Aladdin and Mozenrath glanced in each other and sighed in relief, before bursting out into nervous laughter.

"I thought we were going to have to make a run for it." Aladdin whispered nervously, "I'm not exactly a favourite of the guards around here."

"I know a few tricks to keep them away from you." Mozenrath took a deep breath, calming his heart rate as he twirled his hand around, a flash of magic twirling around his fingers.

"That's…amazing!" Aladdin gasped, gently taking Mozenrath's hand, "Do you know how rare magic is? I know there's all sorts of rumours about the advisor, Jafar's talents, but- "

"- They're true."

As he blurted them out, Mozenrath winced, "My Dad used to work in the palace." He quickly explained, knowing that it wasn't completely a lie.

When Aladdin smiled at him like that though, Mozenrath couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty.

….

They remained together for the next few days, using Mozenrath's magic to keep away from the guards… not that the guards were really looking for street-rats anymore.

Not when the Princess's royal cousin was missing.

Unfortunately, as they came to end of the third day, Mozenrath knew that something was wrong. He moved to get up, and his heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

Aladdin was so worried, but Mozenrath managed to convince him that it was nothing more than a little illness, probably only a day thing. Aladdin would just have to manage on his own for the day.

Curled up on the warm, but slightly tatty blankets, Mozenrath gave the other man a soft smile. "I'll see you later tonight." He whispered.

"I'll see you later… please rest okay?"

"I will… I promise." They kissed sweetly, before Aladdin left.

He headed out into the streets, faithful Abu clinging to his shoulders as they searched for distracted stall-owners. The guards surrounding him instantly surprised him.

As he struggled, he was unaware that the same was happening with Mozenrath.