There are not enough JasminexAladdin fanfics out there. Hence, this story's existence.
Italics = Past events/Memories.
Unworthy
Jasmine smiled at the children crowding her as they reached for the treats she carried. Several chuckles escaped her lips while she failed to keep up with their desperate little hands. A moment later, she finally accepted defeat before lying the basket of candies on the ground for them to serve themselves. She glanced behind her to find Aladdin who kept his distance, glancing over the crowd with a watchful eye. He smiled as their gazes met, but never tore his focus away from the hungry children. Written upon his face was an expression that she had become far too versed in.
The past two weeks had strolled along blissfully as the couple spent countless hours at each other's side. He did his best to understand life behind the palace walls, and in turn she begged for him to teach her all that there was to know about her city. Her beautiful city. He showed her the spot where the sun hit the water just right as it crept beneath the horizon, offering the most gorgeous view of the sunset. He showed her the vendors that sold the sweetest cakes and the sturdiest leather. He showed her everything that was beautiful within the city. However, he was always quick to remind her of one simple ideology. Trust no one.
She rolled her eyes as his cautious stare relayed the message once again. Returning her attention to the children, she smiled wider as one moved to embrace her. The little girl's smile filled her heart with delight and Jasmine clung to her for a moment longer before the little one pulled away. She watched as the child skipped away happily, before a firm hand closed around her arm.
"Hello there," Aladdin smiled before crouching to her level. The girl's smile vanished in an instant as she attempted to free herself from his grasp. Refusing to release her, Aladdin lifted his free hand to hold it out in front of her. "Give it back."
"Aladdin!" Jasmine scolded. "What are you…"
She stopped as the child retrieved a small object from her pocket and placed a ring into the man's open palm. Her eyes widened with recognition. With a quick glance to her finger she was surprised to see that it now laid bare.
"Always check your surroundings," Aladdin preached to the child while he pocketed the ring. The girl's eyes clouded with tears upon realizing her heist had failed. Aladdin, however, continued to prevent her escape with a firm grasp on her arm. "And make sure you know who you are stealing from."
He held up a gold coin before placing it in the girl's palm. The child's eyes lit up as she looked to him in confusion. When he released her arm, she glanced between the two of them before darting away with a smile. Aladdin smirked as he pulled the ring from his pocket, raising his brow as he walked to her.
"Don't say it," she warned. His eyes, so full of mischief, relayed his playful arrogance. Thankfully, he knew better than to tell her 'I told you so'.
"They know that they're cute," he smiled while reaching for her. With a careful hand, he slipped the ring along her finger. "They also know that their new Sultana has a good heart. That is why you can't trust them."
She wanted to scowl at him for continuing to insist that she couldn't embrace her own people without fear of being robbed. And yet, he had not been proven wrong. He lifted her hand to his lips and the kiss finally welcomed the return of her smile.
"Don't worry," he spoke against her skin. "Someday soon, Agrabah will be thriving. Then, there will be no reason to steal."
"You sound far too confident in your leader," she smiled as his fingers tangled within her own.
"I have lived on these streets my entire life and I have never seen them act this way," he nodded to the assortment of merchants and commoners.
"What do you mean?" She glanced at the people. Occasionally, their heads would raise from their tasks to offer their Sultana a smile.
"You've given them something that they haven't had for many years." She met his gaze in question and he merely smiled. "Hope."
Her head fell against his shoulder as they walked, a feeble attempt to hide her bashful smile. The palace servants had worn away all benefits of flattery. She had become used to them informing her of her beauty and offering other wonderful words of kindness. She would always thank them with a smile, but she had known that their compliments were hollow. Dalia, her dearest friend, had always been there to ground her humility. Reminding Jasmine of her unique fortune that, as the handmaiden believed, had been taken for granted. Never once did Jasmine doubt the love of her best friend, but she had also known of her jealously. Dalia's playful arguments against her immediate dismissal of countless Princes always contained a hint of bitterness. Though she supposed it made sense that no others could relate to her torment, she had desperately wished for someone to understand. Aladdin, on the other hand, had been the first to make her truly believe that she could be worthy to lead her people.
His hand tightened around hers and she lifted her head as he came to a stop. She had been ready to ask what the issue was before noticing the two men blocking their path.
"Evening gentlemen," Aladdin nodded politely, his gentle façade hiding the concern that she felt in his posture.
"Evening," the first man smiled wickedly before glancing around the empty alley they had found themselves in. "Not very wise of you to lead the Princess away from her guards, street rat."
"Not very wise of you to be threatening our Sultana," he retorted. Jasmine glanced around the alley, hoping Hakim had not drifted too far.
"Stand aside," she faced them with confidence. "And I will forgive your careless words."
"We have no quarrel with you, my lady," he replied before casting a glare beside her. "This one owes us for years of lost goods."
"I will restore payment for your losses, if you but stand aside." She offered before glancing to Aladdin. His shoulders were tense, while his eyes remained fixated upon the men. His grip tightened even further and with the slightest tug at her hand she gathered his intentions to take her and run.
"We'd rather have his head."
There was no time to react to the flicker of movement behind them. Before she could understand what was happening, she was pushed to the ground as shouts erupted from around them. The gravel dug into her palms but she quickly turned to find Aladdin pinched against the wall. He groaned as his hands gripped the massive arm across his throat.
"Let him go!" The words escaped before she even had the balance to stand. A flash of silver demanded her attention and her heart beat quickly as she was met with a sword aimed at her neck. She met the man's gaze, before shifting her focus over his shoulder where the other struggled to hold Aladdin. His wide eyes were on her, while he fiercely wrestled against the hold.
Her mind raced for a solution, but the defiance in their eyes made it clear that they would not honor her orders. When a knife found its way to her thief's neck, her heart had practically stopped.
"Protect the Sultana!"
With a gasp, Jasmine twisted to see the slew of soldiers taking up arms. The man threatening her attempted to flee before being parried to the ground. A moment later the entire square was flooded with guards. Her desperate eyes returned to Aladdin, who managed a strong blow while his attacker was distracted.
Once freed, Aladdin was beside her faster than she could comprehend the chaos around her. His eyes went wide as he glanced down upon her. She followed his worried stare, and as the relief relaxed every inch of her body the pain erupted in her bloodied palms. She flinched as his gentle fingers grazed the unharmed skin around the injury. Pulling a cloth from his shirt, he carefully wrapped the damaged skin. Her hands attempted to flee his caring touch as the contact sent a whole new wave of agony.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. It wasn't until the pain subsided slightly that she noticed the way he breathed a bit heavier than usual. It took another moment to see the blood pooling along his neck.
"You're hurt," she gasped before reaching for him. Aladdin, however, cowered from her touch.
"I'm fine," he grumbled before helping her to her feet. He suddenly took interest in the chaos surrounding them, looking at the men growling on the ground with their hands and feet bound. Jasmine, however, could not tear her gaze from her bloodied thief.
"I thought I told you to keep to the marketplace, street rat?" Hakim squared his shoulders as he stepped towards Aladdin.
"Hakim." Jasmine felt her body stiffen as her temper flared. The Captain flinched at the tone before turning his gaze to the Sultana. "You will address my betrothed as my equal. As this is the second time we are having this discussion, I warn you against a third offense."
"My apologies," Hakim saluted her, and her alone. She could see the desire for defiance as he glared at the man beside her, but thankfully he simply glanced at the wound. "Get him to the palace healer."
Aladdin met her gaze for the slightest moment before hiding his eyes into the ground. Without a single word, he followed the men to the palace.
Jasmine's fingers passed through the layers of parchment, while her eyes quickly scanned the content of each page. The sun had nearly risen enough to render the multitude of candles unnecessary. Her anxious mind and full heart refusing to allow her the luxury of sleeping in. A knock at the entrance caught her attention, eliciting a smile from the new Sultana. The torches highlighted the edges of her thief's face as he waited at the door.
"Come in," she answered; failing to mask her joy at Aladdin's presence.
"You sure?" he took a hesitant step. "I didn't mean to disturb your work."
"Actually, I was ready to come fetch you myself. You saved me a trip," she smiled wider as he neared. "How did you sleep?"
"Very well," he chuckled. "Having a bed truly improves the quality, imagine that."
The words cut deeply into her heart. Though unintentional it might be, she could not be free of the guilt that his suffering caused. He moved beside her to glance at the documents sprawled around the table.
"What's all this?" he asked.
"These parchments contain the laws of our city," she spoke while continuing her search. When she finally came across the section she'd been looking for, she tore it from the enormous book. "And this is the one binding children of royalty to a marriage of equal status."
She held it up for him and it took a moment for understanding to appear in his features.
"This is the law forcing you to marry a Prince?" he raised his brow.
"It was." She glanced at the fireplace before returning her gaze to him. "Would you like the honors?"
He smirked before shaking his head. "I do not believe I'm worthy to do such a thing."
Her head tilted slightly as she observed him.
"You think too little of yourself." She spoke sternly while reaching for his hand. With gentle guidance, she placed the page in his hands before meeting his gaze. "The genie wasn't the only person that you freed yesterday. I feel that you've earned the right to finish the job."
"You freed yourself," he disagreed with a smile. There was pride in his eyes as he attempted to return the document to her hands. "I was just outside the room when you stood against Jafar. Defying the most powerful man in the world is no small feat, Princess."
"You're full of flattery." Together they shared a laugh before she took his wrists in her palms. Her chest became heavy with memories of how close she had come to losing this magical moment. "Without your interjection, I'd currently be bound to that snake."
His own expression fell. She could see his body tense as he no doubt imagined what horrors the previous night would have wreaked upon her, had the marriage not been interrupted. Her own stomach twisted at the thought, but she quickly swallowed the knot in her throat. When he finally met her gaze, his eyes were glossy with relief. "How about we do it together?"
"I would find that quite agreeable," she smiled. Taking a corner of the paper into her own fingers, they crouched together before releasing the document into the flames. She weaved her fingers between his and rested her head upon his shoulder as they watched the parchment burn.
"You will make a fine King," she smiled. "A 'real' King."
"A what?" She could hear his scoff. Lifting her head from his shoulder she met his eyes once more.
"Did you already forget about the pledge you made?" She raised her brow. His mind appeared to race as he searched to understand. When his struggle continued for another minute, she decided to help with his torment. "The engagement was declared only a day ago. You can't tell me that you've forgotten?"
"Prince Ali made that pledge," his eyes clouded with doubt.
Jasmine nearly flinched as her certainty began to fade. A terrible fear grew within her as she worried that she had overstepped. "Does Aladdin's heart differ from Prince Ali's?"
"I don't understand. You destroyed the law. You're not forced to marry." His kind eyes filled with confusion. If she did not have so much experience with the emotion, she would not have seen the desperate need for reassurance within them.
"No," she agreed. "I am not forced to marry anyone."
"So, you… You mean," his stuttered speech renewed her confidence as she smiled through his torment. "You mean, you still want to… Me?"
"What is it that you find surprising?" She asked bluntly.
"Well, you're… and I'm…" His hands didn't seem to know how to act as they gestured between them. After a moment of struggle they fell to his sides, while he sighed deeply. "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you."
Given deeper thought, she supposed she could understand why the thief thought so little of himself. However, upon receiving his words, a mixture of emotions brewed within her. Had his gentle eyes not held so much doubt within them, her anger might have overwhelmed her. Anger that a man who had saved so much still managed to ignore the worth within. Instead, she stepped closer, reaching to hold his face.
"Banish your worries," she whispered. "And tell me what your heart wants."
He swallowed deeply, her hold preventing his escape from her gaze. She searched for his answer deep within his eyes. For a single moment, she translated his frown to mean she'd misjudged his feelings; that with a night's rest his heart had changed. However, as his hands moved to hold her own face, she was pleased to see his smile once more.
"You," he finally whispered. "I just want you."
A gentle breeze spread through the open walls, pulling her from the memory. Jasmine breathed in the pleasant aroma of flowers that lived just outside the palace walls. The moment was a small gift of peace before returning her attention to her duties. She smiled to the commoners that spoke before her, taking care to show how dearly she felt for their troubles. Another hour passed that she listened to her people, with plentiful notes of new issues to tend to. Politely bidding the final group of citizens goodbye, she slid from the room to seek some air.
She walked the endless halls of the palace, looking for any sign of her betrothed. Recalling their first couple weeks together, there had been hardly a moment that he hadn't spent at her side. From the moment she'd wake he would greet her at the door and until long after the sun would fade they marveled in each other's company. But, as her duties came and her people required an unruly amount of attention after years of neglect, she had begun to notice his presence fade a little more each day.
Her heart fluttered with a moment's panic, a phenomenon that had occurred more frequently as of late. Perhaps his heart had changed now that there were no obstacles keeping them apart. Perhaps the thrill of meeting someone new had already vanished as she shared every story. No. She quickly shook her head in frustration as the thoughts burdened her once again.
The sound of metal clashing against metal caught her focus. Her pace quickened as worry quickly spread through her veins. Only servants roamed these quarters and she feared what chaos had emerged and whose life had been in danger. With no guards nearby, she failed to comprehend the consequences that would arise when she found the source until it was far too late.
She ducked behind a pillar when the she spotted the swords flying at an impressive pace. Her mind raced for a solution, but failed to produce. After a minute passed she refused to continue hiding. No matter the outcome, she could not allow the servants to hurt one another. She prepared to step around the pole, in hopes that her title would be enough to halt their hands. However, when her eyes fell upon the sparring pair, she retreated once more.
"You've been practicing." Her captain of the guard offered a small line of praise before returning to action. Aladdin barely had time to raise his own sword to block the attack. "But you must be faster than that, street rat."
"If only I could be as fast as your mouth."
Unable to contain her smirk at the retort, Jasmine's heart swelled with pride as he handled himself with grace. His feet were quick and his arms moved like those of the royal guard. She shook her head in disbelief as she realized where so much of his time had been spent.
After minutes of success, Aladdin faltered and with a heavy blow Hakim struck the young man to the floor. Aladdin winced and groaned from the fall, the blunt sword slipping from his hand. He sighed in frustration as he met the gaze of the man holding the tip of a blade to his throat.
"That was a cheap shot," he breathed heavily.
"Enemies do not fight with honor," Hakim retorted before retreating a step. "You must be prepared for unfair battles. On your feet. Again."
"We've been at it for hours," the exhausted boy fought for a breath. "I can hardly move my arms."
"If you are to be of any benefit to the Sultana, you must be ready to fight in any condition." Hakim stated without sympathy. "Might I remind you that it was you who begged for these lessons. Do you wish to possess the skills to protect your wife or not?"
Aladdin's face fell at Hakim's speech. With one final sigh, he reached for his sword before standing. "Yes."
"Good. Now, you may rest when you knock the sword from my hand," he raised his arm in challenge. Aladdin grumbled before raising his tired arm, meeting the guard in their mock battle.
Her heart sank at the encounter, recalling their incident in the street. She had brushed it off so easily, never once reading into the sullen way he acted as they returned to the palace. That was, of course, until now.
She considered stepping out from the shadows, to end the foolish torment Hakim was putting him through. However, the determination in his gaze stopped her. No doubt their decision to spar in the furthermost sections of the palace where she hardly ventured was no coincidence. Instead, she swallowed the pain in her chest and prayed that he would come to her on his own terms.