He'd accepted the hooded cloak from Cassim gratefully. His home this place may once have been, but now it held only danger for him. He knew it but couldn't think about leaving, not yet.

I'm sorry Aladdin... but I have unfinished business here.

He walked by Cassim's side, with a firm step more resolute than he felt. At times it still felt like he was only mimicking his role as Prince and felt this now more than ever. Being faceless helped though, so that these people, who stared as Cassim introduced him, didn't see him really. No, they saw what they wanted to see. They saw their saviour in the form of a Prince. That wasn't what he felt like... but in the days that had passed since his induction to the Fog Troupe he was no longer sure what he wanted. The boy at his side was mainly the reason for this and he kept his eyes close upon him, with accustomed wariness.

It has been Cassim's plan of course. Alibaba had wanted to argue; to tell him that, no he couldn't play this part.

"You could do this better," He'd said.

Cassim wrinkled his nose at that. "No, I couldn't. I could never pretend to be something I'm not. But you... you're very good at that. You were lying to me all my life."

"I wasn't! I-"

He knew it was useless to argue. Cassim had already lost interest; turned away from him as if to leave. How was he supposed to explain that he hadn't known either; that he had been the son of a King. Hadn't known until it was too late and then he had been swept up into his new life and forgotten his old one. He had as good as abandoned his more than brother. And he couldn't repay him for that. But maybe... maybe doing this for him would go some way in trying to. He reached out, hand brushing Cassim's shoulder as he left, pulling him back.

"Please," He said.

It seemed a long while before Cassim turned back, eyes blazing through the long lines of his dreads.

"I don't care what you did," He said slowly, through gritted teeth. A lie, Alibaba could tell instantly, but he let it pass. "I don't care. What I care about is what you're going to do now. Your country – my country – suffers at the blood soaked hands of our oppressors. I want you to help me. I want you to do everything I say... and to not object."

Alibaba hesitated, hands nervously pulling on the edge of his tunic. This didn't seem right, agreeing to this. A kind of servitude he was talking about, wasn't he? And yet... his pale gold eyes were drawn to those brown ones; feeling the iron will there. He owed him this, didn't he?

"If I do this... will we save our country? Will we... be brothers again?" He asked.

Cassim laughed at that, but it left a bitter taste in the air. "We'll never be brothers again. But, perhaps if you do well then I'll reward you."

He didn't like the way Cassim said that, as if whatever reward he had to offer was not a pleasant one. But, he thought, maybe if he stayed by him long enough he could change his mind.

I'll make him accept me again. I'll make him.

Even if he had to stain his hands with blood and commit atrocities. Cassim was like family to him and as his mother had told him once, family meant everything. A stronger bond than family it felt at times, but one tainted with his guilt. He struggled to find that connection again in Cassim's eyes but they only reflected his own pale reflection back.

He sighed and stuck out a hand to shake Cassim's own.

"It's a deal then." He felt the heavy weight behind his words and part of him wanted to call them back; regretted what they meant. Cassim ignored the outstretched hand and stalked closer, a dangerous glint to his eyes.

"You've been away too long, little Prince. That's not how we seal contracts around here anymore. I prefer something more... lasting."

Then he was impossibly close and Alibaba would have shrunk back if Cassim's arms would have let him. For a second he thought he was going to stab him – so when Cassim's warm lips touched his own, he didn't react in surprise. Then, he felt his own lips being forced open by Cassim, felt the darting of a tongue enter his mouth. He tasted of smoke and spices that made him feel dizzy.

He tastes like poison.

And then Cassim pulled back, a half grin of satisfaction on his face.

"You're mine now," He said and those words now took on a whole different meaning. Alibaba raised trembling fingers to where the kiss had been left; confused. And when he met Cassim's eyes, he finally saw that connection he'd been looking for.

But was this what he wanted? He wasn't sure. His head was a mess of confused thoughts and feelings and only one thing seemed to make any sense – it hadn't felt terrible. Unexpected and strange and part of him still was repulsed, but he hadn't wanted to push him away.

And he knew that he truly would do whatever Cassim asked of him... and maybe, just maybe, he'd enjoy it. That thought scared him more than the person in front of him now and Cassim smiled as if he knew exactly what Alibaba was thinking.

"Now, be a good boy and follow me."