Sorry for skipping last week. I was too stressed to edit another chapter, and since it marked the exact middle of the story I thought it was a fair moment for a week pause. I'll try to keep the next half steady again until the end.
Saying dealing with Ja'far was easy would be a complete lie. But saying it was easier at this very moment than thinking about all the horrors he'd need to go fix once he got his act back together was shamefully true.
Sleep had done him well. His mind was a little less of a whirlwind of random memories popping up and gaps in places where he needed to think of something. Everything seemed to be back in order, giving the whole thing the feeling of a dream he just woke up to.
All his memories were in place, including the ones from the past two days. They were still a bit vague at times, but he had no doubt it would all come back to him. That didn't mean he wasn't feeling just a little off and not quite ready to walk out of his door and deal with his kingdom.
For several reasons, that one.
For starters, it seemed like he had confessed his feelings to Ja'far in his time as a child. And Hinahoho knew about it too. So he probably needed to go make sure Hinahoho wouldn't start telling everyone in his enthusiasm about the new developments, because if anyone was bad at keeping secrets involving romance, it was the giant Imuchakk. Even teasing him about being a gossiping old geezer couldn't make him shut up.
Secondly... Ja'far. Good grief, who was going to run the kingdom now?
The little kid was staring up at him, looking surprisingly forlorn and lost. Not at all the reaction he had been expecting.
He had expected the thrashing and the struggling when he woke up. And he might've expected the jab at him - though that one hurt. Ja'far was so mean. He hadn't expected the child to look so lost at the news. Like he was completely uprooted and had absolutely no idea what to do with himself right now.
Ah, it did make a little sense. He had felt out of place too, but Ja'far had been there rattling on about duties and changes and what he was and was not supposed to be doing. The rules had been set, and he was simply given a new adventure.
But this child wasn't like that. He might have followed Sinbad around, but he was used to having a clear goal at all times. Right now, his goal - following Sinbad and protecting him when necessary - was taken away from him. Or at least drastically changed.
He reached out, gently cupping the pale face in one hand.
Ja'far would've cut off his hand under any other circumstances, but now his eyes merely flickered down to the hand, before closing in a somewhat helplessly confused expression.
"I'm sorry it had to happen like this, Ja'far. I can understand you are a little confused."
Two steely eyes suddenly snapped open to glare at him, the forlorn look dissolved like sugar in cup of scalding tea. "Fuck off, don't touch me." Sinbad's hand was batted aside harshly. "Explain to me what happened."
"Ja'far..."
"Now!"
He watched the little kid glower at him murderously, trying to keep in a chuckle. This child was just too cute when he made that face. Better not tell him.
"To sum up the past fifteen years, you stayed with me and I managed to achieve my goal to create a kingdom. It's where we are right now, in Sindria." Ja'far scoffed at the name, but Sinbad ignored it in favour of finishing his short story. "In this time we picked up five more people who are now together with you, Hinahoho and Drakon my eight generals. You also took the place as my advisor and secretary in Sindria. You're quite a busy man..." He trailed off. Yeah, that would go over great with the kid. 'You are the one who does all my work because I'd rather be drinking and whoring all day. You grew up really responsible and stuff.' Sure, he'd take that just fine.
"Advisor?" Ja'far blinked up at him, looking quite confused and not very successful in trying to keep his glare up.
"Yeah... You don't have to worry about that now, I'll make sure your work is done by someone else. Anyway, one of the eight generals is a magician, and all of this is sort of caused by something she did- uhm, no, not saying that right- well, we screwed up together." He scratched his head with an awkwardly forced bark of laughter, trying to make Ja'far understand without having the kid after Yamraiha's life for this. "It's not really her fault as it was seriously an accident. But I got turned back fifteen years first, and just when she managed to age me back normally you kind of got stuck in my place. She's working on something to fix the situation right now as we speak."
Was he going to need to introduce Ja'far to the other generals like he did before? It was kind of his duty, if only towards the other generals... But would it be wise? Ja'far wasn't sociable at this age, not to mention the cursing-
"I'm going to kill that fucking woman for this."
"No you don't!" He quickly shot forward to grab Ja'far's wrists. "No killing Yamraiha! No killing anyone at all! Believe me, you are actually really good friends with her, and you'd be really sorry once you age back normally! Ah, you wouldn't be able to turn back to normal if you'd kill her. So don't."
"Who says I want to turn back to what you call 'normal'?" Ja'far glared at him sharply, pulling out of Sinbad's grasp. The child crawled backwards over the bed, trying to get out of Sinbad's reach. "What you're telling me doesn't sound good at all! It sounds like you make me work like some slave! You don't even care she turned me back into a kid, all you do is protect the fucking woman! I'm an assassin, not some sort of government- something."
"Ja'far!"
He lurched forward, grabbing the kid by the ankles just in time before he could jump off the bed and make a run for it. He dragged the struggling child back to himself, wrapping his arms around him firmly.
"Don't say such things! We will all want you to turn back to how you were before, as you are a dear friend to many people now. And I'm sure you'd be happy too! You're not a slave Ja'far, I never make you do anything you don't want to" - apart from making you drag me through the palace to get me to work, or get me to bed drunk, and never ever did I grope you or kiss you without your consent - "you work hard because you are naturally a hard worker! If I try to lessen your load, you take up more. Ah, in the beginning you were anxious whenever you didn't have anything to do! You live for work, and not just because I make you do it-" Somehow this didn't sound convincing at all, not even to himself. What was he even trying to say?
But to his surprise, Ja'far didn't start shouting back at him. Instead Ja'far curled up, pressing back against him. Ja'far shuddered.
"Don't be upset, Ja'far," he tried again, this time without sounding as frantic as he was feeling. "We all love you a lot. I don't think you'd be happy if you'd stay like this and you'd have to adapt to life here all over again. Just... just try to deal with it for a couple of days until Yamraiha finds a way to fix the situation, ok?"
"I'm not upset."
Was that Ja'far pouting? Oh goodness, this was adorable. But he'd probably be castrated on the spot if he would dare to say that.
"Okay, I won't kill that woman. For now. But you better get her to fix this quick or I won't take responsibility for my actions."
The boy managed to make it sound angry. Maybe he still thought he could trick Sinbad like that. But he had never been, not since Sinbad had seen his past. Sinbad knew exactly when Ja'far was feeling vulnerable or upset.
He gently tightened his arms around the boy, nuzzling his hair.
Neither needed to say it out loud if Ja'far needed some comfort. Because he had never been good at acknowledging that. So Sinbad wouldn't say anything. And just hold the boy until he struggled out of his grip.
No matter how long it would take.
...
He had no idea why he was allowing something stupid like this. Sinbad was always so clingy. It was disgusting.
And now he was some old geezer too. Smelling of some sort of perfume, like a disgustingly rich guy. And these clothes were just really uncomfortable where they were pressing against his face, too soft and too smooth. Who'd want to wear something like this? If the idiot would step on his clothes it would be more slippery than a wet rock covered in algae.
And it was hot.
Way too uncomfortable.
He was only allowing it because Sinbad was probably feeling insecure with Ja'far having turned this young. If they really knew each other for over fifteen years already it must be strange like this. Obviously Sinbad couldn't know him very well, he usually didn't allow anyone to see what he was feeling. And he'd be damned to ever tell the idiot about his past. Sinbad knew nothing. And he would keep it that way.
But he could allow the man a small moment of comfort before pushing him away. He must be pretty shocked by this as well.
But it really was way too uncomfortable. Give Sinbad a finger and he'll take a whole hand.
"Lemme go."
Maybe he muttered a little too softly, but Sinbad still shook his head like a petulant child. This guy never grew up, did he?
"Lemme go!" He flung his elbow to the side, trying to hit Sinbad in the stomach. Sinbad dodged easily though - reminding him too much of the way he had never been able to hit the bastard when he tried to assassinate him. And he even managed to dodge without letting go of Ja'far's significantly smaller body.
"You bastard get off of me!" He thrashed, kicking Sinbad in the gut with a knee. Sinbad immediately let go, rolling back onto the bed laughing - laughing, the fucking bastard!
"I'll fucking kill you!" He had pounced before even remembering he didn't have his knives on him. Unfortunately he didn't have the strength to deliver any punches to that annoying face with the man grabbing his hands as easily as he did.
Ja'far cursed under his breath, feeling more powerless without his weapons than he would ever like to admit. "Let go of me!"
"Ja'far, you should calm down," Sinbad chuckles eased out and his face became serious.
"No, you bastard!" He kicked, hitting the self-proclaimed king in the knee. Sinbad barely winced and forced Ja'far back.
"Calm down, right now. I'm not going to stand for this violent behaviour anymore. I know you are confused and everything, but I need you to respect my authority as your king and not trying to injure anyone."
"Fuck off!" He tried kicking again, but Sinbad held him at a too long distance now. What was this idiot thinking? That he'd just sit down like a good boy waiting for this ridiculous problem to get fixed? What was he supposed to do, sit around and enjoy women like Sinbad always did or something? Like he ever cared for that shit. Old people were disgusting with those constant physical needs.
"Ja'far, if you don't calm down and stop struggling right now, there will be consequences."
"What, you think you're my fucking mother now or something? Just because I said I'd follow you doesn't mean I'm going to obey every moronic command you're going to think of! I'll do what I please and there's nothing you can do about it!"
"You're just being stubborn because you're confused, right? I'm going to give you one more chance: Calm down now and behave yourself, or there will be consequences and you won't like them. I know I don't normally discipline you, but things have changed and I can't have you running through the palace like a madman."
"Who're you calling a madman, you sick fuck? Pot calling the kettle black? I'm not going to sit around doing nothing! Let me go right now or I'll stab both your eyes out!"
He was startled by Sinbad's sudden movement, jostling him roughly and making him collapse onto the bed. His hands still trapped in Sinbad's large palms, he looked up at the tall man in surprise. He surely had gotten stronger, shaking him up like that.
That fucking hurt.
"The fuck!?"
"I'll say this once, so you better listen carefully. I'm the king of this country. You are my most trusted general, my advisor, my secretary. Even if you are reverted back to a child, people will expect some basic decorum of you-"
"-deco-what?"
"Shut up." He was jostled again, and Ja'far gaped at the man's stern face in utter surprise. With all Sinbad had tried to make him behave better, he had never ever done it like this.
"You have to behave, Ja'far. You can play around if you want, but you will not damage anything or anyone in this palace. You will not go around insulting people, you will behave properly when addressed. And if I find out you even tried to point a sharp object towards anyone in this country, I will not be held responsible for my actions. Is that clear?"
Ja'far just gaped. This man was nothing like the one he knew. The Sinbad he knew would try to scold him if he did something wrong, but he would always remember how dangerous Ja'far could be. The Sinbad he knew would rather try to coddle him against his will then scold him physically like this. The Sinbad he knew would only ever make such a serious face to people who threatened him or the ones he loved-
Was that what he was doing then? Was Sinbad being protective of his people because he knew Ja'far was a threat? Was he acting like an arrogant dick and scolding Ja'far as if he were just any brat in order to keep his people safe?
So he did grow up in a somewhat reasonable king then.
Although it did hurt a little that all these nameless people were being put before him.
"Fine."
"Am I clear?"
"Yes, yes! Fine!" He glared at the man pinning him down. "I won't kill anyone, and I won't talk to anyone. You can't complain about my manners if I'm not even talking to people, can you?"
"Well..." Sinbad frowned, his grip loosening a little. "You should reply when people talk to you. Just try not to be rude, ok?"
He scoffed, turning his head away. There was no way he could do that.
"That's rude," Sinbad said sternly, "answer me properly."
"Stop treating me like a fucking kid already! I won't talk to people and if they talk to me it's their own fucking fault!"
"I'll stop treating you like a kid when you stop acting like a little brat. Promise me not to be rude, Ja'far!"
"Fuck off."
"That does it." Ja'far shouted in surprise when he was suddenly grabbed around the waist and hoisted up under Sinbad's arm. "If you can't promise you'll behave properly, I'm just going to carry you around to make personally sure you won't do anything stupid."
"Lemme go, you fucking asshole!" Ja'far thrashed in Sinbad's hold, but once again found he couldn't really start anything against a man this much bigger than himself. Sinbad calmly got off the bed - only seeming slightly bothered by the fact he needed both hands to restrain Ja'far - slipped his feet into a pair of ridiculous slippers and started walking to the door.
"Wait- stop!" He thrashed even harder. Sinbad couldn't walk out like this! He was wearing nothing but a shirt, and it was way to big on him. He'd look ridiculous - not to mention he was showing off about any scar available on his legs like this. He never wanted to show those to anyone, especially not to people like Sinbad and Hinahoho! Sinbad probably hadn't noticed just now because he had been struggling so much, but if he was going to carry him around like this everybody was bound to see the scars running up his thighs. And if there was anything annoying, it was people cooing over him with pity because of his scars.
He wasn't self-conscious about them. He just didn't want anyone to act all annoying about them.
Secondly, he wasn't sure whether he was even wearing anything underneath this shirt, and no matter how Sinbad would call him a brat, he wasn't enough of a brat to not mind walking around practically naked.
"S-Sin! Stop it!"
That paused the man in his tracks. He wasn't sure why he froze up so completely, he had called him Sin a few times before. Not that often. He always seemed happy about it before though.
"At least let me wear some fucking clothes, damnit!" He cursed how he spluttered, not sounding anything like the composed or angry assassin he was. He sounded like a weakling begging like this.
"You're wearing a- ah. Yes, of course. I forgot about that. " Sinbad turned around and walked back to the bed, plopping Ja'far down on the edge. "Sit right there. I'm not going to accept any disobedience, understood?"
"U-understood." He quickly shoved down the hem of the shirt, refusing to acknowledge the heat on his face. Sinbad wouldn't really have walked out with him like this, would he?
Damn that idiot. All the way to hell and back.
