Ah its been a while, so my apologies for the wait.

A big thanks to XxShiroKitsunexX, NNeko, Akumarayne, Hades' Neko and Nikki for the reviews and kind words. And the rest of you guys reading, favouriting etc thus far I really do appreciate any who have stuck with this for so long, with my little breaks and all, lol.

Enjoy~

Eleventh Night: A Bittersweet Remedy

Slowly the days crept past since that fateful night – the night Sin tried not to think about. But then, such a thing proved difficult seeing as so many there remained puzzled over it. It had been that night after all that the entirety of the palace in Kou had fallen prey to a strange, and magical, affliction. Where any residing and awake within its wintery grounds had at first attested to hearing an awful and shrill cry, only to moments later fall to a deep state of unconsciousness. Even whole patrols had woken several hours later, confused to find themselves rousing half buried in the snowy, narrow pathways no less. Sin alone knew what had transpired; and such was the way of Zepar's magic.

And there the guilty party stood, those days later. Sin stood shivering in the open doorway leading into Judal's chambers, where he nursed the tail end of his fever whilst staring out over those same gardens. He doubted such a thing was wise, yet right then the frigid light of a pale morning felt too welcoming as it poured down over his still-recovering skin. Besides, being made to rest so long had been infuriating.

Needless to say, he remained un-blamed for that night. Mainly as he knew better than to actively demonstrate the potency of the power which currently had weakened him so much. He also hadn't needed to give Reim an explanation for the events, as during the days of his illness it seemed the blame had fallen to Judal. Perhaps it was fitting to think the king's beloved, darkened Magi would delight in causing that much chaos. Certainly Judal had boasted over such a thing, time and time again, whilst he remained loyally at his king's bedside. Sin guessed nothing would please his lover more than being able to use his magic to render a whole palace unconscious. Even if in reality he'd have no clue how to accomplish such a thing.

A power so amazing even a Magi envied it. Sin mused at that as he huddled in his thin robes in that doorway and gazed down at his hands and at that ring in particular. He really could influence anyone he wished. If he gave in to temptation and utilised its strength, he really could paint that frozen landscape he gazed upon with his most intimate thoughts and desires. It was dangerous, blinding; a flickering flame of bright emerald burning amidst the darkest parts of his mind. And drawing too close, perhaps nothing would remain of himself. It was what Zepar always warned him about, and the temptation only grew as he became stronger. And it had a price, as seen by how currently exhausted he was and how weak he felt. Grateful as he was for the djinn's borrowed power...he disliked being reduced to such a state, however fleeting. But then, he was convinced it was for the best. Even if he feared how much control he held over Judal's mind now.

A flash of green and gold was currently picking its path across the frozen walkways, and interrupted Sin from his thoughts. And watched Jafar's all too familiar figure pick it's way gracefully over what had until recently been such a thick and unrelenting blanket of snow. And which was now slowly but surely beginning to thaw into something of an unpleasant and slushy mess. Right...Sin could only guess that following the shattering of Judal's sceptre, the icy grip his magic held would gradually fade away. Even if the process was slow.

Perhaps that was why Judal had been blamed for it, as both the night of Zepar's magic and his sceptre breaking had been the same. As much as Sin hated the cold, in a way he agreed with Judal it was a pity. Somehow, even in all that scene's striking cold and cruelty it had been beautiful. Judal was right about that. Smiling, eventually Sin turned to the person currently approaching him. "...Sin, what are you doing out here? Dressed like that...I thought Judal was supposed to be keeping an eye on you."

The king wore those robes of lilac and white however, which too might have been a bad idea. But then, Kou usually wasn't used to such weather. And neither was he. "He is...was. He wandered off once I fell asleep."

"...Again?" Sin doubted such a thing was surprising to either of them. As much as Judal liked remaining at his king's side, his wanderlust remained a habit. As such, once he was content Sin was asleep those past days – and thinking he wouldn't notice – then he would leave. And of course, he pretended not to notice the Magi did so. Mainly as he guessed Judal was still searching the grounds for his lost sceptre, and not knowing such a thing was shattered beyond repair. And of course had been too proud and stubborn to admit to misplacing that beloved prize of his. "Well, get to bed. You look awful."

"There's no need, Jafar, I'm fine now," he lied. Right as he wiped at his heated face and futilely willed his cold body to stop shivering. As well as enjoying some fresh air, he also wished to be standing there when Judal returned. As those lacklustre excuses he'd give for slinking off amused him. "Really."

"You also sound sick..." the pale man shot back, not missing just how Sin's voice sounded so much weaker and huskier than usual. "You're always like this when you get a chill. You just...had to go out there, running about in the snow like that." he ceased rubbing his face, his handsome features looking down at his shorter, loud and nagging subordinate before nodding in agreement. "...And using Zepar of all things, no wonder you got sick. What were you thinking?"

"You know too well what I was thinking."

He looked round a little nervously, given the topic of their conversation. Especially as this person was the only one he had of course told what had happened. "...That's not what I mean, and you know it," came the sharp reminder. And as if he hadn't said the same many times before. "Look at you...pushing yourself like this. It's not like you're as young as you were."

Yes, and certainly he didn't wish to be reminded of that.

Bristling slightly, Sin all too willingly accepted the medicine handed to him. He quickly uncorked the small, verdant phial Jafar pressed into his palm the moment he was given it. A sharp, yet cool aroma of peppermint was almost overpowering as he raised it to his lips. Yet a mere sip was enough for the welcoming, numbing sensation to do its work as the remedy slipped gently down his throat. He coughed slightly, before thankfully passing the tiny container back.

"You never did tell me everything that happened," Jafar commented softly. At the moment Sin felt himself grow lightheaded, and knew from experience that the medicine was already setting to its swift work. Especially as his troubled thoughts grew a little calmer. "You just told me you used Zepar's power on him."

"...I really didn't tell you?"

"Sin, you know you didn't."

No, as he didn't wish to think of it. He took a step back into the warmth of incense gracing the bedroom behind him, and indicated for his advisor to follow. "For one thing, we were right to be suspicious."

"I'm not sure that's encouraging," sure enough Sin heard himself be followed, and turned as the door slid shut behind them. He'd rather be careful not to be overheard, no matter how quite the palace was. "Aladdin thought it was possible Al-Thamen were still contacting Judal."

"He was right. One of their magicians was speaking to him," Sin laughed somewhat humourlessly. "Haunting him in his nightmares so he's wake up terrified...clinging to me," he folded his arms, his teeth gritting. "Zepar will help me; and I won't let them bother him again."

A slight, uncertain shimmer clouded Jafar's eyes at the mention of the djinn. "I guess Judal didn't tell you much about their plans."

"Honestly? I believe him when he says he never knew. They'd just use him when they need his power. Do you remember back when we helped Reim seize Kou? That ritual they put him through?" his advisor nodded. "That was done so they had a means for Judal to summon them back...I don't know how. But it did require him to gather as much of his black rukh for them as he could – as well as mine. They even betted I'd keep him safe until they needed him back."

Sin coughed again, running a large hand over his rasping throat. He watched as a cool glass of water was passed to him, taking a small sip before continuing. "Jafar – they ordered for him to return to them that night. If I hadn't stopped them...I don't know. If he went, I got the feeling I'd never see him again. Even if I did, would they change him? They'd make him forget anything they don't want him to know."

Perhaps as he himself had done. But no, Sin knew his reasons were better than theirs. Still it was troubling, that only with Zepar's influence had he been able to stop Judal leaving. Even if he made him forget, Sin had still stolen someone from Al-Thamen from them. It wasn't over, even if he doubted he'd see them a while.

"You know-" he gave a sad smile, reaching a jewelled hand up through his messy violet hair falling loosely around him. "I learned something from this. Judal will never choose me over Al-Thamen. I guess I was too optimistic. All this was all I could do to keep him with me. If...when...they return, I'll lose him anyway..."

"No, Sin – you..." likewise, Jafar rubbed a delicate hand over his forehead. "...You've never had a master. It's not as simple as doing what you want. You'll just have to show him he has that choice. We'll likely never know everything they did to him so...look, we have time. You can be very convincing when you wish to be."

"Yeah," he agreed thickly, staring down at the glass in his hand with itching eyes. He'd make sure that never happened, and forced a smile. He'd convinced Judal once, he'd do so again. "I just feel better that the only secret he's keeping now is running off looking for his sceptre. Ah - do you a night a while back? When I found out he was keeping all this from me and got drunk? That was the worst feeling..."

"...I do, yes," somehow, Jafar didn't seem amused. If anything he answered forceful. He was scowling, and it was an expression Sin knew. As if his general was stopping himself from mentioning something. Yet the moment a violet eyebrow was arched questioningly, he all but exploded. "You...actually forgot, didn't you?" he demanded as Sin stared blankly. "You...just sobbed over Judal that night, and up and deserted me. All alone, in that damned brothel. Wedged between two overpriced floosies you were too drunk to remember..."

"...Ah," certainly it was a long time he'd waited to divulge this much. And certainly longer than Sin considered to be healthy. "I brought them for you, though," he was flashed a sceptical look. "I did! Why do you always doubt me, your king? When I gave you the two most beautiful" – at least he assumed they'd been beautiful; certainly he could be assured they were the most expensive – "geishas Kou has to offer."

"...Yes, Sin, thank you very much. It was so thoughtful of you."

"Must you be so cold to me? I'm sick here," he sniffed affectedly.

"I thought you were fine. Healthy enough to stand in an open doorway, in your normal clothing, at least. But of course, me scolding you makes it worse," the pale, somewhat loud advisor of his sighed. "How can I be in the wrong? You left me with those...women," really; how could he be this upset when Sin had done something nice for him? "Yet I have to be sympathetic? Serving such an irresponsible man?" he smiled, and nodded. "...Really, if you just took care of yourself we'd be home by now."

"We'll be back soon enough. Either way, it's bad luck to set sail with a cold."

"...No it isn't, Sin. Standing in a draft is."

"Perhaps, I-"suddenly amber eyes flicked up curiously. He heard the din of a soft serious of footsteps cross over the roof above them. As if Sin's lover had returned from the frosted grounds, and empty-handed once again.

"...Look who's done with his searching," Jafar commented, sliding open the door as if to direct his somewhat light-hearted berating at a less accepting target. Sin stood back as that seasonal unpleasantness splashed forth into the overly warm room. "...You were supposed to be looking after Sin, remember?"

"...Eh?" a lazy drawl of a voice enquired above them. Instead of the two being greeted by a familiar smirk and smudging of white and black clothing however, they were met with the sight of swinging feet. As Judal seemed to prefer holding a perch at the edge of the roof rather than entering a room with Jafar in. "...What the heck are you doing in my room?"

"I'm here as you weren't looking after Sin as you said you would."

"...Like I'd know he'd wake up early. And I'm here now, so you can go leave us alone now."

"I'm feeling a lot better actually," Sin interrupted them quickly. Unfortunately it seemed the two hadn't quite grasped the art of being civil to one another. Setting aside his drinking glass on a nearby table he stepped to reach up, catching one of Judal's swinging heels in his palm. It was cold, and honestly he had no idea how he could walk around barefoot like that. For now however, he resolved to simply run his warm fingertips over his lover's skin. "So what was it you were looking for?"

"I'd like to know that too," Jafar interjected.

Judal interrupted himself from a quiet, yet appreciative moan offered at Sin's touch to rudely address his subordinate. "...Like that's any concern of a weak guy like you."

"I guess he was off looking for fruit," the king offered, right as Jafar glanced upwards in something of a death stare. His fingers slipped softly between Judal's toes, and felt them flex luxuriously in enjoyment. "Even if there won't be any a while. You have to wait for them to grow back."

"...Yeah, I guess," the mumbled reply came. As if the Magi readily accepted the excuse offered to him. Sin didn't mind; secrets such as this were even amusing after everything. "Maybe we'll even be gone soon. Ha- maybe not. You're just spending all your time sick and sleeping."

Sin sighed, watching the shadow of a smirk cross his advisor's face. As though Jafar had just been proven right. "You'd think I was doing it in purpose with how you two act."

"No, I'm not like that useless person. I don't think that," the Magi corrected him. The foot he'd kept a gentle hold off ceased its swinging as Sin drew a thumbnail to lightly scratch at its sole. And felt it's owner shift slightly in his grasp. "Say – go prepare a bath for us, alright? I want to talk to him alone."

" - Us?" Sin's eyes widened. Mainly as he'd been trying to convince his lover it was a good idea for them to bathe together. And he'd said...

"...Prepare you a bath?" Jafar was repeating slowly in answer to the not-so-polite request.

"Yeah...Sin said you were my servant now. So you have to do what I say."

"...Did he, now?" for now. The aforementioned "he" refused to meet the cold stare offered him. As distracting himself with those soft, slightly arousing moans from massaging the Magi's toes was a less terrifying prospect. "Oh – how nice. All I ever wanted; serving an insufferable brat like you."

"What did you say to me? If you're not his servant, anyway, then what the heck are you?"

...Not a servant. Sin gave Judal's toes a teasing pinch before looking at Jafar cautiously. "I didn't say it like that," even if saying as much seemed as good as admitting to it. "But-"

"...Fine," his advisor threw up his hands in defeat, freckled face scowling. Perhaps he had decided a way of escape, even one as demeaning as running a bath, was welcome by this point. "But this is why you're so unsympathetic, Sin. First you have me deal with those women...now him..."

"...What women? Hey!" Judal had demanded loudly. Even if Jafar had already made his retreat deeper into the rooms, and had left Sin with dealing with such an unwelcome explanation. "...Just where's he going?"

"To set up our bath," he replied, and was met with an awkward silence. And guessed this topic was enough to make his lover forget about asking about those women. "He needs to stay about to do that."

"I didn't think about that," came a somewhat reluctant admittance. And with a slight crunch of ice seemed to slip slightly on the roof as a result of Sin's gentle ministrations to his foot. "...Don't get exited, alright? I just gave him something to do so he'd leave us alone."

"No, it's a good idea. It can be your punishment for wandering off..." Sin smiled gently. "But you might not want to upset Jafar too much. He's not so nice when he's agitated."

"That nasty guy's never nice. But you did say he was my servant, right?"

"Ah..." there were some things Sin wasn't so confident off. One thing was the Magi enquiring about that vibrant flood of orchids still covering his rooms. How he had asked his king if Jafar was capable of turning them into something, like a perfume he'd like. The king guessed he would, even if he sensed asking might be dangerous. But then, Judal was used to being taken care of in such a way. And didn't seem to grasp that Jafar was a close friend of Sin's. And indeed the first person he had saved, much like how he was saving the Magi now. "Can you at least be pleasant to him for now? For me?"

"...I guess."

Sin curled his strong, slim fingers around Judal's ankle and gave it a gentle pull. His thought being he could pull him down, off the roof – into his arms. And was just met with a slight laugh, and something that sounded like cursing. That light body slipped slightly, and a crumbling of ice fell in a fine powder to strike against the chilled walkway below.

"...What are you doing?" a loud exclamation reached him as Sin pulled again.

"Something fun. Hey –"a thicker piece of ice shattered down, colliding against the red, soaked wooden path in fragments. Moments later a laughing figure was pulled down to earth, only to surprise Sin has Judal collapsed somewhat weakly against his own enough body. And with enough force to push them back into the room. He regained his footing and looked down at the pale, shaking yet confusingly cheerful person pressed to him. Bright and intense as those ruby eyes were, they looked somewhat troubled with dark, shadowy circles cast under them. "...Judal?"

"It's nothing," he announced carelessly as Sin rubbed at slim, pale and freezing forearms. "...You're sick, remember? So I'm worried over you."

"I've not forgotten," he replied softly. Yet Sin knew how loud and fast the heartbeat pressed to his was. At how his lover was staying so close to him, not moving away. So he enfolded him in his arms, kissing his forehead. "You're not sleeping, are you? Either you're watching over me, or wandering off."

"...I'm not," Judal admitted uncertainly. His slim, pale fingers tangled themselves in the veil of hair falling around Sin and steadied himself. "I try to sleep, but when I do it's weird. Like there's this really distant voice calling to me. Someone I know. But this other voice is louder, and tells me not to listen to it. So I don't. I tend to see this thing, like a flash of green magic. Then I always wake up."

Sin felt an unwelcome chill rise in him, and knew what that meant. Al-Thamen still were trying to reach him, and Zepar's magic was enough to stop them. He had feared as much. "...We should go inside."

He kept a hold of his lover before drawing them back into the room, carefully slipping the door shut again. He sat back, onto the foot of the bed which was welcoming as his body sank into it.

"...It's weird I can't remember my dreams," Judal announced as he stood in front of his king. He allowed his graceful, gesturing arms to be caught and looked down warmly. Such a look that Sin couldn't resist, pulling him forward to sit upon his lap. Which, strangely, wasn't resisted. Much. "It's sort of like how I'd feel when those magician weirdoes would do something to me. Like...something's there. Only not there."

"Which is it?" Sin rubbed gently over his lover's forehead before kissing it again. Judal leaned forward, eyes closing as his king reached up to lose his hands in that ebony, and ridiculously long hair. His fingers found the end of its braid, before discreetly loosening the last tie binding it. "Something being there, and not there, are two different things. You know that."

"Yeah..." he agreed as he reached up, those forearms encased in glittering gold wrapping themselves around Sin's neck. It surprised him, so much that he froze in the process of freeing that hair from its second tie. "I guess it's like something's missing. Like something happened I don't remember. And like those times the magicians did something to me, my rukh can't tell me what it is."

For a moment he felt his throat tighten painful. Then looked down at those intense eyes, willing himself not to tell Judal everything. Well, even telling him that he was right, and something had happened, would just have him curious. As such he shook his head slowly, continuing his work on his distracted lover's tresses as attempting to still think he'd done the right thing. As it was, doing such a thing as secretly loosening Judal's hair was more comforting than he expected.

"If something happened, I'd tell you," he said finally. "They did a lot to you, but it's over now. When you're with me, nothing like that will happen again. If those voices get too loud for you, I'll tell them to stop."

Judal looked amused by that. "Eh? Like you're going to go into my dreams and stop something like that you idiot – you're so naive saying stuff like that," even so, something in those porcelain features seemed relieved by that. as if he was just as naive for partially believing and being happy about such a statement. "I guess all this is weird to get used to, you know."

"Yes. I guess it's weird thinking what you'll do without Al-Thamen."

"That's exactly it," he nodded firmly. "I just can't believe they're gone, and I won't see them again. It's not that I'm sad – I didn't like them too much. And if they were here, I'd not be able to keep that promise I made you. Now...it's like I don't have to worry."

"No, not when you have me." Sin gripped at that person he had stolen from them, liking how his eyes grew bright again in their fire. "I doubt you even thought what you'd do without them. Or what it means to be free."

"I don't want to be free. I want to be powerful."

Sin should have expected that, and laughed. Through the corner of his eye he watched Jafar emerge, apparently done with his task of drawing such an ungrateful Magi his bath. He didn't say anything, not when he gave the figure sitting on his king's lap with such distain before silently leaving. As if to give them their needed privacy. "It's alright; you're not free if you're mine anyway. If someone saves you, you belong to them."

"Eh? No way," came the complaint to his joke. Perhaps it wasn't really a joke, but was met with a bright smile. As if that thought was secretly coveted. "And you're going to make me go back, to that tiny country. And deal with your servants who won't do what I want. That small fry is – eh?" somehow in his rambling, Judal realised what Sin's fingers had just finished doing. Right as he was gathering handfuls of the thick, perfumed and silken strands in his grip in admiring. "...The heck did you do?"

"I loosened your hair," he told him, releasing that luxuriously multilayered curtain of darkness to watch it splash far down his back. Something seemed to twitch within him, heating up from such an act. "...It looks so pretty like this. Maybe you can wear it like that for me more often."

Judal stared, forgetting that he was complaining. Sin looked back, reaching up to peel off those black and white tops, drawing off the soft material from silken skin before casting them carelessly aside. His lover even reached up his arms to help him, before leaning into Sin's frenzy of heated, stinging kisses pressed to his pale throat moments later. He pulled his lover closer; hands settling at the Magi's lower back to pull him closer. "...You're so annoying sometimes."

Perhaps his prize was right. Sin had definitely forgotten his fever, or even he was sick as he pushed Judal aside. Who even offered something of a appreciate sound as he drew back on the bed, anticipating his king descent to join him. And then reached up to catch another attack of another, bruising and much deeper kiss. Right now, this seemed the best medicine Sin could ask for; seeing how breathless that person was from something as simple as a kiss. "Which is it? Am I annoying, or stupid?"

"...Both?" his lover decided firmly. He was watching eagerly at the figure mounting up at his waist. A familiar, intense and seductive fire playing in Sin's amber eyes as he looked down. As he took to unlacing his robes, allowing them to fall from his broad, lightly muscled shoulders and from his body. Amusingly, times like this were enough to silence what was usually such a noisy person. "Annoying...as you're making me go to that island. And stupid because..." he trailed off, his cheeks reddening as his king's nails drew slowly down his prisoner's slim, ivory torso. His thumbnails flicked gently at the hardening, satin-pink buds on his chest before stifling a moan. As if still concealing how much he enjoyed moments like this."

"That tiny island is your home," he informed that person lying helpless and willing beneath him. He leaned down, claiming Judal's soft throat between his teeth before sucking gently at it. As his fingers continued to gently pinch at his skin, an appreciative groan vibrated in the captured Magi's throat. Sin felt as if that was the best sound he had ever heard. "If you always say I'm the strongest person you know...imagine what we'll do together?" Drawing the tip of his tongue slowly over Judal's lips he reached up to accept the forearms offered to him. As if Judal was eager to have them pressed down to the scarlet sheets and subtly creaking bed; to be both held and controlled by him. "Anything else?"

With another of his throaty cries Judal tiled back, his vibrant and painted eyelids closing. He seemed to have more and more trouble articulating his protests now. As Sin's tongue continued to lick over his lips he began to kiss back. Drawing Sin into moist, eager warmth to curl his tongue around his. Which turned into a cry as his stronger lover drew to press down firmly against his body. "...H-how about all my stuff? I'll have to leave all that behind?"

"Ah..." he listened to that complaint as the two drew away from their heavy, feverish kiss to catch their breath. He slipped down; his kisses now level with the Magi's chest as his amber eyes flicked to the side. To the plethora of possessions still stacked neatly in the corner of the orchid-filled room. All of those invaluable, glittering dungeon items lovingly collected in the short years of their owner's life. He considered it, his hands continuing to hold Judal's wrists as his lips pressed to his torso. "If you take a bath with me, you can take whatever you want."

"...I was going to anyway," he wasn't sure which his lover agreed to. Either way, he'd agree to both. He took to nipping slowly at his skin, leaving another small and purple blemish over its perfection as he went. Perhaps the thought was there, that if he marked his lover enough he'd always stay. And even love bite would remind Judal just where he belonged. "The water's going to be cold once we get there."

"It can wait," Sin told him. He felt he had won, right as Judal gave him a nervous glance and seemed out of excuses. "You can keep me warn, anyway."

He continued to kiss and draw his tongue over him, enjoying that flutter of a racing heart confirming his enjoyment. He calmly nipped at the soft skin of his chest, slowly enough to fully relish over the defeated cries. So many marks branded Judal as his. And he had long since surrendered, simply lying there and allowing Sin to take his time enjoying him. And he did, somewhat amused that his lover was his to do as he wished with.

"...At least undress me properly," Judal murmured. Mainly as at a time like this, Sin's rukh would be at their brightest. At their most excited, and Sin guessed such a thing would feel amazing against his lover's sensitive legs. He'd get his time, just not yet. For now, as the king palmed over the soft silk covering a ticklish thigh, he just felt it part even further. And Judal's breath caught in his throat in anticipation. Yet he just grinned, lifting up to rub his lips softly over one of his heavily erected nipples instead. Knowing full well this would drive him crazy. "...H-hey!"

"I heard you, don't shout," he replied calmly as he lapped gently at the hardened bud, rolling it between his sharp teeth before claiming it again with his tongue. His slender hand was drew up over those lusty bruises mottling Judal's body, and heard Judal's groans become more needy. Somewhat desperate and heated as Sin continued to suck firmly at his willing body. "I'm just having fun making you give into whatever I want."

"I'm not giving into you," Judal declared in a defeated voice. "I'm just...giving in."

"...I see," Sin gazed up warmly before lovingly shifting to the other side of his chest. "Thank you for clearing that up."