Chapter two:
Masrur voices his opinion.
''Que?!'' Ja'far exclaimed, not believing what he'd just heard. ''We ought to discuss this somewhere else.'' Sharrkan said, grabbing Ja'far's hand and dragging him along. After a long and silent walk, they arrived at a rather dilapidated neighbourhood. Ja'far couldn't help but notice that Sharrkan lived near his own apartment.
''Do you know we live really close to each other?'' he eventually asked. ''No, I didn't know, do you live nearby?'' Sharrkan said. ''So, you're the one shooting hoops every evening?'' Ja'far asked, as he eyed the crummy neighbourhood basketball field. ''Sort of.'' Sharrkan replied, then opened the door and hollered. ''We're ho-ome!''
They received no reply, and Ja'far noticed that the lights were off. ''My little brother is probably still out.'' Sharrkan said, as he switched on the lights. ''Would you like something to eat?'' he offered, but Ja'far shook his head. Sharrkan shrugged as he ambled over to the couch and sat down. Ja'far followed his example, then asked, ''Why do you want to be my coach?''
Sharrkan smirked, then said "You need help, Boris offers. Either you take it or not.'' in a Russian drawl. ''So, there's no particular reason?'' Ja'far asked. Sharrkan smiled as he said ''I told you, I saw you bumbling about like a baby seal, you obviously needed help, so I offered. I could always tell him, and see what happens then, but I assume you'd like to be able to tell him yourself. Or at least, make him notice, which will take a awfully long time, because he's kinda dense.'' 'You're one to talk.' Ja'far thought.
''So, what do you think?'' Sharrkan asked. ''I'm not sure yet.'' Ja'far replied. ''It's not a difficult decision.'' Sharrkan said. ''I'm good at giving advice when it comes to asking someone out. Though the easiest way is still Vegas, babe.'' he said. ''That doesn't appeal to me, it's the rhinestones.'' Ja'far deadpanned. ''You know what, sleep on it. You can give your answer tomorrow after practice.'' Sharrkan said. ''Alright.'' Ja'far agreed, before his phone buzzed. He unlocked the device, before taking a peek a the message he just received. ''I need to go to work.'' he told Sharrkan, who nodded and said, ''You know the way out. See you tomorrow after practice.'' ''Bye.'' Ja'far curtly replied, before leaving. On his way out, he met the kid he saw at practice. ''Excuse me.'' he said, before slipping past him, and running off quickly.
By the time Ja'far finished work, he wanted nothing other than a shower and sleep, but he couldn't help looking towards the basketball court, thinking 'It looks kinda crummy.' He then went inside, not noticing the small figure playing. When he woke up the next morning, he noticed three things. One, all his furniture had been moved about. Two, he was not in his bed, but seated on a chair, and three, the apartment was filled with the scent of waffles. Soon enough, Masrur stepped out of the kitchen, setting a plate with waffles before him.
''Dig in.'' he said, before sitting down. ''Ehr, thanks?'' Ja'far told him, quirking one of his eyebrows, then continued, ''What are you doing here? And for that matter, how did you get in here?'' A femine voice replied, ''I broke your lock. Sinbad asked me to.'' then Morgiana sat down next to her brother. ''Let me get this straight. Sin asked you two to break the law by entering my house, so Masrur could suprise me with waffles?'' Ja'far asked, hoping that the two would realise how weird the situation was. But instead, they both nodded happily.
''Why on earth would you do that?!'' Ja'far exclaimed. ''King's orders.'' they both stated. ''Is anyone even going to explain why Sin asked this?'' he asked, but the two of them started eating some of the towering pile of waffles. Ja'far sighed, before grabbing his phone and dialling Sin's number. ''Ja'far? You still alive?'' the other side of the line asked. ''Why wouldn't I be, idiot? Anyhow, why did you ask the Dynamic Duo to break into my house?'' Ja'far asked. ''So harsh. I wanted to make you happy. It must have been troublesome tutoring that nitwit.''
Ja'far sighed, this stuff really shouldn't surprise him anymore. ''How very kind, Sin. Next time, just buy me a coffee.'' he told him, before hanging up and taking a waffle. ''Masrur.'' he said, making him look up. ''Next time, don't do as he says when it's something similarly ridiculous.'' Ja'far requested. Masrur only nodded, before devouring one of his remaining waffles. ''Same goes for you.'' Ja'far scolded at Morgiana, who didn't even listen, but instead gazed out the window. ''This neighbourhood is kinda crummy. Too crummy for you.'' she said, somewhat dreamingly.
Suddenly the doorbell rang. 'Goodness, what am I in for now?' Ja'far thought, who stood up to answer the door. When he opened it, he found the blond boy from the game. ''Ehr, Hi.'' Ja'far said. ''My big brother wanted to ask if you guys wanted to go to school together? Since everyone here goes to Sindria High as well.'' the boy said with a blush. ''Uh? Your big brother?'' Ja'far asked, before he noticed Sharrkan standing behind the kid. ''Actually, Alibaba asked me that when he saw that your friends had come over. I'm okay with it.'' Sharrkan said. ''Sounds good to me. Why don't you two come in? For some odd reason we have waffles.'' ''Waffles?'' Sharrkan asked, quirking one eyebrow.
As soon as breakfast was finished, the five headed to school. 'Well, this is different, usually I meet up with Sin before class. It feels nice, walking with friends.' Ja'far thought, before looking at Sharrkan. 'Is he my friend? He manipulated me into this awkward position where he'll become my coach. I'm still not convinced he'll be able to help me.' Sharrkan noticed Ja'far staring at him. 'Do I have something on my face?' he wondered, before rubbing his cheek.
''Something wrong, big brother?'' Alibaba asked. ''Nothing really. Just rubbing off some dirt.'' Sharrkan replied. ''You didn't have any.'' Morgiana told him. ''Oh.'' Sharrkan replied dumbfounded, before staring at Ja'far, who realised he had been staring. ''So, ehr, waffles? Why?'' Sharrkan asked. ''Sinbad's orders.'' Masrur curtly replied. ''Sin tends to go overboard when he wants to take care of someone. He actually thought that 'tutoring' you was going to kill me, so he told these two to make me breakfast. I gave up any hope of changing him in this long ago.'' Ja'far explained.
''Big brother, I think your captain has gone insane.'' Alibaba said, and Morgiana nodded. ''He always has been.'' Sharrkan said. ''He's not that bad.'' Ja'far said with a grin, before adding, ''He's just out of this world.'' Sharkkan smiled, it was kinda cute how Ja'far kept seeing Sinbad in a positive light. He snapped his fingers before asking, ''Speaking of tutoring, have you thought about my offer?''
Masrur gave him a weird look, as Ja'far paled. ''Oh, uh, I haven't really had time. Oh would you look at that, we're at school. Gotta go, bye.'' Ja'far said, before running off. Sharrkan blinked a few times, and Alibaba said, ''Well... that was awkward. I gotta go too, Aladdin promised he would show me something awesome today. Wanna come?'' he asked Morgiana, who nodded. She waved her brother goodbye, before walking away with Alibaba.
''What was your offer?'' Masrur asked, this time making Sharrkan pale, as he looked over to see the red-haired giant stare at him angrily. Sharrkan gulped, then said, ''I... I offered Ja'far to become his coach. The poor kid needs all the help he can get if he wants to succeed.'' his attempt at a cheeky grin vanished abruptly as Masrur lifted him up. ''Hey, come on. We don't have to fight.'' Sharrkan pleaded. Masrur held him for a moment, then grunted ''It's a good idea.''
While this took place, Ja'far had bumped into Hinahoho, tumbling to the floor. ''Whoa, easy there, buddy.'' Hinahoho said, as he helped Ja'far up. ''What's with the rush?'' ''Nothing.'' Ja'far lied, hoping to get off easy. But Hinahoho wasn't fooled. ''Come on, you can trust me.'' he said. Ja'far sighed, before saying, ''SharrkanofferedtotutormeincourtingSin.'' Hinahoho gave him a confused look, before Ja'far sighed and said, ''You were somewhat right yesterday about me liking Sin. And it's so glaringly obvious that even Sharrkan noticed it, and now he wants to become my coach, helping me get in a relationship with Sin.''
''You are too much of a worrywart.'' Hinahoho said, as he watched the frazzled Ja'far. ''But that offer sounds both good and hilarious.'' he added. ''It's moronic.'' Ja'far said. ''This is high school, we are bound to do moronic stuff. Besides, Sharrkan can be stupid, but is generally considered a nice guy for a reason. If Sinbad wasn't my captain, I'd listen to his ideas.'' Hinahoho assured Ja'far. ''I didn't know that.'' Ja'far admitted, as he realised he barely knew Sharrkan at all.
''So, be a good sport and take the opportunity. I'll be there to help.'' Hinahoho said, just as Sharrkan and Masrur caught up. ''There you are. I wondered where you ran off to.'' Sharrkan said, as he laid his hand on Ja'far's shoulder. Ja'far smiled widely, as he faced Sharrkan. ''You're hired.'' he pronounced, making Hinahoho roar with laughter as Sharrkan gave Ja'far a bewildered look.