Huzzah for me indeed! I finally finished this chapter. The lyrics are from the Rocket Summer's song "Fireworks". This is definitely the slashiest chapter yet, and if you are offended by boy-boy love, BE GONE! Seriously, I'll rip your friggen eyes out. Flame me and face the wrath of my posse. That's right.
" Well I don't mind waiting 'till you're comfortable with me."
Aladdin woke before he opened his eyes, the warm, lavish attention of the sun making him yawn silently, snuggling only deeper under his sheets.. He heard a small sigh and craned his neck up off his pillow far enough to see Mozenrath turn over in sleep, away from him.
His mass of black curls spread out in controlled chaos, the slight rise and fall of his middle the only inclination he lived. Aladdin laughed to himself; for being so uppity about trading beds last night, Mozenrath sure was sleeping soundly on his. Aladdin had suggested the change on the pretense he wanted to see how the cot slept, but really he wanted to be closest to the door to intercept any…visitors. Strangely enough, they didn't get any. Aladdin didn't know whether to be relieved or alarmed.
Aladdin's mind whirled and wondered as he stretched, shrugged on a stray shirt without really looking at it, and came to stand at the edge of the ledge Mozenrath slept on, gazing out through is makeshift window.
Why was he doing all of this for the sorcerer? He looked down at the said necromancer. Was he really doing it for Mozenrath as much as he was doing it for himself…? He liked when the two could share each other's company, he found lately he liked being around Mozenrath. The two had such an understanding, such an unspoken bond formed by years of history between them as they could just sit and not have to talk, like last night. He never, they never, had to work to build a relationship. It was just there, constant, understood that it was somehow always there and always would be. But he wasn't stupid, he knew there was still some lasting resentment, some wounds that never healed, some questions that would probably never be addressed.
And maybe they shouldn't be.
But really, what fueled his recent efforts with Mozenrath?
It was late morning, the pair having slept late. From his position, Aladdin could see straight into the heart of the city, not missing the bustling, teeming streets of customers, vendors, shopping fathers, stern mothers and laughing children, plus the wild antics of the city's fire-eaters and performers. It was just custom for desert dwellers to rise with the sun, the day for too busy to lay in bed and dawdle. Aladdin smirked, looking down once more at the sleeping Mozenrath.
Well at least for some desert dwellers. But then again, Mozenrath was out of the ordinary in a lot of aspects. In his manner, his style and his actions, Mozenrath always did things his own way. But he stuck out mostly in his appearance, and always would. The disguise Aladdin brought him would work just fine, but there was no hiding the rarity in the sorcerer's features. Aladdin had never seen someone with such pale, smooth skin, un-leathered by a life of hard, physical labor. And for being such a masculine enough person, Mozenrath's full lips and long, black eyelashes were quite effeminate.
Aladdin flushed red and jerked his eyes back up when he realized where they lingered.
What had happened last evening anyway? His throat tightened uncomfortably when he remembered how close their faces had been, how close they had been to…
"But what's it going to take to prove that I'm for real?"
Allah, it was crazy. He was engaged! But moreover, they were both guys! No, it was no big deal, it was just a fluke, that's all. They'd forget about it and never speak of the incident again.
But his mind wouldn't let him forget about the way his skin had heated and his posture had surrendered to Mozenrath's hold. He couldn't help but remember the buzz in the air of charged attraction and the way his stomach fluttered wildly as they breathed each other's air.
He'd never forget the disappointment he felt when Mozenrath pulled away.
So there it was, he was attracted to the sorcerer, and as staggering as the realization was, he couldn't help but think what that said about him. Was he gay? Well no, he assured himself, he was definitely attracted to the princess. So was he bisexual? He tired to logic himself out. He, like Mozenrath, had never had a positive male role model in his life. Is that what made men like he and Mozenrath?
" Cause you know how I feel about youYou know I can't live without you
I just want to stay and make it real."
His thoughts were interrupted, however, by a strange sound from the bed he had recently been hovering close to. He turned, curious; brow furrowing as he came to realize just what was making the sounds.
Mozenrath was dreaming, that much was obvious. He was still asleep, and his eyes still closed, but his eyelids moved restlessly, flickering. He alternated between biting his lip and gasping; muttering nonsense as he griped the sheets in his long, white fingers. His back bent like a bow as he arched off the bed entirely. He was fighting an invisible enemy. The noises falling from his lips like running water were almost unintelligible, Aladdin barely catching a "No", or "Please".
Aladdin knew it was time to rouse the sorcerer from his uneasy sleep when the fabric within Mozenrath's touch began to burn on and off again as his hand's glowed blue. Even though he knew they could no longer live in the hovel, and would probably move out today, he really didn't want more damage done. He knelt by Mozenrath's side, shaking his shoulder lightly.
"Mozenrath, wake up. C'mon, wake up. Mozenrath?"
But the sorcerer was too wrapped up in his nightmare to be pulled back now, and did not heed Aladdin's call to wake. Aladdin jerked his hand back from Mozenrath's shoulder when the blue flames crawled up from his hands to his arms, burning Aladdin's skin. Soon the sorcerer was encompassed in it. Still he fought on in his mind, his face the very picture of a grimace as his cries became more vocal.
"No! I refuse-Not Again! You can't make-"
Although his own flames didn't seem to have an immediate effect on Mozenrath's own skin, Aladdin knew the situation was becoming dangerous. Either one of them was likely to get hurt.
"Mozenrath! Mozenrath! You've got to wake up!"
Seeing that yelling from the distance he was at wasn't going to do any good, he made his decision. He grit his teeth and made his move, pinning Mozenrath's burning hand's at his sides, straddling him to use all his weight. He immediately felt the hot, poisonous, magic flames lick up his skin like wildfire. His eyes teared, but it was either this, or let the damn building collapse on them.
He yelled into the sorcerer's face, dodging flames that crackled about the pair.
"Mozenrath! You've got to wake up, now, before we're both dead! It's just a dream!"
Mozenrath had reacted to the feel of another on him, just not the way Aladdin had hoped. The sorcerer's unconscious fervor almost reached panic, and he fought wildly to release his wrists.
"Destane, Stop!"
Aladdin heard him clearly.
"Destane, is this what this is all about? Listen Mozenrath; if it's Destane, you can beat him! He has no power of you; he's dead! Do you hear me, he's dead!"
At that, Mozenrath's struggles ceased, and Aladdin watched with baited breath, pain forgotten, as the sorcerer's brow un-creased, the tension melting from his face. Slowly, the flames that encompassed them both died to nothing at all. Mozenrath groaned a little, eyes blinking open, his wrist fighting for freedom to rub his eyes.
All things stopped, however, when the two locked eyes, realizing how precariously close they were. Mozenrath stiffened, snapping at Aladdin to cover up his embarrassment.
"Aladdin, what the hell is it exactly you think you're doing?"
Aladdin quickly hopped off the sorcerer, refusing to look him in the face as he walked away, stung by the return in Mozenrath's old demeanor and equal embarrassment.
"You were having a nightmare. Your magic was acting up too."
Mozenrath sat up, one hand absent-mindedly clutching his head in a vain effort to stem the sudden headache he was being put through. He heard Aladdin's reply, and any curiosity died to tired recognition, his voice softening.
"Oh."
Of course; the nightmares. Ever since the days of his childhood, his sleep has been troubled by fogged, terrifying revisits to the past. It was one thing to have them, however, in one's bed. It was certainty another to have them in someone else's.
Aladdin risked a look at Mozenrath to gauge his mood, seeing a strangely apathetic look on his face, unfamiliar after so many days of casting it off. So he had drawn into himself again, had he? At least, Aladdin's mind compromised, he wasn't, mercifully, pursuing other subjects, like Aladdin's compromising position. He felt his face heat, and knew he couldn't deny it. Mozenrath wasn't really getting hurt by his own magic, not really, and the building had a good chance of withstanding more abuse. Besides, he could have gotten out. So why did he have no inhibitions about taking such lengths to help Mozenrath?
Oh no, Aladdin realized, it must be true. I must really like…
"Cause I know you know
It can't get much better
Fireworks fly whenever we're together"
Mozenrath held his head in his hands as he rose from bed, his brain drumming relentlessly against bone. There was no way in hell he'd be able to maintain life like this. In the Citadel, there was always one solution, to the sleep problems and aftereffects. He rummaged through the room, prying through the things he'd brought.
Aladdin's interest was invoked. "What are you looking for?"
Mozenrath decided not to answer that. Damn it, where'd he put it? He had it, didn't he?
"Mozenrath?"
Mozenrath sighed, realizing the irrepressible Aladdin was just that, irrepressible.
"Could you give it a rest, Aladdin? Allah! I was just looking for-"
" For this?" Aladdin queried.
Mozenrath looked up to see the very flask of the ever so soothing, cheap, multipurpose alcoholic drink he needed ever so much. It was dangling, almost mockingly, in Aladdin's grip. The hero eyed him suspiciously when he saw the way Mozenrath's eyes lit up in relief.
Destane's effect still had a viscously tight grip on Mozenrath, Aladdin admitted to himself. He wasn't free of the dead tyrant's influence, not by a long shot. He still bore the marks of the emotional and psychological trauma as much as now as ever. Mozenrath had developed a nasty attitude around other's as a survival mechanism; he had picked up drinking as a coping mechanism. And the gauntlet still lay corrosive on Mozenrath's fleshless hand. It would kill him, but Aladdin would work on that later. For now, he wasn't going to stand by and let Mozenrath dig himself deeper into the hole his life had become.
He jerked it back when Mozenrath went to take the flask.
"You really are a thick headed fool, Aladdin, if you think I'm going to play your little games." Mozenrath sneered, covering up the inner grimace. He didn't have time for this; He didn't have the patience! His head pounded relentlessly, and his hand flared with pain just to add to the mix. Why wouldn't Aladdin just let him have it?
Aladdin tried to sound firmer than he felt. It was hard not to give into the sorcerer, I mean; one drink couldn't hurt, right? But no, it started here.
"I'm not going to let you have it, Mozenrath, and you know why. There are other ways with dealing with pain."
"Yeah, and what the hell would those be?" he snapped ill temperedly. He grabbed again for the flask, teeth gritting in frustration when Aladdin danced backwards to avoid him, sidestepping a third grab.
"If you'll stop, Mozenrath, I'll tell you. Now if you're having problems sleeping, I'm sure the palace infirmary has something that will help-"
"The palace infirmary? Oh of course Aladdin, I'm sure they'll send out a caravan for us, what with me being a criminal in Agrabah and the princess knowing you're gay…"
"What?" Aladdin's eyes widened impossibly large, flask hanging loose in his hand.
Were Mozenrath a lesser man, he would have immediately covered his mouth and apologized profusely. But he wasn't a lesser man and almost ruefully he thought that since it slipped out anyway, it might as well be confronted.
"I know you know that I know you know me""Gay, Aladdin."
" I'm not…gay." Aladdin said uncomfortably. Mozenrath's burned as they bore into him a condescending, yet knowing look.
"Yeah Aladdin, whatever helps you get to sleep at night. But you know, admitting it would make your life a lot more easier." He sneered, digging deeper still. He left the speechless hero and leaned down to gather the fallen hat he was given, when he heard swift steps and felt his collar gripped in a brutally tight hold that shook with the sheer intent of it.
He froze.
" I am not gay. I have never been gay, and I never will be. Just…" Aladdin swallowed thickly, " Just remember that."
"Sure, of course." Mozenrath said carefully. He felt Aladdin back off and righted. So maybe he went too far. So maybe sexuality was a sore subject for Aladdin. That's fine; he felt sort of guilty for throwing Aladdin off like that in the first place, after all the hero had done for him.
He turned to look at Aladdin, who was standing, arms at his sides, looking awkward and uncomfortable. He held the flask out in a gesture of peace.
"Here, you can have this back. I'm not going to stop you."
Mozenrath took and looked at it hard before promptly throwing it out the window, so much for his old life. Aladdin laughed, relieved and happy at this change of action.
"You know, that could have hit some poor passerby." He said in mock reprimand.
Mozenrath shrugged, putting his hat upon his head and his hands in his pockets, strolling past Aladdin.
"Feh. I'm too hungry to care. Come on then, don't stand there gaping at me, I'm famished you horrible host." He said with a smirk, turning down the stairway.
"Hey!" Aladdin yelled running after him, " I'm not treating you know, you deadbeat!"
"Well I made up my mind that I want you to be the one
The one I want to be with when I'm ninety-two"
The marketplace was as a bustle as ever, no one noticing Aladdin's new friend as they chatted and walked.
Aladdin smiled triumphantly as he snatched an apple from a passing cart, the action smooth and unnoticed.
"This is brilliant! The disguise is working perfectly. No one knows who you are! We can wander about, just as safe as you please."
Mozenrath didn't answer; instead he snatched the apple from Aladdin's hold.
"I thought you were a reformed thief."
"Hey! I was going to eat that." Aladdin said indignantly. He watched incredulously as Mozenrath bit into it nonchalantly. " I can't believe you, that's stolen, you remember."
"Yes well, the point is you learned your lesson."
Aladdin shoved him good-naturedly.
"So exactly what are we doing out here today, since you have appointed yourself leader for today" he asked.
Mozenrath ignored his sarcasm, choosing the high road instead in answering, " Well you need a new place to live, no? Brace yourself Aladdin, we're going house shopping."
Aladdin laughed at the horrible expression on Mozenrath's face, but inside was worried by something.
"Well that's all well and good, Mozenrath, but I can't really…afford a new home, if you haven't noticed." He said as Mozenrath wandered off to a side-vending booth.
"I'm well aware of your financial standings, Aladdin. But since I was the one who totaled your old one, I will be procuring you a new one. I have honor, you know." He replied, paying the man before coming back to Aladdin's position in the middle of the street.
Aladdin snorted in brief amusement, but still wasn't content. " You really don't have to, I don't need you to-What's this?" He looked in curiosity as the pre-made pita pocket sandwich in his hands Mozenrath had dropped there.
"That, dear Aladdin, is breakfast and a way for you to warm up to the notion of accepting gifts from others, as you so obviously need the training."
Aladdin looked up in amazement, before following after the sorcerer, mumbling a "Thanks".
They wandered into the less oppressive parts of town, where the buildings were slightly less shabby, but private as well. The street was cool with overhanging buildings that shaded against the full ferocity of the sun and the dust had settled for the day. The quiet was nice as well, and the precocious jingle of Mozenrath's money pouch, poised at his hip, was clear to Aladdin.
" So you're loaded, right?"
Mozenrath wrinkled his nose distastefully, "You really have a way with words; you know that?"
Aladdin rolled his eyes.
"And yes, I did acquire a large sum of money when Destane died. So how exactly do you find a place for sale around here? I doubt they put up a big For Sale sign."
"Well I doubt you'll be needing one, anyway, my rich friend."
Mozenrath and Aladdin spun at the unfamiliar voice. Out of an adjoining alleyway, a group of men stepped out, three to be exact; though it was obvious the shorter, thicker man was the leader, as he grinned, exposing two gold teeth to them. Aladdin's eyes immediately shot down to the scimitars, short, curved swords, hanging from the belts of the other two, large men that flanked them. Mozenrath, however, noticed the odd array of the clothes the men wore, a combination of tattered finery and un-accompanying gold jewelry.
These were thieves, real thieves who did this as a living, for entertainment, and without mercy.
" No, I believe you'll be relinquishing that nice, fat, money bag. Oh and any other valuables you two fine gentlemen may carry." The leader spoke again. The two others spread wide in an arc, trying to circle Mozenrath and Aladdin, who backed up.
Mozenrath's hackles rose. " Oh really? And just supposing we refuse…?"
The shorter man grinned, running a calloused thumb down the keen edge of his own long, rusted sword.
"Well then I suppose we'll have to kill you."
Aladdin bent into a fighting stance, and though he sorely wished he had brought his father's saber, he laughed scornfully, tipping his head back.
"Ha! I'd like to see you try."
"Stupid words, boy." The man spat into the dirt. "No mercy men." He flipped his own sword at the side, taking in a charge at Aladdin. Aladdin sidestepped him neatly, chancing a look at Mozenrath as he dodged a diagonal swipe at his middle.
The sorcerer backed up a fair amount of paces as the other two came forward menacingly, unsheathing their weapons. He saw the heavier one, the one on his left, go into a run and raised his glove in offense. He, unluckily, did not watch the man's partner, who saw an opening and brought the dagger in a downward slice at his hand. Mozenrath almost avoided it, but not quite.
He yelled as his flesh was cut on the arm of his gauntleted hand, the blow glancing him. Immediately, he cradled the arm to his chest, gritting his teeth against the immediate burn. The gauntlet sensed the wound and the burn climbed up his arm, seeking more flesh to destroy and consume. Mozenrath's eyes watered with the pain of it, his lip bleeding from the cries he had to stifle. He glared up at the pair who came confidently close, sensing weakness.
"You fools, you have no idea what you've done."
His attacker stood poised over him, raising his sword high for the deathblow.
"Mozenrath!" Aladdin yelled, abandoning his own attacker, who had, even as a pretty poor swordsman dealt him cuts about the abdomen and chest. He buffeted Mozenrath's attacker in the stomach with the handle of his sword, sending him to the ground, wheeling the sword round in a continuing thrust to the other man's side, who yelled, enraged.
He pushed Mozenrath ford. "Run!"
He grunted as, he trying to follow the sorcerer who had stumbled forward, was jerked back by the back of his collar, thrown into the dirt. He struggled upright, only to be downed by a forceful fist to his cheek. Large, dirt and blood covered hands jerked him upright. He struggled in the two larger men's grip, feet lifting off the air in his attempts, but to no avail. The shorter man's face loomed close, marred by a black eye Aladdin had dealt him, grinning in triumph.
Without a word to his new enemy, he punched him ruthlessly in the gut. Aladdin doubled over, the wind knocked out of him.
"I'll make sure your death is slow and painful, you stupid-" he never finished, falling to the ground on his face, eyes wide, making a choking noise. The blow was a swift pole end to the back of the neck. Mozenrath stood over him, looking down in contempt, the pole he had wrenched off a nearby stall in his good hand, the mangled one held still close to his body. The man holding Aladdin's left arm was felled before he had a chance to react, Mozenrath jamming the pole into his stomach and then under his chin ruthlessly.
The last remaining thief knew the cards were out of his favor. Aladdin still in hand, he slung the boy hard into a brick wall behind them, watching satisfied as he slumped to the ground, head cracking against the stone. He turned to Mozenrath, letting the enraged blow aimed for his face from the sorcerer crack harmlessly across his arm. He dropped his own dagger, grabbing the end of the pole coming again for him and wrenching from Mozenrath's one handed grasp. The sorcerer backed up, raising his gauntlet despite the pain, but the man charged, pinning Mozenrath into the wall by his neck. Mozenrath choked, trying desperately to push it off his throat.
"You should have run for it when you had the chance and left the other behind, you may have lived." The man said with a smirk, reaching carefully down for the shorter man's fallen sword.
Mozenrath smiled ruefully, his vision swimming in and out of focus, the blood steadily dripping down the crook of his arm.
"He is the only one who has ever cared for me. I would rather die than forsake him!" Mozenrath said as he closed his eyes and prepared for death.
He was splattered with blood, but when he opened his eyes, he realized it was not his. The man holding him against the wall looked down in surprise at the sword point protruding from his stomach, before belching up more blood onto Mozenrath's front and sliding to the ground. Aladdin looked at Mozenrath, wrenching his sword free from the carcass.
"Come, we've got to get out of here. If the guards find us, well, it won't look good in our favor."
"'Cause I know you know
It can't get much better
Fireworks fly whenever we're together
I know you know that I know you know me"
Despite each of their wounds, despite the fact they basically had to support each other as they ran, they did not stop running until they made it to the city's outskirts, hearts pounding in their chests as they stumbled out of the city gates.
"Wait!" Mozenrath panted, " Shouldn't we go to the palace to get medical attention…?" he panted.
"Later," Aladdin gasped back, " Things have got to calm down first. Mozenrath, we've committed murder."
They collapsed only when they reached a dune far out of range of Agrabah's eyes, though the city was still glittering in view as the sun fell. The sun felt cool against Aladdin's skin, bruised and battered, the sand helping to staunch the limited blood flow. He lay back, facing the sky, casting a curious eye at Mozenrath as he fought to retain breath. Mozenrath was desperately tearing at his pant leg, ripping a strip free.
"Oh shit, you're really hurt, aren't you?" Aladdin jumped up immediately, ignoring his own aches as he took the strip from Mozenrath's hands.
Mozenrath leaned back on his hands as Aladdin bent over his arms, wrenching the sleeve up and binding the still bleeding wound, scarcely breathing, but watching intently.
He winced as Aladdin tightened the last tie. He was pale and he was shaking, sweating cold down his face.
"Mozenrath, what's wrong? Is it all your arm?" Aladdin asked suspiciously, eyeing the gauntlet.
"No." Mozenrath ground out. " It's this cursed thing." He tore it off his arm.
"I think," Aladdin began carefully, "You might want to give the gauntlet a rest, at least until your arm heals. We don't want to provoke it further."
Mozenrath's stomach twisted, knowing the pain of withdrawals he'd feel, but Aladdin was right, if it stayed on, he'd loose his entire arm.
They sat in silence, watching Agrabah become doused in the dusk hues of early night.
"And I just want to feel you tonightMaking sure the moment's just right"
"Mozenrath?" Aladdin said, not taking his eyes off the sight.
"Hmm?" Mozenrath said drowsily.
" I've been thinking about what you said, you know, earlier?"
What exactly did he say? Mozenrath wondered. But he replied nonetheless.
"Yeah?"
Aladdin swallowed thickly, looking at his hands. Now was as good as time as ever, and hearing what Mozenrath had confessed to their assailant earlier, about never forsaking him, gave him courage to do what had been pestering him all day.
"Mozenrath, I have to confess something to you. I think I might be…well, gay. Well not really gay, I mean, I know only you'd understand. I don't like guys as a whole, I don't think, I just like…well you."
He waited for some sound of surprise, disgust, anger, but getting none, gained momentum. He turned on Mozenrath, his eyes dancing with some innocent hope of returned affection.
"Mozenrath, this feeling is new to me, but you brought it out in me. You've changed so much, and I like the change, I really do. That evening, you did something to me, something I wasn't sure I could handle right then. I still don't think this is going to make my life easy, but because of what I feel for you, well I'm willing to deal with it."
He took Mozenrath's hand in his own, alternating between looking at their hands together and Mozenrath's speechless face as he finished.
"Mozenrath…I like you. More than a friend. Please, Please don't shoot me down. If you don't feel the same, I understand."
Mozenrath's world had shrunken down to the air between the two, and the feeling of the hero's hand on his, the feeling of his rapidly beating heart and trembling limbs. He ran his tongue across his parched lips,
"Aladdin?"
"I came by just to stare right in your eyes
I just want to feel your heart beat"
Aladdin smiled, watching the blush seep across Mozenrath's face as he looked down at Aladdin's fingers taking his chin.
The time for uncertainty was over.
Mozenrath watched Aladdin near, not sure if he was still breathing when their lips finally met in an innocent, light kiss.
He made a noise, hapless and wanting, in his throat, arching into the kiss, lips parting of his own accord. His entire body filled with warmth and a feeling of all is right with the world and he felt his eyes slide shut.
"Hold you even closer to me
Fall asleep with you right by my side; we'll see fireworks tonight"
While Mozenrath's fingers tangled in Aladdin's hair, demanding him closer, Aladdin's hand compliantly slid to the sorcerer's hip. If the world existed outside the two, they were not aware as they gained the very air needed to survive from each other's mouths, lips working against each other's in a seamless, easy grace.
They pulled apart slowly; eyes locked on each other's, Aladdin sporting a lazy smile, while Mozenrath was numb with pleasure.
"Wow." Aladdin breathed. Kissing another guy was definitely different than kissing a girl, that much was sure.
"So I guess that's a 'you feel the same'?" Aladdin asked jokingly, trying to quell the shaking in his chest.
Mozenrath nodded wordlessly, staring at Aladdin as if it finally was hitting him what they just did. What did they just do? What step did they just take? What set of events did they set into motion?
Feeling very much overwhelmed by it all; Mozenrath rose unsteadily.
" I need to think, I need to think". Mozenrath muttered to himself, pushing the hair from his face. This is what he's always wanted, right? So what was wrong? What made his gut twist and ache?
"Mozenrath, where are you going?" Aladdin called after him.
" Give me a day Aladdin, just please, give me a day." Mozenrath's shaking reply came back. Before a curious Aladdin could inquire more, Mozenrath had disappeared in a ball of blue.
"I've waited all my life to make this perfect every way
But sharing it with you would make it even more than that.
'Cause I know you know
It can't get much better
Fireworks fly whenever we're together"
Aladdin sat there until a low rumble of thunder and the slap of rain upon his shoulder announced a storm he would soon be caught in. He rose, feeling very much lightheaded.
Mozenrath was right, he did feel better, very much better when he admitted his feelings and was honest with the sorcerer. Why did he doubt before?
He touched his lips with his fingers as rain trickled down his shoulder as he entered the city. They still tingled with the feel of the other. For being such a coarse person at some times, Mozenrath's lips were as soft as they looked, smooth against his. The sorcerer had been so complying, and it felt so good to have those fingers tight in his hair, urging him on.
His stomach jumped, feeling the dizzy income of refreshed affection for the older man.
Who cares if he was going to be chewed out as soon as he crossed that gate? He had Mozenrath now; he knew that for sure.
"I know you know that I know you know me
We'll see fireworks tonight."
Jasmine was going down to change into some night clothes, the clink of glasses and warm laughing coming from the palace dinning room she just left following her, when she watched a soaked, out of it Aladdin walk into the palace doors unopposed.
She was shocked at his appearance, covered in blood, mud and bruises, but even more shocked at what she immediately knew; Aladdin had kissed someone else.
How did she know that?
She'd never forget the blush Aladdin had adopted, that certain blush he'd donned, when Jasmine first kissed him. The same blush that covered his face now, the same blush that complemented the love song he was humming.