More Than Meets the Eye Chapter 42: Believe It Or Not, an aladdin fanfic

The lyrics are from the Nickelback song "Believe It Or Not", and the original characters of Aladdin are not mine. Stay tuned, folks, the climax chapter, where all your slashy dreams, come true is coming up!

"Believe it or not everyone have things that they hide
Believe it or not everyone keep most things inside
Believe it or not everyone believe in something above
Believe it or not everyone need to feel loved"

Aladdin watched the day break over an almost steel gray horizon, a hot blue sunrise that foretold of a long morning and even longer day. The heat would come down like a heavy curtain upon them all, making it even more difficult to sum up the will to get up and attend to the duties of the day. Aladdin, however, had been up for quite awhile, dealing with the moral repercussions of what he'd done.

He had done, more specifically; exactly what Mozenrath said he would do. He had slept with Jasmine. Worse still, he hadn't really realized how far things had gone until he looked over at her satisfied sleeping body.

He looked between his knees on which his elbows were rested, down at the hard packed sand far, far below. The palace wall was colder when he first came out to sit, to get away from the smell of sweat and sex, but they too were rapidly warming.

Was he really that predictable? Did he really play right into Jasmine's hands? But no, it didn't work. He couldn't look at the blue eyed, gentle hearted woman, or girl more accurately; he had fallen in love with and see a manipulative monster, the one Mozenrath described. There had to be some base, human reason for all the things she's done that seemed questionable in his or Mozenrath's mind. But still, he had to wonder how could she do what she did to him last night so well, turn him into a simple creature of need and flowing romance. Why did it come so easy, why did she feel so natural, so mean to be in his hands?

Why did he now choose to go for the more challenging relationship with Mozenrath?

Instantly his pride and withstanding resentment flared up and he shared the thought aside viciously. No, Mozenrath was done. Better yet, Aladdin was done with Mozenrath. Hang him and all his difficulties, his unreasonable insecurities and suspicions, his mistrust and venom. Mozenrath was just too fucking hard to figure out. Mozenrath, in Aladdin's mind, was like a maze, with all of the walls constantly changing. And Allah forbid he made a mistake, tread on some wound he never knew existed. He'd most likely get his head bitten off or be left alone again, wondering what in the hell did he do? He had to admit, it got old, made him world-weary. He wasn't being selfishly, he thought stubbornly. He went through a lot for this befuddling sorcerer, come to grips with a sexuality that would make his life extremely difficult in the days to come. If it weren't for Mozenrath, he further convinced himself, he would have been content never knowing about it. Because of Mozenrath and his damn dark temptations, Aladdin was thrown into a whirlwind of realizations about how many holes and imperfections his and Jasmine's relationship really had.

Because of Mozenrath, his life would never go back to the happy medium in which he was living. Bond with friends here, romance his girlfriend there, with some satisfying adventures thrown in. He looked almost wistfully to the horizon again, hoping beyond hope some mechanical battle monster of Mechanikles, a sand vortex of doom of Sadeara's, a tidal wave from that razed mermaid, or some dark foreboding cloud via Mirage would appear. Then he could loose himself once again in the heat, nobility, and adrenaline of a struggle. He thought darkly that all of his more or less harmless enemies must be avoiding Agrabah because they knew, could sense the peculiarity of Aladdin.

He tried valiantly, at least in his mind, but failed to conjure up enthusiasm for the "Sultan Lessons" he'd be taking again later that day. "Sultan Lessons" were key in preparing him for taking Jasmine's dad's place once he died. He had always believed, and still believed no that Jasmine would make a much better ruler, a capable Sultana in her own right. But everyone had remained optimistically insistent that he would make a fine ruler. He had the reputation, the courage, the morals, drive, cunning and determination. Now all he needed was the molding.

"But we don't and we won't
Until we figure out"

There came the hard part.

He recalled something Jasmine had once said, in apology for having to leave in that cave, on the run for the child kind whose emotions controlled the weather. She had said sometimes a ruler has to put his/her people before his or her own needs and wants. Now Aladdin had no problem putting his life on the line in rescuing total strangers. But if it was him on that horse, staring down at Jasmine's pleading eyes and aching heart, could he have denied her for duty? Probably not. Aladdin was more dedicated to the will of his heart than protocol. It was just a decision he had made for himself many years ago. But Jasmine was able to do it, and he didn't resent but love her even more for it because that was the kind of person she was. She was bred to be the perfect image of intelligent, monarchial rule. Besides that even, she had her own natural abilities for the job. She was tactful, calm when Aladdin was not. She'd be able to make the difficult, unsavory decisions. Aladdin would not.

In all actuality, Aladdin dreaded becoming Sultan with a sense of Death. He would be looked into a life he'd never be able to get out of. And to streetrats like he and Sadeara, freedom was more precious than life. He would be destined to grow old with dignity, with Jasmine, fated to have perfect little children. He and Jasmine would become the late Sultana and late Sultan, replacement in a never-ending cycle of lineage.

His throat constricted and his palms sweat. Was he really ready to grow up, to settle down and take on all the responsibilities that required? Was he really going to give up his youth without so much as a fight? Would the Aladdin he had made a name for, make a legend by, die and be buried under the sand?

He was so immersed in his thoughts, he didn't hear, nor sense something flying low, close, headed straight for the wall next to him. Iago was uncomfortable, and anyone who knew him would instantly be able to recognize that fact instantly by the stiffness in his un-practiced flight, the frown that worried his beak and eyes. The bird felt an intense twisting in his gut as the little brown head below became a familiar, unusually silent Aladdin. He told himself he would do this, but planning and doing were two totally different things, a truth Iago embraced with unfaltering cynicism. He wasn't a brave bird, at least not enough of the time to quell a certain level of self-hate, but he knew what he had to do, well, he had to do.

"Could someone deliver us
Just send us some kind of sign
So close to giving up
'Cause faith is so hard to find"

He had seen things he definitely wasn't meant to see that night he had flew after Aladdin and into his hovel, to see he and Mozenrath share a groundbreaking kiss. He had gasped, but wasn't heard, after all, who heard the gasp of a bird when two people's eyes were never so focused on one another? In any case, he fled immediately after. He had to. He tried telling himself over and over again he wasn't homophobic. All in all, he prided himself on being a pretty open minded, worldly bird. He was educated enough (more so than people sometimes remembered) to know that what Mozenrath and Aladdin were doing was more common than it seemed, acceptable enough not to be the real issue here, at least in Iago's mind. But it was just...Aladdin? Aladdin, the literal, doe-eyed, skirt chasing, brave, poster child of heterosexuality? It couldn't be, it wouldn't be. Aladdin was in love with Jasmine, right? That was the major, unchanging staple in Iago's new, reformed life, at least a part of it. It was just something that would never change, the undying love Aladdin and Jasmine seemed to have for one another something he could at least believe in.

He sighed.

It was just, there was in hope in that, despite all odds and obstacles, two kids, two crazy, love struck, naive kids could find love in each other. Much less were the odds that they could actually hold on to another once their romance become public.

Iago knew it was silly to feel betrayed, but he did. Of course, it was nothing to what Jasmine was feeling, Allah forbid if she actually knew. But of course she had to know. Aladdin was sitting defeated and most likely depressed atop the palace below, so the initial conflict must have already happened. He had sensed something odd in the way Aladdin and Jasmine had acted around each other, like they were playing a particularly high stakes came of cards, and enjoying each other's loss.

He frowned. That wasn't the way it was supposed to be. But then again, nothing really was, now was it?

"But you don't and you won't
Until we figure out"

Aladdin followed his landing with his eyes, and so the pressure to say something to him increased as Iago fumbled for words.

"Hey kid" he said, situating his feet more stably on the wall top. Aladdin turned and gave him an indulgent smile, faking it off course, mind still whirring on restlessly on his own personal worries.

"Hey Iago, haven't seen you awhile. Sorry I didn't get to...really talk to you yesterday. Have fun with Thundra?"

Iago nodded his head modestly, fighting discomfort.

"Yeah, I always do. She was strangely...placated this time. I think the heat is doing something to her..."

He looked up reflectively at the sky, watching the wispy clouds swirl in the hot, white ball of a sun's glare. He turned to look at Aladdin, folding his wings at his side.

"How's Jasmine?" he countered, testing the waters.

Aladdin, as expected, looked at him sharply.

"Why do you ask?" Before Iago could think of a suitable answer, he shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped on you. She's fine, Iago, She's fine." He said with an inescapably air of world-weariness.

Iago could have killed himself for his damned daring when it came to pursuing things.

"So what she got over you now? Something big, I bet."

Now Aladdin really was surprised, and immediately on the defensive besides. He looked at Iago with hurt, and with anger.

"You know what? If you're going to start that than you can just-"

He broke off when Iago laid a gentle, staying wing on his arm. Aladdin looked down in confusion. Iago looked up with a startlingly, if not unsure, amount of sincerity.

"Sorry Al. I didn't really mean to provoke you, it's just that, if I'm being completely honest, I kind of..." he twisted, tearing off his courage to finish.

"You what, Iago, you what?" Aladdin prompted.

Iago didn't make eye contact, though he knew he had to get it out.

"I sort of saw you do something, something I'm betting I wasn't mean to see, if anyone for that matter."

Aladdin's brow furrowed, and he tried to feign indifference, those a nerve in his jaw jumped as he looked away, bracing his chin on his hand.

"I don't know what you're talking about" he said in a plain sort of way.

Iago wiped his feathers across his face, puffing out in frustration. He was trying to be sensitive, dammit! But Aladdin wasn't making it easy, dodging everything. Aladdin was the hardest person to get close to when it came to discussing...un-pleasantries.

"For Allah's sake, Aladdin," he cried, flying up in Aladdin's face, "You were locking face with one of the most dangerous sorcerers to ever menace Agrabah!"

Aladdin's hand immediately went to clamp his beak shut, and Iago was pulled close, so close he could see the desperation in Aladdin's eyes, voice, and the very tremble of his body. To say the least, he was caught off guard. He looked into Aladdin's countenance with fear, with alarm, but Aladdin seemed to be the more shaken of the two.

"Sssh! Somebody will here you. Now tell me you won't speak of what you saw to anyone, please Iago, I'm begging you."

Iago broke away stiffly, forcefully. He looked at Aladdin with disdain, and said rather unkindly.

" I know I've had my share of mistakes and bad judgments, but do you really think I'd spill something like that?" He was insulted, and he admitted it. But as he saw Aladdin hang his head in embarrassment of his panic, he realized he too, brought anything suppositions ever concluded about him on by himself by past actions. He sighed, he really did dig himself a big hole to climb out of. It would take time to get people to believe and accept the change he was trying to make in himself, he knew that. He just had to be patient.

"I'm sorry Iago" Aladdin said genuinely.

Iago softened.

"I've seen it a lot every time the world turns upside down
Believe it or not most of us feel like we're losing ground
Believe it or not everyone hate admitting fear
Believe it or not most of us wanna know why we're here"

"It's fine. Listen; just let me tell you some things, okay? Don't argue; don't interrupt. It's important you hear this," he added. He waited, as if expecting Aladdin to do just the opposite, which really wouldn't surprise him considering the boy's history, but in any case, Aladdin just nodded, crossing his legs to face Iago.

Iago drew a breath in, and began.

"I am not trying to sound older than you, though in my species years, I am significantly older, I just want to assure you that I don't find scorn or prejudice in me for what choices you've apparently made in your life for yourself. However, that doesn't exactly mean I agree with what you're doing, nor will I offer any encouragement. Aladdin, if this is what you want, I have no idea where you are coming from. I guess I couldn't possibly understand it, so I guess I won't try, it's just fair that way. But I'm going to ask you, and I don't want you to answer right away, Are you. Absolutely. Sure. Of what you are doing?"

Aladdin bit his lip, looking to the sky for answers. Iago respectfully let him do what he had asked him to himself. Iago had to give it to him, for a kid his age, which would always be young in Iago's mind; he really let himself think things out. Now, Iago thought with a little laugh, that didn't mean that applied to every aspect of Aladdin's being. The hero of Agrabah could be right damn impulsive in the heat of things, hell, even out of the heat. It was just that, as Iago knew so well, he followed his emotions dutifully. It hit him them, how strange the change over Aladdin was. And there was a change, Aladdin never took his time, thoughtfully, with his actions before, and if he did it was rare. Of course it was accepted; he was an impulsive person. Not so much anymore. What was responsible? Iago had a startling revelation then,

Mozenrath had...affected...Aladdin, in a mostly positive way from what he could see. It had to Mozenrath's doing; nothing else in Aladdin's life had changed. Somehow, it sort softened his opinion of Mozenrath in all this, but also left him keenly hungry for details.

"Iago, I may not sure of most things, especially what do with the mess I made of me and Jasmine's relationship, and the distrust I've earned from my friends, but I do know one thing," Aladdin turned to face Iago, and the bare authenticity and desire for acceptance in his eyes caught Iago off guard. " I really like Mozenrath, more than I'm comfortable with, actually, " he said with a laugh, "but I guess that can't be helped."

"But we don't and we won't
Until we figure out"

Iago laughed too, and threw up his wings in mock despair,

"Ah to be ruled by the heart, glad I'll never know the feeling."

"Aww, you little softie bag of feathers, you!" someone cooed and swept him up to be pressed into a bared chest. It set Iago squawking. "For cripes sakes, Genie, you big oof, you almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Hey Genie!" Aladdin, was surprised to see his friend, even more surprised when a cool Carpet swirled around him happily, and an exuberant Abu scuttled onto his shoulders, hugging his neck. He realized just how much he had missed his friends who he spent so little time with as of late. Now, with them surrounding him, offering sympathetic ears, as he knew Genie would be a friend through anything, well, it did something to him. He smiled, swallowing a knot in his throat, resisting the urge to throw himself into a hug of his big blue friend. He did stuff like that when he was a kid. Couldn't exactly do it now without looking silly.

Genie looked at him with benevolent curiosity.

"Hey Al." his brow furrowed, and instantly he had morphed into green rubber pants, red rimmed goggles, and was currently prodding Aladdin with something that would later look suspiciously like a bomb detecting device. He questioned Aladdin in a New York Cop accent, which was naturally totally wasted on his audience.

"Youse Okay there sonny boy, youse ain't gonna blow up on me like ole' Charlie, are ya?" Genie's instrument shook with his voice, all for the drama, Aladdin guessed, realizing he deserved this sort of reaction.

Being used to Genie's strangeness, Aladdin held up his hands placatingly.

"It's fine Genie, I apologize for making things weird back there. It was intended, believe me. And thanks."

Genie put a warm hand on his back, and gave him a genuine smile, back to his normal self again.

"It's fine Al, I'm used to strangeness from you." dodging the swipe he expected from Aladdin. Aladdin just laughed, raising an eyebrow. Well that was new.

Iago batted at Genie in irritation, though Aladdin knew most of it was for show.

"Hey, big blue, didn't ya see we were having a conversation here? Gah!"

Genie looked down at Iago dotingly. He had really gained a respect for the bird, coming to realize aspects of Iago that he suspected the bird didn't even know about himself. He knew there was a sensitive, intelligent side Iago had, and inferred Iago was exercising the parental instinct he sometimes adapted with Aladdin and Jasmine.

A white flag poofed into his hand, and he waved it energetically.

"Peace, my brother in feathers, I submit! The floor is yours!" he called out. He then transformed into Catholic schoolgirl dressed attire, complete with gray wool skirt, ruler and board with accompanying chalk. He folded his hands on his lap saintly, looking forward and determinedly ignoring Aladdin's sniggers.

"Please, continue Mister Iago. You'll get no more interruptions out of me." He said softly, pigtails bobbing. Aladdin's snorted, clapping a hand over his mouth and looking away helplessly as Iago fluffed out in irritation.

Iago turned on him. "This isn't a laughing matter Aladdin! Do you really want him here for so, " he glared at the still stoic Genie, temple twitching, "serious a matter?"

With a 'Pop'! Genie was back, and beamed at Iago cheerfully, informing him irrepressibly,

"Oh, it's alright, I know about everything with that whole Mozenrath deal."

Iago's beak dropped, and Aladdin blushed.

But to everyone's surprise, Iago shrugged, recovering quickly.

"Well fine, no doubt he'll be of some use, but it still remains I can't give you any advice if I don't know the whole story."

"I second that." Genie contributed.

Aladdin looked from face to face, feeling cornered yet again. After all, following all this time and energy spent covering up what his life had become, it was hard to believe it was safe to let it all go. But who was he kidding, these were his friends, who despite all his faults, were still here. So taking a deep breath, he started from the very beginning, relating from when he first discovered the after effects of his soul magic and trying it out on Mozenrath, to discovering more than he ever imagined about the sorcerer. In a way, he felt a little guilty for reveling Mozenrath's personal life, but if to truly illustrate just how he found himself growing affection for the sorcerer, than it was understandable. As he described and retold, he found his heart aching for the man he had been so ready to leave this city behind for, but it was still in battle with the indignation he bore from their fight.

Soon, shadows began to creep, but it was still late afternoon when he finished, finding himself speaker to a riveted audience, whose breath was stilled, and insides hard with disbelief, regret, shell shock, sympathy and confusion.

"And that's it." Aladdin said, finishing weakly.

"Could someone deliver us
Just send us some kind of sign
So close to giving up
'Cause faith is so hard to find "

Whatever reaction he was expecting from the pair, it wasn't anything close to what they really did. For his part, Genie flopped back and put a hand on his brow.

" I can't believe it. Iago, Aladdin, I want to share something with you. Being a Genie, I'm privilege to some extraordinary abilities, but there is one that bears most weight on my mind, day in and day out. I know what will happen, what has happened, and the nature of humanity that overreaches most of what you two will ever know. I didn't ask for it, but as the case, that doesn't matter. The point is, I'm supposed to intervene when things..." he scratched his head, looking for all the world befuddled, "Man, how do I say this in a way it will make sense? I'm supposed to step in when the way things are supposed to go don't happen, when Fate derails. Except, what's happening between you and Mozenrath wasn't meant to happen, and I never heard anything about it, nor foresaw or sensed it. You flew totally under my radar. That's never happened before. But I'm not the only one who is supposed to keep track of Fate; there are thousands of others. But still, you two's journey went unchecked or changed. That must mean that it was approved by the head honchos."

He took Aladdin's shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"That means, Aladdin, it was meant to be, your Fate changed."

He could see the effect he had when Aladdin fell back, his eyes widened. Genie smiled, disposing of his extremely intense tone he had taken on earlier. He softened for Aladdin's sake, seeing how shaken his friend on such an enormous amount of information.

"But don't let that bias your decision, because you definitely have to make one. You only hurt others by stepping and dodging difficulties you have to face, and you know that. Jasmine and Mozenrath would appreciate your honesty and assertiveness."

" I don't know all about this magic stuff," Iago said in his own plain way, "but if it's worth anything, what you and Jasmine had looked pretty meant to be to me."

Aladdin moaned and buried his face in his hands.

"Man, what am I supposed to do?"

"Make your own destiny."

Aladdin looked up in curiosity

"But you don't and you won't
Until we figure out"

"What?"

Genie continued strongly. "Living with humans has taught me one thing. Magic and Prophecy can only do so much, it's up to you to carve your way in the world. Do! Walk! Make the changes you see fit! It all has to be based, in the end, on what you want."

" I thought I knew what I wanted," Aladdin began bitterly, " 'Till Mozenrath started in on me. What was I thinking?"

"Most of us have nothing to complain about
Most of us have things we could live without
Everyone need advice on how to get along"

Iago smacked him hard, surprising everyone with the ferocity of his words as he berated Aladdin.

"You're going to let something like that play any part in such an important decision? What's wrong with you! Anger has made you stupid. Mozenrath, from what you have told us, has just as much reason to be hurt as you. Try and see it from his point of view, you do it for so many other's, but sometimes where it counts."

"You're right," Aladdin said apologetically, "Of course you are. I was being stubborn, as usual." Aladdin said yieldingly. "Thank you for being honest, Iago."

He sat up straighter, and threw the counsel of his friends, he found his words growing strength and confidence. This is what he had needed, assurance, and the calm eyes of Genie and Iago, the two-replacement parent, guardians, and advisors he had left, saying 'I won't judge you'.

" I know what I want. Genie, Iago, I love...Mozenrath." He stood, and smiled. Even saying the words had an effect on him. He could get used to it. "But what about Jasmine, the Sultan, who will explain, I can't-"

"Don't worry about it" Genie said in an assuring tone, "I'll take care of it."

"Thank you Genie, Thank you Iago. I don't know what or where I'd be without-"

Iago stopped him, blushing around the facial feathers, "Aww don't start getting all mushy on me, kid, just remember to stop by once and awhile."

"Of course," Aladdin said with a smile, bestriding Carpet. Abu climbed up with him. Aladdin looked at him in curiosity.

"You sure you don't want to stay? You'll be giving up a pretty cushy life, I can't ask you to do that. You've already been through so much with me, buddy, you can live your own life."

Abu chattered at him, but what Aladdin couldn't decipher, or it seemed it couldn't to Iago, the parrot translated.

" Translation: Deal with it, I'm coming."

Aladdin laughed.

"Well all right, Genie?" he looked towards him, feeling the same feeling of impeding lost like he felt when Genie left after Jafar as a dinjn was finally destroyed. Genie recognized the look, and scooped Aladdin into a hug in his large arms.

"No sad goodbyes kid, I'm going to be looking you up, alright? I'm too curious not too. And don't worry; I'll look after things here. Least I can do." He said into Aladdin's hair. Aladdin broke away, and looked up with eyes full of tears, but quickly brushed them away distractedly.

" I'm counting on your visit, okay? And thanks." He smiled, and turned to Iago. "Iago, any idea on the time?"

Iago was surprised.

"Can't you tell? Look to the sky, kid."

Aladdin saw with alarm it would soon be dark. How long had he left Mozenrath back in the hovel, angry, alone? Carpet rose with Aladdin's urging.

"We got to hurry, Carpet."

The wind whipped his face welcomingly as he rose and sped off, turning at the last moment to cry back,

"Goodbye!"