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“Relax, Genie,” Aladdin hushed as he lightly stepped onto the balcony.
The blue, magical being buzzed around Aladdin’s ear in the shape of a bee. “But Al–!”
“I got this.”
Fixing his hat as he quietly crossed the vast terrace, Aladdin came to a halt as he came upon the sheer curtain-shrouded entry. He paused momentarily when he thought he heard what sounded like a man speaking before noting a figure dancing to the accompaniment of humming. The movements accompanying the soft sounds were fluid, enchanting enough, to make the man lose rationality for just a moment.
“Princess Jasmine?”
The humming stopped as did the dancing when a thin haze of red and black smoke billowed from beneath the curtain.
“Who’s there?”
Genie appeared alongside his ear. “Al–!”
“Beat it, Genie,” Aladdin whispered as he swatted him away. He then cleared his throat quickly. “It’s me, Prince Ali… uh Prince Ali Ababwa.”
“Please leave.”
"Wait!" He hurried forward as the shadow moved away from the curtain. “No, no, please, please, Princess! Just give me a chance.” A large, black leopard bounded forward, snarling in warning. "Down kitty...down kitty...."
As the growls continued for several moments, the curtain finally moved aside. "Down, Kava."
"Y-yes, down, Kava," Aladdin repeated as he hurried to straighten his clothing. "Thank y–"
"Why are here?"
Aladdin looked to see a man standing beside the curtain. "P-Prince Hassan?!"
He had caught glimpses before but Aladdin had never seen the prince close up.
This would possibly be the closest he'd ever get as well.
Kava had taken the opportunity to defensively place itself between its owner and the intruder, showing off how much larger the cat was in comparison to the man, whilst showcasing a pair of sharpened teeth.
"Why are you outside my room?"
"I was...um...I just got lost was all."
"I find it hard to believe that one simply got lost on someone else's balcony. Especially considering how high up we are." Aladdin rubbed the back of his neck. "You're here for my sister, Jasmine." It was a statement rather than a question. "For starters, you're on the wrong balcony. Her room is on the other side of the garden. If you're going to sneak in, at least get that part right."
"You're right. Sorry about that," Aladdin laughed embarrassedly as he backed towards the railing. "I should get going."
Being nudged forward by Kava, Hassan glanced at the feline before clearing his throat. "I'm assuming you're going to see my sister?"
"Am I that obvious?"
Hassan snorted. "Quite, but I can also tell you don't have a plan. You're not getting very far without one."
"I totally have a plan."
"You do?"
Genie glanced at Carpet in bewilderment. "He does?"
The corners of Hassan's mouth ticked upwards. "You do. That's wonderful," he mused, "so you should have no problem showing exactly how you plan on impressing my sister."
"R-Right...I totally have a plan."
"What are you going to say to get Jasmine's attention?"
"Oh, um...."
"C'mon, pretend I'm my sister. Wow me and maybe I won't call the guards."
"T-the guards?"
"Impress me."
Aladdin brushed a hand past his ear at the sound of buzzing. "Let's go, Casanova. Let's talk about her."
"I'm waiting," Hassan pressed.
"Oh, she's smart," Genie whispered in his ear. "She's fun; the hair; the eyes, anything. Pick a feature!"
Aladdin looked back at the prince to see him fixing his hair. It held a similar teal headband trimmed in gold and affixed by a sapphire that sat on black and curly, hair that framed his face. Dark eyes with full lashes narrowed while the growing glare and pout emphasized high cheekbones.
He then cleared his throat when he found himself staring at the pouty lips a tad too long. "Uh... Prince Hass–um, Princess Jasmine, you're very..."
Genie flitted around. "Wonderful, magnificent, glorious, punctual–"
"Punctual."
Hassan raised an eyebrow. "Punctual?"
"Sorry," the bee murmured.
"Uh, beautiful," Aladdin corrected.
Genie wiped the sweat from his brow. "Nice recovery."
Hassan simply hummed in thought before sauntering towards him with unpracticed ease. "Hmmm, I'm rich too, you know?"
"Yeah."
"The daughter of a sultan."
"I know."
Hassan walked his fingers up the man's chest as he leaned forward. "I would make a fine prize for any prince to marry."
The scent of cinnamon and incense caught Aladdin of guard before he locked eyes the prince. "Um, um, right. A prince like me."
"Warning. Warning!" Genie buzzed.
"Right... a prince like you," Hassan growled under his breath before pushing Aladdin back against the railing. He then headed back towards his room. "I swear you and every other stuffed shirt that comes to woo her makes me absolutely sick. All of you want just one thing!" "
"Mayday! Mayday!" Genie exclaimed. "Al–"
"Just go jump off the balcony!"
"Stop him. Stop him!" Genie then buzzed around. "You can't let him leave! What about the guards?!"
"I know!" Aladdin shot back quietly.
"Want me to sting him?"
"Buzz off!"
"Ok; fine but be yourself," the magical being advised before poofing under Aladdin's hat.
"Yeah, right!"
Prince Hassan turned to glare over his shoulder. "What?"
"You're right," he sighed, reining in the situation. "You and your sister aren't prizes to be won. You should be free to make your own choice." Kava and Hassan exchanged looks before looking at the intruder. "I should get going," he added before stepping over the railing.
The prince rushed forward as he lost sight of him. "No!"
Aladdin's head popped back up. "What?"
"How...how are you doing that?"
"Oh." Carpet floated over the balcony. "This is Carpet."
Carpet extended a tassel to shake Hassan's hand before bringing it up to imitate a kiss.
The prince's cheeks flushed momentarily. "It's lovely."
Aladdin noted the blush before extending a hand. "How about a ride? We can get out of the palace and see the world."
"Is it safe?" Hassan asked as he ran his fingers along the woven rug.
"Sure. Do you trust me?"
"What?"
"Do you trust me?" Aladdin asked once more.
Hassan looked at the hand skeptically before taking it. His host wasted no time in pulling him onto the carpet. They were skyward seconds later with Hassan clinging onto the Aladdin.
Noting his apprehension, Aladdin rubbed his thumb along the back of Hassan's hand before pulling him a bit closer. Feeling the prince relax at the touch, Aladdin smiled as the carpet continued through the clouds. He watched as his guest reached playfully for one before pulling his hand back when Aladdin chuckled.
"What?" Hassan questioned indignantly as his cheeks burned.
"Nothing at all," came the reply as the carpet weaved in and out of the clouds.
As the carpet did a roll, a startled Hassan found himself clinging to Aladdin once more. He was mildly surprised to find an arm anchored around his waist to keep him place. His attention then drifted towards Aladdin to see him watching the sky before his eyes dropped down towards the prince.
He had been doing his best not to look Hassan in the eye, but he found his gaze captivating. There were similarities between him and Jasmine but there were the small differences that also caught Aladdin's attention.
Where Hassan was slender like his sister, he was not as delicate with the fine muscle definition that Aladdin had noticed in his arms and chest partially hidden by his teal garbs. He stood taller than Jasmine but just shy of matching Aladdin in height. The scent of cinnamon and incense followed the man with every move he made and left a warm feeling compared the crisp smell of flowers that had accompanied the princess.
Carpet soon descended upon a reflection pool and Hassan moved to the edge to run his fingers along the cool water, humming as he did so. Watching his actions, Aladdin joined him before plucking a floating flower from the water. Bringing it up to his nose to smell, Aladdin glanced at Hassan to see him admiring the water before stopping himself as he went to place the flower in his hair. Feeling himself blush, Aladdin averted his eyes when a sudden realization donned on him.
Stepping lightly onto the balcony, Hassan leaned against the railing to look down at Aladdin thoughtfully. A small smile then crossed his lips as his guest smiled back.
"That was magical," Hassan whispered as the carpet boosted Aladdin upwards.
"See? I told you to trust me," he said, seeing Kava slowly making his way over. Aladdin then cleared his throat. "Well, I should get going."
"It is rather late." Hassan glanced at the leopard as it nudged him before focusing on his guest as he cupped one side of his face. "Goodnight, my handsome prince. Thank you for the wonderful time."
"Sleep well, Prince Has–"
Pulling away from Prince Ali, Hassan swiped a thumb across his lips as he watched a dark blush dart across the other's face. Smiling as the other stumbled over his farewell, Hassan issued a final goodnight before disappearing behind the curtain.
He peered from behind one of the pillars until his guest departed before touching his lips. Giddiness soon had him humming dreamily prior to dancing around his room. He ignored the thin, red and black haze that billowed at his feet before recalling something Aladdin had said.
"Do you trust me?"
The prince slowly stopped his waltz at the words. Glancing over his shoulder to see the remaining wisps shroud Kava, Hassan looked elsewhere before shivering when he felt hands on his shoulders.
"My, you seem to be in high spirits," came a somewhat mocking voice. "How did it go?" Hassan remained silent before having his chin seized. A thumb soon swiped slowly over his lower lip. "I asked you a question."
"It...it went well just as you wanted," he murmured before being spun around. "Jafar it's late–" Hassan looked down. "–and I'm tired..."
Jafar spun the prince once more in a sham of a dance. "I'm sure you are."
"Do you trust me?"
"...of this..." The older gentleman hummed in question as he dipped the prince, eyeing him all the while. "I...I don't want to do this anymore, Jafar."
Hassan was dropped unceremoniously onto a chaise.
"It takes a mere date to sway your resolve?" he asked indignantly before sighing heavily when Hassan flinched away from him. "What happened to wanting to deter the stuffed shirts that come for just one thing? Remember, I am the one helping to keep ill-suited suitors away from my–our dessert blossom, Princess Jasmine. She is to be protected after all..." Prince Hassan lowered his gaze before having his chin tilted upwards to look at Jafar once more. "You both are but I need your cooperation to do it."
A hand slowly caressed Hassan's cheek in a pseudo-loving fashion. "Jafar...I–"
"I need you to trust me, Prince Hassan," he stated as the prince's eyes slid shut. "Do you trust me?"
"Do you trust me?"
"I do."
ns 15.158.61.51da2
