What goes around comes around (TLOKĆAladdin AU, Y/n fanfic)
Requested by: @midnightking24
Thank you for the request!!
Plot: Set in Agrabah. Tonraq's a thief who daily gets chased by the royal guards. After a very difficult chase, he gets brought to the captain, who decides to give him a chance.
<<Get back here, thief!>> shouted one of the guards.
Tonraq was only able to get bread this time. He wished he'd managed to get more, but it didn't matter.
He blurred out the voices and focused on running, while making sure the loaf of bread didn't slip. If he was quick enough, he'd make it. He would've returned home to his family. After a couple of minutes, he reached a strange part of the market. Very few booths, nobody in sight. The place wasn't in great conditions, to say the least.
He could tell the stalls were not exactly new. The wood was moldy.
Tonraq wondered if he could find something else to bring home. Maybe some clothes. That would've been nice. He began searching the back of a stall.
Soon, he heard a sharp creak. Before he could move, the booth collapsed on him.
He tried to get the wooden beams off.
The sound of footsteps quickly became louder and louder, coming from all directions.
He had to get out of there or they'd catch up to him.
His body was stinging, but he still had to try.
He slowly lifted one of the beams. His muscles were pulling. A tear rolled down his cheek.
He lifted another beam and slowly rose up from the ground. He tried to catch his breath. Now he just had to go over the remainders of the booth and run.
"Slowly," Tonraq tried encourage himself, positioning his leg on the other part. He just had to shift his other leg. "Slowly..."
Tonraq was now on "free" ground.
He saw two guards running towards him, the rest following behing them.
"God," he scoffed to himself, "all of these guards just for a loaf of bread..."
<<Why don't you chase actual criminals instead of wasting your time like this?>>, Tonraq panted, trying to catch his breath as quickly as he could, <<I'm starting to think you're being paid just to catch me!>>
More shouting soon followed:
<<š š°š¶ šÆš¢š“šµšŗ š“š°šÆ š°š§ š¢-- >>
<<šš¦šµ š©šŖš®!>>
Maybe upsetting the already pissed-off guards wasn't exactly a smart move. He'd keep it in mind next time.
His body was hurting but it didn't matter.
He couldn't stop until the only steps he could hear were his own.
The guards' shouting gradually became fainted.
<<Where did that bastard go?!>> He heard a guard yell in the distance.
This was one of the longest chases he'd had in a long time.
He couldn't risk being caught; He had a family to feed.
He had to be sure he was alone.
His body was almost about to give up on him. Still, there was almost total silence.
He was just about to turn the corner again when...
<<AH!>> He felt a sharp pain in his left leg.
Tonraq collaples to the groud.
He could feel the muscle streching too much inside it every time he tried to get up. He slowly brought the leg to this chest, holding it with his hand to ease the pain slightly. A couple of minutes later, he could hear the guards shouting again. Only...it was closer and louder, this time.
The man opened his eyes just as much as the pain let him and saw two tall big figures standing in front of him.
He felt someone pulling on his arm.
Now there were guards surrounding him on all sides.
<<Get up!>>, one of them yelled. Tonraq was pulled back up, only to collapse again.
<<I can't!>>, Tonraq yelled back, clenching his jaw from the pain. <<I think...I think I broke a leg.>>
Another guard smirked. <<That's the best you got?>> He pulled out his scimitar and aimed the sharp blade just in front of Tonraq's face. <<Are you sure you really can't get up? Wouldn't risk it if I were you.>>
The man tried to get up. Again, falling back down in just a few seconds.
<<I'm telling you,>> he repeated, <<I cannot. I would've already beat you if I were lying.>>
The guard lost his temper. <<You and you>>, he pointed at two of his fellow men, <<help him stand.>>
They pulled Tonraq up, putting their arms around his shoulders. They began walking. One of them lead the way, while the rest followed; their weapons ready behind Tonraq's back, just in case.
<<You'll have fun in prison.>> The guard by Tonraq's right teased him. <<You'll be served all the slop you want.>>
<<Oh no,>>, a grin appeared on the leader's face. <<he's not going to prison. Not yet, at least.>>
<<What?! Why? He's a piece of garbage!>>
<<Don't you worry. Before prison, I think he needs to have a good talk with the the captain and you-know-who.>>
After what had felt like an eternity, they were at the palace.
<<Aren't you glad?>>, chuckled the guard on his right side.<<You finally get to meet the capitan and his right hand man.>>
<<The...the captain has a right hand man. Isn't one of you bozos the main guard?>>
One of the guards behind him made a brief gesture and tilted his scimmitar upward, to Tonraq's neck.
Yeah, it was best to keep quiet.
<<Oh, don't worry. You already know him. You're gonna have a great time.>>
The two holding him shoved him into a room. Tonraq fell on the ground.
The door was shut behind him and silence filled the room.
He tried pushing himself up with his arms. He glanced up, his muscles tensing.
His eyes met the gaze of someone familiar.
<<...Unalaq?>> He fell to the ground again.
The man stood in front of him, still; a smug grid on his face. <<Hello, Tonraq.>>
<<You...you're the captain?>>
Must've hit a nerve; Unalaq sighed. <<No. Not yet. You're very lucky about that. I would have already thrown you in the secret chambers.>>
His mind went to his family.
He couldn't be thrown in the secret chambers. What would have Korra and Senna done?
<<Unalaq,>> Tonraq tried, <<we are brothers.>>
<<You haven't been my brother in years, Tonraq.>>
<<I have a family to feed, I do this for them. Don't you have a family too?>>
<<My family is respectable.>>, he replied, his head held up high, <<I am respectable. You've always been reckless, hot-headed, and you are paying the price.>>
<<You don't even know what 'respect' means.>> The man groaned. <<You've always been selfish.>>
<<You are undeserving of my time.>>
Unalaq called in a bunch of guards.
<<Help me bring this...rat to the captain.>>
Now, Unalaq was on this right side, along with one guard holding him up so he could walk. Three guards standing behind them, their weapons ready to contrast any attempt of escape.
<<You couldn't even steal some clothes?>>, one of them laughed.
<<Or shoes.>> Another added.
<<Look at his pants! They got more holes than pockets!>> They were having a field day.
Tonraq stayed quiet. It was best not to upset them, especially Unalaq.
They had walked multiple halls when the guards' steps became slower, then finally stopped before a big torquoise door. Unalaq gestured to the guards and they stepped back. He knocked.
"Come in." Someone answered adamantly.
The guards opened the door. A tall figure appeared.
<<Here he is, captain.>> Tonraq was dropped to the ground. Unalaq was standing beside him. <<I advise you not to fall for his tricks. He is a great actor.>>
The captain stared at Tonraq, a mix of pity and strictness in their eyes.
<<Thank you, Unalaq.>> Y/n looked up.
<<Please, carry on with your duties.>>
The selfish man gave Tonraq one more disgusted look before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him.
The captain sighed. <<He's a tough one, isn't he?>>
Was it a retorical question? A test? Tonraq didn't know.
The eyes of the captain were on him once again. <<You must be in great pain...>> they turned away. Tonraq could hear something opening behind him. The silence was replaced by wooden creaks. He could hear objects being moved left and right.
<<Ah! Here they are!>> The captain was now holding a pair of crutches. <<Here,>> he helped Tonraq stand up just enough to put his hands on the crutches. <<a bit better now, right?>>
Tonraq nodded, trying to adjust to the new support. <<Thank you.>>
The captain cleared their throat.<<Now,>> they began, <<Please tell me why did you steal from the market? I know it's not your first theft.>>
<<I...I have a family to feed,>> Tonraq started, <<I do it for them. Only for them. I can't...I can't let them go hungry. I have tried to get a job but--but it was useless.>>
His eyes were now misty. What if he never saw his family again? What would they have done without him? <<Please...>>, he begged, <<I...I'm a good man. I can prove it to you.>>
<<You don't need to prove it.>>, the captain dismissed him. <<I already know.>>
Tonraq raised his eyebrows. <<I don't understand...>>
<<I saw you stealing bread from the market two weeks ago...>> The man wasn't sure where the captain was going with this. <...but later I saw you giving it to two homeless kids.>>
Tonraq's eyes widened. How could he have forgotten? The older kid was about to follow him everywhere to repay him for the bread.
"My brother's too small to help you, but I can do it! I'm strong!" He'd said to him. "I can't just take your food for free. Is there something I can do for you, sir?"
The man had ruffled his hair. "You enjoy this bread. That's all I ask."
The kid has smiled, tearing the piece. "Yes, sir!"
Then he'd turned to his brother, giving him the bigger piece. "Come on, Bolin! Eat up!"
<<Those kids are my daughter's age...>> Tonraq smiled softly, then quickly returned serious. <<No kid should ever go hungry.>>
The captain nodded. <<If it wasn't for your altruism, I would have called Unalaq to be in charge of handling your punishment...>> they explained <<I think he's made it pretty clear he can be real tough.>>
<<I've always know.>> Tonraq snickered sarcastically. <<He's my brother.>>
<<Really?...>> The captain couldn't believe it. << Well...you guys do look alike...phisically, that is...>>
<<He's always been...self-centered.>>
<<Has he ever tried helping you out?>> Y/n asked. <<In any way?>>
Tonraq sighed. <<No. I'm scum to him and so is my family.>>
<<I wonder if he knows that's the least captain-of-the-guards attitude to have. It's a rule to help the citizens.>> the captain said thoughtfully. <<Any, citizen.>>
<<Please, don't tell him I told you all this.>>
Tonraq asked. If Unalaq found out, his life would've been ruined.
<<Don't worry,>> the captain grinned. <<He's not the only one who can put up a good facade.>>
Tonraq wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he trusted them.
<<Listen,>> the captain looked him right in the eyes. <<I'm gonna convince the sultan to give you another chance>>, they said, <<I'm sure you would make a great main guard.>
<<What?!>> Tonraq shouted. <<You--you're kidding...>>
<<I promise you I'm not.>> They assured him. <<I'm not one to lie and the sultan knows that.>> The captain smiled. <<Plus, you deserve it. And I'm sure you won't dissapoint me.>>
<<Absolutely not, captain.>> Tonraq laughed, his eyes filling with tears. <<I...I don't know what to say...t--thank you!>>
<<But...>>, Tonraq's enthusiasm was short-lived. <<...what about Unalaq?>>
The captain thought for a moment. <<I can...convince him there's some other rank higher than the main guard...>> , they proposed. <<...something more important. And he could stay here at the palace Would that work?>>
<<I think it would.>> Tonraq replied. <<Could be short-term.>>
<<That's okay.>> Y/n assured him <<You're not the only one who's complained about him.>>
<<Oh.>> He wasn't sure how to respond. A part of him was sorry for Unalaq, the other part thought it was only fair for him to get the punishment he deserved.
<<Don't worry about it.>> They put a hand on his shoulder. <<Now, would you like to get started with your new job?>>
Tonraq nodded cheerfully. <<Yes, please.>>
<<Very well then...follow me,>>, Y/n smiled <<I'll get you the uniform. And,>> they added, <<we'll see if there are some clothes for your daughter and your wife.>>
Tonraq smiled. He hadn't felt this happy in a long time.
Finally, life seemed to smile at Tonraq and he was ready to embrace the big change.
Thank you for reading!! I hope you enjoyed!! ((:
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