#snakelikecharmer

snakelikecharmer

Everyone thought it would be Chad to get liver disease, die of alcohol poisoning, or an accident from his stupidity. 

But lung cancer on Jassim? The thought never breezed by. And there was no treatment at this point. He was too far gone. All the money in the world, the chemo, the back and forth between getting better and getting worse–now the worst possible moment in Chad’s life was coming. 

He almost punched a nurse for telling him Jassim wasn’t going to make the night. It was time now, time for goodbyes. Esmeralda had to take the kids while Chad was being stopped from destroying the Chapel inside the hospital. 

He went to his husband’s room, the best private room they could get. They unattached all the machines he was hooked up to, they were deemed unnecessary now and he was just hooked up to his IV and given all the morphine he could contain to keep him nice and comfortable. Chad just stared at him in the doorway. 

“…See the kids?” Chad finally breathed out. 

Jassim smiled and nodded for him. “Come here.” 

They didn’t have to say it. They didn’t have to say anything to each other and they knew what the other was thinking or going to say. 

Chad went to his husband and held his hand, it was still so warm and soft. Jassim was so weak and tired but he stayed awake and smiled at Chad. 

“You made every second of this life worthwhile…” 

Chad’s hand trembled against Jassim’s as he choked back sobs then kissed his husband’s hand. 

“You made this pathetic life into something actually worth living… I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you…” 

“Yes you do… You’ll know what to do. You’re gonna be okay…” 

“How do you know?” It was the hardest thing to do to choke back tears. 

“Because I know you better than you know yourself. Duh.” Jassim gave a weakened laugh. Chad smiled and laughed with him, slow tears escaping now. Jassim patted Chad’s hand and smiled again. His own breath was slowing and he could feel it. 

“Sing me to sleep?” 

Chad swallowed a gut-wrenching knot in his throat and took a deep breath to keep his voice smooth before he nodded. “Of course…” He was sure to be careful as he climbed into the bed and put his arms around his husband who curled up and put his head against Chad’s chest. 

“I love you more than you can imagine…” Jassim whispered. 

“I think I can imagine a little…I love you too…so much…” He kissed Jassim’s head and combed his hair gently. 

“…May you always be brave in the shadows…” He sang in a soothing whisper. “Till the sun shines upon you again…hear this prayer in my heart and we’ll never be apart…” 

Jassim closed his eyes. Chad’s arms trembled more as Jassim went still and slowly grew cold. 

snakelikecharmer

Agrabah, a flourishing desert kingdom sitting atop a wealthy oasis, there were few kingdoms that didn't covet her riches and beauty; and just as the kingdom itself was coveted, so was her princess. It was far from a secret that the heir of the kingdom--Princess Jasmine--was beautiful, princes and kings came from far and wide to ask for her hand in marriage, but as famous a beauty as she was, she was just as notoriously shrewd.

And for the prince standing before her, a handsome young man by the name of Emir, her gaze was no less harsh. Behind the silk niqab that shielded her face from him, she sat stone faced, lips pressed into a thin line as deep brown eyes surveyed him.

It wasn't the prince who drew her attention, however, but the man beyond him--his attendant--who stood with his head bowed respectfully. He was beautiful--it was the only word that seemed to suit him--long dark hair that as only a little shorter than hers, she watched him intently for the longest moment. Only when his head rose did her brown eyes flicker back to the prince but not before meeting an intense gaze from the servant.

Luke watched Jafar for a moment. He could see the mischief in him, not unlike what was often within himself. When Jafar grabbed him, he started to become angry, but the bite stopped him. Deep down, part of him had wanted the other, but he hadn’t let it grow beyond mild admiration… or so he thought. 

Val had so many things he wanted to say, but all he heard in the back of his mind was the preacher back home. Respect your parents and you will shine in the eyes of God… The fact that he remembered that at all annoyed him. 

The cowboy walked to the living room and made his way to his bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. After taking a deep breath, he slid down to sit on the floor. How many of these visits could he really take?