And that's another story finished! Even if it took a while to update and finish (sorry about that!). First off, the biggest thanks and my gratitude to flufffmufffin, Noah, Akumarayne, moonyazu9, arekusu or alex, Katerina5, Little D. Xylie, felisceleris, JustHope, LuizAlu, NNeko, Gin, Lily, Chuchutu, LonelySparrow, whiteabyss11, Trisha, Hades'Neko, Trinity, XxShiroKitsunexX, Nikki, Leraje and NoName for all the reviews, comments over the duration of this story. It has been a lot of fun, and I think I learned a lot from this.

As a warning, there may be some djinn-equip related sexiness. It seems to be a sort of erm...tradition now to finish off with my SinxJudal stories. Let's just say I think I earned that M rating afterall. Well enjoy~ and thanks to everyone taking the time to read my (often overly long updates).

Twelfth Night: The Beginning

"Aladdin really was right in everything he said then," reluctantly, Sin found himself nodding at Mu Alexius's words. And waited for the man to come to terms for all he had told him. "...I just didn't want to think about Al-Thamen returning. Not after all we did."

"Nor did I," he replied. It had been so early on that day, the very morning when Sin planned to finally leave Kou and depart for Sindria. So early for the chilled night to still shroud darkly over the paved gardens and the rigid sloping roofs of the palace. Dawn was only just breaking as the two said their farewells to one another and looked to return to their respective homes. And in those hours he had finally gotten the Fanalis commander alone, to speak amidst the early bloom of the sakura trees of such dire things. "But all of this I'm sure is true now. We're allies; so I'll help Reim all I can. But I'll also need your help."

"...Of course," the response was immediate. Sin would be needed; if for no other reason that he seemed the only one who could deal with Judal...more or less. And Reim would welcome the help of his new Magi; even if Sin felt he would need them more than they would need him. Especially as following his seventh dungeon, neither he or any of his generals could set foot in one again. He'd never be able to physically enter the necropolis to confront Al-Thamen. He had his Alliance, but he needed strong people on his side. He needed Reim.

It went without saying Sin would wish to do this himself, and without telling even a good man like Mu this much. But then this wasn't the time for such thing. Hence his decision to do this much. The two considered each other. "I really think our priority is to find Alibaba and Kouen as soon as we can too, and get their help. My Alliance is prepared to give all the help they can."

"Thank you – I might need to do that," Mu offered a slight smile. "It seems almost to be going home now. A dungeon would be great to let off steam after all this."

"Ah...yes...it would," well, not that Sin could. But he was right; Reim didn't know he could no longer do such a thing. If he could though – would he have even chosen to do such a thing over returning to Sindria right now? Perhaps not even that was alluring enough to him. After all, it had been over a year since he had been there. By that time, he was all but yearning to cross the oceans of shimmering blue to return. "But more than anything, it's what my Magi wants to do," he paused. "What he needs to do."

And certainly, with someone as blasé and demanding as Judal, he tended to get what he wanted.

Mu seemed somewhat weary of his mention; with no doubt remembering all the pranks and trouble caused by the defected Magi once from Kou. "I understand that, really. It's the same with Titus. But – I think you should come to Reim when you can. If you find out anything more from him, it's only going to help."

He nodded, but didn't know if that was possible anymore. With the effects of Zepar's magic upon Judal's mind and dreams, he knew less than they did now. "I'll continue to see if he remembers anything. But after all this, I think he needs to be somewhere safe."

"Yes. And I guess this place is unrecognisable to him now," light scarlet eyes were scanning over the soft daybreak, as it played over the newly rebuilt structures of crimson tiles and mahogany laid out before them. The palace was beautiful now, as it had been before Al-Thamen had stained such radiance with their dark magic's. But then, it just made such a thing unrecognisable to Judal; it was no longer home to him.

"It is. But your men did an amazing job reconstructing it," Sin assured him. "Alright – I think going to Reim is a good idea. I'll aim to travel to Remona within the year."

Mu was certainly friendly enough. But still, and niceties aside, he remembered how the past year had been. Even if they were considered allies, Reim regarded him critically. Especially concerning his promise to Judal, which he had take care not to mention prior to the siege. When they had believed they might even claim a second Magi through their efforts. "Perhaps being in your household will even calm Judal down. I think only you could handle someone like him."

"Ah – he is," Sin agreed tentatively.

It was that matter which weighed heavily on his mind, after all. Judal becoming his Magi and joining his household was something he wished to happen. As Sin and his generals could no longer enter dungeons, it would mean he'd not be able to enter the necropolis. With that, he'd not be able to meet Al-Thamen as they wished him to. But then – it would be a huge loss for his lover. Because Judal loved both raising and entering dungeons; and certainly he took pride in both using his magic there, and lending his power to any he liked.

Hence it was troubling; and certainly not anything like using Zepar's magic to command Judal to forget everything about Al-Thamen's imminent return. He still believed that was in his best interests, even if those nightly intrusions into the Magi's mind to ensure his masters no longer troubled him was something he met with grim acceptance. But he disliked the idea of taking away something Judal enjoyed so much, even if it meant giving power and djinns to whom Sin might consider future allies, it was his choice. As such, instead of deciding anything, Sin chose to wait. At the latest, he planned to ask about it when they were back in Sindria.

Mu gave him a polite nod and stepped away. "Thank you for telling me all that. I hope we meet again soon though."

"We will," really, as the two of them paid their respective farewells and the Fanalis man left, Sin believed they would be ready for Al-Thamen. Even if he dreaded it, even if he knew they would come to take back the person he had stolen for them...he would fight back. And he intended to win again. For now though, he felt it wasn't worth worrying over. He had a little time not to worry over such things yet.

It didn't take long for a bright dawn to flood in; and fairly soon sharp amber eyes had fixed upon a tell-tale sign of flashing red darting over the sloping roofs towards him. Knowing Judal, he would have forgotten they were leaving. It was with that thought Sin had sent Jafar out after their wandering Magi. And sure enough, in pursuit of that vibrant of colour was a subtle flickering of emerald and white. Sin smiled; it didn't matter, really, if Judal was complacent in their plans. Not when his lover could always be returned to his side.

"You finally got here," Sin commented calmly to the rattling tiles above his head.

He folded his arms, leaning back against a wooden pillar as the first person dropped down gracefully in front of him. His younger lover, dressed in a short and sleeveless tunic embroidered in gold and it's colour a rich tone to match the flaming ruby of his eyes. He found himself admiring the way the silken material softly clung to Judal's slim body as he drew up. How it skirted just above his knees, and how even now he insisted on being barefoot to feel the world and rukh under his toes. As always, his throat and forearms glittered in the gold and jewels he loved so much. Red was definitely the colour Sin preferred for him.

With a bright smile, Judal took to smoothing his hair. It too had changed; it was no longer bound in its usual braid, but those long ebony tresses had been sleeked and neatly clipped back. Or at least that used to be the case prior to their owner's recent excursion over the palace roofs. Right now, the sheen of black was tumbling freely, seductively, down over Judal's slim and pale shoulders. That same tension rose in Sin, as he liked his hair this way. Wild and tousled, much like it would be following the countless nights they spent together.

"What's with that tone?" Judal demanded loudly. From the way Sin's gaze travelled lustily over the contours of his body, he seemed to be expecting a shower of compliments over how nice he looked. It was the reason Sin refrained from saying anything more. "Why are you sounding like you're scolding me? I should be angry – I've had this damned small fry following me round everywhere."

He was jabbing a thumb backwards to indicate the second figure silently dropping from the roofs and wearing a dark expression. "I'm actually surprised it was so easy chasing this brat to where I needed him to be."

"...Eh? What does someone like you need with someone like me anyway?"

"Did you forget we're leaving for Sindria, Judal?" Sin cast as a polite enquiry, only to be met with a familiar blank stare. "Why did you think I had Jafar dress you up like that?"

"That was you?" that vacant look became a gushing smile, even a careless laugh as a hand passed through unkempt black hair in a loud rattle of bangles. "I just figured this guy was a weirdo who wanted to dress me up for fun." Yet Jafar's increasingly glowering expression so blatantly suggested it would be the last thing he wished to do.

"Really? I didn't think you'd ever do anything because he asked you."

A moment of silence passed, as an adequate excuse was thought of. "Well...you know, I figured it would stop him nagging me about it," Judal attempted. Yet really, if he hadn't have liked the clothing he'd not have worn him. He also knew how much trouble the pale advisor had gone through to carefully choose them on Sin's request, so he'd not compliment such things himself. And more than ever, that seemed enough for his king to put words to the silent admiration crossing his eyes. Yet, he didn't say a word. As it was too much fun not allowing Judal to hear what he wanted; not yet.

"I guess it can't be helped then," Sin finally admitted. "It's a shame – I thought you'd like them. It's similar to what we'd wear in Sindria" ...more or less. As Judal was so fussy over such things, but he knew he'd assembled something he would like. "I guess you'll have to get used to them."

A non-committal shrug was all he received from his indifference. Yet as Judal was so immature and impatient, Sin usually won with discussions like this. He loved winning discussions like this. He watched his lover turn back round. "Why didn't you just say we were leaving?" he was currently demanding of the person he adamantly insisted was his own, personal servant. And Jafar, who clearly was not in fact the Magi's own, personal servant, gave him a searching look. "That's what you were meant to do."

"...Perhaps I should have done. But I wanted to see just how fast you can move when you're not lazing about eating peaches all day."

"It's what you get, Judal, for going off and looking for that weapon of yours again," those bright eyes fixed upon him at the mention of his beloved sceptre. "What would you have done if we sailed off without you?"

"Like you would – huh? How do you know I was looking for it?"

Surprisingly, Judal seemed to still believe he was capable of being discreet. "I was watching you," through the corner of his eye, Sin watched Jafar turn on his heel. He was retreating down the wooden pathways, and making his quick way towards the docks. More than likely, he'd wish to speak to their crew before they left. And escape Judal and his current outburst. The two alone, Sin reached out to catch the Magi's slim wrist to pull him close. "I'm sorry, though. You won't find it."

"...Why not?"

"Because – ah. I lost it, actually."

"You – huh?!" a loud, defiant cry stung in Sin's ears. "The heck do you mean by that, you stupid pervert king?" Judal had twisted round animatedly in his king's arms to face him. "What did I always tell you this whole time? That you'd go and lose it! I knew you would!"

"Yes..." he agreed reluctantly, aware the striking object had been shattered to dull fragments thanks to Al-Thamen. To Sin, this seemed a good enough lie. "I was careless...the moment we're home I'll replace it."

"That's months away," those porcelain features had flushed from their close proximity, as they often did. Yet Judal didn't pull away, instead tentatively resting his fingers against Sin's broad shoulders. He didn't hesitate to draw him in, that soft scent of perfume, of orchids, wafting over his senses. This was enough for him to endure any of the ill-conceived complaints directed at him. "I won't be able to use magic on the way back now!"

"...Why would you need to?" somehow, he didn't want an answer to that. "I guess it gives you more reason not to provoke Jafar into attacking you."

"Like you'd let him."

Sin laughed softly at that. It was true that he rather enjoyed the thoughts of a calm journey home after everything, as well as one free from sporadic attacks of frozen, magical tyranny. He reached out, a forefinger drawing softly down the length of Judal's throat. It stopped at the fading red mark he had placed upon the Magi's neck the night before, and a pleased tone rang in his voice on remembering it. "I'll tell you what, then – I'll give you a reason to forgive me. As soon as we're on the ship, you can be on top."

"...The whole time? Wait – seriously?" Judal's demands were confirmed with a slight nod as Sin's finger continued to smooth over that love bite. "Alright then. I'll forgive you; but don't break my things again."

He watched Judal's eyes close as he was brought in. "You keep saying that like I would..."

He gave in, a little, to what he felt Judal wanted. His hand smoothed back a messy, layered fringe as he reached down to plant a soft kiss on his lover's forehead. That shyness continued to stain his cheeks a vivid colour, yet even now Sin felt himself gripped close; a heartbeat fast and trembling against his own. Even if Kou was unrecognisable, it was all which had made sense to Judal. He was putting all his trust in Sin. And would be anxious over Sindria, and all the people awaiting their return.

"...I can do whatever I want then?" Judal demanded again as he allowed his fingers to be encircled. "Good – because I'm not holding back. Not after all you did to me."

"Do your worst then..." Sin wasn't really that nervous, as his words grazed Judal's ear in a teasing whisper.

But that seemed to do as he had intended. Once Judal had broken away he approached the docks with a lot more enthusiasm. He even looked up at the emerald and gold sails adorning their ships in wonder. His hand never left Sin's however, but he had expected that might. Right as the Magi was thinking of that new life; that new beginning after all Al-Thamen had done.

Likewise, it had been a time Sin had enjoyed immensely. Those months before they had returned to Sindria, and his people he had dearly missed. Before he had asked Judal to join his household, to apprehensively wait for the answer he would give. When they had not yet touched upon Reim's soil, to attend the somewhat awkward meetings awaiting them there in a year's time. As Sin was still waiting to hear word that Kouen and Alibaba were safe, and would lend their aid. Finally, it was long before the agonising time when Al-Thamen again became a dark storm upon the world's horizon. And when they, again, threatened to tear away so much Sin cherished and held dear.

Sin knew all that would happen; it's what he would be ready for. But at that time he simply strived to enjoy the time they had together.

Travelling by sea was certainly unlike anything Judal had experienced before; when he surmised magic was the answer for everything. Not that it wasn't of course, but even someone like that stupid king of his couldn't do all he could. As such, it was within the expansive rooms of dark wood in the rear of that ship where he found himself now. Where the day was already warmer than he expected; slicked and prickling its heat over his skin in a way that made him dizzy. Dizzy in a pleasant way – if such a thing existed.

But it wasn't the warmth of day affecting him; it was him, along with that king of his. Or more accurately, what it was they were doing together.

Perhaps he should have known what Sin had planned the moment he leaned back seductively against the bed with a teasing, and knowing, smile. It was then he called that spirit of falsehood and prestige into his body. He had allowed Valefor's magoi to cascade over him, becoming that aquatic, churning vision akin to a vision of deep sapphire and silver. Yet he hadn't embraced the power of the oceanic canine spirit to fight but...for something quite different. Judal might have guessed this would happen. That new scent of paraffin oil from the lamps ahead had mixed with the familiar sweet one of vanilla – a scent he did know. And an aroma he associated with...he wasn't completely sure of that. But it was something Sin tended to do to him, to his body, in those intimate moments. Yet it was something he was too distracted to pay attention to.

...He just knew things would end up this way.

"...What is it, Judal?" that voice of the glowing entity, the echo of the summertime and southern seas, enquired of him. The body below his own twisting in the turmoil of an ever-turning tide, lapping against him. And now within him; that canine spirit demanding the answer as he relaxed back, with Judal's naked figure sat up and straddling his waist. "I thought you wanted to be on top."

Yes, he had wanted that. However he hadn't expected it to be like this, even if perhaps he should have. It wasn't too unlike previous times; when Sin took to equipping one of his djinns with a mocking smile. Right now, and before Judal's mind told him what was going on, that control had already taken him over, and that pressure below was already penetrating up into his body. "I...this isn't what I –ah~"

...Meant. That's what he had intended to say.

His eyes squeezed shut as that strong pressure of his lover's hands settled as his hips. They caressed his skin before pulling him. Beginning to control and guide his body and he found himself gripping at those well-toned forearms, now brushed with long, silken hair of deep azure. Somehow, Sin didn't seem yet satisfied with where Judal was. At least, that was the impression he had as that demanding figure pulled him forward. Through closed eyelids he could almost see that predatory gaze fixed on him. Those wolf-like eyes, almond-shaped and alive with a pale and icy fire, were so determined to get their way. So he gave into the massaging pressure pulling him down, and uttered a loud cry on feeling his body fully engulfing something engorged and swelling below. And his dampened palms clung all the more tightly to the hands at his waist.

Perhaps he should be resisting; he wished he was. He should have thought of this sooner, the moment that sweet scent of vanilla overcame him. The moment when he fell into the temptation of when Sin first began playing with his needy body in such a way. But then, he hadn't, and probably as he was waiting for it to happen. It was why he was obedient, so keen to allow his body to fall to that hot wetness pressing up inside him. And giving into that man, again. And again, after that.

Times like this were more than enough to make him remember he belonged to Sin, rather than the other way round. Sure as anything though he wouldn't admit it, even if it was the best thought occurring to his distracted mind. He allowed him in, clinging to those hands guiding his body in a slow and circling motion. His breath was heavy as those sharpened nail-like claws grazed over his lower back, his body all too willingly doing all it was silently commanded to. "...Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself."

Behind closed eyelids, Judal was glaring. His grip became somewhat futile on Sin's wrists, as if to move them even if it was the last thing he wanted. With a deeper thrust into his soaked and needy body, his felt himself groan and slip. Slowly his eyes opened to watch his palms position themselves over the various chains of silver and gold and deep blue hair adoring Sin's equipped form, struggling to steady himself.

"I'm not," he insisted as their eyes finally looked, a powerful and pale gaze eyeing lustily over his trembling body. Large hands moved up from his waist, taking to stroking over his chest, and the array of small, red marks left on Judal's ivory skin following their foreplay. Touching him in the ways he yearned for most of all. "...Eh, you had this planned all along. Didn't you?"

Sin laughed, softly and infuriatingly before nodding. He was watching Judal's fingers wind themselves into that dismayed spilling of his newly sapphire locks that shimmered messily over the linen sheets below him. How the Magi gripped tightly at his dominant lover's hair as he continued to enjoy him. "I did, yes."

"...How's that funny, you bastard? You said I could do as I wanted. You said –ah~"

Another of those deliciously deep thrusts into him was enough for his complains to melt into an impassioned moan. "...You're on top, aren't you? And enjoying this...a lot, from the sounds of that."

"More like you are."

"I'll admit, it's a nice view," still apparently not satisfied with where Judal was sitting, Sin's hands reached up. Those nails caressed slowly down his throat, over the soft indentation of his collarbones before drawing slow circles over his chest. And obediently, Judal shifted his weight forward to better allow it. "Or don't you like this after all?"

...He had no complaints, even if he claimed otherwise. Yet Sin didn't play fair; the moment they retired to these rooms, he would have wanted things his way. Even if secretly it's what Judal wanted as well. As if to make a make a point he reached up to the hands currently still pinching softly over his skin, guiding them back to his hips. He allowed them to control him again, keen on being led further and deeper into that sweetly numbing sensation welling up within him. And falling prey to that man, empowered by one of his djinn, who for now seemed so much stronger than he was.

"Alright. If you're not enjoying it, you can get off me," Sin offered, knowing he wouldn't. And as if as proof, that grinding up into him became all the more fevered and overwhelmed him, to the point Judal faltered and collapsed forward again. Sin didn't even allow the Magi to clench upon his torso as before; with a smile his hands clasped over Judal's waist as if to hold their hands there. And watched quietly at the Magi growing breathless, and increasingly lose his composure. Yet he was relishing this much, that continued and quickened pressing upwards that was claiming a slow victory over him. He was dissolving into it, and becoming little more than a heaving, needy mess begging for more.

"...Just you shut up, Sinbad."

Point proven, Sin squeezed Judal's hands before releasing them. Without thinking he reached forward, placing them back against his king's chest and leaning in again to steady himself. Somehow, he just knew this would end up as inspiration for those lewd books his lover had taken to writing. The same books he found himself enjoying more, once he understood their contents. After such acts had been performed on him. "No? Not getting off? I guess you love this as much as I do then?"

"Yeah...well...you still tricked me."

"I think you wanted me to trick you," he might well be right with that. Right now, Judal was too enthralled in his lover's power, too lost in the oceanic caress like a summer sea crashing inside him to even think of moving. "Although...you've gotten used to this. Compared to before, it's taking a lot more to tire you out."

"You're not tiring me out," Judal snapped back, albeit playfully. He was usually left exhausted after times like this. Even if his body came to savour it; gradually wanting more. As if now he was used to it. Not that he's admit to that.

"As my Magi, you'll need to attune your power to mine," Sin was saying matter-of-factly to him. "Part of that is doing the same for our bodies– but then you'd know that."

Actually...he didn't. He'd never heard of such a thing. "Seriously?"

A shadow of amusement was crossing those bright eyes, and the flicker of a suppressed laugh. "Of course. I thought you'd have figured it out by now," really, he wasn't sure what he meant. Or even if it was relevant. "Judal – why do you think I use my equips in these moments? Just to make it more enjoyable?"

"Well...yeah," he blinked slowly. "I guess it makes sense. I just thought you'd just use them for fighting."

"Really? That's cute," yet that expression was a little too sly. "So you never trained your body like this with anyone else?"

"...You know I've never done this with anyone else."

"Hm..." all of that confidence was annoying at times like this. Mainly as Judal felt he couldn't keep up. And he didn't like the idea of Sin knowing someone about magic, like this, that he didn't. He watched his lover lean up, shimmering locks spilling down his back as his hands gripped to the soft skin of the Magi's inner thighs. "Alright...as you're king, it's your place to attune your body to mine. To satisfy me..." he added. "So...do you want to learn to do this properly?"

"Ah...yeah," he admitted tentatively. "I mean...if it makes me stronger."

"Alright..." he felt Sin sit up, arms enfolding him to pull him close. "Do this, then. Grip your legs round my waist as tightly as you can. Then lean back, pressing against me all you can – all your weight down on that place where I'm inside you..." almost forgetting that, and what they were doing. Judal felt the heat rush to his face. "Can you do that?"

"...Y-yeah," he stuttered. With a deep breath, he brushed aside Sin's hands, which had taken to kneading over the sensitive skin of his inner thighs. He tightened them around him, arms winding around Sin's neck, chest pressing against his as he lifted himself. And...cried out as a sudden rush flooded through him. His body was pressing itself down, impaling itself even further down on the throbbing organ inside him than it had before. His eyes widened, moaning and burying his face into Sin's shoulder in embarrassment and futilely willed those loud cries to stop.

There was something of a victorious laugh. "Finally...that's where I wanted you sitting."

"H-huh?!"

He had a feeling all that talk about attuning their bodies was a lie. It was for...well...this. "Feel that? If you put all your weight down on me like that, you can take me in more," he was explaining softly. "And how much better does that sound. The next time you're sitting on me like that, try to position yourself like this for me."

"Yeah..." for a moment, Judal felt himself reminded of those false common sense lessons his old masters would give him. Tempting his naivety and trust, to see just how much he would believe. Only with Sin, he felt it too rewarding and fun not to fall for Sin's tricks and subtle manipulations.

He shifted up, his arms tightening around his lovers shoulder to support himself there. Moaning and burying his face into that long mane of silken hair, he continued to press down, and in turn felt his body rise over and over again with the same, deep and quickening trusts. It felt almost like a rhythm, even becoming a dance. Judal even allowed Sin to claim one of his hands in his, leading it back down to the swollen pressure building between his own legs. That intense feeling built back up within him, his fingers gripping to his lover's wrist as he took to pinching and tugging to bring him to release as well.

"See? You're in safe hands..." Sin told him teasingly as he continued to pull at him, whilst simultaneously continuing the slicked assault within his body. He just gave a glazed expression and nodded.

Really, he was the stronger of the two. It was beyond Judal why this happened, and he desired to be controlled and overwhelmed time and time again. His only clue was asking his rukh what his life would be like without Al-Thamen. Outside of losing his parents, his past...he had this. His life now, made on the night of the promise and Sin's naive assurance no one would hurt him again. Something silly like that, was enough for him to see this as his life now. A life with him and...apparently doing things like this.

He murmured pleasurably as sure enough a familiar, yet abrupt sensation of scalding warmth erupted somewhere within him. From where Judal had been caught in his lover's lap, he felt those penetrating strokes lessen into his body yet seemed to stay with him a while longer. He barely even registered the sickly scent of pearly white ejected from his body over Sin's fingertips, and felt embarrassed when such a thing happened. Not thinking about it, he allowed himself to collapse against a soft, broad chest and allow arms to enfold his body. That still wolf-like figure looked down over him, as Judal looked back from the bright and cloudless horizon to regard him. "...You'll stay with me, right?"

For a moment, Sin seemed almost taken aback he'd ask something like that, yet quickly gave a reassuring nod. "Of course. Don't I always?"

"I mean...don't wait for me to sleep, then go off and speak to any of that crew or whatever," he demanded in a low mumble. The usual finger formed under his chin, a thumb passing over his lips before making Judal look up. Those sharp eyes locked with his, right before hot moisture claimed his lips in a kiss. For now, he wanted him to stay. And not just to ensure his dreams were peaceful and to ward off non-existent nightmares. Even if he was slowly appreciating how undisturbed his sleep was now."

"Sometimes...I wonder how we got like this," Sin mused softly, clearly intending to stay. He was stroking through Judal's soaked fringe as he nuzzled into his shoulder, and leaned into the hand stroking the side of his face. "When we first met, you were just this cute, chubby kid following me everywhere." ...He glared slightly. "Saying how amazing I was and we should fight together."

"Yeah, and you kept telling me no," yet he watched with quiet fascination as that aquatic magoi and form of Valefor faded from his lover as he held him. How the hair faded from azure and shimmering to sleek and violet, his eyes growing rounder and returning to their rich tone of amber. How the glimmering chains and tufts of fur marking the wolf-djinn disappeared, leaving the same bronzed and powerful limbs he knew so well.

"...If I joined you, I'd become Al-Thamen's pawn. If you joined me, then we can stay like this forever. Which is better, Judal?" he asked. Even if personally the Magi didn't care enough. Aside from this, not much mattered to him.

He yawned, widely and tiredly. "I guess. But you should stop acting like I raised those dungeons for you. I didn't. You just snuck in when I raised one for someone else."

"I think you waited until I was close enough to follow," Sin commented. He reached over, not for the discarded garments of ruby, lilac and white they had left dishevelled on the floor but for something else. He had reached over to the nearby table, carefully taking to retrieving each of his metal vessels one by one. And then carefully took to draping the various chains and rings he usually wore over Judal's body. Even Baal's sword was placed on the bed close to them. It seemed he was entrusted with such things, to have them draw out his power as a Magi instead. He didn't mind it; that gentle sapping against the vast amount of power residing in his body was nothing.

"You know, I don't like Valefor much," he insisted, watching Sin place Zepar's ring on his thumb with extra care. Even if it was a few sizes too big for his significantly smaller hands. "I never picked him for you, so use a different one next time."

"So there will be a next time?" he was asked. In reply he slumped down onto the bed. Within moments Sin followed him, curling up behind him before pulling his Magi back into his arms. That hand with Zepar's ring was claimed, and he watched its fingers stroke over his own.

"Only if I get to pick which you use."

"Ah..." he seemed to consider this. And didn't seem too keen on the idea "Can't I surprise you?"

"Heck no. And no tricking me either next time, like you did this time."

"Tricking you is fun though," he grinned and admitted. "Fine – have it your way then."

Ignoring the pleasant twitch he felt over such a thing, Judal gave a secret grin and he settled down to sleep. Right there, in that embrace holding him so close. He really hadn't slept this well in years. In fact, it had been back before the rituals of Al-Thamen when he had last slept calmly. He barely remembered what it was like before his mind became so loud and disturbed. It was like this...almost as if all those years hadn't happened.

He wasn't too surprised to see Zepar's oversized ring begin to hum and glow softly on his thumb. Nor that Sin leaned in, watching such a thing with a slightly uneasy expression as the glimmer of emerald magoi grew bolder. Yet didn't comment on such a thing, as he never did. That brightness caught in the muted light of the paraffin lamps swinging above them, and Judal couldn't help but notice it always glowed at times like this. As if in time for those now calm dreams of his. Then, as if obeying a silent voice and magic command, he allowed his eyes to close. He knew it was there, the magic seeping into his very thoughts, even if his rukh insisted he was seeing things.

Judal didn't ask Sin about it of course. Since his old masters, he never asked questions about things he wasn't concerned over. And he wasn't concerned over this; not if his dreams were peaceful and they could sleep like this. Besides, after everything, he was more in the mood for a well-earned nap.