#drabbleau

[newmoonyue]

Prompt #46- Mako Aladdin!AU (Angsty-ish)

46. Requester’s Choice! ( For @princeasimdiya12​ )

This AU is based on Aladdin, Disney's 1992 film. Some text is actually an excerpt from the transcript! I do not own Aladdin, nor the text from the film. Enjoy! 

Pairing: N/A

Word Count: 1.8K

Nobody ever saw his face. He was careful not to let anyone get that close, not even his friends. He always wore a tattered red cloak; it was almost like a calling card. If you saw a blur of red and the slender shadow of a man disappearing into the alley, you would know it was Mako.

Mako had lived on the streets all his life, first living in and out of dilapidated orphanages with his brother Bolin. Then roaming the streets, trying to survive on what they could steal. They had never known their parents. Maybe that lack of parental affection was what drove Mako to become a pickpocket, or maybe it was the desire to have something for himself, to call his own (even if it wasn't actually his).

"Mako!" Bolin called happily. Pabu, his fire ferret rested on his shoulder. Mako had just returned home from a day scavenging in the local market, his bag filled with stale bread and lopsided fruit. He had even managed to snatch a shiny gold bangle, and he knew it could be sold for a pretty penny.

"Yes Bolin?" He tossed his younger brother a stale loaf of bread, Bolin caught it and smiled, breaking off a chunk for his little pet.

"I saw her again, Princess Asami! She's gorgeous." Bolin looked star struck. He always had an affinity for the royalty of the kingdom, even if they could give a crap about the lowly people living in poverty.

"Yeah whatever. The Sato's don't care for us. If they did don't you think they'd try and use even a small part of their endless fortune to help build up this end of the city? Or maybe even just help feed the orphans?" Bolin looked down at the bread in his hand. Mako's shoulders slumped.

"I'm sorry Bolin." He walked over and sat down next to his brother, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "I shouldn't take my frustration out on you, you just know how much I hate the royalty of this damn city." His brother nodded, but still seemed sad. Mako sighed.

"Tell me about her." Bolin's eyes gleamed with pure happiness.

"Oh my gosh! She's so pretty! Her perfect green eyes are so kind! And her dress just seemed to flow in the wind!" If it were possible, Mako knew that Bolin would have hearts in his eyes. He's only seen the princess from behind, so he took his brother's word for it. He smiled lightly.

"I'm gonna go sell this and see how much I can get for it." Bolin nodded. Mako pulled his hood up, ducking out of the rooftop shack they found for shelter. He grabbed the rope and swung down onto the next building over, being careful to tie the rope up so he could climb back up. The tall slender teenage boy peaked over the edges, taking care none of the royal guards were patrolling. Once he knew he was safe, he quickly climbed onto the ledge and hopped down into the alley, making sure nobody was around. He couldn't let anyone know who he was. He could see the black cloth that hung above the fence.* Once he swung down to the side door, he knocked three times, the sign that he was outside.

"Ah, Hello Mako!" The old man opened the door and let him inside. There were a few older men roaming around, browsing the many stolen treasures laid out. One man, a tall man with long hair glanced over at him and looked him up and down.

"What can I help you with?" Mako held out the gold bangle.

"Ah what a gorgeous piece, whoever lost it must miss it dearly." Mako nodded, he didn't want to speak, especially with the strange man looming nearby.

"This I'm sure is worth a lot, but I can only give you 10 gold pieces for it. Mako nodded, glad he received anything. The old man dropped the gold in his hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you!" He dropped the coins into the pouch tied to his hip, each making a satisfying clink. He nodded again, ducked into the dark alley to return home.

Mako made it a few yards before he realized that there was footsteps echoing behind him. He turned quickly and saw the same tall man behind him. He clutched the money bag tightly.

"Who are you? What do you want!" Mako said sternly. The tall man slowly advanced forward, as soon as he was close enough he noticed it was Tarrlok, the Sato's trusted advisor.

"Hello street rat." I scowled at him as he smirked at me.

"What do you want Tarrlok?"

"Oh you know just your ass in jail, but as of now I'm going to put that behind us, because I have a little deal to make with you." Mako didn't trust Tarrlok at all. This man was known for manipulating the poor folks to do his dirty work.

"What kind of deal?" Tarrlok's smirk widened, as if he knew he had a poor little rat in a corner.

"I've been doing some research, and I'd like to explore the Cave of Wonders." The older man's voice was like velvet, but Mako could tell he was as slippery as a snake.

"And why are you telling me this?" Tarrlok raised his brow.

"Well of course, I being the trusted advisor of King Sato I must remain here to aid him, you will be going with a few of my trusted guards to the Cave of Wonders to collect this prized object, return it to me and I will pay you a handsome fee!" Mako's eyes widened. It couldn't be this easy, there had to be a catch.

"No, no catch." Mako's eyes widened. A chill ran down his spine. "I can also easily persuade the king to allow a fund to be distributed to the orphanage if that pleases you." Mako rolled his eyes, as if he had to persuade the king to do anything. Tarrlok seemed to make all the laws and rules, the bumbling king just signed the papers. Nobody had even seen the king outside of the palace since Princess Asami was born and the Queen died.

"I swear on my life that I will uphold our end of the deal, as long as you uphold yours. You must bring me back treasure without disturbing it, and I will make you and your little brother as rich as kings." Mako's eyes widened. Bolin! What would he tell his brother? Should he just leave, and not say a word?

"Deal?"

"Deal."

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"Are we there yet?" Mako asked the burly guard holding the map.

"A few more yards. It should be just over this hi-" The guard stopped as they reached the top of the hill. Below was the cave, it seemed as if a giant tiger was frozen in time, it's mouth suspended open. It's eyes glowed an eerie white color, a yellow glow coming from inside its mouth.

"It's nothing like I've ever seen before." Mako said sliding down the hill, and standing back from the glowing entrance.

"Stay on task street rat. Here's the treasure. Make sure you get it. Don't! And I repeat don't, rub it." Mako grabbed the parchment and saw a beautiful golden lamp. He turned and stood in front of the mouth. As he got closer, the mouth sprung alive, shocking the three men.

"Who disturbs my slumber?" Mako stumbled back.

"It is I, Mako." The cave eyed the young man for a moment.

"Proceed. Touch nothing but the lamp." The mouth of the cave opened wide.

"Remember boy, the lamp!" Mako nodded, beginning to descend the long winding staircase. Once he reached the bottom he entered a room filled floor to ceiling with glittering gold and gemstones. He followed the path taking care not to step on or touch anything. As he advanced through the cave he felt as if something was following him. He quickly turned and saw a beautiful magic carpet peaking out from behind a pile of gold.

"A magic carpet! C'mon. I'm not gonna hurt you." The carpet slowly crept out.

"Wow, you're amazing! Do you think you can help me?" Mako reached for the parchment and showed it to the carpet. It flew up and danced around in the air.

"I take it, you know where it is?" The carpet flew forward as Mako followed. The pair reached a long tunnel. There seemed to be a bright light. Mako, excited that he was almost finished with his mission, found a long cavern with a tall pillar with a beam shining down from above.

"That must be the lamp!" Mako hurried forward, taking a walk up the steep staircase. While Mako climbed the staircase to the lamp, the curious carpet noticed a monkey statue with a glittering, giant ruby. Entranced in it's beauty the carpet wrapped around the jewel just as Mako grabbed the lamp. The ground around the two began to rumble.

"You have touched the forbidden treasure." Mako looked around in a panic. He began to rush down the stairs, but halfway down they disappeared, turning the once steep stairway into a slide. Mako's eyes widened as he noticed the water that was once surrounding the pillar turned into boiling hot lava.

"Carpet!" The blue carpet rushed towards him, catching him midair before he landed in the lava.

"Oh carpet what did you do!" As the ceiling began to crumble Mako and the carpet dodged and weaved through the Cave of Wonders until they reached an opening. Just as they were finally about to be free, a giant boulder the size of an elephant fell from the opening. Mako drove for the wall, but the carpet wasn't so lucky.

"Help me!" Mako yelled to the guards. They both began to laugh at Mako's misfortune.

"Give us the lamp!"

"Please! I can't hold on much longer! I'm gonna fall!" All the while Mako was struggling to pull himself up, carpet was being surrounded by lava. It tugged and pulled until finally it was free!

"Just pass the lamp and we'll grab your hand!" Mako reluctantly reached into his cloak and passed the two guards the lamp.

"Hahaha! I finally have the lamp!" The two guards began to fade away as Tarrlok appeared.

"You tricked me!"

"Yes! And I'm going to give you your reward now! Death!" Mako's mind flashed to Bolin. He had to survive for him. Just as Tarrlok went to push Mako from the wall, carpet soared out and knocked Tarrlok to the group, scooping up Mako and the lamp that had been discarded on the ground.

"Now, let's go home buddy!" Mako said, cheering at his victory.

This took me so much longer than I hoped! I'm so sorry to @princeasimdiya12​ for the wait! Please let me know what you think! Thank you all for reading!

~Grace

*- Fence is used to refer to the dealings in stolen goods