Chapter Text
Becoming a full-time delegate for his family depleted all of the extra energy Kalim held onto in his teen years.
It was when he started training under his father and working to make his law pass that he realized just how much free time he used to have, and how carefree he was.
Now Kalim woke up as early as he could muster and got to his tasks soon after breakfast. He dressed himself, made food for himself, and scheduled meetings all by himself.
Morbidly, Kalim would revisit Jamil's suicide note he wrote to him with all the instructions on how to accomplish basic and complex tasks for help. This would produce varying results. It was challenging to learn how to be an independent person so late into his life.
Kalim found it even harder to push through his work without Jamil by his side.
Even when Jamil was in his coma, he felt motivated and energized just working by his bedside.
Jamil always made him want to do better.
Now without him here, Kalim had to find a way to motivate himself without him.
He was worried Jamil would go no-contact after he left, and he did for the first couple of months. Kalim relied on Emilio to pass on how he was doing. It was part of the agreement they had.
"Please just let me know how he's doing. Send me photos, text me, call me when he's asleep even. Don't let him know; I'm trying not to hover and ruin his freedom."
Emilio did as he was told. They called late into the night when it was morning for Kalim. He sent some carefully taken photos. The sights looked beautiful, and Jamil often wore a bright smile and gazed upon the world with starstruck eyes.
It wasn't until later that Jamil reached out to Kalim on his own.
It started with a photo taken long after they had already left Emilio's homeland. It was a massive cluster of multi-colored macaws flying across the sky, free in their native land.
Below it, Jamil wrote: "Reminded me of you."
Kalim clung to that text, returning to it whenever he felt burnt out from work.
It was ironic, how Jamil spent most of his life working himself to the bone while Kalim enjoyed the privilege of partying without a care in the world. Now, Jamil was enjoying seeing the world while Kalim worked hunched over his desk.
He wouldn't have it any other way. This was just a taste of what his friend went to. But there were days when Kalim wanted to crawl into his bed and lie there all day.
He had a late start to his morning. What woke him up were multiple notifications from different people demanding his attention.
Riddle: Jamil paid me a visit today while I was at work. You never TOLD ME HE RECOVERED. I THOUGHT HE WAS STILL COMATOSE FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW. Anyway. He seems well. You could hardly tell he was in such a life-threatening situation.
Bisar: Being a vice housewarden for Scarabia has been super rewarding. I'm kind of nervous about what I'll do when my housewarden graduates. I don't know if I can run a dorm. I just like helping and meeting new people.
Amala: Are we still meeting at Azul's to discuss nullifying all arranged marriages? I know our families are on the 'no pressure' side of things, but my father has started suggesting men to me, and I don't think he's going to let it go anytime soon. It's like he'll keep sending them my way until I finally relent and choose.
One subject to tackle at a time. Kalim was lucky he felt fulfilled when he talked to people. With all of the conversation buzzing around him, it prevented him from feeling lonely.
He threw on his clothes by himself, and he always got to his everyday work. Every day was the same but always a little different. Time passed by so quickly and yet so slowly.
But that bird picture made him smile every time he looked at it.
He and Amala met frequently at Azul's restaurant. The twins seemed to have settled comfortably by Azul's side, judging by how often Kalim saw them.
They talked over tea and coffee, wrote notes on receipts and spare napkins, and Azul enjoyed their rich money going straight into his pocket.
He asked about Jamil often, and Kalim shared with him the few texts he got in spurts.
However, something different had been sent to him that interrupted his discussion with Amala.
A text photo from Emilio at his graduation, standing side by side with his class.
Kalim was about to text him 'congratulations' before another photo quickly appeared on his screen.
Jamil stood next to Headmage Crowley with his diploma in hand. He looked at the camera with an embarrassed side-eyed expression, like he wasn't expecting his photo to be taken.
He finally graduated.
It was something Kalim had wished for him from the moment he walked across that stage without him. Now, that moment has come and seemingly gone, and Kalim couldn't be there for him.
"What is it?" Amala asked, looking over his shoulder, "Oh, it's Jamil!"
Azul rose from his seat and stood behind Kalim in a matter of seconds just to get a good look.
"Wow, look at him." Azul mused dreamily, "I feel like I'm being transported back to our own graduation just looking at him. It all feels complete now…Send that to me, will you? Forward it to everyone even."
"I don't know; Jamil looks like he didn't want his photo taken. Maybe he wants to have this moment for himself and not us." Kalim expressed Jamil's boundaries, but it was all on assumption.
If Jamil wanted to tell him about his graduation, he would. Jamil's sparse texts indicated his need for privacy, but not in a negative way. He seemed perfectly content being the one to speak to Kalim first instead of the other way around, and Kalim respected that.
Demanding too much would push him away further, and while Kalim let him go, he still wanted him close enough.
"Wha? You got a picture of sea snakey that you aren't sharing?" Floyd drawled from the other side of the empty outside bar.
Feeling the social pressure, he texted Emilio back quickly.
Kalim: Could you ask Jamil if I could share this photo of him?
Emilio: He's going to say no. Let me into your Alumni chat?
That seemed fair enough, since Emilio was a housewarden and temporary vice. Azul made the chat to keep in contact (and business) with their graduating class. He sent Emilio a quick invite, and the photo went straight into the chat within seconds.
Floyd cheered and tapped at his phone when he got the photo. Azul couldn't hold back a chuckle. Was it over blackmail material? Or did he really want to keep the photo?
Kalim remembered how frequently Azul visited Jamil when he moved to Silk City. Azul never treated Jamil like he was gone; he talked to him just as Kalim did, and he showed around the same amount of compassion Kalim had but only in private.
The eels didn't know about the books he would read aloud at Jamil's side, old tales of cursed princesses and stories of mermaids translated for human readers, and Azul likely didn't want them to know that about him.
But Jade and Floyd probably already knew. The three of them reminded Kalim of how he and Jamil used to be.
Jamil's first text appeared in the group chat. Kalim had added him there long ago, before Jamil even woke up.
Jamil: Emilio u little shit
Kalim laughed out loud. It was so abrupt, unprofessional, and so undeniably genuine of a comment of his to make. He sighed, wiping away a tear that formed in his eye.
Azul wore the same wide smile reading the text over. Amala left to follow after Jade, who retrieved their empty cups, whispering something about drink mixing she wanted him to try out for her.
"Hey, Azul," Kalim spoke up in their new privacy.
Azul glanced up to look at him.
"Thank you."
"Haven't you thanked me enough? You've told me that nearly every day!" Azul exclaimed. To Kalim, it would never be enough.
"You've helped me save Jamil more than once. He's the most important person to me, and because of you, he and I are leading better and safer lives. If you need anything more, say it, and I'll give you that tenfold."
"Come now, you can't give me all of the credit. I'm simply a man of my word. You're the one who made this all possible. You used your power and wealth to accomplish some amazing things, and you learned to use it as benevolently as the Sea Witch. I just helped you along the way. It was all you."
Azul smiled back down at his phone.
"Look at him. If you hadn't changed and hadn't put in the hard work that you did, there's a chance we'd never get to see him like this." Azul told him.
"Yeah," Kalim simply agreed, "I always took Jamil's presence as a given. I didn't think he was in any danger of taking his life until he tried it. Maybe if I realized it sooner, I mean he overblotted, I should've tried harder-"
"You're overthinking." Azul stopped him with a finger to his lips, putting a pause on his thoughts, "That's more of Jamil's forte. You've done your best, and you should be very proud."
Kalim hugged Azul so tightly and forcefully that his glasses nearly slipped off his face. He adjusted them flusteredly, glancing back at their returning audience.
"You're amazing, Azul!"
"Yes, I have been told."
Kalim was on the edge of sleep until he felt someone come close to his room. After everything that had happened, the combination of bad dreams and extra weariness, he snapped awake quickly and sat up in bed.
From outside his balcony window, a figure descended on a broomstick with recognizable flowy braided hair and a voice that beckoned him.
"Jamil?" He asked.
"Kalim." Jamil replied, and Kalim ran out to the very edge, colliding with the railing. Jamil threw a hand onto Kalim's chest to push him back from possibly falling off, bringing back a sense of nostalgia.
"What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!" Kalim questioned him, then got perturbed by how Jamil was suspended in the air above the far drop below. "Come inside already!"
"I took the mirror to get here after graduation." Jamil explained, allowing himself to get pulled in.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, Kalim felt himself more at ease and free to express the happiness he felt at seeing Jamil again after all of his travelings. What was even more pleasantly surprising was seeing him back so soon.
He was sure that Azul's former warnings would be true- that Jamil would be gone for a very long time, possibly permanently.
But in reality, as soon as he graduated, he returned to share that pride with Kalim.
Small chirps and trills appeared from behind Jamil, and out of his hood crawled out a scarlet macaw. The bird perched on his shoulder and, as Jamil extended his arm, walked across to greet Kalim face-to-beak.
"Saffron, say hello, Kalim," Jamil said.
"Hello, Kalim!" The bird squawked, bobbing its head up and down.
Kalim reached out a hand to pet it, and the bird nudged the palm of his hand, welcoming him to do so.
"Its name is Saffron?" Kalim asked.
"Her name is Saffron, yes. I met her while Emilio's cousin was teaching me how to make paella. She tapped at the window when I was preparing the saffron." Jamil exclaimed, bringing her back to sit on his shoulder. "It's actually a long story; she's partly domesticated and didn't take too well to being returned to the wild after an injury she had taken care of."
"Well, come inside. I'll bring you some food! Does Saffron like crackers?"
"She prefers strawberries."
Saffron squawked in excitement upon hearing one of her favorite words, "Master!" She spoke in limited English, mixed with words in their native tongue, "Faraawla! Strawberry!"
"Master, huh?" Kalim raised a playful eyebrow.
"It's how she refers to me." Jamil replied quickly. He pulled his hood over his head, and Saffron pulled it back down with her beak.
"I like her already!" Kalim declared.
And just like that, even in the dead of night, everything just got a bit brighter.
"They play music all throughout the streets of the Port O' Bliss, but the real staple is the restaurants. They had some of the best live performances I've ever seen. I practically attended a show nearly every night. Emilio actually had to drag me out of bed a few times." Jamil explained while lying on his back and talking with his hands.
"I wish I could've seen that." Kalim lied through his teeth, because Emilio had texted him a few photos of Jamil sprawled out in bed with wildly unkempt bedhead.
Jamil looked at him perturbed, "Why are you smiling like that?" He questioned.
"I just love seeing you passionate about things. I always have." Kalim replied, and his eyes drifted to one of his braids adorned with the snake ornament he had gotten him for his 21st birthday. No words needed to be spoken further.
"How have you been?" Jamil suddenly asked right as Kalim was getting pleasantly comfortable listening to his excited ramblings.
Kalim sat up more, "It's been busy. Super busy, like 'all the time' kind of busy. I had no idea how much you, my dad, and everyone put into all of this. The idea of doing it forever is kind of daunting."
Jamil rolled over to his side and listened intently. Beside him, his bird was enjoying a bowl of berries.
"I know no one can do this but me, and it's important I do it right because people depend on me, but I'm not always sure I'm making the right decision all the time, and that scares me." Kalim said, "Like, what if I end up hurting people like how I've hurt you?"
"I doubt that. You've always been a people person; now you have the patience and maturity to listen to what your subjects have to say. You're the best thing that could've happened to this country, so stop putting yourself down already." Jamil answered.
Kalim held back an instinctual apology.
"I've been thinking a lot about my future, now that I have one…And I also remembered something Leona told me a while ago, back when we were trapped at STYX." Jamil mused, "I was wondering…If you maybe had any job openings for a vizier?"
Kalim shot straight up, "What?" He asked, certain he didn't hear him correctly the first time.
"Or maybe a chamberlain? Or an advisor?" Jamil continued to list off.
"You just got your freedom. You were telling me about how much fun you were having, and now you want to work for my family again?" Kalim questioned.
"I still have my freedom. This will be my choice. I still want to travel, I'm not ready to settle down too soon…But what matters more to me than hierarchy and titles is making positive changes in our country. I want to improve my home; make it a better place to live in for more people than just myself, but I can't do it alone. I'll need your help, just like how you needed me. You have skills that I don't have. I see that now." Jamil exclaimed passionately, and Kalim saw in him that person he was always amazed by, talented and thoughtful as he's always been.
"You once said that everything you accomplished was because of me and my advice. Don't you still trust me?"
"Of course I do! I'd love to have you back here, really! But there has to be something more I can do for you. I don't want us to fall into that routine where you do everything." Kalim assured him.
"Well, I expect more pay, recognition, and good vacation time…" Jamil listed, "But, I really do think we could work well together now, and I think I'm ready to become friends."
'You were always my friend, no matter what,' Kalim wanted to tell him, but it was never his choice to make.
He gave Jamil that space and the choice to choose, and Jamil came back on his own terms; he came back happier and more true to himself.
"Can I hug you?" Kalim asked for permission.
Jamil chuckled, "Yes, you can."
The two embraced as friends, and Kalim felt how strong and passionate Jamil's grip was, much different from the hugs they'd shared before.
Saffron squeezed herself in between the two of them, and Kalim felt so whole again.
Najma scolded Jamil for visiting Kalim before her and their family and for not telling her about his adorable pet bird. But like everything with Najma, her anger turned into quick relief at seeing him safe and sound.
He brought plenty of souvenirs for everyone, even all of Kalim's many siblings, who crowded around him, eager to receive his gifts and hear his stories.
This world that had wronged him so badly had finally started to give back to him, and he welcomed it.
Hanging out with Jamil in the dead of night, pulling out the old mancala game and playing until they felt tired enough to drop into sleep, Jamil showing off his magical prowess as he finally recovered his lost strength; it was all like his old happy memories.
This time, he knew they were reciprocated. This time, no titles, duty, or trauma kept them apart. Jamil would get all of the recognition he deserved, have all his dream realized, and make all of those good changes that made this world a better place.
Kalim could take care of himself, and now their friendship was genuinely equal, as much as it could be.
The two of them made plans to host a party for their graduating class. Azul and the twins would cater, Riddle and Ruggie were more than welcome to join them (Ruggie RSVP'd immediately,) and although Silver's correspondence would certainly be delayed, Kalim was confident he'd love to be with everyone again.
Jamil carried a travel guidebook Sebek had gifted him years ago with him, jotting down all his sights and experiences on sticky notes and in between the page lines and highlighting places he wanted to see next.
But he put that book down in his new office space, a private room where he could work alone, pull out cushions, and serve tea if he wanted company, and of course, there was a perch for Saffron. He kept his dreams close to his heart and those who loved him even closer.
It was like that large gap between him and everyone else had finally been filled; they weren't at risk of losing him anymore.
Jamil's memory of his suicide attempt never came back to him.
He couldn't remember the year of his life that he had lost because of it, but that was okay.
Kalim's only goal of making his country a better place for Jamil to wake up in was accomplished. He was proud of that and honored to be able to work harder to achieve more with his friends by his side.
He could see it in Jamil's honest smile and in the joy he saw in others that he was doing the right thing, that he was putting his power and wealth to good use, and that he could make others happy.
It all felt well worth his struggle to stay alive, the learning curve he faced becoming independent, and the peril he had to face.
He became an heir worthy of his title.
Kalim Al-Asim.