Hidden Melodies

The piano, Ja'far thinks, one of the finest-sounding musical instruments, however inconvenient to take with you.

Ja'far had never played the piano before, what with him being an assassin and all, but he had seen them in the homes of the rich he had been tasked to kill. He had wondered what it felt like, being able to sit and lose yourself in the music, fingers flying over the keys, not having to worry about someone trying to stab you in the back.

Too bad, he had thought. You'll never get to know what that's like.

But then Sin had come and taken his hand before he could fall. Sin had come and given him a reason to live, to pull himself from the darkness. Sin had come and enabled him to have a family once more.

So he resolved to learn.

...

Ja'far practiced his playing in secret, when all his traveling companions were asleep. He learned the notes and reveled in the freedom he felt when he played, when his small, calloused, blood-stained hands made beautiful, liberating, clear sounds.

He felt proud that someone who had killed, no—murdered, for a living could make such wonderful music from just a light touch on ebony and ivory keys.

And he continued to play.

...

Now, in the Sindrian palace, he sits at the piano, still playing in solitude, running his hands over the delicate instrument. Those hands, no longer blood-stained, but still calloused, had grown from playing others' works to creating their own.

Those hands, now slender and able, had learned to write, to compose.

His works consist of various arrangements, from complex scores and dramatic tunes to easy trills that could be played by beginners. All are beautiful, and all seem to hold a piece of Ja'far inside them, as if he pours a section of his soul into his music.

The night is cold, but young, and the advisor sets to work on creating another masterpiece. He decides to dedicate this one to Sin.

He closes his eyes and lets the notes come. They fly into the piano and blend together, marking the beginning of a new melody, a new song.

(Unbeknownst to Ja'far, someone has awoken and heard the music. He heads down to the room to see who is playing. When he arrives, he is surprised, but amazed. He is content to watch.

So he does.)

Ja'far keeps going, unaware of his audience. After a while, the notes cease, and the tune fades away. But there is a new sound.

A slow clap comes from behind him, and he turns, an expression of confusion on his pale face.

"How long have you been there?" He half-whispers, ashamed he didn't notice his king's presence before.

"Oh, about an hour," Sinbad replies, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. It is one of the rare times he sees his advisor so carefree, and he likes it. "You looked so beautiful, I didn't want to disturb you."

Ah, yes.

Ja'far is used to this. Used to the constant flirting from Sin, making his heart thump wildly in his chest, even though he knows it doesn't mean anything. But he stays anyway because Sin is his savior, his light.

His everything.

And that is why, no matter what his king does or how annoyed he gets, he'd never leave. He'd follow Sin to the ends of the earth.

Sinbad steps over to stand behind Ja'far. His long purple hair cascades in a waterfall over his shoulder, just touching the freckled man's back.

He leans over and whispers into Ja'far's ear.

"Play for me?"

And so he does.

A/N: A Sinja piano thing. I actually quite like it, so don't judge me. And I realize that they might not have pianos at whenever Magi takes place, but WHATEVER. Ahem... Anyways, enjoy! Reviews are appreciated.
-C