Aladdin AU *klance*

Street Rat

As Lance McClain drew near a corner of an alley way after successfully escaping a group of pissed street vendors for the hundredth time, he knocked into two kids. The younger one with bright orange hair and broken makeshift glasses had dropped a bitten apple, while the older brother with a yellow headband to keep his hair out of his face tried his hardest to keep the younger from crying.

Lance glared at the two loaves of bread he was able to swipe from a vendor. He might be starving but a child's health and well being has always been first no matter the situation.

"Here," Lance called as the kids turned away. He broke a loaf in half and handed each kid a side. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," he gave the kids a apologetic smile and was caught by surprise when the older one threw his small arms over his shoulders, giving him a tight hug.

"There he is!" A loud man yelled over the crowd of people. The kids backed away when the men got closer. "I guess that's my cue to leave." Lance shrugged, messing up the younger kids hair before continuing his escape.

Lance jumps easily onto a ledge and climbs into the open window, when he pulls the drapes over his shoulders he notices he's not alone. A bunch of half dressed women were watching him. A few holding clothes and an assortment of makeup pallets in their hands to cover themselves up.

That didn't stop lance though, he gave his signature smirk and pulled the closest woman into his arms.

"Well hello there," when she pulled away he slid the gold bracelet off of her wrist. Of course she didn't notice, but his fiasco was cut short when violent knocks unfroze the room.

As the women ran about trying to get clothed, he snuck right back out the window onto the roof of the building. Yet another close call with fate. If Lance keeps it up he'll be starving and in jail.

He decided to use the roofs as his street home, hopping from one ledge to the other even swooping down once or twice to sneak an apple or three from sleeping vendors. He will split the break and few pieces of roasted pork he swiped with his side kick Blue.

Blue was a greyish blue tommy cat he found in a trench one rainy day. At first Blue wasn't ever around but when he began losing fights with neighboring cats he decided to just stay home.

Home.

Home was an abandoned bell tower that has become a makeshift tent until he is found out by the city's guards. Until then he will keep his home safe and sound for the small family of two. Lance pushed aside his curtain at the entrance and saw blue on his back rolling around in a box.

"Aw blue~" Lance cooed catching the cats attention. He shook the baggie holding the meat, and set them on the table he made from broken wood pieces he found near construction sites.

"After you eat, we're going to get some rest." Lance announced to unhearing ears. But in the end he knows the moment he lays down Blue will he on his chest in a heartbeat.

He takes a bite of his bread and apple. Taking a lot of will power not to hack the dry stale bread out. The only sort of soothing if the juice from the over ripe apple. But hey... beggars can't be choosers.

He scarfs down the meat he portioned for himself and gets ready for bed. A cot made of shirts and dresses he stole from prostitutes. He collected a few common men wear but he only touches those when he needs to exchange gold and silver jewelry into the local pawn shop.

Lance stares up at the dimming sky and watches over the city. When he catches sight of the palace his heart flutters. If only he could be a prince. He would be the one to save those like he is now.

Wouldn't he?

*****

"Did you hear? The Prince has another princess coming to see him," a maid whispers to one of the gardeners on break.

"Never in my 50 years of working for this palace has an heir to the throne had so much trouble accepting a husband or wife." The gardener shook his head, "If the prince keeps it up, he will never find a queen."

The maid shook her head, "Remember his grandfather didn't want a queen."

The gardener gave her a surprised looked. He watched her shrug.

"And you know this how? Last time I checked which was the beginning of my career here he and his wife were in love."

The maid gave him a small smile and opened her mouth to explain, but the dining room door was pushed open.

Prince Keith was still wearing his sleeping garments. He pointed lazily at the maid, "Small breakfast please," and walked out again.

The maid bowed as the door closed and turned back around to the gardener.

"I have to talk to the chef about the princes small breakfast, we can converse about his grandfathers courting habits later."

Kieth walked back to his room and threw open his cabinet. He dressed in light blue commoners clothes to go out into the city. He will have to sneak out so he put on something his father has never seen him wear. He even went as far as to tie his hair in a low braid to hide his identity from bystanders.

He put on a grey cloak and picked at the breakfast he asked for. The maid was ordered to leave the room and he waited ten minutes before sneaking out the other way into the garden.

"Keith!"

Keith straightened his back. It was his father.

"King Shiro, how was your morning?" Keith asked glad he pulled his hood over his hair. He didn't have the patience to listen to his father gripe about another style like he did when Keith thought it was a good idea to cut his own hair last year.

"It's gone well," Shiro nodded, a hint of nervousness evaded the inevitable conversion they were both avoiding.

"Princess Allura will be here around noon," Shiro wrung his fingers, "I am asking you to be polite, I don't want to cause any more trouble with neighboring kings because you made a fool of their daughter."

"I can't make promises I can't keep, father. You know that." Kieth said, boredom laced with the harshness made his father flinch.

"Okay then no promises. Just listen to me and be polite to her, her father's a good man." Shiro nodded at the palace.

"I have to go get ready, don't wander too far away from the palace."

"I don't plan on it."

When his father was out of sight he whistled into the air. Through the underbrush his pet lioness padded slowly into view. "Hey, dads gonna be gone for a while, I'll be back before dark."

Keith led the lioness to the wall and used her body size to get him over the palace wall.

"Don't worry Red, everything will be fine."

He smiled at the big cat below him. And stepped over into a life he wish he had.