The brown-haired boy from the pictures pushed the door open with his foot as he juggled a backpack and baseball glove. He was dressed in slacks and a polo shirt, probably what he wore to school. His hair was a mess, and sweat stains spotted his shirt. "Hi, Leon!" He tossed his backpack off to the side as he headed for the bedrooms. "Hot water was out again at the gym." He started peeling off his shirt. "Gonna clean up before mom gets home."
"Mark!" Leon's surprised rumble made the boy stop with the shirt partway off. "Look at me! Aren't you freaked out?"
The boy gave Leon a puzzled look, cocking his head slightly. "Uh, why?"
"I'm a lion!"
"Duh!" Mark rolled his eyes. "You want to brag, go find some stranger. I grew up with you, remember?" Then he continued down to the bedroom and left Leon staring in disbelief. Alibaba chuckled. "This shape has always been yours, as far as the rest of your world is concerned. You are the only one who remembers your human self."
"But how...?" The Leon looked at the djinn. "Mark didn't see you!"
"No. I am invisible to all but you." Leon processed that, distracted from his original thought. The djinn prompted "Go outside. Enjoy yourself!"
The boy hesitated a moment, but then his muzzle twisted into a grin. "Yeah, I gotta try this." He shouted back down the hallway "I'm going out! Be back for supper!"
Mark shouted back "Whatever!"
Leon left the apartment and padded down the stairs to the street. An old man was putting out trash and nodded. "Afternoon, Leon. On the prowl?" He smiled like it was an old joke.
"Uh, yeah. How's it hanging, Mr. Phelps?" Leon sounded a little uncertain.
"Knee is acting up again. Probably a storm coming." The man chuckled. "Best get wherever you're going - I know how much cats hate to get wet."
"Yeah." Leon smiled, looking relieved. "Well, you have a good day! Catch you later!"
Leon headed for the street and started walking. He kept looking around as if he expected police or safari hunters to appear any moment. Instead, he got friendly waves and admiring looks from the people who saw him.
Alibaba waited until they were a couple of clocks away before grinning and saying "By the way, you know you are naked, right?" The expression on Leon's face was priceless.
"What!" He looked down and then frantically covered his furred genitals with his forepaws. "I'm walking around naked!"
"And nobody noticed anything wrong." Alibaba chuckled. "You are a lion. Lions don't wear clothing. I can whip something up if you really want, but wouldn't you like to show off your beautiful body instead?"
Confusion flickered in the lion's eyes, and then he slowly removed his hands. It took another block for his self-conscious glances and awkwardness faded, but then Leon appeared to be comfortable with his unclothed state. Alibaba smiled again to himself. More acceptance.