Word from Hack: I was writing this during new years but meh...

Altair likes Malik.

He wants to give the Da'i a kiss

Perhaps a simple plant will help with that...right?

On the 1st Day of Xmas the Brotherhood gave to me...

One-armed angry Rafiq!

"NOVICE!"

An empty inkwell shattered against the wall right where Altaïr's head had been.

Honestly, the Master Assassin couldn't see what he'd done wrong. Malik had been a bit irritated all day. He didn't know why and was certain that the Da'i was blaming him for it. Altaïr had been waiting to confess his feelings to Al-Sayf for months now. Every plan he'd come up with seemed flawed or useless.

That was until he'd found a particular plant. An elderly merchant woman, who was sweet to Altaïr, had caught him looking at his one-armed friend with longing when they had gone to the market to stock up on supply for the Bureau. She'd motioned him to come closer after making sure Malik wasn't listening and told him to look for a green plant with white berries that would grow rootless in certain trees.

In retrospect maybe it would've been easier to just tell Malik how he felt.

"I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD!"

This time it wasn't small objects flung, but actual throwing knives. The Rafiq obviously hadn't slacked off in training with the accuracy he displayed. Malik's face was flushed red in a blush.

Altaïr leapt across the room, dashing madly for the grate attached to the roof; it was cold and snowing outside, but Malik wanted to kill him!

"I WILL RIP YOU APART NOVICE! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING? I WILL GLADLY LOSE THIS OTHER ARM TO SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR HIDE AS MY PILLOW!"

Altaïr barely made it out the Bureau; but only after Malik had nailed him in the back of the head with a heavy book. He was glad he'd run away as well. He'd seen the Da'i draw his sword. Altaïr definitely didn't want to feel the bite of not only Malik's sarcasm but also his blade.

After the Master Assassin was gone Malik cleaned up; a blush still on his face. He found the plant that Altair had held hung over his desk. The man's eyes widened in realization.

"Altaïr you fool...mistletoe?" Setting it down into a small box as keepsake, he stared at it and touched his lips; remembering the unexpected...kiss. A small smile quirked his lips.

Owari~