A Different Kind of Forever

by SicariusAquila

How much can one change? After all Altair and Malik have been though, are they still the same? From children to adults, they've been nothing but friends, and every year they grow, they drift apart. Friendships come and go, but some you just have to fight for. Or maybe, was it meant to be something more?

1. Chess

"You cheated!" Altair yelled, staring at the chess board furiously.

"And just how did I?" Malik replied smugly, leaning back into his chair.

"There is NO WAY you could have won ten times in a row!" Altair cried desperately.

"Well, I must admit, it takes an amount of skill to lose ten times in a row." Malik said cooly.

"I didn't lose, you cheated!" Blubbered Altair, frantically flailing his arms.

Malik sighed, fiddling with the white bishop in his hand. There was no reasoning with Altair, especially in a state like this.

"Fine, we'll play one more game so you may redeem yourself-if you can." Malik said, setting up the chess pieces.

"No, I wanna play checkers instead!" Altair said, still making wild hand guestures.

Malik groaned. Checkers was the only game Altair had EVER won against Malik by sheer luck, and since that day, he took the time to flaunt his so-called skills ever chance he gets.

"...No"

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pleeeease?"

"NO."

"PLEASE?"

"NO!"

Altair huffed. "You re just afraid you re going to lose again." Altair said aroggantly.

"I lost once. Out of ALL the times we've played. It is nothing to be ashamed of." Malik replied, crossing his arms.

"Oh? But what would all the other novices think if the great and mightly Malik lost in a game of checkers?" Altair mocked.

Malik glared daggers across the chess table. There was no shame in losing in a game of chess, but there was however shame in losing ot the fool across the table.

"Altair, if you played more chess, maybe you would stand a chance against me." Malik told Altair.

"But I like Checkers better." Altair chimed stubbornly.

"Altair, checkers is for barbarians. It take little skill as you are simply dispatching every other piece on the board. Where as in chess, You must keep the piece with most importance on the board and trap it. Being exceptional at chess will make you a better assassin." Malik lectured Altair.

Altair sat there gazing blankly at Malik. Malik was surprised and relived he finally managed to quiet the hyper-active novice.

Altair finally spoke:"...When did you become an old man?"

Malik made one last menacing look at Altair and held out some chess pieces.

"So what will it be La-Ahad? Chess or checkers?"

"Checkers." He said, staring innocently at Malik.

"You just wasted ten minutes of my life." Malik sighed, but set up the board anyways.

-Five minutes later-

"YOU CHEATED!" Screamed Altair.

Here we go again... Malik thought.