Malik enjoyed teaching recreational soccer teams. They were in it for the fun and unlike at Masyaf the kids weren't borderline insane about sports; they just liked playing. He'd decided to coach an older team this season, and as always his little helpers Shaun and Desmond were along for the ride. Of course with older team members came (of course) more drama. They were all sixteen or so and were obviously obnoxious. Since they were also just a recreational team and not exactly serious Malik couldn't expect much from them in form of discipline or skill really. Some of them were good, really good actually and had been playing since they were kids, but it was a team for fun and there were of course people who'd never played seriously in their lives.
He also didn't have a single person who could play goalie. Not one freaking person wanted to learn either. It was annoying as all hell too since he wasn't a goalie and neither were Shaun or Desmond so when they did fill in the position they almost always went through to the net. Or the balls did until today. Malik had brought in a secret weapon who was grumpily scowling at the ground, doing his own stretches while Shaun and Desmond worked the team through theirs.
"You owe me for this," Altair said when Malik came closer reaching forward to grab his ankles.
"You can be on top if you want," Malik said and Altair turned a very bright red color, though he said nothing to Malik's comment. "Thanks for coming though," he said.
"Yeah yeah," Altair stood up to loosen up his arms. "This better not be a regular thing," he sighed, "or according to Ezio one of these little bastards is going to end up dead," he shot a look at the teenagers.
"I hope it won't have to be. Maybe once they see what a real goalie can do I'll get one or two that want to learn to be one."
"Sounds fine to me," Altair said and they finished watching the team warm up before the sound of Shaun's whistle marked the end of the warm up.
"Alright everyone," Shaun called. "Today we're starting with free kicks, everyone get over there," and he pointed. The teens migrated to just outside the penalty box. "This is Altair, he's going to be showing you all how much you all suck at free kicks or any attempt at scoring for the duration of this practice," Shaun had no problems at all making anyone feel like shit, even teenagers and the team was used to it by now so didn't take it to personally.
"Hello Altair," said the team as they knew they should, Altair just flicked a hand at them in greeting, unimpressed.
"Now then, everyone get in line," Malik took over. "Shaun, Desmond, get the balls and lets see if one of you even gets close," he was very, very, doubtful though. Shaun threw a ball in front of the first kid who kicked the ball into penalty box before kicking it as hard as he could towards the net. Altair didn't move and the ball sailed over the net. The teen blushed and there was some quiet jibs before he went to the back of the line. As Desmond ran to get the over-kicked ball another tried. This time they got it to go towards the net and Altair's hands were there to snatch it right out of the air, tossing it back towards them before the next one got a chance at the net.
Twenty minutes later they'd run through the line three times; not one shot had made it to the net. Malik then sent Shaun and Desmond to do some defensive drills before calling over probably the most skilled kids on the team who played offensive. He then tossed them a ball and said that whoever scored a goal against Altair he'd buy a large pizza for with whatever they wanted on it (within reason). Challenge given and accepted the offense then spent a good five minutes just trying to get close to the net since one, they all wanted the reward, and two, they didn't want the others to get it either. Finally someone managed to get into the penalty box to shoot and kicked a great shot into the left corner after feinting right. But like he knew Altair was there and grabbed the ball before kicking it back over to them.
At the middle of practice, at which point none of the guys trying to score had succeeded, Malik had them break into different groups based on what they played on the field and set them to drills, the three of them watching over each of the groups. For himself Altair sat back down on the grass and proceeded to not give a fuck. When Malik looked over at him he was actually lying down, and was probably asleep. He rolled his eyes. Obviously Altair didn't take any of this serious.
During the last part of practice Malik called over the kids who really didn't have a place in the team yet. They were either just starting or Malik hadn't found a proper fit for them. "Oi, Altair, wake up," he kicked Altair gently in the side.
"What?" Altair opened one of his amber eyes at Malik.
"Get up."
Altair sighed but did, "We almost done?" he asked.
"Half an hour, you can live," Malik told him.
"Fiiiine," he sighed and Malik rolled his eyes.
"Okay, you all," Malik turned to the boys who were standing around a few feet away watching and talking. "We're still trying to find where you fit in the team. This isn't a bad thing, it just means you either have enough skills to take several positions, or you aren't skilled enough to really see what you might be good at. We're going to fix that today. I need two more men on to be switch outs for offense, we're going to see who gets to get those spots," he said. "So lets see how well you do against each other. Steal the ball as often as possible and try and get a shot on Altair-
"You shouldn't give them false hope Malik," Altair said.
"Shush you," Malik snapped at him, and Altair just smirked, rocking back onto his heels, hands pressed against his sides. "You all understand?"
"What about the ones that don't make the cut coach?" asked one of them.
"I can never have enough fullbacks or midfielders; we'll find places for you in there. And of course our team needs a goalie," he gave them all looks.
"They're to skinny to be goalies," Altair chimed in, Malik refrained from glaring. "You need to be big to be a keeper, and scary; scary helps."
"You aren't very scary," said one teen.
"Try me," was all Altair said then looked like he'd be staying quiet now.
"All right then," Malik sighed and threw the ball down in front of them. "Try and score," he told them. Someone got the ball; which got stolen immediately, and they had it for just a bit longer before it got stolen by someone else, the loud mouth who'd challenged Altair actually. They ran for the goal and Malik saw them hesitate for about half a second before kicking, making the shot go wide and bounce off the net posts. When Malik looked at the stand in goalie he was expecting what he saw. It was that velociraptor leer that seriously freaked Malik out. Apparently it had freaked out the teen too because they'd hesitated and missed the shot.
The half hour passed quickly and Malik send the boys through their paces, sometimes against Altair, sometimes against each other before finally he got the entire team together gave a final talking to them all and told them practice was over. The field was quickly vacated as the three of them picked everything up. A parent came to talk to Malik about his kid and he left the rest of the pick up to Shaun and Desmond, though he was allowed to.
When he'd finished talking to the parent everything was in order and he said goodbye to Shaun and Desmond who were left quickly Shaun muttering about having to finish a paper for a class. That just left him an Altair, who was leaning against one of the net's posts. He'd already swapped out his cleats for a pair of Converse, which Malik had found (partially to his horror) he own more of than a woman owned heels. He had an obscene obsession with them but Malik figured it was better than other stuff he could have in massive quantities.
"Well don't you look smug," Malik said.
"Your kids suck," he said. "Even the good ones."
"Well they aren't exactly crazy like your son, sorry," Malik half spat, rolling his eyes at him. "Or nearly as enthusiastic about being stuck in the net and not able to go score goals."
"Beh, who wants to be a forward. You have to do all that running and people are always fucking pissed when you don't score goals."
"Sounds like someone was a terrible offensive player," Malik sent him a look.
Altair shrugged, "There is a reason I play defense," he didn't even try denying it. "That kid with the red hair might make a good goalie, he kept wanting to pick up the ball, and he's tall," he said.
"Right," Malik said, "You know that when practice is over this team is near the bottom of my thought process," he stood just in front of Altair now.
"And what's at the top?"
"Work, you," he smiled slightly when Altair flushed, he loved making Altair turn red, it was such a satisfying feeling to know he even could. "Mostly the second one though," he leaned over to kiss him. "Even if you always disrupt me when I'm working," he gave Altair a half angry look.
The younger man just snorted, "Sorry."
"No you aren't."
"Nope, not really," he agreed now grinning. Reaching out he grabbed Malik by the front of the shirt pulling him close as he leaned more firmly against the goal post and kissed him again.
-fin-
