Chapter 38: Reunion in Revelry

"I still don't see the point of detailed maps."

Malik did not bother glancing up at the man hovering above his work, leaned on the opposite side of the counter in his Bureau. He knew the man's face like the back of his hand, the creases on his forehead that had become etched in his skin over the years, that same crooked smirk he had always carried on his lips. "Not everyone can view the land from on high, as you do."

It had been a conversation they had had so many times over the years passed since Malik became the cartographer for the Brotherhood. It was a safe conversation, one not having to do with Altaїr's family. Those were always painful for Malik to hear, not because of the existence of Altaїr's sons and of how they were growing, but the way his eyes lit up as he spoke of them with such pride. The ache of jealousy had subsided over the nine years since the birth of his first son, but there was still a cold knot that formed every time the topic came around to them. Altaїr was more than discreet when mentioning his wife, knowing how the topic hurt Malik. Even over those nine years Malik had still not forgiven Altaїr for loving another, though the passion that had backed his anger had long since subsided. She was a fact that would not change and Malik had grown to accept that she too was a part of Altaїr's life, just as his sons were.

Altaїr fell into silence, leaning on the counter in the Bureau office and watching as Malik added a few lines onto the paper with his quill. Disquiet emanated off of him like a cloud as Malik continued to work. After an extended silence Malik finally spoke up, never stopping his work. "Something troubles you. What is it?"

That appeared to snap the man out of his thoughts. He went on, tone businesslike and to the point. "I am leaving to travel. I feel that the work of the Brotherhood would best be spread out beyond Masyaf and Jerusalem. The Templars have influence throughout the known world. It is time for us to do so as well." So he was leaving. It was not like Malik was unused to extended absences. As his sons were growing up, Altaїr had often not visited for half a year or more.

Malik tried to not let his disappointment show in his voice, setting his quill down to allow the lines he just put down to dry. "So how long will you be gone?"

His hand was captured in Altaїr's with almost jarring intensity, enclosed between his palms like an ever so loving embrace. That forced Malik to look up into those amber eyes for the first time in the conversation. "I was hoping that you would join me."

Malik was taken aback, though he made no move to pull his hand away. It was a rare afternoon where he was not expecting an Assassin to report in, so he allowed the contact to linger. It was all too rare to have the chance to be so casually intimate that he knew to cherish those moments while they lasted. "Me? What use would I be?"

"More use than you can imagine." The sincerity with which he spoke with struck Malik anew. "Even with all of my study of the Apple, you still are more knowledgeable, more logical, than I could ever be. You are diplomatic while I am focused on action." Malik's hand was squeezed between Altaїr's palms, those amber eyes seeming to burn with such earnestness that Malik's chest constricted. Even after all that time, Altaїr could still illicit such a reaction from him. "I need you there with me."

After all those years, Malik knew how to read the man, knew the underlying feelings behind that sometimes almost stony expression. Now Altaїr was practically screaming those unsaid sentiments and Malik voiced them. "It has been hard for me to be away from you as well. But you were raising Darim and Sef. They required more of your time than me." It shocked Malik that he did not feel the usual pang of jealousy and guilt when he spoke the names of Altaїr's sons.

Altaїr nodded, apparently also shocked by Malik's lack of animosity. "They are old enough now that I can focus on other things. Not only on the Brotherhood, but on you."

Malik's words caught in his throat and he found he could not bring himself to voice them. He was honored, he felt guilty for splitting his partner's attention away from other things that he loved. Instead, he went to business, drawing his hand away from Altaїr's and bringing out the tome that held the names of all the Assassins that lived within Jerusalem. He flipped absently through the pages as he spoke. "I will need to find a replacement to take my place here."

That made a wide grin spread across Altaїr's face. He apparently had already thought upon this. "The man who was once your pupil will do."

That gave Malik pause. "Naji?"

"He has worked hard to follow in your footsteps, though I don't think he will ever be as capable with a sword as you." No, Malik would suspect not. The sword had taken his best friend from him; books were far less likely to kill.

"I hope he has not followed too closely."

Altaїr gave a soft smile at the dark humor. "I will see to it that he is made a Rafiq and that he moves his family here."

Malik shut the tome in front of him slowly, his mind caught up in ponderings. "So he has a wife."

"And a son, yes."

Malik could not help a humorless chuckle at this news. "It makes me wonder what else I have missed in Masyaf whilst I was here."

Apparently Altaїr had also thought upon this as he readily had an answer. "When we return from our travels, you should come back to Masyaf. Your wisdom would better suit the Brotherhood there."

It sounded a marvelously sound plan, save for one detail. "But Maria…" Still the name hurt to say, but the anger no longer rose to the surface as it once had. It was true that time mended wounds, but still there was scarring to be endured.

"I have already spoken with her about this. She knows how much you mean to me and is more than happy to see you back home."

That gave Malik pause. Certainly not. She could not. "She knows… about us?"

"She always has."

Malik reeled at this information. And here he thought that he was the secret lover, betrayer to their marriage. Right then and there all preconceptions of the woman were thrown to the wind. Malik had been expecting her to be a jealous wife, overprotective to the point of making others fear her wrath if they ever stood between her and her husband. If she knew the nature of her husband's relationship with Malik and had not ridden down immediately to Jerusalem to put a blade to his neck, then she was one to be revered. She had almost bested Altaїr with a sword upon their first meeting in Jerusalem, Malik had no doubt that she would be quite capable of cutting him down with his disadvantage of having only one arm to fight back with. Perhaps Malik had misjudged her all this while.

"So will you join me?" That question cut through Malik's storming thoughts, bringing him sudden clarity.

Malik cupped his hand around Altaїr's neck, bringing their foreheads together. "Of course I will." There was no other answer to be given. It was time to put aside his stubborn jealousy and face his reality. Altaїr had another life and he was offering to have Malik brought into it. It was an honor and Malik would treat it as such.

Altaїr allowed the softest of smiles to pass over his face. "Then we will leave for Masyaf as soon as Naji arrives. My sons have been waiting to meet you for so long they have started to think that you are only a legend."

That made a smirk cross Malik's lips, so tauntingly close to Altaїr's. "I trust you have not filled their minds with grandiose tales that I will have trouble following up with."

"Only the truth, but that does not make the stories any less grand."

Malik scoffed at the words, but the grin did not fade. "Are you trying to charm your way into my bed, Altaїr? You know very well that I have work to do, especially if I am to pass on my position to another."

That crooked grin was back with renewed vigor. "You know me too well, you stubborn Dai."

"Good. Now go do what you came here to do."

Altaїr quickly closed the short distance between them and planted a kiss to Malik's lips. The touch lingered for a moment before he broke away, flashing the smirk that Malik knew so well before he departed from the Bureau.

It had been nearly a decade since he left the city and traveled. With Altaїr at his side, Malik left his Bureau in the capable hands of Naji. He had grown into a fine young man, the black robes of a Rafiq regal on his strong shoulders. Malik had no doubt of his capability to continue his work.

The ride was hard, Malik so unused to the saddle after so long of being stagnant behind his desk. He had kept in shape to be sure, but riding was another ordeal entirely. At the end of each day of travel his whole body was sore. Malik saw Altaїr's glances of concern but he simply waved him off. It was only a matter of getting his bearings, and lying with Altaїr when they made camp each night helped soothe the aches. For the first time Malik felt his age. He was nearly forty. Malik knew men in the city who were his age and much less mobile. He attributed his still good health to the years of training his body and his continued efforts to stay strong. Even with only one arm he still wanted to be as active in the Brotherhood as he could be. He had to be on this mission with Altaїr.

So Malik pressed on, the aches abating slowly over the five days of travel.

As they came upon more and more familiar roads, a great trepidation overcame Malik. The proof of Altaїr's other life grew ever closer. For so many years he had been able to ignore that Altaїr had that life, but now he would finally have to face it. After refusing for years to meet the woman Altaїr had married, she was but a few hours away. But now his feelings were in confusion. He had been afraid to reveal the true nature of his and Altaїr's relationship, to betray their marriage and put slander on Altaїr's name as the Mentor. Maria knew of their relations, Malik now knew. This brought out a whole new slew of uncertainty. How much did she know? How much did she accept it?

These questions were still storming in his mind when they started up the hill towards Masyaf. There was a hand on his shoulder and when he turned to look, Altaїr was giving him a reassuring nod. They continued up and when they passed the gate Malik was struck with awe as if he had received a blow in the gut.

The city was beautiful. Buildings that had burned during the siege had been rebuilt, larger and grander than before. Even here, at the very edge of the city the streets were bustling with people going about their daily business. It was astonishing the changes that had come over the city since Malik had last set foot on those dusty roads. But as Malik stepped out of the stables, he noticed that the roads were no longer dusty. They were newly paved in cobblestone.

Altaїr was at his shoulder as Malik admired the flourishing city he still called home. "Is it different than what you remember?"

It took Malik a long moment to find words. "Thirteen years is a long time to be away. It seems Masyaf has changed more than I have in that time."

"It is bigger and stronger than it was before." There was a certain amount of pride in his words and rightly so.

Malik continued walking along the road towards the towering fortress that stood ever sentinel above the city. As much as the city had changed, the fortress had not. It was still large and imposing, its gray walls severe on the hilltop. And yet it still held the air of protection. "Is this all from your influence on the Brotherhood?"

"It is from our combined efforts, Malik. You were as much a part of making changes to the Brotherhood as I was." Those words warmed Malik. It seemed that being Mentor had not taken away Altaїr's hard earned humility.

They came upon the market, so much fuller than Malik had ever seen it. There were market stands packed together, selling such exotic and rich wares that Malik had only seen in the richer districts of Jerusalem. It seemed that Altaїr had also been hard at work opening up trading routes to Masyaf. It would explain the wealth in the build of the city to be sure.

The crowd in the market was thicker than Malik had ever seen. There were some vaguely familiar faces and many he had never seen before. But there was one face that popped out of the crowd that caught his attention. It was a young boy, his face strangely familiar. The boy turned his head in their direction and a bright excitement overcame his features. Then it struck him. The boy looked exactly how Altaїr had as a child.

"Baba!" The boy cried in joy and he sprinted on short legs, uncoordinated with his youth. Malik stood frozen in place and looked on as Altaїr caught the child in his arms and lifted him in the air, the child shrieking in his mirth.

Yet again Malik was struck by this reunion, at how happy Altaїr was holding his son in his arms. There was so much love in that simple gesture, so much brightness that he had so rarely seen in Altaїr in all their years together.

Malik choked on his first word, stopped, collected himself, and went on. "So this must be one of your sons."

Altaїr set the boy down and put a hand on his shoulder. He spoke to his son in such warm tones that Malik had not heard from the man in all his years of knowing him. "Sef, this is Malik Al-Sayf. Do you remember me telling you about him?"

Sef's eyes widened with something akin to awe. "Dai Malik?" Those large light brown eyes turn upwards to Malik, almost worship-like respect in that wide gaze.

Malik looked to Altaїr, trying to master his shock. "You told your sons of me?"

It was Sef who answered, almost shaking with excitement. "Of course Baba told me and Darim about you! You really don't have a left arm!" He giggled and looked at Malik with glee. Malik was lost for words, suddenly quite uncomfortable. It was a rare occurrence that his lost arm was brought to attention in conversation. If it had been anyone other than a child, and the child of his partner none the less, he would have given him a strong deterrent from discussing his personal history. As it was, Malik dropped the issue.

Altaїr then turned his attention to Malik. "My sons enjoy hearing stories about our missions."

That brought a dark smirk to his lips. "Not all of them I hope." Altaїr caught himself, choking on his answer. Sef answered for him.

"Baba tells me and Darim about how strong and wise you are." The boy sounded so proud.

Altaїr grinned down at his son. "Speaking of your brother, where is he?"

"Darim and Mama are up in the library," Sef readily answered.

Altaїr then turned to Malik, his cheer overshadowed by sudden seriousness and compassion. "Are you ready to meet Darim and Maria?"

Still in shock at the sudden and joyful meeting of Sef, Malik nodded stiffly. "I had might as well."

A hand came to rest on Malik's shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. Amber eyes stared deeply into him as Altaїr spoke. "They have been waiting a long time to meet you."

"Then let's go."

End Notes: I should note here that I'm not going to antagonize Maria but also a threesome is outside the scope of this fic.