Assassin's Creed I – Tales of Altaïr and Malik

A/N #1 – YAOI bits, you are warned. Also, some secrets revealed... kinda...


"Altaïr, open the other bed mat and sleep in here." It came out like a command, but he didn't mean it that way. Malik tried to change how it sounded, "Unless, unless you would rather sleep in the souk." Leaving Altaïr with the choice would shed light on if Altaïr trusted Malik, at least a little. He found himself hoping more than he expected, really hoping Altaïr would sleep in this room. He also found himself hating Tibah a little for having so bluntly laid out his sexual preferences. That was all Altaïr's fault. And yet, his hope remained.

Altaïr rose to his feet and was about to do as he was told. Then he paused. He turned back to Malik unsure if he really heard what he did. He was being given a choice? Malik gave him a choice? Altaïr wasn't sure what the plan was, if Malik was plotting something. Malik was always testing him, wasn't he? This must be another test of trust. He studied Malik trying to puzzle out the intentions.

Malik almost seemed to shy away, a bashfulness Altaïr did not recognize. Maybe Malik meant it. Maybe Malik really was letting him choose freely. It was what he had always liked about Malik when they were young. Altaïr got to make some of the decision. He got to choose his own path. Malik was his link to a sense of freedom he did not have within the brotherhood under the Master's watchful seemingly almost all seeing eye. Well, there was this one time...

Altaïr's eyes slid over Malik a moment before he stepped out of the back room into the main room. He heard Malik's disappointed sigh but kept walking into the souk. He sat upon the cushions under the starry sky that could be seen through the lattice over the open souk. He thought about that freedom. He thought about that one time they, he and Malik, gave the Master the slip. That was a moment of total intoxicating freedom. It was like flying, like leaping from an eagle point. Malik didn't even come out after Altaïr. He decided to relax there for a little bit and absorb himself in that one exquisite memory of escaping the Master.

They managed to sneak around the corner of a building, stifling their nervous excitement. Al Mualim was always sharp, but this time he was distracted by some news he had received and showed up just a few minutes late. Altaïr convinced Malik to sneak off with him, at least this far.

Altaïr brushed his fingers into Malik's hood to expose his ear so he could whisper into it. "Let's run away, just us, just for a little while. I want to just be with you, Malik." Malik pulled Altaïr closer to be sure they were not scene.

Al Mualim yelled from the stairway, "Altaïr! Maliiik! You will regret if you do not take the swimming lesson!"

Altaïr could feel Malik's breath short and fast debating the choice. "Please Malik. Let it be my choice. I'll take the heat for it. It will be so worth it. Besides, Faruq will teach swimming later." Altaïr lips tickled the soft teen stubble along Malik's jaw as he spoke. When he nodded, he could feel Altaïr grin, they were so close.

As soon as they heard the click of Al Mualim's cane receding, they were OFF! The ran through the alleys and over the buildings. They leapt off ledges with their arms spread like eagle wings in flight. They raced to their favoured ledge and dove carefree... into their secret pile of hay. There they laughed about their victory. There their fingers intertwined. There... their lips met.

Altaïr opened his journal and tried to write the scene into it as best he could. Freedom is worth the punishment.

There was definitely a punishment from the Master for avoiding him. Altaïr took the full blame. He stood with his head hung before the Master. Kadar shielded his eyes from the sun with his hood as he watched his idol endure the reprimand. Malik had argued with Altaïr about who would take the punishment. His cheeks burned in frustration and humiliation, watching Al Mualim tear verbal strips off of Altaïr. The assassin glued his eyes to the ground in knowing this was just the beginning of the punishment. This was just for show. The real punishment would be later. It would be punishment to remind Altaïr who was in charge, who gave the orders, and who was supposed to obey them.

Altaïr fumbled as he wrote this too into his journal. Then he detailed the punishment, explaining why he tried to keep Malik out of the various things that involved the Master. This was not the note Altaïr wanted to be left on. Also, he was cold... so he made a new decision.

He packed his journal and brought it with him as he snuck back into the private sleeping room. Malik was just finishing cleaning the dinner dishes by the lamplight. "You... came back..." Malik sounded so surprised.

"I was cold."

Malik narrowed his eyes and Altaïr knew that Malik was trying to decide if Altaïr was joking or not. He must have concluded Altaïr was serious. He found Altaïr a blanket. "You were laughing at me over the whole Tibah thing before. I know I was mad... but it was good to hear you laugh again."

Altaïr unrolled the extra bed mat as Malik got comfortable on his own. Altaïr felt himself being intensely watched. "Are you ever really lonely?" asked Altaïr like he was asking something taboo.

"All the time. Does it look like I share space with people regularly?" It was a confession, if a bit biting.

Altaïr shoved his bed mat right up against Malik's so they would be side by side. "Me too," Altaïr confessed in turn. He stretched out on the spare bed mat facing Malik. He took a deep slow breath and let his eyes unfocus a moment.

"What are you doing?" Malik asked having never seen Altaïr behave like he was doing some kind of meditative breathing.

"You... are bright blue." Altaïr wanted to confirm it. He wanted to know that what he once saw was still a fact. It was reassuring.

"What? What are you talking about?" Malik was clearly confused.

Altaïr blinked a couple times and refocused. "Adha taught me to do something. It... it will sound crazy. But, I can see people in colors... like glowing shining colors. I've practiced it when I have stood in good lookout places. It also happens unbidden when I fight. Innocent people shine white. Friendly people shine bright blue. Enemies and those who intend me harm glow and angry red. Targeted people, those I am seeking, are glowing yellow... You... shine bright blue. So... I ... I can trust you." He tucked his right arm under his head to watch Malik with his golden eyes.

Did Malik believe him? Did Malik think he was crazy, insane? Altaïr worried, or tried not to worry. Malik's dark eyes seemed to be searching Altaïr's. It was interesting how Malik tucked his stump under his head to be comfortable as though there was a whole arm there. If they were boys again, Malik would have pulled Altaïr close to cuddle and sleep in order to keep the nightmares away. Altaïr knew that would not happen. But this... this was still nice. He closed his eyes to sleep and felt Malik's fingers almost shyly move through his hair. Altaïr tensed a little, but did not flinch this time. He wanted to move closer to Malik and hold him and be held by him, but didn't think that would be... appropriate anymore. This will do though. This will do.


A/N #2 – art... art... and MORE art! You know the drill, take out the spaces.

http:/ doubleleaf .deviantart .com/art/YAOI-AltMal-skipping-class-146457491

http:/ the-evil-legacy .deviantart .com/art/AC-punition-150279886