Author's Note: Malik and Altair are working on some techniques in Jerusalem. Takes place during the game timeline, most likely in between interrogations during the second visit to Jerusalem. Also, a customary thank you to the readers of this ficlet series. May I mention I have no idea how Malik climbs up walls? So, yeah… I'm not really sure, but I haven't updated in a while - so here!
"It seems everything I do troubles you," Altair had mentioned earlier while in the Assassin's Bureau. While Malik's contempt was still the same maliciousness it was the first time, Altair made progress with talking to the Dai. He had come to respect the creed more, even asking Malik for a few words of wisdom. This pleased Malik, if only slightly.
"Malik, there is a problem I wish to discuss," Altair said from his side of the counter. He stood patiently as the Jerusalem Dai paced his side in slow strides. "Yes, what is it?" He swiftly turned around to face Altair.
"The beggars make it almost impossible to scale a wall." At the quirk of one of Malik's brows, Altair explained further. "They take notice of anyone who passes them by, including myself. I have no money to give them, yet they keep on asking. If I run they follow without hassle, and if I wish to scale the walls they will throw stones at me. The act itself hinders me when I need to be getting away the most. Do you have any ideas on how to avoid this?" There was a look of suspended belief on Malik's face. He turned around, his back to Altair, and let out a bemused chuckle. "Do the beggars really throw so hard that you fall?" Malik then turned around and looked at the assassin's face, looking for signs of trickery. Surely an assassin of his rank and skill could endure a few stones thrown by the beggars of the cities he traversed.
"I cannot believe it myself, and if you are not willing to help I will find someone else," answered Altair in a reserved tone of frustration at Malik's less than serious response.
"While I do not think there is a way to avoid the beggars and their violent pleas, there is another way," Malik grabbed onto the dark brown hooded robe he used to travel discreetly around Jerusalem and lifted up the partition to leave his place behind the desk. Altair followed the Dai into the adjacent chamber.
Throwing on the robe, Malik made no mention of his difficulty with putting on articles of clothing and Altair made no movement to help him. He shook the robe free of any dust before throwing it over his shoulder, grabbing one side with his teeth and pulling the other with his right arm. By doing so he was able to clasp the string that held it together. Malik straightened out the robe on all sides before turning to Altair. "Come, you will learn to endure the beggars' throws - and if not you, your future kin."
Altair had a sudden revelation as to how Malik would leave the Bureau if there were not ladders present. A distant feeling of uneasiness dawned upon him in a vague shroud. From under his white hood Altair watched intently as Malik began his run towards the wall.
He launched himself upward, his only hand firmly gripping onto a ledge as his right leg was raised higher than his left. Altair studied Malik's movements and came to the conclusion he used his right leg as another arm, using his left leg to push himself higher. While the movements had their flaws Malik had managed to make it to the top of the Assassin's Bureau with ease. He pulled his hood over his head upon turning around. "It is not as hard as it looks when you have trained yourself well," he mentioned upon seeing Altair unmoving and still in the resting chamber.
With a quick stride and strong arms, Altair made quick work of reaching Malik. The Dai still had his free-running skills and demonstrated proudly with his many leaps and bounds to the poor district of Jerusalem. Altair tailed behind and finally caught up with Malik at the proverbial line that divided the rich from the poor.
Malik descended the building quicker than he scaled one, easily hanging over the ledge and gradually climbing down. Altair followed suit, slowing down to a halt when Malik stopped walking once they had reached the district square.
"Now, do as you do." Malik stepped away from Altair to observe, watching the white dressed assassin already have a few beggars come up to him. They had already started up their incessant pleas for money, not discriminating against Altair's unusual garb or his obvious disinterest in them as he tried to walk past.
Running little ways outside the district square Altair made it up a wall no further than one story before a the beggars gunned him down with rocks. He fell ungracefully then circled around to loose them completely before returning to Malik. "You saw with your own eyes what I have to put up with, and there is nothing I can do to those innocents."
Stroking his chin in though, Malik let himself smirk before walking to the area the beggars had cornered Altair. "Climb this wall. If you cannot get rid of the beggars," he picked up a rock. "You will learn how to endure them."
Altair had a deadpan look as he silently stood before the wall. "Wouldn't this warrant suspicion?"
"Not at all, I am a beggar and you are a potential source of money." There was a look of devious amusement on the Dai's face. "Now climb, I do not have much time to be wasting with you."
As soon as he started to ascend up the wall, Malik hurled a stone at Altair's hand, causing it to spasm and for the assassin to loose his balance. "The beggars will throw at you in general, you do not know where they will hit." To prove his point, he picked up another stone as Altair began his climb again. "Learn to expect it, this way it will not shock your senses as much." Malik aimed for Altair's wrist with deadly accuracy and hit on his mark. It caused Altair to fall again. "I do not think the beggars aim for my hands!" Altair exclaimed, annoyed by Malik's way of overcoming the problem.
"What did I just say? You never know where they will aim," the Dai found another sizable stone in the gravel and was sure to hit Altair on his back.
"Malik, I was not even climbing that time," he growled. Altair started his trek up the wall again, doing as Malik instructed and 'expected' a stone to come flying. He did not, however, expect there to be a storm of them.
With the promise of a few coins, Malik had gathered up a small group of beggars without Altair's notice and had them barrage the assassin with stones. No one would question his intentions if coins were involved, especially the beggars who pleaded hopelessly for them.
"You are correct, novice. The beggars do not aim for your hands," Malik commented in a languid yet amused tone. Altair held on tightly, letting the stones dull his nerves before he completed the last lunge necessary to reach the roof. He quickly fled out of their sight and waited for their dissipation. When Malik had said there was another way to avoid falling victim (quite literally, in most cases) to the beggar's stones, he did not imagine putting up with the act.
Altair had enough of Malik's nonsense training and had returned back to the bureau rooftop. Minutes after Altair had reached the entrance, Malik climbed up the ladder and reached the roof this way. They exchanged no words and both descended into the bureau. Malik took his place behind his desk and Altair stood not too far off from the counter. "You have a simple assignment today, novice. Be sure to do it well," Malik chided as he pulled out his ledger. "And what is that?" Altair groaned, itching to tend to the stings on his hands.
"There is a thief running loose. He is causing trouble among Jerusalem. The other assassins are too lazy in their play to go after him. Stop him. But remember, Altair," Malik's voice suddenly grew dark. "He has not killed anyone."
"Where does he pick pocket the most?" The assassin brushed of Malik's warning, already starting towards the open archway.
"He knows of a place where coins abound in the right pockets and the guards are paid for sleeping. The thief favors travel by roof and wall climbing." A foreboding cloud hovered over Altair.
"He enjoys cheating the people in the poor district. Perhaps you can give them coins after you take the thief's?" Malik laughed quietly to himself as Altair left in silence.