"Please Malik...Smile for me." he asked again, further confusing the brunette as he continued to get closer.

"W-what...I-I don't..." he stuttered as the assassin closed the distance between them until they were mere inches from each other. Malik tried to back away but he had been cornered; their bodies so close that he could feel the heat radiating from the other man, making him feel uncomfortable. His face was flushed as the other man's hot breath brushed over his cheeks, his heart pounding against his ribcage. His eyes widened as their lips met in a harsh kiss, a bright crimson spreading over his features as his mouth was invaded by the wet muscle from the other's mouth.

"Nnhm..." he managed to moan into the assassin's mouth as his legs began to weaken and shake, his breath hitching in his throat. Clawing at Altair's robes, they broke the kiss and panted as they caught their breath. Malik found himself being swept into strong arms and laid down gently on the cushions in the corner of the entrance room. Before he knew it, his robes had been pulled off and he was in nothing but his pants, and they too would soon join the pile.

"A-Altair...I-" he murmured before being silenced again by another crushing kiss. His heart almost stopped when he felt his bare chest against Altair's; it was too much. Just as the assassin's hand reached into the brunette's pants, a shrill cry cut through the air. Malik instantly sat up and struggled against the younger man, trying to grab his clothing.

"L-let go! It's Kadar! He needs me!" he yelled, his flailing getting more violent. Altair just held on with all his strength, pinning the man to the spot by the waist.

"Come ON, Malik! Let him cry. He's gotta learn to be patient and leave the adults to their buisness. Now, let's continue where w-ARGH!" The older man punched him right in the jaw, throwing the eagle for a loop and releasing the hold. Picking up his robes in a huff, Malik rushed into the Bureau shouting, "GODDAMN NOVICE! HE'S A BABY! The FUCK do you think he can do? Get his own food? IDIOT!"

Tears in his eyes, Altair picked himself off the floor while holding his throbbing face. Sitting cross-legged in nothing but his pants he gingerly rubbed his now purple cheek as he growled angrily,

"Damn brat. Ruined everything." he muttered as a sudden breeze hit his exposed torso, sending a shiver down his spine. Grabbing his robe, he hastily wrapped it around his shoulders and then laid on the cushions with an irritated look on his face. As he looked up through the gate of the Bureau, he remembered about his past attempts at Malik and how they had all been thwarted by the same person every time.

"Still a cock-blocker, eh Kadar?" he said, laughing a bit at the memory of Kadar trying to keep him from his brother; then he realized that he might have rushed this. What kind of verbal abuse would await him in the morning? He shuddered. Better not to think about it.

Preparing a bottle, Malik made his way back to his room; his coat wrapped loosely around his shoulders and his pants hanging dangerously loose around his waist all the while cursing under his breath.

"Stupid novice. The hell does he think he is? Doing all-all THAT to me and then expect me to leave my brother to cry alone? Crazy bastard." he said, his face burning at the thought of what had happened. The cries became more urgent as the infant's throat became sore, calling out desperately for attention. Malik hurried to his brother's side, cooing gently as he offered the bottle to the red-faced baby. He took it eagerly, quickly suckling the milk, his bright blue eyes looking up happily. Malik smiled,

"That is EXACTLY what you wanted, isn't it? All that screaming just for this... Well, as long as it annoys HIM, I don't mind. Cry as much as you want!" he whispered, looking at the now half-asleep infant that lazily sucked on the bottle; barely draining it before he fell completely asleep. Taking the bottle, he cleaned Kadar's milk and tear-stained face before settling next to him, wrapping them both in blankets and falling asleep almost instantly.

The next morning, Malik was not surprised to find that Altair had left before dawn; surely to avoid the tongue lashing he had in store for him.

"For once, he did something smart. He isn't a big a novice as I thought. But...that won't save him from me, and my revenge for last night." he said, a sneer spreading over his features. For the rest of the day he drew up new maps, filled out reports and took care of his brother. He was starting to think that the assassin had gone back to Masyaf when he heard the lithe footsteps echo through to him from the rooftop, then the almost silent landing in the entrance room. Hesitantly, the assassin's voice called out to the Rafiq,

"Malik? I'm sorry about last night. Do you forgive me?" he said, his voice sincere. The Rafiq's face flushed for a moment at the mention of the previous night, but returned to normal just as quickly.

"Why don't you apologize to my face? I'm sure you'd appreciate an apology to be direct, no?" he replied curtly, his quill scratching loudly against parchment. Kadar blew bubbles and kisses at his brother, facinated by his own drool; Malik smiled at the child's easy amusement.

"Promise not to hit me again?"

"I suppose."

"I'll take that as a 'yes'." he said, walking into the Bureau hesitantly, trying to act as normal as possible. This was short lived however, as a book sailed through the air and nailed the assassin square in the face. Reeling, he fell to his knees while holding his nose in cupped hands, looking up in time to see the older man smile wickedly.

"THAT-is what you get for molesting me, novice. And there's more where that came from." Malik said calmly as he removed a relatively large book from his shelf and prepared to throw it.

"OUCH! You promised not to hit me!"

"Ah, but I never said 'I promise', now did I? Should have made me swear. I might have kept my word."

"Really?"

"Not likely." The book whizzed past Altair's ear, making him yelp. Wide eyed, he looked at the Bureau leader incredulously. Malik looked at him apatheticaly,

"Don't look at me like that. You're lucky I'm not using knives, else I wouldn't miss." he said with a mock smile, "Now get out of my Bureau, before I take it upon myself to kick you out. And I mean that quite literally."

"Malik! Just hear me out! I need to say something!" the assassin insisted, standing his ground.

"Then say it quickly."

"What happened last night-I don't know what came over me. I just wanted you to smile for me like you smiled at the baby... And then everything else was-I don't know what it was really. I just thought-"

"That you could take me without any trouble, and then throw me away? Tell me Altair, do I look like a woman to you? Am I a game to you? Is that it?" the older man shouted, his face red with anger. He had thought the man was his friend, his brother. To try and take advantage of the situation was unacceptable. His sudden change in tone startled the infant that sat on his desk, his brows furrowed as he began to whimper.

"NO! I would never do that! I just-wanted you to treat me the same way that you did before. Do you know how much I miss it? Those shining eyes, that beautiful smile, those soft features; do you know how much they taunt me? I've wanted them since I first set eyes on you. You've bewitched me somehow, and I don't want to break out of it-I don't know how to put it but I think I-I..." Altair couldn't continue, his thoughts were in turmoil and he didn't know how to control them or set them in order. But the next words that came out of the Rafiq's mouth caught the assassin completely off guard,

"Y-you love me, don't you?"