I don't know about you guys, but this chapter feels a little sub-par to me. Sorry bout that. Anyway, since spring break is here and I got a really great game I've been waiting for (InFamous second son, yes!) I probably won't update as regularly for a little while (so sorry!) just to warn you guys. But I hope you're all enjoying the story, thanks for the favs/follows/reviews.
"I'm home." Altair called halfheartedly as he walked through the front door.
"Altair!" Ezio yelled and came tearing around the corner. He stumbled to a stop in front of his older brother and took a second to catch his breath.
"Don't listen to him!" Connor's shout followed shortly after. The brown eyed boy tumbled around the corner and slammed right into Ezio and brought them both to the floor. "It's all lies!" he swore.
"It is not!" Ezio argued, punching Connor. The little bear growled at that and the scene quickly devolved into a brawl. Altair watched with bored eyes, having seen this same scenario play out a thousand times.
"Kadar, where are you?" Altair lifted his head to holler.
"Oh, I'm in the bathroom cleaning up the boys. They sprayed ketchup all over each other." Kadar's reply came from down the hall. "Do you mind if I stick around to finish."
"Be my guest." Altair gladly agreed. Cleaning up naughty little boys was the last thing he wanted to do right now.
Sighing, Altair stepped around the tangle that his brothers had made their bodies out of and walked into the living room. He dumped off his shoes and jacket and left them to fester on the rug. With an oof he landed on the uncomfortable couch.
What the hell was he supposed to do now? Even working two jobs money had been tight, but now that Altair had lost one, how was he going to pay the bills, take care of the boys? Altair ran a hand over his face. Not to mention Sofian would be coming around in just two days and it certainly wouldn't look good that Altair had recently gotten fired. Altair supposed he'd have to start looking for a new job.
Just a few minutes after Altair's arrival, there was a knock at the door. Altair groaned and hauled himself up, slouching over to the door. Along the way he gave the boys a kick and shooed them off to their room. Altair flung open the door and found himself staring at Malik fucking Al-Sayf.
"Okay, this is getting creepy now. You some kind of stalker?" he demanded, giving the visitor a glare.
"Don't look at me, I'm just as unthrilled to be here as you are. I came to pick up my brother Kadar, he's babysitting for you." Malik replied, crossing his arms.
Altair sighed. Did he ever mention he has terrible luck?
"He's giving the boys a bath right now, he should be done in a few minutes. I guess you can come in until then." Altair relented, opening the door farther.
Looking like he really didn't want to be doing what he was doing, Malik stepped inside. He slowly looked around much like his brother had but with a more disapproving look.
"Your place is a dump." he noted.
"Really? I can hardly tell." Altair muttered. He was way too tired to fight with Malik right now. The best thing to do was just act half way decent until this weird stalker was out of his home.
"Want some coffee?" he offered.
Malik shrugged.
Altair took that as a yes and led the way to the kitchen. He filled up the coffee maker and started up the brew. The two men stood in silence while the coffee painstakingly dripped into the pot.
"So...What's your name anyway?" Malik finally asked.
Altair couldn't help but be amused at the fact that Malik truly honestly had no idea who he was. For half a second he toyed with the idea of not telling the other.
"Altair." he eventually shared. "Ibn-La'Ahad."
"So, Altair, all the boys are yours?" there was a spark of genuine curiosity in Malik's ice breaker.
"Not...exactly." God, Altair really hated having to explain this to people. "They're my brothers."
"Twenty and still living with your parents?" Malik said in a half teasing way.
Altair gave him a dull, uncaring look that he saved for special occasions when he really couldn't be bothered to get angry. "They're dead, actually. I take care of the boys now." it was said flatly, a fact, nothing more.
"Oh." Malik immediately looked guilty and pursed his lips.
Another quiet minute passed and the coffee machine beeped to announce that the beverage was ready. Altair poured two cups of coffee, Malik requesting it black and Altair putting a little cream in his. He handed one to Malik and claimed the other as his own.
"What is it you do anyway?" he asked, cradling the warm mug in his hands.
Malik took a deep sip of his drink before answering. "I'm a full time college student. I hope to someday become a lawyer."
"That's quite the ambition." Altair noted. "You a lawyer, your brother a doctor...Mom and Pop must be proud." Altair tried and mostly failed to hide the edge of jealousy that tainted his voice.
Malik shrugged. "I wouldn't know, I haven't talked to them in years."
The silence crept up again, but it wasn't as awkward somehow. For some reason Altair felt oddly content just sitting here with Malik. He noticed that the man's face was cute when he was so docile like this-No! He said he wouldn't think about that.
All the sudden a buck naked Desmond ran through the kitchen, squealing in delight. Both Malik's and Altair's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the uncommon occurrence.
"No, wait, come back!" Kadar called, coming running after carrying a towel. He stopped in the kitchen and bent over, trying to catch his breath.
"Sorry...He just...slipped away from me." he managed between breathes.
After a second Kadar straightened and noticed his brother.
"Oh, Malik! I didn't know you were here. Just give me another minute to get the boys dressed." Kadar said.
"Take your time." Malik replied with a small smile.
He grinned after his brother as Kadar dashed off to go seek out one nude boy, possibly two. Altair chuckled and took another drink of his coffee.
"He's good with those little demons." Altair noted.
"Kadar's always been good with kids." Malik agreed.
"If he's ever up for babysitting again, I'd love to use him." Altair said.
"I'll make sure to let him know. Kadar's always looking for jobs to help pay for college."
"Ugh, right, there's that." Altair groaned, mostly to himself, remembering his loss of a job.
"That what?" Malik asked, raising his eyebrow slightly.
"Nothing," Altair huffed. "I lost one of my jobs today."
"Sorry to hear it. Which one?"
"Starbucks."
"You know..." Malik began hesitantly. "If you were interested, I could talk to a friend who might be able to land you a job at the zoo."
"The zoo." Altair clarified.
Malik smirked at his reaction. "Don't worry, it doesn't take much skill, as long as you can heave a shovel."
"Gross." Altair scrunched up his nose."So...you're saying you are going to help me, as in do something nice? Who are you and what have you done with Malik?"
Malik rolled his eyes and gave Altair a light push. "I have been known to be nice on occasion."
Altair sobered up and gave Malik a small smile. "Thanks, man, I appreciate it."
Kadar came into the kitchen then with a fully clothed Desmond under his arm.
"Okay, I'm ready to go." he announced cheerfully, setting the child down.
"Let me get your money." Altair said. He set down his coffee cup and went to go retrieve his wallet from his jacket pocket. He paid Kadar the agreed upon amount at the door.
"Your boys are great, Altair, I'd love to babysit them again sometime." Kadar said with a smile.
"I think...that is the first time ever a babysitter has ever said that to me. Like, ever."
Kadar chuckled. "They are a bit of a handful, but they're good kids. Anyway, we better get going Malik, got that test to study for."
"Right, right," Malik nodded. "Maybe I'll see you later, Altair." he said with a wave.
"Probably, with my luck." Altair joked. He waved the two men off and closed the door. That didn't go as badly as he thought. Maybe Malik was a halfway decent guy. Maybe.
