A Different Kind of Forever

by SicariusAquila

How much can one change? After all Altair and Malik have been though, are they still the same? From children to adults, they've been nothing but friends, and every year they grow, they drift apart. Friendships come and go, but some you just have to fight for. Or maybe, was it meant to be something more?

4. All These Years

Malik only sighed as he watched Altair brag to the other novices about his latest exploit. Altair was now thirteen, but was raised to the rank that Malik was, at fifteen. Such things were rarely heard of, so now-

Malik gripped his quill harder as the novices laughed.

There were novices literally flocking to their shared quarters to see the "great Altair", which was doing nothing to improve Malik's already sour mood. Altair however, seemed to be relishing all the attention, but Malik was being pushed to the point because these godforsaken novices were disrupting his studies, in the most irritating way possible. And no, he was not jealous, most definitely not-

Malik's grip snapped the feather quill in his hand, causing the ink to spill everywhere. He cursed, and quickly tried to hide the mess of ink as the novices giggled. Malik threw a hard glare in their direction, and they promptly quieted, as Malik's temper was well known throughout the order. Slightly satisfied, he turned back toward his books, desperately trying to get something done with these giggling imbeciles in his room. The other novices exchanged a few hushed whispers before sheepishly shuffling out of the room.

Malik sighed for the umpteenth time, thinking that he could finally get some work done. But he couldn't, not because of the other novices this time but, something else was troubling him-

He only wished he knew what it was.

Altair. Of course, everything seemed to lead back to Altair. But this time it was different. It wasn't anger it was...regret.

When did Altair become like this? What if-

What if Malik had said something, would things be different?

Malik could only lament the passing of all those years, all those-

Malik smiled. All those times they we're caught causing trouble in and around Masyaf, even the time Malik had forced Altair to take a bath. He had chased a naked Altair all around the fortress that day. Not to mention the silly pet names they had made for each other, Alty and MalMal. It was hard not to smile back at all these fond memories they shared.

He only wished there could be more.

"What happened Altair, What happened?" Malik murmured to himself.