Chapter Text
Altair ibn-La’Ahad had found Malik just outside the bureau, collapsed from exhaustion. It looked as if he had pulled a few too many all-night shifts to get several maps done for clients that paid, in his opinion, far too little for Malik’s meticulous work. Altair quickly lifted him into his arms the Dai and carried him inside, his personal room, and laid him down on his pillows. He pulled a blanket over the exhausted Dai before he left the room to leave him alone. At this point, he was a simple rank six again, but he couldn’t just leave Malik alone out in the open. What if the guards stumbled on him? That would have been disastrous. Altair returned to the front and sat in his typical corner, meditating on his form of relaxation and focus before a mission. Yes, he had the information on Majd Addin, but Malik’s health mattered more than the tyrant who was waiting to have a public execution of those he deemed threats. Templars were a stain on the land, but Altair focused.
Malik stirred waking late into the night when the moon was at its highest. He looked around, finding himself inside the bureau, in his room. Sure, he had help around the bureau but…no, did that novice? Malik’s thoughts drifted to Altair ibn-La’Ahad; the man had been a thorn in his side since he first laid eyes on him as a child. Their fathers had been friends, but Malik hated that his father often said he should be more like Altair. It had made him sick. Yet, if Altair had been the one who brought him inside, then…maybe he was learning, maybe he was genuinely changing. He didn’t hear the city alarm, so Altair was waiting?! Majd Addin was not a Templar to let live much longer than needed…but then Malik thought about what likely had happened. He did collapse, passing out just outside the safety of the bureau, in the civilian area. If the guards had found him then he may have faced the same punishment Altair had for breaking the last tent of the creed. Malik sighed, Altair had learned well and covered his ass.
When morning rose, Malik awoke feeling better than he had in a while. Yes, he knew Altair was out there, if not in the bureau, then somewhere in the city. He best gets moving to get the day started. However, he was surprised to see Altair assisting the other novices in getting the bureau open. He was flabbergasted. The Altair he knew would never get his hands dirty like this, to damn proud. Come to think of it, he had a hard time getting the higher-ranked assassins to do anything, so he had to have all the information ready for them. Maybe…that was another reason he had snapped at Altair a few weeks back, Talal had been a pain to get any information on, and the fully fledged that had been in the city prior to Altair’s arrival had been much worse really compared to Altair that he had snapped at him. Speaking of the Novice, he had noticed him and greeted him.
“Safety and Peace Dai.”
“Upon you as well Novice.”
Malik paused, he had to ask.
“Did…did you get me inside yesterday?”
“Yes, Malik. You passed out from exhaustion. For all your talk to me about acting as an assassin should, you need to take your own advice sometimes. Otherwise, who would I have to speak to?”
Malik wasn’t put off by Altair’s comment. He was right. And he didn’t like it. But then he thought, maybe when I spoke to him, he had the same thought.
“Thank you, Altair. You are right, as much as it pains me to admit. I do need to take my own advice. Let us get breakfast then we can speak of what you have learned of Majd Addin.”
“That will be great my friend. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, actually thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome.”
After they ate, they entered the main shop of the bureau and Altair explained.
“Jerusalem Regent, Majd Addin is holding a public execution not far from here. It's sure to be well-guarded. I know what the expected course of action should be from training, but I think we both know things rarely go to plan.”
“Indeed. You cannot know anything, only suspect. You must expect to be wrong, to have overlooked something. Anticipate. But I see I don’t have to remind you. I am impressed.”
“Anything else?”
“There is one more thing. One of the men to be executed is a brother, one of us. Al Mualim wishes for him to be saved. Do not worry about the actual rescue; my men will take care of that. But you must ensure Majd Addin does not take his life.”
“I will do what I can to ensure both goals are achieved.”
“I can ask no more. Here.”
Malik presents him with the feather marker and watches Altair leave. Altair had changed, had grown. He was happy and grateful though there was still a void in his heart. His father had yelled at him for being so careless as to allow Kadar to die, and to become crippled, that in his anger he had aggravated a preexisting condition and died in front of him, hate being the last words to leave his lips and forever torment his sone with. It hurt deeply, yet Altair seemed a balm to that pain. He had hoped. When Altair returned an hour later, he looked wry and tired. Malik saw him took the feather and spoke.
“You have done well brother, rest, eat, clean up, then ride for Masyaf.”
“Thank you, Malik. Though I thought I might have messed up in some way.”
“No No not this time Novice. You performed as an Assassin should, no more, no less. Though I am curious why do you seek praise for merely doing as you are told?”
“I wasn’t aware that I do. I apologize for doing so. Though admittedly when I know I have earned it I feel better about myself…self-esteem I guess.”
Malik nodded knowing too well what Altair meant. He walked him to the back and had him lie down first to get rest before he cleaned up, ate then left. Yes, they had both changed for the better.