Fleeting

Sometimes, just sometimes Altaïr hated Malik so very much; especially when he found himself face down in the dirt with said man’s foot planted on his back making it impossible to get up. They had been sparring for a good hour in the hot sun; the little ring outside the fortress doors had become surrounded by other Assassins who were trying to guess who would win. Many had voted in Altaïr’s favour, the fight too vicious and hectic to allow Malik and concessions for the lack of an arm – they had chosen to fight with swords though. Some of the gathered crowd grinned because they knew Altaïr would be in the position he currently found himself in.
“See, I told you! Master Malik can never be beaten if he has a sword in his hand!” Nikil’s eyes had lit up in excitement as the fight had progressed, Azurelle smiled at his enthusiasm and she realised she’d missed the boy’s company the last month or so as she sulked in her room, gradually coming to terms with what she had done and that Altaïr really did deserve to be eating dirt right now.

“You prefer Malik then?”

“Well…they are both the best I’ve ever seen…but…I don’t know he is…”

“Just cooler?”

“I guess so. He’s just always so…he is simply – he’s just better that’s all!” the thirteen year old pursed his lips. Why did this woman always ask such silly questions! He could admire who ever he wanted! He felt her hand ruffle his hair again and he couldn’t help but blush – secretly he enjoyed the attention she gave him. His father was always so busy with missions and his mother was almost a stranger to him now, he missed her greatly and wondered if things would be different if he were not a novice.

Azurelle watched Malik haul his friend up with a smug grin, it was obvious they were done with their play and probably wanted to clean their wounds and rest. “I always thought Malik was better too, don’t tell anyone though!” he gave her look as if to say, ‘since when did I gossip!’ “Come on grumpy hood, you have practice soon! I’m not making you – o…Ow…” the brunette winced painfully and her hands shot to her stomach.

“Did he kick you again?” Nikil hopped off the fence he’d been sat on and went to her side, “…are you alright?” worried by her pained breathing the boy wondered if he should get someone. “…Azurelle?”

“I-I’m fine…that just really hurt…maybe he rolled?” maybe it would be better if she sat down? She went back into the building, Nikil following closely behind in case anything untoward happened. Halfway down a hall if happened again and she nearly screamed at the intensity, it lasted barely any time at all though, she leant against the wall and panted as the sensation passed. Nikil decided he didn’t want to hang around and find out what was hurting her, telling her not to move from that spot he jogged away in search of a healer to bring back.
He turned a corner and ran into someone; he really had to work on his stopping skills! He recovered quickly and looked to see who he had hit – he blanched when he looked at Malik. That was now both masters he’d embarrassed himself in front of.

“Sorry! I-I wasn’t looking! Don’t be angry at me I need to find a healer first!” if the earth would open up and swallow him now, he would be eternally grateful!

Malik studied the boy, he remembered this one, he had nearly launched himself off a cliff and was often near the training ring. “A healer for who?” he could see the boy was not hurt – he looked mortified that he’d run into someone but he was not harmed. Now who was this boy usually with…Malik’s eyes snapped wider, “what has happened to Azurelle?”

“What?!” behind him stood Altaïr, the boy had not even noticed him until he’d spoken, he pushed past Malik, “where is she?” Nikil pointed to where he had come from, “go find that miserable old midwife and have her come to Azurelle’s room.”

“y-yes, master!” in all honesty, Nikil was frightened of the Assassin's intensity and this made him run faster than he ever thought possible – why was he always being yelled at for something or other?!

Both men found the brunette stood in a hallway looking a little befuddled and neither could see a problem. “I’m fine! Don’t go mad! There’s nothing to worry about! Just a – ” it happened again only this time she found a body to hang onto and soothing words in her ear, “it’s too early!” she growled angrily as it passed again, “what is going on?!”

“Calm down.” Malik rested his hand on her shoulder; he glanced at Altaïr to let him know that he was also being spoken to, “if you worry it will become worse…what are you doing wandering around on your own?”

“Watching you kick Altaïr into the dirt.” The man grumbled unhappily as Malik smirked, “then this pain began and I wanted to go back to my room, Nikil panicked before I could tell him I was alright and he told me not to move.” Azurelle went with them eagerly, she wanted nothing more than to sit down, “where’s Nazeera?”

Malik gave her a glance, Nazeera had said she would look in on the girl earlier, she must have still been in bed, “she is unwell, I would put a large bet on her being asleep – I think she ate something she should not have.”

00

“False labour? Are you sure?” Altaïr stood over the midwife, his arms crossed over his chest and his expression tense. He was not pleased with the woman, she had taken her sweet time to appear, she didn’t even seem to be in a rush and she had taken one look at Azurelle and told them the problem. “All you have done is looked!”

“When did you become an expert on pregnancy? How many babies have you delivered? Do you know the labour process at all?” Malik and Azurelle looked at each other with great amusement as the woman squared up to the man. Altaïr was taken aback, he didn’t have a single answer for the woman much to his chagrin, “I thought so. I have delivered more babies than you have had kills! So shut up and leave me to do my job.” She turned to Azurelle and she could not help but try to hide behind the older Assassin, “your body is preparing itself for when it is time – you are in your eighth month after all. This might happen every now and then but until they get closer together, longer and more painful – I don’t care.” Before she left she gave Altaïr another disapproving glare, “come to me when there’s a foot sticking out or something!”

The room was silent until the woman’s echoing footsteps had vanished completely. Malik stood with the excuse of checking on his wife, he earned a huff as he ruffled the girl’s hair and vanished with a still satisfied smirk in Altaïr’s direction. The brunette hissed again, she hope the older woman was correct when she said it would not last long, hands smoothed across her belly and she couldn’t help but be pleased by the still annoyed look on his face, “one more month…I’ve already thought of a few things to teach the little novices and I’ve also been thinking of names – you are a brat!” Altaïr had been only half listening to her, his attention was solely on pressing down against her skin and waiting for the nudge he would inevitably receive from within. “I’m talking to you!”

“I was listening, what have you thought of?” he received the nudge he expected and pressed down on another spot, “no more ‘A’ names.”

“Irfan, Tarek and Shahin. I like Shahin more…Altaïr! Leave him alone!” was he trying to drive her mad, he had done this to her since he’d discovered that if he pressed down on her stomach a kick would follow in the same place. “I am still annoyed with you for being a jerk.” He had been better over the last month; he had controlled himself and not touched her in anyway short of brotherly affection. There were many times he had wanted to kiss her and he had struggled – the image of her just a month ago and the fact that Maria was trusting him kept him strong. Even now he could still see the traces of sleepless nights and distant sadness in her eyes, “you can play with him later and you’re filthy from being pushed around.” A crash sounded from the end of the hall and they both looked up, “…do you think she threw something at him?”

0

“Malik?!” Nazeera ran over to the man who had fallen backwards into a bookcase. “Are you alright? You stupid man!” she rubbed her hand along the back of his head where he’d clunked it on the wood, “I only said it was possible…you moron.” He looked at her with irritation, he had not meant to trip over his own feet and her news had shocked him to the core.

He sat up and tugged the woman closer, hugging her tightly against him and let a goofy grin split his face. A knock came through the door and then opened. “We heard the crash and wondered what you had done now.” Azurelle looked around from behind Altaïr and rose an eyebrow, with Nazeera practically straddling Malik and arms wrapped around one another she assumed they were being a little too rough with each other. Malik looked at Nazeera and muttered something into her ear, she grinned back and nodded.

Looking at them both, especially at the other Assassin Malik announced their news, “we are pregnant!” Azurelle squealed excitedly and Nazeera jumped up to join her, hugging awkwardly due to the large size of Azurelle’s belly. Malik watched Altaïr’s face remain blank, the man desperately wanted to swear but he simply nodded as if he’d been sentenced to death and congratulated them quietly. He had barely dealt with Azurelle’s mood swings – this was going to be worse. “Is it not exciting, Altaïr?”

“I hate you.” He mouthed, “So much.”

00

Altaïr,
A false labour? Who was more frightened her or you?
I am glad to hear she is better…I hope things continue to go well.
How is my Hannan?
Today we found the Jerusalem bureau, nothing of importance was found,
Only a book full of false information that was planted.
It will not be long now until I am finished here and will return.
Maria.

Hannan yawned tiredly in Altaïr’s arms as he read the note before slipping it into his pouch, he would put it away with the others when he was done here. The baby seemed happier with him now, he didn’t whine or call for his mother as he did when Altaïr had first held him and he had been frozen in shock when the boy had called him ‘Baba’ earlier in the day. To actually be called father by his child was amazing and he had felt a lump in his throat – he would not admit that he had become emotional over a single word to anyone or himself. Briefly, the Assassin wondered if they could have a third crib brought into the room for Malik and Nazeera’s child. The room was large and there was plenty of space but would it be too much to have three babies in one room? What if they were twins?

“Do you think a third crib will fit?”

“I was just thinking that myself.” The bundle in his arms wiggled at her voice and Altaïr was forced to turn his body so his son could see her.

“Hello, Hannan! Aww, you look so sleepy.” She took his tiny feet gently and wriggled his toes, “who’s keeping you awake?”

“Baba!” Azurelle blinked and looked at the man, by the look on his face she had heard correctly and there were now two words the baby could say.

Altaïr put him down in his crib and watched the baby yawn again, his podgy little hands grasping for a stuffed toy he favoured. “Maria will be furious when she hears his new favourite word – unless he forgets it upon seeing her again.” Azurelle’s arm came around his waist and she rested her head against his shoulder, “I was thinking about the names you picked out…did you not think of any girl’s names at all?” she shook her head against him, they were both so certain it would be a boy she didn’t bother to even consider it a girl at all. He leaned down to kiss her head but frowned when his lips came into contact with her skin, “you are hot.”

“I haven’t really been feeling very well lately,” Azurelle dragged herself from his side and ran her fingers over the wood of the empty crib they would use for their son; would he look like his father? Or maybe more like her? She so desperately wanted to know, “…the midwife said it was nothing to be worried about.” He moved beside her and followed her glance to the empty bedding, “I think I like Shahin the best…what do you think?”

“It is a good name…for a boy.”

Was he trying to put doubt in her mind?! What an annoying man!“I am not changing my name choice now – if he is a she – she’ll have to be a very manly girl!” she felt him prod at her bump and sighed when a reply prod came from inside, sighing in defeat she just knew it was a boy – a girl would not be so irritating as her father!

000

Yes, I skipped a month! So what! Right my gorgeous peoples! Two more chapters…then that is it. The end, no more, finito!
So she is still a little peeved at him but she loves him far too much to hate him.