Author's Note: I like writing things like this. Yeah. Details are fuzzy because I haven't played in a while. It gets more slash-y along the way, I promise you! This one takes place at the beginning of the game.

In those rare instances when Malik would leave the Bureau and roam the streets of Jerusalem he would always have the unfortunate opportunity to see Altair blending into the crowds or stealthily leaping from roof to roof. The word 'novice' and a sneer of disgust would usually accompany Malik's sightings of the callous man. Every time he saw Altair there would be an itch where his left arm used to be. Altair was to blame for the cases of phantom limb Malik would feel, in his line of sight or not, and they only got worse whenever talking to said assassin.

The Jerusalem rafiq could not forget the death of his younger brother either. As he watched Altair descend down a wall in a shaded alley he recalled back to the dimly lit Solomon's Temple where Altair impulsively dived into action. Kadar was lured in by Altair's ranking and skill - which Malik bitterly liked to remind himself did not make up for Altair's rashness - and both were pulled into the fight Altair started unnecessarily, Kadar being killed because the man he looked up to lacked the discipline that should have come with his rank. Feelings of contempt always welled up within Malik whenever Altair was involved, seeing him only made it visible in the form of a gaze full of injustice. He had caught up quickly enough to reach Al Mualim when Altair was giving his report, in shock and out of breath not only from his injuries, but from Altair's casual dismissal of Kadar and his death. Malik's steely gaze followed Altair's swagger from under his nondescript hooded robe worn to hide his association to the Assassins. The assassin had now taken to walking the streets of Jerusalem, walking on the other side of traffic and would soon intercept with Malik if neither of them switched paths.

Malik's eyes were trained on Altair as he progressed towards him. Altair's eyes darted over to the dark brown hooded man, only catching a glimpse of the eyes that stared at him with discontent along with the familiar face of a scornful Malik . They neared each other at a crossroad and exchanged glances, Malik's glare full of everything Altair's arrogance cost him and Altair's cursory look a mix of unreadable coldness and inquisition. Malik's mouth twitched at Altair's display of unknowing. The two passed each other with no other signs of recognition and the two disappeared just as easily into the bustling crowd full of the chatter of residents and pleas of beggars, neither one of them able to see the other when taking a look back.