Drunk

Altaïr staggered up the hill, an empty bottle held loosely in one hand. His vision was blurry, and the ground beneath him seemed to shift and churn like water, much like how his intestines were doing. The assassins who stared at him, but no one stopped to speak to him. At least, no one stopped to speak to him until Malik approached him. Altaïr grinned at him sloppily.

“There you are.” he snapped, his hand against his hip, “I was looking all over for-” he stopped short. “Are you drunk?”

“Maybe a jist a little.” Altaïr admitted, still grinning. He squinted at him, the smile melting from his face. “I don't like it.”

“Being drunk?” Malik sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation.

“Yerr robes.” Altaïr slurred, “You shouldn't be wearing that. It's... still weird seeing you in the robes of a Dai.”

Malik rolled his eyes. “Right. Well, lets get you back to the fortress and to bed.”

He moved forward and slung Altaïr's arm over his shoulders. The Mentor's other hand dropped the bottle, sending it crashing to the ground. Malik half-dragged Altaïr back up to the citadel, muttering about how stupid he was.

“You complete moron, Altaïr.” Malik grumbled, “What were you thinking, getting drunk like this?”

“It's a handy thing yerr here, then, right Maalik?” Altaïr said, grinning up at his companion sloppily, “Geddit, Malik? Hand-y? It's funny, 'cause you're not really handy, are you?”

Altaïr gave a weak chuckle, but Malik remained silent. Altaïr looked up at him to see that his eyebrows were drawn together, and he was staring straight ahead. Altaïr frowned, is own eyebrows drawing together.

“Zzzorry.” said Altaïr, “That was mean, wasn't it?”

“It's fine.” Malik said, but Altaïr could tell that he was attempting to remain nonchalant. He had known him long enough to detect the slight irritation in his tone.

“Zzorry.” Altaïr repeated.

“I'm used to it.” Malik insisted.

Altaïr frowned. “Haaave people been making fun of you?”

Malik ignored the question. “I was more taken aback that you were joking. I haven't heard you do so since we were teenagers.” he smirked down at him, “Maybe you should get drunk more often.”

“Will do.” Altaïr said, mock-saluting.

“Don't.” Malik warned, his face falling back into it's usual frown, “Judging by how you look and your behavior, you won't remember any this come tomorrow.”

“You zay that lak it's a baad thing.” Altaïr slurred.

"How much did you drink, anyways?" Malik snapped.

"Only on bottle, I promizz." insisted Altaïr.

By that time, they had reached Altaïr's room, the room that had once belonged to the previous mentor. Malik pushed him down onto his bed somewhat roughly.

“Tell that to your hangover.” Malik sighed, “Get some sleep.”

“Whaaatevr you zay, Maalik.” Altaïr said, his face pressed into his pillow.

Malik threw his black djellaba over him, so that he was left wearing the sleeveless tunic underneath. Altaïr barely took notice, however, and was asleep by the time the Dai had left the room.

---

The next morning, Altaïr woke with a pounding headache. He sat up groggily and rubbed at his eyes, Malik's djellaba sliding off of him and landing in a heap at his waist. Altaïr picked it up with two fingers and inspected it while his other hand rubbed at his temples. He slid out of bed and hobbled out of the room, dragging the robes behind him, much like how a child would drag his favourite blanket. He found Malik bent over some designs for a new type of hidden blade that Altaïr had been developing, still in his sleeveless tunic.

“Ah, so he lives.” Malik remarked, smirking.

“What happened?” Altaïr groaned.

“You got drunk. I'll take that back now, thank you.” Malik said flatly, holding out his hand for his robes.

Altaïr handed them over obediently. He flopped back down into a near by chair with a groan, while Malik shrugged the djellaba back on. “I mean what happened specifically?”

“You were down in the village getting drunk, and I found you on the hill while you tried to get back.” Malik said shortly, “So I put you to bed. I told you you wouldn't remember it in the morning; I see you have proved me right, once again, Altaïr.”

Altaïr squinted at him as if trying to see if he was telling the truth. “I guess.” he admitted, “Thank you.”

“Don't mention it.” Malik said, without a glance backwards.