Chapter Text
Masyaf was meant to be a place of equality.
After all nothing is true, and everything is permitted.
Unlike other places in the Holy Land, Masyaf held that no matter a person’s sex (or second sex discovered when their bodies changed) they had the right to prove themselves capable. The people of Masyaf would not be persecuted for being born a certain way. Everyone was equal. Everyone deserved dignity. They were responsible to keep their own hormones in check, and if they didn’t there were severe consequences.
Despite this, all of the Master Assassins were Alphas. This Malik knew. Omegas and Betas were at a natural disadvantage physically. It wasn’t that they weren’t strong. Some of the best assassins that Malik knew were Omegas and Betas. The Alphas just tended to have that edge. They were naturally faster and stronger and all the training in the world wouldn’t change biology. It just meant that the others had to work harder.
Most Omega assassins were proud to be just that. They prided themselves in their diligence and hard work to attain the ranks that they did. To prove themselves against the Alphas of the brotherhood. If they chose to have families, they tended to their children for as long as was necessary and then launched themselves right back into their work. This was frowned upon elsewhere, Malik was told. Omegas were meant to be submissive and drawn to family-life, nurturing. Visitors to Masyaf whispered and shook their heads about the insanity of letting Omegas be equal to Alphas. It was not their natural place.
It should not have bothered Malik so much to discover several weeks after his tenth birthday that what he thought was a fever was actually his body going into his first heat.
“It’s natural,” the healer told him, when he saw the frown on the boy's face. “Do not despair. It does not make you any less of an assassin. A strong Omega like yourself will be highly sought after when you are ready for a family. You would have your pick of whoever you choose.”
It did not make Malik feel better as he walked the halls of the castle. He knew he should not be ashamed. He had been told since birth that all were equal. And yet… the idea made him feel somehow inadequate. Most of the novices his age had proven to be Alphas already. Malik was just as tall if not taller than them. He was broader, even at his age. He was strong and fast. Everyone assumed that he would be an Alpha. That he would become a Master Assassin just like his father had been.
The healer explained that there were rooms for Omegas in heat, if it made him more comfortable. Even though they were supposed to be able to keep their hormones in check, that wasn’t always the case. And even though if it were found out that anyone had forced themselves on another without their consent and that there would be severe consequences, some Alphas still could not control themselves.
Malik approached the hallway to the novice quarters and paused. He didn’t know how long this would last, or how intense it would be, and he didn’t really care to find out in a room full of novices his age. For the first time, in a long time, he wished his mother was here to guide him. She was an Omega. She would have known what to do, what to say.
Malik who prided himself, even at ten years old, for always being brave suddenly found that he was actually frightened.
He found that his feet had guided him to an old abandoned watchtower. It was crumbling in disrepair and so no one ever came here. It was Malik’s place to think. And now, he supposed, it was Malik’s place to be alone when he was vulnerable.
It was fortunate he supposed that it was late in the spring, and the weather was warmer. He would not freeze to death up here while he slept. He had stolen some food and water from the kitchen, because Omega heats varied wildly in length and he had no idea what to expect with this being his first. He hoped that his was quick. He did not want to get behind on his training because his body had suddenly decided that he would be capable of having children.
What a strange thought. He could be a mother one day. The idea of sex to him was still foreign, as it was, he supposed, to most children his age. The idea repulsed him. There were female Alphas, but they were more rare. Malik did not have any inclination one way or the other towards men or women. Most of the other novices had already started casting longing glances at whichever sex they found most attractive. He had teased Rauf terribly for his drooling over a female Alpha assassin in the training ring. Rauf had yet to show what he would become. Perhaps his inclination towards Alphas meant that he would be an Omega too. That would be comforting, Malik thought, to have a close friend that would understand.
Malik took off the outer layer of his uniform and bundled it into a pillow, resting back against it and looking out the large hole in the roof at the stars. The sky was clear tonight and they were bright. There was a nice cool breeze rolling through the cracks in the walls and the large open window. Even still, Malik found himself shedding layers throughout the early evening until he wore nothing but his underclothes. The feeling of the fabric against his skin was unpleasant. Like every fiber scratched. He refused to take off any other layers, just in case he was discovered for some reason. Please, don’t let me be discovered…
Sleep was not coming for him, tired as he was from training earlier in the day. He felt restless. His skin burned hotter and hotter. He had an ache at a bone deep level for contact. Malik hated this already. He did not long for contact from anyone. His brother was the only person he allowed to touch him in any familiar way. All other contact was only a result of sparring, or playful shoves. Not this. This was awful. Unbearable. It was a curse.
“Why are you sleeping up here?”
No, no, no. Anyone but him. Malik sat up to see Altair crouching in the window. His hood was pulled over his face, of course, so he could not see his expression. He could only imagine the sight that he made. Sweaty and flushed and thrashing around in his underwear.
“Go away, Altair…” Malik growled, turning his back to him and rolling onto his side. I don’t want you to see me like this.
“Are you sick?” The sound of his boots were barely perceptible as he hopped down from the window.
“No! Fuck. Off,” Malik snarled, wrapping his arms around himself. He refused to look at him.
“Oh.”
Malik closed his eyes. He must be unlucky indeed not even to be able to keep this secret for a few hours. He was certain that Altair would tell everyone. Altair was, after all, the most arrogant, self-righteous, obnoxious person that he knew. He was sure that he would take great pleasure in letting the other novices know what Malik was.
There was shuffling beside him on the hay that he was lying on and he snapped his head around to look over his shoulder. Altair was sitting down beside him. “What are you doing?!”
“I’ll sit with you,” the other boy said quietly.
“I don’t want you here. Go away. Leave me alone.”
“I can control myself,” Altair mumbled, his tone creeping towards impatience. “Don’t be stubborn.”
“You’re stubborn! I told you to leave.”
“It’s better, I’ve overheard, if you’re not alone,” Altair said carefully. “I’m not going to do anything.”
Right, Malik thought bitterly. Altair had announced to everyone with glee the day that he had discovered he was an Alpha. Had lorded it over all of them. Malik hated everything about him. At this proximity though, he was extremely aware of Altair’s status. He could smell him clearer than ever before. His scent seemed to say I am strong. I will protect you. Malik gritted his teeth. He was strong. He would protect himself. “Leave me be, please.”
A warm hand fell on his shoulder and he barely contained a whimper. His hormones said, yes, yes contact! even as Malik stubbornly ripped his shoulder away.
“It doesn’t have to be sexual,” Altair said. “I just heard the healers saying that any contact helps.”
“I don’t want you to touch me.”
Altair sighed beside him, he could hear the annoyance in it. “Just shut up and come here. If it doesn’t help then I’ll leave.”
Malik stubbornly didn’t move. He refused to be helped by Altair of all people. His rival. It was mortifying enough to have to go through this. He didn’t need an audience.
Strong hands gripped him and forcibly shoved him over. Malik struggled until Altair had tucked him into his side. And- oh. Malik stopped struggling. He blinked for a few moments, staring straight ahead. There was immediate relief from the ache within him. Not completely. But considerably.
“I told you.”
Malik’s eyes narrowed, “Shut. Up, Altair.”
“I’ll sit with you,” Altair repeated. He had an arm wrapped around his shoulders, and Malik had his face pressed into the other boy’s chest. He was very aware of the warmth of their bodies between them. It was extremely comforting. But he would die before he would admit that. He resisted the urge to nuzzle into him, even if that’s all he wanted to do. Hormones were dangerous, Malik decided.
“You smell sweet,” the other boy said some time later when Malik was half-asleep. “Doesn’t match your personality.”
Malik punched him in the stomach, and Altair laughed.
“You smell…” Malik trailed off. Safe, he thought but didn’t say.
“Well, that’s not nice.”
Malik resisted the urge to smile. Altair was not funny. He was not charming. He was an asshole. It occurred to Malik just then that he didn’t understand why Altair was sitting with him. Altair was being… considerate of all things. Kind. It didn’t make sense. None of this made sense. There was nothing in this for Altair. Nothing to be gained. And Altair did not do anything unless he would gain something from it. Maybe this was some kind of delusional fever dream.
“Why are you helping me?” He could resist his curiosity no longer.
“We’re brothers,” Altair replied, as if Malik was an idiot.
Malik wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that, so he said nothing. As light started to creep up on the horizon, he finally fell asleep.
Altair spent the next three days with Malik. Only leaving to do his training and eat, and when he was done he returned to his spot as Malik’s pillow. They did not speak. Altair did not tease or belittle him. He simply held Malik against his side, dutifully even. As if this were the most normal thing in the world. Malik still couldn’t wrap his mind around it, but his mind did not feel much like his own just then. His thoughts were hazy, and he hated to admit how cold and anxious he felt every time that Altair left. And how pleased and comfortable he was when Altair returned.
On the evening of the third night, the heat of his skin relented and his thoughts cleared. He rolled away from Altair.
“Thank you,” he mumbled begrudgingly. He hated thanking Altair for anything. But his mother had taught him manners.
“You should stay here another night,” Altair told him, standing up and stretching. “I can still tell.”
And then he disappeared out the window. Malik rolled his eyes.