#maldes

Still thinking of Omegaverse AltDesMal months later -.-

Altair and Malik (both alphas) are unbearable to be around when Desmond goes into heat. They snap, yell and growl at others and each other until it's time for bed and they can finally return to their room, where it all repeats again the next day. After the first few heats, the brotherhood unanimously decided those two aren't allowed to work whenever Desmond's heats come around and kick them back to their den if they try to leave for anything other than food and the bathroom.

Lucky for Desmond, too, since he's not the type to actually take care of himself during this time, and would rather die than ask for help

The bureau was quiet when Altaïr slipped inside.

Too quiet.

Sure, the sun has yet to rise but, by this point, he was used to Malik already on the counter, turning to stare at Altaïr as if his very presence was worse than horse shit.

Altaïr just ignored him and focused on his mission.

And it was because of that single-mindedness that Altaïr opened the door that would lead deeper into the bureau. He walked the quiet halls and went straight to the door that he knew the Rafiq would use as their private room. All bureaus had similar layout so Altaïr was confident that he’d fine Malik sleeping inside.

He opened the door.

And immediately closed it.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He knew of Desmond, of course.

Hard not to when the man’s face was near identical to his.

He also knew that Desmond was staying here in the bureau. He refused to even travel to Masyaf.

Altaïr thought it was because Desmond didn’t want Al Mualim to learn of his… feline qualities.

He didn’t expect…

That.

.

“You’re still here.”

Altaïr glared at Malik as he entered the main room of the bureau where Altaïr had been waiting for an hour and a half.

“You should learn to lock your door.” Altaïr said in a bland tone.

Malik began to prepare tea as he replied, “If you didn’t hear the sounds Desmond was making, that’s your fault.”

Altaïr’s glare only intensified.

And Malik ignored his quiet protests as he asked, “Give us both some peace. Say your piece and be off.”

Yes.

The mission.

Malik usually grabs Desmond by the collar and pull him back to keep him from either doing something stupid or running away after doing something stupid.

It just so happens that Desmond has a bit of choking kink and is into being manhandled this way.

Malik, on the other hand, is definitely interesting in the sounds Desmond make whenever his collar is pulled and that sound is already definitely part of his nightly fantasy.

Thank you! I’m happy you love my fics in AO3 :)

Desmond/Malik?

I love the pairing. Like, had AltDes not been my OTP, I’m pretty sure it’ll be Desmond/Malik. XD

So yes, I would love to write it as a main pairing. Although, considering my current and upcoming fics, the best I can offer right now is a oneshot.

If you’re asking if I have any actual Malik x Desmond plot idea at the moment, no. Not at the moment.

All I have are sorta-plot points like Malik mistaking Desmond for Altaïr, Altaïr suffering through Malik and Desmond being lovey-dovey (which is a change since it’s mostly Malik suffering in my fics) and Kadar being a supportive younger brother.

Okay, so this could be set in a Modern Day AU or Desmond gets booted into the Third Crusades but here are some of the things that would happen:

Desmond would obviously be mistaken for Altaïr unless they get closer and sniff him. That’s why, as weird as it sounds, anytime Desmond is mistaken for Altaïr, he just sighs and says “Come closer and sniff me”. There’s a lot of different reaction to that one.

We can go for the route of Altaïr and Desmond are twins or cousins. Or we can go for the route of they’re not related and this is a quirk of fates or some shit. (Even in the case of Desmond getting booted into the Third Crusades, Desmond would have to pick one of those choices because saying “he’s my ancestor and I’m a time traveler.” isn’t really an option)

Malik is one of the few people who can differentiate the two without having to sniff (Desmond) or be glared at (Altaïr). He doesn’t say it but that’s because he can always smell Desmond’s scent even before he should be close enough for Malik to see him.

Desmond smells like freshly baked sweet bread to Malik.

Malik smells like cotton candy to Desmond. He can’t really explain it but it’s not that Malik smells like real cotton candy but that’s the image that pops into Desmond’s mind when he catches Malik’s scent.

Malik isn’t an idiot, he knows this could only mean that he and Desmond were highly compatible and Desmond hasn’t been that subtle in checking if Malik was interested in him. Definitely not subtle enough since Altaïr could see it and would always have that pinched look on his face before leaving the room Desmond and Malik were in without even saying goodbye (which is rude).

He is also very much interested in Desmond, it’s just… he didn’t expect to actually find a mate himself. He had been uninterested for as long as he could remember and he had accepted that his younger brother would be the one to carry the Al-Sayf line (Although, really, he wished Kadar wasn’t so smitten by Altaïr of all alphas) so it takes a bit for him to accept that, yes, he and Desmond are compatible and, yes, the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of being mates with Desmond.

Fated mates sorta exist in this idea in the sense that it’s a legend and there have not been any real records of it. The general consensus is that it’s more of the case of ‘you are fated mates because you both fell in love with one another and your scents are compatible’

Desmond would be moping during that time Malik is sorting his feelings since he’d take Malik’s silence as rejection and Altaïr has to be the one to suffer smelling the sadness from Desmond.

So when Malik started courting Desmond (all proper and traditional, complete with a mated chaperone in the form of Rauf (if this is during the Third Crusades) or maybe someone like Bayek or Ezio (if this is a modern day AU)), his biggest wall is now the fact that Desmond believed he’s courting him because Malik noticed him ‘moping’ and felt bad so this is… a pity-courting thing.

Malik should be offended but he knows he fucked up by being silent and it was such a dumb move that an idiot like Altaïr would have done (cue Altaïr’s offended face in the background as he snarks that he would have gone at full speed if it had been him, shut up Altaïr that's not any better!)

So now Malik has to show Desmond that he’s being sincere and that he wants a future with Desmond. Maybe even have a scene where it all comes to head and Malik blurts out how many kids he wants and Kadar is in the background just going “back it, brother! Too far!!!” but, jokes on them, Desmond is into that XD

I hope your week gets better, nonny!

This is set on the Desmond is Jerusalem’s Lighthouse idea. (Desmond as Jerusalem Bureau's Lighthouse (+ a short drabble where Desmond flashbangs a few novices))

“A birthday present?”

“It’s a present one gives on the day of the recipient’s day of birth,” Malik explained in a slow dry tone.

“I know what it means.” Altaïr growled as he glared at Malik from over the counter, “I am not asking what it means. I am asking why you’re asking for my opinion on a birthday present of all things.”

“Desmond’s day of birth is the 13th of March and that’s two weeks from now.” Malik reminded him. Hearing the small hum that Altaïr made, Malik narrowed his eyes as he stated, “You didn’t know when he was born, did you?”

“It never came up.” Altaïr shrugged before saying, “I do not believe we have talked enough that we would be comfortable sharing such personal details.”

Altaïr tilted his head as he added, “Which makes this all the more strange that you’re asking for my advice.”

Malik sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he admitted, “You were not my first choice, I assure you, but…”

Malik glared at the counter between them as he dropped his hand and mumbled something so softly that Altaïr wouldn’t have heard it had he not spent his entire life honing his senses, “Desmond enjoys your company whenever you’re here so I had assumed you might have some idea…”

“Ah.” Altaïr shrugged before suggesting, “Perhaps something he can use would be good? Like a dagger he can easily conceal?”

“A dagger.” Malik dryly repeated as he stared at Altaïr with an expression that had gone past disappointment and had settled on a mix of acceptance for Altaïr’s part and disappointment on his own folly for believing Altaïr could be helpful.

Altaïr simply stared at him with that annoying stoic expression on his face as he added, “A simple dagger would suffice. Something that would not catch anyone’s attention.”

“So a cheap dagger then. Something that one can find a dozen in the market.” Malik sarcastically said, making Altaïr nod. Malik rubbed the bridge of his nose once more as he let out a deep breath, more to keep himself from shaking the man in front of him. The words to insult Altaïr was already at the tip of his tongue but he held himself back, knowing full well that Altaïr was trying to help in his own way.

Instead, he took another deep breath before saying, “I… will take it under advisement.”

Altaïr’s lips twitched into an aborted smirk before he said calmly, “If my suggestion is not to your liking then perhaps it would be better if you stop thinking like the Rafiq of this bureau and start thinking as a novice.”

Malik frowned at him.

“What you lack is information.” Altaïr stated before stepping to the side, letting Malik see the door that would lead to the front of the bureau where they had set up the shop that served as the bureau's front, as he said, “Then go find the information you seek.”

Malik was quiet for a moment before he stared at Altaïr as he said, “Perhaps you are maturing in your role as our mentor.”

Of course, he was unable to stop himself from adding, “Now if only you stop traveling to the nearby bureaus to escape the paperwork…”

“Stay your tongue, brother, less mine loosen enough that I may speak of this conversation to Desmond.” Altaïr warned lightheartedly as he walked towards the door behind Malik, patting him on the shoulder as he passed him by, “I will be in your office, checking the reports. Report to me once you have gathered enough information and I shall listen to your plan.”

Malik sighed, “Very well. We shall try it your way then.”

=====================

Desmond was free to do whatever he wanted. He wasn’t, technically, an Assassin nor was he an informant. Malik had assumed he would don the robes of an Assassin now that Altaïr was their mentor, perhaps even become his advisor or replace Altaïr on the field, he certainly had the skills to do either but all he did was remain in Jerusalem.

Malik dared not think of the reason why Desmond stayed, only enjoying the days he has with Desmond.

And it was because he was not an Assassin in the eyes of the Brotherhood that he was not held to the same restrictions as everybody else.

So Desmond could do whatever he wanted.

Which, it turned out, was to take afternoon strolls. Jerusalem is always the busiest during the afternoon so it was easy to blend in the crowds and watch Desmond as he goes on his walk.

As usual, two novices tail after him, one on ground level, the other on the rooftops. Malik would have preferred to watch from the rooftops as well but… his current body made that a bit… inconvenient.

Still, using the crowds made it easier for him to stay near Desmond, watching him as he talked to some of the civilians of Jerusalem.

A quick hello to an old man sitting in front of a house.

Gossiping with a few women having tea about the latest scandals they know of.

Talking to a few children and buying them bread from the nearest bakery.

There wasn’t really any information for Malik to get from all these though.

Other than the fact that Desmond enjoyed talking to people (which Malik had already known anyway), there was no useful information that Malik could glean.

The more frustrating part of all of these was that Desmond actually doesn’t talk about himself. Malik had received more information about the people Desmond talked to but no new information about Desmond himself.

He had been so frustrated by that fact that he didn’t even react when Desmond turned around and walked towards him. Desmond tilted his head and asked, “So I’m guessing by that face that you didn’t get what you wanted from me?”

Malik sighed, already knowing that Desmond was just as observant as Altaïr and asked, “When did you realize?”

They began to walk together and Malik let Desmond decide their path as Desmond replied, “Around the time I was haggling for these dates.”

He lightly shook the basket filled with the items he had purchased from the market, all of which were ingredients Malik would know would find their way into the food they would have for dinner tonight and tomorrow's breakfast and lunch. He kept quiet as Desmond continued, “I thought you were just, you know, taking a walk or something but you sat on the bench and stayed until I finished.”

Malik hummed. So Desmond found out that Malik was following him during that time but he had noticed Malik earlier.

“Soooo…” Desmond turned slightly so he could look at Malik while keeping an eye in front of them as he asked, “Did you need something from me?”

“In a way, perhaps,” Malik replied vaguely.

“And you can’t just ask?” Desmond pressed as they began to walk to a small alleyway that would lead them back to the bureau.

Malik frowned as he replied, “I could…”

Desmond stopped in the middle of the alleyway, making Malik stop as well. They both turned to stare at one another as Desmond tilted his head once more while asking, “But you don’t want to ask? Is that it?”

“It feels a bit… like cheating if I do,” Malik admitted with a sigh.

“So what?” Desmond snorted, “Assassins should be fine with cheating anyway.”

Malik sighed before finally confessing, “I was observing you… to… have an idea of what you would like as a gift for your birthday.”

Desmond stared at him for a moment and Malik braced himself.

It was stupid, he knew that. He wouldn’t be surprised if Desmond would laugh right now because of how foolish he had been acting.

The mature thing to do had been to ask Desmond directly, he knew that.

But Malik let his own stubbornness get the better of him.

He let hubris coat his thoughts into thinking he could figure it out himself.

“If I tell you what I wish to have the most …” Desmond took a step towards Malik and asked softly, “Would you grant?”

“If it is within my power, yes.” Malik answered before adding, “And, if it is not, I’m sure I can ask Altaïr for help.”

And that unnerving glowing ball of his that seemed to like Desmond so much.

“I’m afraid Altaïr can’t help with this one.” Desmond took another step toward Malik and waved his hand in the direction they came from like he was…

Malik scanned the alleyway, brows furrowing as he asked, “Did you just order the novices to lea-”

“Malik…”

Malik froze when he felt Desmond place a hand on the side of his neck. He turned to face Desmond once more and his heart began to beat quickly when he saw the expression on Desmond’s face.

He felt Desmond’s lips touch the side of his lips, too quickly for Malik to react. Desmond rested his forehead against Malik and Malik opened his lips but could not let out any words as Desmond press his point and middle fingers against his slightly parted lips. Desmond smiled softly as he whispered, “I’ll wait for your answer on my birthday.”

Desmond took a step back and Malik could only watch in fascination at how flushed Desmond’s entire face was right now. Desmond cleared his throat and his soft expression turned to his usual cheerful face once more as said, “Imma go buy more ingredients for today’s dinner. I’ll see you later, Malik.”

He waved and quickly run back in the direction of the marketplace, leaving Malik standing in the middle of the alleyway, too stunned by the sudden development to even do anything.

He finally managed to compose himself just in time to take a step to the side as Altaïr dropped from the rooftop. He glared at Altaïr as he asked, “Were you spying on us?”

“And risk Desmond’s teasing? Of course not.” Altaïr dryly replied before explaining, “I saw the two of you walking back to the bureau with my sight. When you just continued standing there after Desmond left, I got tired of waiting for you to return to the bureau and came out to give you this instead.”

Malik took what seemed to be a roll of some kind of white fabric with red lace on either side from Altaïr as he asked, “And what is this supposed to be?”

“It’s a ribbon long enough for you to wrap around yourself.”

Malik’s expression turned to confusion as he asked, “And why would I even want to do that?”

Altaïr simply stared at him blankly as he explained clinically, “So you may present yourself as your gift to Desmond on his birthday.”

Altaïr began to walk back to the bureau as he added, “Oh, and you’re meant to wrap yourself with that alone. No other clothes.”

“What!?” Malik spluttered, turning to stare at Altaïr’s back as he tried to articulate the mess that was now his thought process, “What do you mean no clot- That would mean I would be nake- Why wou- Altaïr! Come back here and explain yourself!”

Altaïr ignored him.

So we’re going for a time-travel setup and we’ll start the plot after Desmond keeps Kadar alive after the disaster that was the Jerusalem mission.

This would give us a way for Malik and Desmond to meet because, when Malik became Dai, he recognized Kadar’s scent in one of the houses in the Poor District while he was getting the lay of the land, so to speak. Kadar is still injured and Desmond tells him it would be risky to move him right now so, instead, Malik starts visiting the house daily.

First, it was just to check up on Kadar.

But later on, he took an interest in the omega who saved Kadar but refused to show his face.

Not that it was anything strange. It was normal for those in Levant and its neighboring kingdom and settlements to have their omegas covered from head to toe. It was a sign that they were unmated and ‘pure’. Their clothes also serve to mask their scent although it could only block so much, especially when the omega goes in heat.

When Altaïr finally makes his way to Jerusalem, Desmond and Kadar are still in the house in the Poor District but Malik didn’t think of telling Altaïr about Kadar’s survival. Desmond told him that he heard the Crusaders say they had someone of high regard helping them in Masyaf (it was a way for him to point a finger at Al Mualim without saying his name) but Malik doesn’t trust anyone, especially Altaïr who is actually the top of his list of suspects.

To keep Desmond safe, they also covered Kadar in the same scent-blocking fabrics that omegas' use while he heals so no one would recognize his scent.

Altaïr goes to the Poor District not to find any information that he may be able to use for his mission but because there’s a scent in the air that just kept knocking his mind, not letting him have a moment’s rest.

He finally finds the source of the scent in a small house and comes face to face with an omega that…

Ran away from him as soon as he saw him.

Of course, this being Altaïr… he chases after the omega.

He does finally tackle the omega and they stumble inside one of the rooftop gardens. Their close proximity and their sweat magnified their scent and Altaïr realized how compatible their scents were.

And how intoxicating the omega’s scent was.

How to smelled like how Altaïr always felt like what home would feel like.

Unorganized Notes:

Both Altaïr and Malik are alphas, Kadar is a beta and Desmond is an omega.

Altaïr never cared about omega scents. He found most of them nauseatingly sweet (even if everyone else thinks they smell fine). Al Mualim thinks Altaïr’s mastery of the Eagle Vision makes him more sensitive to scents and that’s why an omega’s scent annoys him.

The only omega Altaïr could tolerate was Adha because they’re childhood friends so he got used to her scent early on.

Malik has no interest in having an omega spouse before Desmond. He always expected Kadar to continue the Al-Sayf line.

They don’t actually describe the scents as something tangible like cinnamon or citrus-y. The scent is more of a feeling that is unique to everyone.

Desmond smells like the concept of home to Altaïr and he can’t explain it any other way. Desmond smells like the first spring morning to Malik. Kadar thinks Desmond smells like freshly baked bread. (“Is that your way of saying you want to eat me?” “I don’t know. You just smell… warm, I guess?”)

Desmond loves Altaïr at this point but it’s up to Altaïr to make Desmond fall in love with him. Desmond didn’t really think Malik would be attracted to him.

Both Altaïr and Malik would court Desmond and it would definitely get heated… in more ways than one. They both have feelings for Desmond but their alpha-ness is making them compete for Desmond’s affection. A lot of dick-measuring will happen with Kadar having first row seat in the entire thing.

Malik is gentler in his approach. Courting gifts, quiet walks, peaceful tea parties. He knows the proper etiquette of how to court an omega and he’s definitely sticking to the rules. Desmond thinks he’s quite sweet and he may be enjoying being treated with such care for once (thanks for the issues, Bill)

Altaïr has the courting habits of an eagle and a cat rolled into one (so I guess a griffin?). Making sure no one bothers Desmond. Giving gifts that would never be considered as courting gifst like throwing knives and Desmond was pretty sure the pretty necklace he just got had been on the neck of a very annoying and cutthroat merchant. He also has no sense of personal space and Desmond is pretty sure Altaïr keeps sniffing at him. Altaïr does have a leg up because Desmond knows this is how Altaïr shows his feelings and he finds it sweet in its own strange way.

In the end, Kadar would be the one to suggest Desmond just take both Altaïr and Malik as his mates. It’s not… well… it doesn’t happen often because of all the Alpha posturing that would happen but he has complete confidence that his brother and Altaïr could make it work for Desmond’s sake.

Desmond also believes that since Altaïr and Malik did end up being close friends in the original timeline.

If you want to include Altaïr x Malik in this: their relationship is more of competitive alphas who enjoys winning against the other. This meant that Desmond tend to act as either their judge or the focus of their competition and Desmond reaps the reward while the two do all the work.

Since this is A/B/O, no one is sure who the father of Desmond’s children is. Desmond only agreed to get pregnant once the Apple gave enough information to make the whole ‘giving birth during the 12th century’ less deadly.

Altaïr usually has a level head but he tends to get carried away when Desmond is involved which meant Malik has to be the one to make sure the two don’t do anything stupid.

Altaïr likes to prepare for Desmond’s heats, making sure they have all they need. Malik takes care of making sure nothing will happen whenever Desmond does go in heat in terms of the operations of the Levantine Brotherhood.