(Untitled)

[need_a_hand]

Characters: Altair and Malik, CLOSED
Location: their suite/rooms
Planet: Coruscant
When: Tuesday evening
What: Altair and Malik finally have a talk about forgiveness that is some time in coming.
Rating: PG-13??

Comments

[need_a_hand]

Malik seemed to ease off his nagging with that promise, though he made a mental note of bringing the other food later should he remain in his room. Still, his full attention was needed for this conversation and his thoughts quickly went to the past, to all he thought as he walked up to Altair's door. He waits, and when Altair offers his apologies Malik waits to see if he really was ready.

There was no bitter hatred, no denial. Meetra had said her bond would influence him in small ways, and though he could not feel it's presence he could almost feel it subtly tugging him towards forgiveness, towards finally letting it all go. It was not an influence he could resent, if anything it felt very much like relief.

He regards Altair- no, perhaps it was less this influence and more his own eyes opening. This man was not the one who haughtily turned his back as Malik lectured on the Creed.

This man was someone he was proud to call his brother. "You are right for once, novice, you never can." He lets that rest a moment before his brow raises and he continues. "Because you are not the man who did so much wrong years ago. You have changed, Altair, and the person you have become has nothing to atone for."

[isanovice]

Malik was not the only one who waited. Altaïr did, too. Nervously, he found himself holding his breath. He did not expect forgiveness, how could he? Yet he longed for it; longed to find some way that he might appease the other, might make up for all the harm that he had done in his arrogance.

When the other first spoke, and paused, Altaïr's features darkened. He nodded his head, though kept any sign of disappointment to himself. Of course the other would feel this way. Altaïr could not grudge him this.

"I understand," he had begun to say more, but Malik resumed speaking. Respectfully, Altaïr fell silent to give the other his full attention once more. To listen to all that the other had to say, as he deserved.

Altaïr was surprised.

It was evident upon his features, in his eyes especially.

"Malik--" he was at a loss as to what to say.

[need_a_hand]

"I have come to realize many things here, Altair. When you saved my life and foolishly handed yourself to the Sith, I could not understand it. I tried to see some way that action wasn't selfless, just some way that it could have simply fed your old arrogance and I came up with no answer. The man you were would have never done such a thing for another soul, let alone one who offered little more than scorn to him at every meeting."

Malik pauses, lips quirking down somewhat as he continues. "I have also come to realize what happened was not all your doing. I made many mistakes that day, my jealousy of you led me to act against you instead of working together as we should have. If we had stood united perhaps our fates would be different." He shakes his head.

"I trust you, Altair. We have both grown, we are no longer the arrogant, hard headed boys we once were. I am proud to call you brother."

[isanovice]

"Scorn not undeserved," he reminded the other, but shook his head. He was still surprised- but more so, there was relief. That this great divide between them could heal. Altaïr knew that he could not take this for granted. Already he had taken advantage of the other's friendship once; he would never make the mistake of doing so again.

"Thank you, brother." Altaïr replied, certainly humbled by the others words, his acceptance. But then again, many things had been humbling experiences since he had arrived here.

[need_a_hand]

Malik's lips quirk somewhat, a similar relief washing over him. It was a lot of hate to carry for so long, and a lot of hate that wasn't solely directed at Altair. He felt Kadar would have agreed this was best, for the first time that idea wasn't quite as heavy, it just simply was.

He places his good hand on Altair's shoulder, a friendly gesture he hadn't given the other in more years than he cared to count. "Come, Altair, there is much to do." He said, brow quirking. "And none of it to be done on an empty stomach." He pulls away heading to the door and giving Altair a look that expected him to follow.