This story...was perfect...

It's two am and I can't stop fucking crying and holy shit that was the greatest thing I have ever fucking read in my entire life! I just...GAH! The voice, the structure, the character insight, /the promises/! You've taken Malik being a damaged character and just scraps of exposure to him and built him into a /person/ who feels pain and /anger/ and betrayal! I apologize if I sound like another crazy fan who sees fiction in a far too real way, but holy SHIT! There are tears and I'm shaking and GAHHHH!

That was incredible. I was so hooked the whole time!

Well... damn. I've been reading fanfiction for a while, and its so damn refreshing to read such an excellent story.

That being said, I couldn't help but see the comments of a fellow reviewer, who just happens to be a homophobic piece of motherf***** s*** who spends all their time hating on works he wish he could write. All great stuff has haters though so...

This story makes me want to play AC again. Thanks for writing :)

This story has officially broken my life. I knew this wasn't going to be some happy lovey dovey story and that's precisely the reason I love it so much, but UGHHH I have so many emotions. Part of me wishes Malik could have become a Master Assassin with Altair and they'd be together like Altair wanted but part of me is also screaming "NOOOOOO KADAR WHY." I can't even write a proper review I'm so upset and emotional. This is what fanfiction does to me.

I love the way you write. You have such an eloquent use of words that really helps to give the story a mature a refined feel. Altair's characterization is absolutely brilliant (especially considering his lack of character in the game, there's not much to work with!). Altair's "proclamation" or whatever you would call it was amazing. He's obviously not going to burst out with "I love yous" and I just feel like his method of talking about Malik and him fighting together forever and Malik belonging to him was really true to the personality you gave him. Argh, it's hard to put into words... I guess I'm trying to say that I'm typically drawn to sappy love stories so the fact that I was drawn to this rough-exterior-not-acknowledging-my-feelings-relat ionship really goes to show how talented of a writer your are.

I think it is so neat how you formed this entire prequel to the game and managed to fit it in to the events that begin the game. And oh gosh, when they got the orders to go to Solomon's Temple almost -immediately- after Malik turned down the promotion, I nearly screamed. It was perfect. It made it all fit together and the reference to Al Mualim scowling down at Altair and Kadar, like, AL MUALIM IS THIS WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SCHEMING...or at least that's what I got from it.

This story is just so perfect. It's hard to look at the characters now because I've pretty much accepted your story as canon! Wonderful job!

Amazing. I love your way of story telling. I love the way you thought up Malik's backstory. I love everything about this story.

I am not sad that it ended on a bitter note. And I am glad you ended it there. I haven't looked yet but I do hope for a sequel. Just because this is interesting.

Don't mind that son of a bitch there who is dissing your work. People like that exist in our world... usually under the names of either "arch conservative religious maniacs", "close minded fools" or the more commonplace "jerks". It's quite obvious that he is desperate for attention and doesn't know how to get it- and is probably so bad a writer that he has no choice but to caps-lock one to death.

I would just ignore him. It's actually quite funny though, to see how worked up he can get over a little thing like slash.

Keep writing, please! Your stories are brilliant and we need more people like you on FFN

" I'd then have to explain how it isn't always that simple, how there are more choices than just Heterosexual, Homosexual, or Bisexual, how people don't fit neatly into categories and how someone who prefers men could still be aroused by a woman. I'd also have to point out cultural differences and time periods and how Malik isn't 'coming out of the closet' because he doesn't realize there's a closet to come out of and no, there will never be a point in this fic where he decides He's Gay."

I want to ask you, Jew, why in the fuck you thought this was a good idea.

Malik is not a faggot. Homosexuality is not innate or genetic. If it were so, the anus would be built for constant penetration for a vagina and would contain natural lubricants. But since you don't know this, I'm going to educate you, and you'll wish Hitler would've got your ass.

The anus is a one-cell thick organ meant to expel waste. Even thick build-up of fecal matter can tear it. Penile penetration is a no-go as the contact with human waste is unsanitary and the transmission of worms and other intestinal parasites occur. Tropical parasites such as gardia lamblia have been found in the intestines of gay men.

Of course, there is the all-consuming diseases syphilis, and worse, AIDS. The common tactic against this is that AIDS does not only affect homosexuals. While this is true, it doesn't affect WHITE heterosexuals in the way it does BLACKS. Blacks are the only ones out-sourcing homosexuals in the AIDS epidemic.

The 20-year shorter life expectancy, the plethora of diseases, the extinction, the depression and overall monstrosity SHOULD be a taker. But no, there are JOURNALISTS that graduated from a liberal university who absolutely know FUCK ALL about science and have the nerve to bash religion. You never sought the information yourself; you instead believed everything you read. Know what that is? An act of faith. You're no different than the theists you bash.

You're a sick fuck. You're "glad" that there's an intelligent fandom? What have you been smoking? AC has one of the sickest fuck fandoms and retarded ones I have had the pleasure of being in.

Altair has Maria, you fucking Jew. If you hate women SO MUCH...why are they needed to create a family? Homosexuals can't have children of their own and all they raise is plague. But since you're so adamant to make a straight character gay and go out of your way to defend the indefensible, you've went from a complete unrealistic story to a fucked-up one.

Homosexuality is a choice. It is not innate or genetic, and no, animals cannot be gay. If it were normal, our anuses would be built for it and it would provide reproduction.

If there were no women in AC, it wouldn't even exist. As a matter of fact, you came from the union of a man and a woman, yet you're so liberal to suggest that love knows no bounds. Well in that case, weeaboo, where's your love for polygamy, incest, rape, and bestiality?

Sick fuck. Such an excessive hubris. I'm amazed you're still alive.

Oh, so you're a Jew that thinks religion is silly yet doesn't understand history because the Nobel Prizes were started by Christians...LMFAO

Yeah! Those science-y stuff you love so much? Christian things. Scientific method? Christian. Electricity? Christian. The "don't hate me for who I am" thing? Christian.

You know, scientifically, homosexuality is unnatural and unhealthy. But of course you don't know that because you're a liberal who believes in the egalitarian nonsense and that we can all get along and that everything is A-OK...by the way, do you support incest?

I'm surprised a Jew like you is still alive. Why aren't you in the oven? If you're going to bash religion, better start bashing Islam and Judaism and not that petty Christianity that gave you EVERYTHING. Yeah. Learn the HISTORY OF SCIENCE. Lots o' Christian ties, there.

Got any theories that will actually revolutionize science? Do you understand the scientific method? Science? Philosophy? Principle? No? If you understand none of these things, you won't even get near Nobel Prize, let alone win one. Well, maybe with the Jew card but not with the woman card. Women don't earn Nobel Prizes because they're too stupid. Case in point - you.

It is sad to see talented writers engage in such misconduct of canon and history that it is a sin that I cannot keep my mouth shut.

Your reviewers give you praise, and sadly, do not point out the complete inanity of the entire plot. Not only have you not got Altair or Malik in canon, but glorify a lifestyle so destructive and so anti-family that it is an abomination of writing and common sense.

Altair nor Malik is gay. I have absolutely no idea where this came from and I have no idea where you sick bastards get the evidence. But either way, the complete destruction of canon and the huge amount of ass-kissing is something to difficult to bear.

It is indeed sad to see otherwise good writers completely delve from common sense into the world of impossibilities, and this is such one. Not only do you not understand history, you do not understand the basics of human biology. If Altair did not love Maria, then he would not produce heirs, and therefore, the concept of Assassin's Creed falls apart. Without heirs, you have no descendants.

While the creators of AC claim that Altair is an atheist, in reality this would have been impossible. But the entire bashing of the male-female dynamic, the abuse of canon, and the abuse of literature, is to me, an attack against humanity.

Malik himself had children, and he did so with women. But as homosexuality is, for some reason, so acceptable to you women I have no choice but to regard you as a sick fuck. You completely demean the foundations of the human family and instead push an abominable lifestyle that is unnatural and unhealthy, and - as I have said before - COMPLETELY disregarding canon, this is entirely YOUR fault. How DARE you try to state that this lifestyle is equatable to heterosexuality.

What's disgusting is that you're open about your sick fetishes. And you have the GALL to include religious themes, while oh-so-inconveniently forgetting that ISLAM CONDEMNS HOMOSEXUALITY. Oh, but that makes way for the "forbidden love" theme, doesn't it? You grow more and more despicable by the minute.

Since you were too fucking stupid to do the research for yourself and have the GALL to say this is religious, I hope this is enlightening;

“Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way. And the two who commit it among you, punish them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever accepting of repentance and Merciful.” Qur’an 4:15-16

And Lot, when he said to his people, “Do you commit immorality while you are seeing? Do you indeed approach men with desire instead of women? Rather, you are a people behaving ignorantly.” Qur’an 27:54-55

“And Lot, when he said to his people, “Indeed you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the world. Indeed you approach men and obstruct the road and commit in your meetings evil.” And the answer of his people was not but they said, “Bring us the punishment of Allah, if you should be of the truthful.” Qur’an 29:28-29

Once more, if Altair or Malik had sexy time, they would die from syphilis. The basic foundations of reality and biology prove that homosexuality is not right. But oh no, that's completely homophobic and love knows absolutely no fucking bounds.

And you have the NERVE to suggest gender doesn't matter in writing. Are you one of those feminist cunts that believes gender is a social construct and isn't proven biologically? You know what that makes you? A fucking retard that doesn't know fuck-all.

And you hate Maria because it's unlikely that a woman would become a Crusader. Orly? Know how UNREALISTIC for TWO STRAIGHT, MUSLIM MEN TO BUTTFUCK?! You fucking piece of shit. Canon just flies out the window for you, doesn't it? You hate women because they're cock-blockers, aren't they? Oh, yes, because BUTTFUCKING IS HAWT, AMIRITE?!

The amount of ass-kissing in this fic is staggering. I am baffled how people actually believe this is canon. Malik cares for his little brother, yet wants to fuck Altair, who is so cocky and arrogant that he wants to be the best of the best. Sorry, but in that job, there is no time for ass-fucking.

So, not only are you a misogynist, but you are the biggest cunt I have ever met. So, canon doesn't work for you and because ALTAIR'S STRAIGHT is just oh-so inconvenient for your rotten vagina. The men act like effeminate fags and we know this is porn. Porn with a plot...how amazing.

Along with a complete disregard of history, it's obvious you hate the traditional human family so much that you believe that love knows no bounds and that gender doesn't matter. In that case, we are no different than savages, aren't we? Well, based on your slobber, you ARE one.

I take back my praise at the beginning. You don't deserve it. It's clear you have no idea what happens during anal sex - some tell me its a muscle and can get used to that - and that you have no idea of the dangers it brings. It is dangerous, unhealthy, and brings plague. If it was normal, perhaps Sodom would exist. But clearly, there are those motherfucking dumbass liberals that are so determined to push faggotry down everybody's throats that it's gotten to the point where you deserve to be shot.

I am amazed how Malik or Altair have not suffered torn anuses, syphilis, or gotten shit on their penises. The anus is not a vagina and it is not a muscle. It does not contain natural lubricants and is torn easily. I am ever so amazed at how stupid people are when it comes to this. The lifestyle is three times deadlier than smoking, yet society supports it? What?

Women. Insufferable bitches who love forbidden love. If you love faggotry so much, move to Africa where that is practiced en masse. There you'll see love in all forms. Let's see if you still hold your little qualms there.

Sick fuck. Learn canon and history next time. Burn in Hell, and take your sodomites with you.

Oh, and by the way: doubleleaf is an untalented, overrated cunt who draws nothing but animu. If she's considered an amazing artist, then I guess the oil paintings and murals in the Vatican are sacks of shit.

Just as a forewarning, when I really enjoy a fanfic, I have a bad tendency to gush about it. And I like this fanfic. A lot. So I apologise for the adkjhsgdkjfds-ing below xD

I wanted to wait for this to be finished before I started reading it in its entirety and I'm really glad I did because (despite holding off on it a year) this is easily one of the best AltMal fics that I have ever had the pleasure to read.

Your game-canon-backstory is just beautiful, (well, it's not beautiful that Templars came and burned down Malik and Kadar's village, but I really like how you had them happen upon the brotherhood). The way you've told the story and allowed it to show what happened to Malik is really rather masterful. I like how you've taken your time with developing all the characters and plot aspects, and how you can really see everyone mature and progress. I think it's that patient aspect that makes me like this so much - so many authors make the mistake of progressing the plot too quickly at sake of missing out on backstory (which I suppose depending on the story you're reading can work sometimes) but the time-frames in this serve it so well. And long chapters! Fffff, I do love a fic with long well written chapters.

Your writing style is absolutely brilliant; it's sophisticated and flowing and your characterisation of everyone is really well done, but I think it's our dear narrator that truly steals the show here. I really do love what you've done with Malik, I've just wanted to hug him half the time (especially in later chapters, welp). It's probably something which has been said before but I'll say it anyway, your Malik i s. And not forgetting little Kadar, who is easily the cutest "Kleeve" I've ever read haha. Despite knowing the death scene was a given, it still got to me. It was a very bitter-sweet moment and your theory (or headcanon? What you wrote anyway) of what happened in Soloman's Temple is original and didn't involve Robert trying to hack Malik's arm off (which is refreshing because I've read a few fics where Malik's arm is mutilated thanks to a psychotic sawing session courtesy of de Sable). Oh and Altair? Just brilliant. I love how he's literally enveloped in his own little world, and getting to see how he feels about Malik was a really nice touch (I wasn't expecting the final chapter to swap into his POV, and despite this being Altair in his full-frontal jerk!phase, I really felt for him when he didn't seem to quite comprehend what Malik meant by gtfo of my room). The amount of jokes raised about him really had me amused too. "Oh, none of this makes any sense. Men don't want other men in this way. No one with half a brain wants Altair in any way." particularly made me crack up laughing xD

Just this fic. Urgh. It's so unbelievably good! It's taken me on a roller coaster of fangirl squeals and giggles and then sad feels and oh my goodness. I'm so glad you're doing a sequel to this. So to sum up, I love the story and pretty much everything about it and I'm just going to try and compose myself before my 1pm lecture because feelings are happening and and, ugh. Thank you so much for writing this, I consider this to be a four nights-and-the-occasion-morning of well-spent reading XD (and I'm also sorry this review turned out so long ;-; there's just so much to say and a part of me wishes I was there to comment on things along the way because there's so many little points I thought of that I haven't covered.)

ps. I really want to draw fanart for that scene in Chapter 18 I think it is where Malik tells an expectant Altair to "suck it yourself" but I have a feeling people will have already done this and do you mind if I try too o.o?

Alright, going this time, really. *flails*

back to review and gosh, this has been an emotional whirlwind. Every chapter I get pretty anxious to the end, to everything really. You created a world I was terrified of reading on with because of the inevitable xD" but heck it was worth every word, sentence and so because looooord it is beautifully written! so bless you and thank you for giving me (and us!) the headcanon i've always wanted in this story :) you deserve all the reviews and love you get! *eagerly reads the sequel*

I don't think I'll ever recover from this fic. I've cried since the fist paragraph, fooling myself into thinking that I'd be strong enough to bear Kadar's death. I was so wrong I had to walk away from my notebook and wander around in circles until I could breath properly again.

I have to say I am truly impressed and satisfied with everything! Your way of writing, your grammar, the amazing beta, the plot, everything. I love the Al-Sayfs to bits and it's great to see a fic that focus on Malik (either they're rare or I'm just very unlucky as I never find them).

I think this pairing will be the death of me. I swear to god, these two stupid novices manage to be even more codependent than I'd thought possible. Their relationship is as healthy as the Winchesters'.

All in all, heart-wrenching included, this is one of my favourite fics ever! I thought Kadar's characterization was great, since we know so little about him on canon.

Thank you so much for writing this!

I just spent an entire day reading through all of this and I am so amazed. Really. Thank you.

This was amazing. This was just absolutely amazing, no other words. I... I would write a longer review, but this story was so good that I am literally speechless. My gods.

One of the best things I have ever read in my life, actually, and I /never/ say that.