"Yes!" Hakeem turned to look at him. "Trust me!" he whispered.
Kilig raised his hands in surrender. Ramya smiled and gave them the key so they could check the room upstairs and its state.
The door creaked open, and dust and cobwebs welcomed them. Some tiles were missing from the roof and a part of the plank floor was wet and the wood rotten from the rain that had come in from the opening in the ceiling.
Hakeem stepped in anyway and his memory showed him his past – his mother, the spartan furniture, the box of wooden figurines that was burned that cold winter, trying to keep her warm...
"It needs a lot of work," Kilig said from behind him. "And we're not carpenters."
"Of course we are, we built cabins in the woods," Hakeem replied, turning to put his arms around Kilig's neck. "Do you really want to live in the Guild's building? Here we can have more privacy and help an old woman..."
Kilig chuckled and pulled him closer. "I believe we're assassins, Kukri. Not exactly here to help old women repair their roof."
"And what do assassins do when they're not on assignment?" Hakeem asked, losing himself in Kilig's brown eyes.
"Besides having wild sex with each other?" Kilig squeezed Hakeem's buttock. "Mm. Good question. I've been on assignments most of my life. That's why I call the Guild home. But now I know what Saif went through when I told him we could open a shop and be assassins on the side."
Hakeem's eyes widened in wonder. "You wanted to open a shop with my father? Selling what?"
"Knives, mostly." Kilig grinned. "We'd been traveling as father and son, peddlers, selling cutlery... I thought it would be nice to do that for the rest of our life."
"And then what happened?"
Kilig squeezed him and gave him a quick kiss.
"We came back to Godwalkar and while we were still trying to figure out what to do and I was teaching Saif the alphabet, a blonde woman showed up at the Guild with a green-eyed child..."
Hakeem blushed and averted his eyes. "I'm sorry we ruined your plan," he whispered. Not that he'd had much say in the matter. He'd been curious to finally meet his father and hadn't noticed his younger friend.
"Nah, you only broke my heart." Kilig smiled. "Nothing that didn't mend with time. And I'm not blaming you, Hakeem, but your mother and Saif's sense of duty. Anyway, they're both dead now, and it's been a long time, so... you really want to come and live here, help Ramya and be an assassin on the side?"
"Only if you're with me," Hakeem answered, determined. "If you want to continue living in the Guild's building, it's fine too. I belong to you, and wherever you go, I'll follow."
Kilig caressed his clean-shaven cheek, thoughtful.
"You're so much like me with Saif... And now I know how he felt, having a younger man adoring him... So let's get started on your final exam and then we'll decide what to do. What do you say?"
Hakeem grinned. "I say I love you, Kilig," he answered before kissing his lover passionately and holding him tight.
***
"So, did Kukri earn his assassin's name in the fight against Abhaya?" Nimdja looked amused and Kilig couldn't blame him. "It's been what – a week? You didn't feel like reporting to tell me what happened?"
"I thought Katar gave you a summary, but if you want the full story..." Kilig said, a little embarrassed. He should have reported immediately. He'd been slow. But Hakeem's love had taken him to a different place.
He recounted the fight and Hakeem's part, to which Nimdja nodded with a sigh.
"So no final exam yet, eh?" he asked, looking at Hakeem who blushed.
"I might have found something for him," Kilig replied with a smile. "Unless I decide to just leave him at home, that is."
"You wouldn't dare!" Hakeem protested.
"Considering how good you are at finding trouble, it seems like the best solution," Kilig replied. "You can be an assassin on the side..."
"Kilig..." Hakeem glared at him, but Nimdja chuckled.
"I don't think anyone will be able to tear you apart," the Head of the Guild said. "Will you be staying here?"
"Kukri wants to go back to where he grew up," Kilig answered. "It's a little in disrepair, though, so we'll stay here until at least the roof is done. And there's a little extortion problem on that street, so we're going to take care of that as well. The neighbors should be grateful and he can be a full-fledged assassin afterward."
Nimdja nodded and dismissed them. They went back to their room to discuss Hakeem's final exam and first mission. Kilig told him how Saif had taken him back to the slums where he was born and he'd stopped a violent man from harming his own family – much like Saif had done with him.
"Now, you don't have my background, but one of your friends is in trouble, so getting rid of the extortionist might be a good way to see if you're really ready for this job," he said.
Hakeem nodded, thoughtful.
"I can't stand injustice and bullies," he said. "I got bullied a lot up north until I built up the muscle to respond."
"And your father's training probably helped." Kilig grinned. "So, tell me how you're thinking of doing it."
"Mm." Hakeem pursed his lower lip, pondering. "I admit I don't know much about extortion in a big city like this one. Is it a gang? A single man?"
"It's probably a man with a few minions, enough to intimidate the neighborhood," Kilig replied. "But usually those gangs depend on their leader – get rid of him and they fall apart."
"Okay." Hakeem nodded, thinking some more. "So if I figure out who the leader is and take him out, the problem should be solved?"
"Theoretically. We better get back there and try to find out more. Talk to the other shop owners and stuff like that."
"Do we go as assassins or what?" Hakeem asked.
"You have your noose around your wrist, right? That should be enough for now."
Hakeem followed him outside again and they went back to Ramya's street. The shopkeepers were quite wary when they heard questions about "protection fee", fearing the two strangers might be other extortionists trying to squeeze more money out of them, but when Ramya told them Hakeem was the boy who used to live with her, most relented and became more talkative.
By the evening, Kilig and Hakeem had discovered the "gang" was made of two or three individuals who had bullied the whole street into the "protection" lie after burning down the shop of their direct neighbor. The racket had started some five years earlier and so far nobody had managed to stop them. Calling the town militia hadn't helped – they'd been arrested once and when they'd been released, it had been worse, so the inhabitants just paid their fee to be left alone.
"Do you think I should knock on his door and off him or should I wait until his next visit to Ramya?" Hakeem asked, frowning in concentration as they went back to the Guild's building for dinner.
"He's not alone, so either you kill him in his sleep, which is cowardly, or we wait until he hits again and make justice," Kilig replied, thoughtful. "I'll take care of his accomplices – and we might have some help from the inhabitants as well, if we act in plain daylight."
"All right." Hakeem shrugged as they entered the Guild's building.
Later they retired to sleep and Kilig took Hakeem in his arms.
"Hakeem, killing in cold blood changes you," he told him, serious. "Are you sure you want this? You strike me as a very compassionate young man, are you sure you want to be a killer for the rest of your life?"
"From what my father told me, I figured our job is more to bring justice than to kill for money," Hakeem replied. "It's not like in Agharek – they really do it for the money. This guild was founded based on the assassins' school of Agharek's training, but it has very different rules, and with the Genn presence, it's not really an assassins' guild. We're more the vigilantes of this city – hence the rule of no women and no children, the men of honor and all that stuff."
Kilig smiled.
"Your father really filled you in on our history," he said. "Yes, this guild is young compared to Aghare
k's, and it does have different rules, that Abhaya refused to follow, and that's why he's dead now."
"Well, so is my father – because his killer followed other rules." Hakeem sighed and squeezed him. "But we avenged him, and we'll continue his work. Do you think one of us could go down to Agharek to learn their rules?"
"As far as I know, Agharek has a closed guild, a sort of sect which doesn't allow newcomers. I don't know how Abhaya got into it. Neither of us would be able to infiltrate it."
"Oh." Hakeem sounded disappointed. "What do you suggest I use for the extortionist? Since he's putting a figurative noose on his neighbors' necks, should I make it a noose job?"
Kilig chuckled. "I think you can improvise that part when the time comes..."
***
Hakeem was inside Ramya's shop, with Kilig waiting for him seated on the stairs leading to the first floor room, when the man came in. Hakeem saw Ramya stiffen and turned around to look at the newcomer. He was bulky, with a scarred face and missing teeth from too many fights, probably. He had a saber by his side and the hilt of a dagger peeked out of his sash.
Hakeem glanced at the doorway and saw two more men standing outside, one turned towards where Kilig sat.
"Morning, Ramya." The man slapped his hand on her counter. "Have you hired a help? You should pay for him too, you know?"
Hakeem turned his attention to the extortionist.
"I don't think so," he said bluntly. "We don't need your protection, so get out of my grandmother's shop right now."
The man looked at him, puzzled, then sneered.
"You don't have children, Ramya, therefore you can't have grandchildren," he told the woman. "And don't think you can find someone else to protect you from me. Now you'll pay double from today on!"
"Don't speak as if I'm not in the room," Hakeem whispered threateningly, approaching the man. "She is my grandmother, since she gave me food and shelter during my childhood. And I won't let anyone harm her. I'm back in town, and I'll take care of her from now on."
"Get out of here, boy," the man spat. "I have no idea where Ramya found the money to hire a mercenary, but that only means she's keeping some from me!"
"She's not paying me, asshole," Hakeem replied. "I told you she's my grandmother."
The other laughed, then pulled out his dagger, pointing it at Hakeem's throat. Swiftly, Hakeem took his double-bladed weapon and thrust it in the man's wrist. The extortionist screamed in pain and Hakeem kicked him to the floor. Before the man could gather his wits, Hakeem had unwrapped his noose and was on him, choking his shouts of alarm.
His temples pulsed as the body lay limp. Hakeem let go of the noose and exhaled deeply. He glanced at Ramya, who had turned her face away. Screams from the street made him jump back to his feet, but the two men accompanying the extortionist had fallen – one to Kilig's dagger, the other to the lynch mob of angry neighbors.
"Are you all right?" Kilig asked.
Hakeem nodded quickly. Ramya arrived behind him and quickly hugged him.
"Thank you, Hakeem," she whispered. "I'm not sure I like what you've become, but thank you."
Hakeem didn't think he could speak yet. He squeezed her, then let her go. He signaled Kilig to help him carry out the bulky man who had fallen inside. With the help of the people of the street they took the three corpses to a nearby funeral service home, where they'd be dumped in a common tomb, like all the criminals of the city.
The shopkeepers thanked Kilig and Hakeem then let them go. Hakeem barely made it to their room, then he collapsed on the bed. He felt exhausted and Kilig cuddled him. Taking a life wasn't fun. But he could do it in defense of the weakest. Kilig's soothing voice made him sleep peacefully, and the next morning he was able to talk about it and get over it. He was a true assassin now.
***
"We need a specialist to work on the roof," Kilig said as they left the Guild's building to go to Ramya's. "We can't risk falling and breaking our necks. But we can start cleaning the room."
"Do you know anyone who can repair the roof?" Hakeem asked, frowning with worry.
One of Kilig's cousins had befriended a Sila who effortlessly took him on every roof, no matter the height, and stayed with him to avoid accidents. Hakeem stared in wonder at the winged being who had allowed a human being near him because his sight wasn't perfect and he didn't feel completely at ease in the air.
"I had a wooden figurine of a Sila, but I've never seen one up close," he whispered in Kilig's ear.
Not that Kilig had ever talked to any Sila, but he'd seen many, since they often visited their Genn friends. Winged Stephen was like the others, androgynous, with big feathered wings the same shade of his blond hair. The Magical Races all had hairless bodies except for the hair they usually wore long – at least the Genn. Many Sila had short hair, like Winged Stephen, but not all of them. It probably had to do with being in the air all the time – they wore tight-fitting clothes, females included, and kept their hair short.
Kilig's cousin Rahul was also a carpenter, so he gave them directions for the other repairs while he started working on the roof with Winged Stephen. He made new window panes and prepared the planks for the ruined floor – but then he took care of that part as well, to avoid any accidents and falls.
Ramya cooked for them during the works – although Winged Stephen didn't eat ground food – and soon the whole house and shop looked like new.
"You can have my mother's bed," Ramya told them. "If you manage to take it upstairs."
It was a big wooden bed that had to be disassembled and then reassembled in the upper room. Rahul helped them and Winged Stephen offered pillows filled with feathers. They bought a new horsehair mattress and stared proudly at what started to look like home.
"Can we sleep here tonight?" Hakeem asked after Rahul and Winged Stephen had left, their job done. "Tomorrow we'll get the kitchen utensils, but tonight we could have a bite at the tavern down the street and then come back here, what do you think?"
Kilig grinned. "I think you're going to get what you want tonight."
"Which is?"
"Something you've been asking me for a month now," he answered, taking Hakeem in his arms.
"I can have you inside me tonight?" Hakeem beamed.
"It took me much longer to seduce your father, so don't complain," Kilig teased.
"Meaning?" Hakeem asked, puzzled.
"I had to wait three years and a half before he fucked me," Kilig answered. "And I've known you only for three months."
Hakeem flashed an impish smile at him. "I can be irresistible if I want to."
Kilig chuckled. "You sure can." He briefly kissed him. "Let's go grab that bite, and then we can try our new bed..."
***
Hakeem lit the candles in the new bedroom with his heart thundering in his chest. Finally Kilig would give him what he'd wanted from the beginning, hopefully wiping away the memory of Chakram's attempt.
The shadows danced in the flickering light. The room didn't look like the one he'd grown up in with his mother anymore. Kilig's pale face came closer and they hugged, kissing each other. Then Kilig's lips moved towards Hakeem's ear and sucked his lobe, making him gasp.
He was already aroused and hadn't undressed yet, but Kilig's hands sent shivers down his spine whenever they touched him.
Panting, he pushed Kilig away to take off his clothes. Kilig grinned and also undressed, then they fell into each other's arms again and crumbled on the bed that welcomed them with a loud creak that made them burst out laughing.
"Let's hope it doesn't fall apart while we're on it," Kilig said.
"Let's move to the floor before it does," Hakeem suggested.
"No, I want you to be comfortable and relaxed."
"But I am! I'm ready!"
"Hakeem, it's your first time, why are you in such a hurry? I don't want to hurt you, or you'll hate me forever," Kilig chided.
"You'd never hurt me," Hakeem replied, caressing Kilig's face and hair. "Just do it,
Kilig!" Then he squealed in surprise since Kilig had pushed something inside his opening.
"It's only my pinky," Kilig whispered before sucking his lobe and licking his neck.
Hakeem closed his eyes and relaxed, although he was also aroused since Kilig was using one hand on his front and the other on his backside – lips still roaming neck, face and ears.
Then Kilig pulled back and Hakeem gasped in shock for the sudden lack of contact. Not again! He opened his eyes, ready to panic, but Kilig was leaning over him again and brushed his lips with a kiss.
"Sorry, dilbar, we need a lubricant here," Kilig apologized. "I got us some coconut oil, it will help, I promise."
Hakeem felt Kilig's fingers probing again and stiffened a little.
"Breathe deeply with your belly," Kilig said in his ear. "Coming in."
Hakeem exhaled and relaxed again, while Kilig inserted two fingers. Hakeem moaned in pleasure and closed his eyes again. The friction of the fingers continued for a moment, then he cried out in Kilig's mouth as Kilig's hand left his backside to open his legs.
"Are you all right?" Kilig asked. "Ready?"
"Yes!" Hakeem bit his fist. "Do it, Kilig!"
He wanted that filling feeling again. And slowly, one bit at the time, Kilig entered him.
They started moving together and Hakeem thought he'd die of pleasure. They came at the same time and Hakeem lay panting in his lover's arms.
"Oh, Kilig, I love you so much!" he said, squeezing Kilig's torso. "I knew it'd be worth the wait!"
Since Kilig didn't answer, he looked at his face. Kilig was lost in thought.
"Kilig?" he called, worried.
Kilig focused on him and ran his fingers through his curls. "Sorry, are you all right?" he grumbled.
"Yes, you?" Hakeem pulled away to look at him.
"I'm fine." Kilig averted his eyes. "I was just thinking... I haven't been so lucky, that's all."
"You saved me, but Chakram could have raped me and I know it would have hurt," Hakeem said. "So yes, I've been lucky – because you were there."
Kilig smiled ruefully. "Your father was an honorable man, not a son of a bitch who exploited his own children. Forgive me, Hakeem, I'm being selfish. I hope everything was as you expected."
Kilig & Hakeem Page 5
