Blood was everywhere, spilling out so fast that Altair feared his friend would not make it. Templars lay dead all around them, the pair had been attacked while they traveled to Acre to try to get rid of the Piece of Eden that had corrupted their Master. Knowing they had it, the templars had surrounded them in the darkness of night and come out of no where. Both men fought bravely to protect the Piece, but while Altair walked away with only scrapes and bruises Malik had been stabbed and he was bleeding badly.
"Malik, hang on. Acre is not far, we can still make it." Altair gripped his friend by the shoulders, both of them on their knees since Malik could no longer stand.
"No, take the Piece and go, leave me behind. I will just slow you down, and there may be more templars on the way." Malik was already dizzy from the blood loss, he knew that if Altair tried to take him along now it would only mean both of them would die and the Piece would end up back in the hands of the templars.
"No, I will not leave you." Altair shook his head, knowing the horses had fled in the fight and they'd have to walk, but the lights of Acre were in sight and if they hurried...
"I said leave me!" Malik tried to shove Altair away, but when the bigger man didn't move he gave in and put his head in Altair's shoulder, sighing. Already the blood pool was huge, and Malik knew he wouldn't make it to Acre, not alive.
"Just...promise me one thing." He looked up at Altair, biting his lip. "If I become a hindrance, leave me. Don't let the Piece fall into their hands." Malik leaned on Altair as the light faded, his eyes and his body went limp.
"Malik..." Altair held back tears, knowing they would not help his friend now. But perhaps the Piece...Yes, it held extraordinary powers, maybe it could do something for him!
Digging it out of its place among his robes, Altair held the strange, discolored looking apple in his hands. He didn't know how it worked or why, but maybe, just maybe. Altair closed his eyes and kept one arm around his friend while he silently prayed. Despite all that had happened, he still held his faith and hoped that it would be strong enough.
It wasn't. Malik slowly slipped away in his arms, his unconsciousness from the blood loss was followed shortly by his death. Yet still, Altair prayed. He prayed that if there was a God, he not leave the assassin all alone in this world with no one to trust. Maria was long gone, the assassins had scattered after Al Maulim was defeated, and Malik was all that was left for him.
Night faded into the first rays of the morning light, and finally Altair gave up. He slid the Piece back into his robes and picked up the body of his dead friend, then began to walk towards Acre. If nothing else he intended to give the other assassin a proper burial, and find a way to hide the Piece away from the world where it would never cause suffering again.
...
A/N - This particular piece was written for doubleleaf on deviantART to accompany a picture she did. I pulled lots of strong emotions from the picture in hopes of creating the events of before and after that one still shot perfectly. Feel free to ask me if you'd like a link to her page and/or the picture that goes with this.