The man glared at the sun as it rose on the horizon. He hated waking up. It was the worst feeling he could endure. It reminded him there's a whole other day ahead of him. It reminded him he still had things he had to do. It reminded him he was still alive. He hated it. He hated the beauty of the songbirds, the way the dew glistened on the bright flowers. He hated every aspect of it.

He new he was cynical. His friends, his peers, they all unconsciously reminded him he wasn't pleasant. At all. He was only good company because he forced a smile, forced a laugh, and was kind to…some. He didn't have many friends, but he was fine with that.

He let out a low growl as he rose out of his bed, pulling on his armor, his robes, his weapons.

He loved this part of the day. This part of the day reminded him that he would soon take the life of another. He would see the light in another Templar's eyes die out. Feel as their body's squirming slowly halted to a permanent stop. It reminded him of the fate he would soon endure. It made a dry, false smile spread across his face.

Then he went to the door. And he remembered why he had to get up in the first place. He was getting assigned a partner. Another man he would have to baby-sit and take care of like some orphan freak of nature (child). He didn't like partners. They only brought pain and suffering, at least, that was his cynical philosophy.

He used to ponder on questions such as, "What is wrong with me?" and, "Why can I not just be a happier person?" and, "Why do I always feel so tortured?" but in the end he never liked the answers so he just stopped asking.

This man's name is Talzik. He's an assassin, if you couldn't gather. Today, much to his distaste, he's getting assigned a partner. He has no idea who this partner is or what he's like. Hell, he didn't even know if it was a man. But Al Mualim ordered it, so he would obey. He was forced to obey. If he wasn't forced he would've told Al Mualim to screw himself and get a new goddamn baby-sitter.

But again, he was forced into doing things he didn't want to.

"Alright…" Talzik growled, "Let us get this over with…"

Altair trudged up the steps, his cold grey eyes glaring at the ground.

A partner! he thought, This is demeaning! I do not need a goddamn partner! I am perfectly fine on my own. I do not need someone holding my hand.

Then, a thought popped into his head.

What if I am being assigned to a novice? What if I need to hold their hand? Oh god, how annoying that would get…

Altair's thoughts came to a halt as he reached the top step. Al Mualim was busily pacing behind his desk, hands behind his back, looking out his giant barred window. That was normal.

What wasn't normal was the shadowy figure off in the corner. He was obviously an assassin, that was obvious from his robes. But his robes were black, in much contrast to skin. His skin was inhumanly pale, almost as white as the robes Altair wore. What hair wasn't veiled by his black was white as well, and his eyes matched the same color. On his right eye was a scar, flat at the top, but then came down to a menacing point.

What startled Altair the most was the fact his features weren't…hideous. In fact, one might call them highly attractive, and Altair found that hitch in his breath incredibly annoying.

Please tell me he is not my partner…

The pale man in the corner was staring at him with the most bored and uninterested look he thought possible. Altair found himself nearly frozen under his gaze, but he forced his legs to move up to Al Mualim's desk.

Please tell me my real partner is going to walk up those stairs and just be someone else other than this man…

"Altair," Al Mualim began, "this is Talzik, and he is going to be your partner."

Shit.