Hey guys! I know it's been a REAL long time... I feel bad for not working at all on any of my fics... I just got back from New Mexico. I was recently in a car crash and working on other stuff so I haven't had much time to work on any fun stuff. So, I thought I should post this just to let you know I'm not dead. This is an AU, and I do hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!

He pouted, crossing his arms and leaning back against the desk. His dark brown eyes bored holes into his handler's back. Said handler didn't seem to notice as he pinched the bridge of his nose and released a heavy sigh.

"Damn it Ezio, you were supposed to retrieve the artifact instead of blowing the whole building apart!" The older man said in a low, barely controlled rough voice.

"Look here Altaïr, I needed to destroy it! Cesare and De Sable were going to get their filthy Templar hands on it and the only way of preventing that was... well, destroying it!" Ezio spat back at him. Altaïr growled something under his breath and he leaned heavily on the window in the CIA building which was overlooking L.A.

"Malik will not be happy about this Ezio." the handler said, peering over his shoulder. Ezio looked down, refusing to let his emotions show. He knew he had yet failed another mission that the director of the office had given him in faith that he could get it done. Altaïr was obviously disappointed in him, Malik would fly into his normal fit of rage, and Ezio would be the cause. He closed his eyes and shook his head. The room remained silent as each agent was in his own thoughts. Ezio sighed. 2 damn years. 2 years since he was recruited into the agency. Yet... So many missions have failed because of him and his "overwhelming-care-for-other-people's-well-being." He knew he had to put an end to that soon or else he wouldn't be an agent anymore. His friend, (a female agent) Seiko, had tried to make him feel better about it, but it just hasn't worked. Later on, much to his horrifying realization, he had fallen in love with his handler. His HANDLER. The ASSHOLE. Yep, the asshole-handler, Altaïr Ibn-La-Ahad. The older man's skin was darker, his eyes were yellow orbs, his hair a sandy color, and his facial features were angular and threatening. His build was amazing, but one of the things that fascinated Ezio most, was the missing ring finger on his left hand. The arabian refused to talk about it, and Ezio wanted to pull up his files and take a look, but he never really had the time. But the question the younger always asked himself was how. How did he ever fall in love with his handler. Love was not an Ezio thing. He'd slept with a lot of girls but has never fallen for any of them. Why was Altaïr's infuriating cold personality so... attractive? Ezio would never know. About a minute later, he was yanked out of his thoughts.

"Altaïr and Ezio! Malik and Mario have just found the piece of eden!" Leonardo, the young blonde, extremely talented artist and computer genius shouted as he bolted into the office. Altaïr's body whipped around and went rigid. Ezio was already standing stock still and gaped at the blonde.

"Where?" Altaïr snapped as he lunged forward and grabbed the artist's arm.

"At the-"

"We need to organize a raid team. We're going in." he turned to face Ezio who stood gaping.

"We can't afford to loose this time."

"Wait, WE?" Ezio asked emphasizing "we".

"Yes, I'm going in with you."

"Why-"

"I have my reasons Auditore. Now get moving."

The truck rattled loudly as they sped down the road towards the abandoned hotel where Malik had located the piece. Satellites had given them the information that De Sable and Cesare were on their way as well. The CIA needed the piece before the Templars did. Even if it involved bloodshed. Ezio glanced to the side. His handler sat next to him wearing the strangest armor/outfit whatever you want to call it. All the field agents were supposed to wear their normal raid armor which consisted of a bullet-proof vest, black clothing, plenty of gear, pads, boots and gloves. Yet Altaïr was wearing a black hoodie with a bullet-proof vest underneath, two guns strapped to either side of his belt, gloves that had no fingers, the normal boots and pads, and a strange looking bracer on his left arm. Ezio looked at him, brows furrowed. The handler's hood was pulled on, only revealing the sharp nose and the scar on his lip. When they had spoken to Malik and Mario, the director and the consult had treated the agent with... respect... but there was a tinge of fear in their eyes that Ezio had seen too many times. They kept sending nervous glances at his left hand. The one with the missing finger. Did the brown leather bracer have anything to do with that hand? Ezio turned away and reached up to tie his hair tighter. He was considering cutting it off because it got in the way if he was in a fight, but Altaïr had looked at him strangely and said not to.

"Why did you decide to come with us?" he asked.

"..."

"You can't avoid that question forever Altaïr."

"I could kill you." the handler said flatly. Ezio tilted his head to the side.

"Really. No, seriously, why did you come." he said. Not a question, more of a demand. The older man sighed.

"Look Ezio, Malik spoke to me. He said that I was supposed to keep that from you. Not that I DON'T want to tell you... Actually it partly is why. It's classified information. He also knows that De Sable will be coming with forces and he knows how I work in the field." he said darkly. Ezio crossed his arms and gazed at him curiously.

"I noticed something weird when I was with you talking to Malik and Mario. They... looked nervous but treated you with enough respect to make me throw up. Why is that?" he asked, making sure the tone of his voice didn't make it sound like an accusation. Altaïr smiled, which unnerved the other agent a bit.

"Let's hope you don't find out."

The truck came to a screeching halt in a grove of trees near the hotel and all 10 of the men in the back leaped out with their rifles at the ready and started jogging towards the abandoned building. Altaïr leapt down gracefully and held only a pistol in his right hand. Ezio glanced at him with concern.

"Shouldn't you have something more than just a pistol?" he said motioning to his Uzi. Altaïr just... smiled at him again. He grumbled and followed the raiders, his handler moving behind him without a sound. They entered the building.

"You have about 7 minutes before Cesare gets here." Leonardo said into the ear piece which was now in Ezio's ear.

"Find the apple and get the hell out of there." the agent said quickly. Ezio grunted an affirmative as the team moved forward. They paused at the door way and two agents positioned themselves on either side. Ezio and another moved at it's entrance and held their guns up preparing to fire. The agent nodded and the others simultaneously kicked the door out. Ezio sprung forward grazing the light over his surroundings.

"There's nothing in here." said a familiar voice and Ezio immediately brought his gun up to the source of the voice. He gasped. Altaïr crouched on one to the horizontal beams by the ceiling. The handler stood and dropped down, landing quietly onto the tiled floor. Ezio gaped. The other agents didn't seem surprised, just a bit nervous. Was Ezio the only one that didn't know about something? Altaïr grinned at him and turned his back to the team. Ezio's eyes blinked when he saw a strange symbol on the man's hoodie. A silver sort of outline of a triangle which curved at the bottom, and underneath is a sliver of a crescent moon.

"Alta-"

"Let's keep moving." the agent said motioning forward. The team moved with only Ezio hanging back a little. He pressed a button on his ear piece.

"Leonardo, what is everyone keeping from me. There's something about Altaïr that I don't know. He just fucking appeared on the rafters by the ceiling of the room after we broke down the door, then he just jumped down and landed like it was no big problem. What the hell is going on?" he hissed.

"Ezio... I can't... Tell you... It's classified info. I'm sure he'll tell you eventually! But you have to hu-" Leonardo began to say but was cut off by static.

"Shit... Hey! We lost communication! We have to do this efficiently and fast." he said loudly so all the agents could hear him. They had entered a room that looked a bit like a huge dinning area. Dusty tables and chairs lay strewn about, the bar covered with pieces of glass. At the far end of the room, was a door that led into a massive hall with columns, and at the center was a small stone table with a small glass box on it. And in that small glass box was the apple. Men started setting up about 5 feet away with a wall of riot shields. The tech agents surrounded the apple, opening laptops and cases with necessary equipment to get this First Civilization designed box open.

"This should take about 3 minutes Sir." the agent addressed Ezio's handler. Altaïr nodded and started towards the door where two guards were posted on watch. Ezio snagged his arm and pulled him aside.

"We need to talk." he hissed. The handler surveyed the room and sighed. He muttered an "alright" and pulled Ezio into the shadows of a column.

"What the hell do I not know about you." he said coldly jabbing a finger in Altaïr's chest.

"What do you not know about me? You've gone through my files, I don't know what else you see..." he said flatly. Ezio blushed and choked for a second. Once he regained himself he decided to start over again.

"We just broke into a room and you were already there, up in the FUCKING RAFTERS. Then, you jumped down at least 10 feet and landed like it was no damn problem. Altaïr, none of my men seemed surprised. Just... unsettled. And I think it's about god damned time I was filled in on some information that everyone else seems to have that I obviously don't." he growled.

"Look Ezio, I know it's hard not knowing, but it's for your own sanity and well being not to know who or what I am. Trust me please."

"I can't trust you if you're doing crazy things like that. You're not being a normal agent. Look at yourself! And what is that symbol on your back? What are you, someone in a cult?!" he said, raising his voice. Altaïr growled low in his throat, his cold eyes glaring from underneath his hoodie.

"I don't know what you are, or who for that matter. But if you do anything that's slightly suspicious, I'll kill you myself." Ezio hissed. He started to turn, when suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. It yanked him around and he was slammed against the wall. Two hands held fist fulls of his clothing and yellow eyes stared at him.

"God dammit Ezio! We can't afford to fail this mission. And we will if you put a bullet to my head. Why do you think I would hurt any of you?! How could you not trust me?! I'm your god damned handler!" Altaïr growled. Ezio grabbed the man's wrist to pry them loose. His eyes were wide.

"Do you WANT me to tell you?! Will that fucking SATISFY your curiosity? Do you want to know what that symbol is? Do you want to risk our friendship?!" he added angrily. Ezio's eyes remained on his stubbornly, not giving in. Altaïr heaved a sigh and let the man down. Once Ezio's feet met the floor, he immediately glared up at his handler. He was pinching the bridge of his nose and his left hand was on his hip.

"Tell me now Altaïr."

"Fuck... God dammit Ezio... I'm an assassin."