Free as a Bird
The new headquarters was just as remote as the cabin but at least this place was a little more modern looking. The cabin had been just that, a cabin. Yes, it had underground facilities and the like but the ground floor had been all linkin logs. Montana was looking up.
The first argument had been about rooms.
The Animus had been put in the sublevel communications room just down the hall from the training room and thankfully all the living quarters were above ground.
Everyone's bags were in the open living room that overlooked the mountain through huge floor to ceiling windows opening onto a wrap around deck. Lucy was sitting primly on the couch, her bouncing knee the only sign of her irritation. Rebecca was beside her, upper body on the wood floor and feet up on the couch cushions.
Surprisingly it was Altair and Leonardo fighting over placement.
Malik sat beside Ezio on the couch opposite Rebecca and Lucy's with his elbow on his knee and head in his hand. The hood of his sweatshirt was pulled up to hide his eyes, something he only did when a migraine was setting in.
Ezio's hand was inside Malik's hood, rubbing small, comforting circles into the dark skin. This more than anything caught Desmond by surprise. Altair was terribly possessive of his lover where Ezio was concerned, but for some reason he seemed not to notice. Was a room really that important?
Shaun's arm wrapping around his waist broke him from his thoughts and he tuned into the actual argument.
"I don't understand why this means so much to you, amico mio. The rooms view is spectacular, giving me a valid reason to want it based on my artwork. Give me a similar reasoning and I will gladly hand it over to you." Listening to Leonardo talk was sometimes like a cross between a lawyer and the Italian mob. The man got what he wanted.
"Why should I need a reason? Altair shot back. "I want because I do, that should be reason enough. Besides, I laid claim to it first." The last bit was tacked on in an almost child-like whine.
Desmond would have found the whole situation funny if it weren't for the almost caged look in Altair's eyes. The assassin was hiding something; something he thought would either damage his image or his standing in their little group.
"Altair, please. I just want somewhere to rest. If a decision is not reached soon I will be just as happy to pass out on this couch ." The pained tone in Malik's voice immediately caught Altair's attention and he turned grey eyes on the other assassin.
Ezio removed his hand without prompting and Altair moved to crouch in front of Malik, gently touching the man's arm. "I'm sorry, but this placement may be the deciding factor in my sanity."
Malik shifted forward to rest his forehead against Altair's chest. The migraine must have been bad, Malik wasn't usually touchy feeley in front of others. "Then damn your pride, Altair. Tell them so we can sleep." Color tinged Altair's cheeks and he set one hand on Malik's head.
The silence that followed was wrought with tension and Ezio sighed, "We will think nothing less of you, Altair. Leonardo simply wants a valid reason to give up his-,"
"It has access to the roof."
It was all that he needed to say and everyone understood. Altair had been half crazy at the cabin. Unable to simply go outside and breathe fresh air. Silence again settled and Desmond was bout to say something stupid to break the tension when Shaun's arm tightened around his waist.
Leonardo cleared his throat. "Then I acquiesce. Freedom is something a man of your caliber and profession requires. I'm sure the other rooms have just as spectacular a view."
Altair nodded stiffly and hauled Malik to his feet. "Finally," Malik muttered. "I thought I was going to be made to actually sleep on that monstrosity." His voice dripped with sarcasm but he mouthed a "thank you" at Leonardo when Altair bent to retrieve their bags. "I assume we'll see all of you in the morning then?"
A chorus of nods met with his question as he and Altair trudged up the stairs.
"Soooo..." Rebecca muttered. "Dibs on the room by the kitchen."
Ezio laughed and Lucy resisted the urge to slap the other woman. Barely.
