Daytime progressed into nighttime as the trio made their way back to Jerusalem. Somewhere along the long dirt road, the vast nothingness around them seemed to lull Desmond into a strangely comforting sense of calm and security. And somehow he fell asleep with the gentle thrum of the bike and the movement of Altair's back against his body making him sleepy.
"I do believe he finally gave up and fell asleep." Altair chuckled quietly to Ezio, being sure not to speak to loud least Desmond be disturbed. Ezio looked over at them from where he rode beside them and he laughed at the passed out Desmond on Altair's back. He almost found the scene before him cute. Seeing the tough assassin he had come to know have another sleep against his back like that on a bike.
"I think your right. We had better pull over and secure him or else he might fall off." Ezio suggested his mind pulling up heartbreaking scenes of the American crashing to the ground while they were flying down the empty two lane road. Altair nodded and slowed down the bike and pulled over to the side of the road. Ezio followed in suit and stopped behind them his head light beams illuminating the two in an ethereal glow. Ezio dismounted and came forward and held Desmond up as Altair straightened on the bike. Ezio slid the lens to his helmet up to reveal his face in the pale moon light from the full moon above their heads.
"So how are we going to secure him?" he asked shifting Desmond into a better position against him. Altair lifted his lens as well and regarded them for a moment. Then something flashed in those golden eyes of his, an idea perhaps. Ezio watched with a raised eyebrow as Altair stripped off his leather riding jacket and handed it to the thoroughly confused Ezio. The Italian tilted his head to the side in confusion. What exactly was he going to accomplish with this article of clothing?
"Wha-?" Ezio trailed off. Altair rolled his golden eyes and sighed with great annoyance.
"Use it to tie Desmond to my back. It will help keep him in place." Altair explained very slowly dragging out each syllable as if talking to a child. Ezio just glared darkly at him. Altair only ignored the angry look and turned back around. Groaning Ezio repositioned Desmond so he leaned comfortably on Altair's back before setting about securing Desmond to his counterparts back. After making sure the younger was settled he tied the leather jacket around Desmond and Altair's waist. It made it, barley and it would hold. Apparently satisfied with the arrangement, Altair kicked the engine back on making it purr as Ezio slapped the lens back down on his helmet and jumped back onto his. Altair looked back behind him making sure the Italian was settled and ready for the next leg of the journey. Ezio gave him a thumbs up in the darkness that he just barely made out before Altair took off down the road. the only hint he had that Ezio followed him was the resounding purr of the bike and the added glow on the road that threw his shadow across the road. They didn't stop till they hit the small gas station they had stopped at the day before. Parking at one of the pumps Ezio pulled off his helmet and frowned.
"Any clue how we are perhaps going to pay for this?" Ezio asked coming up to Altair who was righting both himself and the sleeping Desmond as he pulled off his helmet as well.
"It seems to me the only alternative is to hope they haven't changed out the trash." Altair replied flatly hinting at the credit card Ezio had thrown out the last time they were here. Ezio gapped at him, his mouth opening and closing a few time in silent protest.
"You threw it away." Altair pointed out. Ezio grumbled and stomped over to the trash can he had disposed the card in before. He peered over the edge of the trash can and looked at the contents. Scrunching up his nose in disgust he reached in and dug through it for a moment before producing a thin plastic card in question. Being sure not to leave any fingerprints behind he swiped the card in the machine and pumped gas into the two bikes. While the bikes were filling up Altair and Ezio down a five hour energy, the drinks would keep them awake long enough to return to the Bureau.
Once the bikes were ready they set off once Ezio had again disposed of the card. A few hours later the vast desert like region turned into a mesh of thick trees the smell of pine and decaying leaves and foliage the sound of the nocturnal animals echoed in the vastness of the dark night. Then the forest abruptly ended and the bright lights of Jerusalem stretched out before them bearing its glory to them accompanied by the sure promise of home and comfort. Ezio sighed at the sight. Over the past several year of working as Altair's partner he had come to call the city home very much like Florence back in Italy. Altair was just happy to be back in familiar territory and away from the judging dark haunting eyes of the other assassin of Masyaf. For both assassin's the sight of their home caused them both to accelerate and blitz down the road with renewed vigor.
Finally a little past one o'clock in the morning the trio entered the garage. When the low hum of the engines died down and the silence feel over them could the two master assassins hear Desmond gentle breathing through the communicator in the helmets. Altair and Ezio shared a smile as the youngest continued to sleep blissfully against Altair's back. His chest rising and falling in a deep peaceful rhythm but with all the youngest had been through neither of them had the heart to rouse the boy from his restful sleep. The Syrian carefully straightened in the seat being cautious not to upset Desmond or to dislodge him from his perch. Carefully removing his riding helmet and tossed it to Ezio who caught it expertly and hung it up on the wall along with his own. The Italian then moved over and untied the American from Altair's back and held him in his arms bridal style. Altair slowly and gently removed the helmet off the boy's head and shifted Desmond till with their combined effort did they remove the riding jacket the boy wore.
By this point in time the exhaustion and tension from the day at Masyaf caught up with them as well and their bodies ached. Ezio shook his head dispelling some of the cobwebs that plagued his mind threatening to pull him into the blissful nothingness of sleep but still he couldn't stifle the yawn that slipped past his scarred lips. Altair regarded him for a moment his golden eyes softening in understanding, Ezio could also see the bone deep weariness that seeped into those golden orbs. Ezio shifted Desmond in his arms, still unhappy with the lightness of the boy. Desmond's warm breath brushed against his exposed neck as they headed out of the garage. Altair flicked the lights off and shut the door silently behind them as they entered the alleyway.
Above their head the sky was a blank canvas dotted with white glitters of light their beauty almost unrivaled save for the full moon that hung majestically beside them in the sky. The air, like all deserts come night fall, was cold now giving a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the day. But it honestly didn't help the two assassins as the cold only added to their tiredness. They quickly reached the Bureau. Altair opened the alley level door and held it open for Ezio to walk in with Desmond without trouble. There was a soft glow coming from the other side of the door where the main room that led to the upper levels resided.
Ezio nudged the door open with his foot and peered in. Malik stood behind the counter immersed in a piece of paper he was writing on, on the desk. Kadar was passed out at the said counter with a chair pulled up to it. His head was cushioned by his arms that were cross on the counter. The younger Al-Sayf's sleep seemed fitful occasionally the younger novice assassin would shift and mumble something that sounded along the lines of Desmond's name. It wasn't till Malik set down the ball point pen in his hand and stroked his brothers black locks did the boy settle once again. Altair cleared his throat loudly enough to get the Rafiq's attention but not loud enough to disturb the two sleep occupants in the room.
Malik's head shot up and his hand froze on his brother's head. But when his eyes flickered over to Altair first before the tense stance Malik had adopted eased. Then his eyes slid to Ezio then down to the sleeping Desmond in his arms. The sight of Desmond being there made relief was through the one arm man's eyes. Then his face took on one of slight worry as his eyes narrowed.
'Is he alright?' Malik mouthed silently to the two assassins. Ezio nodded and adjusted Desmond in his arms.
'Yes he is only worn out from the judgment.' Altair mouthed back. Malik nodded his face darkening at the words.
'Is he a field assassin?' came the next question. Ezio nodded to the question. Malik hummed and nodded back.
'Go get some sleep. You all deserve it.' Malik ordered leveling them with a stern glare. Ezio only sighed too tired to argue with the older Al-sayf. Malik reached over and tapped his younger brother's shoulder rousing the boy from his fitful sleep. Blue eyes fluttered open and a yawn escaped him as Kadar sat up rubbing at his eye with his knuckle in a childish way. Sky blue eyes narrowed in the dim lighting of the Bureau before resting locking onto Desmond sleeping form in Ezio's arms.
"Des-" a hand slapped over his mouth silencing him. Kadar made a few muffled sounds of protest at his brother and sent him an unhappy look. Malik shushed him.
"Enough Kadar. Let him sleep. Now you go to bed as well." Malik ordered in a hushed voice. After a few minutes of a silent staring contest between the brothers Kadar conceded and Malik removed his hand from his brother's mouth and Kadar retreated up the stairs dejectedly. Malik watched his bother leave before nodding goodnight to the two assassins and leaving himself. Ezio sighed dramatically thankful that now he was allowed to finally sleep. Altair chuckled and flicked off the lights and they went back into the first room. Ezio stooped over and deposited Desmond on a pile of pillows after removing his backpack. Altair draped a blanket over the American. Then the two set about setting in for the night. They huddled closer together in the cold of the night.
"Buona notte Altair (Good night Altair)." Ezio whispered into the dark room to the tanned assassin. There was a rustle of cloth that alerted him to the fact that Altair had turned in his direction.
"Good night to you too Ezio." Altair replied softly as he reached over and absently ran his hand through Ezio's long brown hair before turning back over and curled back up under his blanket. Soon afterwards sleep consumed both the assassins and they followed Desmond into the pleasant darkness of sleep.
Assassin's Creed: Lovers in arms
Desmond floated back to consciousness feeling slightly out of place but not alarmingly so like he had in Masyaf. The last thing he remembered was being on the bike heading back to Jerusalem, now he was on his side curled up against something warm and moving rhythmically…wait what the hell?! Desmond's eyes snapped open only to see white. He blinked and shook his head. Slowly he propped himself up on the pile of cushions. Ezio was asleep facing Desmond, an arm thrown over the younger's stomach. So that's what it was. The American had curled up against the Italian during the cold night for warmth sharing boy heat. But Ezio was still out cold so apparently Desmond's abrupt waking up didn't disturb him. Looking past the long haired brunette his golden eyes sought out the tanned assassin on the other side of Ezio where he normally was. But in the nest of pillows and blankets there was only an impression where a body had been. Altair was already up he deuced. Yawning Desmond rubbed what sleep remained in his eyes and after gingerly peeling Ezio's arm off from around his stomach headed upstairs to the kitchen area searching for Altair or at least some food and coffee or maybe even some milk if Malik and Kadar had any.
For once he wasn't the first person up, surprisingly. Altair was seated at the kitchen table nursing a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Desmond raised an eyebrow but walked across the room. Altair looked over his should at Desmond watching him questioningly. The younger went to the cabinet and plucked a mug off the shelf and fished the jug of milk out of the fridge and poured himself a glass before replacing it in the fridge. He then seated himself across the table from Altair. Desmond smiled softly at him and he got a half smile in return over the edge of Altair's coffee mug as he took a sip.
Desmond looked at him for a long moment. It was rare Desmond saw the man without his hood up. For whatever reason there was rarely a moment the older wasn't wearing it. But now Altair had his hood down, the fabric pooling abnormally around his neck almost like a scarf, leaving his face in full view of the rising morning sun. Altair's face was well chiseled, smooth at a distance, but worn up close. Across his face were pencil thin lines barely noticeable against his desert tanned skin. Scars, Desmond thought. There was one thin one along his cheek another above his eyebrow. And several more, one even disappeared into his hair line. But each one was barely visible and Desmond really had to look to see it. The man had seen a lot of action. But the American knew most of them were, more likely than not, from fighting templar's or gained during a mission or just training in general. His were none of the above. his were giving to him by force. A testament to his captivity, to the pain of being held by Templars and the horror they could do, and from being who he really was… an assassin by birth.
"Hey Altair…" Desmond spoke up softly. Altair hummed looking up at him as the tanned assassin set his cup down on the table.
"Why are you and Ezio working together anyway? Don't assassins work alone?" Desmond wondered. Altair was silent for a moment mulling the question over in his mind as he thought apparently finding the right way to answer the question.
"Yes… assassins normally work alone. But there are handfuls, a very small, number of us who work in groups of two or more depending on the mission. We are often given harder missions and objectives to complete than other assassins. Teams of two are often disliked by a majority of the brotherhood." Altair replied simply.
"Is that why everyone was giving you a dirty look back in Masyaf?" Desmond tilted his head in curiosity.
"Yes, to a degree. But not completely." Altair said darkly, the American caught the bite to the sentence hinting at some other dark memory behind that sentence he filed his next unspoken question about what was the other reason with the 'things not to ask'.
"But the reason Ezio and I work together is something you should, perhaps, speak to the brat about. It is not my place to tell his story." Altair said offhandedly waving his hand as if he were waving off some smoke. Desmond blinked suddenly very interested. How could the Italian come into contact with Altair from Italy all the way here in the Middle East? That would be an interesting story indeed he made a mental note to ask sometime.
This train of thought was derailed as the thunderous sound of pounding feet across hardwood gave him exactly half a second of warning before a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind and hug him tightly. The motion startled Desmond and he nearly spilt his milk. Kadar had him in a crushing bear hug, so tight Desmond felt his rib cage protest at the pressure. Altair chuckled as him as the Syrian sat back in his wooden chair his arms crossed over his chest with amusement. Desmond sent him a look along the lines of 'thanks for the warning, ass.'. Altair only gave him a half smirk in reply and shrugged one shoulder.
"Kadar, choking not breathing." Desmond wheezed finally to his friend. The younger Al-sayf seemed to get the hint and released him instantly. Altair snorted as Kadar flounced into a chair next to Desmond his blue eyes alight with excitement. Desmond inwardly groaned. Seriously where did this kid get all his energy so early in the morning.
"Desmond I am so relieve to see your okay!" Kadar exclaimed.
"I'm glad." Desmond smiled back.
"Is it true you are training to be a field assassin?" Kadar asked bounding in his seat like a hyperactive child.
"I think so." Desmond's eyes shot over to Altair for confirmation.
"Yes you are to be trained as a field assassin like Ezio and myself. Your training begins today." Altair replied as he took another sip of coffee.
"I take it you are taking the boy to the house on the outskirts of Jerusalem?" a new voice spoke up. Desmond looked up to see Malik walk into the room with a pair of jean on, his chest bare as he used his good arm to rub his still wet hair with a white towel. Apparently the Rafiq had just taken a shower.
"Morning Malik!" both Kadar and Desmond chimed. Malik grunted and inclined his head in response.
"Yes the one where you had Kadar trained his first few months." Altair confirmed.
"What are we talking about?" came Desmond's confused question.
"Oh. There is a house out in the forest, just outside the walls of Jerusalem to the north where I was trained for about four months before I was allowed to do any real missions." Kadar answered. Desmond nodded while taking another swig of his milk. By that time Ezio apparently found it a good time to rise from the dead and join the land of the living looking more or less like death warmed over as he trudged across the room. Just before he made it to the table he tripped over the corner of the rug. Altair must have seen the impending doom of the Italian taking a header to the floor, or at least his head and the hard wood becoming very good friends suddenly, because he snapped out an arm and gripped Ezio's arm, steadying him.
"Grazie Desmond (Thanks Desmond)." Ezio muttered at Altair. Altair shook his head with a roll of his eyes and let go of his partners elbow and allowed the Italian to crash land into one of the dining room chairs. Desmond snorted, definitely not a morning person in the least. His stomach growled alerting him to the fact he hadn't eaten since noon or so the day before. Pushing his chair back Desmond opened the cabinet and searched in vain for something edible to eat. Luck seemed to be on his side when he discovered a box or Pop Tarts in the back corner. Pulling out the box he checked the top looking for the expiration date. Knowing Kadar and Malik they probably bought it years ago and forgot it was even back there. Surprisingly the expiration date wasn't for another month or so. Shrugging Desmond took the box back with him to the table and set it out for the others.
Apparently strawberry was a favorite for assassins seeing as they all took one. Ezio even seemed to wake up enough to snag a package before they were all gone. Altair stole Malik's from his hand and opened it in half a second before handing it back to the rafiq. Malik frowned unhappily at him.
"I can open my own stuff novice." Malik snapped only to be ignored as Altair snatched up a plate from the cabinet and popped his in the microwave on the counter by the sink and Ezio ate his plain along with Malik Kadar and himself.
There was a noise downstairs and all the assassins in the room turned toward the doorway. Rebecca's head popped up over the edge of the staircase as she climbed it. Shaun's red head came over next followed by Lucy.
"Hey guys! Desmond is back!" Rebecca pointed. Shaun blinked at him from across the room. Desmond, with half a Pop Tart hanging out of his mouth, waved to them. Rebecca came over to him and hugged though considerably more gently than Kadar had. Shaun's green eyes held hidden relief though a frown was fixed on his face. But it was Lucy's reaction that caught Desmond off guard. Her face went from shocked to confused to happy in under a second. The look came and went so fast Desmond wondered if he had imagined it. But he filed it into the back of his mind. What was that about?
"Glad to see you back Des." Rebecca smiled down at him.
"Thanks Rebecca." Desmond replied.
"So what are you going to become Desmond?" Shaun asked moving across the room to make a new pot of coffee apparently not a fan of Altair's decaffeinated coffee as the last of the brown liquid was poured into Altair's cup and the glass was washed out.
"A field assassin I think." Came his reply. He got a confirming nod from both Altair and Ezio on that fact.
"Once we have finished breakfast, we'll take him to the cottage to start his training period." Ezio piped up.
"Well it's better you be a field assassin and not a support assassin. Your terrible with computers." Lucy teased as she stole a coffee cup and poured some coffee into her mug adding milk and sugar that seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"Hey I'm not that bad." Desmond snapped back quickly.
"Ha. You are too you managed to break an iPod before. Oh coffee!" Rebecca exclaimed as Shaun offered her a cup. Desmond huffed at her. Why was it that whenever they were having an argument people seemed to remember things clear as day. Besides the IPod wasn't his fault the ass at the bar that broke it first.
By the time 7:30 rolled around, Altair Desmond and Ezio had all showered and changed, they were out and on the road for the cabin in the woods that the others had been speaking about. They had made a quick pit stop at Desmond's neighborhood to pick up some more cloths and even some food and other necessities that they all would need. Many of them dirt were cheap, seeing as they were in the poor district. As they rode out, Desmond rode on with Ezio seeing as Altair had the backpacks with all their stuff on the back of his. How he managed to keep it on Desmond didn't know. They soon entered the forest and Desmond didn't see where this house could be. When they first passed through this area there was no mail box, no driveway or dirt road anywhere to go by.
"So uhm…where exactly is this house?" Desmond asked looking around.
"Right here." came Ezio's quickly as he took a hard right off the main strip of road. Desmond clutched tighter to Ezio as the ride suddenly turned into a bucking bronco.
"Hold on up there." Altair teased, Desmond could almost hear the smirk in his voice.
"No fucking kidding!" Desmond said back only to shut up so he wouldn't bite his tongue as they bounced along. As quickly as the bumpy ride started, it ended and there was a well worn dirt road. Ah so that was it. The road was hidden a little deeper into the forest away from wandering eyes. Desmond smiled, that was smart. They drove on for another five minutes before they came to a large clearing in the forest.
"Here it is Desmond." Ezio announced as he slowed the bike down and pulled to a stop in front of the house. The house was a two level house with a large front porch. Ringing the house was nothing but dandelions and other wild flowers. The house itself was a faded bluish gray color and the roof appeared to be a tin roof, built to last and withstand the elements.
"It's nice." Desmond said honestly. Really it was. It was a simple house but he had never really been in a house, house before. Sure he lived in an apartment and in an apartment build back on the farm and in the Bureau with Malik and Kadar but never a house.
"You better this is where you will be training and living for a few months." Altair said bringing Desmond crashing back down to reality.
"Kill joy." Desmond muttered and Ezio chuckled as they dismounted the bikes and unpacked Altair's bike. Desmond took his two backpacks and Altair and Ezio took their two backpacks each. Altair fished out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. Altair pushed the door open and the smell of dust and unlived in house was enough to knock a person off their feet.
"When was Kadar trained here? The late Jurassic?"Ezio asked Desmond laughed but Altair apparently didn't find it all that funny seeing as he smacked them both on the back of the head. Dejectedly they set about opening windows and airing out the house and turning the electricity back on. Desmond got the layout of the house down quickly. There was a living room, kitchen and dining room down on the first floor. On the second floor there was a single bedroom, with a king size bed, a library and a computer room. The bedroom had a large walk in closet and a dresser and a bathroom off it. The dining room on the first floor opened up onto the back porch with a view of the ring of trees standing guard around the house. The bedroom also opened to a balcony area. Really it was a nice little house.
"Va bene ora Desmond. (Alright Desmond). Time to see what you can do." Ezio announced as they finished putting some of the boxed food up in the kitchen cabinets.
"What do you mean?" Desmond asked as Ezio lead him out into the back yard.
"Well… we need to see what you already know. Such as fighting and attacking. Then we will work from there." Ezio explained as they stepped off the porch and onto the grass just under the
"Okay." Desmond nodded in understanding.
"When we get to that point, I will teach you how to fight with guns and other longer ranged weapons. I will also teach you different assassination types, such as ledge assassination and assassinations from inside a trash bend." Ezio continued.
"So what is Altair going to teach me?" Desmond questioned. There was a thud behind them and Desmond spun around to see Altair crouched behind him apparently having jumped down from the balcony above them down to the main level.
"I will teach you basic combat, hand to hand so to speak. I will also teach you how to defend yourself with such things as a knife and a baton. You won't always be able to use your hidden blade. Sometimes you will be without it and you need to think outside of the 'box' to find way to fight back. Ezio will also teach you how to pick pocket and some things about poison and other necessities when your training gets to that point." Altair explained seriously. Desmond nodded.
"Alright so when do we start?" Desmond asked. Ezio smirked as he and Altair fell into half crouches and backed away from Desmond a good distance away. Desmond blinked at the two assassins in confusion.
"We told you. Your training begins now. Come at us with your hidden blade try and hit one of us." Altair ordered. Desmond stared wide eyed at them. What the crap were they thinking? He could seriously hurt them with his blade.
Desmond looked down at the blade on his arm. With a tiny flick of his wrist and a barely audible swish the blade ejected, the steel kissing the tips of Desmond's fingers as he spread his fingers. He then looked at his identical teacher. They waited and watched him, waiting for him to make the first move. Desmond's face hardened and he surged forward towards Ezio first deciding it between to take on Italian rather than the Syrian. But just before he managed to lay a hand, or blade in this case, on the Italian the sky and the ground switched placed and Desmond found himself on his stomach with his arm twisted painfully behind his back and a blade poised at his throat.
"If this is how you're going to start things off novizio (novice) then this is going to be a long couple of months." Ezio whispered in his ear. Desmond growled and squirmed under Ezio till the Italian let him up. Altair had a solemn look on his face.
"Do it again." Altair ordered. Desmond got up and sprung at them again.
Assassin's Creed Lovers in arms
Hello everyone. I most humbly apologize for my lack of updating this story. Some jack shoved me down the stairs at school because I was gay. I ended up tumbling down two flights of stairs I managed to break a leg and end up with an awful concussion so I was at the hospital for a while. And most of my time was spent keeping my boyfriend from going on a murderous rampage on the guy who pushed me. but I'm back and I give you a nice chapter to read so please enjoy!