COMMON ENEMY

Author's Note:

Again, I would like to say thanks to those that reviewed the last chapter of Common Enemy. The names will be written in the order of which the reviews were received, not alphabetically.

Future Dictator Inc: Don't worry about mistakes. I have the iPhone and the autocorrects that it makes drives me up the wall. So frustrating, I understand, I find that I can't turn it off either, otherwise there will be even more mistakes. Once again I would like to thank you for reviewing the recent chapter and I'll try and get the story updated as quick as I can. Unfortunately I'm at a state where life has me stuck in a rut. Education, family, life, etc, I'm pretty busy. I hoped to make Alex's touches down low and subtle. He's only just met Desmond, and this is pretty much the closest his gotten to another person, aside from Dana, so he's just naturally curious. Plus, Desmond's past and attitude fascinates him.

Ayazani: I like to think I should thank you for taking the time to reply to my writing. I have confidence and self esteem issues I suppose you could call it, and when I first decided 'Yes, I'll go ahead and post this story, hope for the best' I was scared I would get no feedback. Seeing you review was just what I needed and I'd like to let you (and other reviewers) know that I know you're there. (So long as it doesn't bother you, but tell me if it does, I have the habit of saying sorry and thank you a lot to make sure I don't offend anyone by not acknowledging them correctly). Just so you know, I don't think you're a 'tard' as you so eloquently put it, I'm just not much of a person that listens to music past orchestral pieces or instrumental. Perhaps you would be able to give me the name of the song?
I updated this as quickly as I could before my schedule becomes too full. Come summertime I should have access to my laptop and the internet more freely before I go on holiday during that time. To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to update too soon because I was just staring at the chapter thinking that it was far too short in comparison to the one before, as I would like to keep the amount in my chapters as equal as possible. (It's more of a quirk, though my friends enjoy calling me a perfectionist lol)
In regards to Dana, thanks for giving me advice on her attitude, I'm glad that I was able to structure her in a way that was adequate in your opinion (considering you have a lot more information than I do on the game. I have all my information from videos, a scarce few other fanfictions and the Wikipedia of the game).

XxMidniteRosexX: Thank you for the review. While I'm not that sure of my writing and how I set things out, I'm glad that you find this fanfiction of mine 'glorious' as it were. You're almost making me blush! I'm happy that you're enjoying my writing and I hope that this update here doesn't disappoint you. I'll continue this whenever is possible for me.

Mitternacht: Thank for taking the time to review. I'm pleased that you love it, and hopefully you wouldn't have had to have waited too long for this next chapter here to come out. I hope you also read and enjoyed the second chapter considering your review was for just the first chapter.

Kichi Hisaki: I, myself, was thinking of it as curiosity, perhaps. Alex hasn't really had the opportunity to be close to anyone in a 'friendly' manner other than his sister so he is genuinely 'curious' I suppose it is, about Desmond being so close to him without trying to kill him or without Alex having to kill him. Hope that you enjoy this chapter.

YizelePhantom: I'm going to have to admit that your comment made me laugh quite a lot. I'm glad that you enjoy their personalities, because I wasn't too sure of them myself. I've played no PROTOTYPE and only a little Assassin's Creed. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story so far and I hope your 'feels' are satisfied by this chapter. I don't want them to be hurt.

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I told myself I wouldn't write such a long note again, but I suppose I really can't help myself, so I'll apologise in advance that these thousand odd words just take up space and don't add to the story at all. Because of this, I'll add at the bottom how many words the story itself is, so you know how much of it is story, how much is a note. Enjoy the third chapter of Common Enemy!

Chapter Three

Desmond, who was by this point thanking any god and deity who may be listening, had managed to slip back into Abstergo undisturbed, changed his clothes to those of his work uniform minus the apron as that was at the bar, and quickly nipped back outside, deciding it would be in his and his health's interest to amble slowly towards the bar rather than stay and possibly encounter Vidic. As it was, he had been given a foul, yet knowing look from Shaun as he walked by.

After having a coffee and croissant as well as emptying his bladder at the cafe that he was supposed to have met Dana in that morning had events not been altered, he had filched the time off of a stranger reading a newspaper just two tables away and then started walking towards the bar, deciding by the time he got there, he would only be fifteen minutes early. They'd probably let him start then, too, because of his leaving early the previous night.

Desmond didn't even pay attention to the man that had folded away the newspaper then, settling it on the table next to an empty plate as he then proceeded to follow Desmond out of the cafe and down the street. Nothing was thought of it until Desmond had taken several turns and the man was still staying exactly the same distance away, nondescript and just as normal as anyone else. It made Desmond reach new levels of discomfort but chalked it down the discomfort. He couldn't lash out at the man in case it actually was a civilian, or in case it was a Templar or Assassin. Hitting any of the three was not high on his to do list and neither was being accused for murder should he crush the man's windpipe.

By the time that Desmond had pushed open the door to the bar, he was holding in twitches, his paranoia making him feel sick and agitated, eyes flickering about the room as he quickly ducked beneath the counter that led into the bar and alcohol area before he walked into the adjoining staffroom.

The room was uncharacteristically empty, and while it made the paranoid feeling Desmond have worsen, he was thankful that no one was in there to see his odd attitude. He pulled his apron, nametag still attached, off of a peg and pulled his head through the hole, suddenly wishing that someone was there in the room, if only to tie his apron at the back.

Bowing his head forward and closing his eyes in concentration, he reached his hands back and started fiddling with the lengths of material in an attempt to start tying the apron in a loose bow. He'd barely started when warm, smooth hands batted his gently away.

Desmond flinched, not too much but just the right amount given the situation he was placed into and allowed the person to do up the ties on his apron. Considering what he had felt of the person's hand, being that soft he decided it was one of the girls. Because of the occasional brush of knuckle to his back and waistband of his work pants, he realised it could most likely be Tracy, perhaps, the young woman yet still two or three years his senior who enjoyed flirting with him.

When the apron was tied, Desmond was alerted by a gentle tug on the knot that had been formed. He turned around quickly, a thanks ready on his lips when his voice died in his throat. It was the stranger from the cafe. Without really thinking of his actions and their implications, i.e. never seeing the light of day should he kill this person and Vidic get wind of it, he slammed his fist into a surprisingly hard stomach, pain jolting up his arm because of the solid muscle he had hit. However, this was enough to startle the man, who staggered back half a step.

With a slight of hand, Desmond slipped a knife out of the inside of one his long sleeves, the work garment altered so he could hide almost any manner of weapon on him. Not even wasting a moment, he worked the other man's height against him as he tried to grab him, assassin skill and reflexes giving him the grace needed to simply duck behind the man, hook one foot around his ankle and drive his knee into the back of the man's knee, sending him down as Desmond used one hand to expertly pin both of his arms behind his back by gripping the almost feminine and slim wrists in a tight grip, his other hand holding the knife to his assailant's throat, moving to bend a leg so his foot could press against the man's neck.

"One reason. Give me just one reason or I will slit your throat without a second thought." Desmond lowered himself to hiss the threat into the man's ear, pressing the flat of the blade against the carotid artery, as if caressing his skin with the metal. He ignored the awkward and twisted position that this forced him into, not daring to either let go of his attacker's wrists or lift his foot from the restriction it was pressing into the man's back, keeping him on the floor.

The man did not reply but the man beneath him made a motion very close to some sort of vibration, the skin of his wrists humming and ever so gently thrumming underneath Desmond's fingertips. The crisp white dress shirt that the man was wearing slowly started to stain black, spreading outwards from the centre of his back.

Desmond pulled his foot away slowly, followed by the rest of his body, sure he hadn't hurt the man but yet still uncertain over whether or not what was dirtying the shirt was blood. He was given his answer as the man straightened with an almost familiar ease and grace he had just seen a few hours prior and as the stranger turned to face him, he underwent a strange shift which gave a glimpse of a writhing mass of something that was tinged black and red and looked ominous.

Seeing just that, before the finishing result, Desmond relaxed immediately, sliding his knife back up his sleeve and swearing. "For fucks sake Alex, what possessed you to try and scare the ever loving shit out of me? Has nothing I told you earlier on sunk in at all? I'm the most paranoid son of a bitch in Manhattan you jerk."

Alex, once the change had finished, had the decency to look both apologetic and sheepish. "I did not realise that you would react so negatively though now, when I review my actions, I know what I did would have undoubtedly set off your latent abilities."

"You stalked me for about three blocks and snuck up behind me in my work place. Not only that, but somehow you were wearing the face of a person I have never seen before." Desmond folded his arms, raising an eyebrow at Alex as he tried to force the rush of adrenaline down. "How on earth, when I have the senses and paranoia of not one but two assassins, was I not supposed to act negatively? There was no way it wouldn't have set me off."

Before Desmond could get an answer, there was the sound of faint humming from a little ways beyond the door. He grimaced, realising that Alex was neither allowed back where he was at the moment and that that fact could get him fired. Without thinking twice of it, he grabbed Alex by the front of his jacket and dragged him towards him. Desmond himself backed towards the wall, waited until his back was resting against it and then slipped his hands around Alex so he could shove them into the back pockets of his jeans, arms resting lightly against Alex's hips.

"Put your hands on my sides, round my neck, whatever, and tilt your head the opposite way to mine," Desmond whispered harshly. "You at least owe me this for scaring the crap out of me; I could lose my job if you were caught in here for no reason." The position the two were in made Desmond feel all sorts of uncomfortable, being a great lover of personal space, but as soon as this job was gone, then he had no excuse to get away from Vidic aside from assassination contracts. As soon as the tyrant heard of him sparing Dana Mercer's life, then even the contracts would dwindle and Desmond would be no more but a prisoner to Abstergo, to the Animus and to his mind.

Alex, thankfully, caught quickly onto what Desmond was suggesting, moving one hand to grasp the back of Desmond's neck very gently, as if afraid just the brush of skin would break Desmond's spine, his other hand settling on the wall next to Desmond's shoulder, twisted just so that his thumb pressed against the crisp work shirt as he murmured a soft; "Sorry." He was a little tense, his touches light. For how close and grabby he was getting while at the apartment, he was now acting as if just the slightest movement would scare Desmond off.

Desmond ignored this and simply tilted his head to the side and slightly up, watching Alex tilt his head down and to the other side slowly, close enough that Desmond could feel his cool breath on his face, soft exhales that were refreshingly minty, wondering for a brief and almost hysterical moment if his own breath smelt bad and if Alex could smell it across the small distance.

There was no more time to dwell on this, however, as the door opened, the room echoing with the sound of humming that cut off abruptly as the two were obviously seen.

"O-Oh, Desmond..." A high pitched, slightly hysterical giggle rang out and Desmond only hoped that his face looked as flushed as it felt because of this compromising position as he slowly turned his head to face the door, making sure to lick his lips and keeping his mouth slightly parted, as if he were dazed.

At seeing the women stood there, he had the decency to look chagrined. "Sorry Tracy..." Desmond slowly pulled one of his hands out of Alex's back pocket, scratching his head gently. Alex had moved to press his face to Desmond's neck, lips barely brushing the skin of his collarbone. Desmond tried to ignore this fact to the best of his ability, realising it probably wasn't intentional and that Alex was trying to keep his face hidden. However, it still made some of his muscles tense, his instincts screaming to him that he shouldn't let anyone near his throat, a vulnerable place.

"N-No, it's okay...I mean, I am e-early and so are you...Oh, geez, um..." the flustered woman in the doorway just quickly darted in, snatched up her apron and stumbled back out. "Carry on!" She tried to keep her voice cheery, though it went high pitched and cracked towards the end from embarrassment as she slammed the door shut behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Desmond tried to arch his neck away from Alex, whose mouth was still close to his skin, as he was starting to pass the boundaries of 'I'm Feeling Uncomfortable' and shot straight into 'I'm Freaking the Fuck Out'. His second hand had also slipped out from Alex's back pocket and gently pressed against his shoulder, a silent urge for him to step back.

Alex took the initiative and obliged, moving completely away through the motion of stepping backwards until there was a respectful distance (and a little more) between them. "I apologise for getting so close. I didn't want to be seen. My face has been plastered all over the city; I didn't want to be seen. I've been known as a terrorist for a long time."

"You don't need to explain yourself to me." Desmond's voice was a little more clipped than he would have liked it to be and he swallowed thickly, running his hands over his head and scratching behind his ear. "Before I forget, sorry for threatening your life, sorry for forcing you into that awkwardness there and I'm sure I should be sorry for a bunch of other things, but I can't think of what they are right now. If you want a drink tonight, then I'm working the left side of the bar. You should leave this room first, if you keep your hood up, no one will be any the wiser. Tracy would have spread the word by now."

Alex nodded silently and complacently to Desmond's words and instructions before asking tentatively, "'The Word'?"

"The word that Desmond Miles is flaming gay for a tall hooded man and was caught kissing him in the staffroom of the bar. However, I suppose that would be killing two birds with one stone as it is. Tracy isn't going to be asking me invasive questions about my personal life anymore."

"Ah. I understand." Alex nodded slowly before leaving the room without another word, just a lingering glance that he shot in Desmond's direction before it was blocked by the door swinging back into place because of its weight. There had been a contemplative expression on his normally passive face.

After Alex had left, Desmond waited for a few minutes, fiddling with his name tag and making sure that the knife up his sleeve had no way of falling out. Hopefully the bar wouldn't get too warm that night because he wouldn't be able to roll his sleeves up out of the way without cutting himself or losing the blade. Neither of the options were the greatest in Desmond's opinion.

Sighing softly, Desmond walked out into the bar, eyes scanning the seats by the side he was assigned to, automatically picking out where Alex was sat by the languid way he sat and leant against the bar. Plus the hood and jacket was a dead, dead giveaway. How nobody knew it was Alex Mercer, the previous number one terrorist in the states, Desmond did not know. When Alex lifted a hand in a semblance of a wave, Desmond gave a start, realising that he had been staring at the man. Alex had gestured without even looking in his direction, almost causing wariness to automatically jerk through Desmond's body.

Instead, Desmond chose to smile softly to himself and shoved his hands into his apron's pockets, leisurely making his way towards the side of the bar he tended. He got most of the way there when a hand reached over the counter and snagged his shirt at shoulder height, a tug gaining his attention.

Desmond let his eyes drift to the side and he came face to face with Shaun, whose hand then slid down to rest against Desmond's wrist. "What are you doing Desmond?" he murmured voice just loud enough to be heard over the pounding music. He'd had to lean in so he was better heard.

Shaun's answer was just a shrug from Desmond as the bartender lowered his eyes. Eventually he got a vocal response. "I don't know what I'm doing Shaun. I can't tell you what I might be doing either. What's the point of getting two people into trouble, when one is just fine, hmm?"

"Desmond..." Shaun began, squeezing his wrist gently. "Don't do anything stupid, or I might just kill you myself if the situation doesn't do you in."

"Excuse me. Let him go." Alex suddenly interjected, pressing his fingertips against the skin of Desmond's arm above where Shaun was holding him. Shaun had stiffened, but snappishly asked, "Why should I? What's he to you?"

"I believe my sister and I spoke enough with him both last night, and at a cafe earlier during the day. Besides, I have knowledge that you are both his ex, and violent considering how hard you hit him prior to today."

Desmond tried to hide how pleased he was by Alex's words and acting. He seemed to know that Shaun didn't know that Alex knew. Desmond himself didn't want to Shaun to realise how much Alex had been told, and Alex was respecting that.

Shaun gave Desmond a look that seemed to ask 'your ex? Really?' before he sighed heavily and turned to Alex again. "Maybe you should back off since this is clearly a private and personal conversation. You do not have any right to interrupt us."

"It's his place of work. Unless you want the police being contacted, I suggest you don't make a scene." Alex raised an eyebrow and Shaun tutted, looking to the side and shoving Desmond's arm away from him as he walked towards the door of the bar.

"Thanks," Desmond murmured. "But you probably knew you probably didn't have to do that."

"I just wanted to see Shaun for myself," Alex replied rather mildly. "Also, I wanted to give him a piece of my mind the previous night for hitting you, though now I know it was a ruse. While I'm not above violence myself, I do not enjoy observing it being utilised on someone undeserving such as yourself."

Desmond couldn't help but chuckle, walking down the bar and watching Alex mirror his movements on the other side until he was sat on the seat he had been on previously. "Believe me Alex, I don't believe I'm undeserving. There are many things I've done that have deserved punches and perhaps even worse."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to elaborate for me?"

Desmond looked to his hands as he kept himself busy starting to make Alex a drink. "I'll only tell you some things. Other's I'm not proud of and even more I don't want to remember any more. In their own way, they're all painful for me to remember. The one's that are in Altair and Ezio's memories have a risk of pulling me in, so you'll have to keep an eye out for that if we get far enough in our conversation for me to mention it." He slid across a glass of the drink he had made. "Don't worry about paying for anything I give you tonight. It can all go on your 'tab'."

Alex gently touched his fingertips to the edge of the glass as he stared into the darkly coloured liquid. He didn't ask anything, but Desmond knew what he wanted to ask. Though Alex wasn't human, his curiosity was that and even more.

Before Desmond could speak, there was a call for him from down the bar and he signalled to Alex, who nodded in return, despite his eyes not even facing Desmond's direction. Desmond walked down the bar, musing over his thoughts. It would be an understatement to say that he was worried about what Alex's involvement in his life would cause. Whatever the outcome, he just knew that it wouldn't be pretty. Not with a worldwide organisation such as the Templars, and a former biological terrorist such as Alex Mercer.

DISCLAIMER:I do not own Assassin's Creed or PROTOTYPE. They and their characters belong to UBISOFT and ACTIVISION respectively.

I'm sorry, but it appears to me that this chapter is a little shorter than the one before. I hope this isn't a trend. I had the idea of updating about once a month, but I have exams that I have to revise a lot for coming up in less than a month's time. This means that I might not update until June or so. Thanks for all your support so far though!