Argh...the site wasn't working well last night, so I wasn't able to work on the next chapter. Grr...but on the bright side: AC4 just showed up randomly at my house and it turned out my bf had pre-ordered it as a surprise gift for me. :D He also got me a figurine. :) Which reminds me, for my birthday he got me Altair's sword and Ezio's dagger as well as a figurine of Ezio and an Assassin's Creed symbol car sticker. Freaking amazing. XD I feel lucky.

Chapter Eight: Necessum

Desmond watched as Malik and Altair conversed heatedly several feet away, their Arabic harsh and their glares just foul. He understood. He was asking them not to trust their Mentor, whom they had known for so long, and instead to trust him, whom they had known for only moments. Their worry had only increased when he had activated the Apple to show them a glimpse of its power. Fear had been evident in their faces and Desmond had known they knew what such power could do in the wrong hands.

Kadar shifted from where he was leaned against a wall and flicked a worried gaze to Desmond. The younger Assassin had arrived during Desmond's explanation and had been as terrified as his brother to know of the power of the Apple.

As Malik and Altair continued to argue on the roof, Desmond shifted on the cushions and pillows of the chamber and licked his chapped lips.

"Water?"

He glanced at Kadar, surprised by the offer. "Um...sure. Thank you."

Kadar passed him a jug and Desmond took note of the grey sleeves and hood proving Kadar was a lower ranking Assassin, though not a novice any more given he had a hidden blade.

"What will we do?" Kadar asked, watching Desmond nervously with his bright eyes.

"Well, Malik and Altair will decide what they wish to do." Desmond set the jug back down after a sip. "Though I will continue with my mission. I could use supplies, regardless."

"What do you think they will do?" Kadar questioned, shifting his weight across the wall.

"I think Altair will do whatever he wants to do." Desmond snorted, recalling how arrogant Altair was at this time. "While Malik will do whatever he believes is the best for the Brotherhood and you."

Kadar's gaze flicked over to him before returning to the fighting duo. "I don't know..."

"I am sure of it." Desmond stood and stretched before passing the jug back to Kadar. "Thank you again."

"Of course." Kadar took the jug and then stopped Desmond from ascending to the roof. "Are you a Master?"

Desmond grinned. "Trained by the best."

"Incredible." Kadar gaped at him and Desmond's smile faded.

"Kadar." Desmond looked at him pointedly. "The Creed comes first. Altair...he's a good Assassin, but he's an idiot blinded by arrogance. He doesn't become a great Assassin until he sets aside his pride. Believe me on this."

"I heard that." Altair growled and Desmond grinned up at him.

"Don't worry, Altair." Desmond reassured him. "You get better."

Scoffing the Assassin descended into the Bureau. "We will get you proper Assassin robes. I don't know what this is that you're wearing."

"Temporary attire." Desmond replied and followed the Syrian into the adjoining room.

It didn't take him long to done the robes offered to him, taking for himself the hidden blade as well as various other weapons, such as a knife, sword, and throwing knives.

"No bombs, crossbow, or gun..." He mumbled to himself in disappointment before walking towards the others as he slipped the Apple into a pouch at his side.

"Ready?" Altair asked. "We set out for Masyaf."

"We are going to be taking the Apple to Al Mualim then?" Desmond didn't like this, knowing what the man would do with the power. "You refuse to heed my warning?"

"We must see his reaction to acquiring the power." Altair stated. "We cannot blame him for something he has not done."

"He is already apart of the Templar Order." Desmond reminded them. "If I must acquire the journal detailing this I will. I cannot let Al Mualim get his hands on the Apple."

"And how are we to know you are not the traitor?" Malik questioned harshly. "You arrive out of no where and tell us what we are supposed to believe."

"I am telling you what I know." Desmond corrected. "You can believe what you wish. If you must see firsthand the betrayal of your Mentor, so be it. I understand. At the same time, I have a duty I must begin now. Thank you for your assistance, but the Apple remains with me."

"That is not something I can allow!" Malik objected. "The Apple must come with us back to Masyaf and to the hands of Al Mualim. If you are a friend, would he not know?"

"And if he is a traitor, do you truly believe he would call me friend?"

"If he is a traitor! Your words mean nothing without evidence!"

"I can produce some!"

"I do not trust you. Leave the Apple with us."

"If there was anyone I trusted the Apple with, it is you, Malik." Desmond stated. "But at the same time I cannot let you hand it to Al Mualim."

A familiar sound caught Desmond's attention and he immediately stepped away from the approaching projectile. The flaming arrow struck the ground where he had stood and ignited the carpet.

"Templars!"

The Assassins quickly got themselves out of the Bureau while the rafiq patted out the fire. Several Templars had gathered around the Bureau, among their number standing Robert de Sable.

"Great." Desmond grumbled as he flicked out his hidden blade.

"Hand over the Treasure, Assassins." Robert ordered. "And perhaps we spare your lives."

"His head is mine." Altair growled.

"No, Altair!" Desmond hissed at him. "Don't! It is best to..."

"Run?" Altair spat the word. "I am not a coward."

"It is not cowardice, but wisdom!"

The Syrian did not listen, however as he leaped into the midst of the Templars, easily cutting down the pawns standing between him and Robert.

"Malik!" Desmond pulled out the Apple. "Take this to safety. I'm going to help him."

"What?" The other man juggled the Apple when it was tossed to him, his eyes wide. "Hey!"

Ignoring the other Assassin, Desmond leaped down into the crowd of Templars, just as swiftly fighting off the knights. The rush of delivering blows and clanging swords sent adrenaline like acid into his veins. He grinned, incapacitating several men before realizing they were now giving him a wide birth.

"Altair!" Desmond called, unable to see over the mob of helmets and swords. "Altair!"

"Desmond!" Kadar cried from above and Desmond glanced up to see the young Assassin pointing.

He was entirely surprised to see Altair on the ground with Robert de Sable standing over him.

"Damn arrogant fucking piece of dumb shit..." Desmond ground out as rushed the terrified Templars standing between him and his ancestor.

Two slashes cleared the way and he barely blocked the death blow about to pierce Altair's heart. Robert was knocked off balance and stepped back to regain his footing.

"Ah, and who is this?" Robert smirked at him, his eyes bright with malice. "Another pawn?"

"You're the pawn, de Sable." Desmond told him. "Now stay back."

"You seem a bit protective of your brothers for an Assassin." Robert pointed out and in the same second motioned to a man beside him. "How about this?"

The man beside Robert lifted a crossbow and fired it, Kadar's cry quick to follow.

Altair was on his feet again, his blade cutting into the archer and then into any Templar to stand in his way while Robert slipped back into the crowd. Desmond had already turned from the fight and rushed to the rooftop, kneeling beside the young Assassin's side.

"Oh, god..."

Desmond inspected the wound. It had missed Kadar's heart, though only barely. He was terrified to pull out the bolt, knowing the blood would gush out the moment he did.

"Shit." Desmond pulled off the red sash around his waist and pressed it to the wound around the bolt. "Shaun! Rebecca! If you can hear me, pull us out! I know you can do it! So do it!"

There was a buzzing sensation almost instantly across his skin and he pressed the wound harder as he reached for the bolt.

"Come on! Don't be assholes!"

The sensation ignited into a fierce burning and he was yanked into the void.

As he fell through series of light and darkness, Desmond tried to orient himself. Around him, he could hear a voice speaking, but he couldn't identify it or the words it was saying.

"Italian?" He finally whispered as he listened to the words growing louder. "Ezio?"

The words suddenly rang clear in his ears in the unmistakable voice of Ezio Auditore.

"Eventi sono inevitabili e storia destinata a ripetersi."

Desmond's mind reeled as he was slammed back into solid ground and he rolled off the Animus, gasping for breath.

"I got the bolt out." Shaun's words floated up into the air while Desmond tried to pull from his haze. "I'm stitching him up now. Rebecca, give him some painkiller, morphine or fentanyl will do. I need iodine and water and a wash clothe!"

"I'll get the water and towel." Sergio rushed from the room.

"Are you all right?" Someone knelt beside Desmond and placed a hand to his shoulder. "Desmond?"

"Get a first aid kit for Shaun." Desmond instructed, shaking the queasy feeling. "I'll help him stitch the wound. I've done this before."

He watched Vito leave his side and he pulled himself upright long enough to find Kadar's side and kneel there.

"It's losing blood fast." Desmond informed Shaun. "Don't worry too much about it being sterile. Just get the wound closed. We can combat infection, but loss of blood is not a battle we can win easily."

Hands covered in blood, Shaun grimaced at the suggestion, but didn't argue it as Rebecca and Sergio returned with the supplies they needed to begin the emergency operation.

Desmond sat down at Kadar's bedside, weary both of body and of mind. Shaun had finally finished chewing him out over changing past events while the other Assassins looked on in disappointment. He had let his emotions win, as Shaun had said.

"You care too much about the Assassins you were once friends with." Shaun had told him. "You let these emotions win! You changed history because you didn't want them to suffer and you've risked our existence because of it!"

"I didn't!" Desmond had argued. "Ezio told me!"

"Ezio?" Shaun's brows had pinched. "What? You were in Altair's time..."

"Eventi sono inevitabili e storia destinata a ripetersi." Desmond had repeated the words and watched as the Italian Assassins in the room raise eyebrows at the words.

"Events are inevitable and history bound to repeat itself?" Vito had translated into his rough English. "What does that mean?"

"Kadar was shot." Desmond had tried to explain. "He was supposed to die this time as well. Even though I took the Apple. Even though I changed events, they still happened. Altair still faced Robert de Sable. Malik still left with the Apple for Masyaf. Al Mualim will still get his hands on the Apple. Some things can't be changed. They are inevitable."

"By this logic then," Shaun had responded dryly. "How do you intend to change the past for your purpose here in the future."

"I don't know." Desmond had answered, enraged. "But I will figure out how if it is the last thing I do."

"An event that sounds like it too will repeat itself." Shaun had pointed out. "Which means, no matter how hard you try, Kadar is probably going to die as well as you. His vitals are unstable and he's laboring to breathe. I doubt he'll make it through the night, but you can cross your fingers, pray to Allah or God or whoever you wish, and reflect over what you've done. I don't know what you are thinking. I'm sure you have some kind of plan, but it'd be nice if the rest of us knew it too."

Desmond had crossed his arms and glowered at the man. "I will tell you what you need to know when you need to know, Shaun. For now, I'm going to take a shower and then 'cross my fingers, pray to God, and not reflect over what I've done' because I know I'm in the right."

He had stormed off to do just that, but hadn't followed the last bit of his statement. Reflecting over past mistakes was a common problem of being human and it made sleep near impossible.

Yay! New chapter out! I hope you like it! XD Also, my bf told me I should let you guys know about my DA account. I mostly post random art, but am currently working on an original story, which is why I haven't been posting as many chapters of this fanfiction. My apologies. XD I'm LittlePigArt on DA if you want to check it out. :)