A/N: Argh guys I'm sorry this took so long! I just got finished writing this after a severe bout of writer's block, which is why I started other stories, but now ATGB2 is back and going to be updated regularly! X3

…

(AmaiPOV)

I pulled myself up onto the roof with shallow breaths and immediately my hand was back to my stomach, curled around at my side. The crowd back on the ground was probably making astounded comments at my climbing skills, but all I could hear was the rapid beat of my heart. My muscles ached and my lungs burned and my wounds stung with bloody pain and all I knew was that I needed to get to the bureau now.

So as I finally stood over the woven roof of Malik's safe haven I couldn't help but let out a rattling sigh, even though shadows were clawing along the edges of my vision. And although quieted by my loud pulse I could still hear Altair and Malik's angry voices when I dropped into the anteroom.

"Stop arguing and help me," I shouted, and as my knees buckled and I fell to all fours I let out a string of French that I would never care to repeat.

"Amai, what happened?" That was Altair's voice, I think. It was close and there were hands on my shoulders.

"Too many guards…" I heard myself answer, weakly, as I squeezed my eyes shut in pain. "I… missed an archer…"

"I see," and that was Malik, his voice calm and understanding. I gasped as he examined the arrow in my side. "The arrow isn't very deep, but these cuts are…" His fingers brushed the skin along one of the deep gashes on my back. "Good, they don't come close to any of you bones."

"We can see that," Altair barked with disdain.

"…Not the time," I hissed through clenched teeth.

"I agree," Malik said. "We should get the arrow out first."

Altair's hands moved from my shoulders to my face. "Amai, I need you to relax."

I could do nothing but nod as Malik was saying, "Stop talking and get your ass over here."

"What?"

"You need to break the arrow, as you see I can't do it," he hissed.

"Dammit, this is not the time!" I yelled, tired of their ceaseless disputes. They were silent for a moment, and I imagined they were looking at me in surprise.

"Right." Altair huffed and I heard him move over. "Brace yourself."

I held my breath and felt the arrow twitch when Altair grabbed it. There was the sound of splitting wood and I let out a small cry, my fingers clenching the pillows below my hands tightly. Assassins don't cry, assassins don't cry, I was telling myself over and over.

"There, it should be easier to remove now," Altair's voice came soothingly to me. I nodded a little and he thumbed away the wet line on my face, without the usual scolding.

Malik removed the arrow and sighed. "She needs stitches. Altair, here; you clean her wounds, I'll get the supplies."

There was shuffling as he stood, and he disappeared into the doorway. Altair took away my gloves and gauntlets, then moved back to undo my belt. My hood went over my head, and before long he was peeling my garb away from the bloody gashes on my back.

He moved away for a moment, but before I even thought to complain he was back, softly cleaning the wounds with a cool, wet cloth. "Amai, relax. Your muscles are too tight for me to clean well. The worst is over with."

I obeyed and let my tightly held muscles loose, feeling suddenly lighter yet heavier at the same time. All at once I was too tired to stay up on all fours; I felt myself fall forward as everything went black.

…

When I woke up the world was dark. The sun was long gone, the sky black, and the bright yellow moon threw interesting shadows across the floor of the anteroom. I sat up only to grunt with pain as something tugged at my back. I twisted around to grab at the tight bandages binding my wounds.

"You shouldn't do that," I looked up at the sound of Malik's voice. "You'll pull your stitches."

"Sorry," I mumbled and righted myself. "Where's Altair?"

"He's finishing your mission," he answered. "You should've seen him when you fainted. He panicked."

"Panicked?" Altair was not one to panic.

He nodded. "He said he was cleaning your wounds when you just… fainted. He didn't know what he'd done wrong," he paused for a second, as if unsure of what to say next. "He really cares about you, you know. One could go far enough to say that it was love, but I'm unsure if he's capable of any emotion besides contempt."

I mirrored his slight smile, but had nothing to say.

So he went on. "You should've seen him before. He was arrogant, self righteous. A real pain in the ass. But he's changed all that now. Whether he's actually learned his lesson or it's your doing, I'm not sure."

At that moment, Altair dropped in from the roof. Even in the low light I could see relief overtake his usually passive expression and before I knew it his arms were around me. I was wreathed in the familiar scents of hay and sweat and he murmured, "I'll never let this happen again."

Right after he said this I was sure I heard Malik from the inner room, "She did it."

…

A/N: Yes, yes, it was a bit OOC at the end. This chapter was kinda-sorta transitional, but what happens next is a major point in the story.

Until next time, safety and peace. *bow*

-D0N