Im sorry. Imsorryimsorryimsorryimsorry imsorryimsorry… Need I go on? I would've updated earlier and I have a whole slew of reasons/excuses (you can take them either way) but I figure you want to see what happens next before you hear me ramble on. Well, heres the next chappie. Sorry again.

Small note. I usually copy and paste my chapters when uploading them on to and its being a pain because every time I copy and paste my chapters it takes away my bold, underlined, and italicized features and it's a pain to go through my work and redo them so this is what im doing now.

Thoughts= *blah blah*

Emphasis on certain words= /blah/

You'll see me use both kinds in this chapter.

Enjoy

Chapter 22: You're My Partner

I wasn't even sure how I was staying awake. It must have been that damn, god-forsaken, ingrained habit of mine to wake up at this time that had me cursing quietly, but viciously, as I stumbled out of my nest. I had stayed up /way/ too long last night. Barely managing not to do a face plant and keep my eyes open, I went through my normal routine and was soon ghosting out of my room and down the hall.

There was no way I was consciously thinking of where I was going as I moved. My focus was turned inward as I rubbed the armor over my chest. The pain was still there, sharp as ever. It had been hard last night to pass off how bad I was to Altair, but I don't think I fooled him one bit. It was near debilitating, but years of dealing with pain had me on my feet as if nothing was wrong. God sometimes I resented those years. How come I couldn't be human for a day and curl up in my nest, wallowing in my pain? The universe hated me.

I gritted my teeth as I pressed harder on my chest before blinking hard and looking around me. To my surprise I had made it all the way to the edge of the forest without even thinking. I sighed and smothered a yawn as I hiked into the forest as usual. It had been a while since I'd done this. Almost an entire week I had been away dealing with Tamir and riding with Altair.

Altair.

Normally I prided myself on being able to read the motives and emotions of the people I saw interacting around the castle, but this man stumped me like no other. Why had he been mad last night? I hadn't done anything wrong. I'd carried on like an Assassin should, showing no pain and never giving up. It was weakness if an Assassin caved into the demands of their body. So why was the man angry when I was doing as I should and showing him that I was a worthy partner? It was infuriating. It was illogical. /He/ was infuriating and illogical. Wasn't this how partners were supposed to act around each other?

I muttered curses as I stepped across the river stones to the opposite bank. Ever since Altair became a key part of my life I seemed to be cursing more, mentally and vocally. If my wings had been out at that moment they would've been flared out in anger.

Anger I didn't show.

Like an Assassin should.

Damn maddening man.

As I entered my clearing I looked around and absently rubbed my chest as I remember vaguely that this had been where Altair had landed last night. When I had struggled and fought to hide my weakness. All of that for naught anyway. He was just as mad as if I had shown failing. Confusing.

Sighing, I forced the whole event out of mind and went up to my usual spot to begin my training. My mind had just settled into the blank state I needed to begin and my muscles were coiling to move, when a voice startled me badly.

"You are not doing any work today and that is final."

I jumped and spun, grabbing a throwing knife as I went. The blade was just about to leave my grip when I saw the familiar figure of Altair. Panicking, I barely managed to redirect my aim to a tree, inches from him. He didn't even flinch as the blade thudded home in the wood.

My fear turned into anger and I snarled before smoothing out my features and pushing back my hood so I could narrow my eyes at the man. "That could've been your heart, Altair," I stated coldly, stilling the tremors of my hands.

"But it wasn't," he replied cockily as he too pushed back his hood. I casually pulled my knife out of the tree as he approached me.

My mind replayed what he had said before I had reacted and I crossed my arms. "Who are you to say whether I will train today or not?"

I saw fury flare in those amber eyes as he placed my knife in the sheathe strapped to my side. "Your partner," he growled.

Tired and not willing to expend the effort of pretending, I threw up my hands in exasperation. "The same partner who is supposed to watch your back, which I cannot do if I do not keep up my training," I snapped.

"You can't do it either if you're in enough pain to knock you out of the sky," he retorted as he crossed his arms as if to make himself appear bigger.

Some instinct in me saw this as an intimidation attempt and my wings slid out of my back and through my robes to also spread out menacingly as I jabbed a finger at him. "That has no play in this now."

Those amber eyes met mine coolly. "Liar," he accused calmly. "You are still in pain even now." I opened my mouth to tell him I was not, but I froze, stopping the lie. Altair nodded in satisfaction at his suspicion being confirmed. "You are not training while you are still recovering from last night."

I bristled. *Oh he did not,* I thought scathingly. "You have no right to order me around, Altair. And I have no intention of obeying you."

Altair stiffened before he stopped and seemed to look me over from head to toe. Realizing he was looking for something and still pissed off I folded my wings in tight to my back and resumed an unreadable stance and facial expression, but it seemed as if he had already seen what he wanted. The man took a deep breath and relaxed his stance before calmly saying. "Shahin, as your partner and friend it would ease my worries if you didn't do anything strenuous today so that whatever damage you took last night has a chance to heal."

I just barely managed not to gape at him, though my eyes did widen in shock. Did Altair just ask…politely? It took a minute for me to elegantly respond. "What?" I squeaked.

Altair kept his patience as he explained. "It angered me when you didn't take the time to even think about caring for yourself last night and instead did things that could've harmed yourself further. You are still feeling the pain from last night, which says that whatever caused your pain last night has not healed, and I think it best for you to take it easy until you are completely healed."

This time I did gape. *Where did this come from?* I thought dizzily. I opened and closed my mouth, looking like an idiot I'm sure. It took a moment and noticing that Altair was amused by my reaction, the quirk in his lips and glowing eyes a dead giveaway, before I snapped out of my stupor. "You were mad because of /that/?" Altair nodded. And I slumped, thinking quickly. *So I'd had it all wrong? He was mad at me for doing what an Assassin /should/ do? He wanted me to show I was in pain?*

I finally shook my head and turned away from the man, digging my fingers into my scalp and trilling in confusion. Altair's deep coo made me turn as he tilted his head and whistled questioningly. I chittered and puffed my feathers out in a show of agitation. He cooed again and followed quietly as I continued towards the pile of rocks that lead to the underground hot spring. I went underground with only one glance skyward.

Altair trilled a query/welcome? after me and I whistled a affirmative/welcome for him to enter. He did so cautiously, glancing at me as if I would suddenly deny him entrance and I chirped in a laugh, which caused him to scowl at me.

I recognized that we had both slipped into a nature that was not human, but we let it go. I myself was curious at the instinctive knowledge that allowed me to make and understand the sounds we both made and translate them. It was pleasing on a much more baser level than anything I'd ever experienced. I preened a little at the pleasure before letting my cape fall from my neck. Altair froze and watched with wide eyes as I brought my wings into my clothes long enough to shed my robes. Then he turned and made to leave the underground spring.

I laughed quietly and called after him, using words since no bird sound could communicate my reasons. "Relax, Altair. I'm not going to strip completely."

"It's indecent," he snapped quickly, halting halfway up to the entrance.

"Well, I'd rather not go back to the castle in soaked clothing." When he still didn't move I smiled. "Altair, I'm going to teach you how to swim." /There/ was a reaction. My friend stiffened and looked back at me with wild eyes as I kicked off my boots. I gave him an innocent look. "What? If I'm not going to train then I'm going to do something productive. Since you've seen fit to care about me, your partner, then I see no reason not to return the favor." Still the wild eyes. I set my feet into the warm water and looked at him. "We're going to Acre soon, with the ship yard. It's best you learn how to swim before you take an unplanned dip." When he still didn't move I held out my hand and hummed soothingly. "It's alright, Altair. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

I watched as his eyes darted from me to the hot spring to the entrance and back around a few more times. I sang softly, not moving, letting him make the decision. Finally he gulped and came towards me in halting steps. It was another few minutes as he took of his boots, robes, shirts, and weapons so he was clad only in one pair of pants, his second resting in his pile of clothes next to mine. He hesitantly sat beside me, staring at the water and I slowly moved my feet through the water, still singing. I could see how much it took for him to slide his legs into the water next to mine by the way he held himself statue still.

I didn't push him as I kept kicking in the water and singing. I didn't have to worry about a repeat of last night because the man was obviously too stressed to even consider singing with me and triggering the pain, though my chest throbbed in remembrance.

I was just starting to consider ways to help Altair calm down when I saw his feet beginning to kick as well. I hid my smile well and nudged his foot with my own, causing him to stiffen again until I did it again and again until he nudged back. I made it into a game, dodging his attempts. He soon caught on and I saw him glance at me out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't look up as I seemingly focused on our game. It got more complicated as he started to resort to feigns and using both feet, but I kept out of his reach, much to his frustration and my amusement.

After a while of this I finally slid to stand in the waist high water. Altair made a small sound of surprise and my upper arm was locked in a steel grip. I looked back and cooed soothingly as I gently tugged him, telling him I wanted him to join me. When he shook my head I glanced down at the grip and then back at him. He didn't let go when I took a small step away, only leaned out farther. When I took another one he growled at me for the first time since he came towards me. "That's enough, Shahin. Come back here. You aren't supposed to do anything strenuous."

I cocked an eyebrow at him and took another step. "I'm just standing in water, Altair. This hardly takes any effort."

"Get back here."

It was the look of fear and worry in his eyes that made me cave. We'd gone far enough for today. I could get him to come farther when we came back from Jerusalem and Acre. I'd only have to watch out for him if our work took us to the ship yard. I smiled and obeyed his hard grip, sloshing through the water until I was close enough for Altair to physically lift me out of the water he so hated. The feat was made easy by his strength.

He quickly vacated his seat and didn't look at me as he gathered his clothes and left the underground spring to change. I let him go, feeling I pushed him far enough with last night and this morning. I changed into my drier clothes, pulled my wings inside my back, and exited my spring to see Altair idly pushing one of my dummies around, testing its speed. This was one instant where I could read him easily.

He didn't want to talk about what I'd put him through. And I was willing to oblige. For now.

I glanced at the sky, judging the time before I asked. "Youwanna train?" At his sharp look I allowed my eyes to roll. "I meant you, idiot. Would you like for me to teach you my training routine?" I knew the answer as he silently glanced at the dummies and the well used targets I had around the clearing. He nodded and I pointed to the spot of ground I used for warm-ups.

I think I would enjoy pushing Altair physically instead of emotionally. He would be easier to deal with exhausted.

I would get around to pushing emotionally later. He needed someone who could push him.

And who better to do so than his partner?

A good chapter I think. Not as long as I would like but the library computer time limit is about to kick me off so itllhave to do for now. So I mentioned reasons/excuses earlier right? Well im not gonna bore you with them. I have good news instead. Im getting a laptop for Christmas! Even beforethe 25th. So soon ill be able to work on this story everyday!Im so excited! No more twenty minute walks to the library! Just be a little patient and ill do my best until then. Its winter where I am and that means the sun sets earlier so Icant stay at the library for more than an hour after school before its dark outside. And no one like walking home in the dark so that problem will soon be solved!

On another note, thank you to everyone who has responded to my question on my future AC stories and the animals I should use. Im glad to report the plot bunnies have been RELEASED! For now, I have to finish this story and then ill begin on Ezio. And please don't be shy to still send in your ideas. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY IDEAS!

Thank you for reading and bearing with me. Next chapter I plan on skipping the whole road trip to Jerusalem and getting right to the point. Jerusalem will take a chapter or two only because theres a certain someone in Jerusalem that needs more attention. I hope you guys are looking forward to the next chapter like I am!

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!( and yell at me for taking such a long time. I deserve it.)

p.s. Thank you Samtemplesangel, IslandBacon, and imsure there was one more person. Bu tthank you for bugging me! I really needed it!

Safety and Peace, Brothers and Sisters.