This was stupid, Malik said. I don't know, I'm kind of enjoying it, Jacob said cheerfully. Of course you are, only you would enjoy getting beat up by a woman. Hey hey! Lucy ain't a woman, she's a lady. Same thing. You're just mad she's barely five six and has us joint lock. But really, I bet you like it. Hardly, Malik rolled his eyes.

"Okay, okay, I give," Jake gasped and patted the mat because he could feel his arm starting to pop. Lucy instantly let him go and rolled off him and right up to her feet. Jake stood a moment later. "Nicely done," he said and nudged her with a grin.

"Better than Altair beating you up?"

"Anything's better," he said and then addressed their students, who were honestly their age or older, "So, that's how you execute a joint lock. Now, who wants to try-

Jake cut off when the lights suddenly went out bathing them all in a deep darkness. A second later someone screamed. "Shut up!" he yelled and the childish scream cut off abruptly. "Christ this isn't elementary school its just the dark. Demeter," he called.

"Pluto? Mercury?" Lucy tried when Demeter didn't answer.

Then, just as suddenly, the lights came back up, only they were yellow instead of normal. Jake got a sick feeling, they lights reminded him of when Hawk trained him with the Apple. "Apologies," Demeter suddenly said. "Please don't be alarmed. Everything will be up and running correctly momentarily."

Lucy looked at Jake, "What was that?" she asked.

"No idea. Everyone," he called. "We're done for now. Take a break, we'll see you after lunch. C'mon," he added to Lucy and started off. She followed quickly and he headed to their war which was one of the command centers for Demeter they'd refitted for their purposes. Hawk was already here, talking.

"What do you mean you don't know what happened?" he was saying as they came in.

"It was an external power pulse, I don't know," Demeter said.

"What the hell happened?" Ezio demanded, barging in behind them. "I had to deal with thirty terrified mortals that suddenly the base was broken."

"I don't know," Hawk said calmly. "I'm trying to figure it out now. Fuck, where's Altair, has anyone seen him?"

"I'm afraid Altair won't be joining you," Pluto suddenly said from nowhere, sounding rather macabre.

"What do you mean?" Ezio asked.

"He currently has his hands full by being captured by Cain."

There was a pregnant silence, "Excuse me?" Jake asked. "What do you mean captured by Cain? How?"

"Cain took a chance while the lights were out-

"Cain?" Ezio cried, "Cain is out? How did he get out?" The AIs didn't answer. "Demeter, how did Cain get out?" he demanded, "Did he get out during your power outage?"

"No," she said.

"Then how did he escape? And why weren't we informed?"

"Because he didn't escape," Hawk said, "I let him out."

"Are you crazy?" Ezio demanded.

"Not this week I'm not," Hawk said.

"You let Cain out. What the hell is the matter with you?" and he shook Hawk a bit. "Did you know?" he turned to Jake and Lucy.

"No," Jake said, shaking his head quickly. Lucy wasn't so quick to deny it.

They turned and looked at her, "Did you know?" Ezio growled.

"I… saw him," she admitted, "With the children, the other day."

"And you didn't tell us?"

"I assumed you knew!" she said, "Why else would he be out if you three didn't know?"

Ezio turned and glared at Hawk, "Why did you let him out?"

"Because he isn't going to hurt us."

"How do you know-

"He's been out of his cell for a week," Hawk said, "I've been monitoring his behavior. He goes into the cafeteria an hour after everyone has to eat and then wanders Demeter between meals. Sometimes he visits the children. But he doesn't come near us, he's avoiding us."

"He just has Altair," Ezio snapped.

"And the Big Eagle deserved it," Hawk said, still calm.

"How can you say that?" Jake asked.

Hawk leveled his brown eyes on him cooly. "Because he locked a man in a box for ten thousand deaths. I think he can stand to die a few times," and Jake had no come back for that. "Now I want to know what that power outage was for. Demeter-

"I told you I don't know."

"Fuck me," Hawk rubbed his head annoyed. "Any shining ideas?" he asked them.

"No?" and they all turned and looked when the door opened again and Clay practically stumbled inside, gray faced.

"Clay? You okay, you look like you've seen a ghost," Ezio asked. Clay's mouth moved but he couldn't get the words out.

"Clay, bud, c'mon," Jake gently patted his back.

"Atlantis comes," Clay blurted out. "Atlantis has come, the Eden returned," his blue eyes were huge and wide. He looked… afraid.

"What?" Ezio asked. "What's that even mean?"

"Demeter," Hawk said, "Do you know what he's talking about?" Demeter didn't answer him. "For fucks sake don't any of you answer us anymore. Heron, ask the fucking question maybe they'll answer you."

"Me? Why would they answer me?" she asked, confused.

"Just ask," Hawk grunted.

Lucy's mouth went thin a moment, "Hera," she said, which seemed to surprise them all. "What happened?"

The masked woman appeared on the central table, "The future has come to pass," she said.

"What's that mean? What did Clay mean about Atlantis and Eden?"

Hera waved her hand above the table and a city rose up from the surface, "Atlantis, the first city of the proeathans. A state without politics, where proeathans could live and be free of our national wars. But they paid the price by being near the Unnamed," and an arch replaced the city. It was roughly squarish and reminded Jake of the symbol on Desmond's back.

"What's that?" Jake asked, it gave both Malik and Jacob an uneasy feeling.

"The Unnamed, the luckless, our Seventeenth symbol," Hera said, "The end. The center of Atlantis. But Atlantis was lost to us, during the first, an only, war with you humans. You sank it to the bottom of the ocean during what you refer to as the Toba Impact, which according to your scientists is where a large meteor struck the earth."

"And what is Eden?" Ezio asked.

Hera hesitated, "Control," she said, "You say Eden is a place. Once, yes, it was. It was a place we created for gifted humans, ones who showed abilities similar to ours. There they were trained, their abilities honed and used to keep their fellow humans in line through force. But when you began to rebel we killed them all and turned the Eden into more… useful devices.

"It was tradition that when a human of Eden passed away, or was killed through some manner, that they continued to live on in some manner. Their conciousnesses were transferred into our instruments, so they might serve us in death, as they had in life," she turned and looked at Hawk. "Our most common artifice was what you refer to as an Apple," and there was a heavy, deadly, silence.

"Oh my god," Lucy whispered and Jake felt sick. He felt physically ill by what Hera was saying.

"But now, Atlantis has risen, and if Atlantis comes, the Eden will follow," she continued. "Be careful now," she said, very seriously. "If the proeathans reestablish the Eden, those of you with our sixth sense will be vulnerable. You have the Eden within you, just like those before you, and the compulsion will be hard, if not impossible to resist."

"Where's Atlantis?" Clay asked, "Where's Desmond? Where's he in all this?"

"Returning," Hera said. "He has to collect a few things. But he'll be back with you soon."

"Is he the reason Atlantis rose?" Clay asked sharply. Hera's silence was enough of an answer. "He's going to destroy everything!" he cried, "You know that right?"

"We do," Hera said, passionlessly. "As the new future told. Our people saw a shining future for our race, without humans. But they didn't account for your tenacity, or for his rage. He can destroy everything we've worked for, or he could spare us with his mercy. Whatever he decides, we shall obey."

The house lights came on, flooding out the yellow Eden-like light from before. Hera seemed all the spookier, in the bright light, with her faceless mask, and shining yellow eyes, wrapped in a dark cloak. A creature of darkness come into the light. "Is that all you needed of us, dear?" she asked Lucy.

"Yes," Lucy said, her voice quivering. Hera blinked away and a moment later Lucy sagged and Jake helped her into a chair. Clay was just sitting on the floor, staring at where Hera had been standing a moment again, mouth open a bit in open horror.

"What do we do now?" Ezio asked and they all looked at him.

"We wait till Desmond gets here," Hawk said, sounding sure at the least. "There's been a lot of talk by a lot of people about our Little Bird, but we haven't seen him in weeks. I think we need to let him speak for himself on this whole end of the world business."

"Hawk-

"What?" Hawk asked Ezio sharply.

"We're totally in over our heads."

Hawk's mouth flinched and for the first time Jake saw Hawk actually look afraid, though afraid not of what was to come, but because he didn't know. The unknown was terrifying for him. Maybe that's why he hates boats and planes, Malik said. He's surrounded by something he can't know or control.

"I'm going to find Altair," he announced.

"Cain might still be around," Ezio said.

"Well not like he can kill me," Jake said though Jacob's voice only didn't tremble because Malik held it in place.

"Just stay out of his way," Hawk said, "He doesn't want to kill us, not really, all he cares about is the Big Eagle."

"I won't give him an excuse," he said. After a moment Hawk nodded and Jake left the war room feeling like he'd just been hung up on a clothes line and felt to dry. He was trembling. "Demeter," he said, "Take me to Altair."

"Yes, Jake," she said and a line appeared on the floor, Jake followed it.

—

Jake found Altair, to his surprise, in one of the garden, tied up with some sort of wrap bindings, a piece taped across his mouth. Even more of a surprise was that Cain was nearby, crouching on the ground next to him. Jake didn't make his presence known at first, afraid of the immortal. Instead he hung back, mostly out of sight, looking through some of the leaves.

Cain just was next to Altair, not really moving, just looking down at him, his back towards Jake, so Jake couldn't see his face. Then, to his complete surprise, Cain leaned forward and cupped Altair's face. Not like how Jake would, but in a familiar way regardless.

"You know I just wanted you to be happy," Cain said, and continued to surprise Jake by speaking in perfect, dated, Egyptian Arabic. Altair glared at him like Cain had just called his mother a whore. "Just couldn't let me do that, could you Abel?" and Jake suddenly felt like he was intruding. Like he wasn't supposed to be seeing this side of Cain. Then he said something in a language Jake didn't know, but it sounded as soft and sad as his Arabic. Altair clearly recognized it and wriggled like he wanted to get out.

"Stupid kid," Cain said softly, back in English.

Go over there, Malik said. What? No, fuck that its safe here! He's not going to attack us. Yeah he will! No he won't. He didn't have a problem attacking us the last time we saw him. Though last time we were trying to prevent him from getting to what he wanted, Desmond. And if we don't go over there he could kill Altair. Shit, Jacob whined. Yes, now go over there.

Jake took a breath to steady him and stepped out from behind the foliage. Cain's head instantly twisted around and pinned him to the spot with his wolf-blue eyes. He swallowed in terror. "Who're you?" Cain asked. Altair yelled against his gag, clearly he didn't want Jake here. Well tough shit, Malik said, here we are.

"Ah- I-I'm Altair's friend," he said.

Cain cocked his head at him and narrowed his eyes, looking critically at him, Jake didn't want to admit to holding his breath, but he totally was. "Hello helper," Cain said.

"You recognize my voice…"

"Yes. I'm not going to hurt you. I told Micheal you have nothing to fear from me, as long as you stay out of my way."

"Yet you're hurting him," Malik said.

Cain bared his teeth at them, "A small repayment to what he did."

"Two wrongs don't make a right," Malik said. "All you're doing is driving him away." Altair looked smug and this so wasn't the time to look smug.

Cain got to his feet and Jacob took a step back, afraid. "Don't think you get to tell me if I get to punish my brother," he said. "You know nothing. You're an infant in front of me, a sprout beneath an ancient oak. You will never understand the burden of immortality."

"I'm immortal too," Jake said. "I can't die. I'll always come back-

"And you'll have him," Cain pointed at Altair. "And Ezio, and Micheal. Just as they will have you," and Jake saw Cain now and wasn't afraid.

"I'm sorry," Jake said. Because he saw why Cain was so angry with Altair. Altair had made Cain into… this, whatever this was. An angry, vengeful, god without a soul to comfort him, or care for him. And probably the worst part was that Altair didn't see it.

"Are you though?"

"I am," Jake said. "He means a lot to you, even though its been so long. He means a lot to me too, and I know what its like when he burns you."

Cain chuckled and it was hard and mean and cracked and glanced back at Altair who glared at him. "Yes, my Abel is like the sun. Warm and bright, but don't get too close, or he burns." Cain cocked his head at Jake, "What are you to him? A chew toy like Micheal and Ezio?"

"… No," Jake said slowly.

"Then what?"

Jake didn't answer right away, "Its complicated."

Cain laughed, "You think I couldn't understand little man?" he asked, "I've been alive thousands of years. I could understand."

"Altair thinks I'm his reincarnated boyfriend," Jake said. Well that was subtle, Malik said. What do you want from me you know I don't handle pressure well! Reincarnated boyfriend, Malik sighed. Its true though! I didn't say it wasn't. Then stop acting like it. Altair believes in that shit and thinks I'm you and not just me, but also that I am me and uhg now I'm confusing myself. Wouldn't be the first time. Be useful old man. Or what? Or I'll… I don't know. Yes yes Jacob, shut up.

Cain had the most peculiar look on his face and Altair was rolling his eyes. "I've heard some strange things in my life… but I think that one might take the cake."

"Like I said, its complicated," Jake said and stiffened when Cain drew closer. He swallowed as Cain circled him, looking at him from all angles, like a fucking shark. "What?" he asked and he started to get wicked uncomfortable when Cain muttered a little in a language he didn't know.

"You're a very strange man," he said.

"You're one to talk," Jake said.

"I've never seen someone like you before. Tell me, did Altair do this to you?"

"Uh… not exactly?"

"Who did then?"

"Hawk. And then Altair fixed it."

"Fixed it? Is that what he called it?" Cain snorted and Jake started when Cain stopped right in front of him. "Who else is in here?" he asked.

Jake swallowed, "What's it to you?" Malik asked.

"There must be some reason he didn't just kill you, or let you die. Micheal was an accident, so what about you?"

Jake looked at Cain, and then glanced down at Altair. Altair's eyes begged him to just leave. But he wasn't going to just leave Altair alone with Cain, not now. He looked back at Cain, who was waiting. "My name is Jacob Malik," they said at the same time, the words layering over each other.

"Ah," Cain said, "Yes now I see what you seem so familiar," he went over to Altair and crouched down next to him. He said something in what sounded like Greek, maybe, but it sounded older too. Altair yelled through his gag and thrashed, all he accomplished was to knock himself over onto his side. Cain looked over his shoulder at him. "Well that explains much then."

"What do you mean?" Jake asked.

"I was with Altair for centuries. You don't think he never told me about his secret feelings? His 'sinful' desires?" Jake felt himself flush. "I was the one who told him about the Buddhist cycle of reincarnation. He liked the sound of that and took it, and transformed it into his own ideas. He thinks he has bad karma," and Cain seemed amused by that and honestly Cain should have been on fire from the heat of Altair's eyes. "And he's right."

"Altair doesn't deserve it," Jake said.

"Doesn't he now?" Cain asked, "I may call myself a god but not even I play with death. Altair has taken not just one, or two souls from death when she had them in her grasp, but three and now she can never have them. What's dead should be allowed to die."

"You mean me, Ezio, and Hawk," Jake said.

"Altair wonders why he has such bad karma," he turned a bit and looked at Altair with a mean smile, "And yet the answer is right in front of him. He got what he wanted, his precious little gang of immortals, but it upsets the balance of things."

"Isn't that what you do?" Jake asked.

"I am a balancer," Cain said fiercely. "Altair became immortal without my help, and the scale was equal. But when men like us play with life and death, all bets are off. No wonder you ended up so mangled as you are, Altair was involved, the scale is weighed too far towards life and now here you are little boy."

No madman should sound so sane, Malik said. I don't think he's mad. That makes him even more dangerous. And terrifying. He knows more than us, Malik said, more than he's even letting on. Its all just bits and pieces and I feel so stupid right now. You're not the only one. You always feel stupid Jacob- Shut up Malik.

"Don't you just hate it?" Cain asked Altair, crouched next to him again. "Finally found one. And you fuck it up. How like you." Altair was breathing hard, furious.

"I'm not mangled," Jake said.

Cain grinned, "Yes you are. And oh how it must grate against him to see you like this. I'm sure you were perfect before this. And now you're such-

"Shut up," Jake said. Cain blinked, and both older men shared the same look of confusion that Jake had just talked back to Cain. "Just shut up. You have no idea what you're talking about. You're just trying to turn me against him!"

"Now what would I do that?" Cain asked.

"Because you're jealous. Jealous that he has a life without you and you have nothing."

Cain turned on the balls of his feet and stood slowly, "You think, I'm actually jealous of what this child has done?" he asked and stalked over to Jake. He took a few hasty steps back. "When he is so blinded by what could be he won't even look at what is. I know everyone thinks that the fault of this world and the death of our species lies with Desmond. But it isn't. It lies right there," he pointed at Altair. "Every action he's made to find his foretold child who would end the pitiful war between Assassins and Templars has led up to the destruction of our species. Every decision he's made, ever life he's taken or let live, has been exactly what the proeathans have wanted since they fell asleep. He is a tool, a well crafted sword, a soldier, and he has followed the commands of the proeathans through their false futures to the letter. The world didn't end because of Desmond waking the proeathans. The world ended because Altair thought he knew what the world needed."

"And do you?" Jake asked, trembling a bit.

"I don't pretend to know," Cain said. "I don't try to shape the world to my needs. Instead I let my needs be what the world provides. I am not jealous of a boy who's scared to be alone, and to be wrong. That is where the two of us are different, and don't forget that."

Jake swallowed and nodded, Cain's face was inches away from his own, and his ice-blue eyes sent a chill down his entire spine. He was honestly close to pissing his pants because he'd never had to stare death in the face quite like this. Yeah he'd died before, but it was always so… impersonal. If Cain struck him down it would be personal and it would be horrible. Control yourself! Malik snapped. Trying! Get out of the way.

"Get away from me," Malik said evenly. "And get away from him."

Cain looked at Jake and seemed to see right into him, not through him like Altair sometimes did, but into him. Saw the bits and parts that made him. Then all at once he seemed pleased, "You're way too good for him."

"I'm aware," Malik said.

Cain chuckled, "I'm going to to let him go this time, cause I like you kid. But I'm going to be here, in Demeter and there's really nothing you can do to stop me."

"Stay away from him," Jake said.

"One day, maybe. When I get what I want. Till then, he get to be my chew toy. Try not to get in my way, or you might wake up next to a corpse," and then he walked past Jake who was holding his breath. Jake turned and watched Cain leave.

"Demeter, is he gone?" Jake asked.

"Yes," she said.

Jake sagged and finally let his legs give out a big and he nearly crumpled. But he saved it and scrambled over to Altair who was trying to talk through his gag and jerk himself into a sitting position. Jake grabbed his face and pressed his forehead against Altair's and Altair stopped. Stopped talking, stopped moving and Jake just listened to him breathe.

Altair made a noise, and it sounded like his name. "Right, right," he said and flicked his wrist, the soft hiss of his hidden blade the only tell as it shot out and he cut the bindings on Altair's arms. Altair shook them out and ripped the one across his mouth off and the next thing Jake knew was Altair was kissing him. One of those 'holy shit you scared me half to death' sort of kisses that left him breathless. His hands touched Jake's face, his hair, like he was assuring himself Cain had really just let him get away scott free.

Then Altair didn't seem so anxious and terrified and let Jake breathe. "Next time that happens, leave," he said.

"You're welcome. I just saved your ass from getting killed."

"Jake-

"What?" Jake asked, giving Altair a hard look. "I'm not allowed to save you too?"

"Yeah, you are," and Altair hugged him, "You are," he said lowly, stroking the back of Jake's head and Jake just, enjoyed this. It wasn't often Altair was so physical outside of completely private places like their room. He had a hard time being affectionate. So Jake was eating it up. One day he might even get Altair to hold his hand in public, how scandalous.

"Exactly. Now, we have to go."

"Why?" Altair asked, letting him go.

Jake got to his feet and offered Altair a hand, "We know what caused Demeter's black out. But, I don't think I'm the best one to explain it." No we aren't, Malik agreed. I think I need Hawk or Lucy to explain it to me again in small words, Jacob said. Very small words. Baby words, Jacob chimed in. Altair words, and they both laughed at that, though not aloud.

"Is it bad?" Altair asked, grabbing his hand.

"Oh, you could say that," and Jake hauled Altair to his feet. "I mean, not end of the world bad I don't think. That shit already happened. But close."

Altair's mouth went thin, "It isn't good," he said.

"No," Jake agreed, "But we'll handle it together."

Altair looked up at him, "Yeah?" he asked, almost… unsure of himself.

Cain must have got to him, Malik said. Fucking Cain, ruining everything. Yeah basically. Well they have more in common then they think then, Malik said. Yeah? Yeah, they both ruin everything. Oh, that's mean, Jacob said. I don't know where you got the impression I was nice, kid. You're a real charmer Malik, no wonder Altair was in love with you. Shut up, Jacob.

"Of course," Jake leaned down and kissed him. "I'm not going anywhere, ever," he promised softly. "You'll always have me, even if I'm not perfect."

"Well… neither am I," Altair said.

"Ain't that the truth, now c'mon. Hawk and them will explain what happened."

"Does it involve Desmond?" Altair asked as he followed Jake.

"Oh, you have no idea," Jake said.

Hmm, that's weird kingbird, since AO3 is usually good about that shit. And well, that's why I have a submissions page on my blog, and it doesn't have a character limit. Though if it gives you problems as well i don't mind if you continue to review here I suppose.