For Desmond, the next few weeks- or months, or years, it's hard to tell, and he's not really sure it matters- are the worst of his life. He digs through dozens of memories from Ezio and Altair, but he can't do anything the entire time except listen and watch.
In Constantinople, Ezio splits his time between hunting down keys that somehow hold Altair's memories, and falling in love with a woman nearly twenty years younger than him. It's sort of funny, watching him follow her around, more than fifty years old, looking for all the world like a lovesick puppy. Desmond would have given quite a lot to be able to joke with him about it.
In Masyaf, Altair's life is a little less exciting. He spends a lot of time locked up, sometimes alone, sometimes with Malik, delving deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the apple hidden under his skin. Desmond can tell he's making progress, he can feel Altair's satisfaction growing with every memory he goes through. But he doesn't understand what he's doing, not completely, and it's very hard for Desmond to not be able to just ask him what's going on.
But at least Ezio's around to ask the questions Desmond can't. So he learns that Altair is very, very close to finding out how to make the apple take him across the centuries when he wants, instead of when it wants. It's impressive, something Ezio has never hesitated to point out. He's never quite gotten over his early admiration of the Syrian assassin, and it shows. The irony is that Altair's developing nearly the same admiration for Ezio. It's probably inevitable, Desmond decides. Altair knows he's supposed to lead the order into a new age, but he doesn't know how. Ezio, on the other hand, has already managed to do it. Really, the only difference is that Altair doesn't know what to do with that respect, so he hides it behind dry observations about Ezio's new girlfriend. Desmond comforts himself that at least someone is making the jokes he can't. Even if Altair isn't really very funny.
The two of them meet frequently. More frequently than Desmond would have liked. Part of it's worry, because of what Clay said about the barriers breaking down between what makes Desmond and Altair and Ezio different people. And part of it's just him being stupid and lonely, and jealous that they can meet and talk while he's only able to watch and listen.
They meet in Constantinople, and in Masyaf. Sometimes they meet on purpose, when Ezio tracks down another one of the keys, and sometimes they meet on accident, the same way Desmond used to come out of the animus and find Altair waiting in his head.
But the worst part is that at least once, they meet in the back of a van in Italy. Desmond doesn't know for sure what happened there, because they never really talk about it. But he knows they were in his body, probably during the time he was pulled out of the animus.
He doesn't remember much of that time. Just darkness.
It scares him that they can use his body when he's not even there. He's also sort of worried about what they might have said. Not that he thinks either of them is likely to start talking about time travel and sharing minds and any of the other weird stuff they've gone through. Ezio's never told anyone, and Altair's only ever told Malik. He doesn't think they'll tell anyone else anytime soon.
But it's motivation, at least. It isn't long before Desmond can feel himself getting stronger. He's close- very close- to breaking through. To being heard again. So he works harder, pulling himself slowly together through sheer strength of will.
And then one day it works. Sort of.
It actually works too well.
-/-
Another filler chapter. Gross. Next one should be... interesting, though. Unless it all goes horribly wrong.