Altair knows something's wrong as soon as he gets within sight of their building. It's not the first time he's come home to find either Connor or Haytham pacing the sidewalk outside, usually because one of them has managed to annoy the other to the point where they can't stand to be in the same room any longer. This is the first time he's seen both of them waiting outside.
"Altair," Haytham says when he's in earshot. "Did you forget to mention something?"
"What?"
"You talked to Edward," Connor says.
"You could have mentioned it," Haytham adds.
"It just happened today," he says. "Why-" he interrupts himself and shakes his head. It's obvious, really. "Whose head is he in?"
"Ezio's," Haytham says. "Which is a problem, because he says Ezio's not in there."
"Of course he is," Altair says. "Where else would he be?"
"Exactly," says Connor.
"He's in control of the body," Haytham says. "He's talking, walking around, falling over his feet." He shrugs, and looks intently at Altair. "It's exactly what we've all done when we're getting used to a new body. Altair, trust me. Edward's in there, and Ezio isn't."
"Perfect," Altair grumbles. "I'm going up to talk to Edward."
He leaves the two Kenways and heads inside, where he finds Ezio- or at least his body- sitting quietly on his bed, staring at his fingers. For a minute, Altair hesitates in the doorway, considering the sight in front of him.
By now, he's spent enough time in Edward's head to know that the man doesn't like to sit still. He's always moving, usually as fast as he can. But now he sits, frozen, almost as if he's been turned to stone, and Altair feels an unexpected pang of sympathy. It's his fault that Edward's been dragged into this mess. This is different than all the rest of them- he and Desmond stumbled into it when Abstergo stuck him in the animus. Ezio came in because they needed him. Haytham bled into Desmond before they even knew his name, and Connor invited Altair in. But they went looking for Edward, knowing full well how badly they'd be disrupting his life.
But that decision's been made, and it's too late to change it now. So Altair clears his throat and watches as Edward startles and looks up at him. His expression is blank, without recognition, and Altair realizes they've never actually met each other in person.
"Altair," he says by way of introduction, and Edward gives a halfhearted smile.
"So that's what you look like," he says. It's Ezio's voice, but Edward's accent, and the sound grates uncomfortably on Altair's ears.
"And apparently you've met Connor and Haytham." He jerks his head back the way he came from.
"And Ezio," Edward adds, gesturing to himself. "Sort of." His face abruptly turns worried. "Altair, there's no one but me in here, but I can feel… something."
"It's the apple," Altair says, switching to his own language.
"Oh yea…" Edward furrows his brow and answers in the same tongue, apparently without realizing it. "You… mentioned…" Altair can't hide a grin as Edward notices the silver glowing lines forming on his skin. "You mentioned that."
"Yes." Altair switches back to English. "Are you doing alright?" He would rather not be having this conversation, but no one else is going to ask Edward about his feelings, and Altair really wants to be sure he's not going to snap and go crazy.
"I would rather be back on the Jackdaw right now," Edward admits. "I don't know how to deal with this."
"You should be soon," Altair assures him. "These things don't usually last long."
"Haytham told me that he and Connor were in each other's bodies for months," Edward says.
Altair had intentionally left that part out. Take it slow. "That was an unusual situation. Desmond was trying to use an apple he could barely control. It won't happen again."
"Why?" Edward asks. "Because you guys are so much better with the apples now?" he taps his head. "I can feel this thing, remember? It's not exactly staying quiet in here."
"It's-" Altair's never thought of his own apple as particularly loud. He can't really feel it unless he's focusing. Most of the time it just sits there- out of sight, out of mind. He studies Edward. "What's it doing?"
"Trying to rip my head in two," Edward grumbles. "Why? Is that not normal?"
"Not at all," says Altair. Ezio vanishes from his own head just as his apple starts having a fit- there's no way it's a coincidence. He's sure this means something. Something bad. He's just not sure what.