Chapter 6

In Altair's mind, things were very simple. He knew he was openly annoying Malik by coming to the office almost every day. He was also convinced that Malik had taken the piss out of him with the whole double thing. So he'd decided to drop in unannounced for a whole month just to piss off the black-haired man. And so, as usual, he entered the office and saluted.

- Peace and serenity, Malik.

But nothing, not even his long years of training, could have prepared him for the scene before him. Malik, who was now embracing Desmond, was startled and turned around. Altair would have openly gloated at having taken the Bureau's master by surprise if his attention hadn't been entirely focused on the man behind him. Wide-eyed, the assassin took in the famous young man, who did indeed resemble him like two drops of water. Cheeks still red from the kiss turned paler than death as Desmond met his gaze. Fuck... he was dead...

Malik was the first to pull himself together and stood in front of Desmond.

- Peace and serenity, Altair, he said in a slow, menacing tone.

He was seriously going to kill that damned novice.

A shiver of horror ran through Desmond as he heard the metallic sound of Altair's secret blade. Altaïr had taken up a defensive position, his hawk-like gaze scanning the stranger in front of him from every angle. The fingers of his right hand clenched convulsively into a fist, then unclenched in an attempt to calm himself. Malik hadn't lied - the boy looked exactly like him, right down to the scar on his lips. Altair felt an enormous unease at the sight of this man, as if it wasn't normal for him to exist. Who was this man? Why did he look so much like him? Was his existence a threat to him? His body, ready to attack, seemed quite willing to make the dubious individual disappear. But his head knew that he objectively had nothing against the man. What's more, he had perfectly registered the threat in the Bureau master's tone.

Altaïr's eyes shifted to Malik. The two men stared at each other for a long moment. The master of the Bureau had his hand on the pommel of his dagger, ready to counter any attack. Desmond could feel the terrible tension between the two assassins. The situation was totally delirious for him. Firstly, he'd just been kissed by Malik! And secondly, the black-haired man and Altair were about to go for each other's throats because of him! But he was in the fucking Animus! That kind of memory didn't exist! HE didn't exist! Or maybe, without him realizing it, he'd lost his marbles and his body was currently slobbering all over itself in the real world... The thought sent a shiver down his spine. But he was soon brought back to the situation at hand. Altair had just straightened up, albeit still very rigidly, from his threatening position.

- Why are you protecting him?

The assassin's tone was terribly cold.

- Because he doesn't deserve to die, and you know it, replied Malik calmly.

- What do you know about him? He could very well be a Templar spy...

- I confess I don't know much about him. However, after observing him for a month, I can tell you that he's not working for the Templars.

- What proof do you have?

- My observation and my intuition.

- Don't you think your feelings are biasing your opinion? Don't think I didn't see what you were doing with him. Relationships between men are forbidden!

Altair cast a hard look at Desmond, who blushed furiously at the mention of the kiss and lowered his head. Sure of his point, the assassin was determined to tip the balance in his favor.

- Ho really, replied Malik calmly. Do you want to talk about Kadar?

The assassin paled and lost some of his superbness, Malik knew...

- I don't know what you're talking about, Altaïr replied with difficulty.

- You take the liberty of criticizing my relations, but Kadar told me about you two. My own brother, Altaïr. But I said nothing, because he loved you.

- I... that's not... Altaïr stammered.

- Would you dare to say that Kadar lied to me? asked Malik, narrowing his eyes.

Altair lowered his head, shaking it negatively.

- In that case, I don't think you have anything to say about my relationship, concludes Malik.

Malik was right, he was in no position to criticize. It had been years since Kadar had died. He was now married with a child, but he hadn't forgotten the young man. Altair felt ashamed.

He turned his attention to the young man.

- What's your name?

- Desmond, replied the latter cautiously.

- Desmond... alright. Now listen to me, Desmond. I don't know anything about you and your appearance is far too similar to mine to be innocent. So I don't trust you at all. But you've somehow obtained Malik's.

"Probably through your charms" added Altair more gently. The comment drew a smile from the Bureau's master.

- Therefore, he continued, I won't try anything against you. But let me tell you, if I find anything that makes you suspicious, I'll come after you and kill you.

Desmond nodded. He released the breath he'd been unconsciously holding during the exchange. His heart was beating a hundred miles an hour, he was so sure that Altair would kill him a few minutes earlier. Malik had his utmost respect for having managed to calm the assassin down.

Under the Bureau master's insistent gaze, Altair reluctantly reached out to Desmond to shake his hand. The young man approached. And all hell broke loose. A terrible pain exploded in his skull.

I FOUND HIM !

Desmond fell to his knees, screaming in pain. Rebecca's voice echoed through his entire being. Clutching his head with both hands, the brunet groaned.

- Stop... Rebecca...

- Desmond!

Malik rushed to his aid.

- Desmond! What's going on?!

WE'RE GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW, DESMOND.

- No... Lucy wait... not now...

A terrible screech ripped through Desmond's eardrums and he screamed again. Malik tried to speak to him, but he couldn't hear. His vision was blurring. He didn't know whether it was he who was slipping into unconsciousness or the world itself. But when the darkness overtook him, silence finally fell.