Music Inspiration: Two Steps From Hell- "Missing Letters" (Reminds me of the future unorthodox relationship of Altaïr and Vivian)
Not One of Us
After gathering information, the two assassins could learn nothing more about advanced diving in their time and were stuck with their own lungs. Altaïr tried to use the Apple in one last attempt to find the item with Malik only since Vivian would only nag him and left her behind (which he knew would end up in an argument). Unfortunately, his plan ended up killing the fish life in a small radius around him when he activated the item. He earned a very long and sharp lecture from Malik about controlling the object because he liked living and they had returned home immediately. As for Vivian, they met up with her back in the room as she tried to clean her mouth furiously to be rid of any Altaïr DNA. After giving him the kiss of life earlier that day, she felt unclean with the entire experience.
"Is she still brushing her teeth?" Altaïr asked incredulously to her eccentric behavior as Vivian swished her mouth with water to spit it out over the window.
Malik chuckled as smoke billowed from his lips as he enjoyed his leisure time with his pipe and he'd earned it after the week he'd had. The dai sat on the stone table-thingie (they'd yet to make a name for it) as he watched his two friends and told him, "Well, you did throw water into her mouth in the same manner as a mother bird regurgitates food into her chick's mouth."
This brought a look of disgust to Altaïr's face since he hadn't witnessed it himself and the dai grinned cheekily, "And you're halfway to understanding."
Altaïr refused to acknowledge that slip in his expression and stood up to sigh, "I'm putting an end to it."
"You have such a way with the ladies" his friend stated sarcastically and leaned against his cushiony travel pack, wondering if he'd had to put plugs of cloth in his ears to block out an argument of theirs.
Vivian yearned for mouthwash as she scrubbed her tongue but nothing took away the taste of what she'd endured. It's not like he was riddling with disease (crap, she hoped not) but who knew what microorganisms dwelled within the water itself. Hopefully, the amylase in her mouth could kill them but highly doubted it. Yet, he had the gall to say his mouth was the violated one when she'd been the one to save his life. She should've chucked him back in the lake for the wisecrack but she'd been worried for his safety during that time. The man was stubborn as he believed himself invincible to the forces of nature and enemies themselves. Her stubborn brushing wasn't all about the germs as she tried to push back the worried thoughts of what could've occurred had she not swam in after him. The thought of losing him . . . it frightened her, not because of their friendship but. . .
No, she has to keep her head on straight. Her lingering feelings were just the fangirl reaction that was experienced when anyone entered Altaïr's orbit to revolve around him. She would eventually break free of it, especially now with his recent behavior so she'd hold onto that. If he somehow managed to allure her more . . . then she would need a whole crapload of help for that one.
"We're not stopping for another toothbrush if you waste that one" his voice spoke up behind her and she narrowed her eyes as she spit out the water, striking the ground inches from his boots. His upper lip curled in disgust to the bold action since they were in a room, not the open landscape! Where had her manners gone? He crossed his arms to show he wasn't having any of her sass today and lectured her disrespectful action, "You're the perfect picture of elegance, aren't you?"
"I never said I was the feminine type" she stated simply since being around two men practically turned her androgynous within the year. The clothing already spoke for her since she'd shed the long skirts for breeches after Egypt and wasn't keen on using them unless it was on a persona of hers. Wiping her lips clear of water, she arched an eyebrow to chide playfully about that gender line, "Especially after today, I might be tempted to sway the other way. Maria's always been a handsome woman and we are a cuddling gender."
Altaïr didn't miss the subtle hit to his manliness and snorted, "They will all prefer me to you."
"Says the scarecrow missing his brain" she scoffed sarcastically but realized she was heading into the lion's den with her arguments. Whenever he did something that she didn't approve of, she didn't hesitate to voice it and it would often have the two clashing. She didn't have the time for a random argument today and waved her hands to shoo him away, "Forget it. I don't have time to argue with a man that drowned and was idiotic enough to attempt another go-"
"You want to hear me admit I was wrong? Fine!" he hissed irately because he didn't particularly enjoy abandoning a mission but did so to keep them from nagging. Vivian's shoulders squared since she hadn't expected the harsh tone behind his words and merely watched him as he scowled at her with frustration. At times like this, it was hard to see whether he was projecting anger about the mission or irritation of her. Altaïr had quite frankly become a little tired of being questioned about everything he did and pointed out sharply, "I underestimated my goal but I am courageous enough to attempt it in order to keep my brotherhood strong and if I died, my work can be carried on by another."
She clutched her hair as she wanted to yell at his stupidity for risking his life against incredibly low odds of success but the origins of that feeling delved deeper. Yes, another could carry on his work but this was Altaïr, the one who opened an entirely different world of thought to generations. He was supposed to be invincible, flawless, and almost inhuman beacon of strength with his abilities but fear struck her at knowing he was just like her- vulnerable to the world around them. She didn't want to lose him in any way and the thought of never hearing his nagging or seeing him pace around the room filled her with grief. Ashamed of the feelings lurking in her heart, she evaded his gaze to take interest in the nearby sitting stool and her voice could only mumble weakly, "But you're the grand master-"
"And my brotherhood holds the future to carry on what I start and this takes priority over their own life" he reminded since she knew the rules of his brotherhood and she nodded stiffly, crossing her arms defensively. Why did he have to be so heroic and leave her a worried mess? She was fine with it months ago when he was simply her friend but now, she didn't want to have her heart on her sleeve every time he left for danger. He was her leader and she should trust his every judgment. . .but the nagging worry never left. The past months allowed him to jot down each of Vivian's tells and her shifting emotions told him she was hiding like a newborn turtle. After today's excursion, he was ready to fish her out of that figurative shell and asked straightforward, "What is it, Vivian?"
"Why would anything be wrong? Just because you almost died decades before you're supposed to fills me with ecstatic hope for the future" she snapped with sarcasm dripping from her voice as she defended her inner emotions to the max. Her feelings for him delved deeper than she'd cared to admit at this point in the journey and although rationality told her she was acting a little crazy, she couldn't stop! She tried to keep her voice steady as she continued to chastise his recent actions, "I'm certain your descendants won't be scrambling for knowledge like lost ants just because you decided to risk it all in one moment of carelessness to become fish food."
"I decide what to do with my life" he snapped curtly since he was tired of people telling him what he had to do when he wanted to carve his own path. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was invincible but he believed his cause was worth dying for if he retrieved what he needed for them. One POE out of Templars hands would give his people an advantage over thwarting their efforts to control humankind.
"It's not about you anymore, you have many depending on you" she stated firmly as she tried to drill it into his head that countless generations needed him. Without him, neither Ezio nor Desmond would be born- neither would dozens of generations branch off from him! She waved a hand towards Malik to emphasize his loyalty to their order and pointed out matter-of-factly, "You just said it, it's about the order and it needs you to stay alive to discover everything you're supposed to. I mean, you have a son at Masyaf, what's Maria supposed to say? 'Sorry, son, but daddy went off and drowned himself for an artifact that should- by all rights- stay underwater'."
"I'm all for peace and resolving this with indoor voices-" Malik spoke up to prevent the firestorm that was spinning out of control. He could only imagine how the two had been during his absence since they appeared ready to yell into the high heavens.
The dai's advice was ignored by the assassin as he aimed a sharp finger at Vivian and snapped briskly, "Don't bring my son into this, he is my child and no concern of yours. You are not the master of my life simply because you know what will be and I make my own decisions. You will play oracle with your suggestions when I ask you to and I expect you to fall in line to my orders-"
"I am not a dog to be led on a leash for your whims" she cut in furiously as this harsher side of the assassin reminded her of the man she'd feared during her first weeks. She didn't want to see this man at all and yearned to have the levelheaded friend that had taken her thoughts into consideration rather than lashing out. True, she said some snarky words a few minutes ago but he could've calmed her down just as she did when he was fussy. This time, however, she couldn't find that stable ground as he kept growing angrier like a volcano ready to burst.
"You're under my command, woman, and you will obey my orders" he commanded firmly and her eyes widened to the elitist remark, blowing the top from the volcano brewing in her mind. They had been clashing repeatedly as he tried to keep his head focused on reason but this was the last straw and Vivian wasn't picking up the pieces this time. She'd accepted his apology over her work due to his honest admission of inadequacy but this felt different on all levels. All she wanted to do was have her concern validated since it came from a good place but it had only headed down a very bad road to cause a monumental collision.
"Go fluff yourself" she snapped with restrained fury and walked away to throw her brush on the table before leaving the room. The resounding slam of the door told him that nothing had been resolved in any way at all. If anything, he'd locked the door of friendship, thrown away the key, and placed a gigantic rock in front to prevent it ever opening again.
"You have now won the 'Idiot of the Year' award" Malik stated dryly with a tsk as Altaïr approached the closed door to decide whether to give chase or let her be. The dai had to agree with Vivian about Altaïr's personality change when he searched for the item and it had reached a standoff between the two. He could already imagine how tense it would be at bedtime and decided to do Vivian a favor by moving her bedding over to his side. Of course, he'd do it after dinner to prevent Altaïr from picking a fight with him as well since the man grew oddly territorial about her sleeping spot. Stepping off the stone block table since it was beginning to numb his butt, he finished sarcastically, "Stand for applause and the loss of respect by her."
"She enrages me sometimes, Malik" his friend growled heatedly as he sat down in one of the chairs next to the table piled with books to scowl at the floor. Vivian had become quite the little helper in his quest but at the same time, she involved herself too deeply over his wellbeing. In the end, he had the final say over his actions and he pointed out irritably, "She hides the truth from me by hiding behind sarcasm. She says one thing while I know she means another thought entirely and I can't budge it out of her. Why can she not confront me about it? It is cowardice!"
"You are from two different times, you are bound to clash" Malik reasoned simply since Altaïr was more prone to tackle things head on without beating around the bush while Vivian didn't. She was a passive person that would rather leave than exacerbate a situation while his friend thrived on that conflicting environment. The dai was already contemplating writing a book about social dynamics based on the two and lectured him, "But you must maintain respect for one another, there are private truths that are meant for that person alone and we can't interfere. You can't pry whatever Vivian feels or thinks simply because you want it."
"Easy for you to say, she never fights with you" Altaïr muttered sourly with irritation towards the woman and a little envy towards his friend who had no trouble with her. The two were practically one step away from skipping over grassy knolls with their sickeningly perfect friendship. Why couldn't he have the same without the fighting? What made Malik so special?
It's probably the beard, everyone trusts a man with a beard, he thought miserably since most men wore one in their time but he was the exception. He didn't have time to waste with grooming and would rather shave everything off to save himself the hassle.
"Because we respect and learn from each other . . . and I can charm pretty women" Malik answered with a friendly smile as he joked lightly about Altaïr's lack of social skills. It took more than half a year for him to deem Vivian a trustable friend and now, they had reverted to their original hostile demeanors. As for Malik, his easygoing personality and calm demeanor tended to be more likeable in comparison to Altaïr's emotionally repressed and grumpy attitude. It hadn't been very hard to befriend Vivian as he treated her with respect and she'd been more than happy to return it.
"Arrgh, you should just marry each other and leave me be" Altaïr grumbled under his breath and Malik shook his head to the petty jab. In actuality, the idea of the two running off together left him feeling lonely and desolate. He had found a best friend in Malik after turbulent years and wasn't going to risk losing that since he'd never been the type to have friends. His only instance had been spit back at him when he admitted the truth of his father to Abbas and Altaïr had decided then and there he didn't need friends. Fast forward to a decade later and he'd found a few friends, along with a feisty little woman that kept drawing him past the platonic border.
"Stop being dramatic or I will freely admit to her that you're jealous of our friendship" Malik smirked as he played a trump card to make him quiet down before he decided to kick things. He was tired of playing a cleanup maid after his tantrums and had half a mind to chuck a book at his head when he did so.
"You . . . you're supposed to be on my side!" he objected shrewdly as he turned the tables and scowled because assassins stuck together. What happened to unity? Honestly, he wondered if he was the only one that valued friendship these days. Altaïr reluctantly admitted that he was probably acting irrationally as he tried to process his flustered emotions and muttered, "And you will do no such thing."
"I'm on nobody's side because it's liable to make me insane by choosing either of you" Malik stated dryly because he had an angry eagle on one side and a pissed off badger on the other. There was no win-win and he'd be an idiot to risk it. In this case, Altaïr was in the wrong since Vivian's fretting came out of concern for him but his friend didn't see it that way. Instead, he brushed off the concern rather than accepting it and kept poking holes into Vivian's kindness. Altaïr ignored any form of expressing emotions to reciprocate what was given and Malik questioned, "Why is it so hard for you to admit feelings of any sort? It took you seven years to admit you were being smug."
"I'm fickle?" Altaïr replied innocently since he never let his emotions boil to the surface and kept everyone at bay. The dai wasn't amused by his evasion tactic since he was trying to nip that specific behavior in the bud but Altaïr wasn't budging. He had already altered quite a few personality traits and wasn't keen of doing a complete overhaul, stating crisply, "Malik, you know very well how I was raised-"
"Did you also forget I grew up in Masyaf too or did a bird knock that out of your memories?" his friend pointed out since they grew up together under the same roof. Altaïr had always been the lone eagle of their cohort and although it led to an extreme arrogance, it was due to preventing attachments. Al Mualim had created a perfect protégé out of Altaïr since the young boy had looked up to him but now, he had to find a purer wisdom on his own.
Altaïr sighed aloud since he wasn't keen on talking about the past and admitted, "But you had a brother to call a true family while I never had as such. I was an only child with no parents that was taught to follow orders and when I actually found a friend to call my own, fate decided to tear that away and Abbas has never been the same. I don't fear disclosure but I am extremely cautious of what information I am handing to people but out of everyone, you are my closest friend in this world."
"That didn't seem possible three years ago" Malik agreed since he wanted the man cast out of the order like a rabid dog but time had mended those wounds. He didn't hold animosity or the need to beat him over the head and respected the new Altaïr- even if he wasn't perfect. Altaïr wasn't emotionally expressive when he needed to be, especially with a fretful Vivian, and Malik pointed out gently, "I am not Abbas and Vivian is not like all the others either. If anything, she has a greater patience for you than I do and you should consider yourself lucky because that's a feat in itself. Your secrets are always safe with me and Vivian would more than likely swallow pointy rocks before admitting anything to our enemies."
"I will let her cool her head and try again tomorrow" Altaïr mumbled flatly because the mad badger needed to cool off because when she lashed out, he tended to strike back with his own talons. A pissed off badger was not one to be trifled with so he'd let her relax and let down her guard so he could pin her for an adult conversation. He shook his head since he had more important matters to attend to if he hoped to get the POE and grabbed a nearby book as he murmured aloud, "I don't want her to be mad at me but she has to understand this is my life."
"See? Why can't you tell her that in rational voice?" Malik emphasized with a sigh because the assassin snapped rather than talked when irritated. The fact that he didn't articulate his frustrations to Vivian caused chagrin for both as both parties remained in the dark.
Altaïr grumbled under his breath because he hated admitting his follies and muttered, "Because I'm a horrible speaker. Are you happy now?"
. . . "Yes. Yes, I am."
Altaïr decided that pissing off the dai by insulting him in rebuttal wouldn't end well and kept his mouth shut.
The next day brought the most uncomfortable silence Malik had endured since his spite towards Altaïr for the incident at Solomon's temple. He found himself being the peacekeeper and playing messenger since Altaïr and Vivian refused to speak to each other. Altaïr had tried to speak to Vivian before bed but it had only led to another argument and Malik's previous advice was thrown out the window. The squabbling pigeons awaked to ignore each other completely and used him to pass on their words for each other. The poor dai was ready to explode if he heard one more 'would you kindly. . .' from either one as they ate breakfast in front of a vendor's home. Malik didn't even know how they wound up there since he'd been ready to eat breakfast when Altaïr argued that he was tired of the same food and Vivian argued otherwise. Somehow, he was dragged to a small eatery and wedged between both of them as he longed for the two to simply shut the hell up. Thankfully, his solution came very quickly and after paying a barn owner a few coins- his trap was set.
He lured both of his friends into the stable by telling each separately that he needed an item fetched that he'd recently bought while heading out to restock on medicine. Of course, they believed the honest (with this exception) man and found themselves face-to-face inside the empty barn. Before either escaped in a huff, Malik locked them in from outside and allowed the scenery to replay like it had back in Egypt. It worked once so why not again? At least this time, he could enjoy the peace and go skip rocks at the lake.
"He locked us in a stable! That crafty one armed man, he just Parent Trapped us!" Vivian declared with outrage but then remembered she was mad at the assassin and crossed her arms to show her distaste. She could deal with an angry Altaïr but she hoped that Malik wasn't aggravated since the dai was scarier than the assassin. She respected him too much to bear an angry scowl and would redeem herself however she could. With all of her recent spats with Altaïr, she had to admit that even the dai's extremely great patience could wear thin.
"Are you really going to ignore me while I'm standing right next to you?" Altaïr scolded her standoffish attitude as he shook the doors of the barn in an attempt to open them. When he felt resistance from the other side, he assumed Malik locked them in and crossed his arms as well to match Vivian. The petite woman was looking in every direction but his and he snapped curtly, "Don't be immature, Vivian."
Vivian snorted to his words since he'd been short-tempered since his near drowning and pointed out nonchalantly, "At least I wasn't idiotic enough to jump into water after almost drowning for an inanimate object."
"It is valuable!" he reasoned matter-of-factly with squared shoulders as he marched up to her to knock her off her 'I'm right' pedestal. The POE's were the only reason he was traveling through Africa and would've rather spent his days in his homeland with other missions. The feisty woman wouldn't even be there if it wasn't for her knowledge of his life and Ilias' advice to keep her close.
"So is your life or did you forget that?" Vivian stated firmly to his crazy actions back at the lake and shook her head because she'd rather have him than the item. That thing was leading him to cold obsession and he wasn't seeing it. She wasn't backing down as she stared up at the six foot tall man that could pretty much kill her in ten ways within five seconds flat. Fear didn't flow through her because she wanted to protect him most of all and pointed out flatly, "You can be insanely heroic but sometimes plain stubborn like a mule. You're the driving force of the assassins, they can't lose you or the Templars will win a heavy advantage. Think with your head on this one, not heart."
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was many things but a mule was not one of them!
"You fail to realize that you have absolutely no say in my life- you are not of my order" he stated matter-of-factly but his choice of words was an inadvertent slap to the face in the form of a wakeup call for Vivian. Of course, she wasn't a part of them- merely an ally and an asset to utilize. After all, she was still a woman of the future and that automatically set a barrier between them. She'd almost forgotten that pivotal fact while traveling alongside him but he'd never made a mention of friendship since they loosened up as comrades. Only Malik had been kind to call her friend but Altaïr had only called her Vivian or by one of her dubbed nicknames- never anything else. His words about playing oracle replayed from last night and it alienated her to being deemed as such. She'd always assumed trust and friendship went hand in hand since Malik was quite amicable but Altaïr was different. He was quiet and private . . . keeping his secrets for his people alone, not outsiders.
It hurt deeply like any physically cleaved wound.
However, she accepted the words with calm grace because he was right and this was his life. She couldn't just intrude because she deemed it her business and back down from her earlier stance. Choosing to follow her own words of heart vs. brain, she swallowed the pain forming in her chest and murmured softly, "I see."
Altaïr was ready to throw his hands into the air in triumph at finally winning an argument and sighed aloud, "It's about time. I have to think about my people rather than myself."
"I . . . I just didn't want to lose you" Vivian muttered quietly to the underlying reason of her rage because he was important to her. For once, she wasn't hesitant to admit the truth but only because she realized her time was limited and his words struck hard. Although she was not part of his circle, she wanted him to stay safe in the harsh world and stated, "You've been a decent comrade and your death would bring catastrophic results to your order. I would be to blame in so many ways for interfering-"
"There is no reason to blame you for my actions" he disagreed to her self-blame and she shrugged her shoulders since they were in this mission together. She still couldn't find a decent answer as to why she'd landed in his realm/time frame but knew Madagascar was the key to home. Altaïr didn't understand why she took it upon her shoulders when he made a mistake or became injured and asked, "Why would you burden yourself with that?"
"I wouldn't be the only one, you can't be reckless" she pointed out firmly to set his head straight because if he perished, then everything would be for nothing. She didn't want him to think that merely because she was there to tell him how he'd live that he was automatically invisible. A simple shift from their original road could have the man bitten by a poisonous snake and she could've been the cause to that misfortunate alteration of time. Every day brought her worry as she watched after him more than he did over her to make sure he lived to fight another day. She would follow him anywhere and that in itself allowed her to state clearly, "Malik and I are expendable but you have to survive. You are the one who matters in the end-"
"So you'd rather I throw both of you in the water?" he demanded swiftly to the idea of doing so, especially in Malik's case. On the other hand, they both swam better than he did so that probably wasn't the best scenario to set.
She sighed to his dramatics because the man was an honorable one when it came to protection and answered, "Not Malik for obvious reasons but whatever might be deemed dangerous, I will go in your stead-"
"Absolutely not" he growled to the heinous idea of sending her straight into danger for his sake. There was only one person under self-sacrifice in their team and that was himself. He would never risk either of his friends' lives and although he appreciated her dedication, she was under his care. Vivian had grown to risk her life for his wellbeing without hesitation and although he admired her loyalty, reminded firmly, "I am your leader and I will protect you both. You are the ones I fight for so if you try anything, I will hang you on a branch by your undergarments."
As their initial rage simmered, Vivian reluctantly accepted his hero idealism since there was only room for one. Plus, she wasn't exactly a key player in his decisions in life so she would stay her hand from angering him further. Regardless of his previous words, she requested quietly for his sake, "Please don't try that again, that's all I ask. I'd rather have the Templars find the damned thing than lose the head of the entire assassins order."
He sighed deeply to her request since surfacing without breathing would probably cause the poor woman a heart attack and they'd spend the afterlife together arguing over their deaths. The piece of Eden was definitely hard to reach, especially with the murky water during both day and night that barely allowed him a decent field of vision. She rarely asked anything of him and a request to keep his life intact was definitely something to ponder about. He did like living after all and a watery tomb was not on his 'best ways to die' list.
"Your mind won't budge on this?" he asked carefully and she nodded assuredly as she crossed her arms to show she meant business. It humored him since a simple shove from his end would topple her but he admired her courage to stand up to him. As much as he hated to admit it, he wouldn't have been able to do a few things throughout their journey without her help and gave her that benefit. Since he'd already won the battle for today, he gave her that wish and nodded lightly to mutter, "You're a tough badger to negotiate with."
"Well, this badger needs to keep the stubborn eagle alive and kicking" she replied simply as the humorous nicknames that usually brought her delight seemed to darken into melancholy. His words about being an outsider hit hard since she tried her earnest to forget her home to prevent opening that painful gate. She wasn't anything special to him, just another piece in his chess game to win the pieces and had to get used to that. Well, nobody really wanted to fall into the horrible Sue hole of being a snowflake but Vivian had fallen quite hard in the affectionate sense for him.
"Truce?" he asked to maintain the peace since he didn't want to fight with her again and hated the area for bringing out the worst side of him. Vivian was the one he depended on to keep him sane when a plan blew up in his face and wished he could articulate just how much he appreciated it. Her worries infuriated him at times but in his heart, he knew it was out of genuine concern and he cherished having that honor.
Unfortunately, he'd yet to see the devastating results of his previous words.
Vivian nodded quietly and grasped his hand in one of hers to seal the deal while the other landed a punch to his stomach. Altaïr exclaimed to the unexpected move since she was usually docile about their agreements or uttered a witty reply. She smirked to seeing his apparent annoyance to being struck and smiled impishly, "Truce."
"The point of a truce means a ceasefire, woman" he scolded swiftly but her strike hadn't done any harm due to the leather belt around his lower abdomen. If anything, it felt more like a swat with her strength. On the other hand, he considered himself lucky because she could've attempted kicking him between the legs and there was no protection there.
"Fine, if you must have it your way" she agreed airily because she would've felt better adding a few more swats. Her usual open trust with him would have to be closed for now to shield herself from more harsh realities from his end.
After realizing that the item was unreachable without Altaïr risking his life, the trio backtracked their entire mission to address the problem. While they pondered on what to do next, Malik was certain as to where he'd focus the rest of his mind to: the slaves. His imprisonment had allowed him to watch the squalor they lived in and the meager food they were given for whatever manual labor they provided. It was a disgusting business that should be eradicated from the very earth along with tyrants that oppressed people with the false ideal that they were ruling for their interests.
Vivian had slowly distanced herself from Altaïr in the hope that he wouldn't notice the change and she realized just how deeply involved she was with him. Her day began with greeting him and it ended watching him slump into bed- it had been that intricate. It wasn't easy budging her way out of that comfortable zone but she managed to stop hovering over his shoulder and began to sketch again (no Altaïr images this time). During one of those free times, she caught sight of her dai friend just as he'd been leaning over a map of a specific area of the lake.
"Malik, I really don't want to fly out of a window again" she murmured sullenly to the idea of having to rescue him again from that horrible place. She wasn't made to do gravity defying acts and wanted to leave all of that to them. Her brain was out of thought farts on how to rescue an entire group, much less make sure that the slavers didn't chase them out with brandished swords. Her lips pouted humorously to the thought of being chased like a wild animal and stated sullenly, "I'm out of magical seeds and I doubt my magical tricks will help."
"No, we need a little finesse for this" the dai assured as looked over his map since his lockpicking skills would be handy for releasing the slaves. However, the lack of knowledge of how to travel in the area would lead the freed people nowhere without his help. He would need to show them how to escape the area by either traveling north in the Nile or on foot.
Altaïr respected his ideal for a free world but at the same time, he'd rather work at finding a plan than getting jailed or killed by furious slavers. Although he worked for a world free of tyranny and Templars, he couldn't save everyone along the way and knew sacrifices had to be made. He lowered the book he'd been reading as he tried to make an idea that would solve Malik's heroic dilemma and pointed out, "Quite frankly, I don't know why we can't simply eliminate everyone in their sleep. There's three of us- it only take one person to slit someone's throat while another keeps their mouth closed."
"What if there's two or three people in a tent?" Vivian asked uncertainly since they probably liked to save space and rake in money. Evildoers and Templars were cheap like that, after all. Poor Desmond had gotten a crappy single bedroom in a modern corporation that probably had a large luxurious suite at the top for its CEO. She didn't want to accidentally step on someone and have them wake up the entire camp, not to mention lose a foot. There was also another hindrance to killing an entire slaver camp and she asked curiously, "Their ships will also be nearby and if they discover an annihilated camp, people will start asking questions."
"If we leave soon after, it will be of no trouble" Malik reasoned since his idea was to do that once the whole issue with the POE was over. Nobody would remember who he was if he kept himself concealed and Vivian and Altaïr had gotten a good rap as buyers so they'd be in the clear. No tracks would lead back to them and if they did, they would be dealt with permanently.
"We can eliminate the entire camp and let the slaves roam free" Altaïr pointed out again with emphasis since it was the simplest plan. How much easier could he make it? Malik quickly argued that letting them go without any idea of where to go was suicide. These were people that had spent most of their lives led around like animals but Altaïr stated crisply, "I agreed to free them, where they go afterwards is not my problem-"
"Altaïr" Vivian stated sharply with surprise to his attitude because she agreed with the dai. She'd grown to admire Altaïr for his actions to save the world but his tone threw her aback. You almost had to poke him with a hot stick to help a group and Vivian would try her best to change that about him. She was tempted to throw one of her own books at his head and pointed out earnestly, "They're children in this world, like me. They have never known what making a decision for themselves is like and they need guidance of where to go. This open world is just as frightening as being in servitude. Imagine if you'd been cast out of the order that day after Solomon's Temple, how would you have rearranged your life after that?"
Altaïr groaned with disgruntlement because she had a way of making him feel guilty. That woman would be the end of him one day but she had a point, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Still, he made his irritability clear by muttering under his breath, "Out of all the women through the ages, I had to get the selfless historian that nags me to be ridiculously virtuous. I should kick you, you know."
"All right, so we're in business" she piped up cheerfully while simultaneously ignoring his smart-alecky comments. The broody assassin merely narrowed his eyes to show his lack of amusement but it only served to widen her giddy grin.
A/N: I decided to update faster with a shorter chapter by splitting it in half so things aren't too fast paced but if you guys like the super long chapters, I can do that too. After this, there's only one more chapter and the group is done in Lake Victoria. As we can see, Altaïr and Vivian just reached a breaking point and he said some pretty harsh words that he'll definitely regret in the long run. They'll be traveling south to Mozambique and Vivian will be doing her best now to avoid emotional ties and we can see that's what Altaïr has slowly been sliding towards. I wish I could give Malik that Nobel peace prize for dealing with Altaïr like a parent.
Devicorn: I'm glad you loved Under the 'Lake', I had a fun time thinking of the lyrics to fit their lifestyle. Altaïr is silly with his stubbornness to succeed to the max and when Vivian calls him out on it, he lashes out to protect is bravery. We definitely couldn't abandon Malik but being an assassin, he's quick to tell them he had everything under control. Lol. Vivian can be very crafty and we've seen little glimpses of it until the last chapter when she went all out to save her friend. Losing my story definitely put me in shock, then rage, sadness, and finally, acceptance (just like the grief process). This recent spat that left Vivian surprised to his misinterpreted meaning will last quite a bit but it will be resolved to flourish their little romance scenes.
Spirit Kiss: In every game, we have some odd glitches or annoying bystanders that make us angry. Lol. #1 had the peasant women on Altaïr, #2 had those lute playing guys on Ezio (who got his revenge in Revelations), #3 had the orphan kids chasing Connor.
shadowelf144: Thanks, I'm better now that time's passed. Vivian can definitely bluff and hope for the best. She's not afraid when she can depend on Altaïr and will head into a figurative lion's den to see a mission done.
Dolce Latte van Crème: I haven't abandoned the sequel (yay), I picked myself up and purged everything I could remember into another document and backed it up this time. The last chapter was as suspenseful as it was humorous, which is how I want the max pace to be for this story. Vivian definitely has an artistic skill and just as all of the characters have been developing, so have her drawings (as well as Altaïr's). That reminds me, I need to post a sketch on my DeviantArt account of Vivian teaching Altaïr to draw better. Lol
Hollownature: It's hilarious how close they've become that it leaves Malik flabbergasted. As much as they argue, Vivian and Altaïr will definitely love each other by the end but maintain that humorous fluff of theirs (which probably would seem unimaginable with a man like him). I like one of the future quotes for him 'he wanted to grow old alongside her to lecture their grandchildren about not sticking beans up their nostrils and feeding a few chickens on the land that kept them company'.
KrnYong: I adore Two Steps from Hell but thankfully, my friends share a love for all music. Vivian is a crafty badger indeed and she'll keep pulling off hilarious ploys as their adventure continues. She has her own set of growing skills and although she won't be any kind of assassin, Altaïr will love her anyway for the strength she shows with her intelligence. Altaïr is lousy at flirting due to his inexperience with it and we'll see much of it as the story goes on but he does have his adorable moments. We'll see the jealous side of him when Vivian manages to snag a man's attention and she doesn't reject him. I will be making a sequel because it is important to the continuation of the VivianxAltaïr romance arc to see where they end (don't know if fans will like it if I take it literally to their deaths because I do have her dying before Altaïr and they're so darn cute together) and the future generation in their place. Who will deny the cuteness of Darim searching bushes to see if cakes grow in them and Sef picking Altaïr's pockets for loose change to buy snacks? Lol
WhatTheCensoredXD: Thank you for loving the hilarity in the chapter, it was quite funny with Vivian's seeds. Whenever death situations arise, humor will stir between the trio and a life kiss definitely counts.
Beba santos 56: Vivian finds a humorous way to sum up the entire franchise's lineage with little Altaïr's' unleashed to last a millennium. Thank you so much for loving every minute of it!
Lissa: Thanks for enjoying each humorous chapter, I'm glad to hear what my readers think of the story and any ideas they might have.
Fuzzball: The awesomeness sprouts randomly at times but Vivian's taken a life of her own with her shenanigans. TV shows and films give me ideas as well; I like this rerun from Seinfeld that I saw and reminded me of Altaïr telling a story, 'As I rained blows upon him, I realized there had to be another way!'
CookiewMonstuurrr: Oh yeah, he angered the badger indeed and she'll be holding it for quite a while. I suck at drawing humans and I was even worse before but I took a class to make my skills better (I was just like the grumpy Altaïr). I would've loved to take more but the seating made my shoulder blades hurt since I have joint problems so I gave it up. I love writing so I stuck with it and I'll keep at it since the trio is hilarious.
Next Time: Triumph and Defeat
They had decided to call it quits on that piece of Eden since nothing could reach its depths and Altaïr sold the canoe that had served them faithfully for the last year and month. Vivian had clutched it like an old friend ready to depart to the next world but a pinch to the ear from Altaïr sent her running. Malik bargained the sale of their canoe with his charismatic skills and with the money received, they bought two sturdy camels for the travel south to Mozambique. Their next route would tricky as they would keep to the coast to find a port to north Madagascar while fighting back the wildlife that roamed the three lands they were about to travel through. Vivian was eager to see Tanzania due to its wildlife but Altaïr wasn't keen on meeting any of it.
Altaïr finished tying his travel pack onto his new tawny camel for the first ride into the center of Kenya. They would enter the unsettled land halfway before venturing south into Tanzania and head straight down the coast to Mozambique. For the first time, he was looking forward to continuing their adventure since Lake Victoria didn't exactly leave him with the best reputation. The gloomy weather hadn't helped either and he sighed with relief as he looked over his shoulder towards the lake, "No more water travel for the next months, I've never been happier. I think I could even smile at this."
"The world will fall into chaos the second you show it" Malik joked lightly with a chuckle to the rarity of seeing such an expression on his friend's face. The man had a permanent frown or piercing stare that left most frozen in place and seeing a mere smile contained the same rarity of catching a rainbow after a storm.
Vivian checked her pack carefully to make sure all of their food was sealed tightly and buried it deeply in the leather pockets of the saddle of the camel. She didn't need animals to come sniffing around their primary food supply nor try to eat her new camel. Altaïr turned to his partner since he'd automatically assigned her to ride with him rather than Malik and asked, "You're not sharing in our laughter?"
"You guys go ahead, I have to make Buttercup predator-free" she replied simply as she rubbed the side of the camel's neck with a fond smile to her new teammate. There would be a requirement to shield herself from Altaïr as her emotions flared erratically around him and decided to put a limit on her daily interactions with him. It would be hard but the recent arguments between them had put a damper on their acquaintance, especially after being pinned an outsider. She didn't want her heart to be broken worse as she traveled and kept her mind on the objective to avoid it, "The south of Africa carries dangerous predators that aren't restricted to water and I don't plan on being their next meal. I'm not about to be caught off-guard by a hungry lion or a cheetah- shame there's no catnip."
"Perfect" Altaïr muttered wryly because with his luck, he'd be fighting one of those things. He'd already fought his way through quite a few animals and it was enough for him to never revisit the continent- except maybe Egypt. Was it too late to charter a trip to head to Asia instead? He wasn't going to alter his plan any more since the stay in Lake Victoria was longer than expected and quickly reminded them, "Everybody better use the outhouse because I will not be making stops."
Vivian shook her head to his role as patriarch/leader of their bunch and placed her foot on the stirrup to climb onto the camel. Her first lesson on horseback riding from Altaïr had not been forgotten despite being on water travel for a year and she smiled with success to landing on the tall animal. Since she'd become stuck with him as her riding partner, she patted the back of the large saddle and beckoned him with a smirk, "Get on, big daddy, before I leave you to become Tarzan."
Altaïr groaned to her strange babble as he wondered if he would ever understand any of it but another thought pushed that out. When did he ever take the backseat of anything? Crossing his arms, he pushed his weight onto one leg to show who was the boss of their team and brought up nonchalantly, "I think you're forgetting who is leading that camel."
Will Malik manage to save the slaves? Or will Altaïr and Vivian have to save him again? Will Altaïr realize his words or be ignorant of them until they bite him in the butt? And what will become of Buttercup and Vivian? Find out next time!
Thanks for reading, my dear readers, and please leave a review that Vivian can chew on while I finish editing the next installment of the story. :)