Music Inspiration: Inon Zur- "The Party Camp" (I love the ambience of that piece for Vivian and Altair currently) and Two Steps From Hell- "I Love You Forever"
The Green Eyed Monster
A week later brought the mark of their first month in Quelimane and Malik earned a nice basket of fruit at work for his steadfast efficiency, which meant free food for the trio. Vivian received a round of beers from her grocer friends at an inn that would've given her liver instant cirrhosis had her friends not been there to drink as well. As for Altaïr. . .well, he quit and was currently jobless. He had been putting it off for as long as he could but when a bucket of fish guts fell on him when he accidentally struck it while cleaning a boat- he lost all of his remaining sanity. It had been a great relief to bid goodbye to the docks but dread filled him when he'd returned to the inn to tell his friends. Malik had ranted for a good hour about him lacking commitment to the mission due to simple body odor, not to mention losing money they sorely needed. Altaïr had stomped away irritably to cool off before he said something he'd regret and swiped a pear from the gift basket. There was no reason for him to starve after working that day, right?
Malik didn't object to having his produce stolen and Vivian looked to him to state softly, "Don't be mad at him, Malik. He really tried his best but we both know he's not cut out for this kind of life."
"It was only for a short time, Vivian" he sighed with disbelief to Altaïr's impetuousness about quitting because they'd had harder missions than impersonating travelers. If they didn't need the money so badly, he wouldn't be pressing his friend. Their journey was far from over and they had arrived poorer than poor because there were no more enemies to loot from.
Vivian offered an apologetic smile on behalf of the cranky assassin and informed, "I'll go check on him."
Her Zevran getup had been shed for the night and she returned to the feminine robes to be herself. It was annoying having to go downstairs with a long skirt that could become tangled around her feet but she managed to make it in one piece. There weren't many people down below in the dining area now that the late evening fell and she smiled at the old kind faced owners as she passed by. They were a petite old couple that practically spelled sweet grandparents running a bed and breakfast to her. Opening the door, the cool salty breeze of the sea greeted her nose and she looked around to see where Altaïr had gone off. Given that the inn was small, it didn't take long to walk the perimeter and she found him behind the building.
The rolling pastures that dipped to transform into the coast greeted her vision since Altaïr wasn't fond of staring at the ocean. He preferred the sight of sturdy immovable land and the east provided that as he leaned against the wooden building. Whenever they looked at the sea together, on a rare occasion, he kept his line of vision towards the sky or the sand- rarely on the sparkling water. The lantern hanging above them provided a beam of light to illuminate his outline and she approached him. Vivian found herself surprised when she caught him smoking from a midwakh pipe and a thin trail of smoke left his lips.
Aw, no, he's the Cigarette Smoking Man from the X-Files!, she groaned miserably because practically everyone smoked in that era to the point that her pure untainted lungs shriveled. It was a recreational sport, particularly in the Middle East, and sea trading only spread the use. In other parts of the world that already smoked, merchants would trade materials to use in their particular pipes.
"You smoke? Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad smokes?!" she asked incredulously to what she was witnessing and resisted from ripping the pipe from his hand. She couldn't project her feelings on the matter because everyone was entitled to their lifestyle.
"Only when I'm very irritated" he replied earnestly with a simple shrug and kept the pipe to his eye level so she wouldn't inhale anything. It helped to relieve stress and rather than leaving a smelly room in his wake, decided to head outside where it would be ten times calmer. He had traveled around the town after quitting to build his argument until it was suppertime but it hadn't gone over very well. He looked at the small brown pipe in his left hand and admitted simply, "It's very rare for me, unlike Malik, but I don't really know other forms to relax. There's not a Templar nearby to assassinate so I make do with this."
"Give me that" she fussed to keep his lungs squeaky clean and swiped the pipe from his hand. Altaïr didn't bother to protest her confiscation because he didn't feel very confident that night and simply gazed at her to await the next lecture. Vivian, however, wasn't going to make his night worse and merely studied the brown pipe in her hands. She'd never seen him use it during their journey and wondered what else remained a mystery. A thin trail of smoke escaped the end and her nose took the tiniest sniff as she asked, "What do you put in there? I'm pretty sure tobacco won't land here until later centuries."
"Hashish" he replied easily to one of the herbs that traveled around the trade routes and she quirked an eyebrow. Why did that sound familiar to her? Hmm, her brain was immediately trying to crack the nut on that one. Altaïr grabbed the pipe back from her dainty fingers to inhale again and explained, "I found some on one of the robbers back in Giza. Why let it go to waste, right?"
Vivian shook her head because she wasn't about to be the accomplice of the Smoky Man Fog. Her mind finally clicked onto why that word sounded familiar and she exclaimed, "You're getting high? Aw no! You're killing me!"
Altaïr watched her pace around like a chicken with its head cut off as she spouted about the fandom being broken at the news. When he had enough of her frantic circling, he emptied the pipe and stepped on the contents with his boot to end his therapeutic session. He grabbed her by the shoulders to halt her fretting and pressed her back against his chest to ask, "Are you going to lecture me again?"
"No, I understand why you quit" she answered gently as she relaxed now that she wouldn't have an assassin with a sharp acuity with questions about life or ridiculous hunger pangs. His hold loosened and it allowed her to turn around to face him with a kind smile. She wasn't in Malik's boat when it came to his quitting because he wasn't happy and in the end, it was what she wanted for him. He didn't have to look far to find understanding and she admitted easily, "I know what it's like to live a life that's not meant for you, regardless of how much you try to fit into that role. You don't need to explain it to me because I could see how miserable you were."
She didn't know how much he appreciated hearing those words after trying to garner sympathy from Malik. It's not that he didn't want to work but it was hard adapting into that civilian life and the position required of him had been far from ideal. He felt the strongest sensation aching to burst from his chest at the relief of knowing she wasn't going to chastise him about the brotherhood and their rules. Vivian . . . she was simply being Vivian.
"Life throws us many curveballs but we can't quit either" she advised carefully with a small smile because they were both in the same boat. While she was lost centuries from her own time, he was a long way from home in Masyaf as well. His lips thinned into a tiny frown because he was fond of fussing to relieve his stress but she gave him a knowing 'don't you complain' look. His face smoothed with a noncommittal grunt now that she knew his tells rather well and she stated simply, "We're not the type of people who call it a day when things get tough. At this moment, you feel restrained against your will because you're stuck here until the weather clears. Thankfully, for you, there is an escape at the end of the grueling tunnel but I don't have that."
Is that what she felt since her arrival? Altaïr was already being driven insane after a month but Vivian bore the time shift for over a year without a nervous breakdown. He admired that strong willpower because a weaker woman would've succumbed to the isolation in the wilderness, not to mention the lack of loved ones beside them. She was a simple civilian but the grace she used when calming him down was one he hadn't encountered in quite a while. Al Mualim had usually nipped his sass in the bud without a word, Malik tended to snap at him, while Maria had pinched his side to quiet him.
Vivian merely smiled with encouragement to soothe away all of his worries and advised, "Take a day to relax and ponder about your next steps. You will need a job so spend the time perusing through town to find one on your own without our intervention. If you need to talk- or most likely, prefer the silence- come find me and we'll find a quiet place to get away from the world. Life isn't easy but there comes a time when we need to breathe for ourselves before we suffocate from the weight on our shoulders. I'm here for you, Altaïr, for better or worse."
He couldn't help himself and without thinking, he embraced her tightly by the shoulders as the words hit home. It was pure freedom for him to hold someone that understood his predicament and he basked in that sympathetic care. How could one time traveler match that same uncertainty he felt to perfection? It was preposterous to believe and he was inclined to accept that her appearance in his world was meant for a reason. Things like time travel were unheard of- impossible!- yet science somehow brought her to him on that hot summer in Jerusalem.
Vivian returned his gesture and smiled when one hand brushed back strands of hair with surprising gentleness. It was a breach in personal space that had never happened and she thinned her lips to prevent a sappy smile from rising to his touch. Although his fingers were the consistency of sandpaper after years of climbing, the friction was wonderful to her sensory receptors. Thankfully, his voice blocked her melting fangirl screaming inside when he whispered against her left shoulder, "You are the first to understand me and bear with my behavior without abandoning me. Any other woman would've called me a fool and left by now but you remain at my side. Just as you offer me aid, you must come to me when you feel defeated- never hide it. I will always help you too, Vivian."
He exhaled with a lighter weight on his shoulders as she clung to him and Altaïr admitted earnestly, "Thank you for seeking me here."
"There was never a question in my mind" she replied kindly as she embraced him tightly to repay the trust and safety he'd given her. He had provided her with the basics to survive and a friendship worthy of a novel when she returned home. On top of that, she managed to help him become a better man and that was the best reward in her book.
After that night, Altaïr sold his pipe and never smoked again.
The following day brought them to a nice outing on the beach to test Vivian's first invention to use for fun. She'd been teaching Malik how to build a kite during their days off work since Altaïr saw no point in games and only partook in hobbies relating to survival. The late morning was the perfect time to spend a day on the shore when everybody was working in town while the trio was free. The dai was currently trying to fly the kite with the ocean's breeze while Vivian instructed him how to maneuver it. Altaïr, meanwhile, laid face down on a blanket with his elbows propped against it and watched hermit crabs burrowing in the sand with mild interest. They were tiny little things but they were living their own life just as he was.
"You can't expect Vivian and me to work alone for the next month" Malik lectured their friend as he tried to catch an air current while running back and forth. The whole fiasco about quitting hadn't blown over from yesterday but Malik had calmed to the point that he resorted to lectures. Altaïr, frankly, merely nodded and allowed it to go in one ear and out the other. They kept their conversations subtle since they were in public but Altaïr's glare power carried over an ocean with his temper. Unlike the general population, Malik wasn't transformed into a quivering ball under his gaze and stated firmly, "I don't care if you have to crawl back for your job but you need to find one quickly."
"I refuse to smell like something a dog threw up" he snapped irately with a hiss fit for a cat and Vivian muffled a snicker to his exaggeration. The smell was more like a rotting egg smell while the fish itself was detectable up close- scrumptious when it was eaten.
Malik frowned to his antics because if things didn't go his way, Altaïr would protest until he was given free reign. He was accustomed to getting his way after being the best and he would not relinquish his joy at quitting a cheerless job. The dai, unfortunately, wasn't the spoiling type and scolded his impetuousness, "You make Al Mualim sound sane with the things you spout."
"He never had to smell hideously like I did" he shot back sourly and poked holes in the sand to let out his aggression about having to quit. He failed to remember that hermit crabs burrowed underground and sticking your finger into their home practically spelled invasion. The little crab hiding under the sand didn't hesitate to defend its home when the soft appendage descended onto it.
"Ow!"
Altaïr flailed his left hand away from the sand as a hermit crab hopped along for the ride. The little crab clung on to defend its invaded burrow and that marked another of Earth's animals that attacked him- number 34, if Vivian was correct. At this point in the journey, he could live without seeing wildlife for the next five years after his experiences. He stood upright to shake the critter off before it snapped a bone and roared at the two with outrage, "Help me, you useless stumps!"
They blatantly ignored the dramatic assassin as he ran in circles to separate the crab from his hand. He already had four fingers on his left hand and didn't want to lose another because of a furious crustacean. Vivian didn't know whether to sigh in dismay or bury her head in her hands because the man was running like the crab was chasing him with a weapon. How was running going to stop a tiny crab? Malik lent a hand by handing the kite to Vivian and approached the assassin to put an end to it. Altaïr was more than ready to demand he rip off the crab but the dai pushed him into the incoming tide to silence him. Also, it would allow the poor crab some peace of mind to escape.
A few seconds passed before the assassin resurfaced from the foamy waves as he coughed out water. To Vivian, he resembled the Monster from the Black Lagoon when seaweed managed to cling onto his shoulders as he thrashed around as if burned. She couldn't imagine anything more hilarious than this! He was drenched completely since the push hadn't been a light one and Altaïr declared furiously, "We are never undertaking a journey together again!"
Vivian shook her head to his yelling as she tried to make her diamond shaped kite glide into the sky and sighed, "He's PMS-ing worse than me."
"Vivian" Malik groaned to that eerie female process but the expression shifted when their kite took flight in her hands. He quickly rejoined her to steady it as the red diamond with a hilariously drawn assassin chibi giving a thumb's up faced them and took to the sky. Together, they ran down the shoreline to make sure it wouldn't fall back down as their first invention succeeded and forgot all about the cranky assassin. Kite flying provided Vivian a link to her old life and sharing it with her new friends felt wonderful. Altaïr glared at them as he used a nearby towel to dry his face but enjoyed the pretty color of the odd contraption.
He had to admit Vivian had some creative ideas to bridge the distance between their eras. That slingshot she helped him make made her the first victim (oh, the irony) but it worked splendidly. Now, he just used it to shoot pebbles into the water to bide his free time. He wrung seawater out of his clothes and sighed under his breath at how long it would take for them to dry.
When Malik had the kite steady on his own, Vivian released his hand to beckon their grumpy assassin. She found him drying his skin underneath the wet tunic with a towel and his irritated look reminded her of a wet cat. His eyes only served to fuel that image as they penetrated deep into hers and she tried to coax him, "Come on, Altaïr. It's a fun invention and I promise you'll like it a little."
His face remained impassive as he maintained his dignity but left the area before the crab returned for vengeance. His feet gained sand shoes as he walked up to the dai in soaked clothing to demand the kite for his callous shove. Vivian chuckled behind him to the fussy tone and Altaïr blinked when she wrapped her own towel around his shoulders. She patted him on the back in one last effort to calm him but the gesture was enough to leave his heart a warm syrupy mess. Why couldn't she just knock him over the head instead? It would've lowered her appeal and reminded him she was his witty little friend rather than a smart petite woman whose hidden curves were beginning to pop up in his mind.
Malik cheered up his friend by letting him learn to control the kite and for the first time, Altaïr felt the giddiness of a child as he controlled the flimsy object in the sky. How could something so flat fly in the sky? Objects weren't made to fly in his time but if this was how it felt, he could see why Vivian enjoyed the future where machines took to the sky to travel. Why, it was simply delightful! It was a shame that he would be long gone before that time came to be but maybe the Apple or Ankh would allow him a glimpse before he returned to the earth. Would it be a long wait before kites were flown all along the world by people of all ages? Or would he be the lucky one to experience it firsthand?
His renewed childhood was an interesting sight to behold for Vivian after trying to catch a glimpse of a common man. Altaïr had admitted to her once that he always wondered how he would be if given the chance but Quelimane brought out the worst of that persona. Instead of being a blacksmith or farmer, he had received the most unpleasant job suitable for him and it had hampered that experience. The kite, however, brought forth the inner child that had never flourished in him as he was taught to be an efficient killing machine. For the first time, she saw a normal man experiencing innocent fun as he controlled the gliding kite. It came to a point that when children asked to use it out of sheer curiosity, he scared them off by claiming, "I was here first. Go away."
Well, she saw what kind of child he would've been now.
Of course, Malik allowed the youngsters to enjoy their handmade creation by ripping it out of his hands. Like a child renewed, Altaïr left to sulk on a nearby boulder until it was his turn again because they all had to share. The new Altaïr would abide to those terms but the child's spark burning within him demanded otherwise. Had time really gone that fast? He felt like he'd only played- uh, controlled- it for a few minutes. Vivian joined him with a sweet cream creation from goat's milk that he eyed with both intrigue and hunger since he'd become comfortable with having meals available. It felt wonderful not having to hunt every day for food and the squishy dessert sprinkled with fruit appeared tasty. She raised the bowl with a giddy smile and poked the dessert with a wooden spoon to jiggle it, "A gift from Zevran's admirers. I've never had a character be so loved."
He groaned miserably to the blasted name and she chuckled to the grumpy mood he was always in. She held out her spoon so he could have a taste (while hoping to lift his spirits) and he cringed with wariness, "Your spit is on that."
"If I remember correctly, you sent lake water with yours into mine" she stated sarcastically and he grumbled under his breath because she was correct. There wasn't any more dignity he could lose after having her lips on his while unconscious and then again by surprise. She grinned with delighted surprise when he took a bite from the snack, calling it progress. Altaïr had never done such a thing but it brought delight to his inexperienced heart as he spent a normal day at the port. What other assassin could say they were sitting on the beach and eating a dessert without a care in the world? Well, maybe one care or two. He tried not to smile when she preened about the sweet taste of the smooth cream, "Good, right?"
"You can't keep accepting things because people will expect something in return" he lectured snippily but took another large bite from her snack, causing her to smirk. He was such a stickler with admitting anything remotely related to the emotion called happiness that it made her chuckle. It didn't matter as long as she brought a little joy to his hectic life.
"Not if you outsmart them" she justified wittily and brushed her shoulder against his. He shook his head to her logic and she poked the top of his free hand with hers as it lay on the boulder. His fast reflexes caused her to groan miserably when he trapped it underneath his to cease her movement. She stilled to become free but her cheeks warmed when seconds passed and her hand remained pinned under his. He was the number one protester against touching, telling her the futuristic ways were evil and . . . he was holding her hand, wasn't he? She didn't know whether to groan miserably or crush her cheering fangirl into paste.
His behavior was subtly shifting to a field where she didn't feel comfortable, not for herself, but for him and his future path. He'd never betrayed anything more than friendship with his face but his recent actions . . . sometimes, she wondered if something dwelled there. Altaïr was such a private person and to be privy to his life was an honor that Vivian held dear. At the same time, that trust only brought to question whether he was tempted to blur and cross the line of friendship because that wasn't a possibility. There was someone meant to walk the path of life with him in the history books and Vivian was not looking to piss her off.
He made no mention of anything as he took another bite from her treat and stated simply, "Zevran is playing a dangerous game."
She shook her head to his fretting because her disguise was playing over rather well in town and teased, "See? This is why you're not in Zevran's inner circle-"
"Vivian, I swear-" he sighed with disgruntlement to Zevran because he embodied everything Vivian shouldn't be. Why couldn't Zevran be a normal sensible man that didn't draw attention to himself? One who wasn't flipping society's norms upside down and possibly making silent enemies along the way? Didn't she know he worried about her every time she left the inn?
"Relax a little, you're always so formal and stiff" she suggested gently since he failed to budge from his core personality in Quelimane. It was like poking a stubborn clam to open and although Vivian kept coaxing him, that big clam only tightened further. She wanted the stress to leave him for at least a day since he never experienced true relaxation after always being on guard.
"Or what? You'll kiss me again?" he teased with an amused snort to her bold ways and watched the tips of her ears redden. Hmm, she always was more open and outrageous in private. That unexpected moment had remained stuck in his head since it occurred and the idea of repeating it didn't repulse him. The bashful hue on her ears was a rare sight to see and he leaned over to whisper against her hot ear, "I won't be caught unaware this time."
Oh, he was good.
"Zara, you green eyed beauty" a voice interrupted them and Vivian turned to see one of the eligible bachelors of the port that worked in the small market area. The young man was of Arabic descent due to the continuous trade between port towns along the Indian Ocean and worked with raising livestock. Altaïr's hand retreated from hers immediately like water on oil and she took notice of that, clear that it hadn't been an accident or temporary nerve damage. It was a rarity for her to receive attention since she hid from it due to her origins and couldn't see herself developing anything in that world without causing emotional turmoil. It was better to ward oneself than lose that power if one became emotionally involved.
The only person she'd drawn a schoolgirl heart over was Altaïr but his path was carved so it was both a relief and a pain. She had fallen into the growing pile of Altaïr lovers and worshippers- this time in the former category. Goodness, she could still feel the rough callouses of his hand and the warmth of it on hers. It was an electric touch that she'd felt with no other and left her heart a pile of sweet goo for being so lucky to experience it. He was the kind of man she'd follow into hell and back, one to love wholeheartedly without fear, and the one who protected her against all the dangers that the world threw at them. Unfortunately, she'd have to nip any further actions in the bud before she gave him the wrong impression.
For the first time, Vivian found herself on the receiving end of attraction and felt flattered like many modern women did during the dating scene of the single life. She'd been a bookworm for much of her life and most of her dates consisted visiting a museum, relaxing in a coffee shop, or seeing a film at night in a public park showing. Her focus on school hadn't given much opportunity for a romance life and her life alongside Altaïr for the past year (and a few months) removed that possibility. She smiled towards the man that she'd often talked to as Zevran regarding animals and greeted, "Fancy seeing you here. Zevran is wandering the docks-"
"I was hoping to find you, actually" he interjected with a pleasant smile and Altaïr's assassin sense blared to DEFCON 1 that single action. He decided to watch this man for no other reason than talking to her and eyed him like a suspicious mother cheetah. Vivian handed Altaïr her cream dessert to keep him occupied before he scared off the friendly man. His appearance reminded her of the amicable inventor Bashir and he knocked her socks off when he offered, "I was wondering if I could walk you home after you finished your day on the beach."
And so, dating decorum began.
Vivian stuttered to find words and Altaïr smiled evilly to himself as he waited for her to shoo away the first man to show interest. Wait, why was he cheering for downfall? He found his answer within jealousy but what could this man offer that he couldn't? Besides, she was a part of his team and therefore, a part of him. Yes, that was the answer he'd stick with. It wasn't envy but defense at having someone intrude on his territory! It wasn't about Vivian's familiar face or sappy uncomfortable feelings that he fought to ignore at all! A moment later, however, he balked with surprise and almost choked on the dessert when she smiled in agreement, "Sure. I will finish with my friends in the next hour."
Altaïr hoped that was the last he'd see of the man but it was only the start.
The next week had Malik serving their dinner meal solo in the dining room of the small inn. Vivian was out on the town as herself for the evening and was due to return soon so he'd let her roam freely. Malik didn't mind having his cooking partner absent since the inn had everything he needed and could go buy a few things if they were missing. The dai frowned, however, to the many ink bottles sprawled across the table as he looked for empty places to set the plates down and chastised, "Altaïr, I do wish you'd rid yourself of this habit of leaving ink bottles everywhere."
"You wanted me to get a job and I got one" the other man grumbled back because he had finally earned a decent job by making signs to post throughout town- ranging from many things. He'd made signs for stores, lost livestock, road conditions, town news, and other stuff. He'd gone straight into Malik's workplace and demanded a job as he listed every skill to the nearest administrator that would listen to him. Malik had been mortified to see him chasing down people and sent him to jot down a flyer to post on a board outside the building. His agility and calligraphy won him a job as a freelance poster boy and despite it sounded stupid to everybody else, he preferred it to fish gutter.
He finished writing in his travel journal while the work materials for tomorrow cluttered the table. Flat wooden panes lay in stacks with neat calligraphy written on them since he would post them throughout town starting in the morning. Altaïr grabbed the bottles to align them neatly on the left side as he cleaned the table to allow Malik to place food onto it. He wasn't about to miss out on a meal for being disorganized but time tended to slip by him now that he had a decent job. For once, he was quite content about his work and Malik commented with a smile, "Well, you are in a better mood now so I won't nag."
"Where's Vivian? She's home by now" Altaïr asked as he bit into a freshly made roll of bread, savoring the sweet taste as the cozy inn gave him nostalgia for home. Masyaf always had an endless bread supply that left him sated and he wondered how his little son was faring. Was he well? Did he know how much he wanted to see and hold him? To know his name? He wished he could speed through the journey before he began to talk or walk so he could share those milestones. The longer he was stuck at port, the less he'd get to see his son as an infant and it was unacceptable.
At the same time, the faster he tried to push his mission, the faster he would be rid of Vivian in his life. He wasn't ready to give up their daily chats or her horrible yet catchy tunes for the silence of the land. She'd brought out qualities in himself that he'd never thought existed and wanted to become a better man for everyone. He'd become quite protective of Vivian and it didn't hit him until they lived in Quelimane to realize that. If he didn't know where she was or didn't see her every hour, he became agitated until he found her. He eyed the closed doorway with a keen eye as his fingertips tapped against the table impatiently and proposed hastily, "Vivian's not here. Should I go look for her? I'll go look for her-"
Malik handed Altaïr a plate full of hot food that was too deliciously aromatic to ignore and informed calmly, "She's with that boy from the market- now sit down."
Altaïr ripped into the bread with a feral growl at knowing she was in another man's company and Malik mistook it for distrust. The assassin would've run out the door to bring her home if he wasn't starving but Malik assured, "She needs a little happiness in her life, Altaïr. I'm sure that after traveling with us for over a year, she has grown bored of our constant company. We humans are social creatures, after all."
"The man's an outsider and she's one of us" he grumbled as he ate quietly, not enthusiastic at all at knowing Vivian was outside without him in her company. Why was she with the man in the first place? What was so special about him that he couldn't offer? Wasn't he enough company for her? She'd continuously stated that men in his time weren't her fancy and her circumstance led her to avoid them. What had changed? Why was her eye daring to wander in the first place? He practically shredded the poor hen meat in his hands with his teeth and declared, "We aren't here permanently so she cannot tie herself to anyone. What is she thinking by spending time with that man?"
"Let her be, Altaïr" Malik advised wisely because Vivian was old enough to make her own decisions. They were in a safe town so he didn't worry about her safety since he and Altaïr taught her defense skills. She was a strong woman in her own right and her innocent physical appearance handed her that advantage. Vivian was no longer his defenseless unofficial sister, especially after she incapacitated Altaïr by the arm while he reclaimed stolen socks from him, and stated confidently, "She can protect herself. I've seen her knock a man down by kicking him between the legs and that was before learning to fight with a weapon."
The assassin swallowed his bite of food, the taste gone from it, and remarked sardonically, "Of course, you know her better than I do."
"You can't deny that you've haven't made it easy with your paranoia" Malik pointed out casually because she'd been his prisoner, an unwanted tagalong, his information well, and a companion up to this point. If anything, Altaïr should've been jealous of Malik but he only felt brotherly envy to their close trust rather than the jealousy of a scorned suitor. No, a friend! He had to clear his mind from the fact Vivian was intruding more into his heart than usual and stabbed his vegetables with his fork. Womankind was a mystery to him and Altaïr became more confused with his fluctuating emotions. Malik snapped him out of his ponderings about her as he reminded, "You didn't try to learn more until I brought it up back in Lake Victoria. It's a good thing you two patched up your issues because my life has never been better."
He couldn't disagree with that because he'd broken his personal space rule for Vivian and wouldn't think twice about it again. Her body molded perfectly against his and her smile brightened his currently dull world whenever she sought him to see if he was well. Now, there was somebody threatening to weave in his dominant spot and Altaïr had never been the type to share.
"Close your mouth, you're not a child" Malik scolded as he watched his friend's mouth stay parted for more than five seconds and snapped his fingers. If there was anything he couldn't stand, it was bad mannerisms and Altaïr snorted before obeying.
The master assassin finally immersed himself in a quiet peaceful life that felt entirely surreal from his real life of tracking enemies. He performed his new job splendidly without any complaints and actually enjoyed waking up each morning to ready his work satchel. On one occasion, he'd woken early to make breakfast for his friends and left for work with a happy kick in his steps. It was the first time that he tasted what a civilian life would've been like had he not been born into the order of assassins. The rare gift was one he would appreciate for the rest of his life because not many walked away from their brotherhood. There had been times that he questioned whether he was the right man to lead his brethren but hearing Vivian talk about the future . . . it cemented his commitment. He had always been the type to make sacrifices and the brotherhood flowed through his very veins so he would not disappoint them.
He watched the ocean after his shift as storm clouds kept brewing on the horizon with a thunderous shatter that followed by evening. It was a sign that cyclones were present over the land called Madagascar and the path remained hazardous to travel by boat. Malik would sit with him on certain days as they mulled over their true lives filled with danger and counted themselves lucky men for witnessing what a civilian life could've brought them. Altaïr didn't know what memories his future descendant would see but if he could pick one, the idyllic peace of Quelimane would be it before the shitstorm broke loose and danger reared its ugly head.
He knew he was growing wiser when he helped chop wood for the old lady at the inn, who was grateful enough that she deducted a small percentage off their stay. Without needing to be asked, he cleaned debris sticking to the palm leaf roof that could pool water during the rainy nights and ruin the wooden foundation. He also pulled weeds that kept scratching his feet when he walked barefoot over the small field and finally cleaned his eating table rather than leaving it cluttered. Oh, and fed the clucking hens in the back- mostly because Vivian liked playing with the baby chicks. He visited the beach to keep his skills honed as he listened to the crashing waves to calm his sea sickness and increase his meditation. There was a cave up north where he traveled to during dawn to isolate himself from the world and learn from the pieces, which allowed him to begin the creation of new assassination techniques. Vivian couldn't have been prouder when he returned with an idea to begin creating a hidden blade that wouldn't require a finger to be chopped off (it would only raise the risk of a systemic infection). When she admitted that it was one of his future inventions, it fueled him to begin formulating possibilities by hand to follow his rightful road.
The small port in the middle of nowhere granted him a lot in self-fulfillment despite his initial distaste for it. He had not seen Vivian for two weeks after he unknowingly insulted her by lecturing her she was leading that 'market boy' as he called him towards something she couldn't give. She wasn't of his time and more importantly, he didn't feel comfortable seeing Vivian courting anyone- it stirred something incredibly painful inside his heart. He'd done the only thing he could when he wanted answers: head to the source. The only problem was that his inexperience with women had him putting a foot in his mouth.
And so, his blunder of an encounter went a little like this:
He cornered Vivian minutes before one of her upcoming outings around the village with her 'suitor' where she wandered to buy cheap trinkets. They were simple creations in his mind but she loved collecting artisan works from places they visited. It didn't help him any that the man- Abu, Babu, Apu, something or other- knew every shop in Quelimane. Altaïr had chucked an apple through his window when the man gave it to him a few days ago as a friendly gift. He had accepted it with forced thanks downstairs but his face was full of glee from his room when a horse happened upon it and ate it. It's not like apples were magically special, right? Vivian had gasped in surprise to his quiet sneaking, pressing a hand to her chest and chastised, "You're going to send me to the doctor one of these days."
Her hair had grown to a feminine length past her shoulders and the delicate braid over one had his fingers itching for a curious touch. The dab of scented oil on her lips gave them a healthy sheen that drew his eyes over her face. When had she ever tried to appear this polished in his presence? For that matter, when had her feminine appearance begun to affect him so? Her gray robes were simple and neutral but the color looked beautiful against her skin, especially when he gazed into her emerald eyes. She was subtle and natural with her beauty, taking notice of that for the very first time. Because of that, it frustrated him to know she was doing all of this for a man that had done nothing in her life nor shared what they had.
"Stop courting him, don't give him illusions of something you can't give" he stated imperiously to cut the nonsense she was playing with because she couldn't find anyone in his time. She'd told him so herself and he would do his best to ensure it. He denied jealousy having anything to do with it and reasoned his protectiveness with team integrity. She furrowed her brow with confusion to the random comment and he pressed her further, "You aren't from here and wasting his time will only hurt the man in the end. If you want fun, go cut some flowers or fish. Here, I'll take you myself."
Before he had the chance to steal her away for himself, she shook her head and raised her hand to avoid being pulled elsewhere.
"I know what I'm doing and. . .well, I'd like temporary happiness myself after everything I've endured" she admitted honestly with a bashful smile and squeezed his shoulder affectionately. Women had rarely touched him due to his work and society's norms but Vivian had always been open with her friendliness. It was a reason he found himself craving that physical comfort from her alone and she fit his profile when it came to complete trust. Damn it, why did he eat her delicious food and talk about every subject known to man? It just made everything worse! That smiling face with a full set of white teeth and twinkling green eyes didn't help either! Where was a ferocious badger when he needed to yank it out of its burrow and have it scratch his face to forget her?
Altaïr was ready to counter that opinion and questioned firmly, "Aren't you happy with us? With me? What does he give you that I can't provide?"
"Nothing, why . . . where is this coming from?" she asked with bewilderment since his expression was downright demanding and annoyed with her actions. When had her outings bothered him? He'd never said otherwise until now! It surprised her after encountering a calmer side of him now that he had a better job. What had changed? She decided not to grasp his shoulders out of worry she'd exacerbate the situation and reassured, "I've always been happy at your side, you know that. Did I offend you somehow?"
"No, it's- I don't want you seeing that man and that is that" he ordered matter-of-factly to bring the matter to an end since Vivian never hesitated to listen to him. He crossed his arms to expect her agreement as he laid down the law and nipped her outing in the bud. Instead, he faced an obstinate woman that wasn't about to be forced into something against her will. Hmm, he'd forgotten a feisty badger dwelled underneath the happy bunny currently in control. His taller height helped tremendously to maintain the dominant role and he stated firmly, "You belong with us in this inn and that's where you should be after work is finished."
"You're not my father or husband, you have no right to dictate my life" she stated crisply because everything had been fine with her life in Quelimane until that point. Why was he against her spending time outside the inn? Didn't he trust her to make safe choices in her life? She knew Altaïr carried a short temper and thanked the stars that she had the patience to state evenly, "I respect you, Altaïr, but this is my private life-"
"You never wanted one, especially with a man not of your time" he shot back to her reasoning whenever they traveled and how she sprung a woman upon Malik. She had never shown an interest to have a temporary fling or court a suitor until this ridiculous man showed up. Wasn't it enough that she admired him? He didn't want to be squeezed out of her life without a say and handed her an ultimatum, "It's either him or us-"
"You can't force me to make a choice like that" she gasped to the ludicrous choice because she looked forward to visiting the small farmland at the outskirts where animals roamed freely. Those weren't things she could do with Altaïr since he was the big bad assassin that would've looked bored out of his mind while she petted a braying goat. He was more liable to scare or battle wildlife (and livestock) which is why she never asked him to take walks with her to the livestock pens in the outskirts. She threw up her hands to his behavior as she sighed to the craziness of it all and spoke freely about it, "I- How . . . I'd smack you over the head with my shoe if we were in private."
Her posture stiffened when he invaded her personal space and her back pressed against the wall instinctively. Her breath paused when only an inch of space prevented their noses from touching and his piercing gaze met her surprised eyes. What had stirred this reaction from him? Her mind was still at a loss at what to grasp for an answer! His low voice, however, sent a shiver down her spine when he stated silkily, "There is nobody here, Vivian, and we are in the most private place in this port."
Vivian's cheeks flushed to the timbre in his voice because it was enough to send a hundred old fashioned skirts his way. This was the first time she'd had him in such a close distance that she could see the fine hairs on his chin and the small pores on his cheekbones as her gaze flicked elsewhere. Anywhere! His eyes carried such a mysterious magnetism whenever she managed to gaze at him and the golden flecks surrounding his pupil only added to his appeal. Sane people would've been quivering under the tall man because he enveloped her form under his without even trying and she faltered, "I- What's wrong? Talk to me."
"You are choosing him over us" he stated briskly because he wasn't fond of seeing her run off with another man and it unnerved him. It snapped something inside him that wanted to keep her in his vicinity and her attention solely on him. He wanted to be the one her attention was focused on and he wanted to know why that was. Was it truly attraction? Or was it simple protectiveness? He hoped to draw an answer from her for his own frustrations as he demanded, "What can he offer that I can't? He could never protect you-"
"A life without danger and I don't need to be protected right now" she interjected since she'd been growing in her own right throughout their travels and could take down an unarmed man. To Altaïr, it was a hurtful stab in the heart because that was the one thing he could never give anyone despite his best of intentions. His life never spelled safety and he realized it was foolish to think anyone would want to share that kind of life with him. Vivian caught the deep furrow of his brow as his eyes narrowed and he broke his gaze away from hers immediately afterwards.
Oh no, she'd struck a chord hadn't she? She'd tried her best to avoid any arguments with him since they'd reached such a great camaraderie and didn't want to change it. She regretted her choice of words because she wouldn't be standing there alive without him and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way-"
"Go to him and live out a life of servitude as a wife" he snapped frigidly to hide his hurt feelings and she gaped to his indifferent tone. She'd never heard him sound so detached but their conversation had turned down an unexpected road. She didn't prize anyone higher than another but nobody would take his or Malik's place in her life- they were her dearest friends. Her hands touched the center of his chest to ask what was the origin of this dislike but he backed away to snap curtly, "Don't expect me to be there waiting with a handkerchief when it blows up in your face-"
"Vivian, you have a guest" Malik's voice called from below the stairwell and she broke her gaze away from Altaïr's. He demanded that she leave him down there but she left him standing in the corridor as she headed downstairs without a glance back. Her heart was entirely conflicted at their tense interaction but leaving would yield the same result as staying and exacerbating it further.
Everything had gone horribly wrong for Altaïr. . . and women remained a confounding riddle to him.
An angry stomp off to wash his laundry and a Malik lecture later, Vivian forgave Altaïr's crazy demands as she saw the truth. Well, that and seeing small flowers shoved under her doorway that had become completely crumpled through the tiny opening. He was so awful at apologizing that she couldn't help but accept his crumpled token. Vivian had never been one to acknowledge when a man was interested in her but Malik saw it quite clearly. The young man's presence around Vivian irritated Altaïr to levels he'd never encountered but when she ended everything, she was back at his side like glue. Of course, his temperament returned to one that matched another suitor at winning his desired partner. Malik decided to let the two stew in that pot because Altaïr never offered a reason to his behavior but if he did . . . well, he'd be the older brother that he always was.
Vivian's own words required an apology she'd imposed on herself and she'd sewn him a new tunic to atone for it. Altaïr accepted it because he cared for her too much to deny her gift but her words about safety lingered. How could they not when he glanced over his shoulder every hour in Quelimane (compared to every two minutes in cities)? He'd give her anything her heart desired but it wasn't in his power to give her even the most basic needs. He couldn't even offer a decent roof over her head half the time they were heading to a settlement and often ruminated about it in his quarters. These were questions that had never surfaced during his time in Maria's company but Vivian surpassed that time frame as she followed him loyally to the end of her journey.
The third week before their leave, he was posting a sign over Vivian's workplace after the owner hired him on a commission. His calligraphy style had become popular among the sellers after seeing his work around the port and he didn't need to wait long before someone needed his services. He was more than happy to help with crafting his own signs since his weapons were handy for woodworking and his drawing hand only improved with time.
"Ah, the fisherman turned poster boy" Vivian's 'Zevran' voice teased as she entered the side of the shop with a new batch of vegetables in her arms. Their stock decreased after the morning sells so Vivian had been tasked with bringing new produce from the back of the owner's house. After adventuring with her companions, she could lift up to forty pounds of weight so she managed in the shop.
Altaïr poked his head in from underneath the sign he was nailing down and met the mischievous gaze of Zevran. Her getup always managed to lower his physical attraction to Vivian and her masculine voice only added another nail to that coffin. Nonetheless, he was happy to find her there and stated matter-of-factly, "No, a fisherman has honor in boating around the sea rather than sitting on a dock all day and stabbing the guts out of fish."
"Forgive me, then" she chuckled as she kept her charade since the store owner was nearby inside their home. If she slipped even the slightest in her disguise, it would send the town in an uproar because times were not kind to those that weren't heterosexual or hid their true gender.
Moving to refill the display crates of their varied selection, Vivian stood inside the store to avoid having Altaïr stepping on her. He peered at the petite woman as her head bobbed while picking up ripe vegetables to arrange in each wooden crate. Being a bookworm, he hadn't expected her to be a woman that could bear physical labor but he was wrong after watching her load and unload produce, not to mention keep it fresh. Whenever people passed by, she offered an enthusiastic sales pitch to draw new customers as she held up a crisp pear or yam as evidence. When she wasn't dramatizing the store's reputation, Altaïr stopped nailing down the sign and looked down at her to ask, "How is your sister?"
She read between the cryptic lines and replied with a charismatic smile, "Who can say? She was excited to leave at first but she's grown rather fond of this place. It has quite the peaceful ambience, doesn't it?"
"Don't tell me she has plans to stay here?" he spoke smoothly but his voice held a hint of inquisition to the last sentence. If he had to lose Vivian, he would relinquish her to her own time to live with her family. He would not live to be an old happy man if she were to run off with another man in his time and bid them all adieu.
"No, she knows her priorities and she's told the town she's marrying a spice merchant in Giza" she informed with a confident smile because she had worked on her exit strategy. They had become known faces at the port after spending more than a month there and Vivian didn't shy away from socializing in neither disguise. Quelimane carried a friendlier ambience than Lake Victoria and she'd fallen into a false sense of life that she didn't mind living.
Altaïr shook his head to her crafty lies and knew Zevran's reason for leaving would be tremendously dramatic. Hopefully, she wouldn't decide on murdering the character and leaving the town in tears. Vivian's smile widened when his brown eyes twinkled and he stated nonchalantly, "That's a shame because I was hoping to take her for a trip around the beach since she avoids me like the plague."
"I've heard it's the other way around but she might, that is, if the fish smell has left you" she replied suavely with a wink as she returned to adding a light sprinkle of cool water to the produce. Altaïr was happy to live a quiet civilian life but Vivian enjoyed her outings as Zevran as she explored like a crazy mongoose. It was for that reason that they didn't spend time together outside of the inn and he'd objected to sharing his limited time with another man. She brought a faint smile to his lips when she added with a wag of her eyebrows, "Because my room must remain as fresh as a dewy morning in winter."
And so they did . . . after he removed the ink off his body when an uncorked bottle fell on his head when he tried to get fancy with his calligraphy. He had wanted to impress Vivian with his penmanship by adding a few border decorations on the sign and accidentally dunked his foot into a vegetable crate. It inadvertently set off a chain of events that ended with black ink soaking the top of his head and the shoulders of his clothing.
"I think you're losing your touch" Vivian commented playfully as they walked down the beach with the evening breeze beginning to graze their left sides. The azure sky was no longer its cheerful blue as hints of orange and lilac began to usher in sunset. She loved seeing the sun set over the sparkling ocean as the bright pulsing orb brought down its curtain of colors to usher in a starry night. Altaïr had never been one for sunsets but after she stopped their camel ride back in Giza, he had begun to appreciate those simple things in Quelimane.
"Nothing is true . . . you don't think I'm going to let them see my reflexes, do you?" he explained with a haughty snort and she punched his arm lightly to his playful joking. He didn't raise his voice to be dramatic or shoot her a charming grin but she loved the rare down-to-earth sarcasm. He flicked the bottom of her right ear for the weak strike and feigned a firm voice to lecture, "Harming a grand master is a punishable offense."
"Well, it's a shame that there's a poster boy in front of me" she replied back with a witty smirk as she used his current position to loophole her way to that joke. He grumbled under his breath because he missed being an assassin and shot her a look that clearly read 'stop making fun of the name'. She simply chuckled good-naturedly to clap him on the back and teased playfully, "No, I'm savoring this for a while longer."
He uttered a groan from within his throat for being downgraded from a master assassin and brought up, "Would you like to know what my first job was?"
Her pearly smile with the matching twinkling eyes told him 'you'd better, mister' and he answered flatly, "Washing laundry. I picked up all kinds of clothing and had to wash it for the younger children since women lacked in our order. The wives of assassins rarely remained in Masyaf itself unless they were assassins themselves due to Al Mualim's rules on childrearing."
"So, that's why you go insane when there's a stain on your clothes! You'd have a clothes-gasm for this liquid we call bleach that whitens anything" she declared amusingly as she eyed the new set of clothes he wore. He'd worn his lucky gray assassin pants and her hand sewn beige tunic that tied at the waist. Dressed as an assassin or civilian, he was a handsome man in her eyes and his relaxed disposition made their walk even better. He narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the reflective water that resembled glittering diamonds to adjust his vision and Vivian deliberated, "My first job was babysitting my cousins when they were small since I was a safer cheaper alternative. I bought a book with the money I earned, hence my love for reading."
"Tell me about your family" he requested gently and gauged her reaction as the invisible wall rose to kept him at bay to her deeper emotions and he wanted to know why. If he could scale it slowly, he hoped to reach an answer. He had his own fortresses as well but with every passing day, he opened the impenetrable doors just an inch for her. He wanted to know about her life in the future, not the world's, in an effort to grow closer to her.
Vivian hesitated because allowing him to delve into her vulnerabilities would bond them deeper and when time came to separate, it would be more heartbreaking since she'd be bearing Malik's loss as well. Unlike Malik, however, she cared for the man standing in front of her and leading him into her old life could strengthen those emotions. Her gaze avoided his as it shifted to the ocean, the water's brilliant shine reflecting from her green eyes as she spoke softly, "If you travel down this path and open those doors, I will open myself to incredible pain when I leave. Are you willing to risk that for both of us?"
"You don't hide it from Malik so yes, I think we'd be better off knowing" he answered easily without hesitation and she aimed a knowing look because he wasn't the type to openly share. He wrote his thoughts in the codex and although she knew some of those writings, he failed to speak on any matters plaguing his heart or mind as he stuck to his missions only. Vivian didn't have that luxury due to her social nature and she was greatly reluctant to weave him to her old life. Altaïr wasn't having none of that because he'd fight tooth and nail to achieve his goal and stated honestly, "I'd really like to know who you are, Vivian, before you leave us. I don't like mysteries hanging over my head. We've developed a friendship that I didn't deem possible and I won't shy away from the imminent pain when the rewards will outweigh it."
"You've always been the strong one" she murmured admiringly since his heart could bear scars that most couldn't and he offered a faint lopsided smile. Even though she no longer believed he was indomitable to withstand a barrage of arrows, he was her hero in crispy white robes. Her elbow brushed along his as they walked down the beach barefoot and she smiled impishly, "Since you're so insistent-"
"Oh, you haven't seen my insistent side" he scoffed smugly because he'd trained as an interrogator under Al Mualim for a reason. His low voice sent a shiver down her spine for the second time in Quelimane and she tucked her hands neatly behind her back to dissipate that feeling. My, he could charm the pants off women with his voice alone (not that, uh, she was thinking about it). He decided to begin the first round to gain that distinct trust he'd been working towards and recounted his youth, "I had no siblings. My father, Umar, died when I was young, executed for an assassination gone wrong, and my mother died in childbirth from complications. I never knew her name because Al Mualim restricted access to parents since we were raised under him but eventually, I found my answer through conversations with other assassins. They were estranged to me since our order was placed high above all else so my sense of family now is to guard my assassins."
"I've always been a solitary man, Vivian, but not because I sought to be" he admitted solemnly about his childhood because he was a lonely child after Abbas refused to continue their friendship. He wasn't an anti-social child by choice but circumstances forced him to be under Al Mualim. His hands wrung together over his stomach in a rare form of modesty but he trusted her enough to admit, "I did seek to find attachments but after Abbas, only Al Mualim stayed at my side- he became my only sense of family. I didn't want to repeat the past so I kept to myself and people didn't particularly care for my personality, not that I made it easy. If I would've had a friend like you and if I hadn't irritated Malik with my smartass comments, I wouldn't have turned out the way I did."
She smiled sympathetically to his private confession because he'd rarely spoken about his early childhood. He had stated those years were never his best and she never pried further to respect his choice. Without thinking, her hand slipped into his to offer a comforting squeeze to show she'd support him all the way. How could she not? Altaïr appreciated the gesture and his heart warmed to holding her dainty hand again without reaching for it this time. He was ready nab a longer hand holding session with the elusive badger and asked curiously, "You have two sisters, correct?"
"Natalia and Penelope" she answered with a small smile since her family remained a private subject due to her sudden departure. It carried the same rarity as his past did due to the emotional trauma but keeping silent could also bring the same harm. She didn't want to forget them or be ashamed for having to hide their meaning in her life. Opening that can of worms would only worsen her current life and she mused freely, "If time flows in the same manner in my realm, Natalia will be ready to start her college search to further her education. We're an everyday family but mom always wanted us with a good education and dad treats us like treasure since we- they're all he has left. My youngest sister will be learning her arithmetic and improving her reading, she likes to draw and write a lot. They mean everything to me and I spoil them with whatever money I have left since our mother's not there to do so. My mother . . . she died in the same manner as yours, complications arose and it was too late to save her without risking Penelope."
Her voice faltered as she avoided specifics about that painful chapter and continued softly, "It . . . it's not something I talk about openly because it still hurts, despite the years. I'm sorry you couldn't have your mother beside you," her hand squeezed his again before continuing, "but I cherished mine for the time she was able to spend with me. She was my world and it's not easy to forget that. It must be even harder to bear for my dad now that I'm gone and I miss my family dearly, Altaïr. There isn't a day I don't think of them and it grows harder and harder to remain objective about all of it."
He released her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders as her frame appeared delicate against the ocean breeze. He clutched her close through their stroll to offer the same comfort she had after learning to reciprocate it correctly. Hugs had been an odd action to his inexperienced mind but now, he could wrap her petite form under his and lift her feet off the floor without trying. For now, a loose one-armed hug would do to reassure her everything would turn out well and he smiled earnestly to advise, "I'm sure she's proud of all the knowledge you've gained since arriving here, you've grown from the pesky little badger that fought me tirelessly. You've supplied me with invaluable help on this journey and you've gained numerous skills along the way. I don't know a thing about parenting but I know I'd want my daughter to be happy. Are you happy, Vivian?"
She smiled appreciatively for the kindest words he'd said since that night he locked her in their shared room in Egypt. He was a sweetheart despite he claimed he had no finesse for it but Vivian loved that private side of him. It took strong willpower not to entrap him in a tight bear hug and she placed her hand over his to improvise her thanks. She wasn't going to drop the assassin in the sand to show affection because they had a tendency to roughhouse now that she was growing in the physical sense. She was no longer a tiny flea feeding off Altaïr's awesomeness and admitted, "I've been quite happy these past months at Quelimane and I'm truly sorry about what I said on you lacking safety. You've kept me safe since you found me and although we haven't seen eye to eye on a few things-"
He smirked faintly on that obvious fact and she squeezed his hand to finish earnestly, "You're the one I want by my side when the world crashes and burns around me."
"There's nothing to apologize for . . . but my life will never be stable, this is probably the best I could ever offer and it's during a mission" he stated grimly about his life because safety would only be an illusion or barely temporary. He could never offer her what a civilian man from her time (or his) could and a nice single family home for her would be out of the question. It was the main reason he struggled with when allowing Vivian to do as she wished because he wanted to be the one in her life. For the first time, he began to acknowledge that Vivian had weaved herself into his heart and he wanted to keep her there for as long as he could. This was his little badger and if he had to relinquish her, it would be to her family only. The pain of releasing her to another man would be agonizing enough but with his lifestyle, it seemed the most logical choice to prevent her falling into the wrong hands. It wasn't worth the risk of losing her and he'd rather have her safe among her kin than dead for following him loyally.
He licked his lips as he paused for a moment to dwell on the pivotal events in his young life because it had never been stable. Death was constantly looming over his shoulder and to lure her into that life would be irresponsible of him, no matter how much he wished it. He couldn't tear himself away from the brotherhood and with her being his number one supporter, it would be impossible. Vivian was ready to object with the fun times they'd had along the way but he knew they couldn't last forever. Their time together wasn't eternal and he admitted faintly, "It will never change and the best I can do is keep you out of the fire."
He blinked with surprise when she embraced him with thanks to his promise but he returned it wholeheartedly. This time, there was no awkwardness from the first time and he held her close like a lover as her body molded against his. He loved placing his chin on top of her head as he used one hand to cradle that precious mind filled with wit and intelligence. It was her best asset and he appreciated her selfless help to pull him forward. Her hands rubbed circles underneath his shoulder blades to show the same care and Vivian shifted the conversation back to a happier place, "So, tell me, where did you get the scar on your lips?"
"Only if you tell me why you constantly sing" he requested with a confident smile and she chuckled, releasing him to tug him along on their casual stroll. She knew how to dull the worries lingering in his mind about her, his life, the brotherhood's survival, and numerous other topics.
He learned more about her old life from that simple stroll than he had the entire year they'd known each other. She told him her earliest memories, embarrassing moments, her favorite things, her pet peeves, and the fact she still watched children's cartoons for the sheer fun of it. It only helped to solidify the fact that she was the one he wanted by his side as he sacrificed every fiber of his being and any hope for a stable future for the sake of mankind.
A/N: And the romance keeps building as Altaïr begins to poke the hornet's nest! We can see just how protective he's grown of Vivian to the point that he finally acknowledges her meaning in his life. Vivian, however, is trying to keep him at bay with a ten foot pole despite all her heart wants to do is hold him. I also like exploring Altaïr's fake civilian life as he tries to put his own existence into perspective since he delves into that when he's old. All he's ever known in assassinating and while Malik and Vivian have fun fitting into those civilian roles, it takes quite a bit of adjusting until he finds his footing- which he has as a poster boy (I can't stop laughing at that). Next time, we'll reach the high point of their teetering relationship when Altaïr takes the plunge to kiss her in an all or nothing chance.
Nate the Grate: Thanks!
Hollownature: I totally understand about life, I just started my registered nursing program and have not had time to write anything new since starting so I'm glad I wrote these chapters' months ago. Altaïr has had a lousy time when it comes to jobs and I can hear him telling his sons in the future 'When I was young, I gutted fish and never whined a day in my life' just to keep their heads up. As for the lemon, it will be separate for those who can read on without it and I will definitely be posting it in my notes once it's ready.
IsraAl'Attia-Theron: It's been a long road but I think most went 'squee' when Vivian did that bold move and we'll go 'hurrah' when Altaïr returns it next chapter. Malik will turn brotherly once they're heading to Madagascar when Vivian asks him to help her repel him.
Lissa: I'm glad you loved it! It's about time Vivian both shocks and pleases the readers and Altaïr simultaneously.
PurplePantherOfDoom: So you know what a humongous flirt Zevran was and with Ezio being a mix of her disguise, Vivian can be pretty outrageous for that time frame. After being scared of the wilderness and depending on the assassins to survive, she's finally found a safe spot to come out of her shell and explore. I wish I could use more current games but since Vivian is from the 2009 time frame, I'm limited but I'm glad you're enjoying Dragon Age (I loved the first game).
Anna: You had me laughing at imagining Altaïr leaping towards a random OC to declare his love on first sight. He's such an intense character that leaves you thinking about what he's thinking, oddly similar to Connor, so he wouldn't fall head over heels for Vivian- who didn't exactly find the game character she expected. Thank you for enjoying the story and I hope you liked this chapter!
KrnYong: I do agree that empowering women is probably the worst way to have a huge finger pointed at you in that time era but you're right, it's in Vivian's character. She's a caretaker by nature and similar to Maria, she'll stick to her guns- even when Altaïr advises her otherwise. After hiding in fear for over a year, she no longer needs to look over her shoulder and that's a lot of energy itching to be released. Altaïr definitely has his humorous flaws as it contradicts Vivian's assumptions and it will help his case when he tells her to stop holding his game as his predestined path since he wants to carve his own road. I can only imagine how his childhood was and it's something I'll focus on in the sequel as he raises his children. Darim will be the natural prodigy with the heart of gold while Sef will be studious type that Altaïr worries over since he loves to pick up rocks and sneak into libraries. Vivian has definitely become his emotional stress reliever as she inadvertently tweaks him to become the wise man we'll see in Revelations.
lone green leaf: I'm glad to hear you have your shipping gear on for what awaits the two inevitable lovebirds.
YaraThor: Thank you for being a long time reader, I appreciate hearing from those that have followed the story for quite a while (40 chapters, yay!). Vivian is a crazy little cookie in a tiny body and Malik always has a lady's eye on him (the man's ridiculously handsome, lol) but it will be some time before he finds his permanent lady (who I plan on introducing much later). I would love for Desmond to see the crazy antics of his ancestor but since the team jumped quickly to Ezio, they will miss all of that (or who knows, maybe he could catch a tiny glimpse and keep it to himself). Somehow, I can see Vivian joking that she'll be the next Bilbo Baggins but she'll make her little manuscript one day to pay homage to her friends.
Next Time: A Detour Off Destiny
Vivian smiled proudly to remembering every lyric of her parody song and loosened her hold when he turned around to smirk, "You are a sharp little woman, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't be alive if I wasn't" she quipped with a warm chuckle to her odd skill set in his world but wouldn't give it up. She might not have the ability to use long-range weapons or heavy ones either but her mind would be her best weapon to wield. All of her gathered knowledge, however, wouldn't prepare her for what happened next.
His lips sought hers to plant a small kiss on her mauve lips, grazing the apple of her cheek with his thumb as he closed the gap between them. He'd been growing rather fond of their time spent together and although they were teammates, wondered if she reciprocated. Her norms were different than his but his signs were pretty crystal clear for a man living in that century that he was interested. Vivian's instinct and emotions returned the innocent peck on the lips but before he tried to pull her into an embrace, she placed her fingers on his lips. After months of wondering what it would feel like and his past experiences with women, he sighed with disdain to that particular movement, "Why does every woman do that? Am I such a horrible kisser? Are my lips the consistency of sand?"
Vivian sighed in dismay to what she'd done, remembering that similar maneuver from Maria, and immediately wanted to say no. Why had she used that of all gestures? A simple nudge on the shoulder would've sufficed! He had legions of women ready to fall at his feet in heaps and she was one of them but couldn't admit it out of fear. She couldn't sink his future on the pure basis of attraction when many depended on him to procreate with Maria. Fortunately, the mission came first to stomp out her sentiments to knock logic back into place and she stated gently, "I can't. You already have your path and that's all I will say for your benefit. Now, we can either continue talking as two colleagues or-"
"You kissed me back" he interjected softly to the reciprocation and Vivian decided to exit the scene before she became red as a cherry to tell him he was right. The way the light reflected from his brown eyes only softened her resolve to keep everything locked up tight in her heart.
"I . . . uh, left some clothes in a soaking bowl" she excused herself quickly as she leapt from the bed to escape but felt guilty instantly for doing such a thing to him. She wasn't a coward or stricken with confusing teenage hormones; he'd taught her to tackle things head on. He was someone who deserved her utmost respect and she returned to sit at the edge of the bed again, brushing the side of her hand across his cheek. His sun-kissed skin was as soft as she imagined and the growing stubble gently pricked her fingers as her hand withdrew. He wasn't going to pursue another kiss or offer a 'come hither' stare to match Ezio's, leaning back against the wall to hear her say. Man, even his lazy pose was alluring.
Vivian's fingers tapped idly on the bedcover as she held back her nerves and spoke with regret, "It never happened . . . it just can't and you know why. Now, I suggest you rest your weary mind and I'll arrange your drawing items on the table downstairs so you can work and eat afterwards."
His mind wasn't weary in the slightest because he'd never been more certain of anything in his life and disagreed, "Vivian-"
"Don't delve into this, please, for both our sakes" she advised softly with a solemn smile since hearing her name from his lips knocked her socks off easily. She could have his voice as a voicemail message and never tire of hearing him say 'leave a message'. He had shifted from the kind of man she'd be happy to get a mere 'hello' from to the type that she'd happily spend all of her days with. She had been lucky to glimpse into the man behind the iconic robes and he was a modest man that was happy with simplicity. Unfortunately, both the man and the assassin were fated to wander into the road of another's- not hers.
He nodded quietly and they left the matter alone as neither acknowledged it, reverting back to their friendly dynamics.
That might be their first kiss but it certainly won't be the last as the next chapter leads the two on a test of will. Thanks again for reading and please review, it makes my day now that I'm back in school killing my brain with medical jargon to help people.