Music Inspiration: Hans Zimmer- "Where We're Going". YouTube cinematic video link: watch?v=8cBGV_RsF08 (I LOVE this music composer from so many film scores)
On The Road Again
The reunited team didn't dwell long in their stay at Quelimane, regardless of its peaceful ambience. They needed to carry onwards to the west of the continent to begin the second half of the entire journey. Their goal was to reach the western coast of the southern continent and Malik proposed chartering a boat to the coastline. Altaïr was quick to object after his horrid experience on the first trip to Madagascar and wanted to avoid a repeat. Both modes of travel carried their risks but water travel would be faster for them.
"The faster we finish, the sooner you can return to Darim" Malik reasoned as they all huddled in Altair's room over a table filled with maps. Bashir had humorously enough stuffed maps of the African coast in his pockets before leaving Masyaf. Although it was a help, Malik had kept his own maps safe to continue charting their path. The entire right side of his map was covered in markings as a reminder of how long they'd been away.
Altaïr didn't bite on the opportunity and shot back, "I'd rather return in one piece."
"The ocean won't be riddled with dangerous wildlife because we won't be on any paths- it's uncharted!" the dai pointed out as they headed deeper than they ever had on their travels. It was risk either way but the ocean provided more safety from dangerous animals. When he saw that Altaïr was not budging in the slightest, he sighed, "We have nothing of important between here and there. We used a canoe to reach Lake Victoria before we were forced on foot. Could you imagine how long it would've taken for us on foot during that portion of the trip?"
"He's right, we cannot take risks when you must return to lead us" Bashir agreed with a nod towards the dai as they sided for what was best for the Order. Altaïr was not happy to the logic in their suggestions since his body behaved lousily over water.
"Sea travel will increase the odds of having corpse to take home because my body cannot handle it" he pointed out with disgust to his physiology and wanted to kick himself. He hated to admit vulnerabilities to anyone, trusting only Vivian in the most private of settings.
As for Vivian, she let the three talk out their strategy as she sat on one of the beds eating roasted nuts. She would've nibbled on fruit but with maps being handled . . . well, she'd end up with paper stuck to her. It wasn't hard to see that Altaïr was not accepting the negotiation to travel by sea again.
"Can we just take a ship down the coast to where the midline for the western trek is then?" she suggested to compromise with both parties since the last boat trip hadn't left her happy. It wasn't easy being stuck to a boat for weeks and although the sunsets were great, the rest was tedious.
Altaïr turned around with a frown for her two cents and she shrugged noncommittally, "It's just a suggestion."
"If we go by land, we must leave tomorrow" Malik stressed to avoid delays in their journey and to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Remaining in one place for too long was careless and dangerous, no matter how reluctant Altaïr was to leave.
Altaïr crossed his arms over his chest and declared, "I'm not going-"
Two days later, he glared at his team with all of his glower power, "I hate you all."
They had decided, much to Altaïr's chagrin, to charter a boat to head south of the coast and they would take the land route to the west. It was to maintain their anonymity and safety on the road but the latter route would be for Altaïr's health. The assassin had not been happy about it all but he conceded as both parties received what they wanted.
"You've said that so much it's lost meaning" Malik replied with amusement to his subdued tantrum and headed onto the platform to the boat. He didn't mind sea travel at all nowadays, unlike his companions.
Bashir eyed the plank with both suspicion and curiosity before stepping onto it. This was all so new to him! A new land to explore had been fun and now the sea awaited him. Smiling at his friends, he spoke rapidly, "I've never been on a boat before, this will be fun! I will chart everything and maybe I'll find answers on how to distinguish the wind currents. Oh, and-"
"Bashir . . . get on the boat" Altaïr ordered calmly but his serious face was another story altogether. The scientist nodded nervously and ran up the plank, bypassing the dai in a hurry. When it came to his leader, he would not risk angering him. . .especially when the high seas were a good place to throw someone overboard.
Vivian's hand touched Altaïr's left forearm as she pitied the cheerful scientist for being pinned with the evil eye. She knew that feeling all too well when he was in cranky mode. His gaze snapped down to hers but she didn't flinch at all to the hawkish gaze as she stated calmly, "It's only for two weeks, half the time needed for Madagascar. It will go by so fast you won't realize it."
He grumbled under his breath and she squeezed his arm to dull his worries, "I might not endure what you do but I am here for you every step of the way."
"You're the one that always is" he mumbled glumly and eyed the ocean with distaste. He hoped to never travel by water for the rest of his days but cutting their distance would help in the end. It was hard for him to accept his team's rightful justification but it needed to be done. With a regretful sigh, he knew he was delaying the inevitable and muttered, "Might as well start the trip but I'm sleeping the whole way."
She followed him up the plank quietly but smiled on the inside, It's just like old times.
"I missed this by your side."
Her voice was faint over the moving waves as darkness surrounded Altaïr. He had returned to his stargazing habit with Vivian by his side after he found crates for them to sit on. It had been a quiet evening of contemplation after the day had him napping intermittently. Due to that, he'd be awake for a few hours and the lack of noise helped the motion sickness stay at bay.
"You weren't the only one" he admitted earnestly and with the night shrouding them, wrapped an arm around her shoulders. With Malik and Bashir in tow during the day, the two kept their interactions strictly on a professional level. Although Malik already knew the two were keen on each other, Bashir was completely in the dark to that. It had been horrible the first two days as Altaïr adjusted to the motion sickness but the night allowed her to help him settle to sleep. Ginger roots and dry unsalted crackers were horrible but they helped his stomach. Throughout it all, her loyalty to him never wavered and he was grateful for her help.
With night falling upon the sea, he had sneaked away to stargaze and had found his partner already doing so. Whenever they were in each other's vicinity, she let him do the talking while she listened. He found it slightly odd but reasoned that either the passing illness or her own stomach wasn't doing so well. When he'd embraced her to keep them warm and display his affection, she'd latched on instantly. Their time in Madagascar had catapulted their relationship forward and although they never spoke of anything concrete, their actions spoke volume for their sentiment.
Vivian's own mind was confused as to what her next steps should be. Should she force them to return to their platonic friendship after what had happened? Was the miscarriage a sign that she should avoid any romantic liaison with him? At the same time, having him beside her washed away all of the accumulated tension in her muscles. It was why she curled against him for refuge, not for the temperature but the calming physical contact.
"I missed this the most after years of solitude" he chuckled softly as his cheek rested against the top of her head. He would've scoffed at private actions like this years ago but being at her side brought him tranquility. He smiled to himself when she murmured something about being little bugs that were snug. She was tremendously silly but he adored that eccentric aspect as it fell into the endearing versus annoying.
His fingers squeezed the end of her shoulder and he spoke softly, "I never thanked you for staying with us to help. I appreciate everything you've done up to this point and although I don't know what this life holds for us now. . ."
She was colored a curious cat to his words and peered up at him as he offered, "You have a permanent home at Masyaf and if you wish it, I will endorse your training in our Order."
Did he just offer me a job?, she thought in bewilderment because that was the last thing she expected in the late hours. Has he not seen me and sharp weapons? We were not meant to be friends. . .ever.
He was expectant to a response and she flicked the top of his iconic assassin's hood affectionately to decline, "Even after all that I've learned, I . . . don't think I have that drive within me. I don't mind researching and traveling alongside you- my help is yours. An assassin. . .that is your domain only and it should always stay that way."
Cupping his right cheek, her smile widened and she declared with gratitude, "But I accept shelter at Masyaf because I really do need a place to call home."
Her brow furrowed against the candlelight from the lanterns as she trusted him with her fears. Life was uncertain for her now and her voice trembled slightly, "I don't know what will happen now but I'm alone and homeless which is frightening. I'm pretty much back at square one like when I arrived. Completely blind to what's ahead of me now. Thank you for giving me a semblance of home because I . . . I don't have a family I can reach anymore."
Dealing with that harsh reality, the miscarriage, and his disappearance had been one of the most brutal dealings of her life. She had received a peace of mind on one and appreciated the thought of a new home of her own. It wouldn't ever be the same as it was before she arrived but being by his side was the best deal she could be given. Her fingers clutched the side of his robes as she curled against him and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You have me, always" he whispered tenderly as he kissed the side of her head affectionately. He treasured her beyond anything in his possession and would protect her at all costs now that she was stuck in his time. She wiped the corners of her eyes to stop any worsening waterworks to her miseries in life, thankful to have him at least. He rubbed her back in circles in the same manner that she used to calm him and promised, "I will never abandon you because at this point, you must realize it's hard to push me aside- even at our most stubborn. We've invested too much time in each other for us to simply sever those ties."
His nose brushed against her temple as he squeezed her fondly and smiled, "For good or ill, I am by your side."
He was right and it impeded her idea of returning to their old dynamics. They had never really begun a relationship nor were they simple friends so they were stuck in a romantic limbo. She smiled warmly to his kindness despite his sea sickness and doted, "You always were more profound at night. Thank you for being by my side."
"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else" he replied softly and kissed the apple of her cheek as she smiled. He was at ease knowing his partner was happy and safe in his arms. His days at Masyaf had been horrible without her and he assumed the same by her current demeanor. Squeezing her once, he heard her sigh contently and he thanked, "You make my life more peaceful than anyone has ever achieved at night whereas the day brings amusement to the chaos around us."
Her lips parted to speak but no sound emitted as she backed out of telling him about the miscarriage. She didn't know how to even begin saying the words and that horrible emptiness returned. There was no denying that nothing between them was platonic anymore and she highly doubted it could return to that now. It was quite obvious that he did not want that and she swallowed the truth for the time being.
He was a stubborn one to budge from her heart and she whispered, "I can't wait to return home to Masyaf then, at your side."
They were words he hoped to hear since the day he admitted his affection in her bedroom. Taming the enraged reluctant badger hadn't been easy but she cared for him at the same depth as he did. It was why he'd been so close to requesting she stay before entering that temple but his respect for her allowed him to set her free.
When he leaned over to kiss her lips, she accepted it with a fond smile.
The joy of returning to land had been a welcoming one as two weeks felt like a month. It wasn't like the journey to Madagascar as they sailed against the current so sailing south was easier as they traveled with the currents. No more barfing would occur and with that, a somewhat cheerful Altaïr returned to the group's dynamics. Bashir was the happiest for that since he still lived in awe and fear of his leader despite Altaïr repeatedly ordered that he stop calling him sir.
Altaïr purchased camels again for the trek across the continent as his return to Masyaf allowed him to collect more coin for purchases. Bashir had enough money to purchase his own camel so when one of the three camels were taken, it came down between Malik and Vivian.
Altaïr had expected Vivian to hop onto the camel and declare that she'd lead the way with her enthusiastic nature. Instead, she took the backseat and offered to hop onto either camel as a passenger. After weeks away from her, he'd scooped her up to ride alongside him and he beamed internally when he caught a subdued smile from her end. Still, her quiet demeanor over a situation that had often led them to squabble pricked at the back of his mind.
The cooler weather after the storm season had reached the inland of southern Africa and they decided to keep to the forested areas. It would not be free of danger due to the lack of roads but Altaïr would trek over a few hills to oversee the direction they were heading. Bashir and Vivian were confident in their little handmade compass to guide them west but Altaïr used his assassin's instincts for his travels.
There was a confounding itch to the back of his mind as they traveled further inland. His smallest companion had been acting peculiar recently- too quiet for his liking. He had left a rambunctious and amorous woman in Madagascar while the one before him was subdued and tame. He craved her shenanigans during the long hours of travel and although he enjoyed her quiet hugs during the ride, it wasn't the same. There was something amiss with their interactions and he needed to know.
Thus, he went to his number one confidante when his partner was the one in question. While Bashir and Vivian were off foraging for safe food to eat, he remained in camp with the dai. Being in a completely untamed continent full of new fauna, Malik wanted to sketch and journal as much as he could to secure future trips to the area. He was glad for the new books that Ilias had sent him since making paper from scratch hadn't been on his agenda as supplies had run low.
"Malik, I was hoping you could answer something for me?" he requested with concern as he surveyed the camp to ensure Vivian wasn't lurking about. His friend paused in his work as he sat on log across from him and the dai nodded for him to continue. Altaïr didn't know how to begin, moving his hands to gain a sense of his message as he began uncertainly, "I don't know about you but to me, Vivian has not been acting the same since I left. I can't explain it but something . . . her entire aura feels different to me. Did something happen after I left?"
"No, we had a danger free trip from Madagascar" he evaded tactfully to avoid bringing Vivian's miscarriage to light. As her friend, he was respectful to her private affairs and he knew that was a matter between the two. It wasn't his business to poke his nose where it didn't belong.
Altaïr narrowed his eyes to that statement and pointed out matter-of-factly, "No trip is problem free."
Malik remained strong against his skepticism and didn't blink twice when he stated nonchalantly, "Fine, we had roaches onboard but nothing else."
The assassin was unconvinced by what he said as that nagging feeling grew stronger. There was something dwelling there and his instincts were usually right which increased his worry. Whenever his partner was concerned, he was incredibly protective and he pondered aloud for help, "I've been trying to figure out what is wrong-"
"Who says there's something wrong?" Malik interjected with a shrug of his shoulders to dissuade him from investigating further. His friend could unravel like a curious puppy whenever he found clues and when he bit onto something, he refused to release it.
Altaïr stared at him flabbergasted to having his inquiries questioned and demanded, "Aren't I allowed to ask that?"
"Not if there's nothing wrong in the first place" Malik tried to evade by trying to nudge him out of that investigative mode but it only made him crankier. He didn't have the perfect calculative hand of Vivian when it came to diffusing him anymore. His skills were more akin to putting him in his place but this was not one of those times. Not with the situation in question. He decided to appeal to his newer self and sighed aloud, "Don't start the paranoia game again, Altaïr. You were doing so well."
Altaïr eyed the dai as he tried to stomp the subject into the ground and drawled cautiously, "What are you hiding from me?"
Great, he'd bitten into the topic with no inkling of letting go. Malik maintained his nonchalant outlook in one last attempt to brush him off and replied, "Nothing, why would I be?"
"What happened to Vivian?" he snapped sharply out of worry for her and approached his friend with his trademark intimidating posture. He had been gone for weeks and the woman he returned to was not his cheerful badger. Her eyes didn't light up the way they used to whenever she gazed at him. His eyes narrowed dangerously as his protective side surfaced and he demanded, "I don't care about anything else right now but her. I left a woman that never failed to smile in my presence and I'm lucky to receive three of those a day now. If you don't want to tell me, fine, but do it for her sake-"
"You happened" the dai replied calmly as he maintained his peaceful expression but his eyes were another picture. Unlike his friend whose facial features could change in seconds, his were carefully controlled after years of training. His own protective side rose as his eyes glinted with sharpness but his voice remained steady, "You wouldn't stop weaving yourself into her life until you became romantically involved-"
"We're not courting or any of the sort" Altaïr reminded firmly because their romantic life was not exactly a normal one despite the reciprocated affection. He and Vivian had an odd arrangement that had been left on pause the moment he left despite their farewells before entering the temple. Nonetheless, he never lied to himself or deceived her of his feelings and pointed out, "I can guarantee you it is a mutual attraction and I'd be bound to her permanently right now if I wasn't respecting her choice."
Malik admitted to himself that he was surprised by the last statement but stated dryly, "True but bedding her brought the same result as Maria. Regardless of your ever confusing status, that fact doesn't change."
His expression softened because Maria had rejected an emotional connection from the start and he feared that when Vivian was concerned. He didn't want to lose the bond he'd built, appreciating her friendship greatly, and his affection had only solidified for her. She had been the first woman to reciprocate each emotion and action as he allowed her past his shields. She had stayed in his time to aid him, sacrificing her return home, but had their time apart caused her affection to crumble? It hurt him deeply to think that she could see him in the same platonic manner as Maria and he asked faintly, "She doesn't care for me anymore?"
Malik gaped with bewilderment to that belief as he went down another road entirely and Altaïr questioned, "Did you change her mind about me? You know I don't fancy anybody else! She means more to me than-"
"No, that hasn't changed" Malik assured hastily to prevent his friend from unleashing an emotional storm against him. When Altaïr faced the threat of loss, he became a fiercely overprotective hurricane. With Vivian staying by their side, that value increased tenfold after being so close to losing her. The dai tilted his head to the side in curiosity and asked, "Why would I do that?"
"Well, you nag about it constantly and hit me for it" he snorted sarcastically to his brotherly side towards Vivian since their journey began. He had been clear about him keeping Vivian out of his sights after he'd become smitten but when did he listen?
Malik granted him that with a nod and Altaïr self-disclosed a few of his inner thoughts in confidence, "I know you expected me to have a perfect family with Maria but I can't do that. Darim is my dear son and I love that chubby blue eyed child but Vivian makes me happy. There's not too many women that can handle me in the long run but she managed it. Now, as my closest friend, tell me what really happened while I was gone."
"I don't nag, I lecture" he justified quickly about his advising preference and sighed aloud to begin, "First of all, you need to control yourself because we don't have a severe population shortage. Second, you . . . you left Vivian with child."
That stunned him completely out of reality and he blanked out of consciousness for a minute just like he had at Darim's news. He recovered to a hand smacking him upside the head as Malik stood up to bring back his logic. Altaïr rubbed the left side of his head immediately as he absorbed the shocking news. Unlike the unexpected (but loved) Darim, Altaïr was actually cheerful to this prospect because Vivian actually cared for him. He wanted to run and hold his endearing little badger to tell her everything would be all right. He was there by her side to care for her every need and wouldn't be far when it came time to deliver their child. Their child- even thinking of it brought him pride and joy. He would have a second chance at parenting an infant and promised himself to be there every step of the way. How had he not felt Vivian's abdomen before?
"Is that why she's behaving oddly? Because I haven't figured it out?" he asked with a relieved sigh because he expected the worst. Instead, he received wonderful news as a true sign that he could build a future with Vivian. They could marry and raise their child together at Masyaf where he would have a sibling to play with. Darim would have little brother or sister and he could finally convince Vivian that they truly were meant to be together safely in his time.
He smiled with sheer disbelief to what she'd been hiding from him since Quelimane and laughed aloud, "I'll apologize until I'm blue in the face since an expecting mother is always right. Frankly, I feel a mess of nerves for the second time but I am happy for this because it shows we are meant to have this bond."
It hurt Malik to pull the carpet from under his feet but he couldn't let Altaïr bask in that fatherhood glow any longer. It would devastate him even more if he began to plan for what would never be. That little child would never exist and the pain would only be harder to bear once he revealed the truth. He grasped his friend's shoulders to snap him out of it and spoke carefully with an apologetic tone, "Altaïr, there is no easy way to say this or for me to even comprehend the pain that will follow. I am only telling you as your brother because Vivian has not been the same afterwards. I'm so sorry but the child . . . she lost it during the trip back here."
Just as he'd begun to plan how to introduce them to Darim, it all crashed down.
"My baby. . ." he uttered with fear at having that joy snatched away in the most painful way possible. He'd made a new life with Vivian and he'd been away at home, an ocean and continent apart, when it was extinguished. He couldn't imagine how excruciating it must've been for her to bear alone on a boat in the middle of nowhere and could barely grasp it himself. This whole time, she'd carried his child in silence throughout their trek and she'd mourned alone while he'd been away elsewhere.
"I . . . words can't convey my condolences" Malik whispered softly since he couldn't imagine the loss of an unborn child. He knew, however, just how much it meant to his friend at seeing the visible distress on his face. His friends had overcome their share of conflicts but this one struck the two painfully as the strongest.
"I can't . . . how . . . when?" he asked faintly with a hoarse tone as he attempted to maintain a collected façade. On the inside, he thrashed with his grief and felt foolish for falsely believing that luck would grant him happiness with that child. Would life ever give him just one happy moment? Being at Masyaf without his team didn't count as he tended to exchange one tragedy for another.
"She was two months along, give or take" Malik replied honestly since he only allowed Vivian to vent her worries. He wasn't the type to pry but she trusted him with the whole truth. Being alone on a boat allowed her to hide her pregnancy, mourn its loss, and heal as best she could for the journey ahead.
Altaïr clenched his fists at the length of her pregnancy, wishing he'd known so he wouldn't have pushed his team to uncover the temple. He remembered her dizzy spells and it was only until now that he realized it had all been related to the pregnancy. She had followed him loyally without a peep of complaint! Malik caught his frustrated look as he put all of the clues together and admitted, "She hid it remarkably well. I didn't know until she started to become sluggish and would sleep throughout the day."
A lazy Vivian was a sight to behold with her endless energy and he asked incredulously, "Sluggish? Vivian? That definitely is not her personality. It's why I call her a badger in the first place."
"All I can say is that the loss is a tragedy and you must speak with her directly for closure" Malik advised kindly because he was not the person that Altaïr needed to pull all the answers from. He didn't want to make an error when both of them were incredibly vulnerable at that moment. The two were incredible at soothing each other's pain and that is what they truly needed to heal. He could see that Vivian was not coping well even now and his friend needed to be her safety net. Clasping his shoulder, he offered his last words, "I believe the baby was a major reason why she stayed so you could know about it. She feels very lost and focuses on everything else to avoid that pain from resurfacing. She is not handling it well and although I've tried my best, she needs you most of all. Tread carefully for both your sakes but you both need each other at this moment."
He admired her resolve to stay for the baby's sake and his but it had backfired horribly. She had been left on her own to manage the loss and the inevitable grief of not one, but two losses. He would not risk having his partner fractured and if he could soothe her pain in any way, he'd do so in a heartbeat. She had been by his side through his own troubled times and he wouldn't abandon her.
Vivian would always have his heart in her palm but their baby was no longer a part of the picture. As much as it pained him to learn of the loss, he needed to comfort the wounded badger that would not mother their child. He needed to know more about what happened and sighed softly, "I need to talk to her."
He waited for the following day when Bashir and Malik headed out of camp for the foraging chores. The dai didn't question his friend when he sent the two out rather than Bashir and Vivian. Being the weaker ones of the team, he had the two perform the easiest chores in camp. Malik understood the need for Altaïr to speak with Vivian since the news had been plaguing his mind to no end. After a day, he couldn't handle not finding answers to his questions. It was only natural for him and he justified that being the father of their child gave him the right to do so.
He'd finished setting up the tents for his team just as Vivian finished folding freshly dried laundry into her basket. He had barely heard her skittering around camp to collect the clothing but he'd kept a strict eye on her. After knowing what she'd endured, he wouldn't be letting her out of his sight again.
She sat on a log across from him, quietly folding clothes as if nothing out of the ordinary had recently happened to her. The night before he had wondered how he would even breach the topic for her. He'd narrowed it down to two questions but as he glanced at her, he hesitated. He could barely get the words out - or believe them- as he asked tentatively, "Vivian. . .I. . .ahem, were you pregnant?"
The folded clothes in her hands fell down onto the ground, her lips parting but no voice exited as her brain tried to evade the question. How did he know?! Only she and . . . Malik! Had he gotten her friend to spill the beans? She couldn't tell him since everything that had occurred that day was locked away in the back of her mind. It was meant to stay there at this point. His mission came first and nothing else mattered- that burden would be hers to bear. At the same time, lying to him would only stain their trust since cowardice was quite unsavory. Her gaze refused to meet his as she stayed frozen in place for several seconds.
"Yes, um, it happened a while back on the ship" she confirmed quietly as she leaned down to retrieve the fallen clothes, occupying herself from bringing those memories back. Whether she'd been ready for the baby or not, they had been a part of her and there wasn't a day she didn't question what could've been. Would she have kept them safe and warm or cursed what kind of bleak life she could provide? Was it better that they'd been spared a harsh life or would they have been happy simply with the love she had for them?
Her confirmation didn't make the news any easier to swallow and she murmured, "That night at Quelimane, you . . . definitely raided that temple and left a gift."
He wasn't ready to close the matter, grabbing the bundle out of her hands and throwing them in Bashir's tent so he could fix them later. Or possibly burn them. He was fast becoming a handy housemaid away from Masyaf and he'd utilize it now that he knew about Vivian.
Her quiet demeanor told him all he needed to know regarding her emotional wellbeing and he could feel it as she avoided his gaze. Kneeling down on one knee, he grasped one of her dainty hands into his to show his caring support. Part of it was also to keep his own emotions in check since he never wanted to see her hurt. He tried to keep the frustration out of his voice as he asked with great concern, "Why did you not tell me? You're my partner, Vivian, and your worries are mine."
"Because you had more important matters to attend to, especially then" she pointed out softly about their adventure because his mission took priority above all else. A pregnancy took the backseat, even with the risks. Being his partner meant protecting him and she believed her decision concerning the pregnancy had been the right call. Admitting its existence during a critical point in their mission into the temple would've added stress he didn't need.
Vivian crossed her arms as the subconscious defensive shield rose and she explained, "I'm not the type of person that wants someone holding their hand throughout a crisis. I was pregnant, I dealt with it and planned to tell you until we were safely back on land. Obviously, life had different choices and you were whisked away while I endured a sudden miscarriage near the end of the journey."
Her shoulders shook as she pushed back the aching pain that stabbed her chest every time memories surfaced to her mind. She didn't want to remember the fond moments of talking to her baby and murmured softly, "It . . . I don't like talking about it."
She hid the pain well but the hitch of her voice and her weary gaze betrayed that hurt. He wanted to pull it out of her heart to bring her a sense of peace but his own curiosities demanded answers. His chance at fatherhood came and went without him knowing any better and he reasoned gently, "I understand that but this was our child and I'd like to know more about it-"
"They are dead, never meant to belong in this world" she interrupted with a cold voice of finality that hurt him, knowing he shared her child's parentage. It was natural for him to want to know about his unborn child, especially one that was gone, but she wasn't budging. For Vivian, digging into those painful memories and the reason why were too much to bear- especially when he was trying to find out about those mysterious beings. She didn't want to remember the agonizing and empty feelings accompanying that odd dream; it had been unbearable for quite some time. If it was some sort of warning that lingered from her stay in the temples, she would heed it.
That heart wrenching pain was not something she wanted to experience or delve into ever again. It brought the fierce hardheaded nature side of her that he'd met during their first days together and she didn't want it lashing out at him. He had been nothing but kind and loving since their reunion so he deserved none of the projection of her sorrow. Clenching her teeth to regain her calm composure, she advised, "You have Darim, cherish him like any loving father because he is what you're fighting for. I . . . please don't ask me again."
"Vivian-" he tried to intervene, grasping her shoulders to feel her frame shaking.
"I'm not meant for this world, you have your path to follow" she whispered tearfully as the lesson had been painfully learned along the way and didn't want to endure another agonizing moment. She'd already lost a piece of herself on that journey and didn't want to risk anybody else. The love she held for him won over her own needs and she pleaded softly, "There is nothing for you here, Altaïr, I can't give you what you want. You are my leader, my friend, and one that I have to ensure will make it back to Masyaf to see his son again."
"But-" he tried to get a word in edgewise but she left the area quickly, blending into the tree line. Ugh, he never should've taught her how to make hasty escapes.
The eagle would have to bide his time until he could get his talons into that badger.
Malik found her mending clothes an hour later and sat down beside her under the premise of reading a book. When his young friend focused on a task so greatly to the point that she was silent, he knew she was troubled. Normally, she would chatter endlessly while working to perk everyone up and keep them all optimistic. Altaïr had approached him soon after his talk with her and things had not gone well at all by the sound of it. As their friend, he wanted the two to be on friendly terms because they needed each other now more than ever. One was a grieving mother and the other a lost father that didn't know what to do.
His eyes remained on his book but his voice spoke in a gentle tone he used for any upset child, "Vivian, I understand it is hard to reminisce about your child. I respect your choices, I do, but Altaïr does not mean any harm with his questions."
"He came to you for help, didn't he?" she stated matter-of-factly and pulled the thread in her fingers a little too tightly than normal. She was afraid of what he thought since there was no denying the cultural differences and a miscarriage had different meanings in time and society. Would Altaïr think less of her for losing their child? For never telling him about it before leaving? She feared he'd blame her for hiding everything.
"He feels lost with the news and doesn't deserve to have the figurative door closed on him" he admitted calmly and turned the page of his book innocently to keep his charade. Bashir was none the wiser across from them as he attempted to start the campfire. Both of them hoped he wouldn't set his robes on fire this time.
She hesitated on answering him since he placed more of an effort with his words and her fuse was starting to resemble pre-game Altaïr. Her last desire was to hurt the man she loved with her grief and she sighed softly, "I might have been harsher than intended out of a need to protect those long forgotten memories."
He offered a sympathetic glance before stating, "He just wants to know the missing pieces while he was away. He missed you immensely and for him to know you were hurt wounds him as well for being unable to stop it."
"So he's not tearing his hair out in rage for not knowing that his bun was cooking in my oven for over a month?" she asked with burning embarrassment at knowing Malik had hit the figurative roof when she told him. If his reaction was out of character, she could only imagine the father of her child. Malik was a calm composed man while Altaïr was a firestorm so she had a reason to be hesitant.
Malik blinked with confusion to her odd words and repeated uncertainly, "You have an oven inside you?"
She felt lighter at hearing that her joke was lost to the wind like so many others in the past. Humor had always been her best coping mechanism in the past and she was slowly filtering it back into her personality as she passed through the grieving process. Placing her sewing bundle on her lap, she smiled faintly to the lighthearted humor, "It's just my way of saying I was expecting. Tell him that I'll be open to divulging the truth, he deserves to know."
"I'm sure he'll find us faster than I can find him" Malik informed since he was casual at camp and didn't wander far at all. His friend, on the other hand, occupied himself into a power nap at times.
Patting the top of her head affectionately, he encouraged, "You keep sewing your clothes, young one."
Vivian smiled to herself for the brotherly advice as she returned to her task. She appreciated everything he'd done for them and quietly thanked, "Thank you for always watching out for us and guiding us, even when we might not be the nicest. You're the glue to our team and we appreciate it."
When an orange spark filled their view, they smiled to seeing Bashir accomplish his task. As the dark haired scientist beamed with pride while holding his two sticks, the dai pointed towards the man's left sleeve to inform simply, "Your sleeve is on fire."
"Oh no!" Bashir yelped in alarm and quickly began to bat his white sleeve with his free hand.
The dai was quick to order, "Don't do that, put it out against the dirt!"
Thankfully, Bashir listened to him before he actually did catch fire and banged his sleeve against the dirt. The squeaky white fabric turned light brown as he extinguished the small sparks. Malik shook his head in amusement to the young man and told her, "You'd think after all of the explosions, he'd know how to avoid them."
"He is a lot like me" she chuckled softly since they were both misfits for the current time. Pausing her mending, she looked up to smile at her new friend with encouragement, "You did good, Bashir. Remember that if it happens again."
The scientist chuckled nervously to his little snafu and pushed up his sleeve to avoid appearing messy. The fire needed to be tended as the embers demanded nurturing and kindling to burn even brighter. As he cared for the campfire, Malik mused softly to his natural role in the team, "You'd all wither and descend into madness without me."
Vivian smiled to herself because he was absolutely right as he kept their heads screwed on tight. He was the one that kept Altaïr from disemboweling her and prevented her from kicking him in the groin or something else that was equally stupid. Even now, he played big brother to Bashir's awkwardness and counselor to her and Altaïr's current problem. If her baby would've survived to live a full life, she would've named him their godfather out of respect for her friend.
The leader of their team decided to exit his tent at this moment after seeing the fire's glow against the tent flaps. The temperature of the continent's interior was warmer than the coast and their travels allowed them to acclimate to the sharp weather shift from Madagascar. The trio were no longer scorching or freezing to death but Altaïr liked being warm more than anyone else so a toasty fire equaled a happy assassin. Seeing Bashir tending to the fire and his raised sleeve, he crossed his arms in question and asked wryly, "Did you set yourself on fire again?"
Bashir turned around with surprise at failing to hear footsteps behind him at all and blinked comically before replying, "Well, sir, if enemies arise, I shall set them ablaze with me."
Altaïr had to admit that was a good cheeky comeback but he also wanted to instill good skills in all of his assassins. He didn't want to lose a single person under his leadership and reminded with an amused smile, "Fire isn't the answer to every problem, Bashir. . .though it is helpful. You must utilize everything to succeed."
"Yes, sir."
The older man sighed against the lilac-gray sky before glancing down at the scientist and ordering, "For the last time, stop calling me sir."
"You're my leader and thus, require respect so sir you shall remain" the scientist replied matter-of-factly since he gave proper respects when it was deserved. The man was a fearsome revered person and it was an honor to travel alongside him. The fact that he'd terrorized him as a child into never being unguarded forced him to appreciate Altaïr's way of training. His leader, however, wasn't overly happy with that answer and he quickly pointed out, "I was traumatized enough in childhood so I can defy you by giving you respect . . . sir."
"That was the annoying egotistical Altaïr, this is the brand new Altaïr and I say stop that" the assassin sighed hastily with distaste to his old self and wanted to punch him. Bashir fidgeted in place as his code of respect clashed with his orders and struggled to reach a decision. Altaïr narrowed his eyes but that only helped to cement the scientist's old code as he flinched. Great, he'd lost already. His shoulders slumped as he lost his first battle against Bashir and muttered, "You're not going to stop, are you?"
"No, sir."
With that matter settled, he let the young man be and headed elsewhere to gather his thoughts. Similar to Vivian, Bashir boggled his mind with his quirky personality and today was no better. Altaïr had other important business to tend to as other problems plagued his mind and met the gaze of the little badger in question. Malik, ever the observant dai, caught the moment and quietly excused himself to sit across the campfire. It would give his friends privacy and allow him to keep an eye on Bashir in case he caught fire.
The campfire turned Altaïr's honey hued gaze into molten amber as he approached her and she shrunk into herself for the tiniest of seconds. The awkward smile he offered told her he was attempting to gauge the situation and she returned the smile, patting the log to her so he could sit down. They had very good privacy as the others stuck to their respective tents to keep warm so she would take advantage.
This was a very private matter that she entrusted only to him and she murmured, "I don't bite, well, I try not to recently."
His expression saddened for a brief moment as he observed her meek appearance and commented, "You're not the same Vivian I left back in that temple, are you?"
She shook her head quietly to the happy sidekick she'd been over a month ago and admitted, "I finally earned my first scar in this life, not in the way I expected. I was worried over choosing to stay because of the repercussions but I would wait for you. I wanted to tell you about the baby but I couldn't voice it."
A dry sad laugh left her lips to the nervous but happy moments of her pregnancy, "I had even rehearsed how to tell you . . . alcohol for you was in the list to dull the hysteria."
Sighing despondently, her voice lowered as she gazed at him sadly, "Take that optimistic person and throw her into a period where she's stripped of all three and left on a ship over the desolate sea . . . it changes you. What can I say?"
"That you've overcome certain obstacles that some never face" he stated gently since she'd been a naive soul in his world when she first started traveling and developed into an adaptable person. Unfortunately, that alone wouldn't stop life from throwing her to the wolves once in a while. Just as she started to achieve her confidence, fate decided to deal a blow that caused her to falter. He would need to shield her as best he could from now on and grasped her shoulders to soothe, "It takes time but we are here to support you. I am here for you, we created a small life and I know I cannot comprehend the pain you endured-"
"No, no, I've been hard on you and I'm very sorry for that" she sighed softly as the hard shell she'd been using caused damage to Altaïr in a way she didn't want. Yes, she wanted him to keep on his path (despite his insistent deviation) but not to isolate him out of her life. She buried her face into her hands for a brief moment as Malik's words softened her interactions with the assassin. She wasn't the only one suffering from the aftermath and she clutched his right forearm to whisper, "You were robbed of a child just as much as I was, except, you never knew until it was too late and I am sorry. You were never able to experience that portion of anxiety at realizing you had a little baby in the belly."
As much as it hurt to open up about it, she knew it hurt him just the same to not know a thing about the life they'd created. Their child meant something, it wasn't a secret to be kept by herself or shunned like a mistake, and she looked into the fire to admit softly, "They gave me quite the nausea on the way back, I slept like a cat half the time, and my clothes were getting a little snug. They were already fighting me from day one, like you."
He smiled sadly to the reactions his little one had stirred in his partner and wished he could've been there to help. Already, he imagined her rubbing her lower abdomen with a mixture of love, amusement, and nervousness.
Vivian chuckled softly in memory to her old life and admitted to him, "My mom always had this old wives' tale that when it's a girl, you're going to have a higher and larger belly. It's not true with modern science but seeing that we lack it heavily here," a faint smile crossed her lips, "they were starting low on my belly."
She sighed softly to those lost happy moments and murmured, "It . . . feels nice to say those little things. Malik was there with his endless help but . . . he wasn't you, this was your baby. They were our little bundle of badger and eagle pride."
"I would've treasured them endlessly" he whispered longingly as the idea of another child had been whisked away but it didn't decrease that love. If anything, it helped to prove that he and Vivian held enough true affection for each other to potentially build a life. Gazing at her, her green eyes peeked up at his shyly and he smiled fondly, "I would've treasured you for being their mother. If you can keep my mind focused, our child would've been absolutely safe in your care."
He pulled her into a comforting hug and with the cold night, basked in it for a moment because they had endured a loss that hurt all mothers and fathers. She clutched him tightly as opening that vault opened those old wounds but she trusted him to shut those gates closed again. He cupped the back of her head as she leaned against him and replied warmly, "Knowing my tendencies to be overprotective, I would've been running around the ship for you. You did the best you could, especially with no doctors about, and I am relieved that your life wasn't endangered-"
"But a mother thinks of her child first and I couldn't do anything . . . I felt so powerless, Altaïr" she whimpered softly to that horrible loss of control, especially after everything she'd learned to survive. She shook her head with guilt for that sense of powerlessness and pushed back tears. Her worthiness to even be a mother had come into question days after and she sniffled, "There was so much anger and resentment that first week towards myself. I should've known better than to gallivant around an island but what could we do? It was our mission, despite the lack of decent food and shelter. I played over so many scenarios. . ."
She had tried her best to keep their child safe inside her while traveling. Sleeping had helped the nausea to prevent dehydration and sleeping early in camp would prevent sleep deprivation. Their exercise routine was rigorous so she put herself on the spot by requesting stops when she truly needed them. Their food had never been great but she stored morsels to snack on so her baby would get something throughout the day. Water wasn't sanitary but she tried drinking the clearest and prayed no microscopic entities stayed to harm her fetus. Even with temperature regulation, she'd scuttled against Altaïr for warmth to prevent impairing the baby's circulation. Every hour of the day, questions had run through her mind on whether she made the best choices.
"There is only so much you can do in such a situation and mortalities are high for either" he pointed out gently since she kept biting herself into a hole of guilt.
He didn't know what she'd seen before she woke to that pain and whether or not it was in a subconscious realm with those beings, it was a fright she couldn't get rid of. She'd experienced pain alone as she watched their child's life ebb away without being able to do anything to stop it. It was something she was still debating on whether to tell him. It could potentially change his view on their mission and he might decide to go against all of them just to spite Juno. From what she'd heard so far, Hermes seemed to be the most impartial as he focused on survival rather than self-interest.
Altaïr didn't know what he could've done differently in her situation either but he was glad that she emerged safely from it. Infections could be a death sentence and held her tightly as he admitted with pure honesty, "We live in dangerous times but you tried your best, I've no doubt of that. Take solace in that because I know you did your best with what you had, it's why I respect you. I'm sorry you were alone through that and I would've given anything to be there at your side."
Her eyes blurred to the caring words as she yearned to hear them weeks ago when it occurred. Her other half had been torn away from her when she needed him the most . . . but he was there now. She held him tightly with gratitude and his voice trembled slightly when he whispered against her temple, "If anything had happened to you . . . I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Vivian."
"You're Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, you persevere" she smiled softly because she couldn't bear the thought of losing him but regretfully dodged a kiss to her lips. He had such an iron grip on her heart but she had to tread carefully now. Her emotional state made her uncertain of many things and she pleaded, "We can't, not anymore. Please, just hold me as one parent to another that has shared this loss."
"All right, but it will not lessen the way I feel about you" he stated matter-of-factly and held her to his chest, placing his chin on top of her head like the protective eagle he was. He wouldn't let his little badger wander far from sight and would keep a strict eye on her from now on. His love for her would lead him to protect her wellbeing at all cost and gently teased, "You're doing quite well in hiding your feelings-"
"It would be catastrophic for you to pursue this and I've told you countless times you're meant to be with Maria" she reminded simply with a small pout that he found endearing rather than deterring.
He suppressed a shudder to that possibility now and rebuffed, "Well, she's with Ilias and I don't think she's going to be changing her mind again. I am a free bachelor and very open to being pursued by women named Vivian-"
"Oh god, what have I done?" she groaned miserably to what she'd changed in the timeline and clutched his shoulders tightly. Why was she with Ilias? Why had she gone to him? Yes, the man was ridiculously handsome but so was Altaïr! What did this mean for the next little Altaïr? He needed two descendants, damn it!
Worry ran through her mind to this new alteration and she groaned, "You're supposed to put more buns in her oven! How am I supposed to fix that one?!"
"I don't think you can" Altaïr answered quietly with confusion to her first words and patted the back of her head. Whatever future jargon it was, he wouldn't aggravate her since she was still grieving. Her mind questioned everything now their little one was gone but he would keep her grounded. She had done the same to him countless times, even when he'd lashed out, and soothed gently, "Calm yourself, who's to say this isn't a good change? Maria's happy, I'm happy, and we have a son to be proud of. I think we did well-"
"You're just saying that to make me feel better and get in my pants again" she muttered flatly with the same humorous pout and he chuckled softly. Although he did miss that aspect of their unofficial relationship, he sought the heartfelt bond between them more than anything else. The careful weaving of their lives is what he treasured and it had been painfully dreadful without it during his time at Masyaf. He squeezed her huddled form to his to show her his unyielding affection and heard her murmur despondently, "We need another mini Altaïr to fight. Who knows, there might be even two more!"
"That's the Vivian I remember" he chuckled fondly and kissed the top of her forehead, eliciting a small whine from her lips. The feisty badger that dwelled within was threatening to resurface in weak form and he smiled faintly, "I'm not melting you, accept my token."
"The last time I did, we ended up naked in bed" she mumbled flatly in regards to their last kiss under the moonlight back in Madagascar. His use of the words 'our home' for their tent had cracked her heart and she had been over the moon as well as saddened to their final time together.
"Neither of us complained" he teased with the end results since it took two to dance in bed. Vivian swatted his leg playfully for the jab since it was the closest thing she could reach. When had he become the humorous one of the two?
"I do care for you, more than you can imagine" he admitted quietly to return to their serious conversation and held her close. Vivian fought herself internally to stay in place but her heart desired his at that moment, leading her to bask in it. As petite as she was, he never saw it as he did at that moment and promised, "Which is why I'll never let you out of my sight again. I don't want anything to happen to you."
He wanted to carve his path and stay true to the Creed, which Vivian was aiding in, so his loyalty to her wouldn't waver. She couldn't deter his feelings and after everything they endured, he reminded softly, "You stayed for me and although our child will not emerge in this world, we continue onwards with stronger hearts. You are staying by my side and I will reciprocate that wholeheartedly. Maria has created a life for herself and I will create my own-"
"Oh no" she shook her head with misery to what she'd created with her stupid meddling. She'd held on tightly to keeping him at bay until she couldn't and it had all blown out of control. Her eyes filled with tears for everything that had transpired since meeting him and groaned, "I can't . . . everything is my fault. If I stayed in Masyaf, I would've been stuck but at least I could've kept you away and Ilias off Maria with a stick. If I left, you would've had closure and kept going while our baby . . . I wanted my little baby."
He had the one she'd wanted to share her burdens with but at the same time, how could she bar him as well? There was so much guilt and second guessing to each of her words and actions nowadays. How could she not feel driven insane by it? It hurt him to hear her sobbing in his arms but she needed to purge the repressed emotions from the loss. Altaïr decided to be a mother bear and comfort her as he rocked her gently in his arms, soothing, "I know you did, dearest. Nobody can take that love away from you."
She clutched him closer to the heartwarming words as he understood her completely. It had been horrible without him by her side and she sniffled, "I wish you would've stayed and been my rock, like always. I needed you in a way I never imagined I would. All I wanted were you and the baby. . ."
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she sniffed in longing, "My little one."
"I'm here now and you can tell me anything you want" he assured firmly to show his commitment and she nodded quietly with gratitude. His thumbs wiped away the tears as they mourned together, quietly tucked away in the shadows of their camp. Her hands gripped the front of his robes tightly as she shed every last tear she had for everything that had occurred since their separation. He closed his eyes to be the strong man she believed him to be but his own heart wept for her pain and their lost child.
For all of the time that they'd known each other, she had been a cheerful puppy ready to help with a smile or a protective little badger. It was hard to see her broken down and all he could do was shelter her from any more oncoming storms. Clearing his throat to dissipate the light tingling settling there, he whispered softly, "Everything will be all right in due time but we must move forward."
Her fingers tightened since it had been horrid to feel the tiny bump on her lower belly disappear. She would've had swollen feet like no tomorrow and a belly that would've brought humorous waddling but she wanted that. Despite her initial nervousness at new motherhood, she wanted to hold their baby and peer into their eyes to welcome them home.
He kissed the center of her forehead to soothe her apprehension and assured, "I am here by your side just as you've done for me. Life will never be easy in these trying times but we can't stay stagnant and quit. I don't want you to fall further into that dark void because we need you and you have strength that can combat this. You're tougher than that, remember?"
Her brow furrowed as she pouted to the sorry state she'd been broken into and agreed, "I was, wasn't I? A tough cookie."
Green eyes brimmed with tears peered up at him and she declared, "A badger! I've forgotten how to be the badger."
He chuckled softly as she began to gather those broken pieces of herself and encouraged, "Not forgotten, she's just been sleeping away her pain. Find that fire once more."
She smiled faintly to his support through the tough times and murmured, "I'm lucky to have you."
"I consider myself the lucky one but you're strong, Vivian, you just fail to realize that" he soothed gently with a warm smile and rubbed her back to comfort her. She couldn't help but melt under the physical contact, gracious to have him by her side. He drew her close to rest his forehead against her temple, murmuring softly with endearment, "My little badger."
"My strong eagle" she replied earnestly to his value in her life and closed her eyes. For the first time, she felt an idyllic peace in her heart and thanked her lucky stars for having him.
A/N: And we conclude the aftermath of everything that happened in Madagascar as the team heads onwards to the west coast of South Africa. Hopefully, their resident scientist won't set the forest on fire along the way. Since European contact isn't expected until a few more centuries, the quartet won't be happily received and will have to learn to stick to the shadows. This will undoubtedly make it trickier to find the next POE but the team won't lack excitement. Thank you for sticking with the story as always, we've made it from Masyaf to South Africa and need to head north to the Canary Islands to bring it all to a wrap!
I've actually found random drafted scribbles from my old laptop that I might just turn into one-shots in conjunction to this story to hold you guys over in between chapter updates. There's one with Altair encountering his first bat, Vivian using Altair's money to buy him an odd gadget, Malik and Altair during their rookie assassin years, and others.
Kimi Saruby: Yay, I love having my ghost readers review! I'm glad you love reading the story, the trio is back with another member in tow who will add even more humor to our story. With the baby loss, the team does need some cheering up and the upcoming chapters will be lighter now that the drama of Madagascar has ended. Miscarriages are rough indeed for everyone involved but I'm glad to hear you have two little nephews in that outcome. :)
Killthepain62: Hahaha, I loved 'overprotective Altair activate'! Altair would most definitely not like Juno since she is quite the master manipulator. The Isu were definitely a powerful race but in modern times- heck, even Altair's time- the technology is what pretty much keep their memories alive. I plan on utilizing that one for future chapters.
Crazyaboutto: Thanks for loving the story and my quirky characters!
Carelise682: Yep, the A-team is back together again to finish their quest. :)
CalicoxTsukixMaritsu: Haha, thanks so much for loving the story and finding the Altair and Vivian romance adorable! I'll certainly keep updating.
Failisse: The two will definitely be stronger for it although it may not seem like it at the current moment. Oh yeah, Vivian and Bashir will get along just fine. I will definitely use the white on rice comment and have the other pipe in 'like green on beans' on poor Altair. He will be the little unofficial cousin of Malik, the brother Altair didn't ask for but got anyway, and the little brother Vivian wanted. Since the ancients heavily relied on tech, its not farfetched to me that they tapped into AI using their own consciousness so I'll be playing with that concept for Hermes since he was the head of science and the team did open and activate his temple. The Crystal Balls were utilized as communicators with the Isu so Altair is bound to find one sooner or later. ;) When I think of Juno, the creepy musical piece 'Warrior of Light' by Ramin Djawadi from the series Game of Thrones gets in my head; she just always had that strict creepy vibe from the start.
Next Time: Misfits of the Wild
"Shh!"
Altair and Vivian halted their conversation as they approached their familiar foraging path. Dinner wouldn't make itself and they couldn't find Bashir or Malik at all to designate assignments. Before the master assassin could demand if he'd been shushed by a man ten years younger or a sentient plant that sounded like Bashir, the scientist in question popped out of a nearby bush. Vivian's hands flew to the knife on her belt instinctively while Altaïr was one second away from accidentally murdering one of his own with his hidden blade.
Bashir had donned a makeshift crown of twine and grass over his head as he cast aside his trademark robes. His cheeks had green leaves sticking to his skin, giving him a wild appearance. Vivian relaxed immediately to the eccentric man but Altaïr remained in his position for a few seconds to ensure he hadn't gone mad. If he'd accidentally eaten unknown berries in his pursuit for science, he'd have to knock him out.
From above, they heard Malik's voice in a purposely subdued tone, "He's scouting his incoming catch."
The two looked up to find the dai relaxing on a large branch with a book in hand. As Bashir's partner, he'd set up the trap to the man's instructions- though his own trapping technique was far different. He wanted to encourage his friend's survival skills and if it did fail, which it did indeed have a high failure rate, he would fetch food himself for the team.
Vivian ran her fingers through her hair in disbelief and asked her leader, "How? How does he manage to do that every time?"
Altaïr shrugged nonchalantly since it didn't surprise him and pointed out easily, "He's one of us. He has to be able to do that or it's retirement."
"Pipe down, you're scaring our food away" Malik ordered quickly since he wanted to relax in the only shady spot of their camp. The longer they traveled, the more he grew fond of the large trees able to conceal him when he needed to relax. Careful as every assassin, he sprayed repellant everywhere before sitting down and set his own trap for snakes and other critters.
Altaïr glanced down at the scientist as he hid within the large bush and asked flatly, "How exactly are you hunting by sitting in place? This isn't a river for fishing, Bashir."
"We need to become one with nature to catch and eat her children" Bashir pointed out calmly as he retreated further into the bush and looked straight ahead. A good hunter kept a vigilant eye on his prey, after all. Altaïr didn't even sigh in aggravation after encountering similar things with Vivian. Actually, no, she'd only attempted a gender change- not becoming one with the wild itself.
Vivian paused her blinking, stared at their leader in bewilderment, and stated, "I'm not even going to address that."
Deciding to humor her with a dash of truth, Altaïr told her with a cocky smile, "Well, in his defense, we do eat them."
"Shh!"
Bashir pointed straight ahead of him in an effort to silence their chatter and Altaïr grabbed Vivian to step behind the nearest tree. She poked her head out to follow his line of vision and spotted a brown rabbit scurrying in the brush. The rope for the trap descended from the tree Malik sat in while a circular scrap of cloth had the rope sewn into it. Vivian had never seen a trap like that from all her time with the two assassins and gazed at Altaïr to ask, "You're not going to say anything?"
"I'm curious to see this play out" he replied with hints of amusement in his voice and she quirked an eyebrow. Clearing his throat, his tone changed to his professional one and he reasoned, "A master must always assess his team's abilities and Bashir is trying to hunt which is a skill one must know when civilization is scarce."
"Either I know you too well or you're slipping with the bullshit detector" she laughed cheerfully, covering her mouth with her hands to keep the area quiet. Her bright gaze met his amused one as they hid behind a tree of all things. She loved his playful side when it surfaced, especially in public, and lowered her voice to ask mischievously, "How many assassins does it take to catch one rabbit?"
"One to hop up to it and another to sneak up and slay it?" the master assassin replied with curiosity to his strategy. When Vivian's face fell and she covered it with her hands, he stirred more laughter by moving her fingers like a curtain to find her. Was he not supposed to answer the joke in question? Otherwise, why would- oh!
Awkwardly, he realized what he'd done and muttered, "Too graphic?"
"Not for us but let's make it children friendly for the kids at Masyaf next time" she chuckled fondly to his attempt to shift his humor into everyday fun. He had a feeling she'd make a good storyteller for them, especially if their current scenario was retold. He was best for the teen to adult range to prevent traumatizing youngsters with nightmares.
Bashir watched his target with determination and when the rabbit ate the bait within it, the trap activated. With glee in his eyes, he awaited his victory! Vivian covered her eyes while the assassins watched the trap raise off the floor with the rabbit. To their shock, it hurled the rabbit clear across the forest as a catapult rather than fold inwards to bag it.
Bashir's face fell with dismay and Malik took vantage point from his position to call back to the team, "Um. . . I don't think it's coming back."
Altaïr glanced at the crestfallen scientist turned hunter and encouraged, "Congratulations on being the first in our order to send a rabbit flying into the heavens."
Thank you for reading as always! :)