Under An Illusion: Secrets Unfold part 1
Disclaimer: I don’t own Assassin’s Creed but I wish I did ^^
A/N: It’s been a WHILE! I’m looking at this and wondering to myself WHERE’S THE SEX!? But I’m not going to rush this one. I genuinely like it sssooo I won’t do anything rash til later. -evil smirk- Mmmm…. Anyway!! ^^ Secrets unfold here and an awkward wakeup call I think is the best way to go about starting so Enjoy <(^-^)>
Chapter 3~~~ Altair
I felt myself drifting in and out of consciousness. Everything seemed so distant and yet at peace. I felt as if I could stay lost in the warm sensations lulling me back to sleep.
Wait a second.
‘Wasn't I fighting a Templar?’
I opened my eyes immediately and the first thing I saw was the calming color of a faded yellow ceiling. I relaxed slightly, before sighing in annoyance. I hadn't known anyone, personally, who owned a house. I turned my head slightly on the surprisingly soft surface I was laying on.
‘Definitely don't know anyone hospitable enough to place me on a bed. Who could possibly-?’
Pulled from my thoughts, vision clouded with drowsiness, my eyes fell upon the most alluring sight of long black hair. ‘A woman,’ was my initial thought.
It was mid-length and it looked soft and smooth to the touch. Gracefully billowing down her back, straight but curled somewhat at the ends. It caressed her tanned skin like silk and occupied my gaze for the longest time. I watched it silently, sideways, as her hair moved languidly against her back. When she cracked her neck and...‘Was that a scar?’
Very confused at the thought of a woman bearing a scar I tried to sit up on the bed. The world spun furiously and I groaned in pain as I brought my hand up to nurse my headache. I felt like a horse had kicked me in the back of the head and I was only feeling the repercussions just then. I closed my eyes to block out the brightening light of the room and listening to the shuffle of clothing.
"Oh, you're up!" A soothing, male, voice called out to me and I opened my eyes instinctively.
‘Who in the world!?’
"I was beginning to worry. I hope I didn't hit you too hard. How are you feeling?"
‘Where'd the woman go?’ And the more my eyes focused, I realized his hair, in the style of a spiked mullet, was what I had been ogling barely seconds before. ‘I thought he was a woman!?! Wait....that's not important right now. Where the hell am I? Last thing I remember is fighting off...the...second Templar...’
Realization finally dawned on me. Instinctively I reached for my sword but it wasn't at my side. He must have taken it but my hidden blade was still attached to my wrist inside my sleeve. Not really a weapon I should've been using to threaten someone since its sole purpose was for quick assassination; not some knife I could wave around. I pointed it at him nonetheless. "Who are you?!"
He stared at me dumbfounded at first before erupting into laughter. Clearly he hadn't grasped the situation. To my annoyance at being ignored, he quickly finished wrapping his arm. Satisfied with his work, he turned towards me with a ridiculous smile on his face. Clearly an idiot.
"I think we should see Big Daddy before I tell you anything. Having him there will make it much easier for you to understand."
"Who?" He looked at me like I had two heads and then recognition painted its self on his face.
"Hahah!! That's right, you're new...I meant Al Mualim. We should go talk to him first. You did just finish a mission; you have to report to him anyway." The man walked out of the room and returned with his torso partly covered by a buttoned linen shirt.
My eyes followed his fingers that slowly fastened the top close and I averted my gaze when I realized I had been staring. He was a man, ‘I'm a man’, and I shouldn't have been staring when I already knew what was there. I stared at the bedding instead as I thought to myself.
‘He can’t possibly be an enemy…But I have no idea who he is…he knows of Al Mualim so he can’t possibly be anyone dangerous to the Creed…..Definitely someone to watch over….he’s very suspicious. I wonder why he allowed me in his home if he knows I’m an assassin?’
A soft chuckle and an immense source of warm heat pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked up, ‘My hood was still on?’, and froze. His face was within touching distance of my own and I glared, unable to pull back without seeming weak.
“Are you alright? Is it too hard for you to stand? I could carry you if you’d like.” The back of his hand gently caressed my forehead and an odd sensation ran through my body. I pulled back immediately, batting his hand away as I felt my cheeks grow hot. ‘What’s wrong with me?’
“I can stand just fine, thank you.” I growled in annoyance as I moved away from him, feeling my face go back to normal, ‘That was weird’, and stood without his help. Clearly an idiot to think I would need his help.
I wobbled slightly as I felt my head rush with pain and I tried to nurse it back to good health. He took hold of my arm and I allowed the contact for only a second before I pulled away from him again.
“Alright then, let’s go.” He spoke with a smile and I followed him out of the house only to realize we were below the Fortress. ‘Well, at least I don’t have to walk the entire hill of Masyaf with this pulsing headache….Hold on, how in the world did I get up here anyway?’
“Could he have….No,” I whispered to myself before I sped up my step and walked at his side, “tell me you didn’t carry me all the way up here.”
“Hmm?” He turned towards me, slightly confused but smiled cockily nonetheless and chuckled. “Of course I carried you, how else do you guess I got us up here?”
I felt like I had run into a brick or even cement wall. “You’re kidding right?”
“No, I’m not but I can tell by the look on your face that you want me to be, haha! Don’t worry,” he said as he patted my back, pushing me forward slightly by the sheer force of it, “I won’t tell Big Daddy if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
‘There he goes using that ridiculous name for Al Mualim….’
“Was that your house then?” I asked curiously as we walked slowly up the hill. ‘God, I don’t remember ever getting so winded just walking this far…’
“No, I borrowed it from a friend. She didn’t mind much since she’s used to me bringing strangers home.”
‘So he’s married? And what’s that supposed to mean, used to bringing strangers?! Who is this crazy man?’ We walked through the Fortress doors and up the stairs to Al Mualim’s personal assortment of books. I found him immediately, wrapped in the shrouds of darkness in a corner of a bookcase and he stepped out into the light.
“Did you finish your mission?” He questioned without prying his eyes from the book within his hands and walked towards his desk slowly.
“Yes master,” I bowed, “the Templar Captain who invaded the lower villagers is no longer in this world. He is with his other companions.”
“Good, good. You have done well,” He waved his hand dismissively and I glanced to the stranger at my side.
“Al Mualim,” he addressed as he stepped forward, “there is something we need to discuss.”
‘So the nickname is not within Al Mualim’s knowledge? Odd….’
“What do you-?” Al Mualim waved his hand in a more irritated dismissal as he looked up from his book but when they locked eyes, Al Mualim’s eyes widened and he finally realized just who he was talking to as his gaze fell on me. “Altair…how…How much do you know about this man?”
“Very little Master, he said explaining things would be a lot easier, with...you…here?” I hesitated in my sentence as I glanced over at the stranger and noticed his face was contorted into utter shock and disbelief.
‘Why in the world is he looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?’ I refrained from bringing my hand up to check, ignoring him as I returned my attention to Al Mualim. I sighed, slightly irritated that I could still feel him staring.
“Altair…What I am about to tell you is very important to keep a secret for the sake of Masyaf. Do you understand?” I gulped nervously but nodded nonetheless. I was the top assassin; no news of any kind could possibly throw me to my feet. I noticed the stranger and Al Mualim exchange glances before the man turned towards me.
“My name is Amir and I am a Templar Knight in disguise.” I was on the floor before I could register anything else.
‘I stood corrected, that kind of news can knock me to my feet.’
“What!? How is that possible?” I groaned in discomfort as a headache rushed to attack my spinning mind as I tried to comprehend the situation. A Templar Knight in disguise, was that even possible? The name began to nag me at the back of my head, as if I was to have remembered it from somewhere.
And then it hit me.
I drew my hidden blade instantly and lunged at him, but somehow he foresaw my attack and blocked it with a, ‘dinner knife?’
“You!” I growled as I pushed the edge on my blade closer to his neck and he defended himself with a calm gaze. “You’re the asshole who fought me in Jerusalem. What’s a Templar think he’s doing here, in an Assassin’s village?”
“I told you already, I’m a Templar only in disguise. The only reason you’re here is because I saved your sorry ass from those city guards who would have otherwise killed you than spared.” I snarled at him and he growled low in his throat, pushing back against my hidden blade.
“You didn’t save me. I already told you, I don’t need saving.” He growled louder.
“And I suppose you arrived here one your own by sorcery I suppose? That your more serious wounds were magically taken care of, all by themselves? Impudent, haughty little assassin you are. I would have never guessed the great Altair was such a brat.”