-NAME PENDING- For Maus || Private ||

[isanovice]

[ When Altaïr had set out, the sun had been high above him, beating down on his back and shoulders and causing a sheen of sweat to form across his brow as he picked his way over Jerusalem's rooftops. Silent as the dead, he struck down a rooftop archer without hesitation, drawing ever closer to his mark. His breathing slowed instinctively; leveled,

Comments

[crippleassassin]

[The dai had been at his usual position in the bureau, behind his desk, quill in hand working on papers and the like. He knew Altair was in the city, the fool had come for a feather after all, earlier in the day, and it only had him on edge. He was waiting. Waiting for the bell to start ringing, the sound that would let the whole city know, an assassin's blade had found it's mark.

As the day wore on, his mind wandered from it thankfully, so when it finally happened, the sound caught him off guard. Jumping, his body stilled, tensing at the shrill sound. It meant Altair would now be escaping, avoiding being caught and brought down by guards and Templar alike. It only meant he should expect the assassin soon, if anything. So when the thump came later on, he knew who it was... yet the landing itself hardly sounded usual. Malik waited moment, expecting the assassin to stride in, to give him the feather but...]

... Altair?

[He called to the assassin, not liking the prolonged silence. Having his sword under his coat, as well as a dagger

[isanovice]

[ Malik's voice prickled in his ears, and Altaïr forced himself to straighten, not wanting to show weakness before the other assassin. It seemed much too late for that though. Inwardly he smiled bitterly. With his back straight, the arrow in his shoulder was out of Malik's line of sight; but this would not last for long. ]

I am not so foolish as to allow anyone to follow me here. [ He didn't care to answer the other's question about what had happened, it was obvious enough to the both of them that something had gone poorly, and this was information enough. Instead he had chose a biting reply; the other did not give him nearly enough credit. He had spent more than an hour hiding in a pile of hay and bleeding out to make sure he would not be followed to the bureau.

Wordlessly, Altaïr pulled the feather from within his cloak, and held it out as an offering of peace between them. ]

The deed is done, this is all that matters.

[ To come back injured was one thing, but to come back injured and empty handed was a strike to Altaïr's pride

[crippleassassin]

[He tried to give him credit, but it was difficult to hold back his feelings concerning the assassin. Mixed feelings, yet they easily diluted his words a lot of the time. Not quite so much as before... but enough.]

Foolish enough or not, this is my bureau, I am suppose to make sure it stays safe. [As the feather is offered to him, he stares at it a moment, wondering how much of the blood is Altair's marring the white. Taking the feather, he tucked it into his coat, before his eyes fell on all the blood staining Altair's robes.]

A deed done, but you are in no condition to return to our master for your next task. [At this rate, if he tried to ride out to Masyaf with the blood he'd already lost he'd bleed out and die on the way there. He would be of little use to anyone in that state. Sighing, Malik turned to head back into the other room, to gather what he needed to patch the assassin up. He could rest for a while here as well, before heading out. Though he'd rather he didn't right away. As much as he still harbored hate for him...

[isanovice]

[ Altaïr pursed his lips as Malik showed him his back, mixed feelings plaguing the once master assassin. Things with Malik were always tense while he was in Jerusalem- and had been since Solomon's Temple. To ask the other for help seemed to be an insult to the man who he had once considered a close friend. But how could he blame him? He did not deserve kindness, or understanding from a man who he had so deeply wronged.

Yet still, Altaïr had not offered an apology. As to why this was- the explanation was easy. Altaïr still possessed much of the pride and arrogance that had cost them so grievously. ]

They are nothing. There is no need to be concerned.

[ He hesitated in making his way into the bureau, pausing for a moment to collect himself once more, before grunting as he moved from where he'd begun to sag against the wall once more. Even despite his protest about the other tending to him he moved to follow after the other, favoring his side. For another moment he paused, trying vainly to try and reach the arrow that stuck out of his