Fork in the Road (Altair/Assassins Creed)

Chapter 48

Again, Altair left Hana at the top of the Bureau and disappeared - leaving her alone with Malik whilst he did whatever he wanted to do in preparation for his meeting with the Dai.

In any case, she greeted Malik with a small smile to which he returned kindly. "Safety and peace, Hana."

"Safety and peace." She replied with a nod of her head. "How are you, Malik?"

"Well, thank you. How is your leg? I had heard that you had been injured upon your last mission with Altair."

If she wasn't already feeling awkward when he asked her about her injury, she was certainly feeling awkward now. Her eyes cast themselves down to her boots and she swallowed thickly, "It is much better, thank you for asking." She was quick to try to think of something else to talk about, but wasn't sure what to say. His thoughtful question of asking her about her well-being had her on edge about speaking of the Master Assassin with the Dai, and it had also brought up a memory she had been trying so desperately to forget about. "Do you have any oranges?" She asked, offering a shy chuckle.

"Of course," He put down his quill to reach below the counter and place a bowl of fruit upon the counter. "There are plenty there... you're not planning on getting your fill before taking a trip to the opium den, are you?" His eyes shone with mirth.

She blushed as she picked up one piece of fruit, "Would that be a problem?" She jested.

"No." He laughed, "Just make sure you complete your assignment first. Keep watch on Altair and his predictability." He obviously felt comfortable in the silence that followed his statement, but Hana did not. "Before you head into the next room..." He began, as she turned away from the counter. "I just thought I'd warn you that Efled is due tomorrow. He wasn't supposed to be arriving, but he is coming in place of a Brother who was injured last week. Faren who is due to arrive, and Altair - I am sure - will keep the boy in his place around you. I will not put up with his comments either. So you needn't feel self-conscious with him here. Sybar is coming too; you were initiated with him, were you not?"

She felt immediately relieved by his reassuring words, "We were." She confirmed, offering him a friendly smile, "Thank you, Malik. You have eased my mind."

Altair had yet to arrive in the bureau, even when the sun was setting and Faren and Sybar dropped in to begin their mission. They enjoyed a catch up, de Sable being put right to the back of the females mind as she caught up with her friends... but then, of course, Efled had arrived early, like usual.

"Ah, Faren! Sybar!" Efled made his presence known as he dropped into the Bureau. Hana and Malik looked up at one another, dread filled the her, and Malik sighed. It had begun. "Malik, safety and peace."

"Safety and peace, Efled. How were your travels?"

"Quiet." He replied, glancing over his shoulder at the female sitting at the table behind him. But he said nothing. Obviously, he knew that Malik was the Dai who liked his Bureau to be quiet, he knew Faren was an ally of Hana's, and that she was most likely to be travelling with Altair. Sybar on the other hand, Efled knew would be impartial to all that would cause mayhem between assassins. "Didn't see a single soul. The wind is just starting to pick up, however. I believe we may have rain within the next couple of days."

"It'll mean our assignments will be put on hold." Faren grumbled. "The Bureau is sure to be cosy with all of us trapped here together."

Hana felt dread forming in the pit of her stomach. If rain did come, and they were all to take shelter within the Bureau until it passed... she worried about being in such close proximity to four extra men so soon after her trauma. Altair, she had only just realized brought her comfort and she was sure she would be fine near him but... she wasn't as trusting as her other brothers. She liked them, save for Efled, but she had not spent as much time with them as she had the Master Assassin.

The late-teen took her leave from the main room to settle on some cushions in the corner of the entrance - far from the opening of the roof. She rest her back against the wall, crossing her legs beneath her as she dug through her travel bags to retrieve her book.

She read until she couldn't see the pages, and rather than squint, she settled her book back into her bag and rested her head against the wall.

Altaïr had still yet to return from wherever he had gone, and Hana listened to the laughter of Efled, Syber and occasionally Malik and Faren in the other room. Even if Efled wasn't there, Hana didn't know whether she would have found herself in the main room with the others. Their boisterous laughter had her flinching, and her mind unwillingly returned to de Sable as he dragged his tongue down her face.

Feeling tears building behind her eyes, Hana got to her feet and scaled the wall of the Bureau. She ran to clear her head, leaping from one rooftop to another, scrambling over crates and up ladders until she had to stop for breath.

Sitting in a roof garden for some peace and quiet, Hana pulled down her hood and ran her fingers through her hair. She panted, tears sliding down her cheeks as she physically squirmed from the pair of blue eyes that swam in her mind. Hana clawed at her face, right where de Sable had trailed his tongue and she grit her teeth in pure fury and complete hopelessness.

The copper haired girl remained in the roof garden for hours, until the sun had finally set and the moon was high in the sky. It was cold and Efled had been right in his assumptions of rain, for there were dark clouds settling across the city.

I believe these are now all the chapters that have been posted on my old account on FanFiction.

These are all also very strongly edited.