They sat in a strange silence as Malik digested Ezio’s words trying to reconcile those words with what Altair had said to him and his own feelings. “He shouldn’t have to carry such a burden,” he finally said quietly.
“Yet he carries it gladly,” Ezio said, “As I would if he was gone, as our other brother would have if he was here in Altair’s stead, as your own brother would if he was in this position,” Malik looked at him.
“Altair said you knew my brother,” Malik said.
“I did. He was a good warrior, strong and perfectly capable. But I’m sorry, he never mentioned you,” and Malik’s heart sank further.
“Aquila,” Altair called and Ezio turned to look before getting to his feet and leaving Malik to finish watching the sun rise into the sky.
—
He could feel Night’s impatience and annoyance when the Rifters were finally ready to leave. Altair was reminding them what they should do and only Night seemed pissed he was doing it. Before Malik would have seen it as cocky confidence to remind them that they were useless. Now though, after what Ezio said, he saw it differently. Altair was reminding them so that he didn’t have their deaths over his head should something go wrong.
“Is that all?” Parker asked, unlike Night he was actually paying attention and was attentive.
“That is all we can do,” Altair said with a slight, tired, sigh. It was only now on this day that Malik realized how tired Altair sounded, how bone weary he was as if he just wanted to crawl into bed and never wake up again. “Get to the fence as quickly as you can for once you leave us you’ll be on your own.” He’d said the movers leaving them, not the other way around and what Ezio had said struck another cord. Altair was a protector and even if he might not like them he was doing everything he could to protect himself, Night, Parker and Pseudonym.
“And what about you three? You aren’t taking any supplies,” Pseudonym asked worriedly.
“Our fellows will find us before we’re in need of them once we’re beyond the Rift. They will supply,” Altair said.
“Not even water though?”
“Worry for yourselves,” Altair said annoyedly.
Pseudonym frowned but nodded, “Okay,” she said softly, “Lets go you guys,” she said. Night needed very little invitation and turned without any hesitation and left, saying nothing. “Safe passage,” Pseudonym said smiling sadly at them and turned as well.
“Safety and Peace,” Ezio replied as Parker turned. Malik stayed for a moment longer before following as well and he heard the Rifters head towards the great canyon before them. He looked down as he walked beating himself up for this and when he looked back he saw them nearing the edge and he stopped, rooted in place. He turned to the movers who hadn’t noticed he’d stopped but when he went back to the Rifters he saw that Altair had stopped and was staring at him hard, as if to say ‘go on already’. He knew Altair wouldn’t leave until he actually started after the others because that was how he was, he would make sure everything was as it should be.
Re: Clipped (19b/?)
“Yet he carries it gladly,” Ezio said, “As I would if he was gone, as our other brother would have if he was here in Altair’s stead, as your own brother would if he was in this position,” Malik looked at him.
“Altair said you knew my brother,” Malik said.
“I did. He was a good warrior, strong and perfectly capable. But I’m sorry, he never mentioned you,” and Malik’s heart sank further.
“Aquila,” Altair called and Ezio turned to look before getting to his feet and leaving Malik to finish watching the sun rise into the sky.
—
He could feel Night’s impatience and annoyance when the Rifters were finally ready to leave. Altair was reminding them what they should do and only Night seemed pissed he was doing it. Before Malik would have seen it as cocky confidence to remind them that they were useless. Now though, after what Ezio said, he saw it differently. Altair was reminding them so that he didn’t have their deaths over his head should something go wrong.
“Is that all?” Parker asked, unlike Night he was actually paying attention and was attentive.
“That is all we can do,” Altair said with a slight, tired, sigh. It was only now on this day that Malik realized how tired Altair sounded, how bone weary he was as if he just wanted to crawl into bed and never wake up again. “Get to the fence as quickly as you can for once you leave us you’ll be on your own.” He’d said the movers leaving them, not the other way around and what Ezio had said struck another cord. Altair was a protector and even if he might not like them he was doing everything he could to protect himself, Night, Parker and Pseudonym.
“And what about you three? You aren’t taking any supplies,” Pseudonym asked worriedly.
“Our fellows will find us before we’re in need of them once we’re beyond the Rift. They will supply,” Altair said.
“Not even water though?”
“Worry for yourselves,” Altair said annoyedly.
Pseudonym frowned but nodded, “Okay,” she said softly, “Lets go you guys,” she said. Night needed very little invitation and turned without any hesitation and left, saying nothing. “Safe passage,” Pseudonym said smiling sadly at them and turned as well.
“Safety and Peace,” Ezio replied as Parker turned. Malik stayed for a moment longer before following as well and he heard the Rifters head towards the great canyon before them. He looked down as he walked beating himself up for this and when he looked back he saw them nearing the edge and he stopped, rooted in place. He turned to the movers who hadn’t noticed he’d stopped but when he went back to the Rifters he saw that Altair had stopped and was staring at him hard, as if to say ‘go on already’. He knew Altair wouldn’t leave until he actually started after the others because that was how he was, he would make sure everything was as it should be.