*Sigh* This story is so wrong. It's a little OOC, but that's not what I'm talking about. It's just… ethically messed up. Whatever. Read it.

…

Altair sighed. Once again he was stuck 'redeeming himself' in Jerusalem, and once again he was stuck listening to Malik rant about how inept an assassin he was, why he was still a novice in Malik's eyes, why this was wrong with him and that was his problem. He was tired of hearing it.

"Malik." But his voice went unheard—Malik was too into his rant to even notice. Altair thought about laughing the insults off but something told him that it would end with a book beamed at his skull.

What if I wanted to break
Laugh it all off in your face
What would you do?

Instead he went into the anteroom and dropped to the floor where he hoped he could ignore the dai. But it didn't help. That was it—he couldn't take it anymore! "Malik, SHUT UP!"

What if I fell to the floor
Couldn't take all this anymore
What would you do, do, do?

Malik stopped short and fixed him with an indignant glare. "I beg your pardon?" he hissed, going formal as his nerves hit.

"That's it! I'm done!" Altair yelled, jumping up from his seat. "I don't care what Al Mualim does to me. I'm done with his little manhunt, and I'm done with you!"

Come break me down
Marry me, bury me
I am finished with you

"Stop acting like you've lost so much," Malik snapped, adding fuel to Altair's fire.

"What will it take for you to shut your mouth for once? Do I have to go through an entire army of Templars to get some respect? Or would you rather me get down on my knees and beg your forgiveness?"

What if I wanted to fight
Beg for the rest of my life
What would you do?

"Altair, that's enough." But his voice went unheard—Altair was too into his rant to even notice.

"You say that I wasn't punished enough, that Kadar deserves to be avenged. You want your revenge? Take it. I won't run from you."

You say you wanted more
What are you waiting for?
I'm not running from you

Malik stopped talking, watching as this anomaly played out before him. Altair's attitude was usually classified as apathetic. This sudden outburst broke down his façade—he was hurt. "Altair."

Come break me down
Marry me, bury me
I am finished with you

The assassin in question turned to him with a pained look in his eyes.

"It wasn't my intention… I wanted to impress you, but it didn't seem to work—I had to do something more. Malik, I'm sorry, can't you see that? I wasn't acting like a bastard for no reason, all I wanted… was you."

Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you

I tried to be someone else

But nothing seemed to change

I know now this is who I really am inside

Malik blinked. He wanted who… him? Since when?

Wait, he apologized? Malik was reduced to a jumbled mess of confusion and surprise. There was far too much on his mind now, no thanks to his visitor. He needed to think—he needed Altair gone, just for a moment.

"Why are you looking at me like a wounded animal? Get out of my sight, novice." He said with far more venom than he meant.

Altair's mouth threatened to drop open and he was sure he heard something within him break. After he'd stood here, apologized, explained himself, explained why, Malik had just… just dismissed him…

Come break me down
Marry me, bury me
I am finished with you, you, you

His eyes darkened a few shades and he left the room, climbing up the fountain with numb hands. His eyes stung with the threat of tears and a part of him felt broken…

What if I wanted to break?
What if I, what if I, what if I
Bury me, bury me

…

*Tear*