Adel sat slumped in a chair, an arm draping over her head while the Masyaf Doctor smeared a sharp smelling salve over the abrasions on her other wrist. Everyone in the room was quiet, no assassin dared make a sound except for the doctor as he shuffled about. She stared out the nearest window, her face stony.

The doctor neatly wrapped each wrist in soft bandages, "How long do you plan on pouting for?" He asked with great disdain.

"As long as I feel like it!" She snarled twisting in her chair to glare at him.

"Don't you dare give me any attitude, young lady! I won't have it. What do you hope you'll accomplish with this sort of behavior? Hmm?" He admonished, smacking her hanging hand with the flat of his knife he had used to cut her wrappings, "The rat is dead. What more do you need? An apology? You think you deserve special treatment? No! You are an assassin. You were well aware of the risks as you grew. Get out. Go do what assassins are meant to do."

Adel growled as she shoved herself out of her chair, she regretted being hard on her wrists as they protested her treatment against them, but she was committed to her anger justly, and stalked out of the infirmary. Altaïr sighed in her wake and walked over to Sab who had a small knick on his brow being tended to. He laid a heavy hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Thank you for doing what I failed to do."

Sab gave a curt nod and hesitated before holding out a hand. Altaïr clasped it tight and followed Adel.

000

Altaïr found Adel packing in her room, "Where do you intend to go?" He asked leaning against her doorway.

"Jerusalem." Her answer was curt.

Altaïr glanced around, deciding how to carry on with her irritable mood, "Are you angry with me?"

She sighed heavily, dropping garments heavily in her pack and sighed once more. Slowly she turned towards Altaïr, "Why would I possibly be angry with you?"

He walked over and sat on the bed, "Do you feel as if I've betrayed you?"

"What would make you believe that?" She asked, now upset that she might have unwittingly upset her dear friend mentor, "There is nothing that could have been done, none of this is your fault."

His head fell into his hands, "I should have looked after you better."

Adel reached out and lifted his face to look at her, "It wasn't your burden to bear. I don't hold you responsible. Please believe me."

Altaïr felt himself in awe of the girl he'd watched grow into this remarkable creature, both gentle and hard, kind and vicious. She truly was the embodiment of how an assassin should behave and act. He stood abruptly, gripping the hand at his face and pulled her close. Her eyes were wide and startled.

"What are you doing?"

His heart pounded angrily, he had no idea what he was doing. He lowed his head till his mouth found hers. They were warm and soft, her breath was becoming quick and shallow. Neither were sure how long they stood in that attitude when she heaved a heavy breath and kissed him.

His hands came to her face, sliding into her hair to bring her closer, to kiss her deeper. Blindly she reached out to close her door when Altaïr pushed her into the wall, kicking it shut. He hitched her up, bringing her head over his, their kissing becoming more passionate and exciting. Adel was clueless as to why she was ripping at his garments but he was helping along, she had to touch him.

His rough hands found their way up her shirt, setting fire to her belly, leaving lingering traces of ice where ever his fingers trailed. She let out a sigh as he pressed feather light kisses on her neck, distracted, he dug his fingers into the sensitive skin of her hips. She gasped and nipped him beneath his ear. He groaned and ground himself into her, her nipping and kissing becoming far more aggressive.

She pushed them away from the wall, leaving Altaïr teetering backwards till the back of his knees hit the bed and he collapsed up to it, leaving Adel straddling on top. She took advantage, pulling his shirt up and over his head to reveal his bare chest. She gave a trail kisses from his jaw to his throat, to the hollow of his neck. Every touch between them was given in reverence, the bond they were creating, sacred. She shifted to kiss down the hard plains of his abdomen, putting his trousers in easier reach. When she reached his navel she pulled back grinning. Incredibly amused she gently pulled on the dark hair of his happy trail, "good thing no one has seen my stomach, this would have been a dead give away."

Altaïr chuckled, "No, they would have just called you Baby." He sat up to be face to face with her and lifted the bottom of her shirt, tugging it up and over her head. She stayed still as he observed her, and gently traced her skin.

He stood again holding her tight to place her on bottom, he kissed her deep, his tongue probing. They broke their kiss and he looked at her fondly, "Ana ah-hib ich, Adil."

She smiled, "Ana an-hib ek."

000

Adel woke feeling warm and content, with Altaïr's hot breath blowing in her hair. She grinned, remembering the last time she had woken like this, pinned to his bare chest.

"Why are you giggling? Go back to sleep." Altaïr grumbled. He was a bear when it came to his sleep. She shifted to get up but he stiffened his arm, keeping her still.

"I really ought to depart, Altaïr." She said, looking up at him. His eyes were thin slits, barely revealing his light gold eyes.

"I have one more target, won't you help me?"

"I thought you were uncertain about this whole ordeal."

"But there is only one way to untangle this confusion. I want you with me to figure this out."

Adel hesitated, "Alright."

"Good, now go back to sleep, we'll leave- later." Altaïr got himself comfortable again and promptly fell back asleep.

xxx

just so y'all know... It was hard keeping this pg13

lots of love. Aurum Animi