Ass-Creed: Vampires 4

Striding back into the hideout, Shaun bit on his lip, finding his way back towards the nest where Leonardo and Desmond had been left.

"Shaun?"

He turned to stare up into the rafters. "Leonardo."

"What's wrong?" Leonardo fell next to him, eyebrows knitted together in worry. "Where's Ezio?"

Staring at the narrowed eyes, Shaun realised that he was reading his mind. Leonardo backed away from him. "Altair is here?"

"I am. Leonardo..." Altair stepped towards them, his arms outstretched. Leonardo didn't move towards the embrace, moving to stand next to Shaun instead. He stared at Altair for a long moment, before speaking.

"What do you want?"

"I came to see you, my little pet." Altair smiled. "I didn't know you had your own fledgling."

"You left me alone. If it hadn't been for Ezio, I would have died." Leonardo protested angrily, jabbing a finger into Altair's chest. "You didn't even want me for very long!"

"Ten years!" Altair protested. "I came back for you!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have come back!" Leonardo roared, fangs bared. Altair roared back, snarling. He stopped, covering his mouth.

"Leonardo...I am so sorry." Altair whispered. Leonardo shook his head, and turned away.

"Leave me. I can't...Altair, I'm still mad at you, I won't stand you."

"I needed to know you are safe. Your fledgling has to grow quickly, they're on the move."

"Who's on the move?" Shaun asked. Leonardo ran a hand through his hair, and bit his lip.

"You haven't even told them yet?" Altair made a noise in the back of his throat. "Damn it, Leonardo, what was the first thing I told you!?"

"I'm sorry!" Leonardo cried, seemingly upset. "They were turned two nights ago, we haven't had time!"

Turning to gesture at Shaun, Altair glared at him. "Leonardo. The Templars are hunting us like wild animals and you don't think it important to tell your fledgling? I came to find you because they are creating something...Something to help them kill us!"

Leonardo's eyes widened. "But...we're safe here. Right? You told me these tombs were the safest places we could hide in!"

Altair shook his head. "I was wrong. Dead wrong. And I can't find Malik anywhere, have you seen him?"

"Not since he left me." Ezio's mouth twisted grimly. "You say they are making a weapon? What kind of weapon?"

"Not sure. But something is wrong, it's not going as planned. The...the weapon seems hurt. Alone." Altair hugged himself unconciously. "It doesn't make sense. Whatever it is, it's artificial. But it feels. Thinks. And it hates what is being done to it."

Raising his hand to rest lightly on Shaun's shoulder, Leonardo leaned close. "Take Desmond and find something to eat. You're hungry."

"How did you know?"

"You lick your lips a lot. Go." Leonardo grinned, and pushed him towards the hidden exit. "Desmond!"

"Yeah?" Peering out from behind a stack of paintings, Desmond smiled. "Oh. Hey love."

"Food?"

His lips parting, Desmond nodded, and followed Shaun out of the hidden exit, pausing to stare at Altair, who was arguing quietly with both Ezio and Leonardo. Shaun stared down at the dark alcoves below, his lips pressed together in a thin line.

"...We can't even have tea anymore, can we? So many yummy foods, some I'll never get to try." Shaun pouted, crossing his arms. "Except that salad the hotel did. With the crappy bacon on top. Who in their right mind puts bacon on a freaking salad?"

Desmond chuckled, and walked towards the edge of the building. "Yes Masta..Right away, Masta..Ain't gonna be no bacon on the salad, Masta...no bacon..oh no no no."

Rolling his eyes, Shaun pushed, hard. Desmond toppled forwards, and fell over the lip of the building.

Closing his eyes, expecting the ground and gravity to team up against him, Desmond opened his eyes. "Oh."

Shaun had already jumped to the bottom, and was holding Desmond, bridal style. "No more bad movie quotes?"

"No more bad movie quotes." Desmond agreed, leaning his head against Shaun's shoulders. "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers!" He swooned, imitating a Southern Belle. Fighting back a smirk, Shaun dropped him.

"You really don't take a damn thing seriously, do you?" He stepped over Desmond, already scanning the crowd. Desmond stood up, rubbing his backside.

"Ow. Why would I do that?"