Encounter: Chapter 12

"No. This can't be happening..."

Desmond sat on the ground like a small child, his legs crossed with his head in his hands. "This doesn't be make any sense."

He felt a light touch on his shoulder and when he looked up he saw the piercing hazel eyes of the Italian assassin looking at him with mild concern. "Are you all right?"

"No, I'm good." It came out sounding like a question. Rising up steadily now, Desmond tried to regain his composure. This had to be one of the most undignified things he'd ever done--freaking out in front of a man like Ezio Auditore! And from what he'd seen in the Animus, Ezio was a pretty tough guy, but he was such a kind friend, brother, son, nephew, lover, that Desmond was sure that Ezio would understand. But poof, there went his first impression moment.

It was foolish of him to be thinking such things at the moment, and he felt silly. What was more important was the matter of Ezio, Altair, and the Animus that (perhaps, probably, most likely, definitely) brought them here.

Stumbling quickly to the door, Des told Ezio, "I'll be right back--to talk to them--don't go anywhere."

Ezio nodded, looking haughty and bemused. If he wanted to get out of here, no doubt he could.

With the door closed behind him, he saw that the hall was empty. Further down, around the corner he could hear a familiar female voice speaking.

"What was that for?" Lucy chastised. A line marked her brow. "You seriously don't have to make trouble with him do you? Do you know who he is? He's an Assassin. Part of your Brotherhood! But still that doesn't mean that we can totally trust him--because we don't know know him! We don't know what he would do, especially since he's landed in the same situation as you! With the Animus. Altiar, please, you have to be careful. Abstergo's dangerous and there are things about the Animus that even I don't know. Promise me you'll be nice?"

During this entire lecture, Altair had been leaning back against the wall to try to look casual. The expression on his face was a forced blank--he was trying to cover up something. Frankly, he looked constipated.

Desmond walked towards them putting on a high-pitched little boy's voice. "Yes, mother."

Altiar let on a tiny smile while Lucy rolled her eyes. "Please. Really? But Altair, be good, okay?"

No! He's supposed to be badass, Desmond thought.

The clicking of Lucy's heels echoed down the hall. "Come on guys, we'd better haul ass back, Ezio may have gone and killed every Templar here while we were gone."

The phrase "haul ass" brought his sttention to Altair's as he turned to follow her down the hall. Desmond shivered, tingling.

Back in the lab Ezio had obviously been examining his surroundings. Desmond was surprised not to see Ezio's face tinged with smoke.

"How does this work?" Ezio asked, holding up a slab of steel with torn wires snaking out the back. Lucy stared, horrified, but Ezio and Desmond grinned at each other, already knowing that they'd be friends.

-----

Ezio had accepted the weird facts of the Animus-sending-him-to-the-future-crappola. When he was shown the room that the three guys were to share, he claimed the bed and dragged it over to the window.

"How are you liking this?" Des asked him.

The newcomer shrugged. "It's new. It's very different. But I will adapt. What do you think of her, Lucy?" he added with a shit-eating grin.

Knowing of Ezio's womanizing ways, Des told him, "Er, Ezio, paws off, because she's mine."

The set of Ezio's eyes was considering. "Hm, really."

"I'm serious. Stay away."

Altair snickered softly from his perch on the edge of Desmond's couch.

"Okay," he resolved. Everyone was quiet. Then he said, "But are there other ladies as fine as she?"

"Unless you want to be humping an ugly old Templar man, no," Altair put in cheekily.

Ezio's eyes widened in disgust while Desmond let out a grunt that sounded like "Ah-buh?"

"Get those pictures out of your head, Altair," Desmond said.

"Pervert!" Ezio chuckled.

Altair pretended to look hurt. "Hey... Just leave me to my fantasies!"

What do you fantasize about, Altair? Hmm?

Head spinning, balls aching, Desmond jumped up and ran out of the room. He thought he heard "Where ya going?" amd maybe a "I think he's pregnant. Morning sickness." Running to the bathroom he slammed hte lock down and threw himself into a curled ball on the tiled floor.

Oh god. This was so embarrassing. How could this happen? He was getting friggin' aroused by just a few comments that got pictures in his mind reeling! The floor tiles were cold, but his body was getting hot.

He stood up and flicked the light on, jerking off into the toilet. After that was done he lay down in a spread-eagled position and tried to think of nothing at all.

A few moments later he heard a knock on the door, accompanied by a couple of voices. "He is probably in here. Desmond? Hello? You're not pregnant, are you? Are you throwing up? Desmond?"

He held his breath, delicately raising his head to look at the crack beneath the door. He wanted them to go away; he needed to be alone.

After a few minutes the knocking and talking faded. He sighed in relief.

Why did this have to happen... why? Sharon, I'm so confused. He didn't know what brought this out in him. He was questioning ihs own sexuality now. He knew he was straight, figured it out as a teen, but here he was undeniably attracted to Altair. It was a sucky situation. In such close quarters someone would surely notice, especially if something like this happened again. It was kinda gross too, because Altair was his great (etc.) grandfather!

His mind was still hurty and he didn't want to think. His eyes unfocused on the connection between the wall and floor in front of him.