12th century Jerusalem,Syria,Damascus,Acre...
All these countries have been known to publicly execute traitors.

Hanging.
Burning.
Stoning.
Or maybe all three at once.

The victims staying on a stage,the crowd boo-ing and throwing items at the victim,humiliating them and shouting enraged.
Betrayers must be punished.
Betrayers...like...
Assassins.

Through the time,Assassins have become the Robin Hoods of those times,helping the poor and the defenseless,much to the dismay of the wealthy. The merciless Templars and their silly order based on bribing and imposing controlling power...
But Altaïr knew just how to deal with them.Him and his significant other,Kitsune,were the dynamic duo that could easily eradicate the power-hungry monsters that plague the countries.
With his strength and skills and her strategies and agility,they could single-handedly kill an entire army and leave the place unscratched.
Unfortunately,that wasn't the case in their last mission too,and that may be because Al Mualim sent them,unknowingly,on a rather suicide-task.
Kitsune,with her swiftness,was supposed to stalk her target back to his base and gather needed information with the help of an inside-source,then report back to Altaïr,and start the strategies.
The plan sounds easy enough,right?

Wrong.

That is because Al Mualim's trusted source betrayed them,and the girl got caught,much to Altaïr's despair.
He tried and tried in vain,with the help of his two trusted friends,Malik and Kadar AlSayf,but they could do nothing about the rescue-missions,for she was being highly guarded.

The male felt like he could explode right there upon seeing those filthy rags torturing his lover for information,and with each of her cries of agony,she'd also smirk and give off a snarky signature remark.
She always believed that by laughing,she could endure pain easier,and mock the other,not giving him any kind of satisfaction.

But she grew weaker with each slash of the whip.
She grew fainter with each second her soft pale skin would get damaged.
She started slipping in and out of consciousness from the lack of sleep and water or food.
She was losing the fight with her own body.
And Altaïr knew it.
Despite trying to remain strong,there is only so much one can take.
He had to act quickly.

---

The day to act arrived soon,and they infiltrated the Templar base with ease,much to their confusion,only to be shocked at the reason-

-The girl was taken to be publicly executed in the center of Jerusalem-

They quickly took off to the place where the stage was assembled,and noticed the poor frail girl,wearing nothing but torn rags,barely keeping herself on her legs,and struggling to breathe.
The crowd was quick to judge and started chanting and booing for the traitor to die,throwing stones at the stage,and one of them hitting her leg,making her stumble and fall,helplessly.
She could feel tears numbly flowing down her cheeks as she was dragged in front of the noose,and she could feel her breathe hitch on her throat.

She was doomed.

Templar:This wench is being executed for being an Assassin!Such a brute,stealing from us and killing us,the ones protecting you,the people of Jerusalem!She has betrayed her people,and with no remorse,she still hasn't confessed her sins!

The crowd suddenly fell silence at the word 'Assassin'.
The common folk knew her. She was one of the few kind people that has been helping them,and seeing their ray of hope,helpless and broken,it shattered them.
They were lost.
They knew they had to do something,but what?

Templar:We will give you one more chance,wench!Confess your crimes!Tell us about your little group of killers and we shall spare you! The girl said nothing. Instead,she fell to her knees,while gazing absent-minded at the ocean of people,then slowly turned her head up to the clear sky,at the Sun. She slowly grinned and started laughing,shocking everyone.
Kitsune:If this is my death,then I can say that I'm happy I died for the good of my people.I died...defying evil.I died...defying you.

The girl was glowing with glee in the spotlight made by the Sun.
She seemed like a Saint to the crowd-
Their Saviour.
But their hope was crushed when she got struck by Templar,which made her fall on her back,covering her face,despite having her wrists bound together with rope.

Templar:You chose your own death,filth.It's time!

However,from the crowd,a strong booming voice could be heard protesting.
One,then two,then three...
And with that,a whole protest took place,where civilians started opposing the few Templars present.
The Templars were no longer paying attention to the small girl,and instead,went to fight off the crowd-
And that was the best opportunity for the trio to save her.
Malik and Kadar went to defend the crowd (thankfully attacked by a few Templars) and Altaïr jumped on the stage,picked up the girl and cradled her to his chest,then quickly took off,unsighted,to the Assassins Bureau.

She was clinging by his neck,her breathe ragged,still shaken by her almost-death situation.
The man sat down on the bed and hugged his lover,protecting her in his arms,and keeping his chin on her head,trying to soothe her.
She was finally safe again.
In his arms.

The only person to know her weaknesses.
The only person to be her strength. He was her strength,her peace,her balance.
He was the only one who could keep her grounded.

And like-wise,she was his mischief.
She was his reason to let loose and enjoy life.
She was the one to show him the beauty of the world and truly feel like he was alive. The only one to ever show him he was human and worthy of humane emotions.

Altaïr:Kitsu...everything is going to be alright now...They are all dead,and none shall take you away from me anymore.I promise you.
Kitsu:Altaïr...
Altaïr:You should sleep,my love.Everything will be better in the morning.I will be here,with you.
Kitsu:I...need water... Altaïr helped the girl drink a glass of water,the she slowly laid her head on the crook of his neck,closing her eyes,tired and aching.
Kitsu:Don't leave me...please...
Altaïr:I will stay by your side even at the end of the world.Nothing can tear us apart.
Kitsu:The apocalypse stand no chance against the almighty Altaïr,the youngest Master Assassin.
Altaïr:*chuckles*There is only one weakness I have,and that is you.If I lose you,I am nothing.
Kitsu:Don't think you can get rid of me that easily.
Altaïr:Silly...wouldn't dream of it.

he slowly kissed his neck,then sighed peacefully,letting sleep take over her,finally feeling safe in his warm embrace,both hearts beating together,as one.
Looking down at the sleeping girl,he closed his eyes and kissed her hair,cherishing every second with her.
The shock of almost losing her almost gave him a heart attack and he wished not to go through that again.

'Ahbak jiddaan eaziziun
(I love you very much,my darling)