An Eye For An Eye Makes The Whole World..

[Rahmil Binachi]

She could feel the stares.
From all of them.
Her laughter died down into a wide grin, her fingers clutching into Diegos skin, which then turned her smile into a grimace.
I'm going crazy I'm going crazy I'm going crazy crazy crazy crazy.
A damp feeling was starting to appear around her fingers, the fingers that were clutching Diego's arm,
the arm
his arm...
She quickly released his arm in shock and stumbled back, falling against a dresser.
" _{Your arm- no, your shoulder!} " She turned her blind face in the direction of the doctor.
" _{His shoulder.} "

[Diego Liberatore]

He watched her helplessly, watched her madness grow and it seemed like her sanity was just slipping away. But then again, Rahmil had never been the most sane of people to begin with. She seemed to always be getting into some trouble or another. He thought back to how they had met, as she ran from a guard and tripped on her own knife - and broke it - in front of his shop; the shrapnel had embedded in her skin. As he remembered, she had also broken the guards nose. And then lied about it - the whole thing - as he tended to her wounds and tried to remove what pieces of steel he could from her arms.

For a moment, Diego felt as if he could feel those pieces of steel in his own arm. Though it was gradual, he looked down as she grasped his arm with her fingertips, and frowned inwardly. He thought about asking the doctor to come back after she had had a chance to breathe. After all, she had gone from discovering the problem herself, to the immediate attention of a doctor and losing her mind right in front of him. Maybe she was nervous, as he knew he would be. The eyes were not something to be taken lightly. He gently covered her hand with his own, and looked up at the bird-faced man to ask him to allow her a break for a moment to regain her composure.

When he felt the daggers go into his arm. Shocked, he flinched and grasped at his arm, as she mirrored him, both of them stumbling back. Diego at least retained his balance, however, though not without crying out in pain as his shoulder smacked against the wall. "It's fine." he grumbled agitatedly, now annoyed with Rahmil. What was she doing?! Blood oozed from four little fingernail-shaped dents in his arm, and he felt fresh warm blood surfacing on his shoulder beneath the bandage.

But as he straightened himself, his frustration fled from him. His eyes set on his friend - his poor, creepy, deranged little friend - sitting on the floor again beside the dresser, a cloth across her sightless eyes. He frowned at her with pity, and stepped forward. Diego had had enough. He'd seen enough of her hysteria. "Rahmil, come on." he said softly, and reached down and grabbed a handful of the back of her shirt, using it to pick her up off the floor with some difficulty. But he was gentle as he guided her to her bed, turned her to face him, and pressed her shoulder for her to sit. She had lost her balance and fallen enough times, she was done standing. He was done with her standing. "Sit."

And then he himself slowly sat down beside her, using his good arm to support his weight. Then he looked at Nicola and gave him a glare, motioning with his eyes for him to take the other place next to Rahmil. If he was such a good friend to her, why wasn't he even supporting her? 'Don't just stand there!' he mouthed silently, bitterly, and jerked his head a final time to the empty space on the other side of Rahmil. Not after you're the one who caused all of this, you irresponsible little cazzo. he finished the thought in his head. Diego was cautious to give her his hand again, though, as scabs began to form on his arm. So instead he just spoke. It was difficult to say to her, but it was for her own good. "If you want to see again, you need to focus now." Immediately regretting it, he did take the chance to be comforting again, despite his anxieties that she would claw him a second time. He put his hand on her shoulder. "You will see again." he reiterated, trying to push away any doubts he had just caused. "But you'll need this man's help."

[Nicola Rangé]

What the hell was going on? Had she truly lost her mind? He stared mindlessly at the blood that was drawn from Antonnio's arm.

Blood...

He shuddered slightly, losing himself in a a trance. His eyes became distant, considerate. Was there anything...Anything that could be done to help her? He glanced up from the floor, catching a short glimpse of Antonnio's glare.

He rolled his eyes and made his way towards the bed. 'Asshole,' he mouthed back, irritated. He took a seat next to Rahmil, putting a hand on her shoulder in consolation. "I know things seem bleak. I know it seems like life has just reared up and bit you with full force. I know it seems like you're the most unlucky person in the world right now. But not all is lost, Rahmil. You have people who care about you, people who will always stay by your side to the end. But if there's one thing you can do for us, you need to calm down and take a couple of deep breaths. We're worried about you, and we're going through every moment you're going through with you." He paused for a moment, looking down at his feet, feeling slightly embarrassed at the short speech he just gave. He was never good at making speeches, but he hoped he at least helped a little bit.

"Just... Relax..." he whispered into her ear lowly.

[Rahmil Binachi]

Lead to the bed and forced to sit down.
Like a small child.
A small
blind
child.
At first she was angry, angry at being told what to do. Angry at Diego's scolding tone. Angry at everything.
So she stayed silent and did as she was told, but then they softened.
They all softened.
The bed gave way to at first Diego's weight, and then to Nicola's.
Her whirlpool of emotions was starting to calm, soothed by the voice of Nicola as he told her it was okay, and that not all was lost.
Reaching out timidly with both of her hands she grabbed both Nicolas and Diegos, holding the two close to her.  She didnt want them going anywhere.
Thin lips pursed together as Rahmils face strained to fight back tears, and with a hard swallow she shoved them down.
The doctor was lost to her, but she knew he was still in the room.
" _{I'm sorry} ", she said hoarsely, at the doctor and the two friends she held close by her side.
" _{Just please fix me.} "

[Diego Liberatore]

OH, so I'm the asshole?! Diego's nostrils flared for a moment as he refrained from mouthing that to Nicola. He didn't want to alert her to the fact that they were taking advantage of her being blind by having a bit of a conversation with out her, about her, right in front of her. But he just couldn't let him have the last word. 'You did this.' he mouthed, pointing to Rahmil, and then let the subject go.

He rolled his eyes a bit at Nicola's speech. He sounded like a counselor. And yet, Diego knew it was probably exactly what Rahmil needed to hear. He also knew that he himself was guilty of giving such speeches, and not always on such noble topics. He bit the inside of his cheek, thinking. Well, at least that was one redeeming quality that was important to keep in mind. They both cared a lot about Rahmil.

Even if the whole thing was Nicola's fault, at least he cared about Rahmil.

Diego took her hand tightly as she reached for his, though carefully noted where her fingernails were. He was done speaking for the moment. Nicola had said it all, and probably a bit more. And the doctor was staring at the three of them. Diego was suddenly thankful he had a mask and that he couldn't see his face. He could only imagine what he must have thought of them all.

Clearing his throat once to reaffirm his presence, the doctor finally spoke up. He hesitated for a moment, probably holding back some comment that just wouldn't have helped the situation. "Right." he said, substituting his comment, as doctors often had to, with a useless word. "Let me see your eyes."

He removed the ribbon Diego had found, and gently looked at each eye individually. Lighting a match, he held it away from her face at different distances and then blew it out. Carefully, he examined the wound on her head she had received from one of the guards. "You hit your head..." he said doubtfully, more to himself than to her, and began digging for something in his bag. Retrieving an ointment of some kind, he applied it to the wound and retied the cloth around her eyes.

"Only time will tell." he said when he was through. "It's too soon yet - could go either way. Your eyes are responding fine to light, but since you can't see out of either one, I suspect the swelling from your head wound is what's causing the problem. If the swelling goes down in time, you could have a chance at regaining full sight. If it doesn't..." he was a little more hesitant to say, but he had a responsibility to tell his patients the truth. "If the swelling gets any worse or if anything else happens to your head, you could remain fully or partially blind. "The doctor frowned and picked up his bag. "But I do believe there is a very good chance you could get it back." he added, trying to give her some hope. The truth was, he didn't know. As he had said in the beginning, it was too soon to tell.

Diego turned and hugged her, not sure how she would receive the news. Optimist that he was, he thought it was a good thing. Much better than what they had thought when first encountering the problem that morning. But it wasn't his eyes that were on the line here, either. "No preoccuparvi, piccina. You'll be ok."



No preoccuparvi - don't worry
piccina - little one (he was referring to her nickname, Scrawny)

[Nicola Rangé]

The doctor's words didn't bring Nicola much assurance. As he packed his bags to leave, Nicola rose from the bed, frustrated. He moved to the other side of the room, placing his hands against the wall with his back to his friends, shoulders hunched. Why couldn't more be done? All he could do was apply a little bit of ointment and tell them to wait? He took a deep sigh. Medicine wasn't a subject he touched on particularly well.

Still, he also felt frustrated towards Antonnio. He still kept trying to place the blame on him, he could tell. But it wasn't his fault. Why did he have to take the blame? That girl expressed the importance of the book, how much it would have aided their cause. Assassins had to make sacrifices. But here Antonnio was, giving him glares and mouthing him guilty words. If anyone was at fault, it was those damn Templars--the very group Antonnio was a part of!

But Nicola discarded those thoughts; they weren't important. What was important right now was Rahmil's well-being. He turned back to them, appearing much more tired and exhausted from when he got up. He approached them slowly. "What now?" was all he could ask.

[Rahmil Binachi]

There was an unspoken anger stirring in the room, lifting the hairs on the back of Rahmils neck.
She didn't know why, or when it started- yet now that the Doctor was gone it was practically palpable.
She pulled out of the hug from Diego and instead held herself.
Yes, the doctor gave her hope. Yes, the doctor told her it would have a chance of healing. Yes, Nicola rose her spirits. Yes, Diego comforted her and stood by her for support.
But no, Rahmil was nothing but a dark cloud of regret and shame.
The rage that was held within these walls was too much, and self doubt and self blame was punching her in all of her weak points.
And she was too blind to deflect them.
Pushing herself back onto the bed, she pulled the covers over her legs and held onto her pillow tightly, crushing it into her chest.

" _{I think I just want to sleep it off. Maybe that will help the swelling.} " Of course she was just scared, and she really didn't want either of them to leave. She wanted them to both stay by her side and make sure she was okay, that no monster in the dark would come snatch her away or take her sight away forever. But she couldn't tell them that, she couldn't put them in even more of a uncomfortable position than what they already were in.  
They would probably have each other ripped to shreds by the time she woke, and that wouldn't do any of them any good.

[Diego Liberatore]

Well, Nicola changed. Diego noticed it, from the time he got up and then turned back to face them, he looked like he had been hit with a ton of bricks. It didn't take him long to figure out what the reason could be, though. If Diego had thought he had been the cause of this, he knew he would have looked that way too. It was probably just the guilt setting in. Good, at least he had accepted it.

When Rahmil buried herself again beneath the covers, Diego didn't dare move. He was still sitting on the edge of the bed, she now just to his side. The last thing he needed was to startle her too badly by getting up. He just watched her for a few moments, assessing the situation. She just looked so... broken. Her black and tousled hair was all he could see of her, her back turned to him. By the way her pillow folded, he knew she was probably trying to suffocate it by hugging it, the way his sisters often did. It broke his heart to see her this way. "Rahmil," he said, reminding her where he was with the sound of his voice. "It's morning. You can't sleep the day away." he tried smiling, stupidly, knowing after an instant that she couldn't possibly see him. But maybe she could have at least heard his stupid smile, somehow. He reached his hand out to her hesitantly, unsure of himself or how she would lash back at him if she disapproved.

But in the end, he made his decision. He stroked her hair softly, the way his mother did when he was little and he was sick. Is that really who he acted like? His mother? Well, he decided, that was kind of what she needed right now. "Don't you even want breakfast?" he asked, still stroking her. "... I could go to the market, and get some chocolate and cinnamon pastries like before." he offered, hoping to cheer her up with something he knew she liked.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola frowned at Rahmil's simple desire for sleep. It was much too late in the day, now. He gave another deep sigh, sinking down against the wall with his long legs spread open, no expression on his face. He paid almost no mind as Antonnio began to brush Rahmil's hair. Without realizing, he started sheathing and unsheathing his hidden blade, almost as if he were fidgeting. It was something he did when he felt depressed.

"If you get breakfast, I will stay here with Rahmil," he murmured as he kept his eyes straight ahead of him at the opposite wall, the rhythm of his blade never once ceasing.

[Rahmil Binachi]

It was silent for a good while- the only sound was Nicola's blade sliding in and out of its holder.
Soon the silence was broken by Diego's voice, and there was something about it that sounded familiar, as if she once saw it but never paid attention to the noise it made.
Perhaps she would have to learn to listen more intently now that she was blind...
His gentle petting scared her at first, causing a light flinch in her statuesque state, but soon died down into the comforting feeling that had long been forgotten.
Back to the days when Davide petted her when she was down, and the same way she did him.
What would he think- seeing her like this? In such a state to where she was oblivious to the sights around her?
Now that her memory was all that served as eyes, she could remember his face, and that was enough to make her heart clench.  Enough to erase any thought of sleep.
After the mention of breakfast, and of Nicola staying with her, she slowly sat up. Keeping her feet under the blankets and the pillow still tightly lodged in her arms, she nodded her head. Grateful for the fabric across her eyes to catch the unwanted tears that were trying to push past the cotton barrier.
" _{Enough for all of us. We could all use some food in our stomachs.} "

[Diego Liberatore]

Despite having a few small knots here and there, her hair was soft. Probably from the rain the night before. He ran his palm over it, occasionally parting it with his fingertips to pull it away from her face, careful of the wound that glared at him from the side of her head. It was strange to him, thinking about her. After everything they had been through, all the fun, the pissing each other off, the fear and the regret, and the laughs, it was difficult to see her end up like this. Diego refused to believe that this was the way her story would end, living the rest of her days blind. After everything he knew about her, he refused to believe it. Even if they were for the Assassin's, her adventures weren't over yet.

Looking at Nicola when he spoke, for the first time Diego pitied him. For Rahmil's sake, of course. It was good that he was coming to terms with himself, but to become as broken as she was wasn't the right choice now. And... maybe Diego had been a little hard on him. Everything he had felt and said was true, but maybe he also had chosen the wrong time to bring it up.

He scooted back a bit as Rahmil sat up. "You're the boss." he told her merrily. Of course he would bring back enough for everyone. And extras. That was just the way he did things. And then he stood. Before he could leave, though, there was something he needed to take care of.

His feet took him towards Nicola as quietly as he could. If he really was going to leave her with this kid, it wasn't going to be with the miserable person sitting on the ground at the other end of the room. Diego knelt slowly, stiffly beside him and whispered. He didn't want Rahmil hearing them. "Hey." he said, setting a tone that would at least address their mutual concerns and put their petty disagreement behind. Even if Diego knew whose fault it really was. So he was calm. "She needs the both of us. I know you don't like me, and I don't really like you either. But we have to work together on this." He pointed a hand over towards Rahmil. "You are that girl's best friend. She trusts you. Don't just sit there." It was the same thing he had said to him earlier. "Don't let her be alone to brood over her own thoughts."

Diego stood stiffly again, straightening. Turning, he went to the door, but paused. "And Nicola," he said, facing the room again. "It was good of you to bring the doctor so quickly."

And with that, he left to his own room next door to change before he would head out. It wouldn't do to go to the market in his pajamas.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola never once shifted his gaze, even after Antonnio's little "lecture". However, he did stop the fidgeting from his hidden blade sliding in and out, just to show that he was listening. Other than that, though, he didn't give anything to signify acknowledgement of what he was told.

As Antonnio moved to the door, Nicola didn't even move a muscle--not until he spoke yet again, louder for everyone to hear. He gave him a small sidewise glance, but simply waved him off with his right hand as if to say "go".

As he left the room, Nicola rose from the floor and returned to the edge of the bed, but faced away from Rahmil. "Maybe... It was a mistake to try and get that damned book."

[Rahmil Binachi]

There was an awful, awful silence from Nicolas sentence.
It filled the air and was ripping its way into Rahmils skull and filling her of a void empty of all speech, daring her to say something. Daring her to say what she felt inside.
The shock had left her in a varied range of emotions, mainly confused and scared.
But now anger.
She kept her face calm- void of any muscle twitch to give away the horrible monster that was quickly growing in the pit of silence within her.
If they hadn't gone for the book- if they had just left when they had the chance,
none of this would have happened.
Rahmil wouldn't be blind.
The right side of her upper lip released a small twitch. It was such a small movement that hardly anyone could notice- less they were studying just that side of her mouth.
But the movement was enough to jolt her back into reality
enough to slash through the silent fog and flood her with the understanding that Nicola and Diego were fighting with each other. Blaming each other.
She slowly turned her head to face the direction in which Nicolas weight was sitting,the beast inside of her calmly watching- silently provoking her
quietly coaching her.
She had to move
she had to release this energy inside of her
she had to release the boiling rage that was trying to claw its way out of her skin.
And poor Nicola was the closest in reach.
In a flash her hands exploded out, grabbing the collar of his shirt and yanking him back- using only the shifted weight of the bed and the sound of his shoes on the floor to judge the distance, the height, and the location.
If she wasn't in such a rage she would have been surprised of herself.
Slamming her right hand down over his mouth, she used her left to push herself over him- practically sitting on him to keep him from reaching any unwanted sharp items.
Her lips pulled back to expose a snarl, her teeth clenched together to muffle the words that soon followed.
" _Stop. " Was the only word that could pass through the toothy barrier
" _{Stop blaming EACH OTHER} ". Her voice then rose, pulling her teeth apart to allow the full blast of the noise out, almost shrieking.
She let out some sort of noise before pushing off of him, stumbling back until she hit the door to balance herself.
Her hair was in all directions, and the part of her face uncovered by the cloth was contorted in a expression filled with anger.
" _{It's not YOUR fault, it's not DIEGOS fault, it's the GIRLS} ".
She dug her nails into the wood and let out a loud breath.
" _{We could have left when we got the chance, BUT NO, SHE WANTED HER DAMNED BOOK.} " Her voice dropped into a deadly whisper, " _{A book that we knew nothing about, only going by her word to assume it was of great importance. But where is the book now? The book we spent so much effort, so many sacrifices to get?
We should have left her. Left her to die along with the pages of her stupid book.} " Her chest was heaving, the beast inside satisfied and beginning to diminish- only leaving tears in its wake.
" _{I'm blind because of her.} " She growled through the fresh trail of tears staining her face.
" _{She ruined. my. life.} "

[Diego Liberatore]

Slowly, carefully he pulled off his pajamas and exchanged them for a roomy tunic and his leggings. It was quite a struggle, trying to move just so, that his wound didn't bark at him from beneath his bandages. For his first attempt, it was as successful as could be expected. He hissed in pain here and there, but then it was fine. As he reached for a boot, he looked at it disdainfully with the thought of having to bend down to put it on. Sitting carefully at the edge of his bed, Diego nearly jumped out of his skin.

Thunder and lightning and shattered glass were what it sounded like, coming out of Rahmil's mouth. He head heard Nicola's quiet approach to her about the subject, but even Diego hadn't been expecting that reaction... or the reasoning. It sounded like Hell itself opened up and froze over in her bedroom. Emotionally tucking his tail between his legs, Diego crammed his boots onto his feet, not caring if they were tied or folded over or on the wrong foot. He just left the scene as quickly as he could, pausing at the top of the stairs to listen.

She was crying now. He could hear it in her voice at the end of her speech. His heart broke again, or rather, the broken pieces fought with each other at odd angles, jabbing him in the chest. Half of him wanted to stay and comfort her, the other wanted to get the hell out of dodge. He ducked his head shamefully. He would be back soon enough - with breakfast. Nicola would just have to comfort her until then.

Treading slowly down the stairs, he bee-lined to the door and left the tavern.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola flinched at the sudden attack on him, but was pinned still by the weight of Rahmil. Her anger surprised him at first, but a calmness soon took hold of him. He wasn't in danger. Overreacting to her would only make things worse. So he sat completely still, calmly, cooly. Finally, when some of her rage seemed to subside--replaced with sorrow--and she moved to the door, Nicola rose slowly, careful of any more of her outbursts. He moved by her side, and laid a gentle hand on her back, consoling.

"Reality, Rahmil," he spoke softheartedly. "Life never plays out the way you imagine it. We all have our struggles. None of us have it easy." He moved his hand to her side, cautiously, so as to not alarm her, and enclosed her in a type of side-hug. "Your life isn't ruined; you're still breathing--you're safe. Now, you can get angry, and blame others, and furiously attack everyone who you believe has done you wrong," he moved his mouth closer to her ear, "or, you can learn to cope with this, and keep positive, and live life in any way you can."