Of all things, it would be the weather.

[Alessia Jiron[Inactive]]

Alessia hated being captured it was getting annoying at this point but she knew this time was her own bringing. She looked around the room seeing Nicola passed out she wondered how he became that way. The guards put her on the chair and a little bit of a growl escaped the girl’s lip as she was forced into the chair and tied up tight. “Touch me again and you will pay!” She said in her harshest voice as she looked at the guard. Ali struggled to get out of the ropes, knowing they had to leave soon. The pain wasn’t really a thing she was concerned about as it shot up through her body. It’s when it finally hit her that when the man spoke it sounded like Antonnio, which meant he came up with a plan of some sort. The guards left and she let out a sigh still trying to get the rope off of her she gave up. “So now what?” She asked him curious to hear what he had planned for him. She was ready to do whatever she could do to get them safely out there. She was confused though how he was even sitting here when he was hurt worse than what she was. She looked over at the other girl seeing her still unconscious and she frowned a little as this all could have been prevented if she could just have gotten to that book sooner.

[Rahmil Binachi]

thud
The sound of blood rushing to her head filled the room with its soft roaring.
thud
Light started to peek in through the pitch black, causing the thick eyelashes to start blinking.
God it was bright.
thud
The soft thump of a distant door being shut sounded, followed by soft murmurs of voices.
thud
The pain started. From the dull throbbing at the back of her skull to an extreme head ache that raked its claws through her entity.

A small groan of pain escaped her lips, and on instinct she tried to reach up and hold her head. Probably had too much to drink las-
The restrictions on her body caused her to jerk awake- her eyes wide.
Diego
Nicola
The girl

Her eyes darted around the table. Each muscle movement seeming to irritate the pounding in her skull.
She saw Nicola, she saw a Templar,
then she saw the girl.

Anger raged through her with more force than the pain in her head.
This
was
all
her
fault.

Her lips pulled back in a pure snarl as she glared as best she could at the female Assassin.
Her teeth released the clenched tension to hiss out a line of built up curses already waiting in her mind when she remembered the Templar.
She turned to look at him, nothing but a helmet.
The little shit wont even show his face.

She yanked at the rope binding her down.
Oh she could claw his eyes out.
She was trapped. Caught. Rendered
useless.
And he was just going to strap them around a table like some sort of demented tea party?

She started to hack up the biggest spit wad she could muster, aiming to shoot it at the creep.
But then it hit her, the calmness the others had around him.
Realization relaxed her facial features and raised her eyebrows, slowly letting her sit back in the seat and swallowing the bitter hate that was built up just moments ago.

" _...Oh. " Was all she could muster.

Just a simple Oh.

[Diego Liberatore]

He watched Rahmil mostly, especially after the other girl came in lively threatening the guards and identifying him quickly despite his newly acquired helmet and armor, presumably because of his wound. This gave him little to worry about her, and of course he cared so little for Nicola it was difficult to worry at all. Still, the poor dog did seem to be in some pretty rough shape. He hadn't expected the guards to knock them unconscious, which meant that those that did probably put up a fight. He looked at Alessia, acknowledging that he had heard her but waiting to answer until everyone was fully coherent again.

Rahmil seemed to be slow, but then snapped into something that could almost have been considered animalistic. He was glad when she finally recognized him, not really wanting to be covered in her spit. "Easy." he said. "Close your eyes and think of something else. Just don't fall asleep, it'll go away soon." Struck with a sudden idea as he eyed the bump on her head, Diego murmured an apology as he reached over to her and took from her pocket the medicine she had wanted to help him with before. After opening the small jar, he poured small amounts into his hands and gently began applying it to the mark where they had knocked her unconscious.

"Kick Princess and make sure he's awake." he said to Alessia, though only looking at her briefly before turning back to Rahmil. He still blamed Nicola's poor judgement for most of their woes, but a part of him had to agree with his friend. The girl did share a bit of fault as well, and Diego wasn't sure yet how to handle the situation between the four of them.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola gave an audible scoff at Antonnio's remark, keeping his head down as he stared at the floor. His concern towards Rahmil made him question how far their connection really was. She truly had made friends with the enemy. The realization left a bad taste in his mouth, and only drove him to dislike the traitor even more. He had tricked her. Whether she realized it or not, he knew that he was only using her trust to gain more clearance into their Creed. Oh, how he would love to cut his throat.

And then a small revelation crept over him. The idiots had never even taken away his hidden blade! Unsheathing it quietly, he began to cut away at the ropes that bound his wrists. It didn't take long; the blade cut through the fibers as if they were strands of grass. Smirking to himself, he listened to the soft thump as the rope fell to the floor, but he kept his hands behind him as if he were still tied up.

He then began to work on the ropes that bound him to the chair, refusing to waste any time.

[Alessia Jiron[Inactive]]

Alessia watched at the girl finally came to and knew she probably didn’t have a clue what was going on. They were all tied up and things were a bit confusing for the most part. She looked over at Nicola who was starting to move around and free himself. She squirmed a little and her hands were able to loosen the ropes just a bit but she knew there was more work to getting her hands out than just moving them around. Diego spoke to her and she shook her head no in response to it. “He’s awake now; I think we need to get out of here before things turn for the worse.” She spoke knowing somehow that was the best idea at the moment they could do was leave. She would figure out a way to come back for the book since she knew there was a key for the most part the book was safe and couldn’t be opened for a while. She got her hands out of the ropes letting them drop to the floor. Alessia looked over at the other girl she felt bad because she knew the girl was in pain from whatever happened. Her eyes went back to Diego waiting to hear what he had to say at this point of what his plan was.

[Rahmil Binachi]

Diego reached out, rubbing the medicine on her wound oh-so-gently. Though no matter how soft his touch was- she had to clench her teeth together and ball her hands into fists to keep from shouting out.
It hurt, so bad.
Yet then it was over, he returned to his normal sitting position and began to speak to the other female and somewhat to Nicola.
Rahmil was out of it, all she heard was noise.
It was as if they all spoke a different language.
Closing her eyes, she suddenly got the strongest urge to cry.
This whole thing was nothing but a big reckless mess.
Stupid, stupid,
stupid.
She squeezed her eyes shut to push back the unwanted tears and swallowed often to get rid of the newly formed lump in her throat.
You cant cry through this Rahmil, you are an assassin, act like one.
And so she did.
It took her a few moments, yes, but she finally began to relax.
They weren't going to get anywhere if she was going to be nothing more than an emotional girl.

[Diego Liberatore]

Diego had been so concerned with Rahmil that he hadn't noticed the other two releasing themselves from their ropes, until it was already too late. He gave a disappointed huff as he watched Alessia squirm out of the last of hers, and he could only assume that Nicola had already more deftly done the same. "You needed those." he grumbled, but he understood their reasons and he would have done the same. Settling uncomfortably on his stool, he decided to tell them his plan before making any moves to tie them back up. Especially toward Nicola.

"There are too many here to take on by ourselves. I can't fight, Alessia can't fight, Rahmil is in no condition. And Nicola," Diego just scoffed. "Well." He took off his helmet for a while, now that he was explaining. It made him hot, he didn't know who in their right mind could walk around in such a thing. "I will walk you two the river with three men, allegedly to dispose of you. When we get there, you can cut yourselves free and cut the men down. One on one shouldn't be too difficult, and will certainly be better than going against the whole lot of them. Nicola, you can salvage the armor from the guards and form a new team to recover the book, if it's really that important, and take this armor as well." He lifted the helmet slightly in his hands. "I'll take the girls to get proper medical attention." Grimacing slightly, he knew that he would also be in need of a doctor. But to say it aloud sent chills through him, and so he had kept from saying it. It was obvious.

Still, though, he was apprehensive about approaching them to retie their ropes. It was a bit of an awkward move, and Nicola already hated him. So Diego sat still in his chair not daring to stand until he was sure it would be safe to do so. Though it killed him to admit it, he knew his best chances at avoiding conflict and getting them all out was to appease Nico. And that meant not acting like his superior. Swallowing his pride bitterly, Diego made eye contact with him and ducked his head slightly, almost submissively. He hated it. "Unless you have any better ideas."

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola barely paid Antonnio any mind as he worked his way through the remaining ropes. He kept his focus on the ground, sawing away until each strand gave away to the next. As he began discussing his plan, Nicola started out disinterested for the most part. But as he thought it over more and more, it came to his realization that there really was no other way out.

Unless you have any better ideas.

The last rope fell to the floor. Glancing up towards the Templar with a questioning look, he leaned back in his chair, his arms draping over behind him. In his eyes, Nicola saw how painful it was for him to submit. But he knew he didn't really care if he had a plan--even if he had a better plan. Instead, he concluded that the Templar only wanted his cooperation.

In a strange kind of way, Nicola couldn't help but find a little respect for the traitor. He was putting his pride aside and shifting the dominance out of his favor for the good of the team, and that was something Nicola could admit he would never be able to do himself.

Instead of responding with an answer, Nicola only looked him straight in the eyes, and questioned with nothing more than curiosity, "Why is it you want to help us, Templar? You could have us killed this very moment, yet you plot to help us. What motives do you have?"

[Rahmil Binachi]

In her attempt of calming down, she focused on the conversation before her. The others had cut free of their ropes, which had apparently been against the plan..
But the conversation directed back to the two men butting heads.
She tried to keep a level head, despite the fact that she was balancing on a thin rope of sanity and insanity...
Nicolas comment snapped it.

She didn't expect it, plan it, or conjure it, it came on its own. Starting as a low grumble in the base of her chest, slowly crawling its way up past her throat before ripping apart her lips and hissing out, the only factor of keeping her voice down was the guards outside.
" _{Would you STOP already Nicola!} " The full impact of her anger, irritation, and helplessness pouring into each word.
" _{You're worried about him killing you? Well if you don't shut your mouth and go with the only plan we have, I will do it myself} "

[Diego Liberatore]

It took him a moment to watch him, to read his face and to actually register that the questions Nicola asked were sincere. There was no last minute sarcasm biting back into the vulnerable semi-submission Diego had lowered himself to. Nicola wasn't mocking him. Surprised, Diego paused for a moments breath and thought before answering, only to be interrupted by Rahmil's outburst.

It struck him at how uncontrolled it was, and perhaps even uncalled for. And yet, it restored a piece of his pride back, a piece of his confidence and worth. At least she trusted him. But his answer was all the same. "It's ok, Rahmil. No one in this room is going to die today."

"I was never supposed to make friends, never supposed to... care... for anyone. The worst rule of my training I ever broke. It is against my better judgement not to kill you, now that you know what I am. But from my experience sometimes it is my lesser judgement, or lack of judgement at all, that has influenced my better choices." With this comment he glanced at Rahmil, whom he had decided let live after her attack on his family. Now was the second time that he had the chance to kill her, but the thought had not even occurred to him until Nicola brought it up. He was posing as commander of this guard, and he could very well have all of them killed, it was true. But there he sat, an arrow in his shoulder, protecting them and trying to free them. None of it made sense, but it didn't have to.

"You hate me for what I am, Nicola," he said, returning his eye contact back to him. "And I can't hate you for that. But let's be sure that you really want to hate me for who I am, before you pass your better judgement on me."

Diego stood then, carefully and sorely, and went to Rahmil first. It wasn't too excruciating if he moved slowly. He loosened her binds gently, not tremendously but enough that she would be able to cut herself free when the time came. Then he went to the other girl and retied her, also not obviously loose, but just enough to allow her the movement that she would need if their plan worked. And if it didn't work, then all of them were as good as dead anyway.

Grunting, he bent and picked up Nicola's severed ropes. "We don't have to be on the same side, to have the same goals." he said and held the rope out, waiting for Nicola's cooperation. That, and plus you pissed off Rahmil.

[Nicola Rangé]

Rahmil's outburst had broken the calmness of what Nicola had intended to be a serious, truthful discussion. Her final threat left him feeling more irritated than intimidated. "Rahmil," he snapped. He would have scolded her further, but decided against it. He could tell where her response had come from. It was clear to him that their situation in their circumstances had left her feeling trapped, and perhaps she was afraid for that reason.

Nicola never interrupted Antonnio as he spoke. Halfway through his speech, however, Nicola found himself leaving his chair and moving to the wall facing away from him, placing a hand against it to support himself. He almost appeared fatigued as he considered the words that he spoke, and never once looked back at him. Were the things he was saying genuine? And how far could he really go to trust them?

Even as he offered him the ropes, Nicola still hesitated to look towards him. But gradually, as a few moments passed, he submitted and turned his body to face Antonnio, though still kept his gaze to the floor. "I am your sworn enemy, Templar." Nicola paused, eventually pulling his gaze up to meet his. "But today... I am your friend."

He took the ropes from him, returning his gaze to the floor.

[Rahmil Binachi]

She was scolded, from both sides, and perhaps even a bit from herself as well.
Yet it didn't matter any more, the only sign of reaction to the whole ordeal was a scowl on her face.


Diego's contact in loosening her ropes made her jump, but besides that she had remained bitterly quiet throughout the next bit of Nicola standing up and accepting his ropes back.
If she wasn't so emotionally unstable at the moment, she probably would have been proud.

[Diego Liberatore]

Nicola's confirmation of friendship was a bitter-sweet sound to land on his ears. Friends were dangerous things to keep. And now, that Nicola knew Diego's true affiliations, he was a dangerous friend not to keep. But the choice didn't lie with Diego, and he knew that this alliance would be a temporary one. But at least they could lay their loyalties aside and work together to escape their predicament instead of being at each other's throats - for now.

Diego shook Nicola's hand before retying him, attempting at a symbol of good faith. If this was going to work, they were going to need to rely on each other. He returned to his seat facing the three of them, and took a moment to breathe and wait, as if letting the air settle. Looking at them all one last time to make sure they were ready, his heart began beating faster and he re-adorned the helmet of his recently defaced enemy.

"Guards!" he summoned them forth, and four of them pushed through the heavy doors into the room. "I've heard enough of these three. I want them disposed of - discretely. Three of you will come with me, and we'll take them to the river and drown them."

"But sir, why don't we just kill them here? What about your shoulder?" One of them responded.

"Do you think me incompetent?!" Diego seethed at the man, acting his best as the previous wearer of his position would have. "I want to see them thrash and squirm. And how dare you question my authority! I'll deal with you when I return." He pointed at the remaining, silent guards. "You three! Fetch the prisoners and come with me."

Waiting for them to get his companions, he watched anxiously through his helmet to make sure they were treated properly. His heart beat fearfully as they walked with a certain merry determination in their stride. "Ah! They are not to be harmed." He snapped as he caught sight of a certain, unfortunately familiar grin he had often seen them wear when dealing with Assassins. Their toothy smiles fell and they looked at him questioningly, with just enough disappointment to spark a bit of anger towards himself. He realized he would have to come up with some valid explanation. "I want them in good condition if they are to die slowly." he said, a little more weakly than he had intended. He cleared his throat and regained his brash facade. "You'll minimize the bubbles." They still weren't satisfied, but regardless they collected them and began to exit the church.

Diego walked along side of them, struggling to find a pace that would suit the bolt in his shoulder. He knew it couldn't possibly be getting any deeper, as he could feel the contact with his shoulder blade. But with each step his breath shortened and his throat tightened as he suppressed his groans. In the end, though, it worked to his advantage, because he was able to follow the guards instead of making mistakes in the way out of the building himself.

Rain greeted them as they were outside once more, and Diego welcomed it. Not many people were in the streets, and those meek civilians that were scurried away from the guards as they passed. That was one advantage the Templars had in owning the city's defenses: They had no one to answer to. They were above the law. Soon they made it to the river, which rippled mere steps from the edge of the ground. "I'm very sorry about this, gentlemen." Diego said, which caught them by surprise and they turned to look at him. He bashed one in the head with his helmet as he couldn't draw his sword, and a long suppressed cry of pain and frustration came from his lips as his wound seared again. But the guard stumbled back, slightly stunned. That was their cue.

[Nicola Rangé]

Nicola shook Antonnio's hand hastily and allowed him to retie his ropes. He didn't give the idea of their temporary alliance much thought. Instead, he would only focus on the situation at hand, rather than worry himself over his choice of acception.

Nicola kept his head low for the whole time they walked. He never once said a single word--not even when they had the intention to hurt him. Antonnio admittedly did a very good job of thinking on his feet when it came to the guards, though Nicola also paid this very little mind.

When they had finally reached the river, he was more than prepared to strike at his escorts. On Antonnio's cue, he swiftly slipped the ropes off his hands, unbounding himself in enough time to unsheathe his hidden blade into an unexpecting guard's neck.

[Rahmil Binachi]

Their short walk was torturous.
Encased in an extreme sense of vertigo, she tried her best to stay up right. Focusing her weight on each foot as she managed to place it down after each step.
The world was tilting, and if she moved her head too fast, it also turned dark.
The endless walking finally stopped, and what happened next was all too quick for Rahmil to comprehend.
They were all down in a matter of bloody seconds.
She leaned against a tree helplessly.
" _{You two did it.} " She managed to mutter, squinting her eyes at the bloodied ground before her.
" _{The chances were against us and you fooled them.} "She slowly shook her head, leaning it back against a tree and covered her eyes
" _{Now can we go home?} "