Assassin's Creed Modern One Shots

Arno's Birthday Special

The last sharp gust of wind passed through a gap between two mechanical doors swishing to a close. Low, polite mutters and the jingling of cash were exchanged, repeated anew with multiple different people. Being a Wednesday and the middle of the school week, the early morning bus ride was nothing new to you. Adjusting the jacket you wore, you reminded yourself that this wasn't any old Wednesday morning, and this wasn't just any old bus stop you had temporarily halted at. Today was the twenty-sixth of August, and this was the stop one of your most dear friends got on at. 'Dear friend', he'd laugh at that, make some wisecrack or sarcastic joke at it. He was good like that, could easily twist your words to send you into hysterics. Distracted, you checked the last message on your phone, beaming at the sender's scheme, almost unaware of the figure settling themselves beside you. A heavy weight approximate to the size of a bowling ball, rested on your shoulder, causing every muscle in your being to tense. Glittering zircon irises peeked over to eye your glowing screen. On reflex, you locked your phone, rotating your torso to lock onto your target. From where they half sat, half lay, they threw you an eager grin, rogue strands of coffee-coloured locks teasing the skin on your neck. You flinched, identifying every detail of the figure.

"Oh, good morning to you too." You grinned, cheerily jabbing the familiar individual in their flank, resulting in a chuckle from them.

"A 'happy birthday Arno' would have sufficed. But good morning, ____," he retorted, elbowing you lightly for a sweet taste of revenge. Staring out the window at the bleak scenery, morning concealed by monochrome clouds, you shook your head.

"You thought I forgot? Aww, honey, no. Happy birthday." You squeezed him in a tight hug, the bus jolted into action, while you finished your sentence in a way you'd speak to an infant. Arno rolled his eyes playfully, letting you plant a sloppy kiss on his forehead to mess with him. He straightened up, now sitting upright rather than leaning on you for support. Using a navy blue sleeve, he swiped away the mark of saliva on his face, a look of mock revulsion displayed. And yet, with all his liveliness, there held some solemnity behind the expression. The distasteful look flattened out to become one of melancholy.

"I'm glad you remembered, ____, because it seems that the most important person forgot. Not even a call, or a text... I thought she'd remember, I live with her after all." He forced a smile but it broke out of agony, you could nearly feel the manner in which he bled, like being thrown into the gutter. The exact same emotion you felt as Altaïr 'betrayed' you. A time long gone, but the wound reopened as if it were a day ago.

"Hey, I'm sure Élise didn't forget your birthday, you guys are dating, it'd be ridiculous for her to forget. I'm sure she's got something great for you later in the day. You do realise she goes to a private school, she has time to give you the biggest surprise of all and plan it to the finest detail. Don't stress it. My present might not compare, but I'm shouting you morning coffee from the canteen and I wanted to take you to that nice cafe in town that we always planned on going to when the guys aren't bothering us. I know, it's no 'grand plan' but we're all here for you. Alty, Connor, Aveline, Des, even Ezio believe it or not. Élise will come through, just give it time, babe," you reassured, rubbing his shoulder encouragingly. Arno released a large sigh, allowing it to whistle between his lips as the air escaped.

"I sure hope you're right about this, ____, it isn't like her to not say anything. Even Monsieur de la Serre wished me a happy birthday before I left. It all feels too... odd."

"When we get to school you'll be showered with love and presents and you'll forget all about it." Smiling, you teetered over to embrace him once more, in the hopes of making him lighten up. He pressured another smile, one more genuine than the first. The bus screeched and skidded to a stop, giving authorisation for those outside to come aboard. An identical pattern repeated, exact to the last stop, and passengers found their preferred seats. Flamboyant as ever, another companion invited himself into the conversation. Not unwelcome, just unexpected — like how he acknowledged you both.