Crap, man. Here I go, trying to multitask. Uh-oh...

Pt. 2, pg. 34

Desmond stood at the entrance to the Farm nervously. Shaun was by his side, holding a small metal briefcase over his shoulder and his other hand occupied by Desmond's hand.

"Come on, chin up. It can't be so bad."

"Dude, I ran away and then rejoined. Not by my choice."

"You saved their asses."

"And was the cause of an attack on them!"

"Desmond, don't be ridiculous."

"I gave up the life of an assassin to be a bartender. I'm a bartender again now."

Shaun chuckled. "Well then, mate, looks like you've got your heart in the right place and are happy as a lark. Can't think of what any parent wouldn't want that. Let's go, shall we?"

He moved forward and started dragging Desmond with him. He quickly straightened up and matched Shaun's fast pace.

"Fucker."

Shaun tittered. "Language, Miles."

He huffed and looked around. It had rebuilt since the attack. The street was practically empty. It was like going back to the days of the cowboys and ghost towns. The roads weren't paved, and the land surrounding the farm was arid and dusty. Several shops were in the center of the town around a large square with a fountain in the center. There was a grocery store, a general store, and several smaller weapons and armor shops.

As they walked down the street, they saw several people peeking out of their houses or watching them through their windows. Desmond shifted uncomfortably and moved closer to Shaun. He kept his eyes slightly lowered as they passed by the buildings.

"You look like a kicked puppy."

"I probably deserve it."

"Do you regret leaving?"

"No."

"Then don't feel bad."

He looked slightly upset but remained quiet. They walked to the end of the street and stopped at a nice, if not small, house. There was a garden in front of it and a small overhang for the front step. He stayed back a bit and looked out over the street again. When he thought about it, it was slightly smaller than before. It was entirely his fault. The person across the street had come out and was looking at him from their porch. She was a petite little black-haired woman with bright brown eyes. A small boy clung to her leg, watching him.

He offered a small smile and waved hesitantly as Shaun knocked. The boy tugged on the woman's pant leg and whispered something to her. She glanced at Desmond, then nodded at the child. The little boy lit up like a firework at whatever she said and ran inside. The prophet let his shoulders slump forward. He scratched his head as he heard the door open, but paid the voices no mind as he looked at the blue lines etched into his skin. They went under the tattoo on his arm, and perhaps it was the tattoo.

It was probably the lines, he concluded, that had appeared after "finding" Eve's DNA like subject sixteen had told him too. And while he was glad Shaun didn't mind them—he had found out how much his lover had enjoyed them their first night together after the ordeal—it still made him self-conscious in public, especially in a muscle tee and shorts. It was only amplified, by not only the fact that he was a worldwide hero, but also that he held such fame and popularity among everyone, everywhere. He couldn't go anywhere without being treated by a celebrity, and the fan mail was the worst—even worse than the hate mail.

"Desmond, come greet your father," he heard Shaun say, strained, and he turned around.

But all words died in his throat when he was who was standing there in the doorway. It was Ezio, or, at least, it looked like Ezio. Desmond's eyes grew wide, and he stumbled before reaching for Shaun's briefcase.

"Where are my medications, Shaun? I think I'm hallucinating again."

Shaun pulled the briefcase away. "You're not hallucinating."

He leaned heavily on Shaun's shoulder, staring at the man. "Are you sure he's—is he—certain I—"

Ezio smiled and swept Desmond into a hug. "Welcome home, my son."

Desmond slowly reached up and hugged him back, shocked into a stupor. "E-Ezio…"

"It's good to have you back. Come inside. There is much to know about you."

He was dragged into the small living room. It was a small house, with the kitchen to his right and the living room to the left at either end of the small front room. Ezio pulled him into the room and offered him a seat on a small couch. He jumped when he saw Christina smile at him on the couch.

"You must tell me what has happened since you left the Farm. You have grown so much. My God, I still remember when you were sixteen." The master assassin placed a hand on Desmond's cheek, and he blinked when his surroundings changed into Leonardo's studio. "You were so young. I can see the effects of time. They have been worn into you."

Desmond shook his head, trembling. "I… Shaun, I need my medications. Please. I need my medications."

"Medications?"

Shaun looked at him, worried, and opened up the briefcase. "Yes," he started in a business-like manner, "the thing we haven't released to the press is that Desmond suffers from extreme hallucinations at times. He sees everything from the city of Jerusalem to Cesare Borgia trying to kill him in bed."

Ezio's eyes grew wide.

"How do you not know that?" Shaun said as he popped open the pill bottles. "The master assassins have access to everything that goes on."

Ezio looked at the huge pills. He rose. "Let me get you some water."

He left and returned a few seconds later with a cup of water. He looked at his son sadly. "No, I was kept from everything that had to do with you when you were found." He sat down beside him. "They were afraid that I might do something irrational if I knew where you were."

"You must have a zillion children! I've lived through all your-your—"

His throat constricted. He couldn't say it.

"Conquests?" Shaun supplied as he handed him the pills. There were three giant pills, and Desmond took them all in one go.

Ezio's eyes grew wide again, and he looked at Desmond, pulling him into a tight hug. "Mio dio! I am so sorry, Desmond! You have seen everything?"

Desmond nodded in the embrace. "I've lived my father's entire sex life."

They both shuddered, and Shaun smirked.

"Actually, you're not the only one. I could always tell when you were done with a session like that. Your behaviors in bed always changed slightly."

Ezio looked at Shaun, his eyes narrowing. "You two are sleeping with each other?"

"Now, now, you have no room to speak, considering your passionate affair with Leonardo."

"This man is an asshole. I forbid you to date him. Find yourself a better man."

Desmond couldn't help but laugh. He pulled away and looked his father over once more before he shuddered. Ezio had raised a hand to run a thumb over the scar on his lips.

"Exactly like mine."

"I got it when a patron at the bar I use to work at got into a fight."

Ezio raised an eyebrow and leaned back, looking curious. "There is so very much I do not know about you. Tell me more. I am curious to learn."

The next several hours where filled with Desmond's story about how he made it without living at the Farm, getting kidnapped by Abstergo, and all the crap he had been through afterward. By the time it was done, he looked down at his hands, which were clasped tightly in his lap.

"I'm sorry about the attack here. I didn't believe you, and because of that, all this shit happened."

He felt a large hand on his shoulder and looked up to see a sad smile on his father's face. "Desmond, I only wish I could've been there for you. I am so sorry that it happened that way."

There was a knock at the door, and Ezio looked up. "Excuse me."

When he walked off, Desmond looked at Shaun, who had his brow furrowed.

"What? I thought you'd love meeting someone from his time period."

Shaun scowled. "How are the medications working?"

"Huh? Oh, well enough, I guess. I thought I saw something in the corner of my eye, but…" he trailed off and looked at his lover, who was studying him closely.

A little kid came running into the room, holding a pen and paper. He stopped when he saw Desmond, suddenly a little shy. Ezio came up behind the boy and bent down.

"Go on. He will not bite you."

Desmond raised an eyebrow, scratching unconsciously at the blue marks on his arms. "Yeah?"

The kid moved forward a pace before backing up a little bit. The young woman from across the street came in with a warm smile and shooed the kid forward.

"Go on, Kyle."

He shuffled his way in front of Desmond and held the pen and paper out. "?"

Desmond laughed and took it gently with one arm before scooping the kid up with his other and setting him in his lap. "I can do better than that."

He wrote on the paper, "This is my best friend," and drew an arrow pointing upward. "Now, do you have a camera?"

His mother stepped forward, taking one out of her pants' pocket. "Right here."

Desmond grinned and held the sign up so it was pointing toward the boy. "How about it?"

The boy looked ready to explode with glee. "Yeah!"

He felt the little boy's arms wrap around his neck and squeeze tightly as his mother snapped a photo. Desmond laughed and hugged him back. When the boy pulled back and looked up at him, he froze. Petruccio was where the kid had been. He shook his head and slapped himself in the forehead before the boy was back to normal.

"Are you okay, Mister Miles?"

"I'm fine, Petru—kiddo."

He caught Ezio's shocked glance.

"I'm fine, though."

The kid smiled. "Will you come play with us sometime at school?"

"If he's still here," Shaun said, giving Desmond a serious stare.

"Aren't you staying here forever?"

Desmond chuckled. "I might."

The kid bounced around, and the mother laughed. "Come on, Kyle, let's let him catch up with his father. You can see him tomorrow."

The child obeyed wordlessly and waved goodbye. Desmond saw him off and closed the door before resting an arm on it and putting his forehead down against it.

"Desmond."

"Yeah, Shaun. I know. And I did just take my medications. I promise."

Eventually, he pushed away from the door and walked over, plopping down on the couch. He sighed. Ezio was silent for a little bit.

"You even saw that, then."

"Yeah."

"Everything?"

"Down to your father's last look."

Ezio hung his head. "I am so sorry, Desmond. I am so terribly, terribly sorry."

"Save it. I did what had to be done. One life for the greater good, yeah?"

The master assassin sighed. "I suppose."

"I'm usually okay when I'm in public. All the technology and shit keeps me grounded."

Silence reigned for a little bit before Desmond's stomach growled. Ezio chuckled and rose. "There is no point in letting you go hungry. I will show you your room, and then make us a meal, yes?"

Desmond grinned. "Sounds wonderful."

The room they had was rather tiny, like the rest of the house, but if was comfortable. The bed was cozy, the blankets were soft, and the window had thick curtains on it. He flopped on the bed. Shaun sat down beside him, looking worried. He laced his fingers with Shaun's when his hand rested on his stomach.

"I love you, Desmond."

He smiled softly and drew him in for a kiss. It was gentle and chaste.

"I love you, too," he murmured before pulling away.

"You realize we may have to leave again if your medications stop working."

"I know."

Shaun stretched out over him. Desmond put his hands behind his head to make it easier to look at his lover. He could see worry etched into his features and moved one hand to lightly cup Shaun's cheek.

"I'll be fine."