~ Desmond Miles ~
Contrary to popular belief (read: Shaun's), did not listen to Shaun's audio files in the Animus database because he'd "forgotten something", or because he "needed to".
No, he did it because he wanted to.
He did it because it was Shaun.
It was Shaun's voice, the energetic and exited way in which he spoke, that made Desmond keep coming back for more, over and over again. Even though he now knew the stories of his ancestor's enemies by heart, he didn't care; he wouldn't stop listening.
It didn't matter what the other's thought.
Contrary to popular belief (again: Shaun's); Shaun did not know everything.
For instance, he did not know how Desmond felt about him.
When Desmond heard Shaun speak like he did in the audio files, how happy he sounded, he couldn't help but be reminded of Leonardo, and even Malik to some extent. He knew how his ancestors felt when they heard them talk in that way. He could practically see the sparkling eyes of Leo and Malik as they read and talked about the things that made them happy and excited, as they wrote it down and learned more.
He could see in his mind the kind, knowing smiles upon Ezio and Altaïr's faces as they stood witness to it, and how happy it made them that their dearest, oldest friends had something they were so extremely passionate about.
He also felt their longing to be with them.
Contrary to popular belief (Shaun had to stop assuming things), Desmond was not just some kind of stupid, idiotic, bloody American who didn't care about anyone but himself, the rest of the world be damned.
Well, maybe in the beginning, when he was held prisoner at Abstergo, and sometimes at the Farm, but apart from that; no.
But not now.
Now he has Lucy and Rebecca.
Now he has Shaun.
And all he wants, what he wants most of all in the whole wide world, is for them to be safe (even though Lucy's annoying the hell outta him several times a day).
Even if it means he has to watch Shaun find a person to love that's not him.
Maybe it would be easier if he died a martyr's death – he knew Shaun wouldn't mind (at least as long as he completed his job first, so all their work wouldn't be wasted) – and the girls would cry, but they had each other and they would get through this.
Indeed, maybe it would be better and easier if he had to die, if he had to sacrifice himself for the sake of the others, for the sake of everyone's safety and peace.
If he was to tell the others his opinion on this matter, he was sure as hell that Shaun would tell him to "go right ahead" and not to "let me stop you". He would also be told "do it in a clean way, I refuse to clean up your bloody mess". Yes, as long as it was after they'd saved the world, and as long as he did in a clean enough way, Shaun would not mind.
He wasn't sure of Rebecca's reaction (though he knew she'd be pissed off), but knew Lucy would throw something at him, hit him, yell at him and then make him work out even harder than she already did.
Desmond would have nothing of it; he saw Shaun rarely enough as it was, despite the fact that they were constantly within twenty meters of each other.
But with Desmond constantly in the Animus, he couldn't observe Shaun as he wanted to.
And when he was out of the chair, Shaun was constantly sitting at his computer, typing away, either trying to solve "the Truth" left by the infamous Subject 16, trying to contact the remaining Assassin Teams or doing any and all kinds of research containing their goal.
Sometimes, no, scratch that, most of the time – meaning every time Desmond walked over to Shaun, who said "Hello Desmond. Go away" or something similar – Desmond wanted to pounce on him and fuck him right then and there, not caring about the girl's reactions. He didn't want do to it (just) to shut him up, but simply because he wanted to.
Of course, he'd let him talk as they fucked, no doubt about it, cause he loves his voice, his accent and he REALLY wanted him to curse, especially in British, cause that REALLY turned Desmond on.
Contrary to popular beliefs (just WHEN would Shaun stop assuming things?), Desmond did NOT "fancy" busty, blonde girls in mini-skirts and tiny bikinis.
If he was ever forced to acknowledge a fetish, it would be his fetish for one sarcastic, know-it-all, auburn-haired, downright annoying Brit.
And he'd tell them that no one would ever turn him on, nor simultaneously make him want to hold and cuddle another person and be content to stay that way for eternity (screw food and drink) in the same way, whispering sweet nothings to one another as one Shaun Hastings would-
Desmond might be young, but he knew all about love; he'd learned that from not only his own (rather limited) experience, but from Altaïr and Ezio as well.
And he knew how it felt to feel love unrequited.
But Shaun didn't know, couldn't know.
But oh, If he only knew