Here's a Valentine's one-shot. I whipped this up today so I apologize for any grammatical errors that you see. It's set after the events of Two Assassin's Are Better Than One. Please review!
I could hear the music coming from Miles End before I even took a step into it. It was a few weeks before Valentine's Day, a day that I didn't really care for even though Connor and I were dating, or 'courting' as he called it. We had been dating for about six months and I didn't tell him about Valentine's because I could really care less about the holiday. Of course, I was still working on my own little gift for Connor.
I walked into Miles End and sat down by Myriam at the bar. I ordered a drink and glanced around to see Connor speaking with Norris in the corner. I gave him a smile which he returned.
I turned to Myriam, seeing a goofy smile on her face. "What are smiling about?"
"I've got a perfect idea for Valentine's."
"What is it?"
"Norris has this pick axe he's been using since he ever got here," Myriam said. "It's horrible so I'm getting him a new one."
I hummed as I took a drink. "So I take it that you are enjoying married life?"
Myriam nodded. "It's not what I expected. I love it. Norris has big feet, if you know what I mean."
I smacked my lips after taking a drink. "I don't."
Myriam turned, nodding her head towards Connor. "Connor has big feet, right?"
I looked over my shoulder to look at Connor. "Uh, yeah?"
"That means he has a big-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence," I barked as I turned back around to face Myriam with a red face.
Myriam laughed but it quickly faded away and she stared at me with a serious face. "Wait - you and Connor haven't...?"
I shook my head, face burning even more. "No! No! Of course not, Myriam!"
Myriam lifted up her hands in surrender before she grabbed her cup in her hand. "What are you guys doing, then?"
I cleared my throat, stammering as I talked. "We're, uh, waiting. Um, until we're married."
"You're getting married? When did you have this talk?" Myriam said shoving my shoulder lightly.
"A few days ago," I said. "Connor and I talked for a little because he wanted to figure out where we were headed."
"If I didn't know you two," Myriam said. "I wouldn't believe that you two were even dating."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You two rarely touch," Myriam said. "I haven't even seen you two kiss, let alone hold hands."
I thought about it for a moment. I knew Connor wasn't comfortable with showing affection in front of strangers and I didn't mind. As long as I knew he cared about me, I could care less about what other people though about us.
XXX
"What are you planning on getting Piper for Valentine's?" Norris asked Connor.
"Valentine's?" Connor asked.
"You know, the holiday?" Norris asked.
Connor looked at Norris, confusion painfully evident on his face.
"You get the people you care about gifts," Norris explained. "For example, I am getting Myriam a new rifle."
Connor furrowed his brow. Piper hadn't mentioned anything about the holiday. He knew Piper good enough that she didn't care much for the holiday.
"What do you have in mind for Piper?" Norris asked.
Connor thought for a moment, racking his brain for ideas for a few moments.
A new knife? No, she just bought some a few months ago.
New pistols? No, she never liked the loud weapons that much.
What would she want?
XXX
I woke up the next morning earlier than usual. I got and got dressed before peeking my head into Connor's room. He was still asleep luckily. I could work on my gift for him before he got up.
I walked down into the basement and pushed one of the gun racks out of the way. Behind it was a small rectangle shape depression in the wall. Propped up in it was a brand new bow for Connor. He had been using the same one since he got here more than ten years ago. He was way overdue for an upgrade.
I was almost done with the bow and was putting the finishing touches on it. I had started about two months ago on it, not knowing how long it would take to finish it. Lance helped me get good wood for the bow and taught me how to carve it.
All that I needed to do was to string it, the hardest part that I had put off until now.
After a few frustrating minutes, I heard Connor moving around upstairs. He called out my name from the top of the stairs.
I started to panic, scrambling to my feet to put away the bow before Connor saw it. "Yeah?"
"What are you doing down there?" Connor asked.
I pushed back the rack. "N-nothing!"
I brushed around the dirt to get the marks from moving the gun rack as I heard Connor coming down the stairs.
I met him at the bottom of the stairs, an innocent smile on my face. "Good morning."
I watched as Connor glanced around the basement, looking for what I was doing. "Good morning to you, too. What were you doing?"
Connor looked at me as the smirk grew on my face. I moved around him, stepping up the stairs before I got to his height.
I shrugged. "Nothing."
Connor's eyes squinted at me as he searched my face, looking for any clue as to what I was doing down there. I only smiled before turning and walking up the stairs.
I went into the kitchen, grabbing an apple from the counter. I could hear Connor walk into the kitchen and stop behind me. I felt his arms wrap around my waist and I turned to face him.
I would have never pegged Connor as a man who liked to cuddle but ever since we started to date he took every opportunity to pull me close. Granted, he rarely did it in public but I didn't care.
Just as I faced him, his lips covered mine in a sweet kiss. I felt his grip tighten around my waist as I placed the apple back onto the counter before cupping his face.
I pulled away and cocked my head at him. "That was unexpected. Not that I'm complaining, though."
Connor smiled for a few moments before it faded from his face. His eyes dropped to look at the floor and I knew something was wrong.
"What is it?" I asked as my brows furrowed.
"I am leaving for a few weeks," Connor said looking back up at me.
"Why? Where are you going?"
"South," Connor said quietly. "Assassination contract. Aveline has contacted me. They need help."
I bit my lip and looked at my hands which lied on his chest. I was supposed to watch Hunter while Prudence and Warren left to trade some goods in New York later this week and then I had to help Lyle patch up a hole in the bottom of his carriage next week. I would've offered to come if I wasn't so busy.
Connor saw my forlorn look and grabbed my chin gently, making me look at him. "I will be back before you know it."
There was a knock on the door before I heard James, one of Connor's crewman, say, "Ready to leave, Captain."
Connor and I both looked at the door before looking back at each other.
"Go," I said. "I'll be fine."
Connor gave me one last kiss, slow and sweet, before leaving down to the docks. I watched from the cliff by the waterfall as the Aquila departed into the Atlantic. I sat there until it was no more than a small black dot on the horizon.
XXX
It was Valentine's Day and Connor had yet to come back from his mission. I had gotten done with his gift after breaking about twenty different strings before I could actually get it.
I was making myself busy by cleaning out the stables when I heard someone walk up to me. I turned to see Myriam walk up to me with a sad smile on her face.
"He'll be back soon," Myriam said leaning against the gate.
I sighed and leaned on my rake. I will admit, I was scared. Usually when he left to complete contracts he had more than enough time to prepare and he usually wasn't gone this long, even considering the fact it was down south.
"C'mon," Myriam said. "I've got a few hours before Norris and I leave for Boston. Let's hunt."
I smiled and threw down my rake. "I'd thought you'd never ask."
XXX
It wasn't my fault that the poachers had set up bear traps. Now I had my ankle caught in a bear trap in the middle of the forest.
I heard Myriam run up to me and gasp. I couldn't see her considering the fact my eyes were closed shut from the pain.
"Oh my god," Myriam breathed.
I opened my eyes to see her knelt by my ankle. She reached out to touch it before shaking her head, retracting her hand quickly.
"Go get some help," I said through gritted teeth. "White, go get White!"
Myriam nodded and ran away quickly.
I leaned back and clenched my fists, trying to focus on anything but the pain shooting constantly up and down my leg.
XXX
Connor was excited to get back to the homestead. He had quickly finished the contract AND got Piper the perfect gift for Valentine's but Piper wasn't at the manor when Connor got home. Connor walked to Mile's End, expecting she would be there but Oliver told him he hadn't seen Piper all day. Even Prudence hadn't seen Piper.
Connor was speaking with Warren when he heard the sound of people running.
"-ver here!" Myriam yelled.
"What were you two thinking?!" A voice Connor recognized as Doctor White's yelled.
Connor looked over Warren's shoulder to see Myriam running towards them with White following close behind.
Connor stepped in front of the two, holding up his hand. "What is going on?"
Connor watched Myriam closely, seeing the woman stammer and look at the ground. If everyone else didn't know where Piper was, Myriam did.
The Native man looked from Myriam to White then back to Myriam. "Where is she?!"
Piper had a high pain tolerance and if she had to have White come and help her, it wasn't good.
Myriam led the two men through the forest for a few minutes before the unnatural sounds began to ring through the forest. Connor recognized the sound as the one's of yelping wolves.
Connor picked up the pace, running much faster than White and Myriam towards the sounds.
There was a small clearing up ahead about three hundred and Connor was sure that was where the noises were coming from. Just as he got there, the yelping stopped.
Connor burst through the thicket and saw Piper on the far end of the clearing.
"That's what you get, you no good, ass wiping wolves!" Piper barked weakly.
Connor ran to her, taking note of the six dead wolves now surrounding Piper, all skewered with arrows in their necks.
Piper smiled weakly as Connor knelt beside her. "Welcome home!"
"What have you done?" Connor asked softly, looking at her ankle than back at her, his hand resting on her neck under her ear.
"Me?" Piper asked breathlessly. "I haven't done anything. It was the poachers."
White finally caught up, kneeling by Piper's injured ankle. "Does it hurt?"
Piper nodded. "Like hell."
"Connor, I'm going to need your help getting this trap off," White said. "Shoot that lock right there. It should loosen it's grip."
Connor pulled his pistol out, pointing it at the gear before shooting. The trap loosened and Piper managed to pull her foot out along with a yelp from her.
Connor lifted her up bridal style, holding her with a tight grip as he carried her back through the forest and to the manor.
He laid her gently down onto the couch after Myriam laid down a cloth to keep the blood from staining the couch. Connor sat next to her, holding her hand and caressing her cheek as White did his work.
Luckily, the only thing she needed was a few stitches. The trap didn't break her ankle but it would leave some scars and Piper wouldn't be able to walk for a few days.
"Sorry about ruining your day," Piper said after White and Myriam had left.
Connor looked at her. "Ruining my day? You did not ruin my day."
"I worried you," Piper said.
"That is because I care about you," Connor said.
Piper smiled before she sat up on the couch. "I almost forgot. Can you help me upstairs?"
Connor nodded, unsure of what Piper was wanting to do upstairs. He grabbed her again before walking up the stairs and into her room.
Connor sat Piper down onto her bed, glancing at the long box lying on top of it.
Piper patted the space next to her as she grabbed the box with her other hand. Connor sat next to Piper and she placed the box in his hands.
"What is this?" Connor asked looking at Piper.
"Valentine's gift," Piper said. "I take it Norris has already told you about the holiday."
"Yes," Connor said. "But I did not think you would get me anything."
"You get people you care about gifts," Piper explained. "Of course I got you something. Now open it!"
Connor lifted the lid off the box, revealing a beautiful bow. It was the perfect length with small but noticeable carvings in them. One of them was a small Assassin insignia while the other was an eagle head.
"I remember you mentioned something about the eagle being important to your people," Piper explained. "So I thought I'd carve it into the bow."
Connor picked the bow, testing it's weight in his hands. "Did you make this?"
Piper nodded. "I had a bit of help from Lance, of course."
"It is amazing," Connor said with a smile. His moved his hand up and down the bow, feeling the smooth wood on his palm. "Thank you."
Piper smiled. "I'm happy you like it."
"I have something for you," Connor said setting the bow down on the floor before reaching into his pouch.
Piper furrowed her brow. "You do?"
"Of course," Connor said. "Like you said, you get people you care about gifts on this holiday."
Connor put a thin rectangular package that was tied with a small string in Piper's hands. She turned it around in her hands, glancing up at Connor to see a wide smile splitting his lips.
Piper opened it slowly and her hand shot to her mouth when she saw what it was.
Chocolate.
"Connor!" Piper cried out happily. "How did you get this?!"
"I called in a few favors," Connor said.
Piper laughed and threw her arms around Connor's neck. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before catching his lips with hers. Connor reached up, pressing his hand on the back of her neck as his other grabbed her lower back.
After a few seconds, they pulled apart and Connor pressed his forehead to her's.
"I love you," Connor said.
Piper brushed some of the hair away from Connor's face before replying. "I love you, too."