Alright, these are mini stories that will take place in the Modern Assassin's Creed universe that I'm writing. These will help to develop and explain the different relationships within the main story, without me going off on a tangent during the main story.

I hope you enjoy them, and please read and review J

…..

"Connor?"

Silence.

"Connor, please…." Achilles limped forwards in order to try and catch up with his young student, "… You don't understand Connor!"

"I don't need to understand anything, except for the fact that you kicked my best friend out of the Creed!"

Achilles winced at the venom in the younger man's voice, usually reserved for Charles Lee. "…. For all we knew, Jacob was a traitor. The only reasonable course was to- "

"- to stand behind him as a Creed! Not cast him out, abandon him!"

"Jacob was the one who wanted to leave… he was the one who made that choice, not us!"

"No…" Conner span around and glared at the older man, "… Jacob chose to stay away. You were the ones who cast him out of the Creed!"

Achilles couldn't argue with that, turning away from Conner's accusing stare. He had a good point… Jacob didn't actually leave the Creed, he just chose not to come back.

Sensing that he had gotten through to Achilles, Conner continued to storm off, leaving a shell-shocked Achilles behind. The older man slowly limped over to the nearby wall and leant against it, sliding down the wall until he was seated.

It had been a terrible few hours, and he felt as though his heart couldn't take anymore.

First, the shock of Jacob's 'betrayal', and then the realisation that it was Shay Patrick Cormac who had betrayed the Creed… a student he had personally taken under his wing, guilty of such a crime.

And then, Jacob leaving for good.

He knew that it wasn't fair… he knew that Jacob didn't deserve any of what had happened to him.

Jacob reminded him a lot of Shay when the Irish boy first came to the Creed…reckless, cocky… but Jacob had a softer side that Shay often lacked.

In fact, he could still remember how he found out about Jacob's softer side.

*****Flashback*****

Achilles enjoyed his daily walk through the gardens. Snow had been falling all night, and the ground was covered with a white blanket, crisp and new.

It was so peaceful.

Well… almost peaceful.

Near the main fountain, he could hear someone cursing under their breath and the sound of something tapping against the frozen water.

"Bloody kids…" he grumbled under his breath, making his way over, "… can't just stay inside like anyone else."

He limped closer, stabbing his cane into the snow as he grumbled angrily. Rounding the corner, he quickly spotted a familiar teen sitting on the edge of the fountain.

"And may I ask what you're doing out here Mister Frye?"

Jacob flinched and span around, a guilty look on his face. "Master Davenport! I-I-I- "

"Everyone else is inside, and yet you're out here…. Why?"

"…. I was just thinking."

Stunned by the uncharacteristic seriousness in Jacob's voice, Achilles came closer, frowning as he saw how Jacob seemed to shrink away from him. "What were you thinking about?"

"… If Connor told you he liked boys and not girls, what would you say?"

Achilles frowned, "Connor is not my son… I have no opinion on the matter."

"…."

"Alright…" Achilles sighed and though to himself for a few moments, "… I would be shocked yes, but I wouldn't be angry. People can be cruel…. They might treat him differently, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"… Would you be upset that he hadn't told you sooner?"

"It's his choice…. But yes, I think a little part of me would think he didn't trust me."

Jacob seemed to curl up even further at that, a seriously depressed look on his face.

"So, who's the lucky boy Jacob?"

This time, Jacob definitely did flinch… angling himself away from Achilles.

"Jacob… you can tell me. I promise I won't say anything to your Father or anyone else."

There was a brief moment of silence, before Jacob whispered something.

"I'm an old man Jacob, you need to speak up."

"I said… I don't know his name. He's just someone I see walking up to the college every morning."

"… He's older than you I assume?"

Jacob nodded, "A little…. Maybe around twentyish? Not that much older!"

"Hmmmm… and have you ever spoken to him?"

Shaking his head, Jacob flushed.

"And do you know what he's studying?"

Another shake of the head.

"…. Have you told anyone else? Aside from me?"

Achilles couldn't help but frown at the dejected look on Jacob's face. "No…" the fifteen-year-old whispered, "… I can't tell anyone else. Father already hates me."

"No, he doesn't…" Achilles knew he sounded stern, but he needed to get this through Jacob's skull, "… Ethan Frye does not hate you."

"…. Then why can't he ever look me in the eye?!"

He knew… everyone in the village knew. After the death of Ethan Frye's wife, the man had sent his children away… even when they were brought back to the village, it was clear that Ethan saw both of his children in a different light.

Evie was clearly the favourite… whereas Jacob was so much like his Mother, that Ethan could barely deal with it, often lashing out at his son.

Nobody could miss it, least of all, Jacob.

"… It's a tricky situation with your Father." Achilles tried to explain, "He does love you Jacob, and if you did tell him, then he will not view you any differently because of it."

"You don't know that."

"Yes… I do." Achilles gently placed his hand on Jacob's shoulder, "Your Father loves you, and even if you did something terrible, he would still love you… not that loving another man is terrible of course." He hastily tried to explain himself, knowing that any wrong word could make Jacob clam up again.

"… Do you really think he won't mind?"

"I do believe so… and if he does have a problem, you are surrounded by friends who will help you." Achilles tried to give the fifteen-year-old a reassuring smile, "You may even have to stop your friends from taking down your Father is he does upset you… which he won't."

Jacob still didn't seem sure, but Achilles knew he had said all he could. Now it was up to Jacob.

"When the time comes, you'll know what to say."

******* End Flashback ********

"Achilles?"

Achilles glanced up from his position on the ground, staring up at Ethan Frye…. Who looked as though he'd aged ten years in the hours that it had been since Jacob's departure.

"Are you alright?"

The older man nodded, "I was just…. Thinking of Jacob."

Ethan nodded, "I think that's what everyone is doing nowadays."

"Do you remember a conversation that you had with him…. When he was fifteen? A very important one?"

Frowning, Ethan shook his head. "You can't expect me to remember that far back…. Besides, all I remember are arguments with Jacob when he was that age, nothing stands out."

Was it possible that Jacob never told his Father? Achilles hoped that that wasn't the case, that Ethan had merely forgotten.

He doubted it though…. Jacob was definitely nervous on the day that he spoke to him, and if he didn't tell it Father, it wouldn't have been a surprise.

"Don't worry about it…" Achilles eventually sighed, "… I'm sure it's not that important."