As they walked back to Haytham's mansion, both to them soaked to the bone and shivering a little in the cold night air, Haytham noticed that Connor was staying much closer to him than was appropriate. Perhaps it was simply because Connor, like himself, was freezing cold, certainly he could see that the stubborn Assassin was shivering violently and had been since they had left the waters of the bay. Part of Haytham wanted to indulge in a bit of tongue-lashing for the foolish behavior that Connor had displayed, in charging the locked second story door after having tackled him in the burning warehouse.
Yes they had been in considerable danger, but had Connor waited a couple more moments, Haytham would have been able to pick the lock and they would have been able to climb down, avoiding getting soaked. They were lucky to have not landed on hard pavement, which might have broken bones – or at least severely bruised the both of them as they landed…. On the other hand, it was the fastest way to get out of the warehouse, which was starting to collapse in on itself, but the sounds that he could faintly hear.
The both of them heard rushed footsteps – and more than one set as well. Quick as a bolt of lightning, Connor grabbed Haytham and hid in an alleyway, holding his breath as a dozen soldiers ran past them heading towards the warehouse fire, with one of them shouting instructions to the others to start a fire brigade. Only once Connor was certain that the guards could not see him, did he let Haytham go and they continued on their way.
"… Connor?" Haytham asked, trying to catch his son's attention, as from the look in Connor's eyes, his mind was far away. He remembered that Ziio had died in a fire, one that had claimed most of his son's village… Had… Connor…?
"British Soldiers and fire rarely mix well from what I have heard." Connor answered, staying closer than before, his second sight active as he searched for any more potential enemies.
Haytham carefully approached his beloved, gently wrapping an arm around the other's waist. "You keep watch for soldiers, and I will take us home, yes? Thank you for your vigilance, Connor." He knew that it was more than likely that he would not be able to gently talk Connor down from watching for British soldiers, so guiding the younger man to where they could get warm, and get dry clothes was what he could do. Haytham knew that more than a couple of native villages had been burned down by the British Army in the Seven Years' war, claimed to be done by the commanders to villages because they had sided with the French. As Connor's village had been almost entirely neutral during the war and had not been spared from the torch, Haytham knew for certain that was utter and complete horse shit. Besides, even though some of the native villages had sided with the French, being gracious and sparing them would have been more effective than proving the natives correct in trying to back the French as a more reasonable alternative.
Connor nodded, leaning into his lover's warmth, still shaking from the cold and from the memories that threaten to overwhelm him. One of his hands went up to his mother's talisman, rubbing it a little with his thumb before simply holding it, as a physical reminder of where he was… That he had survived the hungry, vicious flames, and had not been turned to ash like so many others. His other hand went to the hand that was holding him, linking fingers. Even through the gloves that the both of them wore, the touch was helping to ground him. "Very well." Connor kept vigilant, and hid the both of them twice more from roving bands of British soldiers, waiting with anxious, baited breath for them to leave.
Haytham was profoundly glad that the tub for bathing he had was large enough – barely – to fit them both. He had dragged the tub as close to the hearth as he was reasonably certain that Connor was going to stand so that the water would keep its' heat for as long as possible. He called out to his beloved, who was staring vacantly at the flames, still shivering in his damp clothes "Connor… Connor, I need you to get out of those clothes. You will get sick if you keep them on."
"Mmnn?" Was Connor's only response, seemingly transfixed by the flames, breathing shallow and fast.
A concerned frown appeared on Haytham's face and he quickly moved to stand between Connor and the fire, so that the flames could not be seen by his beloved. He wrapped his arms around Connor's chest, tilting the other's head so that the other would look at him. "Connor… Connor, we are in my home, and we are safe. Are you listening to me? We are safe, we are home, and there is no one else here. No potential threats. I would like you to take your clothes off, surely they are cold from the damp and the night? The bath water is hot and ready for you to wash off the grime of the day."
Connor shook himself from his reverie, and nodded, taking his clothes off swiftly before sinking into the bath with a sigh of relief. He looked up at Haytham, frowning a little "Will… Will you join me? There should be room enough for the both of us, and you are equally as likely to fall ill, if you keep in cold, wet clothing as well…"
"If that is what you would like me to do, I would be happy to join you." Haytham responded, the thought of sharing a bath of Connor was enticing. Both of them had been close to death, and being close with his beloved was something he was looking forwards to. Connor nodded, actually reaching for him a little and Haytham quickly stripped down and slid into the bath, a relieved sigh escaping him as the warmth of the water started to soak into what felt like his frozen body. He could have sat opposite of Connor, but then their legs would have tangled together awkwardly, so he was more or less sitting in the other's lap.
Connor wrapped his arms around Haytham, resting his chin on one of the other's shoulders, humming contentedly as the hot water soaked into him. He was so intensely grateful that both of them had survived the warehouse fire. He had hesitated before pulling Haytham up… Not only because he was uncertain whether or not it was wiser to let the other – no! Connor could not have lived with himself, had he allowed Haytham to die as his mother had. When he had been young, he lacked the strength to save his mother… The thought that he could have chosen to let his father… His lover die, simply because the other was a Templar… Connor buried his face in his father's neck, breathing in Haytham's scent. It was different than normal, as the musty scent of the water of the bay… Mixed with the ever so faint smoky scent of the fire still clung to his father.
"Connor… Both of us are safe. We are safe, and alive and whole." Haytham responded, as he could feel the other start to tremble violently. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to one of the other's cheeks, gently caressing Connor's face.
"I… I know… I … I keep seeing the flames surrounding you… While you were… the floor, dangling…" Connor stopped speaking as he buried his face in Haytham's neck again, shaking as he struggled to contain himself. "… I love you."
"I love you as well, Connor. It was my arrogance that they could not have something else that they had planned to attempt to kill us that had us in such dire straits." Haytham answered back, voice warm and soft and full of love as he started to gently pet Connor's hair, fingers sinking into his hair and lightly brushing along the other's scalp in an attempt to help Connor calm down.
Eventually, Connor did stop shaking, and pressed several kisses up Haytham's neck and along his jawline until Connor reached the other's lips. He pressed a kiss to the other's lips, drawing the other's lower lip into his mouth and nibbling just a little before letting go, pressing more kisses to Haytham's face and neck. "Thank you."
Haytham hummed softly, a pleased smile appearing on his face as his hands languidly slid down Connor's chest. They should get out of the bath before the water became cold, but he had no desire to get out of the bath as of yet. "You are welcome, and I understand about one's inner demons and fears running roughshod over one's common sense and control."
Part of Connor wanted to know to what his beloved was referring to… On the other hand, both of them were calm and at peace, and Connor had no desire to disrupt that peace by reminding Haytham of unpleasant memories, simply to satisfy his curiosity. So he kissed Haytham again, enjoying the feeling of closeness, murmuring another "Thank you." Shortly after that, the two of them left the tepid bath water, dried off and fell asleep, tangled in a companionable tangle of limbs, neither wishing to keep up the pretense that they did not enjoy holding the other close.