"So, Shay, your next target is..." Haytham scowled. "Pay attention!"

"I am, Grand Master," Shay insisted, but his eyes kept flicking to the corner of his cabin.

"I don't care if all six of our visitors are dancing naked over there-"

Shay snickered. "Pardon me, sir. I can't imagine Altaïr or Connor would ever do that. Or you," he added quickly.

Haytham rolled his eyes. "Well, obviously I would not. And I agree that my son, at least, would have the self-respect-that is not the point, however."

Shay tried, he valiantly tried, not to burst into guffaws. "I'm very sorry, sir. She's just-"

Haytham groaned. "It's Aveline, is it?"

Shay nodded, trying to quell his smile. "Aye, sir, she's-"

"No details, please. I know she is quite...forward with you, but I would prefer not to be a part of-"

"No, sir," and he couldn't help but let out an odd, snorting laugh. "She's not-I mean-" It got to be too much, and he collapsed with laughter.

"What?" Haytham nearly yelled.

"Your...your hat, sir. On top of your hat." Tears were streaming down his cheeks, now, from repressing guffaws. "It looks absurd."

Haytham sighed, reached up, and removed Aveline's hat from atop his, then addressed her, still not turning around. "You would think a skilled Assassin like yourself would not resort to such childish pranks."

Her voice was mirthful behind him. "Are you so afraid of me that you can't even bear the sight of me fully clothed?"

Haytham turned around and held out her hat. "One never knows, does one, when you're in such close proximity to your lover."

She smiled and cast her eyes to Shay-he had fallen out of his chair and was holding his stomach-and her smile became tender enough that Haytham felt embarrassed to have witnessed it. "I am not so horrible as all that, now am I?" she challenged, taking her hat. "Besides, we have a truce, don't we, for the sake of mutual friends and...those we love."

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well, yes."

"So, I can hardly stab you or do anything other than these pranks. And you are fun to trick."

"Fun?"

"Yes, Haytham, fun...the enjoyment you find in activities other than killing." She helped Shay up into his chair, then trailed her fingers from his shoulder, down his arm, to clasp his hand. "If you cannot recover from being cast off by your lover and take another, I understand, but surely you find other activities entertaining? Board games, card games, horse racing? You could learn to climb trees. Connor could teach you how to hunt, if you asked. Or Edward, or Shay."

Shay nodded. "Aye, sir, it'd make a welcome change from the war." He smiled soppily up at Aveline.

"I do such things," Haytham insisted stiffly. "I enjoy reading, and I play draughts and fanorona."

"That's a good start. What about music? Or enjoying good food?"

"I fail to see how this has any bearing on you playing games with hats, Aveline."

She smiled gently. "In my ordinary life, I generally must kill every Templar I meet. This is...a space where I can do otherwise." She brought Shay's hand to her mouth and kissed it. "But of course, I cannot treat you as I treat him. And you are so...stiff."

Shay muttered, "I'll show you stiff, love."

Aveline chuckled and kissed the top of his head. "Not in the same way, as far as I know. It...I know you have suffered, Haytham, but you ought to have joy in your life as well. Even the simple joy of making yourself a fool for the amusement of others."

Haytham rolled his eyes. "I'll consider it."

She smiled. "Do so. It will only benefit you."

"Certainly this is no time to discuss Templar affairs with Shay," Haytham announced. "So I will leave the two of you to your fun."

Aveline inclined her head in thanks, and Shay stuttered, "I-sir, I'll-I promise-"

"I once absconded into the forest for three weeks, Shay. A few hours is not as bad, I suppose." Haytham sighed. "I could stand to work on my fanorona game."