Note; Warning, I will be changing some things that are canon in this fic to fit the story, as this is an AU but hopefully they aren't that huge of a difference.
Also this fic will be a paring of Shaun and Desmond. If this isn't your thing please don't read on.
Warnings of blood and swearing, as they are Assassin's and this is the third Crusade.
Other than that enjoy.
Shaun was many things and he was an unforgiving prick at times, but a coward was not of them.
The Brit used his sarcasm and intellect to cut down and belittle one of the most selfless men left in the grim world of his reality of hidden blades and repugnant individuals that wanted to rule the world with a cold fist.
He was wrong about Desmond and worse, he was jealous of the younger man. How could he have been? Sure sitting in a chair all day seemed easy compared to the amount of work he and the others had do just to keep the Assassin's afloat against the Templars, all while the born assassin had to do was sleep and treasure hunt through his ancestors memories. Meanwhile Shaun had many sleepless nights and lost souls to templar hands. It just seemed that Desmond had it easy.
But no things weren't that simple- naming the bleeding effect for one. Slowly losing your mind and identity was a slow death. Even if Desmond didn't commit suicide in the end. He would no longer be Desmond, just a breathing blur of dead men, switching from one to the next.
So yes, Shaun was wrong and because he was a prideful man sitting on his high horse looking down on those around him. It had taken Shaun a long time to admit his failings.
Now it seemed that Shaun would never make amends with his regrets or tell Desmond how much of a prick he was. Perhaps becoming mates with the younger assassin given time.
Because Desmond was going to die.
Shaun didn't have to think about it or hear him admit his decision out loud. Shaun could see the resolve in those dark earth eyes. The younger was tired of his roll of chosen one. The toll had taken it's pound of flesh from his soul, or several. Tired of having no choice in his life. Taken from captivity only to be thrown into the same situation with the assassins. Only maybe with a bit more freedom with them.
The outcome would still be the same Desmond was the lamb to be sacrificed for the 'greater good'.
However Shaun knew Desmond's decision because he knew the kind soul that the brunet was. The American would sacrifice himself because he was selfless, because he cared about those nameless innocents he would never meet.
And Shaun was livid.
He was livid at the two glowing Isu before him. At the Templars. At the Assassins. At himself.
The whole situation was unfair. They would lose either way. They had played being good little puppets the whole time, never straying from their script that Juno or Minerva had made for them.
Now it had come to this- Desmond dies and Juno would save the world, only for her to enslave mankind or let the world burn and they would be the only survivors and start the would anew.
Of course those where the only two options, they knew no better for the solution for the sun flare burning the world! The keep the whole plot down to vague answers and misdirects. Knowledge hidden until the puppet would need it. The Isu had stung the strings well.
It was the trap that Shaun had purposefully avoided his whole life only for the snare to catch him in the end.
Even with Minerva telling them about it now, it was too late to change anything. Time was wasted.
While the two dead gods of the past tried to convince and persuade Desmond to commit to one of their plans. Shaun was doing what he does best, planning and thinking of the outcomes. Planning and coming up with a solution.
To save Desmond and possibly the world.
"It's done Minerva, the decisions made." Desmond told the Isu.
Shaun watched as Juno's eyes filled with glee and her lips twisted into an evil smile.
No, he was going to wipe that smile off her face, the brit ran the idea and calculations through his brain.
"Then the consequences of this mistake are yours to live-and die with." Minerva brutally stated. Her eyes harden and she stepped back fading from existence, leaving Juno victorious in her manipulation of man and time.
Then Desmond had turned, told them to go and get to safety.
To leaving him alone with the malicious bat for his last final moments.
In this cold cave and aloof lights of the old technology for company.
Shaun had never agreed with William so much in his life as the man pleaded with his son to come with them and find another way. That pitiful part of that agreement is that Shaun had never agreed with the mentor in a positive light. Not until then.
While the son and father had their moment, Shaun was looking at the Eye. Thinking. The brit lifted up his hand and rubbed at his neck.
Rebecca then dragged her eyes away from the scene in front to stare at him. She looked at him knowingly, recognising the action of his as when the brit was thinking of a solution. Calmly, his sild his eyes to hers and flicked his eyes to the exit.
Rebecca parted her lips to say something and Shaun gave a shake of head. No, go and get to safety, goodbye. He expressed to her. She got the message either way and gave a small smile goodbye.
Shaun dipped his head in acknowledgment.
Rebecca then grabbed William and prompted him to running out with her.
Desmond didn't turn to see if they all left. Perhaps he thought that if he looked at them run he would join them. Would confirm that he really was going to leave this earth alone.
Pity Shaun wasn't going let that happen.
As Desmond turned and stepped up to the glowing sphere of the Eye. Shaun let him look at it for a second, then as Desmond lifted his hand to touch it. Shaun made his presence known.
He stepped up and brushed his shoulder with Desmond's. Keeping a gentle contact as Shaun rested his hand on top of the youngers.
Shaun could feel the fine tremors running through Desmond's body at the contact and pressed firmly to his side. Wordlessly comforting him.
"Why are you still here?! What are you doing?" Desmond cried.
See, Shaun was a sarcastic bastard but he was an intelligent one. He never give into a decision without predicting the odds. That's how he was the historian and analyst.
Shaun figured that the Eye was not one machine and function, but an endless possibility of functions. The only problem was that it had limited energy.
However in the limited energy for the moment was endless possibilities. As long as it required a touch and thought. Just like the Apples of Eden. Shaun wasn't the right blood line for the touch but he could do was provide the thought and together they would be able to will the function together.
With the whole theme of using ancestors give the man an idea.
He couldn't connect to the timelines of Desmond's forefathers. Shaun simply didn't have the DNA code. However, he did have the code for one timeline where they both had a connection and he could picture the place and bring him and Desmond with there.
From there they could save the world and Desmond could live the life he wanted. Hopefully.
Or they could both die in this next moment.
Whatever the outcome, Shaun was not going to let Desmond face this fate alone.
Shaun was many things but never a coward.
"I have a plan. That may be a possibility to save good old earth and you. The plan is quite simple you see, as the bitch Juno said we need spark to get this thing to work. As I'm not that beautiful spark, I need you to act has the conduct. I will provide the intent and together we'll will the Eye to work."
Desmond eyes light up from the defeated haze "You mean to make it work like an Apple." He breathed.
"Well, yes. It is one isn't it, just a bit of more juice to it. I just need you to trust me. I know I'm asking a lot and I have been a horrible wanker to you. But I think this may work." Shaun said sincerely.
Desmond looked at their joined hands and then stared at Shaun like he was searching for something in the brits expression. Shaun tried to convey how serious he was about this.
"You're not leaving are you?" Desmond finally asked.
"The world is about to end, I'm here in a gloomy chamber with only sparks of lights to see at random intervals, holding your hand and asking you to let me save you. Desmond, what do you think?"
Desmond lips twitched and a slight laugh escaped from his lungs. "I think that you're a unsufferable man that will forever use sarcasm as a first language… Yeah, Okay- I trust you. Do what you need too."
Well at least that was one battle over, now for the next part.
"Excellent, thank you. Now let's hope stage two works for this plan." Shaun, flexed and curled his fingers around Desmonds. Looking at the Eye with a frown.
Desmond turned his head to face Shaun's. "What's stage two?"
"Two is we hope that my DNA works and time-travel is a possibility."
"And three?"
"We make to the Third Crusade, specifically 1191. Maybe before that, if we are lucky."
"Wha-Why? Why That time?" Then Desmond had a moment of silent horror. "…You're a descendant of Malik aren't you?"
"Correct."
"…This makes so much sense you are just like him in so many ways."
"That's quite the compliment. Now, are you ready?"
The two men steadied themselves-
"NO NO. I DO NOT ALLOW THIS. YOU WILL COMPLY TO MY WISHES." Juno screeched flicking in a violent light, coming out of the darkness of the cave like a vengeful angel. "I WILL RULE THIS WORLD TO IT'S RIGHTFUL PLACE." Juno came at them with her hands curled into claws, as if she could strike them down.
Shaun would never admit it, however seeing her come at them like a rabid demon was one of the terrifying images he had ever witnessed in this life. That being said…
"Ah. Marvellous, Ta for clearing that up. Looks like the plan is a solid." Shaun said to Desmond.
Who then tore his eyes away from the oncoming villain and slammed his hand on the Eye without any hesitation. The cave and the technology in the surrounding them began a humming screeching sound, then room filled in a blinding white light.
"This path was unforeseen. Yes, this will work. I will correct the calculations for this. Be warned, Juno will follow." Minevra's voice came through the void.
The last thing Shaun could think of in that next moment was the sound of Desmond's scream.