~ A Private Conversation ~

Ever since he was a boy sneaking around alleyways in Crawley, Jacob had always possessed a bad habit of eavesdropping on conversations. He especially loved hanging around outside taverns, pubs and darkened alleyways, or in secret areas of town, straining his ears for secrets and juicy bits of local gossip from passersby and loiterers; he called it his dose of daily news. And today, he happened to be lounging outside a church in Westminster, waiting for Aleck to meet him for a coffee date, when he overheard the conversation of a man in a bright yellow overcoat and a second man with thick black mutton chops, discussing in quiet tones.

"And his cravat!" the mutton-chopped man declared, and the yellow-clothed man burst out laughing.

"Really? He blew his nose into it?"

"Yes!"

The two man doubled over with childlike fits of glee, and Jacob rolled his eyes, smiling. Whatever they were talking about must have been some kind of inside joke.

Finally the yellow-clad man managed to speak again through his guffaws. "But we must not speak ill of the dead."

"Of course. God rest his soul and all that," the other man said, through badly concealed laughter. The two laughed for a while longer and chuckled with each other, and Jacob looked on, listening and thinking fondly that this was a slightly more enjoyable conversation than he usually was privy to. Clearly the two men were close friends.

"But really, now," the mutton-chopped man said finally, after their laughter had died down. "What did you tell her?"

"She doesn't know a thing, I promise," the yellow-clad man said, and Jacob's ears pricked up - finally, some interesting-sounding gossip. Who was this mystery woman they were talking about? He edged closer, trying to get a better angle to listen in.

"Why must your wife always stick her nose into affairs that are none of her concern?" the mutton-chopped man scowled, and the other man sighed angrily.

"I can hardly blame her," he hissed, dropping his voice; but it was still audible to Jacob, with his sharp Assassin ears. "You, on the other hand, should have been more careful about leaving your garments scattered about the bedroom."

Jacob's jaw dropped. Now he was interested. He tried his best to casually sidle closer, pressing himself against the corner wall to stay just out of sight, but not out of earshot. He had to hear more.

"You jeopardized the both of us!" the yellow-clad man went on, frustratedly. "You have to be more discreet. Surely you understand the consequences if we are discovered by anyone, least of all my wife."

"What can I say, Nevin. Really." The mutton-chopped man sighed, and the two looked irritably at each other, but Jacob saw the fondness there, and knew these two men were more than friends.

Bloody hell, he thought faintly. There were more. More of them, right here in this city, hiding right under his nose all this time. He'd always known there were more like him and Aleck, more of the invisible men and women who courted in the dark, and yet, and yet...

"This will just go on, and on, won't it," the yellow-clad man murmured. "We're fated to hide forever."

"If it's not our time, it's not our time," the mutton-chopped man hastened to reassure him. "Nevin, dear -"

And then, to Jacob's abject horror, Aleck came bouncing up to him just then, carrying two cups of coffee. "Hello, Jacob," he said cheerily, and Jacob frantically hastened to shush him, but too late - the two men looked up sharply and saw their eavesdropper.

"Why, I never!" the mutton-chopped man sputtered, as the yellow-clad one backed away. "What are you two scoundrels doing here? Begone!"

"It's all right," Jacob said hastily, holding up a hand to reassure him. "It's all right. I'm not going to tell anyone what I heard."

The two men exchanged wary glances. "I don't know what you're talking about," the mutton-chopped man hedged.

Jacob reached out, suddenly knowing that he wasn't afraid anymore. He took Aleck's hand and squeezed it tightly. "We're just like you," he said, and even as Aleck's eyes widened and he started to protest, the two men gasped.

"You -" one breathed.

"We have to hide," Jacob said. "We've always had to hide. But someday, we won't. I know we won't. That's the day I fight for."

Aleck looked at Jacob, lip quivering. "Oh," he said, quietly, and Jacob suddenly realized that this was the first time he'd ever told Aleck what he truly fought for - what he did it all for. He did it for freedom, for all the people out there who were just like the four of them, trapped and hiding in the dark.

The mutton-chopped man looked fondly at his partner, then reached over to take his hand. "Well," he said, looking between Aleck and Jacob, "at least you're someone we don't have to hide from."

A/N: Based on a real conversation you can overhear in the game of two NPCs discussing their secret love affair. For proof, look up "Assassin's Creed Syndicate: NPC Gay Couple." It's honestly adorable as hell.