Author's Note: I'm sorry this is a few days late. I might be getting writer's block lol x

Enjoy :)


"Connor!" Violette called out to him as he climbed out of the haystack, "Are you alright?" she asked.

"Are you touched in the head?!" he scolded her.

She looked surprised at his outburst, unsure of what she'd even done to earn it, "What have I done to make you speak to me like this?" she asked, an eyebrow quirked to add to her annoyance.

"You grabbed my father's hat, you could have been badly injured, or worse!"

"I was trying to help you, Connor, that is all." she defended, crossing her arms and turning around so she wasn't looking at him.

"I'm sorry." he apologized, standing next to her, "Thank you for helping me." he gave his gratitude for sticking herself in direct danger for his sake.

"We're partners. That is what we're supposed to do." she explained, casting him a smile, "Now, we must find Achilles—"

"You there!" a guard yelled, pointing at the teenagers.

Connor grabbed her hand, running through the alleyways, hoping that the sharp turns would cause them to lose the guards on their tracks. But to no avail could they shake them off. They continued running, finally being met and halted by the docks.

"Connor—"

"There's no time!" he exclaimed, holding her tightly to him and jumping in.

Violette frantically clung on to Connor upon being submerged into the ice-cold water, her heart beating hard enough that she could feel it in her ears. He had a hold of her arm, and brought her up with him.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, moving the hair out of her face.

"I will ensure you regret that decision." she snarled at him, still holding on to him tightly as she trembled.

"I need you to take a deep breath, Violette." he ordered her gently, receiving a vigorous head shake in response. He held her hand tightly, giving it a light squeeze for some reassurance that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. "When under, just move your legs like you would to walk, alright?" he advised her and she frowned, but nodded in agreement.

They took a deep breath together, dipping below the waters surface and the moved her legs as told while Connor had a hold of her hand. He tugged on her arm, pulling her to come back up from the water and she inhaled a deep breath upon feeling the air against her face again, clinging on to the Native boy as she'd done before.

"Please, do not ever do this to me again." she begged him, shivering and nestling her head into his neck for some form of warmth and comfort.

He held on to her with one hand while anchoring them to the dock with the other, "I will teach you, but not like this." he suggested, moving them to see if they'd finally rid themselves of the guards.

"We will freeze to death." she finalized, wrapping her arms around him more tightly.

"They have left, we can leave the water now." he reassured her.

"We will still freeze to death." she spat, unwilling to move her aching joints as Connor pushed her up onto the docks surface, climbing out afterward and hastily walked with her to find some form of shelter from the cold.

"Hey, over here!" they heard a man called, turning to see that he was calling them over. They looked at each other as the man approached them, "You're Achilles' kids. Connor and Violette was it?" he said, raising his hand to his face, "I saw was happened at the Town House. A fine mess, that."

"Who are you?" Connor asked, glancing at Violette for a moment upon her gripping his clothing tighter.

"Samual Adams, at your service." he introduced himself, holding his hand out for the girl.

Violette reached out to shake his hand, but he kissed the back of it instead, an expression she was rather used to. He continued holding his hand out for Connor, but the Native boy did not return the action.

"You must excuse him, Signore. He is not used to these gestures." Violette saved him from appearing to be impolite.

"I understand," he said, retrieving his hand, "Achilles asked me to get you both out of Boston." he said.

"Explain." Connor told him, receiving a glare from Violette for being so rude.

"The whole city is looking for you..." he said, looking around with his hands out slightly, emphasizing on the severity of the situation as he looked over to a man standing next to a drawing of Connor posted onto a tree as he called out about a criminal wanted in connection to the incident that had occurred at the Town House, explaining that he was wanted dead or alive.

"What am I supposed to do?" Connor asked the man, unsure of how they could possibly stop their search.

Samuel walked over to the poster, pushing a drunk man out of the way, "You can take these posters down, for a start," he suggested, ripping it off of the tree trunk, tossing it aside, "Return to me once you've removed the others. We can't be seen together until these posters are gone..." he elaborated, turning to Violette, "Perhaps you would like to warm yourself up, you look terribly cold." he offered the young girl.

"Grazie, but I will stay with Connor." she declined, to which he nodded and walked away.

The two went their separate ways, taking town whatever posters were left of Connor and returned to Samuel once they had removed them all. They'd managed to even avoid any guards searching around the area for the Native boy.

"Ah, there you are." Samuel greeted them again, "Connor and Violette, I'd like you both to meet Cyrus." he introduced them to the man standing next to him.

"Is it...is he the killer?" the man asked Samuel, seeming nervous.

Connor got defensive, getting ready to step up to Cyrus. Violette put her arm in front of him as a way to make him stand down.

"Peace. Cyrus is on our side. Or rather...for the right price, he will be."

Guards were now walking around with the posters, asking people if they'd seen the person who was featured on it. Connor hid his face so that he wouldn't be recognized and Violette tensed with arms ready to fight, but Samuel removed his hand and she brought herself to ease.

"Watch and learn," he told them, handing Cyrus a handful of coin.

Cyrus then took a few steps out, raising his hand to draw more attention to himself, "Oye! Oye! Word has reached us that the man responsible for today's shooting may have been in disguise!" he begun, many people walking closer to hear what he had to say, a guard even looking at the poster and then back to him in confusion, "A wig and make-up tin were found near the scene of the crime. Witnesses describe a middle-aged gentleman of pale complexion fleeing towards the wharves, rifle in arm." he finished, walking back to Samuel and the teenagers.

"Thank you kindly, Cyrus." Samuel gave his gratitude.

"Pleasure," the man replied.

"Come on, then." Samuel prompted the two, "There's still one last bit of work to do." he continued, walking off and they followed.

"Where are we going?" Connor asked.

"To the printer. Where do you think all those posters came from?" he asked, "They're made by a machine and we need to shut it down." he explained.

They walked in a rather casual manner toward the Printer Shop, still watching for guards.

"Damn it!" Samuel swore, "We're too late. They've already set up a checkpoint. Come on, this way." he ushered them to a new direction.

"We could go by rooftop and meet you there." Connor suggested.

"No," he disagreed, "It's better you two learn about the tunnels now."

"Tunnels?" Violette asked, intrigued by the mystery the word brought along with it.

"The masons have a whole network of them under the city. They're quite useful when sped and secrecy are required."

"I like the sound of this." Violette commented, continuing on with Samuel and Connor through alleyways to avoid guards until Samuel stopped before a wooden structure on the ground; the door to the tunnels.

Once inside, Samuel told them to wait while he lit a lantern, the walls surrounding them suddenly appearing. He gave the lantern to Connor, allowing him to explore the structures himself. Violette wrapped her arm around Connor to stay close to him.

He shook the arm that she held on to, but she wouldn't let go, "Must you do that?" he asked, slightly irritated by the girl holding on to him.

"It's more unnerving than I thought it would have been." she explained herself.

He made no effort to shake her off any further, succumbing to her need for security. They began wandering around while Samuel stayed behind them closely. They were unsure as to which way they should go and further every direction was consumed by the darkness. Samuel suggested they light the lamps adorning the tunnel walls should they have to turn around, which neither of the teenagers had noticed before it was mentioned.

"I wonder why they built these tunnels." Connor told Violette as he lit the lamps they came across.

"I do not know, but I'm grateful for them." she replied, considering that there were so many guards out looking for her companion.

Suddenly, they made it to a sort of junction, unsure of which route to take to get to their destination.

"Excellent. Let us move on." Samuel said in a satisfied tone. He was laying back, letting the two figure it out on their own and as much as they may have wanted to become irritated with him for it, they wouldn't have learnt so much today if it wasn't for him.

"Perhaps we can go this way, Connor." Violette suggested, pointing to the entrance to the left of them.

"No, I think we should go this way." He said, point to the entrance going straight.

"Why do we have to take your way?" she whined.

"How do you know your way is right?" he asked.

"Well how do you know your way is the right way?" she came back.

"Come on now," Samuel interrupted their argument.

"Fine." Connor snarled, yanking the poor girl to the direction she chose, it seemed that there was a wall with only two options, "Look what you have caused." the Native boy accused her.

"I didn't know it would be like this!" she defended herself.

"Uh...much as it pains me to say it, we must follow the rats," Samuel cut in, "They often move in the direction of an exit."

"Rats are filthy and vile creatures," Violette grimaced, not wanting to be anywhere near the creatures, "Besides, I think this is the way." she said, pointing to her right.

"You just do not wish to be near the rats." Connor teased her, still following her direction.

"They are diseased!" she defended again, only getting a chuckle from both of them in return.

"Well, well!" Samuel spoke up upon them reaching a door, "You two were right. I apologize for ever doubting." he said, giving Connor a light pat on the shoulder, "No wonder Achilles has taken such an interest in the both of you." he added, jiggling the door handle, "Arse!" he cursed, looking at the teengers, "I don't suppose lock-picking is part of your repertoire?" he asked them.

Connor looked at Violette, her lips forming a smirk as she proceeded ahead, kneeling down with the tools in hand.

"I must say, I was expecting you to be the lock-picker, Connor." Samuel commented.

"I can as well, but she gets the job done faster than I." he explained.

"Did you just admit that I am better than you in something, Connor?" Violette asked, the tone in her voice a playfully surprised one.

"Only for now." he added as she stood up.

"Well done!" Samuel complimented her, "The printer isn't far. Let us reconvene there." he suggested.

The two exited, taking their own route to walk and look around the area while making their way to the printer. Samuel was already in there, conversing with the shopkeeper.

"You ask a great deal of me, Sam." the man said with a frown.

Samuel's gaze shifted before returning to the printer, "I know...but I wouldn't be here it it wasn't important. If it wasn't vital." he explained.

The man sighed, "Fine. Just this once, though. In the future, such things will come at a price. Resetting the type is neither quick nor easy. To say nothing of the cost should I be discovered." he complained.

"I shall not forget this kindness." Samuel thanked him.

"Nor I." the man spat back.

Samuel turned to the two, who were standing back and trying to see what the printer was doing. "His work wil see your last little bit of notoriety is erased." he explained, "Come, I'll show you two how to leave now that order's been restored." he said, gesturing them to follow him out of the shop. "So now you've had a chance to see how it all works. Untoward actions will upset the citizens and inevitably lead to the guards being called," he continued speaking as they walked, "Depending on the severity of your transgression, they may simply seach for a while before giving up and returning to their post. But should you offend them severely or repeatedly—they'll become much more aggressive in their pursuits."

They rounded the corner and ships could be seen in the short distance, "I've shown you both three ways to turn the tide: remove wanted posters, bribe town criers or visit a printer to create your own propaganda." Samuel continued speaking.

"This feels wrong. Why not just speak to someone and explain my innocence?" Connor asked.

"You can't be serious?" Samuel asked in disbelief.

"We counter one lie with another. Words on paper taken instantly as truth, and all of it without question."

"They loosed this beast—or have you forgotten?" Samuel reminded him, "I merely helped you tame and turn it 'round."

"There must be another way. Something more honest." Connor suggested.

"Well when you find it, do let me know. But until then, we cult with the clay we have." Samuel spat.

Violette kept her mouth shut about his tone of voice so as to not offend the man any further than her friend already had.

"My apologies," Connor atoned, "I do not mean to sound ungrateful."

"Quite alright," Samuel dismissed it, "I was much the same at your age. You'll grow out of it..." he stated as they approached the docks, "Here we are. Speak with the harbourmaster and he'll see you home." Samuel informed them.

"Thank you for everything, Sam." Connor showed his appreciation.

"We promise one day to repay this favour." Violette finally spoke.

The man nodded, "Oh, I'm counting on it." he told them with a subtle smile.

Unexpectedly, Connor held his hand out, "Like this?" he asked Samuel. Samuel smiled and took hold of his hand, giving a firm shake.

Violette smiled, placing her hand on Connor's shoulder, "We should be going." she told Samuel, "Take care, Signore." she said goodbye while her companion gave a nod before walking off.

"I knew you didn't know how to shake hands." she said, poking Connor in his side.

"Be quiet." Connor advised her, to which she only giggled.


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