A/N: I'm not sure when I'll be uploading again, but here's something for you all. Happy holidays. :)


1773 ...

Connor and Violette were sparring in the training room, a daily ritual to ensure they stayed above their enemies in any way possible and to keep in touch with each other's tactics. Seeing their Mentor make his way down the stairs, Violette called a break, her counterpart backing away and wiping his forehead as he caught his breath.

"Connor? Violette? Spare a moment?" the old man asked them.

"Sì, Mentore." "Of course." they answered, turning to face him, both of their gaze falling upon the rope in Achilles' hands.

"Have a look," he spoke, handing the rope to Connor.

Violette observed the spear-like tip at the end of it, "What is it?" she asked.

"A 'sheng biao', or rope dart, if you prefer," Achilles answered his inquisitive student, "This will come in handy for you two."

She nodded, watching as Connor began to swing the rope dart in a circular motion, his eyes on their Mentor.

"One of the many plans given to us by Shao Jun to—" Achilles was cut off instantly by Connor's hand slipping, the dart flying off and narrowly missing Violette and burying itself into a post.

"Mia Dio, si mi ha quasi ucciso! (My God, you almost killed me!)" Violette yelled out. If it weren't for her instinctive ability to dodge, the spiked end would have gone straight into her abdomen.

Connor looked at her, embarrassed that he made such a mistake, "Sorry." he spoke, looking to Violette as she rested her hand on his shoulder as a means of forgiving him.

Achilles sighed, "We'll have to work on this. Perhaps you two should go out into the woods and practice—" he spoke, interrupted once again, but this time by a knock on the door.

The three made their way up and Connor answered, surprised to see his friend from his village, Kanatahséton, "Kanen'tó:kon?" the Assassin answered, Violette appearing next to her partner.

"Yes, my friend." he answered Connor, giving Violette a nod to greet her and she did the same.

"What brings you here?" Connor asked as he stepped out, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Is the village alright?" he answered, worried that the worst may have come upon his tribe so suddenly.

"For now," Kanen'tó:kon replied simply.

"What do you mean?" Violette asked, unable to help herself from being worried as well. Even though Connor was from that village, they did not see her as an outsider when visiting due to her close friendship to the Assassin.

"What has happened?" Connor asked.

"Men came, claiming we had to leave," Kanen'tó:kon began, "They said that the land was being sold and that the Confederacy had consented. We sent an envoy, but they would not listen." he finished, the heartbreak in his voice distinct.

"You must refuse!" Connor spoke sternly.

Violette looked at her partner. She knew that he was one to easily get entangled in his own emotions, but she also knew the importance of tribes standing up for themselves against the forceful opposition.

Kanen'tó:kon shook his head, "We cannot oppose the sachem, but you are right as well. We cannot give up our home."

Connor leaned against the post behind him, lost in thought. What could he possibly do to stop this? How could the Kanien'kehá:ka defend themselves when considering the power these men held?

"Something must be done, Connor. These are your people." Violette supported him as she stepped out, placing a hand on Kanen'tó:kon's shoulder briefly.

Her partner nodded in agreement, looking to his friend, "Do you have a name? Do you know who is responsible?" he asked.

"He is called 'William Johnson'." Kanen'tó:kon confirmed.

"Of course it would be Johnson." Violette spoke out, knowing that he was part of the Colonial Rite and held responsibility for land operations.

"Where is Johnson now?" Connor asked Kanen'tó:kon.

"In Boston, making preparations for the sale."

"Sale?! This is theft!" Connor exclaimed angrily.

"Connor, take care. These men are powerful." Achilles spoke up softly as he was listening to the conversation as well.

"What would you have me do?" Connor asked their mentor, upset and confused as to why this was even possible. Violette tried to comfort her counterpart, but he put his hand on her shoulder to move her aside, "I made a promise to my people." he finalized.

Achilles sighed, "If you insist upon this course of action, seek out Sam Adams in Boston. He'll be able to help." he suggested.

Violette nodded in agreement, though she wasn't very fond of the man herself. Regardless, he was still an ally.

Connor held his hand out to Kanen'tó:kon, who handed him the tomahawk he carried with him. He glanced over before swiftly and precisely embedding the weapon into the post outside the front door of the manor, leaving Achilles and Violette in shock, her hands covering her mouth.

"What have you done?!" Achilles asked, irritation in his voice as he looked at the hatchet and then back to his student.

Connor turned to his mentor, "When my people go to war, a hatchet is buried into a post to signify its start. When the threat is ended, the hatchet is removed." Connor explained, turning and walking away, pushing Violette along in front of him while Kanen'tó:kon followed.

"You could have used a tree!" he called out, shaking his head and walking back into his home, "I'm too old for children this temperamental." he mumbled to himself.

"Haytham must know that Kanatahséton belongs to your people, Connor." Violette spoke up.

The thought of the man made his stomach turn, "I know that, Violette!" he replied through gritted teeth.

"Should we not be more curious as to why he is after your village rather than act on impulse?" she suggested.

"We do not have time for that. We must find William Johnson and eliminate him."

She continued to walk with him once his hand released from her back and she fell into a steady pace behind him, "Not so abruptly, Connor. It may not be necessary at this moment."

He stopped and turned to her, causing her to almost walk into him, "This man is a Templar, Violette. He must die, no matter when or how." he argued.

"You are always so quick to inflict fatality upon those that you believe do not deserve to live any longer." she said, disappointed that he was being as stubborn as ever.

"What would you have me do, then? What is your idea?" he offered her a chance to conjure up some other way of handling such a serious matter.

"As I stated before," she spoke, "We should find out what their intentions are first; what exactly is happening instead of readily attacking these men and not thinking of the repercussions of our actions."

"You do that, then. I will take matters into my own hands." he stood adamant in his decision.

"We're to consult Achilles before taking immediate action, Connor. We cannot do such things of our own free will. Doing such a thing would be breaching a tenet."

"What tenet?!" he yelled, irritated in her suggestions based on their studies.

"Never compromise the Brotherhood, be it direct or indirect." she answered, "You know this, amico (friend). We must act accordingly and not raise unnecessary conflict." she finished, receiving a huff of discontent from her counterpart, "I'm only trying to help, Connor. We must take care to act based on our wisdom and experience from training. Kanatahséton will be safe for the time being. These men will not rush as quickly as you intend to."

Connor stared at her for several moments and he seemed unable to pry his eyes away from her. He noticed the golden glow in her brown eyes, realizing that he'd never seen it before.

"Please, Connor." she spoke gently, breaking him away from his mind wandering elsewhere.

He looked away, "Fine. We shall do this your way." he agreed, gaining and 'thank you' in return.


Upon the two Assassins readying to leave the Homestead for Boston, Connor heard someone calling for help. He turned to Violette, "Do you hear that?" he asked.

She listened closely, looking to Connor and nodding once hearing as well. They both made their way toward the cries, finding a woman on the ground, holding her arm, "Bloody hell! Can you help me?" she asked the two.

"Are you alright?" Connor asked the woman.

She looked at him, "What do you think?" she asked sarcastically in return.

"How did this happen, signorina (miss)?" Violette asked, bending down to help tend to the wounds that needed more immediate attention.

"Poachers in the woods," she started, "I asked them to leave. This was their answer." she finished, looking to her arm to further explain the situation.

Connor picked her up, "Come on. We need to get that arm looked at." he told her, taking great care to not hurt the woman's arm any further.

Violette looked on, unsure as to how she felt about her partner holding another woman so tenderly in his arms. He would never treat her that way. Still, this woman needed help and this was no time to thing of herself in such a way.

"What of the men who did this?" the woman asked.

"They can wait," Connor spoke, "Your wound cannot."

"I will seek them out," Violette offered, "Connor will ensure you are taken care of." the teen spoke, giving the woman a gentle smile and receiving a 'thank you'.

"You know how to find me." she told Connor, running off to find the poachers.

He stopped for a second to watch her before moving as quickly as he could without injuring the woman, "Will you be able to make it to the house?" he asked her.

"Yes," she answered, "I think the ball took only flesh."

"And what is your name?" he enquired.

"Myriam." she answered after a few moments.

"Do you live nearby?" he asked yet another question.

"Ah," she began, "I-I don't have a home, per se. I took to the frontier when I was a young girl. I made my life out here ever since, living where the land makes it easiest." she elaborated.

"Not a common choice for a woman of the Colonies." Connor commented.

"N-No, it's not, but truth be told, it was this, the convent or the brothels." she answered, catching her breath as her pain made breathing seemingly harder, "I prefer the open air."

As they approached the manor, Myriam looked at the Assassin, "Will your wife be alright with this?"

"What?" he asked, unsure as to what she was referring to.

"The woman you were with when you found me. Is she your wife or your lover?" she asked.

Connor's cheeks heated, "S-She is neither. She is my friend." he stuttered.

"I see," Myriam replied, unable to hide her giggling, but saying nothing else.

Connor rested Myriam gently on the steps of the manor, quickly making his way to find Violette. The thought that she might have found herself in some sort of trouble worried him and caused his feet to carry him hastily toward her as he followed her tracks, taking to the trees to cover more ground.

When he arrived, he looked on as Violette threw the rope dart toward one of the poachers, jumping down and bringing his body up to hang him as she embedded the other end into the ground to keep him stuck there, grabbing the attention of the man he was walking with.

Connor manoeuvred instinctively, driving the rope dart through his shoulder and pulling him away from his counterpart and toward him, slitting his throat with his hidden blade once dragging the man close enough to him. He stealthily found himself behind another man who was looking for the rest of the poachers. Connor grabbed him once close enough, pressing his blade to the man's throat, "Shooting strangers in the forest? Is that common hunting practice where you come from?" he asked the poacher.

"N-No! I—" he began, but stopped once Connor pushed him away.

"Spare me! Go! Tell the friends you have left what happened here!" he ordered the man, who wasted no time in running for his own life.

Connor looked around for his partner, gazing up in time to see Violette jump down toward him, causing them both to fall, her landing on top of him.

"You said you'd catch me if I fell." she smiled, receiving one in return.

"You didn't fall." he countered her words, getting up as she did.

Violette brushed the grass off of her robes, "How is the woman?" she asked.

"Achilles is tending to her. We should return."

"Sì." she agreed, the both of them making their way back to the manor, turning it into a race as they tended to, though the outcome did not matter as much as it did when they were younger.

The two walked into the room, where they found their mentor with the woman.

"Thank you, Achilles," she gave her gratitude to the old man.

"You are most welcome." he spoke, sitting down at the table with her.

"Why did those men attack you?" Connor asked her.

"It's no secret this land is full with game. I spotted the trespassers en route to request permission to hunt here myself and suggested they do the same." she explained.

"The bounty of this forest is not ours to give. It is your right to hunt on this land, but we would appreciate you trading your surplus with the others." Violette spoke, still uncertain about the woman.

"Very well. I accept." she smiled, extending her hand to the female Assassin, "I am Myriam," she introduced herself.

Violette greeted her with the same gesture, "Octavia Violette D'Egidio, but you may call me 'violet', as the others do."

Myriam's shack was built out in the northeast of the Homestead, where she could quickly and quietly hunt game without very much distraction. While Violette was still unsure about the woman, she would have to accept that she couldn't always remain the only one on the land. Sure, Terry and Godfrey's wives were living on the Homestead as well, but they weren't independent like Myriam and didn't cause Violette to feel the way Myriam did. Though, she felt some unnecessary need to protect Connor from Myriam. She wasn't sure why, but she supposed time would tell for itself.


Boston...

As Connor and Violette located Samuel Adams, the teen couldn't help but notice that he was speaking with a group of men. Naturally, she knew Connor's nature and quickly halted him before approaching their ally, telling him to be polite. He brushed her off, unsurprisingly and continued on.

"Ah, Connor! Violette!" Sam greeted them.

"Buon pomeriggio, Sam. (Good afternoon, Sam.)" Violette greeted him, looking to Connor who said nothing. She still wasn't sure as to why the man had seemingly no manners after spending so much time training to be inconspicuous. Then again, the changes he'd made to his robes spoke nothing if not part of the Kanien'kehá:ka.

"What brings you two to Boston?" Sam asked.

"You." Connor replied simply, his soft voice when speaking and the smirk on his lips was something that Violette never noticed before. It was something she felt that she wouldn't mind seeing more of.

Samuel dismissed the men he was speaking with beforehand, giving the Assassins his full attention. His hand resting gently on Violette's back as he led them away to speak irked Connor, but this wasn't the time to tell an ally not to touch his counterpart. Why should it have mattered anyway?

"Thank you," Samuel spoke to them, "That conversation was about to turn unpleasant. Now, what can I do for you and the misses?" he offered his assistance.

"Miss." Violette corrected the man, unsure as to why he would speak as if she were married.

"We were hoping you could help us locate William Johnson." Connor explained.

"Of course! I'm headed to a meeting with some men who should be able to help. Why don't you two come along?" the man invited them.

"Grazie. (Thank you.)" Violette spoke with a subtle smile as they began to walk.

"It's good to see the people finally taking a stand against injustice." Samuel commented.

"Says the man who owns a slave." Connor said deadpanned,

"Connor!" Violette hissed, nudging him with her elbow: a reminder to stay polite and not always speak his mind whenever he pleased, though it was a trait of his she couldn't help but adore.

Samuel laughed, "Who? Surry? I practice what I preach, my friends. She's not a slave, but a freed woman: at least on paper. Men's minds are not so easily turned. It's a tragedy that for all our progress, still we cling to such barbarism."

"Then why do you not speak out against it?" Violette suggested.

"We must focus first on defending our rights. When this is done, we'll have the luxury of addressing these other matters." he explained to the teens.

"I do not understand why other people's rights take precedence over any other's, but surely you understand what you speak of better than Connor or I do." Violette spoke, unsatisfied with the answer their ally gave.

"You speak as though your condition is equal to that of the slaves. It is not." Connor accentuated to Samuel, agreeing with his partner.

"Tell that to my neighbour who was compelled to quarter British troops, or to my friend whose store was closed because he displeased the Crown. The people here are no freer than Surry." Samuel defended.

Violette saw that the conversation was taking a turn for what could have been the worst, but she still agreed with Connor. While there were others that had their own problems to face during this revolution, nobody had to right to own another human being.

"You offer excuses instead of solutions. All people should be equal and not in turns." Connor reasoned.

"It's in turns or not at all," Samuel stood his ground, "We must compromise, Connor, however painful that may be. Try and solve all of the world's problems at the same time and you'll wind up solving none at all."

"That is your opinion, within reason, Sam," Violette spoke up, "But I believe we all need to stand up for ourselves and those who cannot fight for themselves. That is what our purpose is."

Samuel nodded, "Indeed, Violette."

Their attentions were turned to a man yelling outside of his home window, "It's my home, no matter what you thieves called 'taxmen' say! If the 'gumps' in Parliament who want my property, you tell them to sail across the pond and take it themselves!" he yelled with a French accent, moving back inside.

"It's not open for discussion!" the man standing outside the front door spoke out, "Now open this door or these men will break it down!" he ordered.

The Frenchman peeped back out of his window, quickly tilting his chamber pot, the urine splashing down in front of the man threatening him.

"Caro Dio (Dear God)." Violette muttered to herself.

"Oh, bollocks! We're coming in!" a redcoat said and began the process of breaking a window to enter the man's home.

The Frenchman stormed out of his front door, crashing into the taxman and breaking the railing directly in front of his door, sending the both of them to fall over and onto the ground below.

Connor and Violette looked at each other before their eyes turned to Samuel.

"I trust the mounting evidence is proof enough for you two." Samuel spoke to them.

"Continue on," Connor told the man, "Violette and I shall meet you at our destination."

Violette followed her counterpart, unsheathing her sword and hidden blade as Connor grabbed one of the redcoats, slicing the man's throat with his tomahawk. She quickly countered another soldier's attempt to strike her, kicking him in between the legs and decapitating him with her sword. The two continued to fight with the Frenchman against the redcoats until there were none left.

Violette had admiration for the Frenchman, who was protecting himself with a simple butcher's knife that would be found in almost any home kitchen. It wasn't every day that they would see such a thing. Then again, it wasn't every day that they saw someone else who had the audacity to fight against those who represented the Crown.

"Justice for once. I dare the Governor to send more!" the Frenchman spoke, spitting on the ground after, causing Violette to look at him with a curious expression on her face.

"Are you well, signore (sir)?" Violette asked.

"Oui, merci. (Yes, thank you.)" he spoke, "It is not my first dance. For all their teeth and claws, these little foxes, they fight like puppies. Thank you, my friends. I would buy you two an ale, but I'm expected somewhere else."

Connor and Violette nodded, the man taking off to be wherever he was needed.

"He fights well." the Assassin spoke to his partner.

"Sì, he does. I hope he will be alright."

"Yes. We must carry on to the meeting." he told her, the two of them running to meet Samuel as quickly as possible.


The Assassins entered the tavern, immediately greeted by Samuel, "Connor! Violette! I'd like you two to meet some like-minded friends. The owner of this fine establishment, William Molineaux, and the manager and chef of his newest venture, Stephane Chapheau."

Violette beamed upon seeing their recently-made friend so soon again.

"Ah, Connor, Violette and I just had a ball with some redcoats enforcing some taxmen outside of my home!" Stephane spoke enthusiastically.

"The collectors grow bolder and more forceful," Molineaux spoke, "Something we must address, Samuel."

Samuel nodded in agreement to his colleague's words, "Then let us raise a banner," he suggested, "Something to let the people know that they are not alone."

"Do you have anything in mind specifically, Sam?" Violette asked, arms crossed and leaning lightly against Connor—something that she had a habit of doing for the past few months and his hand found her shoulder, supporting her.

"The docks are an angry place as of late," Samuel explained, "protesters picketing the latest shipments of British tea. The eyes of the city are upon that stage."

"A Bostonian without his tea is a dangerous beast!" Stephane commented.

"William Johnson is smuggling the tea off of the ships." Molineaux spoke out, "One of his men tried to sell me this," he continued, placing a bag on the bars surface. Samuel picked it up to examine it further, Connor and Violette leaning in to observe it as well, "A sample of what I refused," Molineaux further explained, "But it's from those ships—no mistaking the stamp. He's charging a king's ransom. He must be making a mint off of those who buy it."

"Where is he now?" Connor asked, receiving a glare from Violette as she knew he naturally tried to jump to the quickest solution.

"I never met the man." Molineaux said.

Samuel looked over at the Assassins, "May I ask why you two seek him in such dire need?"

"He intends to purchase the land upon which my village stands, without the consent of my people." Connor explained, Violette frowning at the idea that his people could lose the land their homes had sat upon for so many years.

"No doubt the revenue from his little smuggling endeavour is financing the acquisition." Samuel put the two together.

"We must act before it is too late, signori (gentlemen), but we cannot be impulsive. What we plan to do is already enough to bring unwanted attention to Connor and I." Violette commented, all agreeing with the teen Assassin.

"A tax enforced on tea grants a boon to smugglers," Samuel spoke, "I'll wager the same men who levy the taxes are selling the tea. A stage requires a spectacle and I may know the play." he spoke confidently.

"Caro Dio (Dear God)." Violette spoke, knowing that what the man had already planned was going to most definitely arouse the wrong crowd. Still, they needed some way to prevent the land the Kanien'kehá:ka lived upon and if this was what it would take, so be it.

They spoke about the cargo for the tea being guarded at the docks, but that shouldn't have been a problem for the two of them. When they stepped out, Violette stopped Connor from walking and he stared into her eyes, "I would do anything to help you and your people, Connor, even if that means bringing the attention of the Templars directly on us." she gave her word.

He placed his hand on top of hers, "I'll always catch you if you fall."

She blushed at his words before breaking free of the moment, "Race you!"


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