Inside Her World
Part 2
"I am sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"You are a problem now."
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A loud noise broke the silence in the room making Leona groan and slowly open her eyes. Her alarm impudently announced that it was time to get up and "shine", even though it was the weekend. She slammed her hand on the alarm that oddly glowed with white, and turned the hideous sound off. The girl closed her eyes again and touched her head; she could barely remember the events of last night. Her mind rushed to recreate everything that happened after Haytham decided to kiss her, threatening to kill on the boat beforehand. She clearly remembers them getting on the dry land once another hour under the moon has passed, settling into a warm car, and driving home with Haytham pulling her into a kiss each time they stopped at the stop light. And then, well, then all she remembers is lustful mist that embraced them both and later drowned in the darkness.
Leona opened her eyes again; the surroundings seemed to be very different to her gaze. The colors of her room turned into dark and light blue and no matter how many times the girl blinked it would not go away. She shut her eyes biting her lower lip and thinking that it was all still a part of a really weird dream she had. She stretched her hands to the side and felt her left hand hit something next to her.
"Haytham…" Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered what kind of a night she had after the Templar decided to carry her to her house in his hands. A thick blush spread on her face as she felt his warm bare shoulder and a muscular arm that was wrapped around the pillow. She turned her head slowly toward the man and opened her eyes hoping that the scary blue glow was gone.
Leona froze her gaze on Haytham with a silent gasp. The Templar had a bright red glow around him, and not even rubbing her eyes made it go away. The girl sat up on her elbows covering her body with a blanket, still staring at Kenway with wide eyes. He was still asleep, his face peaceful and with a soft expression; Leona sighed in relief and stood up from the bed putting her assassin robes on without even thinking twice about it. She felt the clothing call her more than it did the first time she wore it; it felt as if she was finally complete as the sharp white hood covered her head.
"Alright, everything around is blue, but bloody red around the Templar." Her mind started putting the puzzle pieces together and after a minute the girl concluded that those tricks were caused by the Eagle Vision she somehow awakened in the morning. Of course, Leona still thought that it was a dream, but then when the Sight suddenly disappeared returning the dear colors back to her eyes, she frantically realized how real it was. "Oh dear, how is this even possible?" She thought looking back at Haytham that now did not glow with a crimson color of an enemy. He was still lying in bed on his stomach and dreaming of something, his eyelids trembling bit.
The girl looked away feeling another wave of blush hitting her face; the Templar was still nude under the thick black covers; this thought captivated Leona and forced her to leave the bedroom almost running, hoping for it to disappear. She closed the door behind her and sighed looking around the living room. Some of their cloths were scattered in the hallway half way to the bedroom; seems like the two lovers could not handle the tense desire and decided to strip each other down on the way to the bedroom.
The girl smirked looking at Haytham's hidden blades carelessly thrown on the floor near the couch along with his sword and a pistol. She picked the "toys" up and carefully put them on a large cabinet where they would not be a hazard. Leona then hurried to the kitchen to make breakfast before Kenway could greet this morning. She decided to make chocolate pancakes with strawberries on top and tea for Haytham; she made coffee for herself in order to be less sleepy during the upcoming day. Every ten minutes the girl glanced at the bedroom door making sure that the Templar was not up yet. She sighed in relief when the breakfast was ready to be served; she got out two plates and put the pancakes on them, later pouring melted white chocolate on top and adding strawberries in the end. Leona noticed with a giggle that the colors of the sauce and fruits where somehow referenced to the assassins with white and red. She could not help herself but to take the smaller strawberries and form the symbol of the Creed on a bigger round pancake and purposely push the plate with it on the side of the table where Haytham was going to sit.
Leona suddenly heard the bedroom door open and saw the Templar come out with only his pants on. She immediately noticed his muscular torso and arms that were well hidden under his tunic before all the time. His hair were not collected and tied up with a red ribbon, so they freely hung down his shoulders. If Leona was a more careless fan girl, she would have already jumped on the Templar drooling waterfalls.
"Seeing something interesting?" A smirk played on Haytham's lips as he entered the kitchen watching Leona's fiery eyes almost devouring him in one sitting. Leona nervously broke her gaze away and stared at her hands blushing like a lobster fresh out of the boiling water.
"I…umm…I made breakfast." She gestured toward the table. "Your plate is on the right." Her eyes suddenly became crafty as she watched Haytham sit on the chair and stare at her pancake "art" with an unruffled expression.
"Are you trying to tease me?" He narrowed his eyes looking at Leona's innocent smile.
"Haytham, I just got carried away while cooking, I told you about me being an assassin in my soul." She shrugged and bit her lower lip watching Kenway pick up a fork and move the strawberries into a different symbol: the Templar Cross. Haytham smiled and looked at his creation for a second before starting to eat Leona's masterpiece. The girl pouted her cheeks suddenly feeling very offended after the Templar ignored her decoration before making it into something hideous.
"How are the Templar pancakes?" She sarcastically asked looking at Haytham's happy face expression.
"Very good." The Templar said after finishing the last bite and pressing a napkin on his lips. "Your cooking is lovely so far." He said standing up and putting the dishes in the sink after drinking his tea. Leona growled something and crossed her arms.
"What do you mean, so far?" She asked glancing into Haytham's eyes as he smiled at her.
"Well, I assumed that you are going to make something else later that will make me complement you again." He said putting his left arm around her waist and sliding her hood down with his right. "You know that you don't have to wear this hood all the time, right?" He asked stroking her cheek with his index finger.
"Today I feel like wearing it all day." She said coldly feeling odd in the Templar's embrace, as if she almost hated it. Yesterday she enjoyed every bit of Haytham's caressing, but now she felt as if his touch was unfamiliar and wild. Leona noticed some suspicion and worry in Kenway's eyes as she suddenly noticed herself holding his hand away from her face. "When did I? Oh crap, I have to do something before he suspects anything." Leona mentally made note for herself to not open her secret of awakening Eagle Vision somehow to the Templar. Who knows, maybe that is going to trigger his enemy instincts and he will stab her without thinking about it.
"Leona," she could hear tension in his voice. "Is something wrong?" The girl felt his left hand press against her back harder, she gulped.
"Haytham, I am fine, just…yesterday is still in my head, and that night-"She trailed off shaking a slight blush away from her face. In a second her chin was softly grabbed by the ma's fingers forcing to turn her head and look into his eyes. His lips covered hers in a deep warm kiss making the girl open her eyes wide but within a moment wrap her hands around Haytham's neck pressing her body against his. Kenway's right arm slid down her shoulder and grasped her waist. He lifted her up and without breaking the kiss carried Leona to the couch where they both lied down together.
The kiss grew more passionate and Kenway's hands slowly slid down her waist. His soft touch pleasantly caressed her until a quite gasp escaped her lips. She pulled away from the man and pressed her index against his lips when he tried to kiss her again.
"That's enough." She whispered with a smile stroking his hair; it was silky and pleasant to the touch.
"I will not ask for more until you are ready for it." A smirk played on his lips as he saw Leona look away with a blush on her cheeks.
"You bastard, of course I want more, but I will not let you just lay in bed with me all day, we have things to do." She said hiding her face in his wide chest.
"Oh? And what is on you mind?" Haytham asked arching his eyebrow and listening to Leona attentively.
"Well, remember how I mentioned Millennium Park yesterday?" She muttered drawing patterns on his chest with her finger. "Well, we are going to go there today and have a picnic." Leona said looking up at Haytham and receiving a smooch on a nose from the Templar. It nearly melted the girl do to its tenderness from a man who always seemed to be a cold-blooded killer. Haytham gave a short nod of agreement and wrapped his hands around Leona leaning over to her ear.
"But we do not have to go now, do we?" He softly whispered causing a jolt through Leona's body. Her hands began to tremble and her breath seemed to become unsteady. Kenway enjoyed the way he could change her state of mind and body within seconds. "So, do you want to maybe read a book together?" He asked whispering in her ear teasingly.
"You and I both share the same desire, Kenway." Leona muttered under her breath. "I highly doubt that this desire is about reading a book." She said looking up at Haytham's sly smile and biting her lip again. "God dammit, Templar, I swear the God one more smile like that and you will melt me down." The girl hid her face back in his chest. Haytham chuckled and kissed the girl's forehead.
"Last night was divine." He whispered looking at the black TV screen as if seeing something there. "I enjoyed every second of it, especially that it being you." Kenway stoked her hair and time to time kissed her head making the girl blush more than she used to before.
"Oh Haytham, you know how to make me smile." She sighed with a bright grin. "But I have something really important to ask of you." Leona looked up at the Templar with serious expression that made the man shiver a little.
"Surely, I am listening." Haytham stopped his tender caressing and simply held Leona at the fair distance in order to see her face.
"The park is very huge and has many free spaces where people can do whatever they want. I would like you to teach me how to fight." She said without looking away from the man's deep eyes that now showed more tension than softness.
"Why do you need it?" He suddenly asked after a long pause between them.
"Well, you know, I cosplay an assassin, and knowing how to fight and jump on the rooftops will be a great bonus to my performances at Comic Cons." She noticed Kenway's eyes narrowing at her and nervously gulped. The Templar did not need to find out that the main reason behind her wanting to learn those things is because of Eagle Vision she discovered this morning; and this endless desire to climb a tall building and perform a Leap of Faith into eternity bugged her ever since. "It can help me with self-protection..." She said wrapping her hands around Kenway's neck and trying to soften his tensed body with tender strokes of her hands on his shoulders.
"Is that all, or there is something else you are hiding from me?" He asked suddenly pushing Leona on her back from her side and climbing on top of her before pinning down the girl's hands above her head. The girl gasped and answered with fast nods.
"Y-yes, that is all, I swear!" She whispered feeling helpless in the hands of a strong Templar. Suddenly Kenway loosened his grip and leaned over to her ear with his left hand slowly sliding down her side.
"I trust you in this, Leona," he whispered in her ear and left a little kiss on it, "If you are hiding something from me that is intertwined with the Creed, I will have to kill you." He said coming back to her face and kissing her cheek softly. "But since you are so sincere in your words I won't do anything like that." He said with a smile and kissed Leona's trembling lips with ownership and passion. The girl tried to hide her fear and relax in the man's arms, but knowing that he was right about her having a secret made her paranoid.
After another endless five minutes of non-stop kissing between the Templar and the Assassin, the two pulled away from each other. The fear was gone from the girl's eyes as she noticed how fired up Haytham was. It seemed like he forgot about the conversation she did not want to bring up again, but as it seemed, she had to.
"So will you be my teacher?" She asked softly touching the Templar's cheek and feeling the fear grow in her chest again. Haytham slowly nodded looking into Leona's eyes as if trying to find the real answer under her innocent mask.
"I will teach you very specifics, and then if I see enough potential in you, I will teach you how to fight with a sword and a dagger. Pistols are useless for you to use because of a huge jump in today's gun art." He said standing up from the couch and searching for his shirt around the living room.
"Haytham," she said lifting herself up on her elbows. "Please wear your uniform today, so people at the park think that we are cosplaying." Leona then jumped up and walked over to the man who was now standing with his arms crossed.
"And make it look like a battle of two old enemies." He said as if finishing Leona's thought completely. "Even though I am still teaching you, it will look like you are losing, and so maybe some of your Creed friends will consider you a disgrace." A wide smirk appeared on Kenway's eyes and he chuckled. "This thought accounts for my liking." He said grabbing his uniform that was tidily sat on a chair and disappearing in the bedroom.
"You Templar, you are only searching for a good excuse to bring shame to the Creed!" She exclaimed feeling more offended than ever. "You Templar scum can't even reach us on the rooftops." Leona said as if she was not herself at the moment, and pulled the hood up feeling complete once more. The door suddenly opened and a dagger pierced a wall right next to Leona's face making her scream in surprise and collapse on the cold floor.
"I did reach you just now." Haytham said coldly walking out and putting his hat on with an evil grin. "You never saw it coming, didn't you?" He said holding his hand out to help the startled girl up. Leona hissed and slapped his hand away jumping up to her feet.
"Let's go." She growled under her breath and desperately searched for her car keys while Haytham, with his hands behind his back, moved to the side watching her with an amused smirk. After a second Leona glared at the Templar and came up to him. "Where are my keys?" She asked looking up at Kenway's sly face.
"You don't remember from last night, oh wait, why would you?" He teased and received a push on his chest from Leona that did not even stir him. He held his hand up from his back and jiggled the keys in the hand, but he snatched them away as Leona tried to grab the chain from the Templar. "But first you must apologize before me and the Order for calling us the Templar scum." He chuckled as the girl's cheeks became red from anger. Leona looked away from the man and mumbled something under her nose that made Kenway ask her to repeat.
"Bastard," she finally said out loud. "I prefer to walk to the park than be sorry about something that is true." Leona involuntarily glanced at the dagger that was dangerously sitting in the wall and waiting for a new target. Haytham followed her gaze and smiled leaning forward and grabbing the girl with his free hand. He hugged her waist and stole a kiss from her lips without any other words.
"This payment is also accepted." He said pulling away from her soft lips and putting the keys in her hand. "Common then, you have a long day of training later today." He whispered in her ear and exited the house leaving the girl in the empty hallway with a shock in her eyes.
"Shit-"Leona hissed putting her keys in the inside pocket of her assassin robes that she secretly sowed in. She grabbed her phone and on the way to the exit tried to pull the dagger out of the wall, but no matter how hard she tried the blade would not budge. For a second, Leona imagined the wall being her head if Haytham really intended to kill her; the thought made the girl shiver and hurry outside closing the entrance door and locking it.
As she sat in the car Haytham greeted her with a bright and innocent smile as if nothing had happened in the past five minutes. She did not say anything and started the car; the rest of the way they will ride in silence with tension flowing in the air.
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The Millennium Park caught Haytham's full attention within seconds as they entered its territory. The green everywhere caused a storm of emotions inside, but the man saved the same cold expression, even though he wanted to compliment everything around him. The people sat on the grass here and there, some played a musical instrument making some people stop by and listen as if being in trance. Others had their lunch baskets with them and enjoyed drinks and food with their family, friends, or a date. Haytham glanced at Leona enviously watching a young couple kissing in the shadow of a big tree. He smiled and put his arm around her.
"After we are finished with your training let's get some food and sit under a tree just like them." He nodded toward the couple Leona was observing like a hawk and making the girl blush embarrassment.
"Why sit there, there are plenty of other places to find a spot at." She said breaking her gaze and looking up at the Templar with her hood covering her face's upper half.
"Because if we sit under the tree, I can kiss you just like you want." He said with a wink as he pulled her down a little to see her eyes. The girl gulped and pulled away from the Templar pushing her hood back on its rightful place.
"Bastard…" She whispered clearly showing that the man took a right guess about her little desire. "But first you will train me." She said taking Haytham's hand and leading him in the depth of the park.
They walked for about an hour around the territory stopping at the Crown Fountain to cool their feet in the water. Haytham looked at the faces appearing on one of the big tower screens of the fountain and nearly escaped the sudden water stream that the person began to shoot from their mouth. Leona laughed and explained that it is one of the unique things in Chicago people love to visit on a hot summer day. Haytham said something about nearly becoming soaked in the cold water and caused another wave of laughter from Leona.
The two then walked away from the fountain catching people's glances on them. Some of the visitors complimented their high quality cosplay and made Leona smile at them widely with an endless thanks. Suddenly a tall young man, age of approximately 19, jumped out of the crowd wearing a shirt with a Creed symbol on it and yelled at Leona and Haytham.
"How dare you stand by that betrayer?" He yelled at the girl and really startled her. "The great Mentor Altair is walking by the Templar scum, and even holding his hand!" He said rushing toward Leona with angry expression on his face and a fist ready to hit her face hidden in the shadow of the hood. Suddenly Haytham appeared in front of the guy with his hidden blades out and a smirk forcing the angry individual to immediately stop and freeze in place.
"One more step is going to make you regret your decision." The Templar brought his hands down and hid his blades under his wrists when the attacker nodded his head and took a step back. Someone in the crowd applauded saying that Haytham was perfectly staying in character, but little do they know that the Templar was real. Kenway smiled at the guy and turned to face Leona coming over to her side. "Can we find a spot for training now, Altair?" He said his eyes narrowing a bit and making the girl shiver.
"I told you to call me by my real name, and yes…" She whispered and decided to run the rest of the way toward the open grass field where they found a comfortable spot with no people around.
"Let's begin." Haytham said as he took off his jacket and a hat staying in his white shirt and pants. The girl sighed and pulled her hood up more so the sharp end was pointing down like an eagle's beak. The Templar gestured for her to attack first; he said that he wants to see her strength now so he could figure out how to teach her right. Leona clutched her teeth together and jerked herself forward running toward the Templar with her knuckles ready.
She swung her hands to the left and right trying to hit Kenway in the face and after, anywhere she could. The Templar seemed to be amused by her fierce tries as he dodged every swing with not much effort. Leona then added some kicks in her attacking strategy thinking she would bring the Templar to his knees. Sadly, her fighting skills where very far from Haytham's, and after a moment the girl suddenly received a kick in the stomach and was sent to the ground coughing violently.
"What-what the hell was that, Kenway?" She gasped for air feeling like in one kick the man knocked out all the air she had in her lungs.
"That was a push, with my foot." He said grabbing the coughing girl and bringing her back to her feet.
"A push?" she exclaimed, "You nearly killed me!" Leona wrapped her arm around her belly feeling intense pain inside as if her organs have exploded.
"If you want me to teach you how to really fight, then keep it quiet and try harder." Haytham said putting his hands behind his back and smirking. "So far I see no potential fighter in you, I observe just a person pretending to be someone who they will never even come close to." He shrugged his shoulders and watching the girl's shoulders tremble in rage.
"I will show you…" She muttered bringing her hands into a knuckle formation again and jolting her body forward again toward Haytham. New blows kept falling on the man like rain, but for him they were nothing. As he finally saw a perfect moment to send the girl on the ground again, Kenway suddenly stopped her arm in midair close to his face and yanked it behind her back forcing the girl turn her back to him and cry out loud in pain. He then pressed his hidden blade against her neck and whispered in her ear.
"Dead." He said putting his hand down and softly pushing her away. "If you are going to continue to hit me non-stop, it will give me a perfect moment to learn your moves and finally find your weak spot where I can grab and kill you instantly." He stood in his favorite pose again. "You need to learn how to hit powerfully and fast but with fewer blows. If you continue to punch time after time you will waste your energy and eventually get tired. That will lead you to a painful death." He explained watching Leona stroke her arm that ached after the Templar grabbed it with a lot of force. He simply smiled and spread his hands to the sides as if showing how weak she was.
"One more round?" He asked letting his hands hang down by his sides.
"You bet!" Leona exclaimed running toward the Templar with fire in her eyes, she was going to become closer to an assassin in secret from him no matter what.
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"How the hell did you get here?" Chelsea asked staring at the man that was brightly smiling at her. She took as step back no knowing what to do, this unexpected surprise had paralyzed her.
"It doesn't matter, belladonna." He said looking around still a grin on his lips. "Do you know a person named Leona Crowine?" He asked walking toward the startled girl and pushing his hands on the wall trapping her between his arms.
"She…she is my friend." She whispered afraid to move and even breathe. "What do you want with her?" She asked her voice trembling.
"We need to talk, it is very urgent." He said his eyes glowing in the gloomy lighting of the room. He was happy to find the answer right away; it was just a matter of time before he could speak to Leona Crowine.
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"Haytham…I can't do this anymore, let us take a break…" Leona let out a muffled moan and collapsed to the ground gasping the air around her. Sweat was pouring down her face like waterfall; she saw dark circles floating around everywhere her gaze moved to. Her training stretched from thirty minutes to five hours of constant fighting and falling from Kenway's pushes and kicks. After she finished with her offence practice, Haytham decided to work on her defense. Leona still remembers herself being sent to eat the grass with a punch from the Templar that she was supposed to "professionally" block. She cursed herself of thinking that it was going to be just as easy as the video game, yet Leona did not give up on the goal until she was barely standing on the ground. And now, tired and barely breathing, the girl rested on the ground staring into the sky. She noticed from the corner of her eye people surrounding the place she and Haytham were at, they all saw her every single failure and probably laughed about it. She turned her head slightly and looked at the curious individuals, yet their faces did not expose amusement, they were staring at the girl with worry and from time to time glancing in fear at the standing Haytham.
"It's not like I have a choice of saying no." Kenway said coming over to her side and sitting next to her pained body. "You are bleeding from you lip." He said after a short pause and silence around them.
"I don't care at the moment." Leona whispered closing her eyes and feeling the blood fill her mouth with a metallic taste.
"I do." Haytham said leaning forward with a handkerchief in order to wipe the blood off her face. Suddenly Leona lunched forward grabbing the Templar by his shoulders and throwing him on the ground on his back. The man gasped in surprise as she jumped on top and snatched a sword from his belt pressing it against his neck. Some people in the crowd applauded and cheered making Leona brightly smile at Kenway.
"I got you now; you did not see it coming, didn't you?" She said putting away the sword as the man held his hands up in surrender.
"Indeed, you took me by surprise, like any assassin would." Haytham smirked and pressed the handkerchief against Leona's lips forcing her to hiss and shiver in pain.
"Ouch, that hurts you know." She said taking the handkerchief from him and wiping the half dried blood from her mouth and cheeks. Kenway grinned and wrapped his arms around Leona's waist hearing another hiss of pain.
"Did I break any bones?" He asked almost weightlessly stroking the girl's sides. Leona lowered the cloth and looked at the Templar noticing a worried look on his face.
"I don't think so, but you sure left a lot of bruises." She whispered looking down and sighing. Haytham watched the people start to leave the place and continue on their business; he pulled the girl into a light hug and kissed her lips that barely had blood on them.
"I would never hit a woman, but today I got carried away seeing a good fighter in you, I am truly sorry." He whispered in her ear as she pulled from the kiss seeing a disgruntled look in her eyes. "If I can somehow provide compensation to my harsh attitude today, just name it." He said stroking Leona's cheek and looking into her glassy eyes.
"You are going to cook dinner for me tonight." She whispered suddenly losing her consciousness and falling on Haytham's chest. The Templar caught her shoulders in midair and slowly stood up holding her in his hands.
"Women," He rolled his eyes and sighed looking at the passed out girl, her chest rising and falling from her deep breaths. He looked around and activated his Sight in order to find a perfect way back to the girl's house without a need of a taxi. The Templar shivered after a thought of seeing new unknown things on the way back that might put him into a very unpleasant situation since Leona decided to take a nap in a very inappropriate time.
The Grand Master walked through the park and Chicago's streets that were full of people. With an unruffled look on his face, Haytham cruised through the crowds and ignored the questions from the surrounding individuals. Some of them made pictures saying something about the video game Leona mentioned to the man before.
"Look, isn't that Connor's father?" Haytham heard someone say behind him.
"Yeah, that is indeed a very nice cosplay of him, looks perfect." The other one added.
"Is that Altair in his arms?" Now there were at least five people talking.
"Yeah dude, did you see the huge fight in the park? Those two were having a performance of some sort. Kenway beat the shit out of the assassin and then when he collapsed to the ground completely, Haytham wanted to wipe the blood of the poor thing's face, but suddenly Altair grabbed him and like, threw him on the ground." One of them started excitedly telling what happened at the park.
"Bro, did you see how he grabbed the sword from Kenway's scabbard and almost slit his throat? That was so cool, I took a video!" Another stranger announced behind the Templar's back; it seemed like the group was following him.
"Show me, show me!" A high pitched voice came from a girl but received a no from her friend and a promise to see it later.
Haytham shook his head a little glancing at Leona, still passed out in his arms, and then turned his head a bit to the side to see who the followers were. Unfortunately, the crowd was so thick that finding the right people was impossible and using the Eagle Vision would be a waste of time since the people were only curious teenagers. Kenway decided to ignore the surroundings and pretend as if nothing was going on, yet still being on alert if anything occurs as a plot twist to the peaceful day.
The man finally found the right house after another twenty minutes of walking and waiting for the red light to turn into green at the pedestrian intersection. After another minute of endless searching for a key to the door, Haytham awkwardly found it in her inside chest pocket in the robe. Kenway carefully opened the door in order to not drop the girl on the ground and pushed it with his foot lightly, walking in and closing the door after him.
He put the girl on the bed in her bedroom and pulled her hood down setting her head on the soft pillow. The girl mumbled something in her sleep and turned on her side pulling her hands close to her chest. Haytham smiled looking at Leona's quite adorable actions; he took his uniform off changing into another modern outfit they got him and settled his weapons on the empty shelves he decided to use for the time being. He then walked over to Leona and leaned forward slightly kissing her cheek with his warm lips. The girl did not wake up, just as he suspected the training really did exhaust her today. The man put his jacket over her since getting the blanket underneath her would probably somehow wake her up, and then left to the kitchen to fulfill a promise he accepted once Leona passed out in the park.
He looked around the kitchen and in the fridge. Kenway admitted that he wasn't that great of a cook, but in order to survive he did gain some skills in this art. After a long life in the kitchen, Haytham finally created something that he called "my first try" and to be honest, he was very proud of himself. The meal consisted of fried fish that he found in the freezer, mash potatoes, and a sweet fruit salad, on which he decided to pour some bitter sauce on. Haytham stared at his little creation for quite some time, grasping the image inside of his head; if only he could take a picture and put it on a wall in a golden frame. He complimented how good the plate looked and assumed that the taste would be divine.
A bedroom door slowly opened interrupting the Templar from "flirting" with the meal. Leona walked out wrapping his jacket around her body and yawning as she walked over to his side. Kenway grinned and put his arm around her receiving a questioning nod toward the plate full of goodness on the table.
"What is that?" She asked sitting at the table and poking the fish with a fork.
"You asked to make dinner tonight, so I tried." He replied looking at the girl; he was worried that she would not like the meal he put his soul into while making.
"Oh, alright, let's see if you did the job right." She said smirking as if she suddenly was a judge at a popular cook show and Haytham was one of the chefs. She ate the meal silently, purposely keeping her face expression the same throughout the feast in order to stretch out the suspense that boiled in Haytham's mind. After she was done, the plate was pushed slightly away and the fork placed on top of it.
"Chef Kenway," She said crossing her arms on her chest and looking at the Templar seriously. Haytham lifted his head up looking at her and waiting for the verdict without questioning the manner she spoke in. "You are passing to the next round." She said a wide smile appearing on her lips. "Don't look at me like that, Haytham, it was good!" She said standing up and coming over to the Templar giving him a tight hug. "The fish was a little too salty, but as a whole you did very well." She said lifting her head up and looking at the man.
"Thank you for you compliments." Kenway smiled putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling the jacket upwards so it would not slide down. He then leaned forward dragging her lips into a hot kiss. Leona smiled and wrapped her hands around his neck pulling her body closer to his.
"Leona." A sudden voice from somewhere called the girl forcing her to pull away from the Templar. The man already managed to pull the jacket off of her shoulders and placed his hands on the robes trying to take them down as well. Kenway opened his eyes and looked at the girl puzzled.
"Did you hear that?" She asked turning her head from side to side. She could have sworn that a voice just called her by her name.
"Hear what?" Haytham asked following Leona's gazed and trying to see something is the kitchen, but it seemed like the only two people present were he and Leona. "There is nothing that could have caused a noise except the outside." He said glancing at the closed windows and then back at the startled girl.
"Yeah, you are right." She said giving a last gaze at the surroundings behind them. "I think I just need more sleep, the training really did exhaust me." She whispered as the Templar touched her cheek with his warm hand.
"Leona, use your talent." The voice came again and made Leona jump in surprise in Kenway's hands. "Use your talent and find the answer."
"Kenway!" She exclaimed suddenly and hid her face in his chest. "Kenway, did you hear that voice? I swear I heard it again just now!" She said her heart racing, panic growing inside. Haytham tightly grasped her body ignoring the possible pain he can cause from the bruises and stroked her hair.
"Calm down Leona, it is just an effect from the exhaustion; you are probably still half asleep." He whispered in her ear and kissed it tenderly. It seemed to work because the girl started to calm down slowly.
"Yeah, you are probably right." She said finding comfort in Kenway's embrace. "I should probably go back to sleep, sorry for ruining that picnic plans, we might as well do it tomorrow." She said closing her eyes tightly and suddenly beginning to sob.
"Oh dear, Leona do not start this, it is not your fault. I was the one nearly knocking you out when you hit and dodged, I am responsible for your state right now." He said lifting the girl's face up in order to see her eyes. "Look at me, Leona." Kenway called her while stroking her waist with his other arm. The girl obeyed and slowly opened her eyes looking up at the Templar. Crimson. Leona gasped but tried to calm down. The man had the bloody red glow around him again just like in the morning. She mentally cursed the Eagle Vision suddenly activating again; she closed her eyes tightly away silently telling it to go away.
"Is there something wrong?" Kenway asked looking closely at the girl.
"Haytham," She suddenly called him softly. "I need to tell you something, but please, promise to not hurt me, alright?" She opened thanking the heavens that the Sight was gone now. The Templar nodded but clearly tensed up waiting for her to speak again.
"Today in the morning as I woke up I found everything around me having a weird glow. I thought I was still asleep but then I found out that I was very much awake." She felt her hands starting to tremble. "And when I looked at you…" She paused noticing Kenway's soft embrace slowly turn into a trap around her waist. "You had this red glow around you, and as you and I know, that is the only characteristic for a special ability assassins possess: Eagle Vision." She trailed off on her last words.
"So you are an assassin." Haytham's eyes looked completely black as he watched her.
"Not a real one, I swear, but somehow the Sight appeared this morning." She said trying to pull away from the man, but his hands tightly grasped her body. "I-I swear I never knew it might be real, and I am pretty sure none of the great assassins are my ancestors."
"So that is why you asked me to teach you how to fight, so you can go on and kill other Templars behind my back." Haytham calmly concluded taking his hands off her and locking them behind his back.
"No, no way! I was not lying when I said I am not with the Creed, I just played video games and dreamed of becoming one." She said waving her hands around in panic.
"And now you that you are pretty decent in it after a five hour practice, you will use those skills for something?" He said looking up at the ceiling as if thinking about something very important.
"Only for performing at the cosplay gatherings, I swear, I am not going to use it for murder. In fact, I would never hurt a living soul anyways." She was taking several steps back as Haytham took a few forward.
"I am sorry." He suddenly said with a slight hint of a smirk on his lips. Leona felt herself press against the wall and Haytham leaning over her.
"What are you sorry for?" She whispered her eyes becoming wider as she heard a hidden blade slide out, its sound leaving a loud imprint in her head.
"You are a problem now." Kenway suddenly jerked his hand up piercing Leona's sleeve and pinning her to the wall. He then lifted his other hand up letting the blade appear from his wrist. The girl mentally cursed the technology of hidden blades advancing over time going from a single one on the left hand into double blades on both hands.
"Haytham please, you promised not to kill me." She said trying to pull the cloth away from the blade.
"Remember what I told you that night on the boat?" He said pressing the blade against her cheek forcing her to freeze in place. "I said I would not kill you, yet." The Templar then moved the blade to her neck; the girl felt the cold weapon send a jolt of fear through her body as it touched her soft skin.
"Haytham…" Leona whispered, a tiny tear slowly crawling down her cheek. "Haytham, I thought you felt something for me…at the boat you told me that-"
"Feelings will not get in a way of killing a liar I foolishly trusted." He whispered feeling Leona's ragged breath on his lips.
"I am not a liar." She nearly screamed but was afraid of the blade cutting her throat if she made a wrong move. "I did not know about it, please Haytham, forgive me and just let me go." She demanded her voice weakening.
"Use your talent and find an answer." The hideous voice sounded in her head again.
"What do you mean by that!?" She suddenly yelled startling the Templar. "What talent, what answer, god dammit, I am about to die here!" She yelled almost falling hysteric. "I have no idea what to do!" She said and noticed Haytham's serious but puzzled look.
"The voice in my head is telling me to use some talent to find an answer…" She whispered closing her eyes and starting to silently cry. "Why is this happening to me…?" Hot tears poured down her cheeks.
"I hate when a lady cries, I will help you end this suffering." Haytham whispered pressing his lips against Leona's and embracing her into a passionate kiss. The girl desperately answered without moving her body; she half opened her eyes and saw the Templar lift up his hand a bit with the blade giving out a funeral glow.
"Haytham mhm…" She mumbled through the kiss trying to push the man away from her. Her heart began to race in knowing of what was about to come.
The sharp blade pierced the air hitting its target successfully.
To be continue in Chapter 3.
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