Hello lovelies. Finally got another chapter up, though this one is less plot oriented and more focused on character backgrounds. This marks a pivotal change in Connor and Neela's relationship, so I couldn't leave it out if I wanted to. So I added some fluffiness and action to get you guys through it. I mean, come on, what would my story be if there were no awkward situations? Boring, that's what. But unfortunately, both of our main characters are hopelessly lost when it comes to matters of love, so it's okay to give a nudge every once in a while. It's not my fault if they don't understand my nudges. I guess eventually i'll have to shove them instead, but until then, enjoy the innocence. I do not own AC3, Connor would have had a happier ending if I did.
The Test
After a very long conversation that took, approximately two hours to complete, one that involved Templars and Assassins and "the Ones Who Came Before", my brain was just about ready to spontaneously combust. Too much information, too much shock, too little time to properly absorb it all.
"So, if I may clarify for a moment, you," I pointed at Achilles, "used to be an Assassin for this 'brotherhood' and trained him," I pointed at Connor, "to slink around the shadows killing evil people like his father with a multitude of weapons so said evil people can't take over the world." I summarized, still a bit mystified.
"That sounds about right." Achilles affirmed, completely serious. I sat back heavily in my chair, trying to take it in. The man I had grown so fond of had killed so many? If that was so, then why didn't I feel scared? As I looked at him now, I felt my heart start to race from everything but fear. I couldn't even dredge up a sense of wrongness from it.
There wasn't anything wrong with it. As far as I was concerned, his views aligned with mine. What he fought for was honorable, something I myself have been fighting for for a while now, only not as openly. So, why not join him? There was nothing holding me back now that I had been run out of my own town, now that I was already a criminal.
I smiled wide, thoroughly shocking both men. They apparently had been expecting a very different reaction to their story, running for my life perhaps. But I had already emerged myself too deeply into their cause, had spent too much time around the clearly lethal hooded man to give into cowardice. I was far too intrigued by my savior and his story to bow out now.
"I'd like to help." I proclaimed, still grinning. Of course, I didn't know then what my words truly implied, but at that moment in time I was committed. Their story had moved me. Connor had moved me. I found myself willing to give up whatever semblance of life I had left for his cause.
"Do you know what it is you are asking for, girl? What it could mean for you?" Achilles asked skeptically. I turned a determined eye on him, already having made up my mind. Nothing could dissuade me once I had decided my loyalties. Last night had only solidified what was already there.
"No, I do not. But I am willing to find out. I know the city, the people. Gathering information should not be a problem for me. I can also handle myself in a fight, provided I have access to my weapon. And I have knowledge of medicinal herbs that can help Mr. Reckless here if he gets injured." I jerked my head towards Connor, who gave me a stern look that clearly said "I won't get hurt".
"And yes, you can get hurt. Remember the first time I met you? If I hadn't helped you, your wound might have become infected and you could have died from it. So don't try telling me that I wouldn't be of help to you." I answered his unspoken thoughts. He looked away with that stone look on his face, though somehow managing to remind me of a sulking child. Ever the stoic persona. I would break through that eventually.
"You make an excellent point, but I'm afraid I cannot send you into battle as you are now..."
"Please teach me then Achilles! I am a fast learner, I promise!" I said, a bit too enthusiastically. Achilles held up one calloused hand and I sat back. He was the kind of person that demanded respect and attention without ever having to raise his voice above a whisper. He looked me over and sighed.
"I will not train you." He said with finality.
"But..." I began to protest.
"Let me finish. I will not train you," he told me solemnly, then smiled deviously in that way that only old men can, the way that makes you think they're up to something, "but he will." He jerked his head toward Connor, whose head snapped up.
"He will?" I asked, delighted.
"I will?" Connor asked more incredulously, dropping his mask for a split second in his surprise. Achilles nodded.
"Yes, think of it as the last training I have for you. I like this girl. I see potential in her. You will train her as your apprentice, it is up to you whether she will be an asset or a burden. You start today. Good luck." He finished, before standing up and leaving. Connor and I just kind of sat there for a while, shocked. There was a bubbling feeling in my chest, and I could barely even name it before I let it out in the form of an overjoyed whoop.
Connor was startled by my action, and gave me a look like I was mad, but I ignored it. I jumped out of my seat and gave Connor a big grin, excited to start training. With him, my subconscious murmured. Oh lord, I was in trouble. I shook my head to rid myself of that train of thought.
"So master, shall we get started?" I beat my eyelashes at him in an obvious and humorous attempt to suck up to him. He stared at me for a while before sighing. He turned and walked out the front door. I took this as a silent affirmation and grinned.
I followed closely behind him as we made our way onto the front walkway. I had never spent much time anywhere but Boston or the forest directly outside of it, so a new place was a bit nerve racking for me. I looked around me, taking in all the sights and sounds.
Directly to my left, I saw a hatchet with a yellow handle buried deep into the side of one of the white pillars holding up the overhanging of the front entrance. I wondered why it would be placed in such an unusual and conspicuous place, though something told me it would not be wise to remove it.
A little ways away I could hear the sound of two arguing men, a few women having a pleasant conversation, the sound of a plough hitting the ground and the wind blowing through the trees. Overall, it was a very peaceful feeling, much more tranquil than the boisterous and almost hostile atmosphere I was used to seeing in the city. I found myself taking a deep breath of autumn air, trying to take it all in.
Connor stopped in front of me suddenly and I plowed into his broad back. I rubbed my aching nose where it hit the quiver that was slung over his shoulder. We had stopped in the backyard near the stables, though the open space looked to have no particular importance. I wondered briefly why we had stopped there. Without turning to look at me, he spoke.
"Let us see what you are capable of."
At first, I didn't understand what he was talking about. But then I heard metal scrape on metal, a sound I was becoming increasingly familiar with, and I realized what it was a moment before it came hurtling at me. I ducked with a girlish squeal as his hidden blade passed inches above my head. I rolled to the side and his tomahawk came smashing down into the grass where my head had been a moment ago. I turned slightly to look at its gleaming sharp edge in the ground an inch away from my eyes and gulped, imagining it impaled in my skull. I had seen first hand the damage that weapon could inflict, and had absolutely no desire to find out for myself whether it hurt as much as the pained screams of the soldiers had made it out to be.
"N-Now Connor, I know you may not like having to teach me," I jumped up as the tomahawk passed under me at knee level, "but don't you think," I leaned back to avoid a blow to the head, "that trying to kill me is a bit melodramatic?" I finished, back hand springing out of the range of a double weapon attack. The fact that I had already witnessed his fighting style, already knew that he was a dual weapons specialist, made it easier to predict his movements. I had never been so grateful for my fighting lessons with Finley than I was now. Had I not gained such valuable knowledge, I would have been dead in seconds. It was easy to see how easy it would be for him to kill an unsuspecting guard with neither the skills nor the foresight to defend himself.
My breath was coming fast and I felt myself working on pure adrenaline. He may be more powerful than me but I was smaller and lighter, which meant dodging was easier for me than it was for him. But it took all of my concentration. One misstep and I was a dead woman. I could barely keep my head on my shoulders as it was.
"Draw your weapon!" He demanded, apparently frustrated at my evasions. He attacked again, and the blade came so close to my ear that I could hear the wind whistle past me. Truth be told, I had forgotten all about my dagger, as my mind was otherwise occupied at that moment. But I couldn't find a time in between his attacks to draw it. My only chance of getting away alive was run, but he was probably faster than me. If only I could immobilize him for a second, I could get away... That's it!
"If you insist!" I jumped through the opening between his legs, which I had noticed he kept far enough apart in his fighting stance for me to fit through, and summer-salted. I pulled my dagger from my belt and plunged it into the dirt with all my strength, catching the tail of his jacket as I did and pinning it into the ground. I didn't waste a moment. I rolled away to avoid another possible attack and made a break for it. That should hold him long enough for what I had in mind.
I heard a grunt as the dagger slipped out of the ground, followed shortly after by pounding footsteps. I set my sights on the flagpole. It was the closest and highest thing that I knew I could climb. I would have preferred a tree but Connor was gaining on me and I knew I would be caught before I got to the forest's edge. When I reached the bottom of the flag pole I quickly scurried up to the top, as nimble as a squirrel, using my inner thighs and ankles as clamps to hold myself. I perched at the top looking down at Connor who was standing at the base. I waved to him.
"Come back down here!" He yelled up to me. I snorted loudly. He had just tried to kill me for the, what was it, third time? And he wanted me to come back down?
"No I think I'll stay right here, thank you very much. I'm not quite ready to die just yet." I shouted back. I prepared to make myself comfortable. Well as comfortable as I could be at the top of a flag pole. It was rather cold this far up and the chilled wind rustled the loose hair around my face that had escaped it's plait. I shivered and wished for the warmth of my cloak. Or better yet, the soft furs I had slept with last night.
"I do not wish to harm you, just come down!" He shouted. I shook my head, half teasing him and half seriously fearing for my life. What if it was a trick to lure me into the range of that deadly tomahawk again? I'd prefer to to take my chances and remain here in the relative safety of my view point.
"Says the man who was swinging a tomahawk at my head a moment ago!" I countered him.
"If you won't come down willingly, I will force you!" He sounded annoyed yet confident at the same time. I wanted to see what he meant but I was too busy readjusting my balance.
"And how, pray tell, do you plan to do that...Ack!" I ducked as an arrow came whizzing by my head. "What happened to not hurting me?!" I shouted, a little breathless.
"That privilege is reserved for people on the ground." I could hear the amusement in his voice, and wanted desperately to look down and see if there might possibly be a smile on his face, but was too busy regaining my grip on the pole to do so. Another arrow shot towards me and I leaned away to avoid it, noticing a moment too late that I had lost my precariously perched position. I scrambled to regain my placement but I was already falling. My heart leaped into my throat. I opened my mouth to scream but what came out surprised me.
"CONNOR!" I shrieked, the same way I had last night, as I plummeted to my death. It seemed his name was an instinctive reaction my mind gave when faced with danger, no doubt having something to do with the psychological trauma that last night had given me. I squeezed my eyes closed as the wind rushed past me and braced myself.
But the impact never came, and I was left to ponder why I wasn't dead. I was laying on something warm and I could hear a loud thumping like a drum in my ear. I opened one eye, then the other, wondering why I wasn't at least in excruciating pain. Directly in front of my eyes I saw red-brown skin and a necklace with three long teeth, fangs of some sort, dangling from it and resting against the hollow above his collarbone. I let my eyes travel upwards slowly, a thick neck, a defined jaw, a strong nose, a faded scar just below his right eye, a spattering of barely distinguishable freckles on high set cheek bones, and finally, a set of dark eyelashes closed over golden brown eyes. I stared at him, mostly because he wasn't looking, and again noticed how handsome he was.
And then I realized what must have happened. Had I fallen on him?
"Oh, Connor, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to fall on you! Are you alright? Are you dead?" I exclaimed frantically. I tried to crawl up from where I lay on his chest to get a better look at his face, to make sure there were no serious injuries, but found I couldn't. I looked down to see what was impeding my movement and saw that his arms were wrapped around my waist. I could feel the blood rush to my face.
"Death has not claimed me just yet." Connor said and I looked down to see that his beautiful brown eyes were now open and looking at me. I smiled, seeing that he was okay. "I managed to catch you before you hit the ground." He sat up and I blushed again. He moved me off his lap and I'm sure my face was about the color of ripe tomatoes just before harvest.
"Thank you then." I said, a bit sheepish at the thought that he'd had to save me a second time within a two day span. He stood up and brushed off his dusty white robes. Back to saying nothing. I'd finally had a decent conversation with him and it was while he was trying to kill me. I sighed.
He offered his hand to help me up and I took it gratefully. His hands where large and calloused, no doubt a product of his constant training, and my comparatively small hand slid easily into it. He hauled me up, though a bit more forcefully than I had been expecting, obviously overestimating my weight. I flew up and hit his hard chest with a thump.
I backed away quickly with my head down, hiding my blushing face. I had never been much of a blusher, had never had a reason to. But ever since I'd met Connor, it was like everyday was a contest to see how red I could get. It made me feel almost like a normal girl, the kind I saw every day on the streets giggling and gossiping in tightly knit groups on the roadside. What was he doing to me?
I felt something warm trickle down my cheek and onto my neck. It felt almost like a bug crawling down my face. I touched my fingers to the itchy tingling, curious. But when I brought my hand away, my eyes widened when I found it stained red.
I slapped my hand back to my cheek, trying to stop the blood flow. The gash from when James had hit me had obviously reopened during either the fight or the fall. I crouched to the ground and pulled some bandages from my pack, cursing myself as I did. I tried my hardest not to get any of my blood on Connor's old shirt, feeling bad that I should stain another's borrowed garments, especially ones as lovely as these, the first day I had received them.
Ruffling through my bag with one hand made it significantly more challenging. Finally finding the bandages I needed, I unrolled them, always careful that none of the blood dripping from the wound got on the shirt. But then I had another problem, the cut was too bloody to bandage by the time I had it out. I cursed myself again.
"Let me help you." A surprisingly gentle hand turned my chin to look at Connor, who had miraculously retrieved a wet rag from somewhere, most likely the stables a short distance away. He sat me down cross-legged in front of him while he kneeled and gently started cleaning my wound. I couldn't stop myself from staring at him while he did. He didn't have his usual stony expression on. It was now soft and peaceful, the face he only ever showed when he was helping someone. It smoothed all of the hard lines of his face, and a man who had just appeared to be maybe thirty morphed into someone much younger before my very eyes. It was fascinating to watch. I had to say, I much preferred this look on him than the one he usually carried around.
As he was finishing up, he suddenly looked down into my eyes. I looked away, embarrassed to have been caught staring. I could still feel the heat in my face, and the tingling sensation that occurred when his fingers brushed across my skin. I could only hope he didn't notice.
"Thank you. It seems the tides have turned. Now you're the one saving me all the time." Was that a smile? I could have sworn I just saw the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. But before I had the chance to confirm my suspicions, it was gone, and his usual stoic expression was back. I sighed. Maybe someday.
Connor got to his feet once more and again offered a hand to help me. I obliged, cautiously getting up to my feet. He handed me my dagger back. I looked at him questioningly, suddenly remembering that he could have fatally wounded me in that fight just now. Had come dangerously close to doing so multiple times.
"Achilles was right. There is great potential in you. When matched with a superior opponent, you are light on your feet, quick in your judgement and decisions, knowledgeable in how to read the other's movements, prepared to use your strengths to your advantage, and you are most impressively resourceful. However, you lack conviction in wielding your weapon and are impulsive. The flagpole, while inaccessible to most, is not suitable when trying to evade a pursuer that is right on your heels. Once you get up, you are trapped, and if they were to have a long range weapon, such as a gun or a bow, you are dead. There must always be a path for escape, you must always think a step ahead. And most importantly, you must never be cornered." I stared, baffled. That must have been the longest speech I'd heard him make thus far.
So that fight was just a test? He wasn't actually trying to kill me? Well, that was relieving in a sense. But what a horrible kind of test! I thought I would die! Though that may have been the point and it did make sense. Oh well. What he said was true when I thought about it. I was actually impressed that he'd managed to pick all that up from just one bout.
"Also, you are reluctant to draw your weapon on the opponent..." He continued. I raised my hand, cutting off that particular line of analysis because, though it may have been true for that specific fight, it was not always.
"Only on people I consider to be close to me. I admit, I don't have what it takes to kill someone I care about unprovoked, so don't attempt to ask. However, there have been many a time when I've had to use my dagger for more than just parlor tricks." I said solemnly, remembering the one specific time where I'd had to kill a man. It was not something I looked back on warmly. More that, it had been the day I'd truly lost my innocence, had truly become part of the resistance. I must have had some kind of expression on my face because it alerted Connor to my uneasy state.
"When was this?" He asked. I could here genuine curiosity in his voice, a rare happening, so I decided to indulge it in hopes of more. Plus, maybe talking about it with someone other than Finley would do me good.
"It was when I was fourteen. Me and my friend Finley were trouble makers, always have been, but just before that, Finley had gotten mixed up with the wrong sort. He had pretty much grown up on the streets, bringing in money for him and his mother while his father was drinking away in the pubs, so he was no stranger to the darker side of Boston. He was the one who taught me how to fight, actually. Anyways, a week after he'd gotten into a tangle with some Redcoat soldiers off duty, we were walking back from the market. Apparently they got drunk and decided they wanted revenge on him, and didn't care that I was their while they took it. There were maybe six of them in all. They pulled weapons on Finley, and it was clear they weren't going to let him go alive. So we fought them off, me with my dagger and Finley with his kitchen knife. We managed to incapacitate most of them but, as Finley was finishing up with his last one, I saw another sneak up behind him with a club. I didn't even have time to think. I just swung my dagger around and stabbed him in the back. I watched him fall, and waited for him to stand back up, but he never did. He was the first, the only man I have ever killed." I was too caught up in the memory to see the sad look Connor gave me.
I did not regret the action I took so long ago, as I had grown stronger for it. I only wished the moment I'd had to kill did not come so early. I shook my head, as if to clear the unpleasant thoughts from my mind.
"That's all in the past now though. I've long since come to terms with it. He was a bad person, no one missed him when he was gone, not even his drunkard buddies. If it's those kinds of people, people who hurt others from evil motivation or selfish gain, I am confident that my blade will not fail. However, the moment you ask me to draw my weapon on an innocent, or someone that I deem a good and honest person, that is when I will leave." I told him, completely serious about every word I said. I would not sign up to be a slave of the Brotherhood, I would choose who I would kill. I gave him a moment to take in what I said before he nodded, apparently having accepted my terms. He then seemed to remember something.
"Why then, did you not strike me? I am not innocent, I have killed hundreds of men, so many lives I cannot even count them. Why did you stay your hand?" He asked cautiously. I didn't even need to think to answer. I already knew. I would only tell him part of it though. I smiled at him.
"Because you are good, Connor. You do not kill innocents, just like I don't. You are honest and kind and humble. You strive to do the right thing, always, even when others don't have the courage. I admire you for that." Everything I just said was the truth, undeniable as it was unchangeable. I had spoken every word from the heart, hoping that maybe he would see what I see. I knew that, even though he understood that it was what he must do, deep down inside he regretted having to take human life. And for a single second, he dropped his mask and I could see just how shocked he was by my words.
There were so many things I wished to do. Before I met Connor, I did small things. I would vandalize British wagons, blow up supplies (that had been an accident), throw stink bombs into the portholes of British frigates. Now I had the opportunity to accomplish so much more. I could finally make a difference with my own hands.
I decided, right then and there, that I would give this my life. My all. I would be Connor's shadow, his shield, his weapon, whatever he needed me to be. If death was required, I would gladly give it in his place. In order to finally see love grace this land instead of the fear and hate that had been possessing it ever since I was a child, I would be an Assassin.
"So," I said, pulling out my dagger, "where do we start?"
I hope you guys are recognizing that they are finally getting to know each other. Sorry guys, I don't do half-assed characters. This story is going to be the soul searching kind. So any of you that like a quick hook up, it's probably not going to happen, though I do plan to have some of that good stuff, and more, later. Neither of them, especially Connor, can even fathom the concept of a relationship yet, mostly because neither of them has been in a proper relationship before. You may not see it, but Connor is slowly growing attached to the girl. It will grow more pronounced later on. Either next chapter or the one after that will be the start of a mission so keep reading. Also, I really appreciate reviews. Without them, I lose my motivation to write. So just keep reviewing and you'll have more chapters. Love you guys!
