Edward Kenway stepped from the bus with a sigh. His mother, Jenny, had sent him to Boston in hopes that his uncle, Haytham, could do something with him. Not that he wanted his life to change. He was content to do odd jobs, and party like a rock star most nights. Guess Mom finally got sick of him getting drunk and waking up at noon.

Pulling his shades from his pocket, he covered his bloodshot eyes, and looked around at the people milling about. The ride on the Greyhound from Miami was not the most wonderful ride. He mainly sat there, staring at the scenery as it flew by.

"Edward!" His name reverberated through the terminal, and his eyes raised to find out who was calling for him.

His cousin Connor walked over, smile on his youthful face. He looked a lot like his father in many ways, more so since he had finally grown into his own skin. Dark brown hair topped his head, brown eyes that he had gotten from his mother, and the height that all the Kenway men had.

Edward was the opposite of his tanned skinned cousin. Shaggy blonde hair, royal blue eyes, and fair skin were what made up the features that he had inherited from a father he never knew. From what he learned, he had been conceived from a boyfriend long ago. Mom got pregnant, dead beat ran for the hills. Tessa hadn't been happy, but she had helped when she could.

"Long time no see, Edward. You should visit more often." Connor clasped him on the shoulder, and then made their way to pick up his only bag. His carry on was a small book bag that had what cash he had remaining, and a few electronics.

Looping the other strap over the other shoulder, the blonde shrugged. "Long trip."

They lapsed into silence. He didn't want to be here. Haytham wasn't the greatest person on the planet. He was strict, hard to get along with, and neither nephew nor uncle had ever gotten along. Edward should have traded his bus pass for a trip to California. There had to of been something out there he could have gotten into. Yeah, like trouble, the little voice in his head spoke, and it sounded a lot like his friend, Matt.

Once he had his bag, Connor led him out into the lot. "Dad got you a job. You start tomorrow."

"Do what?" That was something he wasn't expecting. "What the hell will I be cleaning?"

Haytham was one of the head curators at the museum in town. Most likely the man got him a job as a janitor or something on those lines. But Connor just shot him a smile over his shoulder, and pointed to the black truck in front of him. "Just throw your bag in the bed, and get in. I'll tell you on the ride to my place."

Throwing the bag over the side with ease, he got into the truck, and buckled up, slouching in the seat. "So I'm staying with you?" His cousin's dark head nodded. "Figured I'd be with your dad. You know, since my mother thinks a twenty-seven year old man needs a babysitter."

Starting the truck up, Connor looked over at him with a bored expression. "You are drunk nearly every night according to Aunt Jenny, and you party like a college kid. I personally think you need a babysitter too."

Edward's teeth began to grind as he looked at the man two years his junior. "Yeah well, I don't. My life was that, my life, before my mother decided to stick her nose into it."

Connor sighed as he backed the truck up, and then headed towards the street. "And from what I could hear from her conversation with Dad was, you have been evicted from every apartment you've ever had for one reason or another. Fighting, brawls in the parking lots, non-payment of rent. You haven't had a job in months, and you've probably nailed every woman in Miami. She's afraid you're either going to end up in jail, or dead somewhere. So, leaving you with no other option, she sent you up here for a fresh start." He snapped back, and Edward could have sworn he heard Uncle Haytham in that speech.

Grumbling, he wasn't in the mood for this shit. He didn't want to be here, and he surely didn't want a job that Haytham had gotten him. But for curiosity sake, he asked. "What job will I be doing?" he asked with a dejected sigh. Knowing that he didn't have money to make it anywhere, Edward would at least do the job until he got a few checks under his belt so his could blow the town for something warmer.

"Security."

And Edward growled in annoyance the following morning as he looked at the light tan uniform. At least I was allowed to keep my hair, he mused as he ran his fingers through the golden locks. Knowing he wasn't getting out of this, Edward changed quickly, throwing his stuff into a locker, and walked out the door.

"Edward." His uncle's deep voice caused him to turn in that direction. Haytham walked up with another guard, a man probably about his age, but red hair buzzed short, making it look like someone had hit his head with a can of copper spray paint. "This is Seth Bellucci, he'll be showing you the robes for the day." And in a slight whisper, his uncle kept his eyes on Edward but addressed the other man. "Do not let him out of your sight." And with that, he walked away, back straight, and head high.

"Asshole." He muttered to himself, but Seth heard it and grinned.

"I try to steer clear of him most days. He's a little… hard to handle on most days." The guy motioned him forward.

Cracking a grin of his own, he added. "Just be glad you're not related to him."

Seth laughed as they rounded a corner. "Then I'll pity you now. I say the same to Connor too."

He was already starting to like this guy. "So what's job entail? Walking around making sure people don't take anything?"

"Sort of. Most of the time, we just walk the halls, check to make sure guests are where they're supposed to be, and the deliveries are taken to the proper places." Opening a door and walking through, Seth waved at a fellow guard, who waved back. "This is the break area. Coffee and tea are free. Fridge over there, and there's a shit ton of vending machines. Two fifteens and a half hour. There's ten guards per shift and every two weeks we switch from first to second, then back." They walked through the break room, and into another hall.

"So who was that?" Asking about the other guard.

"That's Caleb Hill. He's mainly out in the shack watching the back lot. I think Malik's out there right now. You'll meet him later. Sarcastic for the most part, but a cool guy. Most of us are friends. There's two women that work here. Mary Read, and Anne Bonny. Be careful around Mary. She's a ball buster, and blunt to a fault. Anne's her best friend, and makes up for Mary's blunt personality."

Mentally filing it away, he nodded. "Anyone else I should know about?" he asked.

"Mal's best friend, Altair. He's on second right now, so you might see him in passing. Can't miss him. The guy used to give me the creeps when I first started here. He has this look that makes you think he's already killed you a dozen different ways in his head, but hasn't had a good reason to do it in life. Malik and Altair have been here for roughly about four years. I've been here two and a half. It's a good job." They came to the end of another hall, and in front of them was a door labeled security.

They passed through, and a pretty girl behind the desk looked up, offering a smile. "Hey Seth, what brings you to my dungeon of horrors today?" She rested a mocha cheek on her palm.

"Aveline de Grandpre, meet our newest guard, Edward Kenway."

Edward gave a nod of the head, and a smile. Aveline did the same. "So, you're Connor's cousin. He's been talking about you coming up since last week. Said with you here he might be able to get his dad off his ass for a few seconds." She chuckled, and reached for something on the desk, then held up the badge. "Seth will get your picture, and you can get out on the floor."

With a slight wave, the two men walked into the other room, where a computer was set up, and a camera. "Have a seat, and we'll get this done as quickly as possible."

Doing as he was asked, the picture was taken in a few minutes, and they were on their way once more. Trying to figure something for small talk, Edward asked. "Not meaning to pry, but you're not from around here, are you?"

"Nope." Seth answered. "Born and raised in the great state of Alabama. Moved up here with my ex, Tori, and when we split, I kind of took a shine to being up north. Izzy, my baby sister, came up not too long ago just to visit, but stayed as well. She works with Shaun's girlfriend over at a design studio not far from here. They do all the banners and the layouts for the new displays."

He nodded his head in understanding, and caught the undernote of a protective big brother. "So, what you're telling me is to stay away from your sister."

Giving him a thumbs up, the other man nodded. "You got it. You catch on quick."

The rest of the day went smoothly, and he finally caught a glimpse of the man Seth had warned him about. He looked intimidating, but Edward had seen worse, and probably went up against worse. His favorite haunt was a bar down by the wharf that was mainly inhabited by the most unsavory people humanity had ever produced. Many of them didn't need a reason to slip a knife into your ribs, or put a bullet in your head.

Ah, those were the good old days, and now… Now he was a security guard under the watchful eye of his uncle, who had a cob up his ass so far a suppository wouldn't help him out. Oh and to top it off, Connor wasn't about to let him out of his sight as well. Stupid uncle, stupid cousin. He really should have went to California instead. Screw Matt and his annoying voice of reason.