"Do not give up. Roll your tongue more, Fillian..."
"Sir, it's been hours! I think my tongue is all dried up!"
"Then one more time before we take a break." A patient sigh. "Remember, apprentice, this is more for your benefit that it is mine."
The younger Omega pouted as he flopped down tiredly upon the bed, and glared blearily up at the ceiling. He winced when a finger poked him in his side. His large puppy brown eyes gazed up at the mentor whom he adored who remained unsatisfied.
"Well?"
He groaned again, taking in a few deep breaths, before he sat up and licked his lips.
"Je ris, tu ris, il rit..." he managed while wincing how his voice cracked at the end. "Nous rions, vous riez, ils... rent."
"Rient,." Connor corrected
His young apprentice rolled his eyes, sighing in exasperation, before both Assassins began to chuckle.
It felt good to laugh. Real laughter that was shared among close friends (and he tries not to shudder in disgust over that faux affection his other self and Lee had shared). He could not spend another day crying and sobbing over what had happened. Having Fillian cheer him up while being cloistered away at Franklin's townhouse, was what he had needed to get him through his mourning.
But sometimes it was painful seeing the youth smile back at him with wide adoring eyes. It did not take much for Connor to imagine sunny blue ones instead and dark brown hair instead of blonde. Fillian may have been a professional robber who fought with a hook similar to Joe's... but he reminded Connor of Clipper all the same.
His smile fell and quickly looked away when his apprentice sat up in concern. Connor waved it off as he tried not to think of his old friend, or how he had never truly avenged his death. Not yet anyway.
"Are you certain you want to come with me to Paris?" he asked the younger Omega. "Although I would appreciate your company and skills, do you not have other obligations here separate from the Brotherhood?"
"Not really now that that harpy is dead," Fillian answered with a grimace as he thought about his Templar sister. "Besides, never been outside the country before and always wanted to meet other Assassins. Is this William de Saint-Prix really an asshole like Caleb says he is?"
Connor laughed at that. "Well, ten years ago, they were both very young and immature."
"Aren't they both older than you?"
"Yes, which proves that age has nothing to do with maturity."
His nineteen year-old apprentice nodded in agreement.
"But thankfully, they have grown past their immaturity," Connor spoke in relief. "William can be rather strict, especially when it comes to his own recruits, but he both fair and kind. I think you would like him and his wife, Pierre."
"And this Pierre, he's a thief as well?" Fillian asked.
The older Omega nodded, smiling at the younger's interest.
"I am certain you two could learn from one another."
Fillian looked more excited than ever, and Connor wanted to remind his apprentice of the months of sea travel (and possible lightning storms they would encounter) , but held off as shiver ran up his spine.
Damn, his heat again.
The younger Omega immediately stood up, seeing his mentor begin to sway, and moved so they had switched places.
"I should let you rest. If you need anything, I'll be down in the..."
"I will be fine, Fillian," he assured the hesitant young Omega. "Go back to the bureau. Duncan probably needs all the help he can get there."
"If you're sure...."
"Do not worry. It is safe here."
His apprentice looked hesitant but nodded, and quietly slipped out of his room
Once alone, Connor curled up in bed once more.
He could not help but think of Thomas' funeral, and how he would miss the chance to give his beloved a proper farewell. The Assassin grit his teeth, as he furiously blinked back the tears he did not wish Fillian to see. Connor hoped that that bastard Lee would keep his word.
A/N: It's my headcannon but I imagine Connor, when he had the time, to teach his illiterate recruits how to read and write, and to become multilingual.
NON-FW - Shattered AU - Frostbite - Apple of Eden (alt. end ) 14
"You almost had it!"
An unsatisfied groan.
"Mentor, I don't think I can do this..."
"Do not give up. Roll your tongue more, Fillian..."
"Sir, it's been hours! I think my tongue is all dried up!"
"Then one more time before we take a break." A patient sigh. "Remember, apprentice, this is more for your benefit that it is mine."
The younger Omega pouted as he flopped down tiredly upon the bed, and glared blearily up at the ceiling. He winced when a finger poked him in his side. His large puppy brown eyes gazed up at the mentor whom he adored who remained unsatisfied.
"Well?"
He groaned again, taking in a few deep breaths, before he sat up and licked his lips.
"Je ris, tu ris, il rit..." he managed while wincing how his voice cracked at the end. "Nous rions, vous riez, ils... rent."
"Rient,." Connor corrected
His young apprentice rolled his eyes, sighing in exasperation, before both Assassins began to chuckle.
It felt good to laugh. Real laughter that was shared among close friends (and he tries not to shudder in disgust over that faux affection his other self and Lee had shared). He could not spend another day crying and sobbing over what had happened. Having Fillian cheer him up while being cloistered away at Franklin's townhouse, was what he had needed to get him through his mourning.
But sometimes it was painful seeing the youth smile back at him with wide adoring eyes. It did not take much for Connor to imagine sunny blue ones instead and dark brown hair instead of blonde. Fillian may have been a professional robber who fought with a hook similar to Joe's... but he reminded Connor of Clipper all the same.
His smile fell and quickly looked away when his apprentice sat up in concern. Connor waved it off as he tried not to think of his old friend, or how he had never truly avenged his death. Not yet anyway.
"Are you certain you want to come with me to Paris?" he asked the younger Omega. "Although I would appreciate your company and skills, do you not have other obligations here separate from the Brotherhood?"
"Not really now that that harpy is dead," Fillian answered with a grimace as he thought about his Templar sister. "Besides, never been outside the country before and always wanted to meet other Assassins. Is this William de Saint-Prix really an asshole like Caleb says he is?"
Connor laughed at that. "Well, ten years ago, they were both very young and immature."
"Aren't they both older than you?"
"Yes, which proves that age has nothing to do with maturity."
His nineteen year-old apprentice nodded in agreement.
"But thankfully, they have grown past their immaturity," Connor spoke in relief. "William can be rather strict, especially when it comes to his own recruits, but he both fair and kind. I think you would like him and his wife, Pierre."
"And this Pierre, he's a thief as well?" Fillian asked.
The older Omega nodded, smiling at the younger's interest.
"I am certain you two could learn from one another."
Fillian looked more excited than ever, and Connor wanted to remind his apprentice of the months of sea travel (and possible lightning storms they would encounter) , but held off as shiver ran up his spine.
Damn, his heat again.
The younger Omega immediately stood up, seeing his mentor begin to sway, and moved so they had switched places.
"I should let you rest. If you need anything, I'll be down in the..."
"I will be fine, Fillian," he assured the hesitant young Omega. "Go back to the bureau. Duncan probably needs all the help he can get there."
"If you're sure...."
"Do not worry. It is safe here."
His apprentice looked hesitant but nodded, and quietly slipped out of his room
Once alone, Connor curled up in bed once more.
He could not help but think of Thomas' funeral, and how he would miss the chance to give his beloved a proper farewell. The Assassin grit his teeth, as he furiously blinked back the tears he did not wish Fillian to see. Connor hoped that that bastard Lee would keep his word.
A/N: It's my headcannon but I imagine Connor, when he had the time, to teach his illiterate recruits how to read and write, and to become multilingual.