Connor wiped away his tears as he walked through the empty settlement that had once been his home. The Omega could not help but pause more than once, as he came across familiar sights, that brought back memories of his youth. Had it truly been almost seventeen years since he had left everything behind; in hope that he could save his people and their land?
Large hands rubbed soothingly upon his tense shoulders, and he turned to see his head to stare somberly back at his husband-to-be. Both Charles and his father looked regretful, but eager to see what his people had left behind for him. With a soft sigh, he continued on, leading them to the long house where he knew where the second Apple would be waiting for him.
"I am home..." he spoke softly upon entering.
He could only imagine his best friend, Kanen'tó:kon, rushing up towards him; the Alpha would practically lift Connor off his feet while enveloping him in a big hug. His old childhood friends - Teiowí:sonte and his brother Kahionhaténion - would join in, and together, they would laugh and reminisce over old adventures and childish pranks.
But the reunion was not to be. His people had moved on, leaving the land they had protected for hundreds of years. He would find out why, the spirit had to know.
It did not take him long to identify the box that his Clan Mother had shown him before his Spirit Journey. With a deep breath, he opened it and stared at the crystal replica that the King wielded. Both Templars were leaning over him, their eyes wide and hopeful.
"Is that...?" his beloved began to inquire.
The Omega nodded as he picked up the crystal sphere with both hands.
"It is the door," he replied, not even flinching as he began to glow within his palms, bathing the room in a pale gold light.
----
"W-What the devil?!"
Connor heard Charles Lee's startled voice as he slowly opened his amber-brown eyes. The Assassin calmly regarded the dark shadows, the eerie golden light that spilled from the ever changing scenery of glowing glyphs and lines that ran in all directions. His hands, now empty, reached up to touch one of glowing symbols before him, and watched as it broke apart in the glowing shapes of numbers and symbols.
"Where are we?" his father asked as both he and Lee stared bewilderedly at their surroundings.
He regarded them stoically, his amber-brown meeting the wide disbelieving blue ones of the Alpha who had enslaved him.
"Assassin!" Charles hissed, hand flying to the Apple at his side. "How did you-"
Connor ignored him and glanced at his father, deciding to answer his question at least.
"We are in what is called the 'Nexus'," the Omega explained briefly from what he was able to recall from memory. "This is where the Spirit has communicated with my people, and where she has shown probabilities as well as the proper path for those on their Spirit Journey must take."
The Templar Grandmaster looked as if he wanted to say something, but suddenly went still; his eyes focusing on something behind Connor. Seeing a similar stunned expression on Lee's face, he had a fairly good idea what they were so mesmerized by. Or rather, who...
He turned around once more, breath hitching in his throat as the Spirit he had met long ago, hovered before him. She took the form of a rather pale woman. Whose skin was as white as snow, the same color of her gown. Upon her head of long dark hair, was a silver crown veil. But what was rather striking about this apparition, was her piercing amber eyes, glowing like liquid gold.
"Ah, long have I waited for you to return, Guardian."
Her voice was clear and resonant when she spoke. The sound echoing off the unseen walls that surrounded them.
"It pleases me to see how you have grown. From a young child, into a strong and formidable protector."
Protector? Oh how he had thought himself thus.
"You are wrong!" he could not help but cry out, shaking his head with an anguish look upon his face. "I have failed my duty to my people and the Brotherhood. I could not save anyone."
Not George or Thomas, the two Alphas who could have lead this country to freedom.
Not his comrades, both old and new, who had adored him as their mentor despite being an utter failure.
"You have succeeded," The Spirit disagreed. "Had you given into your despair long ago, you would died before having the chance to give birth. Your son would have never come to exist, and your long lineage would have ended with you."
Connor could not imagine it, a world without his little Haytham. The child was the only ray of light in his dark prison. But he was so confused! And how did his son factor into all of this?
Also...
"What of my people?" he demanded. "Were they chased away? Why did they leave?"
"Your people's purpose was to protect this place. But they no longer need to fulfill this duty anymore, and have moved on."
They were not needed, therefore they had been discarded?
"I do not understand! Please, I implore you, to explain."
She regarded him patiently, like an adult would with a temperamental child.
"I told you long ago, to seek this symbol..."
The insignia of the Assassin Brotherhood glowed brightly before him.
"...Had you remained with your people, you would have been destroyed along with your village by the once Commander of men who first razed it to ground."
The light twisted into many shapes until it formed the image of George Washington. His first love.. and the man ultimately responsible for his mother's death. He had been so heartbroken to have learned of this, even many months after the Alpha's death.
"However, because of his feelings of affection and respect for you, he changed his opinion of your people. They had been spared another attack," she explained.
This he knew as well. For that reason, he had forgiven George. He had even avenged his death by killing Thomas Hickey, who had been paraded around like some hero for such a long time.
"Yet, even as a great leader to this country, this Commander could have been... he would not have been able to sire children upon you."
With a dismissive wave, Washington's face vanished.
Connor paled, his knees buckled.
He did not understand... or rather, he did not want to understand.
"Please," he could not beg while feeling sick to his stomach. "Please tell me that I did not leave my people and home behind, that I did not lead my comrades to their deaths and into slavery, as I soaked myself in blood and tears... just to be impregnated by my nemesis."
Speaking of whom, the Assassin had forgotten that Lee and his father were present and listening to their conversation. The Spirit's burning amber gaze briefly glanced at both of them, though lingering a little longer upon his father, before focusing on Connor once more.
"You are a sacrifice, but one not made in vain."
Her words stabbed into him deeply. Even though he was physically fine, Connor still felt light headed and faint. A part of him was bleeding profusely... a part of him was dying.
"I have explained to you before, child, that you are connected to many who have changed the world. Through you, your children and your descendents will change the world will continue to change world. Until in time, what once was shall be again."
The Spirit who had condemned him to such a horrid fate, fluttered past Connor to speak with his tormentor. He did not even hear their conversation, as the Omega fell to his knees, completely in shock as he stared dead ahead at nothing.
A sacrifice?
Was that all?
Was he only destined to the wife of a man who was in love with a delusion but truly despised him?
Was he really so worthless?
----
Connor was going to be married the day after tomorrow.
Lee would not be marrying him, of course, but that other version of himself that the Apple had created. He could not even refer to his other self as a "puppet" any longer. As he watched from his prison, the Omega could not help but noticed how "real" the other Connor seemed.
That Connor was happy. His son adored him. While his true self, lay like a discarded and broken toy that a child no longer loved or wished to play with.
He felt broken.
Everything he had strived for, the Spirit had told him that it did not exist. Freedom was a lie... and now he felt it, whenever the Apple's power took hold of him. Not just Lee's apple, but the crystal one that he held for the first time.
Its power had given him hope that he save people and fight oppression wherever he saw it. He had believed himself an Assassin, a warrior. But the truth was, he was just a sacrifice. Just a pig for slaughter.
"Still sulking?"
The Omega who had been staring up at the ceiling of his quarters, made no movement as Lee hovered over him. They had not spoken on the ride back, and surprisingly his tormentor did not use the Apple on him. Perhaps, he wanted to revel in the Assassin's misery a little while longer.
Strangely, he could bring himself to glare at the man. Connor was tired. He was too tired to hate Lee, or that Spirit, or even the Apple controlled Haytham Kenway who was practically pushing them to get married as soon as possible. It was for the children's sake.
Connor bit his lip, reminding himself, again, that it would not be him. He would be alone for the rest of his life, while his other self would be surrounded by friends and family.
Lee swooped down and kissed him roughly, hands groped at his arse from beneath his nightshirt. His body arched when the Alpha pulled away to retrieve that golden sphere. For his husband-to-be wanted to make love with the other Connor and not him.
"Wait..." he whispered, finally speaking for the first time since their return from his empty village.
"What, Assassin?"
Connor cringed at that title, for it no longer held any meaning for him. Just cruel reminder, of his failures.
"Before you seal me away, may I ask one thing of you?"
Lee frowned in impatience. "You may ask, but I won't promise anything."
The broken Omega nodded.
"Well?"
"I... just one time, I want you to treat me as you do your Connor." He watched those blue eyes stare at him in disbelief, as he struggled with the rest of his request. "Will you make love to me?"
It was strange, for him to feel so envious of a puppet's happiness... but the Apple had made it all possible with its poison.
NON-FW - Shattered AU - Frostbite - Apple of Eden (alt. end ) 36
A/N: Warning, insomnia writing up ahead
Connor wiped away his tears as he walked through the empty settlement that had once been his home. The Omega could not help but pause more than once, as he came across familiar sights, that brought back memories of his youth. Had it truly been almost seventeen years since he had left everything behind; in hope that he could save his people and their land?
Large hands rubbed soothingly upon his tense shoulders, and he turned to see his head to stare somberly back at his husband-to-be. Both Charles and his father looked regretful, but eager to see what his people had left behind for him. With a soft sigh, he continued on, leading them to the long house where he knew where the second Apple would be waiting for him.
"I am home..." he spoke softly upon entering.
He could only imagine his best friend, Kanen'tó:kon, rushing up towards him; the Alpha would practically lift Connor off his feet while enveloping him in a big hug. His old childhood friends - Teiowí:sonte and his brother Kahionhaténion - would join in, and together, they would laugh and reminisce over old adventures and childish pranks.
But the reunion was not to be. His people had moved on, leaving the land they had protected for hundreds of years. He would find out why, the spirit had to know.
It did not take him long to identify the box that his Clan Mother had shown him before his Spirit Journey. With a deep breath, he opened it and stared at the crystal replica that the King wielded. Both Templars were leaning over him, their eyes wide and hopeful.
"Is that...?" his beloved began to inquire.
The Omega nodded as he picked up the crystal sphere with both hands.
"It is the door," he replied, not even flinching as he began to glow within his palms, bathing the room in a pale gold light.
----
"W-What the devil?!"
Connor heard Charles Lee's startled voice as he slowly opened his amber-brown eyes. The Assassin calmly regarded the dark shadows, the eerie golden light that spilled from the ever changing scenery of glowing glyphs and lines that ran in all directions. His hands, now empty, reached up to touch one of glowing symbols before him, and watched as it broke apart in the glowing shapes of numbers and symbols.
"Where are we?" his father asked as both he and Lee stared bewilderedly at their surroundings.
He regarded them stoically, his amber-brown meeting the wide disbelieving blue ones of the Alpha who had enslaved him.
"Assassin!" Charles hissed, hand flying to the Apple at his side. "How did you-"
Connor ignored him and glanced at his father, deciding to answer his question at least.
"We are in what is called the 'Nexus'," the Omega explained briefly from what he was able to recall from memory. "This is where the Spirit has communicated with my people, and where she has shown probabilities as well as the proper path for those on their Spirit Journey must take."
The Templar Grandmaster looked as if he wanted to say something, but suddenly went still; his eyes focusing on something behind Connor. Seeing a similar stunned expression on Lee's face, he had a fairly good idea what they were so mesmerized by. Or rather, who...
He turned around once more, breath hitching in his throat as the Spirit he had met long ago, hovered before him. She took the form of a rather pale woman. Whose skin was as white as snow, the same color of her gown. Upon her head of long dark hair, was a silver crown veil. But what was rather striking about this apparition, was her piercing amber eyes, glowing like liquid gold.
"Ah, long have I waited for you to return, Guardian."
Her voice was clear and resonant when she spoke. The sound echoing off the unseen walls that surrounded them.
"It pleases me to see how you have grown. From a young child, into a strong and formidable protector."
Protector? Oh how he had thought himself thus.
"You are wrong!" he could not help but cry out, shaking his head with an anguish look upon his face. "I have failed my duty to my people and the Brotherhood. I could not save anyone."
Not George or Thomas, the two Alphas who could have lead this country to freedom.
Not his comrades, both old and new, who had adored him as their mentor despite being an utter failure.
"You have succeeded," The Spirit disagreed. "Had you given into your despair long ago, you would died before having the chance to give birth. Your son would have never come to exist, and your long lineage would have ended with you."
Connor could not imagine it, a world without his little Haytham. The child was the only ray of light in his dark prison. But he was so confused! And how did his son factor into all of this?
Also...
"What of my people?" he demanded. "Were they chased away? Why did they leave?"
"Your people's purpose was to protect this place. But they no longer need to fulfill this duty anymore, and have moved on."
They were not needed, therefore they had been discarded?
"I do not understand! Please, I implore you, to explain."
She regarded him patiently, like an adult would with a temperamental child.
"I told you long ago, to seek this symbol..."
The insignia of the Assassin Brotherhood glowed brightly before him.
"...Had you remained with your people, you would have been destroyed along with your village by the once Commander of men who first razed it to ground."
The light twisted into many shapes until it formed the image of George Washington. His first love.. and the man ultimately responsible for his mother's death. He had been so heartbroken to have learned of this, even many months after the Alpha's death.
"However, because of his feelings of affection and respect for you, he changed his opinion of your people. They had been spared another attack," she explained.
This he knew as well. For that reason, he had forgiven George. He had even avenged his death by killing Thomas Hickey, who had been paraded around like some hero for such a long time.
"Yet, even as a great leader to this country, this Commander could have been... he would not have been able to sire children upon you."
With a dismissive wave, Washington's face vanished.
Connor paled, his knees buckled.
He did not understand... or rather, he did not want to understand.
"Please," he could not beg while feeling sick to his stomach. "Please tell me that I did not leave my people and home behind, that I did not lead my comrades to their deaths and into slavery, as I soaked myself in blood and tears... just to be impregnated by my nemesis."
Speaking of whom, the Assassin had forgotten that Lee and his father were present and listening to their conversation. The Spirit's burning amber gaze briefly glanced at both of them, though lingering a little longer upon his father, before focusing on Connor once more.
"You are a sacrifice, but one not made in vain."
Her words stabbed into him deeply. Even though he was physically fine, Connor still felt light headed and faint. A part of him was bleeding profusely... a part of him was dying.
"I have explained to you before, child, that you are connected to many who have changed the world. Through you, your children and your descendents will change the world will continue to change world. Until in time, what once was shall be again."
The Spirit who had condemned him to such a horrid fate, fluttered past Connor to speak with his tormentor. He did not even hear their conversation, as the Omega fell to his knees, completely in shock as he stared dead ahead at nothing.
A sacrifice?
Was that all?
Was he only destined to the wife of a man who was in love with a delusion but truly despised him?
Was he really so worthless?
----
Connor was going to be married the day after tomorrow.
Lee would not be marrying him, of course, but that other version of himself that the Apple had created. He could not even refer to his other self as a "puppet" any longer. As he watched from his prison, the Omega could not help but noticed how "real" the other Connor seemed.
That Connor was happy. His son adored him. While his true self, lay like a discarded and broken toy that a child no longer loved or wished to play with.
He felt broken.
Everything he had strived for, the Spirit had told him that it did not exist. Freedom was a lie... and now he felt it, whenever the Apple's power took hold of him. Not just Lee's apple, but the crystal one that he held for the first time.
Its power had given him hope that he save people and fight oppression wherever he saw it. He had believed himself an Assassin, a warrior. But the truth was, he was just a sacrifice. Just a pig for slaughter.
"Still sulking?"
The Omega who had been staring up at the ceiling of his quarters, made no movement as Lee hovered over him. They had not spoken on the ride back, and surprisingly his tormentor did not use the Apple on him. Perhaps, he wanted to revel in the Assassin's misery a little while longer.
Strangely, he could bring himself to glare at the man. Connor was tired. He was too tired to hate Lee, or that Spirit, or even the Apple controlled Haytham Kenway who was practically pushing them to get married as soon as possible. It was for the children's sake.
Connor bit his lip, reminding himself, again, that it would not be him. He would be alone for the rest of his life, while his other self would be surrounded by friends and family.
Lee swooped down and kissed him roughly, hands groped at his arse from beneath his nightshirt. His body arched when the Alpha pulled away to retrieve that golden sphere. For his husband-to-be wanted to make love with the other Connor and not him.
"Wait..." he whispered, finally speaking for the first time since their return from his empty village.
"What, Assassin?"
Connor cringed at that title, for it no longer held any meaning for him. Just cruel reminder, of his failures.
"Before you seal me away, may I ask one thing of you?"
Lee frowned in impatience. "You may ask, but I won't promise anything."
The broken Omega nodded.
"Well?"
"I... just one time, I want you to treat me as you do your Connor." He watched those blue eyes stare at him in disbelief, as he struggled with the rest of his request. "Will you make love to me?"
It was strange, for him to feel so envious of a puppet's happiness... but the Apple had made it all possible with its poison.