Set during Brotherhood, AU in which Ezio recruited Connor. Part 1 is gen and stands on its own if that’s more your thing. Part 2 will be a slashy sequel.
Everyone is pleased to see Connor come back from his mission in London safe and sound. He had insisted he be the one to go, having lived there before, but it was his first solo mission so far from their reach, and his brothers and sisters had been worried.
Ezio isn’t surprised to see Connor dodge Bastiano’s overenthusiastic embrace. Being crushed between the man’s huge arms while bruised and tired from his trip wasn’t an enviable fate, no matter how well-meaning the gesture was. Bastiano’s smile droops visibly, but Connor is alive and well so it comes back soon enough.
Connor shrugging off Annetta’s hand from his shoulder, that seems stranger to Ezio. The touch was kind. Surely Connor would appreciate the warmth of a friendly face after all this time alone in hostile territory. His sister wouldn’t begrudge him this much.
His sister is also quite beautiful, and one does not refuse the touch of an attractive woman.
And yet, as Ezio watches from afar, Connor refuses, as politely as he can, all physical contact from either brothers or sisters. Most don’t remark, but Luciana is obviously hurt by his perceived rejection and Stefano looks confused when Connor evades his attempt at patting his back.
Connor isn’t one for effusiveness, but he has never been cold or distant. And yet, now that Ezio thinks about it, he can’t remember Connor reaching out for someone, even by reflex. Now that he is surrounded, a spectator such as Ezio can’t help but notice how every touch is deflected.
This cannot be borne: Connor, alone in Roma, having left behind what was left of his family, cut off from even the most basic pleasure that was another human’s skin against his. As their Maestro, Ezio has to protect all of his recruits, and as far as he is concerned that includes protecting them from themselves.
Ezio moves with all his considerable skills, cautious of staying out of Connor’s sight and using the presence of his apprentices flooding Connor as a distraction, until he can snake an arm around Connor’s shoulders and lean against his massive frame. “Welcome back, Connor. I trust your mission went well, yes?”
Connor tries to free himself from the unwanted arm, but today is not the day one of his students will defeat him. Ah, if looks could kill. “It was fine.”
“Still a man of few words, are you not? As the rest of you can see, our youngest recruit came back both healthy and victorious. Sadly for him, he still has to report to me before he rests. Go on, back to your own contracts!"
The recruits disperse, some more willingly than others, but Connor doesn't relax, even when only they are left.
Ezio removes his arm. Connor immediatly puts space between them. All traces of tension disappear and he starts recounting his mission. Ezio lends him a distracted ear. Connor resents others touching him. He needs to be taught that contact isn't to be feared, but to be seeked.
Ezio knows he is the man for that job.
He cuts off Connor. “This is all very interesting, really, but you and I have other topics to cover today. I could not help but notice that you shy away from touch as if it would hurt you. My friend, that is no way to live.”
Connor frowns. “I don’t like people touching me. Anything else is irrelevant to you.”
“Shall you spend the rest of your life estranged from all, depriving yourself of the joy of a friend’s embrace or a woman’s caress? You would miss out on much, I can guaranty it.”
“I have no interest in hearing about women caressing you.”
“Then it is your loss. The point remains: touch can be pleasant, regardless of its nature.”
“For you, maybe, but not for I. Please stop bothering me about it.”
“All right, all right, let’s not fight about this.” But if he thinks Ezio will forget, he is wrong. So very wrong. This was only the start of his campaign.
_________________________________
Connor never flinches from what needs to be done. He strives to be as expert an assassin as he can be. He wants to be able to face everything without reservation.
When Ezio strides up to him and offers to train him privately in an advanced form of hand-to-hand combat, Connor accepts eagerly.
He loses the eagerness when he realises that said method of combat involves Ezio repositioning him into the correct forms. There's a hand on his lower back, pushing him forward. There are fingers around his wrist, adjusting his hidden blade to ascertain it won’t be in the way. There's Ezio's body behind his, demonstrating how he should move, what he should do.
Ezio can tell it unnerves him, but he endures, and Ezio teaches on. He continues until Connor is so focused that he doesn't even flinch when Ezio reaches to move his forearms.
In all, a rising success.
The training sessions keep happening.
____________________________________
Vittorio comes back to headquarters with an alarming amount of blood staining his robes. Most of it can be traced back to the heavily bleeding cut on his open arm, probably caused by the sword of an enraged guard that he couldn’t dodge. He collapses as soon as he crosses the threshold.
Connor reacts quickly, picking him bodily and setting him down gently somewhere safer. Salvatore tends to his wound while Annetta tries to stop Orfeo from fretting too much, to no avail.
Gently, Ezio puts a hand on Connor’s shoulder. The flinch is instantaneous. Why? Connor didn’t even twitch while carrying Vittorio! The hand stays. “He will be fine. Salvatore knows what he’s doing, and if he fails Orfeo will flay him."
"I am not worried."
"Of course not. That is why you are still keeping watch despite the fact that you are covered in blood now."
Ezio gets both a glare and a blush. Apprentices are so cute. Ezio congratulates himself again for his selection of students and keeps the hand where it is. It’s not batted away.
____________________________________
"No."
"What?"
"You are not going dressed like that. They will not even let us in the building. Change into these. Now."
Connor has a plethora of qualities, but fitting in high society isn't his forte. They can't infiltrate this party with him wearing what he considers appropriate.
Connor returns once changed and Ezio applaud his tastes. He does look much better with Ezio's selection on, but really.
"Come here."
Ezio straightens the hat. He buttons the doublet and arranges the fur-trimmed mantle. He manages to contain his urge to adjust the hose. He ties the drawstring of the chemise. His hands might linger slightly too long for propriety on Connor’s neck, but who will tell?
Connor suffers through the indignities done to his person without too much grumbling. Ezio considers this a victory.
____________________________________
He should have brought Alessandro. He’d have navigated the party flawlessly, charming ladies and impressing men all night long, just like his mentor. Or Zita. They would have complemented each other well. But no, Connor was the one available. Ezio is not going to make that mistake again. If he had not gotten the information they were looking for, Ezio might have feared for his life.
Connor spent the night trying, and mostly failing, at gathering information by chatting and flirting. He looked like he hated every single minute of it, which probably didn’t help.
Some young lady had been quite taken with him anyway, and had someone managed to have him dance with her, having surely insisted quite heavily. How a skilled assassin like Connor could turn so clumsy, Ezio could not even begin to understand, but he tripped. And fell. And sprain his ankle.
His fellow apprentices will be laughing at him for weeks, if not months.
Ezio gets to drag him out of the party, thanking heaven for filling the place with idiots who somehow missed their disappearance, even after this catastrophic exit.
Connor has to steady himself on Ezio to walk. He doesn’t hesitate to grasp his shoulder. Ezio puts a hand behind him to catch him should he loses his balance. It’s all almost companionable.
____________________________________
Haytham Kenway. That's the name of their next target, a powerful Templar operating in England. It's also Connor's father's name.
Connor left London because of troubles with his family that he refuses to talk about. There has been quite a lot of speculation in the hideout about what could make Connor, loyal to a fault, leave family and country behind to start anew in Italy and join their cause at such a young age.
Ezio will not assassinate Connor's father behind his back. He has to tell him.
Connor resides in a room on top of a tailor shop, in the Campagna district. At this hour, it's where he'll be.
Connor is surprised to see him. Ezio respects his students' privacy; he doesn't usually appears in their home, but this demands secrecy.
"Maestro. What is it?"
"Hello to you too Connor. Why, yes, I have indeed had a delightful day."
Connor rolls his eyes. He's so charming, this one.
"You being who you are, I believe you will prefer that I be blunt. Our next assassination target is Haytham Kenway, acting leader of the English branch of the Templars."
It's immediate. Connor's face reveals too much, anger-fear-astonishment-sadness-resignation, before turning blank.
"It was going to happen, sooner or later. Best deal with it now."
"So this man really is your father?"
"Yes."
Ezio hesitates, takes a deep breath, and then plunges. "You do not have to answer, your loyalty isn't in question, but why did you choose to fight for our cause? Weren’t you raised in the Order’s faith?"
"Maybe you should question it. Treachery is in my blood."
"Foolish. There is no one more trustworthy than you."
"All my mother's legacy. She was one of us, as was my father and his father before him. I was raised with their values guiding me, to join the Assassins one day. But he betrayed her memory when he chose to follow the enemy's ideals. He turned his back on us all and hid it from me, until I discovered him betraying our secrets to them. I left. We haven’t seen each other since.”
For Connor, this was rambling. He’s trembling, reliving every moment as he narrates them, his fingers bunching into fist. Powerless.
Ezio wraps his arms around Connor, one hand holding his head, pushing it in the crook of his neck, the other stroking his back gently.
Ezio holds him until the muscles against him loosen up, and then until Connor’s arms clutch at his clothes, and then until something wet drops on his skin, and then until it doesn’t anymore, and then some more.
Fill Part 1: Ezio/Connor, Ezio is Tactile and Connor Hates Being Touched
Everyone is pleased to see Connor come back from his mission in London safe and sound. He had insisted he be the one to go, having lived there before, but it was his first solo mission so far from their reach, and his brothers and sisters had been worried.
Ezio isn’t surprised to see Connor dodge Bastiano’s overenthusiastic embrace. Being crushed between the man’s huge arms while bruised and tired from his trip wasn’t an enviable fate, no matter how well-meaning the gesture was. Bastiano’s smile droops visibly, but Connor is alive and well so it comes back soon enough.
Connor shrugging off Annetta’s hand from his shoulder, that seems stranger to Ezio. The touch was kind. Surely Connor would appreciate the warmth of a friendly face after all this time alone in hostile territory. His sister wouldn’t begrudge him this much.
His sister is also quite beautiful, and one does not refuse the touch of an attractive woman.
And yet, as Ezio watches from afar, Connor refuses, as politely as he can, all physical contact from either brothers or sisters. Most don’t remark, but Luciana is obviously hurt by his perceived rejection and Stefano looks confused when Connor evades his attempt at patting his back.
Connor isn’t one for effusiveness, but he has never been cold or distant. And yet, now that Ezio thinks about it, he can’t remember Connor reaching out for someone, even by reflex. Now that he is surrounded, a spectator such as Ezio can’t help but notice how every touch is deflected.
This cannot be borne: Connor, alone in Roma, having left behind what was left of his family, cut off from even the most basic pleasure that was another human’s skin against his. As their Maestro, Ezio has to protect all of his recruits, and as far as he is concerned that includes protecting them from themselves.
Ezio moves with all his considerable skills, cautious of staying out of Connor’s sight and using the presence of his apprentices flooding Connor as a distraction, until he can snake an arm around Connor’s shoulders and lean against his massive frame. “Welcome back, Connor. I trust your mission went well, yes?”
Connor tries to free himself from the unwanted arm, but today is not the day one of his students will defeat him. Ah, if looks could kill. “It was fine.”
“Still a man of few words, are you not? As the rest of you can see, our youngest recruit came back both healthy and victorious. Sadly for him, he still has to report to me before he rests. Go on, back to your own contracts!"
The recruits disperse, some more willingly than others, but Connor doesn't relax, even when only they are left.
Ezio removes his arm. Connor immediatly puts space between them. All traces of tension disappear and he starts recounting his mission. Ezio lends him a distracted ear. Connor resents others touching him. He needs to be taught that contact isn't to be feared, but to be seeked.
Ezio knows he is the man for that job.
He cuts off Connor. “This is all very interesting, really, but you and I have other topics to cover today. I could not help but notice that you shy away from touch as if it would hurt you. My friend, that is no way to live.”
Connor frowns. “I don’t like people touching me. Anything else is irrelevant to you.”
“Shall you spend the rest of your life estranged from all, depriving yourself of the joy of a friend’s embrace or a woman’s caress? You would miss out on much, I can guaranty it.”
“I have no interest in hearing about women caressing you.”
“Then it is your loss. The point remains: touch can be pleasant, regardless of its nature.”
“For you, maybe, but not for I. Please stop bothering me about it.”
“All right, all right, let’s not fight about this.” But if he thinks Ezio will forget, he is wrong. So very wrong. This was only the start of his campaign.
_________________________________
Connor never flinches from what needs to be done. He strives to be as expert an assassin as he can be. He wants to be able to face everything without reservation.
When Ezio strides up to him and offers to train him privately in an advanced form of hand-to-hand combat, Connor accepts eagerly.
He loses the eagerness when he realises that said method of combat involves Ezio repositioning him into the correct forms. There's a hand on his lower back, pushing him forward. There are fingers around his wrist, adjusting his hidden blade to ascertain it won’t be in the way. There's Ezio's body behind his, demonstrating how he should move, what he should do.
Ezio can tell it unnerves him, but he endures, and Ezio teaches on. He continues until Connor is so focused that he doesn't even flinch when Ezio reaches to move his forearms.
In all, a rising success.
The training sessions keep happening.
____________________________________
Vittorio comes back to headquarters with an alarming amount of blood staining his robes. Most of it can be traced back to the heavily bleeding cut on his open arm, probably caused by the sword of an enraged guard that he couldn’t dodge. He collapses as soon as he crosses the threshold.
Connor reacts quickly, picking him bodily and setting him down gently somewhere safer. Salvatore tends to his wound while Annetta tries to stop Orfeo from fretting too much, to no avail.
Gently, Ezio puts a hand on Connor’s shoulder. The flinch is instantaneous. Why? Connor didn’t even twitch while carrying Vittorio! The hand stays. “He will be fine. Salvatore knows what he’s doing, and if he fails Orfeo will flay him."
"I am not worried."
"Of course not. That is why you are still keeping watch despite the fact that you are covered in blood now."
Ezio gets both a glare and a blush. Apprentices are so cute. Ezio congratulates himself again for his selection of students and keeps the hand where it is. It’s not batted away.
____________________________________
"No."
"What?"
"You are not going dressed like that. They will not even let us in the building. Change into these. Now."
Connor has a plethora of qualities, but fitting in high society isn't his forte. They can't infiltrate this party with him wearing what he considers appropriate.
Connor returns once changed and Ezio applaud his tastes. He does look much better with Ezio's selection on, but really.
"Come here."
Ezio straightens the hat. He buttons the doublet and arranges the fur-trimmed mantle. He manages to contain his urge to adjust the hose. He ties the drawstring of the chemise. His hands might linger slightly too long for propriety on Connor’s neck, but who will tell?
Connor suffers through the indignities done to his person without too much grumbling. Ezio considers this a victory.
____________________________________
He should have brought Alessandro. He’d have navigated the party flawlessly, charming ladies and impressing men all night long, just like his mentor. Or Zita. They would have complemented each other well. But no, Connor was the one available. Ezio is not going to make that mistake again. If he had not gotten the information they were looking for, Ezio might have feared for his life.
Connor spent the night trying, and mostly failing, at gathering information by chatting and flirting. He looked like he hated every single minute of it, which probably didn’t help.
Some young lady had been quite taken with him anyway, and had someone managed to have him dance with her, having surely insisted quite heavily. How a skilled assassin like Connor could turn so clumsy, Ezio could not even begin to understand, but he tripped. And fell. And sprain his ankle.
His fellow apprentices will be laughing at him for weeks, if not months.
Ezio gets to drag him out of the party, thanking heaven for filling the place with idiots who somehow missed their disappearance, even after this catastrophic exit.
Connor has to steady himself on Ezio to walk. He doesn’t hesitate to grasp his shoulder. Ezio puts a hand behind him to catch him should he loses his balance. It’s all almost companionable.
____________________________________
Haytham Kenway. That's the name of their next target, a powerful Templar operating in England. It's also Connor's father's name.
Connor left London because of troubles with his family that he refuses to talk about. There has been quite a lot of speculation in the hideout about what could make Connor, loyal to a fault, leave family and country behind to start anew in Italy and join their cause at such a young age.
Ezio will not assassinate Connor's father behind his back. He has to tell him.
Connor resides in a room on top of a tailor shop, in the Campagna district. At this hour, it's where he'll be.
Connor is surprised to see him. Ezio respects his students' privacy; he doesn't usually appears in their home, but this demands secrecy.
"Maestro. What is it?"
"Hello to you too Connor. Why, yes, I have indeed had a delightful day."
Connor rolls his eyes. He's so charming, this one.
"You being who you are, I believe you will prefer that I be blunt. Our next assassination target is Haytham Kenway, acting leader of the English branch of the Templars."
It's immediate. Connor's face reveals too much, anger-fear-astonishment-sadness-resignation, before turning blank.
"It was going to happen, sooner or later. Best deal with it now."
"So this man really is your father?"
"Yes."
Ezio hesitates, takes a deep breath, and then plunges. "You do not have to answer, your loyalty isn't in question, but why did you choose to fight for our cause? Weren’t you raised in the Order’s faith?"
"Maybe you should question it. Treachery is in my blood."
"Foolish. There is no one more trustworthy than you."
"All my mother's legacy. She was one of us, as was my father and his father before him. I was raised with their values guiding me, to join the Assassins one day. But he betrayed her memory when he chose to follow the enemy's ideals. He turned his back on us all and hid it from me, until I discovered him betraying our secrets to them. I left. We haven’t seen each other since.”
For Connor, this was rambling. He’s trembling, reliving every moment as he narrates them, his fingers bunching into fist. Powerless.
Ezio wraps his arms around Connor, one hand holding his head, pushing it in the crook of his neck, the other stroking his back gently.
Ezio holds him until the muscles against him loosen up, and then until Connor’s arms clutch at his clothes, and then until something wet drops on his skin, and then until it doesn’t anymore, and then some more.