asscreedkinkmeme | Kink Meme - Assassin's Creed pt. 5

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 10 - Trapped

“You betrayed us.”

Charles glared at Church. He’d planned against this. He’d planned...

Master Kenway snarled from where he was next to him.

“Our ideals, our Order, all we’ve been through...you betrayed us!”

“Grow up Haytham. We’re not children anymore, playing at ideals and orders.”

Charles glanced nervously at the bevy of guards surrounding them.

All of them were loyal to Church, and Charles wondered if they were the reason Church was still alive after he sent his men after the traitor. His agents had all failed to return, to a man, and Charles mourned their loss.

“What of our oaths? Our commitment?”

Charles had not been present the last time Master Kenway had confronted Church, and he had never seen his mentor so enraged.

Church snorted in contempt.

“Spoken like a child. I’ve grown past that Haytham. I’ve grown past you and your faithful little dog.” He glanced spitefully at Charles.

Master Kenway took a furious step forward, hesitating when 20 muskets suddenly trained on him.

Church chuckled.

“For all of your powers, your ‘special eyes,’ the training Reginald gave you, mere guns still give you pause.”

He looked fondly at the rifles surrounding them.

“And for all of your intellect, you failed to see the trap that I laid for you.”

“You knew that we would investigate why our messages were being waylaid, why the shipments that we worked to get disappeared.”

Church looked back at Master Kenway.

“Oh yes. You always had to have control. Over everything. And since you’ve decided to throw all our strength behind this foolish continental army of all things and deal with the Assassins, I knew that you couldn’t resist personally investigating.”

Church’s eyes narrowed.

“And if anyone’s the traitor, it’s the two of you, not I. Assassins, Grandmaster? Though I might have known you’d have a soft spot for your misbegotten son, of all things. But I expected better of Charles over there, what with his distaste of the Natives.”

Charles stiffened.

“I do whatever is best for the Order, and offering this alliance is in our best interest. Peace can be gotten no other way.”

Church sneered.

“Peace? Ill gains gotten off the backs and the hands of English labor, you mean. You know as well as I that the English treasury is depleted because of the war that the crown fought on the colonies’ behalf, to drive back the Natives. And that sorry, ungrateful lot has the gall to complain about the taxes levied to pay back that very war! Which they cried and begged for. And where are your Assassins? Nothing came of it! No answer in three months, that half-breed boy of yours never even had the decency to get back to you!”

“That is neither here nor now. That which is done is done and the continuation of this war does no good for anyone. If the crown wins, there can be no peace for anyone here, and you know it.”

Church looked away again, almost bored.

“What care have I for the colonials? Low society scoundrels who would thrive off of the wisdom and success of their betters.”

Master Kenway spat at him.

“To think that you would finally allow your greed for recognition and money drive you from reason, loyalty and order.”

Church looked amused at that.

“You merely lament that I am not the mindless devotee your dog over there is.”

Another baleful look at Charles.

“I have my own mind, and I have my own ambitions. And to my mind, the crown deserves my loyalty far more than these low-born colonials do. They have not class nor money nor society, and there is nothing for me here.”

Charles spoke up then, for the first time since their mission had gone disastrous.

“You sell your own brothers for your greed.”

Church looked again at him.

“You look surprised, dear brother. But was it not you who sent those agents to kill me more than a month ago?”

Charles pursed his lips and did not speak.

“Really, if anyone’s betrayed anyone, it was you first, Charles. You sent those men even before the communications and shipments went missing.”

Yes, Charles had. And if they had succeeded, then they wouldn’t be having this problem now.

“You were clearly plotting from even back then.”

“Clearly?” Church looked surprised. “I suppose I must credit you with more observational skills than I had expected.”

His knowledge of the future. But it still hadn’t been enough. This threat still existed.

Master Kenway glared at Church.

“Enough! This had gone far enough.”

Church looked back at Master Kenway and grimly nodded.

“Indeed. It has gone on enough. We are in agreement.”

The doctor then look at his men.

“Deal with them.”

And the gunmen trained their rifles and...

A sudden hiss.

Smoke filled the room.

Only one thought entered Charles’s mind.

Assassin!

Sure enough, he could just make out a shadowy form darting to and fro in the smoke, silently eliminating all 20 of the men who had been about to kill them.

Church cried out.

Charles coughed and looked blearily through the thick smoke.

Almost offhandedly, he wondered which one of the Assassins it was.

He had not heard back from Connor since he released him from prison, over three months ago, and he wondered what it meant that one of them would show up here and now.

If it meant that Connor had accepted his proposal or rejected it and decided to take the opportunity to kill them all.

Charles knew that he took a big risk in what he had done, and if he calculated incorrectly...

The shadowy form neared him, and a firm but strong arm wrapped about him, gently leading him away from the smoke.

He knew that white-clad arm.

“It was a close call there.”

Charles leant against that warm body, still feeling weak from the smoke. A hacking sound in front of him, and he looked to where Master Kenway lay in similar state, coughing out the last of the smoke bomb.

“I am surprised that the two of you would find yourselves in such peril. From one of your own, no less.”

The other white-clad arm gestured to the side. Charles followed that gesture and saw Church lying there, restrained and unconscious.

“Is he dead?” he managed to gasp.

“No. There are questions I need answered, about the missing supplies.”

Ah yes. Of course Connor would be interested in that.

“So you are here about the supplies?”

Charles wasn’t sure why he was feeling so disappointed. He’d hoped his plan would work, but, well...

He knew that Connor had no fondness for him or for the Order.

The arm about him tightened, then relaxed.

“No. I came to tell you, both of you, that the Brotherhood agrees to your alliance.”

jkasdsakcbkjakcahj

that's about as coherent as I could get after having finished this chapter. Sorry.

Good grief, who would have thought I'd find Connor wrapping his arm around Charles so arousing... Such a simple gesture too. I'm all on tenterhooks, anon, can barely wait for more. This fill screams with potential.

Lol. :) It's a big step, really, for Connor to willingly touch Charles in a not negative way. Such a relief for Charles, too. :D

Yay, Connor to the rescue! Hope he lets Charles tag a long with him on the Aquila in order to get the supplies back /salivates over the captain uniform/

I am kind of curious of the 3 month delay. Was the Brotherhood paranoid that the Templars planned on using the truce to exterminate them (though Achilles was somewhat opened to the idea in the game because he saw that Connor had bonded with his father)? Or did Connor take the time to visit his village and find out the truth?

Mix of both. Connor first had to make sure that the story checks out while leaving appropriate protections for George (just in case it was all a ruse to get Connor out of the way to take out the commander). Then he had a very, very long discussion with his apprentices and Achilles. The apprentices were no trouble. They had much less of a history with the Templars. Achilles wasn't too happy, but finally gave it a chance.

Ah, but he still doesn't know that George was the one who burned his village, right?

Yup. I doubt they know who George is. They've had more exposure to Charles (through Haytham), and know that it wasn't him. So Connor still doesn't know. :D

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 11 - The First Mission

Charles had been half-dreading rejection. Despite his initial optimism, despite everything, he’d been expecting defeat. Connor held no love for him and with hearing no word for three months, Charles had been giving up hope of his plan succeeding.

So the pronouncement came as somewhat of a shock.

The first step of his plan to win his wife back. The first tremendous step in a marathon of steps. And it was successful.

His hands clutched at that steady arm that still held him.

It felt real. That familiar arm felt real. That body he leaned against felt real.

The situation felt real.

They were really going to partner with the Assassins.

He might just have a chance to get his wife and son back.

“You certainly took your time in arriving to that conclusion.”

Charles looked up as Master Kenway walked towards them, having already recovered from the gas.

He felt that white-clad arm stiffen.

“Only a fool would take his enemy’s word at face value. I had to confirm his account.”

Master Kenway raised an eyebrow.

“You wound me to suggest that we are enemies. Was it not you who said that we are allies now, son?”

Charles wasn’t quite sure how one could convey both amusement and irritation, but the Omega somehow did it.

“As of a minute ago, yes, that is true.”

It was now Master Kenway’s turn to look amused.

“Quite.”

His mentor turned to him.

“Charles, I hope the smoke from the bomb did not permanently damage you. It seems an awful long time to recover.”

Charles’s face burned scarlet, and he ignored the rather infuriating voice in his mind that noted that he had already recovered and was just enjoying his position.

“I am not as familiar with the substance as you are, Master Kenway.”

Those grey eyes bored into him and then glanced at the arm that was holding him and the chest he leaned against. They didn’t look the least bit fooled.

“I see.”

Charles grew even redder.

Hang it all! He had been gone from his Omega long enough. If he wanted to loiter in Connor’s arms, then he would.

“If you gentlemen are quite done...”

To Charles’s dismay, those arms withdrew, and he was forced to stand by himself, bereft of that comforting presence.

“I will be retrieving the information of where the supplies are hidden from him,” Connor pointed at the still unconscious Church lying on the ground. “You may do what you will after I return the supplies to the commander.”

Master Kenway frowned at the mention of the man.

“Such devotion to such a man.”

Connor glared at him.

“If you mean to harm the commander, then the alliance is broken.”

“Calm yourself, child, we mean him no harm.”

The suspicion in those lovely amber-brown eyes did not fade.

“And yet you insult him.”

Master Kenway did not look concerned.

“I insulted no one, merely made a statement.”

“You insinuated—“

“You inferred meaning from my statement. I did nothing.”

Charles held his breath as his bride trembled with anger.

Then, in a soft voice, “why do you detest him so? He has done nothing to you save for inadvertently being given the command of the continental army. A position he questions daily whether he is capable of serving. He has shown a wealth of humility and compassion beyond most men and—“

Charles turned away, pained.

To hear such glowing words of his hated rival, the very Alpha that had caused his wife such harm, even if neither knew it...

What had he done to deserve this?

“He has done nothing to deserve your approbation so.”

Charles blinked as Master Kenway unknowingly echoed his thoughts.

His mentor looked grim.

“What you believe to be his humility and compassion are instead his fear of responsibility and weakness of strategy on the battlefield. He has some goodness of character, I will give you that, but not what you think. And certainly not towards those you cherish the most.”

His wife narrowed his eyes.

“To detest him so—“

Master Kenway cut his son off.

“You mistake me. I do not detest him. Neither does Charles, here.”

Not particularly true, but Charles had never told Master Kenway just how much he hated Washington and the man’s role in the death of his family.

It would not have helped his argument that they should leave the man be and focus their efforts on Connor, instead.

Connor did not look convinced.

“You say such, but your words—“

“—my words are truth and fact and nothing else. I speak only to spare you future heartache. I wish you would devote you energies on an Alpha far more worthy of your talents.”

Those grey eyes briefly slid to Charles, but then focused back on Connor, who turned alternately red and white.

“You insinuate—“

Master Kenway cut him off again.

“—I insinuate nothing. But you do not hide your emotions as well as you think, son.”

Connor blushed, then turned his head away.

There was a soft look in his eyes that made Charles want to kill something.

Preferably Washington.

“...the commander and I are comrades fighting against a mutual enemy. Nothing more.”

He even sounded regretful.

Master Kenway frowned again.

“You should keep it that way. He is even older than me, and I would not have my son given to him.”

Nor did Charles want Connor anywhere near the bastard.

Connor scowled.

“You did not even know of me four months ago. You have no say in my life.”

Charles, who was looking at Master Kenway, noticed the flinch that was quickly controlled.

So...the separation had not been willing on his mentor’s part.

Strange, that he and his mentor should share such similar roles in the departure of their lovers.

“I would have liked to.”

Connor looked back sharply at his father at that, distrust and confusion swirling in those eyes.

“Then you will be pleased to know that you have a chance to. Both of you. In three days.”

He looked at Charles.

For his part, Charles looked back at his wife, eyes wide.

So-so soon!

He looked back at Master Kenway, who looked absolutely mystified.

“Oh?”

Connor colored.

“My apprentices have obtained intel that Church hid the supplies on a remote island, with Templars guarding it.”

Charles opened his mouth to argue that no loyal Templar would work for Church.

“They do not know of his betrayal, and they will attack me when I approach, once I retrieve the whereabouts of this island from Church. In the interests of our alliance, I believe it would set a bad precedent if I were to kill your agents.”

Charles snapped his mouth shut. That would definitely set a bad precedent.

“So you need Master Kenway to convince them to give up the supplies to you,” Charles reasoned.

To his surprise, Connor shook his head.

“That is what I need you for.”

Oh.

“And Master Kenway?”

The Assassin looked distinctly uncomfortable at this.

He turned to his father.

“I thought it past time that we become to know each other. Father.”

Charles wondered why his heart felt so heavy, even as an astonished smile made its way across Master Kenway’s face.

/Melts with happiness/

I love how Charles was just soaking up physical contact from Connor and of course Haytham teasing him about it.

“You should keep it that way. He is even older than me, and I would not have my son given to him.”

I thought Haytham was older than George by 7 years, aren't George and Charles the same age?

So yay family bonding mission time! On the Aquila or possibly the Randolph (that should be interesting with Biddle, heh, I still remember how pissed Charles was with him for being one of Connor's suitors). BTW Is Hickey still alive? When you mentioned Charles sending off agents to hunt down Church, I wondered. Just cause I'd find it amusing to watching Hickey and Duncan see who could out drink the other ^^;

Not too sure about Washington's age, actually, but his hair was so snowy and he looked fairly old so... Charles always seemed younger to me. :D

Hickey is definitely still alive. Charles doesn't trust Hickey completely (the guy has a propensity to sell to the highest bidder), so he wouldn't have been one of the ones sent after Church. :D

Ahh... George's hair has always been white in the game, even in the early part with younger Haytham, I think because he powdered it.

As for Hickey that makes sense. Was replaying the parts with Haytham, and wow the young Templars just seem so completely different from when you get to be Connor. Younger Hickey seems loyal to Haytham (wanting to pay back what he owes him three times over if necessary) at the start and at the end, it's just like he doesn't care as long as he gets paid.

Anyway, can't wait to read the bonding scene. Poor Charles, he's kind of the third wheel, but at least Connor doesn't hold him in contempt as much as he used to. He still remembers Charles being the man who strangled him as a child, and thinks he's going out of his way to please Haytham.

I wonder how they'll start to bond, maybe through their love of dogs?

Fun fact: George Washington actually had red hair under that powder. He had quite the temper too hahaha.

:O You don't say? Lol!

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 12 - On a Journey

Connor fidgeted. He was not sure what possessed him to invite both his father and Lee along. It was true that he needed their services to call off the Templar guards on the island that Church had finally given up (and if the man spoke false, then his apprentices would see to it that there were consequences).

But really, he had initially planned on bringing only one of them, and one was certainly enough.

He looked up from the wheel to give directions to Faulkner and caught Lee staring at him again.

The Alpha looked away quickly enough, but Connor saw that strange look in his eyes, the one that was always present when Lee looked at Connor.

He was regretting bringing the man along.

In truth, he had not expected the man to come.

Lee had done his duty and secured the alliance. One would think that he would take any chance possible to not be stuck on a boat with such men as Connor and his crew. He had shown a remarkable distaste for anyone of a certain...class (and it made Connor feel sorry for Thomas Hickey, of all people), and Connor knew well his thoughts on Connor’s people.

Really, there was no reason for Lee to be on board. And that he chose to join them and spend the entire time staring at Connor...

Connor looked away in annoyance and felt that gaze fix itself on him again.

He grit his teeth.

Was Lee trying to unnerve him and get them all killed? Possibly marooned on these reefs that Connor was currently navigating between?

What was so fascinating about his person that Lee kept staring at him?

Connor idly wondered if Lee had never seen one of his people in nontraditional clothes before. Or perhaps he looked especially strange in such attire, having inherited various traits from both his mother and his father. No doubt, he looked a strange sight with his rather bizarre combination of features and in a captain’s uniform no less.

Suddenly, his ire with the man deflated. Lee would not be the first to look uncomprehendingly at Connor, after all. He knew full well that he was an oddity, of strange eyes, too-light and too-dark skin and a facial structure that was altogether too angular. Lee was not doing anything that anyone else had not done more than a dozen times before.

If it were only George’s gaze on him...

When George looked at him, his eyes were kind. As gentle as the Alpha’s gestures and words. He always respectful, no matter who he was talking to, even Connor, and Connor thought that his gaze might be one of a lover.

Or, that is what he thought. They had never spoken of it before, but their correspondence had gained a touch of playfulness lately. Almost intimacy.

And George always looked at him admiringly.

Connor imagined the commander near him, blue eyes softly gazing at him, and he shivered despite the heat of the tropics.

What would it be like, for George to be on his ship with him? Would he come and knock on Connor’s door at night? Seeking his advice on the war and strategy as he has often done in the past?

Would he approve of Connor’s captaincy? Of leading this crew of loyal Alphas about the Atlantic and defending against their enemies?

Would he look upon Connor’s uniform as an oddity or would he appreciate the goodwill and love that went into it, by the people who had supported Connor throughout his life?

Connor was not sure, but he could just imagine the commander standing on his deck, smiling at him and—

“Do you often steer with your eyes closed?”

Connor nearly jumped out of his skin. He whirled around and glared at his father, who had someone made his way on top of the deck without anyone alerting Connor.

He clenched his jaw.

His father had been no easier to deal with, full of insults and doubt about his handling of his own ship.

“I was blinking.”

A smirk. “You were daydreaming.”

Connor’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he contemplated tossing his father overboard.

While Lee probably would not be so happy if he did, he was certain that his crew would support his decision. They could even hold Lee back for him.

“Is there a reason you are here and not in your cabin where you said you’d stay?”

He had banished his father there after five hours of non-stop criticisms.

“Can not a man visit his son?”

Not if he chose to be a complete arse about it.

“I was given to understand that you feared my captaining the ship. The cabin seems a great place for you to be away from ‘such a spectacle,’ as you put it.”

Another smirk.

“Nonsense. A bit of constructive feedback will only do you good.”

Connor grimaced.

He hoped his father was not going to stay on deck for long. He was not sure he could take another 5 hours of ‘constructive feedback.’

“Sir!”

Lee had walked up behind them.

“I believe your son may have a point. Distracting him seems unwise at this stage—” he gestured to the deadly reefs along each side “—and should perhaps be left to later.”

Connor gaped at the man.

Did the man just...

His father smirked again (really, what was so funny) and nodded.

“Of course, Charles, of course. You are quite right. It would be dangerous to distract the boy now while we are surrounded by reefs.”

Perhaps Connor misjudged Lee. Perhaps he had been too harsh on them both. After all, if they really were going to finally leave him in peace—

“And as my successor, I rely on you to protect him from distraction.”

Spirits above, what?

Connor saw Lee light up, inexplicably happy.

He would have to deal with the unnerving and vaguely uncomfortable stares for another couple of hours? Until they passed the reef?

Connor was really regretting bringing them along.

OMG LOL! Poor Connor, bet he wishes he could tie them both to the anchor and throw them overboard, and of course I bet Lee is salivating over Captain Connor - because who wouldn't? I especially love Haytham teasing his son (really no daydreaming while captaining a vessel, Connor) and of course helping Lee score some Connor points. Think Connor also is really curious about Lee's sudden shift in personality.

Connor's getting there. He's giving Charles lee the benefit of the doubt, but he's not sure what to make of it. It'll take more drastic measures before Connor's well and truly intrigued by the man.

And yes, Charles is altogether too happy to be near Connor and stare at him dreamily in his captain's outfit. Hehehe.

Very curious... And did Haytham just give Charles his approval to court his son?

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 12

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-22 19:42 (UTC) - Expand

Captain Connor in his beautiful outfit, mmmm... Lovely sight, I can only envy Charles here, though the man is probably facing his own difficulties at the moment. Charles, you bastard, you gotta make it this time, I'm putting my trust in you.

Charles is such a rascal. :D Driving Connor bonkers of course, but actually faring better than Haytham is right now.

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 13 - First Mate

Charles stared. He knew he shouldn’t. He knew it was not gentlemanly of him. But he could not help it.

The half-Native leaned back from where he was still guiding the wheel, straining to catch sight of something on one of the islands that they had just passed. The fitting trousers and shirt stretched over his lithe body, accentuating every elegant line of his body and thighs, and it was all Charles could do not to march over, bend him over the wheel and have his way with him.

He’d known what his lovely wife looked like when he wore his captain’s uniform. He remembered how succulent Connor looked in those whites, blues and tans, the colors complimenting his olive skin and the cut revealing in all the right places. And he’d prepared himself for that sight of him again.

The wind blew that tricorn hat off of Connor’s head, and the fabric curved around his shapely buttocks as he promptly bent down to pick it up.

Dear lord...

As if Connor felt his gaze, those amber-brown eyes glanced suspiciously at him, and he quickly looked away, pretending to be staring out at sea instead.

Either his memory had failed or he had not prepared enough, because he just couldn’t seem to stop ogling his bride-to-be no matter what he did.

And Connor did not look pleased those first few times he had caught him.

A hand tapped his shoulder, and Charles turned to find himself facing Connor’s first mate, Robert Faulkner.

So this was Biddle’s infamous rival back in the day. The man certainly didn’t seem like much.

“Yes?” Charles began.

Faulkner frowned at him then nodded at the direction Connor was in.

“You want to bed our captain.”

Charles gaped.

The man moved into his space and, for all that he was decrepit looking and old, glared menacingly at him.

“You best not be getting any ideas about him. Omega he may be, but he’s strong and wily enough to take any Alpha and win.”

Except when his loved ones were held captive. He was unsurprisingly weak when it came to his friends and family. That was how he ended up in Charles grasp in that alternate future.

Charles shook his head, clearing his mind of the dark thoughts.

“You mistake me,” he replied simply, already turning away.

Surely, if Connor’s first mate was here bothering him, then Connor must have turned his attention back to steering and commanding the ship. Surely he could turn his attention back to him again.

Charles made to look at Connor again before he felt hands seize his lapels of his coat and thrust him against the railing of the ship.

Charles’s hands immediately went to grasp the railing, and he took a large gulp as he saw the waves crashing against the hull of the ship below him. It was a very steep drop into what was likely some very dangerous reefs.

He turned back to Faulkner.

“Listen, Templar.”

Charles started. Was the man an Assassin? Why had his agents never uncovered this?

“Achilles told me all about you and your Order and what you did to him 12 years ago.

Not an Assassin then. Just a man fed who knew what wild stories.

“You’re a murderous, unreasonable lot, and the lives of people like Achilles and Connor don’t mean much to you. I won’t let you harm our captain.”

Charles bristled.

The man had no right to make assumptions about his intentions for Connor. No right at all.

Connor was, Connor was...

Connor was one of the essential pieces of Charles’s future, of his ability to be happy. Of Master Kenway’s ability to be happy.

To suggest that Charles would do anything to harm Master Kenway’s son, the wife he’d loved and mourned and couldn’t let go, no matter how much his subjects plead with him to remarry...

It was beyond ludicrous. And very presumptuous for such a man as the one who stood before Charles.

He pushed back at the man and watched with satisfaction as the decrepit old fool toppled over.

“What I seek from Connor is no matter of yours,” he hissed. “You would do well to keep to your own business.”

Faulkner glared venomously at him.

“I made an oath to Achilles to look after Connor. He’s my captain and my charge, though God knows the Omega can attract his fair share of the wrong kind of attention.”

Charles was momentarily distracted by this.

Wrong kind of attention?

He glanced at Connor, a lovely vision against the backdrop of the sea, and understood.

It was no surprise that his wife would attract unwanted attention.

“And he can deal with all of them, but you’re the colleague of the man who sired him. I’ll not let you weave your web around him. Not on my watch.”

Charles grit his teeth. Of all the troublesome fools...

He leaned close to the man, even though he could clearly smell the man’s breath.

Privately, Charles wondered what it was about sailors that led to poor hygiene. The lack of bathing he could understand, but there was no excuse for one’s breath smiling like whiskey and rum first.

“I have no plans to harm Connor. Now leave me be!”

Faulkner didn’t go away.

“And what about bedding him?”

Charles snarled at him.

“If I want to bed that delectable Omega then know that you are hardly going to stop me.”

Faulkner glared at him again before looking archly over to the side. Charles followed his gaze to the rough and tumble Alpha crew that kept the ship running.

“You should know that each one of Connor’s crew adores his young captain and would die to see him safe.”

The look in the old man’s eyes asked Charles if he was willing to go against these men just to have Connor. If he was suicidal enough to try when, with one word, Faulkner would have them all at Charles’s throat for daring to have designs on their captain.

Charles didn’t even need to think about it.

“I would go through much more than that for him.”

“For who?”

Both Charles and Faulkner whirled around to see none other than Connor himself staring at them.

He was clearly unimpressed, and only one word franticly darted through Charles’s panicking mind.

Bugger.

LOLOLOL Oh Charles, you're so transparent! Love how Faulkner is ready to cock-block him after Haytham gives him the green light. Kind of wondering, what became of the Aquila and her crew in the alternate timeline?

I imagine they came back to find their home in Templar control, their captain dead and gone. They would've gone back to sea and become pirates to fight against the men who caused Connor's death. So it would have continued until Biddle got the best of them and sunk the Aquila. Faulkner would probably have managed to find safe harbor again, but he would've fallen back into drink, having lost everything.

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 13

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-23 02:36 (UTC) - Expand

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 13

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-23 06:18 (UTC) - Expand

I can't but love a protective Faulkner. I wonder if he's simply good at sensing these things or if Charles was pretty damn obvious and Connor was just oblivious as always hahahaha

imo, probably a mix of the two. :D That and Connor is still somewhat thinking of Charles as an enemy. It's probably too big a jump to go from enemy to suitor in one sitting. :D

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 14 - Misunderstanding Wolf

When Connor had noticed that Faulkner and Lee had both disappeared, he felt a moment of panic. Lee had been behaving strangely ever since he set foot on Connor’s ship for the first time. If he did something to Faulkner...

He glanced around with something almost akin to panic in his eyes before he spotted his first mate and Lee together by the railing.

They didn’t look very happy.

Still fearing for his first mate, Connor waved to one of his crew, the only one who had talent in steering a ship.

“Keep her going,” he instructed the man as he handed the wheel over and made to move towards Faulkner and Lee.

His crew would be disappointed in him, he knew, but Faulkner’s safety was more important.

He reached them just in time to hear Lee snarl at Faulkner and, “I would go through much more than that for him.”

Oh?

“For who?” he couldn’t help but ask.

The thought of Lee, of Charles Lee, caring for another person that way was...bizarre. The man had never shown anyone even an inkling of affection, with the sole exception of Connor’s father.

Ah.

Was that it then?

Was Lee in love with Connor’s father?

Connor considered it.

From what he had seen, Lee was oddly affectionate with his father, almost an overwhelming flow of respect and admiration whenever he spoke with him. Though they clearly did not agree on some things, Lee was always careful in the way he spoke around his father. His practically followed his father around like a dog did his master.

Connor rolled the thought around in his mind, testing it.

Such an odd notion, the thought of the two Alphas together, particularly with their religious restriction against the joining of those not able to breed children. As two male Alphas, their union could not create children, and Connor had learned that, for those who followed the white Christ, such a union was considered an abomination.

He understood why it was that way for the Christians, though he did not agree with it. The white man’s societal structure was such that rigid roles were assigned to those who carried children and those who sired children. Those who carried were assumed to need protection, and those who sired assumed to be naturally more equipped to give protection. Hence, the colonial society gave power to those who sired in the expectation that they would protect and nurture their families.

Connor’s own people had a far different structure, where the choice of bearing versus siring was divorced from the choice of societal role. Two male Alphas or two female Omegas together could be rather rare, but it did not threaten the social structure the way it did for the colonials.

But Lee and Connor’s father?

It was odd. It was truly odd.

Offhandedly, he wondered how Faulkner had found out and why he was apparently taunting Lee with the information.

Surely, it was not worth the rage Connor could see Lee falling into.

“Nothing!” Lee blurted.

Connor noted that he was glaring harder than ever at Faulkner.

This was not good, he needed to extricate Faulkner before he got himself killed.

He turned towards his first mate.

“We will be heading into a very dangerous section of the reef. Join me at the helm or else we will be drifting on plywood this evening.”

He was pleased to see Faulkner sober immediately.

Nothing like a little reminder that the lady in Faulkner’s life needed him. He was the perfect first mate whose affection lay with no one but his lady of the sea.

Connor had used it often in the past when it looked like Faulkner was getting himself into trouble going up against the rough Alphas who liked to annoy Connor.

He adored the old man and wouldn’t let him come to harm while he was nearby.

Although it always seemed rather coincidental to him that the Alphas he went up against were the same ones that irritated Connor to no end, with their clumsy propositions and lewd suggestions.

“I’ll join you in a minute, Captain.”

Connor took one final wary glance at Lee and then nodded.

He need not worry over a minute’s worth of conversation. Even Lee couldn’t erupt during that short time.

Turning his back on them, Connor made his way back to the helm. The most dangerous part of the reef was soon advancing, and he would need his full attention to circumvent them.

----

Both Charles and Faulkner watched as the Omega turned his heel and walked briskly back to the helm. The wind whipped Connor’s clothes about, and Charles salivated to see one trouser-covered buttock briefly exposed.

His wife was delicious, utterly delicious.

And he was not going to let some first mate stop him.

“You can no more stop me from wooing Connor than you can stop the tide from receding from the beach. If I choose to make him mine, there is precious little you can do to hinder me.”

Faulkner glared at him.

“Last warning, Lee. Stay away from Connor.”

And then he whirled around and made his way back to the helm.

Charles sneered as he watched the old man nod at Connor and begin to yell Connor’s instructions to the crew.

It was an empty warning. Meant to scare and do little else. There was nothing that Faulkner could do as, more than half the time, Connor was on land and on Brotherhood business.

There was nothing he could do, and, if Charles wanted to, then he could remove the thorn before it became a problem.

He looked, then, at the grateful smile that his wife gave the old fool and the familiarity with which they spoke to each other and transmitted orders.

Connor would be devastated, he knew, if he did something to the meddlesome first mate. And the last time he had threatened someone Connor cared about...

Charles’s shoulders slumped in realization.

He would need to work around the old fool.

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