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Kink Meme - Assassin's Creed pt. 5

Assassin's Creed Kink Meme pt.5
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In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 18 - Grandmaster

Master Kenway began as he always began.

Congenial. Calm.

Only the storminess of those grey eyes betrayed his doubt.

“You do not love him.”

Charles wanted to protest.

How could his feelings be anything but love? His feelings of tenderness when his wife had fed their child that final day. His joy at the birth of his child. The horror he felt as his wife fell limp in his arms. His seething anger that Washington was the last thought in his wife’s mind. His appreciation of his wife’s abilities.

His mentor held up a hand to his protest.

“You do not know him, Charles. You cannot love him.”

“I know how he is commanding his crew and fighting and—“

Master Kenway looked tired.

“Charles, that is not enough.”

Charles didn’t agree.

“I know that he is a beautiful mother and has a stalwart heart.”

“And?” His mentor pressed.

Charles stayed silent.

Master Kenway pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

“Charles, you know only slightly more than I myself. And I can admit that my son might as well be a stranger to me.”

Charles looked away stubbornly.

Connor was more than that to him. Charles knew more than that about Connor.

He just couldn’t think of anything right now.

“You love the idea of what he was. The mother of your child. The spoils you’d captured.”

Master Kenway’s mouth twisted at this.

“The opponent that you’ve bested.”

No, Charles wanted to protest.

That wasn’t it. It was more than that.

“You cannot even begin to court him properly and bring him to your side now. This mission should have been more than enough if you truly knew him as well as you think you do. It should not be so difficult to win him over.”

Charles began to pace.

It was not so simple. His Connor was stubborn, loyal, infuriatingly insightful at the worst moments and frustratingly dense at others.

“My wife is the not the type of person to be easily swayed. It will work in our favor once he is led away from the Assassins’ influence.”

His mentor snorted derisively.

“You seem so convinced that he can be.”

That sounded dangerous.

“He is amenable once away from the Assassins—“

Master Kenway cut him off.

“By your own admission, it took you forcing marriage on him and all but putting him under house arrest in your manor for him to be separated from the Assassins. You do not want to resort to force unless strictly necessary this time. How will you accomplish this separation? Will you even be successful?”

Charles’s feet stilled.

He-he would be successful. He knew it.

Somehow.

“And even if you do manage it, you did not fare so well in stamping out his Assassin ideals and past allegiances as you thought. He died for Washington, or have you forgotten?”

Charles flinched as if struck.

That was, that was...

“That is unfair,” he whispered.

Master Kenway pressed on.

“No, it is not. It is absolutely fair. You did not manage to bring him around to your thinking the last time, which led to his—death,” and it was now Master Kenway’s turn to choke on the word, “and a vengeance-seeking George Washington 10 years later.”

And wasn’t that ironic?

The weak George Washington, becoming an Assassin and destroying the Order that had so painstakingly been rebuilt after Connor’s rampage. All to avenge the Omega that they both loved, mourned and lost.

“And as a result of everything, you died, I died and your son possibly followed soon after if you understood the purpose of your trip back in time.”

Master Kenway sounded doubtful.

Charles had no doubt.

“What else could it be, sir? Those Who Came Before spoke to me in dreams and sent my consciousness back. I can feel the importance of my wife and son. I can feel how his death wasn’t supposed to happen. What other explanation can there be?”

“A simple reaction between two artifacts. Your death. The destruction of our Order.”

Charles blinked.

Yes, it could be any of those.

But it was not.

He knew it was not.

He shook his head and began pacing again.

Master Kenway sighed.

“Let us say that you are right in this. That my son and my grandson’s deaths were the turning factor that led to your memories going back into the past, hitting you right at prison. You still have not detailed how you plan to turn Connor to our side.”

Those grey eyes look at him archly.

“Or is that no longer a concern for you?”

Charles feels a frisson of fear.

Master Kenway could not be suggesting...

Surely his mentor couldn’t be suggesting...

“Of course,” he blurted, halted in mid-step in utter shock.

“My first loyalty is to the Order, to you. You know this—“

“Do I?”

Charles pursed his lips.

“Yes. I will win your son over. He will bear me a son. Neither of them will die and begin this cycle over again. You have my word.”

He felt hurt when those eyes flared gold before dissolving back into grey.

Master Kenway reached into his coat and withdrew a slightly crumpled missive.

For George Washington

Charles recognized his wife’s flowing script.

“Can you though?”

It was a pointed reminder.

Charles did not wonder how Master Kenway obtained the missive. With his eyes and abilities, the Grandmaster could often achieve tasks no ordinary man could. It was why Charles had wanted an Alpha son from Connor so much last time.

“I—“

He hesitated.

If there was one thing that he dreaded, it was his wife’s commitment to Washington. He would die for the man, had died for the man, and the thought of this challenge sapped Charles’s energy.

His mentor saw the uncertainty in his eyes.

“I agree that it is likely you were sent back to prevent Connor and my grandson’s deaths. I do not think that you being my grandson’s father is so important.”

Charles turned startled eyes to his mentor.

He wouldn’t...

“If you are not able to sway Connor, then I shall set another to the task. Perhaps someone with less—history.”

“No!” Charles shouted.

He would not abide his wife being given to someone else. He would not abide not being his son’s father.

“I will. He is already reacting to me this time. He is starting to trust me. All I need to do is to break his confidence in Washington. I promise. I—“

“Hush, Charles.”

The gloved hands reached back into the coat and withdrew another missive.

“I will give you a few more missions with Connor. Gain his trust and friendship. It should not be difficult. I have observed an unprecedented ability to love in him already.”

Yes. So had Charles. It was one of his wife’s more frustrating, if endearing, qualities.

He held out the missive to Charles.

“This is an account of Washington’s atrocities during the 7 years war. Use it to convince him when the time is right.”

Charles eyes widened.

Finally, a weapon he can use against Washington.

He took the missive.

Well, shit, son. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more exciting. And to think that the pressure is coming from Haytham himself. I feel bad for Charles - poor guy. *keeps fingers crossed for Charles' success*

Thanks. :) Haytham realizes what's at stake, but the Order will always come first for him. So yep, Charles is on the hook...especially since the alliance and everything else was his idea.

Agrees with above anon, I feel for Charles as Haytham threatens to replace him as Connor's husband (though I do wonder how Biddle or James - down Clipper! - would fare). Though Haytham could be wrong about Charles not being the father.

Oh gosh the evidence of Washington's crimes is in Charles' possession, which of course is like a bomb waiting to go off in his hands - if Connor and Charles do become close and accuses him of withholding the information at the right moment like Haytham had.

Anyway, looking forward to upcoming missions between Connor and Charles, to see if they actually bond and become closer.

Haytham can definitely be wrong, but he's got a point that Charles may be wrong too. Neither of them knows for sure at this point.

Yeah, whether Charles having the evidence or not is a good thing...remains to be seen. :D

Sorry about the quality. Got home late and can hardly think right now...

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 19 - Hesitation

Charles never thought that having the key to kill his wife’s affections for Washington could prove so difficult. Time and time again, he made to walk over to Connor and hand him the missive.

Time and time again, he failed.

Something would always come up.

Either Connor would be called away by one of his crew regarding his ship, Faulkner would walk over to speak to the young captain about plans or Charles would lose his nerve.

He was ashamed to admit that it was the last most of the time.

He had thought that it would be wonderful to have the proof in his possession. He had thought that he only needed something that could back his words about Washington and everything would fall into line.

He could not be more wrong.

Charles would begin. He would start to make his way over to Connor, see his wife’s calm and smiling face and begin to doubt the reception he would be faced with.

He knew Connor would not be pleased to learn of the news. He knew that word of Washington’s betrayal, of much of the callous backgrounds of the continental army, would not sit well with his wife.

But would it change the way Connor interacted with him?

They had only begun building trust between them. His wife was slow to trust those who had already proven themselves an enemy, as Charles had done, and Charles was loathe to undo all that hard work. Would Connor distrust him for bearing the news? Would he strand the two Templars in retaliation?

Or, even worse, would he paint Charles with the same tar that painted Washington? They were both of high rank in the continental army. Would his wife begin to suspect the same treachery from Charles?

After all, it was not so long ago that Connor was absolutely convinced that Charles was to blame for the burning of his village and the death of his mother. How easy might it be for him to shift different suspicions on him, based on his association with Washington and the continental army?

And, in truth, It should not have mattered. Charles had turned his wife’s opinion before. It was slow going, but possible. And as long as Connor did not kill any Templars in the meantime, it would be a tactfully smart move. With Connor’s affection for the commander gone, they could kill Washington and install Charles in his place, as should have been. And Charles would have the leisure to court his wife anew.

Charles did not want his wife to think badly of him.

This mission on the Aquila felt so wonderful, in part because his wife was beginning to welcome his presence, to slowly trust him.

To not despise his very existence.

To lose all of that so soon...

And there was a small part of him that feared and doubted. It doubted that this current camaraderie was real. It feared that he could ever win his wife back.

It remembered the blood staining his hands and the golden light fading from amber-brown eyes and lips growing cold.

And it always left Charles cold.

Could Connor ever truly learn to forget Washington and love Charles? Even if he knew of the Alpha’s crimes, would it even matter to the Omega?

He wanted to hand over the missive. He wanted Connor to learn the truth he was unable to learn last time.

He wanted to be the only person in Connor’s heart.

But he wasn’t sure he could face the consequences. If he handed over the missive and if it damaged his own budding relationship with Connor or, even worse, Connor did not care and still loved Washington...

It-it wasn’t the right time.

Maybe when Charles was more than simply a Templar counterpart to his wife. Maybe when Charles actually existed and mattered in Connor’s world.

And so, Charles kept the missive on his person, ready to be handed over and yet never leaving his person.

----

Church escaped.

It had been while Connor and Charles and Master Kenway were searching the very large island that Church had led them to. Church had claimed that an associate had transported the supplies, and that Church only knew the rough approximation and could not locate it precisely.

Given the Alpha’s distaste for what he deemed the ‘grunt work,’ Charles had believed him and suggested that they search for the supplies themselves.

At first, he had been gratified when Connor took his suggestion of leaving one of the crew to watch Church, but now...

Now, he felt like cursing himself for being all kinds of an idiot. And Church too. And the crewman while he was at it.

It boggled the mind. Church was a doctor. A profession with little physical exertion. How had such a man escaped from one of Connor’s crew? How was Church able to run off and, no doubt, enlist the help of his lackeys?

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Master Kenway grimly conversing with Connor, no doubt discussing plans to recapture Church and locate the supplies.

Briefly he felt a bit of jealousy at their ability to lock away their emotions, to focus on the solution rather than the problem. His own temper was not so easily controlled. And he would have gladly killed the crewman for letting Church escape on his watch if he weren’t aware how it would look to his wife.

He stalked over to his mentor.

“Plan?”

Two pairs of sharp assessing eyes met his.

“My son is apparently good at sniffing out natural clues—“

Master Kenway sounded rather doubtful.

“I will locate Church’s trail in 5 minutes.”

Charles blinked.

That was rather—impressive.

Master Kenway shrugged.

“Whether it’s five or thirty, we have nothing better. Charles, you and I will stay in the bushes and out of the way so as not to alert any enemy eyes before Connor locates Church. We will formulate a plan for recapture once we have more information as to Church’s whereabouts.”

Charles nodded even as Connor raced into the trees. It wasn’t the best of plans but, in these circumstances, it was the best that they had.

Charles remembered how Church had nearly poisoned Connor the last time, before they’d realized he turned traitor. Charles had nearly lost his wife and son right then and there.

He hoped he would have the opportunity to kill Church.

Really loved Charles' thoughts in this chapter. Again he knows he's holding a grenade in his hands, but not sure how to deliver it without getting caught in the blast radius.

Wow, Church really is a slippery little bastard, and OMG this line: "Charles remembered how Church had nearly poisoned Connor the last time, before they’d realized he turned traitor. Charles had nearly lost his wife and son right then and there."

When did this happen?? And I do hope Charles gets his wish.

Figured Church would have left an unpleasant 'gift' as he was parting, just like he was sabotaging missives and stealing supplies. Anything to help his 'new' friends, and the death of Charles's wife and Haytham's son would have been pretty disruptive.

Ah, makes sense. Of course this probably prompted Haytham and Charles' blood lust.

Yep. But since Connor was already doing very poorly at that point (would have been close to Washington's death), it's likely that it really didn't make much of a difference.

Never make an enemy of a doctor, especially when there are no consumer protection laws in place. //shudders//

Hmmm... sometimes I really understand Charles and his hesitation, but I often ask myself whether he's doing good by delaying the whole thing. I mean, Connor will probably be aware that Charles (and Haytham) knew of these atrocities for quite some time (you probably remember sequence 10 and that famous "How long did you sit on this information or am I to believe you discovered it now?" question) and maybe that's something that would serve to only distance him further... In the sense that they had access to such important information and facts but refused to share it with Connor until they deemed right... no idea, man... I'm just trying to guess the drawbacks of delay. Though I certainly understand the hesitance. A tricky matter, indeed.

Other than that - damn I really love this fill. I probably say it all the time, but I can't help it, anon. You deserve the praise and I feel like showering you with love after every update.

Hehe. Got it in one, anon. Information really is a fine balancing act (witness any job), and Charles is definitely using his own insecurity to chicken out. imo, he's not doing any good by delaying. The more he delays, the greater a chance Connor has to fallen deeper in love with Washington, the worse it'll be for Connor, the greater the fallout will be.

The Haytham-Connor scenario was a bit different, imo. That was so very clearly staged that I wanted to headdesk at the moment. Things tend to go a bit better if the person doing the revealing is more candid. Haytham should have taken Connor aside and went, "I've recently received some news that you won't like. I know you think that we were responsible for what happened to your village, but I did some digging and uncovered the real culprit. I think you should know." It prepares Connor for awful news (thus mitigating the impact of the news), and it makes Haytham seem very candid and upfront (even if he may not be). Connor may still be pissed, but he'd be able to recover and remember Haytham in a positive light.

Of course, Charles's saving grace is that this anon hasn't made up her mind what to do with the letter yet. Decisions, decisions, decisions. :D

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 20 - Hunt

As Connor promised, they located Church’s trail in 5 minutes and followed it to the man’s location within half an hour. And he was not really trying hard to hide. The man had apparently gotten his shirt wet and had strung it on two branches to dry.

The problem was, the man himself was in a cave. A cave guarded by a dozen armed men.

A quick glance with Connor’s eagle vision told him that the men were armed with the ammunition stolen from the continental army.

Connor’s father turned to him irritably.

“I thought you said that the supplies stolen were bandages and medicine?”

Connor shrugged.

“The commander did not mention it, but they may have combined those with one of the earlier shipments of ammunition that went missing.”

It was now Lee’s turn to glance at Connor irritably.

Why, Connor did not know. The Alpha was one of the generals in the army. The stole ammunition should not surprise him.

“Heaven help us if Washington is responsible for all debriefings.”

Connor nearly cursed.

Of all the ludicrous statements, could the Alpha not put his enmity with the commander aside even over something as trivial as this?

“We hardly have the time to discuss the commander’s merits, Lee. I suggest we focus on the task at hand. You may bemoan the commander when Church is recaptured, out of my earshot.”

And why was it that Lee looked strangely put out by that?

“Gentlemen,” his father cut in. “If you would pay attention to the matter at hand.”

Chastised, Connor turned back to the cave.

The guards had changed. Shifts then. In twos. Both armed with rifles.

“Are those actually Templars? Can you not explain to them?”

His father looked rueful as he shook his head.

“They are actually recent deserters. We had meant to—retire—them,” and Connor understood the implications of the word, “but we were busy and they were of little importance. By the time our time freed up, they had disappeared.”

“It appears,” Lee continued, “that they have been hiding here this entire time.”

Deserters.

So, “they would not be missed then.”

“No, they would not.”

That certainly opened up options, though not by much. They were still outnumbered, outgunned, and Connor did not even know if Lee could fight in such conditions. The man was clearly classically trained, but Connor doubted he would know what to do in this jungle-esque setting.

They could try a frontal attack, but the guards would simply retreat back into the cave and shoot from the entrance, where they would have an advantage against any incoming attacks. And it would alert the other guards still in the cave, allowing them to fight back and increasing the chances of casualties.

Again, Connor was fairly certain that his father would be fine, but Lee seemed far more at ease in one-to-one fights or on horseback directing an army.

What they needed was something to draw everyone in the cave out of it. Something to make the cave seem dangerous to stay in. A diversion.

Connor blinked.

“Wait here,” he instructed his two Templar companions before slipping quickly back to the camp.

He had a plan.

----

Charles stared agape as the Assassin slipped off before he could make a single reply.

Wait?

What did he mean by wait?

He looked to Master Kenway, hoping his mentor would have some insight into his son’s strange actions.

All he got was the same questioning stare thrown back at him.

Belatedly, Charles realized that he had spent a year with Connor where this Master Kenway had only spent a couple of weeks.

But, it wasn’t as if he knew his wife’s warrior aspect. There certainly hadn’t been any occasion for Connor to strategize and fight in Charles’s manor.

Except against him, that is.

So it made sense for Charles not to know his wife’s thoughts.

There was really no reason for Charles to have any better idea what was going on than Master Kenway himself.

Really.

It made sense but it was disquieting. How much did Charles really know his wife? Was what he knew even real?

Or was it all a part of his manufactured world? A consequence of locking his wife up?

Charles didn’t know. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

Because it implied that the wife he loved wasn’t real. That the tenderness with which Connor rocked their Alpha son and the soft smile on his face as he cradled that tiny baby could never be gotten back.

That Charles’s struggle was futile.

And he couldn’t deal with that. He’d already finally given up his longing for Master Kenway. To be forced to give this up too...

He clenched his fist and kept watch on the cave, waiting for the moment his errant wife would reappear.

----

“The Aquila will shell the cave.”

Charles blinked, uncertain if he heard right. Apparently, Master Kenway was having the same problem.

“You want to bombard the cave,” Master Kenway began.

“With us not 500 feet away,” Charles continued.

“And expect us to be able to retrieve the supplies?” Master Kenway finished.

The Assassin looked at them both.

“I do not see the problem.”

Of course he wouldn’t.

Of all the stupid nonsensical ideas...

“Do you plan to leave this island alive?” Charles asked.

“Of course.”

Not from where Charles was sitting.

Master Kenway pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.

“Son, this is an extremely dangerous undertaking. The chances of failure are high. Surely there is some—easier—plan?”

Connor looked at them again.

“Unless you can think of a way to actually draw them out of the cave where they cannot simply pick us off one by one, there is no easier way. I have instructed my crew to use the densest cannonballs we have. They will not explode on impact as some of the others might. We need not worry about shrapnel.”

Oh.

That was better.

“They will also not be using any fire-based ammunition. I recognize the dangers of using fire in this setting.”

Master Kenway did not look convinced.

“While that is all very well and good, there is still the problem of aim. Surely you cannot expect me to believe that your ship can guarantee that the cannon hits the cave and not something else. Such as us.”

Connor nodded his head.

“My crew is very experienced in aim. This is not the first time they have provided cover for me in the form of bombardment, and their aim has always been impeccable.”

Strangely enough, that did ease the worries Charles had somewhat, even if it raised new questions about his wife’s hobbies. And sanity.

“Where do you want us then?”

Charles tried not to feel such pleasure from the grateful look Connor shot him.

“I want you two there and there.”

He pointed to two distant trees, on opposite sides of the cave.

“Be ready to fire when the bombardment starts. We want to take advantage of the confusion before they catch what is going on. I will pick off the survivors.”

Master Kenway grabbed Connor’s arm as the Omega made to walk past.

“And if Church is crushed before we can get to him?”

Charles’s wife looked evenly at his father.

“Then we have the supplies, and Church will have died a more painless death than I am sure the two of you will deign him.”

Loathe as Charles was to admit it, it was likely a true statement.

Heh, the Templars only now realize that Connor is a dare devil (always love the fact that Putnam calls him 'madder than a march hare') who goes against incredible odds to complete his objectives, much like Altair and Ezio. Hope Connor's plan goes according to plan

I always did think that Connor's plans were a bit mad. Hehe. He seems to have a bad habit of bombarding wherever he plans to be.

Yeah, I did question his sanity in that sequence where you had to kill Pitcairn and of course bombarding Forts George and Wilcott while he was still inside them.

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 20

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-30 21:09 (UTC) - Expand

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 20

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-30 21:25 (UTC) - Expand

Oh Connor ahahahaha, you mad bastard, I just love you. Let's see how his plan unfolds, I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed for our dearest Omega.

It's also very interesting to observe Charles in his new revelations, however surprising they may be for him. It's just a lot to take in, poor guy...

Yeah, Charles is realizing how much he doesn't know. And it's a lot to take in. He's so committed to an idea that it's painful to realize he may have deluded himself all along.

And another chapter in the neverending series... :D

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 21 - Battle

Most of the mission went to plan.

Most of.

Charles wasn’t sure, but he could almost swear that it was only as he was relaxing somewhat, assured of their victory as he and the Grandmaster picked off the guards that came pouring out of the cave once the bombardment started, that things went sour.

It was a stray cannonball, just as Master Kenway had feared.

And it headed straight for where Charles was hiding.

The thing didn’t hit him, and Charles thanked whatever supreme power and lady luck herself for that small favor at the least.

It hit the tree he was only a short distance away from.

It pulverized the tree and sent shards of thick splinters flying, even as chunks of trunk and branches dropped towards him.

He had just one second to look up before he was unceremoniously pinned.

Charles cursed in every language he knew and promptly made up a few swears just to cover any hypothetical language that he did not know.

It was his blasted wife’s fault.

It was an idiotic idea to bombard the very location they were going to be fighting in.

And now they were down a person.

Perhaps not the most useful person in this group given Charles’s kill count compared to that of his mentor’s or his wife’s, but still one of the sources of the bullets that took out the enemy guards.

Well, perhaps he could slip out from underneath the thing—

Tentatively, he wiggled his torso and winced as a sharp pain stabbed through him.

He looked through watery eyes to see one of the thinner branches stabbed right through his shoulder.

Bugger.

He’d been so shocked by his situation that he hadn’t even noticed the pain until now.

He squirmed again and stilled as the pain spiked.

There was no getting out of this. Not on his own at any rate.

He’d need help.

Frantically, he looked towards his mentor.

“Sir!” he called out.

Master Kenway abruptly ceased his shooting and looked towards him.

The Alpha’s eyebrows flew up in surprise.

“Charles?” his mentor mouthed, lowering the rifle.

Charles was about to answer when he saw one of the guards creeping up on Master Kenway.

His eyes widened in horror as the man raised his sword...

And was swiftly knocked away by the butt end of Master Kenway’s rifle.

Charles sighed at that.

That had been a close one. A few seconds late and he would have lost his mentor. Again.

His relief was short-lived.

More guards located Master Kenway and began attacking him. Some with swords, some with bullets.

It was because Charles was unable to help. Without Charles’s bullets helping to keep the guards out, more were making it out from the cave alive.

And while Master Kenway always managed to keep ahead of them, he had no time to free Charles from where he still lay pinned by the tree and impaled by the branch.

Charles swore.

Hadn’t Connor said that there were only a dozen or so? Where were they all coming from?

And thinking of Connor...

Charles craned his neck to see if he could locate his wife.

His eyes were immediately drawn to a thick swarm of men. And in the middle of them was...

Charles had not thought that anything could surprise him more than the sight of his wife taking down Alphas while in prison, but that sight paled to the one he was greeted with now.

If Connor had been deadly before unarmed, he was ten times more lethal with his hidden blade and tomahawk.

He whirled like a practiced dancer, his weapons hungry for blood. His hands almost seemed to flicker as blade after blade dove into vulnerable chests and tender throats. The coattails of his Assassin’s uniform flared gracefully, making it almost seem as if he were spinning in a waltz.

Perhaps the most lethal waltz Charles had ever seen.

Still, Charles’s critical eye saw that, with the rather startling influx of men, even his wife and mentor were being overwhelmed.

On that observation, one of the men fighting against Connor managed to get in a lucky strike, and Charles nearly screamed as a streak of blood painted a brilliant red spot on that pristine white coat.

Charles swallowed, suddenly reminded of his wedding to Connor.

His wife had screamed as he took him, forcing himself into him. And one of the lapels of that wedding coat had stained with the blood of his wife’s mentor, who lay cold not five feet away.

It had been a victory for him then. A show of dominance to prove that he was better, superior to the half-Native he’d forcefully wed. It had been to humiliate and shame, and Charles had succeeded in spades.

It made him sick now, to remember that red on the white coat, to see the red on this white coat.

Almost as sick as it made him to see his wife stumble and be grabbed by one of the guards.

Those white-clad arms were pulled back harshly, rough hands tangled in black hair and pulled, forcing that beautiful face painfully back.

A disgusting face leaned close to his wife, whispering something, before a rough tongue licked the long elegant line of Connor’s neck.

Charles saw red.

How dare they?

Imprison his wife like that? Put their filthy hands on him? Hold him down so that he’s not able to dance his lethal dance and limit his freedom?

How dare they?

Charles wasn’t sure what happened, but one moment, he was pinned by the tree, impaled by the branch, and the next, he had grabbed his fallen rifle and sent two bullets in the direction of his wife’s attackers.

One for each of the Alphas restraining Connor.

They fell almost simultaneously, and Charles set to prepare his rifle for another bullet.

He needn’t have bothered.

Once free, his Connor set upon the guards like a feral wolf, striking and stabbing until only he was left standing.

The outpouring of guards from the cave had thinned and the bombardment finally stopped.

As the last guard fell, his wife leapt toward where Master Kenway was still holding back his own throng of deserters.

They fell in short order to Master Kenway’s blade, Charles’s rifle and Connor’s tomahawk and hidden blade, and Charles sighed in relief as the very last guard fell to his bullet.

Connor looked up at his sigh, and Charles watched as his wife’s eyes grew large.

He blinked and looked down.

Oh yes.

The branch.

He’d forgotten about that.

Charles fainted as he stared at the long stick protruding from his shoulder.

OMG This chapter was so amazing. Wow, the wedding flashback was really a sharp contrast between the old Charles and the reborn one (I'm trying to hard not to be tempted to write that smut scene in Charles' POV) and of course Charles going all protective Alpha over his Omega after those Templar traitors planned on doing horrid things to him while Haytham was occupied.

So Charles faints again and needs to be nursed back to health on board the Aquila, by Connor (heheh) - not sure if I heard this right, but think most ship captains also the ship doctors or had some medical training to help the ship doctor if too many members of the crew were injured.

Lol. You know Connor would have some training in medicine. He's too often on his own in the wilderness and has to rely on his own wits. :)

But do write the smut scene in Charles POV. :D

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 21

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-31 07:03 (UTC) - Expand

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 21

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-31 20:13 (UTC) - Expand

Re: In Pursuit of Happiness 21

(Anonymous) - 2013-05-31 20:40 (UTC) - Expand

Haha, I see what you did there, anon... and it's beautiful. Now we got ourselves a completely different Charles, and how wonderfully you marked the shift. You're a master of tease, you know... Can't wait for the next part <3

Hehe. Charles actually hasn't realized it himself. :D Not the most observant of gents, our Charles, but he's definitely not the same person who existed in the previous timeline, though that will continue to play on him.

Will be back on normal update schedule for tomorrow. And sorry, Anon, but will probably be saving Charles's realizations for later. Maybe another mission. Too many revelations on this one already. :D

In Pursuit of Happiness

Chapter 22 - Journey

Connor carefully studied the fitfully slumbering Alpha for what seemed like the hundredth time and came away with no great understanding of the Alpha.

Such...curiosity.

From what his father told him, a cannonball had gone amiss during the early phase of their plan and had toppled one of the trees near Lee. The unfortunate Lee had then apparently been pinned underneath the broken husk of said tree, impaled by one of its branches.

Connor’s father had believed the man to be removed from battle capacity and tried to pick up the slack. So thick had the swarm of guards been that he had been too busy battling to keep much of an eye out for Lee, except to note that the Alpha was still alive and had not attracted any enemies.

The wounded man groaned and sweat broke out on his brow.

Connor gently wiped it away, dabbing at the feverish skin.

He stared at the Alpha in incredulity.

To think that Lee had somehow managed to pull himself out from underneath the tree, grab a hold of his rifle and shoot the men restraining Connor before they could kill him...

And all with a branch through his shoulder.

The Alpha moaned again, and Connor stroked his brow soothingly.

He glanced worriedly at the cleaned wound.

He had known some first aid and managed to help bind the wound, stick and all, as they moved Lee from the battle scene to their campsite. Once they arrived, his ship’s doctor had taken charge of the man, sending them on various errands to the Aquila for bandages, tweezers, gauze, thread, needle and good strong whiskey.

Connor shuddered just thinking about it.

Between all of them, they managed to remove the branch, splinters and all, and cauterized the wound. After his doctor had finished sewing and binding the shoulder, a task that made Connor grateful for knowing such wonderful and trustworthy doctors as Michael, his ship doctor recommended by Doctor Lyle, and Doctor Lyle himself, he had declared that they had really gotten Lee there in the nick of time and that a delay might have meant infection and possible amputation.

It was really a very close call, and Connor was glad that they had gotten Lee the necessary attention in time.

Charles.

He supposed he must think of the Alpha as Charles now. The Alpha had saved his life.

After Connor’s plan with the cannonballs went awry.

Charles shivered and moaned, and Connor drew the blankets up, tucking the Alpha in securely.

It would not do for Charles to toss about and upset that shoulder. They had to keep it stable.

Charles groaned again, and Connor continued stroking his brow.

He would guard the Alpha’s bedside this one night.

----

Charles knew he walked in a dream. It had to be a dream.

Because...

Connor walked towards him, his face lifted in a radiant smile.

On one side walked a familiar little boy, Charles’s little Haytham. On the other side, two littler little girls.

Alphas all, two with amber-brown eyes and one little girl with pale blue eyes. They were so beautiful and looked so much like their mother that Charles could scarce believe it. Three beautiful, beautiful children.

The family he’d always wanted.

He walked forward to embrace them, and the three children ran towards him, arms outstretched.

They flew towards him, and he felt the solid comforting weight of them in his arms. Their hair smelt of pine and fresh air and the dampness of a Boston spring.

He had never felt anything better.

If only...

As soon as he thought it, he felt arms wrap around him and the children.

He opened his eyes to see that beloved dark head of hair and bare shoulders of honey caramel.

The grip on him tightened and the dark head lifted.

Charles was met with an impish grin.

He smiled back, finally relaxed.

His family, his wife.

At last.

He’d waited so long for this.

So many hurdles and challenges to get to this point, where his wife loved him, where he had his children by his side.

He ruffled the long soft hair of one of the girls. Such dark strands, even more dark than that of her mother. She had Charles’s hair. She would be a beauty when she grew up, ebony-tressed with striking amber-brown eyes.

And the other girl Alpha, she had his pale eyes, and Charles knew that, when she grew older, she would be able to freeze older Alphas and Omegas with a single imperious look. She had the look of a commander, of a leader, like her own mother, and Charles could already imagining her leading a crew on a ship, perhaps even on the Aquila itself.

A small hand grasped the tails of his coat, and Charles looked to his side to see his Haytham grasping at him shyly.

Ah. His Haytham.

He’d come such a long way from the shy child he was. He liked his parents and baby sisters well enough, but was often shy around other children his age. He always said he preferred adult company, but he eventually outgrew that and learned to speak with the other children.

They were all so very, very precious. Just like their mother.

Beautiful. Precocious. His.

Charles swept a free arm around the only Omega, drawing him close.

So vibrant and full of life, his Connor. And such a difficult journey to get where they were now, happy and together.

To think that it took sending Charles back in time so that he wouldn’t make the same mistakes he made the first time around for Charles to learn and do better. In fact, if he hadn’t—

Charles frowned.

Hadn’t—what?

He didn’t know.

He couldn’t remember.

He frowned again.

Why couldn’t he remember? It was something pivotal, a moment of clarity and when everything came together! The most important moment of Charles’s life, the way he finally earned back his family, and he couldn’t bring up a single memory...?

What was wrong with him?

Something must be wrong.

There would be no other explanation for his courtship, for his wooing of the Omega he loved to be completely gone from his head.

Something had to be wrong with—“Charles!”

And Charles woke.

flaksjakjshcj nooooo! A cliffhanger *sobs*

Gosh, words can't describe how much I love this fill *sobs some more* I had such a huge smile on my face while reading Charles' dream/vision, it was simply heartwarming, even though it wasn't real. Dying to read more...