Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

London, England 1868

Your face was stuffed in a map. Where is this Henry Green’s shop? You traced your fingers along the road you were currently standing on the edge of. Damnit! I’m not even in Whitechapel! You groaned loudly, folding the map and stuffing it in your cloak, your gray gloves hugging your fingers. You were covered head to toe in assassin gear, dark blue robes drifting down over your dark gray britches. A slick gold cloak thrown over your shoulder waved lightly in the wind, the day overcast and dark. Your hair was pinned close to your head, several braids interwoven to keep it from getting caught in anything on missions. Your steel gray gauntlet yielded a brand new hidden blade on your right wrist, the mechanism shiny despite the lack of sunlight. Your outfit was bare of accessories. Only one silver locket hung from your neck, the inside containing no photos, the intricate design the only reason you added it to your wardrobe. Your heeled boots clicked along the sidewalk, the cadence of your pace quick.

This is gonna take me ages isn't it… You thought to yourself, a light rain dampening your hair. Maybe this was a mistake, I barely passed assassin training this last year. I haven’t had a single solo mission yet… You thought back to your beginner level sneaking that gave you the map sitting in your back pocket; a lock picking kit, matches to light the candle, and a perfectly timed visit to the records room. There you found the singular assassin based in London, Henry Green. Next to his information was the marking on the map where his Curio shop could be found, visible with the Assassin sight. You nicked a new blade for your gauntlet and snuck away without getting caught. The next day you had taken the first train into London proper, only just now realizing you should’ve gotten off at the station in Whitechapel. 

_

The city was loud, much louder than the small town you grew up in. Chilham was a small village in Kent about 86 kilometers from the big city. You had lived there all your life, as did your parents before you. They were both Templars, in charge of overseeing Kent and keeping the Order in power across Europe. You grew up unknowing of the atrocities they committed until the age of 16. Your father had presented you with the pin of the Templar Order, imploring you to join them, your mother uncomfortable with the notion. I want them safe! The Order in Kent has no place for a young woman like she. She’s had no training James! Your mother pleaded to keep you from the Order. Your father relented, dragging you along to meetings, your mother nervous in the seat next to you. You were quick, always bright as a child, but you hated being a Templar. Power did not motivate you. For weeks you sat obediently, wondering what your next move could be. You caught wind of an Assassin in Kent, who was planning to take down the members of the Order in the area. Frantically, you told your mother of the news, hoping to spare your parents life.

“Come now ___, we have to leave,” your mother fretted nervously, putting your arms through your coat as if you were still a child. You picked your dress up and ran down the stairs, flinging the door open. You twisted your body to look back into the house. “Wait! What about father?” Your mother pushed you forward into the rainy night. 

“We have to leave him! He is an evil man ___.” Footsteps sounded inside the house. Your mother grabbed your hand and hauled you forward. “We have to find the Assassin in Kent, your father-” “‘Your father’ what, Eva?” James Clayden stepped forward, revolver glistening wet. Your mother shifted in front of you, despite your figure being just as wide and nearly as tall as she. She was shivering, though from fear or the weather you couldn’t very well know.

“James please, we are in danger. I am merely taking our beloved daughter to safety,” she said meekly, the cloak thrown over her head soaked through. Your father sneered, gun pointed chest height.

“Safety in the arms of the Creed I take it? After all these years Eva,” he frowned at your mother, true disappointment taking over. You were frozen in place, unsure of what to say, wondering if anything could be said.

Your mother opened her mouth. Was it to plead? Explain? Curse him out? Say he was wrong? You weren’t sure then, and you never got to find out. Her mouth hung open as the bellowing sound of a shot rang through your ears. You watched her continue to stand in front of you, the motion of her fall short. There was your mother, swaying in the increasing wind. Your mother, in the cold rain as her cloak revealed a deep crimson from behind. Your mother falling to her knees. Your mother, Eva Clayden, laying dead in the mud, her blood staining the hands of her only child. 

You pulled the cloak over her face, the rain blurring the image of your mothers face. Or was it the tears? They streamed down your face incessantly, refusing to stop. James placed a hand on top of your head. You jerked back, not expecting the sudden contact.

“Come now ___, it’s time to head inside,” his voice was far away. Your bones were set in stone, joints unable to break free from their position beside Eva Clayden’s body. The primal voice in the back of your head responsible for your survival tensed, clashing with the inability to stand and get away.

“Don’t be afraid ___, I won’t let you be weak like your mother,” your father purred quietly in your ear. The voice screamed, cement melting away at the casual insult. You lifted yourself up, shoulders set straight back. James backed away from you at the sudden movement, but wasn’t fast enough to get away from your iron fist. Your fist connected with his jaw with a loud crack, your knuckle bruised and swelling immediately. He stumbled back slightly, seemingly unphased as you cradled the injured appendage. His eyes lit up in rage, and for a moment you were absolutely terrified. You were face to face with the man who murdered your mother only minutes before, who was uninjured by a hit that would put another out cold. He did not scream or shout, his anger was silent for a moment. His cold, calculating voice finally speaking.

“You don’t get second chances ___. I gave you an out after you defied me with your traitorous mother, but that is long gone now.” You shivered slightly as he withdrew a long blade. You threw a punch with your non-dominant hand, missing completely. Your father grasped your wrist tightly, rocketing a solid punch into the side of your face, sending you flying to the floor. Oh mom, I’m sorry. I know you would’ve wanted me to try harder, you thought face down in the mud. But I don’t want my final moments to be in complete agony. You felt your father stand above you, grabbing a fistful of your hair and lifting your head, blade ghosting along your neck.

“Such a disappointment ___. I really wanted better from you.”

“Well you can’t be too surprised. Like father, like daughter right?” A deep voice called out. Your eyes couldn’t see much beyond the darkened sky, droplets of rain blinding you. Your head dropped into the mud, your mind spinning too much to move. Your hearing was fuzzy, only the grunts of a fight coming in and out now and again, but it was hard to follow. A muffled thud sounded behind you, followed only by the sounds of rain hitting your back. You made no move to get up. They’ve both left me. Not much else to do but rot. 

Hands rolled you onto your back. You gazed up at the figure by your side, dark robes obstructing their face. They hauled you up, cradling your lithe body and strolling into the house. Closing the door behind you, you’re set gently in front of the fire.

“You’re ___ Clayden.” A statement, not a question. You laid numbly.

“My name is William Hughes. I’m the Assassin from Kent. The Creed sent me to take care of your father.” Not my mother? Not me? “Your mother informed us of his whereabouts, and was supposed to meet us with ___ Clayden to join the Creed,” he spoke clearly. William watched you with mild interest, waiting to hear your response. You could think of nothing to say, merely nodding your head.

“James Clayden escaped. I will have to stick around until I can find him.” A tear slipped down your face. He got away… I can’t believe he got away.

William Hughes stayed with you that night into the next. You buried your mother, together. The plan to train you as an assassin moved forward, without Eva Clayden. The next year went slowly, you were physically underdeveloped, making your training tough. You built up muscle and skill, your mind working quicker through the history of the Creed and the Templars. You were just a few months away from your 18th birthday when you decided to head into the city. A contact had informed William that James Clayden had fled there a year prior. You insisted on going.

"___ that isn’t a good idea. You need more training."  You nodded your head in agreement. As soon as he was gone you’d retreated to the records room.

_

“Hey, watch it!” A shout pulled you out of the past. Screams from the street caught your attention. You looked to your right, the sight of a large man hijacking a cart causing a panic. You watched as he tossed the driver from the seat, grabbing the reins in haste. You raced over to the man and helped him up.

“Are you alright sir?” He nodded before letting out a short sob. You brought him to the sidewalk and out of the street, his back dragging on the ground. God, people in London are just shit. An abandoned carriage sat in the street, presumably from the hijacker. You reassured the man that you would get his goods back and climbed into the seat, cracking the reins and setting off after the large man.

Chapter Text

You raced after the cart in front of you, your hands on the reins, the speed causing your heart to race. You saw the hijacker turn in his seat to look at you. You couldn’t make out any of his features, sure of only his height and the hat atop his head. He cracked the reins, the cart racing forward around the corner. 

Oh God, this is crazy. You were thrilled by the chase, but you were barely keeping pace with the man in front of you. He was skilled, dodging in and out of traffic while you were merely following in as straight a line as you could manage. The wide streets of the city were filled, slick with the light rain that began to pour down. The wheels threw up the rain on the cobble, splashing bystanders and soaking their clothes. You were getting cold, the day shifting closer into afternoon and the air beginning to chill. A sudden right turn had you wobbling on two wheels, desperate to keep pace with the man in front of you. The streets were getting narrower, your pace slowing as the horses were getting tired. 

I can’t lose him! Fear crept slowly into your chest, panic making your control of the cart wane slightly. You frantically followed the man, weaving past carriages, the wet ground causing the vehicle to drift dangerously near the bystanders.

“Ah damn, think ___!” You cursed aloud, another crack of the reins sending the cart lurching forwards. Your gauntlet glinted in the wet rain, bright in the corner of your eyesight. You stared for a moment, your intellect slow to catch on in such a stressful situation. The idea burst forward and you smirked, dropping the reins and extending the hidden blade. You sliced the coupling of the cart, horses running onwards, veering to the side.

This is my chance. Stay low and grab hold, you thought to yourself. You launched yourself forwards, grabbing the tail end of the cargo cart. Your feet scraped against the ground as you hung on desperately. Had you been a little taller, he would be dragging you, boots scuffed and ruined. You hauled yourself on top of the vehicle, wooden crates bouncing along the cobblestone. The hijacker pulled a tight left turn and you stumbled, nearly falling down. You swayed with the movement of the cart, your balance decent, but not good enough to advance forward. The man seemed to know you couldn’t keep straight for long. He threw the cart to the right, back and forth hoping you might fall. You continued to keep yourself upright, which seemed to make him frustrated. You took a step forward, arms straight out to your sides for balance. You kept moving towards the driver seat, determined to overthrow the man.

I have to do this. How can I ever expect to succeed here if I can’t defeat one simple hijacker. Your determination set you forward another step. The man looked back at you, his face closer, the details still hard to focus on. From here you still couldn’t figure out much, other than his outfit looking familiar. Why is he so covered up? Gloves, hood… 

Your thoughts were interrupted by another sharp turn. He cracked the reins and did a full 180° turn and headed back the direction they came. The force of the turn made you fly sideways, hands scraping for purchase on the side of the cart. You grabbed hold and hunkered down, feet resting on the sides. The cart slowed significantly, which confused you at first. Then it was obvious.

Of course. I should’ve just hidden out of sight the first time. You sat just below the cargo, out of sight from the driver's seat. You hid quietly, waiting to ambush the man once you got to your destination. The man made a few exclamations at passing drivers, though you couldn’t hear his exact words. You watched the city pass by in your peripheral vision, the rain pelting down harder. You discreetly pulled your hood over your head. 

The cart turned off the road, driving between the supports of the bridge above. The wheels creaked and then the carriage came to a stop. You heard the man exit the driver's seat, and a second set of footsteps sounded a few feet beyond. You dropped to the ground silently, crouching behind the cart.

“Here you are Wynert, just as you’ve asked,” one of the men spoke, his voice deep and full. The hijacker probably. But who is Wynert? What is in this cart… 

“Mighty appreciate it Frye. It’s all yours.” The jangling sound of coins being pocketed filled your ears. That name sounds familiar, but I just can’t seem to remember where I’ve heard it. You peeked around the side of the cart to see two men, one tall and stocky, the other a little shorter and skinny. The former was turned away from you, the smaller man’s face in frame. His outfit was clean, professional, his glasses rounded circles made his eyes slightly enlarged. The hijacker was still turned away, and he looked bigger standing up.

There’s no way I can take both of them, much less the bigger one. You thought, trying to think of your options. You realized then you were way in over your head. You contemplated rushing them both while they were distracted, but you shook the thought away. Can I hop back onto the cart and follow Wynert? Or do I need to stop the other man, the one who brought it here? Is Wynert a distributor, or does Frye control the hijackings? Your head got jumbled, mind catapulting forwards. What did I honestly expect to happen? I was gonna beat them up and return the cart? Please! Your heart began to race slightly. The professional looking man pulled himself up onto the cart. You darted out from behind the cart and hid behind the pillar. You glanced out to see if they saw you, the man called Wynert pulling away on the stolen cart. The man who had hijacked it was walking in the opposite direction. He stopped, his stature indicating he would turn around. You quickly hid yourself completely once again behind the metal beam. You counted to ten silently, closing your eyes and keeping still. You took a quick breath in and held it, leaning out to look once more. The space underneath the bridge was empty. You exhaled loudly and swung back around to rest your back against the cool metal. You squeezed your eyes shut and slid down the beam, squatting a few inches above the muddy ground. 

This was a terrible idea. I can’t even take on one hijacker. Can’t find Henry Green’s shop. I couldn’t even read the fucking map correctly. Your breaths started to come in and out quickly. You stopped and held your breath for a moment. Relax. One objective at a time. 

A long breath left your lungs and you stood quickly from your squatted position.

“Well, you’re certainly sneakier than the average good to-do citizen.” Your eyes flew open, fist darting forwards. The large man dodged your punch quickly, side stepping you with ease. He grabbed your hand and twisted it behind your back. You struggled lightly against him, trying to tear your arm away.

“Feisty one too,” the man chuckled. “Piss off,” you cursed at him. He pushed you forward and you relented.

“Easy, Feisty. I just want to ask you a few questions,” the slight lilt in his voice making him seem strangely upbeat. You scoffed at him, an unseen sneer painting your face an angry color. Not even a day in the city and I’ve already been kidnapped. What a great Assassin I am…

“Took some real grit to get on the cart like that,” the man started again. “I mean you were practically an acrobat. Racing through the streets, jumping on carriages, hanging onto the side of the carriage like that. It was actually quite impressive.” You stayed silent, waiting for him to ask a real question. 

“I’ll admit you nearly had me. You’re a quiet, stealthy little thing aren’t you? Ned hadn’t noticed your presence at all,” He commented. Your anxiety ratcheted up another level. What is he getting at? You both continued walking forward, past unsuspecting citizens going about their day. You glanced around, wondering if there was any way to alert someone nearby for help. But everyone kept their eyes forward. Your leg bumped into someone, a small child passing you on the street. He pointed at you and exclaimed lightly. His eyes shifted to the man who was restraining you, and his arm dropped. You watched with dread as he turned around and kept walking. 

What the fuck was that .

“ It takes a lot of skill to keep up with me, it’s not easy. I was tempted to compliment you, before you tried to deck me in the face,” his voice dripped with sarcasm. “But you’re also very young. I’d guess 16 or 17, which makes you even more confusing,” he continued. This can’t be going anywhere good.

“So what I really want to know is who sent you .” His breath tickled your ear. You glanced back at his face. God, who is this guy?

He pushed you onwards, clearly waiting for an answer. You wracked your brain trying to figure out what to say. You decided to stay silent, unsure of the consequences any lie (or truth) might have on the situation. 

“Cat got your tongue?” His cheeky voice interrupted the silence. “That’s alright. I’m sure Sergeant Abberline can hold you while we figure it out.”

“Who is we?” You blurted, curiosity getting the better of you. 

“Who ‘we’ are is none of your concern,” he said cheekily. What a prick, you thought sourly. You both approached a stationary carriage nearby. His steps slowed, and he reached past you to open the door.

“Get in Feisty, we’re going for a ride.” He tried shoving you into the back, your arm wrenching free of his grasp. Both hands grabbed the doorway, wedging yourself between and pushing back against him. You glanced over your shoulder and watched his eye line move from yours to look slightly to your right. A flash of something crossed his face, his body hesitating, unconsciously easing up.

This is my chance, I have to take it. You shot your leg backwards, knocking the man to the ground. You turned quickly and got on top of him, hands closing around his throat. It caught you off guard how thick it was, both your hands barely connected together around it. His face turned red immediately, his hands swung around and grabbed your shoulders, pushing you forcefully to the side. You fell to the side, scrambling to grab the man from behind. He stood quickly, backpedaling to keep out of the reach of your deadly hands. You lunged forward, your gauntlet clad wrist moving forwards.

“Wait!” You plunged your hidden blade into the space where his face was only seconds ago. The man ducked, his hat pierced by the tough metal. He moved forward underneath your arm and tackled you to the ground, both arms pinned above your head.

“Let me go!” You attempted to wriggle out of his grasp futilely.

“Would you relax? I’m one of you,” he said exasperated, much like how a parent speaks to a small child. You stilled underneath him, the question in your mind obvious. He sighed and moved his sleeve up slightly, a shiny silver emblem bright in contrast to the dark London afternoon.

“I’m an Assassin too.”

Chapter Text

You stared up at the man, stunned. This guy is an Assassin? God, that makes me feel a little better at least. It wasn’t just some random hijacker who kicked the piss out of me but an Assassin, you thought, slightly relieved. 

“Are you based in London?” You inquired, wondering why the records from Kent did not show another Assassin in the city. I should recognize this man.

He shook his head lightly, rolling off you and extending a hand out as he responded. “I’m not, and it seems neither are you. Greenie never mentioned that he was expecting another Assassin,” your ears perked up at the fond nickname. You grasped his hand and he pulled you up with ease, muted excitement showing through your words.

“You’re in contact with Henry Green?” “No love, I just came to London for a holiday,” he said sarcastically. You rolled your eyes at him as he continued. “I guess I better take you to him. What post did you leave to come here? I don’t recognize you at all. You look rather young to be out in the field by yourself,” the last sentence came out much quieter, skepticism coloring his voice. 

“I’m from Kent. I was trained under an Assassin named William Hughes starting a little over a year ago. I’m 17 years old, almost 18, not that it’s any of your business,” you retorted. “William sent me here to assist Mr. Green with liberating London, the message must’ve been delayed,” You lied swiftly. The man looked at you and ‘hmph’d’, clearly less than interested. He stuck out his hand.

“Jacob Frye.” “___ Clayden.” Jacob looked at you with a brow raised. “Clayden eh? That sounds familiar,” he said. 

Oh Christ. What if he recognizes my name from Templar records? I can’t have him knowing why I’m here, not until I can trust him. If he found out who my father is… Your thoughts trailed off and you shook the anxiety out of your head and focused on the man in front of you. One step at a time.

“Yours as well. Where have I heard the name Frye before?” You pondered aloud, looking him in the eyes. You took this moment to get a proper look at your assailant- no, your ally- now that the conflict had stopped. Your height assessment had been correct, he was about 170 cm tall, his shoulders broad and muscles rather large. His eyes were a lighter brown, nearly hazel color, the outside rimmed dark, the inner iris giving away hints of green and chocolate. Jacob’s robes were roughed up, his green pants and gray coat covered in patches, blue vest lined with crimson red material. His boots were scuffed and worn, his only accessory a necklace fastened tight to his neck, an old shilling as the pendant.. His hair was dark brown and slightly fluffy, but flat underneath the hat he had been wearing

God I do feel bad. I hope he wasn’t too attached to that hat.

Jacob bent down to pick up the flat cap, a gaping hole adorning the front. He dusted it off and plopped it back on his head, the outlines of it perfectly matching the patterns in his hair.

“You’ve probably heard of my father, Ethan Frye. He was a Master Assassin who traveled across London and India and a mentor to Mr. Green for many years. He passed away recently,” he said solemnly. 

“My apologies. He sounds like he was a good man.” “Well I sure would hope so, or else I’ve been aiding and abetting a dirty criminal all these years,” he joked sarcastically, no hint of sadness in his voice. You laughed politely along with him. 

“Well then ___, we’d better get going.” “Going where?” He stared at you for a moment, probably wondering if I’m mentally sound. “Oh right, to see Mr. Green. Of course.” He mounted the carriage, and you went around to the other side and climbed up beside the driver's seat. You were both silent for a few minutes, watching the hustle and bustle of the city go by entertained you immensely. You hadn’t had a moment to enjoy yourself since you’d arrived, so you took this moment to relax and listen to the sounds of the city. Night approached, the streets weren’t as busy as they were just an hour earlier. Children played on sidewalks as their parents corralled them inside, some settling into alley’s for the night. You watched men and women dressed in bright red jackets leer at you, some shouting threatening words in your direction. Your eyes closed, and Jacob seemed to take the hint that you wanted some quiet for the rest of the drive. The sway of the carriage lulled you into a comfortable rest.

-

“Wakey wakey sweetheart, Greenie is expecting you.” Warm hands shook your shoulders lightly, his teasing voice being the first thing you heard was not entirely unpleasant. You groaned and stretched your arms above your head. Night had fallen completely, the moon lit up the streets and bounced light off your braided hair. 

“Apologies, I did not mean to fall asleep like that,” you said, climbing down onto the street. He shrugged and led the way to a small shop on the quiet street. With no hesitation he opened the door and strolled right in, your smaller figure right behind him. Two people hunched over a large desk, papers scattered everywhere, their faces a picture of concentration. They were standing right next to one another, their robes brushing with even the smallest movements.

“Well Greenie, you’ve got a package here all the way from Kent,” Jacob declared, arms spread to present you. The two assassins jumped away from each other, not surprised by the entrance of Jacob but clearly not anticipating his arrival. They both stared, the blue eyes of the woman piercing your soul, the brown of the man warm and welcoming. 

“Hello there. I’m ___ Clayden, sent from Kent by William Hughes. You must be Henry Green,” you reached out a hand to shake, and he took it and gave you a strong shake. 

“Hello ___, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me for asking, but you say William Hughes sent you? I have received no word of your arrival,” he said, the doubt in his voice safe. He doesn’t seem to suspect I’m lying, but he knows something isn’t right.

“Well you see Mr. Green, William was unsure of your exact whereabouts in London. He gave me a map with a location, but it was not accurate as he suspected. Because he didn’t know how to contact you directly, he figured it would be more discreet to send me directly in case the information was wrong. I went to the listed address, but it no longer exists, and Jacob had to pick me up and bring me here.” Lying had not come easily to you before, but as you spun the web larger and larger your confidence peaked. Henry nodded, easily persuaded by your intricate lie. The woman with the piercing eyes stepped forward next to him. She was tall for a woman, and you gazed up slightly at her. Her eyes made you think she was not convinced by your motives.

“Goodness, where are my manners! ___, this is Evie Frye,” you extended your hand once more and she shook it with a sly smile. Confusion must have been plastered across your face, because Jacob chuckled next to you.

“What’s wrong ___? Never seen fraternal twins before?” “No actually, I haven’t.” Everyone around you laughed, though you didn’t really think what you said was all that funny. You glanced at Evie once more, smiling lightly at her and attempted to make conversation.

“Evie Frye. Is that short for something?” “No, Evie is my real name.” “It’s beautiful, similar to my mother’s. Her name was Eva,” you said, thinking back to the last few years before her death. 

“Eva Clayden? My, that sounds familiar,” Evie said. Your eyes widened and your pulse quickened ever so slightly. Dammit ___, you’re going to blow your cover story before the night is even over at this rate. Stop. Talking. You simply nodded, not trusting yourself to open your mouth. The three adult assassins began to talk to one another once again, shifting to the papers on the desk. You glanced around the room, taking in all the curiosities of Mr. Green’s shop. A slew of taxidermied animals growled down at you, the butterflies pinned beautifully to the velvet frames. The fireplace roared, and you relished the feeling of the heat warming your body. You extended your arms and put your hands right next to the flames, rubbing your arms lightly. The room was dark but cozy, the fire lighting up every hidden nook. Books lined nearly two walls, and you gazed in awe at the Assassin’s extensive personal library. 

“Miss ___, we are reviewing some important information, if you would like to get caught up,” Henry called you over. Shit, I should’ve been paying attention, you chastised yourself as you walked over to the other three. You settled in next to the Indian man, gazing at the cluttered desk. Evie pointed a gloved hand to a telegram transcript.

“I think I’ve found a lead in locating the Piece of Eden,” she said triumphantly. “Lucy Thorne will be at this location with a crate that is described as having ‘vital importance in finding the Piece. Guard it carefully.’” How did Evie manage to intercept that telegram? 

“Evie! This is an excellent lead,” Mr. Green exclaimed. 

“Oh yes Evie, what a wonderful job you’ve done,” Jacob mocked in typical sibling fashion. What a strange relationship they seem to have. Jacob jokes with her, they clearly care about one another, but they both seem a little… tense. Evie rolled her eyes.

“Just because you’re preoccupied with your gang Jacob does not mean the rest of us are sitting around doing nothing all day,” she replied in a cool tone. 

“I’m sorry, did you say gang?” You interjected. Evie smiled, and gestured to Jacob. He tipped his hat forward and bowed.

“Leader of the Rooks, here at your disposal.” You giggled slightly at the show of it all, sighing lightly at the feeling of being surrounded by people your age. Chilham was a small village, filled mostly with older people. Some young couples had moved in the last few years, their children running around the village, but they were more of a hassle than company. After you started your training with William it didn’t really matter who was around, you didn’t have time for leisurely activities.

I still won’t have time, you thought, a short yawn escaping your mouth. Your body felt heavy and tired after traveling most of the day, the fight taking even more out of you. Evie noticed your exhausted demeanor.

“We better be getting back to the train, Jacob. It seems ___ has had a long day,” you nodded your thanks to her, but stopped once again.

“Train?”

Chapter Text

The trip to the nearby train station was a short one. You sat down on a bench, relaxing back onto the cool wood. You closed your eyes and sighed deeply. Jacob plopped down in the seat next to you, legs comfortably spread out, his head flopping onto the seat back.

“Hate to leave you on your first night alone with this fool ___, but I must be following up on some leads regarding the Piece of Eden.” “Of course. Have a goodnight Evie,” you said. Jacob said nothing, and Evie walked out of the station. The London air was cool, the clock on the wall reading nearly 11 o’clock. You pulled your hood up to shield your neck a little better, the chill of the night making you shiver slightly.

“So ___, what’s a well trained Assassin like yourself do for the Creed? Go on any missions in Kent?” Jacob’s voice cut through the silence. Fuck. Do I say I haven’t been on any missions? Or is that too obvious? What kind of missions do Assassins go on? You finally spoke up.

“No actually, I have pretty limited field experience. I’ve been trained since the beginning in preparation for coming here. There is a lot more field work to be done in a big city than there is in a little village in Kent,” your voice wavered slightly, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead he nodded at you, seeming impressed. By what, you weren’t sure. 

“Well you’re sure to get plenty of action here.” You nodded, quiet for a moment, not wanting to give away too much like you had a few hours before. 

“So Jacob, what brought you into London? Were you sent here as well?” “Nah, Evie and I came here of our own volition. Left the Creed stationed in Crawley to free the citizens here, and free them we will!” His exclamation was moving, you couldn’t help but smile a little.

He’s so passionate about his work. The way his face lights up is almost adorable.

“You and Rooks huh?” “Yeah, they're gonna help me stand up to the Blighters, an opposing gang. Did you see the people dressed in the red jackets on the way to Greenie’s shop? That’s them, ugly bastards,” he snickered.

“They were ugly coats. So what color are yours then? Green?” Your voice was filled with laughter at the image. Giggles escaped your mouth, but Jacob simply sat.

“Get it? Cause they’re complementary colors,” you explained. He looked uncomfortable, slowly placing his head in his hands. Your brow furrowed in confusion. Is he dumb or something? Does he not get…? … !!! A smile appeared on your face and loud laughter burst forth.

“ Oh my God your gang wears green jackets!!” You doubled over in your seat laughing. Your breath came in short gasps, tears pricking your eyes. Jacob didn’t show his face, making you cackle all the harder. Your laugh started to become a wheeze, your stomach aching with the effort. It wouldn’t be so funny if your mind wasn’t completely fried after the day's events, but you needed this time to relax. 

“Alright ___, it isn’t THAT funny,” Jacob whined out, which set you off again even harder. He rolled his eyes at you and waited for you to stop laughing. It took a few minutes, much longer than it should have. You stopped laughing and smiled at him, one final giggle escaping you. 

“You’re very amused by yourself aren’t you?” “Very.” Jacob smiled at you then, one side of his lips upturned. You supposed it was more of a smirk than anything. His teeth were bone white, the smile creating wrinkles in his rough skin, his eyes focusing directly on you. You blushed from the intense stare and looked away. 

“So, what do the Rooks do exactly? Besides make stylish fashion choices,” you teased. “Well, we actually spend a lot of time helping our allies, strengthening our numbers. Liberating child laborers, locating and defeating gang strongholds, taking down Templars.” Your body tensed up.

Relax ___, you’re not a Templar anymore. Haven’t been for years. He’s on your side.

He’s on the side he thinks you’re on…

“We even take contracts for criminals. I’ve got a contact in the police force who has us take bounty hunts. Frederick Abberline, the guy I threatened to take you to before,” he continued, and you forced yourself to laugh along at the end. 

“Well, I would love to help out the Rooks, or you and your sister, if either of you ever need it,” you said sincerely. Taking down Templars could be just what I need to find James. I should probably make friends with Mr. Green as well, he must surely have records of where he fled to. You clasped your hands together in your lap, crossing your legs at the ankle and waited. Jacob began to whistle softly next to you. You glanced at him in your peripheral, examining his stature and overall demeanor. I feel like a mouse sitting next to him! And I’ve never met someone who felt as though they were letting off heat, you mused. 

The sound of a train approaching interrupted your internal monologue. Jacob stood and headed towards the boarding area, you following his lead. The train stopped with a hiss, and you both stepped into one of the cars. Jacob made his way through the train while you glanced around at everything. 

“Woah, there’s a couch in here. And some rugs, a safe, more books…” you gazed at the interior in awe. 

“That’s not all there is sweetheart. Come have a look,” he led you through to another car. This one had a small desk, an armchair, and in the middle sat a large bed. The pillows looked comfortable, feathers stuck out in one corner. You couldn’t help the big smile that crossed your face at the sight. You looked at Jacob, and he gestured his hands at the bed, your jaw dropping.

“For me?” “Sure thing love. Can’t have your first proper day in the city without a good night's rest.” He walked to the adjoining car and opened the door to exit. He stuck his head through the doorway, a cheeky smile painting his face.

“Good night ___. Tomorrow, we go see Bell.” You smiled back at him. Once the doors closed, you settled under the covers. You laid your head down and drifted to sleep with the sway of the train. 

-

You opened your eyes to sunlight streaming through the curtains. You blinked the sand from them, reaching a hand up to rub away the exhaustion. You sat up, glancing around the cozy train car. I’m really here then, aren’t I? You kept a small smile for yourself and flopped backwards onto the bed. You got up and made the bed carefully before moving through the carts. You spotted Jacob sitting on the couch, Evie seemingly staring at the wall. Opening the door, you made your presence known by closing it rather loud. Evie continued her stare, Jacob looking up at you briefly before looking back at the wall. You turned to see what they were looking at, a large map of people you didn’t recognize connected together, the center a photo of a man with terrible facial hair. You cringed a little at the sight.

“Good morning Jacob, good morning Evie. Thank you for letting me use your bed,” you broke the silence between the group. They both turned to look at you, Evie nodding her head, Jacob shrugging in response. You coughed awkwardly, the silence making you uncomfortable. William didn’t talk much, but you had a year to get used to him, and he was one of three people you knew well, and the only one you’d seen since your assassin training.

This is something I’m going to have to get used to. You tried again.

“So uh, what are we doing today?” Evie spoke, but didn’t turn away from the map.

“We have a friend to see. Mr. Bell has some news for us, it sounded important. I didn’t want to let the information we get from Lucy Thorne to get in the way of helping him.” You nodded at her. Jacob clapped a hand on your back, lowering his face to look right at you.

“You ready to meet your first associate ___?”

-

Goff. That was your first thought upon meeting Alexander Graham Bell. Incredibly goff. This man is so odd. And yet, he is utterly intriguing. Your introductions were swift and quick, the news he picked up from the cable system important. He handed the three of you a deadly serum, a new weapon to go along with your bracer.

“I’ll modify yours while Evie and Jacob go on this run Miss Clayden,” he said sweetly. 

“Aleck, you’re a genius.” “Well, that patently is untrue.” Odd, and yet completely adorable. Jacob looked in awe at the man, giving him words of praise before he and his sister departed. 

“Miss Clayden, if I could have you sit here while I work on your gauntlet please,” he gestured to the seat next to him. “___ is fine Mr. Bell.” He blushed lightly.

“Well then ___, you can call me Aleck. Not sure if it’s quite my style, but Jacob sure does like it,” he joked. You laughed slightly, sticking out your arm for him to work on. Word of the shipment coming through reached Aleck’s office not even an hour later. They did it! How were they able to work so quickly? You felt as though a celebration was in order, but Aleck had a strange look on his face.

“Aleck? Is something the matter?” He shook his head, but there was something in his face that let you know he was worried. “Just a little something for us to discuss when the Frye’s return.” His smile was forced, but still handsome. Idle chatter kept you both busy. The man in your presence interested you, intrigued you. His mind was so sharp, he seemed to know so much. Aleck showed you his latest endeavor, an invention that entertained you immensely.

“A phonetic telegram? Aleck, that is absolutely brilliant!” You raved. The Creed could use a mind like his. I wonder how good he could be with a weapon… He reached over to tweak the mechanism, pricking his finger with a sound of pain.

“Careful there Mr. Bell.” You both turned to the doorway at the sound of Evie's voice. Aleck rejoiced at the return of the two Assassins, his joyous mood extended, but worn thin. Something is wrong.

“Have you discovered what else is in that shipment?” Aleck’s face fell. “Indeed. I’m afraid Starrick’s poison has found its way on to the open market.” Poison? Oh no. Evie’s face was a picture of anger.

“If he believes that will stop us, he is mistaken.” Jacob gestured to you that it was time to leave. 

“Well then, this is farewell for now Aleck.” “Too bad Miss ___, I do quite enjoy discussing my findings with you. Perhaps you’ll pay me a leisurely visit one day.” “Perhaps Aleck, but I should be going.” You exited his home and followed Evie and Jacob to the carriage. Jacobs' face had a mischievous look on it, but you decided not to ask. It seems to always look like that.

“So ___, how do you like our friend Aleck?” Jacob said, voice light and overtly innocent. I see what this is. He’s gonna tease me about Mr. Bell, you thought. A smirk highlighted your face. You decided to play along.

“Oh yes, brilliant mind Aleck has. I just love intelligence in a man. You have nothing to worry about Jacob, our relationship can stay purely professional. You’re just not my type,” you said in an exaggerated voice. Evie whooped in her seat, laughing loud. Jacob too saw the humor and gave your arm a friendly punch, mock hurt coloring his voice.

“You wound me ___. And to think I had a chance,” you laughed harder, leaning slightly into his frame. This feels nice. I’m comfortable here. You looked at Jacob, mind feeling warm and slightly… Dizzy. I’ve never had a dizzy mind before, but it feels very good. His eyes met yours and the dizziness increased. 

What are you doing to me Frye?

Chapter Text

The train chugged onwards throughout London. You stared out the window briefly, rain finally splattering the window. The sights began to darken as clouds covered the sky, and you lamented the disappearance of the sun. Footsteps entering the car alerted you to the presence of someone new. A thick round woman walked through the doorway, her hair short and her face mean. You waved at her, but the woman paid no attention to you. She turned to face Evie, her voice taking you by surprise.

“I’ve been looking for ye. These past few days, when I been doin’ muh rounds some barmpot starts followin’ me! Nervous lookin’ laddie. He’s up to nae guid!” Her voice was heavily accented, and you silently thanked William for going over Scots a few months ago. Evie stepped towards the woman.

“Tell you what, do your rounds as usual. If he appears, I’ll keep an eye on him. When we return, pull him into the train.” The woman calmed noticeably, her face losing its original aggressiveness. She nodded at Evie and sighed. “Aye, all right.” The woman walked out of the car once again.

“I’m sorry again ___, but I must depart to help Agnes.” Without waiting for your response, Evie was gone. You turned to Jacob with a brow raised. 

“Agnes MacBean is the one who keeps the train up to snuff. She cleans it, pays for all the repairs so she can stay in it. Guess she’s got herself a secret admirer,” Jacob mused before flopping onto the couch. “Not our concern at the moment though, Evie can surely take care of it. We have something a little more fun on our docket today.”

You felt a thrill go up your spine at his wording, cheeks flushing. Stop! He means training brain! You forced your voice to stay even. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well ___, your bracer won’t do much if you don’t know how to use it. I figured I would take you on a bounty hunt so I could teach you to use it as well as show you some kidnapping tactics. Two birds with one stone eh?” You nodded at him and stood, eager to be leaving. 

“Where to then?” “We’ll get off in Lambeth. We’re gonna pay Jesse Butler a little visit.”

-

You’d been walking on the sidewalk for almost 10 minutes, the two of you not speaking. Where are we going? “Jacob-” “Shhhh! We’re here,” Jacob interrupted you, stopping on the sidewalk. He turned to face the building next to you, smiling broadly. You glanced between him and the building.

“It’s a house.” “Not just a house ___, Jesse Butler is just beyond this building and you’re going to kidnap him.” You gaped at Jacob, a wave of panic washing through you and settling into your bones.

“Me? But Jacob, I, uh,” your hands sweat nervously and you wiped them off on your robes. Relax ___. This is what we’ve trained for. Don’t let him know how nervous you are. You took in a deep breath and looked at him, face set and confident. 

“Okay. How do I use this?” Jacob grinned at you. “It’s simple ___. Make a fist with your hand wrist side up and your gauntlet will launch a grappling hook and pull you up to the top of the building. If you make a fist knuckle side up, your hallucinogenic darts will shoot wherever your hand is pointed. And obviously, hand tilted back will initiate your hidden blade,” Jacob said, an excited lilt in his voice. He bowed his head. “Observe.” He pointed his hand at the roof before clenching his fist. Just like he described, a grappling hook launched from his arm, pulling him up with it. He climbed to the top and unhooked it, looking over the edge at you. Jacob cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting down at you. “Now it’s your turn!”

You gulped down the anxiety rising in your throat. Don’t think too much ___. Head up, arm raised, fist clenched. Go through the steps. You gave yourself a small pep talk, raising your arm. You pulled your fingers together into a tight fist, and your body lurched forward. In an instant, you found yourself hanging just beneath the roof. You grasped the edge and pulled yourself up next to Jacob, adrenaline pumping.

“Woah! That was… actually pretty fun,” You admitted. Jacob patted your back. “That was pretty good for a first try. Better than mine,” he encouraged, and the warmth you felt from earlier returned with less force. You smiled at him, his returning smirk exposing his teeth once again. Why do I keep thinking about his teeth? Stay focused ___, we have a mission to accomplish.

“___, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m gonna stay here on the rooftop and clear the area of Blighters. Do you see those police officers?” You followed his finger, spying two doing a patrol. “Normally I would suggest you knock out the bastards, but the police will catch you for sure. I want you to listen carefully ___,” Jacob’s voice pulled you in, causing you to listen intently. “What you need to do is jump down into the hay bale below. Count to 30, exit the hay bale, and grab his arm and pin it behind him, just like I did to you when we first met. Walk him past those buildings and the cops and meet me by the main road. I’ll be on a carriage waiting for you. Shove him in and we’ll take him to Freddy.” He looked into your eyes, face completely serious. “Did you get all that darling?” Don’t just stare you moron, nod! Your head moved up and down, and Jacob smiled again.

“Alright, off you go.” You nodded again, turning away from him to look over the edge of the building at the hay bale. You took a quick breath in and held it before letting yourself fall over the edge. The hay enveloped you, your body bouncing slightly in the wooden crate. Alright ___, start counting. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. You heard a few muffled thuds. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Footsteps sounded right next to where you lay in hiding. That must be him. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. You put your hands on the sides of the crate. 29, 30! You hauled yourself from hiding, quickly crouching. You peered out from behind the crate and saw your target. He was a large man, his thick arms covered by a white shirt, black suspenders keeping up a pair of truly horrifying red pants. 

Slow and steady, we can get him… You held the crouch and moved forward, closing in on your objective. You got right behind the man, swiftly grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back.

“What the? What’s going on here!” “Quiet. Don’t want the police to overhear you,” you kept your voice low, most of your strength going into forcing him onwards. You pushed him towards the road, his feet dragging.

“You got the wrong guy!” He pleaded. “Shut. Up.” You approached the police, moving between the two of them slyly. One gave you a quick glance, not paying much mind. Butler started to squirm, attempting to break your grasp. Fuck! If he gets away- You quickly restrained him once more, regaining control. He cried out in pain. Oh crap. You glanced behind you at the officers; neither had moved. You sighed and re-focused yourself. 

“Settle down Jesse. We’re just going to pay a certain Sergeant a visit,” you toyed. Your eyes swept the street, spotting Jacob just a few blocks down. The walk was agonizingly slow, your arms began to burn from the effort it took to restrain the man. Once you reached the carriage you opened the door, shoving him roughly into it. Slamming it shut once again, you climbed up next to Jacob.

“Well done! The coppers didn’t even notice you,” Jacob praised, and you flushed red once again. “Hughes made the right call in sending you here,” he said before cracking the reins. You nodded and ducked your head away. 

“Thank you Jacob.”

-

You both returned to the train, Jacob immediately flopping down onto the couch. You sat next to him, wary of your proximity to his large figure. If I sit too close, is he going to notice? God, when did I start questioning myself like this so much. You shook your head free of those thoughts, trying to calm yourself.

“I’m impressed with you ___. Given your size and age, I didn’t think you would subdue him,” Jacob said. A flash of genuine anger roared through your head. “Why would you ask me to do it if you didn’t think I could?” You shouted. Jacob put his hands up in surrender. “Easy! The whole point was to get you trained Feisty. I can’t just let you loose in the city without making sure you know how to take care of yourself.” 

It’s almost as if he really cares… does he? Or am I looking for something that isn’t there? Your anger dissipated as your mind began to race with thoughts of Jacob once again. He relaxed in his seat and flung an arm over the back of the couch, arm brushing your hair. You stiffened, a blush rising into your cheeks. Fuck. What the fuck? Was that on purpose? God, he’s going to notice my face if this keeps up. You stood from your seat quickly, setting your sights on the ugly man on the Templar map. His mustache made you feel uneasy, his face bearing a deep sense of evil. You traced the strings of the map, three leading to photos of men with large red X’s across the photos. An assassination map no doubt.

“That’s the man behind it all, our final target in all of this,” Jacob said, standing to come up next to you. “Crawford Starrick.” You shivered at the inflection of his voice, and looked at the other photos on the wall, some covered with question marks. 

“When will I begin working on these conquests?” You inquired. “Not for a while, love. You have a long way to go before you can begin working on high stakes assassinations. You can assist Evie and I when we need it, otherwise you’ll be helping our allies and gaining control of the boroughs.” Jacob looked at you as if to test your reaction. I need to find my father. I have no clue where he might be at this time, and I can use my time moving around the boroughs to find him. More than likely he’s hiding out and keeping a low profile. If he were presenting a real threat, Jacob and Evie would have recognized my name and connected me to him. You looked up at Jacob, smiling brightly.

“Whatever you need, Jacob.”

Chapter Text

You slept on the couch that night, giving Evie the bed, Jacob resigned to the chair once again. The three of you reconvened in the morning, each deciding to work towards helping your allies in London.

“I’m going to be helping Charles Dickens today. ___, you and Jacob should go see Darwin, he requires some assistance with a colleague at the train station,” Evie said. It seems as though Evie is in charge around here, at least for the most part. Is that only since I’ve showed up? “Sure thing Evie.” The young woman walked out briskly. You turned to Jacob with a smile.

“You know your sister scares me a little. Is she always this intense?” “Ah, give her a few more days to warm up to you. Assassin’s aren’t always easily trusting,” he joked. You nodded your head and gazed out the window. Evie’s intuition is very good, I’m not quite fooling her. Perhaps I should try harder to be more friendly. Or would that give me away. You bit your nails nervously. Relax ___. Don’t make any hasty personality changes, let a friendship build naturally. Gain her trust. 

“___? It’s time to go,” Jacob called. You snapped out of it and nodded, following him into the station. You both walked out into the unusually sunny English day, walking at a faster pace to keep up with Jacob. He noticed your strange gait and laughed a little. Is he laughing at me?!

“Sorry ___, it’s just a little funny. Your tiny legs can’t seem to keep up.” He smirked at you and ruffled your hair lightly. Your eyes blew wide, a wash of embarrassment taking over. Oh my God, I said that out loud didn’t I?

“Shut up Jacob,” was all you could muster. You both approached a man with a long gray beard and a tidy black hat.

“Jacob my boy! Who is this lovely young lady you have with you?” The man said, seeming astonished. You extended your hand and smiled. “___ Clayden sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He took it and shook firmly, his face wrinkled lightly returning your friendly gaze. “Usually I would reciprocate the sentiment Miss Clayden, but today I am afraid nothing will bring me pleasure.” “What’s the matter Mr. Darwin?” “I am used to people challenging my ideas. In fact, I live for it… The cut and thrust of spirited debate!” Mr. Darwin stabbed Jacob with a pretend sword. “Lately, however, attacks against my reputation have taken a darker turn. Threats of violence against my person and against my colleagues. I do not wish anyone to be hurt because of my research…” The man in front of you looked close to crying, and you couldn’t help but extend a hand for him to hold. Poor bloke, he’s only trying to learn more about the world.

Jacob stepped forward. “You helped me with Starrick’s Syrup. I am in your debt.” The look on his face was grateful, looking just as serious as it had the day before during your training. Darwin patted his shoulder, a gesture of good faith. “We help each other, sir.”

He seems rather close with Mr. Darwin here. I wonder if Jacob might have a small interest in the sciences. You thought, walking off to give the boys some space to discuss the issue. You leaned against a nearby tree and watched the men talk. You watched Darwin pat Jacob’s shoulder once more, the younger man approaching you after a moment.

“So, what’s our assignment?” “We have to find and escort a Dr. Schwartz from Charing Cross. He should be arriving any minute, so we have to hurry,” Jacob grabbed your arm lightly and pulled you along back into the station. You re-entered the busy station, the two of you stopping and glancing around.

“There’s so many people here Jacob. My Eagle Vision is struggling,” you said, closing your eyes and trying to quiet your mind. Opening them once again you glanced around, picking up on several Templars. 

“I know it’s busy ___, just try and tune everything else out. Dr. Schwartz is who we need to find.” Jacob’s encouragement sounded right in your ear, amplified by your switch in focus to his voice. We’re on a bit of a time crunch ___, find Schwartz. You took in a deep breath, putting all of the events happening around you at a distance. It felt as though you were floating in the sea, waves moving lightly around you. With your mind clear, you picked up on a man with a nice suit and hat on, walking on the platform across from you. He had a nervous aura, something slightly off in the atmosphere.

“There he is Jacob!” The man smiled at you, patting your head. “Lead the way darling.” You blushed, making your way through the crowd to the man you needed to see. You came up behind him quietly. Using your recently acquired techniques, you subdued him, pinning his arm lightly behind his back. Just be gentle. You’re protecting him NOT turning him in.

“Relax Dr. Schwartz, we’re here to help you,” you whispered into the man's ear. “We’re associates of Charles Darwin, here to escort you to him. Just act naturally,” Jacob said jovially. 

“Oh… well then! How are your parents? By which of course I mean my cousins! It is good to see you both, family!” Dr. Schwartz is awfully conspicuous. But none of the Templars seem to recognize him. You pushed him forward as he continued to ramble, Jacob flanking you on the other side. He leaned over and whispered in your ear as you both walked down the stairs, “Schwartzy sure is a chatterbox.” You giggled a little, confidence spiking. Joking around mid mission eased your anxiety slightly. Jacobs' eyes crinkled in the corner, his smile lopsided. You turned the corner onto the street. 

Suddenly, the doctor pulled himself free from your grasp. A heavy smack hit you square in the cheek, sending you staggering backwards. Shock colored your face and you couldn’t help but cry out in disbelief. 

“Dr. Schwartz?” “... never got on the train.” The unknown man finished. He threw another punch towards you, hitting you in the stomach. You doubled over, still two paces behind your attacker. You kicked your leg out and brought him to the ground. Jacob put an arm around your waist and yanked you backwards, placing you roughly behind him. He ended the fake Schwartz’s life swiftly, his hidden blade piercing his abdomen. Jacob kneeled down to your level, placing a hand on the side of your head. You looked straight into his eyes, the contact warming your body. There it is again, that dizzy feeling. His hand is so warm, so soft on my skin… You leaned into his hand slightly, closing your eyes.

“___? You’re okay right?” Your eyes opened, and you looked at him again. You nodded regretfully, head throbbing slightly. Jacob pulled his hand away, disappointment filling your chest.

“Come on, let’s get a carriage.” He led you to the first open cart, opening the door for you. 

“But what about Darwin?” “I’ll talk to him, you wait here. I’m gonna take you back to the train to rest a bit.” Jacob walked off, and you took the time to lay down in the seat, wishing he were still there.

-

Jacob pressed the wet cloth to your face and you winced. 

“Ouch!” “Quit whining ___. I’m just cleaning the cut on your face,” he said, no traces of the gentle creature you’d caught a glimpse of before. He wiped your face once, two more times. 

“There, that should do it. How’s your gut feel?” You groaned slightly, your stomach aching at every movement. Jacob rolled his eyes at you. “I’m sure you’re fine. You’d better turn in early for the night anyway so you’re well rested.” Your heart fluttered, clinging to his words. “You want me to be well rested?” So he does care, then. About me. You watched him, eyes locking, the dizziness overtaking you.

“Of course. We can’t liberate London if you’re injured ___. We’ve got some killing to do this week,” he said. The dizziness vanished, your smile fading. Of course. It’s just because of my role in the Creed… You nodded at him, rolling over on to your side immediately. He called out a good night,  but you didn’t answer. 

It’s not important anyway, you thought, brushing it off. You closed your eyes, heart aching lightly.

Chapter Text

In spite of your feelings for Jacob, you felt yourself getting used to your new home. I think I’m really starting to get comfortable here, you thought, pouring yourself a cup of tea one rainy morning. You had gotten yourself into a rhythm that worked: tea in the morning, group discussion with Evie and Jacob, accomplish your assignment for the day, return to the train. A few days had passed since you and Jacob assisted Charles Darwin, your heart creating distance so it could heal. Jacob had taken notice.

“Are you avoiding me darling?” Forcing a smile, you told him that your head had just been bothering you. “I just don’t wanna drag you down.” “I’m an assassin you know, it wouldn’t be hard for me to find out any secrets you could be hiding.” You had known it was a joke and laughed lightly, but his words made you anxious. You tread delicately between sociable and shut out, scolding yourself for ever beginning to fall for your step-in trainer. 

Keep your heart out of this ___. Not only is he uninterested, but he is unaware of your relationship to the Templar Order. Let’s not give him or Evie a reason to look for more information. You glanced in the mirror as you dropped a cube of sugar into your tea. Besides, there's no reason to hurt yourself any more than necessary. When you reveal yourself… You refused to think further, unable to picture the fall out that would occur when the two deadly siblings discovered what you had done.

“___, are you listening?” Your head snapped towards the sound of Evie’s voice. 

“Yes, my apologies Evie. My head has just been bothering me a touch.” You lied sheepishly. She frowned at you, her face disproving. “Perhaps we should take you to see a doctor ___. That injury of yours is setting us back.” Fuck! Okay, stepping back on the injury front. 

“That won’t be necessary Evie. I’m determined to get back into the field today. I’m sure I’ll be alright,” you said, hoping the older woman would take the bait. She looked at you for a long minute, her penetrating gaze making you sweat. She still doesn’t quite trust me, does she? Easy does it ___, she’s a highly intelligent assassin. It’ll be much more difficult to gain her trust.

“That’s excellent news then ___, because Evie and I have a group mission on the agenda for today, and I was hoping that you would bless us with your superior skill,” Jacob said, sarcasm clear in his voice. Despite your best efforts, you felt a thrill go up your spine at his words. He wants me to go with them. They don’t want me to, he wants me to. 

“You wish is my command,” you bowed, a smile breaking its way across your face. “That’s great to hear. You remember the Rooks of course. Thanks to some of your help, we’ve managed to conquer Lambeth recently, but to gain full control of the borough, we have to take down their gang leader. Today ‘round noon, there’ll be a gang war. Our objective is to slay Cletus Strain, ugly bloke,” Jacob muttered the last few words, pulling out a photo for you. You giggled at the picture. You saw Evie roll her eyes at the foolishness, and you felt very self conscious. You stepped away from Jacob and worked your expression into a monotone look.

“I’m going to be in the other room doing some research before the fight. I suggest you two do the same.” “Yes Evie, good idea,” you chirped, hoping to gain even the most miniscule amount of approval. Her cape swayed behind her as she left the train car. Will she always think of me this way? Like… a child? You sighed, reaching for the book in front of you filled with the names and locations of the Templar strongholds in London. You were just about to flip it open when Jacob snatched it from your hands and tossed it back on the desk. 

“Hey!” You snapped, irritation flooding your voice. “Come now darling, you know you don’t want to be doing boring research right now,” Jacob said, mischief coloring his tone. 

“Jacob I’m not in the mood. I’ve been behind these last few days, and I need to catch up,” you grumbled. “___, let’s do something fun. Don’t let my bossy sister push you around.” “Jacob I said no. ” Your voice dropped in register and heightened in intensity. The handsome man’s smile vanished, confusion replacing it. He tried again with a joking tone, trying to lighten the mood.

“Aw, come on Feisty, don’t be like tha-” “I said leave me alone! ” You shouted at him, temper boiling over at the pet name. You closed your eyes and refused to open them. There was silence for a moment, before heavy footsteps stalked away. At the sound of the car door closing you opened them, alone in the train car. For the first time since you’d arrived, silent tears streamed down your face as you opened up the book once again. 

-

A swift knock on the train door pulls you out of your studies. You call for them to enter, and Evie walks in, the atmosphere feeling cool in her presence. 

“___, this is our stop.” You nod at her, setting down the book and following her from the station. Jacob does not follow either of you off the train, but you dare not ask where he might be. Silently, you and Evie both get into a carriage and begin the short ride to the battle. God, I bet he’s pissed at me right about now. Does that mean it will just be Evie and I for this fight? I’m sure she wouldn’t ask for my help, probably just feels as though she can’t refuse it.

“So ___. Settling in well are we?” Evie interrupted your thoughts. You cleared your throat and nodded. “Yes ma’am, the train is very comfortable. I thought I’d feel out of place here, since London is so big, but it’s nice with you and Jacob around. And Mr. Green too,” you throw in quickly. 

“I’m glad you’re adjusting well. Is it much different than your home base in… gosh I can’t quite remember, where was it you were from?” She asked. She’s testing me, trying to see if I can keep my story straight. “Kent, a village called Chilham. That’s where I lived my whole life, until now.” “Were your parents assassin’s?” You tensed at the question. Evie is smart enough to know about a good chunk of the assassins in England, and she must be somewhat aware that Templar’s were located in Kent at one point. Don’t string too large a lie ___, keep it simple.

“No, my parents haven’t been in my life for quite some time. William Hughes was the assassin who trained me, and who I lived with for a year or so until he sent me here,” you answered carefully, attempting to incite a tone that would defer her from asking any further questions. “I wish my mother had been around the last year while I trained though. She would have loved to see me where I am now,” you spoke wistfully and out of turn, against your own better judgment. Evie’s face softened at your tone, and smiled lightly.

“I’m sure she would be very proud of you.”

-

When you’d arrived, Jacob was already there, leaning against the closest building. He was deploying his hidden blade over and over, staring at the ground with a blank face. You turned away and stood near Evie, feeling safest with the eldest Frye twin for the time being. She didn’t stay with you long however, walking towards Jacob before getting into a separate carriage together. I wonder who it is they’re speaking to? You walked towards the brightly adorned Rooks, the Irish green jackets burning themselves into your memory. You checked and rechecked your inventory, medicine and weapons all full. Evie approached you, leaning in with a whisper. 

“Get ready ___. Cletus keeps smoke bombs on hand to create confusion, so keep your guard up.” You nodded at her, glancing around you at the leader of the Rooks. You caught his eye, both of you quickly looking away. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep pushing him away? A Rook raised their gun, and you steeled yourself in preparation. The volley went off, and you flung yourself forwards. You quickly and efficiently took out two Blighters, a third grabbing you from behind. You sliced their neck with your hidden blade and surged onwards, fist flying at your red clothed enemies. When physically beating them to their demise tired you out, you pulled out your gun and began gunning them down. Their numbers thinned instantly, the sea of red overtaken by green. In your peripheral you saw Jacob fighting Cletus, his fists landing critical blows left and right. 

Cletus reached into his pocket, a small sphere now in his hand. Your eyes widened and you raced over, the smoke engulfing both Templar and Assassin seconds before you could reach them. You heard a retching cough coming from Jacob, your senses painting a clear picture of peril. Cletus waved his arm through the smoke, stalking towards your newfound partner. Without hesitation you entered the fray, smoke stinging your eyes slightly. The large form of Blighter gang leader Cletus Strain was fuzzy, smoke blurring the edges of the large man's figure. You held your breath, trying not to make a sound as you approached him from behind. Before the smoke began to clear you grabbed his arm, wrestling him away from Jacob.

“Ay! Let me go!” He struggled, tangling his legs, another smoke bomb falling from his pocket. It exploded right in your face, the contents coating your pants and shoes. You shoved him to the ground in a haze.

“Cletus Strain, your reign in Lambeth,” you started, struggling to force him to roll over. You pressed your hand to his throat, choking him out. “is over.” You deployed your hidden blade, the tough steel slicing through his jugular. You retracted it as the smoke began to clear, and you stood without a word, wiping your weapon with a cloth. Jacob peered at you from a few feet away, his face shocked. 

“You’re welcome,” you said, turning away from him.

-

Sitting in the train later that night, you poured yourself another cup of tea. Gosh, I’m so tired. I only have a few more chapters to go , you thought, circling the names of Templars located within the city. Lucy Thorne? She would surely know where my father is, but if she sees me… You flipped further into the book. One of these borough leaders would surely have to know where he is, he must be housed somewhere in the city. How will I know who to interrogate? A knock at the door pulls you out of your research.

Seems I’m a popular choice to converse with today. “Come in.” Jacob stepped through, carefully closing the door behind him. He walked over to you slowly, sitting down on the couch behind the desk, your back facing him. Neither of you spoke for a moment, the silence settling uncomfortably. 

A few more minutes passed, and you turned another page. What is he waiting for? Your patience wore thin.

“I don’t have all day Jacob, I want to head to bed after this. What do you want?” Might as well get right to the point.

“Sorry ___, I’m just… I know you got hurt a few days ago, and that was partially my fault.” You turned to gaze at him and saw his head was down, eyes locked on the wooden floors. “And I know you’ve got some research to be doing to get caught up with what’s happening in London, and I shouldn’t bother you. But ___,” he looked up at you, your eyes locking with his deep brown ones. Your breath caught in your chest at the way he said your name, so tenderly, so focused. Your mind began to spin, the dizziness you left behind only a few days before hitting you full force. He stood and took a step towards you, eyes never leaving the plane of your facial features. Oh Lord have mercy. A blush rose into your cheeks as he stopped only a foot away, looking down at you. “...the truth is I like spending time with you,” yes, yes, yes. “and I want you to grow into a tough Assassin,” yes! wait… hold on. “So I’m gonna try not to bother as much as I have,” no, no, no! What is happening? “and I’ll only come ‘round you if you need help with something. Or, if by some work of God, I need something.” Your heart sank as quickly as it had soared, a sweep of disappointment working its way through your body, unable to respond to his usual sarcasm. He was waiting for your response, you needed to say something, anything. 

What can I possibly say? “No Jacob, it’s not you. I’m just terribly stressed out because I’ve been lying to two deadly assassins, one of which is obviously not fooled by me, namely your sister!” Your chest squeezed sadly. Don’t be too vulnerable. If you give yourself away, who knows what he’ll do! Just keep your head up. Confidence is key. The silence had stretched on for nearly a full minute. You took in a deep breath and exhaled quietly.

“Let’s be honest with one another Jacob: you need me. It’s very noble of you to leave me to my research, but quite frankly you couldn’t do half of what you’ve accomplished without moi, ” you joked, your voice wavering ever so slightly. Jacob’s face broke into a smile, and he played along, mock worship in his response.

“Of course you’re correct ___. How foolish of me to believe I could do this without you.” You basked in the feeling of companionship, your heart thumping both from the anxiety of losing his friendship and the warmth his presence gives. He smiled back at you, patting you on your back. Well, it’s not as intimate as a hug, but it’s something.  

“I’m glad we’ve worked that out! Believe it or not, I’m not that skilled with making friendships,” he joked once again. You winced at the term, but smiled at him nonetheless. “I better let you get back to it, friend. ” It’s as if he knows, you thought bitterly, waving at him as he left. Despite the dull hurt, a part of you feels comforted by his words.

I have a friend…

Chapter Text

Nearly a month had passed since you’d arrived in London and met the Frye twins. You and Jacob worked together less often, each of you going off on your own to assist the many allies you’d made. Working by yourself meant that not only were you seeing Jacob less, but also that your missions progressed slower. This in turn meant that the momentum in taking down Starrick was slowing significantly. Evie was frustrated with the lack of progress, while Jacob felt prideful at the boroughs you’d managed to liberate. You’d discovered the twins had different ideas on what the Assassin’s should be doing in London, and it was quite a conflict of interest. I think Evie is right; if the Templar’s find the Piece of Eden before we do it won’t matter WHAT we do to liberate the citizens, Starrick will have complete control. Competing with Templar’s strengthened by the powers of the Piece would be impossible for the four of us.

Despite knowing this, you often assisted Jacob with his duties to the Rooks. You knew someone in the boroughs must know your father’s whereabouts, and you would tag along with Jacob until every acre of London was devoid of Blighters and you had interrogated each and every one. 

You sat at the desk in the train, crossing out a stronghold in The Strand. St. Giles Rookery. Working alone at this rate, it’ll take me a year to find James Clayden… Your mind rolled over your possibilities. If I came clean, we could surely find my father quicker. I doubt either of them would mind killing any Templar… 

No you idjit, that’s not the part they would mind! You sighed, clearing your head of the battle happening inside and resigning to continuing by your lonesome. The extra time to work on your own had both disappointed and excited you. While you preferred to spend time with Jacob, you couldn’t risk searching for information on your father’s whereabouts with him around. 

Your stomach rumbled, practically begging you to eat lunch. You gave a weary glance to the biscuits on your desk that you’d been snacking on since day broke. I’ll have to go to the food car and get a sandwich in a bit. You cringed at the thought of another sandwich, sandwiches making up nearly half of your meals since you’d arrived. The other half? Soup. You laid your head on the desk tiredly.

“Sleeping on the job are we?” Jacob’s voice flooded the space, and you sat up leisurely.

“No, just dreading the moment I have to go to the food carriage and grab a sandwich. Can we not stock the icebox with more than just cheese and lettuce,” you grumbled. Jacob smirked at you. “Ahh well, perhaps I could distract you from your hunger with a quick mission,” he spoke, voice lilting up a few notes. 

“What kind of mission?” “It seems our own Nigel fancies himself an Assassin. He killed a Templar the other day and the police caught him. I’m just about to bust him out.” You grabbed a biscuit and took a bite, chewing slowly. I can’t just leave Nigel there by himself… but I’m so hungry, not to mention in the middle of some research.

“I’ll tell you what ___, if you come with me I’ll take you out to dinner,” Jacob said, giving you a cheeky grin. Your eyes widened involuntarily. Dinner with Jacob? Gosh, that’s very… sweet. You smirked back at him, playing up your hand.

“Dessert too?” “Dessert included, if you can get poor Nigel out of custody without being seen.” Jacob’s tone was confident, sticking out his hand for you to shake.

You stuck out your own and grasped his tightly.

“Deal.”

-

You dropped down across the street from the police carriage, Jacob just a few seconds behind you. Nigel sat inside, his hands grasping the bars.

“Shut your trap!” “I didn’t do nothin’!” you heard him exclaim at the officer. “This is going to go bad for you. Confess and you’ll save us all some grief.” “I didn’t do nothin’ s’welp me bob!” The man blue in banged his baton against the bars before walking away, and you quickly made your way to Nigel. 

“Jacob, ___! We kept buyin’ drinks, next thing I know, they say I burked someone!” “Nigel!” “I’m sorry ___. I had one too many and lost all me things. They must be scattered all about! There’s a knife out there too! Could ya get them before the rozzers do?” Nigel blubbered on. Jacob pulled you to the side of the carriage, the bellow of the cop right behind you.

“You there! Shut up!” Geez Nigel, couldn’t have made the case any easier for them. You waited for the officer to turn back around and spoke to him once more, reaching a hand through the bars to grab his.

“Relax Nigel. We’ll get you out of there,” you promised, your voice comforting and smooth. He nodded at you rapidly, nerves clearly out of control. Jacob gave you a strange look, leading you towards the crime scene.

-

You and Jacob sat perched on the rooftops, looking down at the crowded scene below. God, that’s a lot of cops. Abberline wouldn’t be too pleased with us if we murdered all his colleagues.

“Another stellar move by Nigel,” Jacob said sarcastically. “Hey! Give him a break Jacob. He’s not a trained Assassin.” Jacob looked astonished, and grumbled under his breath. You rolled your eyes at his childishness, and surveyed the area.

“Okay Jacob, you hide the body. I don’t think I could drag a man that size far without getting caught. I’ll destroy the evidence, and then we can both talk to the Chief of Police and get Nigel out of there,” you said, immediately taking charge. “Well then, look who’s taking the lead,” he said, teasing you lightly. “Lay off it Jacob! I just wanna get this done. You owe me dessert,” you said before ziplining down to street level. You heard him shout the terms of the agreement behind you and smiled.

Once you reached the street, you glanced from out behind cover. The knife sat just a dozen feet away, a police officer continually walking back and forth past it. You waited for him to pass, and darted forward, grabbing the knife before returning to cover quickly. 

They used a cleaver! Jesus Nigel. Cleaver in hand, you destroyed the weapon, snapping  the handle and tossing the broken pieces in the dirt, covering them swiftly and moving on to the next. You made your way to a gazebo, Nigel’s hat located to one side. Three cops patrolled the area, all of them keeping within sight of the garment. 

Crap! Maybe I should’ve just tried my luck with the body, you thought. For a moment you were stuck, unsure of how to proceed. Your fingers brushed your throwing knives, and for a moment you considered the worst. Grasping one by the handle you glanced at the trio of men.

NO! You must be able to think of something else ___. You slid the knives back into your pocket, instead drawing out a smoke bomb. You smirked, throwing it wide of your location. The smoke burst forward, and all three men went to investigate the occurrence. Dropping quickly, you grabbed Nigel’s hat and tore it to shreds easily. Pointing your grappling hook upwards, you were yanked out of sight.

Just one more thing. Racing across the rooftops, you spotted the final artifact that implicated your friend. A slew of papers were on the group, some of which were covered in blood, all of which had Nigel’s name printed at the bottom. You smiled at the simplicity of the final piece of evidence, tearing the papers apart with a satisfying rip. 

Hmmm, I can practically taste the chocolate fondant. You made your way back to the police carriage, looking Jacob in the eyes with a mischievous grin.

“Everything go well?” Jacob asked, his voice questioning. “Oh yes, managed to find and destroy the evidence without a hitch,” you chirped. The pair of you approached the Chief of Police, confidence practically coming off you in waves. Seconds before Jacob opened his mouth, you went up on your tiptoes and put your mouth to his ear.

“Oh, you also owe me a dessert,” you whispered, coming down flat on your feet and addressing the Chief.

“Excuse me sir, but what evidence do you have against this man?” “Why, on, erm… sergeant?” The Chief hesitated, glancing at his officer for help. The second man shifted nervously, saying nothing.

“I believe at the least you need a body.” The officer hung his head shamefully. “We can’t find a thing, Inspector.” The Chief of Police glared at the second man, reaching for his keys. “You’ve botched another one sergeant.” With a swift movement, he unlocked the carriage. Nigel flung himself out and wrapped himself around you in a bear hug.

“Oh thank you ___! I really owe you one!” You smiled and hugged the young man back. Jacob coughed from behind you, and Nigel glanced up. 

“Oh, you too Jacob!” Nigel let you go and gave Jacob a quick hug before running off, shouting his thanks the whole way. You turned to the tall man next to you and smiled wide. 

“I believe you owe me a meal.”

-

You sat excitedly across from Jacob, your face lit up in the fancy restaurant. Jacob had insisted you both change before dinner, so you put on a beautiful sky blue dress, your corset snug but comfortable, sleeves puffy and short, showing off your smooth shoulders. Your locket still hung around your neck, the silver contrasting both your dress and makeup beautifully. When you had revealed yourself to Jacob, he’d had a funny look on his face.

“What is it? Is this too much?” His mouth hung agape, and he shook his head. “No, you look perfect. You really put my outfit to shame ___. That dress…” He hadn’t finished his sentence, only stared for a few moments long before putting out his arm for you to take. Jacob’s garb was much simpler, he switched his worn, patched clothes with new slacks and suit pieces, his torn cap replaced with a velvet tophat. Jacob had put you in a carriage and refused to indulge any of your questions.

“It’s a surprise ___. If I tell you where we’re going, that ruins all the fun.” When you’d pulled up in front of Wilton’s, you nearly collapsed. The biggest smile crossed your face, the muscles becoming sore with how much you were using them that afternoon. Jacob had simply offered his arm again, escorting you inside with a whisper. “I figured if I owe you dinner and dessert, I might as well do my best to impress. I think you deserve a night of relaxation.” His words had worked its way down your spine, a thrill of dizziness making you stumble. The deep baritone of his voice made you warm, your palms sweaty and your heart racing.

Sitting in the restaurant, you looked up at him again. My word, he does look rather dashing, you thought, your face beet red with embarrassment. Jacob met your gaze and smiled, his menu folded in front of him.

“Thank you for bringing me here Jacob. This place is… well it’s amazing . Gosh, I don’t even know what I should order,” you started to ramble. Jacob reached across the table and grabbed your hand, your mouth shutting at the gesture.

“No worries ___. I can order for us. Just relax and enjoy your night. After all, you have a handsome man in front of you at your disposal.” You laughed, sipping on your water. 

“Well in that case,” you started with a laugh. “What would said handsome man usually do on a night like this? You know, when he isn’t accompanying beautiful women to dinner.” Jacob smirked, making direct eye contact.

“Usually I’d be out killing good-for-nothing Templars. I don’t have much of a personal life, so really you’ve done me a favor. It’s not often I get to take a pretty lady out to dinner,” he said, flashing a glimpse of his teeth. You blushed again, looking down. 

“I’m sure yours is much more interesting,” he continued. His statement puzzled you, and you raised a brow. “What do you mean?” “Aw come on ___. You’re a gorgeous young thing, you’re always out and about. Surely you must be entertaining some suitors.” You shook your head rapidly, water dribbling down your chin in the process. Very smooth ___! You’re in fancy dress too. Before you could speak again, the waiter came to take your order.

“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Frye,” Mr. and Mrs.?? “What can I get for you tonight?” Jacob smiled at the man, opening his menu once more. 

“We would be interested in your twice baked soufflé for an appetizer this evening, and the lady and I will have your beef sirloin for an entrée. For dessert, bring the Mrs. some chocolate fondant. Oh, and also,” Jacob raised his hand as the waiter moved to leave. “Some champagne as well, thank you.” The waiter scurried off, and you wiped your mouth with a napkin.

“What on Earth could give you such a ludicrous idea! I spend all my time in the train doing research or out in the field,” you said. Or trying to find my murderous father.

“I don’t believe you. I saw the way you and Nigel were acting today. I think you’ve got a little crush on him,” Jacob pronounced cheekily. You snorted, imagining yourself and Nigel together. Your nose wrinkled at the thought, the young man was much too dumb for your tastes.

“Believe me Jacob, I haven’t got the time to entertain suitors,” you mutter, sipping your water once again. Jacob’s response was delayed by the delivery of your food. Two plates of juicy meat were set in front of each of you, a soufflé placed in the middle of the table for the both of you to eat. The waiter brought out an ice bucket, a bottle of old champagne resting in it.

The waiter popped the cork and poured each of you a glass.

“Your dessert will be served in about 20 minutes madam.” “Yes, thank you sir,” you said, refocusing your attention on the food.

“This looks delicious.” “Let’s take our first bites together, shall we?” You nodded at the man across the table, cutting your steak into a small square. You lifted it to your lips and took a bite, chewing slowly, savoring the meat. Your eyelids fluttered and you groaned pleasurably, the juicy slice tantalizing your tastebuds. You cut another piece quickly, stuffing it in your mouth without a second thought. Jacob laughed, sipping his champagne and watching you closely, observing your reactions.

“So you’re telling me you have no feelings for the young lad?” Jacob spoke, putting down his glass and cutting up his own slab of meat. You chewed and shook your head, the succulent sirloin between your teeth excusing your non verbal answer. He nodded at you, a comfortable silence settling over you both as you ate and drank. Jacob finished his meal and pushed the plate away, and you were only a few bites behind. He tried again.

“There must be someone you’re seeing ___. Or at least someone you’re interested in. I refuse to believe someone your age doesn’t have dreams of romance,” Jacob smirked at you, holding eye contact. You took a sip of champagne, your thoughts racing.

He knows, he must know! Gosh, what do I say? How am I supposed to answer without giving myself away? And when he’s looking at me like that… You swallowed and stared back at him. His teeth were hidden behind his lips, only a ghost of them appearing in his usual side smirk. His eyes were trained on you, unrelenting and focused. The scars on his face seemed darker in this light, the appearance of them making him seem dangerous. A blush rose to your face, and you gulped down the rest of your glass of champagne, the heat in your body increasing. Whether it was from the alcohol or the man sitting across from you, you weren’t entirely sure. You looked at him once again, matching his confident stare. Jacob’s shoulders straightened, and he sipped his own glass of champagne, never breaking eye contact with you. Face flushed once again, you leaned in, the glass grazing across your lips. Your head was dizzy and swirling, a broad and toothy grin bursting through.

“I am quite fond of a certain someone, that much is true. But I dream of things bigger than romance, Jacob. I’m an Assassin in the most influential city in the world,” you said, your words slurring slightly. The warmth of your smile spread, your whole body gravitated towards him. You poured yourself another glass, swallowing it down quicker than the first two. You extended your arm, glass in hand, and clinked it against his. Your smile was strained, lips stretched uncomfortably over your teeth.

“What more could I possibly want?”

Chapter Text

The Mint. Your pen scratched the paper as you crossed out yet another stronghold. I can’t believe I hit another dead end. You thought, stretching your arms over your head. You groaned at the pleasurable stretch in your muscles before reaching down and storing your papers. Darkness fell over the city, the street lamps casting an orange hue on the blackened night. You made your way to the bedroom, going to say goodnight to the diabolical twins. You had resigned yourself to the couch for the past few nights, letting the brother and sister pair fight it out over the bed. After your dinner with Jacob, you couldn’t stand to sleep in the same room as him. 

“So who is this guy you fancy ___?” He asked, your arm slung around his waist as he guided you back to the train. You stumbled slightly, head spinning from the drinks. You shook your head at him, your face aching from the intense smiling you’d been doing. “Nope, sorry Jakey. I have to keep myself on track,” you giggled. When you’d gotten back he’d swept you off your feet and carried you onto the locomotive. You couldn’t help the blush that spread across your face. He tried to push the door to the bedroom open, but you tugged his hair lightly.

“No no no, I want to sleep on the couch tonight,” you said, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. Truth be told, you knew you couldn’t trust yourself in the same room as Jacob that night. He obliged, setting you down on the bed. 

“You sure you’re going to be comfortable here tonight?” He asked, his face close to yours. You rolled over and put your face in the cushions, your response coming out muffled. 

“Do you need help, getting out of that dress?” “No!” You could hear the smirk in his voice. Jacob laughed, making his way into the bedroom. He stood in the doorway, glancing back at you with a tempting expression. 

“Sweet dreams ___.”

You knocked on the door of the forbidden room, the voices inside calling for you to come in. Opening the door, the pair were standing over the second desk. 

“Jacob, Evie. I just came in to say goodnight.” “Ah, the life of the party you two are. Evie has also confined herself to a day of studies yet again,” Jacob taunted. You rolled your eyes at him, spotting Evie doing the same.

“I’m just on my way out actually. I’ve found the Piece of Eden.” She glanced at you, a small but triumphant smile on her face. You were flabbergasted, your mind running in circles. Fuck! If she’s found the Piece already, we won’t be in London for much longer, and I still haven’t found my father. 

“Well, Evie! That’s- that’s just-” “What’s this one going to do then hm? Heal the sick? Deflect bullets? Control the populace?” Jacob interrupted you. Evie looked away from you and rolled her eyes at him, her voice thin. “They’re dangerous objects, Jacob. Especially in Templar hands.” “You sound exactly like father,” she turned to face him, exasperation on her face. “If only.”

I always seem to forget how tense it is to be with them both at the same time. Evie shoved Jacob’s feet off the desk, inspecting the papers on it.

“Lucy Thorne is expecting a shipment tonight. She’s Starrick’s expert in the occult. I’m nearly certain she is receiving the Piece of Eden Sir David Brewster mentioned.” “Seems like fun. Mind if I join you?” Jacob inquired, the bored look on his face turning slightly hopeful. She looked at him, her face serious.

“Promise you will stick to the mission.” Jacob smiled, crossing an X over his chest. She turned to you, her eyebrows raised. You smiled and glanced between them.

“I’m in.”

-

The three of you perched on a roof a block down, observing the cart below. A severe redheaded woman paced around, her arms held behind her back. Her eyes were lined with dark kohl, the black Templar uniform popping against her fair skin. That must be her. Lucy Thorne.

“Whatever it is she’s after, it’s in that chest.” Evie said from beside you. Jacob spoke up from her other side, pointing to ahead. “There are gunmen on the rooftops.” “Can you dispose of them before ___ and I reach the cart?” He smirked at you, giving you a wink before taking off. 

You and Evie waited for Jacob to take care of the snipers. The silence was slightly uncomfortable, the older female never making eye contact with you. 

This isn’t as awkward as it used to be, I suppose. You watched for a few minutes quietly, the silence stretching on and on. 

“What is Jacob doing,” you muttered under your breath. Evie made a sound of slight annoyance beside you, and you both shook your head. 

“So, ___, it’s been a little while since I’ve seen you for more than a few seconds at a time,” Evie spoke. There was no question in your tone, but you knew what she meant to ask by the statement. What secrets have you been keeping?

“I’ve been doing a lot of research in the past few days regarding… important Templar figures in London,” there was a slight pause in between your words, and you hoped that she didn’t notice. I really have to start drafting these lies before they come out of my mouth!

“That’s good. I hope you’ve been making some good progress in that venture. Still, I’ve noticed that you’ve been sleeping on the couch. Has Jacob…?” You flushed slightly at her insinuation, thankful for the darkness of the night. I’m surprised she’s changing the subject to her brother so quickly. I figured she would harp for more details.

“No no no! Jacob has been great. Well, I mean, great for Jacob. I just thought you and him deserved to use the bed more often,” you hedged. She nodded thoughtfully, though you doubted she accepted that answer. She thinks Jacob and I aren’t getting along? You tried again. 

“There’s really not anything to worry about. Jacob and I are getting along great! We’re… really good friends.” There’s that word again.

“How very kind of you to think of us. I will say, I haven't been utilizing the bed lately and neither has Jacob. I’m glad to hear that you and Jacob are still getting along fine; he and I aren’t the best at maintaining relationships of any kind, much less friendships. On that note, I think I might owe you a little bit of an apology for my behavior. I… I haven’t had much in the way of female friends. It was just me and Jacob when we were kids, our father was only in our lives for the last few years. Ever since my own mother passed away…” You nodded her solemnly, reaching out a hand to pat her on the back. Evie cleared her throat. “I’m sure you understand, given our line of work. Nevertheless, if you ever find yourself needing some advice regarding him, I can always lend a hand. God knows Jacob is more than a handful.” You laughed lightly with her, nodding your head in thanks. I think I’ve finally made a friend out of Evie. You smiled to yourself, banishing the negative thoughts that threatened to ruin the moment.

“Speaking of Jacob, what is he doing? Those gunmen haven’t moved,” you said, frustration starting to seep in. She sighed tiredly, “We better take care of it ourselves.” Without another word, Evie rappelled across the gap and you followed immediately. You both crouched low, carefully walking to the edge of the roof. Evie made eye contact with you and gestured to the snipers. Her fingers pointed to herself and then pointed across the way. You nodded at her, and she jumped out, her rappel connecting to the opposite building. When she got to the other side you signaled a countdown with your fingers.

1… 2… 3! The both of you came down on the snipers, executing them swiftly. You scaled down the building, taking out Templars as you made your way towards the cart. Evie was already there, attempting to unlock the box. You peered over the side, watching her motions. 

“Did you find it?” You jumped to the side, the sound of Jacob’s voice appearing at your side. “Jesus Jacob!”

“Actually…” Evie was cut off by shouts from the alley. Lucy Thorne came racing towards you, a large burly man in her wake.

“I think it’s best we leave.” “What did you do?” You and Evie shouted at the same time. Jacob hauled himself into the driver's seat, and you scurried into the back of the cart with Evie. 

“It’s hardly the time for questions!” Jacob cracked the reins and you took off, the cart lurching forward. Lucy Thorne’s figure became smaller and smaller as the three of you sped off, her angry face disappearing completely when Jacob took a sharp turn.

“What are we supposed to do with PAPERS anyways,” Jacob shouted against the wind. “READ them. If only we had the time,” Evie shouted back at him. She pulled out her revolver and you did the same, mirroring her actions on your side of the cart. Carriages full of Templars flank you, the enemy firing back from every direction. You crouched below the sides, bullets flying over head. You peeped your head over and fired blindly, retracting your hand quickly.

“Would you drive a little more carefully? You’re endangering the documents!” Evie raised her voice to a scream, the sound fighting against the rattle of the carriage. She fired off a few shots, taking out one of the carriages. You steadied yourself again, standing to shoot once more. The driver of the carriage fell to the ground, the wheels running over the Templar’s body with a crunch. 

“Oh, poor documents! Perhaps you’d rather I just stop right here?” Another carriage pulled up, shouts from your enemies drowning out his voice. You swiftly took them out, a stray bullet grazing your shoulder, your blue robes torn. Two new carriages raced forward, the 

“Come over here and get us then!” “Jacob, stop it!” Evie yelled. Your shots stopped hitting, the crazy movements of the carriage making it hard to hit your targets. The horses huffed and puffed, keeping pace with yours easily. You grit your teeth and felt a slight tug at your heart as you raise your arm. I’m so sorry you two. One shot, two, a third to take down the stubborn bay horse across from you and the cart fell behind.

“My girls are giving you a run for your money!” Jacob shouted. “Shut up!” You bellowed at him. The action was beginning to overwhelm you, your palms were sweating, your head starting to ache in the chaos. 

“Where’s the Piece of Eden?” “Get us out of here and I might find out!” The carriage jerked to the side and you stumbled over your feet, reaching a hand to steady yourself on the sides of the cart. You kept firing rounds wildly, your aim improving as you got used to the violent movements of the cart.

“We need to get this crate back to a safe place!” “What do you think I’m trying to do?” Jacob called back. Evie's response was exhausted as she reloaded her gun once again. “At a guess I’d say ‘kill us all’!” I can’t believe the thing that has brought Evie and I together is a mutual annoyance with Jacob.

The carriage pulled up next to a dip in the ground, railroad tracks glinting from below.

“We’re going to have to jump,” Jacob called to you both. “What about the chest?” You yelled, final bullets burying themselves into the closest Templars, with more close behind. “Leave it! We have to jump! NOW!” He let go of the reins and jumped to the railing, Evie not far behind him. You scrambled to step out, tripping on the wooden siding. Jacob caught your arm and hauled you up, immediately dragging you over the edge. The both of you jumped, Evie seconds behind you. You stood up behind him and watched him wave to the enemy as the train sped away.

“Well that was fun! Thanks for the invitation. Must do it again,” Jacob laughed, dropping down into the train. Evie cursed, and you reached out a hand to her shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze.

“I’m sorry about the chest Evie,” you said, shaking your head lightly. “Thank you ___, I’m glad someone else cares about the outcome. Although,” she smiled, reaching into her pocket and drawing out a small book. “It wasn’t a total loss.”

Chapter Text

I’m so glad we’ve completely conquered The Strand. It feels nice to sit in the park without fear of Blighters and Templars coming to mess around. You sat on a warm wooden bench, the setting sun leaving an orange glow on your face. Leicester Square was quiet, only a few people walking the paths of the small park. The papers in your lap rustled as a faint breeze passed. I don’t have to worry about my father hiding out in this district, so I can cross all these locations off the list. The pen in your hand scraped against paper. You shut the notebook and leaned back on the bench, closing your eyes. Being trapped on that God forsaken train doing work all the time is exhausting. I don’t even want to go back at this point. You opened your eyes again, squinting against the sunlight for a few moments. 

So far, the rooks were in control of Lambeth, Whitechapel, The Thames and now The Strand. The Strand had been more difficult than you were expecting, but you had insisted to Jacob that it should be conquered next.

I was so sure my father would be hiding out here. It’s one of the few locations where you could have easy access to both The Thames and the City of London. You stood up from your seat, preparing to head back to the train for the day. Your mind was racing the whole time as you tried to think of where your father could possibly be hiding.

He could be in the City of London, it would be the most central area for him to come into contact with other Templars. But I’m sure I would have heard his name being mentioned. Perhaps I should work towards conquering that on my own? I have to find him before Jacob or Evie does; I need to start conquering these boroughs by myself from here on out.

You arrived at the train station and sat on a bench, waiting for the train to pull in. You tried to calm yourself in preparation to see the twins, hoping they wouldn’t be suspicious of your recent increase in conquering. As the train came to a stop, you boarded and flopped onto the couch, pulling your boots off with ease.

“Hey ___, you’re home a little early,” Evie said as she entered from the next car over. “What were you up to today?”

“Not much really. I conquered The Strand today,” you said as nonchalantly as you could while you undid the braids pinned to your head, massaging your scalp with a light touch. You saw Evie’s eyes narrow from your peripheral vision, before an impressed grin crossed her face.

“Really? That’s quite impressive ___. You’ve been improving your skills at a rapid pace recently, I wonder what has motivated that as of late…” she trailed off, her smile growing. Your palms began to sweat, but her expression gave no indication that she had found anything negative.

What is she getting at? You wondered nervously before asking her, “What do you mean?”

“Oh nothing specific. I mean you are learning with some of the most talented assassins in Britain. I’m sure my brother will be very excited to hear about the progress you’ve made,” Evie said, leaning against the arm of the couch. You blushed hard at the implication she made, breaking free from her gaze.

“Oh Jesus Evie, it’s not like that. Jacob and I are friends, I’m just trying to pull my weight as best I can,” you said, still turned away from her gaze. She laughed at you for a moment, and you could feel your face getting hotter by the second. 

“Where is Jacob anyways?” You asked, changing the subject before realizing your mistake. Stupid, now she really knows you like him.

Evie gave you a knowing look and smiled wider at your question. “Jacob and I touched base with Henry this morning while you were out. Starrick has bought an omnibus company in an effort to keep control of London’s working class and the means of transportation. Jacob has gone off to have a ‘business meeting’ with the owner of Attaway Transport,” Evie said. You noticed the ease with which she addressed Mr. Green by his first name, and decided to give her a taste of her own medicine.

“Oh I see. And what did you and Henry get up to after Jacob left to meet his business partner? It seems that you and Henry work together well,” you teased, snickering at the surprised look on her face. Her face flushed pink and she scoffed at you.

“Mr. Green and I are both focused on our mission to retrieve the Piece. Nothing more and nothing less,” she said. You rolled your eyes and decided to let it go. The two of you sat in silence for a moment, each of you pulling out documents to peruse. 

I think Evie is starting to really like me, you thought in your head. The sound of turning pages filled the room, the sway of the train comforting.

You heard Evie sigh, the sound nearly silent. You look up and see her brows pinched, her eyes unfocused on the information in front of her. It was almost as if she were looking through the paper to the floor.

“Is everything alright Evie? You seem preoccupied.” She let out a long breath and tucked the documents away before looking at you. Her gaze was intense as usual, but there was something else just below the surface that you couldn’t quite pinpoint.

“___, you’re so new to the assassin world that there are some things you just haven’t experienced yet. The Pieces of Eden are some of the most powerful objects in the modern world, and in the wrong hands the damage they could do would be catastrophic,” Evie said. You nodded your head along as she spoke.

“As a new assassin I see why you’re so focused on the people in London, why you’re helping the Rooks so much,” she continued. You felt your stomach drop, an uneasy feeling beginning to grow.

“Coming from such a small village I suppose it must be very gratifying to see the change happen right before your eyes. All jokes aside, I believe you and Jacob make an excellent team.” Your heart soared at her words, but guilt stuck hard and tainted them.

“I’m just not sure why Jacob is so insistent to forget about the Piece of Eden. Mr. Green and I are struggling to figure it out all on our own, and Jacob refuses to assist us. Something of this magnitude in the hands of Crawford Starrick would be the end of the Creed in all of Britain.  You see that, don’t you?” Evie’s eyes bore into your own, the icy blue sending a chill down your spine much like it had during your first encounter.

Yes Evie, I would focus on the Piece if I could! It is the most important thing we need to liberate London , you thought to yourself. You tried your best to sit still and stay calm.

“I understand that the Piece of Eden is of vital importance to the Templars, and I know the power that it can hold. But we don’t know what it does, where it is, or where to find it. Until we do figure out some of that information, I think that my talents should be used to help the Rooks assist the everyday citizens who are depending on us to make a change,” you said carefully, trying not to start a fight. “Finding the Piece of Eden is a big job and I- I’m not sure if I’m ready to take it on with you and Mr. Green,” you added, a sliver of some of your true anxieties shining through. Evie stared at you, her face frozen into the same expression it had been since the beginning of your conversation. After a minute she shifted forward and stood up, moving to exit the compartment.

“I understand your point of view ___, but I believe that given your immense progress, you should be ready to undertake this task with me. You successfully took down the leader of The Strand today; you’re hardly an inexperienced assassin. Jacob is stubborn and quite frankly impossible to reason with. I believe you know what this means to the Creed, but you’re afraid to throw yourself into the fray. I just want you to think about those people that you’re helping day to day. If Starrick manages to get hold of the Piece before we do,” she turned at the doorway and looked back at you, her eyes harsh, “then it won’t matter what you’ve done. He will undo it, day by day.” Evie walked out of the room, the door shutting behind her. You shivered at the loss of her presence and laid down on the couch. 

What am I doing? Would any true assassin sacrifice the safety of an entire city for an act of revenge? You felt your stomach twist at the thought of Evie and Jacob’s face if they knew the true motivator behind your actions. Mr. Green and Aleck, the sweet and unsuspecting allies you’ve made. 

I cannot disappoint them.

“I didn’t know your bedtime was so early darling, the sun is still up.” You flinched at the sound of Jacob’s voice at your side. You rolled your eyes at him and sat up, noticing the smell of smoke on his clothes.

“What have you been up to today?” “Me? I should be asking you that ___. We missed you at Greenie’s meeting this morning,” he said in a cheeky tone, sitting down next to you and throwing his arm over the back of the couch, barely grazing your shoulder.

“I went out early to get some stuff knocked off of my to-do list. Victor Lynch is no more, the Rooks have liberated The Strand in its entirety,” you said to him. Jacob’s jaw dropped, and you felt a smile creep up on your face.

“Seems I’ve taught you well ___! Gosh, they grow up so fast,” he said, wiping fake tears from his eyes. You shoved him playfully and giggled at his reaction.

“Come off it Jacob! What about you, Evie said you had a ‘business meeting’ today. Is that why you smell like smoke?” “I met with the owner of Attaway Transport today to strike up a deal. Ever since Starrick bought the Millner Company, he’s been attempting to sabotage Attaway and monopolize transportation. Now that I’m involved, we’re going to turn things around on him,” Jacob said, a glint of excitement in his eye. “Of course to do that, I had to destroy Millner’s buses. No reason I can’t have fun and accomplish my objective.” You rolled your eyes once more at him and sat back against his arm, the contact making you flush ever so slightly.

“How on Earth you managed to find a ‘business partner’ with the same passion for destruction I’ll never know,” you chided, and it was his turn to laugh.

“Oh you’re right. Pearl has some interesting ideas on how to get back on top. I think I might like working for her,” he said. You choked back surprise at the name Pearl. 

A woman owns Attaway Transport? I- I guess maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised, you chastised yourself internally.

“She seems like she’ll be a great bit of fun. I think we make a great team,” he continued, and a twinge of pain appeared in your chest. You nodded your head and looked away, focussing on the ceiling.

It’s only temporary. She’s an ally, just like any other. You turned back to Jacob and gave him a sincere look. 

“Whatever takes Starrick down, you have all of my support.”