Never Knew I Needed Chapter 14 - AltairXConnor

Never Knew I Needed
Chapter 14

--

Everything Altaïr found out about the Templar business, he sent to Connor. It wasn't much, unfortunately. It was as if the two most important Templars, Connor's father Haytham and his 'friend' Charles had disappeared from this world. Did they give up? Had the assassins finally won the battle? That was what the younger assassins thought, here at the assassins hideout. But Altaïr knew better. They were preparing for something...

But what was going on? Altaïr didn't know. He had been training some recruits specifically in eavesdropping and some were even spies, working as guards. While they were doing the fieldwork, Altaïr tried to improve some things for the assassins in Boston. First of all, he renovated the hideout. It was old, and some rooms were not being used which could be very handy as a map room, for example. He also made his own room in the house, with a desk at which he was often working. From fighting he had suddenly gone to writing. Writing letters to Connor, doing administration for the brotherhood, making plans... It wasn't how he liked it, but he just had to do this for a short period, until Connor and he would take up arms again against the Templars.

He still came outside though, looking for men willing to fight for his cause. He did this together with his assassins from Syria and he gave them the task to train the recruits. The assassins who had already been in Boston really needed some more training, as they only knew the basics. He had been training them in defending the hideout and fighting.

Day after day, the assassins in Boston grew stronger. Altaïr was proud of the work he had done. One night, one of the Syrian assassins sat down next to him in the living room. Altaïr looked up from the book he was reading to greet the other, then went back to reading. After a short while though, the assassin next to him spoke up.

"Master Altaïr?" He asked, doubt in his voice.

"Yes?" Altaïr realized he still didn't know the assassins' names.

"I just wanted to tell you, that I and the other assassins who came with you to the Colonies, have noticed a big change in you..."

Altaïr looked at him, confused. "What?"

"I mean, a good change!" The assassin quickly said.

"Go on..." Altaïr's face changed from confused to interested.

The assassin took a deep breath. "Well master... We've noticed that, since you've spent some time here and met other people, you're not as... Hmm, Well... You're a lot nicer." The assassin smiled a little.

"Nicer?"

"Yes, it really feels like you care about us now, about all the assassins here in Boston. And not only us, but also about the state this building was in." He tried to explain and added after a short silence: "I don't know how it happened, this change in you, whether it was this new country or someone you met, but I can assure you that everybody likes this new Altaïr."

Altaïr looked at the smiling face of the man next to him. He let what he had said sink in and then smiled back.

"Thank you."

The man nodded, got up and left Altaïr to continue reading. But he found he couldn't. He knew who made this change in his behaviour, his attitude, his heart... He thought about Connor. It was him who changed Altaïr...

--

Every night, after the recruits reported back to Altaïr, the Syrian assassin wrote letters to Connor, saying what they found out. But after a week, Altaïr got worried. Connor had not replied for 2 weeks.
Altaïr sat at his desk, reading the last letters Connor had sent him. He was searching for something. Something that would explain why he wasn't writing him back. Altaïr realised he felt a bit heartbroken...

Maybe they haven't given up, maybe we have... Altaïr suddenly thought. Why isn't Connor replying to my letters? Does he not care about me anymore? Has he found a better partner? Yes yes, Connor has ignored me for a while before... I guess this is just normal then; maybe he found something out and he's planning something without me. Great... Altaïr threw his feather on the desk in front of him and rested his face in his hands, sighing deeply. He rubbed his tired face when suddenly a thought came to his mind. What if... Connor has joined his father? What if he has joined the side of the Templars? Altaïr's heart started racing. No... Then my assassins would have told me, right? ...What if they joined the Templars too!? No no no, this can't be... I'm making up problems that don't even exist. Because Connor would make a very dangerous enemy...

His thoughts were interrupted by an assassin suddenly bursting into his room, panting hard. He had never seen this man before, and behind him a Boston assassin appeared.

"Master Altaïr, this man is an assassin from New York and he brings important news!"

"Master! Connor is preparing something, and it will happen soon. He won't tell us what but I fear it has something to do with Charles Lee. I wasn't sure if he told you, so I ran away to inform you. His mind and heart have been filled with hatred and anger lately you see, I was worried about him... I hoped you could help us master Altaïr."

Altaïr nodded and immediately ran out of the room, shouting to the assassins behind him. "Get everybody ready and ride for New York!"

--

Altaïr rushed on his horse through the trees. The sun went down and the sun came up, but he didn't take a rest. Not even for his horse. He kept thrusting his heels in its flanks, trying to make it go faster but it couldn't. While his horse breathed heavily, there was only one thought in Altaïr's mind: I hope he doesn't do something stupid...

Finally, Altaïr saw the town in front of him. He tried to make his horse go even faster as he almost reached the entrance. But just before that happened, an incredibly loud noise reached their ears. The horse was frightened by the sound, making it rear up in fear. Altaïr fell off and hit the ground hard. He sat up and rubbed his aching back, while watching the horse run off back into the forest as more of those noises followed.

Sounds like...  A ship? What is Connor up to... Altaïr thought as he made his way into the city.

--

It was hard to get to the place where the bombing was happening. Men and women, children and even some coward guards were running into his direction, away from the threat. He searched for Connor quickly and in panic, which is not a good combination. But after some time, he found him.

He found him fighting... Haytham? Altaïr recognized him from the pictures in the basement back in the Homestead.

First, confusion came into his mind. Didn't the assassin say Connor was planning something for Charles Lee? But here he was, fighting his own dad. It must have been some kind of trap...

Secondly, he was suddenly filled with worries as he realised Connor was covered in blood, stumbling and fighting badly. How was he supposed to fight Haytham this way? How was he supposed to... (more worries filled his heart) ...kill Haytham? No, the question was not 'is he able to', but CAN he take his father’s life?

After being beaten up pretty badly by his father, the fight took an interesting turn. Connor managed to stab Haytham in his arm, making Haytham groan in pain.

"Give me Lee!" He heard Connor shout over the sound of the city bells being rang because of the bombing happening in the harbour.

They talked for a bit, but Altaïr couldn't hear what they said. As Haytham pulled his sword out, Altaïr realised he couldn't sit there and watch. He needed to help his friend.

Jumping down to where the two were fighting, he got his own sword ready. As he landed next to Connor, the American assassin looked at him in surprise, his tomahawk in his right hand.

"Altaïr...?"

"Don't worry Connor, I'm here to help you." Altaïr said quickly and faced their enemy.

"Well well Connor! You brought a friend!"

"Leave him out of this. This is our fight." Connor said, making Altaïr look at him in surprise.

"What-?"

"Very well!" Haytham quickly pushed Altaïr away and he landed against a market stall. It collapsed and as Altaïr fell to the ground, so did the wooden beams. Covered in bruises and some blood now, Altaïr struggled to get out while the fight continued on.

He watched them from under the wood, but Haytham clearly had the upperhand. He both isn't ABLE to fight him, and he CAN'T do it... Altaïr thought in panic as he tried to lift the heavy beams.

Connor was lying on the ground now, Haytham on top of him, his hidden blade on his neck. He told him why the Templar order would never be destroyed. How they would live, and how the assassins would die. When he was done, he raised his arm to thrust his hidden blade into Connor's neck. Connor had his hidden blade out but he laid still, watching his father's face. Then, Haytham moved his arm down fast. Connor closed his eyes and gripped his hands. And then... Nothing.

He opened his eyes and saw the grey sky. Grey, because of the smoke of the bombing. Grey, because lives had been lost that day. Too many lives. He felt a soft breeze on his cheek and he breathed that air in. He felt no pain. He looked at where Altaïr was thrown into the market stall by his father, but he was not there anymore. Connor sighed, and looked at his other side. Men and women dressed in white were standing there. Assassins, surrounding something. Connor looked again.

Altaïr laid there. On top of Haytham. Their bodies still and limp.

Confused, Connor felt his neck. Nothing... He sat up, looked at his hands and moved his fingers. He smiled when he realised he was not dead. Then, his smile completely vanished from his face.

Connor crawled to the two bodies, pushing the assassins aside. He gently rolled Altaïr off his father's dead body, so he could see his friend's face. Blood poured out of the wound in his neck. Connor looked at him in shock.

Altaïr looked back and smiled a little.

"I told you... You couldn't do it.." Connor held his friend as he said this.

"No no... Altaïr... This sacrifice... It's too much.." Tears started to form in his eyes.

"One of us.. had to do it Connor... Don"t worry about it.."

Connor held Altaïr's hands, tears rolling down his face.

"Go after him... Connor... Get Lee..."

Connor nodded; he didn't want to speak because he knew his voice would fail him. He did dare to whisper: "I love you Altaïr..."

"I love you too Connor." Was Altaïr's answer.

Connor smiled, through his tears, and looked determined. "I'll kill Lee for you."

Altaïr smiled back. Connor kissed him softly on his lips and then he stood up and walked away. He didn"t look back once, leaving the assassins to take care of Altaïr.