Chapter Text
Edward sat in front of the fireplace watching the fire dance to its silent music, deep in thought, oblivious to the world around him. His girls were asleep upstairs, have been for the last few hours, yet he sat downstairs nursing a glass of rum. "I mean no harm." A familiar voice started behind him. Edward took a deep breath "And... What did he say?" He asked the drawing of Haytham and a young lad he didn't recognise lay on the table in front of him. "You didn't meet me last week so I assume it did not go well." He turned to look at Shay.
Shay gave him a soft smile. "There was a few issues that needed to be sorted out before I could bring the issue of you up to him but he wishes to meet you... in a month. If you're willing." he said offering out a letter with a Templar stamp on it. An official invite to enter the Templar lair. "You did it?" Edward asked slowly reaching his hand out to take the letter not quite believing that this was the thing that would finally allow him to see his son.
"Yes. This is it. I am sorry that it took so long but..." Shay started but Edward quickly interrupted. "No buts son... Thank you." he said standing up and wrapping his arms around Shay. "You gave me the chance to achieve the one thing I longed for, for so many years." Shay couldn't help but smile back.
"I will come and fetch you when Haytham and Connor are ready to meet you. I cannot give you an exact date but you will meet them." He said. Edward looked at him with a confused face. "Who's Connor?" He asked stepping away from Shay and looking at the younger man. "Your grandson." Shay said as he made his way to the door. "I need to leave. Connor is waiting for me. I shall stay in contact." He said slipping out the front door.
Shay quickly made his way towards the rooftops and started his run towards home.
When he made it back inside he took a deep breath still out of shape from the months of bed rest.
"Well, Well, Well. The princess has finally made it home. Meeting up with the assassins were you?" Lee asked. Shay let out a deep sigh. "What do you want Lee?" He asked, looking up at the other man with a tired face. All he wanted to do was check in on Connor and go to sleep and an annoying rat of a man was not on his to-do list.
"Well I just wanted to inform you that the Grand master has left to go on an important mission. He has left you in charge... again. What he sees in you I do not understand. You are a traitor to the assassins. Once a traitor, always a traitor." Lee growled approaching Shay, standing right in front of him his head held high. Shay couldn't help but laugh. "Are you trying to make yourself look scary?" he asked with a smile. "I would stand down if I was you, remember that I will be reporting everything back to Haytham."
Lee took a step back. "You think that you are important. You are not. You are just a body the grand master lays with at night, nothing more. Not the parent of young master Kenway either." the man said before sulking away towards his quarters.
The words stung. Shay took a deep breath and started his walk towards Connor's room. He cracked the door the door open slightly and smiled seeing the sleepy boy still awake in bed. Connor smiled at him. "Papa you're home." He said sitting up. Shay smiled softly and walked in. "Hey Sweetie." He said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Remember... you can't call me Papa. I'm just Shay." he whispered as he ran his hand through the boys hair. "But why?" Connor asked looking up at him as he snuggled up to his side.
"Because... Your dad wouldn't be too happy with me about it." Shay said gently as he lay down and let the boy cuddle up against him. "But enough about that. Do you want a shanty or a story?" he asked. Connor smiled at him. "Story." he said with a large yawn.
When the boy finally fell asleep he slipped out of the room and made his way down the corridor towards his room, ready to turn in and prepare himself for a long day running the Templar order but as he approached the bedroom he couldn't help but stop. He stood in front of their bedroom door... Haytham's bedroom door. This was Haytham's bedroom. Charles Lee made his opinion about his role in this house quite clear. And if Haytham was anything like like Lee then their outlooks may be the same. He took a step back and continued his walk down the corridor to the room that he was first placed in and entered.
The room was small with just chests in one corner and a bed placed in the other, Shay could remember how uncomfortable the bed was. It was just a wooden base with a sheet placed over it and a thin pillow and covers. He knew how uncomfortable he would be tomorrow but without Haytham here he wasn't needed in the master bedroom without its master. He shivered as the broken window moved with a gust of wind.
Weeks passed and Connor learned not to find Shay in the master bedroom anymore during the night. Shay exceeded the expectations set on him by the Templar's around him their strength grew and the assassins were pushed out of the city. Haytham's return was approaching and Shay couldn't help but be nervous. What should he expect. He wasn't the mans friend, he wasn't his lover... Was he just a tool to be used and then thrown out when his use is over? As he lay awake at night he heard the front door open. He opened his eyes, his arm curling around Connor who climbed in his bed earlier this night, his other quickly grasping the blade under his pillow. He heard footsteps climbing the stairs. First approaching Connor's room, then the master bedroom and then pausing. He didn't hear the footsteps enter the master bedroom but pausing at the door.
A second pair of footsteps approached the first. "Ah master Kenway. Welcome back!" He heard Gist say. Shay relaxed and let the blade slip from his hand. "Hello Master Gist. Do you know where I can find Shay or my son?" Haytham asked.
Gist hummed. "I would assume he was in his room." He answered.
"His room?" Haytham asked.
He couldn't hear any more words but he heard footsteps approaching his room. He closed his eyes pretending to sleep as the door opened. He heard a quiet sigh as Haytham approached his bed and sat down on the edge. He heard the man shuffle around before an arm wrapped around his waist, a light kiss being pressed to his cheek. "I know you're not asleep." Haytham whispered.
Shay sighed softly. "You're right. Anything we need to discuss right now?" he asked. He heard Haytham hum softly. "Why are you in here?" He asked. Shay shrugged softly. "I have been aware that I need to stay in my place while you are away." he answered honestly. He felt Haytham tense up. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"That I am a cheap whore that you enjoy while you're here but it is not my place to parent your son nor is it my place to sleep in your bed while you are away as there is no use for me in there. I have been discouraging Connor from seeking me out at night and during the day, sending him to his nanny but he had a nightmare and I didn't have the heart to do it today. I promise now that you're back I will only talk to Connor in a fitting way." Shay said.
"Who said that?" Haytham asked, his voice cold and furious.
"It doesn't matter." Shay said. "Do you want me to carry Connor to your room?" He asked. He felt Haytham nod and get up. Shay slowly scooped Connor up, pressing the boy up to his chest for what felt like the last time and carried him down the corridor to Haytham's room. As he placed the boy down on the bed he heard the door behind him lock. Shay turned around and felt Haytham take his hand and walk towards the balcony. He let the man lead him. "Haytha- Master Kenway." Shay started but stopped as soon as the other man shook his head. He waited until they were outside before letting his hand slip away.
"What did I do?" Haytham asked turning to look at him. Shay looked back confused. "What did I do to make you think that my feelings for you were so... Fake?" Haytham asked again reaching out to take Shay's hand. Shay took a deep breath. "It wasn't you... This wasn't something we ever talked out. And I just assumed that... You know... I wouldn't blame you. I was just easy so why not? You know... And Lee said-" Haytham let out a laugh.
"Lee... Of course." He said pulling Shay close. "Believe me when I tell you. That I hold you dear. Don't worry about anything. Don't discourage Connor from calling you Papa and definitely do not sleep in that awful bedroom again. I lay in that bed for ten minutes and it feels like my back will hate me for weeks. I can't imagine what you feel like." He said pressing a kiss to Shay's lips.
Shay nodded softly. "I'm sorry for doubting you. I shouldn't have." He whispered laying his head against Haytham's shoulder. Haytham wrapped his arms around Shay and held him close. "I don't blame you. You had nothing but my faint actions to base it on." Shay nodded.
"I will need you tomorrow... I am ready to meet my father."