Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the midst of numerous calculations and possibilities, there was always some that differed in some fundamental way. A blip that was unexpected and not noticed until it was too late. With Minerva concentrating crafting ideal bloodline for activation of the sun shields, Juno took note on the final product.

Desmond Miles. Almost perfect. But too willful, too rebellious, too stubborn. Just like these humans were right now. While his blood may be strong enough and the outcome preferable…There was still a chance of him shaking her off. Juno wanted someone more malleable.

She touched the timeline, tweaking the future just a smidge and with a smile watched to changes bloom. Now she only needed to settle to wait in her temple for Desmond to arrive in order to enact the second phase of her plan.

And thus have him out of the way of Aaron Miles.

By the time Minerva noticed, it was already too late and she needed to record a message for the Cypher which they’d then receive through the Prophet. But through Calculations, she could see where her original intended was and thus reach to him as well, offer words to him and give peace of mind to the new Cypher.

She could only hope that would be enough. That Juno hadn’t done anything else as she was running out of time. For this purpose, Aaron should fit as well as Desmond would’ve.

Chapter Text

Desmond Miles was not an assassin. He did not want to be one. And everyone around Farm said he did not have the skills to become one. Especially his father did.

It became worse when Aaron started his training. Aaron was younger than Desmond by three years but started training a year earlier, at five when Desmond had started his when he was six.

And Aaron was better at everything. He learnt fighting techniques faster, he hit harder, he was much quicker at feet… He had the perfect makings of an assassin.

Desmond was twelve when William put them fight each other for the first time. Desmond lost. He didn’t want to hurt Aaron, he didn’t want to hit and kick and trip him. Aaron ha no such reservations. Aaron strove for William’s approval and drank up every compliment showered at him.

Desmond didn’t hate Aaron. He knew that Aaron was young and believed everything told to him. But Desmond could see how differently their parents had treated Aaron from the beginning, probably fixing any mistakes they’d done with Desmond.

He had no idea what Aaron thought of him though. They weren’t that close but Desmond didn’t get the impression Aaron scorned him, unlike some other trainees did. At most… Aaron seemed to pity him. He never accepted Desmond’s help at anything but likewise he didn’t offer to help Desmond either. They were… distant.

It all came to head on Desmond’s fourteenth birthday. He’d been planning on escape for a long time but always delayed it. Thought to get some more training to actually survive the escape and remain under radar. Thought to wait to learn how to drive as those lessons were given once fifteen… But a week before his birthday Aaron managed to develop the Eagle Vision and entire Farm’s attention went to that while Desmond was in chore duty once more. But it helped him to slip unnoticed as he gathered supplies and packed his bag. His birthday went unmentioned that year and, in the night, Desmond slipped out and ran into the wilderness.

It was a sweltering July day when one chapter in Desmond’s life closed. It might’ve even been July 4^th but time spent hitchhiking and lifting a ride had completely made the boy lose his sense of time. And direction. Only thing Desmond wanted was to get away from the Farm so he had simply ambled forward any way he could using everything he could remember from his lessons to remain unnoticed. Thus avoidance of cities and spending most of his time in the woods. One memorable time Desmond had even jumped to cargo train headed for east coast.

But that particular day was very hot and humid and had Desmond seeking solace from a cave. He made it all the way to the bottom, where some cool space was waiting for him… with an oddly smooth wall with oddly angular lines on the surface. With weird circular indentation on it too…

Desmond couldn’t help but poke at things and feel around. Getting a cut to his hand as a thanks.

“Ouch…” The boy muttered.

“Ah, Desmond Miles…” A voice that was vaguely feminine echoed in the space. Faintly. It was very quiet voice.

“Huh? Who’s there?” Desmond looked around, trying to locate the woman. It someone that knew his name was here…

“I am Juno. And I’m offering you a gift.”

“A gift?”

“A gift of life. Of freedom.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wouldn’t you want a new life? Without responsibilities? Without expectations? Just doing what you want.”

And Desmond, the fool he was, accepted. Light filled his vision and the lines on the wall before him was the last he saw of that time and that continent.

But maybe that was for the better.

Desmond woke up on cobblestone beneath a bridge. He wasn’t wearing his own clothes anymore and none of his meagre belongings were nearby either. His head was hurting and he was really hungry.

His head was full of stuff he definitely hadn’t previously known and that stuff was telling Desmond that he was in Florence and the year was 1485. And that he’d been stuffed into body of some poor kid that’d ran away from home and gotten into a fight with his head hit on the stones.

This Juno had dropped Desmond into body of some kid that’d probably died of intracranial bleeding just moments ago. And now Desmond had a headache from that and all of… Dante’s memories.

How nice.

Chapter Text

During the first weeks in Florence, Desmond spent his time taking stock of his surroundings, making sure he remained clean enough not to attract attention and of course getting used to everything. Dante’s memories provided a language and basic etiquette. And Dante’s background was similar enough that if someone came sniffing after Desmond, he wouldn’t need to spin too elaborate lies.

But lie he still needed to. Lie and steal and cheat and sneak away from trouble. All of them skills Desmond had learnt better than Aaron but had not been looked upon any more favorably. Within first days Desmond had found the rooftops of Florence as his second home and enjoyed great exploring them and traversing above ground. A skill a modern assassin rarely had need for as 21^st century cities were loosely built and of glass and metal.

This place and time though… Desmond thrived. Air was clear, architecture beautiful and he finally felt like he could do something. True, he had to steal money and food in order to survive but that was little in comparison to the fact that here there were no cultists chasing him down. Moreover, he easily blended among the other people traversing rooftops or children running on the streets.

Desmond was free.

It was last day of July when Desmond met Giulia. The girl was small but according to herself, she was already eight.

“You look like me. Are you my brother?” She asked. Desmond had been eating an apple in a shadow of a narrow alley when she appeared from the mouth of the alley leading towards unsavory parts of Florence. Desmond had stopped mid-bite and taken a stock of her. Light brown eyes, dark hair roughly braided and bound with dirty strip of silk, worn and dirty dress of the same color than the strip and some breeches underneath it. No shoes. She looked underfed but not terribly malnourished. So she probably had learnt to survive the streets long ago.

“I don’t think so.” Desmond replied to the question. “Unless our father went around bedding many women.” Dante’s father was unknown. His mother was wealthy heiress in political marriage where the husband had refused to lay with her. So with the husband’s permission, she’d gone to secure an heir through other means and seduced some poor soul. Dante’s stepfather had never cared for the boy much, he’d just been a means to end and received education befitting station but no affection and always having the knowledge of being a bastard child. But then the stepfather’s younger brother had died and left behind a son, a legitimate heir and Dante was told to find some way to be useful to the world, like becoming a soldier. Sort of familiar history for Desmond’s past for him to adjust to.

Dante had ran away and presumably died a week later and had Desmond shoved into his head.

“My mother was a whore. So it’s possible.” The girl retorted. “I’m Giulia. Who’re you?”

“Dante…” Desmond was too unusual name and technically he was Dante now too.

“You shall be my brother now.” The girl decided, walking up to him and climbing on a crate to sit down on, so she’d be on eyelevel with Desmond. “Do you know who your father is?”

“…” Desmond had to dig into Dante’s memories to figure it out. There was a period of time when Dante’s mother had been wearing a black velvet band around her wrist but not mourned otherwise. Time when she pursed her lips when it came to certain rumors… But Dante had been little then, only five or six… And no name was ever given to him. “I think he is dead… Mother seemed to mourn someone years ago.”

“My father isn’t. My mother used to curse his name whenever she got drunk and then she made me swear not to tell it to anyone.”

“Okay. So, we aren’t siblings then.” Desmond pondered if it was cowardly to run away from this girl. Giulia was strange. Very strong-willed and had quite mature speech.

“Yes, we are. Because we look alike and I say so.” Giulia retorted.

“Right… Where is your mother?”

“Drunk somewhere. She was thrown out of bordello last year and we’ve been on the streets since. She was stealing money from madame.”

Well, that explained Giulia’s speech. She must’ve been taught some to keep her occupied while the ladies of bordello… entertained quests.

“Ah… What’s your father’s name then…”

“The surviving Auditore.”

Auditore… If Desmond remembered correctly, there was still some rumors about that family. About their execution on the charges of treason. About Lorenzo de’Medici’s declaration that they were no traitors. Maybe he should ask around a bit… See if his sire’s name would surface as well.

Federico Auditore da Firenze. The eldest of Auditore children. Womanizing brat just like his younger brother Ezio – the surviving Auditore – was. And probably an easy target for Dante’s mother, with standards being met as well.

For now it was only guesswork but Desmond was pretty confident about it. After telling Giulia about it, the girl had practically glued herself to his side and refused to budge, even when Desmond took the rooftops.

So he had to learn how to climb with a limpet handing onto his back. And teach Giulia about climbing as well. He taught her about measuring distance and best handholds. He even stole some leather to fashion shoes for her. It was strange how attached they became. Especially after learning more about the Auditore and all the men Ezio had killed in Florence and other cities. There was no shortage of rumors being exchanged between merchants and citizens.

All that information made Desmond remember the history lessons held at Farm. About the Great Mentor Ezio Auditore da Firenze who demolished Templar power in Italy and established Assassins in cities of Italy and eventually across southern Europe. Alongside Altaïr, Ezio was one of the most idolized Assassins of all time. And William had proudly proclaimed being of his blood.

In hindsight, there was no wonder that Desmond was attached to Auditore family now… blood was a strong driving force among Assassins and Templars both after all. Anonymity his current role granted was a blessing though. Auditores did not know of him, being out of Florence. And Dante’s mother and step father did not miss him either. Desmond was still free.

“Do you think we could try to find my father some day?” Giulia asked. It was late September. There were rumors of white ghost claiming lives in Venice. Without doubt it was about Ezio assassinating people.

“Someday.” Desmond agreed. “But it will be hard to have people believe us… Auditores are wealthy after all. Moreover… Ezio seems to travel a lot. It would be hard to catch him.”

“Then we’ll go to that city where he went first!”

“You mean after the executions.”

“Yes! Florence is nice but I want to see more. And if there is a place that accepts alleged traitors to Altezza…”

“It may accept a pair of orphans as well.”

Well, it had been already obvious that Giulia was smart.

Chapter Text

Monteriggioni was not as grand as Florence but it had sense of freedom within its walls. Desmond and Giulia arrived sometime in October and vanished to the streets at once, eager to explore their new territory.

There were mercenaries who took care of city defenses. There were regular town people who went about their businesses, traded, had shops or then worked for the Auditore. There was even a brothel with its courtesans.

Desmond and Giulia found a place to live in the attic of old lady Marcela. If she knew they were there, she didn’t try to chase them out yet. While Monteriggioni didn’t have much in the way of poor and suffering as everyone pitched in to help others, Desmond and Giulia didn’t stand out too much. There were young men among mercenary garrisons and some apprentices for craftsmen as well. Desmond had tried to make sure they wouldn’t attract too much attention.

Well, more than two new faces in general would. Their accents marked them Florentine. Their lack of guardians marked them orphans. Their talent in vanishing from sight and traversing rooftops marked them potential recruits.

They had tried not to get too dirty and keep their clothes relatively clean and not too ragged. Desmond fingercombed Giulia’s hair every morning and tied it on a braid with a sturdy leather string that had been found at cobbler’s floor. His own hair was getting long as well but not long enough to tie it back yet. So Desmond used a piece of scrap fabric he’d found stuck in a tree to keep his hair out of his face. Eventually they both would need a haircut. But for now they managed.

Month into living Monteriggioni, Marcela finally climbed to the attic and ushered them downstairs. It had started to rain in earnest and the roof was leaky. The old woman served them soup and told them with no-nonsense attitude that left no room for arguments that from now on they’d be living in her spare bedroom and they would need to find something sensible to do around the town.

“I know you both are children and like to run and have fun but you won’t be children forever.” Marcela explained. “Especially you Dante.”

“I was tossed on the streets when legitimate heir was chosen. I didn’t want to join the guard.” Desmond argued. “And I can’t get an apprenticeship this late anymore.”

“Well, put your speed in some use then. Monteriggioni covers a lot of ground and has many allied people in the countryside. Couriers are rare though.”

A courier… Well, why not. But what about Giulia…?

But Marcela had an answer to that one too.

“My sister is a seamstress. She could have Giulia taught the trade.”

“I don’t want to leave Dante!” Giulia retorted. “Dante won’t leave me either, right?” She turned to look at the teen with tears shining in her eyes.

“Giulia…” It was true that Desmond didn’t want to leave the girl. And hearing the desperation was heartbreaking. “We can’t keep going as we have. In Florence we could steal from people but here there is no other nobility than Auditores, and we don’t want to cross them. In Monteriggioni people are working hard to make their livings rather than sitting on inheritance. We need to find a way to make money and start investing to skills that’ll aid us in the future.”

“B-But…”

“Giulia, we won’t be separated all the time. I will always return here to you. We are family after all.”

“…Okay.”

Next morning Marcela dressed the pair into some old (but clean) clothes she had around in chests and introduced Giulia to her sister Teresa and then took Desmond to guard post at the entrance of Monteriggioni.

“This is Dante. He is fast and could become your new courier.”

“You sure?” One of the mercenaries acting as a guard asked.

“Yes. Surely you have seen him around. Running on rooftops like he got wings on his back.”

“Heh, true enough. The only other person I’ve seen doing that has been Ser Ezio.” The mercenary grinned and looked Desmond up and down before finally making eye contact. “I’m Lucio, kid. How well do you know the area?”

“I know Monteriggioni’s layout very well but specific people not so much. The surrounding lands I’ve looked at but because of my sister I rather not left the safety of walls for long.”

“Got a good sense of direction?”

“Excellent.” Desmond wasn’t sure if it was beginnings of Eagle Vision or what but he always seemed to know where North was and where guards were so once he learnt the area, it was near impossible for him to get lost.

“Ever ridden a horse?”

“Once.” He and Giulia had stolen a horse in order to leave Florence and ridden about halfway to Monteriggioni before leaving it at a farm and continuing the rest of the way on foot. Riding was… hard but the horse had been kind and patient even with Desmond’s inexperience.

“Well, that’s a good base to start from. Know any fighting? There may be bandits on the roads.”

“Knife and some hand to hand.” Memories from Farm almost surfaced but Desmond pushed them down. He wasn’t joining a cult here. Just finding work and in this century knowing to defend yourself with weapons was a must. He could get behind some more training with logic like that. And maybe they wouldn’t be as harsh as William was.

There were surprisingly many messages sent back and forth within Monteriggioni daily. Desmond had his days full with either delivering the messages or then training sword or learning how to ride. There were other couriers too but they mainly worked long distance or in shifts with Desmond. But each day Desmond returned to Marcela’s house where food and bath were waiting and Giulia expecting account of his day.

Giulia was learning her way around clothes making and when her free days coincided with Desmond’s, he would teach her about defending herself. About using nails and teeth against attackers. About escaping holds and aiming for vulnerable spots. About kicking rather than punching. Everything he had learnt as a child at Farm. He would not have Giulia be defenseless against anyone.

Chapter Text

Months rushed past and eventually Desmond graduated to delivering messages to countryside and nearby cities. The entire time of living in Monteriggioni, he’d never seen hide nor hair of the Auditores. Mario Auditore visited the garrisons regularly but Desmond managed to time his shifts so that he was delivering messages at the city walls or within streets. Claudia Auditore was semi regular sight around town as she kept herself updated on the state of the city and took note on improvements needed to do with the money Ezio brought home. Maria Auditore was confined to the villa but through gossip Desmond heard she was still grieving and possibly depressed or something.

Ezio Auditore was still in Venice and there were no signs of him returning anytime soon.

Desmond had delivered his messages of the day outside Monteriggioni and was returning when something attracted his attention. He didn’t exactly see anything but he got the feeling of something interesting being nearby and worth investigating.

He turned his horse around and headed to the direction of the hills away from the city.

He found a cave. A cave with bunch of tunnels behind it. Dismounting from the horse, Desmond made his way in.

There were walkways and gates. Water below that stank like sewage. Desmond grinned. This was like a lair from Indiana Jones movies! He couldn’t wait to see what was at the other end. And maybe bring Giulia here too once he knew this place better and could take proper precautions for her safety.

Next Sunday, when people of Monteriggioni were attending a Mass, Desmond took the horse and headed for the cave once again. Marcela had Giulia with her at the church so he didn’t worry for her and as there were always at least some people working on guarding the city, no one wondered by Desmond didn’t appear at the church either. He was one of the few people with skill climbing the walls and thus being fastest courier in Monteriggioni. No room for acrophobia there.

Desmond was careful when climbing the wooden constructions and opening the gates. He doubted he could make it to the end within the time he had today but next time he could be faster and get further. Moreover, there were numerous side branches to check out. Many of them being used for storage.

“This is an escape tunnel…” Desmond realized. One end far away from the walls of Monteriggioni and pointing to the opposite way from the gates while the other… Logic stated it would be in the most guarded place within the walls towards which people would be evacuated… meaning the Auditore Villa. “Shit…” If Desmond were to get all the way to the other end… he’d be breaking and entering to his family’s home, an Assassin Headquarters.

It was terrifying and terribly exciting at the same time.

As opportunities were sparse, it took several weeks before Desmond finally made it to the end of the tunnel. It opened to a space behind some big marble statue that was placed into an alcove among six other statues. And this particular statue had a set of black armor before it and iron gates warding it away from the rest of the circular room.

It’s… grand. All seven statues, the tiled pattern on the floor… It all spoke of money. It also reminded Desmond of pictures of old churches with statues and altar paintings and stained-glass windows. Of course, this space lacked the last two but the impression was there.

Desmond listened carefully but did not hear anyone coming from the staircase at the opposite side of the room. So he slid out from behind the statue and wedged himself between the pedestal of it and the iron gates in order to get a better look on the statue’s face.

The clothing was some very old assassin clothing. Probably naturally as white as the marble here was. And the face hidden beneath the hood was… there was something familiar but Desmond couldn’t say what it was. Notable was the statue’s left hand though. It was missing a finger. If Desmond remembered correctly, it was the original brotherhood which had cut their left ring fingers off in order to use the hidden blade until the blade design had been modified. So this guy here was probably very old and from the beginning of the brotherhood…

“Altaïr…” The boy concluded.

But just then there was a faint rumbling noise from the top of the staircase. Desmond scrambled around the statue pedestal and hid into the tunnel he’d come from. Curse his curiosity but he wanted to know who was coming and what they were thinking.

It was two men. Older and younger. The older one Desmond recognized. Mario Auditore. The younger one… he was wearing assassin whites and carrying some circular stone slab. Mario was addressing him as nipote, nephew. So this was the infamous Ezio.

Ezio was approaching the metal gates and Desmond retreated deeper into the shadows. Briefly, he could see a snake insignia on the stone slab before Ezio placed it on the gate.

“One more left. I have a feeling it will be found in Venezia as well.” Ezio mused aloud.

“You’ve done great job this far, nipote. Soon the Armor of Altaïr will be yours.” Mario told the younger man. “I have a feeling you will be needing it eventually.”

“Probably… It certainly looks good. And additional defense is never remiss.” Ezio agreed and turned to leave…

… when his eyes caught Desmond’s.

“What…”

Desmond rolled on his feet and began running to the tunnel as quickly as he could. This was bad. He needed to get out of the tunnel and back inside Monteriggioni’s walls… Preferably before anyone started asking questions.

“Ah, Dante! I was looking for you!” Lucio greeted Desmond at the barracks when the boy arrived there (to hide).

“You were?”

“Si! You were from Firenze, right?” The man asked but continued then without affirmation. “Ser Mario has a missive that needs to be delivered to the thieves there, specifically their leader La Volpe.”

“Okay?”

“It’s not too urgent message but I think it could be a good exercise for you. You know Firenze and can traverse the roof so it should be no problem for you.” Lucio grinned. “Congrats on your promotion.”

“This feels more like hazing.” Desmond replied but took the missive and tucked it to his pocket. “How hurry am I in or can I go say goodbye to my sister?”

“Go meet with little Giulia so she won’t worry.”

Giulia was not happy that Desmond was leaving for extended time. Especially when…

“I heard from the ladies at market… Papa is back.” She told Desmond quietly. They were crouched in a corner of their room, Giulia rolling some smooth stones beneath her fingers.

“I saw him too.”

“You did?!”

Desmond nodded. Giulia glanced towards kitchen where Marcella was cooking dinner and whipping something small for Desmond to eat on the road.

“Do you… Do you think I should tell him?” The girl asked then.

“I… I don’t know if they’d believe us. You can try if you want to… it’s your decision.”

“I see…” Giulia frowned when Desmond got back on his feet. “Come back soon, Dante.”

“I try.”

Finding La Volpe was difficult. There were thieves here and there, watching Desmond as if they knew why he was in Florence. Either Desmond could ask for directions and pay for straight answers… or then he could continue looking on his own. The problem was, he had no idea where to find the fox.

Sighing, Desmond climbed on the roof of the nearest building. No guards here. Good. He looked around for even higher spot. There was a tower in a nearby building… It was calling to him. Desmond’s hands and feet itched to get on top of it.

So he headed towards it.

Climbing was not easy but Desmond managed it. There always seemed to have at least one handhold to reach even if it took a bit looking around sometimes. But eventually he reached a little ledge attached to the tower’s edge. Desmond sat down to take a breath. Florence was bustling around and beneath him. People were going about their businesses. While it was much, much busier than at Monteriggioni, somehow only few voices reached him.

Desmond opened his eyes and… the city seemed to bloom around him. The colors became muted but vibrant at the same time and his awareness of everything around him and beneath him simply expanded.

A guard there, a doctor there, something possibly interesting some blocks away, a safe landing beneath him… And something gold approaching from behind.

Desmond looked over his shoulder at the man balancing on the edge of the tower. He was important.

“Are you La Volpe?” Desmond asked.

“Possibly.” The man replied. “You’ve been looking for me.”

“How do you know? I haven’t told anyone.”

“It’s my job to know. And occasionally novices are sent in my way as a test.”

“Novices?” Desmond frowned. He wasn’t sure what to think about that title. He was just a courier after all… And these colors weren’t going away either.

“Don’t mind it. It isn’t pertinent yet. May I have your name? And the missive from Lucio as well of course.”

“Dante.” The teen reached to give the letter to the man. He blinked, and his vision was normal again but the awareness was still there.

La Volpe was dressed in browns and had a hood up. Desmond swallowed. Probably an associate of the assassins. There really was no escaping them, was there?

Chapter Text

La Volpe figured Desmond’s parentage out way too quickly. Not that he said it aloud. But the knowing glances and smug smiles told as much.

“You have a sister as well, right?” He asked once. Desmond gritted his teeth from where he was tangling one-handed on a flag pole and replied:

“A cousin technically.”

“Ah.” And the infuriating man just nodded knowingly. Probably going to hold the knowledge over Ezio’s head or something.

Desmond in the other hand figured out that Lucio and by extension Mario had tagged him as a potential Assassin Novice and thus had sent him to La Volpe for a ‘little training course’. Not that there was anything little about it. Or that anyone actually told Desmond about the Assassins. He just… eavesdropped everyone and cheated with his knowledge… What little history his previous training had actually contained with the way assassins tended to erase themselves from the public eye and in consequence from internal record-keeping as well.

There were some other couriers that stopped to Florence and also carried letter from Giulia and Marcella. Both females were miffed that Desmond’s stay away was being extended. Desmond made a note to buy something nice for them as souvenirs from the markets. Maybe some hair ribbons for Giulia… and spices for Marcella.

The training with La Volpe and his thieves consisted mostly of rooftop runs, guard-avoidance practice and some underhanded fighting techniques. From the other thieves Desmond learnt navigation within the streets and basic threat recognition. Though his Eagle Vision was able to cut corners in those.

Two months after Desmond’s original arrival to Florence to deliver the letter, he was finally ‘let go’ back to Monteriggioni. And when arriving discovered that Giulia had spilled the beans about her relation to Auditores… and been believed. By some miracle though, she’d managed to keep quiet and hedge around Desmond’s heritage. And Claudia hadn’t pressed for more, being excited and resigned to have a niece to teach and spoil.

So days later, Desmond had thought to just go pick up Giulia from Auditore Villa where the girl had spent the day. Nothing special. Maybe he wouldn’t need to hide anymore and Ezio was apparently on the road again so he was safe on that front too. (The Assassin had been told about Giulia but no reply to either way had arrived yet.)

But anyways, it had meant to be simple thing. Giulia had been excited about her new hair ribbons and had taken them to Claudia to discuss colors and different ways to tie them in her hair. It had been nice day… Simple day…

Until Maria Auditore noticed him.

“Federico?”

Oh no…

And of course Claudia was onto him like a dog to bone, herding him to sit with her and Giulia and Maria and instantly managing to wring out Dante’s story out of him.

This was definitely not how Desmond had imagined being included to Auditore family. He had no other choice but to kiss goodbye to his anonymity though.

Ezio, when he finally arrived back to Monteriggioni once more, was naturally shocked. He had gotten the letters informing him about his new family members but actually seeing them in flesh and being forced to interact with Giulia and Desmond… Well, that was whole another matter.

Giulia was excited and judging at the same time. She was so very glad to have met her father but at the same time she was constantly observing Ezio and pondering his worthiness. Her sharp tongue got the man off-balance many times to the mirth of rest of the family.

Desmond was mainly bemused and just silently laughed at Ezio’s flailing around the girl. Which in turn had Ezio couple of times turning around and snapping at him like Desmond was Federico. The first few times it happened had been followed by awkward silence but then it had become an inside joke of sorts. And unbidden, Desmond found that he didn’t mind being compared to Federico. He seemed to have been quite cool guy.

“May I join you?” Ezio approached Desmond who was sitting on the roof of the Auditore villa. Giulia and Desmond had moved to the villa the previous day but still hadn’t much altered their daily routines. Giulia liked learning from Teresa and Desmond saw no reason to stop his courier work.

Desmond leant back to glance at his uncle.

“Sure.”

Ezio took the seat next to the boy.

“It was you behind Altaïr’s statue some months back, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah… I was exploring.” Desmond scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“How long have you been exploring the caves?” Ezio tilted his head questioningly. Desmond just shrugged.

“Some weeks. Didn’t really pay attention to the time. I was planning to take Giulia there too someday.”

“Would you like to see the room properly? I’m sure uncle Mario would be glad to tell you about the statues.”

“Do you not know about them then?”

“Not as much.” Ezio laughed. “And uncle Mario tells the stories better.”

“Well, why not.” Desmond mused. It would be nice to see the other statues as well and hear about the stone slabs Ezio had been collecting.

Chapter Text

Pieces of Eden. It was such a ridiculous concept. Desmond could vaguely remember his father talking about some such things but they’d always seemed to fantastical, even more so than Templars lurking in the outside world.

But here and now… with Desmond living with the actual Assassin’s and Templars a real threat rather than a scary bedtime story… With pages of Altaïr’s Codex on the wall of Mario’s study, speaking of the Apple and other possible artifacts of power.

It was all very real. Ezio might not have been interested in them that much aside from making sure that Rodrigo Borgia – the last target of the man in the road of revenge – would not get his hands on it but Desmond couldn’t help but feel apprehension. He was a sceptic. All the people around him were very much entrenched in religion. Maybe not devoted wholly, given the way of their life but church was a big part of their lives. A central part of life of commoners of Monteriggioni.

The Templars left last July to retrieve the Apple from Cyprus. The Assassins were keeping an eye on the ports of Venice. It was waiting game now.

Waiting took two years altogether. In the meantime, Desmond trained more, did actual missions in a group, in pairs and eventually solo as well. No one asked him to kill anyone though, which was a relief to him. And between missions he was just allowed to be. He could spend time helping around Monterrigioni and see how the town began flourishing under Ezio’s funds and Claudia’s attentive eyes. Barracks, church, market place, artisan stalls, Auditore mansion and even the bordello were being renovated. Sometimes Desmond just climbed up the fortress walls and looked down to see how much had changed and gotten better. He’d never have any modern comforts anymore but… Desmond didn’t feel like he actually needed them. There was plenty to do and in comparison to the life at Farm, he was actually connected to the rest of the world now.

So Desmond was quite content with his life as it was.

Then the Apple arrived and was wrestled from Rodrigo Borgia. Desmond was there and he wondered why the man was allowed to escape. Soon after the confrontation Ezio was formally inducted to the Assassin Order. That late admission baffled Desmond because… back in 21st century he would have been inducted formally at seventeen earliest and twenty-one latest. Ezio was twenty-nine already. Which… especially given different standards for maturing in this era, was very old in Desmond’s eyes. Desmond himself wasn’t inducted yet either. He didn’t have a brand in his finger like the one Ezio received. But maybe someday…

Less that two weeks later, Desmond got his first true taste of battle. They were in Forli when the fortress city was attacked and the Apple was lost.

Desmond held a cloth against his bleeding lip. Considering the fate of some other soldiers, the seventeen-year-old time-traveler had escaped relatively unscathed. Honestly, the lip wound was the only one that was actually bleeding. Ezio should stop fuzzing around him considering the man got knocked around even worse.

“I’m fine zio Ezio.” Desmond grumbled.

“It’s going to scar.” The master Assassin was muttering, not listening to the teen at all.

“Family look then.” La Volpe was grinning at the background. Desmond flipped the man off. The thief just regarded the boy with amusement. The exact meaning of Desmond’s gesture might be lost to him. but it was clear offense was meant very much. Which in turn had the man riling Desmond up even more.

“Dante, head back to Monterrigioni once you’re patched up.” Ezio was telling the boy then. Desmond turned away from mentally eviscerating Volpe to look at the Florentine. It was… heartening to have Ezio looking after him and keeping him safe. Though it sometimes grated on Desmond’s own sense of independence, he still gladly lapped up all protection and coddling provided to him by the Auditores.

“Okay. Is zio Mario coming too?”

“Yes. Monterrigioni needs him. If Forli can fall…” Ezio sighed. “I need to hunt the Apple, you and Mario keep mother, Claudia and Giulia safe with the rest of the town.”

“Alright.”

Ten years. Ten years it took for Ezio to catch up with Girolamo Savonarola who had the apple and remove the man’s zealous supports terrorizing Florence. At first Desmond mainly stuck to either Monterrigioni or Venice, areas out of direct conflict. But ten years was a long time. Desmond moved out of the Auditore villa and was inducted to the Assassin Order at twenty-five. Before that he was stationed at Venice for two years where he got to know Leonardo da Vinci himself. The Maestro was fascinating individual, brain working non-stop on various projects, be it painting or inventing or building or researching or everything at once.

At home Giulia had grown into a beautiful young lady. She might not be interested in the Assassin business as an active participant but she did accumulate a lot of blackmail and information on people within and without Monterrigioni’s walls. Some of her information came even from Florence and was able to provide Ezio starting point for rooting out many of his new targets. She was also being courted by the blacksmith’s apprentice, young Tonio, and there seemed to be some genuine feelings. Everyone was hopeful for their romance to succeed.

Savonarola was apprehended and killed by enraged Florentian mob in 1498. The Apple was retrieved.

December of 1499, Ezio and Desmond made their way to Rome and Sistine Chapel where a Precursor Vault was located at according to the map hidden in the pages of Altaïr’s Codex.

There Ezio fought the Pope… and let Rodrigo Borgia live again. There Ezio and Desmond met a projection of a woman named Minerva who addressed Aaron Miles.

Ezio listened to the message with no small amount of frustration for being ignored and dismissed but Desmond was staring at the woman in shock and horror. Sun could and would destroy the Earth in 2012? Aaron was somehow involved? How?

But he couldn’t mull in those thoughts too long until the woman turned to directly look at him.

“Desmond Miles. The one I originally expected to receive my message if not for Juno’s interference.”

“What?” Desmond choked out, faintly aware that Ezio was staring at him now too.

Chapter Text

The Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Isu of Vatican Vault, Precursor to reach for Prophet and through him to Jupiter’s Cipher.

That was Minerva the Architect.

She could see enough to predict responses to her words and as such tailor the conversation to direction she wanted to. Desmond being with her Prophet was regrettable as he had been her choice for the key. But Aaron would suffice as well. Certain strands were such: tailored to have someone fill the absence of a missing piece.

She could not yet see what would exactly happen once her message was fully received in 1499 and 2012. But once the moment was over, she could have access to more data and variables. Only then would she be able to tailor her next conversation with Aaron.

“What?” Desmond Miles asked, looking at her figure from the depths of his white red-rimmed hood. His robes weren’t as elaborate as the Ancestor-turned-uncle’s who was standing beside him.

“As the first born and at the time only possible key to prevent destruction wrought by the Sun, you were my first choice. Just how I look into future, your brother and his allies can look into past, to this moment you live in.”

“How? How did I end up in the past then? How can Aaron see us?” Desmond Miles continued his questions, hands lifting up to lower his hood. Minerva could see Aaron Miles’ allies looking at the moment in 2012 in astonishment. They knew about the first-born son of their Mentor who’d disappeared years ago. Minerva could see them starting to compare the written profile of Dante di Firenze to everything they knew about Desmond Miles.

“Juno is dangerous. Even I do not know her motives at this time but she arranged your departure at other Temple you found when young.”

“That cave I found after running away.”

“Yes. It was entrance to the Grand Temple that lied beyond.”

“And Aaron?”

“That is matter of bloodline of our Prophet.” Minerva lifted her gaze to Ezio whose eyes were boring to the back of Desmond’s head.

“Bloodline?”

“Future holds the means accessible to few to look onto their Ancestors. Aaron Miles first looked into the life of Altaïr ibn-La’Ahad through his mother’s line and now to Ezio Auditore da Firenze through his father’s line.”

“So that’s why…” Desmond Miles murmured taking a step back and visibly accepting the situation as it was. Attitude that he would’ve had if the original scenario had come to pass. Minerva could see that her Prophet had more questions, but they would be addressed to the younger man with him rather than to Minerva herself.

The Architect of Key and Time was satisfied. Though where she was now, time was coming to short, she had enough of it for the next instance of contact.

For her Desmond Miles and the Prophet were of no use anymore.

Time worked very differently from where Minerva stood and where and when her objects of observation were. And thus when she turned her gaze away for a moment, Juno was able to move once more. Killed and mutilated the soul of Aita, crime most reprehensible. Minerva and Jupiter imprisoned Juno to the Grand Temple where the Eye would be strong enough to keep her contained. The Capitoline Triad was broken. That was a regrettable fact but they must move on. Minerva looked on her Calculations once more and her eyes widened in shock.

They’d made a mistake. By locking Juno into her prison, they’d enabled her to affect other temples in the time of humans. She was the reason of the conflict of Assassins and Templats. She was the one to encourage humans to search and possess artifacts of the Isu, having them called Pieces of Eden.

Aaron Miles and their companions had gone through more of the Prophet’s memories and retrieved the Apple. But when doing so, they’d fallen to first of Juno’s traps. And it was too late to undo Juno’s imprisonment. She was a mere mind anymore. And Juno had sent them to look for the other Key that led to the Grand Temple and the Eye. Yes, the Eye would be strong enough to stop the Solar Flare but doing so, Juno would be released as well.

Minerva was running out of time. The Solar Flare was approaching. And looking at the Calculations, there was only one thing she really could do.

She reached for the moment of the second Solar Flare and forced her way to Grand Temple. She needed to talk to Aaron Miles and prevent him from using the Eye. Humanity and the Earth would suffer but Juno should not be let loose from her prison.

Chapter Text

We all know how the story originally went. We know Desmond Miles ran away and hid from Templars and Assassins alike for nine years before being caught, kidnapped and taken to Italy, with the designation of Subject 17 bestowed upon him. Living through Altaïr ibn-La’Ahad’s memories, rescued and led to Assassins and then experiencing the life of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, then that of Ratonhnhaké:ton and finally sacrificing his life on the altar of Juno on the hope that his comrades would pick up from where he left off in the mission of protecting humanity.

But this was not that story. Desmond Miles was no more. Not in a sense that mattered anymore. Desmond was happy as Dante and thus the responsibility fell on the shoulders of more willing participant of this war between opposing ideologies: Aaron.

Aaron Miles continued growing and learning on the Farm. He was the apple of his father’s eye and any obstacles or challenges presented to him, he solved. He grew with praise and strict guidance and stories of how his brother could’ve never managed the same.

Too soft, too lazy, too unmotivated… In short too inferior in every way that mattered in their father’s opinion. Aaron did remember though. He remembered how well Desmond could climb trees and other structures. He remembered Desmond successfully blending to the background and vanishing every time father or other instructor started to go on about Templars and the sacred duty of Assassins to keep them in check. Aaron knew that Desmond had been good. Had been focused. But… with all the skills that weren’t that praised or honorable. Desmond’s talent of evasion and retreat was treated as cowardice and when Desmond refused to fight Aaron properly… Yeah, Aaron had at first thought it was Desmond not taking him seriously but… weeks later he’d seen Desmond punching and kicking sandbags behind a barn and realized that Desmond was bigger and stronger and faster than Aaron at the time. And that Aaron had been too blinded by his father’s words to consider otherwise.

Aaron had wanted to talk with Desmond and get to know him better. But there was always something in the way. Either training, exhaustion, avoidance or other people deliberately keeping them apart.

And then Desmond was gone. One day Aaron was awakening his second sight and everyone was excited and ready to celebrate it with a proper party… Then went two days and people noticed that Desmond was missing. Too late. They searched the forest around the Farm and some even went to Rapid City. But nothing came out of it. Desmond was never found and eventually the search was given up on.

Father had given up on Desmond a long before that.

So Aaron continued training. Once seventeen, he went to his first reconnaissance mission. The first time he stepped outside the Farm. It was so strange. Like breathing air that tasted different… while true as well, did not quite convey the feeling.

“Did you feel like this, too, Desmond?” Aaron couldn’t help but thinking, bitter. Desmond who’d been only fourteen. Desmond, to whom near anything could’ve happened. Killed in wilderness, kidnapped by some creep, snatched by Templars…

Aaron’s missions were successful. Father rained praise and criticism on equal measure. Life was… satisfactory.

Eventually came the year 2012. Aaron had heard a lot of talk about Abstergo’s Animus project and how it had affected the Assassins thus far. Aaron knew about Daniel Cross who’d been sent to Assassins as a plant to gather information and then kill the Mentor at the time. He also knew about at least two of their own who were deep cover in Abstergo. He didn’t know their names for security reasons and the only reason was aware of them at all was because his father had personally trained them in secret. Paranoid bastard.

And eventually father approached Aaron with a mission. He was to go to New York and pick a job, make himself vulnerable. The two agents had gone silent completely in the past month and they needed to know what had happened.

“The rumors about Desmond running away have been kept fresh and the Templars don’t know I had two sons. They don’t have solid timeline so there should be no problem with them suspecting anything.”

Had two sons.

That was probably the first time in years that father – Bill – admitted to Desmond’s existence at all. And of course, it was in the context of benefitting him. Aaron grit his teeth and bit back the first instinctive response.

“And extraction plan?” He asked instead.

“Will be handled by another team.” Bill then dismissed Aaron. To prepare. Great. While secrecy was imperative in their work, it would’ve been nice if he’d received some sort of timeline estimation.

But what else did he expect?

With the fake identifications and qualifications, Aaron ended up doing different sort of odd jobs around New York City. It was mind-numbingly boring yet there was no moment of respite in his alertness. After all, he had to make a breadcrumb trail for the Templars to find him yet not be too obvious about it. Motorcycle license ended up being the final nail in coffin and the closing chapter of this part of assignment.

Aaron woke up to white and metal and glass, lying down on some sort of table with a creep in white coat hovering over him. And a headache from… something.

“Ah, you’re awake Mr. Miles.” The creep began and th situation definitely did not improve from there.

Through snark and lies and eventual receiving end of a threat of medical comatose – which was definitely not alright in regards the success of this mission – Aaron eventually acquiesced to use the Animus. To go to the memories of his ancestor of Altaïr ibn-La’Ahad and thus indirectly help Templars. It grated him but the mission came first.

Learning about Altaïr and what the great Mentor had been like before he reformed the Assassin Brotherhood, was interesting. What was less interesting but more horrifying was finding out the paintwork on the walls and floor of the rooms Aaron was able to explore.

It was excoriating week of Animus sessions with not much to go on and proceed on his mission when Aaron was sprung out. Quite literally. There was no warning when Stillman – pretty blonde Animus operator who was treated horribly by Vidic – woke him up in the middle of night and got him out of the building and back to Assassins. And all the way of how she urged him on and just told him to obey and follow her lead, Aaron figured out two things.

One: Stillman had been one of the assassin plants. Obviously.

Two: Whatever information Bill had told her or the rest of the extraction team, it definitely did not include Aaron’s actual profile and skills. Stillman treated him like… like she’d hypothetically treat Desmond!

The reception of her comrades Hastings and Crane was pretty much in line with that as well. And… deep-cover for seven years? Stillman went through that and was still loyal to Bill? Something to think about later.

“Can I contact my father? I have some questions to him about this mission.” Aaron interrupted Hastings when the Brit was urging him to go back to Animus to the memories of the next Assassin ancestor.

“W-What?” The older man spluttered.

“What are you talking about Aaron? There is no mission aside from train you up. We have a serious lack of people in this war and more die every day.”

“Don’t try that manipulation shtick on me, Stillman, I’m not an idiot and you don’t know all that is going on.” Aaron glared. “Father sent me to find out what happened to two of his agents within Abstergo as they went silent three months ago. The one is obviously you but the other one I didn’t manage to find out about before you dragged me out.”

“Bill had a mission for you?” Hastings gaped.

“But Bill said you ran away years ago.” Crane frowned from where she was installing the data core to her Animus. Props to her, it looked much more comfortable than the one Abstergo had.

“That was Desmond. He ran away eleven years ago and has been missing since.”

“Bill had two kids?” Stillman frowned.

“He wishes there was only me.” Aaron retorted. “Now can I contact him or not?”

The contact did not go well. Especially not when Stillman listened in and informed him and Bill both that the other agent – Clay Kaczmarek – had commited suicide last month. That the reason why he fell silent was that he was taken into Animus program as Subject 16.

“You’re telling me that the wall paint I saw under Eagle Vision was his last will and testament? Something that he did as a result of being months in Animus?”

But despite Aaron’s protests, he was back in Animus. He tried to say that having a deep cover agent as a team leader was a bad idea but Bill didn’t listen. No, because of his prestigious bloodlines, he was to deep dive into Ezio Auditore da Firenze’s memories. Partially to enhance his own training on speeded up rate and partially to see what Templars had wanted to know about his life.

In any other situation and most likely with any other team, Aaron would’ve been thrilled. But apparently, they were in a hurry and needed to catch up with whatever the Templars knew. And Aaron – despite whatever clout he’d gathered through successful missions – was reduced to a chair-sitting resource. It probably didn’t help either that he was noticeably younger than others and thus his words were ignored in favor of his father’s orders.

So once again Aaron needed to be someone else. This time another great Mentor of Brotherhood’s history. Ezio was… nice change form Altaïr and while in Animus, Aaron didn’t need to interact with others. Still heard them when it came some historical or technical stuff but mostly he was left alone and others remained as mere observers.

There was… a side quest of sorts in Ezio’s memories. Not only collecting feathers in the memory of Petruccio or searching for glyphs left behind by Subject 16… no. There was something that Rebecca called Family Ties. A whole series of little missions and moments in relation to two children in Monterrigioni. Giulia and Dante. It wasn’t mandatory to go to the little spots – like approach the statue of Altaïr after conversation with Mario in Sanctuary and thus see Dante running to tunnels behind – but they ensured full synchronization. And Aaron might’ve been a bit of a perfectionist…

But all those moments culminated in Dante joining Ezio on his missions, acting as a rear guard and scouting ahead. Aaron couldn’t help but admire him. Or maybe it was how the other boy reminded him of what little he remembered of Desmond. The two of them even looked alike… unlike Aaron who’d inherited wholly other set of genetics to build his features.

Aaron watched through Ezio’s eyes how Dante received a scar into his lip. How he was inducted to the Assassins. He only partially listened to Hastings frustration over lack of information about Dante aside from the note of being Ezio’s nephew…

Then came Minerva and the Vault. And…

“Desmond Miles. The one I originally expected to receive my message if not for Juno’s interference.” She was looking at Dante and Aaron was as shocked as Ezio was. Even more actually. Desmond was Dante?

Aaron listened Minerva talking to Desmond in daze. His ears were full of stuffing and everything seemed to be so far away. But Desmond was bright and clear before him. Desmond was with Ezio? Desmond was an Assassin and one of the best in Ezio’s time? Desmond was happyandaliveandrighttherebutAaroncouldn’ttouchhim…

Then Minerva was addressing Aaron through Ezio. She spoke of great fire coming from the sun in few months. And Desmond stepped back like Aaron remembered him doing so many times…

He emerged from the Animus with wide eyes to the shocked faces of the others. And for the first time Aaron didn’t feel like keeping up the low-key resentment that had been brewing in him ever since… Well, ever since getting his mission from Bill.

“You saw that too, right?”

“That must be a glitch…” Hastings was muttering.

“Did you get it on record?” Stillman asked Crane.

“Yeah, I record everything Aaron does so it can be analyzed later.” The black-haired techie nodded. “I… was that really your brother?” She gazed Aaron in sympathy. Aaron fiddle with the cap of the water bottle Stillman and pushed into his hands and nodded numbly.

“Yes… That… Desmond was fourteen when he ran away but… That was him. He was so good in many skills… But they never were skills that Bill appreciated…” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I suppose even then Des was channeling skills of Ezio… something that were most useful in Renaissance.”

“We need to send Bill these records.” Stillman stated. “And find out if Dante… Desmond ever had a bloodline that reached modern day.”

That was when Templars barged into their base and they had to relocate. Aaron welcomed arriving in Monteriggioni but probably would’ve appreciated it more if he hadn’t needed to immediately go through ancient sewers to get into the villa and then relive in Ezio’s memories of the place getting destroyed and thus abandon it.

Moreover… It was very suspicious that they’d been found at their base. And that when they’d been aiming for the safe cabin in the Swiss Alps, they’d been forced to deviate from the route due another ambush. So… how did Abstergo know and what guarantee there was that Monteriggioni was safe? After all, it was a known place for Assassins no matter how many years had gone past. Ezio had been that prolific figure.

And in said prolific figures memories, Aaron continued to see how Brotherhood was built up again. In Rome. Dante/Desmond had followed Ezio there, along with all the other important figures of Brotherhood history at the time. Ezio kept chipping at Borgia power and eventually acquire the apple back.

It was hidden in Colosseum so naturally they went to retrieve it. Only for Juno to strike and hadn’t Minerva talked of her interfering with Desmond? But through the Apple Juno took control of Aaron and killed Stillman – Lucy. What was the point? Yes, Lucy was a Templar agent now. But she’d seemed to open up and maybe in the face of the solar flare could’ve worked alongside them. She liked Hastings and Crane after all. So what was the point of Juno killing her? Reducing poor influences? Making herself look more trustful? Aaron didn’t know…

Actually, he barely knew anything outside of this island. Going through so many years’ worth of memories in such fast pace had wreaked havoc in his head and fighting the Apple had only worsened the damage.

“Huh… So you are Subject 17 two point oh…” A voice mused above him. Aaron glared blearily at the blonde man in leather jacket. How did he know about… Desmond and his designation as original subject?

“Did you know? This place while being inside a machine is as close to the Grey as possible in man made means?” The man, whom Aaron tentatively tagged as Subject 16, grinned. “That means access to the viewer seat of Calculations. Seeing how Seventeen would’ve done in your place.”

“And he would’ve been better?” Aaron asked, sitting up.

“Yes… and no.” Sixteen shrugged. “Doing all the same things yeah… But he would’ve been miserable… Having all that freedom snatched away. But he would’ve been less suspicious too. Not deliberately pushing your team away. Oh no… They did it on their own when the bleeding effect became clear in him. But he was still more approachable.”

Bleeding effect… Truth to be told, Aaron hadn’t experienced much of it. Some hallucinations and language fibs but… never thought he was anyone else than he actually was.

“But now… you have to put yourself back together Two-point-Oh… Chop chop…” Sixteen waved at the giant glowy stone doorway. With a deep breath, Aaron plunged in.

Twenty days of coma and Aaron woke up. Twenty days and the Grand Temple was found and he was pushed into yet another set of memories. This time by Juno. This time the ancestor in question was a Templar Grandmaster and his son, an Assassin.

Twenty days of trying to find the key to open the last door of the Temple and four other power sources to power the shield. Twenty days of enduring his father’s presence. Twenty days spent strapped into uncomfortable animus or alternatively running around the world since apparently there were no other assassin’s of sufficient skill level close enough to the targets. Oh, and let’s not forget saving his father from Templars and killing many people, including the creep in white coat – Vidic – and Daniel Cross.

Honestly Aaron was tired. The passive aggressive silence between him and Bill wasn’t helping either. The older man refused to talk about Desmond, even after seeing the footage of him. All the instances of Ezio interacting with the boy and teaching him and looking after him. The feats of fighting Borgia guards and slipping into places unnoticed. It all… meant nothing apparently.

There hadn’t been much of information on Desmond during Ezio’s time in Constantinople and Masyaf aside from what Ezio wrote in his letters to Claudia. In them, he asked how Dante was faring in rebuilding Monteriggioni. And if Dante would consider stepping up as a Mentor in the next five years.

Aaron was immensely proud of his brother.

And so when the time was to approach the Eye and stop the solar flare, Aaron knew he was going to do it even before Juno or Minerva had their squabble before him. He was tired but he knew his duty. Duty for humanity. Duty he’d learnt many years ago and that had only strengthened with these experiences. He carried the bloodlines of many Assassins and Templars. Maybe it was engineered by Minerva for him to be the Key to use the Eye but for Aaron it was simply a weight of expectations of his ancestors. All the things they’d bled and fought and died for.

Moreover… Aaron had a closure of sorts. He finally knew what had happened to Desmond. And more than that, he knew Desmond had lived a good life. Had found a way to Assassins, yes, but also found purpose and joy in doing so. Something that Aaron doubted he could’ve found in 21^st century.

“You realize that stopping Juno falls on you now?” Aaron asked… Shaun and Rebecca and his father. “I can’t help you anymore.”

“Yeah… We’ll step up.” Rebecca gave a tremulous smile to him and hugged him. “And we’ll find out what happened with your brother too.”

“Alright, but… if there is a bloodline… Please leave them alone. If they are not in a danger, please don’t drag them into this war.” Aaron sighed.

“We promise.” Shaun nodded. “Aaron… we… We weren’t in the best of terms for the past months but… Thank you for being there. With us. We’ll miss you.”

That was awkward. Aaron turned towards Bill then.

“Father…”

“Son.”

“Can you please forgive Desmond and acknowledge him again? I know you don’t believe him to be Dante di Firenze but… He was your son as well. And he was brilliant.”

“I will.”

And then it was time. Aaron watched his team… his family run from the Temple and pressed his hand on the pedestal. There was light. There was pain.

And there was nothing.

Chapter Text

You know how the story could have ended. And how it ended this world. But how were the loose ends tied up in the other timeline?

“So your name is Desmond?” Ezio asked when they were riding towards Monteriggioni. His supposed nephew had remained silent since the appearance of Minerva the Goddess. Withdrawn, unobstructive. He spoke and asked for clarification at first but as soon as the goddess had dismissed him, Dante had disappeared into the shadows of the Vault.

“Was…” Dante corrected. “I… I was born into a family of assassins. We had a base remote of any habitation and no one knew we were there. Father was very strict when teaching us. He was the Mentor, you know… I was the eldest and I worked hard but motivation was hard to find when we lived so secluded from everything. The Templars were more like a scary story to make us behave, than something feeling like a real threat.”

“And the bloodlines Minerva spoke of?”

“Father was always proud to say we were descended from the ‘Great Mentor of Italian Brotherhood’.” Ezio could feel the repetition of the quote hammered to Dante’s head. “So he was harsh in training. And for some reason anything I did was not enough, while Aaron – my younger brother – was brilliant at everything. I was meant to be inducted anywhere between ages seventeen and twenty-one, after my first successful mission. Instead, I ran away at fourteen. I found… some place… and next I knew; I was waking up under a bridge in Firenze and I was a street kid named Dante of unclear origins.”

“So were you Dante at all?” Ezio needed to know. He knew and loved and appreciated the boy who’d grown into a man under his tutelage, but at the same time he wanted to know if Dante – or Desmond – was Federico’s kin.

“Depends how you count, I think? This body is Dante’s. But his soul left and made space for me. There were impressions when I woke up. He’d gotten in trouble with some thugs and had hit his head badly.”

“And bad head injuries can lead to death.” Ezio sighed. Dante eyed him warily from the depths of his hood, waiting for judgement. “I’m not angry with you, Dante. Or disappointed. Situation is just complicated. With many facets I hadn’t expected.”

“Starting with the existence of Minerva.”

“Yes. And myself being a Prophet. Of my bloodline leading to the savior of the world.”

“Everything is so much bigger than just Assassins and Templars.” Dante sighed.

“That it is.” Ezio agreed. They rode on in silence, mulling on everything they’d learnt. Ezio especially was carefully considering the idea of his bloodline. It wasn’t that strange really, considering Giulia’s existence. There were probably some other bastards of his running around as well but if Desmond’s father had his line documented well enough for it to be clear centuries later… He was probably descended from legal children of his. Which meant an actual marriage at some point. Not anytime soon. Ezio’s journey was not over yet. Rodrigo was still alive despite everything and Italy was crawling in Templars. Even with Monteriggioni secured and many of their allies having footholds in various cities… Ezio did not feel safe enough for settling down yet.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t tell zio or anyone else of your… soul having travelled through time.”

“Thank you…”

They arrive to Monteriggioni. They report. There was celebration of sorts and Mario eagerly telling them about new cannons stationed on the fortress walls.

And next night they are sieged. Desmond led the evacuation efforts while Ezio raced to the fortifications. They both saw Mario being shot. They both had to leave their city – their home – behind.

Desmond helped the citizens of Monteriggioni to get to Rome. There were some who wished to separate and go to elsewhere, to their other relatives or then otherwise make a fresh start. It was sad to see them go, but Desmond helped them to get enough supplies to start their journey. Then he focused again on the remaining citizens as their trip continued onwards.

There was no word on Ezio. He had been one of the last people leaving. But Desmond had faith in him surviving. It would be only a matter of time before they’d meet again.

They made it to Rome and people scattered further. Claudia and Maria secured a place within the walls of Rosa in Fiore, with them the courtesans of Monteriggioni. Desmond met with Machiavelli and began planning on how to secure a base for the Assassins in Ezio’s absence.

“Any word on Leonardo?” Desmond asked. Ezio’s acquaintance with no other than Leonardo da Vinci had been interesting to witness. The painter and inventor’s name being such a famous one that even in isolated community such as the Farm had been, Desmond had known of him.

“None.” Machiavelli sighed. “But I worry for him – and for us – since the Apple is now in Cesare’s hands. We do not know what that madman will have Maestro to do.”

Desmond frowned and turned back to the crudely drawn map of Rome’s different districts. They were full of marks of Borgia strongholds, watchtowers, empty plots and placement of historical structures.

“Once Ezio arrives… I might go back to Monteriggioni.” He spoke slowly.

“You’ll be needed here.” Came a sharp rebuke.

“It won’t be immediately. But once Ezio is here, the ball will start rolling. Borgias’ power need to be chipped away and once that starts, their attention will be on Ezio. In the meanwhile…” Desmond paused and closed his eyes. He could still see Monteriggioni burning, people panicking, the cannonballs falling and walls crumbling. “I will go to assess the situation in Monteriggioni, secure the vault at the villa… maybe see if I can find and bury the deceased. Eventually I want to start rebuilding there. Monteriggioni was… home.”

More home than Firenze. More home that Farm. Even when Desmond and Giulia were not acknowledged Auditores yet, it had been a home. And once Ezio and Maria and Claudia and Mario found out about them? They were accepted and acknowledged. Dante and Giulia Auditore da Monteriggioni, to cover up their dubious origins in Firenze. Desmond didn’t know – or care – what had happened to Dante’s mother and stepfather. Giulia’s mother was probably dead by now. Coming to Monteriggioni had been the best decision Desmond made in those early years. It had given him a family and home, so he did not want for it to go to waste.

(He wanted his home back.)

Ezio arrived, just in time for Machiavelli point him in the direction of Tiber Island. To point out the strongholds made out of Rosa in Fiore, La Volpe Addormentata and Caserma di Alviano. The courtesans, the thieves and the mercenaries – Ezio’s allies – having settled in the city.

The Master Assassin began to recruit and build his own powerbase. He was charismatic enough for that and a keen eye to find potential recruits who were dissatisfied or downright mistreated by the Borgia rule. Desmond focused on the local landscape and plotted most efficient and sensible plan of attack against the watch towers. Machiavelli mingled and squirreled information on the Borgia benefactors.

Though distrustful of Machiavelli and mildly skeptical of Desmond, La Volpe would later call them Triumvirato di Assassini with the way they worked towards the downfall of the Borgia, each focusing on different area within the city.

Desmond returned to Monteriggioni and laid to rest everyone he could find. He wrote down a list of things needed to do before anyone could properly settle back in the city. The Villa was secured and the vault was locked. The young man found Altaîr’s armor and donned it himself. The Borgia army had destroyed everything they got their sights on but had not stepped into the villa after the initial siege. Probably fearful of the traps. That meant however, that aside from some gold, not much paraphernalia had gone missing. According to Desmond’s Eagle Vision, no bandits had dared to come up either. It was different with the houses of the commoners down in the city but villa was almost untouched.

“…This is mine. My home and my legacy.”

By feudal law to victor goes the spoils, so technically Cesare Borgia was in possession of Monteriggioni. But that man had no interest in the place since Ezio had been driven out. So in that case, the city should fall back into the Auditore hands. Desmond was legitimized as Dante (with some fudging on the dates in the church’s books) and as Federico was older than Ezio… Inheritance of eldest son of eldest son.

Desmond smiled.

“My city.”

Years rolled on. Borgia influence was razed to the ground, Caterina Sforza was rescued, Leonardo’s war machines were destroyed…

Ezio became the Mentor and Claudia was inducted into the Brotherhood.

Cesare Borgia killed his own father and was later arrested for separate reasons. Ezio retrieved the Apple.

Sometimes when Desmond sat in the room with the artifact, if seemed to hum invitingly to him. He resisted for a long time from touching it.

From the Apple came a spectre that took Desmond a long time to recognize.

“Desmond?” The spectre spoke. It was a man younger than him by a decade or so. His arm was stretched out, palm resting against something unseen. He was looking directly at Desmond though, just like Minerva had been.

“…Aaron?” It was barely a whisper but the spectre heard it. Aaron smiled.

“I’m glad I got to see you one more time.”

“What is going on? Where are you?” As Desmond asked his questions, the Apple glowed in his palms, projecting onto his surroundings which slowly began to change from the Tiber Island hideout to some sort of room of stone full of straight angles and smooth dark walls. A pedestal appeared before Aaron, his hand resting on the glowing sphere on it.

“This is the Grand Temple of the Isu, located in Turin in America.”

“Torino?”

“Turin.” Aaron corrected with a quirk of lips as he directed his gaze on the device before him. “And this is the Eye which will protect the earth. For a price of course.”

“What price?”

“The last one.”

Dread pooled in Desmond’s stomach. He knew the dangers of being an assassin. He knew his life was in danger every time he went into battle, especially with the lacking medical knowledge in this ear. But a sacrifice – as that Aaron obviously was – was something completely different.

“Why?”

“Because humans are powerful. Isu technology works by the power of thought… and Minerva crafted our bloodline to be the only one to be able to activate this device. That’s why Juno sent you away, to even the odds. You were too rebellious… I was too dutiful. And even now I know that once this device is activated, Juno will escape this temple – her prison – but I have the duty to protect the earth and I have faith in humanity and the Brotherhood to stop Juno from seizing control.”

There were questions Desmond wanted to ask but didn’t really want answers to. He settled on a simple “Why?”

“Why this frozen moment of time? I wanted to talk to you one more time. I saw your later life through Ezio’s eyes but…” Aaron closed his own eyes. Tears dripped down as he opened them again. “Thank you for being my brother, I’m sorry my own ignorance prevented me from seeing your love and worth before you were already gone.”

“I forgive you, Aaron.” That was something Desmond had come into terms with years ago. Observing and partially raising Giulia had showed him more clearly how much influence family had one someone. How much parental figures controlled your own worldview, be it in negative or in positive fashion. “You were a child. You were… father’s favourite and the one that raised to his expectations. Granted, he probably lowered those expectations unconsciously from the astronomical heights they were for me but… You succeeded and you flourished under his attention unlike me.”

“He was still unfair to you. And mother was wrong to neglect you.”

“I know. Living here though… I found a family. They love me dearly and I love them back. I love you, Aaron, as well. Despite the years between us, you’ll always be my little brother. My first sibling. I… Requiescat in Pace, Aaron Miles.”

“Safety and Peace, Dante Auditore da Monteriggioni.”