Chapter Text
Desmond woke up with a splitting headache, blinking as he realized he was in a carriage that rocked hard enough to shake him. He placed an arm against the side to stop his head from hitting it.
Considering where the ache on his head was coming from, it didn’t take a genius to realize that he had already hit his head against it.
The shakiness continued and Desmond had half a mind to open the door and shout at the driver.
The only thing stopping him was his own thoughts.
Like…
Why was he in a carriage?
He patted himself, checking for anything that could give him an idea of where he was and why he was here.
He was wearing a simple white shirt, black pants and a pair of sturdy boots that ended two inches above his ankles.
Something about this set of clothes knocked in his mind.
It wasn’t helpful right now though because there was nothing on him that gave him any clue.
… except one.
He didn’t have any form of identification or money but he did find a small brooch in his left pant pocket.
It was a simple brooch made of silver and shaped like an Assassin insignia.
A very simple one that reminded Desmond of the Assassin insignia of the Levantine Brotherhood but without the diamond underneath.
It should mean nothing.
It was too simple.
Everything on him was too simple.
Too… generic.
The carriage shook violently, making Desmond slam his side against the carriage.
At the same time, a suitcase fell from the carriage bench in front of him, opening up and spilling its contents to the floor.
He grabbed the suitcase and tried to put everything back. More plain clothes that looked like would fit him.
A letter that he placed on the bench to be checked later.
A journal that he placed on top of the letter.
… and an egg.
Considering the size, would that be an ostrich egg?
Desmond took the egg in his hands to put it back inside the suitcase when it started to crack.
Soft golden glow appeared from the crack, reminding Desmond of the Apple of Eden.
He dropped the egg instinctively and quickly moved as far as he could, one hand already on the door’s knob. The carriage wasn’t traveling all that fast so he could jump off without hurting himself as long as he landed correctly.
The cracks spread all over the egg, the Apple’s golden hue glowing dimly to the rhythm of a beating heart.
Until…
One talon kicked the shell.
Thick silver liquid ooze out of the shell, glitching as it flowed inches away from the egg before disappearing.
Wait.
It was glitching?
Another talon kicked the shell from the inside before the upper part of the shell finally started to fall apart.
Silver ooze glitched all over his fluffy yellow feathers, detracting Desmond briefly.
It was a chick.
A really plump yellow chick with one large curled feather on top of his head.
“Holy shit?! What the fuck?!” The chick shouted in a voice that Desmond would remember no matter what.
He let go of the door knob and went on his knees before laying flat on his stomach just to be at at eye-level with the chick.
“Clay?!” Desmond called out, absolutely confused to why he was hearing Clay in a plump yellow chick’s mouth.
“Seventeen?!” Chick-Clay turned to look at him with the biggest green eyes Desmond had ever seen.
“If you’re here…”
“If I’m here…”
Desmond and Clay said it at the same time as they stared at each other.
The realization came to them at the same time.
“We’re in the Animus.” They both declared in unison.
Desmond sat up and pressed his back against the back of the carriage bench, “I’m still alive.”
It sounded like a lie.
“I’m still alive.”
He repeated it, as if that would help make everything sound real.
He started to laugh.
Fuck.
He was still alive.
He was fucking alive.
“Wait.” Desmond turned to look at Clay as he asked, “How are you still in the Animus?”
“Didn’t you disappear after helping me leave the island?” He inquired with a tilt of his head.
Clay paused for a moment before answering, “Uh…”
The chick turned away, kicking off the shell of the egg he came from.
It glitched before disappearing.
They both stared at the floor that it was on for a moment before Clay started kicking every piece of shell.
… completely ignoring Desmond.
“Clay.” Desmond called out and winced when the carriage shook violently.
“Okay, fine!” Clay turned to look back at Desmond as he explained, “I copied my data inside you.”
“You what?!” Desmond asked, pressing his arm against the side of the carriage to not hit his head again.
“How do you think you Bleed your ancestors? Because of some magic mambo-jambo?” Clay asked before adding in an overly sarcastic tone, “Or maybe you thought you and your ancestors have this special link that goes beyond the boundary of time?”
He pointed his right wing at Desmond as he answered his own questions, “No. It’s all data duplication. The Animus used your genetic memories and turned it to data that it transfer to your brain directly.”
Desmond just knew he was going to get a headache if Clay continued his explanation.
Thankfully, he didn’t.
Although the implication that the Animus could transfer data directly to his brain was so dangerous that he knew he had to understand the concept behind it later on.
“So I did the same. I copied Clay Kaczmarek’s memories inside your brain.” Clay explained before adding as he used his wing to rub his chin, “Of course, I zipped it so it wouldn’t leak out as a Bleeding Effect.”
“Why?” Desmond asked with furrowed brows.
“Because I wanted to live.” Clay answered, dropping both wings as he added, “I mean… yeah, I’m no longer the ‘human’ Clay Kaczmarek but I’m the Clay you met and talked to in the island.”
Desmond stared at him, unsure how to process the fact that his mind was used in such a manner. He understood why Clay did it but…
He could taste the word ‘betrayal’ in his lips.
“I know it’s a scummy thing to do, especially considering the reason why you were even in the island.” Clay said and began returning the rest of the clothes into the suitcase.
Desmond knew what he was truly doing.
He was trying to keep his body busy so he wouldn’t have to look at Desmond while they were having this conversation.
It was something Ezio would sometimes do whenever he screwed up and tried to apologize to Claudia.
Desmond wasn’t even sure if this was a habit Clay had as himself or if this was something the Bleeding Effect nailed into his fractured mind.
“And I understand if you hate me now and don’t want to see me.”
That would be hard.
Because…
A plump yellow chick folding clothes was too cute of an image that Desmond couldn’t take his eyes away at all.
“But we have to cooperate right now.” Clay closed the suitcase and finally turned to face Desmond as he said, “When I transferred my data inside you, I made sure to include a trigger to unzip my data.”
Desmond had a feeling he wouldn’t like the answer but he asked anyway, “What’s the trigger?”
“If you went inside an Animus with more computing power than the one the Brotherhood had right now.”
That simple sentence brought a worrying theory to the table.
“Fuck.” Desmond mumbled, “I’m in an Abstergo Animus.”
“We don’t know that yet. The Brotherhood could have upgraded. But we should assume so anyway to be safe.” Clay sat his big chicken butt on the floor and raised his wings to chest height as he said, “Now, let’s see…”
Desmond continued to sit on the floor as he watched holographic screens pop in and out of existence in front of Clay.
“I’m in.” Clay said in an overly serious voice.
All the screens disappeared before a new one popped up.
A very ear-catching upbeat tune played as a screen appeared.
A screen with white flowers and gold vines decorating the borders.
Oh, no.
“What the hell?” Clay blinked, the confusion clear in his cute chick face.
The words ‘Badump Animus Destiny’ slowly wrote itself into the screen. Written in a cursive font with the Animus colored pink while the other two were colored gold, Desmond knew immediately where he was.
“Ah.”
That was all Desmond could say.
How the hell was he even supposed to explain this entire thing to Clay?
The answer eluded him as the carriage finally came to a stop.
The door opened and, as he expected, Mister Faulkner opened the carriage door as he said, “We’ve arrive-”
He paused as he stared inside the carriage. Desmond and Clay must have made quite a scene.
“Um…” Desmond wasn’t even sure he could explain all of these.
“Are you alright, my lord?” Mister Faulkner asked as he took the suitcase. He didn’t pay any attention to Clay even when the plump yellow chick flew to sit on Desmond’s shoulder.
Actually…
Clay didn’t weigh at all.
If he couldn’t see Clay, he would have never known he was even on his shoulder.
Mister Faulkner offered his hand as he said, “Apologies, my lord. The road had been rougher than expected and our carriage isn’t exactly… new.”
Desmond accepted the hand and stepped out of the carriage. It creaked against his weight and a quick glance made it clear that he had been riding in a very shabby carriage.
“I trust that the journey here has been uneventful?”
Haytham Kenway.
Or, as he was known in this ‘game’, Duke Kenway.
What else did the glossary say about him?
House Kenway was the most powerful noble family in the empire and…
Hhhmmm…
He should just check the glossary.
“Can you pause the game?” Desmond asked quietly as Mister Faulkner answered Haytham’s question.
Clay turned to stare at him as he whispered, “What do you mean, pause the game?”
Huh?
Shouldn’t Clay have already known that this was a game?
Desmond didn’t have time to say that out loud because Haytham turned his attention to him as he said, “I know it must have been hard on you, having to travel this far right after William’s funeral.”
Desmond already knew what the ‘duke’ was going to say next.
To be completely honest, a part of him wanted to say something.
To change this scene.
Altaïr’s hostility, Ratonhnhaké:ton’s distance and even Ezio’s fake smiles…
They were propelled by the announcement that Haytham was about to say.
At the same time…
It was dangerous to change the scene when Desmond didn’t know why he was here.
If it turned out that he needed to get someone someone’s affection to 30%, it would be better to do the same thing he did as before and get Malik or Kadar to go with him once he finished everyone’s ‘prologue’.
He felt Haytham’s hand on his back and he was firmly guided to look at everyone.
He could name every single person here, from the servants to the three men standing in front of everybody else.
“From this day forth…”
God, this was getting too long.
It really wasn’t but it felt like it for Desmond.
He honestly just wanted the scene to be over and be sent to his room.
Kadar would come in shortly but that would be enough time for Desmond to ask why Clay couldn’t pause the game.
His mind had wandered off which wasn’t good.
Even if this was Rebecca’s game, that didn’t mean he wasn’t in danger here.
That was why he hadn’t meant for their eyes to met.
It shouldn’t have been surprising.
Everyone had been looking at him.
Desmond was the idiot who met his gaze.
“Desmond will be a member of House Kenway as my fourth son.”
Desmond should look away but he found himself unable to.
He couldn’t explain it.
There was something ‘real’ about those golden eyes staring at him right now.
It was hard to remember that this was a game.
Everyone was so lifelike.
So real.
So…
So much.
“Desmond.” He felt Haytham gently push him forward, “These are my sons.”
Altaïr stepped forward.
“Altaïr.” He introduced himself, offering his left hand.
Desmond’s eyes widened.
This didn’t happen before.
It wasn’t because… they stared at each other, right?
Unsure what else to do, Desmond took Altaïr’s offered hand.
“Heir to the duchy.” Altaïr added as he shook Desmond’s hand firmly. He dropped Desmond’s hand and turned around, walking back to the Kenway manor without looking back.
As Desmond expected, Malik and Kadar followed after their master immediately, leaving behind Desmond with the other three men that were programmed to be his love interests.
Haytham sighed before saying, “It would bring me joy if you could forgive my oldest son.”
What was there to forgive?
Altaïr didn’t harm him.
He was rude, of course.
But Desmond was dealing with the 26 years old arrogant version of Altaïr anyway.
Being rude was second nature to Altaïr, not because he was trying to be mean but because he didn’t care.
In Altaïr’s eyes, Desmond was probably some kind of annoying bee buzzing around his inheritance.
“It’s fine. He didn’t do anything wrong.” Desmond said as he lowered his hand, facing Ezio and Ratonhnhaké:ton.
Man…
He wished Rebecca had picked the 62 year old Altaïr instead.
“It’s nice to meet you both, young masters.” He bowed, remembering how it usually went in romance fantasy stories, “I’m Desmond Miles.”
For some reason, Desmond couldn’t see the affection meter at all.
That was worrying but, at the same time, it was freeing.
He straightened his back and looked at Ezio first.
“Ah.” Ezio gave him a smile. It wasn’t that charming smile he gave the first time Desmond played this game. It was the smile Ezio would make when something amused him.
What that was, Desmond wasn’t sure.
Ezio didn’t even bother to kiss the back of Desmond’s hand this time too. Instead, he bowed slightly as he said, “I am Ezio, the disappointing second son.”
“Ezio.” Haytham called out in a warning tone that Ezio just ignored.
“It’s nice to meet you, Desmond.”
Huh.
Strange.
Ezio didn’t call him fratello mio this time around.
Desmond didn’t have the chance to greet Ezio back because Ratonhnhaké:ton said, “Everyone calls me Connor.”
“It’s nice to meet you both, Ezio…” Desmond nodded at Ezio before turning to nod at Ratonhnhaké:ton, “Connor.”
Both of them nodded back.
… and the silence that followed was truly awkward.
Wait a minute.
Ratonhnhaké:ton’s introduction should have triggered the loading screen, right?
What was happening?
Desmond didn’t know why but his eyes glanced at Clay who was still sitting on his shoulder.
Clay glanced back at him before shaking his head.
He wasn’t sure what Clay thought Desmond was asking.
Hell…
Desmond himself didn’t even know if what question to ask anyway.
“Duke, it might be better if we let our new brother rest till dinner.” Ezio suggested, waving a hand towards one of the maids who immediately stepped forward, “I’m sure he would want to shake off his travel fatigue.”
That sounded weird but Desmond was going to take it.
The maid who stepped forward was Sofia Sartor and Desmond had to do his best not to show his surprise. The simple maid outfit did not detract from her beauty and she curtsied. She stayed in that position as Ezio said, “Sofia will bring you to your room, dear brother.”
Yeah, this was weird.
“Thank you.” He bowed once more before looking at Haytham as he asked, “May I be excused? I feel a little nap would do me good.”
“Of course. Take as much time as you need.” Haytham nodded, dropping his hand and placing both of his hands behind him as he said, “I will have someone escort you to the dining room later.”
He bowed even lower to Haytham as he said, “Thank you, Your Grace.”
He straightened his back at the same time Sofia finally finished her curtsy. She stepped to the side and waited so Desmond started walking towards her.
The moment he was close, she began to walk on ahead.
Desmond felt everyone’s eyes on him as he entered the manor.
Behind him, one of La Volpe’s men followed with Desmond’s suitcase.
They entered the beautiful lobby of Villa Auditore and Clay flew off.
He circled around Sofia and landed on her head.
Desmond was about to apologize when he realized…
No one reacted at all.
And it was definitely not because they were the servants of House Kenway.
“Yeah, you guessed it right, Seventeen.” Clay stayed perched on Sofia’s head, “No one but you can see me. I assume the same can be said for this.”
Clay waved his wing and a holographic screen appeared in front of him. He pushed the holographic screen away and it floated towards Desmond, slowly growing in size until it floated on the upper right corner of his periphery.
Thank you for playing Badump Animus Destiny (REDUX!)
By choosing [Desmond Miles] mode, you have disabled the game’s help function which includes pausing the game and quick scene changes. The game will now recreate everything as close to reality as possible, including your senses.
WARNING: [Desmond Miles] mode also locks pain sensors to max and uses PermaDeath rules. Once you die, your data will be deleted.
In exchange, you can unlock the true ending once you have completed all perquisite objectives.
Find true love and get the happy ending you deserve!
…
What?
No, seriously.
What the fuck?
What the hell was all this?
More importantly…
Oh, fuck.
Desmond stopped and let Sofia open the door to his room as he realized…
He didn’t need to get a 30% affection meter to leave.
He had to finish the game.
And, considering his luck…
He probably had to get the true ending.
Fuck.