"Hello, Desmond. What are you doing out of bed."

He watched the arm reach over his shoulder and pick up stalk of broccoli. He sighed and set the fork down, resting his chin in his hand.

"Why do I even try anymore?"

He could hear Desmond eat it behind him.

"Go ahead, take my plate, I'll get another."

"You know that doesn't work, Shaun," Lucy said, and he gave her an irritated look.

"Thanks for dashing my hopes, love," he spat, massaging his temples as he felt a piece of the chicken breast press against his lips.

He looked at Desmond, who was smiling warmly at him. He pressed the chicken against his lips again, signing with his free hand. Shaun gave a defeated sigh and opened his mouth, closing it when the youngest brother pushed the fork in. He smiled happily and took another piece of chicken for himself. The caretaker set his head in his arms.

"I should have applied for a normal job."

"Shaun, you're hurting his feelings!" Rebecca said, giving him a smug grin when he scowled.

"Shut up, you ass," he snapped. "And you—"

The words died in his throat when he saw the pathetic look Desmond was giving him. He had the fork poised in the air to feed his caretaker another bite. Shaun tried to find the will to be angry, but couldn't. He rubbed his eyes.

"My apologies, Desmond. I'm just overtired."

He looked the other way, only to see the smirk Ezio wore and Altair's scowl. He snarled back at Altair as Desmond took the opportunity to try to feed him another bite. He continued feeding Shaun until the plate was empty and then tried to climb into his lap. Shaun was disgruntled.

"Why don't you take your brothers and pick a room for them, hm?"

Desmond looked shocked.

"Yes, go do that."

He was dragging his brothers out of the room. Shaun watched them go, then started massaging his temples again.

"This happens every night?" He could hear the mocking tone in Malik's voice. He scowled at the man.

"Yes," Lucy said as she gathered their plates. "Every night. Same dance, different song."

Shaun sighed and pushed away from the table. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to retire for the night."

"Go ahead. We'll clean up."

Rebecca laughed. "You should see yourself, Shaun. You look like you've been hit by a train."

He scowled as he left. "You've got a small blemish between your ears, mate. Oh, wait, that's your face."

He walked up the stairs silently to his room. It was small, with a queen-sized bed—his mother's when they moved here. The comforter was aged and worn, but it was still comfortable and good for keeping warm. With a soft sigh, he realized Desmond wouldn't be sleeping with him tonight most likely. He felt the start of loneliness creep up on him. He changed out of his clothes and into a pair of sweats before climbing in. He was worried about the empty space beside him, but it didn't last long before he was out cold. He never slept better.

The next morning, he woke up, shivering, and went to draw the comforter closer around his shoulders, only to find it wasn't within reach. He sat up tiredly, blinking sleep from his eyes, looking around. His comforter was gone. With a grumble, he stumbled out of bed, grabbed his glasses, and walked into the hallway, rubbing his eyes. He made his way to Lucy's room and knocked. She answered in a towel.

"Oh, Shaun. What's wrong?"

Shaun scowled. "Did you take the comforter off my bed to wash it?"

Lucy looked slightly offended. "Why would I do that?"

"It's fucking gone."

She stared at him for a little bit before laughing. "Perhaps Desmond stole it?"

Shaun frowned. "Bloody Hell, I bet you're right. That little shit."

He stumbled off, giving Lucy the finger as she closed the door laughing. He stumbled around until he found the room, and sure enough, Desmond was curled up in Shaun's comforter in between his brothers. He scowled and walked over, leaning over the bed to smack the figure in the center.

"Hey, mate, mind giving me back my blinking covers?"

Altair and Ezio stirred, but Desmond didn't. He looked to the Heavens.

"What did I do to deserve this?"

"You don't deserve it," he heard Altair say, and he looked back down.

"I say I do deserve my comforter, you prick. And your little demon here stole it from me last night."

He gestured, and the two looked. Ezio looked slightly surprised.

"I didn't even feel him get up."

"I would like my comforter, please," Shaun growled. "So I can sleep again. It's Lucy's turn for breakfast, so if I skip it, I can get an extra two hours of sleep."

The brothers tried to untangle the man, but got only one side undone. Ezio raised an eyebrow at the fact Desmond didn't even stir. Shaun huffed and threw his arms in the air.

"Never mind, then." He cursed the entire way out of the room, to the broom closet, and back to his bed with a different blanket.

When he woke up next, he was entirely too warm. He felt a hefty weight on top of him, as well as his comforter. He groaned, and the weight shifted. It was Desmond. He scowled and rolled on his stomach. He felt the man climb over top of him and lean in close. He tried to shove him off, but the man wouldn't move.

"Desmond, go bother your brothers."

He felt him sign into his hand "breakfast."

"I don't want any, Desmond. Please, leave me alone."

He felt him butt his head against his cheek, and chuckling somewhere else. He frowned, curling, burying his face in the pillow.

"Leave me alone, Desmond. I'm trying to sleep."

Against his back, he felt, "It's seven o'clock. Get up and come outside with me."

He almost sobbed. "Please, Desmond. Let me sleep."

The man was still for a little bit, then he felt himself be scooped up, comforter and all. He was staring straight into Desmond's eyes, and he scowled.

"Put me down."

More laughter, and Shaun looked over his shoulder to see Ezio standing there laughing, and Leonardo looking sympathetic.

"Oh, fuck off, you tits."

"Language, my friend," Ezio practically purred.

He was about to respond when Desmond bumped him. He glared at him as he mouthed, "You need to eat. You haven't eaten much."

And without any chance for protest, Desmond climbed off the bed and carried him downstairs to the table where Lucy and Rebecca sat. Rebecca laughed, and Lucy shook her head. Altair and Malik were there, and Altair looked about ready to kill him when he saw them. Malik smirked. The other disfigured once-pets looked confused. A few started giggling at the sight, and Shaun deflated, letting his head fall back.

"What did I do to you, Lord?"

Desmond set him down at the table, and Shaun immediately rose. "I'm not eating, Desmond. I'm going back to bed."

Desmond frowned and placed his hands on the man's shoulders, pushing down gently with a serious look on his face. After Shaun sat with a glare, he poked his stomach. "You're too skinny," his lips read.

Shaun scowled and pushed the plate away, resting his head in his arms. "Father God forgive me for the murder I am about to commit."

"Who takes care of whom, here?" Ezio commented as he slid beside Lucy, giving her a charming grin.

"Sometimes, I honestly don't know. They argue like a married couple."

"We do not!" Shaun shouted, his head shooting up as he glared at her.

The kids at the table were giggling again. Ezio chuckled. Shaun went to retaliate, but ended up groaning as he felt Desmond's hands started to massage his shoulders. After a couple seconds, he stopped and held a bite of food to Shaun's lips. The man scowled but took it. Desmond smiled and resumed the back massage. When the plate was empty, Desmond continued rubbing his shoulders until Shaun's breathing evened out.

When he woke up next, he was in his favorite recliner in the living room, still in the comforter and feeling rather content. There was a weight at his back, and he didn't mind it so much. It felt familiar. He groaned sleepily and felt the weight expand the length of him. He sighed, contented. He eventually yawned. The weight shifted, and he cracked an eye to see Desmond watching him intensely.

He closed his eye again and moved closer, still too sleepy to register anything. He felt a pair of arms snake around his waist and Desmond move against him. He admitted to himself that it felt extremely nice. He cuddled in closer, losing track of time until he heard someone.

"Isn't that adorable?"

He groaned and stretched. He knew it was too good to be true.

"I do not like this arrangement, Ezio."

"I do, and I think Desmond did. So, two to one, you can't stop us."

Altair snarled.

"No getting near them. We can't have you killing Shaun."

He sat up slowly, blinking blearily at the men.

"I will kill him."

He watched Ezio smirk and keep Altair back.

"Think carefully, my brother. What if you did? And it destroyed Desmond? He looks tired still. Good thing Lucy took the kids out."

"Wait," Shaun said, his voice groggy, "she took them out?"

"Yes," he watched Ezio move to his side and gently push him down. "A fieldtrip so that you could get a day off."

Shaun scowled and sat back up. "I don't need one."

Ezio applied a little more force in pushing him back down. "Yes, and you need one badly."

Shaun could feel his protests slip away when Desmond wrapped his arms around him. He was incredibly tired still. He saw Ezio smile. "So don't worry about Altair. I'll keep him busy, and you sleep with our brother in your recliner. How does that sound?"

The caretaker scowled, trying to push his desire for sleep from his cloudy mind.

"Even the caretaker must take care of himself, sometimes. Now sleep. We'll enjoy your sharp remarks later."

And like that, the man and his older brother were gone—although Altair had sent him a threatening look. It wasn't long before he was fast asleep again. He woke again when Desmond kicked him. He shot up and looked around to see Desmond struggling against the hold an older man had on him. Without thinking, he was on his feet and delivered a strong punch to his jaw. He went to call for help but was tackled by Vidic. Desmond was nowhere to be seen as the man pressed his thumbs into his throat. He choked and thrashed violently, managing to throw Vidic off.

In a heartbeat, he was on his feet in a defensive position. He looked the man over. He was surprisingly well maintained. And that's when Shaun noticed it: the dirty, mangy leather strip around his neck. Instinctively, he dropped the fighting aura and relaxed.

"Vidic?" he tried to say it soothingly, holding out a hand.

The man remained calm, but in a fighting stance. "I've come for Desmond."

"Desmond lives here, Warren."

If Warren was a pet, then his owner should be the one in jail. Not him—he needed to be here, to be corrected.

"No, Desmond will live with me. I bought him."

"Why don't you live here, too?"

If he could just reach the man, a fight might be avoidable.

"No. Your kind are bad."

Shaun shushed him. "Not all of us. If you just come here, I'll give you a bath and a warm plate of food. You're nothing but skin and bones, Warren."

"I want Desmond back to finish my job."

"What job, Warren?"

All he got was a fixed glare.

"You had an owner, didn't you? Where is he?"

"Dead."

Shaun nodded, giving him a sympathetic look. "What did he do to you?"

Warren growled when Shaun took a step forward.

"That is not of your concern. Give me Desmond."

"What for, Warren? Why can't he live here?"

"Because he belongs in Eden."

"And where is Eden?" Another step. Shaun had worked cases like this one. He could do this. Vidic could be straightened out.

"Where the other pets are. But Desmond is not purified completely."

"And you're going to take him to Eden?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you go?"

"My owner died before I could be purified completely."

Shaun nodded. "And now you purify them to make sure they go to Eden, which involves pain, correct?"

"It will purify them," Warren growled.

Shaun had almost reached the man when Ezio came out of nowhere, slamming into the man with a snarl. The two rolled around like animals on the carpet as Altair joined the fray. Shaun backed off, alarmed.

"Ezio! Altair! Get off him!"

But, Ezio was all ready straddling Warren's chest, delivering a solid punch to the face with each word he snarled.

"And this is for abusing my brother!"

Altair pinned the man to the floor. Warren was thrashing and carrying on.

"Where the Hell are the Godsend?" Shaun muttered, running out.

He looked frantically in the yard. Several corpses lay strewn about, and Shaun felt dread chew at the corner of his mind. There was no way he could get those men off him. Then, with sudden resolve, he darted into the foyer room and picked up the portable phone they had plugged in. He dialed 911 and waited. After they picked up and he gave them his information, he darted back into the room to see a horrifying sight.

The brothers were wailing on him. There was blood pouring from his nose and his lips were busted, and Shaun couldn't tell what fist belonged to which brother. The man fought back as best he could against them, and Shaun tried to help, wanted to help, but knew Altair would rip him to shreds if he got too close. They were beating him to death, and he watched, petrified, as Warren hardly struggled. When the brothers were finally done—how long had they been using the man as a punching bag?—Shaun was alarmed at the almost peaceful expression on the dead man's face. Ezio snarled, one hand still fisted in his shirt, Altair's hands still around his broken arms.

Shaun was trembling. This was not what he had expected. No, perhaps torture and death, a complete psychopath, but not a pet, not someone by his creed he was required to help. Shaun walked stiffly over to the body, looking it over closely.

"My God…" He breathed.

Ezio snarled and pitched the body onto the ground as he rose.

"My God, what have you done?"

He ghosted a hand over the man's face as he heard, "The bastard had it coming."

His hand stopped at the base of the man's neck, and he lifted his head, using his good hand to undo the collar. "I could have saved him," Shaun whispered.

"There was no saving that man," Altair growled.

He heard the sirens at the door. No, this was not what he expected. "He was just—"

"Say misunderstood, and I'll rip you a new mouth," Ezio growled. "He deserved to die."

Shaun shook his head. "He needed correction. I've failed. I failed him and my creed."

He let himself be caught up in the whirlwind of activity as the police stormed the house. He clutched the collar in his hand tightly. It wasn't until he was standing over his grave that he understood. Despite Warren's problem, Shaun realized why he had looked peaceful. He felt a pair of arms slip around his waist, and he didn't have to look to know it was Desmond standing behind him. Ezio and Altair looked pissed. Leonardo, however, looked like he understood. He wasn't crying, but he certainly felt disappointed.

"How can you stand at the grave for a vile man like that one?" Ezio shouted.

"He destroyed our brother, and you mourn for him?"

"I could've saved him," Shaun said. "I failed myself as a rehabilitation director."

"How!" Ezio yelled.

Somewhere behind him, he heard Leonardo speak.

"It is something you will know in due time."

He felt Leonardo move to stand beside him. "It was his owner, yes?"

Shaun simply looked at him, and he knew that Leonardo knew what had happened.

"I have worked not so extreme cases before. It is not Salai's fault he is a thief."

They were silent for several minutes as Desmond stepped back to him to give him some time with the artist.

"But he is free, now."

Shaun chuckled softly. "I still feel like I should have been able to do something."

"I know, but that is the way of life."

"Yes, I know that one quite well."

There was more silence, and Shaun pulled out the collar. He ran it under his thumbs as Leonardo looked over.

"There is a chest I have, where I keep all those collars."

And so, he found himself standing at the foot of Leonardo's bed, gazing into the mess of collars, his own hand poised and ready to drop the scruffy thing. Despite Warren's terrible acts, Shaun thought it was the least he could do. He felt Desmond's arms around him again, and his lips at the base of his neck.

"'o'given 'im. 'ove 'ou."

It was barely a whisper, but Shaun heard it.

"I'm glad you have, Desmond. I love you, too."

And with that, he let the collar drop into in the chest, becoming the six hundredth and eighteenth freed pet to join the mess.

Crap shoot, man. Those were long chapters. T.T For those of you who slogged through it, I've got a question. Which prompt should I take next?

1. Baby glitches and they watch Desmond's parents the night he was conceived. (Part two, page thirty-seven, for full details)

or

2. Caterina dies and leaves Ezio the kid. Cue the rough adjustment period because he's not that great at expressing love. Good for a fun story. (Part two, page thirty-six, for full details)

or

3. The assassins have trained animals to work with them, such as birds, cats, or dogs to relay information, deliver messages, or help them fight. (Part two, page thirty-eight for full details)