Welcome to the Green Dragon!

Haytham most definitely would be like : meme from (@fxllxxt-nxw-vxgxs )

Connor :

Shay:

Like now, it also depended on the people involved and how comfortable they were with being casual with others. So Haytham calling Shay by his first name is both a sign of respect and that they are close enough to have that sort of first-name basis. I can’t see Haytham being the sort of person to informally refer someone by their first name in general, even privately, and when he does, it’s usually around other Templars. Of course, the existence of Charles Lee refutes this entirely, as Haytham almost immediately calls him Charles, in public, and to others.

However, nothing I’ve said precludes this as a headcanon for the ship! There is no reason it couldn’t be interpreted as special, because while Haytham is formal and pays utmost attention to the etiquette of the time, he also makes an exception for Ziio, as well, who we know was important to him. Or, maybe it’s a starting point for Haytham and Shay! Whatever the situation, there’s no definite reason rule out this behaviour as insignificant or that the only explanation is historical precedent. I only point it out to say that the writers of the game probably didn’t have that in mind when they wrote it, but as always, canon is merely a suggestion. Just wanted to add a bit of history as a jumping-off point.

As a writer myself, I also want to add it’s entirely possible that the way Haytham treats Shay differs from the way he treats characters in AC3 is because there were different writers involved, iirc, and because he interacts with so few others in Rogue. Still not a reason it can’t be special.

Even outside of a “romantic” context, (sorry, I’m putting Shaytham down for a second), calling someone by their first name during this time usually pointed to having a very close relationship with that person. I don’t know if Assassin’s Creed meant for it to have quite that much significance, since it seems like it’s something Haytham just decides to do the second he meets someone, but it’s also something that he only does with a handful of people. 

I’d have to do some deep diving back into all of Haytham’s cutscenes to figure out exactly why he does this (that is, why he only drops formalities with certain people, close or not. Obviously it means something for his character in the grand scheme, I just don’t know what). In Shay’s context though, Steven Piovesan mentioned in an interview how Haytham handles him differently than the other Templars because of his history. It would make sense for him to not want to alienate Shay– who, (1) is his best asset for getting rid of the Assassins, and (2) has a record of volatile loyalties– by coming off as harsh and cold. He needs Shay’s help, and doesn’t want him to think he made the wrong decision, so he immediately jumps into this kind of confidant relationship with him, perhaps as a brother or parent figure (which, coincidentally, takes up the spot that Liam and Achilles used occupy). 

Realistically, it’s hard to say whether or not Haytham actually thought of Shay that way, or if he just saw Shay as an immediate solution to his problem, and so he cleverly used him and then got rid of him– which would be very on-brand for our Grand Master. But I like to be optimistic and think that maybe, Haytham did come to enjoy Shay as a friend and protégé, if only because of a line at the end. When Achilles calls Shay disrespectful, Haytham says jokingly, “Yes, we’ve been working on that.” That reads to me, (again, completely in a non-ship context), that Haytham knows Shay as well as, if not better than Achilles, and instead of ridiculing and casting him off like the Assassins did, the Templars embraced his flaws and encouraged growth. Drawing a thread to his relationship with Connor later on, perhaps a part of him admires Shay’s strong morals and ability to adapt, and he is proud of everything he has managed to overcome and accomplish thus far. Honestly, it’s just a really nice way to round out the entire literary foil that is Liam/Achilles/Shay/Gist/Haytham. 

[was going to put a gif here but it’s too sad]

If that isn’t a display of the deepest intimacy, trust, and everything else I don’t have the words to express, then Idk what it is - added to the fact that this is the only time he calls him by his first name AND (as @oldselfshiplady astutely mentioned) that it was very unusual for this time period unless you were close with that person (and dare I say would be even MORE unusual for someone of a senior military standing) then…… All I can say is that for all their faults Ubi really nailed it with that moment. 💔

Haytham: Well, come on, then. Let’s hear it.

Hickey: *while posing with an actual rifle and pretending to shoot everyone in the room*

Hickey: