I had a fic idea while at a work meeting that could have been just been an email chain and because I was feeling emotional after writing my fuck ubisoft rant:
It's an Ezio/Des fic, naturally (because heehee) but imagine right—Post AC3, Desmond touches the Eye and that lands him in 15th century Italy. Obviously, this is just some last hurrah his brain has cooked up for him before dying, so Desmond takes it in stride: stealing from nobles, following Ezio's footsteps out of nostalgia, and emotionally imprinting on a problem horse he steals and names Clay.
And there are now widespread rural rumors about a burnt cloaked demon-marked wraith wandering the countryside and terrifying priests, animals, and peasants alike.
Meanwhile, Desmond is just like: "That's weird. I wonder who they're talking about. Probably just some guy with bad luck."
Also Desmond: "I've always wanted to wear Altair's armor myself. This is my death dream—I'm stealing that shit." So he reverse-parkours his way into an Assassin tomb through the exit, steals the last seal while Ezio is busy with canon stuff, and ends up walking out of Monteriggioni fully kitted in the holy armor of his first ancestor like its a goddamn cosplay item.
Then he just starts vibing around Italy in Altair's armor.
Riding his demon horse. Visiting landmarks. Sightseeing like he's on vacation. Accidentally becoming a LEGEND.
Eventually he ends up in Venice just in time to witness Ezio disguised as a guard to retrieve the Piece of Eden from Cyprus. Desmond watches, fond and nostalgic, because he remembers this memory—it's one of the good ones. Where after the fight, Ezio gets his finger branded, formally inducted as an Assassin, and does the leap of faith with all his teachers.
It's a warm moment. Poetic. Emotional.
So naturally, Desmond's intrusive thoughts win.
He sneaks in while everyone's fighting, yoinks the actual Apple of Eden, and replaces it with a literal apple he bought earlier for his horse.
Then he climbs to the top of the viewpoint tower and watches Ezio's formal initiation play out while holding the real POE like it's a fidget spinner.
This is has lived rent free in my brain for the past few days and I fear for what this may mean. But GOD, I love the idea of Desmond being utterly unaware of the chaos he's causing and Ezio running around like—
"WHERE'S THE APPLE? WHO TOOK THE ARMOR??"
"ALTAIR????"
Meanwhile, Desmond is just out here, watching what he thinks is canon play out like a 3rd party observer, genuinely thinking he hasn't affected anything and still 100% convinced he's hallucinating.
