Trigger warning, some small mentions of child abuse.

They arrived back at the base, Axton throwing Emily into a room before locking the door. The girl ran up to it and banged onto the glass. Tears streaking her eyes as she stared at the the assassin through the glass. Billie appeared next to Axton, staring at the girl with curiosity in her eyes, though none can see due to her Whaler's mask.

"So you did it." She said, her voice muffled by her mask. Axton nodded, a guilt filled look in his eyes as he stared at the crying girl, he was glad for the mask that hid his face. He didn't sign up for killing mothers in front of their children. Billie placed a gentle hand on his shoulder before vanishing again, leaving Axton alone with the girl.

"Why? Why did you let that man kill my mother! Why did you prevent Corvo from protecting her? Why did you take me?" Emily cried as she banged on the glass. Axton remaind silent, barely looking at the girl. Don't feel bad Axton. She has never known a bad day in her life. She was raised like a princess, well, not like, she was raised as a princess. She's the Empress' daughter for crying out loud!  She should be the one feeling bad for you!

But does she really deserve to witness the death of her own mother? Become an orphan like you? That damned hopeful, human side of him whispered over the excuses he has been trying to tell himself. I was just doing my job. Nothing more, nothing less. I was doing what my father had told me too...

But he isn't and you know it. Isn't that why you took that bag? You hope that it might have something on who your parents are don't you?  Don't you know how important it is to know them since the Outsider himself even gave you a hint? You think that if anyone would know who they are, it'd be the Empress. That other part of him countered. He subconsciously placed a hand on the bag he had taken, a glare forming under his mask until he started to growl. The girl continuing to cry, but no longer banging on the glass. He turned and saw her curled up in a ball under a desk. Her body shaking from fear as sobs wreaked her body. 

His heart finally sank, like a whaling ship amidst a raging storm. He couldn't just let her stay that way, alone and grieving. He sighed, running a hand down his mask as he mumbled curses to himself. He grabbed his keys and unlocked the door, creeping inside, locking the door behind him and placing his keys back in his coat. He turned to the girl who was still unaware of the other presence in the room. I'm probably the last person she'd want to speak to, or even gain counsel or comfort from, he thought as he stared at her from the door. But if not from me, who else will show her kindness? Who else would care enough to do what I am about to?

He sighed, rubbed the back of his neck as he proceeded. Upon hearing his footsteps, the girl looked up. The flames of resentment flashing in her eyes as he approached. He stopped, glanced around, before sitting on the floor, his back propped against a shelf next to the desk she was curled underneath.

"What do you want?" She growled.

"Nothing... what do you want?" He asked with a snarky tone. She huffed and turned away from him, arms crossed and a pout on her face. After a while, she sighed.

"I want my mommy."

"Me too." He replied. Emily rolled her eyes.

"Well, at least your mother wasn't murdered in front of you." She snapped, glaring at the Whaler.

"For all I know she's dead. At least you knew who your mother was." He replied calmly, smoothly. "Mine could have been a noblewoman, a maid, even a prostitute for all I know. Void, she could have been a duchess. I can only speculate how she looks, her personality, if she'd have ever loved me. If she died or if she abandoned me... all I know is the name she gave me and my birthday. The lady who took care of me since my birth to about two years of age told me that my mother would come back for me when she could. But then the woman died of the plague, about when it was too early to be a threat, just a few dead here, a few dead there. Scientists still marveling over the new disease and how it spread. And I was sent to a factory where they where mean and brutal, beating on us, starving us, practically killing us. I ran away from there after a year and was taken to an orphanage, where the mistress would touch us boys inappropriately. Even bedding to older ones from ages twelve and older. And no, she was not young, she was about sixty. Then the Overseers came and started searching for kids to mark. I ran away, I didn't want to be some damn Overseer. Remember when you asked why I took you and let Daud kill your mother? Why I made sure Corvo could do absolutely nothing about it? It's because he was the first person in a very long time who actually gave a damn about me. Saved me when I was four. Daud is like my father, and I'd go to the deepest, darkest places in the Void and back for him. I was just simply acting on my father's will. Nothing more, nothing less."

His voice started rising and rising until he was, not quite yelling but speaking in a rather loud and exasperated tone. He didn't mean to start ranting, but he couldn't help it. His life was clouded by so much bad that he vaguely remembered the good. And it felt good to get everything off his chest. He only remember small glimpses of the woman who raised him. Primarily her smile. Not the rest of her face. Just a smile and a comforting brush on his cheek when she gave him a cookie, freshly baked from the oven. Her quiet voice calling him, 'my little Prince.' Or 'My little Protector...'

He was thankful for the mask, for tears started welling up in his eyes as everything flooded back to him.

The atmosphere between them shifted. Emily stared at Axton with less of a look of pure hatred, and more of curiosity and also pity.

She then did something that the Assassin absolutely did not expect.

She silently crawled out from under the desk and walked over to him. Hesitating before kneeling down and wrapping her arms around his chest. He stiffened at the human contact, gaping under his mask at her sudden act. After a few minutes of hesitance he returned the gesture.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. Axton shook his head as he pulled away.

"No, if anyone should be sorry here. It should be me-"

"That maybe true. But I can't hold it against you. You where just doing what your dad had told you to do, exactly like how he taught you. Or the man who is like your dad. I would do anything Corvo asked me to. Because if not then mother would scold me... but that's not the case. I'd do it anyways because I love him."

Her face fell and she turned away from Axton. "I miss them."

"I would too. She seemed like a great mother, and I saw how he'd do anything for you." He replied, flashes of her murder ran through his head. How she yelled at Daud and pushed him, fear abandoning from her features as all she could think of at that moment was to protect her daughter. The eyes of the Royal Protector as he glared daggers at him while he was forced to watch helplessly as the Empress was killed and her daughter taken. Her sacrifice in vein, for her daughter was still kidnapped.

He marveled at this little girl, who, despite what he did to her, was able to find the courage to forgive him, and even apologize for how horrible his life was.

She must be the strongest person I know. He thought as he stared down at her. Most people would be completely messed up after seeing their mother being murdered before their eyes and then being kidnapped. They'd shut down, refuse all contact with any human. Stewing with thoughts of vengeance and blood  parading around their mind. Not her, she's young yet knows how to be the better person. She will truly be an extraordinary Empress... if those men don't corrupt her that is... he clenched his fists and turning away. I will NOT let that happen!

"Hey? Are you alright?" Emily asked, her small hand gripping his as she stared at him with concern.

He snapped out of his thoughts and turned to her, his hands relaxing and wrapped around her's gently.

"Yes... I'm fine. My name is Axton by the way." He replied, a small smile on his face as he spoke.

"I bet you already know who I am, but to formally introduce myself, I am Emily. Emily Kaldwin."

Just saying, I think out of all the OCs I've made for Fanfictions, Axton is so far my favorite.