I just think this picture is SO FUCKING CUTE!!!!

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." A male voice started above Axton. Lightly slapping his face as he did so. The young assassin immediately shot up, hand on his blade as he wildly searched his surroundings. It was dark, cold, and stinky. He didn't need to be told that he was in the Dunwall Sewers. 

He turned to his left and saw Pierce there, his hands held high to prove his innocence as he stared at Axton. His mask was off, on the ground at his side and he looked as though he were cooking something. His golden hair going slightly past his shoulders and his goatee trimmed neatly. His bright blue eyes showed a kind of relief and unease. Axton sighed and relaxed his shoulders, standing up and stretching his arms.

"How did I end up in here? One second I was at the Hound Pits... Wait!" Quicker than a viper, he whipped out a dagger from his belt, pinning Pierce to the wall with a growl. "Where you the one who knocked me out!?"

"No, but I found this next to you," he replied calmly, pulling out a letter from his coat pocket and handing it to Axton. He lowered his dagger and grabbed it, opening it and reading.

Dear Axton Attano,

It's so strange writing that last name, but it's fitting too. Rolls off the tongue, the Empress and Corvo knew how to name their children. Anyways, I saw everything. How the Loyalists tried to poison you, and also saw how they set a trap for you too. In case you went after your little sister. Their betrayal was unexpected, but our training had helped you get over the first hurtle, but the other would have certainly meant your death. So I did the one thing I could think of that would ensure your safety.

Knocking you out and throwing you into the sewers.

Anyways, I had just come by to say goodbye. I had done something stupid, and I was fortunate to keep my life afterwards. The Knife usually never was a forgiving man. Then I saw your predicament and I had to help. I might have failed Daud, I will not fail you too. 

I am sorry I can't say any of this in person, but I had to get out of Dunwall fast. By now, I will be on a boat going Outsider knows where. And  will be thinking about our time together the whole way. Axton, you have always been like a younger brother to me. And I love you just the same. Please, never change. Don't let the fact that you have royal blood change the person you truly are, a sassy assassin. If we see each other again, and I hope we do, I will most likely be of the alias Megan Foster.

~B. L.

Axton frowned at the letter, it was cryptic in some places but one thing was clear. Billie was gone, and he had no idea where she was going. He folded the piece of paper and shoved it back into his red coat. He then turned to face Pierce, who stood patiently, waiting. 

"Billie." Was all he said before adjusting his weapons and gear. "Anyways, is there anything else I need to know?"

"Last night, the Loyalists rounded up some of the servants and started shooting. I know for a fact that there are two dead." 

Axton's heart sank down to his stomach. Cecelia...

"Who?"

"I don't know, but a man and a woman. That's all."

Well, one woman. So, it could be one of three chances that it's Cecelia... but I liked Lydia, and Callista got on so well with Emily... Perhaps she was just someone that snuck into the Hound Pits?

He knew it was wishful thinking, he knew it was one of the three. But he just couldn't bring himself to even speculate who.

And if he thought that news was bad, the look on Pierce's face indicated that he had even more bad news, if not possibly worse.

"And?"

"We where attacked by Overseers a few days ago. The Whalers I mean. Daud single handedly pushed them back but... there where casualties. And finally..."

"What? Pierce Void damnit TELL ME!"

"Your father was captured by the Whalers."

Axton stood immediately. He glared dangerously at Pierce, a stare he had rarely given to anyone except his enemies.

"Pierce? That should have been THE FIRST THING TO TELL ME!!!" Axton exclaimed as he turned away. "Wait! Where are yo going?" Pierce asked as Axton started walking away. He felt hot liquid spreading on his shirt and frowned. He tore open his coat and saw that the wound Corvo had inflicted at Lady Boyle's party has reopened. And like all wounds, once he saw it, his brain was like "Oh, you are hurt and bleeding! Okay, now I'm going to make you feel it! You're welcome!"

He grunted and doubled over slightly. Pierce grabbed him and set him down again. "Easy Axton, easy."

"No! I have to get there now! They'll tear each other to pieces!" The young assassin exclaimed as he tried to get up again.

"And you won't do them any good if you are dead!" Pierce yelled. Axton stopped and stared at Pierce with a raised eyebrow.

"Look at your wound again." He said in a calmer voice. He did as he asked and saw the wound looked to be yellow with pus. He suddenly didn't feel so good.

"It's infected, it needs to be treated or you will die." 

"I can't, not while Daud and Corvo are in danger." Axton replied. 

Pierce sighed. "Then at least let me help. And dress your wound."

Axton nodded and pulled off his coat and shirt. He rubbed a bit of ointment from his bag next to his herbs bag then placed some herbs from his other onto it. He then pulled a wad of cloth from his ointment bag, placed one end on his wound and allowed Pierce to wrap the rest around his abdomen three times. 

He then put his shirt back on, his coat and turned to Pierce. 

"Your ready?" He asked.

He nodded and Axton turned, leading them off towards the Flooded district, and back home.

~☆~

A Few Hours Earlier...

Pierce and another Whaler where patrolling the flooded district when a small rowboat drifted towards them. He noticed it first, and pointed it out to the Novice with him. He then saw the figure within, Unmistakably, Corvo Attano. The ex-Royal Portector and father to Axton.

They blinked towards the raft. The novice stood over Corvo, staring down at him while Pierce crouched at the front.

"This is the one who was with the Empress when she died." The Novice observed. He grabbed him and turned him to look into his eyes. "Poisoned. Tyvian stuff."

"Amateur work." Pierce replied. "He'll, live."

"That's up to Daud." The novice replied, letting go of Corvo and letting his head fall back down. 

"Steer the boat. I'll stay next to him." The Master assassin concluded as he shifted Corvo's body and sat next to him. The Novice nodded and grabbed a paddle from within the boat and started to steer. Pierce stared down at Corvo, hoping that Daud would let the Royal protector live. If not for mercy, then at least for Axton's sake.

~☆~

They stood atop the tower that overlooks the factories and the rail station below. Daud appeared, watching as Corvo came up within the cart, his face emotionless.

"I know a great deal body guard." Daud started, following along the cart as it reached it's destination. 

"I recognize those marks on your hand. A gift from your friend, the one who talks to you in the dark. Talks to you when you visit his shrines." He shifted the box and opened it. "I've visited those shrines too."

He pulled out the folding blade and activated it. "And I know what it felt like to shove a blade into your Empress. But I don't know you, who you are and who you fight for."

He set the blade back into the box and turned towards Corvo. "You are a mystery to me. However, your son is not."

Corvo stared at Daud, still slightly lethargically from the poison in his system.

"I raised your son since he was four. He's been through some things, things that no child could recover from. But he has, he's strong and he became a fine assassin. But somehow, kept in touch with the part of him that was still human. The part that searched and longed for his family. I took away his mother. Something I have to live with for the rest of my days. I will not be the one to take away his father." His face then changed, a look of a concerned father taking place from the one of a cold hearted assassin leader. "I never expected him to become what he eventually did to me. He became more to me than just another orphan that I picked up from the streets. I care for him deeply."

He then turned back to Corvo, handing his box to a Whaler and motioned for another to grab him. "You should rest. The poison is still in your system. My Whalers should attend to your needs-"

"Axton... He's..." Corvo tried to say. "He's... been poisoned-"

"No, I bet he hasn't. With the training I put him through, the poison would have never reached his throat. Trust me, he'll live. I'll send my best man to bring him back here." He turned to the assassin beside him and motioned for the Assassin to take him away.

"Pierce. Search for Axton. And bring him home."