If there was one thing Vieri loved, it was attention. He loved it from anybody, and at anytime. There was only one exception: if it was from an annoying idiot named Federico, and now. The cool night air could not keep him calm enough, and Vieri started to growl. Federico had been following him for the past three minutes, and that was way too damn long for his comfort.

He thought Ezio was irritating, but his brother was like the plague. He had been showing up everywhere lately. Vieri especially hated Federico's recent habit of showing up to the competitions he participated in, standing there with that stupid, cheerful face, and Vieri was pissed to find out that after awhile, he could not concentrate. Federico even took every jab, vocal and physical, with a shrug and a grin. Like he thought getting punched in the face was another person's way of saying they liked him, and wanted to be his friend.

Vieri stopped in his tracks, wondering if he should just knock him out and leave him in the street, when Federico bumped into him. Vieri bristled, knowing that he had done that on purpose, and he elbowed him sharply. Flinching back, Federico grinned.

"And here I thought you were ignoring me." Another thing Vieri didn't like about him, was how completely dense he was. "You know, this is no way to thank the person who's keeping you safe on your walk home."

From what! Vieri wanted to yell. But that's all he did every other time, and Federico would bother him more and more. Perhaps pretending he wasn't there would work. It worked all the time on his sister.

Federico leaned forward, tilting his head in an attempt to get Vieri's attention. "Are you still ignoring me?"

Vieri didn't even bother looking at him.

"I was hoping you would get the hint," he spat maliciously.

"Well, you'll have to forgive me if I don't catch it," Federico said. "After all, you're usually not the type to be subtle."

"And what would you know?"

"You mean you're not Mr. Competition? Mr. I'm-the-best-at-everything? And then there's the whole, 'I wish you would die a horrible, painful death' every time you see me." Vieri smirked. So true. "Right. Well, if you're done ignoring me-"

"I'll never be done ignoring you." He turned to walk away, even though he knew Federico would use the opportunity to try and continue walking with him. If he was guaranteed to not get in trouble, he would stab him, just a little. What wiped away all wonderful thoughts of Federico bleeding out in front of him, was the feeling of his hat being plucked from his head. No he didn't...He whipped around, the promise of death written across his features, to glare at the dead man twirling his hat in his hand.

"Give. That. Back"

Vieri would have taken greater delight in the way he was able to make Federico finally shiver in apparent fear, but he was too focused on other things. The second he took a step forward, Federico grinned, and shot off. "Hey!" Vieri didn't think, he just ran after him, because it was his hat, damn it.

The chase was fairly short. He was led down one length of a building, before he stopped to watch Federico swiftly climb up a ladder to the rooftop. He was tempted to fling a rock at him, like he's seen the guards idiotically do so many times before, when Federico waved down at him from the edge.

"What are you waiting for?"

"You to fall."

Federico clutched at his chest with one hand.

"You don't mean that." Vieri just stared up at him, silently. "Oh, so cruel," said Federico, the back of his hand to his forehead, as he twirled around, and leaned backwards off the roof.

Vieri's heart slammed against his chest. What the hell is he doing! There's nothing to land on! Oh, damn. What if everybody thought he pushed the idiot off? His dislike of Federico was no secret, but it wasn't like he wanted him to die in a way that wasn't by his hands. He watched Federico tilt off the edge, before quickly righting himself, and crouching down on the tiles to smirk openly at him. Vieri did not take the joke well.

"You jackass! What the hell is wrong with you!"

"Oh, come on. You were worried. I could tell."

"For my hat." His hat. Only his hat. That was it. "Like I wanted to get your disgusting blood on it." Except that would be great, and he'd wear it like a badge of death. Normally, he didn't like blood on his clothes, but for Federico, he'd make the exception.

"Well, if you want it back, come and get it." Federico waved it tauntingly, and Vieri wished that he had actually fallen.

"I'm not playing your stupid games."

Federico shrugged, then crammed the thing on his head. Vieri's eyes shot open. He was climbing up the ladder before he even realized what he was doing. Federico was posing by the time he reached the top.

"How do I look?"

"Horrid. Now give it back."

Federico tilted the hat on his head. "Make me."

The string of swear words and insults that poured from Vieri's mouth had Federico laughing, and backing up. Vieri tried to make a grab for his hat, but Federico held it out of reach. Vieri knew he had a temper, and he wasn't ashamed of it, but at times like this, he really wished he knew how to control it better, because his anger only seemed to spur Federico on to tease him more. Fortunately, he knew how to fix that problem. If there was one thing nobody could argue about, it was that he had a mean left hook. It took Federico down to his knees with one shot to his stomach. Vieri's smile was vicious as he snatched his hat back. Who says violence doesn't solve anything?

"Wait." Federico had grabbed his wrist. "Stay with me awhile."

Vieri kicked him away.

"You've been bothering me for weeks, you annoying little shit. What's it going to take to get you to leave me alone?"

Federico rolled back into a reclined position on the rooftop, seemingly unaffected by his outbursts. "Like I said, stay with me."

Yeah, no. Now where's that ladder? Honestly, he would have stayed, if only to try and beat the crap out of him, but Vieri learned quickly that Federico was fast on his feet, and could dodge like no one he's ever fought against. The only times he could get a hit in, it seemed, was when Federico let him.

"Come on. Only a few minutes."

"Why?" Vieri snapped at him.

"What's wrong with hanging out?" And back to ignoring. Vieri stepped to the edge of the building, his hand pressed against the side of the second story wall to keep his balance. "Just two minutes. That's all. I swear."

He rolled his eyes so hard at the pathetic begging. Like he was going to listen to him for even one second.

"I won't show up to the horse racing competition tomorrow if you stay." Vieri froze, and Federico called over playfully. "I know you notice that I'm there. That's probably why you try so hard to win. You're such a showoff."

Vieri shot him a glare. "You're the reason I've been losing!"

"I distract you that much?" With murderous thoughts of rage, yes. But Federico took it differently. "I guess I must stand out in the crowd, what with my charming good looks." He gave him a sly look. "And seeing as you keep looking over-"

"Two minutes," Vieri quickly shouted. "And if I see your face tomorrow, my horse will be trampling on it."

Federico looked ecstatic, but Vieri didn't care, and sat down hard with a huff. He supposed it wasn't all that bad, but then Federico had to open his mouth.

"Okay, now lay down."

"Why are you still talking?"

"How else are we going to look at the stars?"

"The—You made me come up here for that?" Stars? What—What?

"I would have thought that you would appreciate something as beautiful as the night sky."

Was that an insult?

"You are entirely too much like a woman." Vieri decided to point out the facts, seeing as he was stuck here for another minute. "You probably get distracted by colorful objects and pretty things, as well." That would have sent any other guy into a fit of fiercely defending his manhood, but Federico looked content to just nod in agreement.

"I do like pretty things."

Vieri slammed back against the rooftop, crossing his arms tightly in frustration, and glaring at the sky like it was to blame. What an idiot, he thought, breathing out through clenched teeth. Nothing affected Federico. Nothing. Vieri found out that it was an uphill battle when it came to insulting him, and while it was worth it when he was able to inflict pain on him, Federico wasn't scared of anything he said or did. As fun as the challenge was, it was beginning to wear Vieri down after so many times of Federico not doing what he wanted, and he started to just go along with his inane chatter and behavior.

Vieri didn't know how else to deal with someone who didn't react the way he expected. It was like...it was like being around his father. Nothing Vieri did went the way he wanted to with him, and he couldn't do anything about it. But what was more frustrating with Federico, was that he was actually nice. He sometimes complimented him. He was friendly. It was almost as if he liked him, and wanted to be his friend. And...and...Vieri could just imagine the disgust that had crawled its way onto his face at that horrifying realization.

It threw him off, because people didn't normally want to be friendly to him, unless they were too scared to not get on his good side. He could understand other people doing that, in fact, he expected it, but Federico? An Auditore? Brother of his mortal enemy? He thought this whole thing was just Federico's attempt at messing with him, like his brother always did.

Federico couldn't possibly be sincere. Yet, even Vieri had to admit that this had been going on way too long to be a joke, but his pride told him that it was wrong to be hopeful. Vieri shook his head. No, he didn't need anyone. He didn't want anyone. What did he need friends for? Useless. The only thing that did bother him was that he didn't notice Federico's intentions earlier. It was probably because Federico seemed to like being around him, and other people's happiness grated on his nerves.

He was too caught up to notice Federico sliding over next to him, but when he did, the look he shot him had Federico holding his hands up in surrender.

"I just want to check out the stars, too."

"You don't have to be near me to do that."

"Really? You're not having fun?"

Fun? Was this him trying to be friendly? Is this what people did for fun?

"There's no point in this," he said, harshly, hating feeling confused. Vieri felt Federico shrug, a warm brush against his own shoulder. He was hit with another flare of irritation at the other's closeness. He was going to scoot over, when Federico spoke in a light, teasing manner.

"I guess it was just my way of getting you on your back, then."

There was a pause in which the meaning behind that sentence filtered through Vieri's annoyance. Realization flashed in his eyes as he quickly sat up, and leaned away, glaring as Federico started to laugh. He fucking knew it! This whole thing was a joke.

"What?" Federico asked, innocently. "You're so jumpy tonight. I'm not going to take advantage of you or anything."

Right. Vieri sneered. Like he believed that for one fucking second.

"Don't even try to feed me that bullshit." Vieri pushed himself up, not caring if Federico's face fell in disappointment as he put some distance between them. "If you didn't mean it, then you wouldn't have said it."

He didn't care at all at this point. Vieri hated when anyone messed with him, most of all some foolish, carefree, idiot who seemed to have nothing better to do with his time than drink, and sleep around. Wondering why he even bothered staying up here, he turned, intending to find the ladder, and to climb down without another word.

"And what if I did mean it?"

Federico's question caused Vieri to pause in his steps, because it had been spoken so low, so harsh, that it sounded like it had been growled at him. He rolled his eyes. So, the kid was finally baring his fangs? Was that all it took? A simple brush off? He'd have to keep that in mind.

"Well?"

The word was hissed directly behind his ear, and he jumped. He hadn't even heard Federico get up, let alone take the steps to get near him. Vieri whirled around, ready to tell him off for intentionally trying to startle him, when the words caught in his throat.

Federico had on the fiercest look Vieri had ever seen on the man, like he had finally run out of patience, and was ready to lash out. What was scary was how much the look seemed to fit him, like the smirking, childish side of him was just a front, and this was the real thing. The way the moonlight threw shadows across his face did not help at all, and Vieri found himself backing up, despite knowing better. Traitorous legs! Federico simply followed until Vieri bumped into the wall behind him. Vieri took a quick look back, and nearly swore. That side of the building was too high to climb. Turning back, he glared at his pursuer, who merely straightened to his full height to stare down at him. Vieri did not like that all all.

"What?" he challenged, not liking the implication that he was smaller. They were the same damn height. It was only the slant of the stupid rooftops. "What?" he growled harder, and Federico unnervingly didn't speak, only took the step forward to be almost pressed up against him.

Vieri tried to smash himself into the wall, because he suddenly remembered Federico's earlier words, about wanting him on his back. His eyes widened, and holy shit, he was supposed to be a womanizer, and joking, and not serious. This definitely was a joke. A stupid, horrible joke, and this fucker should be killed for it.

But, he was given not-so-friendly reminders by that awful mind of his, that Federico was known for flirting with anyone, regardless of gender and age. He had the reputation of sleeping with anything that moved, (not that Vieri listened to those gossip mongers), and, worse of all, Federico had started to pay him an obscene amount of attention these past few weeks. It got to the point where he was more exasperated than surprised at the sudden appearances, even the ones where he appeared from above.

It didn't help that, despite being younger, Federico was stronger and faster than him. And standing really close. And apparently, wanted him in a way that had him internally flailing about while he tried urgently to rid himself of every single one of these damn thoughts. He opened his mouth to tell him off, but at Federico's narrowed glare, he shut it, and swallowed hard.

Federico's mouth suddenly thinned out, twitching with the effort of trying not to laugh. Vieri noticed, an angry noise escaping his throat, and Federico could no longer keep a straight face. He burst out laughing.

"I cannot keep this up. You, your face, it's-" He darted a step back as Vieri took a furious swipe at him.

"Enough of your laughing, bastard!"

Federico put his hands up to ward him off. "All right, all right. It's just that you looked so nervous." He grinned. "It was cute."

"C-" Vieri felt like killing something small and helpless. "It was not!"

"No? Which one was it not?" He teasingly pressed a fingertip to Vieri's flushed face, flinching when it was sharply slapped away.

"Neither!" Nervous? He thought, feeling insulted. He had not been scared at all. He tried to throw him some of his own intimidation, but Federico was apparently too used to his anger, and only smiled when he jabbed him with a finger. Vieri seethed. "I don't know what the hell you're trying to do, but-"

He froze when Federico boxed him in, hands pressed against the wall just to the sides of his shoulders. "Back off, Auditore," he said, hotly, still pissed over being played with.

"Aw, back to last names. But, I guess it is better than idiot or bastard." Vieri was about to reply that it was all the same to him, when Federico moved in closer, and he stopped breathing. "So, you honestly have no idea?"

The question was whispered, and Vieri felt his face burn hotter as he stared into Federico's eyes. He wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what was going on. The idiot was bored, and he was just using him to amuse himself.

That. Was. All.

The flush on his face was from anger, anger, damn it! Vieri was so engrossed in trying to convince himself of the fact, that he almost missed Federico's next words.

"I'm going to kiss you, okay?"

No, you are fucking not!

Vieri was sure that the words had left his mouth. They should have been spoken the second Federico had asked his insane question, but there was nothing, because now he didn't know what to think, and he started to curse his damn, unmoving mouth. It was painfully quiet until Federico started to lean forward.

Vieri reacted violently. His hand shot up to wrap around the other's throat, upset at being messed around with, upset that he didn't know what to do, and upset that this idiot was being so unbelievably dumb.

"Have you run out of women to molest?" he snarled, savagely. "Is that why you're bothering me? Because I find it hard to believe that there is not one woman in Firenze that you have not tried to sink your claws into, you selfish, bed-hopping, whore."

So what if Federico looked hurt at that? Vieri didn't care. What was the bastard trying to do? Was he that used to rejection that he didn't care about looking like a fool with that damn request of his? A hand gently grabbed his wrist, and he let it be pulled from the the grip around the man's throat. Not because he felt bad at Federico's sad face. No, not at all. In fact, his sad face made him want to choke him even more, but before he could, Federico spoke softly.

"I only go after those I like."

Vieri immediately ripped the meaning behind that from his mind as if it never had been spoken, with him desperately focusing on anything else.

"Go after?" He scoffed, uncomfortably. "You sound like a barbarian. What kind of savage, unrefined thinking is that?"

The words 'hunter' and 'prey' flashed before him, and he mentally had a fit trying to get them away. Federico gave him a small grin, as he held his hand with both of his own, Vieri too busy subconsciously to notice.

"I guess it does sound bad when you put it that way. What would you call it, then?"

Vieri blinked his eyes into focus, then narrowed them in annoyance.

"How about using the proper term, to court someone?"

Federico's grin widened amid Vieri's mutterings of "Classless piece of shit" and "Doesn't know anything." He started to pull off Vieri's glove.

"Sounds good. Does this mean I can court you?"

Vieri snapped to attention. "What! No!"

He noticed the sneaky way his glove was being removed, and he tried to snatch his hand back. First his hat, now this?

"What is it with you and stealing my clothes?" Federico couldn't bite his lip fast enough to keep in his laughter, irritating Vieri to no end. "You! All you do is joke around, and laugh. What the hell is your problem?"

Federico would not let go of his hand, and grabbed up the other one as well.

"And you," he brought his face close, "are always angry."

Vieri leaned back, trying to pull from his grip.

"And you," he sneered, " have a problem with personal space."

The pull on his wrists was suddenly reversed, and he found them pushed up against the wall to the sides of his head, with a warm body flush against his. He nearly choked when Federico whispered into his ear.

"You're right, but I've shown you that I can be angry. How about you show me that you can smile?" Vieri found that he couldn't move. He didn't want to move. The problem wasn't the contact. He was so used to it from his frequent visits to the city's brothels, (he was reminded of his earlier harsh, hypocritical words to Federico, and he deftly swatted that away), but this was different. The fact that he wasn't in control irked him. He could only feel the strong, immovable hold on his wrists, and the constant rise and fall of Federico's chest against his. And that caused him to squirm, despite trying so hard not to. Federico grinned against his ear.

"Or it would be nice to hear you laugh. Are you ticklish?"

Vieri jerked in his hold. "Don't you dare!"

The smug satisfaction in Federico's voice was entirely too eager. "Is that a yes?"

"That's a 'I'll kill you if you touch me.'"

Federico's eyes darted between them-they were obviously touching-then back to Vieri's narrowed ones.

"Further," Vieri clarified.

"So, this much is okay?"

He started to struggle. "Damn you. What do you want?"

"One kiss. That's all."

"Why? Are you that spoiled that you can't stand not getting what you want? Am I supposed to be flattered that you're-" Coming after me? Courting me? Trying to—Aw, fuck it. "Doing this? Is your curiosity just messed up? Wait, let me guess." His eyes narrowed. "Since your father's friends with a lawyer, he'll have the means to help his son with charges of being a sodomite."

Federico shook his head.

"I don't plan on going that far." His next claim of being a low-abiding citizen had Vieri snorting in disbelief.

"Then, what?"

"I told you-"

"And if I say no?"

Federico shrugged, sighing dramatically.

"I guess my messed up curiosity will never be sated. Oh, well." He perked up. "Hey, don't you have a horseback riding competition set up tomorrow? Mind if I come and watch you?"

Oh, if looks could kill. Vieri could barely form a complete sentence.

"You. Infuriating. Stubborn. Son of a-"

"Is that a no?"

If he killed him now, there would be no way to mask the screams. Especially since he wanted to take his time, and do it painfully slow. Vieri's breathing became more pronounced, his eye twitching, as Federico prattled off obliviously about tomorrow's events. He got to the part where he was going to offer to walk him home after the race, when Vieri yelled at him.

"Fine! And then you fucking leave me alone!"

Federico looked surprised. "Really?"

"One, damn it. One. And I swear, if you tell anyone, I will gut you, and hang up with your own entrails. And leave you to rot."

"And I want to kiss this mouth?"

Vieri was about to tell him to shove it, when Federico quickly leaned in. Even though he stopped an inch from his mouth, Vieri still jerked back, his skull hitting the stone wall behind him.

"Fucker," he hissed, wincing from the dull pain. He wasn't even offered an apology. There was only a mouth covering his own. He stared indifferently at Federico, noticing that his eyes were closed. The bastard was enjoying himself. Great! He started to drown out the insistent push against his lips, with images of Federico's rotting, mutilated corpse, when he realized that was only turning him on. Which was extremely bad, seeing as they were right up against each other. Unfortunately, he could only move forward, and Federico apparently took that as a positive sign. Federico's hips rolled against his, and Vieri pushed into it without meaning to, gasping against Federico's mouth. He pulled away sharply.

This was not part of the deal!

He was about to voice as much, but Federico covered his mouth again, adjusting so that his leg pressed in between his. A noise caught in Vieri's throat, caught off guard at the hard, warm pressure abruptly rocking against him. He tried to rip his hands free, but they were secured tight, everything pressing him into the wall. Federico's movements became slower, and deep, tearing a strangled sound from Vieri's throat as he finally pulled away.

"That," he said, breathing hard, and not really thinking clearly, "was more than one."

"Oh...Damn." Federico looked sheepishly apologetic, before kissing him again. Vieri found his eyes closing automatically, and his mouth opening eagerly. The realization struck him hard, and his eyes flashed open. He wasn't supposed to be enjoying this! He bit down on Federico's tongue as the tip pressed its way into his mouth.

"What do you think you're doing!"

"I..." Federico sounded hesitant, but he had a huge smile on his face. "Kissing you?"

"And I said, one."

"Then, can I have another?"

Vieri was silent. He should have known better to try and make deals with this selfish smooth-talker.

"Well, I guess it would be a fourth, right?" Federico should have melted under his glare by now, but he only gave him a sweet smile. "Please?"

Oh, go burn. Did he really think that simply asking nicely was going to get him anything? Even if...even if...Damn it. Vieri wasn't about to admit how much he liked it. No. He didn't like the ones before, and he didn't like this one right now.

Except this time, he didn't pull away.

But, nothing was going to convince him that he liked Federico. He didn't like the attention, he didn't like the compliments. He didn't care for them, and he knew better, damn it. He wasn't even sure why, after his hands had been released, why they automatically latched onto Federico's collar to pull him closer. At that, Vieri jolted, wrenching them back. Fucking hands! It was like his whole body was out to get him! Federico pulled back with a laugh.

"It's okay to enjoy the things you like."

Vieri started to protest, but Federico's mouth was on his again. You fucker! Let me finish my sentences! But, the way Federico's hands came to rest on his hips, made him relent a little. It wasn't until Federico stopped kissing him, that Vieri realized that his eyes had closed, and they popped open to see an infuriating, smug, smug, smug look on his face. Vieri fell back into his usual sneer, and he shoved him off. Then, he made a big show of scrubbing his mouth clean with the back of his hand, earning a laugh from Federico.

"So, see you tomorrow?"

Vieri hated how much he wanted to nod, realizing with a start that he actually did want to see him later. He actually wanted to see the bastard's stupid face, and his stupid smile.

Damn it. He couldn't believe that this was happening, but he completely steeled himself against any reaction that would give him away.

"We had a deal. Two minutes, and I don't have to see you at all tomorrow."

"This is true," said Federico, as he gave him a knowing smile. Vieri ignored it, and hastily made his way down the ladder, but he wasn't far away enough to miss Federico's voice calling after him. "See you then."

Vieri tried really hard, but he couldn't help it when he smiled.