Disclaimer: I do not own Assassins Creed or the characters.

I thought this would be fun to do. I hope you all think it's funny.

Ezio Auditore soared over the rooftops until he came to a small alleyway tucked neatly behind the shopping district. He slipped down silently until his boots hit the cobblestone with a soft clap. The leader of the assassins reached up and carefully flipped back his white eagle shaped hood. A tanned face revealed itself to the open air, framed with chocolate dark hair inherited from his father before him. His hazel brown eyes blinked through the sunlight as he gently ran his fingers through his bangs, feeling the sweat. He turned to look around and satisfied, knocked on a familiar wood door. He waited a moment before a voice rang from the inside.

"Un attimo per favore!" the soft masculine voice shouted. Ezio looked around the corner of the building as a unit of guards stopped by a hay cart and began poking through it with their pikes.

"Ricerca laggiu! And over there too!" one of them said to the other three.

The paranoid bastardos . . .

He watched with eagle eyes as they muttered to each other and chose instead to walk away.

He smirked to himself but straightened up as the door lock unbolted and a face appeared. Years had gone by since the fist time Ezio had laid eyes on Leonardo Da Vinci. He had been just a mere boy carrying a crate for his mother the first time he truly talked with the artist. He hadn't changed much body wise, his face was older, but still held that deep wiseness and ever-present scruff that grew thicker each passing year. He smiled at the artist as Leonardo's expressive blue eyes brightened as he took in the white clad assassin.

"Ezio! Come in! Come in! Benvenuto! Welcome!" he uttered, ushering the man inside. Ezio smiled at his friend's never changing enthusiasm. Leonardo led him into the main workshop, going down a set of stairs to the main floor. Ezio smiled at the large flying machine he had once flew and its station hooked to the ceiling. Several paintings half finished lined the walls and floors as a welcoming fire burned in the corner near some fully drawn sketches. As Leonardo fetched some wine and bread Ezio admired the sketch of a woman whose arm slowly morphed into a skeletal hand. Fascinated he smiled as Leonardo handed him a goblet of wine and a slice of soft bread.

"Grazie Leonardo, I am sorry for such an abrupt appearance but I have discovered something I must show you," Ezio said, quickly sipping his wine. Leonardo popped a small piece of bread into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully before swallowing.

"Oh? What might it be? I have already translated all the codex and you have all of your equipment back, si?" he asked. Ezio reached into his robes and pulled out a small scroll. Leonardo finished up his bread as he looked at the small parchment in Ezio's hand.

"That is what I originally thought, amico. You see Machiavelli went back to my uncle Mario's villa not long ago. He managed to find something among the wreckage and brought it back to Tiber Island. It looked to be a hidden codex, tucked neatly behind one of my uncle's favorite paintings," he said deeply. Leonardo made a sad face at the mention of Mario.

"I am sorry to hear about what has happened at the villa. Please, let me see if I can be of some assistance? Sono sempre qui per aiutare," Leonardo said kindly with a tilt of his head. Ezio smiled as he handed the small scroll to Leonardo. The artist made room on his cluttered work table and carefully spread out the parchment. Leonardo blinked a couple times before frowning and backing up, setting a finger on his bottom lip. Ezio watched him, always fascinated with the way the artist displayed his thoughts.

"Hmm, it looks to be a codex but much . . . Simpler. It seems to be an improvement on your poison darts. Though it does not say what type of poison this is or what the effects might be. If I make it, you will have to test it out to see what happens," he said. Leonardo looked up from the codex to Ezio as the assassin walked over to look at the designs. He had no idea how but Leonardo had no trouble reading them.

"Molto bene then, how fast can you make it?" Ezio asked, stepping back. Leonardo gazed at the designs as Ezio removed his poison containing bracer.

"No more than two days if I put some nights into it, in a hurry?" he asked the assassin. Ezio chuckled as he set his bracer on the work table in front of Leonardo.

"The Borgia are having a party in three days at Castel Sant' Angelo. A prime target has made himself known," was all Ezio recited. Leonardo asked no more as he shifted his red hat on his head to a better position.

"Well then, I better get started."

Ezio jumped down to the same alley way as two days previous. He had used the time to run around and gather the information he needed. Courtesans had kept their ears open as his thieves retrieved documents. Everyone had done their part and now Ezio was more than prepared. The party had been moved to tonight and the master assassin hoped his new weapon would be an aid in his target's fate. He walked up to the door and pounded on the wood. He looked around the corner again and was not surprised to see a group of guards flirting with a nearby gathering of courtesans. He heard foot steps and stood back as Leonardo opened the door to the studio. A sweet smell assaulted his nose as he narrowed his eyes. Leonardo wasn't wearing his usual cap, his brown hair a bit shaggy and loose around his ears. His usual attire was gone, replaced with a loose white lace work shirt, his usual brown leather boots and brown trousers. He looked a bit bright around the eyes and he seemed to be in high spirits. Ezio was a little concerned though at the way his friend was sweating and seemed to have a harlequin smile attached to his face. Wary, Ezio set a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Leonardo, amico, are you quite all right? You are very flushed and sweaty," Ezio said. Leonardo ran his hands through his messy hair and still did not drop the smile.

"I am fine! Actually, quite fine indeed Ezio! Please come in! I must say you will not be disappointed in what I have made!" Leonardo said enthusiastically. Ezio followed him and frowned at the very high temperature of the room. Looking to a nearby painting, he frowned when the paint seemed to be melting off the picture. Moving to the main workshop Leonardo rushed over to the table and gave Ezio back his bracer. It felt lighter as he turned it in his hands. Looking under it he narrowed his eyes at the near pink liquid that sloshed in the small tube connecting to the poison darts.

"Grazie, Leonardo, you have my gratitude. I will test it tonight and tell you of what it does," he promised. Leonardo seemed to be listening but at the same time not. He was starting to sweat more as he quickly ran to a window and opened it, finally letting in clean air.

"Ah, forgive me, the heat was becoming unbearable! But I am glad you are satisfied, please let me know should it work out, I will happily make copies for the Brotherhood," he said. Ezio watched him fan himself as he talked. Still a little concerned he put his bracer on and regarded the artist.

"Leonardo, I think I should call a doctor, you are not yourself," he worried. Leonardo waved him off before picking up a nearby wine goblet and emptying it in almost one gulp.

"No Ezio, really I am fine. Some of my assistants were out of the city so I chose to forge the bracer myself this time. It is simply a matter of exhaustion, I will be fine in an hour or so, besides, I will use this energy for a painting I was hoping to finish today!" he smiled. He nearly sprinted as he ran to a nearby art work and set up his paints and chair. Ezio could only watch in confusion as the artist seemed not to be himself. A sudden idea came to him and he jumped into action.

"Leonardo, you didn't accidently poison yourself did you?" he asked. Leonardo was a master at his craft but at time could be clumsy. The symptoms of the poison Ezio used made people act erratic and wild before they dropped dead. He feared he may be watching that of Leonardo right this moment. The moment where he acted fine and energized and then would simply fall to the ground dead and cold. Running to his friend he ripped him away from the easel and spun him around. Leonardo's pupils were dilated as he looked at Ezio in confusion.

"Did you poison yourself Leonardo?" he asked anxiously, shaking the man. Leonardo blinked a couple times before Ezio's words clicked.

"Eh? No Ezio, nothing like that! I am fine! I just . . . I just . . . Oh dear . . . " he seemed to sag on the spot. Leonardo's blue eyes fluttered for a moment as he put his hand to his forehead. He pitched forward in a faint and Ezio easily caught the man and did not wait for an explanation. He lifted the man bridal style and quickly ran out of the workshop as Leonardo fainted completely. From an alleyway he waved a thief over and quickly had the boy fetch a doctor. Ezio ran hidden behind alleyways to the medicine man and met the man at his doorway.

TBC