Do the switcharoo!

"Another round, my friends, another round!"

The cry was met with cheers and laughter as the already flustered thieves prepared to consume even more alcohol. It hadn't taken the guild long to move itself from the rotting shack of a hideout in San Polo to the impressive Seta, which they had already begun ransacking. And now the thieves sat around its once-noble marble courtyard, drinking and congratulating themselves on the death of Emilio Barbarigo, tyrant of Venezia.

Only a small group of four seemed somewhat more sober than the rest, though they were quite relaxed. Seta's beautiful courtyard had been easily transformed into an outdoor tavern, with booths and tables for all. The four sat under a torch, lounging in their chairs peacefully. The rowdiest one, much to the others' amusement, happened to be the guild's mastermind of a leader- Antonio.

"Don't be shy, Ugo!" He hiccupped, slapping the curly-haired boy to his right on the shoulder, "Have another drink!"

Ugo sighed, but smiled somewhat.

"I've never seen Antonio get so wasted," The woman across from them remarked slyly, tapping her fingers on the counter, "I wish there were a way to capture the image."

"True," The man beside her grinned, spreading his scarred lips amusedly, "But it seems a bit early to get yourself kicked out of the guild, Rosa."

"Shut up," She snorted.

"Why won't you people celebrate?" Antonio laughed, slapping his hands on the table excitedly, "The markets are finally free! We have accomplished something wonderful tonight, amici!"

"Wonderful indeed," Ezio gurgled, taking a sip from his mug casually, "I can't wait to see the hangovers tomorrow…"

"I'd be careful there, Ezio," Ugo smirked, "You've drunk quite a bit yourself."

"Ugo, please," Ezio smirked right back, flipping his bangs smugly, "I think a nobleman like myself is much more experienced at holding his liquor than a group of mismatched-thieves; no offense…"

"It's fine, Ezio," Rosa rolled her eyes, sighing heavily, "We merely assume everything you have to say if offensive."

Ezio turned, raising his eyebrows at her but saying nothing. Instead he merely took another sip of his drink. For a few moments, the group drank in happy silence, content to let it be filled with the snorts and giggles of the drunken thieves around them.

"Well, I believe I am beginning to feel quite light-headed," Antonio grunted, climbing unsteadily to his feet, "I think I'll turn in for tonight…"

"Good luck making it upstairs, Antonio!" Rosa called sweetly as her mentor stumbled off.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be, Ugo?" Ezio asked nonchalantly, almost challenging.

"And leave you and Rosa alone together?" The curly-haired thief tutted, "I'm not a complete idiot, Assassino."

"Oh, go away, Ugo," Rosa smiled, leaning back in her chair tiredly; "I want to see what he has planned."

"What?" Ugo gasped, feigning shock, "You don't want me to glorify you with my very presence?"

"I think I'm already doing a fine job of that," Ezio grinned.

"That would be your ego, Ezio," Ugo replied flatly, "You is referring to another person entirely."

"Please, Ugo," Rosa laughed, "I'll be up in a few minutes!"

"Fine," The thief muttered, standing. Apparently the party had ended when Antonio had staggered up the steps, because the courtyard was suddenly less full. Ugo took note of this as he made his way up, cursing Ezio all the way for his cleverness and charm.

"And so here we are," Ezio yawned, relaxing more in the small chair that had been brought out from Seta's inner corridors, "Aren't you going to congratulate me?"

"On what?" Rosa asked, turning glittering emerald eyes on him curiously.

"On a perfect assassination, of course," Ezio replied, resting his cheek on his palm casually in his effort to get comfortable.

"Please," Rosa muttered, "we did all the work."

"Oh?" Ezio raised his eyebrows- the green-capped thief flinched somewhat at his tone. He knew she was kidding…right?

"Who cleared the guards? Who gathered the information? Who freed the thieves Emilio had managed to imprison? Who stole the boats for the assault? Hm?"

"Ezio…" Rosa frowned, noting his flushed cheeks as well. Clearly the man was drunk, but it was difficult not to hold his actions against him. "I was joking- no need to get upset."

"Clearly," The Assassin snorted, "I'm used to working on my own as it is. Why bother changing anyway?"

"Stop it," Rosa gritted, "We work together- we do equal amounts. You wouldn't have been able to get into Seta without us, and we wouldn't have been able to free Venezia without you. Simple."

"There's a lot more to this than just Seta, Rosa!" Ezio growled, "This was just one tiny victory, and yet your guild thinks we have just won the war!"

"That's it," Rosa pushed herself away from the table, standing, "You are sick with wine, Ezio, and I think it's time you went to sleep."

"Why won't you listen?" Ezio shouted in frustration, jumping to his feet as well, "This was just one district! If we're going to free the other ones, we need to-"

"Ezio!" Rosa cut him off- though she was shorter than him, she seemed to buzz with anger like a wasp, "Shut the fuck up and go to sleep!"

"I am telling you because I want you to help me, Rosa," He said quietly, brown eyes attempting to focus on her through a mist, "Like you said, I cannot do this on my own."

"You're drunk, Ezio," Rosa muttered, flicking a stray piece of hair in annoyance, "You're not making sense. Whatever you want can certainly wait until tomorrow." And with that she turned to march up the stairs to the rooms prepared in the Palazzo's inner chambers.

"Bene," She heard Ezio call out, "Don't help me. Why would I need help from a thief like you…?"

Rosa paused, fists balling slowly. Ezio grinned stupidly, glad to capture her attention.

"A thief, mind you…" He hesitated deliberately, drawing out the conclusion, "…who happens to be a woman."

"Bene," Rosa turned, eyeing him with burning hatred, "Go ahead then- get lost! Surely you don't need a woman's help, as you're clearly too much of a man!"

And with that she finally stormed upstairs and didn't turn back. Rosa blew into her room and slammed the door shut, hardly caring who she woke. She tore off her boots and slammed onto her bed, squeezing her eyes shut and willing the nausea to go down. She hadn't had that much to drink…had she?

Ezio eventually stumbled off to bed as well, deciding to take Antonio up on his offer of a room for the night.

But as both Assassin and thief drifted off to sleep, cursing each others' names in their dreams- neither could've possibly guessed what chaos would unfold the very next morning…