He knew something was wrong when he first looked at the man. Of course, his first indication that the man was here was a soft light interrupting his dimly lit study and a shaky voice calling, "Ez-i-o."

"In here, my friend."

He saw the man enter, tall, skinny, and trembling like an old woman. He had to blink-this was the brother of his uncle. He had an ugly scar across his lips, and part of his ear was missing.

"Ah-E-Ezio!"

He scoffed, standing up to greet him with a hug, and as he settled back in his chair, he watched as the man walked around and prodded at everything.

"Nothing here will harm you."

The man gave a nervous laugh. "Th-that's what-t M-Mario s-said all thos-se years ag-g-ago."

"What do you mean?"

The man laughed, jumping at the sound of something smack into something outside. "M-Mario?"

"Your brother is dead."

Luigi laughed nervously, flinching at the scrape of a chair as he sat down. "His b-body i-is-s."

Ezio frowned-just what had Mario subjected his brother to to cause him such paranoia? He watched the man, who was twitchy and jumpy, holding the lantern tightly as his eyes darted around the room.

"M-Mario was al-lways the b-br-raver one. Dr-dr-dragged me in-into the s-sewers of the c-city al-ll the time."

Ezio tilted his head. This poor man, he mused, getting steadily more worried with every passing second. He had heard about a paranoid man named Sibrand-but he paled in comparison to this guy. His own brother would be the death of him.

They chatted idly for a little bit, and then Ezio gave him a tour of the building. The man was pleasant to be around-much more so than his brother, if not paranoid. Every room, he would hold up the light, give a shaky call of "Mar-i-o," and prod everything with the tip of his sword. Every clamor had him jumping, and when Ezio offered to share the bed with the old man, the man twitched and mumbled in his sleep. He felt so bad for him. Still, he mused as he slowly fell asleep, Mario had always been brash and headstrong.

Desmond woke from the Animus as Rebecca and Lucy were screaming. He looked to where they were looking, and he almost laughed.

A few days ago, he had found a handheld vacuum cleaner. It now was flicking on and off as it floated around the Sanctuary. He flicked on his Eagle Vision to see the ghost of Luigi walking around, vacuuming everything and calling for his brother.

"Luigi, your brother is at peace," he called out in Italian, and he laughed at the jump the ghost gave, turning to face him and holding the vacuum at him. "Be at peace, Luigi."

The ghost walked over, vacuuming at his shirt, and he shook his head, smiling at the man. After a few seconds of vacuuming, Luigi figured out he wouldn't vanish, and Desmond clapped a hand on the ghost's shoulder. He laughed at the jump.

"Luigi," he said in a stern voice. "Go on. You're safe."

The man looked at him once more, then shook his head. "It-it's not m-me I'm af-fraid for. I'm l-looking f-for my br-brother."

Desmond quirked an eyebrow, but the ghost turned away, flicking the vacuum off and on as he walked up the ramp. As he saw the ghost fade out, looking toward the heavens, he heard one final call.

"Mar-i-o!"

He couldn't help but laugh.

Yes. I did just go there. I totally bridged that gap. I referenced Luigi's Haunted Mansion.