An: My debut into the Assassin's Creed Fanfiction Community, and of course I start off with something completely crazy...and coincidentally...original. :D
I recently got the DLC for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, and the interaction between Lucrezia and Ezio just got me going. I thought it was hot (oddly), and inspiring to say the least, so I present you with the first chapter of this fic.
Will it be good? No idea.
Will you like it? No idea.
Will I enjoy writing it? Hell yeah, and that's all that matters! :D
Since, I usually don't write AC stuff, I bring to attention during every one of my updates that if you wish to see my progress within my stories, I have a twitter you can follow. Which is twitter(dot)com(slash)alexosaurus
But if you really couldn't care less, and just want to see how this turns out...well strap yourself into the roller coaster because...I don't even freaking know.
Enjoy nonetheless. :D
The fresh Italian air was a soft caress as the ship sailing from Vienna stilled and lowered it's walk to the docks below. It had been over a year and a half since he had touched Roman soil, and for a native of Firenze, he felt odd for thinking that he missed this bustling city lacking the real beauty of his home. Friends of his nodded at him as he walked through the streets, and he could hear the delighted words of stray workers giving thanks to God for the death of a tyrant, whom was killed months ago.
Alone in the city, Ezio stilled. The Borgia name hit his ear, and as an old habit was renewed once more, his hands curled into fists at his side. Even though the two were separated between the realms of life and death, the lone assassin still felt an overwhelming hatred for the one formally addressed as Cesare. The heavy pulsing of his heart brought a sweat to his brow, and he had to physically force himself to breathe for fear of exploding with rage.
But the late Cesare Borgia was exactly that. Late. Dead. No more. The people of Roma would no longer suffer under the hand of an unholy Pope, and their army would no longer fight to destroy, but to protect. Roma was established to it's former glory, and now all that was left for him to do, was to sit back and see that it's natural restoration was nothing but productive.
Though, as he walked through the streets of his beloved city, the Borgia named continued to reach his ear. Rumors were passed between wealthy men as to exactly how Cesare died, while their equally wealthy wives simply complained about the damage he did in life. Some remembered the late Pope Alexander the sixth, or Rodrigo as Ezio knew personally, and others brought up the public execution of Juan Borgia at his own party, but the one person he was truly interested in, was never spoken of.
"Excuse me," he called, walking into the conversation being held between two young women. "You seem to know a lot about the Borgia family, and I have been gone for quite some time. Am I correct in my knowledge that they are no longer ruling this city?"
"Wow handsome," one of the women mused. "You really have been gone for some time. The Borgia haven't been in power for four years. The only reason they are spoken of today is that news has reached the city that that bastard Cesare has finally met the fate he deserved."
"So," Ezio mused. "He is dead?"
"As dead as dead can get," the other, slightly less elegant woman nodded. "Fucker had it coming though. I wish I could find the person who killed him. If I did, I would offer to be his personal slave for the rest of his existence."
"Elena," the woman who spoke first chuckled. "How do you even know someone killed him. From what I heard he fell from the fortifications of Vienna when he was fighting. He could have simply slipped."
"Lorena, there is no way in hell that man just 'fell'. If such a thing was possible, he would have fallen from the top of the castello years ago-"
"Ladies," Ezio chuckled; smiling the charm smile he always seemed to harness. "I apologize for interrupting, but my interest does not lie with Cesare, or his father. Tell me of Lucrezia. Do you know anything of the Duchess?"
Elena shot out a dry laugh, her slightly plump cheeks falling and bringing her lips into a frown. She glanced to Lorena, who simply stood with her hands clasped before her; the shrug of her shoulder displaying her resistance to speak on the matter. "Well handsome," Elena began. "I can't say much against power without heading to the gallows...which is why I will say this quick, and one time only. That girl is bat shit crazy."
"How so?"
"She's been mad for as long as I've known her," Elena chuckled. "It's only gotten worse over the years. I can't really blame her though. Some say she watched as her father died, and there was always the rumor that she was screwing her brother. Though, that obviously went downhill, and if the poor girl actually loved him, there's no telling what they did to her mind. She lost everything, and then got picked up by some random Duke who simply wanted her for sex. Lucrezia hasn't had a moment of peace since she was born, but...it doesn't seem that she wants peace in the first place. Heard the crazy bitch tried to light her husband's palazzo on fire."
"I give no sympathy to that woman," Lorena argued; her deep brown eyes steeled to express her discontent. "I believe she is simply trying to get attention, seeing as how everyone else is trying to forget about her family. She has a small enough seat in politics that all she needs to do is spread her legs when the Duka tells her to. She is out of sight and out of mind to the citizens of Roma. The place where she should have been from the start if you ask me."
"What's your interest in her big guy?"
"I'm familiar with the family is all," Ezio brushed away; nodding in appreciation for the information the women before him so readily extended. "I thank you both for your help. Have a wonderful day."
"You too hot stuff," Elena called. "Be careful walking these streets though. Loose women will be quick to jump you if you're not careful."
"I'll keep that in mind," the assassin assured, as he disappeared into the darkness, and made his way towards the hideout he had left so long ago. He had no idea if Machiavelli still resided within the halls, or if his assassin's still existed in the first place. When he traveled to Vienna for his final battle of Cesare, he had done so so quickly that he lost all means of contact with those in Roma. Such an offense was something he was sure to pay for...that is...if anyone was present to make him pay.
The door opened under his touch easy enough, and he felt nothing but pure elation as he walked down the familiar marble steps, and into the foyer that had not changed in the past year. A stray assassin turned his eyes up from his book, and bowed his head in respect.
"Master," he stated; the word sweet in Ezio's ear. "We have received news of your victory, and I give you my personal congratulations. We all felt the impact of the Borgia's oppression, and all the same, we feel the relief of his death."
The boy's perfectly sculpted face, and shining silver eyes were passive, but in his voice, Ezio could hear the admiration. He faintly remembered training this assassin, and for mere moments he stared at the young man; working to remember a name before "David' slid easily from his tongue. Alas he remembered. David was the first student he trained, that wasn't from Italy, but instead England.
"David," he stated again. "I see you have come into yourself well. I congratulate you on the success you have made in the time I was away. I would like to catch up with you, as with the others over dinner some time soon, but I must know, is Machiavelli present?"
"Maestro Machiavelli is overseeing the training of some new recruits," David informed. "He has taken five of our newer members to the mercenary barracks. It's become a tradition since you have been gone for the different factions to have competitions against the other."
"Bene," Ezio nodded. "Then my assassins are being taught well. Though, I must speak with Machiavelli immediately. My current task at hand is one that is personal, but I feel that he should be informed of my whereabouts since I have lost contact."
"He should return within the hour. You mustn't wait long. Or you could simply ride to the mercenary barracks, and speak with Machiavelli there."
"Well, he'll get here eventually," the master assassin chuckled; his hand rising to pull his hood back. "Mind taking a moment from your read to speak with me David?"
"Of course Maestro. But what about?"
"David," Ezio began, smiling as he backed up towards the steps leading to the entrance on the roof. "Have you ever flown with a parachute?"
"I don't believe I even know what that is maestro. Let alone that a man can fly."
"Care to try?"
"Do they work?"
"If they didn't, would I use them in the first place?"
"You prove a valid point," David laughed, stepping up to his master's side, and sharing a mischievous smile with his elder, before they shoved through the doors into the open air, and explored the exhilaration presented when a man soars on the wind like that of a bird.
~*~*AC*~*~
"Lucrezia Borgia?" the question was spoken as if laden with flavor, while the man speaking said question contorted his face in a way that implied that he was trying to taste his words. "Are you ill Ezio?"
"Why would you say that?" Ezio asked; resting back in his chair, as he swirled the fruity wine in the glass before him. Contemplative brown eyes glanced upwards from the deep purple liquid, and he felt his eyebrow creeping towards his hair line as he met the gaze of his troubled friend pacing in front of his desk.
"So then, you have a death wish?" Machiavelli deadpanned. "Why on earth would you ever want to go engage with a member of the Borgia family, once you finally got the chance to be rid of them completely. Ezio...Cesare and Rodrigo are dead. Lucrezia is far enough away that you don't need to bother her, and this city is finally at peace. Why the hell are you going to destroy for yourself?"
"Machiavelli, I simply pity the woman," he stated. "She is one whom needs help."
"And you believe that you can give her such assistance?" the philosopher asked. "You either have a perverted sense of liberty, or you must be as sick in the head as she is."
"I am of sound mind, you need not worry about that," Ezio assured. "But, even though she holds the Borgia name, she is not one of them. She was a simple pawn in Rodrigo's game. She was a woman that he could easily use to parade before those whom distrusted his actions. She did nothing against us, other than presenting Catarina before Il Vaticano, and holding the key to her cell on her person."
"Not to mention the hoard of guards that soon followed you after that little adventure," Machiavelli growled. "Have you since forgotten the number of guards that she has single handedly employed to return with your head? Do not let the soft voice, and gentle appearance fool you. A woman in power can be just as detrimental, if not more so, than a man."
"I do not believe Lucrezia to be such a case."
"And I simply believe you are mad. Driven to such extremes because you have returned to Roma, and having nothing to do."
"That last part is exactly why I am doing this," Ezio chuckled. "But it's not because I'm crazy."
"Then explain to me otherwise."
"Niccolo, you cannot simply understand, because you do not allow yourself to understand. Lucrezia's mind is...in a sense...broken, and she is suffering, though, because of her last name, no one wants to take the chance to help her. Had she be someone else, I'm sure she would at least have one person who would care enough to help her through the tougher times. Everyone in this world needs to have a crutch at some time, and I am presenting myself as one now," he explained. "I cannot project my words in perfect comparison with the ideas in my mind. I'm not as articulate as you, but you would accept my reasoning if you heard the fear in her voice-"
"Wait...you've seen her?"
"It was months ago, but yes. I have to retrieve some artwork from a friend of mine, and...coincidentally...it was located in her palazzo."
"So, what is it that she said, that brought on this epiphany?"
"She was worried that someone was going to kill her, when no one was following her. She believed her father kept them at bay, though her father is long dead, and now with the news of her dead brother, I'm sure she's in even more distress than before. She trusts no one Niccolo, and I cannot simply let her suffer. I have given an oath to myself, you, and the name we share. We are assassins, and act as such to better the lives of those around us."
"And you have done that, Ezio," Machiavelli stated. "Which is why I don't understand your urge to go messing in affairs you shouldn't be messing in."
"I have rebuilt Roma, from top to bottom," Ezio growled. "I have given people homes, saved their lives, and given them jobs to feed the family they have starved for for years. I have made life better, and I have taken many lives on the way to doing so. One life being hers, but, she doesn't have the luxury of having death accompany the pain. She is a mess, and I have made her so. I must take responsibility for my actions, and repair that which I have damaged. Is my reason clear enough?"
"As clear as it will ever get. Though, from my end, I see this as a simple charity case."
"Use what you must to accept my mission, but know that it is a mission of mine, and no one will be able to talk me out of."
"Fine," Machiavelli stated. "I appreciate you checking in with us, and from one brother to the other...I wish you luck in your mission. Though I don't understand your feelings on the matter, and have resentment towards anyone with 'Borgia' as their last name...I trust your judgment, and wish you safe travels."
The master assassin tossed his head back on a laugh, and stood with a genuine smile tipping at the side of his lips. "Brother, you a shitty liar, but I appreciate your support," he stated, stepping forward and extending his forearm to his brother. "Must I send pigeons so that you know the crazy lady didn't have me executed?"
"I trust you Ezio, but I do not trust her. Do what you must, all I wish is that safety is your utmost importance."
"If it wasn't, I wouldn't be alive today Machiavelli," Ezio laughed; grasping the forearm the philosopher finally extended towards him. "You are doing a wonderful job with the recruits, and I thank you for everything that you have done here, and for me over the years. Even though we have our differences, you are always the one I can return to with my thoughts-"
"Even when I completely disagree with them?"
"Especially when you completely disagree with them," the decorated assassin chuckled. "Any last words of luck?"
"Ezio Auditore...if such a God exists that can protect your well being, I pray he walks with you, for He Himself would know you need it."
"Thanks for the encouragement."
"Anytime."
~*~*AC*~*~
When the stakes are high, Ezio always noticed that his heart rated seemed to slow, as if his body was making it easier for him to do his job. Crouched on the roofs of the houses near the entrance of the palazzo, Ezio noticed that since his last visit to Lucrezia, security had increased exponentially. Simply penetrating the gates without being spotted was going to be nearly impossible, and with as many guards walking through the gardens, the option of killing off the threat one by one was completely out of the question. The crack of a twig beneath his boot would catch attentions, and most likely end his life.
Death, though an easy escape from his natural superior and masochistic thoughts of helping any and all in need, was another unacceptable option. Such an exit from this world would be too easy, and if there was one thing Ezio Auditore di Firenze was famous for doing, it was doing the seemingly impossible...in complete silence.
"Hey!" the call of a stray guard caught his ears, and he focused in on the conversation below him, as the two began to exchange pleasantries.
"What troubles you Luigi?"
"I was just making sure that you escort the produce shipment coming in within the hour. Stress to the help that they must clean the fruit and present it with Lucrezia presiding. I would rather not have a scene between a maid and the duchessa today. God forbid she relax enough to believe that the help are not poisoning her food."
'Cazzo' The thought easily slid through his mind. 'This is going to be harder than I thought.'
