This is just a short one-shot that will not be continued and has no point, but sort of shows what is to come from one of my stories that I'm mulling over.

Why did I write it? Because I saw an ant in my room and MY HATRED IS INFINITE RIGHT NOW AUGHHHH DEATH DEATH DEATH

*Ahem* So...disclaimer...don't own anything...this took me about five minutes to write, so I don't expect it to be anything amazing. I'm just really pissed off, none of my friends are online for me to vent to, and I don't have a blog.

Ezio pressed his face to the ground, smiling faintly as he traced the path of the lone, ant scout. His father followed behind, a pail of water in hand. "Easy son." He said. "Someone may trip over you."

The boy looked up at the oncoming crowd, shrugged, and went back to crawling after the ant. His hands were slicked by the mud and the knees of his pants were greasy with dirt, but he didn't mind. "Its got a crumb in its mouth." Ezio giggled. "It's too big for him, dad."

"He's taking it back to the nest, to share with the others. That's why we are following him." Giovanni rubbed at his tired eyes. His son didn't understand, but he was happy to be included.

"How big is the nest, dad?"

"I don't know. It is underground."

"How did it get underground?"

"The ants made it there. They dug." Giovanni smiled at his son's curiosity. The two turned into a courtyard, and soon found an area where the dirt was peaked up. The ant disappeared into the pile, leaving Ezio on his hands and knees.

"He went in." Ezio stood. Now that he wasn't preoccupied with following the ant, he noticed the bucket in his father's arms. The liquid inside of it steamed lightly. Before he could ask his father about it, Giovanni swung his arms up, spilling the liquid over into the hole. The scalding water drizzled down into the nest. He smiled at his handiwork and pulled a pouch from his pocket.

"Why did you pour the water in?" Ezio frowned at the now soggy mound of dirt.

"To drown them out. And burn them." Giovanni opened the pouch, revealing its contents: cornmeal. He sprinkled the contents around the soaked nest, making a complete circle around it. "And if any escape, they'll eat this cornmeal, naturally. The next time they drink, the cornmeal will expand, and they will die."

Ezio's shoulders slumped and his lip poked out. "That's mean."

"Yes, but son," Giovanni grinned, "If we let them live, they would find their way into our kitchen, and then your mother would do mean things to me. Understand…this is the way of things. These ants are thieves, and when there is a thief in your house, you must squash it." He ruffled his son's hair, smiling. "Now, come on. It is past your bedtime."

Ezio woke with a start. He rubbed at his scruffy whiskers and yawned. The early-morning sunlight filtered in through the study's window, casting a shadow onto his desk. He felt a hand curve around his head from behind and cup his cheek – soft skin, but a strong grip.

"Buongiorno, Ezio. Something wrong?" Rosa greeted him.

"No, no…" He smiled, taking her hand in his. "I was just thinking of something my father told me."

"Ah? What was that?"

He shook his head with a knowing grin. "Nothing. Come, there are things to be done."

Thanks! R/R