DISCLAIMER: All characters are owned by Ubisoft and no infringement of copyright is intended. They own the characters, we can't afford to be sued: we apologise deeply to Ubisoft for playing with their golf clubs when they weren't looking...

This is going to be a multiple-chapter affair so hang on in there, Leo is coming soon: he is just fashionably late at present.

Remember, men can love each other too, but if this offends you, then try not reading.


"And now Ezio, for a birthday present you'll never forget; a present just from me. Our little secret..." Federico smiled brightly at his younger brother and reached out a hand to him.

Ezio raised an eyebrow, before moving to the window of his bedroom. "A present? What kind of present?"

"Come, Ezio, I told you it's a secret. And you must come with me now." Federico's voice was commanding and, with an obedient nod, Ezio made a move to the door. A hand came out and seized him once again. "No, brother, tonight we must go by the window."

A frown creased Ezio's young face; it was on rare occasions that his brother insisted that they leave by the window. Normally, it was a technique they employed to evade their parents, especially when Federico knew they would be indulging in an activity their parents thought ill of. At times Federico would wake Ezio and then escort him to the nearest taverna, where they would stay until early the next morning, before returning to their warm beds, everyone in the household remaining none the wiser; in other instances, Federico would take Ezio along the rooftops, urging him to jump further and further each time. Ezio would claim to his mother the marks on his flesh were a result of his clumsiness, and that he had fallen in the night.

With no more persuasion, Ezio pushed his legs over the ledge and out. He knew instinctively where the handholds were and slide with ease down the rest of the wall, Federico but a short distance above his head. Without waiting Ezio strolled from their family courtyard into the street, and paused waiting to turn off to the tavern he and his brother had visited before. However, Federico, seeming to ignore his younger's brother presence, started off in another direction; Ezio knew where the street led but was not sure what would interest them there. "Where are we going?"

"Stop being so impatient, Ezio," scolded his brother. "You must learn to be patient...and not always race to the end..."

"I do not understand, Federico. Are we going to a different tarverna?"

"It is not important, and you will understand my meaning someday."

They rounded the corner, people's voices and music growing louder as unbeknownst to Ezio they neared their destination.

Federico stopped suddenly in the street. Ezio continued walking and crashed into his brother's back.

"Patience Ezio!... We're here,"

"Here?" Ezio asked puzzled, looking around himself at the plain street in which they now stood, with its undistinguished buildings, "And where is here Federico? Are we not going drinking?"

"We can drink here Ezio, and so much more. This is your birthday present from me, a night you will never forget, and you must remember this night. Look around you Ezio," his brother commanded, "Remember streets like this Ezio. We are in the backstreets of our fair city. The buildings are non-descript, but behind their doors they keep secrets that their appearances could never suggest they disguise. But look." Federico pointed to the closed windows and shutters of the building closet to them. It was the building from which the noise now whispered, flowing out into the close night air. "Notice the red ribbons hanging from the balconies Ezio, remember that. It will be a sign you will welcome in the future. Now, come, your birthday present awaits you. Welcome to the bordello..."

Federico approached the door, his hand falling to the handle, while Ezio stood, his curiosity inflamed, but his feet stayed firmly fixed where they were, a faint murmur of fear trickling through his body. His brother gave a glance back, and Ezio's pride forced him on. He followed his brother through the door, and found himself in a new, adult world.

The room was sparsely furnished, but what furniture there was, was draped in exotic throws and scarves. Women languished on couches and across tables, some talking with men, others chatting together. Some sat in the laps of older gentlemen, and up the curving staircase in the corner of the room Ezio saw a maze of doors and rooms, girls running between them, some with men who pushed them against walls and fell with them into what Ezio could only assume to be awaiting bedrooms. Federico was greeted like an old friend by a handful of girls, and Ezio felt himself left at the door, ignored and unappreciated. He felt nervous, uncomfortable and hugely out of place. After much kissing and hugging Federico turned to his younger brother and pointed. Ezio blushed as the girls who had previously clung to his brother now descended on him. Only one girl remained with Federico, and this girl his brother wrapped his arm around and kissed deeply. Hands fell around Ezio's body, and he felt small fingers tracing the shapes and lines of his torso; one finger played at the laces of his shirt, while another, possibly belonging to another woman, fiddled with those of his breeches. Kisses were pressed against his exposed flesh, and in the background he could hear the faint laughter of his brother. His hands reached out and found soft, supple flesh; but still he feared the women, who clung to him, as if their lives did depend upon it. Whichever girl he held - their faces swam indiscriminately in front of his eyes - he now pulled closer and gently kissed, taking care not to meet her lips. At this one of the girl's cooed delighting in Ezio's gentleness and innocence; he felt his cheeks redden. His confidence, his pride slipped away and Ezio with some force pulled away from the girls and reached his brother. Then, like a child again, he pulled at Federico's sleeve...

Federico turned gradually, pulling away from the girl who was now pressed to his chest. "What?" The tone was impatient, harsh, and Ezio could feel the embarrassment rising within him.

"Federico, I am not sure." Ezio's voice faltered with apprehension.

A smirk came upon his brother's lips. "Not good enough Ezio? You surprise me...one so young." Federico turned back to the girl and, bending his head down, whispered into her ear. Her dark eyes lifted to meet Federico's, and a small piece of understanding passed between them. Without a word the girl strolled away, and ascended the stairs. "Do not worry, Ezio." The tension in the young man's frame did not ease. "A drink?" No understandable response came, but still Federico made a motion to yet another girl who lounged on a table. A slow smile spread across her face, and moments later she returned with two glasses filled to the brim with a deep, red wine.

"I am Caterina," the girl said, passing one of the glasses to the young Ezio. "I know who you are, and don't worry, you don't need to stand on ceremony here. Sit and drink with me,"

Ezio, still nervous, sat beside the girl who could not have been much older than he was himself. Together they shared the glasses of wine and talked. More glasses were given to them without Ezio noticing and still they continued to drink and talk. Finally, when Ezio raised his eyes from his once again filled glass, he realised to his dismay that Federico was absent from the room. He started from the table, but the girl caught his arm and pulled him towards her. She pressed her lips to his. Ezio flinched, but the kiss was not unpleasant. The girls' lips were warm, and he tasted the wine on her breath. She laughed into his parted lips and he caught her waist.

"Now now young master," the girl laughed pushing Ezio from her...

"Oh, oh I'm sorry..."

"No no no; I just mean not here, come with me," and without waiting for a response the girl took Ezio's trembling hand in hers and led him up the stairs. The volume increased as they reached the top of the flight; aside from the music moans were discernable, and in some rooms these moans were louder than Ezio could believe necessary. He followed the young girl to her room, and there she closed the door behind him and pushed him onto the bed.

The room was dimly lit by candlelight, but the hanging stench of sweat and semen cloaked the air. Ezio longed for more wine. In his young head he could hardly imagine what lay before him, but he knew on some level that he did not want it. He was scared yes, and he was young, but he was not truly innocent, and the girl before him was lovely. Her face soft and young, white and sweet; with rosy lips and wanton curls. Slowly the girl began to remove her dress.

"No, please!"

"Shush..." the girl muttered, moving close to him and pressing a finger to Ezio's lips. "It is okay, Federico has settled the bill already..." she continued to remove her clothing.

'The bill' resounded in Ezio's mind. He had enjoyed their conversation, and had enjoyed the sound of the young woman laughing at his jokes, but now the illusion had been shattered. She had been acting, waiting for this moment so she could earn her money. The stories he had told, and those she had reciprocated... well, she had not cared... she had drank and talked, but she would have talked of anything so long as it would lead to this point. Ezio was angry now. He saw the woman for what she was. Beautiful, yes, and sweet, and lovely and charming and delicate and entertaining... and waiting for her money... Ezio did not want to see anymore. Her breasts were exposed to him; soft and white and pert, but he was annoyed by the pretence. This was what she had been waiting for all night, and despite his own anxieties, all she truly cared about despite her polite talk was her fee. Ezio raised himself from the bed.

"Ah, a man who wants to take charge! You are indeed a brother of Federico's!"

Ezio felt the same hurt again, this time moving to the pit of his stomach. His brother had been here before him.

"No, I should go, but thank you," He saw the sadness in her face, but he knew his response. "You'll get your money, don't worry,"

The girl didn't acknowledge him with anything more than a relieved smile, and Ezio, feeling justified, walked out of the room. He paced out into the corridor again, not knowing where he was going, but glad to have preserved something of himself, for a higher purpose one day, as he so hoped. He walked past the many closed doors, until he found one slightly ajar. Thinking he had found himself a quiet spot in which to stop and collect his thoughts, he pushed the door further open, but the sight which met his eyes caught his breath in his throat.

In the middle of the room, atop a bed writhed two naked bodies. The noises they elicited were reaching a crescendo and Ezio despite his best efforts found himself unable to move away from the doorframe. A man, tall and strong, lay on top of another naked body, pounding with increasing rapidity, as the hands of the figure beneath him clutched at his thighs, pulling him closer with each thrust. As the speed of the two figures increased yet again, now reaching a frenzied pace, the figure below the man rolled their head backwards, and the last of the stroking beams of moonlight that entered through the shutters cast its touch across the two lovers. Ezio could see the two faces clearly now; the man thrusting had a handsome, angular, if slightly aged face. As Ezio allowed his eyes to follow the man's body down, they fell upon the figure below: the face was youthful, but it was also unmistakably that of another man. His eyes were closed and both remained unaware of Ezio's presence, and despite now knowing he really should leave, still his eyes remained focused on the sight before him. He was intrigued by this sight before him, in no small part because although he assumed one of the men was being paid for his services, there seemed no lacking desire on the part of either in the bed. Ezio was aware of such practices of course; there was quite a reputation for their prevalence in Florence, but he had never known it as anything more than a base joke.

Just as he was about to attain a much fuller understanding, he was yanked undiplomatically and ungracefully from the door. He was spun against the hallway wall and found himself staring into the eyes of Federico. They stared back at Ezio's, hot and dark, anger dancing like fire in them. "Ezio," he hissed. "What are you doing? Where is Caterina?"

All words lost to him, Ezio merely stared blankly back at his brother, shifting uncomfortably on the spot. The feeling deep within him had not settled and he could feel a burning heat just below his stomach; he dared not look down, knowing what he would see there.

His brother's eyes, however, had noticed the bulge, and taking hold of Ezio's shirt, his fingertips catching the skin underneath and pinching it, he dragged him back down the corridor, where the darkness and the silence loomed. Federico released with a harsh shove, sending Ezio to the wall; the cold stone caught Ezio's jaw, and he could feel his eyes water as the skin ripped and his warm blood spilled down. One hand clutching his face, Ezio brought the other, which had formed a tight fist, around in a hard arch, and made the briefest of contact with his brother, before his own force propelled him to the ground. His brother's hands again dragged him up and this time held him to the wall. "Ezio." Federico's voice seemed calmer now but the rage in Ezio was untameable and the younger struggled violently. A slap came down where Ezio had been newly cut. "Calm now. Ezio, do you not understand? What those men were doing was a sin! You hear me? A sin...it is unnatural...unacceptable..." Federico's voice trailed off and his eyes came to met those of his younger brother. Removing the hand that held Ezio in place, Federico let out a long sigh and paced further down the corridor. Ezio remained by the wall, his spine still contoured to the grooves of the stone. "No one would understand, Ezio. We – you are from a good family..." The voice weakened and faltered.

"I wasn't doing anything, I wasn't even looking," Ezio said angrily, his voice straining. He sounded young.

"Yes you were; I don't need to know why, I don't want to,"

"You're wrong. It's your fault anyway, why did you bring me here, when all these girls want is our money. What would our family say if they knew we were here?"

"... Nothing as bad as what they would say if I told them... what happened to you tonight," Federico passed both hands through his hair and looked at his brother. "Perhaps you are right Ezio, perhaps this was my fault and I should never have brought you here." He came back close to Ezio and, with the briefest of hesitations, put his arm around his brother's shoulders. "I don't want to speak of this again, come with me, we will enjoy this evening, we can pay for drinks and conversation as much as we can pay for anything else." Federico started to lead them down the corridor, but then he caught Ezio again and pushed him back against the wall. Ezio tensed to anger once more, but Federico pushed his chest and held him tight in position. "I won't mention this again Ezio, not to anyone else, or even to you. You are young, and things are bound to change for you, but if they... if they don't, then remember this night: you can come to these places and drink and enjoy yourself with the girls here. Doing that will not damage your character... it will help it..." and once again Federico released him and walked them back down the corridor, and on to the tables on the ground floor where they drank and talked and laughed until the events of the early evening were almost forgotten to both.