I have started to write this story now but I fear it may suffer some changes in the future because I don't really feel at ease playing and changing history, a thing which the game does in some perspectives. That is also why you might find some aspects of the game also changed. I have no idea for how long I will update the story or how often – the feedback might also influence the updating board. In the meanwhile have a good reading with the first chapter.

Assassin's Creed II © Ubisoft.

Capitolo uno

He lowered his head trying to overcome the sensation of dizziness. Looking at the crowd of people acclaiming, whistling and swearing made him feel so inside-out, the entire body numb, only the cold drops of sweat crawling painfully from his temples to his chin.

He tried to shift his right shoulder to put in motion the nerves in his arm. That's how he felt the knots at his wrists. He shook his head to make it easier to breathe. Ha, such sweet irony. In the end the rough rope had the very precise function of taking his last breath. With his head down he looked at his feet. He should have taken the red boots this morning… they were more eccentric and had he known he'd end up in this position he would have at least deserved to die in a proper attire. And the planks were old and putrefied. It must have been at cause of the rain and the bloodshed all over the years, said blood penetrating the wood and painting it permanently. At least the blood was red, one of his favourite colours….ah, this damned sun…would it have killed them to at least carry the execution at dawn? Dying in the middle of the day wasn't half as artistic as he expected his death to be. He shyly looked to his right. And dying among two other poor people that were probably caught stealing a piece of bread wasn't helping his ego either.

Oh well, today wasn't Leonardo's day at all. He felt the planks lower under the weight of the hangman. He took a deep breath… as deep as the choker allowed him anyway. Leonardo looked once again through his lashes at the bunch of people gathered to watch the execution. For an instant he thought he saw a glimpse of white hood and if his eyes weren't playing sadistic tricks on him, salvation surely took his time to make an appearance. He wanted to search the crowds one more time but the sound of rusty metal reached his ears and his eyes went wide in horror as the ground under him vanished. The grip on his neck was sudden and so powerful that he saw glowing light for an instant. From his studies he perceived that soon after that everything would turn deep black and the lack of oxygen would start doing strange things to his mind. Sure, the black was there but the unexpected thing was that he still possessed the capacities to clearly distinguish the noises around him. And the most powerful was of such a familiar voice thundering over the rest, swearing and throwing anger. When he thought that no matter how much he would stretch to feel new ground under his feet was futile, he realised that the blackness didn't last as much as he believed. The powerful force that was keeping him above the surface vanished and his knees bent at the contact with solid ground. In his weak state, going back between reality, nausea, and the black dots appearing in his eyes he felt a piece of long material being thrown over his head and shoulders and a relatively slender but firm arm circling around his back from under his left arm.

'Hold on and try to keep up the pace.'

Slowly his vision was coming back and he thought whoever this individual was his intervention was early enough for him to regain control over his body and mind. He would have bothered to put the low whisper with a face from his memory but right now he was struggling to keep balance under the forceful thrusts of bodies colliding with him from all directions. He heard a woman in the crowd yelling murder and judging by the violent pushes, the people were trying to run from the crime scene with their souls attached to their bodies. Soon the hits ceased and he could allow more air into his lungs; as much air as a frenetic run would allow him. The person next to him must have felt his recovered powers and stopped playing as his support; taking a step ahead hos savior punched in the stomach the guard standing in the alley they were about to step in. It was not the black hooded cape or the whispered voice threatening him not to lose the sight of it that put all the pieces of the puzzle back in Leonardo's head but the way in which the cape was running like a shadow along the line of the buildings, knocking to the ground any possible danger from Leonardo's way. When the shadow went around the corner, the body of an agonising guard fell over him and Leonardo, being as he was, a gentleman, he gently put the man down.
'Mi dispiace signore.' As he was making sure that the body didn't receive any other injury than the fist over his nape he saw the cape reappearing at the cross of roads and the slightest irritation was showing in the carrier's voice.

'Leonardo!'

So maybe it wasn't the time to be polite but he really couldn't help it. Leonardo caught up with his savior and wasn't surprised at all to find himself guided back down the road to his home. When the shadow suddenly disappeared he didn't stop from running. He wasn't surprised when there were no guards outside the house or when he found his lock picked and the door cracked open. He pushed it forward, slipped inside and locked it back. He stopped, and with his hands on the door, he took a breath.

'Are you alright? Let me see your neck.'

Leonardo jumped and turned around a little taken aback even if he knew he wasn't alone in the house. He didn't really have the chance to respond when the figured approached him from the shadows and started to work at the knot of the rope still hanging by his neck.

'Oh dear, I have completely forgot about it.'

While the knot came loose like a simple thread under the pair of skillful hands he couldn't see the face from under the hood but he knew that a smile was there by the way the head was shaking.

'Those are the kind of things that you shouldn't get used to, Leonardo.'

'Never mind that, what are you doing in Florence?' Leonardo couldn't contain his joy at seeing such an old friend and as that he threw his arms to hug the body hiding under the many layers of clothes. The hug was returned, not with the same excess of enthusiasm whatsoever, but a sincere hug nevertheless.

'Saving your life, apparently.' The voice was betraying familiarity now and the faded chuckle was a reason of comfort for Leonardo also.

He let go and pulled down the cloak that not long ago had been thrown over him for protection.

'Ah, I would have been saved anyway.'

'A minute too late, yes. Your friend should make sure he can pull off with all kind of unexpected situation rather than playing the last moment epic rescue.'

Leonardo watched with amusement as his old acquaintance crossed the arms and shifted the weight on one leg.

'Said the pot to the kettle.'

'I didn't goof around. I ran to the place as soon as I –.' But the words were interrupted by Leonardo's laughter. He knew wrong judgment was like poking a nest of wasps for this person and he always enjoyed taunting his friends. But soon he changed the subject, realisation knocking at him.

'Oh, so I saw right. He was there.' And he wondered if from under the black hood he was receiving incredulous looks or he was being watched with narrowed eyes in annoyance. Maybe his morbid jokes weren't much appreciated.

'Anyhow, you still haven't answered my question. What brings you around this city? Or to me if that's the case; and do not answer me with lines along seeing old friends because you let your presence known only if you are in need of something.' He made a pause. 'And friendship is never on the list.'

'Thank you for the humanity integrity speech you just made on me. Fine; not to beat it around the bushes, I came here in hopes you would save me with a piece of something I have. But given the conditions in which I found you, you should take a rest and I'll come back later.'

Leonardo half listened to the words, half concentrated on the voice he hadn't heard in years. It was a tread that it had acquired probably under years of… professional work; talking in a low voice, at times whispered even in a situation like this, when the two of them were the only ones in the room.

'Nonsense! You know that working with you brings much delight. It's much more relaxing than actually trying to relax; the fret is bound to stop sooner or later. So, what do you have for me?' Despite all the events from the last hours he knew that trying to explain how it all lead to this was a useless thing to do since probably it was already known by the figure in front of him. Plus, he deeply enjoyed the challenges that his friend would always bring.

The figure stood still, analysing the situation and, after a short nod, brought a hand under the cape taking out what seemed to be a golden tube. Once the hand opened, it revealed to be an astounding criptex, engraved with finical details. Leonardo's face transformed into a mirror of delight as he waited no longer to grab his new attention taker.

'This…this is brilliant! Where did you find this?' he moved to the table to light some candles in order to have a better look.

'I…. borrowed it.'

Leonardo took a second to look full of sarcasm over his shoulder at the silhouette.

'Of course you did.'

'Of course I did.'

The smirk on the face could not be seen but it could clearly be heard.

'I am usually good at this, but it's not in any language I would know. And from the way it sounds there's some sort of liquid inside. I was afraid to play too much with the code in case something would activate and destroy whatever is hidden within.'

'Yes, it does look like some sort of mechanism. Better be careful. I wonder how old this thing is.' But his last question was already some sort of self-conversation. The figure approached him and watched the criptex over the man's shoulder. Then it moved along the table at a slow pace, no sounds coming from the steps.

'So, what happened since the last time I called on this place?'

'I wouldn't know when you last stepped in Florence but I could say that all the madness started since the Auditore incident.'

'Auditore?' the figure stopped in its tracks and looked over the shoulder, for the first time the voice rising in interest. "As in Giovanni Auditore?"

'Ah, you heard of him?' Leonardo stopped his examination for a second, only to restart after he received a confirmation.

'I know of him.'

'Knew.' Leonardo corrected with a hint of sadness in his voice.

'Pardon?'

'He's dead.' When the cape fully turned he knew it was demanding for an explanation. 'He was killed years ago. Executed for treachery. Of course it was a conspiracy against him. He was innocent and probably one of the most loyal men to Medici.'

He heard a sneer from the end of the table and he realised that maybe loyalty wasn't such a good subject at the moment. But beside this, the sudden turn of the figure and the silent walk that was retaken were signs that the news weren't exactly pleasant. The voice confirmed it as it was filled with reminiscence and disbelief. 'But the cape-'

'That was his second son – Ezio. He is the one wearing it now. After the murder of his father he decided to follow in his footsteps as an Assassin to revenge his death.'

After a moment of silent thoughts, the figure approached Leonardo again as if remembering something. 'What about his first son?'

'Well, when the guards came to arrest them they had time to hide his wife and daughter. Later, Ezio managed to get the two of them out of city to safety. They took Signore Giovanni and his eldest and youngest sons to prison and executed them the next day. Ezio was lucky to be out on that evening.' While Leonardo looked back at the criptex he still managed to catch the only reaction of the shadow. It might have looked like any other informational discussion, without a single flinch from the figure, but the tighten fist didn't escape Leonardo's eyes.

'Can you make something of it?'

Feeling like a burden had been lifted by the change of subject, Leonardo scratched his chin.

'Well, I am pretty sure I can decode it but I really need some proper time.'

'If time is all you need I might be able to give it to you. If this thing proves productive enough I might concentrate on its outcome.'

The man couldn't keep himself from smiling at the choice of words. Always the cryptic one since they were at it. But knowing this person for quite a long time he knew how to mix the overly elevated discourse with the etiquette-less meanings of thievery and profaning.

'You know, you can take that hood down. It's just the two of us here and since I haven't seen you in years I am rather curious of how time has made a mark on you.'

There was again a moment of silence like many others that day but it was soon followed by a sigh.

'I might be forced to flee soon and I don't like taking chances. Don't worry I am not hurrying anywhere out of town.' It was a taunt what had Leonardo read in the soft voice.

'You grew up since I last caught a glimpse of you. Still some inches shorter than me though….thankfully.'

'Don't even think about giving me the proper appearance discourse Leonardo.'

'Well, considering your origins, instead of playing shadows you should really try to act more like a lad-'

His words were interrupted when the door opened forcefully. Before Leonardo had the chance to recognise the person who had broken into his house a shadow passed in front of him and in an instant was out through the window and up on the building.

'Wait! Shiva! He's a friend!' But it was too late. The figure was already out of sight. He turned to face Ezio and then he looked at the table. The criptex was also gone.

'Are you alright!' Leonardo watched him lowering his hood and taking heavy breaths. He felt a little ashamed for practically forgetting about him. The Assassin must have had quite some fight with the guards and a good run to his house.

'I am….fine.' He let his body fall into a chair, for the first time realising the things he had been through in just one day.

After a quick check, Ezio was glad to see that indeed his friend was in one piece. Relaxing a bit he huffed and nonchalantly pointed with his hand to the window.

'Who was that boy anyway?'

Leonardo looked at him with a blank expression for quite some seconds, giving Ezio the impression that maybe he had been hallucinating all this time.

Then, half in confusion, half in amusement Leonardo asked:

"What boy?"

~~ End of Chapter 1~~

Author is left to starve. Treat her some feedback *flirty eyes*