A/N: Okay, so this used to be the 2nd "role reversal" chapter of my other story, Protezione, but I'm splitting them into separate stories so I may continue this one :) Thanks in advance for reviews ;)

Leonardo stared at his easel, with a fresh sheet of paper on it. The same commission he'd been thinking about starting, but hadn't actually gotten to.

He should be back by now, the artist mused. What is taking him so long?

Chuckling to himself, Leo said to the empty workshop, "Oh, I'm sure it's fine. Ezio always comes back."

Just as he spoke those words, there was a knock on Leonardo's door. Thinking it was the assassin, he quickly turned to see who was coming in.

Well, it wasn't Ezio, but...

"Oh, hello, Claudia," the artist said with a respectful bow. "How may I be of service?"

"I was just wondering if you've seen Ezio? I haven't heard from him, and he was supposed to come by and talk to me when he returned," the young woman said. "I know my brother has never been the most punctual, but this is later than even he is normally capable of."

"I understand," Leonardo replied. "I have also been wondering. He stopped by right before he left, and I haven't seen or heard from the man since."

Claudia sighed. "Well, he is starting to worry me."

Ezio sat on the cold stone floor, wishing for help to arrive. He'd been there for a while, and was beginning to... get scared, you could call it.

The marks from the whips lashed across his bare chest, stinging him constantly. Time was blurring together, nothing seemed to matter.

I cannot give up, Ezio insisted to himself. I must live. For Madre, for Claudia... For Leonardo. I hope he's not worried about me.

Hearing a click from outside his cell, Ezio looked up. A guard opened the door slightly and looked in with contempt.

"Are you ready to talk yet?" he demanded.

The assassin's silence was the answer.

"Fine. But it's your body, not mine," the guard said smoothly, pulling a whip from behind his back.

After a week, Leonardo was tired of waiting. Every night, he waited for the assassin to come home. But he was left alone, every night. His workshop had never felt so big.

With the moon hanging overhead, Leo left his workshop. It was too quiet without Ezio. Even when the man didn't talk, Leonardo needed his company.

While he was out, the artist happened to overhear something. A conversation between two men.

"...and he still wouldn't say a word! I beat the man near to death, and not a word. How are we going to find out where the inventor is, huh? Austere is becoming impatient!"

"Ever think about actually looking? We heard he lived in the city, yes? Once we find him, all we need are his plans. Then the task will be done, nothing more. Got it?"

Beyond that, Leonardo stopped listening. It didn't seem relevant until...

"I swear, the Auditore are not noble. They are cowards! This pezzo di merda is proof."

Auditore? Leonardo repeated in his mind. They might have Ezio, or know where he is!

Silently, Leonardo began to follow the two men around the city. Soon enough, they started for an area outside of the crowded city as the sun began to rise. The place where they stopped was, to all appearances, an abandoned two-story stone building. However, they went inside. Leonardo stayed outside and listened for anything that would tell him where Ezio would be.

"Has he said anything?" one asked.

"No," another replied angrily.

"Go give him another talk. He has to break sometime."

Leonardo didn't know what to do. He was scared, then angry, then confused. Then a mix of all three. What was a simple artist like him to do?

Noticing a wagon come up to the building, Leo crouched low so he would not be seen. The driver went inside after tying the horses.

Just like he'd seen Ezio do, the inventor somehow got to the wagon without being noticed. The curious horses nuzzled him and nickered, while Leonardo motioned for them to be quiet. They seemed to obey him, and he was able to look inside the wagon.

Weapons. How convenient.

Now, Leonardo just had to see if there were any he even knew how to use...

Ezio felt warm, sticky blood on his lips as it trickled onto his chin. His bones were protruding from his malnourished form, and he could nearly feel himself wasting away.

Inside, the assassin wanted to be rescued. He wanted to be free. But he was also concerned for his friend, Leonardo...

Flashback

Shortly after being taken to the stone building, Ezio was met by guards and who he assumed was their leader.

"Where is the inventor, Leonardo da Vinci?" he ordered.

"Who?" Ezio replied stupidly.

"The inventor! He goes by Leonardo, witnesses claim he is in the city. You assassins know every inch of the city, so we know you have the knowledge. Where is he?"

Ezio was relieved to know that these people didn't know that he and the artist were actually close friends.

And he swore not to say a word.

Leonardo settled for a long sword. It would do, and he was familiar with the weapon. He could wait no longer. Ezio needed his help.

There were two guards that he met right away. Still unsure of the weapon he was wielding, Leonardo swung it in a circle at the guards. Somehow, he hit them both. One seemed to be dead, the other only wounded. Before Leo could think to kill him, the guard scurried away.

Probably to go get his leader. Great.

Rushing about the building, Leonardo searched for his companion. He had to be here.

The first floor brought no help, so the inventor went up the stairs.

Another guard was at the top of the stairs, but Leonardo was getting frustrated now. He thrust the sword forward, lancing it trough the man, bidding a success.

Except for the fact that he couldn't get the sword out of the man's body.

After a bit of tugging and pulling, Leonardo managed to free the sword from his victim's body. Trotting on, he looked and listened for any signs of the man he needed to see, to know he was okay.

Faintly, Leo heard something in the building. He realized it was two more guards, along with their "boss" or whatever. Yelping, the artist ducked into the nearest room and shut the door.

Turning around to see where he was, imagine the artist's shock when he saw another door, a metal cell door. Behind it was Ezio.

Leonardo kept back a sympathetic gasp when he saw the always strong assassin. His hands were tied behind his back, his ankles were bound as well. A piece of cloth was around his eyes.

Without a word, Leo rushed to the door and opened the cell door, which he found unlocked. No use to lock the door on someone so weak he could not move.

Kneeling beside his friend, Leonardo tried to untie the binds on his hands. Ezio whimpered quietly and tried to scoot away.

"No, no, please," he begged.

"Ezio, it's me," Leonardo replied calmly. "It's me, Leonardo, I'm here."

Getting close to Ezio again, Leo pulled the bind off Ezio's hands. Despite his weakened form, the Auditore reached up and felt for Leonardo.

Putting his hands on Ezio's chiseled face, Leo carefully took the blindfold off too. Looking into the bright blue eyes before him, Ezio allowed a small smile to light up his pale skin.

"Can you walk?" Leo wondered as he untied the man's feet.

"I... I don't know..." Ezio murmured.

Leonardo put his friend's arm around his shoulder, allowing the tired assassin to lean against him.

"It is about twenty feet down," Leo said, looking out a window that they may be able to fit through. "Going out the door may be too obvious, and a bit careless."

"Landing on the ground from a second story window? That does not seem careless to you?" Ezio questioned.

"I have an idea," Leonardo stated, seeing a pile of hay nearby. It was not below the window, and they would not be able to land in it. Looking out the window, the artist clicked his tongue and saw that the horses, now unattached from the wagon, came to the wall and looked up with curiosity. Leonardo tried desperately to point to the pile of hay and back to the ground below the window.

Somehow, one of the horses understood. The other followed, and they started pushing hay under the window.

"Since when were you a horse whisperer?" Ezio chuckled.

"Since this morning, apparently."

It didn't take long to get enough hay in the landing area outside the window. The small opening proved a problem for the weak young man, but Leonardo helped him so that he could get onto the windowsill. Taking a deep breath of fresh air at last, the Auditore jumped. Leonardo was right behind him.

To escape without being spotted, Ezio and Leo got up onto the bare backs of the two horses. The artist was not the most graceful, and nearly fell off several times. To this, Ezio had to laugh. It felt good to laugh again, and to see that no one had harmed Leonardo.

Not long after, they were in the city while the sun had risen and people were about. Without issue, the two men ended up back at Leonardo's workshop. The horses were dropped off at a nearby stable, and Leonardo helped his wounded friend walk inside.

Ezio let out a gentle sigh of relief, attempting to not disturb his injuries. He was finally home again.

Home never felt so good.

A/N: So... yeah... that's it. I had this idea for a while and planned to publish sooner, but I found it hard to write Leonardo's character. At first, he was supposed to be all bad-ass and save Ezio. Then I remembered a distinct line...

"Bravery is not my strong suit..."

DAMMIT LEONARDO!

Hope I did well though! Review? Thankssssss :D