It was very dark in Florence on a winter's night. Everyone retired early to bed; the early darkness tricking their brains into believing it was later than it actually was. Though, who was to say that this is not what Mother Nature intended? Forcing people to catch up on the sleep lost in the long summer days.

A man scurried down the paved street, hugging a wrapped parcel close to his chest. His eyes scanned every street, every building. He paused, perking up as a thud was heard behind him. Slowly he turned around and, to his surprise, nothing had changed around him. No one was awake and no animals had appeared either. He stared at the street behind him, a confused look upon his face, before turning around and continuing his journey along the road, hugging the parcel closer to his chest.

A few more minutes passed and nothing else strange had happened. Until a grunt was heard to the man's left. "Wh-Who's there?" he asked, slight fear in his voice. Silence. The man stared at the direction he thought the sound had come from. "Answer me! Who is there?!" Again, there was no answer. The man whimpered, mumbling to himself possibilities of what caused the voice. Hurrying back on his way, he felt a sudden pressure on his arm. Before he could yell or scream, he was dragged into an ally, a hand pressed over his mouth. The man's eye widened in panic, searching in the darkness for the face of the person that had dragged him into the alley.

Suddenly, the hand was removed from his mouth to be replaced with a soft kiss. The man smiled, feeling the lips against his, feeling the light scar on the top lip.

"Ezio," he whispered.

"Leonardo," the assassin smiled, the top half of his face hidden by his hood.

"It has been so long," the blonde said, disbelief in his voice. His eyes sparkled. He had grown to believe his lover would never return. It had been seven months since they had last seen each other. "Come, come. It is not safe on the streets. If the guards see..." The assassin nodded and began to walk in the direction of the workshop.

Reaching the doorway, he wrapped one arm tighter around his parcel, reaching for the key with his other hand and slotting it into the lock, turning it. He pulled a puzzled frown when he could not unlock the door and the assassin behind him chuckled quietly, leaning around him to open the door. "You never lock it, Leo." The artist smiled bashfully up at the assassin who returned the look with a smirk. Leonardo bit his lip slightly then turned to walk into the workshop, placing the parcel down and lighting a few candles dotted around.

"I see you did not clean up while I was away," the assassin chuckled, glancing around at the various items around the workshop. The flying machine was hung up in the top corner, under it was a pile of half drawn plans and opened books. Next to that was a desk full of various materials and paints. There was a blood stain on the door by the doorway to his surgery. There was no body on the table at the time. In the opposite side of the workshop, there were several half completed paintings stood up. One was of, what looked like a woman, looking at the artist or viewer. The woman actually looked surprisingly like Leonardo's assistant, Salai.

The artist gazing at the assassin as he looked around the room. The assassin was smiling to himself, remembering the last time he was here. He turned to look back at Leo, their eyes locking in a loving gaze. "I missed you, Leo," the dark haired man said dreamily.

"I missed you too," he smiled sadly. "I thought you would never return to me. I thought you had run out of need for my services."

"I will always return, Leonardo. This was the longest seven months of my life. You must update me on what has happened!"

"As will you! I will get some wine. Do you wish to change? I still have some of your clothes upstairs." The assassin nodded and went to get changed. Leonardo watched him, a content sigh passing his lips. He moved to move a few pieces of paper, looking down at the doodles. "Hmm," he glanced around for something to draw with then shook his head. "Concentrate, Leonardo." He continued to clear a space, collecting the papers in his arms. Spinning on the spot, he looked around for a space to put them down.

"Need some help?" The artist froze then slowly turned to stare at the assassin who was now dressed in a loosely fit shirt and had removed the ribbon from his hair. He had the same boots and tight trousers on but this suited the outfit perfectly.

The assassin smirked and waved his hand about, clicking his fingers in front of the blonde man's face. "Eh- What?" He coughed. "Sorry. No, I'm fine," he placed the papers on the floor near a bookcase. "Sit, sit. Make yourself at home." The artist rushed off to get some wine and glasses. Ezio sat at the table, resting his feet on top of it, hands resting behind his head. He admired the art work around the room. A cough interrupted his admiration and his eyes darted towards the unimpressed blonde man standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "Where you born in a stable? Get your feet down!" Ezio did what he was told, a slight smirk upon his lips. The artist rolled his eyes and placed the glasses on the table, pouring two drinks. "So. Who wants to begin?"

"I'll let you begin," he said, leaning forward to snatch his glass, slipping the wine.

"Well, not much has happened." Leonardo set the bottle down on the table, taking his glass and sitting down. "About a week after you left, Salai went missing for a short while. Strangely enough, so did a coin purse of mine." They smirked at each other. "I do not think he took too kindly to us," he frowned slightly, sipping his drink.

"There is nothing we can do about that, I'm afraid."

"Si, I know." He sighed then placed his glass on the table. The assassin noticed Leonardo's sadness and reached to lightly place his hand upon the older man's. The artist looked up at Ezio, holding their gaze. Ezio slowly stroked the pad of his thumb over a tendon that stuck out slightly on his hand. Leo's heart began to race. It'd had been so long since he had seen the assassin. But he did not want to force himself upon the assassin so soon. He reluctantly withdrew his hand, using it to run around the rim of the wine glass. The assassin coughed and glanced around the room.

"What is that?" he nodded to the parcel. Leonardo followed his gaze and smiled.

"Just a new painting I am working on.

"May I look at it?" the assassin asked, the artist shaking his head. "It still needs working on. You can see it when it is finished, si?"

"Fiiiiine," Ezio sighed dramatically. "You are so cruel to me."

"Oh, si. I am a monster. Now, it's late. I think it is time for bed, do you not?" The assassin puffed up his chest and smirked.

"I am not tired. I am a big boy now. I can stay up late."

"Si, and it is late now so go to bed," Leonardo said, standing up and pushing the chair under the desk, offering his hand. Ezio grinned and took his hand, standing up.

Snuggling in bed, Ezio wrapped an arm around his lover, wanting to make him feel safe. Leonardo let out a little yawn. "Good night, E-," he yawned again. "Ezio." Before Ezio could return the wish, Leonardo had drifted off. He leant close to the artist's ear and whispers. "Good night, mio amico."