By Leaps and Bounds

The hieracherchy among the thieves of Firenze was very simple: La Volpe, and then his everyone else. The Fox worked to make sure that his thieves were relatively safe rom the guards, that a cut of their profits went to the people who assured that safety, and that no freelance pick pockets pushed out his men. In return, they did not quetion his leadership. Indeed, there had only ever been one rebellion under his 'rule'. It had been almost twnety years ago, and the older thieves still spoke of how the back alleys of their city ran red with traitor blood. One does not outfox the fox.

And so there was no doubt that it was safe to leave Firenze and her thieves to their own devices for a day or so. In truth, if he played his cards right he could be gone and back without his men being any the wiser. And yet, there was always a pang in La Volpe, as he watched Firenze disapear over the mountains. A fox does not like leaving his lair, no matter how safe that lair was. But he had a most important task in Venezia, and it demanded his presence. And that meant leaving his city to fend for herself.

There was a charm to Venezia, Volpe had to acknowledge that. It's buildings were taller then the ones in Firenze, giving him both the challange of the climb and the reward of the view. There was the thrill of leaping over canals-though the smell was hardly worth the effort-, and the food was excellant.

And then, there were the thieves. They were everwhere to be seen, as often on the streets as they were on the rooftops. The thieves guild in Venezia was massive, eclipsing the small but efficient community in her sister city. But Volpe had the pleasure every time of seeing their day to activity, and overall lack of agility. So many of them were young, and they lacked the strong center of older, more experianced thieves that Firenze boasted. Their youth was wasted on them, and the Fox was amused everytime that they did not notice him in their streets. Watching and waiting for the only person that did matter to hunt him down.

Which was where he was now. Volpe rested his back against the tower of the Frari, watching as the sun drowned beneath azure waters. The evening was cool, but the bricks behind him still held the afternoon's warmth. It was the ideal time to stretch out on the roof's tiles and take a nap, though the fox stayed wide awake. It would not due to be sleeping when one was expecting company. Speaking of which...

"Enjoying the view?" The voice sounded above him, though the older man did not so much as blink when Antonio dropped beside him. "I didn't expect to find you here."

"That is because you did not think. Pity, I thought you were getting better at that."

"Maybe you are just getting better at hiding." The Venetian thief dropped to sit next to the older thief, sighing a little. "I never get a chance to watch the sunset anymore."

"Then watch it now." Volpe slid an arm around the others shoulders, pulling the younger thief to lean against him. "Though, it happens every day. You should be able to make time for it once and awhile."

"It's not the same when you watch it alone. Besides, I like watching it with you." Unbidden, Antonio shifted until he sat between his lovers knees, resting his back against the others chest. "You should visit more often."

Volpe only hmmed, wrapping his arms around the slender man and rested his face in thick black hair. It was true that they so rarely saw each other, but Venezia and Firenze were not neighboring cities. It was a journey either way, and not an easy one at that. Volpe did visit as often as time allowed, but it wasn't enough for either of them. Time was not the problem for Antonio, but rather the things that he must do with that time. Unlike Volpe, Venezia's thieves were always open to the idea of rebellion. Even if he left for two days, Antonio risked losing everything he had built.

As they sat together, the sun lost it's battle and sank into the ocean. The air grew colder, and Antonio, shivering, pulled them both to their feet. "Come, let us go back. You will like the new place. Seta is very comfortable, and you will love the new bed. It is very...durable."

"I liked the old one fine," Volpe demureed, but followed the younger thief aong the rooftops. He knew where the Palazzo della Seta was and could probably have reached the place first, but Antonio was proud of his new headquarters and so the fox followed his lover. They raced like children over the rooftops, laughing and dancing out of each other's reach as they neared their destination.

And Antonio was right. Volpe did like the new bed.