A/N: No promises that the German in this chapter is spot on.
The Thief Bestows Wisdom
"Ginerva, attend to the Thieves Guild. Tell La Volpe that you need tutoring in your free running"
"Ja, mien Lehrer" Ginerva, the resident German replied.
Ginerva, who had traveled to the land of ancient history for an arranged marriage and ended up removing herself from the unsavory match when her husband-to-be became less then favorable with his loyalties to what Ginerva came to realize was an unfair Borgia rule. And whilst trying to defend two wrongly persecuted children (who had been unfairly accosted by heavily armed guards and held at sword point) Ginerva stepped in using a sword too heavy for the ex-bride to hold up, let alone defend herself with. Ezio came and played caped crusader to save the would be vigilante and the two dirt covered cretins who ran off as soon as the German stepped in.
She had bowed deeply and pledged allegiance in an unknown language to the hooded man who had her shaking in worn leather boots. He had taken the fist that was balled up on raised knee, unballing it and pulling it until the kneeling German was once again on her feet.
"The Liberation of Roma has begun. Join me, and began your fight against the Borgia"
The German had stared at the hooded man, whose words had sparked her inner sense of rebellion at the mere mention of the Borgia.
"Vas? Mein italienisch ist not ze best."
Ezio faltered.
"Boot ich understand Borgia. Rebellion, ja? You can count me in"
The German traveled on horseback from the hideout on the island to the small town on the outskirts of Roma as per her assignment. As a relatively new recruit she still had a ways to go in training. Mainly, her ability to fly across the roof tops to avoid prying eyes.
She tied the horse and made her way up the entrance to La Volpe Addormentata. As she made her way to the Inn a shiver went through her. A poorly disguised thief made an obvious attempt at the gold in the pouch at her hip. She backed away and glared.
"Eine problem?" she seethed, doing her best to adjust her hip so that the sunlight reflected dangerously off the dagger tied to her belt.
"No, no. Not with me. But that poor guy over there" the thief said, lifting and arm in the general direct of a fleeing caped head.
"Verdammt!" and she sprinted off in the direction at the fleeing fiend.
The thief took a sharp right, barreling down a filthy narrow alley. Ginerva followed closely catching the corner just in time to see the thief run up the wall, grapple onto the ledge of the tile roof and haul himself upwards. Without thinking she followed him onto the roof. Only to soon fall a couple building behind when she slowed down significantly to judge the gaps between roofs. She stopped at the edge of one building, the thief having jumped off the building unto the next and going into a roll to use up momentum. He was back on his feet within seconds, sprinting away from the German stranded on the roof.
She sat on the edge of the roof, dangling down. When her feet rested on the roof she looked up. Only to find the thief nowhere in sight.
"Verdammt. Verdammt. Oh mein Gott, Verdammt." She repeated using as mantra.
"Looking for something, Farfalla?"
Ginerva spun around, seeing the thief that had pointed her in the direction of the quickfoot that she chased across the town's rooftops. He held her coin purse in one hand dangling it a foot from her nose. She went to reach for it. He pulled it back, just out of her reach.
"You?" Confusion marred her features. "Vas ist this 'farfalla'?"
"How 'bout this: I'll tell yah when you are worthy to bear the name" she blinked at this. He dropped down onto roof and bowed low. "Allow me to introduce myself" he took her hand and kissed the knuckles. "I am your tutor. Anastasio Tobia at your service, farfalla"
"I see a few problems with your running form, farfalla. Keep your eyes to the horizon. Make your strides longer. You hesitate too much. Don't think, just run. Go with the flow of the city. This city is a masterpiece. And true work of art that should be in palaces and Villas. You must honor the art. Respect it. Learn it inside and out. Each city is a living being. Each building has a soul. Be familiar with the feeling of tiles under your soles. Feel it. Be sure. And then, and only then, shall you be worthy of your name, farfalla"
"Due sprechen too much. Feel dis, honor dat. These are buildings. Not people. They have no souls. They are stone and wood."
The thief disregarded her comment.
"Farfalla, move quicker. You still hesitate. You must move like the wind. Quick, quietly. You still fear. These buildings are here to help you move. They warrant respect. Not fear"
"ich do not furcht! Ich bin nein feigling!"
"That anger, farfalla. Take it out on the buildings. I am but your humble servant. Easily scared by such harsh words, my love"
"Mein liebe!" the thief started to run, determined to test her movement on the rooftops of Rome. And of course, keeping out of reach of her anger was a plus.
"Such fiery temper!" he yelled back at her "You run across the buildings like an oaf. You must float like a farfalla. And sting like a bee with that dangerous blade. Hey, wait. Put that away! This is free running practice! Not-Hey!"
"Anastasio…you vere gone. The thieves…they wouldn't tell me where you vere."
"Vas? Did the little German miss her oh-so-wonderful tutor?"
"Arshloch"
"Please, mi amor, I am not as well versed in your angry language as you are in my beautiful one."
"Saukerl"
"There you go again, Farfalla."
"…"
"I was hurt. I took a crossbow bolt to the leg. And I was not able to return to the rooftops in time for our lesson. I heard from the other thieves that you came looking for me. I must say, I am very flattered that you cared enough to worry."
She groaned.
"You still fear the fall, farfalla"
"I can not help my body's natural wish for self-preservation."
"Sometimes it is not a matter of surviving the fall. You must…duck! Guards!"
"You must leap before you look! Fly before you think! Sometimes, you must have faith that there will be roof beneath your feet with each leap."
"Why have you not yet told me what is this 'farfalla'?"
"because you have not earned the name yet, mi amor"
"I could have just asked one of the other recruits, you know"
"Si, you could have. But, mi amor, you have not. Because, you want me to tell you."
"Ja, und?"
"und, do you have faith that there will be roof beneath your feet?"
"Butterfly" the thief said one day. The German and the thief were lounging on the top of one of the tallest towers in Roma. Basking in the warm Italian sun.
The German rested on an elbow.
"Vas?"
"Butterfly. Farfalla mean butterfly."
"So, I am ein butterfly?"
"Si mi amor, gracefully floating across the rooftops. Not fearing that there will not be roof under foot. Respecting the soul and personality of everything you decide to land on. Truly at peace with the surrounding environment. And of course beautiful beyond all measure." The thief flashed her a smile. One that happened to make her feel like she had her namesake floating around her stomach.
"if I am a butterfly then you are eine affe"
"I am an apple?"
"Nein. Not ein apfel. Eine affe. A monkey. Wonderful climber, but horribley annoying."
"Oh, I am annoying?"
"Frightfully so"
A smile.
A kiss.