I'M SO SORRY THIS HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO UPDATE!
DISC 1: Just a note, I have no idea at all how far Ezio's family's place is from Venice. Haven't played the game, no real clue :( Sorry if I'm terribly off. Let's just pretend that villa is where I think it is, okay? Okay. THank you :D
DISC 2: I have no idea how they traveled. I'm saying horses, because when I looked it up, that's what I read. :D
DISC 3: I did invent characters...
So there we go :) Enjoy!
EDIT: Sorry.. I didn't know Maria introduced them. To remind everyone again- I have never played this game. I have no way of knowing what happens. Sorry.. I fixed it, hopefully it's better now!
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Leonardo woke to a gentle touch, a light kiss left to his cheek. "Wake up, amore mio" Ezio's deep murmur made Leonardo stir, to see Ezio crouched beside the bed.
"It's too early" Leonardo turned his face back into his pillow, shivering under the blankets as cold air flooded in through the newly opened window.
"It's never too early. Vieni." He caressed Leonardo's cheek, "Per favore." That apologetic sorrow, present for the past week- something hopeful seemed to be there, like a plea. Leonardo blamed the curiosity that brought about, for he was compelled to follow Ezio outside into the morning darkness.
"Where-"
"Secret." Ezio almost smiled, and Leonardo had the distinct impression that he was worried.
He would have said Ezio seemed scared, had he believed Ezio was able to feel such.
As hours flowed together and melted into a long span of time, Leonardo couldn't recognize the countryside they traveled through, as if Ezio had purposely chosen a path Leonardo didn't know.
Leonardo couldn't bring himself to ask after their destination, and he had so little an idea that speculation was pointless. Ezio had given him no clues, nothing to hint at anything. All week, Ezio had been distant, quiet, and terribly apologetic, and it was worse, when Leonardo saw his pain, that Ezio had himself as deeply as he had hurt Leonardo.
Perhaps worse, Leonardo had found himself wondering, and despite his own hurt, hoped it wasn't so. Despite everything he was feeling and anything that Ezio could do to him, he couldn't ever stand to see Ezio in pain.
By the late afternoon, they had arrived before a villa nestled amongst the hills. Ezio said nothing as an introduction, just slipped off his horse and offered a hand to help Leonardo down. Ezio straightened his clothing, attempting to appear decent, and looked to Leonardo. He didn't give the explanation Leonardo had been hoping for, merely offered a soft, "come on, caro mio" and held out his hand.
The gardens they passed through were beautiful. Leonardo's attention snagged on the fountain, shrouded in vines, even as Ezio gently pulled him along the path that snaked between the wild gardens.
"Ezio, have you ever seen so many roses? They're beautiful." He could feel the instinct that told him they would be a beautiful subject for a painting, the instinct he never could repress, the one he would feel shallow without, the one that whispered into his ear to point out where the beauty in life could be found.
"Sì" Ezio said quietly, hand squeezing his.
"And the ivy..."
"Come, Leo. There is more to see than merely the gardens" The amusement was taut, yanked thin by something like anxiety, lingering on the edges of Ezio's voice. As they arrived deeper in the gardens, Leonardo could hear voices and music, rising and flowing, and before long, the sandy path opened out into a courtyard, swirling with people. Men with shined boots, women in adorned dresses, leaving no doubt in Leonardo's mind as to the general social standing.
"Ezio, where are we?" Leonardo turned his gaze from the ivy that laced with itself alongside the path to the villa before them. Against the light of the sinking sun, guests' silhouettes swirled with shadows. Ezio led him into the crowd of people, easily weaving between them. Leonardo picked up on the countless greetings, people expressing delight at seeing Ezio again, wishing him well, his response standard and sounding sincere, even as Leonardo knew how sincerity truly tasted, knew this wasn't it. He let Ezio guide him around the outside of the house, until they emerged in the gardens. Ezio paused, looking around.
Leonardo saw a jolt of movement off to his right, and before he could so much as turn, someone had all-but tackled him in a hug, and despite the obviously friendly nature, he still felt like his heart was going to burst from the panic. Within a second, however, the man was on his back on the floor, Ezio standing over him, fists clenched. The man looked up at Ezio, and, Leonardo noted, there wasn't even a hint of fear in his dancing eyes. Rather, he burst out laughing, and it served to make Ezio growl and move his hand towards his hidden blade.
"Calmare, Ezio" the man snickered, getting to his feet. He couldn't have been older than them, with a smirk that made Ezio growl.
"Don't touch him." Ezio scowled, and the man's response was to smirk again, and set a hand on Leonardo's shoulder. Ezio lunged forward, and the man grabbed him by the shoulders and dropped him to the ground. "Lorenzo!" Ezio was growling, staggering back to his feet.
"Claudia!" Lorenzo was bellowing, "Come, meet Ezio's lover!"
Leonardo looked to Ezio, to see that he was tensed, a scarlet blush on his face. And saw the way Ezio stood straighter, pride in his silence, and Leonardo understood.
Understanding the entire situation was beyond him, but in that moment, he knew where they were and for what cause.
And he wondered, now, why.
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Ezio was far closer to full-fledged terror than he would admit. The idea of the party in Venezia- that had induced a dizzying fear, that to so obviously admit to being Leonardo's lover would bring about the worst fate in the world. Ezio had never been scared for himself; it was Leonardo, only him, and that was far more important than Ezio felt he himself was. He didn't want to risk that, but Leonardo's crushing disappointment had proved to Ezio what he hadn't seen.
Leonardo hadn't been scared; he'd known Ezio would be there with him.
And now, Ezio wished he had accepted that easier confession.
"Ezio!" Claudia's shriek made him turn, and she flung her arms around his neck, "Lorenzo said you were coming, but I didn't believe him."
"Claudia, you take your own cousin for a liar?" Lorenzo pretended to pout, and Claudia giggled. "Besides, there are far more important matters at hand." Lorenzo looked pointedly at Leonardo. Claudia whirled and shrieked, then threw her arms around Leonardo.
"I knew it would be you, I just knew it!"
"Claudia, how could you know that?" Ezio questioned, as Claudia finally released Leoanrdo.
"You must be Ezio's sister" Leonardo was saying, smiling, as Claudia beamed and giggled.
"Si, si! And, oh, Ezio, how could I not know that?" The skirt of her blue dress swished around her as she spun to face him, "I am not stupido, I could see the way you looked when you talked about him." Ezio felt himself blush, caught Leonardo's eye over the top of Claudia's head. Leonardo had a look of astonishment on his face, a delighted sort of wonder, and Ezio couldn't regret what he was doing. Certainly, there was more to fear, but Leonardo's smile... Ezio could never say no, not to him. Even when he managed to, when his refusal had made Leonardo cry, that no had quickly turned to a yes, anything for you, even if Leonardo had yet to realize it.
"-you must come see, you'd love it!" Claudia was chattering, her voice always as excited as Ezio's was calm, taking Leonardo away towards the gardens. Ezio fought the urge to steal him back, just watched as his sister instantly found the subject Leonardo loved.
"Si, it would make such a beautiful painting- and you see the way the sunlight is, right now?" Leonardo's voice, as he and Claudia got farther away.
"Your little sister will talk his ear off" Lorenzo mused, shaking his head, "Now, care to explain why he seemed to have no clue we were here?" Ezio crossed his arms over his chest, scuffed the ground with the toe of his boot. "Ah, so you chose not to tell him."
Sometimes, Ezio hated how perceptive his cousin was.
"If the intent was to surprise him, it was obviously a success. He looked very happy. But knowing you, that probably wasn't your only reason for not telling him." Ezio cut a glare at Lorenzo, jaw tight.
"Maybe."
"Maybe!" Lorenzo grinned, "that's as good a confession as a 'yes, of course, Lorenzo, you are a genius for figuring it out!'"
"That, Lorenzo, would be a lie, not a confession."
"You weren't afraid of telling us, were you."
How Ezio hated it, when Lorenzo said such a statement- not a question, but a statement that Ezio could never deny.
"Why would I be? Claudia, apparently, always knew it would be Leonardo, and as for you-"
"And you'd kill me if I hurt him," Lorenzo added, grin widening.
"And, before that, I would tell Mario about you and his friend's daughter." The reminder made Lorenzo all-but pout.
"I need blackmail for you, Ezio."
"You also need a miracle, if that's what you want." Ezio saw Claudia and Leonardo returning, and Ezio knew that look. He loved it, the way Leonardo lit up with excitement when he saw some idea, already imagining how to create the beauty in a painting.
"It was as beautiful as you said it was, Ezio" Leonardo smiled, and Ezio tried to.
"There is still more to show you. May I have him back now, Claudia?"
"If you must" Claudia sighed, "it truly isn't fair, that my favorite of your acquaintances is so... so yours..." Claudia's pouting made Leonardo and Lorenzo laugh.
"I like him that way. He's as much mine as I am his, anyways." Ezio turned to go, slipping his hand into Leonardo's, "we will find you later."
"Si, si, and, Ezio-" Lorenzo added, "I believe I last saw her in the ballroom. She does know you are here." Ezio paled at that, didn't turn fast enough so as to hide it from Leonardo. Once they were a few steps away from Lorenzo and Claudia, Leonardo looked up at him.
"Her?"
Ezio could see the worries that flickered across Leonardo's face, surmising so many possibilities from Lorenzo's almost warning tone, from Ezio's own reaction of reluctance.
"My mother, caro mio." Ezio squeezed his hand, "I was hoping to tell her you have become my lover. If that is alright?" Despite the silent plea for Leonardo to balk, the way his eyes lit up dashed all hopes. Leonardo knew what that meant; Ezio hadn't truly expected otherwise.
"Si, si, of course." And then, then, Leonardo paused, "if you want."
Ezio had never understood how it was that Leonardo knew him so well. It came by surprise every time. The first, he'd been astounded at how Leonardo remembered just where to kiss and where to lick, to get him writhing and gasping. But again, he knew Leonardo's body as well, and the true surprise was in how well Leonardo knew what Ezio had thought himself unreadable. Ezio knew Leonardo, but reading him had become second nature, so deeply ingrained that he'd forgotten that, at one point, Leonardo had been something of a mystery to him. Now, he knew Leonardo as he knew himself, as if, sometime after the first kiss that tasted of tears, they had become one.
All the same, the realization that Leonardo knew him as well- it had appeared from nowhere, even though, truly, it had always been there, tucked away in the back of his mind, placed there by common sense. It unnerved him, that Leonardo knew him so well. It wasn't the inability to have secrets, it was the fear that Leonardo would perhaps see something terrible, see how truly undeserving Ezio was of him.
Yet, that Leonardo knew him so well... it explained why he had forgiven Ezio for his refusal a week prior. The realization brought a vulnerability that made Ezio shudder. Leonardo had seen how much it had hurt him to say no.
And should Leonardo ever decide that he wanted better, Ezio knew, he would see it coming, and that would hurt most of all.
Ezio wanted to avoid the moment for longer, but before he could figure out any decent way to do so, his mother was before him, smiling and greeting them, and there was no way to hide, not anymore.
"I'm so glad you've come home, Ezio. And with Leonardo!" It was like looking at Claudia, from the dark, expressive eyes and curved lips, and that made it easier. For a moment, Ezio was tempted to leave it at her first assumption, but Leonardo's bright smile made that a cruelty.
"Mother, Leonardo is no longer just a friend... he is more than that." He could see it on her face, thoughts working, a look that Claudia did not have, what with her instantaneous emotions.
"That is wonderful, Ezio," his mother said, giving him the smile she shared with his sister, before she looked to Leonardo. "I'm very happy for the both of you."
"Thank you, Signora," Leonardo said, the way he had that made anyone love him, "Your daughter just showed me your rose garden. I've never seen anything so beautiful."
"I will love having a son who appreciates beauty and gardens," she smiled, and Ezio knew then, knew that the rest of the world could not matter, not when Leonardo had found so natural a place in his family.
The setting sun could be seen from the ballroom window. In the veiled light of the late afternoon that faded towards dusk, the hills surrounding the villa were bathed in gold and shadows, and that was the sight Ezio had always remembered the most. It had been a long time, since he had seen this shade of golden shadow. He and Leonardo were tucked away by the window, swaying slowly to music that floated over from across the room.
"Ezio," Leonardo said softly, voice in his ear, "thank you. This... this means the world to me, that you would bring me to your.. your home."
"Leonardo" Ezio whispered, nose-to-nose with him, "home?" He ducked his head, kissing Leonardo's neck. "My home is in Venezia now. With you." The words stole Leonardo's breath, filled with a thrill that left no space for anything else, "this... my childhood home, yes. That is where we are. Do you like it?" He felt the curve of Leonardo's smile.
"Si, si, but...amore mio... you didn't want to... in Venezia.."
"I didn't," Ezio said softly, "but... you mean too much to me, to let something like fear hurt you." He smiled, stepping away and taking Leonardo's hand, "come." They wove through the crowd of people, voices and music everywhere, past the staircase and out through a back door.
"Leaving your own family's party?" Leonardo chuckled, following, "what would everyone think."
"Some things are more important, caro mio," Ezio led him to the wall that trailed ivy, looking up to the balcony above. "Up there." He saw the way Leonardo looked at the trellis and paled.
"You've lost your mind," he said, shaking his head, "do I look like an assassin to you? I do not climb walls." Ezio just laughed, and pushed aside the ivy to reveal the rope ladder. "Better."
Once Ezio helped Leonardo over the balcony railings, he pulled Leonardo to him, kissing him as he fumbled with the door handle behind them. The doors finally opened and gave way, and Ezio backed Leonardo into the room, where Leonardo broke for breath, looking around.
"Yours?"
"Si." The room appeared untouched since he had last left it. It still fascinated Ezio, that when he closed his eyes and imagined home, it was Leonardo's bedroom in Venezia that came to mind. He eased Leonardo back onto the bed, kissing deeper. Leonardo's fingers lit upon the sensitive spot at his hip, making Ezio moan. "I hope this makes up for missing the Carnevale festival in Venezia."
"Ezio..." Leonardo breathed, eyes bright, and Ezio didn't need any more words to know. He barely noticed as Leonardo's nimble fingers undid buttons and clasps, until warm hands slipped over bare skin.
Ezio knew he wasn't as adept as Leonardo, at recognizing beauty in the world. He knew his gaze skimmed over what Leonardo honed in on, already analyzing escape routes and calculating distances as Leonardo would stand motionless, in awe of the slant of light that made dust dance and sparkle. The way Leonardo looked, though, when he arched and Ezio heard his own name on those lips, scream thrown to the air to twist and dance, Ezio saw. This, he always thought, leaning down to kiss Leonardo, this is beauty.
He slipped under the covers next to Leonardo, reveling in that purring sound from Leonardo as he drew up close. Ezio ghosted his fingers along Leonardo's jaw, as Leonardo slipped an arm around him, nearly drifting off to sleep. "I love you, amore mio," Ezio whispered, twirling a curl around his finger, "I do." Leonardo smiled, snuggled in closer against him.
"Ti amo, Ezio," he murmured, "always."
"You deserve better. You... you're amazing... I'm certainly not good enough for you, I'm nothing near perfect enough..."
"Better? There is no better" Leonardo kissed him gently, "I see how much you love me. Just like I love you." He curled back up against Ezio, "Si, caro mio, you are not perfect. Neither am I. But we are both imperfect in a way that we fit together perfectly."
Perfectly, Leonardo's words echoed in Ezio's mind long after Leonardo fell asleep, and Ezio wondered how it was that he'd never realized that he didn't have to be perfect, and that Leonardo wasn't perfect.
He isn't, Ezio thought looking down at him. He wasn't; he was dreamy and distant, with a sporadic attention span, and enough faults to become countless.
And yet, Ezio had never noticed.
He's not perfect, and I'm not, either, but together, together... we are.
Maybe he'd known all along, couldn't truly realize until Leonardo showed him, like Leonardo was the only way he could find that whole world, the one with them both, together where it didn't matter how perfect or imperfect the rest of the world was, so long as they were together. Ezio had never known perfection, before Leonardo. I'm imperfect, and you're imperfect too, and together…
Together, they were one.
Together, they were perfect.
Ezio kissed Leonardo gently and settled down to sleep, as moonlight lit up the room with a silvery, perfect light neither lover saw.
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Hope everyone liked that :)
Please, review! I absolutely love to know what you guys thought!
Love ya,
Sunshine