Ezio slept comfortably until a knocking at the workshop door woke him. The room was striped with sunlight beaming through the slatted windows, the air was filled with the smell and sound of the market place.

Another, louder knock prompted Ezio to get up, he grumbled as he left the bed and descended the stairs. The third knock was interrupted as he opened the door.

"Signore..." A short older woman stood and looked at Ezio with surprise. "Oh... is Signore Leonardo in?"

Ezio frowned, he wondered what the time was, looked around the workshop, wondered where Leonardo was.

"I don't know where he is."

She tutted and shook her head, passing a neatly-tied bundle into Ezio's hands.

"When he returns, give him these, they are the clothes he wanted cleaned."

"Si, of course, Grazie..."

"Prego, buongiorno!"

The lady turned and walked away as Ezio closed the door, he put the bundle on the table and surveyed the room, and felt an unpleasant hollowness in his stomach as he realised nothing in the room had been moved since the night before.

He untied the bundle and began to dress, pulling on his trousers quickly and throwing off the borrowed white shirt.

"Bonjour, mon amant."

Ezio turned in surprise, reeling sideways into the work table, the rest of his clothes spilling to the floor.
He saw Vincent's grin for only a second before he charged forward, a fist flying only to meet with the Frenchman's hand.

He bought his other elbow round, jamming it into Vincent's side and pushing him from the artist's stool into a heap on the ground. Ezio jumped to attack, only to have the other assassin's foot meet his gut, a hard kick that sent him crashing into the legs of the easel. Vincent avoided the falling apparatus and stood, drawing his sword as Ezio twisted on the floor and grabbed the dagger from his own armour, twisting in time to knock back Vincent's advancing blade.

Ezio stood, stepping into the space he'd made, he thrust his short blade forwards, only for Vincent to grab his wrist and turn him, wrenching his arm up his back, the dagger falling from his fingers as Vincent's sword met his throat.

The Frenchman held his mouth close to Ezio's ear.

"Have I angered you?"

Ezio's voice wavered, nervous of the blade, never having been the one behind it's threat.

"You stole something of mine."

He heard a soft chuckle and tensed as he felt a kiss at his jaw.

"I will look after your heart, mon amant."

The Italian growled, twisting hard, only for his arm to be wrenched painfully.
"Ah, ah. Now, mon cher, I know exactly what you want and I am willing to give it to you."

Ezio stilled, a frown creasing his brow in confusion.

Vincent grinned, he released Ezio's hand and lowered the sword, sheathing it as Ezio stepped away, nursing the sore red line across his throat.

He watched as Vincent produced the codex page from a pouch upon his belt and opened it, his grin never falling.

"No one would buy it, no one knew the language upon it..."

Ezio choked a laugh.

"You are a thief." He held out his hand for the codex. "It is a code."

Vincent looked impressed, stepping closer to Ezio and placing the codex in his hand.
The last sound Ezio made was a muffled noise of surprise as Vincent's mouth took his in a soft but eager kiss.

The Frenchman's hands had made their way up, one resting upon Ezio's chest, the other sliding onto the back of his neck, fingertips pushing into his hair.

Ezio softened into the kiss, sinking back against the table behind him, dropping the codex to keep himself upright.

When they broke apart Vincent's hands fell to Ezio's hips, thumbs gently stroking at the skin above his trousers as he pressed soft kisses at Ezio's jaw.

"I hadn't considered you an intellectual... you do keep surprising me, mon amant."

"I don't decode it... Leon-"

He suddenly froze, looking into Vincent's eyes, the sharp knowing gleam within them made his stomach drop, he snarled and pushed Vincent away roughly.

"Where is Leonardo?"

"Not an intellectual but certainly sharp."

Ezio stormed the gap between them and grabbed Vincent's shirt in his fists, shaking him roughly.

"Where is he?!"

Vincent remained quiet, a calculating gleam in his eyes that made Ezio retreat, fearing and hating. The Italian dropped his hands, turning away, picking up and pulling on his clothes, he stilled once more when Vincent stood behind him, wrapping arms around his waist, hands resting on his hips.

"If you can find him... I will leave you." He laid gentle kisses at Ezio's shoulder. "I will leave you and your loving artiste..."

Ezio pulled away from Vincent's arms, dressing himself in the rest of his armour. Vincent watched with disappointment.

"I see your heart is already well-looked after."

The Italian paused, frowning at the Frenchman in questioning.

"Scusi? What are you talking about?"

Vincent looked in surprise.

"As soon as he said your name, I knew he loved you... and you are unaware?"

"He doesn't... you're lying... you're trying to toy with my emotions, but that will not work."

"As it seems, you have none to toy with."

Ezio continued with his armour, quiet and curt, replacing his weapons and the codex page, all the while avoiding Vincent's gaze.

"Where is he?"

Vincent made his way to the door, opening it and looking back at Ezio once more, his cruel smile back on his face.

"His horse is suited to him, find his horse."