Translations:
Stronzo - Asshole


Sticks and Stones

Aria's strength was waning, Ezio could see it as her feet began to drag and her breaths grew shallow. He had considered taking her to the thieves' guild but it was dangerously close to the chapel, and the guards would be on high alert. Leonardo's workshop was further, but they would be safer.

He knocked on the large wooden door and Ezio swore he could hear the man cursing within. Ezio gave a small smirk; Leonardo often forgot there was a world existing beyond his workshop.

The door opened to reveal the artist's face, beaming as he looked from Ezio to Aria.

"Leonardo da Vinci?" Aria spoke suddenly from behind him. Ezio turned to fix her with an astounded gaze.

"Ah, yes," Leonardo said quietly, wringing his hands with a shy smile, "I am most sorry, but I do not recall who you are signora."

"It's alright," she said, "I was young, my mother, Valeria de'Pazzi, once brought me along to buy your paintings."

Ezio saw a spark of recognition in Leonardo's bright eyes. "Oh, Viola de'Pazzi!" he smiled, but as he realized what was amiss, it quickly faltered. He looked to Ezio, his eyes clouded with concern. Leonardo opened his mouth to speak, but it was Aria who interrupted him.

"It's Aria now," she corrected stiffly, casting Ezio an anxious glance.

They both knew that now was not the time to revisit the issue. Leonardo gave her a slow nod before looking questioningly at Ezio. "I'll explain later Leonardo," he insisted as he led Aria past him and into the workshop, "Right now we need your help."

"Of course, how silly of me," Leonardo mumbled quickly as he shut the door.

The main room was filled with paintings and books, and smelt of sawdust and oil-paint. Light filtered through the high windows above, falling across the patchwork of rugs on the floor. Ezio brought Aria to a chair near Leonardo's desk, gesturing for her to sit. She narrowed her eyes defiantly, but obeyed.

Leonardo clapped his hands together as he approached, looking mildly uncomfortable. "So, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"Signora Aria took an arrow to the shoulder-" was all Ezio had time to say before Leonardo bust into action, rushing past him to a massive chest. He heaved open the large lid, and began to dig through its contents.

"Ezio, if you would be so kind as to fill a glass of wine for the lady," he instructed as he searched through the chest. He pointed over his shoulder to a cabinet across the room. "A strong vintage," he suggested.

Ezio rustled through the crowded cabinet and found an old Florentine vintage. He filled a glass to the brim before placing it in Aria's hands. She thanked him begrudgingly and took a long gulp.

Leonardo returned a moment later with a large medical kit and some fresh bandages. Aria eyed him warily, but remained silent. He sifted through the large bag, the clink of metal ringing from within. "I recommend you drink that a little faster signora," Leonardo suggested as he pulled a long pair of curved tongs from his kit.

Aria regarded the tool with wide eyes before quickly draining the rest of the cup. Ezio wished he had a glass himself. He was glad it was her in that chair and not him. He took the empty glass and returned it full to her hands. She mumbled a quick thank you before taking another long drink. Leonardo pulled up a chair to Aria's right, laying his tools out on the desk before him.

Ezio leaned down to remove Aria's cloak from her shoulders, but had his wrist twisted painfully away. She turned to glare at him, face already flush from the wine. "It's going to take more than a few glasses of wine to get me out my clothes stronzo!" she snapped, words beginning to slur.

Ezio couldn't resist. He crossed his arms and wicked grin spread across his face. "Is that so bella?" he smirked, "Perhaps if I take mine off I could persuade you better."

Her cheeks burned scarlet and she threw the half-cup of wine into his face. Ezio licked the wine from his lips as he leaned in close. "Want a taste?" he asked, wagging his eyebrows suggestively.

The fist that collided with his cheek told him that she really wasn't interested. He had not anticipated the force and found himself face down on the floor of Leonardo's workshop.

When he looked up, Aria's lips were twisted in a devilish smirk and Leonardo was biting his lip, barely able to contain his laughter. Ezio pulled himself to his feet, feeling less than amused.

"Go get cleaned up Ezio," Leonardo suggested, throwing him a towel, "I need to look after my patient."

()()()()()

Ezio grumbled angrily, drying the wine from his face as he left the room. Leonardo turned to grin at Aria, but his look of discomfort quickly returned. "I do need you to remove your tunic signora," he said carefully, fearful for a similar fate, no doubt, "I assure you I am not nearly as lewd as Ezio."

Aria narrowed her eyes but complied. She unfastened her cloak single-handedly but required help to remove her tunic. Leonardo's face flushed as he gently pulled the tunic over her head. The arrow had also pierced the fabric of her smallclothes, causing Leonardo's blush to darken when he cut it away.

Aria did her best to hide her amusement, but hoped that his modesty would not distract him from his work. Luckily it did not. As he began preparing his tools, the blush gradually faded from his cheeks. Leonardo dabbed gingerly at the wound with a warm compress and Aria sucked in her breath, but didn't complain.

Less than an inch of the wooden shaft protruded just above her right breast. The sight of it made her stomach churn. Dread began to build in Aria's gut at the thought of removing it. This wasn't going to be pretty. When Leonardo's voice broke through her thoughts, it was a welcomed distraction.

"So what brings you to Venice?" he inquired lightly, but his expression suddenly turned grim, "Forgive me, it is not my place to ask."

Aria chuckled darkly. "It's exactly what you think," she admitted, "At least it was."

He pulled out a long silver scalpel, and held it to her wound. "What changed?" he asked before sinking the blade deep into her flesh.

Aria inhaled sharply, gritting her teeth. The wine had dulled her senses, but the pain still had bite. The blade cut all the way down to the arrowhead before he pulled it out again. The fresh cut began to pour blood and she finally exhaled. "Everything," she breathed, as he used another cloth to dab at the blood. "When I came to Venice to kill the man who murdered my family, I didn't know that mine had done the same to his," she confided, the wine loosening her tongue.

She turned an accusing glare on Leonardo. Maybe it was the wine or the fact that he hadn't driven the scalpel into her heart, but she felt she could trust his word. "Is it true what he says about my family?" she demanded of him, "Did they truly plot the murder of the Auditores?"

Leonardo chewed his lip nervously then placed a hand flat around the wound and spread the flesh apart. Aria winced, but she knew the worst was yet to come. He used the tongs to clamp onto the shaft, gripping the handle tightly. He looked up at her, his pale blue eyes apologetic. "Yes," he said, and pulled the arrow from her chest.

The arrowhead ripped through her flesh quickly, but the pain was more than she was prepared for. Aria cried out, biting her tongue until she tasted blood. The arrow was gone, but the pain still seared through her chest. Leonardo applied pressure to wound with a wad of linen to staunch the flow of blood, but she scarcely felt it.

The world gradually returned as the pain in her shoulder ebbed, but the pain in her heart did not abate. Her father, her brother, and her great uncle: all murderers. She remained silent as Leonardo finished cleaning her wound. He stitched it closed, but Aria barely felt the needle pierce her skin. He then wrapped a white linen bandage around her chest and shoulder.

Leonardo was leading her out of the room, but Aria did not recall getting to her feet. He guided her down a narrow hall to a small room with a large feather bed. She sank into the soft mattress and closed her eyes, hoping they'd never open again.


One of my favourites! Ezio's such a cheeky bastard. I know it's a little short, but I don't like writing monster sized chapters - I get bored halfway through.

Anyways, I hope you guys like it! See you next Tuesday. Safety and peace! :)