4: Love At First Sight

Florence - 1476

Ezio and Federico stood side by side watching the girls of Firenze stroll past them. Federico caught sight of a young blonde walking towards them. He tapped his brother on the shoulder, and pointed at her. "What about her?" he asked, smirking.

"Oh... she is beautiful!" Ezio stared at the girl, mesmerized by her beauty and grace.

"Then go get her." Federico lightly shoved his younger brother.

"What, just like that?" Ezio hesitated. Federico nodded, and Ezio walked towards her. He grinned at the girl.

"... what?" she asked.

"What?" Ezio smiled.

"Why are you just standing there?" the girl inquired.

"Er... I wanted to ask you something! Which is, your name?" He was blushing. Ezio Auditore, the casanova of Firenze, was blushing.

"Hah! Not one you'll ever be needing!" she laughed and walked off.

Ezio frowned, and Federico strolled up to him, chuckling. "Ah, baby brother. Go after her."

Ezio stalked Aaroni through the deserted streets of night-time Venice. Aaroni walked quietly, uncertain of his surroundings. Aaroni went through a tunnel, and Ezio had to scale a building to find him again. He noticed the dwarf by the riverside, talking to someone. He positioned himself over the building, and dove into a pile of unthorned roses.

"Jacopo, did you kill Julio?" Aaroni asked the other person.

Jacopo Closi turned to Aaroni, his long coat scraping the ground. Jacopo was most certainly on Ezio's side, the two regularly working together on assassination contracts from Lorenzo de Medici.

"No. But contact me again, and I will end your life." Jacopo stood up, and rose. Aaroni screamed, "JACOPO YOU BASTARD!" as he leapt onto Jacopo's back. Ezio swooped out of the flowers and tackled the two to the floor. The assassin stared into Aaroni's frightened eyes. The dwarf kicked Ezio in the stomach and shoved him over, snatching a knife from Jacopo's pocket. Ezio was too late to react, as in one swift movement, Aaroni slashed Jacopo's throat.

Ezio slammed into Aaroni, punching and kicking him. The assassin got the dwarf in a headlock, squeezing until he stopped struggling. He lay Aaroni on the ground.

"What is this? What are you plotting?" he questioned. Aaroni choked and coughed.

"Nothing to fear, I suppose. They are going to overthrow Monteriggioni in your absence." the dwarf sighed. By the way, Ezio? Andreotto sends his regards." Aaroni kneed Ezio in the crotch, and turned to run. Ezio whipped out his dagger, and aimed at Aaroni's legs. A perfect hit in the back of the kneecap, the dwarf fell face-first into the floor. His nose broken, his body bruised, he gave up. Ezio shoved the hidden blade in his sleeve into Aaroni's throat.

"Do not fear death, but welcome it's embrace. Requiescat in Pace."

Florence - 1476

Ezio came to a halt as the girl reached her destination. Another man appeared, walking down to her. "Hello, mio bella." he whispered.

"Hah. Don't flatter yourself." she replied.

"Ah, but you see, I'm tired of waiting for you to open your legs for me. So I figured... why don't I open them myself?" the man sneered. He pressed her against the wall as she cried for help. And, to their surprise, along came Ezio Auditore.

"Hello, mi amici! Are you giving this young lady a hard time?" he smiled.

"Fuck off, Auditore! You aren't welcome here!" the man shouted.

"Oh, but you see, my friend... I kind of am. It's you, who isn't welcome. Now leave before I break you in half, won't you?" Ezio smirked. The man was distracted, as the girl kicked him in the leg and ran towards her home. Ezio and the other man got into a fistfight, dodging, punching and kicking. The man went to kick Ezio, when the Auditore grabbed his leg and shoved him to the ground. The man, tired and beaten, collapsed to the floor. Out cold.

"My knight in shining armour!" the girl laughed. "How can I ever repay you?"

"You can tell me your name." Ezio shrugged.

"Aww, aren't you sweet? It's Rachele." she smiled. She hugged him as an extra payment.

"So... this may seem sudden, but are you free tomorrow? Friday?" he asked.

"Maybe. At around seven thirty?" she winked. Ezio stuttered.

"I guess I'll see you then, Ezio Auditore." Rachele walked inside, waving at her new friend.

The man stood up, glaring at Ezio. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, AUDITORE!" he screamed.

"Yeah, well. Fuck you too, Andreotto."