Hello again all! I'm back with Chapter 4 whoo! This chapter was both hard and really fun to write as I wanted to show their relationship developing which I hope is something I have achieved :)

I'd like to give a shout out to : evangeline, rollover26, A Spirit of the Stars who all gave me lovely reviews Thank You so much guys!
I also want to thank everyone who have faved or watched this story again Thank You! This is what keeps me posting :) !

Chapter 4

Time slowly passed, the sun began to sink lower in the sky, casting bright rays through the autumn faded leaves and making the trees burn with an orange and red fire, Ezio continued to walk through the grounds, his eyes lingering on the trees aflame with light. Autumn had begun to colour Italia's landscape, washing the raging hillsides in burnt browns and reds of fallen leaves. The heat of summer still lingering but with a cooler undertone of the oncoming winter months. The Master Assassin loved the Autumn, everything was bathed in the warmest colours and some of his fondest memories were created in the Fall.

-Flashback-

The city of Florence was teaming with life, as people franticly went about their daily business. Ezio wandered through the streets, watching passers by, as he made his way from the Medici residence. After explaining to Lorenzo that all the Pazzi were dead the Assassin made a few stops before leaving the city which had once been his home. As he passed through the busy artisan district, Ezio decided to visit Leonardo. He had missed the artists greatly since his last visit, but when he arrived at the homely workshop, he found no beaming faced artists clad in his signature red cap, instead he found one of Leonardo's assistants cleaning a very empty, for Leonardo, workshop.

"Messer Ezio, it is good too see you again!" exclaimed the assistant, who discovered the Assassin lingering in the doorway.

"Hello Carlo, is Leonardo around?" inquired Ezio.

"The Maestro left for Venice as a Venetian noble paid for him to be relocated there while he finished a series of family portraits."

"Venice? That is where I am heading. Do you know when he left?"

"About two days ago, but you shouldn't have a problem catching up to him as he is in a wagon full of his belongings."

"Grazie Carlo I shall catch up to him."

Ezio packed light and took the fastest horse in the stables. Traveling alone it only took him just over a days ride when, at a large bend in the road, he came across a large wagon loaded with machinery and models carefully stowed under a canvas canopy. The wagon was pulled over to the side of the road with a flustered looking Leonardo staring at one wheel.

"Leonardo! What has happened here?" asked the Assassin, pulling Leonardo out of his current staring competition with the wheel.

"Ezio! Thank God! It seems I have run into some trouble ... One of the cart's wheels is broken, do you think you could lift the wagon for me?"

"Of course amico."

Ezio climbed down from his mount and steadied himself in front of the wagon before slowly lifting it. Leonardo quickly fitted the new wheel and corrected some minor faults. While holding the wagon the young Auditore peered into it's contents and spotted, what he could only assume to be, the body structure of a large bat.

"Leonardo what is this?" questioned Ezio before carefully placing the wagon back on the ground and turning to look at the blue eyed artist.

"That! Oh ... Uh ... I don't really like to talk about my work before it is finished."

"You can trust me! Who am I going to tell? And besides I have trusted you with my secrets."

"All right but please don't tell anyone."

"Of corse amico."

Leonardo slowly walked around to one of the ties holding the canvas across the top of the wagon. Releasing the knot the painter revealed a complex contraption made of wood and other materials. The Assassin studied it carefully before Leonardo spoke once more.

"Ezio, I think I have found out how to make a man fly,"

The young Auditore studied his friends face before letting out a small chuckle and turning back towards the front of the wagon.

"Leonardo I think your mind is so high in the clouds that it is effecting your work."

"I think there will come a day where I can say I have proved you wrong my friend." replied the artist with a warm smile, before climbing up next to Ezio on the wagon.

As they traveled slowly through the winding roads of the of the Romagna landscape, the land covered in the warm burn of the Autumn light, Ezio casually listened to his friends conversation, but the Assassin's mind wandered and he found himself studying the older man next to him. The artist is so full of life and his mind is as sharp as a blade made by a master craftsman. His world is polar opposite to Ezio's yet they are intertwined and the young Assassin owes much to the artist. But Ezio wonder's more about their friendship, he would consider Leonardo to be the closest friend he has ever had, but are they really that close? With Ezio's work and the life he lives he rarely gets to see the painter but treasures every moment he does. When he finds himself at the familiar workshop, safe in Leonardo's warm bubble, the Assassin finds it difficult to leave and return to his world of death and danger. The workshop has felt more like home than any other place, more than his old family palazzo or the Villa in Monteriggioni.

When Ezio is in Leonardo's presence he feels as sense of comfort and the pain of losing his Father and Brothers is lessened by the warm glow that is the painters personality. But in the midst of Ezio's musing and Leonardo's extensive description of which paints he prefers to use for what kinds of paintings the Assassin spots movement on the cliff tops above.

"...Now I like to use this relatively new method with oil paint rather than the more traditional tempura, as the oils give me more freedom to change things as I go along..."

"We are not alone Leonardo." stated Ezio causing the artist to go quiet.

"Where are they?"

"Above. On the cliffs I think, my guess is archers..."

But suddenly the two could hear the thunder of horses coming quickly from the rear. Ezio peered over the top of the wagon, only to narrowly miss an arrow to the eye, as it sliced a thin line across his cheek.

"Borgia! Quick Leonardo hide inside the wagon"

As Leonardo climbed inside, Ezio spurred on the horsed pulling the wagon. The heavy cart lumbered around corners and only just managed to stay upright as Ezio steered them away from the oncoming riders. As they managed to lose them around another corner Ezio shouted to Leonardo "Take the reins and keep going! They are after me, so just don't stop whatever you hear!"

Leonardo hastened to obey and grabbed the reins from Ezio as the Assassin ran across the top of the wagon and leaped onto his horse that was tied to the back. Turning the black steed around he charged back towards the Borgia riders, drawing his sword. Leonardo caught a glimpse of the Assassin slashing on of the oncoming riders across the middle before they disappeared out of sight as he rounder a corner.

Ezio took down another rider with his sword in a stream of red blood before imbedding a couple of throwing knives in the chest of another. He quickly turned his horse towards a different road that led them away from Leonardo. Riding hard, once the opportunity arrived the Assassin reached out and grabbed the branch of an overhanging tree before climbing up. As two more of the riders came past Ezio leapt down and speared them both in the back with each of his hidden blades, but the momentum of the horses and Ezio's jump sent them flying across the ground. The last rider dismounted his horse before circling Ezio while he struggled to get up after having the breath knocked out of him. But Ezio managed to draw his sword before a violent clash of steel signaled his successful block. Then the young Auditore skillfully countered and slashed the throat of the last rider, casing a fountain of deep red blood to pool on the ground.

The Assassin quickly re-mounted his horse and rode the rest of the journey to Forli before discovering Leonardo.

"Ezio! Am I glad to see you, are you hurt?"

"Not badly, just a small scratch, but nothing serious amico mio." Ezio replied with a warm smile.

"Well once we get on the boat I will give you a once over just to make sure."

They arrived in the dockyards of Venezia, the Floating City, and she was a sight to behold. Ezio and Leonardo were greeted by a small skinny man by the name of Marco, who gave them a tour of the city before taking them to Leonardo's new workshop. Whilst they were passing over the Rialto Bridge Leonardo spotted a small stand selling curious items of all sorts.

"Look Ezio!" the artist cried.

"What have you found?" Ezio asked with a warm smile.

"It's is a lay figure. Something artists use to help with proportion and such. Would you mind buying it for me as I seem to have left my money with my bags." inquired the artist with a small blush that the Assassin couldn't help but notice. But as Ezio went for his purse he was pushed by a group of passer's by and noticed one try to take it.

After resuming their tour Ezio looked over to see a content Leonardo happily clutching his new figures and it brought a small smile to the Assassin's face to see his friend so happy. Soon they finally reached Leonardo's new workshop. Their guide thanked them and took his leave while Leonardo turned and studied the outside of his new home keenly before turning back to Ezio.

"Well here we are! Thank you for accompanying me, care to come inside?"

"Maybe later but first I have to visit the Palazzo Seta, I have business there."

"Well you know you are always welcome, if you find yourself with free time my door is always open."

Leonardo then did something Ezio did not expect, he spread his arms inviting Ezio in for a hug. Caught of guard by the act the Assassin hesitated, causing hurt to pool in the depths of the artist's deep blue eyes, but then Ezio reached in and took Leonardo into his arms. The man was warm and even under all his layers of clothing Ezio could feel that he was well built with strong muscles. The hug lingered a little longer than necessary, but Ezio found himself almost reluctant to let go. Surrounded by the smell and feel of the painter Ezio felt secure and at peace, but eventually he pulled away. Looking into Leonardo's eyes Ezio saw something that he had never seen before, a spark of light within the crystal blue, it glowed and stirred something within Ezio that only Leonardo seemed to be able to do.

Ezio left for the Palazzo Seta, through the Venetian streets awash with the colours of Fall, with his mind fogged by the haze that was slowly growing inside him. Leonardo.

-End Flashback-

The warm fog of the memory slowly began to lift, and the cool air of reality began to bite at the Master Assassin's skin. The beautiful streets of Venezia began to fade and in their wake stood the fields of France burning in the Fall sun. However, this Autumn was cold, the warm colours no longer seemed to glow and give off this comforting feeling, but left a bitter edge and the darkness of winter felt eerily close. It was as if Ezio's sun had burnt out leaving only darkness and distant memories.

Well here it is Chapter 4! Hope you all liked it and i shall see you all again in Chapter 5

Again Reviews are wonderful as it's nice to know what you all think so if you can please leave one! Thank You :)