Author Notes: 8/06/14 I'm certain I write fanfics for the best sub-community in gaming. Keep the love for our Italian Assassin strong xoxo
To Yeojehh (Guest) 7/17/14 Thank you so much for the continued support and reviews you leave me to read! I'm secretly a fan for the Elena/Rinaldo thing going on too – who couldn't love a man whose been by their side from the beginning? But from what I learned in life, love is never that simple even when it falls into our laps.
Copyright: Ubisoft owns the AC universe and every thing therein. I own the characters that were never mentioned in the franchise and make no profit off this.
Summary: Elena Nori secretly took on the same interests as her half-brother, Leonardo da Vinci, meeting her illegitimate sibling in secret who introduced her to a world of mysteries and a family of assassins.


The Mechanics of Love

VII: 7 Days to the Wolves

A pair of strong fists came crashing down on a shabby, spare desk in a mix of frustration and hot rage. The poorly built desk didn't stand a chance against the force and sent chunks of wood and splinters to go flying with two sizable craters left in the aftermath. Leonardo da Vinci, Rinaldo, Paola, La Volpe and even Lorenzo de Medici all cringed at the display but felt it was understandably so. Elena Nori had all but disappeared from Firenze since the night of her abduction, six days ago. Even Ezio, who had very little sleep and stopped to eat even less, could not find a clue or even an inkling of where she was taken. In the past few days, he had lost track of how many corrupted souls he delivered to their makers querying about their knowledge of the heiress's whereabouts while each and every possible clue his allies discovered only led to another dead end, wasting precious time of rescuing their ally. By now, they began to fear for the worst has happened but could not find the will to voice it aloud and cause Ezio to be completely unhinged.

"How in God's name have we not found her yet?" Ezio hissed out evenly as he seethed in rage, gripping the edges of the desk, threatening to rip the poor thing apart. "A person cannot simply vanish in to thin air – not even you, La Volpe."

La Volpe heaved out a deep sigh while bowing his head in shame, "This is true, my friend, but I am afraid not even I can find her.."

"Then try harder."

"Amico, please," Leonardo pleaded with his old friend, holding his hands together in a begging gesture. Ezio's anger was reaching its threshold of where he was lashing out on his own allies. Though Leonardo felt equally as despaired he knew anger would cloud one's judgment with irrationality and it would be no help in the discovery of his beloved sorella. "Lorenzo's men have been patrolling the roads leading to all the cities, La Volpe and Rinaldo have turned over every stone in Firenze - even Paola's girls have been working around the clock to seduce men for clues. We are all in pain here." The inventor's words were true to the last word, every one was working around the clock to do what they could in the search - only stopping for food and rest. Within the two years of Ezio's absence, Elena became the pillar of hope to the plebeians of Firenze and the fact of her strong allegiance with the assassins made her even more invaluable. If they lost her - to the Templars, of all the people - it would be a significant undoing to their cause; not to mention the many hearts that would be broken over such a tragedy.

Ezio squeezed his eyes shut as he thought of how much more pain Elena could be in, even at this very moment, in the hands of Vieri de Pazzi.. He lowered his head in defeat. With the lack of rest and sustenance, his body was nearing the cusp of exhaustion. His mind and heart ached and his body burned with fatigue but he would not stop until he had her safely in his arms. "If anything happened to her, it would be my fault."

"Oh – please – don't play the martyr," Rinaldo sneered grabbing the attention of the entire room, especially the honeyed-hues that brimmed with enmity towards him. "You weren't the one that was there when she was taken right from your arms. Matter of fact - you've never been there for her in any thing so do not go around acting like you're entitled to be hung up like the rest of us."

The room erupted into furor as Ezio vaulted over the poor desk that was in his way of his insufferable counter-part. La Volpe and Leonardo swiftly jumped in front of Ezio, struggling to hold him back as hard as they frantically could while Paola threw her petite body as a shield to block Rinaldo from initiating the brawl as Vincenzo tugged on the belt to yank him in the opposite direction. "STOP! STOP! STOP!" Leonardo, Paola and La Volpe shouted over the two verbally contending assassins, trying to break up their scuffle.

"SILENZIO (Silence)!" The shrieking voice of Vincenzo pierced through the skirmish causing every one to cease and bring their attention to the young boy. He took a deep breath and released Rinaldo slowly, "You do a great disservice to Lady Nori by wasting time and energy fighting among each other like common brutes – the both of you; For shame." The room grew shocked at the bold language of the usual meek and compliant assistant of Leonardo; he hardly ever spoke unless spoken to and he kept his responses brief. "We all care for, and some of us here even love the Lady Nori – yes, we get it - but it's not a competition of whose more guilty so stop making it about yourselves. We need to be working together as one or else we should just say good bye forever to that beautiful creature of a woman." A six-teen year old assistant had effectively quieted an entire room of adults.

"He is right," Leonardo stated, "We need to rethink our strategy, perhaps we have been going at this the wrong way." The inventor rushed over to the detailed map of Florence he had laid out on a nearby desk, beckoning every one to gather and observe. "Instead of fanning out and searching all around, we should all focus on each segment and district all together to be thorough."

"Why don't we just storm the Pazzi's villa and force them to tell us where Elena is?" Ezio proposed with a hint of malice at the word 'force'.

Lorenzo wagged his finger in a 'no' fashion, "That would be most unwise, my friend. I know the Pazzi better than any one else here. They have armed soldiers that patrol their territory and would die to protect their masters; to get near their home would be suicidal." He circled the entire territory of the Pazzi with a quill to give his allies a visual aid of the section the Pazzi control. A sizable portion of the district of Oltrarno that even La Volpe would have to admit he wouldn't dare to skulk around for loot.

"I have been informed that only Francesco has been returning to his home at nights, no sign of his son; Vieri. Where ever the boy must be, I'm sure Elena will be there," La Volpe informed as he rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. The news brought a deep disquiet in the pits of every one's stomach. They all knew very well of Vieri de Pazzi and his sick obsession for Elena Nori for years now. The situation looked as grim as they imagined it to be.

"I'll kill him slowly if he touches her," Rinaldo growled lowly, yet loud enough to be heard by from every one. Ezio's nose flared in jealousy at Rinaldo defending her honor but he kept his mouth shut for the time being. Hurried, heavy knocks at Leonardo's door seized every one's attention as they all grabbed the hilt of their weapon on response; except for the inventor and his assistant. Vincenzo quickly ran across the room and opened the door for who might be there.

"Madame! Madame!" A courtesan came rushing into the room looking for her leader, "The girl.. we think we found her." Everyone rushed around the panting courtesan who stopped to catch her breath for a moment. "Meo Dio (Dear God), that was a run.. Madame, guards stationed from Piazza della Signoria came in tonight talking and laughing: 'the bride finally being broken in'. When we asked who, they just said a 'guest of the Pazzi'. That's Elena, si?"

"Piazza della Signoria? … Prison?.. the bride broken in?" Vincenzo muttered aloud the clues in confusion, his innocent mind utterly bewildered to what any of it meant but the realization came much faster to the adults in the room.

Rinaldo growled with an animal-like manner as he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly til his knuckles turned white as the moon. He glared at Ezio with distaste, "Vieri is mine to kill, boy."

"Like hell it is! Who do you think you are going around claiming things like they're yours," Ezio's challenge held a double meaning that everyone plainly knew of. For a moment, Leonardo found himself offended Ezio had the gall to insinuate that his sister was a thing that could be claimed. Once this matter was done and over with, he would be sure to rectify both of the imprudent men of such beliefs and would even be more than happy to show them a thing or two about what it meant courting a woman who had an older - very protective - brother.

"Enough, children," Paola's motherly and very authoritative voice silenced the two contentious assassins. "Now that we know where she is, it is a question of how to save her. It will be no easy task, I'm sure."

Leonardo raised his hand, signaling for attention, "If I may be so bold – Lorenzo, with the aid of your soldiers it would be an invaluable distraction to the city guards and I'm sure you will get to spill the blood of Pazzi followers in the process."

Lorenzo nodded with a predilection for this part of the plans, "I can have them stationed and prepared to fight by dawn."

"Bene. Paola, we will need your girls to continue keeping an ear out for any more gossip that may change plans. La Volpe, we will need you to do what you do best – steal. If your men can bring me gun powder I can fashion them into makeshift bombs for us to use in a pinch."

La Volpe bowed to ingenious inventor for his plan, "It will be done."

"Now for the two of you," Leonardo gazed at the two assassins in all heated seriousness, "I need the both of you working together. You may gladly brawl over who has bigger cojones (balls) when my sister is safely returned.." Rinaldo and Ezio glared at each other evenly before nodding in agreement. "Good. Now the two of you have the most important part of the operation, saving Elena. It will take the skill and wit of both of you combined to get through the Piazza, find her and return safely. I'm sure as both of you realize, you cannot simply walk out the front door once the mayhem begins but luckily, there are a series of small sewers underneath the Piazza that will lead to a canal. There, I will have a small boat waiting for you." Everyone nodded at what Leonardo made to be a solid plan, increasing in their respect for the mastermind.

"Consider it done, Leonardo." Ezio responded with fierce determination. He silently vowed to himself that come tomorrow, she would be returned where she belonged and Ezio would begin making amends for his mistakes against her.

Within moments, Leonardo's allies dispersed to set out on their newly established tasks. "Ezio, if you would wait a moment, amico." Rinaldo tossed a puzzled glance over his shoulder at the two before departing out of the workshop, to which Ezio sent searing daggers at his back until his presence was gone.

"What can I do for you, Leonardo." With just the two of them and Vincenzo present, Ezio's voice dropped in to weariness making it clearly evident of his exhaustion.

"Your job for now is to rest until the mission begins," the inventor continued seeing him open his mouth to argue, "You will be a hindrance if you don't! You look like you're running on fumes, how will that be of any use to Elena when it comes time to save her?" Ezio grumbled lowly as he knew the genius' words to be true but was reluctant to accept it. "Eat and rest, gain your strength. I not only ask as a friend but demand as a brother who wants his sister back."

Ezio's eyes lowered in defeat as he trudged to the table without another word and did as he was instructed, much to the inventor's relief. He packed an empty plate with the leftovers from Leonardo's dinner; chicken, vegetables, potatoes, pita bread, hummus, and an apple with a cup of Sesti wine to wash it all down. The inventor glanced over every so often as he prepared his tasks, glad to see his friend taking the much needed break. Once the food was utterly devoured, Ezio shuffled tiredly to a spare, plush cot against the wall, discarding his swords and knives on the floor without a care and landing on the pillows - instantly asleep.


Ezio gradually became aware of the loud ruckus and voices going on in the workshop he crashed in for a bit, too drained to walk to a nearby tavern or inn. He grumbled incoherently and rolled towards the wall in an attempt to escape the noise and return to sleep. "Hey, lazy bones, you want to get up and do something productive?" The derisive shout of Rinaldo's voice did not assist Ezio in returning to sleep, it did the exact opposite - making his blood run hot with anger even as he was half-asleep. Yet he tried to block it out, as well as all the other noises, and get a few more minutes of sleep. " 'EY! Get your ass up! Unless you want to leave the heroism to the real men while we rescue Elena!"

Ezio growled in annoyance and sat up, peering through half-lidded eyes as he glared at the offending assassin. Honestly, he could not understand why Leonardo and Elena kept this stronzo in company. "Do you mind? I only wanted to close my eyes for a few minutes!"

Rinaldo threw an indignant scoff in return, "Few minutes, who are you kidding! While you were catching up on your beauty sleep the last few hours, the rest of us have been busting our ass getting ready the mission that's about to start." Few hours, how long was he asleep for?! Ezio sprung from the bed and placed his swords and knives in their respective slots and positions. He was absolutely outraged Leonardo had allowed him to sleep for so long! Fully conscious now, he witnessed all the work that was done in the few short hours: numerous crates of black. spherical objects no bigger than an apple were being carried out by La Volpe's subordinates.

Ezio approached the inventor that was ordering about people grabbing crates, "What are these?"

Leonardo mildly jumped in surprise hearing someone behind him, "Oh, Ezio! How do you feel? Better, I hope."

"Si, thank you for that - I didn't know how tired I was."

"Va bene (It's fine). And these," Leonardo continued after picking one up from a crate for example, "are bombs.. at least, in theory."

The skepticism in the inventor's voice had Ezio worried. "And they are safe, si? I'm not going to accidentally blow myself up if I use one."

"One could only hope," Rinaldo jeered in the background, earning him a heated glare from Ezio that he ignored and continued packing crates and handing them off.

"Well, the bomb will only go off if the wick is lighted. Once you light it, you certainly want to throw it as the gunpowder will cause an explosion and the plaster to explode into sharp bits that will go flying every where causing injury or worse." Ezio was astounded at the information the inventor was laying on him about the contraption, he's never heard nor seen such a thing in person.

"Why plaster?" Ezio felt as if he was asking a stupid question but his curious mind wanted to know the answer, even if it risked causing the insufferable presence to say something derogative in response. Ezio was surprised Rinaldo didn't use the opportunity to belittle him, instead he was focused intently on Leonardo - wanting to hear the answer as well. 'Ah, so he didn't know either.' Ezio smugly thought.

"Plaster is cheap, easily accessible, fast to mold and heat. I can make a dozen of these for every one bomb made out of a metal, such as bronze, once I have a proper mold to cast it from. And plaster requires less gunpowder to shatter than that of metal, making La Volpe's work easier as well."

"You're a genius!" Both Ezio and Rinaldo exclaimed simultaneously then glared at each in an annoyed manner.

Leonardo da Vinci blushed to his ears at the compliment, "I am simply doing what I can.. I have little to none combat prowess like the two of you but my mind makes up for it."

"I'm not sure about that, amico, I've seen the 'combat prowess' Ezio here has - it's pitiful. Honestly boy, were you sleeping while your uncle Mario was teaching you how to wield a sword?"

"Ah! Ah! Play nice!" Leonardo quickly jutted in between the two before another scuffle would commence, "we had a deal - no fights until Elena is safe!" With the mention of her name both assassin's tension towards each other came to a halt, reluctantly. "Nearly every thing is in place and the time for the two of you to act is arriving, focus!"

No later than a moment after their scolding, a man dressed in a poor attire came rushing into the room nearly knocking over Vincenzo who was passing another crate to one of Lorenzo's soldiers, "Signore Leonardo! La Volpe sends me, guards are forming in the plazzo!"

The three men's expression sharpened, the time for every thing to start had arrived. Leonardo spoke first to Vincenzo who was patiently awaiting his master's orders, "Continue handing out the crates until no more is left; I rather have too many than be short when it's needed." Vincenzo nodded and made haste into falling into his role. Next, Leonardo turned to his comrades, "Hurry, we must get to the plazzo and make sure the two of you are in place when this starts. You have a very small window of slipping in without alerting the guards and even smaller once you're getting out." A small voice of apprehension was chuckling nervously in Ezio's head, 'No pressure, eh?'


Finally arriving at the plazzo where the Piazza della Signoria was located, Ezio could see a line of Lorenzo de Medici's soldiers ready in arms for battle, crates of Leonardo's invention in sections hiding in the far back. A mix of Pazzi, Piazza della Signoria and Firenze's soldiers were across the courtyard yelling profanity while Francesco de Pazzi stood leading in the front.

At the mere site of him anger flooded Ezio, making him move to rush ahead but felt a strong arm grab and hold him back, "Stay, Ezio."

Ezio growled and shook off Rinaldo's hand, "He aided in the death of my family!"

"That is not our mission today, saving Elena is. If I did not need your help in this, I would gladly let you run off but that is not the case." Rinaldo kept an even glare on Ezio until the 'boy' finally gave in to his words. There was a time and place for every thing, Francesco de Pazzi's death would have to wait.

From across the plazzo, Francesco's booming voice bellowed, "Lorenzo, have you come to me so I can send you to your brother?" The taunt was effective in riling Lorenzo de Medici, the wound of losing his brother still open and bleeding.

In rage, Lorenzo roared, "CHARGE!" The plazzo grounds rumbled from the stampede of men from both sides running at each other.

Leonardo turned to Ezio and Rinaldo, "Quickly, climb up the building and find a way inside! Save Elena! We will handle things out here!"

Without needing another word, both men bolted into a sprint around the battle until they reached the Piazza and quickly began scaling the building. Both of the assassins exchanged no words, the huffing pants of their breath was all the sound that was made as the noise of combat below faded the higher they ascended on the building. They were equal in strength, speed and skill of climbing, that much was obvious to the two - although they were not racing; per say. When they finally reached the flat landing, panting, they looked between each other and gave a respective nod. A nod of well done and good luck. They ran across the landing to the door, Ezio grabbed and turned the handle. It didn't move.

"Merda (Shit)! It's locked."

"Step aside," Rinaldo went down on one knee to kneel and pulled out a lock pick and tumbler, "You should have La Volpe teach you this sometime. I've learned being an assassin isn't just about stabbing people." The door rewarded the duo with the beautiful chime of a lock unlatching.

Ezio could not help but to smirk in amusement at his counter-part's words. Quietly filing inside the dimly lit halls, they found the place oddly vacant of the usual patrolling guards and yelling or screaming inhabitants. "All of the guards are outside fighting?" Rinaldo offered to Ezio, sharing in his uncomfortable feeling. They quickly searched every room on the floor, finding it empty of both Elena Nori or even a criminal. Strange, indeed.

"Should we go upstairs or down?" Ezio asked once they regrouped.

Rinaldo's face darkened, ".. Something tells me downstairs." A sickening knot curled in Ezio's stomach, he knew the only thing that the lower dungeons contained were torturing devices and rooms for such heinous acts. With caution, they descended flight after flight of stairs until the sounds of men's anguish reached their sensitive ears. Men on racks and all sorts of ghastly instruments protruding from their limbs while their masked tormentors stood by their stations.

"Leave now, while you have your lives." Rinaldo hissed as he and Ezio drew their swords and pointed it at the masked men who were trembling in fear. The men ran away without needing to be told twice, valuing their lives over their jobs. "Check those rooms," Rinaldo pointed down the opposing hall for Ezio. Running to each door, the pair peered inside every small barred window - disappointed yet relieved they did not find Elena.

As Ezio ran by a cell, a hand shot out and grabbed his leg, "You lookin' for the girl?" A shirtless, middle-aged man covered in dry blood caught Ezio's attention.

"Si! Tell me where she is, please!"

The man struggled to breath, fighting for every intake of air he took, "I'll tell you where they're holdin' her in exchange for a promise." Ezio stared strangely at the man, wondering what in the name of Dio (God) would this man want. Freedom? "I have a daughter on the outside..." he struggled to breath for a moment, coughing out blood, "please, make sure she'll be safe.. Look for a blue painted door in the poor district of San Marco.. Promise me you will!"

"SI, I promise!" Ezio responded seriously, he'd do any thing and agree to any deal to discover Elena's whereabouts.

The man closed his eyes for a moment, in peace for finally resting his conscious, "The guards are holding a girl in the secret room.. Look for the candle in the cell." Ezio did not have the chance to question the riddle, the man coughed ferociously for the next few minutes, spurts of blood erupting. He was dying a slow, painful death. Although Ezio did not know the man - who could have done evil deeds to deliver him here - he could not allow him to die slowly when he aided him on finding Elena Nori. Slinging out his hidden blade in a deadly, quiet 'hiss' he swiftly sunk it in to the back of his skull, ending his pain once and for all. The nameless man went limp with death.

Ezio reached through the bars and closed his eyes, whispering "Requiescat in pace (May s/he rest in peace)." Putting the promise to the back of his mind for now, Ezio rechecked each cell with the new clue at hand. He almost gave up until he saw a candle fixture on the wall of the last cell in this hallway, unlike the rest of the cells. "Rinaldo! Over here!" Ezio called out as he nearly ripped the door off its hinges as he kicked it open and entered. Rinaldo came in a moment later, expecting to find Elena.

"Are you daft, boy? She's not here!"

Ezio grabbed on his arm and pulled him back before he could leave. "Look! My father had some thing similar to this in his room." Ezio walked over to the candle fixture and carefully yanked it down, activating the mechanism. The entire wall shifted down, revealing a secret room and where they discovered a woman in a crumpled heap on the ground.

She was naked, facing the wall only showing her backside but having seen and worshiped her body for two years, Rinaldo immediately knew. "ELENA!" He rushed forward and rolled her carefully on to her back. Cuts, bruises fresh and old littered all over her once fair skin and face yet what made him the sickest was the dried blood on her thighs and legs. A cry of anguish and rage nearly tore out from his chest, hot tears stinging his eyes and threatened to fall. The white assassin doublet from Ezio's hand came into the blurry view of Rinaldo's eyes.

"Put her in this." Ezio offered, his voice making no effort to hide the grief. Rinaldo carefully held her up while Ezio slipped it on her and tied it closed. It was large on her petite frame, that looked even thinner from than it normally was a week ago. Still, he removed the red sash from his waist and tied it around her lower half to cover her sex. Rinaldo stood and began walking out of the room, never once taking his eyes off her.

"HALT! SURRENDER AND DIE!"

Guards swarmed the side of the hall where they had previously entered from, perhaps the torturers tipped them off. Ezio growled, "Don't you mean surrender OR die?"

"Amico," Rinaldo's voice was barren of emotion, "take Elena and get out of here, I'll hold them off." Rinaldo didn't give Ezio the chance to argue as he placed her into Ezio's arms. He left a gentle kiss on her bruised cheek before drawing his weapon and facing the hallway of guards.

Ezio cradled Elena close to his chest, "You better come back alive.." his voice wavered, betraying him and showing the despair of the situation weighing him down.

Rinaldo threw one last glance over his shoulder, "Safety and peace, Ezio Auditore." He released a battle cry of rage and emotion as he charged to the soldiers, slaughtering one by one without mercy. Taking this opportunity to escape, Ezio turned and ran the only other way down the hall. Turning left and right, only finding more doors of cells. He nearly begun to panic until he heard the faint noise of running water. The sewers! Continuing the run down the halls, he finally found another set of stairs leading down, following it the stench of the smell hit him revealing to him he found what he was looking for. Leaning down to fit in the small tunnel, he chased the rats that lurked within the foul place, knowing they would lead him to the outside. Arms burning, back aching, he was finally given what he desperately needed.

"Grazie, Dio!" Ezio cried out when he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Quickening his pace til he reached the outside world, he took a deep breath of fresh air of the canal; fresher than the sewer tunnels at least. True to his word, Leonardo had arranged for a small boat to fit four with one of La Volpe's subordinates awaiting their arrival.

"Ezio!" The thief waved to him, Ezio quickly boarded the boat and sat down with Elena still unconscious in his arms. "I was told there would be three?" Rinaldo.

Ezio looked back to the sewer tunnel, hoping to see the man he once loathed to appear any second.. After a few moments, he shook his head with a saddened expression. The thief nodded, understanding full-well what it meant and began paddling away.