A.N: Well, not much to say except the fact that this might be the longest chapter ever written. I may be wrong since I remember overdoing it a couple of times now… Anyway, thank you very much to those who reviewed until now. It reminds me, that from time to time, my works are being read by someone and I really appreciate those who take one or two minutes from their time to write a feedback and give the writers their sincere opinion. So once again, thank you guys - you are brilliant.
Moving on, have a nice read with this new update.
Capitolo Nove
It was evening and after an entire day in which Ezio had been walking around his atelier, touching this and that, Leonardo was finally happy to look up from his work to see a nonchalantly seated assassin, currently yawning out of boredom and sleepiness. He glanced up the stairs and cursed Shiva for her sudden outburst of aristocracy. As if the two had already made a habitude out of it, Shiva arrived first and announced that she'll go to get some sleep (no evil deed here since she hadn't sleep for the last 30 hours) and 'rethink the present situation' . After that he thanked heavens that Ezio was nothing like Shiva and when he arrived some minutes after he was kind enough to clearly explain what had happened. For a second he wonder what the day would look like with both of them to come back at the same time. But the problem at hand was that even if Leonardo had told him that Shiva was going nowhere and that he was currently sleeping, Ezio would still refuse to trust the 'sly boy'. That's how they ended up spending an entire day together. Not that Leonardo minded it, but he felt like a pass time while Ezio waited for the 'sleeping signorina' to wake up and go on an evening walk, walk that mind you, the artist preferred to skip given the increase of adrenaline.
On the other hand Leonardo understood the man's lack of confidence. The artist himself had a feeling that Shiva was planning something shady, but for different reasons. He was afraid that, under the pressure of danger she might take all the problems on herself. He simply hoped that her sense of guilt wasn't that powerful and that she wasn't that harsh with herself.
'Listen Leonardo…'
The artist looked again at the other man. When he saw on his face the same difficulties in speaking that he had felt in his voice, he frowned. Something seemed to be troubling the young man.
'With what can I be of help, Ezio?'
'Well, this is a …delicate matter so to speak.'
Leonardo straightened with interest when Ezio scratched the back of his head gauchely.
He signed him to go on.
'I don't want you to read too much into it or anything…'
When the artist showed even more interest, Ezio decided to go on with this since he had already spoken.
'You are..umm… you know…'
Somehow the artist felt that whatever Ezio was aiming at, the least he will be able to do out of this conversation was to have a good laugh.
'Aaaam…?'
'You know! I mean you are not very interested in women.'
Leonardo took a second to understand what Ezio was babbling about but he couldn't hide his amusement.
'Go on.'
'Out of curiosity… What-… no. How do one realizes that he… like boys…men?'
'I suppose the same way you realize you like women. There is no difference I do believe. You just feel attracted to someone.'
By now Leonardo had a hard time trying to remain serious. He wondered what was in his friend's head for asking such questions.
After a short debate with himself Ezio looked again at his friend.
'Does smell count?'
'I am sorry?' he asked confused.
'I mean… does liking the smell of someone make you… that?'
Leonardo had to look down to his feet to concentrate not to laugh. If he guessed it right his little game had had a bigger success that he would have ever dared to expect. When he was sure that he had everything under control he looked up.
'Of course, smell is one of the things. But you can't really say just by one sudden thing that fascinates you. There are many other factors like the physic, the mind, the attitude…. But why am I talking to you about this sort of things? From the words I hear in Firenze you know very well how to respond to attraction and how to love… a woman that is. I believe it must be the same. The way you know you like women it's the same way you know you like men.'
When Ezio seemed like he wouldn't continue this discussion Leonardo crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked him straight in the eyes.
'But why the sudden question?'
'Just... out of curiosity.'
'Oh.' But Ezio's gawky smile and his faked relaxed position gave him away in the sharp eyes of the artist.
He faked his return to his papers when Ezio spoke again.
'Yes?'
Damn. He was to eager keep his straight face.
Even if Ezio felt the excitement in the artist's voice he put it on the behalf of the taboo subject.
'Could…could a man, that all his life was clearly attracted to women, one day decide that maybe he swings the other way?' When he saw the bemused expression of the artist Ezio tried to overcome his embarrassment. '…or the other way around?'
'Well…I guess everything is possible.'
Leonardo saw the assassin's face turn pale.
'But I don't think things happen, just like that.' And he clapped once to make things clear. 'Why do you ask? Have you recently experimented something?'
Ezio started to fumble. Leonardo smiled showing all his teeth. 'Is this about Shiva?' he stopped to control his laughter. 'Does Shiva make you feel w-'
But he stopped suddenly when they heard a window from upstairs slam.
'Oh dear…'
And whilst the artist voiced their common fear, Ezio flew up the stairs to find himself alone in a room covered in darkness, with the curtains waving slowly in the rhythm of the wind blowing through the opened window.
'Al diavolo!'
He ran back downstairs and gave the artist a look that made him understand the situation.
'Oh dear. I had a feeling this might happen.'
'You had a feeling? You told me to trust- '
'Ezio, I do fear this is not the time. Shiva is capable of doing really reckless things.'
'Like going to Silviani alone?' Though what Ezio voiced wasn't a question if not a somber confirmation.
'Please go and make sure she is alright!'
'What?'
But the artist was too worried to give importance to his mistake and Ezio was too concerned over the sudden change of situations to stay behind.
'Go! Please!'
The assassin put everything behind and ran towards Silviani's house.
He stopped in the dark of the streets to see the heavily guarded door of the banker's villa. He wondered if Shiva was already inside. When he looked up to one of the windows to the second floor he got his answer. He couldn't act reckless and he had a feeling that this place was webbed with guards – but he knew that the simplest way to track the cape down was by following its steps. For some reason he felt his adrenaline rushing and he had a very bad feeling about this. He jumped on the wall of the building next to him and started to make his way up. He felt the guard right above him and waited for the guy to step away and stealthily attack him from behind. It was dark but by activating his eagle vision he was able to see guards set on positions everywhere. When he opened his eyes again everything came back to normal. What on earth was on Silviani's head to hire so many men? What was worth of such protection? But then again Ezio had learned better of people's dirty nature. He wondered if all those men weren't actually there for protection but for offensive; Silviani wasn't protecting his values. He was hunting the hunters. But then again, Shiva had somehow managed to get past them unnoticed. Unfortunately, that thought alone wasn't enough to stop Ezio's mind from the rush. He had no knowledge of the boy's fighting skills and remembering Leonardo's concern he knew that if the guy were to get in some kind of problems another pair of arms was more than welcomed in a direct confrontation. So he did what his reason told him to. He took the jump, landing right above the opened window, and unheard and unseen he leaped inside. He walked down the silent corridor. If someone were to ask him, it was way too silent. In what kind of troubles had he agreed to get into when he met Shiva? He had already passed by many rooms and there was no sign of the cape. By all he knew he could have already passed by him. He hated the guy, really. He was so quiet and agile whilst he currently felt like a clog rolling down the corridor. Of course he wasn't making that much of a noise but comparatively… It wasn't like he was jealous of anything but a trick or two learned from the guy wouldn't do him any wrong. He was really thankfully that the red spots downstairs were talking loud enough to cover any possible noise. He was about to walk up the stairs to the next level when with the corner of his eyes he caught a glimpse of a quick flash jumping from the end of the balcony where he was right above the heads of the soldiers to the banister of the other corridor, on the opposed wall, and disappearing around the corner.
How on earth did he-? And those guys didn't even flinch…Ezio knew he wouldn't able to do that without the guards alerting the entire house but he didn't exactly have the time to run up another level and descend on the stairs on the other part of the villa either. By that time he would have lost the cape for sure. So he took a deep breath and ran along the corridor of the main stairs in hope that the darkness would keep him away from any prying eyes. He waited not a second to see if anyone had noticed his presence and continued his stealth-run down the corridor, in hopes to catch up with the cape. When he reached an opened room it reminded him of the painting gallery at his villa. He heard movement and ran to hide behind one of the pillars. When he glanced past it he saw his target taking a painting from one of the faces of another pillar and putting it down. Then one of the hands went inside the wall.
Target! That's when the word echoed into his mind and he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Something was … Had he ever thought of what Shiva looked like when he had his vision activated? He tried to frenetically remember. The night at the Auditore villa, the streets, and now…inside the house… What colour had the cape been glowing? And tonight… when he first caught glimpse of it… at least now, when the cape was his target … it should have been glowing yellow. He deactivated his eagle vision to confirm it was the cape he was currently watching. It should have been glowing anything but red. He slipped in the pitch darkness and he approached the other side of the pillar where the cape was. He was about to corner Shiva when suddenly he was pinned to the wall, the cold blade of a knife pressed over his neck.
'Why did you follow me?'
But Ezio didn't react to the whispered threat. He dreadfully watched the cape, knowing that he had caught the pair of scintillant eyes hiding beneath it.
'Why are you an enemy?'
'What?' At first the cape sounded really surprised but the anger in its voice was still there.
'Why do I sense you as an enemy?' His voice was low also and reflecting the same tearing feeling.
Thethief simply stared at him for a couple of seconds before Ezio felt the body in front of him tense. When he thought he should be prepared for an attack the cape shoved him harder into the wall before letting go and hiding the blade back.
Ezio closely followed every move, catching glimpse of the codex page before the cape fell, covering it again. The figure turned its back and instead of paying attention to him, started to inspect the wall opposite them.
'So you say that you picked me up as an enemy. Hmmm…'short silence '…maybe I am.' Shiva started to gently knock on the wall. 'You seem to have forgotten that I am after the same piece of artifact as you are.'
The figure half turned to face him.
'And once I get my hands on it I am not going to give it up. I am a thief, not a hired retriever.' Then the cape turned its attention back to the wall.
'I have no idea of what foolish things Leonardo might have told you about me but he doesn't understand one thing. If I treat him differently, and I act all good and caring with him that's because of the long way we go; and because of the circumstances he has become what I call a friend.'
Shiva continued to tap the wall until a sound of emptiness echoed to their ears. The thief let its gloved hands to roam on the surface. 'And he suddenly expects that this applies to every person I meet or work with. He has this theory about some people who act tough when they actually hide an artistic and sensible heart.'
One of the hands stopped and gently pushed the wall with the fingers. At that movement the wall parted and revealed a thin door of the same texture. With a more forceful push the cape opened the door to its full and took a few steps inside on the rough staircase made of stone. The thief turned back to look at the man and spoke with a hint of amused irony.
'He is a funny guy to have around, isn't he?'
Ezio felt himself boil in anger. He couldn't care less what this guy was talking about but the way he was speaking about Leonardo, who called this individual a friend and was worried about him, was making him lose his temper. He took a step further with the desire to grab the fellow by the neck when, in darkness, the cape crouched and took out the shining blade.
'I hope you have good footwork.'
He stopped and frowned. What was the thief up to?
'Che co-'
'You'd better run, chéri .Fast!'
The cape slashed the knife along its left boot and only then Ezio caught glimpse of the thin tread, now cut. He had no time to step after the cape when a door made of iron bars fell with a loud thud, separating them. The cape got up.
'I'd wish you good luck but you know…. Competition is a puttana.'
With that amused voice and an ironic reverential bow Shiva disappeared down the stairs into the darkness.
'Cazzo!'
Ezio panicked. He heard the shouts of the guards from downstairs but he still didn't move out of amazement.
The fool had activated the trap, practically blocking himself in. What on earth was in his mind?
But the Assassin had to move fast as the clatter of angry steps was rapidly approaching him. Well, there wasn't much to lose now.
He went directly for the main exit facing the first wave of armed men. He took the first one in one shot, using him as a shield and slicing the neck of the attacker. With a forceful move he pushed both bodies down the stairs at the running guards. This would buy him some time. He leaped over the banister and gripping with both hands the candelabrum he swung himself to the ground. Hitting the ground he rolled over the hard pavement taking from the impact and like an eagle he launched himself at the petrified guards from the entrance. Without looking back he ran through the door and using his speed he pushed himself up on the wall of the building he had come from. He jumped to the next one and took out one of the archers with his blade, throwing a knife to the second one before the guy could give him away. He ran to the next roof, putting to sleep another guard. Now he had a clear view over the entire rectangle shaped villa, with its inner court. All the nearby roofs were guarded by archers. If he could only have the time to make a clear path for Shiva to - … Why was he even concerned about that guy? After all, he has seen the way the boy acted… Regardless, he was still worried. Maybe it was Leonardo's troubled image or maybe it was something else but he couldn't leave without making sure that the boy had fled the place in one piece.
He crouched and rested one of his arms on his right knee. If he wanted to get the boy out of there he had to predict his moves. Was he able to leave that place after he deliberately caught himself in the trap? If so, what exist would he use? His trail of thoughts was interrupted by the sudden increase of agitation. He frowned as he saw guards positioning ladders on the walls of the building and rushing towards the roof. Looking on the nearby roofs he saw the archers taking positions, all aiming towards the upper level of the villa. Ezio scanned the roof to see none other than the old Silviani himself, stepping off from one of the ladders.
His mind started to work fast. Something bad was happening. And if not, something terrible was about to happen. His attention from Silviani was literally blown away when a chimney exploded. Ezio instantly knew what was happening but that still didn't stop him from holding his breath. The guards took their swords out and stood their ground. Silviani, who was on the other length of the roof, took some moments before signing to one of the guards to go and check. The man, who was the closest and halfway to both ends of the roof, carefully approached the smoking hole. He cautiously bended to look down when everybody saw him froze and in an instant falling and tumbling down the roof, hit by what had probably been a thrown knife. Then, some seconds of silence followed until a pair of gloved hands appeared from the hole, the body soon to be lifted. The cape got up from its crouching position and without a single movement started to scan the place. Ezio watched him slowly sidestepping to the right to look down, into the street. It was a long way down and there awaited other guards. Then the cape looked up, probably noticing the archers dispelled all over the area. It was as clear to the cape as it was to Ezio that whatever move would it try to pull this was a dead end.
'Giovanni warned me of this little visit of yours years ago. But I never suspected that it would take such a long time for the grand thief whom he was so admiringly talking about to come and rob me of my possession. You are very late, my dear. Three deaths late in fact.'
Silviani yelled over in amusement so that he could be heard by the cape. But the cape wasn't the only one hearing it. And both Shiva and Ezio knew whose the three deaths had been, which maddened the Assassin to no end.
'Don't misunderstand me. Giovanni's death didn't do me any good. He had been my friend and associate for years. I even tried to act my ways to protect him and avert that unjust punishment that those who betrayed him sentenced him to.' He took a pause and continued in the same unaffected voice. 'But it seems that they were much more powerful than he had expected. I did try to help him even after he betrayed me.' When the cape didn't give him the satisfaction of reacting to his insult he continued. 'Because he did betray me. When we decided to part the two pieces we agreed it was for the best. Even so he told me that he had a plan: that when the time comes someone whom he trusts will come to find the answers we were searching for. I believe that was you. But that meant to leave these valuable objects in the hands of an outsider! Someone who couldn't appreciate the great danger that us, Assassins, are fighting against. I was the one that helped him to retrieve the criptex from over the ocean, and he expected me to let such an important object to be touched by the hands of a nobody?'
The more he talked the more the man seemed to lose his nerves. He stopped and he was visibly breathing hard.
'Now; surrender or you will not be able to leave this place alive.'
From now on there was no further movement. Everybody was waiting for a sign of some sorts. No matter how much it angered Ezio he found himself in the same position as the others: waiting. He felt incapacitated as he alone could not act quickly enough without sending the guards into attack. He wanted so bad to slice the man's throat even after he had openly claimed to have been one of his father's allies - an Assassin. He let his palm turn into a fist and his blade activated. Any sign…any chance he would have. But right now he knew that Shiva's only chance to survive was to follow the man's orders.
Then it happened. He saw the cape tense and with immense speed, running directly towards the guards.
'Shoot! Take the thief down.' The unexpected reaction of the cape panicked Silviani and he started to yell uncontrollably. Ezio swallowed and hold his breath at the suicidal move.
The cape sprinted like an arrow towards the running guards coming its way. At meters distance the thief pushed forcefully on the ground and flipped over their heads, arms opened to leave two falling bodies behind. Making its way to the next men the figure danced through the attacking soldiers, ducking, swaying and rotating through the slaughter that the arrows were leaving behind, hitting men without target. At the feet of two guards the cape flipped to the ground between the two, and up again with equal force, screams of pain let in the night as the muscles of their hamstrings broke through the cut and they fell to the ground.
'Shoot the damn thief!'
As the yelling continued the figure added even more power into its feet. In only a split of a second Ezio though he saw the body convulsing. But as soon as it appeared it was gone and he watched the thief hurling over the line of guards, pivoting in midair and fall like a screw over the edge of the roof, disappearing into darkness and deep down into the water of the canal.
He froze. Everything happened in a matter of seconds but when he let himself exhale he felt as if hours had passes. He watched Silviani throwing his arm frenetically, yelling orders after orders and the guards running each his way, to disappear as fast as they could to execute the orders.
'After him, you fools! Don't let the thief escape!'
Ezio, on his behalf didn't lose another second and spinning around he found his way down and along the bridge. From there we watch the guards running down the stairs to the bank, searching the dock and the boats nearby, thrusting their swords in the water and throwing rocks at every wave that the water was making.
The assassin narrowed his eyes. If Shiva escaped the fall, the boy surely wouldn't have slacked around. He looked to the other part of the city, separated by water, and then retook his free run. He quickened his steps to the docks. He watched the nearby isle of land and walking along the wooden planks he carefully eyed the reeds for any movement. But there was no sign of the cape. What other escape route was there? He needed to get out of water fast and swimming in a diagonal wouldn't have done him any good. Then again it was Ezio's own fault for stopping on the bridge. By now, the cape, which might as well swim as fast as it runs, could be far away. The white hood turned around and started to walk up the stairs. Then the wall to his left shined in the light of the moon. A part of the stone wall was wet. Ezio stopped and put his hand over the wall. Maybe the boy had indeed passed this way.
'Water.'
But when he took his hand away and brought it to his eye level he froze at his worst fear. His palm and fingers were now darkened in the colour of blood. He looked around. At his feet the pavement was splashed in dark red. Looking up the stairs, the wall had been marked with traces of red palms, up to the end of it. Eyeing the stain of blood from where he was he realized that Shiva mush have made a stop here, falling down because of the pain. He crouched and he started to inspect the grass until his hands found something. Taking it up it proved to be the tail of an arrow. He looked to the other side of the step – its tip lay there, broken. He cursed. How could he have missed all of this the first time? He got up and realized that the boy must have used the wall for support. He ran up to follow the traces but at the end of the stairs was nothing. Without any traces the city was practically a maze and for sure Shiva was smart enough to cover everything up. He thought of running up the rooftops and search for the cape from up there. But there was also the fact that Shiva was wounded and from all he knew there was a single place where the cape could go in search of help. He hoped that he was right and by the time he'll get there -.
He ran as fast as he could to Leonardo.
Ezio hit the door open and with a look of unrest he searched around the room only to find Leonardo, up on his feet, after the shock he must have given him. His worries grew. He let the hood down.
'Has Shiva come back?'
'What?' The artist started to look around fearing any possible bad news. 'N-no. What happened? Did you meet-?'
'Shiva has been injured!' Ezio felt the artist's misgiving and anxiety getting over him as well.
'When? How? Where is sh-'
'I . don't. know!' He tried to regain his breath. 'It all happened so fast. To tell you the truth I am even surprised that he managed to get away alive! I must go and find the boy!'
He was about to pull the hood back and turn when Leonardo caught his arm.
'Wait! Do you even know where to start looking?'
When the Assassin was about to breathe another angry 'no' a loud noise came from upstairs; something had hit the floor above them – hard!
Still, both of them waited in silence. The next second a black shadow covered the first steps and in an attempt to jump once again, it fell down to the ground like a wounded bird, lain dead.
'Shiva!' The artist run to the body and when he was about to lift it and turn it to face him the figure moaned and helped him in his actions.
Oh! Santa Maria! Thanks haven you are alright.' Leonardo let out a cry of pure relief.
'I wouldn't bet too much on that!' The figure managed to let out a breath between the clenched teeth.
Sarcasm was a very good sign. The artist was about to hug her out of happiness but at the sight of his arms covered in blood he remembered that the situation was still critical.
'Ezio! Quick! Lay Shiva on the table!' The second the man crouched down and caught the body, Leonardo disappeared under the curtains into the next room.
'I need those clothes off to inspect the wounds!'
Ezio took the slim body without any difficulties and was on his way to accomplish the orders he had received.
'Dieu (God), tell Leonardo to stop yelling! He is making my ears bleed.'
He smirked and for a second let himself calm down as well. This fellow didn't know how to shut up and respect people even when he was dying. Even so, his heart beats were still racing as he knew perfectly that danger was far from over.
'He's not yelling. It's not our fault you ears are oversensitive.'
He gently placed the body in a sitting position and started to unfasten the cape.
'I am fine. I can-' But when the gloved hands griped his the body convulsed in pain.
'Sure. I believe you but let me do it.'
Before the hands would fall because of exhaustion they grabbed one of his and brought it beneath the cape. Confused he soon felt an object being slipped inside his hand. When he folded he knew exactly what he was holding.
'I hope this thing was worth this damned death race.'
Ezio was at unease but now he frowned in ire too.
'This is not the time. You can barely breathe!' He put the artifact away and he felt the body fall with all its weight in his chest. If it weren't for the powerless breathing in his neck and the hard battle of the head to stay pinned on his shoulder he would have thought that Shiva had lost his consciousness.
He started again to unfasten the cape from over the shoulder. He knew Shiva must be exhausted since the entire night had affected his body also and if it weren't for the worry and anxiety his own eyes would close under the weight of exhaustion. After he pushed the cape aside he made his way to the vest. He needed to get all those soaked layers down fast and let the skin breathe. With the vest just unbuttoned he went for the shirt half unbuttoning it, half pulling it open. Ezio pulled the shirt from the trousers and pushed all the layers open. Then, in the red shadows that the fire was placing upon them he stopped his every movement. After a moment of silence, as if he had lost his rationality, he brought one hand up and slowly walked it along the line where the white, now stained in blood, binding was with impertinence pushing up the outline of two round breasts. He gently caressed the exposure of skin, to be brought back to his senses by the unconscious shiver of the thin body. He took the figure by the shoulders and pushing it up from his chest, Ezio found himself gazing at long light ash hair freed by the fallen hood. His eyes roamed in panic along the rich tresses, to the parted lips, fighting the air in and out, and back again to the irregular rising chest. He bought one hand up and cupped one of the cheeks, bringing the face up, into the semi light of the fire. The eyes were half closed slowly losing the battle of consciousness. By accident his thumb touched the corner of the lips and without realizing Ezio leaned closer, swallowing hard.
'Please step aside!'
Leonardo woke him up and the man followed the instruction more or less as he was pushed aside.
Ezio watched as the artist did the rest of the job and laid the body on the table. He followed the man's hands as they inspected the wound and went inside the box he had previously positioned on the table in search for his tools.
'Please Ezio, take a seat. If I am going to need your help I'll ask.' The artist turned around to smile reassuring.
'I believe you need some rest also. Try to relax. I'll take care of her.'
Half of fatigue, half of confusion he stepped backwards and when he felt the chair behind him he let his body fell into it. Before his consciousness left him he was able to see Leonardo help the woman on her stomach so that he could treat the ugly gash that the arrow had caused when it penetrated the lower back. The last thing that his eyes memorised and took with them in his deep sleep were the golden pair of eyes watching him in the darkness and the form of the round breasts pressed on the hard surface of the table.
""""***""""
It was the loud thud next to his ear that awoke Ezio, sending him into alert. He gripped the arms of the chair and took notice of what was happening. Only at the sight of a cursing Leonardo he managed to relax. It was morning. He must have fallen asleep again in the chair of the artist's atelier. He watched Leonardo shouting at the men that were currently depositing boxes in his atelier. He looked down to his right to see one of those boxes, filled with sculptures and tools. That must have been what had taken away his sleep. The man brought one hand to his eyes and rubbed gently to chase the sleep away. He felt as if he had been awoken from a true nightmare, though he couldn't remember what it had been about.
'Put those boxes in the inner court. GENTLY!'
Ezio watched his friend walking inside the atelier with a box and putting it on a bench.
'I want these careless men out of my place as soon as possible. They have already broken enough precious working material.'
The Assassin looked amused at the fretful show the artist was giving.
'Can I be of any help?'
'No, not really.' He tapped his forehead thinking of something.
Then a thought hit Ezio.
'Shiva! How is-?' How could he forget last night events so easily?
'Ah! Fine, fine. Just fine.'
They heard a quick row of noises from outside.
Leonardo looked towards the door.
'What on earth are they doing?'
Then another, more powerful breaking sound followed.
'I told you to be careful with those!' he sprinted towards the exit. 'Those animals.'
'Oh, Ezio! Right, you can actually help; I forgot! Could you please take that clean change of clothes and bring it to the next room? Shiva asked for them. You can leave them on the chair next to the entrance. I beg of you. Grazie.'
Ezio laughed at Leonardo's exasperation then with a shake of his head he went to the table to take the clothes.
He went to the room and giving the curtain away he wanted to throw the clothes on the chair and make a joke on the boy's condition. Then he stopped from moving, speaking and even breathing (he had a feeling that he had been facing this kind of situations too many times in these past few days). He narrowed his eyes in alert and closed his mouth after realising it had been open for quite some time now. Without another word he spun on his heels and stepped outside. He froze with the back to the entrance and questioned his own eyes. If he wasn't having any visions at cause of tiredness, inside Leonardo's, the Leonardo who had his issues regarding the weak sex, ….inside Leonardo's improvised bathroom, during one normal morning, was a naked woman. He blinked to chase away the image of the long wet hair and naked back that had just submerged from the water basin when he entered the room.
That's when Leonardo made his way back inside the house after slamming the door.
'Those irresponsible fellows! They wouldn't know how to treat art if their own lives were at stake.'
When he calmed down he looked at a stoned Ezio, the clothes barely sustained by a weak grip.
'What happened to you?'
'Listen Leonardo, I don't want you to panic or anything but… there's a woman in your bathroom.'
With his hands on his hips the artist looked at the man in front of him as if he had been hit by something and had forgotten who and where he was. Still, he had to give credits for his well-kept sense of humour. He looked to one side and then, as if it was the most natural thing, back at the poor man.
'Yes. And?'
'And!'
'Ezio, why didn't you give Shiva the cloth-oooooooooooh. Wait!' It was the artist's turn to be shocked. 'What exactly do you remember from last night events?'
Ezio straightened and looking at the ceiling he tried to concentrate. It was true that he had a feeling that he was missing something since he had woken up but he couldn't put the finger on it.
Leonardo knew that everything came back to Ezio when his eyes widened ready to pop up. Then, in less than a second his expression was the mirror of shock and anger.
'You! You – and Shi-…SHE!' he was frenetically pointing to the artist and to the room behind him when the clothes from his hands were swiped away. He double blinked as a slender figure wearing nothing but a towel passed by him.
'Thank you.'
'You! All this time you have been lying to me, taking me by a fool!'
The woman slowly turned and Ezio stopped himself from stepping back under the sudden piecing gaze. If he thought under the hood that pair of eyes flashed dauntingly now he had to stand his ground in order to face them like a man.
'I don't remember ever doing something that would mislead you; lying even more so. As I said before it is your own fault for building false presumptions.'
He watched this woman, standing tall in front of him, with her long heavy hair falling past the towel that was poorly hiding her forms, unfazed by the fact she was close to naked.
'And if you are looking for someone to place blame onto then you should talk to Leonardo. He was the only one that intentionally fed your misunderstanding concerning my gender.'
'Shiva! Don't point at me. It was a simple joke and you know you enjoyed it as much as I did.'
The woman rolled her eyes. 'I highly doubt it. Oh, and thank you for the new clothes.'
She turned around and walked to the same screen Ezio had used days ago.
The artist looked at the clothes. 'Well, I had something else in mind… more feminine, but surely you would have disagreed.'
'Of course I would have.'
And before she fully disappeared behind the screen she let the towel fall.
'Shiva! Can you at least pretend to act like a decent signorina?'
When he looked back at Ezio he felt cornered under the powerful gaze.
'Oh, you can't be that mad over an innocent joke?'
'Innocent? You call that innocent? Do you even know what kind of nightmare I had to go through because you – you convinced me that she's a he?'
The young man slapped himself.
'I was such a fool, tormenting myself like that night and day.'
'Tormenting?' Leonardo tried to play clueless but his overly amused face gave him away.
'Leonardo, can you come here and give me a help?'
Both men looked at the panel.
'With what?'
'I want to bind myself and I can't do it alone.'
'Are you an idiot? You narrowly escaped death, you have a serious injury and you want to stop yourself from breathing also? Did the hit affect your head too?'
'But I feel more comfortable like that.' The voice protested like a scolded child.
'Nonsense! Treating your breasts so barbarically doesn't bring comfort at all. At least now, when you came to me for aid, like many times before might I add, you will listen to me and treat your body properly.'
His lecture was followed by a moment of silence and the swish of clothes.
'Old man!' It was more of a silent swear but both men heard it clearly, the statement revolting the artist even more.
'I. am. not. an. old. man!'
'You act like one!'
Ezio looked at the weird interaction between the two. Couldn't Leonardo see that this woman was taking pleasure out tormenting him?
When she came from behind the screen she was fully dressed in a pair of black trousers and a white shirt, poorly buttoned on the upper part. Not to mention that the wet hair wasn't helping the situation at all. Leaving details aside Ezio caught glimpse of the treated wound, noticing the white bandage through the thin shirt. She must have replaced it when she changed because he remembered the one on her back soaked in water and blood when she had dropped the towel.
The woman took a seat on the table, pushing herself up slowly not to cause any pain. She crossed her legs and looked down at her bare feet.
'I wish I could put my boots on.'
'Well, the longer the time, the better. It will keep you out of troubles as you can't climb walls barefoot.'
'Is that a challenge?' She smirked pryingly.
'No. That's an order.'
'Pfff…'
She jumped in shock when Ezio forcefully stopped in front of her and pinned both of his hands by her sides.
'You!'
Shiva blinked.
He was about to continue after a closer examination of her face. Her hair was currently some tones darker because of the water, it was messy and probably falling more heavily than it would normally. But accidentally his eyes fell into the generous cleavage. For Ezio it was no problem to guess the form of the breasts and thinking about it they weren't even big enough to need bound so he saw no reason why she was deliberately showing off. Well… there was enough of a difference from when they were covered by the bindings but Ezio still preferred a richer chest.
'You know…' Her voice broke his trail of analysis. 'With the risk of it sounding like a cliché …my eyes are up here.'
And to prove her point she shoved her face right under his and forced him to look at her from the same eye level. Ok, so maybe at such a closure Ezio did feel intimidated by her eyes.
He straightened.
'I wanted to tell you this.' He took his time and with a perfect serious face he continued. 'I am really glad that you are a woman. This fact alone took a heavy burden off my shoulders.'
Saying that the woman was confused was an understatement. She watched him with big, questioning eyes and Ezio thought that this might as well be more frightening than her glares.
'Erm…ok.' She looked even more confused at the artist, who was slowly turning as red as his hat trying not to laugh.
'Umm. Is there something I should know?'
'Well, you see –'
But Leonardo's words were cut by a threatening Ezio.
'One word about it and you'll deeply regret to have even started this bad joke.'
'I am a man of honour, Ezio! And you know that I would never try to taint another's honour!'
But the sly smile made Ezio wonder of what the artist was in reality capable of.
'You know what? I don't want to know. Especially when men honour is involved.' Shiva rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder on the table.
Suddenly her face became serious. She grabbed a wooden box and opened it; inside were the two pieces of the orb. She got them out and all the attention was on them. For some seconds she played them in her hands, attaching and reattaching. If they were supposed to interact of some sort it didn't have any effect right now.
She put them together and threw them at Ezio.
He caught them with both hands and stared at them for the longest time.
'Sorry. They seem pretty useless right now.'
'That they do. But something bothers me. Why was Silviani so despaired after this piece?'
'I don't have the slightest idea. But if you ask me he was beyond despair. It was as if he was obsessed with it. Now those pieces are just dead stones but I respect your father's decision to break the orb in two. Maybe it really was for the best.' She gave it a thought before continuing on a lighter note. 'Though curiosity does swallow me alive.'
Ezio frowned in annoyance but let it go.
'Do you thing Silviani is an Assassin like he claimed?'
'Probably. But even so, Signor Giovanni must have had good reasons not to place his trust on him at one point.'
Between the two silence installed and Leonardo decided not to get involved. So he went to pour some tea for Shiva to drink.
'How do you know so many things about the Assassins?'
At first she was ready to show him that his questions were annoying the hell out of her, but she gave up.
'I am not a thief since yesterday. I learned a lot of things during years of mastering my skills. And I have to admit that your father had been a treasure of fascinating information.'
The woman knew that there were so many questions that Ezio had for her but instead of evading them she decided to answer them for once.
'It was out of coincidence that our paths crossed more than one time. But even so, your father was one of the few people I've met to benefit of my entire respect. If Silviani was right and your father had been indeed waiting for me, it could have been because he knew I can move about easily and find information at a faster pace.'
They both looked at the pieces that Ezio was holding.
'I am sorry. This was all I was able to do for your father.' She nodded towards the broken orb and he could clearly sense remorse in her words. Suddenly the image of her in his father's secret room appeared in his head.
'Nearly dying. Pretty impressive.'
To speak the truth a well-intended joke was the last thing she expected. Maybe she was judging the Auditore kid a little bit too harsh. 'Though I'm not falling for it.'
'I'm sorry?' Suddenly she felt insulted.
'What happened to the entire 'I am after the orb and I will take it no matter the cost' statement?'
She frowned. In moments like these, when he was venturing his flirty smiles she wished she could go back to mystery gender. But she played along his sarcasm.
'Well… those things are now clearly nothing more than useless stones. They represent no interest to me anymore, so you can keep them.'
But they both knew that under that grin she was currently wishing him ten years of bad fortune. And Ezio's smile wasn't far from it either.
When Leonardo turned to them he found the two with weird grimaces on their faces, and the over exaggerated grins reminded him of an old story about a couple of spouses that killed each other with the weapons they were hiding behind their backs.
The bad thing was that Ezio was webbed with sharp object. The positive part was that Shiva had none. What worried him instead was the ashes fork he had forgotten pinned on the table's leg.
Their staring was interrupted by the cup of tea that blocked their views.
'Drink whilst is hot.'
'Bleah.' Still, the woman took the cup from his hands.
Ezio eyed her as she was peacefully blowing the surface of the liquid. Then a thought crossed his mind and he instantly activated his vision. When everything came to normal he continued to stare. Her glow was now pure white.
'How did you do that?'
The woman looked up.
'Do what?'
'That! You turned from enemy into …' Well … what would he call a white glow?
She arched an eyebrow and took a silent, long sip.
'Is that an Assassin's trait?'
She had guessed right.
'Smart.'
She grinned.
'Why thank you. And to answer your question,' she took another drink letting him waiting for the answer. 'I have no idea.'
And she smiled again. 'Shouldn't you know it?'
'You are such a help.'
Shiva put the cup down and Leonardo spoke again.
'So what are you going to do now Ezio?'
He took his time before answering.
'I think it's time to go and put an end to some unfinished business.'
The artist nodded.
'I will also take the codex pages to bring them to my uncle and see if he will be able to make something out of it.'
'And the orb?'
'I still have no idea of what to do with it. I shall bring it to Monteriggioni but I rather do it when killing and enemies of my father are not involved. I may have to ask you a favour. Could you keep it for a while?'
'Why of course.'
Whist the two men exchanged their words the woman slowly got up and started to walk towards the entrance of the other room.
Ezio eyed her with the corner of his eyes, then, turning his entire attention to her, he voiced his question.
'What about you?'
Shiva looked over her shoulder.
'What about me?'
'What are you going to do?'
But before the woman had the chance to come up with an answer Leonardo spoke for her.
'What she knows best – disappear.'
She looked troubled, as she had been caught in action.
'Oh well… at some point. Maybe after I'll be able to walk up those stairs on my own.'
'A little bit too soon, if you ask me.' The artist continued shaking his head disapprovingly.
'So that's it? That's all you do? Walk in and out on people?' Ezio asked sarcastically but she didn't take well his joke and answered with narrowed eyes.
'And occasionally on people if they annoy me enough.'
But the only effect it had on Ezio was visible in his smirk.
She swore, he was underestimating her now more than when he though she was a boy. She had no nerves to lose on immature boys so she turned around and continued her walk. But the man had other opinion.
'Can I ask you one more thing?'
Really annoyed she spun, a little bit too fast, giving the sudden pain. But before the men had time to react she threw at them her answer.
'Pay me.'
Ezio frowned.
'Funny. I was ab-'
'I am not joking.. I think I have already favoured you enough for being Giovanni's son. You want more information from me – pay me.'
The man looked incredulously towards the artist for confirmation.
With his arms folded he nodded amused.
'It comes with the job.'
Ezio still couldn't believe his ears. He sighed frustrated still not sure if the two were pulling him by the leg.
'How much?'
'It usually depends on the kind of information one wants but since you're Leonardo's friend…. 2000 florins.'
'What!'
'Take it or leave it.'
She was dead serious.
Infuriated he accepted and stumped to her, grabbing her arm and forcing a pouch in her palm. She clearly didn't appreciate being brutalised and glared at him. Refusing to let her go he towered closer.
'What was your relation with my brother?'
On spot he regretted his actions and the demanding tone, as for a second her eyes flashed an unusual emotion, he had seen just once: on his mother's face when she had learned of his father's death.
She swallowed but her voice came strong and unaffected.
'I met him a couple of times through your father.'
'And?'
'And what? That's all.'
'What about the broach?'
'What broach?'
His grip tightened again.
'Don't play fool with me.'
But then, as if she had been playing with him all this time she slipped her hand out of his fist with easiness.
'That's all you get for 2000 florins.'
With that she turned her back and disappeared into the next room.
He couldn't believe this. That moment he remembered that hood or no hood she had the same wicked personality. She had managed to walk out on him yet again. The only difference was that now he couldn't simply crash her on a wall and talk her into respecting people.
He though he was angry but the next thing he did was to laugh. Ezio then turned to Leonardo.
'Well… I was expecting at least a 'have a nice trip' or something along the line.'
Before putting the pieces back into the box Leonardo answered bluntly.
'Don't.'
Ezio continued to eye the artist amused by all the things he had gone through lately.
Minutes later the Assassin was saying his goodbyes to his friend. When the door closed he knew that for the next job he needed a clear head. The white hood stepped into the sun soon disappearing into the masses of people.
~~ End of chapter 9 ~~
In search of inspiration T_T
