Alright, these are mini stories that will take place in the Modern Assassin's Creed universe that I'm writing. These will help to develop and explain the different relationships within the main story, without me going off on a tangent during the main story.

I hope you enjoy them, and please read and review J

…..

Leonardo frowned as his call to Ezio went straight to voicemail once again.

He knew Jacob's trial was today and had been trying to get into contact with him for hours.

Nothing.

Hence the reason why he was now heading to the Auditore Mansion in the hope he could see Ezio face to face.

It was strange not having Ezio there to meet him after he'd finished his studies, as the younger teen was often happy to help him carry his art supplies home…. But Ezio was nowhere to be seen.

As he walked up the steps to the mansion, Leonardo frowned when he noticed just how quiet the Assassin town was. There didn't appear to be any sound coming from within the house either.

It was almost deserted.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Leonardo waited for a time, before knocking again.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

Eventually the door opened and Giovanni Auditore stared out.

"Oh…" the older man sighed, "… hello Leonardo. I am sorry, but this isn't a good- You know, actually, maybe you'd better come in."

Leonardo followed the man inside, frowning when he saw Claudia storm past her Father, not even looking at him.

"I-i-is everything alright?" Leonardo stammered, un-nerved by the silence that filled the house, "I-I-I know Jacob's trial was today and- "

"- You had better go and speak to Ezio." Giovanni interrupted, "I believe he's in his room."

"… Of course."

Without another word, Giovanni walked away, heading towards his study.

The situation was similar as to when Federico Auditore and Petruccio Auditore, Ezio's older and younger brother's respectively, were murdered by the Templar's almost 3 years ago.

Leonardo knew what that probably meant.

He rushed up the stairs, barely pausing for breath as he burst into Ezio's room. "Ezio?! Ezio?!"

Ezio barely glanced at him, keeping his eyes on the ceiling as he sighed deeply. "Sorry Leo…" he muttered, "… I-I completely forgot about the time, I-I'll make it up to you tomorrow."

"… What happened?"

"Hmmm?"

Leo took a seat on the bed, gently placing his hand on Ezio's shoulder. "Jacob…. Was- was he found guilty and- "

"- No." Ezio growled, "Jacob wasn't found guilty."

"Then, surely that's a good thing? Why isn't everyone- "

"- Because he's gone!"

Leonardo flinched back, quickly removing his hand from Ezio' shoulder, frowning as Ezio groaned and pushed himself into a seated position.

"I'm sorry…" Ezio sighed, pulling his boyfriend into a hug, "… I'm so sorry. It's just- " he took a deep breath, "- Do you remember when I told you that the Council kicked Jacob out of the Creed before the trial?"

"Sì."

"Well… we managed to find who was really behind the bombing."

"Who?"

"Shay Patrick Cormac."

Leonardo frowned at this, as Ezio continued. "He was the one behind it all, and he tried to frame Jacob. Jacob was kicked out of the Creed before the trial… and when he was proven innocent, Jacob decided to stay out of the Creed."

"So… he's no longer an Assassin?"

"… He's no longer here. In the village."

"Dio mio!" Leonardo exclaimed, "He left?!"

"When the Council offered to let him back into the Creed, he decided against it… I don't blame him really." Ezio glared in the direction of the door, "My Father and almost everyone on that Council didn't stick by him, and Jacob knew that if it happened again, then there was a chance he would be kicked out again."

"So, he left?" Leonardo shook his head in disbelief, "What about his friends? Evie? Ethan? Freddie?"

Ezio sighed, "We all tried to stop him, Evie most of all… and you know his relationship with his Papa's been tense. Nothing we said made any difference though… Jacob's gone."

Watching as his boyfriend curled up on his side, Leonardo lay next to him, staring up at the ceiling…. Jacob was gone… actually gone.

As Ezio's boyfriend, he often hung out with Jacob as well…. the younger man was a fantastic violin player, a true artist, even though he couldn't do anything with that skill.

Maybe that's what Jacob would do now that he was out of the Creed. Leonardo allowed himself a fond smile… Jacob Frye, a concert violinist, playing at the Albert hall.

It was wishful thinking.

Jacob had the skill, but he was always shy when performing in front of others. Even when it was one on one, Jacob was shy.

*******Flashback******

"That's amazing! Fantastico!"

Jacob yelped, almost dropping his violin to the ground. "Leo, I- "

"- You play beautifully." Leo stepped closer, his eyes examining the instrument, "A Knilling, right?"

"… Yeah. How did you know?"

Leo leaned forwards, "Perfection pegs…. It's beautiful. They are very expensive though."

"I saved up from my part time job…. Dad wouldn't get me one."

"Ah… is he why your music sounded so sad?"

Jacob glanced up from where he was twiddling with the pegs, wincing as he spotted Leonardo's knowing look. "…We had a fight… another one. I wanted to entire the town's talent competition with my violin… Dad said no." He then scoffed, "Actually, he told me I wasn't good enough to enter any talent contest, and that I needed to get my head on straight and focus on being a good little Assassin."

Wincing, Leonardo reached out and gently patted the younger teen on the shoulder. "I know I shouldn't encourage this, but you should enter anyway."

"You really think so?"

"I'm an artist, I know talent when I hear it."

Jacob was silent for a few moments, before smirking. "Does… Ezio have that talent?"

"…. He-he can- "

"- Just say no Leo. Ezio knows about four chords and can barely sing…. And you know it."

"Ezio…" Leo chuckled, "… has a very particular set of skills. But no, singing and playing the guitar is not one of them."

A comfortable silence fell between the two, as Jacob continued to tune the violin.

"Why don't you play something?"

Jacob frowned at his friend, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.

"Play something a little cheerier… Disney or something!"

"… I don't remember Disney films being totally cheery, but alright." He cleared his throat, "Here we go."

From the very first notes, Leo knew exactly which song it was.

"Little town, full of little people…" he sang softly, smiling as Jacob started to lose himself in the music. At first it was Belle, and then Jacob moved swiftly onto Something There without playing a wrong note.

The song sounded crisp and pure, as though it was coming from a concert hall.

Something There came to an end, and then Jacob started to play Gaston.

With the upbeat tune, Leonardo started to tap his feet, grinning as Jacob's lower half started to move along with the beat as well.

When Gaston merged into Be Our Guest, Jacob couldn't resist. With one swift movement, he leapt to his feet and started to twirl around the room, feet tapping along to the beat as he went. This upbeat tune lasted for quite a while (clearly one of Jacob's favourites), until it finally slowed down and slowly changed to the main theme, Beauty and the Beast.

When Jacob played that last note, Leonardo couldn't help but jump to his feet, clapping widely. "È stato fantastico!" he cheered in Italian, "Fantastic! How did you learn to play so well?!"

Jacob blushed at the praise, seating opposite Leo again, "My Grandma handed me my first violin when I was old enough to hold one… she always said I needed to put my energy to good use." He sighed sadly, "I go and play for her every so often. Her memory's not what it once was but she still likes the music."

Frowning, Leo leaned forwards. "Does Evie or your Father enjoy the music you play for her?"

"… I tend to make those visits alone." Jacob chuckled nervously, "I go with them on the weekly visits, but the solo trips are nice as well."

"… I think you should join that talent show."

Jacob's eyes widened in shock, "… What?"

"Join. The. Talent. Show." Leo emphasised, "Don't tell your Father, sign up and we'll all cheer you one when you reach the final stage."

"All?"

Leo nodded eagerly, "All your friends, I'll let them all know secretly what's happening, and that's that!"

"I-I don't think…" Jacob stopped in his tracks, before sighing. "… Maybe… I'll think about."

*******End Flashback******

Jacob never did enter that talent show…. Leo sighed at the memory. Jacob's Father kept him busy with Assassin training whenever he thought Jacob was slipping… which seemed to be always according to Mr Frye.

"What are you thinking about?"

Leonardo sighed, rolling over to face Ezio. "I was just- Did you know Jacob could play the violin…. Beautifully by the way. He had real talent."

Frowning, Ezio shook his head. "No… he never told any of us, well, except you apparently?"

"I found out by accident… a happy accident, but an accident nonetheless."

"Do you think that's what he's going to do?" Ezio asked, "Do you think he's going to play his violin as a street performer or something?"

"… I don't know."

"I hope he does…" Ezio eventually decided, "… I don't want to think of him wandering everywhere alone… he'll be happy playing the violin."

"Yes…" Leo smiled fondly at the memory of Jacob's pleased smile when he playing, "… yes, I think he will."