Yeah I know I suck. School started, and I got really busy because I got a lead role in the play. Sorry sorry sorry I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU. Assassin's Creed III! ASDFGHJKL I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO PLAY MUCH BUT IT IS INCREIBLE. What do you guys think? Do y'all like Connor? – McKenna
1478
Audra squinted as the sun poured into her room from the small window in her bedroom. Yawning, she pulled herself up, stretching. A thought struck her, causing her to curl into herself. Today was the day Ezio was planning on returning to Firenze. She had half a mind to tag along, and the other half was telling her to keep an eye on Bella.
Lately, Audra was always feeling run down and exhausted. Most of her energy went to training with Mario, watching Bella and Ezio and keeping them in check, dealing with Claudia's up and down emotions, gathering information and gossip for Mario and the rest of the Brotherhood, and trying to figure out exactly where her life was going.
Audra put on her standard dress: brown, drab, easy to move around in, and durable. She missed her gorgeous dresses, but of course, these were more practical. When she was training, she wore slacks and an old, white, cotton shirt. After slipping on the dress and pulling wicked curls into a tight bun, she walked into the hall. Everything was dead silent, and no one was to be seen. Audra figured Ezio might be collecting new weapons before leaving. As for Bella…
She walked down the staircase, stretching out her sore arms, when she heard them. Claudia and Bella were arguing in the other room, about who knows what. Audra sighed, relief flooding over her. Bella hadn't left. But what of Ezio?
Audra walked into Mario's study, knocking on the marble wall just before entering. Mario looked up, and then smiled. "Audra! To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked, walking toward her briskly and taking her hands in his. She smiled as warmly as possible back, before letting the smile slip off. Mario frowned and left her to pull a chair up to his desk. He motioned for her to sit in it while to returned to the chair behind the desk.
"Mario, has Ezio left yet?" Audra asked, glancing at the bookshelf behind him. Mario laughed heartily and enticed Audra's eyes to wander to his.
"No, my dear. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. He'll be back from the town shortly." Mario smiled, amused. Audra saw his thought process change, however, as his face grew serious and he leaned in to her. "How is Bella? Has she still expressed wishes to go back to Firenze?"
Audra bit her lip. "Well, I know she still wants too. I'm worried for her. She wants to revisit the night. I don't think it's healthy for her."
Mario sighed, shaking his head slowly. "No, no. You are very wise. But, people seldom do ever just get over something so quickly. Sadly enough, Bella wants a closure she'll never be able to attain this way. She'll get herself into some trouble."
"She says she wants revenge." Audra whispered back. "Says she wants to kill the guard who forced her to watch her mother die."
Mario nodded his thoughts somewhere else. "Keep an eye on her." Audra nodded, then proceeded to get up and leave, a bit frustrated. She didn't know what she could say or do to make Bella move past what happened, and do something to help her father's cause, like Ezio. As Audra went to go talk to Bella, she ran into Ezio.
"Buongiorno, Audra!" Ezio shouted cheerfully, holding out his arms. Audra only glanced up at him, still frustrated, and confused. Ezio's face softened as he lowered his arms, fitting them around her tiny frame. She sighed and melted into the embrace, trying to memorize his scent and posture. Trying to memorize the feeling of him.
She was being stupid, of course. He would come back. The de' Pazzi was nothing to worry about. Audra felt Ezio release her, which saddened her more than she had expected. "I'm leaving today. Would you like anything from Firenze?" Ezio asked her, his voice quiet, as if there was nothing, no people, places, friends or foes, no furniture- nothing- but him and her.
"I want you to come back safely." She answered in the same quiet, reserved voice. "But, if you can swing it, I'd like you to get a painting from Leonardo for me. Tell him Audra would like the painting entitled "Percezione di Una Ragazza". He'll know what I'm talking about." Ezio nodded briefly, before smiling brightly. He took her up in his arms once more.
"I'll be back, little Audra. I promise." Audra chuckled bitterly, shaking her head.
"It's not exactly you I'm worried about…" Audra glanced into the room where Bella stood, still arguing. Ezio followed her gaze, and sighed.
"You can't control her." Ezio paused, laughing for a moment and earning a puzzled gaze from Audra. "She's Bella. She doesn't listen to anyone." Audra smiled lightly and shrugged.
"You are right…I can't control her. If she really wants to go to Firenze…if that's what will really help her cope…then I suppose I shouldn't stop her." Biting her lip, Audra turned to Ezio. "Promise me you'll check on her every now and then."
"Of course. But, we must get going. I'll be back soon." Ezio kissed the top of her head as he rushed off to Mario's study. Audra watched him leave as the sound of tiny shoes slapping the marble echoed throughout the main hall.
"Do not worry for me, sister." Bella whispered to Audra, walking closer to her. Audra turned on her heel slowly to face Bella. She smiled softly, taking in her sister's appearance. Her soft, brown curls and muddy brown eyes. Bella's lips were pulled up into a smile, showcasing white, straight teeth. Her natural beauty always threw Audra off guard.
"Of course I will. I love you so." Audra put her hands firmly on her sister's shoulders. "Go to Florence. But please be careful, and please do not go looking for trouble." Audra raised an eye brow and stared into her sister's eyes, waiting for a response.
Bella chuckled smoothly, while removing Audra's hands. "Relax, Audra. I am simply visiting Leonardo and Paola." Audra stared at her sister once more, searching for a reason to make her stay at the villa. Audra winced.
"Fine. Please pass on my love to both of them." Bella brightened suddenly, pulling her sister into a hug.
"Grazie, Audra! I surely will! I will be leaving with Ezio. I shall be back!" Bella began to make way for her room to grab the necessary items for her trip, when she stopped suddenly on the large, grand stair case. She turned to smile down to Audra.
Bella watched her sister fondly. Audra looked so exhausted all the time. All Audra did was work. She trained, she swept, she polished, she farmed, she cleaned, she sewed, she dusted, she washed, and she baked. Although Audra always lectured her on how unhealthy her coping mechanisms were, Bella always thought Audra's weren't any better. Audra made herself busy, and never gave herself time to enjoy time to herself, or with others. Bella hadn't seen Audra have a proper conversation in almost a year. If Bella wanting to return home was bad, then Audra pushing away wasn't too great either. Bella sighed sadly as she gazed upon Audra. Audra needed something better.
"I love you, sister." Bella said, smiling as Audra did.
Firenze, Italia
1478
Ezio and Bella arrived in Florence in the early afternoon. Both were a bit nervous to be back in the city they once knew so very well. Too both, the city seemed unfamiliar. It didn't feel like home as it once did. The sense filled Bella, it made her sick. It made Ezio tense up. Neither felt comfortable back in the large, unforgiving city.
They walked to Leonardo's palazzo in comfortable silence. Bella admired the bustling city, feeling as if she had never seen it before. Ezio kept him hood up and eyes scanning everywhere. If a guard came close to the pair, he'd be sure to distract Bella. They finally reached Leonardo's, feeling disoriented. Ezio knocked on his door, and opened it, gesturing for Bella to follow. They walked in on a cluttered area. The room was dark except for the fire and candles that were spread around the workshop. Papers and letters and diagrams cluttered to walls. Unfinished inventions hung from the ceiling, paintings were stacked upon tables and chairs.
"Ezio? You're still alive?" Appeared Leonardo's voice from the other end of the workshop. He quickly rushed to Ezio and hugged him. "And Bella, my dear!" Leonardo shouted, hugging her tightly.
"Look at this place! The past two years have been kind to you." Ezio stated, wandering around the shop, inspecting. Leonardo grasped Bella's hand, pulling her into the workshop.
"But you are not the same at all, are you?" Leonardo asked softly, glancing at Ezio. "Nor you…" He said just as softly to Bella. Her eyes trailed up to meet his.
Ezio gave the two a moment before walking briskly to Leonardo. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with something."
"Anything for you, my friend!" Ezio held up a Codex page for Leonardo. Leonardo's eyes widened. "You found another one! How exciting!"
Bella shifted through drawings, paintings, and diagrams as Ezio and Leonardo talked on about the Codex page. She couldn't believe it had been two years since she had last seen Leonardo. She sighed dreamily as she thought of when they met. She really was in love with the young inventor…
Bella snapped out of her reverie with the booming sound of the door opening and closing suddenly. She whirled around, whipping into Leonardo. "Oof! I'm so sorry!" She shouted, flustered. Leonardo laughed heartily.
He captured her frail hands in his calloused ones. "No need, my dear." He whispered softly to her. He touched his forehead to hers, and pulled her into a tight embrace. Closing his eyes, he smiled. "I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you, too. Seems you've been busy." Bella noted, her eyes scavenging Leonardo's face. He glanced down to her.
"Bella, there was something I was going to ask you two years ago, before…"
"Before all that had happened."
He smiled sadly. "Precisely." Leonardo cleared his throat. "I still would like to ask it."
Bella felt blood rush to her cheeks as she nodded to Leonardo. He grinned, releasing her from his loving embrace, and asked her to wait a moment. He darted off into another room, and then proceeded to come back. He gently took Bella's hands, and pulled her close, then sank to the ground on one knee.
Bella held her breath.
"Bella Paravicini, although we have been apart for two long, hard years, I never once stopped loving and caring for you, and hoping that you felt the same. When we met, I knew I had found a brilliant, beautiful woman, and I couldn't ever bring myself to forget about you. It's been two years, but I still love you all the same. Will you marry me?"
Leonardo hadn't even the time to stand back up before Bella had tackled him. They both lay on the ground of his workshop, laughing and crying. Leonardo gave her the simple, yet beautiful ring he had purchased two years ago. Leonardo couldn't believe she had said yes, just as Bella couldn't believe he had asked.
Suddenly, Ezio walked back inside. He glanced down to the two lovers, then grinned. He held out a hand to help them up, and clapped Leonardo on the shoulder. "Didn't get much work done on that brace, did you?" Ezio raised a suggestive brow as Leonardo shoved past him to the work bench.
"Just give me a second…" Leonardo muttered as Ezio congratulated the two.
"Audra will be pleasantly surprised!" Ezio said, enlisting a sudden realization to Bella. How would Audra take the sudden news?
"Alright, I've done it. Come." Leonardo said, waving Ezio over to the work bench. Bella sat down in an old, rickety chair, thinking. Would she live with Leonardo here in the workshop? Would he be willing to move? Would she? How were they to marry? She had no money, nor a family to rely on really. As a headache began to form in her head, she caught on to Ezio and Leonardo's conversation.
"There's someone I need to "see" while I'm here. I cannot approach him publicly…Would you know a way to-"
"La Volpe." Leonardo whispered, cutting Ezio off.
"The Fox…?" Ezio wondered aloud.
"Shh!"
"Capisco…but do you know where the Fox might roam?" Ezio enquired, glancing to Bella.
"Perhaps near the Mercato, where the thieves dwell…Sta'attento, amico!" Leonardo and Ezio hugged once more before Ezio began to leave.
"Are you staying here, Bella?" He asked.
"Yes. I may drop by Paola's in a bit, but I will be here."
Ezio gave her a short nod. "I will come back for you in time. Be safe."
"You as well." Bella said to him as he started to leave. "My sister would never forgive me if I let you get hurt." Ezio chuckled at this.
"She'd probably hurt me more." He shouted back as he closed the door behind him. Ezio stepped out into the city once more. Although he missed what he once had in Firenze, it had no longer felt like it once did. In some ways, the notion saddened him, in others, it didn't. He was only here for one thing, and that's what he had to focus on. Not the past.
Ezio began walking to the Mercato in search of La Volpe. As he walked through a marketplace, he felt a jostling as someone passed him. Ezio looked down to find his pouch of money missing.
"My pouch…my money!"
"I don't have your money!" The thief shouted as he took off behind a building. Ezio ran after him, chasing him up to a roof top, tackling him down.
"I really have no interest in hurting you. So give me back my money and we'll call it even." Ezio demanded, holding out his hand for his pouch.
"Not so fast." Someone said from behind him. Ezio whipped around, startled.
"What do you want? Who are you?" Ezio questioned, becoming progressively more irritated. The man only smirked and began pacing.
"They call me many things. Murderer, Tagliagole, Thief. But, you may call me La Volpe." When Ezio's eyes widened, La Volpe chuckled. As he bowed, "At your service, Messer Ezio."
"How do you know my name?"
"It is my business to know everything in this city. Isn't that why you're here?" La Volpe countered, crossing his arms. Ezio stared in disbelief.
"Indeed. I need to find someone; to know where he'll be before he does." Ezio answered, crossing his arms over his chest.
La Volpe considered this. "Who?"
"Francesco de' Pazzi." Ezio answered gravely.
La Volpe thought for a moment, stroking his chin. "There's word on the street of a caravan just arrived from Roma. A secret meeting at sunset tonight. You can learn something of Francesco's whereabouts there."
"Do you know where it is to be held?" Ezio pressed, intrigued by the directions.
"Ma certo. Let me know when you're ready and we'll go." La Volpe turned to the thief behind him. "Ah, yes. Here's your money." He tossed to pouch to Ezio, who caught it without breaking his stare.
So now Ezio had a lead on Francesco, and was just that much closer on ending the de' Pazzi conspirators. He hoped he could move the task in Firenze along as quickly as possible. Strange it was, being back in the city. And it was a feeling he wasn't so sure of.
