An: Enjoy

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Sitting behind his desk as the early dawn stretched over Ferrara, a heavy pounding on the doors brought his eyes to the large slabs of mahogany before him. He called out to whomever was on the other side, demanding that they come forward, before his eyes looked to the ideas he had scribbled on a piece of paper before him. A large thud was heard after the clanking of chains, and once he gained enough interest to look up, a small smirk touched his lips. "So," Alfonso mused, his voice thick and heavy from sleep. "You found him."

"We did, my lord," one of the guards standing beside the limp man said. "We caught him trying to flee the providence all together. We knew you were too preoccupied to order an official warrant, but we knew you would be pleased once we brought him back."

"Wonderful call, general," Alfonso laughed, looking down to Jacapo, who had been terribly beaten and broken down. "Such a man will be thrown into the dungeons below the palazzo. If anyone decides to speak up against my claim, let them know that his arrest will be filed under that wonderful catch all category of treason. Now, please escort him downstairs, and bring me the key."

"Anything you wish, my lord," the general nodded, grabbing Jacapo by his collar and yanking him to his bloody and bruised feet. "I will return in minutes."

"Wonderful," the Duca smiled, waving his hand through the air as if he had something important to enunciate. "Once you come back...prepare to stay for a short while. I have a few ideas I must run by you, and I would terribly appreciate your input."

"Yes, my lord," the general muttered once more, while his counterpart pushed Jacapo towards the door. "I will lend my ear to yours for as long as you need me."

Alfonso nodded, chuckling to himself as he sat back and turned to look at the cabinet sitting behind him that was filled to the brim with wine. Though two of those large bottles had passed by his lips, he found enough strength to pull out another one, and tilt it back to his lips. Bliss settled over the duke and the words on the paper before him zoomed in and out of focus. He laughed at that paper, and allowed his head to fall back; rising only when his general knocked on the door once more and walked in when Alfonso called out.

"Now, what is it you would like me to listen to, my lord?"

"I've got an idea," Alfonso laughed, picking up the paper and waving it around drunkenly. "You see...that bitch Lucrezia somehow bested me...I don't exactly know how she did it, but she did it, and so now...I have to fix this."

"My lord, maybe you should relax on the wine."

"Nah! Elettra's mad at me, so let me drink! Besides, my plan is sound! I'll fight fire with fire, doesn't it sound simply delightful? Since she snuck off with an assassin, I'll send an assassin of my own to finish her off! It's practically perfect! What do you think general?"

"I think it's a fair idea," the general began, stroking his slightly bearded chin. "But you must choose your assassin carefully. She did escape with the sole master of the assassins in Roma."

"Ehh, I don't need the best killer in the country, I just need one that is strategic and smart. All he needs to know is when to strike, and how to strike. Those two things are crucial to the assassination of any figure, no matter how powerful they are."

"I suppose that is truthful, sir, but...how are you going to go about finding this assassin of yours?"

"That's a good question," Alfonso hiccuped, bringing the wine bottle to his lips once more. "I'm not really sure at this point, but I know I'll figure that out later. Thank you for lending your ear general, I'm sure everything will turn out swell. You may go."

"Um...thank you, sir," his general hesitated, nodding slightly before stepping back. "Have a...good day, my lord."

"And you!" Alfonso bellowed, before busting into laughter. "Oh, my intelligence flatters me. I will find my man later, but now...I shall drink!"

One of the assassin brothers smirked as he slowly closed the window of Alfonso's study. He climbed upwards and grasped for his brother's hand, standing steady on the roof before he relayed his knowledge. "He's going to send an assassin to the hideout to off Lucrezia. He also imprisoned a man named Jacapo for treason, I'm sure seeing as how he helped with the escape in some way, Ezio must know about him."

"Wonderful job, Durante," the other brother congratulated. "Ezio will be happy to know of your success."

"Our success, Marco," Durante smiled. "We are twins, and brothers in arms. We are together, now, we must tell Lucca immediately. The Master must know."

"Alright," Marco nodded, making his way towards the gates. "In two days time, Master Auditore shall know."

~*~*AC*~*~

And in two days, he did. Making his way onto the roof, Ezio sighed as he looked up at the same storm from Ferrara creeping closer to Roma. A pigeon picked at it's food happily, waiting until Ezio picked him out of the bunch and unrolled the message tied to his leg. The script, though small on the paper, was familiar, and brought a smile to his face before he actually read over the information. Such arrogance in his enemy made him laugh, and the assassin master turned to find Machiavelli deep within the hideout.

"Machiavelli," Ezio called out, nearing the foyer where he was sure his brother was sitting at his desk. "News from Durante and Marco."

"Something beneficial I presume."

"You presume correctly," the master assassin smirked. "Apparently, Alfonso believes that he has the ability to find an assassin that will be able to best me."

"What?" Machiavelli asked, laughing and sitting back with new interest in the information. "He plans to hire an assassin and send him here?"

"Exactly," Ezio smirked. "I'm positive he was drunk when he decided this."

"He had to be. Does he not realize that even when you're asleep, it would be impossible to best you? You could kill the strongest man in your sleep without you even realizing it," the philosopher muttered, looking down to the paper rested on his desk before scribbling something quick. "He is surely much stupider than I originally anticipated."

"Yes, but I'm not willing to give him the benefit of the doubt," Ezio murmured in return. "I'm going to inform those guarding the hideout now. I'll send one of them out to tell the others circling the city. I have no idea whom Alfonso is going to try to get, but it has to be someone as stupid as he if he believes he is going to get out of this job alive."

"Do you need my assistance, brother?"

"No," Ezio smirked, waving the note in the air. "I just imagined that you would find this plan of his as hilarious as I did."

"Indeed, I do," Machiavelli smirked, standing from his desk and walking around to the front. "There is a storm coming in quickly. I'm going to run out and grab our revenue from the banks as well as pick up a few things here and there. I believe there is a blacksmith wanting to add one of his newest beauties to your weapons collection."

"You don't have to go, Machiavelli," Ezio offered. "I can go after I tell Marietta and Carin."

"It is fine," his friend smiled. "I haven't left this hideout in almost two days. I need some fresh air, and I doubt I'll be getting any once this storm hits tonight."

"I understand," he nodded. "Be safe out there. I'm sure I've seen lightning on the horizon."

"Do not worry. I'll keep my head low."

~*~*AC*~*~

Resting outside on the roof of the hideout, Ezio watched as the storm clouds rolled and collided closer to the city. The sun had given way to the moon long ago, and the heaviness of the atmosphere was weighing down on his shoulders. The air smelled thick, and the wind was picking up by the minute; scattering people and wildlife in search of protection. The door behind him closed quietly, and soft footsteps alerted him of her presence before she sat down beside him and brought her knees to her chest. He turned his gaze towards her, smiling softly at her freshly cleaned face and her ivory skin adorned in a cream colored night dress. Her hair was released from her braid and her eyes were glassy, turned up towards the sky.

"Do you believe that storm clouds are a sign?"

"What?"

"Do you believe that this oncoming storm is a sign?" she whispered, looking at him and smiling softly. "I've heard frequently from many people that a storm is a sign for impending doom, and it seems that you have something on your mind."

"No, bella," he laughed, reaching over and linking their fingers. "Though I do believe storms are signs, I don't believe they are bad. In fact, I believe them to be signs of something wonderful to come. Tell me, my dear Lucrezia, what happens to the land when it has not gotten proper rain?"

"It will dry, and the vegetation will die," she answered, leaning against his side and smiling. "And eventually, the people will grow thirsty and filthy, and die of dehydration and disease."

"Exactly," Ezio smiled, leaning over to press his lips to her cheek. "Storms are here to wash away the filth and darkness brought on by the shadows. So, in punishment, the sun will hide, and the rain will step in, destroying that which needs to be destroyed, before cleansing the land and allowing the sun to shine anew."

"Why can't people just hide like the sun?" Lucrezia asked quietly, moving her hand so that she could link their arms and rest her cheek against his shoulder. "Why can't the rain literally wash away the worries and deception, and leave only happiness to shine?"

"Well, we are nothing but pawns in nature's game," he answered. "So we must find our own means of cleansing. The people we associate with...the memories we make, they are what we use to renew happiness. Hell, a single breath can change someone's life. It's just what we do with our breaths that determine if we live in happiness, or suffer in agony."

"Well, I believe my breathing is very well spent by your side," she laughed, feeling the first drops of rain falling onto her skin. "Maybe we should head to bed. That is, unless you would like for us to be soaked from head to toe."

"I suppose you are right," he said, standing up and reaching for her hand. Leading her forward and opening the door for her, he motioned for her to walk in before him; a smile on his lips as he snuck up behind her and completely scooped her up into his arms. She squealed in surprise, and laughed as her arms tightened around his neck; allowing him to carry her to their bedroom down the hall. He easily toed open the door, and smiled when he noticed that she had lit the lanterns around the room that encompassed them in a glow the color of honey.

Tenderly, he rested her on the bed; placed in the spot light of this honey colored glow. Her hair fanned out around her, and her eyes sparkled as she looked up to him; her face innocent until her foot circled around to the back of his knee and pitched him forward. He landed on her, bringing them both to laugh as he brought his weight onto his elbows and looked down into her shimmering hazel gaze. His heart pulsed wildly in his chest and his hand rose until the very tips of his fingers could slide against her skin; feeling the smooth curve of her cheek as well as releasing her gentle gasp to the world. Caught up in everything that was her, he couldn't stop himself from leaning down to delve in her soft, rosy lips and soon the slide of her tongue and the feeling of her hands rising to pull his shirt away from his chest was enough to throw caution to the wind, and cast them both into the pits of passion and wild abandon.