A/N: Okay so I used "crying like a bitch" and "I stand Alone" from godsmack to get a feeling for this one. Also, gotta let you all know that I start roller derby and hockey again next week so I will be BUSY! Updates will probably be a week or two apart. I do NOT plan on putting this on hiatus! heh, there's WAY too much stuff I need to write about and and some new recruits to get on board. Also looking for another beta, if anyone's interested, PM me!

Once again, I have a kick ass group of reviewers who make me glad that I am writing this! BlackShadowWolf, ShadowMarkX007, Narsha, ecnal_nogardnap, Shamazaki, Demon-Kagetsuki, HikarinoTenshi-San, Nightshade07, and flyingcrispi; effing love you guys!

AC belongs to ubisoft, but Dino belongs to me. AH! er, yeah... yeah, gonna go with that!

Dino Demasi

Dino heard Claudia sigh almost imperceptibly in relief as Ezio stalked out of the room, taking that frigid blast of menace with him. He was feeling a little more relaxed himself; Ezio could not match him for height and reach, but the fucker was wily as hell and more than a match for him in strength. Plus, the normally calm Master Assassin had looked a little crazy-eyed there for a minute.

Alessa followed the hooded shadow, glancing back once to meet Dino's eyes, one fine, dark eyebrow quirked in mild amusement at the cluster fuck he had gotten himself into. He sent her a conspiratorial grin back. Her teeth flashed in a smile and then she ducked her head to hide it, closing the door softly behind her.

That's right, he thought encouragingly, Go distract that cranky bastard with those great big eyes. Dino would lay his life down for Ezio in a heartbeat, but right now he was not feeling particularly favorable towards the Master Assassin. On the other hand, Ezio probably had not been bring Alessa to this place to talk, so Dino felt a little guilty about that.

But not too much.

"Come here, bellissima," he coaxed, sitting back down as Claudia began to pace. "I don't know why you're so worried; she'll calm him down, he'll think about the whole thing, and come to the conclusion that you're good for me."

"I don't know why my brother still thinks he has to coddle me," Claudia huffed, ignoring his jibe as she plopped down onto his knee, her arms twining idly around him as he eased back into the cushions.

"Mmmm?" Dino said, nuzzling her neck, momentarily distracted by the incredible softness of her skin and her subtle perfume.

Claudia snapped her fingers impatiently.

"Focus," she said and Dino raised his head to grin at her.

What a woman! She was nothing like his Angelina had been. And he found himself to be just as intrigued by Claudia's fierce independence as he had been with Angelina's fey shyness. He figured himself for some sort of masochist; just loved a fucking challenge. It would be easier to love someone like Alessa, who was just as helplessly candid as himself, but no. Dino Demasi just haaaaad to fall for women who held themselves just a smidge more aloof than he should like.

Turned out that the chase was disturbingly tantalizing.

"You and your mother are all he has, piccola," Dino said, serious for a moment. He smoothed the frown lines gently from her forehead as he gazed down at her lovely face, allowing his fingers to caress her cheek before he gathered her back up into his arms and tucked her under his chin. She felt nice in his embrace; strong, capable, yet still somewhat vulnerable. "Just know that he does it out of love and ignore him when he gets like that. And then we can count on Alessa to distract him," he added thoughtfully.

"I'm not helpless," she insisted, "He needs to realize that. I thought he had already realized that. And Ezio doesn't get distracted unless he wants to."

"Just a thought, I don't think it has anything to do with you being able to fight. And for what it's worth, I don't think you're helpless," Dino raised his eyebrows hopefully and got the snort and swat he had been expecting. Growling menacingly, he said, "You keep abusing me, woman, and I might decide to take you over my knee."

"Really?" she purred, her beautiful eyes narrowing dangerously as reached up to touch the angle of his jaw with a fingertip. She had amazing eyes, luminous as burnished copper. An involuntary shiver went through him as she gave him just a hint of her fingernail. "Because it seems to me that you are not very well-behaved yourself."

"You assume correctly," he whispered raggedly, his hands settling over her hips to draw her closer.

"Indeed?" Claudia whispered against his cheek, her lips brushing his skin. "Shall I show you just how wicked I can be?"

"I've never wanted anything more," he responded, meaning every fucking word.

Dino Demasi

The apprentices were mounted and ready to go for once before Ezio arrived. Dino fidgeted idly in his saddle while Tullio slouched motionless over his reins, holding the reins of Ezio's horse impassively; the man had patience and focus in multitude. It would make him a damn good assassin. Dino was truly interested to see how his training would manifest out in the field.

Ezio appeared abruptly, just all of a sudden in the saddle like a damned apparition and Dino had to work hard not to startle. He settled for a whispered curse of envious admiration. Then he manned up; sat up straight and decided to take the initiative. He wanted to get this thing about Claudia settled before Ezio decided he had less than honorable intentions and tried to settle it with fists – or a blade in the dark. Hell, Ezio didn't even need the dark.

"You know, maestro…" Dino began, but Ezio stopped him with a placating hand, a mischievous grin brightening his broad features.

"It's alright, fratello mio," Ezio said, "Claudia has had a hard life; she has not been allowed to be a normal woman because of my family's history. So I know that you will ensure that she is happy." This last statement was not a question, but Dino did not have a problem with it. As long as the little hellcat wanted him around, he did not have any intention of leaving.

Then he smiled to himself. Had Alessa had anything to do with Ezio's return to equanimity? Little vixen! He turned to say something to her before he came to the realization that she was not coming along on this mission. Nonplussed, he settled himself more comfortably into his saddle and frowned. He figured that she was technically his senior in the Brotherhood and remembered that she was to meet with Machiavelli today to discuss her first solo mission. He felt his previous content unexpectedly dissipate as he realized that she would likely be gone for a while. He guessed that he had always figured that they would be partners of a sort in the field. Of course, always was kind of an al-encompassing, unrealistic mindset.

His musings continued as he rode out with Ezio and Tullio, over the Tiber Island bridge and into Campagna. They rode steadily north and Dino missed the banter. Tullio was a rather subdued, somber guy and Dino had never really talked with the man before except when the man had been still healing from his numerous and vicious wounds. He knew Alessa liked him, supposedly was a talented musician but he was standoffish as hell. But Alessa, whether she would admit it or not, was actually a pretty gregarious soul, and seemed to get along with all of their allies. Dino, however sensed a dark depth to the man that he was hesitant to breach.

Time to focus asshole! he thought to himself as Ezio abruptly reined his horse off into a cluster of ruins. They had reached their destination already and Dino mentally kicked himself. Brooding like a depressed teenager the whole way! He was lucky he hadn't been hit by a Borgia arrow. Would have deserved it too.

The three men dismounted and checked their gear quickly. Dino still had his first pack of smoke bombs and had been keen to use one since Ezio had given them to him before the mission in Valnerina.

The men completed their preparations and stepped out of the shade of the ruins and onto the causeway, searching for their target. The recruits flanked their master, and all three Assassins fell unconsciously into step as they slowly focused on the upcoming battle.

Soon enough, Ezio made a hand signal as he spotted their target. They had been discussing creating a system of the silent signals during their training sessions and were apparently going to try them out immediately. Dino had introduced them to the simple commands he had learned as a mercenary.

Ezio flitted off into an alley as Tullio and Dino continued walking nonchalantly right into the patrol. He and Tullio split to either side of the two columns of soldiers and Dino let one shove him rudely as he brushed past the first patrolmen. The dumbasses were finally getting suspicious as Dino and Tullio allowed themselves to be heckled unperturbedly, taking the harsh shoves and rude comments without notice.

It was fucking beautiful, like he and Tullio were thinking the exact same thing at the exact same moment. They ceased their inexorable movement forward and turned toward the patrol group, hidden blades flashing simultaneously as they stabbed their first victims through the throat.

Pandemonium.

Dino had to whirl away from the overhead swing of a brute's axe. The moron missed him and hit one of his own men instead. Dino continued in his circular movement, using the momentum obtained through the return arc to bury his hidden blade viciously in the brute's face. Blood spurted out through the helmet's eye slits as Dino wrenched his blade free, kicking the dying man out of the way to get at a snarling spearman.

He parried the swing of the pole with his hidden blade, then front kicked the wavering pole as it's wielder attempted to bring it back up. The pole flew up in the air with some force and the soldier lost his grip. Dino spun for the momentum and kicked, his heel catching the fucker in the knee. Another spin, another kick, this one higher, hitting the ribs. Dino felt the bones shatter under his boot as the soldier garbled out something in astonished pain. A front kick the unprotected face and that one was food for the crows.

There was something Dino liked about the undiluted brutality of using his body as a weapon. He had been a big guy all his life, always larger than his peers and always having to be careful with his strength and his long limbs. Thus the fights at Bartolomeo's – gave him a chance to use the full of his strength and size without worrying about the injury that would be incurred on whatever idiot who had decided to test his strength against him.

Working as a mercenary had also given him an outlet for his strength and his desire to utilize it. During his time as a hired fighter, he had gained a good background in weapon use, but he had not given his abilities full vent until Ezio had come along and plucked him out of the spiraling nightmare his life had become.

Fucking Ezio! The man had honed him deliberately, the Master Assassin giving him tools and knowledge that had actual increased his strength and given him creative new ways to use it. Instead of stagnating his abilities as his time with the mercenaries had inadvertently done, Ezio had made him even more lethal, teaching him how to use his body to it's fullest potential.

And what potential he had!

So as Dino waded deeper into the swirling mass of pissed-off patrolmen, he was indulging himself the violence, his body humming with power as he parried, blocked, and stabbed. Once or twice he smashed his fist into an unprotected face, the single blow usually enough to send the hapless soldier to the ground to twitch.

Unfortunately, he wasn't invincible and he arched in pain as something sliced into the unprotected flesh over his kidney. Feeling his lips peel back from his teeth, Dino spun to meet what looked like the patrol overseer – their main target. The heavily armored bastard hefted a nasty-looking two-handed sword. Dino squared off against the man as a thought struck him.

Ezio would want to handle this guy. Much as Dino would love to go hand to hand with this fucker, he was no interrogator. He's leave that to those with more patience. So he backed up slowly, giving the impression that he was giving himself room while simultaneously leading the cocky bastard out into the open.

He had no sooner got the man out into the middle of the street when a single shot rang out. Dino startled at the sound and spared a glance around for an enemy rifleman. Finding nothing, he turned his attention back to the overseer. The man had stopped moving, his arms slowly lowering the big sword.

Dino tensed, anticipating a rush attack. The overseer continued to stand there and then he slowly toppled over, hitting the ground with a clang. Shrugging, Dino turned to engage the leftovers and found Tullio leaping into the final patrolman, the stocky Assassin's blade sliding into the man's throat like it belonged there.

Dino turned back to the downed overseer to see Ezio standing over the body.

"What, didn't want to interrogate him first?" Dino asked, letting his hidden blade slide back. He hadn't even drawn his sword.

Or used a smoke bomb!

Cazzo!

In reply, Ezio stooped, his hidden blade flashing out as he sliced a leather scroll case from the heavily armored overseer's belt. Ezio met Dino's gaze, the Master Assassin's eyes giving nothing away as he tossed the case to Dino.

"Good shot, by the way," Dino said as he rummaged through the thing. There was a lot of good information in there, but he found the document he needed and waved it at Ezio, who had walked over to speak briefly with Tullio.

"Looks like we get to go on a boat ride! Wait until I tell Alessa… Wait – what the fuck is this thing?"

Alessa Ricci

Alessa stepped silently into the armory, where Ezio's scholarly peer was working on some paperwork. She was still a little frustrated after yesterday's emotional back and forth. Ezio had not been very happy about the whole Dino/Claudia shocker and then Machiavelli had arrived and stolen the Master Assassin practically out of her grasp for long-winded, closed-doors meeting that had excluded her. She had had to go vent her various frustrations by playing, er, experimenting with Markku's various explosives.

"Maestro Machiavelli," she said when he looked up. She had lowered her hood in deference to his rank and waited in what she hoped was a patient pose while he finished scratching notes on a missive. He eventually indicated for her to sit before him as he set aside his missive to dry and began the process of sealing another that had already done so.

"So," he began without preamble, finally tenting his fingers under his chin and regarding her calmly. She fidgeted a little under his scrutiny. His eyes had that same burning drive that Ezio's did, but his were colder somehow, detached. He gave her the impression that he had already singled her out her for fuck-knows-what and went right into his judgment: "Are we going to have a repeat of Caterina Sforza with you?

"Who the hell is Caterina?" she asked, taken aback by the topic of conversation and already irritated with his veiled superciliousness.

"You don't know who she is?" he asked, eyebrows raised inquiringly. He sipped his wine genteelly.

"Obviously not, since I don't generally insist upon my ignorance unless I mean it. You know what, never mind. I don't want to know," she stood, preparing to walk out. What the hell was this nonsense? This was supposed to be a discussion of her next mission.

"Why not?" he asked mildly, "Don't want to hear about Ezio's brief preoccupation with her?"

"No, actually, because I don't want to look at you sitting there like a puffed up, pompous crow, trying to manipulate the feelings I do have for Ezio into something that better fits your plans. It won't work and it will just piss me off."

"Indeed," he said, his expression betraying nothing. It was actually pretty impressive.

"Yes! In-fucking-deed!"

"So you just think I'm talking to you about this for nefarious purposes?"

"You haven't given me a reason to believe otherwise," she said softly, pitching her voice low so she would not snarl at him and reveal herself to be the uncivilized fiend he obviously had decided she was. Yeah, that was her: goddamned viper in the nursery.

"Well, my dear, I do apologize for that. You have to understand that it is in my best interest to be sure of the survival of the Assassin Order. And Ezio's health and well-being is the keystone to said survival."

"I thought you were the leader of the Assassins," Alessa grumbled, sitting back down.

"A transitory post. Ezio defers to me – for now. But I would be remiss in my duties if I did not foresee an Assassin Order in the near future with Ezio as it's Master. His work here in Roma has directly affected the exponential growth in numbers and power that we are currently enjoying – here and across Europe." Machiavelli leaned forward over the table, pushing his paperwork to the side as he gave her his full attention. "So you can see where I would be… interested in anything, or anyone, who could adversely affect our continuing expansion."

"Fine. I understand your concern. But know that I would die myself before I would do anything to hurt or hinder him. And I can guarantee that I speak for Tullio, Dino, and Markku as well. Plus, I don't think you're giving Ezio himself enough credit; the Order is his life."

"I believe you, but I don't think you understand the full import of who Ezio is to my Society," Something about his expression subtly changing to make her trust that he spoke plainly. She sighed in resignation.

"I think I do," she said a little waspishly. "But do I really need to know about this Caterina?" She tried to keep the aversion she felt for the subject out of her tone. She was not sure if she succeeded. What did she care of Ezio's past relationships? Alessa suddenly had to work very hard to keep herself under control as the sudden urge to stab the faceless Caterina swept through her sinews and muscles.

"Only that Ezio may have tried to disguise his feelings for her with the affirmation that she would be his powerful ally. The contessa, in the end, did not reciprocate his feelings. But for a time, he was focused on her with such a single-minded intensity that I feared him losing his focus on the big picture."

Alessa did not have anything to say to this; she sure as hell wasn't asking Machiavelli what was wrong with the woman that she did not think Ezio was worthy of her affections. Maybe she was married? Alessa decided not to follow that line of thinking and made a noise of confirmation, wanting Machiavelli to get on with it.

"Of course, Ezio is a follower of the Creed, and Caterina has ordered the deaths of innocents, thoroughly shattering the First Rule. She is still an ally, but she is not an Assassin and will never fully understand our ways."

"Look," Alessa said, meeting Machiavelli's gaze levelly, ready to end the conversation. She knew she should be affording the man more respect, but he was the one mucking about in her personal life and questioning her loyalties. "I made my vow to the Creed. My loyalty is to the Creed. My second loyalty is to Ezio. Whether you like it or not, he saved my life and has given me the knowledge and ability to stand up for what I believe in. I am a simple person, with simple ideals. My mind will never attain the intricate political and social machinations that I am told you are capable of. So rest assured that my life is devoted to the Creed… and to Ezio. Nothing else and no one else. Ever."

She was breathing hard, having stood up and leaned over the table, fists clenched as she bitched at Machiavelli.

The well-mannered man stared at her for a moment, shrewd eyes narrowed as he processed her little speech in his labyrinthine mind.

"Duly noted then, recruit," he murmured, expressionless. Alessa eased back into her chair, shaking a little still as she worked to rein in her ardor. "To business then," he continued, pouring a second glass of wine and setting it before her with a polite flourish.

"Once Ezio has finished destroying those infernal war machines, you and the big one – Dino Demasi? You both will be going on your first mission out of Roma." He selected a few documents form the stacks before him and slid them to her. "It will take some preparation, you have a lot of research to do in the meantime. And a good portion of that research will have to be done when you get there."

Intrigued, Alessa, pulled one closer, scanning the decoded messages that had been couriered back and forth for the past few months.

"What language is this?" she asked.

A/N: Randomly – what was everyone's reactions at the end of AC:B – you know, THE END? WTF? Just 'cause I want to make sure I wasn't the only one who bitched for a week straight to whomever would listen to me… LOL and that absolutely tantalizing bit at the end of the DLC

FYI - Gonna combine the final two war machines, so the recruits get to go on a little road trip, er boat ride.