Knocking my feet on the wall beside the door on the hideout, I try to dislodge some of the mud from my boots. Cursing quietly, I express my displeasure at the cold winter rains gushing from the sky.
Giving each boot one last kick, I give up and enter the hideout. Not stopping, I quietly make my way up a few flights of stairs and to the armory. Desiring solitude, I leave my hood up and pass people with a small wave as they greet me. My heavy steps land on one of the loose boards at the top of the second flight of stairs and it creaks in protest. Upon arrival of my destination, I rid myself of the excess bolts and crossbow. The armory's walls are lined with a multitude of different weapons; long, short, pointy, blunt, heavy and ranged. I mechanically put my excess things in their proper places, leave, and quietly shut the door.
My feet, operating on automatic, clomp their way up another level towards my room. Turning the last corner, I come to a stop when I see Ezio casually leaning against the wall next to my door. The plain wood walls and long rugs on the floors don't do much to make one feel at home, here. Money earned by the Brotherhood is better spent on things other than décor.
"Hi," I say solemnly, not quite able to muster the energy to smile. "what's goin on?" I ask politely while trying to see his face through his deep hood. I see a strained smile stretch his lips some before he speaks.
"Ciao. May I come in?" His left hand motions to the door next to him.
"Don't you usually just walk in?" I retort with a touch of confusion, remembering just this morning's invasion.
"You didn't come back with Tiziana." He dodges my question. "I wanted to make sure you were not hurt." His head comes up just enough for me to see his eyes watching me closely.
"None got close to me." I deliberately misunderstand his question. Giving in, I move closer to him and lead him into my room, shutting the door behind us.
"Belardino is dead." He says simply while his right hand comes up to pull his hood down.
"Yea, he is." I say quietly as I remove my weapons and cape and arrange them on my desk.
"Thank you for that well-placed bolt." He replies, with equal quietness, from close behind me.
"You're welcome." My fingers fiddle with the placement of my hidden blade on the table.
"Did his death bring you closure?" His words make my spine stiffen and I feel a hand come to rest on my back. "I have seen these things happen before. It will take time."
"Part of me is happy that he's dead." I mutter quietly. "The rest of me wishes that I had aimed higher than his knee." The hand rubs slowly up and down my back in long, soothing strokes.
"It would not have changed the end result."
"No, but, he might have gotten to see that he picked the wrong woman to threaten." My words come out quietly, but with a touch of venom. My eyes squeeze shut when the memories of my capture flit through my mind. The hand on my back leaves me, briefly, before returning and resuming its trek up and down my back. I dimly hear a few soft thuds near our feet.
"Come here, Daniela." Ezio speaks softly as his hands gently turn me around and pull me into a tight hug. Burrowing my face on the warm skin of his neck, my arms find their way around his torso. My brain absently informs me that those soft thuds were his armor and weapons. Several minutes pass as we stand there holding each other. Ezio, then, pulls away slightly without letting go and guides me to the bed. After laying down, he pulls me down with him and I pillow my head on his shoulder. "Bene," I feel his voice rumble in his chest. "just relax. Today was a long day." Wriggling a little to get comfortable, my right arm comes up to rest on his chest while my right leg makes itself comfy between his. I let out a sigh and greedily soak up the offered comfort.
I don't remember falling asleep on his warm chest.