Ezio emerged from the hideout at street level, and was surprised to find that the Doctor wasn't there already. He was sure the door the Doctor'd taken would've almost taken him straight outside. Puzzled, he stepped out, and the rising sun hit him in the face, making him squint a moment before he adjusted to it, and when he did he saw something no man ever wants to see. A shadow on the roof right behind him.

Ezio wheeled around and was instantly blinded again by the sun, but what he saw briefly was startling – the figure on the roof was waving at him.

'What're you doing down there? Get a move on!'

The Doctor had found the route onto the roof. Out of all the routes he could have taken, he chose the one on the roof.

Merda.

Well, there was one thing for it. He walked over to the brick work, found the route that was rough and familiar under his fingertips, and began to climb, his feet falling into place as his hands sought out the holds he knew were there. In hardly any time at all, his fingers found the edge of the roof, and as he looked up to haul himself over, he saw a hand stretched towards him.

'Grazie,' Ezio murmured in surprise, and allowed the Doctor to help him up onto the roof. The sun wasn't as blinding as it was down on the street – it threw a rose colour onto Roma and the view from here, Ezio had to admit, was breath taking. You could see the whole of the city – everything from the Vaticanoto the Colosseo. And, as he watched the grin slowly spread over the Doctor's face, gathered he found it all to his satisfaction too.

'Look at that!' He said, throwing his arms out. 'There it is – Rome, in all its glory. Nowhere better. Well, there are several places better, but Rome is in the top ten. Not the top five, but top ten. Nothing wrong with the top ten.'

Ezio stepped forward and looked at Roma with him. 'You say a descendant of mine is in trouble?'

'Quite a lot of trouble.'

'And as I understand it, you are the expert in time travel here.'

The Doctor was silent for a moment as he turned the statement over in his head. 'Well, some people have called me a lord of time, but I don't like to brag.'

'Mm.' Ezio's eyes shifted from the view to the Doctor, considering the words he was about to say next. 'I cannot put this in any other way – there have been many women, Doctor – mostly in my youth. Could anything be done about preventing myself from…you know.'

The Doctor let the awkwardness slip away with its tail in between its legs. 'Nah, nothing to be done about it. For all we know, your descendant could come from a child you have in the future.'

'True, although knowing that my unwise actions can endanger those even in the future will stop me from being so foolish.'

The Doctor eyed him, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards. 'Perhaps.' He agreed after a while, and then: 'Something important is happening here. Something very big and very, very wrong.'

'Can anything be done?'

'Only if we all decide to work together. There's a reason why my TARDIS chose here to land, chose your DNA to home onto. It's all just a matter of figuring out what it is, and what those Templars're up to.'

'You speak of this TARDIS as though it were a living thing.'

'Oh, she is. Like you wouldn't believe.'

'That would make sense…'

'Sorry?'

'Your TARDIS. The only reason we got inside was that the door opened for me. I thought it strange – the only occupants seemed to be Amy, Rory and yourself, and all three of you were out cold.'

The Doctor had a strange look about him. If one didn't know him better, you may have deemed him dumbstruck.

'Doctor?'

The strange man turned slowly to look at Ezio with the most curious look on his face. 'That…that is quite interesting, but we have more important stuff to be getting on with.' He then strode past Ezio and to the door on the roof. 'First of which being ensuring that everyone gets along for a little bit longer. You coming?'

Ezio stared blankly at him. 'It's nothing to be concerned about?'

'Not at all. Come on, get a move on.'

Ezio didn't believe him, not for a moment, but he shrugged and walked through the door the Doctor had opened.

'OH – something I meant to ask you…'

'Yes?'

'That thing with the eyes,' The Doctor said as Ezio turned back, pointing two fingers at his own eyes and then motioning at Ezio's. 'What was that?'

'A gift I've had since I was a child. With it, I see the intentions of people. It is good to know who is friend and who is foe.'

'Really?' The Doctor seemed fascinated. 'So what're mine?'

Ezio couldn't help it – the automatic response was to let himself slip out of focus to catch a glimpse of the Doctor's glow, but he sensed those old eyes narrowing on him suddenly, and he forced himself to snap back into reality. Taking in that fiercely interested look and the rainbow of intentions he'd seen time and time again, Ezio reasoned that it was probably best to give the man what he wanted to hear.

'I believe you to be a friend, Doctor,' He said respectfully, watching the man carefully.

'And I shall be your best friend, Ezio,' The Doctor beamed, and as Ezio walked inside the Doctor patted him on the shoulder before making to follow him, but he took the smallest of moments to eye the sky, as if he could see the fabric that made up the universe unravelling in the dawn, before walking through the door and shutting it behind him.

When Ezio and the Doctor walked back into Machiavelli's office, the shouts hadn't relented – Amy and Claudia were nose to nose across the table screaming in each other's faces, La Volpe, Bartolomeo and Rory were gesturing wildly and trying to roar each other out, while Machiavelli had given up and sat rigidly in his chair, sipping his wine and wincing when the shouts reached subsonic levels occasionally.

'Oi, you lot! Listen!'

The Doctor was ignored, and as if he thought it'd make himself heard, he stood up on his toes and cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted again. 'OI!'

It did nothing. Ezio rolled his eyes behind him, raised his fingers to his lips and whistled a whistle so harsh that Machiavelli started violently and spilt wine all over the papers on his desk. The room fell silent at once, save for the dark mutter of 'Cazzo!' from Machiavelli as he fought to save his papers, which were greedily sucking up the spilt drink. Save from him, everyone stared at them both. The Doctor threw out his chest and gave Ezio a cursory nod over his shoulder – Ezio shrugged and smiled quietly before the Doctor turned back to the occupants of the office and placing both hands on the desk.

'Right, you lot, listen,' He said. 'We need to work together – not just for our own sakes but for everyone else who's existed and will exist ever. And you seem like a clever bunch of people so I reckon you've got a good sense of numbers – can anyone tell me how many people that is? No, of course you can't, the numbers infinite. So I suggest that we all pack it in and make a go of getting along long enough until we sort this out. Who's with me? And don't raise your hand, Rory.'

Rory lowered his hand and looked a little miffed. There was a small silence in the room before Machiavelli got to his feet.

'I am.'

'Good man.' The Doctor grinned and shook the hand Machiavelli offered. 'Anyone else?'

There was another silence before Claudia stood. 'I am.'

'Good ma – girl.' The Doctor managed to correct himself before giving Claudia a chance to go for his throat. 'Now, kiss and make up with Amy.'

'No thanks,' Amy stated airily – Claudia glared at her and stuck out her hand stubbornly.

'Pond.'

Amy managed defiance for ten seconds, at which point the Doctor raised his eyebrows with a look, I'm being serious look.

'Fine.' She hissed, shook Claudia's hand briefly and then snatched her hand back, folding her arms and looking cross.

'Fella's?' The Doctor turned to La Volpe and Bartolomeo, who were still looking at him with distrust. Nothing was said until Ezio stepped forwards.

'When we found the box – the TARDIS – I recognized you as my brothers and in turn you gave me your word that you would follow me to hell and back. I ask of you now, as a brother, to trust the Doctor, as I have come to trust him utterly tonight.'

La Volpe and Bartolomeo eyed each other for the other's reactions for a moment, before Bartolomeo reached out and offered the Doctor his gloved hand.

'I trust Ezio's judgement. If you falter for a moment, I promise you will regret it.'

The Doctor nodded and shook his hand firmly before all eyes fell on La Volpe. His fists clenched at his sides, and it was clear that something inside him cried out to flee from the threat of the unknown.

'Volpe,' Ezio said quietly. La Volpe started slightly at the use of his name. 'Please.'

There was a quiet moment before La Volpe finally offered the Doctor his hand, saying nothing at all. The Doctor took it and shook it briefly.

'Right, now that's out of the way, first thing's first!' The Doctor clapped his hands together as though that difficult moment had never happened. 'I need to get back into my TARDIS to have a look and see what the damage is – how far away is it?'

'Just across the river,' Machiavelli said. 'May I suggest that we return there tomorrow night? The dawn is here now and it would be best to operate under the cover of darkness.'

'But won't the box be seen?' Bartolomeo asked.

'The TARDIS can make itself unnoticeable.'

'How?'

'It's a really clever trick I'll explain later,' The Doctor said. 'And I don't suppose anyone knows someone who's clever enough to help me out a bit?'

Ezio smiled. 'I know the man you're looking for.' He said.

LEONARDO AND THE DOCTOR?
LET THE FUN BEGIN.

So sorry for the wait guys, school has been such a bitch recently. But, a little more up to date now, expect moar posts soon! ~