Disclaimer: I don't own anything related with or to the show 'Da Vinci's Demons' like plot, characters. I'm a fan of the actors-writers.


"Artista.. Leonardo. Hey, wake up. Are you even alive?"

He looks around. Feeling exasperated. This Man never listens.

By goodness he had only gone for a couple of hours because Sixtus had kept him preoccupied with this whole 'holy crusade' business.

Seriously though, he comes back to this scene.

Leonardo fucking Da Vinci. A man he has often, to his great shame considered almost grander than his self imposed quest, scared duty of searching for a unifying power. One without judgment or unjust punishments.

So far he had only found and known the Holy Church.

He places a hand on Leonardo's forehead. Estimating what he's got to work with. A timeframe.

Voice coming out a little rough. Definitely trustizing as he questioned.

"Why didn't you simply comply." Riario knows the answer all too well even if Leo does not say a word.

Here lies a stranger. A broken, bloody mess looking like the shell of a man he had previously been.

Almost deranged, appearing more dead than alive.

"God damn it..what the fuck, Carlo?" Riario feels his eye about to start twitching as he scream whispers while trying to breathe and untie Da Vinci's binds.

He is done.

Leonardo will not be put through another second of this shit, he had thought this was it.

The right path.

Because the Son's of Mithras is full of sickos and it turns out that those of the Labyrinth aren't any better.

Great..he just wants to pat himself on the back for this accomplishment.

Atrocity.

The Architect has gone too far and Carlo better pray that they don't cross paths again otherwise he's about to catch these hands.

"Fuck- it's okay. I have got you..." Girolamo knows that he's about to make powerful enemies here but his choice is made.

There was absolutely no reason, need to go this far.

To spill a master's blood.

.

"You're heavy." Riario holds onto him a little tighter instead of simply tossing him on the floor. On a chair or his bed as Leo was kind of expecting but this is a nice surprise.

"And ambidextrous, do not forget that. It's important. I'm serious, I will quiz you-" Leonardo responded quietly as to not startle but he felt Riario tense up as he speaks. "Yet you have not let me go."

"Don't. You had your chance to speak but didn't, that is mostly why you are in this mess." Walking out of the Labyrinth's cave proved harder to accomplish with Leonardo shoulders and arms around his neck.

He had to dispose of a couple members who stood in his way and did so at record speed.

"You saved me. After the stench of betrayal lingers no longer and I stop calling you a monster for your sins against me... I might consider an alliance."

Leonardo moves off with a little difficulty because he hasn't walked in a while but he is close enough to a mattress to actually make it there without assistance.

"I'm truly sorry artista but I doubt I will be of much help with my head on a spike and my body reduced to ash or rodent sustenance."

Riario's voice is quivering slightly at the end of his sentence as the severity of it all is actually getting to him but all fear fades in an instant.

"We'll meet again, trust me." Leonardo's response is automatic as if he has been certain of nothing but this simple fact for the past days.

"You know this. That I'll be hunted like an animal and here you go making plans to meet up. Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any more imp-"

"Oh Riario, your bed was made for me." Leonardo buries himself in Riario's blankets as he speaks into the mattress and rests his forehead on his pillow.

His eyes burn something serious and he knows he's getting way too comfortable but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I've contacted that devilishly alluring mongrel you call a friend, it is best you rest while I get started on 'cleaning' your wounds."

Riario leaves the room for a couple of minutes and returns with his arms full of supplies.

.

.

Resuming the conversation as if discussing something basic like the lifespan of a fly.

"You should heal substantially if you follow a strict regiment of hygiene and diet. For now get some rest. By the end of the week you should be feeling better."

"Why? My eyes burn. However, it isn't as simple as just that. You see..I'm having these visions-"

"You have been poisoned." Riario touches his shoulder briefly. Leaves it for a brief moment before pulling away and Leo groans as he takes the hint that he should turn around.

Ideally and rest on his back but he is clearly not ready yet. Not feeling up to it either. "It's only natural for there to be residual, lingering side effects."

Riario focuses on setting up the supplies required for cleaning up his beloved artista.

It is going to hurt but he doubts that Leo will be a bitch about this. He has been through the worst already and he isn't talking about the torture Carlo put him through.

"I have stolen something only the current Architect and those before him have held in their possession."

"The recipe for an antidote. I assume? Please say yes. My eyes burn hotter than a hearth. Even if the recipe for a potential serum is incomplete, we can figure something out..right..."

"No. I apologize artista. But if it brings a brief illusion of consolation, I highly doubt you have yet to face a tougher challenge than actually surviving the what you have already."

Riario waits for a moment as Leonardo actually bothers to sit up then plops back down against his pillows before he continues.

"Face me but keep your eyes closed. No sunlight will reach you if I can help it and you keep still for the next hour or so."

Leonardo wants to open his eyes and get some water because seriously it feels a lot worse than accidentally getting soap in his eyes but he needs to get this out.

"I dreamt of a life with Lucrezia. The price was far too much. I wonder...what would I have to give to have you in her place..."

"Artista..I wish you a long, gracious life. With or without my cousin..." Girolamo knows he's said too much but he probably won't be so lucky and actually survive.

So he's willing to try to accept and embrace whatever emotional bizarreness comes his way.

"Kiss me"

Okay then, this doesn't seem appropriate even though he kind of want to but won't.

"Pardon, my ignorance of the situation but I need you to repeat your words. Have you lost all sanity?" Not the best choice of words given the situation so he just keeps the rest to himself.

"I want you to get in bed with me and I require a kiss. Everywhere. My body aches and I've this curiosity about proving the healing process faster by having you eradicate the pain. It seems to have worked the first time."

Riario focuses on his task at hand otherwise he'd do what Leo wanted of him, it is tempting. "My lips were not on your person Da Vinci."

"Guess, I remember it wrong then." Leonardo knows what he is doing here attempting a compromise between them.

Attempting to gain a mutual agreement that assures him as much leverage over Riario as he would have on him. It's only fair.

He just has to keep reminding himself that this is simply a carnal desire for the Count, nothing that can't leave him alone once he gets his way.

Riario just wipes away his theory every time he so much as approaches or speaks to him.

"The brethren within the Labyrinth aren't far behind. By now they must have heard of my double-crossing ways when it concerns you or what I consider to be the righteous path."

He knows without a doubt that Sixtus will fund Leonardo's work, he is under enough pressure.

Thinks the artista has grown brazen, scrupulous in his hour of mourning and is playing hardball all of a sudden.

"I'm unsure if I shall get the chance to see you again but I am a person without the burden of destiny. Perhaps one day I can figure something out."

Riario opens up a couple of bottles, they hold ointments. Herbs that compliment and mix well with each other.

He has enough bottles here to think up a simple recipe and create a small batch. He'll write it down in the Artista's journal.

Leonardo could always memorize the ingredients and dosage then burn the page later or forget about it and come up with something that can suit his needs better.

"In the meantime I will concern myself with keeping my head above water and I've arranged for you to have safe passage back to Florence."

Leonardo doesn't want to fall asleep but it is difficult to remain awake or aware of his surroundings with his eyes bandaged tightly and a killer headache because the poison is still in his system.

"Verrocchio's workshop, if all goes well. When you make it through whatever the fuck you call the mess with Carlo and this war in between the Son's of Mithras and those of the Labyrinth. Come find me."

.

.

.

"You say a Son of Mithras can truly co-exist with an Enemy of Man? Preposterous... "

"Yes, I have seen it- with Da Vinci and Riario.."

"What about them? As far as I know neither want a part in this-"

"They get along, well enough I'd wager."