A Thief Steals from the Master
The thief leaned against the bricks of one building. He was the leader of his little group, but of course he answered to the one and only La Volpe. Three of his fellow guild members surrounded him. They talked of their stolen riches. Bragged of their latest conquests. And planned their next 'Big Heist'.
"Hey, Ottavio, have you heard? There is a hooded assassino going around killing the supporters of the Borgia?" one of comrades said. Ottavio's interest peaked. But stayed silent through the groups gossiping.
"Really? Well, good riddance! Those Borgia scum have it coming."
"I heard that the father and the brother both have their way with the sister. The pope is truly hellbound."
"Well, with a sister like that I would risk hell."
"We all know what you would do for a pretty face"
"You don't even need a pretty face. Any old face will do"
"Yeah, like your sisters!"
Ottavio raised two fingers. The others silenced. A flash of a white hood and red cloak went by his field of vision. Anyone with clothing that clean must have something good on them, he reasoned.
"Be good boys, I'm off. See you back at the inn." Ottavio announced, moving to follow.
"Ottavio! Are you crazy? That could be the assassino. He will kill you for even looking at him."
"What are the odds that that's him? Really? Don't be so foolish, Petro." He ruffled the younger thief's hair.
Ottavio trailed the mysterious man in white following him loosely through the lesser crowded parts of the city, waiting until he went through a particularly thick crowd before getting close. He kept an eye on the man in white. The man was on a collision course with a young woman eating an apple. If he timed it just right he could…
There, got the coin purse. Ottavio was startled on how heavy it actually was. Sure, he had expected it to be full…but this was truly a rich man. The thief scampered away with his loot, it is never wise to hang around someone you just stole from.
"Hey! Stop! Do not make me have to chase you. It will not end will for you."
Ottavio flinched. Then bolted.
"Stop!" the man in white yelled again.
Ottavio scrambled down an alleyway, using a set of abandoned crates to give him easier access to the rooftops. He flew across the roofs of Rome relying on the teaching of a friend and fellow thief to have faith that there will be roof after this jump.
"Stop! You are not allowed up here!" a guards voice rang out. Ottavio tucked and rolled just in time to dodge a crossbow bolt but ended up tumbling to the ground from his wooden beam. He picked himself up and started sprinting again after seeing a flash of white behind him. And he ran.
Right into a pack of guards.
"Hey! Watch where you are going!"
"What is you are running from?"
"If you are running, there must be a reason. You are a thief!"
Ottavio stood, shell shocked and surrounded. The guards drew their swords.
"You will not fight us!" one yelled. Three of the guards raised their swords in a defensive stance while the last raised his for an attack. Ottavio tried to dodge the sword swinging down on him by dropping to the ground. Only to have the sword stopped with the sound of metal on metal, mere inches from where his face had just been.
"You dare raise your sword against and unarmed man?" the man in white seethed. And within seconds three of the four guards were dead and bloody on the ground near the frozen thief. The fourth guard dropped his sword, turned heel, and fled away from the carnage yelling about how he was a good man and wished to be spared.
The man in white turned his attentions to the cowering thief.
"I believe you have something of mine?"
The thief began to stammer through and apology as the man came closer and grabbed the money pouch from the thief.
"Think about who you steal from, you never know just who can take your life"
"yuh-yes ser."
The man turned to leave.
"Wait! Ser please! You are a man of great skill. I beg of you to teach me your ways. Please ser, I am forever in your debt." The thief begged.
And Ezio, never one to shy away from a good stroke of his ego, took the man's hand.
"The liberation of Roma has begun. Follow me to the assassin's hideout. And be prepared to begin training as an Assassin." The now former thief bowed his head.
"Yes, ser Assassino."
They began their walk.
"And one more thing, thief."
"Si, signore?"
"Don't steal form me again."
"Of course signore"