Well that's been a long time! Hoping ya'll remember the story a bit (I had to read it over before I was able to finish this chap ._.).

This is a bit an inbetween chapter, though I had fun writing it. I do need your help however, because I'm at a loss for cute moments. Is there anything you want to see, or maybe suggestions for situations Ezio and Cecilia can run into?
Also, I'm afraid I'm making Cecilia just a bit too much Mary Sue-ish, which I want to avoid at all costs.

And remember now, depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

Chapter 5 Someone's having moodswings

We stayed on top of that tower for a while, while Ezio occasionally rubbed his eyes to get the remaining dirt out. I talked soothingly to him, while he remained muttering about him failing. When he kept going, I slowly got annoyed with him, and my hands began to itch to give him a good slap to his head.

I composed myself, though, and kept it with a stern look.

'Up you go, buddy.' I muttered, while I tried to get Ezio up by pulling at his shoulder, without much luck. Ezio shot me a look drenched with frustrated anger, but it didn't throw me off. Instead, I only raised one eyebrow, and gave him my best you-don't-impress-me-at-all-look I could.

He diverted his eyes in return, shook his head slowly and slowly straightened upwards.

I gave up on helping him while we walked back to the main gate of San Gimignano, where Mario and his surviving mercenaries were waiting and reviewing the victory. Ezio was silent, but soon enough his silence turned to grumpiness. He started to curse everything in the area, including the guards and mercenaries lying dead on the ground.

When we met with Mario and I explained what happened, Ezio walked away from the group, sulking and kicking at random obstacles. When I walked with Mario to the horses to return to Monteriggioni, Ezio followed slowly, and the image of a stubborn child popped up in my head.

I whistled sharply for Ombra, and when he arrived galloping, manes flowing through the air, I felt Ezio approach me. I braced myself, for I felt the storm coming. He kept silent though, so I took that opportunity to relieve my thoughts.

'You should have some respect for those fallen, Ezio. Those men who died today fought for something they believed in, even if they weren't on our side.' I spoke calmly, while I softly stroked Ombra's neck.

I heard Ezio snort softly. 'Oh I believe in respect for the dead, most of my family is!' His tone darkened and turned very sharp. 'But for them.. I can only respect the fact that they ARE dead.'

I whipped my head to gaze at him. I narrowed my eyes slightly when he returned my glare. 'Cazzo! How dare you? How can you be so disrespectful after everything Paola and Mario taught you?'

Ezio flared his nostrils and pointed to his own chest. 'I seem to be the only one that remembers what that bastardo Vieri and his men did to us, and I know they deserve to die!'

'Bullshit! You seem to have forgotten the most important lesson of them all!'

' ''Nothing is true; everything is permitted!'' ' Ezio snapped back.

That was the drop. La Volpe had mentioned the Creed's maxim to me with so much reverence that it had deeply impressed me. Now, seeing Ezio misinterpreted its meaning like that, I literally snapped and spilled out my composed frustration with undisturbed coldness, I was sure I could have made a bear turn back and run.

'You are having extreme delusions of your own competence, and it's making your head blow with arrogance! It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful, because that would save me the trouble of knocking you to the ground and beating your grumpy ass!' I inhaled sharply, but wasn't yet finished with my tirade.

'That you're frustrated I get, but what's incapable of reaching my understanding is how you can be so selfish at a time like this!' Throwing my arms in the air, I demonstrated my best arrogant male walk I could, while I continued in a faked deep voice. 'Everybody deserves to die, except for me, because I am big and strong and above all, a manly crybaby!' My voice pitched higher and higher as I continued to lose my cool. Upon yelling the last words, I closed my eyes and forced my heavy breathing to calm.

I stood there for a long moment, eyes shut, fists clenched, breathing rigid. Ezio, who stood frozen behind me, opened his mouth several times to pour out some words, but shut it again like a fish on land.

'Cecilia..'

'No! Don't you dare turning this on me!'

'I wasn't..'

I snapped my body towards Ezio, my eyes narrowed in renewed fury. 'Then spit. It. Out.'

Ezio narrowed his eyes also, but he didn't react to my daring glare.

'I didn't mean to..' He fell silent, his voice trailing off. 'I wasn't thinking.'

I let out a ironic snort. 'Like you ever think.'

Ignoring my comment, Ezio continued, while refusing to look me straight in the eye. 'I was just so.. mad at myself for letting that Pazzi freak escape..'

'That's no excuse! You can't just go around losing your temper like that, someday someone will take you down because of it!' I snapped at him, though my eyes were already softening.

Ezio was now pacing back and forth, throwing glances at me that showed a mixture of regret and frustration. Minutes passed before my anger simmered down, partly doused by Ezio's clumsiness in his agitated state.

I softened my voice even more when I saw how anxious Ezio behaved, fidgeting with his hands and sword. 'We'll get him, Ezio, but you can't do this to yourself and the people around you. You'll damage both sides.'

It was silent again. 'Anyway, if you do become grumpy again, I'll make sure to.. ehh.. point it out to you.' A smirk grew wider as I felt it pulling on the corners of my lips.

Ezio stopped fidgeting and pacing, and threw me surprised glance. His eyes lightened slowly as a grateful grin spread across his mouth, pulling at the skin around the scar on his lips. He kept my eyes locked with his for a while, silently relaying his regret and gratitude.

The moment ended suddenly, however, and Ezio walked to Ombra's other side, his face disappearing from my line of sight. I started to stroke the stallion's neck again, and I snorted silently. Males could stumble so clumsily with their feelings.

'So.. How are we getting back to Monteriggioni?' Ezio noted.

'By horse of course, what did you think?'

'Well..' I could just hear him grin, even though I couldn't see his face.

'Oh God. Please say you can summon a horse at your command..' I muttered, but I already felt a very uncomfortable situation coming up.

'We'll just have to share for now.' Ezio smirked.

I sighed. 'Get up there, then.'

'Shouldn't it be easier for you to sit up front?'

'No, it wouldn't.' No way I was sitting on a horse with an Auditore plastered to my butt. 'Now stop whining and get up there.'

Ezio climbed Ombra with a disappointed smile on his face. Using the back of the saddle as a support point, I reeled myself on the black stallion and I placed my hands around Ezio's waist. 'You ready, cara?' Ezio smirked again.

I snorted. Somehow, Ezio had turned his frustration about Vieri's escape into a new mood. A mood in which he tried to get it on with me. Mio Dio..

'Just go already.' I replied.

It would take a few hours to reach Monteriggioni again, and Ombra was slowed down because of the extra weight on his back. It had been night when we had retaken San Gimignano, and now the sky slowly lightened as the sun made his way up the sky. The clear night that had been filled with bright stars now slowly lightened to a sea of clear blue, with a orange glow in the east. Trees and low foliage flashed by as Ombra showed off his unlimited pride in his endurance, and kept going at a steady pace.

My head slowly started to throb, my lack of sleep kicking in. I rested my forehead against Ezio's back, grateful for the soft fabric, and closed my eyes. I was out in seconds. My dreams were lucid and calm, no people I had murdered haunted my thoughts, no blood unable to get off my hands. I woke when the sun stood high in the sky, and the walls of Monteriggioni loomed over us.

Ezio parked Ombra near the stables, glided down from his back, then reached for me. I was still slightly drowsy from sleeping, so I let him help me, and he supported me when I descended the stallion. Ombra whinnied relieved, happy that the burden on his back had been lifted. His fur was matted with dust and sweat, greasing his usual shiny coat. Foam dripped once again from his mouth, and his chest was heaving. We had pushed him more than I realized.

I stroked his neck softly. 'Good job, caro..'

I continued down the stables while Ezio waited back with Ombra, and I threatened the stable boy, saying I would not rest before I had found him if he let anything happen to my stallion. He answered, shivering, that he would personally look after the horse, as if it where Apollo's stallion himself.

Ezio and I started towards the villa overlooking the rest of Monteriggioni. We met Mario at the front of the entrance, and he was looking weary but content. His eyes took on a sad lint, however, when he saw us advancing.

'Nipote.. signorina..' He nodded at us. 'We chased Vieri, but he made his way back to Firenze before we could stop him.'

Ezio clenched his jaw, and for a moment, I was afraid that his depressed mood would return. 'I swear.. I'll get that son of a bitch..' He muttered softly.

'What are we gonna do now?' I asked, glancing from Mario to Ezio and back again.

Mario snorted. 'Easy enough. You two are going after him, before he regroups his forces.'

'How are we going to find him? Firenze is a big place.'

Mario turned around and stalked back towards the villa. Ezio and I glanced at each other before we followed him into the colossal building. Mario continued the way towards his study, where we saw Claudia diving in some pile of paper and books. Ezio greeted her with an adoring grin, hugging her slightly when she rose from her desk. When she laid eyes on me, she looked surprised.

'Cecilia Mancini?'

I nodded and crossed my arms, slightly uncomfortable. Claudia diverted her eyes back to Ezio and snorted. 'Well, at least you've been hanging out with someone who actually has brains!'

I grinned. Something told me that Claudia didn't like her brothers friends very much. Ezio sighed softly, but ignored his sister further on and continued after Mario to the main study. When I arrived in the room, Mario had already laid out a large, drawn map of Firenze.

'My men heard reports about Vieri arriving at the Piazza della Signoria. We don't have anyone inside, but we do have people at the piazza and the area around it. We'll know when he leaves again.'

'Good, so we just go there and take him out?' I noted.

'No, it's not going to be that simple,' Ezio replied. The piazza is heavily armed.. I saw that.. when..' His breath hissed softly out of his mouth as he did not continue his sentence. I froze as I realized that the last time he was at the Piazza della Signoria, he saw his father and brothers die.

I decided to break that uncomfortable silence, as Mario didn't know anything to say. 'Well, what are we doing here then? We can just ride for Firenze and be closer to the demon's lair.'

Mario started to nod slowly. 'Si.. si.. you two go back to Firenze and find out how you can take Vieri down. But for now.. rest and we'll see tomorrow what you'll do.' Mario dismissed us, and I immediately headed upstairs to get some forgotten sleep. I dragged myself into the room Mario had appointed to me, flung myself on the bed and curled up in the soft cushions. Once again, my dreams stayed calm and lucid, not a ripple distorted the lake of my mind.

That was, until I was woken by a loud, scrunching thud. My muscles strained against me when I pounced off the bed, reached for my broadsword, but found it not strapped to my back. My whole bedroom was filled with smoke, and while I tried not to inhale, I narrowed my eyes and peered through the smoke. I started couching while I tried to regain my vision on the room, but the smoke was too thick and too persistent.

A dark, looming shape suddenly flung itself at me through the smoke, and I wasn't fast enough to dodge. Instead, I pulled up my arms to my face, protecting my head. The shape collided with me and due to the force behind the attack, we were both flung upon the bed. After a moment, when nothing happened, I dared peek through my arms. Ezio was leaning over me, both of his hands planted besides my head, his face only inches away from mine. My surprise immediately turned to moody irritation.

'Ezio, what the hell? I'm trying to sleep.' I grumbled, while I pushed him off me and re-settled into the soft cushions of my bed.

'Ahem, you were trying to sleep. Only moments ago you stood very much awake on your feet.' Ezio grinned, while he repositioned himself on the edge of the large bed.

I muttered some incoherent curses and snuggled back underneath my blankets, but Ezio wasn't quite ready with me yet. He stuck his head underneath my blankets so he could eye me in the dim light. I snickered.

'Now it was just a joke. A joke with a purpose I might say. I wanted to see how well prepared you would be when surprise-attacked. I must say you passed with flying colours!' He grinned at me again, and I shot him a destructive glare.

'Well, you got Paola to thank for that.. She would wake me up in the middle of the night and have me do random routines.. I hated her so much for it I took one of her pearl necklaces and gave it to the nearest beggar I could find.'

Ezio let out a short laugh and his eyes shimmered with enjoyment, 'What happened when she found out?'

I smiled, 'She laughed about it. Then she had me scrub the entire Rosa Colta inside out.' I yawned and closed my eyes. 'She didn't let me sleep for three days.'

'And you're still recovering lost nap time?' Ezio snorted.

'Shut up and leave me alone,' I replied with a smile. Ezio retreated to his own room with a few charming chuckles, and soon I felt myself smiling again. It wasn't hard to forgive Ezio for his childish humor, in fact, I felt very drawn to it. It was just as impossible to be mad with Ezio for a long time, as to bring down a horse with nothing but your right hand. I fell asleep with a grin plastered to my face and the idea of bringing Ombra to the ground by lifting him with my right hand.