Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed or any of its characters.
A/N: So now the plot begins! I'm going with Ezio's story line so bear with me because I haven't played AC2 in forever and am a little fuzzy on how it all went down. All mistakes are mine!
Altair had once thought that Ezio was a quick learner. That statement was proven false with each giggle that the Assassin heard.
Paola had set him up in a shaded terrace with groups of courtesans. She was trying to teach him how to pickpocket without being detected. So far he had yet to do so. The boy's hands seemed to stray from their target when they caught sight of a pretty face. When a young blonde giggled and slapped away his away playfully.
Ezio slummed in defeat and looked to Altair for help. The Assassin sighed and ignored the amused sound that escaped from Paola. "You focus too much on the person and their face Ezio." Altair said and walked up to a group of ladies. He picked one at random. "They won't notice you unless you make them." He reached out and his hand wrapped around the coin purse and he snapped the string and walked away. He held up the sack for the younger man to inspect. A moment later a surprised gasp came from the redhead in the group Altair had walked past. He tossed it back to the woman and addressed Ezio. "Focus on the money and the move out of sight before they can suspect you." He instructed and Ezio nodded in determination and turned back to the women.
After several failed attempts Ezio presented a coin purse to Altair with a trumpet grin that made Altair want to smile in return. "Good for you, novice." Altair praised and Ezio was practically jumping with tossed back the purse and turned to Paola for his next instruction.
"You've seemed to pick up on that. Hopefully you will get better with time." Paola waved on for Ezio to follow behind and Altair took that chance to slip away. He knew she would take the boy and teach him to blend into crowds. So the Assassin had some time before he was due back to help. Altair slipped inside and found Maria waiting for him with another Assassin. Through their hood was up, the dark jacket and lack of an arm was enough for Altair to know who it was.
"Malik, what are you doing here?" He asked as Maria slipped away with only a lingering touch on his shoulder.
"Brother, I have troubling news." Malik waved him over to a secluded spot. "Rodrigo Borgia has been spotted within the city walls and the Pazzi have become quiet in their movement. My men have no idea what they are doing now." Malik whispered.
"The Pazzi? Ezio just got into a brawl with Vieri the other day." Word of the brawl had spread throughout the city and Altair saw the scar it had left on Ezio's face. In the same place his had been.
"Yes the Master has been very cautious as of late. He has not sent any Assassins on contacts or missions in days." Altair looked around them, taking in the people around them for wandering eyes.
"This cannot be good. I should leave and keep Ezio within my sight until things settle." Malik nodded and Altair departed with speed. He weaved through the people until he came to Paola.
"Ah, there you are Altair." She was standing a distance from Ezio, watching as practiced his skills.
"What had you heard of late?" He whispered and turned to lean against the wall beside her with his head down. Paola remained looking forward and her lips barely moved but Altair heard her.
"Not much more than Giovanni has heard. However Uberto makes me suspect his loyalties are not as clear as we think." She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "I worry for Ezio and his siblings." Altair looked at the Assassin in training from under his white hood.
"Malik had the same thoughts. As his mentor I thought to take him away from the city for a few days." Paola nodded discreetly.
"That may be a wise idea." She stopped as Ezio came walking back up to them.
He grinned and the pink scar on his lips wrinkled with the effort.
"I'd say that I have perfected the art of being seen but unseen." He said with a grin and looked to Altair for approval. Altair ducked his head further to hide his smile and got up from the wall.
"Not yet." Altair paused and smiled a smirk that caused Ezio to stiffen. "How about you trail me and if I detect you, you fail for the day." It seemed Ezio was up to any challenge Altair threw at him. He grinned and nodded, fixing his hood on his head.
"Affare." Altair pulled down the hood to cover Ezio's eyes and spurn him around to throw off the boy's sense of direction.
"Go." Altair whispered and disappeared into the crowd. Moments later he felt a hard stare on his back and knew it was Ezio's. The Assassin picked up on the other's footsteps against the others. The quick, jumpy steps of novice in the field, Altair stopped and turned to look back. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ezio's hood duck into a cluster of people. He turned back around and continued walking. He had counted to 15 in his head before he felt the eyes on his shoulder again. Altair grinned before he picked up on his pace and turned down a sharp corner.
Altair held to admit that occasionally he had lost the novice in the mass of people but overall Ezio was far too obvious but Altair decided not to call him out on it. After all it was his first day and guards were never as alert as highly trained Assassins. He could give the boy a break. Altair finally called off the chase when they reached the wall encasing the city.
"So? I pass didn't I?" Ezio nearly tackled Altair in his excitement to catch the Assassin. The Assassin couldn't help but smirk and lowered his hood. The cool air kissed his skin and Altair sighed in relief. Ezio pulled off his hood. His brown hair turned dark with sweat.
"Not bad, walad." Normally Altair didn't speak his native tongue. He preferred Italian, it made him blend in more into the culture. Even as the endearment slipped past his lips, Altair didn't realize he had said it at first.
"What was that?" Ezio asked curiously.
"My native language." Altair chuckled at Ezio surprised expression. "I know my Italian is good Ezio but I was not born here." He pulled back up his hood and slapped a hand on Ezio's shoulder. "Come on, I have one last place we have to go before I return you home."
Altair knocked on the wooden door and turned back to Ezio.
"I understand you have already met Leonardo." He commented.
"Yes, but what do we have use of an painter?" Ezio had picked up painting from the man for his mother and had seen the amazing work the painter had done.
"He is not just a painter." Altair held up the gift that Federico had given him. "He is so much more Ezio."
The door opened and a energetic blonde came out."Altair!" He hugged the Assassin tightly and turned to the boy. "Ah, Ezio, good to see you again!" Leonardo hugged the Ezio tightly and left his personally space just as quickly. "Come in! Come in!" Leonardo shooed them inside and stepped in behind, glancing at emptying streets before closing the door. "So what can I do for you?"The painter asked and Altair held up the bracer and blade.
"Ah!" Leonardo took the gear and set it down on his cluttered work table. "I can have this repaired for you before the sun sets tomorrow." Leonardo was already mumbling about the things he would need. His mind worked a mile a minute.
"Really? You can do that?" Ezio asked and peered in closer.
"Yes!" Leonardo looked up and laid a polite hand on Altair's shoulder. "If it had not for the Codex that Altair made, this would have taken me days, possibly months but now I have repaired and made enough of these to make them without help." The blonde rambled on before returning to his table.
"A Codex?" Ezio glimpsed at Altair and the older Assassin just shrugged.
"Leonardo has been a friend to the Assassins for many years. I only lent him a few pages that would interest him." Altair grabbed Ezio and started to guide him out. "We'll take our leave Leonardo now and leave you to your work." The painter mumbled a good-bye and waved from the table.
Altair chuckled and followed Ezio outside. Immediately he knew something was off. The streets were deserted. Altair scanned the roads, no one, it didn't make sense. They were only in there for a moment. Ezio started out in the middle of the main street. His hood down and he wandered in the direction of his home.
"Ezio!" Altair hissed and stalked over to the boy. He yanked the hood up and pulled the younger man close to him, wrapping an arm around his thin shoulders. Protecting the young one from any danger.
Altair looked around him; the streets, then the roofs and finally the corners of building, nothing. "Come, we have to get back to your house." Altair dragged Ezio with a harsh tug down the streets as silently as he could. As they got closer, Altair picked up on the signs of distress in the landscape around them; the bloodstains in the street, the discarded weapons, the bodies hidden from view. The Assassin pulled Ezio along harder, refusing to answer any question the boy asked. Finally they stopped in the courtyard of the Auditore villa. There Ezio broke off Altair's hold and ran into the dark house.
"Mother! Father! Claudia! Petuccio! Federico!" He called out their names in desperation as he ran throughout the house. Altair stayed near the door. It had been knocked off the hinges. The furniture was shrewd about. Altair knew he had to get Ezio from this place and quickly.
"Brother!" Altair looked up as an Assassin came running up, blood splattering his robes.
"What happened here?" Altair asked as Ezio came up behind him. "They attacked, the Templars, they took the Master and Federico and Peuccio. We were able to get the mother and lady away before the guards could regroup." The Assassin said.
"My mother, Claudia, where are they?" Ezio pushed Altair out of the way, his voice cracked and Altair knew he was on the verge of breaking.
"We are sending them to your uncle as we speak." The Assassin assured Ezio and then turned to Altair.
"We need your help brother." Altair nodded and took Ezio aside. "
I'm coming with you." The boy gritted out between his teeth.
"No. Ezio you have no weapons, no skills. You would only get in the way. Go back to Leonardo's and wait for me. I will return with your family safely." Ezio looked up at Altair with big broken brown eyes filled with tears. He could tell the only thing the boy wanted to do was run and find his family but he was trusting Altair to do it.
"You promise?" He asked.
"Yes, I promise. Now go!" Altair shooed Ezio and the novice took off running into the streets. He wouldn't have any problems with the guards. By now all those able to fight were guarding the Auditores. Preparing for the on slaughter from the Assassins.
A/N: Again, I don't really remember the events leading to Ezio becoming an Assassin, like all the parties involved and how exactly it went down but I think I got what was needed. If anything was confusing, free feel to tell me!
Affare-Deal
walad-boy
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