Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed or any of it's characters

Battle raged on around them but the Assassins seem to slip through the fighting men like water through cracks. Ezio watched in dazed amazement at the clashing swords, the men appeared to being dancing with each other.

He felt a tug at his robes and returned his attention to the front where Altair was pulling him along. His golden gaze was locked on Ezio. Even with his eyes turned away from the approaching danger, Altair was not hit.

In fact the sharpen metal was avoiding him. It was Mario's men, keeping them from harm. Still how could Altair be so confident is his abilities not to get cut. The elder Assassin turned his gaze back to the front and Ezio blinked and became aware.

As the fighting was left behind, the eerie silence settled in. Altair let go of his robes and to the two of them ran side by side. Their feet slamming against the cobble stone road.

Ezio relaxed as the threat seemed to fade behind them. Altair became hyper-alert. Knowing it was in times like this when all calmed down was when the worst attacked. His eyesight shifted through the dark streets, looking for a change in the shadows or a sound out of place. Nothing and it put Altair even more on edge. However the shouting of a certain young Pazzi told them they were headed in the right direction.

Altair turned to address Ezio and that had been his mistake. It came whizzing through the air with an almost silent hiss. Pain blossomed in Altair right shoulder. He cursed and stumbled out of the way. He grabbed Ezio and pulled him against a building just as another knife came barreling at them. It clanked against the brink and lay useless on the ground.

"Who goes there? Guards! Kill them!" They could hear Vieri shout.

Altair grounded his teeth and cursed. He reached up and held his wound shoulder. The blood was seeping down his chest and staining his robes. The sound of guards heading in their direction only fueled his anger.

"Ezio." He looked to his novice, whose brown eyes were stuck on the knife. "

You need to take out Vieri." Ezio opened his mouth to object.

"We don't have time to argue. The guards are more experienced. Even wounded I can hold them off. Vieri is all talk but he has not the training you have." Ezio smirked at that, his dimples coming into view and he looked innocent all over again and Altair felt guilt wield in him. He chocked it back down. There was no time for such thoughts.

"When I confront the guards, go around us and meet Vieri." Ezio nodded and looked up at the sound of the guards. Too close for comfort.

Altair shuddered and stepped out of the shadows. The guards stopped to surround him. Altair gripped the hilt of the blade and yanked it out quickly. In the same motion, the blade went spinning forward. It landed, with a sickening thud, in the first unsuspecting guard's forehead. The man's face was frozen in shock as a small trail of blood slid down between his eyebrows and down the side of his nose. His companions watched in fearful silence as the man dropped to his knees and then fell face forward onto the cobblestone road. There was a soft, wet sound, as the blade slid deeper inside its target.

As the body fell, everything happened at once. Altair drew his sword, Ezio took off running and the guards charged. They were fearful of him now that they had caught a peek of his skills. The Assassin listened intently as Ezio's footsteps faded away and he faced his enemies. His shoulder was blaring in pain and Altair couldn't fully focus on the men in front of him. Lucky for him, they were about as skilled as the Auditore under his wing.

With a loud war cry, that reminded Altair of Mario, the first man darted forward. A large sword in his hands, drawn over his head, he brought it down with a huge effort. Altair darted to the side and when the man drew his attention to pulling the heavy thing up from the ground. Altair him in the side and the man fell.

His comrade stepped forward. Altair countered and shoved forward. Pushing the man back, he spun around and released his hidden blade. Burying it deep in the fallen man's neck and ending his life. The man let out a soft strangled noise but died.

Quickly Altair redrew the blade and rolled away from the body and the blade that had almost taken his head off. Pain sung in his shoulder as weight was put on it but like always, Altair ignored it. He kneeled and waited for the remaining two guards. The one who had almost killed him was fueled by anger and panted in exhaustion as he switched the sword between his hands in an impatient matter. The second guard seemed less inclined to attack and more willing to flee. The Assassin turned back to his target as the man rushed towards him with his sword drawn to the left.

Immediately Altair ducked as he swung and went to his unguarded left side. It was a risky move but Altair counted on his own speed and the guard's tiredness to help him. The man was surprised to say the least. Altair acted, drawing a dagger with his free hand and jammed in the ribcage. There was a moment of resistance but then was burst and the blade slid right into its target, the lung. Altair yanked the blade back and shoved the man aside with his shoulder. The man dropped his sword and fell to the ground in pain.

Altair shifted on his feet and turned his gaze to the last guard, who was retreating. Altair dropped his sword and pushed forward, triggering his hidden blade. He ran after the man and grabbed the man's tunic. He stumbled back and almost fell against the Assassin. Only a blade opened his throat and he fell forward instead as Altair let go of his clothing. He lay on his stomach, a growing puddle of blood. Altair panted as things finally calmed down around him. He went back to his sword and saw the injured man slowly crawling away. Altair sauntered up behind him and knelt, placing his hand on the man's neck.

"Be at peace." He said quietly as the hidden blade slipped and ended the man's life. There was a gasp and the man fell to the ground. Altair stood and sighed, and retrieved his sword. He looked back once at the damage he had done. He wondered, for a fleeting moment, if any of the men could have been spared. He, of course, knew the answer to that question.

They may not have be Templars themselves but they could not be left to run away. He sheathed his sword and walked towards where Ezio had gone. He wanted to run but his shoulder throbbed and he didn't have the energy to run.

He noted the fighting had decreased some as he came upon Ezio. The scene he was causing was less than approving. He growled and scaled up the battlement to where Ezio was disgracing the body of Vieri.

"Ezio! Enough of this!" He yanked back the boy back and Ezio turned. Wild eyed and blade at the ready. "Enough." He said quieter. Ezio seemed to realize who it was and he sagged tiredly.

Altair looked him over and was relieved to see only minor injuries. He placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder. Feeling Ezio calm under his hand. He went around to the body and knelt down and closed Vieri. "Be at peace Vieri." He said to the young man, giving a moment of silence in respect.

"Why do you do that? He was not deserving of such kindness!" Ezio growled out in anger. Altair stood up and stared down at his novice.

"That kindness is what separates us from the Templars. Do not make us like them Ezio." Ezio was silent but slowly nodded, his eyes turned to the blood covered shoulder. Altair smirked a bit and walked on a head.

"Come along novice." Ezio trailed close behind as the two of them left the dead behind.

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