Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed or any of its characters.
A/N: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry for the long pause on this story. I've been busy with life. But I'm back with a new chapter! Hopefully I'll be posting more soon.
Any mistakes are mine and mine alone!
He thought he would never see this city again, Florence, his home.
Ezio hid his gaze in the shadow of his hood as he and Altair passed through the gates. Time has passed since the Auditore family was torn apart and the Assassins had fled. Guards were lack in the search but Altair wasn't going to risk the fight. Ezio was inclined to agree with him. He pressed close to his mentor's side as they moved through the never ending crowd of people, entering and exiting the city. As they finally were in the city's walls Ezio felt a sense of sadness draw over him.
"Christina!" He exclaimed, remembering his lover, the one he hadn't had much chance to say farewell to. Altair jerked at his raised voice and looked back at his young apprentice. Ezio flinched under his gaze.
"What?" Altair whispered softly, turning back to guide Ezio through the city without being seen. Ezio bit his lip and contemplated telling the elder Assassin.
"Christina?" He asked, wondering if Altair would perhaps remember him mentioning her. Altair had remembered her, his thoughts had turned to the girl more than once since they made their trip to the city. He knew soon enough Ezio would remember her and want to see the noble woman. He just thought he had more time before that happened.
"I could go visit her and be back before sundown. Please Altair." Ezio begged and Altair refused to look back at him, knowing the boy was going to use any amount of charm against the older Assassin.
"No Ezio, we're here on a mission." Altair wasn't looking but he knew Ezio had a look of disappointment on his face. Altair sighed and rubbed his face in frustration.
"…If we have time afterwards, maybe." Ezio cheered up at the prospect and picked up his pace to walk beside Altair.
"So Maestro what has brought us to Florence?" He asked the idea of seeing Christina had brightened his mood but being back in his home, it was starting to darken. Altair looked out of the corner of his eye. The change in his attitude hadn't gone unnoticed, despite how small it was.
"There are rumors, a conspiracy, going around. The Templars are targeting the Medici." Ezio remembered the family. They had been friends to the Auditores when they were a noble family.
Altair ducked into an alleyway and Ezio veered after him. Mumbling under his breathe in anger.
"Hush." Altair whispered in slight annoyance and watched as two guards patrolled past them. The pattern had change since they were last in the city. Altair made a mental note to stations a few informants in the city when he had the chance.
"We need to split up and gather information." He looked back at the novice who looked excited to run about the city again. "Stick to the shadows, the guards have changed their routes." He smacked Ezio across the head. "Pay attention." Ezio gave him a sheepish smile.
"Yes, yes. I know what to do." The eagerness in his voice made Altair doubtful. He sighed.
"Go." He said and waved him off. Ezio grinned and took off further down into the alley. Altair watched him scurry up the wall and out of his sight. He debated going after, it wouldn't be hard. Ezio would never know he was there. But he had to have faith in the boy. Altair released a deep breath and merged back to the crowd.
Ezio barely felt the tiles beneath his feet as he ran along the roofs. As soon as Altair had mentions splitting up. He knew he had a chance to go see Christina. It would just be a quick hello and then he would go and gather information. Altair would never know what happened. He thought about what Altair had said, they could visit her if there was time, but what if there wasn't time. What if he and Altair had to disappear as soon as the mission was finished?
Christina was too important to him to risk it. That pushed Ezio faster across the roofs. As the line of buildings ended, Ezio held his breathe as he propelled himself forward into the air. There was fleeting moment as his body stayed the air before it was thrust downwards by gravity. The wind rushed past him and he flipped, landing on his back in the hay. He stood up from the pile and looked up at the house before him.
Christina's house as the same as Ezio remembered it. He grinned and looked to her bedroom window. It was open and the lights were on. A shadow danced upon the walls and it was all Ezio needed to climb up the wall. He peered over the edge of window sill.
Christina was sitting down at her vanity, tying her hair up. Ezio smiled at her and leaped over the sill into her room. He landed silently and pulled off his hood. He waited for her to notice him. Finally she felt eyes on her back and turned around. She gasped and stood in surprise.
"Ezio! What are you doing here?" She asked and stood at distance from him. Like she couldn't believe he was there.
"I only just came back to Florence…Look at you! As beautiful as ever." His words were true. She was beautiful even more so than he remembered. Not with that small happy glow about her but it was the same Christina. He reached up and cupped her cheek, she leaned into it.
"But…Oh Ezio…It has been so long!" She shook her face from his grip and a troubled frown set on her face.
"And I've thought of nothing but you." Ezio replied with a sappy smile, he grabbed her small hand in his callous ones. Christina ripped her hand from his and turned her back to him.
"Oh but Ezio." Her voice was troubled and Ezio reached out from her again and turned her to face him again.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"I'm engaged to be married!" She exclaimed. Ezio dropped his arm. A feeling like a bucket of cold water hit him.
"My father kept asking him to choose! I thought I would never see you again!" She shouted, emotions were getting the better of her.
The conversion stopped as a loud commotion from the streets caused them to look out the window. A young blonde woman was standing in front of the building.
"It's Manfredo! They are going to kill him!" She shouted up to them.
"What?" Christina asked in shock, Ezio stood next the window. His mind was reeling.
"Some guy he owes money to! He dragged him to the end of the new bridge!" She shouted.
"Who the hell is Manfredo?" Ezio snapped at her in anger.
"My fiancé…" Christina trailed off. Ezio almost laughed, he could leave the idiot to his fate and be with Christina. But then he remembered the Creed. He sighed.
"I will get him for you." He said, doing it only for Christina's sake. So she could break things off with him and be with Ezio.
Ezio doesn't remember chasing after the men. Beating up the load sharks and threatening Manfredo. By the time his mind had caught up with his actions. It was already sunset. He ran and found Christina heading for the bridge herself probably to check up on her worthless fiancé. He grabbed a hold of her and spun her around to the wall of the building.
He leaned down and she accepted his kiss. He didn't ever want to stop kissing her but soon enough he forced himself to pull away from her embrace. She looked heartbroken.
"He's fine. He'll make a good husband. I made sure of it." He said and turned away from her. Christina broke from her daze.
"Wh-What?" He walked away leaving Christina standing in confusion, looking up the sky he saw figure standing at the top of a church not far from him.
Ezio cursed but made his way towards the church. Altair disappeared from the roof top and reappeared on the ground in front of him. The elder Assassin crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation. Ezio opened his mouth to give one but no words came one. His shoulders fell and he sighed.
"I have…no words for not completely the mission. If there is enough time, tomorrow I will gather as much as I can." He said, he wanted a distraction any distraction.
"There isn't enough time tomorrow. I gathered enough information to make up for your lack of work." Altair said. It was true after Ezio had wandered off he had gotten all the intel he needed to confirm the attack on the Medici. Then he went to find Ezio…and find him nowhere near where he would find information. Instead he found the novice tangled in a mess with his old lover.
Ezio looked even more disappointed at Altair's words. The Master Assassin didn't know what had gone down between Ezio and Christina but he knew it had left the boy in pain.
"Ezio…" He trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"Come, let's get some sleep. I'll fill you in on what I found." Ezio followed behind his master into the shadows. He glanced once back to where Christina had been but found her gone.
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