Matteo and Kiran are my OCs, Araceli belongs to Dragonlegends, a friend of mine.

Chapter 2

Kiran and Araceli made their way to a cozy little villa that belonged to Ezio and his family. They were a few steps from the door when Ezio's daughter opened the door and let them in with a smile. The duo made their way to the main room where they found Ezio sitting in a chair by the fire. Kiran nodded at the man, "Master." She handed him a paper with the information about Marco and the mission he accepted.
Ezio sighed softly, "You know I do not care to be called 'Master'." He chuckled, "As amazing as I am."
"You made the brotherhood and lead us. I would gladly call you Grand Master." Kiran stated before taking a seat beside Araceli on the lounge chair.
"You wanted to speak to us?" Araceli asked.
"Yes..." Ezio nodded his head and looked at the fire for a moment before looking back at the young women, "You have both seen that the guards have been acting... Strange lately, si?" The two Assassins nodded. "Well... Rumours have been floating around about a change of power." He said.
"Change of power?" Kiran arched a brow, "Monsieur, what do you mean?" She caught a look in Ezio's eyes and narrowed her own, "This has to do with the Templars?"
"They have been gone from the city for years now." Araceli stated, "Why would they come back? They have no claim to this place."
"That's what I want you to look into. I want to know why the guards are acting strangely and what they plan on doing." Ezio explained, "If this has anything to do with the Templars..."
"We will handle it." Kiran cut in quickly, "Put it out of your mind, Monsieur."
Ezio chuckled as he looked at Kiran, "You are how old?"
"Twenty." Kiran said with a wry smirk, "You know that. Don't tell me your memory is going."
"A young Assassin like you should not fret over an old man like me." Ezio chuckled, "And my memory is as good as ever."
"Pardon, Monsieur." Kiran bowed her head, "I know things have been tough. You and your family shouldn't have to worry about Templars and guards." Kiran looked up, "Be assured that we will get to the bottom of this."

Ezio nodded his head and offered a gentle smile before dismissing the Assassins. He looked up suddenly, "A moment." The duo looked at each other before walking back over to the Dai. He chuckled as he remembered something, "Before I forget, I have requested the help of the Gondoliers. If something is going on, it's best if we all work together. Tomorrow I want you both to go to their hideout and speak to the Chief. He will assign someone to work with you."
Kiran pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Araceli caught the action and smirked, "Why do I have the feeling you already suggested someone to the Chief?"
"Let's just say I think everything will work out fine." Ezio shrugged casually.
"If it's that Guppy..." Kiran groaned, "Ugh, I just know it is..."
"Safety and peace, Master Assassins." Ezio grinned.
"Cheeky old bastard." Kiran muttered as she waved a farewell and followed Araceli out the door.

Kiran walked down the cobblestone road with Araceli. They made their way down to the docks and slipped into the sewers. After a few minutes of making their way through the maze-like sewers they came to a barred wooden door. They stood in front of the door for a moment before it swung open. A black cloaked figure motioned for them to enter before shutting the door behind them. The Master Assassins made their way through the chamber into a large briefing room. A man in a black cloak with ornate silver symbols sewn into the fabric stood over a table looking at a map. The man looked up and grinned as he saw the young Assassins. His blue-grey eyes shone brightly and his black hair was tied back in a short ponytail. He opened his arms and beamed, "Welcome! Welcome! I was told you two would be coming."
"Savio, it's good to see you again." Kiran smiled.
"Plunder any ships lately?" Araceli asked.
"Depends on what you mean." Savio winked before laughing, "But yes, we looted a ship a few days ago. They had been causing trouble in Venice and... Well, who could pass up a change to steal back what is rightfully theirs?"

Savio crossed his arms as he looked at the map of the city again. He was silent for a moment before glancing at the Assassins, "Ezio says something is going on."
"Possibly. That's what we will be looking into." Kiran said, "We need to do some... Research first."
"And I have just the man to help you." Savio grinned before calling out, "Captain de Felice!"
Kiran groaned and ran a hand through her hair as another black cloaked figure entered the room. His clear blue eyes lit up when he saw Kiran and Araceli. The scar over his right eye was pulled as he smiled, "Master Assassin Araceli! Pleasure to see you again!" He paused and looked at Kiran, "And the little Sparrow as well."
"Guppy." Kiran retorted with a flat expression.
"Captain, you will be helping these two ladies with some research." Savio said, "Play nicely."

Araceli grinned at Savio, "He will be working with Kiran mostly."
"Quoi?" Kiran gaped before sighing, "Yes, leave the Guppy with me..."
"Bella, do you not want me to help you?" The Captain feigned a hurt heart, "You wound me."
"Indeed." Kiran rolled her eyes. She was about to say more when she looked up suddenly. She furrowed her brows and looked around the room. Araceli stepped forward and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. Kiran looked at the ceiling and narrowed her eyes, "Something's wrong."
Savio arched a brow before closing his eyes, "Hm, sounds noisier than usual up there."
Kiran's eyes widened, "Araceli, you stay with Savio and Matteo." Before anyone could say anything Kiran took off out of the hideout, passing two Gondoliers who were running past her in the opposite direction.

She scrambled from the sewers and made it onto the docks to see a crowd talking in frantic tones. She rushed forward, "What's going on here?"
"A boy was being chased by the guards." An older woman said in a horrified tone, "No one knows what was going on, but it looked like they wanted to kill him!"
Kiran felt her heart stop before she bolted off down the road that everyone was looking down. She hopped onto a roof and made her way across the city, following the sounds of a chase. She saw a young Assassin running down an alley and rushed ahead. She saw the boy stumble and fall and the guards rushing up behind him with swords raised. She threw herself off the roof in front of the boy, plunging her hidden blade into the chest of the closest guard. She glanced back to see that the boy was in bad shape. She glared at the guards and tensed for a fight. She lunged forward, running another guard through as they charged at her, and was about to strike down another when Savio, Araceli, and Matteo appeared behind the guards, striking a few of them down.
Matteo looked at the boy before narrowing his eyes at Kiran, "Get him out of here."
Kiran was about to argue but decided not to. She picked up the boy and had him ride on her back as she darted through the streets. She made it to a nearby bureau in a less than a minute. Inside the Rafiq helped her tend to the boys wounds. Ezio had appeared a short time later, having caught wind of the incident while in the city.

The young boy blinked and winced in pain. He looked to the side to see Kiran sitting in a chair beside his bed. He looked away sadly, "I am sorry..."
"Don't say that." Kiran said, "It's not your fault." Kiran brushed some hair out of his face, "Marco, what happened?"
"I don't know... I went in to eliminate the target as the mission required, but I... I was ambushed." Marco said, wincing in pain.
Kiran furrowed her brows, "But how...? That mission came from a good source." Kiran shook her head, "Rest. You have earned it. I am so sorry... If I had known..."
"It's okay." Marco said, offering a warm smile, "I know you wouldn't have let me go if you knew what would happen." Marco closed his eyes and sighed, "But my cousin looked really mad..."
"Cousin?" Kiran asked.
"Matteo de Felice." Marco said, "He's a Captain. He's really strong and brave! I hope to be like him some day."
"I'm sure you will." Kiran smiled gently before patting the boy's shoulder, "Rest and recover. No missions for the next while."
"Damn straight there will be missions for him until he has recovered." Matteo hissed as he stormed into the bureau.
The Rafiq looked from Kiran to Matteo, "Keep it civil. We have someone recovering in here."
"He wouldn't be in here if someone had done their job." Matteo glared at Kiran.
Kiran stood up and glared back at Matteo, "I would never have sent him on that mission if I knew it was an ambush."
"Clearly you don't look into things well enough." Matteo glared.
"Do not criticize my abilities!" Kiran shouted, "The source put in this request through Ezio. Nothing was brought to my attention that said something was wrong." She gestured at Marco, "Do you think I would willingly let someone get hurt? Do you have any idea how horrible I feel about this happening?"
Matteo pushed past Kiran and knelt beside his cousin, "Are you okay?"
"Don't be mad at her. She saved me-" Marco began.
"She put you in danger." Matteo stated, shooting Kiran a bitter glare.
Savio and Araceli entered the bureau with Ezio behind them. The Rafiq motioned for them to not get involved. Kiran crossed her arms, "This isn't my fault."
"Of course it is!" Matteo whirled around and pointed a violent finger at Kiran, "You should have watched over him! Or does being a Master Assassin mean you don't have to pay attention to lower ranks?" He glared venemously at her, "You do not deserve the title."
Kiran felt like a cold blade had been run through her. She stepped forward and smacked Matteo across the face, leaving him stunned for a moment. He shot her another glare but froze when he saw tears in her eyes. She turned and looked at Savio, "Sorry, but I refuse to work with someone who insults me so. If there is anyone else, if you are still willing to have someone from your group help me, who wants to help, then please send them my way." She looked back at Marco, "Get well soon." She nodded at the Rafiq, Ezio, and Araceli. She glanced over her shoulder at Matteo, "Capitaine."

Savio followed Kiran out of the bureau, "Kiran, please, don't be rash-"
"I will not work with someone who treats me like that!" Kiran declared firmly, "You heard him. I can't work with someone who hates me. Let him do as he pleases, but I will not go to him for help ever again. Frankly, if I never see him again it will be too soon." Kiran bid a final farewell before departing to her tower. Savio watched her run off before going back into the bureau. Inside Ezio was finishing a harsh lecture. Araceli narrowed her eyes at Matteo, "You know she would never endanger anyone in the Creed. She is the last person who would even dream of doing so."
Matteo sat in a chair beside Marco's bed, his face in his hands. Ezio looked at Savio, "I do not know how this happened... The request was given to me by an acquaintance." He furrowed his brows and muttered something dark under his breath.
Marco looked at Savio, "I'm sorry."
"No no, my boy." Savio waved the statement away, "Don't be."
Marco looked at his cousin, "Please, cousin. Don't be mad at her."

Matteo looked up at the others in the room and met their sharp looks. Ezio sighed, "You have every right to be upset, but you shouldn't take it out on Kiran."
Matteo sighed as he stood up. He murmured something under his breath before excusing himself. Ezio and Araceli looked at Savio as the Captain left. Savio said that Matteo just needed some time to himself and that he would do the right thing when everything cooled down.

Kiran sat in her shop finishing a dress that someone had dropped off to be mended. She kept looking at the dressed as she heard the shop door open, "Sorry, a bit busy. I'll be with you in a moment."
She let out a sigh after a moment as she stood up and looked the dress over. She smiled proudly before setting the pins and threat down. She turned around and smiled, "Now, how can I help-" She narrowed her eyes, "We're closed."
"Sparrow, please! Wait-" Matteo began.
"We are closed. Please leave." Kiran stated firmly.
"I just want to talk!" Matteo began, but Kiran grabbed his arm and shoved him out the door.
"You have said enough already." She hissed before slamming the door shut and locking it. She knew no one would be dropping by until tomorrow morning to pick up their outfits so she didn't have to worry about closing up early. She slipped into the back of the store, entering a back room. She moved a bookcase back to reveal a stairway. She pulled it back in place and made her way up to stairs. She moved another bookcase out of the way, entering the office at the top of the tower and pushing the bookcase shut behind her. She turned around slowly with a heavy sigh, jumping back when a small bouquet was pushed into her face.
"Capitaine-" Kiran began.
"I'm sorry." Matteo murmured. He looked at the floor sadly, "I'm sorry..." He looked at her, "I shouldn't have taken out my anger out on you... It's just... Marco's my little cousin. He's like my own little brother. The thought of losing him..."
"I never would have put him at risk like that if I knew." Kiran said, "And I plan on paying them back for what they did. I will be speaking to this source..."
"I will go to." Matteo said quickly, "Please..."
Kiran looked at Matteo then at the flowers. Matteo lowered his voice to a whispers, "I am sorry..."
Kiran looked at him again and sighed, offering a small smile, "The cunning Captain Matteo de Felice scales the tower with a bouquet and spills appologies." She smiles as she takes the flowers, "And you do know that I love gladiolus flowers."
"So you forgive me?" Matteo asked, his eyes brightening.
"I don't see why not, this time." Kiran said as she set the flowers on her desk, "Now, go rest. Be with Marco. Tomorrow night we will pay this source a visit."