My last chapter wasn't my best work; I was just way too eager to get into writing again. This one is way better I promise
It was time for another assassin meeting concerning Ezio's failure to assassinate Rodrigo Borgia and Cesare Borgia, Claudia was more than willing and able to get involved but she was not looking forward to seeing Niccolo's face again. Over the days that she was trying to avoid seeing him she did not tell Ezio of the events that had happened and Niccolo took this as a sign that she's able to give into forgiveness...that was his first mistake.
"Claudia," Ezio said, as she walked in.
"Ezio," Claudia said in reply, before giving him a 'don't mess with me' look.
Niccolo's eyes wondered over from Ezio to her the moment Ezio said her name, the look that she gave Ezio made him shiver a little, 'she stands so tall, her independence shows so much,' he thought. He continuously gazed at her wondering what it would be like to caress her checks and rub his fingers through her hair 'Niccolo! Eyes on the prize! Focus!' he thought, the voice that said that line sounded like Mario Auditore.
"Alright," Ezio said. Niccolo snapped back into the meeting "I have a plan to deal with the Borgia."
"We can either go after supplies, or Cesare's followers," he said eager to get his mind off Claudia. 'Good man!' the voice of Mario spoke again.
"My plan is to attack both. If we cut off his funds Cesare will lose his army and return without his men. So, I ask you. Where does he get his money? Volpe?" Ezio asked, noticing the look on La Volpe's face suggesting that he knew something.
"Agostino Chigi is the Pope's money-lender, but Cesare does business with someone else. As of now, all we have is that he is called The Banker," explained la volpe.
"I know someone who owes the banker money." Claudia was quick to step in. It was barely noticeable but if you were very observant you could tell that she was just a little bit too excited to get involved. "Senator Egidio Troche comes in all the time and complains." She said, with her wide eyes now moving from glancing at la volpe to the evil glare she already had for Ezio. Ezio stepped forward slowly looking at Claudia fire and rage still locked into his eyes but his facial expression says otherwise, a look of compassion.
"Bene. I will follow up on that lead." The 'business man's' voice showed no emotion. Niccolo was quick to spot a flaw with this plan and quickly patronised Ezio in the process of his words. It was as if he was giving an invitation for a verbal spar that Ezio and Niccolo seem to have whenever they speak.
"French soldiers are guarding the road back into the castello. Once Cesare arrives, you will never get to him," he stated, with a very cynical tone, which he also seems to be doing a lot lately. Ezio did respond to Niccolo's invitation however he said it as a statement not as retaliation.
"I intend to kill the French general. With him dead Bartolommeo will have the Frenchmen on the defensive, and they will abandon their posts on the bridge" he said in response, however to not make this a retaliation toward Niccolo he says this to the whole group, he felt now was not the time to be discussing points of view. They may all have different motives, but they all have the same goal should it matter how that goal is achieved? A question that could be answered in millions of ways cynically/independently, (Niccolo.) Pridefully, (Claudia.) tactically, (la volpe.) barbarically, (Bartolommeo.) straight to the point, (Ezio.)
"Even with those troops gone, the papal guard will continue to protect the inner gate." Caterina said sat down, it was her turn to get involved as an independent woman.
"There is a side entrance," La volpe, cleverly pointed out. "Lucrezia's latest play thing, Pietro, has a key," La Volpe continued on.
"He was at the Castello," Ezio said, pointing out that he already knew what he looked like.
"Come see me later, I will have my thieves ascertain his location," la volpe said, clenching his fist.
Ezio nodded and as everyone was leaving he walked toward the desk that Niccolo had left with a map and a caged pigeon, as a means of communication to his recruits he was too preoccupied to notice that Niccolo had left seconds after Claudia, Niccolo made himself way to obvious with his exit and he was somewhat lucky that Ezio didn't see.
Claudia had been walking with Niccolo hot on her tail for roughly 20 minutes Niccolo didn't even know where he was going to go with this. He was hoping that he would have thought of something maybe 15 minutes ago? But nothing, Claudia suddenly stopped and stayed in the same spot for 3 seconds until she spoke.
"What!" she shouted, with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Cazzo (fuck)" Niccolo whispered. He walked toward Claudia who turned around to face him. "What did you think was going to happen Claudia? You were going to turn up to the meeting and walk away like nothing happened?"
"Ummm... si (yes)" Claudia replied, bluntly.
"Well I'm here, wanting to talk about what happened. We have to do this eventually why not now? You can't run away all the time." Niccolo said very demandingly.
"Watch me." Claudia said very bitterly, while turning around and walking away.
"Oh no you don't!" Niccolo shouted while running toward her, as he got closer he bend down slightly and picked her up bridal style
"Ahhhhhh! Niccolo! Put! Me! Down! Ora! (Now!)" Niccolo ran the opposite direction, and ran down an alley that was cut off from the other side and put her down.
Claudia dusted herself off and then quickly and on purposely slapped Niccolo across the face.
"ok." Niccolo said while rubbing his cheek "I guess I deserved that," he said, sarcastically.
"Let. Me. Out." She stated with face hot with anger. Niccolo stared at her blankly. "NOW!" she shouted.
"Why!" he shouted very suddenly making Claudia jump slightly "so you can run off and avoid this conversation again! Running away from your problems hoping they will go away on their own instead of facing them like an 'independent' and responsible person would do!"
Claudia began to consider Niccolo's point of view.
"but-" Claudia began.
"No! You're right Claudia! We would be better off ignoring each other and just carry on; after all we are only trying to safe guard humanity's freedom! So what's the point right!" Niccolo carried on, with a very cynical tone.
There was a short pause where the pair looked at each other.
"...ok..." she said gingerly, Niccolo raised an eyebrow "fine!" she said raising her arms and turning away from him.
"Bene, at least now you can learn from your mistakes" Niccolo said, passing on the blame.
"Si (yes)" Claudia said, almost silently.
"I'm sorry... I really am. I didn't want to take advantage of you." Niccolo said very calmly.
"I know," Claudia sounded like she was crying; she still had her back to Niccolo.
"Ehi (hey)...Ehi (hey)." he said with his voice still calm her gently turned her around. She looked down; he lifted her chin and wiped her tears away with his thumb. "There is no need to get upset about this," he said while caressing her cheek.
"I know...mi dispiace (I'm sorry)" she began to relax her body.
"I shouldn't be screaming at you, I'm the one that made the mistake not you. I don't know what came over me." their bodies were inches apart while they were talking, both of their voices were getting calmer and softer and their cheeks were hot with embarrassment.
"I guess we both made a mistake."
"I was hoping we could start again," Niccolo almost whispered, while holding her cheek.
"Niccolo," she gazed into his eyes. "I...I." she cut herself off.
"What is it?" Niccolo still sounding like he was whispering.
She looked at him directly in the eye they both dropped their facial expressions for a few seconds. Staring at each other both thinking the same thing they both began to slowly lean forward for a kiss.
"Niccolo!" the voice of Ezio shouted from a distance, the pair shot their heads back in shock.
"Merda! (Shit)" they both said in union.
"Stay here! I'll be back!" Niccolo said, before rushing back up the alley. "Ezio."
"Where have you been?" Ezio said with a confused face walking towards him.
"I needed some air." Niccolo lied through his teeth.
"Your cheeks" Ezio said pointing. "They are very red, are you sick?"
"No. Not at all" Niccolo said with one hand on his cheek. "I needed some time alone to think."
"Capisco (I understand) you just disappeared and you weren't on the Tiber, that's rather out of character for you." He stated very wearily.
"Like I said I needed some time alone to think." He replied with a blank face
Ezio raised an eyebrow.
"What were you doing in that alley Niccolo?" he said, with a look of concern spreading across his face. Niccolo's eyes shot wide open. Ezio took this further evidence that something was up and began to walk closer to the alley. "'We all have our secrets'" Niccolo quoted from when he saw Ezio earlier, Ezio stopped and gave a smug look on his face.
"Va bene (alright) if this is your way of telling me I need to stop prying, I'll take that hint" he walked toward Niccolo again. "Do not let a woman become between you and the brotherhood." He said while nudging him suggestively and then walking off. "And don't be too long!" he shouted without stopping walking or even turning around.
Niccolo gave out a breath of relief, as he saw Ezio got distant enough for him not to see him, he darted around looked down the alley, but Claudia was gone. 'How did she manage to sneak past?' he thought to himself just before he saw a bit of fabric ripped on a hook about halfway up the wall. He pulled it off and looked... it resembled Claudia's dress. 'How she could free run in that dress that she wears is beyond me,' he thought, while shaking his head, before taking his leave back to the Tiber. He felt no need to go after her; the moment was spoiled and Ezio was way too up in Niccolo's case for him to try and regain the moment. Guess he will have to wait a while...
Much better! At least that's what I think about this chapter. Leave me a review about what you think about this chapter. More coming soon! :D
just to be clear, niccolo and Claudia did NOT kiss. they only lent in but were interupted before they could kiss... sorry, but that's a question that a lot of you have been asking me and i can see that i didn't make it clear enough. sorry guys. :P