Hey guys! Omg! Worst week of my life, I lost my job, I lost my boyfriend and then my laptop died so I lost all of my fan fiction work... and I had so many ideas on there that I wanted to put into this story! Bummer ... anyway I'll stop rambling with my life story and let you enjoy.
You previously saw the first voluntary kiss that Niccolo and Claudia have shared this chapter I have continued on from that moment instead of ending it there and I've got to say that due to writers block and the fact that I've been writing this chapter for so long the characters might say or do things that they might not have done back in those times but whatever.Enjoy! ^_^
Niccolo P.O.V
I wanted to stay with her and kiss her all night long. I was stroking her cheek with the backs of my fingers-
"*Ahem!*" a third person was in the room Claudia jumped, but I wasn't about to let her go.
We both turned to see la Volpe standing there smiling at us.
"Well, you go to the toilette (toilet) and you just miss everything!" he said with a giggle.
I could feel Claudia tensing up and I could hear her deep breathing.
I wrapped one arm around her waist and I pulled her close, she rested her head on my chest.
"Calmatevi Tesoro, (calm down sweetheart,)" I whispered in her ear. I then felt her relax and let out a sigh and hold on to me tighter.
"How much of that did you see?" I asked him.
"Just after Claudia hurt her hand on your shoulder," he replied, not feeling the awkwardness that I and Claudia were clearly feeling.
I felt disgusted at the fact that he spied on us the whole time!
"Oh don't look at me like that Niccolo, I've known that you two were hiding something like this from the rest of us for a while now," he said walking over to place his hand on my shoulder.
"What? How did you know?" I asked. La Volpe chuckled then took his hand away and walked backwards slightly.
"Well you didn't make it very hard to guess Niccolo. Honestly for an assassin you are not very discreet." La Volpe still was not showing a sign of feeling uncomfortable, which was making me agitated.
"if you were planning on doing something like this in the middle of the Tiber… where anyone could walk in… including Ezio… common sense says: lock the door," he teased, then winked.
"It wasn't planned, it just… happened," I explained.
"Right, well next time something 'happens' make sure it 'happens' somewhere more secluded" he replied nonchalantly.
"I will," I said sarcastically.
"I'll also make sure to be wearier of sneaky eavesdroppers like you," I snarled.
"Don't shoot the messenger," he said, that didn't even make any sense.
"What do you mean?" I asked, me and Claudia are no longer holding each other but standing at each other side.
"Claudia your mother sent me to ask you to get back to the Rosa in Foire, she needs your help," la Volpe stated.
Claudia P.O.V
I let out a sigh of relief to which Niccolo raised an eyebrow.
"I really need to get this work done, it would be a lot off my mind," I lied. Niccolo narrowed his eyes at me, but I cantered out of the Tiber without saying another word, I seized the opportunity to escape the tension that was building between their verbal spar and get back to somewhere I can breathe.
I get back to the brothel and the minute that I am through the door I am doubled over with my hands on my knees desperately trying to catch my breath back… where did this sudden winding come from? Was I trying to escape the suffocating atmosphere that Niccolo and Volpe had created too quickly? Or was this a reaction to the lust that I just poured out into the kiss that I and Niccolo had just shared.
"What happened did you get chased by guards?" my mother asks from a far.
"No… I….I don't know what happened… I just suddenly got out of breath," I tried to say between gasps. My mother came over to me and patted my back as if I was coughing.
"Go and drink some water and then we will talk." She said. I nodded and I slowly caught my breath back. I walked over to where my mother was, she was talking to some of the girls.
"Ok, what is it, what do you want me to do?" I said, trying to cover up the fact that I didn't bother to get any water.
"The same thing I asked you to do this morning, the financial work," she replied. I sighed.
"Is it that important that you had to send la Volpe to come and find me? And how did you find him anyway?" I asked getting agitated. Maria shooed the girls away to talk to me alone.
"you may be a mature and grown up woman Claudia… but you are easily distracted and I could tell that if I didn't get you to at least start this today it would most likely never get done… it is ok to be a little bit dependent on me once in a while you know… in fact I would prefer it… old age doesn't come lightly to a woman like me," she sighed.
"don't be silly madre (mother), I'm always going to need you no matter how much of a mature woman I think I am, and I will do that fanatical work now, please don't try to stress about this job too much madre it's my responsibility I chose this not you and the last thing I want you to do is feel the weight of this on your shoulders," I pleaded, coming to the realisation that I depend on her guidance a little more than I should.
"Trust me when I say this Claudia… stressing is not what I do… I am merely concerned for your well being, a lot of pressure has been put on you these past couple of weeks and I know that a lot of it is coming from your brother. It will all fall into place in time, and if every once in a while I have to lead you in the right direction then so be it," she smiled.
"Thank you mother, you always know just what to say," I smiled back.
"You are most welcome," she replied.
"Oh! How did you get Volpe to send me that message?" I asked.
"He came in here looking for ummmm… 'Entertainment' I said if he would do me that favour he would get it free," she said, I rolled my eyes.
"Classy man," I spat.
"You have no idea," she replied through gritted teeth.
I smiled at her then turned to face the desk and let out a sigh of self pity and my brain got into the gears of financial means. I picked up my pen and stared down at the papers and glanced at my pen once more.
'Here we are again old friend' I thought before putting ink to paper.
Niccolo P.O.V
Shortly after Claudia left me and la Volpe were sat at a table with papers, pens and 2 cups of water in front of us and Volpe was rambling on about something I didn't really listen to very well I was never one to daydream or lose focus and I don't know why I was beginning to start. nothing personal to Volpe he was just coming at me with all of this at the wrong time.
"And I think I'll chop off my hand and fight the Templars while wearing a dress," Volpe said, I still wasn't paying attention.
"Si (yes)... I will look into that," I replied. Volpe sighed.
Volpe looked from left to right, sighed once more, picked up his cup of water and took a sip; he then looked to see how much was left and threw the rest in my face, I spluttered and coughed and wiped my eyes while grunting.
"Fuck!" I shouted with my eyes clenched shut. La Volpe chuckled with a devilish grin.
"Why the hell did you do that?" I shouted.
"Something on your mind Niccolo?" he asked calmly.
"You want to know what I'm thinking right now?" I threatened.
"I have a hunch…" he muttered. I sighed. His head shot up and he grinned slightly at me.
"What?" I asked.
"She was kissing you like it was the last kiss of her life!" he beamed. I rolled my eyes at him.
"If she can kiss like that, imagine how she-"
"Volpe!" I cut him off; I didn't need to hear how that sentence ended. I rubbed my forehead with my index finger and my thumb in thought of how I should strangle Volpe for being the nosey little thief that he is.
"She is consuming your thoughts Machiavelli," la Volpe said after pouring himself more water.
He looked genuinely concerned about this, which did catch me off guard slightly. I wouldn't have thought that him of all people would be concerned about this… in fact I would have put my money on him being the first to get Claudia's family involved because that would certainly lead to me getting my neck ringed like a wet rag by Ezio's hands… not that I can blame him. Sometimes I do think that Claudia and I have gone a step too far with this, her family deserve to know what has been going on. Even I sometimes have to ask myself what has been happening it's all being coming at us so fast… where on earth did all of this come from!? Not once in the past couple of years that I have known Claudia would I have ever pictured myself with her 'so maybe that's why it's so perfect' my inner voice told me 'you have known her a while, you know her. Now that these feelings are sprouting it will make it easier for you in the long run' my inner voice continued. I frowned in response. 'So when does the easy part begin?' I thought, starting a conversation with myself.
"Niccolo! Don't make me throw water in your face again, I plan to drink this one," La Volpe said in my face.
"What?" I snapped. Volpe jumped.
"I'm trying to help you here but I have better things to do with my time," Volpe said with raised eyebrows. I let out a defeated sigh.
"Sorry, I feel… distracted," I said, trying to put a word to how I was feeling.
"I don't think distracted even begins to describe what is going on with you Niccolo. I don't care what you and Claudia are up to or plan to get up to," that last part made me tense up. What will we get up to in the future?
"-but, Ezio isn't one to let a suspicion slip by him, so if I were you I would think of something and fast or you will get caught," he continued. I just stared down at the desk in thought. La volpe left… I didn't notice at the time he either left because he was busy or he was agitated about the fact that I kept getting lost in my thoughts.
I tried to distract myself from these thoughts by setting up contracts for the recruits or reading… anything just to keep my head out of the clouds but it was no use; no matter how hard I tried the thoughts always managed to find a way back into my head suddenly my day became full of what ifs, buts and maybes. 'Niccolo how many stupid times a day do you say the word I?Think of Claudia, what would she be thinking? She's the one sneaking around her family. Talk to her,' my inner voice lectured me after hours of thinking about how I could make my way around this. 'You couldn't have said this a few hours ago?' I start conversation with this voice again but it fell silent once more.
Claudia P.O.V
I was playing out multiple scenes in my head as to what I would do when I next see Niccolo… 'I would run up and hug him- no! Kiss him… aggghhh! Why am I doing this to myself?' I thought. Multiple thoughts were beating each other up in my head but meanwhile I had a smile that I couldn't wipe from my face and I was practically dancing around my desk…. Wow… I'm really losing it.
"What's up with you sally sunshine?" one of the courtesans said to me. I looked up at her but my smile only grew bigger.
"Nothing in particular I'm just in good mood," I smiled at her. She sniggered.
"I wish we all had your optimism today… I hate Mondays," she said walking away. I chuckled.
'Oh my god… I'm done. Time flies I guess,' I thought.
"Excuse me; do you know what time it is?" I asked a man sitting on the staircase with a vase of wine. Why I thought it was a good idea to ask him I don't know.
"I'm not your clock," he said before walking out of the brothel. 'Rude' I thought.
"Your mother's already gone madonna (madam)" one of my girls had said to me.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it's ten o clock at night and we are closing soon," she said to me with a face like I've just said something to her in a language that she doesn't understand.
"Merda (shit)" I said. "It's that time already?" I asked rhetorically. She nodded then walked up the stairs. I've been working for 3 hours! How did that amount of time slip right by my thoughts?
"Claudia?" I heard la Volpe's voice from up the stairs.
"I thought you had already left for the night," he continued with a face of embarrassment. He also had wine and didn't look as sober as he could be.
"Well, I haven't, I've had way too much work to do," I replied, half serious and half distracted. I was wondering why my mother would have left without telling me.
"Twice in one day volpe? Are you feeling a bit frustrated?" I asked with a playful grin spreading across my face. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"When you have been with Niccolo for a few hours you will understand why," he said unaware of what he was implying. I raised my eye brows and widened my eyes at him hoping that he gets the hint.
"No!" he put his hand to his face.
"No, no, no! That is not what I meant!" he said rather disgustedly. I just smiled.
"Dio mio (my god) Claudia you really have a twisted perception of the world today don't you?"
"I think I'm just stir crazy from being stuck either in here or at the guild for a while," I replied.
"And you are in no position to comment considering this is your second visit today,"
"Don't be pointing the fingers at me, you were the one playing tonsil tennis with Niccolo in the guild a few hours ago," he said in defence. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Where is he?" I said quickly trying to change the subject. He is lucky that I'm not plotting revenge on him for spying on us.
"Why? Rematch?" he asked before winking at me. Ok, that was uncalled for 'maybe I should reconsider this revenge thing' I thought.
"Fuck you," I said with rage in my voice. Volpe chuckled loudly.
"Watch your mouth!" he said with a smile on his face.
"If you watched yours I wouldn't have to watch mine" I snarled not seeing the funny side to his snarky ways anymore.
"Answer my question," I demanded, he shook his head in disapproval of my reaction to his snark.
"He's still at the guild," he replied walking down the stairs.
"Why? Is he over worked?"
"Not really, he fell asleep on the desk," he smiled. I smiled back mentally imaging what he would look like passed out with a pen in his hand and face on the desk.
"I should go and wake him up before I call it a day," I stated.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said half distracted.
"Why not?" I asked desperately.
"I…. sort of… drew on his face before I left… I left at one point but I came back to tell him... uhhh something and he was asleep and I couldn't resist" he said like a school boy.
"What did you draw?" I asked.
"Is that important?" he raised an eye brow.
"Not really, but I know what you are like under the influence of boredom," I said unimpressed with my arms crossed.
"I don't think you want to know…" he said being shifty.
"What do you m-" my eyes shot open.
"Volpe!" I put both hands to my face.
"You didn't!" I said, putting my hands on my hips and wanting to hang him from the top of the brothel by his hood. I know that I was going to get in the middle of things just for asking what he did to him; he had a way of getting people involved; he called it getting his vengeance on the people who poke their nose in where they are not wanted. I call it causing more trouble than necessary… or a bored thief finding ways to entertain himself.
"Oh but I did" he smiled.
"And he's not going to find out until he wonders why everyone is staring at him or when he gets chased by the guards" he giggled in between the words. I felt like I was the ally of a complete child who wasted his time playing needless pranks but part of me really wanted to see Niccolo's face when he finds out what Volpe has done to him… that would be a face that would be in my mind forever and I would think of it whenever I would be having a bad day and that would cheer me right up. I smiled at him.
"Oh! You have stopped being a boring ally for a while then?" he asked me then took a sip of wine
"I'm not boring! I just try to think about the consequences before I get myself into things," I said. Volpe spluttered into his wine then burst into fits of laughter and I sunk into embarrassment.
"You did not just say that. Did you seriously just say that?" he laughed. Yeah… didn't really think that sentence though.
"Come on Claudia, you and I both know that you really want to see Niccolo's face when he wakes up" he nudged me.
"No!" I shouted then turned away.
"Maybe a little bit," I muttered. He giggled.
"I thought as much," he replied.
"Claudia! We have to close now, are you going to lock up or shall I?" one of my girls asked me.
"Can you lock up? I have some unfinished business that needs to be done before the night is over," I said to her.
"Yeah, whatever," she said. All of my girls are rather arrogant when it comes to the job… they soon perk up when I close early due to lack of business though don't they? The moaning freeloaders, I have ten times more work to do and effort to put in, in a single day then they do for the entire week and yet they are the ones complaining; what a city this is turning out to be… all this time and it is still full of challenges.
"VOLPE!" I heard Niccolo's voices from outside the brothel door, everyone that was currently in the building turned to the door.
"Oh cazzo (fuck)" he said before running up the stairs and diving for cover, spilling wine all over my carpet. I was running from place to place before running toward my desk and pretending I was busy seconds before Niccolo came bursting though the door motivated by rage and a red mist was descending over his eyes, it gave me the chills. But then the cause of his anger rang obvious to everyone whose attention he had gained. The whole building seemed to erupt with laughter and remarks to the very detailed drawing of males genitals on his right cheek. I couldn't help but laugh at it, not at the drawing its self but that mixed with his reaction and everyone else's reactions… ever noticed that everything seems ten times funnier when you know you're not supposed to laugh? Yes, it was one of those moments for me.
"Niccolo… what on earth have you done to your face?" I said while using every inch of self control I had left to not laugh or even smile while talking to him.
"I know that he is here and I am not in the mood to play games. Where. Is. He?" he tried in his best efforts not to shout at me.
"He was here, but I'm not sure if he is anymore, I've had my head in my work so I wouldn't know," I said not looking at him… for the first time the reason I wasn't looking at him wasn't out of lust it was out of common sense. The last thing I wanted was for him to be angry with me which was exactly what was going to happen if I laughed at the practical joke that has been pulled on him.
"Va bene! (fine!) I will look for him myself," Niccolo continued, no longer holding back his anger.
Niccolo P.O.V
Rage and fire and anger and hate was coursing through my body, aching to be released in some sort of way and right then and there the only way for me to do that was for me to wrap my hands around Volpe's neck and take it out on him on every inch of his body till the unpleasant emotions and urges are gone hit after hit.
"You bastard!" I screamed. As if on cue volpe jumped from the balcony and ran for the door.
"Only a guilty man runs with such speed!" I shouted before I jumped down to chase him.
"And only a fool stops to fight!" he shouted back in reply.
"Niccolo!" Claudia shouted, I turned to her and she was holding a bowl, she came closer and pulled a cloth out of the bowl that was filled with water and wiped the childish and pathetic work of la volpe off my face. She was so gentle she made me forget about why I was so angry for a second until she pulled back and I saw the ink that stained the cloth and I was reminded. I gave her a 3 second peck on the lips, similar to our first kiss except this time the chemistry between us was glowing and the only part of us touching was our lips.
"Thank you," I said softly against her lips then quickly ran out.
Claudia P.O.V
I watched him run out and I enjoy the brief moment where my lips were tingling. 'Damn it Niccolo I just get rid of this lust and you have to come and bring it back up!' I put the bowl down in disappointment. I let out a small chuckle of the event that had just happened. 'What a night huh?' I thought then blew out the candle on my desk. 'What's next?' I wondered. 'Anything… Everything' I replied to myself. It didn't make sense… but it was right.
Ok done… I'm not the best at keeping to a set time given but I didn't like the chapter that I had written so I deleted the whole thing and started over… it was too… predictable. I feel like too much mushy stuff has gone into this story so this chapter has just been humour… or an attempt at it... But don't worry all you mush lovers. The next chapter will have more mush and also a lot more drama even I don't know what it's going to be like coz I haven't written it yet ;) thanks to everyone following favouriting (spell check doesn't like this word :') ) and reviewing. You guys inspire me :) xx like I said I'm not good at deadlines so I'll post the next chapter whenever ;)