A/N: This chapter is a little more banter between Ezio and Amalia as well as a heart to heart which doesn't turn out so well, but I figured instead of just sticking to a storyline for this chapter, why not change it up a bit! Right! Plus this one's way shorter than my other ones so I apologize from now for the short chapter.
Disclaimer: God I hate putting this in, but for the sake of everybody. I DO NOT own Ezio!
WARNING: NOT BETA'D AT ALL! EXCUSE THE MISTAKES!
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"So tell me. Why is it that I have known you for two years, yet I feel like I have not exactly…known you at all?" Ezio said, swinging his feet back and forth as he and Amalia sat on top of Leonardo's roof. They had wanted to go inside to get the codex page de-coded, but Ezio had stopped her and told her that they needed to talk. "Well…You never really asked." She responded, picking at some loose tiles in between her and Ezio. "Tell me Amalia, just a bit about yourself and your background." She froze up knowing that this conversation would come sooner or later, but she had wished that it would have came later. In all honesty she had not prepared herself for the conversation, but had tried avoiding it at all costs.
What exactly was she supposed to tell Ezio? Was she supposed to pull a lie out of thin air and hope that he would take the lie as being the truth? Before, she would not have second thoughts about lying to Ezio, but now that she had got to know the man and travel with him for a while it was harder to do that. Amalia stalled by staring down at the people below watching as they headed down the streets towards the square that held a large market. Peace and serenity washed over her face, making a small smile grace her lips as she watched little kids running through people's legs, and couples holding hands while staring at each other lovingly. A sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes, tilting her head towards the sun trying desperately to come up with something before Ezio pushed again.
"Amalia.." He whispered quietly, touching her on her leg to jostle her out of her thoughts. "Listen. Ezio…I'm…" She paused to think of the right thing to say without screwing up everything that she had worked so hard at over the past two years. "No. I think I need to tell you something." She turned to watch Ezio's facial expression as it turned confused in a split second. "You're not breaking up with me are you?" He teased, a small smile passing his lips. A slight grin broke across her face, letting some of the tension leave, but not all of it. "No silly. And I never said that we were dating." A small snort came out of her, but she ignored his amused look and turned to face him so that nothing could distract her from their conversation.
"Listen. When Federico saved me from the fire and brought me to your house I was very thankful that someone would risk their life to save me. His death really hurt me and I can't even begin to describe how much sadness had washed over me, but I eventually got over it.." She was stopped as Ezio interrupted her. "What does this have to do with anything?" He questioned, confusion lacing his voice. "Will you just let me finish." She told him, smacking him on the chest. "I'm trying to tell you something but you keep on interrupting me." She crossed her arms, but continued on with what she was saying. "Anyway. The stuff that I haven't told you is that when I had left after your father and brothers were arrested I had found myself in Sam Gimignano. There I met Demarco Costa who had given me a place to stay because I had nowhere else to go."
"You mean…?" Amalia nodded as she could see realization flood unto Ezio's face. "Yes. The last name on the list that Lorenzo had given us might be, probably 100% sure, that it is the same Demarco Costa."
"So he is looking for you."
"Well if he is, I wouldn't know the reason why…but maybe he is. Or maybe he's just in town with the rest of the Templars?" She didn't know who she was trying to convince. Ezio or herself. "But besides that, that wasn't exactly what I was going to tell you.."
"Then what were you going to say?"
Amalia sighed, trying to think of the right way to say this.
"Ezio.. What I'm trying to tell you is that…" Amalia groaned and smacked her head because she felt like if she told Ezio then he would definitely look at her crazy.
"Amalia. Just tell me please! What are you trying to say?" She felt a light touch on her hand, which sent shivers running throughout her body. The touch helped a little bit, but it was still not enough to make her want to tell him. Her eyes traveled from his hand and all the way up until she was staring him in the eyes. "I don't think that you'll believe me when I say this, but….I know your life Ezio."
"What are you trying to say? Of course you know my life…why else—"
"No Ezio." She said sternly, cutting him off. "I mean I know your life. As in I know what's going to happen in the future, and I know how you came to be exactly. I don't know why I know this, but it's just like that. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I didn't think there was an appropriate time to tell you." Amalia didn't know what emotions were on Ezio's face, but she was pretty sure that there was some sort of anger there.
"You mean to tell me that—"
"Yes I knew that your father and brothers were going to die, but I couldn't—"
"So you had the power to stop it!" He yelled getting up and glaring at her furiously. Amalia felt terrible that she was saying something now, but at least she had said something! He should be happy that she wasn't keeping this a secret anymore. "Why didn't you say anything!" He yelled, not even giving her a chance to speak at all. "You condemned me to this life, and you said NOTHING! NOTHING! How could you!" He whispered the last part tears starting to form in his eyes. "I watched them die…" His voice became quieter as he started calming down, but sadness now took over the anger
"Wait Ezio—"
"No Amalia. I cannot believe that you would do something like that. Please. Just leave me to myself. I need some time to think." Ezio stood there for a couple of seconds, but then he shook his head and jumped down off of Leonardo's roof. Amalia watched through tears as he walked down the street not once looking back. "What have I done?" She sniffed, wiping at the tears that started falling down her face.
Of course she had the power to stop it, but why didn't she? Why? Was she to afraid to say anything? Maybe she had thought that they would think she was crazy. And how would they take it if they knew that she knew all the information about Ezio's life? Surely they would get rid of her in an instant and then where would she go?
"I need to go talk to Leonardo." She mumbled, putting a sweaty palm to her forehead
OoOoOo
"Oh. I see." Leonardo wasn't much help at all after Amalia had told him what had happened with Ezio. "I do not know what to say Amalia. But I do think that you were wrong in this situation."
"Yeah thanks for the help Leonardo. I'm sure this advice will keep him from staying mad at me." Amalia crossed her arms and threw herself into the couch in front of the fire place, clearly annoyed that he had nothing good to say. "What do you want me to tell you? Surely you can just tell him that you had intended to tell him, but never got the chance…? Right?"
"The thing is, is that I couldn't tell him! I don't know why all of that information had slipped my mind, but it had. He's obviously going to ignore me for the rest of the time being." Depression swept over her and she laid her head down on her lap, trying to hold back tears of frustration. She felt a comforting hand rub her back, and she felt better at the touch. But only just a little bit.
"When he comes back just talk to him, okay."
Ezio didn't end up coming back to Leonardo's workshop until late at night. Amalia had been fast asleep on the couch when she had heard the creaking of a door behind her. Curious at who it might be, she peeked over the top of the couch to see Ezio with his back to her, forehead pressed against the door. Her breath quickened as he turned around, but Amalia had ducked back down and pretended that she was asleep.
She listened to his footsteps as they started to draw away from the front door, but they stopped suddenly. It sounded like Ezio may have spotted her, and she tried her very best to keep as still as possibly. "Amalia…" She heard her name being whispered and a hot breath was now on her face, causing her to almost shiver at how warm it was. Her ears picked up a sigh escaping his lips, and then something warm was pushed under her legs and she felt herself being picked up.
Unconsciously she snuggled closer to his body trying to warm herself up from his body heat. When she did the smell of sex hit her, making her almost angry. Had he just gone to a brothel after their argument to get all his pent up anger out? How could he have had her worry so much about him, and him being gone so long, when all he did was have sex! 'I swear, when I wake up tomorrow…' She said mentally, making a huge fist in her head.
'He's gonna wish that he was born a girl when I'm through with him and his friend.' She felt herself being lowered unto a bed and Ezio untangling her arms from around his neck. "I don't know why I got so mad at you Amalia, but I guess because you're asleep I should just tell you in the morning…" He kissed her forehead and left the room, leaving Amalia to lie their with her cheeks red as a tomato.
"Oh God." She whispered, trying to get the butterfly feelings out of her stomach.
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The following morning Amalia opened her eyes slowly to be met with the brightness of the sun shining through the guest bedroom. A groan passed through her lips and she threw the covers over her head to try and fall back asleep. A deep chuckle could be heard, and she poked her head out from under the covers to see Leonardo standing there with a grin plastered to his face. "My dear, you are an amusing subject to watch while asleep. If I might ask, may I sketch you later. I think I would be able to capture this moment perfectly."
Everything that Leonardo had said went over her head, because she wasn't paying attention to Leonardo that was standing there, but her eyes were glued to the window. "Leonardo.." Amalia turned her head towards Ezio as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Can you leave Amalia and I to talk alone?" Leonardo nodded, and winked at Amalia before he left.
"Ezio—"
"No. Amalia. I need to tell you something—"A bad feeling settled in the pit of Amalia's stomach and she felt like bad news was about to be delivered. "I think I need time to myself." He started, but stopped as he saw a sad look cross Amalia's face. "Didn't you just have time to yourself Ezio. You were gone the entire night practically?" Ezio shook his head and sat on the edge of the bed, taking a hold of Amalia's hand. "What I mean is that…I think that you should stay at Uncle Mario's villa until after my next assassination mission. "
"Why…" She whispered as Ezio's fingers intertwined with hers. "There's no reason…" He mumbled, looking away from her. "Yes! There has to be a reason Ezio. There always is." Ezio shook his head and turned to look her in the eyes as he wanted to make sure that he got his point across. "After what happened yesterday, I think that I need time off away from you."
"So what you're basically saying is that you don't trust me right now." She said with a little bit of anger and sadness in her face. "I didn't say that—"
"You might as well have." She told him, taking her hand out of his and shifting away from him so that her back was now up against the headboard of the bed. "Look..Amalia. Please don't take it the wrong way. I just feel a little betrayed after you told me that."
No one said anything for a little while as the only thing that could be heard was the movement downstairs where Leonardo had resided to. Birds chirped happily outside the window, and at the moment Amalia wanted to slice their throats, because their happy singing was not helping the situation at all. "Things could have been different if you had just said something. I'm sure my father would have believed you and put a stop to it."
Amalia was silent. Not exactly sure on what she was supposed to say at a time like this. In all honesty it hurt to hear Ezio say that he couldn't trust her. Even after the two years that they had spent together, running up and down and having laughs, he couldn't trust her? How was she supposed to stay at the villa and act like nothing had happened? Mario would surely ask why Ezio had decided to just drop her off, but what could she do? Wait until Ezio left and then follow him on his next mission. She shook her head not wanting to think of stupid thoughts like that.
For once, Amalia had no idea how to talk to Ezio. Because at the moment, she felt like their relationship was being strained to the point where they might not stay friends at all, but just accomplices that work together.
And she didn't want it to come down to that.
"After Leonardo is done downstairs de-coding the codex page, we will leave Firenze as soon as possible. Okay." He smiled lightly at her, ruffling her hair, and then left as the door closed quietly behind him.
What in the hell had she just done?
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The villa came sooner than expected and Amalia just wanted to shut herself inside her room as soon as they got inside. Of course Ezio had instead dragged her to see Mario, thus making her mood darker and darker with each step they got closer to his room. As they entered Mario turned towards them with a big smile on his face. " Ezio! Haha. Come in, come in! To what do we owe the honor?" He hugged Ezio first and then came over to Amalia and gave her a big hug as well.
When she didn't return the hug, Mario looked at her strangely before turning to Ezio, looking for an answer as to why she was so sad. Ezio just shook his head and got straight done to business. "I've been sent from Firenze by Il Magnifico to attend to some unfinished business. I'm looking for Jacopo de' Pazzi."
"Ha…Who isn't? We've been at it for days."
"Then perhaps what I carry will help us both, a list of his co-conspirators. One of them WILL talk before he dies." Mario nodded, placing a hand under his chin. "Excellent! These men are sure to lack Jacopo's resources which means they will be easier to find. I will put my scouts to it at once."
"I appreciate the help uncle. I've got something else for you as well. More Codex pages."
"Ah let's see what we can learn." Mario unraveled the scroll and examined it for a minute or two before speaking. "What is this…? What Prophet…?"
"What did you find Uncle?"
"Just another damn mystery! The text here roughly translates to: 'Only the prophet may open it…' There's reference to two 'Pieces of Eden,' but these pages offer no answers nipote (nephew). At least not on their own. You must find more. "
"We'll have to save it for another day uncle. I have a mission to attend to." Ezio turned around to walk away, but Mario speaking once more stopped him from leaving. "As you wish. If you hope to defeat these bastardi (bastard), I will need to teach you a few things. Meet me on the practice field."
Ezio turned back around to walk away again, but Mario stopped him from leaving by placing a hand on his shoulder. "What about Amalia. I must teach her a few things as well nipote."
"She will not be joining me on this mission uncle. I am asking you to look after her as I will absent for a period of time." Mario's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as he turned to look between Amalia and Ezio. "Has something happened Ezio why the two of you are not on speaking terms?"
"You could say that." Ezio mumbled, not bothering to look in Amalia's direction as she stared at him hoping that he might change his mind. "I see." Mario said, looking downwards.
"Well, if that is you're request then I shall grant it. Amalia will be staying with me as you attend to your next mission, but before you go, do not forget to meet me outside. I have some fighting techniques that will be very useful to you." Mario left the room with a wave of his hand leaving Ezio and Amalia standing in the middle of Mario's study.
"I will probably be gone for a day or two. That should give me some time to think."
"Are you really being this stubborn Ezio. Not everybody can escape death. Maybe it was just their time to die." Ezio whipped around to glare menacingly at Amalia. He stood in Amalia's face and grabbed her wrist squeezing it as hard as he could. "You know nothing." He growled, trying to keep his temper under control, even though it wasn't working to well.
"They were good people."
"Yeah well bad things happen to good people." Her eyes widened as she just realized that she had yelled something like that in Ezio's face. "Oh god," She mumbled. "What have I done!"
Ezio's face looked like he was about to murder her, but he controlled himself and stormed out the room leaving Amalia standing there, shock written all over her face.
'Nice going.' The voice whispered to her.
Why was that the last thing that she had said to Ezio before he left? Now he's going to remember that forever. Amalia grabbed parts of her hair and started tugging at it as if she was trying to get rid of her stupidity. "Damn it, damn it damn it." She yelled, punching her hand into the wall next to her.
"Damn it."