Chapter 3

The next day Leonardo awoke with his head laying on the bed and a hand running through his hair. Blearily he blinks his eyes, and made a noise of content, the hand running through his hair felt really nice, though his back hurt from falling asleep in such an odd position.

"So you are finally awake," came a voice from above him.

He bolted up right. That was not the voice he was expecting. (though he did not want to admit who's voice he had been hoping to hear.)

"Oh uh..." he felt his cheeks going red. "Good morning Lovino,"

She grinned at him. "Morning, your hair is really soft,"

"Oh..." the artist was sure he looked like a tomato at that point.

"That was a complement,"

"T-thanks you," God he was so embarrassed.

Lovino giggles happily. "Anyways, signor Lonardo, I am hungery and seeing as I cannot get up, you should bring me food,"

"Yes of course," the artist jumps up and rushes out of the room to search for food. Upon arriving in his small kitchen he just grabs two apples off the large stack sitting on the small wooden table in the middle of the room, and quickly goes back to his bed room.

He hands one of the apples to Lovino, who happy takes a large bite of the red fruit.

"Is there any reason why there is a surplus of apples in the kitchen?" Leonardo took a bite of his own apple.

"Oh that is because Rosetta loves them, your kitchen had like no food in it so we stalked up," she took another bite of apple, then sighed. "A whole day of sitting around in bed," she slumped down on the pillows.

"Perhaps there is something you can do that does not requite much movement," the blond suggested.

Lovino gave him a disparaging look. "Such as?"

"Well," Leonardo scratched his beard thinking. "You could read," He looked back at Lovino. "Or not..."

"I have an idea," she smiled. "Go down stairs and bring me my torn uniform from yesterday, and bring me my bag it should be sitting on the blankets down stairs,"

The artist nodded and went to fetch the things she asked for, while still eating his apple. When he had fetched the bag from the work room, and the white uniform from where it hung drying, out of the kitchen window, he returned to Lovino and handed her the objects.

"Grazie," as Leonardo moved to sit back on the stool, Lovino pulled out a spool of white thread and some needles.

"You know how to sew?"

Lovino took a length of thread and then cut it with her teeth. "Yes, it is one of the few lady like things my mother was able to teach me," closing one eye she threaded the needle. "Don't you have other things to do then watch me all day?"

"Oh," Leonardo smiled. "Yes, of course. If you need anything, just shout," he stood and walked across the room.

Then he had passed through the door and was far enough away not to be heard Lovino mumbled, "Shout more like scream..."

Only three days later Lovino was out of bed and walking around.

"Lovino please go back to bed!" Leonardo was following the stubborn assassin around the kitchen as she limped, trying to find a pot to boil water in.

"No, it is boring in there and I want tea," she slowly leaned over and opened a low cupboard, causing the large shirt she was wearing to rise up. Thankfully she was wearing an odd pair of very short pants, but it was still far too inappropriate for the poor man. Even if he was not attracted to women. The artist turned around a hand over his eyes. "Could you at least put on more appropriate attire?"

"Well, if you would provide me with something else to ware other then a huge shirt, yes," she stood back up with a groan, pot in hand.

"Just wair your uniform," he removed his hands from his face and glanced back at the young girl.

She stuck her tongue out. "It is so hard to put on! And very recognizable, you want one of your costumers to come in and see the woman that half of Venice is looking for, standing in your work room?"

"I would rather they see that then a girl with hardly any cloths on!" Leonardo huffed.

Lovino filed the pot with water from a bucket. "Oh, it think that would be rather helpful to you, I am sure you are aware of the rumors," she grinned, then moved to place the pot on the fire in the hearth.

Leonardo sputtered. "I- what? Rumors? What..."

Moving to lean on the table she giggled. "And you know what? I think I am starting to believe those rumors," she grinned at him. "You want me to change cloths, then go buy me something. My money is in my bag,"

"Fine," confused and angry he left the room.

Around an hour later he came back. Steeping into his work shop he found Lovino downstairs sitting on the wood floor, admiring the flying machine that sat in the corner.

"Can this actually fly?"

Leonardo moved to join her. "In theory, I have not found some one crazy enough to test it,"

"Oh," she turned towards him, and then grinned. "You have freckles,"

He blinked. "So do you... here is your dress," he held it out to her, "And the rest of your money," he pulled out the small bag of coins and handed it to her as well.

"Grazie, now... uh, could you carry me up stairs, I came down here and found that I could not go back up," she smiled sheepishly.

With a sigh, he crouched and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up bridle style. "You are very light,"

"I am very short!" she glared as he made his way across the room and up the stairs.

He laughed. "I noticed,"

She just made a disgruntled noise.

Leaving her to change cloths, the young artist went down stairs. Just as he sat down on one of the work benches a knock came at the door. Sighing, he moved to open it.

"Ciao, I am here about a painting my wife commissioned,"

"Ah yes please come in, it is cold out," Just a costumer.