[A/N]: Thanks for reading! Feedback is always welcome. This chapter is a bit short, and next week's will likely be even shorter. The reason is that I'm being bombarded by midterms. Things should get back to normal (whatever normal is) after that.

Chapter 15

"HE SAID WHAT?"

Leonardo was startled by Rosa's voice, and almost dropped the wine he was bringing to his guests from the neighboring room.

"It would seem we are free to run away together, amore mia," Ezio laughed as he put his arm around Rosa.

She immediately threw it off and glared at him, her face red. "It's not funny," she complained, although Ezio was convinced she was trying to suppress a giggle.

"It's a little bit funny," Leonardo chimed in as he handed them the wine.

"Antonio and I are going to have a serious talk when I return."

"This Antonio is a mutual friend, I presume?" Leonardo asked as he sat with them.

"Si, but he's pushing his luck," Rosa told him.

"Why are you so opposed to the idea, Rosa?" Leonardo asked. "Ezio is quite a gentleman. I've known him for many years."

"Rosa isn't the romantic type, Leonardo," Ezio interjected to save the thief some embarrassment.

"If you say so," Leonardo shrugged.

"And must a girl be attracted to YOU to be the romantic type?" Rosa asked Ezio.

"In most cases, si," Ezio teased.

Rosa rolled her eyes, and Ezio took the opportunity to change the subject as he decided his friend had suffered enough.

"Any luck with the new codex page, Leonardo?" he asked.

"No, not yet," Leonardo replied. "This one is a bit tricky, but I just need more time to think."

"Are we distracting you?" Rosa asked him.

"Not at all! I only need some quiet time in my study, and I should have it decoded within an hour!"

"Bene! I have an errand to run anyway. Perhaps Ezio could accompany me."

It was settled, and the two left Leonardo to enjoy the puzzle. They made their way to the outdoor markets, where Rosa met with some of her contacts who had news to be delivered to Antonio. Ezio watched from a distance to make sure everything went well, as a few of the contacts were not trusted allies of the thieves.

"You don't seem to need me," Ezio observed after a few of the exchanges went off without a hitch.

"No, probably not," Rosa shrugged. "It's still good to have an extra blade. Besides, you would have insisted."

"Do you get anything useful?"

"Si, or at least I assume so. Antonio is the one who will make sense of it all." She handed Ezio a few of the documents the contacts had given to her.

"This appears to be a map of a palazzo," he said as he pointed to the one on top.

"My contact marked the positions of the guards, but those positions change too often for this to be of any use. It will be obsolete within the week."

"What about these records of weapons and armor shipments?" he asked as he flipped through some of the other papers.

"I'm not sure. Like I said, it's Antonio's business."

The two made their way back to Leonardo's workshop, making sure they weren't followed along the way.

Upon his request, they had dinner with him. Leonardo, who insisted they deplete his seemingly infinite supply of wine, was even more talkative when drunk. Ezio, who managed to remain relatively sober throughout the night, was tasked with escorting the stumbling thief home once the evening was over and after Leonardo had extended a slurred invitation to return.