It had been two long years since they had last walked these familiar paths, two years filled with endless journeys across the Italian countryside, chasing down leads on Cesare Borgia and recovering scattered codex pages for Leonardo to decode. The city that had once felt like home now seemed like a distant memory, tinged with the weight of loss and vengeance.

The streets had changed in subtle ways during their absence—new vendors had set up shop along the bustling alleys, and unfamiliar faces filled the squares. But the undercurrent of tension was the same, the shadows deeper, and the ever-present threat of Templar eyes lurking just out of sight. As they approached Leonardo da Vinci's workshop, the old wooden sign creaked in the gentle breeze, and the familiar scent of oil, ink, and hot metal drifted from the open windows.

Ezio rode at the front, guiding them back to the familiar door. Amelia followed closely, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her hidden blade, a habit she had developed over the years. She glanced at Ezio, noting the tension in his shoulders. He was more at ease here than he had been in a long time, but a nervous energy still lingered beneath the surface, as if he was holding his breath.

"You know, you could try relaxing just a bit," she teased gently, nudging his arm. "Leonardo isn't going to scold you."

Ezio chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair. "It's not Leonardo I'm worried about. It's... everything else."

They approached the door, and before Ezio could raise his hand to knock, it swung open. Leonardo, ever the picture of enthusiastic chaos, stood in the entryway, a wide grin spreading across his face the moment he saw his old friend.

"Ezio...? Sei ancora vivo!You are still alive!" Leonardo exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine relief as he stepped forward to clasp Ezio's hand.

Ezio couldn't help but smile at Leonardo's warmth. "Look at this place! The past two years have been kind to you."

Leonardo's smile faltered slightly as he studied Ezio's face, his sharp eyes catching the weight of the past two years etched into the lines around his friend's eyes. "But you are not the same at all, are you?" he asked softly, his tone shifting to one of concern.

Ezio nodded, his expression somber. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with something."

Leonardo's face brightened immediately, and he gestured for them to follow him inside. "Anything for you, my friend!"

Inside the workshop, the light of the setting sun filtered through the dusty windows, casting long shadows across the workbenches. Amelia trailed after them, her gaze drifting over Leonardo's latest creations—an intricate model of a flying machine, sketches of architectural designs, and the familiar shapes of the hidden blades that had become an extension of her and Ezio's arms.

Ezio handed Leonardo a scroll, its edges worn from travel. "I found another one," he said, the slightest edge of excitement in his voice.

Leonardo's eyes lit up as he unfurled the parchment. "Aha! You've found another one! How exciting!" He examined the ancient writing closely, his fingers tracing the intricate symbols. "Hmmm. This one is tricky to break... Clever in its use of ancient languages. Maybe if I just... Oh... Oh! It seems to be a manual of sorts for different assassination techniques."

Amelia leaned in, intrigued by the excitement in Leonardo's voice. "Does it say how to do those moves?" she asked, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

Leonardo glanced at her with a wide smile. "Indeed, Amelia! But it's more than just a design—look here!" He pointed to a series of sketches, depicting various techniques with an assassin's blade. "It's a series of movements, hidden in the diagrams! Hoho! What an inspired idea!"

Ezio exchanged a glance with Amelia, then turned back to Leonardo. "Can you make it for me—while I try what's in that manual fragment?"

Leonardo waved a hand dismissively. "Take it, take it. I'll have my assistant set up some dummies for you to practice with. —Eh, Vincenzo!"

As Vincenzo hurried off to prepare the practice area, Leonardo turned to Amelia, gesturing toward a corner of the workshop cluttered with half-finished contraptions and tools. "Come, come, I have something for you as well. Let me take a look at your blade, yes?"

Amelia followed him, rolling up her sleeve to reveal the hidden blade strapped to her arm. Leonardo examined it closely, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tinkered with the mechanism. His hands moved quickly, adjusting screws and tightening the spring.

"Have you been keeping well, Amelia?" he asked gently, his voice low as he worked. "You've had a hard road, I imagine. Two years chasing shadows can wear on the heart."

Amelia glanced toward the courtyard, where Ezio had just stepped outside to begin his practice. Her expression softened slightly as she watched him, then she turned back to Leonardo with a weary smile. "It hasn't been easy, Leo. But having friends like you—and him—it makes it bearable. We've seen so much... and done so much. But we keep going."

Leonardo's hands paused for a moment, and he looked up at her with a compassionate smile. "You're both stronger than you know, Amelia. But it is good to have allies, especially in times like these." He made one final adjustment and stepped back, holding up the blade with a flourish. "There! Now it's as good as new. Perhaps even better."

Amelia slid the blade back onto her arm, flexing her wrist to test its new weight. It slid out smoothly, glinting in the workshop's warm light. "Thank you, Leonardo," she said sincerely, meeting his gaze with a warmth that mirrored his own.

Leonardo beamed, clapping his hands together. "Now, go see how Ezio is faring with his new tricks. He'll need your help to keep from stumbling over himself."

Amelia smirked at that and made her way to the courtyard. Outside, the evening air was cool, and the sky was painted in hues of violet and orange. She perched herself in a shadowed corner as Ezio practiced the new techniques outlined in the codex. He moved with a growing grace, executing the hiding spot kill from a haystack with precision before climbing a platform to practice the air assassination.

"You're getting better, Ezio!" she called out as he landed with a soft thud beside a practice dummy. "Just don't let it go to your head."

Ezio glanced over, offering a crooked grin as he caught his breath. "Care to show me how it's done, then?" he teased, gesturing to the dummies set up around the courtyard.

Amelia crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, I think you can manage. But I'll be right here in case you miss."

With a laugh, Ezio turned his focus back to the last technique, climbing to a ledge and practicing the swift movement required for a ledge assassination. Amelia watched, her arms folded, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips as he gradually perfected the moves.

When he had finished, he rejoined her, the flush of exertion on his cheeks. "Not bad, right?" he asked, a note of pride in his voice.

Amelia rolled her eyes, but the fondness in her gaze betrayed her amusement. "Not bad at all. I suppose I'll have to try a little harder to stay one step ahead of you."

They shared a companionable silence for a moment, the weight of their responsibilities held at bay as the city's lights began to twinkle in the distance. It was a rare moment of peace, and Amelia allowed herself to appreciate it, knowing it might not come again soon. Ezio had come over to sit down beside her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. They had small moments like these over the years. They were the moments that she lived for. She knew that her heart belonged to the man beside her, but not once had she found the courage to tell him. Instead, she basked in these stolen moments of innocent intimacy. A moment like the one they were having would last her a few weeks. The one thing that she had noticed more recently was that he had been initiating the moments more often. She didn't know what to think of it.

"Let's head back inside," she suggested after a while, glancing toward the warm glow of Leonardo's workshop. "Leo is probably dying to show off whatever contraption he's come up with this time."

Ezio didn't say anything in return, simply stood and held his hands out for her. She took his helpful gesture and allowed him to pull her from the ground. As she steadied herself, she caught the look in his eyes—a rare softness that sent a pang through her chest.

Before she could turn away, he spoke, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. "You know, Amelia... I'm not sure I'd still be here without you. It's not just the fights—you've kept me from losing myself. From losing hope. And... I've come to realize, I don't want to face any of this without you."

Amelia's breath caught, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. She searched his face for any hint of jest, but there was none. His expression was open, sincere, and it sent a warmth flooding through her. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words tangled in her throat, too heavy to speak aloud. Instead, she squeezed his hand, letting her fingers linger in his.

"I'm not going anywhere, Ezio," she finally managed, her voice barely more than a whisper, but carrying all the unspoken emotions she could never quite put into words. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return, his lips curving into a small, genuine smile. For a moment, everything else fell away.

"I've done it! Come quickly! Look!" Leonardo's voice caught them off guard and she jumped away from her companion, rubbing the back of her neck. Leo was in the doorway gesturing for them to come inside. Ezio gave her a coy smile and made his way inside. She followed not far behind. He handed Ezio a newly upgraded version of the hidden blade, the craftsmanship precise and elegant. "Try it, try it!"

Ezio fastened the blade to his arm, testing its weight before flicking his wrist. The blade shot out with a satisfying click, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he admired Leonardo's handiwork. "Thank you, Leonardo."

Leonardo waved away the gratitude with a flourish. "Non c'è di che!No problem!" His expression turned more serious as Ezio tucked the blade away, glancing toward the door. "But be careful, amico. Florence is a city of secrets... and not all of them are kind."

Ezio nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "There's someone I need to 'see' while I'm here. I cannot approach him publicly... Would you know a way—"

Leonardo's eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "La Volpe."

Ezio frowned slightly. "The Fox...?"

Leonardo put a finger to his lips, glancing toward the workshop door as if expecting eavesdroppers. "Shhhh!" He leaned even closer. "But do you know where a fox might roam?"

Leonardo grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. "Perhaps, near the Mercato, where the thieves dwell...Sta' attento, amico!Be safe, friend!"

As they left the workshop, the cool night air enveloped them again. Amelia glanced at Ezio, her expression softening slightly as they walked side by side through the dimly lit streets. The city felt both familiar and strange, a reminder of all they had left behind and everything still left to fight for.

"Feels strange, doesn't it?" she murmured, her voice low. "Being back here after all this time."

Ezio nodded, his gaze distant as he took in the streets he had once known so well. "It does. But it also feels... like we're finally on the right path."