La Volpe knew Italia inside and out. He would claim a territory and know all there was to know about it as quickly and efficiently as he could. He knew of Giovanni Auditore, the Assassin in Firenze, knew of his wife, sons and daughter. He knew of Uberto Alberti the confalognieri and his hunger for power over the Medici
He knew Ezio Auditore had taken his father's mantle, and knew without a doubt that the young Assassin would seek him out. He sent thieves to the market to watch for the white-and-red robed man. It took the boy two years, but find him he did. And Ezio trusted him. The most wanted man in Toscana placed his trust in a thief that he had never met before. He wondered how Ezio knew he would not be betrayed.
Years passed, and La Volpe's reign as King of the Thieves grew, and he travelled to Roma. He was unsurprised to find Ezio at his door, to expand his circle of trust and introduce the thieves to the Assassins by funding La Volpe Addormentata for him. It was a gesture of trust Ezio placed in Volpe's thieves that La Volpe could not quite comprehend.
And Ezio trusted Machiavelli, the man with the closest ties to the Borgia. He placed his trust in the man completely, even as he trusted La Volpe, who was the devil on his shoulder, preached mistrust.
And Ezio's trust was not misplaced. It seemed the Auditore knew how to trust people, something La Volpe had forgotten how to do years ago. Even if there was suspicion, perhaps evidence to advise against it, the Auditores placed their trust in people. Fallible people.
It was a talent that La Volpe envied.
*-*
"How did you know?" La Volpe asked Ezio.
They were sitting in La Volpe Addormentata, sharing ale and bistecca and information on recent movements by the Borgia, when he abruptly changed the subject.
"How did I know what?" Ezio asked.
"About Machiavelli. How did you know he could be trusted?"
"I ... have a talent," Ezio said with a smirk. "I can see when someone is going to be helpful to me, I can see when someone is an enemy. It is something I have had since I can remember. I look at things this way, and I can locate my targets, identify friends and enemies."
"How did you come by this talent?" asked La Volpe.
Ezio shrugged eloquently. "I have it stronger than my father did, but Federico never had it. I was born with it. As a child it was a great comfort when I had bad dreams."
La Volpe nodded, not really understanding. Ezio narrowed his eyes and stood abruptly, extending his arm to the thief. They walked out into the taproom, Ezio's arm slung about Volpe's neck, and suddenly for Volpe everything went dark.
"What! What is this?" La Volpe hissed.
"Relax, amico, it will make sense soon," Ezio murmured in his ear.
Suddenly people began to coalesce into brilliant blues and occasional bright reds where La Volpe knew Borgia guards had been playing hazard or flirting with courtesans.
La Volpe looked at himself, and realised he glowed brilliant blue, as did Ezio.
"Federico made me do this, back in Firenze," Ezio said by way of explanation. "To see which guards would chase us and which ones would let us climb up by them unhindered. Machiavelli is as blue as you or I."
"I ... see," La Volpe managed.
"Do you mind if I stop? It is giving me a headache," Ezio asked sheepishly.
"Of course."
They returned to the back office.
"Any questions?" Ezio asked magnanimously.
"One, per favore," said La Volpe.
"Ask."
"Did you use this on me, the first time we met?"
"No."
"Then why did you trust me? You had no reason to do so."
"I also had no reason not to."
"And that was good enough for you?"
"I am not paranoid, amico. Neither am I a fool. And ... sometimes it is easier to trust than not to."
*-*
Anon doesn't know where to go with any more of this. Eeep it was a bigger bunny than anticipated. I hope you liked it :-)
Minifill: A Born Talent
He knew Ezio Auditore had taken his father's mantle, and knew without a doubt that the young Assassin would seek him out. He sent thieves to the market to watch for the white-and-red robed man. It took the boy two years, but find him he did. And Ezio trusted him. The most wanted man in Toscana placed his trust in a thief that he had never met before. He wondered how Ezio knew he would not be betrayed.
Years passed, and La Volpe's reign as King of the Thieves grew, and he travelled to Roma. He was unsurprised to find Ezio at his door, to expand his circle of trust and introduce the thieves to the Assassins by funding La Volpe Addormentata for him. It was a gesture of trust Ezio placed in Volpe's thieves that La Volpe could not quite comprehend.
And Ezio trusted Machiavelli, the man with the closest ties to the Borgia. He placed his trust in the man completely, even as he trusted La Volpe, who was the devil on his shoulder, preached mistrust.
And Ezio's trust was not misplaced. It seemed the Auditore knew how to trust people, something La Volpe had forgotten how to do years ago. Even if there was suspicion, perhaps evidence to advise against it, the Auditores placed their trust in people. Fallible people.
It was a talent that La Volpe envied.
*-*
"How did you know?" La Volpe asked Ezio.
They were sitting in La Volpe Addormentata, sharing ale and bistecca and information on recent movements by the Borgia, when he abruptly changed the subject.
"How did I know what?" Ezio asked.
"About Machiavelli. How did you know he could be trusted?"
"I ... have a talent," Ezio said with a smirk. "I can see when someone is going to be helpful to me, I can see when someone is an enemy. It is something I have had since I can remember. I look at things this way, and I can locate my targets, identify friends and enemies."
"How did you come by this talent?" asked La Volpe.
Ezio shrugged eloquently. "I have it stronger than my father did, but Federico never had it. I was born with it. As a child it was a great comfort when I had bad dreams."
La Volpe nodded, not really understanding. Ezio narrowed his eyes and stood abruptly, extending his arm to the thief. They walked out into the taproom, Ezio's arm slung about Volpe's neck, and suddenly for Volpe everything went dark.
"What! What is this?" La Volpe hissed.
"Relax, amico, it will make sense soon," Ezio murmured in his ear.
Suddenly people began to coalesce into brilliant blues and occasional bright reds where La Volpe knew Borgia guards had been playing hazard or flirting with courtesans.
La Volpe looked at himself, and realised he glowed brilliant blue, as did Ezio.
"Federico made me do this, back in Firenze," Ezio said by way of explanation. "To see which guards would chase us and which ones would let us climb up by them unhindered. Machiavelli is as blue as you or I."
"I ... see," La Volpe managed.
"Do you mind if I stop? It is giving me a headache," Ezio asked sheepishly.
"Of course."
They returned to the back office.
"Any questions?" Ezio asked magnanimously.
"One, per favore," said La Volpe.
"Ask."
"Did you use this on me, the first time we met?"
"No."
"Then why did you trust me? You had no reason to do so."
"I also had no reason not to."
"And that was good enough for you?"
"I am not paranoid, amico. Neither am I a fool. And ... sometimes it is easier to trust than not to."
*-*
Anon doesn't know where to go with any more of this. Eeep it was a bigger bunny than anticipated. I hope you liked it :-)