He hurried through his shopping, no longer paying much attention to what he was doing, eager to return to his workshop and bar the door. It was impossible, but he couldn’t help fearing that the creature that had attacked him had followed him home. He tried to tell himself he was being foolish, that people were just being superstitious again, but that didn’t stop him from locking all his doors and windows that night, and refusing to leave the workshop for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately he paid for his inattentiveness at the markets that morning when he once again felt sick after supper. Groaning, he glared at the remaining food that he had purchased, before tossing it into the fire. He tried to work through his discomfort to make up for his unproductiveness the night before, but he had to give up only an hour in. Once again he fell into bed without care, hoping that he did not become sick all over the sheets.
The next morning when he blinked open his eyes, he startled when he looked up and realized he was not in his bed again. Even worse, he was not in his workshop either. He was lying against a wall of an alley, not far from a canal if the smell was anything to go by, and completely nude. He blushed, looking around frantically for something to cover himself with, only for nothing to present itself. Swallowing thickly, he pushed back his fear and confusion, getting to his feet and walking to the end of the alleyway.
The street beyond was empty for the most part as it was quite early in the day. There was one man walking by with a box in his arms, but he looked to be in quite a rush and he didn’t even glance in Leonardo’s direction. Leonardo looked up and down the street, trying to identify where he was. It looked vaguely familiar, like one of the streets that Alvise had taken him down when they’d first arrived, so he sort of knew where he was. That didn’t help his nudity though.
Just as he was about to give up and try running all the way back to his workshop a hand landed on his shoulder. He squeaked and turned so quickly he almost fell over, only for a second hand to grab him by the waist to steady him.
“Whoa!” Ezio exclaimed. “Careful Leonardo, it’s just me!”
“Ezio!” Leonardo greeted, smiling. Instantly all of his concern and discomfort vanished at the presence of the Assassin. A calm washed over him and he took a deep breath in. “It’s good to see you my friend, but what are you doing up so early? Do you never sleep? And how did you find me?”
Ezio stared at him strangely, and suddenly Leonardo remembered he was naked. He blushed and quickly moved his hands to cover himself as best he could. When Ezio saw his feeble attempts, he grinned, giving Leonardo a teasing once-over with his usual roguish smirk, before removing one of his many layers of robes and offering it to Leonardo for modesty.
Once Leonardo was covered, Ezio spoke again. “I went to visit you last night, but your workshop was empty and the back door looked as if it had been broken down by force. I was concerned, so I went looking for you.”
“You’ve been looking for me all night?” Leonardo squeaked, instantly understanding what Ezio wasn’t saying. Part of him was horribly embarrassed that he’d caused his friend such trouble. Another part was thrilled that Ezio cared enough to have looked. “Wait, I’ve been gone since last night? When did you come to visit?”
“It was almost midnight. Where were you? And why are you here in this alley without clothing?” Ezio’s gaze became more concerned, and Leonardo could tell he would soon be checking for injuries.
“I don’t know,” Leonardo admitted, clutching his borrowed clothing closer. “The last thing I remember was feeling ill and crawling into bed. Then I woke up here. I have no idea of what could have happened.”
“Hmmm,” Ezio rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That sounds vaguely like something Petruccio used to do. He would rise from his bed in the middle of the night and walk to my father’s study, all without ever waking.”
“You think I’m sleepwalking?” Leonardo considered this. He’d heard of the phenomena, though he’d never experienced it himself. It made sense, though it didn’t explain his door being broken unless he had forgotten how to work the latch in his sleep. “Did you notice anything missing from the workshop when you dropped in?” he asked, worried about thieves.
“I was a little distracted,” Ezio pointed out ruefully, “but nothing immediately caught my attention. A few things near to the door were smashed, a chair and some pots. Otherwise there was nothing else out of place.”
“That is a relief.”
“Come, let us get you back home,” Ezio gestured to the street. Following his lead, Leonardo trailed along, feeling much safer now that he had an Assassin guarding him. They were not bothered once on the way back to his workshop to Leonardo’s relief, despite his state of dress.
Once they’d returned, Leonardo checked through all of his supplies and determined that nothing had been taken, and nothing had been destroyed that was irreplaceable. He dressed, and then he and Ezio quickly cleaned up as best they could. He assured the Assassin that he could put together a new door before the end of the day, using materials around the shop. Ezio raised a brow, but let the matter drop with no further comment.
Shortly after they’d finished, they discovered that Leonardo had no food left in his home to offer, having burned his purchases the night before. Ezio laughed, teasing Leonardo for his lack of hospitality, but insisted that he would get something for them both while Leonardo started on his new door. The Assassin returned with delicious pastries and sweets on top of their lunch and something for Leonardo’s dinner, and he jokingly fed torn off pieces of the pastries to Leonard until he demanded to be left to his work. After, he settled down for a nap in the boys’ room while Leonardo continued repairing the door.
By the time Ezio awoke from his sleep, Leonardo had finished and was fitting the door in place. He studied it approvingly, commenting on the strength of the wood. He left shortly after, promising to check on Leonardo later that night just in case, despite Leonardo’s insistence that he would be fine. Annoyed at his friends meddling, despite his concern, Leonardo grumbled to himself as he returned to his workshop. His brain was already thinking of all the different ways he could restrain himself to the bed to keep from sleepwalking again. But just in case, this time he remembered to put on a nightshirt before going to sleep.
Fill: When the Autumn Moon is Bright - Part One [2b/4]
Unfortunately he paid for his inattentiveness at the markets that morning when he once again felt sick after supper. Groaning, he glared at the remaining food that he had purchased, before tossing it into the fire. He tried to work through his discomfort to make up for his unproductiveness the night before, but he had to give up only an hour in. Once again he fell into bed without care, hoping that he did not become sick all over the sheets.
The next morning when he blinked open his eyes, he startled when he looked up and realized he was not in his bed again. Even worse, he was not in his workshop either. He was lying against a wall of an alley, not far from a canal if the smell was anything to go by, and completely nude. He blushed, looking around frantically for something to cover himself with, only for nothing to present itself. Swallowing thickly, he pushed back his fear and confusion, getting to his feet and walking to the end of the alleyway.
The street beyond was empty for the most part as it was quite early in the day. There was one man walking by with a box in his arms, but he looked to be in quite a rush and he didn’t even glance in Leonardo’s direction. Leonardo looked up and down the street, trying to identify where he was. It looked vaguely familiar, like one of the streets that Alvise had taken him down when they’d first arrived, so he sort of knew where he was. That didn’t help his nudity though.
Just as he was about to give up and try running all the way back to his workshop a hand landed on his shoulder. He squeaked and turned so quickly he almost fell over, only for a second hand to grab him by the waist to steady him.
“Whoa!” Ezio exclaimed. “Careful Leonardo, it’s just me!”
“Ezio!” Leonardo greeted, smiling. Instantly all of his concern and discomfort vanished at the presence of the Assassin. A calm washed over him and he took a deep breath in. “It’s good to see you my friend, but what are you doing up so early? Do you never sleep? And how did you find me?”
Ezio stared at him strangely, and suddenly Leonardo remembered he was naked. He blushed and quickly moved his hands to cover himself as best he could. When Ezio saw his feeble attempts, he grinned, giving Leonardo a teasing once-over with his usual roguish smirk, before removing one of his many layers of robes and offering it to Leonardo for modesty.
Once Leonardo was covered, Ezio spoke again. “I went to visit you last night, but your workshop was empty and the back door looked as if it had been broken down by force. I was concerned, so I went looking for you.”
“You’ve been looking for me all night?” Leonardo squeaked, instantly understanding what Ezio wasn’t saying. Part of him was horribly embarrassed that he’d caused his friend such trouble. Another part was thrilled that Ezio cared enough to have looked. “Wait, I’ve been gone since last night? When did you come to visit?”
“It was almost midnight. Where were you? And why are you here in this alley without clothing?” Ezio’s gaze became more concerned, and Leonardo could tell he would soon be checking for injuries.
“I don’t know,” Leonardo admitted, clutching his borrowed clothing closer. “The last thing I remember was feeling ill and crawling into bed. Then I woke up here. I have no idea of what could have happened.”
“Hmmm,” Ezio rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That sounds vaguely like something Petruccio used to do. He would rise from his bed in the middle of the night and walk to my father’s study, all without ever waking.”
“You think I’m sleepwalking?” Leonardo considered this. He’d heard of the phenomena, though he’d never experienced it himself. It made sense, though it didn’t explain his door being broken unless he had forgotten how to work the latch in his sleep. “Did you notice anything missing from the workshop when you dropped in?” he asked, worried about thieves.
“I was a little distracted,” Ezio pointed out ruefully, “but nothing immediately caught my attention. A few things near to the door were smashed, a chair and some pots. Otherwise there was nothing else out of place.”
“That is a relief.”
“Come, let us get you back home,” Ezio gestured to the street. Following his lead, Leonardo trailed along, feeling much safer now that he had an Assassin guarding him. They were not bothered once on the way back to his workshop to Leonardo’s relief, despite his state of dress.
Once they’d returned, Leonardo checked through all of his supplies and determined that nothing had been taken, and nothing had been destroyed that was irreplaceable. He dressed, and then he and Ezio quickly cleaned up as best they could. He assured the Assassin that he could put together a new door before the end of the day, using materials around the shop. Ezio raised a brow, but let the matter drop with no further comment.
Shortly after they’d finished, they discovered that Leonardo had no food left in his home to offer, having burned his purchases the night before. Ezio laughed, teasing Leonardo for his lack of hospitality, but insisted that he would get something for them both while Leonardo started on his new door. The Assassin returned with delicious pastries and sweets on top of their lunch and something for Leonardo’s dinner, and he jokingly fed torn off pieces of the pastries to Leonard until he demanded to be left to his work. After, he settled down for a nap in the boys’ room while Leonardo continued repairing the door.
By the time Ezio awoke from his sleep, Leonardo had finished and was fitting the door in place. He studied it approvingly, commenting on the strength of the wood. He left shortly after, promising to check on Leonardo later that night just in case, despite Leonardo’s insistence that he would be fine. Annoyed at his friends meddling, despite his concern, Leonardo grumbled to himself as he returned to his workshop. His brain was already thinking of all the different ways he could restrain himself to the bed to keep from sleepwalking again. But just in case, this time he remembered to put on a nightshirt before going to sleep.
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