"Ezio!" Exclaimed the artist, pulling his friend into a warm embrace. Ezio froze up, his arms awkwardly hovering over Leonard's shoulders, the unease that he had felt earlier returning with vigor. Thankfully, Leonardo pulled away before Ezio could think upon it further.
"I apologize immensely for neglecting to show up the other evening," Leonardo continued, "I was having difficulty with one of my apprentices, you see!"
Trouble, indeed. Ezio thought rather...bitterly? Instead, he said nothing and allowed Leonardo to continue.
"He has been with me for so long, and it seems that he grows more wild with each passing year! Why, on the day we were supposed to meet, I returned to my workshop to find the little bastardo rifling through my florins." Though he meant to seem scornful, Ezio detected a trace of fondness in his friend's tone, and felt a stab of disdain go through his system. All he could picture was the smug face of that little brat as Leonardo went on and on about what he had done - leaving out the little 'encounter' Ezio had witnessed, of course - and Ezio found himself growing impatient.
"...At any rate, what can I do for you, Ezio? I can repair that damaged blade you mentioned last time, of course-"
Ezio, who had been rather fixated on a small patch of grass while Leonardo spoke of his apprentice, finally managed to look the artist in the eye. How had he never noticed how lovely they were before? Looking away once more, Ezio wondered why the hell he would even be thinking such things about a man?
"I had one of my own apprentices bring it to the blacksmith on the Tiber. It is repaired."
He felt a mixture of guilt and smug pleasure as disappointment and - dare he say it - hurt flashed over the artist's features before returning to a pleasant smile.
"Ah, I see! Bene, is it working well, then?"
"Yes, though it is not as steadfast as your work."
Leonardo seemed relieved at that comment, or so Ezio wanted to believe.
"Leonardo, I actually have a commission for you."
"Oh? Do tell, Ezio."
"The courtesans from the Rosa in Fiore are experiencing increased aggression from the guards that roam their district," Ezio began, stroking the scar on his lip thoughtfully and deliberately trying to avoid looking at his friend. "Claudia wishes to have them outfitted with a more practical concealed weapon. Some of these guards are armored, making throwing knives impractical."
"I see! Hmm, I do think I could work something out for them...but it will cost you."
He winked and patted the assassin on the shoulder. Ezio found himself involuntarily leaning into the touch for a moment.
"Of course, money is not a problem. What I am most interested in is what you will need of me."
Leonardo rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully, "Well, it would be useful if you could help smuggle one or tow of the Rosa in Fiore's ladies into my workshop..." Ezio cringed internally, remembering the other night with displeasure. "I know it might be risky, but the Borgia family has left me in peace as of late. You could easily provide protection for the girls, and I can get a general idea of what would be practical for them."
"Wouldn't your apprentices be unhappy with such an intrusion?"
Leonardo waved a hand dismissively. "Please, Ezio. They are rarely in my own workshop. They will not be a problem."
"Ah. Bene. I will bring two of Claudia's girls by...tomorrow?"
"Yes, excellent! Now, I better return to my workshop. I don't want to be away for too long. I will see you soon, Ezio!"
Leonardo wrapped an arm around the man and gave him a quick squeeze before departing.
Ezio remained on the bench for a while longer, running his fingers over his shoulder absently.
He Fits You - 4
"Ezio!" Exclaimed the artist, pulling his friend into a warm embrace. Ezio froze up, his arms awkwardly hovering over Leonard's shoulders, the unease that he had felt earlier returning with vigor. Thankfully, Leonardo pulled away before Ezio could think upon it further.
"I apologize immensely for neglecting to show up the other evening," Leonardo continued, "I was having difficulty with one of my apprentices, you see!"
Trouble, indeed. Ezio thought rather...bitterly? Instead, he said nothing and allowed Leonardo to continue.
"He has been with me for so long, and it seems that he grows more wild with each passing year! Why, on the day we were supposed to meet, I returned to my workshop to find the little bastardo rifling through my florins." Though he meant to seem scornful, Ezio detected a trace of fondness in his friend's tone, and felt a stab of disdain go through his system. All he could picture was the smug face of that little brat as Leonardo went on and on about what he had done - leaving out the little 'encounter' Ezio had witnessed, of course - and Ezio found himself growing impatient.
"...At any rate, what can I do for you, Ezio? I can repair that damaged blade you mentioned last time, of course-"
Ezio, who had been rather fixated on a small patch of grass while Leonardo spoke of his apprentice, finally managed to look the artist in the eye. How had he never noticed how lovely they were before? Looking away once more, Ezio wondered why the hell he would even be thinking such things about a man?
"I had one of my own apprentices bring it to the blacksmith on the Tiber. It is repaired."
He felt a mixture of guilt and smug pleasure as disappointment and - dare he say it - hurt flashed over the artist's features before returning to a pleasant smile.
"Ah, I see! Bene, is it working well, then?"
"Yes, though it is not as steadfast as your work."
Leonardo seemed relieved at that comment, or so Ezio wanted to believe.
"Leonardo, I actually have a commission for you."
"Oh? Do tell, Ezio."
"The courtesans from the Rosa in Fiore are experiencing increased aggression from the guards that roam their district," Ezio began, stroking the scar on his lip thoughtfully and deliberately trying to avoid looking at his friend. "Claudia wishes to have them outfitted with a more practical concealed weapon. Some of these guards are armored, making throwing knives impractical."
"I see! Hmm, I do think I could work something out for them...but it will cost you."
He winked and patted the assassin on the shoulder. Ezio found himself involuntarily leaning into the touch for a moment.
"Of course, money is not a problem. What I am most interested in is what you will need of me."
Leonardo rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully, "Well, it would be useful if you could help smuggle one or tow of the Rosa in Fiore's ladies into my workshop..." Ezio cringed internally, remembering the other night with displeasure. "I know it might be risky, but the Borgia family has left me in peace as of late. You could easily provide protection for the girls, and I can get a general idea of what would be practical for them."
"Wouldn't your apprentices be unhappy with such an intrusion?"
Leonardo waved a hand dismissively. "Please, Ezio. They are rarely in my own workshop. They will not be a problem."
"Ah. Bene. I will bring two of Claudia's girls by...tomorrow?"
"Yes, excellent! Now, I better return to my workshop. I don't want to be away for too long. I will see you soon, Ezio!"
Leonardo wrapped an arm around the man and gave him a quick squeeze before departing.
Ezio remained on the bench for a while longer, running his fingers over his shoulder absently.