Sorry for the long wait! I've been on a fill splurge lately, trying to clear some of my unfinished writings away.
-----
Truly, time was a strange thing.
What had seemed like mere months ago actually took place well over seven years in the past; Ezio once again found himself hidden beneath a mask and cloak, weaving his way among the rooftops and seeking out his target. Except in this case, his target was not an enemy, but a friend. Claudia had instructed him to find Leonardo with an almost frantic urgency. Ezio recalled how alarmed he had been at the brightness in her eyes - it had almost looked like Claudia had been fixing to cry. But her grin had been contagious, and her laughter even more so. Despite the fact that she had sprung the fact that Carnevale occurred even among the dead on him mere moments before it began, he had agreed to go.
Breathing in the night air, watching the dancers among the glowing lights and listening to the cheerful words, Ezio found himself remembering his encounter with Cristina - how upset she'd been upon discovering him. The memory brought back thoughts of Sofia, the second woman who had held his heart. Both were lost to him now. Yet before them, there had been one who had held his heart, and continued to do so now. The very same person he was supposed to be finding.
Slipping into one of the small alleys nearby, Ezio scaled the sides of the buildings and took to the rooftops, switching out his normal sight for his Eagle Sense. Immediately he spotted a trail of gold mingled with blue, leading him to his target. What surprised him was the fact that the trail wasn't on the ground, like Leonardo should have been, but up on the roofs, where he was. The idea that Leonardo had actually climbed up and made across the roofs as Ezio had done was... pleasing. And from the jumps made, the assassin could tell that Leonardo wasn't half-bad at free running. Not magnificent, but not bad either. Maybe he could be trained in the ways of the assassins.
He followed the trail up and around the corner, taking him to a secluded building on the very edge of the festivities. A little higher than most, but it held a ladder, which told him why Leonardo had been so brave about it. He climbed to the top and froze, his foot on the very last rung. Leonardo was staring up at the sky, a red-and-gold mask covering the upper portion of his face. He was dressed in his usual clothes, which Ezio recalled had been covered in paint the last time he'd seen them. It seemed the artist had somehow managed to scrub those stains out, because the clothes were completely cleaned, looking brand-new to his eyes.
Leonardo looked up at his approach, a hesitant smile gracing his features. "Ah, so you've arrived after all, it seems..."
Ezio raised a brow. "You don't sound eager to see me. Have I done something wrong?"
The artist didn't say anything for a period, and Ezio began to fear that he had in fact done something to warrant his friend's ire. But Leonardo finally shook his head. "Merely nerves concerning tonight. I confess, this is the first gathering I have attended in quite some time. Being out in public like this," he waved his hand around, back towards the colorful lights and the music, grimacing slightly, "I confess, its a little disorienting."
"As it should be," Ezio agreed, taking a few steps to get closer to him, staring up at the moon. "You aren't exactly a social butterfly, Leonardo, for all your graces with others."
Leonardo made a sound of agreement to that, turning his gaze back up at the moon. For a time both men were content to sit there and simply enjoy the feeling of a breeze against their skin, and listen to the songs that played loud over the people's celebration. Then Ezio cleared his throat, recalling something. "So, your friend from before, are they here yet?"
The artist twitched slightly. "Si. He is here."
"Ah. Then, shall I leave--?"
"NO!" And abruptly Leonardo had a tight grip on his arm, so tight in fact that Ezio feared he would release the hidden blade and scar himself. Any attempts to tug away merely caused the grip to further tighten, making it almost painful. "You must stay here, Ezio. You and I have things to discuss." Ezio had heard Leonardo sound determined before, but this brought a whole new meaning to the word.
"Alright Leonardo, alright! I will stay." He raised his hands in placation, somewhat startled by the ferocity behind the small artist's eyes. When Leonardo finally grasped that Ezio wouldn't be escaping any time soon, he released his grip, the assassin letting out a tiny breath of relief. As much as he wouldn't have minded things getting a little rough between him and Leonardo, he would never hurt the inventor if he could help it. "What is it that ails you so, my friend? You act as if you've seen something terrible."
Leonardo's fists curled and uncurled at his side, words seeming to fail him for a time. Then: "Have you ever been in love with someone that you should not?"
Ezio couldn't stop himself from jerking back in shock. This line of questioning was hitting a little too close to home, but he had said he would stay, and so he would. "Yes. I loved one society said I should not. Why?"
"Did it drive you mad with wanting? Knowing that the one you wanted was so close, and yet..." He gazed down at his hands, as if holding something precious. "And yet you couldn't touch them because a single wrong move could mean the death of both of you?"
Ezio felt his own fists curl. This path they're on is reminding him too firmly of the desire he held for Leonardo in life - and still does. It was terrifying, part of Ezio wanted to interrupt him and try to change the subject, but he found he couldn't. No matter what his mind came up with, his mouth refused to deliver it. Instead, all that came out was a murmured, "Yes, I know the feeling well."
Silence befell them again, positively strangling now in its grasp. For once, Ezio longed to break the silence, to scream or shout or do something. It's too quiet, too ominous. Just when he believed he might go mad from the silence, Leonardo spoke again.
FILL: Our Paradise 13/?
-----
Truly, time was a strange thing.
What had seemed like mere months ago actually took place well over seven years in the past; Ezio once again found himself hidden beneath a mask and cloak, weaving his way among the rooftops and seeking out his target. Except in this case, his target was not an enemy, but a friend. Claudia had instructed him to find Leonardo with an almost frantic urgency. Ezio recalled how alarmed he had been at the brightness in her eyes - it had almost looked like Claudia had been fixing to cry. But her grin had been contagious, and her laughter even more so. Despite the fact that she had sprung the fact that Carnevale occurred even among the dead on him mere moments before it began, he had agreed to go.
Breathing in the night air, watching the dancers among the glowing lights and listening to the cheerful words, Ezio found himself remembering his encounter with Cristina - how upset she'd been upon discovering him. The memory brought back thoughts of Sofia, the second woman who had held his heart. Both were lost to him now. Yet before them, there had been one who had held his heart, and continued to do so now. The very same person he was supposed to be finding.
Slipping into one of the small alleys nearby, Ezio scaled the sides of the buildings and took to the rooftops, switching out his normal sight for his Eagle Sense. Immediately he spotted a trail of gold mingled with blue, leading him to his target. What surprised him was the fact that the trail wasn't on the ground, like Leonardo should have been, but up on the roofs, where he was. The idea that Leonardo had actually climbed up and made across the roofs as Ezio had done was... pleasing. And from the jumps made, the assassin could tell that Leonardo wasn't half-bad at free running. Not magnificent, but not bad either. Maybe he could be trained in the ways of the assassins.
He followed the trail up and around the corner, taking him to a secluded building on the very edge of the festivities. A little higher than most, but it held a ladder, which told him why Leonardo had been so brave about it. He climbed to the top and froze, his foot on the very last rung. Leonardo was staring up at the sky, a red-and-gold mask covering the upper portion of his face. He was dressed in his usual clothes, which Ezio recalled had been covered in paint the last time he'd seen them. It seemed the artist had somehow managed to scrub those stains out, because the clothes were completely cleaned, looking brand-new to his eyes.
Leonardo looked up at his approach, a hesitant smile gracing his features. "Ah, so you've arrived after all, it seems..."
Ezio raised a brow. "You don't sound eager to see me. Have I done something wrong?"
The artist didn't say anything for a period, and Ezio began to fear that he had in fact done something to warrant his friend's ire. But Leonardo finally shook his head. "Merely nerves concerning tonight. I confess, this is the first gathering I have attended in quite some time. Being out in public like this," he waved his hand around, back towards the colorful lights and the music, grimacing slightly, "I confess, its a little disorienting."
"As it should be," Ezio agreed, taking a few steps to get closer to him, staring up at the moon. "You aren't exactly a social butterfly, Leonardo, for all your graces with others."
Leonardo made a sound of agreement to that, turning his gaze back up at the moon. For a time both men were content to sit there and simply enjoy the feeling of a breeze against their skin, and listen to the songs that played loud over the people's celebration. Then Ezio cleared his throat, recalling something. "So, your friend from before, are they here yet?"
The artist twitched slightly. "Si. He is here."
"Ah. Then, shall I leave--?"
"NO!" And abruptly Leonardo had a tight grip on his arm, so tight in fact that Ezio feared he would release the hidden blade and scar himself. Any attempts to tug away merely caused the grip to further tighten, making it almost painful. "You must stay here, Ezio. You and I have things to discuss." Ezio had heard Leonardo sound determined before, but this brought a whole new meaning to the word.
"Alright Leonardo, alright! I will stay." He raised his hands in placation, somewhat startled by the ferocity behind the small artist's eyes. When Leonardo finally grasped that Ezio wouldn't be escaping any time soon, he released his grip, the assassin letting out a tiny breath of relief. As much as he wouldn't have minded things getting a little rough between him and Leonardo, he would never hurt the inventor if he could help it. "What is it that ails you so, my friend? You act as if you've seen something terrible."
Leonardo's fists curled and uncurled at his side, words seeming to fail him for a time. Then: "Have you ever been in love with someone that you should not?"
Ezio couldn't stop himself from jerking back in shock. This line of questioning was hitting a little too close to home, but he had said he would stay, and so he would. "Yes. I loved one society said I should not. Why?"
"Did it drive you mad with wanting? Knowing that the one you wanted was so close, and yet..." He gazed down at his hands, as if holding something precious. "And yet you couldn't touch them because a single wrong move could mean the death of both of you?"
Ezio felt his own fists curl. This path they're on is reminding him too firmly of the desire he held for Leonardo in life - and still does. It was terrifying, part of Ezio wanted to interrupt him and try to change the subject, but he found he couldn't. No matter what his mind came up with, his mouth refused to deliver it. Instead, all that came out was a murmured, "Yes, I know the feeling well."
Silence befell them again, positively strangling now in its grasp. For once, Ezio longed to break the silence, to scream or shout or do something. It's too quiet, too ominous. Just when he believed he might go mad from the silence, Leonardo spoke again.
"What did you do with your desire, Ezio?"