Despite the pace at which they rode, it still took them an entire day to reach Monteriggioni. Leonardo, aware that someone would have investigated the smell of burning bodies and the disappearance of the guard regiment, tried to keep himself and Ezio off the roads as much as possible. The closer they road to Mario however, the more difficult that became, and their horses were not particularly well-trained to go at fast speeds for long periods of time. In the end they ended up taking shelter in a small covered area in a patch of trees and bushes, letting the horses rest and recovering their own strength.
It was also to answer Ezio's questions, which were becoming increasingly difficult. Most concerned his past, and many more his ability to fight, neither of which the artist was comfortable enough to outright speak of. Leonardo gave the best answers he could, but warned the youth in advance that there are certain subjects he would not tell of. Gratifying enough, Ezio heeded the warning and let things drop whenever Leonardo shook his head.
Somehow, the two went from discussing Leonardo's life to discussing Ezio's, including the recent execution of his father and brothers and the exile of the remaining family members. Leonardo treaded carefully, aware that pushing too hard when Ezio hadn't even had a chance to properly grieve his losses could seriously harm him. But Ezio seemed completely immune to whatever exhaustion had gripped him mere hours ago; he stared into the fire or at Leonardo, answering the questions as if nothing was wrong.
Now that their horses were finally ready to go again, Leonardo doused the tiny fire they'd gotten up and started steering them both towards their destination again.
"Do you regret your life so far?"
Leonardo didn't stop as he considered the question, pulling himself on the brown chestnut mare that bore him so patiently. "In some aspects, yes. In others, no. Recently however? I find I've better things to worry about than regret." And he locked eyes with Ezio, finding himself unable to look anywhere else. "What about you?"
Ezio's head tipped slightly, eyes strangely bright as he watched the artist who was much more than what he seemed. "I admit that my earliest choices were not my best. But I intend to correct that from here on out by defending what is mine with tooth and claw."
Leonardo pushed aside the thoughts that arose from that statement, as well as the curious skittering sensation like so many fingers tickling over his nerves in his stomach. "That's good. With the way things are now, it would be best if you are prepared to fight for what you want. If you let things that are yours stray too far, they could get snatched up by others."
"I won't allow it." Somehow, both of their voices were dropping lower and lower, as if they were discussing something intimate rather than the simple facts of life. Ezio's voice was practically a whisper as they rode out again, the wind covering whatever he said after that. Leonardo couldn't shake the feeling that he knew exactly what words Ezio's lips had spoken before the wind carried them away, forbidden and exciting in their prelude of things to come.
-----
When they arrived in Monteriggioni, Mario was there to greet them. Ezio visibly flinched at the booming sound of the man's voice as he greeted Leonardo, throwing an arm around the blond's shoulder and hugging him before kissing his cheek. Ezio's horse nickered at him softly, clearly trying to comfort the spooked boy. Ironic, Leonardo thought with a smile, that the skittish horse he had picked for Ezio would be the one to comfort him. Well, it took all kinds, he supposed.
"Ezio, this man is your uncle Mario. He is to be your protector in my stead."
If Leonardo was honest with himself, he would say that the moment he uttered those words was the exact moment things between him and Ezio began to crumble, change and shift. Ezio's eyes snapped to him, and a frown appeared. "You're leaving?"
Leonardo tried not to react to how shocked Ezio sounded. Almost as if he was accusing Leonardo of abandonment. The artist frowned.
"I will be around, Ezio, and my door will always be open to you if you need help with anything. But yes, I am leaving. Lorenzo cannot hold Firenze by herself, and although I have little power in the courts, I can hold my own in other aspects. Besides, Firenze is my home; I cannot simply up and leave her."
He should have thought it suspicious that Ezio didn't argue, merely narrowing his eyes, nostrils flaring. His nod was curt, almost dismissive, as he dropped off the horse and walked away, leaving Leonardo to his business with Mario, who had watched the interaction with a strange gleam in his eye and an even stranger smile. As if he were watching something terribly amusing while trying to be smug and mysterious at the same time. "That went better than I expected."
Mario chuckled quietly. "My nephew is quite spirited, it seems. I may not have what I need to keep him from flying off." His words bore an unknown weight as he looked to Leonardo, who shrugged.
"You grew up with Giovanni, no? I'm sure you're used to handling creatures equipped with dangerous claws."
"Yes; used to handling them, not keeping them nested and content. Not as you've done. I must admit, I'm surprised you haven't been clawed to death."
"I can hold my own."
Mario seemed pleased, making a noise that was almost a purr as a smile stretched his lips. "And your grip on him so far?"
"Firm, but gentle. He is still grieving, and far from ready to take on the world." Or the Pazzi for that matter, Leonardo thought. He needed to get back to Firenze and help Lorenzo with damage control. But he also needed to make sure Ezio would be safe here. "I don't know how long it will be until the Pazzi figure out that Ezio is still alive, but I trust you and yours will keep him safe when the time comes."
"I will keep him armed and dangerous for his return to Firenze." Mario's grin was sharklike. "He will make those damned Pazzi suffer for what they have done to his and him."
"Lorenzo thinks he can only hold Firenze for another two weeks at best; do you think you can work with that time schedule?"
"Ha! I've trained mere whelps in such time! He'll be fit for you to fly when I finish with him."
"It will not be I who flies him, but Lorenzo," Leonardo spoke firmly, hopping back up on his horse and turning it about. Mario cocked his head, eye narrowing, gaze soft.
"I wonder."
"I must get back to Firenze now. Good luck, Mario, and thank you for your help!"
The artist rode off feeling strangely empty, protected by the hungry gaze of a fledgling eagle perched atop Monteriggioni, its wings spread in yearning to follow its master back to its home.
FILL: The Lost Eaglet 5/?
It was also to answer Ezio's questions, which were becoming increasingly difficult. Most concerned his past, and many more his ability to fight, neither of which the artist was comfortable enough to outright speak of. Leonardo gave the best answers he could, but warned the youth in advance that there are certain subjects he would not tell of. Gratifying enough, Ezio heeded the warning and let things drop whenever Leonardo shook his head.
Somehow, the two went from discussing Leonardo's life to discussing Ezio's, including the recent execution of his father and brothers and the exile of the remaining family members. Leonardo treaded carefully, aware that pushing too hard when Ezio hadn't even had a chance to properly grieve his losses could seriously harm him. But Ezio seemed completely immune to whatever exhaustion had gripped him mere hours ago; he stared into the fire or at Leonardo, answering the questions as if nothing was wrong.
Now that their horses were finally ready to go again, Leonardo doused the tiny fire they'd gotten up and started steering them both towards their destination again.
"Do you regret your life so far?"
Leonardo didn't stop as he considered the question, pulling himself on the brown chestnut mare that bore him so patiently. "In some aspects, yes. In others, no. Recently however? I find I've better things to worry about than regret." And he locked eyes with Ezio, finding himself unable to look anywhere else. "What about you?"
Ezio's head tipped slightly, eyes strangely bright as he watched the artist who was much more than what he seemed. "I admit that my earliest choices were not my best. But I intend to correct that from here on out by defending what is mine with tooth and claw."
Leonardo pushed aside the thoughts that arose from that statement, as well as the curious skittering sensation like so many fingers tickling over his nerves in his stomach. "That's good. With the way things are now, it would be best if you are prepared to fight for what you want. If you let things that are yours stray too far, they could get snatched up by others."
"I won't allow it." Somehow, both of their voices were dropping lower and lower, as if they were discussing something intimate rather than the simple facts of life. Ezio's voice was practically a whisper as they rode out again, the wind covering whatever he said after that. Leonardo couldn't shake the feeling that he knew exactly what words Ezio's lips had spoken before the wind carried them away, forbidden and exciting in their prelude of things to come.
-----
When they arrived in Monteriggioni, Mario was there to greet them. Ezio visibly flinched at the booming sound of the man's voice as he greeted Leonardo, throwing an arm around the blond's shoulder and hugging him before kissing his cheek. Ezio's horse nickered at him softly, clearly trying to comfort the spooked boy. Ironic, Leonardo thought with a smile, that the skittish horse he had picked for Ezio would be the one to comfort him. Well, it took all kinds, he supposed.
"Ezio, this man is your uncle Mario. He is to be your protector in my stead."
If Leonardo was honest with himself, he would say that the moment he uttered those words was the exact moment things between him and Ezio began to crumble, change and shift. Ezio's eyes snapped to him, and a frown appeared. "You're leaving?"
Leonardo tried not to react to how shocked Ezio sounded. Almost as if he was accusing Leonardo of abandonment. The artist frowned.
"I will be around, Ezio, and my door will always be open to you if you need help with anything. But yes, I am leaving. Lorenzo cannot hold Firenze by herself, and although I have little power in the courts, I can hold my own in other aspects. Besides, Firenze is my home; I cannot simply up and leave her."
He should have thought it suspicious that Ezio didn't argue, merely narrowing his eyes, nostrils flaring. His nod was curt, almost dismissive, as he dropped off the horse and walked away, leaving Leonardo to his business with Mario, who had watched the interaction with a strange gleam in his eye and an even stranger smile. As if he were watching something terribly amusing while trying to be smug and mysterious at the same time. "That went better than I expected."
Mario chuckled quietly. "My nephew is quite spirited, it seems. I may not have what I need to keep him from flying off." His words bore an unknown weight as he looked to Leonardo, who shrugged.
"You grew up with Giovanni, no? I'm sure you're used to handling creatures equipped with dangerous claws."
"Yes; used to handling them, not keeping them nested and content. Not as you've done. I must admit, I'm surprised you haven't been clawed to death."
"I can hold my own."
Mario seemed pleased, making a noise that was almost a purr as a smile stretched his lips. "And your grip on him so far?"
"Firm, but gentle. He is still grieving, and far from ready to take on the world." Or the Pazzi for that matter, Leonardo thought. He needed to get back to Firenze and help Lorenzo with damage control. But he also needed to make sure Ezio would be safe here. "I don't know how long it will be until the Pazzi figure out that Ezio is still alive, but I trust you and yours will keep him safe when the time comes."
"I will keep him armed and dangerous for his return to Firenze." Mario's grin was sharklike. "He will make those damned Pazzi suffer for what they have done to his and him."
"Lorenzo thinks he can only hold Firenze for another two weeks at best; do you think you can work with that time schedule?"
"Ha! I've trained mere whelps in such time! He'll be fit for you to fly when I finish with him."
"It will not be I who flies him, but Lorenzo," Leonardo spoke firmly, hopping back up on his horse and turning it about. Mario cocked his head, eye narrowing, gaze soft.
"I wonder."
"I must get back to Firenze now. Good luck, Mario, and thank you for your help!"
The artist rode off feeling strangely empty, protected by the hungry gaze of a fledgling eagle perched atop Monteriggioni, its wings spread in yearning to follow its master back to its home.