As anyone knew, a good start to any working relationship was to meet with the person one desired, talk to them and get to know them better. Visiting Leonardo was hardly a problem; the man was forever welcoming of his friend the assassin. Of course, that had been before Claudia's advice - before the acknowledgement of his attraction towards the artist. Before the knowledge that yes, such things were no longer frowned upon in Paradise. It had been a shock to learn that one, but a happy shock.
"Truly?" Ezio had asked, eyes wide. Some part of him had forgotten that this was not Venice, not really, but a place beyond Death's gates. Claudia smiled.
"Yes, truly. This place is a sanctuary for the weary; a location born for the purpose of creating happiness among the dead. Here, there is no gender identity. As long as you are happy, that's all that matters."
Impossible to believe; happiness was finally within his reach. The knowledge that if he played his cards right, Leonardo might finally be his sent Ezio's dead heart straight up into Cloud Nine. It was the reason why he was standing in front of the artist's door, palms uncharacteristically sweaty as he considered what excuse to use for his visit. He didn't want to bother Leonardo, especially since the artist always seemed so busy. He needed a good excuse, something that wasn't suspicious--
The door suddenly opened, Leonardo stepping out with his arms full of books, nearly running into Ezio, who couldn't help the tiny surprised sound that escaped his throat. The blond looked up, and suddenly a grin split his features. "Ezio! Back from your trip I take it?"
The assassin smiled and tried not to make it look seductive. It was harder than he'd thought. "Yes. It was good to see them again. Where are you going?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, I'm heading down to the docks to do some sketching. There's a commission I have inside that requests a picture of a particular ship, and I'm afraid I need to ship the artwork out soon..."
Ezio's mind provided him with the sweet reminder that the roads leading to the docks were heavy with guards - even in death they still kept to their posts, picking on those that came by. Just as swiftly, he was reminded of Claudia's words, and his own particular ability. Perhaps he could do this after all.
"My friend, I don't mean to alarm you, but the roads to the docks are heavy with guards; if they see you about, I fear they may take your books and supplies. If you'll allow it, I can get you there from a much safer, not to mention faster, passage."
Leonardo's eyes went wide. "Truly Ezio? B-but surely you cannot carry me and my books--"
Ezio waved the excuse off with a hand. "I have carried far more heavier things upon my back. And I have carried you before - you are quite light. Your books will be safe in a bag until you need them. There is a ladder in a nearby alleyway we will use to get up, and I will take you the rest of the way."
The artist considered his offer for a moment before nodding, smiling at him. "Grazie amico mio. Whatever would I do without you? If you'll give me a moment, I'll grab what I require and meet you outside."
Ezio nodded and took a step back, waiting until the door shut before allowing himself a laugh. It worked! He could do this after all! He just had to be patient, look for opportunities, wait until Leonardo needed a helping hand and couldn't get it from his assistants. Soon, he hoped, he would be able to do here what he couldn't do in life. He was almost completely out of it, he was so happy.
Leonardo reappeared after only a few moments, Ezio quickly schooling his expression into something more fitting than pure excitement and leading his friend to the ladder, taking the bag from him while the artist climbed. He followed Leonardo up and looked around, picking out the best way to go before kneeling, offering his friend his back. Leonardo was barely a weight on his back; he found he could move almost as fast as before with him there.
Still, for safety's sake he took an easy path, winding up and around buildings and trying to avoid leaping across rooftops whenever possible. The single time he did have to leap, he felt the artist gasp softly into his neck, burying his face into Ezio's shoulder as his grip tightened. Ezio apologized and continued on, silently making a note of the reaction. It hadn't been pure fear, but he didn't want to assume anything so soon. Best keep the artist as close to the ground as possible.
Just as promised, Ezio delivered his friend to the spot he needed in half the time it would have taken him if he'd walked. He stayed close as Leonardo set up and began the pre-sketches of the massive ship, quickly following it up with a hard sketch before darkening the lines and smoothing everything out. Ezio watched, amazed and impressed with the ability. By the time Leonardo began to add the tiny details in, he felt as if he was watching something sacred unfold before him, something no one else had seen before. He clung to that feeling, forcing himself to remember just how delicate it felt. It was addicting, but Ezio knew that the best things often were. The trick was not to become fixed on it.
The sky began to redden, and the ship departed shortly thereafter. The duo were already on their way back, the silence between them comfortable. Ezio didn't even think about which path to take, content to take his time and amble along. They reached Leonardo's home before long despite the pace, and the assassin gracefully deposited his friend back onto the first roof, holding his bag again as he climbed down the ladder. Leonardo invited him in, serving him a warm cup of tea while he laid the sketch beside the paper that the picture would be painted on.
"Thank you again, Ezio, for helping me with this. Truth be told, I think this is my finest work to date."
"You're welcome, Leonardo. It's no hardship to help you when you need it. If I may say so, all of your paintings are beautiful. Why do you think this one is your best?" It was an honest question; Leonardo had never favored one picture over others, working hard on all of them until he was satisfied with the results. The remark felt odd in place of that.
Leonardo didn't answer immediately, taking a careful sip of his drink before sitting across from the assassin, looking at him. Ezio felt a shiver go down his spine then. There was something in Leonardo's eyes, something dark but non-threatening. Something Ezio wasn't sure he had a name for.
Yet as quickly as it appeared, the look was gone, and Leonardo was answering. "It's just a feeling, that's all. Some days I have them, but not recently. In fact, since my death I've not had the feeling. Not once."
Well that was odd. "Perhaps you were thrown off by the transition from one world to the next?"
Leonardo laughed warmly, shaking his head, not looking at Ezio directly. "No, no, I do not think that's it. Well, whatever the reason, I have the feeling again and my art is back as it should be. For now, I am content. And what of you, Ezio? How are you faring?"
He considered the question. Leonardo's death had hurt him almost as much as his family's death had. Seeing the artist had filled the invisible gap inside him, made him whole again. Was he content? Yes. Beyond content, but he wouldn't say that. "I am as well as to be expected. Thank you for the tea, it was good seeing you again. I shall visit when I can pry myself away from my family."
Leonardo laughed. "You say that as if your family is so terrible. You've worried them for a long time, so I wouldn't expect them to let go anytime soon! Take care Ezio. I will see you when you visit again."
Later that evening Ezio curled up in his father's armchair with a book in his lap. He read through most of it before his eyelids drooped, head falling against the armrest as sleep took hold. Giovanni arrived a few moments after, a smile on his face as he carefully handled his son back to his own bed, bookmarking the page for him before tucking the book back into its alcove on the shelf. But not before checking the title out of curiosity.
FILL: Our Paradise 6/?
"Truly?" Ezio had asked, eyes wide. Some part of him had forgotten that this was not Venice, not really, but a place beyond Death's gates. Claudia smiled.
"Yes, truly. This place is a sanctuary for the weary; a location born for the purpose of creating happiness among the dead. Here, there is no gender identity. As long as you are happy, that's all that matters."
Impossible to believe; happiness was finally within his reach. The knowledge that if he played his cards right, Leonardo might finally be his sent Ezio's dead heart straight up into Cloud Nine. It was the reason why he was standing in front of the artist's door, palms uncharacteristically sweaty as he considered what excuse to use for his visit. He didn't want to bother Leonardo, especially since the artist always seemed so busy. He needed a good excuse, something that wasn't suspicious--
The door suddenly opened, Leonardo stepping out with his arms full of books, nearly running into Ezio, who couldn't help the tiny surprised sound that escaped his throat. The blond looked up, and suddenly a grin split his features. "Ezio! Back from your trip I take it?"
The assassin smiled and tried not to make it look seductive. It was harder than he'd thought. "Yes. It was good to see them again. Where are you going?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, I'm heading down to the docks to do some sketching. There's a commission I have inside that requests a picture of a particular ship, and I'm afraid I need to ship the artwork out soon..."
Ezio's mind provided him with the sweet reminder that the roads leading to the docks were heavy with guards - even in death they still kept to their posts, picking on those that came by. Just as swiftly, he was reminded of Claudia's words, and his own particular ability. Perhaps he could do this after all.
"My friend, I don't mean to alarm you, but the roads to the docks are heavy with guards; if they see you about, I fear they may take your books and supplies. If you'll allow it, I can get you there from a much safer, not to mention faster, passage."
Leonardo's eyes went wide. "Truly Ezio? B-but surely you cannot carry me and my books--"
Ezio waved the excuse off with a hand. "I have carried far more heavier things upon my back. And I have carried you before - you are quite light. Your books will be safe in a bag until you need them. There is a ladder in a nearby alleyway we will use to get up, and I will take you the rest of the way."
The artist considered his offer for a moment before nodding, smiling at him. "Grazie amico mio. Whatever would I do without you? If you'll give me a moment, I'll grab what I require and meet you outside."
Ezio nodded and took a step back, waiting until the door shut before allowing himself a laugh. It worked! He could do this after all! He just had to be patient, look for opportunities, wait until Leonardo needed a helping hand and couldn't get it from his assistants. Soon, he hoped, he would be able to do here what he couldn't do in life. He was almost completely out of it, he was so happy.
Leonardo reappeared after only a few moments, Ezio quickly schooling his expression into something more fitting than pure excitement and leading his friend to the ladder, taking the bag from him while the artist climbed. He followed Leonardo up and looked around, picking out the best way to go before kneeling, offering his friend his back. Leonardo was barely a weight on his back; he found he could move almost as fast as before with him there.
Still, for safety's sake he took an easy path, winding up and around buildings and trying to avoid leaping across rooftops whenever possible. The single time he did have to leap, he felt the artist gasp softly into his neck, burying his face into Ezio's shoulder as his grip tightened. Ezio apologized and continued on, silently making a note of the reaction. It hadn't been pure fear, but he didn't want to assume anything so soon. Best keep the artist as close to the ground as possible.
Just as promised, Ezio delivered his friend to the spot he needed in half the time it would have taken him if he'd walked. He stayed close as Leonardo set up and began the pre-sketches of the massive ship, quickly following it up with a hard sketch before darkening the lines and smoothing everything out. Ezio watched, amazed and impressed with the ability. By the time Leonardo began to add the tiny details in, he felt as if he was watching something sacred unfold before him, something no one else had seen before. He clung to that feeling, forcing himself to remember just how delicate it felt. It was addicting, but Ezio knew that the best things often were. The trick was not to become fixed on it.
The sky began to redden, and the ship departed shortly thereafter. The duo were already on their way back, the silence between them comfortable. Ezio didn't even think about which path to take, content to take his time and amble along. They reached Leonardo's home before long despite the pace, and the assassin gracefully deposited his friend back onto the first roof, holding his bag again as he climbed down the ladder. Leonardo invited him in, serving him a warm cup of tea while he laid the sketch beside the paper that the picture would be painted on.
"Thank you again, Ezio, for helping me with this. Truth be told, I think this is my finest work to date."
"You're welcome, Leonardo. It's no hardship to help you when you need it. If I may say so, all of your paintings are beautiful. Why do you think this one is your best?" It was an honest question; Leonardo had never favored one picture over others, working hard on all of them until he was satisfied with the results. The remark felt odd in place of that.
Leonardo didn't answer immediately, taking a careful sip of his drink before sitting across from the assassin, looking at him. Ezio felt a shiver go down his spine then. There was something in Leonardo's eyes, something dark but non-threatening. Something Ezio wasn't sure he had a name for.
Yet as quickly as it appeared, the look was gone, and Leonardo was answering. "It's just a feeling, that's all. Some days I have them, but not recently. In fact, since my death I've not had the feeling. Not once."
Well that was odd. "Perhaps you were thrown off by the transition from one world to the next?"
Leonardo laughed warmly, shaking his head, not looking at Ezio directly. "No, no, I do not think that's it. Well, whatever the reason, I have the feeling again and my art is back as it should be. For now, I am content. And what of you, Ezio? How are you faring?"
He considered the question. Leonardo's death had hurt him almost as much as his family's death had. Seeing the artist had filled the invisible gap inside him, made him whole again. Was he content? Yes. Beyond content, but he wouldn't say that. "I am as well as to be expected. Thank you for the tea, it was good seeing you again. I shall visit when I can pry myself away from my family."
Leonardo laughed. "You say that as if your family is so terrible. You've worried them for a long time, so I wouldn't expect them to let go anytime soon! Take care Ezio. I will see you when you visit again."
Later that evening Ezio curled up in his father's armchair with a book in his lap. He read through most of it before his eyelids drooped, head falling against the armrest as sleep took hold. Giovanni arrived a few moments after, a smile on his face as he carefully handled his son back to his own bed, bookmarking the page for him before tucking the book back into its alcove on the shelf. But not before checking the title out of curiosity.
'A Beginner's Basic Introduction to Art'.
Huh.