Ezio looks up. Only a few paces away, Cesare holds a sword, set to attack.
Ezio releases his grip and takes a step back. Leonardo looks from him to Cesare in confusion.
“Come here, Leonardo,” Cesare orders, his eyes never leaving Ezio.
“One should always have the freedom to choose,” Ezio says so only Leonardo can hear.
Leonardo looks at him, and then nods in understanding. He turns to Cesare, and Ezio fists clench, but he makes no move to stop him. It is his choice to make.
Leonardo regards Cesare for a moment before speaking.
“Vai a farti fottere,” he says with conviction.
Cesare’s anger flashes across his face before he regains his composure. “I would rather have had accept voluntarily,” he says, and pulls a gun from his side. “Now then: Leonardo, come here or your little Auditore dies.”
- - -
“You will kill me either way,” Leonardo hears Ezio say behind him.
Cesare’s lips curl. “Perhaps, but there is a chance I will not.” He addresses Leonardo. “Do you want to take that risk?”
Leonardo tries to think of something, anything, to give in exchange for Ezio’s life. He could not offer his own; Cesare wanted him alive, and would never accept.
Why did he need Leonardo alive?
“Leonardo,” Cesare interrupts his thoughts. “You try my patience. Make your choice.”
The machines. “War machines,” he says aloud.
Cesare’s eyes narrow. “What of them?”
Leonardo swallows, and takes a chance. “I-I will build them for you, if Ezio lives. If not, I take the designs to my grave.”
Cesare smirks. “I can build them without you.”
“Can you?”
Cesare is still, and Leonardo knows he guessed right. He keeps his eyes locked with Cesare’s, refuses to back down from his threat.
It is Cesare who finally turns away to sheath his sword. “Your service for his life?” he asks.
“Yes,” Leonardo breathes.
Cesare inclines his head. “Done. But on my terms.” He glares at Ezio. “Should I ever see you again, Ezio, Leonardo will burn with you. Do not interfere.”
Ezio looks about to argue, but at the look on Leonardo’s face nods slowly in agreement, the cords in his neck tight from restraint. Suddenly he turns to the stairwell, where footsteps and voices begin to echo from above. “A mob is coming,” he says, and turns to face Cesare. “Take Leonardo on the gondola, across the lake. From that side there is a tunnel out. Leonardo will show you.”
Cesare nods. “Leonardo,” he beckons, and Leonardo follows him to the boat.
As they leave, Leonardo hears a steady waltz, and turns behind them.
Ezio is standing by the organ, its keys moving on their own. His eyes follow Leonardo, and he places his fist over his heart. It is a promise.
Act Two 7/8
Ezio releases his grip and takes a step back. Leonardo looks from him to Cesare in confusion.
“Come here, Leonardo,” Cesare orders, his eyes never leaving Ezio.
“One should always have the freedom to choose,” Ezio says so only Leonardo can hear.
Leonardo looks at him, and then nods in understanding. He turns to Cesare, and Ezio fists clench, but he makes no move to stop him. It is his choice to make.
Leonardo regards Cesare for a moment before speaking.
“Vai a farti fottere,” he says with conviction.
Cesare’s anger flashes across his face before he regains his composure. “I would rather have had accept voluntarily,” he says, and pulls a gun from his side. “Now then: Leonardo, come here or your little Auditore dies.”
- - -
“You will kill me either way,” Leonardo hears Ezio say behind him.
Cesare’s lips curl. “Perhaps, but there is a chance I will not.” He addresses Leonardo. “Do you want to take that risk?”
Leonardo tries to think of something, anything, to give in exchange for Ezio’s life. He could not offer his own; Cesare wanted him alive, and would never accept.
Why did he need Leonardo alive?
“Leonardo,” Cesare interrupts his thoughts. “You try my patience. Make your choice.”
The machines. “War machines,” he says aloud.
Cesare’s eyes narrow. “What of them?”
Leonardo swallows, and takes a chance. “I-I will build them for you, if Ezio lives. If not, I take the designs to my grave.”
Cesare smirks. “I can build them without you.”
“Can you?”
Cesare is still, and Leonardo knows he guessed right. He keeps his eyes locked with Cesare’s, refuses to back down from his threat.
It is Cesare who finally turns away to sheath his sword. “Your service for his life?” he asks.
“Yes,” Leonardo breathes.
Cesare inclines his head. “Done. But on my terms.” He glares at Ezio. “Should I ever see you again, Ezio, Leonardo will burn with you. Do not interfere.”
Ezio looks about to argue, but at the look on Leonardo’s face nods slowly in agreement, the cords in his neck tight from restraint. Suddenly he turns to the stairwell, where footsteps and voices begin to echo from above. “A mob is coming,” he says, and turns to face Cesare. “Take Leonardo on the gondola, across the lake. From that side there is a tunnel out. Leonardo will show you.”
Cesare nods. “Leonardo,” he beckons, and Leonardo follows him to the boat.
As they leave, Leonardo hears a steady waltz, and turns behind them.
Ezio is standing by the organ, its keys moving on their own. His eyes follow Leonardo, and he places his fist over his heart. It is a promise.
- - -