“Your father would be proud, Ezio. You have grown so much, amico mio,” he put a hand on Ezio's cheek against all of his better judgement, hoping the words or touch would stop some of the sadness from taking hold. Ezio had never seemed against his friend's affectionate nature and didn't pull away from the gesture as different as it was from their usual embrace so when his thumb ran over the flesh under the assassin's eye-he probably had callouses from his paintbrushes and sculpting tools-again he was not pushed away. When his other hand went to pull the hood down it was swiftly grabbed in an iron grip. He didn't try to force it. Their reasoning differed it seemed though he couldn't know whether it was shame or pride that had prompted the retaliation.
“Could I stay here for the night, Leonardo?”
“Of course, take my bed. You need to sleep,” he held out his hand after removing it from the other man's face and got to his feet. Even if Leonardo often stayed up until all hours of the night working he still couldn't deny a human's need for sleep. Rest healed most wounds-even those of the heart.
“Will you stay with me?” Ezio got to his feet, his head still down. He hovered close to the artist as if afraid he too would suddenly disappear and Leonardo didn't bother telling him he wouldn't be going anywhere. Actions spoke louder than words.
“Of course. I will bring my work with me.”
He brought his sketchbook with him and they went to his room, Ezio lagging behind him as silent as a ghost. His room was modest holding only a bed and a small table with room enough for his papers or a pitcher of water but not both. A set of heavy curtains covered the window to block out the light which served their purpose when he didn't get to sleep until sunup. When they entered Ezio went to the bed without a second thought which Leonardo was thankful for-he didn't want to have to convince his friend that sitting down was okay too.
The boots were unlaced and set beside the bed along with the folded assassin robes revealing the previously hidden face. He has been thinking on this for a long time. Ezio's face was no stranger to seriousness yet this spoke to something deeper, something that aged him too many years. Someone whose face normally saw more smiles than frowns shouldn't have looked so gaunt and haunted by ghosts of the past. His eyes were rimmed with red which remained the only clue that he had been crying just a minute before.
“Lay down, Ezio. I will be here drawing,” he gave a small smile despite the hand squeezing his heart at how disturbed his friend looked. Cutting human flesh to discover how the body he worked he could stand but seeing a living person hurting he could not.
“I have not slept in 2 days.”
Leonardo put a hand on the other man's chest, “then it will be easy today. Per favore, Ezio, rest is very important for someone as active as you.”
“I cannot sleep, amico. When I close my eyes...I see them. They ask me why I did not save them. Tell me how frightened Petruccio was. That...He asked where I was before they took them to the gallows,” One of his hands fisted the sheets and he set his jaw to stop the tears from starting afresh. The human body worked in mysterious ways though and his eyes welled up again.
“You did all you could, Ezio-do not blame yourself for the sins of an evil man. I will not allow it!”
How could Ezio have known Uberto would betray them and sent the Auditore family to hang? Why did he blame himself now? The mind of man was a powerful thing...He pushed lightly on his friend's chest to urge him to lay down, sitting on the edge of the bed as he did so. Work could wait until the Auditore fell asleep.
Ezio stared at the ceiling, glassy eyes blinking perhaps to stem the flow of tears, “I am selfish, Leonardo... Please lay with me.”
Re: Fill. Refugio [2/?] Leo/Ezio
“Could I stay here for the night, Leonardo?”
“Of course, take my bed. You need to sleep,” he held out his hand after removing it from the other man's face and got to his feet. Even if Leonardo often stayed up until all hours of the night working he still couldn't deny a human's need for sleep. Rest healed most wounds-even those of the heart.
“Will you stay with me?” Ezio got to his feet, his head still down. He hovered close to the artist as if afraid he too would suddenly disappear and Leonardo didn't bother telling him he wouldn't be going anywhere. Actions spoke louder than words.
“Of course. I will bring my work with me.”
He brought his sketchbook with him and they went to his room, Ezio lagging behind him as silent as a ghost. His room was modest holding only a bed and a small table with room enough for his papers or a pitcher of water but not both. A set of heavy curtains covered the window to block out the light which served their purpose when he didn't get to sleep until sunup. When they entered Ezio went to the bed without a second thought which Leonardo was thankful for-he didn't want to have to convince his friend that sitting down was okay too.
The boots were unlaced and set beside the bed along with the folded assassin robes revealing the previously hidden face. He has been thinking on this for a long time. Ezio's face was no stranger to seriousness yet this spoke to something deeper, something that aged him too many years. Someone whose face normally saw more smiles than frowns shouldn't have looked so gaunt and haunted by ghosts of the past. His eyes were rimmed with red which remained the only clue that he had been crying just a minute before.
“Lay down, Ezio. I will be here drawing,” he gave a small smile despite the hand squeezing his heart at how disturbed his friend looked. Cutting human flesh to discover how the body he worked he could stand but seeing a living person hurting he could not.
“I have not slept in 2 days.”
Leonardo put a hand on the other man's chest, “then it will be easy today. Per favore, Ezio, rest is very important for someone as active as you.”
“I cannot sleep, amico. When I close my eyes...I see them. They ask me why I did not save them. Tell me how frightened Petruccio was. That...He asked where I was before they took them to the gallows,” One of his hands fisted the sheets and he set his jaw to stop the tears from starting afresh. The human body worked in mysterious ways though and his eyes welled up again.
“You did all you could, Ezio-do not blame yourself for the sins of an evil man. I will not allow it!”
How could Ezio have known Uberto would betray them and sent the Auditore family to hang? Why did he blame himself now? The mind of man was a powerful thing...He pushed lightly on his friend's chest to urge him to lay down, sitting on the edge of the bed as he did so. Work could wait until the Auditore fell asleep.
Ezio stared at the ceiling, glassy eyes blinking perhaps to stem the flow of tears, “I am selfish, Leonardo... Please lay with me.”