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asscreedkinkmeme) wrote2010-09-13 08:44 pm
asscreedkinkmeme) wrote2010-09-13 08:44 pm
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Kink Meme - Assassin's Creed pt.2
Assassin's Creed Kink Meme pt.2
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Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
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Discussion
Er ...
(Anonymous) 2011-03-20 04:58 am (UTC)(link)So, basically, Ezio and his lover conquer problems that arise from a medium to large age gap relationship, and prove Machiavelli and the others wrong, that their relationship IS possible.
Re: Er ...
(Anonymous) 2011-04-02 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-04 07:04 (UTC) - ExpandRe: OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-18 06:16 (UTC) - ExpandRe: OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-18 06:20 (UTC) - ExpandOP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-19 01:12 (UTC) - ExpandRe: OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-21 00:37 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility 1/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 04:39 am (UTC)(link)______
Ezio tired to repress another shiver that ran through him. Why was it getting harder to keep warm? Pride wouldn’t allow him to get more blankets (he had them plus furs already) or lit a brazier to provide more heat. So concentrated on trying to force himself to sleep that he almost missed the quiet swish of clothing hitting the floor. A smile spread across his face and he kept pretending to be asleep even as he felt the blanket being lifted away from his feet. The form made a slow journey, stopping every few inches to kiss his bare flesh, leaving the last on his manhood.
“I know you’re still awake, Ezio~” A young voice came muffled from under the blankets. A few moments later, a familiar face popped out from underneath. His dark curls, finally long enough to be pulled back into a tail, was loose tonight. Smiling, he crossed his arms on the older man’s chest before leaning in to kiss him. “Sorry I’m late, the mission took a little longer than expected.”
“But I trust it was successful?” Ezio’s smile was slow and lazy as he slipped an arm over the young assassin’s bare back.
“Of course, Maestro.” Giovanni’s voice took on a matter of fact tone, like a student quickly answering a teacher’s obvious question. Ezio narrowed his eyes and pinched his butt in punishment. “Is that disrespect in your words, novice?”
Giovanni still couldn’t hide his grinning even at being called a novice. “If it was, what would be my punishment, Il Mentore?”
Ezio drummed his fingers along his back as he thought. “I would…send you back to your actual bed in your room amongst the others~”
“Ezio! No, I don’t want to.” Giovanni’s arms wrapped around his neck, as if that would prevent the elder from removing him. “I snuck in because I wanted to be with you! Per favore, let me stay.”
“I will allow you, but you have to stay…right here…all night~” There wasn’t any way here was allowing Giovanni to leave his bed. There were many things that led to his wanting him there, but top amongst them was the fact that Giovanni’s warmth was delicious. It seeped of him along with his scent and soaked into his skin.
“Grazie~” With one last kiss Giovanni snuggled close. A contented breath left him as he closed his eyes, feeling Ezio’s fingers curl in his hair before he slipped into sleep.
Ezio would rather stay in the bed where it was so warm and comfortable. But his internal clock, hardwired after so many years of need to rise at the same time, got him up a few hours after dawn. They had changed positions during the night: Ezio on his side with Giovanni tucked against his chest, limbs interwoven.
Yet, as Ezio was beginning to piece together after these times they woke up together, Giovanni was a deep sleeper and wasn’t one to be woken before his time. He had a feeling he was still going through that stage of sleeping until late morning no matter what happened. As much as he was loathe to do it, Giovanni needed to get back to his room without being seen. “Giovanni, mio piccolo uno, it’s time to get up.”
The young man groaned in agitation and tried to roll away. “I’m not little…” He mumbled, fighting a sleepy grin.
“Hmm. So you object to being called mine, but don’t object to getting up?” Ezio crawled so that he was crouching over him. He leaned closer as if for a kiss but inside placed his bearded chin against his cheek. And rubbed. Giovanni shrieked, kicking his legs to throw Ezio’s weight off him. It didn’t work.
“Ezio! Ezio! Not the beard!”
“Are you awake and will get out of bed?”
“Yes, I’m awake!” Giovanni finally caught his breath when Ezio stopped tickling him. Taking the master assassin’s face in his hands he turned he so he could lay soft kisses on his lips. “But I won’t be getting out of bed…not yet anyways.”
Impervious Fragility 2/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 04:41 am (UTC)(link)“A good morning kiss~” And it was deep, passionate kiss that the older assassin chuckled into. It was a rare person that sparked Ezio’s thoughts and interests, and Giovanni was one of them. It had built to the point that Ezio had finally all but lured the younger man to him in the hours after Giovanni’s initiation into the Brotherhood. But to his surprise, Giovanni needed no luring or convincing. He had stayed with him. They had shared love together.
However, the biggest surprise was afterwards: Giovanni didn’t leave. Well, leave in a romantic sense. He continued to see him in secret. Sending soft smiles his way. Slipping little notes in his reports. Rubbing his foot against his leg when he managed to get a seat near him at the table. Imagine! Someone as young as Giovanni being interested in him!
‘My God, now I’m even calling myself old!’ Ezio shook his head and stood, reaching for the clothes that Giovanni had left at the foot of the bed. The relationship…could be considered dangerous. At the very least that they were both men, not to mention that it could be seen as a form of favoritism by the other assassins. He ran a hand through Giovanni’s curls as he sighed. Why could nothing be simple?
“Don’t forget your bow lessons later today. And for Christ’s sake, please don’t grumble about learning higher forms of the crossbow!” He slapped the young man’s ass after he finally pulled on his pants.
He caught Giovanni rolling his eyes before he pulled his shirt on, “But I like the traditional bow better! I’ll learn the crossbow, but I don’t like it being shoved at me…” He turned to leave, then jogged back to give Ezio one last kiss. “Until later, tesoro.”
____________
“Did you see that? Giovanni was coming from the direction of Il Mentore’s room!”
“Oh stop your gossip Lucia. Anyone could be coming or going anywhere. It doesn’t matter.”
“But what if he was in his room, Marcello?”
“He could have been asking the master for clarification. A special mission. Or any number of things! Your mind is so wild.”
“Well…I guess that could be true…”
Impervious Fragility 3/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)“You did well.” Giovanni made sure not to turn as Ezio fell into step beside him. The Master moved in the way of a ghost, like he was invisible to the ordinary eye. They continued down the roads, every now and then disappearing unseen into alleys to get to another. “However, as good as that was, you did fail to retrieve the note.”
“I did?” The younger asked, but the level of questioning and surprise in his voice wasn’t as high as it should be. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a movement of one hand slipping a messenger tube out his glove. For a brief moment Ezio held it in his line of vision before hiding it.
He could hear the chuckle in the master’s voice. “I still have the messenger tube.”
“True…but did you look inside?”
His silence lasted a few strides. “Merda!” The tube was empty. “When did you?” He shook his head under his hood.
While avoiding running into a man carrying a box, he returned the note. “If it makes you feel any better, I can tell you have long it took me to pull it off?”
“No need. The fact you pulled it off….this isn’t the same note! Piccolo, that’s cheating!”
Giovanni couldn’t help a snort. “Check your other glove.”
“I don’t know whether to praise or chastise you…”
“When considering your decision, the note said something about a repeat of our time with the desk?” This time Giovanni nearly did run face first into another poor soul carrying a box when Ezio shoved him. He had to jog a few steps to catch up to the master before he opened one of the sidedoors to the Rosa in Fiore.
“Look, look! He’s here!” “Messere Ezio!” “The Hero of Roma!” “Always so handsome~” “Did you come to talk to your sister…or perhaps to see us?”
“Ladies, just as beautiful as always~!” Ezio’s voice teased just as much as his smile as the courtesans gathered around him. He appraised the women, every now and then giving one a meaningful wink. “I do have a need to speak with my sister, but I could have some extra time afterwards?”
Shrieks and giggles of delight echoed about the group before two finally claimed Ezio’s arms. Without so much as a word Ezio allowed the two to lead him to his sister. Giovanni stared after him, not caring that his mouth was wide open. Did…Ezio forget that he was even here? That he could see all this…flirting?
Impervious Fragility 4/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)“Uh…si, Madonna.” He wasn’t sure what to make of her. Or frankly, what to do.
“You’re so cute!” Another giggled and stroked his face, fingering the ties to his shirt. “Perhaps you have a bit of time?”
Why was she trying to undress him? He took a step back, trying to regain his personal space. They laughed as a confused blush spread across his cheeks. “Ah, no! I mean…I think I will be leaving soon. Scusa.”
“Oooh, you sure?” “Come on, it’ll be fun!” “Don’t worry, we know how to teach a virgin—“
“Girls, leave the poor boy be.” An older courtesan shoulder her way through the others to Giovanni’s rescue. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders she led him away to safety. She waved her hand at the others, “Go see if there are others to entertain or enjoy some free time.”
She led him to a sofa and made him sit. “I must apologize for the younger ladies. They love to tease when given the chance. Once you know to get around it, they’re truly not that bad…Well, most of them.” She sat next to him, soothing her skirts so it covered her legs. She smiled gently at him.
Giovanni had to smile back. “No, it is alright. It is just...I must admit I’ve never been here except delivering messages.”
Her facial expression turned to one of concern. “You’re…not already an assassin, are you?”
“Yes, I am.” Giovanni beamed, proud that he had already passed his initiation. “A few months ago.”
“But you’re so young! To put yourself in such danger so soon…” One hand cupped the back of his head, thumb rubbing gently against his cheek. Giovanni tilted his head to look at her better. Her eyes were now distant in thought and memory. With a start she realized what she was doing. “Oh! Mi perdoni…to think that you might look like the son I never could have…”
“You weren’t always a courtesan? Oh! Mi scusi for assuming…” Giovanni covered his face in embarrassment.
“It is understandable that you aren’t quite sure how other groups work.” She patted his leg. “I was married once. But no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to conceive and so my husband divorced me and threw me out. I came here, since this was the best of my options. But…I still have a soft spot for children.”
“That is nothing to be ashamed about!” Giovanni turned to take her hands. Deep down, he was an amiable person. “There are a good number among my brothers and sisters that would give anything to have a parent again. If…if you would permit, some could come visit you, to be there mother in a way?”
“…I would like that very much~”
__________
Ezio stopped in his tracks as a laugh floated above the usual chatter of the brothel. He loved over the railing to the first floor. Giovanni was sitting on a sofa, speaking with two courtesans with a bright smile on his face. Standing behind him, a third was slowly brushing his curls. The sight made a fist slowly curl around his heart.
Claudia, realizing that her brother had ceased to follow her, turned back. “Ezio?” When she received no reply she came to stand by him and see what had caught his attention. She looked between her brother and the apprentice that had come with him today, and finally at the look of pain he tried to hide from his face. “Ezio, you’re not having a…relationship…with this apprentice, are you?”
“What? No, Claudia!” Ezio quickly schooled his expression, but his sister had seen.
“Ezio,” she sighed. “Both of us know how your relationships with Cristina, Caterina, and even Rosa ended. Your record isn’t that great. And besides that-“
“Claudia!”
“-How old is he? Ezio, he looks at the very least half your age, if not more!”
His glare silenced her for the moment. “This doesn’t concern you. I know what I’m doing.” And with that Ezio purposely moved down the stairs to collect _his_ Giovanni.
Impervious Fragility 5/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)Their walk back to Isola Tiberina was quiet and tense. When Ezio would try to speak he would stop himself. And when Giovanni tried to voice his fears, he’d push them down, telling himself he was being foolish.
“Giovanni.”
The young assassin stopped just inside one of the secret entrances into the hideout. He didn’t turn to look at Ezio. Maestro. Lover? What could he call him? Did he have a right to?“Are you angry that we left?”
At that he finally looked at Ezio. “No.”
“You were quiet the entire time back.”
“As were you.”
“True…” The Master Assassin found himself fidgeting. “So you are upset with me?”
“No…Yes…” He fumbled with his disguise, removing the cloak. “I don’t know. It is something I need to figure out. On my own.” He offered a shaky smile. “I’ll come see you when I do.” Finally, he placed a soft kiss on Ezio’s cheek and took off to reach his room.
As it turned out, Ezio didn’t just flirt with the courtesans. From everything Giovanni saw, he flirted with everyone. When he would hire thieves to help on a mission, some would gush about how handsome the master assassin was. How it was such a pleasure to be hired by him. Even the mercenaries would talk of him! Comparing occasions when they had wrestled with him, or when he had bested them in a sword match. Were they even true sword matches, or was it word play for something else!?
Unable to keep his emotions in check, he tried to avoid seeing Ezio. He feared he wouldn’t be able to think or talk straight if he did. The jealousy was raw and intense. But did he truly have any right to be jealous? Ezio was Il Mentore, Maestro, Master Assassin of the Brotherhood. Giovanni finally told himself that Ezio wasn’t his to control like that. He was a person who could decide and do whatever they want. And he should be okay with whatever Ezio did.
It was the most miserable decision he ever made.
_____
Ezio finally pinned Giovanni down after several days of trying to get him alone. He could almost swear that the boy was purposely avoiding him! …could he be? He found him in the hideout’s small library. Night had fallen deep enough that most of the other assassins were asleep. He was seated at a table in the corner, leaning over to read one of the larger books by lantern. The light highlighted the softness of his face, his green eyes as they moved slowly over the words, and sank into his dark curls.
“I haven’t seen you in a while, piccolo…”
He watched Giovanni’s shoulder’s tense ever so slightly. He tried to pretend that he was still reading but Ezio could see his eyes had stopped moving over the page. “Was there something you require me for, Il Mentore?”
Ezio stopped at the flat tone in the young man’s voice. Hard. His hand froze above Giovanni’s shoulder. “No. Giovanni, I just wanted to—“
“If you require solace in the library I will take my things and leave.” Giovanni suddenly stood, sweeping his materials under one arm. He stepped around Ezio with eyes fixed on the door.
He gripped him on the elbow before he could move any further away. He tried to keep his voice steady as he spoke. Why wouldn’t Giovanni look at him? “Why do you avoid me Giovanni? It has been days…Why are you so upset?”
Impervious Fragility 6/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-21 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)A soft laugh escaped Ezio; his relief was so great. “This is what it’s all been about? You have been jealous, my Giovanni?”
Giovanni’s eyes blazed and he tried to free his arm. “I won’t be made fun off!”
Blinking in confusion, Ezio tugged him closer. “You…are serious.” His hands moved up to his face, thumbs slowly whipping the tears. “But piccolo, I’ve always flirted with everyone. And it is a game to receive others’. I’ve done it since I was your age. I hardly ever mean anything by it!”
“Others don’t seem to think so,” he sniffled and then his blazing eyes snapped up to lock on Ezio’s. “And I don’t like it! But you’re not mine. So you can just go off and do whatever you please!” But he didn’t draw away from Ezio. He had no spirit to. Finally the dam broke and Giovanni buried his face against his chest, clutching at his shirt.
“Oh, mio piccolo uno…” Ezio held him close and buried his face in those curls. “It is…a normal thing to be jealous. But I have been cruel in not thinking of how things like this would affect you. I will stop this troublesome flirting, for you.”
“No… I am just stupid for being jealous. Silly. I’ve never loved anyone before. I don’t have a right to get jealous…”
Another chuckle escaped Ezio. “Giovanni. Let me tell you something. The reason we left so quickly after I met with my sister? I was jealous, seeing you smiling and laughing with those courtesans, and letting the one brush your hair.”
Giovanni whipped his eyes before he looked up in surprise. “You mean Madonnas Alba, Concetta, and Lorenza? We were talking how they’ve always wanted children and I was letting them pretend I was a son. You…were jealous too?”
The two looked at each other for several moments. Then, finally, the realization hit and they both burst into laughter. “What a silly pair of lovebirds we are!”
Giovanni nodded, enjoying the tight hug Ezio encircled him in. “I should have just talked with you.” He looked away as he contemplating a thought for a moment. “But…I am serious. If…I can ask it of you? Would you try to stop flirting?”
“For you Giovanni? Not only will I try, I will do it~ He took the boy’s book from him before weaving their fingers together. “Will you join me tonight, piccolo?”
“Of course, tesoro.”
Neither noticed how someone had seen all from the shadows.
_____
Dun dun dun. Not done yet! Getting on a role here with this story~
OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-22 22:08 (UTC) - ExpandRe: OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-04-23 22:51 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility 7/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-25 05:29 am (UTC)(link)Ezio judged the distance as he ran for the next roof. Too far to land on his feet but plenty to catch the edge with his hands and pull himself up. As so many times before, he judged correctly. However, what he could have never predicted was that the tile under each of his hands decided to give and he found himself falling.
Instinctively his hands fought for purchase as he fell and only his right hand found it. That wasn’t a bad thing, he’d caught his himself one-handed before—
A ripping, blinding pain exploded in his right shoulder and all the way down his arm. It was instinct that saved him when he hit the ground, bending the knees and rolling to prevent more damage. Breath sucked in and out in the effort to silence the screams he wanted to let loose. The pain was massive, perhaps even more than a blade’s cut or a musket’s bullet.
There was a skid of feet on the roof above him. A soft series of whistles sounded next to signal those close enough to hear it to stop and regroup. One assassin’s hood appeared over the edge of the building, then immediately descended the side of the building. “Ezio!” It was Giovanni’s soft voice and Ezio grimaced. If Giovanni (and lesser extent the other assassins) saw him like this, he’d lose face. “What happened!?” More assassins landed silently around them, a sort of protective hiding wall.
He could only talk through gritted teeth, clutching at his elbow. It hurt to move his arm. “My arm or shoulder… Cazzo!” He cursed at another apprentice who in moving his shirt to look at it accidentally bumped his shoulder. “Don’t touch it!”
“Merda, I think you dislocated it. We need to get you to a doctor, I don’t think any of us know how to pop it back in…” One of the older assassins supplied. “Avo, you go up and tell the others that the Maestro is injuried but continue onto the hideout. We’ll get him somewhere.”
The boy nodded and disappeared up the wall. “But there aren’t any doctors in this district and we shouldn’t move him that much…hey!” The speaker suddenly objected when Giovanni snatched off his long cloth belt.
“Shush! We need a sling to limit the movement until we can get Maestro somewhere.” His eyes flashed with worry as he carefully made a temporary sling for his lover’s arm. He’d let the others worry about which doctor to bring him to, all he cared about was doing anything to ease Ezio’s pain.
“Silenzio young ones. Leonardo’s studio is two streets away. Just get me to him…” He struggled to get to his feet until he felt Giovanni’s arm wrap around his back and throw his good arm over his young shoulder’s. Quickly, so quickly it went unseen by the others, he pressed an encouraging kiss to Ezio’s neck.
“Leonardo…?”
“He means Messere da Vinci! Don’t’ you remember anything?” Fortunately the worried bickering quieted as the group escorted their master through the streets. They were doing a rather good job, he noted in the periods he could think past the pain. Some eye were on the rooftops, while others were before and behind them, and still others were ahead to check intersecting roads before crossing them. Fuck! It was just a shoulder injury, but it hurt to even walk at points!
Finally they arrived. It took several moments of knocking on the studio door before Leonardo appeared in a nightshirt. He had taken care of Ezio and other assassins who knew his studio was safe late at night to keep an ear opening for their knocks. “Ezio! What have you done to yourself this time!?”
“It is his shoulder, Messere da Vinci. The shoulder looks popped out, like a dislocation?” Giovanni offered, squeezing Ezio’s hip when the elder sucked into another breath from the pain.
Impervious Fragility 8/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-25 05:32 am (UTC)(link)Leonardo moved to Ezio’s right side, placing on hand on the elbow and another on the wrist. “Ezio. I’m going to try rotating it so see in that works. If that doesn’t there is another way by laying on the floor… Don’t fight and don’t give into the pain Ezio, okay?”
The master assassin nodded. “Just do it Leo!” The moment Leonardo slowly started rotating the pain flared back up, almost as bad as when it first dislocated. His grip on Giovanni’s hand became deadly as the muscles in the arm spasmed and colourful curses in several languages escaped him. He could hear his love softly whispering encouragement when, after an eternity, the shoulder slid back into place with a dull pop. Luckily some of the assassins were holding his knees, or he would have kicked someone in the wave of relief that spread over him.
“There, a quick fix.” Leonardo smiled and patted Ezio on the arm. “Unfortunately, my friend, the next part might be even worse.” He continued as he readjusted the sling back on the arm. “Get a real sling from a dottore as soon as possible. It can take as little as 4 weeks but all the way up to and past 12 weeks to completely heal. Don’t allow him to use his arm as he would with all his normal activities, as that will take it longer to heal, but don’t keep it entirely immobile, or the arm will be very weak. Small things at first, then let him work his way back up to normal. I can’t be sure about writing, he could do it but someone might have to take over for part of the day.”
Ezio started when he realized that Leonardo wasn’t instructing him, he was instructingGiovanni in how to take care of him. The young assassin was nodded with each new recommendation, obviously committing them to memory. And by the look on his friend’s face he wasn’t instructing a student to take care of a teacher; Leonardo knew! “Leonardo!”
Leonardo chuckled and finally turned back to him. “Hush, my friend. It’s about time you got some…rest. You’ve earned it. And I approve of this…rest.” He grinned as he used the words that Ezio had once used concerning Salai.
Said assistant choose that time to appear at the doorway, naked. He yawn and rubbed at one eye. “Who is it this time Leonardo?” The subsequent reactions were…interesting. Only two did not react. One who kissed a lovers cheek and whispered into the other’s ear, and the other who received it. “I’m glad you’re okay, tesoro. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you~”
_____
It took only three days for Ezio to start going mad. While a dislocated shoulder didn’t seem as bad as a gunshot, stab, or leg wound, it was almost just as debilitating… And just as bad as that was how everyone hovered. They were everywhere! ‘Happening’ to drop by to see how he was doing, fetching him things the moment he’d mention them, seeming to be placed wherever he’d try to go as if he’d just keel over and they’d have to catch him.
If he tried to show some of the younger recruits the best way to hold or use a weapon as he watched over lessons, others would remind him not to fight with the arm. When he came into eat they tried to give him things that were easy or could be eaten entirely with one hand (there had even been whispers of someone else feeding him!). And still others didn’t want him climbing or trying to get something out of reach.
“Don’t be so harsh, Ezio. In many ways the Brotherhood is a family, and as it would be in a family, you’re papa~.” Giovanni had offered one morning as he helped Ezio dress. He…admitted in return it did make sense, but did Giovanni see him as only a father figure? The young man’s immediate blush and denial had made his morning.
Impervious Fragility 9/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-25 05:36 am (UTC)(link)Like how he would sort and deliver the incoming messages and missions. Make sure that enough supplies were stored in the hideout or distributing them as to allies. Things of that sort. He’d even quietly take over writing when Ezio’s hand would hurt.
“I didn’t know you could write…” Ezio observed when Giovanni had first offered to do so after his hand had tired from balancing accounts. He was standing next to his chair, staring at the neat handwriting. He immediately regretted his observation. How stupid was he!? He had seen Giovanni reading books from the library or taking notes, of course he could read and write!
Giovanni had taken it with a smile. “I started learning before I came here…” He trailed off, looking out the window as unbidden of times with his blood family, the Borgia, came to mind. He shook them off and looked back. “When Dad noticed, he made sure I continued. Maybe he knew it’d help you one day?”
Ezio laughed as he ruffled Giovanni’s hair. “Then I will have to find Francesco and thank him. I don’t think you could have a better father than him.”
“Unfortunately…I am not quite so good with all this adding.” He shyly smiled up at him. “But you’ll make sure I do it correctly, right?”
“Of course. I’ve never forgotten the banking that my father taught me.” He pulled up a chair flush against Giovanni’s. He would have rather sat in one chair and worked with the young man on his lap, but he knew how easy it was for someone to come into his ‘office’ nowadays.
“Ezio.” Well, speaking of the devil. Ezio told an amount for Giovanni to write before looking up to Machiavelli. The man only ten years his junior immediately launched into accounts he was receiving of rivalry starting to appear between some group of mercenaries and a handful of assassins. Ezio knew it was a mix of trying to get the assassins to cooperate, to not have rivalries, which he half found odd since last he remembered Machiavelli didn’t like mercenaries very much himself. There were several other problems he half listened to, but it was hard to concentrate when a certain someone’s foot was slowly rubbing along the back of his calf.
“Giovanni.” Machiavelli eventually turned to the young man, and his eyes narrowed imperceptibly.
“Si, Consigliere?” Giovanni looked up respectfully after he had been addressed. However, under the table his foot didn’t stop rubbing.
“Once you are done assisting Il Mentore with this task you can go back to your missions. I’ve done up a rotation who will assist you, Ezio, until your arm is healed.”
Giovanni slowly set his pen down. “I don’t hope to come across as rude, or as an undoer of your work, Consigliere, but I would rather stay with the Maestro.” Realizing such phrasing required explanation, he quickly added. “Since I have been working and learning how to help the Maestro for several days now-“
Impervious Fragility 10/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-25 05:42 am (UTC)(link)____
“He has a point, Machiavelli.” Ezio added, nonchalant. He waved his good hand vaguely, “He’s learned enough that he’s comfortable to work around. Bringing in a new assistant every few days would mean that I’d have to teach them how everything works and is done each time. Not to mention getting used to how they work. Forgive me, but I think I’ll steal Giovanni until them.” He turned to the young assassin. “But once my arm is healed don’t think you can continue pushing off missions and become lazy.”
Giovanni chuckled and picked up his pen again. “Of course, Maestro.”
Machiavelli looked between them and this time the narrowing of his eyes was obvious. But he kept his suspicions silent…for the moment. “Fine. But you should really top taking advantages so you can be babied, Maestro Ezio.” With a snap of black robes, the assassin was gone.
“Mio Dio!” Giovanni gasped and slammed his head against the desk in relief. “I thought I gave it away!”
Ezio’s laugh filled the room. He laughed both at relief they hadn’t been caught and Giovanni’s reaction. “I believe I will have to teach you the art of charm, amore~”
“How could’ve I charmed my way out of that?” Giovanni picked up his head. There was a spot of ink on his forehead that had transferred from the paper. Shaking his head, Ezio wetted his thumb and rubbed at the spot.
“Why, like how I got Machiavelli to leave so quickly. Or you to do my work for me.” The ink smeared even worse before it finally began to disappear.
“Oh, now that last part is a lie!” Giovanni caught the hand. Closing his eyes, he rested it against his cheek. He breathed deeply of Ezio’s scent off his wrist before kissing it. “I do it because I love you.”
_____
As comforting and thrilling (Giovanni had sucked him off twice now hidden under the desk while Ezio struggled to listen to a report) as it was to have Giovanni constantly around him, so in certain ways they didn’t have to hide their relationship, it was this fact of constantly being with the younger man that lead Ezio to notice something unsettling.
“Hey Gio! They’re having matches at the Barracks at noon! Want to go again?”
“No, I’ll be help the Maestro pick out those qualified for missions. Make sure you don’t rely on your left hook so much again.”
“Remember that vendor we helped the other day, Brother? Well, he’s finally opened a wine shop and we get to be his first customers, for free!”
“I can’t come, but Dio caro! Can at least one of you not drink so the rest will know how to get home?”
“Giovanni~ There’s a party in the square today and some of us are thinking of going in pairs… want to come with me?”
“Il Mentore will be dictacting several messages that need to be written… But let me tell you a secret, Isabella. Marcello has had his eye on you, but he is too shy to ask~”
“You should have seen it! There we are, all hidden in the hay, and Juan _sneezes_! But then what does he do when the guards look over? He tries to make cat sounds!”
“Ha! Wish I could have seen it…forgive me for missing the mission…”
“It is okay, you were helping out here. Besides, I swear my clothes still stink of the river!”
“Any chance you can make it to market today?”
“Ezio’s arm is strong enough to start stretches and light sparing! So I probably need to make sure he doesn’t overexert himself. Though…if you have time…could you drop by the book vendor for me? See if he has anything new? Not those silly chivalry romances though…”
Impervious Fragility 11/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-26 07:12 am (UTC)(link)But he was seventeen then, Ezio mused, and now he is getting close to sixty. He hated to be reminded of it. And he hated to admit it. However, the truth was plain. He’s old. And Giovanni? He is young. While everything might soon be narrowing and coming to an end for Ezio, it is widening and just beginning for his piccolo.
Ezio followed Giovanni with his eyes as the young assassin made another round. He was still humming softly and swaying the as he walked the baby to sleep. Earlier on, desperate for a day to themselves, Bartolomeo and Pantasilea had dropped off their two young children to be babysat by one of the older assassins. The assassin, a woman who had children of her own and joined the Brotherhood during the era of the Borgia to protect them, had been watching them. That was until she was called away as backup for a mission. Since few others where available in the hideout, he and Giovanni were watching them until someone came back.
It turned about that Giovanni was magic with young children. The two children had arrived grumpy, crying, and wanting their parents. But now Bianca, the D’Alviano’s five year old daughter, was happily playing with her dolls, creating random child stories that she told Giovanni whenever he walked by. The same with Lothario, their 9 month old son, who had been wanting his mother and thus been a headache to others all day. Within the hour Giovanni had managed to get him to eat, burp, and was nearly done getting him to sleep.
The master assassin turned in his chair so that he could observe his lover and the baby better. The baby sighed in his sleep and curled his head against his holder’s neck. Giovanni smiled softly and rested his cheek against the baby’s whispy hairs, closing his eyes as well for a moment.
He would make a good father, Ezio knew. But Ezio also knew that that would never happen, as long as Giovanni had to be with an old man like him. He should go find a girl his own age and marry. He should have a bunch of kids to nurture and drive him crazy. He should be able to grow old with his lover. Not be forced to watch his love die decades before him.
“There, the bambino is finally asleep.” Giovanni whispered as he set the slumbering baby in a large basket that served as a makeshift cradle. With a sigh of relaxation he stood to stretch his arms. These same, now familiar arms wrapped loosely around Ezio’s neck, bodying warming his back. “How is your arm?” His hands automatically moved to dip beneath his shirt and press carefully against the muscles of his shoulder and arm, checking for knots.
Ezio closed his eyes, emptying his mind to think as the young man’s hands worked magic. The same hands that were growing more skilled in deadly arts, that held pen or skimmed pages, that touched him when they gave themselves to each other, and the same hands that with the lightest of touches calmed and reassured. He could hear Giovanni’s pattern of breathing, something that could be forgotten for hours by his ears but at the smallest change he noticed it. At times Ezio even fancied he knew the boy’s scent, or could sense when he was near without turning to see him. As he steeled himself, Ezio shocked himself in the realization how deep Giovanni had managed to go, how deeply he cared for him.
Impervious Fragility 12/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-26 07:14 am (UTC)(link)“What is wrong Ezio?” When he opened his eyes he found that Giovanni was kneeling next to his legs, eyes looking up in concern.
He was silent for a long time, watching Giovanni’s hand encircle one of his in comfort and support. He said it without thinking, trying to distance himself from the pain. “I think we should stop this relationship…”
Green eyes widened in surprise. The shock on his face turned to pain, then the pain turned to confusion. “What? Ezio, why?!” He acted like he wanted to continue, but bite his lip to keep himself from doing so.
“Because…you should not be saddled with an old man like me.” Giovanni tried to protest but Ezio stopped him. If he couldn’t say it now, he’d never be able to say it at all. “You are young, while I’m old. You should be out there having the time of your life. You should be able to meet a girl and settle down and have children. I shouldn’t force you to have to be with an old man.”
Giovanni remained silent. Common sense told Ezio that he was probably processing what had been just said. Irrational fear convinced him that the young man would leave without a world, never to be seen again. Instead, his hands just tightened around his own. “You think I would leave you because you’re older than me? When people are together I think it’s rarer that they are the exact same age, instead of older and younger…”
“That’s only a few years, not almost forty!”
“That still doesn’t matter! Ezio, I love you and everything that makes you Ezio.” He reached up to cup his cheek, but Ezio jerked his head away.
“You say that now….but what if you wake up days, weeks, years from now and you realize you want someone your old age? What will happen when I start going gray? Or if I start getting sick or weak or slow? Or just up and die with no warning from my age?”
The younger assassin reached up and forced Ezio to look at him. “I’ll say it simply: so what? I wouldn’t care, I wouldn’t even mention it. And you want to know why? Because that’s what I would do for you. That’s how you show love. If you’re wrinkly and grey you’d still be handsome, because you’re my love. And if you get weak and sick, or hurt like now, I’d take care of you, just like I’m doing right now. Just like I know you’d do for me.”
“So you’d just keep blowing off your friends for me Giovanni? You’ll give up fun?”
Giovanni nodded as understanding came into his eyes. Atleast he knew part of what brought this on. “You needed me more. Ezio, I have friends and family, but you are my most important. And don’t think I’ll leave you behind to go have fun. I’ll be dragging you everywhere, so much you’ll be sick of me.”
“But…” Ezio’s voice cracked, and he had no idea he had begun to cry until he saw that Giovanni’s thumbs came back wet after stroking his face. “What if you become sick of me? I’m just an old man, and you’re all I have. I can’t think of myself anymore. I have to think of you and take care of you. That means thinking of what’s best…”
“It might be what’s best…by other standards.” Giovanni stood, only to sit on Ezio’s laugh. He reached up and Ezio yielded as he drew the older assassin’s head to his shoulder. “If you think I should have children, then we’ll adopt. If you think you’re too old, then I’ll be your youth and you be my maturity.”
“You…truly don’t care that I’m old?”
Giovanni shook his head. “No, I don’t. I love you for you. I wouldn’t care if you were a king or a bum off the streets. Friend or foe, ordinary or special, dumb or brilliant. Ezio, I wouldn’t care if you were the pope himself or an annoying minstrel running the streets-“ Giovanni abruptly stopped, tilting his head to concentrate on the sudden thought.
Impervious Fragility 13/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-26 07:21 am (UTC)(link)“No…I mean yes! I would still love you!” The young assassin chuckled. “I was just trying to remember if I’ve ever heard you sing… There, I saw it! You cracked a smile!”
Ezio shook his head as he laughed in quiet disbelief. He buried his face against Giovanni’s neck before he could speak again. “I’ve…been hurt before Giovanni. By love…lost love…what I thought was love. I don’t think…I could be broken again.” He thought of Cristina, who had not waited for him, and then died in his arms. He thought of Caterina, whom he had thought his soul mate and risked everything to rescue, only to find that his worst fears were true, that she was only using him in a political play. If Giovanni left him too…he could never put himself back together.
“Ezio…hurt…is in every relationship I think. I know there are some hurts that we can’t move past, that are unforgiveable. But there are others that help us grow, and grow stronger together. Ezio. I promise you if it’s my power, I will never hurt you in such a way.”
Quiet filled the room. Breathing. Heartbeats. At last, “If you can deal with the truth that I am so much older than you, then I think…I can open my heart again. One last time.” Arms encircling one another, hands gently tracing contonors, lips softly placing kisses.
“…Do you think we could ever bribe a priest to marry us, Ezio?”
_____ Several Days Later
Il Mentore moved through the wide room that served as an area for assassins to cool down and visit during their off time. He finally noticed his goal in a group of younger assassins that were grouped against one wall. They seemed to be all telling a story at once to a young woman standing in the middle, who looked as if she had been crying before, but was laughing and smiling now. A head of loved dark curls was among them. But as he got closer, he noticed that a good number of the boys (and even a few girls) were dirty, with scuff marks, cuts, or bruises. Giovanni sensed his approach and turned, his face immediately becoming sheepish.
“What have you been doing?!” Ezio demanded as he stood before them, arms crossed as all in the group turned to him. Most had their heads down, or trying to avoid his gaze. Giovanni rubbed his cheek where a row of what looked like finger scratches. He also had a busted lip. “You have been fighting, and let yourself receive such wounds? I can almost think you lost.”
They were silent, even Giovanni. Finally one, Avo, slowly spoke, “Well, you see Maestro…we had to avenge Lucia!”
“Yes!” Continued Isabella, “She was seeing a man, and it was all going so well. We thought he was all nice, but he was just hiding his true intentions!”
Giovanni finally spoke up, “He was nice, then he started becoming cruel to Lucia. Then, she wrote him a song and sang to him on her harp. He laughed at her and broke her harp! In public!” His green eyes were blazing, and all in the group made sounds of agreement, “so we had to teach him a lesson! No one can treat our sister like that!”
They all looked up in pride now. They wouldn’t take back what they had done, but now they were willing to accept punishment. He looked amongst them all managing to keep his eyes hard for a long time. Then, out of nowhere, Ezio burst into laughter. “That’s my assassins! We take care of each other here~” He patted a few on the shoulder, and doubled checked to make sure there were no serious injuries before he reached into his pocket.
“I wanted to give you this, Giovanni.” He held the carefully bound book out to the young assassin. It had taken him days to figure out just the right present to get for his piccolo. Luckily, those he had questioned and the one recruit he had had lead him to the bookseller did as they promised and kept their mouths shut. Giovanni’s eyes widened, mouth opening a little in awe, and he gently took the book from him. “A thank you gift for all your assistance while my arm was healing.”
Impervious Fragility 14/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-26 07:26 am (UTC)(link)____
Giovanni gasped as he read the cover. “ ‘Curious Observations of Cultures in the East’ ??? Oh Ezio! Thank you, thank you!” Arms wrapped around him and a body was thrown against him in one of the hardest hugs of his life. The boy’s great excitement was catchable and he laughed as he patted him on the back. Then it had been a reasonable guess. He, and the others he had questioned, had noticed that Giovanni seemed to have a blooming interest in foreign cultures. Whenever he met a foreigner, whether it be in the city or a visiting assassin, he would politely ask/beg to hear something about their homeland. Or language. Or rituals, festivals, or celebrations. In short, what was different in their culture.
Giovanni had already turned to show the group his gift, carefully flipping through the pages, exclamations of delight erupting from him when he caught a chapter title, or especially when he noticed that the book also had careful sketches. With one last sudden hug, Giovanni took off down the hall, shouting for his father.
That night, Ezio found himself up for hours. Laying on the bed, Giovanni’s head in his lap where he could stroke his curls. The boy’s eyes were bright and his voice deep with excitement as he read the new book aloud. He couldn’t remember a word of what the book said, because he was too fascinated by how much Giovanni’s face radiated…
…and how truly and deeply he was in love with him.
___
“So…the minstrel gave you his guitar for saving him?” Ezio watched as Claudia tuned the fore mentioned instrument. His sister shrugged in irritation, grumbling as she tried to tune. “I think it the question is: why did you save a minstrel?”
“Because he had a sexy voice but then was about to be cut by a soldier for being in front of his horse, I don’t know!” Claudia groused, thrusting the instrument into her brother’s hands. “You take it! I swear he gave it to me as a joke; this thing won’t play at all!”
Ezio strummed the cords and winced at the sound. “Sister, you have no ear for music.”
“Because one does not get many chances while stuck booking keeping in a backwater town.” Her complaint turned into a gloat. “As if you could do any better! The last time I heard you try, your voice squeaked and broke through the entire thing!”
“I can, and will!” He worked at tuning the string first until they sang. He hummed, trying to pick a song as he plucked the strings. A grinned bloomed across his face as he recalled something a certain young assassin had once said. Turning that grin to Claudia he motioned her to follow.
“My fellow assassins!” Ezio boomed as he walked into the mess hall. At his voice every assassin turned to watch the master. “In celebration of the full recovery of my arm, and to show up my sister~” He paused to give her a pointed look in her direction and allow a few laughs. “So your Maestro…will sing a song!”
“Oh…my…god.” Giovanni groaned and covered his face with his hands. He wanted to disappear under the table; even though people didn’t know he and Ezio were together. He wonder for a moment if Ezio was drunk and very convincingly acting like he wasn’t.
If our lips should meet, Innamorata
Kiss me kiss me sweet, Innamorata
The shriek from the women in the room was immense. Giovanni lowered his hands to watch Ezio sing, enraptured. Ezio smiled slowly in his direction.
Hold me close and say you're mine
With a love as warm as wine
I'm in heaven's door Innamorata
Impervious Fragility 15/?
(Anonymous) 2011-04-26 07:28 am (UTC)(link)Giovanni leaned against his hand dreamily. He didn’t see the rest of the room. He didn’t hear the reactions of the people around him. His eyes were on Ezio, his ears picked on the rising and falling timbre of his voice. It was….it was….heavenly.
Want you more and more Innamorata
You're a symphony, a very beautiful sonanta ,my Innamorata
Ezio finished his slow walk. Carefully leaning into the space between two assassins on the opposite of the table where Giovanni sat, curling his leg for support as he settled on the table. He wished Leonardo was here, so he could demand that he eternalize the expression on his lover’s face.
Say that you're my sweetheart, my love~
He leaned closer to his piccolo, his love. Not quite close enough to kiss. Not quite close enough to lean their foreheads together. But just close enough so they could look into each other’s eyes…and allows their breaths to mix…
______
Today was the final piece he needed to see all of the puzzle. In hindsight, each piece in of itself was blanantly obvious. But that was then. Now that he knew, he could stop it. Machiavelli frowned at the floor as he went over his decision again in his mind. Yes, it needed to happen. So he entered Ezio’s office. No knock, no announcement.
“Ezio, this fling you are having with apprentice Giovanni must stop.”
____
Writer!Anon note: D: Oh noes! Machiavelli found out! There's only one more series of parts, and then a sort of epilogue. What happens in them you'll just have to wait for~
OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-03 15:30 (UTC) - ExpandRe: Writer anon
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-03 19:57 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility 16/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-04 12:18 am (UTC)(link)“It does not matter what I call it. It needs to stop.” Machiavelli picked a loose strand of fiber from his immaculate clothing. “You’re threatening the integrity of the Brotherhood. It is true there are relationships among our assassins, but as the master you must keep yourself separate from such things. Having a fling with one of the apprentices will cause unrest and jealousy from the favoritism of one assassin over another.”
Ezio’s mouth was open in shock. “I am not showing favoritism for Giovanni over the rest. He still goes on missions, does his training, interact with the others. I do not give him any concessions!”
“Just because he pleases you sexually—“
“You’re not listening to me!” Ezio slammed his hands against the desk and rushed to his feet. “Giovanni means more to me than just… pleasure! We work and get along well together! We enjoy each other’s company in any occasion. It isn’t just sex… I…I love him.”
Machiavelli baulked. “You think that you love him and he loves you? Ezio, you are deluding yourself that Giovanni, nothing than a boy over half your age, is in love with you. My interfering will be a great help-“
Ezio was on him with no warning, hands in vice grips around the other assassin’s arms. He should have known! He should have listening to the gut feeling in his stomach that something was wrong. “What have you done? Where is Giovanni?!”
“Ezio I am only considering yours and the Brotherhood’s well being-“
“Where.” His voice was deadly level now. Only a small threat of his sanity kept him from stabbing the advisor out of principle.
With a sigh, he eventually answered. “Moskva. He’s in the team sent to Moskva.”
Fuck.
Ezio tossed Machiavelli out of his way as he rushed to the pigeon coops. No! Giovanni couldn’t be sent into Moskva! The two spies from the Brotherhood sent before had gone silent. Moskva was the one area where the Brotherhood was most blind. Only the most skilled assassins with many missions under their belts were supposed to be sent there. No matter how much Giovanni’s skills were growing, Ezio knew he just didn’t have the time or experience to be on such a dangerous mission! He had to get the team leader to send him back now! And he knew the only reason the leader would have taken someone as young as Giovanni was if Machiavelli had pressured him.
The message was written and the bird released before Machiavelli caught up in an attempt to stop him. Ezio’s glare was so intense, even Machiavelli took a step back. “If he is hurt, or if he dies, it will be on your head.”
Impervious Fragility 17/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-04 12:20 am (UTC)(link)“You seem distracted, figlio” Francesco Vecellio observed as he matched his horse’s pace with that of his adopted son’s.
Giovanni jerked. He had been deep in thought. “Si, papa I guess I am…” He stroked his horse’s dark mane to calm him from his sudden movement. “I have just been…thinking.” And worry, and all sorts of things, but he couldn’t worry his father with such personal thoughts. It had all been such a flurry of activity, being suddenly told he was going on an extended mission outside Roma at the last second. It had been so busy and such short notice that it shouldn’t have been a surprise that he hadn’t been able to find Ezio. But it bothered him. Leaving without seeing Ezio, without saying goodbye, without giving him a kiss to keep his love until he got back. It bothered him; and what would Ezio think when he realized he had left without telling him.
“Papa, could I use a messenger bird? Please?” He asked softly, already pulling out a slip of paper and pencil to write Ezio a message. It was the least he could do for Ezio. “I need to send a quick message back home…”
Francesco considered it. So it was true. True that Giovanni was in a relationship with Ezio. Machiavelli had told him just before suddenly assigning Giovanni to the mission even though he originally was not going with the group Francesco was leading. Francesco had already been getting the feeling that Giovanni was in a relationship with someone (he was his adopted son after all!) but hadn’t known it was the Maestro himself. “A message to Ezio.”
“How did…”
“I’m your papa, Giovanni.” He smiled at the boy sadly. “I might not be by blood, but I’m your father. I notice things like this… Why…didn’t you tell me?”
Giovanni hung his head in shame. Not in shame in being caught in a relationship with the Maestro, but in shame that he had hurt his father by hiding it. “I…we just… I don’t know. I…wanted to be sure. That I love him and he loves me. That it was more than me having a silly crush.”
“But it isn’t.”
“No.” Francesco watched his son’s eyes soften and his whole being seemed to calm at the thought of Ezio. “I really love him, and…I am sure he loves me. I’m just…worried he might be upset I left so suddenly. I didn’t get to say goodbye…” Now the worry was back and pleading green eyes rested on him.
He sighed, this time unable to help his grin. Ah, young love. “Alright, but one message and one message only. I can’t have one of our birds out of commission just so you and Ezio can send love messages back and forth.”
Green eyes brightened and a smile that lit up his whole face under the hood of his cloak. “Thank you papa!” He immediately set to work writing a message to Ezio, managing to keep his hands steady despite the stride of the horse. In the meantime Francesco reached carefully into the cage strapped onto the back of the horse behind his saddle that held their messenger pigeons. They were kept to send updates back to the hideout and for emergencies. There was one bird, specially marked, that was specifically trained to go straight to the Maestro, and such was the bird that Francesco chose. He held the bird while Giovanni slipped the note into the tube and released the bird.
“However…” Francesco spoke after a while, once again turning to his son. “I still have to approve of this relationship.” He sat straight, his chest almost puffing out like a protective mother hen. “He might be the Maestro, but I still have to make sure he’s good enough and treats my only child well. Ezio and I will be having a talk when we get back.”
Giovanni flushed a little in embarrassment as he imagined what such a talk might be about.
“You’re sleeping with the Maestro Giovanni???”
No one’s face had ever paled faster when Giovanni turned and saw that the entire group had overheard that he and Ezio were together.
Impervious Fragility 18/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-04 05:11 am (UTC)(link)I hope I haven’t worried you with my sudden disappearance and if I have, forgive me. It seems I was pulled last second for a mission and I couldn’t find you before it was time to go. I miss you already. We’re going to Koln, Germania and could take some time. So I feel even worse that I left without giving you a hug and kiss. I know it is not the same, but I’ve sent a kiss along~
Tuo piccolo uno, Giovanni
It was a good thing he had planned to intercept messages that could be sent between Giovanni and Ezio. That way the two could be reasoned with while kept apart. He had figured that Giovanni would be the easy one, but by the note he had attempted to send to Ezio, now Machiavelli wasn’t so sure. He had even circled a little spot at the end of the coded note, a spot he had to presume he placed a kiss for Ezio.
Shoving the note in his pocket to dispose of later, he wrote a kurt reply, released the bird, and left the coop before anyone could see him.
_______
“Dear you hear???” “Yes, the maestro has been seeing one of the young assassins!” “Can you believe it!?”
“I thought no one from inside the Brotherhood was allowed to pursue the master…” “It’s not a rule, its principle!”
“The boy’s more than half Ezio’s age!”
“I don’t know what bothers me more, it’s a boy or that he’s barely past manhood...”
“The Maestro is only setting himself up for heartache when the boy leaves him…” “He’s not setting himself up, that boy is taking advantage of the maestro!”
“I wonder what they get out of it…” “There has to be something, probably good se…somehow. This can’t be a real relationship.”
“I knew my brother was getting in over his head, pursuing someone so young.”
“We should help him, set him up with someone closer to his age.”
“A brilliant idea. So the boy isn’t hurt when the Maestro dies or the master isn’t hurt when the boy’s fancies turn to someone else.”
_____________
The disapprovals of his Brotherhood swirled in his brain as he buried his head in his arms. “What am I going to do, Leonardo?” The genius didn’t answer. He watched his near lifetime friend lay out his emotions in the open for the first time. He reached over and patted Ezio’s hand in reassurance.
“What are your thoughts on what you should do, amico?”
Ezio eventually looked up and his eyes seemed just at the brink of tears. “Part of me doesn’t care in the least. I’ve realized that Giovanni…that Giovanni…means everything to me. I don’t care hell or high water; I want to be with him. More than anyone before. And its all of him, not just part like sleeping with him.”
“…yet there is another part?”
The assassin finally turned to look at Leonardo, his mental anguish now physical. “The other part can’t help but hear what everyone else is saying. So far…I don’t think anyone has approved of the two of us. What if this somehow tears apart the unity of the Brotherhood? What…if the stress is too much for my Giovanni?” Hands gripped at hair made wild from similar previous actions. “I have to think of how this effects him…”
Leonardo leaned back in his chair to think. The situation wasn’t unlike him and Salai. Of course, the relationship wasn’t known to so many people as Ezio’s with Giovanni. And Leonardo did not have a whole organization following and scrutinizing his actions.
Yet on the other hand… It was love. Truth be told he thought it would not be something that Ezio would ever find in his life. So to see his friend so much in love and so happy, he wanted that for him. He deserved. After all the hell his life had been through since he was 17? He deserved it.
“Are you willing to anything for Giovanni?”
“Yes.” Ezio’s hands tightened. “Even if it meant sending him away to keep him unaffected or handing over the leadership of the brotherhood.”
Re: Impervious Fragility 18/?
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-04 05:24 (UTC) - ExpandWriter anon
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-04 07:49 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility 19/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-04 07:47 am (UTC)(link)He made Ezio stand to face him, hands on his arms to keep him there. “You are Ezio Auditore. When you want something, you go after it! Allow yourself some happiness. If you do, Ezio, I will tell you a secret.” He leaned close to whisper in the assassin’s ear. “You have people on your side. The most important is Giovanni himself. But there are others, like myself and your mother. So just know: you aren’t alone.”
The assassin was silent for the longest time. Finally, slowly, he cracked a smile. “Thank you, Leonardo!” He hugged the genius suddenly, and tightly. “I knew you would help! But I had better get back. The pigeon I sent after the group Giovanni was with is late and I can’t help worrying…”
“Then, you lovesick fool, get back there and wait for it!”
“Did you hear?” “How couldn’t I hear about it?”
“I mean, how didn’t we pick up on this!?” “Or how come Giovanni didn’t tell us?”
“It’s…too weird! I mean…just how old is Il Mentore?” “At least old enough to be Giovanni’s dad…” “That’s just creepy.”
“That’s why he was spending so much time with Master Ezio…” “But I thought that was him helping because of his arm?”
“How long do you think it has been going on?”
“I just can’t imagine it! I mean I respect Ezio and all…but want does Giovanni see in him? He can’t be that good looking…or do you think it’s the sex? Or is it something else entirely???”
“It’s favoritism is what this is!”
“How come the master didn’t choose me?” “How come Giovanni didn’t choose me?”
Francesco kept his ears open and his body awake. Mostly because he was a backup for the night watch, but admittedly he knew his son was going to need him. Soon Giovanni’s familiar nearly silent strides came across the camp and Francesco’s blanket lifted. Someone slid onto his sleeping pad with him, curling against his back. “Papa?” The voice cracked. “Can...can I stay with you? I…I don’t want to be alone.”
“Of course.” He moved his arm to allow the boy closer and encircle his shoulders. Mouths were flying amongst the assassins in their group, and what was being said was harsh. There was a general air of disapproval. Age difference, favoritism, wondering why one of those gossiped about hadn’t choose someone else. He feared everything was starting to effect Giovanni. They had been able to retrieve all the cultural and historical information that had been gathered by the German scholar Conradus Celtis, something that should have excited Giovanni for weeks to come. Instead he hadn’t even looked at the papers.
He was…completely silent and withdrawn.
“I…I got a note back.” Giovanni curled tighter under his father’s arm, wishing that he could utterly disappear. He hadn’t believed it when he first eagerly unrolled the note to see what Ezio had wrote back. Only three words.
Do your mission.
His reaction was numb for days. He kept unfurling it to make sure that the same three words were written there. Why…How? How could Ezio write that in reply? Even the rational part of Giovanni’s brain couldn’t handle it. Was Ezio mad at him? Mad that he had left? Mad that he hadn’t personally said goodbye? That he hadn’t tried hard, that he hadn’t refused to leave until he saw him? Something, anything!, to explain the harsh coldness he felt from the words.
“What did it…say?”
Between quiet sobs Giovanni explained what the note had said. Before he could stop himself all his fears and despair came spilling out in a torrent that left him shaking. “I don’t know what to do Papa! What if he never wants to speak to me again? How will I know what I did to upset him? What…what if I never…g-get to apologize?”
“Giovanni. You can’t think such things.” Francesco rubbed his son’s back, voice low and reassuring. “You will see your amore soon. Perhaps he did not have the time to write a longer message. Or he could have meant for you to read beyond the words.”
Impervious Fragility 20/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-04 07:50 am (UTC)(link)“It could simply mean ‘do the mission so you can get back to me as quickly as possible’.”
“You really think so?”
A quieted chuckle. “I wouldn’t put it past Ezio to send such a riddle-message and not think of how the words might be interpreted the first time through.”
Giovanni laughed as well, quieting the sound against Francesco’s side. “That sounds like my Ezio~ I’ll have to yell at him about it when I get back~”
“I’m sure you will…” Francesco was glad that his son’s fears were abated. He couldn’t stand the sight of Giovanni upset. Even when the boy was a child, after injuring himself or upset by someone, he couldn’t stand it. At first he had felt he was letting Perotto down by not keeping his child as happy as he could be, but as time went by he came to think as Giovanni more like his own son. Speaking of making sure he was happy, “How…are you holding up? From everything that is going around the group?”
“Not to be rude to everyone? I could care less.” Giovanni’s soft voice was matter of fact as he relaxed. “I know they’re saying things about us and going to say things about us. I am sorry that its seems to have upset everyone, and from hiding it before, but… I was hoping at least some understood. Those I’m close to and call my friends and family. Ezio and I love each other and…we accept each other… Can’t others accept or at least respect our decision?” He felt Giovanni bite his lip from against his side. “Is that too…harsh?”
“No, my child. That is your and Ezio’s view; logical and understandable. If you have each other, you could face the world…” And Francesco wondering just when his child had become so mature without him.
‘I do apologize for the misinformation you seem to have received, Maestro. Young assassin Giovanni is not with us, as we would not risk someone so young on this blind task. To my knowledge, Giovanni was used to replace sick Zarah on the mission to Koln, Germania.’
Machiavelli cursed his luck. Of all the times for a reply to come in! And he was not the first to read the message, as it was already flattened and decoded. The damned fool had revealed the location of where assassin Giovanni actually was! He took the message anyways in the rare rare chance that Ezio had not read it yet.
The full powered punch that came out of where revealed that Audtiore already had.
Impervious Fragility 20/? correct format
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-04 07:51 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility 21/?
(Anonymous) 2011-05-05 01:40 am (UTC)(link)“Ezio, wait!” The assassin tried to push himself to his feet as Ezio ran off towards the hideout’s stables. “I am only trying to help! If you would just listen…damn it.”
______________
’Breathe in, and out. Don’t breathe again as you draw the bowstring. Arms steady. Both eyes open, clean shot.’ Giovanni did as the voice in his head said as he drew his bow silently, hidden in the woods. The male voice was one he did not know yet spoke from time to time, almost always around the bow. Not Consus, not the distant broken voices of the one he called father and grandfather. Consus told him once it was his real father and to listen to him. The same real blood father that Francesco had finally revealed to him on the same day he had passed on his bow, on the birthday he had become a man.
Now’s not the time to think about it, Giovanni thought to himself as he watch the carriage suddenly pull to a halt and wheel around as his fellow assassins, disguised as bandits, revealed themselves. It was his job to slow the carriage. Draw back the bowstring, arrow is already notched. Release! A soft whistle in the air before the thud as it strikes straight through the neck. The driver’s guard tumbled off, causing the horses to spook and the driver to fight to control them. The carriage is swaying dangerously. He has to strike now, take down the driver, before the speed of the horses makes it unstoppable since neither he or any of his fellows are on horseback. He breaks from the trees just far enough ahead to release another arrow—but the swaying spares the driver. Mentally cursing he notches and releases another; this one hits!
“Look out!”
All of his training screams at him not to, but the sound of Ezio’s voice shocks him and he turns to see. He doesn’t see how the carriage finally overturns in his direction…until for the briefest of moments he realizes he is being crushed.
“GIOVANNI!!!” It all happens in slow motion for Ezio. Giovanni taking out the second driver but he’s too close to the carriage to see how it is already overturning. He yells for his love, his little one, to get out of the way. As soon as he yells he knows it is the wrong action for Giovanni is turn towards him and takes his eyes off the carriage! The wooden vehicle looms, creaking and groaning and menaching, like some monster, casting Giovanni in shadow before it finally falls on him in a cacophony of wood and crushing weight and screaming horses. The cry from his lips and the cry from his heart are one in the same.
They all see the defenders crawl out of the wreckage to defend the carriage and the Borgia bribe money inside and they fight because they have to. Every single one of them is fighting so the enemy can be killed and they can get to Giovanni faster.
If the boy is even still alive.
_____________
Where are we, Consus?
An inbetween, precious child. You shouldn’t be here. You need to wake up, you need to leave.
DEATH WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
Who is that?!
Do not listen to it. It is unimportant. You must return to your life. Your beloved ones are waiting for you.
MOVE BEYOND THIS PLACE.
Is it not safe here Consus? It’s so warm and nice here…
No. It is safe and unsafe. It is not your appointed time but much longer it will not matter. Don’t you want to return?
Impervious Fragility 22/22
(Anonymous) 2011-05-05 01:42 am (UTC)(link)When he pulls Giovanni out from under the wreckage his piccolo is limp and lifeless. “Giovanni? Giovanni!” Ezio cradled the young man’s head in his arms, his torso on his lap. He’s so limp! His limbs just sliding along and going where they may, his head rolling back without support. “Please, please, open your eyes…”
He’s not breathing! Giovanni isn’t breathing! He’s dead! He’s been crushed! His bones broken and his ribs cracked into punctured lungs and skull crushed! Dead and gone from him and never coming back, why is he gone!? “Noooo, noooo…. Not my amore, not my piccolo…” Ezio cried out as he cradled his body, rocking back and forth. The assassins around him watched in silence. Unsure and in shock.
Someone is sad, Consus.
They are sad precious one. They are missing you. They need you to come back so very very much.
Can I go back?
FLAWED MATERIAL WAS MADE UNFLAWED. WORK WILL NOT BE WASTED. YOU ARE NOT FINISHED. GET UP.
Please, little Giovanni. Don’t you want to go back to Ezio?
Ezio? Yes…Ezio…
Ezio wasn’t sure he had heard correctly for a moment. It was a trick of the brain, a desperate hope to fool him that Giovanni was still alive. No! There, again!
Giovanni’s body coughed again suddenly, contorting in the painful motion. He sucked in a shaky breath as he tried to open heavy eyes. “Ma…che cazzo?” He blinked, almost sleepily, before forcing his eyes to move. Swiveling up to Ezio’s shocked face. “Hey…”
“Hey…!” Ezio said back. His eyes filled with tears again. But this time not of sorrow, but of joy. Giovanni was alive! His whole body shook as he hugged his love to him. “I thought I had lost you! I thought I had killed you!” The words trailed into sobs again; it was all too much for him emotionally.
“What…what hap-pened?” Why was his Ezio crying? And why did he hurt all over?
“The carriage…” Francesco’s voice came from his other side and Giovanni turned at a little to see that his father was also crying. In his hands he held the remains of a shattered bow. “…the carriage lost control and it…it….it fell on you Giovanni. We thought you were dead…”
Francesco looked down at the bow again in relief and disbelief. Had Perotto’s bow saved him? It had been laying across Giovanni’s chest, broken, when they pulled him out. Had he been far enough beneath it so the bow took the brunt weight of the carriage’s fall? His own sob caught in this throat. Whatever miracle it was the only part that mattered was that his son was alive.
“Mio piccolo uno, I thought I had lost you!” Ezio buried his face further into Giovanni’s hair, still holding and rocking him. “I don’t care anymore! Not what anyone else says or thinks or does. I love you. I won’t lose you! Even if it means handing over the leadership of the Brotherhood and it’s just the two of us. You’re the only one that matters to me. I…I…”
Giovanni looked up with a soft smile. Even though it pulled against bruised (perhaps even broken) ribs he raised his arm until he could cup Ezio’s cheek in his hand. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He only need to look into Ezio’s eyes.
“I love you Giovanni.”
“I love you too, Ezio. Mio tesoro.”
Impervious Fragility 22/22 correct format
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-05 02:00 (UTC) - ExpandImpervious Fragility: Epilogue
(Anonymous) 2011-05-05 01:58 am (UTC)(link)He turned his head to bury his head against a strong neck as the weight of a familiar arm came about his waist. The other interlaced their fingers together, twin rings gleaming in the moonlight, bringing it up to be gifted with a soft kiss. “Is it all done, tesoro?”
“Si, piccolo.” Ezio breathed a sigh over his lover’s fingers. He had never imagined he would actually live to this age. That he and Giovanni would have so many, many years together. Together or separate (oh, how hard it had been to let Giovanni go on the mission to Mexico to retrieve the Skull!), they were one now. “The seeds have been planted, clues to those who will come after and have need of the Apple.”
Giovanni smiled as he turned in Ezio’s embrace. His hand came up, unbidden, to stroke a hooded cheek. He could see strands of grey hair every now and then in the moonlight. It didn’t matter. Ezio was still handsome in his eyes and heart. No matter how young or old it came down to one thing: they were together. He took Ezio’s hand and kissed his ring. “Let’s go home, amore.”
“Yes, let’s go home~”
____________
Well Op and readers, that's the end! I hope you enjoyed it!
In case there was some confusion, I referred to some portions of Project Legacy throughout, but especially towards the end. Moskva is Moscow, and Koln, Germania is Cologne, Germany (as they are referred to in AC: PJ.) Well that, and I have to use Koln and the Germany missions because I have ancestors that come out of Koln.
The two missions Giovanni was involved in can be seen in the Contracts section of Project Legacy. I'm not sure why he had a near death experience with the carriage but that was where the story took me XD But they were live happily ever after :D And yes, they have wedding rings. It might not be recognized by the church/world but they're married :P
That's about it. Have to work getting this on my Y!gal now. And writing this has been poking my muse to write an exploratory piece on Giovanni...
OP
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-06 15:55 (UTC) - ExpandWriter anon
(Anonymous) - 2011-05-06 19:19 (UTC) - Expand