asscreedkinkmeme | Kink Meme - Assassin's Creed pt.2

2

The phone number presented an interesting conundrum that Leonardo was still puzzling over the next day. Was it a home phone? If so, he ran the risk of getting someone other than Ezio and would then have to explain why he had phoned the house. He had never been good with lying and with the school year over, it seemed unlikely for a teacher to be calling. That meant it was probably a cell number but that did nothing to ease his nerves. Even though Ezio was not technically his student anymore, Leonardo was still hounded by the fear of being caught with an underage young man. There was no evidence of their one time together but certainly having his cell number would raise a few eyebrows.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered aloud. “Clearly he wanted me to call or he wouldn't have given a number, and he wouldn't have given out one that just anyone would answer, right? Right.” He punched the digits into his phone and hit “send” before his resolve faltered.

By the third ring, he had completed a mental one-eighty and was convinced he'd dialed the main house. He was paralyzed by the thought that any minute Maria or Giovanni or perhaps even Claudia would pick up and ask who was calling. Hanging up hardly seemed an option either, when most phones these days had caller id. When the possibility of having to leave a message struck him, he nearly dropped the phone. Then the ringing abruptly ended as someone—or something—picked up and Leonardo braced himself.

“Hello?”

He released a silent sigh of relief at the familiar voice on the other end, although it came over the line as a low mumble and barely sounded coherent. Leonardo glanced at his clock, wondering if he'd picked a bad time, but saw it was nearly 10.

“Um, Ezio? It's...Leonardo.”

“Oh. Hey.” It was amazing how much his voice could change over just two words. He sounded surprised at first and then his voice dropped into a softer tone that made a stupid smile break out on Leonardo's face and something flutter in his chest.

“Hey,” the teacher echoed, instinctively adopting the same tone. “Did I wake you?” There was a rustling sound and Leonardo tried hard not to think of Ezio in bed, Ezio moving around under the sheets, Ezio probably wearing very little under the sheets...

“Yeah but I don't mind.” He was beginning to sound a little more awake now. “We had a ton of people come over last night; Federico wanted to throw one last party for me. I drank so much soda I don't think I stopped vibrating from the caffeine until close to 4.” He chuckled and Leonardo couldn't help shaking his head, even though he knew Ezio couldn't see it. “So...what's up?”

“I was calling about your birthday.”

“Yeah?” There was a slightly breathless quality to Ezio’s voice that made Leonardo's pulse leap.

“Yes.” Leonardo licked his lips nervously and struggled on. “I was thinking if you don’t have any plans—with your friends, I mean—I would like to take you out to dinner.” The words felt so awkward, they were nearly painful.

“Yeah, sure! I, uh, I was hoping you’d want to do something.” It was a little gratifying to hear Ezio also stumbling over his words, his blush practically audible through the phone. “And then after dinner…?”

“We’ll talk about that at dinner,” Leonardo said firmly. He'd given this whole situation plenty of thought and vowed that if they were going to do this, they would do it right, like adults. Especially if there was more to the tension between them than just carnal desires.

A long pause followed his words and Leonardo wondered if Ezio was going to say something that would prove him wrong, something to the effect of wanting only sex and not the trappings of a relationship. The silence stretched on and then he heard that rustling sound again. Ezio’s voice returned, low and throaty and sounding as if he had the phone pressed right up against his lips.

“I can't stop thinking about you.”

The words were like liquid sin, pouring into his ear and dripping down through him, leaving a tingling warmth in their wake. Leonardo found himself clutching his phone in a white-knuckle grip and tried to relax.

“Ezio—”

“I did what you said but it’s not the same.” Ezio’s voice hitched on the last word and Leonardo could suddenly—and quite clearly—picture what was going on at the other end of the line. “I want your hands on me.” The emphasis on the word came out as a frustrated growl and Leonardo squeezed his eyes shut, praying for control. His own arousal tented the front of his slacks and he pressed a hand there, trying to will his erection away unsuccessfully.

It would be so easy to let things take their natural course, to coax Ezio along with murmured instructions until he was gasping Leonardo's name. He had certainly missed that sound these last two weeks with only memory to serve him. It was so tempting and yet it went completely against his decision to treat Ezio like an adult and not just give in to the demands of his lust-addled mind.

He didn’t realize how long he’d been silent, while his conscience waged war with the demands of his dick, until he heard the sheets rustling again.

“Leonardo?” The uncertainty in Ezio's voice is what finally brought him back down to earth.

“Yes. Yes, I’m here,” he said, releasing a shaky breath. “Ezio, you are going to be the death of me.” Though I doubt I will mind. “I'm trying to go about this properly but you make it very hard.” He thought he heard a muffled snicker, probably at his choice of words, and couldn't help smiling. “I have enough trouble trying not to think about you all the time without you adding fuel to the fire.” He tried to keep his tone light, hoping to stamp out the fuse that had been burning down to a yet another breaking point. He heard more shifting under the sheets.

“You know what I'm going to do once we hang up,” Ezio said, his voice a little more steady but with a touch of challenge in his words. Leonardo chuckled.

“Of course, but if I'm going to listen to you, I want to be able to see you as well. And touch you and taste you.” Leonardo's voice had grown hoarse again, his thoughts once more heading into dangerous territory, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “I think I'd rather wait and have all of that then just a quickie over the phone, hm?”

The silence spoke volumes, Ezio no doubt blushing in embarrassment at his desperation only moments earlier.

“Good point,” he mumbled sheepishly and Leonardo smiled.

“I will see you at your birthday party then,” he said and then hesitated as he thought of something. “Was there anything you wanted? As a present?”

“You.”

There was a trace of heat in that one word but also a touch of hope and that soft, unspoken emotion that had warmed his tone at the beginning of their conversation. Leonardo felt heat in his cheeks as his heart did a fluttery dance in his chest again.

“I will see you soon,” he said, hating the inadequacy of his words.

“Bye.”

Reluctantly, Leonardo hit “end” and stared at the blinking call time without really seeing it. Eventually, he shook free of his thoughts and realized his erection from before had not completely diminished. Tossing the phone on his couch with a frustrated sigh, he headed for the bathroom. No doubt Ezio would be resuming what he'd started on the phone and that would give him plenty to think about as he took care of his own problem.

I am LIVING for this fic, lovely writer. <3 LIVING.

I should have more in the morning! I'm so glad you're enjoying it! :D

WANT MOAR.

Also, Leo's 7 years older than Ezio, anon. ♥

Moar soon! ;3

I know that's the age difference in the games, but for this AU I had started writing it with the idea that Leonardo had been at the school long enough to teach Federico before Ezio. Since I forgot Federico is 3 years older than Ezio, that would mean Leonardo had started teaching at the school when he was 18, which seemed unlikely. So I kind of had to stretch the age gap a little until it made more sense, though I'm still assuming Leonardo started teaching at 24 which is awfully young for a teacher but not impossible, I suppose.

tl;dr = I put waaaay too much thought into this. XD

AC2's bio on Federico has him four years older than Ezio.

Hey, it's a (hot, smexy) AU, who cares. XD

Ah well, that's what I get for trusting the AssCreed wiki's timeline. :P

Anon:
I just made some valentines cookies. I would be willing to (virtually) share them with you if you continue this story. They're chocolate chip with little heart shaped thingies on top. Sprinkle thingies.

This anon wants you to know that you are a fabulous writer, and your Ezio is so cute, I can't hardly stand myself. I squealed, anon. Squealed. While reading.

Omg those sound adorable and delicious! I will absolutely be continuing, RL is just not giving me the time I'd hoped to have for this. I'm glad you're enjoying it! :D Hopefully you didn't get any strange looks for the squealing?

3

The idea for a gift came to Leonardo a few days later, as he was preparing his students' final grades to send in for their report cards. It had sent him running all over town looking for a store that sold the proper materials for what he wanted to do, and then he ended up doing most of the work at the school, since his studio apartment had little space. That would have been fine, since the place should have been deserted for the summer, but apparently not everyone was gone for the holiday. The janitor had lurked just around the corner from where he was spraying fixative, his violet eyes both intrigued and smugly all-knowing. Leonardo shot him an exasperated look and retreated to his classroom to finish once the canvas was dry.

By the time the day of the party rolled around, the present sat patiently by his apartment door, a 24x15 inch rectangle wrapped carefully in heavy brown paper and tied with twine. He had debated trying to wrap it again in more celebratory paper but decided that would just be overkill. He was already starting to have second thoughts about his choice but told himself after all the work put into wrapping it, he had no choice but to give it to Ezio.

After at least an hour of debating an outfit that would be “appropriate” for the evening—and reminding himself he'd be going through this again tomorrow—Leonardo hurried out the door, the directions in his pocket and the present held carefully by two corners. In the end, he'd chosen khakis and a light blue dress shirt, figuring that something he would wear to school should be okay for a family get-together. He buckled the gift in the backseat and then spent the drive over constantly checking his rear-view mirror to make sure it was still seated snugly back there.

Ezio's family lived in the richer part of town, which was unsurprising considering his father owned a bank with several locations. The house itself was practically a mansion—at least three stories high—though the outside was conservative when compared to some of the others he'd driven past.

The anxiety from graduation day returned as Leonardo parked and climbed out of his car, though it was mixed with some irritation now. At some point, he was going to have to get over his terror at talking with Ezio's family, especially if he wanted things to last beyond their first date, but he kept telling himself they could address those issues once they were past Ezio's birthday. For now, he was still seventeen and Leonardo did not fancy trying to tell either of Ezio's parents of his intentions.

God forbid his uncle finds out, he thought wearily. Retrieving the present from his backseat, he made his way up the front steps and rang the doorbell.

Maria was the first to greet him and she smiled warmly as she held the door open for him.

“Mr. da Vinci, I'm so glad you could make it.”

“Thank you for inviting me. And please, call me Leonardo.”

She inclined her head to acknowledge this as she shut the door. Her eyes flickered briefly to the package in his arms, but though he saw curiosity in her expression, she didn't ask about it.

“Let me show you where you can set that. It looks a little cumbersome.”

“A bit,” he agreed, and couldn't help looking around with a touch of wonder as he was led through the house.

While not as reserved as the outside, the interior décor was still far from gaudy. There was a refined elegance that spoke of owners who had wealth but preferred not to flaunt it. When they at last came to a room and Maria gestured for him to enter, Leonardo froze in the doorway, staring at a painting that hung opposite the entrance.

It was of a woman's head, her face tilted down as if looking at something in her arms or her lap. Her hair fell in waves around her but the curls were hazy, like they had been left unfinished, and there was only the bare outline of her neck and shoulders. Her face held the most detail, revealing the gentle look of love and tenderness that was undiminished by her downward gaze. The lines of the drawing were done in a warm sienna and Leonardo remembered how frustrating it had been to get exactly the right hue he had wanted for that piece.

Maria glanced between him and the picture, smiling enigmatically.

“It's a lovely portrait. Did you mean to leave it unfinished?” she asked.

Leonardo blushed, both at the question and at himself for staring at his own work like an idiot. He moved into the room to lean his gift against the wall, next to the table where a small pile of presents lay waiting.

“I had intended to go back and add a little more detail,” he explained, “but when I took this teaching job, it got put in a box and I never could find it again. Now I see it must have been mixed in with the finished works I eventually gave my agent to sell.” He glanced at Maria somewhat sheepishly. “I hope you didn't have to pay full price for something half-done.”

“Nonsense,” she replied, dismissing his comment with a wave of her hand. “I think it's beautiful as it is so don't worry about what I paid for it.” She hooked her arm with his and led him out into the hall again.

They found the rest of the family in the spacious den and Leonardo was relieved to see he wasn't the only non-relative there. He was a little surprised to see Headmaster de' Medici, considering Ezio's track record with the school's authority, but judging by the way he was speaking with Giovanni, they apparently knew each other outside of Ezio's visits to the office. Aside from the headmaster and himself, there weren't any others from the school but there were several faces he didn't recognize.

He had told himself not to but almost immediately after entering the room with Maria, his eyes sought out Ezio. The young man was standing with Federico off to the side, his back to the door, but his brother must have said something because shortly after Leonardo spotted him, Ezio spun around. When he saw Leonardo, his face brightened and Leonardo felt the now-familiar squeeze around his heart. Thankfully, he did not come rushing over but Maria apparently noticed the exchange and, with her arm still linked with Leonardo's, they drifted over.

“Hey, uh, Mr. da Vinci,” Ezio said and Leonardo wondered if the others noticed his slight hesitation. Apparently neither one of them was good at subterfuge.

“Happy birthday, Ezio,” Leonardo replied. “A day early, that is.” Ezio looked good, dressed in a short-sleeved, white dress shirt and black slacks, quite different from his usual school attire of a t-shirt and jeans.

Behave yourself, his conscience reminded him.

“Ezio said you were taking him to dinner tomorrow,” Maria spoke up, her tone casual, and Leonardo's heart stopped. He tried not to let any of the sudden panic he felt show in his expression; he was impressed that he saw nothing in Ezio's eyes. Finally, he managed a smile and a chuckle he felt probably looked normal.

“Ah, yes, if that's all right?” Maria's smile was warm and genuine, not a trace of distrust or suspicion in her eyes as she replied.

“Of course. I'm sure Giovanni said this after the graduation ceremony, but we're very grateful Ezio has had a teacher like you to help him stay grounded in his studies. We all know he's had problems 'acting out'.”

“Mother,” Ezio huffed but Maria just chuckled and unwound her arm from Leonardo's, patting her son on the cheek.

“I'm going to make sure your father isn't discussing another of his crazy business proposals with Lorenzo.” She turned to Leonardo. “Please make yourself at home. There are drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the kitchen; Ezio can show you where.”

Leonardo was desperate to ask exactly how Ezio had gone about telling his parents about their date, but with Federico around he had to maintain his appearance as just a teacher.

“How is college going?” he asked the elder brother, who shrugged.

“Good. I've been trying to convince Ezio to join me but he says he's not interested in business school.” Federico chuckled as Ezio frowned, arms crossed in a distinctly defensive posture.

“I just said I haven't decided yet, that's all.” Leonardo made a mental note to try pursuing that topic the following evening over dinner. Ezio's plans for the future—and how it affected them—had been on his mind since that afternoon in the classroom, but he knew they could talk more openly once they were alone.

Re: Ezio's education...I was JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING. I love how poor Leo is trying to handle this like an adult AND make sure Ezio doesn't screw up his life, but he still really wants it.

I also love how jumpy he is. Poor guy. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment(s)!! <333

They managed to make conversation until Ezio finally asked if Leonardo wanted something to drink and led him to the kitchen. Like the other rooms he'd seen, this one was just as spacious with a counter that served as a divider separating the room into the dining and cooking areas. The chairs had been removed but there was a long table with quite a spread of food laid out on fancy serving dishes. Ezio went to stand behind the counter where various bottles of wine, beer, soda and a large bowl of punch sat.

“Punch is fine, thank you,” Leonardo said when Ezio gestured to the drinks. Now that they were alone, Leonardo felt some of his anxiety fade, no longer having to wonder if someone was watching him watch Ezio. “So, you mentioned the dinner?”

Ezio glanced at him almost guiltily, pausing with the punch ladle halfway to the glass, then looked down at what he was doing.

“Yeah. I thought, um, if you were going to pick me up...” He trailed off as he walked over to hand Leonardo the drink.

“It's fine,” Leonardo said with a reassuring smile. He reached out to touch Ezio's arm, his fingers brushing against skin briefly before he forced himself to draw away. “I actually prefer not having to sneak around it.”

“Oh, well...I didn't mention that it was a...a date,” Ezio said, glancing down again, his cheeks pink. Leonardo wanted to kiss him suddenly, to take away that hesitancy and replace it with the eager hunger he'd witnessed before.

“That's fine, too,” he said instead, gripping the glass like it was a lifeline. “Let's see how it goes and then you can decide how to approach them about it.” Ezio nodded and this time when he looked up, he was smiling. Leonardo swallowed, feeling again the urge to kiss him. “We should probably go back to the party.”

“Yeah,” Ezio said but neither of them were willing to make the first move. Finally, with clear reluctance, Ezio turned and led the way back to the den, Leonardo trailing after him.

As they re-entered the room, Maria approached, saying she had someone she wanted to introduce Leonardo to. Apparently she felt the need to ensure Leonardo did not get stuck talking only to his student for the evening. As much as he wouldn't mind that, he still smiled and let himself be led over to a couple he had previously noted as other non-relatives.

The man looked to be about Leonardo's age, perhaps a little older, and carried himself with the stiff air of someone who had spent time in the military. He seemed restless, sometimes resting his hands on his hips and then dropping them to his sides after a moment. The woman at his side was almost dainty in comparison, her head just coming to the man's shoulders and her arms folded modestly in front of her. Surprisingly, she looked considerably younger that the man, like she could be closer to Federico's age. Both looked up with interest as Leonardo was brought over.

“Leonardo, this is Bartolomeo d'Alviano and his wife, Pantasilea. Bartolomeo is an instructor at the military academy just outside of town and Pantasilea is taking courses at Federico's school,” Maria explained. “Leonardo is the head of the art department at the high school.”

Bartolomeo stuck his hand out to shake Leonardo's, his grip nearly as crushing as Mario's had been; Pantasilea's, thankfully, was only politely firm.

Maria left him to check on her other guests, ever the considerate hostess, and Leonardo was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't difficult to make conversation with this pair. Bartolomeo had a gruff voice and talked a little louder than was necessary, perhaps, but whenever his voice would rise in volume, his wife laid a hand on his arm and he immediately would pause and start again, this time in tones more conducive to speaking indoors.

They discussed the differences between a public school like Leonardo's versus the private academy Bartolomeo worked at—aside from the military focus—and Pantasilea was exceptionally well-versed in both classic and modern art history, challenging Leonardo to reach back to memories of his college years in order to keep up. He hadn't realized an hour had gone by until Maria returned to say they were gathering in the other room so Ezio could open his presents.

Leonardo's pulse quickened as he followed his companions and the worry from before of what Ezio would think had come back. As he watched Ezio examine the gifts—and saw him peering curiously at Leonardo's, so different from the brightly-wrapped boxes—his doubts redoubled. Ezio started with the presents on the table but after opening several and expressing his thanks, he gave in to his curiosity and picked up the oversized rectangle.

Leonardo belatedly realized he had forgotten to put a tag on it but when Ezio glanced up and their eyes met, he offered a small nod. It would be obvious enough who the gift was from once it was unwrapped. Ezio tugged at the bows in the twine and peeled away the brown paper with more care than he'd shown the other presents. When he'd pushed aside enough to reveal the corner of a polished oak frame, Leonardo thought he heard Maria murmur her approval, but he couldn't look to see. He felt transfixed, watching Ezio for some kind of reaction. At first, the young man just stared at the picture, his blank expression making Leonardo's stomach twist uneasily, but then a blush crept slowly up his face and he looked up at his teacher.

“What is it, Ezio?” Maria spoke up after a moment had passed. “Turn it around so we can see.”

Hesitantly, Ezio did so. The picture behind the glass was his year-end project: the scenic view done in pastels. He had made a few subtle changes before submitting it for the final grade, but otherwise it was the same as the afternoon he'd asked Leonardo to help him with it. Once it was revealed, several of the guests, along with his parents, moved closer for a better look.

“This is your work?” Giovanni asked and chuckled when Ezio nodded, his ears and cheeks still pink. “There's nothing to be embarrassed about, son. It's very well done.”

But Leonardo knew the real cause for the flushed expression and he was trying hard not to succumb to the same thoughts. His heart beat rapidly in his chest and he felt his smile widen as Ezio met his eyes again. This had been the right choice, after all. The others would see it as a sweet gesture from a teacher to his student, but for them, the picture held a deeper meaning.

Once everyone had had a chance to examine the painting and shower Ezio with praise—as well as remark to Leonardo what a thoughtful gift it was—Ezio finished opening the rest of his gifts and then they moved to the kitchen for cake and ice cream. As they filed out, Ezio somehow managed to time his exit so he brushed past Leonardo in the doorway. His hand found Leonardo's and he gave a quick squeeze, throwing a grin over his shoulder as he moved on. Leonardo couldn't help the ridiculous smile he felt forming in response.

When the party began to wind down a few hours later, Leonardo said his goodbyes to Bartolomeo and Pantasilea and moved over to where Maria and Giovanni were speaking with Lorenzo.

“Thank you again for inviting me,” he said, once there was a lull in their conversation.

“It was our pleasure,” Giovanni replied. “We’re glad you could make it.”

“The painting you framed for Ezio is lovely,” Maria spoke up. “It's a shame he doesn't have more interest in becoming an artist, but even so, you did an incredible job shaping what skill he has.” Leonardo felt himself blushing again, flustered by the praise.

“Ah, well, thank you.” He held up a hand when it seemed Maria was going to see him to the door. “Please, don't let me interrupt you. I can let myself out.”

“All right. Have a good night, Leonardo.”

“You do the same.”

*frantic F5 mashing*

*joins you in doing same*

He glanced around as he left the room but didn't see Ezio. Trying not to let his disappointment show, he reminded himself they would see each other again the following evening. He would just have to call to confirm what time he should pick him up.

He was almost to the front door, passing by an adjoining hallway, when movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and as he turned to see what it was, someone ran into him. It was obvious who when lips sealed over his own and a tongue delved into his mouth eagerly. Ezio pressed him into the wall, his hands coming up to cup his face and his kiss nearly as desperate as it had been a month ago. Leonardo was too stunned at first to react, his hands hovering uselessly at his shoulders, but then he decided not to argue, not when everyone else was still in the den.

Slipping his arms around Ezio's waist, he kissed back with the hunger he'd been keeping at bay for weeks, devouring the muffled sounds Ezio made as the young man ground against him. It seemed to go on and on and yet it wasn't long enough; surprisingly, Ezio was the one to break their lip-lock. His cheeks were flushed, his lips reddened from their kissing, and Leonardo could feel him trembling, possibly with the effort of holding himself back.

“I love it,” Ezio whispered, and Leonardo knew he meant the painting. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Leonardo murmured, one hand rubbing circles on Ezio's back, his fingers drinking in the feel of him. “Is seven o'clock all right for tomorrow?”

Ezio nodded then leaned forward for one last quick kiss. This time when it ended, he released Leonardo and stepped back, clearly trying to collect himself before he had to return to the den; Leonardo was grateful he could escape to his car. He backed the last few steps to the door and then paused, not surprised to find his own hand shaking a little as he rested it on the door knob.

“Good night, Ezio.”

“Good night.”

...I just read the last three updates over again. Twice. I love love love this story. I can't even tell you.

I'm so delighted to hear that!

I'm working feverishly to get this finished so expect to see more more either tomorrow night or Wednesday!

Re: writer!anon here

(Anonymous) - 2011-02-15 06:45 (UTC) - Expand

4

At seven o'clock sharp, Leonardo was again pulling up to the Auditore household with his stomach in knots. He'd had butterflies all day but it had grown worse the closer it came for him to leave his apartment. On the drive over, he alternated lifted one hand off the steering wheel to hold it to the vent, trying to dry his palms. He'd chosen a black suit for the evening—his only suit, really—with a deep blue shirt and matte silver tie. As he'd been getting dressed, he realized he'd never mentioned to Ezio where he was taking him to dinner, but the thought of calling so last-minute had been too daunting to attempt. Especially when after their “goodnight” the previous evening, Leonardo was finding it harder than ever to convince himself to behave, at least through their first date.

As he stepped out of the car, already trying to think of answers to some of the questions Ezio’s parents might ask—where were they going, why was he so dressed up, when was he bringing Ezio back—the front door to the house opened and Ezio himself came out. He was also wearing a suit and as he came down the driveway, Leonardo saw his shirt was a rich crimson and his tie black. He was so stunned by the sight—how it seemed to age Ezio a year or two—that he didn't even notice the backpack Ezio had over one shoulder until he stopped by the car. The young man shifted nervously under the attention, suddenly reminding Leonardo of that fateful afternoon that had started all of this.

“I told my parents you'd drop me off at a friend's house afterward,” Ezio said. “If, um, if I can't stay with you?” He shuffled his feet again, trying to look nonchalant while fighting to hide which option was his obvious preference. Leonardo swallowed and chastised himself for staring.

“We can talk about it at dinner,” he replied and Ezio nodded. “Go ahead and put your bag in the back.”

It wasn't until they were pulling away from the house that Leonardo remembered to be relieved he didn't have to face his parents again.

Neither spoke on the way over, the tension so palpable, Leonardo nearly opened a window just to see if that would help. He kept his hands firmly on the steering wheel, resisting the urge to reach over and touch Ezio, even if only to take his hand and remind himself this was really happening. Ezio, on the other hand, spent most of the ride looking out his window, drumming his fingers on his knees restlessly. The looming specter of his age was gone, but Leonardo was afraid that if he started with one touch, he’d be unable to stop. Assuming things went that far tonight, he had hoped it would be in the comfort of his bed and not the car.

The restaurant was a cozy little Italian establishment that Leonardo had chosen because it was upscale dining without being too formal. The booths had high backs that gave each table a modicum of privacy and Leonardo had specifically requested one instead of a table when he’d placed the reservation. Once they were seated, the waiter came over to explain the specials and Ezio watched, bemused, as Leonardo asked for their vegetarian recommendations. He was still puzzling over this revelation when the waiter left to give them time to decide.

“You don’t eat any meat?” he asked and Leonardo shook his head. “Really?”

“It’s not that unusual these days,” the teacher said. “You don’t have any friends who are vegetarians?” Now it was Ezio's turn to shake his head but a thoughtful furrow was forming between his brows.

“What about eggs?”

“I will eat eggs.”

“Fish?”

“No.” Leonardo chuckled when Ezio looked even more confused and decided to explain. “I don’t like the idea of causing pain to any animal, so that’s why I choose not to eat meat.” Ezio nodded and looked down at the menu, letting that sink in, but then his head jerked up, his expression stricken.

“Does it bother you that I eat meat?”

It probably wasn’t the best reaction but Leonardo couldn’t help but laugh, though he tried to smother it with his hand. Ezio looked so distraught by the idea, he wondered what the young man would do if he said yes. Instead, he tried to calm himself and look a bit more serious as he leaned forward to pat Ezio's hand.

“No, Ezio, you’re fine,” he said. “I don’t expect you to change your eating habits to suit my choices.” The worry in Ezio's expression lingered a moment more and then faded. Before Leonardo could draw away his hand, Ezio shifted to lace their fingers together, smiling shyly. Leonardo felt his heart hiccup in its rhythm and left their hands together for a few more minutes before giving his fingers a squeeze and pulling free. Shortly after that, the waiter returned to take their orders.

When he was gone again, it left them with some time to themselves while they waited for the food to be ready. Ezio fidgeted with his glass of water, rubbing his thumb down the sides of the glass to smear away the condensation. He glanced up when Leonardo cleared his throat.

“So how does it feel, now that you’ve graduated?”

“About the same,” Ezio said with a shrug, “with a few exceptions.” A smirk tugged at the young man’s lips and Leonardo had no doubt what he meant by that.

“What are your plans for college?” Ezio's expression closed down and his gaze returned to the glass and he shrugged again. Leonardo wondered if his parents were pushing for him to go in one direction when he wanted to do something else. “I imagine there’s probably some pressure to work towards taking over the family business?” Leonardo’s suspicions were confirmed when a faint scowl stole across Ezio's face, but when no reply seemed forthcoming, the teacher sighed. “Ezio, I am not trying to pry but I would like to know. Perhaps I can help you decide on a major?”

“I just don't know,” Ezio muttered, sitting back in his seat and abandoning the glass. His eyes were a whirlwind of emotions: frustration, irritation, confusion. “Father is grooming Federico to eventually work for the bank and he keeps saying I should do the same but…” He looked away again but Leonardo waited patiently until he was ready to continue. “It’s boring! It’s not what I want to do and I’ve tried telling him that…”

“Do you have any idea of what you might want to do?” Leonardo half-expected another careless shrug but Ezio instead just looked at him before eventually glancing down.

“I want to stay here,” he said quietly, and although the with you went unspoken, Leonardo still heard it. He’d been worried Ezio might say that.

“Ezio, you can’t put off college just because we slept together,” he sighed. “I don’t want that and you shouldn’t either.” Ezio was still staring at the table, his hands in his lap, and Leonardo was reminded again of their age difference. Perhaps a different tactic was necessary. “The college Federico is going to is not that far from my apartment. There’s no reason we couldn’t continue seeing each other even if you went there.” Ezio’s head whipped up so fast, Leonardo was amazed he didn’t hurt himself. Hope was beginning to dawn on his face.

“Could I stay with you?”

Leonardo hesitated, trying to figure out how best to word his reply.

“College is a very important step in life,” he began, and winced at how awkward and “fatherly” his words sounded. “You can meet some very interesting people there, and living in a dorm gives you a chance to be free from your parent's rules for once.” He held up a hand when Ezio opened his mouth, no doubt to argue that he could do the same living with Leonardo. “Plus, I think some colleges require their freshman to stay on campus so they can better keep an eye on them and make sure they’re not having any problems.” Ezio frowned, clearly not happy, so Leonardo pulled out his trump card. “And what would your parents say? They might be willing to accept us having a relationship but I doubt they’d look as kindly on it if you suddenly announced you were moving in with me.”

T_T All of this just makes me so damn happy...
Like, ball in my throat erotically happy.
You're just too amazing.

I'm very glad to hear it! Thanks for reading! :D

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