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Chapter 7 ~A last chance~
You waited until Ezio put his feet going towards the town to enter the house, Mario leaded first the Auditore ladies, Maria directly to her now room upstairs and Claudia stayed in a studio, apparently Mario would need her help on some business administration for the villa, the poor child almost tantrum in there but due that you were present she contained herself.

Finally you and Giovanni’s brother headed to his private studio in the back of the one Claudia was in, it was a really big and his walls and floor were of marble, just like the rest of the house and it was illuminated by a candelabrum on the ceiling apart from some candles on the walls, also there was an exquisite carpet in the centre with his desk on it.

-Please take a sit bambina (girl) –He motioned his hand to the chair behind his desk, the pain was Sharp but your manners could more than your physical needs right now.

-No I’m alright grazie (thanks). –You answered with a shy smile and due that you refused to take sit he did.

-Va bene, now tell me what do you know about all this situation? –The man stared at you expectantly with his elbows resting on the desk and fingers interlocked, head positioned behind them.

-I… would like to start from myself and continue on, is that alright? –Mario nodded –Bene, I’m (Y/N)(Y/L/N) and I am a childhood friend of Ezio’s family but five years ago I had to leave unexpectedly due that my mother was killed by templars. –You could see how the man’s ears pointed at you in attention. –I left with my father to a residence in France; in there I started my training and successfully finished it. –You lifted your left hand and removed the glove to show him the burnt. –It’s been no more than five days since I arrived back to Firenze. –You put on the glove and returned your hand to your side. –I had a personal talk with Giovanni before everything happened he told me about his suspects on who might have killed my mother and that maybe they were also involved in a complot against the Medici family, his “friend” –A grin of disgust and a twinge of guilt strike you. –Uberto Alberti was supposed to help him on finding these people but he betrayed him and made him and Ezio’s brothers being hung. –You looked down for a moment, it was still too fresh on your mind, that exact moment and how useless you were.–My father sent Ezio’s some letters about his Distrust with the Gonfaloniere but I do not know about Giovanni’s responses… -You looked up to find a very serious gaze over you. –Also as you could appreciate Ezio doesn’t know about the assassins’ existence, Federico was supposed to be trained soon but this happened. –Mario reclined in his seat, his eyes shut as if he was in pain or something, a few seconds passed before he talked.

-Nipote, nipote, nipote… -He sighed and opened his eyes. –Does he know about you? –You gulped and shook your head with shame. –Why didn’t you tell him? –His words were like daggers stabbing you right in the chest, you honestly asked yourself the same question.

-I… I never found a good moment… -your returned to the floor, you wished it just opened itself and left you fall into its depths to never see the sunlight again, that would be better than having to confront Ezio. Mario saw you and scratched his head a little, the sound of his chair moving and his footsteps getting closer were just like distant echoes.

-Everything is going to be just fine bambina, don’t worry. –The arms of the old man embraced you in a soft hug, his warmth seemed like your father’s, you hadn’t realized how much you needed him until now, how much you missed him, how much you loved him, his advices and jokes, you were near the tears but you made yourself the strong one and contained them. –Now why don’t you tell me a little more about yourself huh? –He pulled you softly and smiled to you. –I would like to know more about my future… -Mario stopped for a few seconds and you could see confusion in his face. –I don’t really know how to call you… -You snorted and then burst in laughter, Mario looked at you perplexed but then joined you, it felt so good to laugh after all that has happened. Both of you kept talking for at least half hour before Ezio returned with his new tools.

-Ezio! - You saluted him first but only received a cold look from the man, the torture begins.

-Salute Uncle, I did as you asked. –His voice was the same as always, Mario looked at you worried about this change of behavior in his always-willing-to-say-hello-to-a-girl nephew.

-And quickly too, Ben ffato! (Well done)… -He patted you on the shoulder to cheer you up but it didn’t do that much. –now let’s teach you how to fight. –Mario was already heading for the entrance when Ezio spoke.

-No as I said, we are leaving. –He said firmly and looked at you for a brief second; Mario stopped and turned to face him.

-Ezio! You barely held your own against Vieri. You won’t survive a week on the road. – He explained moving his hands around making Ezio grin. -If you want to leave so be it. But at least do so armed with the skills and knowledge necessary to defend yourself, if not for me, for them .-Mario motioned his head towards you making Ezio give you another quick gaze, his eyes were colder than you have ever seen them, even those brief milliseconds they were on you were enough to cause you a pain thousands of times worse than the bruise.

-Fine. –He finally replied making the old man smile.

-Ottimo! (Very good) –He turned on his heels and led the way to the front part of the villa.

An idea came to you and you asked them if they could wait for you before beginning, the men looked confused at each other but nodded. You went to the studio to see Claudia busy writing things on a big book and asked her if she could help you to pour the balm on the bruise, she agreed happily and quickly helped you to undress and do so making the sensation of needles on your skin disappear, she then helped you put everything on again except for the hidden blades and the gabardine, you even rolled your sleeves until your elbows and then went to meet them.

-Ready. –You said as you walked making them look at you surprised for the sudden change of mood and clothes.

-(Y/N) what are you doing? –Ezio talked to you surprised but still somewhat cold.

-Helping you on your training of course! –You said as if it was nothing faking a smile, in this way maybe he would be able to release all his repressed feeling towards you after all, words never were your strong point.

-But weren’t you hurt? –Mario inquired worried.

-I took the medicine the doctor gave me so I will be fine, don’t worry Messer Mario. –You smiled at him. –Now can we begin please, oh by the way do you have a sword to handle me? –Older man smirked very pleased and pointed at you.

-I like you Bambina! –He exclaimed happily and threw you his sword, Ezio looked at you astonished and you returned him a shy gaze.

Both of you entered the mini-arena and took your places, you by Mario’s side and Ezio on the opposite one, the sword Mario gave you was slightly lighter than the ones you were used to, now you understood and thanked your father for pushing you so hard in every training.

-You can swing a sword to be sure. But offense alone will not carry a battle. You must survive long enough to strike. I will teach you how to dodge.- Mario started his explanation while Ezio and you listened him carefully, you swung a little your sword and strike the air a few times to know how much strength you will use to avoid hurting him or yourself.

-You said that my father was more than just a banker? –Ezio asked concerned while looking you right in the eye, as if he was stabbing you with them. You looked back at Mario asking for his permission to attack and he nodded.

-No use dancing around it I suppose. Your father was an Assassin, Ezio. –You were on your way towards him but tripped in the air, the comment hit you like a bucket of cold water, you were expecting him to have more contact but well they are men and worse they are Auditore. You returned to the battle and saw Ezio waiting for you, the metal on your hand swung deadly close to him but he jumped to avoid it in time, he tried to attack but you blocked it easily make him misstep, Ezio restore his balance and looked at Mario.

-I told you before: My father was a paper pusher –He protested letting his guard off for a moment, which you took at your advantage to flash your swords against him again, he barely could escape it by rolling off on the ground but the metal reached his hood cutting it.

-Never let your guard off. –Those words were colder than ice, when you got into battle any track of your kind nature was erased and Ezio seemed to get that, due that he stared at you from the floor and nodded firmly but in his face there was a little of shock. You held your hand out to help but he refused to take it standing on his own, this time more attentive.

-Be gentle with him (Y/N) he is still learning! –Mario laughed behind you making you smirk. –Now that you have learned how to dodge your enemy’s attacks, let’s show you how to turn them to your advantage. –You returned to the basic position you dad had taught you years ago and waited for Ezio to take the initiative.

-All this talk of assassins and templars. It reeks of fantasy. –He approached you cautiously, his sword on the front and his feet doing the right movements to slid gracefully on the floor, he may not be a full assassin but this clearly was on his blood. He attacked you clenching his metal against yours and then giving a step back but you didn’t wait for him to be ready to attack again, your sword swung at the right moment to let him give you a soft punch in the face, very soft, making you move backwards.

-Like something from an old parchment covered in arcane writing perhaps? –Mario inquired as Ezio moved around the arena looking for his next spot to strike you.

-How did you know…? –You ran towards him and swung the sharpness against him this time he decided to avoid it entirely and keep walking around.

-You have your father’s blade. I figured you would have the codex page he was holding as well. –The word “codex” called your attention but not enough to get you out of the battle, Ezio strike you this time but you could divert it and attack back, therefore Ezio did the same but with some extra effort making you misstep from the sudden impact and swung foolishly your sword giving him the perfect chance to kick you and attack while you still tried to recover, one of your arms rounded your stomach trying to ease the pain.

-Codex? –Ezio panted and waited for you to regain energy.

-Si, a guide to the inner working of the order. Its origin, purpose and techniques. Our creed if you will. Your father believed the codex contained a powerful secret. Something that would change the world. Perhaps is why they came for him… -You looked back at the man puzzled as you took a straight posture again, so not only Giovanni knew about the possible conspiracy, he also knew this, when you turned your head Ezio was on his way to attack you with the sword, the way he did it made you smile and then duck aside to slip your feet under his making him fall in his face, you and Mario laughed so hard that when he was back up his face was redder than any crimson you have ever seen. After it, he got his revenge with the taunts he made but nothing that really hurt you.

-I think we can let it here, we will continue tomorrow. –Mario exclaimed making both of you relax and put down the swords. –It’s getting late so why don’t you go to your room to rest? I’m sure you are exhausted. –Both of you nodded and went out of the arena starting to walk towards the house when it hit you, did he said your “room”?

-Messer Mario… - You patted him on the shoulder. –Did you say room or rooms? –You tried to sound relaxed to not let Ezio know your nervousness but it was clearly not working.

-Bambina please call me uncle, and I said your room. –He made emphasis on the word and winked at you with a playful smirk, you looked back at Ezio and saw him smirk under the hood as well, you would have to share a room with him, at night, alone, together… if you were under other circumstances you wouldn’t mind it but at this moment you weren’t very willing for it.

-Wh… why don’t I better sleep with Claudia? –You asked as the three of you entered the house, you had to try at least.

-She will be sleeping with her mother so don’t worry for her. –Mario was heading towards his studio but turned. –The room is upstairs in front of Ezio’s mother, it has a bathroom and a big bed, I will be down here for a little while if you need me. –He finally said and crossed the room saluting Claudia, you checked Ezio from the corner of your eye and saw him on walking up the stairs so you went to get your things and she handed them to you.

-Good night! –Claudia exclaimed with a laugh as you walked out making you wince, you knew that she wasn’t saying what the words meant, so with all your honor up you made the way to the room.

The door was half open, Ezio was already inside, entering was not hard you put your things on a chair nearby, while Ezio was sitting on the side of the bed taking his boots off.

-You know the bathroom is there. –You pointed to the wooden door on the corner of the room. He didn’t even responded, he was mad, and when he was like that his childish side always came out. You sighed and went to the other side of the bed to start with the same task.

-It’s cut. –Ezio’s voice made you turn your face seeing him already half naked, you blushed intensely when you saw his body, his olive skin was so perfect and looked so smooth with the weak light coming from the flames of the candles in the room.

-I can fix it, I know how to sew… -You whispered and gulped trying to relax yourself. –Just let me get a needle and some thread. - whatever to make the ambience around you more relaxed than this, you stood up and walked quickly to the door but before you could go Ezio gripped you tight from the arm.

-Ezio I get you are mad but please stop being so childish… -You said trying to lose his grip but that made him only tighten it more. –Ezio let… -He closed the door and tossed you to the bed putting your hands above your head holding them with his and ducking him above your waist to immobilize you entirely. Not looking at you or doing a sound at any moment, he stayed that way for a few minutes before talking.

-Who are you really? Because I’m sure you are not my friend from 5 years ago.–He locked eyes with you, his words felt like punches on your guts, his gaze looked different from any other he had ever given to you, there was no spark of youth he always had, there was no sweetness on them, there was no innocence.

-I’m an assassin just like your father was and just like I’m certain Mario is. –You replied emotionlessly, he won’t understand reasons right now so it was better to cooperate with whatever he wanted.

-Why did you leave? –His eyes twitched a little with your answer but continued.

-My mother got killed by the templars; -you saw him flinch a little. –My father didn’t want me to end like her so we left to France to start my training. –It surprised you how easy was to say it all out loud, years back you couldn’t talk about your mother without crying.

-Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me be the only one without knowing anything? Why did you lie? –His words hurt deep inside you, there was nothing you could say in your defense but thank all the gods he continued talking. –I was expecting this from all the people but you, we trusted each other even since we were kids… you and I promised… -He cut himself by biting his lip, as if he just said a curse or something forbidden, you widened your eyes and felt how a warm drop of saltiness landed in your cheek. –What should I do?... why is this happening?... my brothers… my father… -He said in between drowned sobs until finally break. You felt how his hand released yours and slowly his arms going under your back to embrace you into a desperate hug, his weight now resting on you and his head digging deep in your chest, as if he was trying to reach your heart. –I want to go back… back… when we were kids and everything was fine… when we were safe… (Y/N) I don’t know if I can do this… I want… to go home… -You haven’t used that word in years, his tears wetted your shirt while he sobbed almost uncontrollably, he was still a kid deep inside and he would let only you seeing him like this, only you.

-We are going to make it Ezio… -You murmured calmly making him raise his head and look at you. –You are not alone… I’m here now… I’m here for you… -You continued talking cutting the words to stop yourself from crying. –Just trust me once more… one last chance… -You smiled kindly making the drops on the corner of your eyes fall, he let go of you and put his hand on the bed to raise himself.

-I would be lost without you… -He smiled while looking you. –Do you remember… -He stopped when you nodded, Giovanni was right, you only had to give him some time.

-That is why I came back… for you… -You answered shyly and reached out for his cheeks cupping them in your hands, it felt weird talking about this things, your guts were attacking each other and it looked like your heart wanted to jump out from your chest, Ezio looked completely calm but his eyes were telling you everything that was happening inside him.

The night you spend with him was full of caresses and soft kisses, hums of lullabies and warmth, a warmth that both of you unknown until this moment, it was the kind of warmth that only a lover could give to another lover and just for one moment you wished that the dawn never reached this place.