Reunion || ezio & sapphire [M]

[[ Rσσ ]]

It’d been raining and so the streets were relatively quiet; the majority of those still outside included the homeless and the beggars which he’d usually pass by without giving  a second look. The cobbled pavements gleamed with their slicked surfaces and the buildings now looked slightly drearier than before; their walls were darkened from the passed storm and their windows held little light as most had gone to sleep rather early in the evenings…

Ezio, however, had other plans… Today seemed suitable to meet with an old ‘friend’. He sat perched on the edge of a rooftop – forearms resting on his knees and hands limp between his knees – with his hood pulled up, shadowing the majority of his features to anyone whom may have been looking. Dark brown hues took a few moments to take in the city and he inhaled in that rather loved scent of the rain. He knew it’d be strange meeting Sapphire after such a long time of becoming distant but he’d been elsewhere in the country doing other things and taking care of his Assassins. It was only recently he’d earned his title of Master Assassin.

Eventually, once he’d gathered the courage to approach, he swung himself down over the edge of the building, scaled down past the second floor window, then released. He dropped to the ground with a hefty grunt, weighed down by his masses of armour, then he rose from his crouch and turned towards the bench where he’d suggested they meet. He hadn’t heard anything in response, so he’d assumed she’d either ignored his letter or that the silence was agreement. He paced briefly, heeled boots tapping quietly on the ground, then finally forced himself to settle. Popping himself down on the bench and lowering his head once more Ezio found himself fiddling with his hands as his nervousness began to flutter in his stomach. It’d been too long, and he only hoped she still felt the same for him as he did for her.

[ Sorry this is terrible dearie, I struggled to think of things to write about for the introduction c: ]

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He had sent me a letter. A damn letter. when i had first gotten my hands on it, my first thought was how dare! how dare he write me after all this time after he randomly disappeared one day without out so much as a note, or a goodbye! just stole off into the night, and i hadn't heard from him in a couple of years. i had crumbled the letter up in my hand, and thrown it angrily against the wall. I was not going to go. no. it wasn't going to happen. i crossed my arms in determination.

i had passed that note a couple times over the past few days as the day he asked to meet drew nearer and nearer. at first, it was easy to ignore, my anger fueling my pride, and resolve to stay away from him. it was my dreams that had swayed my decision. a life, before he had become some big shot assassin. of the way he kissed me. of the way he had always been there for me, the clutz. he must have known that one day, he would be gone for a long time. it was because of him that i was half the assassin i was now. when i opened my eyes that morning, i knew what i had to do.

i pulled on my normal attire, black decorative gloves, a red shirt with white collar, and black form fitting trousers. next to come on were my heeled boots. my green eyes traveled across the room to land on the bow and quiver full of arrows near the bed. with my heels tapping against the wood i moved with purpose toward them, and quickly equipped them. the last and final piece was the cloak i had adopted. swiftly i traveled through the cobbled streets, no a soul in sight, and saw the bench up ahead. my breath caught in my throat as i balked at the thought of seeing him again.

resolving to get myself into check again i backed into the shadows, and wrapped my cloak around myself. i closed my emerald greens, and told myself i would not shoot him with a poisoned arrow. i heard the rough sound of some one - or something - dropping from the roofs above me, and i opened my eyes to see him in all his armor, and my breath hitched in my throat. he paced a few moments, the heels of his boots the only sound. then he took a seat. how should i handle this? for a moment, my hand itched to move toward the arrows in the quiver, and giving him what i knew he deserved, but as i raised my hand and looked at it, it shook violently.

Shaking my head, i moved forward without letting myself think much about it. surely he would hear me approaching. i lifted both hands to lower my hood so he could see me, and stopped a few feet from him. "ezio...all those years away... all that time passed, and you never once wrote. why now? why remember me now?"

[[ Rσσ ]]

I had been staring at the ground when I'd heard her voice; it came softly, yet I was certain that she was furious with me. I didn't dare look up - not yet. I'd changed in appearance. I looked older, far more mature, and I knew she probably did too. Instead, I listened, taking in her words in blissful silence. It was then that I questioned myself just the same as she had questioned me; why did I wait? I could've written to her many times throughout the years but I didn't, and I left her here, alone, without a word's notice... I infuriated myself.

Finally, I rose to my feet. The row of throwing knives on my belt chinked quietly, as did my breast plate against my spaulders, and I raised my head to stare at her. She hadn't changed quite as much as I'd thought, but I had. I was no longer a boy, but now a man and a man with purpose. I now knew what I wished to do with my life and that was the reason why I had returned. Although I had left my life was considerably empty without Sapphire by my side.

"I never forgot you, amore," I began, trying to find the right words to explain myself in the nicest way possible, "I was a fool, and I know I shouldn't have left you as I did. I had business to take care of and I didn't want to pull you with me." It was then that I realised I was telling the truth; this was the summary of the debate I'd had with myself before I'd left her, "I thought it'd be too dangerous. I didn't want you getting hurt. Whilst you were here, you were safe. Mi dispiache." And now my hands had risen to my chest where my palms pressed together in a prayer-like gesture. In fact, I was begging for forgiveness but my desperation hadn't become obvious just yet.

I took a stride forwards; my left hand searched for my cape which it grabbed and I pulled it forwards to cover my arm. Now presenting myself as best as I could, my right hand raised, touched the edge of my hood before brushing it backwards where it slouched and settled behind my head. Now I was silent, awaiting her reply, as I kept my eyes locked firmly onto hers. I still couldn't comprehend how she hadn't seemed to have aged a day whilst I had grown out some stubble and now crows' feet settled beside my eyes and feint wrinkles lined my forehead. She looked just as young as the day I'd met her.

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my jaw set as he sat there in silence for a few moments. say something! i silently urged, and pursed my lips together. finally, he stood and turned toward me. any one else would have been intimidated by him. any one else would have turned away, and ran for their life. i wasn't afraid of him. i knew that he could kill me in a moment's notice, but i knew that he wouldn't. couldn't, even though he had found himself capable of leaving me to my own devices for so long.

he hadn't forgotten me? Why didn't i believe him? i would have never ran off, and left him without notice, or ever writing him. i wanted to tell him what bull shit he was saying, but the words couldn't leave the tip of my tongue. i silently fumed as he fell quiet, looking for the words to say. while, in my head i wondered how many whore he fucked while he was away. ask me how many people i'd been with, and i'm sure my answer would shock you. none. maybe i was being unfair. i was certain that he was far more mature than before. but how could one grow out of his play boy charm when hew leaves his 'amore' behind?

he claimed that while i was here i was safe. "bull shit." i said, gritting my teeth. "you, altair, and aubree all took off, leaving me here. alone. to deal with all the bull shit you guys did here. alone! do you know how many assassination attempts were made on me? do you know how many times i was nearly killed, running down a fucking alley way with a wound from an arrow in my shoulder, and pooling blood? i was not safe! i didn't have my family here, or any back ground at all!" my voice had been steadily rising until i would have been screaming at him if i hadn't known what his known presence would have brought him.

see? there i am, thinking of him. while my so called family left me to fend for myself. he had taken his hood down so i could see him, and he looked a bit older. gods, did he still look good though. that thought infuriated me, and it spurred me to do something i would have never down before. i strode forward, and positioned myself so that i was inches away from him, and staring up into his brown eyes. i felt the tears welling up in my eyes, and like a spoiled child throwing a fit i hit him with the side of my fist on the chest. in the back of my mind i knew that he wouldn't be able to feel it, but the shock would probably get to him. i did it a few more times while saying incoherent gibberish, and then stopping to lean forward, and lean my head on his chest plate.

he had too much armor on. the cool armor pressed against my cheek, and my eyes closed as one single tear slipped from my eyes.

[[ Rσσ ]]

I didn't know how to react. I was now realising what I'd done and the seriousness of the situation; Sapphire had been wounded multiple times and she was completely alone when I could've easily taken her with me... And so, I stayed silent and allowed my lips to part. The lack of words that followed, I was sure, was enough to show her that I now understood the severity of my actions.

And then she started to hit me. Or, rather, hit the armour that covered my chest, but I still found myself taken back by her anger and my right foot slid backwards to balance myself in case her little attack became more severe... But it didn't. The second she slouched against me was the moment I finally decided to touch her. My hands found her waist before I quickly wrapped my arms around her smaller frame. I felt as though I could crush her at any moment but I was beginning to believe that wasn't only just from our difference in body size. Her whole mentality seemed to have changed and she seemed broken compared to how she used to behave, and I was beginning to accept that this change was my fault.

Yet, in that moment, I remained silent. I didn't feel the need to stop holding her just to try and explain myself further. After all, I'd tried my hardest, and she'd made her thoughts very clear, and so it seemed futile. Besides, I'd missed the feel of her body so close to mine and, although my armour blocked most of her warmth, I was glad for the gentle contact. For years I'd done nothing but battle and kill and now I was home, and my amore was in my arms.
"Mi dispiache," I said again, this time as a whisper against her temple. My left arm tightened around her to hold her closer whilst my right hand raised to stroke a lock of hair from her cheek and to brush her tear away before it dropped onto her chest. I turned my head, pressed a tender kiss to her hair, then finally forced myself to release her. My hands returned to her waist and I stepped back from her... My heart thudded in my chest when I focused on her. The anger and sadness gave her a look so heartbreaking that I could almost feel my own tears gathering. I blinked once or twice and then raised my hands to cup her cheeks and raise her head to make eye contact.

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When he wrapped his arms around me, and pilledpulled me in tight i found myself longing to take his damn armor off because it was in the way of a real, warm hug. I simply raised my arms to wrap around him in return, and quite honestly resented my previous displays of anger. Why did i feel the need to react in such a manner? My brow furrowed at the though, but his warm breath on my temple was enough to catch my attention. The gentle movement of his hand on my cheek.

It had to be gentle, i knew, for he risked plunging his hidden blades into my skull if activated. His tender kiss on my head melted the resistence that i knew was in side of my heart, and i found myself missing all of this once again. Ezio stepped back from me, forcing my grip on him to slaken considerably to be placed on his waist. His hand came to cup my chin, and i looked up into his face. My breathing visibly hitched once more as i stared into his brown hues.

To hell with it. I shifted, and rose up on my tippy toes with such force while simanteneously wrapped my arms around his neck to crush my mouth against his. It was the only way I knew to communicate my true emotions. I stayed that way for a few moments, and pulled away a fraction of an inch. "Don't ever do this to me again. Or I will hunt you down, and shoot you in the face with an arrow."

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[[ Rσσ ]]

I froze at first; I'd hardly expected such affections so soon, but then as I relaxed and wrapped my arms back around her waist I couldn't stop myself from returning her kiss. I hardly wanted it to end, and so when she parted our lips I tried to follow, tilting my head aside and trying to close the space between us. However, when she spoke, I couldn't stop a smile and I had to pull back a few inches to allow myself a little room to bow my head and chuckle to myself.

"Si, I know," I replied light-heartedly and returned my gaze to her with that same cheeky, cocky smirk I'd given her the day we'd met, "I thought that'd be my fate today anyway." I hadn't planned on admitting that but there I was and the words poured from my mouth like water.

My eyes were soon distracted by a small commotion nearby, maybe just a street away or maybe just around the corner. I was unsure, and so I took hold of Sapphire's hand and laced our fingers together before pulling up my hood and leading her away from the area. I kept my pace slow despite the possible upcoming conflict and I kept my ears and eyes open, taking in anything I heard walking past people and always paying attention to whomever walked behind us. As I found myself paying more attention to what others were saying, I soon found the majority were unhappy with the city they lived in.
"How long has this been happening?" I questioned gently, turning my head an inch toward the woman at my side, "What's happened?"

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that smirk had my heart fluttering in my chest, and i grinned back at him when he spoke, stating that he thought that would have been his fate today. "oh, i'll admit. i had been thinking about it. my hand was shaking though. i would have missed, and let's face it, that would have been a waste of a perfectly good poisoned arrow." i was going to kiss him again, but some commotion down the street caught his attention, and he was pulling his hood up over his head, and entwining our fingers as he quietly lead the way a few streets over.

there was a small group of hooligans, and ezio asked me a question. i knew them. they used to come around the house a lot when ezio first left, i'm assuming to see if it was really true. that the assassin that had protected the streets had disappeared without a clue. actually, i wondered how ezio would take the news? i was chewing on my lip, and moved my own hood up to hide my nervousness from ezio. how exactly would he react to this? should i hide it from him? if he saw me chewing on my lip it was all over. he would already know. so i went with the truth right from the start.

"i know them. their boss tried to woo me when you had first left. he had sent his posse after me a few times to try and win me over with roses, and riddles, and the whole nine yards until he finally came himself." i glanced up at ezio, and felt my palms sweating. good thing i was wearing leather gloves, or he would know something happened. i was going to tell him anyways. "he kissed me... and i let my calling card in his cheek with a poison dipped knife." i waited for the explosion i knew was coming.

[[ Rσσ ]]

"He did what?" I exclaimed - no, barked - instantly, stopping in my tracks and taking a firm hold on Sapphire's hand to pull her to a halt with me. At first I was lost for words and I found myself gawking across at the young lady with a disbelieving shimmer in my eyes. However, when I noticed she held no signs of lying, my hand released hers and I took a small step back. If I didn't distance myself, I felt as though I'd do something silly to claim her back as my own.

"What is his name, amore? Did he tell you? Did you find out?" The questions poured from my mouth without needing to think of them and I took a hand to cup her cheek and force her eyes onto mine. I was shaking but only slightly, and so my free hand clenched into a fist to hide my trembling fingers and I was secretly nibbling the inside of my lip to try and stop myself from grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw. It'd become a habit now, since I'd matured, that I'd sit and grind my teeth rather than be foolish and act instantly on what I'd heard... But this time it was much harder. I was trying desperately not to act irritated or angry in front of my amore, but I'd already messed that up... If I began to show further signs I was sure she'd try to talk me down from my anger-fuelled rage and that was the opposite of what I wanted; I wanted her to feed my rage with more information, more detail, so that when I found his name I could leave, hunt down his group, slaughter them in seconds, then move on up to find this 'boss' and deal with him instantly. I knew I'd have no mercy for this man; he was ruining my city, and he'd touched my woman...

"Excuse me," I forced my tone to soften and I took a slow, deep breath. Yes, I was faking my calming attitude as my anger boiled my blood, but I was hoping she'd be more willing to tell me details if I acted as though I wouldn't storm off on a rampage.

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he barked the words, and it startled me for a moment. was he...jealous? he was jealous wasn't he? i grinned softly, but discreetly to myself. i wouldn't want him to think that i thought this was funny. it wasn't funny. it was touching in a way. he distanced himself, and seemed to visibly calm himself down. i knew him better than that. he was boiling beneath the surface. i would tell him more. i was going to spare him the details, but now i think i would be more than happy to tell him the plight that these fools had put the town through.

"they treat all woman like their prostitutes. not only that, a few of them are trying to make it up in the politics of the town. i heard that they have a few people in parliament and working close with the High Priest. in fact, their every where." my gaze traveled from ezio to look at the team. he asked what his name was, and if i knew it. of course i did. "alonzo." i told him, and turned my green gaze back to him. "he told me so while he he pinned me against my foyer wall, held my arms above my head, and with his other hand traveled north." i didn't like recounting this experience. it was...sickening to me.

"a quick knee to the groin, breaking my hands away from his hold, and well... i already told you what i did to him. from that point on, they made me a target. shooting arrows at me, and half the time hitting their mark." i winced as i remembered the one that's arrowhead went straight through my shoulder blade, and out the other side. "they've been running this town since you left. i had been trying to put them out myself, but i don't know nearly as much as you."

[[ Rσσ ]]

I could feel my blood boil to the point I nearly exploded in a fit of rage in front of her but, somehow, I managed to keep my cool with one more deep breath. "Grazie," Was my only response and then I turned my back on Sapphire to face the group of men. My eyes roamed over them, taking in their body stances and language, before I approached and, when I approached, I approached fast.

In an instant I'd taken two down with a simple strike to the back of the neck with my hidden blades, and then the next four came barrelling at me. I swerved a strike from one, slicing his arm to disarm him as he passed me, and then I drove that same hand forwards so my blade hit the throat of another. I shot backwards then, dancing my way out of the group. I spun, finished of the disarmed man who'd just recovered, then turned to face the final two. I couldn't stop my smile; it felt good to be back and reclaiming power of the city. It was my job to protect the citizens here after all.

The second to last of the group made a run for me with his sword and, with a step to the side, I weaved out of the way of the gleaming blade and I raised my arm, aimed with my finger pressed to a small button, then released. My arm recoiled with the force of the small device and the man collapsed with a bullet through his chest. I turned my attention, finally, to the last man standing. Now he was in a panic, attempting to plead with me as I approached him, but I took little notice. My hand wrapped itself around his neck in seconds and, before I knew what I was doing, I had him pinned to the wall. I was seething and, through clenched teeth, I began my interrogation. Eventually he spoke after stuttering gibberish and revealed 'Alonzo's location... For that, I was grateful, but not grateful enough to spare his life. I pushed my wrist outwards and with that simple gesture he was down, choking as his blood pooled into his windpipe. I stepped back away from the mess and finally approached Sapphire once more.

"Head home," I said quickly with a serious expression and I stood in silence for a moment or two as the guards at the far end of the street gawked then turned as though they'd seen nothing, "I'll be there later. I promise this time. Unless, of course, you want to come with me and watch the stronzo pay for what he did to you."

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he simply told me thank you, and then strode away from me with a new found purpose. i gulped, and stepped back into the shadows. it didn't take long, the fools were no match for ezio. he tore through them easily, and i felt something in my stomach tighten. watching ezio in action... it was hot. especially when i knew he was pissed as hell for the grief these people had caused me. when he picked the last one up by the throat, and shoved him against a wall i wished for a moment it was me he was shoving roughly against a wall. man, where was my mind tonight?

ezio must have gotten what he wanted from him because a gurgling, drowning noise was heard, and ezio was coming back to me. i felt my admiration for him slip away though as he suggested that i go home. and that he promised he'd come back. "no. you can't do that! you can't just waltz back into my life, and then try to leave the next moment! i swear to god, ezio, i was not kidding about the arrow. i will..." in the middle of my melt down he spoke again, saying that perhaps i could join him. smart move, italian. i gave a firm nod. "there is absolutely no way i'm not going with you. come, i know where we can go for horses." i didn't know where this guy was, but i knew he was not in town any more.

who would stay in town when he knew that the people hated him? hated rulers rule from afar. that much i knew.

[[ Rσσ ]]

I took little notice of her outburst; I was too fuelled by my own rage to consider Sapphire's feelings about the situation, and so for a moment I was blind as to what I'd just suggested. I merely stayed quiet and debated in my head whether or not this was a good idea but, eventually, I settled with the fact that I had no choice - it looked as though she was coming with me regardless.

"He's in Roma," I began, then muttered to myself; I was just there dealing with other business. If I'd of known sooner then I could've killed two birds with one stone but, as she'd made very clear beforehand, I didn't even write to her.
Soon enough I began to calm down and I walked a couple of paces behind Sapphire at all times. My dark hues scanned the areas we passed and glanced into every alley that lead onto the street we walked upon. My boots thudded against the dirt tracks and cobbled pavements and with my movements came a certain chinking of metal on metal; my sword against the side of my boot, my armour occasionally brushing together and the throwing knives in my belt tapped against one another with every step I took. Whilst we passed the guards who'd turned a blind eye I stared at them and, once confident they'd stir no trouble by their submissive muttering and the lowering of their heads I lifted mine and a smirk tugged the corner of my mouth up into a typical cocky half-smile. I was proud to see that they knew I was in control and, whilst I was about, this city was going to do nothing but improve. I'd paid for renovations in this area and since my leave they'd turned back into ruins.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" I questioned softly but my tone made it evident that I was merely making conversation to distract myself, "It's a long ride there, amore."

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I ignored his muttering. Honestly,i didn't care if he was worried for me, or whatever. He was not going to leave me behind. When i walked i was quiet, only the gentlest of rustling from the movement of my arms and the brushing of the fabric of my pants. The heels of my boots tapped quietly on the cobbled stones as I lead him back to the house. As it was, I had taken up a hobby of collecting horses. Some wild when I caught them, and some stolen from cruel people who did nothing but lashed them. I was not only any impeccable marksman, I knew my way around a horse as well.

He spoke about if I was sure I wanted to go, and that it was a long ride. Something about his worry made me scowl. As I approached the gate leading up to the house and stable I glanced at him from under my hood. "I am no stranger to long rides, ezio. I am not being left behind again, and that is final." Having said that, I left the gate open and strolled up the path and into the barn.

A chrous of whinnies greeted me, and I smiled fondly at them. "I have to leave on business, but the stable hand can take care of them while we're gone." One of their muzzles huffed into my chest, and I reached out to stroke its soft velvet like maw. I looked to ezio once more. "Choose one."

[[ Rσσ ]]

As those doors opened to the stables I had to stop and take a moment or two to adjust. This barn had been abandoned before and now it was swimming with life and Sapphire looked so content with her work... So this was what she'd been doing since I'd been gone. I made my way inside cautiously. I'd never been a horse person although I'd ride them often. I'd never stopped to pay a horse attention other than the occasional sugar cube after a ride when I'd usually get my fingers bitten.

"These are all yours?" I questioned, seemingly ignoring the option to choose a steed of my own. However, as I gazed around at the many heads I spotted one in particular who seemed quieter than the rest. I approached her in silence and offered her my right hand. The instant her flecked muzzle pressed against my palm, I knew I'd like to take her with me. She was a colour I'd never seen before - a strange mixture of what looked like chestnut and grey. She looked quite pink in colour, or red, almost like a strawberry, I'd say. Was that what I'd heard? Was that a colour? Strawberry... something. I decided not to make a fool of myself and ask Sapphire. Instead, I allowed my hands to roam up the mare's cheeks and to her ears which I toyed with affectionately and to which I earned a gentle nudge to the elbow in response. The chuckle that escaped me was impossible to hold back but, for once, I was enjoying an animal's company.

"I'd like to take her," I began again, quietly, as the mare lipped at my hood and tugged, "Is she broken?"