The windows squeaked a bit when Leonardo attempted to push them open. The artist winced, figuring he'd need to work on that later. However the faint breeze was quite pleasant and it made the effort worth it.

Today was slightly chillier than it had been in recent weeks. Autumn was coming to a close, and soon the rains would start pouring in. Unfortunately, Leonardo's kidnapping had robbed him of the time he needed to secure a few leaky sections of his workshop before Venice began to flood, and now he was a bit edgy as to when those small holes would be taken care of.

But he was far more concerned with how he was going to explain to his commissioner why his painting was three weeks past its deadline.

Leonardo decided to push the unpleasant thoughts from his mind and merely focus on the painting. With the relaxing sounds of fall wafting through the room, his pigments all set up and ready to use, and the canvas waiting eagerly to be covered, the artist finally felt he was prepared to take responsibility. He had already procrastinated too much, and another moments' deliberation was not what he needed.

KNOCK KNOCK!

Leonardo hardly had a moment to put down his brush before his visitor made himself at home. He could hear Ezio moving across the workshop, deadly arsenal of blades clinking with each step. However, despite his presence causing distraction and interruption, the inventor couldn't help but smile when the Assassin finally appeared.

"What can I do for you, Ezio?" He asked politely.

Ezio said nothing. Instead, he grinned and offered Leonardo a roll of parchment, quite antique-looking.

"A Codex page?" Leonardo asked, eyebrows raising as he took the paper and placed it beside his easel.

"I've been meaning to give it to you for some time," The Auditore replied, shrugging, "But you were…preoccupied."

Leonardo chuckled lightly, "I was, wasn't I…" He muttered to himself.

"So-" Ezio grunted, taking a seat at the bench beside Leonardo's current set-up, and leaning heavily on the table, "How have you been?"

"Ezio, I hate to do this to you," Leonardo began, inhaling, "But I really, really have to finish this painting."

The Assassin raised an eyebrow. One look at the canvas revealed that the picture was no where near finished.

"I'll get you the Codex page as soon as I'm done, bene?" Leonardo pressed on, exasperated.

"…I see your time in captivity has aided you in your quest for a backbone." Ezio finally remarked after several moments' consideration.

Leonardo smiled helplessly before turning back to his painting.

"So…How long will I have to wait, exactly?" Ezio asked, leaning back in his seat in an effort to acquire comfort.

"Until I am finished." Leonardo responded simply.

"Ah," Ezio nodded, as though accepting a deep and thoughtful answer, "That long."

A few peaceful moments flew by and the only sound was the soft scratching of the brush's bristles on canvas.

"Done yet?"

"I am going to ignore you until you go away, Ezio."

"How about now?"

"I'm not speaking to you."

"Now?"

The banter continued until finally, after several minutes, the Assassin ended up leaving the studio with a curiously vibrant green streak splattered across his sleeve. However, anyone could see from observing their playful teasing, that everything was back to normal for both painter and Assassin.

Until next time.