An: It's way too late/early for me to think of something to write here.

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The sound of clashing metal rang heavily in his ears long before he rode through the gates of Bartolomeo's mercenary camp. Large masses of white and blue clashed together as men and women of both factions twirled and swung their weapons; the mercenaries using brute strength and strong legs to their advantage while the assassins used light feet and thin blades to counter and deal their own damage to their opponent. The dance between the two armies was beautiful, but what was even more beautiful was the hope he felt after seeing exactly how flawless every soul on that training field fought.

"Ezio!" Bartolomeo called from the top of his battlements. "Come up here! Stand above the action and watch the fight!"

The Assassin Grandmaster tied his horse outside of the gates, and climbed the ladder leading to Bartolomeo's position. Bartolomeo rested with his forearms against the edge of the battlements, his eyes darting in all directions to take in the skill of each and every one of his warriors. He applauded some loudly, and critiqued others, but no matter what words left his lips, they were filled with love and admiration for those below whom he had come to see as his children. "They're wonderful, Ezio," he greeted, keeping his eyes trained on the fighting below. "They fight with fire and passion, and I must say, your assassins are mind-blowing. Never have I seen someone strike a blade so strongly, yet remain elevated upon their toes."

"They all have trained well," Ezio agreed. "And I see they train even better under your command."

"Switch!" Bartolomeo bellowed suddenly, his face ablaze with amusement as he watched the assassin's expertly turn and swing their swords upon a mercenary they weren't fighting before, while said mercenaries scrambled the throw their weapons up to block the attack. "It's obvious you aren't as excited about this as I am. What's wrong, Auditore?"

"You have a cousin in Napoli, correct?"

"Yes I do. A brother of mine more like it."

"I have a favor to ask."

"Well, get out with it," the war leader demanded, turning his eyes from the trainees to his friend standing beside him. "What do you need?"

"I need you to send a letter to your cousin," Ezio said, his voice impassive, but tinted with fear that his friend would refuse. "Your cousin is a generous man, and a patient man. I would like you to ask him if it would be possible to house Lucrezia within his palazzo while we battle with Alfonso. He is the only man I can think of who would even give two seconds of his time to contemplate my request, and I know that I cannot leave her here with no protection. She must be far from her husbands grasp, and far from this city pining for her blood."

"Ercole is indeed a generous man, and I have no doubt that he will take pity upon you at this point in time, but like myself, he too has had troubles with the name Borgia."

"As has everyone...even those with said name," the assassin pointed out, his fingers curling together tightly as anxiety and nervousness pressed down on his shoulders with the weight of ten anvils. "All I ask is that you inquire. If he respectfully declines, that is fine, I will find somewhere else to take her. Possibly a convent somewhere in Salerno-"

"Calm down, amico," Bartolomeo's back straightening as he gave the signal for his trainees to rest, and take some time to regain their energy before they moved onto their next course of training. "I already contacted him. He said he would be delighted to house her and you for as long as you prefer. His estates are your own, as is everything in his palazzo," he finished, handing a sealed letter marked with the coat of the d'Alviano family. "All he requests is a small amount of time prior to your arrival so he can present his palazzo with pride."

"He could live in a shack in the ghettos for all I care," Ezio said happily. "I would praise it tenfold and declare it a fortress, even if it was nothing more than sticks and stones. Thank you, Bartolomeo. I owe you and Ercole tremendously."

"You owe us nothing," Bartolomeo smiled, one of his large hands coming to crash onto Ezio's shoulder in its usual loving manner. "We are brothers, and brothers take care of brothers."

"Nevertheless, I will repay you for this-"

"Do so by never speaking of this arrangement again," he laughed, resting his hand on the hilt of his trusted Bianca, before nodding to the troops making their way back into the training fields. "Care to stick around? You could help me train, or do you have somewhere of more...importance...that you must be?"

"As much as I would love to assist, I have more pressing matters I should attend to," he answered, his face hiding in the shroud of his hood. "Even more so pressing in the knowledge that the matters are located right next door to Il Vaticano."

"Ride fast and keep your head down assassino. Pope Julius has always been paranoid. Avoid all sightings of the guards, and you should sneak by without raising the Papal Army into a catastrophic man hunt. Though, that won't prove difficult for you, now will it?"

"Of course not," Ezio smirked, nodding in thanks for the letter clutched tight in his hand, before he stepped from his friend's side and hid the parchment in one of the many belts wrapped around his waist. He slid down the ladder quickly, and was able to mount his horse and turn the midnight black stallion towards the road before Bartolomeo called out orders to those below him. As the Grandmaster rode away, he couldn't suppress his chuckle at the collective groan of the trainees after hearing the warrior demand they heighten their stamina, and thus sent them on their run.

~*~*AC*~*~

The wind was cool as it rushed through the silent streets of Vatican City. Guards slowly trekked by with their heavy axes and pointed staffs, while some of the holiest men tried to escape the arms of their favorite mistress and return to his home near his beloved church. Silence reigned high as most citizens slept or emerged from their beds to do deeds that can only be accomplished under nightfall, but the only threat that Ezio recognized, was the beautiful and looming palazzo situated beside the Vatican.

Though riding into the stables behind the wondrous house did not prove difficult, each step the assassin took towards the doors leading inside felt as if he was taking a step closer to his final judgment in life. Servants aware of his presence quickly ushered him inside, and led him down the long halls decorated with intricate tapestries and ornate carpets. The heat from the fire in the main dining room seeped out into the long stone hallway, as did the sweet laughter he had come to adore.

"You may enter when you are ready sir," the servant who led him in stated; bowing and taking his leave, whilst leaving the terrified assassin to ponder if he should enter the room before him or not. His hand settled against the cool knob of the door, and with one final intake of breath, he pushed his way straight into the fire.

There, sitting with her back poised and her gnarling hands around her wine glass was the infamous Vannozza dei Cattanei; a favorite mistress of Rodrigo Borgia's before his reign as Pope, and even in her aged years Ezio could tell why. Though her olive skin had been sunken in by lines of age, she still held an ethereal beauty about her that took years away from her face. She sat straight and her figure still admirable; his eyes instantly noticing the flowing length of dark hair that barely held a touch of gray. She was beautiful, much like the woman sitting closely beside her.

"Fear not my son," Vannozza smiled, extending a hand towards him and urging him further into the room. "There is nothing here that will hurt you. Enter further, allow me to see your face."

Reluctantly, Ezio pulled his hood away from his face; allowing the light from the fire to strike his handsome features in a way that brought a bright smile to the retired courtesan's face. One of her hands settled over her daughter's, and a gentle laugh left her still plump lips. "I can see your appeal in him," mother said to daughter, the latter lowering her head in embarrassment. "He is extremely handsome."

"Thank you madonna," he smiled, stepped forward and politely taking her hand in his, before bringing it to his lips. "I'm glad your first impression of me is a pleasurable one."

"I am not the judgmental type bambino," she chuckled. "Your past and occupation mean little to me. As long as you care for my daughter, then you are welcome in my home."

"Be assured I do," Ezio nodded, the letter he received earlier still tucked tight against his side.

"As I have been told," Vannozza smiled, looking over to Lucrezia whose eyes seemed to be glued to the assassin as if he had put her under an unbreakable spell. "My daughter speaks quite highly of you."

"Then I suppose I have nothing to worry about being here."

"You never had anything to worry about in the first place. Please, make yourself at home. Are you thirsty? Hungry? Anything of the sort?"

"No madonna, I am quite well, but I thank you for your hospitality," the assassin smiled, turning his eyes to his lover and smiling softly.

"Did you speak with your friend?" Lucrezia asked quietly, her delicate ivory fingers holding a glass of fine wine offered to her by her mother.

"Yes. Much to my surprise, he had spoken with his cousin in Napoli before I even asked him to do so. Bartolomeo gave me a letter, saying that his cousin will be happy to have you as his guest for as long as our mission takes," he answered, his own tense shoulders relaxing when she released a small, pent up sigh.

"Lucrezia told me of this...fight between Alfonso and yourself," Vannozza stated softly, opening her hand to her daughter. "Do you speak truth to me? Will she will be safe? Because I have no doubt that the d'Este would send a mercenary or assassin after her when you aren't by her side."

"As long as it is I making the decisions, I can assure you that your daughter will remain safe," Ezio swore, his amber eyes burning as the light from the fire licked at his darkened skin.

"Good," the elder woman whispered, her body still holding the courtesan's elegance as she stood and stepped in front of Ezio. She extended her hand, and tenderly slid her fingertips against his cheek; a gentle smile touching her lips before her hand fell to her side. "Then welcome to my family."

"Thank you, madonna Cattanei," he thanked, taking her hand and kissing it. "I apologize for stealing your daughter away, but we must return to the isola. It isn't safe for Lucrezia to be out at night."

"Nightfall brings far worse than darkness I suppose," Vannozza agreed, extending her right hand and flicking her wrist in a command for her daughter to stand and move to her side. Lucrezia followed, and she smiled as her mother's gentle hand rested on her lower back. "Stay safe, my dear, and write me often."

"I will mama," Lucrezia promised, kissing each of her mother's cheeks before she took her mother's hand and brought it to her lips as well. "All I ask is that you will do the same."

"Worry not about me my love, worry only about yourself."

The beauty nodded, and smiled sadly; moving to Ezio's side. His arm wrapped around her waist as he led her from her mother, and as soon as the door closed behind their backs, he grabbed her hand and stopped her from walking further. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she whispered, smiling softly and squeezing his hand gently before she moved closer and placed her lips against his cheek lovingly. "Worry not of it. Now, come quickly. I do not want you to be spotted by Julius' men."