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beeboos-creativecorner · 6 months ago

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Visionaries - an Assassin's Creed: Mirage found family fanfic

Final day, baby !! This was the beginning to a wholesome, found family story, heavily inspired by a post my bud made about one of her dreams early this year. I was hooked on the concept, it got out of hand, but the story itself didn't carry through to its glorious end </3 One day I hope to return to this fic (if I find inspo or play Mirage again), it was about to get quite deep into spiritual concepts that really hit home for me, while also expanding more on Eagle Vision lore (because I never see anyone talk about it in depth ??). For now, I'm perfectly happy with sharing what's already here - just because it's unfinished, doesn't mean it's not worth something Be warned : side mission where Basim has a massive attitude hehe

Fic under the cut x

“There are no explanations for how or why these mysteries affect our lives. But they’re like imprints, innate, woven into the fabric of our souls so when we walk this earth, we experience the world in its true light. You see things differently, do you not? You need not say so. You read differently, that’s all. You may not know it, but you cast a weary gaze upon the earth. I do not find the same qualities among many of our brothers, meaning our creed, our ideals are taught and applied to the world but not fully understood. It takes a talent many humans have not mastered. Not all can see through the veil that is the physical — the abstract. When we gaze upon a tree, we see its roots. I do, I’ve seen you have, and Sahar will see more of it too as the time passes. I sense the same sensitivity in her. There is no value for the sense we have been given and oftentimes it may feel like a curse to be free of ignorance and exposed to the harsh light of the world and its people. Although we are few, be reassured that your experiences are not misunderstood and are shared by a select few scattered throughout this life.” — Hamid, unused excerpt

'Hasty' and 'with an agenda' were the last descriptors Basim would use to pin to his personality, but coming from the lips of his mentor, almost anything rang true. He may have pushed his limit in arguing his point, true, and as futile as it was, it was worth every word to try — he was right, he'd take that to his grave. It earned him a following jab at his apparent 'growing ambition' and 'if he cannot execute a basic task, he has no place in executing the morally corrupt'.

Within his very essence, Basim knew this was to spite him for his cheeky defiance and even so, he had worn a smile to dress the wound of being outwitted. He'd wrestled with his features to achieve such a slight feat; his face betrayed him even at the best of times, but he denied giving her the satisfaction of any visible sign of defeat.

Incisions aside, he believed Roshan to be above petty, childish constructs like dealing punishments. Today he was proven wrong. Some days she had shorter patience for him than others — that was a topic he never had the courage to broach — and despite being a full-fledged member of the Hidden Ones, his autonomy was lower than he'd hoped for. He wasn’t an initiate anymore, so where was his wiggle room? He could follow a set of directions and traditions just fine, so long as they were reasonable. What he was being subjected to, was not.

Basim wasn't impatient per se, but he found sensibility in efficiency. Anything that wasn't consuming his time in a week-long, leisurely fashion suited him. This newest task, however, was of the painstakingly slow kind.

Holding petty grudges was not worth Basim's time but neither was this supposed 'mission', so he allowed himself to be at least a little resentful towards Roshan. He didn't do mindless things, he hated mindless things. If he wasn't learning, progressing or excelling, what was the point?

If he had no respect, he'd accuse his mentors of being lazy. He didn't see anyone else claim contracts off the board, he didn't see anybody else offer to help out allies in need. The first and final verdict was: "Basim can do this." They were right. Basim can do this. Something sparked up in him, a spur of cleverness and optimism. He wanted them to validate what he already knew and he aimed to win that battle. He planned on doing this errand and doing it so well that his betters would simply have to admit: "Basim is above menial chores" and tell him he can be on his way. Then the invisible rope that tethers him to Roshan would loosen. Wiggle room. Deserved space. So his step lightened as he followed the path he was instructed to take. He'd do it and make light work of it. Although a little begrudgingly.

—

He waited outside the walls of Baghdad, leaning against the post of some merchant's stall, fading in and out of a doze. A sensible rendezvous point, excluding getting over the wall, which happened to be half the mission. It was a necessary precaution. Apparently the guards did not favour someone who looked just as suspicious as the next person that walked past. Getting past the gate was the easy part, slipping past the guards' line of sight was another. It was a post dependent attribute; those posted at gates had a heightened sense of paranoia. There was always something tense about the atmosphere when walking into a guarded gate. He knew not why. His muscles clung to the ghost of a memory of that provocative experience and that was sufficient information to remind him not to repeat that mistake of waltzing in where he supposedly didn't belong.

He wondered how he'd get back in, now that his foggy mind was drifting in that direction. If it was him alone, he'd routinely backtrack and go back the way he came. His dismay was in knowing he would struggle to do so with others accompanying him. Again, proving he wasn't the man for such a mission. One or two allies wasn't a problem, solo tasks were preferable, though. The nature of this mission, however, entailed allies of lesser physical aptitude than he, so he was told. That side note subtly nagged at him. He found himself beginning to reroute in his head to vacate for the newcomers. What a headache. He wished he'd succumbed to sleep instead, a nap would've been more beneficial for the moment. No matter how dwindling his rest was, his thoughts continued to tick, preventing him from absconding reality and forcing him to focus on identifying his new brothers.

Picking them from the crowd wasn't an excruciating challenge whatsoever. He gave them credit if they were feigning incompetence to make an innocent first impression to the public. Basim watched them for a minute, stumbling, struggling to carry items, settling the crates down in a spot that looked 'good enough' when it very obviously was inconveniently in the middle of the road — clever. Almost believable. It wasn’t quite 'hiding in plain sight', but one could never be too careful as a Hidden One. Perhaps remaining hidden sometimes meant to call yourself to attention. Oddly counterintuitive, yet effective nonetheless.

Feeling a little guilty he hung back for so long, he approached the pair. He plastered on a smile like he was reuniting with family and not like he was wishing to be curled up, snoozing in the shaded patch he was previously sheltered by.

"Allow me," he offered kindly, taking a box out of the hands of the smaller of the two, lightening the load. His eyes snapped to the corners, searching for the small imperfection that would confirm these were indeed his allies. A little triangular carving, resembling the symbol of the Hidden Ones. He got the right people. The boost of dopamine didn't last long when he honed in on the exact situation he was placed in, regarding present company.

His 'allies' were a man and his young daughter. It all clicked into place. Every letter of the mission briefing was true and didn't hint at any grander, more exciting scheme, despite being so vague. Bothersome and disappointing. The girl — who may have been no more than twelve — shyly thanked him for the assistance but her voice faded into the background of his own internal one. He began to conspire what he'd do when he broke from the bounds of this living purgatory. Deep, undisturbed sleep. If he was lucky.

Poor hospitality, Basim. Ripping himself from his daydream, he turned to the girl's father to introduce himself. The polite thing to do.

"Basim."

"Hamid." His eyes creased with lines of kindness as he smiled. "Sahar." He gestured to his daughter, who perked up but retreated into her father's shadow. He sensed her discomfort and sent the girl a nod of solidarity. She didn't warm to the telepathic message and he understood well enough. He adjusted the crate in his arms and hugged it to his chest to prepare him for the path ahead.

Unnecessary words were not spent and hence introducing themselves, nothing else was discussed. Prearranged missions had a tendency to be smooth sailing if well-thought-out. This one was no exception, considering its low risk of running into danger. Save from the looming gate in front of them. Both dangerous and not thought about at all. No one was to blame for the gate problem, but the responsibility fell to Basim to deduce how to navigate said problem.

They neared the gate and Basim's own inner safety mechanism was already firing off warning shots. He kept himself cloaked between the man and his girl as they walked, appearing as if he was their servant carrying their luggage. Or he hoped that's how he was being perceived by the jittery guards at their designated stations.

"Just to be sure," he raised the question, inclined towards Hamid, in nothing more than a whisper to maintain the ruse he'd made on demand. "What are in these crates? If we are pulled up by the guards, I'd like to know what it is I'm carrying." Routine security checks were common but as long as Basim wasn't hauling a crate full of contraband or smuggling other living beings across the threshold, he wouldn't take issue with it. Surely not, especially with someone so young in his company. He couldn't imagine dragging a child into illegal activities. No child should be raised in an environment like that, he'd never been more adamant about anything.

Hamid flashed a surreptitious smirk and replied, "Secrets." Basim's expression hardened. Any more vague information could get them killed for sure, his gut told him so. He itched to pry the lid open and look inside this burden to reveal these apparent secrets. Were it not nailed shut and in his arms, his thief's fingers would make that happen.

"I must know." Basim grew desperate, his alerted senses picking up every potential threat in the near vicinity. They were within the gate's suffocating grasp and Basim need not even be told. His ribcage felt as if it were curling in on itself and his physical surroundings grew dense. "Some peace of mind," he clarified, wondering if his anxieties were creeping through. He noticed it was beginning to get harder to mask fear when fatigue runs the body and mind down.

"Nothing more than dusty, old books and crafting materials, my friend, you need not worry. We'll pass the guards with ease." Basim wished he felt reassured by those words. He did not in the slightest. "Keep close, Sahar," he instructed the girl and she obliged willingly. Out of apprehension of the new environment, Basim figured.

They all crammed uncomfortably together to indicate they were associated with one another. Hopefully not condensed enough to separate themselves from the normal passersby. They walked on through the crowd, almost making it through the gate entirely before they were singled out by a heavily armoured man seated at a desk. Horribly out of place in any other circumstance, but in the moment he was booming at them to come over, nothing felt contradictory about his cladding and his passion for logarithms.

Hamid advised Basim not to say a word and leave the talking to him and Basim would've loved to verbalise his agreement, if his throat hadn't sealed itself off. His breathing ran shallow and he had to redirect all his energy towards controlling the onset of panic.

They knew his face. He knew they knew his face. Or his robes at the very least. Posters depicting his visage were all over Baghdad. Shoddy depictions at that, but sometimes that was enough for the brain to use as an identifier. His head drooped, staring at the box he held, passing his fear for submission or shame. This is the last time he ever played movers or servants, he swore to himself that. He didn't particularly mind it, but it was always the situation in which he had to do so was what bothered him most. Always a close shave from being sprung. Being that close to death left him in no control, like dangling above molten lava tied to nothing but twine. To say the least, he did not favour it.

It was a falsely polite, drab exchange of 'where are you headed?' Abbasiyah. 'What are you transporting today?' Writing materials, tools, homeware. 'What brings you to Baghdad?' The awaiting world of learning. 'Oh, Abbasiyah is wonderful for that' and 'is that your daughter? That's lovely. There's much to see, young one,' and a threatening, 'I don't want to see her out unescorted; supervise that one.' Amidst it all, not a single eye batted at Basim The Servant and he'd never been so grateful for a small stroke of luck. Hamid offloaded a pouch of coin and they passed through into the light again, into Baghdad.

"How did you do that?" Basim queried, once he'd regained the ability to breathe steadily.

"Do what?" Hamid's tongue phrased it just right to make Basim sound like the fool, although his answer was another question. "Bypass the guards? Simple. Don't act as if you've something to hide." Basim pursed his lips. This new ally had an attitude. "A little honey makes even dirt taste sweet." An odd answer, if not cryptic.

"Bribery?" A guess to decipher the riddle. That pouch of coin...

"Not at all. I paid my fee. It's all in the understanding, my friend. A bit of sympathy for the guards, uh? They get bored and tense, working tirelessly. Give them some small talk, some kindness, make their job easier for a minute and be on your way. It's not only you on edge. To change the energy received, you must change the energy being emitted." Basim almost stopped dead in the way of an oncoming camel. He'd completely froze in puzzlement. Was he a window? Was it so obvious that he was sweating through his robes? Perhaps he was a terrible actor.

"I see," he said, letting the scepticism tint his words. "Unfortunately, some of us do not have the luxury of conversation. Forgive me if I'm wary of being attacked." That, in fact, was a confession. One he didn't want slipping from his mouth.

"Ah. Not a friend of the Caliph?" A joke? "I hope this won't become a problem." The inflection indicated it was more cautious question than statement. Basim followed his eyes to Sahar, who was tailing her father, invisible in the shade of the shadow he cast. Therein lay the worry.

"Nor do I. I will do my best to keep you both safe. You have my word."

"To the letter," he affirmed, nodding a split second before a bag tumbled off the stack of precariously balanced luggage Hamid was hauling. He uttered an obscenity under his breath. "Sorry." Basim wasn't certain on who he was apologising to, so he kept quiet. "Did not think transport through. We'll have to carry everything the rest of the way there, if it doesn't trouble you."

Oh, it did. It did a lot. "Not at all." Lying through his teeth. Basim wasn't one to do such things. Not normally. Being crabby over this mission since the briefing had a domino effect and he'd rather be feigning kindness than maiming with honesty. He'd get over it. Whenever he forgot that it was all Roshan's fault for assigning him this colossal time waster.

From the shade, Sahar peeked out to claim the bag, as her arms were void of baggage, then slinked back to her hiding place. Hamid appreciated his daughter's help and did so verbally, whilst scanning the area for his bearings. His thorough search soon morphed into uncertainty.

Basim was tired of this. He was before, now it was painful. Any more incompetence and he'd lose his mind. For someone who spoke so eloquently, he had no idea how Hamid couldn't discern his north-east from his south-west. Wanting to move this process along, Basim suggested,

"Do you have a map?" He tried not to sound like he had better things he could be doing. Albeit true, anything to minimise lingering out on the streets would be beneficial for everyone, not just him. Hamid peered past the countless boxes and bags to his belt, where many pouches were attached.

"Uh, I don't suppose you could look?" Basim repressed a sigh.

"Of course." Of course you would, he wanted to say, but he knew better. Growing up a pickpocket didn't make him exempt from showing courtesy. He was doing his best to give his new brothers (burdens) a warm welcome, no matter how unhappy he was with the task at hand.

He put the singular crate down at his feet and sifted through the pockets for a map that might pinpoint the location of wherever they were meant to be headed. As he fixed his mitts on a square of paper that could have possibly been a map, a shriek tore through the peaceful bustle of Baghdad.

"Thief, thief! Guards! That man is stealing from his purse!"

"No, no, no. Not now." Retracting his hand in a flash, out of impulse, he scooped up the crate again. Hamid spoke a thousand words with one look, but the baseline was: 'what in the world is going on?' "We should get going," he instructed with urgency, ushering them away as quickly as he could manage with his hands full. So much for ensuring their safety.

Swords drawn, a pair of soldiers spliced through the crowd to pursue Basim and his newfound kin. He placed himself tail-end in defence, hurrying Hamid and Sahar forward with his quickened step. A struggle, factoring in the weight they bore in their arms. Basim hadn't given a second thought as to where they were going, it just had to be a lengthy distance between him and any armed forces. Not the warmest of receptions, but he'd had colder — Roshan earlier that morning, for example. Not that he had the second to spare to ruminate on that instance. Food for thought he had no time to digest.

—

They lost their pursuers eventually. Veering down countless trails and disappearing on something so simple as a bench did the trick. An old trick, yet effective to no fault. Prior to that debacle — the other part of Basim's brain not kicking up adrenaline and spurring him to run, counted at least twenty apologies to the public, all served by Hamid as they pushed past with impudence. He'd changed his tune, resting his forehead against the tower of boxes he had in front of him, speechless and more or less breathless. Basim concurred, his heaving created an offbeat overlay, loud in his ears.

Next to her father, Sahar clutched her one bag like it was precious, making almost no noise as she caught her breath. At intervals, she'd cast her gaze to Basim, full of spite that he'd broken his vow moments after pledging it. Her displeasure with him was fair, Basim accepted that. But the scrutiny of a little girl was unsettling, especially feeling it impact his perception. If he'd disappointed a kid, surely he was inadequate for this kind of job. He didn't even take a glance at her — couldn't bear to. Though his eyes were elsewhere, he could feel her emotion beginning to hang about him like a shadow, reflective of the few moments he spent in her company.

His mind spiralled, remembering friends he'd let down before. How many kids' lives he cut short from his recklessness. He didn't mean to. Just like he didn't mean to this time. Oh no. Guilt. Too deep now. The darkness was familiar, an old friend returning to visit. A resented old friend. Familiar though, and strangely reaffirming. A nightmare was his waking hours. His resting ones too (if he could call it resting these days).

That's it. The jinni. That's what it reminded him of. Sahar's glaring mirrored that of his personal demon and that was a terrorising sensation he thought no person could replicate. His chest was tightening a few notches again, squeezing his lungs, twinging a few heartstrings. His bottom lip jutted out. Perhaps it wasn't just Roshan who was overly sensitive today.

Having had enough of the restrictions, Basim stood up abruptly, without the crate he was responsible for lifting and began a pace in a seemingly random direction. Inner turmoil was no easy conquest. External ones, however, he could deal to and that was a better place to start.

Those posters with his features scrawled on them posed a problem for any future moves he or his companions wanted to make. First thing to tackle: getting rid of those. From there, he hoped, their journey would be less a superfluous plight and more a meaningless meander.

"Where are you going?" Hamid's voice strained with worry. When Basim's reply was dead air, he called out, "Basim?" Suppose his vigour returned.

"Posters. I have to get rid of them," he stated. He didn't mean to sound short and snappy but his patience was wearing thin. His faux perky disposition was corroding.

"Oh, a known face, are you?" His jokes grated on Basim. He wasn't certain if it was the condescending undertones or the fact that it was something he would've said on the other end of the stick. "If you don't mind my curiosity, I'd like to see one. Local art sparks my interest, even if it is so small as a wanted poster." Basim gritted his teeth and prayed no other sign of frustration seeped through. Movers or tour guide, Basim did not sign up for this test of willpower.

"If you can call it art," he muttered. "All right. Keep in sight, I'll show you." Hamid sprung out of his seat with renewed energy. He entrusted the safety of their possessions to Sahar, who was told specifically to stay seated and keep watch until they got back. He felt her uncomfortable presence on him again the second he turned away, leading her father to wherever a poster may be. Being rude wasn't in Basim's nature, but in that beat, he was grateful to be parting ways with her temporarily. Maybe in that time she could fix her sulky demeanour.

—

Fascination was an odd thing, tailored to the individual through innumerable factors. For Basim it was classical literature and the wonders of the sky above. For Hamid... it was an unintelligible scribble based off who knows what. Some eyewitness who had a hard time remembering faces? Because he was sure he appeared nothing like that in his reflection. They said that was the door to narcissism. They may be correct in this case. Though who was he to complain? The less the image looked like him the better.

Basim scrunched his nose, staring at what Hamid could possibly be so enraptured by. There was a likelihood that there were just some things he'd never understand. For once, that notion didn't string him up. Instead, he gazed off into the blur, blank as ever, save from fatigue's dark circles.

"The line work is incredible, the use of colour is eye-catching — an interesting piece," he mused, then paused to lower his voice for only Basim's ears, "if not a little inaccurate." Basim idly nodded in reply, humming a tune between an agreeing 'yes, thank you,' and a sarcastic 'yes, thank you'. The sooner he could dispose of the target on his head, the sooner they'd all be safe to roam. Not that Hamid was too concerned with that at the minute.

Impatient and bored to no imagination, Basim took hold of the edge of the sheet of paper and yanked downwards, shredding the poster in one satisfying tear. On automatic, he balled it and shoved it in a pouch, out of sight, not bothering to look at how they failed to do him justice.

Hence would be the appropriate time to walk away. A hundred times over he'd have done so. Had Basim had the energy, this unimportant instant would have followed trend. Unaware to himself, his psyche sailed off to distant shores once more, starting a new life away from unreasonable mentors, silly missions, sleepless nights, odd companions and bounties on his head. That was a life worth living. He'd have played the scenario out too, were it not for an obnoxious cough that erupted from beside him.

Another civilian out to try their luck and challenge the limits of Basim's sanity. A stream of accusations flowed from their mouth, whirling around Basim but not threatening enough to strike an alerted response. He phased out of reality again with hooded eyes, unamused. Amusement must have been what this civilian was lacking, for creating all this fuss served no other purpose and drew no eyes their way. It was him on the poster, yes, but his refusal to entertain the drama outweighed his instinctual reflex to be honest.

To his relief, words that would have been wasted were preserved and better utilised by Hamid, whose bearing suddenly exuded a graceful, disarming authority.

#12 days of bee fics #beeboo writes #bee fics #assassin's creed #assassin's creed fanfiction #assassin's creed oc #assassin's creed mirage #ac mirage #basim ibn ishaq #assassin's creed basim #found family #unfinished work

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beeboos-creativecorner · 6 months ago

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Midas - an Ezio Auditore x OC one shot

11... this is day 11, right ? Idk man. Anyway, here's an Ezio fic I wrote in early 2023 because I think my sister and I were replaying Brotherhood ?? Good thing I churned this one out before I could no longer take Ezio seriously because the minute I found out Roger Craig Smith also voices Sonic the fucking Hedgehog, I giggle when I think of Ezio. Weee, silly stuff <3

Fic under the cut x

"The existential dilemma is this: because we are free, we are also inherently responsible."

—

Warmth. Nothing but warmth. The word had two meanings related to sensation. One physical: temperature regulated to slightly above lukewarm, enough to be detectable. The other was more based around emotion. A need satiated by a gesture.

Ezio Auditore could say both occurred in his recent experience. And they were certainly linked.

Sunlight burst through the curtains, golden beams illuminating all the right places. The summer sun soaked into his skin relentlessly, sending the hint that maybe he'd stayed in bed for far too long. As true as it was, his sense of urgency was minimal. He'd — no, they'd — finally made time.

Time was a concept Ezio struggled to grasp. Or manage. It escaped him quicker than sand through the channel of an hourglass. That he could see, define, even. What he felt he had was something thinning. Elusive in its tactics to out-manoeuvre him.

In spite of his ongoing battle against an abstract notion, he'd at least made some kind of getaway. Somewhere in which he had no fear. Only warmth. It was good. Liberating. To have no responsibility for anything outside of the room — it was a dream come true. First and foremost. Secondly, he was blessed to lay beside someone again.

They'd taken a risk to abscond, but it was well worth the gamble. They'd committed to a time, a place, unattached to the work premises, instead of clinging to fleeting bouts of passion while bound to a schedule. To other responsibilities. The sole responsibility he wished for was her. Simple pleasures. Like he used to. Before obligations and complications. He revelled in it, without care. Unburdened.

The night prior, the man and his beauty mounted horses, leaving the streets of Rome behind, trading it for lodgings in the countryside. If one knew where to look, particular venues made no inquiries and took the florins for the stay. He chose rightly and they were left undisturbed until morning, where the lone interruption was their host delivering a tray of what was supposed to be their breakfast. It was left untouched. Ezio hadn't yet found the motivation to move. Not far, anyway. His plan was to move, sure. Strictly within the confinement of his bed. Anywhere else, he decided, wasn't worth the hassle.

Anything to leech off the moment a while longer.

His female companion was resting her eyes temporarily, this he was well aware of. She lay face down, breathing small gusts of air in a pattern he grew accustomed to mimicking. The part of her still conscious controlled a hand on his chest, lazily fiddling with the hairs she located there. He drank the feeling in, the most he could do whilst she was in her idle state. Ezio hoped for a lot more, as soon as she rouses.

Somewhere down the line, Ezio noticed a trend. If he wanted something, she'd let him pursue whatever he fancied. She knew how to say 'no' and sternly so, but it wasn't just that. She hid behind a mask of logic, rationality. She was less caught up in the emotion of their acts. Just the mechanics. She was quick to say 'yes' because it was necessary. Some time ago, he would've thought such an outlook was cold, but by this stage, Ezio was conditioned not to hold expectations. Every woman's motive was different and it was better not to assume. And the woman in his current company was even more a mystery than the last.

Her breathing pattern changed, so did her movements and Ezio turned to watch her lift her torso to drag an uncoordinated hand across hooded eyes. Exhaustion. Thankfully, not caused by the stress of their work environment. Another kind of stimulation, which he'd like to think was beneficial. He'd slip the word 'satisfactory', were he in the mood to blow his own horn. If he was honest, though, he'd prefer someone else to do the job for him.

He wanted to greet her, make some form of acknowledgement of her awakening, but the words didn't make it further than his brain. Her gaze lingered over him, drifting some of her fainting perfume his way as she inclined herself towards him. He was astonished that its scent was still present on her skin, as he'd guessed she'd perspired most of it away while they were reaching oblivion.

She spoke nothing either and pulled herself onto his upper half, burying her head into the crook of his neck, brushing feathery kisses over spots previously encountered. Like returning to the scene of a crime. One where the perpetrator had already been identified. If asked, Ezio believed he was due for her to reoffend. Fortunately, self-restraint was a skill he gained as he went through life, leaving her to hook a leg over him freely. No other action as a follow-up.

He was lucky…? It was difficult to convince himself. Lately, thinking was his enemy. Overthinking. Stressing over his problems and the world's. This little room was intended to be a retreat. With that, he realised he'd wasted enough energy on pointless worries. It could wait another few hours, surely. His fingers wandered along the limb she'd given him access to, grazing softly to prove he was still responsive. It elicited a pleased hum from the woman, the reverberation from her chest, throat, lips — sensuality bloomed from it all.

Things were different when night fell many hours ago. Nothing was sentimental then. As far as Ezio knew, the situation didn't vacate for sentiment. Affection, she was capable of, attachment — well, that was an uncertainty. He considered himself grateful for… her? The wedge he'd put between himself and his profession? No, telling himself he was detached from his duties was a blatant falsehood. This life took him by the scruff of the neck and dangled him precariously above the abysmal maw of death. Even now, when he thought he was separated and safe from it.

He continued his caring displays, absent-mindedly running tracks back and forth on her thigh, creating friction to keep his palm from melding to her. A thin layer of perspiration meant she was partially glued to him. For now. His sights were focused on one of his spaulders, refracting a beam of light elsewhere in the room.

The pair were equipped for killing, not love-making. It couldn't have been more evident, especially in the heat of the moment. Albeit, removing physical armour was far easier than ridding themselves of emotional ones. Much to their horrors, it was the loudest part of their entire night. And they laughed. In the face of being advised by multiple disembodied voices to hush their hurried clanking, they laughed. Between each remark, between the undoing of clasps, between haphazard kisses — life didn't seem so bad. Some thrill, some fun had returned.

Such experiences rushed by, like a leaf caught in a gale. Temporary. Soon, everything would revert to normality. Novices to teach, thieves to race, stores to renovate, aqueducts to rebuild, couriers to catch, heralds to bribe, courtesans to save. Everyone demanded the assistance of Ezio Auditore and he was tired of the rigmarole. It kept him on his toes, he enjoyed helping people for various reasons. It was instinct to be a do-gooder. He was a Good Samaritan and wouldn't trade it for anything. Except maybe some time to himself.

Their clothes littered the floor, discarded in a rush, reminding him of what he belonged to. The stark white robes of justice. Justice for the people, a promotion for freedom. A symbol for a never-ending task. Ironic how his shared goal for freedom was the foundation of his prison.

Here, he thought he could defend himself from it. Hilarious. Pitiful, but hilarious. He didn't know what drove him to anchor someone so like-minded into his mess of a life. The mess of the sheets. Their hair. Too late, he reckoned, to prevent anyone from being dragged down with the ship. Her strewn garments sported the same blinding white and red.

Freedom founded his prison. He wondered if she felt trapped too.

Little to his knowledge, the woman on him watched his stare grow distant, hazy. He'd wasted enough energy on pointless worries. Her head elevated, she took a finger and thumb to lower Ezio's chin to hers. He recalled a throwaway line of hers: she found his beard attractive.

He managed it well, but ultimately, it showed his age. Each time he snatched a glimpse of his reflection, the thought arose. Every jeer from a doctor, mercenary and thief came flooding back. Admittedly, he had the occasional issue with his back and an old gunshot wound which caused him a bit of strife on bad days, but overall, he did far better than most. He wasn't as sprightly as he was at seventeen, but it could always be worse. He could've keeled over from disease, or shot, or stabbed. One wrong placement of his feet and he could plummet off a historical monument. Getting this far without dying proved his endurance.

He'd live. He'd live because she performed magic. Everything she touched turned to gold. He was able to forget himself, his view on the world. Cynicism occurred less with her. She didn't intend such effects and he'd never divulge his opinion on it — it's why they worked. They spoke when it was suitable. This instance wasn't allocated for much speaking. It was tethered by verbal agreement beforehand. She was always willing to turn her page to be on his one.

He finally made definitive eye contact with her for the first time that morning and he regretted seeing an expression of concern instead of a kind, glowing face.

"Are you alright?"

"Bene (good)," he replied, the best he could. Hearing his voice play back in his head, he gave himself feedback. Poor acting. Not at all deceptive.

"You seem distracted."

"Do not worry." After all that time, his hand halted his caresses. "It's nothing." He smiled, low intensity, subtly scanning the room. Nothing. Nothing but warmth from the sun. They were alone. He thanked the heavens for it. Simple pleasures. Like before. Some peace.

"I trust your dreams treated you kindly?"

"I think I like my reality much better." Words he never imagined flowing from his mouth, since his miniature existential crisis a few minutes past. No less true, though. She was beautiful. And he wasn't done.

His lips began roaming hers, blissful in the synchronisation of their movements. Quickly impatient, he pulled her onto him properly, drawing kiss by kiss to savour in memories. He'd never get this time again. Work would inevitably consume him if he didn't make the most of the opportunity. Every aspect that composed Ezio yearned for — no, craved sexual healing.

Those who healed others needed healing themselves.

Perhaps his desperation was obvious in his kisses, or the tightness of his grip on her thighs. She noticed the spike in his attitude. They both did. For the second time in the past twenty-four hours, they released a chuckle. For being completely out of it, or completely into it — the reason didn't matter. He was susceptible to wanting. Reason, logic, thoughts; they weren't relevant anymore. Primal drives usurped them all to reign king for a while.

"Ready to go again, maestro (master)?" She asked through fragmented breaths, combing back her hair in preparation for an answer she already knew. Her clutch went to curtain the bruises on his shoulders, smiling broadly. Ezio's hands snaked up to her hips in the midst of his affirmation.

"Sì (yes). Please."

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