24} I Don't Need Your Help

Sorry, it's been a while huh? I'll try and make up for not updating for ages by giving you a super good chapter. I know there hasn't been much Ezio romance in my fanfic yet but it starts now so expect a whole lot more Ezio from now on :).

I ALSO TOTALLY FORGOT TO CELEBRATE 600+ READS!!!! I love you all my loyal readers and I'm glad that lots of people have read and enjoyed my fanfic so thank you people, I hope you like this chapter :) ---------------

Ezio's POV

It's been a two years since I killed Vieri and I have only seen (y/n) a few times- only short glimpses, lingering in the shadows but immediately disappearing. I started to wonder weather or not she was still alive but even that small hint that she's still out there, watching me, made me believe that against all odds she's alive.

Jacopo de'Pazzi is the next to fall to my blade and he shall be the last of the Pazzi. Vengeance is so close I can almost reach out and grasp it but that's only the tip of the iceberg. One small piece of a much bigger puzzle.

Uncle Mario told me all about the Templars and their quest for control over everything and everyone. They strive for peace but not freedom, an existence in such a world wouldn't be worth living. I was reluctant at first to continue father's work but I was convinced at last by uncle. I have a list of names and I'm gradually being trained in combat by Mario and a few other skills I have picked up from the various people I've had the fortune to cross paths with.

I've been told that Jacopo will be outside the church in San Gimignano ready to attend another Templar meeting with Rodrigo and a few other affiliates of theirs. I'm not going to lie, at this point it would be a relief to see (y/n). Even if she was attending one of the frequent meetings held by the Templar grand master. I just want to see her, I'm not even sure why I need to know she's alright. It's just a nagging feeling I get in the pot of my stomach that makes my heart race. Seeing her always did that to me, even before the death of my father and brothers. I don't know what I'd do if I lost her too.

I snap out of my depressing trance and look down on the church's square from my rooftop perch. Jacopo is walking across it alongside another man, talking to him. I listen intently for any key information while hopping from roof to roof, trying to keep the men within my sight.

They lead me outside of the city and down a dirt path. They turn off down a heavily guarded, stone staircase and to an old open theatre which was also crawling with guards.

I follow with caution and find a safe spot to listen in on their conversation. Rodrigo soon joins the men and they start conversing, I eavesdrop on the men from behind a huge, stone wall.

~~~~~time skip to end on sequence (sorry, I don't know the correct dialogue and I don't want to blindly stumble through it either so I'll just skip it)~~~~~

The two men both turn on Jacopo and each stab him once for his incompetence. As he lies dying on the cold stone, Rodrigo turns and addresses the many brutes and spearmen he has guarding their meeting.

"Kill the assassin!" He shouts, pointing directly at me, forcing me out of hiding. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice you assassin? You've been a thorn in my side for too long now. I'll be glad to finally be rid of you."

As dozens of guards flood towards me, Rodrigo disappearing from sight. He will have to wait, I need to speak with Jacopo before he slips away. But first...

I think as I turn my undivided attention to the swarming guards. The first few to reach me are two spear wielding men, hard to defend against. I ready my hidden blade as the first one goes in to strike me.

The spear never reaches me though. Tearing my eyes away from the poised pike, my eyes widen upon seeing an arrow half submerged in the guards eye socket. He falls and the other turns all around in panic. I make to strike but an arrow fells him before I can. Where are these arrows coming from? I scan around the whole theatre and my eyes lock onto a cloaked figure standing atop one of the moss covered archways of the amphitheater. Is that...(y/n)?

Another scream from the remaining guards draws me back to the fight, another 3have already fallen. There's only six, regular guards here now, easy enough for me to handle alone.

I draw my sword and, just as I'm about to swing it down on a weak guard, three arrows are let loose and three more men are picked off simultaneously. How the hell did they manage that?

The 3 remaining men all begin to back away, fearing for their lives. The archer leaps off of their perch and rolls smoothly out of their rough landing. They notch another 3 arrows, pauses only a moment and then shoots. 3 more bodies thud to the ground. Jacopo! I remember, turning to my original victim who is barely alive in a pool of his own blood. ~~~~~~

Your POV

Ezio turns his attention to the dying Templar and I ride from my crouching position. The faint sound of Ezio and Jacopo talking lingers behind me as I collect my few salvageable arrows and scour the area for any loot (LOOTY LOOT LOOT!!!!!!! I love looting on AC!!!!!!). Apart from an old chest there isn't much around so I make my way towards the theatre exit, very much conscious that the men's conversation is drawing to a halt very quickly and I don't have much time to get out before Ezio's undivided attention will be on me.

Reaching the bottom of the steps leading back to the road surrounding San Gimignano, the talking stops. Bugger! I think, picking up the pace a little.

"Hey! Wait, I wish to speak with you!" Ezio calls from behind me. I stop dead in my tracks and slowly swivel round to face him, not speaking a word yet.

"Why did you kill all those guards?" He begins to walk towards me, a hand reaching out to draw back my cloak, "and just who are you?"

With one swift, confident movement my hood is drawn back, allowing my (h/l)(h/c) hair to flow around my face. His beautiful, brown eyes widen and then he smiles warmly, pulling me towards his chest and embracing me tightly.

"Two years you idiota! You made me worry for two years!" He breathes out a long sigh of relief and I melt into his strong hug, allowing myself to be held up against his armoured chest by his sturdy arms. He's so nice to hug...my cheeks turn pink as I find myself thinking this but at least he can't see my tomato face!

"I'm...uh...I can't...breathe Ezio!" I say, wheezing because of the steadily increasing pressure of his tight hug. He abruptly lets go of me and I slightly regret saying anything, still wanting to be within that strong, comforting embrace.

"Oh yeah, sorry. It's just that I've missed you...a lot." He confesses, looking down at his feet and rubbing the back of his neck. Well if my face wasn't completely flushed before it sure as hell is now!

"I'm sorry too I guess." I awkwardly shuffle my feet around and ,after both of us stand in silence staring at each other for a few moments, I finally acknowledge the developing feeling of unrest in my stomach and my rapid heart rate. "Sorry that I can't stay with you."

"What? Why not? I don't care about you being a Templar! You can join me and train to become part of the brotherhood! You don't have to leave me again..." He pleads desperately but it's futile, I can't join him. For one, his uncle would definitely recognise me and two, by joining the assassins I would be pitted against all those who taught me and have rooted for me. Although, the only Templars I wouldn't be able to kill would be my old mentors and Ferdinand ,my only remaining childhood friend.

"It's not that...but...I just can't join you, Ezio. I have my own target and I can't be sidetracked by yours, I'm sorry." I turn my back to him and would have began to sprint up the stairs were it not for a heavy hand grasping my elbow. My heart heaves in my chest and my eyes start to prickle with oncoming tears.

"(Y/n), I'm begging you. Don't leave me again." He inhales a shaky breath before continuing with his heavy hearted request. "(Y/n), my mother hasn't spoken since they died and my sister blames me ,rightly so, for not saving them. You are the only thing I have left, I thought you'd already slipped away from me once and now I can feel it happening again. I don't want to lose you for good so please, let me help you finish your mission and then you can join me on mine. We can do this together!"

I tremble slightly and take an uneven breath to steady myself.

"Why would I ,previously the most skilled in my order, ask for help from a second rate, novice assassin? As if you could keep up enough to help me!" Every single syllable feels like a dagger being plunged into my chest but I push out every last one, I have to do this both for his sake and for mine. As much as it pains me to hurt him like this, it had to be done. Going after my father will be risky and I'll have to make reckless decisions, the outcome of which I won't be able to control. Gambling with my life is a regular occurrence but playing with someone else's is another game entirely.

So I shake off his trembling hand, pull up my thick hood and sprint up the steps, not stopping until I reach my horse ,which I left by the city gates. I mount it and ride away, towards my newfound safe haven at a new friend's house.

My heart hurts so much and the tears finally spill down my face. I don't regret my decision to break whatever bond I had with him. I just wish it didn't hurt so damn much!

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Hope you liked the chapter! Sorry about certain bits, just yell at me if I get too waffly! Thanks for reading, please vote and comment and whatever, should update by the end of the week maybe sooner if I get a few votes, although I am a little busy with New Years and all that jazz. Luvoo reader-chans!!!

GotThatEzioCharisma