Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 36 - Amelia

Amelia sat at Leonardo's workbench, the cluttered space filled with the comforting scents of sawdust and oil, mingling with the faint aroma of the simple dinner they had shared. For the past three years, this workshop had become her refuge—a place where the memories of the past could be kept at bay by the steady rhythm of decoding codex pages and helping Leonardo with his endless inventions. She had thrown herself into the work, driven by a sense of purpose, but also by the letters she had received from Ezio, each one a reminder that he was safe, even if he was far away.

As she took a sip from her wine glass, her thoughts drifted back to those letters—accounts of his time in Monteriggioni, of helping Mario and Giovanni collect more codex pages. His words had been careful, measured, but she had read between the lines, sensing his desire to return to Venice, to continue what they had started together. And yet, she hadn't realized just how much she missed him until he stepped through the door that evening.

Leonardo had just set down a plate when the door creaked open, and a tall figure filled the entryway, silhouetted by the evening light. For a moment, the familiar shape left her breathless, and when he stepped fully into the room, her chest tightened. It was Ezio, looking older, perhaps a bit more worn, but the same determination burned in his eyes. He had written so many times, and yet seeing him here, in person, was like feeling the ground shift beneath her feet.

Leonardo was the first to react, his hands flying to his mouth in shock before he rushed forward, grabbing Ezio by the shoulders with a joyful laugh. "Ezio! Dio mio! (My God!) You're alive! Is it true? They say you killed the Doge?"

Ezio's smile was brief, shadowed with regret. "I was trying to save him, Leonardo. But the truth matters little. I failed. And now I'm the most wanted man in Venezia."

Amelia's breath caught, her concern evident as she stepped closer. "You've always had a talent for attracting trouble, Ezio," she said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt to mask the worry threading through her words. But beneath the lightness, her hands trembled slightly at her sides, a reaction she hoped he wouldn't notice. "You're lucky the guards didn't catch you on the way in."

Ezio's gaze softened as he turned to face her fully, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I missed you too, Amelia," he replied, the warmth in his voice catching her off guard. There was an unspoken acknowledgment between them, a reminder that no matter the distance or time, they had remained connected.

She felt a rush of emotions—relief, gratitude, and something else, something deeper she hadn't yet put into words. But she kept her expression calm, offering him a faint smile. "I'm glad you're back, Ezio. And in one piece, no less."

Leonardo cleared his throat, bringing a bit of levity back into the moment. "Perhaps you are in luck, Ezio! It's Carnevale in Venezia. This is the time when everybody goes without a face!"

Ezio nodded, his expression lightening. "That's why I'm here. Do you have a mask I can wear?"

Leonardo's face brightened as he hurried toward a cluttered shelf. "Of course, of course, somewhere in here..." He began rifling through the pile of masks, each more intricate than the last. As he searched, Amelia caught Ezio's eye, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"So, hiding in plain sight, then? Not exactly your style," she remarked with a small smirk, folding her arms as she leaned back against the workbench.

Ezio's smile turned wry. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, no?" He glanced at her sideways, his tone softening. "Besides, Carnevale has its charms. I thought you might enjoy the festivities."

She arched an eyebrow, the teasing glint in her eyes belied by the warmth beneath. "As long as you don't expect me to jump into the canal with you again. Once was enough, Ezio."