Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 39 - Amelia

"Ezio, let me see that," She reached out and caught his arm, her touch gentle but firm, forcing him to stop. Her fingers brushed against his blood-soaked sleeve, her eyes narrowing at the wound. Ezio tried to wave her off, attempting a casual smile despite the pain tightening his jaw.

"It's nothing, Amelia. We have more pressing matters—"

"Stop being stubborn, Ezio. You won't be any good to Bartolomeo or to me if you're bleeding out," she interrupted, the edge of command in her voice brooking no argument. Without waiting for his consent, she reached into the side pouch at her waist and pulled out a roll of linen bandages. The fabric was cool and slightly damp, but it would do the job.

He sighed, the fight going out of him, and held his arm out to her. "You're as relentless as ever, I see," he said softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the situation. But she could hear the strain in his voice, could see the way he held himself taut against the pain. It twisted something deep in her chest.

She unwrapped a length of the bandage, her hands working quickly despite the tremor of adrenaline still buzzing through her fingers. As she bound the wound, her gaze flickered up to meet his, catching the glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. It was a fleeting moment, but it sent a warmth spreading through her, grounding her in the chaos around them.

"There," she said, tying off the bandage with a firm knot. "It won't hold forever, but it'll keep you from dripping blood all over the streets."

Ezio glanced down at her handiwork, a rueful smile curving his lips. "Grazie, Amelia," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the way her pulse skipped at his words. "Probably bleed to death in a gutter somewhere," she replied lightly, though there was an undercurrent of truth in her tone. "Now come on, we've got more men to free—and a madman to deal with."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm despite the rain and the blood and the danger that surrounded them. Together, they pushed onward, making their way toward the next target. Amelia kept a sharp eye on the shadows, her hand never straying far from the hilt of her dagger. The city had become a minefield of Templar influence, and she knew that even a moment's lapse in vigilance could be their undoing.

They reached a cluster of buildings, one of which was occupied by a group of Silvio's guards, their voices carrying through the rain-soaked air. Amelia signaled for Ezio to stop, crouching low as she surveyed the scene. Below, three guards stood watch outside a gate, beyond which a handful of Bartolomeo's men were imprisoned. She turned to Ezio, meeting his gaze with a determined look. "I'll take the two on the left. You handle the one by the door."

He nodded, his expression growing serious as he readied his hidden blade. "On my mark," he whispered, and she watched as the old intensity settled over him—his focus sharpening into something lethal.

Amelia moved like a shadow across the rooftop, her movements silent against the patter of rain. When Ezio gave the signal, she leapt down, landing with a catlike grace behind her targets. Her dagger flashed, and the first guard didn't even have time to cry out before she slit his throat. She spun, burying her blade in the side of the second guard, twisting sharply before letting him crumple to the ground.

Ezio was already at the gate, dispatching the third guard with brutal efficiency. He glanced over at her, giving her a quick nod of approval. She couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at her lips in response, her chest heaving with the rush of victory.

"Nice work," he said, as she joined him by the gate. She nodded and smiled at him, wiping the blood from her dagger with a flick of her wrist. Her smile faltered, something warm and unexpected unfurling in her chest as she looked at him. But before she could dwell on it, the gate swung open, and Bartolomeo's men stumbled out, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and relief.