Assassin's Creed- Keep Me

Chapter 3- Niccolò

I watched it all. Followed him through the Roman streets as he was chased, climbed the building opposite to him, and was now perched on the rooftop watching the sickly sweet scene of him and a young girl who had already become a victim to his charms. 

I was here to guide him, and help him, but only when necessary. It was difficult to ignore his annoyance that I had not appeared when he was in need, yet I felt I had good reason for my actions. When I had met Ezio he was a confident and cocky boy with a lot to learn. I was two years his senior, and much more experienced in the art of death, so I had taken it upon myself to be his mentor of sorts. His individuality had started to diminish since our alliance, and I found him relying on me more and more as time passed. This was just another lesson.

Ezio's hand reached out to the astounded signora, as I heard the drum of hurried feet. He must have heard it too, as his eyes widened and his head whipped around to glance at the stone balcony that pertruded from the hallway into the garden square. 

Their voices were muffled but from her tone of voice I knew she had asked him a question. Lost in doubt and urgence, he answered quickly. With a firm grip on her hand he started for the alley that would lead out onto the busy streets of Roma. But they were hindered by the red coats, closing in on them. Ezio stepped in front of the signora, though she stood most defiantly, until a guard pulled her from Ezio by her hair. She wailed as the guard moved his hand down to her neck, and thrust her onto the cobblestones as if she were a rabid animal. 

"We have you now, Assassino." spat the girl's abuser, saying the word "Assassino" as if it were a curse. 

"Your death is imminent, but the amount of pain you will recieve depends on you, and your Templar ants." challenged Ezio, his posture confident but his voice slightly wavering. 

"Bring the girl to me." she was thrown back into what I believed to be the Commander's arms, and he unsheathed a sharp dagger, that glinted in the overwhelming sunlight. 

Ezio fliched, reached out, and cried "No!" as they brought the blade to her throat. The Commander paraded around Ezio with the signora practically glued to his blade, his smile so wide it might as well have been his birthday. He stopped with his back to me. Any second now...

"Another move, Auditore, and she dies." I heard a desperate noise of pain, which could only mean he had pushed the blade far enough into her throat to draw blood. This was it. 

I flung myself from the roof in a leap of faith. My one and only hidden blade emerged from my sleeve, and as I fell, I aimed. My fall ended with my blade through his jugular, and his dagger and the girl sprawled across the floor. Every guard tensed, confused by the previous events, and I was suddenly aware of their crossbows. The girl jumped from her trance, snatched up the Commander's blade, and used a booted foot to stamp on the hole I had inflicted on his throat. If he wasn't dead before, he was now, as his blood cascaded into the skies and landed on his brow. 

Two guards slumped to the ground, which left two more to go. The girl, with impeccable aim, tossed the blade into the air and hit the third guard right between the eyes. The fourth shot his bow, though he was clearly amatuer, as the arrow hissed past my ear and punctured a window. Ezio's sword was drawn and he stabbed him in the gut. His foot stopped him rising by putting his weight on his shouler. 

"Your name, per favore." said Ezio, practically singing from our small victory.

"Vincenzo Maritti." answered the boy, inbetween cries of unbearable pain. His hands gripped the gaping wound, trying to stop the flow of blood, to no avail. 

"This will amount to nothing, Ezio. He is only a ragazzo." I said, seeing the anger burn his eyes.

"Oh yes, Niccolò, your abscence was duly noted. Thanks for the help before, amico." He snapped, and turned back to the boy. He gripped his collar in his fist and rained his nuckles down on his nose. "Pezzo di merda!" he said, as he hit him over and over. 

"Enough!" cried the girl, who I had forgotten all this time. Ezio stopped, and dropped the boy to the ground, who was now so weak he could not even wail in pain. "This is not the time. Your friend is right. He has nothing you want. We must leave, before they catch you again. And you promised you would help me. So let's go." 

Ezio sighed in agreement. "Yes, let's go." 

------

Mi dispiace, guys. Another short one. 

Assassino- Assassin 

per favore- please

ragazzo- boy

amico- friend

pezzo di merda- piece of shit