[Ezio x Reader Fanfic] May the father of understanding guide us

43} Carnevale: part 3

"I'm afraid I've been busy...

Father," I say as I inhale deeply and turn to face him.

"Dante, you've done well but now you may leave." He says, his eyes never leaving my own.

"Wh-"

"Leave. I wish to have a moment alone with my daughter." His voice rises and the people in nearby crowds glance at us, whispering and speculating.

As Dante bows and hurries off dejectedly I feel and see a shadow passing over me before the familiar feel of their shoulder brushes against mine and they stand firmly at my side, grasping my hand softly and squeezing it.

"Ah so you did get my letter, Ferdinand. I knew you wouldn't miss this for the world." The man I had grown to fear so much knew exactly how to play everyone once he'd analysed them enough and Ferdinand was no exception.

"Please, Grandmaster, I don't agree with this and I'm here to urge you to rethink your plan." Ferdinand's grip on my hand tightens and I stare up at him in shock; never before has he ever questioned, let alone confronted, my father.

"On what grounds do you challenge my judgement? Are you not but a disciple of my order?" I can hear the all too familiar bite of danger in my fathers voice and I hate myself for shuddering and inching closer to Ferdinand.

"I care not for your rank. I'm not allowing you to harm (y/n) anymore."

Stop before you get hurt Fer. I desperately wish I could push the words out of my mouth but fear has a tight hold of my tongue as I remember all the horrible things the monster did to me, the things he let other people do to me.

"That is ironic. As I recall, you were the one who left for Rome countless times, who left her all alone knowing full well what was going on. If my memory serves me well your father and brothers made sure you knew exactly what they did whilst you were in Rome training, didn't they? And what did you do when you found out? Ah yes, I remember. You. Did. Nothing." I feel him tensing up, his head hanging in shame and I let him go, standing in front of him and finally freeing my knotted tongue. 

"Enough. I do not blame Ferdinand, father. And I didn't break our little deal so I don't see how I fit into any of your plans anymore." The man's furious eyes turn on me this time and a sinister smile crosses his lips.

"As much as I did miss your screams, that isn't why I need you. It seems that you are required to attend a party tonight, I have a feeling that a special someone will be there and you can be quite the distraction for him it seems." He smiles again and with a flick of his wrists there are guards ripping me away from Ferdinand.

"Father I will do what you want just go easy on Fer, he doesn't deserve punishment." I feel the guards snapping a pair of shackles on my wrists, securing them behind my back.

"You will do what I ask anyway. If you don't I'll kill everyone here, understood?" He gives another signal and the guards holding Ferdinand tie a gag around his mouth and put a sack over his head before leading him out of the square as he attempted to kick and tug against the guards. I follow him with my eyes as long as I can and after that I pour every fibre of my being into using my sixth sight so I can follow his blue form as he is thrown on a boat and rowed away.

"Stop using your cursed eyes. It makes me sick to even think you inherited such a filthy, assassin trait." Father says as he grabs my chin and tears my eyes away from Fer. "Don't worry about him, it's yourself I would worry about. Oh, and that little pet of yours. Ezio Auditore."

He plays with the strip of fabric holding my mask up and in the end it unties, my mask almost falling to the ground if not for me catching the string as it dropped.

"So much for your pretty face, seems it has been ruined like the rest of you." He runs his finger up the healing wound and then back down again. "How did it happen?"

"A fight, as usual."

"With the assassin?"

"With an assassin yes."

"Was it..." He points to the winners tent for all the contests and I immediately spot Ezio, claiming victory of yet another challenge, "that assassin?"

"No it wasn't."

"Well that assassin is the target for tonight. He's your target in fact, you are his killer today. He will get into our private party and try to kill our new Doge, Marco Barbarigo. I'll put this plainly, if Marco is killed today I'll ensure that Ferdinand is publically executed in Firenze - whilst you are forced to watch. If you bring me the assassin's head then I won't punish you or the boy. Make your choice." He smirks and begins to walk away, the guards let me go and I find myself with no choice but to follow him.

I can't let Ferdinand die.

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I stood silently and watched whilst the competitions continued, whilst they rigged the outcome in Dante's favour, whilst Dante claimed his golden mask as a prize. I saw as Ezio slipped away into the crowd, fists clenched tightly.

It is only as he is leaving the square that I jump into action.

I quickly dart into the crowds and follow after him, seeing him crossing the bridge and storming down the lane. He turns the corner as I cross the bridge and I sprint down the road after him, glad I refused to wear heels with this inconvenient dress.

Reaching the street corner I flatten myself against the wall and slowly poke my head slightly around the brick wall, seeing nobody there. I run to the nearest alleyway and look down there too but nothing.

Where did that idiot go?

I look around at the buildings and only one manages to catch my eyes. The brothel.

I start making my way towards the bordello but stumble on the skirt of my dress, almost tearing the fabric. I sigh and look about me, glancing up and locking onto an unlucky guard patrolling the roof. Swiftly twirling a throwing knife between my fingers, I take aim and with a silent exhale I release the sleek blade, watching it twist through the air and root itself in the man's neck. The sound of a body tumbling down a roof, bouncing off a few posts and finally hitting the ground with a wet thud will probably always be my favourite sound, this occasion was no exception and I found myself smiling as I dragged him into the nearby alleyway.

I strip him of his gear and hastily change into it myself, I don't care much for the navy blue stipes but the feel of the armour, which has evaded me all morning, was a very welcome reprive from the tight corset and unwieldiness of that bloody dress.

Well then I guess it's time to give Ezio a quick briefing of my masterplan plan, Antonio be damned.

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Sorry it's late but I tried to make it a bit longer this time so hope you enjoyed! thanks for reading xx

GotThatEzioCharisma