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

46} Time Flies

"Why would I help you with that. Or anything for that matter?" Ferdinand sneers, folding his arms and leaning against a nearby wall.

"Because the Templars are trying to kill you and you owe me for saving your life." Ezio snaps back, clenching his fists tightly on the surface of the table he leans on in Antonio's office.

"I would have been fine. What you should have done is gotten (y/n) out of there." The tension rises between the men and hatred fills both pairs of eyes.

"You would be dead if I hadn't risked my life to save you! You could at least be grateful!" Ezio shouts, his anger becoming uncontrollable.

"I don't care! I'd gladly die if it meant she wasn't on a boat with my sadistic bastard of a brother. You don't know anything about what they've done and what they will do to her; you're clueless." He spits, pushing off of the wall and towards Ezio.

"I thought I could get her out too, if I'd have known Id only be able to take one of you then obviously things would be different now." Ezio sighs and slumps his shoulders. "We are trying to track her ship but it's hard, docking and shipping manifests are all we have to go on. We believe that Dante and Silvio knew something about it though. They're my next targets."

"Fine. I'll help you." Ferdinand uncrosses his arms and leans on the table as well. "For (y/n)."

"For (y/n)." Ezio repeats and the two grasp hands firmly, a mutual respect blossoming between the two unlikely allies.

~~~~~

Three months later

(Y/n)'s POV

The ship sways back and forth violently and water starts to appear on the cell floor.

"It's a tropical storm, very common but it will pass soon so I'm going to get back to work." Piero tilts his head and smiles widely. "Your father says he wants to fall asleep to the sound of you screaming."

"Oh well I'd hate to disappoint him so go ahead." I splutter, the taste of blood coating my mouth and throat. Piero had made me kneel in the centre of the cell and tied my arms to links in the walls, making it as hard as possible for me to move or attempt to stop him.

From what I can tell, I've got a few broken ribs, plenty more scars and a deep gash bellow my shoulder blade. Then again I've only been on this ship for a few months and I can't see Piero giving up his favourite toy any time soon.

"Oh I wasn't asking." He laughs and puts all his weight and strength behind a swift kick to my ribs. I hear a cracking and pain surges all through me.

Involuntary cries rip themselves from my mouth and tears sting my eyes.

"Is that the best you got?" I spit at his feet, splashing his brown boots with a crimson spray.

He grins, grabs my left arm with both hands - one at the elbow and one at the wrist -, places his knee between his hands and suddenly yanks his hands backwards and his knee forwards.

A loud crunch sounded and I almost passed out from the pain. I couldn't hold back the shriek that burst out of me and reverberated throughout the entire ship.

"Ahhh yes now that is the sound I like! That will be healed nicely within a few months and then..." He leans down and whispers softly in my ear,"...I'm going to break it again. I'm going to break it until you break completely."

He stands back up and paces the room a bit.

"Ya know what? I'm a nice guy so I'm going to make you a splint so that it heals right." He starts to leave the cell but before he does he turns back around, "don't go anywhere, OK?"

~~~~~~~

A Year And A Half Later

One year and nine months. That's how long they've held me for on this god forsaken ship. I hate it, everything about it.

Piero may be completely repulsive but his one redeeming feature was his honesty.

He said he would break my arm again and again and he did. Every three months.

I'll be surprised if I can use my left arm efficiently again within the next year or two but I guess in the long run it will just make it stronger right?

"Oi, we are headed home, before we leave your father wants you cleaned up." Piero says as he barges in, roughly biting an apple and leaning against the wall opposite me.

My accommodation had upgraded since the first few months, I got a small room to myself just below deck. I guess I couldn't exactly run away from the ship so they didn't need to keep me in chains anymore.

The new room has a bed and even a desk under its single, barred window. I'm practically living the dream life. And if that wasn't the icing on the cake then the daily beatings and "lessons" certainly were.

"Did you hear me? Get up." Piero growls impatiently and I quickly stand.

He smirks and grabs my hand, dragging me onto the deck and off the ship. We walk for a while before he stops in a secluded alcove of the beach, away from the prying eyes of the crew.

"You can wash here." He gestures to the clear sea water and just the thought of its salt content makes me shiver, which wasn't helped by the feeling of Piero staring hard at me.

"Look away." I croak, my voice hoarse from screaming.

"No." He says, taking steps closer to me. "I always thought you were a very beautiful girl, too beautiful for Ferdinand. Maybe you could be mine eh?"

He reaches out to caress my cheek and I flinch, glaring at his smirking face. I can smell his rancid breath and feel his other hand reach up to my waist before edging it's way higher.

I start trying to push him away but his grip tightens and suddenly his hand is around my throat and his breath is blowing harshly past my ear and tingling my neck.

"I could do anything I wanted to you and you couldn't do anything to stop me. So don't tempt me." He chuckles and I feel his lips brush against my neck before feeling his tongue slide across. I clench all my muscles and fight the urge to retch, unwilling to give him any satisfaction or to "tempt" him.

"Go wash." He lets go, pushing me in the direction of the sea.

~~~~~

Three months later

Rosa's POV

I find Ezio sitting on a bench overlooking the sea, a look of intense concentration grasping his features. His beard is unkempt like his hair and the bags under his eyes are worse than ever.

I head towards him, feeling the solid weight of the book in my hand.

"I heard that Dante and Silvio's assassination went well, you and Ferdinand make a good team." I place my hand on his leg but he quickly moves it away, looking at me briefly before turning to the sea again.

"Antonio was right, you really are in a foul mood." I joke, trying to get any response from him. He just sits there, clenching his fist and occasionally flicking out the hidden blade from his wrist.

"I brought something to cheer you up. Happy birthday." I throw the book onto his lap and revel in his confusion as he stares from me to the book and back.

"What-"

"It's the harbour log. A ship is expected to come in tomorrow, one with very precious cargo." I can't help but smile as his eyes widen in recognition and he raises a hand to his mouth which gapes open. There is no denying that there were tears in the man's eyes when he next looks at me along with something else.

And I can honestly tell you that it was the first time I saw genuine fear in Ezio Auditore's eyes.

----
Sorry for all the time skips, I decided to stick to the AC timeline which meant that the Templars were in Cyprus for two years and I though it would be boring if I didn't skip it. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading.