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Chapter Text

Ezio can’t refuse Leonardo anything. If the other man asked for the head of anyone in Italy, it would be done. When Leonardo asked him to model for an artwork, he accepted without hesitation.The artist's Venetian workshop is cozy. As he sits waiting for the other man to gather his supplies, he begins to regret his decision. His stomach clenches with an unexplained anxiety. Ezio has no idea why he feels like this. It’s just Leonardo. He’s known the man for years. Still, the thought of being stared at, especially by those blue eyes, makes him shiver. The assassin in him isn’t used to this uncertainty. It makes him paranoid. His eyes roam the workshop as he drums his fingers against his thigh.

The door suddenly opens and Ezio suppresses a flinch. Leonardo bursts in with paper and charcoal. The other man greets him with a smile. "Thank you for doing this, Ezio. I need to sketch this and you are the perfect person for it!" Leonardo's excitement is contagious. "Glad to be of service Leonardo." Ezio smiles. The feeling in his stomach softens into a light flutter.

He sits exactly as the artist asks.He's always been good at sitting still and waiting for his targets. Leonardo compliments him and he preens at the attention.

He watches with a soft smile as the artist excitedly sketches away. His mind begins to drift as the sketching continues. His mind is always crowded. He focuses on the birds singing outside a nearby window and tries to ignore the way his thoughts pull towards Petruccio. That's always how it ends when he's left alone with his thoughts. Everything reminds him of that day. He can't break away from it. The turmoil in his stomach is back with a vengeance. He shifts his attention to the sound of charcoal on paper. It does little to dampen the noise. Ezio is driven by a need for revenge. It's all he can think about. It's all he can think about because if he stops thinking about revenge the bad thoughts bubble to the surface.

A hand on his shoulder makes him shiver. He wants it to stay there forever. Leonardo looks at Ezio with concern. "Ezio? Are you alright amico?" Ezio is not alright. His brain is short circuiting because the artist is lightly touching his shoulder. His entire body feels hot. "Yes Leonardo. You needn't worry about me." Leonardo moves away taking the touch with him. Ezio fights to keep the displeased noise from escaping his throat. He mourns the loss of human contact.

He finds that it's much harder to sit perfectly still when you're breaking down internally. His brain is moving too fast and he can feel his heart in his throat. Everytime the artist looks at him with those studying eyes, he instinctively looks away. Ezio is sure that he's slightly shaking. Leonardo stands again and he can't help but tense. He wants the connection more than anything. He would beg the man for it.

"Ezio? Can you please move your head back to where it was?" The artist's voice startles him. When he doesn't respond Leonardo sighs and walks over to him. Warm fingers slide under his chin and another hand presses lightly against his cheek. It hurts. So warm. He doesn't stop the tears. Not now. He nozzles further into the touch. It's been so long. "Oh Ezio. Amico. Fratellino." Leonardo rubs his thumb across Ezio's cheek. He pulls the assassin into a tight hug. "It's alright. I'm not letting you go." Ezio sniffles and nods as he tucks his face into the other man's collar. Leonardo pulls both of them onto the nearby couch. Ezio wraps his legs around the artist's waist. Leonardo's hands slide underneath his shirt to rub his back. Everything is overwhelming."It's alright fratellino. Let it out." He clings to Leonardo like the man is the only thing keeping him alive. He sobs as the other man runs warm hands over his skin. Leonardo holds him like he's the only thing in the world worth holding.

They sit like that for what seems like years. Ezio's sobbing calms into rouge tears and one of Leonardo's hands finds purchase in the assassin's hair. "Ezio?" The artist's voice is soft. He wipes Ezio's remaining tears away with gentle hands. "I'm sorry Leonardo. I'm just overwhelmed. I-" "Ezio it’s alright. I won't judge you.” Ezio feels a sense of relief at the artist's words. “Leo…” “Oh, Ezio. Why have you been starving yourself?” What? “I’m not starving myself. I eat enough.” Leonardo chuckles. “No fratellino. You have starved yourself of affection. Of touch. Ezio you could have come to me sooner.” "Leo, I didn't know that could happen. I- oh…that explains so much. Leo, I-please." The plea is raw and desperate. "Ezio. Mio Ezio. Fratellino. Oh mio angioletto. I won't let you go until you are ready. I'm here for you and you do not burden me. Let it out.".

Ezio feels the tears rise up in his eyes again. He smiles.The feeling that bubbles up in him is a whirlwind of contradiction. He feels so happy to be seen and cared for, but he wants to sob until he can do it no longer. He's never felt like this before. He curls further into Leonardo as tears flow anew. The artist just holds him and sings comforting nothings low and soft. It's warm and Ezio hasn't felt loved like this since his family was hurt. He doesn't notice when he starts drifting off. He smiles internally when he does. He feels safe enough to sleep. He hasn't felt safe enough to sleep near someone else since he became an assassin. He closes his eyes and falls asleep to Leonardo's voice.

Chapter Text

Ezio wakes to the sun shining through a window. He nozzles further into the warm mass he's laying on. He can't quite remember where he is, and his inner assassin is screaming at him for that, but he is warm and comfortable and he would rather not move. A chuckle coves from below him and he freezes. He can feel the other person's chest rumble with that laugh. His entire being is screaming at him to move, so he stiffens. Hands wrap around him and pull him closer.

"Ezio, Fratellino you're alright. I'm here." Leonardo. The events of earlier in the day come back to him. The stiffness is gone in an instant. Leonardo's chest rumbles with laughter a second time as Ezio melts against him again. The assassin wants nothing more than to never move from this spot.

Ezio wakes up a second time and he does not remember falling asleep. The sun outside has long gone down below the horizon and Leonardo has moved. He mourns the loss of physical contact. As he rises from the couch, his body groans in protest. He can't remember the last time he's slept as sound as he has today.

"Ah, Ezio. I am sorry. I did not wish to leave your side, but sundown was quite some time ago. I had a matter to attend to and you looked so peaceful sleeping there." Doubt and anxiety settle in the assassin's stomach. Cazzo, he's overstayed his welcome here. Leonardo will never want to see him again. "I am sorry for taking so much time away from you Leonardo." "You needn't apologize." "I must. I did not come here to take you away from your important matters. I understand that you have things you need to attend to." Leonardo looks at him with exasperation and concern. That's not…what does that mean? What has he done to upset the artist? The panic resurges and he flinches when Leonardo suddenly grabs his hand.

"Ezio, mio fratellino. It's alright. You're alright. I…the matter I had to attend to was making dinner for you. I should not have phrased it as such. It did sound strange in my head. I said it like I did because I was afraid that you would not accept it." Ezio's face heats significantly. "Why would I not accept it?" Leonardo raises his hand to scratch the back of his neck.

"You seem to be embarrassed of yourself when someone goes out of their way to care for you. I did not want to make you feel uncomfortable." Ah. The artist has him figured out. Ezio says nothing as Leonardo leads him to sit down. "Stay with me tonight Ezio. I can not, in good conscience, let you leave when you are still so tired." "Thank you Leo."

It has been a while since Ezio has eaten alongside someone else. They settle into a comfortable silence as he leans on the other man. He is glad that he accepted the artist's invitation to come here today.

After the dinner is finished, Leonardo pulls him into a hug and he yawns. The artist laughs again. "Promise me that when you feel like you need this again you will come to me, Ezio. You are not going to make me angry." "I will try." The artist only hums deeply in acknowledgement. It only takes only a short time for both of them to end up asleep while cuddled close into each other.