(no subject)

[secondchances]

Even if Stephanie had access to all the paper in Rome, she didn't think she'd have enough room to write down all that sucked. Bathing sucked. The weather sucked. The clothing sucked. The Borgia family sucked. Lack of deodorant sucked. Lack of modern convenience sucked. Oh, what else? Getting a cut on your arm sucked, because then you worried about stitches and sterilization, and when you're pretty much the most medically advanced person in the history of ever (so far, and maybe that was probably an annoyed exaggeration), that meant you fixed yourself up as best you could, put your shirt back on, and went on with your day. That really sucked.

It was embarrassing, too. She was eager to help, eager to commit to Ezio and the Assassins, but not so eager to kill. The extra care it took to not spill blood (and not make it totally obvious what she was doing) cost her bumps and bruises. And this time, some skin and blood. She wasn't sure if she was more worried about the scar or Ezio noticing--if he hadn't already. She'd lost track of how many chats about killing they'd had, both in Rome and in Paradisa.

For now, she sat herself down at the desk and tried to look busy. She could work on other embarrassing things to distract herself from her "scratch"--like her understanding of local geography. Ugh. Rome was fucking confusing, even after all this time. It didn't make sense to her like Gotham had.

Maybe she'd just invent satellite imaging.

Comments

[assalitore]

Ezio chuckled, but it was a little sad.

"There is no need to worry about that. I cannot take outsider women to the headquarters, and there is no one left here for me."

Caterina's gone, is the unspoken phrase, but he regrets even thinking about her. He just feels lonely and self-loathing when he does, and maybe even a little angry with Caterina, even if only in memory, for failing to be his second chance at love.

[secondchances]

"You'll always have me," she said softly, hand rubbing slow circles on his back. The interpretation of that was left up to him, because she wasn't even sure in what manner she was offering. He wasn't the only one that felt lonely.

Any way, she did intend to make these cuddle sessions a regular thing. It was nice to talk to him without him being on his way somewhere, or her having something else she should be learning or figuring out. This felt like neutral ground. It reminded her of all the times they did this in Paradisa, when they really had nothing better to do and all the time in the world to just chat and enjoy their time together.

[assalitore]

Ezio let out a long, slow breath, enjoying the warmth of her skin against his cheek. There had been a time where he wanted to make her his lover –– his partner –– but that was before he had become an aging man. Not that it would be unusual for an older man to take a younger woman as a partner, here in this time, but perhaps he wasn't that kind of man. Not with his experiences.

That, and he doubted that Stephanie had intended it like that.

"That I do," he replied. "But men have needs... and those are needs I would not ask of you."

[secondchances]

That almost felt like rejection. It didn't quite sting, but it made her frown up at the ceiling for a moment as she tried to piece together a response that didn't make her sound like she was disappointed.

"Well," she began casually, lightly, "It's not like I'd say no at this point."

She didn't really have anything to lose. That was a sad thought.

[assalitore]

He lifted his head to look at her, genuinely surprised by her response. He doesn't want to get his hopes up, but he's also not sure what he wanted to hear, either.

"But not saying 'no' is not the same as saying yes..."

[secondchances]

She watched him, looking a little surprised herself. This wasn't the conversation she was expecting to have with him right now, but it was a little too late to backtrack, and a little too cruel to try to brush it off as a joke.

"Uh, yeah. Guess it is."

[assalitore]

Ezio paused, letting silence fall upon them for a few moments.

"Are you sure?"

[secondchances]

"Don't sound too excited," she replied, buying herself a moment to ask herself if she really was sure. Sure about what exactly, even?

[assalitore]

"I didn't intend to."

[secondchances]

"That was the point. But yeah, I'm sure."

She smiled, a little awkwardly, and messed with his hair.

[assalitore]

"I will keep that in mind, then," he replied. He leaned up to press a kiss to her cheek.

[secondchances]

It felt like they just agreed to go to a fancy restaurant. The thought about the exchange was enough to get Steph to laugh under her breath, even as she tilted her face into the kiss.

"Alright."

[assalitore]

He chuckled, too, as he pulled away.

"Not as charming as I used to be, hmm?"

[secondchances]

"You're still plenty charming. You just... well, if you were still like the you in Paradisa, I'm pretty sure you'd be taking advantage of the offer immediately." Not that he'd be any less considerate, but Stephanie doubted he'd let the chance pass him by.

[assalitore]

Ezio ran a hand along her side again, settling his hand on her hip.

"If I were still in my twenties, I would already be inside of you," he teased.

[secondchances]

"And over in minutes, huh?"

[assalitore]

"I said twenties, not my youth," he replied, but he laughed.

[secondchances]

She laughed, too. "Sorry. I could only speculate after all this time."

[assalitore]

"You could have just asked."

[secondchances]

"How would I know I was getting the truth?"

[assalitore]

"I don't lie to you!"

[secondchances]

"Sex is sensitive! It could be the exception!"

[assalitore]

"After all these years, it is not all that sensitive."

[secondchances]

"Fine. If you end up sleeping with me, I better be impressed." She was mostly teasing.

[assalitore]

He grinned.

"I will take it upon myself as a personal challenge."