CH 22: Shoulder to cry on

She slumped her head on Ali's powerful shoulder as she kept sniffing. She had cried and cried, and unknowingly, already some time had passed till she just let herself fall on Ali to keep her seated form up as she relaxed after crying her eyes out.

Ali kept rubbed her back and head as he gently whispered in her ear after she grew silent :"are you alright, my love?" but when all he got in return was silent, he looked down with worry to see Ezio sleeping soundlessly with tear marks under her eyes.

The poor girl had cried herself to sleep. It was natural. She hadn't slept well because of the excitement of having her first love, then just got a bit of sleep because of all the events in a single day and night.

So exhaustion had finally took over her and she cried herself to sleep. Ali still kept rubbing her back, though as he sighed in sadness for the worry and sadness of his lover. He sat her down on his lap to make it comfortable for the both of them as she had an iron grip around him even in sleep.

Ali was a horny guy. An extremely horny guy. But even he knew that it was wrong to get horny at this time. And couldn't get horny anyway since his worry and sadness for Ezio and the small guilt for her family kept his body in check from getting hot because of Ezio's juicy ass and hips.

He kept watch for any guards or trouble as he wasn't that tired and would get some shut eye later on. But for now, he stayed awake so that Ezio could get some sleep and stay away from the harsh reality for a little while.

The poor beauty was so tired that she stayed sleep in the comfortable embrace of her lover for hours and woke up only when it was getting dark. Ali had also slept for a little while but still kept watch with his map on the alarm mode.

She had a sleepy smile at first as she put her hand in front of her mouth and covered it as she yawned. But after seeing her lover's sad and worried look, her look of confusion turned into one of saddened realization :"oh. So they are really gone, huh?"

Ali gently grabbed her hand and began to rub gentle circles behind it with his thumb :"I also lost my parents and family, but I can't say that I can fully understand the pain that you are going through. I only saw my parents' bodies <as in a vision from the omniverse>, but you watched your family members die.

But I can tell and assure you of one thing. No matter what, I will always be there with you and support you. Do you understand?" she just smiled with happiness and sadness as she nodded and chocked out :"yes, I understand. I love you."

Ali smiled warmly at her with worry clear in his eyes as he placed his other hand on Ezio's cheek and she leaned into his touch :"ti amo anch'io, amore mio (i love you too, my love). What should we do next?"

Ezio opened her eyes and looked at him with sad but firmer eyes than before :"my family's bodies… I can't just leave them hanging from the gallows. I need to give them a proper burial." Ali nodded with a serious look :"alright, then let's go. But before we go, take one of these daggers. You aren't proficient in using two at the same time."

Ezio took the dagger and smiled softly at Ali :"grazie (thank you), but isn't this your mother's last parting gift?" Ali smiled warmly and nodded :"yes, that's right. And that's why I'm leaving it in your hands. Because I know it will keep you safe."

As they made their way to the gallows where Ezio's family members should have bee, they met up with an unexpected but friendly face. Cristina came to Ezio right away and gave her a supportive hug which she appreciated :"thank you for coming."

Christina :"of course. Of course. Tell me, what can I do?"

Ali this time spoke as Ezio sighed :"uncle Giovanni, Federico and Petruccio's bodies… we were planning on taking care of them."

Ezio :"I need to give them last rites. Send them on to the next world…"

Christina :"Capisco (I understand). Lead the way, you two."

Ali who was in the best condition of the group took the lead and guided them through the best root as they made their way to the gallows. But once they reached there, there was nothing in sight but one or two guys minding their own business.

Ezio :"they've already been cut down!"

Christina :"what are we going to do?"

But a guard walked out from behind the gallows and Ali's eyes narrowed down :"hide yourself while me and Ezio have a little talk with that guard." She listened as she walked a little away and got out of their sight while Ali walked towards the guard.

As the corners of his vision flashed red, indicating that an enemy has fully noticed him, he didn't give him a chance as he dodged his punch while glaring at him and punched him a few times. The guard seemed to have had enough and became obedient, so Ezio started questioning him :"where are the bodies that hung here?!"

The fearful guard :"they've already been taken!"

Ezio :"where? Tell me where they are!"

The fearful guard :"I don't know! I think they were taking them down to the river to dump them."

"No…" was all she said as a look of shock took over her and Ali let the guard run away as she signaled for Christina to come with them :"Christina! Vieni con noi (come with us)!" and she did as Ali once again led them to the river.

But once they got there, there were two guards at the only entrance to the alley. So Christina looked at Ezio and Ali :"what will you do?" but she was shocked when Ezio's hand moved towards the blood red dagger on her waist :"only one thing to do. Kill them-!

Christina :"No! don't do that. They did nothing wrong-"

Ezio :"they follow orders unquestioningly. That makes them-"

Christina :"Ezio!"

Ezio :"sigh, va bene (it's okay). I'll sneak behind their backs. Get my family, one at a time if I have to, and carry them down to the river." Ali nodded beside her with a serious face :"alright. We'll do that. I will help you out."

Christina :"be careful."

It honestly wasn't a hard thing to do as they both climbed up the building a little before doing a leap of faith into the haystack while the patrolling guards were going the opposite way. They both got out before carefully picking up a person from the ground and taking them down to a boat.

Ezio got ready and readied the boat while Ali hurried up and carried the last member down and placed him on the boat before he closed all of their eyes :"may you rest in peace, uncle Giovanni, Federico, Petruccio."

As Ezio moved the boat, Ali came beside her and hugged her side as the tears started to roll down again. But the journey was short and they reached their destination. <okay, guys, I searched, but I couldn't find out what Ezio did to the corpses, so I'm just gonna assume he burnt them from the smoke in the cutscene.>

As Ali and Ezio took care of the corpses of the Auditore family members, Christina also reached their location as she watched along with them. "we have to leave the city… Christina, do you want to come with us?"

Ezio asked as she looked away and focused on Christina who she and Ali had gotten close with and had become good friends in these few months. Christina shook her head hesitantly as she looked at her dear friend :"I want to… but I can't… my family…"

Ezio nodded with an understanding face as she and Ali hugged Christina :"I understand. Lead a good and happy life, Christina. We may not see each other again, but I am really happy to have met you and befriended you."

Ali :"take care of yourself, Christina. Don't get in trouble. We will be going now, good bye, my friend." And that's all that was exchanged before the two levers rushed to their once called house to look for the maid.

And when they reached the street of their home, the maid also showed up as she happily and excitedly ran towards them :"Madonna Ezio, Ser Ali, Grazie Dio (thank god) <somebody is going to say it XD>! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Ezio :"I… I couldn't stop them, Anneta. I tried, I swear! But there were so many guards…"

The maid :"please. Come with me. We need to get you off the streets."

Ezio :"what of my mother and sister?"

The maid :"they're safe. I'll bring you to them."

Ezio :"No! it's too dangerous for us to travel together. Tell me where to go and I'll meet you there."

The maid :"my sister's house, just north of the Duomo."

Ezio and Ali :"we're on our way." And that's how they parted ways from there so that Ali and Ezio would go to this house <after a shit load of exploring in the game because I want to 100% it> they finally reached it.

But this house… wasn't that much of a house… "correct me if I'm wrong, But isn't this a… brothel??" Ali said with a confused face as he scratched his neck that suddenly got itchy when Ezio sent him a quick glare.

One of the girls of the brothel walked by and winked at Ali who looked away. Thankfully, though, the maid showed up as Ezio looked at her :"I think we have the wrong building…"

The maid <who I refuse to give a name> :"no, no. this is it." And just when she finished speaking, a beautiful, older lady who I think deserves the title of MILF walked out. Ali fought back the urge to look at her rather big breasts as his lover watched him like an eagle.

But when he felt her focus leave him, he spared just a single glance at the new lady's cleavage before focusing on her eyes as she talked :"it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Madonna Ezio, Messer Ali… Annetta speaks quite highly of you both. I can see why."

The two who had definitely gotten better and calmer from the depressing mood smiled as Ali nodded :"I appreciate the kind words, Madonna…?" "ti prego (please), call me Paola." She said with a small smile.

Ezio :"thank you for offering your home to my family, Paola."

Paola :"it was the least I could do. You must be tired. Perhaps you'd li-"

Ezio :"no, grazie (thank you). We can't stay."

Paola :"why? Where are you going?"

Ezio :"to kill Uberto Alberti."

Paola :"I understand your desire for vengeance, but the Gonfaloniere is a powerful man. You're not a killer, Ezio-"

Ezio :"spare me the lecture."

Paola :"-but I can make each of you into one."

Ezio :"and why are you going to teach us how to kill?"

Paola :"I'm not. I'm going to teach you how to survive. Come."

The two glanced at each other with raised eyebrows before Ali shrugged and followed after her. She took them to the back yard, where some of the girls of the brothel were :"discretion is paramount in my profession.

We must walk the streets freely: seen, but unseen. You too must learn to blend like us, and become one with the city's crowds. My girls will show you how…" after that, Ezio walked to stand beside the girls while Ali went for the other group of girls.

He had asked the omniverse to make him more… gamer of a being. So when he walked and got close enough to the group to be considered one of them, the group and him turned gray in his vision. It was the same for Ezio who couldn't see it. They had blended with the groups.