return to paradisa

[secondchances]

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[secondchances]

"Now you're talking my language." Free therapy. Why beat a dead horse and say for the millionth time how unsettling this whole situation is? Leaning back on one leg, her other foot comes down to break a wooden bar with an almost wet crack. It's so soft it doesn't break off, the wood bending and leaving the lower half hanging until Steph pulls it off.

"I'm no expert, but I don't think this thing has been pulled up in a long time."

[assassino]

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching Stephanie kick the shit out of a gate, and his attention drifts over her thighs while she does it.

“Well done,” he replies, joining her to look at the break. He crouches down. “These gates are supposed to last hundreds of years... I can only imagine the magic was holding it together.”

[secondchances]

She's surprised it's not riddled with termites.

"The magic's gone poof, or has it actually been a hundred years since we were last here?"

There's a laugh, but she doesn't really find that idea funny.

[assassino]

"No, no," he replies, a little quickly. Let's not spook Stephanie. "I just think the castle was perhaps the only thing holding it together. The things in the kitchen did not look hundreds of years old."

Much less the skeleton.

[secondchances]

"... right," she says, not sounding entirely convinced, and decides to kick in another wooden bar. Just like the first, it goes easily, and there's enough room for them to get in.

"Without the magic, this place is just a normal... place, huh? Hopefully that means no creepy crap coming at us."

[assassino]

Ezio figures she can get some fear out with a little activity. Kicking in gates is fun.

"I think so," he agrees. "I imagine the worst we might face are feral dogs. Perhaps some of those, ah... the cuter badgers."

He doesn't remember what they're called.

[secondchances]

"Cuter badgers?" Something is lost in translation there, though it does make her grin. "Raccoons?"

[assassino]

"Those ones!" Ezio chuckles. "Raccoons. They get into the garbage."

Lana had lived in the city, and he'd lived with her there for a time –– he'd seen raccoons plenty, but there's only so many names of weird little American animals one man can learn.

[secondchances]

"Cuter badgers," Steph repeats, charmed. "You're so precious, sometimes."

She hopes he's right and that's the worst of what they come across. Taking a breath, she easily steps between the rotting wood, waiting for him to follow.

"Shops or residential, first?"

[assassino]

"You are entertained by the strangest things," he teases, and he ducks through after her -- not quite as easily as she does, given the broadness of his shoulders, and he needs to hold the hilt of his sword so it stays tight to his body. "Shops, I think, easier to inventory. But first, stop there a moment."

[secondchances]

Steph stops, turning to face him.

"You okay?"

[assassino]

He has the gall to look serious about it, but he just takes her chin in his hand and gives her a swift kiss.

"Fine," he tells her.

[secondchances]

The smile really takes away from the exasperated look she was going for, so she ditches it in favor of giving his shoulder a gentle push.

"Ezio."

[assassino]

He just chuckles, slipping his hand in hers to walk her off into the city. He's innocent, he swears.

[secondchances]

"It's still a little surreal every time you do that. Guess I'm still in shock, or something."

But it's by no means a complaint, as she happily walks beside him, glad to not be in this creepy city alone.

[assassino]

"You'll get bored of me before long," he replies, wryly. "Then you'll cry out when I kiss you, begging for freedom!"

[secondchances]

"I don't think so. You've forgotten that I always wanted your company, day or night, no matter what was going on. Now, it's just..."

She waves her free hand.

"Enhanced."

[assassino]

That is true. Ezio turns his gaze ahead up them, up the street, reminiscing. For whatever reason, he remembers being with her during that hideous week after Lana had left, and how she'd spent so much time with him even when she was with Tim... hmm.

"We'll scarcely spend a minute apart, hmm?"

[secondchances]

"I don't know anyone that can handle 24/7 Stephanie Brown aside from... me," she says with a laugh. "Are you sure you want to sound even minutely enthused about that? It's not too late to back out. Castle curse."

[assassino]

He laughs.

"I will chain you to me if there's any threat you'll leave my side."

[secondchances]

She holds his hand a little tighter. After feeling disposable for so long, this is a nice change of pace.

"No chain needed. This is exactly where I want to be."

[assassino]

Wasn't it wonderful, to be in a serious relationship with someone? He wants that again, and it feels lovely to know he has it.

"I am delighted to hear that, dolcezza."

[secondchances]

"I was hoping I didn't need to say it. But I guess even when you know something, deep down, it's nice to hear aloud after all."

Like the whole being in love thing.

[assassino]

Too true, especially with all the things he had confided to others over the years. He hadn’t been blunt enough with her, especially after Tim had left. What had his excuse been then?

“I wasn’t going to waste any more time, either.”

[secondchances]

She grins.

"I'm glad, but given that it's likely just the two of us and we wouldn't be going far from one another anyway, something was gonna happen. Sooner or later."

She knows herself. And him.