return to paradisa

[secondchances]

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[secondchances]

She breathes out, head on his shoulder.

"You're so calm about all of this. From creepy deserted castle to new... whatever we are."

[assassino]

He leans his cheek against the top of her head.

"With great effort," he replies. "But I am glad to be, if it comforts you."

[secondchances]

"You don't have to be. That's the thing. Like I said, you don't need to be all manly provider for me. I can appreciate solidarity in not being entirely calm, too."

But. It is nice, to be taken care of. Shh, don't tell Ezio.

[assassino]

"Trust that I prefer it this way for myself as much as for you," he replies.

[secondchances]

She lifts her head to look at him.

"Will you tell me why?" There's no upset in her voice, just curiosity.

[assassino]

He wasn't really expecting that to be a question.

"If I cannot control something, then I prefer not to think about it," he replies. He's not sure if that's really it –– who wants to think about miserable things? –– but he's not sure how else to explain it. "What use would I be if I did not focus on what I can do?"

As an Assassin, anyway.

[secondchances]

It makes sense to her. It's not easy for her to simply not think about something, but she can understand, and she nods.

"I'll do enough thinking about what we can't control for the both of us, so you'll be doing a lot of keeping me grounded. How's that sound?"

[assassino]

“Like a fair plan,” he replies, and he presses another kiss to her temple. “And as I said, we will be just fine.”

"ezio i had the strangest dream you were a chick"

[secondchances]

"Yeah, I know. I've got you to take care of me."

If he needs that to get through, then it's a sacrifice she's willing to make. Steph simply hugs him tightly for a long moment because it feels good.

“Was she hot?”

[assassino]

It does feel good. It feels right. He holds her for a moment, too.

“And I have you to keep me from getting carried away.”

"in a slightly scary way so yeah"

[secondchances]

She laughs.

"In some ways. You can go wild with me. I can keep up, remember?"

“Nice”

[assassino]

“Dolcezza, I will gladly keep you busy whenever you would like to be wild.”

[secondchances]

She had no doubts about that.

"I'm going to need some sort of new hobby."

[assassino]

He chuckles.

"Like what? Reading, perhaps? Sewing?"

[secondchances]

"Probably?" She shrugs. "You will, too. Unless the farm life scratches some deep itch you've had."

[assassino]

"I already like to read," he replies, amused. "I might actually have more time for it now."

[secondchances]

"You're going to have plenty of reading to do about growing things, don't you worry. But I'll say that storytime is also an option. Feel free to read to me whenever you'd like."

That might be fun, if she stays awake.

[assassino]

He laughs.

"I will read whatever you'd like me to read to you," he promises. "Sat by the fire, enraptured by the farmer's almanac..."

[secondchances]

"Soooo romantic. My number one Ezio fantasy: education."

Yeah, right. She grins at him.

"I'll pay attention to whatever you read me."

[assassino]

"You think my voice is sexy, that's why," Ezio teases. "And it charms you when I do not know the word for something, so it will be twice as charming when I read it but do not know what it means."

[secondchances]

Stephanie Brown has no problem owning that truth.

"It is! It's adorable when you don't know things. I found that charming since day one."

[assassino]

"That you have," he agrees. That he remembers, and very fondly at that. "You were exceedingly patient with me –– perhaps because you sensed deep wells of desire for me."

[secondchances]

"... are you saying these things thinking I'll deny them, or...?" She squints at him playfully.

"Or, do you just want to hear me say it?"

[assassino]

Just a cheeky grin, and he sets about preparing the wood for a fire.

[secondchances]

"Look. I'm not saying I wouldn't have been so kind, patient, and generous if you were hideous, but the fact that you're handsome definitely swayed me into giving you most of my time."

He's so cute.

"You know you're attractive, and you know most women find you attractive."