Time had to pass until the fugitives were allowed to leave. With Uberto's life now claimed as per Giovanni's promise, they were finally ready to leave. After giving their appreciation to Paola for protecting Ezio's mother and sister, he and (Y/n) accompanied the Auditore women now that Ezio felt certain they were ready to leave to head to Monteriggioni.

Early that morning, the group left the brothel and made their way to head out of the city. No folks brought trouble with them as Ezio lead the way, holding his mother's hand while (Y/n) held Claudia's and ventured through the streets. A minstrel caught sight of Ezio and his companions and sought to bother them with song, but every time they tried to slip past, he would follow.

Claudia could see that (Y/n) was getting irritated with the minstrels. Even after donating some coin for their troubles, (Y/n) was on the verge of stealing the lute and smash it over the minstrel's head - even for someone who sang terribly off key. With reassurance from his lover, Claudia managed to sedate his anger when they reached the gate, guarded heavily by Pazzi thugs. 

"Damn. How will we get past the guards?" (Y/n) murmured to the hooded man.

"Don't worry. I've got this." Ezio replied in a deep voice.

He reached into his coin pouch and threw coins, causing a crowd, including the guards, to abandon their posts in order to fetch a few extra Florins. With the path now clear, the four slipped past unannounced where they mounted horses in groups of two and galloped off to make the long journey for Monteriggioni. 

Long hours on the road had passed until night had fallen. Claudia had become the only person who fell asleep during the long journey as she rested against (Y/n) as they drew closer to their destination. The long journey provided much time for Ezio to contemplate their next move in regards to getting his vengeance on those involved in the mistreatment of he and his family.

It wasn't until early that evening when they came across trouble. Ahead of them, a group of men accompanied a familiar face walking down the middle towards them. (Y/n) nudged Claudia, waking her from her slumber where she set her eyes on the crowd sent to greet them. Tensely, the four dismounted the horses and walked on foot to meet the party sent to kill them.

"Buon giorno! Good day! How could you leave Firenze without saying a proper goodbye? I'm hurt." Vieri de' Pazzi acknowledged his nemesis with false enthusiasm.

"What do you want, Vieri?" Ezio questioned in a cold tone. 

"So many things. A larger palazzo, two new steeds, a prettier bride, oh and yes! Your heads... My condolences for the loss of your father and brothers. But don't worry. You'll be joining them soon enough. What will happen now that there's no-one left to help you? I have such wonderful things in store for your mother and sister! You hear that, (Y/n)?! I will leave you alive just long enough for you to see what I will do to her - the exact things I intended on doing when we first crossed paths. And I will not make that mistake again... To hell with it. Kill them! And do not spare the women!"

Just as Vieri sent his men to his dirty work, a party joined Ezio's where they took part in battling Vieri's men where their saviours made quick work of Vieri's men, leaving the youngest Pazzi to flee with his life but not his dignity due to being infamously known for his cowardice. It was there that everyone relaxed where the leader of the group of mercenaries greeted his family.

(Y/n) removed his hood and bent forward, offering the sword back to the man with the scar who gave him the spare. "You have my thanks."

"Keep the sword, (Y/n)." The man replied generously.

"Do we know you from somewhere?" Ezio questioned.

"Don't you recognise me? It's a-me, Mario!"

"Uncle Mario...?"

The second-youngest Auditore grunted when the man with the scar over his left eye gave him a bear hug and patted his shoulder before greeting the women and then (Y/n). Some of Mario's men brought the horses with them as the five main members of the group walked in front.

"Welcome to Monteriggioni, (Y/n). Your cousin will be most pleased to see you visit. It has been too long." Mario acknowledged the (h/c) man at last.

"You are Nicolò's capitano. It is a genuine pleasure to make your acquaintance at last, Signore Auditore. How is Nicolò these days?" (Y/n) replied sincerely.

"Ha! One of my best swordsmen! You should see him in battle. Can clean up a fight so gracefully he makes it an art!"

"I am pleased to hear you speak highly of my cousin, capitano. Perhaps... if I were to join--"

"I would happily recruit you. After all, you must know how to fight. You do know how to fight, yes?"

(Y/n) shied away and rubbed his opposite arm. "O-Only the basics."

"In that case, we'll make a man out of you yet. But more of that later. Ezio, my boy, tell me everything!"

It came with immense sadness that Ezio informed his uncle of his father and brothers' fate. The others became saddened also equally, (Y/n) just as much now that he began to picture Petruccio's face moments before the thirteen year-old was hung. (Y/n) whimpered, causing Claudia to become concerned as she hugged him as they followed her uncle through town.

"... outfit yourself. My men in the market are expecting you both. Return here when you're finished and we'll begin." Mario instructed.

"Begin? Begin what?" Ezio asked curiously.

"I, thought you came here to train?"

"No, uncle. I came here to escape Firenze and I intend to take my family further still."

"But what about your father? He'd want you to finish his work."

(Y/n) stepped in and took Mario's side. "He's got a point, Ezio. I mean, you've got the clothes, the skill, the weapons... I think he would definitely want you to put a stop to people like the Pazzi and that guy we saw on the stage beside Uberto during the execution. I'd certainly like to know who he is what his game is."

"(Y/n), my father was a simple banker. He was not a, a killer."

"At least stay for a while so I can teach you how to defend yourself better - you barely held your own against Vieri, you won't survive a week on the road even with the two of you! - if you won't do it for me, do it for your mother and sister." Mario implored the brown-haired man with his hair tied into a ponytail.

Ezio sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He eventually gave in and agreed to be trained enough to fend for himself but (Y/n) was hoping for much more. For now, they would be given accommodation to sleep the night off where (Y/n) and Ezio would begin their training early the very next day. Mario pointed them in the right direction when (Y/n) was held back.

"I have noticed how you look at my niece, (Y/n). You love her, yes?" Mario spoke in a gravelly tone towards the (h/c) man before him.

"S-Si, capitano. I, I do love Claudia. I have professed my feelings to her and she reciprocates them." (Y/n) replied anxiously.

"Good, good. I entrust you to keep her and Maria safe. It will not be easy to convince Ezio to change his mind, which is why I want you to be there for them every step of the way. But should you choose to stay, then I will be sure to have Nicolò be your mentor. He is away currently on mission. Should be back by noon tomorrow. And call me Mario. Now, go get some rest."

"Buona notte... Mario." (Y/n) bowed.

As (Y/n) walked away, out of earshot, Mario uttered to himself, "I like that boy."

Come sunrise, a fresh new start to the week made Claudia forget temporarily about the ill fate that had befallen her family. Where she and (Y/n) bunked together as couples do, she rolled over in (Y/n)'s direction and rested her head on his arm with her hand on his chest. (Y/n) yawned and went to kiss his girlfriend's forehead.

Claudia wriggled in her place and opened her eyes to find (Y/n) staring at her longingly. She giggled and placed kisses along his skin up his neck to his jawline to his cheek to his mouth. He began to laugh also until he was the one to take control by rolling over so that he was now on top. She looked at him lustfully where he straddled her waist and ran his hands up her body.

To refrain from moaning so early, Claudia bit her bottom lip and rubbed (Y/n)'s hands as he worked his way down her body until it was inside the skirt of her nightdress. Her breath hitched as his fingertips tickled her solely from touch alone until he'd found what he'd been looking for. The brunette giggled excitedly as he pulled the front of her dress up to expose her body.

"You are so gorgeous." (Y/n) commented in admiration.

Claudia blushed in response when (Y/n) fondled her exposed breast and cupped it with one hand whilst he licked the other, earning moans from his lover when suddenly there came a knock at their door. Disappointed, (Y/n) removed himself from Claudia's body and went to answer without realising he had a hard-on.

"Yes? Yes?!" (Y/n) growled when he realised his cousin had come to visit him. "Oh. Uh, h-hey, Nicolò. It's good to see you again, cugino, cousin."

"Ciao, (Y/n). Benvenuto a Monteriggioni, cugino. Com'e ' andato il viaggio qui? Ho sentito che hai avuto problemi ieri sera riguardo a Vieri de ' Pazzi. Stai bene? Hello, (Y/n). Welcome to Monteriggioni, cousin. How was your travel here? I heard you ran into trouble last night regarding Vieri de' Pazzi. Are you well?" The black-haired man replied enthusiastically by maintaining a warm smile.

"I've been well. I, uh, have been keeping Ezio and his family company since his father and brothers were hung."

"Oh. Le mie condoglianze alle donne. Ehi. Ho sentito che vai a letto con la sorella. Dimmi, è carina come l'hai descritta? Ragazzo, mi sono ricordato le volte che mi hai scritto delle tue cotta per la ragazza e le volte che sei venuto da me per un consiglio? Oh. My condolences to the women. Hey. I heard you're sleeping with the sister. Tell me, is she as cute as you've described her? Boy, have I remembered the times you've written to me about your crushes on the girl and the times you even came to me for advice."

(Y/n) immediately shushed his cousin and pushed them out of the room, closing the door behind him as he scolded him for speaking so loudly that he feared Claudia would hear and tease him further about it.

"Wait, I thought Mario said you'd be here by noon?" (Y/n) asked curiously.

"L'ho fatto. È già la metà. I have. It's already half past."

"What?! I slept in! I am so, so sorry!"

Nicolò chuckled to himself. "Rilassati, cugino. E ' tutto sistemato. Il capitano Mario capisce il viaggio voi e il Revisore aveva preso per arrivare qui, in modo che non vi darà l'inferno per dormire in. Relax, cousin. It's all been taken care of. Captain Mario understands the journey you and the Auditore had taken to get here, so he will not give you hell for sleeping in."

(Y/n) sighed in relief and chuckled. "Thank you, cugino, cousin. I owe you one." 

"Puoi offrirmi da bere dopo l'allenamento. Faremmo meglio a iniziare. Fai colazione e poi incontriamoci nel cortile dove inizieremo con le basi. Prometto che ci andro 'piano con te, cosi' da non rovinare quella tua bella risorsa che tu definisci una faccia. You can buy me a drink later after training. We had better get started. Have some breakfast and then meet me in the yard where we'll begin with basics. I promise I'll go easy on you so to not ruin that petty asset of yours that you call a face."

"Vai a farti fottere! Go fuck yourself!"

Nicolò laughed heartily as he waved at his cousin as he walked away, leaving (Y/n) to prepare himself for training. (Y/n) retreated into his room to get properly dressed while Claudia laid on the bed, staring at her boyfriend as he got dressed.

"Who was that?" Claudia inquired.

(Y/n) sighed as he fixed his pants on his legs. "That was my cousin, Nicolò. He says we will commence training soon. I'm going to have a quick snack before we spar."

"Snack? It's breakfast, amato, beloved."

"Actually, it's past noon. We slept in."

"Oh merda. Oh shit."

(Y/n) scoffed in agreement as he went and gave Claudia a kiss on the corner of her lips before dashing off to have his meal and train with his cousin. Once training was in session, (Y/n) listened closely to what he was being told before they started conducting the basics of swordplay. His quick learning enabled him to take his cousin by surprise.

From the villa, Claudia watched (Y/n) sweat as he yelled at every thrust pirouette and feign as he and his cousin held a proper duel to see (Y/n)'s true capability as a swordsman. The brunette started at the (h/c) man, unaware to the fact that she was still in her nightdress. She was visited by her uncle who inquired about the possibility of a prolonged stay at Monteriggioni. 

While she remained curious, Mario handed to her work that would keep her busy by having her finance all if Monteriggioni's incomes and other such duties. Claudia complained about the labour but treating her like his own daughter, he acted put his foot down and ordered her to do something proper with her life. Once he'd left, she sighed and changed to have lunch. 

Once training was over, (Y/n) took rest and conversed with his cousin when a soldier ran along towards them and called upon Nicolò to take up arms and join his brothers in combat to San Gimignano to finish off Vieri de' Pazzi. Nicolò offered his cousin the opportunity to join them in the fight. (Y/n) agreed and followed his cousin to arm themselves for battle. 

They rode off early that afternoon for San Gimignano to finally put to end Vieri the snake. (Y/n), Mario and his men came to find that Vieri was expecting them and sealed off all possible means of breaching the city's. Fortunately, through reconnaissance, Mario was able to pinpoint a weak point in the city's structure in the southern end. 

What came as a surprise was seeing Ezio accompany them before they all waited until nightfall to begin their attack in hopes of getting the best coverage in the darkness of the night. The men waited patiently for night to fall until they decided to strike. While they would distract the guards at the south end of the city, Ezio would sneak in and open said gate for them. 

Once the invasion commenced, everybody was bloodthirsty. The mercenaries utilised their training to dispatch Vieri's men with haste. They were able to work their way through the city into the square where the Mario and his mercenaries had the Pazzi's sole attention, leaving Ezio to finish Vieri off once and for all. 

(Y/n) received no more than a few bruises at the end but at least he'd done his part and he was proud. The journey back to Monteriggioni was long but eventually the men had returned early that next morning while the moon still lingered in the night starry sky. Despite the time, it was not enough to prevent Mario from starting a party, waking the residents of Monteriggioni. 

Just as the men were getting started with partying, things quickly came to an end when there, came storming towards them in her nightdress was Claudia, ready to burst a vein. Everyone, even (Y/n) tensed when they saw the murderous intent in her eyes - so terrifying it could kill a man at ten paces with one blow of her tongue. They were about to find out. 

"Che diavolo sta succedendo?! Perche state facendo una racchetta del genere?! Hai idea di che ora sia?! Chi festa è alle cinque del mattino?! Oh, certo che si'! What the hell is going on?! Why are you all making such a racket?! Do you have any idea what time it is?! Who party's at five in the morning?! Oh, of course, you do!" Claudia yelled at the top of her lungs. 

"Mia cara, Claudia, i ragazzi ed io siamo appena tornati con buone notizie della morte di Vieri de Pazzi. Ci siamo riusciti! Non lo e piu. My dear, Claudia, the boys and I have just returned with good news of Vieri de Pazzi's death. We succeeded! He is no more." (Y/n) spoke reassuringly, doing his best to hide any visible fear. 

"And you think that gives you reason to wake half the town?! What is the matter with you?! Stop drinking this instant and go to bed!" 

"B-But Claudia..." 

Claudia glared irately at him. "Go. To. Bed!" 

"Oh cavolo. Se e ' questo che devo sopportare quando mi sposo... Oh boy. If this is what I have to put up with when I get married..." (Y/n) muttered under his breath. 

(Y/n) yelped when a palm collided with the back of his head, causing him to yelp as Claudia grabbed him by the ear and dragged him off, the men laughing at his expense. Once in the privacy of their room, Claudia tucked herself into bed with her back to (Y/n) as he unclothed and climbed in with her. 

He knew he was being given the silent treatment. Therefore he tried to suck up to her which only resulted in her shrugging him off. (Y/n) brushed his hand on her bare arm until he got some sort of response. Fortunately, she was quick to forgive him but also as fast to complain about how terrible her day was. Little did she know, she was changing for the better.