Enzolio first appeared in the Dragon Age fan-made murder mystery Banquet of Secrets as one of the suspects.
Then he became a character in the Dungeons and Dragon Age campaign, Wisdom’s Folly.
That is when he lost Vittore.
This short story is about Enzolio and Vittore, their love,
and what led to the events right before the campaign began.
The morning of the job in Hasmal…
Enzolio draped a leg over Vittore’s as he nibbled the other man’s earlobe. Vittore chuckled.
‘You’re tickling me.’
‘You weren’t complaining about my tickles but moments ago, mi amor,’ Enzolio murmured against his neck, tracing kisses along his vein to his collarbone.
Vittore hummed, flipping Enzolio onto his back and hovering above him. ‘I wish I could make love to you all day.’ His low rumbling voice sent tingles vibrating through Enzolio’s body.
‘We don’t need to get ready for the job before tonight, we have all day to make love, mi amor.’
Enzolio met Vittore halfway for a languid kiss and he breathed in his scent. Vittore raked his fingers through Enzolio’s long hair, eliciting a content hum from the younger assassin.
Vittore parted his lips, a hair’s breadth away, and murmured, ‘I love you, Enzolio.’
‘I love you, Vittore.’
* * *
Many years ago…
Enzolio perched atop a roof, looking down at the few nightgoers milling about. Vittore sat beside him, older than him by thirteen years, a bit scruffier than him, but more handsome than any man or woman Enzolio had ever set his eyes upon.
They had known each other many years now, having met when Enzolio was but 18. Now he was 21, and the feelings he secretly garnered for Vittore had only grown more powerful over the years. Every stolen glance, every compliment, every subtle flírt both of them uttered…Enzolio could only hope Vittore felt the same.
Enzolio leaned back to sit, resting his elbow on his knee.
‘Another job well executed, Enzolio,’ Vittore praised him.
Enzolio’s stomach fluttered, hearing the older man’s praise.
‘Another assassination well executed,’ Enzolio corrected.
‘You’ve become quite the proficient Crow. I’m beginning to have trouble coming up with excuses to accompany you on jobs.’
Enzolio’s heart clenched, his stomach twisting. He looked down. ‘Then I suppose this may be the last time I see you for a while? Since I will be in Orlais.’
‘Yes, you seem to have earned quite the reputation there.’
‘All thanks to Signor Alphonzo.’
Enzolio fiddled with the lace of his boot.
‘Enzolio,’ Vittore said gently. ‘We can still make excuses to see each other.’
Enzolio looked up and met his mentor’s gaze, a gaze that reflected the earnestness Enzolio himself had felt for years now.
‘And what excuse could you possibly want to keep seeing me when I no longer need a mentor?’
Enzolio swallowed, daring to hope.
‘I think we both know we’re more than mentor and pupil by now,’ said Vittore.
The mage leaned forward, and Enzolio’s breath hitched. Vittore paused, locking eyes with him.
‘Enzolio,’ he whispered.
‘Vittore,’ Enzolio whispered back, his breath shaking with need.
And then Vittore closed the distance, cupping Enzolio’s face. Enzolio gasped into the kiss, and Vittore moaned, leaning forward. The two men wrapped their arms around each other as Vittore got atop Enzolio who opened his mouth to deepen the kiss even more.
Groaning with relief, the two assassins shifted positions as Enzolio wrapped his legs around Vittore’s waist, and the two explored each other for the first time, sharing passion on that very roof.
* * *
Several years ago…
Enzolio paced to and fro, biting his nails.
‘Will you stop pacing.’
Enzolio stopped and faced Vittore, who seemed more amused than anything else.
‘I am no longer fulfilled with only seeing you sometimes, Vittore.’ He took a step forward. ‘I want you all to myself. I want us to stop this dalliance of having other lovers. Sure, it was fun for many years, but it’s you I want. I want you! Because…Vittore…I love you.’
Vittore’s eyes widened, eyes glistening. He whispered, ‘Enzolio, I’ve loved you for many years.’
Enzolio gasped. He lunged, cupping Vittore’s face with both hands, and devoured him fiercely for several minutes.
‘Then let’s end this madness of longing, and commit to each other! Let us…be together, always, as much as we can…mi amor.’
Vittore grinned. ‘Shall we buy that estate in Orlais we’ve been eyeing. We can make it our new home. Check in with the Talons in Antiva when we need to. Besides,’ his grin grew teasing, ‘you have gotten lazy, you need your mentor again.’
Enzolio chuckled against Vittore’s mouth, nubbing the older man’s lower lip.
‘And as a mage,’ Vittore went on, ‘I require assistance from a rogue more often now that I am getting older.’
‘Pfft, oh so old,’ teased Enzolio. ‘And yet you have the vigor of a man much younger than I.’
‘Only with you, my love.’
Enzolio and Vittore stared into each other’s eyes, grinning madly for each other. Enzolio’s heart swelled.
‘I love you, Vittore, mi amor.’
‘I love you, Enzolio, my love.’
Enzolio jumped into Vittore’s arms, wrapping his legs around his waist and kissing him with abandon.
* * *
The night of the job in Hasmal…
Enzolio pressed his lips together, drawing in a steadying breath. ‘We will meet right back here, at the inn. Downstairs in the tavern before coming back to our room, sí?’
‘Yes.’
‘And when we part ways after the job,’ began Enzolio.
Vittore crossed the distance, securing his belt, and then cupped Enzolio’s face with both hands.
‘Will you stop fretting, my love.’
‘I will never stop fretting, mi amor.’
‘Enzolio, we’ve done this hundreds of times already. We’ll both be fine.’
‘I know. I just…every time I am afraid. I never want to lose you, Vittore. My life would be empty without you.’
‘My life is nothing if you’re not in it, and I don’t intend on going anywhere or letting you go anywhere either.’
Vittore kissed Enzolio sweetly. He hummed, closing his eyes, and both whispered together. ‘I love you.’
* * *
Enzolio checked that the corridor was vacant before he looked back over his shoulder to confirm to Vittore that the poison was administered.
Both of them were in disguise. This was the last time they would see each other before returning to the inn, before the job was complete.
Enzolio has administered the poison deftly, and Vittore would now finish the job. The plan was sound.
Vittore nodded back, and Enzolio began down the dark corridor towards the servants’ exit.
Vittore grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to him, pressing his lips to his and taking Enzolio’s breath away from the heat with which Vittore devoured him.
Vittore murmured. ‘I will make love to you again as soon as I get back.’
Enzolio grinned. ‘We’ve been making love all day.’
‘This time it will be in celebration of a job well done, my love,’ countered Vittore.
‘And the other times?’
‘In preparation.’
Enzolio chuckled. He returned to the corner and peered around it to ensure that corridor too was vacant. He paused before continuing, and mouthed, ‘Te amo.’
* * *
Enzolio took another sip of ale as he waited in the tavern. He watched all those coming and going. It was getting late, or early, however you looked at it. He watched the door constantly, his eyes glued to it. Every time it opened, his heart leapt, and every time it was not Vittore, his heart sank.
Dread began to seep into his pores, he could not shake the feeling he’d felt earlier. That great fear of losing the one person he loved most in this world.
Such a wandering eye, my love, he remembered Vittore chiding him playfully but mere days earlier.
Yet for the past four years, you are the only person I have given myself to and for whom I save myself. Nearly a decade, have we been lovers. I will gladly never make love to another ever again in my life.
Then perhaps we should wear matching rings so all can know we belong to each other.
You would wear another ring besides your magical one, mi amor?
I would wear the ring you gave me, Enzolio, my love. And never would I remove it. It would be more precious to me than this one. I would bind my life to it. To you.
The door swung open and a drunk couple sauntered back into the tavern, the woman’s arm draped over the man’s shoulders as both attempted to support each other.
Enzolio slammed his pint down and stood. He slunk away into the night and returned swiftly to the estate where he and Vittore had executed their job with success.
Enzolio saw the early signs of dawn, he would have to be quick. He checked around the front of the estate and found nothing of significance, no signs of Vittore or of a struggle.
He continued towards the entrance Vittore had used, the open window that led to the terrace. Climbing the vines to get there unseen, Enzolio scaled over the topiary garden. And that’s when he saw him, Vittore, lying on the ground, staff gone.
Enzolio drew in a sharp breath, his entire body trembling – he had to hold on tighter, lest he let go and fall.
He swung his legs over the vines to land on the grass, running to Vittore’s form.
‘Vittore!’ Enzolio whispered harshly. ‘Mi amor!’
He skidded, seeing the blood that a shrub had hidden from his view. Enzolio shook his head. ‘No…no…no!’
He dropped to his knees, looking about. He noted Vittore’s magical ring had also been taken – Vittore never took that ring off, not ever!
‘No!’ he mewled.
Enzolio’s training had him numb for a few minutes as he assessed the crime scene and the situation, searched for evidence around Vittore’s body, and checked his vitals…
Vittore was gone, he was dead.
Enzolio put a hand to his mouth as a desperate wail of anguish escaped him. He gently took Vittore’s face with both hands and cradled his lover’s head in his lap.
‘Oh, Vittore!’
Enzolio rocked back and forth, sobbing, his tears falling onto Vittore’s lifeless face.
‘No, mi amor…I love you. Please, no…not like this…’
But Enzolio knew nothing could change the outcome of Vittore’s end or bring him back.
Enzolio’s sobs turned to quickened and ragged breaths, his body wracked with the shakes, not of fear or sorrow, but of rage.
Enzolio’s face contorted as he vowed, growling out ‘I will find who did this to you, mi amor, and I will avenge you! I promise it, I vow it, if it’s the last thing I do.’
Composing himself, resolved with his new purpose, Enzolio set Vittore back down. He would need to inform other Crows of the situation and…
Enzolio took a step back, looking down at the beautiful face of the man he loved, the man he would forever love. Jaw clenched, hands balled into fists, face streaked with tears, and breath shaking, Enzolio vowed vengeance once more. He vowed to find Vittore’s killer, and end their life brutally for what they took from him this night.
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