Which fictional Animus user is the modern-day protagonist of Assassin's Creed II?

Desmond Miles is the modern-day protagonist of Assassin's Creed II.

Desmond is forced to use the Animus, a machine that lets a person experience genetic memories inherited from ancestors. In Assassin's Creed II, those memories belong primarily to Ezio Auditore da Firenze, the game's Renaissance-era assassin.

The modern-day sections connect the historical adventure to the continuing Assassin–Templar conflict. Desmond's experiences are also important because the Animus helps him develop skills associated with his ancestors, a process later called the Bleeding Effect.

Players sometimes identify Ezio as the sole protagonist because most of the game follows his life. Ezio is the historical lead, while Desmond remains the viewpoint character for the contemporary storyline.