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Rin will never forgive him. She was thinking that as she, stumbling, choking on the air full of ashes, lumbered to meet him. Never. Never.
She just needed to make it in time while he was still there.
A clean, bright dawn hurt her eyes, the more Rin rubbed them, the more the tears smeared dirt across her face. She found him in a single red blur amids the cinder. Mana, no longer needed, dusty in the sunrays, was leaving his body.
“Had the nerve to come say bye? You think, you saved me one last time, and we’re even?”
“Even? I’ve just made you a victress,” Archer said sharply. “If we speak like that, you’re the one who owes me. I’m not your Servant.”
“Don’t you dare, Archer.” Her fists began to shake. “You know better than anyone this is not what I wanted.”
“What you wanted-” Archer went silent. The argument was taking too big of a toll, Rin figured. His physical form was collapsing under its own weight. He slightly dropped his shoulders and sighed. “You have a whole life ahead of you to get anything you want, Rin.”
The view from that stupid cliff was so beautiful and completely out of place. Gray flakes covered the grass, the morning cooled down the last embers. The War ended. The Grail left them both with nothing.
“Make another contract with me,” the words broke through a lump in her throat, “you hear me?”
Archer turned to face her, the shimmering mana followed his movement. Rin felt a chill in her stomach.
“Come on now. What contract? I have nothing left here to do.” Rin tried to protest, and he gave her an impudent, challenging look. “I did kill him, Rin. He was your friend. Have you forgotten?”
Rin clenched her jaw. I hate you, it reverberated loudly in her mind. Her chin rose.
“Alright, Archer. Well then,” Rin looked him in the eyes, “when is your next Holy Grail War?”
His expression changed in an instant.
Rin reddened and bit her tongue. Archer, though, didn’t seem angry with her words—or had no more energy to be. Pulling herself together, the victress limped up to him.
“You didn’t disappear together with him. I doubt you ever will. If you return to the Throne of Heroes, back to the killing, it means Emiya died for nothing. Make a contract with me,” she asked softly. “I’ll help.”
The long night made itself felt, Rin didn’t fully grasp what she was suggesting. She paused, searching for a good reason. Because I summoned you into this War. Because I owe Shirou. Because it’s the right thing to do. Because… Grief inflamed her memories, like dirt in a wound. He killed him. He killed him. How does one forgive that?
Rin stretched her hand toward Archer, but stopped, fearing she’d not feel anything beneath her fingers.
“Rin…”
A pale mist touched his face. His hair was no longer catching the ashes. The conversation was coming to an end. Because I was your Master. Because I have to forgive you. Because I have no choice. Damn it, which one is it?..
Rin blindly grabbed him by his hand.
“Silver and iron to the origin…”
Mana slowly ran in her Circuits. Archer froze in astonishment. He could still get away, so her sore fingers dug in harder. Don’t even think about getting in my way, she implored. Listen closely, Archer.
“Your self is under me, my fate is in your sword…”
The chant, burned into her memory, lit up their hands with a scarlet glow. Archer never heard these words, but it was a hero Rin called for back then, and he stepped up. That night lingered before her eyes. Rin summoned the last bits of strength.
“if you abide by this feeling, this reason, then answer!”
The flames surged and soared, barely visibly in the sun’s blaze. Light-headed, Rin swayed. Archer squeezed her numb hand so she wouldn’t fall.
A whirlwind tousled his hair, ragged clothes fluttered in the wind. Why is he looking at her like that? Rin focused her eyes on their intertwined fingers. A lone red line run between scrapes and scratches.
A Command Seal. The only one left.
Rin burst into laughter. Forgetting everything for a second, she threw her arms around her Servant’s neck. His chest shielded her from the sun and the wind, but the tears wouldn’t stop.
“Good enough.” Rin pressed closer. “Thank you.”
What next—Rin had no clue. So much to do and say. She couldn’t wait to begin rebuilding what he had crushed, piece by piece. Her Archer… Fatigue took over, Rin began to slip down. Why wouldn’t he at least hold her up? A little hurt, Rin opened her eyes.
Archer did hold her. With his arms around her back, he rested his cheek on the top of her head. He had never done this before. She felt none of it.
Scared, Rin stepped out of his embrace, her eyes darted between him and the Command Seal. The wind was carrying the silver away. The mana sped up its flow like the last sand in an hourglass.
“Such an absurd plan,” Archer said and heartily laughed. Rin stared at him. “It isn’t like you. You gave Saber three commands tonight, you can barely stand on your feet. Why would you think you could-”
“Because,” she threw her hand up, demonstrating the Command Seal, “I am the heir of a noble Tohsaka bloodline. The contract has been made, so forget about the Throne of Heroes. I will never waste this Seal, so you’re going to have to stay, until you fix your mistakes and make up for what you’ve done. If anyone could ever bind you to this world, it’s me. You’re mine!”
Rin caught a glimpse of her own palms—shaking, black from ash and dirt. She smudged it all over her face, her clothes. Him, too? She wanted to check his hand she was holding a moment ago, but the mana had already dissipated. The full solar disk illuminated the skies. Rin hugged her shoulders and turned away.
“You jerk, why did you go for it if you knew this was going to happen?” She stroked her red line. “Do you like mocking my feelings?”
“No, Rin. Look at me.” Rin hesitated. “You’re right. If anyone could do it, it would be you.”
The way the mana glimmered and refracted the sunbeams made her heart beat faster. Archer was smiling, strangely content, both familiar and not quite himself. Rin couldn’t look away. He was going to dissapear.
“Say you’re sorry!” she demanded, frantically wiping her tears. “At least apologize. Please.”
“No.” Their bond really came back. A gentle voice slipped right into her thoughts where he’d been silent for a long time. “I’d do it again, knowing that nobody will drag you down now. Neither him, nor I. Don’t blame yourself if you’ll hate me for it for the rest of your life.”
“Archer…“ Rin shook her head.
“You amaze me every time. Thank you for letting me be yours a bit more in the end, Master.”
A haunting thought, frightening words she would never say out loud flashed through her mind. Archer heard them. Rin pressed the Command Seal to her chest. Magic, beautiful like a dream right before waking up, blended with the silver in the air. Respond.
He obeyed. To answer, Archer leaned in, so close Rin had to close her eyes. Had he not lost his body, Rin was certain, she would have heard his reply, felt breath on her skin, a touch on her cheek, and a shadow would have hidden their faces. No more letdowns between us, Archer. Leave. Stay with me like this.
The sun suddenly blinded her through her eyelids, a gust of wind played with her hair, blowing the ashes off it. Rin couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes.