"Today's such a nice day," Emiya Shirou said to himself, strolling through a nearby park after school. Although no one was around, he felt perfectly safe and comfortable as the brilliant sun shone down on him. He sat down on a bench and contemplated the War he'd gotten himself into - the Holy Grail War. The war where seven Masters and seven Servants fight to the death until only one Master and Servant remain to obtain the Holy Grail. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice when a figure stood in front of him.
"Emiya Shirou," Rin Tohsaka started, "I've gone from exasperated to pissed. Walking around without your Servant is like holding up a sign that reads, 'Please kill me!'"
"But we're in a public place," Emiya protested. "It's not like anyone's going to attack here, where other people are around."
"Look around you," Rin said. "Do you see anyone else around?"
Emiya looked to his left and then to his right, expecting to see someone around, even though he'd noticed only seconds before that he was alone. "Well, no..."
"Sorry, Shirou, but my policy is never to let an opportunity go to waste," Rin said, conjuring a Gandr shot. She aimed it at Emiya and quickly fired.
Emiya jumped over the bench, ducking behind it. "What are you trying to do, kill me?!" he cried. "You could really hurt someone with those things!"
"Well, if you don't like pain, stand still and I'll make it a quick and painless death," Rin told him, creating another Gandr shot. Emiya got up and ran, ducking beneath tree branches and hiding behind tree trunks.
"Are you angry?" he asked. "You sound mad."
"I'm getting worked up because my target won't stand still!" was Rin's reply. She fired another Gandr shot, this one narrowly missing Emiya. Emiya gasped and ran to hide behind a bigger tree.
~0~
"Why did you drag me out again?" Magnus Bane asked Alec Lightwood. "I was supposed to summon a demon today."
"You can do that when we get back. Besides, it's so nice out. You really should get some fresh air every once in a while," Alec replied.
"Alec, I've been alive for centuries. I know what fresh air feels like."
"Well, then you should-what's going on over there?" The pair started approaching Rin and Emiya, and Alec saw Rin create a Gandr shot to fire as she chased after her target. "I've got to stop them!" Alec pulled out a broadsword and chased after Rin.
Rin, focused on killing Emiya, did not notice when Alec snuck up behind her, his sword coming closer to her throat. It was at that moment that Magnus chose to freeze Rin in time.
Emiya panted, out of breath from running away from Rin's Gandr shots. "It's over," he whispered to himself.
That was when Archer materialised, appearing in front of Alec and Magnus with two swords in his hands. "What do you think you're doing to my Master?" he demanded, turning to Alec.
"I'm a Shadowhunter. It's my job to protect mundanes," Alec replied. "Your 'Master' was trying to kill an innocent kid."
"Emiya Shirou?" Archer asked. "He's not an innocent kid, he's a Mage. Granted, a terrible one, but still a Mage. Anyway, that doesn't matter. Now that you've seen me, I have to kill you."
Archer lunged towards Alec, swinging one of the swords downwards, directly towards Alec's heart. Alec quickly deflected the attack and went on the offensive towards Archer. The two fought, swords clashing, for almost half an hour. Archer had just landed a fatal to Alec's torso when Magnus called out, "Stop!"
Alec collapsed to the ground and Archer froze for a minute, turning to Magnus. "What?" he demanded.
"We misunderstood the situation. We didn't know they were two Mages fighting. If I unfreeze the girl, can this all be over?"
Archer's swords disappeared. "You two seem to be more than mere humans. Unfreeze Rin."
Magnus slowly nodded and unfroze Rin, who had a pissed expression on her face. "What the hell was that?" she asked.
"Now I'm going to kill the both of you," Archer said slowly.
"Archer, wait. Obviously they have magic. Maybe we could make an alliance with them and Shirou."
"Alliance?" Magnus asked.
"Here's the deal. You keep us safe, and Archer won't kill you. He's already landed a fatal blow towards your partner there. He won't hesitate to do it to you." Rin turned to Emiya. "And, Shirou, you know, I've changed my mind. I say we call a ceasefire, at least until we can defeat another Servant."
Magnus had stopped listening, focusing all his attention on healing Alec. Finally Alec took another breath and Magnus cried out, "Oh, thank God."
Emiya looked at Rin in surprise. "I - I agree. But why the sudden change of heart?"
"I'm a fickle thinker. Do you have a problem with that?" Rin asked, her voice surprisingly firm.
"N-no," Emiya said. "So we call a ceasefire."
"Yes. But only until we defeat another Servant. Don't forget, I'm still your enemy," Rin said. Then she turned to Alec and Magnus. "You two, do we have a deal?"
"I would say no, but I'm honestly quite intrigued by the two of you," Magnus said. "You'd be wonderful to observe. What are your names?"
"Rin Tohsaka," Rin said coldly. "And this incompetent fool here is Emiya Shirou."
"Well, Rin Tohsaka, you may stay at our apartment for the time being," Magnus said, to Alec's surprise. "Do you need a place to stay too, Emiya?"
"Thank you for the offer, but I've got my own place," Emiya said.
"Very well," Magnus said. "Rin, let's take you back to the apartment and get your room set up. We have a spare one."
Rin smiled. Everything was going according to plan.
