Author's Note: This is just sort of a 'what if'. What if Kayneth's magic circuits weren't destroyed and what if he weren't such a dick. ^_^

"Damn it damn it damn it." Kayneth chanted softly to himself as he tried desperately to save his servant. And the night had started so well, too. How had it all gone so wrong?

Grimly, he made a vow never to underestimate his enemies again as he applied his magic to Lancer. If he hadn't intercepted that bullet… Kayneth had sensed the spell in it and realized, with pure horror, what it would have done to him. Nothing was more precious than his magic and Kiritsugu had tried to take that away from him. And how close he came! For once, he blessed his idiot Servant. The fool had taken that bullet for him.

However, his core was pierced and he was bleeding out. They'd gotten him back to base with plenty of healing enchantments, but all the movement had made things worse. Kayneth grit his teeth as he fought to heal the man and realized it just wasn't working. Diarmuid's breathing was slowing and he could feel his skin cooling as he continued to hemorrhage blood and mana. There was only one option left.

"Sola-Ui, get me your hand cream." He snapped and she stared at him wide eyes. Idiot! "NOW!" She was going to argue, he could see that, but he fixed her with a stare of helpless rage and the damned woman finally got the message. She vanished to get him that and he looked down at Lancer, hesitating a moment. "Lancer, can you hear me?" He didn't have high hopes. No response. "Diarmuid, by my command spell, if you can listen and respond you will do so." He hated to use it for this but by damnation he had no choice. Eyelids fluttered and opened, dull gold eyes moving to look at him. "I need to transfer mana to you but I will not do this without consent. Do you wish me to do so? You'll die if I don't." Kayneth warned. Diarmuid seemed to think about it for a moment.

"Do… it." He finally rasped before closing his eyes again. Kayneth hoped that meant he'd passed out. It would likely be easier for him. This wasn't going to be pleasant for such a man, he was sure. He held out his hand and Sola-Ui passed him the hand cream, along with an objection.

"Kayneth, I'm the one feeding him power. I could do that." She said and he was sure she'd love to. Honestly, he'd rather he let her! Unfortunately it wouldn't work.

"No you couldn't. Look at him, he couldn't sustain an erection long enough for you to take him." Kayneth snapped even as he began disrobing the man. Too much clothing – oh curse it. A quick spell and he snapped through the leather, tearing it away. "Once I get some energy into him we can fix that – " Mutual orgasm was necessary for the full transfer. "But right now you couldn't even start. Now get out, I have to do this." He sensed her defeat as she realized he was right. Quickly slathering his hand in cream, he began to spread the man's cheeks. Oh curse it there was really no time for this! Keeping a very close eye on the mana Lancer was losing, Kayneth did his best to prepare him.

Thankfully, it wasn't hard to sustain his own erection. He swallowed a little at the thought of burying his cock in the other man. His lifelong curse had been his lack of desire for women and the thought of taking a man as handsome as Diarmuid… oh, it was titillating. However, the lack of time was another curse and Kayneth grimaced as he realized the mana hemorrhage was ebbing because there was almost no mana left to go. He had to take the man NOW, inadequate stretching or not. Taking a deep breath, he yanked down his pants and slathered his cock in cream before grasping Lancer's hips and taking him in one smooth, quick jerk. Diarmuid made an odd little whining sound and Kayneth hoped he wouldn't remember that.

"Sorry." He muttered, knowing the man had to be in pain. Regrettable that he was still slightly conscious, if the flickering of his eyelids was any indication. As gently as he could, in the circumstances, he began to take his Servant. Every thrust let him infuse a bit of mana into him, and in a way that was far more intimate than the healing spells. This was truly the only way to staunch the breakage of his core and Kayneth relaxed a little inside as he realized it was working. It would have been terrible to do this to Diarmuid to no purpose. "That's better…" He crooned in his ear, feeling that incredible tightness around his member. He hadn't really been paying much attention before but now that he knew it was working he was noticing how good it felt. "Mmm…" Reaching beneath the man he began stroking his flaccid cock, trying to work him up. As he did he tried to adjust himself, find his prostate. If they couldn't achieve mutual orgasm this would be far less efficient than it could be…

He knew when he'd found it. He felt the jerk of Diarmuid's body, the way the man pressed back against him for a moment. He also felt the stiffening of the cock in his grasp and that helped him with his task, making his strokes easier. Kayneth rested a kiss on Lancer's still-clothed shoulder even as he reminded himself that this was just mana transfer. They were not making love, they were merely… transferring mana. That it felt wonderful was immaterial. Perhaps even a little shameful… well, extremely shameful…

He didn't really feel that, though. What he felt was the joy in finally expressing his true nature, the long hidden desires for his own sex. The fact that Diarmuid was such a beautiful man made it better. Unfortunately, he was waking up as his spiritual core continued to heal.

"Maaa… ster…" That gasped out word made his cock even harder, if possible. Kayneth restrained himself from taking the man faster, carefully hitting his prostate again. A sweet little whimper and that rod in his hand leaking a bit were a sign of his efforts.

"Shhh. We're almost done." He soothed his Servant, squeezing his penis and making him gasp again. "Just a little more…" It would be better to get it done with quickly, as wonderful as it felt. The Irish were not noted for their regard for this sort of thing. But then, was anyone, aside from the ancient Greeks? Rider and Archer were about the only ones who came from times when it was remotely accepted… at least, if he'd read the legends of Enkidu right…

Resolving to never mention that to Archer – there were less painful ways to commit suicide if he was wrong – he speeded his strokes, matching them with his thrusts against Diarmuid's prostate. He felt the sharp pulse of that member in his hand, heard the gasp as his Servant took pleasure. Velvety walls clamped down on him and Kayneth gasped as his own orgasm came over him. He stared at jet black hair as his body shook with the force of it, filling his Servant with precious mana. To his pleasure, he saw even a few minor cuts and nicks heal.

"Excellent." A quick check confirmed what he'd seen… Lancer was completely replenished. Diarmuid made a sound of discomfort and he blinked. "Ah. My apologies…" He quickly untangled their bodies before regarding the other man with concern. He was slumped on the bedsheets, his body extremely dirty and his clothing – which was only spiritual, he could bring it back now – in shreds. Between the blood and cum he desperately needed a bath but Kayneth suspected he couldn't move. Snapping his fingers, he summoned a wind-based servant. Not only was he above man-handling his Servant, but he was afraid Diarmuid might be too heavy for him.

"Lift him up, carefully." He instructed the servant and Diarmuid slumped as he was lifted off the bed. "Bring him to the bathroom." Once he had Lancer settled in the tub, he instructed the wind servant on how to clean him. Sadly, such things really weren't bright enough to be trusted such tasks on their own. He augmented it with a little water sprite and soon his half-conscious Servant was covered in bubbles. Vaguely, Kayneth thought he should have been recovering faster than this. His mana was completely replenished… but Diarmuid had taken a shock to all his senses.

Hopefully he would be better by tomorrow.

The next day, things were a touch awkward.

Sola-Ui was quietly furious at them both. Quietly, because she did understand that his actions had been the only way to save Diarmuid's life. Kayneth wished he could think her fury was over his infidelity, but he was wearily certain it was because he'd been the one to experience the Servant's body and not her. That damned beauty spot was destroying her mind.

He tried to distract himself from Sola-Ui's growing instability by enjoying his fortress. He had all the money in the world but the truth was, he rarely lived in such luxury. The clock tower wasn't noted for it and he didn't spend a lot of time on his estates. Vaguely he thought he should be concentrating, plotting out his next move, but last night had been a bit of a shock. Dying in such a manner or worse, surviving with his mage circuits destroyed… Kayneth shuddered internally.

Master, are you well? Lancer's voice sounded very tentative and Kayneth sighed.

"I'm fine." That was the other thing that was awkward. Diarmuid was behaving extremely oddly. Well, that was to be expected. No doubt he'd just lost his anal virginity, and to his own Master. And their relationship as Servant and Master had… changed. Kayneth couldn't quite see him the same way anymore, as a tool to be used for his goal. The man had taken a bullet for him! Admittedly that was what a Servant was for but that had been no ordinary bullet. He couldn't help but feel intensely grateful and that was adding to their difficulties. They were both dancing tentatively around each other, it seemed. "I think I'll have a bath." Something to soothe his nerves and clear his mind. "Don't bother me unless the building is on fire."

Yes Master. Diarmuid sounded distressed and Kayneth grimaced as he rubbed his forehead. What was the man on about? Aside from the obvious? Sighing, he went to take his bath. What a marvelous tub! Easily big enough for two people. For just a moment, he remembered how his Servant had looked, covered in suds and semi-conscious. It had been, well, cute…

Taking a deep breath, Kayneth began to run the water. He needed to banish those images. It wasn't happening again, unless they managed to get themselves in another awful fix. That made him frown. He didn't want something like that to happen again.

He added the bubble bath to the mix, smiling as the bubbles began to bloom. Sola-Ui was a bit disdainful about it, but he loved bubble baths. They reminded him of so many happy childhood memories, time spent with his mother.

Settling in for a long soak, he closed his eyes and let his mind empty out. All the cares and worries… the doubts that were starting to gnaw at him… he let them all go. Just enjoying the peace and quiet that was a really great bubble bath. Ah, it felt wonderful…

Kayneth was starting to get pruny when he finally pulled himself out of the water. A quick dry and a robe to cover his nakedness and he was feeling much, much better. Humming softly to himself, he left the bathroom to get dressed. What should he wear? Something for lounging around. Not really caring, he picked out a pair of brown slacks and a matching vest. It was good clothing, yet also very comfortable. The best of both worlds.

Grabbing a bottle of wine and a book, he went one of the many rooms at his disposal and settled in for a good read. This particular room had a beautiful view, an entire wall was nothing but window, giving him a gorgeous city panorama. Eventually, he set his book aside and just sipped his wine, looking out at the lights. It was –

"Master?" He managed to control his start of surprise and gave Diarmuid a sharp look. The harsh words he'd been about to say died as he saw the man kneeling beside the sofa, his head bowed subserviently.

"Stop that." He said irritably. It seemed particularly graceless, after the man had saved his life. His Servant looked up, confused by the admonition. "What is it?" He tried to gentle his tone a bit. Diarmuid seemed almost ready to jump out of his skin.

"I… Master, please, can we talk about this?" There was nothing he less wanted to do but Lancer was radiating nerves. It would be cruel to leave him in such a state. Had the man been working himself up all day? Kayneth sighed before gesturing to the chair to his right.

"Have a seat." He said and Diarmuid came to his feet before settling into the chair. Kayneth struggled not to notice how easily he moved, the grace he naturally carried. "What do you want to talk about?" What had happened between them, obviously. But what needed to be said? It was a mana transfer. Diarmuid looked at the ground, his expression tired and sad.

"I'm sorry, Master. My… ineptitude forced you to do something you did not want to do." Kayneth stared at him for a moment, unable to believe what he was hearing. Lancer was blaming himself for this? "And your fiancée is most upset." Well, that was true.

"She's a harpy." He growled and Diarmuid looked at him in surprise. Well, this was the first time he'd betrayed his true feelings to the man. "I try to act like I love her in hope that the emotion will come." He knew that could actually work. It was a psychological trick. Just smile! How inane it sounded but forcing a smile could actually improve one's mood. Unfortunately… "It's not working because she's a damned harpy." Kayneth knew the disdain Sola-Ui held for him. And contempt as the worst emotion to see in one's spouse. "Hrmph." He drained his wine glass before reaching for the bottle and pouring himself another. Diarmuid was looking almost stricken.

"Master, I'm sure that is not true. It's only your frustration over my cursed visage." He said and Kayneth sighed. He wished it was but he knew better. "And I truly, deeply regret that you were forced to… soil yourself with my body." …Erm… Well, that was an interesting take on the situation.

"Please, stop apologizing for that." He took a deep drink of the wine, wishing it was something harder. Diarmuid had no idea what he'd actually felt and it was a bit maddening. "That demonic bullet would have killed me if you hadn't intercepted it." Didn't he understand that? His Servant looked puzzled.

"I could have allowed you to block it yourself. The mercury you use is amazingly efficient. I acted without thinking." He said humbly and Kayneth almost choked on his wine.

"You don't know…?!" Of course he didn't. He wasn't a magus. "Diarmuid, if that bullet had hit my defenses I would almost certainly be dead now. It was designed to disrupt mage circuits." He wasn't entirely certain how it worked, but he'd sensed the intention behind it when it had gone off on Lancer. "Fortunately, as a Heroic Spirit you're less vulnerable. I, on the other hand, would have suffered immensely." He took another mouthful of wine, a bit more slowly this time. It was too fine a vintage to waste. "You have served me very well and I am grateful to you for your sacrifice." From the widening of his golden eyes, Diarmuid hadn't been expecting that.

"Thank you, My Lord." He sounded overwhelmed by the praise. Well, he hadn't been dishing out a lot of that. But this time, Lancer had earned it. "Still, does it trouble you?" Ah, that business.

"Mmm, no. To tell the truth, it doesn't." For a moment he almost stopped himself but then again… why? Diarmuid was his servant and he'd never come clean about this in his whole life. Why not now? "I am attracted to men." He said candidly and saw Lancer's eyes go wide. "No doubt another reason my fiancée is such a harpy." Did Sola-Ui sense that she wasn't desired? Perhaps.

"Oh. I had no idea." Diarmuid's voice sounded muted and Kayneth hoped the man wasn't going to be even more unnerved by the revelation. Theoretically, he could order his Servant to have sex with him. He never would – he had a few standards – but still. "If that is so, why are you to be wed?" He asked after a moment and Kayneth gazed into his wine for a moment, seeing his reflection in the dark red surface.

"Being a magus of ancient and impeccable breeding has obligations as well as privileges." He finally said. Something that damned Waver couldn't see. But as an outsider looking in, it had to be hard to see all the downsides of power. "Mainly, the duty to pass the bloodline on. My marriage was arranged between my father and Sola-Ui's." Another reason for Sola-Ui to despise him, if she'd needed one. Although… "We didn't object to it." On his side, there'd seemed like no point. Kayneth imagined she'd felt much the same. They were fated to marry someone based on breeding and power so what did it matter who they picked?

"My master's marriage to Grainne was also arranged." Diarmuid said after a moment and Kayneth nodded. He'd researched his hero, of course, although he strongly suspected much of the legend was balderdash. People so loved to embroider. "I often think that's how she fell to my curse so easily." He sounded saddened by it. "It bothers me, how much fate seems to be repeating itself." Kayneth finished his glass of wine and frowned as he looked at the bottle. It was empty?

"Well, I won't go chasing you with an army, if it's any consolation." He said, before standing. Or rather, trying to. It felt like all the wine suddenly went to his head and he stumbled against the coffee table, a sharp pain going up his leg.

"Master!" Warm arms were suddenly there, steadying him, and Kayneth blinked. Lancer was there, close enough to kiss. His breath came short as he looked into that beautiful face (not unnaturally so, though, as a man he was immune to the love spot) and felt the desire to do it.

He didn't though. It was Diarmuid who slid a hand through his hair and pressed their lips together. The kiss was shockingly gentle from such a powerful warrior, and also wonderfully intimate. Kayneth allowed himself to savor it, feeling protected by the strength that was his Servant. The body against him was so strong and desirable and he tangled his fingers in leather, feeling the pulse of prana in the man against him…

It was the sound, almost like a teakettle about to boil over, that broke the moment. They both looked, startled, and Kayneth blinked as he saw Sola-Ui. She'd been pushing a little cart loaded with covered plates and her face was darkening with rage. With a sinking feeling, Kayneth was sure he knew where those plates were about to go.

"YOU – " And the first plate flew through the air. He managed to duck but Diarmuid wasn't so lucky, his leathers suddenly getting splattered with sauce as a piece of meat hit him in the arm. Kayneth vaguely listened to Sola-Ui's shrieks, hiding behind the couch as she continued to throw things at them both. Oh, she was going to go to her father, tell him all about this and ask for an annulment to the engagement? And tell everyone else in the clock tower about his perversions? Oh, and now she was starting on Diarmuid, how she should have known he was a pervert since he didn't want her and the whole story of Grainne was probably a romantic lie and he'd really had sex with Fionne… fortunately her shrieks were so difficult to decipher that Diarmuid was just looking panicked and confused as he followed his master's lead and took cover. Kayneth was only managing to understand from long practice and that was rather sad, wasn't it?

Finally she stormed out, yelling that she was never coming back and he could take care of his own stupid Servant since he liked him so much. Kayneth waited until he could no longer hear the stomping before straightening and looking around.

"Oh dear." The room was an absolute mess. Sighing, he summoned his mercery as well as a few other elemental servants to clean it all up. "I think… ah, yes." The overturned cart had napkins. Fishing a few out, he handed them to Diarmuid, who used them to dry himself with a downcast expression. "Has she left the building?" He asked and his Servant hesitated before briefly going immaterial and checking. A moment later, he rematerialized.

"She has left, My Lord. I'm terribly sorry about this." Diarmuid apologized and Kayneth sighed before waving it off.

"Don't be. I'm glad to be rid of the baggage although the damage to my reputation…" From the grim look on his face, his Servant understood that perfectly. Well, of course he would. What would have happened to a Knight of Fianna caught at such a thing? Did he even want to know? "Mmm. Could you fetch another bottle of wine? And two glasses?" The ones from the cart were shattered. "And meet me in the drawing room." That was the room he'd turned into his study, filled with all kinds of books. "I think we both need to relax."

"Yes, My Lord." The way Diarmuid looked at him for just a moment, the heat in those golden eyes, almost turned his knees to water. His Servant really desired him? That was more than he'd ever hoped for! Repairing to the drawing room, Kayneth took a seat and thought about recent events. He would have to switch Lancer over to drawing from his mana as soon as possible, before Sola-Ui could cut him off. Ah, that would lower his reserves significantly. His stamina in mage combat would be cut in half, roughly. And Sola-Ui herself had been a potent ally, capable with destructive magic. Really, losing her was an enormous setback to his plans. Yet, he couldn't seem to regret it.

In fact, Kayneth found that he was feeling happier than he had in years.