Prompt: "Emiya Family(Including Illya and Irisviel) spend some time bonding together!" — Knight_Of_Rebellion, answered by Exstarsis
"Irisviel," said the Assassin she called Kiritsugu. "They're not actually our children. Not really. Neither of us ever had children and—" He didn't finish, but she could see in his eyes that he thought it better that they hadn't. "In any case, we're under no obligation to spend family time with them."
Her voice as sweet and cool as ice cream, Irisviel said, "But you'd like to spend time with me, Kiritsugu." He'd even hinted that's why he'd answered the Chaldean Master's summons. But she knew it was more than that.
He shrugged, looking away. "I want to understand why I feel the way I do around you."
"I would like that, too," said Irisviel, putting her hand on his arm. "But can't you see? Those children look at us and they know why they feel the way they do. It's because we are, in some other timeline, their parents."
Kiritsugu ran his hands through his hair nervously. "I don't even know how you can call those two children. They're taller than me."
Iri gave him a mischievous smile. "Yes, that does happen, I've heard." She ran her hand down his arm to his hand and tugged on it. "Please come with me? I might be overwhelmed alone."
His fingers laced with hers, but it was a moment before he said, "Fine."
Still smiling, Iri pulled him along to the cafeteria where two nearly identical lean men leaned against opposite walls, while two nearly identical little girls argued as they arranged cards on the floor. Kiritsugu's hand tightened on Irisviel's as one of the two other men known as EMIYA glanced at him.
But Iri freed herself so she could clap her hands in delight. "That looks like fun. Will you two teach me how to play?"
Chloe and Illya both looked up sharply, tensing and then relaxing again. "Of course, Irisviel-san," said Illya, with careful politeness.
Then Chloe pushed past her, puffing her chest out as she said,"I'll teach you, Mama. But Papa already knows how to play, I bet."
Kiritsugu nodded warily. They were setting up a game it was impossible to forget.
"They're not Mama and Papa, Chloe," said Illya, her cheeks flushing. "They're just strangers, being nice to us."
"Is that so bad, kid?" said the man with the buzz-cut white hair. Alter, they called him.
Angrily, Illya said, "Irisviel-san had to drag everybody here—"
"Nah," said Alter. "I'm here because you dragged me. It's just a game. You'll have to teach me, too." It made Kiritsugu wince, because he knew Alter's origins, knew he had to know the game in question.
Illya turned to Alter, taking a few steps in that direction. He held out a hand and she moved closer, leaning against him for a moment, trying to manage her emotions.
Then the other Archer EMIYA turned around, bringing out a cake. With a faint blush on his cheeks, he said, "I'm not the best here at baking, but I made this…"
It was Kiritsugu's favorite. Sighing, he came the rest of the way into the cafeteria, and bent down to offer his hand to Chloe. "We'll make this work."