...a chapterrrr!

Karna was looking for Rin.

Well to be exact, Atlanta was looking for Rin and he was helping. Which was quite unusual. Rin certainly knew better. After a few instances in the beginning, Rin had been explicitly told not to wander around without letting someone know. So at the very least, they wouldn't spend hours looking for her just to wind up finding her chatting with a hero with whom she lost track of time. There was one time that stood out to him; a memory that shaped his view forevermore of the young Master. When they had finally found her, after hours, she had looked so very confused about why they were upset with her. And when Atalanta asked her about it. She had looked at him and Atalanta with wide blue eyes and said that she wasn't used to someone caring.

He soon learned in their extended time together that she embodied traits he liked: Friendship, effort and harmony. Well for the most part; at least. EMIYA and the versions of Cu Chulaiin were always on the verge of fighting; so he supposed that really wasn't fair to blame it on her. Such an eccentric Master if he had to describe her. It had started slowly, so slowly that he in fact didn't even realize that she had gotten to him until it occurred to him one day when she ran up to him with those eyes. Those young eyes filled which such...faith. Such pure and unbridled faith. But he wasn't one to argue. If anything, to him she was nothing short of a blessing.

But….

Karna had checked her room repeatedly, the classrooms, the cafeteria where he effectively avoided EMIYA, and with the knights where he avoided Bedivere. Their concern was quite over the top and very loud at at given time. So where could she be? Chaldea was quite extensive. He rounded another corridor and was met with nothing. And so he continued. Another hallway. Another corridor. On and on. He certainly hoped she had a reason. Sighing loudly, he turned another corner.

AH!

Rin was standing there looking quite perplexed with a hero that he didn't immediately recognize offhand. As he moved forward to claim the wayward girl, he paused ever so slightly as the unknown hero turned. A frown made its way to Karna's face.

Moriarty..

Moriarty stood and tilted his head in acknowledgement to Karna as he walked past him. Throwing a smile over his shoulder, he lifted a hand to wave goodbye at Rin who was still thinking hard.

"Master! Let me know!"

Karna continued to watch as he walked away. Turning, a frown was still on his face as he turned to Rin. Silently, he gently put a hand onto Rin's shoulder which startled her out of her thoughts. Blinking, she smiled up widely at him before gesturing she wanted to be carried. He almost smiled at the sight. While Rin would deny it, she seemed to like being carried more often than not. Rin did not elaborate on her conversation with Moriarty as she settled into his arms. Karna knew better, if Rin didn't want to share, he would not push. Though, he could only imagine how Atalanta would react to this development. And of course he had his own very valid concerns. Certainly, he was not one to judge but….

Moriarty and Rin?

"Karna, can I ask you a weird question?" Karna nodded silently relieved as she wrapped her arms around his neck just like so many times before. His mind started racing. Was Moriarty trying to lead her into darkness? Was he whispering things that would entice her to evil? Surely, this meeting was an omen. He would not allow this to come to pass. So, he mentally braced himself for Rin's question.

"...do you think it's weird that Moriarty wants me to call him Papa?"

..Meh?