Chapter Thirty-Two

Matters of Love

Archer found himself smiling as he lead Saber to a café that served Western food. The owner was an American who had came to Japan about ten years ago and had a passion for food. It was a place that Archer didn't venture to often, but he hoped that Saber would like it. As they approached, the delightful smell of smoking meat filled the air and he felt Saber bounce slightly at it.

"This smells wonderful," Saber said, her green eyes bright as she looked up at him.

Archer grinned and said, "I figured you might want to try something other than Asian food for once. I know the kid cooks a lot of Japanese food and Sakura has been concentrating on her Asian food as well."

"I am always ready to try new food, Archer," Saber said as she tugged on his hand as she started to head to the café.

Archer grinned and replied, "Well, sometime soon I think I should introduce you to pizza."

"I have heard of it, but I really have not gotten a chance to try it. To combine so many ingredients in such a way sounds like a marvel," Saber said her eyes narrowing as a little smile crossed her face.

"And you can gorge yourself on it pretty easily too," Archer said with a smirk as he looked at her.

Pink filled Saber's fair cheeks and her posture stiffened. She replied, "I have no idea what you are speaking of, Archer."

"Bottomless Pit could be a fair comparison," he said before tilting his head and eyeing her.

Strong, hard pressure ripped through his hand and he almost winched. Saber had her eyes narrowed at him and she said, "I delight in food. Do not begrudge me of one of my few vices."

"I would think it's your only vice," Archer said as he opened the door for her.

Saber blushed again and leaned towards him. Her eyes were like emerald pools that wanted to drown him, an endless and clear green that he knew he would never see the match of in any existence. Archer stared at her and she licked her lips before looking away, leaving words unspoken. His eyes took in the strong lines of her legs, the graceful arches of her shoulders, and the thin fabric of her peasant's blouse accenting her gentle curves. Her lips were slightly swollen and a fair, glistening pink that brought his attention every time he looked at her face.

Need, blistering and hot, began to prickle through his body. He could still see her flushed and panting against the wall, the hard, bright pink tips of her nipples beckoning him to suckle and lick. Archer remembered the tight, velvety wet heat of her core gripping his finger like a vice as her lovely cries filled his ears, the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. He had been the one to make Saber act in such abandon, and made her lose her shame that she was a woman.

Staring at her, Archer realized that Saber was discovering exactly how powerful a woman could be and how she could hold an entire kingdom in her thrall with it if she chose. Instead, she was choosing to enthrall him. His head swam with the thought of it, and before he knew it he bowed his head to hers.

The gloss on her lips tasted like mint and made his lips tingle slightly. Her hands gripped his as her lips brushed against his, tiny teeth nipping at him slightly. Footsteps were approaching and the lovers broke from their kiss. Archer felt himself on fire and mentally cursed the blush that was probably staining his dark skin as both he and Saber turned to meet the Hostess.

The young woman's smile was quick and nervous, and she was blushing as well. Saber did not let go of his hand, but her posture returned to its normal regal state. He turned to the Hostess and his voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Two please."

"Follow me," she said with a tiny bow before leading them to a shadowy back table. Archer pushed the chair out for Saber to sit before moving to his side of the table. Saber was smiling at him and he found himself rubbing at the back of his neck.

He cleared his throat and said, "I . . . that was . . ."

"Unexpectedly welcome," Saber said, her eyes and smile bright.

He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. He said, "Just, it was forward of me."

"I enjoy your forwardness, if you must be reminded," Saber replied as she began to look through the menu.

Archer stared at her and then chuckled with a shake of his head. Saber eyed him and then her tiny hand rested upon his. "I trust your experience in these matters, Archer. You know my own experience is . . . limited," Saber said before gripping his hand in hers.

He looked down at their hands with their fingers intertwined as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He replied, "Honestly, my experience is pretty limited myself."

"Really? You come off as rather worldly," Saber said with a tilt of her head.

Well, Shinji liked loaning me his porn collection when I was a teenager, he thought with a shake of his head. He took a deep breath and said, "I only had one lover in my life, and we didn't have a good break up."

"What happened?" Saber asked as she kept holding his hand.

Archer swallowed, closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him. He saw Luvia with her regal air, amber curls, and exotic plum eyes. She had said his name incorrectly and had a fantastic accent. Just like Saber use to, he realized. He opened his eyes and looked at her hand holding his.

"She reminded me of someone I had admired and someone who was my closest friend. However she didn't deal with being a hero well. At first she was supportive. I think she liked the romance of being the lover to a superhero. Then she realized that there would be a time where I wouldn't come back to her, and I placed her behind my desire to save everyone," Archer said with a shake of his head.

Saber tilted her head and asked, "You wanted to save everyone?"

"You've heard all the times I've called myself an idiot. There's a reason for that," Archer said with a snort and shake of his head.

Saber said, "Why everyone?"

"Because it was a beautiful ideal. Because I was empty and had no self worth," Archer answered with a shrug, "And she realized that. So we partied and I ended up celibate until I was executed."

Saber blinked and asked, "You never attempted to find anyone else to ease yourself with?"

"The thought of Casual Sex bothers me," Archer said as he felt heat rush into his cheeks, "I think it should be more important than that. It's two people joining. Opening themselves up in the most intimate way possible and letting someone else inside of them. It's magical. It should be treated like that."

Saber blinked at Archer's confession as she felt heat rise to her cheeks as well. Her lips were still tingling from their kiss just moments before, but his words were haunting her. He wanted to save everyone, even though that path wanted to lead him to ruin. It cost him everything, and he was even executed for it. How foolish.

It reminded her of someone else, the boy at Sakura's side. Eerily so. Maybe that is why Archer dislikes Shirou so much. He sees so much of his past self in my former Master. Or is it something else. She pushed the grim thought away before looking at the menu again.

Then she said, "Few people think like that, even in my day."

"Well, what do you think of it?" Archer asked, a slight smile on his handsome features.

A scream tore through Saber as she sheathed him into her untried body.

The dream still haunted her, as did its imagery. She had not truly spoken to anyone about it, and she did not want to darken her and Archer's day together like that. So she kept her own council and tilted her head as the one thing that the dream had clearly stated came to mind.

"Well, I have never thought of such things until I met you," Saber said as she felt her cheeks grow quite heated, "So I share your belief that this should be something shared. That I want to give myself to you, and have you give yourself to me in return."

Archer's steel colored eyes widened as he took her hands. She smiled at him and continued, "I know you do not want to move overly quickly, but think of all we have been through together."

He smiled and said, "True, and I have a feeling if I refuse too much longer you're going to come after me with Excalibur."

"I think you would enjoy that," Saber said as she felt the heat from her cheeks flood her whole body as well. There was a thrill at saying such a thing, and the truth that Archer would enjoy it. And I would enjoy testing Archer's skill with a blade against my own as well.

He chuckled and replied, "I'm not going to argue that."

Saber smiled at him and said, "Well, that has been decided."

"Well, how about we'll just let things take their natural course and go from there," Archer said before clearing his throat and looking quickly away.

She chuckled at his shy manner and replied, "I think that would be acceptable."

Archer turned back to her and said, "Well, I think you should try the Big American with French Fries."

"Big American?" Saber said with a tilt of her head.

He nodded and replied, "Yeah, it's a hamburger and one hell of a good one. Admittedly so, and I'm not even a hamburger fan."

Saber stared at the menu and found a picture of the Big American. Her eyes widened at the sight of two huge meat patties smothered in cheese, grilled onions, and other delightful things. The hamburger in the photo was even topped by a tiny American flag stuck into the bun. She chuckled at the sight and said, "I have heard about these as well."

Archer grinned and said, "Well try it."

"And what of you?" Saber asked.

"Honestly? The barbecue ribs with potato salad. I'll let you try some," Archer answered with a grin.

Saber smiled and said, "I wasn't going to give you a choice otherwise."

"Uggg, I think I consumed too much."

Archer laughed aloud at Saber's admission as she leaned against him, her arms folded across her stomach. She looked slightly pale and her pretty face was twisted in a grimace. The two of them were slowly walking down the street to the entertainment district. The two of them were attracting stares as they headed towards the familiar park where Kiritsugu had found Archer as a mere child.

As usual it wasn't overly crowded, so he decided they would walk through it so they could talk without anyone interrupting them. Just he hadn't expected Saber to eat as she had. Well, maybe I should have. After all, this is Saber I'm talking about.

She glared up at his laugh and said, "This is not a joking matter."

"Come on, you had a third of my ribs, the Big American and all of your fries, as well as some of my potato salad and then we shared that piece of apple pie ala mode together," Archer said with a laugh, "That you ate the most of too."

A tiny smile passed over Saber's face as she said, "But that pie was delightful. The crust was so golden and flakey, plus there was the perfect blend of sweet and spice." She eyed him and said, "You should eat more anyway. I do not want you to grow thin."

He chuckled and said, "Trust me Saber, I'm fine." Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she continued to moan in misery. He kissed the top of her head and asked, "Would you like to sit down?"

"Yes," she said with another moan, "I am sorry, I did not want anything amiss to happen today."

He gave her shoulders a tiny squeeze and said, "Its fine, just be careful in the future. Western food is much more filling than Japanese."

"Yes, which is why it is better. I eat and eat Shirou and Sakura's cooking and I still hunger," Saber said with a sigh, "This I was full rather quickly, a satisfying fullness I must add."

Archer chuckled and said, "But yet you still kept going."

"It was delightful," Saber said with a glare.

He laughed again as he steered them to a bench to sit. He said, "And that's why America has a problem with obesity."

"In my day being large was a sign of prosperous wealth," Saber said as she looked up at him.

Archer replied, "Now it's a sign of being unhealthy. Now, put your head in my lap." He sat down and patted his lap. Saber curled up next to him on the bench and his body tensed as her soft, silken

hair and the weight of her head rested upon his thigh. Her breath was warm even through his jeans and he had to shift ever so slightly to keep himself in control. So he stroked the silken length of her hair and rested his fingers on the downy soft skin of her cheek. He felt her smile against his fingers before she tilted his head to kiss his finger tips, causing his breath to leave him in a rush.

Her slender but still muscular arms wrapped around his thigh and cuddled into it. "I am feeling better now, Archer," Saber said with a smile.

He smiled as well and said, "Well, get some rest. I don't want to push it."

"I will not disagree with those words," Saber said with a smile as she nuzzled him.

Archer was about to reply when everything went silent around them. The birds that had been chirping were curiously absent and he couldn't hear the background noises or runners or other lovers in the park anymore. He looked around and saw that they were now completely alone, and even his keen eyesight couldn't pick out anyone else.

He turned his head and tensed as an all too familiar form with deep golden hair approached. Saber rose to a sitting position and he felt her tense against him as the King of Heroes made his approach. His crimson eyes locked onto the both of them, narrowing slightly at Saber before a smile spread across his handsome face and he began to laugh as the familiar red miasma rippled behind him.

Then the rain of swords began.

Author's Notes: So, you guys like my writing right? Well, I hope you do because you're here and reading this.

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