Jeanne d'Arc loved her friend. She really did.
Mordred could be rude, bossy, haughty, and violent. The former Saber of Red had also shown to be extremely loyal to those who earned her trust. She had fought against the other Servants of Red, albeit in her own unique way. According to Astolfo, she also played a key role in stopping the former Rider of Black from killing Sieg, too. She had earned the right for the two to both be friends and comrades.
Jeanne never liked to leave a comrade in distress, and so when Mordred's complaint of not being able to burn off energy at breakfast was made, the Maid of Orléans had offered to be the knight's sparring partner. Without fully thinking it through, too.
That, it turned out, was a bit of a mistake, apparently.
The Ruler grunted softly as once more she managed to catch the large blade that was Clarent with her banner staff. Even though she had a natural resistance of sorts to virtually any basic attack from Saber, Archers, Lancers, Riders, Casters, and Assassins, Mordred hit like a battering ram.
And it wasn't just sword blows. No, Jeanne also had to worry about Mordred's fists, elbows, knees, and feet, too. The blonde fought with every fiber of her being…literally!
The main source of consolation for the Maid of Orléans was that she wasn't Mordred's only sparring partner today. Chulainn and Sasaki both had offered their 'services' to serve as glorified punching bags.
When the Ruler had inquired as to why they had so willingly volunteered, Chulainn had answered first. The Irish Lancer had admitted that he was curious to see, as he said it, "just how similar she was to Saber". Sasaki had said the same thing, though with more tact and elegance.
Jeanne wouldn't deny that she felt rather unimpressed with the motivation behind the action of the duo. While she had interacted with Artoria Pendragon (and much to her consternation and bewilderment had realized that the two looked surprisingly similar, to the point that one might assume the two were cousins or even sisters), she had known Mordred longer. Of course, she wanted to help her friend and the King of Knights reconcile (along with more than a few other Servants), Jeanne had reluctantly kept out of it.
Speaking of Chulainn, duck!
With that thought in mind, Jeanne threw herself down onto the floor as a wailing Lancer shot by overhead. His astonished cry was replaced with a loud groan as Chulainn slammed into wall opposite of the entrance to the training room they were using. Jeanne looked back at Mordred to see Sasaki slowly giving ground to Mordred as her fellow blonde unleashed a furious storm of attacks. The Japanese Assassin did his best to block the barrage of blows, but his more elegant and refined attacks were unable to keep up with the rapid-pace attacks.
Jeanne knew that it was only a matter of time before Sasaki would make a mistake of some sort. No sooner had she finished that thought then it proved true. With a startled cry, Sasaki's sword was sent flying out of his hands after blocking a particularly powerful swing of Clarent. The cry of alarm was silenced via the medium of a gauntlet to the face, and the Assassin was sent sprawling on the ground, staying down like Chulainn.
"That the best you guys got?" Mordred taunted haughtily, conveniently forgetting that this was the seventeenth consecutive round of sparring! Jeanne shook her head softly, knowing better than to remind her fellow blonde of that fact. The knight would just shrug it off, probably saying something like, "well, you guys need to pick up the slack", or maybe "Well, that's just all the more reason to try harder, damn it".
The two blonde Servants shot forward, and once more exchanged was a furious and fast-paced set of attacks. Unfortunately, unsupported and more than a little bit tired at this point, Jeanne once more knew just what the outcome was going to be.
The air was violently knocked out of her lungs as Mordred's right knee slammed itself into her gut. The armor she wore in that area dampened the blow, but enough force was left over that caused the Maid of Orléans to bend over. With her grip instinctively loosened from the shock of the kick, it was easily torn from Jeanne's hands before another kick sent Jeanne sprawling a few yards away.
Thankfully, her friend seemed to understand that maybe, just maybe, she had gone a bit too hard, and gave the Ruler time to recover. Catching her breath, Jeanne pushed herself up onto the back of her elbows, panting slightly as Mordred's helmet disassembled itself.
"Come on, Ruler," Mordred pleaded hungrily, that competitive light still undimmed in her eyes. "Just one more round, please?"
She didn't regret helping out her friend, though. She wanted Mordred to find a source of happiness, and had been ecstatic to discover that her adopted little brother had become that source. She, along with virtually everyone else who knew the two in Chaldea, wanted their date tonight to be a smashing success. If that meant taking a bit of a pounding in order to keep Mordred from stressing out for the majority of the day, then so be it.
Jeanne groaned softly as she stood back up. Mordred cried out in excitement that was just a bit too vicious for Jeanne's liking, and then her helmet reassembled itself around the head of the Knight of Rebellion, before she shot forward like a bullet. As Jeanne readied herself for yet another grueling spar, and this time on her own, she couldn't help but wonder just why the Lord had forsaken her in this dire moment of need. She just hoped that Ritsuka was having a better time than her.
Ritsuka Fujimaru looked up to Jacob. He really did. However, this time, it wasn't just figuratively, but literally. With a training sword in one hand pointed at his throat for the thirteenth or so time. 'Christ, he really wasn't kidding about increasing the intensity of our training,' Ritsuka thought to himself as he gently slapped the mat three times in succession to indicate his submission.
Instantly, the 'sword' was withdrawn from Ritsuka's throat, and replaced with a sweaty hand. The younger of the two Masters gratefully grabbed the offered appendage and groaned softly as he was helped back onto his feet.
"Better," Jacob said, and Ritsuka wouldn't deny feeling just a hint of vindictiveness at hearing how heavy the American's breathing was at that moment. "You really are improving, Rits. I bet it won't be much longer before you end up winning matches back-to-back against me."
Ritsuka preened under the compliments. They really did help his somewhat battered ego. When he had first asked his older friend to start training him once they had helped Jeanne defeat Jeanne Alter, Ritsuka hadn't been so naive as to believe that it would be an endeavor without any hardships, but he had never imagined it would be this intense. At times, some of the spars actually felt like they were on the verge becoming an actual life-or-death situation.
It made him feel rather useless. A feeling that was only heightened every time he saw Jacob throwing himself into battle along with Mash, Mordred, and the others, while he just sat back and watched. Only half-paying attention to Jacob's words as he delivered another one of his post-match lectures he was so fond off, a bolt of bitterness streaked through Ritsuka's body.
As much as he looked up to Jacob Aronson, there was a slowly growing spark of resentment towards Ritsuka's fellow partner. It wasn't about egos. Well, maybe not truly, but it was only an inconsequential fragment of the issue at hand. It was that it seemed like the others, Jacob, Doctor Roman, even Da Vinci, felt that Ritsuka was bets used as support. That he would only be a liability if he even tried to imitate the actions of his fellow Master.
Being bait, using Tohsaka's gift on Heracles and actually managing to take one of the powerful Berserker's stock of lives the other day? That had provided one hell of a heady rush of energy. More than that, though, Ritsuka felt like he was actually useful. That Ritsuka Fujimaru truly was a Master of Chaldea, and not some sort of plucky sidekick tagalong like the ones int hose foreign comics his twin loved to read.
He needed a chance to prove himself. A chance to do so without getting in the way of everyone else, obviously, but a chance nevertheless.
Ritsuka shook his head, realizing that Jacob was calling his name. Pulling himself back into reality, he saw that his pseudo-mentor was looking at him with naked concern. "Sorry, I guess I spaced out there," Ritsuka said softly. He stood his ground as Jacob stared at him with narrow eyes. Sizing him up. Finding any faults, too, no doubt. Ritsuka forced down that irrational surge of anger as his friend finally spoke.
"Maybe I'm pushing you too hard. We should call it a day," Jacob suggested. It took all of his willpower to not bristle at what he saw as an implication that he couldn't handle anymore. Mash had asked him to help distract Jacob this morning (though his other close friend apparently had been unable to look at him without her face turning a bright red, oddly enough), and he was going to prove that he was every bit a reliable senpai as she was a reliable kouhai!
"I'm fine. I was just thinking of a few moves to try out in the next spar," Ritsuka said instead. Jacob didn't say anything for a few seconds, but then nodded. "Alright. I don't see why not. Just remember, being distracted on a battlefield—"
"—Gets you killed," Ritsuka said idly, waving a hand. "Trust me, I can hear you saying that phrase in my sleep these days!"
"Good!" Jacob retorted with a sly grin, walking backwards to his starting position hat they had agreed to for today's bout of sparring. "I'd rather haunt your sleep than find you dead, after all."
"Like I'd even get a chance to face that risk," Ritsuka mumbled, making sure that Jacob didn't hear him. Running back to his own spot, Chaldea's second Master readied his sword. "Hope you're ready to taste defeat!"
"I see Mordred's rubbing off on you. Okay, Rits, show me what you got!"
Ritsuka roared as he charged at full speed towards Jacob, his sword raised overhead in a two-handed grip.
Damn it, when would he get his chance to shine?
I looked at my closed door for God-knows-what-number time, licking still-dry lips. It was five minutes until our date. I had originally planned to go wait for Mordred outside her door, but she had left a message saying that she would swing by my place when it was time to go get dinner.
I had spent the past hour or so pacing around my room aimlessly. Too nervous to sit down, not enough time to try and take a nap. Too distracted to do any kind of research, and too early to grab a snack.
I half expected to suddenly find myself pacing up and down a trench carved into the floor from all my pacing, but thankfully that wasn't about to happen. I wasn't a Servant, after all.
I take another deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down. After taking a long shower, I had quickly picked out my outfit for the evening. I was dressed up in a nice, dark blue polo t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Nothing that made me look lazy or anything, but not over-the-top fancy. Iroh had been right about that whole topic when I had that quasi-breakdown rant yesterday.
I also owed Ritsuka an apology. Yes, I had planned on intensifying my training for him, but even that wasn't anywhere near the ferocity I felt was displayed during our five-hour training spar. I had to carry my friend to his room, apologizing profusely as the muscles of my fellow Master no doubt felt like they were burning. If it was of any personal conciliation, I hadn't actually injured him, just driven Rits to the brink of utter exhaustion.
Rits had taken it in step, however, saying that he was glad to have a friend, and that he had benefitted just as much as I had. Rits really was a good lad, even if he was unbelievably thickskulled on certain matters.
Mash had shot me a mild rebuke in the medium of staring, but then given me a grateful nod when I handed her Senpai over. I had asked her to help Rits out as he recovered, and to my amusement, the pink-haired girl couldn't say 'yes' fast enough. Even Fou had rolled his eyes at his owner's antics.
I had finally joined in on the betting pool over who would make the first move, and I was glad I had betted on Mash.
I was shaken from my musings by a loud series of knocks against the metal door that had something of a musical tone to them. I whirled around to see that the clock on my nightstand was reading '8:00 PM' in bright green lettering.
It was time!
I almost tripped over my own feet as I hurried to the door, opening it. "Looks like you're all ready for tonight, huh?" Mordred asked, wearing her normal tube top, short shorts, boots, and red leather jacket. There was a ghost of a smile on her lips as I swallowed a bit nervously.
Come on, Jacob. Say something nice and casual.
"You look good, Mordred," I said with an earnest smile. I was also mentally slapping myself for that comment. It would have been a good compliment to give…if my knight was wearing something different from what she already owned.
Sure enough, my verbal fumble elicited a swift roll of her lovely emerald eyes, but she still smirked. "Smooth, idiot," Mordred said dryly, Despite her words, however, I knew she was just being affectionate. "Hope you weren't too bored not hanging out with me."
"I managed," I said with a lopsided smile, having finished recovering from my earlier gaffe. "What about you?" The Knight of Rebellion flashed me her trademark smirk as she crossed her arms under her chest.
"Got some good spars in with some of the other Servants."
"I trust that you won them all?"
"Damn right," she said with her normal cockiness. Good. This was good. It was a way to ease the anxiety I was feeling. It gave it a bit more of a normal routine and all. Still, we did have a schedule of sorts to keep. The last thing I wanted was to make Iroh wait any longer than he already has to.
"Well, I hope you're ready for dinner," I said, and Mordred's smirk took a hungrier edge to it.
"You better believe it. Come on, let's go," she urged, and for a second, I thought I could hear just a hint of hesitation in her own voice. I nodded, not commenting and somehow end up bruising her pride. Instead, I gestured down the hallway.
"Then let's eat," I said with a giddy grin, and together the two of us headed out as our first ever date began.
Original Endnotes: And done! What a cute and awkward start to their date, eh? I tried to write this chapter as a filler, but honestly I'm more focused on Chapter 84 and the date, so hence why it's shorter. I did put in some stuff for later down the road, though. I hope it was good, or at least decent enough, so please let me know below what y'all thought!
Finally, the date is here! About time, huh? Next few chapters will have more fluff too, so hope you all are pumped for that! :)
Because it was such a short chapter, no questions this time. Sorry :( Chapter 84 will be up at the latest by April 28th, though probably be much sooner considering I'm at almost 2K already.
As always, thanks for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed the chapter! Can't wait to see what y'all thought of it, and have a wonderful enxt few days! See you in Chapter 84!
Updated Endnotes: 5/8/22: As always, fully updated version can be found on Ao3