Prompt: look to the sky

As he walked through the streets, Issei reminded himself for the hundredth time that he was absolutely not jealous.

Matou had been there first, hadn't she? And Emiya looked happy with her. That was the most important thing. He couldn't expect his friend to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life just for his sake, after all, even-

Whumph.

Issei rubbed his head and began to apologize. "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going-" He looked up. "…haven't I seen you before…?"

The tall, dark, and - don't finish that thought, Issei told himself - man frowned at him. "No, I don't think so."

"That's strange. I'm usually better about these things… I must be distracted today," Issei mumbled. He bowed low. "I apologize once again."

"It's fine," the man answered curtly, before turning and walking away.

…He had been distracted, but Issei still couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't their first meeting.

Their not-second meeting was on that same road.

"I never found out your name," Issei said, slowing to a stop beside the man.

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you ask everyone you run into what their name is?"

"This is our second meeting within a week," Issei pointed out. "Don't you think that there might be some greater reason for all this? I inexplicably feel like I ought to get to know you better."

The man still looked doubtful as Issei bowed again. "My name is Issei Ryudo, and I am honored to make your acquaintance," he said.

"…Archer."

Their later meetings were numerous, and Issei asked him questions.

Archer was a distant relative of Emiya, which somewhat explained why Issei had thought he'd known him. Somewhat. He lived in Fuyuki City about ten years ago before moving away, he had only recently returned, and he made the best tea that Issei had ever tasted.

He was living with Tohsaka. No, he would not move out. No, Tohsaka was not a witch. No, Tohsaka had not enslaved him into doing her bidding. No, Tohsaka was not blackmailing him into anything. Yes, Tohsaka was completely human.

No, Emiya hadn't mentioned Issei before. And then, hastily added after seeing Issei's expression: because they weren't on speaking terms. Issei was sorry to hear that.

Yes, this really was only their fourth, fifth, sixth meeting. Yes, it felt like more for him too.

Emiya's bouts of protectiveness were both irritating and pleasing, even if Issei knew that he was just being a friend.

"I'm sorry about him," Issei said, turning back to Archer. "He's always like this - I guess you would know better than me." Archer didn't answer. "He's stupid about it at times, but it's one of the things I admire about him."

Archer asked, "If that changed about him, would you still-" 'Be in love with him' went unsaid. Issei still thought that it wasn't obvious. "-admire him?"

Issei didn't need to think. For some reason, knowing Archer convinced him of it, even if they had nothing to do with each other. "Of course. Emiya is Emiya. No matter what happens to him - if he learns to turn people down, if he isn't as naïve - I will still-" Adore. "-admire him."

"…I'm not surprised."

Truth be told, that memory is not one that he would have remembered if it had not come so close to his death. If that had not been the last time he saw him, it would have been more vague, indistinct. Like those times that he warned him against being so selfless - words he wishes he'd taken to heart - he cannot remember any of that clearly. But this remains.

Issei fidgeting, stalling for time with idle conversation - "I guess neither of us look anything like we did ten years ago, do we?" So many false starts that it's a wonder that he ever manages to say, "I like you, Emiya."

The high-school vernacular seems so out of place there that it takes him a minute to remember what it means.

"…I'm sorry, Issei. I don't…"

"I know." He wonders how Issei can manage to smile. "As long as you're happy with someone, I'm happy."