A/N: This chapter has a little smut in it. For real this time.
I run forward. My arms are weak, my knees cry out in pain when I bend them, my lungs lack oxygen.
How many years have passed?
I swing them. I swing those precious blades at my foe.
Two? Five? Seven?
I stopped caring, because no matter how much time passes, I'm still on that hill; and the Red Knight is still turning to strike.
He's still him. I'm still me.
I never really reached an answer.
Shirou opened his eyes. He was laying in the middle of a beige colored city, on a broken board.
"What the...?" His whisper was answered when an explosion rocks the entire area. His head hurt, on his right hand was a bright red pendant while his left held a golden shield. He looks at them both, and the memories come back to him.
He got up, and when he did so, shots started flying from a few streets ahead. Men screamed in another language he barely had the time to learn on his journey.
He ran away, jumping and ducking trough empty streets. He was faster, he was stronger, and he could reinforce himself with magecraft. With a spell and a swift jump, he reached the rooftops and escaped the mob, hiding behind a rusted sign on a building.
He took a breath of relief. He was safe now.
Or he would have been, if a shadow had not loomed near.
He traced on instinct. But his twin swords did not come to mind. At least, not in the form of swords. A black and white spear was on his hands in a flash of blue, pointed upwards.
"It's me, Shirou. Please lower your weapon." said a girl with blonde hair. He recognized her. She was Thrud, the Valkyrie and warrior maiden that accompanied him.
"Sorry, Thrud. I'm… tired," he said, letting the spear fade away. "What happened?" His memory was scattered. Thrud's eyelids lowered in clear disapproval. That was her way of showing anger.
"You overused your magic again. Come now, the refugees are safe. Let's leave this area." she extended a hand, it meant so much to him despite being a simple gesture. Someone stood by his side despite everything that happened, despite the arduous path towards an impossible dream he had taken.
He took that hand, and Thrud carried them both into the skies.
They flew twenty kilometers away, to a nearby settlement. A neighboring town under protection from the other side of the conflict. He had not agreed to their terms, but worked with them to prevent more innocent people from dying. Later on, he would stop them as well, but the refugees came first.
They landed on their 'camp', Two simple white rectangular tens with the bare necessities. Some part of him missed his room in London, and the company from the apartments. Rin Tohsaka, Luvia Edelfelt, Flat Escarados and the rest of El-Melloi's crew. In the two years he had spent with them, they had become like Taiga and Sakura. Like family.
Thrud and Shirou went inside his tent as the man began taking off his equipment. "Where are the other two?" He asked, looking around to find the missing sisters.
"Their helping the last of the refugees arrive safely. They'll be back shortly." He let out another sigh of relief as his shirt went off.
"That's good to hear. Tell them to not overwork themselves." He looked at the mirror. His body was racked with cuts, bruises and dried blood. His memory was back, in some way.
"You are the one overworking yourself Master. Please, allow us to help you battle next time." Said Thrud, voice calm and level as always. He could not agree to that. They had fought enough during the grail war. They deserved better.
"It's fine. It's my burden. Not yours." He felt a hand on his shoulder. He did not look back.
"We chose to follow your path, stand by your side, and experience everything that you do. In return we'll train you so that you may be accepted in Valhalla. That was our oath." He balled his fists. Despite remaining as his familiars, they still wanted to be with him. He understood it, but did not believe it. He could not. This was supposed to be a lonely path, Archer showed him as much.
"It still is." He replied.
"Then let us help you." Thrud turned him around, forcing him to look upon her. He remembered when she was barely at his height when first summoned. Now, she was almost as tall as him. They told him that the more they understood humanity, the more heart they gained, the more they would change. He was glad for it.
"You are." He brought her in for a kiss. It didn't last long, but he enjoyed every second.
Thrud separated first. "We'll meet with the refugee leader tomorrow. Don't stay late," she said, caressing his cheek. He smiled.
"I won't. I'm just going to patrol." He put on his shirt, vest and coat and exited the tent, leaving the Valkyrie behind. Night had fallen upon the desert, and the town was brimming with light. Yet, the sky and the stars remained beautiful.
He walked around the perimeter of the settlement, in search of intruders or aggressors. None came. He looked at the sky again. The stars were like the night Spirituous had saved him. The smile that was forever with him. Maybe he could never achieve that happiness, but as long as he could save people, he was content. As many as he could.
After a thorough scan, he returned to camp. He saw Ortlinde taking watch. The others where nowehere to be seen.
"Master, you're back. Even tough you should be resting." She chided him, and he smiled. Caring as always.
"I know. I'm sorry. But you should rest too."
"We Valkyries don't need rest. Not as much as humans in any case."
"I guess you're right." Shirou sat down against a nearby rock.
"Is something the matter, Shirou?" he looked at her. Her face was impassive, but her voice was soft and caring. There was no reason to hide anything from her. Better get the weight off his chest now.
"I killed fifty people today." He said. Ortlinde's brows rose by a little.
"An acceptable combat performance." Shirou greet his teeth. Right, they were way more casual about death, they were warriors after all. And from another era to boot.
"I don't care about that," He replied, keeping his voice level. "I could not save all of them. Some refugees were left behind."
"We saved seven hundred and thirty six from two thousand." Ortlinde added with a raised finger.
"Right."
"Then what's the matter? You swore to save everyone you could." Shirou looked at the ground.
"But I could have saved more. If I was stronger, If I had trained more with you three, or gave different orders. I'm not here to kill people unless I have to." His throat was stuck. He remembered what Kirei had told him, what Gilgamesh had told him. Heroes only existed trough conflict.
"Master." he looked at her, snapped out of his thoughts. She was now sitting at his side, facing him. Those ruby eyes betrayed no emotion, but he could still feel something beyond them. Concern. "You did your best, your current best. You could be better, but no hero became as good as they are on a single night. For example, Sigurd did not become powerful just like that. He had to train, he had to reforge his father's sword. If you compare his first self, and his last self, his younger person would have looked pathetic."
"That… makes sense."
"We are still training, Master. We are on the path of making you a hero. You just need to keep walking forwards, like you said you would. And we'll be at your side all the way." he smiled at her. A genuine smile. His chest was warm.
"Thanks, Ortlinde. You always know what to say." She looked away, blushing.
"It's my function to provide insight and tactical assistance, Master. Pay it no mind." Her proper posture, her unfeeling tone, it nearly made him laugh.
"Function, eh? Then, if I asked you to provide me a sandwich, would you do it?" it was an honest question. He never asked them much, and let them take their own decisions regarding anything other than combat.
"If you asked for it, I would. B-But, why would you order such a thing?" She was still blushing. It was cute.
"Sometimes I get tired of cooking. You did say I had to take it easy." He said it with no undertone or second meanings. Perhaps that was what caused her reaction to be so cute.
"Y-You never informed us of that." She said, looking ahead.
"I enjoy cooking, so I don't mind." He leaned back, the atmosphere growing less heavy. Ortlinde always found a way to cheer him up. He took another look. She remained short. A few years ago, they had similar height, but now she was the smaller of the trio. Yet, she compensated. Her bust was quite big, bigger than her sisters'. He did not care for comparisons, he had all three after all, but it was notable. Her hips were also slightly larger.
She looked at him again, and noticed his staring. He moved his head away. Now was not the time for that.
"Master. When did you last 'take it easy'? She said, visibly air quoting. Shirou raised an eyebrow, burrowing the strange ideas taking the forefront in his mental processes.
"W-What do you mean?" He looked again, and she was real close, practically glued to him.
"You know," she caressed his leg, and he felt his friend get excited. "You've done it with Thrud and with Hildr, but not as much with me. You promised you'd treat us equally." He could feel her breath on his ear. He loved it, but would never admit it.
"Now… is not the time." He said, closing his eyes and thinking of anything else.
"It's night, we are far from the others."
"But what about Thrud and Hildr." he asked.
"They already know." Right, they were linked.
"That only makes it more awkward." He looked away, and Ortlinde retracted her hand.
"So you don't want to, Shirou?" Actually, Shirou wanted it but he was not about to ask her to do it. He had her best interests in mind. However, if she insisted, then…
"Well, I can't in good conscience ask you to do it," At this, Ortlinde looked dejected. This was a good time to work on her assertiveness. To help her be more human. "But, say, if you did it anyways, I would not be able to do anything about it." He was asking her to force herself upon him. It was wrong but exciting.
"B-But M-Master… I-I'm supposed to follow your orders." He smiled. She looked like a lost puppy.
"Well, I won't give you any. If you want something, take it." Ortlinde looked at him, then at what might be his crotch, and then back at him.
"I-I see." She took a deep breath, then gripped his privates trough his pants. It was so sudden he jolted up.
"B-Be careful!" He cried. She did not let go.
"You said I had to take what I wanted." She pouted, it was cute but he was more worried about his little friend.
"But not like that." He complained. With a 'hmph', she continued fondling him. It felt strange. He was the one to initiate contact most of the time, even if Hildr and Thrud sometimes where the ones to bring the topic up.
"Is this good?" She asked. She stopped gripping, and then began massaging his dick. She was in front of him, kneeling and leaning forwards, giving view of her cleavage, even if most of it was covered by her hood. The pressure on his member was fantastic.
"Just, do what you want. I'm all yours." He said. Ortlinde hummed, and applied more pressure. He leaned back slightly to enjoy the sensation. The rock should have been uncomfortable, but he had so many guards and nightshifts that leaning on hard objects was his new normal.
He heard a zipping sound, followed by the black haired Valkyrie taking his member out of his pants. It felt good to be released, but he missed the tightness, pressure and anticipation.
Ortlinde got to work quickly, and began licking his penis slowly, from the base to the top. Her tongue was warm, and every time a breeze of air came his member went cold only to be warmed up again. It was amazing. He thought that after many times, he'd be a little more tolerant of it, but no, he continued enjoying it like the first time.
She began planting kisses, along her licks, and Shirou leaned back, enjoying what his lover was doing to him. He felt bad that such a beautiful woman had to dirty herself like this but the result was exquisite.
"Is it good, Master?" She asked, between pants and licks.
"Yeah." He replied. He was panting too, with his eyes closed, trying solely to focus on her ministrations.
"Very well. Then," She stopped for a moment, and he lifted his head to see what happened, just in time to watch Ortlinde swallow his member whole. Her mouth was warm, and every move was felt. It was amazing as always. He had to greet his teeth not to moan.
She began sucking him. Up and down in a steady motion. It was so wet, so warm, so good. He felt something in his crotch try and come out, it almost made him buck his hips forwards. But he contented himself to lean back and bite his lips.
He felt her suck, as if trying to absorb him into herself, to extract something from deep inside him. It made him moan, to have her try so hard for him. What did he do? How did he deserve this? He got lucky, that's why. He could have gotten anyone else, yet he got this three sisters that stood by his side no matter what.
Pressure built up in his member. He was about to cum.
"Or-Ortlinde! Stop, I'm going to-" She let his dick go for a moment, but continued pumping him.
"It's alright. Do it inside my mouth." She then went down on him again. He did not want to do it inside, but she would not let up. It became intense. Something inside, pressure that made his hips fuzzy traveled trough his shaft. He was about to let it out inside her. It felt good and… shameful.
He covered his eyes. His cheeks were flushed as he gave in to the pleasure.
"Gah! Gah! GAH!" He bucked his hips as he came, letting it all deep inside the Valkyrie. She made a sound, but continued sucking all of him off. He felt himself let out five times, perhaps more. All while covering his eyes. It felt amazing, all of it.
When he was done, he leaned back, exhausted and breathing heavily. He felt Ortlinde leave his member with one last suck.
"I still can't get used to the taste. Did you enjoy it Shirou?" No answer came. What could he say? She saw him give in to pleasure. "Shirou?"
"Sorry. For making you swallow it." He said, eyes still covered by his forearm.
"But did you like it? Answer that question, please." He needed to be honest. If there was one thing he was not, was a liar. Archer had told half truths and evaded questions. He was not like that.
"Yeah. I did." He felt someone come over him and take his forearm away. Ortlinde was looking into his eyes with a smile. Her hood was down.
"Then I don't mind." Her smile was so warm. What could he say to that?
"I know. Did you like it?"
"I always like making you feel good Shirou." He felt his mouth twitch.
"That's not fair. That's my line, you know?" he cupped her chin. She did so much for him. He wanted to do the same for her.
"Not tonight Master. You must rest." He smiled at that.
"Right. Sorry. But, at the very least I want to do this," he leaned forwards and kissed her. She was surprised at first, but gave in. They made out a few times, leaning their heads differently to experience every inch of their mouths. Ortlinde had thin lips, which made it harder to grasp them but much more satisfactory when he got a bite.
They separated when Shirou himself ran out of breath.
"I love you, Ortlinde." He said, cupping her cheek. It was wet with semen, which he wiped away.
"I love you too, Shirou. No matter what." She said, grabbing that same hand.
He was not alone. He was glad to know that. But he knew his destination.
A hill of swords, impaled by the many arms of the world.
He then realized; he did not want them to share that fate with him.
A/N: First smutty scene, (very low energy) yay. I originally wanted to do something else, but it evolved into this. Next one shot will be set in the Middle East too. But it's plot will remain a surprise. Also, I just finished LB 2 and I'm like Kiritsugu after killing Natalia (Hyperbole obv). It hurt to kill Ortlinde. But at least I got the grail for Lv 100 Valks. Now I just need some golden fous.
If anyone has tips for Smut scenes, PM me. Otherwise leave a review. That is all. Chiao!