Summary: Even with Chaldea frozen and the Servants' Spirit Origins limited, every single veteran knew their only Master still needed help. Diarmuid finds that it is his turn again to bring Vy to bed for some rest.
Note: I'm awake at 2:56 am in the morning writing this (back in September 2020) because it's hot outside and for some reason I'm finding it hard to go back to sleep, and yet it's because of the heat (I think) that Saber Diarmuid finally came to my Shadow Border in one 10-roll. So this is dedicated to him, and to the original Lancer who has been with me since my first day in Chaldea.
Content warning, as there are spoilers for Lostbelts 1 and 2. Otherwise, carry on.
A theme I'd rec for this chapter is the original Kishi Ou no Hokori, or "The Pride of the King of Knights" for a rough translation of the title, from the original Studio Deen Fate/stay night anime. Considering who's starring in this chapter is considered a knightly equal to the King of Knights herself, I went with it.
Day 5: Guardian of Sleep
Even in Da Vinci's suitcase, the Servants had a vague idea of what was happening. Even with their Shadows coming to aid their only Master in the continuing fight for regaining history, they all knew through said Shadows that something was wrong.
Every single Servant, especially those who had seen Vy back in Singularity F, knew that their Master would one day break. The Lostbelts were merely accelerating the process.
But the odds weren't in their favor. After all, Dr. Roman was still gone. Da Vinci, although reincarnated into a smaller body, was no longer the Da Vinci she was before. Mash was still struggling with the loss of Galahad. And with the inclusion of Goredolf and Holmes into Chaldea's dwindling ranks of staff, the Servants came to their own decision.
"Master. Master."
The veterans decided it first, with everyone else agreeing on it while still stuck in the suitcase. Every day, so long as the Shadow Border permitted it, one Spirit Origin would be chosen to manifest for making sure Vy was safe. As kind as Vy was, she was still vulnerable, and if the reaction she displayed at the end of the Russian Lostbelt was any indication, she would be in danger yet again.
What a way the world was going about treating her after saving Humanity once.
But that was a thought for another day. Even with two worlds gone, pruned from Proper Human History, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne was still Vy's Servant. And right now, he could be one of her Knights.
Even if his current task was rather… mundane, of all things.
"Master." Diarmuid gently pushed at the shivering, curled up ball of blankets in the middle of the only bed in the room, ignoring the occasional jerk of the Shadow Border's movement to focus on his task. "Master, I know you are not asleep."
From under the comforters, there was a noise caught between a sigh and a sob. Then, Diarmuid heard it. "Wh-What is it then, Dia?"
Even after two years of being together in a contract, Diarmuid knew he would never be used to hearing Vy sound so much like a lonely child. Inwardly, he wanted to curse the Crypters — curse this apparent God who hired them — for putting her through yet another ordeal that no one deserved to shoulder. Salem was enough to render nightmares, if Robin Hood's stories were any indication, and then with ServantFes and the takeover of Chaldea, Diarmuid already knew the entirety of what remained of their side was lucky that Vy was still standing. But Medea had said that Vy often liked a specific gesture in times of comfort, so in a moment like this…
Diarmuid gently sat down near the blanket ball and spoke quietly. "Do you want a hug, Master?"
The comforters visibly twitched, shifting for a moment. There's another little sob. "…I'm not bothering you?"
"You are not." Diarmuid reaches out to gently press a hand against the covers, feeling for his little Master's head to pat. "I am running on mere reserve energy from the Border. Da Vinci allowed me."
It took a single second for a corner of the blankets to fall away from their messy huddle in the middle of the bed. "…It's okay?" Vy's voice came out all the more tentative, almost shy about the concept of more social interaction if not for their connection proving that Diarmuid's attempts were working. "I won't hurt you?"
For a moment, Diarmuid remembered the Yaga children and the smiles on their snouts at the sound of piano music before shaking his head. He still patted the same spot he found amongst the covers, the smile naturally forming on his lips in spite of the sheer pain in his heart from the sympathy. As much as the memories hurt, there was still a child that needed comfort here in the Shadow Border, even if no one else in the staff aside from Mash acknowledged it as such. "It is alright," Diarmuid answered, nodding his head absently. "You could never hurt me, Master."
That was all it took for the blankets to just fall away, exposing the first signs of tangled long brown hair before a weight was barreling into his chest, and Diarmuid let himself exhale. Tears were already starting to soak the front of his clothes as hands weakly clutched at his arms, whimpers gracing his ears. "Dia… Dia…"
"I am here, Master Vy," Diarmuid murmured softly, wrapping his arms around the shivering teenager in the most comfort a Hero of Old could give. "I am here. I apologize for not being there for you when you needed me."
Had it not been for those Mages, I would have cut down even that conniving fox if it meant you could smile again.
"B-But," the sniffles cut through any coherency Vy seemed to want to muster, her shoulders shaking as she shook her head. "It's not your fault, D-Dia. I-I… I…"
I killed so many people just to survive. I left Chaldea behind. I'm not even strong enough to face the Crypters without fear.
"Shhh, Master, shhh." Diarmuid did his best to start untangling the first knot he found in Vy's long brown hair. "You do not have to say it. I am here now."
I will not leave you. I am your Knight. That is all.
"Dia…" Vy's voice came out weak as she pushed at his arms with the barest semblance of strength, and Diarmuid pulled back from the embrace. Even with red-rimmed brown eyes and the lack of her usual glasses no thanks to the late night, she looked up at him with that same determination from their first meeting, joy and relief mixed in with the pain. "You d-dork," she said simply with a sniffle. "You're my first Lancer. Not just my Knight. My Lancer. A-And I'm glad you are still here."
Diarmuid smiled fondly in return before tucking the girl back into his chest. To think hearing his Class Name would spark such warmth. "Indeed I am," he admitted, remembering those flames from Fuyuki that felt so long ago before sighing. "Spears and all." Even after being with goddesses and the Child of Light, Diarmuid already knew Vy would still see him as her first and best Lancer, no matter what he would think otherwise. "Now, let's get you to bed."
Even if I am not physically here, I will never leave you again.
The small and grateful, Thankie, that graced his thoughts through their bond was enough to push the guilt away.