Summary: With the advent of their new mission to gather 108 Servants onto Elisa Dragon's Csejite Mount Liang, the first night's party sees some Servants from Chaldea step around the festivities to check on their Master.

Note: I was already happily surprised at how Robin and Mata Hari were included in the cast list of NA's newest Halloween event — it was even nicer to know they were both bringing their A game with a Pretender, shrunken down version of Elisabeth.

So why not write for it? Taking from section 1 of the event and all.

The theme for this chapter is Love Drive from Negima. Even though I never got around to watching all of the show and reading the manga, it still helped two people I knew when growing up — (1) the first friend I ever had to let go, and (2) my current partner as of almost ten years once the clock says 2025. Both named after "Leo." And it feels right to honor that in some way. For those of you looking for an instrumental alternative, I'll point you to the soundtrack titled Let's Go Camping Again from the second season of Laid-Back Camp.

Here we go.

Day 85: Mount Liang Party

"C'mon, Leader Vy! Say something to everyone!"

For such a tiny kid, Robin absently wondered where she got the energy to burst out like that. Because when compared to his little sparrow, the newly dubbed Elisa the Nine Tattooed Dragon — or Elisa Dragon for short, because that title was just too damn long — could be a fiesty, childish, and stubborn whirlwind with her loud begging (and sharp teeth too, because ow, his hand still stung from waking her up from her nap for first introductions). The shrunken stature of her new kid body just made her look all the more different when put next to their "leader" of bandits and outlaws, Vy's growing flush consequently harder to miss.

It was why Robin had to hold back a laugh at Vy's squeak of, "W-W-Wait, me?", promptly ducking out of the way of Boudica's hand coming close to smacking the back of his head to grin instead. Vy's blush just made it all the more amusing to see once the others started cheering with raised glasses, and what inevitably did his self-control in was the sight of Vy cutely squeezing her eyes shut (with a higher-pitched, "W-Well then…") and eventually raising her own cup of orange juice. "To Mount Liang and our growing group of outlaws! Cheers!"

He couldn't help but be proud of how everyone in the former Castle Csejite screamed it back. He could already hear himself do the same once the streamers started to pop above all their heads.

"Oh, this alcohol tastes surprisingly good. Perhaps I should take another sip… I am a Servant before being a man of cloth…"

"Monsieur Amakusa, I don't believe that is a good idea, Servant status or not…"

Good on Frenchie to say that, Robin thought absently to himself from across the table. No wonder Sis loves him.

"HEY! You should try to drink some too, man! You're not drinking!" The bandit shoving a fully-filled tankard of ale towards him was a bit much, though.

(Hell, he had to bite down on a witty retort too. No good making enemies out of new allies on the first day investigating this Halloween Singularity. Even if the culprit was looking suspiciously similar to one half of the first duo of bandits who tried extorting Chaldea of money and their women at the beginning of this whole mess. There was no way in hell he was giving up Vy, even if the guy in front of him was sort-of-trustworthy now.)

(He already had to wait 3 years. No more.)

For another thug picked up from off the mountainside, the guy trying to shove the close-to- tipping tankard towards him was looking like he could seriously match the pushiness of his original boss before they all showed up. And Robin could only be more grateful Boudica was entertaining the smaller Elly with juice and nothing else from the infinite alcohol waterfall near the mountain.

(Because really — when did Singularities have infinite alcohol?)

(That sort of thing just wasn't safe for anyone. Especially little sparrows and shrunken-down dragon kids.)

Sure, even if the living version of him had taken drinking as a way out of thinking about the serious things — about the village hating him, the people rejecting him, of his life being meaningless — the him that was here now couldn't do that anymore. Even if that meant sticking his nose away from what looked like a good clear drink, or outright ignoring the bandit screaming something in his ear about not turning down a good time.

What lingered on his mind was that outside of the Chaldean Servant party chosen for this Rayshift — himself, Arcueid, Skadi, Sanson, Mata Hari (who was happily dancing to the cheers of some more polite-looking thugs nearby), Charlie, Boudica, Amakusa (who was getting more and more tipsy by the second, much to Charlie's nearby laughter), and the newcomer of Huang Zhuo (who definitely looked overwhelmed, if her stuttering was any hint) — Vy, the newly appointed "Leader" of Mount Liang, was unsurprisingly nowhere to be seen near the crowds of the party. Hell, if not for everyone else having their own things to do with the ongoing party, he had a feeling the others would've been more panicked at the distinct lack of Master.

And if he knew Vy—

"Sorry, man," Robin waved off the bandit — who was (amazingly) still stubbornly offering him the ale tankard he fetched from the "Alco-Falls" — as gently as he could, shaking his head. The silver ring on his ring finger felt heavier than before as he put on a modest grin. "I gotta say no on the drinks in favor of finding my wife."

He already knew the other Chaldean Servants could cover for him. Even if the bandit in front of him started screaming bloody murder out of petty jealousy.

So what? Why did his opinion matter?

The approving look Sanson was sending him already gave Robin some confidence for once in their shared Servant lives.

It's no surprise to eventually find Vy by herself. Teleporting would've saved him some time, but it would've made him miss the apparent vision she was making for herself.

For her newly made "nest" against an empty windowsill of the former Castle Csejite, Vy looked rather peaceful in her Decisive Battle uniform, nursing a half-full cup of juice close to her chest with her gaze pointed towards the half-wane moon. The light of its beams just accentuated the faint glow of her hair and the soft look in her pretty brown eyes past her glasses, starlight sparkling in those big irises as her bare knees curled up slightly against her stomach. The bond connecting them as Master and Servant already alerts him to her underlying fatigue before she eventually turns to him, low ponytail sloping against the soft curve of her neck with the motion, and when her eyes reflect his in shock, he grins.

"Hey there, pretty bird," Robin said softly, swiftly nodding his head in response to her silently pointing at herself past her drink in bemusement. Hell, he can't help himself from promptly enjoying the subsequent growing blush on Vy's face once the realization registers between them. Sure, the new nickname definitely made the back of his neck and ears feel hot, but the cute look of her pink cheeks just made him think, Worth it. It even powers the length of his already long stride as he walks as quickly as he could manage towards her once she makes a soft Uuu noise in his direction. "Holding up okay?"

Vy merely puts her drink to rest at the bottom of her windowsill seat (out of any possible collision that could result in spilling, considerate as ever) in favor of pouting and wordlessly extending both arms towards him. It's obvious even without their bond that she wants a hug, and a chuckle instinctually leaves his throat once he gets close enough to lean down and answer her unspoken request. His little sparrow even hums happily as soon as she's able to shakily wrap her arms around his neck, folding herself against him like she was always meant to be there. (Instinct was his best friend yet again, it seemed.) The extra sweet tuck of her head into the crook between his chin and the bundle of the No Face May King just made his heart tighter from the added warmth, her shoulders visibly slumping under his arms once he gets them around her.

… Too many people, eventually echoed in his mind, the mental voice characteristic of Vy coming out wispy and barely audible. If Vy decided to whisper, though, Robin had a feeling the words might've tickled. Their bond was ticklish enough as is, sending tiny trills of electricity through his veins once it delivered a softer, Had to get away for a bit.

"Understandable." Robin hums back from deep within his chest, a hum that he hopes is a comforting sound to her. His hand instinctively reached upwards to stroke her hair past the lotus ribbon clip he gave her once upon a time, enjoying the feeling of the long brown strands slipping through his fingers. It doesn't take that much effort for him to adjust his posture either, pulling her along with him so they can eventually sit together on the windowsill and cuddle. Having her on his lap is just an extra bonus. "Does this help?"

Aye. Not even a second later, Vy snuggles him, resting and clearly enjoying their lack of distance. She even leans against him enough for their warmth to be shared past their clothes, with her cheek pressed right over the center of his ribcage — something that makes Robin's heart skip a beat it didn't need. Thankie, Big Robin.

"Welkie, little sparrow." With a brief smile of victory, he leans back to rest against the other unoccupied side of the windowsill, extending the reach of his mantle to cover his wife's shoulders (because it was for Vy — his wife) before glancing up at the moon Vy once focused on.

For what looked like another Singularity's creation, the half moon looked rather beautiful in its place so high up in the sky, for lack of better words. The saying then struck him in that moment, so far away from the party and the other Servants.

Didn't the Japanese have a phrase for times like this…? And even if Vy isn't Japanese—

She can at least understand this, right?

"…Hey, Vy?"

Unbeknownst to his thoughts, his little sparrow hums a soft and questioning Mm back to him, her hands absently reaching for his free one to intertwine their fingers.

Robin hid another smile into the back of her hair, chuckling softly to cover up his growing embarrassment. "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"

Not even someone as tired as Vy could miss the underlying meaning behind that. It's why Robin takes some pleasure in seeing the creeping pink flush of her ears as Vy jumps in place, rapidly turning to him with matching red cheeks. "R…" What makes it even better is how her voice actually tickles his skin thanks to their closeness, just like he predicted. "R-Robin?" She stumbles over his name, blushing bright enough to put a ripe cherry to shame. "That was…"

"…Yeah." He knew his face was burning, but he meant every single word. Leaning in was a no-brainer too, because the look on her face made it clear she knew. And he wanted to say it. Because it was Vy.

His pretty bird. His little sparrow.

They could've easily kissed right then and there, just to cut to the chase like one of his well prepared traps, but Robin forced as much self-control into himself instead. Just for her, even as he hovered over her, keeping at least a centimeter between them to breathe hotly, "I love you."

A deep kiss would've been something straight out of the movies. Holy Virgin, he was seriously tempted to go for it with how cute Vy looked when staring up at him. But the back of his mind was suddenly sensing something else, a certain someone else, and that was all it took before more footsteps were echoing in his peripheral hearing and he had to pull back.

"Biiiiig Sis!"

As if on cue, the kid Dragon Elisa announced her presence with loud stomping feet and an over-exaggerated jump that only kids could really do, making Vy turn away from him and let out a quiet Oomph once the tiny ball of incoming Pretender collided with her front. Robin wasn't sure whether to smile at the coincidence or curse his luck at the untimely interruption. Really, he was only able to cradle Vy's figure for balance against the inevitable whiplash and watch things play out as Elly hugged their shared Master with a louder whine. "You're missing the party, Big Sis! What are you doing here?!"

"R… resting, Elly. 'M just… resting." Compared to her whisper from before, Vy clearly sounds tired with how coarse the words come out in a louder tone when comforting the tiny Pretender. The weak laugh that leaves her lips even matches how lethargic her free hand looks when slowly stroking Elly's hair. "There's a lot of people to see… and there's only so much energy I can spend on each one. So… Big Sis is resting with her Big Robin."

Elly glances at Robin then, and despite the part of him that was internally cursing at the previous interruption, Robin put on a smile of his own. "She has the right to rest, so don't worry too much. Nothing's bad happened, Elly. The little sparrow's just right in how more people can take more out of you."

"Huh… is that an adult thing? Not liking people?" Elly gently kicks her legs out behind her while Vy holds her up in their ongoing hug, thankfully not looking like she'd bite Robin again when he reached out to pat her head. "Everyone at Mount Liang's nice, though…"

"And adults can be tired from interacting with nice people too, sweetie. It's not even a matter of… of 'liking people' when we need our own space bubbles too." In a voice that was definitely meant for kids, Vy patted Elly's back, leaning into Robin's chest with a quieter laugh. "There's… there's definitely a lot that comes with being… being a leader."

Elly pouted, clearly not getting the hint, but Robin felt himself freeze before he could stop it. He knew Elly wouldn't notice, what with her being new.

It's not like… like I wanted to be the leader of the end.

For such a simple undercurrent of feeling, Robin could almost taste how bitter it was past the smile on Vy's lips as she continued to hug the Dragon Elisa. It was why the sound of more footsteps echoing in the back of his ears almost felt like a blessing, because more emotions were coming into his shared bond with Vy to wipe out the bitterness. Then the voices followed.

"Elly! It's dangerous to run off by yourself!" Boudica frowns like she always does when one of the kids misbehaves back at Chaldea, softening her stance only when meeting Robin's eye over Vy's head. "Sorry about that, Robin, Master."

Robin gave his fellow Servant a casual salute, just as Vy said in a wispy voice, "It's… it's okay, Boudica."

"Huh, so you made a cave out of a window, Vy?" Arcueid pokes her head out from past Boudica's shoulder, red eyes sparkling from curiosity. Because of course the one True Ancestor princess of another world's moon was taking the time to still be an airhead. "My Shiki should've taken notes from you when it comes to hiding!"

"Your Shiki, or ya talking about the Assassin Shiki, Arc?" Charlemagne pipes in, crossing his arms behind his head while grinning wildly. It didn't take him long to lightly elbow a — a moderately dressed Meltryllis (white dress with blue sash and all) nearby as he laughed. Apparently the Alter Ego's glowering didn't bother him one bit. "Because I know the red-jacketed Shiki would have something to say about sneaking around!"

"Hey! Don't tease me!" Arcueid childishly stomps her heels against the floor, puffing her cheeks at the laughing Saber. "You know which Shiki I was talking about, Charlie!"

"Do I~?"

To that, Meltryllis surprisingly shivered, crossing her arms over her chest as the white ribbon in her hair swished in the air along with her shaking her head. "Don't even start with that, Charlemagne, Arcueid, you complete dumbbells. Assassin is a monster when she wants to be, and that's coming from me." Still, Melt softened just like Boudica before her when visibly taking in Vy's form from afar, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "Being elusive as ever, though, Albrecht?"

For her five pieces of QP, Vy coughs. As politely as she could when tired, even. "Not… trying to be?"

"Al… Bert?" Elly said as best as she could from Vy's lap as their shared Master continued the hug. "Big Sis, why is she calling you Albert?"

Right then and there, Robin knew Vy could see how Meltryllis was starting to bristle, because she suddenly sounded a lot more awake when saying to the small child, "Um, Elly, that's the wrong pronunciation—!"

Huyan Zhuo then popped into view, interrupting with a loud Waaaaaa before Vy could finish her sentence. It was almost expected to see her hastily running over to scoop Pretender Elly into her arms after that. (But was it Robin's imagination, or did Huyan Zhuo suddenly manifest horse hooves at her feet? Maybe the smell of the Alco-Falls from afar was getting to him. Or the Phantom Spirit that was mixed into her Spirit Origin from the Shinjuku version of Moriarty would have something to say about that. Robin knew he wasn't an expert on that shit.) "N-No more of that, Elisa! You and Shi Jin should be with me!"

"Ehhhhh? But Big Sis has great hugs and she looks like she needs more!" The Dragon Elisa, as expected, struggles in Huyan Zhuo's sudden carry hug, one hand outstretched in Vy's direction. "Siiiiiis…!"

Vy giggled weakly while trying to gently wave the struggling Elly off with a poke to the Pretender's cheek. Thanks to their lack of distance, Robin could feel how her muscles seemed laxer now that Elly was off her hands. "Elly, I'm okay, really…"

Boudica let out a quiet huff, passing by the sullen looking Melt with a pat to her shoulder before approaching Huyan and Elly with a brighter smile. "Now, now, Elly, don't be stubborn. Your Big Sis in Master has Robin with her, and we still have a big day tomorrow with the official start of Mount Liang's outlaw gathering." Boudica turns and winks then, and Robin finds himself slowly grinning back. Because if he knew Boudica, she knew what she was doing. Especially with kids. "If you want hugs, myself and Huyan Zhuo can provide! We even have card games!"

Yes. A switch was promptly flipped with Boudica's prompting and Elly immediately stopped squirming. "Wait, card games? Like what?!"

Arcueid and Melt both look at Robin, and he doesn't have to hear them voice the unspoken question. All he does instead is reach into one of the pouches on his belt, pretending not to notice Vy's curious stare boring into his head as he pulls out his stashed deck of UNO cards. Tossing it to one of them didn't take much trouble, and judging by Charlie's happy shout of joy at seeing the thing, Robin knew he had the right idea. Shrugging his shoulders at that point was just for their newest Servant friend. "Try out UNO for a game or two, Elly. The others should be able to teach you how to play."

"Huh…" Elly proceeds to stop squirming in Huyan Zhuo's arms, much to the taller Assassin's relief. "U-UNO?"

"I-It is not poker or something unsafe, is it?" Huyan Zhuo adds carefully, right before Boudica beams and starts tugging her elsewhere. "Boudica? Robin?!"

"It is better than Mother's slot games, to be fair, Huyan," Melt interjected, shaking her head while raising one arm to tug at Arcueid's own too, just to start the lead out. "I do not want to see those machines or Exploding Kittens for at least a week." To Vy, the Alter Ego turned her head and went on with a louder, "Make sure to get some rest and avoid the alcohol, Albrecht. And be doubly sure to be careful of the noise."

…She didn't.

When Arcueid poked the Alter Ego, Melt's next smile in their direction looked almost devious. "We don't have soundproofing here, and Lip wouldn't let me hear the end of it back home otherwise."

Oh, she did.

Robin felt himself flush long before Vy squeaked in embarrassment, an uncharacteristically loud "Oi," the closest he could muster for a defense. Because he did not need to hear that from Meltryllis of all people. Especially with her experiences. "Not in front of the kid."

"Don't 'oi' me. That warning was more for Albrecht than you, Archer." Melt still saw them out the nearby hallway with a roll of her eyes and a casual wave of a stilled hand. Then, with one swish of her dress later, everyone had disappeared along with her to go back to the party, leaving Robin and Vy alone.

Fair, but really? Really?

One second. One minute.

No more noise echoed for a while.

Once the silence from the moon and surrounding night overtook the room again, Vy slowly relaxed. "…Huh." To his surprise and pleasure, she then chose to lean back against him with a stronger laugh, the noise tickling the insides of his ears with how tinkly it sounded. "We… we definitely have a crowd, huh, Big Robin?"

"...Yeah. It's definitely becoming the new 'normal' for us." Ducking down to press a kiss to the top of her hair, Robin took pleasure in hearing her muted Fwah of a response. "But are you okay with it, Vy?"

Maybe it was a risk, but it was an instinctual question to ask. Something he wanted to make sure of.

After all, Vy had to step up multiple times since becoming a Chaldean Master, just to lead when no one else could. To resolve the Singularities created by Goetia, to take down the Demon God Pillars who had run away from the Temple of Time, and now to unbleach the Earth after all 7 Lostbelts were pruned. Looking back at the whole thing in hindsight made her efforts more commendable, but Robin knew Vy was no hero despite being the last respectable Master of Chaldea.

(Because if there was something he would take to the grave, it was that Kadoc Zemlupus and all the other Crypters would never be worthy of his work. Not when Vy had outdone them, and would continue to outdo them because of how big her heart was.)

(No one could and would ever replace her.)

Yet Vy Duong was, in the beginning and even up to right now, still a single human. A little sparrow who preferred a quiet corner to read and a space nearby to safely hug her loved ones over a long, painfully drawn out fight.

His pretty bird at least should get the chance to speak her mind.

It was why he couldn't stop himself from jumping when Vy eventually turned around to wrap her arms around his middle, burying her face against his chest in the new hug she started along the way. "…Getting better with it," was muffled into his shirt, but still as honest and meaningful as everything else she had said before. "Crowds, I mean. But… but if it's alright to say…" Silky brown hair tickles his collarbone as Vy snuggles him. "I think I'll enjoy time with just you right now. I wanna be with you. Then… then we can find Mata Hari and Charles and Skadi for a card game or something. A little later. Besides, alcohol is… muu, it really isn't my thing."

Oh.

"…It's alright to say." It took him a minute too long to find his voice thanks to the new lump in his throat, but his chest was warm both inside and out as he found a grip on Vy's tiny form to hug back. "More than alright, actually."

Because really. For Vy, for his pretty bird, to choose him first?

Even after years of being together as Master and Servant, Robin Hood knew he didn't mind. Not really.

Not when he would say the same thing. When he wanted to be with her too.

As a living man, not just as her Servant.

"…We'll find the others for a game of Exploding Kittens later, then. Have Meltryllis watch if she wants." A gentle pat to the back of Vy's head lets him look into those big brown eyes again, and Robin smiles. "If I could take something in return, Vy? I could use some extra mana for tomorrow…"

To his growing pleasure, Vy giggles, leaning in to shyly peck his cheek before raising her left hand — bright red Command Seals and all — to tug at the collar of the No Face May King and bring their lips close together. "C'mere then, you silly Big Robin. I think I have plenty of mana from resting earlier to share."

"Don't mind if I do…"

Meltryllis could worry about the noise later. Because sure, this Halloween Singularity was weird, but when they were all together?

It was going to go down just like everything else before it.

Jacques de Molay's status as BB's newest jail mate was sheer proof of that.

Note (October 24, 2024): The third of this month a year ago (10/3/2023) marks the day I found out I lost my cousin Vinh — Anh Ti Ahn — to skin cancer. Since then, I've wondered if I've lived up to his example. Living to the fullest, laughing everything off, and being happy.

Considering it's almost 10 years since I've been with my real life Robin (the date's in January, actually) — I'd like to think I'm doing better. Even when life throws its lemons with bad apple coworkers and horrible new supervisors.

I love you, Anh Ti Ahn. I always will.

To everyone else, I'll see you next time.