A/N: Whoa, how long has it been? *Looks at last update* Three-what!?
But jokes aside, I sincerely thank you for still supporting this fic despite of my absence. College has been…rough.
But, I don't want to give up writing! It might take ages but trust me to not quit while I still have the drive! I even got my 1st bot comment, so yay!
This won't be long, since I won't be answering any reviews for now. But Maybe I'll do next time.
The day was clear, the sun shining brightly over the campers by the lake. Its surface reflected the blue sky, calm and still. Most of Rin's class had joined their camping instructor, Mister Emiya.
"Patience is key," Archer said, his tone calm but firm. "When you hook something, you'll know. Fish don't make it easy, they'll thrash and pull in all directions. Watch for the rod to bend and feel the resistance."
"How long do we have to wait?" a student groaned, fiddling with their line.
"As long as it takes," Archer replied flatly. "Fishing doesn't follow your schedule. It's about persistence."
Another student tilted their head. "What if nothing bites? Do we just sit here the whole day?"
Archer raised an eyebrow, a hint of dry humor creeping into his voice. "If nothing bites, then congratulations, you've learned a valuable lesson in patience. Or, you know, in picking a better spot next time."
"Easy for you to say," Someone muttered. "You probably catch fish without even trying."
"Only if the fish are as noisy as you lot," Archer shot back, though there was no real bite in his words. He gestured to the lake. "Focus on the water, not on complaining. The fish won't come to you if you keep scaring them off. Patience people, have patience."
The group quieted, some stifling snickers, as they turned their attention back to their rods.
As he spoke, the sun gleamed on his sweat-dampened shirt, clinging to his toned frame. A few of the girls exchanged glances, blushing furiously.
"Uh… y-yeah, I think that makes sense," One of them stuttered, suddenly much more attentive to every word he said.
"Totally," another chimed in, pretending to adjust her rod while stealing a glance at his arms. "Patience is really important."
"Super important," Added a third, her voice a little too eager. "Like, I totally get it now."
Archer's sharp eyes flicked toward them, and he let out a quiet sigh. "Focus on your lines. The fish aren't going to hook themselves."
"Right, of course!" they chorused in unison, sitting straighter than they had all morning.
'Damn teenagers.' He thought in frustration.
(Later)
A few minutes has passed, the former Counter Guardian was observing the students as they cast another line. Some, if not most, had managed to catch at least one fish—enough to prepare a decent breakfast.
Peaceful as it were Archer couldn't shake a nagging feeling. Months had passed since anything significant had crossed his path in the world of magi. A few no-name magi here and there, Tohsaka's occasional visits, and that was the extent of it. Besides the fact that Assassin and his self-proclaimed mother visits from time-to-time, but they were an exception.
But—something just feels different today. About the lake, the surroundings. Not ominous per se, just wrong.
Then, with his sharp eyes he caught a glimpse of something. Across the water, too far away for the naked eye to see clearly. There was a ripple.
'The surroundings feels wrong, invisible thing that's not supposed to exist.' He formed a theory inside his mind.
Just as he blinked. A figure appeared, besides the boulders across the water. It appeared like a veil unfolding.
'No.' He denied, before recognizing the features of the figure.
He noticed the figure having blue hair, wearing a colorful shirt. And piercing, animalistic, red eyes.
Said eyes were locked with his.
"Urk!" Emiya flinched. A chill ran down his spine. That thing—no, that man. It was-
'Lancer!'
The students looked up, witnessing their guide's change in demeanor. Many were unnerved to some degree.
Emiya turned his head to the students, his stern yet sarcastic tone changing. "All of you, stay here." His commanding presence leaving no room for argument. "I've got something to take care of. Don't go anywhere until I'm back."
The students nodded simultaneously, their confusion was evident, but unwilling to question their instructor's commanding tone, they agreed.
Archer turned toward the water, his sharp senses attuned to every detail. He began to move, using reinforcement to quicken his pace through the dense forest surrounding the lake.
His reinforced strides carried him closer to the source of the disturbance. Halfway there, he froze.
Many magi had unique ways of detecting abnormalities in the world's order. Some perceived them visually, through irritation, blurring, or changes in light. Others described physical sensations, like a prickling on their skin or a sudden weight in the air.
For him, it was smell. And what he smelled was familiar presence, a wild, wolfish musk. A chill ran down his spine.
'No, it can't be...'
Turning sharply, Archer turned back toward the fishing spots halfway across the lake. As he neared the students, his suspicions were confirmed.
Standing casually among the students was a figure he knew all too well. Blue hair, a confident smirk, and an air of nonchalance, it was Lancer.
'Damn it, I should have expected his speed.' Archer thought, frustrated at himself for the oversight.
With all his might, he leaped across the trees until he was near enough to hear the students chatter.
The students were whispering among themselves, their confusion growing. "Who's that guy?" one of them asked aloud.
Lancer grinned widely, giving the group a lazy wave. "Well, now, aren't you a lively bunch? Hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"He looks like a foreigner." The others whispered.
One student tilted their head. "Is he another teacher?"
"Or maybe a camp inspector, I thought sensei already took care of that." Another speculated.
"I will give precisely a minute to explain what you are doing here." All of them turned their head, startled at the voice of a person they thought were far away. It was EMIYA, approaching the strange foreigner.
Lancer lifted both his hands in a show of faux fear. "Whoa, easy there! Can't old friends just catch up for once in a while?" He spoke with a wolfish grin. "We were colleagues back in the day. Heard you quit and decided to follow."
Archer detected Lancer's attempt at defusing the situation. He also saw the fear and astonishment in the students' eyes and decided to ease his stance a little, while still maintaining caution.
'He's a servant. I could stand my ground for a while but with my state right now it would not take long for him to overwhelm me.' The former guardian thought of the situation logically. If Lancer were to take him with even the slightest of seriousness then he would surely perish. Besides, no point in scaring the kids any further.
Archer's eyes flicked over to Lancer, his smirk barely noticeable but unmistakably smug. "Strange," he mused aloud, voice calm but with an edge. "I was certain this area didn't have any stray dogs. Guess I'll have to double-check the maps. Wouldn't want the kids bringing back any unwanted souvenirs like fleas." He shrugged lightly, as if the comment was more of an afterthought than a deliberate jab.
Lancer arched a brow, his grin widening. "Always so clever, Archer. Didn't know you moonlighted as animal control. Guess I should start carrying a leash, huh?"
Archer chuckled faintly, crossing his arms. "Might be a good idea. Though with your track record, I'd say a muzzle would suit you better."
Lancer sensed the insult from a mile away. Well, atleast Archer's penchant for subtlety did not change whatsoever, so there's that. "A different instance, same bastard, good to see you never changed, Archer."
The students observed the conversation between the two grown men. While some were still confused, at least they were not scared anymore.
Archer glanced back at the kids, who were staring wide-eyed and whispering like they'd just stumbled into the middle of some action movie. He let out a soft sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright, that's enough fishing for today," he said, clapping his hands once to grab their attention. "You've caught plenty, and by now the fire should be going back at camp. Head back, start prepping the food. You know the drill—clean the fish, gut 'em, cook 'em. Skip any of that, and you'll be the ones regretting it later. If you can't do it, ask Rin."
"But, Emiya-san!" one of them started, sneaking a glance at Lancer like they were hoping for some explanation.
Archer shot them a pointed look, cutting them off before they could go any further. "No buts. You've got everything you need, and I'll catch up later. Just make sure no one burns anything—or anyone."
The students hesitated, exchanging looks like they weren't totally convinced, but they started packing up their rods and gear anyway.
One of the bolder students paused, looking between Archer and Lancer. "What about you? Are you gonna stay here and... Talk to the new guy?"
Archer's smirk returned, small but sharp. "Something like that. Now get moving. Daylight's not gonna wait for you to start cooking."
There were a few mumbled complaints, but the group eventually headed off toward the camp, their voices fading as they disappeared into the trees. Once they were gone, Archer turned back to Lancer, his expression cooling into something much sharper.
"Well," Archer said, folding his arms and tilting his head slightly, "now that the kids are out of the way, how about you tell me what you're actually doing here?"
Lancer's grin faltered, replaced by a look Archer wasn't used to seeing on him—thoughtful, almost introspective. He crossed his arms, his typical swagger muted. "You're really not him, are you?" he said finally, his voice quieter than usual.
Archer tensed at the question. He didn't show it, but he felt the weight behind those words. Memories that weren't quite his—yet were undeniably part of him—rose unbidden in his mind. He held Lancer's gaze, his voice measured when he finally spoke. "Define 'him.' The Counter Guardian? The Servant? The idiot who made a contract he didn't fully understand? Take your pick."
Lancer narrowed his crimson eyes, reading between the lines as if trying to pin Archer down. "Don't give me that crap," he said, his tone low and sharp. "The Archer I knew, the one I fought, wasn't... this. He was a Servant. A manifestation. Just like the ones summoned to Chaldea or in any Grail War. But you..." Lancer gestured toward Archer, his expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "You're different, it's like seeing an actual living person."
Archer's lips curled into a humorless smile, his tone as dry as ever. "Congratulations, you've cracked the mystery. Want a medal for that? Or is the satisfaction of stating the obvious enough for you?"
Lancer didn't take the bait. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his grin wolfish but his eyes razor-sharp. "So, what are you? The 'original'? The big boss version of all the little Archers running around fixing humanity's mistakes?"
Archer exhaled slowly, glancing briefly toward the distant campsite where the faint sounds of the students' chatter carried through the trees. "You make it sound so grand, but you're not far off." he said, shaking his head. "The truth is simpler, though. I'm the same as them—a representative of the Counter Force. A tool, a Servant. The difference?" He shrugged, his tone turning flat. "I retired."
Lancer arched a brow, surprised. "Retired? What, you just quit? Walked away from the job? Can you even do that?"
Archer's smirk returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Turns out even the Counter Force enforces such things as labor laws." He paused, his gaze sharpening as he fixed it back on Lancer. "And as for the others... they were me. All of them. They're me, and I'm them. But now? They've merged back with me. They're... gone. It's just me now. No more copies."
Lancer leaned back, folding his arms with a low chuckle. "Huh. And you're just... here? Playing camp counselor for teenagers?"
Archer scoffed lightly, his tone dry as ever. "Everyone needs a hobby, an odd job here and there." He crossed his arms, his expression cooling again. "But enough about me. I asked what you're doing here, Lancer. Unless you've taken up sightseeing in your downtime, I doubt this is a coincidence."
Lancer grinned again, though his eyes stayed sharp. "Relax, Archer. I didn't come here looking for trouble. Just wanted to see for myself what you've turned into." His grin widened. "Can't say I didn't expected... this."
Archer's smirk stayed in place, but his gaze darkened. "And now that you've seen it, you can leave. Unless you're planning to cause a scene, in which case, I'd be happy to oblige."
Lancer's grin softened, his posture loosening as he gave a casual wave. "Nah. I'm good." he added, turning away with a sly glance over his shoulder. "But one last thing."
EMIYA cocked a brow. "What is it this time?"
"You do remember Chaldea, right?" Lancer asked in a semi-joking voice.
EMIYA huffed, then answered. "Some parts of it, yes. What of it?" He inquired.
Lancer snickered. "Tough luck, then." Sighing in disappointment, he added. "And that's it, smell ya later." He waved, before disappearing into spirit form.
Archer just scratched his head. "What does he mean by "Smell ya later?"
(A few minutes later)
'Oh. So that's what he meant.'
Archer exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose as realization dawned. He had let Lancer's parting words slide off him at first, dismissing them as just another one of the idiot's antics. But now? Now, it made perfect sense.
And he hated it.
Cutting away from his own irritation, he turned his attention back to the source of the unease. Lancer, standing before Rin with an easy grin, was radiating the same reckless confidence he always had. And, as expected, Rin was clearly uncomfortable.
"So, little lady," Lancer began, arms crossed as he looked her over with that infuriating smirk. "Guess that makes you the old bastard's brat, huh?"
Rin stiffened, her brows furrowing. "Excuse me?"
Lancer let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Relax, relax, I ain't gonna bite. Just find it funny, y'know? Always saw him play the doting father type with the kids, now it's the real thing."
Lancer, undeterred, crouched slightly to be more at her level. "So, what's it like, huh? Having him as a pops? He lecture you all the time? I bet he does. Hell, I bet he's got a whole routine worked out—"
"Excuse me, who are you again?" Rin cut in, folding her arms.
Lancer blinked before grinning wider. "You know, you remind me of another lady your old man used to work with. Quite fiery, that one."
Archer sighed. "Lancer." Making it so it sounded directed to the servant, but it was for Rin.
Lancer turned toward him with a knowing look. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You don't want me causing trouble. But hey, can't blame a guy for wanting to see how an old acquaintance is doing."
"Lancer?" Rin echoed, eyeing him warily. Tohsaka told her about Lancer, how even after killing her father once, he still helped in stalling Gilgamesh at the tail end of the war. Rin honestly does not know what to feel about him.
At the utterance of the word, Lancer's eyes widened. "Oh, so that's how it is." A pang of realization struck him.
He looked to the side, a smug grin in his face. "For shame, Archer. Thought you'd be the last person to involve kids in this stuff."
EMIYA stood up, putting the mug down in the ground. "I didn't, it was Tohsaka." Crossing his arms, he added: "I figured if I couldn't stop it, I might as well inform her at the side of caution."
Lancer just smirked. "Sure. Never thought I'd see the day. You, playing the responsible parent. Watching over kids, keeping them in line, making sure they don't burn breakfast... It just comes naturally to you, huh? Should I start calling you something fancy now?"
Archer sighed, rubbing his temple. "If this is leading to you asking for food, Lancer, the answer is still no."
Lancer scoffed, leaning forward with an exaggeratedly hopeful look. "Oh come on, Archer. We both know you cook better than half the population of the planet. I've seen you whip up meals in the middle of battle. Bet you've got a whole stash of secret recipes, too."
Archer's eye twitched. "And yet, you're still not getting any."
Lancer dramatically clutched his chest, staggering back like he'd been struck. "Ouch! Shot down just like that? I thought we had something special, Archer. All those times Ritsuka deployed us together—!"
"More like all those times you refused to stay dead," Archer muttered.
Rin, who had been watching their back-and-forth with barely restrained irritation, crossed her arms. "You sure you two aren't actually friends?"
Archer and Lancer both turned to her at the same time, replying in unison:
"No/Yes!"
Rin just drawled. "Uh-huh. Right. Sure."
Lancer grinned at her reaction, but his expression sobered slightly as he turned back to Archer. "Jokes aside, you really have changed." His voice held a note of something deeper, something considering.
Archer's smirk faded, replaced with something more guarded. "That's what happens when you stop fighting and start living."
Before the moment could stretch too long, a voice called from the camp. "Emiya-san! The fish are burning!"
Archer's head snapped up. "Damn it." He turned on his heel, striding back toward the campsite with purpose. "If anyone set the fire too high, I'm making them eat the charcoal!"
Lancer chuckled, hands on his hips. "See? Total dad energy. Always looking after brats whether you mean to or not. It's almost instinct at this point."
Rin followed after Archer but glanced back at Lancer, eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not just here to visit, are you?"
Lancer met her gaze, his easy smile still in place, but that unreadable glint remained in his eyes. "For now," he said simply.
Rin frowned but didn't push further, deciding that if Lancer was here just to pester her father, it was hardly the worst thing that could happen.
By the time they reached the camp, situated in a clearing overlooking the lake, the students were already scrambling to salvage their breakfast. Archer sighed as he took over, expertly flipping the fish with the practiced ease of someone who had spent far too much of his life cooking for ungrateful brats.
Lancer plopped down on a nearby log, watching the scene unfold with amusement. "Man, I should've brought some drinks. Feels like a proper family outing."
Archer shot him a sidelong look. "You're just here for the food, aren't you?"
Lancer's grin widened. "Guilty as charged. Now, are you gonna serve me, or do I have to start charming the kids into sharing?"
Archer rolled his eyes but sighed in resignation. He grabbed an extra plate, setting a perfectly grilled fish on it before handing it over. "Fine. Just eat and don't cause trouble."
Lancer accepted the plate with a triumphant grin. "Ah, now this is hospitality! See, you do have a soft spot for me."
Rin scoffed. "More like he just wants you to stop whining."
He glanced at Rin, who was watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow. "Y'know that sharp tongue of yours? Definitely inherited from your old man. Must be why you keep him on his toes all the time."
Rin huffed, crossing her arms. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Lancer smirked, leaning back. "Sure, kid. Keep telling yourself that."
The students continued eating, their chatter blending into the rustling of the trees and the distant shimmer of the lake below. For a moment, everything was calm. Archer leaned back slightly, exhaling slowly as he watched over them.
Lancer glanced at him, smirking. "Y'know, for all your grumbling, I think you enjoy this."
Archer sighed, shaking his head. "Are you done running your mouth, or should I get you another plate to keep you busy?"
Lancer laughed. "Nah, this is plenty. Good food, good company, can't complain about that."
Rin rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Archer simply sighed, accepting the moment for what it was.
Omake 1 (CANON): My Attempt at a Valentine's special
Valentine's Day had come and gone, and Rin sat at the dining table staring at the absurd pile of chocolates she had received. They were stacked precariously, threatening to topple over at any moment.
She furrowed her brows. "This is ridiculous."
EMIYA, drying a dish at the sink, barely spared her a glance. "It's only ridiculous if you don't understand why you got them."
Rin raised an eyebrow, picking up a heart-shaped box and turning it over in her hands. "Oh? Enlighten me, wise culinary sage."
EMIYA sighed, setting the plate down. He leaned against the counter and gave her a pointed look. "Think about it, Rin. There's a reason so many people went out of their way to give you something."
She blinked at him, utterly baffled. "They probably just had leftovers."
EMIYA exhaled, shaking his head. "Sure. That must be it."
She huffed, crossing her arms. "Well, whatever. It's not like I asked for them."
EMIYA glanced at the pile and smirked. "I could make a cake."
Rin perked up slightly. "You'd actually do that?"
"I'd rather that than watch you hoard them like a dragon guarding treasure."
She rolled her eyes. "Very funny."
EMIYA crossed his arms. "It's not a bad way to use them. Unless you have another plan?"
Rin tapped her fingers on the table, glancing at the chocolates. "Fine. Your cakes always turn out good anyway. Might as well make something nice out of this."
EMIYA chuckled. "Naturally."
As he gathered ingredients and started prepping, Rin leaned back in her chair, still perplexed by the situation. She glanced at the remaining chocolates, shaking her head.
"I really don't get what the fuss is about," she muttered.
EMIYA, measuring out cocoa powder, didn't look up. "You don't have to. But clearly, a lot of people thought you were worth the effort."
She frowned, processing his words. "Still seems like a waste."
EMIYA shrugged. "Then let's make something worthwhile out of it."
Rin watched him work for a moment before sighing and standing up. "Fine, I'll help. But don't start acting like a head chef on a power trip."
EMIYA smirked. "No promises."
Just as they started working, the door burst open, and Rin's gyaru friend, Mimi, barged in, hands on her hips and eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oi, Emi-chan! What's this I hear about a cake made of tears and broken hearts?"
Rin sighed. "It's just leftover chocolates. Nothing dramatic."
Her friend smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. And next you'll tell me Emiya-san over here isn't secretly judging every ingredient you put in."
EMIYA smirked. "Just making sure she does not mess up." He answered adjusting the oven temperature.
Before Rin could respond, another voice chimed in from the doorway. "I feel like dying of thirst while watching another woman drown," Kusa chimed in, who in fact did not receive any chocolate. Mimi just dragged her here.
Rin shook her head, already regretting letting her friends in.
Omake 2 (NON-CANON): An Unexpected Glimpse of a Crossover (NimtheWriter's An Archer's Promise)
Rin hummed to herself as she pushed the vacuum cleaner across the floor. With EMIYA out grabbing supplies, the house was quiet, just her, alone and finally able to relax.
Having the place to herself gave her time to think. What other crazy missions had her dad been on that he never told her about? He'd mentioned having time traveled multiple times. Yeah, still hard to believe. Something about getting caught up in the Fires of Rome, and, oh yeah, orchestrating Hitler's assassination.
Yep. Not a suicide—an assassination. If conspiracy theorists ever found out, they'd absolutely lose it. Her dad, indirectly responsible for taking out Hitler? That was actually kind of awesome.
ime passed, and she didn't even notice. Just as she put the vacuum cleaner down, she heard a sharp crack.
Her head snapped toward the living room, eyes widening. Right above the sofa, a jagged fracture in reality shimmered in kaleidoscopic colors. It was similar to Tohsaka-san's magic, but rougher, more unstable. The edges pulsed and wavered like an unfinished painting trying to come to life.
Rin took a cautious step forward, her heartbeat quickening. "Okay… that's definitely not supposed to happen."
Tohsaka-san schedules her visits nowadays, thanks to her father's constant hounding. Besides, she's way too prideful and cautious to mess with something this unstable-looking. Whatever this was, it wasn't her doing.
Out of nowhere, someone dropped right out of the portal and hit the floor with a thud. Rin jumped back, eyes wide. "What the—?!" When the dust cleared, she got a good look and... yeah, this was next-level weird, even by her standards.
A blonde, pointy-eared woman was sprawled out on the floor, blinking up at her with ridiculously long lashes and bright green eyes.
She had the kind of figure that seemed straight out of a fantasy game—almost too perfect to be real. She wore a white toga-like dress, the type you'd see on some mythical goddess—or in a questionable dating sim.
"Ara?" the woman murmured as she pushed herself up, adjusting the folds of her toga-like dress with a graceful touch. Her emerald eyes studied the stunned Rin, a serene smile playing on her lips. "Ah, greetings, young lady. Would this happen to be the home of Shirou Emiya? I am quite familiar with him."
Rin blinked, her mind still catching up. "What."
Suddenly, the front door burst open with force. "Rin! Sweetie, what's happening!?" EMIYA called out, his sharp instincts immediately sensing something was off.
Celestine turned to face him, her emerald eyes widening in shock. She took in his appearance, his blue long-sleeved polo layered over a white tank top, his usually spiky hair neatly tied down, and well-fitted denim jeans.
"Shirou...?" she murmured, almost flustered by this gentler look.
Rin, still standing beside the mysterious woman, threw up her hands. "Dad, respectfully, I have no goddamned idea."
A/N: Yes, you read that right. I got permission from NimtheWriter ages ago. But this was just a glimpse, I might refine it and add more if I have the time. Also the 1st omake I did because I was not sure if I could post on February 14, school and stuff.
As per routine, follow and favorite, review if you can, it motivates me!
Peace be with you, ciao~!
