Beauty and the Beholder

There was no way Ria could expect to fall asleep after that exchange. Laying in bed more restless than usual, it was hard not to think about how she had stopped sleeping well after losing Cú the last time, but this sleeplessness felt more anxious than that. Tossing and turning for another hour, Ria finally decided she may need a bit of liquid sleep aid. Getting up quietly, she attempted to enter the kitchen, but as soon as she stepped into the living area, Emiya's voice broke the silence.

"Can't sleep?"

Wincing that he had been disturbed, she sighed and then abandoned her efforts heading straight to the cabinets for a glass. "Seems not. Figured I would have a glass of wine and see if that doesn't help."

"That will dull your circuits. You need to be in perfect form tomorrow if you want to stand a chance against me."

Irritated by her restlessness and his lack of pandering, her voice took a harsh tone. "And what do you suggest, oh magnanimous one."

It was a selfish impulse he knew but from the moment he knew she was his Master all Emiya had wanted to do was touch her. Now that he had an excuse he wasn't going to squander the opportunity. Tilting his head to look at her with one eye open, refusing to feed into her anger or push her away he propositioned her. "Come lay with me. There isn't enough room to violate you, so you should be safe." Then he turned back to his original position.

Irritated that he would say he wouldn't fuck her after calling her beautiful, Ria snapped back with a retort. "Using the excuse that there isn't enough room to violate me must mean you aren't any good in bed. Unlike you Cú was able to utilize every opportunity regardless of how much room there was."

Though he didn't respond right away, the feeling of the room changed, his mana signature darkened, and he verbally slapped her across the face.

"Every opportunity indeed. Guess one of those was more mature than you, seeing as he was deeply entrenched in other tight spaces over and over again without you even knowing."

It wasn't kind. It was heartbreaking. It was also true. So true that the anger and sadness that flared and tried to consume her to act violently against him got stuck in the tears gathering in her eyes as her fists clenched at her sides. Staring him down and refusing to move, Ria lived in that statement for several moments, watching Emiya recline without a care across from her. Wishing she could strangle him but strangely appreciating him for his honesty, bringing out into the open the one thing she refused to speak of, Ria felt a weight lift off her chest she hadn't realized was there.

Biting her lip to clear her head, she forced herself to acknowledge it had been a while since she had slept well or even accepted anyone's kindness, and he seemed sincere. Walking over to the couch, she stood at its edge and opened her mouth to protest but found herself yanked down in between Emiya and the sofa back forcing her to lay on her side wedged comfortably between the two. With no place for her head but his well-sculpted chest nor her hand except around his stomach, she did her best to relax and get comfortable.

"You sure this is okay? You aren't uncomfortable, are you?" Her voice slightly insecure.

"Just shut up and go to sleep." His right hand moved to her head, which he used to stroke her hair.

It was surprising to Ria how gentle his touch was. With how fierce he was in battle, it always baffled her to think servants like him had a soft side. Coming to focus on his breathing which was even and relaxing, she found herself lulled to sleep against the warmth and security of his body. Finally able to calm down, her thoughts became lucid as her consciousness mixed with dreams causing her to whimper out, "Please don't leave me again," before she fell silent and a deep tenor rumbled like distant thunder.

"I will never leave. Not now, not ever."

--------

When Ria awoke the next day, it was noon, and the feel of a sculpted chest beneath her caused her to pleasantly hum as her hand explored the taught masculine form beneath her. Without opening her eyes, she ran her hand up and down its surface until Emiya's voice caused her eyes to shoot open.

"Good Afternoon Ria. I take it you slept well?"

Her eyes widening like a deer in headlights as she went rigid and scrambled to sit up.

"Don't get up on my account. This is rather comfortable." His soothing voice calmed her frayed nerves and caused her to stop for a moment, her face blushing.

"Awwwww, does Ria like me just a little?" He teased, causing her to sit up and start attacking him with the cushion from the other side of the couch.

Unfortunately, not paying attention to where her hips were or how her body was moving, she didn't notice she had straddled him and had begun riding his hips until Emiya yanked the cushion out of her hand, grabbed her hips, and slid her a few inches down before placing the pillow in front of him.

"Kindly be mindful of where you put your body. Though you aren't unattractive, parts of me can only tolerate so much stimulation before things get awkward."

Blinking for a second before realizing her previous compromising position, the heat of her embarrassment mixed with arousal as her body registered his robust and firm grip on her hips after pushing her down his body. Scrambling up and off the couch, she apologized awkwardly. "Sorry about that."

He sighed, his face slightly red. "It's fine; I just need a second before starting on lunch."

Grinning, Ria latched onto the opportunity. "Guess that means I can do it, and you don't have a say unless you want to embarrass yourself."

Emiya growled, his face took on an irritated anger. "Don't you dare!"

Slowly she inched closer and closer to the kitchen, watching him as his face contorted into the most adorable scowl she couldn't help but smile from seeing, which caused him to turn his head and pout.

"Damnit, Ria, why won't you just let me take care of you like I want to! You are so difficult."

Stopping as his words slam into her Ria feels her heart flutter a little; her voice taking on a confused hesitation. "Emiya, why do you want to take care of me so much? I'm quite capable of doing it myself."

Finally able to stand, he rose and walked past her towards the kitchen. When he was one step past her, he stopped. "You sure about that? You can't even remember I saved you. If I weren't here, you would continue to sacrifice your health and happiness." He then walked into the kitchen as she stared wordlessly at his back.

Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she finally asked. "Can I help you at least?"

The smile in his voice as he replied was evident, "I don't see you as being the type to take directions from someone else."

Squinting her eyes at his back, she grumbled loudly. "You seem to think you know a lot about me for someone I've only met a handful of times."

Prepping what he intended to make but not kissing a beat, he replies. "I was instructed to watch you the last two wars to see if I could find anything useful to use against you. I never invaded on your private moments, though, but I feel I do have a complete working knowledge of you."

"And what did this research uncover?" Her interest piqued.

"You are left-handed but can do most things with either your preferred right hand or with both; you favor hearing out of your right ear causing you to tilt your head left if you can't hear something, you can't see dark shapes head-on at night causing you to look to the left or right of the object to see it...."

"Okay, okay, I get it. I believe you. Most people don't pick up on those things. I don't even think Cú noticed those things about me." Sadness fills her voice as she slumps noticeably.

Emiya adjusts the temperature of the food on the stove. "Unlike him, I am not guided by what's between my legs. He's more reactionary than anything and far too laid back to comprehend the intimate natures of others."

Her smile at his response was sad. "That was one of the things I loved about him, though. He never got caught up in the emotional nuances and baggage of others. He was blunt and to the point while saying it all with that stupid smile. If I had to be honest, he was more like an overgrown child, but his feelings were real, and the most intense I have ever known."

Too caught up in her thoughts, Ria didn't hear Emiya sigh or see the frown on his face that embodied his frustration at realizing conversations like this had the potential to set the progress he thought he was making back, causing him to lose valuable ground. He knew she needed to talk about it, but it still hurt to hear where he potentially fell short.

"Sixty years is a long time to hold onto feelings like this, though. Yeah, he was my first, and I will never regret or forget that, but it's probably time to move on. Even if I do get to see him again, I'm a different person now, and I'm not sure if the love we have is sustainable going forward."

Emiya stirred absentmindedly as he listened, which caused him not to notice Ria walk up next to him until she leaned into his right side.

"Do you think you would want to stay with me for a while? That was the best sleep I have had in forever, and I guess I don't mind your presence."

The stirring stopped abruptly, causing Ria to look up at him hesitantly into eyes that seemed to search hers as if he wasn't sure he heard me right.

"You don't have to....". She pulled away, but Emiya reached out an arm and rested a hand at her waist before pulling her against him as he resumed stirring with the other hand.

"I'm here to serve you as much as I can for as long as I can, but I'll only stay as long as you don't do anything too reckless that might get you killed. You're kinda cute for a woman well over sixty, and I would never forgive myself if I left such an old lady alone to fend for herself."

Her eyes got big, and she balled her fist up before punching him in the shoulder. "EMIYA YOU ARE SUCH AN ASS!!!!"

"Careful old lady, you might throw out your back." He smiled and laughed as he attempted to finish cooking, but her onslaught of punches made it difficult.

"EMIYA!!!!" she whined. "I don't look that old do I?" her pout showing how insecure she felt.

Turning off the stove, he looked at her with soft eyes and a gentle smile before tilting her head up.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and don't look a day older than the last day I saw you so long ago."

Blushing furiously as her entire body heated up, Ria turned from him and muttered. "You shouldn't be such a wretched tease."

"Being a tease or not doesn't change the truth. Now have a seat since dinner is ready, despite your many interruptions."

Sticking her tongue out, he rolled his eyes before turning her with his free arm and pushing her towards the table, where they enjoyed another meal.