Insight

Days went by without incident; Em and Ria were going about their lives as if nothing had happened. Though Ria still felt Cú's signature, she did not run into him, nor did she try to, which was just as good as far as she was concerned.

Then she and Emiya are once again called into the lab for an exam, updates on their bond, and to run some female tests to see if they can determine the potential for conception. Of the twenty Life Bonded pairs, Em and Ria were the only ones not yet conceived. The doctors expect it had something to do with the Philosopher's stone she ingested all those years ago, but tests suggest that isn't the case. Per usual, Em finished first and waited outside for her. That is when Cú grabbed his attention.

"Everything, aright?" There is genuine concern in his voice.

"I imagine so. It's all routine."

"Good to hear. You know we should train together like in old times. It would give me a reason to stay away from that insufferable piece of garbage I'm stuck with."

"I'll consider it."

"Good." He began to walk away but stopped. "So what did you do to her?"

Emiya turned to look at Cú. "What do you mean?"

"I meant exactly what I said. I've never seen that side of her. She never had those intense emotions with me. So I want to know what did you do to her?"

"Everything you couldn't. I loved her from the deepest depths of my soul in her ugly and radiant moments. I never left her side, and I gave her what she, not I, wanted."

"Heh, is that all? I thought it was some spell. She is even more beautiful than when I left her last. Just keep her happy for me. I'll be a man she can't resist in no time."

Then he dematerialized, and the door to the lab opened, drawing Emiya's eyes to the door.

"Sorry, it took so long. I'm all done now."

"Is everything ok?" Emiya's voice showed concern as he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear once he stood before her.

"Yeah. They can't find anything wrong. Maybe I just can't." Ria's eyes started tearing, and she bite her lip, looking away from him. "Maybe I'm too old. I should never have taken that stone and waited for that idiot. Now we can't...." She choked on the last words as the tears started to fall.

"Rina, don't say that. Don't ever say that."

"But what if it's true? He's ruined everything! Taken everything he possibly could from me! Now you have been left to clean up the pieces, and all you are left with is a broken shell. I fucking hate him, the selfish bastard!"

"Rina, stop!" Emiya grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "Please."

"I love you so much, and you would be such a great father. We never talk about it, but I know you want a child and that you are disappointed I haven't given you one. I see it in your eyes when you look at all the kids and successful Bonded couples. I'm a failure."

"You are not a failure! You are the love of my life and the most amazing woman I know. Even when you were on the verge of death, you never gave up. Don't give up now. We will figure this out." He wrapped his arms around her as they stood like that until she stopped crying.

"It'll be okay, I promise."

Sniffling, she hugged him back. "I trust you."

"Good. Why don't you head back, put my clothes on and curl up on the couch? I have something I want to take care of, but it won't take long. Just call me if you need anything."

"Okay, Em. I'll miss you. Don't be too long." She gently pulled him into a loving kiss, and he hummed against her lips.

"I won't, I promise."

Then she turned and left. When he was sure she was gone, his face filled with rage. "I know you are still here. Do you see what you have done to her? Did you want to train? Meet me in room 4. Don't make me wait." Then Emiya dematerialized, and Cú stepped out from behind the opposite wall with a look of despair before following behind.

The second he materializes in Room 4, Emiya is on him with daggers flashing, giving him barely any time to draw his spear.

"I intend to make you pay for the years of hurt you gave her, and I had to watch you give her. How dare you." Emiya pulled away and stared at Cú, who was on the defensive.

"You had to watch? You weren't even there most of the time. You didn't watch anything."

"Just because you didn't see me doesn't mean I wasn't there. I watched you leave her and go to other Masters on "errands," then leave them after several hours with that stupid smirk on your face. You cheated on her the entire time you were Caster. Do you know what it's like keeping that secret, knowing she might go back to you if you ever showed up and that I could end that chance for you permanently?"

Cú's eyes got dark, and he dropped into a crouch. "If that's what you saw, why haven't you told her?"

"Because I want to watch you tell her. I want to watch you break her heart completely. She won't be mad at me, and even if she is, she will forgive me. She won't forgive you. It will destroy everything regarding you she still holds dear. Part of her still loves you, but I plan to ensure you destroy that part all on your own."

Then Emiya lunged at Cú before faking and slashing from the right; Cú barely dodged in time. "You have gotten much faster since I last fought you. Guess I will have to try this time."

"Hah! The only thing you put the effort in ends in two minutes or less, according to reports. You are all talk." Cú swiped angrily at Emiya, who jumped over the thrust to land on the spear's shaft.

"Looks like your skills with your spear are the same as the ones you exhibit in the bedroom. Guess you will have to up your entire game." Emiya launched himself off the shaft to shoot a volley of arrows at Cú's retreating form.

"Looks like your aim is a little off, Archer. No wonder she can't have kids. Did you forget how to shoot?"

"I forget nothing. I wasn't trying to hit you, push you where I wanted you, and seeing as you are about as smart as a domesticated mutt, my plan worked perfectly." Emiya then landed and charged Cú, firing a volley of spear copies at Cú as he advanced, forcing the lancer to defend yet again.

"Damnit, man, at this rate, you are going to kill me! You know she wouldn't want that!"

"Kill you? No." Emiya was halfway to Cú before he smiled wickedly. "If I wanted you dead, I would do this." And as the volley continued and Emiya was three feet from Cú, he dematerialized along with the copies before materializing behind him, putting a dagger to his throat and another to his inner thigh at the largest artery. "I wouldn't flinch if I were you. One graze, and you will bleed out in seconds from either wound."

As Cú grabs Emiya's arm around his neck, his red cape flutters up, and Cú's eyes widen.

"It was you. You were there. You saw and heard everything."

"Of course I did. She isn't alone anymore. She has me, and I will always protect her, as I have done for the last ten years.

Something you will never be capable of doing."

Then his grip is released as Emiya dematerializes and reappears in front of Cú armored as Assassin.

"What the hell?"

"Being intimately Life Bonded with her unlocked another of my forms which I can alternate between effortlessly now. You don't stand a chance in love or life against me, but I am happy to indulge you."

Emiya released his daggers and brought out his pistols. "Shall we see if the pretty boy can dance?"

Cú's eyes tinge with fear, but he stands his ground with his spear at the ready.

Emiya lifted his gun, aiming it at Cú's face when Ria's voice echoed in his head.

"Em? Are you done yet? I'm lonely. Please come home."

"Bang." He says before dematerializing everything, leaving him back in his casual clothes. "Seems you lucked out. My presence is needed elsewhere. It was fun, so let me know when you want to do it again." He winked and then disappeared.

Alone with his thoughts, Cú is faced with grim realities. No one was supposed to know he hadn't been faithful to Ria. They had been moments of weakness when he felt he had wanted a woman more like she was now. Ria had been so innocent and willing when he first met her but never challenged him or drove his desire. Though he had fallen in love with her looks, he had stayed for her brains, strength, and heart. When everyone else had failed or betrayed him, she had always been his rock. No matter how many times he died, she had always loved him.

Now, looking back, he knew she was right. Their relationship had been a sham, one he had built on dishonesty and selfishness. He didn't know if he had a right to try to take her back, but he couldn't deny he still loved her. He would have to start fresh, and to do that; he would have to rebuild trust what better way to do that than to force her to accept the very parts of him they both hated most?