Fate/Zero: A Different Path

Chapter 24

Possibly the longest chapter on this story, yet. Will edit it later, but right now I'm spent

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The morning came, shining its radiant light along the now destroyed Tohsaka manor. Charred and destroyed, the building was left in a state of runiation akin to something that had survived the early German Blitkrieg 

When I turned my back toward them, Irisviel is gone, having been carried away by her Servant back to the Einzbern castle. At the mean time, an exhausted Saber stumbled out of the bush minutes later, looking none the worse for wear

I was surprised when upon seeing me, she immmediately wrapped her hands around me and pulled into a hug. The Servant and I stayed like this for a while, neither side speaking anything

"Where were you last night?"

"I was busy fighting the other Masters. You took good care of Gilgamesh there"

Saber only let out a non commital hum into my shirt. 

"Please don't leave my side next time"

The request caught me by surprise, more so when her grip on my clothe tightened

"Saber?"

"As a Servant, I would feel safer if you remain by my side. At the very leasy, please trust in my capability to protect you" 

Her shoulder slightly raised and fell, and I realized the insecurity the girl currently held 

How did Canon Kiritsugu miss these warning signs? It's not the most subtle psychological symptoms of a breakdown...then again, he doesn't look like someone to care about her beings

"Of course, you are a knight who takes pride in taking care of your people" Not knowing what to do, I pat her on the head "I understand how you feel, Saber"

Emerald green eyes slowly rolled up to meet mine

"You do?"

"It's only obvious. I didn't stay away from you because I don't trust in your capability. I only thought it would be better to engage the Masters separately, so as not to extend your battle for far too long"

My hand lowered down and hugged her by the waist. Saber closed her eyes and leaned forward into the hug, seemingly enjoying it

I felt bad about pretending to be sympathetic to her. At the very least, I could offer my Servant some form of solace as her Master

Saber is a tortured soul anyway. It's not like some words of kindness and understanding will change anything about her

We stayed like that for a while, before finally separating. Saber swept aside the blond locks of hair and smiled at me

"Let's go home, Kiritsugu" 

"Let's, Saber"

I sighed, already feeling the fatigue set in. My eyelids feel heavy, and my gait was that of an exhausted man hoping for a wink of sleep. Saber, perhaps noticing my tiredness, lend me a shoulder to lean on - Something that earned another sigh out of me

"Perhaps in the mean time, you can relay to me what happened last night, too"

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After that, we took several detour through the neighborhood in order to get some food, before arriving at the designated hideout 

The sound of paper being unwrapped is the only audible thing inside our base. I peeled off the paper wrapping, layers by layers, until the burger was revealed in its entire deliciousness, just waiting to be dug in