he looked at the fields and then his hands, "all I need is what I have."; (CLOSED)

[ex_cashcow493]

WHO: Saber (Arturia) & Archer
WHAT: After the Kiritusugu and Archer showoff, he's stuck with nursing someone back to full health
WHEN: Evening of April 24th
WHERE: Archer's hiding spot
RATING: PG

[ Saber doesn't really understand why she's awake longer than a few seconds this time. The last time when she opened her eyes, she had no chance of survival. This time was different. This time instead of the darkness overcoming her, there's red. The ragged breathing is familiar, as is the strange beat of a heart that shouldn't beat no more. Yes, this is familiar to her, so she'll allow the weakness of exhaustion to overcome her. ]

Archer. [ Her voice is hoarse, the dryness of her throat frightening even her. ] Where are we going?

Comments

[thousandblades]

[After the confrontation with Kiritsugu, Archer doesn't want to think. He doesn't want to do anything. The fact that the man he considered to be his father, whom he had looked up to for his whole life, could do such a thing was inconceivable.

Yet Saber was here and she needed him now. There was no way he could abandon her.]

Somewhere safe. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you now.

[ex_cashcow493]

Just what was happening, Archer?

[ Using that name only in "public", she'll wait until they are somewhere safe before referring to him by his proper name. In the meantime though, she'll find warmth in his arms, the cold wind from the nearby sea chilling her to the bone. Nestling her face in between his muscled chest, the realization of just how fragile she is in comparison hits her.

Compared to heroes like Shirou and Diarmuid, she's tiny and frail. It's hard to be taken seriously without her sword and so she can't help but ask. ]

Archer... am I not a hero without Excalibur?

[ She felt as though she had to stay awake as the fear of not doing so crept into her mind. Would she never wake if her eyes shut this one time? ]

[thousandblades]

You are a hero without peer. You are not your weapon, Saber.

[He can feel her curl up against him, and he squeezes her tight. The cold air would not be good for her. He needs to find shelter, but where? His hotel room was too risky. That would be the first place they would check if they were to come looking for him.]

[ex_cashcow493]

When people gaze upon me, they do not see a hero. They see only a little girl.

[ It must be exhaustion that's causing her to act in such a way as she cuts herself off with a sigh. ]

Even so, I will continue to do what I must to uphold my reputation. Tell me Archer, do you feel pride in rescuing a hero that has fallen?

[thousandblades]

You should stop thinking like that. Such a negative attitude will only lead to defeat. I'm just glad that I found you. Pride is something I can do without.

[He sets his sites on a cheap motel, making his way over. It wasn't the ideal place to be, but it would have to do. At the very least, it had no prior connection to him so unless Kiritsugu had followed him, and Archer doubted that, then there was no way for his father to tell where he was.]

[ex_cashcow493]

[ Saber's consciousness is on the border of awake or not, the tiny girl curling up more against him. She wishes to argue, but between her usually polite intent and exhaustion, the fight has left her. ]

[thousandblades]

[Breaking into one of the hotel rooms is easy. A swift kick breaks the lock on the door. Such a thing doesn't bother Archer. Their seclusion is a better guard than any lock anyway.

He quickly moves into the room, shutting the door as best as he can behind him. Setting her down on the bed, he starts looking for wounds.]

Are you hurt anywhere?

[ex_cashcow493]

Not terribly so. [ Her body is sore, her stomach is twisting in a strange manner, and her body feels weak. ] I will survive for certain.

What of yourself, Archer? Are you hurt?