Chapter Text
“Fou…”
… this feels familiar. Paw on his cheek and all.
"Alright, there’s a good boy. Want something to eat? Nuts? Or maybe fish?”
He doesn’t recognise that voice, though.
“Hm… not sure if cat or squirrel. Chihuahua was an interesting guess too. But that’s okay, you’re pretty cute!”
“Fou… Kyu, kyu…”
Ritsu’s eyes blink open.
“Hm?”
… this is the third time he’s awoken to a beauty looking down at him in as many hours. Probably. It feels like, anyway.
Two of those beauties were Mash, a treacherous voice in the back of his mind reminds him. He shoves it into a box.
(Music’s back. But that’s… fine. It’s always… oddly fitting, and it doesn’t get in the way of anything, so…)
“Ah, the last hero’s awakened!” the new beauty says. Warm blue eyes shine with mirth, and dark chocolate hair just past her shoulders frames a beautiful smile. She wears a fancy red and brown dress (kinda Renaissance, if he had to place it) with blue sprinkled here and there; a blue glove covers her right hand and forearm, and a… mechanical black gauntlet covers her left.
She looks… kind of familiar? Like he’s… definitely seen her somewhere before. A model, maybe…?
“There, there,” she says, patting his head. “That’s how a main character should be.” Her smile widens. “Buongiorno, Fujimaru Ritsu! Have a good rest?”
Ritsu blinks, slowly.
“… where…”
“Hmm.” The beauty tilts her head, her gloved hand on her chin. “Not thinking straight? Well, this is the first time we’ve spoken directly.” Her smile cracks into a grin. “Or what - are you shocked that you woke up to the sight of such a beauty?” Ah, and so humble. No, but she’s right, though. She nods sagely. “I understand, but I’m used to it.”
“This… would be the third time, actually,” Ritsu manages, and the woman chuckles. “Uh… I’m sorry if we already… if you were in orientation, but…”
“Oh, no, I had no time for that,” the beauty says, waving a hand. “Introductions, though, yes.” She places her gloved hand on her chest. “I am Leonardo da Vinci, a Chaldea collaborator.”
Ritsu’s brows shoot up.
Leonardo… da Vinci? The Leonardo da Vinci?! The Renaissance Man?!
… er… Woman, apparently…? Well, King Arthur was a woman too(??), so…
So Dr Roman was being literal. Okay. Wow. (And looking at her again, she’s a dead ringer for the Mona Lisa. Was that a self-portrait, then?)
“Ah, yes, it looks like you’ve heard of me!” Da Vinci-san smiles. “I would be rather shocked if you hadn’t. Yes, to answer your question, it’s the real da Vinci, in the flesh! Or rather, in the ether.” She chuckles and runs her gloved hand through her hair. “I am the third Heroic Spirit summoned to Chaldea. It’s very nice to finally meet you~”
Okay, stay calm, Ritsu. Not every day you meet the Universal Genius. Good first impression.
“Uh, same.” Ritsu offers a hand, and she hums pleasantly and shakes it. Fou hops up onto the bed and nudges his stomach, and he smiles and runs a hand over the creature’s head. “And hello to you too, Fou.”
“Fou!”
“Senpai…?”
Da Vinci-san perks up. “Ah, and the lady of the hour arrives~” She looks over her shoulder. “You’re just in time, Mash. Your Prince Charming has finally woken! No awakening kiss for you, unfortunately.”
A familiar voice sputters as a familiar (and very welcome) face hurries past the legendary artist and inventor.
“I - I don’t know what you mean, da Vinci,” Mash stammers. “P-please don’t joke about that!”
“Hmhm~” Da Vinci-san stands up and dusts off her skirt. “Anyway, you’re wanted in the Command Room as soon as possible, but that can wait until you’re all caught up. I’ll tell Romani and the Director you’re awake.” She waltzes towards the door, far in the back. ”Never forget: you and your fellows have been given a role - not to fight, but as human beings walking a path preordained by the stars.” She waves her gauntleted hand as she reaches the door. “Ciao~”
And there she goes. Ritsu huffs as Fou scampers into Mash’s lap, then offers his Servant a smile.
“Hi.”
Mash smiles. “Good morning, Senpai. At least…” Her brow furrows cutely. “I think it’s morning. It’s difficult to tell with our current… situation.”
… ah. Right. The… Incineration, or whatever that freaky demon thing posing as the technician was going on about. The rest of time has been… burned away or something. Somehow. Apparently.
“... that wasn’t a dream, was it,” he mutters.
Well - he knows it wasn’t, he can still feel his connection to Mash. Which means -
“Oh, wait!" His head snaps up. "Where’s - the Director, is she okay?! And Rika and Reggi, and their Servants -”
“They’re okay,” Mash says, her smile widening. She puts a hand on his shoulder. “Everyone is okay. Um, mostly.”
Ritsu heaves a sigh of relief and relaxes again. His gaze drifts up to the ceiling. “So, uh… where is everyone, then?”
“Ah, you were the last to wake up,” Mash says, scratching behind Fou’s ears. “The Director was first - and far earlier than you and Rika-senpai. We think it’s because of her new, um… constitution.”
Right, the… apparently Reggi had a Holy Grail…? And she used that to help the Director. It didn’t really look like a Grail - an iridescent seashell is not a golden goblet - but then again, the mass of energy that Saber dropped was also a Grail, so… they probably take different forms.
“Are you feeling… okay?”
Ritsu blinks up at Mash, whose brows are furrowed in concern. Ah… he did Rayshift right after Dr Roman told him to rest, so it’s understandable, but…
“I’m fine,” he says, smiling. “Uh, about as fine as I can be, I guess. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, so I might freak out later, but, well.”
“… Understandable,” Mash says with a nod.
“I can definitely get up and move about, though - no aches or pain or anything like that.”
Mash nods. “In that case… shall we head to the Command Room?” She offers a hand, and Ritsu smiles and takes it.
“Lead the way, esteemed Sir Kyrielight.”
Mash’s cheeks tint pink cutely. She’s in her regular hoodie, skirt and tights again, but that image is firmly stuck in his head now.
“Um, right,” she mumbles, squeezing his hand. “Let’s… let’s go.”
… man.
It’s going to suck giving up their contract.