Corrupted Dreams

Silent Conversations

I walked to the control room that morning with Setanta's hand intertwined with mine. The display we made pleased Setanta greatly, a permanent grin making its home on his face, while I, on the other hand, couldn't help a bit of boyish insecurity. Back in Setanta's home land, I was nothing more than his acquaintance and companion, making the relationship given and inconspicuous to the eyes of the public, for no one gave a second glance to the actions of Cu Chulainn, but here was different. This was both of our territory, both of us on equal ground with the allies of our profession, and I never had the dismission of Setanta's title to hide behind. Instead, I was just, well, me.

Setanta gripped my sweaty palm tighter, passing my uncertain eyes a sideways glance. "You seem nervous." He spoke in a low tone.

"Sorry, it's just being out in the open with you like this..."

"What? I thought you didn't care what people thought of you." His gaze became almost playful. "Are you embarrassed of me, Emiya~?"

I huffed a laugh, "Even with some of the stupid things you do at times, I'm not embaressed of you, and I don't care what people think of me me. It's more that I feel vulnerable revealing too much of myself."

Setanta hummed in understanding as I readjusted my grip on his hand in a fidgety sort of way.

"Well, you should be comfortable revealing yourself. You are a wonderful man, you know."

"I'm glad at least you think so."

"And you should think so too, same with everyone else. They'd be blind not to see it."

"Hm, if I remember correctly, you didn't think I was so wonderful once upon a time."

"Shush," he nudged my shoulder with his. "And I reaffirm what I said: I was blind back then."

When we entered the command room, the other members of the team were there. Achilles, Diarmuid, Drake, and Moriarty were expected, Cas, who was engaged in conversation with Fujimaru, was not expected.

Setanta scoffed, drawing Fujimaru's eyes on us. "You invite all my friends on this mission, and not me!?"

"Oh Setanta. Sorry, but this is how the rolls ended up."

"Just switch me with the butterfly geezer." Moriarty, who was examining his weapon as if looking for kinks and ways to tweak his weapon, didn't seem to hear Setanta's comment, or just didn't care, more likely.

"I can't, we need Moriarty—" Fujimaru stopped talking, his eyes trading between Setanta, me, and our interlocked hands. "You two are together!?" He blurted out in shock.

My cheeks went slightly hot, and Setanta's smile widened. "Yep, have been for a while now."

Diarmuid let his eyes graze over us before landing on Fujimaru. "What, you didn't know?"

"It was pretty obvious." Drake commented.

"You know," Achilles began. He was the only other with some surprise, well, besides Setanta and I who were taken aback by everyone's knowledge. "I'd thought there was something, but I didn't want to be the first to say it."

Moriarty never even gave us a glance, then there was Cas. His face was a monolith without a crack of expression, as he stared at us, yet far off past us at the same time. "Am I the only one who was in the dark about this?" Fujimaru chimed in as I watched Cas. The blue haired man suddenly noticed my gaze, and shot his own away. There was a slight break of emotion as he did so, a fracture revealing sadness. My eyebrows lowered in concern, and I subconsciously squeezed Setanta's hand. Glancing at me, he seemed to misinterpreted the action. Setanta closed his eyes and sighed with a smile, then leaned in just for me to hear. "It's okay, Shirou. You know, we really suck at hiding things, but this just proves that whether people know or don't, our relationship is safe." He came in even closer. "You'll still have your little Heaven right here."