A Tale of Two Archers [Abandoned]

Prologue

"Teatime with a Goddess. I would have never thought this predicament would happen."

"You should be honored Emiya-Kun. That I, Ishtar allow you to gaze upon my presence."

"Well then, I'm honored o' Goddess of Venus. To allow someone like me, by your presence." Archer looked at the seated Goddess as he sips from his cup of tea. A smile escaped his face. "Now then, what is it that you wish to discuss?"

"Discuss? Hmm... Why did I come to speak to you." Mumbled Ishtar as she wondered why she wished to speak with Chaldea's head chef. "Oh, that's right. Now I remember. It's because of this body."

"... Your body?" Archer blinked as he looked at the Goddess from Mesopotamian mythology. Surprised and confused about what she meant.

"As you already know, the body I possess isn't mine, I'm using it as a vessel due to circumstances."

"Yes, the body of a human mage which happened to be the best choice for you." Archer hummed. "But what does that body have to do with me?"

"Well... That's the thing, this body of the girl, my host, I feel a sort of way around you. It's quite infuriating... And confusing." Ishtar admitted with a blush. "I've never felt this way..."

"Hmph. Given both Goddess and Mage are in a singular body, it's only natural that you're influenced and changed in personality and characteristics because of her."

"Mm... That sounds reasonable. So I'm influenced by her then huh?"

"Of course—"

"Then that means you know who my vessel is then! Because I feel some sort of way towards you because of this body!" Ishtar concluded towards the Bowman.

"..." Archer calmly drank from his tea. Setting the cup down and looked at the Goddess with a smile. "Maybe I do know your host. Maybe I don't."

"So you do have a connection with her then?"

"Yes... Yes, I do. Well... It's complicated. Sort of." Archer admitted towards the Goddess who smiled. At least now she knows why she feels some way towards the Red Bowman.

"Why haven't you said anything towards me then?" Ishtar asked. Confused about why he didn't try and interact with her, given he knows her host.

"Well, you're not her are you? Besides, the problem with trying to speak of you is that I have no idea which Tohsaka Rin I'm talking to."

"... Huh?"

"Come on you doofus. Have you seen Artoria Pendragon? Have you seen how many variations there are? What about Nero Claudius? Many alternate reality Servants roam Chaldea." Archer said with a smirk.

"Ohhh... I see." Ishtar muttered. "So you didn't know if the girl I had was the same one you know, but this one seems to know you apparently."

"And who knows which one she knew." Archer said. "So is that all you wished to talk to me for?"

"... I don't know." Ishtar muttered, drinking from her cup of tea, a slight smile escaped her at the taste. "You truly do live up to your title as the head chef..."

"Years of practice and training in the kitchen have taught me many things. Of course, it seems like I always attract gluttons and troublesome people to me... Like you, Goddess Ishtar." Smirked the Bowman as he winked at Ishtar.

"Troublesome?!" Ishtar squeaked at Archer's words but blushed at the man's wink. "Y-you..."

"Hmph... Even your reactions are like Rin's..." Muttered Archer with nostalgia. Looking at the ceiling of the cafeteria.

"How was your relationship with her?" Ishtar asked quietly.

"Digging deep into the questions huh?" Archer crossed his arms and looked at the Goddess. "Very well, if I had to say what our relationship was... We were... Lovers."

"... E-EH?!" Ishtar blushed at the statement of the man, she saw the smirk on his face and twitched her eye. That smug look gives it away. "Y-You were lying! Weren't you?!" She practically yelled at the man, angry at embarrassing her. But why did she feel embarrassed? She's not Tohsaka Rin.

"You're right. Our relationship was never like that. If anything... We were simply... Acquaintances."

"Acquaintances?" Ishtar frowned at the man's words, she felt quite painful at his words. Ouch... They hurt her more than she would admit.

"Mm." Archer grunted. "We helped each other out, that's what our relationship was. We were never really close in my opinion. Just two fools who happened to meet and interact because of fate."

"I see..." Ishtar breathes out with a heavy sigh. She looked the man in the eyes. "Your words are quite hurtful towards me, as if guilt and discomfort flooded my entire being. I don't know what to say to you, but my host was affected by your words." She frowned at the man.

"Hmm...  Well, I wouldn't give much thought to it. Perhaps this Tohsaka Rin was close to her Emiya. And seeing what our relationship was of another reality, perhaps she feels horrible at the thought. That she and I were just acquaintances." Archer said.

"No. I'm just angry at myself for not trying hard enough to stop you from going down that path you idiot." Ishtar poked Archer on his nose. Looking at him before she blinked. "Sorry... That felt natural to say somehow..."

"..." Archer meanwhile blinked before he chuckled. "Perhaps it truly is her..." He whispered to himself. He would have never thought that his version would be the vessel of the Goddess Ishtar.

"It's odd, hearing you call her an acquaintance, that truly hurts me. And the fact that I said something like that just now... It just felt right to say. I don't understand." Ishtar said grimly.

"The subconscious of the girl is affecting you. Meaning whatever thoughts and memories she has, are affecting you as well. As if two people are combining slowly. And it's quite terrifying thinking of Rin as a Goddess..." Shuddered the Bowman.

"Affecting me huh...?" Ishtar pondered. "Yeah, I can see that as well... But at the same time, I'm Ishtar, the Goddess of Venus, and Tohsaka Rin, apprentice of the Wizard Marshall... There I go again, saying something naturally as if I knew that sort of thing the entire time." Ishtar said with frustration.

"..." Archer meanwhile sipped his tea with amusement. Looking at the Goddess who's having a crisis while he watches in peace.

"I tried to prevent you from going down that path and now you're stuck in a cycle of constant misery! This is my fault for giving up!" Ishtar yelled at Archer. "Huff Sorry... I just couldn't help but say that..." Muttered Ishtar, breathing heavily.

"Are you relieved now?" Archer raised a brow. Hiding his shock. So Rin thinks it's her fault for whatever happened to him.

"I don't know, saying that, felt relieving, as if a weight was pulled off my back. I... I wanted to say those words for the longest time. I'm sorry, it's all my fault." Frowned Ishtar.

"Hey now..." Archer couldn't help but look on with pity. "Rin." He breathed out.

"...!"

"Don't weigh yourself down for my mistakes... If my voice is able to reach you that is. The past is in the past. If it's truly you, Rin. Just know, I'm glad to see you again. Even if our circumstances are quite odd. With you being possessed by a Goddess, and me, well... As a Servant." Archer said with a slight smile. "Well... Anything?" He asked Ishtar.

"... One way or another, it's just like you to try and comfort me." Ishtar said.

"Rin?"

"No. Still me." Ishtar said. "It just felt... Right to say that." She couldn't help but smile.

"I'm glad to hear that." Archer looked away as he got up. "I'll head back to my shift now. This talk was quite pleasant. For some reason... I feel... Relieved."

"So am I... Emiya-Kun." Ishtar said with a smile on her face as she looked at the Bowman's back. It's natural to call him that.

After all...

She's always called him that.

-~-

Word Count: 1,335