FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 94: Loved Ones

5:35pm

The two sisters entered the younger's apartment with their eyes to the floor and bodies so tense that they more teetered than walked, each hiding from the other behind a veil of blonde hair. After them, the rose-haired Saber entered, latched the door and, with a troubled yet stoic aura, shepherded the two young women into the living space.

The two exchanged glances. Despite having said so much, it still felt as if there were more to say, though neither seemed to be able to figure out what it was building on their lips. The awkwardness was oppressive- just standing there, twiddling their thumbs and waiting for the other person to finally say what was on their mind.

"Chrysaor," Monica, Athena, started, "Could you give us some space?"

He began to say something, but cut himself off and nodded, "Of course. Take all the time you need. I'll just... excuse myself."

Without another word, he stepped out onto the balcony and shut the door behind him. The girls were alone.

Monika had entered first, and was hovering near the sofa. Monica, Athena, took the long away around the coffee table and sat down. With just a glance, her sister understood and took a seat next to her.

The younger sister spoke first, "Do you really want me to go with you? To London?"

Monika inhaled sharply and let out a shuddered breath, "Yes- yes, absolutely! It might be a little rough at first, maybe a little cramped with my roommate. But-! I have a friend who lives on her own! Maybe you could- or I could- stay with her for a while. Or-! or-"

She flung her arms out, "It doesn't matter! We can make it work, I promise!" She placed both hands on her sister's knee, "The point is: you don't need to fight anymore. You don't need to stay here and... and put your life on the line."

She looked down at the soft, pale hands touching her, "What would I even do? Do you want me to study magic?"

"Sure! Maybe? I don't know. If you want to, we probably could. At least, I could teach you what I know- maybe some self-defense at least. But you don't have to, not if you don't want to. You can do whatever you like, and I'll be there to help. You don't need to worry about the Grail War, or... going back to your old job."

Her hands clung just a little tighter.

"This is all so much."

"I know."

She felt tears start to touch as she struggled to find her breath, "I don't know- I really don't want to see Mom and Dad again."

"You don't have to! Not if I can help it, anyway. Look, I know how they can be-"

"No. No, Monika, I don't think you do."

Her gaze sank, "Maybe I don't. But if you think that I got better treatment because they loved me more you are sorely mistaken. They don't love either of us. I got preferential treatment because I was useful to them. And you- they didn't see a use for you, but we're both just tools in the end. That's just how mages are."

She took a moment to chew on that. She hadn't actually meant that Monika had been the favorite, she only meant that Monika was in boarding school and didn't have to deal with them day-in and day-out like herself. Now, she wondered whether the isolation might've been a grimmer fate. Both of them had been neglected, just in different ways.

"Athena- I." She began to choke up, "I was the one who told them not to look for you."

"What?"

Her eyes and cheeks were red, and tears began to roll down her cheeks, "I told them- I told them we were better off without you. I said that it wasn't worth the hassle. I convinced them not to look for you because-"