#robvy

The No Face May King, of course, is no ordinary cloak. It is a Noble Phantasm, and a mark of what makes Chaldea's Robin Hood, well, Robin Hood. It lets him fade into the darkness, blend into the trees of the Sherwood Forest he called home, and fight from the shadows to protect the people.

No one said it couldn't be used as a comfort item.

Vy doesn't tug that hard on it. If anything, the amount of "tug" helps convey to Robin, without words, how she is feeling.

A light, short tug - Vy wants to talk to him.

A quiet, lengthy tug that doesn't crumple the fabric - Vy's tired.

A gentle tug accompanied by a soft "Muu" noise - Vy's troubled and wants to stay with him.

Those translations are still works in progress, but Robin's open to suggestions.

Sometimes, the tugs are accompanied by Vy's head gently lulling against his shoulder, her eyes sliding shut as she rests against his side, glasses falling crooked on the bridge of her nose. She often brings her knees up to her chest as she does this, curling up into herself to nearly resemble a ball if not for the hand still peeking out past her middle to keep a grip on his mantle. Still, she stays with him, staying especially quiet after a tough battle in a Singularity or so. No one outside of them can really hear Vy at this point, because Vy opts for mental conversations more than her actual voice, but Robin's gotten used to it.

Only the other Grailed Servants will be able to hear Robin admit he likes talking to Vy with their mental voices. He was never able to do that when he was alive.

Oh, and of course. After everything they've seen together, Robin can't blame Vy for wanting some peace and quiet.

He still remembers how small and haunted Vy looked after coming back from Agartha. How her face turned pale from hearing Arnold Beckman's lengthy tirades during that trip into the Seraphix oil rig, as if seeing someone who wasn't there before every time the man berate her for not following his orders. Hell, he can still close his eyes and glimpse the tears in hers from when she murmured, "I still hear them sometimes, when no one's around," in that empty church in SE.RA.PH, her mental voice weak from remembering whatever she had seen from the dying Seraphix staff before he got to meet her again. He won't ever forget the sheer rage and bitterness Vy held against Kiara, screaming "THIS IS FOR SHIROU!", and how much Vy seemed to almost hide herself away in the No Face May King once they came back to Chaldea.

Robin always wraps an arm around Vy's shoulders to bring her closer to him if she still stays after a while. The No Face May King eventually helps her mind settle enough for her to fall asleep.

Da Vinci gets a new visitor to her workshop later, and coincidentally, Vy eventually finds a familiar green cloak folded up on her desk. The only thing with it is a note saying (in oddly curved scrawl too): "In case if I'm gone."

Vy treasures it to the point of washing it every week with the laundry, and some Servants whisper of peculiar sightings - specifically, of their only Master occasionally hugging the Noble Phantasm replica to her chest like it's a long lost teddy bear. No one but Robin knows the truth.

-----------------

The first time Vy had ever found Robin Hood smoking, it was back before the Lostbelts, before the original Chaldea was lost. Even then, when Goetia was the only threat, it took every single ounce of her energy to hold back the urge to gag. Or run, really. Tobacco smoke wasn't good for the lungs, after all. Still, when she had walked into the room to find him, something must have registered on her face in spite of her attempts to hide it because Robin immediately took the stick away from his mouth, stubbing the lit end against the nearest ash tray. Vy didn't even have a chance to say his True Name before the cigarette was curled up and then left in the ash tray to fizzle away.

"Y-You didn't have to do that, Archer," Vy said reflexively, trying not to fidget. Did he notice something? "I could've waited for you to finish."

"But that would've meant you would just stand outside the room and inadvertently take in the smoke, Master," Robin Hood said coolly, tellingly waving away the remnants of a smoke cloud with his other hand. "And I've had enough lectures from the other Servants about second-hand smoke."

"But..." Guilt bubbled up almost immediately. "Smoking is something that makes you feel more comfy, doesn't it?"

Doesn't that mean, as a Master, I should try to accommodate your needs—

Even with his hood covering his eyes, it felt like Robin had noticed something she didn't with her question, because he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he sighed a loud, almost tired sigh, and proceeded to walk over.

Vy probably should've expected the hand gently coming over to rest on her hair, considering the other Servants had taken up the community-wide habit of doing the same thing, but she still let out a small "Eep" once he started patting her head. Looking up at him didn't really yield any answers, because his No Face May King concealed all but his hair and the wry smile on his exposed chin. "Don't push yourself, little sparrow. A girl like you should live a better life than sacrificing her own needs for a bandit like me."

"Little...sparrow?"

Robin paused at this point, his hand freezing mid-pat before he retracted the arm entirely, hiding it under the No Face May King. "Never mind." His feet flickered out of view. "I'll be—"

Before she could think on it, Vy was grabbing the hem of his cloak, tugging it towards herself with a face. It was probably from the mixed bag of emotions rolling through her stomach. "W-Wait!"

Robin stilled, his mouth opening and closing for a moment. Then, he said in a softer voice, "What is it, Master?"

"I... I don't mind the name, if that's what you're worried about." Vy smiled up at him with as much appreciation and joy she could squeeze out of her tired heart. With an additional tug at his cloak, she said in an equally gentle voice, "It sounds really nice, actually."

"Ah," Archer said, and he stared at her in return. Even if Vy couldn't see his eyes through his hood, he seemed to be analyzing her now. "You're... not letting me go," he stated a second later, his head tilting towards the grip Vy was still keeping on his Noble Phantasm. "Do we have to go farming now?"

"N-Not really, no..." Vy felt a bit embarrassed with the admission, but she still went on with a small clench of the Noble Phantasm cloth and an honest, "But I just wanted to be with you, that's all. Smoke or not. Farming or not."

Silence reigned again.

Robin then said, in the same soft voice, "Even though you'd be better off cutting your losses now? I am a bandit and a thief, little sparrow. I'm no hero."

"You're big Robin," Vy corrected, tugging at his cloak hard enough for him to stumble, and before she could take it back, she was standing on her tip toes to wrap her arms around his neck. She couldn't tell if she had pushed his hood back from the force — hell, she might've been choking him on accident no thanks to their height difference — but she still persisted in hugging him. "My Robin Hood. Bandit or not, thief or not, you're the Robin I summoned. So to me, you're bigger than anyone else."

And I don't mind being your little sparrow, echoed in her heart.

Robin still tensed in her hold, a clear shudder pulsing through his shoulders underneath Vy's grip. "...You know that could be taken in a completely different way, right?"

"Don't care," Vy said loudly, squeezing him a little tighter. "I meant what I said."

Robin fell silent again, but if the hesitant hand on her waist was any indication, he was feeling something.

Vy just wanted to hope he was getting a better hand in life than what the dreams had shown her of his time as a lone hero.

If I could do one thing...

Vy shut her eyes and pressed her cheek against the top of Robin's left shoulder through his cloak, smelling smoke and forest wood all at once.

I wish I could've met you before all this so that I could give you something better. So that you wouldn't have died alone. But, if you're okay with this...

Robin's hand patted the small of her back. "Master?"

"...You're a dork, Archer," Vy said finally.

"What brought this on?"

"Nothing. Just lemme hug you."

Vy didn't even have to see Robin's face to know he was rolling his eyes. "Fineeeee."

Robin still bent his knees a bit so that Vy wasn't struggling to reach his height mid-hug. Vy squeezed him a bit more as her way of expressing thanks.

I'll do my best so that you can be happy here.

-------------------

"YEW BOW!"

Vy watched as Robin Hood's Noble Phantasm went off, incinerating the last Divine Arm of Dawn with plumes of purple smoke. Once the air cleared, she felt herself quietly exhale.

Another farming bit done.

"Battle finished, Senpai," Mash said faithfully, taking her Ortinax goggles off her eyes to rest them on top of her head. The sparkle in her purple eyes was all the more obvious thanks to the action, further accentuating the warm smile on her face. "Embers are all collected."

Vy stretched her arms in the air, standing on her tiptoes while nodding. Standing as a commander of Servants, while doable, still took something in social energy. Even if it was for the experience, it didn't help that wearing an outfit that supposedly came from the Far Side of the Moon felt a bit too exposing. Maybe it was the short skirt and lack of stockings. But then again, Vy couldn't voice it. Too much worry could mean overthinking it to the point of broadcasting to the other Servants. And the last few times that happened were embarrassing enough with Dr. Roman still around. So instead of that, she said, "Aye aye. Thank you for the support, beloved kouhai."

Mash blushed a little at the title, but still nodded with the same warm smile. "I-It's the least I can do, Senpai."

"And I'm always grateful for that, Mash." Vy shot her a smile back once she felt that telling crack in her spine, rocking her head back and forth. To everyone else, she took a breath before opening her mouth. "Good job, everyone!"

Robin Hood, the MVP of the quest this time, shot Vy a wry grin in return, saluting her with one pointer finger. "Getting to fight on the front lines is at least easier now," he quipped. "But give me a break sometimes, Master."

"Oh, shushie, big Robin, you have more energy than me and I'm the workaholic." Once his green eye was boring holes into her forehead, though, Vy amended it with a more kind, less sardonic, "If it helps, I'll give you a chocolate chip muffin later?"

The May King merely grinned. Before he could say anything, though, Ishtar let out a haughty laugh, hovering over Robin's head with Maana as she put a hand to her chin. "How delightfully droll, green Archer! All this work for a muffin! Nonsense! As the Goddess of Love, I could certainly help you with whatever thoughts you have lingering in your mind instead—"

"Sorry, little lady. Compared to my little sparrow's gifts, that offer is going to get a hard pass. Plus, you're not my type."

Ishtar wilted as soon as she bloomed, Maana descending to near ground level as a result. Nearby, Vy could hear Mash laugh sheepishly, adjusting her hold on her shield as the last member of their party made themselves known with a soft sigh at Vy's other side.

The back of a gloved hand brushed Vy's free one, the one that didn't have the Command Spells, and Vy tried not to flinch away at the new sensation. Sure, the being known as Okita Souji Alter was still someone Vy was trying to grasp in emotional understanding. Even when being close to Final Ascension, there was something about Okita's eyes lingering on Vy's form the entire time they went about farming for the Embers Okita needed that was a little... different from the other Servants in Chaldea's roster. And yes, Okita wasn't the first Alter Vy had ever contracted with. Saber Alter had that honor bagged. It didn't make the constant surveillance any less... strange to think about, really.

But Okita had still answered her call when Vy wasn't expecting it. More so after her original self and some others didn't. And considering the Lostbelts and what would come, all Vy could feel herself doing in response to the small touch was reach over and grab Okita's fingers before the Alter Ego could lurch away.

"Majiin-san?"

"Wh-What is it, Master?" Okita Alter said after a second of consideration, her pale yellow — almost silver, really, when looking up close — eyes automatically locking onto Vy as she tilted her head downwards. They were close enough to where Vy could see her own image reflected in Okita's darkened irises. "Is there something wrong?"

"N-No no, nothing really." Vy glanced down at their entangled hands, feeling the thoughts rush through her at that moment. "I just..."

Calloused. Signs of bruises. How long had she been—

Before me, where had she—

Okita Alter's hands reminded her of Archer EMIYA's.

To Vy, Okita Alter's touch felt like Shirou's.

A wind passed between them. Vy wasn't sure if it was from the simulator or her brain making up the sensation.

"...Vy?" Okita whispered.

Anxiety was bubbling up in her throat, but Vy still raised her head and looked up at the taller Alter Ego with what she hoped was a genuine smile. She couldn't help but tug and squeeze the Servant's fingers a bit tighter as she said in a softer voice, "Are you having fun working with us, Okii-san?"

Okita Alter blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Then many times over, as if gears were turning in her head before her eyes widened to the size of plates. "Okii...san?"

"You're the only Okita I ever got to know," Vy said with a shy laugh, doing her best to ignore the eyes of the other Servants while speaking her mind. "So, Okii-san. And, I know you're not at full power yet, but, let me try again..." Vy gulped, finishing with a softer, "Are you happy right now?"

Am I helping you enough like how I did with Shirou, Mash, and big Robin?

Okita Alter stared at Vy for a while. The attention was enough to make Vy tempted to run, to want to let go of Okita's hand and hide her face away, but something inside of her was forcing her to stay still.

Silvery-yellow eyes reflected Vy's image for what felt like a long time before they closed, a soft sigh on Okita's lips.

"Okii-san? Um. Sh-Should I have not gone with that name? Should we go farm a bit more instead? O-Or should I go cook some oden when we—"

Instead of a verbal answer, Okita's long sword had disappeared into visible sparkles, and before Vy knew it, hands were reaching under her elbows, winding around her waist and—

"W-Wah!"

Despite being lifted up in the air and feeling very much like a teddy bear as a result (what was it with Servants either headpatting or hugging her like this?), Vy couldn't miss the warm solemn smile on Okita's face. "O-Okii-san?"

"...My anchor, my lord, my Master," Okita said in slow, gentle succession, her hold on Vy's figure almost considerate as she slowly brought her arms in to let Vy rest her hands on Okita's shoulders. "Why worry about that?" A nose gently brushed hers, sparking a sudden giggle from Vy's lips at the ticklish feeling as Okita smiled again. "Believe me, my shooting star." A shaky breath brushed Vy's cheeks as one of Okita's hands rested on the back of Vy's head, barely missing her ponytail and almost cradling her as their foreheads touched. Something sang through their Master-Servant mental connection.

"Okii-san—?"

"I honestly wish this kind of happiness could go on forever."

...Oh.

It was telling that none of the other Servants were saying anything.

Vy still raised her hands to wrap them around Okita's neck, pushing Okita's forehead back with a bit of force. Not enough to cause pain, but enough for a reminder. "We can just make more, Okii-san," Vy whispered, closing her eyes. "Even when this happiness goes away, we can still make more. Whether it's through memories or spending time together, happiness can happen. As long as we're alive, we can do it."

Once Vy opened her eyes, Okita was already in the process of putting her back down to Earth, that same solemn smile on her face. "Of course, Master."

It felt like another promise Vy knew she had to keep.

-------------------

"Emiya-kun! We need dinner!"

"Sheesh, even when possessed by a goddess, you're still so rude..."

Vy watched from afar as the other Servants slowly filed into the Novum Chaldea Dining Hall for dinner, her back against one of the hallway walls as her mental battery sputtered.

Maybe I should take a break from Ember Gathering for a while—

A soft whish of the air was all the signal she had before the scent of wood and smoke graced her nose. Coincidentally, a gloved hand rested on top of her head as a part of something green shaded half of her vision.

"...Robin?"

"You could go join them," Archer said softly. "You don't have to stay here, Vy."

"...Later." Vy tried to hold back a yawn. When it became obvious Robin Hood was staring holes into her head, though, she quietly amended the situation with a tiny, "When I have more energy, big Robin. Kinda operating on low social battery at the moment."

Plus Okii-san apparently hugs harder than most people, it seems.

The hand on her head patted her hair almost immediately. "Fine fine."

You should let yourself rest more before you try to take care of others, Master.

"Just, um. Big Robin?"

The headpatting stopped for a second. "What is it, little sparrow?"

As much as her heart was protesting at the selfishness of her brain, Vy still found herself admitting, "...Could I just stay with you for a bit? Don't wanna move for a while..."

Silence. Then, Robin Hood said in the most deadpan voice possible, "That sounds like you need a nap more than anything, Vy."

Vy tried not to grumble, ducking her head. She tried not to fidget once Robin's other hand reached up to her ponytail, undoing her hair tie to let all the long locks flow freely. "I know, I know... I love you too, Robin, just, less quip, more hug..."

Robin Hood paused, long enough for Vy to feel something in the air shift between them, before the hand on top of her head tugged her one way, enough for Vy's shoes to scuff the sides of the wall. In spite of the force, all Vy could do was blearily blink as soon as a faint kiss was pressed to her forehead.

Huh? "Robin...?"

"You selfless Master," Robin Hood muttered against the crown of her hair, arms winding around her waist to pull her to his chest. "Rest more for our sakes too, won't you? Killing yourself won't help anyone."

"I-I'm not killing myself when it's helping all of you find better things in life..."

Robin Hood sighed. Another kiss pressed against Vy's head, this time more noticeable to the point of her heart skipping a beat, before the No Face May King covered her shoulders. "Silly Master. Life is more than just giving things up for 'the better.'"

What will happen to us and that 'better' if you're not around to see it?

------------------------

Once the summoning circle had faded, Vy had given her usual bright smile to greet the latest newcomer to Novum Chaldea. Kama, on the other hand, didn’t look all that receptive of the gesture, crossing their arms and tapping their heels against the floor of the Summoning Chamber. Even with a kid’s figure, they still seemed quite petulant. Or could Robin even say that? “So,” Kama said with an air of exasperation, “you actually summoned me. Even after all the trouble I caused you and Ayako?”

“You did cause quite a bit of trouble, yes,” Vy said mildly, shrugging her shoulders. Robin Hood did his best to not stare holes into the back of Vy’s head from the understatement. Still, Vy continued with an equally light, “But if our last fight was any indication, you aren’t beyond becoming a better person. And I did offer you a chance to come here before that battle, so I’m just acting on it.”

“I am a goddess of love, Vy,” Kama spit out through gritted teeth, yet still taking the plate of Embers Vy offered them anyways. “I am beyond the thought process of a mere human.”

With the same smile, Vy said in a soft sing-song tone, “But you still answered my call in a human’s form, didn’t you?”

“…” Kama proceeded to bite into one of the Assassin embers from the plate in their hands with a face.

Vy giggled lightly into one of her hands, rocking herself back and forth on her shoes in the uniform provided by the Far Side of the Moon. “There’s a lot of things here that I think you can find interesting, Kama-san. I don’t know how it will go for you in the future, and you have every right to duck away if this place is not good for you in the end, but for now, just take this new start as a ‘punishment’ and atonement for everything in Ooku. Bad things can’t be left unaddressed.”

“P-Punishment?!” Kama shrieked, now mid-bite of an Assassin Gem.

“To be more specific,” Vy took a small step to the side, letting Ereshkigal and Archer EMIYA walk forward instead. “I think some of my Servants know you and want to say something before I can lead you around.” Kama’s eyes widened once Vy finished with a light but hesitant, “Well, Ere-chan and Shirou were insistent on it.”

“More Eresh than me, but—” Archer EMIYA tried to say with a modestly raised hand.

“Indeed we do, little grape!” Ereshkigal puffed her chest out proudly, hands on her hips and ignoring EMIYA’s quip, just as EMIYA raised one conflicted-looking eyebrow towards both her and Kama in question. “As a fellow goddess, I can lead you around and help Vy start your new course on love! We’re allies now, so we can do that much!”

“Wh-What could you say that I don’t know — HEY! Where are we going?!”

“On a Chaldean tour, of course!”

“Why would I—”

“A new path of life has to start somewhere for you, Kama, doesn’t it?” EMIYA said quietly, interrupting whatever Kama had to say. “And considering you had us become a part of your Ooku earlier, it’s about time we let you become a part of Chaldea.”

“…”

“You can’t stay lost forever, Kama,” EMIYA finished. “It’s about time someone makes you a map to get back to what love should be.”

Robin Hood stayed silent. He knew if he said anything, it might ruin the atmosphere his little sparrow made. Thus, he passively watched as Ereshkigal proceeded to grab Kama’s hand and start leading them out of the room, EMIYA following behind the two gods with a shrug of his shoulders. The fact that Kama was barely protesting at this point was still strange for him to process.

But there was still one last thing to do. Once the new trio had gone through the sliding doors of the Summoning Chamber to exit into the hallway, Robin raised his arms in Vy’s direction.

As much as he didn’t like how it came about, he nonetheless expected Vy’s sudden collapse into his arms. Almost like a switch had been turned off with Kama’s absence, she had stumbled and then flopped back against his chest, her straight brown hair looking a bit more frazzled now with the physical contact. It was telling of Vy’s physical state with how she sighed and raised one hand to clutch at the front of his tunic. “Th-Thankie for the trust-fall-save, big Robin,” Vy said after a moment, exhaling slowly as he lowered her to a sitting position. “I kinda wish the Summoning didn’t take that long.”

“You and me both, little sparrow,” Robin said in a softer voice, buckling down on the urge to do more for the girl resting against him. She’s barely conscious now. So— “Why did you go so far for Kama, anyways?”

You do remember she — no, they — tried to turn me into a giant skeleton, right?

Vy giggled again, a bit weaker this time, as she turned her head and nuzzled the crook of space between his shoulder and neck. “…They reminded me of you.”

“Huh?”

“Back when you were summoned, big Robin,” Vy elaborated with a breath and a tighter grip on his tunic, “you said that you were a coward and a bandit no good Master should ally themselves with. That when the time came and you revealed all your tricks, I should’ve cut ties with you. But I didn’t. Still won’t.”

Robin raised one arm from Vy’s figure to gently rest his palm against the top of her hair. “How does that exactly—”

Vy raised her head from his shoulder to pout. “Just let me finish, please?”

Robin fell silent in response. He couldn’t tell if it was out of respect or clamping down on the sudden urge to kiss her.

Vy smiled up at him again, looking softer and kinder in spite of the dark eyebags on her face. “Thankie. But back to what I was saying. When Kama was fighting us, in the end…” Vy shrugged her shoulders, using her other hand to hug Robin’s waist and lean further into him. “They reminded me of you. And Mash. Because, when it comes down to it,” Vy’s hand on her waist drew a small circle through the cloth of his tunic, a small sigh on her lips again, “you all were hurt. You all dealt with things I still struggle with understanding at times. You all expected rejection. So, it felt like if I rejected Kama just because they had hurt me and everyone else at Chaldea, it felt like I’d be rejecting you and Mash.” Vy’s legs curled up against Robin’s sides as she shrank into his embrace, closing her eyes. “And I love you and Mash too much to ever do that.” Vy exhaled shakily, shaking her head. “I-I could never give up on you two. The least I could do—” Especially since I was hurt in the past too, once upon a time, “was to just give Kama a chance.”

More so since I feel like I can’t give it to myself.

Robin Hood inwardly wanted to sigh. This little sparrow of his. How selfless could she get?

Instead of voicing his discontent aloud, he let go of his heart, just a bit, to press a warm kiss to Vy’s exposed forehead. “…Just don’t risk yourself like this again. I can still feel the mana drain from you, little sparrow.”

“I’ll…” Vy yawned, her eyelids drooping. “I’ll do my best…”

Robin pulled off the No Face May King to cover Vy’s figure with it, leaving just her head exposed for all to see. “You better.”

“Aye…”

-----------------------

It was a day from before the Lostbelts, before the Foreign God had bleached the world. Back then, the scent of melting chocolate wafted through the air as Vy put on her oven mitts. Opening the oven door greeted her with the muffins fully puffed up and all golden to the touch.

"It's done," Vy whispered to herself, taking the muffin pan out to place on a nearby counter. "Now to turn off the oven and clean up the dishes—"

"Or you could go take a nap? You've been standing up straight for...what, 3 hours now?"

In Vy's defense, she couldn't help the startled scream. Hindsight was 20/20, or so they said. "AHHH!"

Still, something in the kitchen rang in the back of her ears because a green-sleeved hand immediately came into her line of vision to wrap around her waist from behind, squeezing her in an attempt to prevent flailing. "Oops," Robin Hood said as a flickering noise echoed in the area. How long was he there? "If this is the reaction I'm getting, that means no surprises for the little Master in the future. Dully noted."

"Th-Thankie for the save, Robin," Vy puffed while trying to hold down a pout, "but what's with the 'little'?!"

"You're short," Robin said in lieu of an explanation, and Vy could feel a hand reach up to pat her head. "And cute."

"C-Cute?" That was new.

But as soon as Vy repeated the word, Robin had retracted his hands from her person, raising them up in the air in what looked like surrender. The fact that his face was turned away from her when she turned back and looked up at him didn't really give any more details. The fact that he was pink in the cheeks was a bit confusing, though. "Don't worry about it," he added after a moment. "But what are you doing here, Master?"

Vy felt a pout forming at the time from the abrupt subject change, but still dropped any curiosity in favor of answering. "Baking."

Robin glanced towards the still cooling muffins before turning back to her with a toss of his head, crossing his arms. "For?"

"The Servants?" Vy said with a raised pointer finger. Even with the smallest fragment of shyness coming into her voice, she finished with a tinier, "You?"

Robin Hood stumbled in that moment, his hood falling off his head with the motion, just as his visible green eye went wide at her. "V-Vy..." he stammered, blinking rapidly at her. "You know us Servants don't need sustenance, right?"

"I know," Vy said petulantly, holding back the urge to stomp her boot against the floor. "But I wanted to bake something for you anyways! You've been a big help with the Singularities and farming!"

Robin inhaled a deep breath through his nose, exhaling it in a sigh before he walked back over to press a hand to her head again. His fingers lingered on her hair as he patted it. "...Still, humor me, Master. Could a bandit like me get a reason as to why a maiden like you is going so far?"

Vy knew, even back then, that she meant her answer.

"Because even if you see yourself as a bandit and a nuisance, I like you, big Robin. I want to stay with you."

The headpatting stopped. Robin's visible eye widened again, and before he could say anything, Vy reached up with both her hands, oven mitts and all, to grab his hand and squeeze it. She could already guess, even back then, he was thinking of disappearing again. Not this time.

"I think as a Master and as a person, I decide who I'd like to be with. And I'd like to be with you, Robin Hood. I like you. So if that means I have to bake muffins just for a man who can't see all the good in him to start seeing things differently, then so be it."

Robin Hood opened his mouth. Nothing came out of it. If anything, the shock alone was visible on his face.

Vy felt herself sigh, just a bit, before opening her mouth too. "Could you bend over a bit?"

"Wha—" Robin blinked at her again, his voice then resurging with a louder, "Huh?"

"Please bend over a little bit, Archer," Vy reiterated. "Please?"

Robin Hood closed his visible eye, using his free hand to rub the back of his neck, before leaning over. Once he was close enough for Vy to feel his breath on her head from some of the height difference being closed, he whispered, "What are you doing, little sparrow?"

"Giving you affection," was all Vy said before she stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck. "Because everyone deserves it sometimes. You especially."

It hurts to see someone I care about not care about himself.

But even when in the middle of a hug, Robin Hood didn't respond immediately. He was particularly stiff and almost like a tree when Vy had embraced him, but a hand had still tellingly wrapped around her waist to squeeze back. It took only a minute for the hold to solidify like a vine, or maybe even a strong tree branch. "...You really are a little sparrow, Master."

"Just yours. No one else's," Vy whispered into his ear. After all, it felt weird hearing the nickname come from any other Servant. "So, are you up for taste-testing chocolate-chip muffins?"

"How can I say no to a pretty lady?"