"Well, is this location satisfying for you, Saber?"
"Y-Yeah, it's fine..."
Saber said as she stopped and looked at him in the eyes, as uncertainty coloured her face together with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Archer, I wanted to tell you-"
"Hold on a second."
Gilgamesh turned around and he brushed his teeth, put on 10 different perfumes, ate dozens of mints and gums, and straightened out his outfit.
"Ok, I'm ready."
"The smell is so overpowering... it's like he's smelling so good that he's actually smelling bad..."
Artoria took a deep breath and clenched her hands slightly.
"When we first met, I told you that you were scum and that you'll always be scum."
"I remember that clearly."
"And then we went through a lot, and although I do stand by my first statement, the last part may have been exaggerated. You've shown me several times that you can have the potential and inclination for good, for selflessness, and for being a hero. You did put your life on the line for me, after all, even though you didn't know whether you would survive or not."
"Well, clearly, my d-"
"Let me finish! This is hard enough for me to admit! Anyway, your younger and older self, and even your alternate self, showed me that perhaps I was blinded by my rage (which was totally justified, but I digress), and I didn't see your side of the story. I didn't understand you and your problems. I did what everyone else does and what pains you the most: I misunderstood you."
"You're too kind, Saber, you don't have to ap-"
"I am apologising, because I thought of myself as superior to you, and though that may be right, it was not the right approach for me, and you yourself showed me that. You were able to swallow your pride for the greater good, for our good, and you prioritise us and our trust over yourself. And so, I must do the same, and not let my arrogance sway me away from admitting I was wrong."
"About what?"
"About you. You're not a one dimensional cartoony villain. You're a person, just like me, and therefore, you are complex and have many shades. And after seeing all your shades and the direction you have chosen for yourself, now that I see the full picture, I don't mind what I see in that picture. As annoying and infuriating and downright evil you can be, you are someone who has decided, willingly or unwillingly, to change for the better, and I can't help but admire that. You're not someone I wake up and immediately want to murder every day.
You are my companion, a person who cares for me and my well-being, and the same goes for me. You don't deserve to be alone. Like everyone else, you deserve love and friends and people who can support you and that you can trust. So that's what I wanted to tell you, Gilgamesh.
I'm sorry I didn't understand you. You don't have to be alone anymore. I won't let you be alone anymore."
"Artoria..."
"With that said, I can never be in a romantic relationship with you."
"..."
"..."
"... huh? Why?!"
"You... are just not my type."
"W-What?"
"Yeah, you know...I just don't like you that way. No further reason."
"N-No further reason? B-But you just said we have compatible personalities... is something wrong with my appearance?"
"You're stretching my words a bit... no, no, I think your appearance's fine, I mean, I can admit that you're an attractive man, I'm not blind..."
"So what's wrong with me?"
"Nothing's wrong with you, Gilgamesh. It's just... you know when you look at someone and you immediately fall for them and feel like you're compatible with them?"
"I mean... I guess..."
"Or maybe you've felt the opposite of it, an instant sense of repulsion that in your mind signaled that you could never be with that person romantically."
"... I guess I never really had any interest in Siduri... well, I was a kid when I met her... and also that stupid and foolish Goddess..."
"Well, to put it short, you're just someone for who I didn't fall for and I can't really see myself ever being with you, regardless of your growth. It's just you know... love instincts, I guess..."
"L-Love... instincts..."
"However, and I want you to listen to this part very well, you shouldn't let this discourage you, Gilgamesh. You're heading into the right direction, and I'm more than willing to support you as your companion... and friend."
"That would be great, Artoria... b-but can you satisfy my curiosity?"
"Sure."
"What's exactly is your type?"
"M-My type?"
"Yes."
"W-Well... excluding personality... I guess I like redheads-"
"I knew it! You're in love with that mongrel boy from the Holy Grail War!"
"W-What are you talking about... wait, you mean Shirou?!"
"Of course I mean that Faker!"
"Are you out of your mind?! HE'S A TEEN AND I'M A GROWN WOMAN! THAT'S DISGUSTING!"
"W-Wait, really?!"
"YES! Ew, what kind of sick thoughts do you have... do you think so lowly of me?"
"No, you're right. I'm sorry, I let my disappointment blind me. I'm sorry, Artoria."
"... I'm sorry to disappoint you, Gilgamesh, but I can't lie to myself and you and play pretend. And I figured that letting you play pretend would have been dishonest in your regard. I'm sorry, maybe it would have been better if I kept it for myself-"
"No, no. You did the right move and I thank you for your honesty. And I truly appreciate your kind words, Artoria. Don't mistake my disappointment in the reality of things with disappointment in you. You've been a good companion and have given me more than I deserve, considering what I did to you and to people you cared about. I'm happy we're both in a place where our company is productive and enjoyable for the both of us.
I would love for you to be my companion during this journey."
Gilgamesh concluded with a faint smile as he put out his hand. Artoria looked at it and then ignored it, going straight for a hug. Gilgamesh gasped in surprise as he momentarily turned into a carrot.
"Thank you, Gil."
"... N-No, thank you, Artoria."
They both returned to the others as they were about to have lunch.
"Although I'm happy with the result, it's strange... he took it pretty well, almost too well..."
Later on, that night...
Saber rubbed her eyes as she walked around the hallways like a ghost, as she searched for the nearest bathroom. She suddenly heard strange whispers coming from a nearby door. Upon closer inspection, she realised it was the man's bathroom.
She put her ear against the door and listened.
"Come on... why doesn't it stick... this shade is too dark... that's not even the right colour..."
Eventually, Artoria decided to open the door. The bathroom was completely dark, apart from a couple of candles that barely illuminated the space near the sink. And against the sink, something was moving. Artoria couldn't really make out what it was, but its grumbling sounded familiar.
Reaching for the light switch, Artoria pressed it and looked at the figure that emerged from the shadows. Gilgamesh stood there, his chest naked, as he stared at the mirror while applying some kind of liquid to his hair, which by now was half red. There was a very loud moment of silence.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Good m-"
Saber closed the door shut and went back to bed, forgetting why she had gotten up in the first place.
The next day...
Gilgamesh set down on a couch, staring blankly at nothingness.
The Alter group stared at him.
"So... what do you think his deal is?"
"Well, he's been completely unresponsive... I'd say he's been rejected."
"Yeah, the other you is also quiet... well, should we do something about it?"
"I'm interested in if he is actually going to move or not."
Meanwhile, while his body was still, Gilgamesh's mind was racing.
"So Artoria really rejected me... it's strange... I don't... I don't really know how to feel... I've never been defied like this... I guess that's the whole reason I have been interested in her... I always got what I wanted, one way or another, but she was the first to stand up to me and oppose me. I liked this challenge, because ultimately, I figured I would obtain her anyway... but alas, some things are beautiful because you can't obtain them, that's something I had already figured out, and yet... I feel empty.
Maybe... it wasn't really Saber I was looking for... maybe, she represented my desire... my wish to have someone by my side... she told me I don't have to be alone anymore... what nonsense... as if I'd ever care about companionship... and yet, in that moment, I felt a weird sensation... if I didn't know myself... I'd say it was hope... hope that I had found someone that could stay by my side... someone that treated me... differently... and that I could... treat differently... an equal...
Ugh, this is the worst... my head is full with mongrel thoughts... and I can't even explain them... I can't even imagine it... me being with someone, loving them... feeling a need to protect them... to risk my life for them... how revolting... yeah, it's really revolting... I can't even picture it in my mind... and... honestly, that's kind of depressing... maybe... I'm tired of this... maybe... just maybe... love wouldn't be so bad."
Gilgamesh's mind was so focused that he didn't even notice Nero had sat down next to him.
"Hey there, Goldie."
"..."
"Goldie... Goldie~"
"..."
"Did you get rejected by Arty?"
"... yes."
"I see. I'm really sorry about that."
"... thanks."
"Well, listen, I have this idea in mind..."
"... ask away."
"Would you like me to be with you instead?"
"... sure."
"I'm glad."
"..."
"..."
"... wait... What did you say?!"