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“King of Knights. Acknowledge me.” The crazed yet calm voice echoed down the hallway, tearing Artoria’s attention away from her discussion with Bedivere. Turning the corner was the source of the voice; the humanoid mass of leather wings, sharp claws and tattooed flesh. Its face though human was exaggerated with huge, unfocused eyes, a wide frowning maw showing its sharp teeth, and the extravagant headpiece in the icon of a bat. Artoria knew who this was by reputation alone- Camazotz, the Spider-killing Bat of the Underworld, the Last Human of Nahui Mitclan, the Mad Beast that defeated ORT. And just recently, a contracted Servant of the Chaldea Security Organisation.
Chaldea was no stranger to befriending former enemies. Artoria had bit her tongue on the subject before- the fate of all of human existence is at stake after all, so taking help wherever offered only makes sense. However there is something about summoning beings who originated in Lostbelts -former Beasts no less- that itches Artoria the wrong way. And yes, her half-sister being part of that category does bias her opinion on the matter. With good reason. Regardless, Artoria pushes the unease down. Right now she is a tool for humanity, personal feelings like this should be kept private. She will simply have to 'play nice' with the being.
The Bat-God approaches the two knights, so she turns to him in order to give him a polite and proper greeting. A meeting between Kings, no matter how farcical, is an act she is used to performing. Feet together, back straight, direct eye contact, neutral-yet-fierce expression. “Lord Camazotz. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
In contrast, the bat crawled straight up to her, only standing to its full height inches away from her, his face leering over hers with eyes focused into a glare. “Explain yourself, King of Knights. Is appearance and attitude so easily discarded by those of your world?”
His words make no sense. Insane Servants aren’t something new to Chaldea, so Artoria was used to dealing with the like. Refute what they claim, but do not escalate to their level. “I do not know what you’re talking about, Lostbelt King.”
“...so you feign ignorance, then. Very well. Very Well!!!” Camazotz erupts into sudden laughter, tilting his head back to let his howls reverberate. “To play and change one’s form is the divine right of mortals!!”
Artoria suppresses the urge to visibly cringe. Was this… a good reaction? This tall, enigmatic creature’s tone was unreadable. All the more confusing was how the bat bent their head down to the King’s level and slid over her shoulder to glare at Bedivere. Artoria tried to voice her shock to his actions, but the sudden intimacy of his position made her throat tighten up. Her face was now pushed snugly into the crane of his neck, the heat of their body radiating onto her face, their head resting on her shoulder softly like a dog when it hugs you. Paralysed in embarrassment, the King was only able to let out a quiet, muffled squeal.
Despite his bizarre embrace of the king, Camazotz’s attention was instead firmly on the one-armed knight who had been ignored this whole conversation. Dilated eyes discerned him down to the soul. He felt naked, all of his thoughts, feelings, insecurities were bare under the eyes of the Bat God. Despite wanting to speak out against the disrespect to his King, poor Bedivere was pinned to the spot by the menacing aura. Fortunately, the whims of the mad king spared him, as Camazotz broke eye contact and broke into laughter. “Kyahahahaha!! Good! Very good! I see you to be a worthy warrior, deserving to be in my consort’s little court!!”
The supposed praise, naturally, did not reassure either knight of the Round Table. Fortunately, it was enough to move Artoria out of her frozen shock and into action. She dramatically jumped back, her arms raised in some exaggerated battle pose that did little to either be useful in a fight or distract anyone from the intense blush on her face. “F-Fiend! Drivellous cur!! What is the meaning of this?!”
Unphased and unamused, the bat god tilted its head at the king. “You’re the one acting bizarre today. Something is occupying your mind today?”
Artoria’s look became more intimidating, summoning her Invisible Sword to point it at the bat’s throat. “Stop trying to confuse me! Now get out of my sight, or else I will be forced to make you leave!”
Less threatened by her display than they were frustrated, Camazotz narrowed their eyes. “A madness has indeed overcome you. I would offer counsel, but I feel that you would turn violent.” Artoria nods aggressively at the first sentence he said that she could comprehend. “Very well, I shall make myself scarce for a time. However! I still demand a tithe for the day.”
A tithe? Artoria wanted to question them further, but Camazotz immediately made themself clear. They approached Artoria again, faces suddenly only a foot apart, they raise their hand to cup the King’s cheek, and pull them into a kiss. It’s soft and warm. More gentle and welcoming than Artoria could have imagined. It caused a pang deep inside her heart, in a place she thought she sealed off long long ago.
And then it was over, all too soon. Still in the middle of a floating daze, she opened her eyes just to see the bat god glide out of her field of view. He wordlessly passed by the bewildered Bedivere and disappeared down a hallway, leaving the two in an awkward silence. Mouth agape, Bedivere struggled to say something to comfort his King. Before he could do anything, Artoria held up her hand at him in an attempt to hide her crimson face. Stuttering something incomprehensible, she tripped backwards before clambering back to her feet and running away sporadically.
Arthur sat down in the relatively empty cafeteria with his humble dinner. Tamamo Cat’s omelette rice is a pleasure he didn’t think he’d come to appreciate as much as he does. In his never ending quest to hunt down Beast VI, he thought earthly pleasures were something he parted with forever. But while he devotes his service to Chaldea, he has found himself reuniting with the things that make him feel like a normal human.
He was looking forward to the homely meals the Red Archer and Tamamo Cat cook up each day, he was enjoying the bizarre back-and-forth arguments that form his friendship with Duryodhana, he enjoys helping Murasaki in wrangling the chaotic few servants she attempts to have a book club with. He even enjoys attending with them.
And of course, he’s fallen in love. He wasn’t looking for it, wasn’t relying on it, certainly didn’t believe that he would be the one he fell for, but somehow the feelings crept into his heart. Camazotz’s eccentricities grew from something to be cautious of to another quirk of his to love. Although today’s one, seemingly by design, is leaving Arthur feeling a bit lonelier than usual: Having seen nothing of the bat god all day, he now was painfully aware of its presence only a few feet away, crouched behind a nearby corner and staring at him. Arthur ignored it for a few minutes, but after no change in their demeanor he figured they must instead be waiting to be acknowledged. “Would you like to join me, Camazo-”
Instantly, Arthur was tackled to the ground by the mess of wings and tendrils, with the bat god’s face nuzzling into his own while laughing delightedly. “Kya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! So at last you give in to temptation!! Very well, I shall grant you an embrace!!”
Laughing back, Arthur held his lover tightly, only just realising how lonely his day has been without him. He savored their warmth, their texture, even their grading voice before deciding to speak up to them. “Where were you all day? I missed you.”
Camazotz stopped his show of cat-like affection to instead stare directly into Arthur’s face with his wide, blank eyes. “You were the one who demanded my absence today. Some sort of playful trick of your own. Not that I hold any resentment or anything.” The small pout on his face betrayed that he did hold a tiny bit of resentment.
“I told you to leave men alone? But…” Arthur tilted his head. “But I don’t even remember seeing you today…”