"Dragging me back here AGAIN, Teacher?" Cu bemoaned as Scathach led him down the beach away from the group. "You just never let me catch a break, do you?"
The Lancers departed for where they've been before after night fell. The beach had its own serene atmosphere at night when the sun was replaced by the moon; bright and quiet with the stars and moonlight reflecting off the water. Cu in his trunks and Hawaiian shirt was being pulled along by Scathach still in her swimsuit and a sarong around her waist.
"Calm down, Setanta," Scathach said curtly. "This isn't what you think… besides, the others aren't around; you can call me by my name now…"
Cu rolled his eyes. With his mentor's grip on his arm tight as a vice, there was no way out of whatever nightmare training scenario Scathach imagined for him. One would never think that with a one sided-dynamic like this that the two were actually in a relationship; which was by design at Scathach's insistence.
"You're the one who insisted on keeping us a secret, Scathach. Not like this is news to the Masters, I don't get the big deal of-"
"We've been over this…" Scathach cut him off calmly, being well accustomed to how immature Cu could be sometimes. "You and I have an image to uphold, and the other Servants keep looking at me like I'm your mother for some reason…"
"Aren't you?" Cu joked, and Scathach gave him an unamused look.
"Funny… anyways, I still need your help for something. Don't worry, I'm done training you for the day…"
Cu narrowed his eyes with suspicion. In truth, he could never bring himself to disappoint Scathach by refusing her exercises. He knew that with the Queen of Shadows being the one who taught him to be a mighty warrior that she developed a need to keep him in sharp, fighting form even as a Heroic Spirit. Scathach made it a bit of a habit of hers since she and Cu started to take this relationship… further.
Even with her good intentions, Cu would be a liar if he never thought Scathach got a kick out of watching her student struggle and put through the wringer.
"Somehow I don't believe you," the Hound of Ulster retorted evenly. There was just no telling of Scathach's true intentions. "I know how much you just love working me to the bone; I swear to Gods above, if you have me lugging a mountain on my back while on stilts, I am absolutely going to lose my-"
Suddenly, Scathach stopped pulling Cu and released her grip on him. Wondering what had gotten into her, the Blue Lancer found himself stumped when they returned to where Scathach had him running and bringing piles of materials earlier… only to find a hut in its place. The little beach house was standing several feet off the ground, situated quite close to the water while being supported by columns and crossbeams. The walls were made of wood and the roof was made of densely packed reeds. It even had a balcony and hammock right by the front door. The hut looked pretty quaint…
"Where did this come from?"
Scathach simply put her hands on her hips and smiled.
"Haven't you wondered why I had you gathering those supplies earlier?" she asked cryptically. "Your workout for the day wasn't for nothing, Setanta."
Cu blinked at her. It was evident that Scathach had been planning this well before today.
"A beach-side villa… But when-?"
He stops when Scathach calmly raised her hand to interrupt him. She then went on to say:
"I assembled it with rune magic while you took the Masters fishing. I convinced Da Vinci to let me put one here away from the more crowded area of the beach."
Cu raised a curious eyebrow.
"What for?"
Scathach just giggled.
"You'll see…" she replied very suggestively before showing Cu the details of her creation. "Do you see how I've designed it? I raised it off the sand in case the tide rolls in, with it being close to the water and all. The occupants can just immediately go from resting on the balcony to taking a dip."
"That's thoughtful…" Cu remarked, impressed so far with what Scathach had arranged so far. She shot him another smile and motioned for Cu to follow her.
"Not even the best part. Come…"
Cu watched as Scathach walked up the small flight of stairs to the balcony, noting the slight sway of her hips as she ascended. Following her, Cu was then shown through the front door by Scathach, and walking inside, she closed the door behind them.
"One room, and one bed…" she said, and Cu could see this singular room with a wood floor and white satin curtains obscuring what Cu was sure was a bed big enough for two people, coupled with incense and dim candlelight, the hut gave an intimate atmosphere.
"Scathach…" Cu lets out, curbing his growing excitement. "If I am assessing all of this correctly, and I think I am… then this hut-"
Cu's hunch was spot-on as Scathach was way ahead of him.
"Is what I hope will be the start of an "Adults-only" side of the beach," the bikini-clad Lancer revealed. "Two Servants can reserve this one section of beach for the day and together have some… fun."
"What kind of fun?" Cu asks rhetorically, knowing the answer already but wanted to hear it from Scathach. As usual, she was being seductively cryptic; a far cry from the normally stoic warrior queen and teacher.
"That's why you're here," Scathach said, slowly closing the distance between her and Cu. "I need to make sure this hut is sturdy enough to handle the… "vigor" of two Servants, so I needed a willing volunteer."
She then wrapped her arms around Cu's shoulders, and his hands instinctively found Scathach's magnificent thighs. She leans in and whispers in Cu's ear:
"I haven't yet rewarded you for all your hard work today…"
Cu had to try his hardest to not get carried away by Scathach's advance, despite his heart hammering in his chest at the Scottish beauty this close and emanating the intoxicating scent of lavender. Then he remembered what she had said to him earlier before he tried lifting Excalibur, wondering if she was indeed serious about going through with… this.
"Are you sure? But what about the whole thing about- mmph…"
Scathach silenced him by kissing Cu on the mouth. When she pulled away, Scathach went on to tell him:
"You really think I care about you failing to lift a sword? I once got a good enough look at Excalibur to know it doesn't just lend itself to anyone. Only someone of Arturia's resolve and character can use it."
Scathach then proceeded to unbutton Cu's shirt, going tantalizingly slow…
"Not to say yours needs any work, big boy…" she remarked, making Cu pay little heed to that silly game. Scathach already found him worthy as her protégé, trusted ally, and lover…
"You sure could've fooled me," Cu said lightheartedly. "I guess you just couldn't wait to get me alone?"
Then his face fell…
"It was that lonely in the Land of Shadows, huh?"
Scathach suddenly stopped, but did not meet Cu Chulainn in the eye. He was worried that he somehow made her angry, but saw instead that Scathach appeared sad. Cu was silently kicking himself for letting those words slip from mouth, remembering that Scathach was usually never this open with him. As an immortal, any relationship Scathach would form with other people just ended up with her watching them slowly die, either in battle or in old age. This resulted in Scathach wishing she too could one day die, albeit in a way of her choosing. Being the powerful Guardian of the Land of Shadows, Scathach wanted her end to be facing an opponent strong enough to overpower, that way she could test her skills to the fullest and have no regrets should she lose.
When Cu discovered this side of Scathach while he was training under her tutelage, he did not want to abandon her. Scathach's immortality and power kept her confined to the Land of Shadows; such a tragic fate. She trained Cu for years hoping one day he would be the one to free Scathach from her miserable existence, offering her spear, Gae Bolg as prize: a terrifying weapon capable of killing beings as powerful as Scathach herself.
The catch was… he had to kill her…
And Cu could not bring himself to do it… her death would destroy him…
Their duel was fought to a draw, and Scathach fell to the lowest point she has ever been. That was when they…
But the following morning, Scathach was distraught, cursing Cu for not killing her when he had the chance. She had been alone for so long that the thought of opening her heart to a mortal like him… it terrified her. So she pushed him away… insisting he take her spear and return to fight for Ulster. Cu was so offended that when he left Scathach's domain, he refused to look back…
Only later for Cu as a Heroic Spirit would discover… Scathach deeply regretted letting him go, a decision that would have haunted her had it not been for-
Cu stopped himself from thinking about it too much. Still, he wanted to cheer her up.
"I never got the chance to say I'm sorry for leaving the way I did…" he lets out, and it made Scathach finally look at him, somberly.
"I guess I made you do it…" she regretfully said. "My life has always been in your hands, Setanta, but you wanted me to hang on to it; hold out for the days when my cursed existence would grant me happiness no matter if I would outlast it."
She then manages a weak smile as her hands snaked under Cu's shirt.
"Now my lifespan is no longer infinite. As a Servant, I want to make the most of the time I was given here. Fighting worthy opponents or making memories with my friends. And…"
In one fell swoop, Scathach threw the brightly colored shirt off Cu's honed warrior body.
"Making up for lost time…"
Scathach then pressed herself against Cu's mid-section, and the Blue Lancer started feeling better about what he said to her moments ago.
"I always feel guilty making you wait…" Cu said as his fingers found the hem of Scathach's bikini-bottom, slipping beneath the fabric making Scathach shiver and giggle with excitement. The duo turn as Scathach reaches for the curtain obscuring the bed, pulling it aside blindly as she leaned forward to kiss Cu again. Their moment was approaching…
"Then let's not waste anymore-"
"Cu-chan! My darling!"
The couple froze and broke apart at the intrusion of a new voice. They turned and saw the white-adorned bed already had an occupant. The woman was short, had long rose-colored hair and was wearing a dark-pink bikini. She looked over the moon to see the Blue Lancer, much to his shock as her presence was completely unexpected.
"Eh?! Medb?" Cu exclaimed, as before him and Scathach was indeed the overtly vain, man-handling Rider-class Servant that was Queen Medb of Connacht. She had been summoned by Gudao and Gabrielle not too long ago, having already encountered her in a previous singularity and was overly obsessive of Cu Chulainn, just as she was in life when the Hound defeated her champions one-by-one. Medb's reputation did not elude Scathach's notice, as the Violet Lancer could tell from the first time she met the unscrupulous and lewd Irish queen that they had no chance of ever getting along…
Especially when Medb would steal jealous glances at Scathach whenever she was within ten feet of Cu Chulainn.
Scathach let out a groan of annoyance as Medb sat there on the bed she prepared for herself and Cu and crossed her arms as the Rider spread hers out longingly for the Blue Lancer.
"I haven't seen you all day, Cu! So this is where the Scottish prude was keeping you!"
"EXCUSE me?" Scathach spat, making Medb turn to her, seemingly undeterred by her standing beside Cu Chulainn.
"I must say," the Rider said to Scathach. "Making a little hubby for yourself to steal Cu-chan from me, quite shameless of you wannabe queen. Very clever, but you can't keep my dear Hound of Ulster from me. I'm commandeering this love nest!"
Scathach took offense to being called a wannabe queen, meanwhile Cu Chulainn was beyond annoyed with the Rider who chased him in life and here in Chaldea.
"Can you not take a hint, woman?!" he lambasted Medb. "If me defeating all your champions one-v-one did not convince you I'm NOT INTERESTED, then do I have to beat it through that thick, depraved head of yours?!"
Cu quickly corrected himself after seeing Medb swoon at his words.
"Nevermind, you'd probably like that…"
"You sure know how to pick 'em, Setanta…" Scathach remarked, not pleased that her moment with him got ruined by the Rider's intrusion. Cu turns to her and insists:
"It's not my fault! This lass is deplorable!"
Medb swooned even more hearing those words come out of Cu, and she brought her hands up to her cheeks and swooned even more.
"Oh Cu! Your defiance turns me on so much! I don't care if you were once my enemy, you're the only man for me!"
"So says the skank who could not go a day without a man to turn her into a sodding mess…" Scathach shot at the offending intruder. Medb just smiled wickedly.
"Oh I can settle for a few ladies too… I for one would enjoy having you under my foot, fake queen. You honestly think you have anything on me when it comes to pleasing men?"
"Clearly, Medb," Cu began to remark. "You never heard of teacher's whole "Friendship of the Thighs" schtick…"
This went unheard as Scathach shot back at Medb with:
"Pleasing men? You treat them like playthings for your amusement!"
Medb stood up on the bed and proudly put her hands on her hips.
"That's what they all want!" Medb boasted. "It's only fair that a woman with the chops to reduce them to submissive pets deliver them the pleasure and privilege of a night of passion with yours truly! What do you think men want from a woman? Compassion? Empathy? How naïve! Men are animals and need to be treated as such!"
"How disgusting," Scathach said with growing disdain. She never wanted any trouble with the Irish queen as long as she kept to herself, but Medb was now getting on the Lancer's nerves with how depraved she was. "To think that a dignified queen of Connacht would be little more than a whore… Have you no shame?!"
Medb snickered, leaning forward to answer Scathach's words with:
"Like you get no gratification from putting Cu-chan here through rigorous training?"
"-!" Scathach stiffened, shocked into silence. Seeing this, Cu tries to defuse the skyrocketing tension between the two female Servants. It was not for Scathach's sake, but rather for Medb lest she-
"Medb, I'd stop before you-"
"I'm just getting started!" Medb interrupted. "After I'm done putting this bitch in her place, you are I are going to ditch this shabby abode for my chariot! A much more appropriate place for some spicy romance, don't you think?"
Glancing back at Scathach, Cu saw that her head was cast down, and her fist was shaking angrily.
"Oh, you've done it now…" Cu warned Medb, taking one- two cautious step away from Scathach. The Queen of Shadows was normally very composed, but even Scathach had boundaries, and if Medb did not let up…
Medb chuckled, feeling victorious against the queen she saw as a love-rival.
"I've misjudged you a bit, Scathach. You're more depraved than you'd care to admit. As if watching Cu here struggle didn't excite you enough, you are involved with him romantically, and yet you're his mentor! How scandalous! Not quite up to my level, but I never thought anyone would come close… least of all an immortal, old hag from the filthy corners of Scot-"
"BEGONE THOT!"
(CRASH!)
Medb was cut off as she suddenly got kicked and catapulted upwards tearing a hole in the roof of the hut. Cu was shocked at what his teacher had just done; Scathach had launched Medb skyward, sailing over towards the water as the Rider eventually fell back to Earth.
"WaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH-!"
(SPLASH)
Cu rushed outside, leaving a seething Scathach standing there with her leg raised. Thankfully, Medb was still conscious and escaped "serious" injury by landing just a ways offshore. The Rider will not be returning to antagonize Scathach again anytime soon.
"Well, I tried to warn her…" Cu remarked before returning inside to check on Scathach. The Blue Lancer found her standing there breathing heavily. "Are you alright?"
Scathach did not respond at first, making Cu worry that Medb's words had really gotten to her. He waited for a reply, and eventually Scathach composed herself.
"My apologies, Setanta. I've gotten carried away," she said shamefully before making her disdain for the offending Rider known. "That woman… definitely had one too many blocks of cheese hit her head. There's no amount of education that will fix crazy…"
Cu was feeling a little bit relieved as he then attempted to lighten the air.
"Funny… because from what I learned, that's exactly how Medb died in life. I don't know if it's better to die a horrible death… or a lame one."
Slowly, Scathach turned to face Cu, appearing ashamed of herself.
"Setanta… sorry for spoiling the mood. This was not how I wanted our beach day to end. I don't think the Masters will take kindly for how a reacted to Medb's gloating. That was no way for a queen to act. Now my villa is ruined…"
"It's alright, Scathach…" Cu said assuredly. "I think the Masters would see that Medb had it coming. It's not just me she's obsessed with. Not even Astolfo is safe from her."
Scathach looks up at Cu, managing a weak smile as he continued, rubbing the back of his head.
"As for the hut, I appreciate the thought… even if you made me do most of the work making it happen."
Cu then saw Scathach tuck a strand of her violet hair behind one ear, and it was clear there was something the warrior queen wanted to say.
"I guess there is some truth to Medb's words," she considered. "As your teacher, I love it when you push yourself to tackle the challenges you're presented with. Whether you succeed or not, it pleases me to see you try…"
Scathach then glanced at the Blue Lancer with a worried look.
"That doesn't make me weird, does it?"
Cu thought about it. It did seem inappropriate; being romantically involved with a student. But then again, if anyone had more reason than most to seek love wherever they can find it, it would be Scathach. She deserved to with how long she has lived for… and with whose hands she has chosen to give her life to… both literally and figuratively.
Scathach entrusted Cu Chulainn to take her life when she felt it could no longer give her anything to be happy about… and now he was keeping her alive ensuring that she would always find happiness, and cherish the time given to her.
Scathach had found it as a Servant… in Chaldea… in her friends and allies…
She found happiness being with Cu Chulainn…
There is a reason Cu Chulainn lets Scathach… and no one else… call him by his birth name.
"Quirky…" he at last answered. "Not weird. Besides, you know what makes you better than Medb?"
"Oh?" Scathach quipped as Cu Chulainn this time closed the distance on her. "What is it?"
Cu's hands went on his mentor's hips again, undoing her sarong and letting it fall to the floor…
"You have standards…"
Scathach smiled brightly, not quivering one bit as Cu proceeded to undo her top… followed by the rest of her swimsuit...
As she was ripping open his trunks with growing excitement.
Once everything that could get in the way was discarded, Scathach hopped up and wrapped her arms around Cu, forcing him to support the warrior queen by her thighs, which she clamped around his waist.
"Prove your worth to me again, Cu Chulainn. Kiss me like you miss me…"
The Lancers immediately locked lips, gasping for air momentarily as they kissed and embraced each other as if they had waited centuries for this. It would not be long until the former mentor and protégé, now lovers, found their way to the bed, below the hole in the roof that opened to the bright, star-filled night sky…
END