She didn't quite know what to think of the situation. She was fairly certain that Gerard would have wasted no time in pleasantries and would have taken advantage of her right away. His behavior was unexpected, but not unwelcome. At the very least, she felt less humiliated than she thought she would.
With her mood lightened ever so slightly, Rin went into the bathroom, removed her panties after carefully locking the door and took a quick, warm shower.
Not ten minutes later she was already dressed up and at the exit of Gerard's Workshop.
"Well, this is it for now," he said as he saw her out. "Is the day after tomorrow good for you?"
"No," she replied. "I have other arrangements. I'll see you in three days, same hour."
It wasn't true, but Rin didn't want to let him decide everything. He already had too much power over her as it was.
"Fine by me," he shrugged. "Careful on your way home."
She gave a courteous nod and stepped out, the door closing behind her.
Gerard grinned from ear to ear after Rin left. Everything was going according to plan. Though he would have very much liked to fuck Rin the moment she was inside his Workshop, the truth was that he couldn't afford it. He needed to slither past her emotional defenses first and get her guard down. Only then, when she was truly vulnerable and at his mercy, he could do as he wanted with her.
It was just a matter of being patient for a while and then he would greatly enjoy breaking her down piece by piece.
He could hardly wait.
Rin stirred awake slowly, opening her eyes to the sight of Saber sleeping peacefully in her arms.
The King of Knights' golden hair, not held up in her usual bun, were gleaming in the light of the morning sun filtering from the window near the bed.
She sighed wistfully and snuggled further into her lover's embrace, inhaling the scent of her skin.
Recent circumstance aside, Rin considered herself to be very lucky. Magi weren't the social kind and didn't have many meaningful emotional connections outside of their direct relatives. In Rin's case, she had been alone for all intents and purposes since the end of the Fourth Grail War, which claimed the life of her parents.
If she hadn't met Shirou and Saber she wondered what kind of person she'd have become in her year and a half at the Clock Tower. Having found love, twice, helped her rediscover the human side of her personality that had been buried under her Magus persona for a decade.
It was a priceless thing that she wouldn't give up for any reason in the world, though already half of it
"Is something the matter, Rin?"
"Just basking," she replied. Saber's arms tightened around her waist. "Come on, let's get the day started."
"Very well."
A light breakfast later, Rin left for the Clock Tower with Saber in tow. Though there was no direct danger against her person, the protection of the Servant of the Saber Class, which vaunted the greatest degree of immunity to magic, meant that just about no one could afford a direct attack against either of them. The only person whose Mana that could affect Saber was that of her own Master.
There was a certain measure of respect granted to those who could sustain the existence of a Heroic Spirit on their own and Rin was one of those people. It was a sad thing that it wasn't nearly enough respect as she wanted or needed.
With the exception of a few people, everyone went out of their way to get into hers, making the simplest things such as reserving a laboratory or requesting financial support for experiments a quest of herculean proportions.
She was on her own in everything except emotionally. The support of Saber had been invaluable during the long months after Shirou was gone, but even then the accumulated stress was taking its toll.
"You are quite pale, Rin," Saber said after a light lunch in the cafeteria. "Perhaps you should take a break."
"I can't afford it," she grunted. "I need to complete at least five essays this week. If I fall back on my studies I'll become the joke of the Association more than I already am."
"You cannot afford to disregard your health either," the King objected.
"I know. Calm down. I took steps to keep up my shape, don't worry. They will just take some time to show results."
"Arrangements?" Saber quirked an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes. Don't worry. I'll sleep eight hours a night and eat properly too."
"Well, if anything you always knew the measure of your capabilities so I'll trust your judgment for now. Don't give me reason to force you into taking a break."
"What are you going to do? Tie me to the bed?" Rin giggled. "I recall that being your favori-"
"RIN!" Saber shouted, outraged and embarrassed, looking left and right for eavesdroppers. "That's not something to be discussed in public."
"Sorry, sorry," she laughed. "But seriously, don't worry. I've got it covered. Let's focus on the things at hand now."
"Right. Is there any way I can help?"
"Actually, would you mind….."
The day passed by normally and so did the day after that, until it came the day for her next session with Gerard.
Even though the man revealed himself less unpleasant than she first believed, he was only part of the problem, which was still sneaking behind her lover's back to have sex with someone else. Even though it was a necessity didn't help her conscience, for it was all her fault to begin with.
In Rin's mind, she was at fault two times. The first for having put Shirou in danger for her sake, the other for having found no other mean to solve the first problem.
'Focus, Rin,' she told herself, shaking her head. 'There is no other option.'
And with that, she stepped into the other Magus' workshop once more.