1Be a Brave and Patient Goddess
Pairing: Ritsuka (female) x Ereshkigal
Genre: Humor/Friendship
Disclaimer: I do not own the Fate series or any of its characters.
Okay, Eresh. You can do this! You can do this! You can do this… The Goddess of the Underworld says to herself as she holds a box of chocolates she made by hand and walks slowly down the halls of Chaldea HQ. Today is a big day. A day called, "Valentine's Day" where people give each other gifts to show to their loved ones. Eresh heard about this and asked her older sister, Ishtar for more information. After getting what she needed, she prepared everything and made some chocolates the day before the holiday. Of course, with the help of Ishtar. They turned out wonderfully in the end and Eresh had made some heart shaped chocolates to show her love for her master. After everything she's done for her and just for being so nice to her. The blonde goddess can hardly wait to deliver this to her.
That's what she thought until she entered the halls of HQ. She has butterflies in her stomach and walks slower and slower, putting the simple rectangular box of chocolates to her mouth, whining adorably. She never thought actually presenting it would be this nerv wracking. She stops to finally find Ritsuka-chan standing around, looking out the window, seeing the snow fall. Eresh hides behind the corner, still having the box up to her face. It's just presenting a gift, right? Why is she super nervous about it? Ritsuka-chan is her master. A very cute, energetic and understanding master. She wouldn't mind if it tasted bad or not. What mattered is that Eresh had made it with all her heart. With all her love.
She takes a few deep breathes and lets it out with some soft exhales. Alright, for real. I will present it to Master! It's just 3 simple words and hold out my chocolates! That's all! she thinks. Okay, Eresh! On the count of three! One…two…three…!
When she turns around, she already sees Mash approaching the cute red-head and shyly presents her chocolates. "H-Happy Valentine's day, Sempai!" she says as she holds out her box of chocolates.
"Oh, thank you, Mash! Happy Valentine's day to you too~!" Ritsuka-chan replies with a smile.
Mash nods with a blush on her face and fiddles with her fingers. "I hope you like them."
"Don't worry! I'm sure you did a great job making them~!"
Eresh remains hiding, but peeks through a corner to see what's going on. Astolfo and D'eon are the next people to approach the cute redhead and hand out their chocolates.
"We actually bought them from a store~!" the pink haired trap says. "But regardless, Happy Valentine's day, Master!"
"We hope you like the chocolates we gave you," D'eon says, bowing.
"Why, thank you~! I'll let you know later, okay~?" Ritsuka-chan says.
Eresh turns away and trots off. Of course some people like Mash or the traps get to the cute red-head first. Maybe when the coast is clear and nobody is here to bother them, Eresh will finally present the chocolates.
**Later**
So far, no such luck. Eresh keeps on seeing everybody giving out chocolates to Ritsuka-chan. Heck, her older sister was brave enough to present her chocolates. Though the Goddess of Venus wonders why Eresh hasn't presented hers yet. Something is off.
Ana is the next one to present her chocolates, with the encouragement of her own older sisters and then they leave, feeling accomplished. Eresh hides behind a corner again, clutching the box of chocolates. She cannot believe she's the only one who hasn't approached her master to present her gift. She feels so pathetic and weak. And she's the Goddess of the Underworld, for goodness sakes!
"Uuuuu…why is this so hard!?" she whines. "This isn't supposed to happen!"
"Wow, you're getting all worked up," Ishtar says from behind, startling the blonde.
"EEK! I-Ishtar-nee! I, ummm…." Eresh's face is bright red. "Wh-wh-what are you doing here!?"
"I came because I'm very concerned," the Venus Goddess says, putting a hand on her hip. "Why didn't you present your gift to Master yet? What's holding you back?"
Eresh slightly turns away, clutching the chocolates to her chest. "It's…it's just that…everybody's so brave, including you, Ishtar-nee. I'm not. I clearly don't know what the reason is, but it's just….p-pathetic."
Ishtar chuckles. "It may be pathetic, but you know what? All I'm going to say is: your time will come."
"Eh?" Eresh looks up at her older sister as the dark haired Goddess approaches her and puts a hand on her shoulder with an encouraging smile.
"Just be patient. Surely, Master would never forget you, would she?" Ishtar says. "She remembers everyone else, so she will remember you as well. Do not forget that you are also her servant."
The blonde goddess stares at her older sister, realizing that she is right. "Okay. I trust you, Ishtar-nee."
"Good. I believe in you, Eresh. That's also something you shouldn't forget." The dark haired goddess turns to leave. "We're sisters and that's what they do for each other."
With that, she walks away, leaving Eresh standing there, glancing at the chocolates and then turns around to see Ritsuka-chan being approached by the Jeanne Sisters next. She lets out a sigh and heads to her room. Even if she tries to be as patient as she can, she cannot beat the bravery of the other servants.
**Later**
Depressed, she sits on her bed, hugging herself and glances at the chocolates she put aside on the table. It's been a couple hours, but she still feels pathetic not being really brave enough to face Ritsuka-chan. She buries her face in her knees and sighs again. Tears start to threaten to spill. She really, really wishes she could be like Ishtar right now.
Knock! Knock!
"Ah!" Eresh jumps at the sound and the door opens to see the person she longed to see. "M-M-Master!?"
"Eresh?" the cute red-head blinks as she can see a couple of tears fall off her cheek. "Were you…crying?"
The blonde squeaks and quickly wipes the tears away. Then she covers herself with the sheets. "Don't look at me! Don't look at me! I'm just a weak and pathetic little goddess that doesn't know how to be very brave! I'd rather stay in the Underworld and never come out!" She shakes her head roughly. "Ohhhhh…Master…! I'm so sorry it had come to this! Oh, my goodness! This isn't like me at allll!"
Ritsuka-chan sweat drops with a nervous giggle. "Uhhhhh…Eresh, what's going on? Why are you being like this?"
There is a bit of silence except with some shuffling of the sheets. Ritsuka-chan walks toward the bed and sits on the edge.
"Eresh? Please talk to me?" she says, softly.
The blonde whines softly as she pokes her head from the sheets and glances up at her master with teary eyes. The redhead giggles at her cuteness.
"You mind telling me what's wrong~?" she asks.
"W-well…it's just that…ummm…" Eresh slightly looks away, red in the face. "Uhhhh…" She then looks toward the table where the box of chocolates are.
Ritsuka-chan notices them. "Is that…for me?"
"Y-yes…" the blonde goddess says. "I was going to give them to you, but…I was too shy."
"Whaaa~?" Ritsuka-chan says.
"Ahhhh…I know! It's pathetic, especially for a goddess like me!" Eresh hides herself in the sheets again. "Everybody else put up a brave front! Why couldn't I have done the same!?"
The redhead gently removes the sheets from her face. "Weren't you brave just now? The way you admitted your fears was the bravest thing you did. That is something~"
"R-really…?"
"Of course! Once you work at it a bit more, you'll be brave like your older sis~!" Ritsuka-chan pumps a fist.
Eresh rises from her bed and sits on her knees, her calves at her sides. Wiping the remaining tears from her eyes, she takes the box from the table and gently hands them to the redhead.
"H-Happy…Valentine's Day….M-Master…" she says.
"Ehehe! Why, thank you~" Ritsuka-chan happily accepts her gift and opens it, revealing heart shaped chocolates inside. "Wow! Did you make these?"
"Yes. I put my heart and soul into making these chocolates," Eresh replies. "I-I hope you like them…"
"Weeeelll….I would like them….if you have them with me~"
"Eh!? B-b-but haven't you eaten everyone else's chocolates!?" Eresh cries.
"I have. But only just one piece for each of them. I plan on giving some away since there are so many," Ritsuka-chan giggles. "But I can have as many pieces as I want with you~"
"M-Master…"
The cute redhead takes one piece and holds it out. "Eresh~! Say, 'Ahhhh~'!"
The blonde goddess blushes and then opens her mouth. Ritsuka-chan pops the piece into her mouth and then eats her own.
"Mmmmm! So tasty~!" the redhead exclaims happily.
"Yeah…it's really good~" Eresh smiles with a nod.
"Want another~?"
"I would…love to."
While the two share some indirect kisses, letting out lyrical giggles here and there, Ishtar stands outside of the door, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her eyes are closed with a smile on her face. She gives a nod of approval.
"That's my sister~" she says to herself before leaving to give the two privacy.
