Alhaitham let out a long, exhausted sigh, leaving the Akedemeyia. Night had fallen, and he was more than happy enough to go home. Sure he would have to deal with his roommate Kaveh later but he wouldn't mind.
"You sure you'll be alright, Dehya?"
"Hm?" The scribe glanced down at hearing Paimon's voice and spotted her with the Traveler, Dunyazard, and Dehya. From the looks of it, they were talking to each other. As he analyzed their facial expressions, he noticed how three of them had concern looks while Dehya showed one uncertain and even sadness. It made him frown to see her like this. As they finished the conversation, she left as Dunyazard went in a different direction with Paimon and Traveler going to another.
He knew the more logical solution would be to not be involved in a topic that did not concern him. But with Dehya showing an unusual behavior that brought her down, it did concern him. "Excuse me. Paimon. Traveler" Alhaitham called out to them, getting their heads to turn to the scribe. "Do you have a moment?" He asked them, seeing them vital sources to the eremite.
Meanwhile, the lioness had walked off to somewhere quiet and empty. A place for her to at least try to think ok what had happened and what she had learned about her adopted father.
There was so much for Dehya to grapple. Her mind was racing with the thoughts and emotions all in a whirlwind. Angry? Devastated? Shock? Sad? She had trouble making it all out. It made her heart ache, and she wanted to cry.
"Dehya?"
Her ears twitched at a voice, catching her by surprise. She hurriedly brushed away any tears that were forming and turned around. To her surprise, the lioness found Alhaitham standing there with his arms crossed and staring at her with a neutral look.
"Alhaitham! Hey! What's my favorite scribe doing out here so late?" She asked him, putting on a nervous smile. The mercenary didn't like anyone seeing her vulnerable like this. And the akedemeyia scribe was definitely someone she didn't want catching her like this.
He was a little bewildered to see her change her behavior to him. Still, it didn't surprise him that she would try to hide how she truly felt. The eremite desert dweller preferred to show herself strong and unwavering. But with what he learned from the Traveler and Paimon, Alhaitham could see she was struggling to hide the emotions she's feeling from what she had learned.
"Nothing much. I was merely walking by and noticed you here by yourself. You seemed unusually quiet, so I came to investigate your irregular behavior" he explained to her, walking as she eyed him weirdly in the way he talked.
Once he was at her side, his expression softened in a way she never saw. "Are you alright?" He asked her carefully, wanting to be careful in how to handle her current mood. It actually put her at ease from hearing that voice holding no snooty tone like usual. It was actually genuine concern and care for her.
"Yeah. I'm alright. Thanks" Dehya told him gratefully with a small smile, holding herself. The scribe could see she was tense. 'Maybe I should tell her of my discovery' he thought in his head, knowing well that there were numerous ways this could go. She can he furious that he is entering into her problem or uncertain of how to progress with this situation. He would have to take the risk.
"Paimon and the Traveler informed me of what happened"
Dehya glanced up at him, stunned to hear that. She looked at him, waiting to hear him. Alhaitham felt the atmosphere getting hard to breathe as he was now nervous but doing his best to keep his calm and hopefully keep the situation at that level. "And I am sorry to hear what happen" he told her symphatically, putting a hand to his heart.
"Heh. You know it's really strange how life is. I don't see my old man for so long, and the last time I saw him was we had an argument. When I go to confront him about all the violent mercenary attacks, I find that he's gone. And it's only after his death did I learn how much he's suffered just so I can get out of the mercenary life, and get something better. Not only that. I also find a letter that he's not really my dad at all" she explained to him, finding it hard to keep her voice from cracking as the hold on her arms tightened. Alhaitham watched her, taken back to see her faltering like this before him.
He found it hurt him to see her breaking like this. Where was the tough as nails, ferocious lioness that he knew from his first encounter in Arau Village? She glanced back up at him, and to his surprise, her blue eyes were watering with a strained smile.
"It's crazy, right? How life just throws at you the unexpected, and you find out too early or too late?" The lioness told him, feeling every bit of her cool fading away. Alhaitham was now unsure of how to handle the situation. It became delicate so quickly, and one wrong move could shatter it and end in the worst way possible. He thought on what he can do. He wasn't going to walk away from her and leave her like this.
There was one option he considered. It wasn't one he was comfortable with but to him, it was the best option. Alhaitham closed the space between them, and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close to him.
Dehya blinked, surprised, blushing. She did not expect that at all. Alhaitham stayed still, keeping his hold loose incase she got uncomfortable and wanted to break away. He was nervous himself as he had never engaged in physical contact to solve an emotional problem.
Suddenly, he sensed her body shaking slightly against him, making the scribe glance down at her. Alhaitham took notice on how her ears were low and that small whimpers were coming from her. Dehya suddenly found herself feeling alright in his arms. She wasn't sure why, but there was something in his hug that made her relax and let go all that she was holding inside.
The lioness let out a cry, letting the tears stream down her face. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. It felt good to her to let it out. Dehya didn't let those emotions show around Paimon, the Traveler, and Dunyazard. She thought it would be better if these emotions were expressed when she was alone. But with him, she found it easier to let it out with no shame.
Alhaitham didn't expect her to return the hug back and start crying. The situation unraveled in a way that he didn't see or comprehend. But just hearing her break down like that actually hurted him. He wrapped his other arm around, pulling her closer to him. "It's ok, Dehya. It's ok" he whispered to her, hoping to decrease her distress.
They stayed like that for a while with the scribe listening to the mercenary crying and sniffling against his clothing as he held her in his arms. Her crying began to cease as she calmed down, her hold on him relaxed as her hands slid off his neck, resting on his shoulders.
Alhaitham glanced at her curiously, seeing what she would do next. She slowly moved away from him, and it shocked him to see her face stained with tears. Without hesitation, he gently brought his hand to wipe it off. It startled her, making her blink so he retracted his hand away. "Sorry. I thought it might help" he apologized as she wiped away her tear stains hastily.
"No, no, it's ok. I appreciate it. You meant well" she told him, her tone back to normal. Alhaitham glanced away from her as both sat in silence. He felt so out of place right now. Normally, social things weren't his thing much. He was more practical.
"Alhaitham. Thanks"
When she spoke, he looked back at her surprised and found her smiling at him gratefully. That smile made him blush a bit, but he did smile back at her and nodded. "You're welcome" he told her. Though he wasn't sure why he felt that way from that smile, it had to be worth it if it meant seeing Dehya's mood improve.
