Saint || Alhaitham x M! Reader

Chapter 3 || The killing sunlight

He quickly followed up with M/n, who already spotted Cyno's black helmet amongst the vast array of beige sand around them. He said nothing to the Matra, just quietly observed for any signs of him being anxious or uncomfortable.

"How long are you going to stare at me?" M/n's face was completely calm looking, as always.

Alhaitham quickly came up with an excuse "There's sand on you."

"Oh."

When the two approached the General, they noticed his hunched posture and skeptical expression, with a hand on his chin. As if he was looking for foot prints in the completely smooth layer of sand.

"Oh, they you are. I found traces of anemo in the sand, it leads that way" Cyno's finger outlining the area where the robber had used Anemo

"Ah, just like I did in the museum" -Alhaitham

'So I guess that rules out M/n. He doesn't possess a vision so it couldn't be him. But that doesn't mean he wasn't a part of the crime' Alhaitham suspected, he kept a close eye on M/n, analyzing his movements, expressions, how he talked. But the Matra stayed completely calm. It was getting a little alien to the Sage. M/n stayed 'calm' but also deep in thought, yet Alhaitham just couldn't tell what he was thinking no matter the situation.

After what felt like hours of continuous walking, they ended up being led to an abandoned building far into the desert. "The traces disappeared from here, but how?" Cyno asked "Maybe someone came to pick it up from the theif. It could just be one big heist" - Alhaitham

"Perhaps, breaking into the Akedemyia is no easy task. Theirs most likely a group of men in on this" M/n added

"Yes. We should stay the night. Watch out in case they might comeback, then corner them" Cyno suggested, looking at M/n specifically for his answer

"That's a good idea, I'll stay for the night. Sir?" Both Matra's looked at the Sage. "Uhhhh, I'm not too sure if I can"

"You don't have to stay if you don't want too. You could go back and spend the night in your home, or you can try out that new restaurant that just opened" - Cyno

"What new restaurant?" - Alhaitham

"Close to Sumeru city. I heard they leave their 'Stake Out' to marinate in all sorts of spices" (I'm sorry.)

"....."

"Get it? Because we're basically doing a Stake out" - Cyno

"Cyno. You make me want to pull out my ears" -M/n

"Your jokes are getting worse, please stop" - Alhaitham

"Come on, that was a good one" - Cyno

M/n placed a firm hand on Alhaitham's shoulder and muttered "please don't leave me here, I might return with a stick in one ear and out the other"

Alhaitham sighed, "Alright, I'll stay the night as well"

They set up camp a few feet away from the building. Alhaitham went back to reading while the others kept watch for the Eremites. They ended up taking turns for watch when one got too tired. The last person to keep watch was M/n. While the other two went back into their respective tents.

The fire illuminated the front of the tents, and a faint shadow of M/n sitting down can be seen. Alhaitham couldn't sleep, due to the fact that it wasn't a safe area to camp in. He just sat up, sinking into his own thoughts to pass the time, while keeping his eyes on M/n's shadowy silloette. Suddenly, he was taken out of his thoughts when M/n stood up, and suddenly disappeared without a sound. 'Did he see someone? Why didn't he tell one of us?' Alhaitham stuck his head out after waiting 10 minutes for M/n's return. But no one. Cyno was snoring his ass away, and M/n's tent was slightly opened. He checked his surroundings, and he was no where too he found. Until he saw a figure in the distance.