Saint || Alhaitham x M! Reader

Chapter 4 ||Love and Logic

Cyno and Alhaitham had no choice but to ask the Eremites for help, also starting to feel themselves getting tired and dehydrated from non stop searching. They came across an Eremite camp, and pleded for assistance.

"Now why should we help you?" The chief asked Cyno with a stern glare of disgust "Because, our friends life is at stake, can we please put our differences to the side for a moment, and help him" Once the Chief laid eyes on M/n, almost going limp in Alhaitham's arms, but desperately fighting to stay out of the sun, somehow still alive after so long without eating or even drinking water. The chiefs expression softened to a concerned look, his breath hitched before saying "Alright. Get him inside. Get me some food and water!" He yelled at his men. The sage placed him inside the hut, and stood to the side with Cyno. Both watching attentively while the Eremites got to work and obediently following the Chief's orders "I guess they felt sorry for us" - Cyno

"Yes, and they're very efficient too. But maybe we can see if they know anything about the robbery" - Alhaitham

They watched as one woman fanned M/n with large leafs, the other shook him awake, holding a cup of water in her hand to give to him. They treated him almost like royalty, giving him vast amounts of food, and cooling his sunburnt skin with different oils and butters. He didn't have to move a finger, not like he really could without discomfort and pain.

One man came up to Alhaitham and handed him a bag with food, water and treatments for sunburn. Alhaitham placed all of M/n's extra pieces of clothing in the bag as he listened to the Eremite

"In case he faints again. Thank you for bringing him" Alhaitham looked at the Erimite while he walked away. Why thank him? He should be thanking the Eremites. Looking at M/n with this question lingering in his mind. M/n pulled the Chief that sat next to him and whispered something in his ear. The Chief leaned back, nodded and announced "Your welcome young traveler"

But Alhaitham saw through the lies. 'There was no thank you. From attempting to read M/n's lips, it was way longer than a thank you. It's some sort of message. M/n knows these people, that can only explain why there treating him so nicely. Saying anything at the moment can be risky, there's still questions that need to be answered'

While Cyno was gone, to ask for more water. Alhaitham then approached M/n, and sat at the side of the bed, and observed his calm demeanor, that act he always held up, that Alhaitham saw right through "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, I think I can manage back to Aru Village" M/n stood up and softly took Alhaitham's hand, taking a second to muster up the courage to say "I thank you for carrying me, and helping me cool off. I'm sorry I got upset earlier, i have no excuse for it" M/n gently rested his head on the Alhaitham's shoulder, due to the fact that his back was badly sunburnt and couldn't sit straight for too long without feeling like his skin was tearing apart.

Alhaitham paused mentally, at the sudden touch and vulnerability in the males voice, and the look of sorrow in his eyes. He couldn't explain why, but his initial response was to comfort him, it felt like his heart was screaming at him to make sure M/n was happy. Is that why he even carried M/n in the first place? Is that why he oddly enjoyed when M/n snuggled up against his chest? Is that why he wasn't truly upset when M/n bothered him back in Aru Village?

'Oh god...don't tell me....'

"I...You don't need to thank me...I was only trying to help..." Alhaitham held his hand and rested the side of his face on the others head, he didn't know why he did it, but he blamed it as a means to comfort the male. He eventually let go, though he didn't want to. Alhaitham finally started to acknowledge what his heart wants, but he seems conflicted on what to do.
"We should find Cyno"

"I uh...I think I'm going to need some help..." Red blush traveled across his cheeks as M/n looked away, embarrassed. Alhaitham chuckled and lent out a hand to the other to grasp.

"Ow! Don't pull me!"

"Sorry-"

M/n stumbled slightly, trying to ignore the pain on his joints and skin. He held onto the other's shoulder to stabilize himself. The sages hand strapped onto the others waist, and pulled M/n's hand over his shoulder, "Come on, let's not waste time"

M/n was hesitant, but walked outside while basically clinging onto Alhaitham's side. The Erimites watched with surprised faces "Your friend is in the back, and uh...should we adjust the elephant in the room?" The Chief laughed. Alhaitham, being oblivious, questioned the Chief's words.

"Well I mean, first, you carried him all the way over here, now you basically carrying him back out, and this one is clinging onto you the entire time"

"I'm not in the best condition, if you didn't know. I'm sorry but I don't have a wife to cling on to" M/n shot a glare at the Chief. Then it suddenly clicked to Alhaitham.

The found Cyno in the back, trying to explain a joke to one of the Erimites children, who seemed very unimpressed, then pulled him out. While they walked, Alhaitham kept a close eye to make sure that the Matra ate and stayed out of direct sunlight.

While on break, they all sat in a shady spot enjoying some stew. M/n tapped Alhaitham's shoulder, and held a piece of bread he got from the Eremites by the grey hairs mouth "Uh, no thanks, you should make sure you have enough energy"

M/n simply responded by pressing the piece of bread to the others lips. He sighed and opened his mouth to eat

Cyno: 🤨 I know what u are.

M/n: don't make me bring up the furry.

They finally made it back to Aru Village, where the sun was setting. "Should we stay the night?" M/n shifted gaze from the orange looking clouds that spread across the evening skies, to the Acting Grand Sage. "It's the best option, and this time, it's safer" Cyno rented 2 hotel rooms for the night. They then separated, and agreed to leave for Sumeru city the next morning.

While in his room, Alhaitham was currently being stuck between love and justice. Logic and emotion. He knew how he felt to the other male, but couldn't act on it, no matter how much he wanted to, it felt like his desire to love was being stacked one on top the other, weighing down his heart whenever he set eyes on M/n. He knew M/n was a part of this robbery, he knew he was a criminal. And one that will be facing years in prison and torment if Alhaitham decides to open his mouth. His fate lays in The Grand Sages hands.

Looking at his notebook on the table, staring at the paragraph he made about the one he loves, all filled with suspicion, questions, and theories about what he might do next, how someone who brought out this unknown side of Alhaitham, would hurt the Akademiya. It started feeling like a war happened in his mind. One between Love and Logic.

'I don't want to see him behind bars, god...why is to much harder with the one you love?'

Words on the pages started being smudged from sudden tears that fell from his teal green eyes. He leaned back, making the tears run to the corner or his eyes, letting his orange eyeliner taint his crystal tears, leaving a slight stain that ran down to his ears. Thoughts of him haunted his mind. Why is this so sudden? Why is it once he listens to his heart he feels this way? Is this how it's supposed to feel? Why is it so easy to call him love? Yet so hard to love him?