His Saviour - Michael Langdon Fanfiction (AU)

Part 6: Layla and Majnun

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"I don't wanna live without you either". The words were like a secret pact between the duo as they continued their days.

Neither of them mentioned his father's plans.

Reya shook her head, willing the memories to go away as she held Michael's shaking figure. Now was not the time to be thinking of their relationship. "What did he do?", she asked Michael, leading him to his bed. His arms never left her. "He keeps..torturing me with these thoughts and images" his voice cracked. "He wants me to do bad things."

"what kinds of things?" she asked then immediately regretted it. She was meant to be making him feel better. But Michael didn't seem to notice.

"he-" He shook his head, burying his head in her chest. It was clear this was something so bad Michael couldn't even fathom the thought of recounting, so she let it go. Then abruptly, he pulled away and fixed his tear stained eyes on Reya who looked at him confused. "Michael, I don't know how to he-"

"Do you love me?"

What.

She had not been expecting that.

"What do you mea-", he cut her off, exasperated.

"What can it possibly mean, Reya, I asked do you love me!" His words were more urgent this time and his tone harsher, both of which confused Reya to a higher degree. Wasn't he just crying and sobbing about his daddy issues?

She pursed her lips, "of course, i love yo-" she started but he cut her off again

"No no! Not like that!", he wiped the last of his tears on his sleeve and look away, "do you love me like- like.... Layla?" She looked at him surprised, the reference catching her off guard. 

The duo had come across the story of Layla and Majnun when exploring the academy library on a lazy summer day. "For Qays, Layla was like the sun, ascending into his sky with a beauty and radiance unparalleled", Michael read the books, flipping through the pages eagerly.

"Qays? I thought his name was Majnun?"

"No" Michael answered distractedly, his attention still fixed on reading the books which would later become his new obsession. Who knew the antichrist was into old arab literature? "His name was Qays but he became known as Majnun. According to the index, it means "possessed". Reya laughed, "Imagine being so down bad that people started calling you a mad man." Michael didn't laugh.

"I think it's romantic" he answered indignantly

"Oh yeah? and what do you know about romance?"

"I know what I've read" he answered, not looking at her, "and I know what I feel sometimes"

Reya paused. She was slumped away on a bean bag so he couldn't see her face so she kept her tone light. "And what's that? You got a cruuushh?" she teased him, the mockery in her tone was juxtaposed on her face.

"You make it sound like a bad thing" He answered back pointedly. She shrugged. This conversation could wait.

"Never said it was. I find it all a bit pointless though", she looked at him then to find him already staring back

"What do you mean?" 

"Like you know when people say "Romance is dead"? I believe them. Because you don't see true love nowadays. There's no Layla and Majnun out there. People just want to get laid, or have experiences and toss you aside" She tried to not let the bitterness show. It had been a while since her and Mal had even gone to a party so she wasn't exactly up to date on the world's view on love. "There's no...connection anymore. At least that's what I've seen." 

"But you never know, you can't give up on finding love", Reya wasn't sure why the Antichrist was giving her relationship counselling but the words felt empty regardless. 

"Don't worry,  I shall try very very hard to find my Qays!" she said sarcastically and laughed. And this time, Michael joined in.

Reya noticed Michael was still looking at her for an answer. "Like layla?" she echoed his words. She couldn't believe it. Michael loved her. love loved her. And the option of saying no to his words seemed incredulous. "You love me?"  she repeated. She felt like there was a punchline she was missing. Maybe Mal and Coco would sweep out under the bed and say "April fool's!" Even thought it was August. 

"Do you not feel the same way?" he asked instead of answering. They stared at each other, Reya felt the room disperse around her and all she could focus on was Michael with his golden hair. Michael with his adoring blue eyes. Michael in his black tees and charming mannerism. She looked to his hands and moved hers towards him, "I do" she answered like it was wedding vows. Michael's eyes widened in surprise as if there was even a chance she would have said no and Reya felt her self smile, then laugh and before she knew it Michael was kissing her. 

Her body instinctively moved towards him, his arm snaking around her waist and her hands moving to his chest. "I love you" he whispered against her lips, cradling her in his lap. She wanted to repeat the words but his mouth was on her and she could feel his hot breath. Her hands moved to his hair and gosh they were so soft and his neck felt so warm. She moved her hands down, down to his back, his pajamas, down to- Michael pulled away, his hands suddenly catching hers. Reya looked at him guiltily. Too soon. "Sorry, I thou-" he cut her off 

"No, no! it's not you, it's-" he paused and she looked at him confused. "it's- um-" It seemed he was battling some inner demon other than his father. "Do you want to sleep next to me instead?" he asked innocently. If it weren't for his expression, Reya would have laughed at the sudden change in atmosphere but she nodded, smiling. It seemed Michael's episode had ended and she didn't  want to ruin his mood now that he was focused on more positive aspects of his life. She got up from his lap and laid down, Michael draped his hand over her waist and she held it. She felt his breath in her hair but she didn't mind, she felt calm and peaceful. "This is good"  she said, trying to make him feel better. 

"It is." There was a pause. "Goodnight. Layla"

"Goodnight, Qays", Reya answered, trying her best to ignore that Michael had never been the first to say goodnight before. She really hoped she hadn't made a mistake in allowing him to be so close.

A/n: The story of Layla and Majnun is a real one, You can search it up if you're interested! Be mindful that the ending of the story might foreshadow the turn of events in this one...