God hadn't been on your side since the day Alex "disappeared", Meiner's abuses had gotten worse cause there was no one to protect you and he knew that. He had basically taken your soul and divided it amongst his "friends" and every time something happened you felt more and more of yourself wither away with whatever faith you had left...it was hell on earth. Alex seemed to have it easy, being part of the church he had hope and strength to protect him.
The two of you got up from the bench and walked around the town, him with his hands stoickly held behind his back which gave him an air of positivity while you walked kinda casually just not making eye contact with him or anything really. He broke the silence besides the ambience of other people,
"So...what did happen to ya after I left?" He asked with nervous curiosity fearing the answer.
You looked up at him sheepishly cause he was taller and you still couldn't really make direct eye contact, "Well...it...um…" You kept pausing not sure how well he'd take the bad with the worst of what Meiner had been doing to you all these years he'd been gone.
His green eyes scanned your face, hoping to at least get something that he could possibly make up for if he was able, "If it was that bad...I'm sorry...I wish there was something I could do ta help." He sighed with a slow close of his eyes.
Your eyes widened at his admittance...he felt guilty...a holy man of his status shouldn't feel guilt, at least you thought so. But he did, whether he remembered it all or not...the past, the present issues...or the future ones that could come up if nothing was going to change.
"Y-you're not at fault for what happened to me Alex, I just don't know who to blame...maybe myself for not getting out whenever I could or going to look for you… even if you were alive...which you are but that's not my point..." You stopped and closed your eyes with tears forming.
He took notice of your stop and turned, got down to eye level with you...he (being as strong as he is) picked you up by the arms, with sudden shock from you...and quickly carried you to a nearby alley and stood you against the wall, "Now you listen to me, (y/n)! You are not to blame for any of this...that devil Meiner is, whatever debt your parents owed that demon must be paid off by now! Now he's just keeping you for laughs and kicks, I am getting you out of this, whether in the eyes of the Vatican it is considered a sin to help the lesser fortunate!"
Your eyes were still welling, he hadn't changed as much as you thought. The tears were just dripping down your face as he stood there, chest heaving, emerald green eyes boring into your soul, his arms at his sides balled into fists. You didn't know what to say or do but you weren't scared...you couldn't be scared of the man you had re-met from all those years ago because in your eyes he was still the brave older brother type you had known the whole time.
"I…" You stopped before a thought crossed your mind, "Wait? In the eyes of the Vatican it's wrong to help the poor and lesser fortunate?" It kinda grinded your gears to hear him of all people say that.
His steely expression changed with those words from your mouth, "Yes, but I will find a way...I am the Paladin of the church after all." He added with a grin that you definitely recognized.
He took a rag out of the inside of his long white coat and kneeled down slower this time since he just picked you up moments ago and dried your tears (just like in the past), You chuckled as he did this and he kinda remembered this action too as he started to laugh too. You kept walking the alley in case anything else sparked emotions too harsh to deal with in public, there was no way anyone of Meiner's goons would try anything with Anderson walking next to you.
You two calmly discussed things, you more openly now that Alexander had set you straight but he seemed to draw blanks when it came to some things to do with him and the Vatican. You didn't care too much considering it was just nice to have him back...as back as he was going to be anyway, he still had the same spunk and energy as always just an older more battle worn face that you knew was due to his job as Paladin. It was going to take a lot to get even remotely back to where you were, but as safe as you felt with Anderson...it was going to be worth it in the end.
