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Alhaitham is a creature of habit, much like most people are. He follows routine, even when he doesn’t have to, because it simply makes life so much easier to navigate. He sits at the same table when he goes to eat at Lambad's Tavern, he buys his daily merchandise from the same supplier, and he takes the same route through the academia halls to get to his office, despite there being about three ways to get there. He likes routine, appreciates it actually, and does not like to deviate if he can at all help it. Life does not have to be more complicated than it already is, after all.
When he arrives at his home, he can’t help but notice his roommate, Kaveh, still struggling over how to hang the new painting he had gotten for their living room. His tongue was poking out of his mouth in thought, and his eyes were traveling across the canvas like if he looked at it long enough, it might suddenly fix itself straight. Truly it was a simplistic painting, and not worth the fat share of rent Kaveh had spent to pay for it, although he never was good at spending his mora intelligently for what it’s worth.
“I see you’ve refused to make yourself useful yet again.” Alhaitham said as he entered, enjoying the way his comment had Kaveh’s brow furrowing together almost on instinct at the sound of his voice.
“I swear, one day someone is going to pick a fight with you. Oh wait.” He said, turning around with a knowing smile on his face.
He was referring to the incident from a few days ago, in which some scholars conducting forbidden research had a particularly violent vendetta against him: an incident which Alhaitham wrapped up himself perfectly well for the record.
“I had that situation completely under control.” He said. “Although, collecting correct intel has never quite been your forte, has it?”
“I’ll have you know, my intel collecting abilities are just fine, why thank you.” Kaveh retorted, his hands now on his hips. “Why don’t we talk about your revolting personality instead, and it’s aptitude for attracting people that are constantly after you. Although I can’t blame them. Finding you irritating is only all too easy.”
“As I’ve stated before, although I constantly doubt your ability to retain information, I don’t particularly care how others perceive me. Besides, I can take care of myself. You on the other hand…”
“I can take care of myself just fine. I don’t need you or anyone else for that matter.” He said, turning his nose upwards and his body away, already preparing to exit the conversation. “I’m going to my room, I’ve reached my limit for how long I can put up with you.”
“If it’s really such a bother, perhaps you’ll finally move out of my house.”
“You’re insufferable and I resent you greatly.” Kaveh added quickly before very dramatically walking to his room and slamming the door behind him.
This too was part of Alhaitham’s routine, and like all other parts of it, he found himself looking forward to it just as he looked forward to picking apart the brushstrokes of a language he has yet to master.
-
Alhaitham was not a chronic coffee drinker like many of his colleagues at the Sumeru Academia were, but that didn’t mean he never had it on occasion. Puspa Café was really the only suitable place to order it, and what can he say, this day, he was in the mood. He was only a few, short days away from officially resigning as the Acting Grand Sage, and Alhaitham figured he could use the energy boost for all the work he was sure he would get stuck with in the time to come.
Upon entering the cafe, he heard an incredibly familiar voice inflection, one that likes to argue with him at every waking opportunity.
Kaveh was sitting down only a short ways away with what appeared to be a scholar from the Academia: a man who looked vaguely familiar to Alhaitham. He wore the traditional Sumeru Academia robes, his hair light and growing long past his ears, his black glasses framing his face as he stared at Kaveh with his full attention, a gleeful smile dancing across his face.
Alhaitham found himself standing still in that short second, the realization dawning on him as he watched Kaveh’s expression grow from amused to nervous to bashful, a shy smile gracing his lips as apparent as Sumeru City. Alhaitham, because he is a scholar at nature, had the smallest inkling of curiosity bubble up and take over in that moment, and before he could be seen, sidestepped quietly to sit at a table right out of the eyesight of his roommate and his unknown companion. It took only a single motion, and as he sat down, he adjusted his noise canceling headphones to pick up on their conversation from the distance he was at… All for research purposes, clearly.
“Ah, I really am fine. Though I appreciate the offer.” He heard Kaveh tell the man through his headphones.
“It’s no trouble at all really. After all, I loved the work you did on the Palace of Alcazarzaray. It really is a masterpiece, although that is just my humble opinion. Allow me to return the favor if words could be enough.” The man said, and Alhaitham almost smiled at the mention of the Palace of Alcazarzaray. It’s the reason Kaveh is, for lack of a better word, incredibly broke, although there is no denying the reputation for design it established for him in the process.
“Well…” Kaveh said, trailing off unsurely. He was clearly flattered by their conversation, and the whole situation was beginning to spark Alhaitham’s interest, for the last time something like this happened, Kaveh ended up financially troubled and very very homeless. “I suppose if you insist.”
That seemed to make Kaveh’s acquaintance incredibly happy, as they spent the next couple minutes excitedly going over the details of a project Alhaitham had little interest it, for it was not the architecture that caught his attention, but this unknown person who was singing Kaveh’s praises like he was being paid to do so.
Quietly and shortly after, he left the cafe as discreetly as possible before he was noticed, and made his way to the Academia with absolutely no coffee in his system. He didn’t notice it however, almost like he didn’t notice the metaphorical cogs in his brain turning at an ever so slightly faster tempo.
-
Kaveh is home before Alhaitham more times than not, all things considered (Alhaitham has a steady income, and Kaveh is in perpetual debt), but tonight he was noticeably tardy.
When he finally did decide to return, he seemed to be in a good mood, his expression loose from smiling and his back straight as he walked. It made Alhaitham want to poke at him a little, just to see the effect it had on his good mood… as an experiment, although everything about Kaveh makes him want to do so regardless. It was part of his routine, and perhaps it was also a bit of a hobby as well.
“Finally back?” Alhaitham asked. “Did you have business to attend to for once?”
Kaveh’s good mood did not last long, and it was almost comical how fast his nose scrunched up in frustration. “Your ability to never say a nice thing in your life really is grounds for Academia research.” He said with a flat stare. “Surely it must be some kind of mutation or generational curse. Or, perhaps it’s a side effect of your ever growing personality issues.” He stated as he walked over, looking down on Alhaitham who was reading on the couch. “And I’ll have you know I did in fact have business to attend to. This may surprise you but some people actually appreciate my abilities.”
Alhaitham scoffed. “I won’t deny that. After all, you’ll need to pay rent somehow.”
Kaveh scoffed back, mimicking him unintentionally. “I don’t know why I put up with you. Holding a conversation with you without wanting to bury myself alive is perhaps one of the world’s most challenging tasks, right alongside plucking my own eyes out and walking through a field of Rishboland tigers without a single scratch.” He spat before walking away like he had better things to do, which Alhaitham highly doubted.
The idea made him smile. “That’s a little dramatic, even for you.”
Kaveh, very maturely, slammed the door shut behind him as he entered his room. It was a sound as familiar to Alhaitham as his own footsteps on the Academia floor, so it was safe to say he was used to it.
Alhaitham then turned the page of his book, continuing to read about the grammar patterns of what was probably a dead language, and decided to let the corner of his mouth lift upwards, if only slightly. No one was around to see it after all.
-
Alhaitham does not use the Academia’s resources for his own personal gain… except when he does. During the situation with the Dendro Archon, he absolutely used his status as the Academia’s scribe to his advantage in order to pull off his plan. Simply put, it wouldn’t have worked otherwise, and all of Sumeru was in a state of danger that it hasn’t seen in many hundreds of years. It was essential work.
However, he understands that what he is doing now is absolutely not for the betterment of Sumeru or the good of its people, but is simply to satisfy his own curiosity. He didn’t feel a thing when he stopped by the Academia records on the way to his office and shifted through the many shelves of stored information, looking for the file on the unknown scholar he saw at the cafe with Kaveh the other day.
Kaveh, despite being possibly the most dramatic person in all of Teyvat, is much more of a people person than Alhaitham. He is typically quite social on average, and is generally well liked amongst his peers. However, he tends to be too trusting, almost naively so, which is how he ended up without a single mora to his name and stuck as Alhaitham’s roommate in the first place. It is because of this line of reasoning that Alhaitham takes it upon himself to do a little research on the man he was with, for the sake of his own assets really. Research is what he’s good at after all.
Based on the man’s attire, Alhaitham came to the conclusion that he was from the Amurta Darshan, and most likely studied some branch of biology. Going into the Sumeru records, Alhaitham found the closest match to the man’s appearance, discovering his name was Araby and that he specializes in researching sea creatures. He lives in Port Ormos and usually works in the Pharos Lighthouse. This was especially interesting because if Araby lives in Port Ormos, that means there’s a high chance he traveled all the way to Sumeru City just to meet with Kaveh by the looks of things.
There were many other notable things in his file, such as information on his family and his history of research conducted in the Academia, but Alhaitham figured if there was anything more he needed to know about this man, it would all come to light soon enough with the way things were playing out.
Noting the points that seemed important, Alhaitham stored the information away and figured he should remember to ask about this Araby to his colleagues offhandedly later… discreetly of course. Doing so otherwise would draw unnecessary attention to himself, and he was still very much concerned about his ability to resign without a hitch. Everything else was simply secondary.
-
It was another day of Kaveh returning home late, and Alhaitham found himself working on approving some last minute research proposals before his official resignation alone in the living room. Occasionally, he would work from home, simply because the Academia was much too stuffy from time to time, and his house was far more entertaining for obvious, unspoken reasons. However, with Kaveh absent and the house quiet as a mouse, Alhaitham found the environment to not be as relieving as he had hoped.
At some point, the piece of graphite he was using to write had slipped through his fingers and rolled on the floor down the hallway. Getting up to retrieve it, he noticed the door to Kaveh’s room was slightly cracked open with just a sliver of a view to the inside. Curious as ever, Alhaitham, after picking up his lost piece of graphite, lightly pushed the door open for a better look. Inside, he saw what he assumed to be Kaveh’s new project laid out on the table: architectural sketches of the renovation to a small part of a house. They were still in their rough stages, but there was no doubt in Alhaitham’s mind that this was Mr Araby’s requested project, as the style of interior was notable in Port Ormos. Very interesting indeed.
Alhaitham did not get too far in his own train of thought however, as he heard the rapid, familiar footsteps of his roommate behind him, bursting through the door in seconds.
“What are you doing in my room?” Kaveh asked accusingly, jabbing his pointer finger into Alhaitham’s chest. “Are you going through my things?”
Alhaitham let out a single breath of his nose, acting as the ghost of a laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself. A piece of graphite simply rolled under your door. I came to fetch it. Scandalous enough for you?” He asked sarcastically. He had slightly altered the truth however, but he didn’t exactly lie either. It didn’t bother Alhaitham regardless. He then gestured to the unfinished sketches on the table. “What is this? Your… ‘important work’ I’m assuming.”
Kaveh scoffed. “It is as a matter of fact, because unlike you, some people actually have taste.” He stated, once again turning his head upwards with his nose angled high, looking at Alhaitham in disdain. It was a look he enjoyed on Kaveh, but that much was obvious with how much Alhaitham fishes for it on the daily. “Do you plan on leaving now, or did you have important Academia matters to attend to that require you being in here unsupervised?”
Alhaitham turned to leave at that, though he didn’t miss the smell of something sweet on Kaveh’s person. Another night of being paid for in a nice restaurant perhaps. “I wasn’t planning on staying.” He explained.
“Good. I hoped you wouldn’t.”
Alhaitham didn’t waste time lingering and walked out, making sure to noticeably twirl the lost piece of graphite in his hand. “Good luck with your… important work.” He said, and he made sure to catch Kaveh’s narrowed expression on his way out. It was truly the only entertaining thing to happen to him that day after all.
However, this interaction had him realizing that his research in the area of Mr Araby was far from over unfortunately. It seems he’ll be busy these next couple of days, more so than expected.
-
Alhaitham is not a chronic coffee drinker, so he knows it will take numerous convincing reasons for why he visits Puspa Café again (he has many reasons already lined up of course, one being that the stress of his recently unconsenting promotion is starting to get to him). However, his research on his new subject matter has produced some rather interesting results, and Alhaitham is many things, but he’s not quitter. So, despite what he might say later, this matter has sparked his interest rather keenly, and he wants to see if it plays out exactly like he thinks it will. He has studied the patterns, and all signs point north in a manner of speaking.
The man called Araby has made five notable passes on Kaveh since their conversation began, being sure to not so discreetly touch his hand or laugh at a comment that really wasn’t that funny. He never breaks eye contact and seems only so happy to butter Kaveh up with compliments when he gets the chance, not to mention the many times since the first he’s paid for Kaveh’s food and drinks. Alhaitham doesn’t need to be a scholar to read in between the lines: Araby was playing the role of interested and available, and Kaveh wasn’t necessarily saying no… which was interesting in itself. Alhaitham can’t say he’s ever seen Kaveh act like this, his smile small and flattered and his cheeks dusted pink; a stark difference to the expression he wears when he interacts with Alhaitham. He didn’t know such a look was even possible on Kaveh.
“Wow Kaveh, these plans are incredible. Beautiful even.” Alhaitham heard Araby say through his headphones, which he has been using to eavesdrop (for research). Alhaitham also thought such a comment was fascinating as they have been sitting for quite some time and only now beginning to talk about the project, which was supposedly the basis for their entire relationship. All this time they had been speaking about random topics, discussing the Academia climate and the new imports from Fontaine. Oh, but now the project was so incredibly important. Alhaitham almost felt insulted.
“Why, thank you Mr. Araby. It means so much to hear you say that.” He hears Kaveh say.
“Just Araby is fine. And it’s no trouble at all, I’ve always admired you and your work.”
“You flatter me, really.” Kaveh said, and Alhaitham didn’t miss the red tinting the tips of his ears. He really was flattered.
“It’s nothing really. I think you’re incredible.”
The two of them continued like that for a while, and each new line of dialogue had Alhaitham feeling ill. It was the textbook definition of flirting, and Alhaitham doesn’t mind many things, but eavesdropping on a sorry excuse for a date is not something he wants to spend his morning doing.
Deciding that enough was enough, Alhathiam left soon afterwards, having figured he’d gathered enough intel for today. He’s seen and learned all that he can, and stands nothing to gain from idling any longer. Besides, the air was too sweet for his liking, and he’s never been the biggest fan of sweets. It was strange, as although things were playing out exactly as he predicted, there’s something unsatisfying about the way Kaveh flushed from adulation as opposed to his typical frustration. This notion was not part of Alhaitham’s original hypothesis.
As he left the cafe quickly and quietly without being noticed, he figured he would come to sort through such ideas at a later point in time. There were more pressing matters to attend to anyways.
-
When Kaveh returned home soon afterwards, Alhaitham was reading once again in the living room, another book on runes that were far and few inbetween, but he’s been distracted lately and needed something to focus on.
“You smell like coffee.” He commented as Kaveh passed him, not looking up from his book. Again, it was not necessarily a lie, but Alhaitham did not see a reason to explain why he was at Puspa Café at the same time as his roommate, listening in on his conversations… in a corner where he purposefully couldn’t be seen, so this seemed like the next best comment to make.
“It’s because I had coffee, genius. I didn’t realize the Acting Grand Sage was so smart.” Kaveh commented sarcastically, rolling his eyes with his whole face, which was always a joy for Alhaitham to witness, really. However it didn’t have quite the same zest as usual, and Alhaitham wondered if it had anything to do with his new… research project.
“I figured as much. What surprises me is that you could afford it. Need me to pay off your tab… again?”
“I’ll have you know, someone offered to pay it for me, thank you very much.” Kaveh said, wasting no time throwing that fact in Alhaitham’s face. “This may come as a surprise to you, as I know your experience with friendships is limited, but some people find me quite likable.”
“Is that so?” He asked like a statement.
“It is.” Kaveh retorted proudly, though he lowered his chin when something like confusion came over him a few seconds later. “Why do you care, anyways?”
Alhaitham turned a page of his book. “Just making sure our finances are in order.”
Kaveh’s expression almost seemed to fall at this explanation, though the shift was subtle, turning into something more neutral instead of biting and angry like he tends to do. Alhaitham only noticed because he’s spent so long around Kaveh, studying his expressions like they were a newly discovered language of the recent decade. So this look … this look was new, and if Alhaitham was anyone else, he almost wouldn’t have noticed it. It was almost an unsettling idea.
“Of course.” Kaveh stated before walking back to his room and closing the door so quietly, Alhaitham almost didn’t hear it.
Then, because he had nothing else to do, Alhaitham turned another page of his book.
-
At one point, Alhaitham came to realize he was still not used to his new title as Acting Grand Sage, as he didn’t realize that showing up at Puspa Café (for research) multiple times in a row would consider him a regular to the staff. The waitress that made his coffee now knew his order without asking, and seemed particularly nervous around him, most likely due to his status which has sparked talk around Sumeru City as of late.
“Mr. Alhaitham.” She said softly one day. He appreciated her aptitude for picking up on the fact that he didn’t want to be seen or noticed. “Sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering if I should be concerned.”
Alhaitham pressed his lips together, slightly worried that Kaveh and his companion would notice this little interaction, but they were both entirely too concerned with each other, and the waitress was speaking softly, so he figured he was safe. “Concerned about what?”
“It’s just… you’ve been coming back to this spot for a few days now, and I can tell you're listening for… something…” She said, her eyes darting around the different customers. “Is there news here that I should know about?”
He knew what she was implying. Why was the Acting Grand Sage essentially conducting a stakeout in her cafe almost every morning for the past few days? It was a fair question, but not one he could answer straightly. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” He explained lowly, only for her to hear. “Actually, I think this will all be over soon.”
This seemed to appease her slightly as she smiled and left looking a little lighter, though her concern was still apparent. The Acting Grand Sage was suspiciously drinking coffee in her cafe after all.
And like all hypotheses in any field of research, he cannot be one hundred percent certain of his own prediction. However, what he told the waitress wasn’t a lie. He had an unfortunate feeling that the climax of this sad story was ever approaching, but he had a bad feeling about how everything would come to an end, and if it went as he figured it would, he knew for certain Kaveh would hate it. It was safe to say he’d get upset, but it wouldn’t be the fun kind that Alhaitham tends to employ, and that was the worst part about it.
As Alhaitham left the cafe that day, he supposed it was time he did something with all the information he’s accumulated. Results aren’t necessarily everything after all.
-
When Alhaitham returned home, he was surprised to find Kaveh already there, working silently in his room with the door closed. He clearly did not want to be disturbed. For a second, Alhaitham could imagine Kaveh’s furrowed brow as he drew, his eyebrows scrunched in each and every direction as a blond lock fell into his eyes. He thought of the times when he would walk in, a smear of charcoal across his face as evidence of a previous motion his hands made on his skin. Alhaitham almost smiled at the memory. Almost.
“Kaveh.” He said as he knocked twice, opening the door to his roommate’s room.
Kaveh’s eyes were narrowed at Alhaitham as he entered, looking at him like he was a nuisance and nothing more (this was typical, but with everything going on, Alhaitham was having trouble telling the difference). “What do you want?” He snapped, sounding tried. “Can’t you see I’m busy.”
“This is important. I think you’d like to hear it.”
“You must not know me very well, because I do not want to hear any news you just so happen to bring. You’ve probably gotten some other notable political figure locked up with your own salary making an ever suspicious increase. Tell me, am I hot or cold?”
“You’re irrational.” Alhaitham answered, his stare blank and unamused. “I’m assuming you’re familiar with the word?”
“I am. And whatever it is, perhaps it can wait. I really am busy.”
“It can’t.” He stated. “I heard from a colleague of mine that you’ve been visiting Puspa Café with someone named Araby. You should know that that man is—”
“Oh , I know what this is about.” Kaveh said confidently, standing up to fully look Alhaitham in the eyes. “You’re mad that someone is finally appreciating my many talents. I would like to think you would be happy that I have work to do. It keeps me out of your hair and puts mora in your pockets. Yes, I haven’t forgotten about the rent—”
“Please stop spouting nonsense, although I’m aware it’s a habit of yours.” He said, interrupting Kaveh mid sentence. “I’m serious. He’s using you, and I don’t think it’s your projects he’s interested in.”
That comment, although as true as Alhathiam was aware, was very clearly the wrong thing to say. “You have some nerve.” Kaveh snapped. And Alhaitham has fought with Kaveh more times than he can count, but their arguments are more like passive pieces of paper that they like to throw at each other to pass the time. However, Kaveh’s expression was not that of someone looking to pass the time. He was upset, and it wasn’t the kind of upset that Alhaitham is used to. Rather, he was seething. “I know we don’t always get along, but I can’t believe you would insinuate something like that to me of all people.”
Alhaitham found himself blinking manually. “You have the wrong idea.” He said calmly.
“I don’t think I do. I finally find someone who actually enjoys my company and you try to convince me otherwise? You have absolutely no tact.”
“I—”
“No.” He snapped, and his tone was final. “Get out of my room, and please don’t come back unless it’s to apologize. I’m too tired to be dealing with this right now.” Kaveh said before turning to sit back at his desk, his back now to Alhaitham and his front very much focused on his project.
Alhaitham pressed his lips together, unsure of how to deal with this kind of argument as it’s so far from what he deals with routinely. For a few seconds, he simply stood there, letting the silence eat at him until he couldn’t take it anymore, turning to leave the room without saying a word.
Kaveh was quiet as he left, and Alhaitham silently hoped, for once, that he was wrong about his own conclusions. However, he knows he is nothing if not thorough, and that the evidence he gathered is correct. Therefore he can only assume he is not wrong, and that tomorrow will not be a pretty conversation to witness.
-
Some might call Alhaitham inconsiderate for his actions on this day, but he had made the decision long ago to see this through to the end. If he was wrong about this, he’d leave the situation alone for good and continue on with his life like nothing ever happened. However, if things went south, then it might be for the best that he was there. Not necessarily for research, though that’s what he’ll say when he gets asked about the records he took out a few days ago, but because Alhathaim is highly concerned with the state of how things are now. Last night Kaveh snapped at him in a way he hasn’t heard in a long time, and it’s stressing him out in more ways than one. Alhaitham likes his life. He liked how things were going, how things have always been, how he can walk into his living room and Kaveh is there, looking at him with nine different emotions going through his head, and he knows that eight of them are about him. He likes his everyday life, and likes the constant people he’s come to know, but perhaps things weren’t as simple as he had presumed. So he felt that some action was due on his part, if only to preserve the simplest things about his daily life.
He was sitting in the corner of the cafe, a spot that’s become his regular seat, his headphones at just the right setting so he could overhear their conversation as usual.
“As you know Kaveh, I’m grateful that you’ve taken my job offer, and I’ve come to really enjoy your company .” Alhaitham heard Araby say sweetly. He was looking at Kaveh with far too much sincerity. Alhathaim wondered when Kaveh became privy to such things.
“And I you Araby.” Kaveh said, clearly enjoying the attention.
“Well, you see…” Araby began to say, but Alhaitham struggled to hear him clearly. The conversation was no longer a steady volume, but was fluctuating at inconstant rates, which was affecting his ability to hear things in large chunks.
“You—” Alhaitham heard Kaveh say in response, but the words were getting jumbled, and he could tell the situation was escalating emotionally.
Araby seemed nervous, his hands fidgeting under the table. “I hope you understand where I’m coming from. I would love to get to know you on a more intimate level…”
And Oh. Alhathaim thought. He was going there .
At this point, Alhaitham was doing his best to adjust his headphones to match the level they were speaking at, but it was proving to be impossible, which is unfortunate because things were clearly getting incredibly interesting.
After what felt like an eternity, Alhaitham managed to alter his headphones to hear the two of them at a more stable level. Although it wasn’t a perfect transmission, he was able to catch Kaveh, who was flustered beyond belief, saying “I actually already have someone I’m… ” before the volume became unstable again.
Eventually, Alhaitham no longer needed his headphones, as their conversation was loud enough for just about anyone to hear.
Araby was clearly not used to handling Kaveh when he was upset, as he was stumbling over his words like he was carrying a stack of twenty books through the Avidia Forrest… blindfolded. It would have been comical if it was not so pitiful. “I can pay you of course.” He said. “It’s really no problem at all—”
And that was about as far as Araby had gotten before Kaveh had splashed the remainder of his drink in his face, right before walking out without a word, leaving the rest of the cafe, Araby included, speechless.
It’s funny in a way, as Alhaitham always thought Kaveh was one to spark conversation in people, for better or for worse. It was because of this thought that the juxtaposition of what had just happened was so dizzying to him.
Before he thought better of it, Alhaitham walked out of the cafe, following his roommate to whatever route he had taken for himself.
-
Alhaitham eventually found Kaveh back outside at their house (his house really), leaning forward against the railing that was looking out to the city. It was considerably dark now, the stars spread out above them, painting him a tragic picture.
Alhaitham walked up beside him, mirroring Kaveh’s posture as he leaned his arms against the railing in front of him as well, not looking at Kaveh despite wanting badly to do so, and it wasn’t for his typical, provocative reasoning either. It was the way a person knows that what they’ll see will make them uncomfortable, unsettled even, but yet they want to look anyway just to feel some sort of emotion that isn’t nothingness, just to verify their original prediction, because perhaps being right is something as opposed to nothing. It was like that.
Kaveh let out a breath through his nose once he noticed Alhaitham’s presence, not meeting his eyes either, though it was probably for a different reason. “I don’t want to talk about this with you.” He said, and although his tone had his usual bite, it was muted, like the gray of the sky when it rains.
Alhaitham didn’t say anything in retort, and instead let the silence simmer and settle, the seconds passing by like streams of water in the summer.
Kaveh didn’t say anything for a while either, his expression pained and full of all that was left unspoken, so much to say threatening to spill over like an overflow dam. Eventually, the silence must have been too much for him (he does like to talk after all), as he turned to Alhaitham with his lips pressed together and his eyebrows pinched in a way that wasn’t quite so familiar. “He has a wife Alhaitham. And yet he still wanted to—” Kaveh started but stopped, interrupted by his own thoughts, seemingly unsure of how to form them correctly into words. “I know how I come off sometimes, but to seriously think I would be okay with— I mean archons, Alhaitham, he wanted to pay me.” He said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Alhaitham was not surprised by this information, mostly because he saw it in Araby’s file that first day he went to check the records. When he inquired about him to some of his colleagues, they had mentioned he liked to… well, let’s say fraternize quite a bit, despite being married. He apparently had a type, a type that included tall, smart, men with confident strides and wistful personalities. However, Alhaitham is not cruel (usually), so he refrained from pointing any of this out at the moment. It wasn’t the time.
Before Kaveh could think twice, his eyebrow raised in confusion as a realization seemed to dawn on him suddenly. “Seriously though, what are you doing here? Here to gloat? To tell you I told you so ? Out with it already so I can go home and pretend this never happened.”
And, out of habit if nothing else, Alhaitham had the awful urge to say something along the lines of ‘your taste in men is awful’ or ‘Were his feeble attempts at flirting really so blind to you?’ because that is familiar to him. It’s easy. It’s what they always do. But if the past few days have taught Alhaitham anything, it’s that the same logic can only be used so many times before the circumstances require a different line of reasoning. So instead, for some reason (perhaps the temperature in the air was different), he didn’t say any of that. Instead, he stood up straight, no longer leaning on the railing, and gestured his head to the right. “Let’s go get a drink.” He said.
Kaveh apparently could not conceal his confusion nor surprise, as his eyes grew wide and his eyebrows scrunched together in all types of ways. He always was easy to read in that regard.
“What?” Kaveh asked, practically gaping.
Alhaitham resisted the urge to scoff. “I’ll pay, before you ask. I’m fully aware of your lack of mora.”
“No.” Kaveh said, shaking his head like he already knew where this was going. “I don’t want your drinks, or your mora, or your pity. I might as well change my name and live as a recluse.”
“You already live as a recluse.” Alhaitham noted. “And it’s not pity. I am incapable of such an emotion. You’ve only mentioned it hundreds of times.”
“I have, haven’t I?” Kaveh stated, apparently starting to like the idea of being right. “Fine, let’s go get drinks. It’ll be just like old times.” He said.
Alhaitham huffed a single breath from his nose, and perhaps it was as close to a laugh as someone like him can get. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” He said.
Kaveh laughed at that as they walked, though he’ll refuse to admit it later.
-
They had not been at Lambad's Tavern for very long before Alhaitham found himself with a mildly drunk Kaveh. He wasn’t… wasted per say, but he was getting there, and at this stage in Kaveh’s alcohol tolerance, he was getting quite chatty, more so than usual.
When they first arrived, Kaveh had avoided the topic of Araby like the plague. However, now with a drink (or two) in his system, his earlier regard for tactfulness had long been abandoned. Now, he was very close to crying, his face red as he poured his emotions out for Alhaitham to see, his demeanor slurred and tone of voice incredibly dramatic. Kaveh was a chatty drunk, and this was only the opening act. “The worst part is,” he said, “I thought he was my friend. That he liked my work.” He complained before sniffling back tears that hadn’t fallen yet. “That’s really the thing that hurts the most. Ever since the whole ‘Palace of Alcazarzaray’ business, it’s been so hard to find good work. You don’t know what it’s like to be a burden to everyone.” He sniffled again for good measure, then glared at Alhaitham almost like he had forgotten he was there in the first place. “Don’t look at me like that, it’s true. I have to rely on you of all people, which makes matters only so much worse. I just thought… I just wanted someone to actually appreciate what I do.” He said finally, taking another swig of his drink quickly, like that would change anything about the state of said current events.
Alhaitham took a conservative sip of his own drink, not daring to say anything less he ruin the moment. Like this, Kaveh will talk all on his own anyhow.
“And you.” He said, placing his empty glass down with a rather aggressive clink. “You’re absolutely no help at all.”
Ah, Alhaitham thought. Here it comes.
“I try so hard to do what I can, and all I get from you is that smart tongue of yours. I swear sometimes I can’t even tell that we used to be friends, that you used to like me at all. Especially when—” He stopped, almost like he was going to say too much but caught himself just in time… which was absolutely uncharacteristic of him, as drunk Kaveh’s tongue is never quite so tight lipped.
Alhaitham put his drink down. “When what?”
Kaveh shook his head, his lips pressed together as he was apparently no longer in rambling mode. “Nothing.” He said, like that was all there was to say.
Alhaitham, if nothing, is consistent amongst all else. He was now as curious as ever, and because his nature insists, he decided to probe this train of thought against his better judgment. “Don’t stop talking now. I didn’t pay for drinks for the silence treatment y’know.”
And in that moment, it was kind of funny how Alhaitham knew almost immediately, just based on Kaveh’s expression, that that was the worst thing he could have said then, which normally is exactly what Alhaitham is aiming to do. However the situation was tenser than normal, the friction in the air dense, and not the good kind.
“For once, could you not be the most annoying person in the room?” Kaveh asked loudly, now gaining the attention of the other patrons of the establishment. “You want to know so badly what I have to say? What I think about you? Is that it?” He asked, now fully standing up, knocking over his glass in the process.
And before Alhaitham could defuse the situation, Kaveh pressed his lips together like he was in pain, and perhaps in a way he was.
“I can’t believe there was a time when I loved you, you jerk.” He said, before walking out briskly, like a whirlwind, or like a storm.
Alhaitham sat there for a moment, not at all appreciating the deja vu that came to him in waves, before deciding that he would not make the same mistake twice, and followed Kaveh out, running to catch up with him.
-
They were almost back at their house, right by that familiar set of railing in fact, when Alhaitham had caught up to his roommate, although Kaveh seemed very intent on walking as quickly away from him as feasibly possible.
“Kaveh.” Alhaitham stated as he walked, trying to match his pace.
“Go. Away.” Kaveh said without turning around. “I’m drunk, and I’m sad, and I’m very upset with you.”
Alhaitham walked faster. “Kaveh.” He repeated.
“What part of ‘go-away-I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you’ do you fail to understand?”
“None of it.” He said before grabbing Kaveh’s wrist and forcing the two of them to an abrupt stop. “I just don’t care.”
Kaveh scoffed dramatically, and Alhaitham could tell he had been crying. His eyes were puffy and his voice was hoarse. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself, do you? I bet those ‘friends’ of yours the other day were just paid actors.” He said, referring to the Traveler and Paimon whomst he had brought over briefly to answer some questions they had. Amazing he remembers that now of all times.
“You talk too much.” Alhaitham said, the hold on Kaveh’s wrist still strong, though the latter didn’t seem too intent on getting out of it.
“I talk too much? Rich. Absolutely rich.”
“Listen. You have a few things wrong about me.”Alhaitham said, looking Kaveh in the eyes. “I do have other things I care about.”
“Oh. And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“What do I have to gain from lying?” He asked simply, and before Kaveh could interrupt him once again, continued his own explanation through what can only be considered brute force. “Here’s the truth: Five days ago I overheard your conversation with Araby. I immediately researched him in the Academia records of my own accord. I then proceeded to purposefully catch a glimpse of your project in your room under the guise of an accident.”
“So you were snooping—”
“Afterwards, I eavesdropped on multiple of your conversations. I researched his family, his acquaintances, and past lovers. I knew his intentions almost immediately.”
Kaveh’s expression shifted at that, the few seconds of silence that followed notably loud as the inner workings of his brain tried to make connections, though he still seemed more confused than ever. “So… what? You went through all this trouble just to humiliate me?”
Alhaitham swallowed, slightly resenting the amount of explanation this was all requiring. “No.” He said eventually.
“Then why would you—” Kaveh started, then stopped, the realization dawning on his face almost instantaneously. “Oh.” He said simply. “You can’t be serious. This isn’t funny. I know you were never funny but this attempt at a joke is absolutely—”
“I’m not joking.” Alhaitham said, his hold on Kaveh’s wrist still firm. “You know that.”
Kaveh’s face was full of those nine emotions again, and at least half of them were related to the absolute disbelief of the situation, Alhaitham’s sure. “You’re an idiot.” He said eventually. “You’re a huge idiot. Can you believe the Acting Grand Sage of Sumeru, the Nation of Wisdom, is such an idiot?” He asked no one in particular, the look on his face both incredibly tired and slightly amused… and perhaps a little delirious. It had been a long night after all.
Alhaitham opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the wave of Kaveh’s hand, a gesture that meant something along the lines of ‘shut up.’
“No,” he said, “it’s my turn to talk, and I have a question. Are you trying to tell me, in your own twisted way, that you did all of that because you were jealous?”
And after years of playing this little game of theirs, all it took was one second of Alhaitham’s silent hesitation to out him, because Alhaitham never hesitates, especially when he has a prime opportunity to rile Kaveh up with smart comments that cut right where it hurts served to him on a golden platter, garnished and marinated. It would be all too easy. So hesitating for even a second was much too scandalous for Kaveh not to notice, because for all the time Alhaitham had spent paying attention to him, Kaveh had done the same.
“You were. You’re awful. Horrible, actually. I’ve always known it.” He said, the ground beneath his feet apparently incredibly interesting to him all of a sudden. “We really need to work on your communication skills.”
“My communication skills are just fine.”
“They’re only ‘just fine’ when you have something mean and sarcastic to say. Anything meaningful that might be floating around in that evil little head of yours unfortunately gets lost in translation.” He explained, now looking at Alhaitham once again, because perhaps it was easier for them to face one another when they were arguing about something. Though, his cheeks were dusted with that shade of pink that’s become familiar, and Alhaitham could see Kaveh’s Adam’s apple bob from nervousness. He was acting shy, and Alhaitham had the urge to drink it all up if such a thing was possible.
“Kaveh.” He said, using the name like he never has before.
“What?”
And before either of them could say anything more, Alhaitham had backed Kaveh up against the railing in a single step, both hands grabbing onto the cold metal on either side of his roommate, trapping Kaveh as Alhaitham brought his face closer. “Stop talking.” He said in almost a whisper, and he could feel Kaveh’s breath on his face.
Kaveh was looking at Alhaitham with a look that was somehow better than any other look he’s received these past couple of years, and before either of them could think twice, Kaveh closed the distance between them.
It was a hungry kiss, a kiss that’s probably been in the working for many, many years, which would explain the feverishness of it. Kaveh’s hands were around Alhaitham’s neck, his lips moving and pressing and sucking against Alhaitham’s bottom lip. He opened his mouth for Alhaitham almost immediately, humming against him as the tempo increased and the heat went up in temperature.
At some point, Kaveh’s hands found Alhaitham’s hair and he pulled, which caused the hold Alhaitham had on Kaveh’s waist to tighten, and neither of them slowed down. Alhaitham felt Kaveh’s warm hands on his face, his fingers still lightly tugging on his hair in a very impressive multitask, their breathing heavy and for once, Alhaitham had trouble thinking at all.
“I really do loathe you, y’know?” Kaveh mumbled against Alhaitham’s mouth, neither of them too keen on the idea of pulling away.
Alhaitham let out a laugh that was about as big as a single exhale of his breath, though he was not exactly keen on pulling away either. “Of course.” He said, smiling as Kaveh’s kiss against his bottom lip turned into some kind of bite, which turned into a suck, all of which Alhaitham will deny enjoying later.
They kissed against the railing for a long time after that, the amount of time impossible to tell as they were much too interested in each other and discovering just how much longer they could pretend the seconds weren’t passing. It was a game they had never played before, but Alhaitham has never been one to back down to Kaveh in all the years he’s known him, and he was not about to start now.
At some point, reality must have caught up to Kaveh, as he broke the kiss to look at Alhaitham with a narrowed expression, one filled with suspicion, though it didn’t have the same usual effect with his lips bruised red and his flush all too apparent, even under the sunless sky. “Wait.” He said, his arms still around Alhaitham’s neck. “This isn’t going to be some weird friends-with-benefits thing right, because if it wasn’t obvious, I have no interest in—”
Alhaitham rolled his eyes. “What part of earlier gave you the impression that was what I wanted? I know you have comprehension issues but—”
“I can’t help it, alright.” Kaveh snapped. “You in particular give me trust issues as well as chronic migraines. It’s a miracle I put up with you at all.”
Alhaitham responded by kissing him quiet, which was a new tool under his belt that he found to be quite effective, and daresay, better than any snappy retort he could have come up with.
Kaveh was flushed and red and humming against him sweetly, his arms around Alhaitham’s neck and his mouth only so happy to meet Alhaitham’s over and over. At some point, Alhaitham’s mouth traveled down the side of Kaveh’s face and to the patch of skin right under his ear, pressing deep kisses there before biting and sucking, his teeth hard against Kaveh’s soft skin.
He felt Kaveh shudder lightly under him at that, before Alhaitham felt a hard tug in hair from Kaveh’s fingers. “Hey.” He whispered. “Hey. Let’s go inside. I’m uncomfortable with the idea of an audience.”
Alhaitham huffed. “Surprising, considering how vain you are.” He said, removing his mouth from Kaveh due to request, though Kaveh, despite everything, followed Alhaitham’s lips closely, only centimeters apart. In another life, Alhaitham would have taken the opportunity to make fun of him for it, but he didn’t, simply because he liked the sensation of whatever this was much more. This was another thing they had never done before.
“I’m a romantic, I’ll have you know—” Kaveh said before Alhaitham pressed another kiss to his mouth, which they both smiled against. Alhaitham can’t remember the last time they both indulged in so many obvious displays of fondness, especially when their hands were all over each other like separating at any point would be painful. “You’re the… mmph … worst —” Kaveh mumbled against him, but his hands were on Alhaitham’s collar, and he was grabbing him hard, pulling him against him like he didn’t want to stop.
They kissed with that level of heat all the way to their door, bumping against the wall and some archon forsaken pot that was in the way. Somehow, they managed to open the door without detaching from one another and stumbled through their house without bothering to turn on the lights, because obviously they had other pressing matters to attend to.
Kaveh pulled Alhaitham to his room by the collar, and Alhaitham’s hands busied themself by discovering the curves and arches of Kaveh’s waist, liking the softness of his skin under his shirt.
Alhaitham felt a hard tug as Kaveh pulled him down onto bed, Kaveh under him with his arms now around his neck again and his legs beginning to wrap themselves around Alhaitham’s waist.
Alhaitham’s mouth eventually found its way back to the spot of skin under Kaveh’s ear, and he wasted no time sucking and biting there until the skin turned red.
Kaveh’s voice in that moment was unreplicatable, unique to only that second as he whined against Alhaitham’s body.
“I want to do so many awful things to you right now.” He said, his voice strained and trying to sound unaffected, but they were both far past pretending they were anything but.
It caused Alhaitham to laugh a little with the exhale of his breath. “The feeling is mutual.” He said, before letting his hands wander under the confines of Kaveh’s shirt, his mouth very interested in the skin on Kaveh’s neck and down his shoulder.
Kaveh made another noise that Alhaitham wanted to hear on repeat, drinking up the moment like he had never had it before, and in a way, he hadn’t. Not like this anyhow, for this night was a delicious concoction of heat and a want so desperate it was hard to breathe. Alhaitham savored it like he does all things, and for each touch and kiss and heavy breath against his skin he felt that night, he made sure to return the favor in due time.
-
Alhaitham woke to the soft light in Kaveh’s room gently prying his eyes open, the body next to him warm and breathing steadily. Alhaitham’s arm was slung over him, both his and Kaveh’s shirt long gone in the whirlwind of the night before. His skin felt nice against the touch of another person, and Alhaitham breathed easier when he felt Kaveh begin to stir lightly against him.
“Oh,” Kaveh said as he came to. “That wasn’t a nightmare.” he mumbled against his sheets, inching closer to Alhaitham’s body heat despite himself.
“No, unfortunately not.” He replied as he moved more into Kaveh’s space to kiss the red mark he left on Kaveh’s skin last night, the one right below his ear. It was a softer motion, one that lingered, perhaps because a part of Alhaitham wanted it to last longer than the moment itself could provide.
Kaveh hummed against the sensation, clearly liking the way it felt. He pulled Alhaitham closer, encouraging more of whatever it was he was doing, and Alhaitham didn’t say anything about it, but instead let himself savor the warmth of the skin beneath him.
“What you said yesterday…” Kaveh said, his voice still groggy due to the early hour. “... that wasn’t some kind of sick joke, right? Because if so, your sense of humor needs some serious work.”
Alhaitham removed his mouth from Kaveh’s skin to hold himself up by the elbow, looking down at his roommate in the eye. “How many times must I explain this to you?” He asked flatly.
“Once, actually.” Kaveh said, his stare narrow. “I don’t believe you explained anything to me yesterday. All you did was confess all the strange, stalker-like tendencies that you’ve committed and expected me to come to my own conclusions based on the presented evidence. None of which actually explains anything.” He said, a knowing smile gracing his lips. “So say it.”
Alhaitham frowned, his own expression betraying him as he placed both of his hands on either side of Kaveh’s body, looking down at him, wanting desperately to kiss such a look off his face. “If you make me say it, I will kick you out of my house.” He said.
Kaveh’s eyebrows furrowed. “You owe me.”
“Actually, you owe me.” Alhaitham said, and leaned down to kiss that smile away. However, Kaveh placed his hand on his mouth right before their lips touched, stopping the motion in its tracks.
He was giving Alhaitham this look, and because he knows Kaveh better than most, he knows what that look means. It roughly translates to something along the lines of ‘I'm serious about this’ and also ‘I think you’re being incredibly insufferable.’ Either translation works in this case.
Alhaitham pressed his lips together as he moved Kaveh’s hand from his mouth to the side of his face, liking the way it felt against his cheek. “I want this. I’ve wanted this. For a long time.” He said before slowly kissing the inside of Kaveh’s palm once. “Satisfied?”
Kaveh’s face was flushed red, and the color went all the way down his neck, though the expression he was wearing was somehow so much more enjoyable than any shade of red he could have been. “I suppose it will have to do,” he said “even though you have no sense of romance at all.”
Alhaitham moved in to finally kiss him silent, the motion slow and steady, like the tick of the hour hand of a clock. It was very much not the way they had kissed each other last night, but that in itself wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kaveh made all sorts of amazing noises when Alhaitham kissed him like this, and he had no intention of letting himself forget the sharps and flats of such a tune.
When they finally broke apart, Kaveh simply stared up at him with upset eyes, though because Alhaitham is an expert in all expressions Kaveh has in his arsenal, he recognized the underlying layer of fondness in the look he was wearing as well, which was something Alhaitham may have failed to pick up on in the past. But now, with Kaveh looking up at him like this, his hair slightly damp where it’s pressed against his skin, his lips plump from kissing, and his face flushed henna berry red, it’s a wonder how Alhaitham never noticed it sooner.
Alhaitham must have been staring, as Kaveh’s own stare grew flat. “Just the sight of you makes me mad.” He grumbled, his fingers now running softly through Alhaitham’s hair. “Incredible.”
Alhaitham smiled knowingly before leaning down and kissing him again, because as things stand, that’s something he’s allowed to do from now on, and he plans on taking full advantage of it. “I guess I’ll have to spend the rest of my life making you upset then.” He said like a challenge, but also like a confession, because maybe for them, some kind of mixture of the two was the best way to communicate for now.
Kaveh scrunched his eyebrows together suspiciously however. “When did you learn to be so sweet?” He asked, still running his fingers through Alhaitham’s hair. “I’m confident it’s raining somewhere in the desert by now.”
“Your conclusions are baseless and untrue, as usual.”
Kaveh laughed, his arms now fully around Alhaitham’s neck. “It must be embarrassing for you then, considering you're in bed with me.”
Alhaitham, though he understood the logic, somehow found himself disagreeing nonetheless. “Somehow, I think I’ll manage.” He said, before kissing Kaveh’s smirk away once again.