Chapter Text
Hours passed since the disarrayed interaction between the pair, which ended in the Grand Sage retreating to his own room, slamming each and every thing that came in his way.
In an unsettling, darkened room, Al Haitham sat on the edge of his office chair, clicking his heels in anxiousness. He knew that any minute now, a resounding ring would come from the door, and it would be no other than the General Mahamatra himself, there in the middle of the ruthless night in all his glory to convey the architect to his newly destined home, which the sage knew absolutely nothing of.
The worst part was that Al Haitham, with all his authority and possessed power, had absolutely no say in the General Mahamatra's decisions whatsoever.
It made perfect sense as to why Kaveh specifically chose Cyno to escort him to his new home: he was too aware of the nonexistent authority Al Haitham had over Cyno, thus giving him no chance to interfere with the decision that the Mahamatra would arrive with, all led by Kaveh.
The sage found it aggravating and somewhat unbelievable that all of the planning his roommate had put into preparation was all to get away from him. All to leave. All because of him.
Al Haitham held his head in his arms, gripping his hair furiously. If only he could reverse everything. If only he could apologize. If only time didn't pass so quickly.
An ear-piercing ring echoed through the walls of the silent home, and intense shivers rolled down Al Haitham's spine. He immediately stood up, sprinting out of his room and to the door. He runs with all of his might; maybe if he blocked the door, Kaveh wouldn't leave. Maybe if he-
"Greetings, Grand Sage Al Haitham."
Too late.
Once again, he was way too late.
"G-General Mahamatra." Al Haitham sputters, "What brings you here at this hour?"
"I am here to assist Architect Kaveh." Cyno informs the sweating mess of a man, "I have the order with me if you wish to be reassured."
"Yes. I wish to see the order." Al Haitham spits out, not thinking his words through. Cyno narrows his eyes at the sage, then pushes aside his extravagant black robes, revealing a tightly rolled scroll. He firmly hands the scroll to Al Haitham, who takes no hesitation in ripping the paper open.
"The Sages of The Sumeru Akademiya grant the divine innovator of the Palace of Alcazarzaray full permission and freedom of choice as of
living conditions as used by the assistance of the General Mahamatra.
Approved and signed by the Governing Body of Sumeru."
Al Haitham stares at the declaration in bewilderment; the sages granted him permission? Why in Teyvat was he not informed? How long have his colleagues known of Kaveh's plans?
Al Haitham skims the scroll once again, biting his lips in rage.
"... The assistance of the General Mahamatra.."
He knew this would happen. He knew it without a doubt.
Cyno pulls the scroll out of Al Haitham's hands, re-rolling it into the untouched script it once was, "I hope scrutinizing the scroll was enough to prove how critical this situation is."
Al Haitham shakes his head, "I was not made aware of any of these procedures."
"That is because these procedures are listed under the conditions of privacy for the individual requesting them." Cyno snarls.
"I was supposed to be informed either way!" Al Haitham slams his fist against his own chest, "I am the Grand Sage! I am required to know everything regarding the Akademiya!"
"You are nothing more than a cold hearted fool." Cyno howls back, pointing his finger at the estranged sage, "Architect Kaveh's personal matters mean nothing to you."
"And who are you to come to that conclusion?"
"The man who has noticed nothing but your demeaning and manipulative ways towards the Architect."
Al Haitham steps back in shock, the words stolen off of his tongue. Once again, he was held aback by the truth he so hardly failed to realize.
"I severely apologize for making you wait, General Mahamatra."
The two sparring men turn to the worn out voice, who was no other than Kaveh dragging a large suitcase behind him.
"It is no problem, Architect Kaveh." Cyno nods, signalling towards the door, "Please, after you."
"No - No!" Al Haitham interrogates, "No! I in no way allow this!"
"Grand Sage, the declaration has already been made." Cyno interrupts, "It is far too late for any changes to be made."
"It is not too late to make changes!" A desperate Al Haitham turns to the blonde man, "Right, Kaveh? We can still -"
"No, I agree with the General Mahamatra."
The sage bites his lip, "W-What?"
"I said, I agree with the General Mahamatra. I would very much prefer to abide by the declaration."
"We will not be arriving on time if we do not leave as soon as possible." Cyno turns to Kaveh, "I will be waiting outside."
Kaveh nods, handing the stuffed suitcase to Cyno, who carries the luggage impeccably. He gives Kaveh one last nod before stepping out of the door, leaving the pair alone.
"Kaveh, Kaveh." Al Haitham grasps the man's hands, "You have to stay. You can't -"
"Can't you see that it is too late to be saying all of this?"
Al Haitham's dilating eyes focus on Kaveh's, "Kaveh, please, you can't leave me alone. You can't leave me like this. You can't -"
The sage's desperate pleas are interrupted by the sudden sensation of a cold object in his hand. Al Haitham looks into the palm of his hands, his face turning paler than before.
Their paired house keys.
"These are the complete, polished set. I apologize for forgetting them often. You won't need to ask me about their whereabouts again."
"No, no. Keep them." Al Haitham places the keys back into Kaveh's palms, "So that when you long to stay here again, you can enter any time you please."
"That would be an act of intrusion." Kaveh insists, urging the keys back into Al Haitham's hands, "I wouldn't want to cause a disturbance since this will no longer be my home."
Al Haitham's heart shattered piece by piece upon hearing the words, looking at the keys then back at his roommate. No words came out of his stunned self, nothing but brimming, damp eyes filled the room.
Kaveh draws his figure closer to the door, placing a hand on the doorknob. He was seconds away from opening the door until he felt a firm, tight grip on his wrist.
The blonde man sighs, turning around, unprepared for another useless talk, "Al Haitham, please -"
Al Haitham crashes his lips on Kaveh's, gripping the ends of his blonde hair. Kaveh's eyes widen, and he immediately pushes the man away.
"K-Kaveh, I'm so -" Al Haitham places a hand over his mouth, "I didn't -"
"Leave it as a memory, Al Haitham." Kaveh whispers, "Leave us as a memory."
Al Haitham falls to his knees, and Kaveh is quick to turn away from the helpless man.
"Goodbye, Grand Sage Al Haitham."
Before anything else could be said, Kaveh shuts the door to his past home, wiping away the tears crowding at the brim of his eyes.
"Kaveh, are you alright?" Cyno questions, placing a hand on the architect's shoulder, "You were in there for quite the while, and it wasn't too quiet either."
"I need to leave this place."
Cyno nods without question, "Then, let us be on our way."
Both Kaveh and Cyno start their depart away from the maddened Sage's home. Kaveh hugs his shoulders, urging himself to not look back for the last time.
"I know what you are thinking of, Kaveh."
Kaveh flinches, not answering,
"Look at your home again. It may be the very last time."
Kaveh's eyes widen, and he turns his full body around with no hesitation, taking in the full sight of his past home. Countless memories flashed before his red, weeping eyes: drunken nights, card games, lost keys, tear-filled fights, late projects, postponed lunches, and him.
Him.
Kaveh sobs, running away from the home. Cyno chases behind him, shouting his name, but Kaveh couldn't stop; he couldn't bear to look at the house again, nevertheless it being the last.