Chapter Text
Al Haitham was pretty sure he was dead.
When he opened his eyes he was assaulted by blinding white lights. He looked around the room to see nothing but white and blues. It was blinding. But he felt good. Almost like he was floating.
He was sad about dying. He was at least hoping to make it fifty. Now Kaveh was probably grieving. Maybe he could visit him as a ghost or something. That might work.
“You’re not dead Al Haitham,” A voice said to him.
A pair of emerald ears picked from the side of the room. “Tighnari?”
“Glad to see you awake.” Tighnari brought a thermometer to his mouth. “Open.”
Al Haitham obeyed as the glass was pressed under his tongue. Tighnari looked tired. Both his hair and tail looked disheveled. Eye bags as dark as night hung down.
Tighanri took the thermometer out. “Better than earlier.”
“You look tired.” Al Haitham stated.
“I am.” Tighnari rubbed his eyes. “I’d love to ta-”
“Where’s Kaveh?” Al Haitham interrupted. The memories from before came flooding back. He needed to know that this was the real Kaveh.
“Oh, um, he’s getting his injuries taken ca-” Tighnari explained.
“Can I see him?” Al Haitham interrupted again. He swore he saw Tighnari’s eye twitch.
“Like I was saying, Kaveh is getting wounds dr-” Al Haitham tried to get up but Tighnari pushed him back. “Are you crazy?”
“I just need to see Kaveh.” Al Haitham laid back down. “Make sure he’s real.”
“Ummm,” Tighnari gave him a small pat on the shoulder as he looked rather puzzled. “Ok. I will go see if Kaveh is good to go. Just stay here, okay?”
“Okay.”
“You’re good to go.” The doctor finished dressing the last scratch on his leg. “You’re clear of tetanus and rabies; but if you feel sick come back immediately.”
“Understood.”
Kaveh sighed as he placed the ice pack back on his eye. He should be happy. Al Haitham was back and was being taken care of as he speaked. So why was he so anxious? Lumine had teleported them back to the Akademiya to get them back in time. Especially with how much his vision had dimmed in that short time.
He was still feeling anxious though. Maybe because of what Al Haitham did? Obviously, he had to do it. He hated to admit it, but he was losing that fight. If Al Haitham hadn’t gotten involved then they’d be screwed. But watching him bludgeon that man's skull, a man that looked exactly like him, made him feel…uneasy.
“Kaveh?” Tighnari walked in as Kaveh turned.
“You look tired.” Kaveh said as Tighnari approached. “Maybe you should rest?”
“Can’t.” Tighnari yawned. “Cyno is about to be brought in and I need to help the scholars figure out the ingredients in that serum.”
“They can’t get someone else?” Kaveh asked. Tighnari looked like he was about to keel over. “Did you even sleep last night?”
“Partially.” Tighnari fought to keep his eyes open. “I almost forgot. Your boyfriend wants to see you.”
“He’s okay?” Kaveh felt his heart swell.
“He’ll live.” Tighnari explained. “But he’s definitely going to be bedridden for the next few weeks. His knee was broken on one leg and the other was fractured. Arm and wrist broken. Concussed. He’ll definitely need to be tested for psychosis with the amount of serum that was in his system. But once he recovers he’ll be back to regular old Haitham.”
“That’s….” Kaveh, sighed, “a lot.”
“It is.” Tighnari said. “He’s getting paid leave for the next two months. They’ll even get him a nurse to help him.”
“I’ll do it.” Kaveh said.
“Kaveh,” Tighnari gave a sympathetic glance. “I know you care about Al Haitham but we're talking about round-the-clock care. You’ll have to help bath, use the bathroom, and maybe eat too since he broke his dominant hand.”
“It’s fine.” It was the least he could do. This mess was his fault.
Tighnari just sighed. “Feel like you’ll have to learn this the hard way.” Tighnari walked towards the door. “Come on. I’ll take you to his room.”
“Heads up,” Tighnari opened the door for him. “He’s pretty loopy.”
“Can’t be that bad.”
Al Haitham was rational. Even when he was drunk you wouldn’t notice unless you heard him slurring. And even then, he might not even do that.
“He was speaking his thoughts out loud.” Tighnari deadpanned. “Trust me he’s loopy.”
Kaveh rolled his eyes as he walked into the room. Seeing Al Haitham like this made his heart ache. While he looked better compared to when he found him in that cell it still hurt. Both of his legs were wrapped up in a cast. Multiple bandages were covering his arms and chest. His eyes black with hints of blue.
“He’s sleeping?” Tighnari watched as Al Haitham’s chest rose and fell softly. “I’ve only been gone ten minutes.”
“Can I just stay then?” Kaveh picked up a chair and brought it to Al Haitham’s bedside. “I’ll be here watching him.”
“That’s fine.” Tighnari looked at a clock and sighed. “I have to go. Just be patient with him.”
Tighnari left, leaving Kaveh and Al Haitham alone. Kaveh sighed as he rested a hand on the Scribe’s chest, rubbing small circles around it.
“Al Haitham, I’m so sorry.” Kaveh looked at the sleeping Scribe. His beautiful smooth skin now littered in cuts and bruises. Tears started to fall from the architect's face. “None of this would happen if it wasn’t for me. I always get people caught up in my problems. I never meant for you to get caught up in them too.”
A hand grabbed onto his wrist as Kaveh looked to see turquoise eyes staring back at him.
“Haitham you’re up.” Al Haitham didn’t respond and just stared at his hand confused. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I know I'm an attractive man but nurse I have a boyfriend.” Al Haitham threw Kaveh’s hand aside as the architect watched in amusement.
Did…did Al Haitham think he was a nurse? “Haitham,” Kaveh prodded as he rested his hand on the Scribe’s shoulder. “I am your boyfriend.”
Al Haitham stared at him for a long time until a dopey grin appeared. “Hi Kaveh.”
What the hell did they give him? “Hi to you too.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“Why were you rubbing my chest?”
Kaveh felt his cheeks warm. “I-I-I was just trying to comfort you.”
“Kaveh?” Al Haitham gave him this stupid smirk that Kaveh was trying not to laugh at. “I know the real reason you were feeling me up.”
“‘Feeling me up?’” Kaveh repeated. “How high are you?”
“What?”
“How high are you?”
“Hi.”
Well that answers that. “Al Haitham, I was just comforting you. Nothing else.”
“I know you can’t resist my body Kaveh.” He’s lost his mind. “But we're in the hospital room. That’s not acceptable. Besides, I'm pretty sure I can’t engage in such activities.”
“You think?” Kaveh looked at the three casts along Al Haithams body.
“You see…I haven’t really felt anything. Which I don’t think is a good thing.”
“Well, you’re on painkillers.” Kaveh stated as Al Haitham nodded. He looked so stupid…it was cute. “Kind of the point.”
“That makes sense.” Al Haitham nodded. “Oh right I needed to ask you something!”
“What?”
“I forgot.”
Kaveh laughed. “Already?”
A finger shushed him. “Quiet! I need to think!”
“Don’t yell in the hospital.”
“Shhhh!” Al Haitham hushed him again. “I remember.” Al Haitham glared at him suspiciously. “Are you the real Kaveh?”
“Shouldn’t you not ask me if you think I'm fake?” Those painkillers were definitely doing a number on Al Haitham’s IQ.
“Don’t get smart!” Al Haitham yelled. “Answer!”
“Stop yelling in the hospital.” Kaveh couldn’t stop the smile that was growing. “Obviously, I’m the real one. Only the real me can deal with your antics without killing you.”
“That’s true.” Al Haitham seemed to be deep in thought. “What’s my least favorite food?”
“Really? Trivia about you?” Couldn’t blame him though.
“Answer.”
“It’s soup.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes it hard to read.”
Al Haitham narrowed his eyes. “What’s my favorite food?”
“As you said: ‘Taste supersedes presentation, else you risk overcomplicating the purpose of the food.’” Kaveh did his best impression of the Scribe. The Scribe however did not like it.
“What an awful impression.” Al Haitham groaned. “You’re definitely the real one.”
“Told you.” Kaveh scratched at one of the cuts from the foxes.
“You shouldn’t scratch your injuries.” Al Haitham pulled Kaveh’s hand away from his face. The Scribe tracing the lines on his hand. “It’ll probably infect them or something.”
“You’re probably right but they itch.” In fact, quite a few were itching him right now. “Stupid foxes.”
“How’d you get all those marks anyway?”
“That stupid clone thing kicked one of their kits and the foxes thought I was him.” Kaveh shook his head. “I got jumped by like twenty of them.”
A small small grew on the Scribe’s face as Kaveh watched him with disapproving stare. He didn’t get drugged, attacked by foxes, and then witnessed a duplicate of himself get brutally beaten; just for Al Haitham to get a laugh.
“Don’t.”
Al Haitham bit down on his lip as Kaveh continued to glare.
“Al Haitham.” Kaveh ordered. “Don’t do it.”
Al Haitham started laughing. Not his normal chuckle or giggle. A full blown laugh.
“It’s not funny!” Kaveh yelled as Al Haitham snorted. The Akademiya’s Scribe was snorting. Oh he wished he had his camera. Even he had to resist the urge to laugh. “Stop it! I risk my life to save you!”
“Excuse me,” A young nurse opened the door. “Please quiet down, there are other patients.”
“Of course.” Kaveh apologized as Al Haitham calmed down. “Won’t happen again.”
The nurse left as Al Haitham turned to him. “You shouldn’t yell in a hospital.”
Al Haitham was sleeping in his bed while Tighnari was showing Kaveh all the medicine he’d need to take.
“This is for the next two weeks. This is for his bruises. Headaches in case he has any. If he develops a fever, get a doctor in case it’s an infected wound.”
“This is a lot of medicine.” Kaveh picked up one of the pill bottles. “What if he doesn’t want it?”
“Trust me,” Tighnari still didn’t look any better. His eye bags were even deeper than before. “Once they wear off he’ll be asking to take them.”
“If that’s what you say,” Kaveh shrugged as Tighnari sat on the couch. “You sure you’ll be able to make it back to your house? You look like you’re going to collapse.”
Tighnari’s eyes had drifted close but he hadn’t fallen asleep. “I might rest my eyes here for a minuteeee..” Tighnari’s voice trailed off as his head sagged.
Kaveh laid Tighnari down and rest a throw blanket on him. “Sweet dreams Tigh.”
The architect found himself in Al Haitham’s room. He watched fondly as the Scribe’s chest slowly raised and fell. He was starting to get better. Barely any cuts were apparent on the scribe's face and arms. His breathing was smooth and clear and he was able to move his left arm (the only appendage that wasn’t broken) pretty well. He was just happy to see the Scribe back safe and sound.
What should he do with his time now? He’d done all the cleaning earlier. He didn’t have any new clients. Nothing involving the Akademiya. Couldn’t cook dinner yet it wasn’t even one. Can’t make lunch either because he ate with Al Haitham at the hospital earlier.
Did he really not have anything to do?
“Kaveh?” Al Haitham called softly.
“Thank god.” Kaveh entered Al Haitham’s room expecting to see him wide awake and asking something ridiculous. However, he was still asleep with a troubled look on his face.
“Oh you were sleeptalking.” Kaveh laid on the other side of the bed and gently patted Al Haitham’s head. Surprisingly, he nuzzled his head into the architect's hand. “Aw, isn’t that cute.”
Well, he had nothing to do for a while. He looked around the room as his gaze fell on a book on Al Haitham’s nightstand. It was the same one he was reading before everything happened. He leaned over and grabbed the book. Smooth black leather graced his fingers as he read the title decorated in gold trim.
“The Theories of Our World: Our Existence and Pursuit for Knowledge.” Just the title made his head hurt. “Al Haitham you are truly an oddity.” He opened the book and had to squint to read the first word. “I need my glasses.”
Al Haitham and Kaveh had developed a routine.
Al Haitham wasn’t all that challenging to take care of once you get a gist into how his mind works. Especially, when his mind is altered by painkillers.
Like bathing. Al Haitham obviously wasn’t happy about taking a sponge bath. He didn’t blame him either. But they tend to get into a small argument everyday about it. He couldn’t tell if Al Haitham just liked to piss him off in the morning or if he genuinely forgets why he can’t take a shower or bath. And if it was the latter then he should probably take Al Haitham to the doctor about the possible brain damage he has.
After the sixth bath he realized that Al Haitham just needed to vent about it. Kaveh started to keep quiet when the subject was brought up and it worked. Al Haitham didn’t seem to mind it anymore either.
Cooking was easy. Al Haitham for whatever reason just wanted bread. Not bread and butter. Just plain bread. At first Kaveh didn’t mind as long as he ate. But after the fifth day of only eating bread he had to stop him. One night he ate next to Al Haitham in bed and found out that Al Haitham was a bit like a child…he wanted something when he saw you had it. Now he always has an extra plate for Al Haitham next to him.
Entertaining him was also easy. Al Haitham slept through the day because of the painkillers. Honestly it's a miracle if he stays awake for breakfast. When he is up he’d just stare at random things for a prolonged period of time. It freaked him out but as long as he wasn’t causing trouble for himself. He tried to read but he either gave up because it was too complicated (never thought he’d heard the Scribe say that) or fell asleep reading it and then forgot everything he read.
Right now Al Haitham was watching Kaveh sketch flowers. Kaveh could feel the Scribe’s eyes boring down on him and not the picture he was making.
“Why are you staring at me?” Kaveh asked.
“If a clone of yourself asked you to have sex with it would you?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“So, I was thinking about what happened. Let’s say a double of you came to you. What would you do? Would you bring them in as a sibling? Would this double have the same personality and morals as you? Similar desires? Does it share memories?”
“Alrighttt,” Kaveh got up and pulled the blanket over Al Haitham. “Time to take a nap.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” Al Haitham yelled even though his eyes were starting to droop. “I’m a grown man!”
“You’re literally falling asleep.”
“Not because you told me.” Al Haitham nuzzled his head into the pillow. “I just feel sleepy.”
“Sweet dreams.”
“Don’t tell me what to dream about.”
“Fine,” Kaveh crossed his arms. “Have horrendous nightmares.”
Al Haitham did in fact have a nightmare.
“I killed you!” Al Haitham sobbed into Kaveh’s chest as he rubbed a hand on the Scribes back. “I thought I had killed the real you!”
“It’s okay,” Kaveh tenderly scratched his head. “You didn’t kill the real me. It’s okay. Everything is fine.”
“But I still killed someone!” Al Haitham gripped into the architects back, Kaveh had to stop himself from groaning. He was sure that Al Haitham’s nail drew blood but he needed the comfort.
“I know,” Kaveh said. “I wish you didn’t have to do that; but it was self defense. You had no other choice.”
“I still feel bad.” Al Haitham groaned. “I still can’t believe I was so..” He trailed off.
“Brutal?” Kaveh played around in the Scribe’s silver locks. “I’m going to be by you’re side all day okay?”
A sudden knock on the door interrupted Kaveh’s thoughts. It was probably Tighnari. He wanted to check up on him.
“I need to go that’s Tighnari.” Kaveh pried Al Haitham off him.
“You just said you wouldn’t?”
“It’s only a minute.”
“You’re a liar!” Al Haitham started to cry.
“Calm down.” Kaveh walked through the doorway. “I’ll be right back.”
He heard a groan as he went to open the door. Of course he was expecting Tighnari but not Cyno and Collei. Cyno looked better than he had before with only a small bandage on the side of his head. Collie, the sweetheart she is, brought pardisarahs.
“Cyno, you look better.” Kaveh welcomed them in.
“Yeah, I’ve had many concussions so this is nothing.”
“Don’t brag about that.” Tighnari scolded. “You’re going to have dementia before you’re thirty at this rate.”
“I brought flowers.” Collei handed the bouquet to him. “How’s Al Haitham?”
“Oh he’s fine.” Kaveh waved off. “He’s sleeping, he’s eating, and he’s-”
“Kaveh!” Al Haitham yelled. “It’s been a minute!”
“-clingy.” Kaveh shook his head. “So clingy.”
“Kaveh complaining about affection?” Tighnari pretends to be shocked. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
“It’s been like this for a while.” Kaveh groaned. “I like it but…it’s so tiring. He hugs really tight.”
“Kaveh!”
“I’m coming!”
“You’re such a good nurse.” Tighnari smirked as Kaveh left the room.
“I’m here.” Kaveh sat next to Al Haitham who plopped his head into his shoulder. “Cyno and Collei came to pay you a visit.” He gave Al Haitham the flowers. “She even brought flowers.”
“That’s nice of her.” Al Haitham set the flowers aside. “I have a pollen allergy.”
“Let’s just say nothing about it until she leaves then.”
“Afternoon, Al Haitham.” Tighnari walked in and raised an eyebrow at the couple. Al Haitham was not one to show affection. Especially in public. “I see the painkillers are working well.”
“Yeah, they are.” Al Haitham nuzzled more into Kaveh who’s face started to turn red.
“Kaveh, are you alright?” Tighnari teased. “You look red? Fever?” Cyno and Collei peaked their heads through the door as Kaveh felt embarrassed,
“Tighanri,” Kaveh said. “You can be such a jerk sometimes.”
“It’s very true,” Cyno added.
“Talking with a patient.” Tighnari sent them a glare and the door was closed. “Cyno can be a bad influence when he’s ready.”
“Just marry him already.” Al Haitham groaned.
“So I’m going to lower his dosage on the stronger painkiller,” Tighnari said. “Just give him half.”
“You see what I have to deal with?” Kaveh asked.
“You poor soul.” Tighnari sighed. “You two can come see him.”
Cyno and Collei walked in. Al Haitham gave a small wave.
“Did you like the flowers?” Collei asked.
“Yes, but I’m allergic.”
Kaveh gave Al Haitham a small smack. “I told you to wait till she left.”
“Right.” Al Haitham turned to Collei. “I love the flowers and I’m totally not allergic.”
“Uh….thanks.” Collei awkwardly looked away.
“So how are you?” Cyno asked.
“I’m fine.” Al Haitham said. “I have a question.”
“Collei is here so whisper it.” Kaveh groaned. “Because it’s so stupid.”
“Alright go ahead.” Al Haitham whispered the question in Cyno’s ears. “I think I would just ask it questions.”
“Me too.”
“This is so stupid.”
“Because it must have a different personality right?”
“Dear god.”
“I would never say something like that.” Al Haitham refused as Kaveh laughed.
“You did!” Kaveh insisted. “Ask Cyno he’ll tell you.”
“You probably bribed him into continuing this lie.”
Al Haitham was nearing the end of his recovery. He’d healed up well and his cast had been taken off. The only lingering thing was that his knee was still in bad shape. He’d have to use a cane for a while but the Scribe didn’t seem to mind. Now they were lying in bed as the night started to grow later.
“You’ll go to the psychologist right?” Kaveh asked.
Kusanali had suggested that Al Haitham see someone about everything that happened. Though she left out the part of Kaveh being the one to suggest because of Al Haitham’s night terrors. Some of which got physical.
“Yes,” Al Haitham begrudgingly agreed.
“And you’ll actually talk to her and not just watch her in silence, right?”
“We’ll see.” Al Haitham sighed. That was probably the best he was getting out of this.
“I miss when you were all dopey.” Kaveh whined as he leaned into Al Haitham. Pinching the small bit of fat on his side. “You were so agreeable.”
“I sound like an idiot.”
“Yeah, I loved it.”
Al Haitham turned off the light. “I actually want to go to work tomorrow so I’m going to bed.”
“You want to go to work?” Kaveh pressed a hand to the Scribes forehead. “You are a little warm.”
“I’ve been cooped up in a house for two months.” Al Haitham brought Kaveh closer to him. “You think I’m not going stir crazy?”
“You’re a homebody,” Kaveh shrugged. “And this is the work we’re talking about. You don’t like to go in when it rains, or when it’s cloudy, or cold, or sunny. You don’t like going in at all.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Al Haitham said. “Now let me sleep.”
“Okay, good night.” Kaveh relaxed as he felt Al Haitham play with his hair. “Love you.” He wasn’t expecting a reply. Al Haitham just isn’t the type.
“Love you too.” Al Haitham muttered.