Chapter Text
Kaveh and Al Haitham had gone a week without quarreling, but tonight that streak would end.
He had a particularly long day, working his butt off for indecisive clients—it made minutes feel like hours at times.
Kaveh was looking forward to cuddling with Al Haitham, debriefing him on all the days happenings. He’d tell him about his lunch, how much he missed him in his time away from home. . . The mushy, gushy stuff that made your legs feel weird. He looked forward to it all.
Cuddling under the sheet was just a plus to the much needed bonding. Though he and Al Haitham had their differences, that man often eased his worries.
But, no. When it came down to cuddling, Al Haitham fell right to sleep. Like a rock in deep hibernation in a permanent winter.
Kaveh tried to wedge himself into Al Haitham’s arms. “I don’t know how you fall asleep so quickly,” he grumbled.
Al Haitham had this weird ability to fall asleep anywhere. Under a tree, on a bench, on his head. If it existed, there was a chance he could sleep there.
Kaveh didn’t want to shake him, though. It wasn’t like Al Haitham didn’t work either. He was busy himself. Kaveh sighed at the thought.
“You’re just tired, too,” he suddenly looked sympathetic. Al Haitham likelt dealt with his own struggles, but suppressed them for Kaveh. Maybe he was tired for the same reasons he was? A deep wave of sadness came over Kaveh.
Kaveh stroked the sage’s gray hair, tears rolling from his eyes. He wasn’t necessarily sad, but something about imagining his partner silently struggling made him upset. Okay, maybe very upset.
He remembered him and Al Haitham were also trying to quit coffee together. Was that why he was so groggy? Kaveh frowned at the thought. Addictions, even if harmless, were hard to kick.
Al Haitham turned over, seemingly in the purgatory of wake and sleep. His eyes opened blearily. He seemed to see his partner tearing up before him and sighed. “What’s up, Kav?” his voice sounded like it was doused in sleep.
Kaveh didn’t immediately answer, stroking Al Haitham’s finger—where his ring would be. “I was worrying about you. Is there anything you’re. . . Is anything bothering you?”
With a confused expression, Al Haitham held Kaveh’s hand in his own, shaking his head no. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“It’s just that I’m always dumping my load of problems onto you, and I never let you speak. I feel bad,” his words spilled out, barely pausing for a break between each of them.
“Heh, dumping your load.”
“I’m serious!” Kaveh’s expression hardened, but a small smile curved onto his lips. Al Haitham always made light in the least appropriate moments.
“If you really wanna know, I stumped my toe on that new couch you got. Its feet are too blocky. It’s a hazard. An ugly one.”
Kaveh stared at him, and crossed his arms. “Good. I hope it happens again.” The sage was finding a way to criticize his taste in the midst of his moping session.
“But seriously, the most stressful thing for me right now is making sure I don’t get carpal tunnel from writing so much,” he rolled his wrist, as if presenting it as evidence of his toil. “See?”
The effort to make him feel better was appreciated. Kaveh sighed in relief. His head leaned against Al Haitham’s chest, nuzzling for comfort. The safety of his husband.
“Please. . . Always tell me when you’re struggling. Even the minor things, alright?”
“Alright, alright.”
With that, the two laid in silence. A comforting silence. One you spend with someone you know well because words are not needed in the moment. They drifted off to a night of restful slumber.
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𓂃 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗈𝗆𝗒 ˑ ͡ ۫◌