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The phenomenon didn’t immediately strike Aether as unusual-–not like his spontaneous episodes of longing did, back when he was first falling for Alhaitham–-but it was something he stored in the back of his mind nonetheless. At first, Aether thought he might be imagining it; maybe now that he’d confessed his feelings, he subconsciously viewed Alhaitham in a more favorable light, and the subtle quirks in Alhaitham’s normally steady expression were simply tricks of his eyes. Or maybe it was because, with his ever-growing fondness for the man, Aether was indeed more in-tune with the changes in the curve of Alhaitham’s eyebrows, the line of his lips, the depth of the shadows cast over his vividly-colored eyes-–small things he wouldn’t have noticed before.
They conversed as they prepared to set off for the Eremite camp in the desert. Aether could have sworn he saw Alhaitham’s eyes widen just slightly when a recollection suddenly occurred to him. But in that instant, he thought nothing of it-–nor did he spare a second thought when Alhaitham’s eyes then narrowed in contemplation at the suggestion of Lesser Lord Kusanali’s involvement in their plan. It wasn’t unusual for Alhaitham to squint when he was immersed in deep thought (quite often). Even so, Aether wondered whether, this time, the furrow in Alhaitham’s brow wasn’t just a bit deeper–-whether his long, silver lashes hadn’t fallen just a bit lower over his eyes.
Aether thought back to when he had first met Alhaitham in Port Ormos. Back then, the expression on Alhaitham’s face seemed more or less fixed: not quite a scowl, but also not particularly friendly or welcoming. Aether thought he might call it threateningly neutral. Reserved. Cautious. Contemplative. Pensive–-that was the word! It was obvious from the first glance that Alhaitham was always thinking, always calculating, but he kept his expression guarded enough that Aether could never read the true nature of the thoughts behind it.
The Alhaitham he knew now seemed just a bit easier to read. Aether found it an interesting contrast; Alhaitham was always sincere, never dishonest or duplicitous, and while he was careful about what information he gave out and when, he never deliberately misled Aether or the others–-and he was transparent about his intentions whenever the situation afforded it. None of this had changed in the weeks that had passed since they met. But now that the emotions behind Alhaitham’s words-–the ones Aether knew were there, but understood that they were difficult to perceive unless you knew what to look for–-were growing more visible on his face, Aether couldn’t help but feel closer to him.
Aether wondered whether this privilege-–the privilege of seeing a more relaxed, vulnerable side of Alhaitham–-had ever been bestowed upon anyone other than him.
Their walk through the desert was quiet and comforting. There was an undeniable intimacy in how Alhaitham, with his long strides, paused at intervals until Aether had picked his way across the dunes and returned to his side; though few words were spoken, the meaning of the gesture was loud and clear: I am comfortable with you here.
As Aether scrambled over the sand to catch up, Alhaitham’s piercing gaze came to rest upon him. Alhaitham’s vigilant watch allowed a peaceful feeling to settle in Aether’s heart; even Alhaitham making the conscious decision to look at him was a silent sign of his approval.
Aether recalled, with an inward laugh, struggling to keep up with Alhaitham as they sought cover from the mercenaries in Caravan Ribat. Back then, Alhaitham didn’t wait for him. How very different this situation was.
That already felt like so long ago now.
“Huh? What are they doing here?!”
As they approached the Eremite base, Paimon’s exclamation only briefly drew Aether’s attention to a group of scholars–-the ones who had been their enemies last they met. Naturally, when Paimon looked to Alhaitham for an explanation, Aether’s gaze followed.
“I gave them some… technical work to do.”
Aether knew he heard it then: there was an almost playful lilt to Alhaitham’s normally flat voice–one Aether couldn’t recall ever hearing before And when Aether looked up, Alhaitham’s eyebrows arched easily across his forehead, showing off his aquamarine eyes in all their colorful glory.
There was a faint curve to his lips, too-–did Alhaitham just smile?
The welcoming light that glittered in Alhaitham’s eyes soothed Aether’s heart with a soft caress. There was none of that calculating scowl in Alhaitham’s expression now–only familiarity and acceptance. Aether basked in its warmth for only an instant before one of the scholars called for Alhaitham, bringing his attention elsewhere.
Alhaitham smiling… part of Aether thought he’d never see the day, and another part had yearned for this moment since they first met. Aether was pleased to know that a smile flattered Alhaitham’s face just as he had imagined. Alhaitham’s smile was radiant, enveloping his entire being in a gentle glow that remained in Aether’s vision even after he closed his eyes.
After greeting the scholars, they examined the various mechanical implements set out on the table before them. The objects were bathed in an unusual green light that would have made Aether feel uneasy were Alhaitham not standing right next to him, so close that their knuckles would brush if Aether lifted his hand.
Alhaitham approached the table and started to reach for one of them.
"Aether, look here."
Aether's heart skipped a beat at being called by his name (rather than the title to which everyone defaulted)–-and by Alhaitham, no less. While Aether did indeed look to where Alhaitham was pointing, his ears were so busy clinging to the rasp of Alhaitham's voice pronouncing his name that his eyes scarcely processed what was in front of him.
“More Canned Knowledge?!” Paimon, just a step behind them, bobbed dangerously in the air like a buoy on stormy seas. “Are you going to put more weird stuff into his head again?!”
At Paimon’s cry of alarm, Alhaitham turned to face her and Aether again. Aether didn’t have time to read Alhaitham’s expression before it shifted once more–-to something even more unbelievable.
“What’s that look on your face?” The rough texture of Alhaitham’s voice was familiar, but his rising inflection was not. “Are you scared?”
Alhaitham crossed his arms over his chest and leaned closer to them, showing off his remarkable expression: a mischievous glint illuminated his eyes in what looked to Aether like seven different colors, and the corners of his mouth were pulled up into his cheeks, pressing joyous wrinkles into his eyelids. He punctuated his words with an abrupt tilt of his head.
At the comical sight, Aether found a grin spreading across his own face and a laugh bubbling up from his throat. (“Comical” was a word he never thought he would use to describe Alhaitham, but here he was.)
He's teasing…!
It was yet another precious moment he wanted to save in his memory forever. Had you told him, back when he first met Alhaitham, that Alhaitham would eventually feel comfortable enough around him to tease him, Aether never would have believed you. But this was a case in which he was delighted to be proven wrong.
Normally Aether would not enjoy being teased–-but coming from someone like Alhaitham, someone so normally stiff and methodical, he took it as the greatest compliment. The longer Aether watched Alhaitham’s humorous smile, the warmer his heart grew.
Paimon, however, was not quite so enthused. She frowned and placed her fists on her hips.
“Paimon’s a little scared, but… very, very furious!”
Paimon’s reaction was so opposite his own that Aether couldn’t help but continue to giggle. He raised a hand to lightly cover his mouth.
“Hey! Are you laughing at Paimon?”
“No, I’m–-”
The perfectly reasonable accusation nevertheless only made him laugh harder.
“Hm… that’s an interesting response.” The same lilt still decorated Alhaitham’s voice.
Alhaitham was looking at Paimon as he said this, so it must have been directed at her. Yet as he spoke, he met Aether’s eyes. His gaze was still bright with humor, and his lips were still curved into a sincere smile–-a smile that then deepened, pressing further into his eyes. The warm feeling in Aether’s chest spread so far that it snuffed out his laughter, and all he could do was silently meet Alhaitham’s gaze, grinning helplessly behind the palm of his hand. Aether could feel tears of joy smoldering behind his eyelids.
Aether knew, maybe in theory, that such a mix of intense emotions existed, but never did he imagine that Alhaitham would be the one making him experience them. Aether understood Alhaitham’s expressiveness as an indication of the trust between them–never, he knew, would Alhaitham venture to emote so emphatically back in Port Ormos, when their relationship was still only one of business partners at best.
‘Earn her trust…’ Alhaitham had spoken similar words on several occasions before. Regardless of a transaction’s circumstances, he never failed to indicate the importance of establishing a trusting relationship first and foremost. Clearly, then, the trust Alhaitham gave to others must be a valuable treasure–-one Aether was deeply honored to have earned.
What’s he going to do next-–propose to me? At this point, Aether wouldn’t be too surprised.
“Urgh, Paimon’s getting so sick of you two!” Paimon flitted wildly back and forth between them and stomped her feet in the air, effectively interrupting Aether’s reverie. “Stop making heart-eyes at each other so we can move on with the plan!”
“All right, all right.” In the face of such a distraction, at long last, Alhaitham conceded, and the precious smile gradually evaporated from his face. “Anyway, we’re not going to use this just yet…”
Thus did Aether’s two minutes in paradise regrettably draw to a close. But the reverberations from his echoing delight remained in his heart as Alhaitham proceeded to explain the upcoming phases of their plan.
Paimon’s a good sport for cooperating.
Aether did feel a little bad for her, knowing how unlikely it was that she would see the end of them “making heart-eyes at each other” anytime soon. He shrugged to himself; she would just have to deal with it.
–
BONUS:
“Hello, you two. Sleep well?”
Alhaitham might as well just propose to Aether right now.