Archive of Our Own

Garnering stares is something uncommon for Alhaitham as a Scribe he's not required to be in the spotlight nor be in the main focus of events, there are a couple of times when he was the main focus but those usually only lasted briefly or an hour at most, but right it is constant students and researchers stealing glances one that by all means he's fully aware of they're not doing well in hiding their curious gaze.

The only salvation he has from this is when he's working in the Grand Sage Office only a few come there and at most for professional means, no he is not the Grand Sage just the Acting Grand Sage until they've found a suitable person for the position.

But being the Acting Grand Sage is not the cause of this dilemma instead it's the length of his hair, which had grown long that it reaches down to his knee. It's not really troublesome to deal with for a few days but in the long term, it will no doubt be a menace to him.

Alhaitham already takes care of someone's wild blond hair in the morning which takes a couple of minutes of his time and he has no plan on adding his to the list so he'll try getting a haircut when given the chance.

"Grand Sage the report for the Darshans arrived" looking up from his desk he looked at Panah who arrive holding onto the daily paperwork for him "Acting Grand Sage" he corrected the other, he'd rather not be mistaken as someone who had taken the role of his job.

Which happened a lot, he's only taking up the mantle of caretaking the akademiya affairs until all of the roles had been filled- or at least someone took up the Grand Sage seat.

The mahamata nods "My mistake Acting Grand Sage" they bowed their head but only for a second before looking at Alhaitham waiting for instructions as to what to do with the paperwork.

Twisting his hand to the side with his pen pointing to a side of his office table where unfinished paperwork is yet to be sorted through by him "Placed those here I'll sort them through and have them delivered in the afternoon" those leaders being temporary of course, placed there to lessen the workload he is dealing with.

Alhaitham watched as the brunet came up the stairs and placed the papers on his desk "Understood then see you again this afternoon Acting Grand Sage is there anything else?" the man asked.

"Send the approval of the mantra investigations to their main office, the reading material delivery to the desert should be done today, alleviate the law for arts is approved, the request for researching Ruin of Dahri is declined along with the desert expedition, have the preparation for the sages selection underway..."

He continued listing down the current needed task to be executed and the ones being declined of course whenever Panah would ask for the reason he'll explain it, most of the reasons for his declination is rational some are undermanned and overfund, there are a few that is a too high risk to be done especially with the current status of the akademiya and such.

Sometimes he has to fix Azar's mistakes as well it's obvious that there's favoritism along with bribery being done after looking through the Grand Sage office files.

The development of Sumeru is underway and for the better no doubt, it will just take time to implement such things along with having the people accept such changes but it will happen especially under the dendro archon rule.

Once the mahamata left, Alhaitham sighed as he looked at the stack of papers... think of the long term its beneficial if the Akademiya doesn't become unordered chaos due to anyone taking the role of babysitting these idiots.

Starring back at the paper in front of him he continued back to reading through it, deeming it was enough he signed it before placing it in a finished stack of papers.

It's time to go focus back on work.

His mind wonders how Kaveh is doing, they currently having a project discussion with a client if it goes well then he'll expect the other drunk to celebrate... again.

Work is done but the sun is already down and the moon is already rising, he could look around to see if there's any shop open but at the moment he's mental exhaustion was enough to convince him not to get one and instead head back home.

On the way home someone had crashed him on the side if not for the familiar blond hair that has darker tips along with the feather that decorated it he wouldn't have recognized who it is.

Arms wrapped around his waist "Haitham! You- You bastard! you took my keys!" a drunken slur from his roommate, unfortunately, the other's words isn't true.

"I don't have it, you must have left it back in the bowl" he does sometimes takes the other's keys but only because Kaveh left it there when they left "Why do you keep forgetting your keys..." sighing he tried to pry Kaveh's grip off of him.

The grip around him tighten "Kaveh let go we need to go home" and he'd rather not be seen having a drunkard hug him like this.

"Shut! you took my keys-" Alhaitham swore this idiot just doesn't listen when they're drunk unless it's something they want or is interested in "Jerk- leaving me locked out again..."

Sighing again Alhaitham pried the other's arm off of him with some difficulty "If your ears worked as your eyes then you would've heard how I said I didn't take it" grabbing the other by the wrist before weakly tugging the other who still managed to stumble from it.

Kaveh stumbled for a bit their body swaying but kept walking no doubt already used to walking while being drunk "You- You did- how else did I not have it?" they questioned looking annoyed.

They start heading back home the way there were no means quiet.

There are a few glances toward them but they quickly disappear after recognizing who's causing the ruckus this time Alhaitham didn't mind the attention, not when his focus is more so on arguing with a drunk Kshahrewar than anyone else.

I supposed that's one of the few perks of the blond, not that he'll admit that the other makes it bearable to be the center of attention at times.

Arriving home the first thing he did was let go of blond's wrist and pulled out a gold key from the bowl by the side door "And look what we have here your keys" he dangles the item in front of Kaveh until they recognized it the lion keychain swings at the rough handling.

Kaveh reached and picked the key up cradling it in their hands "Noooo- don't be so rough with it! my poor child-" they were swaying side by side until they've end up leaning on the wall.

Sighing Alhaitham tosses his silver key into the bowl "That is a durable inanimate object" he pointed out before going deeper inside his house leaving Kaveh by the front door pouting at him.

"How dare- my lion isn't just an object!" the angry drunk slur couldn't make the scribe look back.

That made the drunk roommate feel offended how the other didn't even notice or give recognition to him, so he reached out unintentionally and ended up reaching the silver hair when they were planning on grabbing the back of a shirt "this... is soft" the texture surprises Kaveh making their fingers comb through the silver hair.

The anger from before dissipates and was replaced with fascination at the new revelation that they've found.

Swatting the hand away Alhaitham glared at the blond "Don't touch it" he does not trust the drunk to be careful with his hair "I do not want you even being able to have your finger graze it-" midway through his words he could see how those sunset eyes were focused on his back "-my words aren't getting through you is it"

As if making Alhaitham's words to be true Kaveh looked at him, there is softness in their eyes "When did you have long hair? it's pretty" Kaveh attempted to touch it again only for Alhaitham to move away from the other's reach.

The blond sulked at his avoidance "Al~ lemme touch it please?" their voice sweetened even with their drunken slur "Pretty hair is really pretty"

Maybe he could get something from this "Only if you cooperate with me then I'll let you touch it" that made the blond brighten they quickly nod staring at him.

With that Alhaitham managed to get Kaveh to drink some water and take a bath as to get rid of the stench of alcohol and have them dressed before settling in Kaveh's room, both of them sitting on the bed.

A book in hand Alhaitham read his book while Kaveh combed through his hair from the back of him, they were at least careful and would give a warning when they were untangling it.

Kaveh drag their fingers gently through the hair to not disturb nor hurt him "Your hair is really silky~" they pointed out as they comb through the hair again "It's pretty too there's some green on it- did you puke on your hair?"

Sometimes the other can truly test his patience "No, that's just the nature of my hair" he explained "You've seen it a couple of times already as well" it's not like he tries to hide those green strands of hair.

Kaveh hummed twirling the silver hair around his fingers "I like your hair" the hand parts away they watch as the strand of hair falls back onto the scribe's back "Long is pretty" which is true, even in their sober state they'll agree on this.

Looking at Alhaitham's head the image of their short hair comes and goes "But short is pretty too" they added to their words.

Alhaitham turn his head to the side glancing at the blond "Would you prefer my hair short or long?" he asked which causes a conflicted look on Kaveh's face.

It's amusing how a simple question can make the brilliant Kshahrewar look utterly lost, he waited for a few minutes "you've gone silent don't tell me you can't choose" there was a hint of amusement in his tone.

Such a tone made Kaveh pout "Your pretty either way! it's unfair-" they start sulking again "Why does a bastard like you have such pretty hair? it's unfit for someone like you- you should go bald!"

That earned the blond a flick on the forehead "That's it I'm leaving you can take care of yourself now" huffed as Alhaitham stood up only for a pair of arms to pull him back down onto the bed.

"It's cold so stay" grabbing the blanket Alhaitham tossed it over the blond "There your warm now let go" the grip around him tighten this time more so determined to keep him there.

"Stay?" the voice was meek and drowsy, sighing he supposed it would be alright to stay for a while "Fine, but don't test my patience it's not as long as my hair" the blond cheered quietly before pulling him deeper onto the bed.

Alhaitham remove his coat and placed his book down on the nightstand before laying down next to Kaveh who has their arms still around him with a hand slowly toying with the long stand until it limps.

Waiting for a good few minutes before he turned off the light from the lamp he kissed the blond's forehead "Goodnight and sleep well"

When the morning light shone through the curtains made Alhaitham woke up, the first thing he noticed is that he wasn't in his room- which isn't a surprise, second is that Kaveh is beside him and awake "Good morning Al" the morning greeting was met with a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Morning" he greeted shortly before sitting up, he could feel the other's arms slide off as he does "Your hair is long" the other pointed out as they gently run their fingers through the silver hair.

Glancing at the other he raised a brow "I heard plenty of times how pretty and long my hair is from a certain drunk" the blond's face flushed risen from their face, just slightly "I honestly thought I was drunk again when I saw your hair like this- not that I'm complaining but what happened?" they've asked as they sat up and continue combing through the hair as if unable to accept the fact that it is indeed not a drunken dream.

Alhaitham hummed before stretching his arms not bothered by the other's adoration "Juniors asked me to help test a hair product, it's only supposed to be more nutrient to make the hair healthy" it worked but then the hair growth is the side effect.

"Get up Kaveh- bring scissors with you" the others tilt their head, no doubt having no idea why he's being told to do so "Why? don't tell me you want me to cut your hair?" they muse.

The answer is the empty silence which speaks louder as the blond realized that Alhaitham does indeed plan on cutting his hair, arms wrapped around him again as Kaveh whines "Come onnnn... just a few days? then I'll cut it-"

There was an untrusting stare at the blond who scoffed as they receive it "Hey! I keep my promise well!" picking up a couple of strands having it lay flat on their hand before outstretching it as to show Alhaitham the sight of his own hair "We can finally have matching braid with this"

To the scribe, there's no appeal to having long hair but to someone sappy as Kaveh they have no doubt have some romanticized ideas about it.

"Fine, but I'm not maintaining it for more than a week" he stated that alone made the blond happy "Great now what kind of braid do you want-" that made Kaveh start listing different kinds of styles, and describing how it would look.

Of course, Alhaitham listens to their voice, he'll ask them to pick one before mocking their choice once they've finished braiding it but that's for later.