Chapter Text
This is absolutely ridiculous, Alhaitham thought to himself. There was no way a simple scarf should cost fifteen thousand mora. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it, but surely the shopkeeper was mistaken.
“Yes sir. Made with premium Orange Kistune fur. Won’t find anything like it in all of Teyvat,” the merchant said. Alhaitham noticed the greedy gleam in the merchants eyes.
“A kitsune fur scarf, you say?” If he had learned anything from his acquaintances in Amurta, this animal was long extinct.
“Of course, sir. Nothing but the finest for such a fine scholar such as yourself.” Alhaitham remained silent and let the merchant continue to make his pitch.
“They say it takes a hundred adventurers to harvest enough wool to make a single scarf.”
“Surely not,” he couldn’t manage to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. The merchant didn’t notice the scathing tone.
“Yes sir, it’s very valuable,” Althaitham sighed. By all means, he should just continue on his way and forget the idea of purchasing the scarf. But the vibrant red and gold of the fabric was truely breathtaking. He couldn’t help but think of a certain blonde that it would look great on.
“Fine,” Alhaitham grumbled. The merchant looked taken aback by his quick agreement.
“O-Of course, mister.” The man scrambled to grab the scarf and hurry over to the register. Alhaitham followed him slowly, inwardly groaning.
He pulled out his wallet and finished his transaction with the glowing merchant.
He had heard the Traveler talking to their mutual companions about the concept of Christmas. She couldn’t remember very well, but sometime in her travels with her brother, they had come across this celebration in one of the worlds they had visited. They liked the idea of exchanging gifts and pleasantries and had celebrated it together ever since. It was one of the few memories that Lumine had of her adventures to other worlds.
Alhaitham had noticed the sadness in her voice when she had mentioned it to them. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who had noticed. When Nilou had suggested that they try to replicate the tradition for the Traveler, no one had been opposed.
Thankfully Kaveh had agreed to do the present shopping for both of them. Of course, that was if Alhaitham wouldn’t mind footing the bill, that was. Alhaitham had begrudgingly complied.
But you were supposed to get gifts for your friends and loved ones. They were supposed to be personal and heartfelt.
He exited the small shop with his neatly wrapped package in hand and began to make his way back home. This was one present that he had felt that he needed to buy himself. The party was that night, and he hadn’t had any ideas until now. Fifteen thousand mora be damned. It was worth it.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Alhaitham shouted as he walked through the door into his kitchen. Kaveh jumped as he turned to face the doorway. The blonde man was covered head to toe in flour. Alhaitham wasn’t sure if the counter or the man was more dusted in the fine white powder.
“Haitham!” Kaveh cried out. “You aren’t supposed to be home yet!” he tried to dust some of the flour off of the frilly pink apron covering his white shirt, but only succeeded in stirring up a cloud and making himself sneeze.
“But what the hell are you doing?” Alhaitham gestured at the mess all over the kitchen counter. There were mixing bowls, some empty and some half full of batter, strewn all over the counter. Butter and flour and sugar were covering every horizontal surface. There was flour on the floor. There was butter on the ceiling. At that very second, a large glob of batter fell from one of the counters to the floor with a plop.
Kaveh grinned widely and ran a hand through his blonde hair, not noticing the streak of flour that it left behind.
“Heh,” he laughed sheepishly. “Baking cookies?”
Alhaitham groaned. The party was supposed to be tonight and the kitchen was destroyed.
“Baking cookies, he says.” Alhaitham said shaking his head. “When we have a party tonight.”
“You said you weren’t sure if you were going to be able to be home in time for the party,” Kaveh said. “What are you even doing home so early?”
“I decided to take a partial day,” Alhaitham said. Kaveh dropped the bowl he was holding.
“Excuse me, I thought you said you took a partial day,” Kaveh said as he bent down to retrieve the bowl.
“That is correct,” Alhaitham said. Kaveh dropped the bowl again before he could straighten up. He left it on the floor as he quickly stood and stepped toward Althaitham. He placed a slender hand on the larger man’s forehead.
“No, you aren’t running a fever,” Kaveh said. He had smudged flour across Alhaitham’s forehead with his dusty hands. Althaitham shoved his hands away from his face.
“Don’t touch me with your dirty hands!” he protested. “I’m not sick.”
“But you’re making it sound like you actually want to spend time with your friends,” Kaveh said, still trying to get in his face to check his pallor.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” he said, shrugging. “Now clean the kitchen and yourself before the party,” he commanded. They only had a few hours left before their guests would arrive. He used his thumb to gently smudge away some of the flour from the other man’s nose. Kaveh’s arms settled gently around his back.
“You didn’t even ask about my cookies,” he said softly. Alhaitham watched his partner’s red eyes soften as he gazed in to them. He placed his own hands onto the other man’s waist and drew him in closer.
“I don’t give a damn until you get this kitchen clean,” he said gently and pressed a small kiss on his partner’s lips.
“Hait-” Kaveh tried to protest, until Alhaitham silenced his protests with a deeper kiss. Kaveh melted in to him and held him closer for just a moment. Alhaitham drew back slowly and looked him deep in the eyes.
“I’m sure they are delicious, but you and the kitchen are filthy,” Alhaitham said seriously.
“If you’ll help me, I’m sure we can get them done quickly,” Kaveh said, breathlessly.
“What’s left to be done?” Alhaitham asked.
“The last batch is baking. We should just have to wash the dishes. And sweep, definitely sweep the floor.” Alhaitham could see where this was going.
“You want me to do the dishes don’t you?” he asked.
“If you wouldn’t mind, that would be great,” Kaveh said absentmindely as he turned to check on the cookies in the oven baking.
“Why don’t you ever do the dishes?” he grumbled as he took off his gloves. He turned to the sink and began to run a sink full of warm, soapy water.
“You’re just so much better at them,” Kaveh said. He grabbed an oven mitt and took the cookies out of the oven and set it down on a wire rack to cool. Alhaitham scoffed.
“You just don’t like doing them,” he said.
“Yes, also that,” Kaveh said as he picked up one of the cookies. “We have to sample them,” he said as he took a bite.
“Those are still hot,” Alhaitham pointed out. Kaveh breathed through his mouth around the bite of cookie several times before he could begin to chew it.
“But delicious,” Kaveh said. He brought the cookie over to Alhaitham. “Try it.” He held the cookie up in front of Alhaitham’s face. It appeared to be chocolate chip. It did look warm and gooey. Alhaitham sighed again and took a bite.
It was delicious. Warm and salty, sweet. The chocolate was rich and the cookie itself was buttery.
“It’s good,” he said. Kaveh looked at him for a moment longer, expecting him to say more. He stayed silent and continued to wash another bowl.
“It’s good, he says,” Kaveh said, throwing his hands up in the air. He turned around and walked back over to the counter to package up some of the other cookies that had already cooled.
“Kaveh, it’s really good,” Althaitham said. “You did a good job.”
Kaveh blushed.
“Thank you,” he mumbled.
“Now sweep the floor and go take a shower,” Alhaitham reminded him. Kaveh grabbed the broom and between the two of them, they had the cookies packaged and the kitchen clean in under an hour.