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"Hey, are you sure that the Grand Sage and the Kshahrewar Sage are mere roommates?" A woman leans forward, whispering to her friend.
"Why are you asking? I heard that they are."
"You know, every morning I always see both of them having breakfast together."
"That isn’t weird. I mean, they do live under one roof."
"Everyday? Would you have breakfast and almost every other meal with your roommate? Also I heard from Dastur Jafar that Sir Kaveh often comes and goes in the Grand Sage's office. There's also rumors that they're actually..." She lowers her voice, "...married."
"Oh my! Is that true?"
"Yes, I’m also told that the Grand Sage is always the one who pays for their meals. Always. He's not the type to do such frivolous things for others, so there's no way that they're mere roommates, right?"
"Now that I think about it... You're right… Just yesterday I actually saw them having an evening stroll together-"
“Shh! They’re coming.”
Both elderly women immediately shut their mouth, as the Grand Sage of Akademiya along with Kshahrewar’s famous light walk pass them, going into the outdoor patio of the restaurant.
"See, now they're even having a meal together again." She emphasizes. “They must be at least dating, but if Sir Kaveh has been living in Sir Alhaitham’s house… the rumor of them being married must be true.”
.
“I can’t believe you’re taking me back to his place, again.” Kaveh grumbles as he pours the water from the jug into his and Alhaitham’s cup. The morning sun’s gentle glow is hitting the outdoor patio they’re currently sitting in, warming them as the cool morning air refreshingly hits their body.
“This place serves excellent meals and you love their food, Kaveh.” Alhaitham says with a raised eyebrow. “Stop complaining as if you don’t.”
“I’m not complaining about the food. I’m complaining about the fact that you dragged me here, when we could’ve just gone somewhere else.” Kaveh huffs, tilting his head in a challenging manner.
“You’re not fully healthy yet, Kaveh. Warm soups and highly-nutritious food is better for you and this place fulfills it perfectly.” Alhaitham denies.
“You-”
“Oh my, good morning Alhaitham, Kaveh.”
A sweet and familiar voice cuts through his ranting and both of them snap their head to the side, where a little girl is greeting them with a kind smile across the low fence.
“Lord Kusanali!” Kaveh immediately stands up along with the younger man, respectfully bowing to her.
“Oh please, be at ease.” She giggles. “I was just passing by when I saw you both. I apologize for startling you.”
“Not at all, Lord Kusanali.” Alhaitham smoothly interjects. “We’re just having breakfast.”
“Would you like to join us, Lord Kusanali?” Kaveh offers with a smile.
“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly impose your private time.” Nahida shakes her hands.
“It’s just a meal, my Lord.” Kaveh denies. “Also, it’d be nice if I can converse with someone other than this guy.” He points to the gray-haired male.
“But-”
“As he said, it’s nothing to be worried about, Lord Kusanali.” Alhaitham nods. “Please do join us, the food they serve is quite excellent.”
Sighing fondly, Nahida nods her head. “Very well, if you insist.”
“We do.” Kaveh smiles assuringly at her and pulls the seat beside him. He blinks when he sees her easily hops through the fence, but makes no comment about it.
“Thank you.” Nahida says kindly.
“Your welcome, my Lord.” Kaveh replies. “What would you like to eat? This place is famous for their butter chicken and their curry shrimp. Their tahchin is delicious as well.” He unconsciously promotes as he takes the menu from the empty table beside them.
“You have been frequenting this place, right? I’ll just have what you guys have.” Nahida shakes her head.
“As you wish, my Lord.” Kaveh pleasantly says before turning his head to the younger man across from him. “Hey Haitham, go give our orders to the master.”
“And why must it be me to do so? You’re perfectly able to do that as well.” Alhaitham asks with a raised eyebrow.
“You’re the one who’s paying.” Kaveh shrugs before adding, “And isn’t it the Grand Sage’s duty to serve for the people and the Archon?” He adds with a winning smirk.
“You only acknowledge my title when it’s convenient to you, Kaveh.” Alhaitham sighs as he stands up from his seat.
“Of course. Someone needs to keep you in check.” Kaveh replies smugly as he teases the younger man by waving his hand a little. “Now shoo, get our usual order as well.”
Alhaitham shakes his head before turning to the Sumeru’s Archon. “Please be vigilant around him, Lord Kusanali.” He says, earning a sound of protest from the blond before leaving their table into the restaurant’s building.
“He really does what you order him to do.” Nahida says amusedly as she watches the pride and joy of the Kshahrewar Darshan pours her a cup of water.
“He is.” Kaveh agrees with a nod, “Although not without some struggle. Haitham is usually more infuriating than this. It must be due to your presence, my Lord, that he doesn’t dare to do so.” He laughs a little.
“Is that so?” Nahida asks curiously, noting how the blond consistently uses such a familiar and intimate nickname for her Grand Sage.
“Yes.” Kaveh nods firmly. “You see Haitham might look all silent and brooding when in fact-”
.
Alhaitham raises his eyebrow suspiciously when both the Sumeru’s Archon and Kaveh shuts their mouths as soon as he returns from putting their orders. He shifts his head toward the blond with a questioning look, which the older man only replies with another mischievous smirk.
“Kaveh…” Alhaitham sighs, which ignites a giggle from the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
.
Breakfast goes as usual afterward.
Their food comes and Alhaitham can’t help but notice how both of his Archon and Kaveh seem to get along well.
Too well, in fact.
Maybe because of this too, that Kaveh unconsciously tends to her. Putting some curry shrimp on her plate, cutting part of the huge tahchin for her and making sure that she has a pleasant meal. Rather than someone who tends to their guest, Kaveh’s actions feel more familiar and sincere.
As if he’s tending to his own child.
The thought unconsciously brings a smile on his face as his heart gets warm and strangely excited at the thought. He can’t help but think, just how wonderful Kaveh will be if he’s truly taking care of his own child?
.
What if, he's also part of that family?
Kaveh is having a good time.
The food is great and Lord Kusanali is very adorable and a very fun conversation partner. He can’t help but feel wanting to tend to her, making sure that she has a wonderful time so she’ll have no qualms on joining them again in the future.
He has just taken a bite of his chicken butter when a pair of women come to their table. One look and it’s terribly clear what their intention is. A little too much effort of makeup so early in the morning, the clothes, their hungry and eager gaze to the younger man across from him.
Alhaitham is their target.
“Good morning Lord Kusanali, Grand Sage Alhaitham and Sir Kaveh.” One of them greets politely.
“Morning.” She replies back and he follows suit.
“We apologize for butting in, but Grand Sage sir, we would like to ask some questions about this, since we heard that you often read books in your leisure time, Sir.” She (fake) shyly says as they pull out a book from their respective handbag.
Kaveh’s eyes widen in surprise because he knows very well what those books are. He saw them on Alhaitham’s hands last week and he’s pretty sure that he also saw the very same book cover on his hand just this morning. The bad inkling steadily settles into the bottom of his stomach, as he watches those women get closer to the gray-haired man.
“You see, I was quite confused with this part.” She says as she opens the book and points to a passage on it. “I tried to reread it so many times but it doesn’t make sense to me because why would the lead say something like this, when the girl has declared her intention?”
“Ah, that’s because the nuance was lost in translation.” Alhaitham replies as he takes the book. “As you can see, from the passage in page-”
Kaveh gets even more dumbfounded when Alhaitham actually responds appropriately. The other woman also butts in, putting her book down and immediately repeats what her friend did, albeit with a different book. They might look as if they understand what Alhaitham said, but it’s clear to him that they’ve simply prepared the questions and what to say accordingly.
But of course, oblivious Alhaitham won’t recognize it once it involves the books that he likes. In fact, it’s as if he enjoys explaining the content of the books to them and the flare of annoyance inside his chest blaze up even further.
He bears it for another while and when he sees that one of the women has bravely ‘accidentally’ grazes her hand on Alhaitham’s, the patience inside of him snaps. He takes the fork from his meals and stabs it right in the center of the table. It makes a slight cracking sound and it’s apparently enough to get the attention from those two women and Alhaitham.
"Excuse me, we are still having our private time here. You can seek him during official hours if you’re that desperate to have him lecture you.” Kaveh says, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “It’s very uncomfortable, especially when we have Lord Kusanali here among us and you all shamelessly do something like this.” He scolds mercilessly.
“A… I’m sorry-” One of the women stutters, clearly not expecting him to retaliate like this.
“What are you waiting for? Scram.” Kaveh orders with a tilt of his chin and within the next ten seconds, they’re gone like a wind.
“And you,” Kaveh points at Alhaitham with the same fork he has just jabbed into the table, “Why are you entertaining them like that?”
“Oh? I thought it’s my duty to serve Sumeru citizens and its Archon?” Alhaitham smugly says with a raised eyebrow, returning his own words all while never breaking their eye-staring contest.
“Haitham.” Kaveh hisses annoyedly.
“Why, are you jealous, Kaveh?” Alhaitham pushes further with an obviously amused smile on his face as he leans his head with the back of his left hand.
“You wish.” Kaveh hisses irritatedly. “I’m just saying that it’s bad manners! Also we have-” His complaint is cut short when a piece of a particularly big shrimp is shoved inside his mouth.
“Eat.” Alhaitham says. “You tend to be more naggy when you’re still hungry.”
Kaveh doesn’t bother to hide his sulks and glares at the younger man as he chews the juicy shrimps inside his mouth. Only when he hears a light giggle from his right that Kaveh remembers about the Archon’s presence.
“Archon above, I apologize Lord Kusanali, it must've been uncomfortable.” Kaveh immediately says as soon as he swallows down the shrimp.
“It’s nothing. If anything I’m quite entertained.” She assures lightly.
“But still-”
“I’ve told you both to not disturb them.” A rather loud scold can be heard and they automatically shift their head towards the source. It’s coming from the inside of the restaurant’s building and with the open door and the empty area, it’s easier for them to hear the conversation.
“The Grand Sage and Sir Kaveh are enjoying their private time, how dare you both disturb them so? Very shamelessly at that, what’s with these outfit young ladies?” Another elderly woman's voice can be heard. “One might think that you approach them with inappropriate intentions to those young men!”
“But there’s Lord Kusanali too-”
“What? The child is Lord Kusanali-?”
As if they have the same mind, all three of them immediately resume their meal, as if they haven’t just eavesdropped on the other side’s conversation.
“You are right! It is Lord Kusanali-”
“Oh no, I thought they’re bringing a child…”
“Hmm… Don’t you think that they look like a little family?”
“Yes they do! It’s so cute, they look like a pair of young parents-”
“See! There’s no way they aren’t a married couple!”
Kaveh can feel his ears getting hotter and hotter with each gushy statement from the people from the other side. He surreptitiously glances at Alhaitham, who apparently has been staring at him with a surprisingly small smile on his face.
“Well, we might look like a little family from the outside, especially when Sir Kaveh has been tending to me diligently. I’m really happy.” Nahida chirpily comments.
“My Lord, please.” Kaveh replies, getting even redder at her remark.
“A little family huh… Well that kind of rumor will be unavoidable, especially when you guys are already married.” She hums thoughtfully.
“We are not married, Lord Kusanali.” Kaveh turns his head to her, a little horrified and a lot more embarrassed as he tries to straighten up the fact.
“Haven’t.”
Kaveh snaps his head back to the gray-haired man. His jaw slacks at the statement as Alhaitham eyes him with a somewhat knowing glint. “We haven’t yet, but that might be a good plan for us next year.” Alhaitham continues calmly as he lifts his cup.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Nahida claps her hand once interestedly.
“We are not even dating!” Kaveh protests.
“But you guys act like an old married couple.” Nahida points out amusedly. “You also live together and combined with the rumors between you two, even I genuinely thought that both of you are married.” She adds.
“As she said, Kaveh.” Alhaitham says as he puts down his spoon, as mischievousness is clear on his handsome face. “It’s not like we aren’t doing intercourse like a married partner-”
“Alhaitham!”