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The Scribe did not expect to see his house considerably emptier when he came home that day. The first thought that came to his mind was burglary, at first. However, after a quick observation it became clear that the only things missing are Kaveh's.
A few thoughts crossed his mind: 1. Kaveh got into some trouble, probably yet another huge debt and had to sell his belongings for money, 2. Kaveh had some... business that required him to move all his things out of Alhaitham's house 3. Kaveh finally got so fed up with him and moved out.
He has thought about the latter many times before, but he didn't recall any significant argument happening recently so he crossed that thought off. Considering what's been happening in Sumeru lately, the first and second thought seems more likely, so he went back to Akademiya to ask around for Kaveh. He bumped into the Traveler on his way, the latter waving his hand as he stepped out of the school building.
"Alhaitham! I was looking for you!" Aether jogged towards him and rummaged through his rucksack.
"Do you have something for me?" He asked, to which Aether nodded. He pulled out a familliar key, a piece of paper, and a wooden ornament.
"Kaveh was with you." The Scribe stated. "Why do you have that key?"
Something stirred inside him, and Alhaitham didn't like it.
"Kaveh gave them to me and asked me to give them to you," he shrugged, handing both the key and paper to the taller man. "This one is from me, though," he held up the wooden ornament adorned with a jade bead and purple tassel.
"Where is he now?" he could feel his irritation bleeding through his voice.
Aether raised his eyebrows, but said nothing about his somewhat aggressive tone. "In my serenitea pot. He just moved in and is too busy tidying up and working on some commissions."
Alhaitham frowns. "Your... what?"
"Uh... think of it as a... big camping site that you can carry around and enter anytime you want. It's more like a portable domain, now that I think about it," the blonde traveler explained, "it'd be easier to bring you in and let you see it for yourself, but the realm is currently full..."
Alhaitham processed the information with a frown on his face.
He inspected the piece of paper given to him earlier, and his chest felt heavier the more he read the message written on it.
'Thanks for letting me stay at your house and sorry for any trouble I've caused! Now that I'm finally out, you finally have your place all to yourself, isn't that great? Be sure to thank Aether because it's all thanks to him that I don't need that key anymore~ I'll send you this month's rent to your office later. Also, if you find any of my stuff lying around, kindly drop them at the Akademiya, thanks. Kaveh.'
"Kaveh was super happy when I told him it's okay for him to stay there. He told me he'd make a castle for me and he really insisted that I let him do it," Aether smiled, a hand behind his head.
"I see." Alhaitham replied as he put the two items inside his pocket.
"You don't sound happy," Aether looked at him curiously.
"... I'm just relieved that it's not something troublesome," he replied.
The other hummed, "if you say so. Anyways, here's your realm dispatch," he handed the wooden ornament to Alhaitham.
"You can use it to enter the pot. If you need a place to stay or escape to, my place is always open! Well, unless there are too many people inside... in which case you won't be able to enter."
Alhaitham thanked Aether for the items and they go their separate ways. He walked home still feeling heavy, and the heaviness kept increasing as he made his way.
When he finally made it home and took in the current sight of it, he could only stand in the middle of the room.
His home was empty, yet it felt unbearably suffocating.
He got his key back and Kaveh was happily staying somewhere else, so why did it feel wrong?
It was not the first time Kaveh left for a long period of time, but he'd never completely left, either. Now that every single one of his things were gone and he gave the key back...
It felt like Kaveh was really gone... Like his existence entirely wiped from this place.
Alhaitham had thought about this before, of course. Kaveh will eventually leave his house, and whatever arrangement they had will break down. However, he had never thought that when it finally happened, he'd be feeling like this.
He sighed and decided to retire for the night. He figured that he's just not used to it and he'll feel normal eventually. He pulled out the wooden ornament Aether gave him earlier and placed it on his nightstand, his eyes staring at the item as he thought about when to visit.
Alhaitham felt somewhat eager but also... apprehensive, though he didn't know why. He shook the thoughts off his mind and went to sleep.
A week passed and he still hadn't gotten used to the emptiness he's feeling in his home. He had gone to work as usual and the workload kept his mind off it for a while until he had to go home at some point.
He couldn't believe that he'd started to dread coming to an empty home.
Both sages from Haravatat and Kshahrewar Darshans being exiled contributed to the increase in his workload, and he assumed the same happened to Kaveh as well, with the unfinished projects and Lesser Lord Kusanali's plans to develop the desert area.
He, more times than he'd like to admit, had wondered when he'd be able to see Kaveh again.
Each time he did, his thoughts wandered to the wooden ornament - the Realm Dispatch - that he brought everywhere with him.
When he finally got a day off, he decided to try it.
As soon as he stepped inside the realm, he's greeted by the sight of giant vines and bright pink blossoms, along with a big building standing on top of a giant stem.
The sight reminded him of a storybook he read a long time ago.
He made his way up the main building and came across a big floating white teapot. He wasn't sure if touching it was a good idea, so he left the teapot alone and heads inside the building. The interior looked decently furnished, like what you'd find in middle-upper class lodgings.
He could hear someone yelling from further in, followed by the sound of laughter. Tighnari appeared from behind the bookshelf, with Aether and Paimon following closely behind.
"Hi, Alhaitham," Tighnari greeted.
"Paimon have been wondering when you'll finally show your face!"
"I finally got a day off," he replied, "I've been busy."
"Yeah, Kaveh also complained to me that he barely had time to even sketch out a blueprint," Aether added, pointing his thumb towards the part of the hall where all the noises were coming from.
Alhaitham could feel his heartbeat fluctuate slightly.
"Let's say hi to everyone first!" Paimon grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the center of the hall. There were four people sitting on the rug. He instantly recognized Cyno, and... Kaveh.
"Look who's here!" Paimon yelled, bringing everyone's attention.
The smile on Kaveh's face disappeared as soon as he saw him, replaced by a clearly displeased look.
He expected this, and he'd seen that look many times before. However, this time it somehow made him feel... worse. Kaveh clearly was not happy with his prescence and seeing his smile disappear like that felt... wrong.
He turned to Cyno, who simply nodded at him and turned his attention back to the cards in his hand. The guy sitting across him, a blue-haired man in white, stood up and made his way towards him, offering his hand with a smile. "Kamisato Ayato. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. I'm Alhaitham," the Scribe took the other's gloved hand and gave a brisk shake. Ayato returned to his seat and continued his game with Cyno.
Kamisato... that name sounded familliar. He felt like he's read that name in one of the documents related to Inazuma.
"You can introduce yourself to Itto later. He's... a bit out of it right now." Aether glanced to a slumped figure next to Kaveh, cards strewn around him like he threw them out of frustration.
Alhaitham thought at first that it was a big white dog with long white fur.
"Come with me, I'll show you around the place," Aether grabbed his arm and pulled him around the place, showing each and every room including the one where Kaveh had been staying in.
The sight of it made him pause.
The way parchments and stationeries sat on the table, his cape draped on the back of a chair... His books stacked on top of the dresser, along with his favorite cups and wooden figurines...
He... really missed these. Having Kaveh's prescence around him.
"Tighnari has been using this room, too." Aether padded towards the other side of the room with another bed, dresser, and workspace. The table and dresser were filled with things clearly belonged to the botanist/forest ranger.
"If you want to sleep, you can use the other room."
Alhaitham pondered on the statement as he followed Aether back downstairs. Logically, he had no reason to stay here as he got his own place. Tighnari and Cyno were always on their feet, running around the region to patrol the forests and deliver judgement respectively.
Him, on the other hand, was just a scribe. An office worker. Logically, he had no reason to sleep here tonight.
Emotionally, though...
"I was just going to get you," Tighnari met them halfway through the stairs, "Dinner's ready. Let's eat before Itto inhaled everything."
Dinner was... eventful, to say the least. Itto got scolded for eating too much, to which the red-horned demon responded, "I'm a big man! I'm the biggest man here so I need more food than everyone else!"
Ayato then offered doing a rock-paper-scissors to decide if Itto gets more food.
To no one's surprise, Itto didn't get more food.
Then Kaveh argued with Alhaitham - of course they would - because Kaveh wanted to give a piece of his food to Itto.
"You're spoiling him. He needs to learn to eat in moderation and control himself."
"And you need to learn to sympathize with people!"
The banter went on for a while, until nearly every dish was eaten. Since there's some leftovers and Itto had obediently kept his hands off the whole time, everyone decided to give it to him.
Kaveh huffed triumphantly, to which Alhaitham rolled his eyes.
The feeling of emptiness the scribe had been feeling... somehow dissipated quite a bit.
After dinner, Ayato and Cyno had another match while Kaveh and Itto watched. Tighnari and Paimon retired for the night and Aether escorted Alhaitham outside the main building, showing him his collection of fishes.
"Are you going to stay the night?" the blonde traveler asked.
"I don't need to stay here. I've got my own house."
"I'll rephrase my question. Do you want to stay here?"
Alhaitham looked at Aether, whose golden eyes stared into his own with a knowing gaze.
He pondered the question. The thought of staying here sound troublesome.
But...
"I don't know." He answered honestly. He prefers to sleep in his house alone and undisturbed, yet he felt somewhat compelled to stay close to Kaveh.
"Do you miss him?" Aether asked.
"Who?"
"You know who I'm talking about," the blonde rolled his eyes. "When I told you Kaveh moved, you seemed a bit tense. You were tense earlier, too, you know? Before dinner."
Alhaitham crossed his arms, letting out a huff. "I do not consider him a friend. In fact, he annoys me and most of our interactions end in arguments."
"However..." he looked at the other who urged him to continue, nodding silently.
Alhaitham appreciated how Aether listened to him without judgement.
"I do feel like something is missing, and home feels... significantly lacking. Ever since he's gone. I don't like how it feels."
Aether smiled at him softly, "wanna talk to him about it?"
He shook his head, "troublesome."
The blonde traveler grinned, "but you do know it's better for you to get it over with, hm?" he teased.
Alhaitham stared at the fishes swimming about, reflection of the moon above reflected on the surface of the pond.
At that moment he wished he existed as a fish.
Both of them returned into the main building, to what looked like a very intense round of TCG.
"Man, you've been getting really bad rolls!" Itto pointed out.
"Would be nice if you pulled a Jade Chamber, huh?" Kaveh added. Cyno frowned and grabbed some cards to tune them.
"Kaveh, Alhaitham wants to talk to you," Aether told the other blonde, to which Alhaitham turned his head and saw Aether sticking his tongue out at him.
Alhaitham narrowed his eyes, to which Aether ignored.
Kaveh raised his eyebrows curiously, "Hm? Talk about what?"
"Let's go somewhere first," Alhaitham sighed.
Kaveh followed him outside and sat beside him on a stone bench near the fountain.
"I want you to come home," Alhaitham started, "live with me again."
Kaveh stared at him like he'd grown two heads.
"You're kidding, right?"
Alhaitham merely stared back at him silently.
"Damn, you're not. But... why? It doesn't make sense."
Alhaitham agreed. It didn't make sense.
"You have your house to yourself, I don't have to pay rent, Aether gets someone to build him a mansion, everyone wins!"
"Home feels empty without your presence."
Kaveh raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying, you want me back so your house doesn't feel empty anymore?"
"That's the gist of it."
"Then find someone else as your roommate!"
"It has to be you."
"Well, I don't want to!" Kaveh retorted. "Why does it have to be me, of all people? Is it because no one else wants to live with you? In that case, I'm the same. I only live with you due to the circumstances!"
It's true, Alhaitham knew that if not for his debt, Kaveh would never have lived with him.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Alhaitham responded, a tiny smile on his face. "We definitely isn't on the best of terms, with our constant bickering and clashes of ideals..."
Kaveh listened silently, and Alhaitham continued.
"As strange as it is, I've found myself missing that part of my life. You've become part of my life, and now that you're away... I miss you. I've been thinking about you a lot since you moved out."
Kaveh's frown deepened. "I don't feel the same way about you."
"I know."
"Then you know my answer."
"Yeah."
"So why bother asking?""
Alhaitham shrugged. "Just thought you should at least know how I feel."
Kaveh dragged a hand across his face, exasperated. "You're unbelieveable. Just... what do you think I am? Who am I to you?"
Alhaitham pondered the question for a while, racking his brain for words.
Friend, companion, enemy, acquintance, roommate, family, none of these words felt right. His mind went through the entire lexicon, and one word seemed to suit Kaveh the best.
"I think of you as a soulmate."
Kaveh stared at him, dumbfounded. "That's... huh. Never thought you'd think of me that way."
Alhaitham himself had never thought he'd ever use that word to describe Kaveh, either.
"I do not think of you as a friend. I don't like you romantically and sexually either. I just... feel deeply connected to you. That's why I feel like the word soulmate suits you best."
Kaveh crossed his arms, looking deep in thought. "I gotta say, I'm surprised that you used that word, and that you're being... y'know, emotional? It feels refreshing."
"That makes the two of us," he replied with a chuckle.
"I accept your feelings, Alhaitham." Kaveh stood up, looking straight at him with sincerity. "But, I'm sorry, I don't feel the same way about you. I can't return your feelings."
Alhaitham let out a sigh. Of course Kaveh would apologize. "I've never expected you to. There's also no need for apologies. I appreciate your honesty."
Kaveh stepped closer to him and ruffled his hair, to Alhaitham's dismay. "You're being kinda cute for once, so there!" The blonde man stepped back, a grin on his face. "I still think you're full of shit, though."
Alhaitham huffed, "And I, you."
Kaveh rolled his eyes. "Anyways, hope you find a soulmate that doesn't hate your guts."
"I hope not. I'd rather not go through this kind of thing again. Feelings and emotions are a hassle to deal with."
"You're a piece of work, you know that?" Kaveh looked at him, unimpressed. "Anyways, if you're feeling lonely or something, you can visit my room, I guess. Just don't mess with my stuff and don't bother me while I'm working. Don't even talk to me if I don't talk to you first. Also... Hey! Are you listening? Did you just turn on that noise-cancellation thing?!"
They both made their way back into the main building and joined the others for a late night snack. Everyone was talking about beetles since Itto brought the topic up.
Aether pulled Alhaitham aside at one point, to his room.
"So, how did it go?" he asked.
Alhaitham merely shrugged. "I said what I needed to say."
Aether gave him a dissatisfied look. He wanted to know more.
"I don't know what you expect me to say. We talked it out. He doesn't feel the same way. That's it."
The blonde decided to not pry further. "And? How do you feel now?"
"A bit better. Somewhat."
Aether pat his back softly. "Good. At least you got loads off your chest. You'll live."
Alhaitham huffed indignantly. "Of course."
The blonde traveler grinned at him. "So... do you want to stay the night?"
The scribe nodded.