Chapter Text
Kaveh woke to fingers gently caressing his hair. The back of his head was being comfortably massaged, and it felt heavenly. Usually, he would wake to his roommate being gone -- either going to join the traveler that he claimed to be friends with, or Alhaitham just simply wanted to get to his office before working hours.
Wait. Alhaitham. He was massaging him.
Tired eyes blinked open, looking at softened ones. "What are you doing?" Kaveh whispered, feeling a hand play with the bottom strands of his hair.
"Admiring." The scribe bluntly said, moving down to his architect's pretty back, gently scratching it. The curves Kaveh had were tensed -- not because of his touch, but because of him overworking himself. No wonder he was so emotionally fragile, Alhaitham thought, tracing circles.
Kaveh's nose scrunched in annoyance. Why was Alhaitham being so ... odd?
"What do you want from me?" Kaveh teased, moving his legs so they were intertwined with the other's.
Alhaitham gave the joking question a genuine thought, looking to the side. "Hm. A kiss?"
"Stop."
"Just one."
Kaveh sighed in irritation, but smiled, leaning in.
A small, quick peck.
Alhaitham frowned. "What kind of morning kiss was that?"
"Take it or leave it, sucker." Kaveh responded, voice already having a light tease to it.
Alhaitham put his hands on both sides of Kaveh's face, bringing the blond towards him, kissing again.
"Haitham!"
The scribe ignored his lover's struggle to get out of his tight hug, repeatingly kissing the top of Kaveh's head. Kaveh, with all of his might, pushed at Alhaitham's chest. But to no avail, Alhaitham kept him in the same spot. Almost as if he did not move. It made Kaveh feel like a twig -- with the difference in their physical strength.
It was no use .. Kaveh only relaxed, taking in the affection the other gave to him so tenderly.
. . .
For once, Alhaitham let Kaveh cook. And, for a change, did not supervise. Growing suspicion was starting to form on Kaveh as the scribe took a bite out of scrambled eggs, absent-mindedly smiling. He took another bite, and another.
"You seem to like my cooking, now." Kaveh grumbled, his fork stabbing into his own eggs. "It was always good," the other said, sipping at coffee.
"Okay. Now I KNOW you're being weird."
"Mm."
The scribe continued eating the warm food, listening to the architect ramble about his latest project. Good thing it was not a distant one, or Alhaitham would not have time before Kaveh's birthday came around. He knew that Kaveh would not travel so far during such an important event, anyway. Birds chirped gently outside their windows, just quiet enough to not annoy Alhaitham. His headphones were set on the bedroom table, charging. He has gotten used to the weight of the device, so the weird feeling was something he did not like. Especially cold wind brushing at his reddened, sensitive ears.
"--Are you even listening?" Kaveh's sassy voice snapped him out of his thoughts, blinking in slight surprise. "Yes. Your project. You were arguing with this one guy about how this one table should be designed for a home. Then he tried to frame you by breaking another table."
It was Kaveh's turn to be surprised. Haitham noticed a light blush form on his cheeks as he looked down at his plate. "Ah, yes. Sorry, I thought you did not care, as usual."
"I don't," Alhaitham went on, holding back a smile when Kaveh gave an offended glare. "I just let you keep talking because I like to hear your voice."
"I dislike you so much right now."
"Is that so? Well, I was not the one cuddling all night."
"Oh, boo. You loved it."
That got a smile out of the scribe, yet he hid it with another sip at his drink.
Kaveh finished his food, putting the dishes in the sink, yawning. "Something happened yesterday at the bar."
Alhaitham moved his head a little to look at the blond, which resulted in an unexpected kiss on the cheek. "Do tell."
Kaveh sat down again, but closer to Alhaitham this time. "A woman asked for my number."
Alhaitham bit at some bacon. "Did you give it to her?"
"Ugh, yes, I did." Kaveh hit Alhaitham's arm, but barely. "No, of course not!"
"Making such a horrible move," the scribe teased, tapping at a now empty glass. "It's her death wish to put up with you."
"The couch has your name on it."
"You would give in at around midnight."
"I would not!"
"Sure."
Alhaitham knew Kaveh inside out. He was bad at social cues on some occasions, but this was not one of them -- for this was his roommate. Kaveh's eyes always showed how he was genuinely feeling. Emotional, yes, but it was almost always through his eyes. Right now, they were showing growing annoyance. The aggravated huff and him beginning to stand confirmed Alhaitham's theory.
Don't let Kaveh get upset at you was Alhaitham's number one rule that week. He took Kaveh's wrist, the touch apologetic. "Sorry." He whispered. "I did not mean to upset you."
Kaveh looked so confused. His glare was now a worried expression. "Did you drink too much wine while I was gone?"
"No. I just don't want us to argue today."
Kaveh looked around, sitting back down. "Are you okay? Is something on your mind?"
Oh, how cute he was.
"I'm fine. Don't worry." Before Kaveh could ask further questions, Alhaitham spoke again. "I was thinking of going out to shop today."
"Absolutely NOT." Kaveh protested, standing up swiftly this time. His hair was not put up in the red pins he usually had, so strands of blond started to get into his face and onto his shoulders. This visibly annoyed Kaveh, him starting to rummage for a hair tie in his pocket.
"I was thinking you could come, too. Since you like to complain so much, help me pick out some furniture."
Kaveh stopped moving his hand, eyes wide. "Huh?"
"You, me." Alhaitham raised a brow. "..Picking out furniture."
"And you aren't making me pay?"
"Of course not."
Kaveh cheered, about to pump his fists in the air, but stopping himself. "Ahem. Okay."
Alhaitham put his dishes in the sink. "What's with the sudden stoic reaction?"
"Shut it. It's just rare for you to be this nice."
"Be ready in ten. We can go get some food afterwards if you don't take forever picking out clothes."
"I'll take thirty minutes on purpose, now. Then take a long, nice shower." Kaveh sneered, swatting away the gloved hand that went to stroke his hair.