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Kaveh has had a long day.
He has a deadline for a project coming up, he spent all day finding his house key, and all week Alhaitham has been as difficult as always. He just wants to sit down in the comfort of his home, drink some tea and then maybe think about the project he’s working on. Maybe tonight he could get the productive juices flowing and make some good progress.
But first, relaxation. Some tea and a good meal maybe.
As he turns his key in the lock and opens the door to his and Alhaitham’s home, two things become apparent:
1. He will not, in fact, be able to sit down and relax as Alhaitham has made a huge mess of the place with what appear to be… chocolates. Piles upon piles of chocolates, heart shaped, wrapped up with sparking strings, all kinds.
2. Kaveh has forgotten today is Valentine’s day.
Not that it really matters that he has forgotten, after all it seems pointless to celebrate Valentine’s day without, well, a valentine.
What matters more is that their home is an absolute mess and it is clearly Alhaitham’s doing. Of course he’d get bombarded with chocolates from admirers on a day like this, he’s the acting Grand Sage after all. He’s handsome and popular despite his cool demeanor. Said demeanor might even be the reason some are so drawn to him.
And if it makes Kaveh get a weird, stinging sensation in his chest, well, no one has to know about that.
But Alhaitham does have to know that littering their home like this is absolutely unacceptable. Of course, the man himself is sitting on one of their sofas, book in hand, surrounded by the offending sweets.
“What is this,” Kaveh all but hisses. This yields him a raised eyebrow but the turquoise eyes of his roommate stay firmly planted on the book before him.
“They’re chocolates.”
Somehow he knew that was the answer he was going to get, but it is still infuriating.
“They’re chocolates, yes. Why are they all scattered around like… like some sort of heart-shaped chocolate explosion happened here?”
Alhaitham clicks his tongue. The book still holds his attention. “People gifted them for Valentine's day. I have better things to do with my time than arrange them to your liking. If you would like to eat some, help yourself.”
Eat some? Absolutely not. First of all, they’re addressed to Alhaitham, and it would be in poor taste to eat someone else’s chocolates. And second of all, well. Kaveh can’t get the image of starry eyed young admirers offering all these sweets to the scribe, and for some reason, it makes him feel a little ill. Definitely not in the mood for chocolate.
So he scoffs. “No, thank you.”
It’s not the first time Alhaitham refuses to be a considerate roommate and clean up his mess. It probably won’t be the last time. And Kaveh will be damned if he lets it ruin his plans of having a relaxing cup of tea, so he makes his way into the kitchen and starts preparing.
Maybe he zones out. Maybe he’s just a more polite roommate than Alhaitham will ever be. Whatever the reason, he somehow ends up with two cups of tea.
One is his favorite. The other, Alhaitham’s.
Infuriating.
He carries both cups back into the living room - no reason to waste good tea, after all - and sets Alhaitham’s cup in front of him without any words.
“Thank you.” The book is lowered, and turquoise eyes look at him with what Kaveh thinks is genuine gratitude. Probably. Maybe… fondness?
Surely not. It’s just him being silly, and thinking about the chocolates, and Valentine’s day in general. Thinking about how maybe he should’ve prepared some chocolate to give away as well. To give to Alhaitham.
“Are you feeling alright?”
Kaveh realizes he’s still standing in front of Alhaitham, holding his own cup of tea, staring. And definitely red in the face. He can feel the heat on his cheeks.
“Yes,” he says, a little too quick and a little too loud. It’s hard to keep from wincing at that. But he turns around nevertheless and goes to sit on another sofa.
Except. The unoccupied sofas are both covered in Valentine’s day chocolates.
Archons.
Kaveh clears his throat and weighs his options.
He could just sit down on the chocolates and teach Alhaitham a lesson on setting things down in more appropriate places instead of just chucking them wherever. But this would lead to an even bigger mess, and having melted chocolate on his backside doesn’t sound very appealing.
He could sweep some of the chocolates off the sofa and onto the floor. But again, more mess, and he can’t help but think about the people who poured their hearts into these gift chocolates. It would feel cruel to just throw them on the floor carelessly, no matter how much it stings to think about all the people aiming for Alhaitham’s affections.
He could sit down on the sofa that is not covered in chocolates. But that’s the sofa Alhaitham is sitting on.
Kaveh truly has had a long day.
So he makes his choice, and sits down right there next to Alhaitham. And the scribe is just going to have to deal with it, since this whole situation is caused by him anyway.
Alhaitham doesn’t comment on it.
They drink their tea in comfortable silence, Alhaitham undoubtedly still focused on his book. Once Kaveh manages to forget all the chocolates strewn around their sitting room, it’s actually very nice. He’s almost relaxing. Alhaitham’s warm and solid next to him. He smells good, and he’s breathing in a steady, calming rhythm. Kaveh can almost feel his heartbeat.
Kaveh might be sitting too close.
The realization makes his own heartbeat go crazy. But it’s too late to move now, or it’ll be obvious. He just has to calm down and make sure Alhaitham doesn’t notice if he’s being weird.
Actually, he’s not being weird! He’s just enjoying the company of his roommate. His handsome roommate who many people regard with great affection, apparently. Even though Kaveh feels like none of them know Alhaitham as well as he does.
He doesn’t want them to.
He sets down his cup and clears his throat, curiosity getting the better of him.
“So… this is a lot of chocolate.”
He gets an affirming hum in return.
“Did they all deliver them personally?” Surely not. That would be a staggering amount of admirers on their doorstep.
“Don’t think so. Some did, but I imagine couriers are kept very busy on this day.”
“I see.” He’s silent for a moment again before continuing. “Anyone, uh, special, bring one to you?”
He is instantly embarrassed, having asked that question. Way to sound like a smitten schoolboy.
Alhaitham sets his book down, brows furrowed.
“Special?”
“Forget it,” Kaveh replies, too fast again. He’s blushing again, he can feel it. He regrets bringing this up at all.
But Alhaitham is looking at him now. He’s turned towards Kaveh, and is studying his face. And Kaveh can’t help but look back. Can’t help but look into the turquoise eyes that are always so serious and seem to hold a thousand secrets.
Suddenly, there’s a look on Alhaitham’s face Kaveh has never seen before. The scribe breaks eye contact and looks… embarrassed? Unsure? Like he’s trying to decide what to say. And it’s strange, because Alhaitham usually always has a reply ready to go, never seems to be at a loss for words.
It brings Kaveh an overwhelming need to encourage him, to comfort him. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen Alhaitham like this. So vulnerable.
So he takes Alhaitham’s hand, and maybe it’s his imagination, but he thinks he sees the scribe’s eyes widen.
Alhaitham opens his mouth, then closes it again. Clears his throat.
“Well, I don’t think any of them were from anyone special, unless…”
“Unless?” Kaveh prompts when he doesn’t continue.
“Unless… you secretly sent me one.”
Alhaitham’s gaze is intense now, like it’s seeing right through Kaveh. And his words… There’s no way he’s misinterpreting them, right? It’s not possible. This is not just Kaveh’s feelings talking. Alhaitham just said that.
“Oh,” Kaveh lets out. It’s a thin little noise and it doesn’t convey what he wants to say at all. He has so much to say, And he’s a little mad at himself for not getting any chocolate for Alhaitham.
When words fail, one must resort to actions, he muses.
So he lets go of Alhaitham’s hand and instead grabs the man’s face, and kisses him.
It’s terrifying, for a moment. It’s like time stands still when Alhaitham doesn’t immediately react.
And then, he lets Kaveh out of his misery.
Strong arms wrap around him and Alhaitham pulls him closer as he exhales and relaxes into the kiss, reciprocating it. The scribe’s lips are soft in contrast to the secure, solid hold he has on Kaveh, and he feels like he could melt into the embrace. It feels like he’s surrounded by Alhaitham, all senses full of him, and it’s something he’s craved for so long.
It’s a chaste kiss, their first one. And then the second, and third, and fourth. Somewhere along the way, Kaveh ends up on Alhaitham’s lap. And by the sixth kiss, he knows what his roommate’s tongue tastes like.
When they finally break apart for air for more than a fleeting moment, they just stare into each others’ eyes for a while.
Kaveh laughs a little. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you any chocolate.”
He gets an amused smirk in return. “Well, I got something much better instead.”
“This is an obscene amount of chocolate anyway. I can’t believe you have this many admirers,” Kaveh huffs. Sure, Alhaitham may have sort of confessed and they might have kissed, but he’s still not entirely over it.
Alhaitham captures his lips again, just for a second, before speaking.
“It doesn’t matter. You’re the one I admire.”
Kaveh buries his face on Alhaitham’s shoulder in embarrassment, but it’s no use, as his junior starts peppering tiny little kisses on his neck instead. It tickles, but he wouldn’t want to pull away even if his life depended on it.
They stay like that for a moment, breathing each other in, before Alhaitham speaks again.
“One more thing about the chocolates, Kaveh.”
“Yes?”
“Half of them were addressed to you.”