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Oh, the atmosphere was so lively.
The Festival of Summers and Harvest, out in the middle of the town streets and through the Grand Bazzar.
As the perfect dusk shuffled away from the horizon, the sky grew ever darker by the minute.
The lights and lanterns of Sumeru city were its own source of illumination.
Shops were open with their own sales, the smell and mix of food were floating through the town, persuading customers to come try.
The air was full of laughter and singing, and was its own sun in and of itself. It was enough to bring tears of nostalgia to the elderly, and tears of excitement from the children.
Instruments of Sumeru filled the words of the people, everyone singing to the upbeat song they all knew, drunk on the feeling of ecstasy. (And some on alcohol)
The Lion begged The Bull to come with him to the festival, knowing his partner isn't the biggest fan of crowds. The Bull finally caved.
The people clapped and danced to the beat, stepping and striding with their random partner as one took the lead, and the other followed with joy.
The one character in the crowd stood out to Alhaitham, eyes glued on the Light of the Kshahrewar, Kaveh.
Kaveh and his beautiful golden hair, makeup done with perfection, and carmine eyes as beautiful as the dusk that night.
He grabbed a partner whom he had never met before, she grabbed onto him with glee, staring into his eyes as they stepped together and locked hands. She laughed and winked, swept away by another partner as soon as she came.
Kaveh found himself with another woman, who was a little more shy than the other. He gave her simple words of encouragement as he followed the crowd in grabbing their partner by the waist and turning.
“That’s how you do it!” He cheered with a warm smile, as they kept dancing.
Alhaitham stared from the side, arms crossed as he watched his roommate and the woman.
He didn’t like the feeling he was experiencing.
On the sidelines, he was content, away from the center of attention. It was how he would have preferred things anyways.
Yet he stared in awe at Kaveh.
So energetic. So confident. So…
Beautiful..
One would like to argue that Kaveh had one to many to drink,
But Alhaitham knew he was simply himself.
Alhaitham had to only chuckle as he watched Kaveh, not paying any attention to the book that he had in his hands anymore. He closed the book and put it in the pouch behind his back, now simply staring into the crowd.
After a few seconds, Kaveh locks eyes with Alhaitham, giving his signature cocky smile, to which Alhaitham retorts with an eye roll.
He noticed he was smiling with that.
Kaveh made his way to Alhaitham, still stepping to the rhythm.
He turned and stretched out his hand, smiling, begging Alhaitham to join.
He reluctantly declines, shaking his head as his face pinched.
But even he, Alhaitham, was affected by the atmosphere.
As he shook his head, someone from the crowd pushed him in.
Kaveh chuckled, whisking away the shocked Scribe, who adjusted to the beat himself in a panic.
Right foot forward, left foot back to a quick pace, and over again.
“They’re gonna see us.” Alhaitham murmured as Kaveh led the way,
“I don’t care anymore!” Kaveh locked eyes with Alhaitham, giving a dreamy smile. “It’s only You and me.”
Alhaitham felt his face become hot and flustered, missing a step but quickly recovering.
Kaveh stepped behind Alhaitham, their hands disconnected, and Kaveh’s brushing against the back of Alhaitham’s neck.
The two switched, Alhaitham now leading as he spun Kaveh around with a grin, holding back a chuckle.
He knew all eyes were on him.
The quiet and reserved Grand Scribe, and Kaveh the renowned Architect, dancing with each other.
He hadn’t even noticed the people filtering out of the circle of the crowd as the song was quickening, coming to a close.
His blood was pounding in his ears, his heart beating along to the drums, but he found himself carefree.
He laughed, still stepping to the rhythms they knew so well, the crowd cheering and singing to the duo.
Kaveh elegantly stepped around him as their hands connected for a final time, he breathlessly found himself speaking without thinking.
“I’m going to kiss you so hard when we get home.” He murmured in Kaveh’s ear, his heart feeling like it might jump out of his chest.
“So bold tonight.” Kaveh’s loving eyes connected with his before Kaveh shuffled close, the song finishing soon.
Kaveh’s back finished against Alhaitham’s side, their hands locked together as their chests heaved up and down, giving labored breaths. Only a few partners still in the circle.
The blonde stepped away and gave a bow to everyone, waving. Alhaitham gave a noise of realization before bowing himself, embarrassment only now starting to creep up his spine.
It was too sudden when another song started and a flood of people came back into the circle to participate again.
Kaveh grabbed his hand and rushed against the crowd with Alhaitham.
The air became less heavy as the two hurried away from the strange looks a crowd might have given them, making sure and triple checking every few seconds that they weren’t being followed.
Finally, they got away from enough people, but still had just enough light from the streets to slip between two shops.
Their lips roughly crashed together, laughing and chuckling between heavy breaths. Kaveh’s arms wrapped around the Scribe’s neck, while Alhaitham’s wrapped around the Architect’s waist, pulling each other impossibly closer. Kaveh’s back against the brick wall as the two tried to stay quiet.
The sharp horns of the black bull butting against the ferocious roar of the lion, whose tail was tightly wrapped around the bull’s finger.
Kaveh took the feather from his hair, and gently tucked it behind Alhaitham’s ear, and brushed away the hair that covered his eye. He was slightly shorter, giving access and pulling Alhaitham’s turtleneck down with his two fingers and gently kissing his neck before giving little bites with a promise of bruising.
“Archons I’m in love with you.” Alhaitham murmured between hot and heavy breaths, letting out a rather embarrassing noise as Kaveh bit down especially hard. He shifted the turtleneck back into its proper place, the mark a little too high up, and noticeable if you were to look a little too close.
Kaveh huffed in accomplishment.
“Are you done yet?” Kaveh grinned,
Alhaitham was still coming down from his own cloud nine, taking Kaveh into his arms and gently bringing his hand to his golden hair.
“People are going to get suspicious, ‘Haitham..” Kaveh said through a smile.
“I don’t care anymore. It’s just you and me.” Alhaitham grinned, slightly baring his teeth, repeating the smug words of the Architect from before.
“Who are you and what have you done with Alhaitham?” Kaveh rested his hand on the other’s torso, snaking down his sides and to his ass.
“It’s me. I’m just so…” Alhaitham found himself at a loss for words.
“Speechless? Yeah I tend to have that effect on people.” Kaveh murmured lowly, close to Alhaitham.
A cheer could be heard from the crowd.
Kaveh paused and smiled,
“Let’s go home, ‘Haitham. I believe I just remembered I have a project due.” He said in a voice that made Alhaitham’s heart jump.
“You know what.. I did have to finish up some paperwork…”
The two didn’t get any work done.