Chapter Text
Everything we do in this life, we do for a first and a last time. We usually remember the first time, but rarely suspect the last.
Alhaitham, however, does not just suspect this last time.
Oh, no. He is damn well aware of it.
His final day as Acting Grand Sage can’t end soon enough.
It’s long, and infuriating, and nothing like the final day before retirement is supposed to be – none of that feeling of impending freedom hanging over him, or the expectation of being able to slack off a bit, since tomorrow, this will all be someone else’s problem. Alhaitham doesn’t have time to feel like that, because every second of his day is packed. Overpacked, actually. For the fourth time this week alone, he’s too busy to even eat lunch – and he brought a packed lunch with him. There’s just no time to open it, let alone worry about crumbs and traces of food on his fingers, that he’ll have to wipe off, which will slow down his ability to sign and stamp documents. He could eat it on his way to his meeting with Cyno, never mind that eating in the halls is technically prohibited, but it doesn’t occur to him until he’s over halfway to the General Mahamatra’s office.
Cyno, it turns out, isn’t even there. Trouble outside the city, his second in command tells Alhaitham. No, Alhaitham doesn’t need to be filled in, even though he’s still the Acting Grand Sage, because the matra isn’t bound by the Akademiya’s old regulations where they answered to the sages anymore, and no, he’s not going to tell Alhaitham, just because he wants to flaunt it.
Alhaitham doesn’t particularly care, but . . . he doesn’t know. He can’t help but feel an inexplicable twinge of disappointment. Occasionally, he and Cyno go for drinks after work. Sometimes alcohol, but usually coffee, because since assuming the position of Acting Grand Sage, Alhaitham cannot make it through the day without at least five cups. He knows it’s not particularly healthy and plans to cut back once he no longer needs it . . . so, technically tomorrow.
It still feels so damn long away, even though it’s now midafternoon.
He reads over the documents that Cyno wants him to sign carefully, while he’s there at the matra’s offices, before putting his stamp and signature to them. Not that he doesn’t trust Cyno, but the General Mahamatra doesn’t draft all his proposed legislation himself. Alhaitham’s caught his underlings trying to sneak in clauses that could be detrimental to the new balance of power that he, Cyno, and Nahida so painstakingly hashed out. He finds one such trap today, spends ten minutes arguing with Cyno’s second, then twenty minutes drafting a new copy, that he signs and leaves there to await Cyno’s signature, so it can be forwarded to Nahida.
The delay puts him even further behind for the rest of the day than he already was.
An hour before the work day ends – or when the Akademiya workday ends for most staff – Alhaitham takes his first break of the day. If he doesn’t, he’s going to pass out in the Grand Sage’s chair – and not for the first time. If it was only an hour left for him, he’d probably try to just power through it, but as much as he’d like to just throw down his paperwork and leave it where it lays . . . he just can’t.
Too many sages have let Nahida down already. He won’t be another one in that very long list. Not if he can help it – and not in his final few hours on the job. And it is just a few more hours. Then he’s finished. He’s free. His resignation will be official, and he’ll finally just be the Akademiya’s Scribe once more, rather than the Acting Grand Sage.
So, he stays late to grind out his final few tasks.
Then finally, finally, he is done.
There’s a strangely empty feeling in his chest as he packs up his belongings and prepares to vacate the Grand Sage’s office, and Alhaitham doesn’t know why.
He hated being the Acting Grand Sage. Every damn minute of it. He can’t wait to get back to his easy life as the Scribe, with his regular work hours and simple tasks, and days off that aren’t interrupted by state emergencies, and having time to do things after work, other than just drink with friends. In fact, taking up that new past time is the only good thing to come out of his time in office. Drinking with friends. And having friends.
Before, he only really had Kaveh, who makes it very clear that they are not friends, only roommates. Now he’s got Cyno and Nilou, Dehya and Dunyazad, the Traveler, their pet Paimon, and Nahida.
Alhaitham pauses as he realizes the source of that empty feeling. He supposes that he was expecting . . . something. For Cyno or Dehya to invite him to a drink to celebrate his resignation, or for Nilou to arrange a get together . . . Maybe for Nahida to say something to him . . . or for someone to walk out with him, as he leaves the Grand Sage’s office for the last time.
He shoves those thoughts aside. He knows full well that his friends have better things to do, and besides, they know him well enough to know that he doesn’t really like things like that. They’re probably well aware that he hasn’t had nearly enough alone time lately. Right now all he really wants is to go home, eat until he’s stuffed, then pass out while reading in bed.
Unfortunately, there’s not much food in his house at the moment. In fact, if Kaveh ate the leftovers that were there, and didn’t go grocery shopping, there might not be anything. Well, Alhaitham’s got his uneaten lunch, at least, and a few bottles of good wine he’s been saving. That will get him through tonight. He’ll restock the pantry tomorrow, once he’s had a good night’s sleep and regained his energy. Maybe he’ll even treat himself to a restaurant meal. He can afford whatever he wants, thanks to the salary increase he received when he became the Acting Grand Sage – which isn’t going to decrease now that he’s the Scribe again. While he intends to save as much as possible, so he can conduct the research he wants and take an early retirement, Alhaitham thinks that he’s earned himself a nice expensive meal.
No one stops him or speaks to him as he leaves the Akademiya as the Acting Grand Sage for the final time. At least not that he notices. He does turn on his soundproof earpieces for the explicit purpose of not having to hear anyone who might try to stop him. Then, once he’s outside the Akademiya doors, it’s only a short walk to his house.
It’s dark, he sees, as he approaches, and he wonders if Kaveh is out – or already in bed. The former is more likely than the latter. Kaveh stays up to ungodly hours every night, working on his projects. Well, whatever. As long as Alhaitham doesn’t have to wear his earpieces to bed tonight, he’s happy.
He realizes that something is odd when he steps inside, however. Delicious scents waft to him from further within, and before he can light any lamps, they come on, on their own and illuminate the room as a shower of confetti falls around Alhaitham.
He blinks at the sight of his friends – every allogene who had a hand in rescuing Lesser Lord Kusanali and overthrowing the sages, and a few of their friends like Dunyazad and Collei – all assembled in his house, grinning at him, mouths open like they all just said something . . . then he reaches up to turn off the soundproof function of his earpieces.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“You had your soundproof earpieces on?” Kaveh asks incredulously, then makes an annoyed noise in the back of his throat. “Of course you had your soundproof earpieces on! Trust you to ruin your own surprise party. After all this time you kept us waiting too!”
“In hindsight, we should have arranged for someone else to bring him,” Tighnari speaks up. “We should have foreseen that he might have to stay late, and had someone on standby to drag him home on schedule.”
“I had planned to,” Cyno speaks up, “but then I was called to attend an urgent matter outside the city. I didn’t think that I would make it back in time, but when I did, I came straight here.”
Alhaitham doesn’t know what to say. He’s never once had anyone throw him a party, let alone a surprise party. How is one supposed to react?
“I am still very surprised,” Alhaitham tells them, “So, even if I did not hear what you said when I entered, you still achieved your purpose.”
“Somehow you breaking it down like that annoys me even more,” Kaveh says with a huff.
“Aw, get over it,” Dehya says, and strides forward to fling an arm around Alhaitham’s shoulders, and drag him further into his house. “No party pooping allowed! The man of the hour is here now, and we successfully surprised him. That’s what matters. So, let’s get this party started!”
It’s a lively affair. Certainly the liveliest affair that’s ever occurred at Alhaitham’s house. On another day, he would probably be annoyed at such a gathering occurring in his home – without his permission, no less, but tonight . . . bizarrely enough, he finds it nice.
There’s lots of food, which he is especially grateful for . . . and people seem mostly happy enough to entertain themselves, after only talking to him for a bit, so he can just sit. And eat. And watch. And somehow, he finds himself very happy.
It’s probably partly exhaustion. He’s definitely reached that point where he’s so tired that everything seems more amusing than it actually is, and now that he’s fed, hunger is no longer shading everything with annoyance. Not that he really feels the need to overanalyze it. Too much.
To his mild surprise, Nahida herself is in attendance. In her own body, no less. She seems to be consciously trying stay out of the spotlight, perhaps in deference to this gathering being about celebrating Alhaitham. All the Vision wielders, Paimon, and the Traveler all treat her like they would any normal person. Dunyazad is the only one who really fawns over her and treats her with the reverence that most would agree befits an Archon. Alhaitham catches Nahida sending numerous sheepish glances his way, like he might care that one of Lesser Lord Kusanali’s worshipers continues to show her devotion at his surprise party.
(Alhaitham isn’t sure if that thought is actually hilarious or if it’s just exhaustion making him think so.)
About an hour into the party, Nahida does manage to peel away from her worshiper, with some help from Dehya, and takes a seat by Alhaitham.
“Having a good time?” she asks him, even though she knows him well enough to tell that yes, he is, even without reading his mind.
Alhaitham nods. “I am. This evening has turned out to be very enjoyable.”
Nahida gives him a sweet smile. “I hope that this doesn’t feel more like something we wanted than what you wanted. We did want to celebrate you, very much, but your wishes also matter.”
“I didn’t expect there to be any food in the house when I got home,” Alhaitham admits. “So, I was planning on eating my packed lunch that I didn’t find time to eat during the day, and opening a bottle of wine. This is far better.”
Nahida’s smile wavers slightly. Then she reaches for his hand. Alhaitham is not a fan of casual touch . . . but he lets it slide this time.
“You’ve worked so hard for me. I know that at times the tasks seemed never ending and the work was thankless . . . and I know that you never wanted this job. Not even secretly, in your innermost heart. I am very grateful for all that you’ve done. For Sumeru, and for me. I don’t know where this country would be without you, Alhaitham . . . or where I would be. But I know that our fates would have been dark indeed if not for your brilliant mind, and your beautiful, kind heart.”
No one’s ever complimented Alhaitham’s kindness or his heart before. This is a night of many firsts, it seems.
“I’m just glad that it all worked out. And that we’re finally at the point where I can step back,” Alhaitham says, though he knows that it would probably be more polite to be falsely modest. That’s not his way, though . . . and it might be sacrilegious to lie to an Archon’s face.
“I wish you all the happiness in the world as you return to your old position.” Nahida squeezes his hand.
“Thank you. And . . . I’m sure you’re already aware that I’ll be available to help if anything requiring my specific skillset arises.”
“Thank you . . . but no more talk of work tonight,” Nahida says. “Even if this party is to celebrate your return to your old job! You are more than deserving of a night off. Oh, your cup is empty. Please wait here, I’ll get you more wine.”
Alhaitham doesn’t stop her. Mainly because he knows she’s using refilling his cup as an excuse to refill her plate with Candied Ajilenakh Nuts, and far be it from him to stand between her and her sweets.
Still . . . to be served wine by his Archon . . . to be at a surprise party with his Archon, and one held to celebrate his stint as Grand Sage no less . . . and to be surrounded by people he considers his friends . . . his life sure has taken a turn for the bizarre.
A smile tugs at the corner of Alhaitham’s mouth as he surveys his home and his friends, and he realizes that he wouldn’t change a thing about how his life’s turned out, or trade it for anything in the world.
Thank you for reading! I hope you've enjoyed my latest Alhaitham fic! This was another one of those ideas that I came up with quite a while back, and was holding onto, but since it didn't need to be used for its original purpose, I'm sharing it here, to hopefully get you addicted to my Alhaitham stories. ^^
I have another Alhaitham fic that I'll be starting next week - a gift that I promised a friend. So, I hope you'll check back for that! Also, I'm on Twitter, so you can see what else I'm cooking up for you guys off this site!