Work Text:
Alhaitham had decided to work from home. The weather had been cold and miserable lately. This last week it had been raining everyday and he was sick of having to leave his book at home for fear it would get wet and ruined.
It was early afternoon when he heard his roommate Kaveh return home. He sighed tiredly, from a distant glance Alhaitham could see the heavy bags under his eyes. He was a bit under dressed for this weather Alhaitham thought. Kaveh looked like he was cold, his skin was a little pale. He decided to get up and make himself a cup of tea and would make one for Kaveh at the same time he supposed.
He and Kaveh had been living together for about half a year. Alhaitham was nervous to let him back into his life, his absence had initially left a big whole after all, but the thought of leaving Kaveh alone on the streets made his chest hurt. Alhaitham enjoyed him being around, though he had never said as much to Kaveh. He liked having someone who he respected as his intellectual equal to talk and discuss with. Though he acknowledged to Kaveh it probably felt like bickering and teasing. Alhaitham liked doing little things for Kaveh to show his affection for his senior, though most of the time it would go entirely unnoticed. Kaveh was always surrounded by people throwing praises and adoration his way. He probably didn’t see the little things Alhaitham did as anything special. Alhaitham was alright with this though, he had long given up on any notion of Kaveh returning his feelings. As long as Kaveh was safe and in his life he was satisfied enough.
“Kaveh I made you tea.” He said standing outside the others room, waiting for him to open the door as his hands were full.
“Hihh-HiTschuu! Hih’TCHHuu! hAAT’tchuuuh!” Was the reply he got, before the door opened with Kaveh holding a tissue to his face.
“Thank you,” he sniffed, as Alhaitham passed him the tea. “I really needed something to warm me up.” He smiled, sniffing again as he wiped his nose with the tissue before throwing it in the bin.
Alhaitham glanced over the room and noticed a small half packed suitcase on Kaveh’s bed, as well as some other tissues sprawled across the floor.
“Are you sick?” He asked genuinely concerned, though to Kaveh it sounded like a stupid and obvious question.
“Yes, I have a bit of a cold, it isn’t anything serious. I promise I won’t get you sick or disturb your peace. So please leave me be.” He said, trying to push his roommate out of his room but the bigger man wouldn’t budge. Kaveh groaned, he didn’t need to get into a fight with Alhaitham, his head hurt enough as it was. He wished his roommate was an easier person to get on with.
“Where are you going?” Asked Alhaitham, gesturing towards the half packed suitcase. Kaveh was relieved that it didn’t seem like Alhaitham wanted to start a debate for once. While they were both geniuses they saw the world in entirely different ways. Kaveh was certain he would never understand how Alhaitham’s mind works, but he was grateful he was at least willing to take him in. Even if he often complained about the mess and the noise Kaveh created.
“I have a meeting in the desert tomorrow, and the next day. I organised accomodation for myself in Aaru Village for the one night.” He responded matter-of-factly. “It is a short trip, but it will be better if I pack a sma-Hiih’tschh!” He quickly covered his face and turned away from Alhaitham to sneeze.
“Bless you.” His roommate responded dryly. “Is it a good idea for you to go to the desert, can’t you postpone?” Kaveh knew it was coming yet, it enraged him regardless.
“No, I can’t postpone, it is unprofessional. The client is depending on me and expecting me to be there tomorrow. Plus how on earth am I going to pay you back for everything and pay rent if I don’t take the work? Hmm?” Alhaitham could tell his suggestion hadn’t been welcome. He was worried about Kaveh though, he looked pale and tired. He didn’t even care if Kaveh paid him back or not, it seemed Kaveh hadn’t really noticed though. Whenever Kaveh would offer to give him the rent he would usually just tell him that he would grab it later, but later never came.
“At least,” Alhaitham trialled off as he heard Kaveh’s breath hitch.
“Hhhh…hiih…hh-! Hh’AKTSSCHU! AH’KTSSCHHIEW! Sndf-! Hhh…hh! HUH’AKTSSCHHUU! HAH’TSCHUUU!” Kaveh sniffed loudly, and turned back to Alhaitham with a displeased look. “I have to finish the proposal for tomorrow’s meeting, thank you.. snf.. for the tea.” He said as he tried to push Alhaitham out the door before he could finish the sentence. Alas Alhaitham stood his ground.
“At least try and get a good nights sleep Kaveh.” Alhaitham said before leaving on his own. Kaveh didn’t respond other than by closing the door behind him as he left.
Kaveh didn’t come out for dinner that night, despite Alhaitham reluctantly making a soup instead of his usual speciality. He offered to bring some to Kaveh but his senior told him he didn’t have time to eat and would eat later, when morning came it was obvious the food hadn’t been touched. Alhaitham was still waking up when he could hear Kaveh leaving. He couldn’t see him but based on the groans and sneezes he was hearing from his bedroom he wasn’t any better, and if anything sounded worse.
Alhaitham decided since Kaveh would be gone all day and the following he would make use of the quiet time in the house. While he loved the quiet he could admit that without Kaveh home the house was almost too quiet. At first the additional noise drove Haitham nuts, but now, it was rather pleasant he thought to himself. He had hoped that they could continue living together, it made his house feel like a home when Kaveh was around. But based on their conversation last night, and many previous ones like it he got the feeling that Kaveh would try and leave as soon as he could afford to. They would go back to not being anything to each other outwardly. This thought made Alhaitham’s chest tighten. He was trying to work but all he could think about was Kaveh and whether he would be alright or not. After re-reading the same document several times while taking in no informatio he annoyingly tsked, grabbed his coat and headed towards Aaru village to check on Kaveh.
As Kaveh walked through the desert he could feel himself sweating a lot. It had been so cold in Sumeru city over the last week or so he wasn’t used to the dry heat of the desert and it was making his head spin. He could hear his client talking to him but honestly couldn’t make out any of the words being said. They may have well have been spoken to him in Snezhnayian.
“Hi-TsccHu! Hih-hSChu! HN’SChhu!” He tried to stifle his sneezes by pinching his nose, hoping his client wouldn’t notice. His client didn’t seem to, as he just kept talking. The words he was saying just washing over him like the sound of waves crashing. All he could focus on was how hot he felt, and how hard it was to breath in the heat.
“Sir Kaveh?” He client asked, waiting for a response. “Sir Kaveh? Are you alright?” He asked as Kaveh tried to keep up with him. Kaveh didn’t understand why he felt so hot, he had done many projects in the desert and none had made him feel like this. He looked towards his client, and tried to respond to his name being called repetitively but before he could the sun set suddenly and all he could see was darkness.
“SIR KAVEH!” His client exclaimed as Kaveh collapsed onto the sand unconscious. The panicked client had no idea what to do as it had just been the two of them walking in a reasonably secluded part of the desert north east of Aaru village.. Luckily Alhaitham had managed to catch up and while he wasn’t close enough to have caught Kaveh before he collapsed he saw it happen from above. The so called ‘feeble scholar’ quickly jumped down from the cliff, scooping his senior off the hot desert floor and brushing the sand off him before hoisting him onto his back. The client looked at Alhaitham with befuddlement.
“Aren’t you the Akademiya’s Grand Scribe?” He asked.
“Yes.” Alhaitham didn’t enjoy talking to most people, but he especially hated small talk and questions with obvious answers.
“What is the Akademiya’s scribe doing all the way out here?” Kaveh’s befuddled client asked. Causing Haitham to tsk and almost reach to turn on the noise cancelling function of his headphones.
“I’m here to take Kaveh back home. Can you take his briefcase and hand it in at the Akademiya, just tell them it is for the Grand Scribe and they’ll give it to me.” He responded plainly as he began walking back to the city, without giving Kaveh’s client another thought.
“Ah.. O-Okay.” He heard vaguely behind him but his only focus was Kaveh.
As they approached the city he could feel the change in temperature and decided to remove his coat and put it over Kaveh’s shoulders. He could occasionally feel him shivering so tried to get him home as quickly as possible.
“Hii-TShuu!ehTSsuu!” He heard suddenly from behind him as he felt Kaveh sneeze against his neck, his breathing was still laboured and shallow. Kaveh groaned and mumbled something under his breath.
“Kaveh?” He softly questioned whether he was awake or had sneezed in his sleep. When he got no response he picked up his pace again. The sooner he could get Kaveh in bed and resting comfortably the better.
Kaveh felt his head spinning and bobbing up and down. Almost like he was in a boat. He felt himself sneeze but he couldn’t open his eyes or move, was he asleep? Was this all a dream? He could swear he heard Alhaitham’s voice, it sounded laced with worry. It must be a dream. He thought as he allowed himself to drift back to sleep unknowingly being carried by Alhaitham.
When Kaveh opened his eyes he could tell it was night, it was dark and the only light was coming from outside his room. The door was open and the hallway light was on. He surveyed the room, it was his room, but he felt very disoriented. He rubbed his face a bit and tried to sit up, something fell from his head giving him a bit of a shock. He picked it up it was a damp towel. He glanced around, noticing a bowl with water next to his bed and a chair that wasn’t usually there. There was a half drunk cup of tea and an unfamiliar book on his nightstand. Was Alhaitham in here earlier? He wondered.
“AlHai..Hhhh…hhhh…hh-! Hih’TSSCHU! H’TSSCHHUW! Snnff-! Hhhi…hih! HIH’ATSSCHHUU!!” He glanced around and decided to use the damp towel to wipe his nose. Sniffing as he did. He felt terrible.
“That’s for your fever, not your nose.” Alhaitham said, suddenly appearing at the doorway.
“Ah,” Kaveh looked down on it, he didn’t really want to put it back on his head now though.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you a fresh one. Meanwhile drink this.” He said as he put down a glass of water for him on the nightstand before disappearing and reappearing with a fresh towel. “Lie back down Kaveh.” He told him and gave him a gentle push down as he put the towel in the water wringing it out before placing it on Kaveh’s head which was still very warm.
Kaveh let out a sigh, the cold felt nice on his burning face.
“What happened?” He asked, his memories were spotty.
“What do you last remember?” Asked Alhaitham so he could gauge where to start.
“Being in the desert with my client..feeling unbearably hot.” He said sniffling a little.
“Well, you collapsed. Right in front of said client.” Alhaitham said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his tea. Kaveh groaned and tried to sit up again. “Lie down Kaveh.” Haitham said with a stern tone, pushing the older man’s chest down again. Kaveh turned to him looking frustrated. Kaveh felt the unsaid words between them. The fact he didn’t even get an I told you so from his roommate made him feel as if he were being pitied by the younger, being called a fool but with no words.
“What happened after?” He asked looking upset.
“I took you home, it was late by the time we got back yesterday, it was hard to move quickly while carrying you. You’ve been asleep since.” Alhaitham looked at Kaveh with a expression Kaveh couldn’t interpret. Was it annoyance no, too soft for annoyance, he thought, he’d seen the look before. When Alhaitham had heard he was in debt and on the streets. Ah, pity he thought. He hated seeing that look of pity it irked him, but he was homeless so he took whatever he could get.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Kaveh sighed, he felt bad he didn’t want to put Alhaitham out more than he already had been. Didn’t want to owe him any favours either. Alhaitham didn’t respond.
“What about my client?” Kaveh queried.
“What about him? He wasn’t my problem you were.” As soon as that came out Alhaitham realised that could have been phrased better. He meant it to mean, that his concern was taken up with Kaveh’s well being, but he ended up just coming across as calling Kaveh a problem. Too late now he thought, hoping Kaveh would take it in its intended meaning.
“Did you just leave him in the desert?”
“I gave him your briefcase asked him to return it to the Akademiya under my name, and told him I was taking you back home.” Kaveh’s eyes opened wide in shock and he quickly sat up causing his vision to blur and his head to spin.
“Did you really say you were taking me back home?!” Kaveh was shocked, he had told Alhaitham a hundred times he didn’t want people to know he was living there. He didn’t want more people looking at him like he was some charity case, needing to rely on his junior to avoid living rough. He was the Light of Kshahrewar after all. He wanted to inspire people with his art not be pitied by his circumstances.
“Why does it matter what I said Kaveh? I wasn’t there for him I was there for you.” Alhaitham sighed and gave the look again to Kaveh further instilling him with self doubt and annoyance.
“He’s an important client Alhaitham, I-I…Ha-HAd’DTSCHUU! HUH’ATSCHUU! HaH’SSHUUUU!..snff.. urgh..I.. I had been accompanying him as he didn’t have a vision or anyway to protect himself!” Kaveh exclaimed either side of his sneezes.
“I told you he wasn’t my-”
“Problem!? Yeah I got that thanks! You can go!” Kaveh angrily said waving his hand at the door. “Thank you! Now goodbye!”
Alhaitham didn’t budge.
“Seriously Alhaitham, I want you to leave now.” Kaveh said almost growling. “I don’t see why you need to sit here to look after me, I didn’t ask for it, and I certainly don’t want to owe you anymore favours. I am sorry I am such a problem for you, I am dismissing you for the night.” Kaveh was sitting up in bed now his face filled with rage and his carmine eyes tense with anger.
“Concern.” Alhaitham said, “I was going to say, concern, before you rudely interrupted me.” He began getting up, Kaveh was being extraordinarily difficult tonight and this conversation was neither academically challenging or fun for Alhaitham.
“I don’t need your concern or your pity!” Kaveh barked at him from behind. Kaveh felt that had come out a bit harsher than he initially intended. He didn’t want to have to be looked after by Alhaitham. If anything he wanted to look after Alhaitham but their situation made it impossible. He could never do anything nice for Alhaitham except leave him in peace, anything else he did ended up resulting in bickering or worse. Kaveh had hoped living together might have repaired their relationship but sometimes he wasn’t sure what he was trying to repair exactly. He didn’t understand why he was so angry. His feelings about his annoying roommate were always so hard to untangle.
Alhaitham just stood there, facing the doorway. His hands tighten into fists and for a brief second Kaveh thought he was going to turn around and punch him for being ungrateful and barking at him.
“Pity? Is that seriously what you think this is?!” Alhaitham turned around, his face wrapped in an emotion Kaveh had only seen once before, the day they had their big blow up as students and stopped talking. At the time he thought it was anger, but now he was seeing it as an entirely different emotion, Alhaitham looked hurt.
“Is that seriously why you think I took you in?” Alhaitham continued, his questions largely rhetorical. “I took you into my house, I cook for you, pay for your expenses – including all the nights you go out to the tavern and indulge until you make yourself pass out at the counter! Who do you think it is always there ready to take you home when you can’t walk home yourself? Tuck you into bed and make you drink water so you’re not as hung over in the morning? Do you seriously think I would do all of this and more out of pity?” Kaveh opened his mouth to say something but Alhaitham continued.
“Seriously Kaveh, I thought… I thought by now you knew me better than this. I thought you of all people would know me better than this...” He said trailing off and turning back around towards the door. The look on his face burnt into Kaveh’s mind and made his chest tighten.
“Then why do you do all this for me if not pity?..” Kaveh asked quickly before Alhaitham left, not knowing that the question itself was breaking Alhaitham’s stoic heart into pieces. Alhaitham just stood there, suddenly his tense postured loosened, and he turned around with that expression again, but it was softer, he really was hurt, Kaveh thought and almost instinctively moved to reach for him.
“I don’t know Kaveh, why would anyone do all of that for a person?” He asked, his voice breaking a little. “Suppose it wasn’t me, but someone else, who had taken you in, another junior or a senior of yours perhaps.” Alhaitham posed. “If it was someone else, why would they have done it? What would you think then? Still pity?”
“If it was someone else?” Kaveh asked confused this conversation got serious and deep very quickly his fever addled head wasn’t keeping up. “I guess, I would think that they cared for me and lov-” Kaveh froze as that word came out of his mouth. Suddenly realising where he had gone wrong.
“Well, there you go.” Alhaitham said coldly, but Kaveh could hear his voice breaking a little, “At least you seem to recognise it when it is from someone else.” The hurt heavy in his voice as he turned to leave.
“Wait! Alhaitham!” Kaveh tried to scramble out of bed to undo the pain he had caused.
“I’m tired Kaveh, I haven’t sle-HIH’GHSSHHU!” Alhaitham sneezed suddenly following by a sniffle, frustrated by Kaveh’s ignorance of his actions, himself for allowing this conversation to happen and by the fact he was obviously catching Kaveh’s cold now too. “Tsk.” Was all he could be bothered saying further as he turned around and close the door to Kaveh’s room loudly as he headed to his own room, slamming his own door behind him.
Kaveh sat up in his bed stunned. His chest hurt and he was confused. He had never imagined Alhaitham had feelings for him. He certainly never expressed anything of the sort prior. When they were younger Kaveh had tried flirting with Alhaitham on several occasions, not even remotely subtly, but never got a response or any indication the other party was interested in him back. But he supposed in a way it must’ve been the same for Alhaitham all this time.
The more he thought back on everything Alhaitham had ever done for him, it began becoming clearer and clearer. Even before taking him in, whenever Kaveh had a request go through him it would strangely get prioritised and more often than not even if it did have amendments there was always additional funding exceeding his requests. When they were students Alhaitham would always save him his favourite snacks. Or tell him nice spots he had found that he thought Kaveh would enjoy for drawing. Unlike the way he treated everyone else, he never ignored Kaveh, and had told his some of his secrets. Urgh Kaveh felt so stupid and it made his head throb. He couldn’t blame Alhaitham for not saying anything all these years either. Especially since their falling out.
“Alhaitham..” Kaveh whispered, looking longingly towards the door. The image of his hurt expression still burning in his mind.
“Hhh…he-hhh’tchuu! Atschuuu!” Kaveh let out two tired, and exhausting sneezes. His head spun a little.
He wanted to go to him to continue the conversation but his head felt heavy and hot, his eyes closing on their own. Maybe it was best to leave things until tomorrow, hopefully a bit of sleep and time would cool things down anyway. Sleep would help make the conversation between them less edgy, he thought laying back down and quickly falling asleep despite the tightness in his chest.
As the sun rose the next day Kaveh was naturally woken as the light entered through the curtains of his bedroom. As he stirred from sleep he immediately remembered the fight they had last night. He felt like such an idiot. He slowly got out of bed, noticing that the book and half finished cup of tea were still on his nightstand. He wasn’t sure if Alhaitham would even be home, there was a good chance he went into work. He stood up and walked towards his desk, moving a bunch of blueprints and large sketches to uncover his treasured sketchbook. He opened it, flicking through the pages and let out a sigh. For a couple of so called geniuses we sure are stupid he thought to himself.
He walked down the corridor to see if Alhaitham was in the kitchen, living room or his study but they the rooms were empty and quiet.
“Hh-AH’GGTCHUU! IH’GGHSSHHTCU! HEH’HH’EGGTCHUU!” Kaveh jumped a little at the sudden noise, turned around hearing Alhaitham’s loud sneezes coming from his closed bedroom door. He carefully approached it and knocked.
“Can I come in?” He asked tentatively.
“Do what you want.” Alhaitham replied coldly and then blew his nose. Kaveh opened the door and lent against the doorframe. Alhaitham was sitting up in his bed reading one of his thick books, he had a green cardigan on that Kaveh had recognised instantly as it was something he had given him as a gift as a thank you for teaming up together during the early stages of their project, he had been sure that Alhaitham had hated it though, but Kaveh has been sure of many things that had turned out to be wrong. Despite its age it looked like it had been well kept, he was surprised it still fit, though he had gotten a size or two too big for Alhaitham at the time. It suited him now.
“What do you want Kaveh?” Alhaitham asked icily, breaking Kaveh from his train of thought and distraction by the cardigan. He wasn’t being at all subtle with how upset he was at this point.
“Uh.. I thought you’d be at work.” Kaveh didn’t really know how to start what he really wanted to say, so all he could up with was small talk. Alhaitham glanced towards him, he still had that expression on his face, but it was also mixed with annoyance.
Alhaitham took a deep breath. “No, unlike you I know when it is time to rest.” Kaveh grimaced he deserved that. Everything could’ve been avoided if he had asked the client to reschedule and in the grand scheme of things it probably would’ve been more professional, than passing out face first into the sand.
“If that’s all you came in to say please leave. I’m too tired for pointless conversations.” He shifted his focus back to his book.
“I’m sorry.” Kaveh said, realising he had too much to apologies for and should be more specific. Alhaitham continued reading, his eyes not moving from the page. Kaveh could tell he was still hurting because even though he was looking at the book he wasn’t reading it, more like he was using it to try and conceal his emotions.
“I’m sorry for all the terrible things I said last night Haitham.” Kaveh pushed himself off the door frame and walked towards Alhaitham’s bed. He tentatively sat down on the side of the bed, Alhaitham still not moving his eyes away from the text of his book.
“Actions speak louder than words. You’ve always gone out of your way to care for me.” Kaveh said smiling at Alhaitham and holding his sketchbook tightly against his chest.
“I am truly sorry, I didn’t realise that’s sooner.” Alhaitham’s eyes moved towards Kaveh. He closed his book setting it down at his side. But still didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say, he appreciated the apology but was afraid the fight last night had opened the can of worms about their relationship. He was worried it wouldn’t be able to go back to how it was and he would end up loosing Kaveh all over again. He wasn’t sure if he could bare that. The longer he was silent though the better Kaveh was beginning to understand Alhaitham’s feelings from his subtle facial expressions.
“For someone that studies languages you’re not very good with words are you?” Kaveh joked, maybe that was still too soon, since Alhaitham narrowed his eyes and went to grab his book again. “No! No wait! I was joking! Haitham please...” Kaveh grabbed his hand to try and stop him from getting the book.
“Here, if you want to look at something other than me look at this.” He said, suddenly feeling a bit shy as he passed his sketchbook to Alhaitham. His heart began to race the second he was no longer holding it.
“If for you actions speak louder than words, then I guess for me, a picture is worth a thousand words.” Kaveh silently watched as Alhaitham opened the sketch book and slowly looked at all the sketches. All of them of him.
It started with sketches from their time together in the Akademiya. Sketches that Alhaitham never had any inkling that Kaveh had done. There were drawings of him sleeping, studying, eating, reading. There was a nice one where he was smiling, presumingly at something Kaveh would’ve said. How often had Kaveh drawn these? He thought, how did he not notice that Kaveh was looking at him so intensely that he could replicate him as if he had taken a photo using a Kamera. As he continued through the book he found sketches of him during the time the two weren’t even talking. Some sketched from interesting angles of his office, some from different perspectives of him being in the main halls of the Akademiya. He wasn’t smiling in any of them. As he slowly continued to turn the page he found ones from once they had began living together. The first one was particularly detailed, it was a picture of Alhaitham asleep on their couch still holding his book but eyes closed resting on his right hand. There was a sketch of him preparing something in the kitchen, one of him at his desk, one of him softly smiling while holding a glass of wine. He remembered that night, Kaveh had brought wine home to share with him, he remembered Kaveh drinking less than usual that night and sketching, he had never asked what he was sketching, he just assumed it was something for a client. Whenever he did ask what Kaveh was sketching around him the response was “None of your business.” Now he was beginning to understand why. Alhaitham swallowed deeply. His heart racing in his chest, for the first time since they were students a feeling of hope bubbled up inside of him.
He continued through the pages of sketches of him until he got to the blank pages. He paused smiling softly. Kaveh sitting on the side of his bed watching him look through the drawings. He flicked through a few of the blank pages curiously as there seemed to be a lot in the middle that were blank, but the back of the notebook looked as used as the front.
“You’ve seen them all now!” Kaveh quickly tried to grab the book from Alhaitham, but he was quicker and moved it above his reach and Kaveh fell backwards onto his lap. “Give that back that’s very important to me.” He whined. Trying to reach for the book being held just out of his reach. As he did though he saw Alhaitham’s face and almost wanted to look away. His usually stoic face had a beautiful smile on it, looking down at Kaveh softly. Kaveh would commit this face to memory to sketch out later. Looking at the face entranced Kaveh enough that he just lay there silently watching Alhaitham watch him. But then he quickly realised that Alhaitham was opening the back of the sketch book. Suddenly regretting his decisions to show him the book in the first place. He sighed, it was too late. His dignity was gone, at least, he felt he would be forgiven.
Alhaitham studied the sketches at the back of the book. The first one he was just standing in a towel around his waist with wet hair and droplets of water running down his face and chest. The second picture was very similar but didn’t have a towel. Kaveh covered his face in embarrassment as he heard Alhaitham mumble “Oh.” The third picture was definitely a little more imaginative as it had Alhaitham naked on the couch, the forth one was a picture of him and Kaveh kissing. Kaveh felt so embarrassed he could die, he had forgotten about the sketches at the back of the book. The one after they were both naked entangled in Kaveh’s bed. The one after tha-
“OKAY THAT’S ENOUGH!” He said quickly jumping up to his feet and grabbing the book out of Alhaitham’s hand. “You’ve had your fun.” He said pouting, his face a dark shade of red. He didn’t want to look at Alhaitham right now he might burst into flames and combust. He felt a gentle hand pull him down back onto the bed, and then reach to touch his forehead.
“Hmmm… your cheeks are red,” Alhaitham smirked smugly, “but it doesn’t seem like your fever has returned…Hmmmm curious.” He tried to stop himself from laughing, his voice beginning to sound a little congested from his cold.
Kaveh looked away his face, ears, and shoulders bright red and betraying him be revealing his feelings. Alhaitham left out a sigh and hesitated before leaning towards Kaveh and letting his head rest on his shoulder.
“We’re not very good at understanding each others feelings are we? So… five minutes of truth?” Alhaitham offered. Kaveh nodded silently in response clutching his sketch book to his chest again. Alhaitham took a deep breath sat up again, Kaveh turned around forced himself to look Alhaitham straight in the eyes.
“I’ve loved you since our days in the Akademiya,” Alhaitham came right out and said, Kaveh felt like crying but held himself together to let Alhaitham finish, clutching his sketchbook to ground himself.
“When you rejected by ideas over and over again during our project I took that as you rejecting me. It was easy to convince myself my feelings were one sided then, we stopped talking shortly after.” He went quiet, looking deeply into Kaveh’s eyes. Kaveh didn’t respond he just sat there quietly almost in a trance clutching the sketchbook to his chest, as if letting it go would cause him to pass out.
“When I heard you were in trouble I knew you wouldn’t want to reach out to anyone. I figured I could help you get back on your feet and maybe selfishly hoped it would help repair the relationship we had lost…Nothing I’ve ever done for you was ever done out of pity. Nothing.” He reiterated.
The room was silent as Alhaitham waiting for Kaveh to respond. But minute after minute past and Alhaitham began to wonder did he read the situation wrong? Were the sketches not Kaveh’s way of showing his own reciprocated feelings. Doubt began to cloud Alhaitham’s mind once again but he wanted to respect the silence and let Kaveh gather his thoughts, but his nose tickled and had other ideas.
“hHhn’ eck-excuse m-EH’GTSCHUU! Hah’HhGGSHuu! Hhu’GUhtchu! Heh’GGSCHU!…uHhg..snf” That certainly, broke Kaveh out of his trance. He looked towards Alhaitham and lent over to pass him a tissue.
“Thangs,” he winced at how congested that sounded and blew his nose. “I didn’t mean to break your train of thou-”
Alhaitham’s words were cut off when Kaveh pulled him forward, his lips pressing firmly against Alhaitham’s locking them in a kiss. He moved his hand through Alhaitham’s messy grey hair ensuring he couldn’t escape the embrace. The dark clouds of doubt that had gathered in Alhaitham’s heart were being pushed away by the light brighter than the sun as Kaveh held them together for their first kiss.
As the kiss broke Kaveh nervously looked up into Alhaitham’s eyes.
“I wasn’t hesitating to answer, I was debating if you would be upset if I kissed you with my cold. But when you sneezed I figured I had already given it to you so it wouldn’t matter.” He laughed awkwardly.
“Maybe from now on we shouldn’t assume or try and guess what the other is thinking.” Alhaitham suggested he was also trying not to laugh. “We’re clearly really bad at it.” Kaveh nodded in agreement.
They starred at each other in silent before Alhaitham finally asked.
“So was that your answer?” Kaveh rolled his eyes and smiled before responding by kissing him again. As he pulled away he looked into Alhaitham’s eyes.
“Yes, my answer is, I love you! I always have, and probably always will even though you’re a pain in the a-” his sentence was now being interrupted by a kiss initiated by Alhaitham. The younger of the two tugging him towards him gently pulling the back of Kaveh’s head. The kiss felt like it lasted forever, but then suddenly Haitham pushed him away turned to the side and sneezed. Kaveh laughed a little which earned him a Tsk from the younger.
“For a second I forgot we’re both sick, we should really get some rest.” Kaveh said smiling a little giddy from the kiss. As he stood up to leave, Alhaitham reached out grabbing his arm and yanking him back.
“You’ve already given me your cold, where are you running away to now?” His eyes looking at Kaveh intensely. “Rest in here with me. It’s the least you can do after promising you wouldn’t get me sick, and breaking that promise.” Kaveh rolled his eyes and smiled.
Alhaitham moved across the to the far side of the bed, pulling the sheets up and motioning Kaveh to get in, which he did. Lying down beside Alhaitham, wrapping one arm around him.
“I’m sorry for breaking my promise to not get you sick, I’ll make it up to you with a new promise.” He pulled the younger down so he was lying down properly both of them face to face. Gently embracing the side of his face he locked Alhaitham in another kiss.
“I promise no matter what I’ll always be here to take care of you. Just as you have been taking care of me. I hope you’ll soon see my actions speak louder than words in time.” He spoke softly as he placed a kiss on Alhaitham’s forehead. He closed his eyes and cuddled up to Alhaitham, resting his head on his chest. Alhaitham returned the kiss to Kaveh’s forehead. Whispering, “Likewise.” before letting himself fall asleep in the others embrace. While the timing of their confessions to each other was a little late and unorthodox both of them slept soundly knowing that their years of unfulfilled pining were finally ended.