Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kaveh begins to notice something wrong the minute he hears Alhaitham return from work and sit on the couch. Usually whenever he cooks Haitham will come in and back seat cook, in fairness he does the same, it’s just one of their rituals. It tends to make the dishes tastier, spicer too, in more than one way. But this was different Haitham never just comes in and sits on the couch. Kaveh almost felt a pang of loneliness creep in being in the kitchen cooking all alone. At minimum his bookworm of a husband usually sits at the table and reads while the cooking is finished.

“Welcome home,” Kaveh called out, when he didn’t get a response he added,

“I’m cooking soup. I’ll let you know when it’s ready… I guess.” The last part mumbled and grouchy. He waited. Seconds turn to minutes and he still gets no response.

The last time Kaveh cooked soup, he didn’t hear the end of the rant until he fell asleep, by the end of it he could’ve written an essay on why eating soup interferes with being able to read books. Kaveh stirred the pot a bit more trying to listen out for anything, but heard nothing so turned off the stove, took off his apron and walked into the living room. He had to cover his mouth to stop himself audibly gasping as he saw Haitham sprawled in an awkward way on the couch his book close on the side table and him just starring absentmindedly at the floor, he could barely see his face behind his hair which was messier than usual.

Worry began to manifest and Kaveh could feel his stomach flutter and heart race with mild anxiety. 

“Haitham... are you alright?” He eventually asked breaking the silence. After a few seconds the younger replied simply.

“No.” Kaveh went from mildly anxious to quiet anxious very quickly. Usually Haitham would’ve quipped back, “do I look ok to you?” Or something like that at the bare minimum, Kaveh thought to himself as his mind raced trying to work out what had happened to his usually infallible husband to make him look and seem so tired and pathetic.

He approached carefully as you would a sleeping bear, which would have been a funnier analogy if he thought AlHaitham had the energy to actually fight back right now. He squatted down in front of him so he could get a better look at his face and noticed the dark blush covering his face, his eyes looked tired and his nose chapped and red. He gently tried to brush the hair out of his face to feel his forehead which he could instantly tell was feverish. Haitham signed and leant further into Kaveh’s touch, his hands would’ve felt cold in comparison.

Kaveh thought back to the morning he hadn’t noticed anything different, they woke up around the same time, Kaveh didn’t have his client meeting until later so he playfully tried to hold back his husband from leaving the bed. They playfully bickered, he followed him out made breakfast for them, they actually bickered, and then Haitham left for work it was all very normal. Hard to imagine that at the end of the day he’d come home looking and feeling this bad. 

“You’re burning up,” Kaveh eventually mumbled, his only response a soft groan and a sniffle. As he tried to move his hand away he felt Haitham’s head trying to follow.

“Don’t do that, you’ll fall off the couch.” Kaveh quickly pulled away as he began to head towards the bathroom in search of medicine. As he was searching the cabinets he could hear Haitham sitting up and tussling around for something, before -

"h'GXtshyuu! Heh'TKst-shu!"

He heard Alhaithem sneeze twice, making Kaveh try and search their medicine cabinet even faster. They really didn’t have anything to help though, the best he could find were some painkiller salve but that wasn’t going to help. He couldn’t remember the last time either of them got sick. It was already dark and fairly late into the evening and unlikely he’d be able to get any help from Tighnari at this hour. While he was worried Haitham wasn’t dying … right?

“Hhh-ng’hksssh! Heh’sssh! Eh…Eh’cxshhh!”

His train of thought interrupted as he heard more sneezes followed by a terrible sounding series of coughs. He sighed as he headed back to the living room. At least his sage was sitting up now but was still looking very tired and sorry for himself. He wiped his red nose on his sleeve and sniffed wetly. He seemed barely able to keep himself upright.

“We don’t have any medicine,” Kaveh hesitated while trying not to visually acknowledging how miserable he looked.

“Do you want me to run out and see if Tighnari has anything?” Haitham sighed leaned back against the couch. Letting his head hang like a dead weight, which is how it felt.

 “No, it’s late, by the time you get there and back you may as well wait till tomo- AST'chuu! Urgh,” he had managed to cover his face with his elbow but Kaveh could tell how tired he was from the way his sneeze had sounded. He turned back towards Kaveh about to finish his train of thought before he felt the familiar tickle in his nose and quickly ducked his head into his elbow again.

“Heh'TKst-shu! Eh…Eh’cxshhh!”

“Archons bless you, god you sound awful,” Kaveh waited to be sure he was done sneezing. He sighed and crossed his arms in front of him furrowing his brow.

“You sure I shouldn’t go tonight? If I run I think I could there be there and back in an hour.” Kaveh tried to sound reassuring, though even he thought that was wishful thinking. Maybe in the first positive sign since his arrival home his husband looked up at him with an incredulous look. Sniffing loudly before replying.

“Even if you had the stamina to run top speed between here and Gandharva Ville it would take you at least two hours by foot, if not more, just getting there. Then you’d have to wake up tigh.. nar.. riihnch-ng’hksssh! Heh’sssh! Eh…Eh’cxshhh!”

He didn’t even get a chance to pause or move his head to his elbow again before letting us a flurry of sneezes. Each one sounding worse and wetter than the last. They didn’t even sound satisfactory. Ah!Tissues Kaveh thought to himself before wordlessly scurrying off to their bedroom to retrieve some. Handing the box to Haitham he hummed in response as he pulled a few out and loudly blew his nose before grunting loudly and letting his head fall back again.

Kaveh winced, he might not have been the sick one but he had enough empathy for the both of them, it pained him to see Haitham so sick and miserable. 

“Anyway,” Haitham sniffed loudly before continuing sounding more congested than before, “by the time you wake Tighnari, he yells at you for waking him, goes and gathers the medicinal herbs, however long that would take, give them to you and scolds you further for waking him,” he paused and scrunched his face aggressively rubbing his nose to try and ward off further sneezing, it worked, for now, at least. Sighing he continued,

“you’d still have to get back too, doubt after all that you’d be in the mood to run…home…” he trailed off Kaveh wasn’t sure if he had needed to sneeze again or if he was too tired to continue his thought. 

“Okay, you’re right.” Admitting the other was right was something rarely done between them but Kaveh felt Haitham could use the win. When he got no response, not even a smile or smirk he felt his stomach sink further.

“Let’s get you changed and into bed then,” he offered to help him up but his stubborn husband didn’t budge.

“Do you need me to carry you?” He asked, half joking trying to playfully egg him into responding in their usual banter. But instead Haitham mumbled something in-comprehensive, before straightening up and leaning against the couch.

“What?” Kaveh asked fully aware asking him to repeat himself was annoying at the best of time let alone when he was sick. 

“- Not going.” He mumbled again at least this time he could make out some of the words he said through his tiredness and congestion. This time Kaveh gave him the incredulous look crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at him from above. Raising an eyebrow and narrowing his eyes to give his husband a dirty look.

 “What do you mean, not going?” But before he got further verbal clarification his husband stubbornly looked up at him and then leaned over to lay on the couch once more. He was still fully dressed mind you, clothing sweaty from his fever and his day at work. He hadn’t even bothered to take off his boots or coat when he’d come home.

“What the hell Haitham?!” Kaveh responded getting a bit annoyed, urgh, why does he have to make everything so hard?! He thought as he turned around and paced quickly in a small circle. Kaveh quickly swivels on his heels turning around and giving his annoying husband an even dirtier look.

“Bed now.” He got no response, “BED NOW!”

He knew Haitham wouldn’t like him raising his voice with his sensitivity to noise, but he needed him to get himself to bed before he was forced to drag him. He was about to start pulling him off the couch when he heard a mumbled sentence followed by a series of terrible sounding coughs. Kaveh sighed, fighting off the urge to loose his temper and rubbed his hand against his temples in an attempt to calm himself down.

“Again please, it’s hard to hear you..” Kaveh tried to say that softly so he could show Haitham he wasn’t intentionally trying to annoy him.

“Don’t. Want. To. Get. You. Sick.” He repeated punctuating every word so he could ensure Kaveh would hear him. He didn’t intend for it to come off sounding quite as rough as it did. It was beginning to hurt for him to talk. His throat was dry and sore from coughing and not being able to breath through his nose wasn’t helping. Kaveh put on a childish grin moving his hands to his hips

“Worry not you won’t get me sick, only idiots catch colds!” He replied in a provoking manner. Hoping stirring him up would compel him to at least fight back a little, but felt his heart hurt a little when he got absolutely no response. He let out a sigh and sat down on the edge of the couch and began rubbing his hand along Haitham’s back.

“I don’t care if you get me sick, I do care that you’re not going to get better lying out here on the couch in damp clothing. It is only going to slow your recovery and make you feel worse.” Tsk..Damn, Alhaitham thought to himself, Kaveh has gone to the logical argument route, which made it harder to refute.

“Why don’t you have a shower, I’ll finish making dinner, you get into bed and I’ll bring you dinner and you can go straight to sleep after.” He paused waiting, hoping from an answer. But he mostly just heard sniffing in response.

“Please love,” he said in his most pleading tone possible. With that Haitham sighed and began pushing himself upright again. Before straightening himself up entirely he looked at Kaveh.

“Don’t blame me if you catch this.” He grumbled and Kaveh gave him a confirming smile and a nod before helping him up off the couch. Alhaitham would’ve normally brushed Kaveh off and insisted he could get up on his own if not for the fact that standing made his head spin and he stumbled a little into Kaveh’s open arms.

“Do you want to shower together?” They did that sometimes for efficiency, sometimes for fun, but Alhaitham was sick, not stupid and he could tell Kaveh was trying to spare him what was left of his pride.

“No it’s –Haa- Hh-AH’KGTCHUUU! IH’GHSSHHHTCHU! HEHH-HH’EXSSSGSHH!” Kaveh almost jumped that was a lot louder than all his previous ones combined he thought. He didn’t say anything but kept a steady hold on Haitham’s shoulder so he didn’t topple forwards. He sniffed loudly as he raised his head back from the sneezes. The thought of having a shower sounded awful right now. He just wanted to lay down. But he knew if he tried Kaveh would end up pestering him further. He shrugged away from Kaveh’s grip, kicked off his shoes, leaving them in the living room and tossed his jacket on top as he waddled his way into the bathroom. Kaveh let out a brief sigh of relief that he has at least managed to get him off the couch and into the bathroom without issue.

He turned back to go to the kitchen to finish cooking the soup, he was wondering if maybe it was just luck or some kinda special connection that made him think to make soup. He knew if he suggested such nonsense to Alhaitham it would make his already sore head hurt more though so he kept it to himself and just giggled. He could hear coughing and sneezing from the bathroom even with the door closed but it wasn’t long until he heard the sounds of the shower drowning out everything else. So he continued to prepare dinner by turning the stove back on getting the soup to boil and adjusting the flavours slightly. Taking into consideration the likeliness that Haitham wouldn’t have a lot of hunger or taste buds in his current condition.

While he waited for the soup to finish cooking he placed the lid on the pot and went to their bedroom to prepare the bed to be more comfortable for Haitham. He got out a bunch of extra pillows from the wardrobe stacking them up to try and help him sleep without coughing. Filled a jug with water and put it on the nightstand and grabbed the tissues back from the living area and an extra box from their pantry to ensure he didn’t run out in the night. He moved the bin from next to the dresser to beside Alhaitham’s side of the bed. Then finally grabbed an extra blanket from storage in case he ended up needing one later.

As Kaveh was busy preparing the bedroom Haitham was tiredly leaning against the shower wall letting the falling water do most of the work in getting him clean. Maybe I should’ve asked Kaveh to join me.. he thought to himself as he tried to reach for the body wash before being overcome by a sharp tickling sensation in his nose again.

"Ha'YSSshuu! Hh'hih...heh'GSs–chyuu! AST'chuu! Eh..tsch.." The last sneeze felt especially unsatisfactory, he was so tired at this point his body didn’t have the energy to be sick properly. He quickly rubbed the body wash over his tired and achy body, rinsed off and left the shower. He absentmindedly wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom into their bedroom where Kaveh was fluttering around in his ways, seemingly fixing things. Haitham narrowed his eyes and attempted to clear his throat to alert Kaveh to his presence.

“Done with your shower?” Kaveh asked without turning around from what he was doing. He got a soft hum back to respond in the affirmative. He happily turned around to see his husband standing there, but as they say happiness is fleeting.

“Oie oie oie… you’re not even dry, are you trying to make yourself sicker?” Kaveh felt exasperated, if he didn’t catch the cold from Alhaitham he might just get sick from the stress this was causing. He didn’t make it easy to look after him. 

“I know we’ve been married for a while now Kaveh,” Haitham coughed interrupting his sentence. “But, to my knowledge you’re not an old wife.. yet,” he pushed passed him to head to his side of the bed trying to get in with still dripping hair and water on his shoulders.

“If I am an old wife it is because you’ve made me one!” Kaveh explained as he attacked Haitham from behind with his own towel, trying to get as much of the dripping water off his shoulders, back, neck and hair as possible. It wasn’t uncommon for Haitham to sleep with damp hair, but it wasn’t usually dripping wet. Haitham didn’t mind the feeling of having his head rubbed though and sleepy stood there until he felt a wave of dizziness followed by the tickle in his nose returning. He turned partially and grabbed onto Kaveh’s shoulder to steady himself as he let out another series of harsh sounding sneezes.

“Hh-AHT’STCHUUU! IHD’GHSSHTCHU! HEHH-HH’EXSSSGSHH! HUh-HUH-GSHEW!” Kaveh gripped onto Haitham’s hand as he held his shoulder, both convinced if either of them let go even a little Haitham would’ve ended up face down on the floor.

“Archons… Bless you..” Kaveh winced, once he knew Haitham was done he gently took his hand and helped him into bed. Once again placing his hand on his forehead. He felt warmer than before, was his fever worse or was that from the shower. The rest of his body felt cold, so he assumed it was the fever and quickly went to get him a shirt to sleep in. Haitham didn’t even argue and let Kaiveh put one of his loose fitting shirts over his broad shoulders.

“You need to keep your shoulders warm, ok?” Haitham silently nodded in response and his eyes closed. “Do you think you can eat something before you go to sleep?” He looked as if he could pass out any minute.

“Snf…yeah.. only a bit though,” he said, feeling like responding had used up what was left of his depleted energy.

Kaveh quickly rushed back to the kitchen checks the soup which is luckily ready. If it hadn’t been he doesn’t know what he would’ve done, he didn’t think his husband had more than maybe 10-15 minutes left in him before he passed out. He got out the big soup bowls but then looking down realised that maybe that wasn’t the best idea. So instead he got out the largest mugs he had and put the soup into that. Mostly giving Haitham just broth so it was easy for him to drink.

When he returned to the bedroom with mugs in hand he could tell Haitham was drifting off upright. He put a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch slightly.

“Sorry,” Kaveh whispered as he watched Haitham crack open his eyes. “Can you hold the soup or should I set it down?”

Haitham rubbed his face a bit, and gently mumbled in an agreeable tone and guest urged towards the nightstand. So Kaveh put it down there and sat next to him holding his own mug on the bed. Offering him an attempt at a comforting smile, as Haitham had a short spell of coughs.

“I can feed it to you if you want?” He was half joking, but when Alhaitham cracked the tiniest of smiles and replied.

“Tempting…” sighing, “But I think it would make a mess with soup.” He picked up the mug and appreciated the fact Kaveh had put it in a mug rather than a bowl.

“Thanks,” he said as he took a sip of the soup. It tasted good, and the warmth helped his throat feel a little less sore and dry.

“Putting it in a mug was a good idea,” Haitham said after having another sip, again offering Kaveh a tired smile. “If it is in a mug, I could probably still read while I drink it.” Kaveh’s eyes widened a little, was that a compliment? He thought to himself as he silently drunk his tea.

“You really are the Light of Kshahrewar,” Kaveh didn’t especially enjoy being called that, particularly cause it made him feel like he had an image to uphold. But whenever Haitham said it, his heart would flutter, feeling full and warm. He smiled sweetly at his husband who he loved dearly, even if most of the time he was a pain is the ass. They said drinking soup in relative peace and silence until Haitham coughed a little again, before gasping and having a short fit of sneezes.

“h'GXtshyuu! Heh'TKst-shu!” He tried stifling them a bit so he wouldn’t spill the remaining soup in his mug. Quickly Kaveh took it from him.

“You’ll feel better if you don’t hold back,” he placed both mugs on his own nightstand and rubbed his sick husbands back as he continued to sneeze, this time unrestrained.

“Ha'YSSshuu! Hh'hih...heh'GSs–chyuu! AST'chuu!… Huuuh.. Haaah- Hhh-ng’hksssh! Heh’sssh! Eh…Eh’cxshhh!”

Kaveh continued to rub his back, waiting for confirmation he was done. He offered him a tissue, which Haitham took a bunch of blowing his nose trying to unsuccessfully relieve some congestion.

“Bless you,” He said again softly, before he stopped and passed him back the remainder of his soup.

“Snf…Thank you for looking after me Kaveh.” Haitham sniffed, and gave Kaveh a soft smile as he finished the last of the soup in his mug.

“Always love.” Kaveh responded warmly, as he tucked a strand of hair away from Haitham’s eyes. “Did you want more soup?” Alhaitham shook his head weakly in response, regretting it as it made his head spin a little. Kaveh took the empty mug out of his hands.

“Lie down and get some sleep, I’ll clean the kitchen and put away the left overs and be in bed with you shortly.” Alhaitham closed his eyes and wriggled down the bed, lying down on the pillow pyramid Kaveh had constructed him. He could see how tired Haitham was and didn’t expect it would take long for him to fall asleep. So just as Kaveh was about to leave the room, he turned around putting the empty mugs on his nightstand. Leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his husband’s forehead.

“Goodnight, feel better.” He whispered as he picked back up the mugs, and walked to the kitchen. He hoped he would feel better tomorrow, but logically could feel how high his fever was from the kiss. A good nights sleep would help, but it wasn’t a cure. He decided he’d get up before dawn to get to Gandharva Ville as early as possible to get some medicine as he was sure this wouldn’t be cured overnight. Haitham has surprised him before though so who knows. But either way, he’ll go as early as possible. Even if he was a pain in the ass, he would do whatever it took to help Haitham. Just as he knew Haitham would do the same for him. Smiling gently knowing that the reason Haitham told him it would take too long for him to get the herbs at night was because the last time he was sick that was exactly what Haitham had done for him.

Chapter Text

Despite both of their best efforts a good nights sleep didn’t seem to be on the cards for Alhaitham or Kaveh. While going to bed early and both falling asleep rather easily at first Haitham woke up not long after shivering intensely from his fever. Kaveh did his best to warm him with extra blankets and body heat but his fever just wasn’t budging. When he did fall asleep again it wasn’t for long, he’d either wake up too hot from fever or too cold from fever, that was if he was able to fall asleep since he kept coughing and sneezing whenever he was awake.

This is why I wanted to sleep on the couch..Haitham thought to himself as he tried not to wake Kaveh for the fourth time that night. He desperately pushed his face into his pillow to let out a trio of sneezes with as much silence as possible in the hopes of not waking his husband. He glanced over at Kaveh, and sighed once he could confirm he was still sleeping. Haitham then as quietly as possible crept out of bed taking two of the three blankets with him and his pillow to move to the couch in an attempt to at least grant one of them a good nights sleep. It was around 1:30am at this point and he had been tossing and turning for hours.   

As soon as his feet had left his bedroom and walked across the cold wooden floors he could feel a shiver down his spine. Followed by the intense feeling that he needed to sneeze. With no free hands to help muffle it he tried to ward it off but couldn’t, so did his best to stifle them instead.

“H’hhGxtshuu! Tkst-shu! Kchtsu! Hng.. snif” That was unsatisfying he thought to himself but at least it didn’t seem like he had woken Kaveh so he quickly moved himself away from the bedroom and onto the couch. Placing his one blanket under him and the other on top and cocooning himself inside them both. He felt too hot with both but he knew well enough by now that it could change in seconds, and he shouldn’t let his body get cold despite how hot he felt. If his head wasn’t throbbing from a mixture of clogged sinuses and raging headache he would’ve picked up his book to read since he felt sleep was going to further elude him. He coughed a few times into his blanket cocoon and tried his best to get a bit more sleep. He did eventually nod off.

Kaveh could hear an odd noise and it felt cold in the bed. He stirred and noticed his alarm was vibrating. He groggily looked at the time, he’d fallen asleep for the fourth time around 1am or so he vaguely remembered. But now was the time he would need to get up if he hoped to get to Gradharva Ville around dawn. He rubbed his face, he wasn’t unfamiliar with a lack of sleep. Often pulling multiple all nighters much to Haitham’s objections. He would have some food and coffee and then head out, as long as he kept the coffee coming for the day he would be fine. But he noted for the future that short burst of unsatisfactory sleep were worst for his tiredness than not sleeping at all. At least that is how he felt right now. He sighed quietly not wanting to wake his sleeping husband next to him. He couldn’t hear anything which was a good sign, Haitham must be asleep he turned to look at the love (and pain) of his life to realise he wasn’t there.

“Eh…? Ah.. Alhaitham?” He turned the lamp on quickly and rubbed his eyes. He really is gone. Momentary panic set in. Did he feel so sick he left to go to the hospital without waking me?.. No, surely that is unlikely… Is he in the bathroom?… or…worrying thoughts flooded into Kaveh’s head, as he felt his heart begin to race. He hadn’t noticed the missing blankets and pillow only his missing husband. He sprung out of bed and quickly checked the bathroom to make sure he hadn’t accidentally gone and passed out in there, but that was empty. So he turned the corridor light on and quickly began to go for the front door to see if his keys were still there. They were, he sighed in relief but for a brief moment, until he noticed Haitham’s shoes were gone, his coat too. The worst possibly scenarios began flooding into Kaveh’s mind. While it wasn’t exactly the same, he knew that when he was drunk he had been known to make poor decisions, like leaving the house barefoot or trying to take a short cut to the tavern by leaping off the higher platforms. He turned back around, his heart pounding in his chest as to where he could have gone, he walked back towards their bedroom. Quickly putting on some warmer clothing and a jacket while his mind raced with various worst case scenarios. What if he was so delirious from fever he tried to leave the house? What if he left without his key intentionally? It wasn’t raining but it was cold and the middle of the night he didn’t take his jacket what if he ends up freezing to death?. We live high up…oh god what if he collapsed off the plateau. With shaking hands Kaveh began fumbling around in the dark to see if there was a note or anything near the bed that would explain away his husbands mysterious disappearance. But nothing could be found that would’ve logically explained where Alhaitham had gone.

Searching for various clues around the house, opening drawers shifting stuff around, he was making a lot of noise for the middle of the night. Despite his frantic search for his junior, Kaveh in his panic twice walked past Alhaitham’s sleeping body. All bunched up, cocooned in blankets on the couch. Part of the problem was, he was so convinced the man had left, the second part of the problem once despite thinking he was alone in the house he hadn’t thought to turn on all the lights. Eventually he made so much noise that he woke the latter, shivering from fever as he stirred from his sleep.

Sitting up silently to see Kaveh scrambling around the kitchen looking for something he raised an eyebrow. What is going on, why does he look so panicked? Groaning he reluctantly sat up. Everything hurt but he wasn’t sure what was going on. Half asleep he watched his frantic husband shifting through the kitchen draws. Am I delirious? He pondered. Kaveh finally closed the door, a panicked broken breath escaping from him as he momentarily took pause putting his head on his folded arms as he lent on the kitchen bench. Haitham was convinced he wasn’t delirious but couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation.    

“You’re making a lot of noise Kaveh.” He said, tiredly with a hint of annoyance in his tone. He wasn’t sure what sort of response he was expecting, but he wasn’t expecting Kaveh to scream at the top of his lungs in fright, spinning around clutching his chest. Kaveh’s eyes darted around the room confused. He had heard Alhaitham he was sure of it, but he couldn’t see well. He narrowed his eyes and saw a bundled silhouette on the couch.

“Ha-Haitham?” Kaveh questions, he was truly uncertain it was him. But got no response, he was a bit afraid to move. “Alhaitham?” He called out loudly that time. Did I get startled by his voice in my head? Oh god, I’ve reached breaking point, his making me loose my mind… He thought to himself. Suddenly he heard rustling, and could see the whatever was on the couch moving, followed by a quick inhale and a flurry of tired unrestrained sneezes, leaving Kaveh startled again.  

“hatchht!Hih-ESSHchg! hn'TSSHch! Hiih-HiiHa- ht'KTSSchyu! Hu-Huh.. Heh’Issshyuu! Hiiittt'TSSchuu!”

The sneezes barely giving Haitham even a second to breath in between. Kaveh felt a brief moment of relief. Followed by rage that could only be induced by his annoying husband. He was so certain Alhaitham had disappeared. Maybe I’ll make him disappear. Hah.. like I could. He grumbled, as much as his sage got on his nerves and new how to push his buttons, he had a sweet side too. He was the only person in the world that truly saw him, truly understood him. That said, the audacity of Alhaitham when he didn’t respond had really pissed him off. If he hadn’t been near the bench he was certain his legs would’ve given way from the initial scare. He stomped into the living room, a scowl on his face, turning on one of the lamps next to the couch causing the couch bundle to groan and recoil.

Kaveh looked at.. well he didn’t exactly understand what he was looking at. Alhaitham was presumedly under the blankets, but really all he could see was a lump. He assumed Alhaitham must’ve been sitting cocooned in the blanket but why he wasn’t responded when he was clear he was awake. He stood there with a confused look on his face, tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

“For Archons sake Alhaitham!” He stomped his foot angrily. He noticed the blanket bundle flinch significantly at his shouting. Suddenly what was going on made more sense to him. There was a reason Alhaitham never left the house without his noise cancelling headphones on. Loud noises, cross talk, crowds all got to him pretty easily, typically leaving him in an overwhelmed state.

Kaveh remembered the time he went out without charging his headphones and they powered down half way through the day. The Akademiya ended up asking Kaveh if they had seen him. When Kaveh got to the Akedemiya he knew exactly where to check, as he was hiding in the same spot he used to when they were students. Sitting on the floor covering his ears with his eyes closed in the off limit section for the books that couldn’t be removed without special consent. Kaveh looked around the living room and then walked towards the bathroom as quietly as he could. He immediately found his husbands green headphones and brought them back out to him. He knew talking wouldn’t help right now. So taking an educated guess based off the shape of the blanketed man on the couch he placed his hands over where Alhaitham’s were under the blanket. Which he presumed were covered his ears. He held that position for him for a few minutes, which he hoped would help indicate he would be quiet.

He felt movement underneath so stepped back, removing his hands. Alhaitham pulled his upper body out of his blanket cocoon, face completely flushed with fever, his nose was running, he seemed to be struggling to keep more than one eye half open and he was grimacing. Kaveh passed then quietly placed his headphones over his ears for him and turned the noise cancelling on, then pulled the blanket up to once again cover his shoulders. It was a little cute seeing his usually tall and overbearing husband all tucked up in a little ball with only his head visible.

With his headphones on comfortable Alhaitham could feel the extensive ringing in his ears and throbbing head dying down. He was still very confused about what was going on, why Kaveh had screamed like that in the first place. At least things were quieter now, he glanced up at Kaveh with his teal and orange eyes. His throat was burning, he felt like his nose was just full of itchy cement. He was tempted to try and communicate with Kaveh in Sumerian sign language but it had been so long since they had he wasn’t sure if Kaveh would be able to. He sighed, and moved to removed his headphones carefully, but as he touched them Kaveh placed his hands over Alhaitham’s, he didn’t hold them there for long but Alhaitham could swear he felt them trembling. As he refocused on his husband standing in front of him Kaveh began to sign.

“You scared the life out of me,” He signed. Haitham quickly uncovered the top half of himself from the blanket so he could respond appropriately. “But, I am sorry I screamed, I didn’t mean to.”

“I am sorry too.” Haitham signed back. “Why were you running around in the dark?”

“I was looking for you, I,” He stopped signing, Alhaitham could tell his hands were shaking. Kaveh could feel the strength of his legs give way and he ended up kneeling on the floor, his trembling hands clutching at his heart. Kaveh began tearing up, sobbing as quietly as he could manage to.

“Kaveh are you-” Alhaitham said out loud worry in his tone, but Kaveh raised one of his hands to stop him, quickly signing. “I’m not okay, but I will be.” Haitham nodded in the dark, moving his head that way made his nose tickle and itch and he could feel the familiar urge to sneeze returning with force. Kaveh was right in front of him so he quickly pinched his nose.

“Hhn’xtch! Hng’t! Hh’hi..Hn’gtch! Hn’ugchuu!” The last one slipped out a little more but he felt he mostly stopped himself from further spreading his germs. At least a little.

Haitham wanted to stop sneezing so badly so he could find out what was going on. He had never felt so befuddled by a situation in his life, well, maybe with the exception for when he began falling in love with his emotionally erratic senior.

“Huh-hiih’gtch! Hn’Gnshu! Hh’enntchh! EHhi-TChh!”

He finally stopped sneezing, enough to allow him to at least open his eyes a bit and look at what was going on. Seeing Kaveh on the floor sobbing into his jacket, why is he wearing his jacket in the middle of the night? How did this all happen? Haitham’s head throbbed and he could tell his senses were very close to being overloaded again after those sneezes. Kaveh wasn’t looking at him either, so he couldn’t sign.

“What-” pausing to let out a few coughs. “What is happening?” His voice was raspy dry and congested. then removed his headphones to ensure he could hear Kaveh’s response. When he didn’t get a response he tentatively went to try and touch his husbands shoulder but snapped his arm back quickly so he catch several sneezes into his elbow.

“HhAA-Hh-AH’KGTCHUUU! IH’GHSSHHHTCHU! HEHH-HH’EXSSSGSHH! HUUH’ETCHUUU! Huuuih- HUUUUHK-HUETSHH! Hhi-uh…urrgh snff.”

As soon as the sneezing subsided he felt his head spinning from the fever, and ended up having to lay back down on the couch. He looked up at the ceiling uncharacteristically thought Please Lord Kusanali end our confused suffering. His sleeve was a mess from that fit and his nose was running badly. Should have brought tissues with me. Sighing he just relented to not being well enough to care. Further dirtying his sleeve by rubbing his nose against it. He looked across at Kaveh, was still crying? It was hard to tell he was a bit disheveled and his hair was covering his face.

“K-Kaveh?” He weakly queried.

Kaveh looked up, tears still pooling around his eyes. He breathed out a relieved sigh and left his head drop into his hands before taking a deep breath and shuffling along the floor closer to his husband. Leaning his head on the couch’s edge in front of where Alhaitham was.

You…YOU!!! YOU SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!!! Was what Kaveh wanted to yell, and what he imagined himself saying in his head. But he could see Haitham wincing, he was already sick, he didn’t want to give him a migraine and sensory issues on top of it.

“Sorry again for screaming, you really scared me..” He whispered, he was close to Alhaitham to ensure he was able to hear. “I… I..” He continued and began tearing up again, he didn’t want to explain how panicked he had been in case Haitham made fun of him. Haitham stayed quiet though, patiently waiting for his husband to be okay. It hurt to talk so he gently touched the side of Kaveh’s face with his left hand in an attempt to comfort him. He wiped a few tears off his cheek.

“Sorry.” He whispered, he was still unsure what was going on. “I didn’t mean to startle you so badly…” his throat felt like he had eaten electro crystals for dinner.

Kaveh took a deep breath, wiping his own tears.

“No it wasn’t about you startling me,” Kaveh whispered shaking his head, “Though that certainly didn’t help, I mean seriously Haitham who is going to take care of you in the state you’re in if you give me a heart attack.” Kaveh whispered and sighed.

“Listen here, you know I am the best thing that ever happened to you! So take some measure of restrain in trying not to kill me.” He said trying to lighten the mood. Haitham twitched and turned his head quickly to sneeze again.

“H’hhuh….hiiih’uhh…urh.” But no sneeze came.

Kaveh decided to shuffle a little further away from the couch. Probably not the best idea to rest his face directly in front of his very sick husband’s after all. He waited until it was clear Haitham was listening again.

“I thought you’d wondered off,” Kaveh whispered, the feeling of panic from earlier coming back to him as he recalled his frantic search, causing the tremble in his hands to return.

“Wondered off where?” Alhaitham raised his eyebrow a little and sniffed wetly.

“Out there.” Kaveh pointed to the door. Ahhh… that’s why he was panicked. One questioned answered. Alhaitham couldn’t really understand why he thought that though but Kaveh continued, before he could ask for Kaveh’s reasoning.

“I woke up, you weren’t in bed, I checked the bathroom and panicked, why weren’t you in bed? I thought, I walked through the house and noticed your shoes and coat were gone and I thought…I thought, maybe you’d felt so sick you’d taken yourself to the hospital. Or worst wandered off into the street delirious with fever!” He exclaimed in a whisper.

Alhaitham didn’t really know how to respond to that. That sounded ridiculously stupid to him. First of all his shoes are where he left them, by the foot of the couch. With his jacket on top of them. Secondly, his key was most definitely still in the bowl by the door. Thirdly, he was sick, admittedly, very sick, but he wasn’t that sick that a hospital trip in the middle of the night was required, or delirious with fever.

“You and your imagination.” He sighed in response. That was the politer of the options he has considered responding with. Despite his best efforts to be ‘polite’ that earned him a very angry glare.

“Why do I even care?!” Griped Kaveh. “Damn it! Here I am trying to look after you and ensure you’ll be al-”

“Because I love you,” Alhaitham interrupted what felt like would be the start of a long rant. “And because you, unfortunately, love me.” As he said the word unfortunately Kaveh could see the smallest sparkle in his tired eyes and Alhaitham offered the smallest of smiles, it was really all he could muster, it surprised him he was even capable of conversation with how bad he currently felt.

“Saying that is cheating.” Kaveh pouted and looked away, but not first without noticing his husbands smile. “Stop smiling, your face is gross with your cold, it is a waste of the rare times you actually smile to be doing it now.” He huffed crossing his arms over his chest. Haitham let out the tiniest of laughs and adjusted his face accordingly. For the next few minutes they sat in silence, appreciating how lucky they both are, despite each other flaws. But Archons they were both so tired.

“Seriously though, why aren’t you in bed?” Kaveh asked breaking the silence.

“I di- a..nt Hh-ATkshhh!” Yup, I am glad I moved away from his face thought Kaveh. “H’eNgtsch! H’Gxtchh! Uuuh..” He’d managed to stifle them a little at least, but felt bad that he didn’t get any warning to cover his face at all.

“Sorry.. snf.. I didn’t want to wake you.” He finally finished his sentence. “I kept waking up feverish, sweating, shivering, sneezing and coughing, I was tossing and turning and I’d already woken you three times. I thought the kinder thing t-to... do was to ju-just… co-mihii..Hah’Gshuuu! HhiHGTSSCH!!..snf come out here to die quietly without further disruptions to your sleep.” He stopped turned his head away and coughed a few times onto the couch. “Sorry for worrying you, I had good intentions I assure you.” He finished his sentence and sniffed wetly.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Kaveh quipped. “You tell me that all the time you know.” He rolled his eyes at Haitham, who took that to mean he had been reluctantly forgiven.

“You should go back to sleep, so I can go back to sleep. I am not sure what woke you in the first place but I’ll endeavour to be quiet out here so go.” He offered waving his husband towards their bedroom.

“I was getting up now anyway.” Kaveh sighed. God he was exhausted, but he really wanted to get medicine for Haitham. He could catch up on sleep later, surely after medicine they could both catch up on sleep.  

“It can’t even be three o’clock.” He responded groaning. “Why are you getting up now? Do you have a client meeting in Liyue I didn’t know you had to go to?” He asked coughing more at the end of his sentence.

“None of your business why I am awake.” He didn’t want Alhaitham to know that he was going to Gandharva Ville, but also wanted to annoy him a little by not answering his question.

“But I am awake and have no intention of going back to sleep. So why don’t you take the bed.” He then mimicked the hand gesture that his husband had done earlier to annoy him. After which he stood up and stretched and walked into the kitchen to grab a few stamina bars to scoff down on his trip, hopefully it’ll be enough to get him there and back a little faster than normal. More important, hopefully it will be enough to stop his from falling asleep on the side of the road.

“You sure? I don’t want to go back to bed for thirty minutes only to be woken by you climbing into bed, and th-then not be able t-to hHaa – s-sHhit,” He trailed off turning himself quickly.

“Ha'YSSshuu! Hh'hih...heh'GSs–chyuu! AST'chuu! Haa-Haa-HUUUTETCHUUU!! HEEEH-HE’EXSHHGTCHH! Ungh…” Haitham lay there trying to catch his breath. He might have been a bug but he was Kaveh’s bug and it was so unlike him to get this sick. It was hard to watch. Kaveh hoped very hard his immune system was going to be able to fight off whatever this was, he was sure by now he had been plenty exposed to his germs. While he appreciated his husbands effort to spare him from them, it was probably well beyond his control. 

“Bless you. Go back to our bed.” Kaveh said tiredly, and matter-of-factly. “I’m heading out soon, and I won’t be back for a little while at least. Do you want me to pick up something on the way home for you?” Alhaitham groaned.

“Something.. snff.. to put me out of this misery.” He moaned, his congestion worsening every time he sneezed.

“Sorry,” Kaveh shrugged playfully. “I don’t think they sell that… I could try and take a swing at you with my claymore to knock you out though?”

“That’s a more tempting offer than you mean it to be…” Alhaitham coughed a few times before looking up at Kaveh. “Help me up though before you go, my head is spinning even just laying here.” Kaveh didn’t respond, he just starred down at Alhaitham silently for a moment.

“Please,” Haitham added weakly. Kaveh wasn’t particularly waiting for a please or thank you. Even when Haitham was well he understood the small ways his husband appreciated him, they weren’t always verbal, or obvious to others. At first they weren’t even obvious to him, but over time as they mended their relationship as roommates who tolerated each other, then became friends again, then lovers to partners, he began to understand the small expressions, actions and words that showed Haitham’s less overt feelings. He even began realising how many he had missed when they were students, how maybe things might not have gotten rough between them if he knew him then like he does now. Though hearing please and thank you was always nice.     

“Don’t die in my arms okay,” Kaveh broke the silence knelling down and scooping Alhaitham up. “And if I hear one word about how you’re taller, stronger and better built than me I am going to drop you on the floor instantly and walk away.” Kaveh was joking, well, sort of. Both men were strong in their own ways. He always got annoyed that people assumed he wasn’t, just because he was a inch or two shorter and wasn’t able to achieve the kind of aesthetically pleasing chest that Haitham had. He quickly tried to think about something else so he didn’t get distracted and accidentally loose his concentration and drop his husband.

“Kaveh, thanks.” Haitham said sleepily. As Kaveh silently carried him back to the bedroom, gently placing him on the bed and tucking him under the blanket. We went back to the couch to grab the pillow and extra blankets that he’d earlier taken and put those back onto the bed further tucking him in. By the time he had finished, he was pretty sure Haitham was already asleep. He felt his forehead, it felt hot enough to fry an egg on. He let out a sigh and kissed his hot forehead.

“I’ll be back soon, try and get some sleep, and don’t die on me understood?” He sighed and gently closed the door, he didn’t need to wait for a reply. He was pretty sure he was asleep, or passed out, he needed sleep, rest and medicine. At least Kaveh could guarantee he got one of those three things. He grabbed his key, slipped his shoes on and headed out into the darkness of the morning to run Gandharva Ville.

Chapter Text

Kaveh couldn’t wait to get back home, it wasn’t because he was tired and wanted to sleep. It wasn’t because he was worried about Haitham, though he was, or because he already had Haitham’s medicine in hand, which he didn’t. It was because he had worked out a slightly faster way to get to Gandharva Ville, and couldn’t wait to rub his husband’s smug face in it. Granted the way he was going was really only remotely possible if you had a vision.

It was still dark as he began seeing the north entrance of Gandharva Ville, with its gorgeous treehouses. As he got closer he could see a figure walking towards him in the dark. He called out to him, waving his hands to the General Mahamatra Cyno, one of Kaveh’s friends and drinking buddied, also one of the few other people that managed tolerating Alhaitham.

“Good morning Cyno!” Kaveh chirped, he was surprised how much energy he had after no sleep and the long run. He stopped to catch his breath once they reached each other.

“Good morning, out for a run?” Cyno asked as he crossed his arms across his chest.

“Not exactly,” Kaveh responded as he continued to catch his breath, “But yeah I guess.” He laughed.

“Running is good for your health. It’s good to know you exercise Kaveh.” Cyno said deadpan, Kaveh nodded in agreement.

“Every morning I tell Tighnari and Collei that I am going to go for a run. But I never go. It’s a running joke.”

Kaveh grimaced, it was way too early for Cyno’s terrible jokes.

“Do you get it? I can expl-”

“I get it! It’s very funny, I would laugh if I wasn’t so out of breath.” Kaveh lied. Earning himself a tiny smile from the General Mahamatra.

“But seriously Kaveh, it’s barely dawn what are you doing here? Did you have a fight with the Grand Sage?”

“We bicker,” Kaveh responded a little annoyed. “We don’t fight, and why would I be here even if we had Cyno? Why would that be your first conclusion?” Kaveh queried.

“When you drink you complain about him a lot.” Cyno responded casually, shrugging. “Hard to tell how much of it is true or not since you usually start after your third glass of wine. Then again after your fourth you generally start professing your love for him loudly to everyone in the bar. Sometimes you get so drunk you barely recognise that your professing your love for Alhaitham to Alhaitham himself.”

“We’re fine Cyno that isn’t why I’m here.” Urgh that’s embarrassing Kaveh thought, groaning a little under his breath. He loved his wine, he just wish he could handle it better.

“Well, as long as everything is alright, I better be off to the Akademiya.” He said as he began walking away.

“AH! Cyno wait! Speaking of the Akademiya,” Kaveh pivoted. “Alhaitham definitely won’t be in today, possibly not at all this week actually, he came home quite sick yesterday. That’s why I am here, to beg Tighnari for medicine and help.” Cyno nodded as Kaveh continued.

“Can you let the appropriate people at the Akademiya know, I assume he’ll try and put up a fuss, but… I’d like him to stay in bed. He is very unwell.” Kaveh sighed. I had to carry him to bed last night he wanted to add but thought that was probably not a good idea to share.

“I’m sorry to hear that, I’ll inform Lord Kusanali. I hope he feels better soon, I’m sure Tighnari can help you out.” Cyno replied with a serious look in his face. He paused and looked deep in thought, Kaveh decided he’d used the chance to escape.

“Thanks,” Kaveh said giving Cyno a friendly pat on the shoulder as he began walking away.

“I have a joke about the flu,” Cyno called back. Kaveh froze mid step, bracing himself with gritted teeth. “But I hope you don’t get it.” Urgh… that was worst than the running joke please save me Tighnari Kaveh cringed while trying to do his most convincing fake laughter, it was the fastest way to make him stop. As he walked off he waved to him while looking ahead  and began running to get to Tighnari before he had to endure another of Cyno’s cringe worthy puns or an explanation of why it was funny. I wonder if Cyno knew for every time I complain about Haitham being mean, Tighnari complains twice as much about Cyno’s terrible jokes. He smiled to himself, I guess that’s what love is though. 

As he got close to the big treehouse platform making up the majority of Gandharva Ville he saw Tighnari and waved him down.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” Tighnari asked. “It’s early for you to be up and about. Wait.. what time did you leave to get here??” Tighnari realised how far the city was and how generally took most people a few hours at least by foot to get there from the city.

Kaveh shrugged, “I left early, as you can imagine.” He said tiredly, rubbing his eyes. Need more coffee. He’d left about 3:30am, later than he initially planned to. He knew Tighnari was an early riser with his forest duty and so was Cyno. Once the day started there was no guarantee he’d be able to catch Tighnari until the evening. But finding a shortcut and having his stamina bar allowed him to get to Gandharva Ville in only an hour and a half.

“You don’t look like yourself Kaveh…you look… disheveled.” Tighnari said, as he studied his friend. Reaaallly need more coffee Kaveh thought to himself. Kaveh was just in slacks and a loose shirt, his hair wasn’t done up properly, just tied back with one of his red clips either side to ensure he didn’t have to worry about hair falling in his face as he ran.

“Yeah, I just threw one the first thing I could grab. Figured, it was so early in the day no one would expect me to look beautiful yet.” He replied feeling a bit self conscious about it after Tighnari had pointed it out.

“No Alhaitham?” Asked Tighnari, standing on his tiptoes while glancing over Kaveh’s shoulder to see if he was perhaps trailing behind.

“No, but that’s why I am here.” Tighnari instantly recognised the anxiety in Kaveh’s voice then, and listened carefully as he explained the whole situation to Tighnari.

“I can definitely get you a care package of medicinal herbs, I’ll gather them shortly and drop them off at your house.” Tighnari offered. Kaveh hesitated a little.

“I was really hoping to get them to him as soon as possible, I am happy to wait here, or can lend a hand if that would help.” He offered. Tighnari sighed and shook his head.

“That wouldn’t help. That would almost certainly slow me down and make this harder, more complicated and take longer. Just go home, I’ll drop them off to you.” Tighnari was always blunt when it came to stuff like this but Kaveh didn’t mind. He enjoyed his friend’s bluntness.

“It wouldn’t be faster if I waited here?”

Tighnari laughed a little and gave Kaveh the look he gives Cyno when he’s having to endure one of his jokes.

“No, you lummox you don’t understand.” He sighed, scratching one of his long ears. “I’ll bring them in a bit, we forest rangers have ways of moving through the forest far faster than even vision bearers. I’ll take Collei with me, we’ll gather the herbs, I’ll make it into the medicine and will be able to get to your house around when you do.” Tighnari walked closer to Kaveh, placing his hands on on his arms. Tighnari and Kaveh had been friends for many many years, but Kaveh was confused is he going to hug me?  But then Tighnari used his grip on Kaveh’s arms to turn him around and began pushing him from behind in the direction of the city.

“Go, I’ll meet you there shortly. It’ll be the first thing I do.” He gave Kaveh another little shove. Kaveh hesitated slightly.

“Go Kaveh, I promise, this is faster.” Giving Kaveh, yet another gentle push towards the city.

“Kaveh, please… you trust me right?” Tighnari said trying to offer him a reassuring smile, even though he was starting to get annoyed with having to convince him. “He must be really sick if you’re this worried.” Tighnari added when he noticed Kaveh was just looking down at his own feet.

“I promise, I’ll get them to you as fast as I would if I was gathering them for Cyno or Collei.” He added, before turning and flagging down Collei. They talked for a little while, as Tighnari and her discussed what they’d need to collect and then headed into forest. Collei was growing up fastKaveh thought to himself, it was lovely to see how much happier she was, she was such a sweet person after all. With that thought Kaveh reassured himself that Tighnari knew best so he began preparing himself to run back.

Kaveh got the feeling he probably wouldn’t have had an issue if he had woken Tighnari in the middle of the night, he was more than willing to help since they were friends. Maybe he got mad at Alhaitham, not for waking him, but because.. it’s Alhaitham. Knowing him he woke him without hesitation demanding a cure for me. Kaveh thought to himself and smiled knowing he and Alhaitham would ultimately do whatever it took to care for one another, even if it drove the other up the wall occasionally. He stretched and took a few bites from the second stamina snack bar before he began dashing back home.

As he returned to Sumeru City he took a moment to catch his breath after running all the way back. He managed to get into the city in under an hour. Take that Haitham hahaha… he laughed in his head before thinking god my legs are gonna be achy tomorrow. He stopped by the fruits stand to get some harra fruits, apples and zaytun peaches. That way he’d have some healthy snacks for Alhaitham to eat. Next he swung by the general store for a few more boxes of tissues and some kitchen staples. Before swinging by the café to grab a some coffee beans and a take away coffee for himself.

He arrived home, it had been about an hour and forty minutes since he had left Tighnari. His legs ached a little from all the running, but his pride was getting him through. He was even whistling a happy tune as he walked up to their house. He looked around but didn’t see Tighnari waiting yet, so went inside put the shopping away. He ducked his head out, still no Tighnari, so decided to tidy the living room. Hanging up Alhaitham’s coat and putting his boots near the doorway. Then grabbed his coffee went back outside to wait for Tighnari. The weather was nice, there was a cool morning breeze and he enjoyed the sounds of the bustling city. Usually Kaveh couldn’t take the time to enjoy the bustling city when he was with his husband. Even with his noise cancelling headphones on the crowds and noise of the city often overwhelmed and agitated him, so they tended to move quickly whenever possible.

“Oh, I am surprised you actually beat me back.” Laughed Tighnari, as he swung down from above. Kaveh was relieved to see him and especially grateful he could finally give Alhaitham some relief from his fever.  

“Thanks so much Tighnari,” He gave his friend a warm but tired smile. “I really appreciate you going out of your way.” Tighnari smiled in response and handed him a piece of paper with his neat writing on it.

“Instructions?” Kaveh asked. Tighnari hummed in agreement before going through each one.

“This one is for his fever,” he passed him a powdery looking green substance. “Mix that with boiling water let it sit for 5 minutes, stir it well after and get him to drink it quickly. It won’t taste very good, but it should help his fever come down. Might also make him drowsy but sleep will only improve his recovery.” Tighnari said matter of factly.

“Get him to take it a three times a day while his fever is high and cut back to two when he begins to feel better. He should continue to drink it until most of his symptoms have improved or disappeared.” Kaveh listened intently, making mental notes and nodding along.

“This one,” Tighnari continued, passing him what looked like a kind of salve. “Rub this on his chest it should help with coughing and maybe a bit with congestion, it has a strong smell though, and will stain your sheets, so be mindful.” Kaveh was so worried about Alhaitham that he didn’t care if their nice sheets got stained. He could use it as an excuse to get new ones later.

“These are some vitamins and herbs designed to help boost your immunity against sickness. I packed some for you too, take them now and you hopefully won’t get sick.” Tighnari was always caring for Cyno and Collei when they got sick, so he took what Tighnari was saying as gospel.

“Lastly..” Tighnari hesitated a little and passed him a courser looking powder. 

“This is something I’ve been working on in my spare time. It is meant to help with reducing congestion, it will cause burning and sneezing for a while, so depending on if he wants the added relief or not take this.” Kaveh looked at it, he wasn’t sure if something that would cause sneezing would be what he wanted since he was doing plenty of that naturally. 

“Didn’t you say the salve had a anti congestion effect?” He queried, wanting to be sure whatever he gave Haitham didn’t make him feel worse than he already did. 

“It does,” Tighnari nodded, “But it isn’t as potent. If he can get passed the initial discomfort, that will give him longer relief from congestion, which will in turn help him sleep, cough less and probably give his throat a bit of relief. I won’t lie, it can be uncomfortable and messy.” Tighnari wasn’t instilling Kaveh with confidence. He decided he would advice Alhaitham accordingly and let him decide.

“Thank you so much for all this Tighnari, once Alhaitham is back on his feet let me take you out for a drink.” Tighnari laughed and began walking towards the edge of the platform.

“On his mora?” He asked laughing as he turned back to face Kaveh.

“Of course!” Kaveh laughed, as he waved and headed inside after watching Tighnari glide off from the platform. Once inside he took off his shoes and untied his messy hair leaving the clips in to keep it out of his face. He put down his now empty coffee cup on the bench and stretched before turning on the stove to boil some water for Alhaitham’s medicine. Once the water was on the stove heating he walked to their bedroom and quietly opened the door to check on his husband. Hoping he would be sound asleep. Instead he was sitting up in bed slouched over, his head being pulled down by gravity, he looked uncomfortable. Kaveh slowly walked towards him putting his hand on his shoulder gently causing him to flinch.

“Sorry, I couldn’t tell if you were asleep.” He said gently rubbing his back. “You need to lie down Haitham.” He said as he began pulling the covers up and trying to usher his husband under them. Alhaitham resisted putting his hands over his nose.

“H’hhn’TSChuu! eH’Tschuu! Heh’kschuu! kETschuu!…snf..snfff.” Alhaitham moved his hands from his face and looked around for the tissues, his eyes were barely open. Meanwhile Kaveh was trying not to squeal after hearing what he considered the cutest most tired sounding sneezes he’d ever heard from his husband, or from anyone in that matter. He got rid of his distraction thought and noticed Haitham sleepily looking for a tissue.

“Want a tissue?” Kaveh asked as he automatically grabbed one before getting an answer.

“No….uh yes..” Haitham groaned, rubbing his face, he looked like he was in pain and confused. Kaveh passed him the tissue and he barely dabbed it against his nose before dropping it and mumbling something not particularly cohesive.  

“I….Hun…Ka..veh..” Shit he must feel even worse than last night if he can’t sting together a sentence. Kaveh kept his right hand firmly against his husband’s shoulder as he reached his left one to his forehead.

“Archons Alhaitham…” Was all he could say feeling how hot he was, Alhaitham made a sort of humming noise in response. Maybe he would’ve been better getting Alhaitham to a hospital he began wondering. His heart pounding in his chest. He’d never seen him like this before. Suddenly he felt a dead weight against his hand.

“H-hey, what gives? Wait… Alhaitham?” Did he just fall back asleep? Maybe he didn’t seem really awake in the first place? Kaveh thought as he gently pushed the younger man under the covers helping him lay back down. He didn’t look peaceful or remotely comfortable though, Kaveh could see his eyes twitching underneath his eye lids as if he were having a dream. The Akasha system had been active for most of Kaveh and Alhaitham’s lives. Dreaming was a new experience to them and many others who had previously been using it.

He left their door open as he rushed back to the kitchen to keep an eye on the water. Kaveh always got upset with Alhaitham if he left something on the stove cooking while he read on the couch or table or when he was ‘cooking’ while still working in his office. He was always worried it was going to end in a fire, as two dendro vision users they wouldn’t be able to stop the fire as much as they would just spread it further. So he felt a bit hypocritical leaving the water on the stove, but it was only water, if it bubbled over worst case it would extinguish the flame. The water was heating up nicely but needed more time. Kaveh sighed to himself, and carefully read the instructions on the herbs and vitamins Tighnari suggested they both take. He just had to either swallow them dry or with water. He grimaced at the smell and taste as he swallowed down the herbs with the water. If the medicinal quality of anything was based off it’s bitter taste this would work marvellously.. bleh. At least Haitham probably won’t be able to taste it as strongly. He thought as he waited for the water to finish boiling.

Another twenty or so minutes had past and finally the water had finished boiling. He gathered the green powder and carefully measured it out as per Tighnari’s instructions, then began pouring the boiling water ensuring he didn’t put too much or too little.

Out of nowhere Kaveh heard Alhaitham gasping loudly, breaking the silence, followed by the nastiest coughing fit he’d ever heard. He jumped at the sudden sounds, almost spilling the remainder of the boiling water on himself. He held the pot carefully as he looked down at his bare feet which was about a millimetre away from where he had spilled the boiling water. He shuddered at the thought of how painful that would’ve been. Finally catching his breath, he put the kettle down and started the timer for the medicine to sit for five minutes, per Tighnari’s strict instructions, before practically sprinting back to Alhaitham who was bent over coughing.

“I’m here! What Ah, Haitham are you okay?!” He asked as he watched his husband coughing and gasping for air. Kaveh had never felt so utterly powerless in his life. Give him a group of Fatui to take down any day instead of this.

“Kaveh,” Haitham said, he seemed like he was be able to talk a bit more now. “You’re …back?” He asked sounding confused, as his coughing settled, he sounded congested and raspy, if Kaveh wasn’t looking directly at him he would’ve been hard pressed to recognised his own husbands voice.

“Yeah, I got back a little bit ago. I thought I woke you up before?” Kaveh asked, obvious concern in his voice. Alhaitham shook his head gently.

“Maybe, I don’t know…I’ve been in and out of s-sleep…Hh’GnTchu! Hn’GnTchu!” Alhaitham pinched his nose as he sneezed and then moaned.

“snrf, since you left, I keep having the most awful nightmares every time I..snf.. fall into a deeper sleep.”

Kaveh felt terrible for Haitham, he had bags under his eyes he was flushed and sweaty from fever and his nose was red raw and running. To hear he was having nightmares on top of everything else felt unfair to him.

“How was Tighnari?” Haitham asked, hoping his question may relieve some of Kaveh’s concern, his husband had no poker face.  

“H-how did you know I met with Tighnari?” Kaveh said avoiding eye contact, to Haitham he was an open book.

“Logical reasoning.” He quipped. Kaveh huffed and smiled.

“At least your brain still works.” Kaveh grinned playfully.

“It is about the only thing left working.” Haitham sighed, “Kaveh…welcome home.” He whispered, looked up at Kaveh’s eyes. Before he gently grabbed his husband and wrapped his arms around his upper thighs and pulled Kaveh close to him. Smushing his face into the older’s stomach and keeping his hold on him there while he let his breath relax. Kaveh gently ran his fingers through Alhaitham’s hair, he felt so sweaty and gross, not at all like his usual self. Both men were able to relax into the embrace, both finding it comforting.

“Hhh’ Sh-Shit-S-sorry…” Alhaitham mumbled, as his shoulders tensed, before squeezing Kaveh tighter, pushing his face right up against his stomach.

“Hhh’ HahT’TSscCHU! Hh’hHN’TTSChuu! HHh-Hi’TSCHhew! HNgSSCHhew! HHii-Hh’hh..guh…hhh’Hhh…Ssnnff,”

Alhaitham was half expecting Kaveh to shove him away grossed out, he didn’t intend to use his shirt as a giant handkerchief. But he didn’t feel he had time to move away and cover his face before the sneezing commenced. Kaveh didn’t seem bothered, he held onto Haitham gently, continuing to softly run his hands through his grey hair in ways he knew the younger enjoyed. Kaveh could feel Alhaitham trying to hold back more sneezes, so he continued to play with his hair, shifting his other hand from his shoulder to begin rubbing his back.

“It’s okay darling, just let it all out.” He spoke softly, repeating those words a few times until Alhaitham finally relaxed and did.

“H’hhh…h’HH HhN’GnTTSCHU! Heh’GSSCHhu! HaAH’GSSTCHUuh! HhI’tsCHUU! TSSChuu! E’TSSCHhu! Heh-hh’huTTSCHU! H’NgTCHU!…snrff.”

“Archons Alhaitham, bless you.” Kaveh whispered.

“I suppose you probably don’t need a tissue.” He laughed little saying that, Alhaitham responded by looking up from Kaveh’s stomach tiredly pretending to glare at him. It was akin to being glared at by a cat, cute and not at all intimidating.

“I guess that really debends… Snrffk.. snff.. og how much you want me to blow my nose on your shirt.. snfff… Urgh.” Alhaitham sounded so much more congested, he really did need to blow his nose. Kaveh just hummed as he stood their continuing to run his fingers through Alhaitham’s hair, hoping the action would bring him some sort of comfort. Haitham in turn just continued to rest against Kaveh, his nose could wait a few minutes, not like he could breath through it either way. It must’ve been helpful cause Kaveh could feel and hear his husbands breathing return to normal after his massive sneezing fit. They stayed like that until the kitchen timer went off.

“Your medicines ready, mind letting me go so I can grab it for you?…and uhh so I can change my shirt.” Kaveh asked somewhat laughing. The only response he got was a slightly tighter grip. Kaveh screamed internally, Haitham had tended to get clingier when he was tired or out of sorts but this was reaching new levels of cute and his poor heart was flooding with affection for his husband.

“Haitham, darling please…you have no idea how much I want to give you this medicine.” Kaveh pleaded, not having the heart to forcefully pull away when Alhaitham was being this affectionate and clingy. He felt the grip loosen and Alhaitham shuffled himself back to being upright on the bed, sniffing loudly and immediately grabbing several tissues to blow his congested nose so he could at least talk without sounding as congested. Blowing his nose did relieve the congestion slightly but it brought back the tickle he had just sneezed out a few minutes ago.

“I’ll be quick, I promise.” Kaveh smiled as he saw Alhaitham struggling to ward of more sneezes. Kaveh practically sprinted to the kitchen. He could hear his husband suffering behind him.

“Hh’Hg’GSSChu! Hn’GSSChhuu! Hh..Hh-Hhh-HaH’KGTCHUU! Hh’HEGSSCHU!”

Kaveh quickly grabbed the medicine giving it a good stir before gathering up the vitamins, herbs and a cold glass of water to bring to Alhaitham.

“Can you hold it?” He asked, watching him blow his nose again. He received a tired nod back and carefully passed the drink to his exhausted husband.

“Drink it quickly if you can, it is hot though.” He warned. Alhaitham starred at the drink for a second before knocking it all back in one go, Kaveh then passed him a glass of cold water to take the vitamins and herbs with. Which he began guzzling down too.

“There’s no prize for drinking the water that fast you know. Drink slowly.” He instructed as he walked over to their wardrobe, grabbing a clean shirt then carefully removing his current one. Being extra careful not to touch it more than he had to.

“S-sorry about that…” Alhaitham said clearly embarrassed.

“It’s fine. It just needs a wash.” Kaveh reassured him, as he tossed it into their laundry basket. “I stopped and got zaytun peaches, do you think you could eat one?” He asked, Alhaitham nodded so Kaveh grabbed the empty glass to take back to the kitchen as he turned his back to leave he heard Haitham say his name. He turned back.

“Hmm?” He smiled softly.

“Kaveh, thank you. I-I don’t…Eh…Eh’gxsssch! Urh… I don’t deserve you.” He mumbled sheepishly. Normally Kaveh would’ve responded overly dramatically in agreement with him. As Haitham did whenever Kaveh muttered the same sentiment, which often happened when he got too drunk. But this time Kaveh just shook his head smiling.

“Alhaitham, I wake up every day happy to be by your side.” He turned back towards the door, then momentarily looked back over his shoulder. “Even when you look super gross right now.” He teased poking his tongue out, before heading back to the kitchen and returning with more water, a zaytun peach, a knife, plate and the salve. Alhaitham was already beginning to nod off sitting up again. Kaveh walked to the other side of the bed and sat down putting his legs and feet up on the bed and crossing them.

“Drink this,” he said passing the fresh glass of water to his husband “slowly.” He began cutting up the peach while sitting on the bed. He put a slice into his mouth, it was juicy and sweet.

“Here,” he leant over popping a piece directly into Haitham’s mouth. “Good, right?” He went back to slicing up the peach. He had to hold himself back from saying ‘say aaaah’ and ‘yummy?’ he knew if he treated Alhaitham too much like a kid he would get annoyed and more or less immediately begin to act like one and not in a cute or endearing way. He popped another piece in their mouths.  

“I can barely taste it.” Alhaitham groaned, as he chewed. “I think IhH…h’hhuuh…HN’GkTChu!” He stopped grabbed a tissue blowing his nose again

“I think...snff.. I might be close to passing out again.”

“Lie down first then.” Kaveh replied quickly moving the plate off the bed onto the nightstand. As he helped his tired husband get comfortable.

“Can you undo your shirt for me?” Kaveh asked, without context. Which resulting in a confused look from Alhaitham.  

“I appreciate you wanting to comfort me but I don’t have the energy for that right now.” He responded smugly without missing a beat. Kaveh paused, a little confused for a moment, before realising what was being implied and becoming flustered. The only logical response was for him to gently pick up the pillow he was sitting next to and lightly smack it across Alhaitham’s smug face.

“Tha-That, was not why!” Kaveh responded a little flustered, his cheeks turning a shade of red that matched his carmine eyes.

“Owwch...that hurt my nose.” Kaveh looked at him suspiciously with incredulity.

“Hmph! You deserved that! Now undo your shirt, Tighnari gave me something to rub on your chest to help with your cough and congestion.”

“Ohh?” Alhaitham raised an eyebrow trying to be cheeky again.

“Do you want to rub it on yourself?” Kaveh threatened.

“No, I’ll be quiet.” Haitham said as he slowly undid his shirt, revealing his abs. He tried not to grin too much when he caught Kaveh enjoying the view.

“God you’re insufferable even when you’re sick.” Kaveh complained.  

“I love you too, Kaveh.” Kaveh huffed playfully at that.

“You must be feeling a little better.” He said as he moved his hand to see if his fever had gone down, he didn’t really feel a noticeable difference. It was very hot before and it was still very hot, but maybe the medicine was helping in ways he couldn’t tell.

“Not really, but having you around always makes me feel better.” Kaveh felt his heart flutter. They’d been married a few years but because his husband was often such a pain in the ass, when he was sweet it still went straight to his heart.

“Also, you look so worried Kaveh, I was trying to lighten the mood.” Haitham said softly. Kaveh smiled softly as he began rubbing the salve on his chest.

“You shouldn’t be worrying about me, just worry about getting better.” Kaveh felt lucky, only he knew this softer side of Haitham. He smiled as he continued applying more of the salve to his chest. It did have a very strong smell, he was surprised Tighnari could use it with his sensitive nose. It made Kaveh’s eyes water as he put it on and could hear Alhaitham sniffling a lot.

“Need a tissue?” He asked as automatically grabbed the tissue box, passing a few to his husband who instantly buried his face in them.

“Urgh what is this? Its m-making my eyes hh-hur…H’hheh-TSSChu! H’he-H’GTCHU! Haht’TtSSSHHHh! Hh-heh’GSSHHCYU! Ar-ah-Archons, Hg’GSHUU! Hh’ktSHU! S-sst-StHTCHU! Please S-stop Ka-ve..h-H’Hhh’GtsCHU! Hh’tTSSCH! Wha-t is in this hhh’St-uffH’GTCHHH! Uhhhg..snf… I beg you stop.” Alhaitham winced, sniffling more. Kaveh nodded as he buttoned back up Alhaitham’s shirt to try and avoid getting the salve on the sheets.

“If it is making your nose run it must mean it’s working a little. I’m going to quickly get you some more tissues.” Kaveh tried to sound reassuring as Alhaitham blew his nose.

“Can you breath a bit better at least?” He asked as he opened a new box of tissues for him placing it beside him on the bed.

“I can hardly breath at all when I’m sneezing.” He said breathlessly. He could feel the salve was beginning to cool his chest somehow and he felt himself relax a little more with that feeling. He closed his eyes laying down and getting comfortable.

“Do you… need me… t’stay awake for ..anything else?” He asked his eyes fluttering closed, no longer able to keep his eyes open.  

“No love, get some sleep.” He brushed his hand lightly over Alhaitham’s cheek, getting a tiny smile in response. He slowly got off the bed, turned the light off in the room and left the door open just enough to ensure he would be able to hear if he needed anything.

Kaveh headed to the kitchen to make himself another coffee. He considered having a sleep beside Alhaitham but he was mindful that while his husband was off work sick, he still had some blue prints to draw up, and a few proposals to finish off that were due in the not too distant future. So he made himself a coffee in the largest mug they had and headed to the study. Initially when he first moved in with Alhaitham there was only one desk in the study and a sofa chair for Alhaitham to read on. But after they began dating Kaveh suggested they get a second. Since whenever Alhaitham was moody and in need of the desk he would be impatient and push Kaveh’s stuff all over messily and occasionally onto the floor because there wasn’t anywhere else to put it.

Kaveh sighed, taking a big sip of his coffee. He began to lightly sketch some plans for an exciting project he recently began working on. Since Alhaitham had been Grand Sage for a few years now he had met with Lord Kusanali, or Nahida as she insisted he call her on many occasions. One such occasion she had led to enter her private residence at the back of the Akademiya. It horrified Kaveh. He swore up and down he would be able to design a more beautiful and worthy indoor space for her. She was only to happy to commission him to do so. Alhaitham was also relieved Kaveh gotten a big job that he knew he would reliably get paid for.

Nahida had requested a few different elements in the redesign, one of them was a bedroom more befitting her outward appearance. Kaveh tried not to dwell on the fact she had been locked up in such a horrible and dull space unable to move for five hundred years. If he thought about it too much he would tear up. I would’ve broken her out myself if I had any inkling she was being trapped in there. He thought to himself as he compared his designs with how it currently looked.  Kaveh felt that in the knowledge driven land of Sumeru, Nahida, the Archon of Wisdom herself was the one that most closely understood his artistic sensibilities. This made Kaveh all the more determined to create her a truly beautiful space.

Kaveh searched his desk draw by hand until he found one of the many hair ties he left lying around the house in various locations. He tied his hair back again messily and rolled up his sleeves as he began to map out the space. He quickly became absorbed in the layout and design of the room, which energised him after a bad night and exhausting morning. Kaveh loved the feeling of being truly inspired. To him there was nothing better than the feeling of being truly inspired by his art. Well almost nothing better, it was a close second to the feeling of love and joy Alhaitham gave him, when he wasn’t being difficult and annoying at least.

When he was in the zone like this he could tune out all distractions. Sometimes it meant skipping meals, sleep and even tuning out his own husbands voice as he called to him. He was used to those things, Alhaitham didn’t usually mind being ignore either, though he would get upset if he skipped too many meals or too much sleep. Especially as Kaveh wasn’t immune from wearing himself out by doing that. He was so focused his coffee was quickly going cold as continued to sketch out various designs. He wanted to incorporate flowers and Aranara into the design to give the room an elegant yet playful design.

He moved his various blue prints around his desk searching for his protractor which he knew was buried somewhere underneath everything.

THUD!

“Shit the coffee!” Kaveh explained jumping up after hearing the thud. But his coffee was still on the table. He leaned over looking at the floor on the side of the desk where he had been moving papers, it had sounded like something had fallen from the desk to the floor. But he couldn’t see anything, maybe he imagined it. He straightened back up momentarily looking away from his sketches and his heart almost stopped.

“ALHAITHAM!” He shouted as he dashed towards his husband who was on hands and knees on the floor just outside their bedroom door. That’s it if he isn’t dead I am chaining him to our bed!  He thought to himself, trying to cope with the anxiety with humour. As he got to Alhaitham he could see he was drenched in sweat, but thank god he wasn’t unconscious and didn’t look hurt.

Kaveh could feel his arms and legs shaking as his heart pounded in his chest. Unless he was sleep walking out of the bed there was no reason whatsoever that he couldn’t have called Kaveh over to help. Don’t scream at him he’s sick don’t scream at him he’s sick, don’t scream. Kaveh repeated this mantra in his head as he knelt down next to him. He took a deep breath. Don’t scream. Don’t scream.

He opened his mouth and didn’t even know what to say his brain was muddled from going from intense focus to intense panic. Don’t scream. Don’t scream. Don’t scr-

“Before you scream at me,” Alhaitham paused as he shivered from having his hands against their cold hardwood floor.

“I called your name at least a dozen time.” He coughed loudly towards the floor, shivering again. Kaveh felt his stomach turn and his eyes water as he felt guilt settling in.

“D-did you need to go to the bathroom or where you coming to find me?” Kaveh asked, his voice breaking a little as he changed his mantra from don’t scream to - don’t cry.. don’t cry.. he repeated to himself. A much harder task than not screaming though.

“No, I don’t need the bathroom.” He could tell from Kaveh’s face he had felt bad for accidentally tuning him out, he wanted to reassure Kaveh he was okay and understood.

“I’m okay though Kaveh I promise I understa-”

“You are a great many things Alhaitham, but right now ‘okay’ is NOT one of them!” He’d said that a little louder and angrier than he intended, Alhaitham looked away not knowing how to respond. Kaveh took a shaky breath and pulled Haitham to his feet, supporting him as he slowly walked him back towards the bed.  

Don’t cry… focus on helping him. Don’t cry… focus on helping him. I can cry after. He stopped at the bed and steadied Alhaitham as he climbed back into bed. Kaveh let out a laboured breath and sat on the edge next to him looking at the floor. Alhaitham reached up and wiped a tear after from the corner of Kaveh’s eye. Then another. Another, another until there were too many for him to wipe way.

“Kaveh…” Alhaitham stopping himself before he made it worse by saying the wrong thing, he wished he had just pretended he hadn’t called out. The guilt was especially bad for causing Kaveh to cry again, so soon after last night. Kaveh couldn’t respond he just kept repeating to himselfDon’t cry. Don’t cry! DON’T CRY. DON’T CRY! DON’T CRY!! Kaveh wasn’t okay, his hands were shaking a bit and wasn’t making eye contract. Tears continued to steadily roll down his face. Alhaitham shuffled a bit, so he could get closer to offer some physical comfort. He didn’t want to kiss him and spread his germs more than he already was. But he was hoping if he embraced Kaveh in a hug it would help. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Kaveh continued to repeat despite already crying.

“Kaveh..” Alhaitham put his hand gently on Kaveh’s hand to pull him in for a hug, startling Kaveh out of his head.

“Don’t c-” Kaveh mumbled aloud. Shocked by the unexpected request Haitham quickly withdrew his hand, Kaveh had never told him not to touch him before. Shit.. I really messed up. Alhaitham thought as he grimaced. When Alhaitham had withdrawn his hand it pulled Kaveh out of his head from the physical touch. Shit. Did I say that out loud? Kaveh thought becoming panicked again. One look at his husband answered that question. He didn’t know what to say but the sooner he expressed he didn’t have an issue with Alhaitham holding his hand the better. So he reached out taking Alhaitham’s hand and put it on top of his own, and placed his other hand on top. In doing so, decided to finally just let acknowledge his tears falling. Wanting to explain away any confusion he choked through his sobs to say.

“I’m not upset with you, and I didn’t mean don’t touch me, I was t-trying to tell myself not to f-fucking cry!” He choked out, he was so frustrated with himself. Alhaitham might enjoy poking fun at Kaveh and his overly emotional state regularly but he still knew it took a lot for Kaveh to cry like this. The lack of sleep wouldn’t help at all either. Alhaitham squeezed Kaveh’s hand gently.

“It is okay to cry when you feel overwhelmed.” Alhaitham didn’t consider himself the best at comforting Kaveh, but he hoped the effort would be helpful none the less.

“I-I know.” He said between sobs and sniffs. 

“When I get overwhelmed I have to block out all sounds,  I find it difficult to speak or even open my eyes.” He reminded him, squeezing his hand again.

Kaveh nodded and let out a sound almost like a laugh as he relented and continued to let his tears flow.

“It’s- its okay if y-you want to tease me about this – ha you’re the sick one and I am barely holding myself emotionally together…” He choked out as he sobbed.

“I would never do that Kaveh.” Alhaitham tried to move his hand so he help wipe away his tears, but Kaveh gripped his hand tightly when he tried to move it. Which was all well and good until Alhaitham felt his nose tickle. He briefly tried to will away the urge to sneeze, but failing that he grabbed a bunch of tissues with his left hand and covered his face with them. Kaveh didn’t even notice anything until his sneezing started.

“Hhh-Hn’GTSCHU! H’hh-Hh’G’TChu! Hh’heh A-Archons.. Huh’YgtCHu!” Kaveh quickly tried to let his hand go be Alhaitham didn’t. He just squeezed Kaveh’s hand more, and Kaveh could swear that in between his sneezes he could hear Haitham trying to say he wouldn’t let go. Though he couldn’t really be certain that’s how he took it.

“Hhh’GSSTCHU! HiiTs O-okay Kav’Hha-hhEgTSCHU! Hh’hih-TSSCH! Hhh’hn’GSSCHhuu!..Uhnng.” After finally stopping he tried blowing his nose with one hand but it wasn’t working, he reluctantly took his right hand off Kaveh’s and properly blew his nose.

“Ouwch…urgh.. Kaaaveh… the tissues are beginning to feel like sand paper.” He uncharacteristically whined. “Shnnf… do you remember your offer last night? To knock me our with your claymore?” He asked, a hint of playfulness in his stuffy voice. “I think.. it was short sighted of me to turn you down.” He said as he rubbed a tissue against his nose and sniffing more.

“I’ll knock you out with my claymore if you do the same to me with your sword,” Kaveh said the entire situation becoming too ridiculous for him to bear he went from the extreme of sobbing to laughing. Laughter was was contagious as Haitham probably was as both of them began laughing, with tears in their eyes until Haitham began hacking up a lung and they both stopped, Kaveh waited silently until Alhaitham stopped coughing.

“I’m sorry you called for me and I didn’t hear you.” Kaveh apologised. “What did you need.”

“You.” Alhaitham responded simply. Making Kaveh feel warm inside.

“Just me?” Asked Kaveh, trying to confirm if he was being honest or still trying to make him feel better.

“Yes, just you...Honest it wasn’t that import I… I had another nightmare…” He said trailing off, Kaveh felt like Haitham had turned a shade paler recalling that. “It felt so real, and when I woke up you weren’t there. When you didn’t respond…I began thinking the dream was a reality.” Kaveh didn’t want to even know what he had dreamt if it had scared him that much.

“When I saw you at your desk I tried to call out again but got light headed.” He explained. “I don’t know,” Alhaitham continued before trailing off again putting his large hands over his face.

“You don’t know what?” Asked Kaveh.

“I don’t know what I am supposed to do. I feel so tired I want to pass out, but simultaneous am dreading sleeping. I feel like I am so feverish I could evaporate, if I’m not coughing I am sneezing. URgh.” Kaveh felt he had every right to complain.

“I don’t know what I should do either,” Kaveh sighed letting his upper body slouch as he lent his arms on his legs and leaned over the edge.

“I want to say, being sick sucks, but I feel that’s an understatement given just how sick you’re feeling.” Sighing again and slouching more he continued.  

“Tighnari said that I could give you the medicine for your fever three times a day for now, but it hasn’t been much more than an hour since you had it. I certainly didn’t downplay your symptoms to him either, so I don’t think there will be anything stronger around.” Kaveh slouched even further down, Alhaitham didn’t even think it would be possible to, but it was as if gravity was targeting Kaveh exclusively.

“Kaveh, this is why you always complain about having a sore back.” Haitham commented as he tugged at Kaveh’s shirt to get him to sit up. Kaveh turned to him and gave him a disproving look before straightening up and leaning back on his hands.  

“I considered whether we should try and drag you to Bimarstan but given we were already given medicine by Tighnari, I doubt there would be anything else they could do for you aside from monitoring you. After all Tighnari is a Amurta* he would know as much as anyone there would about how to help.” He paused to think.  

“Would you sleep better if I sat with you in here?” Kaveh offered adding, “Better yet, maybe I’ll try and get some sleep with you.” He groaned, the lack of sleep, running and now crying had taken a lot out of him. He turned to his husband. Getting a tired nod as a response.  

“Haitham you falling asleep again?” He weakly nodded again. Kaveh shrugged and climbed into bed next to him, gently pulling him under the covers again so he wouldn’t get cold. He studied his face, had he dosed off again?

Kaveh turned over facing away from Alhaitham and let himself drift off to sleep. It was super short lived as he got woken when Alhaitham jolted awake in panic less than an hour later. Seeing him wake like that gasping to catch his breath, face drenched it sweat, shivering from fear and fever was terrifying for Kaveh. At least he was beside him to offer some comfort and confirm the nightmare was indeed just that. But it didn’t help him with what to do to help Alhaitham get some rest.

They decided to trail a few different things, nothing was worth ruling out after all. Haitham tried reading until he fell asleep, Kaveh sat by his side sketching while he slept for a short period, but it wasn’t even thirty minutes before he jolted awake again. They tried to see if food could help, maybe having a practically empty stomach was contributing to the problem. Kaveh heated some of the left over soup and also cut up an apple and prepared some toast. Alhaitham reluctantly ate it all and felt fine. But the sleep situation didn’t improve at all.

After trying all they could both think of they both lay on the bed looking up at the ceiling.

“I could try going to work.” Alhaitham sarcastically suggested, as he was nearing his wits end.

“I think you’d die.” Kaveh responded flatly.

“Wouldn’t have solve this situa-”

“No.” Kaveh quickly cut him off. Haitham huffed. “What about a bath?” Kaveh suggested, he felt Haitham move away a little.

“Heh’TssShu! H’hh’Ttsu! Hh’TschUh’h! Hh’TtChhh!…eT’Gtch!” Alhaitham sniffed miserably. He barely had the energy to sneeze and whenever he did it made him twice as tired.

“Bath?” Kaveh asked again.

“I think I’d drown.” Haitham responded, before blowing his nose again.

“I don’t mean alone, I’d bath with you to ensure you didn’t.” Kaveh responded, at least he liked the sound of a bath. Remembering he hadn’t even showered last night, or when he got home from Gandharva Ville.

“Hmmm.. well in that case, I think we’d b-both drownn…Hh’HHh’nGTTCHhu!”

“Bless you. Then I think there is only one final option.” Kaveh sighed. Haitham hummed in response waiting for Kaveh to continue.

“Copious amounts of coffee.” He said dryly. The whole absurdity of the situation had fried his brain at this point. “If you can’t sleep may as well make staying awake a little easier.”

“Snff...We have a winner,” Replied Alhaitham. “Though that is only a temporary solution.” He said turning to face Kaveh. “The Claymore option is definitely off the table?”

“I couldn’t lift it if I wanted to. Which for the record, I don’t.” Kaveh pushed himself up to sit up. “I’ll get coffee, and maybe see if I can’t see what Tighnari thinks of all this. Maybe there is some kind of plant that would give you good dreams.” He mused as he walked into the kitchen. He was tired but not even half as tired as Alhaitham.

As he waited watching the water boil, he was so absorbed in it he jumped a little when he heard someone knocking at the door. The thought of anyone seeing how he looked right now completely disheveled was horrifying, so he initially ignored the knock, figuring whoever it was would go away but after another three knocks he realised that would not be the case. He sighed, undid his hair brushed it with his fingers quickly and tied it back up as he walked to the door. He opened the door with a sigh, no one seemed to be there. Am I so tired I am hearing things? He wondered as he squinted outside to see if he could see anyone he knew around the light hurting his tired eyes a little.

“Down here Kaveh 🎶.” He looked down to find his Archon standing at his door with a basket of fruit. He jumped back startled.

“L-lord Kusa- Ah I mean Nahida, what-what are you doing here? I mean ah.. please come in, the house is a mess but please.” He quickly moved out of the way and welcomed her in.

“You don’t need to fuss over me Kaveh 🎶.” She said as she curiously looked around. “After all we’re friends right 🎶?” She said with a smile. Kaveh felt like his heart could melt.

“Yeah we are friends. Still, if I had known you were coming I would’ve tidied up.” He said genuinely smiling, squatting down so they were more eye level. Nahida’s curious and bubbly energy was better that coffee Kaveh thought as she walked around their living area looking around until she circled back.

“Don’t worry Kaveh, I’ve been here before remember? 🎶… You look tired,” her voice was gentle and concerned as she looked at Kaveh through a rectangular frame she created with her fingers.**

“I am tir-”

“Hh-GTCHHU! HIH’GHSSHHHTCHU! HEHH’HEGTSCHU!!” Alhaitham sneezed loudly from their room, interrupting Kaveh’s reply, followed by a short coughing fit. Nahida froze momentarily her eyes widening, turned to Kaveh and then turned back towards their bedroom.

“Oh my 🎶…” She said looking towards their bedroom door. “No wonder Cyno said he wouldn’t be in for a few days 🎶” Nahida sounded disappointed.

“Honestly, a few day’s might be wishful thinking.” Kaveh admitted.

“Do you think he’d be okay with me coming to see him 🎶?” She asked, smiling to assure Kaveh.

“Aren’t you worried you could catch whatever he has?” Kaveh asked concerned about Nahida, the thought of her alone in her sanctum sick made him worry. I guess though she had Mercury*** there to help, but how much help would that brat be he pondered.

 “I’m an Archon, 🎶” she giggled, “I’ll be fine! 🎶” She smiled and then lifted up the basket she had been carrying, which was half her size making her look smaller and the basket look huge comparatively.

“He’s feeling awful, so do you mind if I check with him first?” Kaveh asked.

“Of course! If he isn’t up to it I can come back another time. 🎶” She smiled as she stood on her tip toes. “But maybe I can help in some way. 🎶” She said holding out the the basket of fruit.

Upon hearing that Kaveh began remembering one of the conversations they’d had a few years ago about dreams. He was telling her of one of his dreams since the Akasha system had been shut down. After he finishing telling her about his dream she told him that while she had been trapped she used dreams as a way of communicating with different people in Sumeru. Noting she had even watched the traveller during her time on a island made of mirages and dreams.

“Nahida, you..” He hesitated, he felt weird asking an Archon causally for a favour.

“Spit it out Kaveh. 🎶” She said with a cheeky grin. “If you don’t I’ll just have to find out another way hehe. 🎶” She smiled at him bringing her fingers together again to make a frame again, looking through it at Kaveh.

“Nahida, you have the power over dreams right?” Kaveh asked her, hoping he was remembering correctly.

“Yes! Why? 🎶” She asked tilting her head. Kaveh let out a sigh of relief and grinned.

“I think there is a way you can help our poor Grand Sage. Stay here for a moment while I check if it’s okay for you to see him.” He said, as he quickly rose from the floor and walked swiftly to their bedroom.

As he opened the door, closing it gently behind him. Alhaitham cracked open an eye.

“Either my fever is worse and I’m getting delusional or you’re talking to someone… right?” He sounded worried he was loosing his mind.

“Nahida came over to check on you.” Kaveh wasn’t sure how Haitham would react to that.

“Nahida, as in our Lord Kusanali, the Dendro Archon of Wisdom, that Nahida?” He attempted to clarify.

“I don’t think either of us know any other Nahidas Haitham.” Kaveh retorted.

“She wanted to come check in on you.” Alhaitham groaned in response to that. He didn’t really want anyone let alone his Archon and essentially his boss seeing him like this. Kaveh was absolutely the only person in all of Teyvat he felt comfortable with seeing him in this pathetic state. He took a deep breath about to respond to Kaveh when Kaveh quickly chimed in.

“Before you say no,” Alhaitham gave him an incredulous look. “Nahida has the power over dream, maybe she will be able to help you finally get some sleep.” He offered.  

Before Alhaitham had a chance to respond the door slowly opened from behind Kaveh, and Nahida poked her head around the door.

“I can hear both of you, you know? 🎶” She giggled. “Everyone gets sick Alhaitham, it isn’t something worth spending your limited energy being embarrassed or ashamed about. 🎶” She offered her wisdom as she walked closer to the bed.

“Nahida, honestly sometimes it is like you can read minds!” Kaveh sounded astounded at how well she knew Alhaitham. Alhaitham and Nahida just looked knowingly at each other. Offering each other a brief fleeting smile of acknowledgement.

“Let me help please, surely I can do that much after everything you do for me and Sumeru. 🎶” Alhaitham knew he was powerless against her, he may as well be honest.  

“I’ve been having nightmares every time I fall asleep.” Alhaitham admitted, it was better then her reading his mind after all. “It is hard to get any meaningful rest.” He sniffed leaning back against the headboard of their bed. Nahida nodded.

“May I? 🎶” She asked. He didn’t really know what ‘May I’ entailed but he nodded regardless. Nahida slowly walked towards him and climbed onto the chair that was next to the bed and leaned over putting her hand just in front of Alhaitham’s forehead. She closed her eyes and glowed with a gentle green dendro light. Momentarily floating off the chair. The light around her began to fade and she gently floated down back onto the chair.

“Get some rest. 🎶” She said as she jumped down off the chair. “I promise I won’t let any more bad dreams attack you Alhaitham, Grand Sage of Sumeru, the Second Sage of Buer. 🎶” She smiled cheekily at Alhaitham poking out her tongue cutely. They both knew she would to do whatever she could to keep him as Grand Sage as long as possible, she’d already made a range of changes to better suit his personality after all. She knew she could always trust him after all, he was integral in her achieving freedom and returning to the position of Archon of Sumeru. She turned to Kaveh.

“Take good care of him. 🎶” He said as she gestured Kaveh to bend down she put her hand in front of his forehead too, glowing green the same way she had earlier. “You need to get some rest too, Kaveh. Take a break from working on the redesigns of the Sanctuary of Surathana, until Alhaitham is feeling better, okay? 🎶” Kaveh smiled and nodded.

“I’ll be taking my leave now, thank you for allowing me into your beautiful home again. 🎶” She seemed to almost hopscotch as Kaveh walked her to the front door. Thoroughly thanking her for dropping by. After he stood at the door waving goodbye and watching the people of Sumeru excitedly greet their friendly Archon he closed the door. Once again undoing his hair he walked back towards their bedroom. He lent against the door frame and stretched.

“Ready for sleep or still want that coffee?” He asked while yawning, hoping his husband would choose the former. But when he focused his eyes he could see the choice had already been made for him. It actually looked like Alhaitham was finally sounded asleep, he even had a gentle smile on his face. Kaveh smiled. Quickly decided he would shower before jumping into bed beside him.

That night Alhaitham got the best night of sleep he had gotten in months. He slept deeply while dreaming of his grandmother reading a story to him a child. Kaveh on the other hand dreamt about Alhaitham and himself from their younger days at the Akademiya the feeling of new young love developing between them. Neither of them woke up until the following morning.