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Tonight was an important event. Alhaitham was attending a small organized party on behalf of the Akademiya. There was a group of Amurta scholars who were planning an integrated project with a local hospital, and this evening was a celebration following the success of the agreement. Of course, as the Acting Grand Sage, Alhaitham was expected to attend with the utmost enthusiasm.
This was an exciting prospect for all the Amurta scholars involved. In fact, each and every person who had relations to this project were so expectant for its results, that they planned on attending this party as well.
In short, there was no way Alhaitham was getting out of this one.
Which is why he is now standing in front of the large, floor-length mirror in his bedroom, dressed in his formal wear that hasn't seen the light of day since the passing of his grandmother. Sure, it's a little grim to wear the same clothes you wore on the saddest day of your life to a party that should be nothing but joyous, but it's hardly Alhaitham's fault that he is rarely expected to dress in such a fashion, and even less likely to be invited anywhere.
Alhaitham takes another look at his evening attire, before giving himself a nod of satisfaction in the mirror. He turns around to gaze at his bedroom, ensuring that nothing of importance is being left behind.
Headphones? Check.
A spare book? Check.
Sumeru rose in his breast pocket? A reluctant check.
When Kaveh heard that Alhaitham had been invited to a fancy party held by the Akademiya, the architect insisted that he deserved a say in Alhaitham’s attire, and chose a beautiful and blossoming rose to add some color and life to his look for the evening. Telling his junior, "that suit is drab and lifeless, Alhaitham, c'mon, even you're better than this."
And Alhaitham being Alhaitham, he had to give in to whatever Kaveh asked of him.
After completing his quick survey of the room, Alhaitham moved towards the door, only to be stopped by the small silhouette of something in the corner or his eye. It seemed that through his search in the closet to find his suit, he knocked something off the hanger, and now he was missing a crucial part of his ensemble.
The scribe halted his steps towards the door and spun back around to pick the item off the floor. He grabbed the fabric harshly, frustrated that he was being delayed. In his hands he held a black tie.
The tie was a birthday gift given to him from his grandmother many years ago. Alhaitham was only young when she put it in his hands for the first time, but he recalls her telling him something about how ‘he would wear this tie on a special day’, and even if she wasn't around to see it, the ghost of her soul could linger close to Alhaitham's heart for just a little while longer.
Alhaitham flipped the tie over to reveal the back side, and found a small patch that had clearly been sewn in by hand. On the patch read a set of words the Haravatat scholar knew all too well, May my child Alhaitham lead a peaceful life.
Those words replayed over and over in Alhaitham's mind upon his grandmother's death, although they were little comfort at the time, he's begun to find some sort of solace in the way they flow through his mind and into his soul.
It didn't happen often as a teenager, but on a few occasions, his grandmother wanted him to dress nicely to make good impressions, so naturally, she would help him into his tie.
It should come as no surprise now that Alhaitham doesn't have the slightest idea how to tie a tie.
On the day of his grandmother's funeral, he spent a great deal of time trying to find his way into properly doing up his tie. He wanted to create a good homage for his grandmother's legacy, to keep her close like she once told him. But even with his stacks upon stacks of books, his amazing intellect, and vast knowledge, there was nothing he could do then to make his grandmother proud.
Something as simple as tying a tie, was one of the only problems the ever-so-grand Alhaitham has yet to solve.
Alhaitham abandoned the tie for his grandmother's funeral, and he's felt an immense amount of guilt since then.
Tonight, he will right his wrongs.
In the main room of the house, Alhaitham could hear Kaveh hammering away at whatever new project he picked up for the week. Alhaitham made his way to his door for the second time this evening, and upon opening it, the hammering only got louder.
"Kaveh." Alhaitham tried.
More banging.
"Kaveh." Alhaitham tried again.
Even more banging.
" Kaveh! " Alhaitham hollered much louder than the previous attempts at getting his roommates attention. This time, Kaveh caught his voice and halted his ruckus. Kaveh looked up to his junior from his place in the middle of the living room floor.
"Kaveh, come here for a moment."
The Kshahrewar student wordlessly stood up and removed himself from his project, following Alhaitham into his room.
Finally inside of the Scribe’s haven that consisted mostly of boring and overly complicated novels, Kaveh spoke.
"Aren't you supposed to be at that party by now?" Kaveh flipped his wrist to look at his imaginary watch, to taunt Alhaitham and make a show over how late he was.
"Yes, in fact, I am. That is the only reason I'm asking for your help right now." Alhaitham stuck out his hand holding the tie into Kaveh reach. "Put this on me."
Kaveh stared down skeptically at the item Alhaitham was giving him. "You want me to put on your tie for you...?"
"Yes."
Kaveh’s expression flushed with understanding, and he lightly scoffed, "You can't tie a tie? And to think I believed ‘the Grand Sage Alhaitham’ was more put together than I am. As expected of my junior." Kaveh let out a laugh this time.
"I am only the Acting Grand Sage." Alhaitham corrected. "Hurry up and put it on." Alhaitham gestured with his hands for Kaveh to take the tie.
"Of course, your senior would love to be so generous and lend you assistance, ‘Mr. Acting Grand Sage.’" Kaveh took the tie from Alhaitham's hand and positioned himself directly across from the Haravatat scholar.
Kaveh straightened out the tie and draped it over Alhaitham’s neck, with everything flattened out, he began going through the motions.
Alhaitham stood there silently while Kaveh began his work. The Scribe always admired his roommates dedication to everything he did, whether that be building the Palace of Alcazarzaray, or doing something as simple as this.
The Scribe found himself staring at Kaveh. As he often does, Kaveh was once again sticking his tongue out to the side of his mouth in concentration. With his brows furrowed, and his eyes fully engrossed in his task, he looked almost completely peaceful.
Alhaitham looked down at Kaveh's slender hands that lingered so close to his chest, but never quite touched him.
His roommate continued with his task, he folded the thicker side around the narrow end, and after a few more fluid motions, finally created the dimple on the tie.
"There, all done!" Kaveh exclaimed. He brushed his hands along Alhaithams shoulders, dusting him off. "Now you're ready for your party... which you seem very late to, by the way."
Alhaitham's gaze flicked back to Kaveh's face, and the former's eyes roamed over Kaveh's... everything . He took in everything that made up Kaveh's character. Alhaitham took a fleeting breath, and within an instant, leaned forward and placed his lips solidly over Kavehs mouth.
Kaveh didn’t even take a minute to lean into Alhaitham, and begin kissing him back. Kaveh grabbed onto the front of his partner's shirt, pulling him closer. After much less time than Alhaihtam wanted, Kaveh pulled away, and rested his hands on the sides of the juniors arms.
“As much as I would love to stay with you right now,” Kaveh’s eyes drifted to Alhaitham’s clothes, and his newly wrinkled undershirt. “You’ve really got to get going, and besides, if the Akademiya fires you for tardiness, we’ll have no income!”
“They can’t fire me.” Alhaitham replied, “Who would they replace me with? You, the Light of Kshahrewar, perhaps?”
“You never know.” Kaveh told him, a small smile resting on his lips.
And with that, Kaveh kisses him.
In the dark and quiet of Alhaitham’s house, which used to be a coffin only suitable for holding silence and solitude, he’s beginning to find it much more bearable when he’s not alone.
Loneliness is only scary when it’s cloaked in the dark, but maybe just for now, he can get used to bathing in the light.
Everything is infinitely more bearable when he has the light.