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Kaveh was relieved to finally feel solid ground beneath his feet. He had been on ships before and knew it wasn’t for him, but the long ride to Inazuma had pushed him to his limits. Not only trapped on a ship in the middle of the sea but trapped with only the crew on board and Alhaitham. It was hell and Kaveh was already dreading their way back. Though he knew he shouldn’t complain, it had been his idea to accompany Alhaitham on his trip for the Akademyia in the first place. He had been surprised Alhaitham had agreed, though he hadn’t looked happy about it.
What exactly Alhaitham’s mission was, he had no idea and he didn’t get a single hint about it from the man. It didn’t really matter, Kaveh was here for a different reason. He had seen illustrations and photographs, but this was a chance to experience Inazuman architecture with his own eyes. Maybe he could find some inspiration for his next project.
They split up during the days, Alhaitham doing his mysterious task, and Kaveh walking around Ritou and the city of Inazuma, talking to the local people, asking about their houses and their interior designs. Once in a while a friendly face invited him into their home so that he could take a look for himself, often staying for tea and having a lovely chat.
In the evening they met up at the Inn, eating their meals together and drinking Inazuman wine together. Kaveh would tell Alhaitham about his day, who would pretend not to listen, but tell on himself by throwing in a cutting remark here and there.
“You are too trusting,” he told Kaveh, “what if they took you to an empty house and robbed you? What would you do then?”
Kaveh rolled his eyes. The people he had met today had been exceedingly friendly and hospitable, to think they would have ill intentions was crazy talk.
Alhaitham never told him about his day. Both because he didn’t like talking to Kaveh in general, but also because he clearly didn’t want Kaveh to know what it was he was doing. Still, Kaveh was content to sit with him and lead the conversation himself, surprised that Alhaitham would stay seated consuming his food and drink and listening to him. It was more than he had expected from him. More than he had hoped for.
Because here was the deal: Kaveh was crushing on Alhaitham. Hard. How could he not? The man was gorgeous and stoic and carried himself with an air of authority that made Kaveh swoon. And he had to see him every single day because somehow he had ended up living in Alhaitham’s house.
The problem was that Alhaitham did not feel the same. In fact Kaveh was fairly certain that Alhaitham detested him. And knowing that made Kaveh detest Alhaitham in return. Except he still wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him silly at the same time. Which made things worse.
So Kaveh had expected them to part their ways in Inazuma and only run into each other occasionally on their way to the Inn. Yet here they were meeting up every single evening, on their own accord. There was no reason for Alhaitham to be here with him. No social or academic force was making him spend time with Kaveh. One particular evening Kaveh came to the Inn to find Alhaitham waiting for him, having already ordered wine and food for both of them, greeting him with a cold “You’re late.” Kaveh hadn’t dared to ask Alhaitham why he was acting this way, afraid it would scare him off and ruin future dinners. Instead he had smiled and told Alhaitham all about how he got held up by two small children looking lost, begging Kaveh to help them. They had asked him to buy them food from the vendor and also new toys, and of course Kaveh couldn’t say no to those little faces. He also gave them some of his (actually Alhaitham’s) mora, just to make sure they were taken care of. Alhaitham rolled his eyes at the story, but Kaveh could see the corners of his mouth twitching, threatening to turn into a smile.
It was at the end of the first week that Kaveh met Thoma.
“You’re a beautiful boy,” he heard a voice say and Kaveh turned around, thinking for a split second he was being talked to, “Yes you are!”
There was a young man, clearly not Inazuman, kneeling in front of a bush, talking to what must be an animal, his hand petting into the space before him. Kaveh took a few steps closer to see better. There was a small shivering puppy beneath the twigs of the bush, looking a scared and helpless.
“Don’t you worry,” the stranger said to the dog, “I will take care of you. I’ll get you some food. And if you’re still cold I can make you coat. You’d look so cute in a tiny little coat! Yes you would!” he continued to pet the puppy until it starting barking, a squeaky weak sound. “What do you need?” the man asked, as if the animal would answer, “are you hungry? I bet you are hungry. But I don’t have anything on me… Wait here and I -”
“Here” Kaveh interrupted holding out a small container that held the skewers he had purchased earlier. He had just been looking for a good spot to sit and enjoy them, when he stumbled upon the man and the puppy. He could feel his stomach churn with hunger, but the dog needed it more than he did.
The man looked up surprised, not having noticed Kaveh approach before.
“Oh!” he said, “thank you!” He took a skewer out of a container, pushing off the meat from the stick and offered it to the puppy who happily scarfed the food down.
Happy to see that the puppy was indeed very hungry and liked the skewers, the man pulled of the rest of the meat and laid them in front of the puppy, letting it eat all of it. The man got up and extended his hand, “Thank you so much! I am Thoma!”
Kaveh introduced himself and they got to talking. Kaveh learned that Thoma was originally from Mondstadt but had spent most of his life in Inazuma, and that he worked at the Kamisato Estate. It was not the first time he had heard of the Kamisato Estate, and it had peaked his curiosity immediately. He had planned on visiting it in a couple of days, hoping he would be allowed in to take a look. He told as much to Thoma, adding the fact that he was an Architect from Sumeru. Thoma smiled at him with bright eyes and invited him for a tour of the estate the following day.
Kaveh was nervous as he approached the high walls and the impressive gate. Already he was tempted to get out his notepad and draw down what he saw. The two guards at the gate were eying him suspiciously. He introduced himself, saying Thoma was expecting him. One of the guards left and shortly came back, accompanied by Thoma.
“Kaveh!” he greeted him happily, “so glad you could make it!”
“Thank you again,” Kaveh said, immensely grateful for the opportunity to see the estate, “you are the best.”
“He really is isn’t he?” an unknown voice said from behind him. Kaveh turned and froze. Gorgeous and stoic and carrying himself with an air of authority, was standing a tall man in a fancy white suit. Light hair fell around his pale face, accentuating his hard features. Kaveh had a very specific type and not a lot of men fell into it. But this one did. Archons.
“My lord!” Thoma said next to him, startled. He wondered if this lord knew about his servant inviting strangers into his home, “I didn’t expect you to be back so soon!” He probably did not.
“Yes,” the man said, striding forward past Kaveh and stopping next to Thoma “it was a boring meeting. Nothing important that needed talking about. I was hoping to spend the rest of the day with you.” He took Thoma’s hand and kissed it. Thoma blushed brightly, looking pleased. Oh, Kaveh had not expected this.
“But I see you have a visitor,” Lord Kamisato said, now turning to look at Kaveh directly. It felt like being struck by lightning, being considered by his piercing eyes. His gaze drifted down Kaveh’s body, talking him in as a whole.
“Not from Inazuma I see,” Lord Kamisato concluded, “Sumeru?” Kaveh nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.
“This is Kaveh,” Thoma introduced him, he is an architect from Sumeru. We met yesterday and had a wonderful chat and he mentioned wanting to see the estate…”
Lord Kamisato nodded along , “well, of course he can see the estate. Make sure to show him all the rooms Thoma.” His eyes drifted over Kaveh again. Was he being flirted with? “I think I’m gonna join you…” He was definitely being flirted with. He wondered what Thoma thought of this. Or was this something they did, invite a stranger to their home only to seduce them into a threesome? Maybe Alhaitham was right, maybe he was to trusting… but then Kaveh peaked a look at the two men, wondering if he would let himself be seduced by these two. He had already established he was attracted to the lord of the house. And Thoma? Thoma wasn’t his type. Too nice and cute. Someone he could see himself be best friends with. But in a threesome with someone like Lord Kamisato? Yes, yes that could work.
Kaveh felt himself blush at his own thoughts.
“Ayato,” Thoma hissed, “stop making him uncomfortable.” Thoma turned to Kaveh, “please ignore him. He likes to tease.”
“I like a good tease,” Kaveh heard himself say before he could think better of it. Thoma looked a little perplexed while Lord Kamisato laughed.
“I like this guy,” the lord commented and Thoma rolled his eyes, but there was a smile on his lips.
“Shall we start the tour then?”
Thoma was leading the party through the garden and the many rooms of the estate, stopping at different places and pointing out little details. The estate was beautiful. Large and carrying the air of power, while still maintaining the traditional intricate spirit of Inazuman architecture Kaveh had seen before. Lord Kamisato was following behind them like a tourist in his own home, bringing up an anecdote or a helpful remark once and again. The flirting was toned down during the tour, although still present, now including remarks coming from Thoma as well. Kaveh thought that it probably wouldn’t end in a threesome. But maybe it would. Either was fine for Kaveh. It just felt good being flirted with, especially after getting no such attention from Alhaitham, so Kaveh decided to enjoy it.
After Thoma had shown him every room of the house he offered some tea and lunch and Kaveh accepted.
During the meal they talked about the puppy from the day before, Lord Kamisato looking at Thoma with such a loving look Kaveh thought he might propose to him on the spot.
“So, Thoma, Lord Kamisato,” Kaveh began but was interrupted.
“Please, call me Ayato.”
“Okay, Thoma, Ayato. Tell me, how long have you two been together? It must have been strange going from servant and lord to lovers?” he asked, always in the mood to hear the story of a romance.
The two smiled and told Kaveh about how Ayato had found Thoma when they were just little kids, stranded and on the search for his father. And how his family took Thoma in, and they grew up together as best friends. They told him about Ayato’s sister Ayaka, who would tease both of them merciless, suspecting the boys crushing on each other. And they told him about the years of pining, not wanting to ruin their friendship and getting rejected.
“And then one day I couldn’t take it anymore,” Thoma said, blushing, “and I maybe got drunk at this party Ayaka was hosting. And I saw Ayato talking to this guy, and jealous as I was I went over to them and I told them that I hoped they would be happy with each other and I ran out of the room.”
“I wasn’t even flirting with the guy. Just making small talk,” Ayato laughed, “but then Thoma was acting so jealous and cute and I ran after him and we kissed and we have been together ever since.” They looked at each other smiling and happy and Kaveh found himself smiling along. A story like theirs might not be in his stars, but he was glad to hear other people got to experience that.
Kaveh left after lunch, thanking the men profusely, asking if he could come back in the following day to make some sketches of the estate. Ayato told him he was a welcomed guest any time. “And not just for work” he added with a wink.
That evening Kaveh didn’t tell Alhaitham what happened. He didn’t know why, but he felt weird telling him about the flirting of Ayato and Thoma. Would Alhaitham judge him? Probably, when did he not? Instead he said that he had been invited into a beautiful home by a lovely couple and that he was feeling very inspired. Alhaitham didn’t ask any questions so Kaveh did not elaborate.
The next day when he came back to the estate the guards let him in without question, remembering him from the day before. Thoma was working in the garden and waved at him. They made some small talk and Kaveh decided to make his first drawing be the view from the garden to the entrance of the house. This way he could keep chatting with Thoma who was in between some flowers, rearranging some heavy stones.
“Do you do everything in this estate?” Kaveh asked while his hand was busy on the paper.
“What do you mean?” Thoma asked with a grunt, shifting a stone forward.
“Well, you told me that you cook and clean and service the Lord and Lady, now you’re also doing garden work - the stone looks better on its other side when you put the smaller one over there by the way - do you not have a gardener for this?”
Thoma considered Kaveh’s suggestion of the stones and shifted them accordingly while answering the question. “Well, we do have a gardener, but I like helping out in any way that I can. Doesn’t matter what it is. I also sew and do light repairs and I am good in a fight, not to brag.” Kaveh laughed.
They sat there for half an hour before the door to the house opened and Ayato stepped out. The sunlight was hitting him in a way that seemed to make him glow. “Beautiful” Kaveh heard himself say and Thoma laughed.
“I know right?”
“You are so lucky. You have no idea.” He wasn’t just talking about Ayato, but also the idea of falling in love with the most beautiful man and having him love you back. Kaveh could never relate.
“Like what you see?” Ayato asked from the door with a raised voice, noticing Kaveh looking. Kaveh wasn’t sure if he meant the estate or himself.
“He does,” Thoma yelled back, getting up from the flowers and walking over to his partner.
Kaveh decided to join them for a quick chat before going inside and drawing the doorway to the dining room that he had been particularly impressed with yesterday.
That’s when he noticed another man standing in the door behind Ayato.
“Kaveh?” Alhaitham asked, surprised to see him.
“Oh! I did not expect to see you here,” Kaveh said, just as surprised.
Alhaitham stepped forward and the sunlight illuminated him in a similar way it had Ayato. Kaveh could see Thoma giving him a look.
“Oh!” Ayato said smiling, “I see you know each other. No introductions necessary then. Well, it shouldn’t be surprising, two scholars from Sumeru visiting at the same time, of course you would know each other.”
“Yes, we do know each other” Kaveh provided, “in fact, we are roommates.” He could see Thoma’s eyebrows shoot up.
“I see” Ayato said, an undertone to his voice that Kaveh hoped Alhaitham missed. An awkward silence was beginning to spread when Ayato turned to Kaveh.
“Kaveh, would you mind following me, I do have something you might want to get your hands onto.”
“I bet you do,” he heard himself say before he could stop himself. He had gotten too used to casually flirting with Ayato and Thoma the day before, but with Alhaitham standing next to Ayato he hadn’t planned on continuing it. Thoma was letting out a laugh next to him and Alhaitham showed no reaction except for the clenching of his jaw. Kaveh could feel heat rising to his cheeks.
Ayato smirked at him and motioned for him to follow.
“I’m sorry for not thinking of it yesterday, but I remembered that I have this book about the history of the estate, back from when it was built up until about a hundred years ago. Maybe you are interested in copying down some of it’s contents?”
They were now entering the library, which Kaveh had been very impressed with the day before. It was a small room, compared to the rest of the estate, but the bookcases were build into the walls, made from sturdy dark wood carved with a small beautiful pattern.
“Oh archons,” Kaveh responded, “that would be incredible. Thank you so so much!”
Ayato stepped to one of the shelves and pulled out a thick old looking tome. He handed it to Kaveh who held it carefully. A small wooden table in the middle of the room provided an adequate space for Kaveh to set it down and eagerly look through it, noting a number of chapters that sounded promising. He set out his notepad and his ink and started copying a chapter about the first building process. He heard Ayato rustling behind him, but he was already too focused on the text and the illustrations to pay any attention. That’s how he didn’t notice two more men slipping into the room. He only looked up when he heard Alhaitham say, “Well, I am heading out. I’ll see you this evening Kaveh.” Kaveh looked up to see his hard face looking down at him from the door, behind the stoic mask there was something else, but Kaveh wasn’t sure what it meant. He turned to Ayato, “Lord Kamisato, it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you again for your help.” Ayato smiled at him polity and bowed as a sign of farewell.
Thoma was taking a step back to allow Alhaitham to pass through the door so he could accompany him back to the estate gate.
“Thoma!” Ayato yelled after him, and the two men stopped walking and turned around, “Could you bring back some paper for Kaveh? I think he will be running out soon.”
Thoma smiled, “Will do! You are so observant, my lord.” There was a tease to his voice that Kaveh was already used to but he could see Alhaitham look at Thoma confused.
Kaveh felt the intense heat of Ayato’s eyes on him, “With such a special guest? How could I not?”
Kaveh blushed profusely and looked up to find Ayato smirk at him, unsure how to respond, aware of Alhaitham watching them.
“Thank you, Ayato, he said plainly, but he couldn’t stop his lips from forming into a smile and adding, “you take such good care of me. How will I ever repay you for your kindness?” STOP his brain screamed at him. Alhaitham would not like it. But Alhaitham also did not like him, so why should it let Kaveh stop him?
“I’m sure there is something we could come up with,” Ayato gave him another once over before turning to throw Thoma a suggestive look.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Thoma said laughing, guiding a shocked looking Alhaitham out the corridor.
Kaveh went back to copying down the contents of the book and Ayato excused himself to go back to his office. He only got two pages in before Thoma returned, setting down a stack of empty papers in front of Kaveh.
“We have the same type, huh?” Thoma asked smirking. Of course Thoma, who had only met him two days ago, could see his crush from a short interaction. Kaveh melted onto the table, letting out a groan.
“We really do,” he said, “but you got a lot more luck with actually getting what you want.” If anyone else had asked him about Alhaitham he would have denied it, but he was only in Inazuma for a short time and there was no risk in venting his feelings to Thoma.
Thoma winced in sympathy but still smiled, “you know, I wouldn’t be too sure about that. I don’t think he was too happy to see you and Ayato flirt.”
Kaveh shook his head, “no, I don’t think so. That’s just his face really. I don’t know if he even knows how to smile. At least not when I’m around.”
Kaveh spend the rest of the day at that table, copying down as much as he could. Thoma brought him some food and drink, telling him to take a break. He didn’t know how much time had passed when Thoma came back to tell him dinner was being served soon, and whether he wanted to stay for the meal. Kaveh shot up in a panic. There was no window to the outside in the library, good for preserving the old books, but bad for knowing how long one had sat there. Was Alhaitham waiting at the Inn already? He quickly thanked Thoma and asked him to extend his thanks to Ayato. Thoma told him he could come back anytime to finish his work and wished him good luck with Alhaitham.
Kaveh hurried back to the Inn in the city of Inazuma, praying Alhaitham wasn’t angry with him. It was stupid. Alhaitham detested him anyway and he had never made any promises to dine with him. Why was he so stressed about it?
When Kaveh reached the Inn it was already late into the evening. No one sat in the small dining hall. Alhaitham wasn’t waiting for him. Kaveh chewed on his lip not knowing what to do.
“Excuse me?” he asked the landlord who was cleaning one of the tables, “have you seen my colleague this evening?”
“Yes. Was here an hour ago. Didn’t look too happy. Think he went up his room.”
Kaveh thanked him and jogged up the stairs, running up to Alhaitham’s room, which was opposite his own. He knocked on the door before he could talk himself out of it. There was no answer. No noises that would tell him if Alhaitham was on the other side. Kaveh knocked again, heavier and louder. Still, no answer. Shit.
“Alhaitham,” he raised his voice, hoping not to disturb any other guests staying in the other rooms, but needing to be heard from inside the room, “I just want to check in on you! Are you okay?” Nothing. “Please let me in.” Nothing. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what exactly he was apologizing for, or why he should care that Alhaitham was apparently angry at him. Alhaitham was always angry at him anyway. But still here he was, unable to bear the silence coming from his room.
There was a click at the door and it opened a slit. Alhaitham’s face was staring at him.
“What are you sorry for?” Alhaitham asked, voice sharp and hard.
“I was late. I forgot the time. You know how I am. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to stand you up.” Stand him up. Like they had a date.
Alhaitham didn’t seem entirely satisfied with that answer, but he opened the door just a little more. Kaveh dared to take a step closer, pushing the door open fully and striding past Alhaitham into the room. Miraculously, Alhaitham let him.
“What were you thinking?” Alhaitham asked, clearly irritated, closing the door behind him.
“Like I said, I lost track of time! I promise I wanted to be back here at the Inn in time for dinner.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh! Uh, in that case I have no clue what you are talking about.”
“Calling Lord Kamisato by his first name? Using his resources like you have any right to? Flirting with him?” Oh. He thought back to what Thoma said. But it couldn’t be. Could it? Alhaitham had seen him flirt plenty of times before. Why was he bothered now?
“Why do you care?” Kaveh asked, his heart pounding.
“I don’t care! You can flirt with whoever you like to! But not with the Yashiro Commissioner! Do you know how rude that is? You are presenting the entire Akademyia. You need to think about your actions!” To be honest Kaveh hadn’t known Ayato’s position, though he had assumed he had to be a big deal, as alord of that huge estate. If he was even more honest he didn’t know what Ayato being the Yashiro Commissioner even meant or why it should prevent him from flirting with Ayato.
“Well, Ayato started it. So I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
“You don’t see anything wrong with sleeping with an important political figure? You don’t even know the man!” Alhaitham was talking through gritted teeth, his head red and tense.
“Sleeping with?” Kaveh asked, stunned, “What are you talking about?”
“Are you telling me that is not why you missed our dinner?” Maybe Thoma was right after all.
He shouldn’t say it. He should say something clever and leave and do more conclusive research on all possibilities before jumping to conclusions. And yet -
“Are you jealous?”
Alhaitham froze, eyes big and shocked, “What?”
“If I did sleep with Ayato, would that bother you? Not because of the Akademyia or because of politics. But because of jealousy?” He wasn’t sure how he managed to keep his voice so cool and collected because on the inside he was screaming and shaking.
“Did you?” Alhaitham asked. He was breathing fast and heavy, his hands clenched.
Kaveh swallowed, not trusting his voice, stepping forward, invading Alhaitham’s space, their faces mere inches from each other. He shook his head and his eyes drifted down to Alhaitham’s lips.
“I think his boyfriend would mind,” he finally answered, his only other option to kissing Alhaitham right on the spot, casually leaving out that Thoma probably wouldn’t have minded as long as he was also there. And that he had considered a threesome as well. But that was before he had thought he might have a chance with Alhaitham.
“His boyfriend?” Alhaitham asked in surprise. He didn’t step back and Kaveh could see his eyes also dipping down to Kaveh’s lips.
“Thoma. You met him.” Kaveh was in purgatory, with Alhaitham’s lips his only way out, but he was unable to close the distance between them.
“Oh” Alhaitham said and with that all anger seemed to leave his face.
“Oh” Kaveh agreed, but he couldn’t even finish the sound before he felt Alhaitham surge forward, pressing his lips to Kaveh’s.
His mind went blank and his eyes fell shut. His entire world began and ended at their lips meeting. In all the times he had imagined their first kiss it had always been violent and angry and sexual and wild. With tongue and teeth and pushing and shoving. He was sure if Alhaitham wanted this to continue they would have those kisses. But this? Soft and slow? It was not what he had expected, but it was just as welcome. He felt Alhaitham melt against him, his body pressing close against him, his arms wrapped around Kaveh, a hand in his hair.
Alhaitham was the first to break the kiss, moving his head back an inch, leaning his forehead against Kaveh.
“I may have been jealous,” he admitted. Kaveh laughed.
“Yeah. Thoma thought you were. I didn’t believe him.”
“You talked about me?” Alhaitham asked with a smile.
Kaveh nodded against him, feeling their skin brush against each other, “yes. Thoma knew how I felt about you the second he saw us together. Told me we have the same type”
“The same type?”
“Gorgeous and stoic and dominant,” it felt embarrassing to say it, but it was true. Alhaitham’s lips tucked downward.
“Hey,” Kaveh said immediately, leaning back his head to make eye contact, “yes I had fun flirting with Ayato. But you have no reason to be jealous.” Alhaitham looked at him skeptically and Kaveh added, “He is hot but he is not anywhere close to you. No one compares. No one ever has, no one ever will.”
Alhaitham kissed him again, open mouthed, but just as sweet. Kaveh hoped it meant he felt the same.
They got dinner together afterwards, Kaveh showed him the transcripts of the book he made, the actual reason he was late. Alhaitham sat there next to him, listening to his enthusiastic report of the book’s contents, smiling happily. It looked good on him. They skipped on the wine, wanting to stay as sober and clean headed as possible, so they could remember every detail of their first date and their first night and their first morning.
When they left Inazuma almost two weeks later, Thoma, Ayato and Ayaka, who they had met multiple times by now, were standing in Ritou harbor, waving them goodbye. Alhaitham turned to Kaveh, kissing him deeply.
“What was that for?” he asked, amused, knowing Alhaitham was not the type for public displays of affection.
“Just making sure everyone knows you’re mine” Alhaitham answered but he looked at Ayato when he said it. Kaveh rolled his eyes but he smiled, pressing a second kiss to his lips. He could hear Thoma and Ayaka cheer at them. Alhaitham was smiling into the kiss.
He really hadn’t expected Alhaitham to be the jealous kind. But he did not mind.