Chapter Text
The illuminated warmth from the sun made its way into Kaveh’s room. It was an unexpected yet welcomed change as the seasons had only just started to shift. Despite it only being part of a repeated routine, Kaveh believed that today would prove to be wonderful, this slight difference in temperature being the leading factor, of course. As the day had only just begun the blond man made his way through his perfect daily practices, starting off with taming his wild hair. When Kaveh was ready, looking as astounding as a university student could get, he proceeded to move along with his tightly packed schedule that was seemingly as packed as his minimal space apartment. And with a swift step the dazzling man was off.
Like any other ordinary day, Kaveh walked the long distance to the Akademia. Seeing as his money was running dry there was no use bothering with public transportation, walking was healthier anyways. Even after the long endeavour, Kaveh was still late.
It was just a twist of fate that Kaveh was late that day, and even more of a coincidence that the start of a new project had begun. It was simply because of his late departure that the only partner left was a boy named Alhaitham. Alhaitham was Kaveh’s junior, yet they had conversed multiple times in the past, enough for Kaveh to call him his close acquaintance. Despite these small conversations held in the past, Kaveh still found himself observing Alhaitham. Looking at the way his silver hair shimmered in the light, or the particular manner in which his eyes glistened, he was an obvious distraction.
“Staring has proven to be disrespectful, I’m sure even you know that much.” Alhaitham glanced in Kaveh’s direction.
“Staring? Hardly. You must be blind to have made that assumption.” Kaveh huffed in response.
“I could feel your gaze upon me for more than a few minutes, surely you’re aware that this makes people uncomfortable. Simply because you enjoy being gawked at doesnt mean to say I have the same reaction.”
“Gawked at? Ha! Where do you come up with that from? Surely it's not because you’re the one doing the gawking-”
“In your dreams.” Alhaitham interrupted Kaveh’s sentence and redirected his attention to the current lecture.
Kaveh followed in suit and averted his gaze as well, although occasionally taking glances at Alhaitham. He wasn't sure what it was but something about the silver haired man rubbed him the wrong way, perhaps it was his mannerisms, although he couldn't be certain.
The joint project was about resource allocation for housing in Sumeru. Kaveh already had some ideas in his mind, but suspected that his partner, Alhaitham, would be against his ideals.
At the end of the lecture, despite Kaveh’s busy schedule, he wished to spare some time to speak to Alhaitham and discuss further times to meet up regarding the project, but before he could even get a word in Alhaitham had already started leaving. He hurriedly stood and made an attempt to catch up to Alhaitham, grasping the man's shoulder when he got close enough, so he could stop Alhaitham in his tracks.
“What is it now? Greedy for more attention?” Alhaitham said as he halted to a stop.
“I- What? Of course not! I’d rather get attention from anyone else. Look, I have a busy schedule and I need time to work out times for us to meet. If you would just give me your phone number, I could contact you later about dates-”
“House of Daena, tomorrow, 11am.”Alhaitham cut Kaveh short.
“You can’t just decide that on your own! I’m a busy person, we should compromise if anything.” Kaveh declared, but it was useless as the scholar had already left, leaving the blond man with his hands and teeth clenched.
🌱
It wasn’t long before the next day had started and Kaveh woke up in the same old cramped apartment, painfully aware of the events that would occur later in the day. Despite his particularly grouchy mood Kaveh followed his usual routine throughout the morning.
“House of Daena, 10am.. No. Closer to 12:00 pm.. No. Archons! I should’ve written it down somewhere,” Kaveh complained to himself, struggling to remember the inconvenient time in which Alhaitham had set for them to meet.
“I cannot be late or else I won’t hear the end of it from that pesky scholar! Just the thought of his voice and condescending tone is enough to make my skin crawl! If only I could just remember the time he set.” Kaveh gestured as he talked and began to pace in the limited space he had before halting to a stop, attempting to make a better stab at recollecting his thoughts.
Kaveh stood there for a moment before realizing that he can’t stand there idly all day without being late for his classes. There wasn’t much time before he had to be at the Akademia, so he took off.
🌱
It wasn’t long till the arranged time was upon the two scholars, and not only was Kaveh late for his classes, but he was late for the meeting with Alhaitham.
When Kaveh arrived at the house of Daena he was able to locate the scholar quickly, but wasn’t exactly greeted positively. “You’re late.” Alhaitham stated dryly, not even looking up from his book.
“I have my reasons, you didn’t even check if the time was ok with me. How can you possibly assume that I’d be exactly on time?” Kaveh made a rather reasonable response, but was quickly shut down.
“Your classes are not unbeknownst to me. I scheduled this time with consideration of when your class would end, and a respectable amount of time to arrive at the house of Daena.”
“Unbeknownst to my classes? Why in the world would you know my schedule? I was joking when I said you were the one gawk-” Kaveh was cut short, which seemed to be a regular occurance when having an argument with Alhaitham.
“Should I not respond with courtesy to my amazingly overachieving senior Kaveh? I took my own time to arrange a meeting time and this is the response I received?'' The sarcasm radiating from Alhaitham’s words was enough to make the back of Kaveh’s throat dry.
“I- You…” Kaveh’s face scrunched before he let out a sigh and released the tension in his expression. “Enough of this mindless arguing, we’re here to work on the project are we not?”
“Correct.” Alhaitham only said one word, but it felt like a gesture to sit down next to him.
The meeting didn’t go as smoothly as planned. There were plenty of disruptions and arguments along the way and nothing productive was accomplished. If Kaveh had known that the pity he had for the scholar when they first met, in this very building, would lead to this kind of conduct, he would have never said anything to Alhaitham from the very beginning.
Quickly standing up, Kaveh groaned and stated, “I don’t have the time for this!”
“Maybe if you considered putting your head down and actually completing the work, you’d manage.”
“Well maybe if you didn’t shut down every idea I brought up we would’ve actually gotten somewhere.” Kaveh clenched his fists and stared directly towards Alhaitham. “This is a project about housing in Sumeru, let the Kshahrewar student have some input for Archons sake!”
“This isn’t simply about making pretty houses, Kaveh. Be reasonable, this is about resource allocation. Your extravagant designs are too costly and intricate to be used all across Sumeru city.”
Kaveh’s furrowed eyebrows relaxed as he averted his gaze away from Alhaitham.
“I’ll go first,” Kaveh organized his belongings. “My next class is coming up soon anyways.”
Kaveh noticed Alhaitham looking towards him as he left, he didn’t dare glance back, as he wanted to avoid any awkward eye contact.
🌱
Throughout the multiple passing days, the two Akademiya scholars had conversed many times. Although making progress on the project, it wasn’t a lot, and the two young men were always at each other's throats. Kaveh had grown a certain disdain for Alhaitham, worsened by the fact that not only did they have to meet regularly to ‘collaborate’ , but Kaveh had started to notice him in other places, such as in hallways, in taverns, and in the street.
It was people like Alhaitham that Kaveh despised the most. The kind of people to lack empathy and disregard the arts. It was almost as if his very presence went against his own, and Kaveh couldn’t stand being in the vicinity of Alhaitham any longer.
The two had come to terms and decided to call the project off. Not only would this save the scholars from their mindless squabbles, but it would also save the rest of the students from having to listen in. While the project was not finished, the work they had done was used, and praise was given to both Alhaitham and Kaveh.
As a reward for their work, the two of them were offered a house. Kaveh declined the offer, despite still living inside his cramped apartment, he was in no dire need for housing. So the house was left for Alhaitham to do as he wished. Kaveh felt better with it being that way, he didn’t wish to be roommates with Alhaitham, and he believed that Alhaitham did the majority of the work regardless.
🌱
Kaveh arrived at the house of Daena, planning to sit down with a book and scribble some notes or start planning another project on a blueprint. When he entered, he immediately noticed Alhaitham sitting alone at a table, nose deep into a book. Although he despised Alhaitham to the highest degree, something compelled him to go over to him. He approached Alhaithams table and loomed over his shoulder.
“And what do I owe the honor? Has the Urchin of Kshahrewar blessed me with his presence once more?” Alhaitham commented.
Kaveh didn’t say anything in response, he was still reading the page of Alhaithams book, and it was better not to encourage the behavior. Alhaitham didn’t seem to be bothered by the unusual lack of retaliation and looked back down to turn the page. The two read in silence, neglecting to question each other's intentions.
“I never expected you, a Haravatat scholar, to be reading something like this.” Kaveh observed.
“Is my pursuit for knowledge limited to what you surmise? Taking into account our recently failed project, reading such a book shouldn’t be uncustomary.”
“Must you sound so profound when talking about your narrow minded desires?” Kaveh retaliated.
“I don’t care what others think. Perhaps if you also developed this quality you wouldn’t be as bothered by such elementary problems.”
“Life is too boring when you live without enthusiasm and passion, Alhaitham. Not all problems are easily resolved with encouraging words or gestures, this much should be obvious. People are complicated beings, and your insensitive view on them is offensive.”
“I value no singular person above another, your consideration for others is your biggest downfall.” Alhaitham declared.
Kaveh detested the way Alhaitham belittled his views. Kaveh thought through his sense of justice, and what he feels to be right and wrong, which harshly contrasts with Alhaithams rationality.
“Sure you have a lot of artistry, that much was evident in your part of the planning for Sumeru housing allocation, but your personality comes across as too incompatible with an occupation such as an architect.”
“I- Why do I even bother talking with someone like you? I should've never come here...” Kaveh complained, but was certainly hurt by the inclemency of Alhaithams words. Kaveh trusted his ideologies, and to have them ever so quickly shut down brought along newfound doubt in the scholar.
Without saying another word Kaveh removed himself from the situation and moved to another table to complete his original intent. The criticism from Alhaitham still weighed heavily on his mind, distracting him from his work. Trying not to take it to heart, Kaveh put his head down and began working.