Chapter Text
Kaveh? Kaveh.
A lonely creature as he may perceives himself, under that one golden dimmed light illuminating the living room, there he sits, alone. surrounded by piles of paper, some of his open packed boxes next to one another and too many unexecuted paintings. The mess is barely holding tight to each other.
Kaveh mind wasn't around the surroundings at all, lost at some point far away from his reach. A point seemed like a delusion that kept whispering against his ear for which he tried to ignore at every chance. The resistance upon all the overwhelming wave for as long as he hoped, slipped. To his surprise -or expected along the way-, how this day just ended proved the whispers that woke him up, that this is it. this is for sure, his end.
Since the start of his week, he stumbled upon many wrecking situations. From mainly his ruined chance to finish the biggest mural he could ever do, to rescuing it from turning to ashes along the wind, by emptying his whole bank account, selling every property he can while fully sane and willingly he would stray around the streets than to lose a dear creation that consumed him more than he took, that resembled him, a fragment of art he proudly wanted to stare at, his own doing, with exhilaration rushing through every possible cell.
Between the two, today was really a circus of his misfortune, the slammed subway door against his face, forcing him to the greedy taxi driver he stuck up with, the falling spilled paints on his studio floor coloring it back to life, he can't stand those accidents, getting yelled at, losing his wallet, breaking his favorite brush, where at some point he just wanted to be back home, screams into his pillow, sobs if he can, and sleep soundly and well.
The peaceful and productive life accounting to his saying, seems to reach a very sharp turn, yet it got sharper by the night arriving with unpleasant knocks against his door.
About hours ago, the landlord came by to talk to him, wearing a tiresome look, while Kaveh just stood there, low and behold waiting for the wind to storms as it may, he was sure it's the usual complain, so if he's left alone after it, what could else go wrong?
The old man approached with the usual greetings, kindly smiling. Kaveh bowed a little bit to shake his hand with both of his, holding it cautiously. He then complained about his work a little – for 15 minutes straight - how people are irresponsible these days, no one can seem to get one thing right, how they keep on frustrating him by not following his rules and keep on asking for chances to get away from paying their rent correctly. Kaeya is next to him petting a stray cat, some girl upstairs keeps on paying her rent couples week after it should be and…
The rambling and exposing his neighbors don't seems to end very soon.
Kaveh smiled awkwardly as he himself gonna be both of the ones he hated, surely the poor old man doesn't mean it, it's his business after all, Kaveh can't forget the generosity showed for him many times once he met him. The rambling stops, stopping Kaveh train thoughts from reaching a destination, followed by questions about his life in general, the man cleared his throat, taking out some paper of the file he held and spoke, merely waiting for an answer.
"Well now, dear Kaveh, about the apartment, I shall expect you to move out by tomorrow?"
....what?
huh?
who's moving from where?
question after the other crowded in Kaveh's head while he stood there, and a confused look is written all around his face.
"Beg your pardon?" he is finally heard after some silence looks. Scratched his neck and asked clearing the thumps piling up his heart "Mr. Saber what… what do you mean by that?"
Back with the disappointment look, Saber asked "oh, Sir Kaveh please, please tell me you checked your mail?" nope. Not a damn clue.
By silence and confused look as an answer, he pinched the bridge of his nose, took a deep breath and whispered "well.. that I expected"
oh boy.. the blond heart sank in blink of an eye, hit the rock bottom knowingly there's nothing good to where this is ending.
Kaveh didn't need to hear it from people directly, doesn't fret himself over any bad outcome, because it already lives there, come to his mind before even their mouth could vocalize it. He just senses it, knew it and learned it the hard way to expect any good, to everyone, but him.
"I sent an eviction notice week ago mentioning that I need this apartment empty by the end of the week, but for sure, knowing you I forgot to check up on you two little times more" Saber sighed, he should've known.
He wanted to go on only to Kaveh interrupting him saying "But I didn't get anything like that?"
Unfamiliar information reached to his ear, rightfully so, he was hit by the situation and the confusion alongside the blond. What great boat to share.
"What? That can't be, I'm sure my son Nabeh sent it to you on Saturday morning, because I bothered him that morning like hell, messing up his sleep schedule to work with me" Saber chattered while examining his pockets looking for his phone.
Kaveh stood there, rethinking every mail he got, any slight message he received about something like this, but there was none, nothing he could remember. As so he's preoccupied with his projects and some collage duties this week to take care of anything else.
Before he sails in ocean of unnecessary thoughts, Saber hissed a curse at his phone.
He raised his head to peek at Kaveh with a guilt look, can't manage to hold an eye contact, and at the moment, unseen hope bloomed inside the blond heart, maybe he got it wrong, maybe he meant someone else, but the ideas were soon to be shut by his way of thinking, knowing he sure have to get out of here sooner than later, and by the words of Saber, which he had a trouble phrasing it.
"I'm sorry, son" … coming off too polite means he's doomed, but well, the talk goes on "the moron Nabeh sent it to a resident in another building, I told his mom it's the wrong name for him." mummbling the shaming about his son
for the sake of his joke Nabeh in Arabic means: clever, sharp, keen.
Moments of silence filled the air as this whole conversation heaving on Kaveh existence, Saber then apologized immediately for the mess assuring him he'll figure something out.
"Can I ask something? what.. what am I supposed to do now?" the question feels sick, bitter and sore on his tongue. Cluelessly his right hand trails the way to earring. Reassuring
"You were supposed to be out of the apartment in two days, but now both of us in trouble."
"Is this some kind of joke Mr. Saber?" waiting for the other punchline, asked chuckling as he tried to fix his hair.
"I wish that was the case, but a new guy signed this apartment contract eight days ago, saying he'll be here by next Sunday"
He was fully aware on what he's about to be, what he's about to face, knowing at the back of his mind that no power in the world could ever be capable enough to wipe out all the indignity, embarrassment and discomfort filling every cell in his body, accompanying every breath he releases and every, every gaze he avoids.
"Mr. Saber, my apologies but I can't process this in a month, let alone one week, I just can't, I didn't know about any of this, let alone collecting all my stuff by one week" he tried talking as polite as he can, while poorly meeting the man's eyes.
He hesitated to suggest something yet went for it "Can't you assign him to another apartment?" he lets out a breath that held since the moment he heard the word evacuation.
"I'll just figure something out. And no, I can't assign him to another apartment since he asked for this one specifically, and bought it actually, didn't rent it." Tiredness showed on Saber's face, it became visible that this mess wasn't needed, and that Nabeh was probably going to have it rough on him.
Kaveh was dumbfounded at this, asked for this one specifically? …bought the whole apartment? He wanted to ask but Saber was pretty upset, so he just remained silent. Plus, it couldn't get worse.
"He said something about owning this place long ago, when my sister Heba was in charge of this building, I don't know, but worry not, I told you I'll handle it then contact with you possibly by tomorrow evening." With that, Saber excused himself going his way.
you see, everything got worse, Kaveh.
For a while, he sat there beside the door, not sure he can hold the bitterness in his throat from throwing up the second he steps a foot inside. Cross-legged, resting his head against the wall peeking at the quiet streets from the hallway window, everybody seems to be sleeping soundly while he's setting with the probability of getting kicked out at tomorrow's night.
Kaveh didn't thought that much of it. He surely couldn't blame the man, being in this state is in no way to avoid. That said, probably, he saw it as one of the many things he deserves, and there's nothing wrong, cause it's… his price to pay. If he had it right, he could pridefully tell Saber he can handle it on his own, never frighten the man over a mistake he didn't commit, nor does him. The traces of guilt already imprinting themselves, that his luck, again, affected others burden they shouldn't bear because of him. Especially someone with a heart like Mr. Saber.
In addition, the truth about the apartment new owner, or in other word, the original owner. Lumped up in his throat. A long-ago friend, where the thoughts of crossing ways with him again were dead, neglected and never seen through it, perhaps.
A previous partner whom his words echo in the back of his mind at every failures ceremony lowest point of the emotional breakdowns
Besides, whenever he yearned for his quiet soothing youth.
Funny enough, Kaveh is facing every crisis he might have now, with knowing better-stay-stranger-than-friend, he always praised him for his timings.
Alhaitham, a junior of his, is back here, to where they both used to belong.
Zoned out for minutes before he gets up, cleaned himself before he opens the door to the misery he shall collects.
He should be out of here by the morning, to nowhere to be found, it was his downfall anyway so losing a roof upon his head wasn't startling.
Tears in fact are shaking at the corner of his eyes, blurring his vision in a way he failed to open the door as soon as he stands, then it hits him, he's locked up outside.
He slammed his forehead against the door, the hall grew colder and frostier unlike the tears he shed. Isn't this too much for a day? Kaveh denied admitting such thought, yet he murmurs it wailing, sobs don't seem to slow down, racing their ways to his lips, his white loose shirt, then wetting the icy floor.
Minutes went on trembling against the door, letting the perfect picture of him slip, where no staring eyes around, but it had to stop. As precarious septs are heard walking up the stairs.
Kaveh hastily wiped away his invincible tears, in much of a hurry, he tried to pass by whoever is walking his way and heads up to someone next to him who can help him get to his balcony since his stuff are waiting to be collected and thrown aside.
Quite enough as the steps got closer, he stood there in of the other's door anticipating knocking, yet his hands are resting by his side. Is it okay to ask? Would he be awake at this late hour? Maybe he-
"what's… the hesitation for dear Kaveh?" a soothing voice called next to him, forcing him out of such worry thoughts, from where the trembling steps reach it's stop.
Kaveh's eyes went wide open, shifting his gaze to sit on the sleepy guy few feet away the door, leaning his side to the wall while softly placing his head as well, with a grin drawn upon his face. Kaveh chuckled at the sight, relieving all the tension that kept hunting him since the moment he opened his eyes. It was Kaeya, the one supposed to be behind the doors he hesitated to knock, he's standing here next to him, like he sensed the need of rescue awaiting Kaveh to call it.
Next thing he noticed, the man needed help steadying himself not to fall, so quickly he reached the other's arm to surrounds his neck.
"You always knew, didn’t you?" Kaveh said with a faint smile, helping Kaeya looking for his keys between his pockets.
"Knew what?" Kaeya lets the words slip along his muttered giggles, finally pushing the door open, welcoming Kaveh around, like he isn't the one holding him first.
After taking of his shoes at the entrance, Kaveh guided Kaeya towards his bedroom but the man preferred his kitchen's table, seemingly enough, Kaeya was back from a tavern next to their residential after a long day of work where his efforts backed up at him seeing how exhausted he looks now, but that shouldn't interfere with his quality time with the beloved wine, even if he isn't always welcomed down there.
Well, if he has a bottle and a seat, what else can be done but to enjoy beauty of the nights.
Kaveh poured him a glass of water, sat on the opposing seat and pushed it towards his laying head, then spoke "when to open your door."
"It's always open for you," Kaeya uttered, drinking mid-talk and continued to ask, "have any troubles sleeping?" soon as his question was out loud, he sees the blond eyes tearing at the sight of his hand, unable to form an answer.
Kaveh didn't know why, he was okay as soon as he saw Kaeya, he let all the tears outside that door, drying on the floor where he shouldn't revisit, he wiped every single one, so why? why are they at him again? Kaeya could feel no phrase is comprehensive enough to be said, so he just, slid it casually "don't worry grandpa, you can sleep in the other room."
"Hey!" Kaveh grumbled at the other, but stops midway through, letting a sigh of weary. "no, no I'm not in the mood today sorry, it's just…"
"Anyway, let me not bother you with that, Can I go to the balcony? I locked myself out" The matter gets brushed off in the end. Kaveh stood up, heading to the balcony so he gets back to his apartment.
"Such a grandpa thing of you" Kaeya snorts while following the blond to open balcony door for him, arriving to a smack on his shoulder with Kaveh holding his laugh and lecturing him.
"I say respect your elders and open this door."
"Respect is shown, once you know I'm all ears and you're not a bothersome to me at any way" Kaeya talked smoothly while caressing the other's back, then amusingly pushed him outside.
Kaveh was stunt by it, however, enough to accept it, let the warmth fill his heart, giving nothing else back but a sore smile. A mouthed 'later.' and a waved goodbyes as he went to the balcony three feet apart.
Greeted by mess soaked with darkness, he dozed into hollowed view, unable to figure out where to start, what to collect and what to not.
A few hours flew by, Back to where he sat, it's almost dawn, nothing is achieved, nothing is right, he still got a lot to pack, a lot to get it out of this place.
There lays a lot, of excuses.
Excuses to leave this place, before Alhaitham arrives.