Work Text:
Kaveh just wanted to grab some water and go back to work, he didn't mean to eavesdrop.
They were running on a tight schedule: the dome needed to be finished before the end of the week so that it could be frescoed, then the sculptors would've brought in the statues and from then on the rest of the work would've been sensibly faster.
He didn't have time to lose, especially when the scorching sun and high temperatures led the workers to indulge longer in the shadow of palms and nearby buildings, forcing him to check on them more offen to bring them back to work.
However, there he was, hiding behind a pile of bricks and listening in to two workers' conversation.
"As I was saying, my brother's fiancé cheated on him. Yes, it was truly shocking. He was devasted and when he confronted her about it, she said that he was too absent, always focused on his work and nothing else."
"It's understandable, if you think about it. It must hurt to feel neglected by your partner."
"Normally, yes. But he was working on an important project for the Akademiya, there's no way he could've made time for anything else.
She even accused him of not caring about her at all, which is crazy!
I mean, they were about to get married!"
"Well, I can understand why she didn't feel satisfied. Did they even- You know"
"Obviously not. He was too busy, always coming home late and too tired to do anything. I think that's part of the reason she cheated on him.
But, really, I don't feel like being to harsh with him. He is... Mh, now that I think about it, he is really like mister Kaveh, very passionate about his job and always wanting everything to be perfect.
I wouldn't be surprised to know that mister Kaveh himself is too busy to meet anyone, especially in the last period..."
The other one nodded.
"Right. Better be alone than making your partner suffer from your absence."
They went on chatting, but Kaveh stopped listening when the knot in his throat became too tight.
He swallowed and went back to work, frowning.
●●●●
It was already dark when Kaveh, still dusty and sweaty, coming directly from the construction site, marched through the doors of Puspa Café.
The place was almost empty. Most clients would've arrived after dinner time.
He placed his order and paid no attention to the perplexed look on the waiter's face when she brought him a strong coffee in the middle of the evening.
He downed the contents of the cup, grimacing from the bitter taste. Only Alhaitham was capable of such atrocities...
He ordered again, she brought him another one and he got up, paid and left the café.
●●●●
"Cyno, do you think that I work too much?", Kaveh asked.
They had met by chance on the way to the Akademiya; Kaveh going back home, while Cyno was going to deposit the last report of the day and then head back home.
Upon seeing the architect's worried face, Cyno had expected some comment about Alhaitham - like he did all the time - but it seemed it was not the case that time.
"I don't know. Maybe."
"What does 'maybe' even mean?", Kaveh squeaked, looking at the other like he had somehow offended him.
"I do or I don't!"
Cyno shrugged. He wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead, pondering wether or not to remove his hat during that humid evening.
In the end his opted for getting it off.
"I'd say sometimes you do, but it depends on the period. Why do you ask?"
Kaveh didn't answer immediately, but looked at his feet with renewed worry in his eyes.
"Nothing special. Thanks, Cyno", he said as they arrived before his house. "Wish me luck!"
Cyno watched the other practically jogg inside the house.
He didn't know a thing about what was going on with Kaveh, but he made a mental note to have Tighnari prepare something strong for the next morning.
Maybe they could've used the help.
●●●●
When Alhaitham had returned hom from the Akademiya that afternoon he had done the usual things.
He changed clothes, read some more of the new romance novel he had received from Inazuma, grabbed a snack, sat down to read again and then he begun preparing dinner.
Everything suggested it would've been another normal evening, so, when he heard the door opening, he briefly greeted the architect and focused again on their dinner, expecting the other to almost fly to the shower like he did everytime he worked on a construction site.
He was so focused on getting the right dose of spicy sauce that he almost dropped the spoon when he felt a pair of arms sorround his waist.
He turned to look at Kaveh, whose head was resting on his shoulder. To get to that position he probably had to stand on his tiptoes.
"What's wrong?", he immediately asked.
Kaveh pouted.
"Nothing is wrong. Why do you always assume something happenend when I cuddle you?"
Alhaitham blinked.
"You never cuddle me while standing, you say it is less comfortable than doing it while on the sofa or the bed. Also, your hand is not moving like it wants to cuddle."
Kaveh flushed red. Hearing Alhaitham address his subtle movements with such a straight tone was too much!
He swallowed his embarrassment and continued caressing the Scribe's abdomen with his hand. Just the tip of his fingers.
"Well, I changed my mind. Cuddling while standing is a thing now."
Despite his words, he slowly let his hand travel further down, hooking his thumb over the edge of the other's trousers.
"Kaveh...", Alhaitham let out a shaky breath as the tip of the blonde's fingers brushed against the sensitive part between his legs.
The architect's other hand begun to delicately caress his hip.
"Kaveh, wait."
"Don't you want to, Haitham? It's been quite some time since the last time.", he murmured, placing a soft kiss on the side of the Scribe's neck.
Alhaitham sighed and leaned into the touch. The bottle of sauce trembled in his hand.
"Aren't you tired?", he asked.
The other shook his head, moving to kiss below Alhaitham's jaw.
"But you... You've been out the entire day."
"I'm fine, Haitham. I want you to enjoy this-"
"Your hands are trembling."
Kaveh's movement stilled for a fraction of second, letting Alhaitham know everything he needed to.
He grabbed one of Kaveh's wrists and held the trembling hand close to his face.
He placed a small kiss on the architect's hand and turned to look at him in the eyes.
"You're exhausted, I can see it."
Kaveh seemed to panic almost instantly.
"No! Haitham, I'm not- I can-"
"Go take a shower, I'll finish here soon."
"But... But!", he seemed on the verge of tears.
Seeing his lover in such distress, Alhaitham turned him to face him.
"Kaveh, what's wrong? Answer me honestly this time."
Kaveh looked everywhere but at him. He sniffled a couple times.
"Do you feel neglected?", he asked.
Alhaitham blinked.
"What?"
"Do you feel dissatisfied with me?"
"I-"
"I work too much, don't I? If-", he swallowed, as if the words had stuck to his throat. "If you ever feel lonely or neglected or... or anything else... bad... just know that you don't have to feel obliged to stay with me."
He blurted out the last part like it was the hardest thing he ever did in his life.
Alhaitham blinked again.
There was an istant of silence, an heartbeat, just looking at eachother.
Then they were all over each other.
"No, no! I take back everything I said, Haitham! Don't leave me. Just- Please, I can be better, I can- I can-"
"I won't, Kaveh. I won't."
"Haitham! Haitham!"
"If there ever was something wrong in this relationship of ours, Kaveh, be sure that I would've let you know. You know me, senior. I don't fear speaking my mind to you."
"A bit too much, I'd say...", Kaveh mumbled. He sniffled again.
"What I mean to say is that this is perfect, Kaveh. You are perfect and I love it the way it is. I swear, I'll buy a thousand woodcarvings the next time you come up with such ridiculous doubts."
Kaveh's eyes widened in fear.
"Don't you dare, Haitham, I swear-"
"Then don't make me do it."
Kaveh looked at his eyes for a few seconds.
"I'm sorry, Haitham. I cried again...", he mumbled, furiously wiping his wet eyes with a sleeve.
Alhaitham smiled softly.
"No need to apologise. I like that part of you too, you know."
"Don't say it like that... It sounds strange."
Alhaitham shrugged.
"Mean it as you want."
Pouting, Kaveh squished his cheeks and kissed him lightly on the lips.
He then turned to the pot, almost boiling on the stove.
He gasped.
"Haitham! The sauce!"
Upon turning to the the pot, Alhaitham noticed that, during the conversation, the bottle in his hand had been tilted downward so much that it had stained the floor and the stove and that the soup was now dangerously red.
He and Kaveh exchanged a look.
"Oh well", he said.
Kaveh grabbed a spoon to stir the soup.