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Kaveh was hiding from his roommate.
Well, technically speaking he already should have been hiding considering his status as a borrower, but that was nigh impossible with his human’s level of intellect.
Alhaitham, the human, had spotted him almost immediately after he moved in, swiftly capturing the tiny man and interrogating him on a number of questions he couldn’t begin to fathom and having the audacity to look irritated with the borrower for not understanding the intricacies of human society.
He’d been caught red handed, and though Alhaitham didn’t exactly treat the tiny thief with any hospitality, his behaviors were a far cry from the horror stories he’d heard about humans. After their initial encounter, the human had let Kaveh go, though not without a bone chilling warning
to never interfere or tamper with his work.
Things had gone back to normal pretty quickly for a
while after that, if only because Alhaitham hadn’t made it a habit to bother the little creature anymore. Kaveh knew the human didn’t forget about him, a piercing azure gaze burning into his back anytime he dared venture out while the scholar was at home, asking him to fetch a pen or other small object. The borrower never objected to his requests regardless of how hard he shook when approaching such a massive human deftly took the item out of his comparatively tiny hands, not so much as lifting his eyes from his work to give an appreciative glance. Kaveh knew he shouldn’t continue to interact with the human, especially one that seemed indifferent to the fact that he could easily crush him like a bug with one boot. Alas, Kaveh couldn’t bring himself to part ways with his eclectic home. Ever since he and his mother had… part ways he’d been on his own, his hushed ramblings were the only company he had in a world that wasn’t made for him.
The words he’d spoken to Alhaitham, though filled with fear, were the first words he’d uttered to someone for as long as he could remember. Whether he liked it or not, Alhaitham made up his entire world… while to the human, Kaveh was little more than a tiny pest, one with novel utility at the most. It would be foolish to believe otherwise regardless of what Kaveh did for him, risking everything simply to get the human to listen once again.
So, with that in mind, Kaveh stopped leaving the walls during the day, avoiding the human at every opportunity he could. He’d stopped accepting food the human would leave out for him and flipped his usual schedule on it’s head, contributing to his utter lack of energy. Perhaps this was the reason he found himself slithering along a shelf, staring blankly at the ceiling with his eyes nearly glued shut. His stomach grumbled, demanding attention, and Kaveh was forced to concede defeat. It was late enough in the evening that Alhaitham must have already retired to his bed or the study, so there was no use in waiting.
With that thought Kaveh slipped down his grappling rope to a small pot he knew to be filled with Yalda candies. Alhaitham wasn’t particularly impressed by any sweets his colleagues offered him, either flat out refusing or tossing them in the jar by the front to collect dust or be enjoyed by nonexistent guests. That left Kaveh with a candy selection that was actually quite extensive.
Kaveh himself didn’t exactly have a penchant for sweets either, but anything was better than the gnawing hunger his stomach was nursing. With careful steps he hoisted himself into the jar to pick through them, looking for any that might be tolerable. Selecting a few suitable pieces, he tossed them over the rim of the container, needing both hands free to climb out.
As soon as he’d began to make some headway, a sharp knock at the door shot ice through his veins. The borrower immediately slid down into the bottom of the jar, incredulously wondering what kind of visitor would come at this hour. A sudden flash of panic washed over him at the thought of them being one of the formidable humans known as the matra, who might not hesitate to conduct an investigation even if Alhaitham failed to answer the door.
Clenching his fists as heavy footsteps shook his hiding place, he silently cursed his giant roommate for putting him in this situation. This was after all, entirely the human’s fault. Sure, technically it was Kaveh’s idea to essentially starve himself in a bid for the scribe’s attention , but if Alhaitham had even half of a heart he would have said something by now! After several moments of tense silence the knocks returned, this time sounding impatient, and a muffled voice calling out “Alhaitham.” The words barely registered. What Kaveh heard were more of those harrowing umbles emanating from Alhaitham’s study indicating the scholar’s approach. Though he was concealed from view to any onlookers ,he flinched violently as the human passed him by.
Trapped in a prison of his own design, Kaveh could merely hold still and pray his labored breathing didn’t give away his position. The door swung open unceremoniously, giving way to more awkward oppressive silence. Kaveh tensed, unsure whether he should attempt to move when they finally spoke.
“If you’re lost, I recommend seeking guidance from the Akademiya night guards. Sumeru city has a curfew in place for children at this hour,” Alhaitham stated, voice rough from sleep and laced with annoyance. If he didn’t know better, Kaveh might think he was trying to scare off the child at his door.
“I’m not lost! My dad— I mean, well, I wanted to ask you a favor?” A more youthful voice squeaked out with all the uneasiness of a poorly conceived script.
“I see,” Alhaitham muttered, Kaveh
easily picturing the unimpressed look on his face.
“In that case, you and your father can wait until office hours to file an appropriate application, unless you’d rather try your luck with the Matra’s policy on harassment.” Wow, harsh. If the little borrower wasn’t so hellbent on getting back in the walls and safely away from the terrifying giants, he might feel bad for the kid.
“But I-“ The deafening slam of the door cut the child off, once again rattling the ceramic walls that encased the borrower.
He nearly let out a sigh of relief when candlelight flooded his hiding place, giant, nimble fingers bearing down on him from above. Kaveh immediately jolted back from the intrusion in hopes that Alhaitham had simply spontaneously developed a taste for candy, but the gentle yet firm grip of a thumb and forefinger on his ankle said otherwise. They lifted his struggling form into view, revealing an unamused Alhaitham as he studied the terrified man. “And here I thought you’d graduated from petty theft,”
Kaveh bristled at the accusation, struggling to pull himself right side up before the human shifted to hold him in his hand. He tried and failed to elude the riveting gaze pinned to him. “Wha- No! I’m not a thief!!” He squawked, flailing to right himself in the uncomfortable hold. Alhaitham only huffed. “Oh, really. Then pray tell what exactly you’d call yourself doing at such an ungodly hour?”
The borrower’s resolve snapped and he bared his teeth at his captor, redoubling his escape efforts as he braced his arms against the unyielding hold.
“What am I doing?! what are you doing?! I was always taught that humans will hurt you— capture you or— or do unspeakable things!” It was definitely insane to be yelling at a human that has you in their clutches, but Kaveh was determined to meet Alhaitham’s eye. “I don’t get it! What is this? What game are you playing?”
In a sickening bout of motion the human silently carried Kaveh over to his desk, thick arms bracketing either side of the poor borrower as he stared up at his silver haired captor. The dark shadow cast from the looming scribe made every cell in Kaveh’s body want to bolt, but the agility Alhaitham had shown when he had first captured him gave him pause.
“I called myself giving you space, you know. The akademiya has encountered your kind before, and while I would never involve myself in those sorry excuses for research projects, I know little good comes from closeness between our kind. Honestly, from what I was able to read, you’re practically an anomaly. Borrowers are said to be a reclusive sort yet you’re practically begging for attention.” Alhaitham’s words only loosely processed in Kaveh’s brain due to the blood rushing in his ears from the insanity of his situation. He dipped his head. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be alone for so long, like this. I don’t want to be alone anymore..” Kaveh spoke barely above a whisper, the silence making him wonder if the scribe had even heard him.
“If that’s the case, then I guess it can’t be helped. From now on, we’ll be roommates— But that means no more hiding.” Kaveh’s eyes widened at his words, and if not for a giant fingertip brushing his side he’d surely think himself dreaming. “Truly? there’s no catch?” The borrower measured his words, attempting to find any hint of malice in the scribe's expression.
Alhaitham just smirked.”I think I’ve already demonstrated that I’m more than capable of getting a hold of you without the use of deception.”
Kaveh could not believe his ears. “I’ll pull my weight! I promise!” The borrower stammered, shaking the human’s finger in both hands to make good on their deal. Alhaitham just hummed.
“That is a proposition amusing as it is improbable.”