Work Text:
Four words ruin an otherwise pleasant evening.
Alhaitham is sitting at his desk, quietly pressing pen to paper, and Kaveh pays him no mind as he works on his own draft of a house he’s now redrawn four times for this client who doesn’t know what he wants. But it’s fine because Mehrak beeps softly from where she floats above him and concentration has pulled him in deep enough to ignore the world around him.
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham says, then slightly louder when he gets no response. “Kaveh.”
“Hmm?”
“We should get married.”
Kaveh immediately drops the pencil he was holding. It feels like every muscle in his body tenses at once and his eyes widen in surprise, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. Mehrak lets out a startled beep? of concern as he whips around so fast he almost falls off the seat. “What did you just say?”
Alhaitham clears his throat, placing the pen he’d been using back into the small basket with the other pencils, and repeats himself, “We should get married.”
There is no response. Kaveh stares, still wide-eyed, with his mouth open to form an ‘o,’ but no words come out. Stunned to silence isn’t a very good look, he thinks, but not a single answer comes easily to him.
“What?” he ends up croaking out. It sounds less than dignified and comes out shaky; he barely recognizes it as his own voice.
“For tax benefits,” Alhaitham replies as if it’s the simplest conclusion in the world.
“For tax benefits,” Kaveh repeats, deadpan. He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, then runs a hand through his hair. He knocks his braid loose, sending a few hair clips flying to the floor below.
“I thought you’d never want to and when you do it’s—” He cuts himself off with a huff, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s just for tax benefits?”
Alhaitham stares at him for a moment, eyes slowly narrowing and his brows furrowing like he doesn’t get it. “You don’t want to?”
“No! Of course, I want to—” Kaveh lets out another huff. He turns around just to grab Mehrak from the air and sets her on the ground where she lets out another soft beep, then goes into sleep mode. “I just… I don’t want to for tax benefits.”
“But it would help you,” Alhaitham replies. He stands up from the desk, still with that stupid confused look on his face, and makes his way around it toward Kaveh. “If we’re married, there’s no need to pay rent to your spouse and any debt you’ve acquired becomes both of ours. It would lighten your load.”
He raises a hand to cup Kaveh’s cheek and the blond’s heart sinks in his chest as he’s forced to stare into Alhaitham’s piercing teal gaze. It is relentless, bores into his soul in a way only this man can do, and yet it is still soft just for him.
Kaveh hates the way he looks at him sometimes; it makes him fall apart.
He lets out a shaky breath and tilts his head ever so slightly into Alhaitham’s touch, raising his own hand to press over his boyfriend’s as he tries to ignore the way his heart beats slightly faster than usual. “I would love to marry you,” he murmurs, “but I will not be a burden to you.”
Alhaitham’s brow furrows. “You wouldn’t—”
“I would be,” Kaveh cuts him off before he can finish. He stands up from his seat, sliding away from Alhaitham and his touch and the way his eyes alone make Kaveh melt, and stops only once he’s reached the door, resting one hand on the edge of the frame. “I don’t want to weigh you down financially, especially if that’s the only reason you’re asking.”
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham says softly, but he’s already pushed open the doors and stormed down the hall with hot tears building up behind his eyes as he makes his way back to his room.
Alhaitham thankfully does not chase after him.
- - -
“He asked me to marry him,” Kaveh grumbles out the next time he’s in Lambad’s Tavern, sitting next to Cyno and Tighnari as they roll dice for their TCG match. “‘For tax benefits,’ he said.”
Tighnari glances up from his cards, brows furrowed, and glances from Kaveh to Alhaitham, then back to Cyno. “It’s a good benefit of marriage,” he offers idly, abnormally apprehensive to stir the pot between them.
It’s common knowledge between the four of them at this point that Alhaitham and Kaveh bicker too much and, when dragged into their mess, Tighnari more often than not straightens them out. However, the topic must’ve hit a bit close to home tonight considering the engagement rings that still sit on his and Cyno’s fingers.
“It’s rude to talk as if I’m not here,” Alhaitham replies. He takes a sip of his wine then places the cup back onto the table, his gaze shifting from the liquid in the glass to Kaveh. “I don’t see your point. Is there something objectively wrong with getting married for that reason?”
Kaveh sputters. “Is it not obvious?” he manages out with a huff. He leans back in his seat, raising one hand up for emphasis. “Our friends here are getting married because they love each other, regardless of whatever benefit—” He almost regrets using them as an example because he can see the way Tighnari grimaces, ears twitching with annoyance, though at least Cyno seems too wrapped up in the TCG match to mind. “Would it kill you to just be sentimental for once?”
Alhaitham hums idly in response. He takes another sip of the wine, swirling it around in the cup. “I wasn’t aware asking someone for their hand in marriage wasn’t sentimental.”
“It would be if you weren’t so blunt about it!” Kaveh can’t help but raise his voice. His feelings bubble to the surface, making his heart throb uncomfortably in his chest, and Gods. He hates being this upset over something so… trivial.
But it isn’t trivial, is it? Kaveh has always wanted to get married; he’s thought about what it would be like since he was a young boy, though he never pictured himself with someone like Alhaitham. Perhaps this is the exact reason why. He’d wanted a grand proposal, something special, something they’d always remember, something that… something that wasn’t just an average evening.
Kaveh raises a hand to his chest and clutches at the fabric over his heart. It feels like it physically hurts, though he knows that’s impossible.
Across the table, Tighnari clears his throat and Cyno stares over at them both like they’ve grown two heads. The two exchange a look for a moment, then both set down their cards.
“Kaveh,” Tighnari says, his tone still flat and hinting at that earlier annoyance, “what does marriage mean to you?”
“Huh?” Kaveh deadpans, blinking with confusion. “You’re asking me?”
“Mhm,” Cyno hums in agreement. “Either you let us attempt to force a compromise or I’ll fix the mood the usual way.”
“Please do not tell more jokes,” Kaveh mutters, mostly under his breath. He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, trying to reflect on the question. “I guess it just… it means you love someone more than anything. That you’re committed to them.”
Tighnari flicks an ear, then turns his gaze to Alhaitham. “And what does it mean to you?”
Alhaitham glances at Kaveh for a moment as if thinking, then swallows thickly. “Joint responsibility.”
“See!” Kaveh points a finger in his direction, then crosses his arms over his chest. “That’s all it is to you!”
Alhaitham furrows his brow, almost as if surprised by the sudden outburst. “Why would it be any more? Marriage wouldn’t make me love you any more or less. Your definition makes little sense. If you’re committed to someone, that means marriage is an option. The marriage itself is simply a means of legality.”
Kaveh opens his mouth to say something, but comes up empty. Once again, he reminds himself that being stunned into silence isn’t the greatest look on himself.
Beside him, Tighnari takes a sip of his own wine. “Compromise,” he says dryly, picking his TCG cards back up.
“I…” Kaveh tries to say more, but the words still die on his tongue. “I don’t want to talk about it here,” he ends up muttering.
Alhaitham takes another sip of wine, finishing it off. “We can go now,” he offers.
Kaveh swallows thickly. “I don’t want to ruin the evening.”
He earns a hum in response and Tighnari turns back to them, tilting his head to the side. “Would you rather Cyno ruin it by attempting to lighten the mood?”
“My jokes don’t ruin anything,” Cyno retorts. “In fact, why did the beers get married?”
Tighnari sends him a look, though there’s a faint smile on the fox’s face and a certain way he stares at Cyno that Kaveh recognizes all too well. There’s a fondness even in that glare.
“They were pitcher perfect,” Cyno continues. “Get it? Because beer can be served in a pitcher—”
“We got it,” Tighnari replies, though he laughs softly at it all the same.
Kaveh swallows thickly again, standing up from his seat. “We’ll go,” he says. “Good night.”
“Good night,” Cyno and Tighnari echo back.
Kaveh offers them a nod and heads to the door, shooting a glance behind himself as he exits the tavern to ensure Alhaitham isn’t far behind. It turns out he isn’t and he pulls his coat back over his shoulders as they step out into the night air.
The walk home is slow, filled only by the sound of crickets and the steps of others walking to their own places, until Alhaitham clears his throat. “Do you really think me asking you like that meant I didn’t love you?”
Kaveh stiffens. “No, that…” He trails off, trying to find the words. It wasn’t that. Not quite. “That’s not it. I just…” He huffs again, frustrated with himself. “I know you love me. I just wanted marriage to be something special if we ever did it.”
“It is special,” Alhaitham says softly.
“Getting married for the legal benefits isn’t special,” Kaveh retorts. His voice comes laced with an edge of spite that he didn’t intend and he sighs once he hears it himself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shoot you down or disparage your proposal, but I thought I’d at least be worth some planning or a ring. Not just another Tuesday night.”
“Kaveh.” Alhaitham reaches out for his wrist suddenly, taking hold of it firmly. His thumb presses down over Kaveh’s pulse just enough for him to feel his heart race. “If it’ll take a ring and some planning, I’ll try again in a way that suits you.”
Kaveh can feel his face heat up at the words alone. “You—” He sputters, blinking rapidly in an attempt to unfreeze himself, but the shock feels like it settles into his bones. “You don’t have to! Don’t worry yourself with that now; it’s fine. We can plan the actual wedding sometime. You don’t have to make an elaborate proposal anymore. I just… I wanted to hear I meant something to you when you did. B-But I get it, I was just overthinking it all.”
Alhaitham sighs, turning that same softened gaze onto Kaveh that always managed to make his heart melt in his chest and his lips curl up to form a small smile. “You mean everything to me,” he says, still gently like Kaveh might fall apart if he dares raise his voice. “I won’t propose again if you don’t want me to, but if it’ll make you happy, we can get rings fitted.”
“It would,” Kaveh murmurs. He lets out a shaky breath, trying to calm down his rapidly beating heart. “It would make me really happy.”
“Good,” Alhaitham replies. “Now let’s get home before it gets too cold out.”
Kaveh nods, a soft laugh leaving his lips. It feels unreal. “Alright, alright! But we still have a lot to talk about! Just because we’re doing this doesn’t mean I’m going to let you take care of my debt or anything like that. I refuse to burden you like that; I’d feel terrible if I dragged you down with me.”
“Mm, we’ll discuss it another time,” Alhaitham replies. It’s neither confirmation or denial, but Kaveh finds himself pleased with it for the moment regardless. “But I won’t allow you to pay rent anymore.”
Kaveh blinks. “Why not?”
“Didn’t I tell you already?” Alhaitham tilts his head to one side. “There’s no need to pay rent to your spouse. The house would be both of ours.”
“I…” The guilt gnaws at Kaveh just a bit, but he pushes it away. “Alright. I can agree to that.”
“Good,” Alhaitham replies, squeezing Kaveh’s wrist three times fast. “The rest of it can wait until another day.”
“Of course.”
“And don’t forget to thank Tighnari.”
Kaveh huffs. “I wouldn’t have to thank him if you would just be clear with your words. Offering to marry anyone for tax benefits just sounds like you’re doing it out of pity!”
It gains a soft chuckle out of Alhaitham. “Do you take me for the type of man who would marry anyone out of pity?”
“I…” The answer is no. An immediate no. There is no doubt in Kaveh’s mind that Alhaitham would remain single for the rest of his life unless he truly was in love with someone. He hates how removing himself from the equation makes it so much easier to think about. “No, of course not,” he mutters.
“Then I did not ask you out of pity,” Alhaitham replies.
Kaveh takes in a breath and lets it out slowly. “I know,” he says, “but still. You could have phrased it way better.”
“I suppose.” Alhaitham squeezes Kaveh’s wrist again and tugs him along a bit further until they reach the door of their house. The key turns easily in the lock and they shuffle inside before Alhaitham locks it again behind them.
Unlike a few nights before, there is no hesitation when Kaveh follows Alhaitham into his room and eventually falls into bed without any miscommunication to place a wall between them. With arms wrapped around each other and chaste kisses pressed to lips, all else becomes trivial matters once again.