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There were few things that could escape Tighnari’s delicate hearing, and the soft, familiar patter of Cyno’s footsteps was not one of them. He heaved a sigh as the man rounded the doorway.
“I’m back, Tighnari,” his friend said as he strode into the room.
“I can see that.” He set aside his notes to give the other his full attention. “If you’re here instead of home, I assume you heard.”
Cyno nodded. “I heard. Is he alright? Is he here?”
“No, I sent him home. He’s fine. Both of them are. Nahida has him taking the next few days off, although I’m pretty sure it’s more to do with the fact that you’re back then concerns over his health.”
Cyno frowned. “You’re certain there’s no complications?”
“Honestly, Cyno. Don’t you trust me? Yes, I’m sure.”
“I do trust you. I just…this is, what, the fourth time?”
“Technically, it’s the first time. He didn’t actually lose consciousness the other times.”
That didn’t make Cyno feel much better.
And who could blame him? Since learning Alhaitham was carrying, he’d become hyper attuned to the other man’s needs. That part was no surprise to anyone.
It was how they learned about it that had tipped the balance.
While Alhaitham suffered most of the usual symptoms, by far the worst was his frequent and somewhat alarming lethargy. Cyno had first become aware of it when he’d walked in Alhaitham’s office and found him passed out at his desk. He’d been understandably alarmed and after rousing him had taken him straight to Tighnari.
And while they now knew the cause, there wasn’t much of a way to help the problem. Even when doing their best to keep him well rested, Cyno would have thought he was suffering lack of sleep if not for the fact the other slept curled into him and would have woken Cyno if he’d roused or left the bed.
They’d tried to accommodate it by letting him sleep in later, or take naps during the day, but his flagging energy didn’t relent and more than once Cyno would come check on him during the day to find him nodding off at his desk.
Tighnari had done what he could to find something to help, and Cyno had dabbled in his own potion making for something to help boost his stamina, but at the end of the day, it had little overall effect.
And that wasn’t even counting the incidents.
Three times now Alhaitham had collapsed. Once in Nahida’s office during a meeting, once on their way for a lunch break on the street, and once while Kaveh had been arguing with him over…something frivolous that he couldn’t remember.
As Tighnari had pointed out, he didn’t outright faint, but having his legs suddenly give out as all strength suddenly fled him was not exactly great either. Kaveh had yelled his head off for Cyno, who’d been in the kitchen.
Cyno rubbed a hand over his face. “He’s really okay?”
“He’s okay,” Tighnari assured him, smiling gently, “I was with him when it happened. I’d just come to check up on him and we were chatting about having dinner when you came back. You know how the spells hit him. Fast and seemingly out of nowhere. And before you ask, yes, he seemed tired, and yes, I had him sitting down.”
“And he passed out?”
“Was part way through telling me something and then just slumped over on the sofa. I examined him, but aside from being tired he had no other issues. The greater danger is what he’s doing when they hit him. If he falls over and lands wrong or hits something he could hurt himself pretty bad. I told him to try to keep things nearby that could cushion him and stay off his feet when he starts feeling drained.”
Cyno was already making notes of things he could leave around the house to help. He’d check Alhaitham’s office later and make sure there was nothing sharp he could hit if he fell.
“Now,” Tighnari said, pulling back his attention, “As much as I like seeing you, you should head home. And let me know when you have a plan for dinner.”
Cyno nodded, mind churning as he walked outside and began the trek home.
He really hoped Alhaitham’s fatigue would even out after this was all over. Tighnari couldn’t say why he was experiencing these particular problems, as he’d had no previous health issues that would cause such lethargy, but given that symptoms for carrying ranged from person to person, as well as severity, there was no way to be sure.
As he reached their house and opened the door, he could smell spices wafting from the kitchen. Walking into the living room revealed Alhaitham, reclining in a chair with book in hand as usual, dressed in a comfortable tunic and loose robe, a throw resting across his lap. He looked up as Cyno entered, and appeared as alert and indifferent as ever.
“You’re late,” he said, setting his book down, “I assume Tighnari told you what happened.”
Cyno nodded, unsurprised Alhaitham knew of his detour. “He did. How are you feeling?”
Alhaitham simply held out a hand to beckon him closer. “See for yourself and save me the effort.”
He couldn’t hold back the amused snort as he did as told, moving closer to inspect him. He did look a little tired, but that was normal now. He didn’t appear sagging or drained of energy, and if he’d left something keeping in the kitchen from the smell of it, he’d felt well enough to start dinner.
Cyno cupped his face in his hands, smoothing back stray hairs and gently massaging his cheekbones. “Can you blame me for being concerned?”
“I’m not. I’m simply telling you I’m fine.”
He supposed all things considered he really had nothing to worry about. Alhaitham was notorious after all for keeping strict working hours and never putting in unneeded effort for no reward. He’d in fact used his condition as an excuse to sleep in and delayed his usual start time an hour later.
“I have the next week off, just so you’re aware. Nahida sends her regards and says you can report to her whenever time allows.”
“Is that another way of saying when you’ll allow me to leave?”
“I have no intention of restricting you from your duties. You’re the one with difficulties pulling yourself away. Don’t cast me as the problem.”
He was the problem, though Cyno conceded it was his will rather than Alhaitham’s at play. He pressed a kiss to his pliant mouth, one that Alhaitham returned with a low hum.
“What’s in the kitchen?” He asked in between breaths.
“Butter chicken, though it’s not finished cooking. When I realized you weren’t going to be home on time, I left it sitting until you returned.”
“I’ll finish up then. Do you need anything?”
He held up a cup, and Cyno frowned, sniffing it.
“It’s not coffee,” Alhaitham informed him immediately, with a slight eye roll, “It’s tea. Tighnari specifically made it for me. As if I’d suffer his nagging for a beverage.”
“I suppose I’m not surprised,” he took the cup, “the usual cupboard?”
“Yes.”
Walking into the kitchen he checked the pot with the food, spotted the naan set aside, and then went to grab the tea.
When he returned with a fresh cup, Alhaitham was once again absorbed in his reading. Cyno pressed a kiss to the side of his head before returning to finish their dinner.
As they ate Cyno filled him in on the details of his latest mission, Alhaitham nodding along with a few questions here and there. There was nice color in his face, and Cyno was grateful his appetite had yet to be meaningfully affected by his condition. It seemed he’d traded some of his nausea symptoms for an overload of energy loss.
In that light, it didn’t seem so bad. More rest was far more ideal than not wanting to eat.
“You have my permission, by the way.”
Cyno paused his mouthful, spoon suspended in front of him.
“For what?”
“My office.”
He snorted and took his bite. “I’m hardly going to ruin it.”
“I’m aware. Which is why I’m allowing it. You can take some pillows from the sitting room.”
“Not the bedroom?”
He considered. “One from the bedroom. I don’t want to have to carry them back home to sleep.”
“Fair enough.”
Once dinner was finished he waved Alhaitham off as he did the dishes, listening as the other shuffled back to the living room. When the last of them were dried and put away, he returned to find Alhaitham dozing lightly against the back of the couch and smiled, reaching over to stroke his hair.
“Too tired now that you’re full?”
Alhaitham opened lazy eyes to peer at him. “I refuse to accept your criticism.”
Cyno chuckled, leaning forward to pepper his face with gentle kisses. “I’m not criticizing you. But if you’re tired, we should go to bed.”
“I”m fine on the couch,” Alhaitham said, sinking back and closing his eyes.
Cyno snorted in mock reproach. “Well, I’m not.” And with that, he quickly but carefully lifted the other into his arms. He could feel Alhaitham jerk ever so slightly in surprise before draping himself over Cyno’s shoulder, arms loosely around his neck.
“Come on, you ridiculous man,” he murmured, rubbing his hand gently against Alhaitham’s back, “we can pick things up tomorrow if you have the energy for it.”
Alhaitham breathed a sigh against his neck. “And if I don’t?”
“I’ll tuck you into bed and read you a book.”
He felt a faint smile pressed to his skin.
As he laid him down on their bed and set about changing into sleep clothes, he remembered.
“Tighnari wants to know when we want to do dinner, since you passed out without answering him.”
He heard Alhaitham breathe out a long sigh and looked back to see him blinking his eyes open, face rueful.
“I suppose I did. You pick. I’ll follow your lead.”
“Lazy,” Cyno teased.
“I have a great deal of flexibility in my schedule right now. And I also know you and he are going to be policing what I eat, therefore you can decide.”
Cyno huffed as he finished changing and crawled into their bed, opening his arms as Alhaitham turned to bury himself in them. He brushed his lips over the warm skin of his temple.
“Don’t complain about my choices later then.”
“I have no reason to,” was the soft, muffled reply.
He lay awake for a while, feeling Alhaitham’s body grow slack in slumber and the soft puffs of his breath against his collar, going over his plans for tomorrow. He wanted to get some shopping done and cook something that would nourish Alhaitham in his current state. Hopefully the other would have some energy by then, maybe go out together and get some fresh air.
Yes, that sounded nice.
He let his thoughts drift off as he curled tighter around his lover, sheltering him in the warmth of their bed, their home.
He fell asleep to dreams of one more sharing it.