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The warm breeze of the wind. The birds chirping loudly. The sun shining down upon Sumeru city. Today was a nice day for strolling around the crowded streets hustling with people from all regions. Vendors left and right all day and night selling goods to the kind people of Sumeru. One including a young man, probably in his early 20s.
“Hey, could I just get one of these?” Kaveh asked.
“That’ll be 20000 mora” the vendor stated with a gruff voice.
“Aha… sir, 20000?… surely that can’t be right” Kaveh nervously chuckled. 20000 mora may not sound like a lot to some but to him it wasn’t even enough to pay his rent. As much as he hates to admit it, even times like this made him think he was lucky to have that nuisance in his home.
“Ahem, where’s my mora?” the store vendor persisted voice starting to lose patience.
“Umm… just wait a min…and I’ll uhh be…right back” Kaveh replied before picking up the pace and running off into the distance till he was out of sight. I really should have asked that jerk for mora before leaving the house he thought to himself.
⭐️
“Oh… you’re back” Alhaitham uttered as he flicked the page of his book, immersed in what he was reading as he didn’t take one glance at the man who’d entered the door looking like he was about to throw a fit. “So did you get what you were looking for?”
“Fucking dude didn’t let me get shit” Kaveh hissed with annoyance.
“Well what did I tell you? I mean you really didn’t think that bringing 10000 mora would get you much out here in Sumeru” Alhaitham replied.
“Well you’re the asshole who wouldn’t even let me borrow anything even if I asked!”
“Oh and how could you be so sure?”
“Because- you- you’re always a jerk when it comes to these sort of things! Thinking you’re all high and mighty being the scribe of the Akademiya without giving a fuck for others except yourself!
“And so you assume that I can’t spare a few mora to those in need?” Alhaitham proposed finally glancing at the blonde man from the chair he sat in across the entrance.
“Well, yeah actually! I mean I can’t really expect anything off you..” he trailed off as he walked upstairs to his room, laid across his bed and sighed with exhaustion. He turned to the clock on the wall: 4pm. At this moment, he realised he had a meeting with one of the researchers at the Akademiya in just under an hour.
To be honest, he really couldn’t be bothered with it but he knew it was crucial and that he couldn’t miss it. With him being a student at the Akademiya he had a lot to do including researching, journalism and doing commissions for others as he also studied architecture. While it may seem fun from time to time it was often a pain in the ass. Some people being jerks there with no patience, pilling up with more work and having no free time. Kaveh let out another sigh of exhaustion before finally picking up the energy to get up and get ready to leave the house soon.
“Hey, Im going out again so make sure you tidy up those books on the shelf while I’m gone” Kaveh stated.
“You’re asking me when you still haven’t cleaned the kitchen?” The platinum haired man declared as he was sat in an armchair still glued to that book he was reading.
“Well first of all you used the kitchen after me and second of all I hadn’t had time to clean it!” Kaveh remarked.
“And is that my problem that you’re always so busy?” The platinum haired man replied.
“Maybe it’s that you should show more consideration and think about the place you live in too”
“And you’re the one living in my place”
After that being said Kaveh let out a deep breath before saying to Alhaitham: “Whatever, I can’t afford wasting any more time here so I have to go now.” Alhaitham glancing at him discretely as Kaveh made his way to the door and then sighing once the blonde nuisance was finally out of the house, resuming back to his book that had currently peaked his interest.
⭐️
7:30pm. The clock had shown that it’s been over 2 hours since the meeting began with the Akademiyas researcher but to Kaveh it felt more like half a day had passed as he sat there taking in the information starting to lose interest. He was even more interested in the weird way the Akademiyas researcher’s hair had somehow defied gravity in the peculiar way it was styled.
“Helloooo earth to Kaveh, are you even still listening to me?” The researcher proclaimed.
“Mhm” he nodded nonchalantly with his eyes looking they were about to close.
“So about the Palace of Alcazarzaray, I wanted to make a suggestion of the possible alterations that we could proceed with to improve this place.”
“Yeah so what were you thinking?” Kaveh asked with compliance.
“We could build a informations and research extension along the left port”
“Hmm… that’s not a bad idea but it would take some consideration”
“Of course but I believe that by doing this it can ensure more proficiency at work as there will be more space and resources available” the researcher suggested.
As much as Kaveh was tired he decided to endure the meeting for however long it had to take. Some bits of his job felt mundane such as these meetings but once these ideas come into action it was something mesmerising like when the Palace of Alcazarzaray was finally built it filled kaveh with satisfaction and fulfilment as he was the main contributor to the project.
“I agree. I’ll think about it but for now it seems this meeting is overdue” he announced as he took a look at the clock that showed the meeting was meant to have ended 15 minutes ago.
“Oh my, well would you look at the time!”
“Ahaha yes, time really did fly and now it’s getting late but I’ll see you next week”
“Yes, take care Kaveh I’ll see you later”
“You too, take care. Bye” he waved before heading off back home.
Finally that’s done he thought to himself. He’s glad that was over because now he just wanted to lie in bed and relax but unfortunately that meant returning back to that silver haired jerk.
As he strolled down the quiet streets of Sumeru he caught the faint smell of spices and sauces. As he followed the enticing savoury smell he landed at a food vendor which was led by an old man - probably in his 70s.
While looking around the stall Kaveh caught a glimpse of all the interesting and unique dishes however, the one that caught his eye was the butter chicken. A flavorful dish. Spice and chopped tomatoes mixed with warm butter, and then cooked into a creamy sauce. Into it went marinated and pan-fried chicken pieces. Usually this was eaten with rice or flatbread.
“Hello young man. You seem quite engrossed here”
“Haha, well your dishes certainly look delicious”
“Of course, here I handle every single dish with care using organic ingredients to provide exceptional quality. Now is there anything you’d like?”
“Hmm…” Kaveh thought as he saw all the dishes that were basically calling his name but the butter chicken is what truly had his attention. “I’ll have the butter chicken please. Oh and could I get that to go?”
“Of course young sir, that’ll be 500 mora”
Kaveh was surprised to come across the cheap offer and he was relived to not have to spend so much mora as he didn’t wanna go around asking Alhaitham for anything. He handed the mora with a wide smile: “Here you go sir”
“Thank you, have a nice evening and take care!” Kaveh exclaimed with a smile on his face as he waved goodbye.
“You too young man. Do come back whenever” the old man proclaimed as he waved back to the blonde man.
⭐️
When Kaveh arrived back home, Alhaitham was no longer sat on that the velvet armchair that he had been on most of the day. Instead he could hear a noise coming from the kitchen that sounded like dishes being washed so Kaveh headed to the kitchen. To his surprise there was Alhaitham washing the dishes.
“Oh didn’t expect to see you doing chores around here” Kaveh said with a witty smile arms crossed as he leaned against the door frame.
“I’m only tidying up for myself, no need to be surprised” the silver haired man proclaimed.
“Well when it’s you I should be surprised especially when you hardly clean up whenever I tell you to.”
Alhaitham faintly chuckled. Kaveh had seen him chuckle many times but this time it seemed different. Usually there was hint of disdain and irritation within but this time he felt a genuine hint of tolerance and acceptance - it was as if he was seeing Alhaitham in a different light. Another is that they weren’t arguing for once and they were having what could be called a normal conversation.
Kaveh also felt captivated in the man’s handsome looks: his defined jawline, his sharp narrow eyes, his pale smooth complexion and the shiny, platinum strands of hair that laid across his face. What also popped out to him was the man’s strong build that was hidden under the thin, black compression shirt that really did show his muscles. Damn he thought, he really was an attractive individual.
“Hey are you just gonna keep standing there watching me like a hawk?” Alhaitham exclaimed finally brining back Kaveh to his senses.
“Oh uh… I was just thinking for a moment”
“Oh? About what?”
“Ahaha it’s nothing really. Just that… you’re… you’re an asshole you know that” Kaveh said as he smirked.
“Oh really?” Alhaitham chuckled again before finishing up and tidying the surfaces.
As he walked out he went up to Kaveh until they were merely a few inches away leaving Kaveh’s back pressed firmly against the wall as Alhaitham’s hand landed on the wall on Kaveh’s right side. Kaveh could feel his heart rate slowly but surely increasing as the proximity between them was inching closer than usual. He found his eyes meeting the others sharp, perceptive gaze. Those turquoise eyes like oceans as he found himself deeper into his gaze then subconsciously dropping down to his lips. Those smooth, peach lips that he wondered if he maintained because damn they looked kissable but he knew he had to snap out of it. What was he doing being allured by this man?
“H-Hey… um can I go now..?” The man beneath him stuttered as he pointed towards the exit.
“Sure, just checking something…” Alhaitham replied as he quickly searched across Kaveh’s face before removing his arm and walking out of the room leaving Kaveh in bewilderment as he let out a sigh of relief. Why he thought to himself. Why couldn’t he get the words out at that moment? Why did his heart rate increase so much? Why did he find himself captivated within the man’s looks?
After that Kaveh wondered what that was all about and that it’s best he just went bed. Then he remembered about the butter chicken he had bought previously and that he would go bed after eating the tempting, delicious delicacy.
⭐️
Beep beep beep went the alarm clock: 7am. Kaveh woke up as he turned off the alarm clock wishing to get more shuteye. He yawned as he stretched his arms and got out of bed. Today he had to get ready for another full day at the Akademiya being a student there. Both him and Alhaitham actually.
Even though the two lived together and went to the same university they never went to school together. First of all, they often started at different times and usually Alhaitham would be out of the house by the time Kaveh woke up. Secondly, the sole fact that they hated eachother was enough to put them off going to school together.
Kaveh had to be at school by 8am so he got himself ready then headed to the kitchen to make himself some breakfast.
Like always Alhaitham had already left the house and he didn’t leave anything to spare for him to eat. Well to be fair Alhaitham didn’t really eat much in the mornings whereas Kaveh could eat a whole banquet for breakfast. The two were polar opposites when it came to many things. For example, Kaveh preferred his steak rare whereas the other preferred his well done. Another was that Kaveh liked spicy food while the other preferred a mild taste. This dichotomy was what led them to their little quarrels and arguments but perhaps these were what would also grow the two closer…