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Honesty is an important virtue—that was something Kaveh had always wholeheartedly believed. As the architect was someone who thought that an individual should follow their own ideals to the best of their ability, he lived his day to day life trying to be an honest person.
When purchasing groceries at the farmer’s market, he never hesitated to tell the vendor if they had accidentally undercharged him. During his days as a student in the Akademiya, Kaveh never cheated on any assignments or tests. His outstanding grades were the result of not only his natural talent for academics, but also his hard work and perseverance. Countless nights he would spend in the House of Daena, chasing deadlines (although he admittedly did have a tendency to procrastinate, often working during bursts of energy where he was feeling particularly motivated, Kaveh still managed to get everything done) and studying for upcoming exams.
Kaveh always worked closely with his clients on projects, making sure to capture both their intended vision and add just a few “special touches” of his own. He certainly deserved his reputation as the Light of Kshahrewar, as he was an architect of immense integrity and skill. He certainly wasn’t perfect, but Kaveh always tried his best to keep the promises he made to others.
Despite being generally a pretty honest person, Kaveh still struggled to be honest to himself. For instance, it took him a while to fully admit to himself that he had a drinking problem. As he was human, it was only natural for him to have vices—alcohol was one of them. It made sense, really; Kaveh was someone with many troubles in life, and alcohol acted as a temporary remedy to the struggles he faced. Nearly every time he had hit up the tavern to have just a “drink or two” to destress after a long, tiring day, he always ended up drinking more than he had intended to.
This often led to Kaveh passing out at the bar and having to get carried out of Lambad’s by his insufferable yet considerate (after all, who else was close enough to the architect to tolerate this type of frequent behavior?) roommate. It was a mortifying experience every time it occurred, one that would come back to his mind after he had awoken the next morning with a terrible hangover.
It was embarrassing for Alhaitham of all people to witness him being a complete mess and having to drag him back to the house. It was somehow even more embarrassing than Tighnari catching him drinking during the daytime (which had happened several times).
Kaveh could deal with the forest watcher’s stern chastising, but putting up with Alhaitham’s genuine worry, even if it was disguised under layers of snarky remarks…that was something different entirely. He hated the feeling that he was disappointing Alhaitham every time he had succumbed to his inhibitions, visible by the scribe’s concerned frowns or his displeased sighs at the sight of a Kaveh who had gotten blackout drunk.
The architect liked to believe he was getting better, taking small steps to improve and better himself as a person every day. He admitted to himself that he had a serious problem and was well aware of its root cause. As a result, Kaveh began to visit the tavern less and when offered alcohol at a gathering, he forced himself to reject it.
It wasn’t easy, and sometimes he still inevitably did fall victim to his desires—but what mattered was that he was trying his best, and that he was making progress.
In his journey of learning to be more honest with himself, there was also something glaringly important he had to acknowledge. Feelings Kaveh had harbored for years, feelings he had previously been so deeply in denial of. Feelings that were romantic in nature…feelings for Alhaitham.
Perhaps if things were different and their situation a more amicable one, Kaveh would’ve readily confessed his feelings to his roommate. Despite being well aware of Alhaitham’s lack of taste and utterly unromantic sensibilities, Kaveh would’ve still done something memorable to demonstrate his affections. A beautiful bouquet of Sumeru roses, professing his love for Alhaitham during a candlelit dinner or in the empty streets of the city during the night, with the bright stars shining above them…
It was unfortunate that was not the reality Kaveh was living in. To put it simply, things were…complicated between him and Alhaitham. The two of them struggled to get along, bickering over just about anything, whether it was serious topics or inconsequential matters.
Perhaps this was inevitable due to their opposing ideologies and perspectives on life, but things were once different. Back when Kaveh and Alhaitham were students at the Akademiya, they still argued daily, but these arguments were more like debates between two friends. Even during simple conversations these days, scathing insults were exchanged.
And yet, even during these heated moments, neither Kaveh or Alhaitham chose to bring up what exactly had caused the shift in their relationship—an explosive argument that led to an abandoned project and the two men not speaking for years. It was an old wound, one that still needed time to heal.
Despite their ambivalent relationship, there was no denying that Kaveh and Alhaitham still cared about each other. Kaveh could never bring himself to truly hate the scribe despite how irritating and frustrating he could be—his feelings for Alhaitham were rather the opposite.
As those very pesky feelings were romantic in nature, it was only reasonable for Kaveh to come to the conclusion that he was in love with his roommate. It was a simultaneously beautiful yet terrifying thing to experience. It was contradictory how thoughts of Alhaitham had Kaveh’s stomach tied in knots, a jumbled-up pit of despair, while also making him see the world through rose-tinted glasses.
There was also a sort of sorrow that came with being so deeply in love with Alhaitham. For one, Kaveh doubted the other man returned his affections. A potential rejection from Alhaitham would have his heart wilt like the petals of a mourning flower.
His feelings for Alhaitham was something the other man could not know about…at least for the time being, as Kaveh was still processing these complex emotions. In his effort to figure things out on his own, the architect had been avoiding his roommate.
It was a good thing that Kaveh was familiar with Alhaitham’s schedule, as he could use that to his advantage. And it did work for a little while…but then the scribe started to get suspicious of him.
Kaveh knew that his roommate could tell that he was acting differently by the way Alhaitham’s lingering gaze stuck to him the few times they did cross paths these days (usually in the living room of the house, as they still did live together; it was only inevitable for Kaveh to bump into the other man despite how much he was trying to avoid him). Alhaitham’s sharp, keen eyes were like a hawk’s, laser-focused and determined to pick apart Kaveh’s mind.
Thankfully, Alhaitham hadn’t questioned him directly about his strange behavior. However, Kaveh was smart enough to know that it was only a matter of time before the scribe confronted him about why exactly he was acting so distant. The architect couldn’t avoid Alhaitham for much longer, and he would have to figure out what exactly to do next…
Kaveh’s predicament was certainly a complicated one, but that was to be expected. After all, being in love (especially with someone like Alhaitham) could be truly a complicated matter.
As Kaveh exited the Grand Bazaar, he felt the sensation of something wet falling down, dampening his hair and clothes. It didn’t take the architect too long to realize that it was raining. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to bring his umbrella with him…again. How many times was this going to keep on happening to him?
“Great,” The architect grumbled to himself, letting out a sigh of exasperation. “Just my luck…”
He’d better hurry home before he got absolutely drenched by the rain. Kaveh began to pick up his pace, grateful that the streets of Sumeru City weren’t too crowded today.
Despite the unexpected rain, his day had been pretty good so far. His trip to the Grand Bazaar had proven to be a rather enjoyable one indeed; not only was he lucky enough to catch one of the Zubayr Theater’s impromptu performances, but he had also bought a beautiful shawl from one of the merchants at the bazaar.
The merchant had told him that the shawl was made out of mulberry silk and had been imported from the nation of Liyue. Immediately, the intricate, detailed gold embroidery on the fabric had caught his eye—Kaveh knew he had to get it. The shawl was also a deep crimson, one of his preferred colors; not to mention, it matched the shade of the cape he wore on a frequent basis pretty closely.
Admittedly, the shawl wasn’t cheap, but Kaveh reasoned with himself that he had bought it at a good price. After all, the merchant did sell it to him with a discount, and there was no way he would’ve been able to part from such a gorgeous piece of fabric. Besides, he kind of deserved to treat himself every once in a while. The shawl was far from a waste of Mora.
Kaveh knew that he was going to get a lecture from Alhaitham and criticism about how he was “unable to and terrible at managing his own personal finances”...but why should it be a concern to his roommate, anyways? Alhaitham always had too many opinions (most of them often being unwanted). Besides, the scribe shouldn’t have any issue with his purchase this time, as Kaveh had bought it with his own hard-earned Mora.
He continued on his way back to the house, keeping his canvas bag clutched tightly against his body to prevent any rain from falling into the opening and getting the shawl wet. The scent of freshly grilled tandoori chicken and aromatic spices wafted in the air as he passed through Treasures Street, making his stomach growl. Perhaps he was hungrier than he initially thought. The sooner Kaveh got back to the house, the sooner he could fix something quick for himself to eat.
The pitter-patter of the rain hitting the rooftops was a comforting, melodic sound. Even if Kaveh was unhappy about the sudden rain, lamenting his lack of an umbrella, it soothed him a bit…though it would be much more pleasant to listen to inside rather than outside.
However, the tranquil atmosphere did not last for long. With every progressing minute, the downpour grew heavier and heavier. There was no way Kaveh could avoid getting drenched by now. With his soaked clothes and flattened hair, he was sure that he looked like a wet cat—a pitiful display. It was a shame, really, about his hair; all that effort and styling had gone to waste, ruined by the rain.
By the time he was just a couple of minutes away from the house, he noticed something rather strange. There was a young girl who looked to be no older than the age of twelve, finding refuge from the rain by standing under the awning of a building. She was a rather small, scrawny thing, with mousy brown hair and wide green eyes. As Kaveh got closer to the kid, he realized that she was crying; her eyes were puffy, and tears streamed down her reddened cheeks.
Poor kid, he thought to himself. Kaveh couldn’t help but feel bad for the girl. There was no way he was going to leave a sad, crying child alone. And so, he decided to approach the girl and see if there was any way he could help her.
“Hey, what’s wrong? What are you doing here all by yourself?” The architect asked softly, trying not to further upset the girl and to make her feel more at ease. He joined her under the awning, bending down ever so slightly to match the girl’s height.
The girl slowly looked up at him before diverting her gaze right back down, sniffling a bit. She remained quiet, though the tears continued to flow. It was clear that something had happened to the girl. After a little while, the girl broke her silence, though she still avoided looking directly at Kaveh in the eyes.
“...sorry if I’m being a bother to you, mister. It’s just...it’s really stupid. I’ll tell you what’s wrong, but you have to—you have to promise to believe me. And you have to promise not to laugh.”
“Come on now, there’s no need to apologize—you’re not being a bother at all. You have my word.” Kaveh reassured the girl with nothing but sincerity to be heard in his voice. “I promise I’ll believe you, and I promise I won’t laugh.”
The girl still looked a bit apprehensive, but she ultimately decided to trust the architect. “O-okay. It’s a bit of a long story, are you sure you don’t mind listening?”
“Take all the time you need.” As he gave the girl a warm, sympathetic smile, she began to loosen up a little.
“Alright, so...it all started when I had just gotten a few new cards I added to my TCG deck. I was really excited about it, too! I was going to show off the new cards I had gotten to Akeem and Fikri the next time we played together…and they were going to be so jealous. I bought those new cards with my own allowance, and I worked really, really hard to get them. I was saving up for those cards for months!”
Kaveh noticed the way the young girl’s eyes gleamed as she talked about the card game. It was clearly something that she was very passionate about. While the architect wasn’t a fanatic like Cyno when it came to Genius Invocation TCG, he was still decently familiar with how the game worked.
“Anyways...when I was walking back home, I bumped into Reza. I don’t think a grown-up like yourself would know him, but he’s one of the meanest bullies around. A real big meanie. He was so mad that I bumped into him that he snatched my casket of tomes from my hands and ran away! I had to chase after him, but by the time I caught up with Reza, he…he—” Her emotions seemed to catch up with her as the girl began to speak faster telling her story, before running out of breath. The tears began to form once again, and she trembled in anger.
“This…this sounds a little crazy, but there was a pair of Rishboland Tigers prowling near the city, and he threw the deck near where they were before laughing and running off! I’ve been waiting for the tigers to leave, but I don’t know if they’re going to. And by now, my cards have probably gotten ruined by the rain. I…I don’t think there’s a chance I can get my cards back.”
Meekly, the girl met his gaze and sighed. “It’s so stupid, I know. Look at me, crying over some dumb cards…”
Kaveh’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. He quickly understood that the young girl was afraid that he would make fun of the bizarre nature of her situation or perhaps even her interest in TCG. That was why she was so quick to dismiss her sadness as something that was “dumb” and “stupid”—and the girl had mentioned often encountering a bully too, so it only made sense why she grew to be so defensive.
“Hey,” The architect placed a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I don’t think it’s stupid. It’s totally fair for you to be upset, and it is a big deal because those TCG cards mean a lot to you. I promise I’ll try my best to help you get them back.”
The girl sniffled and shook her head. “You’re too kind, mister. You really don’t have to do that for me.”
“Oh, but I insist,” Kaveh looked at the girl with soft eyes. “You deserve to get that deck of yours back! Besides, wouldn’t it be rather rude of me to just leave you here all by yourself?”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go home? Maybe there’s someone waiting for you, just like how my mom is…oh, she’s probably mad that I’m not home yet…”
The young girl’s words made Kaveh think. There was someone waiting for him at home, and that certain someone was probably curled up on the divan reading a new book he had borrowed from the House of Daena. Alhaitham always looked so peaceful when he was reading, engrossed and lost in the pages of the book in his hands. And to be completely honest with himself, there were more than a few times Kaveh snuck a few glances at Alhaitham during those special moments, mesmerized by his handsome face…
Thoughts of that certain someone instantly made the architect’s face heat up, and he tried desperately to think about something else. Like…focusing on the current issue at hand. He needed to help this girl.
“Think about it this way: the sooner I help you get your cards back, the sooner we both can go home,” Kaveh reasoned. “Now, tell me. Where did you last see those Rishboland Tigers you mentioned?”
“They’re not far from here…come with me, I’ll show you where they are.” Although she took hesitant steps forward and out of the awning, the girl began to lead the way.
“By the way, you never gave me your name.” The architect followed right behind her, before speeding up a bit to match her urgent pace.
He took note of how the skies were gloomier and darker than before. Rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance, but perhaps it was a good sign that the rain had almost stopped completely.
“Oh! Right…I must apologize for my poor manners,” The girl said sheepishly, cheeks tinted pink in embarrassment. “I’m Mahsha, what’s your name?”
“I’m Kaveh,” he replied. “And I must insist, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You were catching me up on your situation. There wasn’t really time for any proper introductions, but I’m quite glad that we’re acquainted now.”
Mahsha turned around to stare at him, her wide green eyes somehow even getting wider. “You’re Kaveh? The…the Light of Kshahrewar himself?”
While Kaveh was well aware of the fact that he had become somewhat famous in Sumeru, a household name when it came to the world of architecture, he was surprised that a child so young had heard of him before. “Yes, that’s me! Though as flattering as it can be, I’ve never really cared for such titles. Please, just call me Kaveh.”
“I…I didn’t know I was talking to a celebrity this whole time,” That was debatable, as Kaveh didn’t really consider himself to be a celebrity, but the girl was still in awe. “My dad’s from the Kshahrewar darshan, that’s how I know about you. Honestly…architecture stuff doesn’t really interest me, but he’s talked a lot about you and told me that you’re really good at what you do. He’s always said that it’d be an honor to meet you.”
Laughing a bit, the girl smiled—a real, genuine smile. “I just think it’s kind of funny that I met you before he did.”
Kaveh offered her a soft smile in return. While the girl was still upset about losing her casket of tomes, she seemed to be much more at ease. That was nice. “Maybe after all this is done, you can introduce me to him. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to a fellow architect, anyway.”
Mahsha’s smile widened, becoming a toothy grin. “You’d really do that? Man, he’s not going to believe it when I tell him about who I’ve met today…”
It wasn’t long before they reached the outskirts of Sumeru City; Mahsha really was right when she said that the location of where her cards were last seen was close by. Kaveh and Mahsha approached the area slowly, as the Rishboland Tigers were still there. The mighty beasts were in deep slumber, curled up underneath a large tree.
Sure enough, a casket of tomes was spotted—though unfortunately, it was dangerously close to where the two tigers were sleeping.
“You stay here, Mahsha. I’ll go get your casket of tomes.”
“Okay, mister…” she flashed him a look of worry, her words laced with hesitance and caution. “Just…be careful, okay? Those tigers look pretty scary, and I don’t want to see you get hurt…”
“Don’t worry about me,” Kaveh insisted, giving the young girl one final look back before he began to make his way towards the casket of tomes with slow, cautious steps. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”
As Rishboland Tigers were known for their keen ears, he needed to be as quiet as possible. They were also known to be territorial creatures, and would be very unhappy about the fact that Kaveh was about to invade their space. One wrong move, and things could end badly for him.
By the time Kaveh was close enough to pick up the casket of tomes, he silently thanked Lesser Lord Kusanali that he had made it this far and that the tigers were still asleep. He bent down to reach the casket of tomes before standing back up, and waved it high in the air so Mahsha could see it. The young girl still looked worried, as Kaveh was mere inches away from a pair of slumbering beasts, but she beamed and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
…unfortunately, Kaveh hadn’t noticed the small branch in front of him. To the average eye, the twig would seem like an incredibly inconsequential thing, but its snap! had dire consequences. The architect stood completely still, having just realized that he had stepped on the twig. From behind him, Kaveh could hear the low growl of a Rishboland Tiger…
Shit.
“Watch out, mister Kaveh!” Mahsha screamed.
Kaveh barely had any time to react to the girl’s warning. Before he could turn around and face the tigers, one of them unsheathed its claws and slashed across his back, tearing through the thin fabric of his shirt. As the claws of the tiger cut into his flesh, fresh blood began to ooze from the newly-formed wound. Kaveh felt the pain in an instant—the burning, stinging pain.
He felt the adrenaline in his veins, activating his fight or flight instincts. Kaveh didn’t have the option to fight, as he had left Mehrak at home, he couldn’t summon his claymore to his side and properly face off against the beasts. He had his Dendro vision, but he wasn’t completely knowledgeable on how to use it in combat—after all, Kaveh wasn’t much of a fighter anyways. Perhaps he could conjure up vines to wrap around the legs of the Rishboland Tigers, but he honestly didn’t think they would be very effective…
That meant there was only one option left. He had to run.
Unfortunately for Kaveh, the tiger reacted more quickly than he did. In one swift motion, he was pinned down onto the ground, and forced to stare at the fearsome face of a Rishboland Tiger. The beast bared its teeth at him, snarling. Kaveh could feel his heart beat rapidly against his chest, as fear started to cloud his senses.
He was running out of options. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad of an idea to summon some vines from the ground. Even if the tiger could easily break free from them, he could temporarily immobilize it and break free—
Before Kaveh had time to put his plan into action, a series of chisel-light mirrors were flung his direction, aimed at the tiger on top of him. As soon as the attack hit the tiger, it hissed, moving out of the way to avoid another barrage of Dendro mirrors.
This allowed Kaveh the opportunity to get up, though he winced in pain as he did so. He limped to the side, hyper-aware every second of how terribly his back was aching. The two tigers growled, as more mirrors were aimed directly at them. Not wanting to deal with the bombardment of attacks anymore, the beasts began to flee, running deeper into the forest.
Kaveh watched the tigers until they disappeared completely, and let out a sigh of relief. Everything occurred so quickly, and only now was he able to fully process what had just happened. Clearly, someone had saved him from the tigers—presumably an individual who wielded the powers of Dendro, shaping their attacks in the unique form of sharp beams of light.
Wait. The Dendro attacks from earlier came in the form of chisel-light mirrors. Which meant there could only be one person behind this…
Kaveh looked up, meeting the sharp teal eyes of his knight in shining armor.
“Alhaitham?! What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Alhaitham countered. The sword he held by his side was still faintly glowing with Dendro energy, no doubt an effect from the chisel-light mirrors he had previously summoned. “It truly astonishes me how you always manage to get yourself into trouble. I’d argue that it’s almost impressive.”
Before Kaveh could fire back with a sarcastic remark of his own, Mahsha was running towards them, a panicked expression on her face. “Mister Kaveh, mister Kaveh! I saw what just happened, I’m so, so sorry I couldn’t help…I saw the tiger attack you, did you get hurt?”
“Oh!” The architect forced a smile on his face and handed the girl her deck of cards. “Here’s your casket of tomes. I’m afraid I got a bit of blood on it, but other than that it looks to be in good condit—”
“What? You just got attacked by a tiger and your main concern is the cards?” The girl stared at him in disbelief. “Don’t get me wrong mister, thank you for helping me get my cards back and thank you for all your help. I’m very, very grateful, but are you…are you okay?”
“It’s fine, Mahsha,” While Kaveh tried to keep his laugh lighthearted, it came out more so pained. “It’s just a scratch, that’s all!”
“Kaveh…that’s not just a scratch,” Alhaitham leaned slightly back to inspect Kaveh’s injury. He sounded genuinely worried. “You got hurt—badly too, judging by how deep your wound is. If you don’t take care of it soon, it can lead to an infection. You don’t need an Amurta scholar to tell you that.”
“Psh, it’s nothing I can’t deal with,” Kaveh waved a hand dismissively, trying to ignore the throbbing pain on his back. “You know that I’ve been through a lot. Honestly, I’d rather deal with this than some of the difficult, uncooperative clients I’ve had in the past. Getting scratched by a Rishboland Tiger is certainly more preferable to going bankrupt, for instance.”
“Mister Kaveh…listen to your friend,” Mahsha toyed nervously with the casket of tomes in her hands. “He’s right. You got hurt really badly.”
The architect felt blood continue to ooze from the rather nasty gash, the sticky crimson fluid dripping down his back. His shirt was completely ruined, the fabric torn unceremoniously apart by the beast’s claws, but it was fine—Kaveh had a couple of shirts that were similar enough to this one, anyways. Bruises littered the parts of his arms that were exposed by rolled-up sleeves, a result of the friction that had occurred as flesh rubbed against the dirt ground. His hair was messed-up and tousled by the suddenness of the attack, his braid partially undone and blue feather crooked.
Kaveh didn’t need a mirror to know that he looked like a mess right now. He wasn’t necessarily embarrassed about the fact that Alhaitham was seeing him like this (after all, the scribe had seen a blackout drunk, passed out Kaveh who was an absolute mess on numerous occasions), but he did feel somewhat self-conscious about how concerned his roommate was getting over him.
Alhaitham didn’t need to fret over him this much. Kaveh was an adult (and two years the scribe’s senior!), he could take care of himself. Deep down, the architect felt guilty about causing Alhaitham to feel distressed.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t take care of it,” Kaveh huffed. “I just think you’re making this out to be more serious than it actually is. I’ll recover, Haitham, I’m not dying. You don’t need to worry.”
“You know, even though you’re called the Light of Kshahrewar and considered to be a genius, you really can be incredibly stupid when it comes to certain matters.” Alhaitham sighed, shaking his head. “Of course, that’s also due to your self-sacrificing tendencies and stubborn nature—which can be separated from your intelligence.”
Kaveh bristled. Even if Alhaitham was concerned about him, the scribe would never pass up an opportunity to insult his character. “And you want to talk about my so-called personality flaws right now? You know what—I shouldn’t even be surprised, because that seems to be one of your favorite topics to discuss!”
Right after he went on that heated rant, his head started to hurt. The world around him started to blur; Kaveh had always prided himself on his near-perfect vision, but right now, his surroundings looked to be a bit hazy. He felt dizzy, disoriented. The architect tried to take a step forward, but his balance was unsteady; he nearly tripped and fell onto the floor.
Perhaps Alhaitham had noticed Kaveh’s odd behavior; before he had time to process what was happening, he felt the scribe carry him in one fell swoop, his weight supported by powerful arms. He thought about how his roommate’s strength both irritated and charmed him. Right now, Kaveh supposed he was grateful that Alhaitham had prevented him from completely collapsing.
“That’s enough, Kaveh.” The scribe said sternly, though there was not a lack of warmth in his voice. “I’m bringing you home.”
In response, the architect nodded weakly. His limbs felt like they were giving up on him, and the pounding headache persisted. Even through his blurry vision, Alhaitham’s teal eyes staring into his amber ones were incredibly clear. Even in his disoriented state, the intensity of the scribe’s gaze pierced through.
Home, that sounded rather nice…
Before Kaveh passed out and the world around him was enveloped in complete darkness, he heard Alhaitham and Mahsha exchange a few words.
“...do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“I’ll be honest with you. While Kaveh downplayed the severity of his injury, I choose to instead acknowledge the truth. A wound as serious as his will need to be treated as soon as possible. You and I can both agree that Kaveh isn’t in the best shape, but as long as I’m taking care of him…he’ll be okay.”
Kaveh woke up to the pleasant scent of burning lavender incense. As he sat up slightly, wincing due to the newly-formed gash on his back, the architect did a quick scan of his surroundings, quickly realizing he was back in his own bedroom. The fleece blanket wrapped around him made Kaveh feel rather warm and cozy; the soft pillows his head rested upon provided the utmost comfort.
He wanted to sink into his bed forever, to exist permanently in this blissful state of mind. Would that be too much to ask for?
Kaveh noticed that beside his bed lay the canvas bag he usually brought with him when he went shopping. Taking a peek inside, he realized with great relief that the shawl he had bought earlier yesterday was still there. Kaveh pulled the crimson fabric out of the bag and splayed it out in front of him on his blanket-covered lap, admiring the intricate embroidery.
The architect didn’t remember much about what happened after he had gotten attacked by the Rishboland Tigers, but there were a few key memories. The chisel-light mirrors, the stinging pain of his wound, Alhaitham coming to rescue him.
The last thing he remembered before the world went pitch black was being swept up in the scribe’s arms, which must have meant that Alhaitham was the one to bring him home…
As if on cue, the door opened, revealing the man himself.
“Ah, you’re awake now. Just in time, let me go and bring you some food to eat.” Alhaitham left as quickly as he appeared.
It didn’t take too long for him to return once again however, this time with a tray containing a bowl filled with what looked to be hot soup, biryani, utensils, and his favorite mug. In his hand Alhaitham held a warm cloth, a roll of gauze, along with a small bottle containing a greenish-white ointment.
He neatly folded the shawl and set it beside him on the bed. Now that he thought about it had been a long time since Kaveh had last eaten. The architect stared at the food with wide eyes, eager to feast.
Alhaitham laughed softly as he set the tray gently onto Kaveh’s lap. “You must be really hungry.”
“...of course!” The architect exclaimed, already starting to dig into the biryani. “I’m starving!”
Perhaps it was because he was famished, but he swore that the biryani tasted like the best thing he had ever eaten. Maybe Kaveh had underestimated Alhaitham’s abilities as a cook. He scarfed down the biryani, savoring the flavorful rice and tender meat.
“How are you feeling?” The scribe asked, pulling a nearby chair so he could sit beside Kaveh.
“Compared to yesterday? Astronomically better,” Kaveh said between mouthfuls of rice. “My back still hurts, but that’s to be expected after getting literally clawed by a tiger—”
Almost in amusement, Alhaitham quirked an eyebrow. “So you admit that your injuries are indeed severe. That’s a far cry from how you were behaving yesterday, Kaveh. If I recall correctly, you claimed that it was “just a scratch!” and insisted that I was overreacting.”
“I just didn’t want the poor kid to be worried.” Kaveh said with a huff, taking a sip from his mug. The warm honey lemon tea soothed his throat, settling nicely in his stomach. “I mean, it’s already bad enough that she saw me get attacked by the tigers, which is a pretty gruesome sight for a child that young. Besides Haitham, you should know that I’m more than capable of handling things myself. Shouldn’t a senior be watching over his junior and not the other way around?”
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham began to say, this time his tone much more serious. “If I hadn’t come, things could have turned out much worse for you. You didn’t even have your claymore with you when you were attacked.”
And honestly, Kaveh couldn’t really argue with that—not when Alhaitham was speaking the truth. His insufferable yet also incredibly considerate roommate had quite literally saved him, and that was something the architect would have to acknowledge.
“...thank you.” The words came out of his mouth slowly; they felt awkward on his tongue, almost as if he was practicing words he had just learned from a foreign language. Despite how truly grateful he was, Kaveh still struggled to properly convey his appreciation for Alhaitham.
Thankfully, Alhaitham didn’t tease him about it this time and ask for the architect to thank him again. Although Kaveh’s “thank you” was barely audible, a mere mumble, Alhaitham had heard what he said.
Instead of acknowledging what Kaveh had just said, Alhaitham eyed the bowl on the tray, pushing it closer to Kaveh. “You should eat the soup before it gets cold.”
Kaveh obliged, picking up a spoon and tasting the hot soup. It was genuinely delicious, reminding Kaveh a bit of the soup his mother used to make for him when he was a child. He laughed a little, scooping the bits of chicken and chopped-up vegetables into his spoon.
“You know,” The architect remarked. “For someone who supposedly hates drinking soup, you’re not half bad at making it.”
Alhaitham frowned a bit and crossed his arms against his chest. “You misinterpret my words; I never said anything about hating soup. I merely dislike it because it slows down my reading.”
“Yeah, yeah. Have you ever realized you don’t have to eat soup and read at the same time? But I wouldn’t put it past the Akademiya’s scribe to be incredibly dense.” Kaveh teased. “And you know, it would be nice if you weren’t reading during dinnertime and tried making conversation for once.”
After a brief pause, Kaveh put his spoon down. “What…what exactly happened after I passed out?”
“I brought you back home immediately before I went to Bimarstan to pick up some medicine. By the way, the girl told me the whole story. Risking your life to retrieve a casket of tomes for a child? I can’t say I’m surprised, Kaveh. Anyways, she told me to tell you that she’s very grateful that you were able to get her cards back and that she hopes your wound heals soon.”
“Tighnari happened to also be at Bimarstan, so I told him about your situation and he visited a few hours earlier to inspect your wound. He agrees that it’s pretty serious—so if you’re not going to believe me, at least believe a forest watcher—but he says that it should heal with no issue. Tighnari did say that you might be left with a couple of scars, however, as the tiger’s claws had cut pretty deep. Speaking of your wound, I need to clean it again and change the bandage.”
“I think it was worth it, honestly,” Kaveh admitted, turning around slightly and lifting up the back of his shirt—which he noted was a new one, the fabric no longer tattered. Had Alhaitham changed his clothes while he was unconscious too? Something about that caused Kaveh to feel incredibly flustered, and he tried to push thoughts of Alhaitham undressing him out of his mind. “I’m glad Mahsha was able to get her cards back. You should have seen the poor girl, she was so distraught over losing them.”
Alhaitham sighed as he gently tore off the gauze on Kaveh’s back. The feeling of the wet cloth pressing against the gash was a strange sensation. “You can’t always help everyone, Kaveh. If you aren’t careful, your altruism will lead to your downfall. If you give so much of yourself away, what will be left?”
The architect pondered on Alhaitham’s words. It reminded him of something the scribe had asked him a long time ago, the night they had reconnected in the tavern after several years of not speaking.
“How has realizing your ideals gone for you?”
“For what it’s worth, I was able to help Mahsha. And I think that means something.” As Alhaitham applied the ointment, Kaveh winced due to the scribe’s fingers making direct contact with his wound. It stung like a bitch, but Kaveh would just have to grit his teeth and endure. “You should know well enough that I’m never going to give up on my ideals.”
“I’ve known that for years. There’s really no one as stubborn as you.”
“Well,” Kaveh began, speaking in a teasing lilt. “I do happen to know someone who could be a contender. This asshole who belongs to the Haravatat darshan. I’m not sure if you know him, but I think his name starts with an A and ends with an M? He also works for the Akademiya, says he likes his cushy job because it allows him to be lazy.”
“Very funny, Kaveh.” Alhaitham drawled sarcastically, though a smile began to form—one that seemed strangely fond. Kaveh found himself smiling back, and he felt a familiar warmth flood his cheeks.
Only Alhaitham had this effect on him—to make him feel all sappy and lovesick.
The scribe unrolled and tore off a portion of the gauze, bandaging Kaveh’s wound. He pointed at the two small pills on the tray, directing the architect’s attention towards them. “Here. You should eat those, too. It’ll help with the pain.”
Kaveh nodded, taking a gulp of water and swallowing down the pills with them. The more he thought about it, the more he realized there was something oddly domestic about the whole scene. It was only then Kaveh stole a glance at Alhaitham’s face when the scribe wasn’t looking, and realized there was something surprisingly soft about the expression on his face.
Could it be that Alhaitham was fond of him as well? Could Kaveh allow himself to dare think of such a possibility?
In that very moment, Kaveh allowed himself to hope. Maybe it was something about the way Alhaitham had been staring at him, the pure fondness discernible in his teal eyes. Maybe it was something about the fact that Kaveh no longer wanted to use the excuse that he was “dealing with his feelings” on his own, and instead confront them head-on. Perhaps it wasn’t fair for him to keep Alhaitham in the dark anymore.
“Thank you,” Kaveh said for the second time that day. The words came a little more naturally to him this time, and he forced himself to look Alhaitham directly in the eyes. “Thank you for doing all this for me. As irritating as you may be, I really do appreciate it. I feel like I don’t express how grateful I am enough. Honestly, I feel almost guilty about how much effort you’ve put into taking care of me.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty,” Alhaitham said with a sigh, before lifting the tray off of Kaveh’s lap and placing it on the architect’s desk. “I did all of this because I wanted to. I know you may think otherwise, but you’re not a burden.”
“Although, it is nice hearing words of gratitude from the Light of Kshahrewar himself,” The scribe began to smirk—a frustratingly handsome smirk on a frustratingly handsome face. “I wouldn’t mind hearing you say thank you more often.”
“You don’t need to be so smug about it.” Kaveh rolled his eyes, but he continued to smile. “Ugh, now I’m never going to thank you again.”
“And that would truly be a shame.”
“You know…” The architect began slowly, fingers playing with the soft, fuzzy material of his blanket. He was treading into more dangerous territory, but he wanted answers to a question he’d been wondering for years. “I’ve always wondered why you let me move in with you. It’s puzzled me for a long time. I always thought there’s no way you’d do something so kind without expecting something in return, especially since we were no longer friends, but now…I’ve realized that it has to be more than that.”
“It’s simple, really. You are my perfect mirror. You and I are like two sides of the same coin. We have opposing viewpoints on life and contradicting ideals; we rarely agree with each other, but it is only through conversations and debates with you that I have been able to expand my perspective, as well as ultimately learning more about the world. And you know, it really doesn’t hurt to have someone offer to do a majority of the housework.”
“But,” Alhaitham began to say more softly. “I do enjoy your company. It’s something I’ve missed for years. I don’t mind being alone, but being with you is much more preferable.”
Kaveh hadn’t expected his roommate’s confession to be so honest. Perhaps it was time for him to return the favor…
“Haitham, I—” He had to force it out, he wouldn’t let himself choke on his words. There was no turning back anymore, no reversing this decision. “I’m in love with you.”
For a moment that felt like eternity, the room was completely silent. Kaveh felt himself getting more and more anxious by Alhaitham’s lack of a response, but he could tell from the look on his face that the scribe was shocked. For a man who kept his cards close to his check and was seemingly stoic, it was clear that Kaveh had really caught him off-guard.
“...did I just hear what you said correctly?”
“You did.” Kaveh said firmly, trying to ignore how much his face was burning. “I’m in love with you, and I have been for many years. There, I said it! I like you even though you can be the most awful, irritating person in the world sometimes. It’s something I’ve only been able to come to terms with recently. I don’t expect you to like me back, but I thought you should know.”
Alhaitham stared at him in wonder, like Kaveh was the brightest star in the night sky. And before Kaveh could allow himself to get lost into those beautiful teal eyes, he felt a pair of lips suddenly pressed against his. His eyes widened, realizing that Alhaitham had just pulled him in for a kiss. Kaveh almost felt as if he was dreaming, but no—this was reality. Alhaitham really was kissing him, and Kaveh was kissing him back. It was intense and passionate and soft and tender all at the same time, a wave of varying emotions crashing into him.
But above all else, it was wonderful.
Alhaitham broke away first, and while he seemed to be less flustered compared to the architect, Kaveh noticed the pink hue tinging his cheeks.
Kaveh was left completely speechless, only able to muster out an awed “woah”. The scribe smiled to himself, looking very satisfied.
“Does this make my feelings for you obvious enough?”
The architect positively beamed, unable to stop himself from grinning. “Mm, it does,” he giggled. “But I think I want to hear you say the words.”
“Alright, alright. I like you, Kaveh. I like you a lot.”
And that was exactly what Kaveh wanted to hear. This was the reality he was living in—the one where Alhaitham loved him back—and it was an amazing, incredible thing. His wildest dreams really weren’t that wild.
Kaveh scooted over to the left, making some room on the bed for Alhaitham to join him. He patted the empty spot, and the scribe sat beside him. The architect rested his head in the crook of Alhaitham’s neck, perfectly content.
“What even are we?” he inquired with a breathy laugh.
To be completely honest, after their huge fight that had ended their friendship nearly a decade ago, things had always been complicated between Alhaitham and Kaveh. There was a while where they couldn’t even call each other friends anymore despite living under the roof. But now, things were clearly different.
“Well, we’ve just confessed our feelings for each other. I assume the only logical decision is to take the next step in our relationship.” Alhaitham threaded his fingers through Kaveh’s hair. “But we don’t have to put a label on it if you don’t want to.”
“I think that sounds perfect—it’s what I’ve wanted for so long, even if I didn’t quite know it yet. My boyfriend, the Grand Scribe,” Kaveh joked, already feeling a bit giddy inside. It was a bit strange and he would have to get used to it, but Kaveh revelled in his newfound ability to call Alhaitham his boyfriend, his lover.
“Please, Kaveh. I’m more than my title. Just like how you aren’t just the Light of Kshahrewar.” Alhaitham snorted, though he sounded quite pleased to be called Kaveh’s boyfriend. He pressed a kiss on the top of Kaveh’s head.
Despite how truly happy he felt, Kaveh still couldn’t shake the small pit of worry in his gut. Frowning slightly, he nestled his face deeper against the scribe’s shoulder and let out a sigh. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about this and I do want to be with you, but I can’t help but feel afraid. What if things don’t work out? We’ve always been fundamentally different people, and I don’t want a repeat of what happened back in the Akademiya.”
“I’m sure we’ll still argue. And we might not agree with each other all the time,” Alhaitham admitted, fingers stilling in Kaveh’s hair. “But we’re older now, wiser. We’ve grown and learned a lot. Hopefully that means we’ll make better decisions when it comes to each other.”
“Yeah…you’re right,” Kaveh agreed, laughing a little. “Sorry, I’m overthinking again.”
“I assure you, Kaveh, there’s no one I want to be with but you.”
“I always thought there wasn’t a romantic bone in your body. I guess I was wrong about that.” Maybe Alhaitham did have a way with his words—after all, he was a Haravatat scholar. Kaveh unfolded the crimson shawl that was resting at the edge of his bed and draped it across his shoulders.
“I was just telling the truth.” Alhaitham quirked an eyebrow, eyeing the fabric loosely wrapped around Kaveh’s body. “I’ve never seen you wear that before. Is it new?”
“It is!” Kaveh perked up slightly. “I bought it from a merchant at the Grand Bazaar yesterday before I was ah, attacked by tigers.”
“I suppose you must be satisfied with your purchase. It looks like it must’ve been pretty expensive, judging by how exquisite the material looks. How much did it cost?”
“I-I’ll admit it wasn’t cheap, but I got it at a discount! And you have any issues with that, just know I paid for the shawl with my own Mora.” Kaveh huffed, crossing his arms against his chest. “I just had to get it! There was no way I could’ve left the Grand Bazaar without the shawl.”
“I suppose I can make an exception. If it looks that beautiful on you, then it must have been worth the price.” Alhaitham stared him directly in the eyes and Kaveh wanted to melt as the scribe tucked a blond strand behind his ear.
“You—you flatter me, Haitham. Maybe you are able to realize the importance of aesthetics and learn to appreciate beauty when you see it.”
“Hm. I’m sure you could teach me all about that, senior Kaveh. Sounds like a rather riveting topic. Shall that be the subject of your next lecture at the Akademiya? As your dutiful junior, I promise to be in attendance.”
The two of them laughed, falling into an easy rhythm. They lay there on the bed for a while, perfectly content to just be next to each other and do nothing. If Kaveh had his Kamera with him, he would’ve loved to take a photo of the two of them cuddling in bed together, something to keep in his sketchbook forever.
Kaveh knew he was right where he belonged—embraced by the warmth of Alhaitham’s love.