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Everyone knew Alhaitham was a solitary man.
He basically grew up alone, his closest inner circle always remained very small, his extended family was nonexistent and his leisure time took priority over any social interaction.
And even as an adult this didn’t practically change. His life, at least to the average bystander who even bothered to think about Alhaitham for more than two minutes, was structured but dull, revolving mostly around his work and his home.
He rarely made any new acquaintances, he almost never attended public gatherings unless absolutely necessary and in any known recent history of Sumeru no one could recall Alhaitham inviting anyone to his house.
He was seen as a friendless recluse.
And, as shocking as it was, this solitary man, one day asked Cyno to move in with him.
Well, it wasn’t just any other day when that happened.
(Cyno refused to use the word propose, even in his head, feeling it was a bit too on the nose considering their present circumstances).
Then again Alhaitham didn’t even ask any questions. He just caught Cyno around the buffet, cryptically whispered a ‘come with me’ and dragged him off by the hand not waiting for his response.
Presently, Cyno was staring at the silver key Alhaitham help up in his hand.
For a moment Cyno thought the key was Alhaitham’s but that wouldn’t make sense for Alhaitham to show it to him for no reason.
Then he thought it was Kaveh’s but their mutual friend had saved himself the privilege of keeping the key as a ‘memento’ of his ‘tumultuous phase’ as he described it.
Cyno supposed he did it out of sentiment and because they lived together for so long it was hard for him to let it go even if he was starting a new path in life and claimed to finally be free of being indebted to his former roommate.
So, eliminating those two options, left only one and Cyno realized it was his key right when Alhaitham said ‘for you’ in a quiet murmur.
“Me?” Cyno asked bewildered. He didn’t need a key since he usually went to Alhaitham’s home with Alhaitham and when he didn’t, he had a preference for his bedroom window which was usually left unlocked for him by the man itself.
And then he had another realization.
The one which made Cyno’s heart suddenly give a painful thud, hard against his ribcage and for one deafening moment it was the only sound he could hear.
He blinked a few times to calm himself down.
Alhaitham frowned.
“…You don’t want to- “
“I do.” Cyno blurted out suddenly, feeling heat bloom on his face like a flower.
The quiet between them suddenly filled by loud cheering and laughter, mixed with lively music and conversations. Cyno didn’t try and discern the voices of their friends, he let the bits and pieces of sentences and stray words create a sort of cozy and soothing background cacophony of noise, cocooning both of them in a pocket of time and space just for them.
Cyno could hear Kaveh’s louder laughter along with Nilou’s quieter and gentler one.
How fitting.
“I mean. I- “Cyno paused not knowing how to continue. He wasn’t prepared for…this. Today or any other day.
Alhaitham took his hand and placed the key in his open palm.
It was warm. Alhaitham must have been clutching it in his pocket for the whole day, running his thumb over the teeth and engraving, thinking about how and when was he going to give it to Cyno.
He closed his hand over the key and looked into the other man’s eyes.
They were already peering down at him expectantly and there was a minuscule movement in his face which was Alhaitham’s way of fidgeting. Alhaitham rarely got nervous.
Cyno couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“The body is still warm and you’re already looking for a new roommate?” He joked and Alhaitham rolled his eyes but his shoulders visibly relaxed.
“Kaveh’s not dead, he’s just married. And he has moved out a month ago.”
Cyno hummed and slipped the key into the pocket of his loose slacks. Alhaitham’s gaze zeroed on the action, greedily like a hungry hawk.
“So, you picked the day of his and Nilou’s wedding to ask me?”
“No. I was thinking about this for…a while, but there wasn’t a good moment where we had time to talk. Until today.”
Cyno swallowed. Somewhere behind him he could hear another toast to the newlyweds being raised in Dehya’s boisterous voice.
“When…when can I move in?” He asked, his voice caught in his throat.
Alhaitham’s gaze softened and he look Cyno’s hand in his running his thumb over his knuckles.
“As soon as possible.”
Alhaitham probably didn’t think ‘as soon as possible’ would mean basically over the next weekend though he definitely didn’t complain about it.
“Is this all?” He asked when Cyno appeared at his doorstep with a travel bag and one box.
“Yes.” Cyno made his way into Alhaitham’s-their home and stood in the middle of the living room not knowing what to do.
“Where can I-?” The question snapped Alhaitham out from his strange trance, a curious emotion flashing through his face which Cyno recognized as him analyzing and assessing the situation.
“Come.” He steered Cyno into the direction of his own bedroom.
Their bedroom now.
Cyno being a pragmatic person didn’t really have that many things and even less of them he decided were worthy of taking with him while moving into Alhaitham’s place (it was their place now, he corrected himself yet again, face warm as he unpacked his bag).
That would probably persist still for few months until he fully got used to the fact.
Alhaitham’s home wasn’t alien to him and while he did end up waking up here, ate meals or even cooked some of them he was still just a guest most of the time.
Becoming a permanent resident here was…strange but exciting all the same.
Cyno only brought a couple of books, some personal notes, a few potions he thought would be useful, a box of ingredients he kept for future mixes, civilian clothes as well as the General Mahamatra Garb. The bulk of his luggage though were his TCG cards, accessories, and his favorite playmat which he neatly stored in his custom-made casket of tomes.
After an hour he was basically done, clothes folded and stored in a drawer which Alhaitham freed just for him and his little and modest trinkets placed next to Alhaitham’s, almost shyly as if he was afraid, they would take up space.
It was a bit humbling in a strange way and made his insides feel pleasantly warm and fuzzy when he looked at his small jewelry box, next to a decorative plate, candle holder and incense burner on the dresser.
“I’m done.” He announced, slipping out of the bedroom and made his way to the living era, looking for the other occupant of the house.
The sound of turning pages and an absentminded ‘hm’ steered him into the study.
Alhaitham was sitting in a comfortable reading chair, legs crossed and a book held in his hands.
Of course.
“So, you left me to unpack on my own, to read?”
Alhaitham shrugged and flipped a page.
“If I stayed, you’d say I was getting in your way.”
He was right of course but Cyno felt the exciting pull of their playful back and forth and he took the bait.
He huffed. “Excuses. You just wanted to be left alone.”
Alhaitham lifted his head to look at him and Cyno blinked in surprise taking in his appearance.
“Would I ask you to move in if I wanted to be alone?” He stated matter-of-factly.
Cyno didn’t answer which made Alhaitham raise an eyebrow.
“Cyno?”
“Since when do you wear glasses?”
A pause. Cyno could see how Alhaitham’s eyes shifted and his hand reached up to touch the specs sitting on his nose.
A nervous tic.
“A couple of years.” He said, fiddling with them for a moment.
Cyno took a few steps closer and then kneeled next to the chair to be able to look into the other man’s face up close.
Alhaitham fidgeted, slightly angling his body away from Cyno and continued with a huff.
“Those are just reading glasses. I don’t need them all the time.”
Cyno peered at him curiously, thoroughly fascinated by the way Alhaitham’s face changed with the glasses perched on his elegant nose.
He also realized he was feeling self-conscious about them if his slightly jumpy movements were anything to go by.
Alhaitham reached for the mug of lukewarm tea and took a small sip, just when Cyno decided to speak again.
“You know, I never realized until now but…you have that sexy librarian vibe thing going on.”
Alhaitham didn’t choke on his tea, or at least it’s what he would say if anyone brought it up, denying the slight wheeze when the liquid entered the wrong pipe.
He put the mug down on the side table and coughed softly into a fist, his face still angled away from Cyno who didn’t bother to hide his amused grin.
“I think you read too many of those light novels.” Alhaitham finally replied when he got his breathing under control.
Cyno rolled his eyes, resting his elbows on the arm pad of the chair and settled his face in his palms.
“I came up with this on my own.”
Alhaitham only hummed and silently reopened his book, signaling that he wanted to move on from the conversation.
But Cyno wasn’t done.
“Do you know your ears turn pink when you’re embarrassed? It’s really cute.” He pointed out when Alhaitham kept ignoring him and like clockwork his ears did turn pink at the comment making Cyno’s grin grow wider.
“You only tell me this every time they do.” Came the resigned reply, punctuated with a sigh as Alhaitham tried to continue his reading.
Cyno chuckled.
“My Scribe is so handsome.” He mumbled more to himself but he did make sure Alhaitham heard it.
The Scribe didn’t dignify that comment with a reply but his ears changed color from dusky pink to apple red.
Cute.
“Hey.”
Alhaitham pointedly ignored him which only spurred Cyno on.
“Hey.” A nudge.
“Are you a book?” He asked suddenly and bit his lip, trying to keep the reins on the joke less it tumbled out of his mouth and ruined the punchline.
“Cyno.” Alhaitham warned.
“Because I am totally- “
“No.”
“I am totally checking you out.”
Alhaitham sighed, his open book landing on his lap. He took off his glasses in a swift motion which made Cyno go quiet suddenly his throat a little dry.
Alhaitham side eyed him for a long moment before turning to address him directly.
What came out of his mouth next, left Cyno speechless.
“Had you been a book, I would have needed glasses to read through your fine-printed pages.”
Cyno’s eyes widened.
Alhaitham tapped his chin in thought for a moment before he attacked again.
“Speaking of Light Novels. There isn’t much difference between a good novel and you – both make a permanent place in my head.”
Cyno sputtered.
“What does one library book say to the other? Can I take you out?”
“Can you stop?” The matra choked out trying not to laugh.
“I just can’t help my shelf.” Alhaitham added with a smirk.
That earned him an aborted snort before Cyno remembered he was supposed to be annoyed at Alhaitham suddenly stealing his thunder. He schooled his face into a frown but his mouth betrayed his amused as it kept twitching.
Alhaitham’s mouth quirked upwards.
“My love for you is overdue.”
“Are you a banned book? Because you’re on fire.”
“We’d make a good two volume set.”
“The only book in this library I wish to read is you.”
“Enough.” Cyno protested, his red face hidden behind his palms. He tried not to outright giggle and die of mortification at the same time.
Alhaitham was clearly too powerful and the bastard knew it and knew how to use it.
“What is it? Can dish out but can’t take it?” He teased, earning himself a punch to the shoulder.
“Shut up. I was just trying to compliment you.” He couldn’t help the pout which colored his voice.
Alhaitham rubbed at his sore spot but the smirk remained firmly on his face.
“Just a little taste of your own medicine.”
Cyno narrowed his eyes.
“You really do enjoy playing with fire Scribe. Do you want to be punished that badly?” Cyno grumbled, mostly annoyed at being out done at pick up lines and embarrassed to realize that they actually did work.
Or maybe that was just the ‘Alhaitham effect’.
I.e., he was just too far gone for him and it made Cyno as annoyed as it made him also feel mushy deep in his gut.
The Scribe tilted his head and looked curiously at Cyno.
“Oh? And what is my crime my dear General? Do enlighten me, please.”
Cyno shifted from kneeling to crouching. He rocked on his heels backwards and then forward, towards Alhaitham and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Being a smartass.”
He jumped to his feet, quick as the lightening he commanded and without looking back, made his way towards their kitchen to make afternoon tea.
Behind him he heard an exasperated but fond huff and words which drawn a surprised laugh out of him.
“In that case you, should have been in jail long ago.”