Chapter Text
Alhaitham is sitting on his couch, flipping to another page in his book about unusual plants when there’s a tug on his leg.
He shuts his book closed, and glances down towards Aether- the now… Much smaller blonde staring up at him with wide, nervous eyes.
Ah.. Right. Babysitting duty.
Alhaitham places his book onto the coffee table in front of him, uncrossing his legs and clasping his hands together loosely. “Did you lose interest in your book?” He questions, voice not any softer than it usually is. It’s not like he spoke in high volumes anyways a majority of the time.
Aether tugs at his leg again, then gestures towards his ears with both of his hands- making the motion of covering them up.
Alhaitham immediately reaches into one of his pockets, pulling out a pair of headphones and sliding them over Aether’s ears.
Aether’s body sags in relief, and he gives Alhaitham a small thumbs up then goes back over to his book on the floor along with a half finished puzzle next to it.
Hm. Alhaitham grabs his book back off of the coffee table, at least Aether was quite the easy kid. He thinks.
He understood how to handle Aether whenever he was an adult, too. Both versions of himself had sensory issues and tended to go quiet when overwhelmed.
Alhaitham could relate. Not that he’d say it out loud. But there was a mutual understanding between them.
So when he was tasked- or, well. Okay. More like Kaveh was asked to look after Aether for the week- the poor kid was being handed from person to person lately as everyone was busy on and off. So let him rephrase- when Kaveh suddenly also had a job request to do today and Alhaitham had the day off, he honestly wasn’t against looking after him.
He was going to give Kaveh a hard time however for asking to look after him and promptly leaving him here.
Not that Aether even seemed to mind. He seemed completely used to it, that and.. Hah. He seemed to know that everyone he gets passed onto just adores him as he’s attached to them too.
He knows he won’t get passed onto anyone who won’t protect him.
So, this is a good reason why aside from the fact that he’s used to it that he does not flinch when the door slams open to their home. He merely flickers his gaze over to Aether on the ground, the blonde oblivious to the world around him as he currently cannot hear a thing and lets out a soft sigh.
“I cannot believe her!” Kaveh’s voice rattles his brain, the more annoying- no. He retracts that. Aether isn’t annoying at all. The annoying blonde appears at the doorway of the living room, hand on his hip and letting out a huff. “She wanted to pay half of what I sell my commissions at. Can you believe that?”
Alhaitham does not close his book this time, “So, let me get this straight.” He crosses his legs again, “You wanted to babysit, and you left me to babysit instead for someone who refused to pay you what you’re worth.” He turns the page of his book, “Is that correct?”
Kaveh stares at him with bafflement, before directing his gaze to Aether on the ground- still lost in his own little world- and running a hand through his hair. “I- Um,” He lets out a long sigh. “...Yes? Do you.. Wanna repeat that last part though?”
Alhaitham stays silent.
“...Right. Well. I was never going to be gone long.” Kaveh waves his hand, “And you said you were okay with watching him for an hour or so.”
“Mhmm.. But you wanted to watch him, Kaveh. If you take responsibility for something for the day, you do not make other plans.” Alhaitham turns the page of his book again.
“I-” Kaveh breathes in, “Okay. Okay. Maybe I was too eager for another commission so soon.” Kaveh admits, hanging his keys onto one of the hooks on the walls and shrugging the jacket he had worn off. “But I’m back. And I won’t leave again for the rest of the week.”
“Tell that to Aether.” Alhaitham gestures towards the boy on the floor with his hand, still not looking away from his book.
Kaveh’s expression immediately softens when he looks to Aether again, and after hanging up his jacket- he taps on the ground in front of Aether’s line of sight with his foot.
Aether’s head shoots up to him with a surprised look, taking a moment to process that Kaveh was there before stumbling onto his two feet and closing the short distance between them in order to extend his arms up towards him.
Kaveh’s eyebrows raise, but he doesn’t make Aether wait. The man picks him up, cradling him in a warm hold that makes Aether hum happily.
“You smell like flowers.” Aether signs to him, making Kaveh melt.
“I do, do I?” Kaveh signs back with one hand, “Hey, I’m not leaving again for the rest of the week. Wanna go to my room and see the perfume I use?”
Aether brightens at that, “K-a-v-e-h stays, I can smell like flowers?”
Kaveh smiles softly, “A-e-t-h-e-r, darling. You already smelt like flowers, too. Mondstadt flowers, I think? But yes, I’ll show you what flowers I enjoy in particular.”
Aether giggles, “I don’t use perfume, though.”
Kaveh fake gasps, “So you’re telling me you naturally smell like flowers? I don’t believe it.”
Aether giggles again, “May be soap I use, I dunno. Or could be the wind.”
Kaveh’s eyebrows raise, “The wind, huh? You’re silly.”
Alhaitham closes his book in that moment, looking over towards the two blondes with an almost soft gaze. “So I assume his laughter means you’re not going to be leaving this house for the rest of the week as to care for him.” He says, despite that soft look.
Kaveh rolls his eyes, “Yes, Alhaitham. I couldn’t bear to see his disappointed face in comparison to his happy one anyways.”
“Mhm.” Alhaitham stands, placing his book off to the side. “He was rather sad to see you go the first time.” He agrees, watching Kaveh’s expression easily fall into a bit of guilt.
Aether’s nose scrunches up at them both talking- being unable to hear them. He taps lightly at Kaveh’s cheek, gaining his attention so he can sign to him. “Please sign?” He requests, a small pout on his lips.
“Ah,” Kaveh quickly raises his hand back up, “Sorry, darling.” He signs, “Just some married couple bickering.”
Aether lets out a giggle.
Alhaitham rolls his eyes, but brings his hands up as well. “Do give me a reminder on why I married him, A-e-t-h-e-r.”
Kaveh gives him a scoff, but side eyes Aether as the boy smugly smiles and signs, “Because you love him.”
Alhaitham tilts his head, “And?”
Aether bites his lip as to not laugh, “And because you want to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Alhaitham nods in approval as Kaveh gasps again in actual offense. “And why did I marry A-l-h-a-i-t-h-a-m, A-e-t-h-e-r?”
Aether looks up to him, “Because you also love him. And because…” He pauses, expression going thoughtful. “You care about him. A lot.”
It’s not what Kaveh was looking for, but it does make him sigh softly. “So you can help A-l-h-a-i-t-h-a-m tease me, but you can’t tease him back?”
Aether simply shrugs.
“Well.” Alhaitham has a smile on his face, one that makes Kaveh’s face redden. “If we’re done with this lovely discussion, we should eat before you two wander off.” Alhaitham eyes Aether in particular when saying that, the small blonde looking sheepish as his tummy rumbles.
Not that he hears it rumble. Alhaitham and Kaveh certainly do, and they share a knowing glance with one another.
“Good idea.” Kaveh agrees with ease, lowering Aether to the ground as he says rather than signs- “Knowing how alike you both can be, it is better for him to have a full stomach.” He hums.
Alhaitham does not comment on that. He instead takes Aether’s hand when the blonde reaches for his, leading him over towards their kitchen with Kaveh not far behind.
Kaveh makes the food, Alhaitham keeps Aether’s attention occupied, and as soon as Aether has eaten- he’s full and remains in a good mood.
The small blonde ends up passing out on Kaveh in the middle of crushing some flowers to make perfume for, and Kaveh only lets out a fond sigh- letting the boy have his nap for the day as he continued to crush the flowers Aether picked out.
Alhaitham takes Aether from Kaveh’s lap when the boy starts to look uncomfortable in the position he’s in, and Kaveh lets him- focusing on getting the crushed ingredients mixed so Aether can have something good to smell when he wakes up.
…Though, Kaveh can’t help but glance over to Alhaitham as the man takes Aether to the couch- expression ever so soft at Aether’s squished cheek against Alhaitham’s shoulder as he lets out little puffs of air in his sleep.
Oh.
He may not be… Big on the idea of having kids quite yet- but, having Aether here.. He has a pretty good idea on what that life will be like.
Hopefully his kid will be as good as Aether. Though, considering Aether’s circumstances- maybe he needs to babysit some non immortal kids as to make sure he covers all possibilities.
Even the brats.
Honestly though? Seeing Alhaitham be doting?
He’d be fine with any kid as to see that over and over.