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Kaveh was a drunkard.
Kaveh had a large tab, every day it grew larger.
"'Haitham!.." The architect slurred out. He already had a man trying to chat him up, it was clear from the man constantly buying him drinks. "Mgh- This is ma' friend.. 'Is name is.." He wavered forward, Alhaitham putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him. "Hey.." He softly whined. He looked at Alhaitham with big eyes, he expected his light roommate to say something. Anything.
"Kaveh, let's go." Was all the Grand Sage offered to say, "You're drunk. Incredibly so."
"I can do one 'mor round.." Kaveh pouted, "M' not a child.."
Alhaitham raised an eyebrow but just scoffed, "Fine. Drink yourself to death, just try to die in your bed."
And with that he left, glaring at Kaveh as he did. Kaveh just looked at the door where Alhaitham left, his gaze unable to leave the door. He lifted himself off the seat, stumbling towards the door to go home with Alhaitham. He didn't feel like getting lectured the next day. He awkwardly looked down as he forced himself to walk, one foot after another. He had the gracefulness of a newborn desert fox if it was missing a leg and got bonked on the head. He felt a hand on his shoulder dragging him back,
"Eh.." He glanced back. "What.. Noo.." He whined.
"C'mon, we can get you another round, baby.." The man sat Kaveh down, brushing his hair out of his face. "That guy," He motioned to the door, "Doesn't see you the way he should, doll. You're a prize."
Kaveh seemed to flourish in the praise, drunkenly giggling. "You think 'm a doll?" The blonde slurred out.
"The prettiest one of all."
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.
Kaveh had 3 more shots, another glass of wine, and enough other drinks to cause a child to die. He was completely out of it. He could barely speak, his vision was blurry, and he felt weak. The man carefully lifted Kaveh,
"Let's get you back to my place. I'm sure we can have a great time."
Kaveh was much too under the influence to properly answer. Why couldn't he move?
What was happening?
Why couldn't he move?
"Help. Help! What's happening? Where am I? Why can't I move? Tighnari? Cyno? Alhaitham? Anybody!"
In reality, he was slurring out words that could barely be understood. The man played it off like Kaveh was his boyfriend and had too much to drink, which caused some people to raise eyebrows because Kaveh had never mentioned it, but the blonde was always full of surprises. People waved goodbye, telling the man that they hoped Kaveh didn't have too bad of a hangover in the morning.
Kaveh couldn't even comprehend what was happening. His head hurt, why did his head hurt? Why couldn't he move? He was panicking, slowly beginning to hyperventilate. He felt a hand run over and cover his mouth as the lights around him shifted. Were they leaving the tavern?
"'Hath..nm.." He mustered to softly groan, "Wh..re.."
He tried to get up, the world around him was whirling and morphing.
"Shh. Don't say another fucking word." The man snapped at him, when did he get on a bed? Was he in his bed? Kaveh looked around, this wasn't his room. Where was he? Was this an inn? "Look at yourself, you have that slutty little chest window. You're asking for it."
Kaveh, who would've taken that comment to heart normally, genuinely couldn't comprehend what the man was saying. 'A window? Where?' He looked around, his lips turning into a pout. 'No window. Liar.'
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.
Kaveh woke up the next morning to a loud knock at the door. He sat up, his head immediately making him regret sitting up so fast. He looked around, mumbling softly. "How did I get here?..", He asked himself. He stumbled off the bed, his legs giving out below him. He let out a loud whine, "A-Ah.."
"Kaveh. Kaveh, is that you?"
The architect perked up. "Alhaitham?" He stumbled his way towards the door, opening it. Alhaitham promptly looked Kaveh up and down, glancing away.
"How did you even manage this.."
"What do you mean? Where am I right now?"
".." Alhaitham went silent. He walked in, closed the door behind him, and sat Kaveh down on the bed. Kaveh took this time to realize he was only in his briefs, his clothing was torn, and he couldn't even recall what happened.
"My head feels.. Ow." He mumbled. Alhaitham was walking around the room, gathering Kaveh's clothing with a grim look on his face. "Alhaitham?"
"Next time I tell you to come home, you come home."
"But-"
"Did I stutter, Kaveh?"
His eyes scanned Alhaitham's face. The Acting Grand Sage refused to look at him, but grief and anger painted his face. The grey-nette sighed,
"Next time you go drinking, I'm coming with you."
"What?" Kaveh raised an eyebrow, "Why, do you not trust me to take care of myself?"
Alhaitham glared at him, "Do you know where you are?"
"Well, no-"
"Did you take random drinks from strangers?"
".. I did."
"Do you know what was in them?"
Kaveh looked away. His throat felt tight and his face turned hot, this was an answer in itself.
"Kaveh," Alhaitham repeated, sternly. "Do you know what was in them?"
"I don't." He breathed the words out, shakily.
"Have you seen yourself?"
"I haven't."
Alhaitham took Kaveh by the arm, helping him walk to a mirror. His legs felt as if they'd buckle from under him, they nearly did. Kaveh was covered in bruises, and bite marks on his neck and sides. He couldn't believe this, what even happened?
"Wh.. No, nono." He spoke quietly, looking down at himself. "No. Nonono, t-this is a joke."
Alhaitham stayed quiet, looking away.
"Alhaitham, this is a joke. Right? I-I wanted it to be special, this isn't real. It's not real."
"It's your fault, you know."
"W-What?"
"You let this happen. It's like your father. It's all your fault."
"You are the only one to blame."
Kaveh woke up in a cold sweat. He looked around, gasping as he began to hyperventilate.
"Mgh.. Kaveh?" Alhaitham sat up, "What happened?" He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Kaveh turned to look at Alhaitham, tears spilling from his eyes.
"I-I can't-" He gasped, "P-Please.. I-I'm go-good.. I-I'll be.. g-good.." He pulled his legs up, trying his best to cover himself. "Ple-ease.." He was gasping and sobbing. Alhaitham quickly sat up and pulled Kaveh into his chest,
"Shh. Please, shh. You're okay. You're okay." He stroked his face, pressing kisses against his cheek and forehead. "It wasn't your fault."
"B-But-" He gasped, covering his face. "I-I had a nightmare. Y-You said that it w-was my fault."
"It was just a nightmare. I'd never say anything like that."
"P-Promise?" Kaveh looked at him, his eyes wide. He looked like a puppy who had been kicked too hard.
"I promise."