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Alhaitham loved Kaveh. He had never said it out loud, of course, but why else would he let the man stay in home home otherwise? Why would he pay for meals and choose to spend his precious free time with him? Althaitham showed his love by needling under Kaveh’s skin at every opportunity, forcing Kaveh to give him all his attention. It may have been a bizarre way of showing his love but it worked for them. Deep down, Kaveh enjoyed the endless back and forth too.
At least that was what Althaitham had believed up until today.
He believed himself to be a smart man. He wouldn’t be the Acting Grand Sage if he wasn’t. Alhaitham knew Kaveh struggled with mental health issues, he had since they were at the Akademiya together. It was why Alhaitham looked after him. How could he not? He loved Kaveh so it only made sense he would make sure Kaveh was safe. Alhaitham had never let that hold him back with his teasing and instigating with Kaveh, though.
If today had proven anything, it’s that he should have.
The day had started off well enough, Alhaitham coming into the kitchen to Kaveh cooking breakfast. He had greeted Alhaitham with a smile and wished him a happy birthday. The gesture made Alhaitham’s heart stir in ways he didn’t like to think about this early in the day. He slid into his seat at the table as Kaveh set his plate and a cup of coffee down.
“Did you get me a gift for my birthday?” Alhaitham asked, knowing full well Kaveh really couldn’t have. Not only did he not have the money, but Alhaitham really hadn’t wanted anything from him and had been purposefully obtuse when Kaveh had obviously tried to get an answer out of him.
“I made you breakfast!” Kaveh said, motioning with his hands.
“That’s not really a gift. Plus it’s what you should be doing anyhow, considering I can’t remember the last time you actually paid rent.”
Kaveh opened his mouth to argue but quickly shut it. He took a deep breath before replying, “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what you would have wanted and I didn’t have the money anyway.”
Alhaitham nearly choked, He stared at Kaveh, wide-eyed,
Kaveh continued to eat like nothing had happened.
That was how it went the entire day. Alhaitham would try to rile Kaveh up, only for Kaveh to shut him down, shut him out. He simply agreed with whatever Alhaitham said and moved on. It left him feeling... empty, in a way.
When dinner finally rolled around, Alhaitham had fully given up even trying to hold a conversation with Kaveh. It was a last ditch effort to get a reaction out of him when Alhaitham had stopped Kaveh from following him out the door.
“I don’t want you drinking with us tonight.”
It was a lie. An obvious lie. There was nothing Alhaitham wanted more on his birthday then to watch Kaveh drink, playing cards with their friend. He’s drink too much, lean too close to Alhaitham to talk to him. Kaveh would lean on him the entire way home, babbling on and on about some project, or a book. Alhaitham would have to hold him up, struggling to open the door. Alhaitham would make a quip, Kaveh would shoot back-
“Fine. If that’s what you want.”
******
“...And you think that means there is something wrong with Kaveh?” Tighnari asked as he shuffled his cards, “Isn’t that what you said you wanted the other night we were out? For one day where Kaveh didn’t argue with you?”
“That was in a different context,” Alhaitham narrowed his eyes, “I mean it. I have no idea what Isaid to him that may have crossed a line”
“It might have been everything,” Cyno pointed out, “I mean, maybe he doesn’t view your squabbling the way you do.”
Tighnari kicked him under the table. “Take your turn!”
Alhaitham stayed silent, shuffling the papers in his hands. Had that been it? Had Alhaitham truly hurt Kaveh? He hadn’t meant too. He thought if anyone could see through him it would have been his infuriatingly passionate, beautiful roommate.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll be himself again tomorrow,” Tighnari insisted, ordering them all another round.
The time passed at a crawl. Alhaitham was relieved when he was finally drunk enough for his friends to release him from the tavern. It would have been better with Kaveh there. He wanted Kaveh there. It was asinine of him to tell Kaveh to stay home.
Alhaitham ran a hand down his face. He shouldn’t be worrying about himself right now. Today was proof that Kaveh had finally broken inside and now it was up to Alhaitham to intervene.
Kaveh was still sitting at the table working on his current project when Alhaitham made it inside. He didn’t say anything, just continued to work. Alhaitham breathed deep before deciding it was time. This was a conversation that simply couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham tried to keep his voice as normal as he could, throwing the papers down on top of whatever Kaveh was working on. Kaveh looked up, clearly annoyed.
“You... You don’t have to tell me what is wrong, or what I did wrong... but if you want to stay in this house, you need to see this doctor at least once a week. Starting as soon as possible.”
There was a long silence as Kaveh skimmed the paper, face progressively getting more and more read.
All at once, the tension of the day and the long silence of the moment broke.
“Alhaitham!? A doctor specializing in ‘ailments of the mind?’ Who do you think you are too-”
Kaveh stood, pointing a finger in Alhaitham’s chest. The relief that flooded his senses was overwhelming. He shut Kaveh up with a kiss.
Alhaitham was shoved back with a hard shove to the chest. Kaveh’s face was red, eyes angry, mouth forming words but so furious he couldn’t speak. Yes! Alhaitham had Kaveh’s attention. The thing he had been searching for all day! Alhaitham wrapped himself around Kaveh, hugging around his mid section.
“What is wrong with you?” Kaveh asked, still clearly mad but also confused.
“I thought.. Maybe I had crossed a line. That you... that you broke but... It’s alright now. You’re back/” Alhaitham said proudly, happy that the man he loved felt like himself again.
“How much did you drink?” Kaveh asked, pushing Alhaitham backup to his feet, “What are you babbling about?”
“You just, you wouldn’t talk to me today. You didn’t come out with me tonight. It was my birthday and I didn’t get to spend it with you.”
“I just did what YOU wanted,” KIaveh sounded exasperated, “You said last week that all you wanted for your birthday was for me to just agree with you for a day. I didn’t go to the tavern because you said you didn’t want me there.
Happy birthday!” Kaveh threw his arms in the air.
“Please don’t do this to me again.” Was all Alhaitham could manage to say.
“You have definitely drank too much. You need to go to bed,” Kaveh said, pushing Alhaitham toward his bedroom.
Alhaitham wouldn’t argue with him on that.