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Alhaitham is no stranger to caring for Kaveh when he is sick.
When he had first arrived at Alhaitham’s house, he’d quickly become ill within the first week. Finally having a place to lay his head down meant that everything Kaveh had been shoving away came crashing down on him, and he’d been bedridden for days with a fever, shivering incessantly as Alhaitham fed him water and dabbed at the sweat on his brow.
He overworks himself frequently to the point of crashing, and Alhaitham always ends up swooping in to force him to bed.
Still, Kaveh tries to hide it every single time.
Alhaitham knows why he does, he knows the guilt that weighs on Kaveh’s shoulders, the fear of burdening him (Alhaitham doesn’t say that he doesn’t think Kaveh could ever be a burden to him, not ever) too strong to risk showing weakness. It’s only in secret ways, restocked tissues and tea and soup for dinner, that Alhaitham is allowed to care for Kaveh.
Once, after he had fallen ill recovering from the Interdarshan Competition, Alhaitham had tried to care for Kaveh openly. It had ended with screamed words and slammed doors and radio silence for days. Alhaitham had not tried again after that, and resumed his quiet ways.
Since they had finally discussed their feelings and come together, Kaveh hasn’t fallen sick enough that Alhaitham has had a chance to see how that aspect of their lives has changed too.
So, it goes without saying, that when Kaveh enters the living room, blanket wrapped around his shoulders, cheeks flushed with fever, and he speaks to Alhaitham on his own accord, it comes as a surprise to the scribe.
“I’m sick,” Kaveh croaks, and looks completely pitiful about it.
Alhaitham blinks in shock, and closes the book he had been reading. He knows Kaveh is sick; he’s been sick for three days now. His coughing and sneezing has kept Alhaitham awake at night. He always apologizes, and even slept in his old bedroom last night, much to the scribe’s chagrin. He knows Kaveh is sick, but he didn’t expect Kaveh to actually say it.
“I know,” Alhaitham replies softly, and places his book down on the table. He opens up his arms, and Kaveh sniffles hesitantly. He looks uncomfortable, shifting on his feet, and Alhaitham knows that this admission takes a great deal of courage from the architect. To admit weakness, to admit that he would like to be cared for, is no small feat.
Finally, he caves, and comes to the couch, crawling on top of Alhaitham to lay on top of him. Alhaitham rearranges the blanket so that it drapes over the both of them, making sure that Kaveh’s legs are covered completely. Kaveh sighs raggedly, pressing his face into Alhaitham’s chest, and sniffs again. Alhaitham drags his fingers through Kaveh’s hair, taking out the red clips that adorn the strands and placing them to the side, before untangling Kaveh’s braid and letting his hair flow freely.
“Are you alright?” Alhaitham asks, as he continues to comb through Kaveh’s hair. He rests his hand momentarily on his forehead, and frowns at the fever there.
“No. My head feels like it’s going to explode, I’m freezing cold, and I can’t breathe through my nose,” Kaveh grumbles, and Alhaitham laughs gently. He smooths his hand down Kaveh’s spine, rubbing slow circles. His chest clenches, warm and tight, with relief that he is able to do this finally. After so many years of having to care for Kaveh in the dark, he is now able to do so openly and unabashedly.
“You can stay here as long as you like,” Alhaitham murmurs, and leans forward to kiss the crown of Kaveh’s head. Kaveh sighs again, shifting to be more comfortable. He loops his arms around Alhaitham’s waist, squeezing slightly.
“Mmm, thank you,” Kaveh mumbles softly, and Alhaitham watches as his eyes slip closed. He listens as Kaveh’s breathing deepens, and his body becomes heavier with sleep. All the whilst, he doesn’t stop stroking Kaveh’s back, lulling him into slumber.
Only once he’s sure Kaveh is well and truly asleep does he lean over to pick up his book, and continue reading.
–
Alhaitham is on the last few chapters of his book, the sun having set outside, when Kaveh stirs.
Almost immediately, Alhaitham places his book down, in favor of watching the slow way Kaveh wakes. He scrunches his nose, and lets out a displeased little whine as his eyes flutter open. They’re glazed over with fever and sleep, and his arms instinctively tighten around Alhaitham’s waist. He shifts, nuzzling his face into Alhaitham’s chest as he blinks a few times to clear the haze.
“Hey,” Alhaitham calls gently, rubbing his hand up Kaveh’s back. Kaveh slowly turns to look up at him, and he still looks out of it. His cheeks are even more flushed now, and Alhaitham frowns as he presses the back of his palm to Kaveh’s forehead. Just as he suspected, his fever has gotten worse. “Are you alright?”
“Mm… head hurts,” Kaveh mumbles, his voice raspy, and he leans into Alhaitham’s touch. The peace only lasts for a moment before Kaveh has to turn his head away, hand flying up to cover his mouth as he coughs wetly into it, shoulders shaking with the motion. Alhaitham clicks his tongue in disapproval, and moves to rub at Kaveh’s back some more to soothe him.
Once the coughing fit subsides, Kaveh lets out a pathetic little groan, and sags back down into Alhaitham. His chest heaves for air, and he looks truly miserable.
“Do you want me to get you some soup, hayati?” Alhaitham asks, and brings his hand up to Kaveh’s hair to stroke through the locks.
“Mmm,” Kaveh hums in reply. He still doesn’t move from his spot on top of Alhaitham, so reluctantly the scribe has to push him to sit upright. It earns a protesting whine, which is quickly soothed with Alhaitham pressing his lips to Kaveh’s red cheek. Contagious virus be damned.
“I’ll be just a moment, alright?” Alhaitham tells him, and Kaveh frowns petulantly in response. Alhaitham busies himself for a moment with tucking the blanket around Kaveh’s shoulders, making sure he’s nice and warm, before he slips off the couch into the kitchen.
He’d prepared soup earlier, since he knew previously that Kaveh is sick, and sets about reheating it. Kaveh remains where he is on the couch, rubbing at his eyes and sniffling, occasionally interspersed with a wet cough or a sneeze. Once it’s done, he places the bowl onto a tray with some cutlery and medicine to help Kaveh, and carries it over to him.
Kaveh is literally nodding off, eyes drooping closed and head tipping downwards, when Alhaitham arrives back to him. Alhaitham smiles to himself at his cute senior, and sits next to him, placing the tray on his own lap and pulling Kaveh to lean into his shoulders.
“Here,” Alhaitham says as he nudges Kaveh awake. Kaveh blinks in surprise, before looking down at the soup in Alhaitham’s lap.
“Oh… thank you…” he whispers, and drowsily reaches for it. Alhaitham moves the tray to his lap, and curls his arm around Kaveh’s shoulders. He rubs his forearm as Kaveh slowly eats the soup, and the slight shiver to his body only makes Alhaitham worry more. He guides Kaveh into taking the medication once he’s done, even as he protests weakly against it.
“Come on, let’s go to bed. You need to rest,” Alhaitham prompts. Kaveh whines again, and turns to bury his head into Alhaitham’s shoulder.
“‘M dizzy though,” Kaveh mumbles there, and Alhaitham sighs.
He stands, letting Kaveh’s head fall away, and bends down to scoop his senior up. Kaveh makes a startled noise in the back of his throat, before he buries his face into his elbow to cough it away as Alhaitham lifts him easily.
“Come on. Bed,” he reaffirms, and starts to walk towards their bedroom. Kaveh doesn’t protest again, instead shivering slightly in Alhaitham’s arms and burying his face into his chest.
Alhaitham gently lowers him down into the pillows, fussing with them for a moment and tucking the blanket over Kaveh to make sure he is as comfortable as possible, before he steps back. Lightning fast, Kaveh’s hand flies out to grab Alhaitham’s wrist, preventing him from moving away.
“Where are you going?” he whispers, and Alhaitham smiles softly. He leans down, brushing hair away from Kaveh’s forehead before he cups his cheek.
“I was going to get you some water,” he replies, and Kaveh shakes his head. He tugs at Alhaitham’s wrist a little more insistently, a whine building in the back of his throat.
“I want you to stay.”
Alhaitham’s smile broadens, and he can’t help the swoop in his stomach at the words. Not too long ago, Kaveh would’ve taken any opportunity to push Alhaitham away whilst he was sick. To have him ask him to stay means more than Alhaitham can put into words. He’s wanted for so long to care for his senior like this, to have him asked to be cared for.
He relents easily, and crawls into the bed beside Kaveh. He curls his arm around Kaveh’s waist, tugging him into him, and places another kiss to his forehead.
“Of course, senior. I’ll always stay.”