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Kaveh was sick.
Of course he was. He was forced to be out in the rain for 2 hours. All because his roommate once again mistakenly carried both the house keys along with him. Upon questioning about it, he received just a slight shrug and nothing else. How impertinent!
He had a pile of projects to work on, and ways to figure out on how to recover from his debt. Yet because of this stupid pyrexia, he was stuck to his bed. Resting.
Even though he had a lot on his plate, his mind couldn't stop bugging him with this one thought.
What would Alhaitham think? Of course he wouldn't start showering him with love and take care of him. No. He would make fun of him. Tease him. Mock him. Laugh at his position. How can he, as a renowned man, face defeat to some mere drops?
As he was lost in his thoughts, he heard the familiar shuffling of keys. Alhaitham was home.
He hastily got off his bed and immediately reached for the side table in order to steady himself. Damn, he really was fragile. With wobbly legs he slowly walked towards the front door.
"You're back. Come and help me set up dinner!" Kaveh hissed.
Yes, he did work his tired body up to prepare dinner. He was quite sure to not create any suspicion.
Alhaitham groaned as a response and sat down on the couch, picking a nearby book and proceeding to read it. The blonde felt aggrieved.
"Couldn't you hear me? I am asking you to help me with the dinner preparations." The blond barked. "I can hear you quite clearly, i am just choosing to ignore you. The Akademiya was quite stressful today." The grey hair replied.
"You-!" Kaveh felt heat rising up to his neck. He was furious. Not finding anything to retort back with, he stomped back to the kitchen whilst muttering curses under his breath.
Kaveh's expression made Alhaitham smile to himself. He was too easy to piss. The blond's reaction always made him feel triumphant. The way his eyebrows furrowed and his face started going scarlet. He always looked as if he was on the verge of tears. Kaveh never dared to cry in front of him though, he knew his emotional personality too well. Hence he also knew what Kaveh did every time he couldn't form sentences to reply back with. Oh! The small sadist in him felt estatic.
Usually he could continue hearing sniffles still now... but this time it all went silent. He neither could hear any sort of shuffling nor any sobbing. Alhaitham kept the book in hand gently down on the table and went to inspect.
The sight before him made him unsettled. Kaveh was there all right. But he was not crying. He was not preparing any food. He was there, curled up against the counter, asleep. He had his knees up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them, his head leaning against the counter beside. His disheveled hair on the front came down to hide his teary eyes. But his stained cheeks and rosy lips were provable that he was crying, but he had passed out.
Alhaitham felt a saddening emotion overflow within him. He felt confused. He walked closer to his roommate, leaning in to move the bangs, revealing his pretty face. His hand brushed against Kaveh's forehead and he flinched. His temperature was warm.
Alhaitham wasted no time and picked Kaveh up in his arms. He carried him to his (Kaveh's) room and laid him gently on the bed. He draped a blanket over him and went to grab some cold water and cloth.
He came back swiftly and drenched the cloth in the water, then softly placed it over the other's heated forehead. The action made the blond wake up and groan softly. Kaveh slowly opened his eyes and looked up, "A...Alhaitham?"
The younger shushed the other, "Go back to sleep Kaveh. I will be here."
Kaveh was quite surprised by the junior's remark. "It's amusing hm? Seeing me all fragile and not being able to move an inch?"
Alhaitham frowned at the blonde's thoughts. "Yes. It is amusing."
Kaveh tsked. "Likewise. You're probably laughing to yourself at how disordered-"
"I am quite amused at your stupidity about not thinking to inform me about your health." Alhaitham simply objected.
Kaveh disapproved of the remark and mumbled, "Why would you care-"
"I do care, Kaveh."
The blond simply stared dumbfounded at the other. Hearing no response, Alhaitham sighed. "I do care. I always have known how you put up a facade in front of me and pretend to hide your emotions. Truth be told, i always found your distress quite... childish. But i truly had no intention to make you feel the need to not be vulnerable in front of me."
Kaveh stared a bit more with his mouth ajar. He closed his eyes and bit down on his quivering bottom lip to hold back the streaming flow of tears which were about to break through.
He spoke between heavy breaths, "D...do you have... any idea... how you made me feel?"
He opened his mouth to continue but only a painful sob was uttered. He lost. Lost yet again to those drops. Tears overflowed down his already stained cheeks. He sniffled and breathed heavily, "I assumed you would find me to be weak and fragile. I mean, you don't spare any chance to prove me worthless..." He started sobbing, "I just don't know why you hate me so much."
Alhaitham patiently let the other male finish his rant. After he noticed the other was done, he sighed and gently wiped away his tears. "I... sincerely apologise. And..." He softly pushed back Kaveh's hair and cupped his left cheek, wiping a single tear with his thumb. "I never hated you. I just found... enjoyment in seeing you infuriated. I never meant to harm you. I never meant to cause you any discomfort. I am truly sorry for all my actions."
Upon hearing this, Kaveh let out an amused chuckle. "I can't believe I'd live till the day to hear the Alhaitham, member of the Haravatat of the Sumeru Akademiya and the Akademiya's Scribe... apologising. I guess I can forgive you."
Alhaitham smiled as well and gazed down upon Kaveh's face. He looked ethereal. Alhaitham's eyes first went to the blond's eyes... oh those sharp red irises. His eyelashes looked more majestic than ever. His eyes went down to his cheeks... those rosy tear stained cheeks, they deserve a small kiss. His eyes went even lower to those lips... those plump red lips which matched the colour of his beautiful eyes. Due to the past shredding of tears, his lips looked more puffy and crimson than ever. If only...
Taken over by the sudden rush of adrenaline, Alhaitham leaned down and kissed the ethereal being.
Kaveh was surprised by the sudden action, his eyes went wide and he was about to push the other away but he didn't... he leaned in and embraced the comfort. He closed his eyes and wrapped his hands around Alhaitham's cheeks, kissing him back.
Seeing the other's positive reaction, Alhaitham tilted his head to deepen the kiss. His hands gripped the blond's cheek tightly. The blonde in response didn't waste any time to melt into the action and wrap his own arms around the grey locks of the other.
They shared a long passionate kiss before pulling apart. Both gasping for air and breathing heavily.
Kaveh had a sudden realisation of what just happened and his hand reached to cover his mouth. "A..Alhaitham!"
Alhaitham just smirked in respond, "What? Too fast for you? You thought i did not find out about all those handsome paintings that you drew of me?"
Kaveh's eyes went wide and his cheek flushed again, which had nothing to do with his fever. "You imbecile!" He threw his hand up to hit Alhaitham but the latter was quick to grab the coming blow. He laid Kaveh's hand on his own cheek and pecked his palm. He smiled.
"Also, you're not not weak or fragile. You're delicate. And I love you, Kaveh."