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“Al Haitham look at me!” Kaveh shouted as he grabbed Al Haitham’s hand. Squeezing it so tight that Al Haitham could feel his hand going numb.
“I wasn’t looking anywhere else.” Al Haitham grinned as he saw the man stare at him with this lost look.
“Don’t make fun of me!” Kaveh continued to yell. “I mean it!”
“You're doing that job easily enough.”
Kaveh had been experiencing some mouth pain for a few days. It reached its peak when he couldn’t even drink without a hiss of pain. Kaveh didn’t exactly enjoy the dentist…in fact Al Haitham often had to force the man for his yearly cleanings so it was a challenge to get the man here. So when Kaveh was told he was going to get his wisdom teeth pulled it was a whole other dilemma. In fact, Al Haitham was literally dragging Kaveh out the house kicking and screaming. And that was after the anxiety pill he took before he even got to the appointment.
Now Kaveh was sitting back in a chair fiddling with his shirt and cutting off the blood circulation in Al Haitham’s hand. But it seemed to keep the man calm…that or the drugs finally starting to enter his system. Either way it was rather funny to watch the architect have a big mask over his nose and try to be serious.
“Alright, sir,” The nurse said as messed with a large needle that made Kaveh’s eyes widen. “I’m going to numb your gums and then I’ll put you under.”
Kaveh chuckled nervously. “But you're knocking me out already? Is the needle necessary? Is it really necessary?”
“You’ll want your gums numb, sir.” The nurse insisted.
“It’s just….” Kaveh squeezed Al Haitham’s hand again and he was sure he saw stars. Kaveh was in full blown panic mode. “Really big needle. Like comically large.”
“I can sedate you first and then give you the novacane.” The nurse suggested seeming to understand. “How does that sound?”
Kaveh fiddled with his blouse as he stared at the needle then at the ceiling. Kaveh wasn’t normally fearful. Nervous and anxiety ridden? Yes. But not scared. Watching the man that was usually so upbeat now be scared was alarming and sad.
“Kaveh, it’s probably the best option for you.” Al Haitham said, trying to comfort as Kaveh sighed.
“Fine.” Another heaving sigh as Kaveh’s eyes darted around the room.
The nurse nodded and Al Haitham saw her mess with some sort of device as he heard a slight hum as Kaveh’s shoulders started to relax.
“I mean it.” Kaveh slurred as he pointed an accusatory finger at him. “Do not mess with me. Promise me.”
“I’m not making a promise that I can fully keep.”
“Youuuuu” Kaveh’s eyes were fluttering open and close over and over again as he stared at Al Haitham with a dazed look. “Haitham…if I die….clear out my search history.”
“You're getting your teeth removed.” Al Haitham rolled his eyes at the absurdity. “You aren’t going to die.”
“And do not get rid of Mehrak.” Kaveh continued as it seemed that the man was fighting the anesthesia. Of course, stubborn to the very end. “You will care for her till her dying days.”
“How much longer till this knocks him out?”
“Also I have some photo albums that I kept…give those to my mother please.” Kaveh rattled on as his grip on Al Haitham’s hand started to loosen. His eyes started to open less and less. “Haitham?”
“What is it?”
“I….I love you.” Kaveh’s eyes finally shut as his grip on Al Haitham’s hand was gone. Al Haitham slowly moved his hand away as he left the room.
On the one hand, Al Haitham was glad that Kaveh wouldn’t be in pain anymore but on the other hand he wasn’t exactly excited about how the architect is going to act once all the painkillers wear off and the reality of the situation sets in. Like the fact that Kaveh would be restricted to the same foods for the next week and he knew that the architect was not going to go through that without a little bit of whining.
But he could live with it as he saw the man sleeping on the dentist chair. His chest rose and fell softly as he snored a tad too loud. His mouth was agape, filled with cotton that was slowly becoming red and he could already see the telltale signs of swelling.
He took out his phone and took a quick picture of Kaveh from his chair on the other side of the room then he walked towards the man and took a photo in front of his face. He sent it to the group chat and was bombarded by the others.
Al Haitham sent two images.
Al Haitham: Kaveh made it just waiting for him to wake up.
Tighnari:💀
Tighnari: Now you know your wrong for that
Al Haitham: Wrong for what?
Cyno: Should his face already be swelling like that?
Tighnari: He drank pineapple juice before right?
Al Haitham: He did. Way too much if you ask me.
Tighnari: Just be nice to him.
Al Haitham: What makes you think that I would be mean to him?
Tighnari: You know what I mean
Tighnari: Don’t tease him. He’s probably going to be sensitive
Cyno: Yes, very sensodyne
Cyno: Because of his teeth
Cyno: And because he’s already really sensitive
Tighnari left the chat
Cyno: Al Haitham I know you're seeing this.
Al Haitham rolled his eyes as he left the chat and mindlessly looked through his phone waiting for Kaveh to finally open his eyes.
After a few more minutes the man finally decided to wake up with a rather loud groan. His crimson eyes surveyed the room in a dazed manner as he looked up at Al Haitham who raised an eyebrow at the display.
“....ho….are…u?” Kaveh slurred, his voice barely intelligible by not just the cotton by the drugs still running through his system.
“It’s Al Haitham, remember?” He tried to jog the man's memory but he just stared back at him with narrowed eyes. As if he didn’t believe what he was saying. “I’m taking you home.”
“You’re…you are no Al Haitham!” Kaveh declared as Al Haitham grinned. He was contemplating recording this. “You…you..r..nose is all…cooked. Wha’ are ya? His twim.”
Now, Kaveh was obviously not in the best state of mind. He was confused and seemed easily persuaded. With how disoriented the man was he thinks that explaining that he isn’t a twin might be too hard for the man to understand. It would probably be better if he continues with this story than.
“Sure.”
“Really?” Kaveh blinked rather slowly, seeming to consider the information and then nodding his head. “Yeah the nose…the nose is off.”
“I’m surprised you noticed.” Al Haitham played along. “Not many people do.”
“I’m a artist” Kaveh boasted. “I look at the tiniest of details.” He lowered his voice an octave as he chuckled.
Al Haitham smiled to himself as he helped Kaveh out of the chair, the man slumping over barely able to hold himself upright. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
“So what’s your name?” Kaveh asked as Al Haitham took the time to buckle the man up.
“Al Haitham.” He replied. He wasn’t that committed to actually giving himself another name and Kaveh seemed high enough that he’d believe it.
“So…let me get this straight…” Kaveh raised an eyebrow. “Al Haitham has a secret twin brother named Al Haitham?”
“Yep, family name. Same as my dad.” That was not even close to his father’s name. “And my grandpa.” Another lie.
“Huh…” Kaveh seemed stunned by the news as he rested his head on the window. “That feels narci….narcissistic.”
“Maybe but I’m not in the city much so no need to change it.” He shrugged as he turned on the engine and began to reverse.
“What do you do?”
“I work at a library.”
"I see you and your brother love words."
Al Haitham decided that he wanted to flirt a bit. "Yes, I love the way that words can make someone feel good. I also like to do it in other...fun ways."
Kaveh hummed with a light shade of pink on his face. “So did you study at the Akademiya? I never recalled running into you. You…act different than your brother.”
He already knew that Kaveh was out of it to the point that he would believe a lot of things easily but he was still in shock at how well this was going. Could really keep this lie up until they got home?
“Yeah, I studied abroad so that’s why you’ve never seen me.” Al Haitham had to laugh to himself because this was absurd. Kaveh really thought he was a twin and was just believing every lie coming out of his mouth. He felt bad but the ridiculousness of it all made him feel better.
“You do seem rather outgoing.” Kaveh commented. “So are you on vacation or something?”
“You could say that.” Al Haitham focused on the road ahead as he thought about what to do next. How else to mess with his dear senior? “So what do you think of my brother?”
“Hmmmm” Kaveh hummed to himself as he rested his head on the window. Seeming to be deep in thought or falling asleep but Al Haitham would say it’s the latter. “Will you be mad at me for what I say?”
Now his interests were piqued. “No, I had to live with him. Whatever you say I’ve probably experienced tenfold.”
“That’s so true.” Kaveh grabbed Al Haitham’s shoulder, seeming to comfort him. “I can barely manage staying in the same house as him…you had to share the womb, your rooms, and basically…like…just everything.”
“Yep.” Al Haitham decided to just ignore that little sentence.
“I will say that your brother can be a handful.” Kaveh shook his head. “He loves to bicker with me…like I think he gets off to it…think he likes the sound of his own voice. But-” Kaveh smiled, “he’s a sweetheart when he wants to be. He’s ways of showing affection are...unorthodock? Unorthdodcs? Unorth–ughhh whatever you get what I’m saying. He’s a little sweetheart when he isn’t an asshole.”
Al Haitham felt heat rush to his cheeks as he rubbed his face trying to hide a smile. He knew that Kaveh liked him. As much as he fussed about everything he did the man was always considerate of him and cared about him genuinely and he was always thankful for it (even if never shown).
“Well, I think you’re quite nice too.” Al Haitham placed his hand on Kaveh’s thigh, rubbing it gently. “I also think you're quite cute, I see why my brother likes you.”
While he was paying attention to the road he could hear Kaveh’s breath hitch as felt the man slowly move his hand away from his thigh. He looked out with the corner of his eye and noticed a scowl on Kaveh’s face.
“Flattered but I’m not interested.” Kaveh’s eyes narrowed with suspicion and it did make him feel a little guilty. “In a relationship with someone…think you might know em…real well.”
Al Haitham nodded. “I get it. My brother got so lucky but it sounds like he treats you so poorly.” He stopped at the light and turned to Kaveh, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. He grabbed onto Kaveh’s cheek, caressing it softly, noticing that Kaveh’s eyes were as wide as a deer in headlights. “I’d treat you better.”
The light changed and Al Haitham continued to drive. That was enough messing with him. He had told Kaveh yesterday that he would buy him some ice cream after the surgery so that can be his little treat for the week.
For a while, Al Haitham kept his eyes on the road, then he noticed that Kaveh was on his phone. Kaveh was rather absorbed in it, typing rather slowly as he brought the phone up to his face as if he couldn’t see and then backed down. Al Haitham also realized that the phone in his pocket was vibrating every minute or so.
Kaveh was probably filling the group chat with a bunch of stupid messages. He continued his drive in relative silence until it was disturbed by a chime.
Kaveh answered his phone, turning away from Al Haitham in a rather comical way. He pushed his body so far into the door as he tried to be secretive about his call. Al Haitham only shook his head as he drove but still ease dropped.
“Yeah, he’s been all…flirty.” Kaveh said as he looked towards Al Haitham. “He looks just like him…but he’s more of a flirt. Probably extroverted or like a bit of both.”
Kaveh handed the phone to Al Haitham who kept his eyes on the road. “Why are you giving me your phone?”
“My friend Tighnari wants to talk to you.”
Here we go. He took the phone and placed it towards his ear, rearing for what was going to happen. “Hello?” He said as if he had no idea why he was talking.
“You can’t listen to instructions can you?” Tighnari lashed out and he could see the mans tail swishing around angrily with a peeved look on his face.
“Last I remember I don’t take orders from you.”
“You just needed to be nice and understanding. Just tell him he’ll be fine and take him home while he babbles nonsense. Instead you’ve convinced him that he’s currently be cared for by your twin brother…which I don’t where you get that from-”
“Kaveh, was really out of it waking up and didn’t think I was me so I jokingly said I was a twin and he bought it.”
“-that…” Tighnari sighed and he was pretty sure that he was pinching the bridge of his nose trying to stop himself from saying something he’ll regret. “Whatever. He thinks that you're your fictional brother and that he is flirting with him. And that you're kidnapping him.”
“Why would he think that?”
“I don’t know. We keep telling him that you wouldn’t do that. It might be the path your taking that’s giving him the idea.”
Al Hatiham pulled to the side as he looked at Kaveh who seemed scared. “You think I’m kidnapping you?”
Kaveh nodded.
“I’m taking you for ice cream.”
“Oh.” Kaveh nodded in understanding. “Can I get a sherbert?”
Kaveh laid beside Al Haitham’s chest. Drooling onto his chest looking peaceful and making the man smile. He was currently reading the messages that Kaveh had sent in the car.
Kaveh: Al Haitham is dlirting with me!
Tighnari:Dlirting?
Kaveh: clirting
Kaveh: lirting
Kaveh: Just put f in ront
Cyno: He’s your boyfriend?
Tighnari: It’s what they do
Kaveh: Nohis twin brother Al Haitham!
Cyno:????
Tighnari: What the hell did they give you at the dentist?
Kaveh: Haitham had an emergency. So is brother came to get me. It’s the nose. His nose was a bit crooked. And he had like two of them two.
Tighnari: I’m….
Cyno: It’s original…I’ll give him that.
Kaveh: He’s been acting like we’re dating! Think he’s trynna seduce me and get me to cheat on Al Haitham.
Kaveh: That’s so messed up
Kaveh: Like who does that to there brother?
Kaveh: I like the flirting it’s nice
Kaveh: But still norally wrong
Kaveh: I think he’s kidnapping me
Tighnari: How’d you come to that?
Kaveh: Missed a turn to the house a second time.
Tighnari: I don’t think he’s kidnapping you
Kaveh: HE DID IT AGAIN!
Kaveh: CYNO!
Kaveh: CYNO! HELP ME!
Tighnari: He’s laughing right now.
Tighnari: Don’t panic
Tighanri: I’m calling so answer
Al Haitham chuckled as he rubbed the architect’s back. So maybe his prank went a bit too far but it wasn’t too scary for the man…at least he hadn’t said anything about it. Al Haitham relaxed, feeling himself unwind until something grabbed his neck. Warm and slender fingers clutching onto his throat almost choking him.
“You are so dead.”