Work Text:
Alhaitham took a deep breath when he opened his eyes.
He lay in bed for a long time before turning his gaze to the calendar.
11 February...
His birthday.
He groaned in anticipation of the surprise Kaveh had in store for him. The blond was not at all disguised, and Alhaitham knew he had something in mind for him, and his day was sure to begin with a breakfast fit for a sultan.
After going to his personal washroom to freshen up and put on some trousers, Alhaitham emerged from his room, surprised to see the kitchen empty.
Not even his usual coffee was ready. Was Kaveh still asleep? Had he forgotten?
He shrugged, not wanting to make sure if the blond was inside his room, in case he was sleeping, preparing his own breakfast.
On the way to the Academy, it occurred to him that maybe Kaveh wanted to surprise him. A breakfast was expected but... a surprise in his office? Organise the whole Academy to congratulate him, or worse, sing to him?
Alhaitham blushed, for he didn't want the attention, but at the same time it pleased him to think that Kaveh would spend so much of his time on it.
So he couldn't help but be disappointed when again, he had nothing prepared either in his office or on his way to the Academy.
His morning passed quietly, without incident, and when his day was over, someone stopped him on his way home.
''Gotcha!'' laughed Nilou, hugging the scribe's arm ''You're not getting off that easy''
''Oh, you had something prepared for me, then?'' replied Alhaitham, with a smile.
Nilou nodded cheerfully, dragging Alhaitham into the Zubayr palace.
There were all the friends he had made since he started his whole plan to save the archon, including some of his grandmother's friends.
He felt very nostalgic to see those old ladies, they were leaving a seat free, Alhaitham almost feeling his grandmother sitting there, looking with pride and affection at her grandson's birthday.
As Alhaitham expected, when Nilou placed him in the centre of the theatre, everyone began to sing his birthday to him, the scribe rolling his eyes, trying to hide his happiness.
A great feast had been prepared and sweets were in abundance.
Dehya, Dunyarzad, Haypasia, Candace, Layla... all those who had helped rescue the archon plus the new friends he had made along the way were there...
...
Except Kaveh
...
Maybe... maybe his birthday really wasn't that important to the blond.
After all they weren't friends anymore. What they had... no, it didn't matter. He was just his landlord, and why should Kaveh care about such a trifle?
He tried to enjoy the party his friends had prepared for him as much as possible, saying goodbye when he claimed he had socialised too much for the day, his friends laughing sympathetically.
As he arrived home, he had another hunch. Maybe he'd arranged a personal surprise party for him?
A dinner party just the two of them?
...
No, it was stupid. Surely if he tried to do that, he would know that Alhaitham had already dined at that party.
And well, he needn't have worried about it, because when he opened the door, his house was empty.
No sign of anyone preparing a party or a surprise cake.
With a saddened sigh, Alhaitham made his way to his room, wanting this day to be over.
He felt tremendously ungrateful. The academy had been good to him, his friends had thrown him a special party... so why did he feel this birthday was such a disaster?
Why did he still want more attention and affection from Kaveh? Maybe... if he had treated him better...
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a nasty cough coming from Kaveh's room, followed by a retch.
Without a second thought, Alhaitham opened the door, finding Kaveh completely sweaty and his face bathed in sweat, with his head sticking out of the bed and a smell of vomit permeating the air.
''Kaveh!''
Kaveh weakly turned to him, Alhaitham seeing that he barely had the strength to sit up.
He ran to his aid, wiping the vomit on his face with his blanket. ''No... I have to sleep here...''
''You're not sleeping in this room, Kaveh. By Buer, since when are you like this?'' Alhaitham snorted, grabbing the blond in his arms and dragging him out of the polluted room.
He carried him into the bathroom, covering him with his cloak, which Kaveh hugged as if it were his baby blanket while Alhaitham dampened a towel to wash his mouth and then dampened another to wipe and then dry the sweat from his forehead, chest and neck.
''Please tell me you haven't been like this all morning? I've seen dried vomit on the floor, Kaveh''
''I'm sorry... I promise I'll clean it up-''
''Stupid, that's not what I mean!'' he cut him off, indignantly ''I mean why didn't you ask me for help?!? You've been unable to move from your bed, vomiting non-stop, all day, Kaveh. Do you understand how serious that is?''
Kaveh began to cry, though Alhaitham didn't know if it was because of the illness or because of his words ''I... I didn't want to ruin your day...''
Alhaitham sighed, rolling his eyes, satisfied to see that he was already cleaner than before ''Let's go to my room, you must change your clothes''
As if he were a rag doll, Alhaitham took him in his arms again, Kaveh exerting no effort at all.
As he helped him undress and put on a pair of pyjamas, the scribe's very warm ones, Kaveh spoke again ''I've been... all these days preparing your party... I didn't want to spoil it because of me''
''So that party is all your doing'' laughed Alhaitham, stroking his hair.
Kaveh nodded, wiping away his tears ''And I wanted to do more things to you... but I've been like this since yesterday and I didn't want... I didn't want you to spend your birthday taking care of a sick person. Because I know that if you had seen me sick, you would have stayed home, taking care of me''
''And if you know I would do that, seriously in that pretty head of yours hasn't it made you think that I'd rather spend my birthday taking care of you than celebrating?''
''Even when I'm sick I can't get rid of your insults'' cried Kaveh, making Alhaitham laugh again ''You deserve this insult. How could you think of not saying anything to me, knowing that I was going to be away from home longer? What if I were to stay longer at the party?''
''In fact I wasn't expecting you so soon...''
''By Buer, Kaveh'' Alhaitham snorted, laying him down on his bed, pleased to see the blond sighing calmly and snuggling into his blankets, burying his nose in them ''I'm going to your room to clean it and freshen it up. I'll be right back''
Putting on a mask to avoid getting sick as little as possible, Alhaitham removed the germ-ridden sheets, opened the windows and wiped the floor three times.
After that he took a quick shower and returned to his room, sighing when he saw Kaveh with half-open eyes ''Sleep''
He lay down with him, embracing him, grateful that he showed no resistance to the embrace, Kaveh's fevered forehead resting on his chest, Alhaitham placing a kiss there.
''Don't ever do that to me again'' whispered Alhaitham ''This birthday has sucked because you weren't there. Don't ever not ask for my help again, I don't care what day it is. I don't care if it's the anniversary of my grandmother's death. You will always be the most important thing to me, okay?''
Alhaitham sighed in satisfaction as he felt his pyjama shirt dampen and Kaveh nodded.
"Haitham''
"Hmm?''
"What time is it?''
"It's eight minutes to twelve''
Kaveh smiled, snuggling further into the scribe's body ''Happy birthday, habibi''