Chapter Text
Alhaitham unlocked the door to the home he resided in and was instantly hit with the smell of a hearty meal. His up-to-now-cold expression had significantly softened because it meant that his boyfriend was home. They've recently become a couple after years of hard work, so of course it felt well-earned. Alhaitham was pleased to find that, despite the natural initial awkwardness, both of them made the effort to make this whole thing work. At times, Alhaitham was nervous that he'd do something wrong and ruin everything, though he had faith in Kaveh, believing that the architect wouldn't leave him over a trivial mistake. They've gone through worse.
Instead of overthinking right at the doorstep, Alhaitham entered the house and let the warmth envelop him. It was a long day at work, and the last thing he wanted to do was overwhelm his mind even further with unpleasant scenarios. He took his shoes and cape off, after which he turned up the volume of his hearing aids. He lowered it on his way home due to the bothersome noise, but he wished to listen to his lover. Now that he could hear again, he made out the sizzling coming from the kitchen, accompanied by hums, which he could barely pick up from here anyway. Letting a yawn leave his lips, he headed towards the sound.
The moment his eyes caught Kaveh, he felt a noteworthy portion of his ire recede. The architect was currently making a salad, looking like the angel he was, while meat and presumably rice were frying in a pan. Alhaitham already couldn't wait to devour the food, happy not only because he didn't have to cook but also because it was something that Kaveh had prepared. Earlier, he could rarely admit that he wholeheartedly fancied Kaveh's cooking, but now he wanted to shower the other with compliments.
Not yet, though. He didn't want to overwhelm Kaveh so early on.
Alhaitham leaned on the door frame and crossed his arms as a fatigued smirk appeared on his face. He let his thoughts wander for a while longer, and he didn't call out to Kaveh.
Luckily, he didn't have to, because soon enough, when Kaveh reached for a container of seasoning, he spotted Alhaitham. His eyes widened in excitement, and Alhaitham thought he'd call out his name. Though after years of hiding his feelings, he doubted that a few weeks would change it. Alhaitham wanted to try his best to make Kaveh feel safe expressing his emotions nonetheless.
"Welcome home, Haitham," Kaveh greeted, tilting his head and sending the Scribe a sincere smile. It was already a much warmer tone than Kaveh ever allowed himself, so their progress was quite noticeable. "I didn't hear you come in."
"Hmm, is your age getting to you? Do we have to buy you hearing aids?" Alhaitham taunted in return, his grin just as genuine. Due to Alhaitham having trouble hearing himself, Kaveh found it most ironic, indeed.
"Haha, very funny," Kaveh rolled his eyes in exasperation. Even though they're dating now, they bicker no less. Alhaitham walked over as Kaveh pouted, putting his hand on Kaveh's hip from behind in a semi-embrace and planting a gentle peck on the other's cheek.
"Hello, love," Alhaitham murmured against Kaveh's skin, proudly watching the way it flushed. He enjoyed making Kaveh flustered due to the cute reactions he observed each time. What he also loved was how Kaveh's skin felt against his, even if it was a small, barely noticeable kiss. Gods, a decade of his pent-up love was really showing. He pulled away soon enough and leaned on the kitchen counter, crossing his arms. Kaveh raised his hand to cover his mouth, trying to get his blush under control.
"...Hello, Haitham," Kaveh uttered, firmly avoiding eye contact.
"Do I not get a pet name?" Alhaitham taunted with a fake pout, which in turn heightened Kaveh's fluster.
"Stop~. I'm busy," he whined. The Scribe chuckled and gestured with his hand for Kaveh to continue, and so he did.
"What are you cooking?" he asked, turning the attention away from the teasing, therefore allowing Kaveh to calm down. As he talked, he walked around Kaveh to the pan, taking the chance to stir the goodies.
"Uhm, chicken with rice," Kaveh exhaled, gladly taking the chance. "Figured you might want to eat after work."
"Unbelievable idea," Alhaitham shook his head in fake exasperation as he reached for a nearby spoon to taste the sauce. It basically melted on his tongue, which made Alhaitham let out a pleased hum. If he had to be shamefully honest, his knees almost buckled.
"Be grateful, you brat. I purposely went to the store to get your beloved turmeric for you," Kaveh huffed and nudged Alhaitham with his elbow. The Scribe smiled, letting the impact sway him a little. The reason why Kaveh called it 'beloved' was because turmeric was one of Alhaitham's favorite seasonings to use.
"I am," he answered, gazing at the architect with as much warmth as he could muster. Many couldn't tell the difference, yet for Kaveh, it was all too easy—the half-lidded eyes, filled with more love than he could imagine. Truth be told, he underestimated Alhaitham's infatuation at times. "Thank you, Kaveh," Alhaitham said. Kaveh blushed again and turned away to avoid the affectionate look.
"Y—Yeah, yeah, whatever," he huffed and continued making the salad. It was easy to fluster Kaveh with any act of kindness, loving touch, or sweet words. Alhaitham found it a little sad, but he was ready to provide all of that and more just to keep Kaveh happy. He fully deserved that.
After a moment's thought, Alhaitham approached Kaveh anew and hugged him from behind, letting his arms envelop the architect's slim figure. The clothes did little to cover his physique. Kaveh froze in shock, though that was well within Alhaitham's calculations. He wanted to get Kaveh used to casual touches like these so that, with time, maybe, just maybe, Kaveh would initiate those himself. It was also because Alhaitham had craved to embrace Kaveh for a decade now, and he wanted to treat himself a little.
"H—Haitham?" Kaveh stammered, tensing, when Alhaitham nuzzled his neck.
"It's okay," the Scribe hummed and closed his eyes, trying to appear relaxed despite his racing heart. Now that he thought about it, it was their first ever hug from behind. Usually, he used the advantage of Kaveh not noticing him to spook the blonde, so this must have certainly been a surprise. He couldn't not admit how nice it felt to have Kaveh in his arms. It made him feel needed, so to speak. As if he were sure he could protect Kaveh. He hoped for more hugs like these.
Kaveh took a deep breath, slowly melting in Alhaitham's embrace. It's not that he disliked it; he was just unused to touches like these. He lowered his head and continued with the salad while Alhaitham busied himself with the hug. He propped his chin on the other's shoulder, watching the way the blonde hair swayed and the earring wobbled.
Right, his earrings. He's always liked them, deeming them suitable for Kaveh. He could part it into two pieces, one being a triangle ruler and the other a compass, for when he needed to draw small details on projects. Alhaitham has been fascinated by them for a while now.
He let out a quiet hum, nudging the earring with his nose. Kaveh didn't notice the movement, instead taking the hum as a sign of boredom.
"How was work?" he asked, sparing Alhaitham a short glance before returning to his task.
"Tiresome," the Scribe answered, and he raised his hand to caress the earring. His fingers grazed against Kaveh's earlobe, which made the architect flinch in surprise. "Someone moved the papers I put away yesterday. It took me a long time to find them."
"That sounds frustrating," Kaveh agreed, turning his head to look at Alhaitham. The Scribe's hand gently held the earring, cherishing it while still making sure he didn't accidentally damage or pull on it. "What are you doing?" Kaveh asked, which made Alhaitham's eyes directly lock with his.
"Your earrings..." Alhaitham mused, gazing once again at the piece, at its cracks and visible marks of time. As if to pay it its well-deserved respect, though mostly because he just felt like it, he softly kissed it. It was an act so intimate that Kaveh faltered shortly. He cleared his throat to get rid of his shyness before speaking.
"What about them?" Kaveh tilted his head, making the earring sway. "You better not mock them. They're brilliant."
"They are," Alhaitham nodded, his expression unusually sincere. "They're a practical accessory, fitting for an architect like you. My concern is that I see the wear and tear on them. Don't you think it's time for new ones?"
Kaveh's brows rose, surprised at the comment. "Is it that visible?" he mumbled under his breath and brought his hand to nudge one of the earrings.
"If it's in front of my face, yes," Alhaitham returned plainly, taking the chance to peck Kaveh's fingers. The latter blushed, though he also sighed at the sarcasm.
"Well, they still work. They're not a priority in my life," Kaveh informed. "If they ever crack more, then I'll find a jeweler to forge a new pair."
Alhaitham hummed in interest. "They're not a priority, or you're covering up for a lack of mora?" he asked, at which Kaveh frowned in outrage.
"I am not lacking mora at the moment," he huffed. "Why do you still joke about it even though you know my financial situation has improved? It's not the way it was when you took me in."
"Clearly, it hasn't improved enough for you to rent your own place."
"I don't want to leave," Kaveh countered sternly, basically blurting the words out. Alhaitham raised a brow, and Kaveh lowered his head. "I like it here, and you like having me around, too. Don't make it sound as if you don't... We've already had this conversation," he caught himself before going on a rant, his voice growing solemn.
That's true; they did. It was a difficult night for them, being forced to admit many hidden feelings in order for the other to stay. A lot led up to this discussion, and it was certainly one of the many they needed. Even if it meant a lot for their development, due to the frustration and distress it brought, they didn't mention it often.
"You're right," Alhaitham murmured and pecked Kaveh's cheek as a silent apology. Afterwards, seeing as it was apparently forgotten, he took over the task of stirring the meat and rice.
"Oh, right. Thanks," Kaveh noted. Silence fell after this, either not knowing how to break it. They still had a lot to learn, for example, how to comfort one another. A decade may have passed, but it was a rather complicated one—becoming all lovey-dovey with each other certainly wasn't on the list up until now.
Alhaitham sighed quietly and nuzzled Kaveh's neck. Unlike the earlier tension, Kaveh replied with a short nuzzle of his own. That was one of the ways Alhaitham showed affection, and he was glad to see Kaveh not only acknowledging but also returning it. "Ah, damn it."
Alhaitham opened his eyes at the irked mutter. "What is it?"
"I got dressing on my sleeve," Kaveh sighed in exasperation. Alhaitham looked over and noticed the stain on the fabric, making him let out a short hum. Kaveh grumbled under his breath and wiped it away, after which he rolled his sleeves up and continued with the salad, occasionally stirring the meat and rice. He was almost done, though.
Alhaitham caught sight of a familiar sight—Kaveh's self-harm scars on his wrists. They were old by now, but a lot came to life while he already knew Kaveh. He didn't want to blame himself since it wasn't about him, though he felt a little guilty that he couldn't help. He found out about it pretty late, and by then, many of them had already settled down on Kaveh's body. Kaveh hasn't opened up about this part of himself yet, so Alhaitham didn't know how long he's been doing it for. He just hoped it wasn't too long.
Alhaitham slowly reached his hand out and caressed Kaveh's inner wrist. The architect tensed in surprise, his eyes locking on Alhaitham. He didn't seem to be against it, though he was still vigilant. Alhaitham gently held the other's wrist and raised it, giving it a small kiss. Kaveh's eyes widened visibly, and a small utter of stun left his parted lips. Alhaitham didn't often see the scars, and he wasn't sure how to act, but he thought that a small display of affection couldn't go wrong.
He watched Kaveh quietly, awaiting a reaction with his lips still hovering over the architect's wrist. After what felt like forever, Kaveh exhaled shakily, as if letting out his surprise this way. Maybe it was because he didn't know what to think, but he ended up simply returning to his task. Alhaitham's hand was left hanging loosely in the air, although he wasn't satisfied with the lack of answer. He grumbled quietly and nudged Kaveh's shoulder with his head, making him stop in his tracks.
"What?" Kaveh turned his head to look at Alhaitham. Was that a pout he saw?
"Will you tell me about them?" the Scribe asked softly. He hoped he wasn't too intrusive. He was simply curious about Kaveh's traits and wanted to know more.
Kaveh looked down at the scars, giving the question some thought.
"...Not now. I'm cooking," he eventually answered. Alhaitham's face lit up in joy.
"Of course, love," he hummed in satisfaction and pecked Kaveh's shoulder, at which the older blushed.
"Maybe instead of being all touchy, you'll turn the stove off and serve our plates?" Kaveh suggested, nudging Alhaitham with his elbow.
"I thought you would've loved me being touchy~."
"Not while I'm cooking, you sadist!" Kaveh spat. Alhaitham chuckled in return and let go of Kaveh, following the exact orders he was told.
"So you like it when I'm touchy outside the kitchen?"
"You can be touchy inside the kitchen, just not when I'm busy, got it?"
"Got it, love," Alhaitham hummed. Kaveh shrunk in place, and the Scribe laughed wholeheartedly. It wasn't often that a cackle like this left Alhaitham, so naturally Kaveh was attracted by it even through his fluster. Alhaitham noticed the awestruck stare early on, and he grinned fondly. "You know what, Kaveh?"
"What?"
"I love you," he declared. Kaveh blushed furiously, lowering his head so that his blonde locks covered it at least partially.
"I love you, too..."
"Look at me when you say it~."
"Fuck you," Kaveh hissed, flustered, and turned away, frowning deeply. Alhaitham chuckled again and took a quick step to the side, embracing Kaveh once more and kissing his cheek. "Huh— Haitham!" Kaveh squealed, the frown instantly melting at this action. His arms were squeezed to his sides due to the hug, but he still managed to put his hands on Alhaitham's hips. "Come on, you were supposed to serve the food!"
"Why are you holding me, then?" Alhaitham taunted smugly, pulling away a little to gaze at Kaveh.
"You...! Hmph," Kaveh huffed in embarrassment, clearly unable to provide an argument. "Just— serve the food, and we can, we can cuddle later."
"Promise?" Alhaitham asked with a tilt of his head. He seemed genuinely excited at the idea, and Kaveh had to admit that it was pretty damn adorable.
"Yeah. Promise. Now go, my faithful soldier; you have a duty to fulfill," Kaveh acted, taking on a dramatic tone. Alhaitham smiled sincerely and stepped away. As he did, he bowed and took Kaveh's hand into his own to kiss it.
"Consider it done, Your Highness," the Scribe played along, sending Kaveh a cheeky smirk. Kaveh sighed in contentment and squeezed Alhaitham's hand as a sign for him to rise.
"Thank God. I'm starving over here," he sniveled jokingly, and he put his free hand on Alhaitham's shoulder now that they were similar in height again.
"Forgive me for the delay, Your Highness," Alhaitham answered, though he didn't look sorry in the slightest—not with that loving grin on his face.
"Don't delay it further and serve the damn food," Kaveh grumbled and poked Alhaitham's cheek.
As expected, Kaveh's cooking was pure heaven for Alhaitham's mouth. And don't worry—he got his promised cuddles afterwards.