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Whenever Alhaitham and Kaveh helped the Traveler with her commissions, Alhaitham knew he’d have to keep an eye on his husband.
Kaveh was protective, and fiery, and also very easy to injure. Yes, he was strong. Despite that, and his intelligence, he had a tendency to throw himself in the way of attacks for the others. He had to protect other people. During their day-to-day life, Alhaitham was trying to work with him on it. It didn’t always work. With enemies such as Terrorshrooms or Hypostases or anything that was inhuman, it was a bad habit but not necessarily a lethal one.
When it came to fighting off poachers, like Tighnari had asked them to do with this commission while he was stuck at home avoiding assassins, that habit of Kaveh’s could turn deadly.
Dodging around one poacher, Alhaitham swept his blade around and cut through their Achilles tendon. With a cry, the poacher dropped. One of their friends worked on dragging them away. They were on orders, as per usual, not to kill unless absolutely necessary. Besides that, though, a few injuries would inevitably happen. He worked his way over and through the poachers to Kaveh’s side, so they could fight back-to-back like they were used to. His husband glanced back at him, flashing a smile with bright eyes. There was a cut above his hairline, twin trails of blood running down his face. He didn’t seem to be very bothered by this. There was already a slash wound to his left arm, one that cut through his shirt sleeve and left the white fabric soaked in red. Another cut was on his left thigh. He might have had a third on his chest that Alhaitham couldn’t see. Still, he didn’t have the chance to see, either, because more poachers lunged for them, and they had to focus on fighting again.
At some point during the fight, one of the poachers pulled out a bow and fired arrows at them. Kaveh backed Alhaitham up with a few nudges to the side and warnings over his shoulder. Alhaitham listened, kept watching his back and dodged to the side occasionally. He must have lost track of Kaveh, or maybe he had seen something and run off. One moment, Kaveh was there. The next, Alhaitham glanced back, and his husband was gone.
This is just like the markets, Alhaitham sighed, jumping back in to watch Lumine’s back. At least Paimon wasn’t there to shout about what they should do. Whenever Lumine was sparring with Alhaitham (or anyone else, really), the little fairy…person would shout out stuff. She never had the right advice. She was better off hiding in whatever pocket dimension she went off to whenever Lumine needed her to be hidden.
“Thanks.” Lumine signed over her shoulder, smiling at him. Kazuha and Beidou were fighting similarly to how Alhaitham and Kaveh had been earlier, back-to-back with Electro and Anemo sweeping through the poachers around them. With a nod, Alhaitham glanced back for more poachers.
No wonder Tighnari needed help with them. How many of these poachers are there? He wondered, spinning his sword with a flourish before striking another man. Hopefully, they could arrest some of the poachers and find out where they were coming from, or at least scare them off, because—
Somewhere, Kaveh shouted in pain.
Alhaitham whipped around in time to see Kaveh battling with one of the poachers. They had smashed him into the ground, hard from the look of things. Worse, Alhaitham had a nasty feeling that he could see a few arrows stuck in Kaveh’s back. Of course this was never going to be an easy fight. When can Kaveh ever catch a break?
He sprinted for the poacher, sword drawn and already out to strike. As for the poacher, he had his own dagger raised, ready to plunge it into Kaveh’s back. Summoning a mirror, Alhaitham threw it.
He’d never been so happy to break someone’s nose.
The poacher stumbled back with a yell, dagger falling and a hand flying up to his face. A second later, he dropped to the ground. Alhaitham watched him as he scrambled to his feet and fled with his tail between his legs. Then, he turned to look at Kaveh, who was also getting to his feet.
Kaveh had arrows in his back. There was a slash to his chest, bleeding as profusely as the ones to his arm and thigh. His right arm didn’t look right, either. There was an odd lump on the side of his wrist, and his elbow looked to be in a similar state. “Kaveh?” Alhaitham asked, quietly. Looking up, Kaveh smiled at him. It was weak. His grip on his claymore wavered, tip dragging on the ground. Fluttering around him, Mehrak beeped irritably.
He probably realized Kaveh was going to drop before Kaveh himself did.
Hurrying to his side, Alhaitham dematerialized his sword and held his arms out, catching Kaveh as he slumped forwards. Kaveh let out a moan of pain, gasped as Alhaitham’s fingers brushed his wounds. Okay, okay. Careful with him. He cradled the back of Kaveh’s head, other arm wrapped around his middle, and eased him down to the ground. Not on his back, not on his back. Get him on his left side. He ripped off pieces of his cloak to bandage Kaveh’s arm and thigh, pressed more strips of cloth against his chest.
“Hey, Kaveh, it’s okay.” An odd, pained noise left him again. Gently, Alhaitham brushed his hair out of his face. Turning, he searched for the others. “Lumine! Are any of you healers?”
A few glances were exchanged. Then, Lumine gestured to Beidou and Kazuha. The two of them went after some of the other poachers, and Lumine sprinted to Alhaitham’s side. On the ground, Kaveh moaned again. His eyes were closed, face pale and lips bloodless. He’s bleeding more than I thought he would be. He’s bleeding too much. He needs to—I need—focus, Alhaitham!
He couldn’t focus. His hands weren’t doing anything, there was blood pulsing between his fingers. Kaveh. Panting, he glanced over at Lumine. Her eyes narrowed. She was pressing her fingers to Kaveh’s back, to the arrow wounds. “Paimon.”
The fairy appeared. When she saw Kaveh’s condition, she screamed. Tiny hands were slapped over grayish eyes. “Ahh! Paimon never wants to see that again! What happened?”
“Paimon.” Lumine’s voice was rough and grating. She winced as she spoke. With a shake of her head to brush it off, she turned to Paimon. “Paimon!”
“Paimon isn’t looking at that!”
“I’m not—asking you to.” Lumine fired back. “Where is the—closest Statue—of Seven?”
“Paimon thinks it’s over there.” Paimon gestured, back turned and eyes squeezed shut. On the ground, Kaveh sucked in a gasp. He was shaking. Looking down at him, Alhaitham felt his breath catching in his throat. I can’t. I can’t—I have to—how do I help? How can I help him?
“Teleport us there.”
“You know, Paimon is more than—”
“Just do it, Paimon!”
The world spun. Suddenly, Alhaitham was kneeling in front of one of the Statues of Seven. Hands moved, Lumine wrapped her fingers around one of the arrow shafts. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t heal him with the arrows in him,” Lumine began, voice still rough. The wince on her face was clear enough. Staring at her, Alhaitham could only blink a few times. Then, Lumine ripped an arrow out of Kaveh’s body, apologizing to him already.
Kaveh screamed.
As soon as she was done, Lumine cast the arrows aside. They clattered on the stones, down the steps. She stood up, hands slicked in blood, and wiped them off on her dress. Red smeared the white fabric. Wincing, Alhaitham turned back to Kaveh, who was grasping at his hands. With as much care as he could give, Alhaitham lifted Kaveh into his arms, cradled him close. If he died, Alhaitham had to give him what little comfort he could.
He was crying. His face was burning, cheeks and nose flushed as he pressed his cheek to Kaveh’s hair. In his arms, Kaveh was panting. Weak breaths brushed against his neck. He was shaking. Hold on, Kaveh. Please.
Lumine returned to him, crouching down. Her hands were glowing green. “Alhaitham.” She murmured. Looking at her, panting, Alhaitham met her gaze, glanced down at her hands, “You don’t need to let him go. Just let me help him.” There was blood painting her lips. Her throat…nodding, Alhaitham shifted his grip on Kaveh. Head falling back, Kaveh let out another groan.
Stretching her hands out, Lumine settled glowing green fingers on Kaveh’s skin. One palm rested flat on Kaveh’s forehead, brushing his hair away from his face. The other slipped beneath the hem of his shirt to press over his chest. Under the touch, Kaveh flinched and sucked in a breath. His eyes fluttered under closed lids, but didn’t open. His breathing sped up, then relaxed. His whole body slumped against Alhaitham’s own. Holding him close, Alhaitham murmured softly. He wasn’t even sure what he said. It was nothing meaningful, platitudes and an attempt to soothe whatever pain Kaveh would have. Honestly, he wasn’t sure that Kaveh could hear him. He was still limp, head resting against Alhaitham’s shoulder as faint breaths fanned out against his neck.
Lumine removed her hands.
Alhaitham glanced up at her when she waved to catch his attention, “Take him home. He needs to rest. I can find someone else for help.” She murmured a name. Xiao.
There was a flash of black and teal, and then a man was standing beside the statue. Yellow eyes wandered over the three of them. Cradling Kaveh closer, Alhaitham looked up at him. The man turned to Lumine, “You called?”
She nodded, signing quickly, “We have Kazuha and Beidou. Poachers. Kaveh was wounded.”
“Right. I can help.” The man turned to Alhaitham, then crouched and rested a hand on Kaveh’s forehead. “The Statue has done its work well. He will be fine.”
“Thank you,” Alhaitham replied. Nodding, Xiao hurried off. Lumine waited a moment longer, and Alhaitham sent her a weak smile. “Take your time. Kaveh and I would be happy to host you if you need to rest after this is finished.”
“I appreciate it. Make sure Kaveh rests.” Nodding, Alhaitham slipped an arm under Kaveh’s knees, adjusted his grip on his husband, and then lifted him up. Lumine and Xiao were gone already. Kaveh let out a low moan of pain.
“Hey, love.” Alhaitham murmured, kissing the top of his head. With a shudder and a slight gasp, Kaveh stirred. Red eyes cracked open. Shaking arms wrapped themselves around his neck. Again, Alhaitham kissed the top of his head, rested his cheek against Kaveh’s hair. “I got you, you’re okay.”
“’m fine…” Kaveh mumbled. “’ve…been through worse.”
“I know.” Alhaitham whispered. “Anything hurting?”
“…sore.” A shift, a push of Kaveh’s face into the side of his neck. As he walked, Alhaitham carefully picked around any holes or dips in the ground. If Kaveh was only sore, that would be a good thing. The healing had worked. Still, the least Alhaitham could do was ease what little pain he did have. “You…carried me like this…right after we got married.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Kaveh nodded again.
“…was so tired. All the stress was…gone.” Probably a few broken ribs that turned out bruised. He got slammed pretty hard into the ground as well. I’ll check him over and get some ice on the bruises when I have him settled in bed. “It was nice.”
“It was.” Alhaitham glanced around at the flowers. Their anniversary was coming up soon. “You were the one who changed my opinion on marriage, you know. That and the revolution.”
He adjusted his grip on Kaveh again, cradling him closer. Kaveh’s arms tightened around his neck. A low whimper left him, Alhaitham murmured apologies to him. Kaveh’s clothes were covered in blood, they would need a good washing. I’ll stick him in mine, he decided quietly.
“I don’t think it was even the fact that you weren’t there, but Archons. I missed you every single day. I wanted to find you in the desert, but I knew I couldn’t. That was too big a risk to take. It would put you in too much danger. But then I just—realized how important you were to me, and that I wanted that kind of legal contract with you.”
“How romantic.” Kaveh teased. “Actually…that is really romantic. You’re really sweet.”
“Mmm, I don’t think most people would think of that.”
They were out in the garden, Kaveh was lying down and getting some sunlight, and Alhaitham was brushing his hair.
The bruises on his back weren’t as bad as the arrow wounds would have been. Alhaitham had checked him over entirely. As for Kaveh’s chest and ribs, they had been bruised worse. Kaveh wasn’t wrong. Thanks to Lumine, they had gotten away lucky. So, now, Alhaitham was gently untangling the very few knots in Kaveh’s hair. That happened after a fight. He had a brush by him, gently running it through the strands once he had undone them. As for Kaveh, he just needed to lay there and doze in the sunlight for about thirty minutes.
It was late in the afternoon, after four o’clock. Otherwise, Alhaitham would have insisted they do this inside, then he’d set a timer for fifteen minutes and let Kaveh nap in the sun. It was also closer to winter, so even though Kaveh wasn’t affected like most with the same seasonal-effected depression who lived in Mondstadt or somewhere else north. Not too long after a two-month period where Kaveh almost never left the house, Tighnari had recommended doing what they were now. So, they did, and it worked.
So, there they were, with Kaveh napping on a hammock of sorts in the back garden.
Smiling, Alhaitham ran the brush through Kaveh’s hair again, playing with the gold strands. In his sleep, Kaveh mumbled softly, shifting once. There was a faint smile on his face. Yeah...maybe the revolution wasn’t what made me want to get married to you, he admitted. Gently, he scratched blunt fingernails across Kaveh’s scalp. That got him another soft hum. Sighing with a soft smile, Alhaitham repeated the motion with one hand, teasing out a few of the strands the way his husband liked.
“I love you,” he whispered softly. Leaning down, brushing Kaveh’s hair away from his temple, Alhaitham kissed the place where he’d had that cut earlier. On the hammock, Kaveh took another slow, deep breath in his sleep.
(He was asleep. Whenever he tried to fake sleeping, he never had the right tension on his face. He also tended to frown unconsciously.)
The timer went off against his hip, buzzing softly. Kaveh wouldn’t hear it. Reaching down, Alhaitham turned it off, then gently picked Kaveh up and cradled him close again. The man was dead weight. He didn’t wake, though.
Carrying him over the threshold into their house again might have been quieter than the first time, but Alhaitham’s heart purred the exact same way.