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Kaveh opened the front door to Tighnari and Cyno. They were both grinning, Cyno holding an expensive bottle of wine in his right hand and an even pricier bottle of whiskey in his left. Tighnari held out a sheet cake with messy icing: congratulations , it read, underneath an unflattering portrait of Kaveh surrounded by… cheese? Beer? Hopefully the latter.

“Uh…” 

He tried to think of what occasion they might have for showing up like this. Had Cyno won a TCG tournament recently? Perhaps Tighnari had finally gotten the akademiya off his back about all those poisonous mushrooms? Maybe Collei had aced her latest spelling test? Alhaitham was the one who administered those, though, and he hadn't mentioned anything like that earlier. He'd probably have taken the opportunity to put Kaveh down, just because he tried to play “dendrify” in one Scrabble game six years ago and Alhaitham couldn't let anything go, not even if it was struggling to get away from him. He'd already suggested Kaveh join Collei in her spelling lessons twice now, evidencing that one stupid game.

Whatever, he was getting off track. His friends’ expressions were beginning to drop.

“Uh,” Kaveh repeated, “thank you?”

Tighnari sighed, letting his arms droop. The cake, unpolished as it was, slid dangerously forwards in its box. “You have no idea why we're here, do you?”

“Give me a minute.” 

Kaveh racked his brain again. Was there any chance the cake was meant for Alhaitham? He definitely hadn't done anything of note recently, unless setting records for being the worst roommate ever counted for anything. Kaveh would expect a punch in the face for that kind of lifetime achievement, not this shoddy cake.

“Stop looking at the cake like it's insulted you,” Cyno said, “Collei made it.”

Kaveh grimaced.

“She worked very hard,” Tighnari added, “she even told us to make sure we kept it safe on the way over here.”

“Felt more like she was threatening us on that one.”

Tighnari smiled. “She's really picking up our best habits. Anyway, Kaveh.” He gestured to him like he might have thought anything up in the minute he asked for.

“Sorry, sorry!” Kaveh ended up saying, just to cover his own back. “The cake is great,” he lied, “I was just thinking about Alhaitham - that's why I looked all…”

He had no idea how he looked when he thought about Alhaitham. Probably nauseous, maybe constipated. Likely both.

For some unknown, definitely coincidental reason, Tighnari and Cyno seemed to brighten up at the mention of Alhaitham. 

“What?” Kaveh asked.

“It's crazy to me that you don't know.” Tighnari shoved the cake forwards again, sticking it right under his nose. “I mean, I know you try your best to avoid Lord Sangemah Bay like the plague, but in this case?”

Dori? Kaveh re examined the cake, with his wobbly stick figure surrounded by cheese - or not cheese? The bottles in Cyno's hands looked nice, sure, but Kaveh couldn't imagine the sea of beer idea was accurate, especially if Collei had been the one to draw this. So something else?

It struck him all of a sudden - “No way - my debt?”

Cyno gave a half-hearted cheer. “Officially cleared as of this afternoon. Your last payment went through.”

Kaveh needed to sit down. Actually, he needed to close the front door: Alhaitham would complain he was letting the cold in any minute now. Then Kaveh would have to argue back some nonsense about cold air being good for his lungs, and really he was helping Alhaitham, because honestly his lungs were likely in a terrible state from breathing in so much dust from all those old books. Yes, Kaveh was saving his life with this cool, fresh air and Alhaitham didn't appreciate it one bit. 

That thought - well, just the last part - gave Kaveh pause. He stepped forwards and shut the door behind him, joining Tighnari and Cyno on the street.

“Okay we've been very forgiving about all your weirdness tonight but really? You want us to throw your party on the pavement?” 

“Sorry!” Kaveh apologised to Tighnari, bringing his hands together in a prayer motion. “I just don't want Alhaitham to overhear us.”

Cyno gave him a look, one usually reserved for guilty academics or unfortunate victims of his stand up routine. “Surely Alhaitham will be pleased to learn about your new debt-free existence?”

“You're well on your way to a working adult’s sense of financial stability, even,” Tighnari quipped, “Alhaitham would be willing to drink to that miracle if nothing else.”

Archons, he'd forgotten how ruthless Tighnari could be. Shutting him out of the house probably wasn't helping Kaveh's case. 

“Plenty of working adults live with debt, you know.”

“For example?”

Kaveh considered. “You owe three hundred mora for that bet you lost over Madam Faruzan's real age, for one.”

Tighnari rolled his eyes. “It's not in your best interest to start tallying up loans between friends.”

“Just now,” Cyno helpfully added, “you've been plunged back into debt, since we must be counting those three days I housed and fed you when you refused to return home to Alhaitham?”

“Oh and,” Tighnari continued, “we must also include that time I covered your bet on the sumpter beast race in Caravan Ribat? Mora Meat lost pretty spectacularly after you went all in on my card, if I recall correctly.”

Kaveh waved them off, pushing down the guilt (and humiliation). “Wow it's crazy all that stuff we got up to? It's all the past now though, for sure.”

At least his friends looked bemused. “That's what we thought.” Tighnari peered over his shoulder, through the glass pane on the door. “I don't think Alhaitham has noticed us out here, by the way, so why exactly do you want to keep this secret from him?”

Kaveh tried to verbalise it. He still didn't really believe it; no more debt? His accounts cleared? Yeah, he still probably didn't have more than ten mora to his name (if only he could bear to check), but if he didn't have to keep up with Dori’s ridiculous interest rates anymore, he could actually start saving money from his commissions, however meagre. And then it wouldn't take too long to afford his own shoddy place, so far away from Alhaitham that he'd never have to see him again.

Something about that idea made Kaveh's chest pang strangely.

Probably because he'd be giving up his home of the last two years, which rightfully should belong to him and Alhaitham. And he'd wasted all that time and energy sprucing up the living room for nothing. Kaveh had been considering retiling the bathroom too, he'd even taken the measurements for the linoleum already. It was a bit sad for all of that to go to waste. Alhaitham might let him take some of the stuff with him - the nice peach curtains that Kaveh used to replace his ugly brown ones, for example - but then what if they didn't work with the feng shui of Kaveh's new place? 

“If Alhaitham found out right now,” he said, “he'd probably kick me to the streets tomorrow, all: you're back on your feet? That's enough charity from me then! ”

“Alhaitham’s not that cold-hearted,” Cyno defended.

“Fine, maybe he'd wait a few weeks for me to find a suitably spacious shoe box to move into three hundred miles from the Akademiya. Alhaitham is a bother, but an ant infested, mouldy, impractically located flat would be even worse for my health.”

Kaveh marched off, in between Cyno and Tighnari. They caught up with him easily.

“That being said,” Kaveh continued, “I think a celebration of this milestone is still in order! Just far away from Alhaitham and his house - which is unfortunately difficult to match. It might take me a long time to find a place that can compete with it.”

“Even though it has the, uh, major disadvantage of coming with Alhaitham?”

“Huge, huge flaw, obviously,” Kaveh agreed, “really hard to match that too, when you think of it like that. But I'm sure with some time I can find the perfect fit.”

Cyno and Tighnari looked at each other as though Kaveh wasn't walking in between them, obviously noticing. He graciously ignored it.

Whatever telepathic conversation they had finished. “Well, let's get super drunk tonight then, and you can start dealing with all that tomorrow morning.”

“Or afternoon,” Cyno noted.

Sounded perfect. And, in a way, Alhaitham would be celebrating Kaveh's new lease on life with them: it would all be going on his tab at Lambad’s.

Kaveh woke up the next day somewhere near 4pm, head pounding like he'd somehow fitted his own skull onto his work bench. Was this what Alhaitham felt like when he hammered away deep into the night? He should just rearrange his room so his pillows weren't adjacent to Kaveh's station. 

It took another thirty minutes for him to roll out of bed, then a further twenty to remember why he'd been drinking so hard the night before. It came to him as he was splashing cold water on his face in the bathroom and the front door was opening.

Kaveh always knew when it was Alhaitham entering the house. Not because they were the only two who lived here (to their neighbours’ constant dismay), nor because of the time (Alhaitham left the Akademiya anytime after 11am, declaring he had finished for the day), and not because of his voice (while Kaveh was kind enough to call out to the house, Alhaitham refused the barest of greetings upon returning home himself). Kaveh recognised it was Alhaitham because, whenever he entered the house, he'd dump a stack of books on the coffee table with a loud enough thump for Kaveh to think he'd broken it. Every single time.

As such: “Alhaitham!” Archons, his poor head - what he sacrificed to set his roommate on the straight and narrow. “Are you trying to destroy the furniture I so lovingly picked out?”

“There is nothing loving about taking my mora and choosing a table so beige that it blends into the rug.”

Kaveh groaned, marching out from the bathroom. “You have no appreciation for my colour scheme. Maybe you are colour blind? That seems problematic for a scribe, I'm sure they require perfect vision.”

As he expected, the coffee table was once again bowing under the weight of the books Alhaitham had brought home. He could at least spread them out a little, rather than dumping one stack in the centre where the table was weakest. Alhaitham probably wanted it to break so he could replace it with something much uglier.

Oh, what a nightmare it would be for him after Kaveh moved out. Putting up with Alhaitham as a roommate was bad enough, but to be stuck in the man's own mind, in a house decorated with his offensive sensibilities?! That was torture Kaveh wouldn't wish upon his worst enemy.

Which, he supposed, was Alhaitham.

“You're in a strange mood,” Alhaitham observed, making no move to deal with his books. “We already determined that my eyes are fine two months ago, in fact.”

“Haven't you ever heard of “circling back”? That's what we're doing now.”

“You always come up with such fascinating wastes of time, Kaveh.”

He groaned. “You should show me more respect, you know, as your senior.”

Alhaitham pulled that face that meant he was about to piss him off on purpose. It was a pretty standard one. “Apologies, senior . You always come up with such fascinating wastes of time, senior . It's really rather impressive, sen -”

“Shut up already!” Kaveh pushed past Alhaitham to deal with the books himself. “I'm hungover, you should be nicer to me.”

“Your poor decisions have no bearing on my behaviour. That said…” Alhaitham ran his cold eyes over him once again, and Kaveh repressed a shiver. “How was I so blessed last night as to not be the one dragging you home?”

“I'm perfectly capable of walking myself home.”

“Be serious.”

“I am!” Kaveh threw an especially large book at Alhaitham's head. It missed even though Alhaitham made no attempt to dodge it. “And if you must know, Cyno and Tighnari were with me last night.”

His roommate hummed. “So that's where you disappeared off to.”

“I didn't know you took such notice of my comings and goings! How sweet.”

“It's hard not to when you announce your presence before entering a room. I am sure you remember those fungi competitions last April?”

Kaveh made a face. “I don't think I like where this comparison is going. Would it kill you to be nice for once?”

Kaveh thought Alhaitham might say that he was nice, or at least that being nice could kill him. He was the kind of person to have such an argument prepped ahead of time. They'd probably already run through it at some point, though all the disagreements blurred together at one point. Alhaitham would talk about letting Kaveh live here and never collecting the supposed rent to prove his kindness, or citing Kaveh's immense (now non existent!) debt as evidence to remain egoistic and self serving. Instead, Alhaitham went down a completely different route:

“You're not that nice either, senior ; you didn't even invite me out last night.”

Kaveh almost found himself speechless. “Um - well, I - why would you care about that? You don't like going out.”

“I don't know what gave you that impression. I haven't refused one invitation in the last few months.”

“You used to turn me down every time!”

“Of course,” Alhaitham replied, “that was before I got to know Tighnari and Cyno well. Now that the context of the invitations has changed - meeting up with our friends rather than tagging along with your friends - my response has also changed.”

Kaveh sighed. “Then next time I'll ask, happy now?”

“Not particularly. I never said I enjoyed the get-togethers.”

“Then why do you care about being invited?!”

Alhaitham shrugged. “Why do you care about the whole house being “colour coordinated”.”

“It’s the colour scheme ! And anyway, those aren't even related!”

Kaveh stamped his foot. As though Lord Kusanali herself was laughing at him, in that exact instance the stupid coffee table finally gave in, wood splintering and books caving inwards. Alhaitham had the gall to smirk.

“Looks like we will have to find a new one. I'll pick this time.”

Maybe Kaveh could survive an ant infested shoebox if this was the alternative.

He double booked Friday. Kaveh was viewing flats on the outskirts of the city in the morning, then planned to go furniture shopping with Alhaitham in the evening. He could not let his roommate know about the former, and he didn't think Faruzan and Layla would appreciate the duplicitous implications of the latter.

He picked those two to accompany him because, apparently, part of that “working adult” thing Tighnari had been talking about meant most of his friends had places to be between the hours of nine and five. Kaveh figured the forest would continue to exist whether Tighnari was in it or not, and that Cyno would probably find more criminals in the desert if he let the sun set first. 

(It was also possible, though very unlikely, that Cyno and Tighnari were lying about their busy schedules to avoid joining Kaveh on his flat hunt.)

“I'm so glad neither of you had class this morning,” he said to Faruzan and Layla, “I much prefer shopping with company.”

The women shared the same look that Cyno and Tighnari were always pulling. Faruzan cleared her throat. “Well, as one of my juniors at the Akademiya, I couldn't exactly abandon you during this important life stage. I helped Layla last week as well.”

Kaveh tried not to think about the fact that he was hitting this “life stage” almost ten years after Layla. 

For her part, Layla nodded along. “Madam Faruzan really helped steer me away from bad deals and things.”

“Oh, landlords are always scummy. Luckily I'm very vigilant to scams,” he said.

There was that look again? Whatever.

The first place was nice enough from the outside - a bit far from the Akademiya, but pretty close to the caravans that Kaveh would need to ride for desert commissions. Also very far from Lambad’s, so his meetups with his friends might have to relocate.

Would they all be willing to go out of their way for him? Alhaitham wouldn't. Kaveh shook that thought away: it was better if Alhaitham stopped showing up anyway, less headaches for him.

Inside the flat wasn't as nice. Kaveh took one step through the front door and almost face planted into the opposite wall.

“Eh?” 

“Oh yes,” the landlord called out from the back of their group, “this flat boasts a very closed floor plan.”

He turned around. “Boasts?”

“It's quaint,” Faruzan commented sharply, “where's the kitchen?”

“You're looking at it.”

Apparently “closed floor plan” meant tiny . There were two bedrooms (this had been his splurge option!) but neither could fit a single bed, let alone the queen mattress Alhaitham had provided.

As they left, Layla patted his arm. “At least there weren't any mice.”

“Right.” Think positive thoughts, he could do that. “Maybe the next place will surprise us.”

‘Shock’ would have been a better word for it. This flat had a better location, but was critically lacking in other ways:

“While you may think that the absence of a roof is an issue, let me just settle your fears,” this landlord said, “it is actually a prime example of the post modern open-concept style that's presently taking the Sumeru retail market by storm.”

Faruzan wouldn't let him look inside. In all fairness, all it would have taken was a bird's eye view. He was a bit intrigued by the artsy vibes, but mentioning that made both of his companions grimace.

“Are you sure you need to be looking for a new place right now?” Faruzan asked as they made their way to the final flat. “Where have you been living? Is it really worse than these options?”

Kaveh nodded. “The roommate situation is truly dire.”

“Like first year inter darshan dorm assignments?” Layla shuddered.

“Worse.”

Alhaitham had actually been assigned to room with Kaveh back when they were students, mostly because Kaveh had kindly volunteered to help out his juniors, who wanted nothing to do with Alhaitham. Somehow the same man who scared off his whole cohort as a teenager was still much cuter and sweeter back then than he was now. He'd only grown more surly.

At least back then Alhaitham kept to himself more. Kaveh still forced him out of his shell, but that was his own fault. He was mature enough to reflect on his mistakes - but, really, how could he have known that Alhaitham’s thick, introverted shell hid not an anxious underclassman but an obtuse asshole?

“Kaveh?” Faruzan returned his attention to the final flat they'd be visiting. 

Location was fine, maybe sub par. Rent might necessitate Kaveh doubling his current work rate to keep up. There were padisarahs in the front garden of the block, though, that softened Kaveh's heart a little.

This landlord was not as chipper as the others. Maybe he knew he didn't have to sugar coat the flat in order to sell it?

“If you want to follow me, I can give you the tour.”

It was nice on the inside too! A little worn, and only one bedroom, but there was a roof and room for furniture. At this point, that was a win. Even Faruzan and Layla were admiring the flowery backsplash in the bathroom. 

It was too nice, right? The rent was high, but even with that, it should still balance out nicer than Alhaitham’s house, with its bigger issue of presently housing Alhaitham. Yet Kaveh couldn't help but wait for the other shoe to drop. 

Faruzan muttered to him, “Not bad, huh?”

“Maybe there are mice?” Kaveh grasped at straws.

“You can split the rent with them if you find any,” the landlord offered. Layla giggled. His companions seemed to be on board already - just because there was running water and no sign of damp in the walls? Their standards were far too low 

“You're awfully confident about this place,” Kaveh said, “the attitude reminds me of someone else I know.”

The landlord remained nonplussed, not improving Kaveh's impression of him. “If you don't want to rent here, I have ten more viewings lined up. It's no skin off my back.”

Kaveh seethed. “There you go again!”

If the landlord were a little taller, with broader shoulders, and prettier eyes, Kaveh could maybe picture Alhaitham’s visage over his. And renting from someone like Alhaitham was almost like giving the man himself his money - Kaveh couldn't stand for that, uh, morally . Even dealing with Dori’s endless interest was preferable.

Kaveh turned on his heel. “We are leaving!”

“Why?!” Faruzan and Layla asked, struggling to keep pace with him as he stormed out.

“That guy was clearly full of himself and looking down on me!”

“Kaveh, come on now,” Faruzan panted, “that sounds like more of a projection than -”

Ugh. “Not you too, senior.” He slowed down, so they fell into place on his either side. “Like you said, this is a big step for me. I want everything to be perfect.”

Layla hummed. “I think having a good feeling about your landlord is important.”

“Exactly.”

Faruzan sounded less pleased. “I thought your current situation was “dire” though? 

Kaveh searched for the words. “Well, the evil you know, right? Pick your poison? The grass is always greener?”

“You’re hardly making any sense. Are you feeling okay?”

“Peachy.” Like those curtains still in Alhaitham’s living room. Kaveh really didn't want to leave them behind. “I think I looked into new places too soon, that's it. I should sort out all my affairs at my current place first.”

Faruzan grumbled. “Fine, fine. But could you put that forethought in first next time you ask for help?”

Kaveh winced. He had just wasted his companions’ whole morning, hadn't he? He offered them each a drink for their troubles, but the suggestion of alcohol before 11am only soured their moods more. Faruzan practically herded Layla away from him, like he was some common vahumana bad influence.

He ended up polishing off the three drinks himself.

“You smell like beer.” Alhaitham didn't phrase it as a question because he never needed to when it was Kaveh.

“Because if I'd had wine with breakfast instead I'd be drunk by now.”

“Glad you're finally watching your health then.”

Alhaitham really should be in Tighnari's “working adult” group - the ones who can't make it to daytime engagements on a weekday. Of course, Alhaitham could walk out of his office whenever he pleased and never be in any bother for it. Meanwhile, if Kaveh even misplaced a client's brief he could lose out on a whole commission. 

“Life isn't fair,” Alhaitham said.

“Well it should be.”

He shrugged. “The test of humanity is making it work despite that.”

Kaveh could have slapped him. “So the children born starving in Inazuma reactor cores should just make it work ?”

“Don't purposely misinterpret me.” Alhaitham opened the door to the furniture shop, heading in first and letting it close on Kaveh. “Are you comparing your own struggles to those of the Inazuman children?”

“Obviously not!”

“Almost as though they are not relevant to our current conversation.” 

If Alhaitham could smile, he probably would have. As it was, he did the tiniest smirk at Kaveh over his shoulder. Anyone else would call his expression blank, but Kaveh knew better.

Kaveh shook off that tangent, “Either way, life should be fair for everyone. Every privilege you have should be afforded to me too.”

“There is a world in which you, quite literally, share my every boon.”

“Don't say it.”

Alhaitham said it anyway. “We received the same grades, attended the same university, and we were gifted the same house. I used those resources to reach the standing I have today.”

They reached the living room section far too quickly. Kaveh stepped up to Alhaitham to keep his attention.

“And what? I should have tried harder? Done the same selfish things you did?”

“I never said that. The coffee tables are over there.” Alhaitham gestured so Kaveh turned. He continued, “Like I was saying, life is unfair. Regardless of starting from the same place, you and I had little chance of ending up on the same plane.”

“The universe was against us,” Kaveh muttered.

“Romantic.”

He scrunched up his face. “With a capital R?”

“Obviously.”

They finally went over to the display. There were a few nice coffee tables with detailed engravings - hopefully Alhaitham hadn't come in here with a budget in mind. The man himself wandered over to the decidedly uglier section, staring at a table with fungi heads carved into its legs. 

“That won't fit into the living room,” Kaveh lied. 

“We can dispose of one of the sofas in that case.”

“Where will I sit? The floor?”

Alhaitham breathed out something that could have been a laugh. “That's a thought.” A nice one? “We can both fit on my sofa.”

“We can't, not with the way you lounge upon it like a rishboland tiger.”

“And here I thought you kshahrewar were adept problem solvers?”

Against all odds, Alhaitham dropped his interest in the very ugly, much too bulky coffee table. Unfortunately, he switched his interest to the runner up in both categories.

Kaveh gagged. “This shade of brown…”

“It should tie together that colour chart you won't stop blabbering about.”

“ Colour scheme ,” Kaveh corrected, “you're getting it wrong on purpose, I know you are. And you must be joking with this.”

Unfortunately, Alhaitham didn't have a sense of humour. Or at least, Kaveh hadn't discovered it yet - and not for want of trying. Not laughing at Cyno’s jokes was one thing, but to remain straight-faced each year during the inter-darshan karaoke? That should be enough to investigate Alhaitham for sociopathy, even if Kaveh was the one dragging him each year.

“I like this one,” Alhaitham maintained, “and I'm paying. If you like one of the others, you can purchase it yourself and keep it in your room.”

The room he’d be moving out of soon. That pesky guilt returned, and for the person who deserved it the least, too.

Kaveh checked the price tag on Alhaitham's choice, flinching like he'd been burned. “That much? For this??”

“It's well crafted.”

“It's ugly!”

The sales associate appeared as if summoned. She must be getting a great commission from this, and she didn't even have to work for it. Good for her.

Although, what were Faruzan and Layla talking about earlier? Scams? Alhaitham could afford to be scammed a little, but still.

“Uh,” Kaveh interrupted the transaction, “we'll take the DIY version - it's cheaper if we assemble it ourselves, right?” A good compromise.

The sales associate cocked her head. “This is an original, Sir, there is no “DIY” option. You must be thinking of more commercial stores, like Lord Sangemah Bay’s in Port Ormos.”

Kaveh's cheeks flushed. Slipping up in his own field, Alhaitham would never let him hear the end of it.

Alhaitham glanced at him. “My roommate is right, I think.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“It will be a bother to transport it home like this. Could you saw this table into six or so pieces? I don't mind paying extra. Then my oh so skilled senior can repair it when we return.” Alhaitham was evil, 100%, anyone who didn't see it was kidding themselves. 

The sales associate was very happy to up the extortionate price even further. Kaveh thought he might bash one of the detached table legs over Alhaitham’s head as soon as the opportunity arose. 

Many hours and splinters later, Kaveh got the stupid, ugly coffee table back to its original state. Alhaitham had spent his evening reading a book beside him, pretending not to hear him huffing and puffing and hinting (not so subtly) that a hand would be nice, actually.

“Back to our conversation earlier,” Alhaitham said out of nowhere. 

Kaveh flopped onto the sofa across from him. “Which one?”

“Life is unfair - even with identical starts, you and I still had near impossible odds of finding ourselves in the same place.”

Kaveh nodded, distracted by the wood chips under his (now broken) nails. “Yes, yes. You're far too self-reflective, you know, you should put some of that energy into less egoistic matters.”

“Untrue, and that's not the topic at hand.” Alhaitham leaned forward, placing his book down at the edge of the coffee table. Perfectly flat, of course. “When we discussed this earlier, you said the “universe was against us”.”

“I recall.”

“What did you mean by that?”

Kaveh laughed. “I'm surprised an esteemed scribe such as yourself needs your lowly senior to spell it out.”

“I hope you didn't mean to imply that the “universe” succeeded.” Alhaitham met his eyes. “Since we are presently in the same living room, separated by a single coffee table.”

“We are only “in the same place” in the most literal sense,” Kaveh huffed, “any other interpretation of what you just said is laughable.”

Alhaitham let his gaze fall back to his book. “You're always complaining about my sense of humour.”

For as long as Kaveh had known him, sometimes Alhaitham still seemed indecipherable. Then he stretched over the whole sofa, and no, actually, he was still pretty predictable. Kaveh hid his smile behind his hand and wondered if they had any of the nice wine left over.

Weeks passed. Without Dori meddling with his bank balance, Kaveh was quickly reaching new heights with his net worth. It was enough to make him a bit giddy, celebratory mood settling in where he'd failed to summon it previously.

He prepared breakfast for two, humming to himself as he made a mess of the eggs. The day was bright and sunny, flowers in full bloom in their neighbour’s garden. Kaveh should do something similar with their front garden. And the gate could do with painting, not to mention he still hadn't gotten around to retiling the bathroom. He smiled to himself, adding them to a mental to-do list. Chores like these were so much less stressful without the looming anxiety around running out of money.

“You’re happy.” Alhaitham was squinting at Kaveh like that was suspicious. 

He wasn't helping with breakfast - sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee that Kaveh had brewed and pretending to read a book. Kaveh knew he wasn't actually taking any of it in; it was a light novel from Inazuma, which always made Alhaitham let out little huffs of breath where most people might laugh.

“My client gave me a nice tip,” Kaveh deflected in response.

“I wasn't asking.” 

“Alright?” Kaveh jabbed the eggs especially hard. He would give Alhaitham the very squished one. But even his bad attitude couldn't temper Kaveh's good mood too much. “Shall we go out tonight?”

“Drinking?” A page turned - Alhaitham must be dedicated to this farce.

“What else is there to do?”

He left no room for pause: “The Akademiya are running a free access lecture on Liyuean semiotics, there's a volunteer force clearing up dangerous traps near Aaru Village, and Zubayr theatre are doing open rehearsal for their upcoming performance: Petals in the Dune .”

Kaveh deposited the eggs onto their plates, trying not to throw any. Did Alhaitham have to be so particular? Kaveh knew he understood social cues, he just had no interest in adhering to them.

“Well, were you planning on doing any of that tonight?” Kaveh asked. 

“Of course not. I was planning to read.”

More reading. Right. “Seems irrelevant then.”

“Depends on how you define “irrelevant”,” Alhaitham said, to be annoying. “You asked what else there was to do, other than drinking. I answered your question.”

“But you knew I didn't want an answer!”

“Then you shouldn't ask the question. It wastes both of our time.”

Kaveh took a deep breath, sitting across from Alhaitham. Pettily, he left Alhaitham’s plate on the counter. Without delay, Alhaitham stuck his fork into Kaveh's breakfast. 

“I thought you were incapable of sharing,” he gritted out.

“I share my house with you every day. I am very practised.”

Kaveh got up and retrieved the other breakfast for himself - the one with the squished eggs. Just perfect.

“Anyway,” Alhaitham continued, “we can go drinking tonight. I don't mind skipping my morning meetings tomorrow - they all look terribly boring.”

“Don't you have to take minutes for a forum between the sages?”

He shrugged. “If it is so important, I am sure they will remember the details themselves.”

“I don't know if I want to invite you drinking anymore,” Kaveh said, “I forgot how annoying you could be. What about your reading?”

“I can read at Lambad’s.”

“So I'll just be talking to your back cover?!”

“Of course not.” Alhaitham sipped his coffee. “You'll be talking to Tighnari and Cyno. You would never invite me out alone.”

Kaveh frowned. “I invite you to places all the time!”

“Only when you want me to pay.”

“That counts.” Still, Alhaitham wasn't wrong. Kaveh felt a little bad for all those evenings he drank on his roommate’s mora. “I'll treat you tonight, okay?”

Kaveh was anticipating a big reaction for that. Alhaitham hardly even looked up. 

He raised the stakes. “In fact, I'll cover the whole bill - you, me, Tighnari, and Cyno.”

Alhaitham was actually reading his book now. “Uh huh.”

“You don't believe me! I wouldn't lie -”

“Really, Kaveh?” He interrupted, “you think there is no chance that you'll get too drunk to count the mora in your wallet?”

Kaveh opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Then I won't drink.”

“Then what's the point?”

“You guys can drink! You know, have fun? Be wary, though, you might be allergic.” 

“Save your jokes for Cyno.”

Kaveh shuddered. He forgot he'd be dealing with his sense of humour sober. Maybe that was some sort of evil plan from Alhaitham?

“This is what I was talking about,” Alhaitham said.

“Huh?”

“When I said you lacked kindness.”

“Hey -”

Alhaitham continued, “You cannot help but imagine I'm scheming behind your back somehow, can you? Very narrow world view for such an acclaimed scholar.”

“You -” Kaveh reined himself in. Barely. “Meet us at 8 at Lambad's. I won't pay for anything if you're late!”

“Shocking.”

Alhaitham was late, and by exactly two minutes. Kaveh knew he did it to frustrate him: if he stood by his threat, then Tighnari and Cyno would get a bad impression - ‘it’s only two minutes’ - but if Kaveh gave in, it meant Alhaitham had won.

He didn't mention the tardiness. The table was set up for five and Alhaitham still picked the chair closest to Kaveh. As promised, he had a book under his arm. Not the light novel from earlier - this one looked thick and dense. It almost explained Alhaitham's impressive biceps despite his sedentary life style.

“What are you reading?” Tighnari asked, because he was polite.

Miraculously, Alhaitham didn't open the book and ignore him. He didn't even look down at the title. “ A Deluge on Dramatics: From “Petals in the Dune” to “The Divine Damsel of Devastation”, Exploring the Chasm Between Sumerian and Liyuean Performance Art. ”

“Wordy,” Cyno commented.

“You mentioned the petal one earlier - isn't that the Zubayr theatre’s next dance?”

Alhaitham nodded. “Nilou asked me to write a review for her. I have been reading the literature on the topic.” 

“...You? For her ?” Kaveh instinctively reached for wine. Alhaitham moved his glass away in an instant. “Why?”

“We're friends.”

“Since when? You don't -” Kaveh held himself back from accusing him of having no friends, considering the present company. 

Tighnari cut in, “I've heard Petals is rather politically charged; have the troupe done anything like that before?”

“Nilou helped us overthrow the sages,” Alhaitham responded, almost sounding proud. “Kaveh, if you want to drink so badly -” oh he'd noticed “- just do so. I was already well aware of your lacking self control.”

“I have tons of self control.” He refocused. “I don't know why anyone would ask for your opinion on a piece of art.”

“It's only natural that Nilou would want an unbiased opinion. She knows my sensibilities, and knows that I won't protect her feelings at the expense of what would make her performance better.”

Have they been hanging out or something? Alhaitham had never invited her over to the house.

Kaveh cleared his throat. “It's hard to believe you're actually putting effort into helping someone other than yourself.”

“I would think you'd have the easiest time believing it, considering you are a constant benefactor of my many kindnesses.”

Kaveh went to respond, probably loudly, but Cyno got there first. “When does Petals start running officially?”

“Another week,” Alhaitham replied.

“We should go,” Tighnari suggested.

“I have no interest in watching it a second time.”

Kaveh rolled his eyes. “Not even for your best friend Nilou?”

Alhaitham didn't rise to the jab. “There are better uses of my time.”

Cyno dragged them into a TCG game. Kaveh tried not to feel bothered. Nilou was nice, what did he care if Alhaitham’s annual act of charity was giving her some performance notes? And sure, she'd invited him to watch the show early - but it was open rehearsals, Alhaitham wasn't special. 

“You should use your burst now,” Alhaitham said, watching him play against Cyno over his shoulder. He and Tighnari had sat out this round.

“Ever heard of backseat TCGing?”

“I'll add it to my CV.”

Kaveh did not use his burst and Cyno did finish off his final card a few moves later. No one was sympathetic.

“I'll grab us some more drinks while Alhaitham and Cyno set up,” Tighnari said, “you still sober for tonight, Kaveh?”

“None of my friends have any faith in me.”

Tighnari chuckled. “Alright, loud and clear. I was just asking.”

Cyno was the best player of the four of them, if he were not it would be embarrassing, really. Tighnari probably took second place for being second most experienced. Though Kaveh was loath to admit it, Alhaitham had a better win rate than he did; Kaveh just didn't have the patience for card games. And then when he was close to winning, he'd get tense and mess up. Or Alhaitham would piss him off and he'd mess up. Either one.

Tighnari returned with the drinks - wine for Alhaitham, beer for Cyno. Two glasses of water, so Tighnari must be done for the night.

“You don't need to hold yourself back,” Kaveh urged, “I'll make sure everyone gets home safe and sound!”

“I appreciate it,” Tighnari replied, sipping his water. 

He deflated. “You don't really think I'd go back on my word, do you?”

“It's not that, I just like to keep my wits. Besides, you're treating us, right? It's not fair to get a bunch of expensive drinks with your mora.”

But Kaveh couldn't even count how many expensive drinks he'd gotten on their mora. Cyno hadn't covered as many, but Tighnari and especially Alhaitham had probably spent more money on drinks for Kaveh than they had on drinks for themselves.

“I hope that misplaced sense of generosity didn't cause you to pick me up a cheaper wine for me,” Alhaitham said to Tighnari. He swilled the dark liquid around in his glass.

Any sense of guilt Kaveh was feeling vanished at his arrogant expression. “You could be more thankful! I'm going out of my way for you.”

“Isn't that your speciality?”

“Not for you!” Kaveh didn't intend for his reply to come out so sharp.

Cyno shuffled the cards for perhaps the fifth time, awkwardly looking in between them. Kaveh sat back in his chair and gestured for him to deal. He could see Alhaitham’s deck; it was fine, maybe a bit risky. 

Tighnari and Cyno started up some inane conversation about the current flora blooming in the rainforest. With the atmosphere as it was, Kaveh tried hard to focus on their words and not the quiet breaths from Alhaitham beside him. His fingers were stroking over the embossed card front, accented in foil since it was Cyno's collector's edition. His nails were nice, filed down and cleaned. Kaveh had a habit for picking at his, and even on good days he’d find dried paint trapped on the underside.

While his attention was diverted, Tighnari and Cyno moved onto discussing Collei’s schooling. He listened to that, nodding where it was appropriate. Alhaitham made some well-timed comments too. 

He also lost the TCG match even faster than Kaveh had. 

“I'm getting another drink.” Alhaitham stood up and looked down to Kaveh. “Do you remember what the most expensive bottle Lambad sells is?”

He winced. Near the beginning of their cohabitation, Kaveh had stormed out of the house in a rage - he’d long since forgotten such superfluous details as why - and headed straight here. Lambad knew about his poor financial situation, but also knew Alhaitham was good for whatever Kaveh drank. Once he was sufficiently tipsy (and feeling far too bitter), he asked for the “real top shelf stuff”. Fifty thousand mora a bottle.

Kaveh did his best to smile. “You wouldn't…”

“I thought you were happy to treat us all?”

“Come on now, Alhaitham,” Tighnari chided.

Cyno nodded. “You don't have to be an asshole about it.”

That was insulting too. Kaveh thought about his bank account - could he afford fifty thousand? He doubted all their other drinks together even came out to twenty thousand mora, so about seventy for the lot? He might have to take out a second loan with Dori.

He was tempted.

“Well, Kaveh,” Alhaitham said, “still feeling generous?” His face was so punchable when he got like this. 

“In all honesty,” he bit out, “I'm a bit short on that.”

“The red Dornman then?” Another wine, thirty five thousand? Ish?

Kaveh shook his head. “Not quite.”

Alhaitham smiled. “How about the Erinnyes rosé?”

“You don't even like rosés!”

“Maybe I want to try something new.

Last Kaveh checked, that wine had been around twenty five. He could cover that, but it would empty his accounts. Kaveh pulled his wallet out so Alhaitham could pay up front.

Cyno and Tighnari both looked panicked. “Guys, there's no need -”

“Actually,” Alhaitham interrupted them, “you're right Kaveh. I won't enjoy the rosé.”

He went down to the bar and returned with plain water, not wasting another word on the topic of the wine that Kaveh couldn't afford. Alhaitham’s expression seemed brighter than it had, probably because he'd successfully humiliated him in front of their friends. Kaveh only gripped his wallet tighter in his hands, bitten nails pressing into the faux leather.

Their friends cut the night short soon after. 

“We scared them off,” Kaveh whined.

“They should be used to us by now.”

“Maybe you truly don't understand socialising.” Kaveh stood up and stretched. “Don't forget anything as we leave. And if you're feeling tipsy, tell me now so I can keep you from falling down the stairs.”

Alhaitham smiled at him, almost properly this time. “You sound like a real senior right now.”

Kaveh had to turn away from him to keep his own expression in check. “I am a real senior!” He tried, but it lacked any real heat. “Urgh, on second thought, I hope you do fall down the stairs.”

“And you're back.” 

Despite what he said, Kaveh did stick close to Alhaitham as they made their way out of the tavern. He'd had a few glasses, but over the whole evening and with the water afterwards, Alhaitham was fine. Kaveh told him to wait outside while he paid, planning to share news of his resolved debt with Lambad.

He was at the bar, as usual. “Kaveh! Did you want a drink for the road?”

“I'm sober tonight, actually.”

“What's it they say in Fontaine? Boars flying?”

Kaveh was starting to think he should cut down on his alcohol intake since this was his reputation. “I'm just here to cover our tab; it was my treat tonight.” He puffed out his chest a bit, prepared for the surprise and praise.

“Alhaitham paid already though?”

“Huh?” Kaveh leaned back on the bar. “Like he overpaid on our last outing so it covered this one?”

“No, he came down twenty or so minutes ago and closed the tab.”

“ Bastard !” Kaveh seethed, turning on his heel.

Lambad called out to him - “Isn't this better for you? Kaveh?”

Alhaitham looked all too pleased with himself when Kaveh confronted him outside. He didn't say anything, just waited for Kaveh to start the argument.

The night air was cool, with a light breeze tickling at bare skin. Kaveh took the moment to centre himself, and Alhaitham's immensely arrogant expression faded as he took his time. Only a few millimetres of real change, but enough for Kaveh to think it brazen.

“Thank you for paying off our tab,” he ended up saying.

All traces of self-satisfaction upon Alhaitham’s face vanished then. “You are not pleased.”

“Aren't you always the one advocating for us to “speak plainly”? It's not polite to read into words I haven't said, junior .”

“I suppose not.” He still looked suspicious. “Shall we walk home then?”

“Let's.”

If Kaveh spent the whole journey smiling over the ways he was scheming to pay Alhaitham back (quite literally) then it was neither here nor there.

Two things were true: Alhaitham had goaded Kaveh into agreeing to cover their bar tab, and he'd chosen to pay it off himself. He did both to humiliate Kaveh, first in front of their friends and then in front of Lambad.

Though, as far as Alhaitham knew, Kaveh had no hope of paying for even two drinks on his own. So maybe his goal had only been embarrassing Kaveh in front of their friends, then he covered the actual bill thinking that Kaveh was still too deeply indebted to do so himself? He let Kaveh go up to Lambad, then, to pick him up right before he fell to rock bottom: paying off their drinks on his own by dishwashing.

Whatever the case, Kaveh had the advantage because he did have mora. Less mora than Alhaitham, sure, but more mora than Alhaitham thought he had.

Tighnari accompanied him to the market that weekend. “I don't see how buying Alhaitham a gift will achieve anything.”

“It'll show him up! He underestimated me, you know?”

“From what I could tell,” Tighnari replied, “he very specifically figured out what you could afford and then chose to cover it himself anyway.”

Kaveh scoffed. “He probably just presumed I would be shameless enough to cover the tab without mora.”

“I think you're the one underestimating Alhaitham now - your impression of him gets lower by the day.” Tighnari followed as Kaveh walked them away from the hubbub of the market, towards the most expensive stalls. “Anyway, wouldn't it be best to just move out now you've had time to save? The best revenge is being the bigger person, you know.”

Well, Kaveh couldn't possibly do that. The explanation as to why was a little lost on him, but thinking it through was helpfully pushed out of his mind by the glittery jewellery up ahead.

He would like any of it for himself. Golden brooches, ruby earrings, crystal eye glasses - so beautiful that the steep price point could almost be ignored. He squeezed his hand around his wallet.

“I have forty-five thousand mora to my name,” Kaveh whispered, “so we need to find something for Alhaitham with that budget.”

“Kaveh.” Tighnari stepped around him, blocking his path and fixing him with a look. “You cannot be willing to spend your every mora on a guy you don't even get along with. You must be joking - please tell me that you're joking.”

Kaveh manoeuvred past him. “Go big or go home.”

“That's - quite literally - your problem. Your home is his home.”

Kaveh struggled to decide what Alhaitham would want. He never did anything with his hair, except allow it to rest in luxurious, effortless sections over half his face. On the few occasions where he did push it back with one hand, most often as he grumbled over coffee in the morning, he did look unfairly handsome. Regardless, if Kaveh did get him hair pins or clips, he most likely wouldn't use them. The headphones Alhaitham kept stubbornly on also ruled out earrings of any kind, though Kaveh could imagine an emerald helix suiting him quite well. Kaveh would be the only one to enjoy it, though, on the occasions where he caught Alhaitham exiting the shower, bare except for the towel hanging low on his hips.

He refocused on the jewellery. Kaveh liked the idea of giving Alhaitham a necklace with a sparkly “K’ as the only charm - imagining his face as he opened it was worth all the mora in Kaveh's account on its own. But, since he could thankfully imagine for free, Kaveh moved past that option as well.

The most perfect piece was at the very end of the table, priced at 44999 mora - a steal, honestly. All he had to do was retrieve his wallet from his pocket, and then… It wasn't there anymore? Kaveh patted both his pockets down, slapping his legs too hard, probably. He spun around to check if he'd dropped it at some point. The ground was bare and Kaveh’s panic rose. 

He turned to Tighnari to reveal this major loss, only to find his wallet safe and secure in his friend's hand, held purposefully away from him.

“You're making a terrible financial decision right now,” Tighnari said.

“And?” Kaveh asked. “All my financial decisions have been terrible.”

“Better reason to change your ways now.”

Kaveh reached for his wallet as Tighnari backed away. “I did change! I got out of debt, remember?”

“You didn't even realise you were out of debt until Cyno and I told you!” Kaveh managed to snatch his wallet back. Tighnari deflated. “Could you at least reflect on why you want to buy Alhaitham some pretty jewellery more than you want to leave his house?”

Kaveh gulped. “Spite?” He guessed, finding it a weak excuse even to his own ears.

“I give up on you.”

Kaveh started thinking Tighnari was right about halfway home. He then tried to dislodge the label of “home” from Alhaitham's house for the rest of the journey, until he was on the doorstep. 

Surprise, surprise, his keys were no where to be found.

He banged his fist against the door. “Let me in, Alhaitham!”

More quickly than he'd anticipated, the door opened. Alhaitham stood over the threshold, muscled arms crossed over his impressive chest. “When you used to lose your keys, you would at least knock like a civilised person before trying to break the door down.”

“That was before I discovered your penchant for intentionally locking me out.”

“Which would be impossible for me to do, if only you made sure your keys were on your person before you left the house.”

Kaveh pushed past him, kicking his shoes off by the door. He stuck his hand in his trouser pocket and found the small gift box still there, ribbon silky under his fingers. At least Tighnari hadn't snatched this away from him to get a refund while he was distracted - Kaveh wouldn't put it past him. 

Alhaitham gave him a strange look as he hovered. Oh, right, he hadn't replied, leaving their rally over locking him out unfinished and in Alhaitham's favour. Whatever, Alhaitham should surely be able to cope with a single win from their many disputes.

“What?” Kaveh asked as the silence stretched longer.

“You are not storming back out.”

He chuckled. “I still don't have my keys.”

“You've never listened to my advice before.”

“I totally have!”

Alhaitham shook his head. “Six years ago, I told you to simmer sabz meat stew at low heat for a more vibrant flavour. Every time you have prepared me that dish, that counsel has obviously been ignored.”

“Maybe I'm intentionally making it worse to piss you off,” Kaveh said, “and anyway, you never listen to my advice either!”

“Your advice is nowhere near as good as mine,” Alhaitham countered, “although, I have adhered to the occasional piece of guidance, when it was relevant. For example, just a month ago I didn't purchase the “bulky” and “ugly” coffee table that you believed would not fit inside our living room.”

Kaveh almost lit up at the thought that something he'd said actually did manage to get through Alhaitham’s thick skull. He quickly doused that, reminding himself of the (still very terrible) coffee table they ended up buying. 

Luckily, Kaveh had his current payback to counter with:

“I got you a gift.” He pulled the box out of his pocket, thrusting it forwards.

Alhaitham squinted at him. “My birthday was four months ago.”

“I know that.”

“And you already purchased me a gift for it: the woven blanket on my sofa.”

Kaveh rolled his eyes. “I made that myself, not purchased.” It had taken him about two straight weeks and irreparable wrist damage to finish it in time. 

“Oh.” 

He understood the surprise. Kaveh might have been a little overconfident when he worked with specifications to comfortably fit two people snuggled together under the blanket, rather than sticking to a more manageable size. But it was worth it; when Alhaitham laid beneath it to read in the evening, it reminded Kaveh of their Akademiya days - Alhaitham staying in his room so late he might as well stay over, even if his own bed was one door away.

“Anyway,” Kaveh continued, clearing his throat, “this gift is just a little token of my appreciation, since you've been so generous recently.”

Alhaitham took the box from him, cupping the fine, green packaging like it might explode. As if Kaveh would somehow instil it with elemental energy and set it as a ticking bomb - dendrify it, he could say.

But, of course, when Alhaitham opened the box, all there was to find was a silvery little charm, reflective in all the right ways and shaped like a diamond. Alhaitham plucked it up with two fingers and then twisted it around, letting the light catch it.

“So…?” Kaveh asked after too many seconds of silence.

“A new ornament for my chest,” Alhaitham remarked. 

He placed the, now empty, box back into Kaveh's hands. Then he used his free hand to fiddle with the green gem over his sternum. Kaveh didn't know why it was the only jewellery he wore. It also seemed pretty insane to get one piercing and, rather than a simple earring, getting literally stabbed in the chest for it. He supposed neither he nor Alhaitham were any good at pacing themselves.

“Don't make me ask if you like it,” Kaveh prompted.

Alhaitham hummed. “It's an appropriate gift.”

“Huh, from you that almost feels like high praise.”

“I preferred the blanket.”

“Hey!” Kaveh ran a hand down his face. “You're really impossible. And that was expensive, you know.”

“I don't judge gifts on their monetary value.”

“Well -”

Alhaitham interrupted him, hand squeezing around the silver gem, “You sound quite superficial, boasting about your expensive purchase.”

“As if you aren't always flaunting your “financial freedom”.”

“True enough.” 

Alhaitham placed the gift back into its box delicately. His expression didn't really shift, but there was something warm in his eyes when he met Kaveh's gaze again, eyelashes fanning out as he blinked. Slow blinks, too. Kaveh tried to summon the image of a predatory snake, but came up with a relaxed cat instead. He decided to stick with it.

“Does this mean you've given up on hiding that you finished paying off Dori?” Alhaitham asked.

Kaveh choked. “I - what?! No! I mean.” If his keys had been by the door he would have taken them and run. “I'm still in debt to her, obviously. Have you seen her interest rates? Inescapable.”

“Kaveh, I know her interest rates and I knew how much you borrowed, at least to the closest thousand mora. It was easy enough to work out the week you would finish paying it off.”

“And you never mentioned anything?” He must have known for over a month, just biding his time - and for what?

Alhaitham leaned against the wall. “It was entertaining to watch you scurry about. You're not one for secrets.”

He must have confronted him here in the hallway to most efficiently kick him onto the doorstep. Kaveh looked around to see if, by chance, Alhaitham had been kind enough to pack him a bag before throwing him out.

“If you're searching for your keys, you probably left them in your other jacket,” Alhaitham said.

“Funny joke.”

“You don't like my sense of humour.”

Kaveh snapped, “Can’t you just be blunt like usual? Why are we dancing around this?”

“We're standing still.”

“It's -”

Alhaitham stepped into his space, placing his warm palm over Kaveh's shoulder. “An expression, I am aware. I'm haravatat, recall?”

How could he forget? “Just let me pack my things, don't I deserve that much?” He tried shrugging off Alhaitham's hand but his grip held strong. “What gives?”

“Why would you be packing?” He asked, voice soft.

“I'm moving out.”

Alhaitham’s tone got sharper now: “No, you're not. I determined you had no interest in that.”

Ignoring any other implication from those words, Kaveh bristled. “Of course I have interest!”

“Someone planning to move out would not help me pick out new furniture and then volunteer to put it together. They wouldn't offer up all their savings when they should be working towards a deposit.” Alhaitham huffed. “Certainly, if you’d wanted to leave then you would have been boasting about your “financial freedom” now matching my own.”

Well when he put it like that…

“Well, maybe it's not a case of wanting , but rather whether or not I can afford -”

“I already demonstrated that it's not a case of “saving” either.”

Kaveh leaned forward, letting Alhaitham take some of his weight. “You're a terrible roommate, you know.”

“My house still outranked the three you went to see with Layla and Madam Faruzan.”

“How do you know about that?!”

Alhaitham flicked him, not painfully. “I work at the Akademiya - of course I overheard them complaining about your indecisiveness. Quite the gossip, really, Kaveh the Light of the Kshahrewar looking for a starter flat while barely clinging to his 20s.”

If Kaveh hadn't been flushed with embarrassment before, he was burning with it now. “You don't deserve the jewellery I bought you.” That reminded him, actually. “If you knew I was out of debt, why did you pay the tab and Lambad's? And what was with the twenty questions on the drink prices.”

If Alhaitham could look embarrassed himself, this was the closest thing to that. “I had to make myself aware of how your finances were progressing. You are not good with money.”

Rather than becoming incensed, Kabeh felt himself fill with glee. He pulled back from Alhaitham, grinning. “You were checking if I had enough money to move out.”

“No. I wasn't.”

“You were worried I'd move out! You're lying through your teeth right now!”

Alhaitham looked away from him. “If that were the case, then I should have let you waste what meagre mora you did have.”

“You're not sounding so confident anymore.”

Alhaitham promptly turned around entirely, heading towards the kitchen. “You can make us dinner tonight.”

“I make dinner every night!”

“I should really start charging you rent, now that you can afford it.” Alhaitham paused in the doorway. “Would you rather that or the cooking?”

Kaveh scrambled after him. “Okay, fine. But while I'm preparing the veg, we need to talk about the, frankly horrendous, tiles in the bathroom. I know green is your colour, but I'm the one retiling so I should get a say.”

Kaveh did not get a say in refurbishing the bathroom. Alhaitham hired a contractor while Kaveh was in the desert on an expedition, picking out practically neon nilotpala lotus patterns for the whole room. Kaveh got his own back, just about, when he slept over in Alhaitham’s room for the first time, replacing his duvet with Kaveh's sheets.

Instead of moving out, it felt like they were moving in together all over again.