Work Text:
“Baby food? Check. Diapers? Check. Toys? Check.”
The page flipped with a soft rustle.
“Babysitters?”
Kaveh lifted his head up from the list, meeting with a total of two eyes. One for each person.
“Check.“
Alhaitham sighed, looking away to keep his head busy looking at the books on the shelf. Previously in complete disorder, now neatly arranged under Kaveh's careful supervision. “My daughter won't be spending time in a dirty den“ — as if she would even notice them in the first place.
Now said daughter sat comfortably in Nilou's arms, carefully watching the conversation. Her tiny hand wrapped around her mother's arm in something dangerously resembling a death grip.
Kaveh and Nilou had a trip to Fontaine booked for three days. Something concerning their work for Sumeru's artistic industry abroad and simultaneously visiting Kaveh's mother, someone now prevalent in his life more than ever. Alhaitham didn't look too much into it.
But Kaveh and Nilou couldn't take their almost two years old daughter, Padisarah, with them due a list of different reasons. Faranak would be happy to spend time with her granddaughter when her parents were out for work, but they were worried about her fragile body's reaction to all the necessary voyages.
So they had to ask their friends for help.
Faruzan would be their first and most obvious choice, but she was busy with a project in the desert that month. Tighnari refused, citing urgent matters and withering zones and Collei was too young and busy with studies to even be considered as a potential babysitter. Nilou's parents, who usually took that role, also planned a trip to Inazuma around that time. Dehya and Dunyarzad were unavailable somewhere in the desert, and Candace had to stay in Aaru village.
So all the cards played in Alhaitham's favor (or the complete opposite, as he gloomily though).
He didn't have the intention of becoming a babysitter that day. Really, all he wanted was a peaceful evening without unnecessary disturbance of any kind. But when Kaveh appeared at his door with (what he deemed) a powerful speech and full confidence in getting his friend involved in this chaos — Alhaitham didn't really have a choice.
Not like he was totally opposed to the idea to look over the baby. Alhaitham, as he would never admit, had a gentle fondness towards Padisarah, knowing her from her very first days and previously babysitting her on multiple occasions. The problem was hidden in a completely different area.
He had a suspicion that it wasn't just a magical turn of events — not with Kaveh having such a mischievous look on his face and the glances he and Nilou exchanged every time Alhaitham would stand in Cyno's reach.
That's it, Cyno was here too. That made everything complicated.
Not like things were complicated between them, of course. Alhaitham found himself being absolutely satisfied with how his life came to be, a peaceful routine, a quiet home and Cyno somewhere on the distance of his extended hand. Not too close to make him question anything he wasn't ready to entertain even in the back of his head, but close enough to enjoy the rare sparks of warmth inside his chest when one of the Cyno's infamous jokes wouldn't land, hiding his lips behind the cup while Kaveh's unsatisfied groans distracted all the attention.
So no. He wasn't uncomfortable. Or awkward. Or anything Kaveh definitely thought he was, not bothering to hide the smug look on his face while watching their conversation from a suspiciously long distance.
He could smell his intentions from a mile away.
Alhaitham sighed, trying to distract his mind with the movement of Nilou's lips while she explained Padisarah's schedule in excessive detail. Kaveh insisted on giving them a full breakdown on her needs, despite Alhaitham hearing them at least a million times before during all the times he stayed with her. Cyno, however, listened carefully and nodded along at some especially emotionally gestured by Kaveh parts. Nilou then led him away to show how to treat the baby on practice.
His suspicions were confirmed the very second Kaveh took him to a secluded corner for a face-to-face conversation.
“I trust you to not fuck this up because,” He began solemnly, holding a hand on his heart. “You're my friend and I trust you.”
He definitely was up to no good.
“Aaand—” Kaveh put both of his palms on Alhaitham's shoulders and turned him around. Making an oh-so-subtle gesture towards Cyno, who was getting instructed on how to properly hold a baby by Nilou.
Alhaitham ignored the sting of embarrassment. “Don't you have a ship waiting for you?”
“Stop trying to change the subject,” Kaveh poked an accusatory finger right in his chest. Alhaitham cringed internally. “You did that for the past... Oh, Archons know how many years. I can't just watch you pine over him until I die from old age. And knowing two of you, it's horrifyingly possible.”
Alhaitham sighed. He knew exactly what agenda Kaveh was trying to push, and he definitely was not a big fan of it. He could figure that out without his help. He just chooses not to.
Kaveh crossed his arms. “Oh please, don't make that face. That means you're pining again. It's gross.”
“Do I need to remind you how your face looks when you're "pining"? I had to witness you throw up and cry all night before you asked Nilou on a date.”
Kaveh raised a brow, unmoved. If he ever learnt something for these years, it was to not take the bait that easily. “The difference between you and me is that I did ask. That's why I'm married now, and you still pine over the same man for years.”
Alhaitham winced, knowing that he won't let that topic go. Kaveh wanted the best for both of his friends, of course, but he could be a little too involved in their business when he thought they need help. They really didn't. And he was not... pining.
Cyno made a surprised sound when he finally got his hands in a right position. Nilou clapped, making Padisarah excitedly squirm and giggle in General's arms. Cyno looked absolutely spellbound - eyes wide, mouth slightly open, a look of genuine surprise on succeeding in such a simple task.
Alhaitham gulped.
Kaveh grinned evilly.
“Shut up,” He said through clenched teeth. Feeling his cheeks treacherously warm, he cleared throat into his fist, ignoring the victorious expression on Kaveh’s face. “What did you say about Padisarah's bath water temperature again?”
Once they were completely ready, told all the rules handwritten on five whole pages of text at least three times (just to make sure, Kaveh insisted), given all of Padisarah's belongings in three bags (separate for clothes, toys and all the hygiene items), and done with all the emotional hugs and goodbyes, Kaveh finally let Alhaitham take Padisarah in his hands, heading towards the door with Nilou.
But at the last moment he turned back, rushing to his daughter and sweeping her away from Alhaitham to spin her around and shower her with another generous bunch of kisses, looking like he was about to cry at any given moment.
Fatherhood changed Kaveh a lot, to nobody's surprise. Not only in his appearance (he really needed to shave his face, for Archons sake), but his attitude and views on life in general survived a huge shift. Now it was almost impossible to catch him at the tavern outside of huge celebrations — you would probably see him out with his daughter instead. He took her almost everywhere now, even at work, refusing to be away from her for long. And when it was highly appreciated by some of the clients who were completely swept away by her cuteness, she sometimes caused problems for him. During one of their (now once-a-month if they're lucky enough) meeting with Cyno and Tighnari, Kaveh complained about accidentally giving his client one of Padisarah's drawing instead of his blueprint. He managed to notice the slip up in time and explain the situation to a very confused lady, but muttered something about history repeating itself under his breath.
But the recent years were a positive change for sure. Not only for Kaveh, but his relationship with Alhaitham as well. It could be a strange thought to express, but he felt their communication truly improve only after Kaveh moved out and started to get on his own feet again — eventually getting out of debt and starting his own family. All the edges gradually smoothed out over time as both matured on their own and, eventually, together.
But that didn't mean Kaveh completely stopped getting on his nerves.
“And remember, I still got the keys from this house.” Kaveh, having finally separated from his daughter as she was finally passed to Alhaitham, menacingly played with a keychain in his hand to prove his seriousness. It looked more ridiculous than anything.
“I can change the locks.”
“You wouldn't.”
Padisarah in Alhaitham's arms moved, demandingly reaching her hands out to her parents. Kaveh's expression immediately changed as he was about to give in for another thirty minutes of tenderness, but Nilou strategically dragged him to the door.
“We will come back in three days, honey. Not a month.” She whispered, soothingly stroking his back.
Three days alone with Cyno.
“I know.” Kaveh sobbed, disappearing behind the door.
Nilou turned around to give Alhaitham and Cyno last smile of approval and mouth “You've got this” before joining her husband outside.
With that, the two men were left alone with a child.
A child that started crying the second her mother closed the front door.
Cyno froze in confusion, not sure what to do, eventually breaking the awkward silence. “Kaveh said that if she cries, that means...”
“That she's being dramatic,” Alhaitham interrupted, turning around to take a sit on the couch. “All her vital signs are normal. She's just throwing a tantrum because she wants to see her parents”
Cyno paused, shifting his weight awkwardly. “So... She will just cry all the time?”
Alhaitham looked up. “No. She will get used to us soon.”
Another silence fell over them, interrupted only by the baby's cries that softened with time, eventually leaving her asleep on Alhaitham's chest. Cyno watched the scene in fascination, as if Alhaitham had just demonstrated forbidden knowledge.
“See. She was already tired, so it didn't take long.” He hummed, carefully standing up with Padisarah in his hands. Suddenly, Cyno moved closer with an unreadable expression.
“Can I get her to bed?”
Alhaitham raised a brow.
Cyno met his gaze with all the seriousness his uncovered eye could hold. “I want to test the skills I acquired today. That I'm capable of properly holding a child.”
“Alright,” Alhaitham shrugged. “Just remember that if anything goes wrong, Kaveh will probably set Mehrak on you.”
The General nodded, the solemn fire still burning bright in his determined eyes in the darkness of the dimly lit room. He carefully accepted Padisarah on his chest, watching attentively to not accidentally hurt her in any place. The child twitched in her sleep, but soon turned comfortably so that Cyno could pick her up from below without any problems. Alhaitham watched him silently, trying to drive away the thought of how concentrated Cyno's face looked with his eyebrows knitted together in a deep thought.
Alhaitham shook his head, gesturing Cyno to follow him. When Padisarah stayed at his house, he would always let her sleep in Kaveh's old room. Somehow she felt more calm in these walls.
He opened the door, letting Cyno in. The space was noticeably empty after the departure of its only occupant. Alhaitham didn't touch the room after Kaveh left, citing the fact that he didn't have a use for it. Thus, it naturally turned into a guest room. With most often guest being Kaveh himself, of course. On some rare occasions Dehya would stay the night, but after Padisarah's birth the room could rightfully be considered booked for her.
Some of her toys were scattered on the floor from previous visits. Kaveh would eventually give up on transporting all of them from house to house (even if he strategically picked the one nearby) and just let them wait at Alhaitham's until Padisarah comes visit again.
Cyno looked around the room, carefully placing the child on the bed and covering her with the previously prepared fluffy blanket. When he straightened up, Alhaitham was met with an unexpected question head-on.
“So where can I stay?”
He didn't think that through at all.
The house only had two rooms, and, accordingly, two beds. One for himself, and the second now occupied by Padisarah. So, using the skills of simple mathematics, he could come to the obvious conclusion.
He fucked up.
“Oh,” Alhaitham said blankly.
“Oh?” Cyno echoed.
Practically hearing the gears working hard inside his head, Alhaitham suddenly blurted out. “In my room.”
Silence fell over them. Absolute, gloomy silence. Alhaitham stared blankly at those features of the Cyno that he could discern in the twilight. In a way, he was grateful that he couldn't see his expression right now.
“Oh,” Cyno repeated. “Okay.”
Okay?
“Okay.” Alhaitham agreed.
They shared another bit of silence, awkwardly taking the form of two stone statues in the middle of a room. Until Alhaitham finally averted his gaze to busy himself with the view on Padisarah's sleeping frame. “If you need a shower...”
“Yes. Please.” Cyno quickly responded, turning around on his heels and instantly flying out of the room, leaving Alhaitham standing alone.
Alhaitham trudged into his room on wobbly legs, throwing off his cloak and heavily plopping down on the bed.
That was definitely Kaveh's fault.
No one asked him to pry on their relationship — or lack thereof. Alhaitham was doing perfectly fine on his own, leading a peaceful and reasonably single life without the need of pursuing Cyno. What a ridiculous idea. He was no Kaveh, not needing to settle down and have a bunch of children with the love of his life.
Referring to Cyno in that context even in his mind sounded wrong.
He was always out of the reach — simply impossible to catch if you don't want to burn your palms to the bone with a bolt of lightning. And Alhaitham learnt to accept that, keeping his hands safe.
Or at least that's what he thought.
All the barely germinated sprouts of images of him and Cyno getting closer would be crashed by Alhaitham's own boot, burnt and buried back into the freshly loosened soil.
But now he was forced to let Cyno into his space, too dangerously close for both of their sake.
Okay, that wasn't objectively only Kaveh's fault. Alhaitham's brain had the habit of shutting down half of the processes in Cyno's presence, so he was prone to reckless actions. "Think before you speak" seemed to vanish completely, leaving behind the "speak" part only.
And that could lead to this.
Just three days, he repeated in his mind. Just three days.
Cyno's shadow loomed in the dim light of the corridor, forcing Alhaitham to stand up sharply. He quickly freed the bed from anything that didn't belong there; mostly other books and a few random papers, and dusted himself off before meeting with his problem face to face.
Cyno, by all accounts, was hard to comprehend with the lack of his usual headpiece. Suddenly almost losing a few sizes, he appeared significantly more open and almost eerily vulnerable, a sight that Alhaitham subconsciously felt like he wasn't supposed to see. With his hair falling freely onto his shoulders, fresh out the shower, dressed as if he was on his way to a sleepover, Cyno was fitting a little too well into a picture of a perfect home.
This thought rang danger in Alhaitham's mind, prompting him to open his mouth immediately in attempt to make the image disappear in a cloud of dust.
“Make yourself comfortable. I'll take the couch.”
Cyno threw a glance over the room, then returning his eyes to Alhaitham.
“Are you kidding?”
“Not at all,” Alhaitham raised a brow. “Just showing my hospitality.”
“It's hard to believe you would give up your bed for this couch. It doesn't look very soft for a feeble scholar.”
Alhaitham felt unable to stop the corner of his mouth to go up slightly. ”My body can handle a simple couch. I don't remember a giant rock standing in the middle of my living room.”
Cyno's eye squinted in a hint of doubt; of course he wasn't buying it. He always had a certain way of getting under Alhaitham's skin and laying out his feelings bare like some ancient scroll. He wasn't sure whether he liked it, but made peace with it nonetheless. Or so he thought.
“You don't need to sacrifice the bed for me. I've slept in worse places.”
“You're the guest.”
“You weren't the one to invite me.”
Alhaitham stopped, closing his mouth. There was no lie in these words. Kaveh was the one to brings them together this time. And a handful of times before, too. Most of the time, actually.
He paused, letting the words form in his mind before they hit his tongue. “That doesn't mean I don't want you to be here.”
Cyno looked away, shaking his head slightly as rare drops of water from his hair hit the ground. “That's... not what I meant.”
Alhaitham didn't fully think the next sentence through before it left his mouth. “Then take the bed.”
“I told you it's okay. It's your bed.”
“I insist.”
“No, I do.”
“I said—”
“Then let's both take the bed.”
Alhaitham froze, but not quick enough to stop his mouth. “Okay.”
Cyno blinked. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
It wasn't okay.
Alhaitham stared at the wall in front of his with an empty gaze. The tick, tick, tick of his clock measured out the spiral of panic his mind quick went to, trying to freeze his body completely to forget and ignore a warm presence right behind his back. He ended up dangerously close to the side of the bed, risking to fall at any given moment if he moved an inch.
Cyno snored softly on the other side of the bed, making the situation even more surreal.
He wasn't sure how much time has passed, maybe that didn't matter. Alhaitham wasn't sure he would be able to sleep tonight.
The weight behind him suddenly shifts, signaling that Cyno moved in his sleep.
Alhaitham's brain kicked into overdrive when something suspiciously warm leaned to his back. Something he identified as Cyno's hand, dangerously close to his waist. Alhaitham closed his eyes shut, mentally counting from hundred to zero in an attempt to ease his mind and hopefully wake up to everything just being a dream.
But the warmth didn't stop. In fact, it just grew overwhelmingly close to his body, impossible to ignore.
He slowly turned around just enough to see the culprit, and oh was that a mistake.
Because the General Mahamatra, now all defenseless and peaceful, snuggled up to his side like some kind of a cat.
Alhaitham swallowed.
His hand hesitantly made way to Cyno's back, wrapping around his waist in a more comfortable position.
He begged him to not wake up.
What would he say if he did, seeing Alhaitham all over him, creepily staring at his sleeping form? That would ruin everything he so carefully tried to built for the past years. Restraint that became his rule just succumbed to the exception that so peacefully leaned against his chest, warming it from outside and in. It felt too right to let go, to try and fight the magnetic pull that was Cyno, Cyno that he so foolishly tried to avoid.
Suddenly feeling very heavy, his eyelids succumbed to the tiredness, slowly closing shut as Alhaitham drifted away in a sweet sleep without any dreams, leaving the worries of this day behind.
Uncertainty was a hole he dug himself in, and now he had to deal with it.
Or, maybe not today.
Alhaitham took the first opportunity to leave the house at morning. Very unlikely for him, which didn't exactly go unnoticed. Leaving Cyno alone in his house without any conversation, he, as a reasonable adult, ran away under the pretense of buying groceries.
Wandering around Grand Bazaar with his nose buried in the insides of some book, Alhaitham tried to pretend the hustle and bustle around him was just a distant sound he would hear through the open window of his house, ignoring the prying eyes of some passerbys that clearly recognized him.
Or, more likely, the girl that settled comfortably in his arms, clearly more excited about her surroundings that he ever could bring himself to be.
Padisarah was beloved in every corner of the Grand Bazaar, something she undoubtedly inherited from her mother. You could say she was a celebrity of sorts; known by every merchant around, she often got things for free. An opportunity Kaveh found great use of.
Alhaitham couldn't just leave her in the house with Cyno. Not that he wasn't sure of his abilities in looking after a child, no. But throwing Padisarah at him without elaboration still felt... Wrong.
Padisarah squirmed in his arms, blabbering something incomprehensible to an adult's ear. But soon enough Alhaitham found the reason for her excitement.
"Good morning, Alhaitham. Babysitting Padisarah again?” The merchant that called for them, a friendly looking old man, already had a fair share of encounters with him during his outings with Padisarah. He would stop by the toys stall for longer than he should, ending up buying much more things her little hands would land on that he would like to admit.
“Yes. Kaveh and Nilou are away for a trip this weekend.” Alhaitham slowly looked over the toys on display, then to Padisarah's happy face. “Don't you have these at home?”
She frowned, giving out a confident ”Wa” before slapping her hand on his shoulder, demanding him to bring her closer to the stall.
“Alright, alright.” He gave up, helping her to lean closer under the merchant's eyes, sparkling with fun.
“Alhaitham.” A voice behind him made him flinch a little, but not enough to disturb Padisarah from examining the toys. He didn't need to turn around to know who the speaker was. That voice rung in his mind just enough to recognize it blindfolded.
“Cyno,” Saying his name took a scarily much bigger effort than Alhaitham expected. He turned his head to the side, taking in a glimpse of white hair. He couldn't bring himself to fully face him, for some reason. How did he find them? “You're awake.”
“I've read your note.”
Ah, the two sentences he quickly scribbled on the flip side of some document just to not completely freak him out. “Okay.”
Cyno's eye quickly moved to Padisarah's face. “Buying toys?”
She mumbled something excitedly in response before reaching her hands to a shiny, colorful item.
Both stopped. Building blocks were prohibited by Kaveh. Rule number 3, the one he put q lot of emphasis on.
Ironically enough, they were the type of toy Padisarah seemed to have the most interest in. Her chubby little arm excitedly grabbed the colorful toy, stacking it on top of another, prompting her to laugh even more.
That girl looked exactly like a little Kaveh, inheriting everything but the eye color, hers glowing with her mother's bright blue.
Which didn't help much.
Her attitude resembled her father to a tee; the way she held the toys and pointed at the ones she liked so demandingly reminded him of the way Kaveh would go through different fabrics or vases during their shopping trips to Grand Bazaar.
Seemingly, her similarities to her father didn't end here. Despite Kaveh's firm desire to keep Padisarah away from architecture and prevent her possibly following his steps, she appeared to be very interested in his work. Her constant curiosity of his blueprints led to him bringing his daughter to work — which only fueled the fire. Padisarah would draw colorful, crooked houses and show them off to her parents, to Kaveh's both joy and deep existential dread.
She definitely already formed some sort of taste; no wonder with her parents surrounding her with art from very first days. Padisarah grew up to be an expressive little girl — her way of showing whether she liked something or not was very particular. Alhaitham quickly noticed the pattern in the way her nose scrunched up at the sight of mushrooms, or the light in her eyes while passing by Zubayr theater.
Alhaitham wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if she ever ended up dedicating her life to art, or enrolled into Kshahrewar. He was sure even Kaveh could see her potential, and would eventually make peace with it. But as for today...
He would be furious.
“Do you want those?” Cyno's voice sounded unusually soft. Padisarah looked up at him, then raising her hands in a happy motion. “I see. How much are the building bricks?”
“No need. I will pay.” Alhaitham already reached to his wallet, only to be stopped by another hand. Cyno firmly stared at him with his only visible eyes from under his hair.
“It's my gift to Padisarah. I don't visit her often.”
Alhaitham paused, eyes slowly traveling from Cyno's face to his fingers still gripping his arm. The air of awkwardness still lingered in every movement between them, making it almost impossible to focus on the task at hand. Alhaitham looked away. “Okay.”
Why did it feel like burning?
Alhaitham slipped his hand back under his clothes.
Cyno took a pause, then slowly releasing him from his grip and paying for the toys. Padisarah's expression lit up in happiness as soon as she received her gifts neatly wrapped by the merchant.
Waving him goodbye, she soon turned all the attention to colorful blocks in her hands, leaving Cyno and Alhaitham in another silence on their way home.
Neither uttered a word, pretending to be busy with watching Padisarah, who suddenly asked to be put on the ground. Strategically leaving all the purchases on Alhaitham, she landed on her legs with an amount of enthusiasm that could only belong to a toddler.
Cyno remained silent, looming over her as a protective shadow in the middle of a sunny day. His arms crossed on his chest while his eye quickly switched between faces in the crowd, detecting any potential threat to the baby.
Alhaitham let his gaze wander closer to the line of the sky, a sense of stiffness in his posture slowly melting away with the strong presence next to him. If he knew one thing, is that his back was safe open next to Cyno.
Padisarah seemed to have other plans. She waddled to Cyno after a quick session of chewing her own thumb.
“Hand!” She demanded, extending her open palm to him. Cyno blinked, confused, before slowly taking her significantly smaller hand in his.
The sight of Cyno with children was always fascinating to see. There was no wonder in General's feelings towards them, only a sense of absolute adoration shining im his eyes when a child approached him, asked for help or said hello. But seeing him so directly close with one wasn't so commonly presented to Alhaitham. Ever since he got the blessing to hold a newborn Padisarah from Nilou (under Kaveh's watchful eye), he couldn't recall any moments of such closeness.
Padisarah seemed satisfied with his obedience, tugging him along with her so abruptly that he almost lost his balance; quickly composing himself, he followed her.
With her free hand now extended to Alhaitham.
“Uncle... Hand.”
Alhaitham blinked.
He could practically hear the gears circling in his head when Padisarah's chubby fingers wrapped around his palm, pulling him closer to her side.
Now, having both of them on her sides, she proudly marched through the crowd, squeezing Cyno and Alhaitham's hands when she wanted to be picked up in the air, loudly giggling when they moved in sync with her step.
Cyno's face quickly went from light confusion to an expression of pure awe, his mouth slightly open and his eyes softer as he watched Padisarah skip through the streets.
Alhaitham snapped out of his thoughts, lifting the girl up with his left hand.
A family full of schemers.
When they arrived home, Cyno stopped him right before the front door.
“Uncle?”
Alhaitham raised an eyebrow.
“Padisarah called you "Uncle Alhaitham". Are you related?” Cyno's serious tone, combined with a curious tils of his head felt almost comical.
“No, Kaveh is not my biological brother.”
“So, Nilou...”
“Not related to her either.”
Cyno's faced filled with such genuine confusion that almost made it hard for Alhaitham to keep his face straight. “So, why...”
“She has a habit of calling me Uncle Alhaitham,” He sighed,
“Why doesn't she call me Uncle Cyno, then?”
“I don't know. Ask her.”
Cyno's eye squinted. “Alright.”
Alhaitham watched him turn to Padisarah, happily settled on the floor with her new toys.
“Padisarah. Tell us, who is your favorite uncle?”
Alhaitham surpassed a loud sigh after hearing the question. Right. The girl tilted her head, eyes wide at the familiar word as she chewed on her finger. “Uncle!”
“Do you like Uncle Alhaitham more than Uncle Cyno?”
“Uncle...” Padisarah squeaked, her little face reddening with struggle. “Un... Uncle—”
Both men fell silent, watching the baby girl in pained anticipation. The air laid thick with tension, invisible for the child, but almost palpable for both Cyno and Alhaitham; none dared to move or say a word, waiting for the moment of truth to unveil before them.
Finally, after a few attempts in saying a difficult for her tongue sentence, she spoke.
“Uncle... Al-hai-tham!” Padisarah huffed with effort, finally letting out the words and giggling proudly.
Cyno's face fell. “...Alhaitham. You won. It was a fair fight.”
His next sentence was cut off by another little “Uncle Alhaitham!” coming from Padisarah.
Both turned their heads to the sound, met with Padisarah lifting her head with one of the blocks, a bright green cube. “Uncle Alhaitham!” She repeated, now more demandingly.
He raised a brow. “Is that me?”
She nodded furiously, placing it in the center of the floor. The plopped down next to it, carefully slipping her hand into the pile of blocks, taking out a purple one in a shape of triangle. Alhaitham and Cyno watched her silently, not daring to interrupt whatever her plan was.
She stacked the purple block on top of the green one, clapping her hands. “And Uncle Cyno! Hands to-get-her.”
Padisarah seemed incredibly proud of her work, not noticing the tension that loomed over them like a thick, grey cloud. The blocks rested one on top of the other, almost mockingly watching their real life counterparts standing in the different corners of Alhaitham's living room.
“Nice installation, Padisarah.” Alhaitham finally spoke. “But a little too far removed from reality. Unless it's a fantasy piece.”
Cyno's head shot up.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“That... Whatever. I'm going to prepare Padisarah's bed.” Alhaitham turned around to leave the room, but Cyno's voice made him stop.
“Well, it's fine. I can prepare yours.”
That forced Alhaitham to pause, staring at Cyno with wild confusion.
“Huh?”
“Be leaving it all to yourself. I will be leaving early, since Padisarah doesn't need my assistance.”
Alhaitham frowned. “Why would you want to leave?”
“Don't act like you didn't just try everything in your power to make clear you don't want me to be here.”
“That's ridiculous. Why would you even come to such conclusion?”
“Then why do you act like you wish to run away from me?”
Alhaitham froze in the middle of forming a word, his teeth grazing his tongue almost painfully. “What?”
Cyno leaned back, lowering his voice. “Nevermind. I will go back today. Not like I'm really needed here anyway.”
He turned around, shattering the last pieces of the heart Alhaitham had saved to this day. But before he could move, a little sound came from somewhere on the ground.
“Cyno...” A high-pitched sob coming from Padisarah, who clung on Cyno's leg with a death grip. “No leave!”
He stopped, eyes betraying conflicted feelings.
Scrambling the last crumbs of bravery, Alhaitham stepped forward.
“I didn't act this way because I felt uncomfortable with you. I felt uncomfortable with myself.”
He could see how Cyno's eyes slightly widened at the revelation, but continued before he got the chance to answer. “Because of how I felt around you, how much it affected my head. How much I wished I just could read you mind to know if you want to be here. Want to be around me.”
Cyno bir his lip, looking away. Alhaitham took this time to pause. “That was the thing I was afraid of the most. You not needing me. That's why I ran, from everything. But it only made matters worse.”
Finally finding the strength to look up, he admitted.
“Because I realized that I couldn't bear being away from you.”
That was the moment when Cyno's lips crashed onto Alhaitham's, locking in a long, long awaited kiss. His arms flew up to the General's waist, bringing him closer, finally allowing them to taste each other, to finally feel the closeness. Cyno's hands entangled in Alhaitham's hair, pulling and playing with it with just enough strength to rip a sound from his lips.
And it felt so fulfilling, so right—
Until they heard the door creak, jumping away from each other.
“Thank god,“ Kaveh sighed in relief, proprietorially leaning on the door frame. “I started to think I would need to smash your heads together for you to finally realize your feelings for each other.”
Cyno blinked at him, confused. “You're back, but... Three days didn't pass yet?”
Alhaitham groaned, dropping his head into his palms. Of course that would happen. Cyno's weight shifted next to him, slowly leaning away. Alhaitham already prepared to mourn the closeness.
Padisarah jumped from the couch with an excited squeal, running right to her father.
“There was never a trip. We were at Nilou's parents place all day. I made everything up.” Kaveh scooped her up, letting her hug his neck and pressing a kiss to her head. “To be completely honest, I didn't think you would resolve everything on day one. So it went better than expected!”
“That was... cruel.”
“But it worked.” Kaveh shrugged, handing a very excited Padisarah back to her mother. “I'm expecting at least a thanks. Joking. I'm just glad you're finally over it. But Padisarah would never refuse a new toy, you know. She was the one to bring you idiots together after all.”
Cyno stared at them blankly.
“You need to have a second child.”
Kaveh's mouth hung up as Nilou let out a surprised squeak, the bag in her hand meeting the ground the same second.
“Alhaitham is her favorite uncle.” Cyno continued as if that would explain the previous statement.
Kaveh, having recovered from the initial shock, began to cough. ”Hold on, hold on. Let me get this clear. You want us to have another child so they like you better instead?”
Cyno simply nodded. Nilou looked like she tried her best to swallow a laugh, coughing into her hand. Padisarah cheerfully watched the conversation, bouncing in her mother’s arms. Kaveh blinked, sharing a glance with Nilou, who suddenly nodded.
“Well, in that case you don't need to wait for long.”
Alhaitham's eyes went wide with the revelation as Cyno next to him sucked in a surprised breath, staring at both of the parents. “Really?”
Nilou's lips curled into an embarrassed smile as she nodded, hiding her face in Kaveh's shoulder. He immediately put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Yes, really. But no playing favorites anymore. Because the only favorite my kids are allowed to have is their mother.”
“That's a lie,” Nilou laughed with her face still buried in his neck. “We all know that Padisarah likes you better than anyone else.”
“I would love to believe that.” Kaveh smiled, ruffling her hair with soft care. “Maybe she just loves everyone. Is that right, baby?”
Alhaitham sighed heavily, leaning his back against table. Cyno turned his head to the wall.
Kaveh's gaze flickered to the scene, quickly returning to his wife. He covered his mouth with a hand, letting out a suspiciously fake cough. “Right. We still need to grab Padisarah's blanket from your parents.”
Nilou's eyes widened in understanding. “Oh, right! Need to be as soon as possible. Cyno, Alhaitham, was nice seeing you! Padisarah, say bye!”
The girl complied, waving her hand in their direction before getting scooped up in her father's arms and taken out the house in a hurry.
Dissolving in the sound of closing door, Alhaitham could faintly hear Kaveh throwing a quick “Have fun!” to their direction before disappearing on the street.
“So... Shall we continue from where we left off?”
Cyno's chuckle drowned in a kiss Alhaitham pressed to the corner of his mouth.
Who knows, maybe spending a few more days with him won't be that bad after all.