Chapter Text
The Tsarista intends to invade Sumeru. She is bidding her time to lower the nation’s defense, by sending an everlasting winter in the land of lush greenery. The Divine Tree stands tall and the citizens of Sumeru find innovative ways to adapt to the new harsh climate, while the Traveler and her trusted companion are tasked with dealing with the Sznehnayian Archon.
Kaveh rushes into the house, gasping as he finally gets out of the snow. He tosses the bag of clanking wares and canned goods aside.
“Gah! I can’t take this anymore!” He brushes off the crusty ice perching on his shoulder. He shakes off his coat and outerwear.
Alhaitham makes his way towards the foyer to check on the mess that Kaveh is making on the floor.
“Make sure to clean that up,” Alhaitham crosses his arms.
“How are you dressed so lightly?” Kaveh kicks off his boots, checking out Alhaitham’s form fitting attire. He was just wearing his usual black sleeveless turtleneck without the green Sage’s coat.
From behind Alhaitham, a bright orange blob bounced its way towards his feet.
“What in the Archon’s name is that?!” Kaveh gaped.
“You’ve never seen a slime before? You’re more inexperienced than I thought.”
“No, what I mean is, what is it doing in our house?!” Kaveh points at the little glowing ball of fire.
“I’m using it as a furnace. Obviously.”
The slime bounced towards Kaveh, making him step back towards the front door and pressing himself against it, “It’s gonna attack me!”
“Don’t be dramatic. It’s tamed. It’s just a baby slime.”
Alhaitham snaps his fingers and the slime turns around and follows him towards the living room. He settles on one of the divans, and the slime makes itself comfortable in a make shift fire pit as if it was his bed.
Kaveh watches the bizzare creature and thinks to himself that it might actually be kinda cute. He warily sits on the other side of the divan next to Alhaitham, using him as a shield between him and the slime.
“Are you sure it’s safe to keep it here?”
“He occasionally sets the carpets on fire. But as long as he’s on his bed- the fire place- then it’s okay. More than okay, he’s keeping the house warm.”
Kaveh is starting to feel that the house does feel toastier. He takes off more layers of clothing and hangs them on the back of the chairs. Alhaitham’s eyes were on him, trailing down his now exposed clavicle.
“I’ll get them later,” Kaveh said assuming that Alhaitham was glaring at him for strewing pieces of clothing in the living room.
“So who’s brilliant idea was this to use a slime as a heater?”
“It tried to attack me and followed me all the way here. It was convenient and kept me warm on my way home; so I decided to keep it,” Alhaitham closes his eyes and crosses his arms, getting comfortable and sinks a little lower in his seat, “The only problem is that it can only keep one room at a time warm. Our rooms are still freezing cold.”
That night, Alhaitham and Kaveh agreed to try and sleep on the divans to share the warmth of the slime. They took their pillows and sheets out and settled in for the night.
Kaveh thinks it’s like a sleepover. He looks at Alhaitham from across the room and couldn’t help but smile.
“I kinda feel like a kid again. Remember when I used to stay over at your dorm? We did a lot of all nighters til it was too late for me to go home.”
Alhaitham was looking back at Kaveh but didn’t say anything in reply. There was a small smirk on his lips that he hid with the hem of his covers. He does remember those Akademiya days. They use to share a bed and would still debate throughout the night looking at each other just like they were now.
Those innocent days were gone and instead, two grown men uncomfortably camping in their living room tried to fall asleep in the same room.
They both thought about proposing to take the slime into one of their bedrooms and just sleeping together. But neither one wanted to ask.
The next day Alhaitham woke up slightly unrested. He palmed his face and sat up. The divan was definitely not made for sleeping. He looked at his roommate sleeping on the opposite side of the room. His golden locks splayed across his pillow and some on his cheeks. Alhaitham felt the temptation to brush it away from his face but he dares not cross that line.
The blond man stirs, brows furrowing as he carelessly turns to the side. He slips off the divan and a loud thud broke the morning silence, followed by a painful howl.
“Archons, I hate sleeping on these!” He slaps the saddened furniture.
The pyro slime wakes up and looks at Kaveh. He plops off the furnace and snuzzles close to Kaveh as if asking him if he was okay.
“Oh hey, little guy!” Kaveh stands up and brushes his pants, “You’re not so bad afterall. My ass would be freezing without you.”
Alhaitham also gets up and stretches.
“What do slimes eat?” Kaveh asks, wondering if it was okay to pet the flaming blob.
“Anything really. Yesterday I gave him some firewood. Apparently it can also burn garbage and be satisfied.”
“Huh, that’s pretty convenient.”
Alhaitham and Kaveh make their way to their cold kitchen. The slime follows and slowly starts to transfer the heat into this room. Kaveh rubs his own arms feeling the frost bite through his shirt.
Alhaitham sets a pan on the stove. The pyro slime spits out a small ball of fire lighting it up for him. Kaveh’s eyebrows shoot up in amusement.
“Eggs?” Alhaitham gestures to Kaveh.
“Yes, please.” Kaveh yawns and places the kettle beside where Alhaitham starts making an omelette.
The pyro slime looks at them like a little child, curious and wants to help. It bounces around the kitchen, looking around to see what else he can discover. Once he makes his way back around the two men in front of the stove, Alhaitham tosses it some eggshells to eat.
“So…I guess we’ll be stuck inside for awhile,” Kaveh mumbles.
“We have plenty of provisions.”
“It’s not provisions I’m worried about,” Kaveh pauses.
“… The Traveler will handle the Tsarista.”
“I’m not worried about them too,” Kaveh sighs.
Alhaitham doesn’t understand what’s got Kaveh in a mood. He probably didn’t sleep well last night either.
To Kaveh, it was less than ideal to be stuck with the haughty scribe for long periods of time. True, his crass way of speaking tends to be irksome, but in reality Kaveh knew the reason for his discomfort was plainly because he was embarrassed.
They spend time with each other more than they care to admit and even more so, care to confess that they enjoy it.
The bickering throughout the day was non stop. From trying to finish work in between bouts of procrastination and boredom. Alhaitham started doing chores and Kaveh would hover over him making sure he’s doing it correctly.
“Kaveh, quit following me. Do your own thing already.” Alhaitham lightly shoved Kaveh off who was peering over his shoulder.
“I’m just trying to help,” Kaveh scoffed.
“You should be working instead.”
“You can’t rush art! Plus, we’re stuck at home. I doubt any of my clients expect anything from me til this whole ordeal is over.”
“Do something else then. What’s the point of watching me fold laundry?” Alhaitham tips the basket of their dried clothes out and started flattening out the creases.
Kaveh observed Alhaitham’s arms flex and did not realize that he was staring.
“Teyvat to Kaveh?” Alhaitham waved his hand in front of him.
“I-I was just in deep thought!” Kaveh snaps out of it and grabs a pile in front of him to start folding as well.
The little slime seems to be fond of Alhaitham more and follows him around the house. That in turn makes Kaveh follow the source of heat, and makes HIM follow THEM around.
“I have an idea for tonight,” Kaveh’s hands stop working, he seems hesitant at first, “Why…don’t we just… bring the slime into my room?”
“And?” Alhaitham’s pile of folded clothes starts towering.
“Then we can stop sleeping on those archon forsaken hard divans!”
“Are you inviting me to your bed?”
Kaveh sputters, “Don’t make it sound so dirty.”
“I didn’t. You thought that.”
Burning pink splashes across Kaveh’s face, “No! I was merely asking you to sleep with me —slumber!— Fall unconscious! In my room so that we don’t have to freeze to death and break our backs,” Kaveh clarified.
“Alright.” Alhaitham answers plainly as if he did not know why Kaveh was making a big deal out of this.
The day seems to go on a little bit faster since their agreement. Kaveh repeated to himself that it wasn’t a big deal. Just two roomies, sharing a room, cuz that’s what roomies do.
Night time came and Kaveh built the little ball of fire a make shift pit in his room. The pyro creature burries itself into the pile of firewood and takes its time consuming them.
Kaveh washes up and changes into his pyjamas. The thin cotton button up and shorts was enough since there was practically a fireplace next to his bed. That was the only thing he had since Sumeru never gets cold. Til now at least.
Kaveh forgot that he was expecting a guest. A knock comes from his bedroom door and Alhaitham steps in, sheets and a pillow in his hand; completely shirtless.
“Why are you naked?!” Kaveh blurted out.
“I’m not. This is what I sleep in.” He moves the pillow aside to show Kaveh that he did indeed had pants on. “Does this bother you? You want me to put a shirt on?” Alhaitham challenged.
And of course, Kaveh challenges back before he could think, “-Why would it?! You CAN be naked for all I care.”
“No, thanks.” Alhaitham throws the pillow at Kaveh and starts fixing his side of the bed.
Kaveh wasn’t sure if this was a good idea. Will this make things more awkward between the two of them? He could already feel his heart pounding against his chest as Alhaitham crawls into his bed.
“Aren’t you ready to go to sleep yet?” Alhaitham asks wondering why Kaveh was just staring at the sleeping slime.
“J-just give me a second. I’m enjoying the fire.” Kaveh wanted to suddenly cover up a bit more, he stroked his bare legs, but he was afraid of revealing himself if Alhaitham noticed that he was being self-concious.
He’s known his attraction to his roommate for years. Alhaitham would surely throw him out if he knew. Their relationship was already complicated enough.
Kaveh takes a peak at Alhaitham who was already peacefully breathing deeply. He gently lifted the sheets and cocooned himself into a comfortable burrito. Yet, despite the perfectly blissful environment, Kaveh’s heart was racing. He knew Alhaitham wouldn’t do anything but he hated himself for thinking that just sleeping next to the guy was thrilling enough.
After awhile Kaveh eventually fell asleep. They had their backs against each other not daring to turn around. As Alhaitham and Kaveh both fell into deep sleep, they failed to notice that the room had turned dark.
The pyro slime who was supposed to stay with them made its way back into the living room. It settled inside its preferred bed and left the two alone. The tempreture slowly dropped throughout the night making the two unconscious men shift and seek warmth in their sleep.
A chill runs down Kaveh’s spine. He moans as sunlight coaxed him awake. Something smells nice. A little woodsy and minty; familiar and relaxing. He curled unto himself when suddenly he bumps his forehead into something. He opens his eyes and he is greeted by the green gem on Alhaitham’s bare chest.
“HUH?!” Kaveh’s eyes shot open but he was too shocked to move.
He was caged in Alhaitham’s arms sharing body heat. The covers came up to his shoulders where Alhaitham had his hands on Kaveh’s hips from outside the blanket.
Kaveh wasn’t sure what to do. Alhaitham was still fast asleep. He didn’t have the heart to wake him nor did he want Alhaitham to realize that they were in this position. Kaveh tries to wiggle to loosen Alhaitham’s hold on him.
Alhaithan stirs and instead of letting him go, Alhaitham presses their bodies closer together. He buries his face on top of Kaveh’s head inhaling the fragrant scent of his hair. Kaveh could feel his breath tickle his skin. This was too much. A certain heat started radiating from between his legs. He could feel himself get hard. He tried to tell himself to relax but the more he did, the more he noticed that there were parts of Alhaitham that were also exceptionally firm.
Kaveh felt his cock twitch and he couldn’t stand it anymore. He pushes Alhaitham off which startled the other man.
“What the hell—“
Kaveh wasn’t strong enough to push him too far. He was still semi caged in Alhaitham’s arms and the twisting sheets between them prevented him from leaving.
“G-get off me, Haitham!”
Alhaitham groans and realizes that Kaveh was under him.
“What are you doing?”
“What am I doing?! What are YOU doing?! You’re the one who’s holding me!” Kaveh kicks himself free of some of the sheets. He freezes and stops moving. He can’t take off anymore of the covers or else Alhaitham will see his lively erection.
Alhaitham doesn’t move and just stares at Kaveh wondering what the leaner man was trying to do.
“Why is it freezing in here?” Alhaitham groggily looks around, “The slime’s gone.”
“Shit!” Alhaitham jolts out of bed and looks for the slime. He was worried that the pyro baby would find its way into his room which was full of books ready to be set on fire.
Kaveh lays silently on his bed. Limbs still trapped by the ropes of sheets. He pulls his arm out and places it where Alhaitham was just sleeping. It was still nice and warm. Kaveh scoots over to the heat and relaxes inhaling Alhaitham’s scent. He felt a little guilty as his dick was still in full attention. He waited for his body to calm down before following Alhaitham into the living room.
The pyro slime ball seems to like the fire place in the centre of the house the most. Even when Alhaitham went back to Kaveh’s room it wouldn’t follow him anymore. It seems adamant to stay in his favorite bed today.
“What should we do now?”