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The day started otherwise normally. A rare breeze was blowing through the leaves of the tree on which Sumeru City sat, cooling what was essentially sweltering heat, the usual for the jungle areas, the desert being much worse. It was so normal a day, in fact, that Kaveh didn’t even sense anything off as he walked through the Bazaar back to the house he shared with his annoying roommate. He was on his way back from meeting with a client. The said client had been quite rude when discussing the various alterations of what his project wanted. Wanting an archway instead of a hallway? Sure, that would make sense, but when the plan was this far along? What was specifically wrong with this specific building? Kaveh got out the drawing to look at it and sat the stand down on the ground.
What flaws could the client possibly see in it? What could he change? Besides the hallway versus archway change the client had been silent and yet still seemed to have an issue besides that. Did they want a desert-styled building in the Archon-damn forest?! What did they want to change?
Mind fully set on trying to figure what in the heavens that client wanted, Kaveh sat down in front of the stand. He scrutinized the drawing closely. Was the client just being difficult on purpose? What in Kusanali’s name was he supposed to do? They couldn’t possibly want flat rooves could they? Maybe angled? That could work. The client clearly didn’t like something about the drawing, and it could possibly be the round rooves, they might find that boring. Do they want a pool at the back? It’d be difficult, but maybe they could use a natural water formation as a pool? Kaveh groaned as he put his head on the board.
Despite how infuriating his clients could be, still, this was a normal occurrence. A all too normal occurrence. It was a normal day in Sumeru City, after all. Except for the slight breeze, except for the chills that passed by him. Wait, chills? Unless he’d just suddenly contracted something, Kaveh knew one thing, it was almost never cold. In the lands of Sumeru, at least. You’d have to be a madman to be cold in Sumeru. But these chills felt like he’d just been on vacation to Dragonspine. Kaveh sat up and looked at the board in front of him.
The colours were inverted.
What in Kusanali? Why was his colour vision inverted? What was happening?
Kaveh stumbled back as he realized this, and stumbled over a… lump? Too preoccupied to really worry about that, he blinked. Suddenly, his vision was back to normal. “What the…?” He said aloud, more confused than anything else. He looked around, and found himself in the hallway to go from the Grand Bazaar to Sumeru City proper. Okay, so no one had seen that weird episode. He looked back at the architecture board. Though it was on a slope, it was perfectly balanced, which he hadn’t really noticed before. It was a little strange, but he assumed it was just at an angle which would allow for that. He started forward to put the board away when he stepped on something.
The way the something started immediately crying made Kaveh’s stomach drop.
Did he just step on a baby?!
He whipped around. There, on the floor, sporting a tuft of indigo hair, was a baby maybe around six months old. Wait, not baby.
An anomaly.
That was the best word to describe it. The anomaly appeared to look like a regular human baby, but the fact it had just appeared so suddenly, and the fact that Kaveh had been experiencing weird symptoms just before the said anomaly appeared, indicated the type of manifestation. The anomaly itself was wearing nothing except a little nappy. Kaveh sighed. So at least the disorder had the decency to clothe the poor thing and it’s not just out there in the cold. He already knew what had caused this random baby to appear out of nowhere, a Ley Line Disorder. That could be the only explanation anyways, as he hadn’t seen a mother randomly dump her baby on him. He stared at the anomaly, and it looked back at him, its human-seeming eyes looked frightened as it observed him.
Another piece of evidence for the anomaly being the result of such a Disorder, is that Kaveh almost felt like he’d pushed out the damn baby himself. Which he knew was ridiculous, but he wasn’t well-versed in Ley Line Disorder-ism. It could mean he’d die soon for all he knew. He then suddenly remembered he was currently blocking everyone else from coming through this way so he very quickly packed up his things and then turned back to the anomaly.
He couldn’t just leave it here, what would others think if he left this area and just left the baby there?
No, this anomaly would have to become his and Alhaitham’s issue. Until they can get Nahida to look at it at least. Maybe she could get rid of it, and then he and Alhaitham can just forget about the said anomaly ever existing. Maybe getting rid of the anomaly would also take away this feeling of exhaustion as well.
His mind made up, Kaveh took off his cape and wrapped the anomaly in it. However, now looking at the anomaly close up, its two-toned eyes almost reminded him of Alhaitham’s. In fact… the anomaly almost looked like…
An actual representation of what a fusion of him and Alhaitham could look like. Like the Ley Line Disorder specifically made this child for them. As if they were a unit.
As this thought of him and Alhaitham ever being anything more than roommates crossed his mind, Kaveh felt himself blush. Like that’d ever happen, Alhaitham was insufferable to live with. The anomaly looked at him curiously and squealed slightly. If it wasn’t an anomaly, Kaveh might’ve almost smiled at how silly the baby was being. He shook his head however, and started for his home.
Once there, he’d actually remembered his key for once and, with a struggle, opened the front door. It was a lot harder to do when you’re also hiding a baby-shaped anomaly trying to not cause suspicion and are also feeling drained. He placed the anomaly on the table and then put away his architecture things. He highly doubted the baby would be interested in that anyways.
No, anomaly. It’s an anomaly.
Speaking of which, how in Celestia is he supposed to bring this up to Alhaitham? How is he supposed to covertly get stuff for the anomaly while it stays with them, without raising suspicion? If the anomaly would function anything like a child then it’d need to be fed, it’d need to be clothed and such. A squeal from the table sounded and his head shot up. The anomaly was sitting up and watching him. Kaveh blinked, so it could sit up on his own. Where is it gonna sleep? In terms of immediate surfaces, there was the couch, but it’d need a proper bed. That’s when his eyes caught that the anomaly yawned. Okay, that’s perfect, Alhaitham isn’t home yet, it won’t cry if it’s sleeping, he had time. He once again picked up the anomaly and started rocking it to sleep. It fell asleep fairly quickly.
Using this opportunity, he snuck out again. He’d thought of an excuse already if anyone should be suspicious. That they had a friend staying over and that they had a baby that needs stuff, it was full proof! That plan got derailed when he saw Nahida sitting on one of the tree branches, and he climbed the tree. “I hear you have experience with Ley Line Disorders and anomalies?” He said as he neared her. Nahida turned her head and without Kaveh even explaining it she replied.
“You have one you need me to sort out?” She said cryptically. “I’ll see what I can do. Depending on the danger or strengths of it, I may be unable to do anything. Or sometimes, the anomaly doesn’t have an adverse effect on anything, and sometimes, it’s not even an anomaly, but a gift. I’ll come and see him in a few days, and don’t worry about your roommate’s reaction.”
“How do you do that?” Kaveh asked dumbfounded. Nahida smiled at him but she didn’t respond.
“If you want to know a route to not gain suspicion, go through the Bazaar. I have feeling they won’t really remember something as trivial as that.” She gave him a knowing look.
Unnerved, Kaveh proceeded to make his way down to the Bazaar. He found everything he would need for the anomaly’s short stay in Teyvat and he strangely didn’t raise any eyebrows. He got a cot, bottles of formula, the usual baby stuff, though he didn’t exactly know why he got so much. However, as he neared his home again, he saw Alhaitham’s silver hair out of the corner of his eye.
Fuck. He wasn’t ready.
Kaveh practically slammed the door behind him to put down everything he’d bought. He’d probably be unable to pay rent this month but he’d think that Alhaitham would understand. After that, he immediately raced out again and slammed the door behind him, surprising Alhaitham at the door. The surprise didn’t last long however, as Alhaitham’s brows soon furrowed in that stupidly handsome neutral expression. Kaveh, however, was too caught off-guard and anxious to really admire it. “Alhaitham! You’re back early!” He wasn’t, but anxiety was rendering Kaveh’s usually sound mind to utter mangled slop like that. Alhaitham’s eyebrow raised, nothing getting past him.
“Kaveh, what’s wrong?” His voice was smooth, and yet Kaveh’s unfiltered mind at the current moment also picked up the genuine concern in his voice, though Alhaitham’s face was otherwise emotionless. Would it hurt the guy to physically show a little emotion?!
“T-There was a Ley Line Disorder, and um-“ Kaveh didn’t get to finish his thought because the anomaly started crying at the top of its lungs. Alhaitham’s eyes widened. “Shut up will you? The street can hear you!” Kaveh furiously whispered at the door frame.
“Must’ve been some Ley Line Disorder, you look awful.” Kaveh’s eyes shot to where Alhaitham was smirking at him.
“You think I look awful? How would you feel if you felt like you pushed that thing out of yourself?” He retorted. “You’re not making this better. Or are you just trying to annoy me to death?” Archons above, his roommate was insufferable. Somehow the two made it inside. “It’s on the table,” Kaveh grumbled.
“Surely a baby isn’t an it? Now is it?” Kaveh shot him a glare but Alhaitham didn’t react. He then sat down at the table and sighed.
“I got all the necessary equipment for its short stay on Tey-“
“His.”
“What?”
“It’s a boy,” Alhaitham said simply, somehow already having prepared the bottle for the anomaly. “Calling the anomaly that won’t chain it to this world,” he shrugged, now administering the bottle to some happy noises from the anomaly.
“I could’ve told you that,” Kaveh retorted to Alhaitham’s smile. “He dropped at my feet, I should know what gender he is.”
“But you didn’t.” Kaveh bristled. This was the most talkative Alhaitham had ever been and it was about the anomaly of all things. Of all the things to talk about.
“You-“ he huffed. “Anyways, I’ve already informed Nahida about him, so he’ll likely only be here for a few days. I don’t know how dangerous he is to the fabric of space or whatever it is, so it’s best we get rid of him at the earliest opportunity.” Alhaitham looked up from where he’d been rocking the anomaly to sleep again. How is he so good at that?
“Speaking of, have you named him?” Kaveh bristled again. Is he implying that he’s already bound him to this world? He’d never do that.
“What?”
“If you’ve named him then the anomaly is bound to this world and can’t be get rid of, no matter what Nahida does. If he does turn out to be dangerous that would irreparably damage the fabric of space and all because you selfishly named him. So, have you named him?”
“Of course I haven’t named him! What do you take me for?! I’m not cut out to be a parent, let alone of an anomaly.” Kaveh did not miss the flinch that Alhaitham did. “I feel so tired and I don’t know why. And it happened when that showed up so I don’t know what’s up with me.” Alhaitham looked at him.
“Maybe the Disorder simulated a situation when it created this anomaly? As in it set you as his ‘mother’ and me as his ‘father’,” he suggested as he rocked the baby in his arms. Kaveh looked over at him.
“Would it have the power to do that though?” He didn’t have any fight anymore, he was too tired. This seemed clear to Alhaitham as well, as he frowned. Ha, so he was actually capable of emoting. Alhaitham placed the child in the surprisingly already made cot and walked over to where Kaveh was sitting at the table. Kaveh was surprised to see that he’d made no effort to hide the concern on his face.
“I do not know how powerful this anomaly or Disorder is or was, but if it did function as in making you its mother, then it’s probably best for you to rest.” Kaveh nodded, actually agreeing with his roommate for once.
“Yeah. That’s… that’s probably best.”
Nahida eventually arrived a few days later as she’d promised to deal or not deal with the anomaly. In the time preceding that, the anomaly had spent it getting closer to his temporary ‘dads’ and it almost hurt Kaveh to see. He was so comfortable with them being a family and then he’s getting zapped away, or whatever happens to an anomaly. Kaveh himself was faring a lot better as well. He’d gotten over that weird empathic exhaustion. In fact it had only lasted for the day that the anomaly was created much to his delight. It hadn’t interfered with his work! “It’s nice to see you’re feeling better,” Nahida’s voice surprised him and her small frame could be seen in the doorway. “Where’s the anomaly I’ve heard so much about?”
“He’s in the cot over there,” said Alhaitham from behind a book, sitting near to said cot. His tone was nonchalant and emotionless. Kaveh watched Nahida send him a sad look as she walked over to the baby. She observed the small child, not much smaller than herself and then she smiled.
“Anomaly or not, I’ve never seen someone look so much like two people before,” she commented, causing a tension to fall over the room. Alhaitham wasn’t even reading anymore, he was looking at anything besides Kaveh, Nahida or the anomaly. Kaveh wasn’t much better. He hated how the fact the baby looked so much like him and Alhaitham never failed to make him blush. But, the two of them really hadn’t exactly explored that either, that the universe would give them a baby that looked so much like a combination of their traits, minus the indigo hair. Nahida’s eyes started glowing as she started scanning the anomaly, a knowing smile on her face. This unnerved Kaveh, the fact she seemed to be able to read minds, but he watched her work nonetheless, curious to know her verdict on the anomaly and quick as they started glowing, Nahida’s eyes ceased their glow and then she turned towards the two of them.
“So, anything you can do about this anomaly?” Kaveh asked, and Alhaitham could be heard putting his book down.
“I don’t think this child would affect things too negatively. In fact, he doesn’t even seem to classify as an anomaly at all, it seems his branch has already started growing. He is fully immersed in this world already. If it wasn’t for his origin, he’d likely have been conceived by regular means. It simply seems like Destiny decided to give you two a child, by whatever means necessary.” Her gaze travelled over to where Alhaitham was sitting. “Plus, your roommate seems quite endeared to him already.”
Kaveh whipped his head around to find Alhaitham tucking the child in, an actual smile on his face. The last time he’d seen Alhaitham smile was in the Akademiya, before his parents…
Kaveh suddenly felt extremely disgusted at himself.
Had he really been wishing to rip away Alhaitham’s chance at having a family? Well, at least a family since his grandmother died. Kaveh himself hadn’t really had all that much of a family either, with having a dead father and neglectful mother. But…
“That child doesn’t only have one parent,” Nahida reminded. “That is, if you want to accept him as your son.” Kaveh blinked at her.
“So you could do something about it if I wanted to?” Nahida smiled knowingly.
“No. He’s not an anomaly, therefore he can’t be got rid of. But even if I did, you wouldn’t want me to.” After that, Nahida left and closed the door behind her. Kaveh chose this opportunity to walk over to where his and Alhaitham’s son was. The baby was sleeping peacefully in the cot and Alhaitham was smiling at him.
“I guess we’re parents now,” Kaveh commented. Co-parenting would likely be hard but he hoped that they could make it work. The baby himself couldn’t do all that much at the current moment, but Kaveh almost wondered what he would grow up to be. “Hm, I kinda wonder what he’ll be like when he’s older. Will he be like you, or like me. I mean, if he is really meant to be our child.”
“I’m sure you’re aware you can’t predict the future?” Alhaitham deadpanned. Kaveh bristled at him.
“I am well aware that I can’t predict the fucking future. But, huh! Do you have any ideas of what he could be when he’s older? Huh?!” Alhaitham blinked.
“Well, if he’s anything like us, he’d be pretty intelligent, in what, I’m not entirely sure, he could have your math smarts, or my preference for research. He could be hot-headed,” Alhaitham noticeably gave Kaveh a look, “or he could be cool-headed, but again the future is not certain.” Kaveh looked at the child.
“Is it time to name him yet? I mean, if he’s not an anomaly he can’t just be referred to as just our son, or the baby. But what should we call him?”
“Maybe something fairly out there? You know, seeing as he was born out of a Ley Line Disorder. Maybe an Ancient Teyvaten word?”
“Is that the new language that you’re learning? Isn’t that just the old boring dead lang-“
“What about Veritas?”
“What?”
“Veritas.”
“As in the baby’s name?”
“It means ‘Truth’.”
“In Kusanali’s name, I know that ‘Haitham!” Kaveh retorted. Alhaitham blinked and Kaveh suddenly went very red. “Um, I meant Alhaitham. I don’t know why I said that, maybe because we were getting along I don’t know.” Alhaitham simply went quiet on that subject, and a tension filled the air.
“So we’re going with Veritas?” He changed the subject. Kaveh blinked and then coughed into his hand.
“Yeah, let’s go with that.”
In his sleep, little Veritas gurgled out a laugh.
~
Over the years, Veritas’ high intelligence became increasingly obvious. At the mere age of six, he started watching Kaveh draw the various architectural drawings he had to do, and even suggesting a few changes. Well, in the way a six year old could do. At eight he’d fashioned his own hair piece out of an old laurel leaf he’d found on the floor, and he started showing an interest in researching various different ideas or areas of interest. Also at eight he’d started getting into sculpture as well, showing the sparks of a talent. He’d make busts of his fathers, Cyno, Tighnari, Collei, basically anyone he could get to sit still long enough. However this had also caught the eyes of others…
Kaveh placed the piece of paper on the table, and Alhaitham actually put his book down for once. The two were still co-parenting even all these years later, but the tension that was always there was still ever present if not worse now. Kaveh looked at him. “It’s the Akademiya again,” he announced. “I know we went there when we were fairly young too but he’s eight. Eight! It doesn’t sit right with me to send him there that early.”
“The Akademiya has always been corrupt,” Alhaitham commented as he walked over to view the parchment as well. “They see a gifted child and they start salivating. We may however be running out of time by not enrolling him. They might start using desperate measures.”
“Is that even ethical? Surely they can’t force him to enroll there? Was it like this when we went there?” Alhaitham sat across from him and eyed the paper.
“I don’t know but it probably isn’t. Also I’m fairly sure it’s always been like this, we just didn’t count as gifted chil-“
“Dad! Papa!” Veritas came rushing in at that very moment, as fast as his small, yet strong legs could carry him. Kaveh noticed that his fist was enclosing something. The something was sort of amber-y in colour as well. Alhaitham, seemingly having clocked in to what the thing was, audibly gasped. Kaveh couldn’t help but chuckle at this display of obvious emotion, and Alhaitham, instead of glaring, shot him a look of admiration. Why he looked like that, he didn’t exactly know. Veritas tapped his fingers on the table to get the attention back on him. “Yeah, you love each other but look at this!” Veritas hurriedly put the object on the table, practically beaming. That’s when Kaveh realized what it was.
A Geo Vision.
He suddenly forgot about the Akademiya notice and swept Veritas up into his arms. “My little boy got his Vision!” Kaveh practically squawked in excitement, and he heard Alhaitham stifling a laugh. Veritas however, looked extremely embarrassed. “My boy got his Vision! Have you tested out your powers yet? Have your powers manifested yet?” Veritas blinked.
“No..?” It was unclear what exactly he was answering. It wasn’t Dendro, as he and Haitham had expected, but it was still a Vision. When Veritas was finally put down, he scurried away with the vision and Kaveh was left alone in the room with Alhaitham. He didn’t know what had possessed him, but he grabbed Alhaitham by his shoulders.
“He got his Vision! Veri got his Vision!” After this statement Kaveh basically leapt at Alhaitham and kissed him unprompted. “At the tender age of Eight! Eight!”
Alhaitham made no comment. He was too dumbfounded.