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“ Hic There’s no need to do this, I can walk on my own…!”
There was something strangely captivating at the way Kaveh could speak with such a clear and elegant tone, despite his intoxicated nature. As Alhaitham carried him like a sack of potatoes slung over his shoulder, Kaveh weakly pounded his arms against the back of Alhaitham’s cape, thrashing his legs in a feeble attempt to kick him away.
Contrary to popular belief—Kaveh was quite heavy, but nothing Alhaitham couldn’t hold. Kaveh’s outfit humbly hid the beautiful display of muscles beneath it.
“You’re too drunk to care for yourself properly.” Alhaitham rolled his eyes and dug into his pocket for the keys to their home. To no one's surprise, he found Kaveh’s lion keys as per usual tangled in his keychain.
“See? No one saw you. It’s too late for anyone to be out at this time anyways.”
“Okay. We’re home.” Alhaitham reassured Kaveh’s incoherent worries as he stepped inside and he placed both their keys in the ceramic bowl on the coffee table and made his way into their shared bedroom.
“Home…?” Kaveh grumbled. “Wait…huh…?”
Alhaitham stabilized his grasp upon Kaveh’s waist and lowered his boyfriend onto their bed. “Yes. Is there somewhere else you needed to go?”
Since Kaveh had been too drunk to lift his head from the table— and take a step without crashing into the wall or falling to his knees, it was safe for Alhaitham to assume Kaveh would be unable to undress himself. ( Which Alhaitham was given consent to do so multiple times in the past.) Kaveh’s clothes, which were decorated with endless jewelry and golden chains would always prove to cause him some sort of discomfort in the morning anyways. Alhaitham reached towards Kaveh’s chest and unclipped his red cape from his golden necklace, only for his hands to be swatted away.
“Let’s get you into something more comfortable—“
“No… no…! Don’t touch me!” Kaveh shook his head and threw his arms across his body, attempting to face himself onto his side with little success, only to fall back on his back with a tiny thud— the impact from returning to his original position. It reminded Alhaitham of those chubby cats that would attempt to roll at his feet to solicit a piece of meat.
“Huh?” Alhaitham raised an eyebrow and retracted his arms, taking a step back as he watched Kaveh attempt to roll onto his stomach with as much success as the last.
“I…” Kaveh hiccuped, blushing furiously. “Have a boyfriend…! I… am dating a… very intelligent and smart one at that…! He is an academic genius!...! And I love him hic veeeeery much. I’m not going to share a bed with a stranger! Back… off!” And with a newfound frustration, Alhaitham watched as Kaveh gathered the strength to roll onto his stomach, and to the edge of the bed, then tumble face first onto the carpet with a loud thud.
“Oh…” Kaveh whined. With a wince he forced himself onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “Owiee…”
“Kaveh, I am your boyfriend.” Alhaitham knelt beside his boyfriend with an exasperated sigh. Though on the outside, he appeared as expressionless as ever but the blush that dusted his cheeks and tip of his nose told a different story. If he allowed his impulses to get the best of him. He would’ve buried his face into a pillow to keep the world from noticing how flustered he was.
“Nuh…uh…!” Kaveh feverishly shook his head and rolled across the carpet, flailing his limbs, and wriggling across the floor. He accidentally tangled his golden locks through his necklace and across his face— eventually, curling up into the fetal position in the corner of the room. Alhaitham bit the inside of his lip to keep himself from releasing a chuckle. “My… boyfriend is so… intelligent…he knows over twenty languages and has studied the most complicated philosophical…matters. You… you don’t want to even think about messing with him!”
“Is that so?” Alhaitham asked as he pried off his cape and hung up on his side of the closet. Making sure he wasn’t obscuring Kaveh’s view, he changed into a tan t-shirt and green plaid sleeping shorts that reached down to his knees, then returned to the room, sitting at the edge of the bed.
Kaveh spoke up once more, clearing his throat for dramatic effect. “Yes!—“ Tears welt at the corner of his eyes. “He’s… so..so smart. So eloquent… I can listen to him speak about his research for hours… it makes me so… happy to see him have the chance to inform me about this… He’s so intelligible about so many things…. I find it so… hot when he’s using his big words… and how he crosses his feet when he reads….or when he starts talking to me in a different language…!”
Alhaitham had to fight the urge to wrap Kaveh into a hug as he burst into an ugly cry, tears running down the side of his cheeks and snot trailing against his top lip. “I…. Could listen to him for hours and hours… I love his voice…I love his brain… I like the way he does his eye makeup.” Kaveh sniffed and released another sob. “I guess he has abs and muscles… but that’s an added bonus.”
“-And he can kick your ass with them! Actually…” Kaveh pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed his thumb to the home button, unlocking it. He winced as the light (which was set to the brightest settings) blinded his eyes. “Oh…! I’m… gonna call him to do that right now. Just you wait, infuriating stranger!”
“Delightful.” Alhaitham commented. “Would you like me to give you some privacy while you accomplish that?”
“Yes….Please.” Kaveh nodded. “Cmon….stupid fingers… work work work…!”
With that, Alhaitham left the room, shutting the door behind him. He made his way to the kitchen to ensure Kaveh wouldn’t hear him from the other side of the door and assume this ‘stranger’ had stolen his boyfriend's phone.’ Moments later, He felt a vibration against the side of his upper thigh, signaling Kaveh’s call. He answered it, placing it up to his ear.
“Yes?” Alhaitham answered. His greeting from Kaveh was several hiccups, which devolved into a blubbering cry.
“Baby…” Kaveh wailed on the other side. “I… hic I miss you… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier… but a stranger picked me up from the bar and took me to his place.”
“I see.”
I didn’t let him touch me, I promise! I didn’t fall for his advances… I didn’t kiss him or… let him anywhere near my body.” Kaveh sniffed. “When he tried to take off my cape I slapped his hand! Away… I even told him I was in a relationship and he gave me privacy to call you…so I’m on the floor right now and it’s cold…”
“I believe you Kaveh.” Alhaitham reassured him. ”Other than that, you’re safe, correct? You’re not injured nor retain any other grievances?”
“Nope…Alhaitham…I'm sorry...” Kaveh sobbed. “I… don't know why... but he smells like you... he even sounds like you and has your haircut. Alhaitham please don't be mad... I'm in love with you and only you...I wouldn’t cheat…never. I just wanna go home..."
“Okay. I can’t pick you up immediately, but I can promise you that you will be in my arms when you awaken.”
“…Alright…” Kaveh’s voice sounded softer, a bit less panicked and frightened as before. “Goodnight love…wait…! can you talk about your latest project before you leave…?”
“Of course.” Alhaitham nodded. “The Novella I was reading earlier was inspired by Edgar Allan Poes “Fall of the House of Usher…”
Alhaitham droned on about the novel for a mere five minutes before he heard Kaveh mumble; “ Hic… love you….Alhaitham…” Before drifting off into dreamland. Soft snoring could be heard on the opposite end of the line.
Alhaitham hung up and made his way over to the bedroom, finding Kaveh slouched against the wall, huddled against the drawer and in-between the lamppost, subjecting himself to a cruel claustrophobic sleeping position.
Alhaitham took the phone from Kaveh’s hand and placed it upon the drawer, carrying his sleeping figure to the bed. He removed Kaveh’s shoes and cape, placing both articles of clothing back in their respective places, and helped him slip into some comfortable pair of clothes, which were a cotton pair of shorts and a silky white tank top that stretched over his body comfortably.
Alhaitham tied Kaveh’s messy golden hair into a makeshift bun to keep it out of his face and cradled him close to his chest. As the air conditioner began to blast cold air throughout their bedroom, Alhaitham tucked them both beneath the weighted blanket. Before allowing himself to fall into a fitful sleep, he brushed several strands of hair from Kaveh’s face and admired his features. How he looked so peaceful, the small acne scars across his jawline, the bags under his eyes from countless all nighters. He looked so beautiful.
Alhaitham pressed a kiss against Kaveh’s forehead, and relaxed, allowing sleep to join Kaveh in their rest.