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Kaveh was having a bad day.
That was the understatement of the year. Kaveh was having an absolutely horrendous day. It had started poorly, with his alarm deciding not to go off. He’d woken up an hour later than he’d intended to. Having an appointment with a high-profile client in 30 minutes, Kaveh had rushed through his morning routine, stubbing his toe against his bedside table and skipping breakfast.
The architect ignored the burning hunger stabbing at his gut as he burst through the doors to the office where he was meeting his client. The man had a scowl on his face and lowered his arm. He’d been looking at his watch. Kaveh swallowed, plastering a genial smile on his face as he politely offered a hand. The man’s grip was slightly painful for Kaveh—a silent announcement of the client’s irritation at his delay.
The meeting dragged on for hours. Kaveh's suggestions weren’t just shot down; they were torn apart and ridiculed. Each insult hit him like the tip of a blade lightly piercing his skin. Yet Kaveh kept up his professional appearance, nodding and apologizing.
When his client had a blueprint he was satisfied with taking home, Kaveh’s chest tightened, and the air could not get in. He screwed his eyes shut, exhaling a shuddering breath. His shaky fingers tangled themselves in his blond hair.
After regaining composure, Kaveh stood, packed his belongings, and began the walk home. His throat was dry, and his stomach growled.
I’ll grab something with a few drinks at Lambad’s.
Kaveh decided. The thought of sitting in his favorite booth at his favorite tavern at the end of a particularly long day gave the architect a small burst of energy. He even dared to let a smile cross his lips.
But today was just not his day. A sign hung on the tavern’s door. It read ‘out of town. Be back in six days!’
“Fuck.” Kaveh muttered, kicking the ground in frustration. Irritability prickled at his skin along the walk back to Alhaitham’s place. All of the voices of strangers out on the streets, carts, and caravans rolling by, and the thunder from the rumbling skies were growing and overwhelming.
Kaveh felt something cold tap his nose. He blinked and felt another. And another. Then, the skies let loose. Citizens of Sumeru darted under roofs or into their homes. Kaveh picked up his pace, trotting the rest of the way back. His clothes were soaked entirely, sticking to his flesh like glue on paper.
Great. I just got this shirt, too, Kaveh sighed in frustration. He pried his pocket open, feeling around for his keys. A jolt of panic coursed through him, realizing he had again forgotten his keys.
The blond fought the urge to cry, rapping his knuckles on the solid wood door. It hurt his hand. He wanted to sleep and never wake up.
Shivering, Kaveh wrapped his arms around his lithe frame in a futile attempt to warm himself up. Time seemed to slow exponentially.
Is Alhaitham even home? Of course he is. Where else would he be? Cyno and Tighnari are working, I’m here, and the Traveler and Paimon are off on another adventure. Did he get called in by the Akademiya?
Just as Kaveh turned to leave, the door swung open. His ruby gaze met Alhaitham’s, and shame swallowed him. He knew how he must look - on the verge of tears, soaked like he’d fallen in a river.
Kaveh didn’t wait for Alhaitham’s snarky comment, pushing past his roommate to escape the rain. Without a word, Kaveh placed Mehrak on the coffee table, going into the kitchen to start a cup of tea. Soft footsteps followed him.
Kaveh swallowed, trying to still his shaking frame.
“What, you too broke to buy an umbrella?” Alhaitham’s voice sounded simultaneously, and Kaveh’s hands gave out. The mug he’d grasped shattered upon impact. Dazed, Kaveh stared at the ground. This time, he didn’t try to hold back the tears.
Every awful thing had accumulated until now, and the mug was the breaking point. Kaveh let out an exhausted sob. He stood, head lowered, arms at his sides, tears streaming down his face. Everything was just so much these days, and it weighed him down.
“Kaveh?” Alhaitham sounded uncharacteristically concerned. None of the usual sharp sarcasm could be found in his tone. Kaveh decided he must be imagining things.
“Kaveh, it’s just a mug. You can get another one.” Alhaitham said, more confused than annoyed.
Kaveh whipped around to face his roommate. Alhaitham took a step back, surprised by the ferocity in Kaveh’s gaze despite the welling tears.
“No, I can’t get another one!” Kaveh snapped, irritated at everything.
Alhaitham bristled, not thrilled with the way Kaveh was speaking to him.
“Why? I don’t charge you that much in rent.” He stated, crossing his arms.
Kaveh’s hands balled into fists at his side. His frame trembled as he met the Scribe’s gaze. “Because my father made that mug!” He shouted, unable to hide the tears rolling down his cheeks. His heart had shattered with the mug when it hit the ground. Kaveh was tired. So tired. Everything went wrong, like the universe told him he didn’t belong. He shouldn’t exist.
“Your… father?” Alhaitham tilted his head to the side a bit, brow furrowing.
“Just-“ Kaveh hiccuped, cutting himself off as his crying grew stronger. “Just leave me alone! Go away!” The architect dropped to the ground, ignoring how hitting the tile sent an agonizing pain through his knees, traveling up and down his legs. Extending shaky hands, Kaveh began to scoop the broken mug into a little pile.
He stared at it, allowing sobs to wrack his body. What an awful end to an awful day.
Fabric shuffled from out of Kaveh’s sight. Hands, paler than his own, took Kaveh’s hands and adjusted them palm up. Kaveh stayed still, ears ringing and head pounding.
Why are you doing this? Kaveh wondered in the back of his mind. Logically, he knew who the hands belonged to. Yet- it didn’t make sense. Why was this happening?
Alhaitham gently picked up the pieces of the shattered mug, placing them in Kaveh’s shaking hands. He stayed still, too exhausted to do anything else.
“Don’t move,” Alhaitham instructed. He stood, moving around Kaveh to open a drawer. A moment passed before Alhaitham was crouching next to Kaveh again. He opened the plastic bag, holding it out. “Put the pieces in here.”
Panic surged through Kaveh.
Please don’t throw it out. Please don’t make me do that.
He silently begged, exchanging a look with his roommate. “So you don’t lose any of the pieces,” Alhaitham replied as if he understood Kaveh's feelings. Maybe he did.
Once Kaveh’s pale, trembling hands were empty of the shards of the mug, Alhaitham closed the bag and gently set it on the counter.
When the Scribe crouched this time, he positioned himself next to Kaveh so the architect could not avoid looking at him.
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham said. Kaveh, sniffling, dropped his gaze to the floor. He didn’t have it in him to listen to Alhaitham telling him how clinging to the past or assigning sentimental value to inanimate objects was a waste of emotional energy.
“Please look at me,” Alhaitham asked, tone as monotonous as ever.
At least it lacks his ordinary judgment.
Kaveh thought, keeping his eyes planted on the floor.
Alhaitham exhaled a heavy sigh. Kaveh winced, bracing himself for the incoming lecture.
“Listen, I’m well aware we don’t get along. You do your thing, I do mine, and that’s how our days go. But that doesn’t mean I don’t… care about you,” He said.
What?
“I’m not empathetic or great at interpreting social cues. Still, seeing you like this…” Alhaitham’s gaze shifted to the side, breaking his concentration on Kaveh. “It makes me… sad. I don’t like it. I don’t know what caused it, and I don’t care. I do care about your well-being. I’ve always cared about that.”
Kaveh sniffed, swallowing hard, forcing his tongue to move. “I-s that why you pick me up from the bar when I’ve drunk so much I black out?” His voice cracked, throat raw and scratchy from the sobs. It burned, the feeling causing more tears to well in Kaveh’s eyes.
Alhaitham stiffened for a second. Then he nodded, his loose, stray strand of hair bouncing with the motion. Kaveh noticed his sectoral eyes seemed filled with more emotion than usual. “Yes. I would rather bring you home myself, as inconvenient as that is, instead of leaving you alone.”
Kaveh gritted his teeth, Alhaitham’s words hitting him like a rock to the head. His mind focused on one word, the most negative of everything in his roommate’s sentence.
Inconvenient. Inconvenient. Burden.
It hissed, spitting venom that soaked into his frame. Kaveh’s body sagged like a cloth absorbing liquid. Alhaitham didn’t miss this.
“Then why bother?” Kaveh croaked, shaking pitifully.
“Being alone in that condition isn't safe. You’re not in your right mind when you’re blackout drunk.”
“Don’t tell me you’re worried about me wasting what little money I have,” Kaveh scoffed. “I’d pay you your damn rent eventually.”
“Wh- Kaveh, that’s not why I’m worried-”
“Then what?!” Kaveh spat, exhausted and emotionally drained. He just wanted this to be over. When he mustered the courage to look Alhaitham in the eyes, the architect noticed the hurt on Alhaitham’s face. His heart ached.
“I… I worry about other people. The selfish ones. The kind of people that take because they can. Kaveh, I-” Alhaitham’s words seemed to catch before he could get them out. He raised a fist to his lips, clearing his throat.
“I worry that others will take advantage of you, Kaveh.” He quietly said. Kaveh stared, the realization striking him.
Oh.
An uncomfortable feeling began to crawl across Kaveh’s skin. He’d been so careless. How could he be so stupid?
The architect was so dumbfounded he was oblivious to the new tears welling in his eyes.
Alhaitham slowly extended his arm, flinching away halfway to his destination. Kaveh didn’t react. Taking this as a sign it was alright to continue, Alhaitham reached out further this time. With the weight of a feather, he gently pressed the backs of his knuckles to Kaveh’s tear-stained cheeks. Kaveh screwed his eyes shut, letting out a sob.
Cautiously, Alhaitham moved closer to his roommate, swiping the teardrops away. Kaveh allowed it, too exhausted to question Alhaitham’s actions.
“Will you tell me what’s bothering you? When you’re ready,” Alhaitham asked, sincerity and gentleness in his tone. It sounded so unfamiliar to Kaveh that he had to look at the man beside him to reassure himself that it was still Alhaitham.
Kaveh stared at the Scribe, his brain taking a while to process the question. Why did Alhaitham care? He hated when Kaveh vented about terrible customers. What changed?
“Why?” Kaveh finally croaked out. His throat hurt so bad.
Alhaitham’s expression changed to that of confusion. “Why what?”
“Why… d-o you wan-nt me to t-ell you?” Kaveh’s damaged vocal cords struggled to get words out.
“Because, Kaveh, whatever is bothering you must be quite serious. Your usual routine has been interrupted, and I cannot recall seeing you cry like this… ever.” Alhaitham replied, still speaking with a certain gentleness. It wasn’t pity, though, and Kaveh was grateful for that. He didn’t want to be pitied.
Kaveh blinked the remaining tears out of his eyes, sniffling before he spoke. “I… h-ad a bad d-ay.”
Alhaitham nodded, the loose strand of hair bouncing again. Kaveh liked it when his hair did that.
“What were you getting the mug out for?” He asked.
“Tea,” Kaveh said.
“How about this,” Alhaitham said, pulling his hand away from Kaveh’s cheek. The architect bit back a frustrated whine. Alhaitham’s hand on his skin had been the most comforting of everything that had happened today.
“Why don’t you go get changed out of these wet clothes? Take a shower to warm up so you don’t catch a cold. When you’re done, get comfortable on the couch. I’ll meet you there with tea.”
Why are you being so nice? What do you want from me? Are you planning on kicking me out after this? Is that what this is? Am I too much?
Kaveh couldn’t keep the panic from setting in. Yet the exhaustion drowning him was more substantial, so he simply nodded. Alhaitham stood first, offering an outstretched hand for Kaveh to grab onto.
Kaveh shakily extended his arm, clasping his hand around Alhaitham’s. The Scribe quickly pulled him to his feet, holding on for a few extra moments to ensure Kaveh had his balance.
Without a word, Kaveh made the trek across the house from the kitchen to his bedroom, closing the door behind himself.
The effort it took to peel off his soaked clothes was far more significant than it should have been. Had Kaveh’s muscles not threatened to give out any second, he would have made it to the shower faster.
While the shower heated up, Kaveh picked out his favorite pair of pajamas, socks, and underwear. He laid his outfit on his bed before heading into the bathroom.
He thought the steam felt nice on his throat—easier to breathe in. Pulling back the curtain, Kaveh stepped into the flowing water. His eyes fluttered shut, comforted by the drops warming his chilled, clammy skin. After a few minutes, Kaveh stopped shivering, his body temperature rising. A soft sigh fell from his lips when he dunked his head under the showerhead, letting the water soak his scalp. It felt nice like the water was washing away the day's stress.
The pattering of water hitting the tile floor of the shower became background static, drowning out Kaveh’s negative thoughts. He let his mind fog, focusing on the repetitive sound and being in the moment.
Oh, A thought crossed Kaveh’s mind. Alhaitham’s making me tea. I should probably wash myself and turn the water off. Don’t want the bill to be too high.
Kaveh quickly went through the washing process, enjoying the rough feeling of the scrub on his skin. When he’d finished, he hung up the scrub on its designated hook, washing his hair next. That part took the longest since he’d let his hair grow out so much. Kaveh diligently brushed through any tangles in his hair before rinsing the conditioner.
The architect shifted his weight, leaning toward the handle to turn the water off. His left leg gave out before he could process what was going on. Kaveh shut his eyes, bracing himself as he fell back, elbow slamming into the tile. A gasp ripped itself from his lungs in response to the sharp shockwave of pain that shot up his arm. Kaveh started to cry again, sobbing. It hurt so bad.
“Kaveh!” Alhaitham’s voice interrupted his alone time. “Kaveh, did you fall?”
Kaveh couldn’t reply, too busy with crying. He cradled his arm to his chest, curling up on his side on the shower floor.
“Kaveh, please say something. Do you need help?” Alhaitham tried again.
Kaveh didn’t want his roommate to see him in this state–bare-ass naked, blubbering like a baby. How humiliating.
“Kaveh, I need an answer, or I’m going to assume something is fatally wrong, and I’ll open the curtain myself,” Alhaitham demanded.
“No!” Kaveh choked out. “Please.”
There was a moment of silence. “I-” Alhaitham seemed to choke on his words—another pause. “Are you hurt?”
Kaveh whined. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Alhaitham sighed. “Okay. How about we try this? I won’t look, but I can help you however you need. Does that work?”
Kaveh thought about Alhaitham’s offer for a moment. He wasn’t sure he could get up on his own. “Yes.” His voice was meek.
“Alright. I’m going to close my eyes and open the curtain.” Kaveh winced as the curtain fabric shifted and cold air hit his skin.
Alhaitham crouched, extending an arm and waiting for Kaveh’s response.
Kaveh reached out with his good arm, clasping Alhaitham’s hand tightly. With caution, the Scribe moved his other arm out, fingertips ghosted along Kaveh’s flesh to travel up toward his shoulder.
Alhaitham hooked his arms under Kaveh’s armpits, slowly lifting him. Kaveh bit the inside of his cheek to hold back a yelp. Even though Alhaitham wasn’t touching his arm, it hurt like hell.
“Can you walk?” Alhaitham asked.
“Mhm.”
“Lead me to where your clothes are. You can get dressed, and I’ll check out your arm.” He said, moving his hands so one was on Kaveh’s shoulder, the other on his opposite hip. Kaveh walked at a snail’s pace to his bed. Alhaitham kept his eyes closed the whole time, just like he’d promised. For a moment, that distracted Kaveh from the pain.
“H-ere,” Kaveh said between quiet sobs. Alhaitham stopped, allowing Kaveh to sit down. The mattress frame creaked oh-so-softly with Kaveh’s added weight.
“Can you dress yourself?” Alhaitham’s question was earnest, but it had Kaveh flustered. A light pink dusted his cheeks. The architect struggled to answer out of embarrassment.
“What did you hurt when you fell?” He changed tactics a little.
“Arm… and my knees,” Kaveh murmured. Alhaitham nodded in acknowledgment.
“You’ll need help, then?” The sentence was posed more as a question than a statement.
You’re not assuming I’m useless. Kaveh thought. His heart ached.
“Yes.” His voice was still low.
Alhaitham grunted to let Kaveh know he’d heard him. “Alright. Let’s start with this. Stand up, grab whatever base layer you will put on first.”
“I-” Kaveh stopped, embarrassed. Alhaitham waited.
“My knees hurt from earlier.” He admitted. It was true - they were throbbing, and he could already see purple-green bruises blooming.
“I see,” Alhaitham said. “Are you comfortable with me…” Kaveh watched as Alhaitham rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes were still shut, and Kaveh was grateful for that. “I can… dress you. If you sit on the edge of the bed.”
Kaveh swallowed. Logically, yes, this was the best way to do things. It would cause Kaveh the least pain and could be completed in the shortest amount of time.
And Alhaitham won’t have to touch me much.
Kaveh didn’t think he could handle anything too awkward today. He was too tired for that.
“Okay. H-Here,” Kaveh handed Alhaitham his briefs. Alhaitham’s pale fingers unfolded the fabric. He freed one hand, crouching in front of Kaveh. Kaveh bit back a shuddering exhale, heart pounding.
Oh, Archons, this is going to go so wrong.
Kaveh sat as still as he could manage, unable to take his eyes off Alhaitham. He was sure he’d die of embarrassment if Alhaitham opened his eyes. Having someone who was once your best friend, then ex-friend, then roommate-slash-landlord who took pity on you and also the other half of a ‘situationship’ offer to dress you, be that close to your naked body was mortifying in and of itself.
Please don’t open your eyes, please don’t, please don’t.
The architect silently begged. Alhaitham slipped the briefs over Kaveh’s feet, skillfully maneuvering them up his legs. Even without sight, he seemed almost familiar with Kaveh’s body. He stopped right at Kaveh’s knees, ghosting the tips of his fingers against the joints, gauging Kaveh’s reaction. Kaveh suppressed a shiver, watching Alhaitham’s minuscule motions - the slight flex of his muscles, the way his eyes darted underneath their lids, how his fingertips twitched as if he was holding himself back to keep from harming Kaveh.
“Kaveh?”
Kaveh hummed a response. “You’ll need to stand for this part. When you do, use me to balance. Hold onto me and push your weight down onto my shoulders. Try not to use your injured arm.”
“Okay.” The architect’s heart still pounded. With the way Alhaitham was crouched, he was so close to Kaveh’s pelvis, maybe a foot away, the only thing acting as a barrier being the length of Kaveh’s thighs. Kaveh took a moment to reach out and clasp Alhaitham’s shoulder.
Please don’t say anything about my hands shaking.
“On three,” Alhaitham stated, standing halfway. “One. Two. Three.” Kaveh dug his fingers into the muscle, pushing up off the bed and pulling himself toward Alhaitham.
Simultaneously, Alhaitham brought Kaveh’s briefs up to his hips, quickly retracting his hands as if Kaveh’s skin had burned him.
Kaveh stood, trembling at the effort and adrenaline that had started pumping through his veins. The thought of Alhaitham being so close to his pelvic area like that was excruciating. He didn't expect Alhaitham to take advantage of him intentionally, but he could have lost his balance or accidentally opened his eyes. That was something he didn’t have the bandwidth for.
“Are you in pain?” Alhaitham’s voice was still much more kind than usual. Kaveh’s brow furrowed.
Why are you being so nice?
“N-No. I’m alright.” Kaveh panted. His knees argued differently.
“You’re shaking.”
Kaveh wanted to roll his eyes, but his queasy stomach had him deciding not to. “Well, excuse me for not wanting my long-time acquaintance to be face to face with my crotch.” He muttered.
Alhaitham stiffened before his chest rumbled a little. “Not like we haven’t seen each other naked before.”
“Nearly naked.” Kaveh corrected. Alhaitham slept in boxers, and Kaveh slept in either briefs and a t-shirt or pajamas, depending on the weather and temperature. After all the years they’d known each other, between sharing a house and various outdoor activities or missions, very little of each other was still left to the imagination. Still, tonight wasn’t the night to break that barrier.
“Whatever, let’s just get you dressed.” Having gone through the motions once, getting Kaveh’s pajama pants on was more straightforward than his underwear.
Once Kaveh’s lower half had been dressed, Alhaitham stepped back. His fingers tapped against his thighs as he stood beside Kaveh’s bed.
Are you waiting for something? OH!
“Y-You can open your eyes,” Kaveh mumbled, a light blush dusting his cheeks. Of course, Alhaitham was waiting for permission.
Alhaitham blinked, his gaze quickly darting over Kaveh’s figure. What was he looking for?
Without a word exchanged, Alhaitham picked up Kaveh’s pajama top. He unfolded it, ensuring all the buttons were undone before placing it on Kaveh. The Scribe reached behind his roommate, holding out a sleeve. Kaveh extended his good arm, sliding it through the silky fabric.
“Tuck your arm in,” Alhaitham instructed. Kaveh did as told. “How far can you bend your arm?” He asked.
Kaveh glanced at his already swollen elbow. Even the inside was red and angry.
Did I break it? Fuck, I hope not. I need to be able to draw up blueprints. I can’t do that if my arm’s broken. Shit, shit, SHIT! Kaveh didn’t fight it when his eyes began to water for the 500th time that night.
“May I?” Alhaitham momentarily let go of Kaveh’s shirt, hand hovering near Kaveh’s injured arm. Kaveh nodded, not fully processing the question.
With a gentleness Kaveh hadn’t known Alhaitham was capable of, the Scribe cupped Kaveh’s elbow in his left hand. Kaveh sobbed in relief, slumping forward. Though Alhaitham was warm, his hand was still cool compared to the tender flesh of Kaveh’s elbow. It took away that burning, tingling sensation for just a moment.
“D-Did I hurt you?” Alhaitham worried.
“No,” Kaveh whispered, unable to speak any louder. Alhaitham focused on Kaveh’s arm, placing his right index and pointer finger on either side of the inside of Kaveh’s elbow. He stayed in that position, testing something. Alhaitham removed his two fingers, touching just the pads on several other locations.
Kaveh winced once or twice, otherwise too dazed to react. Finally, Alhaitham let go, lowering Kaveh’s arm to his thigh so it didn’t drop and extend, causing him further pain.
“I’ll have Tighnari come take a look tomorrow. I don’t feel any big breaks, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’m not a doctor,” Alhaitham said, grabbing Kaveh’s other sleeve. Kaveh nodded.
Taking extra care not to hurt Kaveh, Alhaitham cautiously maneuvered the shirt until he’d gotten it on, not once bumping into Kaveh’s elbow.
He buttoned from the neck down, ensuring he didn’t miss anything. Satisfied, Alhaitham stood. Kaveh warily watched as the Scribe reached out to Kaveh’s neck, smoothing out the collar folds.
“There.”
Kaveh looked up at Alhaitham’s dual-toned eyes. “Thank you.” He mumbled, struggling to keep his own eyes open.
Alhaitham sighed, leaning forward again. Kaveh frowned, unsure of what he was doing. Wrapping an arm around Kaveh’s back and under his armpit, Alhaitham hooked his other arm under Kaveh’s thighs, turning and sliding him toward the headboard. He let go to pull back the covers, lifting them up and over Kaveh’s legs and waist. Kaveh leaned back, shakily exhaling as he relaxed into his pillows.
Alhaitham stood beside Kaveh’s bed, arms at his sides. Kaveh thought he’d zoned out.
Snapping back to reality, Alhaitham cleared his throat. “I’ll go get your tea ready. Don’t move.” He swiftly walked out of the room.
Kaveh watched the Scribe leave with a lazy gaze, using every bit of energy he had left to keep his crimson eyes open. Some amount of time passed before Alhaitham returned.
He waited until Kaveh was ready to take the teacup before offering it to him, holding on an extra couple of seconds to ensure Kaveh had a grip on it. Kaveh had to force himself to keep his damaged elbow still.
“Here,” Alhaitham pulled a dish towel and a small bag of ice from his pocket. Wrapping the towel around the bag, Alhaitham carefully placed the bag under Kaveh’s elbow. Kaveh sighed, appreciating the chill it brought to his hot skin.
“I sent out a message to Tighnari. Hopefully, he’ll be here tomorrow morning, if not by afternoon,” Alhaitham informed Kaveh. Kaveh hummed, taking a small sip of his tea. The flavor surprised him.
This is how I make it. Alhaitham drinks straight black tea.
He looked to Alhaitham, confusion displaying on his face. “Two sugars and a fourth cup of milk, right?” Alhaitham asked. Kaveh nodded, dumbfounded. Why did he have Kaveh’s tea preferences memorized?
“Do you need anything else?” He asked. Kaveh’s heart jumped, eyes widening.
“Stay!” The word came out with urgency.
Please don’t leave me. Please, I don’t want to be alone.”
“You… want me to stay?” Alhaitham frowned.
“Please,” Kaveh begged, much more quietly now.
Alhaitham glanced out of Kaveh’s room before turning back to the architect, sighing softly.
“Okay.” He began to sit. Kaveh whined, and Alhaitham stopped moving, raising his eyebrow.
“I thought you wanted me to stay?”
“H-Here,” Kaveh mumbled, gesturing to the empty bed beside himself. Sure, this was out of character for him, but so was everything Alhaitham had done tonight. On top of that, Kaveh was feeling vulnerable from the harsh day. He needed the comfort of someone’s presence, and Alhaitham was the only someone around.
Kaveh was sure he was seeing things when a red tinge appeared on Alhaitham’s face and neck. But the Scribe didn’t argue, simply walking around to the other side of the bed and sitting next to Kaveh. Kaveh’s heart rate lowered back to a regular resting rate. This was better. He was safe; he was safe in his own private space. He had company, was comfortable, and it was quiet—no hustle and bustle of the street, no angry clients yelling at him. Kaveh closed his eyes, appreciating the warm tea soothing his throat before pooling in his empty stomach.
With closed eyes, Kaveh heard the familiar sound of paper rustling and a hardback book cover opening. Alhaitham had brought a book with him.
Did you plan to stay here anyway? No, you were going to your room. I’ve taken up enough of your night.
But Kaveh’s mind was too worn down to listen to the negative voice trying to convince him to hate himself. He felt so much better with the tea in his stomach, ice on his elbow, and his weight off his knees.
“Would…” Alhaitham’s voice had him opening his tired eyes. “Would you like to talk about your day?” He asked quietly. Kaveh noticed he’d taken his headphones off, placing them on the bedside table.
Do you really want to listen?
Kaveh wondered. “‘m tired.” He mumbled, struggling to keep his head from lolling to the side.
Alhaitham nodded. “Tomorrow, then, if you’d like.” He paused, closing his book. “I’m… I’m sorry you had a bad day, Kaveh.”
A weak, shaky smile crossed Kaveh’s lips as he drank the last sip of his tea. When tears slipped from his eyes this time, he wasn’t sad. No, these were happy tears.
Seeing that Kaveh’s cup was empty, Alhaitham took it and set it aside. He got up, flicking the light switch before returning to the bed. Kaveh heard the book thump against the wooden bedside table.
Kaveh shuffled into a reclined position. Resting his injured arm across his abdomen, Kaveh let his other hand drop to his side.
Something warm and oddly familiar touched his fingertips. Kaveh grasped it with little strength. Alhaitham let out a content hum, entwining his fingers with Kaveh’s slender ones.
“Goodnight, Kaveh.”
“Night… ‘haitham.”
Letting his mind grow fuzzy with sleep, Kaveh let the tension leave his figure, focusing on Alhaitham’s hand holding his own. Everything would work out in due time. Right now, all that mattered was here and now.