Work Text:
3rd person pov:
Kaveh and Alhaitham are well known amongst the people of Sumeru. Not only as the architect, the light of Kshahrewar, and the scribe, but more so as roommates. Noone knows what happened between the two inseparable boys, the best of friends, that led to their fallout, but nowadays you see them bickering and fighting with each other. If it's about what to eat for dinner, what painting looks best on what wall or Kavehs spending habits, they bicker about anything and everything. Nobody could have known they are more than friends, or enemies.
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1.
Another night in Lambads tavern where the blonde architect could be heard complaining about a certain scribe to their friends, The general Mahamatra Cyno and the forest ranger Tighnari. Alhaitham seems to be running late.
,,And archons above, he cannot decorate! The last time I let him do that, the house looked horrendous! Hes insufferable."
The fox just sighs. ,,Kaveh, if hes so terrible, why are you still living with him."
Kaveh, clearly drunk by the flush on his cheeks, scoffs.
,,My question exactly! Hes so annoying all the time-."
,,Spouting nonsense again, Kaveh? While Im not even there, wow."
The scribe butts in, sitting down next to them at the table.
,,Tch- I am speaking the truth, you insufferable prick!"
,,Sure you are. How many have you had, your completly gone."
The general answers for the blonde.
,,7."
,,No I didn't!"
,,Yes, sounds about right."
,,Can we start playing TCG now."
Tighnari rolls his eyes but nods at Cynos request, used to his antics. The man is obsessed with that card game.
After Alhaitham ordered himself something to drink, and they all layed down their cards, they started playing.
,,Ha! I won!"
,,Kaveh...you killed Alhaithams card, you didn't win the game."
The blonde shoots Tighnari a look and grins.
,,Thats a win for me."
,,Just continue playing."
The Mahamatra complains, rolling his dices.
He ended up winning 2 times, Alhaitham the other time. 'Out of luck' as Cyno commented.
,,Another round?" Cynos question brings him a sympathic smile from the fox.
,,I must get going soon, Collei's waiting on me after all."
,,Im in-"
Before he could finish his sentence, the blonde was interrupted.
,,I think Kaveh had enough to drink and should get home."
,,Your not my mom haitham! If I want to drink I will." Kaveh scoffs, drinking the last sip of his drink before noticing it has been empty for a while.
,,Yes, with what money?"
Rolling his eyes, Kaveh crosses his arms in defeat.
,,Im paying tonight."
Leaving the table with their empty glasses, the scribe makes his way to Lambad to pay for everything.
,,So insufferable.", the blonde grumbles, clearly drunk without reason.
,,Atleast hes paying."
,,You know- if he wasn't such a good kisser I- hic- would wonder why he was so popular in school."
Tighnari chokes and Cynos eyes widen slightly.
,,You-"
Before Tighnari could even form a sentence Alhaitham returns, grabbing Kavehs back and legs and carrying him out the door.
,,See you."
,,Haitham- hic! Do you have no shame?"
They could hear them bickering outside.
,,So...you know-"
,,No Cyno I dont want to hear a joke."
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2.
Alhaitham was getting tired of this. Sure, they didn't exactly keep their relationship a 'secret', but they don't go around and tell everyone, either. The day was great. They woke up, had breakfast and got ready for the day. Then they went on their date, which leads to where they are right now. They wanted to first go on a walk around the town, enjoy the scenery and the city, maybe go shopping (with Alhaithams money, of course) and afterwards enjoy a nice dinner. Together. But, annoyingly, his senior is very popular amongst the people of Sumeru. Be it students that admire the light of Kshahrewar, or people wanting to ask him out, they couldn't take 2 steps without getting interrupted.
,,Hello you two! It's been a while."
,,Hello Nilou! It sure has been."
Of course his boyfriend was too nice to just say 'Im busy'. Alhaitham didn't mind Nilou, really, she was a nice girl, but right now he wishes for her to do nothing but leave.
,,Would you like to join me on a cup of tea? I-"
,,No. Im afraid we are busy."
The words were sharper than he would have liked, but they got the message across.
,,Eh- what haitham means is, thank you but we have dinner plans already." Kaveh sounds apologetic, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.
,,Mh."
Nilou smiles, understanding.,,Ah, of course! Don't worry, maybe some other time then."
Alhaitham resists the urge to roll his eyes.
,,Are you heading to Puspa café, by any chance?"
,,Actually, yes we are."
Nilous smile widens at the confirmation.
,,Mind if I walk with you, then? Im meeting with a friend there!"
Alhaitham wants to say no, grab Kaveh and pull him away, but stays silent.
,,Yes, sure. Why not." The blonde smiles, and sue Alhaitham for not beeing able to say no to him.
That is percisely how he ended up here, walking alongside Kaveh while the architect talks with Nilou.
Eventually, they have reached Puspa café and Nilou bids them farewell.
Walking in and sitting down in their reserced seats, finally some peace.
,,And- haitham are you even listening?"
Said scribe looks at his partner, nodding.
,,How could I not with how loud your talking."
The architect scoffs, insulted, and rolls his eyes, just about to retort something when their food arrives.
After having paid and left, it was already dark outside.
,,Oh, so we see each other again!"
,,Hello again Nilou! How was your evening?"
Always the one for smalltalk, his architect.
,,It was nice. I met Tighnari and Collei, even! She grew to be such a nice girl, I'm impressed-"
,,Sorry ms Nilou, maybe we can continue the conversation sometime else. Me and my boyfriend would like to go home."
Kaveh stares at Alhaitham with wide eyes, clearly shocked he would say something like that.
,,Oh, yes, Sorry! Get home safely."
Alhaitham just grabs Kavehs hand, who bids her farewell and apologizes, dragging him home.
,,Haitham what-"
Any complains were forgotten as the blonde was shut up by a passionate kiss.
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3.
,,Good Morning mr Kaveh!"
,,Ah, good Morning Sethos. What are you doing in the city?"
The blonde, just coming from grocery shopping having several bags in his hands, smiles at him. He doesn't know the boy too well, just seeing him sometimes, often with Cyno.
,,Im just looking around, picking up some medicine from the Pharmacy for the stock. The general sent me."
,,Ah, that so. You need any help?"
,,No, thank you! Not with mr Alhaitham today?"
"Yes, actually, he should be around somewhere..", he sighs:,,But, anyway, how have you been? I haven't seen you in a while. The desert treating you well?"
The brunette nods, smiling politely.
,,Yes, indeed! I like working with the general, and I've been great. Oh, mr Alhaitham, hello!"
The architect turns around to see Alhaitham walking towards them. He nods.
,,We should really get going, though. See you, Sethos!"
Waving after them as they leave, Sethos makes his way over to the Pharmacy..
,,Ah, mr Kaveh, mr Alhaitham, what a surprise seeing you here!"
Sethos just walked into Puspa café, wanting to get some dinner for himself before he saw the duo sitting together. What a coincidence.
,,Ah, Sethos hello. Getting dinner?"
,,Yep. Me and the general. I am getting it while he finishes some discussions with mr Tighnari."
,,Is that so? Well, enjoy then."
,,You too!"
With that, the boy goes to pick up his order and later leaves...
Just a few days later Sethos walks into Alhaitham and Kaveh yet again. This time, they are fighting in the academiya. Something about a theory, he didn't dare go near. Waving as hes spotted, he quickly walks off to the section he was supposed to meet a friend of his...
Waking up to a knocking on their door, Kaveh slips out of Alhaithams arms to dress himself with something so he can open the door. Walking down he is none the wiser when Sethos stands before it.
,,Sethos?"
,,Yes, sorry for disturbing you so early in the evening, but have you seen the general? He told me to go here to meet him."
,,He did that, huh. Come in, I guess."
Opening the door wider so Sethos could come in, Kaveh rolls his eyes at Cynos audacity before closing the door again.
,,Coffee? Tea?"
,,No thank you."
Kaveh nods, sitting down on the couch.
,,Where even is Cyno?"
,,Hes speaking with a witness and told me to wait here."
,,I see.."
After a bit of a conversation, Sethos having seen the pictures hanging on the wall of Kaveh and Alhaitham, there is yet another knock on the door and Cyno is there.
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4.
It just so happened that due to Cynos workload, he would not make it to their meetup. So they logicslly simply switched destinations, going to the desert. Tighnari, much to everyones surprise, agreed and went with them, only halfly dying in the process. In the evening, Kaveh and Alhaitham made their way back to the city while Tighnari stayed with Cyno for the night because it seemed to have become even hotter than before. On their way they went through Aaru village, before Candace notices them and walks over.
,,Hello you two. What are you doing in the desert?"
The kind woman smiles, knowing well what dangers await in the desert at nightfall.
,,Hello Candace. Just passing through, we were meeting with Cyno and Tighnari."
,,Oh? Tighnari? I thought he can't do well in the heat."
The hydro vision holder seems confused.
,,Ah, anyway, why don't you stay here for the night? It's safer in Aaru village than the wild, and the city is a good hour walk away."
Kaveh looks at Alhaitham, seemingly thinking about the option.
,,That would be much appreciated."
The scribe answers for him, and they are beeing lead to a spare room in the village.
,,If you need anything, call for me."
,,Yes, thank you Candace."
The woman nods and closes the door on her way out.
,,I drank too much."
,,Thats nothing unusual, Kaveh."
,,Oh shut up. I didn't know Cyno had such strong alcohol at his workplace."
The scribe smiles and pulls the architect closer.
,,Sleep should help, you know."
,,You act as if I don't know that."
The blonde scoffs while Alhaitham already works on getting them in just their underwear.
,,Shut up and go to sleep."
Rolling his eyes, Kaveh lays down on the bed, soon joined by the other man. 2 arms go around his waist and hold him against Alhaithams chest.
Turning around and laying his head between the scribes shoulder and neck, he closes his eyes, sighing content.
,,Your warm."
,,We are in a desert, my light."
No longer getting an answer, he looks down to see that the blonde had fallen asleep.
,,..."
Kissing his forehead one more time, it's not long until also he falls asleep.
And if Candace went to check on them the mext morning and saw them, she didn't say a word.
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+1
When Kaveh got home, the smell of his favourite dish met with his nose and sent his stomach growling. The house also looked clean. Had Alhaitham cleaned and cooked?
Was he sick??
,,Haitham?"
Kaveh called out, a bit confused when Alhaitham walks out with a bouquet of sumeru roses.
,,Welcome back."
,,Did you cook? Clean? AND buy me flowers??"
At the others nod, Kaveh just looks more confused, maybe a bit worried.
Laying a hand on his juniors forehead, he narrows his eyes.
,,Have you gotten a fever? Are you sick? Terminally, maybe? A condition? Are you beeing threatened?" He gasps. ,,Who are you and what did you do to my boyfriend!"
Taking the finger pointing at his chest accusingly into his hand and kissing it, the scribe smiles softly.
,,I am me, I am not beeing threatened or sick, neither was I kidnapped. And now take the flowers and come, the food will get cold."
Still stunned, the architect takes the flowers and lets himself be lead to the dining table.
,,...you didn't poison this, did you?"
Suspicous, Kaveh takes a few bites, knowing Alhaitham would never poison him.
"..."
Still eating, Kaveh oberves his boyfriend. He seemed more quiet than usual, a light blush tainting his cheeks. That looks...adorable. Quickly looking away, he continues with his food.
,,Alright, whats going on."
The scribe sighs.
,,Look. We need to talk."
,,Yes? Do we?"
Now Kaveh is even more confused.
Alhaitham coughs a bit, before going down to one knee.
,,Look, Kaveh. I love you, I always have. Since we were kids in the academiya to today. You light up my world. I adore you. You are the prettiest, kindest and ...best person I have ever met. And..I don't want that anymore. I don't want anyone asking you if you're single. I don't want you to tell them that you have a boyfriend. I want them to look at your finger and see a ring. I want you to say that you are married. Kaveh, light of my life, will you marry me?"
Kaveh just looks at Alhaitham, shocked. A few tears manage to flee his eyes before he tackles Alhaitham in a hug.
,,Yes, Fuck yes, Alhaitham."
The scribe gently puts the ring on his finger, before kissing him passionately.
,,I love you."
,,I love you too, Haitham."