Chapter Text
Tighnari finally arrives at Kaveh’s house. The simple abode had looked lovely even from a distance. It's been a long while since his last visit. Although if it's by his choice, he'd long been here for multiple drop ins to check on the blond.
He is worried about his best friend. The last time they met, Kaveh had invited him for a drink. He naively believed that moving him out of the scribe’s house would at least solve his alcohol-related problems, given there is no one enabling him. He had also hoped that letting him out of Alhaitham’s “shadow” would do some good to the architect.
Yeah. Right. Who was he kidding?
Kaveh was even already drunk out of his wits the moment he set foot into the establishment. Hunched over the table by the window, the architect seemed to be staring off into the sky. He turned and called out to him the moment he noticed his presence. They locked sight and Tighnari could see the emptiness in his eyes.
"I feel like a shadow in my own house.”
That was… weeks ago. The talk that follows after that was… productive, he supposes. The guy had mournfully admitted that he had fallen in love with his bester friend. The ex-roommate. The academic rival. The Feeble Scribe of Sumeru. All of that and more.
And Kaveh had assumed that his feelings were unreciprocated.
“He let me go, Tighnari. He did! ” Kaveh had cried out, adding to the mess that was his table. “Without so much as a what. Or why. Or even where! There was barely any reaction when I told him.”
“‘Okay,’ was all he said,” his expression turned solemn. The frustration that was there before had been replaced by sadness, seeping through his voice and reducing it to weak whispers.
“That was all he said. What else did it mean if it wasn't that he wanted me gone!? What else did it mean unless he just simply doesn't want me?”
Kaveh had let his tears come unbound that night. Tighnari sat besides him while murmuring some words of comfort, hoping it would help soothe the ache. Years after knowing the two of them, he could see that they mean a lot to one another. But he didn't expect that some space between them could lead to this much pain, although he understands that sometimes, coming home into an empty house could be… draining for the heart.
He made a mental note to visit the guy more often, hoping at least it would help him get used to the place. And maybe ask Cyno to tell that scribe to get his shit together .
That was the plan. But then here he is three months later, after a new-poisonous-mushrooms-and-whatnot emergency in the forest. Honestly, he thought it shouldn't cause so many problems. But hunting, identifying, classifying, and educating it to the public just couldn't be fast tracked.
He stands outside the house as the sun just began shining on the city. He can't hear anything from inside, but he hopes that his best friend is currently at home. His mission didn't exactly give him time to send letters to Kaveh to announce his visit. But once it was concluded, some records were required to be delivered and reported to the Akademiya. So he decided to just pay a visit while he's here.
Taking in the sight before him, there is not much difference from the last time he was here. Although he is kinda impressed, Kaveh might have taken some time to care for the patch of soil in front of his house. He can spot some flowers in bloom as he steps onto the porch.
Tighnari is just about to lift his hand to knock on the door when said door suddenly swings open.
Kaveh is never up this early unless he is working. Tighnari fully expects a ragged architect behind the door but the one that actually greets him is the least he anticipated. Seriously, he should've known better .
"Alhaitham?"
"Tighnari?"
Tighnari looks at him, resisting the urge to take some steps back and check whether he somehow went to the wrong house.
"Kaveh didn't say you'd be coming today."
Okay so it's Kaveh's house alright.
"You're not with Cyno?" Alhaitham looks around. "Huh, that's rare."
Tighnari can already feel a headache coming.
"I didn't tell Kaveh. Cyno isn't supposed to be here."
"And so are you. Why are you here?"
Archons, how sometimes this man can easily get on his nerves. He's not built to deal with him. It was Kaveh’s full time job. Like, literally.
He's peers inside and was about to just push his way into the house when Alhaitham talks again.
“If you're looking for Kaveh, he's sleeping. He pulled an all-nighter last night. He won't be awake for at least 2 hours,” the man explains as he moves aside from the doorway. “You can come in.”
Tighnari steps inside and glances around. He noticed that the house wasn't as… bare, as before. There is a new coat hanger by the door. The table and the divans are littered with parchments and books, along with a plate containing various fruits and nuts. He could also see some new paintings hanging on the wall, as well as some carvings displayed here and there. Kaveh must have been busy while Tighnari was away, but it seems that the architect also got some time to actually decorate the place.
He makes his way to the living room and settles himself on the divan by the windows. Kaveh was right in what he said about this house. The stained-glass windows create a very mesmerizing scene here.
He looks up expecting to come face to face with the scribe. But the man seems to be lingering by the door watching him. He hasn't even closed the door.
Now he thinks about it, Alhaitham is also wearing his coat.
“Are you going somewhere?” Tighnari asks.
Alhaitham nods, "I'm getting some food. The idiot doesn't have any actual food in his kitchen."
He frowns at that. "What. How are you gonna do that? Were you just about to lock him inside?"
"He won't be awake, I told you. You can stay and watch around, I'll be quick." The man is already halfway outside the door.
“But anyway, I'm stealing his spare key." He waves the key around, the keychain makes a clinking sound. "See ya."
And just like that, he's out of sight.
Tighnari stares at the now-closed door, a little bit taken aback. He's supposed to meet his best friend. Why the heck did he come face-to-face with the ex grand sage instead. Are they..?
Nope. Logic never works well when it comes to those idiots. So even when there are a lot of questions swirling in his mind, Tighnari resolutely decides to ignore them, for his own sake.
He is starting to regret coming here unannounced.
True to his word, Alhaitham came back not an hour later with hands full of groceries. Apparently the “food” he mentioned before turns out to be the raw ingredients. That he has to cook. To feed the still-sleeping architect. Tighnari thought the guy would just buy some ready-to-serve dishes from the tavern and be done with it. He really shouldn't have presumed anything from him.
“Kaveh wanted to eat stew,” Alhaitham explains without being prompted. Tighnari deliberately didn't ask, because he didn't want to know. It annoys him to think his curiosity must have shown on his face and Alhaitham could notice it. Because that gives the guy a reason to flaunt the things he does for Kaveh. He has some kind of unfortunate inclination to do it.
Tighnari throws him a dirty look. Which sadly wasn't seen, as he is busy chopping onions. A shame, but at least it lightens some of the urge to whack him.
To be frank, he considered just leaving them be and coming back a few days later. Preferably with Cyno so he won't suffer alone from whatever else they've got going on here. But whatever, he loves them and he is already here, might as well catch up with them.
Alhaitham had refused his help, telling him off to just relax and enjoy some books or snacks on the table. So Tighnari is content to make himself comfortable and tries to strike a conversation with the cooking man. He doesn't want to say it was awkward, considering they should at least be able to carry a civil conversation given that they are close friends. But Tighnari didn't exactly come here to have a talk with him. He came here to talk about him for Archon’s sake. And Alhaitham was… well, Alhaitham.
“So, what're you doing here?” Tighnari decides not to beat around the bush.
“Cooking.”
Alright. Alhaitham had decided to be difficult on purpose then.
“Did you stay the night?”
“Hm. You could say that.”
“How long have you been staying the night ?” Tighnari presses on.
Alhaitham gives him a look. But then he goes back to cutting the meat. “Just last night, actually.”
Tighnari doesn't buy any bit of that. There is a stack of books in multiple languages that he knows Kaveh doesn't speak. Alhaitham is effortlessly cooking in the kitchen like it's his job. There are literally two glasses on the table. And there is no way Kaveh bought that dancing….aranara? carving currently sits by the window.
“My research hit a dead end. So I figure I could ask his help to figure out a different approach,” the gray-haired man further explains. Like it would make Tighnari believe him more.
By this time, Tighnari figures that he won't get far if he keeps asking about Alhaitham himself, that guy is good at running around in circles with his words. So he changes the topic to what that scribe loves to talk about.
“What is Kaveh busy doing these days?”
Alhaitham glanced at him, expression unreadable. This is not the first time they do this game. Oho, look at that , Tighnari grins internally. The guy is annoyed that he is baiting him. But even Tighnari knows that he won't pass on talking about his beloved. What a simp.
“Ah right, it's been quite some time since you visited huh?” Evidently trying to shift the conversation to him, Alhaitham gives him a questioning look while stirring the pot. The stew should be finished any time soon, Tighnari can already smell the aroma from across the room.
“Yeah, you're right. There was some kind of emergency situation in the forest. Thankfully it is now all cleared up and reported,” Tighnari decides to leave it at that. He will tell the whole story later when Kaveh joins the conversation. It'll save him from relaying the story twice. And also, he is now trying to gouge out information from Alhaitham. “That is also why I came to the city and decided to visit Kaveh while I'm here.”
Delivered by a deliberate pointed look from Tighnari, that emphasis finally gets Alhaitham to give in and talk about Kaveh.
Turns out the blonde architect is currently busy working on a request for a machine at the port. The job came about two months ago, and thanks to Kaveh’s brilliance, it is currently already in the prototyping phase. Last week, he managed to complete the first model, so this week is set for trialing it. However, the port’s packed schedule creates a limited timeframe to carry it out. To make sure everything went effectively, Kaveh himself two nights before had to stay there to conduct the test runs. They managed to wrap it up yesterday afternoon, and immediately after that Kaveh tried to make some adjustments. Hence, the rough night.
“I did try to hold him off but you know him. He wants to do it while the memory is still fresh, is what he said,” Alhaitham finished, fond exasperation coloring his tone.
“Yeah that sounds like him alright,” Tighnari huffs. “Although based on your story, at least the client this time doesn't bring much problems.”
Alhaitham just gives him a nod. He has finished his cooking and is about to turn off the stove when they hear a door opening. Tighnari turns to the sound and spots a haggard Kaveh coming out from his room, half awake.
“Haithaamm are you cooking something?” the blond drawls. He was likely awoken by the delicious smell coming from the kitchen. Kaveh doesn't seem to have noticed his best friend, given that most of the living room is obscured from the hallway. Not to mention his eyes are barely open too.
Tighnari hears an exaggerated sigh behind him and decides to observe the two. He could see Alhaitham’s expression soften slightly. But what comes out of his mouth completely defies it.
“Finally awake I see. You look like a beast had run you over. Go wash your face first. And while at it, your hands too. Unless you want to smudge your plates with ink.”
“Ugh. You and your mouth! Never a good thing to say,” Kaveh grumbles but begins tottering to the bathroom.
Tighnari throws a deadpan stare at Alhaitham. The man just shrugs.
Kaveh peeks out not a minute after. “It is stew? Did you cook stew, Haitham? It smells like stew.”
“Finish your business there and come see yourself,” Alhaitham said back.
“Fine!” Kaveh shouts back and shuts the bathroom door.
Tighnari can't believe that these two are in love with each other. And why did he have to be here again?
Leaving Kaveh to tidy himself up in the bathroom, Alhaitham begins serving the stew on the plates.
“You eating?” he asked Tighnari.
“Oh? Yes please.”
The scribe goes to set up three plates of rice and pour the meat stew atop of it. A stronger whiff of that delectable smell hit Tighnari’s nose then. It was not the first time Alhaitham had cooked for them, but surely it has been a while since the last opportunity presented itself. Their friendly meet-up often took place in one of their houses. So whenever Kaveh invited them to Alhaitham's house, the architect and the scribe would take turns to serve them with delicious meals. Now that Kaveh got his own place, Alhaitham had yet to be so kind as to offer his place to be the site of their rendezvous. Well why would he, when it's clear he had somewhere else in his favor?
Alhaitham is on his way to bring their food to the living room when Kaveh finally emerges from the bathroom, directly in the line of sight to spot his friend carrying the tray. Having his guess finally confirmed, his face brightened.
“You cooked stew, I knew it! I wanted stew! Is it spicy?" he excitedly exclaimed while rushing to meet Alhaitham in the hallway. He is about to take a plate himself when he realizes that Alhaitham is carrying three of it.
Lifting his head, Kaveh finally spotted his long-eared best friend.
Tighnari could see a surprise in his best friend's face, but it was quickly replaced by a friendly smile.
“Tighnari! You're here!” Kaveh says as he goes for a hug.
Tighnari stands to meet him in the middle. “Good morning Kaveh, it's good to see you,” he greets him in embrace.
“Why are you here? Did something happen? Sorry, I had a long night. Did Alhaitham let you in?"
Tighnari chuckles to stop his barrage of questions. He pulls Kaveh to sit next to him before answering.
"Everything is fine. I have something to do in the city, so I decided to visit you. Yes, Alhaithamet let me in after I ran into him when he was about to go out."
Kaveh gets a puzzled look on his face then turns to question the gray-haired man.
"You were going out? I thought you said you didn't have work in the morning?"
Alhaitham is done placing their breakfast atop the table and is now sitting on the divan next to them. After hearing Kaveh, he scoffs.
"Who said I was on my way to work? You don't have anything edible in your kitchen, how do you think I managed to cook your favorite stew?"
"How dare you! I got coffee there!"
"I'm sorry I must've forgotten that your idea of a healthy lifestyle consists of a diet of just plain black coffee."
Kaveh is about to retort when Alhaitham stops him. "Now, please, can you stop with your incessant grumbles? You make your friend wait here,” he gestured to the archer.
Tighnari silently glares at him. Don't you dare bring me into your daily dose of 'lovers' spat'
"You were the one who started it!" the architect exclaimed. He then turns to his best friend next to him. "Tighnari! I'm so sorry. You understand how annoying this guy can be."
"Come let's eat," Kaveh takes the nearest plate and hands it over to his friend, before picking one for himself. On their side, he could see Alhaitham had taken his first bite.
Tighnari brings the a spoonful into his mouth and his taste buds erupt with flavor. He could give it to the guy, Alhitham is an amazing cook when he's at it.
"So, Tighnari, are you well? It's been a while since you came. I heard there were some problems in the forest."
Tighnari smiles at the question. He then begins telling his story to fill the silence of their peaceful morning.