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"You're in my seat."
Kaveh rubs the back of his head as he sends you a sheepish smile, wincing when you turn your head to face an irritated Alhaitham. The tall man stands at your side, looming over you with a scowl on his face.
"Oh, hey Alhaitham!" you chirp, crossing your legs as you turn your body to face him. His stare doesn't falter, and you find yourself raising an eyebrow as your professor approaches the three of you, giving Alhaitham a glance before placing a paper down on his desk. Your curious gaze shifts to the paper in front of you, and you notice Alhaitham tense as you lift it up, angling it towards Kaveh to let him get a glimpse of the big, red "94" written on the corner.
The smug smile on your face seems to taunt him, and Alhaitham finds himself gritting his teeth as you look up at him with a sly expression. You tilt your head to the side, almost encouraging him to ask the question you've grown to expect from the moment the two of you started sharing classes.
"What did you get?" he asks begrudgingly, eyes narrowing when you pluck another paper off of Kaveh's desk and hold it up to him. He lets out a soft huff when he sees the "97" written on your paper, and your smile only grows at his reaction.
"A 94 is an amazing grade," you lilt as you get up, tucking your own paper into your bag. You pat his chest once before brushing past him, cuasing Kaveh to choke back a laugh when he sees the way Alhaitham's eyes follow your movements. "But it's not as good as mine. Better luck next time, Scribe."
"Don't call me that," he grumbles, watching as you bounce to your seat behind Kaveh's. He lets his backpack drop to the ground as he slides into his seat, flinching when his knee smacks against the cold metal of the desk. He does his best to ignore your ensuing giggle, instead choosing to focus his glare on Kaveh as he barks out a laugh.
The bell rings before Alhaitham can even think about snapping at you or Kaveh, and he only manages to catch a glimpse of you scribbling into your notebook as the professor begins lecturing. His attention remains on you for the entirety of class, his eye twitching whenever you catch him in the act and send him a coy smile. By the time the bell rings again, he's irritated to see that he has nothing to show for the lecture, an empty notebook sitting in front of him as he hears the rest of the class scrambling to put their things away.
"You might be the Scribe, but you're no longer the top student," you hum as you pass by his seat, backpack slung over your shoulder as you smile warmly towards Kaveh. "I'll meet you for coffee later, yeah?"
"See you later!" Kaveh calls out in return, waving at you as he ignores the nasty glare Alhaitham is giving him. He rolls his eyes when he finally meets his gaze, flicking his forehead before standing as well.
"I don't understand how you're friends with them," Alhaitham comments, swiping his notebook from his desk and following after Kaveh. "They're insufferable."
"They're nice! And they helped me connect with Dori, y'know, the big client I've been telling you about? I still don't know how they managed to get me a meeting with her," Kaveh replies, genuine appreciation in his words as he ignores the disbelieving look Alhaitham sends him. "They're just upset that you beat them out for the Scribe position, and it doesn't help that you just had to rub it in their face afterwards. You started antagonizing them. The two of you would get along swimmingly if you just apologized."
Alhaitham snorts at Kaveh's words, his eyes unintentionally landing on your figure as you weave through the crowd in front of them. He sees you catch up to a friend, saying something to them and then letting out a loud laugh when they respond. He's snapped out of his thoughts when Kaveh pushes him to the side of the hallway, allowing a group of giggling girls to pass them.
"Watch where you're going," he huffs, drawing the attention of the group. A few of them turn bright red when their gaze lands on him, scurrying away before he can open his mouth to call them out.
"It was your fault," Kaveh admonishes, continuing his stride down the hall. He makes his way out of the building, walking down the path that leads to the dining hall before stopping when he realizes Alhaitham isn't next to him. "Anyways, just think about it. They're a good person, and the two of you being friends might even mean they can help you out in class."
"I don't need help," Alhaitham automatically responds, causing Kaveh to hum in response. He holds his hands up in defeat when he notices Alhaitham's annoyed look, ultimately choosing to ignore him and continue on his way. After a few seconds of standing in the cold, Alhaitham sighs and follows after him, the thought of you still lingering in his mind.
"Hey! There you are!"
The call of your name followed by that exclamation has your head perking up, eyes scanning the cafeteria as you spin around to try and locate the source of the yell. Your spinning is cut short when you turn and slam into someone's chest, causing you to stumble back slightly. A pair of hands settles on your waist, helping you regain your balance as you look up to meet bright green eyes.
"Seems like the top student can't even walk properly," Alhaitham says mockingly, his voice low as he studies you. Your eyebrows furrow in irritation, and you cross your arms as you step away from him.
"You never stop being a pain, do you?" you ask, a smirk tugging at your lips when you see a flash of irritation cross his face. He opens his mouth to respond, only to be stopped when you impulsively press a finger to his lips. "Don't answer that. It was a rhetorical question."
"Don't touch me," he says, his hand coming up to engulf yours as he pulls it away from his face. You pause for a second, caught off guard by his sudden action, before you try to pull your hand from his grasp.
"Let me go then," you counter, keeping your gaze on him. There's a tense silence between the two of you that's only broken when you hear another call of your name. He smiles coldly before releasing you, and you do your best to avoid the curious looks from bystanders as you dart away.
Your eyes light up when they finally land on Nilou, her stack of bracelets clinking as she waves enthusiastically. The weight of Alhaitham's stare lingers as you slide into the seat across from her, and Nilou raises an eyebrow as her gaze shifts from you to him.
"What were the two of you talking about just now?" Nilou asks, her eyes shifting back towards you as you steal a bite of her food. "The conversation seemed intense."
"Nothing," you respond swiftly, smiling when Nilou pushes her tray towards you. "Just Alhaitham being a prick as usual."
It's quiet for a few seconds, prompting you to glance up from the table. You're met with a contemplative look on Nilou's face, and your face falls when you see her glance in Alhaitham's direction once more.
"What?" you ask, earning a quiet hum in response. You lean forwards, resting your elbows on the table in an attempt to catch Nilou's attention once more. "Hey, don't tell me you're into him. I mean sure, he's not bad to look at but he's a raging dick."
"No, I'm not— wait," Nilou cuts herself off, looking at you with a wide grin. "You think he's hot?"
"I said he's not bad to look at," you say flatly, tossing a balled up napkin at her face. She yelps quietly, batting the piece of paper away from her as she pouts. "Don't go making a big deal out of this."
"I'm just saying," she lilts, resting her cheek on her palm. "He's cute, and the way he was looking at you was drawing some curious staring."
"Yeah," you snort, waving off her words. "He was looking at me with hatred."
"No," Nilou immediately responds, earning a dry look from you. "I don't know how to explain it, but when you were holding hands—"
Another snort from you interrupts her, and she shoots you an annoyed look.
"When you were holding hands," she repeats, motioning for you to be quiet. "I dunno, it was kind of romantic. He looked kind of lost, just staring into your eyes."
"Yeah, okay," you say brushing off her words. There's a moment of silence before—
"He's looking over here."
"No he's not."
"I swear," Nilou says emphatically. "He has been for the past five minutes."
A deep breath leaves your lips as you let your eyes dart around the cafeteria, only coming to a stop when you realize that Nilou was right. Alhaitham's gaze doesn't falter even when your eyes meet his, and the two of you silently stare at each other until Kaveh catches sight of you and begins to wave. You smile as you reciprocate his wave, only looking away when Alhaitham scowls and kicks him underneath the table in an attempt to get him to stop.
"See, I was right," Nilous says quietly, her eyes full of mirth as she witnesses the two boys interact. "Hey, why don't the two of you get along? You're friends with his friend, aren't you?"
"Yeah, Kaveh's amazing," you respond, reaching into your bag to grab your water bottle. "He's the best study buddy and he's majoring in architecture. He's the one I introduced Dori to."
"Are you two, y'know?" Nilou asks, wiggling her eyebrows as she gives you a playful look. "You don't usually use your connections so freely to help people out. Wasn't he curious about how you knew Dori?"
"We aren't dating, and yes, he was curious but he didnt push for answers," you explain. "Besides, he's got talent and he's helped me out plenty. He deserves that opportunity. Last I heard, Dori was extremely pleased with his ideas and was willing to pay whatever amount necessary to bring his vision to life."
Nilou hums in acknowledgment. "What about Alhaitham?"
"He's a pain in my ass," you deadpan, earning a reproachful look in return. "He was my biggest competition for the Akademiya's Scribe position and he got it. It was fine until he started bragging about it and talking about how of course he'd get it since he's the top scholar. Maybe I did take that kind of personally, but he also didn't have to fuel the fire, y'know?"
"Who knows? Maybe he likes you," Nilou muses.
"Sure he does," you say sarcastically. "And Cyno totally doesn't have a thing for Tighnari."
"Hey, you never know," is all Nilou says in response.
A startled yelp leaves your lips as your room door slams open, your laptop almost tumbling to the ground as Nilou storms in before closing the door and locking it behind her.
"What the actual fu—"
"You'll never believe what I just found out!" Nilou interrupts, cutting of your exclamation. She's out of breath, cheeks tinted red as she clambers onto your bed to sit beside you. You wordlessly hand her your water bottle, and she makes an appreciative noise before downing half of its contents. She pauses briefly to catch her breath before continuing to drink, smacking your arm when you return your attention to the assignment on the screen. "Give me that!"
"Hey!" you exclaim, letting her take the laptop in exchange for your water bottle. You peer into it, pouting when you notice it's completely empty, before placing it on your bedside table. "What's got you all worked up?"
"Your friend!" she blurts, earning a confused look from you. "The tall one. The one who got the Scribe position!"
"Alhaitham?" you ask in confusion. Nilou nods enthusiastically, earning a head shake from you. "He isn't my friend."
"Whatever. It doesn't matter. What he is, however, is a cam boy!"
"No he's not!" you say incredulously, a startled laugh accompanying your words before you can contain it. The two of you exchange bewildered glances before you check and see that Nilou has pulled up the website for LonelyFans. An embarrassed noise leaves your lips, and you rush to close your laptop only to have her smack your hands away. "What are you doing?"
"He's a cam boy," Nilou insists, typing something into the search bar. You lean back and watch her, feeling a little disoriented as you try to wrap your head around the information she's dropped out of nowhere.
"How..." you trail off, shaking your head in an attempt to gather your thoughts. "How are you sure it's him? How do you even know this? I didn't know you were into those kinds of things."
"I'm not!" Nilous protests, her cheeks growing rosier as she scrolls through the website. "But I have a friend who is, and she was telling me about an account that's recently grown in popularity. She mentioned that he looked familiar and when she showed me I couldn't believe my eyes. I have proof it's him! Look!"
She angles your laptop towards you, and your hands immediately fly to your face when you see a naked Alhaitham pulled up on your screen.
"Nilou!" you squeal. "Stop it, oh my Archons."
"I told you it's him!" she yells in return, pulling your hands down and pushing the laptop closer. You squirm in place, trying to avoid looking at your laptop when she presses play. It's quiet as you both watch, eyes latched onto the video in a mix of fascination and curiosity. You can't drag your eyes away from the flush that creeps up Alhaitham's neck as he jerks himself off, his thumb sweeping over the tip of his cock with every stroke.
You feel a flush creeping up your own neck when he throws his head back and moans, low and throaty, before giving the camera a half-lidded gaze. His tongue darts out to wet his lips before another broken moan leaves his lips, his hand speeding up as his stomach clenches.
"You like that? I bet you're touching yourself right now, imagining that it's me between your legs, as I—"
His words are cut off as he moans once again, and you find yourself growing warmer as he gets closer and closer to his release. You can't help but feel surprised at how vocal he is, his voice smooth and hypnotic as he speaks to the camera. It's only a few more seconds before he cums, and you find yourself leaning forwards and slamming the laptop shut before the video fully ends.
"Well," Nilou starts, seeming just as flustered as you are. She meets your gaze, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she motions to your laptop. "You spoke the truth the other day. He's really hot."
A strangled noise leaves you at her words, and you shake your head softly. Nilou giggles at your reaction, prompting you to give her a disbelieving glance.
"He is!" she says, her eyes taking in your flustered state. "You do like him!"
"No! I just can't believe you paid for the subscription just to show me this."
"Is it bad if I say it was worth it?" she asks innocently, laughing when you gape at her. She opens your laptop once more, ignoring your protests as she pulls it closer to her. "Relax, I'm gonna log out and clear your browser history."
Her words calm you down, and you're about to sink back into your blankets when something catches your eye. You reach out to grab her hand, halting her movements before scrolling down slightly where other profiles are visible. The two of you see the same profile at the same time, exchanging mildly horrified glances when you see just how popular that page is.
"Is that... is that Cyno?"
When Alhaitham arrives to class the next day, he's surprised to see his seat empty.
It's usually occupied by you, loud laughter accompanying your words as you chat with Kaveh, but today it seems you've chosen to remain at your own desk. Kaveh sits backwards in his seat in order to face you, and your conversation only pauses slightly when he turns to greet Alhaitham. You remain silent, giving no indication that you've seen him arrive as he slides into his seat. He glances over at you, one eyebrow raised as he studies you closely. You attention doesn't deviate from Kaveh once, and Alhaitham finds it odd that you haven't reacted to his presence yet.
"Nothing snarky to say today?" he asks lowly, leaning in towards Kaveh in an attempt to catch your attention. You falter slightly before continuing with your words, causing Alhaitham to give Kaveh a mildly confused glance. He receives a tiny shrug in return.
Alhaitham leans back into his seat just as the professor walks into the room, his gaze lingering on you as you reach into your backpack to grab your notebook. He does his best to focus on the lesson, but halway through he decides to give up and just keep on studying you instead. You're aware of his actions, fidgeting more than usual as you do your best to ignore his heavy gaze. It isn't until he feels Kaveh nudge him that Alhaitham turns to face the front of the class, only to meet the amused stare of the professor.
"Alhaitham," he begins, his eyes shifting to you before calling out your name as well. "Staring at them isn't going to grab their attention. I find that approaching someone and speaking with them works wonders!"
You look up briefly, embarrassment clear on your features as you glance at Alhaitham. You manage to catch a glimpse of the flush creeping up his neck and you hurriedly look away, reminded of the video from the night before. Kaveh's laughter rings throughout the classroom before he can stop himself, earning a dull stare from Alhaitham before the professor continues.
"Luckily for you, the two of you are partnered up for rest of the semester. Perhaps that can give you the courage to have a full conversation instead of just staring," he says, pushing his glasses up before continuing. "Now, just to remind you since you weren't paying attention, you will be partnering up and working on a project that will serve to improve the quality of life in the Akademiya. You have until the end of the semester to choose your topic, research, and present your findings to a faculty member that works in the corresponding department in an attempt to have them implement your idea. Here's a list of faculty volunteers. Now, get together with your partners and start working."
You don't dare look up from your paper as people move around the room, only letting out a small hum in acknowledgment when Alhaitham settles into the seat next to you. It's strangely quiet between the two of you, and you stiffen when he leans closer to see what you're scribbling in your notebook. You can't stop yourself from looking up, freezing completely when you lock eyes with him. The verdant green catches you off guard, almost causing you to miss what he says.
"So you already know?"
"What?" you yelp, breaking your stare as you jolt back in your seat. You wince when the back of the seat digs into your spine, your mind immediately wandering to what you had discovered the previous night. Nervousness tinges your voice as you scramble to pick up the paper with the list of faculty. "What do I know?"
The bewildered look Alhaitham gives you could almost be described as comical, and you feel a laugh threatening to rise out of you as he reaches over to tap your notebook. "The topic. You seem to have a lot written down. Was it wrong of me to assume you already know what you want to do it on and that you'd waste the rest of class time trying to convince me?"
"Oh!" you breathe out, subtly pinching your thigh and hoping the action goes unnoticed. It doesn't, and the way Alhaitham's eyes narrow and focus on your leg makes you more nervous. "Uh, well, yes. Actually I had a couple of ideas. I know how hard you are to please so take a look."
A faint smirk crosses Alhaitham's face at your words, and your breath catches in your throat when he leans in even closer to read your notes instead of pulling the notebook closer to him. He releases a low hum as his eyes scan the page, one of his arms casually resting on the back of your seat for support. You straighten up instantly when his fingers brush against your shoulder, swallowing harshly when he taps the page and turns his head to face you. The close proximity between the two of you catches you off guard, and you find yourself unable to look away as he studies you closely.
"That one sounds good," he finally murmurs, tilting his head towards the desk. You hear the faint sounds of his finger dragging down the page, only stopping when he finds what he's looking for. "But I like this one better."
"Okay!" you agree automatically, earning an amused smile from him.
"You don't even know what I'm pointing to," he whispers mockingly. Your eyes dart down to the page, quickly skimming the short blurb you had jotted down earlier. A strained smile tugs at your lips and you nod firmly when you meet his gaze once more.
"Now I do, and I still say okay," you bite out, inhaling sharply when he leans in even closer. Your panicked gaze meets Kaveh's curious eyes, and he gives you a questioning look when he sees the position the two of you are in. You give a slight shake of your head before you feel Alhaitham's finger deliberately tap against your shoulder, effectively drawing your attention back to him.
"What's wrong with you today?" he asks dryly. "It's almost like you're nervous."
He waits for you to respond, getting nothing but silence in return.
"Am I making you nervous?" he murmurs. The faux sympathetic look on his face is what finally snaps you out of your funk, and you reach up to flick his forehead before shoving him away from you.
"No," you respond sharply, your eyebrows furrowing together as you grab your pen and flip to a fresh page. Alhaitham watches you for a few more seconds before sighing and leaning back in his seat. A relieved breath leaves your lips once he's put distance between the two of you, and you ignore him until he softly speaks your name, this time holding the faculty list out to you.
"The project falls under the environmental sciences department. Which faculty member were you thinking of asking?"
You scan the list for a familiar name, breathing out sharply when you don't find it. You raise your hand before Alhaitham can ask what's wrong, and you patiently wait until your professor notices you and ambles over.
"Yes?" he asks, peering down at the two of you.
"We've decided on our project," you explain, showing him your notebook. You wait patiently as he looks over your proposal, smiling when he nods in approval. "But what if the faculty member I want to present this to isn't on the list. I swear they have the qualifications to be included."
Your professor hesitates briefly before conceding. "If you can bring me a signed form from whoever you want then I'll approve it, if it's within reason of course."
"Perfect!" you chirp, smile growing at the response. "Can we go get it now?"
You motion for Alhaitham to follow once you receive a positive response, swiftly making your way towards the exit and down the hallway. He catches up with you easily, casually stuffing his hands in his pockets as he shoots you a curious look.
"Who exactly are we going to ask?"
"You'll see," you respond, a confident grin on your face. He slows down when he sees you approaching the administrative offices, his steps cautious while your grow more hurried. You wind through the hallways, shooting a quick wave to the receptionist sitting a few meters away from the president's office. Alhaitham lunges forward, gently grasping your arm and pulling you back before you can throw the doors open.
"What are you doing?" he hisses, eyes darting from you to the intricately detailed doors. You give him a confused look, your hand coming up to rest on his in an attempt to pry him off. He shifts his hand so it's holding yours, warm fingers firmly wrapped around yours as he tugs you closer. "Do you know whose office that is?"
"Uh, duh. C'mon," you respond, rolling your eyes before turning and pulling him along. His attempts to stop you are futile, his hand still securely in yours as you push through the doors without knocking.
"Hey Pres!" you crow, a wide smile on your face as Alhaitham scrambles to close the door. Your gaze shifts to the smaller figure sitting in the seat in front of the desk, eyes twinkling as you give a secretive smile. "Vice Pres!"
He gapes at the way you casually address the two individuals in the room, letting you go when they both face you and let their gazes drop to your interlinked hands.
President Rukkhadevata is an intimidating, yet kind woman. She's tall and elegant, her eyes always flashing with some sort of hidden knowledge that makes people wonder how many secrets of the universe she knows. Alhaitham feels himself straighten when her eyes give him a cursory glance. Vice President Nahida is a face he's more familiar with, youthful but analytical in a way that makes him shift uncomfortably when she studies him for a little too long. The two of them rise to greet you, and Alhaitham feels the apology he has prepared on the tip of his tongue die down when the two women give you brilliant smiles.
You step forward when President Rukkhadevata speaks your name, melting into the woman's embrace as she comes to your side. It's followed up by a friendly cheek kiss from VP Nahida, and the three of you exchange pleasantries before President Rukkhadevata shifts her gaze towards Alhaitham.
"Oh! This is Alhaitham," you say, an amused smile on your face when you notice just how stiffly he greets the two of them. "He holds the Akademiya's scribe position so you might've seen him around."
"It's an honor to meet you," he says politely, holding out his hand.
"I see. He's the one that beat you out for the position," Rukkhadevata says, shaking his hand and ignoring the way your eye twitches at her words. Alhaitham smiles. "So what brings you two to my office?"
"Ah, well you see," you begin, briefly explaining the premise of your semester project. The two of them listen intently, nodding along as you go into deeper detail than anything you had written into your notebook. Even Alhaitham looks impressed as he thinks over your words. "So I was wondering if I could ask you to be the faculty member we present to."
Alhaitham feels himself tense as Rukkhadevata mulls over your words, letting out a sigh of relief when she heads back to her desk and writes something down on a piece of paper. She walks back over and hands it to you with a smile, her neat signature on display underneath a statement of agreement. Nahida gives the two of you a kind smile, eyes crinkling as she reaches for your hand.
"You're going to do great! The two of you seem like very smart, responsible students," she gushes, causing you to shrink back under her praise. "I can't think of anyone better than you to do this! Oh your sister would be so excited to hear this!"
"I hope you can also make it to the presentation, Nahida," you respond quietly. Alhaitham raises an eyebrow when you don't address the statement about your sister, instead giving the two women another hug before turning to the door. "Thank you so much for this Pres! I'll see you both later."
The two women give their goodbyes, Nahida's more enthusiastic than Rukkhadevata's, as you slink back out into the hallway. Alhaitham follows closely, allowing you to get further down the hall before pulling you into an empty alcove.
"What was that?"
"What?" you ask innocently, tilting your head to the side.
"You just barged into the President's office like it was nothing," he says, mild frustration clear in his tone. "How'd you even get her to agree to our presentation."
"I just asked."
Alhaitham scoffs at your response, using his arm to block you from escaping. He raises an eyebrow, silently demanding a real answer as you avoid his gaze. There's a moment of hesitation from you, and Alhaitham is almost certain that you aren't going to respond to his query before —
"She's a... family friend," you whisper. Your words are quiet, almost embarrassed as you look everywhere but Alhaitham.
"What?" he asks dully, leaning down to catch your gaze.
"She's a family friend," you repeat a little louder, his dumbfounded gaze making you huff in amusement. "I spent a lot of time around Pres when I was growing up."
When you see Alhaitham's curious stare, you continue.
"The sister Nahida mentioned," you say slowly, pausing briefly before continuing. "It's Faruzan."
There's no need to ask which Faruzan, especially not when Alhaitham's quick brain instantly recalls your last name and makes the connection between the two of you. But still, he asks.
"Faruzan? As in the Faruzan who wrote almost all the texts we have on ancient mechanisms and ruin devices?"
"Yes."
He stares at you for a moment, earning a frustrated look in return.
"What?" you snap.
"Nothing," he responds coolly, his shocked expression morphing into something teasing as he speaks. "I'm just trying to figure out how someone like you is related to someone as brilliant as her."
"You're such an ass," you grumble, pushing firmly against his chest and scowling when he doesn't budge. "Get away from me. We need to go turn in this paper."
A short laugh leaves his mouth, causing you to stare dazedly at his lips. His eyes dance with amusement when he notices, and he gives you an uncharacteristically soft look as he leans in close, silently enjoying the way you shiver at his proximity. "Whatever you say, partner."
When the two of you get back to class, your ruffled disposition has Kaveh raising an eyebrow. Alhaitham's smug expression however, quickly answers all his unasked questions.
The first week of the project goes smoothly.
Your hectic schedules prevent you from meeting up, and you can't help but think that the two of you seem to communicate far better through texts than you do in person. Your messages are equally as snarky as they are helpful, and Alhaitham finds that he checks his phone more often than usual, earning a knowing look from Kaveh when he asks who he's texting and gets your name as a response. Your strange behavior seems to have stopped, your sharp comments and fiery attitude back in place instead of the pile of nerves you had been the last time the class had met up in person.
Alhaitham can't help but feel some sense of relief, far more used to dealing with your prickliness. The way your nose scrunches up in frustration and the way your lip curls in irritation whenever his quips get to you has always amused him, and the urge to keep seeing those expressions is partially the reason he keeps on annoying you even when Kaveh begs him to stop antagonizing you.
He can't deny that getting you assigned as a partner is a good thing. You're smart, almost as brilliant as your sister, the only difference being that Faruzan has years worth of experience that you have not yet lived. You're also hardworking, and Alhaitham finds that unlike with other project partners, he doesn't need to nag or remind you to do your part. It's nice, he thinks, to have a partner that's so in sync with him. He keeps these thoughts to himself, knowing that Kaveh would have a field day with that confession if he ever heard it.
The next week comes around, and with it, a chance for the two of you to meet at the campus cafe and discuss your progress. A frown crosses Alhaitham's face when he approaches you, noticing the way you tense at his presence as he slides into his seat. His greeting is reciprocated with a quiet hum, and he finds himself wondering why your behavior has changed so drastically whenever you're around him.
"How much progress have you made?" he asks smoothly, lips pursing when you silently slide a folder towards him. He gives you his notes in return, choosing to ignore your peculiar silence and leaf through all the information you've compiled.
You idly flip through his notes, your eyes constantly bouncing back to Alhaitham each time he reads something and nods in satisfaction. You're being awkward, you know this. It's not like you to get flustered or tongue tied around Alhaitham, no matter how attractive you've always found him. His attitude was always off-putting enough for you to consider it a major flaw, yet after seeing him in such an intimate way, you can't help but feel overwhelmed around him. It also doesn't help that he remains unaware that you know his secret, and that brings another formidable wave of guilt crashing over you.
"So what do you think?"
His question snaps you out of your thoughts, and you clear your throat when you realize that he's caught you staring at him. You're thankful for the fact that he doesn't comment on it, quickly dropping your gaze to scan through his notes before clearing your throat. You look back up to see him studying you intently, and you avert your gaze before taking a sip of your drink.
"It looks good," you finally spit out, gathering his papers into a neat little pile before pushing them his way. You pull out your laptop and open up a new document, the clacking of your keyboard easing the silence somewhat. "What's your email?"
The ensuing silence has you looking up to meet Alhaitham's eyes, and you force yourself to hold his stare without fidgeting. When he still doesn't speak, you tilt your head, encouraging him to answer your question.
"That's it?" he asks, mild disbelief in his time. You shrug loosely, confused by his words. He places his arms on the table, leaning forward and scrutinizing you further. "No snarky comment? You're not going to insult me on my lack of organization?"
"Not everything is about you," you respond flatly, turning your laptop towards him. "Email, please."
Alhaitham's finger move smoothly as they type in his email, and he lets out a disbelieving huff when you silently pull your laptop towards you and start working on a presentation outline. The rest of your time is spent in silence, and Alhaitham eventually pulls out his own laptop to start working as well. His curious glances go ignored, and when you finally pack up an hour later, he's discontent to find that he's barely written more than a paragraph.
"Same time next week?" he asks miserably, getting a nod from you in response. You're gone before he can even say a proper goodbye, and he watches you disappear from sight before running a hand down his face and turning his attention back to his laptop.
Maybe he's finally pushed you to your breaking point.
That's the only reason Alhaitham can come up with when it comes to your change in behavior. The following week passes in a similar fashion, and whenever he sees you around campus or hanging out with Kaveh, you remain indifferent to his jabs and his overall presence. He thinks he's found a solution when your next meet up comes around, and he walks into the library feeling a tad bit more confident than he has compared to your recent interactions.
He's met with another quiet hum as he slides into the seat next to you, and he side eyes you when you shift your chair the slightest bit further away from him. You turn to give him a confused stare, your eyes flitting over to the empty seat across the table from you.
"Why are you sitting here?" you hiss. "There's plenty of space over there."
"It's better to sit next to you," he whispers back. "That way I can be closer and not have to be too loud when I speak."
Your eye twitches at his words but you remain silent, accepting his flimsy excuse. The two of you are seated in the library's lower level, a space that's notorious for allowing students to meet and discuss things at a volume that's just a tad too loud for a usual library. You mutter something under your breath but pull out your laptop regardless, and Alhaitham bites back a victorious smile when you don't question him any further.
"You know, I was looking through the document last night," he begins, leaning in close and keeping his voice at a hushed whisper. Your eyebrows furrow as you lean in as well, doing your best to distinguish his words from the rest of the soft chatter filling the floor.
"And?" you ask, gaze stony as you finally look up at him.
"I was really impressed with the information you've added. You're quite brilliant, I can see why you were also up for the position of Scribe."
His words cause you to short circuit, and you freeze entirely as you try to process the fact that Alhaitham has just given you a compliment. He eyes you curiously when you still don't move, your fingers frozen above your keyboard until you pull your hands back to your lap. You shift nervously in your seat, and Alhaitham finds himself wondering if being nice to you has only made things worse.
He tries again.
"The attention to detail that you've given your research is commendable. I don't think I've ever seen anyone make connections between multiple sources the way you do."
"Thanks!" you eventually squeak out, wincing when your voice comes out louder than you intended it to. You stand abruptly, shutting your laptop and ignoring the way your chair bangs against the one behind it. "Um, I have to use the restroom, I'll be right back."
Alhaitham doesn't get the chance to reply before you're fleeing, unaware of the fact that you're currently spiraling all because of a few sentences.
You head straight to the sink upon entering the bathroom, splashing some water on your face before groaning. You wonder if you look as pathetic as you feel, falling apart over Alhaitham. You can't help but recall Nilou's teasing words about you liking Alhaitham, and you press your hands to your eyes in attempt to block the light out and quell your oncoming headache.
On a regular day, Alhaitham is insufferable at best. But you're mature enough to admit that you find him attractive, his intelligence and appearance forming a deadly combination that has swept even the most romance-avoidant person on campus off their feet. (You should know, you were there to witness it).
You were content with ignoring your repressed attraction to the man who you consider to be the bane of your existence, but now that he's gone and started being nice to you, you feel as though you've been thrown for a loop. Subconsciously you wonder if Kaveh has anything to do with his sudden attitude change, but you quickly brush that theory off when you remember that Alhaitham would rather die than listen to anything Kaveh has to say.
A faint buzz pulls you out of your thoughts, and you pull your phone out to find a message from Alhaitham.
'Hey, are you okay? You've been gone for a while. Do you need anything?'
His considerate message almost has you missing his previously cold demeanor, and you give yourself one last minute to pull yourself together before heading back out the door.
"Are you okay?"
You stop abruptly when you find Alhaitham standing in front of you, a concerned look on his face as he takes you in. You stare at him dumbly, his sudden appearance catching you off guard.
"Fine!" you say weakly, pushing past him and heading back to your table. You do your best to ignore the skeptical look on his face, settling into your seat and opening your laptop once more. "It just felt a little warm in here. I wanted to get some space, y'know?"
"Here, drink some water. Maybe it'll help."
He shoves his water bottle into your hand, encouraging you to drink. You stiffly bring it up to your lips, shutting your eyes when your brain decides it's the perfect moment that Alhaitham has also drank from the same bottle. An indirect kiss, your brain supplies. Shut up, you think in return. The water is cool and refreshing as it trickles down your throat, and you find yourself feeling somewhat normal after a few sips.
You turn to hand the water bottle back to Alhaitham, only to find him staring directly at you, having kept an eye on you the entire time to make sure you listened to him and drank. He doesn't look away once you catch him in the act, and his gaze only drops briefly when your fingers begin to play with the lid of the bottle. The feeling of his eyes on you sends prickles of nervousness all throughout your spine, and you feel yourself heat up once more when he takes the bottle back from you and his fingers brush against yours.
"Feeling better?"
You nod feebly, mentally noting that you are in fact, totally and completely screwed.
"I am so screwed!"
Kaveh and Nilou exchange glances as they sit on your bed, a bowl of popcorn between them as they try to decide on a movie to watch. You sigh when they ignore your statement, leaning forward to rest your upper body on the bed as well.
"Why? You can't decide on what movie you want to watch?" Kaveh asks, snorting in amusement at his own words. There's a genuinely distressed look in your eye when you turn to look at Kaveh, and he gently elbows Nilou before motioning to you.
"What's wrong?" Nilou asks softly, a concerned look on your face when you actually pout.
"It's silly," you sigh, shaking your head before apologizing. "I'm sorry. It really isn't serious at all, I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around something."
Kaveh places the popcorn bowl in his lap as Nilou pats the spot in between them, and you begrudgingly climb onto your bed before settling into the mass of blankets they had set up earlier.
"Whatever it is has to be pretty important if it's bothering you so much," Nilou comments, her tone gentle in an effort to make you feel comfortable. You groan before tossing your head back, a dull thud sounding when you hit the wall.
"It really is super silly," you whisper, shaking your head.
"I doubt it it," Kaveh addds. "Nilou's right. If it's bothering you this much then maybe it'll help to talk about it."
"Alright," you say, aware that you're giving in way too easily. You give each of them a stern look. "But you can't make fun of me."
Nilous and Kaveh exchange another glance before nodding in agreement, and it's only then that you let everything out.
"It's just... he's so hot!" you whine. "I hate it. If he was hot before, he's only gotten hotter since he started being so nice!"
There's a moment of silence before Kaveh's unsure whisper breaks it. "Who is?"
An unintelligble mumble leaves your lips, prompting both your friends to nudge you as they lean in to catch your words.
"Who is?" Kaveh repeats, eyes wide as he excitedly awaits your response.
"Alhaitham," you whisper miserably, another whine leaving your lips when Nilou and Kaveh gasp in tandem. Another moment of silence ensues before Nilou's soft giggles break it, and you give her a playful glare as she does her best to catch her breath.
"I knew it!" Kaveh crows, whipping out his phone and unlocking it. "Cyno and Tighnari owe me so much mora."
"You bet on this?" you ask, a horrified look on your face as you slap his phone out of his hand. He nods enthusiastically, picking up his phone and typing out a message before hitting send. "I can't believe you!"
"I can't believe it took you seeing him naked to admit your feelings," Nilou interjects, laughing harder when a soft protest leaves your lips.
"Shut up!"
"Naked?" Kaveh asks, his face twisted up in confusion before realization strikes him. "Oh my archons. Did you find out about his LonelyFans?"
You and Nilou nod before letting your heads hang in defeat. Kaveh's laughter only makes you feel a little more embarrassed, but you find yourself cracking a smile as he gasps for breath.
"You know about it?" you ask hesitantly, earning a nod in return.
"Oh yeah! He would ask me to leave the apartment all the time and I got curious. I stuck my nose in his business and he came clean because he was fed up with my constant questions. If you know about it, I can only assume that you've watched a couple of videos."
"You said you wouldn't make fun of me," you complain half-heartedly, finally letting out a little laugh when Kaveh wiggles his eyebrows in response.
"So what brought on this realization? Did you see his dick and go 'damn, that's a nice dick' and fall for him?"
You bury your face in your hands to muffle your laughter before kicking at him, an exaggerated yelp leaving his lips as he gives you a hurt look.
"Well they've always thought that he's hot," Nilou chimes in, her statement earning a resigned sigh from you as you nod in agreement.
"I have," you admit sagely. "But recently he's been less... I don't know. Less irritating, I guess. He's been incredibly helpful, and considerate, and he— he even complimented me."
"Are you sure it's Alhaitham you've been working with?" Kaveh teases. "That sounds like a stranger."
You nod in agreement before pointing at Nilou's laptop. "I know. Now can we please watch a movie?"
Nilou and Kaveh protest but you refuse to budge, instead pulling up the movie you had mentioned earlier and pressing play. The two of them reluctantly fall silent, their attention scattered as they think about your confession. During a commercial break (because you're college students and the ad-free plan is a little too expensive) Kaveh gives you a meaningful look, his expression uncharacteristically serious as he peers at you.
"This conversation is not over."
Alhaitham straightens up when the front door opens, sparing a glance at the clock and doing a double take when he sees that it's well past midnight.
"You were out late," he comments mildly, relaxing a bit when he sees that Kaveh is sober and well.
"I was with Nilou," Kaveh responds easily, pausing for a few seconds before adding your name. Alhaitham straightens almost imperceptibly at your name, and Kaveh eyes him with interest as he moves to the kitchen and pours two glasses of water.
"Oh," is all Alhaitham says, nodding his head in thanks when Kaveh sets one of the glasses down in front of him. He can't stop himself from commenting further, hoping that Kaveh takes his sudden interest as casual curiosity. "Did you have a fun evening."
Kaveh gives him a funny look before nodding, a subtle smile spreading across his lips. "We just hung out in their room, y'know? Gossiping, watching movies, talking about fun stuff."
Alhaitham raises his eyebrow at the last comment before nodding as well. He takes a moment to wonder if he should ask about you, debating if it's worth putting up with Kaveh's inevitable questions about his curiosity. In the end he swallows his pride and opens his mouth. "Are they doing okay?"
"Yeah! Nilou's working on a new dance for one of her classes so she's been studying ancient cultures and figuring out a way to honor their traditions. It's super interesting and she'll get the chance to perform it at the end of the semester."
"And what about..." Alhaitham trails off, your name going unsaid as he shifts uncomfortably under Kaveh's gaze. Kaveh's expression doesn't change, giving Alhaitham the push he needs to continue. "They've been acting odd during our meeting for the project."
"Really?" Kaveh asks, concern clear on his face as he leans in. Alhaitham nods.
"I wonder if maybe you're right, and I've been antagonizing them too often," he admits, his eyes focusing on his glass of water. "I tried being nice but I think that just made everything ten times worse."
"You've never cared about this before," Kaveh says quietly. Alhaitham sighs heavily at his words, knowing that your friendship with his roomate has unfortunately put Kaveh in an awkard position.
"They never acted like this before," Alhaitham explains. His excuse sounds weak even to his own ears. He rolls his eyes when Kaveh shoots him a flat look, and he sighs once more when he realizes that he's not going to drop the subject any time soon. "They always had something to say in return. And it was... endearing to watch them react to what I said. But now it's like none of that ever happened. Everything I say just lands wrong or they just ignore me."
"I mean yeah," Kaveh agrees easily, shrugging before taking a sip of water. "But why does this bother you so much now?"
"Well, we're partners. We're supposed to be working together."
"So? You don't have to be best friends to get this done. The two of you are mature enough to finish this project despite your differences."
Alhaitham shifts uneasily in his seat as he mulls Kaveh's words over. He knows that he's correct, but that unknown feeling refuses to leave him. "It's because I don't like that they're uncomfortable around me when I don't even know what I did."
"Oh my god, they're going to kill me," Kaveh mutters, letting his head drop into his hands to avoid Alhaitham's confused look. He breathes in deeply, steeling himself before straightening up and giving Alhaitham a serious look. "It's not you, it's them. Or more accurately, it's the fact that they've seen your dick."
"What?" Alhaitham jolts in his seat at Kaveh's words, accidentally knocking over his glass of water. "Shit!"
"Well to be more accurate, they accidentally found out about your LonelyFans," Kaveh corrects, darting into the hallway to grab a rag. Alhaitham thanks him quietly, still stunned by the previous revelation as he does his best to clean up all the spilled liquid. Kaveh takes the now empty glasses back into the kitchen, coming back to find Alhaitham with a bright pink blush staining his neck and cheeks. "Okay are you embarrassed? Why are you embarrased? There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It doesn't even matter. They don't care, they were just caught off guard by the sudden discovery."
The silence resumes after Kaveh's statement, and he begins to wonder if Alhaitham even heard him when—
"I think I know why it bothers me so much now."
"Oh."
"I think I like them."
"Oh... yeah, no shit."
"Well," Alhaitham starts. "Maybe now's the perfect time to tell you that I know how they got you that meeting with Dori."
"How?" Kaveh gasps, eyes wide as he waits for a response.
"They're related to Faruzan."
"Oh!"
"Yeah."
There's no time for either you or Alhaitham to really sit and process your realizations, not when the semester starts picking up and there's deadlines to be met.
Things are marginally better, Alhaitham thinks. It's easier to ignore his newfound feelings and your awkward behavior when all you have time for is a few discussions a week over how to present all your findings. Library gatherings are few and far between, substituted by quick cafe runs and the occassional evening spent at his and Kaveh's apartment. Those nights always end too soon, and you're tugging Kaveh out the door with you before Alhaitham can even think about asking to walk you home.
Presentation day arrives way too quickly, bringing with it a sense of relief. It doesn't last long.
Alhaitham walks into the small auditorium President Rukkhadevata had been kind enough to book, asking if it was okay with the two of you if she invited a few more colleagues to attend your presentation. The room is compact but open, wide windows in the back providing just enough light to keep the space welcoming but not too bright that it interferes with whatever's being projected onto the screen. He sees your laptop set up neatly on the podium, a half empty water bottle and your phone left abandoned next to it. He wanders up to the front, his eyes unintentionally darting to your phone screen when he sees it light up with a notification. He sees Faruzan's name before he tears his gaze away, walking towards the doorway in the back in an attempt to locate you.
When he finds you he's momentarily stunned, the sight of you in semi-formal attire catching him by surprise. The look on your face quickly snaps him out of his stupor, your eyebrows scrunched together as you pace back and forth and fidget with your hands.
"Is something wrong?"
Alhaitham's voice catches you by surprise, a soft yelp leaving your lips as you come to a stop and face him. Your mouth opens and closes a few times before you give up, your hands falling to your side as you stare at Alhaitham blankly.
"Did something happen with the presentation?" he asks, trying to coax an answer from you. Nervousness isn't something he's used to seeing on you, and he can't help but think that it's his least favorite emotion to see on your face.
"No! The presentation is fine!" you blurt, pausing for a few seconds before giving him a curious look. "Haven't... you haven't heard?"
"Heard what?"
A sigh leaves your lips. "Remember when Pres asked if she could invite others? I never stopped to think that she'd extend the invitation to Faruzan."
Alhaitham feels his heart drop, a short bout of nervousness taking over him as well when he finally processes your words. Presenting your findings in front of the renowned scholar Faruzan seems intimidating, but he has enough faith in the two of you to know that you're not presenting anything that isn't borderline perfect.
"I thought she was joking," you continue, your hands shaking slightly as you work yourself up again. "But then I checked her location and I got a text and—"
"And?" Alhaitham interrupts. The look you give him reminds him of a lost puppy, and he feels his heart lurch at the sight. He takes a deep breath before stepping forward, invading your personal space as he grabs your hand in between his. The shaking lessens but doesn't disappear entirely, and he runs his thumb over your knuckles in an attempt to soothe you. "It doesn't matter who is listening to our presentation. It's a great project and if Faruzan or anyone else has anything bad to say—"
A soft laugh leaves your lips at his words, and he lets a small smile curve across his lips when your fingers tighten around his hand.
"No, it's," you smile fondly, your thoughts elsewhere as you shake your head lightly. "Faruzan's not like that. She's never really been mean or critical of me. She's probably my bigest supporter, but being related to her, sometimes it just feels tough to measure up. I want her to be proud but I also want to show her that I can do great things on my own as well."
"Well as I've said before. You're quite brilliant so there's nothing to worry about. There's no need to feel embarrassed."
You duck your head shyly, and Alhaitham finds that he can't stop himself from teasing you in the moment.
"Besides, I can think of worse reasons to feel embarrassed. Like, oh I don't know, your project partner seeing you naked."
You look up in surprise at his words, horror clear in your eyes as you look at him and quickly avert your gaze.
"You know about that?" you whisper, attempting to pull away from him. He doesn't let you go, keeping you in place but not attempting to pull you closer.
"I do," he admits. "Kaveh told me. I apologize if that made you feel uncomfortable around me while we worked on the project."
A loud groan leaves your lips, and you shake your head in defeat before letting your head hand. "I should be the one apologizing, Alhaitham. I'm sorry for, I don't know, finding out about that? Watching one of your videos? All of the above if I'm being honest. And I'm sorry for acting so weird about it."
There's a hesitant look on Alhaitham's face when he speaks again. "Is it really that... distasteful? Is that why you were so avoidant while we worked together?"
"No!" you immediately shout, looking up at him with an unreadable look on your face. You shift uncomfortably, squeezing his hand nervously before pulling away. He reaches for your hand, letting his arm drop when you take a step back. "It's just that... archons this is embarrassing. You can't make fun of me okay?"
You wait for Alhaitham to nod in agreement, face still scrunched up in confusion.
"You're hot! You're so insufferably attractive and I can't believe I'm admitting this to your face," you huff, looking away as you cross your arms. Alhaitham blinks once, then twice, staring at you as he feels his neck heat up.
"You think I'm hot?" he asks. You scowl before realizing that he's not teasing or mocking you, genuine curiosity displayed on his face as he keeps his gaze on you.
"Yes! And seeing that video only made me realize that I've been denying it to myself all this time," you admit, hands coming up to cover your face. "And then you started being all nice and it was harder to ignore and I just think you're neat, okay?"
"You think I'm neat?" he repeats, his tone now full of mirth as he steps towards you. A low whine leaves your lips at his words, and a quiet chuckle leaves his lips at your actions. "I do too, you know?"
"What?"
"Think you're hot. Or neat. Whichever term you prefer."
You pull your hands away from your face, shooting him an annoyed look that quickly disappears when he gets close and grabs your hands once again.
"I think that's why I liked starting the rare dispute with you—"
"You antagonized me constantly!"
"We quarrelled," Alhaitham says, the two of you sharing a small laugh at his words. "You're always so quick to respond and it's rather attractive to see how fast you are to come up with a quip."
"You're using an awful lot of words to say you like me."
"Perhaps," Alhaitham agrees. He catches your gaze before leaning in slightly. "Maybe I can show you."
"I think I'd like that," you say, giving him a coy smile. Your head tilts towards him, and you feel your heart pounding faster as you feel him come closer. You think that you're about to lose your patience when you realize he's taking his time, his lips brushing faintly against yours before—
"There you two are!"
The two of you spring apart, your hand still held tightly in his as the two of you to turn to see President Rukkhadevata. You flush with embarrassment when you see Faruzan next to her, eyeing Alhaitham warily before turning to give you a warm smile.
"The audience is ready when you are," Rukkhadevata says, a knowing glint in her eyes as she looks at your interlocked hands. Alhaitham doesn't let go of you this time. "I'll make sure everything is set up correctly. You have a few more minutes. Come, Faruzan, let's go check in on Nahida."
Faruzan looks like she wants to argue before Rukkhadevata pulls her away. She looks over her shoulder, eyes softening when they land on your face. "You'll do great. I'm excited to see what you've come up with!"
You smile thankfully, just managing to catch a glimpse of the thumbs up Rukkhadevata send your way before she completely disappears from sight. You know Alhaitham has seen it too when he breathes out a laugh.
"We should catch up," you reluctantly say, giving Alhaitham a wan smile as you tilt your head in the direction that the two women went. "Knowing Pres, she's probanly going to be talling Nahida all about what she just saw."
The nervousness Alhaitham say on your face earlier is mostly gone, but there are still remnants of uncertainty that have been cemented by Faruzan's appearance. He pulls you towards him, leaning down and waiting briefly for your nod before finally, finally, pressing his lips to yours. It's a brief kiss, but he can feel his stomach lurch and cheeks warm, especially when your other hand comes up to rest on the side of his neck, your fingers fluttering against his jawline as you return the affection eagerly. When you pull away, there's an awed look on your face, and Alhaitham can't bring himself to tease you about it when he knows that the same expression is currently displayed on his own face.
He begins to head back inside, tugging you along and only looking back when you squeeze his hand. He looks back, giving you a reassuring nod before crossing the doorway. "Things will be fine."
"You know what? For once I think I'm inclined to agree with you."