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Nilou is not all too fond of interacting with Akademiya scholars.
For a reason, that is. She noticed the looks of dripping acid on the skin of her neck, harsh whispers from the darker corners of the street and dismissive words at any feeble attempt in conversation. Nilou's used to it. They never really got along with people like her, after all.
Not when their eyes are devoid of any spark of light upon gazing at artistry, where it should be endless and full, theirs stay dark and unmoving.
Nilou wears a smile instead of a show costume that evening. “How can I help you?”
The man wrapped in greens of Akademiya’s signature robes spares her a glance after his shoulder line heaves in response to sudden attention. It's the middle of the day and Grand Bazaar is as lively as ever — and Zubayr theater welcomes more curious faces as well. Like one occupying the space in front of their announcement board, head held high and the silver on top of his head catching the light from the stage. Nilou is used to sparking small talk with chance visitors, so naturally her mouth moves without signal. But the mocking quirk of the stranger's eyebrow shooting up his face the second he sees her face only makes her regret the action more. “I don't think you can.”
The corner of her mouth drops, just barely. “Ah. I see. Should I call Mr. Zubayr?”
“No need, thank you.” He waves a dismissive hand at her, then turns on his heels and retreats after the last annoyed sigh, leaving Nilou a quiet ghost with her back to the newest show announcement on the bulletin board. A sigh and a renewed smile with the first step back to stage.
Nilou is used to unapologetic kindness.
She doesn't know the other way — she doesn't need to.
Akademiya exchanges kindness for knowledge with a cold head and steady fingers, weighing each drop to not spill enough to turn into genuineness. Nilou rarely got grace from those who looked down upon her. But what expectations can she hold for eyes that cannot see?
“Nilou!” A voice pulls her out of the brief pause in thinking, coming from the other side of the road in shallow breaths and apologetic smiles. “Sorry, I'm a bit late. The client… Uh, let’s just say, we didn't really get along.”
A ray of sun falls on Nilou's face again, warm and blinding as her lips reach up for it. “I think I understand what you mean. But you’re just in time.”
Kaveh is different.
She understands it the very first moment she sees him many years ago, at the steps of Akademiya, with a braid woven of pure gold on his shoulder and eyes catching the burning sun when he flips through the pages of a heavy book. He looks young, maybe a little older than her, but not enough to call him an adult.
He's a student.
That is a rather simple observation. But the uniform or the silver Kshahrewar symbol shining white under the sunlight is not even the first detail her mind goes to. There, on a sunny spring day, Nilou sees his smile for the first time.
Bright and shamelessly gentle, hidden from judgmental stares in a haven of pure emotion. She doesn't remember ever seeing a scholar this happy. No, this—
Beauty. The voice of her teacher helps, pushing gently on the insides of her mind. Nilou can't help but agree.
“Oh, thank Archons.” Kaveh’s chest shakes from a small laugh that exits his mouth with another sharp breath he tries to catch after seemingly running all the way here from the office. “Didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“You didn't…” Nilou pauses to look over his shoulder and catch the shadow of something behind his back, but he's faster to turn. “What’s that?”
“Nothing.” The corner of his lips twitches when she crosses her arms in all seriousness. “Oh, don't do that. You know I'm not allowed to pass you gifts.”
“Not after the shows, no.” Nilou huffs, and so convincingly it almost makes his face drop until he picks up on the fun dancing in her eye. “But it's not working hours for me.”
Kaveh has never been too good at hiding emotion. Especially when laughter so clearly tries to break through his chest, barely disguised with a cough or a turn of head when she sees the sun shine through the fabric right where the heart is. “Fine, you win. I have something for you.”
He pauses, mostly for show, but Nilou peels back the curtain with a tilt of a head. His face flushes — barely so, and the pinkish hue is enough to bring an even bigger smile to her face when he slides down the nearest bench with an embarrassed sigh. “You did? For me?”
It takes Kaveh another couple of seconds to respond, but this time she understands the hesitation to not be a part of the dramatics. The curve of his mouth grows gentler, letting his voice drop enough for just them two to hear as he raises his head to face hers. She's so used to doing it herself, it catches her off guard enough for him to make use of the moment. “Of course.”
His hand finally leaves the space behind his back, and Nilou feels her eyes grow wider first in surprise, then in recognition. “Is that…”
Kaveh's smile grows under gentle pride, fingers tapping over the surface with a familiar cover. “The book. Yes.”
She reaches out to touch the sides, featherlight in treacherous fear of waking up from a dream. “How—”
“Took me a few nights turning House of Daena upside down and some connections. They almost got rid of it and some other fairy tales, but I took them just in time. Well, nothing harder than doing research for my thesis…” Kaveh stops, eyebrows raising at the enchanted expression of hers. “I… Is it good?”
“Yeah. Yes, it's perfect.” Nilou masters up enough strength to properly take the book, marveling at the simple beauty before her eyes. “Thank you, Kaveh.”
She presses the gift to her chest, meeting his eyes with the brightest of smiles. Kaveh doesn't say anything — his eyes are glued to her, lips barely opened in something that first reminds her of surprise, but then slowly changes into a smile. A smile she remembers from the very first walk near Akademiya, a break between annoyed sighs and judging eyes, the guiding light of beauty.
Nilou takes a moment to admire the sun on the palm of her hands before startling him with a sudden movement, landing on the wooden bench right next to Kaveh, evening out their eye level. “Thank you. It's perfect.”
His breath hitches. “Oh. No problem. I just remembered about it when you told me all about Simulanka, and—”
Kaveh stops, steadying his breath and turning to meet her with a softer look. “I’m glad you like it.”
Nilou bathes in light, kissing it off his face as his eyes never leave her.