Chapter Text
Some people are poor. Some people are just broke. Kaveh is both.
After building the Palace of Alcazarzaray, he's lucky if he manages to keep a roof over his head for the month, which he is luckily able to do because of his roommate. Keeping all this in mind, one could mistake Kaveh for quite a lucky fellow.
Unluckily, Kaveh is also thousands of mora in debt, not to mention he's been cursed with the most annoying roommate of all eternity.
Alhaitham is a man who can be called smart, rich, handsome, but tact is something not a bone of which he possesses in his body. As an understandable consequence, him and Kaveh clash more often than not.
The topics for thier arguments range from what to have for breakfast to Alhaitham's attacks on Kaveh's percieved irresponsibility and Kaveh's snarky remarks on Alhaitham's rigid views. But inspite of all that vitriol and between unending rows of accusations, there lies an understanding that enables them to know each other in ways no one else can.
Or so Kaveh had thought... before this morning.
...
Kaveh never had any illusions of friendship between the two of them. But even the illusion of companionship was shattered with the Fight of the Hallway.
It seems dramatic to term it as that as if it was some great battle upon which the fate of humanity rested. But Kaveh was told he was a dramatic man when drunk. By Alhaitham. Kaveh had mistaken it as fondness, the tremor in Alhaitham's voice that day when Alhaitham was carrying Kaveh's drunk self back to thier home and called him "the most dramatic man he's ever had the displeasure of meeting".
Kaveh had thought Alhaitham was exaggerating. Clearly, he had been mistaken on both accounts.
And lo and behold Kaveh is drunk again but this time he's sure no one is coming. He had made sure of it.
It had all started, as it tends to do, with Kaveh's work. Now Kaveh knows he might be called a workaholic by some people. He frequently loses himself in his work, forgets to sleep or eat, or do anything really, when he is particularly invested in a project. But such is the fate of an artist. It is a pain he chooses to bear because it is what gives meaning to his life. Without his passion, he is lost.
Someone like Alhaitham will never understand that. It is the truth but maybe, just maybe it wasn't one that should have been said out loud? In his defense, he was drunk. What's Alhaitham's? None.
He said as much to Cyno, who was playing devil's advocate but this time, Cyno will lose.
"And then he said- Alhaitham said,"-hiccup-"that he doesn't want to live with me anymore and i should get off his hair as soon as possible."
"Are you sure that's what he said?" Cyno said dubiously.
"Yes." Kaveh said, "Then I went to look for a place to move out to, but they all want the mora in advance and the project I am working on... well the client is in a tough spot." Kaveh rambled, running a hand through his hair. "But they have an excellent vision! Oh how glorious it is going to be, if only I could find a place to crash," he said as he slumped into thier table.
Cyno looked on in silence as if waiting for something.
"Okay maybe not the same words but the meaning was the same!" Kaveh said defensively.
There have been many fights between them, but Kaveh had never gone as far as to even consider moving out. It had to be bad.
"Kaveh, what exactly did he say?" Cyno asked softly.
Kaveh leaned back and looked to the side.
"...Something about how he can't live like this anymore and that I should find somewhere else to ruin myself," he mumbled. "It's not like I remember every word he says!" He suddenly threw his hands in a wild gesture. "Hardly any of it is worth remembering."
"Okay. How about your friends from university?" Cyno suggested.
"Would I be rooming with Alhaitham if I had that option?"
"I guess not. I would offer my place but you know Tighnari is moving in."
"I know. That's why I was hoping to ask you to look for a place? Could you do that please, if you have time? I heard you took the week off. I really need to finish this project on time..." Kaveh sighed.
"Sure, no problem. But it might take some time. We haven't finished moving some of the furniture yet. If you're really sure about this-"
"I am!"
"-I'll have a list for you by the end of the week."
"You, my friend, are what they call a lifesaver."
Cyno smiled.
Alhaitham wasn't home when he got back, which suited him just fine. More than fine. He didn't even want to look at that infuriatingly handsome face. It wasn't even that handsome. Oh well who was he kidding. But. But he wasn't cute. No one could call him cute. Except when he was doing that thing where he ends 5 minute conversations like a barista at the end of a 12 hour shift or moments where he is surprisingly considerate or when he says cute stuff with that serious face... ugh.
Kaveh flops onto his bed, looks at his study table littered with unfinished plans and sighs.
It was going to be a long night.
...
It had been a long night. Riddled with scratching pencils, crumbling paper and pulling hair, he had somehow managed to finish the first draft. The bad news was he looked (and felt) more like a zombie than a human with his sunken eyes and sleep deprived brain.
Alhaitham, as always, had no problem putting it into words.
"You look like someone who has been sacrificing sleep for unpaid work."
Kaveh glared but didn't rise to the bait.
"What? No comments on how they have 'vision'?" Alhaitham said as he took a seat across Kaveh on the breakfast table.
"They will pay me."
"Unfortunately for you, rent is paid monthly. And I don't live with my head in a future that might never come to pass like you." Alhaitham took a bite of his fancy stew.
"What would you know -" Kaveh started, but then caught himself. He had to remember he had nowhere to go, at least for a week. "I am working on it."
"That's the problem. You always are working on something."
Kaveh didn't understand. Isn't it better for him to work more? So that he can get mora to pay rent? Alhaitham was truly out of the bounds of his understanding. Just another week, he told himself as he shoved another mouthful of instant noodles into his mouth.
Alhaitham frowned.
Kaveh really hoped he wasn't about to point out the ration spending. "What?"
"Don't come to me when your unhealthy life decisions come back to bite you." And with that he was gone, as swiftly and gracefully as he does everything.
Kaveh sighed.
It was going to be a long day.
...
After that short conversation in the morning, Kaveh didn't see Alhaitham at all. This was not a coincidence. Kaveh had holed up in his study the whole morning to avoid him. You see, Kaveh had not yet decided how to tell Alhaitham that he needed more time.
If he were to move out, he had to first find a few places in his budget. Cyno was working on it but honestly, even Kaveh knew it was a difficult task with his budget.
If he was lucky, he might find a place in Treasure Street. Then again, he had to visit those places, bargain for the price, and finalize the paperwork. Even Alhaitham had to understand that it took time. But that was a thought that had been often proven wrong.
For once in his life, Kaveh didn't want to go into this conversation without a plan.
He really didn't want to spend a week on the streets. Again. Even putting up with Alhaitham was worth it. Anything was worth it. He never again wanted to feel so unseen. Maybe people didn't realise it, how completely comfortable they were in ignoring the existence of a person.
Archons, he was hungry.
He got up from his study table and headed to the kitchen. He had some of the instant ramen leftover from breakfast and that would be his lunch.
He didn't have time for cooking as he had to finish this project by the end of the week. The advance for the new place won't drop from the sky after all.
He just had been wondering how to breach the topic with Alhaitham when he ran into a wall.
He looked up to see the subject of his thoughts staring back at him.
"Have you started working out or something?" Kaveh blurted out. He immediately regretted it when he saw the slight smirk on Alhaitham's face.
"No. I just prefer to eat food with actual nutrition." Unlike you, remained unsaid. But Kaveh heard it loud and clear.
"Yeah, yeah. Of course, you're definitely not working out. It's just the nutrition." Kaveh gestured widely with his hands, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yes." Alhaitham deadpanned.
Kaveh rolled his eyes and opened the storage door to get his ramen.
"Anyways, what are you still doing here?" Alhaitham asked, as if it was another small talk on a sunny day and Kaveh's heart hadn't just frozen over.
For a few moments, the kitchen was filled only with Alhaitham's movements.
Kaveh was lucky they both had thier backs turned to each other and Alhaitham couldn't see him.
"What?" Kaveh finally managed to croak out.
Alhaitham turned around with a plate of peeled apples in his hand.
Alhaitham's face was never expressive but his eyes were. Those beautiful turquoise eyes were bright with a hint of red and Kaveh could almost see a hint of concern in them. Of course, he was deluding himself again. It was almost impressive how he managed to do that even after everything.
"What? Didn't you have a meeting with your client at 11?"
"Oh." Kaveh took a breath of relief. "Yes. Yes, I do."
Alhaitham gave Kaveh a scathing look. "You did. It's noon."
"Wait, what? When? How?"
"Surprise. Time doesn't wait even for the Light of Kshahrewar." Alhaitham drawled out as he passed by Kaveh. He was having too much fun at Kaveh's expense.
Kaveh didn't have time to engage. He was about to make a run for it when he saw the plate of apples left untouched on the counter.
"Finish it before you go. I peeled too many." Alhaitham said, went back to his room and shut the door with a soft bang.
Despite everything, Kaveh found himself smiling.
Maybe they could be friends when Kaveh finally got his life together. Like they used to be before everything went to hell.
Maybe then he could even dare to call them equals, not just a landlord and his troublesome tenant.
...
Kaveh really wanted to go to Lambad's and drink till his legs gave out.
However, he was not really keen on spending the money he had managed to save up till now. So all he did was throw himself into his work and hope for the best.
His workaholic coping mechanisms at least had one upside. He was ahead in his project and now he could finally take a break.
He decided he'd go to to the Grand Bazaar. A little bit of shopping never hurt anyone and he really needed a new pair of shoes.
The Grand Bazaar was bustling with liveliness as always. No matter the time of the day, there is no rest for the artists.
"See these trinklets? Made with pure Snezhnaya silk. Madam, you won't regret buying one of these!"
"Glasses! Beautiful glass-patterned glasses!"
"Oh sir, please do come and check out these pots."
"If only I could gather the money for a fleet, I would be a rich merchant in Liyue!" A toyseller to his right said to another vendor.
Huh. Everyone has the same problems in different flavours. Kaveh shook his head with a smile.
After buying a pair of shoes at discount, Kaveh headed for his regular delicacy joint.
"Wine and food everybody! The twin miracles of life..." Shiverme, the stall owner laughed aloud.
His stall was just beside the Zubayr Theater. The perfect place for a quick snack before or after a performance. Kaveh, however, wad there for his favourite Aaru mixed rice.
"Shall I pour some wine too, Master Kaveh?" Shiverme asked.
"Not today." Kaveh gave him a winning smile. " I have errands."
Shiverme looked surprised. It was not like Kaveh to decline a drink.
"As you see fit."
On his other side, some Academia students were enjoying Butter Chicken. That was not the problem. They were also quite unsubtle in thier stolen glances towards Kaveh.
Now Kaveh was used to being the center of attention sometimes, especially for his drunk shenanigans or his magnum opus. But this was quite weird even by his standards.
One of them would look in his direction, mutter something and then they'd all dissolve into laughter. Normally, he would assume they were saying unkind things about him but they looked a bit too genuinely happy for that. Also, one of them was definitely blushing.
Kaveh figured it didn't matter anyway. He had to return home and finish that project after all.
Unfortunately, by evening, word had spread throughout Sumeru that famous alcoholic and architect, Light of Kshahrewar, was quitting drinking.