Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

*Sumeru Ackedymia Pre-Storyline*

A young blonde Kshahrewar scholar sat at his desk, tapping his pencil impatiently and letting out a frustrated sigh. He dropped his head into his hands and closed his eyes, trying to brainstorm for a project he's been working on for what felt like ages.

'It's not like I'm just suddenly going to come up with something now when I haven't been able to for weeks...' He thought to himself with a pensive look on his face, staring off at the ceiling. His professor stood in front of him and clapped his hands loudly, snapping his attention back to reality.

"Kaveh, are you going to answer the question, or are you too busy daydreaming?" His professor snapped, his tone filled with frustration.

"Huh?" Kaveh said back, confused. "S-sorry, sir, what was the question?" He asked shyly, hearing a few classmates around him chuckle. His professor let out a deep sigh and spun on his heel, heading back to his podium at the front of the lecture hall.

"Never mind now, your classmate can answer for you. Idrees?" The professor called out, switching his attention to another boy in the class, who promptly smirked and called out the answer. Kaveh quickly put his head back down in an embarrassed defeat and got lost in his thoughts again, the voices around him blurring beyond recognition into the background.

'What is going on with me? I'm supposed to be the top scholar in my school, the one to beat. And now? I can't even focus, think, or answer a simple question. What is... What is wrong with me!?' He thought to himself as he felt tears begin to form in the corner of his eyes despite his efforts to choke them back. A sudden tap on the shoulder jerked him back into reality once again. He looked up slowly to see his lecture hall, this time dimly lit and empty, with his professor standing in front of him. This time, however, he didn't look mad, just... concerned.

"Kaveh? Are you feeling alright? It's unlike you to be unfocused and... seemingly struggling. Is there something going on? Or anything I can do to help?" His professor asked gently with worry in his voice. He looked at him with a concerned, soft expression and offered him a gentle smile.

"I'm... I'm fine, thank you..." Kaveh said, standing up and wiping his tears in a swift, jerky motion. "I'm just a little tired and off my game right now, that's all... Thank you, though, Professor... Have a good night."

Before his professor could respond, he picked up his stack of papers and headed swiftly for the door.

Kaveh let out a sigh as he walked out of his final class of the day and wiped his face clean of tears once again, taking a deep breath to refocus himself. His project deadline was closing in, and he hadn't found an OUNCE of inspiration this time.

"Maybe a change of scenery will do me good..." he thought, heading to the library rather than home to continue working.

The air carried a subtle scent of sage incense as he walked in, the late-afternoon sun shining through the stained-glass windows of The House of Daena.

With the semester of classes soon coming to a close, the library was bustling with scholars discussing group projects, research studies, and a variety of other work. Kaveh scanned the tables as he walked around, searching for a quieter place to sit and concentrate.

A nearly empty table nestled in a corner finally caught his eye, only occupied by one other student. A young man with grey hair and green highlights sat studiously in the corner of the table, headphones on his ears, a soft, concentrated expression on his face, and a strong focus solely on the book in his hands.

Kaveh had never seen this man before, but his impressive concentration and handsome features immediately caught his attention. He appeared to be a Haravata scholar, about a year or so younger — given his soft appearance — and he had his nose buried in whatever book he was reading.

"I hope you don't mind if I join you?" Kaveh said as the younger boy looked up slowly, finishing reading the sentence he was on before eventually shifting his gaze to the blonde scholar. "There aren't many tables left in this place." He said with a small laugh as he set down his papers.

The younger man pushed his headphones off one ear and looked back up at him with a dull expression before shrugging his shoulders.
"Umm, yeah, I suppose why not... Just uhh-" He paused before continuing, giving the energetic scholar a slightly annoyed look. "Just be sure not to make too much noise and interrupt me, deal?"

Kaveh nodded silently as he pulled out his favorite pen and began sketching some ideas.
'What an odd boy...' he thought to himself, letting out a silent sigh and subtly gazing back over.

The light caught the boy's eyes just right, causing them to gleam beautifully. His soft features relaxed again as he dove back into his novel, or whatever those Haravatat scholars read.
'He may be odd, but boy is he pretty...' Kaveh thought.
'Kaveh! Stop that! You need to focus on your project!!!' He chastised himself, shaking his head, trying to redirect his thoughts.

The other boy, however, had noticed his gaze and was trying to pretend he hadn't. He wasn't a fan of being in the spotlight and was too socially awkward to converse casually with strangers, so he anxiously tried to focus on his book, hoping the other boy's gaze would shift somewhere else. After a while, however, his patience grew thin, and his cheeks were tinted slightly red with embarrassment as he snapped his head up, looking over at Kaveh.

"What?" He snapped. "When I said be quiet, I didn't mean to silently stare at me... That's... That's kind of creepy––" He said, lowering his head again.

"OH!" Kaveh exclaimed, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be... weird. I just tend to zone out on things when I'm thinking. See, this project has been a tough one, and I'm just simply run dry of ideas and-" he stopped short, realizing he was rambling.
"Sorry, I'll uh, try not to do that again."

"You didn't look zoned out, your eyes were directly and intently on me for an awkwardly lengthy amount of time..." The quiet scholar quietly muttered, slightly flustered by the attention and annoyed that his peace was disrupted.

"What was that?" Kaveh said with curiosity and a slight bit of natural sass in his voice.

"I uhh- Nothing..." The younger man awkwardly trailed off. "So your uhh... project there-" He continued, clearing his throat and changing the subject. "What's it about? You're a Kshahrewar scholar, no?" He said, glancing up at his hat.

"Ahh yes. Uhmm my teacher wants us to design houses that would be both aesthetically pleasing but also built to withstand the harsh conditions of the deep forests." Kaveh trailed off, looking at his mess of concept sketches. "I'm struggling a bit with the sturdiness aspect while still keeping my design ideas..."

The young Haravatat scholar pushed out his chair and stood up suddenly, pushing his headphones off his head and letting them rest on his neck. He grabbed his book and promptly pushed in his chair, walking away from his corner of the table and seemingly abruptly leaving. Kaveh's shoulders sank slightly, and he sighed, turning red with embarrassment, thinking he scared away someone he had never met that quickly. He crossed his arms over his sketches and put his head down in them, ridiculing himself in his brain.

'Dumb Dumb Dumb! Always coming on too strong!! He was clearly shy, and you just HAD to push it!!' Kaveh wallowed.

Just then, he heard wood scraping the floor to his right and looked over to see the young scholar pulling out the chair next to him and sitting down silently.
He looked over to Kaveh and tilted his head slightly in confusion as to why the blonde had suddenly melted down and gotten all upset.
"I'm way ahead on my work and projects for the semester. I was just reading—" He said sheepishly, holding up his book. "Anyways, you seemed like you needed some help, and I'm not super creative but... I don't know..." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe you could show me what you already have? I'm no architect, but I've read just about every book in this library by now, so I figured maybe I may have a shot at helpi—"

"EVERY BOOK?!" Kaveh's posture shot up straight, and he turned to the bookworm with nearly stars in his eyes. "WOW, that's.. Incredible! No, that's like... Impossible! There are so many books in here, and how did—" He stopped himself suddenly, seeing the boy's eyes widen in shock and lean back slightly from the energy he let out. He saw a few other people from other tables glance over at him, annoyed, and he slapped his hand over his mouth to keep himself from going on. "Sorry..." He said slowly.

The young boys shocked face and winced posture relaxed, and his lips contorted into a surprising subtle smile. He chuckled slightly at his sudden outburst, and Kaveh, embarrassed yet slightly relieved, chuckled softly in return.

"Yeah, there are easily thousands in here..." The younger boy trailed off, gazing around the library with the walls filled with books as far as the eye could see. "But I've been a bookworm for as long as I can remember, and I read pretty quickly and intently, so... Let's just say I've been able to cover a lot of ground. Besides, half of the books you see in here are either copies or boring old textbooks that I have no use for- OH WAIT! THAT MIGHT BE IT!" He stood up and swiftly walked over to the section with architectural textbooks, scanning the shelves and pulling out three or four large books before returning and loudly placing them on the table.

"Do you know the layout of this entire library?" Kaveh chuckled as he began scanning through the first book.

He shrugged his shoulder, "Yeah. Kind of hard not to when I'm always trying to search for something I haven't read yet." He grabbed the book from the blonde's hand and sorted the other books on the table. "Try this one first, it seems the most relevant." He finished, sliding the heavy textbook towards him. Then he glanced back down at the stack of Kaveh's sketches and placed his palm softly on them, looking up at Kaveh. "May I?"

"Uhh— Be my guest!" Kaveh said with a hint of nervousness in his voice

The Haravatat scholar slid the stack towards him and began sifting through them, analyzing each one carefully before moving on to the next. His eyes widened slightly, and he placed his non-dominant hand in front of his mouth as he thought carefully. "Wow— These are... beautiful." He said suddenly.

"Oh! I uhh... Really? Thank you! They are just some ideas, though and—"

"But they're not very structurally realistic." The younger man said suddenly and bluntly, cutting back in. Kaveh looked shocked at his brutal honesty and was slightly annoyed in response. "Looks are nice and all, but practicality always takes precedence over them. No one cares if your building is easy on the eyes if it's going to topple over from someone sneezing too close to it." He said with a serious and blunt tone.

"I know. That's what I'm struggling with... But HEY!! They're not THAT unrealistic!" Kaveh sighed with a hint of sass.

The younger boy stared blankly back at him for a few seconds before letting out a heavy sigh. "Maybe I'm going too hard on you. How many years of lecture do you have under your belt? If you haven't quite made it through basic physics, then of course, structural integrity is going to be hard for you to see on a piece of paper."

"This is my Junior year. I've had plenty of lectures, and I understand all of that, it's just... Sometimes I get such beautiful ideas that I don't want to let go, even if they seem unrealistic. I want to find a way to make it happen." Kaveh paused and let out a deep sigh. "And that's why my teachers think that I'm incapable. Because I perceive beauty as a higher requirement than practicability."

"You're... A JUNIOR?! AS IN YOU'RE OLDER THAN ME? TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME?" He said in a loud, but controlled, tone, trying not to be too loud. He smirked slightly and chuckled under his breath, looking down and subtly shaking his head.

Kaveh looked at him in shock. That the supposedly shy boy had just yelled loud enough to earn a few distasteful looks from nearby scholars.
"Yes? Is it so shocking???" Kaveh asked.

"It was to me, so I guess so." He shrugged, still laughing a bit. "You just have a very... Young face and youthful features, I guess."

Kaveh laughed a bit, "Well, I'd HOPE I still look young. But maybe not for long with the amount of stress these projects bring me." He said in an awkward laugh.

"That's... understandable for sure." The younger boy laughed, scratching the back of his head. "At least I don't have to worry about grey hairs showing up..." He joked, continuing to laugh awkwardly.

'He actually cracked a joke?? The stone-faced Haravatat Scholar???' Kaveh thought, too, in shock to even reply.

"I uhh— anyways. I can't help but disagree. Sure, having a nice appearance can help it stand out more and look special, but a stronger, more durable building that lasts longer could become a historical landmark or something similar. Think about temples and any historic buildings we have here—it doesn't look out of the ordinary or so special that it makes your jaw drop; it's beautiful because of the history and strength tied to it. What's the point of a building that doesn't last? But I mean, I'm no artist, so that's just my two cents, but maybe at least weigh them the same. I do respect your passion and commitment, though... Those traits aren't too easy to come across in a person." The younger boy changed the subject, speaking after an awkward silence following his joke.

"Thanks for a little encouragement. It's hard to find for me," Kaveh sighed. "By the way, I never caught your name. I'm Kaveh!"

"Oh, umm, my apologies. I'm not the best at small talk for things of the like... I'm Al-haitham, it means "The Hawk," or "The Young Eagle," which I always thought was cool... I umm.. Anyways yeah. I'm a Freshman Haravatat student this year."

"You're only a Freshman?? That's surprising with how smart you are!!!"

"Oh, you think? Really? I uhh... Thank you..?" He trailed off shyly. "I've just always been curious and knowledge-hungry, I guess. I've basically lived in this library as far back as I can recall..."

"Well, it's something every Sumeru scholar strives to be! I'm sure the Archon looks down on you with pride!" Kaveh beamed.

Alhaitham felt himself blush slightly and smiled softly and genuinely with pride. For some strange reason, a compliment coming from him felt so much more special.

"Anyway, thank you for all of your advice, but I shouldn't keep you too long. It's not like you don't have finals coming up. Have a Good Night, Alhaitham!"

"Oh, it's okay, I don't mind. I'm kind of intrigued by your project anyway, to be frank." He said suddenly, feeling a sudden and confusing dread of the idea that his new... "friend?" was leaving soon.

"Oh, one last thing before I go, Alhaitham..." Kaveh started.

Alhaitham looked at the blonde, waiting for him to continue

"I... I was actually looking at you earlier. I just... your eyes are really pretty, by the way."

Haitham felt himself turn as red as a pyro fungi at his comment, and felt the strange and unfamiliar feeling of struggling to find words to reply. "I–– I uhh. I—"

He subtly pinched his own thigh to try to ground himself and calm down. 'What is wrong with you, idiot!? Why are you getting all worked up? You barely even know this guy... Guy. A GUY. Why are you getting flustered from something a BOY said? What is wrong with you!?'

"I... ahem... Thank you... I had a feeling you weren't just zoned out..." He managed to finally say, putting on a calm face.

Kaveh laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I guess it's just the artist in me, finding the beauty in even the smallest of things," he said as his own face began to grow a flushed color.

'Oh...' Althaitham thought to himself. 'He was just being artistic about it. Nothing more. Why in Archon's name did you read into that...'

"Good night, Alhaitham. Enjoy your books."

~~~A Few Days Later~~~

Alhaitham strolled into the library — noise-cancelling headphones covering his ears — early in the morning, just as he had done every day for most of his life. He yawned and walked over to his usual table, finding that it was finally empty.

With how busy this place had been the past few days, his spot had been consistently taken, annoying him. He had found the perfect spot — Light enough to read clearly, but at the right angle that light doesn't shine right into your eyes. Just tucked away enough in the corner that it was isolated and quieter, and surrounded by his favorite genre bookshelves. Seeing his spot taken, he became frustrated and went home to read. But not today — today, he smiled and walked around the table and pulled out his seat, sat down happily, let out a relieved sigh, flipped open his book, and began to read.

Not even a minute in, he remembered the last time he sat in this very chair. He looked diagonally across the table, where Kaveh had sat, and could almost picture his blonde hair and gentle smile and hear his energetic voice again. He tried to shake the image to concentrate, but couldn't seem to. 'Maybe I'll run into him again if I just stay here...' He told himself calmly, before taking a deep breath to clear his mind and getting back to reading.

A few hours later, Kaveh arrived at the House of Daena, walking around to find a seat in hopes of stumbling across his new friend again. After a few minutes of walking around and searching the room, he spotted him out of the corner of his eye, nestled in the corner, seated at his usual table.

In truth, he had seen Alhaitham sitting there easily a dozen times before, but only had the guts to approach him when he had the excuse of the crowded library to explain himself. He hadn't seen him in the past few days and was disappointed, worried that maybe his politeness was just a façade, and he had scared him away. He had paced the library, scanning for his messy grey hair and bright, colorful eyes, but had no luck. Seeing him sitting there today made him happy, as it might have been just a coincidence and all in his head. Maybe it was just a coincidence. With newfound hope and confidence, Kaveh took a deep breath and walked over.

"Thought I might find you here again," Kaveh said with a forced smile plastered on his face.

Alhaitham snapped his head up, looking at Kaveh. He felt himself smile, and quickly relaxed his face so he didn't seem too over-excited. "Ah, Kaveh. I had a feeling I would run into you here again at some point." He said in a calm tone, a stark contrast to his fast-beating heart and sweaty palms gripping his book.

'Why am I freaking out again? Ugh, this stupid blonde Kshahrewar guy has been invading my mind the past few days, and I don't know why. Dammit, Alhaitham, calm down, you idiot... Just keep your cool, you're being weird...' In truth, Alhaitham couldn't stop thinking about Kaveh since the last time he saw him in the very same spot they were now. He found himself smiling at the thought of him and getting disappointed when he didn't see him around, and he didn't know why.

"Precisely why I came here," Kaveh said with a small laugh, "I was actually wondering that, since finals and all are wrapped up, if you'd like to do something together? I haven't got many friends here and, I dunno, we seemed to work well together for that bit last week."

Kaveh didn't want to make it too obvious, but he really wanted to get to know this Haravatat scholar better. He seemed like a really nice boy, and he WAS very cute...

"Do you drink coffee? Maybe we could go to the cafe??" Kaveh proposed.

Alhaitham let out a slight chuckle, motioning with a slight tilt of his head to a cup of coffee sitting at the corner of the table.

"I only drink it like, I don't know, every day." He said with a smile, feeling his face uncontrollably heat up at the idea of spending more time with the cute blonde. Wait cute? Did he just call him cute?

Alhaitham looked down suddenly, his cheeks redder than ever, racking his brain.

'Why in Archon's name am I freaking out right now? He's a boy... A boy! You can't be flustered by A BOY, that makes no sense! There must be some explanation... Maybe it's his slightly femme looks? No that can't be it... Maybe he reminds me of someone? But no one I can think of... Besides, the only way a guy could get this flustered by another man is if he were...' His eyes widened at the realization, and he shook his head in denial. He felt like it couldn't be right and that something was wrong with him, but the pit of anxiety it caused in his chest couldn't outweigh the butterflies Kaveh had caused in his stomach.

'Maybe... Maybe it would be good to hang out with him. Maybe that would help me figure out what I'm feeling? Give me some closure, or something? I don't know, but I also kind of want to spend more time with him, away somewhere new where we can talk instead of whispering and be more alone... He is super cute and energetic and... Wait, stop thinking that... Cute? Alone? Archons, what is wrong with me these past few days??!' Thoughts ran through his brain faster than he could barely keep up, and he turned redder and redder, not only from being flustered but from the anxiousness and embarrassment he was causing himself to feel. He didn't even realize he had never even finished answering Kaveh's question, who now stood watching in an awkward and nerve-racking silence.

"Uhh... Haitham??" Kaveh asked, breaking the other man's trance by a few snaps of his fingers near his face. "Do you wanna come??"

"Oh, umm... Sorry about that. I uhh... I got distracted..." He quickly replied, embarrassed and trying to hide his flustered face.

"Distracted? By what exactly? Are you okay?" Kaveh said back with a hint of worry.

"OH! Umm yeah no sorry I uhh... I'm... I uhh. Yeah, I'm fine, sorry, just thinking about uhh..."

Kaveh stood watching the typically calm man stutter over his words and lose his cool — a truly rare sight to see. He was confused and entertained, hoping that this nervousness meant he felt something between them as well.

"Sorry, umm... Never mind that I'm just uhh... Look what I'm trying to say is... I'M FINE!" He blurted out, covering his mouth before he lost his cool further. "SORRY! I'm uhh. I'm just really tired, that's all, so yeah, maybe some more coffee right now would be a good idea for me anyway." He finally said, looking up with a soft smile, trying to act as if he didn't just lose his cool and stutter for a minute straight.

"Are you sure you're ok? You seem... off." Kaveh paused for a beat. "Maybe you need some rest instead. I'm sure finals for you Haravatats are even tougher..."

Haitham jerked his head up, and his eyes widened slightly.
"Oh! Umm, no, I'm fine, I mean it. And really, finals aren't that big of a deal anyway." He said with a nervous chuckle. "I'm sorry, am I being weird? I'm totally being weird, I'm sorry I uhh, I probably totally scared you off right now, but I just can't help but feel nervous around you because you're so—" His eyes widened even more, and he slapped his hand over his mouth again before he could continue. "Because you're so new to me still! Yeah, I'm umm... I'm not the best at talking to people I don't know well yet, especially my seniors, haha... Umm, so yeah, getting to know you a bit better sounds nice anyway, if you're still ok with that?" He looked up shyly, wincing slightly with the fear that he had totally scared off Kaveh and that he had changed his mind about wanting to make plans.

"Of course I'm still ok with that! I AM the one who asked you anyhow." Kaveh silently chuckled. This boy was intriguing indeed, and he wanted to peel back every layer of his mysterious persona.

Alhaitham's face softened into a relieved smile as he exhaled his nerves.
"Oh! Okay great! I uhh, sorry for... All that. That wasn't like me. I don't know what's gotten into me..." He said, slightly muttering the last half under his breath. "Anywho, when were you thinking? Oh, and I never got to ask how your project wound up going?" He finished, changing the subject in hopes of regaining his composure.

"Well, my professor did mark me off for some 'unrealistic structural capabilities,' but I stuck to my heart while making it work. I know it needs some fine-tuning, but I believe an artist should never let go of their dreams. Just a little more time and I'm sure I would have figured it out!!" Kaveh said with a slight groan.

Alhaitham's demeanor suddenly completely shifted from awkward and shy to confident and sassy, as he cracked a mischievous smirk.

"What?" Kaveh sighed, glancing over at his changed expression.

"Oh, nothing... Just seems like your professor and I were on the same wavelength, that's all... You should have listened to me, I guess." He cracked with a playful, teasing tone.

"I ran out of time! That's all..." Kaveh sighed

"I know, I'm just playing with you, that's all. Don't take everything so seriously, Mr. Kshahrewar." Alhaitham chuckled, veering from his usual stoic and serious demeanor. "But in all seriousness, good job, Kaveh. I'm proud of you for sticking to your guns and persevering despite the struggles you were facing overall. I'm sure your professor just holds you to high standards because he sees your potential and passion for the field." He continued, a more serious expression creeping onto his face.

Kaveh felt a blush creep to his face. "Thanks..." He sheepishly said.
"So, what Café do you want to go to??"
Kaveh asked, redirecting the conversation. He was always a bit awkward accepting praise and compliments.

Alhaitham shrugged, "I usually just make my own or get some here at the library. That's the cheapest after all. But if you have a recommendation, I'm all ears."

"Well, how about Puspa? They have really good coffee, and it's a lovely place. Not too crowded either, especially at this time of day."

"Sure! That sounds good to me." He replied with a nod of agreement and a soft smile. "I'd have to stop home to grab my mora first, however.

"No, no. It's on me, I asked you anyhow." Kaveh said with a smile.

"Oh! I mean, you don't have to; I wouldn't want to be a burden or be indebted to you anyway."

"No, no, it's ok. My... ahem. My father left me plenty of mora for a while anyhow," He said, his voice dipping into a more solemn tone.

"Oh? Well, I still would like to stop home quickly to drop all my stuff off anyway, so it doesn't make much of a difference to me." Haitham said, motioning to his small pile of novels and notebooks on the table. "Would that be alright?"

"Ok. Let's get going then!" Kaveh replied.

"Alright, my house is just down the path outside anyway, so it shouldn't take too long." Alhaitham started, packing up his belongings and leading the way.

Kaveh trailed behind, oddly quieter than before as he followed the grey-haired scholar to his house.

"Here it is," Alhaitham said, approaching a small house while fishing for a silver key with green details from his pocket. He quietly opened the door and stepped in, glancing behind him to make sure Kaveh was close behind, and holding the door open for him. "Sorry if it's a mess, I never have people over..." He said, glancing at a few empty dishes in an otherwise squeaky-clean room.

Kaveh looked around the surprisingly spacious living area and hallways, likely leading to about four more rooms. He wondered how a seemingly small building from the outside was so... roomy on the inside.

"Do you live here with anyone?" Kaveh called out, continuing to glance around the empty, eerily quiet house.

"No... I live here alone, why?" Alhaitham responded with a hint of hurt in his voice from his room down the hall.

"It just... seems big for one person, is all..." Kaveh trailed off

Alhaitham emerged from his room silently. "Yeah, it is too big for just one person, isn't it... It can definitely get lonely being by myself with all this space... But umm, at least it's quiet, I guess..."

"Yeah... I guess so. Why did you move out into such a large space all alone then?" Kaveh said, looking around at his large collection of books and other various trinkets.

"I umm..." He trailed off, looking down with a solemn expression spreading across his face.

"Oh, I didn't mean to pry. I'm sorry about that." Kaveh said quickly, noticing the other man's expression change.

"No, no, it's uhh. It's okay. It's a fair question if I'm being honest, I just don't want to scare you off with too many details and bore you with my... backstory, I guess." Alhaitham replied softly.

"No, no, it's fine. Everyone has a backstory. And if you ever want to tell it, I'm all ears. It doesn't seem the most pleasant, though, so maybe we should focus on something else for now??? Are you ready to go to the Café?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry, didn't mean to bring the mood down or anything. Yeah, I'm uhh. I'm ready!" Alhaitham said, placing one more item down before looking back up with a forced smile. "After you." He followed Kaveh out the door and briefly glanced over at a picture of an older lady sitting with a young, grey-haired boy before shutting the door with a sigh and locking it.

The two walked together in somewhat of an awkward silence to Puspa Café. The doors opened to an aroma of freshly brewed coffee and snack cakes.
A small fountain stood in the middle, giving the whole place a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Quiet chattering could be heard upstairs, but it was, for the most part, empty.

"Order whatever you'd like," Kaveh said while fishing his bag of mora out of his tote bag.

"Thank you..." He said softly to Kaveh, then turned to the worker. "I suppose I'll have a cup of roasted coffee and... An order of baklava would be swell too, thank you." He stepped back, allowing Kaveh to place his order next.

"I'll have an Ajilenakh Nut Latte, light on the cream, and a Padisarah Pudding," Kaveh said as he counted out his mora to pay.

The young barista nodded and got to work on their orders.
"I'll bring it over when it's ready. Take a seat anywhere," she told the two scholars.

Kaveh walked over to a small table near the fountain and sat down.
"This is my favorite table. The fountain is just so calming to me; it helps me clear my mind." He mused.

"I can see why," Alhaitham said, sitting down across from him with his eyes glued to the running water. "I can only imagine how nice it would sound in a quiet early-morning Café setting..."

An awkward silence filled the air between the two as they sat nervously facing each other. The downstairs area was practically empty, except for the workers, which made the moment between them feel almost intimate in a way.

"So uhmm... do you have any plans for the break??" Kaveh asked, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" Jerked back to reality, Alhaitham snapped his head up and tried to recall what Kaveh had just said to him. "Oh, uhh, break? I don't know, nothing special. I'll probably go pick up my textbooks for next semester and start reading ahead on them, pick out a few more books, maybe do some writing, I don't know. I've been wanting to hit the gym more often too, so... Yeah, that's probably about it..." Alhaitham said slowly, realizing how lame he probably sounded right about now. "What... What about you?"

"I was maybe gonna take a trip out to the desert, find some new inspiration from a totally different environment. It may help with next semester's projects to get to see ancient temples up close. Their material choice, designs, all that stuff."

"Oh, wow, that sounds... adventurous and exciting." Alhaitham started, noting the stark contrast between Kaveh's plans and his own. "Are you going with anyone else, though? It's never a good idea to go to the desert alone with the weather and atmosphere, never mind all the monsters it's ridden with."

"I... don't have anyone to go with. I'm on my own all the time anyhow. This isn't any different." Kaveh sighed, trying to sound falsely confident enough to keep the mood from being brought down.
"I'll be alright..."

"I can go with you!" Alhaitham suddenly blurted out before he could even think.
"I mean... That's if you don't mind... I just figured it'd be better— I MEAN SAFER— if you went with someone else anyhow... Plus, a change of scenery might honestly do me some good... I'm not a big fan of change, but if it's for just a few days, it'll probably beat being cooped up here all the time."

"I mean... If you'd like to. I've been on my own a few times already, though, so it really isn't necessary. It's a long way from here, and I wouldn't want to drag you all the way out into the depths of the desert just because you're concerned about possible threats."

The barista came and set down their coffees and desserts, causing their conversation to come to a pause.

"Thank you," Kaveh said as he picked up his steaming coffee and inhaled its gentle scent.

"Appreciated," Alhaitham added with a respectful nod as he picked up his own cup of coffee and slid his baklava towards his side of the table, before turning to Kaveh. "And thank you for paying... You really didn't have to, but I appreciate it..."

"It's no problem, really. My mother made sure I had plenty of mora before she left." Kaveh said with a bittersweet smile.

Alhaitham paused suddenly. He wasn't the best at observing people's subtle expressions, but he was basically an expert when it came to certain wording and tones.
"Wait, left? What do you mean left?" He said, with a sudden worried tone. "Where did she go?"

"She uhmm..." Kaveh fidgeted with his hands nervously. "She left to start a better life in Fontaine after my dad passed..."

Alhaitham's expression softened, and he felt a pit form in his chest. Did he finally meet someone who may be able to understand his loss? He wasn't good at comforting, but he knew he had to try, and before he could finish thinking, he found himself reaching across the table to grab Kaveh's hand, nearly knocking over his coffee in the process. He stroked the back of his hand gently and looked at him silently, his expression one of empathy and sorrow.
"I-I-I'm sorry... I understand..."

Kaveh's eyes widened at the sudden contact and felt himself start to turn pink in the cheeks, but despite his flusteredness and embarrassment, he didn't want to pull back. It just felt... right.

Alhaitham continued to rub his hand softly and offered him a soft, comforting smile. "You didn't deserve that, Kaveh... No one does. And she just left you here all on your own after a traumatizing encounter like that... That's just... That's just inhumane... Evil even..." Without intention, Alhaitham began to clench his fist, squeezing Kaveh's hand tighter in anger and frustration.
"And all she left you was some mora? As it that means ANYTHING at all... And you said earlier your father left you a good amount of money... Oh... So you meant..." He relaxed his hand again. "I'm so sorry, Kaveh... Loss is... It's hard. I'm not the best at dealing with it either, and I'm, well, not too emotionally intelligent if you couldn't tell, but I'm here for you if you need anyone. And whether that be talking, sitting in silence, or trekking in the desert to take your mind off sad things, I'm here... And," Alhaitham started, getting back on topic, "I genuinely wouldn't mind going with you. I'm decently trained in combat anyway, if anything were to happen, and I have strong enough logical intelligence and survival instinct to keep us safe regardless." He looked up at Kaveh, hoping to see any sort of reaction from the now quietly sobbing man.

“He died years ago. It’s just… still a tough subject. I was the reason he was in that DAMNED desert…” Kaveh sighed, trying to calm his tears.

He quietly sipped on his coffee, collecting his thoughts.
“I’d actually enjoy some company this time, to be honest.”

Alhaitham’s face dropped at his vulnerable statement, his brows furrowing and a pit forming in his chest. He remembered feeling the same way as a kid — like his parents’ deaths were his own fault — but after a while, he realized that was just the grief talking.

“Kaveh,” He started, reaching for the blonde’s chin and lifting his face up to look him in the eyes. “It’s not your fault, okay? I promise. Look, I don’t know the exact situation, but it’s not like you wanted it to happen, or tried to make it happen, or anything like that. It just did, and life just works like that. You could blame yourself for indirectly causing everything in this world, but what does it matter… Sometimes, it's not causation, it's just a coincidence… You have to be nicer to yourself and give yourself more credit. Whatever happened, I’m sure your father would be proud of who you are today and was probably happy to die doing something to aid his beloved son…”

Kaveh’s eyes met Alhaitham’s, and the sudden touch forced a deep blush to spread across his face. He offered in return a soft smile and a quiet “Thank you… That… That means a lot.”

Alhaitham noticed the blush and his cheeks followed Kaveh’s lead quickly by reddening as well. He jerked his hand away and cleared his throat.
“Of course… Don’t beat yourself up too much, okay? Just keep your head up, that’s what he’d want you to do…”
Silence followed Kaveh’s silent nod, and Alhaitham awkwardly twiddled with his thumbs and sipped his coffee.

“So, umm, back to the uhh, less depressing topic…” Alhaitham started awkwardly with a shy laugh, scratching the back of his neck. “Where in the desert were you planning on going? And when? All that heavily impacts the proper preparations we should take.”

Kaveh hesitated for only a second before his eyes lit up again.
“There are ruins further west of Aaru Village,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “Older foundations. Half-buried temple structures. I’ve only seen sketches in archives, but I want to study the load-bearing pillars in person. The erosion patterns, the material density, how they adapted to sand displacement…” His fingers animated the air as he spoke. “I think if I can see how ancient architects balanced beauty and durability in a climate like that, maybe I can get my spark back.”

Alhaitham watched him closely.
There it was… that brightness Kaveh had to him. He missed seeing it through all these depressing topics.

“That’s pretty deep into the desert,” Alhaitham stated flatly.

“Yes.”

“It’ll take a few days no doubt.”

“…Yes.”

Alhaitham exhaled through his nose.
“Alright, we should probably start packing tonight then.”

Kaveh blinked. “You don’t have to… come I mean… I’ll be alright on my own. I always am…” He mumbled the last part so quietly it was barely audible.

“I know.” Alhaitham replied calmly
“That wasn’t a reverse-psychology statement.”

“I’m aware.”

Kaveh huffed softly, but the faint pink on his cheeks betrayed how relieved he felt.

“Alright,” he said quietly. “Then we’ll go together.”

The decision had been made. Which meant, unfortunately, packing and preparation.

Alhaitham stood up from his booth and took a final sip from his coffee before stacking his dishes, and grabbing his book ready to leave, glancing over at the blonde to see if he took the hint.

Kaveh glanced over and cocked his head to the side, confused why he was suddenly eager to leave. Alhaitham slapped his palm to his forehead and giggled slightly.

“That means we should start packing, like, now silly.” Alhaitham let out a small chuckle.

“Let me finish my coffee?” Kaveh said with an embarrassed flush on his expression.

“Alright, alright…” Haitham said, putting his book back down and flopping back onto the booth seat.

“Reading that same boooring book?” Kaveh teased as he sipped from his now room temperature coffee.

“Boring?” Alhaitham spat, sounding genuinely offended. “I’ve read this book probably 50 times at the least, it's a literary masterpiece. Have you even read a word of it before you literally judge it by its cover?”

Kaveh giggled “Relax, I'm just teasing…”

“Tsk” Alhaitham tutted, "Kshahrewars…”

“Ok I’m ready now. Guess we should get packing??”

“Yeah, we should probably go our separate ways and plan a time to meet up later to head out. Otherwise that would be a complete waste of time…”

“I agree. I guess I'll see you later then?? Say an hourish??”

“Works for me. I don't need much anyhow” Alhaitham replied. “I do hope you'll pack necessary equipment too, not just whatever it is you artists deem ‘necessary.’ "

“Yes yes, some camping supplies, food, water, and a medical kit. It's not my first time, Haitham”

“Just being sure. I'll meet you in an hour then”

“Okay, see you later!” Kaveh said with a cheerful quip before he turned and made his way to his dorms.

~~~~~ A Few Hours Later ~~~~~

Alhaitham had packed up pretty quickly, knowing where everything was in his relatively organized house and waited for Kaveh.

He looked at his pocketwatch. 15 after 4. What was taking him so long??? He decided to go check on him, knowing how easily the blonde tended to get distracted.

Kaveh stood in the middle of his room surrounded by fabric, parchment, measuring tools, and what could only be described as architectural chaos.

Alhaitham knocked on the door and walked in promptly as Kaveh called for him to come in. He set his bag down and followed the sound of pacing footsteps to find the blonde in his process of… packing?

“I don’t understand why you need three different sketchbooks,” Alhaitham said flatly from the doorway.

Kaveh didn’t look up. “Because inspiration does not arrive in organized intervals, Alhaitham. One is for structural analysis. One is for conceptual drafts. And one is for refined sketches.”

“You could use one.”

“I could,” Kaveh replied with dignity, carefully wrapping charcoal sticks in cloth. “But I refuse.”

Alhaitham stepped further into the room, arms folded. His own bag, significantly smaller and already packed, rested neatly against the wall.
“You’re aware we’re trekking into unstable desert terrain, not relocating the Akademiya.”

Kaveh gasped lightly. “Excuse you. Proper preparation is the mark of a refined scholar.”

“You’ve packed decorative ribbon.” Alhaitham said flatly.

“It’s for labeling.”

Alhaitham raised a brow.
Kaveh paused.

“…And maybe for aesthetic morale.”
Alhaitham exhaled slowly through his nose.

Despite his commentary, he crouched beside Kaveh and began reorganizing the scattered items with quiet efficiency.

“Water skins should be at the top for accessibility,” he said, shifting them. “Heavier tools at the base for balance.

If the weight distribution is uneven, you’ll strain your shoulders before we reach the first dune.”

Kaveh blinked.
“You’re… reorganizing my bag.”

“Yes.”

“You sound like you’re critiquing a building foundation.”

“The principles are identical.”
Kaveh tried and failed to suppress a smile and a small chuckle.

“You know,” he said lightly, leaning closer than necessary to watch Alhaitham work, “for someone who claims not to romanticize things, you’re taking this very seriously.”

“I take survival seriously.”

“Ah. So you do plan on keeping me alive.”

Alhaitham’s hands paused for half a second.
“I would prefer it, yes.”

The simplicity of the answer made Kaveh’s chest feel oddly warm.
He quickly looked away and reached for a folded scarf.

“Well, I suppose I should be honored.”

“You should be practical,” Alhaitham corrected, though there was the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth.

Kaveh stood and crossed the room to grab a small compass, only to nearly trip over his own scattered fabric.
Alhaitham caught his wrist instantly.
Their eyes met.

The contact lingered a beat too long.
“You’re proving my earlier point,” Alhaitham said quietly.

“What point?”

“That you require supervision.”

Kaveh yanked his hand back,  perhaps more dramatically than necessary.
“I do not!”

“You tripped over stationary cloth.”

“It attacked me.”

“Of course.”

Kaveh huffed, but there was color creeping into his cheeks again.
Alhaitham stood, brushing invisible dust from his hands.

“You should pack lighter clothing for daytime travel,” he added. “And something warmer for night. Desert temperatures drop quickly.”

Kaveh tilted his head. “You’ve researched this thoroughly.”

“I prefer not to freeze.”

Kaveh studied him for a moment, softer now.
“…You really didn’t have to come with me.”

Alhaitham didn’t hesitate.
“I know.”

The air shifted.
Kaveh looked down at his half-packed bag.
“…I’m glad you are, though.”

Alhaitham’s expression changed.
“Good,” he said simply.
Silence settled between the two scholars, slightly awkward, but warm.
Kaveh cleared his throat first.

“Well! Since you seem so invested in structural integrity,” he said brightly, “perhaps you’d like to inspect the stability of my tent assembly?”
Alhaitham blinked.

“…That sounds like a trap.”

“It’s not.”

“It absolutely is.”

Kaveh grinned.

Alhaitham sighed, but stepped closer anyway.

“If it collapses in the middle of the night,” he said calmly, “I’m blaming you.”

“If it collapses,” Kaveh countered, “I expect you to heroically shield me from the canvas.”

Alhaitham gave him a look.
“You are insufferable.”

“And yet,” Kaveh replied sweetly, “you’re still coming.”

There was no immediate retort to that.

Alhaitham adjusted the strap on his own bag and moved toward the door.
“We leave at sunrise,” he said.
Kaveh followed, slinging his now properly balanced pack over his shoulder, wobbling slightly before steadying.

Alhaitham reached out instinctively again. Kaveh noticed. This time, he didn’t comment.

“Sunrise,” Kaveh repeated softly, a small smile playing at his lips.
Neither of them said it aloud, but both of them felt it:

This wasn’t just a research trip anymore. And somehow, that made preparing for it feel even more important.

~~~~~~ The next morning ~~~~~

Sunrise in Sumeru was quieter than Kaveh expected.

The sky shifted slowly from indigo to soft gold, light spilling over the layered rooftops and reflecting faintly off the Akademiya’s distant dome. The city hadn’t fully awakened yet — only a few merchants arranging crates, a scholar or two shuffling sleepily toward early lectures.

Kaveh stood near the city gates, adjusting the strap of his bag for the third time. He had, in fact, repacked it twice after Alhaitham left the night before. Not that he would admit that.

Footsteps approached behind him, and the sound alone told Kaveh exactly who they belonged to. Measured, calm, confident steps, the clacking of his shoes heels on the stone path filling the dawn’s quiet and empty air.

“You’re early,” Alhaitham observed.

Kaveh turned, pretending he hadn’t been watching the street for the last ten minutes.

“I value punctuality.”

“You told me you were late to lecture twice last week alone.”

“That was different.”

Alhaitham’s gaze dipped briefly to Kaveh’s bag. “You removed the ribbon.”

“…Yes.”

“Good.”

Kaveh huffed softly. “You’re impossible to impress.”

“I’m very easy to impress,” Alhaitham replied. “You simply don’t attempt practical methods.”

Kaveh rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. For a moment, neither of them moved.

The familiarity and safety of the city stretched behind them, ahead lay open roads and, eventually, endless dunes. Alhaitham adjusted the strap on his own bag. His, however, was smaller and more efficient - predictable of him.

“Ready?” he asked.

Kaveh glanced once over his shoulder at Sumeru City, then forward again.

“…Yeah.”

And just like that, they stepped forward together.

Side by side.

The city gates slowly disappeared behind them as morning light grew warmer. The stone paths transitioned into softer dirt roads, the dense greenery thinning with each passing mile. For a while, they walked in companionable silence. Their strides gradually synced without either of them acknowledging it. However, not even five minutes in-

“You’re walking too fast,” Kaveh said.

“I’m walking efficiently.”

“You’re power-walking.”

“I am not.”

“You absolutely are.”

Alhaitham slowed by half a fraction. “Better?”

Kaveh narrowed his eyes. “Marginally.”

They continued for another minute before Kaveh frowned at Alhaitham’s pack.

“You packed lighter.”

“Yes.”

“That’s unfair.”

“It’s efficient.”

“You made me remove half my things.”

“I saved your spine.”

Kaveh gasped softly. “You implied my packing was irrational.”

“It was.”

Kaveh stopped walking altogether.

Alhaitham took two more steps before noticing.

“…Why did you stop?”

“Because,” Kaveh said with wounded dignity, “if my packing is so irrational, perhaps you should carry the extra water pouch.”

Alhaitham stared at him.

“You’re suggesting redistribution of weight mid-journey out of spite.”

“I’m suggesting teamwork.”

Alhaitham sighed, long and dramatic.

“Fine.”

Kaveh’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

“Yes. Give it here.”

Kaveh hesitated, suddenly feeling a strange flicker of guilt.

“I was mostly joking…”

“Your shoulders will ache before noon,” Alhaitham replied calmly, reaching for the strap anyway. “Hand it over.”

Their fingers brushed as the pouch transferred between them. Both of them noticed, neither of them commented.

Kaveh cleared his throat. “You know, you don’t always have to solve everything.”

“I know.”

“…You just like to.”

A pause.

“Yes.”

They resumed walking. After a moment, Kaveh spoke again, softer.

“You don’t have to carry everything for me.”

“I’m not,” Alhaitham replied evenly. “You’re still carrying most of it.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Alhaitham glanced at him. The teasing edge had faded slightly.

“I know,” he said quietly.

The path curved ahead, sunlight filtering through thinning trees. The air already felt drier. Kaveh adjusted his now-lighter pack and gave a small, reluctant smile.

“Well,” he said lightly, “if I collapse dramatically from exhaustion, I expect you to catch me again.”

Alhaitham didn’t miss a step.

“I will.”

No sarcasm. No hesitation. Kaveh’s heartbeat did something inconvenient at that.

“…You’re very confident,” he muttered.

“I prefer to be prepared.”

Kaveh smiled despite himself. As the greenery continued to thin and the distant desert horizon shimmered into view, their shoulders brushed once. Neither of them stepped away.

And though the road ahead promised heat, danger, and old ghosts buried beneath the sand, for the first time, it didn’t feel like something either of them had to face alone.

The desert greeted them with relentless sunlight and endless gold.

As the lush rainforests of Sumeru faded behind them, the air grew drier, sharper. The wind dragged across the dunes in restless whispers.

Kaveh shaded his eyes, staring at distant stone shapes breaking through the sand.

“It’s beautiful,” he murmured.

“Hostile,” Alhaitham corrected.

Kaveh glanced back with a faint pout. “You could try romanticizing something once in a while.”

“I prefer accuracy, but whatever you say Mr. Kshahrewar.”

But he didn’t miss the way Kaveh’s expression softened at the sight of ancient architecture reclaiming the horizon.

After hours of careful travel, they reached the outer edge of the ruins Kaveh had mentioned — fractured pillars, collapsed archways, foundations stubbornly resisting centuries of erosion.

Kaveh’s breath caught.

“Look at the base width,” he said, kneeling immediately to brush sand from a pillar’s foundation. “They widened the footing to compensate for unstable terrain. And the curvature — Archons, that’s intentional. It reduces direct wind resistance…”

Alhaitham crouched nearby, though his eyes were not on the stone.

“You’re finally smiling again,” he observed.

Kaveh paused.

“…Am I?”

“Yes.”

For a moment, the heaviness that had followed him for weeks seemed lighter.

“This is where he worked,” Kaveh said quietly.

Alhaitham stilled, and his eyes widened at the sudden statement.

“Not this exact ruin. But out here. After the Interdarshan Championship.”

The wind dragged sand across broken stone.

“I was the one who told him about it,” Kaveh admitted. “I saw the posters for the Diadem of Knowledge. I told him how beautiful it looked. I said I wanted to see it up close.”

A fragile smile played across his lips.

“He laughed and said, ‘Then I’ll win it for you. I’ll let you play with it for a few days.’”

“He didn’t win.” He continued.

“In the final round… something happened. No one explained it properly. But when he came home, he wasn’t the same.” Kaveh’s gaze fixed on the horizon. “Restless. Withdrawn. Like something had unsettled him.”

The wind shifted.

“He asked to join a research expedition in the desert soon after. Said he wanted to assist Aaru Village. Said he needed distance from the Akademiya. From… everything.”

Kaveh’s fingers dug into the sand.

“He helped people here. Taught them. Gave what he could. He even went beyond the village searching for the Nagarjunites.”

His voice thinned.

“When he encountered that caravan trapped in quicksand, they said he didn’t hesitate. He saved them.” A breath hitched. “He just misjudged the ground beneath him.”

Alhaitham’s jaw tightened and widened eyes softened in empathy.

“There was a letter,” Kaveh continued softly. “He had started writing to me before he died. It was never delivered. Someone tried to bring it back, but…” His voice trailed off.

Another stretch of silence.

“I know it wasn’t my fault,” Kaveh whispered. “He made his own decisions… But it's hard to convince myself of that sometimes”

He swallowed.

“But if I hadn’t pointed out that poster… if I hadn’t asked…”

He shook his head.

“It feels like I started the first domino.”

“Kaveh.”

Alhaitham’s voice was steady.

“You mentioned an event you found beautiful. He chose to compete. He encountered something beyond his control. He chose to volunteer for desert research. He chose to help Aaru Village. And he chose to save that caravan. None of that was your fault. He was a grown man who made his own choices. Blaming yourself isn’t… It’s not logical.”

Kaveh let out a hollow breath.

“Since when has grief been logical?”

Before Alhaitham could respond a voice echoed from behind a dune ridge.

“Well, what do we have here?”

Three eremites emerged, weapons glinting in the sun.

Alhaitham rose instantly, stepping in front of Kaveh without thinking.

“Stay behind me.”

“I can fight,” Kaveh snapped.

“I know. Do it from behind me.”

The clash was swift and chaotic.

Sand flew. Steel rang. Kaveh summoned constructs to block and redirect, but one mercenary broke through their flank.

There was a flash of a blade —

Alhaitham moved.

He intercepted it cleanly, the impact forcing him back half a step but shielding Kaveh entirely.

“Haitham—!”

“Focus!” Alhaitham called out, a slight grunt leaving his throat.

Working in tense synchronization, they drove the attackers off.

When silence finally returned, it felt heavier than before.

Alhaitham lowered his weapon.

Kaveh’s hands were shaking.

“Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“It’s just basic self-defense… The world is full of danger, it's better to be prepared in any way possible. Plus I enjoy taking care of my body…”

He saw Kaveh’s stare and looked away, embarrassed.

“It wasn’t anything extreme, anyways. I’m nothing more than a feeble scholar, and those eremites luckily were weak.”

“Feeble scholar?” Kaveh snorted. “Ugh, nevermind that! You could’ve been hurt,” Kaveh said, voice breaking. “Why would you just throw yourself in front of me like that?!”

“You were exposed.”

“And?!” His composure shattered. “That’s the problem! People always get hurt protecting me!”

The words echoed against ancient stone.

“My father!” Kaveh choked. “He entered that Championship because of me! He came out here because of what happened! And he died saving other people, just like you were about to!”

Tears spilled freely now.

“I’m so tired of being the reason people sacrifice themselves,” he whispered. “I’m tired of feeling like a burden.”

The word hung between them.

Alhaitham stepped closer.

“You are not a burden.”

Kaveh let out a broken laugh. “Easy for you to say.”

“No,” Alhaitham replied quietly. “It isn’t.”

He grabbed the sad boy by the shoulders and gripped hard, trying to ground him. Kaveh looked up.

“When my parents died,” Alhaitham said quietly, voice lower than the wind, “I was too young to understand it. I barely remember them. Just impressions. Bookshelves. The smell of ink.”

His gaze remained steady on Kaveh, but something distant flickered there.

“I was raised by my grandmother after that. She told me early on that attachment should never become dependency. That the Akademiya would not give me peace. That I should live quietly. Independently. For a long time, I believed that if I needed less from people, I would lose less.”

The desert wind shifted between them.

“When she passed, I told myself I was prepared. That I had been raised to stand alone.”

His jaw tightened.

“I wasn’t. I remember thinking I should have been more self-sufficient. Less trouble. That if I had demanded less of her time, less of her care…” He exhaled slowly. “As though my existence had been an inconvenience she bore.”

His gaze sharpened again, locking eyes with Kaveh once more.

“That is what grief does. It searches for causality where there is none. It rewrites events to give suffering structure.”

He pulled him a little closer.

“You mentioned a poster you found beautiful. Your father chose to compete. He chose to volunteer for desert research. He chose to help Aaru Village. He chose to save that caravan.”

Each sentence was deliberate.

“Those decisions belong to him.”

The truth stung Kaveh, and the tears he was holding back started to spill.

“And I chose to step in front of that blade just now, not you.”

Kaveh’s breath hitched.

“You don’t get to take ownership of other people’s decisions just because you loved them.”

The desert wind softened.

“You deserve people you can rely on,” Alhaitham continued. “People who protect you because they want to. Not because they have to.”

His voice and expression softened, along with the grip on his shoulders.

“You deserve to feel safe, Kaveh.”

That broke him.

Kaveh stepped forward, burying his face against Alhaitham’s shoulder, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.

Alhaitham froze for half a heartbeat. Then slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around him. Awkward, but protective and certain.

“I don’t think you’re weak,” Alhaitham murmured. “Or high-maintenance. Or a burden.”

Kaveh sniffed. “You definitely think I’m high-maintenance.”

“…That is unrelated.”

Despite himself, Kaveh let out a shaky laugh. They stayed like that as the sun dipped lower. After a long moment, Kaveh pulled back, face flushed from crying… And something else.

“You still want to explore deeper?” Alhaitham asked quietly.

Kaveh hesitated.

Then, softer but steadier:

“Yes. I need to see more. I need to understand how they made something beautiful survive out here.” His eyes flickered to the ruins. “If they could make it last… maybe I can too.”

Alhaitham studied him thoroughly.

“Then we’ll go further in,” he said, turning back to the path.

Neither of them commented on how close they were still standing.

The desert stretched endlessly ahead, but this time, Kaveh didn’t feel like he was walking into it alone.

They explored deeper after that.

Kaveh sketched by fading light while Alhaitham analyzed structural angles and quietly pointed out weaknesses. They debated arch symmetry. They disagreed over load-bearing columns. They laughed, softly.

When night fell, the desert grew cold; Colder than either expected.

They sat closer than necessary beside a small fire. For warmth.

Obviously…

At some point, Kaveh’s shoulder leaned against Alhaitham’s.

He didn’t move, but just sat there sipping from his water skin, and gazing off around the scenery surrounding them.

They woke up in the same place, agreeing to continue their journey a little longer since they were so far out already.

They returned to Sumeru City two days later. Dusty, sunburnt, tired. But lighter.

The city gates came into view as twilight settled.

“Well,” Kaveh said softly, adjusting his bag. “We survived.”

“As planned.” Alhaitham replied.

Kaveh smiled.

They slowed as they reached the familiar stone pathways.

Neither seemed eager to separate.

“…Thank you,” Kaveh said quietly.

“For what?”

“For coming. For staying.”

Alhaitham looked at him for a long moment.

“You don’t have to thank me for that.”

The air between them felt softer now. Familiar in a new way.

They stopped at the fork where their paths split.

Kaveh shifted awkwardly. “I suppose… I’ll see you at the House of Daena?”

Alhaitham nodded with a smile

“…Goodnight, Alhaitham.”

“Goodnight, Kaveh.”

They turned in opposite directions.

Both walked several steps. Both glanced back at the same time. Their eyes met across the lantern-lit street.

Neither said anything. But both smiled. And for the first time in a long time, the city felt a little more like a home...