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Kaveh limped over to the shower. The dance sessions he engaged in with Alhaitham were excruciatingly painful, both for his heart and body. Especially when that bastard decided he wanted to have them thrice, thrice, a week.
His schedule was busy enough as it was. On Monday mornings and afternoons he had meetings with his clients, in the evenings he danced with Nilou in the theatre – the staff already considered him as one of them. Not that he minded though.
Tuesday was relatively calm. He used to spend the day working on new designs and looking for inspiration.
But then comes Wednesday. Since that bastard Alhaitham was set on that their dance was not a one time thing, he made the decision of having them on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, leaving no room for Kaveh to argue. That would still be bearable, would Alhaitham be any other person and wouldn’t they have their weekly meet-up with Cyno, the General Mahamatra and Tighnari, a Forest Watcher.
And today was Wednesday. After said session did Kaveh finally have some time for himself. In the shower he made sure to rinse any possible filth off his body and washed his already slightly greasy hair. According to Alhaitham, Kaveh spent just as much time in the shower as Alhaitham in the Akademiya – meaning too long. But how could he not? That pig that was his roommate knew nothing about the importance of using the right products on his body, so he better shut up!
Though if Kaveh wished to relax, he needed to stop having these thoughts about the Scribe. Yes, he already came to terms that were the feelings he possessed towards said man, yet that didn’t mean a mere sight of him didn’t fuel Kaveh’s anger. It did. It really did.
He blocked out all noise around him and started humming a song he heard Nilou sing often in the theatre. As he progressed more and more into the melody, he heard the doorbell ring.
“Oh shit! I forgot Cyno and Tighnari were arriving today!” He finished his (much too short) shower and put on some clothes. When he opened the door, he was faced with the sight of his two friends (and Alhaitham, although he doesn’t count) standing in the living room.
So you see, their weekly meet-up is something that was established years ago, back when they were students still attending the Akademiya. To each of them, it meant something else. To Alhaitham, it was, quoting “an unnecessary, pointless thing that involved letting people into his home and Kaveh getting drunk each time”, to Kaveh, it was bonding time with his friends (excluding Alhaitham), to Cyno, it meant playing Genius Invocation TCG and never losing but also time spent saying “intelligent” jokes (nobody liked them), and to Tighnari, it meant preventing Cyno from telling said jokes.
It was fun, it really was. Even though they fell apart when Kaveh proceeded to build his magnum opus, the Palace of Alcazarzaray, and him and Alhaitham had the biggest argument of their lives. However, this tradition was swiftly restored when the architect returned back and began to live with the Scribe because of his enormous debt.
Nowadays, they meet up every week. Once it is in Gandharva Ville at Tighnari’s and Cyno’s, second in the city at Alhaitham’s and Kaveh’s.
However, they recently had to cancel some of those, given the general’s and his partner’s vacation in Mondstadt during the Windblume Festival. The pair had yet to hear about Kaveh’s current situation.
“Cyno, Tighnari, welcome to our humble abode! Please sit.” Kaveh opened his arms and a warm smile spread on his face, real despite his otherwise tired demeanour.
“So how have you been?” All of them sat around the table, any floor or drinks had yet to be served.
“Pretty good. Mondstadt was great and Collei made many new friends.” Tighnari reminded Kaveh of a proud father for a moment. “We met a lot great people.”
“I had my card back commissioned by Mr. Calx himself.” Cyno puffed out his chest in pride. Of course that man started talking about Genius Invocation TCG as soon as he arrived.
Kaveh opened his mouth in shock. “Are you kidding?! You met Mr. Calx?! What was he like? Did you ask for an autograph? You know how much I love his work!”
Cyno shook his head apologetically. “I didn’t, sorry. I’ll make sure to ask him the next time I meet him.”
“Although, Kaveh, I couldn’t help but notice that you look worse for wear, you sure you’re doing alright?” Tighnari asked the blonde man with evident concern on his face. The architect opened his mouth to speak, words about every single trouble already forming, yet he didn’t manage to utter a single one, because certain someone insisted on answering for him.
“He’s fine. He’s just pretending to be tired after our dance session.” Alhaitham waved his hand in nonchalance.
Tighnari’s ears perked up, just as did his curiosity. The general’s as well. “Dancing?” Asked both of them at once and looked at each other.
The designer cleared his throat and began his storytelling. “So you see. It was a beautiful day, sun was up, shining bright and scorching hot, I was strolling around the city-“
“Get to the point, Kaveh.”
Said man tsked. “You be quiet, asshole. Anyway, as I was saying, before someone interrupted me,” a particularly nasty glare was thrown in Alhaitham’s direction, “I was walking around and suddenly I found myself in Zubayr Theatre. Empty all around, except for Miss Nilou, who danced so mesmerisingly in the centre of the stage. I, of course, as a fellow appreciator of arts and whatsoever, stayed to watch. After her brilliant performance I asked her about her teaching dance lessons. She agreed and took me under her wing right away.”
Cyno tilted his head questionably. “Wait, Alhaitham said our dancing session. What did he mean by that? You only mentioned learning with Miss Nilou so far.” The Forest Watcher hummed along, nodding in agreement.
Kaveh put a hand up. “Now hold your horses, Cyno. I’m getting there. So after-“
“I think ‘hold your sumpter beasts’ would be more appropriate in this situation. Get it? Since horses are mainly native to Mondstadt and we have sumpter beasts in Sumeru instead.”
Tighnari shot the other an unimpressive glare and shook his head. “Not funny.” He turned his head to look back at the architect. “Sorry, Kaveh, please continue.”
“So after the lesson was done, I came home, tired and spent, wishing to just jump into my bed and sleep. You can deduce my simple wish was not granted, otherwise I wouldn’t be telling this story. So anyway, my all-time-polite roommate took it as a sign to make some very much necessary remarks. The one that got me though, was,” Kaveh once again cleared his throat, and what followed was a very inaccurate impression of Alhaitham. “You look like shit, you must’ve done poorly for you to look like that.”
“I don’t sound like that at all. Get my voice right if you want to make an impression of me. And it’s not a remark, I merely pointed out the fact that you did not look like your usual self, which isn’t much of a joy either.” The Scribe crossed his arms in defence, preparing for the outburst of Kaveh’s anger that would sure follow soon.
“You..! Ugh! Deep breaths, Kaveh, deep breaths...” The blond man closed his eyes for a moment before he spoke up again.
“I did not take his insult lightly of course and invited him for a challenge.” Tighnari raised a brow.
“…That being?”
“Dancing! If he’d show me he’s better at it I’d acknowledge him being right, no matter how much it’d hurt.” This elected a snort out of the grey haired man, quiet one, but a snort nonetheless.
Kaveh, however, carried on with his story. “So we danced. For quite a long time. And this brat decided he hadn’t have enough! Now we have our sessions three times a week, mind you, I was forced into this arrangement.”
The man with inhuman ears could only marvel unbelievably at the pure bullshit he’s just listened to. “Hold on, so Alhaitham, you, a critic of arts and romance, agreed to have dance lessons with Kaveh, your roommate, just so you could prove him he sucks at it? Is that it?”
The questioned man nodded. “Yes, precisely.”
While Tighnari drowned in misery, Cyno went to ask now instead. “But when will you admit to one of you being better? When are you going to end this ‘arrangement’?”
The Scribe shrugged. “Dunno, it can take eternity for all I care.”
“But I care!” The blonde man responded furiously, gaze locked onto his roommate. Surprisingly, all he got in response was a tiny smile on those pink lips, teal eyes almost fond. Kaveh hated the way his heart skipped a beat.
That led him to his other predicament. His feelings. He must ask his two friends for help. Unbeknownst to him, those two have watched this interaction carefully with smirks on their faces. Tighnari decided to spring to action.
“Hey, Alhaitham? Would you mind bringing me and Cyno something to drink and eat?”
“Oh yes, please, bring that wine I bought a few days back at Lambad’s!” Added in Kaveh, eyes shining at the possibility of wine.
“Tch, what am I, your servant?” Nevertheless, he stood up and disappeared into the kitchen.
Kaveh swallowed anxiously and scratched the back of his neck. “Hey, I think I-“
“Like him?” Finished Tighnari. “You say that as if that wasn’t obvious already.”
“What?!” Kaveh all but shrieked. “What do you mean it’s obvious? And I don’t like him, I hate him.”
“You mean ‘Al-haith-him’?” Interrupted the master of jokes himself. “What, you don’t understand? ‘Al-haith-him’ as in ‘I hate him’. It sounds like ‘Alhaitham’.”
Cyno promptly shut up after another disappointed glare from the Amurta graduate.
Kaveh ignored the joke and sighed. “I know. I think I love him even. Horrible, right? But when we danced together for the first time, it was… it was unexpectedly beautiful. He was beautiful. And since then, his snarky comments ceased in amount and they often lack their usual bite. We don’t even argue that much.” The architect pondered for a moment. “Do you think he’s gone insane? Wait, Tighnari, you treated some patients, right? Could you take a look if he’s right in the head?”
All the Forest Watcher could do was stare at his stupidly dense friend. “If anyone would need treatment, it’d be you with that thick skull of yours! Do you even hear yourself?” Tighnari miserably put his head into his hands. He felt Cyno place a supposedly reassuring hand on his shoulder. It was of no comfort at all.
“Kaveh,” he began again, “I’m no relationship expert, but in my opinion, he returns your feelings.”
“Nonsense.” Kaveh shook his head. “He’s in love with his stupid books and-“
“Here it is.” Alhaitham arrived back at the dinner table with a bottle of wine, four glasses and a few plates of food. He observed the silence that enveloped the living room when he returned. “What were you talking about? I think I heard my name.”
“I was just telling them about the wine I bought! And how I hoped you’ll pick it and not something else. Seems like you did listen to me for once.” Kaveh grabbed the bottle and opened it.
“But enough chitchat for now! We have a whole bottle to empty!”
——————————————————————————
Kaveh was, very much, a lightweight. His speech became slurred after one and half glasses and it took him two other glasses for him to fall asleep on the divan in the living room. His cape was nowhere to be seen, and his already indecent blouse that already showed big part of his back and chest, managed to slip of his shoulders. So there he lay in all his drunken beauty and Alhaitham, as much as he tried to resist, couldn’t help but admire him.
He had a few cups of wine in his system, too. His brain still functioned properly, even though it was a bit hazy thanks to the alcohol. Tighnari and Cyno were no different. They were cuddling on another divan, most likely in their world on cloud nine. Thankfully, Cyno was less drunk than Tighnari, so after a little while he helped him stand up and after a goodbye to Alhaitham they went back home to Gandharva Ville. Alhaitham certainly didn’t envy them the long journey they had ahead.
Finally though, did he have some privacy with Kaveh. Without thinking he sat onto the divan Kaveh currently slept on and mindlessly caressed his hair. He always wanted to touch it. It looked so soft and beautiful. Just like Kaveh himself.
Mind empty and heart full, he bent down and pressed a feather light kiss into the other’s hair. The architect stirred in his sleep and the Scribe feared for a moment that he would wake up, but thankfully he carried on sleeping like log.
“I’m going to regret this.” He whispered to himself and gently moved the other’s head into his lap. He wished to stay like this forever. Kaveh was the sun of his life, he lit up every dark corner of his mind yet blinded him with his beauty. He had a heart made of gold, willing to help anybody in need, including Alhaitham himself. He overworked himself, just to bring joy to others.
Once again he pressed a kiss into those golden locks. “I would rather bear the pain of losing you over a hundred times than to live a life without meeting you at all.” He mumbled sweetly as he gazed at the love of his life. His radiant skin, his closed crimson eyes, those perfectly shaped lips. Oh how he longed to kiss them.
“I wish you would see me in the same way I see you.” He gave a quiet laugh. “After all, who else would put up with me if not you? Who’d debate with me if not you?”
“I confessed my love for you many times, yet you don’t remember single one of them because of your drunkenness. I’m starting to lose hope, but I know you don’t mean it. Perhaps one day you’ll remember and then finally, you’ll give me your answer.” Another kiss, third for the night, this time on his forehead.
He then leaned on the back of the divan and closed his eyes, fingers still absentmindedly stroking Kaveh’s hair. However, they became as frozen as ice when voice that wasn’t his spoke.
“You know, you should consume alcohol more often. It brings a romantic side of you I’ve never known existed.” And oh.
Those gorgeous crimson eyes were gazing up at him, half lidded, which made the gaze look much more sultry. Alhaitham held his breath when a hand came to rest upon his own.
“Haha, are you at loss for words? My, my, Haitham, that doesn’t usually happen. In fact, I don’t think it’s ever happened before.” Kaveh then proceeded to sit up and gaze at the grey haired man properly this time.
“Tell me, just how many times did you already confess and I didn’t remember it?”
Alhaitham’s eyes saddened. “Five times. This is my sixth attempt, but there’s no guarantee you’ll remember it either. You always promised me you would, but look at us. No progress so far.”
Kaveh took Alhaitham’s hand and placed it over his heart. “No, my Haitham, there has been a change in our relationship, and I’m sure you must’ve felt it, too. Plus, I feel like this time it will actually work out. Just wait, I’ll remember it this time.” As if to seal the promise, he gave the other a light kiss on the lips, which lasted merely a heartbeat, because Alhaitham pushed him away.
“It pains me, but no kissing until you remember when you’re sober.”
Kaveh yawned adorably. “Alright, I’m sleepy anyway. Good night, Haitham.” And thus he fell asleep, dreaming about everything and nothing all the while laying on his beloved’s chest.
The Scribe looked at the other fondly before standing up and carrying the man into his bed.
——————————————————————————
Kaveh woke up with a headache. He got up to brush his teeth while vaguely trying to refresh his memory about last night.
He remembers Cyno and Tighnari arriving, then Alhaitham bringing wine and then- oh.
He covered his mouth in shock, mind suddenly completely aware of all events that transpired.
After exiting the shower, he made a straight beeline for Alhaitham. The other looked and him impassively, but since he’s known the man for a long, long time, he saw the hope reflecting in those teal eyes he’s grown to love.
“Haitham.” Just one word. Just one whisper. Just this was enough for both Alhaitham and Kaveh to understand. Wasting no time, the grey haired man grabbed the blonde’s cheeks and kissed him on the lips, passionately, feverishly, it was everything Kaveh has ever desired.
The architect wrapped his arms around the other’s neck and kissed the other with just as much fervour back. Teeth clashed, tongues danced with each other, but it was so them that they wouldn’t want it any other way.
They continued until they could no longer breathe, but even after departing their lips they stayed close to each other, looking into each other’s eyes with unhidden affection so unbefitting and unusual for these two particular people.
“Six times. It really took you six times to remember.” Alhaitham smiled and Kaveh realised, that his smile was the biggest piece of beauty an artist could ever see, especially when such smile was a creation of the artist himself.
“Still, I’d like to say that I won our little dancing competition, no?”
His Haitham gave him the infamous smirk, yet his eyes still carried the softest look ever. “Bold of you to assume it has been finished, love.”
Kaveh blushed against his own will. “Of course it has! And I’m the winner.”
The Scribe merely took his hand and kissed the back of it while holding eye contact. He then leaned forward until his lips brushed past the other’s ear. Tone dropping octaves lower, he spoke.
“Dream on, my love.”