Chapter Text
Kaveh bounced his leg up and down, trying to focus on his blueprint. His skin was crawling and he felt restless. He checked his bottle of suppressants; he hadn’t missed any doses recently so that wasn’t likely to be the reason.
Sighing he set his tools down and stood to make himself a cup of tea. Maybe he was overworked and needed to relax. He had pulled multiple all-nighters this week to meet his deadline and his current project wasn’t actually due for 2 more weeks.
Walking into the kitchen he pulled out his mug and started heating the water. He scooped the tea leaves into the strainer and waited, making a mental note to add this blend to the grocery list. Once the water was ready he poured it into the mug and waited a few minutes before adding a small spoonful of sugar. Kaveh walked into the living area and took a seat, huffing and stepping around a pile of books his roommate had left on the floor. Again.
The omega sipped at his tea and let the calming aroma relax him. He was only halfway finished when his leg began bouncing again. He sighed, maybe he had it all wrong and he needed to burn off some energy instead? Tilting the mug back he gulped down the rest of the drink and stood, intent on getting some housework done instead.
Kaveh scurried around the room placing books back on their shelves. He washed his mug along with the alpha’s mug from that morning. He traipsed back into the living area and started rearranging the pillows on their divan. When he got to the side Alhaitham always sat on, he picked the pillow up intending to fluff it out but his nose was suddenly filled with the scent of vanilla and parchment. He paused; his arms tightened around the pillow and he shoved his nose into it, breathing deeply. His fingers began kneading and he let out a purr before his brain caught up with his actions.
The omega threw the offending object back on the couch and looked around as if the alpha would suddenly pop out and say he’d seen the whole thing. His heartbeat picked up and he flushed, embarrassed despite his lack of audience.
Nevermind cleaning. Surely he was sleep deprived. He just needed a nap, that would fix everything.
Snuggling into his blankets he tried to focus on relaxing his muscles. He was able to lie still for approximately 10 minutes before he tossed and turned. He just couldn’t get comfortable. The blanket was too heavy; he pushed it to the side and stood to grab his lighter throw. Too scratchy. He shoved it down by his feet and grabbed his last option from his closet.
That was much better. But now his pillows felt wrong. He rearranged them, working on autopilot. Fluff this one just so. Move that one to the side. Drape the blanket along the edge. He sat back on his heels and his eyes widened as he realized what the problem was all along.
Ah. He was nesting.
The omega sat shocked, the itchy feeling had lessened and he thought back. When was the last time he had made a nest? When his father was still alive?
He knew omegas only ever felt comfortable nesting in a safe and familiar environment, in their own homes or with their partners. This was Alhaitham’s house, not his. He was only a renter, a temporary resident. When did his omega accept this house as his?
He looked at his bed and the sad nest he had started. He wasn’t prepared for this. He only had three blankets for goodness sake!
He walked out to the living area and took the pillows off the divan, his eyes drifted to the one he had thrown down and before he could overthink it he grabbed it too. The alpha could live without any pillows for now.
He worked on his nest, arranging the pillows in a haphazard circle and draping two of his blankets over top of them. Kaveh saved the offending pillow for last, placing it right where his head would go.
He crawled into the middle and curled up. The smell of the alpha calmed him down even more but it still wasn’t enough. Tears of frustration dripped down his cheeks as he tried to think what else he could do.
It was clear that his omega was craving more of that scent and he tried not to think too hard about what that meant.
He would just have to deal with Alhaitham’s judgment later he thought as he got up and walked out of his room. Kaveh couldn’t take the discomfort any longer. He glanced at the clock noting that he still had a few hours before the other would return.
Despite knowing this he still creeped across the hall slowly and stepped into the alpha’s room. His eyes zeroed in on a basket of dirty laundry in the corner and he stepped over and grabbed the whole bin. Maybe if he was lucky Alhaitham would assume Kaveh started the laundry but fell asleep before finishing. After all, the alpha often came home more tired than usual due to his extra duties as Acting Grand Sage. He could actually wash the clothing tomorrow and return it to its proper place before anyone noticed.
Smiling at his master plan he waltzed back to his nest and started placing the various clothing items all around. A few he placed gently in the middle and after 20 minutes of effort he crawled into the space and covered himself up with his blanket. The scent of his alpha was stronger than before and he drifted off to sleep without even realizing he had thought of Alhaitham as his.
—---
Alhaitham pulled out his keys with one hand, easily juggling takeout with the other and unlocked the door. He knew Kaveh hadn’t slept much this week and likely wouldn’t have started dinner yet.
It was eerily silent; he set the food down on the table then walked into the living area to set his book by his usual spot. He stopped and raised a brow upon noticing the complete lack of pillows.
“Kaveh,” he called, glancing into the study. No sign of the omega or the missing pillows.
Next he walked down the hall and knocked lightly on Kaveh’s door. No response.
“Kaveh, I’m coming in,” he announced and pushed the door open. His eyes widened as he took in the sleeping omega surrounded by all of their pillows and..was that his laundry? He stepped closer and his alpha felt a sense of pride at seeing the omega surrounded by his things.
He had never seen Kaveh nest before but to see him now, nesting in their home and drowning in his scent. He let out a small smile and stepped closer to the nest but knew better than to reach inside. It may be his clothing but it was a massive breach of trust to step inside an omega’s nest without being invited.
“Kaveh, I brought dinner. You need to eat something.”
“Mmmmm. Haitham?” came the muffled reply. Carmine eyes blinked open sleepily and glanced up. The alpha could tell the blonde wasn’t fully awake yet or he would be flustered and indignant. Instead the omega sniffed the air and his hands came out, making a grabbing motion at Alhaitham.
The alpha still wasn’t willing to risk climbing in unless Kaveh asked for that specifically so instead he unhooked his cape and passed it over. The omega snatched it up and hugged it close, inhaling and closing his eyes. Soft purrs filled the room and the alpha decided to give the other a little while longer. He could reheat the food in a bit. Smile still on his face he changed into casual clothes and retreated to the divan to finish reading his book.
—---
Kaveh woke slowly; he felt comfortable and safe. The smell of vanilla and parchment was accompanied by a deeper, muskier smell and he realized he was holding an item of clothing and purring. Blinking his eyes open he pulled the item away from his face to get a better look. It was one of Alhaitham’s capes; why did it smell so strong? He could swear when he smelled it earlier it was weaker than the pillow.
He sat up and glanced down at the foot of the bed only to see another cape laying there. His eyes widened and he felt very awake as he realized this could only mean one thing. Alhaitham was home. He’d seen the nest.
Footsteps echoed in the hall and he opened his mouth to yell ‘wait’ but his door opened before he could get it out.
This was it. Kaveh would never live this down. Alhaitham would be at best annoyed, at worst disgusted, and he’d be homeless again. He would never get out of debt because no one would want to hire him anymore and his friends would leave him and-
“-veh. Kaveh!”
He glanced up at the alpha who had moved closer during his spiral, brows furrowed.
“What?” he managed to get out.
“Are you okay?” the taller man asked.
“Huh?” he looked at the other, bewildered.
Alhaitham huffed, “I said, are you okay?”
Kaveh nodded weakly, not sure where this was going. Why was the alpha asking him that instead of demanding an explanation?
“I brought food home from Lambad’s. You should come out and eat something.”
He looked at Kaveh expectantly.
“O-okay.”
Satisfied with the answer Alhaitham left the room. The omega sat for only a moment before standing, careful not to ruin the edge of the nest despite knowing the alpha will demand his belongings back.
He walked into the kitchen and Alhaitham gestured for him to sit, placing a plate of food in front of him. They ate for a bit in silence before the anxious omega couldn’t take it anymore.
“Are you upset with me?” the blonde asked quietly.
The alpha met his eyes with a look of confusion.
“Why would I be upset?”
“Because! I took all the pillows from the living area even though they aren’t mine. And I stole your laundry for Archon’s sake!”
“I can only assume you didn’t have enough pillows on your own. After all, I’ve never seen you nest before. I can easily get more. We’ll need more blankets too if this is to be a regular occurrence. As for the clothing, I have plenty of clean outfits. I can be without the rest for the time being.”
“But! Why are you being so calm about this? Aren’t you annoyed that some omega is touching your things?”
He set his utensils down, giving Kaveh his full attention. “You’re hardly just ‘some omega’. Why should I be annoyed that you are nesting in your own home?”
He paused for only a moment before adding, “I’m pleased that you’re finally comfortable here.”
Kaveh gaped, mind grinding to a halt as he took in the other’s words.
“My…home?”
Ah. The alpha was looking at him as if he said something dumb.
“Of course,” he said slowly, ”you live here, this is our home.”
Kaveh flushed and glanced down, picking at his food. His heart was racing and Alhaitham, seemingly satisfied with the conversation, picked his utensils back up and resumed eating. He was happy, maybe happier than he can ever remember being, and that blockhead of an alpha was sitting across from him quietly as if he didn’t just change Kaveh’s entire life.
They finished their meals in silence and Kaveh washed the dishes while the alpha disappeared with a quiet goodnight tossed over his shoulder. Kaveh walked back to his room and sitting outside of his door were two blankets, drenched in Alhaitham’s scent. He picked them up, smiling wide.
He wasn’t sure how this would change their relationship going forward but he draped the new blankets over his bed and snuggled down, falling asleep immediately.