Work Text:
Depending on whom one might ask, a flash of light can be a positive or negative occurrence.
For example, take Kaveh - the Light of the Kshahrewar, who may associate a flash of light with things such as the flash of a Kamera, lights flicking on at a surprise party, or the fireworks at one of the summer festivals. Good things. Nice things.
Conversely, suppose one were to ask Alhaitham, Scribe of the Akademiya and the former Acting Grand Sage (much as he loathes the title). In that case, he might suggest things such things as lightning strikes, explosions, and of course - worst of all - the fireworks at a summer festival. Objectively pretty, subjectively overwhelming. Too bright, too unexpected, and an awful tinny sound blaring in his ears had he not been able to turn his hearing aids off in time.
The flash of light that the pair are most concerned with, however, is thought by them both as a decidedly negative experience. Though some scholars may refer to it as a miracle, both the architect and the scribe are in agreement that the flash of light is objectively, decidedly and quite unmistakably, shit.
And although the calculations by scholars from Spantamad and Kshahrewar dictated that the speed of light was approximately 299,792,458 metres per second, the former Acting Grand Sage would like to include the week leading up to the origin of the aforementioned light to be part of the speed.
That is to say - it’s Kaveh’s fault. It’s entirely Kaveh’s fault.
It’s Kaveh’s fault for bringing that stupid map home, it’s Kaveh’s fault for giving him that look he always gives him, which says ‘Alhaitham, do this stupid thing with me or I’ll do it all by myself’ - the look which Alhaitham is somehow completely irresistible to.
It’s Kaveh’s fault that he had sand in his shoes, because ‘It’s really not that far, we can probably walk it!’ (It wasn’t.) And it’s Kaveh’s fault that they had to stop at an Eremite camp and Alhaitham had to trade one of his rings for water because they ‘Totally have enough!’ (They didn’t.) And although it was just a cheap silver ring from the market, if Kaveh thinks that it was one of his grandmother’s and it shuts him up for a while because he feels bad, well, it can only be a benefit.
They reach the ruins early into the afternoon, and Kaveh following the map he found leads them straight into a dead end.
“The map is wrong,” Kaveh declares, looking from the wall to the map to the wall again.
“Perhaps you’re reading it wrong,” Alhaitham answers dryly, earning him a sharp look from Kaveh.
“I have a Master’s degree in engineering,” Kaveh replies. “I think I know how to read a map.”
Cue twenty more minutes of walking in circles, half a flask of coffee, and a few rose and pistachio cookies eaten while Kaveh grumbles to himself.
Alhaitham watches a mouse run into the crack under the wall, and wonders if he should point it out. Still, part of him is enjoying Kaveh trying to puzzle out how to get to the other side of the wall, so he decides to keep quiet, and finish off the last of the rose and pistachio cookies. For all his faults, Kaveh is an excellent baker.
It’s another hour before Kaveh figures out the puzzle to the wall, the correct position of the slabs and it’s another ten minutes after that for Alhaitham to work out the solution himself, though his instantaneous reaction to Kaveh figuring out the wall is of course a scoff and a ‘took you that long?’ - Kaveh was always better at physical and mathematical puzzles, as much as Alhaitham loathes to admit it.
What happens next is hotly debated - they find the artifact together, in a chamber full of things that really ought not to be touched, but somehow, it does get touched.
It’s sat on what could be an altar, faintly glowing - every aspect of the stone sphere screaming ‘don’t touch me!’ - but Kaveh is curious, Alhaitham is curious, though he wouldn’t admit it to Kaveh, and someone’s hand reaches out.
Someone says ‘Don’t touch that,’ and as to whether it is Alhaitham or Kaveh remains a hotly debated topic months later (as with whether tinned chickpeas or dried and soaked chickpeas are better for Fatteh, and whether the lady at the stall next to the florist, or the lady at the stall behind the fruit stand in the market sells better kohl) but the fact of the matter is that somehow, their fingertips meet, and somehow, there’s an audible pop, a flash of white, yellow, blue light, and–
Kaveh finds himself waking up, not knowing he had been unconscious.
He groans - it sounds strange, tinny - which Kaveh assumes is a likely side effect of whatever head injury he’s likely sustained. He doesn’t quite dare move for a moment. Does he have a neck injury? A spinal injury? His body feels… Weird. He’s not sure if anything is broken, he’s not in pain, he’s not–
He’s not in pain? He hasn’t not been in pain for the last… Decade and a half. At least.
“Oh my god…” Kaveh manages, his voice sounding strangely echoey. “I think that light cured my arthritis…”
“I can assure you, it definitely did not,” A voice says. Alhaitham, his mind helpfully supplies. Except, it sounds wrong. Everything sounds wrong, it– Kaveh feels something nudging his side, and groans again, opening his eyes, only to come face to face with–
Himself? His reflection? But it moves when Kaveh doesn’t and– Oh god, his reflection is talking. His reflection is talking.
“This is strange,” His reflection says, and Kaveh blinks, once, twice, and he… He doesn’t quite know what to say.
“Are you… Me?” He murmurs, his voice definitely sounding strange. And not just because of the tinniness - God, he has a headache.
“No, I’m Alhaitham.” Alhaitham(?) answers. “And I’m hoping you’re Kaveh, otherwise this mess is not localised to just us two.”
What the fuck.
“What the fuck?” Kaveh asks, his voice strangely shaky. “Are you in my body?”
Alhaitham nods. Or Kaveh’s body nods. “Yes. It’s very… Creaky.” Kaveh feels himself blanching at Alhaitham’s words.
“What– Get out of it!”
“I don’t want to be in your body–” Alhaitham argues back as Kaveh tries to scramble to his (or Alhaitham’s) feet, wobbling precariously.
“Oh my God,” Kaveh says. “Oh my God,” He repeats, sounding a little more desperate. “What the hell do we do?!”
As he tries to stand, using the closest wall for support, Alhaitham can feel every muscle in Kaveh’s body protesting, muscles and joints creaking.
"You need to do more yoga or something," Alhaitham says, trying to ignore the way the words come out in Kaveh's voice. "I feel old. No wonder you always complain of back pain."
“I have arthritis, you prick,” Kaveh responds dryly, forgetting their situation for a moment to throw a jab at Alhaitham. “Yoga won’t do anything to fix that.”
"I'm aware. Your body kindly informed me." Alhaitham responds, trying once more to straighten up, grimacing slightly at how every movement causes Kaveh's body to ache. "Seriously, though, you need to do some sort of exercise. Your flexibility is appalling."
"Yeah, well, we can't all be born with perfect flexibility like you," Kaveh grumbles, bracing himself against the wall.
They fall silent for a moment, the reality of their situation finally settling in.
"This is..." Kaveh begins, his voice a little shaky. "This is... Insane, right? Like, I'm not going crazy?"
"If you are, then so am I," Alhaitham replies dryly, trying to ignore the strange feeling of being in another's body. "But yes, I agree, it's... Unsettling."
He glances down at his - Kaveh's - hands, flexing them, watching the way the muscles move under the skin. It's disconcerting.
Kaveh reaches up to fiddle with Alhaitham's hearing aids, frowning. "Everything sounds so... Echoey. Tinny. Are these things tuned correctly?"
Alhaitham's hand - in Kaveh's body - lifts up to bat Kaveh's - in Alhaitham's body - away from the hearing aids. "Don't touch those. And yes, they're tuned correctly. Or are you seriously going to tell me how my hearing aids should sound?"
"I'm just saying!" Kaveh huffs. "Is this how everything sounds for you? All the time? So... Mechanical? It's giving me a headache."
Alhaitham tries to suppress a sigh. "Yes, it is. It's how I have heard things my entire life." He pauses, and then adds, almost reluctantly, "You'll get used to it."
“I don’t really want to get used to it, actually,” Kaveh responds, unhappily. “I’d quite like to be in my own body again,” He says, rotating his wrist. “... Though having all this… Movement, it’s kind of nice. And I feel like I actually have energy, too.”
Alhaitham rolls his eyes, unimpressed with Kaveh’s comments. "Yes, you have 'movement,' because you're currently in the body of a man who actually has an exercise routine and a decent diet. As opposed to..." He trails off, gesturing to Kaveh's body.
Kaveh makes an indignant sound, his face going a little pink. "Hey! It's not my fault if I have no time to work out, with all the commissions I have to finish. And as for my diet..."
"You're constantly picking up takeout when you come home late," Alhaitham responds dryly. "And what was the last proper meal you had?”
“Shush! Zip it!” Kaveh answers, tersely. “Stop using my body to do that awful smug look that you always do. My eyebrows aren’t meant to move like that.”
He sighs, looking around, a little desperately. “We need to find a way to fix this,” Kaveh states. “What if we… We’ll touch the orb again, yeah? Maybe that’ll…” Kaveh gestures vaguely. “Switch us all back again. Easy.”
Alhaitham arches an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Ah yes, the thing that knocked us out cold and swapped our bodies in the first place, let's touch it again, that's a great idea."
"You have any better ideas, oh brilliant Scribe of the Akademiya?" Kaveh asks, his hands on his hips, an action that looks incredibly strange on Alhaitham's body.
“No, but I also don’t think the solution is to do what landed us in this mess in the first place,” Alhaitham responds, exasperated. "What's wrong with just going back to Sumeru City and seeing if there's any way we can fix this through... Less rash methods?"
"What, you want us to turn up at Bimarstan and try to explain to the healers what happened?" Kaveh squeaks. "Ahaha, no thank you! I'd rather not have the whole of the Akademiya thinking that we went to the desert and came back having lost our minds!"
Alhaitham sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. The pinched look on his - on Kaveh's - face only makes his headache worse.
"You need to stop being so overdramatic. But no, going to the Bimarstan is a bad idea. But Tighnari might be able to help. Or Cyno. Or–"
"-- Lesser Lord Kusanali!" Kaveh finishes. "Oh, but we can't bother her with this... Oh, but she does likes you, doesn't she? After your little..." Kaveh waves his hands around vaguely. "Little coup-y thing?"
A huff of irritation comes from Alhaitham.
"It was hardly a coup, and you know it."
He pauses, letting out another sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. It's hard being inside Kaveh's body, he's realised. His impulsivity and emotions feel... Amplified.
"But you're right," Alhaitham continues, trying to keep his annoyance in check. "Lesser Lord Kusanali might be able to at least give us some guidance. So we're agreed? We'll return to the city, and try to get an audience with the Dendro Archon?"
Alhaitham rolls his eyes, and glances around, before spotting a tattered and dusty cloth lying on the floor.
He stoops down, the joints in Kaveh's body protesting slightly at the movement, and picks up the cloth, handing it to Kaveh without a word.
"Here. Try not to drop it," He adds dryly.
“You try not to drop it,” Kaveh responds, childishly, though he carefully packs it away in Alhaitham’s bag, looking a little nervous as he does so.
Alhaitham refrains from rolling his eyes again, instead busying himself by grabbing Kaveh's bag off the floor and slinging it around his - Kaveh's - shoulders.
"Ready?" He asks, crossing his arms, and raising a questioning eyebrow.
“As I’ll ever be,” Kaveh mutters, a little reluctantly.
The journey back to Sumeru City is… More difficult, than anticipated. For one, Kaveh gives up with Alhaitham’s headache-inducing hearing aids, and takes them off, meaning the pair have to resort to sign language for a period until Kaveh decides he can deal with the hearing aids again.
For two, Alhaitham finds himself gasping for a cigarette, to which Kaveh refuses, stating that Alhaitham would absolutely not be smoking in his body, and for three…
Alhaitham is in pain. He’s in a lot of pain. Everything aches. His back, his joints, everything creaks and grinds and he’s exhausted and Kaveh is happily bounding off ahead of him, obviously having more energy and less than he’s had in years.
As they walk, Alhaitham finds himself falling behind. He's tired and achy and fed up. And yet, Kaveh, in his body, is seemingly thriving.
"Can you slow down, please?" He calls out from a few metres back. "Some of us are not enjoying this quite as much as you are."
Kaveh at least has the decency to look a little guilty, stopping and turning back to Alhaitham.
"... Sorry." He mumbles, shoulders hunching a little in a way that makes Alhaitham wince - he knows his body will be aching too by the time he gets back into it, with all the slouching Kaveh is doing. "I think I have my knee braces in my bag, if you want to wear them. They're kind of ugly, though..."
Alhaitham grunts in response, his frustration at the situation mixing with irritation at how Kaveh seems unaware of just how sore being Kaveh is.
"I don't care how ugly they are, so long as they help the pain," He mutters. "Where are they in your bag?"
"In the big pocket," Kaveh answers, holding his hand out for Alhaitham to pass him his bag. "Here. Sit down, and I'll... Help you put them on."
Alhaitham begrudgingly hands the bag over, and sinks down onto a rock, wincing in pain. He watches as Kaveh rustles through the contents of his bag, pulling out a pair of beige-coloured knee braces, clearly well-worn.
"You don't have anything for my back, do you?" He mutters, as Kaveh sits down next to him, helping Alhaitham remove his shoes and roll up his trousers to put the braces on his knees.
"I have some painkillers," Kaveh answers. "But I don't really take them that often. It's difficult to get a prescription."
Alhaitham rolls his eyes. "And why is that? Because you're so damn stubborn that you won't ever go to the doctor?"
"Because they won't give me them." Kaveh answers, bluntly. "The doctors say they don't want me to get too reliant on them, or something."
"So, instead, you just walk around in agony. How logical of you." Alhaitham says, letting out a scoff of irritation.
"What do you suggest I do instead?" Kaveh retorts, sharply. "I don't really have much choice, Alhaitham. I make do."
Alhaitham sighs, and looks at Kaveh with a mixture of frustration and sympathy. "How can you be in this much pain, and yet refuse to do anything about it for so long? I mean, honestly, Kaveh, at this rate you'll end up bed-bound by your thirty-fifth birthday."
"What do you want me to do?" Kaveh responds, tightening the braces far too much. "Complaining isn't going to get me anywhere, Alhaitham. I make do. I deal with it." He states. "I'm sorry you're in pain, I'm sorry you're having such a miserable fucking time, but I've had to deal with it for a decade and a half, hopefully you won't even have to deal with it until tomorrow."
Alhaitham winces as the braces dig into his knees, but he refuses to show just how uncomfortable he is.
"You're missing the point," The scribe responds, forcing his voice to remain calm. "You shouldn't have to deal with it. You deserve better than just dealing with it." He pauses, and adds in a quieter tone, "Why do you refuse to see yourself as worth the effort?"
There's a long pause, as Kaveh looks down, refusing to meet Alhaitham's eyes.
"I…" He starts slowly, a flicker of vulnerability passing across his face. "You wouldn't understand."
Alhaitham lets out an almost-snort of disbelief. "Kaveh, we've known each other since we were teenagers, you think I wouldn’t understand?"
“I think you can’t understand.” Kaveh mutters. “And I don’t want to have this discussion with you. Not right now.” He exhales. “You’re in my body. You’re probably dealing with all my goopy emotions and it’s making you think weird. So just…” Kaveh rolls Alhaitham’s trouser legs back down. “Let’s just get back to Sumeru City. Get us back in the right bodies. I’ll have a nice big glass of red wine, and we can just… Forget this.”
Kaveh takes a deep breath, narrowing his lips together for a moment. “Now. Is that better? Do you think you can make the walk back? Or I’m pretty sure your body can carry mine if not.”
Alhaitham grunts, a mixture of frustration and resignation in the sound. Of course, Kaveh would shut down any mention of the fact that he should show himself a little kindness and compassion, and of course, he'd try to change the subject to avoid acknowledging that he does that in the first place. The man was so incredibly frustrating, so incredibly stubborn...
But Alhaitham nods, and stands up from the rock, testing the braces on his knees.
"I can walk. Let's go."
The walk back to Sumeru City is a silent one, the tension between them palpable and uncomfortable.
Alhaitham walks with his jaw clenched, the knee braces making it easier but his joints still aching from the pressure of being inside Kaveh’s body.
And Kaveh… He’s got an unfamiliar and uncharacteristic expression of quiet contemplation as they walk, something troubled in his eyes.
By the time they get to the city gates, the sun is low in the sky, casting the streets in a coppery light. Alhaitham glances over at Kaveh, who is staring at the city as they pass by the gates. He seems distracted, his expression still troubled, something clearly on his mind.
"You look like you're thinking about something. For once," Alhaitham observes, a hint of dry humour in his voice.
“I’m not in the mood, Alhaitham,” Kaveh responds, tersely. “Let’s just… Go to the Sanctuary of Sanctuary of Surasthana and get this sorted.”
Alhaitham sighs internally. Kaveh's mood was getting even more sullen, judging by the way he replied. Normally, he'd just continue to bait Kaveh, tease him endlessly until Kaveh got so frustrated he'd either storm off or actually talk about what was bothering him (the latter of those was rare, but it had happened before).
But tonight, all Alhaitham wanted was to return to his own body, and to just... Get some goddamn peace and quiet from his roommate's melodramatics.
"Alright," He mutters, in response to Kaveh's terseness. "Let's go there, then."
And with that, and no small amount of trepidation, they start the walk through the city toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Arriving at the Sanctuary, they're met by Hat Guy - Lesser Lord Kusanali's... Mentee? Apprentice? Apparent secretary? He'd set up a desk in the entrance at some point, the furniture littered with books and papers, likely in an attempt to look busy so he’s not disturbed. Hat Guy looks up at Kaveh and Alhaitham with a raised eyebrow, obviously unimpressed by their sudden appearance.
"Ah, the Scribe and the Architect." Hat Guy comments, obviously not yet realising that the 'Scribe and the Architect' were in the incorrect bodies. "Lesser Lord Kusanali is busy."
Alhaitham lets out a quiet sigh, already feeling tired at the prospect of dealing with Hat Guy. Or trying to deal with Hat Guy.
"We need to speak with her immediately." He says, keeping his voice level, trying to ignore the strangeness of Kaveh's voice coming out of his own mouth. "It's an urgent matter."
Hat Guy rolls his eyes, setting down the book he was reading, sitting up straighter in his chair.
"She's busy. And if I had a mora for every scholar that turned up in here with an ‘urgent matter’, I’d–" He cuts himself off as he looks over the duo's bodies, his expression turning to one of slight confusion. "... Wait a minute."
Alhaitham can feel Kaveh bristle next to him slightly, as Hat Guy’s expression turns to one of amusement.
“Oh, you didn’t–” Hat Guy says, raising his eyebrows, and looking like he’s trying not to laugh.
“Wait, how did you–” Kaveh asks, a little panicked. “Is it that obvious?”
Hat Guy lets out a bark of amused laughter, as the realisation dawns on his face what happened.
"Oh, it’s painfully obvious to anyone who knows the two of you," He responds, looking between the two. “I’ve never seen the Scribe look so… Emotive. You’re in each other’s bodies, aren’t you?"
Alhaitham can’t help but look over at Kaveh, who has gone slightly pale, and… Is that a flush of embarrassment on his face? The scribe can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for his roomate, knowing he’s probably mortified that they’re so obviously not in their own bodies.
"We are," He confirms, keeping his voice level, ignoring the looks that Hat Guy is giving them. "And we need to speak to Lesser Lord Kusanali immediately. As I’ve said, it's... A matter of urgency."
“Oh, I bet it is,” Hat Guy scoffs. "And how, exactly, did you end up in each other’s bodies?" He asks, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he was preventing himself from grinning.
Alhaitham shoots a glance at Kaveh, silently telling him to keep his mouth shut. The scribe absolutely did not want to deal with Hat Guy, and especially not while having to defend Kaveh and his utter carelessness.
"It's... Personal," He mutters, keeping his voice level. "But it is urgent. Is Lesser Lord Kusanali able to see us now?"
Hat Guy sighs heavily as he gets up. "Fine, fine, I'll go see if she's available."
"Thank you," Alhaitham responds, trying not to let the irritation leaking into his voice come through.
He watches as Hat Guy saunters off, leaving him alone with Kaveh. There's a few minutes of uncomfortable and tense silence. Alhaitham can't help but look over at Kaveh, who is still standing, stiff as a board, a mixture of embarrassment and agitation on his face.
"Are you... Alright?" Alhaitham mutters, his voice a little softer than usual. He knows Kaveh is probably mortified that they were discovered so easily, and the scribe can't help but feel a little bad for him.
"Just fine, thank you," Kaveh responds, his voice a little higher than it ought to be. "I'm just hoping Lesser Lord Kusanali can help us."
Alhaitham nods, noting the high tone in Kaveh’s voice. "Try and relax," He mutters, keeping his own voice low. "You're sounding too high-strung right now. Like you’re going to snap in half."
Kaveh takes a deep breath. "God, I can't believe we're bothering an Archon with this. And yes, I know you two are... Friendly, or whatever. I remember you giving her a damn piggyback once, but still…" Kaveh looks up at the ceiling, breathing shakily. "This is so ridiculous. And humiliating. Are you sure we shouldn't have just tried touching the orb again? I'm sure we could do it now, just really quick--"
Alhaitham lets out a sigh, and shakes his head. "Kaveh, no. We’re not touching the orb, and there's no way in hell I'm going to let you talk me into trying that again." He pauses, looking at Kaveh, who still seems incredibly wound-up. "Just... Calm down. Seriously. Acting hysterical is not going to help either of us."
Before Kaveh can respond, they're interrupted by Hat Guy re-entering the room, a slightly-smug look on his face.
"Lesser Lord Kusanali will see you," He says, jerking his head towards the door. "In her private quarters."
"Alright. Thank you," Alhaitham responds, his tone level. He glances across at Kaveh, who is still standing stiffly, and sighs internally.
"Come on," He mutters, "Let's go."
The inner sanctum - Nahida's quarters - are a lot more comfortable than Alhaitham remembers. It's obvious she's redecorated since her imprisonment, and as Alhaitham and Kaveh enter, they're a little surprised to find Nahida sat down at a coffee table with a few cups and saucers and a pot of tea.
"Alhaitham, Kaveh," She greets, smiling as she stands up and comes over to them, looking between them thoughtfully.
"Lesser Lord Kusanali--" Alhaitham begins, only for Nahida to shake her head.
"It's Nahida, please." She says, smiling. "This is very strange. Your words coming from Kaveh's body. Very peculiar indeed."
Alhaitham nods in acknowledgement, still feeling strange and wrong in Kaveh’s body. "It is, indeed," He agrees, his eyes briefly meeting Kaveh’s. "We need your help."
"I can see that," She hums, tapping a finger on her chin. "Let's have some tea first, though. "I have rosehip tea. It's meant to be good for joint pain," She says, glancing Alhaitham up and down.
Alhaitham lets out a snort, unable to help his slight amusement at Nahida’s subtle reference to his aches and pains.
"Yes, it does sound like a good idea," He responds, glancing at Kaveh. "Come on. Let’s sit down."
The trio sit down at the table, and Nahida busies herself with pouring the tea. Alhaitham takes a moment to look around, taking in the comfortable surroundings.
"You redecorated," He observes, taking in the plush sofas and the wall of books.
"I did," She responds, smiling as she slides a cup of tea in front of Alhaitham. "It’s more homely, don’t you think?"
Alhaitham nods in agreement, the cup of tea in front of him steaming gently. He takes a sip, letting the warmth of the liquid soothe his sore muscles.
It feels a little like a children's tea party, the three of them sat on the floor on cushions around the coffee table, but Nahida looks happy enough, and so Alhaitham doesn't comment.
Kaveh has a tight smile as he picks up his own cup of tea, not quite making eye contact with either of them. "It's lovely," He comments. "Very hospitable. I like your little... Statues." He says, gesturing vaguely at one of the shelves.
"Aranara," Nahida nods, smiling. "Alhaitham bought them for me."
Kaveh shoots Alhaitham a look that says 'Really? You're buying trinkets for the Dendro Archon?' and Alhaitham just shrugs. He can’t help but give him an almost-smug look in response.
"It was a gift," He says, his tone a little pointed as he takes another sip of tea. "It's considered polite." He sets down his tea carefully, turning back to Nahida. "Now, about our problem...."
Nahida nods, a flicker of concern crossing her face as she looks between the duo.
"Yes," She says, her expression somber again. "I can tell you are not in your usual bodies. What happened? How did this... Transposition occur?"
Alhaitham takes a deep sigh, bracing himself to try and explain the absolute absurdity of what happened. He’s about to start speaking, when he’s interrupted by Kaveh speaking first.
"Alhaitham and I were doing an archaeological expedition earlier," He begins, his voice a little hesitant. "And we came across an ancient relic. It was some sort of... Magical orb."
Alhaitham can’t help but feel a pang of irritation at Kaveh’s explanation - it was missing out a few choice details...
"Kaveh touched something he shouldn't have," Alhaitham interrupts, not at all interested in having Kaveh twist the narrative so he didn't look bad.
"You touched it too!" Kaveh exclaims.
Alhaitham can’t help but roll his eyes at the accusation.
"Yes, I accidentally touched it," He retorts, a hint of irritation in his voice. "But only because I trying to stop you from touching it first. You have a tendency to act before you think."
Kaveh bristles at the comment, his face flushing with embarrassment and anger.
"I do not!" He protests, his voice getting higher. "I was just looking at it, it was interesting--"
"Of course, you were just 'looking,'" Alhaitham responds, his voice sardonic. "You have no self-preservation instincts, you just throw yourself into situations without a second thought--"
Kaveh’s face goes even more red, and he looks like he wants to argue further, but Nahida interrupts him before he can say anything.
"Let's not squabble, please," She says firmly, her voice quiet yet commanding. "It doesn’t change the fact that you’re in each other’s bodies, and we need to solve the problem."
Alhaitham shoots a glance at Kaveh as Nahida speaks, noting the expression of irritation and embarrassment on his face. It’s a very familiar expression with Kaveh, and it’s almost... Distractingly endearing to see it again, even on his own face.
He shakes the thought away, focusing his attention back on Nahida.
"Of course," He responds. "Please, do you have any ideas for how to reverse this... Transposition?"
Nahida takes a moment to consider, tapping a finger on her chin as she looks at the pair with a thoughtful expression.
"It's an unusual situation," She muses. "But it's most likely a kind of temporary enchantment. The orb probably holds some magic that has switched your souls between your bodies, so to speak."
"I... We have the orb," Kaveh states, beginning to rifle through his bag. "If you'd like to inspect it.”
Nahida nods in agreement, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"Yes, if you have it, I’d like to have a look." Kaveh extracts the orb from his bag, the sphere glowing faintly as he carefully sets it down on the table, unwrapping the cloth.
The trio look down at the orb silently for a moment, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light.
Nahida tilts her head slightly as she gazes at it, before she claps her hands together. "Oh, it's been centuries since I've seen one of these!" She exclaims, looking a little too pleased.
Alhaitham can’t help but feel a little uneasy at Nahida’s reaction as she looks at the orb, her eyes almost sparkling with interest.
"You’ve seen one of these before?" Kaveh asks, a note of wariness in his voice.
"It's an orb of soul transposition," Nahida explains, still inspecting the orb. "It's an ancient and rare artifact, I believe from before the time of King Deshret. It's very powerful, but it's effect is usually temporary."
Alhaitham feels a pang of relief at that particular word - temporary. "How temporary, exactly?" He presses, a note of hopefulness in his voice.
Nahida hums thoughtfully as she looks at the orb. "It's difficult to say," She muses. "The effect can last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the compatibility of the souls involved..."
Alhaitham’s relief instantly turns to unease at the answer, the ‘depending the compatibility of the souls involved’ bouncing around his head. It must have shown on his face, as Kaveh lets out a strangled sort of squeak beside him.
"A few weeks?" He asks, a note of fear creeping into his voice.
Nahida nods, still looking at the orb intently.
"It’s dependent on how well the souls fit in their temporary bodies," She explains, looking up and casting an appraising eye over Alhaitham and Kaveh. "And how much they resist being in the wrong body."
"Wait, so if they resist, they stay... Longer or shorter?" Kaveh croaks, looking more and more uneasy by the second.
"Resistance can potentially prolong the effect," She says, her voice slightly sympathetic. "It's like a constant strain on the soul, it wears it down, and can make the effect last longer--" She glances up, seemingly noticing the looks on their faces and blinking slightly. "Oh, but don't worry! You're both very compatible with each other, so it shouldn't last too long!" She adds, lightly.
Alhaitham can tell that this supposed bit of encouragement is not at all reassuring to Kaveh as the architect’s face pales noticeably.
“And what do you mean by… Compatible?” Kaveh asks, the trepidation in his voice betraying his attempt to sound casual.
Nahida gives them both a calculating look for a moment, her gaze assessing, before a slight smile tugs at the corner of her lips.
"Let's just say that your souls mesh well together," She responds, her voice almost lilting. "You're both on the same wavelength, so to speak. It's the reason why this effect was activated at all, you have a... Compatible alignment, I suppose you could say."
Alhaitham feels a strange little flutter in his chest at her words, the implications of them stirring something odd in his stomach.
Compatible alignment... Compatible how, exactly?
He tries his very best to ignore the feeling, pushing it aside. He can deal with that later.
Kaveh, however, looks like he’s trying not to have some kind of existential crisis right in the middle of Nahida's living quarters.
"Right," he responds faintly, his voice wavering slightly.
Nahida studies their expressions for a moment, her gaze flickering between the two of them, before her expression becomes a little more sympathetic, and she lets out a soft sigh.
"Please, don’t worry," She says, her voice softer now. "As I said, I think you’re quite... Compatible, so this shouldn’t last too long. Just try to make the most of it, and I’ll try to see if there’s anything I can do to speed the effect up, alright?"
Alhaitham feels a flicker of mixed emotions at her words - relief, but also a small, strange flutter of almost... Disappointment? - but he pushes it aside. He doesn’t have time to unpack that particular train of thought, especially when Kaveh is in the middle of some sort of mild panic attack next to him.
Nahida smiles softly, her gaze turning sympathetic again as she pats them both gently on the hands.
"I know this isn’t ideal," She says, her voice soothing. "I’ll try to find a solution as soon as possible, but in the meantime, just…”
She trails off, her eyes flickering between them again, a slightly knowing look in her gaze as she regards their expressions - the obvious anxiety in Kaveh, and the strangely thoughtful look on Alhaitham’s face.
"... Try to stay close to each other," She finishes, delicately. "It'll put more strain on your souls if you're far apart."
Alhaitham nods, filing that information away for later. It’s a little inconvenient to be forced to stay close to Kaveh for archon-knows-how-long, but he can deal with it.
He glances over at the architect, who seems to be trying to look calm but still looks distinctly pale.
Kaveh lets out a shaky exhale, his eyes averted as he tries (and fails) to compose himself.
"Right," He mutters weakly, his voice wavering. "Stay close. Understood."
The walk back to their home is nothing short of tense. Alhaitham was never one for small talk, and with the mood that Kaveh seemed to be in, it looked as if they would be walking home in silence.
Upon reaching their residence, Kaveh enters, flopping himself down on the divan and groaning. “I have meetings tomorrow! I have meetings every damn day! What on earth am I meant to do?” He exclaims.
Alhaitham sighs as he enters behind him, shutting the door silently and leaning back against the wall.
"Cancel them," He responds coolly. "Reschedule."
"Until when, exactly?" Kaveh responds tersely. "Next week? Next month? Who knows how long we'll be like this!"
Alhaitham lets out another internal sigh, trying to quell his irritation at the fact that Kaveh looks on the verge of a breakdown.
"That depends on how closely we follow Nahida's advice," He responds. "She said that being apart will put extra strain on our souls. So..." He trails off, pinning Kaveh with a look.
"Oh, what, we sleep in the same bed? Is that what you're saying? Do I just handcuff myself to you, lest our souls go flying off to archon-knows where?"
Alhaitham can’t help but roll his eyes exasperatedly.
"That's melodramatic, even for you," He responds, folding his arms. "But... Yes, essentially. We need to stay within fairly close proximity. That includes the house and... Sleeping."
There's a long, tense moment of silence as the two men look at each other, the suggestion hanging heavily in the air.
Kaveh looks like he's debating something internally, his expression wavering, before he lets out a long, weary sigh.
"Fine... It's not like there's another option, is there?" He mutters, a tone of defeat seeping into his voice.
There absolutely is another option - and both of them know it. Nahida didn’t specify how close was ‘close’. Surely, sleeping within the same house would be close enough, even in their separate rooms. Or one of them could sleep on the floor next to the bed. They absolutely don’t need to sleep in the same bed, it’s just that…
Just what, exactly? They want to sleep in the same bed? They want to be close, even in this ridiculousness, and this is just a good excuse?
They look at each other for a few more moments, before Kaveh sighs, sitting up. “I’m getting myself a glass of wine.”
Alhaitham watches as Kaveh leaves the room, a strange feeling washing over him as the other man stalks away to the kitchen.
He lets out a deep exhale, running a weary hand through his hair. This situation was becoming more and more complicated by the minute.
They didn’t need to sleep in the same bed, not really, but... For reasons Alhaitham was hesitant to examine, some part of him didn’t hate the idea.
He shakes the thought away, pushing himself off the wall and following Kaveh into the kitchen.
Kaveh is pouring himself a liberal measure of wine, and he doesn’t even look up as Alhaitham enters. He just continues to fill his glass, and downs almost all of it in one go.
Alhaitham watches as Kaveh drains almost the entire glass, before pulling a face.
"Slow down," He says, leaning against the doorframe. "You'll make yourself sick at this rate."
"I can handle my liquor," Kaveh responds, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, well, my body can't," Alhaitham responds. "If you're not going to let me smoke, I'm not letting you get blackout drunk. I can already hear my liver screaming."
Kaveh scoffs, looking mildly disgruntled. "Please, you're being ridiculously dramatic. One glass of wine won’t kill you," He protests, taking another sip of wine to prove his point. "I think I've earned it anyway, under the circumstances."
Alhaitham lets out a sigh, folding his arms. "You really are stubborn," He mutters. "I'm not saying you can't have anything to drink. Just... Drink what you have slowly, and don't drink any more. You'll have a headache in the morning if you do. I will have a headache."
"We'll have a headache," Kaveh retorts. "You ought to have a drink too. It does wonders for that joint pain of mine."
Alhaitham sighs again, his expression becoming slightly exasperated.
"I think we're going to have enough problems tomorrow without either of us being hungover," He retorts, pushing himself off the doorframe and moving over towards the other man. "And you don't need a drink, you're just using it as an escape from having to consider the situation properly. Don't finish that."
Kaveh rolls his eyes, swirling the wine around in the glass. "I'm considering the situation perfectly clearly," He states, taking another sip defiantly. "I'm considering that I have no idea how to sleep tonight. And the fact that I'm stuck like this for an undetermined period. And I've concluded that being drunk is probably the single most effective way to deal with both of those things.”
Alhaitham lets out a sound of frustration, the grip on his self-control slowly beginning to fray.
"You are impossible," He says, his voice almost strained. "You always turn to drink instead of facing things head-on. This is no different."
He steps forward, reaching out and trying to take the glass of wine from the other man's grasp.
"Oho, he's nagging me again!" Kaveh says, holding the glass away from Alhaitham. "He's in my body so he thinks he has every damn right to tell me what to do, I see now–"
Alhaitham's jaw clenches involuntarily at the other man's taunts. Kaveh seems to be enjoying himself now, trying to make him snap.
"You're ridiculous," He grits out, frustration creeping into his tone. "This isn't about me being in your body. This is about you, as always, trying to avoid facing your problems by drinking too much."
Kaveh lets out a bark of laughter at that, still holding the glass away from him.
"You're one to talk," He retorts, his tone almost mocking. "You're the master of avoiding your problems. You just do it by burying your nose in books instead of alcohol. But it's all avoidance, all the same."
"No, but the pack of cigarettes you keep in your desk is certainly destroying your lungs--" Kaveh bites back. "God, just admit you have faults!"
Alhaitham can feel his patience wearing thin, his frustration turning slowly into anger.
"I have faults," He snaps, taking a step forward and trying to close the distance between them again. "I admit my faults. I have plenty of them, and I take responsibility for them. But drinking is not the way to deal with your problems. It's irresponsible, and you know it–"
He reaches forward again, trying to grab the glass for a third time, but Kaveh dances away with it.
"Why do you always come to get me, huh?" Kaveh asks, turning around as he takes another sip of wine - Alhaitham's body isn't used to the alcohol and he stumbles. "Every time I'm out at the tavern. You always come to get me. Drag me home. Why do you do that?"
Alhaitham scowls, letting out a huff of irritation.
"Why do you think?" He snaps. "Because you act like a child when you're drunk. Because I don't trust you not to get yourself into a stupid situation, or wake up in a ditch. Because someone needs to look after you, since you're incapable of looking after yourself."
"Why do you even care, though?" Kaveh asks, his voice wavering slightly, though he tries to keep his expression light, uncaring. "Why are you even bothered? Aren't I inconveniencing you? I'm sure as hell inconveniencing you now with this ridiculous body-swapping nonsense - not that I'll admit it's my fault, mind you - but I'm at least somewhat responsible for it--"
Alhaitham sighs, his frustration beginning to ebb slightly in the face of Kaveh's question.
"Of course I'm bothered," He responds, his voice somewhat softer, exasperated. "You're my..."
Friend? The word seems to stick in his throat, not quite what he means.
Partner? No. Too ambiguous. Too…Much.
Roommate? Sounds so dispassionate, so devoid of emotion.
Alhaitham falls silent, not able to find the right word.
Kaveh’s eyes are on his face, studying his expression, a slight frown on his lips.
"I’m your what?" He prompts, his voice quiet now. The mocking, defiant edge that’s been there for the past few minutes has slipped away.
Alhaitham holds his gaze, torn between several words - friend, roommate, important…
But none of them seem to capture his true meaning, the tangled mix of emotions that whirl around his chest when he looks at Kaveh, when he thinks about them being forced to stay close for archons-know-how-long…
"... You're just… Mine." Alhaitham says, the words coming out as a quiet sort of murmur, as if he wasn't even really intending to say them.
Kaveh blinks at him, a mixture of shock and grief and fifteen years worth of unspoken emotions.
“I’m yours?” He repeats, his voice uncharacteristically small.
Alhaitham’s heart gives a strange little thump in his chest at the question, at the way Kaveh repeats the words back to him.
"Yes," He responds, the quiet words falling easily from his lips. "You are."
There's a long, tense moment of silence as they look at each other, Alhaitham's eyes fixed on Kaveh's. Alhaitham thinks, perhaps, that he sees a hint of grief and something else in the other man's eyes, but he can't quite tell, in the dim light of the kitchen.
Kaveh swallows. "God, Alhaitham..." He mutters, running his hand through his -- Alhaitham's -- hair. "You can't just... You can't just say shit like that."
Alhaitham’s expression wavers ever so slightly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
"Why not?" He retorts, the words coming out almost defensively, as if he can't understand why that might have been the wrong thing to say.
"Because!" Kaveh answers, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Because we're..." He trails off, trying to search for the right excuse. "We're us. We don't... We don't do that. We argue. And bicker. And Lord only knows, you hate me half the time--"
"I do not hate you," He says, immediately, the denial rushing to his lips almost without him being aware of it. "Is that–" He falters, an odd feeling rising up inside him, like a mixture of worry and panic and... Something else.
"Is that what you think?" He asks, the words coming out almost quietly. "That I hate you?"
Kaveh lets out a laugh, but the sound is shaky and doesn't reach his eyes, which still look strangely sad. "You treat me like a nuisance," He points out, voice tight. "Like I'm irresponsible, and messy, and annoying. You roll your eyes at me every time I do anything. Why wouldn't I assume you hate me?"
Alhaitham frowns, his expression almost stricken as Kaveh lists off those things - nuisance, irresponsible, annoying - he’d used those words to describe the other man in the past, but... They’re not really how he feels, are they? He doesn’t hate Kaveh. He could never hate Kaveh, no matter how maddening he can be–
The thought catches him by surprise, the realisation hitting him like a cold bucket of water to the face.
God, he’s been a little slow on the uptake, hasn’t he? On the surface, Kaveh is everything he dislikes - impulsive, chaotic, messy in so many ways, but…
But he’s also kind, and thoughtful, and gentle, and beautiful, and - God, the way he smiles when he sees Alhaitham sometimes, like a beam of pure sunlight in a bleak and overcast sky-
His expression darkens as the realisation hits him.
Oh, Gods…
Kaveh seems to misinterpret his expression for something else, a sad half-smile crossing his face.
"See? I was right," He mutters, his gaze dropping back down to the glass of wine he’s still holding. "You–"
But his next words are cut off, as Alhaitham strides across the kitchen and pulls the alcohol out of his grasp, setting the glass down on the countertop.
"Be quiet. Just– Shut up, for a moment," He mutters, and there’s a note of pleading in his tone that he can’t seem to keep out of it.
He reaches out, gently taking Kaveh’s face in his hands, guiding his gaze back up until their eyes meet.
It's desperately strange - looking into his own eyes, but they're wide in a way that his own never would be, and he can look right through his face to see Kaveh lurking beneath the expression.
He can see a mixture of surprise and confusion and an odd sort of vulnerability in the expression, and the sight only serves to fuel the strange, frantic sort of panic that's rising inside him.
What exactly are he supposed to say, in this moment? How is he to put the mess of his tangled thoughts into words right now?
‘You're important to me’ seems inadequate, and ‘You're mine’ obviously didn’t land quite right. Just how is he supposed to express the storm within him right now?
So instead, he does something perhaps a little desperate, and far too impulsive. He moves forward, closing the distance between them, pulling Kaveh down slightly, and kisses him.
It's not tentative, nor is it soft - it's passionate, desperate, like it holds the same sort of fervour behind it that Alhaitham’s been holding in for Archons only knows how long.
He shuts his eyes without realising it, and there's that light again-- White, blue, yellow, red, green, gold and silver, the sun and the moon, fireworks--
He pulls away, taking a breath, and it all goes dark.
Alhaitham finds himself waking up, not knowing he had been unconscious, staring up at the kitchen ceiling.
Had he passed out? When had he passed out? Had a kiss made him pass out?
Gingerly, he turns his head, to find Kaveh slumped on the ground next to him - most importantly - Kaveh, back in Kaveh's body–
Alhaitham lets out a sound of surprise, sitting up from the floor so quickly it almost makes his head spin.
"Kaveh?" He asks, his voice filled with a sort of panic.
He reaches out, gripping the other man by the shoulders, gently turning him onto his back. Thankfully, Kaveh is stirring slightly, letting out a quiet noise that’s somewhere between a whine and a grumble.
The sound of the other man stirring is a relief, immediately settling some of the panic churning up inside him. Alhaitham reaches down and pats him gently on the cheek, trying to coax him back into full consciousness.
“Wake up,” He mutters, keeping his voice quiet. ”Come on, open your eyes.”
A few moments later, Kaveh's eyes flutter open, blinking several times to try and chase away the lingering confusion. When he speaks, his voice is rough and somewhat weary.
“What the hell--” He groans, shifting slightly. “What happened?”
“You passed out,” Alhaitham replies, still somewhat in a state of disbelief. They’re themselves again. He’s himself again, in his own body. He can’t stop himself from flexing his fingers, just to remind himself that he’s using his own hands… “Do you remember what we were doing?”
"What... Yeah, we were... Oh my God, we're back," Kaveh says, struggling to sit back up, his joints popping. "Ugh... Didn't miss that..." He groans, blinking a few times. "Wait, you--" Kaveh's fingers reach up to gingerly touch his lips.
Alhaitham’s gaze flickers to the other man’s lips as he touches them, and the memory of just what had happened before their souls had been quite violently yanked back to their bodies returns to him in a sudden rush.
His cheeks flush slightly at the thought, and he has to swallow back a mixture of emotions.
“We kissed." He says, his voice barely above a mutter.
Kaveh's head snaps round to look at him, eyes wide. He looks somewhat stricken for a moment, blinking and visibly swallowing, trying to process the information that's been dumped on him.
He opens his mouth, as if to try and formulate a response, but no words come out, only a strangled sort of sound. It takes him a few attempts before he manages to speak.
"... It's not a big deal," Kaveh manages. "We've kissed before, right? When we've been drunk, o-or there was that time when we were students--"
Alhaitham lets out a harsh bark of unamused laughter. "It is not the same," He says, somewhat vehemently. "Don't act like it was. You know it's not."
He takes a moment to reign in his emotions, his mind racing as he searches for the right words.
"Besides," He says, his voice quieter now. "I initiated that time."
Kaveh lets out a sound that's somewhere between a scoff and a huff, his cheeks now flushed a light pink - though whether it’s from embarrassment, lingering dizziness, or irritation, it’s hard to tell. “Are you seriously trying to make this a pissing contest--”
"Of course I'm not." Alhaitham snaps, his tone a hair’s breadth away from a frustrated bite. "What I’m saying is that that kiss–"
He reaches out, grabbing Kaveh’s arm and pulling him up to a sitting position. When he speaks again, his voice is low, a note of urgency in his tone.
"That kiss was different, Kaveh. I meant it.”
Kaveh gives a quiet scoff, looking away again. "You don't have to keep rubbing it in--"
But Alhaitham, frustrated at this point, gives a little tug on his wrist to get his attention, gently grasping the other man’s chin and turning his face in his direction.
"Look at me, Kaveh." He says, an urgent quality to the words. "I meant it, when I kissed you. I'm not going to keep acting like I don't feel anything.”
Kaveh’s eyes widen as Alhaitham speaks, seeming to struggle with processing the information. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, seemingly at a loss for words.
Finally, he croaks out a somewhat hoarse “Oh.” He swallows, licking his lips, before speaking again.
“… How exactly do you feel about me, then?” Kaveh asks, voice tight.
Alhaitham lets out a small huff of irritation, somewhat tempted to roll his eyes. What sort of question is that?
“Gods, do you want me to spell it out for you?” He says, still holding Kaveh’s chin, forcing their gazes to meet.
“I care about you. You’re important to me. You are one of the only people whose presence I’ll tolerate. You drive me mad,” He pauses, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “And you’re mine.”
Kaveh’s breath seems to catch in his throat at the words, his eyes wide and somewhat disbelieving, as if he can’t quite comprehend what Alhaitham is saying. His expression is conflicted, a mix of hope and wariness.
“Mine?” He says, a somewhat incredulous note in his voice. "How–”
Alhaitham gives a little tug to Kaveh’s chin, shifting forward a little.
"You’re mine,” He repeats, his voice quiet but firm. “You’ve always been mine.”
Kaveh’s expression wavers slightly at the words, something in his expression cracking, breaking through whatever fragile veneer may have been holding up his disbelief. He laughs - the sound somewhat wobbly, and filled with a sort of weary resignation.
“Is that supposed to be some sort of romantic declaration?” He mutters. “I’ve always been yours?”
Kaveh shakes his head, still with a weary expression. “Fine, then. In that case, you’ve always been mine.”
Alhaitham’s eyes widen slightly, a hint of surprise at that, but his expression is quickly overtaken by a warm sort of feeling.
Kaveh’s eyes are still fixed on his, a mixture of resignation and affection in his expression. The sight makes Alhaitham’s heart thump loudly in his chest, and he tightens his grip on the other’s chin.
"Always?" He asks again, his voice quiet, almost breathless.
"Always." Kaveh replies, his voice barely above a whisper.
There's another moment of silence, the two of them staring into each other’s eyes, the air between them thick with unspoken things.
Finally, Alhaitham speaks again.
"We’re idiots." He mutters. "We’re both idiots."
"And yet--" Kaveh says. "You heard what Lesser Lord Kusanali said. We're very compatible."
Alhaitham lets out an amused huff of laughter, the corner of his mouth curving into something that’s almost a smirk.
"Well, the God of Wisdom should know what she's talking about," He says, his hand shifting slightly, from Kaveh’s chin to cupping the side of his face.
There’s a moment in which their gazes continue to lock, a lingering pause between words, a pause in which everything feels suspended.
Then, Alhaitham’s thumb brushes against Kaveh’s cheek, and the moment breaks, like a damn bursting.
He moves suddenly, pulling Kaveh forward and into another fierce kiss.
There’s nothing languid or tentative about this kiss - it’s passionate, and filled with a sort of fervour, and god, it feels so much more intense when it’s his own body he’s kissing Kaveh with.
There’s an almost urgent note to Alhaitham’s actions, the hand on the side of Kaveh’s face holding him firmly in place, guiding him closer, using a bit of pressure to push him backwards.
Kaveh gasps slightly as he’s pushed back onto the kitchen floor, though Alhaitham immediately follows, straddling him.
Alhaitham pulls away from the kiss, looking down at the man underneath him. The sight of Kaveh lying underneath him, flushed and breathless, and looking up at him with a flushed face and wide eyes is unfairly appealing.
“I am not shagging you on the kitchen floor,” Kaveh states, in no uncertain terms.
Alhaitham stares down at him, his expression somewhat disbelieving, before a flicker of something akin to annoyance crosses his face.
"Fine,” He mutters. “Is the kitchen counter any better?"
“No!” Kaveh protests. “My joints hurt. I need a damn bed–”
Alhaitham gives a resigned sort of huff, but concedes to the point.
He sits back on his knees, reluctantly getting up off of Kaveh, and then offers out a hand with a vaguely disgruntled expression.
"Alright, come on, then."
Kaveh accepts the offered hand, pulling himself to his feet, and the pair make their way out of the kitchen and through the house.
Alhaitham doesn’t drop Kaveh’s hand once they’re standing up, his fingers lacing firmly between the other’s, keeping their hands locked together as they make their way to the bedroom.
Fireworks.
Days later, their hands are still locked together as they have another audience with Nahida, the Archon looking at them both knowingly as she peers over her cup of tea.
“It’s good to see you two… Back to yourselves.” She comments.
Alhaitham’s hand tightens slightly in Kaveh’s, his eyes flicking over to look at the other man with a sort of expression one could almost describe as fond.
"We are." He replies, his tone somewhat soft, barely above a murmur, almost as if the words are for Kaveh alone rather than the Archon as well.
Kaveh’s gaze drifts up to Alhaitham as he speaks. There’s a warm, somewhat almost giddy expression on his face, his fingers wrapping a little more firmly around the other’s, almost as if he’s ensuring that he doesn’t lose a grip on him.
He turns to look back at Nahida, and there’s a small, somewhat sheepish smile on his face. “Indeed, we are.”
There’s a knowing gleam in the god’s eyes, as she looks at them both, taking in the pair of their joined hands.
"I'm glad to see the two of you on better terms," She says, her voice holding an element of amusement. "It seems I was right."
"Yes," Alhaitham replies, dryly. He lets out a small huff of laughter, the corner of his mouth curling upwards in a slight smirk. "You were correct. As the God of Wisdom, I suppose that’s to be expected."
Kaveh looks vaguely embarrassed, an awkward little laugh leaving him as Nahida continues to look back at him with an amused expression.
He opens his mouth as if to say something, but is interrupted by Alhaitham.
"We should be on our way." He says, to Kaveh, giving a vaguely smug smile before looking back to the god. "Thank you for your time, Lesser Lord Kusanali.”
"No need," Nahida says, the smile still present on her face. "I'm happy to help."
She takes a sip of her tea, her gaze drifting between the pair of them, taking note of how their hands remain linked, and the way Alhaitham’s smile seems a lot warmer than she’s perhaps ever seen from the man.
Alhaitham gives a slight nod of his head, before his gaze flicks back to look at Kaveh.
"Come on," He mutters, giving a little tug on the other’s hand, an almost imperceptible pull that indicates that it’s time to leave. Kaveh gives a little huff of laughter, glancing down at their intertwined hands before looking back at Alhaitham and meeting his gaze.
He returns the little tug with a subtle pull of his own, a wordless agreement.
The pair turn to make their leave, with Alhaitham taking half a moment to glance over his shoulder at the Archon, nodding his head slightly once more to offer farewell. His fingers tighten once more around Kaveh’s, before he finally turns his gaze back forward, and the pair step out of the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Outside, it’s light, the sun shining in a way that it never seemed to have shone before. Alhaitham looks at the man next to him, and sees how he glows, and Alhaitham wonders how he never noticed that his life was so dark before.
Back inside the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Hat Guy wordlessly dumps a handful of mora into Nahida’s outstretched palm.
“Told you,” She says, smiling widely, as he rolls his eyes.
“Whatever,” Hat Guy mutters. “You’re the God of Wisdom. I should’ve known better than to bet with you.”