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Kaveh has been lying in his bed for hours now.
He should take a bath, his clothes are mildly sweaty and the rooms stuffy. He hasn't moved in a while now. Since Alhaitham had taken that damn job, the ex-scribe’s life had been nothing but a series of threats, bribes, and unending assassination attempts.
(But Kaveh could definitely see why so many people wanted him dead, he too was praying for his downfall when Alhaitham had left the whole tub of icecream in the ice box, only to open it and find a teaspoon's worth left. “Someone could still eat it-” he argued when questioned, to which Kaveh responded by chucking the box at him)
(He dodged it without a second look. Feeble scribe his fucking ass.)
Kaveh did truly worry for Alhaitham, he seemed more and more drained recently, and today He came home late.
Alhaitham.
Late.
Kaveh nearly cried in relief after seeing him, seconds away from reporting murder or kidnapping or anything of the sort to matra. In fact, he was so relieved he ran up to Alhaitham and almost embraced him in a hug.
Key word being almost , because as soon as he was about to hug Alhaitham he realized oh! They don't actually hug, that's not something they've ever done! And so.. He just.. Ran out the door.. Arms wide open..
Thankfully, poor Alhaitham was far too drained to do anything but stare at what he thought was just another one of Kavehs drunk antics
(Kaveh was going to cry himself to sleep.)
Afterwards Kaveh warmed him a bowl of Sabz meat stew, made sure he ate the whole bowl, wiped his lips clean, and just as the junior was 4 steps away from dropping dead like a rock onto his bed, he nudged him to his room where he had promptly fallen asleep.
Which is when Kaveh finally made it to his own room, fell back first into the bed and well, didn’t get up for hours, eyes locked into the small speck of dirt on his ceiling, zoned out.
It really is starting to get musty in here.
He finally gathers the will to start his night routine and waddles to the washroom to take his shower on auto-pilot, which is where more thoughts plague his brain.
What if something bad happens to Alhaitham? He’s not someone who’s used to a lot of attention so he might not realize if somethings gone awry…
What if it's not something.. But someone ?
What if Alhaitham’s attacked on the job? God knows Alhaitham has more enemies than he knows of, and sure he’s gotten threatened a few times, even reached violent levels once but he could fend them off.
But what if he’s really hurt, what if he's STABBED.
And Kaveh cant do anything, fuck he cant even get in the Bimarstan room because what could he even tell the nurses? He's the acting grand sage’s bloody roommate? (Which no one’s had ever heard of because the architect swore to kill himself if he did)
Alhaitham would feel so isolated there, especially without his headphones. Alhaitham had no one but Kaveh, especially after his grandma had died and he had to take care of himself .
Okay, okay let's not spiral, Kaveh thought as he scrubbed his hair, while his head still rushed with thoughts..
Surely there can be a solution to this problem.
Maybe he can say he's the scribe's brother? No, Kaveh was too gorgeous for that..
Any family relative would be too gross, besides would they really let in a distant cousin when his poor Alhaitham had been stabbed! ?
Well there's just one excuse left he could think of.
He could just.. Lie and say that he was his partner. Maybe his husband...
HUSBAND?!
Husband…
Yeah…
Yeah!
The acting grand sage’s husband made perfect sense! Why wouldnt it? Alhaitham was notoriously a private man so having a secret husband works!
Well that's one issue resolved! Kaveh thought to himself, patting himself on the back for that one.
He didn't really want to dwell on the fact that it could include keeping up a romantic charade.. And maybe pretending to be lovers in public.. Maybe they’d have to get a fake certificate for it? Just so people don't get suspicious..
Maybe even..
God maybe even hold hands -
Kaveh blushed and giggled, swatting the water as if it was the one teasing him.
(He then grit his teeth and stared at the wall for a few more seconds, cringing at himself. What has he become?)
He should really think this through. Kaveh should prepare himself for the possibility of acting like Alhaitham’s husband, just in case Alhaitham gets stabbed and ends up at the Bimarstan.
He definitely wouldn't be let in for any ol’ reason so he will simply have to tell everyone that Alhaitham is his husband and that he demands to be let in right this instant or he will sue this institution for all its worth…
Filled with thoughts of Alhaitham and marriage Kaveh stepped out of the washroom, wrapped in a big fluffy towel, skin flushed pink from the steam, and all warm and cozy.
The room smelled significantly better now that his mood had improved.
……
Kaveh dreams, he dreams of him and Alhaitham walking through the bazaar, hands a hair’s breadth away from brushing against each. The gentle breeze against his hair makes it fly back as Alhaitham draws him close and softly whispers to him. “Stay close, it's crowded here. We don’t want you getting lost now, do we?” as a hand drifts down his back and settles comfortably at his waist.
Kaveh all but keels and leans into his husband's touch.
“Hmph. you’re so condescending, treating me like a child, like I can't take care of myself.” he mumbles without any bite, and if Alhaitham notices how Kaveh nuzzles into his shoulder, he doesn't mention it.
“Condescending? I think I’m just guilty of feeling protective of my lovely husband.” Alhaitham grins and leans closer to his face, pressing a peck against his cheek.
“Hmph. What am I, your damsel in distress? Ready to be saved by my prince charming from the cruel shoppers of the bazaar?” Kaveh pouted, complaining for absolutely no reason, other than because he could.
Alhaitham rolls his eyes, before leaning in to place a small kiss on Kavehs lips. “You don't ever let up do you?” he whispers between the kisses. “Always trying to piss me off.”
He leans in and kisses him deeper, soft lips moving gently against-
“BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP BEE-”
Kaveh woke up flushed. God what was that dream?
Kaveh felt his whole face turn red. Were they really making out in the centre of the bazaar?
Dream Alhaitham really was shameless..
He shuts off Mehrak with a quick tap, and starts on his morning routine.
8:05 AM huh.. Alhaitham must've left by now, he thought to himself.
God why does he have a headache? He definitely didn't drink last night.
Fuck, he knew exactly what this was. This was a premonition headache. This was the headache he gets before he makes bad decisions.
He literally just woke up, what could even go wrong right now ?
Aside from the fact that he was dreaming about being married to Alhaitham and holding hands with Alhaitham and kissing Alhaitham in the bazaar which holy shit Kavehs going to start drooling right after he woke up because god the scribe’s lips were so soft and supple he could-
“NO. STOP IT.” Kaveh said out loud, as he walked into the living room, feeling like he was going crazy over literally nothing.
“What was that?” Alhaitham said from the kitchen, a small grin tugging on his stupid and totally dumb lips.
“Absolutely fucking nothing how about you shut the fuck up and fuck off god you’re such a pain” he mumbled in a small voice, feeling his face heat up.
“Actually, why are you still home? Don’t you.." Kaveh slowly looked off to the clock and felt his jaw drop in shock, his skin pale and his mouth go dry, as the world slowed down.
Faintly, he could hear a ringing in his ear.
Alhaitham was late. By 9 bloody minutes. He was going to be late to his job and Alhaitham has never been late to anything in the history of ever.
He ran up to Alhaitham and pressed the back of his hand onto his cheek, then his forehead, then his neck, and then stared at him with concern.
“Haitham are you okay? Are you sick? You can tell me anything, Senior will take care of you...” He mumbled under his breath, as Alhaitham stuttered in shock, feeling his ears turn red beneath his headphones.
“Kaveh-” Alhaitham began, his voice cracking on the first word, before composing himself. “I am perfectly fine, you shouldnt concern yourself with me when you're the alcoholic who’s hell bent on draining all of my mora in the tavern.”
The scribe watched as Kaveh turned red with fury, falling for the obvious bait.
Hook, line and sinker .
But before he could start his long tangent on respecting thy elders , he decided to continue. “Besides, I’m not really late today. I’m not heading to the Akademiya today, I have some tasks to do outside, so it wouldn't matter if I didn't clock in on time.” He finishes, before shoving an egg roll into Kaveh’s mouth.
“YOU-MNNPH IMF GOMF-” Kaveh tries to respond anyways before giving up and furiously munching as fast as he can on the stupidly delicious egg roll, while trying to give Alhaitham the nastiest glare.
“Stop pouting so hard, there's more in the microwave okay? Eat up.” Alhaitham says before patting Kaveh cheek (?!) and walks towards the door, ready to leave.
He holds back a small grin casting one last backward glance at Kaveh, who seems to have calmed down by the food, and then leaves without any further delay.
Kaveh finally snaps out of his daze, and decides to eat the food his roommate had pointed to. As he wolfs down the rest of the rolls, he opens the fridge and stares at it for a bit, before realizing there's nothing in it. Then he checks the freezer. Then the fridge again.
Still nothing.
He should probably do the groceries. It was technically Alhaitham’s turn but he’ll let it slide for now. He did make him breakfast afterall.
…
By the time Kaveh left his house, it was almost noon. He did have his own projects to work on, and his client’s deadline was in less than a week! But now that he’s progressed a bit more, he feels like he can spare enough time to do the weekly shopping without feeling.
The bazaar is filled with colourful decor, flowers draped across walls, the full raucous salesmen enticing onlookers into their shops filled with trinkets that glittered under the afternoon sunlight. Loud music and singing echoing from Zubayr Theatre, where he could hear cheers for what he can only assume is another show stopping performance from Nilou herself.
He should stop by sometime, with Alhaitham.
As Kaveh finally gets to the produce stalls, he busies himself with picking out fruits, his brain essentially on auto-pilot once more. He slaps the watermelon and figures out what makes the best sound, and picks out a few Zaytun Peaches, knowing Alhaitham loves those.
Offhandedly, he hears two aunties gossiping and decides to pick up the latest news in the rumor mill. He inches closer, pretending to inspect the peaches, as the women tattle on.
“Did you hear, the Grand Sage was seen entering the hospital? It looked like someone was helping him in!”
“Oh my, bless that poor child, he has been working hard hasn't he?”
“Surely it couldn't’ve be easy, jumping from the position of scribe to the grand sage-”
Kaveh stopped paying attention, felt the world spin, as the incessant gossiping of the two stall owners slowly droned away and all he could hear was a faint high pitch sound.
ALHAITHAM. IN THE BIMARSTAN.
This was it this was it his poor junior had finally been injured oh gods oh fuck he needs to get there as soon as he can lest he dies from the blood loss.
God were they even the same blood type? It doesn't matter, Kaveh would manage it somehow…
The Architect’s brain rushed with a flurry of emotions, thoughts and horrid ideas of what could have possibly happened to his roomate, feeling his heart in his throat, pounding within.
Kaveh would have ran to the Bimarstan, but the bazaar was too crowded, so he shoved his way through stomping on a few shoes as he went, while babbling out “sorry, I’m so sorry, please excuse me” till he finally made it out and then bolted.
He should’ve known sooner, Kaveh thinks to himself.
He should've realized that something was wrong with Alhaitham when he willingly made him food in the morning. Maybe it was a sign of stress? Oh poor Alhaitham, he must have been working himself to the bone if he was busy taking care of both the entirety of Sumeru and his good for nothing roommate.
He reaches the Bimarstan, panting, and feeling sweat drip from his forehead as he scans the area for his junior.
He feels a hand on his shoulder, and immediately whips back to see a nurse look up at him.
“Sir are you alright? Are you in danger or hurt anywhere? We can-”
“Where is he-” Kaveh wheezes out, still breathless from the run.
“Where is who? Sir we will need your name and the name of whoever you’re looking for.”
Kaveh draws in a deep breath.
“Where is my husband?” Kaveh finally asks, face red, but not from his mini-workout.
The nurse continues to stare him down, clearly unamused by his antics.
“Good sir, please, does this husband of yours have a name ?”
The architect flushes in embarrassment, before pushing through it and continuing anyway.
“Alhaitham. uh, the acting grand sage? It’s me, Kaveh, his Real Husband and I demand to see him right now or I’m going to sue this institution for all-”
“Kaveh?” A familiar voice pops out.
Kaveh whips his head again, and sees a completely fine Alhaitham, looking bemused at the scene unraveling. “What's with all the fuss?”
Ah. Shit .
“Sir, Please calm your husband here. He seems to be hysterical. Would you like us to run a quick health check up on him?” The nurse says, exasperated. Kaveh gasps in betrayal.
Alhaitham looks at him, then the nurse, then back at him again, and starts laughing.
HOW DID IT TAKE 4 SECONDS FOR HIM TO PIECE IT TOGETHER?!
“STOP IT STOP LAUGHING THIS ISN'T A LAUGHING MATTER-” Kaveh tries to shove his hand against his “husbands” mouth, successfully achieving nothing.
“I'm sorry-” Alhaitham gasps out between breaths, “For all the trouble nurse Tamara, I’ll see to it that he… recovers ” he chuckles, still finding it all too funny.
Kaveh feels blood rush to his cheeks. This was so humiliating.
He’s officially given Alhaitham a year, no, two years worth of material to hold over him.
Dazed, he almost doesn't realize when he feels Alhaitham tug him to a private corner of the Bimarstan.
"So ‘Husband’ ? Care to explain what's going on?” Alhaitham asks, grinning as he corners him into the wall, forcing him to face his worst fears.
Kaveh buries his face into his hands, feeling generations worth of shame pile upon his soul.
He was never going to live this down…
Alhaitham’s smile widens, staring down at his senior’s embarrassed form, and gently pulls his hand away from his face, and tugs his chin up to face him.
Kaveh feel’s his skin turn bright red, and trembles under the touch. His mind races with thoughts of how to cover this up, surely he could do something…
“Well?” He pushes, teasing Kaveh further.
“AH- well you see haha- so um funny story get this-” The architect nervously rambles, “Um- so my HUSBAND isn't uh- you because… you misheard me? YES you um totally misheard me! I n-NEVER, said Alhaitham ‘cause, his name is uh- actually al AYtham ”
Alhaitham stares at him for a few seconds.
“Kav, did you just say my name twice? Maybe we should get you checked…” He mutters under his breath.
“NO, ugh you-! His name is al AYtham like ayy what's up… haha” Kaveh finishes, lamely.
Alhaitham stares at him again. Then with a barely concealed snort, he pulls Kaveh and starts walking back to the nurse. ‘This idiot’ Alhaitham thinks. ‘ How long is he going to drag this out?’
“ Mhm, go on,” Alhaitham urges. “Is this man also the current acting grand sage? I wasn't aware that my resignation letter was finally processed.” He says, with a smirk, his face inches away from Kaveh’s.
“Uh..” Kaveh sputtered, feeling his cheeks heat up even more, “No…I just…” he mutters finally out of excuses.
“FINE, I give up, you ass. I was just, really concerned okay? You’ve been weird lately, you’re coming home late, you’re sleep deprived and, AND, you made me food! And you never do that!” He grumbles out, still feeling embarrassed.
“And when I went shopping for groceries some of the aunties were talking about how they saw you in here and so I was really worried ‘cause I thought you were dying okay… in hindsight it seems really… really stupid now.”
“Hmm… I don’t think stupid is the right word. Maybe silly? Kaveh, I came here to collect the tax forms and meet with a few staff here, I wasn't injured in any way” Alhaitham says softly, their noses almost touching from how close they were.
“How was I supposed to know that? Those aunties made it seem like you had been murdered…” Kaveh mumbled, knowing damn well they didn't, this was wholly on him.
“What about the ‘husband’ claims hmm? Did you think you can just go around telling people you’re married to me and that I wouldn’t find out?” Alhaitham teases, relishing in Kaveh’s flustered reactions, thoroughly enjoying watching him scramble for new lies.
“I- um- you see-” Kaveh sputters, feeling his brain crash and die at the proximity, before Alhaitham continues.
“I’ll let you get away with it, just once.” He finally relents, pulling back from Kaveh, with a smirk.
Kaveh blinks, stunned. “H-huh?”
“Next time, though… maybe don’t overthink it so much. You might just get a real husband out of it.” He says, before walking away.
HUH?!
Kaveh runs to keep up with him, feeling like the entire world just tilted slightly, “Wait- Haitham- what do you mean?” He asks, and realizes that Alhaitham has slid on his head phones, effectively ignoring him now.
Great. This leaves Kaveh with a whole new problem to overthink.