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Alhaitham and Kaveh are having an argument.
This is not an unusual occurrence.
The sun rises from the east.
Rain falls from the sky.
It is easier to convince a Rishboland tiger to spare a mouse than to make Alhaitham and Kaveh agree on a topic.
But this argument isn't like their usual quarrels. Their voices are louder. Angrier. Kaveh throws up his hands. Alhaitham jabs a finger at his chest. Kaveh yells something he will regret before storming out of the house.
Alhaitham doesn't follow. Kaveh pretends he doesn't care.
The night is cold and hazy, the sky obscured by a summer rain shower. It takes no time at all for Kaveh to get drenched.
He hugs his arms as he soldiers through the streets, his last words to Alhaitham replaying in his mind.
Archons, why did he have to bring that up again?!
Kaveh should've just let it go.
He could've been the bigger person; let Alhaitham say his piece and leave it at that. It shouldn't have been hard to say, "Well, let's agree to disagree."
But Alhaitham is just so utterly 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨.
And his words hurt. So Kaveh retorts as any wounded animal would; fiercely and desperately.
He crosses the line, the safe, unspoken space between him and Alhaitham, and wrenches his beloved junior's heart from his chest.
Kaveh buries his face in his hands and cries.
His entire body screams at him to apologize to his roommate. But what would he say? That he's sorry? That he didn't mean to say those things?
Kaveh did mean them. He chose those words out of the thousands he knows because he wants to hurt Alhaitham as the man has hurt him.
Archons, he's a terrible person, isn't he?
He's a monster.
Kaveh trembles and curses himself as he drags his feet to Lambad's tavern.
Oh. The tavern is closed tonight.
Kaveh yells something vile and bitter and collapses against the locked doors.
Lightning flashes. Thunder rumbles. Kaveh curls up against the flimsy protection of the tavern entrance, drenched and miserable.
Oh, Alhaitham.
Kaveh closes his eyes and leans against the doorway. If only their relationship isn't so volatile.
Kaveh is so caught up in his heartbreak that he almost doesn't hear the rustle of a person sitting beside him.
Pink hair. Merchant's clothes. An impish, crafty smile.
Kaveh folds his arms over his knees. "I'm not due until next month, Dori."
The sly smile drops from Lord Sangemah Bay's facade momentarily. "Oh, Kaveh, you wound me! I am simply a fellow Sumerian seeking shelter from the rain!"
Kaveh isn't in the mood to entertain her right now. "Why don't you seek shelter in the Palace of Alcazarzaray?"
Dori tilts her head, eyebrows raised. "You are quite testy tonight, aren't you?"
Kaveh turns away.
Dori inches closer as she taps her chin. "Let me guess. Kshahrewar's funding proposal got rejected again?"
"Please leave me alone," Kaveh groans.
"No?" Dori's face scrunches up in thought before her eyes widen. "Ooh, I get it now!" She grins. "You're undergoing a lovers' quarrel!"
"W-what?!" Kaveh's face burns. "I don't have a lover!"
"Sure," Dori rolls her eyes. "Because single men like to mope in the rain."
Kaveh crosses his arms. "I'm not moping because of him!"
Dori's smile widens. "Oooh, so it's a 'him'~"
Kaveh groans, burying his face in his hands. "Archons, I should've kept my mouth shut."
Dori pats his shoulder sympathetically. "There, there, Kaveh. Don't worry--"
"--Dori is here to listen to all your problems!"
Kaveh frowns at her. "How much will it cost me?"
Dori hits his arm playfully. "Nothing! Why, we were friends long before I became your creditor! Now--" she clears her throat. "Won't you tell an old friend about your troubles?"
Kaveh frowns. It is hard to determine Dori's intentions, clever as she is. But she's correct, isn't she? They were friends long before Kaveh became her debtor, and Archons know Kaveh desperately needs a friend right now.
"Have you ever wished you could turn back time?" he asks.
Dori falters before she quickly regains her composure. "Oh? what do you mean by that?"
Kaveh turns to his hands, unable to meet her gaze. "I-I got into an argument with someone I care about." His throat starts to feel tight. "I wish I could take back what I said."
"We were doing so well these past few days," says Kaveh. "It almost feels like we were friends again. But then I messed up," he sighs. "Like I always do. Maybe my relationship with that person is not meant to be fixed. Perhaps we're simply fated to be broken beyond repair."
He turns to the merchant and finds a contemplative expression on her face. Kaveh smiles sadly. "This must be difficult for you to understand. I doubt you're the kind of person to be bothered by matters such as these."
Dori laughs. "Everyone has their own worries, architect."
The merchant's vision glows, and she summons a spread of items before them. "I cannot cure heartache," she begins, "but I have the next best thing: booze." She claps her hands. "So what will it be, hm? Beer or wine?"
Kaveh sighs. He should've known. "Solitude."
Dori waves an airy hand. "I'll throw in a pack of cigarettes as gratitude for your patronage." She shakes the container enticingly. "C'mon, Kaveh! You used to rip three packs a day--"
Kaveh rises to his feet. "Thanks for the company, but I need to go."
What was Kaveh expecting? That Dori will listen to him without some motive in mind? They are not friends. They were architect and client. Now, they are debtor and creditor.
Kaveh should've known better. His relationship with Dori is just another friendship he thought he had.
Kaveh steps toward the rain. He is about to walk down the road before Dori calls his name.
"Wait!" she gasps. "I can offer you more than just wine and cigarettes!"
"Yeah?" Kaveh looks at her over his shoulder. "Will you throw in some firewater to sweeten the deal?"
"I can do more than that!" Dori's vision glows, and all the items around her disappear. "I can mend your broken relationship!"
Kaveh laughs bitterly. "I can't even fix it myself. What makes you think you can?"
"Because I have this!" An item materializes in Dori's palm.
Kaveh shouldn't look. He shouldn't come closer. If he shows the slightest bit of interest, Dori will pounce on his weakness until he gives in and forks over his mora.
Don't fall for it, Kaveh.
Dori smiles sweetly and raises the object toward the light.
A bowl of rose custard.
Kaveh steps closer.
Dori beams. "Do not be fooled by its appearance! This rose custard is imbued with a spell capable of mending any broken relationship!"
The blond raises an eyebrow. "Really?"
Dori nods. "The individuals concerned must simply eat it together. And then the spell will work on both of them, and you'll find your relationship gradually improving!"
Kaveh crosses his arms. "Are you sure it works?"
"Too many questions!" Dori tuts at him. "Why don't you try it and see for yourself? I'll sell it to you for 20,000 mora!"
Kaveh switches to his elemental sight. At once, everything becomes tinged with a fuzzy gray, except for the rose custard, which glows a faint shade of Dendro green.
So it really is imbued with something.
Kaveh switches back to his normal sight. "20,000 mora is too expensive."
"Fine!" Dora huffs. "500 mora!"
"Deal," says Kaveh. He hands over the meager amount Alhaitham lent him this morning and accepts the bowl of rose custard. It looks delicate in his hands. Kaveh hugs it to his chest.
Could it be the key to fixing his and Alhaitham's relationship?
When he turns to Dori, he sees the merchant halfway down the street.
"Hey!" Kaveh calls. "This rose custard doesn't have any weird side effects, right?"
Dori seems to consider this before she shrugs. "Hopefully not! But if there are, I'll give you a refund!"
"I'll be in Caravan Ribat for the next two days," says the merchant. "Feel free to meet me there!" She waves hurriedly. "Pleasure doing business with you, Kaveh. Good luck with Alhaitham!"
Kaveh's jaw drops. How did she know--?!
Dori leaves before he can ask more questions.
After the merchant sets off, the rainfall weakens temporarily, giving Kaveh enough time to hurry home.
Frankly, he doubts the rose custard can improve his testy relationship with Alhaitham. But there's no harm in trying, right? Besides, it only cost him 500 mora. Anyway, if it turns out he got scammed and the rose custard doesn't do anything at all, then Kaveh can simply pass it off as a peace offering.
The architect stops outside his home with Alhaitham. The lights are on despite the late hour.
Is Alhaitham waiting for him...?
'No, don't be ridiculous,' he tells himself. The scribe isn't the kind of man who waits for people.
But Kaveh isn't just anyone to him, right?
The blond's heart jumps at the thought and his face flushes. 'No. Don't get your hopes up, Kaveh. Remember who you're dealing with.'
The door suddenly opens, revealing Kaveh's roommate.
For a second, Kaveh sees genuine relief on the scribe's face, but then Alhaitham's visage shifts to his usual impassionate expression. "You finally came back. And here I thought you were trying to drown yourself in the rain."
Kaveh's mouth moves without his input. "Would it kill you to be worried for once?"
"Worry isn't necessary," Alhaitham scoffs. "Either you'll come home, or I'll pick you up from the streets come morning."
Kaveh wants to throw the rose custard at his face. "You--!"
Alhaitham throws a towel at his face. "Don't get my floor wet."
"You're not even the person who cleans it!" Kaveh trudges into the house as Alhaitham closes the door behind him. "Ugh, can't you show a bit of respect to your senior--"
"I will as soon as you become worthy of it."
Kaveh wants to slap his roommate. He really does. Instead, he takes a deep breath and wills his thoughts to settle. "Haitham."
"Mhm?" Alhaitham takes the wet towel from Kaveh's head and replaces it with a dry one. "What is it?"
Kaveh forces himself to meet his roommate's gaze. "I-I'm sorry," says Kaveh in the most sincere tone he can muster. "I didn't mean to say the things I said a while ago."
Alhaitham doesn't speak. Kaveh continues. "For that reason, I brought you a peace offering." He holds out the rose custard.
The scribe eyes the food warily. "You bought rose custard in the middle of a storm."
Kaveh's face flushes. "I-it's for the betterment of our--" What are they, exactly? "--Roommate-ship! I'm sure you'll do the same thing in my position!"
Alhaitham scoffs. "Actually, I wouldn't."
"You--!" Kaveh forces himself to calm down. He inhales deeply and puts on his sweetest smile. "Why don't we eat it together?"
'C'mon, Haitham, work with me here,' He pleads internally as the scribe scrutinizes the food. Alhaitham looks up, his teal eyes boring into Kaveh's own.
For a moment, Kaveh forgets he's trying to trick Alhaitham into eating a spell-infused dessert, drawn in by the scribe's sharp gaze. But then Alhaitham speaks, and Kaveh returns to reality.
"Fine."
Kaveh's face lights up. "'Fine'?"
"We'll eat it together," says Alhaitham.
Kaveh tries his best to contain his excitement. "A-alright."
Alhaitham cocks an eyebrow but doesn't say anything. As soon as the scribe leaves to fetch the spoons, Kaveh dives toward the divan, crossing his legs and balancing the rose custard on his lap.
The plan is in motion. Kaveh glances at the rose custard giddily before he notices Alhaitham at the doorway. He clears his throat and pats the space next to him. "Come here, Haitham."
If Alhaitham sits next to him, Kaveh will see the effects of the rose custard more closely. Good thinking, Kaveh.
Alhaitham makes the same face he does whenever Kaveh cooks soup for dinner. "Um, what."
Kaveh pats the divan more aggressively. "Sit next to me."
Alhaitham stays frozen in his spot. "...Are you sick?"
"W-what?" Kaveh laughs nervously. "Of course not! What made you say that?!"
Alhaitham doesn't answer. Instead, he calmly sits next to the architect, and Kaveh realizes this is the closest they've been since...forever. Alhaitham is taller and broader now, no longer the scrawny junior that looked up to Kaveh literally and figuratively. He occupies most of the divan, though he tries to inch away to give Kaveh more room.
Kaveh appreciates Alhaitham's effort. Though he knows if he simply moves closer and leans his head on the scribe's shoulder like he used to, the two of them would be more comfortable.
Not that Kaveh will attempt that ever again.
Alhaitham silently hands the blond a spoon and indicates the rose custard. "Shall we?"
Kaveh nods. He does not take his eyes off Alhaitham as the two of them spoon small servings of the dessert into their mouths.
The rose custard is absolutely delectable; the dessert is sweet and mellow, with a fragrant floral scent. Yet Kaveh is too distracted to care about the taste. He swallows quickly, eagerly waiting for the spell's effects.
Nothing happens.
Huh.
Kaveh turns to his roommate.
"Do you feel different?" Kaveh asks. He watches Alhaitham's face, waiting for an indication of the spell.
Alhaitham's face remains impassive as ever. "If you're asking me if it's delicious--"
"N-no, I mean--" Kaveh moves closer, accidentally putting his hand on Alhaitham's arm.
"Do you feel weird?"
"No," Alhaitham answers without hesitation. "Kaveh, what's going on with you? You're acting strange."
Oh. So Dori was lying about the rose custard.
Kaveh curses under his breath. Darn it, he should've checked the food more closely before buying it.
Oh well. At least he only lost 500 mora. And the rose custard (which was probably infused with some dendro slime extract to make it seem charmed) didn't have any strange side effects--
Alhaitham chokes.
"Haitham?" Kaveh lifts his head worriedly. "Haitham, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," the scribe replies far too quickly before he gags again. He rises from the divan, eyes wide, then rushes to the bathroom.
Kaveh hurries after him. "Haitham? Haitham?!" No, no, no, this isn't supposed to happen. The dessert is supposed to help their relationship, not make Alhaitham sick.
Kaveh curses Dori and everything she stands for as he knocks on the bathroom door. "Haitham?"
There is the unmistakable sound of someone dry-heaving over the sink. Kaveh panics and tries to turn the doorknob but finds it locked. "Haitham--!"
Kaveh grows more frantic when he hears the thump of something heavy hitting the floor, accompanied by the loud crash of glass and porcelain.
Without thinking it through, Kaveh's vision glows, and he kicks down the door with a burst of dendro.
Kaveh's eyes widen.
A gigantic, green feline body. Sharp claws. Bones jutting out of its spine. A warped, stylized skull for a head.
A Consecrated Fanged Beast stands in the middle of the damaged bathroom.
Kaveh's body moves on instinct. He summons Mehrak to his hand and swings his claymore. The first hit misses, but the second one catches the beast unaware in the chest. Kaveh sends the animal crashing against the sink.
The Consecrated Fanged Beast snarls as Kaveh approaches. The architect is about to deal the final blow when he looks at the beast's skull -head.
Stunning teal eyes, far too intelligent to belong to a mere animal.
Kaveh knows those eyes intimately.
He lowers his claymore and dismisses Mehrak. "H-Haitham?"
The beast makes a soft chuffing sound. His long tail thumps once.
Kaveh trembles. "Oh, no, Haitham--"
He sinks to his knees, grabbing the beast's, no, Alhaitham's face with his hands. "No, no, what have I done--"
Alhaitham tilts his head and makes a soft sound. His eyes widen, and he glances at his paws. Then he looks at Kaveh and focuses on something behind him.
Kaveh turns back.
Lying on the floor is the half-eaten bowl of rose custard.
Alhaitham snaps.
He roars, fierce and angry, and Kaveh turns away instinctively. Alhaitham whines before he stands on his hind legs and stares at himself in the broken mirror. Kaveh has never seen his roommate like this. Alhaitham has always been composed, his every move calm, assured and effortlessly composed.
But then again, anyone would react violently if they've been turned into a Consecrated Fanged Beast.
Kaveh has to fix this.
Alhaitham cries out again before Kaveh stands on his tiptoes and grabs his roommate's head. "Haitham, look at me."
Alhaitham refuses to listen, whining weakly as he eyes his reflection.
"Haitham," Kaveh calls more firmly. "𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦."
Teal eyes meet crimson.
"This is all my fault," says Kaveh, voice calm and low. His thumbs move in slow circles, gently caressing Alhaitham's cheeks. "I didn't mean to turn you into a beast. I'm going to fix this."
Alhaitham snarls, jerking his head away from Kaveh's hands.
"Oh, c'mon!" Kaveh yells, frustrated, as Alhaitham pads out of the bathroom on two feet like a human. "You think I wanted this to happen?!"
Alhaitham shoots him a pointed look. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥, his face seems to say.
"It wasn't supposed to turn you into 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵!" Kaveh yells as he trails after his roommate. It feels wrong to call Alhaitham an animal or a beast, no matter how much his current form resembles either. "If you would just listen to me--"
Alhaitham snarls, his tail lashing wildly. He points a claw at the bowl of rose custard.
Kaveh's face burns. "I bought it from Dori. She said it would--" he avoids Alhaitham's gaze. "--Mend our r-relationship."
Alhaitham blinks.
Kaveh looks up at him through his eyelashes.
Alhaitham falls silent as he processes Kaveh's words. In this body, the height gap between him and the architect has grown from a few inches to an entire foot. The beast towers over the man effortlessly.
Kaveh would be terrified if he weren't aware of the beast's identity.
Alhaitham crosses his arms in a human gesture that stirs Kaveh's heart. He makes a soft chuffing sound, shakes his head, then does a series of growls.
"I don't speak your language right now," Kaveh remarks. "Why don't you--"
There is a knock at the door.
Alhaitham's bone-ears fold to his head in alarm. Kaveh would've laughed at how honest his roommate's body language is in this state if it weren't for the direness of their situation.
Kaveh shoos Alhaitham toward the bathroom before he hurries toward the front door. "Coming!"
The architect opens the door, revealing a concerned-looking Corps of Thirty mercenary.
Oh no.
Kaveh quickly schools his expression. "O-Officer! Is everything alright?"
"I should be asking you that," says the mercenary. "I heard a loud crash coming from your house."
"Everything's fine!" Kaveh replies with what he hopes is a convincing smile. "I was just, um, cleaning!"
At that moment, the sound of falling items echoes throughout the house, followed by a pained snarl.
The mercenary's face turns wary. "Are you keeping a wild animal here?"
"N-no!" says Kaveh and tries to block the mercenary when he tries to come in. "That was my cat!"
Another loud crash.
'Darn it, Haitham,' Kaveh thinks desperately. 'Can you shut up for one second; I'm trying to save our skins--'
"Your cat must be huge," the mercenary remarks.
"You have no idea," Kaveh mutters. "I mean, yes! People often mistake him for a rishboland tiger."
The mercenary frowns but finally relents. "...Alright then. Just call us if you need assistance."
"I will!" says Kaveh and waves as the mercenary heads out into the rain.
When Kaveh closes the door, he turns around to find Alhaitham standing behind him silently.
"Archons, you scared me!" Kaveh yells, clutching his chest. He scowls up at his roommate. "Why were you so loud?! The officer was about to come in and see what was going on!"
Alhaitham rolls his eyes. 'It's interesting how he could do that even in this form,' Kaveh notes. If he's a lesser man, he would admit it's adorable.
Kaveh isn't a lesser man. Or at least, he hopes he's not.
Kaveh summons Mehrak and instructs her to start gathering provisions.
Alhaitham tilts his head curiously.
"We're going out," Kaveh says by way of explanation. "I'm going to rid you of that spell." Now that he can finally focus on the situation at hand, a plan begins to form in Kaveh's mind.
They need to find Dori.
The crafty merchant promised a refund if the rose custard has any weird side effects. Hopefully, she also has a solution to Alhaitham's predicament.
If Kaveh's memory serves him right, Dori mentioned she would be in Caravan Ribat for the next two days.
Mehrak gathers materials around the house until she beeps, indicating her storage is full. Kaveh dismisses her and opens the door.
The rain seems to have grown stronger. Thunder booms overhead, and Kaveh curses quietly as he puts on a raincoat.
Alhaitham chuffs.
"We need to find Dori," says Kaveh, dread filling him at the thought of braving the terrible weather. "She's at Caravan Ribat. We should leave tonight."
Alhaitham doesn't speak. Instead, he moves his head, and Kaveh notices a familiar object in his roommate's mouth.
His vision.
Oh, right. Alhaitham will want to wear it for protection. Kaveh can't blame him; in a strange situation, the assurance brought by a vision is invaluable.
Kaveh finds a soft strip of leather that might've been a belt once and secures Alhaitham's vision in the middle. Then Kaveh takes the makeshift vision collar and fastens it around Alhaitham's neck.
"Is it comfortable?" Kaveh asks. The vision glows brightly, seemingly happy to be reunited with its owner, and Alhaitham makes a soft sound of satisfaction. Then he pads toward the door.
Kaveh tries not to feel too guilty as Alhaitham struggles through the doorway.
Oh, who is he kidding? This is all his fault.
Alhaitham makes a soft sound, then grabs Kaveh by the hood of his raincoat and drags him out of the house.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming!" Kaveh huffs.
It is futile to struggle against Alhaitham in his current state. The form of a Consecrated Fanged Beast has seemingly tripled his strength, and he pulls Kaveh into the rain easily.
Kaveh squawks at the sudden cold shower.
Alhaitham chuffs with amusement.
Kaveh's face softens at the sight. At least Alhaitham's anger seems to have abated for now.
Kaveh locks the door and starts trudging down the path. When he realizes Alhaitham isn't following him, he turns around and sees his roommate hasn't moved at all.
"Haitham," says Kaveh. "We need to go now." The earlier they leave, the better. Besides, the rain and the darkness will provide excellent cover for Alhaitham, masking his form as they traverse the city.
Alhaitham shakes his head.
Kaveh scowls at him. "Why not?!"
Alhaitham snorts before tapping his wrist.
Is he injured? Kaveh tries to look closer, but Alhaitham shakes his head and taps it again. What is he trying to say? Arm? Watch?
Oh.
Kaveh tilts his head. "Time?"
Alhaitham nods and then indicates Kaveh's feet.
Kaveh taps his chin. When he woke up this morning, he never thought he'll end the day playing charades with his roommate. "You mean walking takes too much time?"
Alhaitham nods, his tail thumping behind him. Then he gets down on all fours.
Kaveh gapes. "What are you doing?!"
Standing like this, Alhaitham looks less like a human-turned-beast and more like a real Consecrated Fanged Beast. Alhaitham paces in a circle to get used to his new way of walking before he presents his back to Kaveh.
He shoots the blond a pointed look.
Kaveh's face flushes.
"Y-you--" Oh Archons, Kaveh can't believe he's about to say this "--You want me to ride you?!"
Alhaitham rolls his eyes and snorts. His tail thumps twice, pointing toward his back.
Kaveh feels like his face is on fire. "Haitham, I can't do that!"
Alhaitham snorts again.
𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, his eyes seem to say. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
Kaveh tries to refuse, but Alhaitham nips at his heels.
"Fine!" Kaveh yells, face red. "Give me a second!"
'Archons, this is so embarrassing,' Kaveh thinks as he clambers onto Alhaitham's back. Despite standing on all fours, his roommate is still taller than him. It takes effort for Kaveh to swing his leg over to Alhaitham's other side.
The experience is similar to mounting a horse. Except the horse is a bit closer to the ground, and his build is more feline than equine.
Overall, it is an interesting experience.
When Alhaitham gets up, Kaveh grabs onto his horns with a cry. "Hey, watch it!"
Alhaitham laughs again and huffs at Kaveh smugly.
"Don't think I won't slap you just because you're in a different form now," Kaveh mock-threatens, tightening his grip as Alhaitham starts to pad experimentally down the road. "Haitham, I swear--"
Alhaitham takes off running. Kaveh gasps and clings to him for dear life.
Kaveh had once watched a rishboland tiger hunt a mouse in the forest. The rodent was snuffling at the ground, unaware of the giant feline crouched above it.
When the tiger pounced, Kaveh's heart jerked, and he wondered what it would be like to move with such speed and dexterity.
He doesn't have to wonder anymore.
Alhaitham bounds forward, every stride powerful in the form of a consecrated beast. The wind roars in their ears. The deluge pelts their skin. They're nothing to Alhaitham, who surges through the streets with the grace and speed of a predator.
Kaveh is limitless on his back.
The blond presses his legs to Alhaitham's sides, his hands clutching his roommate's neck. Alhaitham is warm and solid against the freezing blur that is the city, and Kaveh yearns for solace amidst power.
"Haitham," Kaveh whispers.
Alhaitham thunders forward.
Kaveh feels the low thrum of Alhaitham's dendro energy against his skin, cool and constant and achingly familiar. Yet it seems more intense in this form, more concentrated, and Kaveh's vision glows in response.
The blond nestles closer.
They're out of the city in record time.
Stone structures and paved roads give way to sprawling green plains, wild and dangerous and dotted with evergreens.
Alhaitham makes a low sound.
Kaveh presses his lips to the back of his roommate's neck. "We're going the right way."
Alhaitham slows his pace in front of a dilapidated hut. Kaveh waits for Alhaitham to show signs of exhaustion, but his breathing is as even as ever, his every step cocksure and powerful.
Kaveh frowns at him, his heart pounding in his ears. "Why did you stop?"
Alhaitham turns his face toward the night sky.
𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦, he seems to say. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵.
At that moment, Kaveh notices the stiffness of his limbs and the sluggishness of his movements. Alhaitham must've stopped for the blond's sake rather than his own.
"Okay," says Kaveh, patting Alhaitham's neck. "Let's rest."
Alhaitham presses his belly to the ground so Kaveh can dismount easily. The blond slides off, off-kilter from his ride, but Alhaitham brings up a paw and supports Kaveh's back to help him stand.
Kaveh's face flushes.
The rain outside shows no sign of stopping, but the hut is dry and serviceable. Kaveh settles in a corner, wrapped in a thin blanket Mehrak brought. Alhaitham lies on the other side, curled up like a housecat.
It's cold.
Kaveh shivers, but the thin fabric barely offers warmth. He glances longingly at Alhaitham, at his warm fur and lax limbs.
Alhaitham's eyes open, his gaze bright and sharp against the darkness.
Kaveh stammers. "C-can I...?" He can't bring himself to say it.
They stare at each other. For a second, Alhaitham seems like he will refuse. Then he chuffs and uncurls, leaving a tiny space in the middle of his body.
Alhaitham offers the blond a warm look. 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
Kaveh doesn't need to be told twice.
He flops down next to the beast, and Alhaitham wraps his tail around Kaveh's legs in invitation.
Kaveh nestles into the crook of Alhaitham's flank.
The Consecrated Beast is toasty warm and soft like a bean bag, his fur silky and luxurious between the blond's fingers. Kaveh snuggles closer, craving warmth and something he refuses to name, and Alhaitham lets him take both.
Kaveh feels warm breath on his cheek, then the press of a snout against his forehead. Alhaitham's tail flicks gently as it curls around the blond's ankles.
The blanket lies forgotten on the other side.
Kaveh closes his eyes, breathing in the scent of petrichor.
"Tomorrow," Kaveh whispers, "we will reach Caravan Ribat by nightfall. Then we'll find Dori. And I will undo the curse."
Alhaitham makes a sound akin to a rumbling purr. He shifts, and Kaveh, sleep-warm and cozy, kisses Alhaitham's shoulder. "I will do right by you."
They curl up together as they finally fall asleep. The blanket remains untouched.
---------
Kaveh wakes up to a slant of gray morning light on his face. He realizes he's lying on the cold, hard ground, though the blanket has been folded haphazardly to pillow his head.
Alhaitham left.
Just as Kaveh begins to wonder if Alhaitham decided to abandon him, last night's memories flash to the forefront of his mind.
Him on Alhaitham's back.
Him cuddling Alhaitham.
Him 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 Alhaitham.
Kaveh's face burns.
Those actions are mortifying enough. But what's even more mortifying is the fact that Alhaitham allowed him to do all those.
Before Kaveh can get lost in his head, he hears a familiar snarl from outside. It seems like Alhaitham didn't ditch him after all.
Kaveh leaves the hut.
He finds Alhaitham outside their shelter, toying with a Floating Hydro Fungus.
Kaveh would've dismissed his behavior if it weren't for the fact that one, Alhaitham never toys with anything, and two, his movements are too frenzied, yipping and pouncing like a true animal.
Kaveh accidentally steps on a twig.
Alhaitham's head snaps to him. His pupils are dilated, the inky blackness almost overtaking the teal of his eyes.
Kaveh startles. This isn't his roommate.
Alhaitham growls. Before Kaveh can do anything, the beast pounces on him.
Kaveh yells as he's pressed against the ground, Alhaitham's claws on his chest. The beast is heavy, his dendro aura overwhelming, and Kaveh struggles against his grip.
"Haitham!" Kaveh gasps as Alhaitham snarls at his face. "Haitham, it's me! What are you doing?!"
Alhaitham snaps at his head. Kaveh scowls and throws a punch at the beast's jaw. Alhaitham whines at the impact. Kaveh uses his distraction to push his roommate off and tries to scramble to his feet.
He doesn't get very far before Alhaitham pins him down again. Kaveh grunts as his face is shoved into the dirt. Alhaitham settles over him, his entire body weight pressing Kaveh belly-down against the ground.
"Haitham!" Kaveh gasps as the beast's warm breath ghosts over his neck. "Haitham, snap out of it!"
He winces when he feels the brush of fangs against his skin. Kaveh closes his eyes, heart rabbiting in his chest as he waits for Alhaitham to snap his neck.
Nothing happens.
Kaveh turns around. Alhaitham's face is inches from his own, his eyes teal and horrified.
Alhaitham scrambles off his roommate. He whimpers, guilt and shame in his movements as he tries to distance himself from Kaveh as much as possible.
Kaveh's heart sinks.
"Shh, Haitham, it's okay--" Kaveh soothes, getting to his feet and holding his roommate's head in his hands.
Alhaitham jerks away. Kaveh shushes him, his gaze warm and steady. "I'm alright. You didn't hurt me."
Alhaitham whines. Kaveh gives him a bitter smile as he cups his roommate's cheek. "In fact, I think I'm the one who hurt you. Did I punch you too hard?"
That finally gets Alhaitham to calm down. He snorts and angles his face to show off his jaw. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩? His amused expression seems to say. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.
Kaveh flicks him lightly on the nose. "Sure you have, big guy."
The architect freezes when a sudden thought occurs to him. "You talked."
Alhaitham blinks.
"Y-you did," Kaveh stammers. "I heard you speak in my mind." Wait--Alhaitham can communicate telepathically to him now?! "Haitham, say something!"
Alhaitham tilts his head. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵.
Kaveh gasps. "You did! You're speaking in my head!" He grasps Alhaitham's paws in excitement. "I can hear your thoughts!"
Alhaitham chuffs. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥.
"Hey, I'm not complaining," Kaveh grins. "This certainly makes our situation easier."
Alhaitham chuckles and tries to nip the blond's fingers. 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸?
"Ugh, how would I know?" Kaveh pushes him away playfully. "Hey, stop it! Are you hungry?"
Alhaitham rests his face between Kaveh's palms. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.
"Weird," Kaveh remarks as he smoothes the fur on Alhaitham's cheeks. "Can't you ask for breakfast like a normal person?"
Alhaitham nuzzles Kaveh's hand. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸.
Kaveh frowns at him.
Alhaitham chuffs with mirth. 𝘚𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.
"Yeah, I'm doing my best," says Kaveh, smiling ruefully. He pats Alhaitham on the head. "Let's eat. Archons, I'm starving."
He summons Mehrak. The roommates watch as she produces their breakfast: a flask filled with warm tea, zaytun peach jam, and field ration biscuits.
Alhaitham turns his nose at the food.
Kaveh frowns as he slathers jam on a biscuit. "What do you mean you don't like it? You love rations!"
He knows that Alhaitham likes these awful and tasteless biscuits, finding them easy to eat and store. Did his fondness fade overnight?
Alhaitham still refuses to eat the biscuits, even when Kaveh tries to entice him by pressing a cracker against his closed mouth.
Kaveh sighs. "Well, what will you have for breakfast?"
At that moment, they hear a tiny squeak. The Floating Hydro Fungus scurries behind a tree. Alhaitham licks his lips, his tail lashing wildly behind him.
'Oh, well,' Kaveh thinks as he watches Alhaitham get to his feet and trail after the fungus. 'Who knew Consecrated Fanged Beasts, even human-turned-beast ones, have a fondness for Mystical Beasts?'
Alhaitham catches the fungus in record time, though he refuses to eat it raw. Kaveh tries not to think too hard about it as he roasts the fungus over a fire.
They eat breakfast silently; Kaveh with his jam and biscuits and Alhaitham with his roasted fungus.
Alhaitham is calmer now that he has some food in him.
Yet Kaveh couldn't find himself to relax fully. He watches his roommate as he nibbles at the charred flesh of the fungus between his paws.
If Alhaitham didn't regain his sanity, would he have dined on Kaveh in the same way? It's a terrible, morbid thought, and guilt creeps up Kaveh's spine.
Alhaitham would never hurt him.
Their relationship is civil at best and temperamental at worst, but even in their most vile arguments, Alhaitham has never thrown a punch that Kaveh couldn't take.
Not that Kaveh has extended the same kind of courtesy to his roommate. This whole rose custard fiasco is one such case.
Regardless, he shouldn't let his guard down. The morning's incident has proven that Alhaitham's rational mind can be overcome by a beast's primal urges.
They share the tea between themselves. Kaveh takes a swig and then pours the rest of the flask's contents down Alhaitham's throat.
"Let's go," says Kaveh as soon as they've packed everything and are ready to continue their journey. "We must reach Caravan Ribat by nightfall."
Alhaitham nods and lowers himself. Kaveh scrambles onto his back without a fuss. They take off running.
The plains are slowly overtaken by the greenery of the rainforest, beautiful and teeming with life. Alhaitham weaves between the trees, wary of merchants and travelers. The air is warm and clammy, and sweat beads on Kaveh's skin as they thunder down the path. It's so hot. He wonders how Alhaitham isn't overheating yet, considering his fur and bone plating.
Kaveh is silent throughout their journey, too engrossed in the heat to make conversation.
Alhaitham is silent too. Apparently, a Consecrated Fanged Beast barely makes any sounds, and the only sign of Alhaitham's struggle is the occasional pant he lets out.
Kaveh's fingers idly stroke Alhaitham's collar. He hopes it's not too hot on his roommate's skin.
They reach Yasna Monument past midday. They still have a long road ahead, but Alhaitham did an excellent job of getting past the more troublesome areas of their journey.
At this point, the roommates are hot and exhausted. Alhaitham trembles as Kaveh slides off his back.
The architect surveys the area. The trees are older here, all bearing thick trunks and dense foliage, and a glittering blue pond laps enticingly at Kaveh's feet.
Alhaitham makes a soft imploring sound and dips a paw in the refreshing water.
Kaveh wipes the sweat on his brow.
The air is too warm, and the humidity of the rainforest isn't helping. Kaveh reckons they can spare an hour for a bath.
"Fine," says the blond. "But we need to get going as soon as we're done."
His words are enough for Alhaitham. He leaps into the water with feline grace.
It's adorable watching Alhaitham swim.
He doggy-paddles in the pond, his head bobbing above the water, and he chuffs at Kaveh to hurry up and join him.
"Yeah, yeah, just a second!" Kaveh calls out, and he's in the process of removing his shirt when he realizes their situation.
He's about to bathe with Alhaitham.
It's not like they haven't seen each other naked before. They live together, and they've known each other for years prior to becoming roommates. But there's a difference between getting an eyeful and skinny-dipping with someone.
But does it even count, though? Alhaitham isn't exactly human right now.
Of course, it does! Human or not, Alhaitham is still Kaveh's...someone.
Kaveh looks over his shoulder. Alhaitham's head peers above the water, his eyes zeroed in on his roommate. Kaveh's face burns. He has the inexplicable urge to cover his bare chest like a girl. "Ugh, give me some privacy, will you?! I can't strip while you're looking!"
Alhaitham laughs, the sound strangely human despite his appearance. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸.
Kaveh wants to slap him. He really does.
Instead, he turns away, pulling his shirt off completely and tugging on his pants. "Why don't you look at the trees or something?!"
𝘕𝘢𝘩, Alhaitham moves closer. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸.
Kaveh is about to retort when something wet and 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 touches his bare ankle. He screams, and Alhaitham scampers back into the water, having decided to lick the blond's leg.
Kaveh glares at him. "I swear, when you're back to normal, I'll--"
𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵? Alhaitham flicks his tail teasingly. 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬?
Kaveh's face burns. "You--!"
𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, Alhaitham chuffs. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘐'𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵.
Kaveh chucks a shoe at his roommate's face. Alhaitham laughs before throwing the footwear right back at him.
𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺, Alhaitham snorts. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵.
"Alright, alright!" Kaveh yells. He debates taking off his undergarments when he notices Alhaitham has finally turned away. The blond hurriedly takes everything off and finally wades into the pond.
The water is cold and refreshing to Kaveh's heated skin. He sighs with relief.
Alhaitham's face brightens when he notices Kaveh has joined him. He paddles over to the blond, splashing his face with his tail.
Kaveh crosses his arms with mock anger. "I'm still upset with you."
When Alhaitham's bone-ears droop, Kaveh splashes him right back. "Hah!"
Alhaitham scowls and then turns his nose, apparently deciding he's too good for playing in the water.
𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴, he chuffs. 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴.
"Says the guy who started it," Kaveh retorts.
He squawks when Alhaitham bumps into his back. "Hey, what the f--"
They spend the rest of the time helping each other bathe. Kaveh untangles the knots in Alhaitham's fur while Alhaitham returns the favor by scrubbing the blond's back with a bar of soap.
Kaveh closes his eyes.
Despite his apprehension regarding the thought of being naked with his roommate, he knows this has happened before.
This isn't his first time bathing with Alhaitham.
It happened during their Akademiya days. They were two students in the desert, working together on their thesis.
Alhaitham and Kaveh had spent their daylight hours exploring some archeological ruins, the sun beating down on their backs. By dusk, the students were sweaty and exhausted and sorely needed a good bath.
That's when they spotted an oasis close to their camp.
"Finally!" Kaveh yells. He pulls off his shirt and starts working on his trousers. "When was the last time we bathed, Haitham? A week ago?"
When he glances at his junior, he sees the Haravatat student's face is red, his eyes trained on a nearby rock. "Um..."
"...three days ago?"
"Nah, I'm pretty sure it was a week ago," says Kaveh. "Honestly, we're lucky we found this oasis. That means we can have a soak anytime we'd like!" He hums a funny little song he has heard from Lambad as he removes his undergarments.
Alhaitham's face turns redder. "Um, Senior Kaveh, where did you hear that song?"
"The tavern!" Kaveh replies brightly. "I think it sounds funny!"
Alhaitham turns away, muttering something about dense seniors and raunchy lyrics, and Kaveh ignores him and toes off his shoes.
Kaveh moans with relief when he finally submerges himself, the water taking away the grime and exhaustion from his body.
"Don't just stand there, Haitham!" Kaveh grins. "Come here!"
Alhaitham, whose body is angled away from the blond for some reason, refuses to turn around.
"T-that's a kind offer, senior," the Haravatat student stutters, which is strange because Alhaitham never stutters. "But I'll have to pass. I'll get started on dinner as you bathe."
Kaveh frowns "Why won't you join me?" An idea pops into his head. "Oh! Can't you swim?" He paddles over to the edge of the water and touches Alhaitham's ankle.
"Don't worry, Haitham!" Kaveh grins brightly. "I'll look after you! As your senior, I won't let you drown!"
Alhaitham finally looks at him. His face is red as a tomato. "S-senior, it's not that--"
"What is it, then?" Kaveh tilts his head curiously.
Alhaitham opens his mouth before he closed it with a sigh. "Fine. I'll swim with you." He frowns. "Though, don't look when I take off my uniform."
Aww, is his junior shy? Kaveh smiles. "No need to be embarrassed, Haitham!"
"We're both guys," says Kaveh, parroting his own friends' reassurances when he had to use the Akademiya communal shower for the first time. "It's not a big deal."
His words do not soothe Alhaitham at all. Regardless, Kaveh accepts this and turns away as his junior undresses. Kaveh hears the telltale splash of someone getting into the oasis. Small waves rippled against his body as Alhaitham swims toward him.
"See? It feels great!" Kaveh grins. He tries to turn around, but a firm and surprisingly strong hand keeps him from looking back. "...Haitham?"
He falls silent when Alhaitham speaks, his mouth inches from the blond's ear. "Let's keep our distance, senior."
His voice makes Kaveh shiver, and the Kshahrewar student feels a strange warmth coiling in his belly.
Alhaitham leans closer. "Don't look."
Don't look.
It is a deceptively simple request made out of two deceptively simple words. Kaveh simply has to follow it.
He doesn't want to.
The blond can't focus on his body when he could hear Alhaitham wading in the water behind him.
Archons, Kaveh 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 to look. He peers over his shoulder.
Alhaitham is turned away from him. His back is all hard planes and smooth skin, and Kaveh's mouth dries as he traces the line of Alhaitham's spine with his eyes.
He looks confident. Purposeful.
Kaveh has an inexplicable urge to touch him.
Alhaitham turns his head, his teal eye shining in the dusk. "You looked."
Kaveh trembles, knees weak, heart pounding in his chest. "I--"
And he realizes just how much older Alhaitham has gotten. His eyes are sharper, his voice deeper. His back is broad and smooth and strong.
Kaveh isn't staring at his junior.
He's staring at an equal.
He's staring at a man.
Alhaitham pads closer, the water lapping at his waist, and Kaveh has to fight to keep his eyes on the Haravatat student's face.
Alhaitham chuckles lowly. "I expected better of you, senior."
"You shouldn't have," Kaveh would say if his mouth wasn't so dry.
The blond doesn't recall what happened next. All Kaveh remembers is the pull of the younger Alhaitham's gaze as he beckons his senior closer.
A splash of water drags Kaveh out of his trip through memory lane. The current Alhaitham, stuck in the form of a Consecrated Fang Beast but no less stunning, is giving him a strange look. Kaveh shakes his head apologetically. "Sorry, I got a little distracted."
'Little' is an understatement. Kaveh can tell he has been zoning out for a while.
Alhaitham doesn't seem to care. He gets back on all fours and paddles to the shore, shaking his fur like a wet dog.
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘱, his gaze seems to say. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯.
Kaveh hums in affirmation.
Alhaitham gives Kaveh another thirty minutes before he drags the blond out of the water himself.
Unfortunately, Kaveh's usual clothes are still filthy, so the blond has to wear a backup robe that Mehrak provided him with.
He frowns at his reflection in the water. Compared to the intricate attire Kaveh typically favors, the robe is loose and subtle, with long sleeves and a traditional pattern on the collar.
Kaveh looks calmer in the garment. More mature.
It would be difficult to fight in it, but Kaveh doesn't have anything else to wear. He wonders if he should suck it up and put on his soiled clothes when he sees Alhaitham looking at him.
He flicks his tail. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦.
Kaveh tucks a lock of hair behind his ear. "It was my father's."
Kaveh turns away, abruptly reminded of why he never wears this robe in the first place. Seeing it makes him recall his family, and people give him strange looks whenever he wears the garment in public.
Alhaitham chuffs. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯.
Something about his gaze makes Kaveh flush, and he turns away. "...W-We should leave now."
Alhaitham makes an amused sound but does not question his roommate. He offers his back, and as soon as Kaveh settles in, they are off like a shot.
Kaveh presses his forehead to the back of Alhaitham's neck, breathing in his warm, earthy scent. It's strange. The blond would never do this to a human Alhaitham.
But then again, an Alhaitham who can't talk is easier to deal with.
...Kaveh misses his voice.
Another memory comes to the blond's mind. The roommates are older here, no longer mere thesis partners, and a bit more than friends.
Kaveh's head is on Alhaitham's shoulder as he toys with his junior's fingers.
"I love your hands," Kaveh whispers, drunk on wine and something he can't name.
Alhaitham chuckles as he wraps an arm around his senior's waist. "Just my hands?"
"Mhm, don't push your luck," Kaveh replies, and Alhaitham laughs again. Archons, he laughed so easily back then.
Alhaitham's hands are beautiful: angular with long fingers and prominent veins, the hands of a scholar.
Kaveh leans down and kisses the pad of Alhaitham's forefinger.
The Haravatat student's breath hitches. Kaveh repeats the motion and lets his tongue tease the warm skin.
Alhaitham tastes like salt.
When Kaveh looks up through his eyelashes, he sees his junior's cheeks have turned peach-pink, his lips parted enticingly.
"May I ask something of you?" Kaveh whispers.
Alhaitham's gaze drifts to his senior's mouth. "Anything."
Kaveh leans closer. "Sing for me."
He heard Alhaitham singing once. The Haravatat student had been alone at a desk in the House of Daena, crooning the lyrics of a classic love song as he worked.
Alhaitham stopped as soon as he noticed his senior.
Kaveh wants to hear him again.
Alhaitham hesitates, cheeks flushing even more before sighing. He smiles at Kaveh, a small, indulgent thing that barely raises the corners of his mouth but does wonders to Kaveh's heart.
The Haravatat student pulls his senior closer, his lips inches from wispy blond hair.
Alhaitham sings.
His voice is low and measured, lacking his usual confidence. But the talent is there, begging for honing. Kaveh muses that in another life, Alhaitham could've been a performer in the theater.
Alhaitham never sang for him again.
Kaveh buries his hands in Alhaitham's fur.
He will fix this. He will turn Alhaitham back to normal.
And perhaps, he can convince his best friend to sing for him again.
As Kaveh predicted, the roommates reach Caravan Ribat by nightfall. The blond dismounts to assess the area.
Caravan Ribat is a beautiful, fortified village at the foot of the Wall of Samiel. Even in the darkness, Kaveh can see various structures, along with numerous merchants and Eremite patrols.
They need to find Dori. However, it is difficult to sneak in a Consecrated Fanged Beast.
That leaves Kaveh with two options.
Option 1: walk in and hope the people believe his story that the beast next to him is his roommate.
Option 2: hide Alhaitham somewhere while he heads into the village to find Dori.
The first option is simpler, but it comes with a huge risk.
Chances are people won't believe Kaveh's explanation and the Eremite patrols will try to kill Alhaitham. The scribe is a formidable combatant, but he'll have difficulty fighting in an unfamiliar body.
Furthermore, Kaveh won't be able to protect Alhaitham effectively either.
Don't get him wrong; Kaveh is more than capable of defending himself, especially with Mehrak's support.
But Kaveh isn't a warrior by profession. He won't fare well in a fight against an army of trained combatants, even with a vision and an augmented toolbox by his side.
If the roommates opt to storm the village, Alhaitham will get an arrow to the skull before Kaveh can swing his claymore.
...Option 2 it is.
Alhaitham grunts as Kaveh hides him in some shrubbery.
"I won't take long," the blond promises as he piles leaves on his roommate.
"You just need to stay still for a few minutes while I fetch Dori," says Kaveh. His vision glows, and he summons a few mourning flowers around the area to make Alhaitham's disguise look pretty. "I'll be back before you know it."
Alhaitham chuffs beneath his leaf pile. 𝘓𝘪𝘦𝘴.
Kaveh gasps, affronted. "I always keep my promises!"
Alhaitham waves a dismissive paw. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.
Kaveh frowns. Before he can retort, a weighted net descends on the roommates from above, pinning the beast and the man to the ground.
Alhaitham roars as Eremites descend from the trees, crossbows loaded and spears pointed at them. Kaveh struggles beside him, summoning Mehrak and instructing her to start searing the net's ropes.
How did the mercenaries find them?!
Kaveh tries to activate his vision to help cut the net, but it won't respond. Drat--something in the net's materials must be draining his elemental energy.
Mehrak disappears, weakened due to Kaveh's lack of dendro. Alhaitham seems equally drained, his vision flickering feebly.
Kaveh bares his teeth as an Eremite steps forward.
"You have quite a pair on you--" says the warrior, "--bringing a Consecrated Beast to our village."
Alhaitham perks up. He chuffs at his roommate. 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘩, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
"What do you mean you know her?" Kaveh hisses.
The warrior frowns. "Are you talking to the beast?"
𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦-𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘦. Alhaitham chuffs. 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴.
That doesn't help at all. It's not like the Flame-Mane can see her friend, Alhaitham, in the dangerous Consecrated Fanged Beast before her.
Not that Kaveh isn't willing to try.
"Well?" says the Flame-Mane.
"We're not looking for trouble," Kaveh grits out. "This isn't a beast--he's my roommate, Alhaitham. I'm sure you've heard of him."
The Flame-Mane scowls. "You think I'd believe that?"
"It's true!" Kaveh insists, hands clutching the net. "We're searching for Lord Sangemah Bay because she sold us a cursed product--"
"Yeah, sure," The Flame-Mane chuckles. A dozen Eremites creep closer, weapons drawn. "Look, your story keeps getting more and more unbelievable."
She points her claymore between Kaveh's eyes.
"Alhaitham never mentioned a roommate to me," says the Flame-Mane. "And I doubt he's stupid enough to get fooled by a cursed item."
Alhaitham whines.
"Come with us," the Flame-Mane continues. "This doesn't need to get messy."
Kaveh is about to retort when he sees Alhaitham's pupils dilate.
Oh, no, no, not now--
Alhaitham roars and tears through the net with a dendro-infused claw.
Kaveh barely leaps out of the way in time before the beast sends a barrage of dendro blades on the mercenaries.
The Eeremites clamor, formation broken, and the Flame-Mane grits her teeth.
"Mercenaries!" She yells, her voice loud and clear in the night. "Hold your ground!"
"No!" Kaveh cries out. "Don't hurt him! He's just--"
Alhaitham snarls and sprints toward the Flame-Mane.
The Flame-Mane grins and forgoes her claymore. "You asked for it, tiger."
Alhaitham rushes toward her and leaps.
The Flame-Mane infuses her fists with Pyro and throws a punch at his jaw. Alhaitham collides with the ground, fur scorched. He snaps, high and hard, but the Flame-Mane is faster.
She lands a right hook on the column of his throat, then lashes out with her left.
Kaveh yells.
Alhaitham takes another blow to the mouth and spits out blood.
"Haitham!" Kaveh calls and rushes toward them. A group of Eremites attempts to grab him. Mehrak sends them flying with a burst of dendro.
"That's enough!" The architect yells. His claymore materializes in his palms as he leaps toward the Flame-Mane.
The mercenary hurls him into the dust.
Kaveh rolls over, gasping for breath, and the Flame-Mane kicks away his weapon.
The blond scrambles to his feet and lunges, but the Flame-Mane dodges his punch. She rears back and retaliates with an uppercut to his jaw. Kaveh's vision whites out, and a metallic taste floods his mouth. He staggers before the Flame-Mane throws a left hook at his cheek.
Kaveh's knees give out.
"The first rule of fist fights--" the Flame-Mane grins, sharp and feral "--is you don't block with your face."
Kaveh groans as he lies on the ground. His vision is spinning, his skin seared, and he sees doubles of Alhaitham as Eremites secure him with the net.
A boot settles on Kaveh's back, and someone pulls on his arms. Hard.
"It didn't have to come to this," the Flame-Mane mutters.
She binds his wrists with rope. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"No one asked you to," Kaveh spits out, teeth bloody.
The Flame-Mane laughs. "I like you. If you're truly Alhaitham's roommate, I'm sure he loves your mouth."
Kaveh's face warms. "What is that supposed to mean?!"
The Flame-Mane leans closer, her lips tickling the shell of his ear. "It means exactly what you think it means."
Alhaitham growls beneath the net, his eyes teal and sane.
Kaveh turns away, cheeks red. "He's a bit protective."
The Flame-Mane chuckles. "Possessive, more likely."
Kaveh tries to retort but finds his attention taken away by a pink blur from somewhere behind the Flame-Mane.
Dori.
The Flame-Mane notices the merchant as well. "Lord Sangemah Bay--"
Kaveh doesn't hear the rest of their conversation.
His vision continues to blur, white creeping from the edges. He sees Dori indicating at him and Alhaitham furiously though he doesn't hear her words.
The Flame-Mane's posture tenses and her visage softens into one of understanding.
Kaveh hears a worried croon from his side.
Alhaitham meets his gaze, tense and wide-eyed.
He makes a soft imploring sound. 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘩--?
Kaveh tries to shift toward his roommate. "Haitham--"
He blacks out. The last thing he sees is a worried, teal gaze.
---------
Kaveh wakes up in a dark room. A pale ceiling stares down at him, and the bed he is lying on creaks every time he shifts.
He tries to move and groans at the shock of pain bolting up his spine. Archons, he's covered in bandages.
"Good, you're up," says a voice beside him.
Lord Sangemah Bay herself sits on the chair next to his bed, her expression unreadable.
"Dori," Kaveh says weakly. A thousand emotions stir in his heart, but he's too tired to name any of them. He leans back on his pillow. "You must know why we're here."
"I do," Dori confirms.
Kaveh opens his mouth to speak, but the merchant shakes her head.
"Save your strength," says Dori. "Dehya did a number on you. You should take it easy."
Dehya. So that's the Flame-Mane's real name.
Dori continues. "I have good news and bad news."
"The good news is that I'm taking responsibility for your and Alhaitham's recovery," says the merchant. "I sold you a dangerous product. Therefore, it's only proper that I give you a full refund and reimburse your stay in this hotel as you recuperate."
Kaveh laughs thinly. "I didn't know you still had it in you."
Dori narrows her eyes. "What do you mean?"
"A heart," says Kaveh.
Dori's expression darkens. "I'm a businesswoman, Kaveh, not a monster."
Kaveh falls silent. The merchant clears her throat.
"Now for the bad news," Dori continues. She inhales, and for once, her amber eyes waver. Her hand moves to rest on her lap.
Kaveh's eyes follow the movement. "Dori?"
"Regarding Alhaitham's predicament--" Dori meets his gaze. "Kaveh, there is no cure."
Kaveh has always been prone to emotional outbursts. He shouts and cries and lashes out, but he has never done so intending to harm another.
Until today.
Kaveh grabs the merchant by the collar, white-hot anger making his eyes see red. "What do you mean there is no cure?!"
Dori gasps, clawing at his hand on her neck. "K-Kaveh--"
"You tricked me!" Kaveh yells. "You lied to me!" He pulls her face closer, teeth gritted and vision glowing. "You crossed the line!"
All at once, the desperation fades from Dori's face.
"I crossed the line?!" The merchant scoffs. "I lied to you? I tricked you?!" She laughs. "Archons, Kaveh, look at yourself!"
Manic anger shines in her eyes. "I sold you the curse via unfair means, but you weren't exactly the epitome of honor when you gave it to Alhaitham!"
She tears his hand from her collar. "Sweet, kind Kaveh, the most benevolent architect in Sumeru, tricked and fed his roommate a curse on the off chance it would fix their fallout parading around as a squabble!"
The merchant jabs a finger at Kaveh's chest. "You may be a good man, architect," says Dori. "But that does not make you better than me. The end does not justify the means."
She grabs Kaveh by the tunic. "There is no cure, my dear. Not for the curse, and especially not for that dying thing you call a relationship. Do understand me?"
Kaveh eyes her for a few more seconds before he acquiesces. He pulls Dori's hand from his tunic and leans back on his pillow. "I do."
The merchant's face softens. "I didn't know it would turn him into a beast, though."
Kaveh looks away. "...I see."
Dori offers him a cigarette. Kaveh accepts, and the merchant lights her own stick.
Kaveh sighs. "I really messed up, huh?"
Dori blows a plume of smoke through her mouth. "You did. Alhaitham is a piece of work, but he doesn't deserve what you made him go through."
If it's any consolation," she continues, "we're both terrible people." She smiles wryly, the cigarette wagging as she speaks. "We're dreamers, you and I. The only difference between us is that what I want is attainable."
Kaveh scoffs. "Mora?"
"Financial security," Dori replies. "As for you..." Her eyes narrow. "...You can hold the world in your hands, and you wouldn't be content until you changed it. Until you changed 𝘩𝘪𝘮."
"I don't want to change Haitham," says Kaveh.
"Sure," Dori scoffs. "Thus, you bought a bowl of cursed custard from me."
Kaveh sighs wearily. "I should apologize."
He imagines what the rest of their lives would look like now. Since it's Kaveh's fault that Alhaitham became a beast, the architect is bound to care for his roommate for the rest of his life.
Though now that Kaveh thinks about it...it's not just the curse that he should apologize for.
Kaveh has been a terrible companion to Alhaitham all these years.
Well, the scribe isn't much better. But for all his scathing remarks, Alhaitham never truly sought to break his senior's heart.
And how does Kaveh repay his roommate?
By crossing the line in their argument.
By tricking Alhaitham into consuming a curse that's supposed to fix their mess of a relationship.
For all his bitterness and frustrations, Kaveh never wanted to break his junior's heart either.
Kaveh yelps when Dori flicks his cheek. "What was that for?!"
"Something tells me you're in the middle of an epiphany," says the merchant. "Don't get me wrong; you really should say sorry. But don't get too stuck in your head."
"You're going to apologize to Alhaitham for tricking him," says Dori, "not for wanting to mend your relationship."
She sighs. "There's hope for the two of you, Kaveh. The fact that you managed to get here without ripping each other apart is proof that your bond isn't broken."
"And who knows?" The merchant shrugs. "Maybe your relationship has already healed a long time ago. You're just so deep in denial you fail to see that the two of you care too much to truly hurt each other."
Kaveh stares at his hands. "...Maybe you're right."
Dori chuckles.
"Don't go staring into the horizon with those big doe eyes all sad and stuff," says the merchant. "There's still hope. Not just for your relationship, but for the curse too."
Kaveh stills while tapping his cigarette on an ashtray. "But you said there's no cure."
Dori rolls her eyes. "You didn't let me finish, idiot. And you distracted me."
She drags a quiet inhale. "I meant to say that there's no cure that we know of. While we're resting, Dehya and my men are out there, scouring the region for the moron who sold me the cursed custard."
Kaveh balks at her. "...You told your mercenaries to look for a cure?"
Dori scoffs. "As I stated previously, I'm not a monster. Besides--" She meets his gaze. "It's bad for business if word gets out that a customer suffered terrible side effects from my products. And the economy improved when Alhaitham was the acting grand sage," she huffs. "It's only proper that I help him in his time of need."
Kaveh's mouth trembles. "Dori..."
The merchant waves him off. "After that idiot curse seller tells us the cure, I'll skin him alive."
Dori leans back with her arms behind her head. "No one cons Lord Sangemah Bay and gets away with it."
She sighs. "I can't believe he said the custard mends lovers' quarrels. I shouldn't have fallen for his trustworthy aura..."
Kaveh's eyes widen as he realizes something.
He knows how to cure Alhaitham.
He shakily gets to his feet and disposes of the cigarette butt.
Dori frowns at him. "Um...you really shouldn't be walking right now."
"I don't care," Kaveh replies. He starts padding toward the door. "I need to see Haitham."
Dori squawks as Kaveh limps down the hotel hallway. "Are you crazy?! You're not in tip-top shape right now!"
"I've had worse," the architect retorts. He can feel the aura of Alhaitham's dendro energy in the air, comforting and familiar. "And weren't you telling me to apologize?"
The merchant groans. "Yes, but not right now! Ugh, people who are in love are so unreasonable--"
Kaveh follows Alhaitham's dendro trail as it leads him to a plain-looking door. "No. I need to do this now." He knocks gently. "Haitham has waited long enough for my apology."
When the architect turns to the merchant, he expects to find frustration in her visage, or at least hesitation. But Dori's face is one of quiet acceptance. "Fine. Do what you want."
Kaveh huffs as he turns the doorknob. "And you'll be happy to know I figured out the cure."
That gets Dori's attention.
"Really?" she gasps. "So how exactly do you break the curse--"
Kaveh shuts the door in her face. He takes a moment to calm his nerves, willing his heart to stop rabbiting in his chest before he turns around.
He sees Alhaitham as he has always been: dignified and regal, sitting on his bed as he peruses a book.
He's still in the body of a Consecrated Fanged Beast, but he is stunning, nonetheless.
𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘩, Alhaitham croons at the sight of his roommate. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦.
"I am," the architect confirms. He eyes his roommate. Alhaitham is covered in bandages too, and cream has been smeared haphazardly on the burned fur of his face.
Kaveh aches to heal him. "Haitham, I'm here to break your curse."
Alhaitham blinks. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦?
Kaveh nods. He extends his hand. Alhaitham obediently rests his face on the architect's palm.
"I started this," says the architect. "It's only proper that I end it."
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘨𝘢, Alhaitham intones. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥.
"This isn't the end," Kaveh murmurs, his thumb brushing his roommate's cheek. "Not for you. Not for us."
Alhaitham leans into his touch. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳.
Kaveh presses his forehead to Alhaitham's. "As you should be."
The architect takes off his robe and presents it to Alhaitham's mouth. "Bite. This will hurt."
Alhaitham obeys without question. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦?
Kaveh meets his gaze. "Do you trust me?"
Alhaitham nods. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.
Kaveh kneels before his roommate. "Your body is full of dendro energy right now. I reckon that most of that energy isn't yours; they're excess energy from the curse."
The architect continues. "That extra dendro energy caused your body to mutate into that form."
Alhaitham's eyes narrow as Kaveh's vision glows. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺.
The architect nods. "There's no other way. I'll use my own dendro as a magnet and attempt to attract the cursed energy away from your body--"
𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴, Alhaitham snarls. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵.
"I won't fail," says Kaveh. "I have a plan."
Alhaitham growls. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘩.
Kaveh gives him a wry smile. "It's too late for that, Haitham." He activates his vision.
Alhaitham cries out.
Kaveh grits his teeth.
Thus it begins.
Removing the excess dendro from Alhaitham's energy reserves is similar to scooping oil out of the water with your hand. Complex. Repetitive. Frustrating.
It is a difficult process.
Yet it is more difficult to watch Alhaitham's agony.
Alhaitham 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴. He cries and thrashes, human-sounding warbles torn from an animal's throat. Mehrak hovers by his side, keeping the beast as still as possible while Kaveh sifts through his roommate's energy.
It is torture to watch him suffer.
But Kaveh cannot cease his ministrations. As his vision glows and his hand coaxes dendro out of Alhaitham's skin, he sees the changes: the beast is diminishing in size, and his fur is receding.
Kaveh is doing the right thing. He can't stop, even when Alhaitham begs him to.
𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, Alhaitham's voice begs in his head. And isn't that startling, to know that a man as proud as Alhaitham is capable of begging? 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘩. 𝘌𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.
Kaveh kisses him on the forehead. "I'm sorry, darling."
Alhaitham fades in and out of consciousness. When he's out cold, Kaveh's eyes water as he works. When Alhaitham wakes up screaming again, Kaveh wipes the wetness from his face and puts on a brave front.
Alhaitham shouldn't see his weakness.
At some point, the door opens, and the architect vaguely registers people entering the room.
"If you interrupt me," Kaveh snarls, "or attempt to stop me, know that my toolbox won't hesitate to tear you to shreds."
He risks a glance behind him.
He sees the Flame-Mane and a young woman with different-colored eyes.
"We have no intention of stopping you," says the Flame-Mane. Her face softens. "We're here to help our friend." The Flame-Mane indicates the woman beside her. "Tell us what to do."
Kaveh hesitates, then nods.
Work resumes under the architect's guidance.
The Flame-Mane helps Mehrak with holding Alhaitham. The woman with different-colored eyes, apparently the guardian of Aaru Village, supports Kaveh with her hydro vision so he can redirect the excess energy into dendro cores.
Soon, the routine begins to run like clockwork.
Expelling the dendro energy became easier with two pairs of helping hands. Even when his hands start to tremble and his vision begins to dim from exhaustion, Kaveh persists.
Alhaitham screams.
The architect shushes him.
"Just a little longer," Kaveh whispers against Alhaitham's temple. "We're almost there." He presses his lips to warm, trembling skin. "You're doing so well for me, Haitham."
Alhaitham whines, weak and pained and so, so tired.
Kaveh kisses his cheek. "I know, my love. I know."
By the time the sun has risen, Kaveh is beyond exhausted. He feels drained, physically and mentally, and his vision dims as the last of his strength finally fades.
The Flame-Mane and the Guardian haul the architect to rest next to a warm, familiar form.
Kaveh falls asleep.
---------
Kaveh blinks awake to silky sheets and gray morning light. His vision is fuzzy and his limbs are weak and boneless, but the blond has never felt so well-rested in years.
Kaveh nuzzles into the soft warmth on his side, craving comfort.
A gentle chuckle tickles his ear.
Kaveh looks up.
Alhaitham smiles down at him, so very fond and so very 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯. "Good morning."
Kaveh blinks. Then he blinks again before he squeals and wraps his arms around his roommate's neck. "Haitham! You're okay! You're human again!"
Alhaitham laughs, warm and hearty, and he buries his face in Kaveh's shoulder as he hugs the blond in turn. "All thanks to you, my moon."
The scribe's voice is weak and hoarse, but it's deep and smooth and achingly familiar, and Kaveh has missed it so, 𝘴𝘰 much.
"Oh, Haitham," Kaveh murmurs, cupping his roommate's cheek. "My Haitham. Archons, I am so sorry."
Alhaitham leans into the blond's touch, his teal eyes warm and fond. "If this is about the custard, know that Dori explained everything. I've forgiven you."
Kaveh shakes his head.
"This isn't just about the custard," says the blond. "It's about our last argument, too. I got mad and--oh, Haitham, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to bring up the--"
Alhaitham shakes his head and kisses the pad of Kaveh's thumb. "I forgive you."
"And this whole thing between us!" Kaveh exclaims, indicating with his hands. "Our f-friendship! Our fight, the way I've treated you, I--"
He falls silent when Alhaitham kisses his forehead.
Kaveh huffs face flushed. "Haitham, I'm trying to apologize right now--"
"You'll have plenty of time for that in the future," Alhaitham murmurs, his lips warm on Kaveh's skin. "We should focus on regaining our strength."
He smiles at Kaveh's pout. "We'll talk, Kaveh. But not now. Archons, I haven't even drank my coffee yet."
Kaveh stares at his roommate, wondering if Alhaitham is taking him seriously at all before he sees the raw sincerity in the man's eyes. He sighs. "You promise?"
"I promise," says Alhaitham. He intertwines his fingers with Kaveh's. "Besides, I have some things to tell you, too."
Kaveh looks at their joined hands and the tender smile on Alhaitham's face.
A realization hits him.
Their relationship started healing long ago.
And Alhaitham, all this time, he--
The blond flushes as he puts two and two together.
"You love me," Kaveh murmurs, awed.
Alhaitham laughs softly before he pulls Kaveh closer by the waist. "Mhm. Took you long enough."
Kaveh suddenly feels very, very stupid. And warm. And lucky. And stupid. He buries his face in Alhaitham's neck.
"Archons, Haitham, why didn't you tell me?!" He gasps, breathing in the scribe's tea and bergamot scent. "If only I had known, I wouldn't have bought that stupid cursed custard--"
"I doubt you'll believe me," Alhaitham answers, his voice rumbling from his chest.
"And I assumed my actions would express my affections louder than my words."
Kaveh groans and playfully nips Alhaitham's shoulder. "Ugh, we're both so stupid."
Alhaitham's finger traces a path up Kaveh's spine, making the architect shiver. "Do you love me back?"
Kaveh gives him a look of pure disbelief, face warm and very flushed. "Haitham, you're hopeless."
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black," Alhaitham smirks.
Kaveh sighs. "I can't believe you had to turn to a Consecrated Beast for us to finally talk."
Alhaitham quirks his lip. "By the way, when you said you were going to break my curse, I thought you were going to kiss me."
Kaveh tucks a lock of hair behind the scribe's ear. "Is that such a terrible thought?"
"Never." Alhaitham cups the blond's cheek. "Not if it's with you."
Kaveh becomes acutely aware of how close their faces are.
Alhaitham moves forward with deliberate slowness, giving the blond enough time to pull away.
Kaveh doesn't. He closes his eyes as he feels the soft press of lips against his own.
Later, when Kaveh's heart stops racing, he realizes Alhaitham's state of undress.
"You've been naked this whole time?!" Kaveh gasps, red-faced.
Alhaitham grins. "Unless you count the collar, I've been naked for the past thirty-six hours and you didn't have a problem with it."
"That was different!" Kaveh sputters. "You weren't human then! You were covered in fur!" Oh, Archons. He kissed Alhaitham while he was naked.
Not that Kaveh is in a better state of dress. He's only wearing his pants, his upper torso bare.
Kaveh buries his face in his hands.
"Wait, does this mean the Flame-Mane and the Aaru Village Guardian saw you naked--"
Alhaitham sighs. "Kaveh, they don't care."
"But I do!" Kaveh whines. "I care that they saw you naked!"
"They saw you on your knees for me too, but you don't see me complaining."
Kaveh squawks.
---------
They spent the rest of the week recuperating in their hotel room.
During that time, they received routine visits from Dori, who would chide them for using up her mora on "room service" and "bubble baths" and "For Archons' sake, can you two stop holding hands for five minutes?!"
They also received letters from their friends.
Tighnari sent a strongly-worded letter calling them "hopeless idiots" and "absolutely daft for not going to Gandharva Ville since Alhaitham's curse is actually quite common" and Kaveh has to admit, the forest watcher has a point.
Tighnari's letter came with a message from Collei, congratulating them on "finally confessing their feelings" and "If it's okay, can I choose the flowers for your wedding?"
Kaveh flushes at the last statement while Alhaitham chuckles. "Rumors spread quickly," he remarks.
"You mean Dori spreads rumors quickly," Kaveh rolls his eyes.
Cyno's letter is short, simply congratulating them on finally figuring out their relationship and curing Alhaitham's curse. "Though I had hoped you would've confessed a bit later, around next month."
"Due to you, I've lost my bet with Tighnari. Now, I must refrain from making jokes at the dinner table for a week."
"I kind of feel bad for Cyno," Kaveh admits. "Though I can't believe he and Tighnari have a bet going on--"
Alhaitham groans. "Let's move on to the next letter."
The Flame-Mane and the Aaru Village Guardian would also visit them during their resting period.
They introduced themselves to Kaveh as friends of Alhaitham and as his companions in the famous coup while the architect was away in the desert.
"It's wonderful to meet Alhaitham's friends," Kaveh comments, grinning at the Flame-Mane.
"It's even more wonderful to meet you, his dear roommate," Dehya winks. "Sorry about beating you up, though."
Kaveh laughs. "It's alright, you were just doing your job."
"Let me make it up to you both," says Dehya. "How about the next time I'm in Sumeru City, I'll treat you to some drinks at Lambad's?"
Kaveh's face brightens as Alhaitham shakes his head. "I don't think Kaveh and I should be drinking yet."
Kaveh gives the scribe a wry smile. "Fine, maybe we can do something else--Oh! Dehya, can you teach me how you did your eyeshadow?"
Dehya blinks. "What?"
Kaveh beams shyly at her. "You look amazing. I'd love to learn how you do your makeup."
Dehya grins broadly just as Candace gives Kaveh an approving smile. "You got it!" The mercenary exclaims. "The next time I'm in the city, I'll definitely teach you."
Kaveh, Candace, and Dehya plan a trip to the bazaar while Alhaitham listens contentedly to their conversation.
When they're not receiving letters or guests, Alhaitham and Kaveh talk. They talk about everything, from their Akademiya days to their ideals. One afternoon, Kaveh finally gains the courage to ask, "Haitham, will you sing for me again?"
Alhaitham gives him a strange look.
Kaveh wonders if his request is about to be rejected before the scribe pulls him closer.
"Of course," Alhaitham murmurs against Kaveh's hair. "Anything for you."
Kaveh looks up and sees Alhaitham smiling at him, warm and achingly indulgent.
Alhaitham sings.
Kaveh listens.
Alhaitham's voice is warm and comforting, and he croons the lyrics of a Deshretan song he decoded with Kaveh.
The architect leans on the scribe's chest, quiet and content.
He falls asleep to the sound of Alhaitham's voice.
Soon, Kaveh and Alhaitham's stay at the hotel comes to an end. They stand outside Caravan Ribat, overlooking the horizon that they once journeyed on while Alhaitham was in the form of a beast.
Dori sees them off personally and blacklists Kaveh as a parting gift.
Kaveh squawks. "Why did you even do that?!"
Dori huffs. "You're more trouble than you're worth, architect! Paying for your stay in the only hotel in Caravan Ribat and catching the curse seller cost me mora, you know!"
"I didn't even ask you to do those things!" Kaveh groans.
He tries to reason with the merchant. "Dori, c'mon--"
"I'm never selling anything to you ever again!" Dori turns away. "Good riddance to you both. And Kaveh, you still owe me!"
The merchant scowls at Alhaitham. "You! Don't eat something just because Kaveh brought it for you!"
Kaveh slumps as Dori walks away. "So I still have to pay my debt, huh."
Alhaitham wraps an arm around the blond's shoulders. "Look at the bright side. We're both blacklisted by Dori." He grins crookedly. "We match."
Kaveh punches his shoulder playfully. "What are we, five?"
Alhaitham shrugs. "It's something."
Kaveh laughs, which is the scribe's goal all along. "That's not a similarity I'd like to share with you."
Alhaitham turns to him, a fond, teasing smirk on his lips. "What would you like to share with me then?"
Kaveh flushes when the scribe draws in close. Alhaitham looks handsome like this, his gaze achingly warm, and it's hard to imagine that only a week ago, he wasn't quite human.
"I'd like to share my love with you," Kaveh admits. "My life as well, for as long as you'll have me."
"Are you trying to say that you love me?" says Alhaitham.
"What if I am?" Kaveh whispers, voice raw.
The scribe wraps an arm around his waist, prompting Kaveh to stand on his tiptoes.
"I can think of something else we can share right now," Alhaitham murmurs, his eyes flitting to the blond’s lips.
They kiss in the sunset.
FIN