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It wasn’t unusual for Kaveh to be occasionally hired for a commission outside of Sumeru City, but it wasn’t often that his work took him outside of the nation.
“Are you actually going to accept?” Alhaitham asked, quirking an eyebrow. “How many months do you have to be there for?”
“Four, give or take.” Kaveh hummed as he looked over the letter again. “I should help, after everything that happened there recently. And, I mean, what other opportunity am I gonna get to visit Nod Krai?”
“I don’t see why visiting Nod Krai would be especially enjoyable.”
“You’re so boring,” Kaveh sighed, poking his cheek. “Yes, I’m going to accept. They desperately need a revamp after everything they went through, and this… ‘squad leader,’ it says, is very polite. He’s offering lodging and all.”
“I would try to dissuade you, but I know you’re too stubborn to listen.” Alhaitham sipped on his coffee. “Tell me the date at which we’ll leave. I’ll ask Nahida for an extended leave.”
And that was how they found themselves in the itching cold of the North, cracking their heads over a confusing map while looking for a place called “Piramida”— no street name, no number. Appearing out of seemingly thin air, a tall man approached them in lazy footsteps, pale eyes fixed onto Kaveh.
“My apologies, gentlemen,” he greeted. “Are you in need of any assistance?”
“Oh! Yes!” Kaveh exclaimed, widening his lips into a bright smile. “Thank you. We’re here for an appointment with… Illuga?”
“Ah, then I assumed correctly based on your foreign outfits. You must be the Light of Kshahrewar.” The man leaned down elegantly, placing a careful kiss on the back of Kaveh’s hand. “What an honour it is for the Lightkeepers, to hire the services of the greatest architect in Teyvat.”
Alhaitham felt his eyes twitch while Kaveh’s own widened, and his smile turned sheepish. “Ah… No need for flattery, mister…?”
“Flins.” He turned to the side. “And who your companion be?”
“Alhaitham,” he muttered through gritted teeth.
Flins blinked, waiting for an elaboration.
“He’s my roommate.”
“Ah.” He chuckled, raising his eyebrows. “I see. Roommate.”
The colour in Kaveh’s cheeks deepened to something close to red, and he looked towards the floor. “I— Really, we’re roommates, sir.”
“There’s no need for shyness, I’m just a humble lightkeeper.” Flins watched them with amused curiosity. “Now, shall I lead you to Master Illuga? I would offer you my arm, Master Kaveh, but I’m assuming from the murderous look in your roommate’s eyes that he wouldn’t be pleased with such an act of chivalry.”
“I find your implications to be bordering on offensive.” Alhaitham looked pointedly towards the Lighthouse. “Shall we get a move on?”
“As you wish.”
Kaveh looked at him from the side, hands jolting around in sign language as he scolded Alhaitham for his tone. It was ignored.
Flins didn’t dare to try his hand at continuing the conversation, and so they filed into a warm office in silence.
“Welcome,” Illuga greeted them, lips taken by a polite smile. “I hope you didn’t have too much trouble getting here. I know these paths aren’t exactly ‘traveller-friendly,’ even on the best of days.”
Kaveh shook his hand with enthusiasm. “Thank you, we managed to find our way. Sir Flins also helped.”
“Ah, what a nice surprise.” Illuga’s lips curled further. “I hope you were coming to finally reveal the end of that story you were telling me last night, Flins.”
“I shall, if you so wish. I wouldn’t like to take up your time.” Despite the comment, he leaned his elbow onto the desk. “You could always come by if you’re curious.”
Alhaitham crossed his arms. Seriously? Did this guy flirt with everyone?
“The last time you invited me to ‘bask in the sun,’ it rained all day.”
“If I could control the weather for your comfort, young master, I would.” Flins turned towards the two guests sitting awkwardly amid the scene. “Anyhow, I shall leave you to your meeting. Welcome to Nod Krai.”
“Thank you!” Kaveh beamed. Alhaitham nodded curtly.
“Well,” Illuga started, once the door was shut. “Thank you again for accepting our commission. I know it’s a very long trip from Sumeru City, and people have been wary of coming here, what with everything that went down recently. We are in your debt, Kaveh.”
“Oh, please, don’t mention it. I’m just doing my job.”
Alhaitham raised an eyebrow.
“You must be tired from your trip.” Illuga smiled sympathetically. “I just wanted to say hello, and lead you to your room. We can talk about the details tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Kaveh repeated. And then, clearing his throat, “I apologise for the indiscretion, but just so I don’t misunderstand things and make a fool of myself, are you and Sir Flins a couple?”
Illuga turned a bright shade of pink, and his eyes scurried away towards the floor. “Ah— No offence taken, but no. What… what gave you that impression?”
Alhaitham snorted. Kaveh smacked him from under the table.
“Oh, my mistake then.”
“He was very obviously flirting with you,” Alhaitham added. “But it seems that might just be his personality.”
“Yes, he’s a flatterer,” Illuga replied, deflating a little. Alhaitham thought that he looked like a wounded puppy. “Tries to flatter everyone into complacency. But don’t get me wrong, he’s a great person. I’m very fond of him.”
“I can see that.”
Kaveh slapped him again, more forcefully this time.
“Please excuse our comments! Especially Alhaitham’s. We didn’t mean to intrude on your privacy.”
Illuga chuckled, crossing his arms. “It’s alright, I like gossip just as much as the next person. Which— a question for a question, I guess. Are you a couple?”
“No,” Kaveh squeaked. “Why?”
“I’m sorry if the question made you uncomfortable. I’m just wondering why you’d travel with your roommate, especially for this length of time.”
“Well, we—” Kaveh spluttered, clearing his throat. “Travelling alone wasn’t— didn’t seem ideal. And he speaks the local language. Which, thankfully I don’t need for communicating with you, but it will be helpful for talking to the locals.”
“I see.”
Illuga didn’t press further, although his curiosity was palpable.
“You’re probably very tired, so I’m sorry to keep you, but…” He bit his bottom lip, looking away. “Do you really think Sir Flins was flirting with me?”
“Obviously!” Kaveh exclaimed, then covered his mouth. “I mean. I think so. It looks like he likes you.”
“Really?”
“It could be nothing,” Alhaitham interjected, crossing his arms. “I have no idea if he’s specifically interested in you, or if he’s just generally promiscuous. He was flirting with Kaveh just now.”
Illuga’s heart sank — which was visible even to Alhaitham, who was famously unskilled at reading people. He looked down at a letter on his desk, swallowing thickly.
“He wasn’t flirting with me,” Kaveh protested, nervously. “I— What? Ignore Alhaitham. He doesn’t understand that some people are just nice.”
“Right.” Alhaitham reached for Kaveh’s hand with an elegant bow, gently pressing his lips to soft skin. The contact sent his insides fluttering with something warm. “The Light of Kshahrewar. What an honour it is, to hire the greatest architect in Teyvat.”
Kaveh hurled his hand back as if Alhaitham’s lips had burned, face blazing a furious red. “You—! It’s called chivalry! I know it’s incomprehensible to you, because you only say things like that when you’re being sarcastic.”
“I rarely ever make use of irony.”
“Oh? How could a lowly Scribe hold a candle to you?” Kaveh muttered, in a fake high pitch.
Alhaitham didn’t dignify that with a response, mostly because that line hadn’t been ironic in the slightest.
“Well.” Illuga looked a little lost. “I had the impression that you two were a couple, so we prepared a single room for you to share. If you need two, I’m obviously more than happy to—”
“No need,” they uttered at the same time.
Illuga blinked.
“I mean, we already live together anyway.” Kaveh coughed. “We don’t wanna, uh, inconvenience you.”
“Alright, then, I’ll lead you there.”
“Illuga,” Kaveh called, clearing his throat as he hid a lock of hair behind his ear. “I really think Flins is interested in you, from how he talked to you. If you need any advice, we’re right here. I’m sure we’ll become good friends with all the time we’ll spend working together, and I’m always happy to lend a hand.”
Kaveh smiled that dazzling smile of his, pushing Alhaitham’s feeble heart into falling in love all over again. Damn his stupidly attractive philanthropic spirit.
“And ignore Alhaitham,” he added, pointedly. “He knows nothing about romance.”
“I know plenty about romance.”
“Oh? Which you learned from books, surely.”
“Literature can be very enlightening in regards to the human condition.”
“It’s not enough. Have you ever even been in love?”
“Yes.”
The fireplace crackled as a momentary silence stretched, and Illuga minutely leaned forward in interest.
“What’s it like, how does it feel for you? I’m still figuring out exactly how I feel about Flins.”
Alhaitham’s lips parted to reply, but no words came out. This was much too intimate a question to be entertaining right in front of Kaveh, but changing the subject would probably look suspicious.
“I suppose the small joys are amplified when you’re with the object of your love,” he started, carefully. “Doing things with them is more fun than with other people. You also feel attracted to them. You find the idea of engaging in romantic activities with them appealing. You feel… jealousy, perhaps, occasionally.”
He clamped his mouth shut, trying to ease the stuttering rhythm of his heart.
“Oh, trust Alhaitham to talk about love so pragmatically!” Kaveh rolled his eyes. “Love feels like you want to get to know them, more and more, and never stop. And like having them in love with you would be the most incredible of dreams. Like you’re two minds in one, two hearts in one, two people connected somehow, with a bond that can’t really be undone, even if you try. Like you have to keep coming back to them, always.”
His cheeks were still red, and his gaze was locked on the wall.
“I see,” Illuga replied, although he didn’t look like he did see. “I think I’m definitely… attracted to Flins. I don’t know about being in love.”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Kaveh smiled. “It can take a while to understand.”
Illuga hummed, and he seemed lost in thought for a moment. Shaking his head, he stood up and gestured towards the door. “I’m sorry to trouble you with my personal problems. You must be tired. Please, let me show you to your lodging.”
He covered a pair of muscled arms with a fluffy coat, and they walked down the windy streets wordlessly. Alhaitham missed Sumeran weather already, but he was more so focused on how he’d fumbled his way into babbling about his love right in front of the object of such affections. What a disgrace.
“It’s lovely,” Kaveh commented, taking a look around the room. His tone might have fooled a new acquaintance, but the concealed disapproval was more than evident to Alhaitham’s experienced ears. The design was gloomy and improvised, much like the rest of the city, and the bed in the far corner was… narrow.
“Let me know if you need anything. We left a meal by the table, which should hopefully still be warm.”
“Thank you, Illuga. At what time do we meet tomorrow?”
“Eight. Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Alhaitham mentally groaned. He already hated waking up before nine in Sumeru, and the wintry air of Nod Krai would certainly make it even worse.
“You don’t have to come,” Kaveh said, as if reading his mind, the second Illuga left. “It’ll just be a meeting about the construction. I’ll come back when I’m done, and then we can have lunch and take a walk around the city.”
Alhaitham needn’t have worried about the time of Kaveh’s alarm ringing, because he was already awake long before. Sleeping pressed up against the man you’ve been desperately pining for for over a decade is no easy feat, and the blanket covering them was not enough for the temperature leaving Alhaitham’s hairs on end. At least Kaveh’s body heat helped, but it was too distracting to help lull him to silent dreams.
“I brewed some coffee,” Kaveh murmured, right before leaving. “Heat it up when you get up. See you later.”
He considered putting his heavy coat on and trying to fall back asleep, but he knew well that it would be useless. And so, grunting and frowning with palpable rage, he downed the coffee in one gulp and stepped into his boots, eager to find a place where he could buy a real breakfast.
Many complained about having trouble finding Flins — “You show up whenever you please!” Illuga would say, rolling those pretty eyes with a pout —, but he was more than content to not be bothered at odd moments of the day. He much preferred being the one bothering, and he remarked this in his mind as he approached a stiff figure with mussed grey hair.
“Good morning, Master Alhaitham,” he greeted, smiling. “What a pleasant coincidence. Is Nod Krai to your liking?”
The grimace contorting Alhaitham’s face implied that he’d rather be deep in the Spiral Abyss than in Nod Krai at the current moment, but Flins wasn’t one to comment on such things. He patiently awaited a response, lips still curved.
“Cold.”
“Yes, I assume it must be difficult for a Sumeran to live in this climate. How long are you staying?”
“Four months,” he managed through gritted teeth. It seemed more so out of cold than crankiness. “Do you have a recommendation for where I can buy winter clothes? It seems that what I brought is insufficient.”
“Of course.” Flins gestured in a direction. “Please, follow me.”
They walked in silence, and the man seemed to be turning pale. It was amusing to see a foreigner so out of his element. It wasn’t even winter.
“Thank you,” Alhaitham stated, finally zipped up in a long green coat and carrying a bag filled with purchases. Flins noticed that he’d bought a few items for Kaveh, too — only a fool would believe they were “just roommates” —, and his colour seemed to be back to normal.
“I also need to do groceries. Could you point me in the correct direction?”
“I am at your service, sir,” Flins replied, bowing his head. He watched Alhaitham’s eyes narrow slightly. “I assure you that I have no ulterior motives. I’m happy to help a friend of Illuga’s.”
“Ah.” Alhaitham clicked his tongue. “Yes. You two seem close.”
“Naturally.”
They walked towards the grocer, and Alhaitham remained perfectly silent. “Please, ask at your leisure. If you have any curiosities, I’m happy to satisfy them.”
“Are you flirting with me?” he deadpanned, expression unchanged. “I’ve only seen you in the company of three people, myself included, and you seem to be hitting on all three of them. I must say it’s confusing.”
Flins laughed, covering his mouth with a poised hand. “My. No, Master Alhaitham, I am not romantically or sexually interested in you. And there’s no need to worry, I am also not seeking to pursue anything with your roommate.”
“And Illuga?”
Flins didn’t flinch. “What a personal question, for a man who met me twelve hours ago. I admire your forwardness.”
“There’s no need to lie. I’m asking at my leisure, you answer at yours. I simply had the impression that you and Illuga were romantically involved, from your interaction.”
“We are not involved. Although I hope that we will be soon.”
He hummed, unsurprised. “You should stop flirting with everyone you meet, then. I would assume it could leave Illuga with the wrong impression.”
“I’m not concerned.” Flins led him to the store, now in view. “Illuga knows me better than most — better than any, I could say, even. You may misunderstand my intentions, but I trust him not to do the same.”
Alhaitham raised an eyebrow. “I don’t usually provide people with unsolicited advice, but seeing as you’ve helped me in exchange for nothing, I will make an exception.” He reached for his pouch of mora. ”Even when someone knows you better than anyone else, there’s still plenty of room for misunderstandings and conflict. And when such things do happen, they are difficult to recover from.”
“Speaking from past experiences with your roommate?”
“I’m leaving.”
“I really want to help Illuga.”
“It’s not your responsibility.”
Kaveh frowned. “That’s usually the case when helping someone. Not that you would know, you selfish ass.”
“I’m here with you.”
“I’m an exception,” Kaveh shrugged, and it was so casual that Alhaitham almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. It truly was impressive that Kaveh was still unaware of his feelings, even after all this time. “Anyway. We have to set him up with Flins.”
“Let them figure it out on their own.”
“Or, we could speed up their happiness. Just give them a little push.” He sipped his beer, and the sound was barely audible amid the ruckus of the restaurant. “I mean. Actually, what if I’m wrong, and Flins isn’t interested in Illuga?”
“He is.”
“And you would know because?”
“Because I asked him, and he told me.”
Kaveh’s jaw dropped to the floor, and his face travelled through five different emotions before settling on frustration. “What—! You can’t just do that!”
“I can, I did, and now your doubts are resolved. You’re welcome.”
“You—!” Kaveh inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. “Okay, we’re gonna move past your absolute lack of decorum. This is good. It means we should definitely set them up.”
“Alternatively, we should let things run their natural—”
“Maybe the four of us could have dinner together!”
“As in, a double date?”
Kaveh looked away sheepishly, scratching his head. “Just a dinner. And we could push them in a nice direction to get them flirting.”
“Flins doesn’t need any kind of push to start flirting.”
“Not this again!” Kaveh groaned. “I don’t need your opinion. Just do as I say, you’re going to help me.”
“How are you going to compensate me?”
“I’m not. This is the price to pay for my illustrious company.”
“Really, senior, you’re—”
“Shut up! Listen. I thought up a plan.”
Flins stepped towards the front of Illuga’s house while adjusting his hair, holding a bottle of fire-water. He wasn’t going to show up empty-handed, even if the alcoholic content of the drink was probably too strong for anyone other than himself, especially the foreigners.
He was wrong. Kaveh downed a cup in one gulp, licking his lips and complimenting the subtle notes of flavour.
“Don’t embarrass yourself in front of our host,” Alhaitham murmured, snatching the cup away. “We haven’t even started eating yet.”
Ah, yes, the host. Flins let his eyes travel across Illuga’s figure, laughing at the scene with that adorable mole near his eye. His hair looked soft to the touch, and his lean arms were exposed to the warmth of the room, practically locking Flins’ gaze onto the enticing dip of muscle. He shifted in his chair, forcing his eyes away.
“How long have you two known each other?” Kaveh asked, pouring himself some more to drink.
They fell into pleasant conversation, and Kaveh seemed to find everything funny after another two glasses. He had to wipe off a few tears as Flins recounted a few stories Varka had told him from Mondtsadt.
“Take your eyes off Illuga,” he hiccuped, grinning. “It’s rude to stare.”
That actually took Flins by surprise, and he looked away just in time to see Illuga’s face build up a soft blush. “My apologies. It wasn’t my intention.”
“Mhm,” Kaveh giggled, too dazed to notice Alhaitham pouring him a glass of water. “You two should stop dancing around each other and just go on a date.”
Illuga spluttered, mouth flailing open and shut with hesitance, but Flins interrupted him by crossing his arms amusedly.
“I could say the same about you and the roommate who you’re so fiercely attached to.”
Instead of showcasing any level of embarrassment, Kaveh simply laughed again, wrapping his arms around Alhaitham’s neck with all the casualty in the world. “Yes, my sweet little junior follows me around like a puppy. Isn’t he cute?”
Although his face remained stoic as ever, a pink tint crept up Alhaitham’s face, and he did nothing to push away Kaveh’s touch.
“Junior?” Illuga prompted, visibly eager to move the conversation topic away from himself.
Kaveh hummed, resting his head on Alhaitham’s shoulder. “We met at the Akademiya. Like. University. Ish. He’s…” A yawn. “Two years below me. Used to be tiny and chubby and cute. Now he’s a wall of muscle.”
His eyes dipped unceremoniously to Alhaitham’s bicep, roaming his arm with not a single drop of shame.
“Is he always like this when he’s drunk?”
“Often,” came Alhaitham’s clipped reply.
“I don’t understand why you’re not in a romantic relationship,” Flins murmured, swishing the drink in his hand. “Your attraction to each other is… palpable.”
“You think?” Kaveh’s eyes lit up. “No. Alhaitham doesn’t like me like that.”
Illuga hid a chuckle behind his hand, and the head tilt gave Flins’ eyes access to the scar just under the hem of his collar. He wondered how his neck would look completely exposed, and whether he had any other moles dotting the skin below his collarbones, perhaps—
“You’re one to speak, Sir Flins,” Alhaitham snapped, changing the subject without a drop of subtlety. “I can only imagine the kinds of thoughts going through your head right now, given how intently you’re staring at Master Illuga’s chest.”
Illuga’s eyes locked into his then, rather than scurrying away. The glint of red amid blue was agonisingly intense, and Flins took the opportunity to look unabashedly, memorising that curve of fluttering eyelashes and the angle of his nose. They spent a long moment like that, not running away, and it sped up his heart’s excited beating.
Kaveh broke the silence. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Ki—”
His voice was muffled by Alhaitham’s hand clamping over his mouth, which he half-heartedly tried to bite.
“Please excuse his behaviour,” Alhaitham muttered, pulling Kaveh up to stand. “I think he’s had enough to drink. We should go home.”
“Already?” Illuga protested, but, from the glance he stole at Flins, he didn’t seem actually bothered in the slightest. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let Flins offer fire-water to Kaveh. I hope the food was to your liking.”
“Delicious!” Kaveh exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically as Alhaitham draped a coat over his shoulders. “Sorry if I was rude! This thing I drank was… very, very good. What’s the, uh, name? Again? Can I buy it in Sumeru?”
“No,” Alhaitham stated, placing a red hat with a dangling pom-pom over blonde hair. “We’re leaving now.”
“Bye-bye!” Kaveh waved with a beam. “See you tomorrow, Illuga! I hope you two kiss!”
“Bye,” Illuga chuckled, scratching his neck. “Uh. You too.”
The door shut behind them, and Flins took the moment of silence to finish off his drink. Illuga was sitting stiffly, fiddling with the collar of his shirt.
“That was awkward.”
“Indeed.”
He poked at the dessert in front of him, refusing to look up at Flins. “How do you like them?”
“Kaveh is kind-hearted. And amusing when drunk, evidently. Alhaitham is an interesting character.”
Illuga hummed. “And desperately in love.”
“And desperately in love.”
The fireplace crackled softly, and Flins, for once, found himself at a loss of what to say. He supposed that there was no running around their feelings anymore, but the question of how to go about it itched with a nervousness he hadn’t felt in too many years.
“Master Illuga—”
“After everything, you still haven’t dropped the master?”
“Illuga.” He cocked his head. “Surely you must have noticed the depth of my affections for you.”
Sweetly, beautifully, enchantingly, Illuga smiled, meeting his gaze. “I take it that our new friends were right, then? I was unsure if I was special or if you were just trying to puff me into a big, happy ball of hot air with your compliments.”
“Was I successful?”
“You do make me happy.”
Flins stood carefully, approaching the other side of the table and kneeling next to Illuga’s chair. “Allow me, then,” he murmured, delicately taking hold of Illuga’s hand, “to court you properly, and demonstrate the devotion I am willing to treat you with.”
“Oh.” Illuga looked at him with parted lips, eyes filled with awe. “I’m… flattered. I don’t even know how to…”
He trailed off as Flins pressed a tender kiss to the back of his hand, and then, slowly, to his wrist. He eyed the soft skin of Illuga’s forearm, but decided against anything more intimate. They had all the moonlit nights in the world to nurture their intimacy, and there was no need to rush the affections of blooming love.
“You don’t have to,” he stated, looking up through fluttering eyelashes. “There is no correct way of going about this. Do as you wish. I am at your service, to treat you however you prefer.”
“Oh, Flins.” Illuga ran a soft finger down his cheek, causing his breath to falter. Those blue-red eyes were soft with what could only be fondness. “You’re the stuff of dreams.”
Alhaitham, meanwhile, was putting Kaveh to bed. It was nowhere near difficult, given the frequency with which he carried his — surprisingly heavy — roommate home from the tavern, but he often struggled to put the drunk embodiment of stubbornness to sleep.
“I have to go back,” Kaveh insisted. “I was so rude. I… I…” Hiccup. “I embarrassed myself.”
“You did. But I’m sure it’ll be better for everyone if you apologise tomorrow.”
“But what if they hate me? I wanted us to be friends, and then I go and… That drink was so good! But I had too much… I’m so dumb… Illuga is gonna— gonna hate me…”
“I’m sure Illuga is very happy right now,” he muttered.
“Really? Why? Because he liked the zaytun peach I brought?”
“No, because Flins probably has him bent over the dinner table by now.” He blinked. “Apologies, that was unnecessarily rude of me. I might have also drunk too much.”
Kavhe burst into laughter, clapping his hands. “You should get drunk more often, Haitham.”
“Who would bring you home?”
“You.” Kaveh pulled him into a hug, bringing him stumbling onto the bed. “You’re always there for me.”
That sent Alhaitham’s heart fluttering wildly, and he thanked the Moon Maiden that Kaveh was probably too drunk to notice, even though their chests were pressed together.
“I love you,” Kaveh mumbled, burying his head on the pillow. “I love you… more than… Inazuman architecture. More than alcohol. More than—” He sneezed.
“Bless you.”
“Thanks. More than drawing. I love you more than drawing.”
It was adorably touching, although Alhaitham was dying to ask if he meant it romantically or platonically. It took physical restraint to keep his mouth shut, and he did his best to snuggle under the covers in preparation for what was sure to be a long night.
Kaveh yawned, turning towards Alhaitham. “Goodnight kiss?”
“You can have a good morning kiss tomorrow.”
“It’s already tomorrow. It’s after midnight. Got you! Kiss now.”
Alhaitham stuttered, unsure of how to tackle the situation. There was almost nothing he wanted more than to slot his mouth onto Kaveh’s, a moment he’d dreamed of ever since first seeing the senior whose brilliance everyone talked about, hunched over a textbook in the House of Daena.
But Kaveh was drunk. And so, painfully, he swallowed the aching desire.
“Fine.” He smooched Kaveh’s cheek. “Goodnight, now.”
“Hm.” Kaveh stirred contentedly. “Night, Haitham. Love you.”
A long silence. “I love you too.”
Needless to say, Alhaitham didn’t sleep much — if at all — after that. His mind raced through dozens of daydreams and scenarios that could play out in the morning, from a replay of their argument over the thesis years before, to a marriage proposal. Light started filtering in through the flimsy curtains and he found himself wide awake, sneaking glances at the sleeping angel occasionally snoring right next to him.
Kaveh hummed, and it caused Alhaitham to nearly jump off his skin.
“What— what time…”
“Not sure. Past seven, but your alarm didn’t ring yet.”
“Hm.”
Kaveh stretched languidly, perfectly at ease, but, after a long moment, his entire body went stiff.
“Haitham,” he uttered, eyes blinking open. “Sorry, I— My gods, I’m so sorry about how I acted last night. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” He chewed on his bottom lip, and then his voice turned to a whisper. “Gods. I’m so sorry I pressured you into giving me a kiss.”
A knot tied itself around Alhaitham’s gut. “It’s fine.”
“It’s n—”
“I didn’t mind.”
Silence. He heard Kaveh turn to look at him, but his eyes were deeply fixed on the window. His cheeks were definitely red, and he begged to every god in Teyvat simultaneously that he hadn’t read the signs wrong.
“Do you…” Kaveh’s voice was faltering now, bordering on a mumble. “Do you wanna give me a good morning kiss?”
Alhaitham’s heart was beating so loudly that it had almost muffled the sentence he’d been desperate to hear for years, and he cursed his body for it. Raising a trembling hand, he forced his eyes towards Kaveh, only to let out a long-held breath at the sight of wisps of blonde hair framing a pink, gorgeous face.
“On…” He cleared his throat. “On the lips?”
“Yes,” Kaveh breathed. “Do you—”
He didn’t wait for the end of the question — the answer would have been yes to anything that could possibly have come out of Kaveh’s mouth —, engulfing Kaveh’s lips with his own in a desperate, hungry, passionate lunge forward. Their hands instantly jumped to roving other two heads of messy hair, caressing, palming, smoothing, feeling every inch of body they’d never been allowed to touch before. When they finally pulled back — barely one breath away —, Kaveh beamed in palpable joy, leaning forward for a tender smooch.
Alhaitham deflated in blissful relief, cradling the face of the love of his life. “I love you more than drawing too.”