[pinches his boob--no okay he doesn't do that. He does stare for a long moment, though, like he can't quite believe what he's seeing, let alone feeling.
He glances at Alhaitham's face again, searching. His own expression is wary, the same face he often makes when he can't understand--or refuses to consider--why Alhaitham has acted in an atypical manner.]
And you're... [He looks down at his hand again, then at the abandoned plate, then back at Alhaitham.] You're not--trying to make a fool out of me? Or waiting for me to embarrass myself, or planning to use this against me later...?
[(Kaveh voice) This is how I can still prove Alhaitham was replaced by a pod person
But Kaveh, for all his fake smiles and his convincing confidence, cannot conceal his heart in moments like this. He can't hide that underlying longing, that cautious hope--still there, despite his disbelief and accusations.
Alhaitham would not do those things. Even accounting for those odd behaviors, even if he conjures up the worst, most selfish, most diabolical version of Alhaitham he can think of, he can't genuinely picture an Alhaitham who would kiss him for any reason beyond genuinely wanting to. It's just difficult to trust--difficult to believe that even after seeing him at his absolute worst time and time again, Alhaitham might still want him the way Kaveh suspected (hoped) he once did.]
[ as always, alhaitham waits for however long kaveh needs him to. palm pressed flat over the back of kaveh's hand, he meets his confused, nervous looks with complete assuredness.
kaveh overthinks. he's done this since they were in the akademiya, and it only got worse as his luck fell to pieces. there may have been some progression made before the game took kaveh away from sumeru. where alhaitham once might have criticized kaveh for needlessly spiraling, alhaitham has learned to be more patient with him.
kaveh deserves that patience now more than ever. it's why alhaitham still doesn't expect kaveh to reciprocate despite all of the evidence he's gathered to the contrary. alhaitham can only brace himself for any outcome that comes next. even if kaveh loves him back, he may not want them to be together.
(but kaveh makes him want to hope. it stings to hear kaveh consider the notion that he'd be this cruel, but at the end of the day, kaveh is only afraid of being betrayed. he isn't rejecting alhaitham's feelings at all.)
he shakes his head lightly. ]
No, I'm not. You asked me a question. This is how I chose to answer it.
[Alhaitham is right; it's clear from theook on his face that Kaveh's suspicion isn't meant to be cruel. Kaveh is stubborn, proud, and slow to change his mind--especially when he's hurt or wracked with guilt, and both of those feelings linger even all these years later.
Their history is such a double-edged sword. It's what drove him to offer to do the housework, bewildered by Alhaitham's altruism and hating to impose--but it's also what has him rearranging Alhaitham's furniture however he pleases. Those golden days are the cause of his strongest doubts and worst accusations, and they're also the reason he spends money he doesn't have on coffee bean grinders he doesn't need and paintings for a house that isn't his.
It's why this is so difficult to believe, yet so utterly unsurprising at the same time. Because they disagree, they fight, they're capable of life-shattering vitriol, they will never see eye to eye on the most fundamental elements of their ideals--
--But there is none of that without them. Throughout the years, even when they only interacted on paper, there has always been them. For every fight that cracks their foundation, something else is there to fill it in with gold. Kaveh knows that, even if those poisonous, ever-present whispers in his head are striving to convince him otherwise.]
I--
[...
Abruptly, his eyes widen, and he urgently grabs Alhaitham's hand.]
Oh my god--we cannot tell Vash about this. He'll be insufferable.
[(you voice from a few tags ago) HE IS LITERALLY HOLDING YOUR HAND!!! KERMIT GUN.PNG]
Don't say it like that.
[THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE HE'S REJECTING ALHAITHAM FOR VASH!!! Who is frankly a much better person to fall in love with than either Alhaitham or Wolfwood or any of his other crush potentials but alas, here we are. The heart wants what it wants.
Specifically, right now, the heart is embarrassed and wants to bristle and grumble. His face is warm... he's too light-skinned for this hit to his dignity... HATEFUL]
And don't call it denial like it was absurd of me to believe you--[might have feelings for me despite it all no he can't say that or he'll shrivel up and die. LASHES OUT]--suddenly decided to join the rest of us mortals in the realm of emotional literacy?
[ they're going to argue while holding hands? they're going to argue while holding hands. ]
If we're talking about emotional literacy, I'd say you don't have much of a leg to stand on. Vash didn't need grand romantic gestures to deduce in a few days what's been obvious to you for some time now.
[The real travesty here is that Kaveh doesn't know enough about Trigun or about Team a:v:'s team power to point out that it not only took Vash until after Wolfwood died in canon but also four weeks and an attempt to make Shenwood real before he got his shit together]
Vash is a hundred and fifty years old! Of course he has advanced insight into even the most absurd of human behaviors.
[Such as asking someone you APPARENTLY have feelings for when he's going to move out of your house]
[ not as surprised as a person should be, since kaveh already told him that vash is a plant. he just didn't know he was an old plant. nts, ask vash about this later ]
And yet you chose not to believe this supposedly advanced insight.
Well, yes. He didn't know you. [Kaveh doesn't think he's being unreasonable or contradictory here, really; broad wisdom doesn't apply to every specific circumstance.] As a matter of fact, I still don't understand how he got that from anything I said, given that I wasn't exactly singing your praises whenever you came up.
[Alhaitham and Wolfwood are the same and Vash extrapolated, that's how. Yaoi math.
He tones down his grumbling a little, though, averting his gaze to look at their hands.]
And besides--I... well, you know. I didn't think we were going to make it out of there, so...
[So he hadn't allowed himself to dwell on it too much, unwilling to die with even more regrets than he already had. He couldn't afford to break, not when Ylfa and Haru were depending on him, not when he couldn't be sure Nahida--and thus, Teyvat--would be safe. Thinking about Alhaitham harboring feelings for him, about dying without getting the chance to speak, to know one way or the other--it would've been too much.]
alhaitham follows kaveh's eyes down to their hands. he's quiet for a moment before he gently reaffirms his hold on kaveh's fingers. ]
There was no sense in dwelling on conjecture at that point.
[ not when kaveh's life was dangling by a thread. the idea forms a lump in alhaitham's throat. it only subsides when he raises his eyes back to kaveh's again.
kaveh is alive. they're both here and they're both real, and that was their first kiss. alhaitham looks at kaveh the way he has hundreds of times since they met: with deep, abject fondness. ]
All the more reason not to leave any room for doubt. You still haven't given me a proper answer.
[If he really wanted to be pedantic, Kaveh thinks, he could point out that technically, technically, Alhaitham didn't answer him either. Not in words, at least, and isn't Kaveh still here? Aren't their fingers interlaced? Is this not a gesture for a gesture, speaking more clearly and honestly than either of them can ever manage to accomplish out loud?
But Alhaitham is looking at him, patient but clearly waiting. And for the first time, Kaveh notices--no. Kaveh allows himself to perceive the affection in his eyes, the gentle set of his mouth. (Of course he's noticed. How could he not notice? Alhaitham never looks at anyone this way. Only ever...)
His hand twitches, that old, reflexive urge to run flaring up in his chest. He doesn't deserve this. What has he ever done to earn Alhaitham's devotion? It would be so easy to slip into a lecture, to say something like: This is why socialization is so important. If you spent more time with other people, you would understand that I'm nothing special. Don't you want someone kinder? Someone who complements and completes you, rather than someone like me? It's not too late. He can still pull away, still make his case and try to convince Alhaitham that they're terrible for each other.
...But.
All his doubts and fears and confusion--none of them stem from a lack of interest or desire. He almost wishes they did. It would be so much easier if he simply didn't want this. But how in the world could that be?
Alhaitham is infuriating in a myriad of ways, yes, and Kaveh will never stop challenging his beliefs--but he's also brilliant, beautiful, and caring when he wants to be. Kaveh has watched him tear his opponents' arguments to shreds without ever batting an eyelash, and he's seen him doze off on the sofa with a book, warmed by the afternoon sun. He's seen the Alhaitham who cherishes his grandmother's library, and he's seen the Alhaitham who cuts his way through his enemies with efficiency and grace. The Alhaitham who steals his coffee right off of Kaveh's desk, then complains that it's too sweet--the Alhaitham who snaps at him for bending too far, so stubbornly oblivious to the necessity of connection and reputation in Kaveh's field--the Alhaitham who forces him to defend even his most innocuous views, who makes him forget his guilt and his shame and pushes him to feel alive--There is no world in which Kaveh doesn't love him.
When has he ever been able to change Alhaitham's mind anyway?
He's left his other hand on Alhaitham's chest all this time; that heartbeat, irrefutable proof of Alhaitham's humanity, pushing back against the dark thoughts in Kaveh's head with each steady pulse. He withdraws now, but only to reach for Alhaitham's free hand, tentatively wrapping his fingers around it. Double handholding.]
It would be awfully cruel of me to inflict you on someone else. [A little bit more snark--a shield for the vulnerability that comes after, though he tries to keep his tone even, despite the way he keeps his gaze fixed on their hands.] And I suppose you wouldn't listen if I said you ought to find someone who treats you better than I do.
[It's not really a question. Alhaitham barely has people he considers friends, and even that is a major change from their Akademiya days. A small part of Kaveh worries that his presence has interfered with Alhaitham's ability to find someone else--but even as he thinks it, he can hear Alhaitham's rebuttal in his head. We barely saw each other in person for years after our falling out. I had ample opportunity to meet other people, yet here we are. Explain that, senior Kaveh.
Still. Taking what he wants, even when it's right here, when it's being pressed insistently into his hands--it's frightening. Chasing his dreams has never ended well for him before, after all.
But that hasn't stopped him from doing it, either. And that's why he's still here, fingers curled around Alhaitham's, valiantly ignoring the warmth of his own face and the pounding of his own heart.]
[ alhaitham is patient. with his tender gaze, he watches and waits as that brilliant mind cycles through emotions and memories long since buried. there's no flicker of doubt or worry when kaveh pulls his hand away. alhaitham simply lets it go, and sure enough, kaveh reaches for him again. double handholding! gay af.
the snark makes his smile widen, though it quickly fades away. what comes after is exactly what alhaitham expected to hear.
kaveh's completely right. there's no real need for kaveh to clarify himself when their intentions and affections were laid out so plainly. the simple fact is that alhaitham: 1) is an asshole, and 2) wants kaveh to admit to himself that he is loved and cared for, and has been for as long as they've known each other. alhaitham is still convinced that kaveh knew about his feelings somewhere deep in his conscience. he simply avoided the truth for his own reasons.
it's up to kaveh to resolve his issues with guilt and insecurity and self-flagellation. alhaitham has no doubt that it's possible, but that cure is ultimately, frustratingly out of his hands. until then, with the newfound freedom to outwardly express his affections, alhaitham can only support him as best he can. (how well he does that is. subjective. at least he's trying to be better.)
he runs his thumb over a white scar across kaveh's knuckle. he knows it's there without having to look at it. kaveh isn't the only one who's studied the others' hands, mapping out their every mark and memorizing them like a language. who could look away from the hands of an artist? who could look away from kaveh at all, especially when he blushes like this? ]
Based on your complaints while we've been living together, I could say the same to you. [ if anything, kaveh complains about alhaitham's treatment of him WAY more often than the reverse. he still has feelings for alhaitham regardless. ] It's only natural that we would treat each other poorly after so many years of conflict. I accepted the differences in our temperaments long ago. I can handle you just fine.
[ he lifts a set of their joined hands and presses a kiss over the back of kaveh's. driving the point home. ]
I engaged with you at Lambad's because you bring something to my life that no other person can provide. I've known this since we first met, and it holds true even now.
[ you're kind enough as it is, he would say if he could. in some ways, i want you to be less kind and i prefer when you aren't. you are that person who complements and completes me. there is nowhere i'd rather go than wherever you are. ]
[As Alhaitham speaks, Kaveh's gaze flicks away again. He presses his lips together, holding back the myriad of thoughts that swirl through his mind. If he lets himself interrupt, he'll give in to the urge to shy away from all of this, and that's not fair. In baring his heart, Alhaitham's done what Kaveh himself has never been brave enough to do. If their roles were reversed and Alhaitham had left him waiting, Kaveh would've fled by now, just as he'd done with Wolfwood--desperate to avoid inevitable rejection. Alhaitham deserves his honesty, regardless of how messy it is.
(Not that Alhaitham would leave him waiting either way, Kaveh thinks. Such is the result of a constant, thorough examination of one's own heart. He isn't like Kaveh, who rarely knows what he wants, who sabotages himself even when he does.)
He breathes unsteadily when Alhaitham finishes his piece, letting the words sit between them for a moment. He feels the brush of Alhaitham's lips against the back of his hand, uncovered at this late hour, and feels his own face flush again.
Is it selfish to take what he wants? To have this after wanting it for so long, after accepting that it was lost forever? Maybe. But for once, he thinks it would be more selfish to deny himself. To deny them both.]
All these pretty words, Haravatat, and yet you still present me with circumspect logic instead of simply telling me how you feel about me. [For all this talk of what "value" Kaveh's presence provides, Alhaitham has still only said, I don't actually hate you. If Kaveh didn't know him so well, didn't know just how significant it is for Alhaitham to praise him the way he has, to sit here and comfort him, let alone kiss him--
--But he does know. He is, perhaps, the only person alive who can read between the lines, who can speak Alhaitham's language. Maybe that's the whole point.] As your senior, I suppose it's my responsibility to set a good example.
[Which he has not done even a little at any point during their relationship, he thinks--but. Well. It's never too late to start.
Finally, he meets Alhaitham's gaze again. As he does, he shifts his hands, lacing his fingers through Alhaitham's.]
I hate living here, Alhaitham. [Excellent start, very romantic.] I hate seeing that dusty old box taking up space on your shelves, I hate seeing the exhaustion on your face when I've kept you up at night, I hate opening the cupboards and seeing food I couldn't help you buy. [He flexes his fingers, nervous.] If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be able to stand it. But it's... bearable, because it's you.
The way I was that day at the tavern--I never wanted anyone to see me like that. Who would? But then you asked after me, and... it felt as though that was exactly what I'd been waiting for all that time. Like I'd been caught in stasis, and only once you sat down across from me did time begin to move again.
And after the game, after Nahida and I returned... I couldn't quite believe we were home. Do you know what it was that finally swayed me? [...] It was your eyes. No one there had eyes like yours. I saw you, and I knew we were truly back, and that we--that I was safe. [His smile is tentative, self-deprecating.] I don't think you have any idea how many times, how many ways you've saved me. And I hate it, I can't stand being that person, but--somehow, it's alright when it's you.
[It doesn't make him feel any less pathetic, not really. He doesn't want to be someone in need of constant saving, even if he would never judge anyone else for needing the very same. He has no intention of stopping his efforts to stand on his own two feet again. But if Alhaitham, only Alhaitham, is the hand on his back keeping him balanced... it's a steady warmth, not a heavy brand.
His expression shifts, then, into something more fond--gently, he extracts one hand, reaching up to brush Alhaitham's bangs out of his face.]
That's not to say you don't drive me absolutely mad. I know you do it on purpose at least half the time, don't think I don't. You are a spoiled little egoist brat who has somehow managed to fool half the city into believing you've evolved beyond human limitations. [WHAT KIND OF LOVE CONFESSION IS THIS. Ridiculously, Kaveh is clearly more comfortable now than he was a moment ago; he lets his hand fall to rest on Alhaitham's jaw, brushing his thumb over Alhaitham's cheekbone.] But I've always trusted that you know I wouldn't engage in your nonsense if I didn't want to.
[His smile fades, then, and he drops his gaze. Tension creeps back into his frame with his silence, but then he looks back up, forcing himself to look Alhaitham in the eye again.]
But I haven't always trusted you in the ways that matter. And for that I am sorry, truly. Yet, I--I can't promise that I always will from here on out. I wish that I could, I really do. But even you can't deny that we are cruel to each other at times. If we were capable of changing that, I believe we would have done so long ago.
[Old wounds that healed poorly, impulsive words and actions guided by clashing ideologies--these are undeniable parts of what makes them them. Kaveh is inclined to bear more of the burden of guilt than Alhaitham, knowing full well that so many of the instances he speaks of now are because of him in some way--but if there's anything Kaveh is willing to do for himself, it's this: acknowledging that Alhaitham can, and has, hurt him. That he has the power to do so again in the future, and probably will, because Kaveh cares far too much about Alhaitham's opinions for someone who refuses to change.
He hesitates again--but he started this a certain way, and Alhaitham would never let it go if he failed to follow through on his claims now of all times. So.]
...I can't say I don't believe you should find someone with whom such things would not be a concern. [Someone less fragile, less volatile, less... everything that led to Kaveh being where he is in life right now.] Goodness knows you've got a line out the door of people willing to fight with you over this or that, and even you must have some idea of how attractive you are. [A flicker of a smile returns, then--a brief attempt at levity, even though it's true.] But it would take a stronger man than me to walk away from the person he loves, so I can only hope you don't mind this weakness.
Edited (Just fixing a typo ignore me) 2023-10-27 05:27 (UTC)
[ alhaitham listens, acquiescing to every reassuring gesture, absorbing every blow. without their rings and gloves, their fingers fold together easily. when kaveh holds his jaw, alhaitham's head tilts into the shape of his hand. aside from kaveh's carefully crafted monologue, the only other sound in the room comes from the flick of candlelight in the lamps nearby. all focus is on him.
none of what kaveh says is a surprise. their magnificent bridge still burned down to rubble; the new one is only now beginning to stabilize. kaveh is approaching from the other side and cautiously laying his hand in alhaitham's. there's still work to be done, things to unlearn, more to understand. for kaveh alone, alhaitham will put in every effort to earn his trust and finish what they began.
because he is the person that kaveh loves. time moved again because of him. kaveh feels safe with him. alhaitham saved him. kaveh stuns him into silence, eyes widening and lips parting. in a sea of words and ideas, every admission shines like a pearl. so much of what he says applies in reverse.
that brief smile melts him. alhaitham's hand settles over kaveh's wrist, holding it steady as he shuts his eyes and kisses the middle of his palm. he stays there for a moment, breathing in, letting reality sink into him like sunlight. he made so many accusations that kaveh knew his feelings all along, when at the same time, he knew kaveh's feelings just as well. there was always affection scattered in the complicated mess they'd made. it was only a matter of whether the affection outweighed the pain—something alhaitham can't discern without them being honest with each other.
he turns his head to look at kaveh again. ]
You say that like you're the only one who has weaknesses.
[ there's more than enough evidence of alhaitham being weak. not even the end of their friendship was enough to keep him from seeking kaveh out. ]
I could turn back almost every sentiment onto you. You have no frame of reference for it's like to watch someone you love burn themselves to the wick. People have to have their basic needs met first before they can get back on their feet. You would only continue to drown otherwise. I wouldn't let that happen, regardless of how you felt about me. I understand why you can't fully trust me, and you can resent me if you must, but I'm not going to regret what I'm doing.
[ he brushes his thumb over kaveh's hand. his voice goes quiet. ]
Your pride won't allow you to see that I never approached you out of pity. I've been saved by you before, just as you were.
[ he reaches up and draws away the strands of hair over kaveh's forehead with a fingertip. emerald eyes search over the unobstructed view of his face: the slope of his nose, the flare of his eyelashes, the irresistible red of his irises. alhaitham is very, very weak. ]
For once, I'll take my senior's advice into consideration. I'm not mincing my words this time, so listen carefully, Kshahrewar. I've been in love with you for longer than you realize. It doesn't matter who or what you think I should have. I only want you.
[ and there's zero chance that alhaitham will accept any less than what he wants.
finally, if kaveh allows, alhaitham leans forward and meets their lips in a deep, meaningful kiss. ]
[It would be easy, Kaveh thinks, to pull back. To turn his face away, to instead seize Alhaitham's points and argue with him until the sun comes up. That, too, is a show of love, regardless of the ages Kaveh spent pretending it wasn't. But they stopped making the safe, easy choices the moment they decided to finally, finally address what's been building between them all these years, so for once, Kaveh decides to bite back his retorts and let himself be loved.
Even though he saw it coming, the first kiss was shocking enough that Kaveh barely registered what was happening. He was too caught up in the cacophony of his emotions to really pay attention to the press of Alhaitham's mouth to his. He still feels a bit like an electric current inches away from a pool of water, but it's easier, this time, to push back his nerves and let himself be present in the moment. It's certainly much easier to express himself like this, rather than through words--to part his lips, encouraging; to slide his hands around to Alhaitham's nape and curl his fingers into the ends of his hair. He savors Alhaitham's warmth and pours his own emotions into the kiss in return. It's asking a lot of Alhaitham, handing him this tangled mess of guilt and gratitude, affection and shame, nervousness and relief and saying please understand me. But he trusts Alhaitham to do so, just as he always has before.
Kaveh is not the linguist between them, after all. He may speak Alhaitham's language, but Alhaitham understands the intricacies and nuances of his. Kaveh, on the other hand, has always done so much better with solid, tangible things, and this is just the same: every press of his lips to Alhaitham's says I love you, and there's a thank you carried on each quiet sigh.
Maybe they're a bit of mess. Maybe this isn't the beautiful, picturesque relationship Kaveh would've described, if asked what "love" looks like--but no carving, no sculpture, was made without a little violence.]
You're so stubborn. [Grumble grumble. He's just barely pulled away, though. Only enough to speak, and he can feel their mouths brush with every word.] You didn't have to corner me in the kitchen in the middle of the night.
[Bold words from the man who didn't leave his room all day]
[ years before sumeru could dream, a blond-haired senior convinced his young, silver-haired junior to celebrate the end of their mid-year exams at lambad's tavern. the establishment was already boisterous by the time they arrived, but with the help of a few drinks, alhaitham decided to brave the ordeal for the sake of kaveh's enjoyment. by the end of the evening's jubilations, kaveh was slumped against alhaitham's shoulder, winded after drinking two whole mugs of beer and drunkenly singing with his other classmates. alhaitham, four mugs in, watched with silent, unrepentant fondness as kaveh began to fall asleep.
it happened with hardly any thought, as simple as breathing. alhaitham collected memories he had of his senior with his nameless partners—his hands in their hair, the wash of pink on his cheeks, and the plush of his mouth when they stole kisses—and thought of, dreamed of himself in their place.
not even alhaitham's most vivid imaginings could compare to the real thing. when kaveh kisses him back for the first time, an age of unspoken affection wells up in alhaitham like a spring. he sets one hand against the side of kaveh's neck and wraps the other around his arm, as if to anchor him there. these kisses are another language in themselves, each word entirely new yet easy to understand. in every one, alhaitham quietly attempts to reply: don't leave again and let me take care of you and i love you too.
it takes effort not to continue the endless string of kisses when kaveh pulls away. thankfully, kaveh's grumbles tickle his lips, and alhaitham can't help but smile. eyes still closed, he murmurs back: ]
I didn't have many other options, given that you've been hiding in your room until this point.
[ calls him out. and steals another kiss, because he can't help it. ]
Knowing you, I'm sure you would have preferred something more romantic.
[Hey... listen... don't call him out so accurately
He GRUMBLES SOME MORE in an attempt to distract from his warm face and racing pulse, leaning his forehead against Alhaitham's. He's embarrassed, feeling far too exposed, too seen--but he doesn't want to pull away, either, so he can't decide how much to lash out. This is the worst actually maybe they should break up again!!!]
Hmph, as if. I know better than to think you have a single romantic bone in your body. I'd sooner think you possessed.
[He doesn't know what he would've done with himself if Alhaitham had done this in a more traditionally romantic sense, really. He certainly wouldn't have trusted or accepted it so easily (for a given definition of easy). Truthfully, this suits them--not that Kaveh will admit that out loud anytime soon. Baby steps...]
[ baby steps. alhaitham is just as new to all of this. it's tempting to open the floodgates of his affection and draw kaveh into its current, but he should ease kaveh into the idea of being loved unconditionally. he won't believe it all at once.
for now, he takes advantage of what's within his reach. as he listens, he runs his hand up into kaveh's hair, loosening the clips, and brushes a kiss over kaveh's cheek. sorry you're stuck with him!!! he's too in love!!! ]
I was planning to take the plate to your room before you came here. [ he leans back, getting a beautiful view of kaveh's blushing face as he opens his eyes. ] I would have confronted you there, though I wasn't expecting to confess my feelings for you at the same time.
[HE SHOULD'VE FLED WHEN HE HAD THE CHANCE!!! NOW HE'S TRAPPED... forced to endure an onslaught of kisses...]
That's--you didn't have to do that. [He mumbles, happiness and embarrassment warring with guilt and shame. He drops his head to tuck his face into Alhaitham's neck, speaking into Alhaitham's collarbone to hide.] I was just--I didn't want you to get caught up in my overthinking. I wasn't going to leave.
[Not that he's upset with the way things turn out, of course, but he at least wants to make that clear.]
after a while of keeping their distance, and despite the fact that the two of them were making out moments ago, their close proximity feels almost jarring. kaveh's face is hot against the bare skin of his neck, and he can feel each gust of breath over the lines of his throat. a few weeks ago, alhaitham would have accepted this more readily. knowing that kaveh is acts out of a sense of love and safety gives these gestures a whole new meaning.
he's happy too. just happy. alhaitham slides an arm around his shoulders and lays his hand over kaveh's golden hair. ]
I had no way of knowing that by observation alone. [ he murmurs, because it's the truth. he closes his eyes and carefully rests his cheekbone against kaveh's head. ] Which is why I knew we needed to talk face-to-face to find the crux of the issue. You convince yourself too often that your burdens are yours alone to bear.
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He glances at Alhaitham's face again, searching. His own expression is wary, the same face he often makes when he can't understand--or refuses to consider--why Alhaitham has acted in an atypical manner.]
And you're... [He looks down at his hand again, then at the abandoned plate, then back at Alhaitham.] You're not--trying to make a fool out of me? Or waiting for me to embarrass myself, or planning to use this against me later...?
[(Kaveh voice) This is how I can still prove Alhaitham was replaced by a pod person
But Kaveh, for all his fake smiles and his convincing confidence, cannot conceal his heart in moments like this. He can't hide that underlying longing, that cautious hope--still there, despite his disbelief and accusations.
Alhaitham would not do those things. Even accounting for those odd behaviors, even if he conjures up the worst, most selfish, most diabolical version of Alhaitham he can think of, he can't genuinely picture an Alhaitham who would kiss him for any reason beyond genuinely wanting to. It's just difficult to trust--difficult to believe that even after seeing him at his absolute worst time and time again, Alhaitham might still want him the way Kaveh suspected (hoped) he once did.]
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kaveh overthinks. he's done this since they were in the akademiya, and it only got worse as his luck fell to pieces. there may have been some progression made before the game took kaveh away from sumeru. where alhaitham once might have criticized kaveh for needlessly spiraling, alhaitham has learned to be more patient with him.
kaveh deserves that patience now more than ever. it's why alhaitham still doesn't expect kaveh to reciprocate despite all of the evidence he's gathered to the contrary. alhaitham can only brace himself for any outcome that comes next. even if kaveh loves him back, he may not want them to be together.
(but kaveh makes him want to hope. it stings to hear kaveh consider the notion that he'd be this cruel, but at the end of the day, kaveh is only afraid of being betrayed. he isn't rejecting alhaitham's feelings at all.)
he shakes his head lightly. ]
No, I'm not. You asked me a question. This is how I chose to answer it.
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Their history is such a double-edged sword. It's what drove him to offer to do the housework, bewildered by Alhaitham's altruism and hating to impose--but it's also what has him rearranging Alhaitham's furniture however he pleases. Those golden days are the cause of his strongest doubts and worst accusations, and they're also the reason he spends money he doesn't have on coffee bean grinders he doesn't need and paintings for a house that isn't his.
It's why this is so difficult to believe, yet so utterly unsurprising at the same time. Because they disagree, they fight, they're capable of life-shattering vitriol, they will never see eye to eye on the most fundamental elements of their ideals--
--But there is none of that without them. Throughout the years, even when they only interacted on paper, there has always been them. For every fight that cracks their foundation, something else is there to fill it in with gold. Kaveh knows that, even if those poisonous, ever-present whispers in his head are striving to convince him otherwise.]
I--
[...
Abruptly, his eyes widen, and he urgently grabs Alhaitham's hand.]
Oh my god--we cannot tell Vash about this. He'll be insufferable.
[IS THAT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, KAVEH]
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I'm amazed that you still found a way to be preoccupied with yourself after someone laid their feelings bare to you moments ago.
[ at least he's not?? being rejected?? does your confession being ignored for a sec count as a rejection ]
Perhaps we should pretend this never happened.
[ (he doesn't mean it) ]
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You-- that's--!
[LOOK... LISTEN... HUFFS IN EMBARRASSED AGITATION]
You know... I just thought... it was obvious... what my answer was... AND BESIDES, you started it by asking about all this, it's relevant!
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... holds kaveh's hand just a little. ]
You know better than to leave things to mere interpretation, Senior Kaveh.
I SAW THAT HEI
[YOU HEARD HIM!!! DON'T BE A BRAT]
HEI? WHAT DID YOU DO
Yes, I'm "purposely" telling you to clarify your response before speaking about someone else. Should I be doing otherwise?
[ but fine he'll roll with it ]
Is this what you were so in denial about?
hei is such a creature
Don't say it like that.
[THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE HE'S REJECTING ALHAITHAM FOR VASH!!! Who is frankly a much better person to fall in love with than either Alhaitham or Wolfwood or any of his other crush potentials but alas, here we are. The heart wants what it wants.
Specifically, right now, the heart is embarrassed and wants to bristle and grumble. His face is warm... he's too light-skinned for this hit to his dignity... HATEFUL]
And don't call it denial like it was absurd of me to believe you--[might have feelings for me despite it all no he can't say that or he'll shrivel up and die. LASHES OUT]--suddenly decided to join the rest of us mortals in the realm of emotional literacy?
[Kaveh you are still holding his hand]
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If we're talking about emotional literacy, I'd say you don't have much of a leg to stand on. Vash didn't need grand romantic gestures to deduce in a few days what's been obvious to you for some time now.
[ casually admits to crushing for years ]
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he figures that this happened while they visited ]
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Vash is a hundred and fifty years old! Of course he has advanced insight into even the most absurd of human behaviors.
[Such as asking someone you APPARENTLY have feelings for when he's going to move out of your house]
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Really? A hundred and fifty years old. Huh.
[ not as surprised as a person should be, since kaveh already told him that vash is a plant. he just didn't know he was an old plant. nts, ask vash about this later ]
And yet you chose not to believe this supposedly advanced insight.
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[Alhaitham and Wolfwood are the same and Vash extrapolated, that's how. Yaoi math.
He tones down his grumbling a little, though, averting his gaze to look at their hands.]
And besides--I... well, you know. I didn't think we were going to make it out of there, so...
[So he hadn't allowed himself to dwell on it too much, unwilling to die with even more regrets than he already had. He couldn't afford to break, not when Ylfa and Haru were depending on him, not when he couldn't be sure Nahida--and thus, Teyvat--would be safe. Thinking about Alhaitham harboring feelings for him, about dying without getting the chance to speak, to know one way or the other--it would've been too much.]
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alhaitham follows kaveh's eyes down to their hands. he's quiet for a moment before he gently reaffirms his hold on kaveh's fingers. ]
There was no sense in dwelling on conjecture at that point.
[ not when kaveh's life was dangling by a thread. the idea forms a lump in alhaitham's throat. it only subsides when he raises his eyes back to kaveh's again.
kaveh is alive. they're both here and they're both real, and that was their first kiss. alhaitham looks at kaveh the way he has hundreds of times since they met: with deep, abject fondness. ]
All the more reason not to leave any room for doubt. You still haven't given me a proper answer.
[ he's not letting it go, sorry. ]
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But Alhaitham is looking at him, patient but clearly waiting. And for the first time, Kaveh notices--no. Kaveh allows himself to perceive the affection in his eyes, the gentle set of his mouth. (Of course he's noticed. How could he not notice? Alhaitham never looks at anyone this way. Only ever...)
His hand twitches, that old, reflexive urge to run flaring up in his chest. He doesn't deserve this. What has he ever done to earn Alhaitham's devotion? It would be so easy to slip into a lecture, to say something like: This is why socialization is so important. If you spent more time with other people, you would understand that I'm nothing special. Don't you want someone kinder? Someone who complements and completes you, rather than someone like me? It's not too late. He can still pull away, still make his case and try to convince Alhaitham that they're terrible for each other.
...But.
All his doubts and fears and confusion--none of them stem from a lack of interest or desire. He almost wishes they did. It would be so much easier if he simply didn't want this. But how in the world could that be?
Alhaitham is infuriating in a myriad of ways, yes, and Kaveh will never stop challenging his beliefs--but he's also brilliant, beautiful, and caring when he wants to be. Kaveh has watched him tear his opponents' arguments to shreds without ever batting an eyelash, and he's seen him doze off on the sofa with a book, warmed by the afternoon sun. He's seen the Alhaitham who cherishes his grandmother's library, and he's seen the Alhaitham who cuts his way through his enemies with efficiency and grace. The Alhaitham who steals his coffee right off of Kaveh's desk, then complains that it's too sweet--the Alhaitham who snaps at him for bending too far, so stubbornly oblivious to the necessity of connection and reputation in Kaveh's field--the Alhaitham who forces him to defend even his most innocuous views, who makes him forget his guilt and his shame and pushes him to feel alive--There is no world in which Kaveh doesn't love him.
When has he ever been able to change Alhaitham's mind anyway?
He's left his other hand on Alhaitham's chest all this time; that heartbeat, irrefutable proof of Alhaitham's humanity, pushing back against the dark thoughts in Kaveh's head with each steady pulse. He withdraws now, but only to reach for Alhaitham's free hand, tentatively wrapping his fingers around it. Double handholding.]
It would be awfully cruel of me to inflict you on someone else. [A little bit more snark--a shield for the vulnerability that comes after, though he tries to keep his tone even, despite the way he keeps his gaze fixed on their hands.] And I suppose you wouldn't listen if I said you ought to find someone who treats you better than I do.
[It's not really a question. Alhaitham barely has people he considers friends, and even that is a major change from their Akademiya days. A small part of Kaveh worries that his presence has interfered with Alhaitham's ability to find someone else--but even as he thinks it, he can hear Alhaitham's rebuttal in his head. We barely saw each other in person for years after our falling out. I had ample opportunity to meet other people, yet here we are. Explain that, senior Kaveh.
Still. Taking what he wants, even when it's right here, when it's being pressed insistently into his hands--it's frightening. Chasing his dreams has never ended well for him before, after all.
But that hasn't stopped him from doing it, either. And that's why he's still here, fingers curled around Alhaitham's, valiantly ignoring the warmth of his own face and the pounding of his own heart.]
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the snark makes his smile widen, though it quickly fades away. what comes after is exactly what alhaitham expected to hear.
kaveh's completely right. there's no real need for kaveh to clarify himself when their intentions and affections were laid out so plainly. the simple fact is that alhaitham: 1) is an asshole, and 2) wants kaveh to admit to himself that he is loved and cared for, and has been for as long as they've known each other. alhaitham is still convinced that kaveh knew about his feelings somewhere deep in his conscience. he simply avoided the truth for his own reasons.
it's up to kaveh to resolve his issues with guilt and insecurity and self-flagellation. alhaitham has no doubt that it's possible, but that cure is ultimately, frustratingly out of his hands. until then, with the newfound freedom to outwardly express his affections, alhaitham can only support him as best he can. (how well he does that is. subjective. at least he's trying to be better.)
he runs his thumb over a white scar across kaveh's knuckle. he knows it's there without having to look at it. kaveh isn't the only one who's studied the others' hands, mapping out their every mark and memorizing them like a language. who could look away from the hands of an artist? who could look away from kaveh at all, especially when he blushes like this? ]
Based on your complaints while we've been living together, I could say the same to you. [ if anything, kaveh complains about alhaitham's treatment of him WAY more often than the reverse. he still has feelings for alhaitham regardless. ] It's only natural that we would treat each other poorly after so many years of conflict. I accepted the differences in our temperaments long ago. I can handle you just fine.
[ he lifts a set of their joined hands and presses a kiss over the back of kaveh's. driving the point home. ]
I engaged with you at Lambad's because you bring something to my life that no other person can provide. I've known this since we first met, and it holds true even now.
[ you're kind enough as it is, he would say if he could. in some ways, i want you to be less kind and i prefer when you aren't. you are that person who complements and completes me. there is nowhere i'd rather go than wherever you are. ]
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(Not that Alhaitham would leave him waiting either way, Kaveh thinks. Such is the result of a constant, thorough examination of one's own heart. He isn't like Kaveh, who rarely knows what he wants, who sabotages himself even when he does.)
He breathes unsteadily when Alhaitham finishes his piece, letting the words sit between them for a moment. He feels the brush of Alhaitham's lips against the back of his hand, uncovered at this late hour, and feels his own face flush again.
Is it selfish to take what he wants? To have this after wanting it for so long, after accepting that it was lost forever? Maybe. But for once, he thinks it would be more selfish to deny himself. To deny them both.]
All these pretty words, Haravatat, and yet you still present me with circumspect logic instead of simply telling me how you feel about me. [For all this talk of what "value" Kaveh's presence provides, Alhaitham has still only said, I don't actually hate you. If Kaveh didn't know him so well, didn't know just how significant it is for Alhaitham to praise him the way he has, to sit here and comfort him, let alone kiss him--
--But he does know. He is, perhaps, the only person alive who can read between the lines, who can speak Alhaitham's language. Maybe that's the whole point.] As your senior, I suppose it's my responsibility to set a good example.
[Which he has not done even a little at any point during their relationship, he thinks--but. Well. It's never too late to start.
Finally, he meets Alhaitham's gaze again. As he does, he shifts his hands, lacing his fingers through Alhaitham's.]
I hate living here, Alhaitham. [Excellent start, very romantic.] I hate seeing that dusty old box taking up space on your shelves, I hate seeing the exhaustion on your face when I've kept you up at night, I hate opening the cupboards and seeing food I couldn't help you buy. [He flexes his fingers, nervous.] If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be able to stand it. But it's... bearable, because it's you.
The way I was that day at the tavern--I never wanted anyone to see me like that. Who would? But then you asked after me, and... it felt as though that was exactly what I'd been waiting for all that time. Like I'd been caught in stasis, and only once you sat down across from me did time begin to move again.
And after the game, after Nahida and I returned... I couldn't quite believe we were home. Do you know what it was that finally swayed me? [...] It was your eyes. No one there had eyes like yours. I saw you, and I knew we were truly back, and that we--that I was safe. [His smile is tentative, self-deprecating.] I don't think you have any idea how many times, how many ways you've saved me. And I hate it, I can't stand being that person, but--somehow, it's alright when it's you.
[It doesn't make him feel any less pathetic, not really. He doesn't want to be someone in need of constant saving, even if he would never judge anyone else for needing the very same. He has no intention of stopping his efforts to stand on his own two feet again. But if Alhaitham, only Alhaitham, is the hand on his back keeping him balanced... it's a steady warmth, not a heavy brand.
His expression shifts, then, into something more fond--gently, he extracts one hand, reaching up to brush Alhaitham's bangs out of his face.]
That's not to say you don't drive me absolutely mad. I know you do it on purpose at least half the time, don't think I don't. You are a spoiled little egoist brat who has somehow managed to fool half the city into believing you've evolved beyond human limitations. [WHAT KIND OF LOVE CONFESSION IS THIS. Ridiculously, Kaveh is clearly more comfortable now than he was a moment ago; he lets his hand fall to rest on Alhaitham's jaw, brushing his thumb over Alhaitham's cheekbone.] But I've always trusted that you know I wouldn't engage in your nonsense if I didn't want to.
[His smile fades, then, and he drops his gaze. Tension creeps back into his frame with his silence, but then he looks back up, forcing himself to look Alhaitham in the eye again.]
But I haven't always trusted you in the ways that matter. And for that I am sorry, truly. Yet, I--I can't promise that I always will from here on out. I wish that I could, I really do. But even you can't deny that we are cruel to each other at times. If we were capable of changing that, I believe we would have done so long ago.
[Old wounds that healed poorly, impulsive words and actions guided by clashing ideologies--these are undeniable parts of what makes them them. Kaveh is inclined to bear more of the burden of guilt than Alhaitham, knowing full well that so many of the instances he speaks of now are because of him in some way--but if there's anything Kaveh is willing to do for himself, it's this: acknowledging that Alhaitham can, and has, hurt him. That he has the power to do so again in the future, and probably will, because Kaveh cares far too much about Alhaitham's opinions for someone who refuses to change.
He hesitates again--but he started this a certain way, and Alhaitham would never let it go if he failed to follow through on his claims now of all times. So.]
...I can't say I don't believe you should find someone with whom such things would not be a concern. [Someone less fragile, less volatile, less... everything that led to Kaveh being where he is in life right now.] Goodness knows you've got a line out the door of people willing to fight with you over this or that, and even you must have some idea of how attractive you are. [A flicker of a smile returns, then--a brief attempt at levity, even though it's true.] But it would take a stronger man than me to walk away from the person he loves, so I can only hope you don't mind this weakness.
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none of what kaveh says is a surprise. their magnificent bridge still burned down to rubble; the new one is only now beginning to stabilize. kaveh is approaching from the other side and cautiously laying his hand in alhaitham's. there's still work to be done, things to unlearn, more to understand. for kaveh alone, alhaitham will put in every effort to earn his trust and finish what they began.
because he is the person that kaveh loves. time moved again because of him. kaveh feels safe with him. alhaitham saved him. kaveh stuns him into silence, eyes widening and lips parting. in a sea of words and ideas, every admission shines like a pearl. so much of what he says applies in reverse.
that brief smile melts him. alhaitham's hand settles over kaveh's wrist, holding it steady as he shuts his eyes and kisses the middle of his palm. he stays there for a moment, breathing in, letting reality sink into him like sunlight. he made so many accusations that kaveh knew his feelings all along, when at the same time, he knew kaveh's feelings just as well. there was always affection scattered in the complicated mess they'd made. it was only a matter of whether the affection outweighed the pain—something alhaitham can't discern without them being honest with each other.
he turns his head to look at kaveh again. ]
You say that like you're the only one who has weaknesses.
[ there's more than enough evidence of alhaitham being weak. not even the end of their friendship was enough to keep him from seeking kaveh out. ]
I could turn back almost every sentiment onto you. You have no frame of reference for it's like to watch someone you love burn themselves to the wick. People have to have their basic needs met first before they can get back on their feet. You would only continue to drown otherwise. I wouldn't let that happen, regardless of how you felt about me. I understand why you can't fully trust me, and you can resent me if you must, but I'm not going to regret what I'm doing.
[ he brushes his thumb over kaveh's hand. his voice goes quiet. ]
Your pride won't allow you to see that I never approached you out of pity. I've been saved by you before, just as you were.
[ he reaches up and draws away the strands of hair over kaveh's forehead with a fingertip. emerald eyes search over the unobstructed view of his face: the slope of his nose, the flare of his eyelashes, the irresistible red of his irises. alhaitham is very, very weak. ]
For once, I'll take my senior's advice into consideration. I'm not mincing my words this time, so listen carefully, Kshahrewar. I've been in love with you for longer than you realize. It doesn't matter who or what you think I should have. I only want you.
[ and there's zero chance that alhaitham will accept any less than what he wants.
finally, if kaveh allows, alhaitham leans forward and meets their lips in a deep, meaningful kiss. ]
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Even though he saw it coming, the first kiss was shocking enough that Kaveh barely registered what was happening. He was too caught up in the cacophony of his emotions to really pay attention to the press of Alhaitham's mouth to his. He still feels a bit like an electric current inches away from a pool of water, but it's easier, this time, to push back his nerves and let himself be present in the moment. It's certainly much easier to express himself like this, rather than through words--to part his lips, encouraging; to slide his hands around to Alhaitham's nape and curl his fingers into the ends of his hair. He savors Alhaitham's warmth and pours his own emotions into the kiss in return. It's asking a lot of Alhaitham, handing him this tangled mess of guilt and gratitude, affection and shame, nervousness and relief and saying please understand me. But he trusts Alhaitham to do so, just as he always has before.
Kaveh is not the linguist between them, after all. He may speak Alhaitham's language, but Alhaitham understands the intricacies and nuances of his. Kaveh, on the other hand, has always done so much better with solid, tangible things, and this is just the same: every press of his lips to Alhaitham's says I love you, and there's a thank you carried on each quiet sigh.
Maybe they're a bit of mess. Maybe this isn't the beautiful, picturesque relationship Kaveh would've described, if asked what "love" looks like--but no carving, no sculpture, was made without a little violence.]
You're so stubborn. [Grumble grumble. He's just barely pulled away, though. Only enough to speak, and he can feel their mouths brush with every word.] You didn't have to corner me in the kitchen in the middle of the night.
[Bold words from the man who didn't leave his room all day]
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it happened with hardly any thought, as simple as breathing. alhaitham collected memories he had of his senior with his nameless partners—his hands in their hair, the wash of pink on his cheeks, and the plush of his mouth when they stole kisses—and thought of, dreamed of himself in their place.
not even alhaitham's most vivid imaginings could compare to the real thing. when kaveh kisses him back for the first time, an age of unspoken affection wells up in alhaitham like a spring. he sets one hand against the side of kaveh's neck and wraps the other around his arm, as if to anchor him there. these kisses are another language in themselves, each word entirely new yet easy to understand. in every one, alhaitham quietly attempts to reply: don't leave again and let me take care of you and i love you too.
it takes effort not to continue the endless string of kisses when kaveh pulls away. thankfully, kaveh's grumbles tickle his lips, and alhaitham can't help but smile. eyes still closed, he murmurs back: ]
I didn't have many other options, given that you've been hiding in your room until this point.
[ calls him out. and steals another kiss, because he can't help it. ]
Knowing you, I'm sure you would have preferred something more romantic.
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He GRUMBLES SOME MORE in an attempt to distract from his warm face and racing pulse, leaning his forehead against Alhaitham's. He's embarrassed, feeling far too exposed, too seen--but he doesn't want to pull away, either, so he can't decide how much to lash out. This is the worst actually maybe they should break up again!!!]
Hmph, as if. I know better than to think you have a single romantic bone in your body. I'd sooner think you possessed.
[He doesn't know what he would've done with himself if Alhaitham had done this in a more traditionally romantic sense, really. He certainly wouldn't have trusted or accepted it so easily (for a given definition of easy). Truthfully, this suits them--not that Kaveh will admit that out loud anytime soon. Baby steps...]
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for now, he takes advantage of what's within his reach. as he listens, he runs his hand up into kaveh's hair, loosening the clips, and brushes a kiss over kaveh's cheek. sorry you're stuck with him!!! he's too in love!!! ]
I was planning to take the plate to your room before you came here. [ he leans back, getting a beautiful view of kaveh's blushing face as he opens his eyes. ] I would have confronted you there, though I wasn't expecting to confess my feelings for you at the same time.
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That's--you didn't have to do that. [He mumbles, happiness and embarrassment warring with guilt and shame. He drops his head to tuck his face into Alhaitham's neck, speaking into Alhaitham's collarbone to hide.] I was just--I didn't want you to get caught up in my overthinking. I wasn't going to leave.
[Not that he's upset with the way things turn out, of course, but he at least wants to make that clear.]
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after a while of keeping their distance, and despite the fact that the two of them were making out moments ago, their close proximity feels almost jarring. kaveh's face is hot against the bare skin of his neck, and he can feel each gust of breath over the lines of his throat. a few weeks ago, alhaitham would have accepted this more readily. knowing that kaveh is acts out of a sense of love and safety gives these gestures a whole new meaning.
he's happy too. just happy. alhaitham slides an arm around his shoulders and lays his hand over kaveh's golden hair. ]
I had no way of knowing that by observation alone. [ he murmurs, because it's the truth. he closes his eyes and carefully rests his cheekbone against kaveh's head. ] Which is why I knew we needed to talk face-to-face to find the crux of the issue. You convince yourself too often that your burdens are yours alone to bear.
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