[There's a coffee shop Kaveh frequents, not far from the university campus. It's cozy, quiet--not the sort of place that attracts lively undergraduates, though Kaveh does enjoy those cafes as well. No, this is the sort of place where people come to get work done, or simply to spend time with their own thoughts.
Or, in Kaveh's case, where they come to crash on the cot in the back room overnight.
It's not something he can do for more than a night or two, he knows. It's bad enough that he had to do it once, even if he was more-or-less browbeaten into it by the owner (a good friend, someone he met through Nilou). But he can't stay here longterm, and even if he could, he wouldn't want to. He would be imposing an unacceptable amount no matter what they'd say about it.
Unfortunately, that leaves him here: sipping coffee, suitcase at his feet, and staring out the window as he tries to figure out what to do.
Regardless of the state of his finances, he has too much pride to accept the offers to stay in other people's apartments. He's not a bad houseguest, in his own opinion; he's clean, and he'll cook, even if his dishes aren't necessarily to everyone's tastes. But for all that he wouldn't think twice about offering his space to someone else in need... it doesn't sit right with him, accepting that kind of offer when he has no idea how long it would have to last.
(Charity is different when he's the one accepting it.)
He'll figure it out, somehow. He has to. Within the next few hours, preferably, because he has to leave before the coffee shop owner figures out he lied about having somewhere else to go, and he'd really rather not do his thinking at a bus stop.
None of that helps him now, though. So he sighs, dropping his head into his hand and closing his eyes.
How convenient it would be, he thinks wryly, if a solution could waltz through the door for him.]
[ as a private and prestigious university in the whole of teyvat, the akademiya offers its students and alumni lifetime, unlimited access to campus resources. this is only one of the many meticulously crafted reasons why alhaitham chose the akademiya for his higher learning, but it's a more significant one than most would expect. (though to be fair, not many know of alhaitham in the first place.)
despite his excess of wealth he inherited, alhaitham still spends frugally and lives comfortably, never in luxury. he might be able to purchase almost any book he desires, maybe even make his own little library, but alhaitham prefers two familiar and accessible commodities above all else: the vaulted ceilings and burnt vanilla smell of the campus main library, and the quiet ambience and incomparable coffee of one long-standing cafe just out of the way from campus.
most importantly of all, both places are also excellent resources of information, if one is careful and precise with the functionality of their headphones. staff members and students alike are shocked when they discover that alhaitham, despite his bookishness, is well-versed in the rumors and goings-on around campus. those who tell him so are always countered with the same response: you don't always need to go searching for knowledge. sometimes it finds you. you just have to know where to wait.
a recent example of this is dori's recent visit to the main library. while seated on an armchair near the back stairway, alhaitham could hear her unmistakable voice reverberate along the walls from the first floor. I almost feel sorry for him, she sighed. I hear he's even out of a house! But in all fairness to me, it's his own fault. He took out a giant loan for a such a huge and complicated project when he had no more funds as it is. Now I'm way below my quota for this month, but taking interest into account, next month should be much more profitable...
as her conversation went on, alhaitham easily pieced things together. it's been some time since they've been in any direct contact, but if there's anyone in his circle that would be blamed for impulsive decision-making for the sake of beauty and science, there was only one person it could be. part of him debated the consequence of reaching out; the part of him that won knew it might only add insult to injury. he chose to keep silent.
the moment alhaitham sets foot into the cafe, a wisp of white-gold catches the edge of his vision. he looks sidelong in the direction of the bright spot, and there kaveh is, with his suitcase standing stalwartly beside him. nevermind the way the sun slants onto kaveh's hair or that the neck of his shirt dips a little too low. what stands out is his hunched posture, the way his knuckles strain against his skin, the haggardness that's apparent even before alhaitham can see his face. it's a bone-deep instinct that stems from once knowing someone like they were another part of you.
if he tries to get in line for coffee now, there's a chance that kaveh will see him and escape out the door. so instead of doing that, alhaitham taps into the mobile ordering app on his phone and strides over to kaveh's table. without a word—or any acknowledgment, really—he pulls back the chair across from kaveh and slides into his seat.
he takes a glance at their table number and shoots off his usual drink order. ]
Going somewhere?
[ the tone of his voice says, "Obviously not. Not willingly, anyway." ]
[Alhaitham's right; Kaveh would absolutely have bolted or hidden, had he caught sight of Alhaitham first. Alhaitham is, quite literally, the last person on the face of the earth Kaveh ever wants to see again.
(...Okay, that's a lie. But--he doesn't want Alhaitham to see him like this. He's always found it unbearable, to be looked at and seen for the broken mess he is, but it has always been exponentially worse around Alhaitham, for reasons Kaveh has never allowed himself to consider.)
Right now, however, Kaveh is so exhausted, so deeply caught up in the dark tangle of his thoughts that he's almost oblivious to Alhaitham's approach. He's dimly aware of the sound of approaching footsteps, but he doesn't budge, assuming it's someone passing by. The sound of the chair is what startles him into opening his eyes, and he barely has time to register what, who, he's looking at before Alhaitham's dropping into the chair across from him. On pure, reactive instinct, he bolts upright, yanking his hands back from the table and dropping them into his lap, as if changing his sitting position now could possibly erase the fact that Alhaitham caught him looking like that.]
How that station connects to other worlds, Kaveh doesn't know--it's likely he never will. How no one seems to notice his and Nahida's arrival, right on the outskirts of Sumeru City--Kaveh will never know that, either. He sets foot on solid ground, and between one moment and the next, the train is gone, and he's... home.
As Kaveh stands before the front gates, he finds himself overwhelmed. The crispness of the air, the Dendro energy that resonates so naturally with his Vision, even the green trim on the pillars that flank that all-too-familiar rounded entryway--all of the things he once took for granted swarm his senses, and he remains frozen for a minute, simply staring up the path.
No one pays him any mind. No one seems to wonder where he came from, nor does anyone ask where he's been. It's unsettling, makes him wonder if something went wrong, if this is yet another illusion after all--but then he feels silly for his paranoia. He's been away from the city before. For months at a time, even. How could anyone know what he's been through at a mere glance?
(But he wasn't really gone for eight weeks, was he? Not with all the lives he lived in Netzach's world, not with the way Nightingale wrenched them through the weeks. Time has never quite settled back into the way it used to flow, a steady river on an unerring course.)
Nahida gets attention. It's almost startling, hearing Lesser Lord Kusanali after so many weeks of Nahida. But even then, no one seems shocked to see her the way they ought to have, had she been missing without notice. They exchange a glance, and Kaveh knows her well enough by now to see that she's a little worried, unwilling to leave him behind. But it's always been easier to pull himself together for other people, and he's gotten into the habit of doing it for her, too--he nods, and smiles, and pretends she looks convinced as she lets the Corps of Thirty lead her back towards her Sanctuary.
There are people all around him on the street, but Kaveh feels suddenly, acutely alone.]
[He doesn't let himself think of Alhaitham's house as "home."
Rather... he tries not to. It slips out, sometimes, when he's distracted or excited--and without fail, it makes his stomach twist whenever he realizes he's done it. He can't allow himself to get comfortable, complacent with his circumstances. He lives in Alhaitham's house, dependent on Alhaitham's goodwill, and he can't ever let himself forget that. His first priority is getting out and stabilizing his life. Before he woke up in a completely foreign world, that was one of his biggest concerns.
Now, as he walks tentatively up the path, he thinks, I want to go home. He does not correct himself. He stopped seeing the point in doing so when he'd resigned himself to his permanent demise, and there is too much prickling tension under his skin for him to worry about it now.
Before, he could've glanced at the sky and known, without a doubt, where Alhaitham would be. But Kaveh doesn't know what day it is, or what time, or what month. He can't even begin to venture a guess, and he doesn't want to ask anyone he passes, lest he seem drunk (bad) or ill (worse). The safeguarding of his reputation is something he'd written into his bones, and that, at least, still comes naturally--but he walks up to Alhaitham's house without sparing a single glance at his surroundings, uncaring of who might notice him.
Mehrak floats over his shoulder as he stops in the doorway, and for a minute, Kaveh just... stands, and stares. For all the simulations he'd crafted in Virtual Reality, he'd never tried to recreate Alhaitham's house. Like the city gates, the sight of the door is almost staggering in its familiarity, and he's seized with sudden fear.
What if he opens the door and things look different? What if he's been gone too long? What if he can't open the door, because none of this is real, and the next time he blinks, he'll find himself back in Shibuya? What if, what if, what if--]
[ what if the door in front of kaveh opens up without him lifting a finger.
by the time kaveh reached the entrance to their home, the sun was setting orange into the mountains near vissudha field. from alhaitham's seat in the living room, he could see the kaveh-shaped shadow filtered through the stained glass window on the front door—and the rectangular shadow floating behind it.
finally.
when the door opens for kaveh, alhaitham is standing behind it, hand still resting on the doorknob. he looks placid as always, like nothing new had happened. because it didn't. ]
I'm surprised you were able to get up today.
[ considering how many bottles you drank last night is implied. ]
Perhaps I should attach your house keys to the inside of your clothes. Maybe then you won't forget them even as you galavant while nursing a hangover.
[Time passes. Vash and Wolfwood leave, and Kaveh, despite his clear reluctance to let them go back to their dangerous world, doesn't try and talk them into staying. He sends them off with as many luxuries--edible and otherwise--as they'll accept, and he makes them promise about a thousand times to stay in touch before he sends them on their way. The house is so much quieter without them--back to normal, but with that sense of emptiness that comes from recent change.
Kaveh's mood takes a predictable turn towards melancholy with their departure, though he tries his best to pretend it doesn't. It's for his own sake as much as anything else, really. He'd known, of course, that they weren't here to stay; it's just hard, even now, to watch people leave. Especially loved ones.
So Kaveh does what he always does when he needs a distraction: He throws himself into work. He holes up in his room or vanishes to his studio for long portions of the day, building and designing and engineering and experimenting. Between his work with Nahida, the sharehouse he's working on for the Teyvat transplants, and his own personal clientele, it's perfectly believable that he's busy.
He knows Alhaitham and Vash spoke privately. He's certain of this because he saw the start of it, and he chose to run instead of stepping on Vash's foot, or cutting them off, or otherwise changing the subject. It's possible that the conversation died when he left, but Kaveh finds it highly unlikely. He is, in fact, almost certain that Vash said something to Alhaitham--but guessing what that something is is a completely separate ordeal.
He knows Vash's thoughts on their relationship all too well. And though Kaveh had multiple reasons for all of his deflection and denial, nothing he'd said to Vash about the tattered state of their current relationship was really a lie. Embellished and exaggerated, maybe, but nothing wholly false from his perspective. He and Alhaitham don't get along. This is a fundamental truth of the world.]
Vash had been so confident, is the thing. No matter what Kaveh said, no matter how much he insisted, Vash had stayed adamant in his belief that Alhaitham not only didn't hate him, but has, or had, feelings for him. And... well. If Kaveh's really, truly honest with himself, it's not quite as absurd as he'd made it seem--at least, it wasn't, not back then. But Vash couldn't possibly know that. So how in the world was he so confident in his logic?
(Once or twice, Kaveh had wondered if Vash wasn't trying to subtly redirect him away from Wolfwood, if he'd known all along and Kaveh had failed to keep his feelings under wraps. But he'd dismissed those thoughts as soon as they happened, annoyed at himself for having them in the first place.)
More importantly: At no point during their visit had Vash told him he'd changed his mind. It's possible, Kaveh reasons, that he'd simply not wanted to bring it up--he and Wolfwood were visiting for fun, after all, and they had better things to do than scrutinize Kaveh's relationship with Alhaitham. But it's equally possible that whatever Vash saw in their interactions, he'd reaffirmed his own opinions instead of acknowledging that Kaveh's were right: that there's no saving the two of them, no matter what the past was. Could've been.
Vash is wrong. He's wrong because--because he has to be. But Kaveh lets him leave without ensuring that Vash knows he's wrong, and it festers in the back of Kaveh's mind as a result.
Alhaitham's probably put whatever Vash said to him out of his head. It couldn't have been that bad, he reasons, since they'd both been perfectly fine around each other and around him. Most likely, Alhaitham said exactly the same sorts of things he says to everyone; that Kaveh is a fool who gets himself into more problems than Alhaitham can count, that he wastes his time on useless things and even more useless people, and that he's terrible housemate. Anything beyond that, Kaveh thinks, and Alhaitham probably would've just brushed Vash off and walked away. There's no way he's still dwelling on it like Kaveh is. He's almost certainly moved on.
It's what Kaveh should do. What he's been trying to do, in fact, except that he keeps catching himself doing the exact opposite, and distractedly staring at Alhaitham in the process. So he's done the next best thing: put distance between them by throwing himself into his work.
Today he's been sequestered in his room, drafting up designs for renovations to the Akademiya's south wing. It's a distant project, one Nahida had simply mentioned in passing last time they met, but it's engaging without being frustratingly difficult--perfect for keeping his mind occupied. It's late, now; Kaveh hasn't been watching the time, but he's fairly certain Alhaitham should be in bed, or at least heading there soon. So, carefully, quietly, he peels himself away from his desk and slips out of his room, padding quietly towards the kitchen to make himself some tea.]
[does this just for fun it is not part of the post-homos au timeline
At some point, they are freed from the confines of wild alternative dimensions--but not before Kaveh has enough wine to let his guard down and let his happiness show a little more openly. With his inhibitions lowered and his anxieties soothed by the presence of beloved friends--even if trapped awkwardly under mistletoe--he's much more comfortable than he normally is in public. He happily drags Alhaitham around, and he flits back to his side after he goes off to talk to others, stealing kisses and holding hands whenever he feels the urge to do so. He still bickers with Alhaitham on and off throughout the evening, but it's their brand of fun and flirting rather than any wholly genuine irritation. In the future Kaveh is going to be stupidly shocked to learn that anyone knows they're dating.
For now, though, they make it home. It probably takes much longer than Alhaitham would've preferred, but Kaveh stays cozily tucked against him as they walk, and eventually, they make it inside. Kaveh's still a little tipsy, but he's not drunk--just content, which means he's in a playful, daring mood.
He toes off his shoes easily; while Alhaitham's busy taking his boots off, he might notice the familiar green glow of an activated Vision. If he looks, he'll notice Kaveh looking quite pleased with himself, and if he looks up, he'll see a sprig of contraband mistletoe being held in the air above them.
[ For funsies, let's say that Alhaitham's had two flutes of champagne at Kaveh's behest. (Apparently beer isn't fancy enough for Christmas parties, even if Alhaitham can list off hundreds of reasons why the brewing and fermenting process is just as intricate as the wine-making process.)
If Kaveh's behavior wasn't enough of a hint that the two of them are dating, Alhaitham makes it obvious in his own ways. He lets Kaveh have his arm without half as much of a fight as usual, searches for his hand the moment they brush shoulders, tips forward just enough to deepen every kiss, and looks at Kaveh with abject and unabashed fondness, as if he were the only thing in existence. He's still Alhaitham, argumentative and judgmental, but now that the two of them are dating, he drops all pretenses of hiding his affections.
He's sobered up more by the time they arrive home, one hand around Kaveh's waist as he hoists them through the doorway. He notices the green glow of Kaveh's Vision as he slips off his last boot, crouched at eye level with Kaveh's hip. He furrows his brow before looking up at Kaveh's smirking face—and seeing a little sprig of something hanging above the doorway, just at the top of his field of view.
A mild and slow smile spreads over his lips. Alhaitham sets his shoes aside and stands up tall, reaching for Kaveh's tiny, slutty waist with both hands. ]
You actually managed to take one. [ He pulls Kaveh forward, nearly against him. His smile grows. ] I wonder what your students would think if they knew the Light of Kshahrewar was also a thief.
the good news: sumeru won the internationals! the bad(?) news, alhaitham had to pull off a dangerous maneuver to do so. he's completely fine, but he did side-swipe the entire left side of the car, left his wheel diameter hanging by a thread, and manage to get out of the car before part of the engine caught fire. it was put out before an explosion happened.
that's why he's in kaveh's space now, getting the minimum amount of work done to bring it into his shop properly later. ]
As usual, you're making a fuss about nothing.
[ arms crossed, looking unamused when he's anything but. it's the end of the race, meaning kaveh has worked himself into an shiny, oily, frizzy-haired mess. in this particular outfit, he looks best this way. ]
I only did what was necessary to secure first place. You and I understood the risks before accepting these positions.
Edited 2023-12-28 21:36 (UTC)
I don't even drive so I apologize in advance for the nonsense in this tag
[FRENEMIES WITH BENEFITS REAL. The benefit right now being that Kaveh didn't beat Alhaitham over the head with his wrench because he's been halfway underneath the car since it limped back into the garage. Kaveh is often mindful of his language--he is just one member of a team, and it is their efforts that help Alhaitham seize victory time and again--but at times like this, he doesn't hesitate to tear into Alhaitham for the damage he does to his car, ruining his hard work and nearly sending his baby into early retirement.
Only a few minutes ago did he finally emerge, uncaring of the hair falling from his ponytail and the oil smeared on his face and arms. He's still not looking at Alhaitham; he's got his clipboard on the hood of the car, and he's furiously taking notes on it as they speak. Notes which are probably actually detailed information about repairs and not just ALHAITHAM IS THE WORST scribbled over and over. Probably. He is, however, gripping his pen very tightly, and his tone is certainly not a happy one.]
Nothing you do is ever just what was necessary. Do you have any idea what your control arm bushings look like? Your cut-off valves will have to be replaced, not to mention the rear wing is hanging on by a thread because of the way you clipped M194 on that last turn. [He doesn't even have to mention the damages to the side of the car, nor the tires, if only because he already yelled about it earlier.] You're lucky we were able to take care of your break pads on the track, or we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
[It's not about the car, really. It's never about the car. But Kaveh doesn't have the words to describe the way his heart had seemed to stop at the crunch of metal against metal, the way he's only able to stay calm and shout orders at the sight of flames because his mind wholly rejects thoughts of Alhaitham's mortality during a race.
(Alhaitham needs his focus, after all. Not his feelings.)
Only after, once all is quiet, does he allow his heart to take over. Once Alhaitham's standing on solid ground, more-or-less unscathed and almost always victorious--that's when Kaveh can give in to his emotions, when all that latent terror converts to fury and passion. He can't say I was worried, I didn't think you'd make it to us in time, I wish you wouldn't take such insane risks. That's not the relationship they have. So--it's about the car.]
I'm letting you know that Vash came to Sumeru after you left. He was waiting outside of the house when I arrived.
[ Kaveh is probably still pissy with him for being a bad boyfriend with bad taste in decor, but when is Kaveh ever not pissy with Alhaitham. At least this way Kaveh can't accuse Alhaitham of not telling him about Vash. ]
[ It's Thursday, around dusk. The curtains are pulled in the living room of Alhaitham's penthouse, leaving a slant of orange sunlight over the couch. Alhaitham himself is spread over the cushions, propped up near the arm of the couch on a pile of couch pillows. A table lamp spills warm light onto the book in his hand, which he reads with unbroken concentration.
The penthouse is gently, soothingly dark whenever Kaveh arrives back from his trip. Though the food was made hours before, a faint smell of spiced, braised meat and butter surrounds the kitchen. Whenever the door clicks shut, Alhaitham will tip up his chin without looking away from his book. ]
[It's been a long, long day. A long few weeks, actually, if Kaveh's honest with himself. Kaveh loves his work--really, he does, and he's proven it through blood, sweat, and tears a thousand times over--but sometimes even the best projects are grueling and stressful, and even the best of the best have their limits.
And, well. How could he design homes for others if he didn't love his own so dearly? It's rough, being away for so long, especially after how much time and effort it took to start thinking of Alhaitham's apartment as his space, too.
It's been good work, but hard, and Kaveh feels like he's spent the past few days counting down the minutes until he could go home. The mere act of stepping inside is bliss, and the quiet darkness and familiar aromas are so comforting he could cry. He doesn't, though--just kicks off his shoes, abandons his luggage in the doorway, and makes a beeline straight for Alhaitham. He's well-versed in every angle that matters, so when he drops his weight down onto the sofa, and then Alhaitham, his head falls low enough that it doesn't knock into Alhaitham's book.]
Mmph.
[Eloquent...
He needs to shower--to wash off all the airport grime, if nothing else. But more than that, he just needs a moment to breathe in Alhaitham's familiar scent, to take comfort in the planes and curves of his body, always so accommodating to him even when their minds are at odds. He doesn't even have the strength to ramble about his work like he usually would; he just rests for a minute, savoring the knowledge that he's home.]
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me pretending the akasha has a thought to text function
it does now it's fine
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It isn't my mess to clean.
All of these things are addressed to you.
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modern au reincarnation boogaloo
Or, in Kaveh's case, where they come to crash on the cot in the back room overnight.
It's not something he can do for more than a night or two, he knows. It's bad enough that he had to do it once, even if he was more-or-less browbeaten into it by the owner (a good friend, someone he met through Nilou). But he can't stay here longterm, and even if he could, he wouldn't want to. He would be imposing an unacceptable amount no matter what they'd say about it.
Unfortunately, that leaves him here: sipping coffee, suitcase at his feet, and staring out the window as he tries to figure out what to do.
Regardless of the state of his finances, he has too much pride to accept the offers to stay in other people's apartments. He's not a bad houseguest, in his own opinion; he's clean, and he'll cook, even if his dishes aren't necessarily to everyone's tastes. But for all that he wouldn't think twice about offering his space to someone else in need... it doesn't sit right with him, accepting that kind of offer when he has no idea how long it would have to last.
(Charity is different when he's the one accepting it.)
He'll figure it out, somehow. He has to. Within the next few hours, preferably, because he has to leave before the coffee shop owner figures out he lied about having somewhere else to go, and he'd really rather not do his thinking at a bus stop.
None of that helps him now, though. So he sighs, dropping his head into his hand and closing his eyes.
How convenient it would be, he thinks wryly, if a solution could waltz through the door for him.]
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despite his excess of wealth he inherited, alhaitham still spends frugally and lives comfortably, never in luxury. he might be able to purchase almost any book he desires, maybe even make his own little library, but alhaitham prefers two familiar and accessible commodities above all else: the vaulted ceilings and burnt vanilla smell of the campus main library, and the quiet ambience and incomparable coffee of one long-standing cafe just out of the way from campus.
most importantly of all, both places are also excellent resources of information, if one is careful and precise with the functionality of their headphones. staff members and students alike are shocked when they discover that alhaitham, despite his bookishness, is well-versed in the rumors and goings-on around campus. those who tell him so are always countered with the same response: you don't always need to go searching for knowledge. sometimes it finds you. you just have to know where to wait.
a recent example of this is dori's recent visit to the main library. while seated on an armchair near the back stairway, alhaitham could hear her unmistakable voice reverberate along the walls from the first floor. I almost feel sorry for him, she sighed. I hear he's even out of a house! But in all fairness to me, it's his own fault. He took out a giant loan for a such a huge and complicated project when he had no more funds as it is. Now I'm way below my quota for this month, but taking interest into account, next month should be much more profitable...
as her conversation went on, alhaitham easily pieced things together. it's been some time since they've been in any direct contact, but if there's anyone in his circle that would be blamed for impulsive decision-making for the sake of beauty and science, there was only one person it could be. part of him debated the consequence of reaching out; the part of him that won knew it might only add insult to injury. he chose to keep silent.
the moment alhaitham sets foot into the cafe, a wisp of white-gold catches the edge of his vision. he looks sidelong in the direction of the bright spot, and there kaveh is, with his suitcase standing stalwartly beside him. nevermind the way the sun slants onto kaveh's hair or that the neck of his shirt dips a little too low. what stands out is his hunched posture, the way his knuckles strain against his skin, the haggardness that's apparent even before alhaitham can see his face. it's a bone-deep instinct that stems from once knowing someone like they were another part of you.
if he tries to get in line for coffee now, there's a chance that kaveh will see him and escape out the door. so instead of doing that, alhaitham taps into the mobile ordering app on his phone and strides over to kaveh's table. without a word—or any acknowledgment, really—he pulls back the chair across from kaveh and slides into his seat.
he takes a glance at their table number and shoots off his usual drink order. ]
Going somewhere?
[ the tone of his voice says, "Obviously not. Not willingly, anyway." ]
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(...Okay, that's a lie. But--he doesn't want Alhaitham to see him like this. He's always found it unbearable, to be looked at and seen for the broken mess he is, but it has always been exponentially worse around Alhaitham, for reasons Kaveh has never allowed himself to consider.)
Right now, however, Kaveh is so exhausted, so deeply caught up in the dark tangle of his thoughts that he's almost oblivious to Alhaitham's approach. He's dimly aware of the sound of approaching footsteps, but he doesn't budge, assuming it's someone passing by. The sound of the chair is what startles him into opening his eyes, and he barely has time to register what, who, he's looking at before Alhaitham's dropping into the chair across from him. On pure, reactive instinct, he bolts upright, yanking his hands back from the table and dropping them into his lap, as if changing his sitting position now could possibly erase the fact that Alhaitham caught him looking like that.]
You--what are you doing here?!
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POST-MG RETURN YAGH 1/2
How that station connects to other worlds, Kaveh doesn't know--it's likely he never will. How no one seems to notice his and Nahida's arrival, right on the outskirts of Sumeru City--Kaveh will never know that, either. He sets foot on solid ground, and between one moment and the next, the train is gone, and he's... home.
As Kaveh stands before the front gates, he finds himself overwhelmed. The crispness of the air, the Dendro energy that resonates so naturally with his Vision, even the green trim on the pillars that flank that all-too-familiar rounded entryway--all of the things he once took for granted swarm his senses, and he remains frozen for a minute, simply staring up the path.
No one pays him any mind. No one seems to wonder where he came from, nor does anyone ask where he's been. It's unsettling, makes him wonder if something went wrong, if this is yet another illusion after all--but then he feels silly for his paranoia. He's been away from the city before. For months at a time, even. How could anyone know what he's been through at a mere glance?
(But he wasn't really gone for eight weeks, was he? Not with all the lives he lived in Netzach's world, not with the way Nightingale wrenched them through the weeks. Time has never quite settled back into the way it used to flow, a steady river on an unerring course.)
Nahida gets attention. It's almost startling, hearing Lesser Lord Kusanali after so many weeks of Nahida. But even then, no one seems shocked to see her the way they ought to have, had she been missing without notice. They exchange a glance, and Kaveh knows her well enough by now to see that she's a little worried, unwilling to leave him behind. But it's always been easier to pull himself together for other people, and he's gotten into the habit of doing it for her, too--he nods, and smiles, and pretends she looks convinced as she lets the Corps of Thirty lead her back towards her Sanctuary.
There are people all around him on the street, but Kaveh feels suddenly, acutely alone.]
2/2
Rather... he tries not to. It slips out, sometimes, when he's distracted or excited--and without fail, it makes his stomach twist whenever he realizes he's done it. He can't allow himself to get comfortable, complacent with his circumstances. He lives in Alhaitham's house, dependent on Alhaitham's goodwill, and he can't ever let himself forget that. His first priority is getting out and stabilizing his life. Before he woke up in a completely foreign world, that was one of his biggest concerns.
Now, as he walks tentatively up the path, he thinks, I want to go home. He does not correct himself. He stopped seeing the point in doing so when he'd resigned himself to his permanent demise, and there is too much prickling tension under his skin for him to worry about it now.
Before, he could've glanced at the sky and known, without a doubt, where Alhaitham would be. But Kaveh doesn't know what day it is, or what time, or what month. He can't even begin to venture a guess, and he doesn't want to ask anyone he passes, lest he seem drunk (bad) or ill (worse). The safeguarding of his reputation is something he'd written into his bones, and that, at least, still comes naturally--but he walks up to Alhaitham's house without sparing a single glance at his surroundings, uncaring of who might notice him.
Mehrak floats over his shoulder as he stops in the doorway, and for a minute, Kaveh just... stands, and stares. For all the simulations he'd crafted in Virtual Reality, he'd never tried to recreate Alhaitham's house. Like the city gates, the sight of the door is almost staggering in its familiarity, and he's seized with sudden fear.
What if he opens the door and things look different? What if he's been gone too long? What if he can't open the door, because none of this is real, and the next time he blinks, he'll find himself back in Shibuya? What if, what if, what if--]
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by the time kaveh reached the entrance to their home, the sun was setting orange into the mountains near vissudha field. from alhaitham's seat in the living room, he could see the kaveh-shaped shadow filtered through the stained glass window on the front door—and the rectangular shadow floating behind it.
finally.
when the door opens for kaveh, alhaitham is standing behind it, hand still resting on the doorknob. he looks placid as always, like nothing new had happened. because it didn't. ]
I'm surprised you were able to get up today.
[ considering how many bottles you drank last night is implied. ]
Perhaps I should attach your house keys to the inside of your clothes. Maybe then you won't forget them even as you galavant while nursing a hangover.
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after a while of living together in modern au
Stay where you are.
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FINE he calls him. if it becomes too annoying he'll talk to tighnari ]
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1/2
Kaveh's mood takes a predictable turn towards melancholy with their departure, though he tries his best to pretend it doesn't. It's for his own sake as much as anything else, really. He'd known, of course, that they weren't here to stay; it's just hard, even now, to watch people leave. Especially loved ones.
So Kaveh does what he always does when he needs a distraction: He throws himself into work. He holes up in his room or vanishes to his studio for long portions of the day, building and designing and engineering and experimenting. Between his work with Nahida, the sharehouse he's working on for the Teyvat transplants, and his own personal clientele, it's perfectly believable that he's busy.
It's just that... well. Okay, sure, maybe, maybe he's kind of, sort of... avoiding Alhaitham.
He knows Alhaitham and Vash spoke privately. He's certain of this because he saw the start of it, and he chose to run instead of stepping on Vash's foot, or cutting them off, or otherwise changing the subject. It's possible that the conversation died when he left, but Kaveh finds it highly unlikely. He is, in fact, almost certain that Vash said something to Alhaitham--but guessing what that something is is a completely separate ordeal.
He knows Vash's thoughts on their relationship all too well. And though Kaveh had multiple reasons for all of his deflection and denial, nothing he'd said to Vash about the tattered state of their current relationship was really a lie. Embellished and exaggerated, maybe, but nothing wholly false from his perspective. He and Alhaitham don't get along. This is a fundamental truth of the world.]
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Vash had been so confident, is the thing. No matter what Kaveh said, no matter how much he insisted, Vash had stayed adamant in his belief that Alhaitham not only didn't hate him, but has, or had, feelings for him. And... well. If Kaveh's really, truly honest with himself, it's not quite as absurd as he'd made it seem--at least, it wasn't, not back then. But Vash couldn't possibly know that. So how in the world was he so confident in his logic?
(Once or twice, Kaveh had wondered if Vash wasn't trying to subtly redirect him away from Wolfwood, if he'd known all along and Kaveh had failed to keep his feelings under wraps. But he'd dismissed those thoughts as soon as they happened, annoyed at himself for having them in the first place.)
More importantly: At no point during their visit had Vash told him he'd changed his mind. It's possible, Kaveh reasons, that he'd simply not wanted to bring it up--he and Wolfwood were visiting for fun, after all, and they had better things to do than scrutinize Kaveh's relationship with Alhaitham. But it's equally possible that whatever Vash saw in their interactions, he'd reaffirmed his own opinions instead of acknowledging that Kaveh's were right: that there's no saving the two of them, no matter what the past was. Could've been.
Vash is wrong. He's wrong because--because he has to be. But Kaveh lets him leave without ensuring that Vash knows he's wrong, and it festers in the back of Kaveh's mind as a result.
Alhaitham's probably put whatever Vash said to him out of his head. It couldn't have been that bad, he reasons, since they'd both been perfectly fine around each other and around him. Most likely, Alhaitham said exactly the same sorts of things he says to everyone; that Kaveh is a fool who gets himself into more problems than Alhaitham can count, that he wastes his time on useless things and even more useless people, and that he's terrible housemate. Anything beyond that, Kaveh thinks, and Alhaitham probably would've just brushed Vash off and walked away. There's no way he's still dwelling on it like Kaveh is. He's almost certainly moved on.
It's what Kaveh should do. What he's been trying to do, in fact, except that he keeps catching himself doing the exact opposite, and distractedly staring at Alhaitham in the process. So he's done the next best thing: put distance between them by throwing himself into his work.
Today he's been sequestered in his room, drafting up designs for renovations to the Akademiya's south wing. It's a distant project, one Nahida had simply mentioned in passing last time they met, but it's engaging without being frustratingly difficult--perfect for keeping his mind occupied. It's late, now; Kaveh hasn't been watching the time, but he's fairly certain Alhaitham should be in bed, or at least heading there soon. So, carefully, quietly, he peels himself away from his desk and slips out of his room, padding quietly towards the kitchen to make himself some tea.]
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Post-mistletoe shenanigans
At some point, they are freed from the confines of wild alternative dimensions--but not before Kaveh has enough wine to let his guard down and let his happiness show a little more openly. With his inhibitions lowered and his anxieties soothed by the presence of beloved friends--even if trapped awkwardly under mistletoe--he's much more comfortable than he normally is in public. He happily drags Alhaitham around, and he flits back to his side after he goes off to talk to others, stealing kisses and holding hands whenever he feels the urge to do so. He still bickers with Alhaitham on and off throughout the evening, but it's their brand of fun and flirting rather than any wholly genuine irritation. In the future Kaveh is going to be stupidly shocked to learn that anyone knows they're dating.
For now, though, they make it home. It probably takes much longer than Alhaitham would've preferred, but Kaveh stays cozily tucked against him as they walk, and eventually, they make it inside. Kaveh's still a little tipsy, but he's not drunk--just content, which means he's in a playful, daring mood.
He toes off his shoes easily; while Alhaitham's busy taking his boots off, he might notice the familiar green glow of an activated Vision. If he looks, he'll notice Kaveh looking quite pleased with himself, and if he looks up, he'll see a sprig of contraband mistletoe being held in the air above them.
HOW DID HE STEAL THAT.]
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If Kaveh's behavior wasn't enough of a hint that the two of them are dating, Alhaitham makes it obvious in his own ways. He lets Kaveh have his arm without half as much of a fight as usual, searches for his hand the moment they brush shoulders, tips forward just enough to deepen every kiss, and looks at Kaveh with abject and unabashed fondness, as if he were the only thing in existence. He's still Alhaitham, argumentative and judgmental, but now that the two of them are dating, he drops all pretenses of hiding his affections.
He's sobered up more by the time they arrive home, one hand around Kaveh's waist as he hoists them through the doorway. He notices the green glow of Kaveh's Vision as he slips off his last boot, crouched at eye level with Kaveh's hip. He furrows his brow before looking up at Kaveh's smirking face—and seeing a little sprig of something hanging above the doorway, just at the top of his field of view.
A mild and slow smile spreads over his lips. Alhaitham sets his shoes aside and stands up tall, reaching for Kaveh's tiny, slutty waist with both hands. ]
You actually managed to take one. [ He pulls Kaveh forward, nearly against him. His smile grows. ] I wonder what your students would think if they knew the Light of Kshahrewar was also a thief.
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i can't take it anymore
the good news: sumeru won the internationals! the bad(?) news, alhaitham had to pull off a dangerous maneuver to do so. he's completely fine, but he did side-swipe the entire left side of the car, left his wheel diameter hanging by a thread, and manage to get out of the car before part of the engine caught fire. it was put out before an explosion happened.
that's why he's in kaveh's space now, getting the minimum amount of work done to bring it into his shop properly later. ]
As usual, you're making a fuss about nothing.
[ arms crossed, looking unamused when he's anything but. it's the end of the race, meaning kaveh has worked himself into an shiny, oily, frizzy-haired mess. in this particular outfit, he looks best this way. ]
I only did what was necessary to secure first place. You and I understood the risks before accepting these positions.
I don't even drive so I apologize in advance for the nonsense in this tag
Only a few minutes ago did he finally emerge, uncaring of the hair falling from his ponytail and the oil smeared on his face and arms. He's still not looking at Alhaitham; he's got his clipboard on the hood of the car, and he's furiously taking notes on it as they speak. Notes which are probably actually detailed information about repairs and not just ALHAITHAM IS THE WORST scribbled over and over. Probably. He is, however, gripping his pen very tightly, and his tone is certainly not a happy one.]
Nothing you do is ever just what was necessary. Do you have any idea what your control arm bushings look like? Your cut-off valves will have to be replaced, not to mention the rear wing is hanging on by a thread because of the way you clipped M194 on that last turn. [He doesn't even have to mention the damages to the side of the car, nor the tires, if only because he already yelled about it earlier.] You're lucky we were able to take care of your break pads on the track, or we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
[It's not about the car, really. It's never about the car. But Kaveh doesn't have the words to describe the way his heart had seemed to stop at the crunch of metal against metal, the way he's only able to stay calm and shout orders at the sight of flames because his mind wholly rejects thoughts of Alhaitham's mortality during a race.
(Alhaitham needs his focus, after all. Not his feelings.)
Only after, once all is quiet, does he allow his heart to take over. Once Alhaitham's standing on solid ground, more-or-less unscathed and almost always victorious--that's when Kaveh can give in to his emotions, when all that latent terror converts to fury and passion. He can't say I was worried, I didn't think you'd make it to us in time, I wish you wouldn't take such insane risks. That's not the relationship they have. So--it's about the car.]
i drive and i still barely know what a car is dw
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can't* buy wow imagine proofreading tags
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while kaveh is out and alhaitham and vash have a playdate
[ Kaveh is probably still pissy with him for being a bad boyfriend with bad taste in decor, but when is Kaveh ever not pissy with Alhaitham. At least this way Kaveh can't accuse Alhaitham of not telling him about Vash. ]
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Vash is here??
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modern au cuddling
The penthouse is gently, soothingly dark whenever Kaveh arrives back from his trip. Though the food was made hours before, a faint smell of spiced, braised meat and butter surrounds the kitchen. Whenever the door clicks shut, Alhaitham will tip up his chin without looking away from his book. ]
Welcome back.
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And, well. How could he design homes for others if he didn't love his own so dearly? It's rough, being away for so long, especially after how much time and effort it took to start thinking of Alhaitham's apartment as his space, too.
It's been good work, but hard, and Kaveh feels like he's spent the past few days counting down the minutes until he could go home. The mere act of stepping inside is bliss, and the quiet darkness and familiar aromas are so comforting he could cry. He doesn't, though--just kicks off his shoes, abandons his luggage in the doorway, and makes a beeline straight for Alhaitham. He's well-versed in every angle that matters, so when he drops his weight down onto the sofa, and then Alhaitham, his head falls low enough that it doesn't knock into Alhaitham's book.]
Mmph.
[Eloquent...
He needs to shower--to wash off all the airport grime, if nothing else. But more than that, he just needs a moment to breathe in Alhaitham's familiar scent, to take comfort in the planes and curves of his body, always so accommodating to him even when their minds are at odds. He doesn't even have the strength to ramble about his work like he usually would; he just rests for a minute, savoring the knowledge that he's home.]
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homos au
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Oh? That's unusual, I didn't think those investigations were active. What did you hear?
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