Work Text:
~Beep~
Every night it's the same sound. The same ringing in his ears. The same nightmare.
Ever since the Sabzeruz festival, Kaveh can not get that horrendous sound out of his ears. No matter how many times he tries to cover his head with a pillow, sit in the middle of a dark room, or even use Alhaithams headphones, the beep always comes back.
Alhaitham.
Does he hear the ringing too? Does he hear the subtle beep in his ears every night when he tries to rest? Kaveh is tired.
He's so tired of this beeping. Why can't he remember?
Kaveh jolts awake, sweat dripping down his back as he feels sudden fear . It was another dream of his father. His father cries out for help as he sinks into the cold and lonely ground. His voice rings in tune with the sound that haunts him nightly. Why can't he remember what that beep is?
Kaveh slings his legs over the side of his unfamiliar bed, head ringing with thoughts that will not quiet down. "When will this end?" He asks himself softly. The days are spilling away like sand in his hand. He tries desperately to grasp onto the grains but they keep falling. Alhaitham is there some days to supply water to the sand, allowing the sand to stay together for a while; all before it drys and slips right through the cracks again.
It's never enough water. There's too much sand.
Kaveh dressed himself before walking out of his room. He has bags under his eyes, he knows this. He notices Alhaitham is already awake, a book in hand while the other helps him sip on some tea. There's a fresh kettle on the stove that has just enough left for Kaveh. It's routine for them. Whoever wakes up will make the tea of his choice. Kaveh prefers a nice Zaytun Peach flavored drink with hints of lemon mixed in while Alhaitham enjoys...
What does he enjoy?
~Beep~
The noise rings through his mind, jumping around like a Rishboland Tiger in his mind; scratching at the tissue inside for the answers. "Oolong tea." Kaveh lifts his head; when did he place it on the counter?
"I thought about making your preferred choice but seeing how I was fancying a taste of Liyue I decided to keep with my choice of Oolong," Alhaitham speaks up from behind his book.
"Right, I knew that. I was just smelling the aroma it gave the house," Kaveh tries to quip back, lifting his head from the counter.
"Really?" Alhaitham asks with an unimpressed look. Kaveh watches him place the book down on a side table before walking towards Kaveh, tea in hand. "And here I thought you never enjoyed the taste of bitter teas."
"Consider it a change in taste buds," Kaveh looks up at him. Since when did Alhaitham have such lovely eyes? They shine like stained glass during sunset. A fine work of art that the most skilled artist couldn't replicate.
Oh, that's right. Kaveh is an architect and has a job to do today. What was that job?
Kaveh looks around for Mehrak; must still be on the charger. Kaveh looks back up at Alhaitham when he notices that Junior has not moved. Kaveh can see the wheels turning behind Alhaitham's eyes, the gears grinding and stopping, churning the great mind so many people look up to. "Very well, try some." Alhaitham places the teacup into Kavehs hand.
The warmth is nice. It feels good to be handed the heat Kaveh so desires most nights. His bed is cold and empty while he lays awake, dreaming of a life he wishes he had. 'Daydreaming' someone once told him. 'You have such a vivid imagination' others would say as they grinned like pigs being fed a meal. They only grin at Kavehs designs. When will someone grin for him?
Is it still daydreaming if you lie awake at night thinking about it?
Kaveh grasps the tea cup before taking a swallow of the tea. He immediately recognizes the taste as something he does not enjoy. Bitter with a hint of earth toward the end.
~Beep~
Kaveh covers his ears with his hands, eyes closing, just wishing this pest would leave him be. This damn beeping noise is going to drive him insane. Maybe this headache of his has gotten worse over the nights due to him not sleeping. Perhaps this is tinnitus?
Kaveh feels eyes on him from afar. He opens his eyes to see himself no longer holding a cup of tea. The tea he once drank now lay to rest on the floor beneath him. The contents spilled onto the soft rug that someone gave them a while back. "What just happened?" Kaveh questions aloud.
Alhaitham raises an eyebrow at him, "Why are you covering your ears?" Oh, Kaveh is isn't he? Kaveh blinks once, then twice before removing his hands from his ears, the rush of noise flooding his senses.
"Oh. I don't know," Kaveh plays it off.
He knows.
~Beep~
Kaveh jumps, startled by the sound. He looks around the room to find himself in Lambads Tavern. "Let's hear it for Kaveh!" Everyone is cheering and touching Kaveh as if he has just done something tremendous. He looks around, trying to find anything, anything to suggest why he is here! There are no balloons, no cake, no signs, what did he do!?
The hands claw at him, digging into flesh and leaving salt in the wounds. They pull and push against him, trying to rile him up and be happy.
"What did you do?!" Someone yells from the crowd. Kaveh looks up to see his father covered in sand as he cries at Kaveh. "This is all your fault. Why were you not with me?" his father weeps as he begins to sink through the floor, his eyes red from crying and throat scratchy from the sand beneath him.
"No, that's not true! Wait!" Kaveh stumbles his way out of the bar stool and runs towards his father. He pushes through piles of sand, getting onto his knees to crawl through the matter.
"Kaveh," someone calls out in the distance.
He ignores them. He has to save his father, he has to prove that he can do it! His father won't die in vain!
"Kaveh!" They yell louder.
Kaveh can feel their hands touching him again, pulling him away from his father. Kaveh struggles, and grunts in effort to just make contact with his father. He digs endlessly and makes no dent in the coarse sand. His hands are dry and cracked. How long has he been digging? If he can just reach him, this will all be over! He can go home. They can go home, together!
Where is home?
"Kaveh!" His name is yelled louder each time. He opens his eyes to see Alhaitham hovering over him, worry written across his face. Alhaitham is deep in thought before Kaveh sees a mental light bulb go off in his mind. "I'm taking him home," Alhaitham states.
"You're taking him already? I'm sure he's just drunk and blacked out!" A woman tells Alhaitham. She reeks of booze and there are stains on her shirt indicating she has missed a few times.
"All the better reason to take him to a safer location." Alhaitham leaves no room for arguments before picking Kaveh off of the ground and throwing him over his shoulder.
Kaveh looks around for the sand but finds nothing. He looks down at his hands and sees all the normal callouses surrounded by the softness of his flesh. He couldn't reach him in time. His father has once again passed with no one there to help him. Kaveh feels like he could vomit.
Kaveh drifts in and out of his mind but there is one thing that stays the same; This feeling, the feeling of being used like a sack of potatoes. The way his body sways over Alhaithams shoulder, causing dots and swirls to appear behind his eyes. Kaveh tries to chase them but they are too quick for him to reach. He wants these daytime nightmares to stop. He wants to stop seeing his father and feel the guilt weighing him down.
They return to the shared house with relative ease, with no communication, no interruptions. Nothing. It's not unusual for Alhaitham to find a drunk Kaveh and sling him over his shoulder to take them both home. Alhaitham is Kavehs emergency contact after all. But Alhaitham knows that tonight is different, Kaveh can tell. Kaveh smells of wine sure, but he wasn't drinking himself. It's the smell of other people moving against Kaveh, covering him in a wave of what Kaveh usually calls bliss but tonight it seems to be called a fantasy.
Alhaitham lets Kaveh go, their fronts sliding together for a moment as Kaveh touches the floor. He doesn't dare look up at Alhaitham for he knows he will break. Kaveh's holding on by a thread after all.
And the thread is thinning.
It's been holding onto so much all at once that it's on the verge of snapping. Kaveh knows this.
"Come sit with me," Alhaitham demands in a soft tone, walking away from the entrance to take off his shoes. How does one demand something but with such a soft tone? Kaveh will never know but it's a tone he knows all too well. A tone Alhaitham only uses when Kaveh knows there's a serious discussion brewing.
Kaveh sniffles before taking his shoes off as well and following behind Alhaitham. Alhaitham sets the kettle on the stove before coming to sit on a chair in their living room. "Talk," he says sternly. "You are not acting yourself and I know that you did get blackout drunk in a mere 20 minutes," Alhaitham informs him.
"20 minutes?" Kaveh asks, his eyes widening a bit. Was it only that short amount of a time? Did he not remember that much? "How-how did I get there?" He asks, voice wavering.
He notices Alhaithams eyebrow cock for a moment before settling back into his neutral state. "You walked there."
"Impossible! I would have remem-"
~Beep~
Kaveh groans, head tilting like he is trying to drain water from his ears. "Tea is done," Alhaitham states before standing up and preparing two cups. Kavehs head is spinning again, the dots behind his eyes are racing against each other, trying to see which one can reach the other half of the room the fastest.
Alhaitham hands Kaveh one of the cups before sitting back down. "Drink it," he demands, his tone more stern than earlier.
So Kaveh does.
It's a beautiful peach flavor. You can tell that the peach was grown with love and care. The harvester must not have used any bruised peaches in this batch. It was a delightful taste. "What do you think?" Alhaitham asks.
Kaveh stares down at the cup, the pink liquid is vaguely familiar to him. It's on the tip of his tongue. He's grasping for it but can not reach it. "I think, I think the flavor is divine. It would go well with some lemon in it perhaps," Kaveh suggests.
"I see," is the only response Alhaitham gives before going back into silence.
"Is something the matter?" Kaveh asks head tilted as he gets up to put some fresh lemon into the teacup.
"A few things actually," Alhaitham sets his cup down on the coffee table before continuing. "You hate it when I make your tea. You always tell me I do not make it properly and that the steep time makes it too sweet. Which is why you prefer lemon in it." He says.
"Well, it seems you made it correct this time," Kaveh retorts, opening a cabinet to grab some lemon juice.
"What is the tea flavor, Kaveh?"
Kaveh stares at him for a second. "Excuse me?"
"I asked what the flavor of the tea was. Did you not hear me?" Alhaitham rolls his eyes.
"I did hear you, asshole. I just figured you would know what flavor of tea YOU made me." Kaveh crosses his arms and leans on the countertop.
Alhaitham huffs before crossing his arms over his chest, "Just answer the question or have you forgotten how to do that?"
Kaveh swears he can feel his eye twitching. "Is this some kind of joke to you?" Kaveh scoffs, his voice going higher in pitch towards the end of his sentence due to the anger rising inside of him. "Have you reached a new level of low?" He asks, chest rising and falling faster and faster.
'There's no way Alhaitham knows' Kaveh thinks to himself. "How am I reaching a new level of low by asking you a simple question?" Alhaitham retorts.
Kaveh stands there, baffled by this man. This idiotic man sitting in front of him.
~Beep~
Kavehs hands clench onto the counter, knuckles going white from the sheer grip alone. His eyes are closed shut as his head falls to the counter, hair spreading out around him. To anybody walking by, they would think he was so enraged with Alhaitham that he put his head down to ease himself. When in fact, it's the complete opposite.
Kaveh desperately wants to reach out to Alhaitham and describe these ailments to him. He wants to be held as he sobs over the thing he fears the most. Kaveh knows it to be true, but he can't bring himself to admit it to anyone. "Peach," Kaveh says quietly after some time passes.
He looks up at Alhaitham from behind his arms on the counter. Alhaitham is staring back at him, but Kaveh can't read his expression. Alhaitham sits there, motionless and stone-cold. "Wrong," he says after a few beats, letting out a small sigh.
Alhaitham stands up from the chair he was resting in and walks over to Kaveh. Kaveh keeps his arms circled over his head, squeezing a small bit so Alhaitham couldn't pry his arms away if he tried. Kaveh leans fully against the counter, the upper half of his body spilling over the kitchen counter. He can feel Alhaitham beside him, not doing anything, just watching. Kaveh can feel the few tears he was holding back start to roll down his cheek.
He doesn't want to admit that he is crying. He keeps his eyes open, daring the drops to fall onto his face as he can not bring himself to blink them away. If he blinks, it's over and he admits defeat.
Kaveh feels a hand touch his back for a moment before pulling away, hesitating with the touch before smoothing itself over Kavehs shirt. "Talk, Kaveh," Alhaitham says in a tone so soft Kaveh isn't sure if he heard him correctly at first. The hand on his back is warm and a completely new feeling than what Kaveh and Alhaitham normally share on a day-to-day basis.
The hand on his back is the final drop of rain leaking into Kaveh's dam. His composer breaks and he blinks. It's all over from there as the tears flow freely, mimicking the stripes of a Rishboland Tiger on his cheeks. The tears leave stains on his face, cheeks becoming red as he lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "What was the flavor?" He asks Alhaitham weakly.
"Zaytun peaches," Alhaitham says calmly, his thumb moving back and forth softly over Kavehs back. "You yell at me time and time again about getting peaches instead of Zaytun Peaches. 'Something about the flavor' you say. I have argued with you enough times to know that there is no difference between them, yet you swear that you can always tell the difference when I buy normal Peach versus Zaytun Peaches," Alhaitham explains. "Thus, my experiment with the tea."
Kaveh stands there, leaning over the counter motionless. The tears are gathering on the countertop, forming a puddle. "What's happening to me?" Kaveh asks. He picks his head off of the counter and turns to Alhaitham. He knows he looks a mess right now; red cheeks, tear stains, red and puffy eyes. This is not the Light of Kshahrewar staring at Alhaitham right now. It's Kaveh.
Kaveh sees Alhaitham's mouth turn down a small bit, it's subtle but Kaveh notices. "I'm not sure. Can you tell me more?" Alhaitham asks. Kaveh sniffles, looking away from Alhaitham for a brief moment before turning around on the counter and shuffling up enough to hop on. Kaveh runs a hand through his hair, taking deep breaths, trying to calm down. His fingers tangle in his hair, some of the pins falling out.
Alhaitham hands Kaveh a tissue box, "Need a hand?" Alhaitham asks while pointing to the clips in Kavehs hair and the braid on one side. Kaveh nods his head before working his fingers over the braid and untangling the blonde strands. Nimble fingers find their way into Kavehs hair, gently easing out the red pins and placing them on the counter.
Kaveh sighs at the touch, wanting to lean into it more. He closes his eyes, feeling the hands dance across his hair, being ever so gentle as to not rip a single strand out. Kaveh unwinds his braid and places his hands back into his lap while Alhaitham retreats his own, crossing his arms and waiting patiently for Kaveh to explain.
Kaveh stares at his hands, eyes watering and head spinning. "I-" he cuts himself off. "I keep having this dream..dreams of my father," Kaveh says softly. Kaveh has never seen Alhaitham so quiet when he talks, Alhaitham always butts in. But not this time.
Kaveh watches Alhaitham's demeanor change after Kaveh brings up his father. There's a small nod before he crosses Kaveh and rests his back on the stove in front of the blonde. Alhaitham re-crosses his arms, patiently waiting for Kaveh to continue. Alhaitham knows Kavehs ailments more than most, but Kaveh never gets used to speaking about them.
"In my dream he," Kaveh swallows, "he's reaching out for me. His hand is so close to mine but every time I see it, I can't reach it in time." Alhaitham hums, acknowledging that he is listening. "I've-I've always had dreams like that, but recently.." Kaveh shuffles on the counter. His eyes are filling up again, he can't do this.
"Take your time," Alhaitham suggests softly. Though his voice is not loud, it rings inside Kavehs head.
Kaveh lets out a shaker breath. "I..I can't remember his face," he says softly. "Every time I see him, it's a blank face. It's so upsetting, Haitham. N-no matter how hard I try it's just not there!" Kaveh weeps, placing his hands on his eyes as the dam floods again.
"Do you not have a picture of him?" Alhaitham asks.
"I do but I can't see him off the top of my head. I can't remember anything!" Kaveh sobs, soaking his sleeves in tears. "I can't remember how I got to the bar tonight, I can't remember your favorite tea, or mine for fucks sake!" Kaveh yells as he grows frustrated with himself. "I-I wake up in a bed that is not mine only to dress and see you outside in the living room. Only then do I remember that I live here! Do you know how tiring that is?" Kaveh throws his arms in the air toward Alhaitham. "I'm so tired of not understanding where I am or why I am hearing this atrocious beeping noise in my head!" Kaveh places his hands on the side of his head.
"I just want to remember," Kaveh says quietly.
The two are silent for a few moments; Kaveh tries to calm himself down while Alhaitham tries to find the correct words to say without hurting Kaveh. Kaveh looks up when he hears Alhaitham clear his throat, "What beeping noise are you referring to? Is it something you're physically hearing or..?" Alhaitham leaves the end of the sentence hanging. Kaveh knows what he's asking.
"Is it something I'm imagining?" Kaveh asks for Alhaitham. "I hear it constantly. No matter what time of day, I do hear it every night when I dream of my father-"
"Every night?" Alhaitham interrupts.
Kaveh looks at him, "Yeah. It use to be every night when I went to sleep, but lately, it's been happening during the day as well."
"I see," Alhaitham acknowledges before cupping his chin and thinking. "You weren't here for the Sabzeruz festival, correct?"
Kaveh nods, "I was out in the desert. Why does that matter?" Kaveh questions, his eyes no longer tearing up but his cheeks are like sandpaper; rough and worn down over time.
"While you were away, the Traveller and I discovered that the Academia was using the Akasha to manipulate people's minds by essentially creating a time loop for those during the Sabzeruz festival," Alhaitham explains. "Every night when the time loop would end, there would be a singular beep that played through everyone's mind; the same beep that I believe you are hearing now." Alhaitham takes his hand away from his chin and crosses his arms back over his chest.
"That, that makes no sense! I was in the desert and was nowhere near the damn festival!" Kaveh yells. He doesn't want Alhaitham to be right. Kaveh doesn't want to accept the possibility of what Alhaitham is hinting at.
"That is the question, isn't it?" Alhaitham says, thinking. "The place was guarded heavily for that time so there is no way you could have snuck yourself in. I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you, Kaveh. Not at the moment."
"I don't understand," Kaveh says, voice cracking with embarrassment and frustration. "I didn't remember I was an architect the other day; it felt awful. I am unsure of who I even am!" Kaveh is trembling. "Do you know what that feels like?! Waking up every morning and having to sort through your mind minute after minute just to figure out what the hell you're doing?" Kaveh screams. Alhaitham doesn't wince, he doesn't move a muscle, he just lets Kaveh scream.
"I don't. I don't know what that is like but I am sorry this is happening to you," Alhaitham apologizes.
"Perhaps Lesser Lord Kusanalli may be of better assistance?" Alhaitham suggests. "She took part in helping defeat the Sages and her counterpart created the Akasha. It's not out of the question to see if she has answers."
Kaveh is quiet; his breathing is staggered and his eyes are wide, lost in thought. "What if I can't be fixed?" He asks softly, looking up at Alhaitham. "What if I can never remember who I am? What if I never remember my work? I'm nothing without my work, Haitham!" Kaveh yells. His lips trembling as he stares at Alhaitham in front of him.
Alhaitham looks at him, worry in his eyes and his mouth turned down a small bit. "That's not true, Kaveh." Alhaitham uncrosses his arms before walking over to Kaveh and catching his chin between his fingers, making sure that Kaveh keeps looking at him. "Your work and yourself are two completely different things. If you were to suddenly stop making designs, no one would look twice. Life would go on, Kaveh..and so would you." Alhaitham tells Kaveh. The fingers on Kavehs chin grip hard enough that Kaveh winces. He could escape the grasp if he wanted.
He could push Alhaitham away, run out of the house and never look back. It's not like he would remember the place anyways within a few weeks.
A tug on his chin has Kaveh focusing back on Alhaitham in front of him. Kaveh stares at him, face flushed. His chest is rising and falling like the tides, but Alhaitham has always been there to reel Kaveh back in from a rip tide before he can drown.
It's always been Alhaitham. Kaveh knows this. Alhaitham is someone Kaveh can call home. Someone Kaveh can always depend on, no matter how many arguments they have. No matter how many times Kaveh threatens to leave the house, only for Alhaitham to find him drunk on their doorstep the next night.
Kaveh breaks down before lunging forward and wrapping his arms around Alhaithams neck, clinging onto him and digging his nails into whatever part of the taller man he can grab. He feels Alhaitham tense underneath him before shakily wrapping his arms around Kavehs waist and hugging him closer.
"I don't want to forget you," Kaveh weeps, burying his head into Alhaithams chest. He can feel the firm muscle tensing and untensing under his head, Alhaitham's heart beating so fast that Kaveh is scared it may overwork itself.
"I-" Alhaitham starts before stopping. "You will not forget me. I am taking you to Lesser Lord Kusanali in the morning and we will discuss everything with her. She is the God of wisdom, and while I do not favor the Archons...I will be on her side if it means bettering you," Alhaitham shares.
Kaveh can feel Alhaithams breathe moving his golden strands of hair, the warmth of it keeping him in place. Alhaitham is usually never so open with his feelings and even then, Kaveh can tell that what Alhaitham just said was difficult for him to say aloud. Kaveh has stopped crying at this point. He is resting his head against the other's chest, grounding himself.
Kaveh pulls back before looking into Alhaithams eyes once more. Kaveh smiles. It's not the fake smile that he wears daily to those passing by, but a genuine smile. He reaches up before placing his hand along Alhaithams jaw, fingers siding beside Alhaithams ear. "My dearest Alhaitham, I am not worth the trouble of reaching out to the Lesser Lord. She has too much to deal with right now and someone who just so happens to be losing their memories and their mind at the same time is not something she should be burdened with." Kaveh runs his thumb over Alhaithams cheek.
They are never in such intimate poses like this but Kaveh likes the change. Alhaithams hand comes to rest atop Kavehs hand on his face while breathing a deep sigh. "Kaveh, my Senior and The Light of Kshahrewar; if this is happening to you, it may be happening to others."
Kavehs eyes widen for a second. He hadn't even thought of that. What if there are other people out there who hear the insatiable beeping noise? Are they losing memories as well? "I-I hadn't thought of that," Kaveh mumbles. He goes to remove his hand from Alhaithams face only for the latter to grip his hand, a small dust of rose painting his rather stoic face.
Kaveh gets the idea and leaves his hand on the side of Alhaithams face before mirroring his other hand to do the same, holding Alhaithams face still while looking at his roommate. "Very well. I do not want to see others suffering like this," Kaveh nods his head.
"Glad you agree. Now, it's getting late and you need to get some sleep," Alhaitham removes himself from Kaveh, causing the blonde to feel cold. Without Alhaitham wrapped around him, the world feels so small and helpless. This is the most conversation Alhaitham and himself have ever made in a single day. Hell, maybe the entire century.
Kaveh nods before hopping down and off of the counter, making his way towards his room. "Kaveh," Alhaitham calls out. Kaveh turns around to see that the same shade of color has found its way back to Alhaithams cheeks. Alhaitham moved his mouth, trying to find the right words but Kaveh knows. He smiles a small bit.
"Let me change and I'll be there," Kaveh says softly.
After changing into his pajamas Kaveh joins Alhaitham in the bed. It's not something they do often, just on nights when one needs the other. "I forgot my skincare routine," Kaveh pouts.
"You put so much stuff on your skin I'm surprised you're not always covered in acne," Alhaitham rolls his eyes, pulling back the covers of his side and climbing in.
"Rude! My skin is flawless thank you! It takes a lot of work to keep myself looking this good," Kaveh huffs and crosses his arms. "Not all of us can have naturally good skin Mr.Unblemished."
"Whatever," Alhaitham mumbles. Kaveh feels him shimmy down into the blankets "Lay down, Kaveh. Get your so-called beauty sleep," Alhaitham huffs with his back facing away from Kaveh.
Kaveh rolls his eyes before shuffling down as well and turning to face Alhaithams back. He traces the muscle with his eyes, not wanting to sleep just yet. He knows when he closes his eyes it will start all over again; the dreams, the sounds, the pain, everything. Kaveh feels Alhaitham turn over onto his side to face Kaveh.
"You're thinking very loud," Alhaitham speaks into the darkness.
"I-" Kaveh starts before stopping. "I'm afraid," he says softly.
"What of?" Alhaitham asks.
"Everything..I know when I go to sleep, it'll all start over again. Who knows if I'll even remember what happened earlier," Kaveh shakes. He clutched the bed sheets in his hands, wrinkling Alhaithams ironed sheets but Kaveh doesn't care right now. He hears Alhaitham hum in acknowledgment.
"Well, I'll remember," Alhaitham moves a small bit closer to the blonde. "And if you do happen to forget, I will help you to remember."
Kaveh feels the grey-haired male look in his direction. Alhaithams breathe mixing with Kavehs own as Kaveh fights off more tears. "Shit," he says faintly. "I'm tired of crying, Alhaitham," Kaveh says, pointing the blame at the man in front of him.
"You cry over almost anything." Kaveh can practically hear Alhaithams eyes rolling.
"Yeah, well, shut up," Kaveh winces before wiping the small tears from his eyes. He jumps a small bit when feeling a hand smooth over his cheek.
"Rest, Kaveh. We can talk more in the morning."
"W-"
"Before you say anything; know that I will not leave you. I'll be here to guide you for as long as you need me to. I have done nothing but be there for you; every argument, every lonely night, I have been there. All for you," Alhaitham adds before Kaveh can even say a word.
Kaveh can feel himself crying again. His tears dampen Alhaithams expensive sheets but a soothing thumb wipes away the remaining water on his face. "Rest." He says softly.
And Kaveh does. Kaveh slides closer to Alhaitham, sniffling while placing himself right between the other's chest. 'Maybe this isn't so bad' Kaveh thinks to himself.
The last thing Kaveh remembers before drifting to sleep is an arm wrapping around his silhouette tightly, pulling him against the other.
~Beep~