Thread by @cup_of_comfort

#haikaveh #アルカーヴェ
Kaveh was not the same since he returned from the desert.

When Alhaitham went home that night, Kaveh was already home, back facing Alhaitham as he sat on the dining table. His hair was a mess and his shoulders tense; it seemed like he hadn't noticed him.

He approached Kaveh and placed his hand on Kaveh's shoulder, and the other flinched so hard Alhaitham might have thought he had electrocuted the other. When Kaveh turned to face him, Alhaitham was... perplexed.

His Omega looked *terrible*.

He had seen Kaveh at his worst; sleepless nights of drawing, sharp sound of steel rulers meeting whenever Kaveh moved them, or thumps of hammer as Kaveh tried miserably to make the stiff, bent model straight again. Dark circles under his eyes, little creases of exhaustion.

But this... This was beyond that. The dark circles were even deeper, his usually bright red eyes now gloomy and sunken. His lips were chapped, his complexion unhealthyly pale, and beneath that Alhaitham could smell the scent of his Omega's misery.

...what had happened?

"Kaveh," he called.

"Oh! I didn't even hear you coming in. Welcome back, Alhaitham," Kaveh greeted him with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, voice slightly shaking. "How's work today?"

He didn't want to talk about work. Not when he's concerned about his wife's being.

"When did you arrive?" He asked, ignoring Kaveh's question. "You should've told me, I'll come to get you from the desert."

"No need to! I can go by myself," Kaveh quickly replied. "I... just want to go home quickly. The desert is too hot."

"Is that why you look so terrible?" Alhaitham slowly massaged Kaveh's shoulders, trying to get him to relax.

"...do I?" Kaveh chuckled hollowly. "Mm, yeah. I'll... wash up later. Anyways, have you eaten?"

The rest of Kaveh's words buzzed as Alhaitham tried to process them.

Usually Kaveh would've retorted back if Alhaitham had told him he looked terrible. Not that he was—Kaveh was always, always beautiful to Alhaitham. But not this time.

His laugh was hollow, forced. His scent grew even more miserable. Like a wilted white rose, almost dead.

Something was definitely wrong, but Kaveh avoided his questions, and Alhaitham didn't want to push him too much, especially when looking at his physical condition right now.

"...it's okay," Alhaitham said, as he gently gathered Kaveh in his arms and lifted him up. "Sleep?"

Kaveh answered in a murmur Alhaitham couldn't catch, but he rested his head on Alhaitham's chest, pressing his nose against his robes as if chasing for his scent.

By the time Alhaitham reached their bedroom, Kaveh had fallen asleep, not even rousing when he was laid on the bed.

It went on like that for the next few days.

Kaveh would actively avoid him as much as he could, and when he couldn't, he avoided Alhaitham's probing questions and piercing gaze. When Alhaitham touched him intimately, he refused.

"I'm not in the mood.. B-but I can suck you off."

It's frustrating, to not be able to get Kaveh to talk to him, but not wanting to force his wife to. Kaveh would talk when he wanted to talk, and Alhaitham believed in him.

At least, until Kaveh didn't wake up one morning, only two weeks after arriving home.

For the first time in his life, Alhaitham panicked.

Kaveh's pulses were weak, and his fingers were ice cold. Alhaitham cradled him in his arms as he called for help, scared if he let go of Kaveh then he'd lose him forever.

Perhaps it'd be the first and last time people saw the Grand Sage so distraught so openly.

Alhaitham had to be coaxed to let go of Kaveh to have him be examined by the doctors. Even then, he refused to leave the room, standing nearby as he watched them work with eagle eyes.

Alhaitham hated that he would finally have the answer he seek by this way, but he'd take what he could.

"...what's wrong with him?"

"He's stable for now, sir. Sir Kaveh suffered iron deficiency, and it's possible he didn't eat nor sleep properly for quite some time. It's just—

—today that his body finally exhausted itself. We administered some supplements, so he should be fine for a couple of days....."

"Speak." Alhaitham's curt voice cut the air sharply. "There's more, isn't it?"

The young doctors momentarily trembled. "Um, i-it's just..."

"From what we've seen... We believe that Sir Kaveh just gave birth recently."

Alhaitham blinked.

"How recent?"

"Around a month or so, but could be slightly more. We don't dare inspect further..."

There were probably more words following, but Alhaitham didn't hear them.

Even after the doctors left and the house was silent, the storm inside him couldn't be quelled.

Gave birth.

Alhaitham did a quick math and concluded that it meant Kaveh had been pregnant when he's in the desert.

Guilt instantly crept up; he's the one who approved that project.

But the most important thing was: why didn't Kaveh tell him?

Was it because Alhaitham would instead reject the proposal and not let him go? ...no, Kaveh was as stubborn as a mule. Even if he was, he'd convince Alhaitham to let him go even when pregnant. And he would've agreed.

So then...

"Why won't you tell me anything...?" Alhaitham whispered, holding Kaveh's hand between his.

Of course, he received no reply. His wife's still asleep, recovering.

From giving birth to their child.

Alhaitham stood up and made a decision.

Alhaitham didn't like coming to the desert, unless it's for an expedition. But he did what he must.

It didn't take any effort to gain information from Kaveh's project team. That Kaveh was indeed pregnant, and had stayed in Aaru Village until he gave birth.

So there was where Alhaitham would go first.

He ignored the stares of the villagers—for what purpose did the Grand Sage himself come here?—and headed straight for the village chief's house.

"Sir," Uncle Anpu, who was quickly informed, greeted Alhaitham outside his house.

"What brings the Grand Sage here, to our humble village?"

"...please, drop the formalities. I'm not here for official business, but a rather personal one."

"Oh...?"

"Did Kaveh stay here up until last month?"

Uncle Anpu stared at him with an unreadable expression.

"He gave birth here, did he not?" Alhaitham didn't even wait for an answer. "Where's the child?"

"She's not here currently."

Anger surged up and Alhaitham stepped forward, only to be halted by Uncle Anpu's sharp voice. "I suggest you don't try anything you'll regret later,sir."

Perhaps it was fortunate that Candace chose to show up at that time. She blinked when she saw Alhaitham standing there, fists clenched. "...Uncle Anpu? Is there any trouble?"

"It's alright, Candace," Uncle Anpu reassured her. "Are you done taking a walk?"

She eyed Alhaitham carefully, but eventually answered. "Yes, uncle. Aliyah's grown impatient, though. She wants her milk already."

Alhaitham turned to look at Candace when he heard that name. There, on Candace's arms, was a bundle of cloth, chubby arms throwing a fuss.

His legs had moved towards Candace even before he realised. She responded with her defensive stance, the bundle held against her chest with one arm with the other baring her shield.

"Calm down, Alhaitham. Or I won't let you near her," she warned. "Tone down your scent."

It wasn't easy, but Alhaitham did just that, and Candace lowered her guard to let him step closer.

Alhaitham's breath stuttered when he saw the baby in the bundle.

The tuft of silky soft silver hair on her head and the red eyes he always loved gazing into—

"Do you want to hold her?" Candace's voice snapped him from his thoughts.

Alhaitham wanted to refuse; he had never held a baby and he didn't know how. He'd read about it in a book once, but... would it be the same?

But Candace had lifted the baby from her arms and Alhaitham—

—had no choice but to accept.

He stared at the baby, and in return, the baby stared at him, a tiny hand in her mouth. She smelled faintly like Kaveh, like family—

—like home.

He unconsciously let out a small smile as he touched her plump cheek with a finger, and his heart melted when the baby smiled and let out a happy noise.

"Seems that Aliyah likes you," Uncle Anpu commented in amusement. "As it should be."

Aliyah.

"I'm bringing her home," Alhaitham blurted out, eyes still on the baby—his baby.

"...Kaveh-san had entrusted her to us," Candace said. "What makes you think that you can just take her away?"

Alhaitham closed his eyes.

"She's my child," Alhaitham told her, holding Aliyah close to him as if protecting her. "I don't care if Kaveh had entrusted her to you, I'm bringing her home. To me, and Kaveh, where she belongs."

And with that, he turned and walked away, adjusting his robes so it'd cover Aliyah as well.

Candace and Uncle Anpu watched Alhaitham until the man disappeared behind the dunes. "Aww," Candace sighed in disappointment. "I was hoping to keep Aliyah for a little longer."

Uncle Anpu chuckled. "Hoho. But aren't you glad she finally returns to her parents?"

"...yes," Candace's expression softened. "When the Grand Sage held her... That's her first laugh since Kaveh-san left the desert. I hope that now Aliyah can have the happiness she deserves."

-part 2 — END-

guys... give me a break... this isnt supposed to have a part 2 to begin with let alone a part 3 😭 and yes there'll be a part 3 o)--(

but since tomorrow's monday do expect a slower update

thank you for reading tho!! sorry i cant reply to comments/qrts since theyre all scattered

*coughs*
there's no pressure, but if you guys like my work, i'd appreciate it if you consider donating me a kofi here :) ko-fi.com/cup_of_comfort

part 1 over here:

https://twitter.com/cup_of_comfort/status/1619212362762039302?t=hBKaEgrNlnYFGSucSbxdEQ&s=19

part 3 over here!

https://twitter.com/cup_of_comfort/status/1620048017691906052?t=-hbSSzuTzzFLoT5MBU8XeQ&s=19