Thread by @RanLuna13

#haikaveh 🌱🪶 Envelope

Alhaitham doesn't rely too much on intuition. He hates the uncertainty of deductions coming from a feeling. He prefers observing and coming to a highly probable resolution.

He applies this in every aspect of his life. Including Kaveh.

But Kaveh wouldn't be Kaveh if he made things easy for him. Kaveh excels in the art of deceiving when he doesn't want to worry the other party. He was like that since Akademiya days. When Kaveh told him his family story, it came clear for him why he is so good at it.

He has been practicing since he was a kid, to not worry his mother. No wonder he could deceive anyone if he really wants to.

But Alhaitham has also practice on it. He has seen and memorized the million expressions Kaveh has. From his happier to his saddest. Fake and real.

If Kaveh has one thousand expressions and adding, Alhaitham would keep record on them. Because he hates to deduce what Kaveh is feeling, and because he once failed to know better, he failed to get the signals, to know when to stop, and everything broke into million pieces.

Alhaitham is a scholar, and he learns from his mistakes. More if said mistake was related to Kaveh.

Therefore, he knows, when Kaveh's shoulders jolt a bit at hearing him getting closer and paper sounds, that he was about to hide him whatever he was doing prior his arrival.

From that starting point, it's easy to list some reasons.

1) something that can worry Alhaitham
2) something that worries Kaveh and doesn't consider it's worth sharing.
3) something that Kaveh has done and doesn't want Alhaitham to know. Either a surprise or a mess.

He has to discard at least some of them.

"Alhaitham! At least say something before appearing like a ghost!"

Full name. A smile slightly up. Not really a chaste, but a way to give himself time to compose his nervousness.

"Hm. What are you doing?"

"Nothing important. Just looking some mail we received."

He is sincere. He looks at the table, some envelopes are open and others closed, Alhaitham personal ones. A quick glance and he distinguishes that the amount of open envelopes doesn't match the papers on the table.

There are only two open, Kaveh's, as he would never see his ones. One is clearly an announcement for the next performance in the theater, and the second one... Has been open but the content is not in the interior. The envelope is too nice, so it's meant for something special.

The color of the envelope is a pristine white. Looks thick. Likely, the reason of Kaveh's nervousness.

"I see." He returns his look to Kaveh, who presses his leg against the lone drawer of the desk. Likely where he quickly hide the content of the envelope. "Nothing else?"

"What were you expecting? Is some conspiracy already in your head?" He smiles, smugly. "Be at peace, I will pay you this month rent if that's what you are worried about."

"I am not worried for that, I assure you." He denies.

He knows what play Kaveh has in hands.

Kaveh knows him as well as he knows Kaveh. That's why he knows what he will search for. He also knows his flaws, so he would leave that envelope for him to see it and he will put on the money topic for him to think he's worried about his debt with Dori.

But that is not.

Dori has a particular personality, in which her first and foremost worry is her mora. Why would she will waste it on some special envelope just to remind his debtor to pay her? First, it's not profitable. Second, would she make that, the envelope will scream her name from afar.

It's not Dori. But nice try, Kaveh.

"Then you're worried about your stomach? Don't worry, I was about to cook. I will make an Inazuman dish today!"

He puts an smile a bit brighter than usual, that could have passed for enthusiasm but Alhaitham knows that stands for victory.

And as he sees Kaveh walking out the study, he knows that the content of the envelope is not even in that drawer.

That astute man. Of course he knew he would be observing all his movements.

He moves towards the desk and grabs the envelope. Or what remains of it.

The half where the sender should have been written is gone. Only the receiver remains, his own house under Kaveh's name. An elegant calligraphy, he doesn't recognize it.

He knows Kaveh would give that direction to few people. Their close friends are discarded.

He knows Cyno and Tighnari calligraphy. Collei is still learning. So either is some of Kaveh clients that doesn't know Alhaitham, or someone else in the matter. A friend Alhaitham doesn't know? Some business Kaveh doesn't want him to know?

There are too many choices.

He can't even discard Sumeru's citizens, as they don't have to know where Alhaitham lives and potentially can have some reason to write Kaveh instead of talking. But he has to think also in overseas options, and that is too much.

He has to shorten options.

Fortunately for him, and for Kaveh's disgrace, he's a Haravatat who never relied in the Akasha too much and domains more than 20 languages. So he can get that the person who writes has a good grasp of Sumerian alphabet. Every nation has slight changes in their alphabet.

This comes influenced from ancient languages, of course. Even if everyone talks common Teyvat language, every nation learns their own one and of course the writing change influences each one's common language writing in more or less way.

So, he can discard some options.

It's not an overseas client, unless they have learnt Sumerian in a deep way to even imitate their way of writing, which is unlikely. But he can't discard some Sumerian person living abroad.

By the looks of it, the ink seems high quality. Therefore the person has to be affluent.

It fits a profile of some Kaveh's client in Sumeru. But why would Kaveh then hide it from him? If it's a wealthy client he has a deal with, he would have been bragging rather than hiding.

Maybe a blackmail or a scam? But Kaveh would tell him, he trusts him. He would ask for help

Kaveh doesn't like to worry others but he knows that if he's a victim of scam or blackmail, he has to ask for help. Unless it's a threat? But he looked nervous, not scared. Kaveh when scared doesn't think beforehand, and he calculated the possibility of him looking around this.

Alhaitham likely interrupted him when he was hiding the letter and he resorted to break the envelope to leave him few hints to work with. He couldn't have the time to hide the letter in likely his clothes and breaking the envelope in the minute he lasted to reach him.

That's it.

He didn't have time to save the envelope. He was saving the letter, but he couldn't make it with the broken part of the envelope.

And it's likely in the drawer he mislead him to think it was a trap with his smug attitude.

Alhaitham smiles. Smart man.

He opens the drawer and, effectively, there's the other part of the envelope. He takes it while hearing the movements of the kitchen being lower each time. Surely Kaveh is thinking he's taking too much time and he is getting nervous. Probably he will be back soon to check out.

Good plan, almost perfect execution. If it was any other, probably he wouldn't have passed from the first mislead.

He reads the name on the envelope and he blinks surprised.

As everything with Kaveh, this is unexpected once again. Why would he hide this from him?

"I knew it."

Kaveh's voice makes him turn to see the door again. The blond sighs.

"Care to explain?" Alhaitham shakes the broken paper, and Kaveh crosses his arms.

"I don't owe you any explanation. It's my personal life."

"It concerns me as you went far to hide it from me."

"Who says that? That was your lone impression."

"I'm not giving you the pleasure of arguing with me and give you an excuse for you to storm out." He says blatantly. "Tell me, Kaveh. Why would you hide me this?"

Alhaitham is at a loss. It doesn't make sense.

The sender is from Fontaine, and as Alhaitham has deducted well, a Sumerian. In specific, the prestigious Ksharehwar alumni Faranak. Kaveh's mother.

Given the nature of the envelope, it's easy to deduce it is an invitation for Kaveh to go to Fontaine to pay her a visit.

Even more can be said alone for the white pearled color, Fontaine's color for wedding related invitations. If Alhaitham is in point, probably is for Kaveh to assist to the anniversary. Five years' one, probably. Fontainean's literature mentions this as important from some couples

It's... too normal. Why would Kaveh then hide it? If it made him sad, probably he would want him to comfort him. But Kaveh is far from that already, he has accepted his mother's marriage and he is happy with it. He has told Alhaitham that, and he was sincere.

But even if he wasn't, that doesn't involve Alhaitham.

"And? Are you going to say something?" Alhaitham insists, and Kaveh looks at the ground.

"It's not your business, but okay, I will. I... don't really want to go." He admits. "But I will, I'm invited and it's my mother..."

"I thought you were at peace with the marriage."

"And I am, it's just...! Well, my mother has married a man that it's a good person, really, but... Sometimes, can be a bit too overwhelming. That's all."

That doesn't answer his question. Why hide it from Alhaitham?

"What does that have to do with me to not see it?"

Kaveh blushes. "I knew you would worry about my mood, so I wanted to save you the trouble."

Alhaitham has the sense that's not all. It fits, it's normal in Kaveh to do that, but... He was far too defensive, something is wrong.

But he only has his intuition telling him so. He has no more proofs.

He sighs. "You will tell me if it's something heavier, right?"

Kaveh doesn't look at him when he nods. But he will have to trust what he says, as he has no reason to lie anymore.

"Kaveh." He moves closer and holds his hand. "You know I will be here, no matter what."

He kisses his hand, and Kaveh blushes as his eyes get full of tears. "Stop it, you make it look as if I'm going to go to the war, you fool." He smiles nevertheless. "I know, Haitham."

It's normal, the way he gets advantage of their union to move closer and kiss him. He even giggles. It's normal, when they separate at Kaveh's scream about some pasta cooking thing.

It's normal, Kaveh's laugh when he embraces him from behind while he cooks. Everything is normal.

That's their routine since they became boyfriends. Alhaitham loves routines, and this one is by far his favorite.

Everything is normal, but he can't shake the feeling of Kaveh forcing this normality. Maybe he is overthinking, but Alhaitham is not that kind of person.

Still, it's frustrating to know that something is /wrong/ and not being able to back it up with arguments more than a subjective feeling.

Kaveh doesn't act any suspicious anymore, but Alhaitham can't help to think that he is performing ten times better suddenly.

Again, without any proof. Only a constant whisper in the back of his head that keeps telling him he is failing to notice something. That Kaveh is putting his mask and he's buying his act. That Kaveh is troubled by something and he can't imagine what is it.

Alhaitham lets it go. It's no use to worry about some illogical thinking, but he keeps an eye closer on Kaveh's mood. Just to see how it develops. But nothing changes, Kaveh keeps being himself without anything Alhaitham can't put his finger on. With time, the feeling eases.

He has almost forgotten about it in a month. And it would have continued like that if not for a particular incident. It was pure luck Alhaitham happened to know about it.

He didn't know what hour it was, but he knew it was in the deep of the night. He felt cold, so he woke up.

But before opening his eyes, he felt warmth leaving suddenly his cheek. And he knew, Kaveh was awake, and was touching his face. It's not rare for Kaveh to be awake at ungodly hours, but he usually goes to the art studio he made his old room into, and let out his worries over art

Kaveh staying in their bed and looking at Alhaitham instead of going to express his creativity wouldn't be worrying if Kaveh wasn't the overthinking type. And the feeling that was almost gone returns with force.

What's wrong? What's happening and Kaveh doesn't want to tell him?

It's something not too important to worry Alhaitham about, but it makes Kaveh worry. Or at least he has that feeling. Kaveh looks like he is conflicted, but he won't pray tell.

"It seems he didn't wake up." Kaveh whispers for himself after a while.

He feels him leaving the bed.

The steps are light, and the window closing could be heard if you paid enough attention. With the same carefulness, he stepped back and returned to his side of the bed, slowly, with fear to wake him up.

"Archons, what if...? I don't know, Haitham." He whispers. "I don't know..."

What he doesn't know? He is dying to ask, but Kaveh will shut up if he knew he's awake. So he stays still, as he feels how Kaveh caresses his cheek.

"You're too important to me. Maybe I'm overthinking but... I don't want to choose, Haitham... I don't..."

Choose? Choose what?

Kaveh gets closer, Alhaitham feels the blanket over his cold shoulder and Kaveh hides his face in his chest, holding him close. It feels as if he is afraid Alhaitham would go somewhere, so he keeps him close.

Alhaitham doesn't understand what is he fearing.

But at that moment, he doesn't care to find out. Kaveh is afraid, and Alhaitham has to be there to comfort him. Any reason doesn't matter. Nothing else matters. So he holds him closer, not even caring if Kaveh realizes he has been heard or if he thinks it's a reflex.

That night, Alhaitham doesn't ask. He just embraces his boyfriend and he enters a doze state, watching for Kaveh's necessities. He just totally relaxed when he felt Kaveh's slow breathing, indicating he was asleep, and only then he let himself go fully back to sleep.

That one-sided conversation was only a signal.

As the days went by, Kaveh would prepare to go to Fontaine with certain nervousness and even secretism. He even screamed when Alhaitham appeared from behind to ask him about some book he couldn't find while he was packing clothes.

At that moment, he realized that he didn't ask Kaveh when he has to be there. In fact, he hasn't even seen the invitation, even if it's confirmed it's her mother anniversary long ago.

He guesses that a month and some days were given for the letter to arrive and the preparations

Kaveh kept the topic out of their conversations the most he could, Alhaitham realizes. And it even seemed like he would go just one day without telling Alhaitham beforehand, maybe just a note, if he hadn't caught him doing his bag.

"When are you parting?" He asks.

Kaveh folds a shirt and puts it on the bag displayed not in their bedroom but in the art studio. He even troubled to bring there the clothes from the other room.

"In three days." He admits, with a smile. "I have already rent a horse, and I will be back before you know it!"

Alhaitham sighs. He is really worried about everything, and he doesn't know if Kaveh is just trying to not trouble him. Kaveh is the kind of person that won't ask if you don't offer. If he doesn't want to go alone, he won't say it.

"Do you want me to accompany you?" He offers

"No!" He jumps instantly, making Alhaitham blink. He expected a rejection, but not like that. "I mean. It's not necessary. I will be okay, and you have your work, so it will be troublesome for you... I'll be fine, I promise."

Anyone would have bought the arguments. Even him.

That's it, if the antecedents weren't there. In any other timeline, maybe he would have let pass that direct rejection as nervousness, but not in this one. That wasn't a "I don't want to trouble you" rejection, that was an "It will be troublesome if you do" one.

"Kaveh. Are you hiding me something?"

The thing with Kaveh is that the whole "eyes are the mirror of the soul" thing is very real with him. You can see him crystal clear through his scarlet eyes, and Kaveh knows, so he doesn't look at you if he lies.

But he also knows that Alhaitham can tell if he does that, so he puts a smile and looks at him with almost fear in his eyes.

"Why are you asking that, Haitham?" He says, laughing. Or trying to. "Please, you're overthinking. I will just go to my mother's party!"

"Is there any problem then with me going as well?"

"I don't think it's appropriate to bring a guest without prior notice, that's all."

"I believe it's a common thing to take into consideration guests could bring some companion, overall when letters can arrive late or be lost."

Kaveh stays silent with that, probably elaborating a counterargument Alhaitham won't let him think about.

"Can I see the invitation? It's usually stated there." Alhaitham extends a hand, and Kaveh guilty eyes are everything he needed to confirm it. "Kaveh, what's wrong?"

"You always do this. Going the extra mile for me." He complains. "I can see you're worried, Haitham, but believe me, it's nothing you have to be worried about. I just don't want to trouble you, as I said."

He looks sincere about that, at least. But is it really because of work?

Alhaitham feels like he worded it carefully to be honest, but still hiding information from him. He hates this game, but confronting him about it will look as if Alhaitham is taking things too far. Kaveh surely will resort to that.

"I will talk with Devi Kusanali." He states.

"About... what, exactly?" Kaveh asks, and the slight tremble didn't pass unnoticed.

"About work, of course. What else? I will ask for those vacation days I didn't take as Cyno did. I'm sure she will have no problem."

Kaveh sighs. "You're really decided, aren't you?"

"For me this isn't the big problem you seem to think it is, Kaveh." He says. "Are you sure there's nothing more?"

"What are you saying, of course not!" He laughs. Alhaitham is starting to hate that smiley face that looks terribly artificial for some reason he can't name.

"Then it's set. I'm going with you."

Kaveh sighs again and he caresses his cheek. "You always worry too much, you fool."

That small smile is better. Way better. It looks genuine, even if it is a bit sad and his words feel like something is unsaid. But he doesn't pry.

He lets Kaveh kiss him and thank him. He will tease him for obtaining an angry face and another kiss, and he will wash those bad sensations from his body with Kaveh kisses and genuine laughter.

But he can't help to see that while days pass, Kaveh's eyes have a spark of worry.

He wants to blame the whole trip and the natural nervousness, but it's not all. He knows. And he is failing to see what's it. It's so frustrating... To know Kaveh is suffering in silence and not being able to do anything to help him. It's similar when he has art blocks.

Alhaitham is not an artist, so he can't help, but at least he knows what's happening and he can try solutions. But here he doesn't even know the source of his worry and fear. Kaveh tends to overthink and tends to think he troubles unnecessarily others with it, so he won't tell.

He wants to shake him and beg him to tell him what's wrong. But that won't work. Kaveh is also stubborn. Alhaitham ever resorts to Mehrak's internal memory to see if he can get something from there, but nothing is there that can be useful.

He is alone with his hated intuition.

The day of the travel, Kaveh lets Alhaitham ride the horse while he talks in the back part about his recent commission. There are two days by horse to Fontaine from Sumeru, so they will have to stop in some inn on the way.

Kaveh rented a room beforehand, taking this into consideration, but they will have to pay the extra for the companion. Alhaitham doesn't mind, and he forbid Kaveh to feel guilty, as he was the one who insisted on tagging along.

Still, he could feel Kaveh can't even sleep well.

In the day, he will be cheerful and smiley, but in the night, when he thinks Alhaitham doesn't see him, he goes to the window and looks at the sky. He could hear some sighs and some sporadic thoughts out loud, the majority being the same: "maybe I'm just overthinking."

Alhaitham doesn't tell him anything, as it seems obvious Kaveh doesn't want to share this with him. He will just pretend he is sleeping when Kaveh turns to their bed, and he will let him embrace him while trying to get some sleep. In the mornings, Kaveh would wake before him.

The reason is easy: he will make up his face so he doesn't see his recent poor sleeping. And if he does, probably he will blame art inspiration at bad hours. Alhaitham would believe him, but again, having seen some of the recent nights, he isn't sure that is all the truth.

And while Kaveh takes an occasional nap in their last day of travel, already with Fontaine big buildings visible in the distance, Alhaitham thinks about what the hints he has about Kaveh's attitude once again.

Kaveh didn't want him to see the envelope content. The invitation. He said he didn't want to trouble him.

Kaveh didn't want him to tag along him. He said it was because of work, but he intentionally tried to make it seem as if he couldn't go independently of that.

Kaveh saying he doesn't want to choose. What he has to choose? He doesn't know. But also, he says he's overthinking, so it's probably a scenario in his head.

The whole thing started with that envelope. So, this party is likely the reason why Kaveh is acting like that.

Now, why? Alhaitham fails to understand. Does it has to have with his mother's new family? Alhaitham lost his mother too soon, he fails to empathize with a remarriage, overall with Kaveh's father situation. But he knows Kaveh was sincere about his feelings towards it.

And in any case, if he was still in disagreement with the marriage, what does it affect Alhaitham at all? What is he overthinking? Her mother not approving his life choices? But he already told her what happened with the whole debt thing, and she understood. That can't be, right?

Maybe he thought that she wasn't honest when she said she forgives him about selling her old house? That's what he's overthinking? But that's too much, even for Kaveh. If she told him she forgave him, and even invited him to her anniversary, why is he afraid?

The dots are not connecting. Alhaitham grumbles out of frustration. What is he missing?

He guesses he will have to find out in that party, he tells himself while entering the city doors, hearing Kaveh waking up slowly.

Whatever it is, he will make sure to find out. For Kaveh.

[Clarification: From here on, I will pour my HCs about Fontaine taking into account is supposedly based on Europe 19th Century and my own additions to it. So, don't take it to heart because obviously I don't know what will be in game. Thank you!]

Alhaitham has been a few times in Fontaine, more exactly, once. His grandmother brought him for him to enjoy the city, but he was a kid and certainly he doesn't remember much. So he lets Kaveh take the lead. They choose to go walking, as that way will be easier to ask if needed.

Of course, everyone here talks Teyvat common language, but Fontainean people are known for taking pride on their culture as Sumeru ones takes pride on their scholar population. Fontaineans and Mondstadters take a curious competition in the cultural aspect.

If you speak Fontainean instead of Teyvatian, you generally will be better regarded, more than in other nations. Naturally, Kaveh has taken his classes to be able to at least defend himself, and Alhaitham is proud of the fact his boyfriend decided to learn instead using Akasha.

Some students also did it because outside Sumeru, Akasha had no use. But having a common language and no actual necessity, it was rare for students to actually learn languages they didn't redeem as necessary. In some extreme cases, some parents chose to not teach Sumerian to kids

Having Akasha, they were confident that, if needed, they could just ask it and done. Time saved for the kids to learn anything they redeemed more necessary. His grandmother sighed before such stories, lamenting those kids' education.

Kaveh, for his part, was built different.

When they invented their own language from the decoded runes, Alhaitham expected for Kaveh to ask him to put it on the Akasha and make his life easier. But he didn't, he actually was invested to learn it with his brain alone.

When asked, he said "Isn't language also a form of art? Where is the fun if you don't appreciate the process? The way is hard, but isn't like that in all the arts, in all learning?"

And then, Alhaitham just knew he was falling without glider and no way to be saved.

They eventually arrive to the hotel. Alhaitham has to say, the largest one he's ever seen. It was as big as the Palace of Alcazarzaray itself, and even if it lacked the Kaveh artistic trait, certainly was a magnificent building, with blues and browns characteristic of the nation

He confirmed something was wrong when Kaveh didn't look twice at the architecture in front of him and just trespassed the doors. He has been quieter than usual all the ride. The fact he wasn't teaching him all the structural and artistic choices of the hotel was signal enough.

Alhaitham talks with a man in the front door to take care of the horse in perfect Fontainean, and goes with Kaveh who has already taken the keys of their room, dedicating him a soft smile that at least was a bit comforting. It was nothing against Alhaitham, it seemed.

In fact, it looked more as if Kaveh was struggling with his own mind and forcing himself to be his normal self. Alhaitham knows this is the worst Kaveh's attitude and affects severely his own mood, because he can't blame anyone but himself.

And for Alhaitham, it was harder to make him speak. But there has to be a reason for his struggling, and he will find out to eradicate it completely.

"I'm nervous as hell." He confesses, brushing his own hair as Alhaitham struggles with the necktie.

"Don't be, we will be okay. And if something happens, you will just have to call me. If I separate from you, that's it."

Fontainean attires are certainly a thing. Alhaitham sighs as he sees his fifth failed attempt in the mirror that belongs to his side of the double room.

As Alhaitham supposed correctly, the couple counted on companions and booked double rooms. Although, with such dressings to choose and magnificent staying, he thinks the entire hotel is booked. He knew Kaveh's step-father was wealthy, but he didn't imagine how much he was.

For Alhaitham, who prefers to keep a low-profile and simple life, such luxuries are... excessive to say the least. Even Kaveh, who likes them more, seems scared to drop something there that can cost more than half of his debt with Dori.

"Need a hand?" Kaveh asks.

He sees that he has managed to pull his hair in a perfect low ponytail with some strands loose to frame his face, while Alhaitham is still with the damn accessory.

"No. I can."

"You said that fifteen minutes ago, dear."

Kaveh smiles, moving closer.

While he does a perfect job with the necktie, Alhaitham realizes this is the nearest he has been to Kaveh in the whole day, aside from their entrance on the horse. Kaveh is usually touchy, likes to hold hands and be near him, and it's not like Alhaitham dislikes it. Strange.

He just shrugs it off and when Kaveh manages to tie the dark green necktie, smug smile dedicated to him included, he takes advantage and holds his waist, putting him closer and kissing him.

He hasn't kissed him in all day. Gods, he missed it so much. Kaveh kissed him back gladly

When they separate, Kaveh's eyes shine more than they had in the whole week. And still, for some damn reason, it felt like a knife in his heart. So Alhaitham kisses him again, not wanting to think about it, wanting to make Kaveh happy.

He kisses him back.

Everything is fine.

"I would love to be kissing you all day, but we have a party to attend." Alhaitham informs playfully. He instantly regretted it. Kaveh's happiness was gone as the air of a defeated anemo slime. "Kaveh?"

"Of course! The party!" He smiles. "Celestia, you are too distracting!"

He laughs as he turns and goes to the mirror again to end his own look. Alhaitham notices he doesn't seem to want to wear his usual earrings, which is rare. But as he knows jut the basics of fashion, he guessed he just didn't consider it to match the reds and blacks of his suit.

Therefore, Alhaitham doesn't comment anything about it. Neither he comments about the kiss Kaveh gives him before departing towards the mansion he told him the party will be hold in, a kiss that felt like he was, remembering his own words, going to a war.

He neither comments the constant fidgeting calmed when Alhaitham held his hand in the carriage, a hand Kaveh dropped when they arrived at the entrance of the, once again, flamboyant building.

Kaveh adopted a serious, neutral expression and practiced smile he put on when nervous.

Alhaitham tried to reach him again to comfort him.

But, for the first time in years, Kaveh rejected deliberately his gesture. He just moved forward, avoiding the contact, but Alhaitham knows. It was a calculated move.

And as if a lightning struck on him, everything felt wrong.

He froze on the spot, just two seconds before composing himself, looking at Kaveh's back getting far. Far from his reach.

Something is heavily wrong, but Alhaitham is a man who is used to unexpected turns. He is an observer, so he will do that. Observe, analyze, and decide.

He follows him, and feigns he didn't notice what he did. Kaveh looking at his hand with the corner of his eye in a guilty gesture is enough to confirm what he already knew.

But the second his fingers touch again, Kaveh jumps as if electrocharged. Something is wrong.

Kaveh can't even look at him without guilt. And Alhaitham has had enough, and he's about to ask what is happening, but he's interrupted.

"Kaveh! Oh, dear, you've come!"

A blond woman says, dressed in a beautiful red dress that matches her eyes, and she embraces Kaveh.

She should be his mother. The resemblance is enough to tell. It seems obvious from who Kaveh inherited his looks.

"Mother!" Kaveh confirms, with a bit of shame and a lot of affection.

"You have grown so much... What a handsome man you are now." She smiles, separating from him.

Then, her eyes are directed towards him. He feels analyzed from head to toe.

"You should be Alhaitham." She says, and he is surprised she knows his name. "Kaveh has told me a lot about you. Thank you for helping my son so much."

"It's not a problem, I assure you."

Alhaitham tries to be as composed as he can with Kaveh's still guilty eyes on him. It takes a certain effort to smile to his mother, even if politely.

"You even accompanied him here. You're such a good friend, aren't you?"

Alhaitham blinks, confused. "Actually, I..."

"Mother, I want to..." Kaveh starts at the same time.

"Kaveh!" A man, dressed in navy blue and gold, appears with a glass of some rich liquor in hand, interrupting both of them. "You came! I am really glad you did. Faranak was worried you wouldn't, but I knew you would!"

The man is almost the opposite to Kaveh. Dark brown hair and blue brilliant eyes.

"Sir. A pleasure to see you again." Kaveh shakes his hand politely. "I should be the one grateful for the invitation."

"I told you we are family now, son, call me Richard." He smiles softly. "And you're Kaveh's friend, I suppose?"

"With due respect, you suppose wrong, sir." Alhaitham replies, and he admits it sounded more bitterly than he intended to.

"Allow me to present him to you, sir." Kaveh intervenes. "He's Alhaitham, and he's..." He paused, a second of doubt. Alhaitham could even feel his heart stopping in that second. "He's my roommate."

Alhaitham didn't understand how a single word could break his entire world.

"I see, sorry for the confusion." The man laughs off. "Alhaitham...? Aren't you the current Grand Sage? You sure have important connections, son!"

"It was a temporary position. I am the Scribe of the Akademiya." He corrects, in a lower voice he can't avoid.

He hates this play.

"Oh, I see. Magnificent work, still. I have read the whole events in The Steambird." He praises. "And about you too, Kaveh. Your palace is magnificent enough to impress any girl you want! Surely you get many proposals, have you been conquered by one already?"

Kaveh looks at him.

Alhaitham should be furious with him, but he can't when he looks about to beg for his forgiveness.

"Not yet, sir." It's his reply. It hurts. It hurts so much.

Why? Why is he lying? Is he ashamed of Alhaitham? But he talked about him in his letters, didn't he? Then, why?

"Don't rush, dear. You will know when the correct one is in front of you." His mother holds herself in her husband arm.

"Thank you, mother." He smiles. It's impossible to fake more a smile. "If you excuse me. It has been a long travel and I'm not used to the Fontainean air."

They both nod, and Kaveh practically runs out towards what Alhaitham guesses it's the garden. He doesn't doubt into following him.

"Kaveh." He calls, once outside. He doesn't stop. "Kaveh, you heard me. Kaveh!"

Not enough with ignoring him, he starts to run.

They get into a rose labyrinth, and Alhaitham uses his vision to shorten the distance before losing vision of him again, tired of this absurd game. He takes Kaveh's wrist.

"Got you." He sighs. Kaveh looks at the floor. "I think you owe me an explanation, Kaveh."

He tries to keep his voice calm.

"This was why I didn't want you to come..." He says, in a crying voice that breaks his already destroyed heart.

"Why are you lying, Kaveh? I know I am not as wealthy as your mother's husband is but I didn't think that was..."

"What? You think is for money?" He looks finally at him, his eyes puffy and tears already flowing. "Of course not, idiot! As if I even were in position to say that!"

"Then, it has to do with me?" Alhaitham says, confused, and hurt.

"No! Of course not, you're perfect, I..."

"Then why? I don't understand, Kaveh."

Kaveh inhales deeply. "The first time I came here, for my mom's wedding, she asked me to tell her mother in public." He says. "I was confused, but then she explained to me that she now has a status and rules to follow with it."

Alhaitham lets him talk, caressing his wrist with his thumb. "Then I thought, I should accommodate myself to it. I asked Fontainean students in Sumeru, and they told me that society here is... too judgmental. And certainly different from Sumeru."

"They told me that the couples that are not between a man and a woman are not well regarded. While in Sumeru we don't care as we put knowledge over everything, in Fontaine there are cases where parents directly even reject their own children just for being in love."

Alhaitham certainly didn't know that, as societies are not his specific field of knowledge.

"My mother is not the same as when she was with me, I don't know... I don't know if she... Of course, I know she loves me, but I can't stop thinking, what if...? What if she hates me?"

Everything makes sense now.

"You didn't tell her because you are afraid" Alhaitham concludes.

"I know everything is mostly in my mind and maybe it's just my overthinking, but what if she makes me choose? Between you and her? I can't. And I just hurt you now, and I..."

Alhaitham hugs him, caressing his hair.

"I'm sorry, Haitham." He cries in his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to hurt you, I..."

"Everything will be okay, didn't I tell you? I understand. And I will play pretend if that is what you wish, until you want me to."

"I... I can't ask you that, it's too cruel, Haitham..."

"I will do anything for you, idiot senior." He smiles.

"But you don't have to."

They get startled by a third voice, and they look at the direction of the source.

And then, they find a serious Faranak looks at them.

"Mom...!" Kaveh doesn't even know how to react, so he holds himself closer to Alhaitham.

He's visibly scared, so Alhaitham lets his arm act as a barrier between him and his mother, giving a step ahead almost unconsciously.

"I can explain..." Kaveh starts, but he is at a loss.

But he doesn't want to lie anymore, Alhaitham notices. It makes him unfairly happy for some reason.

"Kaveh, there's no need to lie to me anymore." She sighs. "I'm your mother. I have seen all your lies since you started to make them."

Kaveh gets closer to Alhaitham.

She tries to get closer, and Alhaitham doesn't know what to do, because... Well, certainly he had no experiences like that with his mother. But his priority is to protect Kaveh, so he stands in his position, ready to interrupt if things get worse for Kaveh.

"It's okay, Haitham."

Kaveh seems to notice his tension, and he smiles at him. He trusts his mother won't hurt him. And even if Kaveh sometimes trusts too easily, he has to trust in him.

If he says it's okay, then he will let it be. And if it's not, he will be there to intervene. It's how they work.

So he nods, and steps back, but he holds his hand. He has to know he's there for him.

Faranak gets then closer and holds his face gently in her hands.

"I know I wasn't the best mother, but how could you ever think I can hate you?" She asks, and her eyes fill with tears.

"Mom..." Kaveh blinks, and Alhaitham knows he's about to cry.

He lets go of his hand only then, and retreats to give them space.

"You are my son. No matter what, you are my little artist, my small prince." Kaveh hugs her, muttering an amount of apologies she doesn't need.

Faranak hides herself in her son's hair, and Alhaitham thinks it's better to leave them alone, so he returns to the party alone.

Still, he waits outside in a balcony with views to the garden, in hopes to see that blond hair coming back to be able to hold him again.

"I'm guessing they're talking now."

The voice alerts him, and he looks back to see Kaveh's stepfather with his hands in his pockets and a knowing smile in his face.

"Yes." He nods, and the man lets out a small chuckle.

"Kaveh is a good boy. I hope he doesn't hate me too much"

"I can't speak for him, but I don't think he does." He says, a bit defensive. After all, he doesn't know this man.

"I hope so." He sighs. "He's always too polite. Well, I'm not his father neither I expect him to see me as one, but I would appreciate less politeness."

"He's not used to you, neither it helps the whole status rules. He doesn't want to make his mother uncomfortable, that's all."

"Yet you don't seem intimidated at all."

"I don't have a reason to."

He had talked to a goddess and rejected her petition. Nothing there is even near.

"What a particular man." He laughs. "Kaveh surely knows how to choose his companions."

He is dying to tell this man that Kaveh is more than his "companion". But he bites his tongue, not for him, but for Kaveh. Kaveh will be in a problem if this man disapproves him.

"I should return now." He says. "But do me a favor and tell him that the next time he wants to lie, saying he's not used to Fontaine contaminated air and going straight to the garden with his particular companion who looked at him so ardently... Maybe it's not a good idea."

Alhaitham blinks and then sighs. He already had an idea. Well, it seems obvious that he's a businessman, so he's sharp, but Alhaitham feels his ears burn at the realization he maybe it's too obvious when it comes to Kaveh.

"I will."

The man laughs again and turns back.

When Kaveh was visible for him, his eyes were puffy but he had a radiant smile. Kaveh looked at him in the huge balcony from below and practically ran to met him and telling him the news. His mother, in his own words, went to fix her make-up again, but everything was okay.

"She basically reprimanded me, for thinking she would marry a man with such superficial ideas, and worse, that she would hate me." He smiles. "I knew it was mostly my overthinking, but... I'm glad to hear it from her."

"You had your reasons, she understood that." He says.

"I still feel so bad for having hurt you, I know an apology is not enough but..."

"You're right, it's not enough." He cuts. "You should compensate me."

Kaveh smiles. "And what do you want in exchange for your forgiveness?"

"Just you know, only one kiss won't be enough."

"Oh? I feel severely offended my kisses are not enough. Then I assume you don't want one." He crosses his arms.

"I said one, if you have opened your ears, you would have noticed."

"And what else do you want in exchange then, oh Grand Scribe?"

Alhaitham extends a hand to him.

"For the time being, I would want to be your first dance of the night."

"As if you know how to dance." Kaveh laughs, accepting his hand.

"Is that a challenge?" He pulls him closer.

"But of course. You love them, don't you?" Kaveh smiles.

"Not as much as I love you, I fear."

It doesn't matter how many times he said it, Kaveh still blushes as the first time.

"Idiot." Kaveh puts his hands around his neck.

"Only for you."

And they started to dance, as if no one else existed in that time, in that place.

As if the world was composed by them alone.

//end

Small rant/AN: This was inspired by my own exp tbh. My mother is a catholic woman and well, I knew deep inside that she'll accept me as bisexual because my sister is trans and she was accepted, why wouldn't I? But I tend to overthink and I started crying when I told her

It was kinda funny because I couldn't even pronounce the words and she went through all the options like if I was pregnant, if I was trans, if I suspended something. Now I remember it comically but I spent like a whole week preparing myself for it. It had a good end so here too!

I hope you liked it! I love these two too much ISTG 😭😭😭😭 They won't leave my mind they should pay me rent.