Stolen Enchantment

Under The Eye

"While you're lying there, clean up the bed."

Alhaitham demanded coldly, he didn't need to turn his head around until he heard Kaveh slide off. He began to fold the blankets, it was better than laying around anyway. It allowed him to focus on something other than his blasted headache. Alhaitham was just checking over the bags when he glanced back over at Kaveh, who of which wasn't facing him. Focused on the bed,

"You should drink less, speaking of which I suggest you pay me back by the time we get to Sumeru."

Kaveh spun around and threw the half-folded blanket back onto the bed, his arms crossed. Alhaitham wasn't wrong, like always but Kaveh didn't appear to remember that he was the one who had paid for the entire night. Even the room was from Alhaitham's own pocket.

"Excuse you? I'm not paying a single cent, I already did so last night. Hit your head or something?"

Alhaitham chuckled briefly as he leaned back up, walking over to Kaveh. He looked down at him with a short smirk, Kaveh didn't back down and still appeared arrogant and stubborn.

"I believe it's you who's hit their head, I paid for the entirety of last night."

Alhaitham's eyes glanced back over to the bed, he gestured with his right towards it snapping Kaveh's attention before continuing.

"That bed you're sleeping in? My pocket, do me a favor, and grab your bag. We're heading out now."

Alhaitham's voice was cocky, motivated to the highest level. Before Kaveh could add a word of discussion, Alhaitham was already turned and grabbed his own backpack. Kaveh scoffed and snatched his bag up, pulling it over his own shoulders. This morning was painfully annoying, even more, so that Alhaitham felt the need to speak as much as he was. He liked it better when he hardly spoke back at the bar. Suddenly that alcoholic situation flashed through Kaveh's thoughts, all he could think was that it was an accident.

But for some reason it made his heart beat rapidly with embarrassment, he hated that feeling. Alhaitham should've just handed the bottle over otherwise that would've never happened! Infuriating, he trod out the door with him as they began their journey back to Sumeru. All Kaveh could say was that it was hot, boiling even. His hair had dried up in a shortened amount of time than if it had in regular temperatures. Alhaitham appeared unbothered by it, maybe it was because he had brought along an umbrella that he refused to share with Kaveh.

"Let me under it already! You know well that it's blistering, I spot enough room would you just–?!"

Kaveh continuously jumped and tried to snatch a hiding place under the umbrella multiple times. As if he was hoping to hug it, but each time Alhaitham managed to keep it from him. Simultaneously keeping shade over himself.

"No, would you stop your pestering? For there to be enough shade for yourself you'd need to get close to me, and I'd rather not accidentally strike you."

Kaveh raised an exhausted brow, he couldn't comprehend logic such as that. Even without this heat, it didn't make any sense.

"I highly doubt that's even possible, you just hate me that much don't you?"

Alhaitham took in a deep breath, his head turned in Kaveh's direction to make strong eye contact. It took him a moment before he spoke with complete honesty.

"Yes, yes I do."

Kaveh tsked, and silently moved behind Alhaitham when his gaze continued forward. Kaveh's brows kept furrowed intensely. He reached up and pulled harshly on Alhaitham's backpack. He stopped and turned around, his head leaning down to scold Kaveh like a misbehaving child.

"Watch yourself Kaveh, even I don't like being infuriated."

Kaveh rolled his eyes, who was he to care? Personally, he had seen Alhaitham irritated. But he had never done something as drastic as raising his voice or creating a scene. He always had that calm mannerism to himself, the more his thoughts kept on it the more he realized that they were alone in the desert. Who was Alhaitham to care whether he let his steam blow on Kaveh? The two kept walking. They were coming up on a rocky scape that threatened danger, it appeared intimidating to the eye.

But Alhaitham hadn't dared to stop once and continued. Kaveh bent down and took a bundle of sand into his palm, some of it poured out from the openings of his fingers. He approached densely to Alhaitham, he opened his palm and was about to throw the sand into him when he gripped his wrist. His other arm easily managed to fold the umbrella back up and tucked it back into his backpack. The sand still ended up all over Alhaitham, but he didn't appear as focused on that. His eyes were narrowed down, his shoulders tensed as his grip closed in burning more than the sun.

"Did I not warn you? Kaveh, I told you to watch yourself. You didn't listen, explain right now."

His voice sounded darker than usual, a haunting type of seriousness. Kaveh was taken aback by the sudden grip, his hand twitched awkwardly as he attempted to pull back, and his face turned from slight fear to anger as he slapped his other hand against Alhaitham's arm. Their grips shook against one another in the fit of interaction.

"Explain myself? You hadn't let me in the shade, minding that you insulted me this morning for no real reason. If anyone should be doing anything, that person should let go of my wrist and take a step back before I really get pissed off."

Alhaitham gritted his teeth and began to walk forward, forcing Kaveh to get moved back towards a rocky wall. His eyes darkened as he shook Kaveh's arm,

"You're pushing it, but I'll say this only once. I owed you a favor, I paid for your drinks, I paid for your bed, and I stitched your clothes. There should be no reason for me to do anything further. We're done."

Kaveh lifted his grip off of Alhaitham, his fist pulled back to strike his chest. When suddenly Alhaitham pulled Kaveh off the wall and directly into him, a sharp rapid sound shot out near Kaveh's ear and something was heard being struck. When Kaveh collected himself Alhaitham had let go, leaving a red mark over his wrist. Directly where Kaveh's head was against the rock, was an iron-crafted arrow made strong enough to crack the bare stone. Someone was aiming to kill them both.