Ob(li)vious

5+1. Archon

Alhaitham stands before the Archon he once saved. She spent a lot of time interacting with the people of Sumeru after being freed, while also taking over some of the Sage's duties in their absence. Occasionally, he'd report his findings and work to her.

It's strange to see the little girl in the Grand Sage's chair, practically swallowed by its size. Nonetheless, she felt intimidating in her own right.

"Scribe Alhaitham, I'd like to ask you a personal question."

He'd rather not discuss his life with the little Archon, but withholding information from the lesser lord felt disrespectful. So he nods, giving his silent approval for the question to be asked.

"Why do you and your roommate fight so much?"

"Our personalities clash, and we don't get along." He answers without hesitation, an answer he's told himself many times before.

"That's odd." She appears to be lost in thought as she places her hand to her mouth. "That's not what I see. That is not how either of you truly feels."

Alhaitham looks at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Well, when I see the two of you together, you fight and yell at each other. It's quite a spectacle," she wags her tiny finger as if reprimanding Alhaitham for his behaviour, "but when I really look, all I see is overwhelming love between the two of you."

She gives a self-satisfied nod, apparently unaware that the reading people's minds is a serious invasion of their privacy.

"Pardon my impoliteness, but may I inquire as to what your point is?"

"Confess to your roommate, young Scribe."

"But-" Alhaitham begins, still trying to process the information Nahida is bestowing upon him.

"Your feelings are mutual, and quite frankly, I believe everyone around you, including myself, will be grateful if the two of you stop dancing around said feelings."

Alhaitham is dumbfounded, the Archon already diverting her attention back to whatever work the Sages had left behind. He tries to open his mouth, ready to argue that he has no feelings for his roommate, but words fail him. It's not often he finds himself outmatched like this, but she is the Archon of Wisdom after all.

He excuses himself and walks to the centre lift, the Archon's words still fresh in his mind. As the lift descends, the man he'd just discussed comes into view. Alhaitham had never considered his feelings for Kaveh. Nor had he considered Kaveh having feelings for him.

Kaveh approaches the lift, intending to go up once his roommate exits. People move past him as the elevator comes to a stop, ready to go up to see the Archon.

"Are you in love with me?" Alhaitham blurts out. He has no regard for the people around them, who immediately whip their heads around in disbelief.

The architect is dumbfounded, his mouth agape. He flushes as he looks around at the people watching them, unsure what to say in response to the sudden question.

"What... why... who asks that in front of a bunch of random people?"

"It doesn't matter who is present; what is your response?"

Kaveh just stands there, while the people on the lift frantically trying to keep it from moving up. Not until they hear Kaveh's response to the Scribe.

"You-" Kaveh sputters, then grabs Alhaitham's hand and drags him away from the scene he'd created.

Kaveh turns to the Scribe once they've find a relatively private spot. The architect's face is flushed, and he can barely make eye contact with his roommate.

"Do you have no tact? Who asks such a question in front of a bunch of people? What is even the point? What do my feelings matter?" Kaveh can barely stop the word vomit. His mind is racing and his heart is threatening to beat out of his chest.

"I'm sorry." Alhaitham places his hands on Kaveh's trembling hands, realising that his sudden question has caused his senior to panic. He was thinking with his head, not his heart. He wanted to confirm Nahida's theory, and when the only person who could appeared in front of him, he couldn't help but ask.

"You're being unfair, Alhaitham." Kaveh pouts, and Alhaitham realises that the Archon was correct in her assessment. He'd never really put two and two together. He never considered questioning his feelings because his life with Kaveh feels so natural to him. But when he looks at the pouty expression, he understands.

"You're also terrible at confessing." Kaveh says as he's calmed down a little.

"I wasn't trying to." Alhaitham counters.

"What?" Kaveh's eyes become panicked once more, and Alhaitham realises his choice of words is dreadful. Words never fail him, but today they sure do. So he pulls Kaveh in, and looks into his eyes for permission. Kaveh can't pull himself away, and neither of them knows who eventually closes the gap between their lips.